You are invited to sponsor and decorate a Christmas tree along our enchanting Christmas Tree Trail. It will be located at the Lake Alfred Public Library grass lot. Once it is complete, it will be open for the public to enjoy and cast their vote for their favorite tree!
Make sure to register as soon as possible; spots are limited!
Email the registration form to [email protected] to reserve your spot.
There is a $25 registration fee. Participants are responsible for their own lights and decorations. Contact the Parks and Rec office at 863-291-5272 for more information.
LAKELAND, Fla. – A powerful spirit of purpose and remembrance came together at Fletcher Park on Lake Bonny on Saturday, where community leaders, coaches, and nonprofit partners gathered to dedicate the park’s newest Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The installation of AED #79 held deep meaning for Dr. Evan Chambers, founder and CEO of the EMC L.O.V.E. Foundation, whose work continues to honor the legacy of his son, Evan Michael Chambers.
Honoring Evan Michael Chambers Through Action
Dr. Chambers established the EMC L.O.V.E. Foundation in 2016 after the sudden passing of his son from an undiagnosed heart condition. Through baseball clinics, tournaments, mentorship, and community outreach, the foundation helps young athletes build skills, character, and confidence — all while keeping Evan’s love of the sport alive.
The AED dedication was especially significant because it was placed on a field Evan knew well.
“Evan spent countless hours on that field … in the locker room … and his DNA is a part of that place,” Dr. Chambers shared. “To present this gift to the athletes at Fletcher Park is a great honor, and we know it will help spread awareness of the great work being done in our community.”
A Partnership Rooted in Shared Purpose
This AED was donated by the Culpepper Cardiac Foundation (CCF) and installed in partnership with the EMC L.O.V.E. Foundation and R2Cares, organizations that share a united mission of preventing cardiac deaths and expanding access to lifesaving equipment across Polk County.
Ronnie Richardson, a Tampa Bay Rays coach, former MLB player, and Polk County native (Lake Region High School/UCF), explained why R2Cares eagerly joined the effort:
“I grew up playing ball with Melanie’s sons, and our families go way back. When she reached out, it was an immediate yes. The Love Foundation’s work with youth baseball and Dr. Chambers’ commitment to Evan’s legacy align perfectly with our mission at R2Cares to strengthen minds and empower communities. Collaboration is everything.”
A Fitting Tribute on Evan’s Field
The placement took place during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Evan’s Legacy Baseball Classic Championship Game Day, a fitting tribute on the very field that now bears Evan’s name.
“This is about more than equipment – it’s about being prepared and protecting the lives of the young athletes, coaches, and families who play here,” said Melanie Brown Culpepper, founder of CCF. “Having an AED on site gives everyone a fighting chance in those critical first minutes of a cardiac emergency.”
The Coaches Who Will Use It Most
For local coaches who spend every day on the field with youth athletes, the donation is deeply meaningful.
Frank Taveras, JV Coach at Lake Bonny Fletcher Field for the past two years, expressed how impactful the donation is for his players and staff.
“We are thankful to have received this lifesaving AED and to have it available at our park,” Taveras said. “Thank you to the Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, R2Cares, and the Chambers family for making this a reality for us.”
When asked about CCF and its team, he added: “We appreciate Melanie and the CCF for everything they do to make things like this possible. Thank you for supporting CCF, as saving lives truly matters.”
A Shared Message: Every Second Counts
The AED was dedicated in memory of Evan Michael Chambers and Michael Culpepper, honoring both families’ journeys and their shared commitment to saving lives. The ceremony also included a demonstration by certified AED/CPR instructors, reinforcing how critical quick action can be during cardiac emergencies.
Leading Through Love, Resilience, and Community
Dr. Chambers closed the ceremony with a message that resonated across the field.
“Being prepared, uniting around service — that’s what honors Evan’s life,” Dr. Chambers said. “Love and community are still the heartbeat of Polk County.”
Foundation Impact & Contact Information
Since its founding, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation has placed at least two AEDs every month throughout Polk County and awards three annual scholarships to aspiring first responders (Fire, Medical, and EMT fields). The foundation relies entirely on community events, sponsors, and donations to continue its goal of “a defibrillator on every city block.”
For more information or to support the partnering organizations:
Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation: CulpepperAED.com
R2Cares: R2Cares.org
The Evan Michael Chambers LOVE Foundation: Contact through event organizers
As Ronnie Richardson closed the ceremony:
“When we turn pain into purpose and unite around service, we prove that love and community are still the heartbeat of Polk County.”
Looking for something fun for the kids to do after early dismissal? Bring them over to the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library on November 21 from 2:30–3:30 PM for an afternoon of creativity! Kids can make their very own sand art bottle, and all the materials will be provided—just bring plenty of imagination.
This monthly drop-in program, called Crafternoon, is designed for children ages 5–12 and takes place on Polk County Public Schools’ Early Dismissal Days. No registration is needed—simply stop in and enjoy the fun.
