POLK NEWS-SUN VOL. 90 NO. 15 Wednesday, April 8, 2020 www.polknewssun.com $1.00 The Lake Wales News INSIDE THIS EDITION First responders adapt, continue to perform duties during outbreak Rep. Soto: ‘Help is By ANITA TODD on the way’ Contributing Writer PG 2 POLK COUNTY — First responders face risks each day. Cases of COVID-19 Recently, though, the danger they continue upward face has been amplified by a new, trend statewide, invisible threat. National news outlets have seen an in Polk influx of reports of first responders PG 3 becoming sick, and even killed, due to COVID-19. Locally, county and Bok Tower to hold PHOTO BY CATHY PALMER municipal police and fire departments virtual Easter Workers on scaffolding scrape away curling paint and crumbling mortar as they work to restore the are taking preventative steps in hopes Bartow Post Office on Central Avenue in the city’s downtown district. of not adding to that total. service Additionally, the Polk County PG 7 Sheriff’s Office is taking steps to Work begins on facelift for keep inmates safe at the county jail Trivia nights locations. Bartow Post Office “We are receiving calls for service survive social related to COVID-19 — these typically distancing By CATHY PALMER building on Central Avenue is Contributing Writer undergoing a thorough cleaning, as center on well-being checks and PG 10 medical calls,” said Scott Wilder, well as the replacement of crumbling Director of Communications for BARTOW — After nearly three years mortar to bring back the beauty that the PCSO. “When appropriate, our of lobbying by at least one Bartow City complements the classic style of the Polk members use PPE (personal protective Commissioner, the Bartow Post Office County History Center. equipment) when dealing with those is getting a long overdue facelift. In 2017, Bartow Commissioner Trish who are displaying symptoms.” The 102-year-old, neoclassical Pfeiffer — the mayor at that time — The county has responded to the FACELIFT | 4 COVID-19 pandemic much as it would emergency weather events, Bartow hoops such as hurricanes and tornadoes, Municipal according to Wilder. coach earns “At the direction of Polk County statewide award election results Fire Rescue’s Medical Director, the PG 13 Municipal elections were held April 7 for ECC has activated the EMD Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) six municipalities in Polk County, including Tool,” he said. “If we get calls related Bartow and Lake Wales. For the results, to COVID-19, such as patients visit PolkNewsSun.com. RESPONDERS | 4 Focused On Our Community The Polk News Sun is your local community newspaper. WEEKLY • TIMELY • LOCAL 99 Third Street N.W. • Winter Haven, FL 863-533-4183 • polknewssun.com Page 2 April 8, 2020 Soto to small business owners: ‘Help is on the way’ By CHARLES A. BAKER III Around $500 billion was earmarked for loans for major Staff Writer industries, cities and states and another $367 billion for small business loans. Other earmarks include $130 billion POLK COUNTY — Congressman Darren Soto for hospitals, around $50 billion in food assistance, $30 (D-Kissimmee), whose district includes Winter Haven billion in education stabilization, $20 million for VA and much of east Polk County, led a town hall conference hospitals and around $50 million for transportation such call to area small business owners about the health crisis as public bus and train lines, Soto said. April 1. Another part of the CARES Act that can be a resource “Together we will get through this pandemic,” Soto said. for a small business owner is the Payroll Protection The congressman said health care models predict the Program. Soto explained that traditional small business peak threat to be May 9 in Florida. owners qualify — as well as the self-employed and Congress passed the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid independent contractors — with no collateral, just proof Relief and Economic Securities Act (or CARES Act) and it of past payroll documentation. Employers who do not was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March lay off any or many employees qualify for some loan 27, making it the largest ever American relief package. PHOTO BY CHARLES A. BAKER III forgiveness. Around 1,800 banking institutions have Soto said relief checks should be mailed out to taxpayers Congressman Darren Soto, seen here at a Martin Luther King Jr. program in Lake Wales in January, held a conference call for small business owners already signed on to process a deluge of expected new in mid- to late-April and that, for most residents, funds on April 1 to explain the implications of the federal relief package passed loan applications, Soto said. would be delivered in the same way as they receive recently. “Help is on the way,” Soto said. their tax return — typically a direct-deposit into a bank In addition to resources