This year promises to be a big election year not only on the national level, but also in the northeastern suburbs of Shelby County.

While financial issues seem to follow The Lake District, developer Yehuda Netanel defends the mixed-use project and declares optimism.

The Lake District continues to suffer financial problems, according to a report to the Lakeland Board of Commissioners.

The Ashmont mixed-use development in Lakeland has moved forward with some amendments, but delays on a proposal for age-restricted multifamily units.

On Monday, Dec. 11, the suburb’s school board unanimously approved delaying construction by at least one year, pushing the timeline into at least fiscal year 2025.

The list of government entities opposing a school voucher program continues to grow as the Lakeland School Board passes a resolution against Gov. Bill Lee’s plan.

Sewers, when properly maintained, are not given much attention. However, they help guide decisions for growth in Shelby County’s suburbs.

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As Memphis sewer cutoff looms, DeSoto faces costly facility upgrades

Growing up in the 1960s and ‘70s, Lakeland was a far-off destination with an amusement park and nearby drag strip.

A suggestion to change the status of Garner Lake in Lakeland and making the private water feature accessible to outsiders was met with strong opposition.

After dealing with crime and other unwanted activities at a Lakeland hotel, city officials helped start the demolition of the Econo Lodge, a step in reinventing the area around Canada Road and Interstate 40.

The Board of Commissioners is considering a land trade with a hotel owner to give the city contiguous property on Huff N Puff Road near the old Econo Lodge site.

Plans are underway for a potential new community center geared to military veterans, part of the redevelopment at the Lakeland interchange of Interstate 40.

With an increase of residents expected to accompany the construction of BlueOval City, higher-density, New Urbanism could help meet the need for housing.

Patrick O’Mara is leaving the Lakeland parks and recreation director job and heading to Vegas. Andrew Fisher moves into the leadership role.

Lakeland officials have begun the 30-month process to prohibit short-term rentals in the suburb.

Lakeland school Superintendent Ted Horrell was awarded for continuing to advance the suburb’s education system with a raise for the work he has done.

DeSoto County Schools reflect good showing for the annual accountability ratings from the state Department of Education.

Lakeland has changed directions on the future for the Relax Inn on Canada Road by buying the property instead of going through the condemnation process.

From the overall look of Canada Road near the Interstate 40 exit to positioning Lakeland for growth in conjunction with Ford’s BlueOval City, Mayor Josh Roman is moving quickly to improve the suburb.

New equipment provides foundation for new studies at Lakeland Preparatory as the suburb’s new high school continues to add grades and students. 

The idea of a new county splitting from Shelby still gets talked about in the suburbs, but the hurdles and the cost of such a move appear difficult to overcome.

Complaints about short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods have led Lakeland officials to consider shutting down the rental operations over the next 2 1/2 years.

Plans for a new Lakeland School System administration building receive endorsement from suburb’s planning and design review commission. The Equestria residential project also gets nod of approval.

After establishing his food reputation, Guy Fieri expanded his interests, including promoting his Knuckle Sandwich cigars in Lakeland this week.

Lakeland officials continue to work on redesigning the area around Interstate 40 and Canada Road and have voted to condemn the motel north of the interchange.