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Central Florida Food Fest Grows Twice as Big for 2nd Year

Staff Reporter
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Central Florida Food Fest Grows Twice as Big for 2nd Year

by James Coulter

Nothing tastes better than fresh food, and food tastes even fresher when it’s grown within a mile of where you live. Central Florida Abundance wants people to know that, which is why they started their company.

Central Florida Abundance is a regenerative landscaping and gardening company that specializes in helping property owners produce their own food at their own homes. They assist homeowners with everything from ornamental landscaping with the natives and edibles to full-on food forests and annual gardens.

Sam Igo has assisted many people with starting their own food forests. He even served as a consultant with Scars Farm in Bartow to help them start their own food forest. That close relationship inspired him to attend this year’s Food Fest.

“It is fun to come out to the farm, and we are glad to be out here today,” he said. “So it is great to see stuff like this with people selling plants, people selling goods that can come from plants. It is inspiring and I have talked to a lot of people out here who are happy to be out here.”

The 2nd Annual Central Florida Food Forest Festival was hosted at Scars Farm in Bartow last Saturday. Several hundred people attended to peruse booths from local nurseries, vendors, and other businesses the specialize in growing local sustainable produce.

Aside from the many vendors and food trucks participating that day, attendees could also listen to live music, take horse rides and hay rides, and take photos with the Cinderella coach.

This year’s event proved bigger and better than the inaugural event last year, explained owner and manager Michael Kiremisti. This year’s turnout was phenomenal, and he has high expectations for future events.

The Food Fest allowed Scars Farm to showcase its new 5,000-square-foot, climate-controlled barn. The new facility will allow them to host more events in the future. They have already hosted several company picnics for local businesses recently. Plans are currently underway to construct a village of 20 to 30 cottages to allow people to stay on the property.

Kiremisti owes his success to social media. Through Facebook and Instagram, he has allowed word about his venue spread across the internet. Scars Farms plans on hosting several more events for Halloween and Christmas, along with 30 private weddings, over the next year.

“This year had an amazing turnout,” he said. “We had a great turnout last year. This year, it is more of the same. People came out from last year. We cannot believe the growth. The infrastructure has grown, and the vendors have grown as well.”

An Illegal Immigrant, Who Has Previously Been Deported, Was Recently Arrested For DUI Manslaughter Has Now Died In Polk County Custody

Carl Fish
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An Illegal Immigrant, Who Has Previously Been Deported, Was Recently Arrested For DUI Manslaughter Has Now Died In Polk County Custody

Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives are investigating the death of a Polk County Jail Inmate that occurred on Monday, April 24, 2023, at Advent Health Sebring Hospital.

The inmate who died is 43-year-old Doroteo Martinez-Castro of Haines City. On Saturday, April 22, 2023, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Martinez-Castro for DUI Manslaughter (F2) and Driving While License Suspended/Revoked and Causing Death (F3). He also received a citation for driving on the wrong side of the road.

PCSO deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched at about 10:55 p.m.to the crash at the intersection of US 17/92 and Lee Jackson Highway North, just north of the city of Haines City. 

The victim, a 23-year old Hispanic male from Davenport, and Martinez-Castro were both transported to a local hospital. The victim passed away from his injuries shortly after he arrived.

Martinez-Castro was driving a black 2009 Honda Accord, traveling north on Lee Jackson Hwy when he entered into the southbound lane of US 17/92 at the V-intersection. The Honda collided head-on with the victim’s silver 2009 Toyota Prius which was traveling south on US 17/92.

Multiple cans of Modelo beer were found in Martinez-Castro’s vehicle. He also admitted to a detective that he drank multiple beers and Crown Royal whisky a short time before the crash. He was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for an ankle injury, and his blood was drawn. His blood samples were sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for additional testing. Upon his release from the hospital during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 23rd, he was booked in to the Polk County Jail and then transferred to the medical dorm for his ankle injury.

