Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the September 25, 2024 edition


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  • Polk County Utilities Customers to See Rate Increases for Water, Sewer Services

    Special to the News|Updated Sep 30, 2024

    Polk County Utility customers will see an increase in their cost of water and sewer bills starting today. Water and wastewater rates have been increased by 6% beginning Oct. 1. According to county spokesperson Jeff Foley, "the surcharge assessed on water usage and reclaimed water usage also will increase, as will connection fees. The increases are necessary to allow the county to meet its current and future water demands." The increase is the first that Polk County Utilities...

  • Hurricane Redux? Computer Models Anticipate New Storm Entering Gulf of Mexico

    Robert Connors|Updated Sep 29, 2024

    As the nation takes account of the staggering loss of life and damage caused by Hurricane Helene, hurricane forecasters and Florida emergency managers are already casting a wary eye toward the Caribbean, where the active Central American Gyre (CAG) is in the process of generating another potential mega-storm. Florida's west coast took the worst of Helene, leaving the interior largely free of damage. Severe storm-surge that caused millions in damages to beach towns, while Polk...

  • Woman Killed in Head-on Crash on Hatchineha Road

    News Staff Reports|Updated Sep 25, 2024

    Lake Hatchineha Road was closed for approximately five hours early Wednesday after a fatal crash on Lake Hatchineha Road. Polk County Fire Rescue and sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the crash at 12:26 a.m. The preliminary investigation by the PCSO's Traffic Homicide investigators determined that Douglas Fairel, Jr. of Haines City was driving a 2021 Cadillac Escalade westbound on Lake Hatchineha Road when his vehicle crossed over the center line and collided head-on with...

  • Southeast Polk To Receive Tropical Storm, But Escape the Worst Effects of Helene

    Robert Connors|Updated Sep 25, 2024

    Polk County and the Ridge will escape the worst effects of Hurricane Helene, but area residents should still be prepared for a blow, according to specific forecasts. Heavy rains and winds gusting to near hurricane force are also possible as the storm passes to the west. Helene, currently entering the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to charge north and northeastward as it rapidly intensifies to become a major hurricane, reaching Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale,...