A 15-year old male was arrested by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office early Thursday morning, May 18, 2023, and charged with attempted murder and other crimes.
The suspect is Demarion Wilson of Mulberry. His charges include: Attempted Murder (FL, 3-counts), Attempted Armed Burglary (F2), Discharging a Firearm in a Public Place (M1), and Possession of Marijuana (M1) and Paraphernalia (M1). The investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely.
PCSO Deputies responded to the McDonald’s restaurant at 1805 Shepherd Road in Lakeland, following reports of gunshots in the parking lot, at about 1:38 am.
Wilson attempted to rob an employee at gun-point behind the restaurant. The victim told two people in a parked vehicle nearby to call 911, and Wilson fired three shots toward the car, striking it once. Wilson fled the scene on foot, and none of the victims were injured.
Deputies created a perimeter around the area and a K-9 Unit located Wilson hiding in the bushes behind a Publix shopping plaza. He was in possession of a Glock 9mm and a black mask.
“It’s aggravating that a 15-year old would be out in the middle of the night robbing people at gunpoint and shooting at people. It’s completely unacceptable, so we’re going meet with the State Attorney’s Office about charging this suspect as an adult. We need juveniles to realize that we’re not going to tolerate such abhorrent, dangerous behavior.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
For homicide detectives, serial killers are a dime a dozen, and investigating their cases are part of the job description; but what happens when the killer’s killing spree gets too close to home?
Homicide detective Cal Miller faces that dilemma in “The Dicer”, the debut novel of local author A.B Kayge. As the story description explains: the case becomes “very personal” to Miller as soon as he is placed on leave. With body after body turning up, he and his partner need to crack the case “before it’s too late.” But will they solve it in time?
Born in Vero Beach, raised in Lakeland, and currently residing in Bartow, A.B. Kayge is a proud mother of three children and the wife of a loving husband for the past 22 years. During her spare time–which she claims she doesn’t have enough of—she had been typing away at a crime thriller, which she finally had published as her debut novel, “The Dicer.”
A.B. Kayge owes her venture into becoming an author to her parents, both of whom were “huge connoisseurs” of reading who would “read books like it was nothing.” Growing up, she quickly inherited their love of reading and writing. Her biggest literary influence, bar none, was Stephen King. She was also inspired by Nora Roberts and Stephanie Meyer, providing equal parts intrigue, suspense, and allure to her stories.
However, while she loved to read, many of the books she read proved too trite and predictable. After all, a bad mystery or horror story is one whose plot can easily be predicted by reading the first few pages or chapters, which was a common problem for A.B. So, like any good writer, she decided to write her own story.
“It got to the point where I could figure out within the first couple of chapters who did what,” she said. “I would get frustrated with that because it was no fun for me when I got to the end of the book to already have known who did it. So, my thought was I want to write a book and I want it to be something like the movie The Sixth Sense where everybody was like…I did not see that coming. And that is how it all came about.”
A.B. Kayge wrote the manuscript for “The Dicer” in over a year. She was fortunate enough to have both of her parents, along with her husband, help her through the process of beta reading and proofreading. As she explained: “Both of them became my side readers and were able to tell me if I was missing plot holes to needed to explain something further.”
Initially, A.B. Kayge self-published her novel as an e-book. Over the next five years, she researched various publishing companies and submitted queries to have her book traditionally published. After coming across a local writer’s group, she was able to go through that process more easily and finally become picked up by traditional publishing.
Currently, she has started writing the second book in her thriller series. She will also be one of many local authors attending the upcoming Writers Block Part and Street Fair, to be hosted in Bartow on Sat. May 20. For more information, visit bartowcon.com/
“The Dicer” is currently available on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and Readers House. To learn more about it, visit the book’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ABKayge
A.B. Kayge was recently interviewed on the podcast “Chattin on the Ridge”, where she discussed her book and her writing career. Listen to the podcast on Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chattinontheridge/episodes/Ep–04-A-B–Kayge-e242blt
Tyler doesn’t have an easy life living in a family of success stories. His mother is a doctor. His father is a lawyer. His older brother went to college on an athletic scholarship. And his younger brother always makes the honor roll. Yet the only success Tyler ever had was with video games.
With the start of a new school year, Tyler hopes to turn his luck around. He aspires to make the team and make the grade. He even made friends with the new girl in town, Amber. Will she be able to help him achieve the same success as the rest of his family? He’ll need to overcome temptations from some real losers at school to do so.
*****
Recap:Tyler really wants to make something of himself this school year. He’s determined to join the baseball team and ace his upcoming algebra test. Problem is, he’s not very good at math. So, he’s recruited the help of the new girl, Amber, to tutor him during study hall. Temptation arises when an old friend, Hannah, informs him of someone who has the test answers. Tyler refuses to cheat and chooses instead to study hard. Will his integrity and determination pay off?
