Category: News Roundup

FOODIE 1: Lakeland’s GreenWise Market, Publix’ updated excursion into the organic/natural/food event niche, opens Dec. 12 at 7 a.m. at 4717 S. Florida Ave. (No link yet.) FOODIE 2: Chef Marcos Fernandez’ Nineteen61 and its nuevo Latino cuisine has earned a Florida Trend Golden Spoon award for a second year in a row. (No link […]

AIRPORT: County commissioners signaled their intention to pledge $1 million toward a “backstop” fund that would guarantee a major airline first-year profits after initiating daily service at Lakeland Linder Airport. RIP: Cattle rancher Al Belotto, 94, whose pasture on Lake Hancock was transformed into the county’s Circle B Bar nature preserve. THINGS TO DO: Holiday […]

FATAL SHOOTING: In what he called a “classic suicide by cop,” Sheriff Grady Judd said Kenneth Layton, 60, despondent over the recent death of his wife, died Friday after summoning a deputy to his north Lakeland home and then raising a gun at him, forcing the deputy to shoot him in the chest. ALSO: Tampa […]

LOW-INCOME HOUSING: Following a successful and ongoing fund-raising campaign, Talbot House Ministries has closed on 16 formerly city-owned studio apartments on Vermont Avenue just south of Massachusetts Boulevard that it will rehab for inexpensive housing for low-income people, including the disabled and veterans. DOMESTIC FATALITY: In a story scant on details with the Sheriff’s Office […]

EDUCATION: School Board member Billy Townsend takes issue with Polk’s school superintendent attending a San Diego conference at the expense of Lakeland Leads, which its director describes as “a nonpartisan, nonprofit economic development think tank.” Townsend says both the conference and the local partnership push ideas harmful to a strong public education system. MORE: Townsend’s four […]

MARIJUANA: Lakeland’s fourth medical marijuana dispensary is opening a block south of the Larry Jackson Public Library. Trulieve Cannabis Corp.’s facility at 1644 N. Florida Ave will be about a mile and a half from two other dispensaries just south of Interstate 4. MIRRORTON: Framework Group of Tampa, a developer planning to build 305 apartments […]

RESTORED: A 99-year-old house next to the South Florida Avenue Church of Christ that was once a candidate for demolition has been restored. It is now home to a family and students at a school of preaching based at the church in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Restoration was performed by Albert C. Moore Construction and […]

TORNADO: The damage done by the tornado that gouged west Lakeland Oct. 18 did not hit the target for FEMA assistance, but local businesses and residents may be eligible for SBA loans, the county’s emergency services director says. The next step is a request from Florida’s governor to the feds. CITY ATTORNEY: Lakeland’s interim city […]

TALBOT HOUSE: In a Sunday ceremony, the faith-based homeless services provider placed memorial pavers for four supporters: Beverly Daniel, a “loyal advocate;” Michael Klingaman, an Air Force veteran who spearheaded the Memorial Garden; Capt. Clarence “Clancy” LeMasters, a past president of the organization’s board, and Peggy Watkins, a past president of the Ministerial Alliance. BETSYE […]

MOM REACTS: After yesterday’s announcement clearing three LPD officers in the December fatal shooting of 17-year-old Michael Taylor (our story), his mother tells The Ledger: “I’m not angry. I have an attorney who’s working on the case and I trust her to do her part, just like (State Attorney) Brian Haas has to do his […]