Looking for live music in Winter Haven this weekend? Here’s where you can catch local musicians and bands from Thursday through Sunday.
Thursday
Cypresswood Pub 🎶 Micah Madore from 6–9 p.m.
Friday
Cypresswood Pub 🎶 Fever Band from 6–9 p.m.
Somewhere Sports Bar 🎶 B. Haven from 7–10 p.m.
Saturday
Cypresswood Pub 🎶 Josh & Adrienne from 6-9 p.m.
Tanners Lakeside 🎶 Blake Free from 7–10 p.m.
Sunday
Tanners Lakeside 🎶 Second Hand Smoke from 2–6 p.m.
Whether you’re looking for a night out with live music or an afternoon of tunes by the lake, there are plenty of options around Winter Haven this weekend.
Want Your Music Featured? Are you a musician with upcoming shows in the Winter Haven area? Winter Haven Daily wants to help spread the word. Email your schedule to [email protected] and put LIVE MUSIC in the subject line.
Lakeland Commission Approves Higher Drought Fines, Lower Electric Fuel Charge and New Airport Uber Fee
City commissioners also approved a $400,000 stormwater planning project during Tuesday’s meeting.
By Daily Ridge Staff
LAKELAND, Fla. — Sept. 8, 2026
Lakeland residents could see changes ranging from tougher penalties for wasting water to lower electric costs following several unanimous votes by the Lakeland City Commission on Tuesday.
Commissioners approved increased drought-related water fines, a reduction in Lakeland Electric’s fuel charge, a new agreement allowing Uber to operate at Lakeland Linder International Airport and funding for a citywide stormwater planning project.
All four measures passed by a 7-0 vote.
Higher Fines for Wasting Water During Drought Conditions
Commissioners approved new penalties aimed at discouraging water waste during drought restrictions.
Under the updated rules, a first violation carries a $50 fine.
A second violation increases to $200, while a third violation carries a $500 penalty.
The changes were approved under Ordinance 6156.
Lakeland Electric Fuel Charge Drops Beginning Oct. 1
Lakeland Electric customers are also expected to see some relief beginning this fall.
Commissioners approved lowering the utility’s fuel charge to $47 per megawatt-hour for meters read on or after Oct. 1.
The previous fuel charge was $57 per megawatt-hour.
For a household using approximately 1,200 kilowatt-hours per month, the reduction could amount to roughly $12 in monthly savings.
Fuel charges are used by electric utilities to recover the cost of fuel used to generate electricity and can change as those costs rise or fall.
Uber Agreement Approved at Lakeland Linder
Uber will continue operating at Lakeland Linder International Airport under a new three-year agreement approved by commissioners.
The non-exclusive agreement with Rasier LLC, which operates Uber’s rideshare service, includes a $1.75 fee for each passenger pickup or drop-off at the airport.
The agreement provides a formal operating structure for rideshare service at Lakeland Linder.
City Receives Funding for Stormwater Planning
Commissioners also approved a $400,000 stormwater master planning project.
The project will receive $300,000 in federal funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, with the City of Lakeland contributing the remaining $100,000.
The funding will be used to develop a stormwater master plan designed to help the city identify drainage needs, flooding concerns and future infrastructure improvements.
Tuesday’s actions covered several areas of city operations, from household utility costs and water conservation to transportation and long-term stormwater planning.
Daily Ridge will continue following decisions from the Lakeland City Commission that could impact residents and businesses across the city.
Troopers say a 25-year-old woman was arrested on multiple charges after allegedly driving the wrong way on the Polk Parkway before being stopped with a PIT maneuver.
Wrong Way Driver Arrested On Polk Parkway With 7 Yr Old In Vehicle
By Daily Ridge Staff
LAKELAND, Fla. — Sept. 9, 2026
A 25-year-old woman was arrested early Wednesday after authorities say she drove the wrong way on the Polk Parkway with a 7-year-old child inside the vehicle.
According to information from the Florida Highway Patrol and an arrest report, authorities received a call shortly after midnight regarding a vehicle traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of State Road 570, also known as the Polk Parkway.
A Lakeland Police officer spotted the vehicle and began following the driver, later identified as Natalia Gorecki, 25.
