In Winter Haven, we are fortunate to have community members whose mission extends far beyond themselves. Justin Brennan, 46, and his wife, Aprie Brennan, 43, both United States Army veterans, have committed their lives to giving back through the creation of Veterans Outdoor Ministries.
Veterans Outdoor Ministries provides opportunities for veterans to reconnect, recharge, and heal through outdoor excursions such as hunting trips, while also offering something even more valuable — fellowship and a listening ear. Recognizing the unique challenges our service members face upon returning to civilian life, the Brennans founded this organization to ensure that veterans in our community have ongoing support, encouragement, and the sense of belonging they deserve.
My family and I first found our home at Winter Haven Worship Church, and soon after, we signed up for a marriage class where we had the pleasure of meeting Justin and Aprie. From the start, it was evident that the Brennans embody a deep commitment to service — not only through their faith, but through their daily actions on behalf of others.
As the owner of No Outage Electrical Testing here in Winter Haven, I understand the power of community investment and the responsibility we as business owners share in supporting causes that strengthen our region. Every day, we spend money on small conveniences without thinking much about it. But when those same dollars are directed toward organizations like Veterans Outdoor Ministries, the impact multiplies — changing lives, restoring hope, and giving back to those who have already given so much for our country.
Importantly, support does not need to be limited to financial contributions. Veterans Outdoor Ministries is also seeking access to land for hunting excursions — specifically for hog and deer hunts. Landowners who are willing to open their property provide not just a physical space but an invaluable opportunity for veterans to come together, find peace in the outdoors, and build camaraderie in a supportive environment.
This is a direct invitation to fellow business owners, community leaders, and landowners: consider supporting Veterans Outdoor Ministries. Whether through financial contributions, in-kind resources, or offering land for use, every gesture of generosity helps this mission continue to grow. By investing in this initiative, we are collectively extending gratitude to our veterans and reinforcing the values that make Winter Haven a stronger, more connected community.
As Justin and Aprie demonstrate through their leadership, service is powerful — and it always helps to help.
Robert “Terry” Stafford was born on December 2, 1948 in Winter Haven, Florida, and entered into rest on September 7, 2025.
Terry was a retired barber, an avid golfer, NASCAR and baseball fan, and enjoyed Alabama football. On March 22, 2003 he married the love of his life, Edna.
He is survived by his wife Edna, his children: Megan Lambert (Josh Cottrell), Adam Mills (Caitlyn Mills), and Dede Lewis, Kristie Baxter, Joshua Swain, and Jason Swain. He will also be remembered by his grandchildren Christopher Lambert, Tyler Lambert, Lorelai Cottrell, Blake Bosworth, Alina Negron, and Leon Negron. Terry also leaves behind his sisters Kim Emerson (Rick), and Shannon Best (Craig Wells), as well as many other family members and friends who loved him dearly.
Terry was preceded in death by one sister, Melba Harris, as well as his parents, Robert C. Stafford and Helen Yon Best, and step-father, Henry Best.
Terry’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM PM at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, 645 W Central Ave, Winter Haven, Florida followed by a funeral service at 1:00 PM.
LAKELAND, FL — An Ohio man was arrested on September 1, 2025, after allegedly driving without a license, driving over 100 mph, and attempting to bribe a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officer following a traffic stop on I-4 Eastbound in Polk County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol incident report, Trooper Corporal Matthew P. Lee initiated a stop near mile marker 38 in Lakeland at approximately 2:27 p.m. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Joshua David Bradley of Cleveland, Ohio, was pulled over after being observed committing multiple traffic violations.
Bradley allegedly admitted he did not have a driver’s license and showed signs of impairment, including “watery, glassy eyes” and “white foaming at the edge of each side of his mouth,” FHP reported.
It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Florida Highway Patrol. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to your own conclusion.
