HOMELAND, Fla. — Get ready for an afternoon of live Southern rock, family-friendly activities, and old-fashioned outdoor fun at Pickin’ in the Park on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The free event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Homeland Heritage Park, located at 249 Church Ave., Homeland.
Guests can enjoy live music throughout the afternoon while exploring a variety of food trucks and local vendors. Families are invited to take part in yard and lawn games, and visitors will also have the opportunity to experience guided tours of the park’s historic buildings.
Organizers encourage attendees to bring lawn chairs or blankets to relax and enjoy the music in the park’s scenic setting.
For more information about the event, call 863-534-6911.
At around 9 pm on Wednesday, February 18th, PCSO deputies were dispatched to a residence near Lyle Parkway in Bartow after a battery was reported.
Deputies arrived and learned that the suspect, 41-year old Melissa Rae-Ann Crockett had fled from the scene on foot.
The deputies were determined to find Crockett as soon as possible given her three prior convictions for aggravated battery with a weapon for which she spent a year in state prison.
Crockett was found hiding behind a residence in the nearby neighborhood of Magnolia Walk, but she took off running before deputies could get to her.
K9 Kane then caught up to Crockett and she grabbed our adorable pooch, but not to cuddle with him. Deputies apprehended Crockett and she was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Melissa Rae-Ann Crockett was booked-in at the Sheriff’s Processing Center and charged with: Resisting an Officer with Violence (F3), Battery with Prior Convictions (F3), Touch/Strike a Police Dog (M1), and Resisting without Violence (M1).
Davenport residents are invited to witness an exciting night of hoops, hometown pride, and friendly rivalry as the Davenport Police Department hosts the highly anticipated Battle of the Badges basketball showdown.
The action takes place Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m. at the Tom Fellows Community Center, located at 207 North Blvd W in Davenport.
This isn’t just a game — it’s Fire vs. Police in a high-energy matchup that brings together two of the city’s public safety teams for an evening filled with competition and community spirit. Both sides will hit the court battling for bragging rights, all while strengthening the bond they share with the community they serve.
Expect fast breaks, big plays, and plenty of crowd excitement as friends, families, and neighbors cheer on their favorite team. Whether you’re backing Fire or Police, there’s no doubt the atmosphere will be electric.
The event is free and open to the public, making it the perfect family-friendly night out. Bring the kids, invite your friends, and pick a side as Davenport’s finest face off in a game you won’t want to miss.
Flyer courtesy of Davenport, Florida Police Department
Have you ever sat through a city commission meeting and thought, I could do that?
Or maybe you have watched decisions being made in your community and wondered what it would actually take to step into public service yourself.
The reality is most people who care about their community never run for office. Not because they do not want to serve, but because they do not feel prepared.
No training.
No roadmap.
No real understanding of how the system works.
That is exactly where Polk Vision’s Public Service Leadership Course comes in.
With a February 27 deadline approaching, Polk Vision is seeking applicants for two of its signature leadership initiatives, including a free five day Public Service Leadership Course designed for individuals interested in civic engagement, government service, or possibly running for office.
This is not a lecture series. It is an inside look at how leadership in Polk County actually works.
Participants spend five class days in different municipalities across the county, gaining firsthand exposure to the size, diversity, and complexity of Polk. The focus is on helping participants discover where they can make the greatest impact, whether that means serving on a board, leading a nonprofit, or one day putting their name on a ballot.
Guiding the course is former United States Congressman Dennis A. Ross.
Ross represented Florida in Congress and previously served in the Florida House of Representatives. Today, he serves as Director of the American Center for Public Leadership at Southeastern University, where he focuses on leadership development and ethics in public service.
Participants are not simply hearing theory. They are learning from someone who has navigated state government, federal government, and now higher education leadership. That perspective brings practical insight into what public service actually demands.
And in a county like Polk, leadership matters.
Polk County continues to experience significant growth. With that growth comes pressure on infrastructure, housing, water systems, schools, transportation, economic development, and public safety.
The decisions shaping the future of this region are made locally. They are made in city halls, commission chambers, and board rooms throughout the county.
Programs like this are designed to ensure the people making those decisions are informed, prepared, and grounded in service.
In addition to the Public Service Leadership Course, Polk Vision also offers Leadership Polk, a ten month program that brings together established leaders from across industries to explore regional challenges and strengthen collaboration countywide.
But for the person sitting at home wondering if they could make a difference, the Public Service Leadership Course may be the first step.
