Lake Wales, Florida -Lake Wales Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Section made an arrest today in the February 4, 2013 burglary investigation of Lake Wales Family Restaurant located at 109 HWY 60 W. DNA evidence recovered at the crime scene led detectives to Xavier Ulysse, an 18 year old Lake Wales resident, who was placed under arrest and subsequently confessed to his involvement in the burglary.

Ulysse was booked into the Polk County Jail on the charges of burglary and grand theft. Detectives are actively working to identify the second suspect in this burglary investigation. Anyone with information regarding the burglary at Lake Wales Family Restaurant is asked to call Lake Wales Police Detective Ive Rodriguez at (863) 678-4223 extension 271 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

Every weekday around mid-day we will have the Polk Mugshot of The Day. The mugshot will be someone arrested in Polk County in the past couple of weeks. The mugshot along with the charges will be posted. Please remember these individuals are innocent until proven guilty.

  GILBERT, DAWN  MICHELLE

DOB: 2/26/1978

Charges: POSS METH Surety $1000, POSS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE W/O RX Surety $1000, POSS CONTROL SUBSTANCE RX LORAZELPAM Surety $1000, POSS CONTROL SUB W/O RX CARISOPRODOL Surety $1000, POSS CONTROL SUBSTANCE W/O RX GABAPENIN Surety $1000, LARC-PETIT THEFT 2ND DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE Surety $250

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Winter Haven, Florida – The market  offers a great variety of fresh goods made by local people, fresh produce and vegetables, salsas, hot sauces, kettle corn, shaved ice, BBQ Ribs/Chicken, facial painting, chocolate specialties, cupcakes, caramelized popcorn and nuts, jams, breads, honey, different jewelries artists, recycle art, free trade, wooden furniture, local citrus, plants and trees, and much more. They also will have live music too!

The market is open from 9am – 2pm. The location is 898 Havendale Blvd. NW, Winter Haven, Florida.

Haines City, Florida – The Haines City Fire Department is currently on scene at the Haines City High School cleaning up a fire that was recently reported. According to the HCFD the fire has been extinguished and the scene is under control. At this point in time it is not believed that anyone was injured.

An official report will be out in about an hour and we will update this story when more information is available. At this time the situation is under control.

Haines City, FL (May 14, 2013) – Competitors from 41 States and from countries as far away as Germany and Argentina will descend on Central Florida to test their athletic abilities, stamina and competitive drive this Sunday on the 70.3 mile swimming, running and cycling course.

Triathletes from a number of area tri-clubs including the Lakeland Landsharks, Sarasota Storm, St. Pete Bike & Fitness Tri Team, Tampa Bay Tri Sports and the Central Florida Tri Club will compete in Sunday’s IRONMAN 70.3 Florida.

While the more than 2000 adult athletes will be focused on the competition and the challenge provided by the course, area residents will be able to take in the IRONMAN experience on a much more leisurely pace. Lake Eva Park in Haines City will host three full days of activities that will appeal to the entire family, May 17-19.

Beginning on Friday, May 17 the IRONMAN Village and the Lake Eva Park Bandshell will serve as the hub of all activities during IRONMAN weekend. The Bandshell area will be host to athlete check-in and the adjacent IRONMAN Village will serve as perfect gathering and meeting place for spectators. The IRONMAN Village will feature exhibitor booths, a demo day area, the IRONMAN Store and many other product and service displays.

Competition gets underway on Saturday morning as more than 300 IRONKIDS triathletes line up at the starting line for a 7 a.m. start. Youth ages 6-15 will take center stage as they tackle a shortened version of the adult course.

Sunday’s IRONMAN 70.3 Florida competition begins at 6:30 a.m. with the 1.2 mile swim in Lake Eva. Upon completion of the swim competitors will then embark on the 56 mile bicycle route through eastern Polk County and then complete the competition on the 13.1 mile running course utilizing the roads around Lake Eva. The event will conclude with the awards ceremony at the Lake Eva Park Bandshell at 4 p.m.

Lake Wales, Florida – Fury the Lake Wales Soccer Club Competitive teams will be holding tryouts on Tuesday May 28, Thursday 30th 6-8pm and Saturday June 1st 9-10am.

The teams available are.

U 18 Boys Coach Eric Maldonado

U 17 Girls Coach Julia Valentine

U 16 Boys Coach Allan Alberton

U 16 Girls Coach Josh Havens

U 14 Girls Coach Ron Boyer

U 13 Boys Coach Butch Nichols

U 12 Girls Coach Geremi Hamm

U 12 Boys Coach Jose Rojas

U 11 Girls Coach Jason True

U 11 Boys Coach Chris Daly

Please go to lakewalessoccer.com click on the competitive link for more information.

