Lakeland’s Phillip Walker is serving as president of the Florida League of Cities during the year the organization prepares to celebrate its 100th year of advocating for the needs of municipalities. More
John “Lites” Leenhouts has announced he will retire as president and CEO of Sun ’n Fun Fly-In Inc. after the April conclusion of the 2022 aerospace expo, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association reports. Leenhouts, who assumed the position in 2011, transformed the organization’s focus to education and was instrumental in establishing the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland.
Jay Dennis, the 62-year-old retired pastor of Church at the Mall, is launching City Central Church, which he describes as a non-denominational congregation for the unchurched and de-churched, The Ledger reports. The new church is leasing the sanctuary at 310 Frank Lloyd Wright Way; it was formerly part of St. Joseph Academy and is now owned by Florida Southern College, which is renovating the adjoining classroom building for its graduate nursing program.
Two Hong Kong orchid trees were planted along Lake Morton this afternoon in memory of civic and business leaders David Henderson and Edie Yates Henderson. More
It was a family affair as two generations of the Barnett family won top awards at the National Philanthropy Day Awards Celebration in Lakeland on Friday. Ashley and Wesley Barnett were one of two couples named philanthropists of the year, and Wesley’s parents — Carol and Barney Barnett — were given the Outstanding Philanthropy Award. More
Ed Holloway, who turned parts of his massive land holdings in southeast Lakeland into the Sanlan Ranch RV & Golf Resort and Holloway Park, died Monday at age 91. More
Cory Skeates has resigned as president and CEO of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, a post he has held since January 2015, the organization announced today. The resignation takes effect immediately. More
The family behind Lakeland’s Little Bus Books is ready to debut their little bus. It’s a vintage metal travel trailer that will make their bookstore truly mobile. More
For Jeremy Rosado, a former Lakeland worship leader, 2021 has been a year of second chances. A few months after recovering from COVID-19, he found out he would be a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice.” More
Lakeland High School defensive end Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, ESPN’s No. 5 football recruit nationally, has chosen the Oklahoma Sooners. The deciding factor was head coach Lincoln Riley’s personal touch. “When I first started talking to them, they were like, we’re not going to be talking football with you, we’re just going to get to know you as a person. That drew me towards them,” the LHS senior told ESPN.
