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County Commission Approves Additional $3 Million+ to Cover Power Line Road Extension

Allison
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County Commission Approves Additional $3 Million+ to Cover Power Line Road Extension

County Commission Approves Additional $3 Million+ to Cover Power Line Road Extension

by James Coulter

 

The extension of Power Line Road will be able to move forward now that county commissioners have approved an increase of more than $3 million.

 

At their regular meeting on Tues. Sep. 16, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve an amendment to an infrastructure agreement toward an extension of Power Line Road.

 

The agreement was to cover the first phase of the extension to provide “a needed north-south parallel corridor to help relieve existing and future congestion along portions of US Highway 27 and US Highway 17/92,” wrote Thado N. Hays, CPM, Concurrency & Entitlements Manager.

 

Initially, the cost of the improvement through the agreement was $10,805,447. An amendment to that agreement would increase that cost to $14,055,937, a difference of $3,250,490. This increase would “cover increased costs that have occurred due to change order requests,” Hays wrote.

 

“The funding for this project will be available on October 1, 2025, in the form of impact fee credits (25%) and cash (75%) that is available in the Roads & Drainage CIP under Developer Agreements for Road Improvement projects,” Hays further explained.

 

The extension would extend Power Line Road from U.S. 17/92 in Davenport to Scenic Highway 17 in Dundee. This road project is considered to be “the largest in Polk County history”and would provide “that long-coveted alternative to U.S. 27,” as reported by the Lakeland Ledger.

Screenshots courtesy of PGTV Livestream

Cops for Kids – Registration Dates Announced

Allison
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Cops for Kids – Registration Dates Announced

The Lakeland Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2025 Cops for Kids Toy Donation Program. Parents or guardians in need of holiday assistance must register in person between 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on the designated dates below.

Registration Locations & Dates:

Wednesday, October 15: Simpson Park Community Center – 1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue Monday, October 27: Lakeland Police Department Community Room – 219 North Massachusetts Avenue Tuesday, October 28: Lakeland Police Department Community Room – 219 North Massachusetts Avenue

To Qualify:

Must be a Lakeland resident Bring the following: Current Lakeland Electric utility bill (with Lakeland address) Photo ID Original birth certificate for each child (children 12 and under eligible)

Registration does not guarantee acceptance. Families who received assistance in 2023 or 2024 are not eligible this year.

For more information, call 863-834-6912.

Flyer courtesy of Lakeland PD

Lakeland PAL Hosting FREE PAL-oween Party

Allison
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Lakeland PAL Hosting FREE PAL-oween Party

Lakeland PAL:

“Mark Your Calendars!
𝗣𝗔𝗟-𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡 – 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟲𝗧𝗛 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝟱𝗣𝗠-𝟴𝗣𝗠
Join us for a SPOOKY good time at our PAL-oween Party! Lakeland PAL will have Trunk-or-Treat Stations, a photo area, a Haunted House, and more. Food and fun for the whole family! This event is Free. See you there!

325 W 2nd St, Lakeland, FL 33805
Lakeland Pal Complex”

“We Stand for Life” Local Haines City Church Gathered Along Hwy 27

Carl Fish
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“We Stand for Life” Local Haines City Church Gathered Along Hwy 27

By Anita Todd

HAINES CITY – As part of Life Chain 2025, a pro-life movement, leaders and members of Landmark Baptist Church lined the sides of U.S. Highway 27 near Walmart on Sunday, October 4, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Since 1987, believers across the world, primarily in the United States and Canada, have gathered on the first Sunday of every October for one hour to prayerfully stand for life and against abortion.

About 150 people, young and old, men and women, held signs in English and Spanish letting passersby know they are against abortion.

“We’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember, the first Sunday of every October,” said Senior Pastor Barry Parsons of Landmark Baptist Church. “We’ve gotten mostly positive responses… a few negative, but mostly positive.”

Trucks and cars honked their horns as they drove by the many folks holding signs and waving.

“We pray while we hold the signs that people will know there are other options besides abortion,” Parsons said. “We stand for life.”