*****
Chapter 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies
After practicing for nearly a week, Tyler had significantly improved his batting swing. Once more, he stood inside the batting cage to test his luck. This time around, he landed more hits, though he still made plenty of misses. Once more, the machine launched a ball, he swung his bat, and—
“Hey, Tyler!” a familiar voice called out to him.
Missed!
Amber stared back at him through the netting. The loud hum of the pitching machine came to a stop, and Tyler set down his bat.
“Amber,” he greeted her through heavy breath. “Hey! What are you doing out here?”
Amber jabbed a thumb to the arcade building. “My Dad decided to treat Chelsea and I to a night out. We just wrapped up a game of mini golf, and now Dad and Chels are inside playing a round of skeeball.”
“Interesting he would take you two out on a school night,” Tyler replied.
Amber shrugged. “He works irregular hours and shifts. Now was the best night he could schedule something like this, before it gets too cool outside. And you?”
Tyler leaned against his bat. “Baseball tryouts are tomorrow, and I wanted to blow off some steam after today’s math test.”
“You seem like a pretty good player,” Amber said.
Tyler put a hand on his hip. “Thanks. But you need to be better than pretty good to make the team. Hey, have you ever played in a batting cage before?”
Amber shook her head. “I never learned to play baseball.”
Tyler held the bat out to her. “You want to give it a try?”
Amber shrugged her shoulders with a smirk and opened the cage door. “Why not.”
Tyler handed her the bat. She held it over her shoulder and faced the batting machine.
“Do I hold it like this?” she asked him.
Tyler pantomimed the proper way to hold it. “Just raise your hand a little higher—yeah, that’s perfect. Now, keep your eye on the machine and wait for the light.”
He dropped a token into the slot, the machine revved up, and the lights flickered. Tyler once more pantomimed holding a bat.
“Now,” he told her, “the key to landing a hit is to hold it nice and steady and—”
Amber swung and hit the ball clear across the cage. Both she and Tyler blinked in astonishment.
“Whoa!” Amber exclaimed.
“Huh?” Tyler added. “Lucky first try. Not sure if you’ll be as lucky as—”
With another pitch came another hit from Amber, giggling in sheer glee.
“Nice.” Tyler said with a chuckle. “Third time’s the charm.”
Amber swung, missing the ball by several inches as it slammed into the netting.
“Aw!” Tyler uttered through a laugh. “Seems like your luck ran out.”
“This is kind of fun,” Amber said.
“You sure you never played before?” Tyler asked. “Maybe you should try out for the team.”
Amber shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not a fan of sports.”
A sharp wolf whistle made them both crane their necks toward the netting. Tyler rolled his eyes when he saw three familiar faces peering through it.
“Yo, Tyler!” T-Man said with a chortle. “You and your new girlfriend out on a date?”
Amber blushed in response. Tyler’s face also turned red, though not in embarrassment.
“We’re, uh, we’re not dating,” Tyler stammered.
“Like, you must be the new girl, Amber,” Katie said through a giggle.
“Yeah,” Amber replied. “I think I’ve seen you three around at school. And you—” she pointed at Hannah. “You’re in our study hall period. Sorry, forgot your name.”
“That’s okay.” Hannah chewed a wad of gum. “Names are a social construct anyway. It’s a futile attempt to give people meaning in a meaningless universe.”
“So,” Tyler interjected. “What brings you three out here?”
T-Man clapped his hands so loudly it drew the attention of everyone nearby.
“Just wanted to go an invite you two to a party tomorrow night,” he said, flashing two peace signs. “It’s gonna be ballah!”
Katie nodded. “Yeah, like, T-Man is going to be playing with his band and everything. And all the popular kids are totally going to be there.”
“I’m going, too,” Hannah added. “I’ll be in my usual spot: in the corner with a drink in hand contemplating the existential dread of my life.”
“In other words,” T-Man said, “it’s going to be the main event of the century. So—” he pointed to the other two, “you two in?”
Amber cocked an eyebrow, uncertainty clear on her face. “Isn’t tomorrow a school night.”
T-man chuckled and shrugged both shoulders. “Yeah, but who cares?”
“Well…” Amber clicked her tongue. “I would have to ask my Dad, and he’d probably say no, but—”
Tyler held up his hand, his glance steady on T-Man. “Is there going to be adult supervision?”
“Well,” T-Man quickly glanced in either direction. “My parents are going to be home.”
“I know your parents,” Tyler replied. “They’re real loose. Just because they’re at home doesn’t mean they’ll be supervising. And what about drinks? What are you having there?”
T-Man sucked in breath. “You know: soda—and a little something extra.”
“Yeah,” Tyler replied. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to pass.”
“Same here,” Amber added. “Even if I wanted to go, my Dad wouldn’t let me.”
Katie snorted. “You two still do what your mommy and daddy want you to?”
“The nuclear family,” Hannah said, “is a social fiction invented by capitalists to get us to conform to upper-class white bourgeoise hegemony.”
