Polk County and the City of Bartow agreed to design and build a joint fire station along Smith Lane near U.S 98 to provide fire services for the fast growing population in northern Bartow The station would provide first responder emergency services to North Bartow Highland City and unincorporated Polk County A heatmap presented to the Commissioners said in 2024 Station 9 in Bartow and the county's current Highland City station handled a combined 6,219 calls for service The contract states that its purpose is to avoid duplication of costs The Polk County Commission approved a contract April 1 to construct and maintain the $12 million joint-use Fire Rescue station costing the county $6.78 million and the city $5.22 million Bartow city commissioners had approved a similar contract in February The contract calls for a 60% county and 40% city split on the costs Polk County will provide the plans to build the estimated 19,432-square-foot facility with Bartow using 7,775 square feet and Polk $11,657 square feet The manpower and equipment will be equivalent to an individual city or county station The four acres for the station was purchased by the county in 2022 from Lakeland Regional Health Systems with the intent to replace the county's Highland City fire station Local government cooperation In introducing the project to the commissioners County Manager Bill Beasley said the joint-use fire station “represents a really solid good governance attitude about the county and how we relate to the municipalities.”   “I think it's really indicative of the strong working relationships that exist today across Polk County between county government and those municipalities and frankly I think it's what the citizens expect of us And I think this will bear out just how productive we can be.”  Bartow Mayor Trish Pfeiffer agreed with Beasley “We are excited about this co-location station,” she said “I think it is a good use of resources and land and where we needed to locate in the northern part of the city “Grateful that y'all were open to that and that we were able to work it out between our fire chiefs and just look forward to getting that thing online because we can use it right away Bartow has asked the state Legislature for funds to purchase another fire truck for the station City Manager Mike Herr said by email Monday "It made a great deal to our City leadership team and the Polk County leadership team to build one station for both County /Fire /EMS and City of Bartow Fire Services since Polk County chose a strategic location on the west side of US 98 just south of Smith Lane "The county was planning to close their Highland City station and relocate to this site to better handle their volume of calls that had been changing over time geographically," he added "That said our City has permitted a lot of single-family and multi-family developments on the east side of US 98," Herr said "Our evaluation of new growth and response times for service calls led us to believe that we needed a new fire station along the U.S "County taxpayers are benefiting from increased efficiency concerning calls for service and we are saving money by building one station," he said the County Commission adopted a resolution to create a Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and approved 15 nominees to serve on the board The committee was established “to provide an independent and external perspective on the County’s Comprehensive Plan policies” and “to ensure that such policies align with the best interest of the public and the County Commission’s vision.”  — A second sinkhole formed in front of a Highland City home on Royal Crest Drive Polk County officials said the sinkhole appeared Wednesday in the home's front yard The sinkhole is 8 feet wide and 20 feet deep first responders have cordoned off the area in the home's yard where the sinkhole formed and are monitoring for changes Officials do not believe the sinkhole is impacting the home's foundation and have told the residents they can stay in the home if they choose In January a sinkhole formed in front of the same home Officials say it is not uncommon for sinkholes to reappear after they are filled in "The new opening is essentially right next to the previous sinkhole there is a possibility things can shift or reopen,” Jay Jarvis Director of Polk County Road and Drainage Division The roadway in front of the home remains open and Polk County is working with a geotechnical firm to assess the sinkhole Latest Polk County News from ABC Action News Report a typo “Because of the recurrence and the proximity to the initial sinkhole The sinkhole that occurred in January was approximately 15 feet wide by 60 feet deep; The opening did encroach into public right-of-way the county hired contractors to fill it with sand and clay Copyright © 2025 Polk County Government (WXYZ) — A Highland Park city councilman who was already arrested after crashing his car while allegedly driving on a suspended license is now facing criticism for another police encounter This incident involved comments he made to officers that are being called racially insensitive City Councilman Khursheed Ash-Shafii closed the door in my face last time I visited him for an interview he took my call and even defended his remarks Ash-Shafii was caught on police body camera video in Highland Park having a contentious exchange with officers he’s heard describing the officers as “white Nazis.” “I don’t like white Nazis,” Ash-Shafii said The incident happened on March 10 at the corner of Oakman Boulevard and Hamilton Avenue Police were in the area to ask a bar employee about a child found wandering nearby The councilman said he got a call to come make sure citizens were treated fairly And I stand by that statement,” the councilman told me The police chief says Ash-Shafii has been antagonistic on numerous occasions move forward,” Highland Park Police Chief James McMahon said I obtained video that involved Ash-Shafii’s arrest on April 7 for refusing a breathalyzer after a crash allegedly driving on a suspended license and failing to yield EMTs described a smell of alcohol and slurred speech Watch our report when Ash-Shafii was charged for refusing to take a breathalyzer after a crash and driving on a suspended license: longtime Highland Park resident Alexis Ramsey says the encounter was disrespectful “When you are sitting in an elected official’s seat as the councilman is I don’t think anyone on our police force is a Nazi.” The councilman is still on the job and free on bond This construction project is aimed at addressing persistent flooding issues in the Marks Street and Pasadena Place areas this region has experienced significant flooding and the primary goal of this project is to establish a surface water outfall to alleviate these concerns The proposed drainage improvements will enhance our ability to capture stormwater and channel it to the downstream receiving waterbody The initial flush of stormwater will continue to be directed to the existing Irma Avenue drainage well with a high-level overflow directed to Lake Highland This lake is part of a broader system of lakes and streams that ultimately discharge to Lake Jesup in Seminole County we are working on potable and raw water main enhancements along Highland Avenue and Pasadena Place This initiative is a collaborative effort with the City of Orlando and the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) while funding for this project is provided through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) sidewalk improvements along Highland Avenue and at all intersections will be conducted to comply with American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines for pedestrian access The area affected by this project consists of homes and businesses in the following locations: Marks Street between Irma Avenue and Highland Avenue The project will undergo completion across eight Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) phases Night work is scheduled specifically at the Lake Highland Preparatory School entrances The road will be demolished curb-to-curb for the construction of the utilities there might be an occasion when certain residents will not be able to use their driveways the contractor will provide residents with advance notice and recommend alternative parking spots on the street. If a driveway is inaccessible the City of Orlando’s Solid Waste Division will coordinate with the contractor and residents regarding trash and recycling collection drop-off areas First responders and emergency vehicles will have priority access in an emergency. Unforeseen circumstances and adverse weather can create delays that increase the project's duration and create opportunities for weekend work City Directory Subscribe to City News Downtownorlando.com Information Locator  News and Information Illinois is ending its 1% grocery tax but your town or city can bring it right back Eliminating the grocery tax means less revenue for local governments but it also means a bigger burden on low-income families It must choose between cutting its budget or reimposing the local 1% tax on groceries when the statewide tax ends Jan The ordinance wouldn’t be put to a vote until a later meeting Groceries for a family of four on what the federal government considers a “low-budget meal plan” were about $858 a month in January 2020 Inflation has pushed that number to $1,064 as of May 2024 That is an annual hike of $2,473 more in a four-year period when that same shopping list only rose $1,164 a year between 2010 and 2020 Illinois was the only state among the 10 most populated with a grocery tax One other Illinois community is considering a grocery tax. River Forest is exploring adding the tax worth $1 million a year while neighboring Oak Park has no plans to replace it despite facing a $1 million drop in revenue Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More – A sinkhole has opened in the front yard of a home just south of Lakeland found next to the drive way of the Highland City home on Royal Crest Drive appears to be near where a previous hole opened in January said the hole is 10 to 12 feet wide and about 20 feet deep Officials are working to determine if the hole is growing or not and what the next step should be crews used a mixture of clay and sand to fill in that hole which was about 60 feet deep and 20 feet wide.    Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application She graduated from South Gate High School in South Gate Launa and Jim were married 55 years at the time of her passing.  her 2 sons: Chad (Kelli) Malone of Chicago UT and 7 grandkids whom she loved immensely through and through; she loved the beach and being barefoot in the sand Launa enjoyed developing her artistic talents She particularly loved creating stained glass pieces She engrained in her boys her love of the rock and roll of the ‘70s and ’80’s The typical “dentist office” soundtrack will always remind them of their mom Launa and Jim had many pets over the years but their springer spaniels and golden retrievers always had a special place in her heart Launa had a bright and youthful personality that endeared her to many especially the youth she worked with over the years in her church callings She touched many lives with her welcoming and generous spirit.  