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14-Year-Old Frostproof Middle-Senior High Student Named NBHA 3D Youth World Champion

Staff Reporter
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14-Year-Old Frostproof Middle-Senior High Student Named NBHA 3D Youth World Champion

by James Coulter

Even despite one of her horses receiving a minor injury, Hayleigh Rodgers still managed to win the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Youth and Teen World Championships in July.

The 14-year-old Frostproof Middle-Senior High student was named the 3D Youth World Champion. Her awards included a championship belt buckle, two finalist buckles, a customized leather jacket, a new saddle, three checks, $2500 in cash, and an electric bike.

Rodgers traveled seven hours to Georgia with her family and two horses, Reba and Diesel, to compete in the NBHA Youth and Teen World Championships, in which she has been competing for the past five years.

Her two horses performed so well that they both qualified for the finals. Diesel qualified in the first round, and Reba qualified after placing first in round two for 4D. Diesel was unable to perform in the second round due to a minor injury, requiring him to rest and heal for a few days, Rodgers explained.

“In the finals, both Reba and Diesel had amazing runs. And my run [with] Diesel, even after his minor injury, won me the 3D Youth World Champion title,” Rodgers said. “I am so proud of my horses for their amazing performances. Every run we made was clean with no knocked-down barrels. I could not have asked for a better outcome from that week.”

Rodgers has been horseback riding since she was six years old. Her grandmother brought her along to watch a rodeo her friend was participating in. Rodgers had an opportunity to ride her friend’s horse. Ever since then, she had fallen in love with horseback riding and has been perfecting her skills over the past eight years.

The hardest part about riding is the pressure to perform well. That pressure makes her feel anxious before a show; yet with her father standing by her side to console her, she is able to calm herself and help her to gain focus.

She practices every week to fine-tune her riding skills. She has remained busy with bake sales to raise proceeds for her trips, and her competitions have allowed her to travel across Florida and Georgia.

“I feel like competing with riders my age or even older than my age allows us to coach each other through our runs and help each other to do better and lift each other [and] support each other,” she said. “For the most part, I am pretty confident, but I do have my doubts because not all rounds are going to be perfect.”

Rodgers was recently interviewed for the Chattin on the Ridge podcast. Listen to her full interview on the latest episode on Spotify: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/fIJoGvNo8Bb

Motorcyclist Killed On Lake Marion Creek Rd. According To Polk Sheriff’s Office

Carl Fish
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Motorcyclist Killed On Lake Marion Creek Rd. According To Polk Sheriff’s Office

A 40-year old Davenport man was killed Wednesday evening, August 9, 2023, after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into an oncoming vehicle.

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the crash at about 7:35 pm, on Lake Marion Creek Road, north of Canal Road, between Haines City and Poinciana.

The victim was transported to a local hospital by Polk County Fire Rescue, but he passed away at 9:14 pm.

The other driver, identified as 34-year old Sasha Ortega of Poinciana, suffered no injuries.

PCSO detectives from Traffic Homicide Investigations responded and began taking witness statements and examining evidence at the scene.

The preliminary investigation determined that Ms. Ortega was traveling north on Lake Marion Creek Road in a white 2021 Nissan Altima, while the victim was driving a white 2022 Harley Davidson motorcycle southbound.

Witnesses said the victim was driving at a high rate of speed as he approached the sharp curves of the road. The motorcycle slid into the northbound lane; the victim came off of the bike and went under the Nissan. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

A portion of Lake Marion Creek Road was closed for about three hours.

Welcome, World Travelers! The Haunted Mansion? More Like MEH-nsion!

Staff Reporter
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Welcome, World Travelers! The Haunted Mansion? More Like MEH-nsion!

Welcome, World Travelers! The Haunted Mansion? More Like MEH-nsion!

by James Coulter

If there’s one Disney Park attraction with the potential for a good movie, it’s the Haunted Mansion. Even award-winning director Guillermo del Toro himself planned to write and direct a Haunted Mansion film, but sadly those plans never fell through. And, sadly, the only theatrical adaptation of the ride was the critically-panned 2003 live-action movie starring Eddie Murphy.

The good news is that, 20 years after that critical flop, a new live-action Haunted Mansion movie has been released. The bad news is that the film was made by the director of Dear White People and the screenwriter for Ghostbusters 2016. Yeah, it’s as appealing as it sounds! So, will this new Haunted Mansion film please 999 happy haunts with room for a thousand? Or will the chilling challenge be to find a way out of the theater?

The movie follows LaKeith Stanfield, who plays a jaded tour guide for New Orleans. He’s hired by a mother and her son to use his spectral photography to inspect a mansion that’s purportedly haunted. Turns out the haunted mansion really is haunted, and it’s up to him to round up a group of paranormal experts to unravel its haunted mystery. Will they succeed? Or will they die trying?

