The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is reporting road blockage on Hwy 27 in Davenport. According to PCSO 2 Southbound lanes are blocked due to 100’s of boxes of bottled pesticides on roadway.
Off Duty Polk County Fire Rescue Member Saves Childs Life At Havendale Christmas Parade
An off-duty Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) member saved a child’s life on Friday, Dec. 2.
While PCFR Driver/Engineer Dustin Bovill and his family were enjoying the Havendale Christmas Parade on Friday evening, Bovill observed that a child riding on a float was having a medical emergency near the intersection of Havendale Blvd NW and 34th St. NW. Bovill quickly jumped onto the moving parade float and began to render aid.
Bovill cleared the child’s airway, ultimately saving the child’s life. Bovill rode on the float with the patient and the patient’s family until the float reached the end of the parade route. Bovill was then able to transfer care to a PCFR Rescue Truck that was standing by. The patient was transported to a nearby hospital.
“While I was watching the float pass by, I saw the father’s expression as he looked up from the float and I knew that something was not right,” Bovill said. “After I saw the child’s father, I jumped onto the moving float in order to assist in anyway that I could.”
Bovill has worked for Polk County Fire Rescue since 2014. He began his career as a Firefighter/EMT before being promoted to a Driver/Engineer position in 2018. Bovill has also been a member of the division’s special operations team since 2015.
“Driver/Engineer Bovill’s instinct to jump in and assist a citizen in need demonstrates our member’s readiness to serve whether they are on and off-duty,” said Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Hezedean A. Smith, D.M. “Bovill’s actions and the care he provided to the child in need is something we are very proud of here at Polk County Fire Rescue.”
Former Detention Deputy arrested after stealing merchandise from Walmart on nine separate occasions
County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 44-year-old John Reed, who has been a detention deputy with the agency since 2005 but resigned immediately upon his arrest, for 8 counts petit theft (M2), and one count each obtaining property by fraud (F3), gross fraud (F3), and petit theft $100-$750 (M1).
Between November 4th and December 3rd, 2022, Reed went to the Walmart on Church Avenue North in Mulberry and on nine separate occasions, failed to pay for merchandise by intentionally not scanning it in the self-checkout lane. Each of the fraudulent transactions was captured by the store video surveillance system.
The thefts were discovered after a Walmart Loss Prevention Officer observed the most recent incident on December 3rd and confronted Reed while he was attempting to leave the store with two hover boards, two hover carts, and a Christmas projection light. The Officer observed Reed on the closed circuit television failing to scan the items and then passing all points of sale. Reed accompanied the Officer to the Loss Prevention Office, where the Officer used the store security system to review a history of Reed’s transactions. The Officer determined Reed committed similar thefts on eight prior occasions. The total loss to the store at this time is over $575.00.
Reed was booked into the Polk County Jail on December 3rd and released after posting bond in the amount of $4,500. Had he not resigned immediately upon his arrest, he would have been terminated.
The PCSO Organized Retail Crime Unit is conducting an investigation to determine if Reed has committed other crimes, and more charges are pending.
Welcome, World Travelers! Is Bob Chapek the Worst Disney CEO?
by James Coulter
Originally, I was going to write a review of Disenchanted, the new made-for-streaming sequel to the 2008 movie Enchanted; but, to paraphrase the Aragon meme: one does not simply dedicate a biweekly column to Disney and refuse to say anything about the resignation of its most infamous CEO.
Last Sunday, in a move that shocked the entertainment industry, the Walt Disney Company announced Bob Chapek would be stepping down from his role as CEO and that his predecessor, Bob Iger, will return to serve as his replacement with plans to head the company over the next two years.
I’m not giving a comprehensive history of Chapek’s career. TL;DR: After being appointed CEO in 2020, he made a series of very bad business decisions and public relations faux pas—the most infamous of which was his inaction towards Florida’s Don’t Say Gay Bill—and after his company experienced record low profits and stock earnings, which prompted him to suggest massive layoffs, hiring freezes, and other drastic cost-cutting measures, he was removed from his position and replaced by the very guy he replaced.
I know I wrote the title of this column as a question. I often do that to maintain objectivity by posing an open-ended question to help prompt discussion and encourage readers to draw their own conclusions and come up with their own opinions. But believe me when I say that the question to this column is purely rhetorical. Because there is no doubt about it: Bob Chapek is the worst CEO in the history of the Walt Disney Company.