Family and close friends will be remembering Launa at a gravesite service to be held on Monday September 23rd at 11:00 am at the Highland City Cemetery: 6200 West 11000 North Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page Add to Calendar This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Martin Carlino is a co-founder and the senior editor who assigns and edits The Record stories Martin is an experienced and award-winning education reporter who was the editor of The Northbrook Tower Producer Jack Filbrandt sat down with the Detroit Documenters to learn more about the challenges Highland Park leaders are prioritizing Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts The Detroit Documenters train and pay residents to attend and cover local government meetings in southeast Michigan Their work amplifies voices that often go unheard and they help us to hold our local leaders accountable Highland Park is a city circled by Detroit The small city’s decline is in sharp contrast to Detroit’s revival Detroit Documenters have been attending Highland Park City Council meetings to understand exactly what kinds of challenges local leaders are prioritizing The Metro producer Jack Filbrandt sat down with Detroit Documenters Coordinator Noah Kincade and Documenter Sherrie Smith to learn more Hear more stories from The Metro on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand WDET is a community service of Wayne State University CONTACT Membership Sponsorship Studio Rentals Technical Support Pitch Us a Story Help/FAQ Other Inquiries Shows Podcasts Schedule Listen Live Contests & Giveaways SUPPORT WDET Membership Leadership Circle Car Donations Business Sponsorship Broadcast Partners Program More » INSIDE WDET About Staff Jobs & Internships Public File FCC Applications A 20-foot-deep sinkhole appeared in the front yard of a Royal Crest Drive home in Highland City on Thursday near the same home that experienced a sinkhole earlier this year homeowners called 911 to report an opening in the ground near their driveway The sinkhole was about 8-feet-wide by 20-feet-deep and is located on the lawn about halfway between the road and the house Emergency Management and Roads and Drainage divisions responded First responders cordoned off the sinkhole and monitored it for changes The sinkhole does not appear to be impacting the home’s foundation Emergency officials explained to residents the decision to stay in the home or go elsewhere was up to them “We filled a sinkhole at this location back in January because the right-of-way was impacted," Roads and Drainage Division Director Jay Jarvis said "The new opening is essentially right next to the previous sinkhole Anytime there’s an opening or sinkhole and you fill it there is a possibility things can shift or reopen.”  In North Lakeland Crater that formed during Hurricane Milton swallows parts of two houses Polk County is currently working with a geo-technical firm to assess the sinkhole in relation to the home and right-of-way “Because of the recurrence and the proximity to the initial sinkhole The sinkhole that occurred in January was approximately 15 feet wide by 60 feet deep; The opening did encroach into the public right-of-way to Benjamin and Mary (nee Gregory) Rudolph Joseph Hospital in Highland for 20 plus years Donna was a member of the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland and a camping group called the Star Craft Club Donna loved to cook for everyone and entertained guests a lot when she was younger She used to belong to a Bunco league and always had fun playing cards and games with her friends and family Donna will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her She was preceded in death by her first husband Benjamin Rudolph and Mary Mitchell; sisters Darleen Phillips and Diana Tremor; and aunt and Wendy (Brett) Gustin; great grandchildren Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours We were so sorry to hear about your mom’s passing Our deepest and heartfelt sympathies are with you and your family during this hard time We hope you find comfort in the legacy of love she leaves behind and that her memory will forever be a blessing Oh my gosh…I am so sorry 😞 I just loved your mom Sending you all my deepest sympathy and love ❤️ I took care of her 2-3 days a week for months talking about all the fabulous jewelry she wore daily and her smile when she walked into the clinic to be her friend and to be loved by Donna was an honor But I’m also happy that she is in a better place I will be eating some pie on behalf of her soon © 2025. Meridith Funeral Home, P.C. All rights reserved. Login  Design: Serpentine Hurricane Milton made landfall at 8:30 p.m The storm had gradually dropped in intensity to a Category 3 hurricane But it was still expected to bring hurricane winds to Polk County as it meanders east-northeast across the state It's latest track predicted it would travel through Highland City and Winter Haven Milton had already brought tons of rain to Polk County on Wednesday Much of the county was under tornado warnings and flash flood warnings by early Wednesday afternoon forecasters' biggest concern is storm surge which could hit 10 to 15 feet in several areas "The storm surge anticipated in some communities will be to the level of one- and two-story buildings and can reach that level with tremendous force in a matter of a few minutes," AccuWeather warned "Milton will be a surge event unlike any hurricane in living memory for west-central Florida with only major hurricane strikes in 1848 and 1921 comparable in scope and height of the coastal flooding," said Dr Truchelut is a Florida meteorologist who works with the USA TODAY Network Polk County can expect hurricane force winds late Wednesday night or early Thursday a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay said Wednesday morning that despite some continued "wobbles," Hurricane Milton remained on track to cross Polk County "You're still looking at a very significant impacts the storm will have a large wind field that will expand as it approaches the coast with very strong winds over the Lakeland area," Flannery said A tornado watch was in effect Wednesday morning much of the county was under a tornado watch as heavy storm cells ripped through the area Tropical storm force winds started arriving in Polk as early as 2 p.m but Flannery said residents needed to be prepared for sustained winds of at least 75 mph and more likely over 110 mph with higher wind gusts overnight The storm is expected to bring total rainfall as high as 12 inches with up to 18 inches of rain in some isolated area The county remains under a flood watch through Thursday morning a flash flood watch was issued as rains battered the area strong winds and heavy rain in advance of the storm have already created patches of power outages across Polk County the electric companies are reporting the following power outages: Lakeland Electric: 106 active outages, impacting 5,829 customersDuke Energy: 39 active outages, impacting 2,042 customersTECO: Over 1,000 outages in southeast Winter Haven, 155 outages north of Jan Phyl Village and over 415 outages in the Davenport-Haines City areaPolk Emergency Management 5:10 p.m. update"The message is the impacts of the storm are here," said Paul Womble Director of Polk County’s Emergency Management during a 5:10 p.m Wednesday update from the Emergency Operations Center in Bartow “Now is the time to hunker down,” he added and the strongest part of the storm is not here.” He expected the worse rainfall amounts and winds to occur after dark Several places in the county have experienced downed power lines flash flood warnings are active and have been verified “There are several places with water across the roads,” he said There were numerous tornado warnings in Polk County Wednesday afternoon but no confirmed touchdown of a funnel cloud Highlands County just to Polk’s south did have a confirmed tornado touchdown The shelters are now holding about 5,500 people and remained open Citrus Connection had been transporting people to special needs shelters since 6 a.m Wednesday but planned to stop once winds reach 45 mph All the shelters will accept people until the weather conditions become too dangerous to open the doors Womble said it is best to stay hunkered down for now until it’s safer tomorrow The Florida Highway patrol reported an overturned camper and pickup truck was blocking the two eastbound lanes of the Polk Parkway at mile marker 17 The Polk County Sheriff's Office said two roads are impassible because of torrential rains from Hurricane Milton 42nd Street Northwest at Avenue Q is also flooded and do not attempt to drive through flooded streets," the Sheriff's Office said The National Weather Service in Tampa issued a flash flood warning for Polk County through 3:15 p.m as torrential rain from Hurricane Milton lashed the area Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the warned area Between 2 and 4 inches of rain have fallen," the alert said "Additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are possible in the warned area Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly." Scenes from around Lakeland as Milton approachesTornado warning issued for northwest Polk County - 3:09 p.m.The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a tornado warning for northwest Polk County the NWS detected a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado over Winter Haven The agency warned of potential flying debris Weather Service issued tornado warning in southeast PolkTwo areas with radar indicated possible tornado activity was reported Wednesday with possible 80 mph winds and hail moving south of Dundee Some of the rotation lasted in the atmosphere for up to 20 minutes the NWS has issued a tornado warning at 1:48 p.m for Polk County and nine other southern and southwestern Florida moving north Polk County Government offices will be closed from Wednesday through Friday with plans to reopen to the public on Monday The Polk Commission’s agenda review scheduled for Friday has been canceled and rescheduled for Monday in room 407 of the Polk County Government Administration Building Avelo Airlines cancels its Thursday flightAvelo Airlines made the decision to cancel its 7:30 p.m Thursday outbound flight to Tweed Airport in New Haven according to Airport Director Kris Hallstrand During a news conference Wednesday morning Ron DeSantis said that the LifeScience Logistics warehouse at 310 N Galloway Road in Lakeland is one of several "shelters of last resort" the state will make available to residents fleeing Hurricane Milton The company that operates the 100,000-square-foot warehouse has been awarded a state contract to manage the supply of drugs imported from Canada The NWS has revised its forecast for the Peace River at State Road 60 in Bartow since Tuesday It now predicts major flooding in Bartow by Sunday the NWS said the Peace River at SR 60 in Bartow water level is expected to reach 7 feet After Hurricane Milton has dumped at least a foot of rain in some areas of Central Florida the Peace River is expected reach action stage and then on Friday it will rise to moderate flooding levels the historic record high watermark in Bartow was 11.1 feet to Robert and Laura (nee Greenlee) Meunier she married Michael Payton at First Christian Church in Collinsville Jeannie was a member of Copper Creek Christian Church in Maryville and sister; Jeannie will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her Jeannie is survived by her husband of 42 years Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Copper Creek Christian Church of Maryville Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to you & all your family during this difficult time Mike Our deepest condolences and sympathy go out to the family of Jeannie May Mike and all who knew and loved Jeannie find peace and comfort during this difficult time My deepest sympathy for Jeannie’s family as well as so many others whose