A monstrous tornado killed at least 51 people Monday as it roared through Moore and south Oklahoma City — leaving rescue workers frantically searching into the night for missing children at the devastated Plaza Towers Elementary School in the Moore School District.

At least 20 children were included among those killed, and the death toll is expected to rise, the state medical examiner reported.More than 100 were injured. President Barack Obama issued a federal disaster declaration late Monday. The president’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Cleveland, Lincoln, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Betsy Randolph described the devastation as “the worst thing I have ever seen.”

“When I got to Moore, I saw a lot of walking wounded — people with blood all over. It was a matter of putting work gloves on and getting to work,” she said. “We hope that we don’t have any more fatalities, but we know there are a lot more people trapped tonight.” Randolph urged people to stay away from the area.

The number of fatalities already has surpassed the 44 killed in the horrific May 3, 1999, tornado that previously devastated the Moore-south Oklahoma City area.  As night fell, relatives were crying out for their children at Plaza Towers, where they said more than 20 children were missing and feared dead. Emergency responders continued working late into the night in hopes of finding survivors.

Plaza Towers was one of two Moore elementary schools ravaged by the massive tornado as it ground up neighborhoods, cars and everything else in its path. Briarwood Elementary School was the other elementary school slammed. The gymnasium at Moore’s Highland East Junior High School also was struck, leaving football equipment strewn across the ground. Chaos reigned at Briarwood shortly after the tornado hit as crying, mud-caked children could be seen streaming from the collapsed building.

Frantic parents rushed toward the school, dodging downed power lines and scattered debris. What appeared to be the lifeless body of a child was pulled from the rubble of a home about four houses down from the school.

The tornado — with wind speeds preliminarily estimated at up to 200 mph — ripped the roof off the school and collapsed school walls, leaving several children trapped in the debris. Emergency workers arrived quickly on the scene and began laboring to free the children. A witness said none of the Briarwood school children he saw appeared to have major injuries.

The smell of natural gas filled the air from broken gas lines. Emergency Medical Services Authority rushed ambulances to schools, several homes, businesses and intersections in response to reports of multiple injuries.

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Lakeland, Florida – Deputies arrested 41-year-old Jerry Matthew Monroe of Lakeland today charging him with Misdemeanor Battery. Monroe is a Police Officer with the Lakeland Police Department. Monroe was off duty at the time of the incident, which occurred at approximately 5:40 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013. It is believed that Monroe became enraged when the other driver allegedly cut him off.

As a reference, Monroe is the larger man who exits his vehicle—his was the second vehicle to enter the parking area.

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Bartow, Florida – Family & Friends are looking for Amber Lynn Strickland, 25 from Bartow. Strickland is described as being 5’03″ and weighing 160lbs. She has brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone who may know where she is or any information about her disappearance should contact the PCSO at 863-298-6200.

Winter Haven, Florida – Winter Haven Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Damarius Antwun Matthews (DOB 5-20-91) after he has been identified in the robbery of off-duty Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy Regina Hulverson in Winter Haven.

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On 5-18-13 at approximately 6:55 p.m., off-duty Deputy Regina Hulverson was entering Publix, located at 884 Cypress Gardens Blvd. in Winter Haven when Matthews came up and snatched her purse.
Matthews was seen getting into a 2013 silver Mazda. The vehicle was seen traveling south on 8th St., SE. The vehicle was a rental and has been located and impounded.

Inside of the purse was Hulverson’s Department issued badge and credentials along with a .380 Ruger that was secured in a holster.
The warrant charges Matthews with Robbery, Grand Theft of Firearm, Possession of a Firearm By a Convicted Felon and Petit Theft.

Matthews has a criminal history dating back to 2006 and is currently a convicted felon. In June 2011, Matthews was charged with robbery with a firearm. These charges were later dropped. He is considered armed and extremely dangerous!

Anyone with information on Matthew’s whereabouts is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH reward.

Previous Story : PCSO Deputies Purse Stolen

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Lake Wales, Florida – The PCSO has confirmed that they are conducting an investigation at the New Harmony Mobile Home Park. The investigation is centered around a home on Penny Loop. At this time no information has been officially reported by the PCSO. It is known that 2 crime scene investigation units are on scene and an ambulance was on scene earlier in the morning.

This is a developing story and we will update it as soon as more information is available.

]]> http://dailyridge.com/lake-wales/2013/05/20/pcso-conducting-investigation-at-new-harmony-mobile-home-park/feed/ 0 http://dailyridge.com/cooking-on-the-ridge/2013/05/20/whats-cooking-on-the-ridge-shrimp-scampi-made-easy-healthy/ http://dailyridge.com/cooking-on-the-ridge/2013/05/20/whats-cooking-on-the-ridge-shrimp-scampi-made-easy-healthy/#comments Mon, 20 May 2013 13:56:44 +0000 carl http://dailyridge.com/?p=16696

The DailyRidge.Com features a new recipe every Monday in “Cooking On The Ridge”. This week we will be providing one recipe each day. The theme is eating healthy for the summer. Today’s recipe is a healthy version of Shrimp Scampi. We hope you enjoy and share with your friends. This recipe is so easy and anyone can make it!

