Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1; Visit Central Florida is stepping up to help you get storm-ready. From May 26 through June 1, stop by Visit Central Florida’s Welcome Center to take part in Hurricane Preparedness Week and pick up a FREE hurricane preparedness bag, check list, and other essential resources!
As storm season approaches, now is the time to review your emergency plan, stock up on supplies, and make sure your family is ready for anything. A little preparation today can go a long way when severe weather strikes.
In addition to Visit Central Florida, check out these trusted resources for up-to-date hurricane information and preparedness tools:
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Carol Rothenbush, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, who entered into eternal rest on May 1, 2025, in Winter Haven, Florida. Born on August 31, 1938, in Remington, Ohio. She moved to Florida in 2013 from Pheonix, Arizona.
Carol lived a life characterized by kindness, honesty, and loyalty. She was a devoted member of the North Ridge Baptist Church in Haines City, Florida, where her warmth and generosity touched the lives of many in her community. Carol’s passion for photography allowed her to capture the beauty in everyday moments, creating lasting memories for her family and friends. In her spare time, Carol enjoyed quilting and hand-making cards for all occasions.
Carol is preceded in death by her parents, Elmost and Lida Whitman; sister, Betty Louise Cismadi (Frank); daughter, Mary Ann South (Ed). She is survived by her daughter, Lorraine (Ted) Duran; sister, Joyce (Robert) Neitzel and her nine beloved grandchildren.
Carol’s legacy encompasses not only her artistic talents but also the love and support she freely gave to all who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of sharing in her life. The family would like to wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude for the love and support shown during this difficult time.
Cooking on the Ridge: Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas
by James Coulter
You know, there’s a joke about how all Mexican food is essentially the same thing: meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
What are tacos? Meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
What’s a burrito? Meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
What are chimichangas? Meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
Enchiladas are probably more unique. They’re meat, veggies, and cheese wrapped in a tortilla–and covered in either a red or white sauce.
Last weekend, I made enchiladas for the first time. I prepared both beef and chicken. I’m sharing the recipe for chicken enchiladas, since the beef enchiladas essentially just involve mixing ground beef with taco seasoning.
For the chicken enchiladas, I deviated from the recipe. Rather than season the shredded chicken with only salt, pepper, and adobo sauce, I seasoned it with lime and chili powder. The result was a more flavorful dish than simply adding salt and pepper.
Overall, these enchiladas were good, and the white sauce certainly added some flavor and moistness to the dish. This is certainly an easy dish to make over the weekend with beans and rice. It’s like going to a Mexican restaurant without going to a Mexican restaurant.
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Creamy White Chicken Enchilada (from The Country Cook)
Ingredients
• 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken)
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or mozzarella)
• salt, pepper, Adobo seasoning, to taste
• 10 flour tortillas (taco size)
• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup sour cream
• 4-ounce can diced green chiles (do not drain)
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, mix 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese along with salt, pepper, and Adobo seasoning to taste.
3. Place chicken mixture into each of the 10 flour tortillas.
4. Roll them all up and place them in the prepared baking dish.
5. In a medium saucepan, melt 3 Tablespoons butter. Whisk in 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour and let cook and thicken for 1 minute (don’t let it burn).
6. Add 2 cups chicken broth and whisk until smooth.
7. Stir in 1 cup sour cream and 4-ounce can diced green chiles. Be sure not to let the mixture boil.
8. Take the sauce off the heat and pour it over the enchiladas.
9. Top with 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese.
10. Bake for about 20-25 minutes. If you’d like, you can turn the broiler on high and broil these for a minute or two until the cheese is slightly browned and bubbly.
Last month, my family and I went on a 7-day cruise on the Carnival Jubilee. We sailed from Galveston, Texas to Honduras to Mexico. Here’s a day-by-day travel log of my trip.
Day 1: Galveston, Texas (Fri. May 22, 2025)
First thing first. Before you can set sail from Galveston, Texas, you first have to get there. You’d assume that the first step would be one simple flight. But nope. It was a two-stop flight: first from Raliegh to Baltimore, then from Baltimore to Galveston.
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Our trip started bright and early at 2 in the morning. We woke up and drove to the Raileigh-Durham Airport. Not going to lie. I am not a fan of flying. It is my least favorite part of the vacation. I hate going through airport security. I hate being crammed into an aluminum tube with a dozen or so other strangers. And I hate waiting to get on and off the plane.
Our flight from Baltimore to Galveston was nearly four hours. Needless to say, I was quite overstimulated by strangers bumping into me, children crying and screaming, and having to breathe the same stale air that everyone else was coughing and sneezing in. Oh! And a kid seated behind us vomited. Good grief! I needed a shower after all that!
We landed and took a ride share to our lodging for the evening. We stayed the night inside a train at the Galveston Railroad Museum. It is a 1949 rail car called the Bonnie Brook. In its heyday, it served the NYC New England states between Boston and Chicago. The train was even used by Jackie Gleeson to film his popular television show during his trip between New York City and Miami.