life that she touched I worked with Jean a number of years while we were both at MasterCard HIGHLAND PARK – Highland Park City Hall has reopened amid the city under a boil water advisory for days Previous coverage: ‘We’re working diligently’: What Highland Park officials said regarding recent boil water advisories Although the city’s water department said the water pressure is increasing City hall will be open during normal business hours beginning April 1 The city will be handing out water to residents starting at 9 a.m City officials ask residents to approach the Tyler Street side of the building for service and have an ID readily available Those who are walking to the justice center will be a separate line away from moving traffic Residents are advised to follow these guidelines during the boil water advisory: Boiling kills bacteria and other harmful organisms Residents should continue using boiled or bottled water until further notice filter the water before boiling and replace the filter cartridge after the advisory is lifted The Highland Park Water Department is working to restore water pressure to normal levels water quality samples will be taken per EGLE standards before the boil water advisory is lifted residents can visit the Highland Park Water Department’s website at highlandparkmi.gov/services/water or call the customer service line at 313-865-1876 The Highland Park Water Department serves approximately 8,500 residents daily through a network of 60 miles of water main and collects wastewater through 120 miles of sewer main The department is dedicated to transparency and community engagement striving to provide reliable water services to meet the community’s needs ---> Drinking? Showering? What to do during a boil water advisory Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Samantha Sayles is an Oakland University alumna who’s been writing Michigan news since 2022. Before joining the ClickOnDetroit team, she wrote stories for WILX in Lansing and WEYI in Flint. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Joe Coughlin is a co-founder and the editor in chief of The Record. He leads investigative reporting and reports on anything else needed. Joe has been recognized for his investigative reporting and sports reporting, feature writing and photojournalism. Follow Joe on Twitter @joec2319 (WXYZ) — The City of Highland Park issued a Boil Water advisory for all residents on Tuesday afternoon A spokesperson for Metro Consulting Associates the company contracted by the city to manage water says the advisory is due to low system pressure Officials say there is no water main break but they are not sure what is causing the low pressure Officials are in touch with Great Lakes Water Authority on the matter Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced $3 million that he secured in federal funding to make improvements to the State Route 210 and 5th Street interchange in Highland that will reduce congestion and improve commute times The State Route 210 and 5th street interchange has some of the worst traffic congestion in the region As businesses and other developments continue to grow in the Inland Empire these infrastructure improvements will meet increasing demand while helping businesses and supply chains be more efficient By widening 5th Street and adding lanes to the on- and off-ramps this project will ease the flow of traffic reduce commute times and increase access to the southern part of San Bernardino including the San Bernardino International Airport our friends and neighbors rely on this freeway to get to work take their kids to school and enjoy time with friends and family,” said Rep “Investing in our infrastructure helps our local businesses grow and thrive and improves the economy I’m proud to have secured $3 million to ensure our infrastructure meets the growing demands of our community and make life a little easier for working families in the Inland Empire.” “As a proud Mayor of the City of Highland I am delighted to announce this crucial investment for our freeway SR-210 at 5th Street Interchange Project This generous contribution marks a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance transportation infrastructure which is vital for both our residents and the broader region We are not only making our city more accessible but also fostering local economic growth and improving the quality of life for everyone in Highland,” said Highland Mayor Penny Lilburn “The City of Highland is extremely thankful to Congressman Pete Aguilar and his staff for their support in helping us secure a $3 million federal grant for the SR-210 at 5th Street Interchange Project The proposed much needed interchange improvements will provide direct safe and efficient freeway access for vehicular and truck traffic It will also be a great compliment to the recently completed SR-210 Lane Addition Project by SBCTA,” said Highland City Manager Carlos Zamano Rep. Aguilar helped pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 into law, which included over $17 million in federal investments for 15 local projects across the region that Rep Aguilar also helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which has delivered over $3 billion for the Inland Empire’s roads This article was developed using publicly available information (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Salt Lake City School District hosts an open house in the cafeteria of West High School on Thursday Salt Lake City school board leaders this week selected the final design plans for both West and Highland high schools New campus designs for West and Highland high schools have been finalized — and both are set for major makeovers in the coming years Salt Lake City school board leaders selected the final design plans for both campuses Tuesday narrowing them down from several proposed options The long-awaited decision comes after voters approved the Salt Lake City School District’s $730 million bond last month, securing funding for what officials have called much-needed upgrades Construction isn’t expected to begin until spring 2026 at the earliest and design plans for the interior and exterior of the buildings are still being developed VCBO Architects will lead the design for West while Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects will oversee the Highland project “We have a lot to plan now that we know what the layout for each site will look like,” said district spokesperson Yándary Chatwin “Community input will be an important part of that process and we are working to determine what that will look like.” Rebuilding West and Highland high schools has been years in the making Chatwin previously told The Salt Lake Tribune In 2022, the school board commissioned two feasibility studies for West and Highland They were carried out by separate architectural firms and each hosted multiple community and staff meetings to gather input the district’s then-auxiliary services director presented the results to the board in February 2023 outlining several rebuild options at various price points Three options were proposed for Highland and four for West 6 to place the $730 million bond proposal on November’s ballot but held off on making final decisions about the rebuilds until after the election board members selected “Option 3” for West High This option preserves West’s original main entrance — a tribute to its history as the first public high school in Utah — while replacing everything else (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The entrance to West High School is pictured on Thursday The final redesign concept will preserve the historic entrance West’s main academic buildings will be relocated to the opposite side of 300 West track and tennis courts are currently situated The historic main entrance will remain as is flanked by a new auxiliary gym on one side and a main gym on the other A new field house will also be constructed The concept includes plans to build a sky bridge connecting both sides of the campus allowing students to move between them without having to cross 300 West While the football field will remain in its current location, it will be upgraded with a new track encircling it. Gean Plaga Stadium, named after West’s acclaimed football coach who died in 2005 (VCBO Architects via Salt Lake City School District) An aerial rendering of West High School's redesign concept approved by the Salt Lake City school board on Dec (VCBO Architects via Salt Lake City School District) A map explaining the West High School redesign project approved by the Salt Lake City school board on Dec The project will take approximately seven years but students will remain in the current building while the new one is constructed across the street That new building will be complete in about three years and the estimated overall cost is around $304 million West High holds historical significance as Utah’s first public high school and the building that stands today was first constructed in 1922 Many residents asked district officials to preserve the building in its entirety It’s an option that was proposed and explored but doing so would cost the district upward of $412 million and students would have to be in classroom portables for the majority of those “With students in portables for five to seven years that is a miserable outlook on a high school career for a lot of students,” Isaac Astill Highland’s main building will be moved to the north end of the property The project will take approximately five years to complete and will be executed in two stages Students won’t have to be put into portables and will remain in the existing building while construction is completed on the new one Estimated project costs range from $295 million to $310 million The design option approved Tuesday, the first of three, differs from the original proposal. The initial concept relocated Highland’s tennis courts and soccer fields to the now-vacant site of the former Rosslyn Heights Elementary School building. The Rosslyn Heights property sits about a half a mile east of Highland. However, the finalized design keeps the facilities on campus. (Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects via Salt Lake City School District) An aerial rendering of Highland High School's redesign concept, approved by the Salt Lake City school board on Dec. 3, 2024. (Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects via Salt Lake City School District) A map explaining the Highland High School redesign project approved by the Salt Lake City school board on Dec. 3, 2024. Salt Lake City voters overwhelmingly supported the bond that will fund these projects, with 61% voting in favor. With its passage, residents can expect to see an increase in their property taxes. The exact increase will vary depending on individual home values, said Chatwin, but homeowners will likely pay roughly $38.33 more in annual property taxes for every $100,000 of their home’s value. Based on the average home value of $576,000, this translates to an estimated annual property tax increase of about $220.80, according to the bond proposal. Along with rebuilding West and Highland high schools, the bond will also finance an athletic field house at East High School and sustainability initiatives at various campuses throughout the district. For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune The 9th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival will take place next month in Buon Ma Thuot city and other localities in Dak Lak province There will be a digital content creation contest; a coffee and OCOP products fair; a coffee-making competition; a