Home Blog Page 1069

December 27 – This Day In History “Radio City Music Hall” Opens & More

Staff Reporter
-
0
December 27 – This Day In History “Radio City Music Hall” Opens & More

At the height of the Great Depression, thousands turn out for the opening of Radio City Music Hall, a magnificent Art Deco theater in New York City. Radio City Music Hall was designed as a palace for the people, a place of beauty where ordinary people could see high-quality entertainment. Since its 1932 opening, more than 300 million people have gone to Radio City to enjoy movies, stage shows, concerts, and special events.

Radio City Music Hall was the brainchild of the billionaire John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who decided to make the theater the cornerstone of the Rockefeller Complex he was building in a formerly derelict neighborhood in midtown Manhattan. The theater was built in partnership with the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and designed by Donald Deskey. The result was an Art Deco masterpiece of elegance and grace constructed out of a diverse variety of materials, including aluminum, gold foil, marble, permatex, glass, and cork. Geometric ornamentation is found throughout the theater, as is Deskey’s central theme of the “Progress of Man.” The famous Great Stage, measuring 60 feet wide and 100 feet long, resembles a setting sun. Its sophisticated system of hydraulic-powered elevators allowed spectacular effects in staging, and many of its original mechanisms are still in use today.

In its first four decades, Radio City Music Hall alternated as a first-run movie theater and a site for gala stage shows. More than 700 films have premiered at Radio City Music Hall since 1933. In the late 1970s, the theater changed its format and began staging concerts by popular music artists. The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, which debuted in 1933, draws more than a million people annually. The show features the high-kicking Rockettes, a precision dance troupe that has been a staple at Radio City since the 1930s.

In 1999, the Hall underwent a seven-month, $70 million restoration. Today, Radio City Music Hall remains the largest indoor theater in the world.

To Read More About Today Go To: History.Com – This Day In History

radio-city-music-hall_1100x5301

Don’t let your A/C maintenance go! You need to get your A/C system checked and cleaned by the professionals at Iceberg Air Conditioning.

Staff Reporter
-
0
Don’t let your A/C maintenance go! You need to get your A/C system checked and cleaned by the professionals at Iceberg Air Conditioning.

Don’t let your A/C  maintenance go!   Get your A/C system checked and cleaned by the professionals at Iceberg Air Conditioning. Call Today 863-632-7541

articlead620

You may not know why it is important to get your A/C system maintained.
Here are a few good reasons:
Longer life of the unit, lower power bills because it runs more efficiently, less money spent on repairs, and it will perform better.

Don’t wait, call now!

They are offering their Total System Rejuvination for only $29.95.

Tell them Daily Ridge sent you  and you will receive your Service Call for Free.

Samuel Eugene Poole, Jr. 91 of Lake Wales Passed Away December 8, 2016

Staff Reporter
-
0
Samuel Eugene Poole, Jr. 91 of Lake Wales Passed Away December 8, 2016

poole

Samuel Eugene Poole, Jr. , 91, of Lake Wales, FL passed away December 8, 2016.    Born December 19, 1924, Mr. Poole spent his childhood in Newton, GA. In December 1942, just ten days shy of his 18th birthday, he volunteered for military service and in February 1943, was sworn in to the Army Air Corps.  Captain Poole served with distinction during World War II as a B-17 pilot with the 8th Air Force, flying 35 missions over Germany.  He was the youngest B17 pilot to fly in combat in the European theatre and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross three times during his military service.  Aviation remained his life-long passion.  Mr. Poole graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1954.   He was president, general manager and captain of Southern Flyer Airlines, Inc. and president of Lake Wales Air Services.  In October 2010 he was awarded the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award by the Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team honoring his lifetime of service to the aviation industry.  He retired with over 20,000 flight hours.  He is survived by his six loving children, Katherine (Charles), Samuel III (Margaret), David, Diane, Ingrid and Fredrik; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  A private memorial service will be held in July 2017 during the family reunion in Crescent Beach, FL.   In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 South Clyde Morris Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114.

Cooking on the Ridge: Two Southern Classics All But Guarantee a Prosperous Year

Staff Reporter
-
0
Cooking on the Ridge: Two Southern Classics All But Guarantee a Prosperous Year

blackeyed-peas-and-collard-greens

These two Southern classics all but guarantee a prosperous year. Some say the greens represent dollar bills and the peas, coins, ensuring wealth and luck.