The course meets March 24, April 1, April 7, April 14, and April 23, 2026.
It is free.
Applications close February 27.
If you have ever considered serving but felt unsure where to begin, this may be the opportunity to find that starting point.
Apply here:
Polk County’s future will be shaped by those willing to step forward.
A single-vehicle crash in Mulberry Tuesday evening, February 17, 2026, resulted in the death of a Lakeland man.
At around 6:19 pm, the Emergency Communications Center dispatched units from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue to the crash scene on North Church Avenue (State Road 37) and NE 5thStreet.
When first responders arrived, they found the only person involved, lying in the corner of the intersection with significant injuries. He was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where he later passed away.
The victim was identified as 23-year old Jeremiah David MacDonald from Lakeland.
Mr. MacDonald had been driving a white 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee north on North Church Avenue.
According to the preliminary investigation, the Jeep struck a curb causing it to rotate, and then it flipped multiple times.
MacDonald was not wearing a seatbelt, and he was ejected from the Jeep.
Bartow Turns into ToonTown with This Year’s Syfy Bartow—Animation Invasion—on Sat. Feb. 21
by James Coulter
Attention all Toonsters, Loonatics, and Animaniacs! The City of Bartow will be transforming into ToonTown with this year’s Syfy Bartow, happening on Sat. Feb. 21.
Whether you prefer your cartoons hand-drawn or computer-animated, in Technicolor or black-and-white, from America or Japan, this year’s Syfy Bartow is sure to squash and stretch your expectations.
Come to Mosaic Park for a fun-filled day with local vendors, food trucks, human and pet costume contests, a car show, and so much more.
Sean Serdynski started Syfy Bartow nearly 12 years ago. Since then, Central Florida’s premier outdoor comic convention has drawn in thousands of guests to Downtown Bartow.
“Syfy Bartow started as a way to get people to visit Downtown Bartow,” Serdynski said. “We invented it to help the businesses downtown and all throughout Bartow. It’s not just about Downtown, it is the entire city that gets involved.”
Since then, the event has expanded from one city block to 15 blocks. Now that their footprint has outgrown the Downtown Bartow area, their event will be moving to its new location at Mosaic Park.
Serdynski had originally planned to host the inaugural Syfy Bartow at that location. However, he was convinced by city officials to host the event in the downtown area to promote local businesses.
Previous events struggled with traffic cutting through the festivities and restrictions on amenities like bounce houses and petting zoos. The new location will provide more room for more fun activities and provide better comfort to guests.
“One thing that keeps Syfy Bartow unique from the other type of convention-style events is that it is free to attend,” he said. “You can spend the day with your family and see what Bartow is allabout.”
Syfy Bartow will be hosted on Sat. Feb. 21 from 10 AM to 6 PM at Mosaic Park, located at 2250 S Floral Ave in Bartow. For more information, visit bartowcon.com.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office reported that a 37-year-old man was arrested February 13 after allegedly breaking into and damaging an SUV in a Publix parking lot in Ormond-by-the-Sea.
According to deputies, Justin Allen broke into the vehicle and began smashing it with a hammer while it was parked outside the store. When confronted by a deputy, Allen reportedly claimed he was targeting the SUV as an act of revenge against his ex.
However, authorities say the vehicle did not belong to his ex — it was owned by an innocent Publix employee.
Allen was arrested and charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief causing more than $1,000 in damage, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He later posted a $10,500 bond and was released from custody the same night, according to the sheriff’s office.
Photo source Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Body CamPhoto source Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Body Can
Despite the best of intentions, it’s common for plans to build healthier habits to fall flat. Often, the culprit isn’t a lack of motivation or discipline; rather, it’s unrealistic expectations.
Overhauling your lifestyle requires a level of commitment that isn’t always practical.
Understanding your personal health needs and the challenges you need to overcome can help give you a more realistic roadmap toward better health.
Tools to Guide You
Every plan needs a starting point and there are many reputable sources that can help guide you toward a plan that addresses your personal health needs.
For example, the American Heart Association introduced My Life Check, a simple, free tool to help individuals understand their heart health and what’s driving it. Users answer simple questions about their daily habits and health factors to get a personalized Heart Health Score in minutes.
The results are private and downloadable, giving you full control of your information. The tool turns big goals into small, specific actions you can start right away. Knowing your numbers relative to your heart health (and where you are in comparison to target ranges for optimal health) can help you decide how to build a better map to get you where you want to be.