“On September 1, 2025, at approximately 2:00 P.M., I Corporal Matthew Lee was running stationary radar eastbound on Interstate 4 in the paved emergency turn around at mile marker 35 when I observed a grey sedan traveling at an extremely high rate of speed. I visually estimated the vehicle to be traveling at 100 Miles Per Hour (MPH) in a posted 70 MPH Zone. I activated my Stalker DSR 2X Radar. The audio doppler tone for the Stalker Duel DSR 2X was steady and consistent. The grey sedan entered my front mounted radar head at 100 MPH. The grey sedan then entered my rear mounted radar head at 100 MPH.
I conducted a traffic stop on the grey sedan on Interstate 4 eastbound at exit 38. I made contact with the driver of the grey sedan and identified him as Mr. Joshua David Bradley, Date of Birth 8/31/1995, by his name and date of birth from a photograph of his passport. Mr. Bradley stated that he did not have a driver’s license. While talking with Mr. Bradley I could immediately detect that Mr. Bradley had water, glassy eyes along with white foaming at the edge of each side of his mouth.
I had the Tampa Bay Regional Communications Center (TBRCC) query Mr. Bradley through all 50 states to see if he had a valid drivers license. While I was waiting for the TBRCC to locate whether or not Mr. Bradley had a valid driver’s license, he stuck a glass bottle with sand out the driver’s window. Mr. Bradley then exited the vehicle on his own and placed the glass bottle with sand on the ground next to the driver’s door. At this time, the TBRCC stated that Mr. Bradley only had a valid identification card. I ordered Mr. Bradley to stand by the rear of his vehicle. I then placed Mr. Bradley under arrest for super law and driving without a license and bribery of a law enforcement officer.
I placed Mr. Bradley in the back of my marked assigned patrol vehicle. While in the back of my patrol vehicle, Mr. Bradley attempted to bribe me to let him go and that his girlfriend would drive them back to their Airbnb. He stated that ‘he would pay whatever he needed to pay’ to let him leave. While in the back of my patrol car talking to his girlfriend, he made spontaneous utterances that he was speeding. He also stated that ‘he fucked up’. As his conversation with his girlfriend continued, he stated that ‘he fucked up, he should have been driving so fast’. He kept telling his girlfriend that ‘he was sorry’. Due to the signs of impairment that Mr. Bradley was showing, I requested that he perform Standardized Field Sobriety Exercise (SFSE). Mr. Bradley agreed to perform the SFSE.
I transported Mr. Bradley to the 711, located at 7247 Bridgewater Center Drive, Lakeland FL 33805. I read Mr. Bradley his Miranda Warnings and he stated that he would be willing to talk to me. Mr. Bradley agreed to perform the SFSE’s.
I explained the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus exercise to Mr. Bradley. I had Mr. Bradley perform the exercise and he performed poorly. Mr. Bradley had all six indicators on Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. The six indicators were Lack of Smooth Pursuit in both the left and right eyes, Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus at Max Deviation in both the left and right eyes, and Onset of Nystagmus prior to 45 Degrees in both the left and right eyes. I had to tell Mr. Bradley to keep following the stimulus with his eyes. During the vertical gaze nystagmus portion of the exercise, Mr. Bradley stated that his eyes were dry and that he needed to blink.
I then explained and demonstrated the Walk and Turn exercise to Mr. Bradley. I then had Mr. Bradley perform the exercise and he did poorly. During the instructional phase of the exercise, Mr. Bradley had trouble keeping his balance, he kept leaning over to the side as if he was going to fall over. Mr. Bradley had four Indicators on the Walk and Turn exercise. The four indicators were incorrect number of steps, stopped while walking, misses heel to toe, and steps off line. Mr. Bradley took 10 steps out, and 8 steps back. When Mr. Bradley would miss heel to toe, he would slide his foot back so the heel of his front foot would touch the toes of the rear foot. During the exercise, Mr. Bradley failed to count out loud in English. Mr. Bradley stated that he decided to count out loud in other languages.