Martinez-Castro, who is in the United States illegally from Mexico, only had a learner’s permit to drive, but it was suspended in 2019. He was arrested by the Haines City Police Department in 2019 on traffic-related charges, and deported back to Mexico twice since that arrest. His criminal history includes four prior traffic-related misdemeanor arrests. The PCSO notified the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration & Customs Enforcement of this most recent arrest upon his being booked into the Polk County Jail. 

According to the investigation so far, Martinez-Castro was being monitored by deputies and medical staff throughout Monday morning, April 24th. Deputies checked on him every 14-15 minutes. When his food tray was delivered at 10:40 a.m., a deputy noticed he was sitting in his wheelchair unresponsive. Deputies and medical staff immediately began CPR until he was transported to Sebring. He was declared deceased at the hospital at 11:31 a.m.

An initial autopsy conducted on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, showed that Martinez-Castro died as a result of crash-related internal injuries. Final autopsy results are pending toxicology reports.

The investigation is ongoing. It is standard PCSO policy for four separate, independent investigations. The PCSO completes a death investigation and administrative (internal) investigation. The Polk County Medical Examiner conducted the autopsy to determine the manner and cause of death. All the investigative findings are forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office for their investigation and review.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspect Becoming Ill During Transport On Polk Parkway

Carl Fish
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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Suspect Becoming Ill During Transport On Polk Parkway

Updated Information: A man arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in the early morning hours of Monday, April 24, 2023 suffered a medical episode while being transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Processing Center and died later at Bartow Regional Medical Center.

58-year old Maximino Lopez-Gonzalez of Lakeland was exhibiting signs of possible excited delirium and was transferred to an ambulance on the Polk Parkway at US 98 to be taken to a local hospital. 

Deputies first came into contact with Lopez-Gonzalez when they responded to his residence in a neighborhood off of Old Tampa Hwy and CR 542 in Lakeland at around 2:09 am, in reference to a family disturbance.

The investigation determined that Lopez-Gonzalez had doused a bedridden female relative with a chemical cleaning agent and threatened to kill her.  Lopez-Gonzalez was arrested for battery-domestic violence on a victim 65-years old or older, and for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

After handcuffing him, Lopez-Gonzalez resisted deputies’ attempts to put him in the patrol car and kicked the deputies many times.

During transport to the Sheriff’s Processing Center, Lopez-Gonzalez managed to get a hand free from the handcuffs and began striking the windows with his fists and head, he was acting erratically. The deputy stopped the car, and requested assistance. 

Other deputies responded, noticed his erratic behavior, that he was sweating profusely and making statements about seeing people and objects that were not there, leading deputies to believe he was showing signs of possible excited delirium, and/or methamphetamine intoxication, and Polk County EMS was requested to the scene.

The deputies struggled to pull Lopez-Gonzalez out of the car and handcuff him again. 

Lopez-Gonzalez punched one deputy in the face and bit another deputy’s finger.

Deputies discovered a clear baggie on the back seat of the patrol car containing residue of a crystal-like substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.

EMS arrived, took custody of Lopez-Gonzalez, and while en route to the hospital, he became unresponsive, and medics began life-saving measures. 

At 10:58 pm, Maximino Lopez-Gonzalez was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

On Tuesday, April 25th, an autopsy was performed on Lopez-Gonzalez which concluded that none of his injuries were a result of law enforcement actions. It revealed liver disease and an enlarged heart. The autopsy results are pending toxicology reports. 

Per standard protocol, there are four investigations currently underway: an independent investigation by the 10th Judicial Circuit’s Officer Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force; an internal investigation by the PCSO Administrative Investigations Unit; the Polk County Medical Examiner conducts the autopsy to determine the manner and cause of death; and all investigative findings are forwarded to the 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office for their investigation and review

Updated Details 4/25: Sheriff Grady Judd will brief the media during 1:30pm press conference regarding a domestic violence investigation of a man that occurred in the early morning hours of Monday, April 24th. Deputies responded to a residence on Memphis Road in unincorporated Lakeland where they learned the man sprayed a 65-year-old bedridden woman with cleaning chemicals and threatened to kill her. The man was also in possession of methamphetamine and was behaving erratically. While transporting him to the inmate processing center, the man began displaying symptoms of excited delirium. The deputy stopped on the Polk Parkway near Highway 98 South, EMS was called, and while transporting him to Bartow Regional Medical Center, the inmate coded. The inmate later died at the hospital.