seminar on the coffee industry; an international trade conference; street festivals; and a farmer competition Other activities will include a light festival; a festival of rock bands; an international off-road car race; a Don hamlet elephant festival; a Lak district dugout boat race; a groundbreaking ceremony for the Trung Nguyen Legend Energy Coffee Factory; and a coffee camp 2024 at 3:21 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}James Lynch executive director of The Art Center Highland Park citing board concerns about conflicts of interest and financial recovery (Google Maps)HIGHLAND PARK — There will be no competition for Highland Park’s three open four-year City Council seats A trio of incumbents will retain their positions unopposed after James Lynch withdrew from the race told Patch that he filed paperwork to withdraw his name from the April 1 ballot following discussions with board members of his employer about potential conflicts of interest and the financial position of the local nonprofit "They said it would be a conflict of interest if I took the job and I wouldn't be effective in my role," Lynch said Lynch said he was approached by two members of the organization's board leading up to Thursday's deadline to withdraw from the ballot "I think the board was in deep discussion for a while and it took them a while to come to a consensus," he said The board members also emphasized the need to ensure the financial health of the Arts Center And one of the things that they saw was that the time commitment for that could interfere," he said "So they had more than a few reasons to be concerned." The Arts Center Highland Park Board President Dave Wigodner said Lynch's candidacy posed a potential complication to the organization's development efforts "I can tell you that we've had some fairly extensive talks between the board and James about this and about our current situation and what's most important and really needed for The Art Center," Wigodner said "The discussion has really revolved around working on development and shoring up financial issues and making sure we continue to do everything we do and strengthen those things and the decision was more focused on that," he added "I think James' sense was that that was a big enough job already without layering other commitments onto it." The Arts Center pays nearly $40,000 annual rent for its building at 1957 Sheridan Road as part of a 40-year lease with the city Its tenancy agreement with City Hall was not the only potential conflict of interest were Lynch to have been elected to the City Council "We're also a contractor to the city for some programs that we do We partner with a lot of other organizations in the area that are also involved with the city it's: take care of our operational stuff," he said Earlier this year, The Arts Center fell short of its fundraising targets, bringing in $140,000 of a $200,000 goal. The organization is still paying off a $1.1 million financing plan from 2002 renovations "I don't think I've given anybody a reason to doubt my performance in the last few years "Our fiscal year starts in September and they just want me to really focus on making sure The Art Center Lynch’s withdrawal leaves three incumbents — Barisa Bruckman and Andres Tapia — running for the four-year terms without opposition who was appointed to the council earlier this year to fill the vacancy left by Jeff Hoobler’s resignation is now set to secure a full four-year term without opposition Incumbents Annette Lidawer and Andres Tapia will now likewise cruise to second terms uncontested Meanwhile, three candidates are vying for the final two years of Hoobler's seat: Kim Stone, a City Council member since 2013 who opted to run for the shorter term; Jon Center, a CPA and CFO/COO of a real estate investment firm, and Kevin Cullather former chair of the Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Every print subscription comes with full digital access Lidar imaging enabled researchers to identify traces of a high-altitude medieval city built by mobile herders along Silk Road routes in Central Asia By Bruce Bower medieval cities built by mobile herders along Silk Road trade routes in Central Asia have been hiding in plain sight — until now Mountainous regions typically have been seen as obstacles to trade and communication. But these ancient settlements located roughly 2,000 meters above sea level show that herding communities developed a distinctive form of urban life where such activities thrived archaeologist Michael Frachetti and colleagues report October 23 in Nature “Think of these high-altitude cities as nodes in a network that moved power and trade through Asia and Europe,” says Frachetti Researchers have discovered buildings and cultural items from only a few ancient settlements located more than 2,000 meters above sea level it now appears that mountainous Central Asia was “an urban zone” during medieval times The team focused on two archaeological sites in southeastern Uzbekistan: Tashbulak and Tugunbulak Centuries of erosion and sediment buildup have obscured the urban features of both sites Large earthen mounds and pottery pieces scattered on the landscape led to the discovery of Tashbulak in 2011 and Tugunbulak in 2015 Those finds indicate that Tugunbulak was occupied from the 6th to 10th centuries Initial residents of Tashbulak arrived in the 8th century We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Privacy Policy.  You must be 13 or older to sign up For full digital access, consider a $2.99 per month subscription Lidar maps of surface-level ridges in the soil where walls once stood augmented by computer reconstructions of those buildings indicate that Tugunbulak covered just over a square kilometer It stood as one of the largest Central Asian cities of its time The more than 300 structures at Tugunbulak included clusters of buildings with shared walls narrow corridors or roads running between those clusters watchtowers connected by walls along a ridgeline and a central fortress or citadel Tugunbulak’s layout mirrored that of small and large lowland cities in medieval Asia overlooked a town surrounded by defensive walls Tashbulak covered roughly one-eighth the territory of Tugunbulak but was still a bustling community A string of large defensive structures overlooked a vast area of terraced platforms At least 98 structures identified so far resemble the types of buildings detected at the larger site Population sizes are difficult to estimate for the two communities But Frachetti suspects that a relatively constant number of year-round residents increased periodically during gatherings for special events and exchanges of goods Lidar’s unveiling of large communities at Tugunbulak and Tashbulak highlights the unappreciated ability of high-altitude herding groups to band together as early city builders says archaeologist Michael Fisher of the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Jena The new study demonstrates that “mountain ranges can actually be conduits for cultural and economic transmission Mountain ranges present little opportunity for farming raising questions about how Tugunbulak and Tashbulak populations were fed Highland pastures supported herds of cattle goats and horses that could have been traded or sold to obtain cultivated foods Previous excavations at Tashbulak uncovered remains of grains chicken eggshell fragments and cotton seeds Regular shipments of these foods must have come from lowland settlements says Max Planck archaeologist Robert Spengler Excavations conducted since 2022 suggest that large-scale iron production occurred at Tugunbulak and Tashbulak Iron represented a valuable trade item for highland city dwellers These mountain cities may have also provided rest stops for caravans traveling the Silk Road a set of ancient trade and travel routes that ran from China to Europe But excavations have yet to confirm that possibility Questions or comments on this article? E-mail us at feedback@sciencenews.org | Reprints FAQ A version of this article appears in the November 16, 2024 issue of Science News M.D. Frachetti et al. Large-scale medieval urbanism traced by UAV-lidar in highland Central Asia Bruce Bower has written about the behavioral sciences for Science News since 1984 A member of New Mexico’s Picuris Pueblo Tribal Nation stands in front of a Round House used for rituals and meetings A DNA study initiated and directed by Picuris officials now supports their oral histories describing more than 1,000-year-old ancestral ties to ancient Chaco Canyon society Communal hunting of horses in Europe 300,000 years ago required sophisticated planning and coordination The Arabian Desert is today a vast and barren landscapes But humid periods over the last 8 million years may have brought ephemeral rivers and grasslands to the region The ancient cave site of Latnija on the island of Malta contains evidence of hunter-gatherer seafaring prowess from the Stone Age A pair of Bronze Age cymbals unearthed in southeastern Arabia including this one shown during excavations point to long-distance sharing of ritual and musical traditions around 4,000 years ago found at a 60,000- to 50,000-year-old Chinese site closely resemble implements made by European and western Asian Neandertals These oddly expressive figurines from the ancient Maya world were probably puppets for ritual scenes — and perhaps used for portraying people long dead A researcher examines edge damage on a 1.5-million-year-old bone tool found in Africa part of the oldest known set of such implements Science News was founded in 1921 as an independent nonprofit source of accurate information on the latest news of science our mission remains the same: to empower people to evaluate the news and the world around them It is published by the Society for Science a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education (EIN 53-0196483) enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – Tensions were high inside Highland Park City Hall on Friday evening as community members packed the City Council chambers for a special meeting. A couple of council members called the controversial meeting to ask questions about and vote on a benefit concert event for a local nonprofit. However, the city administration had already approved the concert event for Avalon Village before the meeting. Highland Park’s mayor, other city leaders, and some community members called the meeting a waste of time. “Why are we here?” said City Council President Jamal K. Thomas when he arrived at the Council Chambers. He’s among those who blasted a couple of city council members for having a meeting to address an issue over which council allegedly had no jurisdiction. Highland Park Councilman Kursheed Ash-Shafi called the special meeting, supported by council member Kallela Martin, to discuss and vote on whether the Council would approve an outdoor concert event for Avalon Village. The Highland Park-based nonprofit has been advertising its July 30 benefit concert featuring KRS-One and other artists for weeks. “The mayor saw the need to circumvent over this council authority and approve an event that should have been approved by this council,” Ash-Shafi said. “That’s why this meeting was called.” Shamiyan ‘Mama Shu’ Harris, the Founder and CEO of Avalon Village, attended the Special Meeting with neighbors and supporters. She said word about the Special Meeting caught her off guard. “I don’t understand why I’m here,” Harris told council members. Harris said she followed the city’s administrative process to get her application for the event approved. Organizers said the concert event is being held to benefit Avalon Village’s Homework House. The proceeds from the concert will be used to help with music programming for local youth. “The Avalon Village is private property that is serviced for the community,” Harris said. “We filled out the proper paperwork. We were approved by the mayor, which that application actually goes through.” After some verbal jabs between council members, the group determined no vote on the event could occur. However, Ash-Shafi demanded answers on the city’s procedures and protocols for approving applications for large venues. He believes all large events should be brought before city council. Critics, including Mayor Glenda McDonald, said the special meeting was a waste of the community’s time since the nonprofit followed protocols as the administration determined. “What’s happening here is laws,” McDonald said. “Laws that have not been updated. They say they have an ordinance. I haven’t seen it.” Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Demond Fernandez joined the Local 4 News team in 2023, anchoring our 5:30 p.m. newscast and reporting on important stories impacting our community. He joined WDIV from WFAA in Dallas where he was a senior reporter focusing southern Dallas communities. voted to implement a 1% local grocery tax once the statewide tax ends in 2026 Shoppers could have saved a cumulative $300,000 a year had local leaders let the tax expire. The city of roughly 10,000 is in southwestern Illinois Groceries will be 1% cheaper in a little more than a year depending on where you live in Illinois, a savings of about $360 million statewide Search the table below to see how much shoppers in your town spent on the grocery tax last year which also provides a rough estimate for how much your neighbors will be taxed if local leaders decide to again impose the tax Napper said he received 30 emails from Illinois Policy Institute readers opposed to the 1% tax 6 said hitting people at the grocery store was one of the most regressive ways to tax people “It was the most regressive tax you could possibly have middle-class people can afford to go to the grocery store and pay 1% That’s one of the reasons I went after it.” Illinois is the only one of the 10 most populous with a grocery tax Local governments in those states get by just fine without it 2024 at 11:38 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mayor Nancy Rotering said at Monday's City Council meeting that having an immediate vote in response to the Nov 5 advisory referendum "undermines the collaborative and transparent process" by which city officials make decisions of public policy (City of Highland Park/via video)HIGHLAND PARK IL — Despite the overwhelming majority of Highland Park voters favoring a non-binding citizen-initiated referendum to allow holders of liquor licenses to also hold elected municipal office only a minority of the Highland Park City Council supported an immediate vote on the matter 5 election in Lake County are set to be certified on Friday about 75 percent of the city's approximately 23,000 voting-age residents cast a ballot on the advisory referendum asking Illinois amend its laws to allow liquor license holders to serve as elected city officials?” Nearly 82 percent of Highland Park voters — 14,190 out of 17,341 votes cast according to the Lake County Clerk's Office — said "Yes." Explaining why her answer remains "No," Mayor Nancy Rotering said she respects the input of residents and aims to ensure that the city operates transparently and this topic has been included in our 2025 work plan for further discussion and consideration," Rotering said at the start of Monday's City Council meeting More than nine months earlier, the mayor voted against an amendment to lift the City Code's prohibition on police and elected officials being issued liquor licenses earlier this year leading to 3-3 deadlock That effectively forced the seventh councilmember — Ravinia Brewing Company co-owner Jeff Hoobler, the only candidate Rotering refused to endorse and the one who received the most votes in last year's municipal elections — to choose between his business and his seat on the council Rotering said sticking with the existing schedule which calls for taking up the matter at some point after next April's elections shows how city officials are committed to thoughtful decision-making "The suggestion to deviate from this plan and call for an immediate vote on this issue is not only unnecessary but it undermines the collaborative and transparent process we rely on to make decisions," the mayor said "It's vital that we approach this topic in a way that's consistent with our value respects the voices of all residents and allows for informed deliberation Two councilmembers — Andres Tapia and Annette Lidawer — sought to put the amendment to the city's liquor code back on the City Council's agenda on Monday but they lacked the support of the mayor or a third colleague to do so Describing the situation as a "tennis match between common sense and the Mad Hatter," Tapia said a true representative is committed to honoring the voice of the people even when it is challenging or inconvenient and leaders should reflect the communities they serve rather than try to rule over them to be a representative is to be both a servant and a leader acting swiftly and responsibly to the community's behalf The people have placed their trust in us to reflect their will," Tapia said "And common sense also dictates the corollary: that ignoring or delaying the people's will isn't just the breach of duty it's a failure to honor their vote and their will," he said That 82 percent of voters in our city came together to approve the referendum Lidawer said people are clearly asking for a change and city staff already have a draft of the amendment that they could vote on and the city has already expended plenty of resources on the matter "This is not a measure that's going to cost money This is not a measure that's dependent on all sorts of new facts that might come in," Lidawer said The mayor questioned the need to react right away to the vote likening ballots cast by more than four out of five Highland Park voters on the matter to past local issues where vocal groups of community members have advocated for various city policies "I guess I just have a question for those who want an immediate vote and that is what has changed that has created this urgency?" Rotering asked "We've had other situations where people have spoken very vociferously I can talk to you about the high school parking lot there have been plenty of other situations where this community has been really kind of "So I'm curious to know what is this urgency for taking action." "It was an election that everybody in this country many people in this community came out to vote on this issue," she said and they wanted their voices to be heard because several members of this council said 'We're not sure how the public really feels.' So now that they've told us in the privacy and protection of their voting booth so they didn't feel pressured by a large group going one way Ten members of the public spoke Monday in support of amending the code None appeared satisfied with Rotering's explanation for why the matter would not be placed on the agenda anytime soon Faye Rosenberg, owner of the Ravinia Business District shop Vintage Rescue and a supporter of the referendum efforts acknowledged that the results of the vote are non-binding but said she was nonetheless gobsmacked by the City Council's response "To say that you value public opinion is laughable and a sham," Rosenberg said a longtime Highland Park resident who said Monday was just the second time he has addressed the City Council said people rarely want to admit when they are wrong — but in this case there is no need to do so merely to accept that the vast majority of the town has a different view on the matter "They feel very strongly about this issue, and that's not going to change. They feel that you've nullified an election, and they believe that they've been wronged by you," Sereda said, a reference to how Hoobler was compelled to resign and be replaced with an appointee by Rotering "A viable leader has to be able to either convince his or her electorate to take a position accept the will of the overwhelming majority," he said "It may be legally feasible for a while to ignore the views of the voters now people are going to think that you are nullifying their second time There are four seats on the council on the ballot in the upcoming April 1 Four candidates are running for three full terms as councilmembers the councilmember Rotering appointed to replace Hoobler the executive director of the Art Center of Highland Park Three candidates are running for the final two years of Hoobler's term set to end at the same time as Rotering's term Kevin Cullather and incumbent Councilmember Kim Stone who sided with Rotering and Councilmember Tony Blumberg against an amendment to the liquor code earlier this year a local architect who spent a dozen years on the Highland Park Zoning Board of Appeals and Preservation Commission said Monday the entire matter was a stain on the town that makes it appear like there is some kind of conspiracy behind the scenes "Please stop gaslighting on this issue and address this now Please respect the will of Highland Park voters You can and should do better," Becker told the mayor and councilmembers "I'm not sure if you're aware in this group how you project kind of a contempt for the community by your inaction on it," he said I think you would see that there's a contempt that's being pushed out and it's visible to everyone that I speak to Jenny at the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Highland she always wanted a big family and was blessed with six children and owned/operated O’Fallon Family Food & Liquor for many years She was hostess for the Highland Welcome Club for 32 years and did housecleaning for many people in her community Her motto was “Think good thoughts and good things will happen.” Janet was a member of the EvUCC in Highland for over 60 years and lived by her faith Dan (Angie) Ramsey; 36 great grandchildren; a stepdaughter; and five step grandchildren Memorial donations may be made to The Hometown Dream in honor of her great-grandson It was the best of times when we went to O”fallon to visit Aunt Janet and our favorite cousins I will always remember the big house in O’fallon and the electric train around the Christmas Tree every Christmas I remember how she always used to say i would most definitely be a model Janet’s generosity and that of the children she raised changed the lives of my family in ways impossible to ever describe you and your family will always remain in our thoughts and affections I’ll always cherish the times we had together I am so thankful for the love your Mom gave to each of us with her heart of gold Praying that you continue to feel how much she lovingly touched so many people and brought happiness into their lives I have such wonderful memories of Janet and the family She was so kind and generous with her love Janet will live on forever in the hearts of everyone she touched She will be sorely missed by all who knew her I’m so very sorry for those She left behind Sending loving thoughts and prayers for peace Janet was a very special lady and I am so thankful for the important role she had in my dad’s life and mine Sincere condolences to The Jenny and Flamm family members and friends Janet was a very nice and kind person through the years I knew her in O’Fallon that big kitchen table where there was always room for another kid and a kind or harsh word depending on my behavior Janet was a force of nature the likes of which we are all so much the better for knowing Since I was friends with Amariah I got to see her at some family gatherings Andrew Gard acknowledges that Grace City Church has often tested the resiliency of those who attend it has not been the most convenient church to go to,” said Gard Parking has been a problem at the church’s two locations requiring some congregants to dash across South Florida Avenue to attend services at the original site in the Lake Morton Historic District Neither that location nor its successor on New Jersey Road has had sufficient space to accommodate the growing congregation “I think our congregation sees the impacts that we have in people's lives in our community and so they're willing to put up with some inconveniences in order to see people reached in such a powerful and profound way,” Christina Gard said Grace City is on track to establish a new and permanent location that will abound with acreage and offer a sanctuary finally large enough for the congregation. But parishioners of the non-denominational church must wait a bit longer the church bought roughly 50 acres that borders Banana Lake Signs appeared along Bartow Road just north of Highland City announcing Church leaders hope to break ground in the fall on the first of three planned phases which will yield a main building with a 1,700-seat sanctuary The long-term design includes a housing complex for college students in the church’s internship program along with trails and other amenities the Gards hope will make the property an attraction for local residents regardless of whether they attend the church “I think you're always nervous when you have to raise that kind of money but we've seen God do miraculous things since Grace City started eight years ago And so we're confident that he'll continue to do that there's nothing quite like putting stakes in the ground The church began with meetings in the couple’s living room in 2015 was among the original group who supported the quest to establish Grace City as do some of their children and grandchildren Lakeland City Commissioner Stephanie Madden is also a frequent worshipper “Christina and Andrew are just pretty incredible leaders,” Mutz said Mutz said many who attend Grace City fit into one of two categories: those who had become disenchanted with another church and those who are younger and were not raised in a church environment Grace City launched at the former Westminster Presbyterian Church at 730 S a Gothic-style structure with a brick exterior dating to 1925 the church was drawing 1,400 people to five services on Sunday mornings “People would line up around the block in that blazing heat and wait for the next service because they couldn't get into the building,” Christina Gard said 'Very liberating': Local Methodists exult in new openness toward LGBTQ clergy, members Grace City opened a satellite church two years in the Ybor City section of Tampa has been searching for a permanent site in Lakeland for five or six years He said church leaders wanted a property with at least 20 or 30 acres vast enough to hold not just a church building but other planned components Gard learned about the property on the west side of Bartow Road and began discussions with Dane Rogers of Rogers Brothers The church closed in February on purchasing connected parcels totaling about 50 acres extending west from Bartow Road and running south along the shore of Banana Lake The site is outside Lakeland's city limits and provides close access from the Polk Parkway Andrew Gard said that some congregants live in Winter Haven Grace City is still raising the funds needed to begin construction on phase one calling the campaign “A Church Worth Building.” Leaders have raised $4.3 million since October and have another $2.1 million in outstanding pledges It will take about $7.2 million to start the project The first phase comprises a main church building that will also house a preschool a Chicago-based architecture firm specializing in churches The auditorium will contain curved rows of seats facing a spacious stage backed by a large video screen and flanked by two smaller screens The 1,700-seat auditorium will be one of the largest church sanctuaries in the Lakeland area Family Worship Center opened a 3,200-seat building in 2012 the church will build housing for the Grace City Leadership Institute Christina Gard said the program enrolls 45 to 65 students from 11 states Church leaders plan eventually to build a counseling center and a chapel The master plan also calls for creating trails and installing play structures on the property “So our hope and heart is that it wouldn't just be a place for Sunday worship it would actually be a destination during the week,” Christina said just like they run Lake Hollingsworth or Bonnet Springs (Park),” Andrew added “That's really the goal is to be a destination in that part of town.” a private school offering pre-K through 12th grade would benefit from having the auditorium now used by Grace City from the standpoint of making it possible for us to sustain more attendees,” Mutz said “We don't talk about members because that's not what we do you choose to attend a church because it's a place wherein you thrive and grow spiritually so the timing is really good for both facilities.” Grace City held a “first look” gathering in March hosting a few hundred congregants under a massive tent on a Saturday morning using artist renderings to show what will eventually be built there and this is the place we're going to give the rest of our lives to,” Christina Gard said And the greatest privilege we have is watching people better their lives through the salvation message and discipleship process It's literally such a gift to watch people's lives changed.” Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13 Tom graduated from Aviston High School then enlisted and served two years in the United States Army Tom returned home and went to work for Granite City Steel where he spent the next 39.5 years until retiring as a Millwright Connie McKenna; and multiple special friends Memorial donations may be made to the Metro East Humane Society — Crews in Polk County are using a mixture of clay and sand to fill a sinkhole that opened up in a resident's front yard over the weekend 20-feet wide hole opened up Saturday morning in Highland City Officials said they are still investigating why it opened but said it has doubled in size We could feel dirt falling in," said Paul Womble director of Emergency Management in Polk County that’s as close as we will get to an earthquake Neighbors tell Spectrum Bay News 9 that the family living at the home moved in three months ago with their child A resident three houses down said it wasn't just a surprise for the homeowners but also for the long-time residents living here "There’s never been a sinkhole in any of these houses," he said He and his wife Shelley have lived here almost 20 years and said they've never seen anything like it — and hope it never happens to them Burt talked to the family Tuesday about what happened only not the front.' That’s terrible for a little kid.”  He says he will be there for the family if they need anything because he says the people in this neighborhood treat each other like family “All these people here will help them out if they need anything,” he said Womble says Polk County is prone to sinkholes HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – This content comes from Jeremy Allen, the executive editor with the Michigan Chronicle as part of our partnership with the local news organization The city of Highland Park has been grappling with a water debt crisis for years owing millions of dollars to the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) The debt has left many residents struggling to pay their water bills fearing shutoffs and further financial strain a tentative deal was reached between GLWA and Highland Park to end the dispute but the agreement is still unsettled and needs approval from all parties involved including a $24 million judgment against Highland Park and provide funding for historic infrastructure repairs in the city and within the GLWA service area According to Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald the path to clearing the debt involved the city making a $1 million “good faith payment” to ensure that the remaining provisions outlined in the agreement would be adhered to by all parties One of the major contributors to the water debt crisis in Highland Park is the decades of neglect and underinvestment in the city’s aging infrastructure The city’s water system has been in dire need of repair with so many of the city’s pipes predate World War I The cost of fixing the system has been passed down to generations of residents who are already struggling to make ends meet and are dealing with the impact of water rates that are among the highest in the state the city’s rates have led to a cycle of debt with residents struggling to pay their bills and the city struggling to collect payments “I’m barely scraping by as it is,” said Highland Park resident Sarah Johnson let alone the extra fees and penalties they’re charging me.” Many residents in Highland Park are struggling to pay their water bills with some facing shutoffs and further financial strain The situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which has left many residents without jobs or a steady income The tentative deal between GLWA and Highland Park offers a glimmer of hope for residents the deal would provide funding for infrastructure repairs and offer financial assistance to residents struggling to pay their water bills there are resources available to help residents struggling to pay their water bills The city offers a water assistance program that provides financial assistance to low-income residents who are struggling to pay their water bills The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offers emergency assistance for households that are facing a water shutoff or have already had their water shut off The United Way of Southeastern Michigan has a water assistance program that provides financial assistance to residents who are struggling to pay their water bills The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department offers a water assistance program that provides financial assistance to low-income residents who are struggling to pay their water bills THAW (The Heat and Warmth Fund) offers utility assistance for residents all across Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a partnership with The Heat and Warmth Fund on Tuesday to provide water bill assistance to Highland Park residents The State of Michigan has committed millions of dollars in infrastructure repairs to Highland Park’s nearly 120-year-old water system “To help ensure Highland Park residents can access safe I am proud to announce a partnership with THAW to help lower bills on our path to implementing the historic settlement agreement we brokered last month,” Whitmer said in November when she announced the partnership “I’m thankful to THAW for raising its hand to help and to GLWA and Highland Park for working together in good faith on a deal that will ensure residents can access water as the state helps the city with long overdue infrastructure upgrades we’ve made record investments in water infrastructure and affordability I’ll continue to work with anyone to keep rates affordable Residents can also seek help from local nonprofits such as the Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency’s Water Affordability Program and