According to folklore, this New Year’s Day tradition dates back to the Civil War, when Union troops pillaged the land, leaving behind only black-eyed peas and greens as animal fodder. Rich in nutrients, these were the humble foods that enabled Southerners to survive. Details of stories differ, but each celebrates a communion of family and friends bound by grateful hearts and renewed hope for good things yet to come.

Black Eyed Peas Recipe

Ingredients

2 1/2 pounds fresh black-eyed or pink-eyed peas, shelled (3 cups)*
3 cups water
2 large beef bouillon cubes
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 (16-ounce) package kielbasa, sliced, browned, and drained (optional)
Preparation

Bring first 4 ingredients and, if desired, sausage to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat; simmer 40 minutes or until tender. Serve with Sweet Onion Relish.

*1 (16-ounce) package frozen black-eyed peas may be substituted. Reduce cooking time to 30 minutes or until tender.

Southern-Style Collard Greens

 Ingredients
12 hickory-smoked bacon slices, finely chopped
2 medium-size sweet onions, finely chopped
3/4 pound smoked ham, chopped
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 (32-oz.) containers chicken broth
3 (1-lb.) packages fresh collard greens, washed and trimmed
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
Preparation

1. Cook bacon in a 10-qt. stockpot over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes or until almost crisp. Add onion, and sauté 8 minutes; add ham and garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Stir in broth and remaining ingredients. Cook 2 hours or to desired degree of tenderness.

Help Police Identify Christmas Robber in Winter Haven

Staff Reporter
-
0
Help Police Identify Christmas Robber in Winter Haven

Help Police Identify Christmas Robber
On December 25, 2016 at approximately 11:30 p.m., a man walked into the Circle K convenience store, located at 1000 1st S. and demanded the cashier handover all of the money in the drawer. The suspect kept one hand inside of his pocket indicating he had a weapon, though none was seen by the cashier. The cashier was not injured.
The suspect leaves heading north out of the parking lot and then east on Avenue J SE.
If anyone can identify please contact the Winter Haven Police Department at 863-401-2256 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH reward.

 

circlek2circle-k-3circlek

Lake Wales Woman Killed In Deputy Involved Shooting

Staff Reporter
-
0
Lake Wales Woman Killed In Deputy Involved Shooting

Lake Wales, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives are currently conducting a deputy involved shooting at 7342 Hastings Road in Lake Wales.  No deputies were injured.  The suspect, 53-year-old Miriam Ann Savino was air lifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center where she succumbed to her injury.

At 1:32 pm, on Saturday, December 24, 2016, Savino call 911 requesting help for her son then hung up.  Emergency Communications attempted to call Savino back three times and the phone went to voice mail each time.

During the attempts to call Savino back, she called 911 again and told the call taker her son was in the hospital and that it was “a matter of life or death.”

26-year-old Deputy David Lockard responded to the Hastings Road residence at 1:42 pm and found no medical emergency.  He canceled EMS prior to their arrival.  Savino then pulled a knife on Deputy Lockard.  Fearing for his life, he fired his agency issued weapon.

At 1:47 pm, Deputy Lockard reported to dispatch that shots were fired.  After stopping the threat to his life, Deputy Lockard began administering first aid until EMS arrived.  Savino was air lifted to ORMC where she died.

Per standard PCSO protocol, Deputy Lockard has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of several simultaneous investigations.

There are four independent investigations ongoing at this time:  an investigation into the shooting conducted by PCSO Criminal Investigation detectives; a PCSO Administrative Investigation, an investigation by the State Attorney’s Office, and a Medical Examiner’s Office examination will be conducted.

Deputy Lockard was hired in November 2011.  He is assigned to the Southeast District as a patrol deputy.

Savino has been in the Polk County jail 5 times, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2014, and 2015, during each incident, Savino was charged with Battery among other charges.   Savino was arrested in August 2010 charged with 2 counts of Resisting Officer with Violence, Aggravated Battery on LEO, Battery Domestic Violence, and Battery on LEO.

During this incident two PCSO deputies responded to an unconfirmed emergency at Savino’s Winter Haven residence.  Upon their arrival, Savino came to the door and deputies heard a male yelling for help.  Savino then attempted to shut the door.  Deputies attempted to apprehend Savino but during the altercation, Savino kicked both deputies and hit them with a closed fist numerous times.  After Savino was taken into custody, deputies learned the male victim, a live-in boyfriend, had called 911 after Savino had hit, kicked, and bitten the victim while he lay in bed recovering from a medical procedure.

