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Winter Haven Woman Killed During Argument Reportedly Over Marijuana

Carl Fish
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Winter Haven Woman Killed During Argument Reportedly Over Marijuana

According to published reports a 21 year old man shot and killed Porchia Crossley, 32, of Winter Haven. The shooting took place in the early morning hours, Wednesday, at a home near Lake Ariana Blvd & Century Blvd. According to reports Auburndale Police Chief, Terry Storie, advised the victim was shot multiple times.

Extensive details of what occurred have not been released, but it’s reported that Crossley drive to Harrington’s home and argued with him regarding Marijuana.

The suspect, Harrington, told deputies that Crossley attacked him and he shot her in self defense. APD advised video evidence (not released at this time) shows that was not the case.

Harrington was arrested and transported to Polk County Jail. He is being charged with 2nd Degree Murder.

Man Killed In 5 Vehicle Crash In Haines City

Carl Fish
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Man Killed In 5 Vehicle Crash In Haines City

A crash involving five vehicles that occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, in Haines City resulted in the death of a Poinciana man.

 

The vehicles and drivers involved were:

 

23-year-old Jalen Gaskins of Winter Haven, driving a company-owned 2020 white Ford F-350 pickup truck

 

39-year-old Terence Gaskins of Lake Alfred, driving a 2017 silver Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck

 

32-year-old Yohanmi Mena Lopez of Poinciana, (deceased), driving his 2008 gray Subaru Tribeca

 

33-year-old Yomairy Lugo of Poinciana, (the deceased’s wife), driving her 2019 gray Toyota Rav4

 

66-year-old Luis Perez of Auburndale, driving a 2019 white Hyundai Santa Fe


All of these drivers were wearing seatbelts. It was not raining when the crash occurred, and it was still light outside. There were several witnesses to the crash as well.

 

The crash occurred on 17/92 near the intersection with Dyson Road. According to the investigation so far, Jalen Gaskins was traveling in the right lane westbound on 17/92 with Terence Gaskins behind him and in the left lane. Terence had just taken Jalen to pick up the white Ford truck that was just purchased by their employer, and they were both heading back to work. As Jalen approached the intersection, a vehicle had just completed a U-turn onto 17/92 and was traveling west in the right lane. Jalen attempted to change lanes and go around that vehicle when he lost control of the truck and slid and rotated, striking the truck Terence was driving with minor damage and no injuries to either driver.

 

The white Ford truck continued spinning and crossed the center median, into the eastbound lanes, colliding with Lopez in the Subaru. The Subaru went off the roadway and into a shallow ditch. Lopez suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The white truck Jalen was driving flipped onto the driver’s side in the eastbound lanes, and was then struck by Lopez’s wife, who was driving her Toyota Rav4 behind her husband. She was taken to a local hospital where she was treated and released. 

 

The white Hyundai Santa Fe being driven by Luis Perez was also heading eastbound. He traveled past the crashed vehicles, through the debris, and went off the roadway, striking an embankment. 

 

The roadways were shut down for approximately five hours during the investigation, which is ongoing. Photos from the scene are attached. The silver Chevy Silverado is not seen in any of the photos – that truck remained in the westbound lanes, and the photos depict the vehicles that crashed in the eastbound lanes.

 

Yohanmi Lopez was enrolled at the Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety (KCTIPS) law enforcement academy.

Welcome, World Travelers! PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is…a PAW Patrol Movie.

Allison
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Welcome, World Travelers! PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is…a PAW Patrol Movie.

Welcome, World Travelers! PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie is…a PAW Patrol Movie.

by James Coulter

Welcome World Travelers

Sigh. Listen. I’m an adult who still watches cartoons. I think animation is a respectable medium that can be appreciated by all ages, not just children. I sincerely believe animation is a serious art form with the potential to tell serious stories that can be taken seriously.

On the other hand, I am reviewing PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, the sequel to a film based on a preschool show designed to sell toys to little children. I am a parentless adult. I am evidently too old for this, nor am I the target demographic.

Paw Patrol Movie Review

If you’ve never heard of PAW Patrol before—you know what PAW Patrol is! Even if you’ve never seen the cartoon, chances are you’ve seen its toys and ads everywhere. PAW Patrol is just that culturally ubiquitous. So, not only is it unsurprising that the most popular preschool show ever not only received a theatrical movie two years ago but a sequel.

The movie follows the same premise of the show: a young boy named Ryder and his team of puppers use their toyetic vehicles and devices to solve problems in Adventure City. This time around, a meteor crashes into the city, destroying their headquarters, but also giving the dogs superpowers. Now they’re super-powered doggos! Unfortunately, the bad guys want to steal their powers. Will the puppers save the day, as usual? (Well, what do you think?!)