Landmark Baptist Church was established in 1958 as the first missionary Baptist church. It is one of the largest churches in Haines City and also has a school serving kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as a Christian college.

Update: Two Seriously Injured in Motorcycle Crash at Lakeland Highlands Road and Polk Parkway

Carl Fish
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Update: Two Seriously Injured in Motorcycle Crash at Lakeland Highlands Road and Polk Parkway

Update To: Motorcycle Crash With Injuries In Lakeland

LAKELAND – Two people suffered serious injuries Saturday morning after a motorcycle crash at the intersection of Lakeland Highlands Road and the Polk Parkway in Lakeland.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 10:50 AM on October 4, 2025.

Investigators say a 44-year-old Riverview man was operating a Harley-Davidson motorcycle traveling westbound on State Road 570 along the exit ramp to Lakeland Highlands Road. The rider reportedly entered the intersection under a red traffic signal and struck a curb in the center median.

The impact caused both the rider and his passenger, a 49-year-old Riverview woman, to be ejected from the motorcycle. Both individuals sustained serious injuries and were transported to an area hospital by Polk County Fire Rescue.

Units from Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and Polk County Fire Rescue all responded to the scene. Traffic in the area was temporarily blocked while emergency crews treated the victims and investigators examined the crash site.

The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investi

Motorcycle Crash with Injuries in Lakeland

Carl Fish
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Motorcycle Crash with Injuries in Lakeland

LAKELAND – Multiple emergency crews responded late Saturday morning to a serious traffic crash involving a motorcycle at the intersection of Lakeland Highlands Road and the Polk Parkway.

The crash occurred around 10:55 AM, according to Polk County Fire Rescue dispatch. Two adult trauma alerts were reported from the scene. Both victims were transported for emergency medical care.

Units from Polk County Fire Rescue (BC003, EN035, MR028, MR035), along with Lakeland Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Office, were on scene assisting with rescue operations and traffic control.

The crash caused major lane closures in the area as first responders worked to treat the injured and investigate the cause of the crash. Motorists were advised to avoid the intersection of Lakeland Highlands Road and the Polk Parkway entrance and exit ramps until the scene cleared.

Further details, including the condition of those involved and the cause of the crash, have not yet been released.

Scare Up a Sweet, Thrilling Treat With This Ghostly Graveyard Cake

Allison
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Scare Up a Sweet, Thrilling Treat With This Ghostly Graveyard Cake

For a frighteningly fun time in the kitchen this Halloween, gather your family around the cauldron to create a sweet, spooky dessert.

Tricks and treats may provide thrills, but a homemade concoction can be the star of your hauntingly happy evening.

This Ghostly Graveyard Cake takes imagination and creativity from everyone with tombstones, skulls and spooky icing daring all to try a bite. With looks this chilling, it’s a perfect treat to enjoy while watching everyone’s favorite scary movie.

Ghostly Graveyard Cake Ingredients

1 box chocolate cake mix

10 chocolate creme cookies

1 cup black melting chips

1 cup red melting chips

1 cup heavy whipping cream

3 cans buttercream icing

1 purple food coloring

1 black food coloring

skull sprinkles

tombstones and bones candies

Photo source culinary.net

1. Prepare cake mix according to package instructions in three 6-inch baking pans. Once baked, allow to completely cool outside of pans.

2. In zip-top bag, using rolling pin, crush chocolate creme cookies; set aside.

3. In separate small bowls, add black melting chips and red melting chips.

4. In microwave, heat heavy whipping cream 1 1/2 minutes. Pour half the mixture into one bowl of chips and other half into other bowl of chips. Stir until chips are completely melted; set aside.

5. After cakes cool, on cake board, add small amount of buttercream icing so cake sticks. Using bread knife, level cakes.

6. Place one cake on cake board and add thin layer of icing on top. Place second layer of cake on top and add thin layer of icing on top. Place final layer of cake on top and add thin layer of icing on top.

Add thin layer of icing to entire cake. Freeze 15 minutes.

