The Ledger (Lakeland, FL) articles from August 2007

The Ledger (Lakeland, FL) archives from August 2007

Publix earnings rise 16.1 percent.(Financial report)
August 2, 2007

There's just no place like home.
August 11, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Maready Aug. 11--Even on vacation I can't stop thinking about work. It's one of the hazards that comes with the job. So what was my literature of choice on a recent trip to Arizona? Real estate guides for property in...

Today's porches are really outdoor living rooms.
August 11, 2007... Byline: Rachel Pleasant Aug. 11--Porch furniture and accessories have come a long way. No longer are porch lovers limited to utilitarian aluminum furniture and glass-topped tables, items that were once porch staples but decidedly...

Four Corners to get first water park.
August 11, 2007... Byline: Michael W. Freeman Aug. 11--FOUR CORNERS, Fla. -- When the Tierra del Sol Resort first proposed building a development on U.S. 27 in Northeast Polk County, the firm ran up against a big problem: Water. There was no water...

Efficiency doesn't seem to be high on Polk's priority list.
August 15, 2007... Byline: Kevin Bouffard Aug. 15--LAKELAND -- Without doubt the Polk County Efficiency Commission saved the county government $135,000. How much the commission's 23 recommendations for improving county government will save taxpayers...

Slow real estate market creates dilemma for homeowners.
August 15, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Maready Aug. 15--LAKELAND -- Jon Brock was sure Polk County's rental home market would take off, just like property values did nearly two years ago. In a typical real estate climate, higher home prices drive a greater...

Plans for sports bar move up the field.
August 16, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Maready Aug. 16--LAKELAND -- Plans to replace Lillian's Music Store with an upscale sports bar are moving forward. Disputes between the downtown nightspot and the building's Orlando owner were settled several weeks ago,...

Building permits for July take a slight downturn.
August 17, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Maready Aug. 17--It should come as no surprise that July's building permit total for single family homes was down. But the good news is that the total fell only 24 percent, considerably better than recent months when drops...

Polk's jobless rate increases in July.
August 18, 2007... Byline: Kyle Kennedy Aug. 18--Unemployment continued its upward hike in July, with Polk County recording a 4.8 percent jobless rate. Last month's rate was up from 4.0 percent the year before and 4.1 percent in June, according to the...

Orange forecast looking healthier.
August 18, 2007... Byline: Kevin Bouffard Aug. 18--LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Florida orange crop will rebound closer to 200 million boxes in the 2007-08 season, according to two widely watched early crop projections released this week. That recovery will be...

Woman makes dream come true renting inflatables.
August 24, 2007... Byline: Kevin Bouffard Aug. 24--LAKELAND -- Melissa Harvey has found her dream business in FunFlatables, a Lakeland business that rents "moonwalks" and other inflatable amusements for private parties and public festivals. A dream...

Growers won't have to repay $24.6 mil.
August 25, 2007... Byline: Kevin Bouffard Aug. 25--LAKELAND -- More than 2,100 Florida citrus, vegetable and ornamental nursery growers are off the hook to repay $24.6 million in federal disaster assistance following the 2004 hurricanes. Under pressure...

Realtors' groups losing members.
August 25, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Maready Aug. 25--The membership in Polk County's Realtor groups is declining faster than the national trends. Membership at the county's main Realtor associations have dropped by about 9 percent, officials at the...

Harry's Restaurant is sold.
August 25, 2007... Byline: Kevin Bouffard Aug. 25--LAKELAND -- One of Lakeland's landmark eateries, Harry's Restaurant at 1003 E. Main St., has been purchased by two former Cypress Gardens foodservice managers. Doug and Wanda Jowais closed the deal on...

Imperial Buffet International gets new look.
August 25, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Maready Aug. 25--After getting a facelift and relocating, Imperial Buffet International is getting ready for its grand reopening early next month. The changes are part of an ongoing project at SouthEast Plaza on Cypress...

Suspect in software case: Firm was legal.
August 25, 2007... Byline: Kyle Kennedy Aug. 25--LAKELAND -- Maurice Robberson said the Web-based software business he ran was hardly profitable and operated within the bounds of the law. Arrested Tuesday on federal software piracy charges, Robberson...

Development Springs Eternal.
August 28, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Maready Aug. 28--Not quite ready to jump into home ownership? We hear Jacksonville-based Continental Properties has submitted conceptual plans for a new apartment complex at the corner of U.S. 98 North and Griffin Road...

Existing Home Sales Down 40 percent.
August 28, 2007... Byline: Jeremy Maready Aug. 28--The number of existing homes sold in July continued Polk County's housing slide. For the 14th consecutive month, the total was less than the year before. Realtors sold 278 homes last month, down 40 percent...