Let’s be perfectly honest, though: the only reason you’d watch this movie is because you’re either a little kid who watches the show on repeat or you’re a parent of a child who watches this show on repeat. So, if you’re an adult, not only were you already forced to watch this film, but you’ve already pre-ordered the DVD because you know you’re kid will be begging for it and the merchandise for it for Christmas.

To be fair, this movie isn’t “bad”, per se. For a movie based on a preschool show, the big-budget animation was clearly made for a big-budget movie. And, for a movie based on a preschool show with seldom any violent conflict, there are plenty of exciting action sequences and even Michael Bay-style explosions.

The movie also has a touching subplot involving the girl pupper, Skye, who struggles with self-doubt about being the smallest of the pupper doggo crew. There’s even a touching backstory about how she became a member of the PAW Patrol, despite being the runt of her litter.

There’s also a surprising number of jokes that only adults will get. For example, during a news report about the PAW Patrol’s new superpowers, the reporter reports about how these new powers will spawn new merchandise. To whit, he tells the audience: “To all the parents watching out there, I’m sorry.”

Another “adult” joke involves the two bad guys, Mayor Humdinger and the new villain, the mad scientist, Victoria Vance. While in prison, Humdinger tells Victoria to look in the toilet. Victoria, unsurprisingly, is hesitant to do so. But Humdinger insists there’s a “surprise” in there. Reluctantly, she looks inside. Humdinger says he “worked hard” to pull it off. Turns out it’s an escape tunnel. (Get it? It’s a poop joke!)

Anyway, if you’re a kid who loves this show and loved the first movie, you’re going to be loving this movie and begging your parents for the DVD and merchandise. For everyone else, it’s a relatively “mid” children’s film, something to show the kids to keep them preoccupied.

Living A Lie – Will & Jada Smith Living Separate Lives For 7 Years Now

Carl Fish
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Living A Lie – Will & Jada Smith Living Separate Lives For 7 Years Now

In an exclusive interview with NBC Today Show Jada Pinkett Smith tells about things in her new book, including the truth about her relationship with Will Smith.

Jada made the revelation Wednesday in a couple different interviews — one with People Mag and another with ‘Today’ … in both, she admits that she and Will have been leading separate lives since 2016 — and that, even today, they continue to live separately.

Here is the interview with The Today Show!

Jada Pinkett Smith Tell All Memoir

Auburndale Police Investigating Shooting Near Lake Ariana Blvd.

Carl Fish
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Auburndale Police Investigating Shooting Near Lake Ariana Blvd.

On October 11, 2023 at approximately 08:42 hours, The Auburndale Police Department was dispatched to the area of Century Boulevard and Lake Ariana Boulevard in reference to a person shot.

Auburndale Police officers and detectives are currently on scene investigating the incident. No other details are available at this time.

An update will be provided later with more information

Six suspects arrested during undercover operation focusing on online solicitation of minors

Carl Fish
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Six suspects arrested during undercover operation focusing on online solicitation of minors

Beginning September 19, 2023, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeland Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and Orange County Sheriff’s Office detectives conducted a seven-day-long undercover operation, during which detectives posed as children or guardians of children on social media platforms, mobile apps, and online dating sites to investigate those who prey upon and travel to meet children for unlawful sexual activity. 

The suspects communicated with and solicited who they thought were children or guardians online. Six suspects showed up to an undercover location in Polk County at separate times to sexually batter children.Three of the six suspects wanted to pay an adult hundreds of dollars to have sex with who they thought was a child – those three were charged with human trafficking, a life felony. 

Three of the suspects brought condoms to the undercover location, three told detectives they are married, and three have children. They were all from the central Florida area. In all, detectives filed 22 felony charges against the suspects. 

SUSPECTS ARRESTED:

1. 40-year-old Jairo Muniz of Kissimmee, FL. Muniz engaged in an online conversation on a social networking site and via cell phone with an undercover detective who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. He asked several questions about her sexual experience and described the sex acts he wanted to do to her; he stopped and bought condoms on the way. He sent a nude photo of himself to the girl. He told detectives that he is married and has four daughters between the ages of 9 and 16 years old. He said he is a laborer at a scaffolding company, and that he told his boss he was going to be late to work the day he traveled to meet the child for sex.

Muniz was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:

·        One count traveling to meet a minor for sex (F2)

·        One count attempted lewd battery (F3)

·        One count transmission of material harmful to minor (F3)

·        One count use of two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3)

He was released from jail on September 24, 2023, after posting bond. 