The Human Utility which both offer financial assistance and counseling to residents struggling to pay their water bills While the tentative deal and available resources offer hope for residents the water debt crisis in Highland Park is a reminder of the need for long-term solutions to address the city’s aging infrastructure and high water rates residents will continue to struggle to pay their water bills “I just want to be able to pay my bill and have access to clean water,” said Johnson Mayor McDonald noted that the city is expected to have a final decision from the courts on the tentative agreement with GLWA as soon as the first half of June McDonald said it would provide an immediate economic boost to both the city and its residents The Michigan Chronicle is a historic Metro Detroit publication that covers the interests of the Black community. Learn more on their website here. In January, the Highland, Utah, city council voted to allow alcohol in their city – which had been one of nine dry communities in the state a last ditch effort to prevent the change has failed Two referendums to put the issue before voters in November failed One was 72 signatures short of the 1,439 needed The city will now be able to issue four liquor licenses These will only be given to restaurants that serve food “A lot of the newer development is in higher density areas with condos and apartments, so we're getting a younger population,” said city councilor Ron Campbell but I don't want to stop somebody else from drinking alcohol Campbell received complaints about the city’s inability to attract higher-end sit down restaurants because they don’t serve alcohol and aren’t allowed to open on Sundays In 2021, Midtown National Group acquired Highland Marketplace and made plans to develop it with more drive-throughs and fast food places Campbell said the developers came to the council with a new plan central focal point for Highland with nicer restaurants and a nice development.” he said they needed to be able to sell alcohol When the issue was discussed, Campbell said “there was a lot of public clamor.” The council decided to conduct a survey of their constituents with many promising to vote based on those results which he said is nearly three times the number of responses they’d had on any previous city survey “Most of the people that showed up to our public hearings on this were against it because public clamor doesn't always represent the will of the people,” Campbell said Long-time resident Liz Rice is against the change she coordinated efforts to get enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot because she believed Highland is “a wonderful Rice doesn’t want the city to move away from its traditional values She also worries that this change will increase the need for police and EMT presence in the city “We always kind of felt like Highland was a little bit of a special place LAKELAND — Working down the list of breakfast offerings at Highland City Diner though the dish could do with a better grade of pastry cream needs little embellishment beyond its brief bath in egg mixed with a hint of whisky but it works better as a side than a topping it was illuminating to experience a local diner willing to step outside of the box Who goes to the bother of baking fresh challah these days That would be the team of Russell Colleran who recently left his post as executive chef at Florida Presbyterian Homes in Lakeland where Colleran previously worked as director of dining services has a resume steeped in chain restaurant operations with stints as general manager for TGI Friday’s and First Watch and front of house manager for The Cheesecake Factory and Outback Steakhouse Such is the firepower behind this not-so-humble café at Highland City Town Center in a space that once was home to Anna’s Diner Colleran’s eatery is at the south end of the center which is anchored by a Publix Super Market Highland City Diner is mostly about breakfast and lunch but the kitchen broadens into full entrée territory with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays A good number of desserts — think cheesecake with a dark chocolate crown and muffin-shaped brownies with gooey centers — are made in-house Colleran and Mayer elevate breakfast fare with substantial omelets filled with quality ingredients as in a Denver model with lean chunks of savory ham buttermilk variety and serve as fluffy foils to dreamy sausage gravy It’s a truly addictive pairing that demonstrates the kitchen’s finesse with even the most basic especially a version smothered in melted Swiss provolone and caramelized onions and paired with a bowl of beefy au jus There’s scant evidence of any serious shortcuts even with a simple turkey sandwich that finds a stack of thinly sliced breast meat embellished with a slip of Dijon and cranberry relish A classic Reuben sandwich is lightly grilled and fashioned with TLC Equally impressive is a bowl of cheese-and-broccoli soup that’s silky We experienced minor hiccups on three visits — as in limp an aberration that was remedied on a follow-up visit with crisp Mayer has twice held the title of Polk’s Top Chef an annual benefit for Achievement Academy where local restaurateurs and staff create a five-course and Mayer’s wins speak of his prowess in the kitchen and in beautifully executed diner fare that’s anything but ho-hum And good luck waltzing past the dessert case that’s front and center near the diner’s entrance Your good intentions of skipping on sweets will be severely tested Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528 THE GIST: Diner serving breakfast and lunch daily with extended menu and hours on Friday and Saturday Must try: Biscuits and gravy; Denver omelet; French toast; French onion burger; Reuben sandwich; brownie cupcake Star ratings are based on reviewer’s impressions of food Contact Us Office Hours:Monday – Friday8:00 am – 5:00 pm The city of Highland saw its diverse population exceed 55,049 in 2019 with continued residential growth planned in the east end of the city and business growth throughout Since its incorporation in November of 1987 the geographic boundaries of the city have increased to over 18.9 square miles Highland residents generally have a strong sense of community as is evidenced by the number of residents who regularly volunteer their time both to the city and to the Police/Sheriff’s Station Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s benefit the Highland Station by volunteering their time working patrol and supplementing the patrol staff Reserves also provide security and traffic control at all local community events such as the Citrus Harvest Festival Citizen Volunteers also play an essential role providing extra-patrol to local residents and businesses while assisting patrol personnel at the scenes of major traffic collisions and assisting at many local community events The stations 27-member Citizen on Patrol contingent also plays an integral role in supporting the Neighborhood Watch Program On average our citizen volunteers donate almost 10,000 hours of their time to the station and the citizens of Highland every year The Station also has 6 Explorer Scouts that assist by riding with and assisting deputies on the street They also assist by staffing security and traffic positions during city functions and events The City of Highland has chosen to contract for its law enforcement services through the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department since its incorporation The station is currently staffed with 34 sworn officers (which includes 1 Captain as well as 9 non-sworn civilian employees (which includes 1 secretary The Highland Station is one of the busiest stations within the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in terms of calls for service The quality of personnel assigned to the Highland Station is exceptionally high and personnel take great pride in their ability to accomplish our goals both efficiently and effectively Station deputies are heavily involved in local schools youth sports activities and participating in community programs which brings cops and children together Deputies are also involved in community outreach events like Shop with a Cop Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for the elderly and needy Highland Station boasts its participation in many innovative Multiple Enforcement Team operations and Neighborhood Watch The MET deputies deal primarily with recurring problem locations within the community and works closely with Code Enforcement and other departments within the city The Multiple Enforcement Team (MET) officers’ job is to address recurrent serious criminal major offenders tracking criminal gang activities and assisting in the prosecution of gang members as well as other serious criminals and the community have access to an impressive array of specialty resources offered by the Sheriff’s Department these include: Narcotics Major Accident Investigation Team and more This course meets the basic instructional skills training requirement to teach in the P.O.S.T Regular Basic Course and for the Academy Instructor Certificate Program Students will gain facilitation skills and… Using concepts and techniques from the Gracie Survival Tactics program to teach students the necessary tactical knowledge and skills to safely and effectively arrest and control a suspect This 40-hour course provides accident investigation from on-the scene procedures to follow up and practical application of how to use report forms and accident investigation terminology together with the study… The Regional RAN Board meeting will be at Sheriff’s Headquarters in the upstairs conference room on May 8 is a 16-hour leadership development program for sworn and non-sworn agency members at various levels Its goal is to help students recognize and adopt leadership potential This course is designed for the experienced peace officer recently appointed to the position of Field Training Officer This course will have a strong emphasis on the FTO/trainee relationship and… This 40-hour course will provide students with the skills to recognize and synthesize all aspects of investigating crimes against children This course satisfies POST mandates on child abuse per… This course will provide information on assembly and execution of a search warrant categories of property for which a warrant may be issued Property Information Court Case #: CIVDS1805491 Location: 11090 HIDDEN TRAIL DR CA 91737 APN: 1074-621-30-0000 Sale Information Sale Date: 04/11/2025 AT 9:00AM POSTPONED TO 05/30/2025 AT 9:00AM Location:… Property Information Court Case #: 05M20805 Location: VACANT LAND LUCERNE VALLEY CA 92356 APN: 0464-252-36-0000 Sale Information Sale Date: 05/30/2025 AT 10:00AM Location: San Bernardino Superior Court Privacy Policy | Accessibility ©2025 San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Jeremy began his career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in 1998 graduating from the Frank Bland Regional Training Center Jeremy has worked various assignments during his career including the West Valley Detention Center Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team Jeremy received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Cal State University San Bernardino holds numerous certificates from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and is a member of several law enforcement associations Jeremy was promoted to Deputy Chief in April of 2024 by Sheriff Shannon Dicus and oversees the Special Operations Bureau John Wickum was raised in the city of Rancho Cucamonga and has been a lifelong resident of San Bernardino County John