The investigation ongoing.

Lake Wales Man Charged with Murder of Gas Station Owner

Staff Reporter
-
0
Lake Wales Man Charged with Murder of Gas Station Owner

On October 27, 2016 an armed robbery and homicide occurred at the QP gas station located at 704 N Scenic Highway in Lake Wales. During this incident one of the store owners, Mohammed Alam, was shot and killed by two male suspects.

During the following two months Detectives from the Lake Wales Police Department have been investigating this case and following up on leads. As a result of their investigation Detectives were able to obtain information that has led to the arrest of a Lake Wales man for the murder.

On December 24, 2016 Julian William Bird 03-17-90, of 2206 Karen Street, Lake Wales was charged with murder in the first degree, armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with evidence. Bird is currently incarcerated in the Polk County Jail on unrelated charges.

This case remains open as Detectives work to secure charges against the second suspect in this case, who has not yet been identified.

Sergeant Shawn Smith notified the wife of Mohammed, Arzina Hafsa, of Bird’s arrest.  Through joyful sobs Arzina thanked Sergeant Smith over and over for the detective’s hard work and the arrest.  The Lake Wales Police Department was happy to make this arrest and be able to deliver this news to the family before Christmas.

If you have information regarding this please contact Detective Aubrey Davis at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223 Ext. 276. You can also remain anonymous by calling Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).

UPDATE: Christmas Grinch in Polk County Jail Additional Charges

Staff Reporter
-
0
UPDATE: Christmas Grinch in Polk County Jail Additional Charges

grinch

Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives have added more charges to Ms. Tammy Strickland, the “Grinch” who filled out fraudulent applications for non-existent children to receive toys from “Toys For Tots.”

84 additional felony charges have been added (82 counts of Create/Use/Possess Counterfeit /Fictitious Identification, 1 count of Grand Theft, and 1 count of Scheming to Defraud) and 13 additional misdemeanor charges for Providing a False Statement. The 84 new charges relate to 13 fraudulent Toys For Tots applications she submitted to the organization in 2015. Detectives have determined that at least 13 of the 15 applications she submitted in 2015 were for fake children and families–13 fictitious adults and 69 fictitious children. The previous charges were for the fake applications she submitted in 2016. Ms. Strickland is now facing a total of 248 felonies and 41 misdemeanors.

As a reference, below is the previously sent news release (Tuesday, December 20th):

Christmas Grinch is in the Polk County Jail
12.20.2016

“Children in need. Toys for Tots.’ These things are synonymous with Christmas.  And sadly, in this case, so is the Grinch.  Tammy Strickland spent a long time filling out fraudulent applications for non-existent children to receive toys.  And when she arrived at the Toys for Tots’ warehouse to collect those toys, this Grinch was arrested.  Now she’ll be spending a lot of time in jail.”

38-year-old Tammy Strickland of Eagle Lake was arrested on Monday, December 19, 2016, charged with Grand Theft (F3), 28 counts of Providing False Statement to Obtain Credit/Property (M1), Obtain Property by Fraud (F3), and 164 counts of Create/Use/Possess Counterfeit /Fictitious Identification (F3).

On November 16, 2016, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding Strickland indicating she had kept toys from “Toys for Tots” intended for children in need in the Eagle Lake area.  Strickland is a former volunteer for the widely known charitable origination.

Detectives began investigating Strickland’s association with “Toys for Tots” and learned Strickland submitted a large number of applications requesting assistance from the organization on behalf of dozens of children.

In review of the applications, detectives found the following information: Strickland was listed as the “contact person” on each of the applications. Other standard information listed on the applications are: the parent or guardian’s name, last 4 of the parent or guardian’s Social Security Number (SSN), primary contact phone number, and home address. On the back of the application were children’s names, the last four digits of Social Security Numbers, and the gift each fictitious child wished to receive.

Using law enforcement resources available to them, detectives researched the family information on the applications and learned the applications were counterfeit.
Detectives learned Strickland used 140 fictitious children’s names, and 28 fictitious adult names on falsified “Toys for Tots” applications.

Acting in an undercover capacity, detectives arranged to meet Strickland at the “Toys for Tots'” warehouse on Monday in order for her “to collect the donations for the children on the applications.”  Strickland arrived at the warehouse shortly after 10:00 am, and with the help of several family members accompanying her, Strickland loaded the toys on a utility trailer.  She was taken into custody, arrested, and transported to the Polk County jail without incident.  Strickland’s vehicle, a 2005 Cadillac Escalade was seized.