2. 36-year-old Timothy Wellman of Ohio (recently moved to Polk). Wellman engaged in an online conversation on a social networking site and via cell phone with an undercover detective who was posing as a 14-year-old girl. He told her she was cute and described the sex acts he wanted to do to her. He told detectives that he is divorced and his two kids, ages 5 and 6, live with his ex-wife in Kentucky. He said he was talking to his children on the phone and telling them goodnight when he was driving to the undercover location. He said that he is an Army veteran using his G.I. Bill for college.

Wellman was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:

·        One count traveling to meet a minor for sex (F2)

·        One count attempted lewd battery (F3)

·        One count use of two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3)

3. 49-year-old Feras Klisli of Davenport, FL. Klisli engaged in an online conversation on a social networking site and via cell phone with an undercover detective who was posing as a 14-year-old girl. He asked her if she was a virgin and described the sex acts he wanted to do to her. He told detectives that he is married with two adult children and that he is an Uber driver.

Klisli was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:

·        One count traveling to meet a minor for sex (F2)

·        One count attempted lewd battery (F3)

·        One count use of two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3)

He was released from jail on September 24, 2023, after posting bond.

4. 46-year-old Douglas Da Silva of Windermere, FL. Da Silva engaged in an online conversation on a social networking site and via cell phone with an undercover detective who was posing as an adult who had access to a 15-year-old female child. He asked her if the girl was a virgin and told her he wanted to have sex with her twice within an hour. He agreed to pay her $250 to have unprotected sex with the child. He told detectives that he is an Uber Eats driver, is married, and that he and his wife own a house cleaning business. He said he has been in the U.S. for four years and is awaiting confirmation of his green card. 

Da Silva was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:

·        One count human trafficking (F1)

·        One count traveling to meet a minor for sex (F2)

·        One count use of computer to solicit guardian of child for sex (F3)

·        One count use of two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3)

5. 33-year-old Trevor Walker of Orlando, FL. Walker engaged in an online conversation on a social networking site and via cell phone with an undercover detective who was posing as an adult who had access to a 15-year-old female child. He said he wanted to “go hard” and agreed to pay her $400 to have unprotected sex with the child for three hours. He mentioned this being a “sting” with “Grady Judd” during their conversations. He told detectives that he works at Publix distribution in Orlando. 

Walker was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:

·        One count human trafficking (F1)

·        One count traveling to meet a minor for sex (F2)

·        One count use of computer to solicit guardian of child for sex (F3)

·        One count use of two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3)

6. 26-year-old Douglas Cooley of Apopka, FL. Cooley engaged in an online conversation on a social networking site and via cell phone with an undercover detective who was posing as an adult who had access to a 15-year-old female child. He agreed to pay her $100 to have protected sex with the child for half an hour, and an additional $50 for unprotected sex. He works at an after-school daycare in Apopka. 

Cooley was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:

·        One count human trafficking (F1)

·        One count traveling to meet a minor for sex (F2)

·        One count use of computer to solicit guardian of child for sex (F3)

· One count use of two-way communication device to commit a felony (F3)

“Keep Polk County Beautiful” Tire Recycling Collection Event Scheduled This Month

Carl Fish
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“Keep Polk County Beautiful” Tire Recycling Collection Event Scheduled This Month

By Carl Fish

Bartow, Florida – Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. will be hosting a FREE Tire Collection and Recycling event from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.(noon) at C Wilson Equipment Co., 2301 US Hwy 17 S. in Bartow, Saturday October 21st! Residents and agricultural land owners may dispose of up to 24 tires per vehicle. Standard vehicle sized tires only – No semi, tractor or off-road tires. Absolutely NO TIRE BUSINESSES, INDEPENDENT or COMMERCIAL TRUCKING COMPANIES or AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESSES of ANY kind will be permitted. Legal hauling limits will be strictly enforced.

Tire hauling services have been graciously donated by the City of Bartow Solid Waste & Scrap-It.

To find out if your address is within the cleanup area or for additional information, contact Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. at (863) 875-8911 or email [email protected] .

It is a violation of Florida Administrative Code Rules to transport more than 24 Waste Tires over public highways without a permit. Violation of this rule would constitute a 1st degree criminal misdemeanor and be punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 and/or by 6 months in jail for further information please regarding the handling of waste tires please visit the DEP website Welcome to Florida Department of Environmental Protection .

Ribbon Cutting for Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida

Staff Reporter
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Ribbon Cutting for Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida

by James Coulter

Two years ago, Ashley Page Lloyd was an applicant and recipient of the services provided by the Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) of Central Florida, a non-profit organization that covers non-medical expenses for breast cancer patients.

Since then, Ashley has been an avid BCF advocate, spreading the good news about it to everyone. She would even send more than 100 e-mails to random strangers informing them about the foundation.

