**** Tornado Watch Has Been Cancelled In Polk County ****

Polk County, Florida – The Polk County Emergency Management and The United States National Weather Service has put Polk County and other counties on notice that a tornado watch is in effect. DailyRidge.Com will keep it’s readers posted via social media if any funnels do appear in Polk County.

Babson Park, Florida -  At approximately 12:10 pm, the PCSO was contacted about a possible shooting at a residence on Sultenfuss Road. Upon their arrival, deputies learned two subjects had been arguing at the residence and ultimately one individual was shot.  The victim was transported to an area hospital to be treated for injuries sustained. 

The investigation is on-going.

Persons of Interest

Polk County, Florida – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is advising residents that devices known as “skimmers” have recently been found in the Bartow, Mulberry, and Haines City areas.

PCSO and the Bartow Police Department are currently investigating fraud complaints related to skimming devices that were placed on two Publix ATM’s (one in Bartow, one in Mulberry), and two Mid-Florida Credit Union ATM’s (one in Bartow, one in Haines City).
Skimmers are device readers that criminals put on ATM’s or other card readers (such as on gas pumps) that customers use to swipe their debit or credit cards. A trained eye can detect if a skimmer has been placed on such a device.

Skimmers are almost always accompanied by tiny cameras that record the customer entering his/her PIN number after swiping the card. Law enforcement agencies work hand-in-hand with business owners to examine their card readers and see if skimmers have been placed within them. A well-trained eye or physical inspection of the device is key to locating a skimmer.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time, nor the last time, that we will see this trend in our county. Criminals are placing these skimmers on ATM’s all across the state. Our best resource for catching criminals like these is you – the public. We need your eyes and ears. Let us know if you see anything suspicious on a card reader or an ATM, or if you recognize the suspect seen here. Together, we can stop this crime trend.” – Sheriff Grady Judd

The persons of interest seen here in the attached photos were captured on video surveillance possibly placing skimmers on the aforementioned ATM’s.

If you can identify these persons of interest you are urged to contact the Bartow Police Department, PCSO, or Heartland Crime Stoppers.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION WHO WANTS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CASH REWARD IS ASKED TO CALL 1-800-226-TIPS or LOG ONTO www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com . ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED! iPhone and Droid users can download a free tip submit app to anonymously report crime. To install these free apps, please visit www.tipsoft.com.

Pictured (l-r) are Polk Avenue Elementary Principal Gail Quam, Janie Howard Wilson Elementary Principal Barbara Jones, Hillcrest Elementary Principal Jennifer Barrow, Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary Principal Ken Henson, Trustees Chair Cassandra Denmark, Trustees Vice Chair Keith Wadsworth, and Superintendent Jesse Jackson.

Lake Wales, Florida -  The State of Florida awarded its Five Star School Award to the four elementary schools in the Lake Wales Charter Schools system.

Certificates for the 2011-2012 awards were presented Monday (Sept. 17) during the monthly LWCS Board of Trustees meeting in Babson Park.

To earn Five Star School recognition for exemplary community involvement, a school must document 100 percent achievement in five categories: business partnerships; family involvement; volunteerism; student community service; and school advisory councils.

The trailer that burned is on the right of the photo. A fireman inspects a home on the left side

Babson Park, Florida – Polk County Fire Department crews were called out to a fully evolved fire on Altavista Blvd. in Babson Park Friday night. A trailer that was uninhabited was on fire. According to an unidentified neighbor the fire was fairly small and within moments it spread to the whole trailer.

The PCFD has called in the fire marshal since the trailer had no occupants and no power to it. The trailer didn’t have a number visible. It was located at the end of the street.

]]> http://dailyridge.com/babson-park/2012/09/14/trailer-destroyed-by-fire-in-babson-park/feed/ 0 http://dailyridge.com/polk-sheriff/2012/08/31/breaking-news-kathleen-high-school-principal-87-other-arrested-in-sex-crimes-sting/ http://dailyridge.com/polk-sheriff/2012/08/31/breaking-news-kathleen-high-school-principal-87-other-arrested-in-sex-crimes-sting/#comments Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:40:47 +0000 carl http://dailyridge.com/?p=11605

Polk  County - Florida - Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrest 89 suspects during on-line prostitution investigation – Arrests include the Kathleen High School principal (Cecil Edward McClellan), three women who traveled to the area to make money in “adult entertainment” during the RNC, a local Winter Haven businessman, and an Orlando man who traveled to Polk County with the intent of having sex with a childSheriff Grady Judd will provide details of the operation at 2:00 today, Friday, August 31, 2012,

Large Tree Damages Vehicles In Babson Park

Babson Park, Florida – Coming home and finding a huge tree down in your front yard isn’t what any of us would like to find. Well that unfortunately is what occurred to Amanda Heding, Babson Park. The huge tree came down around 11am today and did damage to 3 vehicles.

