Lakeland Local
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This Just In!
Posted: 30 Jul 2007 08:34 PM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/this-just-in.html
The Lakeland Ledger's new Publisher, Jerome Ferson, started work today. The following plea is to his attention:
Please stop with the "Breaking News!"
As I write this entry, there are 14 items listed under the theledger.com's Breaking News. Most are simply not timely or important enough to be considered "breaking news." You have a paragraph about Bucs tickets that will go on sale in five days! There's a story about the winners of a father-son golf tourney that finished yesterday. A snippet mentions that you have until Monday to register to vote in Winter Haven. One is even about a construction project ahead of schedule.
Breaking news should be something you'd interrupt a Florida vs. Florida State title game to report.
These might be cool stories. They might be teasers for tomorrow's paper, but they're certainly not breaking news.
How about a new section for these items? "This is cool!" or "In Tomorrow's Ledger" or whatever a focus group thinks is a cool section header. That way you can leave Breaking News for, well, breaking news.
Thank you, and welcome to Lakeland. Please wear sunscreen.
Chuck Welch
Lakeland Local
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Bill Kitchen, Lakeland Illustrator, Dies
Posted: 28 Jul 2007 08:32 AM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/bill-kitchen-lakeland-illustra.html
Bill Kitchen, former illustrator for the Miami Herald, died in his home Wednesday. Kitchen was the Herald's popular illustrator for three decades. He retired to Lakeland where he freelanced for The Lakeland Ledger.
''Artists are usually regarded as temperamental, but not Bill,'' recalled John McMullen, retired executive editor. ``He not only was talented but easygoing, likeable, and unfailingly upbeat about his work and the world.''
Anne Baumgartner, longtime Action Line editor, now retired, said in an e-mail that Kitchen 'never realized how truly talented he was. But his fans did. They loved him. `I can't wait to see what Bill Kitchen will make of this,' they'd say to Action Line. They'd beg for a copy of 'their cartoon.' "-- Miami Herald'
Kitchen's graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. today at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Illustration by Bill Kitchen for the book, The Adventures of Ali Alligator by Rita T. Geringswald
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Lakeland Crime Map July 16 to July 22
Posted: 27 Jul 2007 11:43 PM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/lakeland-crime-map-july-16.html
CommunityWalk Map - LakelandLocal.com Crime Map 07/16 to 07/22
Stats:
04 - Business Burglary
02 - Business Robbery
03 - Gang Graffiti
07 - Personal Robbery
24 - Residential Burglary
01 - Residential Robbery
02 - Attempted Stolen Vehicles
04 - Recovered Stolen Vehicles
05 - Stolen Vehicles
16 - Vehicle Burglary
Lakeland Local
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Don't Lower Taxes?
Posted: 26 Jul 2007 08:23 AM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/dont-lower-taxes.html
Last night members of the Lakeland City Commission spoke to the members of the Lakeland Citizen's Academy. I asked what they felt was the major priority for the city over the next few years. In every case, they spoke of "growth management." Commissioner Yates was emphatic that she doesn't want to see Lakeland become a bedroom community serving Tampa and Orlando.
Most of the graduates of the Citizen's Academy stayed for the budget meeting that was held last night. I was actually surprised to hear residents speak out in favor of not cutting taxes to force eliminating programs.
Residents who showed up for Wednesday's budget workshop at City Hall urged the Lakeland City Commission to not forsake their quality of life or safety and follow the lead of Polk City in ignoring Tallahassee's mandate to roll back property taxes. -- The Lakeland Ledger
Of course, most who spoke were most concerned the commission would eliminate their program. But, of the programs listed for elimination, I couldn't see any as being "fat" that needed trimming. I'd suggest the City Manager look less at eliminating programs and try to find a way to trim all departments a bit. I realize it's easier to just say, "remove this program and that one," but the city needs its sole police helicopter and the Lemon Street Sculptures are an important piece of this city's charm.
Pictured are: Commissioner Edie Yates, Commissioner Dean Boring, Mayor Buddy Fletcher, Commissioner Howard Wiggs, and City Manager Douglas Thomas
Photo CC by Chuck Welch
Lakeland Local
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Clause? What Clause?
Posted: 24 Jul 2007 08:41 AM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/clause-what-clause.html
Has this USF Lakeland information been previously reported?
Unless "substantial" construction money is poured into the project by June, the Lakeland property could go back to the Oklahoma company that donated it to USF.
In 2004, the Williams Corp. donated about 500 acres along Interstate 4. The company, however, could exercise a clause that allows it to take back the property if construction doesn't progress, Goodman said. -- Tampa Tribune
What kind of progress? Do we need a building in place? Students attending classes? A road?