Troopers eventually caught up with the vehicle and attempted to stop it.
According to the arrest report, Gorecki continued traveling the wrong way at approximately 60 mph and at one point nearly collided head-on with a patrol vehicle.
With concerns that the wrong-way driving could result in a serious crash, a trooper performed a PIT maneuver when traffic conditions allowed. The maneuver successfully brought the vehicle to a stop.
According to the arrest report, Gorecki questioned the trooper after the stop, asking, “What the hell did I do that for?”
Authorities then discovered a 7-year-old girl secured in a car seat in the rear passenger area of the vehicle. The child was later picked up by her grandmother.
Troopers reported that Gorecki had red and glassy eyes, smelled of alcohol and performed poorly during field sobriety exercises.
She was taken into custody and faces charges including DUI, child endangerment or neglect, fleeing to elude, reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful breath test.
No serious injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
The child’s identity was not released.
Bond and current custody information were not immediately available.
Daily Ridge will update this story if additional information becomes available through Polk County jail or court records.
Bartow Sweeps Lake Wales; Winter Haven Tops McKeel 3-1
Yellow Jackets hit 7-0 on Tuesday, then fell to Strawberry Crest on Wednesday and sit at 7-1. Winter Haven takes a four-set road win in Lakeland.
By Daily Ridge Staff
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Sept. 10, 2026
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Polk County volleyball teams were busy Tuesday night, with Bartow sweeping Lake Wales and Winter Haven picking up a strong road win at McKeel Academy.
Bartow 3, Lake Wales 0
Bartow defeated Lake Wales 3-0 on Tuesday night at Bartow.
The Yellow Jackets improved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in district play with the sweep, extending their season-opening streak to seven matches.
That streak ended the next night. Strawberry Crest beat Bartow 3-2 on Wednesday at Bartow, according to MaxPreps. Bartow is now 7-1 overall and still 3-0 in district play.
Lake Wales will get another shot at Bartow on Sept. 21 in Lake Wales.
Winter Haven 3, McKeel Academy 1
Winter Haven also added another win Tuesday, defeating McKeel Academy 3-1 on the road in Lakeland.
The Blue Devils improved to 4-2 on the season after taking the match in four sets.
McKeel also moved to 4-2 following the loss.
The road victory gives Winter Haven another early-season win as the Blue Devils continue working through their September schedule.
Around Polk County
Several other Polk County volleyball teams were also in action Tuesday.
Fort Meade swept Kathleen 3-0, while Mulberry defeated Tenoroc 3-0.
Winter Haven Christian needed five sets to get past Frostproof, winning 3-2.
Ridge Community defeated Poinciana 3-0, Auburndale swept Discovery 3-0, and Haines City earned a dominant three-set win over Roosevelt Academy.
Haines City won its sets 25-2, 25-9 and 25-17.
Daily Ridge will continue following high school volleyball and other fall sports throughout Polk County.
$1.93M Construction Contract Approved for Roundabout at Cypress Gardens Road Intersection
by James Coulter
To address recurring safety issues and traffic conflicts in the Cypress Gardens corridor, a roundabout is one step closer to being constructed at the intersection of Cypress Gardens Road and Lake Ned Road in Winter Haven.
At their recent meeting last month, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) voted unanimously to approve a $1,931,532.85 construction contract with Kamminga & Roodvoets, Inc. to build a roundabout at the intersection of Cypress Gardens Road and Lake Ned Road.
Construction will also include “related infrastructure improvements necessary to enhance safety, improve traffic operations, and provide an acceptable level of service on all approaches,” wrote Tabatha Shirah, Senior Procurement Analyst.
The project is scheduled for completion within 210 days, with an additional 31‑day allowance, and is fully funded and budgeted through the county’s Roads and Drainage five‑year Capital Improvement Plan under the Transportation Trust Fund.
Commissioners expressed clear support for the project. Commissioner Martha Santiago said she was “glad to see this project moving forward.” County Manager Bill Beasley agreed, noting that the roundabout was being built in “a busy little intersection.”
