On Thursday, a fire on Hilltop Terrace in Haines City displaced a family of five, two adults and three kids.

Later that evening, there was a fire on Smith Road in Polk City that displaced a parent and two children.

According to the Red Cross, house fires remain the most common and deadly disasters for the organization's responders. Since July 1, 2007, in just Polk County, the local Red Cross has assisted nearly 160 families.

Lake Wales Art Show set for weekend

LAKE WALES - The 2008 Lake Wales Art Show is set to take place Saturday and Sunday. The event held annually on the shores of Lake Wailes, is free and open to the public.

"The Lake Wales Art Show brings visitors and participants from all over the United States and abroad to our community," said Greg Littleton, president of Citizens Bank and Trust, a sponsor of the event. The show allows visitors to see and purchase artwork while being outside.

Every year the Lake Wales Art Show has acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings on display as well as sculptures, photography, basketry, wood, pottery, glass, jewelry, ceramics and more.

The show offers two days of entertainment, which includes live entertainment and a children's activity tent. There is no admission fee and no charge for parking.

Officials gather to talk citrus

LAKELAND - Faced with diseases that threatens the future of the citrus industry, the Florida Department of Citrus and the Florida Citrus Commission recently contracted with the National Academy of Sciences to find solutions for citrus greening and citrus canker.

The National Academy of Sciences will bring together leading scientific advisers to work with the citrus department's scientists to determine the most effective and efficient way to solve citrus diseases in Florida.

As an independent, third party, the academy will bring together more than 60 scientific experts to review research efforts, request and review proposals for new research to be conducted in 2008-09, develop a long-range strategic research plan and publish a report recommending implementable solutions for citrus growers.

"We are prepared to fund the research necessary to find a solution to greening and to actively communicate research discoveries to growers," said Ken Keck, the citrus department executive director. "The FCC passed a resolution in January to provide necessary support to the research effort in a responsible, accountable manner."

Osprey to make Fly-In arrival

LAKELAND -The V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which rotates its wings so that it can take off and land like a helicopter and fly like a twin-engine airplane, will be at the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In from April 8 through April 13 at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland.

Two V-22 Ospreys are scheduled to arrive April 11, and remain on display through April 13.

"More than 150 requests for the Tilt-Rotor were made from venues across the nation." said John Burton, Sun 'n Fun president and convention chairman. "Only 11 - including Sun 'n Fun - were selected."

This is an exciting development for Sun 'n Fun. Combined with the USAF Thunderbirds, air-to-air refuelers and tankers, unmanned aerial vehicles and our regular programs and activities, this year is shaping up to be one of our best ever," Burton said.

The V-22 operates at twice the speed and three times the payload capacity of current helicopters and is equipped with an advanced state-of-the art avionics package, which gives it unprecedented capabilities.

Democratic Club will hold meeting

WINTER HAVEN - The Greater Winter Haven Democratic Club will have its monthly meeting Tuesday at Perkins restaurant on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Fellowship and food will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Brenda Reddout, a member of the Polk County school board, will speak.

New officers for the club are Frank Chichetto, president; Camille Rudicil, vice president; Grant Denn, treasurer; and Anne Eastridge, secretary. For details, call Nancy Simmons at 863-291-3734 or Tom Macy at 863-293-7732.

Meeting to be held for poll workers

LAKE WALES - Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards will host an informational meeting for anyone interested in working at the polls during this year's elections. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday at Trinity Baptist Church, 2601 State Road 60 E., Lake Wales, will begin at 10 a.m.

Applicants should bring along a copy of their social security cards for payroll purposes. Poll workers are paid for the time they work, as well as their training before Election Day. Voters who have served as poll workers in Polk County in recent years are welcome, but do not need to attend.

To reserve seats, or for additional dates and locations, call 863-534-5858, or visit www.polkelections.com.

Lawyers sponsor ethics program In the beginning of March, J. Marion Moorman, a public defender, and Jerry Hill, a state attorney, co-sponsored a continuing legal education program on ethics for their attorney staff members.

The program was presented by Denis Michael DeViaming, a frequent ethics lecturer and a member of the Florida Bar.

DeViaming presented ethical vignettes. About 130 attorneys participated in the program.

Museum to debut new exhibit The exhibit will allow museum visitors to explore the mysteries of the microscopic world around them. The MEGA Mike exhibit is a component donated to Explorations V Children's Museum by the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa.

General museum admission is $5 per person. Senior citizens 65 and older are $2.50.

Museum members and children under 2 are free.

For details, call 863-687-3869 or e-mail info@explorationsv.com. 412 in 'Fantasy 5' match 4 numbers

From News Chief wire reports

TALLAHASSEE - No ticket matched all five "Fantasy 5" numbers, producing 412 winners who correctly matched four numbers to share $325,068, the Florida Lottery said Sunday.

The 412 players who matched four numbers will collect $789 each. The 13,577 tickets matching three numbers won $9 each, and 129,484 tickets won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.

The numbers drawn Saturday night were 11-12-19-25-29.