A large sinkhole has opened up this afternoon at Hunt Brothers in Lake Wales.
No injuries and unsure of any structure damage at this time.
We will bring you more information as it becomes available.
POLK STATE CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AT ANNUAL LUNCHEON
Polk State College celebrated their 13th annual MLK Celebration Luncheon- “More Than A Dream: Experiencing the Reality.. on Wednesday at the Fred T. Lenfestey Student Center located at their Winter Haven campus.
The Mistress of Ceremonies introduced Polk State College president Dr. Eileen Holden who gave a warm welcome to attendees.
After the opening of the ceremony the Sankofa Chorale performed for the audience led by Dr. Jessie Ownes, Director of the J. Owens Academy of Fine Arts.
Business owner and community activist, Twanna “T-Fay” Dewdney was the keynote speaker. A Polk State alumna, Twanna received the prestigious Polk State College Distinguished Alumnus Award and was the first graduate of Polk State’s baccalaureate degrees to receive this distinct honor. At fall commencement, Twanna encouraged graduates with this:
” Once you believe in yourself, eliminate doubters, associate yourself with positive people and push past your fears, you can achieve more than you ever dreamed or imagined.”
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show – January 21, 2017
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team Show
Jan 21, 2017
Members of the original Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team continue to WOW central Florida audiences, and work to pass on their water skiing skills to the next generation. See specific show times below.
The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team was started by former waterskiers from Cypress Gardens Theme Park. Shows take place on Lake Silver in Winter Haven, on the 3rd Saturday of every month.
Monthly Water Ski Show Schedule
- Pre show is at 3:30 p.m. (January- February)
- Regular show is at 4:30 p.m. (January – February)
Burgers, hot dogs, snacks, drinks, t-shirts and hats will be available for sale. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating. Interesting tidbit – the age range for the majority of the team? Mid-40s to a few in their 60s!
Lake Silver
250 S Lake Silver Dr , Winter Haven, FL 33881COST
Free
OTHER DATES
Feb 18, 2017 All Day
Mar 18, 2017 All Day
Apr 15, 2017 All Day
May 20, 2017 All Day
Jun 17, 2017 All Day
Jul 15, 2017 All Day
Aug 19, 2017 All Day
Sep 16, 2017 All Day
Oct 21, 2017 All Day
Nov 18, 2017 All Day
Dec 16, 2017 All Day
Cooking on the Ridge: Veggie-Packed Meatloaf with Quinoa
COOKING ON THE RIDGE: Veggie-Packed Meatloaf With Quinoa
“You can make this lean and delicious recipe with your choice of ground turkey or chicken. The mix can also be baked in meatball form: Simply roll it into 30 meatballs and bake 20 to 25 minutes, turning the meatballs once.”
Ingredients
Directions
- Prep 20 m
-
Cook 55 m
-
Ready In 1 h 20 m
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place onion and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a large skillet. Add carrot and celery to the food processor, and pulse until chopped. Add spinach and pulse a few times more. Add to the skillet. Place the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring until vegetables release liquid. Continue cooking until liquid evaporates and vegetables begin to brown, about 8 minutes; add water a tablespoon at a time, if necessary, to keep vegetables from sticking. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Add egg, ground meat, quinoa, soy sauce and black pepper to the bowl, and mix gently with your hands. Scrape mixture onto the baking sheet and form into a loaf approximately 4 inches wide and 10 inches long; wet your hands if the mixture is very sticky. Spread top of loaf with ketchup or barbecue sauce. Bake until cooked through and browned, about 40 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before slicing.
Bartow Police Department is holding 2017 Citizens Police Academy
Bartow Police Department is holding 2017 Citizens Police Academy
January 31 – April 11, 2017 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Space is limited, Call 863-534-5034 for an application today!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1364592180259096/
Bartow Man Shoots Another After Being Threatened With A Gun
Shooting Investigation – UPDATE
On 01/15/2017, detectives were notified that Edward Henderson has died of his injuries sustained as a result of this incident. Detectives continue to work with the State Attorney’s Office and the District Medical Examiner in the investigation of this case. No charges have been filed at this time.
