Retired Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland reminisced about the last time he saw Hall of Famer Al Kaline, who died Monday at age 85; it was about a month ago over dinner at the Terrace Grille in Lakeland during Spring Training. “He said, ‘Thanks for being my friend all these years. It felt like he was saying goodbye.’ “
George Jenkins High School senior Kimmy Gabriela has exciting news to share with Lakeland on the week she turns 18: She made the cut for the ‘American Idol’ Top 20. Continue reading to see a video of her performance from Sunday’s show. More
Karl Strader, who became pastor at Lakeland’s First Assembly of God in 1966 and expanded it into the multi-thousand-member Carpenter’s Home Church, died Monday at age 91. ALSO: The Ledger | Family-placed obituary | YouTube: Charisma Today’s founder remembers growing up in Strader’s church.
Doctors at a Brussels hospital are trying an experimental combination of drugs on Phyllis Benigas, a COVID-19 patient from Lakeland who does missionary work in Belgium along with her husband, Tom, Bay News 9 reports. Tom, who has not been allowed in his wife’s hospital room, is sharing updates on Facebook | Facebook profile
Lakeland has lost one of its matriarchs. Nancye Thornberry, who founded the Polk Senior Games and helped start Mayfaire-by-the-Lake when she led the Polk Museum of Art, died Tuesday night after a long illness, She was 89. More
Celebrity judge Katy Perry hopped to her feet to applaud when Lakeland’s Kimmy Gabriela finished singing “I’m Here” from “The Color Purple” on Monday night’s “American Idol.” And Perry once again said of the George Jenkins High School senior, “She’s Top 10.”
After singing “Stay” by Rhiannon on Sunday night’s “American Idol,” both George Jenkins High School senior Kimmy Gabriela and duet partner Elyjuh Rene made it to the next round — which airs tonight at 8 on ABC. Kimmy will sing first on tonight’s show in a solo performance in front of a live band. Keep reading to view a video that includes part of her performance: More
As George Jenkins High School student Kimmy Gabriela finished singing “Say Something” by A Great Big World on Monday night’s episode of ‘s ABC”American Idol,” judge Katy Perry appeared to want to declare her the winner before the show even ended. More
“The entire Geico community is hurting today,” a co-worker said after word spread that the couple involved in Wednesday’s murder-suicide in Lakeland were long-time Geico employees Mark Waggoner, 50, and Heather Waggoner, 41. Police haven’t confirmed the identities, but said a man shot and killed his estranged wife at her Oakbridge apartment before driving home and turning his handgun on himself.
John Attaway of Lakeland, who founded Publix Super Markets’ legal department in 1997 and retired last year as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, will be honored with a lifetime achievement award by Tampa Bay Business Journal.