If you have any questions, reach out to Cassie Walters-Shantal at (863) 834-4294 or [email protected].
The Gate Church in Davenport is gearing up for one of its most meaningful traditions of the year—its annual Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway. This community-focused event provides families in need with a complete holiday meal at no cost, offering a helping hand during a season centered on gratitude and togetherness.
With the support of sponsor Jarrett Gordon Ford – Davenport, the church will be distributing 250 turkeys, along with all the sides needed to prepare a full Thanksgiving feast. Anyone who could benefit from a free holiday meal is encouraged to sign up while supplies last.
Registration is required, and once you sign up, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Be sure to bring that email with you on pickup day. Registration will close immediately once all 250 meals have been claimed.
Meal pickup will take place on Saturday, November 22 from 10 AM to 12 PM at the Tom Fellows Community Center, located at 207 N Blvd, Davenport, FL 33837.
This Thanksgiving, Downtown Lakeland is adding a brand-new tradition to the holiday season. On Thursday, November 27 at 6:00 PM, the city will light the very first Christmas tree ever placed in Munn Park—marking a milestone moment for one of Lakeland’s most beloved gathering spaces.
Families are invited to arrive early, as the park will start buzzing around 5:45 PM with festive music, holiday photo opportunities, and a cheerful pre-show atmosphere. When the clock hits 6:00 PM, the community will come together for a shared countdown as the tree bursts to life in brilliant lights.
Once the switch is flipped, visitors can wander the park, snap photos, and soak in the cozy holiday glow.
This free, family-friendly event takes place in the heart of Downtown Lakeland. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs to settle in comfortably. Downtown parking garages and nearby street parking will be open—though arriving early will make the experience even smoother.
A new tradition is starting in Munn Park, and everyone’s invited to watch it shine.
Daily Ridge News has received a series of alleged text messages provided by a source on September 28, 2025, who stated the messages were obtained through a public records request involving Polk State College. The screenshots appear to show internal conversations among individuals involved in the college’s administrative and public information workflow. Because Polk State College has not confirmed the authenticity of these messages, and because the authors are not identified within the screenshots, Daily Ridge is presenting them as alleged communications.
Alleged Internal Text Messages
The timestamps show the conversations occurred in July 2025, which was the same period when Daily Ridge was requesting information regarding several issues at Polk State College. These included questions about the Polk State College Foundation’s emergency fund procedures, reported mold concerns, and concerns involving the use of real personal identifiable information during Banner system training. These inquiries were submitted in good faith, and no responses were provided.
Several of the alleged messages specifically reference “Carl,” referring to Carl Fish, cofounder of Daily Ridge News, an online news organization established in 2006 that covers Polk County, Florida. The screenshots also name individuals who appear to be directly involved in Foundation oversight. One message mentions “Steve” — referring to Dr. Steve Warner, Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the Polk State College Foundation & Alumni. Another message refers to “Joanie” — referring to Joanie Malone, the Chief Financial Officer of the Polk State College Foundation and the whistleblower whose internal actions ultimately brought about an external audit that remains ongoing.
One of the alleged messages expresses hesitation about releasing information, stating:
“The foundation doesn’t wanna share information with me because they’re worried I’m going to give it to Carl Fish.”
The conversation goes on to describe difficulty obtaining documents and historical finance committee records related to the Foundation’s emergency fund decisions.
In another alleged exchange, the sender describes escalating frustration:
“I basically just had to yell at him, Joanie and Lance and told them to send me the minutes from a finance committee meeting 10 years ago where this was decided on.”
“I haven’t responded to him because he was blowing up my email… it’s like he has these requests in a hopper and fires them off to be an ass or try to intimidate and that made me angry.”
A follow-up message states:
“I’ll acknowledge receipt now and ask for his deadline.”
Other alleged exchanges appear to express concern about media scrutiny and potential fallout. One message states:
“I’m worried that we don’t say anything that results in an investigation of the foundation.”
Another asks:
“When do you think Carl will print?”
With the response:
“She’s stalling… Also, get ready for another round of crap. Media. About this issue.”
The conversation includes additional warnings about information becoming public, including:
“If he keeps digging, we’re going to have a mess.”
Another message adds:
“This has revealed a problem that to resolve there are some things that will be public. The optics could be really bad.”
Daily Ridge attempted to verify the authenticity and context of these alleged communications. On October 17, 2025, Daily Ridge emailed Polk State College spokesperson Madison Fantozzi requesting confirmation or clarification regarding the messages, as well as answers to earlier questions involving the Foundation, mold concerns, and personal identifiable information.
Daily Ridge also carbon copied the entire District Board of Trustees and the Polk State College Foundation Executive Board on that email, ensuring full transparency and giving senior leadership an opportunity to respond. As of publication, no response has been received from the college or any board members.