Now, for the past 10 months, Ashley has been working as the official BCF Outreach Director for Central Florida. She and her team recently opened their location with a ribbon cutting at CoHatch in Lakeland–and on her birthday, of all days!

“I am so excited there’s this much support already in ten months of trying to grow. It gets me to think what we can do in a year or two years,” she said. “First, it was like work; but now, I am like friends with everyone in this room right now…It is really growing, and I hope it grows more.”

The Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida celebrated the grand opening of their location with a ribbon cutting ceremony, hosted by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce on Thursday evening.

Amy Wiggins, Lakeland Chamber President & CEO, commended the foundation for its outstanding growth over the past ten months, as well as their decision to open their location at CoHatch in Downtown Lakeland.

“This is overwhelming for all of us,” she said. “What an incredible turnout. This is a show of dedication and commitment you have not only to your cause but also to Lakeland…We are grateful as a chamber of commerce that you have chosen to build your foundation here. Look at what happened. This is amazing. This is your effort, and we are grateful of what you have done in our community.”

The Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida is located at 211 E. Main Street, Unit 415, Lakeland, Fl. For more information, call 863-812-1148, or visit their website at: bcfcf.org

This Oak Haven Nursing Center Resident Celebrated Her 100th Birthday. You’ll Never Guess What She Owes Her Long Life To

Staff Reporter
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This Oak Haven Nursing Center Resident Celebrated Her 100th Birthday. You’ll Never Guess What She Owes Her Long Life To

by James Coulter

Much has happened over the past 100 years. The Great Depression. World War II. The Cold War. The Civil Rights Movement. The Moon Landing. The advent of personal computers and the internet. September 11. The election of America’s first black president.

So many milestones have occurred within the past century. Berneda Witter has lived long enough to see them all. When asked what historical moment stands out most to her, she merely replied: all of them.

“Everything has happened in 100 years,” she said. “In 100 years, everything is important [because] everything happened.”

Berneda Witter recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Oak Haven Rehab and Nursing Center in Auburndale on Tuesday. She was born on Sep. 26, 1923 in Pennsylvania. Much has changed since then.

“Back then, we did not have tractors, we had horses,” she said. “My father used to stand out and watch the Northern lights. [Before that] My grandfather came over to America on a ship. He was alone. He was adopted by two women.”

Berneda had been married for 42 years. She met her husband while roller skating, which she loved to do when she was much younger. She did not have any children or grandchildren.

She worked at a shoe factory for 19 years. Her occupation paid well and offered her a free vacation every year. She considered it a “pretty important job.”

When asked about her thoughts about the moon landing, she replied that such an idea would have been considered quite fanciful when she was born; so that such a technological feat of human ingenuity happened in her lifetime was a true testament.

“We never heard of such a thing,” she said. “Going to the moon and all that stuff, if you had mentioned it, they would not have known what you were talking about.”

As with most people her age, she owes her long life to God. She does not owe it to anything special she did health-wise. Considering when and where she was born, she was amazed she managed to live as long as she has.

“I don’t know what else kept me alive,” she said. “I didn’t do anything special. I was a poor little farm girl. We didn’t have anything special. We didn’t have any of this modern stuff.”

As for how it feels to turn 100, Berneda honestly doesn’t feel any older: “How does it feel? I don’t know. I don’t feel that much different. I do not feel older.”

Remembering Deputy Blane Lane: One Year Ago Today 21-Year-Old Deputy Lane Was Fatally Wounded While Acting On A Tip To Arrest Woman On Felony Warrant

Allison
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Remembering Deputy Blane Lane: One Year Ago Today 21-Year-Old Deputy Lane Was Fatally Wounded While Acting On A Tip To Arrest Woman On Felony Warrant

Polk County Sheriff’s Office

At 2:07 a.m. on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies, acting on a tip, went to arrest Cheryl Lynn Williams on a felony warrant at 4345 Foxtown South in Polk City.

Three deputies entered a residence while Deputy Blane Lane remained outside in case Williams tried to exit.

When deputies found Williams inside, she pointed a gun (later determined to be a BB gun) at them. Two of the deputies quickly fired at Williams and wounded her, but one of the bullets missed her, struck a wall, continued outside of the house where it struck Deputy Lane in the left arm and entered his chest.

Deputy Lane was taken to the hospital but passed away a short time later.

Because Deputy Lane was fatally wounded as a result of Williams’ actions, she was charged with second degree murder.

Blane Lane was only 21-years old.

PCSO

NeverForget #WeRemember

ThinBlueLine #AHeroRememberedNeverDies

Remembering Deputy Blane Lane
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