Ingredients

• 4 tsp olive oil
• 1 1/4 pounds med raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails left on)
• 6-8 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup + 1 T minced parsley
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
• 4 lemon wedges

Preparation

1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Saute the shrimp until just pink, about 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. With a slotted spoon transfer the shrimp to a platter and keep them warm.
2. In the skillet, combine the broth, wine, lemon juice, 1/4 cup of the parsley, the salt and pepper; and bring it to a boil. Boil uncovered, until the sauce is reduced by half.
3. Spoon the sauce over the shrimp. Serve garnished with the lemon wedges and sprinkled with the remaining tablespoon of parsley.
4. Makes 4 servings

Lake Wales, Florida – On May 15, 2013 while a Lake Wales Police Officer was conducting traffic enforcement he observed a vehicle driving very careless as it traveled South on U.S. Highway 27, near the Eagle Ridge Mall. According to reports the suspect vehicle was following too closely behind another. At one point the officer felt the suspect vehicle almost caused an accident. The vehicle was cutting in and out of traffic according to the officer. A traffic stop was conducted on the suspect vehicle and the suspect driver, Alexander David Clemons. According to the report the suspect, Clemons,  informed the officer he was in a hurry to get home. While speaking with Clemons the officer smelled a strong odor of burnt or burning marijuana. The officer reportedly asked Clemons why he smelled Marijuana and he Clemons informed, he just smoked a joint prior to law-enforcement contact. While searching his person, Clemons reportedly handed the  officer a bag of marijuana weighing approx. 2.5 grams and a marijuana bong. The officer placed Clemons into handcuffs. Clemons made a spontaneous statement and stated “hey, there is also a Zanny Bar in my bag of weed”. Clemons was referring to a 2 MG tablet of Alroazolam schedule IV. Post Miranda, Clemons said he did not have a prescription for the Xanax. The marijuana was field tested with positive results. The Xanax was identified using the Florida Drug Bible 2008 edition.

Clemons was taken into custody for possession of marijuana and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance.

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Mulberry, Florida – A Saturday afternoon motorcycle accident in Lakeland has taken the life of a Mulberry, Florida man. according to Lakeland police.

At 4:34 p.m., Alex R Alderman, 25, of Mulberry was headed southbound on Cleveland Heights Boulevard at Glendale Street when, for unknown reasons, his motorcycle struck an outside curb, sending the vehicle off the roadway, police said.

The motorcycle struck a tree on the west side of the roadway, ejecting Alderman, who was not wearing a helmet, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An outpouring of love and support immediately went out from him friends and family who knew him as “Fluffy”.

The investigation is continuing, police said.

Winter Haven, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives are asking for the public’s help in an Attempted Murder investigation.

At approximately 4:15 am, on Sunday, May 19, 2013, several gunshots were heard as two dark colored vehicles passed a residence at 3660 Avenue U NW in Winter Haven.

During this incident, a female victim was shot in the abdomen. Both vehicles then fled the area in a west bound direction on Avenue U NW. The victim was transported to an area hospital to be treated for her injuries. Tina Tompko, 41, is listed in stable condition.

The two vehicles were described as:

1) A full size dark colored SUV

2) A dark four-door car with small spoiler

Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Detective Kevin Loder at 863.297.1100, or 863.298.6200.

Lake Wales, Florida – Lake Wales Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Section has made three arrests in the burglary of Lake Wales High School, located at 1 Highlander Way, which occurred on April 11, 2013. Information obtained by detectives resulted in the three following suspects being charged or arrested: 1) Jaylen Kingcade, an 18 year old Bartow resident. 2) Trevontae Shuler, an 18 year old Lake Wales resident. 3) Debonaire Brooks a 17 year old Lake Wales resident.

The evidence developed in this case revealed Kingcade, Shuler, and Brooks unlawfully entered Lake Wales High School and stole computer related electronics. Today, Kingcade was taken into custody at his Bartow residence, without incident, and booked into the Polk County Jail. Shuler is currently in the Polk County Jail on charges of dealing in stolen property for selling items stolen during this burglary. Brooks is currently in the Orange County Jail in reference to an unrelated robbery. Charging documents have been filed on Shuler and Brooks. Kingcade, Shuler, and Brooks are being charged with burglary and grand theft for the April 11 incident.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Detective Bruce Yoxall at (863) 678-4223 extension 269 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.