Category Archives: General

What I Learned in 2020: The World Does Not Stop

Posted on January 21, 2021 by bwmerritt

On January 1, 2020 — like many people — I looked forward and saw a year with potential challenges ahead but also great opportunity. I had read some news reports about a new virus in China, but it was distant … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, General, Government, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Quick Future of Downtown Lakeland Follow-Up

Posted on May 17, 2013 by bwmerritt

I wanted to come right back and flesh out some more of my thoughts from yesterday’s post about the future of Downtown Lakeland and Howard Wiggs’ recent vision meeting. Commissioner Wiggs and I spoke for a few minutes today and … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Government | Leave a comment

Is Downtown Lakeland’s Future Turning Into a Turf War?

Posted on May 16, 2013 by bwmerritt

Consider me part of the confused camp after I read this morning that Lakeland mayoral candidate Howard Wiggs hosted a Downtown Lakeland vision lunch Wednesday at Grasslands. The water got even muddier as I followed Twitter updates from the Lakeland … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Government | Leave a comment

Why I’m on the Fence About The Ledger’s Paywall

Posted on May 1, 2013 by bwmerritt

The digital revolution has put newspapers under intense pressure. That being said, like most Polk County residents, I was surprised to see Jerome Ferson’s column in Sunday’s edition of The Ledger announcing that the paper was transitioning to a digital … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Top Five February Events in Polk

Posted on February 2, 2013 by bwmerritt

February is a full month in Polk County. There are a ton of exciting events in our community this month. As I was glancing at my own calendar of things that I want to attend, I realized it’s really too … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Lakeland Electric/City Charter Saga Over … For Now

Posted on September 7, 2012 by bwmerritt

Like many Lakeland residents, I was relieved Wednesday to see that the businessmen who had been reportedly pushing behind the scenes to change the city charter in regards to selling Lakeland Electric were ending their efforts. Steve Scruggs, executive director … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Government | Leave a comment

CSX Job Creation Numbers: Is 6,000 a Safe Estimate?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by bwmerritt

So I got on a CSX fix over the weekend. The CSX/Sunrail battle of the past few years drew a lot of attention, and I tried to follow it as closely as possible. Of course, being a native of Lakeland, … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Government | 1 Comment

Anxious Times at The Ledger, News Chief With New Owners

Posted on December 28, 2011 by bwmerritt

It’s times like this that I really don’t miss the newspaper business. If you haven’t already heard, the New York Times Co. has sold its Regional Media Group, which includes The Ledger and the News Chief, to Halifax Media Holdings … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment

A Better Perspective on the Jenkins Situation

Posted on December 27, 2011 by bwmerritt

I’ve been wracking my brain the past week or so about how I could have better expressed my thoughts about what is happening with Matt Thompson, the Jenkins football program, and the school itself. I named this blog Polk Perspectives … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, General, Sports | Leave a comment

Gene Conrad, Direct Air Proving Commercial Flight Can Succeed in Lakeland

Posted on July 12, 2011 by bwmerritt

I was watching the Lakeland City Commission meeting from July 5 on the City Government channel this evening, and I was so impressed by what I was watching that I had to write a new post. The City Commission was … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Government | 1 Comment