Notice is hereby given that Lake Wales Storage intends to sell the property described below to enforce a lien under the Florida Self Storage Facility Act, Statutes (section 83.80-83.809). The owner will sell at public auction on or after February 11,2026 at 10:00 am at storageauctions.com
Units belonging to the following:
Robert Mitchell/Unit 406
This sale will be continued on such succeeding sale days thereafter as may be necessary to be completed. Unless otherwise noted units contain household items.
Those looking for a fun and creative way to celebrate Valentine’s Day are invited to attend the Brushes and Bites – Valentine’s Day Edition, hosted by Haines City Parks and Recreation.
The event will take place on February 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lake Eva Community Center. Participants will have the opportunity to unleash their inner artist while enjoying delicious snacks in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Whether attending solo or with a date, Brushes and Bites is designed to be a memorable evening focused on creativity, connection, and fun. No prior art experience is required, making it a great option for anyone looking to try something new this Valentine’s season.
The cost to attend is $10 per person or $15 per couple, with payment accepted at the door. The event is open to ages 18 and older.
For more information, contact Haines City Parks and Recreation at 863-421-3700.
Taking care of your heart with healthy behaviors may be at the top of your wellness priority list already, and there may be good news about the effects of adhering to expert recommendations.
New information from the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics Update shows deaths from heart disease and stroke are on the decline. However, rates continue to climb for high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity – all of which are health risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Following expert guidance can be your prescription for better health as 80% of heart disease and stroke is preventable.
To help maintain and improve your cardiovascular health, consider following the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8, which is a set of four health behaviors (eat better, be more active, quit tobacco and get healthy sleep) and four health factors (manage weight, control cholesterol, manage blood sugar and manage blood pressure.)
In the United States, optimal Life’s Essential 8 scores could prevent up to 40% of annual all-cause and cardiovascular disease deaths among adults.
Consider these highlights from the statistics update:
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. and stroke is the No. 4 leading cause of death.
Together, heart disease and stroke accounted for more than a quarter of all deaths in the U.S. in 2023.
Cardiovascular diseases, including all types of heart disease and stroke, claim more lives in the U.S. each year than all forms of cancer and accidental deaths — the Nos. 2 and 3 causes of death – combined.
On average, every 34 seconds, someone died of cardiovascular disease in 2023.
On average, about two people died of heart disease every 3 minutes in the U.S. in 2023.
On average in 2023, someone died of stroke every 3 minutes, 14 seconds in the U.S.
Nearly half of U.S. adults now have high blood pressure.
Nearly 29.5 million U.S. adults have diagnosed diabetes.
About 50% of U.S. adults have obesity or severe obesity, and 28.1% of youth ages 2-19 have obesity.
Only 1 in 4 U.S. adults meets national physical activity guidelines. Only 1 in 5 U.S. youths ages 6-17 are physically active for 60 minutes or more every day of the week.
To learn more about how to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, visit heart.org.
A Palm Harbor man was injured following a single-vehicle crash Sunday morning on State Road 570 in Polk County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred on January 19, 2026, at approximately 11:05 a.m. near milepost 5. Troopers say a Lexus SUV, driven by a 52-year-old man, was traveling eastbound when the driver removed his seatbelt to reach for an item on the passenger side of the vehicle.
The distraction caused the SUV to leave the roadway and strike the center median guardrail.
The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Cooking on the Ridge: Glazed Barbecue Chicken Thighs
by James Coulter
Barbecue season is upon us in Polk County, a time when cities across the county fire up their grills and host their own barbecue competitions.
Lakeland will be hosting Pigfest on Jan. 23. Winter Haven will be hosting Smoke off the Water on Feb. 6 and 7. And Haines City will be hosting Ribs on the Ridge on Feb. 20 and 21.
Sadly, as I no longer reside in the county, I won’t be able to attend any of them. I miss being able to cover these events and sample some finger-licking barbecue in the process. I especially loved the barbecue nachos served at Pigfest.
So, I’ve been doing the next best thing and testing out my homemade barbecue and hot sauces with barbecue made at home on the grill. (Or rather, my relatives’ grill!)
Yes, I’ve been experimenting with making my own barbecue sauces and hot sauces. Will I ever share the recipes? Perhaps another time. For now, I’ll be sharing one of the recipes I tested my sauces on: glazed chicken thighs.
My relatives have been showing me how to man the grill, and I’ve managed to prepare some great dishes on it, including this one. My homemade sauce paired well with the chicken thighs cooked to juicy, mouth-watering perfection.
Originally, I planned to serve them with rice and peas. However, the lack of peas meant corn would be the next best thing. Either way, it was a good meal, and the mango salsa paired well with the tropical taste of my mango habanero sauce.
Whether you choose to prepare them on the grill or on the stove, these chicken thighs will prove finger-licking good when glazed with your favorite barbecue sauce, be it store-bought or homemade.
