Thirteen Polk public school students were named 2012 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists in an announcement by the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC).

The 13 srudents are among 16,000 Semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit® Scholarship Program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

2012 Polk County National Merit semifinalists:

Lake Wales, Florida- On Friday afternoon, Tiffany Buhr and Katie Blackburn were busy putting final touches on items to create a memorial to mark the spot where their 17-year-old friend was killed in a car crash in Lake Wales on Saturday, September 22, 2007.

Morgan Brown died in the accident at around 11 p.m. at West Lake Wales Road South and State Road 60.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the car that she was a passenger in didn't stop at a stop sign and was hit by another car. Three other teens inside the car had to be rushed to the hospital. 

Click here to watch a previous story.

Lake Wales, Florida - The Lake Wales Police Department's Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Effort, called "VOICE" is in need of financial help.

VOICE is an organization focused on helping the community. The organization helps with parades, funerals, citizen patrol throughout the city, and large public attended events.

Lakes Wales Police Sergeant Tim Harrell says VOICE members are the eyes and ears of the community.

VOICE is looking for financial assistance from the community of Lake Wales. Donations will be used to paint and replace the decals on the two VOICE cars. The estimated costs to refurbish the exteriors of the cars are nearly $1,000 each for the 1996 Taurus Sedans.