I’ll cut to the chase here: this movie is not good. I’ve mentioned this fact in previous reviews: the worst thing a movie can be is boring. At least bad movies have something worth talking about, while boring movies like this don’t. I kid you not when I say I am only scraping the bottom for something worth discussing about this movie because I’m being paid to do so. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even bother writing anything.

Say what you want about the 2003 film. That movie was terrible, but at least it was memorably terrible. For as poorly-cast as he was, at least Eddie Murphy had some on-screen charisma and the occasionally funny quip. At least the scenery looked appealingly creepy and somewhat fitting for a Haunted Mansion movie. At least it had some genuinely funny and creepy moments. None of that saves the film as a good movie, but at least it was so bad it’s good.

This movie, on the other hand, isn’t even that bad enough. It was just bland and unmemorable—and considering it’s based on one of the most memorable Disney attractions, that makes it a crime.

The movie has a star-studded cast of otherwise great actors like Danny DeVito, Tiffany Haddish, and Owen Wilson; but while some of their characters had good-enough performances, good enough simply wasn’t enough to justify them.

And the jokes? What jokes? The only joke I can remember that nearly got a chuckle out of me was at the very beginning. It’s when the mother is trying to console her son that the haunted looking mansion isn’t as bad as he thinks it is. Then a possessed suit of armor appears behind her with axe raised. “Nah!” she says. “We leaving.”

That’s it. That’s the only joke that works. Everything else are just the characters throwing out random dialogue at the wall to see what potential joke sticks with nothing landing. If you didn’t

tell me this movie was written by the same person who wrote Ghostbusters 2016–a movie with a running gag about wonton soup and dumplings!—I could have easily guessed.

As is fitting for a Haunted Mansion movie, there are plenty of references to the attraction; however, outside of the Hatbox Ghost, whose performance by Jared Leto (creep though he is) was the only other decent thing about this film, none of the references feel genuine and only feel tacked on to meet a checklist quote for a movie based on the attraction. The only “good” thing the movie does with the Haunted Mansion is flesh out some of the lore; unfortunately, that lore is supporting an otherwise underwhelming movie.

There are a few “creepy” movies that might frighten the little kiddies here and there, and the third act certainly goes insano bonkers enough at the very end to almost become worth the tedious trudge through the first two acts, but otherwise the movie is about as “scary” as it is “funny”—which is not as much.

Overall, it really says something when the best filmed adaptation of the Haunted Mansion stars the Muppets. I wouldn’t even recommend watching this movie on Disney Plus. Just watch the Muppet Haunted Mansion Halloween special. It’s more faithful to the ride and proves to be funnier and more heart-felled than whatever this film was trying to be.

Jacksonville Man Wanted For Possession Of Child Pornography Commits Suicide During SWAT Standoff

Carl Fish
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Jacksonville Man Wanted For Possession Of Child Pornography Commits Suicide During SWAT Standoff

A Jacksonville man killed himself Tuesday afternoon, August 8, 2023, concluding an armed standoff with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team that lasted more than four-and-a-half hours. 

PCSO Crisis Negotiators tried to convince 45-year old Marquis Lynn Baker to peacefully surrender while he sat in his gray 2012 Chevrolet Impala parked in a wooded area near the Christina Animal Hospital at 6800 Church Avenue North near Mulberry. 

“Our SWAT members and Crisis Negotiators have responded to armed barricaded subjects on two consecutive days. While the goal is to end these kinds of calls peacefully, the most important thing is that no deputies or innocent bystanders have been injured in either of these events—and for that, I am extremely grateful.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.

PCSO deputies first became aware that Baker, who was wanted out of Duval County for Failure to Appear for 11-counts of Possession of Child Pornography, was in Bartow at around 10:27 am. Baker was also listed as a Missing Person based on statements he made to his defense attorney.

After locating Baker’s vehicle, deputies followed him for about five minutes until Baker turned off at the veterinarian’s office, stopped his car, and put a .40 caliber handgun to his own head.

Deputies continually communicated with Baker during the standoff trying to get him to surrender, and even provided him with a cell phone to make it easier to keep the dialogue going. 

At about 3:20 pm, Baker fired a single bullet into the left side of his head. SWAT Medics immediately began life saving measures on Baker. He was transported to a local hospital but was pronounced deceased at 3:50 pm.

JacksonNo deputies discharged their firearms.

Local Politicians Bring Home the Bacon at 41st Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally

Staff Reporter
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Local Politicians Bring Home the Bacon at 41st Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally

by James Coulter

Politicians are infamous for their pork barrel spending. But last Friday, they managed to bring home the bacon by breaking bread with their constituents during the 41st Annual Pig Roast & Political Rally in Haines City.