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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the large deputy presence on the Polk Parkway, earlier Monday morning, was due to a suspect becoming Gravely ill during transport. The suspect was taken into custody after a family disturbance call earlier. At 3:45am deputies called for medical assistance. He was transported by Polk County Fire Rescue to an area hospital.

It is unknown what charges the suspect is facing or his current medical condition. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the entire incident and will release more information as it becomes available.

A social media post earlier today showed mobile command units on scene along with a large number of deputies present. It’s not known if the mobile command units were used. Some social media comments felt Sheriff Judd would be holding a press conference, but we are told he isn’t in the Polk County area today.

The Daily Ridge will update as more information is released.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Investigating A Hit & Run Fatal Crash In Winter Haven

Carl Fish
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Polk County Sheriff’s Office Investigating A Hit & Run Fatal Crash In Winter Haven

Polk County Sheriff’s Office seeks driver and vehicle involved in fatal hit-and-run

 

A bicyclist was killed by a hit-and-run crash Saturday evening, April 22, 2023, at the intersection of Winter Lake Road (State Road 540) and Thornhill Road near Winter Haven, and Traffic Homicide investigators from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office are looking for the driver and vehicle involved.

Detectives haven’t confirmed the identification yet, but the victim is a black male, believed to be a young adult.

 

Deputies were dispatched to the crash at about 9:24 pm, along with Polk County Fire Rescue. Upon their arrival, the victim was unresponsive, and he was transported to a local hospital where he died.

 

The preliminary investigation based on evidence and witness statements, indicate that the victim was riding his bicycle south on Thornhill Road, and entered the intersection on a red light.

 

A witness who narrowly missed striking the bicyclist first, reported that another vehicle did make contact and quickly accelerated away. The fleeing vehicle was described as a gray or dark-colored sedan that was traveling east on Winter Lake Road. 

 

PCSO detectives say that the suspect’s vehicle should have some front-end damages, and possibly side window damage.

 

If anyone has any information about the crash or the vehicle involved, they are urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. Tips can also be made anonymously to Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). If a tip leads to an arrest, the tipster could be eligible for a reward.

Bicyclist Struck & Killed In Haines City

Carl Fish
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Bicyclist Struck & Killed In Haines City

Haines City, Florida- According to the Florida Highway Patrol a 41 year old Haines City bicyclist was struck and killed Saturday night. According to reports at around 10:30pm a sedan was traveling southbound on SR-17, south of Bannon Island Road. At the same time the bicyclist was traveling southbound on SR-17 and began crossing the highway while being overtaken by the sedan. Despite an attempt to avoid a collision, the sedan collided with the bicyclist who suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.

The Florida Highway Patrol does not report the deceased name due to Marsy’s Law.

Motorcyclist In Critical Condition After Crash On 540A

Carl Fish
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Motorcyclist In Critical Condition After Crash On 540A

The Daily Ridge has had several requests for information on an accident that took place on 540A in Lakeland.

Here are all the details available at this time from PCSO:

Crash was reported at 12:30pm

County Road 540A and Scott Lake Road – Lakeland

 

Multiple callers to 911 reported to the PCSO that a motorcyclist hit the back of the trailer (being pulled by a pickup) and the motorcyclist was ejected from the motorcycle.

 

Partial road closure on Scott Lake Rd and CR 540A. All were reopened at about 5:30pm

 

The motorcyclist was transported to the hospital and said to be critical but stable.

 

The PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Unit were involved in the investigation.

62 Yr Old Lake Alfred Man Killed In Multiple Vehicle Crash

Carl Fish
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62 Yr Old Lake Alfred Man Killed In Multiple Vehicle Crash

A Lake Alfred man was killed Friday, April 21, 2023, after his vehicle rear-ended a stopped semi-tractor’s flatbed trailer. The driver of the semi was not injured.

 

The victim was identified as 62-year old David Wayne Coleman.

