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Click for a list of Hurricane Milton Recovery Resources. Residential Hurricane Milton Debris Hotline (833) 843-1920 active 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For updates on Hurricane Milton debris pickup and dropoff or Hurricane Milton Debris Removal Dashboard.

No residential waste collection for unincorporated Polk customers on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28. Residents will follow the Holiday Collection Schedule for the rest of the week.

Genealogy Speaker Series

When: October 28, 2023

Time: 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Location: Polk County History Center - 100 E. Main St., Bartow, FL 33830 - also available via Zoom

Featured presenter: Dorinda Morrison Garrard

To a family, a sudden death is a tragedy emotionally … and financially. Wills can be helpful for genealogical research, but another type of document, called a probate file, can provide further insight into the lives of the deceased. In “Probate Gems: A Case Study,” we will discuss the Mattox family of Polk County to show the intricacies of probate files. You also will learn how to utilize these documents in your own research.

Born in Arizona, Dorinda Morrison Garrard’s love of history was born from her grandparents’ tales of family lore. Garrard became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2016, and she served as the chapter historian from 2016 to 2023. During her time as historian, Garrard researched and successfully nominated candidates for historic awards on both the regional and national level. She currently serves as the Regent of the Bartow Chapter, and she remains involved in research.

The presenter will appear virtually. Guests are invited to join us at the History Center or participate via Zoom. For Zoom details, contact Shannon Graham at (863) 534-4604 or ShannonGraham@polk-county.net.

Polk County History Center
100 E. Main St., Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 534-4386
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday


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