Bartow, Florida - The debris generated by the severe storms last Thursday exceeds normal curbside collection services and requires the Board of County Commissioners to secure additional resources. Although clean-up has already begun, an initial sweep of debris in all neighborhoods will take approximately four weeks.

Photo Gallery: Last week's storms and storm damage

Volumes permitting, routine bagged wastes and small piles of yard waste will be serviced during normal curbside collections.  Claw trucks will be temporarily directed to areas most impacted by the storms and will resume normal route service as soon as possible. 

Lakeland, FL -- The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Yadira Holmes as Vice President of Public Affairs.

Advocating for small business is a crucial role for the Chamber, and Holmes brings extensive experience and vast political knowledge to her new position.

Yadira most recently served as Legislative Assistant to State Senator Paula Dockery, whom she credits with providing a substantial background in community and public relations, legislative advocacy, and communications.

Lakeland, Florida -- Lakeland Police are trying to identify two people who appear on a picture taken with a stolen cell phone.

The phone was stolen out of a vehicle on Fairhaven Drive on February 26. It was later recovered and had these images, believed to have been taken by the suspect.

One person of interest appears to be an adult white male, and the other an adult white female.