LOCAL NEWS
POLL WORKERS
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
NEW PRESIDENT
SCHOLARSHIPS
Polk County residents are invited to apply to become election workers during an informational meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 2nd. “These are paid positions working at polling places on Election Day,” explained Supervisor of Elections, Lori Edwards. There are two meetings available and will be held at the following locations and times: 11 am, Feb. 2 at Lake Mirror Center, 121 S Lake Ave, Lakeland; 6 pm, Feb. 2 at Election Operations Center, 70 Florida Citrus Boulevard, Winter Haven. No reservation is required and voters who have served as election workers in Polk County in recent years are welcome but do not need to attend. For more information, contact the Supervisor of Elections Office at (863) 534-5888 or visit PolkElections.gov.
Ashley Brannon, a curriculum coach at Karen M. Siegel Academy, is the 2022 Polk County Teacher of the Year. Tiffany Berrien, a physical education paraeducator at Rochelle School of the Arts, is the district’s School-Related Employee of the Year. Brannon and Berrien will receive a cash prize generously donated by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, Herff Jones, and Valley Bank. As Teacher of the Year, Brannon will also receive a car, courtesy of Lakeland Automall. Both winners will move on to compete for state titles. PCPS also recognized the district’s Principal of the Year, Amy Heiser-Meyers from Horizons Elementary; as well as the Assistant Principal of the Year, Tammy Ruhl from Floral Avenue Elementary.
BayCare Health System has named Kidada Hawkins as the next president of its Winter Haven and Winter Haven Women’s Hospitals, effective Feb. 21, 2022. A health care executive with experience in both the notfor-profit and for-profit health care sectors, Hawkins has spent the past three years as the Market Chief Operating Officer for two Tenet Healthcare hospitals in Alabama. Hawkins is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and is a Regent and former President of the FORUM, Alabama’s chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and holds master’s degrees in health services administration and business administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Polk County Supervisor of Elections, Lori Edwards announced that the Florida Supervisors of Elections (FSE) will award four $1,200 scholarships to Florida students in 2022. Applicants must be: registered to vote in the State of Florida, be a citizen of the United States, enrolled as a full-time student in a senior college or university in Florida, and majoring in political science/public or business administration or journalism/mass communications. Applicants must also possess at least a “C” average for the previous year, demonstrate financial need and be available for an interview in the county where they are registered to vote. Polk County residents may contact Lori Edwards at (863) 534-5888, or by email at info@polkelections.com. An application is also available at PolkElections.gov
NEW CHIEF
YEAR OF CELEBRATION
TEACHER RAISES
CITY COMMISSION
Winter Haven Public Safety and The City of Winter Haven is proud to announce the promotion of Fire Marshal Joseph “Sonny” Emery, Jr. to Chief of the Winter Haven Fire Department, effective January 10, 2022. Chief Emery started his career in the fire services with the City of Winter Haven in September of 1998. He was promoted to Firefighter III in 2007 and moved to Fire Inspector position in 2012. Chief Emery was selected as the Interim Fire Marshal in November 2016 and was appointed the position in August of 2017. Chief Emery has served as the Officer in Charge at the Fire Department since June of 2021. Chief Emery is dual certified holding Fire Standards as well as Police Standards.
By way of proclamation, the City of Winter Haven deemed 2022 to be the Year of Celebration in the Water Ski Capital of the World in 2022. Mark Jackson, Director of Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing was in attendance to accept the proclamation. Water skiing was invented by Ralph Samuelson on July 2, 1922, when he was towed behind a boat while standing on two wooden boards. Winter Haven is the home of Cypress Gardens, where Dick Pope Sr. brought water skiing to the world. Winter Haven’s own Lake Silver will serve as the stage for the best water skiers in the world to compete during the 2022 International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation World Water Ski Show Tournament to be held October 21 through 23, 2022.
The Polk County School Board has unanimously approved the PCPS teacher salary and benefits agreement for 2021-22. The collective bargaining agreement between PCPS and the Polk Education Association teachers union was previously ratified by 96% of voting PEA members on Dec. 16. The union represents approximately 6,980 teachers. Using the state-funded Teacher Salary Increase Allocation, the minimum starting salary for PCPS teachers will increase to $45,487, up from $45,172 last year. The base salary for PCPS’ most experienced teachers will be $64,282, up from $64,072. Advanced degree supplements will increase during a two-year period: With the agreement now approved by the school board, salary schedule increases were to be paid to eligible employees on Jan. 31, 2022.
The Winter Haven City Commission completed its reorganization in January by electing Mayor Brad Dantzler to continue in his position, as well as electing Mayor Pro Team Nathaniel Birdsong to also continue in his role. Commissioner J.P. Powell was also sworn in during the meeting to begin his new term following the November elections. The Commission elected Mayor Bradley T. Dantzler to continue leading the commission. Congratulations to all involved!
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