Local News Weekend Roundup for Friday August 14: Heat, Water Skis, and One more Day to Vote Early

Listen up, Polk County! It’s hot. Like, heat advisory hot. And tomorrow is your last chance to vote early, which means bring your water and join me at Silver Lake In Winter Haven tomorrow for a free show. And now it’s time to talk local news, because, afterall, that’s what the Citrus Tea News is all about.

It’s Going to Be Hot. Plan Around the Sun, Not the Rain.

There’s a heat advisory up right now. Today we’re looking at thunderstorms and a high near 94, and honestly the rain is basically a sure thing this afternoon. I can hear it cracking in the sky as I type. Can you?

Then Saturday and Sunday the temp climbs to 95 with barely any rain chance, which sounds nicer than it is. The UV index both days is rated extreme. Pay attention to that, not the rain.

Sunrise tomorrow is 6:57 a.m. with sundown at 8:06. If you’re going to be outside, the early morning and the last couple hours of daylight is best.

Tomorrow Is It. Last Day to Vote Early.

Saturday, Aug. 15, is the final day of early voting. All 10 sites countywide are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. During early voting only, you can go to any of them. Whichever is closest to your Saturday plans.

After tomorrow, that goes away. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 18, and on Tuesday you have to vote at your assigned precinct. Polls run 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you’ve got a mail ballot sitting on your kitchen counter, it has to be in the hands of the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Postmarks don’t count.

This surprises people every single election. You can drop it at any early voting site while they’re open. After Saturday night, you’ll want to hand deliver to your assigned precinct on Tuesday.

And, since it’s going to be 95 with extreme UV, go at 9 a.m. Not 4 p.m. Please, for the love.

Free Water Skiing Show on Lake Silver

The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team performs Saturday at MLK Park at Lake Silver in Winter Haven. Pre-show at 4:15, show at 5. It’s free.

Bring a chair or a blanket. There’s concessions, and bring cash for that and for the 50/50 raffle. The 5 o’clock start is smart, because that’s right about when the heat starts letting up. This show is one of those things that’s been happening in Polk County forever and somehow people still don’t know it’s free. So come and see it!

Orchids and Cuban Food at Bok Tower

Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales has Orchid Fever and Havana Heat on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exotic orchids from all over the world, music, Cuban food.

Go in the morning. I keep saying that but I mean it, the afternoon is going to be brutal. More at boktowergardens.org.

Saturday Morning Downtown

The Winter Haven Farmers Market is running every Saturday this month, 9 to noon on Magnolia Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Street SW. Produce, food trucks, baked goods, meat, seafood, plants, honey, pickles, local makers. They hand out free market bags at the info tent until they run out. Say hi if you see me holding my camera and an iced caramel latte from Richards!

Don’t miss out of these events

The Highwaymen exhibit is up at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum at Florida Southern through the end of August. If you don’t know the story: a group of African American artists painted Florida landscapes and sold them out of the trunks of their cars. They made something like 200,000 pieces. That’s a real chapter of Florida history and it’s sitting right here in Lakeland right now.

And the Flying Tigers have 18 home games this month at Joker Marchant. They’ve got $2 hot dog nights, all-you-can-eat nights, Baseball Bingo. Schedule’s at milb.com/lakeland.

Catching You Up on the Week

Your utility bill is going up Oct. 1. Reclaimed water jumps 50%, with another 33% coming in April 2027. If you’re building, connection fees for a new single-family home go up about $950 for water and $1,300 for wastewater.

The Polk HealthCare Plan raised its income cap July 21, from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level. That’s roughly $99,000 for a family of four. If you checked a couple years ago and got told no, check again. polkhealthcareplan.net.

School started back again and that means slow down. Lakeland’s school zone cameras started issuing real $100 tickets Tuesday. No more warnings.

Lakeland commissioners voted 4-3 on Aug. 3 to pause new data centers for a year.

Eagle Lake pulled the demolition bids on the 1926 Red Brick Schoolhouse, and roof repairs started this week.

A judge threw out Lake Wales’ CRA expansion on July 28. The county argued it could have redirected up to $155 million.

K9 Ace is home and retired. He lost his left front leg. A couple in Tampa who’d never met his handler paid for all of it and then said they’d buy the next dog too.

And if you’re out toward Davenport, FDC Grove Road and Holly Hill Grove Road Two are still closed through Aug. 28.

Five Commissions Meet Monday

Monday’s the third Monday, which is the busiest day on the whole municipal calendar around here.

City of Lakeland will start the week off, 9 a.m. sharp at City Hall. Auburndale, Eagle Lake and Lake Alfred all meet at 7 p.m. Bartow meets Monday at 6 p.m. if you’re planning to go.

Mulberry and Polk City normally fall on the third Tuesday, which this month is Election Day. Call ahead before you go.

One Last Thing

Go vote tomorrow. Go early, before the heat sets in. Then go sit by a lake and watch somebody get pulled behind a boat, or go look at orchids, or eat something off a food truck downtown.

Don’t forget to slap on the sunscreen, find some shade and enjoy a ball game at the park or on your couch.

And either way, drink more water. We all need to anyway.

The Citrus Tea News does not endorse candidates and reports on all races without partisan preference. We accept paid political advertising, which is clearly labeled and offered to every candidate in a race at the same rates. Advertising has no influence on our coverage.

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Sources: “What’s On Your August Ballot? A Polk County Voter’s Guide To The 2026 Primary,” The Citrus Tea, thecitrustea.com, June 24, 2026; “Lakeland Commission Passes Data Center Moratorium In 4-3 Vote,” The Citrus Tea, thecitrustea.com, August 3, 2026; “Eagle Lake Rescinds Demolition Bids, Red Brick Schoolhouse Lives On,” The Citrus Tea, thecitrustea.com, August 6, 2026; Lakeland FL Weekend Forecast, The Weather Channel, weather.com, August 14, 2026; “Polk Top 10,” Haven Magazine, havenmagazines.com, August 1, 2026; Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team, cypressgardensskiteam.com; Bok Tower Gardens, boktowergardens.org; Winter Haven Farmers Market, winterhavenfarmersmarket.com; Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art, agbmuseum.org; Lakeland Flying Tigers, milb.com/lakeland; “Polk County Adopts Changes to Utility Rate Structure,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, August 7, 2026; “Income Limit Increase for Polk HealthCare Plan Eligibility,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, July 23, 2026; “Court Rules for Polk County on Lake Wales CRA Expansion Case,” Polk County Government, polkfl.gov, July 29, 2026; Lakeland School Zone Speed Safety Program, City of Lakeland, lakelandgov.net; Polk County Sheriff’s Office, polksheriff.org; City Commission Agendas, City of Lakeland, lakelandgov.net; City of Auburndale, auburndalefl.com; City of Eagle Lake, eaglelakefl.gov; Meeting and Holiday Schedule, City of Lake Alfred, mylakealfred.com; 2026 Primary Election, Polk County Supervisor of Elections, polkelections.gov