The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 6

HEARTLAND THE POLK TRIBUNE Serving Winter Haven, Auburndale, Haines City, Lake Wales And Frostproof TAMPA, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1973 ens ewe: Auburndale Bids Improvements On High Winds Hit Mobile Home Park with a bid of $1,587,395. Other bidders and their bids are Nardei Constracting, Bridgevillc, Joba Construction, Pinellas Park, and the Boam Company, Livonia, $1,872,209. The bids were taken under advisement for the engineer and the city manager to examine for specification agreement. The project would be in three parts. The largest segment is the laying of gravity sewer lines; next is the installation of wastewater force mains; and finally, he activation of wastewater pumping stations.

The plan would bring into the city system the third of the homes whbh now must use septic It is funded by a $1.2 million bond issue with the balance to be financed by the city. The city has an option of increasing or decreasing the project by as much as 25 per cent without violating its contract. FOLLOWING THE opening of the bids the commission held a public hearing on the environmental impact of the proposed sewage treatment plant and spray irrigation system that was attended by only the commission and the press no Auburndale citizens showing up. The hearing was required by law to maintain the city's eligibility for the $906,900 federal environmental protection agency grant. Gaylor explained to the commission and press that the system would be constructed on 10 acres adjacent to the present site of the obsolete sewage treatment plant and that the spray irrigation would be constructed on the 200 acres recently purchased by the city for that purpose.

He said the entire project would cost $2.6 million, but there is a good chance the city may receive up to 75 per cent reimbursable funds from the federal agency for all funds spent over the original grant. the area. Several mobile homes were demolished and a dozen persons were injured. AP Wirepholo Home owners and neighbors of Florida City, a south Dade County mobile home park, sift through debris yesterday after tornado-like winds hit By JERE SELLARS Tribune Staff Writer AUBURNDALE A Mississippi construction firm is the apparent low bidder for the $1.5 wastewater system improvements program which will enable the city to offer sewer service to all its citizens for the first time, it was announced yesterday at a special meeting of the city commission. Sealed bids were opened and read from five firms by consulting enginer Mike Gaylor of Black, Crowe and Eidsness.

They ranged from a high of $2,111,241 to the $1,550,250 of Don R. Sharp, of Louisville, Miss. Holiday Closings The Christmas and New Years holidays mean 4 4 5' i A 4 tt extra time off for most Heartland-area residents. State offices will be closed both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; some will be open New Years Eve, and others will be closed both New Years Eve and New Years Day. Postal officials say most of their employes will begin their Christmas holiday at noon Monday; mail deliveries will revert to usual holiday schedules.

There will be Monday route deliveries. Elsewhere in the Heartland: Polk County LAKELAND City Hall and all other city offices, except those offering emergency services, will be closed Christmas Eve and Day, Dec. 24 and 25, and on New Years Day, Jan. 1, Mrs. Virginia J.

O'Reilly, city public information officer, has announced. City offices will be open New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, she said. Refuse crews will make their regular pickups Dec. 24 and 31, but no pickups will be made on Christmas Day or New Years Day.

Crews will make up residential pickups on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, while the usual number of commercial pickups will be made each week, William P. Warner, city public works director, said. The main library of the Lakeland public library will be closed Dec.

23 and all units will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25, Cecil E. Cleveland, city librarian, has announced. It will close at 5 p.m., Dec. 31 and remain closed through New Years Day, he said.

The two mobile units won't make their regular stops Dec. 28. FORT MEADE The Fort Meade City Hall will be closed Christmas and New Years Day in observance of the holidays, City Manager Everett Howe said. He said no garbage collections are scheduled on the two days, but collectors will work on the following Saturdays to catch up on their rounds. THE NEXT was Douglas struction lowest bidder Higgins Con-Ann Arbor, Babson Park Bicyclist Hit By Car Tribune Bureau BABSON PARK A young bicyclist was hit by a car as he apparently tried to cross U.S.

27A about two miles south of here Wednesday, Trooper G. M. Welch of the Florida Highway Patrol reported. George W. McNally, 10, of Babson Park, was taken to Winter Haven Hospital in poor condition, Welch reported.

