Chamber to Host Winter Haven Business Focus Groups

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The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce will be hosting community-wide Winter Haven Business Focus Groups on January 31 through February 16. All Winter Haven area business owners are invited to attend, regardless of whether a Chamber member or not.

Through four (4) focus groups, the team from The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce hopes to hear from business owners about what it is like to do business in Winter Haven and what the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and challenges are in doing business here.

The Winter Haven Chamber will use this information to help improve doing business in Winter Haven and form the organizations priorities for the coming years. Each focus group will be the same content, with four different dates and locations across the city for business owner’s convenience. RSVP is requested to attend this event at [email protected].

Dates, Times, Locations:

Tuesday, January 31, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. – Chain of Lakes Complex Club Room, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd

Wednesday, February 8, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. – Shergill Grand Conference Hotel, 5665 Cypress Gardens Blvd

Wednesday, February 15, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., Winter Haven Recreational & Cultural Center, 801 Avenue T NE

Thursday, February 16, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. – Blackburn’s Interiors, 1507 Havendale Blvd

Please note: The Chamber of Commerce is a separate 501(c)6 not-for-profit and not a part of the City of Winter Haven government. However they work closely with the City to advocate on behalf of the Winter Haven business community.

Free Hospital Health Fair Set for February 25th at Lake Wales Medical Center

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FREE HOSPITAL HEALTH FAIR SET FOR FEB. 25

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Lake Wales, FL – Lake Wales Medical Center will hold its Spring Into Health community health fair on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. until noon at the hospital.

 

COOKING ON THE RIDGE: DELICIOUS HAM AND POTATO SOUP

Delicious Ham and Potato Soup

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Ingredients
Directions

  • Prep 20 m

  • Cook 25 m

  • Ready In 45 m

  1. Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
  2. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

Cirque Italia! Makes A Splash In Lake Wales

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Cirque Italia was the talk of the town after performing for local audiences in Lake Wales this past week.


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The traveling “water circus” was filled with stunning performances and daring stunts that seemed to defy gravity and drew gasps from the crowd.


Acts are performed on a stage which
holds 35,000 gallons of water and it is the 1st official traveling water circus in US.

All acts are
animal free productions which supports performers from all over the world.

Cirque Italia is an Italian entertainment company that brings a performance of European style.
 
It is described as a “vivid, dramatic, and moving experience under a customized traveling tent.”
 
Cirque Italia brings the appreciation of production and circus arts together to create a night to be remembered.
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Kiera Cutts Named Employee of the Month at Lake Wales Medical Center

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CUTTS NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

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Lake Wales, FL – Kiera Cutts, RN, was named December employee of the month at Lake Wales Medical Center. Kiera is a nurse on the Progressive Care Unit.

 

Here is what a co-worked said in nominating Kiera: “Kiera is a brand new nurse and already shows exemplary commitment to safety and patient care. She is an active part of the PCU falls team and uses positive coaching feedback with her peers to ensure that our falls prevention initiatives are appropriately in place for our patients.  She has been recognized by her patients for her positive and compassionate attitude, and warm smile.

 

“She has quickly won the hearts of her peers, physicians, and patients with her collaboration and communication style. Kiera shows strength in her team work by rounding on her peers to see if she can be of any assistance to them whenever she can. She treats all patients like they were her own family.”

 

Sheriff Grady Judd presented with a Plaque of Appreciation While Speaking to Lake Wales High School Last Week

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd was surprised when he was presented with a plaque of appreciation while speaking at Lake Wales High School last week.

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The plaque was presented by LWHS principal Donna Dunson after the conclusion of an address to the students in the gymnasium at the school.

Sheriff Judd, who rarely speaks at high schools, spoke about character and accomplishment and never taking taking no for an answer while trying to achieve ones goals.

Grady Judd is considered one of the toughest sheriffs in the country and is known, among other things, as a leader in the prosecution of crimes against children.

 

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4 Year Old Auburndale Child Succumbs To Injuries After Suffering Gunshot Wound

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Auburndale, Florida – The Auburndale Police Department was dispatched to an unknown medical emergency
at 198 Lakeside Hills Loop, Auburndale, Florida, on Friday night, January 20, 2017, at
approximately 10:11 p.m. Officers arrived at the scene within a few minutes of the call and were initially told a four-year-old boy had hit his head on a table and was badly injured. It became obvious to officers and arriving emergency medical responders that the little boy had a gunshot wound to his cheek.

The victim, identified as Avion Cymani Weaver, a four-year-old black male, was flown to
Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando for treatment. He was pronounced
deceased at 11:27 p.m. by hospital medical staff.