T-Man could only blow a raspberry and swat his hands. “Ah, well, when you two want to get down with your bad selves, just hit me up at my place tomorrow. You know where I live, and you’re always welcome.”
When the three walked away. Tyler blew a sharp breath and picked up his bat.
“Losers,” he said under his breath. “Am I right?”
Amber cocked an eyebrow at him. “That’s kind of harsh. Rather mean, too.”
Tyler inserted a coin and the machine warmed up. “You heard them. They’re hosting an unsupervised party with alcohol.” He hit a ball that launched at him. “They’re total losers.”
“Well,” Amber said, “obviously, they’re not good, but—”
“But what?” Tyler swung and missed. “It’s bad to call them what they are? A spade’s a spade.”
“Look,” Amber held up her hands, remaining calm. “I’m not condoning anything they’re doing, and I wouldn’t exactly associate with them, but—you still shouldn’t go around judging people like that.”
“Why not?” Tyler swung and hit. “You don’t know them like I do. If you did, you’d understand why I don’t want anything to do with them.”
“Okay, and you’re right to do that,” Amber replied. “But—you know, my momma used to tell me all the time: never go pointing fingers at people, because you only end up pointing three fingers back at you.”
“Yeah?” Tyler asked, before taking another swing and a miss. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” Amber answered, “people only go around judging other people for their faults as an excuse not to look at their own. You know, tend to your own business before poking your nose into others’.”
“Oh?” Tyler turned briefly to place a hand on his hip before returning to his game. “And what, exactly, are the faults I’m trying to ignore? I’m not a slacker like T-Man.” Swing. “Or an airhead like Katie.” Swing. “Or a cynic like Hannah.” Swing. “And I’m not as bad as any of them.
Amber folded her arms with a stern look but maintained a calm composure. “No, but you are awfully hard on yourself. And you’re hard on others. And I think it’s only because you’re so hard on yourself.”
Tyler missed one last time and threw down his bat. “I’m only hard on myself because I know I can be better. No one wants to be friends with a loser.”
“That’s not true,” Amber replied. “I want to be friends with you. And you’re not a loser.”
Tyler stood with arms akimbo.
“Okay.” He returned his glance at her, steadying his breathing to calm down. “So, why are you friends with me?”
“Because,” Amber bit her lip and thought for a second. “I guess I’m just a loser as well, and we losers need to look out for each other.”
Silence passed between them.
“I have to get back to Dad and Chels, now,” she told him as she opened the gate to exit. She closed it behind her and made sure it was secure. “If you need someone to talk to, I’m always available to listen.”
She waved as she walked away. Tyler waved back, then picked up his back and inserted another coin.
###
“Tyler’s Journey” is a side-story to the fantasy novel, “The Light Prince Grail.” The story follows Tyler’s life before he and Amber ventured into the fantastical world of Arden. It details his many personal struggles and how they influenced his decisions in the novel. His story will help readers learn more about themselves as they do about him.
“The Light Prince: Grail” and “Tyler’s Journey” are available in paperback and e-book on Amazon. For more information, visit the author’s website at: jcalexandre.com
J.C. Alexandre will also be one of the participating authors at the inaugural Writer’s Block Part and Street Fair, to be hosted on Sat. May 20 in Downtown Bartow. Feel free to visit him and pick up a copy of his books in-person. For more information, visit their website at: bartowcon.com
Nefi Jenkins started life humbly as the daughter of missionaries. However, following their untimely murder, she discovers that not all was as it seems. She learns her parents were part of a bigger conspiracy, and now it was up to her to unravel the mystery that fell into her lap.
In East of Evil, the fourth and final installment of the Compass Crimes series, Nefi inherits a ten-million-dollar trust from her deceased parents—only to discover that a good lion’s share has gone missing. Will she locate the missing funds? And who or what is responsible for its disappearance?
Written by local author Joni M. Fisher, the Compass Crimes suspense series is an epic tale that effortlessly combines suspense and mystery with a healthy amount of faith. After all, when it feels like the whole world is after you, it helps when you have someone looking out for you.
“Combining the elements of a police procedural and a suspense thriller, Fisher tics all the boxes for a compelling crime novel that keeps readers turning pages to the satisfying conclusion,” one person wrote at U.S. Review.
Fisher received her first check for writing by winning a poetry contest at age 16. Since then and before, she dreamed of becoming a writer. Her family encouraged her to pursue a career as a journalist.
Her pursuit led her to the University of Indiana, well-renowned for its excellent journalism program. During her four years there, she worked as a reporter for the college newspaper. She covered the theatrical arts beat, which entailed writing reviews of the latest performances.
“It was fun,” she said. “I had free tickets to go to everything from opera to magic shows and plays and rock concerts and I was able to review them. My other colleagues were hot and bothered about work reporting the NCAA sports. I really loved theater so much more, and that is what I was able to do.”