associated with the CARES account. Per the new law, a single adult making less than $75,000 Act, there are other resources for small business owners. per year qualifies for a $1,200 check, with an additional Carl Hadden, the Florida Small Business Development $500 included for each child. Those making more than Center Associate Director for Polk County, said staff are $75,000 receive gradually lower amounts. available to help business owners apply for a variety of Unemployment directly associated with virus-related other loans. Locally owned by Christina Hansen CPA work loss was increased to $600 per week in federal Hadden explained that the first step to seek Florida REDUCE THE STRESS OF benefits, for up to four months, in addition to up to $275 SBDC help is requesting help online, either at https:// in state unemployment benefits. Student loan payments sbdctampabay.com/cornavirus or https://sbdcorlando. DEALING WITH THE IRS! are also on hold for six months. com/cornavirus depending upon the location of the Enjoy peace of mind & a good night’s sleep! • IRS Representation • Personal Taxes “This will be critical for so many of you,” Soto said. business. • Tax Levies & Liens • Installment Agreements • Accounting Services • Back Taxes Issue • Business Tax Preparation • IRS Audits • Tax Negotiation & Settlement • Legal Tax Reduction Learning continues Voted Best Accountant for students — at a In Central Florida Winter Haven (863) 875-7853 | Lakeland (863) 617-6107 distance 864 1st Street South, Winter Haven, FL 33880 YourTaxEdge.com Students, teachers and staff for Polk County Public Schools returned from Spring Break last week — in a manner of speaking, at least. Joining districts around the state in complying with state and federal social distancing guidelines, digital devices were distributed to students throughout Polk to enable distance learning for the foreseeable future. Teachers and staff worked diligently to get devices into the hands of students, but did so with a smile — as showcased by Lake Region High School Media Specialist Danielle Doyle. PHOTO PROVIDED Steven Ryzewski Dog Grooming • Dog grooming, • Dog baths and Haircut, PUBLIC NOTICE • Blow Dry by Hand, • Nails Trimmed/Ground, Notice is hereby given that the City of Bartow is • Ears Cleaned/Plucked, accepting applications for the following voluntary • Foot Pads Cleaned/ advisory board(s): Trimmed, • ➢ Citizen’s Advisory Committee Teeth Brushed and Glands Expressed. ➢ Zoning Board of Adjustment (alternate) Celebrating 16 years To obtain an application or board description contact in business. the City Clerk’s Office at (863) 534-0100 ext. 1256 Award winning dog groomers. or visit the City Clerk section on the City’s website: www.cityofbartow.net (863)875-8035 • Classypetspa.com 1102 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven FL 32884 3 April 8, 2020 Page 3 Coronavirus Polk County COVID-19 cases by geography Updated as of 6 p.m. Monday, April 6, 2020 Florida, Polk see spike in (sorted by mailing address) 50 numbers related to COVID-19 48 40 43 By STEVEN RYZEWSKI 40 48 cases attributed to individuals with 30 Editor Lakeland mailing addresses. There are 43 cases involving individuals with 20 The Florida Department of Health Winter Haven mailing addresses and 10 2 5 announced April 6 that, as of 6 a.m. 40 cases are attributed to individuals 8 Monday, there are 13,629 confirmed with Davenport mailing addresses. COVID-19 cases in Florida. Lake Wales has eight cases, Lakeland Winter Haven Bartow Lake Wales Davenport Auburndale The state continues to see a surge in Auburndale has five cases, Haines City Source: Florida Department of Health cases in recent days, with an average has four cases, Bartow and Fort Meade of 1,124 new confirmed cases per day each have two cases and Frostproof New cases per day — Statewide between April 1-5. has one confirmed case. (12 a.m. — 11:59 p.m. each day) The number of deaths in Florida As far as Polk’s neighboring counties, 1,500 is up to 254 as of that time, with as of 6 p.m. April 6, Orange County 1,719 cases currently requiring has 754 confirmed cases, 575 in 1,312 hospitalization. Hillsborough County, 241 in Osceola 1,250 1,290 Polk County now has 180 confirmed County and 107 in Lake County. 1,181 cases. There are currently 61 cases in The Florida Department of Health 1,000 1,040 Polk requiring hospitalization and is also encouraging all Floridians there have been five deaths caused by to take the COVID-19 Community 750 COVID-19 in Polk County. Action Survey by visiting www. 788 Lakeland has the largest volume of StrongerThanC19.com. confirmed cases as of this time, with 500 Updates online 250 To follow along with the latest COVID-19 numbers and updates for Polk County and around the state, visit 0 April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 April 5 WinterHavenSun.com or PolkNewsSun.com.