Because the authors of the messages are not identified within the screenshots and the college has provided no verification, Daily Ridge is presenting these as alleged communications that raise substantial questions about transparency, internal communication, and the handling of public records requests. Public institutions in Florida have a legal obligation to respond to lawful requests and to provide clear explanations when questions involve public funds, workplace safety, or sensitive personal data.
Daily Ridge will continue to seek clarification and additional documentation from Polk State College. Updates will be published as more information becomes available.
AUBURNDALE – An Auburndale woman was arrested after police say she showed multiple signs of impairment during a traffic stop on Thursday night, according to an arrest affidavit filed with the Polk County Clerk of Court.
On November 7 around 7:57 p.m., an Auburndale Police sergeant reported seeing a white Chevrolet Colorado traveling south on Berkley Road failing to maintain its lane and driving in the bicycle lane. Due to the traffic violations, a stop was conducted near Berkley Road and Jasmine Road. While approaching the truck, the sergeant reported seeing an open vodka bottle with liquid in the front passenger seat.
According to the affidavit, the driver, 41-year-old Amanda Gatlin, was already outside of the vehicle speaking with law enforcement when the responding officer arrived. The officer wrote that Gatlin’s speech appeared slurred and that she smelled strongly of alcohol. Gatlin reportedly admitted to drinking three alcoholic beverages earlier in the day.
The officer stated he asked Gatlin to step away from her vehicle, and she appeared unsteady on her feet and leaned on the truck several times to keep her balance. Gatlin agreed to participate in standardized field sobriety exercises and told the officer she had no medical conditions that would prevent her from doing so.
During the exercises, the officer documented several indicators of impairment. Gatlin allegedly showed four out of six clues during the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, five out of eight clues during the Walk and Turn test, and three out of four clues during the One Leg Stand test.
Gatlin was placed under arrest and transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center for a required 20-minute observation period before breath testing. The affidavit states she did not eat or drink anything during that time. Gatlin agreed to provide breath samples, which reportedly registered breath alcohol levels of 0.188 and 0.190 g/210L.
Gatlin was issued a DUI citation for a breath alcohol level of 0.15 or higher. She was also issued two traffic citations for failure to use a designated lane and knowingly driving with a suspended license.
The case was filed with the Polk County Clerk of Court on November 10.
The holiday season is right around the corner, and Davenport is getting ready to celebrate one of its most beloved traditions — the annual Christmas Parade and Winterfest!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 13, at the Tom Fellows Community Center, located at 207 North Blvd. W in Davenport. The festivities kick off with Winterfest at 4:00 p.m., offering fun activities, food, and entertainment for the whole family. Then, at 6:00 p.m., the highly anticipated Christmas Parade will light up the streets with dazzling floats, festive music, and plenty of holiday spirit.
This annual event brings the community together to share in the joy and excitement of the season. Whether you’re a longtime resident or a first-time visitor, you won’t want to miss this magical evening filled with lights, laughter, and holiday cheer in Davenport.
“On November 14, 1851, Moby-Dick is published. Now considered a great classic of American literature—with one of the most famous opening lines in fiction: “Call me Ishmael”—the book about Captain Ahab and his quest to catch a giant white whale was originally a big flop.
Its author, Herman Melville was born in New York City in 1819. As a young man, he spent time in the merchant marines, the U.S. Navy and on a whaling ship in the South Seas. In 1846, he published his first novel, Typee, a romantic adventure based on his experiences in Polynesia. The book was a success and a sequel, Omoo, was published in 1847. Three more novels followed, with mixed critical and commercial results.
Photo source History.com
Melville’s sixth book, Moby-Dick, was first published in October 1851 in London, in three volumes titled The Whale, and then in the U.S. a month later. Melville had promised his publisher an adventure story similar to his popular earlier works, but instead, Moby-Dick was a tragic epic, influenced in part by Melville’s friend and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, neighbor, Nathaniel Hawthorne, whose novels include The Scarlet Letter.
After Moby-Dick‘s disappointing reception, Melville continued to produce novels, short stories (Bartleby) and poetry, but writing wasn’t paying the bills. In 1865, he returned to New York to work as a customs inspector—a job he held for 20 years.
Melville died in 1891, largely forgotten by the literary world. By the 1920s, scholars had rediscovered his work, particularly Moby-Dick, which would eventually become a staple of high school reading lists across the United States. Billy Budd, Melville’s final novel, was published in 1924, 33 years after his death.”
Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) crews battled two large silo fires at a local business near the intersection of Lasso Lane and Maine Avenue in Lakeland Thursday night.
Polk County Fire Rescue crews were dispatched at 4:26 p.m and arrived on scene minutes later to find smoke coming out of one silo and began to extinguish the fire.
While crews worked to put out the fire, a dust explosion shot out of the silo, sparking a brush fire and igniting the second silo. Another crew responded to the brush fire.
PCFR crews fought the fires simultaneously. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters cleared the scene at 11 p.m. after extinguishing the brush fire and hosing down the silos. PCFR released the scene back to the property’s management to watch the fire burn itself out.