Any person with information regarding this event is asked Detective Tommy Stokes at (863) 534-5040
Original Release:
Bartow, Florida – On 01/14/2017 at about 2:30 AM, officers responded to the area of Martin Luther King Jr BLVD and Fourth Avenue in regards to a shooting incident. Upon arrival, officers located a male subject lying on the ground unresponsive. The male suffered from apparent gunshot wounds and Polk Fire Rescue was summoned to assist. The victim, identified as 28 year old Edward Henderson of Bartow, was subsequently transported to the Bartow Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Henderson became involved in a dispute with another male subject at that location. During the argument, Henderson threatened to “shoot” the male subject, identified as 33 year old Jerome Reese of Bartow and displayed a handgun. Reese who was carrying a concealed firearm, produced his handgun and fired at Henderson. Henderson was incapacitated as a result, at which time Reese summoned police for assistance.
This investigation is ongoing, as detectives continue to interview witnesses to the event. No charges have been filed at this time, pending the outcome of this investigation. Any person with information regarding this event is asked Detective
Lake Wales Red Hooded Bandit Found Guilty
Press Release State Attorney’s Office
–
Trevontae Shuler walked up to Pizzano’s Pizza with a red hoodie tied tightly around his face and a gun in his hand.
About 5:15 p.m. on April 15, 2016, Shuler entered the Lake Wales store and pointed the weapon at the 16-year-old cashier, demanding she give him
all the money from the register. Once he had the cash in hand, 21-year-old
Shuler fled from the Lake Wales store,
avoiding arrest.
Five days later, police spotted Shuler –
who was wearing a hoodie tied around
his face – at a RaceTrac. Shuler fled
from officers again but was apprehended by a K9 after ignoring requests to stand down.
A jury deliberated for less than five minutes Thursday morning before finding Shuler guilty of robbery with a firearm.
Shuler was released from prison for grand theft of a firearm, trafficking in stolen property and
attempted burglary of a dwelling just five months prior to committing the Pizzano’s robbery. He faces life in prison and will be sentenced for robbery with a firearm on January 26.
Law enforcement found that the firearm Shuler used to rob Pizzano’s had been taken from a
friend he was living with. They recovered the gun in a shed on another person’s property.
The defense attorney argued that because there was no evidence of fingerprints on the gun, anyone could have taken it. But when law enforcement checked the serial number on the firearm Schuler used and the one that had been taken from his friend, they matched.
Assistant State Attorney Jaenea Gorman also reminded the defense that Shuler told law
enforcement he took the gun from his friend.
“Why do we need fingerprints or DNA to prove it? He told you where he got it,” Gorman said. “We don’t
need anything else.”
In closing statements on Thursday, she told jurors Shuler’s actions leading up to the incident proved that his sole intention upon entering Pizzano’s was to rob it, to which he later confessed.
But the defense claimed Shuler’s confession was forced and that he had been falsely accused.
“These aren’t statements from somebody who is falsely confessing. These are statements from somebody who was actually there,” Gorman said, urging the jury to think back to Shuler’s taped confession that was played in court.
She reminded them that Shuler remembered exactly what he told the Pizzano’s cashier when he pointed the gun at her. He even repeated it to the detective: “Give me all of the cash out of the register.”
“Nobody prompted him to say that (in the confession),” Gorman said. “The detective wasn’t suggesting the answers. He was asking, and the defendant answered.”
The defense continued attempting to convince jurors that Shuler’s confession was unreliable, but Gorman – once again – proved his claims were incorrect.
“The truth is that he robbed (the cashier). The truth is that he pointed a gun at her and took
money from her. The truth is that he is guilty of these events because he told you he was.”
Editors note: Sentencing information was not availble at the time of this post. We will update when we have it available.
