Two people were killed Friday evening, January 6, 2023, and a third person was transported to the hospital by helicopter following a two-vehicle crash just north of the city of Davenport.
The crash is being investigated by the Traffic Homicide Unit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched at about 9:03 pm, to the crash on US 17/92 at Ernie Caldwell Boulevard. Polk County Fire Rescue also responded and officers from Davenport Police Department assisted deputies briefly with traffic control.
When first responders arrived, both drivers were found to be deceased. They were identified as 64-year old Jennifer Wray of Davenport, and 38-year old Tyrone Jones of Haines City.
Mr. Jones’ passenger was airlifted to the hospital with possible injuries to his neck and leg. He was identified as 38-year old Tavarous Stokes of Lakeland.
The preliminary investigation, based on evidence and witness statements, showed that Ms. Wray was the driver of a blue 1997 BMW 328i that was traveling north on US 17/92. Mr. Jones and Mr. Stokes were in a silver 2003 Infiniti FX45 that was traveling south on the same road.
Ms. Wray made a left turn (west) at the intersection of Ernie Caldwell Boulevard, and struck the Mr. Jones’ Infiniti.
After impact, the Infiniti flipped onto its roof.
Ms. Wray was wearing her seat belt, but Mr. Jones and Mr. Stokes were not.
A portion of US 17/92 was closed for approximately four hours, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Would you like to make a difference in Polk County? Polk County Parks and Natural Resources is hosting a Hiring Event on Friday, January 20, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. It will be held at the Aldine Combee Baseball Park, 1140 Fish Hatchery Rd. in Lakeland.
*Interview on the spot. $1,000 sign-on bonus for all positions. For questions or more information, please contact Kenzie Ralston (email: [email protected].)
Welcome, World Travelers! Strange World is Strangely Entertaining
by James Coulter
If you’ve never heard of this movie, despite it premiering more than a month ago in theaters, you’re not alone. Strange World received little to no marketing before or during its theatrical release. Not surprisingly, the film only earned a meager $19 million in its 5-day domestic box office and lost more than $100 million in its theatrical run.
Strange World flopping at the box office is sadly unsurprising. Historically, Disney has had a bad track record with animated action-adventure films: Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Treasure Planet, Raya and the Last Dragon. All of them performed poorly in the box office, with Treasure Planet being Disney’s worst box office disaster.
However, while these animated action-adventure flicks may not have succeeded in theaters, following their home media release, most of them (especially Atlantis and Treasure Planet) have since become cult classics. And now that Strange World has risen to the top as the number one most-streamed movie on Disney Plus in the past month, it very well may gain a similar cult following.
So, the question remains: did Strange World fail at the box office because of Disney’s lack of advertising, or is this movie really that bad?
Strange World takes place in the, well, strange world of Avalonia, a city surrounded by an unscalable, impenetrable mountain range. A daring explorer, Jaeger Clade, sets off with his young son, Searcher, to scale the mountains and explore the unknown realm that lies beyond. However, Searcher discovers a mysterious energy-filled plant and suggests they return home to learn more about it. Unfortunately, Jaeger insists on continuing his expedition and leaves his son behind to venture into the unknown.
Twenty five years pass, and Searcher has settled down with a wife and son to cultivate the plant, Pando, whose energy is utilized as Avalonia’s sole power source. Unfortunately, the plant’s energy starts to mysteriously wane, and now Searcher must embark on an expedition to discover the source of the problem. He is unwillingly joined by his teenage son, Ethan, who dreams of becoming an adventurer like his grandfather, much to Searcher’s chagrin. And the two of them stumble upon the long-lost Jaeger (also much to Searcher’s chagrin). Will these three generations of explorers find the solution to the problems facing their world and family?
Let’s start with the film’s most obvious positive: its setting. The movie’s world is highly-imaginative. Even its “mundane” city setting overflows with creative detail. Similar to how Treasure Planet combined the traditional Georgian era with futuristic sci-fi, the city of Avalonia combines retro-1930s aesthetics with a modern twist: flying dieselpunk vehicles powered by electricity, vintage clothing designed with modern flair, and swing/jazz music remixed with electronic dance.
Undoubtedly, the most breathtaking setting is the realm that lies beyond and underneath its mountainous borders. Words cannot begin to describe the imaginative landscape and its flora and
fauna, all of which defy and even exceed description. The animators evidently had fun designing this world and everything in it, from its breathing trees to the amorphous creatures flying in streamlined patterns and the living landscape that can separate and move on its own. There’s a major twist concerning this world, and those who pay close attention to the details may figure out what it is.
Strange World evidently draws heavy inspiration from the 1930s adventure genre, especially comic books, pulp stories, and film serials. The prologue is animated in an art style like comic books of its time, complete with transatlantic narration and a lively jingle singing the praises of the heroic Jaeger Clade.