 

Officers from the Lake Alfred Police Department were dispatched to the crash on US 17/92 at Lake Alfred Road at about 2:49 pm. Due to the severity of the crash, LAPD requested the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit to handle the investigation.

 

Detectives have so far determined based on evidence and witness statements, that the semi-tractor was stopped in an eastbound lane on US 17/92 for a traffic light. Mr. Coleman was driving a gray 2012 Jeep SUV, also eastbound, when it collided with the truck’s trailer. 

 

Information collected by the detectives indicate that Mr. Coleman may have suffered a medical episode just prior to the crash, but that won’t be determined until after an autopsy.

 

One lane of the eastbound side was shut down for about 2.5 hours.

 

The investigation is ongoing.

Florida Department of Corrections Sergeant Charged With DUI, DUI with Property Damage And Threatening A Public Servant

Carl Fish
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Florida Department of Corrections Sergeant Charged With DUI, DUI with Property Damage And Threatening A Public Servant

On April 18, 2023, PCSO deputies arrested 31-year-old Sean Patrick Teehan of Dundee for DUI with property damage (M1), DUI with a breath alcohol of .15 or higher (M1), and threatening a public servant (F3). Teehan is employed as a Corrections Sergeant at Polk Correctional Institution in Polk City. 

At around 6:12 p.m., deputies responded to Canal Road and Cherry Pocket Road in Lake Wales in reference to a single vehicle crash. 

Based on evidence and witnesses at the scene, Teehan was driving a black Honda Civic westbound on Canal Road when he crashed into a guardrail. When deputies arrived on scene, Teehan was sitting on the hood of the Honda. Deputies observed Teehan to have “bloodshot, watery eyes, a slurred speech pattern, a moderate odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath as he was speaking, lethargic movements, and a difficult time standing unsupported.”

Deputies were unable to conduct any of the Field Sobriety Tests due to Teehan’s level of intoxication and the possible danger to himself if he attempted the exercises. 

Teehan was arrested and transported to the PCSO Processing Center where he provided two breath samples: .265 and .260 (over three times the limit of .08).

As standard practice, Teehan was taken to an area hospital to be evaluated. While waiting to be discharged, he told the deputy, “Don’t worry, your time is coming. I’ll see you on the inside, I work for the DOC.”

Teehan was released from the hospital and transported back to the Sheriff’s Processing Center where he was additionally charged with threatening a public servant. 

“Driving under the influence is illegal and deadly, and as a Corrections Sergeant, Teehan knew better. Luckily no one was hurt in this instance. If you’ve been drinking, please don’t drive. It puts your life and the lives of those on the road at risk.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Sean Teehan is currently in the Polk County Jail and is being held without bond until a first appearance hearing this afternoon. His previous criminal history includes charges for resisting arrest and battery on a law enforcement officer.

Inquiries about Teehan’s employment should be directed to the Florida Department of Corrections.

Welcome, World Travelers! The Super Mario Bros. is Okey Dokey!

Staff Reporter
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Welcome, World Travelers! The Super Mario Bros. is Okey Dokey!

by James Coulter

The Super Mario Bros. Movie earned $204.6 million at the domestic box office and $377 million worldwide on its opening weekend, making it the second-biggest debut for an animated movie. Is it any wonder that an animated movie based on the most popular video game ever broke box office records?

Apparently so! Because the first attempt at a Super Mario Bros. movie in 1993 bombed at the box office so badly that it dissuaded Nintendo from making theatrical adaptations of its video games until recently.

Of course, it didn’t help that the 1993 movie had absolutely nothing to do with the Mario games. And it helped a lot that the new animated flick was produced and supervised directly by Shigeru Miyamoto himself to ensure it had everything to do with the Mario games.

Unfortunately, despite earning big at the box office, the new Super Mario Bros. Movie has left critics feeling mixed with an overall score of 57 percent–which isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. So what’s the final score? Is the Mario Movie a 1-Up? Or will we find a good Mario movie in another film?