became interested in law enforcement at a young age joining the Sheriff’s Explorer program at Rancho Station in 1985 John began his career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in 1991 graduating from the Frank Bland Regional Training Academy class #103 John has worked various assignments during his career and most recently the Captain for the Victorville City Station John holds numerous certificates from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training He attended Chaffey College and California Coast University He is a member of many law enforcement organizations serving on the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Rodeo board and he is currently the Liaison for the Sheriff’s Rangers Sheriff Shannon Dicus promoted John to Deputy Chief in March 2024 John is currently assigned to the Detention and Corrections Support Bureau and the Court Services Division Garth Goodell began his career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in 1993 as a reserve deputy sheriff He was hired full time in 1995 and attended the 120th session of the Sheriff’s Basic Academy Garth’s law enforcement career began with his first custody assignment at West Valley Detention Center He was later assigned to patrol operations at Morongo Basin he was assigned to Hesperia Station and the Specialized Enforcement Division Garth was assigned to Twin Peaks Station and Chino Hills Station Garth was assigned as the commander of the Centralized Classification Unit and later as the lieutenant for the Specialized Enforcement Division Garth has held command assignments at Employee Resources Division and Chino Hills Station Garth earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management from Union Institute and University and his Master of Business Administration from California Baptist University He holds numerous professional certificates and memberships and is also a graduate of the FBI-LEEDA Leadership Trilogy and the California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker School of Management Sheriff Shannon Dicus promoted Garth to Deputy Chief in July 2023 Garth is responsible for the Personnel and Emergency Services Bureau Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative ABC4 Utah HIGHLAND, Utah (ABC4) — Residents of Highland in Utah County can expect to see a survey arrive in the mailboxes over the next week asking to share thoughts and feedback on allowing alcohol to be sold in the city The City of Highland remains one of the last cities in Utah that is considered a “dry city,” meaning A commercial developer has expressed interest in expanding to Highland the alcohol laws that have been in place since 1977 would need to change In light of the request, the Highland City government is asking residents to weigh in on whether or not the strict alcohol laws should be removed or kept in place “The general reaction is there are some residents who would really like to keep Highland the way it is,” said Highland City Council Member Kim Rodella “There are other residents who are really excited about having some new restaurants in here some dining options and who feel that it’s time to see a little progress.” Highland resident Wesley Warren said he has been shocked by how much overwhelming support has come in to change the city’s alcohol laws “Not because everyone wants to drink or even would consider that as an option but because I think it moves the city forward,” said Warren The city already has one location that allows for alcohol sales: The Alpine Country Club located near Highland Highway and 4800 West Highland City said that the exception is due to the country club being established before the city existed “[The current] laws are not applicable to them so long as they continue to operate as they did before the City was founded,” explained Highland City on social media The Highland City Council met last week at Mountain Ridge Junior High to discuss the change A final discussion is expected to be held in January residents will be seeing paper surveys hit their mailboxes beginning today The deadline to fill out the survey and return it is Wednesday If a resident needs an envelope to return the survey Highland City said they can use the envelope that comes with the utility bill For those who prefer to take the survey electronically online Highland City officials provided instructions on how will be included along with the physical survey these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students LOCAL NEWS 8:07 PM | Updated: Apr 14 A neighborhood in Highland is scrambling to clean up after a canal pipe burst Satuday BY MARK JONES HIGHLAND — A neighborhood in Highland was scrambling to clean up after a canal pipe burst Saturday told KSL TV the flooding also damaged the landscaping of two other homes near Freedom Elementary The water came from a pipe that broke in the Murdock Canal which is connected to the Provo River Water Users Association had been helping pump water out of the basements and remove furniture from the homes one homeowner said the basement was a total loss The homeowner said they “were swimming in the basement.” Water crews from Provo and American Fork responded to the scene and were able to redirect the water to a nearby park LAKELAND — Plans for a 268-unit apartment complex on 17 acres are underway in Highland City across from the Publix grocery store said there is an agreement in place with TrimCor and Clubhouse Road is on a larger 41-acre tract owned by the Moore family off U.S The Moore family also owned the land where the Publix is currently located in Highland City Town Center He said TrimCor showed interest in the property after a surge in rental activity from Ariva Apartment Homes a 312-unit complex off Clubhouse Road behind Publix "They are renting really well," Moore said Development of the 41 acres has been a long time in the making The Moore family has tried to market the property since 2003 when members bought the land A 1.4-acre portion was sold in 2013 for a McDonald's restaurant The remaining land is zoned for retail just off U.S but Clubhouse Road must be improved before any more businesses move into the area The area is connected to Fort Fraser Trail 98 between the Polk State College campus and Bartow the owners of the land to the south of the 41 acres are in discussions with the county to spend more than $1 million in improvements on Clubhouse Road said the developers and owners plan to resurface and widen the road and add turn lanes on a stretch of Clubhouse to Wallace Court A trail will be built that runs to First Street That agreement for road improvements is expected to be signed in February the county will sign off on the new apartment complex and construction could begin sometime in the spring those improvements may entice bigger retail stores to move into the area But Moore discounted rumors about a WalMart or Target planning to move into the area "Nothing is in the works for that area," Moore said John Chambliss can be contacted at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588 A four-acre site along Smith Lane near U.S. 98 north of Bartow was bought for a fire station by the Polk County Commission on Tuesday part of the county's plan to replace the current Highland City fire station within the next two years Commissioners unanimously agreed to purchase the land for $475,000 from Lakeland Regional Health Systems Inc during a board meeting at the County Administration Building in Bartow The site on Smith Lane is a pasture just south of Spessard Holland Elementary School and the short lane is connected by E.F Griffin Road is several acres away from the property’s southern border The new fire station would sit roughly a quarter mile away from U.S The new land in unincorporated Bartow is already zoned for institutional use The county will construct intersection improvements and wastewater and water infrastructure improvements to the station The parcel is surrounded by nearly 90 acres owned by LRH since 2015 The 18.6 acres between the school and along the north side of Smith Lane is owned by Polk County 'Enough is enough' Polk rescinds $6.5 million pledge for Fort Meade equestrian center 98 for $7.5 million for future use as a medical complex The land was part of an estimated 500-acre site south of Smith Lane along U.S That land was owned by Silver Capital Florida which had proposed building an active-adult community there in the early 2000s But the plan was opposed by residents along E.F Griffin Road because the development would destroy the rural nature of their neighborhood Fire and paramedic vehicles will leave the new station via Smith Lane to respond to calls 28 at 4101 Clubhouse Road in Highland City is smaller than the new one and sits behind a post office the station borders a Publix-anchored shopping center According to Polk County’s real estate services administrator R the county currently has 12 stations either completed or in the works Each new station has an average cost of $5.5 million to build and that funding comes from the county’s capital improvement fund In the county’s first phase of fire station construction stations completed in 2021 were in Kathleen permitting and bidding stages include: Eaton Park The Smith Lane station would be among the third phase of the plans to open new fire stations Utah — The deadline has arrived for referendums that look to put a decision allowing restaurants in the city center area of Highland to sell alcohol on the November ballot Friday's deadline comes after the city council voted to amend the city code back in January "We have just a small handful of fast food outlets and soda shops and things like that," explained Ryan Warnick Warnick has lived in Highland for five years thousands of people leave the city to go to neighboring cities to dine and shop," he said The entertainment exodus is why Warnick and others support the change the Highland City Council made to amend the code and allow restaurants in the general city center area to sell alcohol One reason for the support is a proposed new shopping center that could bring in potential stores and restaurants "When the developer started talking to various Utah-based restaurants about coming in and doing business in Highland it became evident very quickly that they only wanted to do business here if they could offer their full menus," Warnick claimed Highland was listed as one of 10 dry communities in Utah according to a 2014 survey by the Utah Beer Wholesalers Association Four licenses for alcohol will be now issued citywide although no alcohol can be sold after 10 p.m and it cannot be removed from the premises of restaurants distilling or the brewing of alcohol will be allowed All other state restrictions and other restrictions will be applied under the amended city code A group of residents have filed two referendum applications on the law change says 35 volunteers went door to door collecting signatures which equaled 3,714 signatures approximately it's about 1,472 signatures that we had to have," Rice said The hope is to get the alcohol issue getting on the ballot for the November election They're welcome to if that's their lifestyle and they want to do that," said Rice "We just believe that this is established in Highland and it's not easily changed So we just wanted all of the people in highland to be able to choose." "The residents of the city have already voiced their opinion on this matter through a citywide survey," he said.  Those who support the referendum had until 5 p.m Friday to get their signatures turned in to Utah County but it's expected to take a week or two before the voting office can count them all