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The Bonnie Brook is one of two train cars available for lodging, the other being Silver Fort. The refurbished train car certainly feels like lodging in the good old days with bunks and tight quarters, all outfitted with modern luxuries like Wi-Fi and a widescreen television. It also has a porter service. Our porter, Chris, was able to get us anything we required.
The museum itself is located in an old train station. It is right in the historic downtown district in walking distance of plenty of cafes, eateries, and shops. Best of all, it is a brisk walk down from the cruise terminal. So, we can walk right onto our cruise ship.
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My group ate at the Shark Shack. I ordered drunken boneless wings for an appetizer. I had it with chili siracha sauce. It had a sweet hotness to it. For my main course, I had the Big Kahuna Dog. It had chili and relish and jalapenos. I ate the whole dog but not the bun. Or the fries. The portions were big. Reminds me of the footlong hotdogs from Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Our room came with muffins prepared at a local bakery. They were a sweet treat after enduring a four-hour flight. Also provided was a bag of saltwater taffy prepared at a local confectionery. I did not eat them. But I’m sure they’re good.
Day 2: First Day at Sea (Sat. May 3, 2025)
Well, the vacation hadn’t even started yet and it felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation. Getting on the ship itself was quite the hassle. Especially going through security, which is always “fun.” I had to show my boarding pass and passport several times. But we managed to get on.
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Our cruise ship was the Jubilee, one of the largest ships in the Carnival fleet. This ship has multiple pools, countless restaurants and eateries, and even a roller coaster. There was so much to do on the trip, and with it being a weeklong cruise, plenty of time to do it—or so I thought.
When I got on the ship, I was shell-shocked by the cafeteria buffet. There were plenty of free options, obviously, but also food items you had to pay for like wings, Mongolian grill, and Indian. Very sneaky! That’s how they get you. Spend money to get on the ship, and spend money while you’re on it.
There were some technical difficulties with my Carnival Hub app. My sister said that it was not working properly. So, we went to guest services. We met a woman along the way who said she had similar problems. She solved it by deleting her app, reloading it, and signing in again. I tried that two times. It did not work. So, we went to guest services anyway. The line there was long. One of the customer service workers approached us and asked us what our problem was. I told her my app wasn’t working, She immediately figured out what the problem was. My VPN was turned on and blocking it. So, I turned it off and it worked.
We tried to order the soft drink package, but it was unavailable. So, we went to one of the bars to order it. Turns out I had to load my credit card onto my account to order it. So, I had to get my credit card and add it to my ship key card. Finally ordered a soda. A Mountain Dew. And I needed the caffeine. Bad!
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Went to dinner at the Pacific Restaurant. Had a pasta dish with braised lamb. It almost tasted like pork. And the tomato sauce was flavorful. For my main entrée, I ordered a 12-hour braised short rib, which was also very flavorful and succulent with a nice balance of spices and a melt-off-the-bone texture. And for dessert, I had the famous chocolate melting cake. It certainly lived up to its name: decadent chocolate that melts in your mouth and tastes even better when paired with vanilla ice cream. Overall, a satisfactory dinner.
I went to a comedy show later that evening at the Punchliner Comedy Club. That night was a performance by Manny Oliveira. He started strong enough. He bragged about joining the mile-high club on his way to the ship. However, he bemoaned about being an individual member. Rimshot!
His next joke was about his experience on dating apps. He said he tried eHarmony, but that he could not get past the questionnaire. One question was whether or not he would be willing to date outside his race. He replied that, given enough drinks, he would be able to date outside his species.
I took a stroll through the ship afterward. Had two slices of pizza as a midnight snack. Wanted Tex-Mex pizza, but decided to have a barbecue instead. It was good. Then went to the bar for a drink. Ordered a ginger ale with grenadine. I even had a maraschino cherry. Certainly, a nice way to end the evening.
Philippe “Phil” Pepin, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2025, at the age of 79 in Winter Haven, Florida. Born on August 17, 1945, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Phil’s life was characterized by his unwavering kindness, generosity, and loyalty to his family and friends. Phil was a proud graduate of Rhode Island College, where he laid the foundation for a remarkable career dedicated to the service of others. He spent many fulfilling years as a special education teacher in Lakeland, Florida, impacting countless lives with his patient and compassionate approach. Phil also served as a Guardian Ad Litem for two decades, advocating for the rights and well-being of children in the community. As a Vietnam veteran, he carried the values of service and integrity throughout his life. For 38 years, Phil worked diligently as a sales manager at Sears, where he was known and respected for his work ethic and dedication to his team.