Mario and Luigi are brothers living in Brooklyn starting their own plumbing company. However, things quickly go down the drain—quite literally!—when the brothers find a green warp pipe that splits them apart, sending Mario to the Mushroom Kingdom and Luigi straight into the clutches of Bowser. Now Mario needs to team up with Toad and Princess Peach, along with some help from Donkey Kong, to save Luigi and the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser and his Koopa army. Will Mario save the day, or—well, you’ve all played a Mario game before, so you know what happens!

This movie’s undeniable selling point is the video game references. While the 1993 live-action Mario movie had almost nothing to do with the Mario games, this animated film does not want you to forget what video game it’s based on. Every little detail, from the fantastical Mushroom Kingdom setting that perfectly incorporates game elements into its environment, to the soundtrack playing iconic musical cues from the games, to all the Easter eggs Nintendo fans will undoubtedly have fun spotting, this movie is a true love letter to the Super Mario franchise. If you love Super Mario Bros., this movie will remind you of everything you love about playing those games.

However, therein lies the rub. Because as fun as these video game references are (and, undeniably, they are!), they’re pretty much the only thing this movie has going for it.

While the live-action 1993 movie almost had nothing to do with the games, this animated flick tries so hard to be like the games that it places everything else like story and characters on the back burner. This movie essentially uses its story as a conveyer belt to deliver a non-stop onslaught of blatant references that only hardcore fans of the games will recognize and appreciate. Otherwise, they’re left with a very basic plot with very basic characters.

Don’t get me wrong. I had fun watching this movie. I grew up playing the Mario games. My first console was a Super Nintendo with Super Mario World. This movie was made for me. And, again, I enjoyed every second of it. I loved being able to appreciate the game references and spot all of the various Easter eggs. This movie is faithful to the Mario games, and it’s probably the most faithful theatrical video game adaptation to date.

So, the kid in me loved watching this movie. The adult, however, admittedly knows when he’s being pandered to. This movie was a giant member berry dessert. (Member the Ice Flower. Member the Tanooki suit. Member Rainbow Road). It’s a movie that tickles your nostalgia and reminds you why you love what you love. And, undeniably, member berries are yummy.

Otherwise, the movie’s pretty basic. If you’ve ever played a Mario game, you know how this movie will play out. Mario is going to save the day and defeat Bowser. As for the characters, well, they’re pretty decent adaptations of the video game characters and the voice actors do a decent job playing them.

Overall, if you’ve ever played Super Mario Bros., or you have kids, or both, this movie will be a fun distraction. This movie does an excellent job of being a Mario game turned into a movie. And, best of all, at only 90 minutes, it’s nice and short. (That may be weird praise, but after having to sit through movies that are more than two to three hours long, it’s nice to have a movie with a reasonable run time!)

What else can I say but, “Wahoo!”

3rd Annual Jeeps vs Harley Poker Chip Run

Staff Reporter
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3rd Annual Jeeps vs Harley Poker Chip Run

by James Coulter

Which is better? Jeeps or Harleys? That question is one that an annual poker chip run seeks to answer every year.

More than 66 Jeep vehicles and 59 Harley motorcycles participated in the 3rd Annual Poker Chip Run in Bartow last Saturday, sponsored by Thunder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

The event started earlier that morning at Thunder Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram along Main Street Bartow. It continued with stops at Lake Wales Chrysler along Highway 27, Midway Saloon in Lake Alfred, with the final stop at American Legion Post 3 in Bartow.

The event concluded with food, music, and raffles at the American Legion. Proceeds from the event went toward Just One Vet’s 6, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping to end veteran homelessness in Polk County.

Nearly 200 people attended this year’s event with 66 Jeep vehicles and 59 Harley motorcycles. Rick Bridges, First Vice Commander of the American Legion, owes their success to their promotion.

“We owe our success to advertising,” he said. “Thank you, Chrysler Winter Haven and Dodge Lake Wales, for helping with advertising. [I love] the outcome [and] meeting people I have never seen before. Overall, the money going to help veterans.”

The next big event will be the Memorial Day Celebration. It will be hosted on May 28 at 3 PM at the American Legion Post 72, located at 1500 N Church St., Mulberry, FL 33860.

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