For the past four decades, the Pig Roast & Political Rally has remained an annual tradition where Haines City residents can mingle with local politicians and political candidates over a traditional barbecue meal.

Despite this year not being an election year, more than 250 tickets were sold, with nearly 200 attendees being able to meet and converse with half a dozen political candidates.

The Catering Co. of Central Florida served a fabulous dinner, while country band Red Hot Rooster provided live musical entertainment. Attendees were also able to win door prizes and strike a pose in a photo booth by DJ Mini C Productions.

Aside from offering an opportunity for residents to meet and know more about their local politicians, the Pig Roast & Political Rally also serves as a fundraiser for the Northeast Polk County Chamber of Commerce.

“With it being an off year, I am super excited for the attendance,” said Lana Stripling, Executive Director of the Chamber. “It is a great time for our citizens and business members to come out and talk with the candidates about their concerns and what they would like to see when they are [voted] into office…[W]e hope to raise some funds to continue to do the great work we are doing and everyone have a good time.”

Kathryn Gates-Skipper, a local Marine veteran and political figure, always loves being able to attend the annual event. She loves meeting other politicians of every stripe and enjoying a good meal in the process.

“It is always a wonderful gathering here,” she said. “[I like] to meet our candidates that run each election and for everyone to get together and break bread [and] just have a good time.”

City Commission Roy Tyler always strives to support his local chamber and to attend local events, especially a fundraiser like this that helps to promote political causes. He appreciated being able to mingle with his constituents and learn about their political concerns.

“I myself like to be familiar with my fellow servants and the people who I, too, will be making the choice of who is the best representative of doing things for our residents,” he said. “I have learned something here as well as everyone else.”

PCBA Foundation Bowl-A-Thon Builds Up Proceeds for Young Builders for 3rd Year

Staff Reporter
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PCBA Foundation Bowl-A-Thon Builds Up Proceeds for Young Builders for 3rd Year

PCBA Foundation Bowl-A-Thon Builds Up Proceeds for Young Builders for 3rd Year

by James Coulter

Jimmy Giles is the head teacher of the construction academy at Bartow High School. For 19 years, the academy has trained countless students to become future construction workers, architects, and engineers.

None of what they do would be possible without the generous support of the Polk County Builders Association (PCBA), a local non-profit association of builders and other construction workers and officials dedicated to furthering the cause of their industry, which includes supporting and financing construction academies.

Through their generous support, the academy was able to send its students to an annual construction leadership summit in Haines City and provide many graduating seniors with scholarships. Nothing they do would have been possible without the PCBA, which is why four students participated in its annual fundraiser.

Jimmy Giles and four of his academy students participated in the Annual Bowl-A-Thon, hosted at Orange Lanes in Lakeland on Friday afternoon. They were one of 19 teams that competed in this year’s annual bowling fundraiser. Aside from being able to support an organization that supports them, they loved the event for providing them with an opportunity to connect and interact with fellow builders.

“It has been unbelievable how much help they helped us. We support them because they support us,” Giles said. “It is just, they have been a great supporter to us, we just want to give back. The kids realize how valuable these contractors are, all these contractors, all the architects, and that is what they want to do for the rest of their lives. They want to be around these kinds of people.”

Their team was one of 19 that participated in the Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser. Teams could bowl for a chance to win the highest score. Furthermore, they could participate in raffles and silent auctions for dozens of prized donated by local businesses and organizations.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards the PCBA general fund, which will help finance local construction academies and confer scholarships to students seeking an education in architecture and construction. Thanks to additional funds this year, they were able to give each academy $1,000 for supplies and other needs.

The PCBA is a member of the National Association of Homebuilders, whose mission, according to their website, help various groups “analyze policy issues, work toward improving the housing finance system, and analyze and forecast economic and consumer trends.”

“Dennis Sparks, PCBA General Manager, has been overseeing their fundraiser, which they host twice a year, and which has been hosted for two years (though they were unable to host it last

year due to the pandemic). The event has remained successful, not only because it offers a fun time, but also because it attracts fellow construction and architecture workers who believe in the organization’s central mission.

“Really, it is everyone being involved with the Builders Association and believing in the mission of the foundation that they are willing to come out and spend their money and support us,” he said. “We enjoy and appreciate the camaraderie with all these builders and vendors that come in and be able to hang out and enjoy each other’s company and knowing that what we are doing is supporting a good cause…We would like to be able to get big donations from the community and those willing to help the students further their careers in the trade.”