The investigation determined that Avion was inside his family’s apartment alone
apparently watching television while his mother’s live-in boyfriend, Demeko Desean
Robinson, a 26-year-old, was outside in the parking lot with friends. Shortly
after 10:00 p.m., Robinson went into his apartment and found Avion injured and bleeding heavily. A couple of neighbors reported hearing what sounded like a gunshot around the
same time. It is apparent that Avion found Robinson’s loaded pistol and while handling it, he accidentally shot himself in the face.

The Polk County Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from
Robinson at 10:09 p.m. He was reporting an emergency and requesting an ambulance.
During the investigation, a 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol belonging to Robinson was
recovered from outside the apartment. Avion’s mother, Deja Perry, was not home at the
time of the shooting, but returned just minutes after Robinson called 9-1-1 and
Immediately before the arrival of the first police officer.

Auburndale detectives have been in close contact with the State Attorney’s Office
regarding this case and charges are potentially pending a review of the case once it is completed.

If you own a firearm, it is imperative that you keep it in a safe place so that it cannot be
accessed by children; not just because the law requires it, but because common sense.

Highlands County Sheriff Make Largest Grow House Bust In Agency History

HCSO Press Release

Highlands County, Florida – The new year and new administration is off to a record start for the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, which took down a huge grow house operation Friday night.

After several days of surveillance, deputies raided a home at 1301 Bluff Hammock Road in Lorida and found the largest grow house operation ever taken down in the county — 282 plants weighing 2,140 pounds and valued at up to $6.85 million.

Major Mike Brown said the grow house setup was one of the most elaborate he has ever seen and the marijuana seized was ready to be harvested and sold.

“Sheriff Paul Blackman has made it clear that he aims to eradicate all illegal drug operations in Highlands County and last night our Special Operations Unit took a big first step in that direction by taking down the largest and most elaborate grow house in the history of our county.

 Over a ton of mature marijuana plants were seized and destroyed.

“This seizure had an estimated street value of over $5 million. Our detectives are to be commended for an incredible job. I am very proud of their work.”

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Miami Field Division reported drug prices in Central Florida, a pound of marijuana ranges from $1,200 to $3,200, which makes the street value of the marijuana from $2.57 million to $6.85 million.

Frank Delgado-Alejo, 46, who has a Hialeah address, was arrested at the scene and charged with cultivation of marijuana, trafficking in marijuana (over 2,000 pounds), renting or owning a structure for trafficking in a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held without bond at the Highlands County Jail.

The grow operation was housed in a 3,500-square-foot, two-tiered aluminum warehouse that was divided into seven insulated rooms filled with high-grade marijuana plants. There were approximately two hundred 1,000-watt high-pressure sodium light bulbs, each equipped with its own ballast and transformer. Each room had a timer for the lights and an irrigation system, as well as a nutrient management system for the crop, dehumidifiers, fans, and a total of 11 air conditioning units, each rated at 10 tons.

Glades Electricity Company also responded to the scene to investigate power diversion to the property and theft of utilities.  This investigation is still on-going at this time; additional charges may be forthcoming.

4 Year Old Auburndale Child Succumbs To Injuries After Suffering Gunshot Wound

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Auburndale, Florida – According to the Auburndale Police Department during the evening of January 20, 2017, officers
responded to a medical assist call at 198 Lakeside Hills Loop in Auburndale.
During the initial investigation, it was discovered that a 4-year-old child had a
gunshot wound. The child was transported to Arnold Palmer Hospital and later died due to the extent of the injury.

The incident is still under investigation. We are working with the Auburndale Police Department to bring you more details regarding this shooting.

2 People Airlifted After 4 Car Crash In Haines City

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Haines City, Florida – On 2/20/17 at approximately 10:30pm, a crash involving four vehicles occurred on Highway 27 near Holly Hill Road in Haines City.  A 2000 Ford Mustang, driven by Marcos Samoyoa 26, was traveling southbound on Highway 27 at a high rate of speed.

The Mustang struck the rear bumper of another vehicle vehicle two, causing that vehicle to cross into the northbound traffic lanes.  Vehicle two then struck a third vehicle that was traveling northbound.  A fourth vehicle then swerved to avoid a collision and veered off the road striking a tree.

The driver and front passenger of the Ford Mustang were airlifted to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  The driver of vehicle two refused medical treatment.  The driver and three occupants of vehicle three were transported to the Heart of Florida Hospital with minor injuries.  The driver of vehicle four was also transported to the Heart of Florida hospital with minor injuries.

This crash is still under investigation. Details regarding the other 3 vehicle’s involved in the crash, the medical condition of Samoyoa & his passenger were not availble at this time.