After graduating college and working for several years as a professional journalist, Fisher decided to leap from the world of non-fiction to fiction. The transition proved rather tricky, as it involved her unlearning many of the skills she learned as a journalist.
“In journalism school, they beat point of view out of you,” she said. “Basically, my editor said, ‘If you want your opinion, I’ll ask you for it.’ Otherwise, the training is about being objective. Presenting both sides of an issue. Getting good quotes and being impartial and letting your reader decide about the issue…It is tough for me because you do not go into it with a point of view, and I was not ready for that.”
Fisher decided to develop her own point of view by writing a monthly column. By writing in first-person, she was able to flesh out her own personal writing style, preparing her to write her own point of view through fiction.
“So, then I started working on a novel,” Fisher said. “Even then, it was hard to work in my point of view. And from that, to do that, I drew from my theater classes. Getting inside the character’s head, work around and see where it goes from there.”
Her Compass Crimes series has earned her acclaim, winning awards through national and state contests. The hardest part for her was figuring out which category to submit her work under. While her books count as thrillers and suspense, they also contain plenty of Christian themes about faith and courage.
“In the publishing world, if your character has any faith, your book is labeled as a religious book or a Christian fiction,” she explained. “But Christianity is part of my character. It is not how I want to set the tone. It is part of who they are…To me, my characters demonstrate how their faith is tested, and what they do about their crime. They are not waiting around for a man to save them. They have to go out and find out themselves and put themselves at risk to see what is going on and bring somebody to justice. So, for my characters to have faith is part of their personality and part of who they are, and it is what drives them to do the hard thing instead of the easy thing.”
Her next big story will be about an art appraiser uncovering a money laundering scheme in the art world. Fisher takes special enjoyment in writing that, as she has been working closely with a context expert as a consultant on the project.
“If you look in the news, it [these types of crime] happens all the time,” Fisher said.
East of Evil debuts on May 7, 2023. Pre-orders are $1.99. The price goes to $5.99 in May. For more information, visit her website at: https://jonimfisher.com/
Polk County is becoming the fastest-growing county in Florida. In the past three years alone, more than 80,000 new residents moved to the county. That number is equal to the combined population of Winter Haven, Lake Wales, and Dundee, or roughly two-thirds of the population of Lakeland.
Some people are moving to Polk County to retire. Others are seeking better jobs and lower taxes. Sheriff Judd has talked to many new residents, and they have told him that they moved to Florida to escape the rampant crime waves of the cities up north.
“Not a week goes by that someone doesn’t say, ‘I moved to Florida to get away from the crime.
I want to feel safe and be safe,’” Sheriff Judd said. “Well, you can feel safe because you are.”
However, Sheriff Judd has important advice to newcomers seeking the safety and security of Polk County: don’t vote the same way they voted up north.
“We welcome you with open arms, and we are glad you are here,” he said. “But do me a favor: don’t vote the way the majority of people voted in the state that you came from, or else we will have here what they have there because all of that is a policy decision.”
Sheriff Judd shared this advice during a Chamber Power Luncheon, hosted by the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce at Vanguard School on Wednesday.
Currently, Polk County is experiencing a record 51-year-low crime rate. The crime rate in Polk County is about 1.1 crimes per 100 people per year. The state of Florida’s is about 2 crimes per 100 people per year. In stark contrast, many other cities have crime rates between 12 to 20 per 100 people per year, Judd claimed.
Sheriff Judd owes these all-time lows due to their “tough-on-crime” approach to law enforcement. Unlike other states and cities, Polk County takes crime seriously. They do not allow criminals to walk away with a slap on the wrist. If someone commits a crime, Sheriff Judd and his deputies ensure that the person sees a jail cell.
For example, Sheriff Judd recalled a domestic incident involving visitors from up north. When his deputies arrived on the scene, the culprit pushed passed one deputy and punched the person who had called. His deputy then introduced the culprit’s face to the ground before loading him into a patrol car. When informed he was going to jail, the suspect complained that this wasn’t how things were handled in New York City.
“Sire, look around,” the deputy told him. “Do you see the Empire State Building? We’re not in New York City. We’re in Polk County.”
In contrast, Sheriff Judd mentioned an incident in another city where a woman had called the police about a man trespassing in her backyard. The officers arrived, escorted him to the front
yard, and gave him a citation before driving away and leaving him standing in her front yard. Before they left, the woman asked why they were leaving the man at her house. The officers replied it was against the law to put him in jail.
“They moved him from her backyard to her front yard,” Sheriff Judd said. “She did not feel safe.”
Before closing, Sheriff Judd told the audience that, if they wanted to see crime rates remain low, they needed to vote for people committed to keeping it low by properly enforcing and supporting local law enforcement. They needed to vote for the “right people” on the local, county, and state levels.
“I thank you that you put the decision-makers in place to make the right decisions at the right time,” he said. “So, pat yourself on the back and say we deserve the best police services in the nation and the people we hire do it the right way.”
