PRSRT-STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #91 FOUR CORNERS NEWS SUN 34711 - Wednesday, December 30, 2020 VOL. 19 NO. 88 www.fourcornersnewsleader.com An Edition of the Sun BUNNY BUSINESS INSIDE IN BRIEF Teen helps fund passion Applications being taken for rent, for agriculture by mortgage assistance breeding, selling rabbits The Polk County Board of County By ANITA TODD proprietor of Reanna’s Commissioners voted Dec. 15 to allocate $1 Contributing Writer Rabbitry, an agricultural million of Community Development Block company breeding show and Grant (CDBG) funds to assist those still HAINES CITY – Like pet rabbits. suffering a negative financial impact from many teenagers, Reanna For the local teen, it all the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown has a busy life. started when her agriculture Legoland files The program will assist residents with rent She attends Haines City teacher, Eddie Congdon, gave and mortgage payments. The county began expansion plans High School, where she is her a rabbit. Coincidentally, taking applications Dec. 29. The program will Page 2 the president of the Future about that same time, a stop taking applications at 5 p.m. Thursday, Farmers of America and a neighbor gave her a rabbit Dec. 31. student advisor for the Polk when they couldn’t relocate State’s budget A call center opened Dec. 29 to answer County (FFA) Federation. with it. It was love at first sight questions. The number to call will be (863) projections She also works part-time at for the two rabbits — Lola 519-1000. Phones will be answered from 9 improve a local farm store and takes and Fluffy — thrown together a.m. to 4 p.m. during the application period. Page 5 Flooringextraordinary is your local care flooring of her companyby fate. providing professional installation services, Funds are offered on a first-come, as well numerousas flooring animals. and wall application“After products. they had theirFree firstmeasurements and estimates; first-serve basis until the allocation is free carpetHer removal parents and & friends disposal; say freelitter standardof kits (baby furniture rabbits), removal & replacement; as gone. Payments will be made directly to she’s more responsible than I quickly learned how many landlords, property management or mortgage “We mostonly teenslove her surprises age, getting onup familypeople holidays, were interested not when in making purchases; we companies. Applications are available on the early to ensure the animals are buying them,” Brown said. “I county’s website at www.polk-county.net/. fed and watered. posted about it on Facebook For more information, call (863) 534-5240 Frank HollingerBrown even Family takes Flooring that and, offers within the hours, following they were services: or email [email protected]. accountability one step s o l d .” Polk student Reanna Brown is the farther as the owner of a Brown also has three sole proprietor of presented with Minimum wage to Digital Hearing Lab is located at 290 successful small business. purebred Brangus cattle, one CitrusReanna’s Tower Rabbitry, Blvd anSte. 105. Call us scholarship to increase Jan. 1 agricultural company For the past two years, commercial heifer, a Zebu at breeding352-988-0274 show and for pet a complimentary Brown has been the sole (mini) bull and two Zebu pursue aviation Florida’s minimum wage will inch up to rabbits. PHOTO PROVIDED time $8.65I’ve called on Jan. you” 1 before is one jumping of the to first $10 onways exclusive offers on hearing products. Visit BUNNIES | 4 dreams Sept. 30. Our office is located at 16201 Hwy 50, Clermont,Page 407.654.4503. 10 www. The minimum wage has been $8.56 this year but will increase nine cents in January Preliminary plans for housing development David Dunn- because of a 2004 constitutional amendment that tied increases to cost-of-living changes. in Davenport move forward Rankin: Time to be The minimum wage for tipped workers will thankful be 5.63 an hour as of Jan. 1. By CHARLES A. BAKER III took another step forward Dec. 21. The subdivision will be called Page 11 The overall minimum wage, however, [email protected] The Davenport Planning Geneva Landings. Once built out, will accelerate in September because of a Commission and Davenport all of the traffic will enter and exit constitutional amendment that was approved A plan to build 509 single-family City Commission approved the to Davenport Boulevard, near U.S. Winter Haven may last month to eventually set the wage at $15 homes on 122 acres, on a property preliminary plat approval Dec. 17/92. demolition former an hour. The wage will go to $10 on Sept. 30 located just across the railroad 21. There will likely be a final plat Commissioners also approved Spring Training and incrementally increase each year until tracks from downtown Davenport, approval in January. two new annexations Dec. 21 at stadium reaching $15 on Sept. 30, 2026. We’re