The boy was riding his bicycle south-bound on the right-hand side of the highway before the 5:35 p.m. accident, the trooper's report said, as a 1966 model car, driven by Ethel Lane Meeks, 65, of Babson Park, traveling in the same direction approached the bicycle to pass. The bicycle turned left into the path of the car, apparently to cross the road, Welch said. Welch said the car ski Ided 66 feet before the collision and about 65 feet after the impact, dragging the bicycle. Rodeo Slated At Lake Placid Tribune Bureau LAKE PLACID A two-night rodeo is scheduled for next weekend at Harold's Arena on State Road 70, just east of U.S 27, and will feature, in addition to the usual thrill events, a trained clown mule.

Floridians wishing to enter the events' may register with arena owner Harold Ekhoff at Harold's Restaurant here. Day All Around Old Memorial Ihvy. in Tampa, hoping the gloom will disappear. But it doesn't seem that it will. See Story, Page 1-A.

It was a cold, rainy today as well as most of Smith sits patiently at his two Haines City Discusses Road Crew By MARJORIE CESN Tribune Staff Writer HAINES CITY The hiring of an additional construction crew for the street division was discussed by the city staff last night during a city commission work session. Commissioners were told the crew would be considered a super-crew and its function would be strictly new construction. The current street crew would be left for maintenance only on the streets, utility systems and parks. City Manager Dale Mills said maintenance work has been neglected during the 1972-73 budget year. "IF OUR CAPITAL improvements project were constructed with our own personnel it would reduce our engineering costs, preparation of detailed plans and specifications, advertising of bids, execution of contracts, performance bonds and insurance requirements and inspection of the constructions phase of the project," Mills sad.

It was estimated the additional crew would cost the city $72,000 yearly in salaries. "WE HAVE a good maintenance crew and they do a good job," Mills said. The current employes would have an opportunity to apply to become members of the work crew. "Our dollar doesn't go as far as it did two years ago," said Public Works Director Bill Drummond. "In order to save people money we have to improve the operation." City Commissioner Merle Zamzow opposed me move.

"I'm a little concerned about hiring the crew and not keep- xl Via cairf "I said, 'I ing Uieill limjr, don't think this will save us money." COMMISSIONERS reviewed the proposed 1974 street improvement program during the work session that followed the city commission meeting. During the city commission meeting, commissioners approved payment to Jack Cocke and Co. for a new fire truck. The truck has already been delivered and cost $25,723. Commissioners also approved the preliminary and final plat for the Jill-Joy subdivision on North 19th Street.

wve eor VAY6 TO Bids New Lakeland MULBERRY The Mulberry City Hall will be closed on Christmas Eve. and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25, and New Years Eve and New Years Day, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, city officials said.

Garbage collection crews will be off on both Christmas and New Years Day, but collection schedules will be doubled-up on following work days, the officials added. Well Exceed City Estimate LAKE WALES City hall will close today and reopen Wednesday at 8 a.m., giving municipal employes a four-day break for the Christmas holiday. Garbage collection will be suspended Tuesday, with Tuesday's route being collected Wednesday, according to City Manager Carl Cheatham. The police department will remain open for business as usual. DUNDEE City hall employes will be given a four-day weekend because of the Christmas holiday.

Offices will close today at 5 p.m. and reopen Wednesday at 8 a.m. Garbage collection also will be suspended Monday and Tuesday, with collections resuming Wednesday. The police department will remain open for business as usual. Tribune Photo by Eric Hobbs "Hopefully," Perez said, "we'll have an answer within a week.

But with the holidays, it may be a bit longer." THE PROJECT bid upon and begun two years ago was in the Scott Lake residential area to serve increasing requests for city water service and because of the relative height of the Highlands area. Everhart Well Drilling Co. of Lakeland was low bidder at $16,025. Yesterday's bids were based on an 850-foot-deep well, as was the 1971 project. Thomas R.

Williams, city water superintendent, said last week "the proposed capacity of the well is to pump 2,500 gallons per minute." He said the well drilled in 1971 had the same capacity but "they've already absorbed that well." Williams said there have been "500 new services begun in the Highland Hills area since the first of the year" and there's been "enough growth in the area" to require an additional well to supply area residents. Inside HEARTLAND Classified 6-Area Florida Life 4-Area Meetings 2-B Sports 3-Area It Was A Bleak day over most of Florida the nation. Here Claude small vegetable stand on On and Locke Well Pump Co. priced the work at $74,300. Both are Orlando companies.