Sheriff Judd shared his powerful message at the Chamber Power Luncheon on Tuesday. The event was hosted by the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce at Vanguard School. The event presenting sponsor was Atlantic Blue Capital, the table sponsor was Low Payment Kings, and the supporting sponsor was Shield Medical Group.
Ellis Hunt Jr., Chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission, likewise commended the Honorable Sheriff and his team for making Polk County a safe place to move and live. He boasted how residents can “take for granted you can dial 911 and help is minutes away” all through the hard work of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
David Dlugokecki, Chairman of the Lake Wales Chamber, boasted about how many new people were planning on moving to Florida, and how the city of Lake Wales was planning the right way for this growing population. He owed this population and economic growth to the safety and security provided by Sheriff Judd.
“It is no secret that people are fleeing big cities and finding a safe place to raise children,” Dlugokecki said. “Thank you, Grady. People who come here like hearing what a safe place to live. With you and your team, that is important to us.”
The Traffic Homicide Unit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal crash involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), Saturday evening north of Lakeland.
The crash was reported to the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) at about 9:00 pm on Saturday, May 13, 2023, and deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash scene on Wildlife Trail.
35-year old Roger Tyer, Jr. of Lakeland was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
According to the preliminary investigation, Mr. Tyer’s green 2023 Polaris Sportsman 570 ATV flipped over and landed on top of him.
The 911-caller found Mr. Tyer about 30-minutes after the crash, still pinned under the ATV, and life-saving measures began.
Mr. Tyer was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
A fatal two-vehicle crash occurred in Dundee Saturday night, May 13, 2023, after a motorcyclist drove the wrong direction on the highway.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the crash scene on US 27 at about 7:58 pm.
60-year old Garry Restifo of Lake Wales was identified as the driver of a black 2001 Harley Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle. He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital but passed away a short time later.
The other vehicle involved was a black 2010 Dodge 2500 pickup truck, driven by 24-year old Jesus Palafox-Luberto of Avon Park. Mr. Palafox-Luberto and his four passengers suffered no serious injuries.
The PCSO Traffic Homicide unit assumed control of the investigation and began collecting evidence and witness statements.
In the early stage of the investigation, detectives have determined that the crash occurred on the southbound side of US 27, north of the intersection with Dundee Road.
Mr. Palafox-Luberto’s truck was traveling southbound when he noticed the motorcycle driving toward him. Both drivers swerved to avoid impact, but still collided.
The truck then struck a curb which caused the vehicle to roll over onto its roof.
All occupants inside of the truck were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and an infant in the truck was properly secured in a car seat.
Mr. Restifo was not wearing a helmet prior to the crash.
Polk County Fire Rescue and Florida Department of Transportation also responded to the scene.
The on-scene investigation lasted for about four hours, but the investigation is ongoing to determine why Mr. Restifo was driving t
Update 2: LAKELAND, FL (May 15, 2023) – Lakeland City Police Detectives are providing an update on recent developments regarding the deceased infant found in the dumpster on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Preliminary findings from the Medical Examiner’s office indicate the full-term infant was born deceased, never taking a breath, and had a severe brain deformity. The initial results do not indicate homicide or that foul play caused the infant’s death.
After releasing photos of persons believed to have information related to the case, a 34-year-old female came to the police station to speak with detectives. During her interview, she was cooperative with detectives and admitted giving birth alone outside her residence during the early morning hours of May 10, 2023. She told detectives she was unaware she was pregnant before giving birth, stating that she only had minor symptoms and believed she was just getting sick. The female said that she did not go to the hospital afterward because she was in the country illegally and didn’t want to get in trouble, nor did she have any money to pay the medical expenses. She admitted putting the infant’s remains in the dumpster later that same evening.
After consultation with the State Attorney’s Office, Brusela D’Enstachio-Lugo has been charged with violating F.S.S. 497.386 (Storage, preservation, and transportation of human remains), a Misdemeanor of the First Degree (M1). A complaint affidavit has been filed for a Summons To Appear to be issued.
DNA was collected from the female to compare with the deceased infant’s. The Department of Homeland Security was contacted regarding immigration status and provided information on the case.
This remains an open and active case as results from additional forensics tests are in progress
——————- Update 1 ——————
Remains of newborn fetus found in dumpster. Sought for questioning
LAKELAND, FL (May 12, 2023) – Lakeland Police Detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying persons who are believed to have information related to the deceased newborn infant found in a dumpster yesterday. On Thursday, May 11, 2023, at approximately 6:03 a.m., officers responded to a reported deceased newborn found inside a bag in a dumpster located behind the businesses at 3625 South Florida Avenue.
Sought for questioning
If you have any information that may help identify the persons shown, please contact Detective Neal Robertson at 863.834.6971 or [email protected].