Also spectacular is the movie’s representation. Most of the characters are people of color of various ethnicities. Perhaps most laudable is Ethan, who truly deserves to be given the honor of being called the first openly-gay protagonist in an animated Disney film. His sexual orientation is made explicitly clear through his boyhood crush on another same-sex (albeit minor) character.
Strange World’s message is two-fold. The first is environmental. The central crux of the plot involves a power source that is quickly becoming depleted and, as is discovered later in the movie, is inevitably damaging the world. So obvious allegory about climate change and the energy crisis is obvious.
The second, as has been the case with many recent Disney movies like Encanto and Turning Red, is generational trauma. The movie involves two father figures who must contend with their respective son not living up to their expectations and learning how to let them set the course of their own lives.
Unfortunately, despite these positive elements, the overall movie feels messy and unfocused. Personally, while watching it, though I was awe-struck by the visuals, I struggled to pay attention or even care about what was happening on-screen.
Overall, despite its stunning visuals, imaginative setting, excellent representation, and lofty message, Strange World did not quite make the landing. The movie is not bad, and in many instances, comes across as mildly entertaining, but despite its grand expectations, it fell short of becoming a great movie. It makes for a good watch but is by no means the greatest movie ever.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash involving an ATV that happened New Year’s morning, January 1, 2023, in unincorporated Lake Wales that resulted in the death a Sebring man.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and crews from Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched at about 3:20 a.m. to the 300 block of Lake Kotsa Drive.
Upon arrival, they found 36-year-old Christopher Mears deceased.
Based on evidence and statements taken at the scene, it was determined that Mr. Mears had been driving a 2017 Honda ATV in the area with friends. He traveled southbound on Lake Kotsa Drive and failed to negotiate a right hand curve causing the ATV to enter a drainage ditch. Mr. Mears was thrown from the ATV and landed in the shallow water of the ditch where it appears he drowned.
Deputies found an empty beer can at the scene, and there was a strong smell of alcohol on Mr. Mears.
Excessive speed and impairment appear to be factors in the crash.
The roadway was closed for approximately three hours during the investigation, which remains on-going. I do not have a photo from the scene.
Barbara Walters, the trailblazing television news broadcaster and longtime ABC News anchor and correspondent who shattered the glass ceiling and became a dominant force in an industry once dominated by men, has died. She was 93.
Walters joined ABC News in 1976, becoming the first female anchor on an evening news program. Three years later, she became a co-host of “20/20,” and in 1997, she launched “The View.”
In a career that spanned five decades, Walters won 12 Emmy awards, 11 of those while at ABC News.
She made her final appearance as a co-host of “The View” in 2014, but remained an executive producer of the show and continued to do some interviews and specials for ABC News.
“I do not want to appear on another program or climb another mountain,” she said at the time. “I want instead to sit on a sunny field and admire the very gifted women — and OK, some men too — who will be taking my place.”
Barbara Jill Walters was born in Boston on Sept. 25, 1929, to Dena and Louis “Lou” Walters. Her father worked in show business as a booking agent and nightclub producer, and discovered comedians Fred Allen and Jack Haley, who would go on to star as the Tin Man in the classic film “The Wizard of Oz.”
Growing up around celebrities taught a young Barbara a lesson that she relied upon throughout her career.
LAKELAND, FL (December 30, 2022) – On Friday, December 30, 2022, at approximately 5:26 a.m., Unform Patrol was dispatched to a reported submerged vehicle along the west side of Lake Wire. Upon arrival, the officer found a vehicle submerged in the water approximately 15 feet from the shoreline. Members of the Lakeland Fire Department and the Dive Team were dispatched to the location to ready the vehicle to be removed and searched. As the divers began removing the vehicle from underwater, they noticed the front driver’s side window down and at least one adult inside the vehicle. After the car was pulled from the lake, two children were also located inside the car.
Stock Image
Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division and members of the Forensic Services Unit responded to the area and began processing the scene. Preliminary information indicates that this was not a traffic crash, and there were no apparent signs of trauma on any of the people in the vehicle. Detectives believe the persons found are a 35-year-old mother and her two sons, ages 4 and 9. The bodies were transported to the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.
This is still very early in the investigation, and no additional information will be available this weekend. An update will be provided after the Medical Examiner’s Office completes its examination.
The names of the deceased are being withheld while next-of-kin notifications are made.
Lakeland, Florida – Update to Polk County Sheriff’s Office shooting investigation; the shooting occurred yesterday, December 29, 2022 at a business located at 3135 U.S. 92 East in Lakeland:
At this point in the investigation, it is believed that two business partners, 31-year-old Akeido Bennett of Kissimmee, and 39-year-old Xavier Figueroa of Kissimmee, mutually shot each other as a result of an on-going dispute. Bennett died at the scene. Figueroa attempted to flee from the business in his truck, but died as a result of a gunshot injury.
“This was an avoidable tragedy stemming from a disagreement between business partners. We all have an obligation to our friends, our families, and society at large to talk things out instead of turning to violence. These men would still be alive today, and their families would not be grieving, had they been able to work out their differences civilly.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
This investigation remains on-going. We’ll release an update when more details become available.ase more details when they become available.
