The City of Avon Park is currently seeking volunteers to fill four vacancies on local boards and committees. One seat is available on the Avon Park Housing Authority, while alternate positions are open on the Planning & Zoning Board, Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board, and the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee. Alternates play a vital role in ensuring meetings can proceed when regular members are absent. Interested residents can apply by completing a volunteer form at www.avonpark.city.
Bartow and Polk County are teaming up to build a $12 million joint fire station to better serve the area’s growing population. With increased traffic and call volume in North Bartow, response times have become a challenge—especially along busy U.S. 98. The new station, located on Smith Lane, will serve North Bartow, Highland City, and parts of unincorporated Polk County. Costs will be split 60/40 between the county and city, with shared maintenance. Officials say the partnership means faster, more efficient emergency response for residents.
A Central Florida middle school assistant principal has been arrested following allegations of inappropriate behavior with a student. Dr. Keiva Lark, 53, of Lake Marion Creek Middle School, faces charges of lewd conduct and committing a lewd act as an authority figure. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the incident occurred after a student was sent to Lark’s office, where she allegedly instructed him to rub her feet and made inappropriate comments. Lark has been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues.
A Polk County man is serving time for a hit-and-run that killed a teenager. Lakeland’s Edgardo Joel Rosado Perez was sentenced yesterday to 20 years for last year’s crash in Bartow. The 42-year-old pled guilty two months ago to vehicular homicide. Perez hit 18-year-old Zachariah Clabough, who died at the scene on Jackson Ave. Perez took off and was arrested in Hillsborough County. Clabough’s sister addressed Perez in court and told him "to say I loathe you would be an understatement."
A Lakeland woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly driving drunk with a bloody hand and becoming combative during a DUI stop. Deputies say 29-year-old Michela Drewell Hames was spotted drinking from a bottle of brandy while behind the wheel on April 5th. After a traffic stop, Hames reportedly showed signs of impairment, refused sobriety tests, and later spit on a deputy. Her blood alcohol level tested nearly twice the legal limit. Hames is charged with DUI, battery on a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.
Due to a mistake, a convicted killer could be back in Central Florida. Kathan Guzman was recently released from a Georgia jail. He was sentenced to life for killing Dalia Grayson in 2022, and officials in Georgia admit he should not have been released. Guzman and Grayson dated for three years, and he strangled the 19-year-old to death when she tried to break up with him. They both attended Poinciana High School, and Grayson’s mom still lives in the area. She says she’s worried Guzman could target her or her family for helping get him convicted. Deputies are patrolling her neighborhood, but Grayson tells Channel 9 she feels like a sitting duck.
Florida Senate President Ben Albritton is floating a new tax cut proposal. In a memo to members of the Senate, Albritton says the proposal would permanently eliminate the sales tax on clothing and shoes priced at 75 dollars or less. Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez have offered different tax cut proposals. DeSantis wants to reduce or eliminate property taxes, while Perez wants to reduce the state’s six-percent sales tax.
Florida’s top agriculture official is sounding the alarm for what could be an especially dangerous wildfire season. Wilton Simpson says while conditions are dry in Central Florida, they’re extremely dry in South and Southwest Florida. He says state crews have already fought about a thousand fires so far this year…including one that burned close to 50-thousand acres near Miami. Simpson says we’re looking at a dry spring–through at least the end of June. He’s urging people to clean their gutters, and put any campfires out thoroughly.