Public Safety · Lakeland, FL
The Lakeland Police Department will host a drive-through drop-off for unwanted medications on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 219 N. Massachusetts Ave. Several additional locations in Polk County will also participate in the collection effort to prevent abuse and safety hazards. Accepted items include human and pet prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, and vaping devices with batteries removed. Residents can also use a 24/7 dropbox in the LPD lobby at any time.
Local Politics · Polk County
Polk County Supervisor of Elections Melony Bell addressed a social media claim that ballots are disqualified if written on, explaining two legitimate scenarios: a clerk accidentally writing beyond the ballot stub (voter receives a replacement) and a tabulator rejecting ballots for overvoting, undervoting, or marks outside ovals. Voters may receive up to three ballots, and rejected ballots go to the Canvassing Board—Bell, County Judge Hope Pattey, and County Commissioner Michael Scott—for voter-intent review. As of Oct. 23, nearly 58,000 Polk County voters (over 12.5%) had cast ballots, including almost 23,000 in the first five days of early voting and over 35,000 by mail. Bell also highlighted a partnership with Citrus Connection offering free rides to the polls.
Community News · Lakeland, FL
The Lakeland Police Department's Cops for Kids program, now in its 20th year, opens registration Monday, Oct. 26, and Tuesday, Oct. 27, for families needing Christmas gifts for children 12 and under who live within city limits. Registration runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. both days at the Lakeland Police Department (219 North Massachusetts Ave.) on Monday and Simpson Park (1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.) on Tuesday. Applicants must bring a current Lakeland Electric bill, photo ID, and original birth certificates for each child; those who received gifts in the previous two years are ineligible. The program provides toys to approximately 400 children annually through community donations.
Nearby · Crime · Bartow, FL
A 3-year-old boy died Thursday evening after accidentally shooting himself with a Glock handgun inside a vehicle at a Burger King drive-thru in Bartow, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. The family, who had recently moved from Connecticut, was attempting to buy dinner when the father's credit card declined; he placed the firearm on the seat while searching for another payment method. The child grabbed the gun from the backseat and pulled the trigger, deputies said. First responders transported him to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. Sheriff Judd said information is being transferred to the State Attorney's Office but noted there is currently no energy for suggesting criminal charges.