More Than 2,000 Attended Scars Farm Christmas Festival
by James Coulter
Twas a week before Christmas, and over at Scars Farm, the Grinch was around, but not causing any harm. He was busy giving children a very good day, by taking them on holiday rides on hay.
Queen Elsa arrived in her gown made of ice, and St. Nick was there, too, to entertain all who were nice. And what to a wandering eye did avail, then a Cinderella carriage straight out of a fairy tale.
All of these characters attendees could meet. And once they were done, from a food truck they could eat. And then inside bounce houses they could play, while their parents could browse many vendors that day.
These holiday festivities were enjoyed by nearly 2,000 attendees during the Christmas Festival at Scars Farm in Bartow on Saturday. From bounce houses and hay rides, to meet and greets with Santa and other characters, children and their families were able to celebrate the holidays one week early that day.
More than 2,000 attendees came out for the event that day. Presales before the event were nearly 300 to 400, though the actual turnout more than exceeded initial expectations, explained Michael Kiremisti., owner and manager of Scars Farm.
“So over 2,000 and the day is not even over,” he said.
Over the past year, Scars Farm has hosted various special events to draw attention to their outdoor venue. Their first event was a food festival hosted earlier this year, followed by an Easter EggFest, Halloween Fall Fest, and now a Christmas Holiday Fest. Each event has seen turnouts increase by 1,000, Kiremisti.said.
“It seems like we increased by 1,000 participants each event,” he said. “It is social media marketing with Facebook and people knowing we are here now. At the end of the day, people know where we are at.”
Scars Farm started five years ago as a plot of land in the middle of Florida wilderness. Since being acquired in 2017, that land has been transformed into a premier entertainment venue.
Five to six more public events are planned to be hosted next year. Various buildings have been renovated and built, and a village of rental homes are planned to be built on the premise.
“The plan will be a village in the back for people to stay for private events on-premises,” he explained.
Believers’ Fellowship Hosts 10th Annual Christmas Festival & Live Nativity
by James Coulter
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
This is the Christmas story as told in the Gospel of Luke. It is the story that was told through a live nativity as presented at Believers Fellowship Church last Friday and Saturday evening.
For the past six years, Believers’ Fellowship of Lakeland has hosted its annual Christmas Festival and Live Nativity for the local Lakeland community. The centerpiece, of course, is their live nativity telling the Biblical account of Jesus Christ’s birth.
This year’s performance was framed around two grandparents telling the Christmas story to their grandchildren, with the story reenacted from the angel appearing before Mary to the Three Wisemen arriving to meet the Baby Jesus.
The Christmas Festival offered free food and fun throughout the evening. Attendees could register and receive a punch card to obtain free food including hot dogs, chips, hot cocoa, snow cones, and popcorn. They could also participate in festivities including hayrides, campfire smores, and craft making.
Jon Friedt, Pastor of Believers’ Fellowship of Lakeland, has been hosting the event for the past six years. Their intention is always the same each year: to offer fun activities to the local community and to spread the “good news” about the original Christmas story. More than 500 people attended the first evening on Friday, Friedt said.
“Our main purpose is to tell the real meaning of Christmas and the most important outcome of that is to give people the opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of their life,” he said. “I love to see people be touched by the power of God, to see the nativity story, and to recognize that Christmas is about Jesus, it is moving to see people’s lives change.”
Young Leaders Society Hosts 10th Annual Apron’s Holiday Dinner
by James Coulter
What better way to celebrate the holiday season in the hometown of Publix Supermarkets than enjoying dinner prepared by Publix Aprons?
A three-course holiday meal with wine pairings worthy of a holiday celebration was prepared and served at the 10th Annual Young Leaders Society Apron’s Holiday Dinner at the Lakeland Country Club on Thursday evening.
Hosted by United Way of Central Florida’s Young Leaders Society, the annual holiday dinner featured three courses with butternut squash soup, braised short ribs, and a chocolate mousse dessert. The meal was served with wine pairings and featured a live demonstration by a Publix Aprons chef.
The annual holiday event has been hosted for the past ten years by the Young Leaders Society, a group of philanthropic volunteers who donate their time and money to support the cause of the United Way.
Proceeds from this year’s event went towards George W. Jenkins End Hunger Initiative, a program dedicated to helping reduce food insecurity for children and adults in Polk County.
According to their website, the Initiative provides bimonthly food pantry drops that “feed 200 to 400 families frozen meats, fresh produce and dry goods for a week to supplement nutritional needs between paychecks.”
This year’s dinner more than exceeded expectations, not only drawing in the most attendees but also far exceeding their fundraising goals, explained Jes Garcia, UWF Executive Director of Operations.
“This is the most attendees we had,” she said. “So, the past few years have been smaller coming off of Covid, but this year we are coming off strong with the most we ever had.”
