Polk County | featured news

Mattie and Teag Vann had their wands drawn at the ready as they posed next to a cutout of the famous Harry Potter at Books-A-Million on Saturday. Mattie, a 10-year-old wearing a Hufflepuff robe, is a big fan of the fourth installment of the seven-book series, according to her mother, Colleen Vann. And at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Mattie and her 8-year-old brother, Teag, would have a new Harry Potter book to wear out.

Public health officials and those who provide health care to low-income families agree there is a large gap in need and available services for the more than 65,000 children and teens in Polk County who rely on Medicaid for dental care. A few private-practice dental clinics in the county accept the low reimbursement that Medicaid pays to treat children. Many don't, hamstrung by meeting their own operating costs when Florida Medicaid reimbursements come in at about 37 percent of the standard rate from most insurance companies.

Polk County officials are taking their time to make sure the next garbage contract they approve won't generate the complaints and controversy the 2010 contract did. The new contract will provide garbage customers and garbage companies with clearer expectations on how garbage pickup will be handled in unincorporated Polk County in the future and provide incentives for garbage companies to provide better service.

Drugs were seized after Winter Haven police officers served a warrant at 309 ½ Lake Howard Drive NW in Winter Haven on suspicion of drug activity Tuesday, police said.

An alert citizen helped Winter Haven police officers catch a vehicle burglary suspect early Friday, police said.

Winter Haven authorities are warning citizens about being approached by a man offering to repair vehicle damage.

The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting Aug. 18 to get comments about plans to replace the bridge over the Withlacoochee River on State Road 33.

People interested in jobs in Polk County's Road & Drainage or Utilities Department are invited to attend a session from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in the county office complex at 1011 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven.