Good afternoon: For your information, the following hurricane-related courthouse closure update is being released on behalf of Tenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge James A. Yancey:
The Highlands County Courthouse will remain open on Wednesday, 08/30/23.
Polk and Hardee Counties ONLY: All courthouses will be CLOSED on Wednesday, 08/30/23, will reopen for business on Thursday, 08/31/23, at 8:00 a.m.
Polk and Hardee Counties ONLY: First Appearance dockets scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 08/30/23, are rescheduled to take place together before Circuit Judge Keith Spoto, at 2:00 p.m.
Polk and Hardee Counties ONLY: Juvenile Detention hearing and Juvenile Shelter hearings currently scheduled to take place Wednesday, 08/30/23, are rescheduled to take place on Thursday, 08/31/23, at their regularly scheduled time.
Polk County Only: Mandatory Docketing hearings scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 8/30/23, are rescheduled take place on Thursday, 08/31/23 at 8:30 am, in the following Felony Divisions:
Members of Polk County Board of County Commissioners leadership team, led by Emergency Management Director Paul Womble, are working around the clock to make sure Polk County is ready for Hurricane Idalia’s arrival. The team is at the Emergency Operations Center, gathering and sharing information to keep the county’s residents safe. Right now, residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPolk (www.alertpolk.com) and to bring in any outdoor items that could act as projectiles in the wind. Additionally, sandbag sites are open until 3 p.m. today.
‼️AIR RESCUE CAPTAIN KILLED WHEN BSO FIRE RESCUE HELICOPTER CRASHES‼️
With a heavy heart, we announce the untimely loss of a longtime employee, Captain Terryson Jackson, who passed away this morning, August 28, 2023, after a BSO Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services helicopter crashed in Pompano Beach.
Captain Jackson proudly served the people of Broward County for 19 years. He began his fire rescue career in March 2004 in Deerfield Beach and joined the BSO family in October 2011 when the two agencies merged.
As a flight paramedic, he impacted the community daily, providing critical patients with the highest pre-hospital care. He consistently showed an unmatched passion for the job. He always provided expert care, compassion and reassurance to those during their most significant time of need.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jackson family during this difficult time. His BSO family will forever carry on his legacy.
CRIME: BATTERY CRIME SCENE: MARATHON STORE – 8919 N SR 33, POLK CITY POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CASE #23-33915
The PCSO is investigating a battery that occurred on August 18th at around 4:00 PM at the Marathon Store in Polk City.
According to witnesses and store video, two men arrived at the Marathon Store in a green Ford Ranger. One of the men entered the store and began using profane language toward the store clerk. The store clerk requested the man leave the store property, but the man continued arguing with the clerk.
That’s when the second man got out of the truck and shoved the store clerk to the ground.
If you have recognize these suspects or have any information that could be helpful to this investigation, please contact Detective Scheidegg at 863-944-9555 or at [email protected].
If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:
CALL 1-800-226 TIPS (8477)
DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone
VISIT www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
DOWNLOAD the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
Polk County shelters will open on Tuesday, August 29.
General population and a pet-friendly shelter will open at 4 p.m.: Tenoroc High School – 4905 Saddle Creek Rd., Lakeland – Pet-friendly Mulberry Middle School – 500 Martin Luther King Ave., Mulberry Horizons Elementary – 1700 Forest Lake Drive, Davenport Chain of Lakes Elementary – 7001 CR 653, Winter Haven Spessard L. Holland Elementary – 2342 EF Griffin Road, Bartow George Jenkins High School – 6000 Lakeland Highlands Road, Lakeland
A special needs shelter will open at 10 a.m. at the Department of Health-Polk County Specialty Care Unit, 1255 Brice Blvd., Bartow. Residents who are pre-registered for special needs sheltering that need transportation must call to make arrangements at (863) 298-7027 before 10:00 p.m. tonight or between 7:00 – 10 a.m. Tuesday. Residents who are not pre-registered for special needs sheltering but may be eligible for this service must also call regarding availability.
Released by Polk County Public Schools approx 2:30 EST Aug 28:
“This is an important update regarding Tropical Storm Idalia and its impact on our public schools in Polk County.
Like you, our team is closely monitoring the various forecasts for this storm. The current track shows that our area is expected to begin experiencing significant weather tomorrow night (Tuesday, Aug. 29).
Again, we do not expect to have serious weather impacting our area until late evening – after our normal school hours have ended and buses have finished their routes. Based on this track, all public schools and district offices in Polk County will remain open tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 29).
However, the district is cancelling all after-school programs and sport activities (including games and practices) on Tuesday.
Current forecasts also predict significant wind and rain are expected to continue impacting our area into Wednesday, Aug. 30.
County emergency officials are directing that some of our schools will need to serve as shelters. These shelters provide support for our own residents and those who may travel inward from coastal communities.
As a result, Superintendent Fred Heid is ordering that PCPS schools and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, Aug. 30, and Thursday, Aug. 31, in response to Tropical Storm Idalia.
This decision is being made because we anticipate significant weather on Wednesday. We will also need to be closed Thursday so maintenance staff can assess and repair any possible damage to schools and district offices, and we can return any schools being used as shelters to their normal operations.
Please be advised that our decision to close is not binding upon charter and private schools. Those schools should be contacted directly for more information.
We know the decision whether to close our schools has a huge impact on the plans and lives of our students and employees, as well as their families. We appreciate their understanding and patience.
At this time, we anticipate reopening on Friday, Sept.1. However, we will continue to monitor the weather and consult with county emergency personnel as we plan for the days ahead.
Any official announcements or updates will be communicated through automated phone calls and emails, as well as our website and social media accounts.
Please stay safe and make sure your family is adequately prepared.”
Polk County is making sandbags available throughout the county at Roadway Maintenance Units on Tuesday, August 29. Locations below will be open from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sandbag site locations are: Mulberry – 900 NE 5th St., Mulberry, (863) 519-4734 Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland (863) 815-6701 Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade (863) 285-6588 Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof (863) 635-7879 Auburndale – 1701 Holt Road, Auburndale (863) 965-5524 Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee, (863) 421-3367 Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegany Road, Kissimmee 34759
A maximum of 10 sandbags will be provided to each household to help prevent water intrusion into the home.
For the full press release: www.polk-county.net/news
IDALIA STILL STRENGTHENING… …FORECAST TO BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 INTENSITY AT LANDFALL…
At 1100 PM EDT (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Idalia was located near latitude 27.7 North, longitude 84.5 West. Idalia is moving toward the north near 18 mph (30 km/h). A northward to north-northeastward motion is expected through tonight, with Idalia’s center forecast to reach the Big Bend coast of Florida on Wednesday morning. After landfall, the center of Idalia is forecast to turn toward the northeast and east-northeast, moving near or along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina late Wednesday and Thursday. Hurricane Hunter aircraft data indicate that maximum sustained winds are near 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane during the next few hours before it reaches the Big Bend coast of Florida. Idalia is likely to still be a hurricane while moving across southern Georgia, and possibly when it reaches the coast of Georgia or southern South Carolina on Wednesday.
———— UPDATE
5:00 EST Update from National Weather Center
IDALIA NOW A CATEGORY 2 HURRICANE… …LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…
UPDATE
2:00 pm EST Update from National Hurricane Center
IDALIA’S SQUALLS OVERSPREADING PORTIONS OF THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS AND THE SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF FLORIDA… …LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…90 MPH…150 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 360 DEGREES AT 15 MPH…24 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…974 MB…28.76 INCHES
————
UPDATE
11:00 am EST Update from National Hurricane Center
IDALIA STRENGTHENING… …LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND HURRICANE CONDITIONS EXPECTED ALONG PORTIONS OF THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…85 MPH…140 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 5 DEGREES AT 14 MPH…22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…976 MB…28.82 INCHES
————— UPDATE
5:00 am EST Update from National Hurricane Center
IDALIA NOW A HURRICANE… …EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY INTO AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS MAJOR HURRICANE BEFORE LANDFALL ON WEDNESDAY…
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…75 MPH…120 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 360 DEGREES AT 14 MPH…22 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…981 MB…28.97 INCHES
————— UPDATE
8:00 pm EST Update from National Hurricane Center
2023 …IDALIA ALMOST A HURRICANE NEAR THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA… …LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND DANGEROUS WINDS BECOMING INCREASINGLY LIKELY FOR PORTIONS OF FLORIDA…
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…70 MPH…110 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 360 DEGREES AT 8 MPH…13 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…983 MB…29.03 INCHES
————
UPDATE
5:00 pm EST Update from National Hurricane Center …IDALIA NEARING HURRICANE STRENGTH AS IT APPROACHES WESTERN CUBA… …LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND DANGEROUS WINDS BECOMING INCREASINGLY LIKELY FOR PORTIONS OF FLORIDA…
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…70 MPH…110 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 360 DEGREES AT 8 MPH…13 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…987 MB…29.15 INCHES
The Storm Surge Warning has been extended westward to Indian Pass Florida. The Hurricane Warning has also been extended westward to Indian Pass. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from west of Indian Pass westward to Mexico Beach. The Storm Surge Watch along the southeast coast of the United States has been extended northward to South Santee River. The Tropical Storm Watch along the southeast coast of the United States has been extended northward to South Santee River.
————
2:00 EST Update from National Hurricane Center
…IDALIA STRENGTHENING AS IT NEARS THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA… …LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE AND DANGEROUS WINDS BECOMING INCREASINGLY LIKELY FOR PORTIONS OF FLORIDA…
SUSTAINED WINDS…70 MPH…110 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 360 DEGREES AT 8 MPH…13 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…987 MB…29.15 INCHES
————- UPDATE
Polk County Emergency Management
Idalia is forecast to become a hurricane later today and a dangerous major hurricane over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico by early Wednesday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles. Emergency Management is staffing the EOC from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. to monitor this storm.
————— At 5:00 a.m. Monday, Idalia is forecast to increase in forward speed and turn north-northeastward over the eastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday and reach the Gulf coast of Florida on Wednesday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Idalia is forecast to become a hurricane later today and a dangerous major hurricane over northeastern Gulf of Mexico by early Wednesday.
The cone contains the probable path of the storm. Hazardous conditions can occur outside the cone. Polk County Emergency Management is monitoring this tropical storm.
Bartow, Fla. (August 27, 2023) — Polk County is making sandbags available throughout the county at Roadway Maintenance Units Monday, August 28only. Emergency Management will continue to monitor Tropical Storm Idalia’s path to determine if sites will need to be open Tuesday. Locations below will be open from 8 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sandbag site locations are:
Mulberry – 900 NE 5th St., Mulberry, (863) 519-4734
Lakeland – 8970 N. Campbell Road, Lakeland(863) 815-6701
Fort Meade – 1061 NE 9th St., Fort Meade (863) 285-6588
Frostproof – 350 County Road 630A, Frostproof (863) 635-7879
Dundee – 805 Dr. Martin Luther King St. SW, Dundee, (863) 421-3367
Poinciana Park – 5109 Allegany Road, Kissimmee 34759
A maximum of 10 sandbags will be provided to each household to help prevent water intrusion into the home.
Residents living in flood prone areas are encouraged to sandbag their homes. To protect against water damage, follow these simple sandbagging techniques. At the area where water can enter a structure:
If not working on concrete, dig a small ditch just deep enough to go below ground level. The ditch should be back far enough from the entrance to allow room to place optional submersible (sump) pumps into the protected area. The edge of the visqueen should be placed in the ditch as a bottom layer.
Place the first row of sandbags in ditch, fold visqueen over the top of first row, place a second row of bags on top, fold visqueen back over, place a third row of bags on top, and so on. This creates an “S” pattern with the visqueen.
Depending on the size of the barrier, submersible (sump) pumps can be used. The barrier will not completely stop water from entering the protected area; however, with the by properly placing bags, visqueen and sump pumps, water, in most cases, can be removed quickly.
A single-vehicle crash that happened early Sunday morning, August 27, 2023, south of Lakeland resulted in the death of the 18-year old driver and serious injuries to an 18-year old passenger.
At about 1:29 am, a deputy from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was flagged down by a resident who lives near the crash site at County Road 540A and Quails Ridge Drive. It was about two minutes prior that the resident heard the crash and went outside to investigate and then signaled the approaching deputy who was en route to an unrelated call for service.
Polk County Fire Rescue, PCSO Traffic Homicide Investigations, and Crime Scene Investigations also responded to the scene.
Both occupants of a black 2008 Nissan 350Z had been ejected from the car. The driver had been wearing a seat belt, but the passenger was not.
The driver was identified as Luis Yadiel Nieves Boria of Lakeland. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The passenger, identified as Thomas Terry of Lakeland, suffered a broken leg, lacerations, and head trauma; he was flown to Tampa hospital in critical condition.
Based on evidence at the scene, detectives determined that the Nissan had been traveling east on CR540A at a very high speed. After crossing through the intersection of Scott Lake Road, Mr. Nieves Boria lost control of the car. The Nissan began to rotate, left the south side of the road, and struck a large steel utility pole.
Part of the Nissan wrapped around the pole, and other parts of the car were propelled approximately 150-feet away from the pole.
The eastbound lanes of CR540A were closed for about five hours after the crash, and the investigation remains ongoing.