The intersection sits within a corridor that has seen a troubling pattern of severe crashes in recent years, especially with large vehicles. According to figures collected by Crime by City, between 2020 and 2024, Winter Haven recorded 25 traffic deaths from 24 fatal crashes, a rate of 8.4 deaths per 100,000 residents per year only slightly lower than the national average of 12.3 yet still concerning nonetheless.
Several recent crashes highlight the risks posed by high‑speed, multi‑lane intersections and heavy truck traffic in the area. Last month, a compact car became wedged beneath a semi‑truck at the intersection of Cypress Gardens Boulevard and Lazy Lane, as reported by Fox News 13. In another case, a semi‑truck crash near Lake Ruby Drive (just one intersection east of Lake Ned Road) shut down eastbound lanes, as reported by WFLA News Channel 8.
Roundabouts have become a preferred safety tool for both Polk County and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). These safety measures reduce fatal and severe-injury crash rates by 70 to 90 percent, according to FDOT data.
Several roundabouts have been installed throughout the county in recent years, including the Five Points Roundabout in Lakeland in April 2024, the I‑4/SR 557 Interchange roundabout in January 2023, and the Drane Field Road & Waring Road roundabout at Lakeland Linder Airport, one of the first multi-lane roundabouts in the county.
75-year old Kenneth Williams was a pedestrian at the intersection of US 98 North and Marcum Road in Lakeland, when he was hit by a southbound vehicle at about 6:30 a.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021.
Mr. Williams was taken to the hospital with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries and was talking. Hospital staff even expected him to make a full recovery.
Unfortunately, ten days later, on September 20th, Kenneth Williams passed away.
The person who was driving the vehicle who hit Mr. Williams remains unknown; he or she never bothered to stop and render aid.
All that is known of the vehicle is that it was a black Dodge pickup truck. The vehicle may have sustained damage to the front driver’s side and side-view mirror.
This hit & run remains unsolved, but the Polk County Sheriff’s Office would like to change that, and bring the driver to justice.
If you have ANY information about this crash, please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. Even the smallest bit of information could help solve this case.
If you wish to provide information but remain anonymous, you can provide your tip to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-888-400-TIPS (8477). If an arrest is made based on your tip, you could even be eligible for a reward.
City of Winter Haven – 25 Years since our country was changed forever.
Honoring Our Heroes – Remembering the Day brings Polk County together to pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and honor those who continue to serve – military, law enforcement, fire and EMS professionals.
Make your plans to come to South Central Park in Winter Haven on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. Displays from agencies will be set up starting at 4:30 pm with the Freedom Walk kicking off at 5:30 pm. A ceremony honoring all first responders and veterans will begin at 6 pm.
The ongoing effort to recall Fort Meade City Commissioner Matthew Taylor has moved from the political arena into a Polk County courtroom.
Taylor filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to halt the recall process and have the petition against him declared legally invalid. He is also asking for an expedited hearing because the recall process will continue unless a judge intervenes.
The recall petition accuses Taylor of malfeasance, misfeasance and neglect of duty, primarily involving the City Commission’s selection of a law firm. Recall organizers allege Taylor bypassed procurement requirements and that the firm’s higher fees resulted in mismanagement of public money.
Taylor’s attorneys strongly dispute those allegations. They argue the Fort Meade City Charter specifically gives the City Commission authority to hire the city attorney and that neither the charter nor state law requires the city attorney to be selected through a competitive bidding process.
The lawsuit also challenges the legal wording of the recall petition. Taylor’s attorneys contend the petition improperly treats malfeasance, misfeasance and neglect of duty as interchangeable grounds and argue that if any one of the stated grounds is legally insufficient, the entire petition must be thrown out.
Taylor’s lawsuit goes further, alleging the recall committee has failed to comply with Florida campaign finance requirements. The complaint also argues the stated reasons for the recall are a pretext and that the effort is actually retaliation for Taylor’s support of the controversial data center project approved in Fort Meade.
“This recall campaign is a gross abuse of the process and an effort to intimidate not just me, but other commissioners,” Taylor said in a statement released by his attorney. “Such tactics undermine the integrity of the democratic process and of good municipal government.”