I explained and demonstrated the One Leg Stand exercise to Mr. Bradley. I then had Mr. Bradley perform the exercise and he did poorly. Mr. Bradley had two indicators, uses arms for balance and sways. Prior to beginning the exercise, Mr. Bradley was asked if he understood the instructions and he stated that he did. When I told Mr. Bradley to begin the exercise, he asked if he lifted his knee up or kept it straight. I told Mr. Bradley again that he needed to lift his leg approximately 6 inches off the ground with his legs straight. Mr. Bradley decided that he wanted to complete the exercise with his leg at a 90 degree angle instead of the prescribed 6 inches.
I explained the modified Romberg exercise to Mr. Bradley. I then had Mr. Bradley perform the exercise and he did poorly. Mr. Bradley had three indicators, which were eyes don’t remain closed, eye lid tremors, eyes did not remain closed.
Based on Mr. Bradley’s performance on the SFSE’s he was also placed under arrest for DUI.
I requested a lawful test of Mr. Bradley’s breath which he refused. At this point, Mr. Bradley decided that he wanted to sit and that pavement. I then read Mr. Bradley Implied Consent which he still denied providing a breath sample. Polk County Deputy Janiak, ID number 9829 was also on scene and had a breath test machine in his assigned Polk County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. Mr. Bradley was given an opportunity to provide a breath sample in the breath test machine in Deputy Janiak’s patrol vehicle. While waiting for the 20-minute observation period to end, Mr. Bradley stated multiple times that he would provide sexual favors in order to be allowed to leave and not get arrested. While waiting for the 20-minute observation period to finish, Mr. Bradley kept kneeling on his knees for unknowns reasons. At one point he stated that his knees were hurting him. I instructed him to stand up then and asked him why he was kneeling on the ground in the first place. Mr. Bradley stated that “he wanted to show that he would obey”. After the 20-minute observation was completed, Mr. Bradley was given an opportunity to provide a breath sample. Mr. Bradley refused to provide a breath sample and the machine timed out stating no breath sample was provided in the allotted time. For the second sample, I gave Mr. Bradley an opportunity to provide a breath sample but he again refused. At this time, I pressed the “R” button to record the refusal.
Mr. Bradley was then placed back into my assigned patrol vehicle and transported to the Polk County Jail. While on the way to the jail, Mr. Bradley became extremely agitated, started yelling, screaming and saying racist comments. When I arrived at the jail, I requested that the Polk County Sheriff”s Office have some of their detention deputies meet in the sally port to assist me in taking Mr. Bradley inside of their facility.
Located at 1145 36th Street NW in Winter Haven 33881, Westwood Park is a great destination for outdoor fun and relaxation.
The park offers a well-equipped playground with swings, slides, and climbing structures, perfect for kids of all ages.
Visitors can enjoy a paved walking path featuring exercise stations for fitness on the go.
Picnic tables and covered shelters make it easy to enjoy meals outdoors. The park also includes restrooms and spacious multi-purpose fields, making it an ideal spot for families, casual sports, or a peaceful afternoon in nature.
Polk County Sheriff’s deputies arrested six suspects who are in the country illegally from Guatemala after being called to the Willow Oak Mobile Home Park to investigate a death and discovering that the victim had been fatally struck by a vehicle then dragged inside his home and left there.
The investigation began during the early morning hours of Sunday, September 7, 2025, when the PCSO received a 911 call reporting the 21-year-old man’s death. The caller relayed to call takers that the man was dead inside his home. When deputies and detectives arrived they quickly realized that the victim’s injuries were consistent with being run over by a vehicle, and they summoned the PCSO Traffic Unit to conduct an investigation.
Traffic Homicide detectives learned that a large party had taken place outside one of the trailers inside the mobile home park on Saturday evening. Nearly everyone at the party was consuming alcohol. A witness told detectives that the victim was lying down on the driveway. The witness saw 52-year-old Ponciano Cinto-Ramirez get into a van that was parked on the driveway, put it into reverse, and back over the victim, before leaving the scene. People at the party yelled at Cinto-Ramirez that he had run over the man but Cinto-Ramirez continued to drive away, then parked outside lot #32 and went inside.