Hiring HOUSING | 4 Page 13 A portion of all proceeds for the month of October will go to the AmericanJoin Cancer Society Our Team! DR Media is growing and we want to talk to you. Send resumes to [email protected]$1 PER MINUTE Four Corners News-Sun • Winter Haven Sun • Polk News-Sun • Well Being • Polk Forward 1508A Max Hooks Rd., Groveland • The Hunt Industrial Park 1596 S. GRAND HWY • CLERMONT, FL 34711 • 352.243.5868 2 Page 2 FOUR CORNERS NEWS-SUN December 30, 2020 PalletOne of Bartow sold for $232M Davenport residents By CHARLES A. BAKER III J. Missad said. “PalletOne is a leader in automation for pallet [email protected] manufacturing, which we can scale across our existing footprint. They step up, help out also have exceptional sourcing and design personnel who will help us BARTOW — Universal Forestry Products Industries staff gain synergies in those areas of the combined businesses. During the last Davenport City Commission meeting of announced the proposed purchase of PalletOne, Inc. for $232 million “PalletOne brings a strong brand, a new customer base, and 2020, elected officials thanked the 26 city residents who helped in a press release dated Dec. 10. operating excellence, which drive us closer to our goal of becoming organize and complete the city’s Christmas toy drive. Pending regulatory approval, the deal is expected to be completed the preferred global packaging solutions provider and preferred wood All told, Davenport city residents donated 270 bags of Dec. 28. preserver in the U.S.” Christmas toys for 270 families struggling to make ends meet PalletOne, whose headquarters is on U.S. 17 in Bartow, is a leading UFP Industries is a holding company whose operating subsidiaries this year in Polk County. manufacturer of pallets in the United States, with 17 facilities in the – UFP Industrial, UFP Construction and UFP Retail Solutions – In addition, city residents donated 15 bicycles. southeast. The PalletOne management team, including President manufacture, distribute and sell a wide variety of wood- and alternative The commissioners played some video of the annual Howe Wallace, will continue to lead the company. material-based building and industrial products worldwide. Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony before wishing “This is a great opportunity for all of us at PalletOne,” Wallace said. Founded in 1955, the company is headquartered in Grand Rapids, residents a Happy New Year. “As a strategic addition to UFP’s leading industrial business unit, we Mich., with affiliates in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. will have access to new markets, value-added industrial products, Organized in 2001, PalletOne manufactures new pallets, provides Charles A. Baker III and resources that will help us grow our business and provide our pallet repair programs, recycles used pallets and produces a variety customers with more value. of other wood products. With headquarters in Bartow, PalletOne’s “Because UFP is committed to developing its employees and operations include Sunbelt Forest Products Corporation, one of the promoting from within, PalletOne employees will have new largest producers of pressure-treated lumber and residential fencing in opportunities to grow their careers as well,” he continued. “We’re eager the Southeast, and SunOne Logistics, a Southeast regional truckload to take advantage of these exciting new possibilities.” carrier. The merger may benefit both parties. Through its combined operations, PalletOne employs more than “We are excited to welcome PalletOne and its 1,500-plus employees 1,500 people across 22 locations. to the UFP family of companies,” UFP Industries CEO Matthew Legoland expansion plans indicated in filings On Dec. 12, the Orlando Sentinel Winter Haven in 2021. reported that Legoland Florida Resort in In addition to the park expansion, LOWER Winter Haven may be transforming around Legoland Florida Resort staff will be four acres of what is currently parking lot premiering a new water sports stunt show in UTILITY BILLS! space into a new section for its park in 2021. February and a new 4-D movie in the spring. Conceptual plans filed with the Southwest Staff with parent company Merlin Install a Goodman® brand Air Conditioner and you can Florida Water Management District show at Entertainments Group reportedly submitted lower your utility bill every month - year after year! least a half-dozen new rides and attractions, plans to the City of Winter Haven back as well as a new 11,850-square-foot building. in October. Legoland Florida Resort The building may be a place where spokeswoman Kelly Hornick has told visitors can watch Lego models being built multiple media outlets that more details may by staff. be released soon. Legoland Florida Resort staff and visitors © 2016 Goodman Manufacturing Company. L.P., Houston, Texas. will be celebrating 10 years of being open in Charles A.