Registration Opens August 14 For Polk County Parks and Recreation’s Letters From The North Pole Event

Allison
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Registration Opens August 14 For Polk County Parks and Recreation’s Letters From The North Pole Event

Polk County Parks & Rec

UPDATE- REGISTRATION CLOSED

————
Mark your calendars! Polk County Parks and Recreation is getting ready to send out letters straight from the North Pole to children in Polk County!

Monday, August 14 at 8a.m., we will open registrations for children to receive special letters from our pen pals in the North Pole. For families with children up to age 12. Families may register up to five children.

Registration is free, but will be limited to 1,000 registrations. Stay tuned to our Facebook page on the morning of August 14 for the registration link!

Link: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=tpwxfkcab&oeidk=a07ejwy7wb047c4bb7c

For more information, please call (863) 534-6911

Polk County Fire Rescue Responded To A Two-Alarm Commercial Structure Fire On Holden Road

Carl Fish
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Polk County Fire Rescue Responded To A Two-Alarm Commercial Structure Fire On Holden Road

Polk County Fire Rescue responded to a two-alarm commercial structure fire on Holden Road in Lakeland at 2:16 p.m. on Aug. 2.

 

Upon PCFR’s arrival, smoke was observed billowing from a commercial building. The fire was contained to the single structure at that time. Due to the severity of conditions observed on scene, the fire was quickly categorized as a two-alarm fire to ensure that additional resources were en route to assist with firefighting efforts.

 

PCFR crews worked to gain control of the fire and to prevent it from spreading. It was later determined that the commercial building was being used as a provisional storage unit.

 

The cause of the fire is undetermined, and the incident is being investigated by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.

 

Twenty-two PCFR units responded to the scene. One PCFR employee was transported from the scene as a precautionary measure.

A Mother And Her 9 Yr Old Son Killed In Lakeland Crash

Carl Fish
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A Mother And Her 9 Yr Old Son Killed In Lakeland Crash

A single-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon, August 2, 2023 in Lakeland resulted in the deaths of a mother and her 9-year-old son. 

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched at about 4:30 pm, along with Polk County Fire Rescue to Tom Costine Road west of Beverly Hills Road. Upon arrival, emergency responders located 43-year-old Tera Kita and 9-year-old Brandon Arcadipane, both from Lakeland, deceased at the scene. 

According to the investigation so far Ms. Kita was driving a gold 2000 Chevrolet S10 Blazer northbound. As she began to take the right-hand curve, the rear wheels of the Blazer lost traction and the SUV began to slide. The SUV then exited the road on the south shoulder where it rolled upside down into a water-filled ditch.

“This is devastating – a family has lost a mother and a son, and our hearts break for them.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Heavy rain was reported in the area at the time of the crash. The road was closed for approximately 4 hours during the investigation, which remains on-going. 

 

Three Teenagers Killed In Lakeland Crash Overnight

Carl Fish
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Three Teenagers Killed In Lakeland Crash Overnight

On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at approximately 10:28 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 5100 block of US 98 North for a traffic crash involving three vehicles. At the scene, officers located three unresponsive occupants inside one vehicle, a 2012 Nissan Versa. The Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on the scene to begin life-saving measures. The driver of the Nissan was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Lakeland Regional Health where despite the best efforts of medical professionals, she was declared deceased a short time later by hospital staff. The front seat passenger and the rear passenger of the Nissan were declared deceased at the scene by on-scene emergency medical personnel. 

The driver of the second vehicle, a 2006 Lincoln Mark LT truck, had minor injuries. The driver of the third vehicle, a 2010 Toyota Corolla, also sustained minor injuries. Neither driver was transported to a medical facility for treatment.

Based on information gathered thus far in the investigation, officers believe the Nissan Versa was traveling northbound on US 98 North in the inside lane at a high rate of speed. At the same time, the Lincoln pick-up truck was traveling southbound on US 98 North, entered the left turn lane, and was attempting to turn left into the plaza located on the east side of the roadway. As the Lincoln began to make its turn, it was impacted by the Nissan. Post-impact, both vehicles rotated and began to slide in an eastbound direction. The Nissan came to final rest in the entrance/exit to the plaza. The Lincoln impacted the Toyota Corolla, which was attempting to exit the plaza and turn right onto US 98 North. Both the Lincoln and the Toyota came to final rest in the roadway. 

Members of the Traffic Homicide team responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The crash remains an open investigation. Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact Traffic Crash Investigator Officer Tyler Anderson at [email protected]. 

Nissan Driver:

Female

Age:16

Address: Lakeland, FL

Nissan Rear Passenger:

Male

Age: 16

Address: Lakeland, FL

Nissan Front Passenger:

Male

Age: 19

Address: Lakeland, FL

Lincoln Driver:

James Wilson

Age: 42

Address: Lakeland, FL

Toyota Driver:

Jose Colonrivera

Age: 35

Address: Lakeland, FL

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