The Citrus Tea News

I am a local digital news publication covering Polk County, FL with real local news.

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Nearly $40M in federal hurricane money is moving into three small Polk cities this month: Lake Hamilton, Lake Wales, and Mulberry.

https://t.co/DIz2Lt5Lhl

#PolkCounty #Mulberry #LakeWales #LakeHamilton

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

A Winter Haven band director who led Jewett High's program from 1953 to 1968 was honored twice in one week. 

https://t.co/5s9d2MBT6J

#PolkCounty #WinterHaven

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Six new members joined the Polk Arts & Culture Hall of Fame at the gala in Haines City, and portraits replaced plaques this year.

https://t.co/v0XZIohgZ4

#PolkCounty #HainesCity

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

A free Polk County home visiting program for new and expecting parents has no income limit, and families can refer themselves. It just earned national accreditation.

https://t.co/wmzCNintaS

#PolkCounty #Bartow

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

OPINION: Two school bus crashes, two counties, under 48 hours. Barry Foster on the grief and the heroes on board.

https://t.co/9UuueO9kyj

#PolkCounty #WinterHaven

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Superintendent Frederick Heid has detailed the counseling and crisis support available to Polk County students, staff, and families after the Winter Haven bus crash, and how you can help the families directly.

https://t.co/BaElQYu2eC

#PolkCounty #WinterHaven

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

https://t.co/7krtR1ziGu

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

About 850 feet of Old Eagle Lake Winter Haven Road will be closed at 8 p.m. nightly starting Oct. 7 for utility work. Full detour list at the link. #PolkCounty #EagleLake

Follow us on https://t.co/UdWdStBQZN and subscribe at https://t.co/knZI5nQZ50 for breaking news.

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Polk County commissioners removed the CareerSource Polk CEO 3-2, then removed the agency's entire board of directors 5-0. Her attorney has reserved the right to sue. 📷
https://t.co/iI4LJqQ0Dk
#PolkCounty #Bartow

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

The dome on Bartow's old courthouse is wrapped in scaffolding and netting. The work started Sept. 28 and runs through mid-December.

https://t.co/UbslgtG8CX

#PolkCounty #Bartow

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Sheriff Judd says a white Chevy Malibu veered into a Winter Haven High School bus on Lucerne Park Road. Two people died.

https://t.co/8ykqL5hHla

#WinterHaven #PolkCounty

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

At least 40 residents showed up in opposition to Fort Meade's Stonebridge data center vote. The official minutes describe the entire public hearing in one sentence. Now those minutes have been approved 🍊
https://t.co/MgzKivGyJP
#fortmeade #datacenter #missingminutes #polkcountyf

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Winter Haven set its tax rate for the year at their last meeting, but one commissioner wanted to hand part of the city's reserves back to taxpayers. Read the full story below. Polk County's local news you can trust. Follow The Citrus Tea News for more local coverage, and

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Even with $4.5M in Unmarked Reserves, Only One Commissioner Wanted to Provide Relief to Taxpayers In Winter Haven as Board Votes 4:1 to Raise Revenue for 2027 Budget. 🍊
https://t.co/anO1dZY4pw #winterhaven #budget

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Polk County firefighters would go from a 56-hour workweek to 42 hours under a new three-year union agreement. Two ratification votes still stand between the deal and the firehouse.

https://t.co/rMdtP8Ka4a

#PolkCounty #Bartow

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

A ton of garbage at the Polk County landfill now costs $48.30, and a 5% increase is scheduled every year through 2030. Rates, sites, and hours in one place.

https://t.co/qshJheGCTb

#PolkCounty #WinterHaven

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

A locally acquired dengue case is confirmed in Polk County as Mosquito Control ramps up truck and helicopter spraying, plus the full list of where crews have sprayed. 📷

https://t.co/vfJioYu3jV

#PolkCounty #Davenport

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Pioneer Days turns 50 in Lake Wales this month, and admission is free. Music, blacksmiths, basket makers, a craft market, petting zoos, and Beers with Pioneers at Lake Wales Park.

https://t.co/Y7kqAU0xhK

#PolkCounty #LakeWales

[The Citrus Tea News @thecitrustea]

Polk County commissioners unanimously confirmed the next Utilities Division director. Starting Nov. 9, he will oversee 301 employees, a $538.8M budget, and nearly 68,000 water utility accounts. 🍊🔗 Polk County informed is exactly why we're here. Follow The Citrus Tea News for