Visit us on the Internet at www.PolkCountyDemocrat.com INSIDE Saturday . 11 The July 26, 2014 Polk COunty Democra t Bartow’s Hometown Newspaper Since 1931 75¢ Volume 83 Number 96 USPS NO 437-320 Bartow, Polk County Florida 33830 An Edition of the Sun Copyright 2014 Sun Coast Media Group, Inc. Union grads honor students J ` sue' I Grand Reunion grads award scholarships to area students 41 r, b• By STEVE STEINER was well-attended by alumni of the yI. [email protected] once-Union Academy High School, PHOTO BY STEVE STEINER long since transformed into the Union One of the bright spots of this week- Academy IB Middle School following Retired Lt. Col. Kelly Mosely (left) is joined by end’s Union Academy Grand Reunion the integration of 1969, when Union George Ronald Sabb of the reunion committee. activities is its scholarship awards Academy was merged into what is now Mosely presented a scholarship to his grand- ceremony, which was held this year on Bartow High School. daughter, Keiana Marie Mosely, who was not Friday, July 25 at the Carver Recreation Interestingly, a number of those who able to attend the scholarship award ceremony. Center. were honored with scholarships were See more photos on page 2. As in past years, the ceremony GRADS | 14 ‘This really is the end of the line’ Engage members After 133 years, pitched on final county Phosphate mine supporting initiative By STEVE STEINER is closed [email protected] By BRIAN ACKLEY Time is running short for garnering support for the initia- [email protected] tive on the November ballot calling for a one cent increase , JUL in the Polk County sales tax; the one cent is needed to fund 1 The truth about the end 7-11 mass transit and the county’s roads, say proponents. I 333 Y n? Yet despite more than a year’s effort, if the Thursday, of phosphate mining in Polk ? 1 County is this: It came years July 24 Engage luncheon is any indication, it would appear after it should have. support is lukewarm at best. That is, until it is explained. When U.S. Army Corps of Proof of that came when Polk County Commissioner George Engineer Capt. Francis LaBaron Lindsey, who accompanied Polk Transit Authority Executive discovered Peace River phos- Director Tom Phillips, called for a show of hands of those phate in 1881, he surely could who already supported the initiative. not imagine the industry he was ENGAGE | 15 about to spawn. For some 133 years, phos- phate mining in one form or ray - - another as been part of the Sharing successes, county’s economic fabric, until 35,: c now. k The last Mosaic drag line challenges on the road scraped across Polk’s earth June 22 at Hookers Prairie mine, an event celebrated — if that Superintendent taking State of is even the right word for such an occasion — Wednesday with the Schools to each district about 200 company workers By CATHY PALMER and officials. CORRESPONDENT PHOTO BY BRIAN ACKLEY While Mosaic expects to mine for another 40 years in other Mosaic drag line operator Mike Whidden is interviewed Wednesday at the Polk County Superintendent of Schools Kathryn LeRoy parts of what came to be known firm’s Hookers Praire mine, which closed yesterday. The last bucketful of will be taking her message on the road again when she as Bone Valley — operations in phosphate ore was take out on June 22. Whidden was at the mine when it first holds eight community meetings in each of the Polk School Hardee and DeSoto counties opened in 1976, and worked there to the end. He will report for work Monday Board’s seven districts in the next month and a half. continue to operate and indeed at the South Fort Meade mine. Kicking off at Summerlin Academy in Bartow at 6 p.m., on expand — commercial phos- Monday, July 28, Leroy plans to present communities with phate mining in Polk is officially The end, of course, was a But, according to Mosaic a “state of the schools” message where she will share “key history. practical decision driven by Vice President of Phosphate achievements and future objectives,” said District Senior This part of the bone has, economics and the simple fact Mining Operations Karen Director of Public Relation Leah Lauderdale. more than a century later, been there was no more rock to dig picked clean. from the earth. CLOSED | 14 SCHOOLS | 15 START AN INTERACT RAPE ARRESTS FESTIVAL TIME College Two men student wants charged with 41 Caladium to start club at rape Festival this Bartow High weekend page 9 page 8 page 10 Page 2 The Polk County Democrat July 26, 2014 Grand Reunion PHOTOS BY STEVE STEINER Left: Accepting the Henry James Atkins Schol- arship from the Union Academy High School