Fun Friday – Live at the Gardens: Rowdy Roosters Tomorrow at 7:30 PM

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Fun Friday – Live at the Gardens: Rowdy Roosters Tomorrow at 7:30 PM

Live at the Gardens: Rowdy Roosters

Aug 13, 2016
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

The 15th annual Live at the Gardens! Summer Music Series brings an eclectic mix of Folk, Latin Jazz, Oldies, Dixieland Jazz, Irish and Contemporary music to the air-conditioned comfort of the Bok Tower Gardens Visitor Center select Saturdays throughout the summer.

Known through Florida as one of the most rollicking Dixieland Jazz bands, The Rowdy Roosters perform August 13. The Rowdy Roosters features the area’s most popular musicians and band leader Mark Green plays some of the meanest trumpet this side of Louisiana. With his vibrant character, red hot trumpet and his rowdy Dixieland Band, The Roosters’ toe-tapping New Orleans style jazz can turn any event into an instant Mardi Gras party!

Ticket options include an All-Season Pass, Pick Four, and Individual Concert tickets. Guests can opt to add dinner in the Blue Palmetto Café before each show beginning at 5:45 p.m. and the menu includes choice of a main entrée course with a salad and sides, roll, dessert and a beverage. Advance reservations are required for dinner.

Aug 13, 2016
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

bok

 

South Carolina Man Arrested for Two Cases of Grand Theft in Polk County

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South Carolina Man Arrested for Two Cases of Grand Theft in Polk County

Williams

A South Carolina man is under arrest for two cases of grand theft in Polk County and two three warrants from South Carolina on Grand Larceny charges.
On 8-10-16, 31 year-old Herbert Nobel Williams III (DOB 1-31-85, 3647 Taxahaw Rd. Lancaster SC) was taken into custody after he was seen not once but twice on video reaching behind counters at cell phone stores and swiping high-dollar phones.

On 8-6-16, Williams entered the Mobile Mart located at 1140 6th St NW in Winter Haven asking about selling some old phones that he had. As the clerk spoke to him, another customer walked in and Williams said he would wait for the clerk to finish with the customer while attempting to power up one of the phones he was trying to sell. Williams is seen on video opening the back of the display case and then hanging around the area until the clerk was not looking. He then reached behind the counter taking a new IPhone 6 and placed it in his pocket. He then gathers his items and tells the clerk he has to go out to his truck, but would be right back. Once out of the store, Williams gets in his vehicle and leaves. The clerk noticed the phone missing a short time later.

On 8-8-16, Williams went to Extreme Wireless located at 245 Ave O SW in Winter Haven and asked about the availability of a specific phone. After the clerk finished helping another person in the store, he went to the back when Williams reached behind the counter and opened the display door. He then reaches in and takes a Samsung Note 5 and placed it inside of his pocket. The clerk didn’t see the phone was missing until later that day.

Detectives were ultimately able to identify Williams, though he had two different aliases that he gave to store owners. It was determined he was staying at the Winter Haven Inn & Suites, but checked out on 8-9-16 with a female who rented the room by the name of Heather Nicole Cheeks. Checking the history of Cheeks, it was determined that she was flagged as an associate of Williams through the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina. The vehicle that Williams was seen driving was reported stolen from South Carolina as well.

Officers were able to locate Williams at a residence on Alachua Dr. in Winter Haven and he was taken into custody without incident. The stolen truck was also located at the residence.
Williams was booked into the Polk County Jail for two counts of Grand Theft (F3) along with the active South Carolina warrants for Petit Larceny and Grand Larceny.

POLK MUGSHOT OF THE DAY – AUGUST 12, 2016

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POLK MUGSHOT OF THE DAY – AUGUST 12, 2016

ASHLEY WOODHAM

woodham

Aug 11, 2016By 0 Comments Posted in: PolkMugShot.com

Race: W Sex: F DOB: 1/25/1992 Height: 502 Weight: 115

Charge Number 1

Statute: 893.13(6A)**.. POSS OF METHAMPHETAMINE
Charge on Arrest Docket: POSS OF METHAMPHETAM
Bond Type: SB
Bond Number: B025889 Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety: 1000.00
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition: Bail*
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Charge Number 2

Statute: 893.147 (1)***** POSS OF DRUG PARAPHERNAL – SMOKING DEVICE
Charge on Arrest Docket: POSS OF DRUG PARAPHE
Bond Type: SB
Bond Number: B025890 Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety: 500.00
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition: Bail*
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Charge Number 3

Statute: 901.31 Failure to Appear
Charge on Arrest Docket: FTA FOR DOCK PETIT THEFT
Bond Type: SB
Bond Number: B025891 Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety: 1500.00
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition: Bail*
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Charge Number 4

Statute: 810.02(3)(B) Unarmed Burglary – Unoccupied Dwelling
Charge on Arrest Docket: Unarmed Burglary – Unoccupied Dwelli
Bond Type: SB
Bond Number: B025892 Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety: 5000.00
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition: Bail*
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Charge Number 5

Statute: 812.014(2)(D). Grand Theft from Dwelling >$100
Charge on Arrest Docket: Grand Theft from Dwelling >$100
Bond Type: SB
Bond Number: B025893 Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety: 1000.00
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition: Bail*
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Don’t Miss Out on The Last Show of The Summer by The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team

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Don’t Miss Out on The Last Show of The Summer by The Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team

Don’t miss out on the last show of the summer by the Cypress Gardens Water Ski team.

cypress gardens

The free Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show on August 20th will be the last scheduled show of the summer season.