When deputies went to lot #32 there were several people inside, all of whom refused to come out. Eventually, one by one, they came outside but refused to give deputies information or cooperate. Two of the men who came outside gave false IDs to the deputies. Once deputies had everyone in custody and interviewed, they learned all six of the suspects are in the country illegally from Guatemala. The following arrests were made, and all of the charges are enhanced due to their illegal statuses:
Ponciano Cinto-Ramirez, DOB 5/24/1973, charged with:
Leaving the scene of crash involving death (F1)
Driving without a license causing death (F2)
Resisting arrest (F3)
Alfredo Cinto-Ramirez, DOB 12/5/1976, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Giving false info to LEO (F3)
Rigoberto Lopez Morales, DOB 10/1/2002, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Jacinto Lopez Morales, DOB 8/23/1979, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Leonel Cinto Lopez, DOB 7/12/2001, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Giving false info to LEO (F3)
Ramiro Cinto Lopez, DOB 7/26/2002, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Giving false info to LEO (F3)
Possession of altered firearm (F3)
“All of these suspects are facing serious felonies, and ICE has placed holds on them as well to hopefully deport them back to Guatemala. What started out as a neighborhood party ended up with a 21-year-old man dead and a group of illegal aliens going to jail.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The Polk County Sheriff’s Traffic Homicide Unit investigated a single-vehicle traffic fatality early this morning in Fort Meade. The driver and sole occupant, 23-year-old Samuel Maisonet of Sebring, was killed.
The PCSO received a 911 call from Duke Energy workers around 4:40 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, when they responded to a power outage and discovered a wrecked car in a pasture near the intersection of Avon Park Cutoff and Singletary Roads. When first responders arrived, they located Maisonet deceased. Through investigation it appears the crash occurred around 3:30 a.m. when his 2007 Toyota Corolla left the roadway southbound on Avon Park Cutoff Rd, hit a ground anchor wire for the power pole, then rolled, ejecting him. Duke Energy responded due to the power outage the crash caused, at which time they found the wrecked car and called law enforcement. It is possible speed is a factor in the crash, based on the damage to the car, roadway markings, impact points on the ground, and the distance the car travelled after impact. The investigation is ongoing.
Getting your cholesterol checked, and talking with your doctor about steps to control high cholesterol, could save your life. If you, or someone you love, have experienced a heart attack or stroke, you know how life-changing those moments can be.
What many don’t realize is high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol often plays a silent role behind the scenes. Taking control of cholesterol numbers starts by knowing your LDL number and working with your doctor to put together an appropriate treatment plan.
Your body produces all the cholesterol it needs to stay healthy. Cholesterol helps make new cells, some hormones and substances that aid in food digestion. However, having too much cholesterol can contribute to serious health risks.
Knowing more about cholesterol and its role in your body and overall health can help you protect yourself from potential life-threatening conditions like heart attack or stroke – even if you’ve already had one. Learn more with this information from the American Heart Association’s “Lower Your LDL Cholesterol Now” initiative, nationally sponsored by Amgen, so you can take control of your heart health.
Know Your Numbers
Keeping tabs on your cholesterol is an important step toward managing potentially serious risks to your heart, brain and overall health. LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, can cause fatty buildup called plaque in your arteries.
Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. has high LDL (bad) cholesterol, but many don’t know until it’s too late. Having too much LDL (bad) cholesterol can silently increase your risk for heart attack and stroke when it goes unchecked, but you have the power to change that.
“A lot of people don’t realize they have high LDL (bad) cholesterol because it doesn’t have symptoms,” said Dr. Amit Khera, American Heart Association national volunteer expert and cardiologist. “That’s why I always encourage my patients to get their cholesterol checked and have honest conversations with their doctors. Knowing your LDL number is one of the most important things you can do to protect your heart.”
Studies show an LDL at or below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is ideal for most adults. If you have a history of heart attack or stroke and are already on a cholesterol-lowering medication, your doctor may aim for your LDL to be 70 mg/dL or lower.