If there is not a team listed in your players age group come out any ways as we can form teams if we have enough participation or your player might be able to play up a year. The location of tryouts is below:

Lake Wales Soccer Club
151 Hunt Brothers Road Lake Wales, Florida.

From Lake Wales: From the intersection of Hwy 27 and Hwy 60 go South on Hwy 27 approximately 1.8 miles. Take a left on Hunt Brothers Road and go approximately .25 mile and you will see the complex on the left.

From Winter Haven: Come to Hwy 27 and take a right heading South. When you come to intersection of Hwy 27 and Hwy 60 keep going South on Hwy 27 approximately 1.8 miles. Take a left on Hunt Brothers Road and go approximately .25 mile and you will see the complex on the left.

From Bartow/Tampa: Head East on Hwy 60 until you come to the intersection of Hwy 27 and Hwy 60 go South on Hwy 27 approximately 1.8 miles. Take a left on Hunt Brothers Road and go approximately .25 mile and you will see the complex on the left.

From Orlando area: Head West on I-4 until you come to Hwy 27 and take a right heading South. When you come to intersection of Hwy 27 and Hwy 60 keep going South on Hwy 27 approximately 1.8 miles. Take a left on Hunt Brothers Road and go approximately .25 mile and you will see the complex on the left.

WINTER HAVEN – A Winter Haven teen, who is no stranger to the Juvenile Justice System and currently on felony probation, has been arrested at Winter Haven High School after incidents of bullying led to robbery.
On 5-16-13 at approximately 9:15 a.m., the victim approached the School Resource Officer (SRO) after an incident occurred earlier in the day involving Marcus Allen Holland (DOB 7-24-96, 107 17 St., NE, Winter Haven). Holland approached the victim (both students at the school) and told him to “give up his wallet.” The victim told Holland that he didn’t have his wallet with him, but Holland forced the issue by “patting down” the victim, finding the wallet in his pocket. The victim started walking away, but Holland continued following him, ultimately chasing him through the hallways coming close to tackling the victim. Ultimately, the victim was able to break away from Holland and immediately went to the SRO.
The victim then advised the SRO that incidents had occurred as far back as February 2013, when Holland cornered the victim in a Winter Haven High School restroom and removed money from his pocket. The victim chose not to report the incident to the SRO, and Holland continued to harass the victim consistently.
During an interview, Holland stated to Detectives that he was “not robbing” the victim, but rather demanding money that was “coming to him” for providing the victim with protection from other bullies in the school. The claim was denied by the victim as the victim advised the only person who ever forced him to give up his wallet and money was Holland.
“This kid has had an up-close and personal relationship with the Juvenile Justice System over his 16 years,” said Chief Gary Hester. “This is a case of true bullying where this victim was harassed, robbed and threatened over the course of months. Bullying cases like this are not taken lightly and we will do everything we can to make sure Holland gets the full attention of the justice system that he deserves.” Holland’s latest encounter in the system was March of this year when he was charged with Felony Violation of Probation from a Felony Theft charge in December 2012.
Holland was charged with Attempted Robbery (F-2) and Violation of Felony Probation and booked into the Polk County Juvenile Assessment Center.

Lakeland, Florida – On Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at approximately 4:30 a.m., an unknown black male entered the AVI Food Mart, located at 1205 Lakeland Hills Boulevard, and committed a burglary.

The suspect is described as an older black male, approximately 5’6” to 5’8” with a muscular build.

Anyone with information on the identification of this individual is asked to contact Lakeland Police Department at 863-834-6900, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477. To be eligible for a cash reward, you must contact Crime Stoppers.

Haines City, Florida – The Haines City Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying and locating the suspects involved in a home invasion robbery which occurred on May 4th, 2013 in the area of Barrington Drive, located in the Haines Ridge Subdivision.

Suspects entered the residence and overpowered the victims. The suspects then used duct tape to bind the victim’s hands. Once the victims were under control the suspects ransacked the residence and stole various items of jewelry, along with computer equipment and lawn equipment.

The suspects are described as three Hispanic males in their early to mid twenties. Two suspects were described as tall and thin and one was short and stocky. The suspects did possess firearms.

Anyone with information is in regards to this case is asked to please call Detective Jose Pena at 863-421-3636 ext. 239. If you wish to remain anonymous please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS or visit the Heartland Crime Stoppers website at www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.

Lake Wales High’s Zach Gill signed a baseball scholarship with Warner University during a Thursday morning (May 16) ceremony at the high school. The signing was witnessed by his proud parents Danny and Lisa Gill (pictured), along with other family members, LWHS coaches and Warner University baseball coach Jeff Sikes.
Gill played for Lake Wales High as a utility infielder and right-handed pitcher.

The Warner University Royals compete in The Sun Conference against in-state and out-of-state opponents including Webber International, University of South Carolina Beaufort, Embry-Riddle, Ave Maria and Southeastern.