Join the fun and excitement at Martin Luther King Jr. Park located on the shores of Lake Silver – 100 Lake Silver Dr. Winter Haven. Show starts at 5pm.

There will be concessions with Brats, Burgers, Hotdogs as well as snack & drinks available for sale.

Don’t forget to brink a lawn chair or a blanket.

The next scheduled performance for the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show will be October 29th from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM when they host their annual Halloween ski show on Lake Silver at the same location.

Come Cheer on Your Favorite Team at the Rowdy” Gaines Olympic Pool as Winter Haven High School Hosts Their First Swim Meet of The New School Year

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Come Cheer on Your Favorite Team at the Rowdy” Gaines Olympic Pool as Winter Haven High School Hosts Their First Swim Meet of The New School Year

rowdygaines

Come cheer on your favorite team at the Rowdy” Gaines Olympic Pool as Winter Haven High School hosts their first swim meet of the new school year.

Teams participating in the meet include Winter Haven High School, All Saints Academy, Frostproof High School, Lake Placid High School and Lakeland Christian High School

The swim meet will be held on Tuesday August 23rd, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM at 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33880

Lineup and participation are subject to change…..For more information call Aquatics at 291-5656.

Accident Blocking S.R 60 Near S. 7th St. Lake Wales 

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Accident Blocking S.R 60 Near S. 7th St. Lake Wales 

Lake Wales, Florida – According to reader reports an accident has just occurred on S.R. 60 Near S. 7th St. (near Forni Dental). All westbound lanes are blocked at this time. Emergency crews are on scene.  Should be cleared shortly, but drive with caution.

Grandmother & Father Leave 3 Year Old In Car At Lake Wales Walmart

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Grandmother & Father Leave 3 Year Old In Car At Lake Wales Walmart

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Lake Wales, Florida – On August 10, 2016 at approximately 4:07 p.m., Lake Wales officers were dispatched to Wal-Mart located at 2000 SR 60 E in Lake Wales in reference to a young child left alone in a vehicle.  Officers learned an observant customer, Rosa Lara of Bartow, notified Wal-Mart employees there was a child alone in a vehicle in the parking lot.

 

     When officers arrived they found a 3year old child sitting in her car seat in the rear seat of a Honda Element. The rear vent windows were cracked open and the vehicle was not running. The child was communicating with officers through the open window. The child’s hair was wet and stuck to her forehead and the child was sweating. The child’s cheeks were red from the heat. Officer checked and found all the doors to the vehicle locked. Officer Matt Rhoden made entry to the vehicle by breaking out the front passenger window and Sergeant Bruce Yoxall reached into the vehicle to remove the child. Officer Rhoden said the child appeared to be crying and quit when Sergeant Yoxall removed her.  The child clung to Sergeant Yoxall wrapping her arms around his neck and laying her head on his shoulder.  The temperature was 86 degrees, partially cloudy, a humidity of 74 percent and a feels like temperature of 95 degrees.  Polk County Fire Rescue began treatment and later transported her to Lake Wales Medical Center as a precaution.

 

     Wal-Mart paged the owner of the vehicle to come to the service desk. The grandmother to the child Anna Adams, age 57 of Frostproof, and the child’s father Timothy Adams, age 28 of Frostproof, came outside to the vehicle after being paged. Both Anna and Timothy claim they thought the other had the child with them even though they walked in the store together. 

 

     Video of the incident shows the Honda Element pulling into an isle at Wal-Mart and park at approximately 3:44 p.m.  No one exited the vehicle until 3:48 p.m. Timothy was then observed exiting the vehicle, removing his six year old daughter from the rear passenger seat, and pushing her in a shopping cart into the store.  Anna was observed walking from the driver’s side of the vehicle and walked approximately 20 feet behind Timothy.  She appeared to look back at the vehicle on several occasions as she is passing it and walking away from it.  Timothy and Anna shopped inside of Wal-Mart until they were paged at the request of Officer Rhoden after his arrival on scene, which was over 20 minutes after leaving the three year old in the vehicle.

 

     The child was treated and released with no injuries noted. Both Timothy and Anna were placed under arrest for child neglect without bodily harm and later transported to the Polk County Jail.  Officers worked with the Department of Children and Families to locate a safe place for the children.  Officers were in disbelief at the actions of the father and grandmother but were relieved to find out the child was not injured from the incident.