7. In small bowl, mix two parts purple food coloring to one part black food coloring. Ice cake with deep purple icing. Using grooved scraper, scrape along sides of cake. Using angled spatula, smooth top of cake.

8. Add skull sprinkles around edges of cake. Using piping bag with small opening at tip, drip black drip mixture around top edges of cake. Repeat using red drip mixture.

9. Add chocolate creme cookie crumbs to top of cake. Add tombstones and bone sprinkles to top of cake.

Understanding Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Allison
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Understanding Breast Cancer Risk Factors

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, more than 310,000 women and 2,800 men are estimated to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. However, advances in early detection and treatment in recent years have increased survival rates to the point where there are currently more than 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

When caught early, the 5-year survival rate is extremely high, which makes preventative measures like screenings and staying informed about risk factors – particularly those that impact you personally – critical elements in prevention and detection. Keep these risk factors in mind to make informed decisions about your health.

Genetic Factors and Family History

Mutations in specitic genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, greatly increase the likelihood of the disease. These mutations can be inherited, which means a family history of breast cancer can be a strong indicator of your own risk. If you have a family history of breast cancer, undergo genetic testing and counseling to better understand your risk and take appropriate preventive measures.

Lifestyle Choices

Factors such as diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking have all been linked to breast cancer risk. Maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity and limiting alcohol intake can help reduce that risk.

Additionally, avoiding smoking and following a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables are key preventive measures.

Environmental Exposures

Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as those found in some plastics and pesticides, have been studied for their potential link to increased risk of developing breast cancer. Being aware of – and minimizing – exposure to harmful environmental agents can be an essential step in reducing the risk. This includes using safer household products and advocating for cleaner environments.

Age & Gender

The risk for breast cancer increases with age, and women are at a significantly higher risk than men.

However, men can also develop breast cancer, though it’s much rarer.

By recognizing the risk factors and staying proactive with regular screenings, we can take meaningful steps toward early detection, prevention, and ultimately, saving lives.

Auburndale City Fest October 4th

Allison
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Auburndale City Fest October 4th

The Auburndale City Fest is on Saturday, October 4, 2025! This exciting community celebration brings together Auburndale’s Market and Parks & Recreation for an evening filled with fun.

From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., enjoy live soul music, shop with over 40 local vendors, and let the kids take part in festive trick-or-treating.

The event is free to attend and offers a perfect opportunity to celebrate fall with friends and family.

Don’t miss this chance to support local businesses and enjoy a night of community spirit in downtown Auburndale.

This Day in History: October 3, 1863 President Lincoln Proclaims Official Thanksgiving Holiday

Allison
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This Day in History: October 3, 1863 President Lincoln Proclaims Official Thanksgiving Holiday

The following is an article from history.com:

“On October 3, 1863, expressing gratitude for a pivotal Union Army victory at Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln announces that the nation will celebrate an official Thanksgiving holiday on November 26, 1863.

The speech, which was actually written by Secretary of State William Seward, declared that the last Thursday of every November thereafter would be considered an official U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving. This announcement harkened back to when George Washington was in his first term as the first president in 1789 and the young American nation had only a few years earlier emerged from the American Revolution. At that time, George Washington called for an official celebratory “day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” While Congress overwhelmingly agreed to Washington’s suggestion, the holiday did not yet become an annual event.

Thomas Jefferson, the third president, felt that public demonstrations of piety to a higher power, like that celebrated at Thanksgiving, were inappropriate in a nation based in part on the separation of church and state. Subsequent presidents agreed with him. In fact, no official Thanksgiving proclamation was issued by any president between 1815 and the day Lincoln took the opportunity to thank the Union Army and God for a shift in the country’s fortunes on this day in 1863.

The last Thursday of November remained the annual day of Thanksgiving from 1863 until 1939. Then, at the tail-end of the Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, hoping to boost the economy by providing shoppers and merchants a few extra days to conduct business between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, moved Thanksgiving to November’s second-to-last Thursday. In 1941, however, Roosevelt bowed to Congress’ insistence that the last Thursday of November be re-set permanently, without alteration, as the official Thanksgiving holiday.”

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