Even though the winds were not as strong as residents have felt in the past it still has done some damage in our area. If you have had damage to your home we would love to share with the rest of our viewers. You may tag Daily Ridge in them or you can email them to info@dailyridge.com. Please add what area and town you live in. Thanks!

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH  IN EFFECT FROM 11PM  UNTIL 9 AM EDT MONDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 10 COUNTIES

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

CHARLOTTE LEE

IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA

DESOTO HARDEE HIGHLANDS HILLSBOROUGH MANATEE PINELLAS POLK SARASOTA

Polk County Shelters

                  Polk County does NOT plan to open shelters at this time.

Polk County Schools Cancelled

The threat of Tropical Storm weather in Polk County, which could include sustainable high winds and tornadoes, has prompted the Polk County School Board to cancel schools for Monday August 27 including all school activities and closing district offices. This weather threat could severely affect the safety of bus riders and students who take classes in portable classrooms. For more information on school closures, visit their website http://www.polk-fl.net/.

Lake Wales Charter Schools - Closed

Candlelight Christian Academy – Closed

Lake Wales Little Theater – Cancelling Practice

Lake Wales Lutheran Day Care – Closed

Brigham Academy Bartow (Part of Polk County School System) – Closed

Lake Wales YMCA - Open for all activity at this time

Studio 6 Academy of Dance – Cancelled Opening Dance Monday

Other Schools

Polk State College – Cancelled

Southeastern University – Cancelled

Florida Southern College – Now Cancelled

Fortis Institute – Cancelled

USF Poly – Now Cancelled

Keiser University – Open

Warner College – Open

Webber Int. Uni – Unknown

County Solid Waste Pick-up

Solid waste pick-up will continue as normal for Monday and throughout the week for those serviced by the county.

County Offices – OPEN

All Polk County government offices under the Board of County Commissioners, including constitutionals, will be open to the public for regular business hours tomorrow, Monday, August 27.

All Polk County employees should report for their regularly scheduled shifts at their normal workplaces.

Polk County Citizen’s Information Line

The Polk County Citizen’s Information Line also remains open to answer storm related questions. Further updates will be provided as conditions change. The Citizen’s Information Line can be reached at 863-401-2234 (locally) or toll-free 866-661-0228. The line will remain open 24 hours a day through Monday afternoon.
Storm Related Information in the Event of Power Loss

Local Polk County website DailyRidge.Com – radio stations WPCV 97.5 FM, WWRZ 98.3 FM, WONN 1230 AM and WLKF 1430 AM will be broadcasting up to date news on Tropical Storm Isaac.

For the most updated information, please continue to monitor your local news media or call the Citizen’s Information Line at 863-401-2234 (locally) or toll-free 866-661-0228.  Information is also available onPGTV (Bright House 622, Comcast 5 or Verizon 20), or check the county website for updates www.polk-county.net. You may also obtain further emergency information at http://www.facebook.com/polkcountyem and http://www.twitter.com/polkemergency.

Emma Cheyenne Banks

Born: August 8th, 2011 at 12:20pm

Emma,

One year ago today was the most painful, emotional, exciting day of our lives! It has been our honor to watch you grow over this last year. We did not know what we were in for, but we wouldn’t trade it for the world. Now that a year of “Firsts” are behind us, we are excited for the next year of love you will bring us! We always thought we’d be teaching our child, but you have taught us much more. Such things as:

Messes will be made, and are fun!

Food is sometimes better after playing with it!

Every day is new, and brings room for adventures!

Chairs are much more exciting if you stand in them!

Eventually, even Daddy gives in to you wearing bows!

And, most importantly, the joy in taking time to enjoy life!

You are our greatest achievement. We never knew that 6lb 2oz baby would change our lives so much! We hope you have a wonderful birthday, and are very glad to be able to share it with you!

Love,

Daddy & Mommy

(Chris & Kelly Banks)

The DailyRidge.Com has just launched RidgeClassifieds.Com! ” We’re very pleased to offer free classified ads to the local community. We do have a premium price for auto’s, boats and realestate. We have noticed a huge demand for a platform that people can sell items online. The DailyRidge.Com is so unique of a concept in regards to news reporting that we should have tremendous exposure to sellers.” said Micheal Elsner webmaster for RidgeClassifieds.Com.

After months of noticing people struggling to keep items “bumped” up and organized on facebook the  management at DailyRidge.Com decided that a change needed to take place. So they set to work on putting together a classified section for DailyRidge.Com that would allow people to post items with ease. Sellers will need to set up a free account and can use a nickname, to keep themselves safe from online scammers and predators,  and post high quality images of the items they wish to sell. Buyers can contact the sellers through a contact tab to the right of the item being sold.

“We have also set up a new Fan facebook page (Facebook/RidgeClassifiedes.Com) specifically for RidgeClassifieds.Com where items will also be displayed.” Said Elsner. Currently were having a problem with the pictures being displayed on facebook, but we are working diligently to correct this issue.

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