Kris Hallstrand, 46, served multiple tours of duty in Afghanistan as a C-130 crew chief and then director of the flight line at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan, overseeing 30 aircraft and about 90 men and women.More
On Tuesday evening just before 9 p.m., 27-year-old Hector Daniel Lugo was trying to walk across busy U.S. 98 North near Griffin Road when he was hit by a car and then struck again by a second car, Lakeland police say . Paramedics rushed him to Lakeland Regional Health, where he died a short time later. More
Lakeland Linder International Airport’s latest plan to reduce aircraft noise over Lakeland neighborhoods is getting a final review this week before being submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport’s interim director told city commissioners on Monday. More
The low concrete barriers on both sides of South Florida Avenue in Dixieland may remain in place for another five years, The Ledger reports. Even if city and state officials decide on a new lane configuration for the one-mile stretch of road this summer, it will probably take five years for funding, design and construction of the roadway and sidewalks, Lakeland Planning and Transportation Manager Chuck Barmby told city commissioners on Monday. Mayor Bill Mutz asked him to see if anything can be done to shorten the timeline.
Residents in the Dixieland and Lake Morton neighborhoods expressed a common theme during Monday night’s informational meeting regarding changes to South Florida Avenue: Temporary improvements may be helping South Florida, but the problems are shifting to nearby residential streets. More
For Lakeland residents planning to attend next week’s public forum on the future of South Florida Avenue in Dixieland, a look at some proposed options might be helpful. Ten alternative lane alignments are outlined in a preliminary report from a consultant hired by the city of Lakeland to create a master plan for the corridor. More
Drivers wanting to go south on County Line Road at U.S. 92 will face a lengthy detour on Wednesday as CSX railroad crews replace signal equipment on the crossing just south of the intersection. Northbound traffic will not be affected. More
The golf carts that navigate people through downtown will be free to ride starting Friday, The Ledger reports. The service, known as The Squeeze and run by the Citrus Connection, will instead rely on wrap-around advertising on the carts to help fund the program’s estimated annual costs of $382,000. The service currently runs 4-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and will soon expand to Saturdays during the downtown farmers markets, monthly Thursday food truck rallies and other downtown events.
People can tell the city of Lakeland and the Florida Department of Transportation what they want to see done on South Florida Avenue between downtown and Dixieland in a June survey followed by a public forum at the RP Funding Center. More
The Citrus Connection is dropping its rule requiring passengers to wear masks while on its buses and other vehicles. It is also preparing to introduce a downtown Lakeland circulator bus route. More