4th Powered Paramotor Fly-in A Success at Lake Wales Airport
Flying enthusiasts from near and far gathered last week for the 4th Powered Paramotor Fly-in at the Lake Wales Airport.
Previously held at Chalet Suzanne, the event took a hiatus last year but returned in full strength this year to Aviator PPG at their new location at the airport.
Over 125 pilots attend from as far away as Sweden, Arizona, Wisconsin and more making this one of the largest gatherings of paramotor pilots in the USA.
The fly-in had a perfect safety record with zero injuries, and their were a very large number of locals joining for the food trucks and to watch the flying.
Aviator PPG plans to host the event again next year, and wants to especially thank the local folks who shared the local skies with so many excited visitors… The feedback from all the pilots attending the event was exceptional.
Powered paragliding, also known as paramotoring, is a form of ultralight aviation where the pilot wears a motor on their back (a paramotor) which provides enough thrust to take off using an adapted paraglider or paramotor wing.
It can be launched in still air, and on level ground, by the pilot alone — no assistance is required.
Fun Friday – Lakeland Pro Rodeo January 20 & 21 Starts at 8 PM
The dates scheduled for this event begin on January 20, 2017 and continue through January 21, 2017.
This is a public event and tickets are required to attend.
Event Agenda/Schedule
Doors
Located atGeorge Jenkins Arena
Starts atFriday, January 20, 2017 6:30 PM
Ends atFriday, January 20, 2017 8:00 PM
Pro Rodeo Classic
Located atGeorge Jenkins Arena
Starts atFriday, January 20, 2017 8:00 PM
Ends atFriday, January 20, 2017 10:30 PM
Doors
Located atGeorge Jenkins Arena
Starts atSaturday, January 21, 2017 6:30 PM
Ends atSaturday, January 21, 2017 8:00 PM
Pro Rodeo Classic
Located atGeorge Jenkins Arena
Starts atSaturday, January 21, 2017 8:00 PM
Ends atSaturday, January 21, 2017 10:30 PM
Note: Event dates and time subject to change.
Experience Polk County’s largest wild-west extravaganza as the Lakeland Pro Rodeo Classic rides into Lakeland for another amazing weekend! Top PRCA cowboys and cowgirls travel from across the nation to compete in the eight traditional rodeo events, earning points needed to qualify for the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas! Grab your boots and spurs for an action-packed event for the whole family.
Friday night only
To get the 2 free children ages 2-10 with each paid adult, Must be purchased at the same time (not valid on Gold Buckle seating).Please come to The Lakeland Center box office or call 863-834-8111, M-F 9:30am – 5:30pm for your purchase.
Saturday night only
Children’s ticket for Ages 2-10 yrs. old, are available for purchase online, by phone & at the Lakeland Center box office (not valid on Gold Buckle seating).
701 W Lime St, Lakeland, FL 33815
Pedestrian Struck & Killed On Lakeland Hills Blvd. Thursday
Lakeland, Fl. (January 13, 2017) – On January 12, 2017, at approximately 6:17 p.m., the Lakeland Police Department responded to a traffic fatality at 2100 Lakeland Hills Boulevard. A 2015 Acura TLX, was northbound in the 2100 block of Lakeland Hills Boulevard in the outside lane of travel. A pedestrian was observed crossing the roadway in an area not marked for pedestrian traffic. The pedestrian was last seen standing upright in the area of the east curb/shoulder. A witness who was operating a motorcycle in the outside lane of travel, reported that he had to swerve to avoid the pedestrian. The Acura, which was traveling behind the motorcycle, struck the pedestrian. The driver pulled to the side of the road and called 911. The pedestrial
Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR), and the Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) all arrived on scene and began providing life saving measures and securing the scene. The pedestrian, John Robert Lynn 63 of Lakeland, was declared deceased at the scene, as determined by PCFR/LFD.
The driver of the Acura suffered no injuries. Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The roadway was closed for approximately 3 ½ hours. The investigation is ongoing and no charges were filed.