Estimated cost of the well, to be sunk on a lot on Luce Road, south of Lake Miriam Drive, was some $20,000. PEREZ HAD sent out eight bid invitations. "The only estimate we had to go on was the last well from industries and business payroll deductions, still some several thousand short of the $242,000 goal for this year. "BUT WE CAN make it, we're considering all kinds of ideas for raising those last few thousand and we won't give up easily," he said. Renfrow urged all workers who still have pledge cards they haven't turned in to get them in before Christmas, so the next week's effort can be planned.

"I'd like to ask everyone who hasn't been contacted yet, or maybe somebody with $5 more they'd like to give in the spirit of the season of giving to mail it in to Box 1213, Winter Haven; or call in your pledge to 294 3178 it's about the best Christmas present you could give yourself." Blitz Second Telephone By United Way Applauded FROSTPROOF City hall will close at noon Monday and reopen Wednesday at 8 a.m. because of the Christmas holiday, according to City Clerk Lillian Amerson. Garbage collection will be suspended Tuesday, with Tuesday's route being pickup up on Wednesday. The police department will remain open for business. drilled about two years ago," Perez said.

"Based on that bid, our estimate (for the present project) would have been about $20,000." "We told him (a Singer-Lane-Atlantic Co. representative) we would evaluate it (bid)," Perez said, "because it's over the amount we had budgeted." Extinguished Fire In Shop Smokes Anew Tribune Bureau LAKELAND- A fire in Mr. Man Shoe Store on 113 S. Florida which was put out Wednesday afternoon, began emiting smoke early yesterday morning, according to Lakeland Fire Department Deputy Chief John M. Buzbee.

He said firemen had to break out windows in the store at 12:56 a.m. after attempting to contact store owner Dr. W. T. Richard.

said there was minor smoke damage in the earlier fire which was caused by a faulty light fixture, and said the later fire was caused from sparks in the ceiling boards. He said firemen pulled out the ceiling boards, which hadn't ignited into flames, but were emitting smoke. By MIKE TURMELL Tribune Staff Writer LAKELAND An apparent low bid for a city water well is nearly twice the estimated cost of the new Highlands-area facility, City Purchasing Agent R. D. Perez said yesterday.

Perez opened two bids for the 20-inch well. Singer-Lane-Atlantic Co. quoted $38,521.50 Bank President Bill Sutton and featured such callers as Mayor Ken Schulz and other industrial, business and government leaders. The site was again the General Telephone district service offices here and the door was swinging open and shut all evening as volunteer "runners" rushed out to collect the pledges from those who agreed to make their contribution on the spot if someone would come and get it. One caller doubled his pledge because the runner had gone to his old address, listed on the card, and he "didn't want you to have to go back with what I gave la.st year after you had to call again to find me." Renfrow pointed out that last night's effort pushes this year's drive beyond last year's $210,000 total, but even with the $20,000 plus due in HAINES CITY Municipal employes will be given a four-day holiday because of Christmas.

Offices will close today at 5 p.m. and reopen Wednesday at 8 a.m. Garbage will be collected Monday as usual, with Tuesday's collection being suspended. It will be pickup up on Wednesday. The police department will remain open for business as usual.

Tribune Bureau WINTER HAVEN. "Another hour and another thousand dollars," John Renfrow, chairman of the United Way campaign, announced last night at the close of the second telephone blitz session with an assist from sports-clogged WSIR radio keeping fans and listeners informed of the progress of the fund raising effort and urging unsolicited call in pledges. "We will now have about $4,000 more than we had before the first blitz with the mail ins and walk ins and call ins," Renfrow said, "which puts us even closer to our goal but we're still short, near but far but we can do it, somehow I know we can." THE SECOND blitz was headed by First National DAVENPORT City Hall offices will close today at 5 p.m. and not reopen until Wednesday at 8 a.m., giving municipal employes a four day Christmas holiday break. Garbage collection also will be suspended until Wednesday.

The police department will remain open. WINTER HAVEN, AUBURNDALE, AND LAKE ALFRED All city departments closed Monday and Tuesday, except fire and police. Garbage will be picked up Monday in all cities, and the Tuesday loss both weeks will be made up Wednesday,.