Detectives served a search warrant as Strickland’s home and found 118 unwrapped toys still in their packaging. A witness in the home said the toys were from “Toys For Tots.” Detectives determined that Strickland submitted “Toys for Tots” applications during 2015 as well.  Those applications are currently under review for authenticationseveral have already been determined by detectives to have been fictitious. The investigation is ongoing & other charges are possible.

Strickland’s criminal arrest history is: 05/12/2016 – PCSO, Leave Scene of Crash with Property Damage; 08/24/2013 – PCSO, Battery DV; 03/11/2006 – PCSO, and Felony Battery Result with Bodily Harm Disability.

*During 2016, “Toys for Tots” provided services for 8,942 children representing 3,349 Polk County families. To learn more about “Toys for Tots,” please visit http://toysfortots.org.

Local Restaurant Serves More Than Great Food

Staff Reporter
-
0
Local Restaurant Serves More Than Great Food
A local restaurant made the Christmas wishes of several Lake Wales High School students come true this holiday.
 
Through the use of a red and white fishing-themed Christmas tree and the generosity of their guests, The Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern was able to make wishes come true for 24 students in the Lake Wales High School “Students In Transition” (SIT) program.
 
The first name and three wishes for each of the 24 students were written on tags that were placed on the tree and guests who dined in the restaurant were asked to consider “adopting” one of the students for Christmas. 
 
The response was overwhelming. “We have known since we opened and have gotten to know many of our customers quite well that they are awesome people, but we saw just how incredible they are when we began asking them to help with this project,” stated Tammy Bracewell, co-owner of the restaurant with her husband Tim. 
 
“Some of them took not only one, but two or more names and came back with armloads of gifts,” she added.
 
In addition to collecting the gifts, the restaurant also collected $1,125 in gift cards and cash that could be used to help fund other needs of the program, which assists students who are without a permanent nighttime residence or who are living in substandard housing.
 
The SIT program is funded totally by private donations from area churches, businesses and individuals. Therefore, Bracewell hopes that, by doing projects like the Christmas tree giving project, awareness of the program can be increased and, in turn, more donations can be raised to fund two major needs that have been identified – housing, such as a home or multi-unit residence that could be used as transitional housing where the unaccompanied students could live in a safe environment with a house parent, and transportation.
 
During the 2015-2016 school year, over 100 students qualified for this program and the number has continued to grow in the 2016-2017 school year. Of these 100+ students, 45% live doubled-up with friends or relatives, in a motel or in a car; 40% live in substandard homes with no water, electricity, etc; and 15% are unaccompanied by either parent and are considered as “couch surfers” in others’ homes.
 
Despite their living conditions – which would cause many people to simply give up – these students continue to attend school and give their best effort to earn a high school diploma.  
 
The students in the SIT Program are great kids who, for various reasons beyond their control, have been dealt a hard hand in life. Most of them, despite the challenges, maintain A’s and B’s on their report cards, have no attendance issues and they love school. They realize the value of education and are fighting with everything that is within them to rewrite their future.
 
With the help from others, the program can continue to supply them with their basic needs, a safe and secure haven in which they can land to catch their breath and – most importantly – the love that they so desperately need.
crookedbasseventcrookedbassevent2
crookedbassevent3
crookedbassevent4
crookedbassevent5

Haines City Hosting 38th Annual Chamber Awards Banquet on Jan 12th

Staff Reporter
-
0
Haines City Hosting 38th Annual Chamber Awards Banquet on Jan 12th

annualban

The Haines City Area Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating their 38th Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at the Lake Eva Event Centerlocated at 799 Johns Avenue in Haines City from 6 – 9 p.m. 

The Banquet will honor the Chamber’s outgoing Board of Directors and Chair, Committee Chairs, Volunteer of the Year and Citizen of the Year.  

The Chamber’s 2017 Board of Directors and the 2017 Adult Leadership Class will also be introduced at the event. 

The City of Haines City will also recognize and honor the City of Haines City Employees of the Year and Executive of the Year.

Tickets are $40 per person.

For more information email [email protected] or call 863-422-3751 to RSVP.

Please note: This is a pre-paid event and no tickets will be sold at the door.

1...1,0681,0691,070...1,176Page 1,069 of 1,176