The Lady Lake Police Department issued 91 warnings and 59 citations during a weeklong traffic enforcement campaign aimed at reducing speed-related crashes.

From July 14–20, officers dedicated approximately 80 hours to traffic enforcement as part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s annual Operation Southern Slow Down. The campaign is a multi-state initiative involving law enforcement agencies across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.

During the enforcement, Lady Lake police issued 39 citations and 91 written warnings for speeding, 13 citations for aggressive driving, and seven citations for seatbelt violations. No DUI arrests were reported during the campaign.

The goal of Operation Southern Slow Down is to curb dangerous driving behaviors that continue to be a leading factor in traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities across the state. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, speeding and aggressive driving contributed to 437 traffic deaths in Florida in 2023.

“This campaign gives us an opportunity to remind drivers that speeding and aggressive driving put everyone at risk,” said Lady Lake Police Chief Steve Hunt. “Enforcement is just one piece— awareness and personal responsibility are just as important.”

The Lady Lake Police Department encourages all motorists to drive within posted speed limits, wear seatbelts, and avoid aggressive behaviors behind the wheel.

For more information on Operation Southern Slow Down, visit www.flhsmv.gov.

LADY LAKE – The Town of Lady Lake, The Lady Lake History Society, and the Lady Lake Garden Club invite you to the Town’s first-ever History Haul to commemorate our Centennial.

As part of a weeklong celebration of events in November, residents are asked to bring old photos, documents, and artifacts of the history of Lady Lake to Heritage Park (135 Old Dixie Highway), on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 3 to 6 p.m. The items may be permanently donated or temporarily loaned to the Historical Society to help share personal stories of the Town as we continue to celebrate our 100th year.

Items can include, but are not limited to:

• Photos taken in Lady Lake with identifiable locations and/or names
• Old newspapers
• Family heirloom owned by a known resident
• Ephemera such as postcards, ticket stubs, notebooks, diaries, receipts, etc. linked to a resident or the town
• Items or artifacts connected to a notable building or business (example: church pew, school desk, farm tool)

During the event, the Lady Lake Garden Club will generously provide free refreshments and present a talk on the history of the Heritage Park and its beautiful historic garden.

Help us with our mission to preserve Lady Lake’s unique history for generations to come.

Anyone with questions may contact events@ladylake.org or visit the Historical Society Museum from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, located at 107 S. Old Dixie Highway, Lady Lake.

As part of the Lady Lake Library’s annual “School Supplies for Fines” initiative, the library collected and donated 26 backpacks—its largest donation to date—filled with more than 1,000 school supplies to students of The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake. Donated items ranged from everyday essentials like notebooks, pens, and glue to more unique contributions such as headphones, Clorox wipes, and tissues. The program also forgave $791.55 in library fines, offering patrons a chance to give back while reducing barriers to library access.

“The school was incredibly grateful—and so are we! We’d like to thank our community for helping us give back in such a meaningful way,” said Library Director Aly Herman.

Pictured left to right: Kourtney Fehr, Youth Library Assistant; Aly Herman, Library Director; and Mary Shaner, Bookkeeper for The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake.

Elisha Pappacoda