Persons wishing to make an anonymous tip can do so at Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida by calling 1-800-226 TIPS (8477, via the website https://www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com or through the free “P3tips” app.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you know Disney World is currently feuding with Gov. Ron DeSantis. Disney has even filed a lawsuit against him, claiming he’s intentionally trying to disrupt their business. It certainly doesn’t help his case that Gov. DeSantis threatened to build a state prison next to the Happiest Place on Earth.
In response, many people on social media have floated the idea (both jokingly and seriously) that Walt Disney World should simply pack up and move to greener pastures. Even one North Carolina senator has filed a bill called the “Mickey’s Freedom Restoration Act” to encourage Disney to move to his state.
Sigh.
Do I really need to write an entire column explaining why Disney World isn’t a traveling carnival that simply can’t load up their trailers and drive down I-4 to another state? Well, I’m currently writing this column, so I guess I should. So here’s why Disney World can’t move out of Florida.
The Walt Disney World Resort is approximately 43 square miles (or 27,520 acres)—nearly the same size as the city of San Fransisco or twice the size of Manhattan. Let me repeat that: Walt Disney World is twice the size of the smallest borough in New York City!
Disney World consists of four theme parks, two water parks, a shopping district, several hundred hotels and motels, and a campground. According to estimates by the Orlando Sentinel, the property value of the theme parks alone were: Magic Kingdom at $504 million, EPCOT at $539 million, Hollywood Studios at $394 million, and Animal Kingdom at $435 million. That makes the total property value of the overall resort approximately $1,872,000—or $1.8 billion!
I am not a mathematician, so I am not about to crunch the numbers. But I’m going out on a limb and assuming that dismantling the entire resort, moving it to another state, and rebuilding it from scratch would no doubt cost much more than $1.8 billion—far too much for the Walt Disney Company, even if it does sport a market value of $183.63 billion.
Even if the billion-dollar company was willing to spend the money to move and rebuild its billion-dollar resort, time remains another factor. Does anyone really know how long it would take to dismantle a resort twice the size of Manhattan and rebuild it in another state? And would Disney be willing to make up for lost revenue from the years the park would be closed in Florida?
In context, Disney’s newest theme park, Shanghai Disneyland, took five years to construct–and that park is only 1.5 square miles! (Reminder: Disney World is 43 square miles!) At a conservative estimate, at the very most, it could take anywhere from 10 to 20 years to totally build Walt Disney World from the bottom up.
None of this even factors in the resort’s complicated infrastructure. Magic Kingdom has its own network of underground corridors. The entire park consists of roads, utilities, and public transportation that it utilizes to maintain itself and its operations. Rebuilding the parks would not
simply involve reconstructing rides. It would involve creating entirely new infrastructure from scratch.
As a reminder, the Reedy Creek Improvement District—the same district DeSantis moved to dissolve and replace with his own state-run board—was created specifically for Disney World to own and operate itself sufficiently and efficiently with little to no cost to the state. Disney World was a self-sustaining, self-regulating operation for that reason. I highly doubt even a bill called the “Mickey’s Freedom Restoration Act” would offer a large corporation like Disney the same leeway.
And, of course, there’s location, location, location. Florida was specifically chosen as the location for Walt Disney World because of its yearlong (mostly) good weather that allows it to remain open year-round. In contrast, if it were to move up north, it would have to operate like other northern amusement parks and close down during the winter months—because snow! (And, really, do you really think Disney World is going to cede its Florida competition to Universal Studios and SeaWorld? I don’t think so!)
In short, moving Walt Disney World out of Florida would cost too much money and take too much time. For better or for worst, the Happiest Place on Earth is here to stay in the Sunshine State.
What do you all think? Do you think Walt Disney World should move? Or do you think the Happiest Place on Earth should remain in the Sunshine State? Let us know in the comments on Facebook.
Tyler doesn’t have an easy life living in a family of success stories. His mother is a doctor. His father is a lawyer. His older brother went to college on an athletic scholarship. And his younger brother always makes the honor roll. Yet the only success Tyler ever had was with video games.
With the start of a new school year, Tyler hopes to turn his luck around. He aspires to make the team and make the grade. He even made friends with the new girl in town, Amber. Will she be able to help him achieve the same success as the rest of his family? He’ll need to overcome temptations from some real losers at school to do so.
*****
Recap:Tyler wants to make a good first impression his sophomore year of high school. While his old friends couldn’t care less, his new friend, Amber, the new girl in town, might prove to be better assistance. Upon learning of baseball tryouts, Tyler decides to try out for the team. He attempts to practice at the baseball cages, but his swing could use improvement. His old friend, T-Man, proposes giving him a “offer” to up his game. Realizing that offer is ilicit, Tyler refuses. Did he make the right decision? Will he make the team?
*****
Chapter 5 – Approach the Innermost Cave
“So, if X equals 9 and Y equals 7, then the square root of x to the power of y is, um—”
Tyler mulled over his algebra homework in the school library. He tapped his pencil against his textbook. Despite the day’s lecture in math class, he remained clueless about the material. His exponents proved unexpected, his radicals were still a radical notion to him, and he failed to rationalize his rational expressions while quadratic expressions proved a real quandary.
