YOUR GOOD NEWS
NAACP BANQUET
The NAACP Lakeland Branch 75th Diamond Anniversary Freedom Fund Banquet with the theme "The Fight Continues” was held Aug. 6 at The First United Methodists Church in Lakeland. More than 250 citizens attended the banquet. The keynote speaker was Rodney L. Hurst Sr., a black historian and civil rights activist, from Jacksonville. Local political and community leaders who attended the banquet included: Randy Barns, Beverly Boatwright, William J. Boss, Alicia Boss, Terry Coney, Rex Dimmig, Gow Fields, Kay Fields, Ruben Garcia, Ken Glover, Brian Haas, Janiya McAllister, Mary McElrath, Larry Mitchell, Bill Mutz, Larry Rankin, Trudy Rankin, Lorenzo Robinson, Shandale Terrell, Jackie Vickers, Phillip Walker and Keith Ward.
SCHOOL WORKERS RECOGNIZED
During the Charmettes Inc., Polk County Chapter’s Annual Retreat held on Aug. 27, Sheila Jones, school psychologist, Ed.D.; Deirdra Sanders-Burnett, licensed mental health counselor and educator, Ph.D., Charmettes vice president; and Linda Whitfield, school nurse, McLaughlin Middle School & Fine Arts Academy, were recognized for their many years of service and dedication and retirement from the Polk County Public School system by Shirlie James, Ed.D., Charmettes president. Sanders-Burnett also received the Charmettes' 2022 Spirit Award. The Charmettes is a sisterhood of dedicated women committed to improving the quality of life within our communities through advocacy, education, service and support for cancer research.
SPCA VETERINARIAN VOTED THE BEST
SPCA Florida’s shelter veterinarian Dr. Robyn Barton, was voted best veterinarian in Lakeland by Haven and LKLD Magazine’s Best Of people’s choice award. In 2021, Barton spayed or neutered 2,778 pets and performed 416 critical surgeries. Before coming to SPCA Florida, Barton was chief veterinarian for the Animal Defense League of Texas.
DYER AWARD GOES TO FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The August Dyer Difference Award recognizes the hard work of the coaches and the volunteers who help make Lake Wales Youth Football League a place where learning is fun and leaders are developed. Each month, members of the Dyer family and Dyer Kia and Dyer Chevrolet team meet to review the applications that have been submitted and select one non-profit organization to receive that month’s recognition and $3,000 award. To nominate a non-profit organization from Polk County for the Dyer Difference Award, visit www.dyerdifference.org.
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This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Events and honors