Get Tested
Don’t wait; schedule a cholesterol test as soon as possible. High cholesterol often has no symptoms, so it’s important to get your cholesterol checked even if you feel fine. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends all adults 20 and older have their LDL (bad) cholesterol checked every 4-6 years as long as risk remains low. If you have had a heart attack or stroke, talk to your doctor about the right frequency of testing.
A blood test to measure your cholesterol numbers, called a “fasting” or “non-fasting lipid profile or panel,” assesses several types of fat in the blood.
The test gives four results: total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats).
Talk to Your Doctor
Your doctor is there to help you reach your health goals, including keeping your LDL (bad) cholesterol at a healthy number. Making decisions together is the best way to create a treatment plan you’ll be more likely to stick to. If you don’t understand something, ask for further clarification.
Discuss your risk factors, including your personal and family medical history. Having a candid conversation about your lifestyle can also help pinpoint potential risk factors and areas you can work to reduce your risk and improve your health.
If your LDL cholesterol number is high, your doctor may recommend treatment options. Together, you can review the benefits, risks and side effects to decide on the treatment plan that works best for you.
Take Action Early
The sooner you manage high LDL (bad) cholesterol, the more you can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. Proactively monitoring and taking steps to slow or reverse your numbers can halt or delay buildup in your arteries. In addition, treatment options can be more effective when a high LDL number is detected early
Learn more about the steps you can take to combat high LDL (bad) cholesterol at heart.org/LDL
It your LDL (bad) cholesterol is elevated, lifestyle changes can help lower your overall risk of heart disease, but may not be enough to counteract individual risk factors such as genetics and family history. Check your LDL (bad) cholesterol number then talk to your doctor about next steps, including these changes to take back control of heart health.
Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet
From a dietary standpoint, the best way to lower your cholesterol is to follow a balanced diet, which is low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.
Following a heart-healthy diet means limiting your intake of fatty meats and dairy products made with whole milk. Choose lean cuts of meat and skim, low-fat or fat-free dairy products instead. It also means limiting fried foods and cooking with healthy oils, such as liquid vegetable oils instead of butter or coconut oil, which are high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
Be More Physically Active
A sedentary lifestyle lowers HDL (good) cholesterol. Less HDL means there’s less good cholesterol to remove bad cholesterol from your arteries.
At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise a week is enough to lower both cholesterol and high blood pressure. Brisk walking, swimming, bicycling or even vigorous yard work can fit the bill. In addition, the American Heart Association recommends adding moderate-to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity – such as resistance training or weightlifting – at least two days each week.
Quit Smoking
When a person with unhealthy cholesterol numbers also smokes or vapes, the risk of heart disease increases even more. Smoking also compounds other risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
By quitting, smokers can lower their triglycerides and increase their HDL cholesterol numbers.
Quitting can also help reduce damage and improve how the arteries function.
Lose Weight
Living with excess weight or obesity tends to raise the chances of increasing LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowering good cholesterol. Weight loss of even 5-10% may help improve some cholesterol numbers and other heart disease risk factors.
29-year old David Martinez Santiesteban of Brandon got arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on September 5th.
Four thefts of lottery tickets had occurred at a convenience store in south Lakeland. The thefts happened on August 24th, 28th, 29th, and 30th.
Changes were made at the store to thwart additional thefts, and the changes worked– the suspect made another attempt on September 3rd, but failed.
The total value of the lottery ticket thefts was $785.
Detectives Arcila and Evans worked diligently on the case and developed a suspect, David Martinez Santiesteban, and an arrest warrant was obtained.
On September 5th, David arrived at the PCSO’s Southwest District Office and turned himself in. He also admitted to his crimes.
David Martinez Santiesteban was charged with: Burglary (4-counts), Petit Theft (4-counts), and Attempted Burglary. David’s burglary charges were enhanced one degree due to his traveling across county lines.