Why not pull a trailer onto the property and put student services? When I went to college that's how far away our student records were from campus.
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This and That: Back in Town
Posted: 23 Jul 2007 03:10 PM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/this-and-that-back-in-town-1.html
Here's a bunch I missed while I was out:
Greenguy gets the chance to visit Florida Southern and take pics.
Kacee Hanscom's mother speaks to WTSP. Ms Hanscom wants all rail crossings to lock the full road width. "She says her daughter probably became conditioned like many others do to try to beat it."
Jim Gouvellis is named publisher of the Lake Wales News and Associate Publisher of the Polk County Democrat.
Sheriff Grady Judd offers gold stars to Myspace teens.
Billy Townsend's article on wait times at the Wabash rail crossing deserves a close reading. It probably will take more than 74 seconds to read it though.
Ocala officials looking to start a similar facility will tour Lakeland's Talbot House.
"The blaring sounds of the rock band U2 are an unusual way to start worship, but the U2charist service at the recent Florida Annual Conference Event did feature the band’s music and was anything but usual for a conference event." -- Florida Conference rocks on with U2charist, Expression ’07.
Chicago Tribune writer Stevenson Swanson's article on Florida Southern and Frank Lloyd Wright ran Sunday in the Buffalo News.
Lakeland Local
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Lakeland Crime Map July 9 to July 15
Posted: 22 Jul 2007 04:42 PM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/lakeland-crime-map-july-9.html
CommunityWalk Map - LakelandLocal.com Crime Map 07/09 to 07/15
Stats:
10 - Business Burglary
02 - Personal Robbery
23 - Residential Burglary
01 - Recovered Stolen Vehicles
03 - Stolen Vehicles
04 - Vehicle Burglary
Lakeland Local
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Name the USF Road
Posted: 20 Jul 2007 11:00 AM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/name-the-usf-road.html
You might have read the other day that they're building a road to the new USF campus. Not to get too far into the future, but someone is going to have to name that road. I think you can help.
I've created a survey to find your preference. Please select one of the choices or add your own suggestion. The survey is confidential and non-binding.
Click Here to Name the New USF road...
Lakeland Local
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At the game
Posted: 19 Jul 2007 02:07 PM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/at-the-game.html
It's park and rec day with the Devil Rays.
At the game CC by Chuck Welch.
Lakeland Local
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Polk Voice
Posted: 18 Jul 2007 11:50 AM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/polk-voice.html
Congratulations go to The Ledger for today's update to Polk Voice. There are some spiffy photos in the new header. I really like the way they change with each page refresh. (And if you think you've seen that somewhere, there's a good reason you're seeing it now.)
Of course, I have a feature request or two: How about an option to list blogs by most recently updated? There's some that haven't had a new post in a year. Could we get a cutline under the Featured Photo listing the blog where it was posted?
All in all, the new look adds some pizazz to the Polk Voice. Now, if we could just convince more citizens to start hyperlocal blogs there.
Lakeland Local
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Mike Herr speaks to Fla. Bipartisans
Posted: 16 Jul 2007 07:07 PM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/mike-herr-speaks-to-fla-bipart.html
County Manager Mike Herr spoke tonight to the Lakeland chapter of the Florida Bipartisan Civic Affairs Group. as with all such meetings there was a variety of subjects discussed, and I'm sure Ledger reporter Tom Palmer will have a recap.
There was one CSX Polk County Rail Hub related slide I found hopeful, "Polk County is coordinating with Winter Haven on the need to conduct joint planning for the surrounding area to develop a "master plan." I spoke to Herr after the meeting, and the county and Winter Haven haven't yet sat down, nor is there a definitive time table.
County Commissioner Jean Reed was in attendance and mentioned that Lake Wales wants to stop the projects progress until the DRI is complete.
Mike Herr speaks to Fla. Bipartisans CC by Chuck Welch.
9:30pm: Update to add text.
Lakeland Local
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Lakeland Crime Map July 2 to July 8
Posted: 16 Jul 2007 12:09 AM CDT
http://lakelandlocal.com/2007/07/lakeland-crime-map-july-02.html
Due to technical difficulties we're a couple of days late. If this is your first Lakeland crime map, look after the jump for an explanation...
CommunityWalk Map - LakelandLocal.com Crime Map 07/02 to 07/08
Stats:
08 - Business Burglary
01 - Gang Grafitti
03 - Personal Robbery
09 - Residential Burglary
05 - Stolen Vehicles
09 - Vehicle Burglary