While the report is customized to each individual, no personal data is stored and answers are only used to calculate health scores and provide personalized recommendations and practical steps to improve your health, so you can use your results to focus on what matters most to you. Every small step you take, such as moving more, eating smarter, sleeping better or managing stress, can add up over time.
Finding Your Path
Once you’re armed with data and know where you stand on your heart health numbers, small steps become clearer and more manageable. That knowledge makes it easier to choose one area to focus on, such as getting more sleep, taking daily walks or adding more color to your meals.
Healthy changes don’t need to be expensive or complicated. The best habits are ones that fit real life when every action you take moves you closer to your goals.
Eat Smart
Choose foods that help you feel your best, one meal at a time. Add more color to your plate and focus on balance, not restriction. Simple, affordable swaps can make a real difference.
Move More
Find movement that fits your life, such as a walk, a stretch or dancing while you cook. Every bit of activity counts and it all supports your heart and mind. Move for joy, not just for results.
Sleep Well
Rest is a foundation of good health, not a reward. Protect your bedtime routine and give your body the recovery it deserves. Notice how good sleep makes everything else easier.
Manage Stress
Check in with yourself regularly, both mentally and emotionally. Create simple moments to pause, breathe, laugh or step outside. Connection, kindness and calm all support a healthy heart.
Staying motivated and on track is also easier when you can check back in, see your progress and realize the steps you’re taking are making an impact. Checking in every few months to see how you can grow gives you the chance to celebrate your progress, learn from challenges and keep building lasting habits that feel good.
On February 6, 2026, at around 11:30 pm, a lime green Yamaha ATV was stolen from a carport on Wall Street West in Frostproof.
The two unknown suspects loaded the ATV into the back of a light colored, older model Chevy or GMC pickup truck with very dark tinted windows. The truck was driven by a third unknown suspect.
We would like to change those unknown suspects to known suspects, so we can charge them with felonies, and get the ATV back to its owner.
If you have any information that could be helpful to this investigation, please contact Detective Learmonth at 863-678-4115 or email [email protected].
If you wish to remain anonymous AND be eligible for a reward, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:
Growing your own produce is an all-around smart practice, from the money you’ll save at the grocery store to the contributions you can make toward a cleaner planet.
Maintaining a garden takes some effort, but it’s a project even a beginner can tackle with ease.
Consider these tips to start growing your at-home garden:
1. Select a perfect spot. You’ll want to place your garden in an area where you see it often so you’re reminded to weed and care for it regularly. Find a flat area you can access easily, where erosion and other pitfalls (including hungry wildlife) won’t be a problem.
2. Choose between ground and containers. There are pros and cons to gardening in containers vs. the ground, and there’s no universal right choice. Rather, the best garden depends on your goals and preferences. A ground garden usually offers more space and may provide a better growth environment for roots. However, a container garden is often easier to maintain and may be all you need if you wish to grow just a few plants.
3. Understand the importance of quality soil. You may think any dirt will do, but keep in mind the soil you plant in will be the primary source of nutrients for your produce. Not only that, but quality soil provides stability so plants can root firmly and grow healthy and sturdy to support their bounty. Quality soil also allows for ample drainage. Organic matter like compost, leaf mold or aged manure all help improve soil quality.
4. Keep water close. Lugging water can quickly eliminate the pleasure of tending your garden, so be sure you’re situated near a hose. You’ll know it’s time to water when the soil is dry about an inch below the surface.
5. Plan for plenty of sun. A bright, sunny spot is a must, since most vegetables, herbs and fruits depend on six or more hours of sun every day. Remember the sun’s path changes throughout the year, and as trees and foliage grow, they may produce more shade with each growing season.
6. Consider what you’ll grow. Starting with veggies you know you like is a smart starting point since you’ll be pouring sweat equity into making them grow. Over time, you might add new varieties, but early on, keep your focus on foods you know you like so you can see a meaningful return and avoid waste. You’ll also need to consider what you can grow to maturity within your area’s growing season. If necessary, you might want to start transplants you can nurture indoors before moving them outside when the temperatures allow. In Florida, we don’t have to worry quite as much about the freezing temperatures (though we’ve seen several cold mornings this Winter!)
Plant according to a calendar. Knowing how long it takes different foods to mature will help you create a planting calendar. You don’t want to harvest everything at once, and if you stagger planting and replant what you can, you’ll have a garden that produces food for your family for a longer period of time.