Phil was an avid reader and had a deep love for music, often found immersed in a good book or listening to his favorite tunes. His passion for technology kept him engaged in new discoveries, and he relished the chance to share these interests with his family. Phil’s gentle spirit and warm-hearted nature will be missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Alphonse and Marie-Rose Pepin; his cherished daughter, Wendy Michaud. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Janice Pepin, his sons, Jeffrey (Kerry) Pepin and Daniel Pepin (Cori Blythe); son in law, Richard Michaud; his cherished grandchildren, Jeremy, Joshua, Nicholas, and Ethan, and a great-grandfather to Eliza and Beau, whom he adored and delighted in spending time with.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Phil’s life and legacy with a Memorial Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lakeland, FL on May 29, 2025 at 1:00 pm. A gathering for family and friends will be held at Oak Ridge Funeral Care on Saturday May 31, 2025 from 2-3 pm with a memorial service beginning at 3:00. Phil, you will be missed, but your spirit will live on in our hearts forever.
A deputy-involved shooting early Monday morning in Polk County has left a man dead following a series of bizarre and violent incidents that culminated in an armed confrontation with law enforcement. According to Sheriff Grady Judd of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the deceased has been identified as 42-year-old Timothy Schulz.
The incident began around 5:56 a.m. when employees at a RaceTrac gas station on Highway 37 reported a disoriented man “shaking and asking to call his son.” Deputies responded within minutes and began searching the area, but Schulz was not immediately found.
At approximately 7:43 a.m., a second call reported a “white guy in the lake” with alligators nearby. According to witnesses, Schulz refused assistance, growled at a resident offering help, and eventually emerged from the lake holding a pair of garden shears. Sheriff Judd stated Schulz then attempted to break into a vehicle and charged deputies when they arrived.
Despite multiple attempts to deescalate the situation, including the use of tasers, Schulz continued to act aggressively. “He climbed into the passenger side of the patrol vehicle… trying to either get the rifle or the shotgun out of its holder,” Judd said. At that moment, deputies opened fire, fatally shooting him.
Schulz, who had a lengthy history of methamphetamine-related arrests, had recently been released from jail on May 20. Judd emphasized, “Quite frankly, his conduct was outrageous… you’re not going to assault feloniously our deputies.”
The shooting is now under investigation by a multi-agency task force, and the findings will be reviewed by State Attorney Brian Haas.
Around 9:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 24th, the PCSO ECC received a 911 call regarding a motorcycle crash with injuries on Green Pond Road near San Juan Avenue in Polk City A group of motorcycles, led by a 72-year-old man from Mascotte, FL on a Harley Davidson, was traveling westbound on Green Pond Rd when the lead bike entered the right curve and drifted over the center line and into the eastbound lane. At the same time, another group of motorcycles was heading eastbound. The lead bike (a Ducati) in the group of eastbound motorcycles was struck by the 72-year-old, and both motorcyclists were ejected.
Upon arrival of first responders, CPR was being performed on the 72-year-old by witnesses and continued by Polk Fire Rescue as he was transported to a local hospital where, despite life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. He was not wearing a helmet. The driver of the Ducati, a 61-year-old Tampa man, suffered broken bones and a collapsed lung, and remains in the hospital.
Special weather statement issued May 24 by National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin Fl- At 623 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Medulla, or near Bartow. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary. HAZARD…Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. SOURCE…Radar indicated. IMPACT…Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include… Mulberry, Bartow, Inwood, Fussels Corner, Highland City, Medulla, Jan Phyl Village, Bartow Municipal Airport, Lakeland, Combee Settlement, Crystal Lake, Lakeland Highlands, Auburndale, Winston, Willow Oak, and Winter Haven.
Lakeland, FL – A Walmart employee has been arrested and charged with grand theft after authorities say she stole over $3,000 in cash from multiple registers during her shifts throughout April and May 2025.
According to a police affidavit filed by the City of Lakeland Police Department, Dianna Estelle Brauchle, 52, of Lakeland, Florida, was observed on security footage repeatedly taking money from cash registers at the Walmart located at 5800 US Highway 98 North. The thefts reportedly occurred over several weeks between April 10 and May 2, 2025.
An Asset Protection employee reported the theft after noticing discrepancies tied to the registers Brauchle operated. Carr stated that Brauchle made the thefts in small increments during client transactions, allowing the money to be pocketed without immediately drawing attention. A total of 20 individual theft instances were documented, with amounts ranging from $50 to $500 each time. The total loss to Walmart amounted to $3,135.00.
The affidavit includes detailed observations from store security footage. On multiple occasions, Brauchle was seen removing and concealing money from the register after a transaction. On April 10, footage shows her positioning her torso over the till, counting money, and obscuring her actions from view. On April 15, she was observed placing a $100 bill in her front pocket after hiding it with receipt paper.
When questioned, Brauchle admitted to the thefts, stating she had fallen behind on payments and had been evicted from her home. She told officers she did not know how many times she had taken money or the total amount stolen. According to the affidavit, Brauchle was cooperative throughout the investigation and had no prior theft-related incidents.
Brauchle has been formally charged with one count of Grand Theft between $750 and $5,000, a third-degree felony under Florida Statute 812.014(2c1). She was issued a notice to appear in court and the case was officially filed with the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court in Polk County on May 12, 2025.
Walmart has chosen to pursue criminal charges in the case.