*****
Glazed Barbecue Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
• 2 lbs. chicken thighs
• ½ –¾ cup barbecue sauce
• 1 tbsp. neutral oil (only needed for stovetop)
Seasoning
• 2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1½ tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• Optional: ½ tsp cayenne (for extra heat)
Preparation
1. Pat the chicken dry.
2. Sprinkle the seasoning blend evenly over all sides.
3. Let it rest 30 minutes. (Or refrigerate overnight.)
Grill Directions
1. Preheat grill to medium‑high heat (about 400°F).
2. Oil the grates lightly.
3. Place chicken thighs skin‑side down (if using skin‑on).
4. Grill 5–7 minutes per side, or until nearly cooked through.
5. Brush with sauce and grill 2–3 minutes per side, letting the glaze caramelize but not burn.
6. Cook until internal temp reaches 165°F.
Stovetop Directions
1. Heat a large skillet over medium‑high heat and add 1 tbsp. oil.
2. Sear chicken thighs 4–6 minutes per side until browned.
3. Reduce heat to medium‑low.
4. Brush on sauce and cook 3–5 minutes, flipping and glazing until sticky and fully cooked (165°F).
5. If the glaze thickens too quickly, add a splash of water to loosen it.
FOODEESFEST is taking over Lakeland Square Mall for a three-day Food & Culture Festival packed with incredible eats, local creativity, and feel-good community vibes.
From savory street food to crave-worthy desserts, this is your chance to taste it all and enjoy a weekend made for food lovers of every kind.
🔥 What’s in Store: 🚚 Over 40 food trucks and specialty vendors 🎨 Local artisans and makers with unique finds 🎈 Family-friendly fun for all ages 🌍 A celebration of food, art, and cultures coming together
A 19-year-old Plant City man was killed Friday night following a three-vehicle crash on State Road 39 in Hillsborough County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 9:05 p.m. on January 16, 2026, south of Moriczville Lane. Troopers say a Chevy Silverado driven by a 77-year-old Plant City woman was traveling northbound on SR-39, with a Ford F-350 driven by a 32-year-old Plant City man traveling behind her. At the same time, a Nissan Versa driven by the 19-year-old man was traveling southbound.
Investigators report that the Chevy Silverado attempted to make a left turn into a private driveway and entered the path of the southbound Nissan Versa. The Nissan struck the Silverado, causing the Silverado to rotate onto the west shoulder of the roadway. The Nissan then rotated into the northbound lanes, where it was struck by the Ford F-350.
The 19-year-old driver of the Nissan Versa suffered fatal injuries. The 77-year-old driver of the Chevy Silverado sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The driver of the Ford F-350 was not injured.
LAKELAND, Fla. — What began as a routine traffic stop quickly escalated into a high-speed chase, a six-vehicle crash, and a major drug trafficking arrest Thursday afternoon in Lakeland, according to Sergeant Steve Gaskins, Public Affairs Officer for the Florida Highway Patrol.
Gaskins said the incident began at approximately 2:26 p.m. on January 16, 2026, when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper stopped a 35-year-old Tampa man for traveling 61 miles per hour in a posted 45 mph zone.
According to Gaskins, the driver initially stopped but fled as the trooper exited his patrol vehicle. The suspect accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 mph, leading troopers through Lakeland before crashing into six vehicles at the intersection of County Road 540A and Carter Road.
Gaskins said deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office assisted in taking the suspect into custody following the crash.
After being detained, the suspect told troopers he was “going back to jail for a long time,” admitting there were drugs inside the vehicle, Gaskins said.
A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered trafficking-level quantities of narcotics, including 52.6 grams of cocaine, 135.2 grams of cannabis, and 20.2 grams of fentanyl, according to Gaskins.
No serious injuries were reported as a result of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes,” is ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919.
The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for total national abstinence. In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, also known as the Prohibition Amendment, was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
Nine months after Prohibition‘s ratification, Congress passed the Volstead Act, or National Prohibition Act, over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of prohibition, including the creation of a special unit of the Treasury Department. One year and a day after its ratification, prohibition went into effect—on January 17, 1920—and the nation became officially dry.
Despite a vigorous effort by law-enforcement agencies, the Volstead Act failed to prevent the large-scale distribution of alcoholic beverages, and organized crime flourished in America. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, repealing prohibition.
A disturbance was reported at a car wash in Davenport on Tuesday afternoon, January 13th.
At around 2:30 pm, PCSO deputies responded and met with an employee at the car wash.
The employee reported that a man was on the property arguing with other customers. Those customers complained to staff, and the man was asked to leave. He refused and began arguing with the staff.
Two deputies made contact with the suspect, and he refused to identify himself, saying that he didn’t have to.
He was wrong. And the deputies explained that he definitely must identify himself. He again refused.
Deputies began to arrest the man, but he continued to be uncooperative, and even attempted to take a Taser from one of the deputies.
The suspect was secured in the back of a patrol vehicle and identified as 56-year old Jose Alfredo Velez from Celebration. It was Jose’s birthday. However, there was probably no celebration for him that evening.
Jose Velez was charged with: Resisting with Violence, Depriving an Officer Means of Protection, Trespassing, and Resisting without Violence. His vehicle was also towed away.
Jose’s prior criminal history includes Child Abuse and DWLSR.