The recall effort had already cleared its first signature hurdle before the lawsuit was filed. According to the complaint, the Polk County Supervisor of Elections certified the required number of valid signatures Aug. 14, and Taylor was served with the petition Aug. 26.
The lawsuit names Michael Bennett, chairman of the recall committee, along with Fort Meade City Clerk Troy Bell, Interim Deputy Clerk Olivia Martin and Polk County Supervisor of Elections Melony Bell as defendants.
Taylor is asking the court to declare the recall petition invalid and permanently stop any further recall proceedings, including a potential recall election.
For now, the recall has not been stopped. Taylor has asked the court to intervene, but a judge has not yet ruled on his request or the merits of his allegations.
County Commissioners Approve Five‑Year Water Utility Rate Adjustments
by James Coulter
To help pay for expected costs to operate, maintain, and improve the county’s water system over the next five years, county commissioners approved a plan to increase water rates and other utility fees gradually.
At their regular meeting in late Summer, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) voted unanimously to adopt a resolution revising the Utilities Division Schedule of Rates, Charges, and Fees.
In July 2024, the BoCC approved a five‑year Utilities Rate Plan intended to keep the county’s water system financially stable by aligning rates with projected capital and operating costs. But a new rate study indicates the plan may fall short.
Current utility rates are considered “insufficient to fund the aggregate costs of utility operating expenses, required debt service payments, and the capital improvement costs supported by utility rates and surcharges,” according to Tamara Richardson, Utilities Division Director.
To ensure the water system has enough funding for operations and upcoming projects, county staff outlined several proposed rate and fee changes:
1. Extend the current $0.25 PWRI/AWS surcharge for two additional years, through 2029 and 2030.
2. Continue the annual six‑percent increase to potable water and wastewater rates through 2029 and 2030.
3. Raise reclaimed water service charges in three steps:
• Increase base and usage rates to 1.5 times the current amount by Oct. 1, 2026.
• Add another 33 percent increase on April 1, 2027.
• Apply six‑percent annual increases from 2027 through 2030.
4. Create a new septage processing fee of $0.15 per gallon.
• Water connection fees would rise by $951 per Equivalent Residential Connection (ERC).
• Wastewater connection fees would rise by $1,291 per ERC.
These changes are expected to generate enough revenue to cover the water system’s capital needs and ongoing maintenance over the next five years.
“An additional $135 million in bond proceeds may be required after Fiscal Year 2031 to complete projects started at the end of the 5-year rate plan, which may necessitate the need for additional rate increase beyond what is proposed,” Richardson wrote.
Commissioner Mike Scott asked for clarification on reclaimed water, claiming that while many communities struggle to generate demand for it, the county is facing the opposite problem: it needs more reclaimed water than it can currently produce.
Richardson said reclaimed water plays a key role in conservation because it’s used for irrigation instead of drawing additional water from the aquifer, creating a “one‑to‑one” offset with potable water.
She emphasized that reclaimed water is a valuable resource, and an expensive one, as it costs more to treat and produce than potable water. As such, if the county needs an additional irrigation supply, it must rely on its alternative water supply project, which is even more costly, she said.
“So, this makes sense to bring it up to make sure we are conserving, and [that] we are getting an even playing field for all of our residents, and [that] we are actually conserving a very valuable resource,” she said.
Commissioner Bill Braswell asked about the proposed project to move reclaimed water from the northwest service area to Haines City. Richardson said the project is still in the design phase and has not yet received construction funding. The county has money to complete the design, she noted, and the project will advance once funding is secured.
When built, the project would install roughly 18 miles of 24‑ to 36‑inch piping to carry reclaimed water from the northwest, where no in‑ground irrigation system currently exists, and where excess water is stored in an aquifer storage and recovery well.
Commissioner Rick Wilson cast the lone vote against the proposed revisions. While he understood the need to conserve water, with it being one of their “more important natural resources,” he did not feel raising rates on consumers was the appropriate solution.
“I’m just telling this board right now, I am not for raising our rates,” he said. “When it comes to raising our rates, I know we did not raise rates for quite a while to keep our costs down and to our public, and then when we had to raise, because we are not in the business to raise money.”