Fortunately for him, he shared the same study hall period with his new friend, Amber. She sat across from him at the table and she understood math well.
“Look.” She seized his worksheet and scribbled away at the equation. “It’s really easy once you know your order of operations. You know: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. You just figure them all out one by one and then—” She turned the sheet toward him, using the tip of her pencil to show her work. “Voila!”
“You make it look so easy,” he said. “I wish it was that simple for me.”
“You’re lucky I took pre-algebra in my old school,” Amber said. “We may not be in the same class, but I know enough about the material to at least help show you the ropes.”
“I could use all the help I can get.” Tyler flipped through his textbook. “The first big test of the semester is next week. I need to pass it and get good grades. It’s the only way I can take pre-calculus, and after that, trigonometry.”
Amber whistled. “Those are real heavy subjects. You want to take them that bad?”
Tyler shrugged. “Well, I don’t want to take them, but I have to take them if I want to get a scholarship into a good school.”
“Your parents seem to be putting a lot of pressure on you,” Amber said with a click of her tongue. “My dad’s just glad I’m mostly getting Bs.”
“Well—” Tyler sighed “—my parents aren’t really the ones pressuring me to do all this. They’re rarely even around for dinner, what with their busy work schedules and all. But when you grow up in a family like mine, existing alongside success stories really puts the pressure on you to succeed.”
“Ooh, hold that thought,” Amber told him as she rose from her seat. “I, uh, need to excuse myself for a second.”
Tyler understood and waved to her as she left.
“So, I see you actually study in study hall,” a familiar creaky voice asked.
Hannah sat at the next table over. Her face was hidden behind a dusty tome of Poe’s poetry. Tyler could already guess it was her from the sad, grungy music blaring from her headphones and the pile of Lovecraft novels sitting next to her.
“Oh, hey, Hannah.” Tyler waved as she approached him. “Of course you study in study hall. That’s why they call it that.”
Hannah sat in Amber’s seat and pulled back her headphones.
“I like to do better things with my free time than worry about our stupid assignments,” she told him. “Don’t you?”
“Of course I do.” Tyler slicked back his messy brown hair. “But I want to take every chance I have at school to do my schoolwork. Saves time when I get home. Besides, I need to study. The SATs are only a year or so away.”
Hannah blew her bubblegum into a sticky balloon and drew it back into her mouth after it exploded with a loud pop!
“Standardized testing is pedagogically classist and sexist,” she replied. “They only exist to benefit politicians who want an excuse to defund public schools over low scores.”
Tyler shrugged. “Even then, I have a big test coming up and I really want to make a good step forward this school year.”
“If you really want to pass,” Hannah said, “I can help.”
“But you don’t take the same math class as me,” Tyler replied.
“No.” Hannah shook her head, peered over her shoulder, and leaned in closer to him. “But I have a friend, Agatha—”
“That vile girl?” Tyler asked.
“She’s in your class,” Hannah replied. “And she knows someone who supplied her with the test answers.”
“What?” Tyler asked, half-stunned, half-confused.
“She sits right behind T-Man, and he sits right behind you,” Hannah explained. “I can ask her to pass you those answers on the day of the test, if you want.”
Tyler shook his head. “No way! That would be cheating.”
“So?” Hannah asserted with a cocky voice and cocked head.
“So, cheating is wrong.”
“And why is it wrong?”
“I-I don’t know,” Tyler replied. “It just is. I’m sure it’s against one of the Ten Commandments.”
Hannah scoffed. “You still believe all that crud they taught us in Sunday School?”
“Well—” Tyler started before Hannah cut him off.
“Listen,” she held up her hand, “I was forced to go to church every Sunday morning, too. Trust me, there’s nothing more liberating that realizing all of it was made up. God’s just an imaginary Sky Daddy, and the Bible’s just a book of Bronze Age fairy tales. There’s no magic man in the sky judging us. No Santa Claus putting us on his naughty or nice list. No Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy, either. And morality? It’s all made up. Once you realize that, you don’t have to worry about anything. You’re free to live life your own life.”
Hannah sat up and returned to her table. She passed by Amber, who sat back in her seat.
“Who’s Wednesday Adams?” She thumbed back at Hannah.
Tyler shook his head. “Just some girl I know.”
*****
The hero raced up the stairs leading to the dark castle. Its architecture created a black silhouette against the backdrop of the full moon. He reached the top step, his fairy friend flittering next to him, and passed under the rusty portcullis of the arched entryway.
Catching his breath, he paced toward two tall wooden doors. Both had slots carved into them, and each slot contained a column of five stone tiles. Each tile was of equal height and width, being the size of an open hand, and each bore a symbol of a different painted hue.
His fairy friend hovered over each tile, inspecting them one by one.
“Ancient runes,” she exclaimed.
