Category: News Roundup

DOGS: Aided by a donation from Claudia Kersey, SPCA Florida is adding an isolation unit for dogs with parvovirus. EDITORIAL: Seeking compromise, the newspaper’s editorialist concludes the church that’s been feeding people in Munn Park for at least three years (not a few months, as some politicians have said and the editorial repeats) should pay something […]

NO OCCUPANCY: A budding assisted-living facility downtown (map, photo) was prevented from opening after city officials discovered their licensing was for a daycare center and their building construction was un-permitted. FIELDS OF GREEN: Brian French, chief groundskeeper at Tigertown, thinks his fields would be perfect if only he could keep ballplayers off them. He’s kidding, we think. […]

“Ladies of Lakeland” showcases musicians — mostly folk and Americana — Thursday | Chamber of Commerce initiates student memberships Source: The Ledger

SEU opens an art gallery | Jury convicts Broxterman of lying about doctorate | Dean Saunders makes Forbes real estate leaders list | Pedestrian leaving bar is hit, dies crossing U.S. 98 S. at Clubhouse Road | Kiwanis holds rum festival Saturday Source: The Ledger

SACKETT RANCH: Responding to noise complaints, county commissioners denied approval for a venue near Lake Hancock to continue hosting events. UPDATE: The decision is getting a lot of pushback on Facebook. ARTS: Night at the Opera Saturday features “Pagliacci” | Lakeland Community Theatre performs “Forever Plaid” this weekend and next. BASEBALL: Rob Manfred, the MLB’s Commissioner […]

BUILDING: Lakeland Christian School is about to start construction of an athletic facility on the site of the former Iglesia Vida Victoriosa | The commission chambers at City Hall are getting a revamp to become easier for disabled people to navigate. Source: The Ledger

DOWNTOWN RAIL: City commissioners got their first glimpse at options for putting pedestrian crossings over railroad tracks at Kentucky Avenue and New York Avenue. The consensus seemed to be: It’s expensive and not too pretty, but let’s keep pursuing it | View the report BROADBAND: Frontier Communications isn’t yet seeing demand to support widespread gigabit speeds […]

TALBOT HOUSE: Six months into running Lakeland’s best-known shelter for the homeless, Brenda Reddout says her top priority remains serving “the homeless, the uninsured and the hungry.” If city officials want Talbot House to relocate, she said, she and her board are open to discussions, including partnerships with the city. MEDICAL TRAINING:  Traviss Technical College […]

LAKELAND SQUARE: Reporter John Ceballos looks at the demise of enclosed malls through the lens of a native who returned to Lakeland to open Jitters Coffee Cafe (Facebook) at the northside mall; he left after nearby anchors fled the mall and he plans to reopen near Outback Steakhouse on the south side. (Note: The online version does […]

ARREST: Former McKeel Academy administrator Ginger Collins (who is also a former principal of Kathleen High School and Kathleen Middle School) has been arrested and charged with embezzling more than $100k from McKeel | Read the affidavit ROTI: When Cafe Roti relocates downtown to 116 S. Tennessee Ave., it will sport pews, doors and furnishings from […]