POLK MUGSHOT OF THE DAY – AUGUST 11, 2016

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POLK MUGSHOT OF THE DAY – AUGUST 11, 2016

GLEEN ZAYAS-ACOSTA

acosta
Aug 11, 2016By 0 Comments Posted in: PolkMugShot.com

Race: H Sex: M DOB: 5/9/1981 Height: 511 Weight: 350

Charge Number 1

Statute: 893.135 (1)(C)(1)C. HEROIN TRAFFIC 28 GR LESS 30 KG
Charge on Arrest Docket: TRAFFICKING IN HEROIN INFO FILED
Bond Type: SB
Bond Number: B025785 Purge Number:
Purge/Bond Amount: Surety: 15000.00
Cash: Bond Exp.: Disposition: Bail*
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Polk State College Is Offering FREE Training for Those Seeking Entry Level Positions in Manufacturing Industry

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Polk State College Is Offering FREE Training for Those Seeking Entry Level Positions in Manufacturing Industry
Polk State College is offering free training for those seeking entry-level positions in the manufacturing industry. The next session of the College’s CNC Operator Training Program begins Aug. 15.

Classes take place Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Polk State Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center, 310 Technology Drive in Bartow.

During the eight-week training program, participants will acquire the skills needed to work as entry-level CNC operators.

CNC — computer numerically controlled — operators develop programs that control the machining or processing of metal or plastic by automatic machine tools, equipment or systems, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The BLS estimates the median annual wage of CNC operators nationwide is $51,630.

Participants in Polk State’s training program will study industrial safety, blueprint reading, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), metrology, shop math, and basic machine tool operations.

To be eligible for the program, prospective participants must be at least 18 years old and pass the TABE test.

Additional training sessions will be offered in October, January and March.

The program is offered free of charge thanks to a $12 million Department of Labor grant awarded to the Southeastern Economic and Education Leadership Consortium, a partnership between six colleges in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee, including Polk State, that aims to improve the skills and employment of individuals working in the manufacturing industry.

For more information, contact Senior Program Specialist Lee Autrey at [email protected] or 863.297.1010.

Winter Haven EDC Embraces Creating Community Connections with Broadband

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Winter Haven EDC Embraces Creating Community Connections with Broadband

broadband

While a typical view of infrastructure may include electricity and water lines, broadband internet access has now become a critical component of the infrastructure we need for today and in the future.

Before we go into details about how Winter Haven has progressed with this new way of connectivity, here are a few key definitions (for those of us who need to get up to speed on the terminology!).

-Broadband – high-speed internet access that is always on and faster than dial-up access
-Fiber optic technology – technology that transmits at much faster speeds than other methods; data is converted to light and travels through small transparent glass fibers, slightly thicker than a human hair
-Dark fiber – unused excess fiber optic strands
-Gigabit – a unit of information capacity equal to one billion bits.
The vision for Winter Haven’s broadband initiative started 13 years ago. Here are some key dates in the timeline for Winter Haven and Polk County:

2003: City of Winter Haven staff created the Information Technology Strategic Plan to serve as a roadmap for technology investment.

2004: The City’s “dig once” incremental approach to installing underground fiber optic conduit began with a project in the downtown area. Since that time, 20 miles of conduit have been installed; 15 of those currently have fiber.

2012: Polk Vision and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC) facilitated a collaborative effort involving Polk County citizens, business leaders, educational institutions, economic development professionals, and many others. This group created the Polk County Broadband Plan and helped bring community awareness to the importance of broadband and its impact on education, government services, public safety, economic development and quality of life for our community.

2014: The Winter Haven Broadband Study recommended that the City of Winter Haven adopt an open-access dark fiber community broadband business model, enabling the City to lease its fiber network to telecommunication service providers.

2015: The Winter Haven City Commission approved the first dark fiber agreement with NAP of Central Florida, a local service provider, to lease excess City-owned fiber optic strands. With each agreement approved, 5 percent of the contract (with a 5 percent provider match) goes to a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Innovation Fund, designed to encourage students to create business ideas. We’ll share more on this program in a future post.

2016: The Winter Haven Public Library became the only gigabit library in the state. This milestone is significant from not only a technological standpoint, but also its relevance to encouraging involvement and engagement by our community. The gigabit internet connection at the library will play a valuable role in increasing digital literacy and supporting library programs for the community.

Because of these additions to Winter Haven’s fiber optic infrastructure, downtown is poised as the location of greater opportunity for tech advancement in the area.

You may be wondering how much of a difference it makes to use fiber to transmit information. The organizations using Winter Haven’s fiber use electronics that send and receive 10 gigabits of information. Using 10-gigabit speed, you would be able to transmit a two-hour, high-definition movie in just eight seconds!

What is our hope for the future? Build on the progress that has already been made, and continue defining broadband needs and determining how to meet those needs. A collaborative public/private effort will help identify the best ways to expand the current network and close the connectivity loop.

Affordable high speed internet for more businesses, organizations, and residents is a lofty goal, but there are many people who share the same vision about making connections, encouraging creativity, and transforming our community.

While some may focus on the technology aspect of high speed internet access, Hiep Nguyen, Chief Information Officer for the City of Winter Haven looks at it a different way.

Hiep says, “Don’t think about the glass of the fiber, think about what’s going through the glass – someone’s homework, creative ideas, medical breakthroughs.” We like that image and look forward to seeing what’s next.

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