Grand Reunion committee is Malasia Thomas (center). She is joined by Mrs. Vann-Payne Atkins, who presented the scholarship, and George Ronald Sabb, Union Academy Reunion president. Above: Rainna D. Moore, who attends Troy University and is pursuing a career in nursing, was one of the recipients at the scholarship ceremony held by the Union Academy High School Grand Reunion committee. Left: James Driskell (left) presented the Louis and Edith Moore Scholarship to his son, Duane Driskell (center), who accepted it on behalf of Duane Driskell II, who could not attend. They are joined by Union Academy High School Grand Reunion President George Ronald Sabb. Right: The Union Academy High School Grand Reunion Scholarship Award Ceremony was held Friday, July 25. ?Nq?' OUt for reading the Heartland Newspapers Lake Wales-Frostproof Bartow-Fort Meade July 26, 2014 The Polk County Democrat Page 3 Budget shows tax decrease, but higher in amount To be presented again at Tuesday’s meeting By CATHY PALMER budget for the past several years. only a scant $6,000 of the money Perrone they would like to see it not- CORRESPONDENT “After getting nothing for so long, needed for the extra reading hour. ed somewhere in the budget that the we’re thrilled to have $1.88 million. “This is really an unfunded man- 5 percent mandated by the board’s Polk County property owners will We’ll take it and spend it on main- date,” she said, “So we have to be own policy would be identified see their school tax bill drop by a tenance that’s needed in so many of creative to find ways to pay for it.” somewhere in the budget. Perrone smidgen if the school board formally our schools,” said Cyndi Wolfe, senior Board members seemed concerned said he would find a way to show that OKs a drop in the ad valorem taxes finance director for the district who that the proposed budget didn’t the back-up cash would be shown it tentatively approved at a public joined Perrone in presenting the include its policy-identified 5 percent somewhere. hearing on Tuesday at the board’s budget to the board. budget cushion that is set aside annu- While the budget will show a tax 5 p.m. meeting in Bartow. Wolfe also said “we are continuing ally to cover emergency expenses decrease, it also shows the reduction The small tax drop is only 33 cents to be frugal, waiting for better times should the need arise. Perrone told of some 20 paraprofessional positions per $1,000 of taxable property, drop- and holding the line,” adding that the board the budget only reflects and 16 exceptional student education ping the millage rate from 7.54 to 7.21, the budget was “not all that different 4.29 percent, which is a slight drop aides. LeRoy told the board she according to the tentative budget sub- from last year’s.” from the contingency funds on hand would investigate that issue “to make mitted to board members. The board The tax drop is possible, the finan- at the close of the budget year this sure we’re not pulling the support we will formally OK the rate at Tuesday’s ciers said, because property values past June. need at this level.” 5 p.m. board session in Bartow. throughout the county had risen Perone said the projected balance The district’s capital improvement While the tax rate falls, the bud- slightly to generate the small increase really is more than the 5 percent the plan, which covers repairs and main- get submitted by the board’s chief in available funds. board’s policy identifies as back- tenance at all 163 schools, will hover financial officer Mike Perrone, shows Of the $19.5 million, one increase up cash because the district isn’t at about $49 million, even though it’s an increase of almost $19.5 million, is another $200,000 to $300,000 set expected to spend all the money it needs plan shows much, much more. for an anticipated total budget of aside to pay teachers to teach read- had budgeted for salaries. He added “We’re just happy to get some- $777.8 million for the coming year. ing an additional hour a day at 23 however, that they still have to budget thing,” said Wolfe. Perrone told the board the budget elementary schools who fell among as if all that cash would be spent. The budget hearing is scheduled also includes a $1.88 million donation the lowest performing schools in the Board Members Hunt Berryman, for 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29 at from the state for capital improve- state. Kathryn LeRoy, superintendent Lori Cunningham and Board the School District Office on Floral ments, which has been lacking in the of Schools, said the state is funding Chairman Dick Mullenax all told Avenue in Bartow.