The hero pushed against a door. Neither a slight heave nor a heavy shove could budge it.
“This door is sealed with an enchantment,” his fairy companion explained. “I can feel the magic emanating from these runes. They look familiar, do they not?”
The hero touched a tile and shifted it upward. He discovered it could easily move vertically and horizontally. When he moved the tile up, a tile above it appeared underneath; and when he moved it to the side, a tile next to it appeared in its place.
“I see,” his fairy chimed. “It is a combination lock. Perhaps if we place these titles in the correct order, the door will unlock. Question is, what is the correct order to set them in?”
*****
Tyler pondered several minutes over the pattern of the tile puzzle in his video game. The runes looked familiar, yet thinking as hard as he could, he was unable to solve the puzzle.
He saved his game and turned it off. He rotated his desk chair to face his computer. The internet browser was open to a video game forum. The cursor hovered over a highlighted link that read: “Final Dungeon Puzzle Solution.”
His hand hovered over his mouse, and his finger nearly double-clicked, yet his fingertip paused over the left mouse button. In half a second, his finger hovered over the escape key, and the window closed. He shut his computer monitor off, pushed aside his keyboard, and pulled his math textbook out of his backpack and opened it on his desk. He would decipher the puzzle to his video game eventually, just as he would decipher his algebra homework in time for tomorrow’s test. He had studying to do, and his game could wait.
*****
When morning came, Tyler felt no more prepared for his math test than when he first started the class weeks ago. Amber had been tutoring him in study hall, and he had dedicated most of his free time at home studying, though he managed to sneak in enough time before bed to playing his video game.
He sat at his desk, chewing on a wad of gum, and tapping his textbook as he poured over its formulas and equations one last time. The bell rang, and the teacher instructed everyone to clear their desks of everything except for a pencil and eraser. Tyler obeyed, shoving his book into his backpack.
He felt a tap on his shoulder and heard a “Psst!” in his ear as someone handed him a folded slip of paper. He lurched over his desk to study it without catching the teacher’s attention. “From Agatha” was written in black ink. He opened it, only to avert his gaze as he recognized a column of quiz answers.
He craned his neck. Sitting several seats back, T-Man gestured a thumbs up and beamed a sheepish grin. Tyler shook his head, spit his gum into the paper, and crumpled it up—an action which elicited a scoff from T-Man.
“Ahem!”
Tyler glanced up at his math teacher, who stood over him, handed him his test, and held out her hand, motioning for him to hand over his discarded gum and paper.
“No gum or snacks in class, please,” she informed him.
Slightly perturbed that she might have seen him with the answers, but relieved that she only cared about his gum and not what it was wrapped in, he handed her the wad of paper with gum inside and accepted the test.
“You will all have the entire hour to work on the test, and you may begin once I tell you.”
Tyler kept his eye on her. His heart thumped in his chest, worried she would unwrap the paper, find the answers, and assume he was cheating. His heart slowed to normal and he breathed a sigh of relief once she tossed the gummed-up paper into the wastebin.
“You may begin.”
*****
The hero pondered silently over the puzzle. He shifted tiles left and right, up and down, hoping to decipher their meaning when the symbol on one of the tiles began to glow. When he shifted back to its previous position, it stopped glowing; and when he shifted it back to where he had moved it, it glowed again.
The light glowing from that title set a light glowing inside his head as a realization occurred to him. He soon remembered where he had seen these runes before. In each of the shrines he visited to obtain the three stones and legendary sword, these runes appeared etched over their entrances. As he recalled the ancient words, he frantically assembled the tiles so that the runes inscribed upon them spelled out those same words; and as he arranged those words on the door, their runes glowed with the same ethereal light. Soon each row spelled out a different word, each glowed with a different colored light.
Once the hero solved the puzzle, the gap between the two wooden doors glowed with a white light, and both doors opened. The hero leapt back from the doorway, elated for having solved the door’s riddle.
“Well done, brave and wise hero,” his fairy friend chirped. “You have decrypted the symbols and unlocked the door. But take heed: the Dark Lord Bannon awaits within, and you will need all of your strength and courage to overtake him. Come! Take courage and fly!”
Without hesitation, the hero rushed through the open doorway, with his fairy companion following him as the doors closed behind them.
###
“Tyler’s Journey” is a side-story to the fantasy novel, “The Light Prince: Grail.” The story follows Tyler’s life before he and Amber ventured into the fantastical world of Arden. It details his many personal struggles and how they influenced his decisions in the novel. His story will help readers learn more about themselves as they do about him.
“The Light Prince: Grail” and “Tyler’s Journey” are available in paperback and e-book on Amazon. For more information, visit the author’s website at: jcalexandre.com
J.C. Alexandre will also be one of the many guest authors appearing at the Writer’s Block Party & Street Fair. The inagural event will be hosted on Sat. May 20, 2023 in Bartow, FL from 10 AM to 6 PM. To learn more, visit their website at: https://bartowcon.com/