Many Disney fans love to joke how Michael Eisner was the worst Disney CEO, but give Eisner some credit: the man managed to turn the company around for the better in the 1980s during a time when the Disney brand was not doing well financially or publicly, to the point where many executives conspired hostile takeovers of the company. (Yes, that really did happen!)
Yes, Eisner was infamous for saying Disney was in the business of making money not art, but at least his shrewd yet savvy business-making decisions did not prevent the company from creating some of the best-animated movies of all time, and it wasn’t until the tragic passing of the company’s then president and his closest colleague Frank Wells and the financial failure of Disneyland Paris that led Eisner to his series of bad decisions that utterly tarnished his legacy.
Say what you want about Eisner: the man ended his career with a simpering whimper, but at least he started his career with a bang—at least he made contributions that were overall net positives to the company, achieving accomplishments that both he and others could be proud of. Chapek, on the other hand, has contributed nothing of value to the company, and everything he did was a net negative.
Does that sound hyperbolic? Sure. But it’s hard to look back at the man’s legacy as Disney CEO and deduce that his career was a positive one. Again, I’m not rehashing history, but Mickey Blog recently wrote a comprehensive blog post highlighting “The Worst Mistakes Bob Chapek Made As Disney CEO.” These mistakes, according to Mickey Blog, include:
· Breaking ties with Iger, especially during the onset of the pandemic, when Chapek could have utilized Iger’s experience and counsel for guidance.
· Promoted many of his “closest confidants to positions of power” within the company out of pure nepotism, friends who served as “the perceived yes men [who] couldn’t be honest with their boss about his more questionable decisions.”
· Making the Disney theme park experience more expensive and less “magical” by raising park prices, eliminating programs like Magical Express, and replacing the free FastPass system with the pay-as-you-go Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
· Changing Disney’s base of operations from California to Florida, which “forced its California employees to commit to moving to Florida to keep their jobs” and “effectively forced out many longtime Imagineers.”
· Refusing to consult with Scarlett Johansson in the decision to release her movie Black Widow simultaneously in theaters and onto Disney Plus, a move that violated her contract by affecting the percentage she earned from box office receipts, and worse, “arrogantly called her out for wanting her money.”
· Refusing to say or do anything when Florida was passing the infamous “Don’t Say Gay Bill”, which had been created by politicians whom Disney had financed, only to decide too little too late to freeze political contributions to Florida lawmakers after they passed the bill into law.
As David Mumpower wrote in his blog: “In totality, all these singular mistakes add up to one glaring issue Chapek could never overcome. He didn’t care enough about people and was too fixated on the bottom line.”
So, yes, calling Chapek the worst CEO is over-the-top hyperbole, but considering his many blunders, it’s also not untrue. After all, it does say something when a man messes up so badly that his predecessor had to come out of retirement just to fix the mess he made. All I can say is goodbye and good riddance to Chapek!
What do you think? Do you think Iger can fix the mess Chapek created? Do you think the Disney company can recover from his blunders? Leave your comments on Facebook.
32 Yr Old Winter Haven Woman Killed In Polk City Crash
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit investigated a two-vehicle crash in Polk City on Sunday that resulted in a fatality. Here are the preliminary details:
Around 2:53 a.m. on December 4, 2022, the PCSO ECC received a 911 call from the area of S.R. 33 south of Mount Olive Road regarding the crash. When first responders arrived, they found 32-year-old Britney O’Neal of Winter Haven unresponsive. They performed CPR while she was transported to a local hospital, but she ultimately succumbed to her injuries. O’Neal was driving a red 2011 Chevy Malibu northbound on SR 33 when a grey 2012 Hyundai Genesis being driven by 30-year-old Kurtis Holzapfel southbound crossed the center line and entered into the northbound lane apparently to enter into the Best Buy warehouse.
O’Neal attempted to avoid striking the Hyundai but the cars collided nearly head-on. Airbags deployed in both vehicles. Holzapfel was wearing a seatbelt, but O’Neal was not. The investigation is ongoing.
FHP Searching For Hit & Run Driver Who Killed Pedestrian In Winter Haven
Winter Haven, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for a hit & run driver who killed a pedestrian In Winter Haven. According to an FHP report the suspect vehicle was traveling eastbound on Lake Howard Drive, east of 15th Street NW, where the pedestrian was on foot crossing the roadway. The suspect vehicle collided with the pedestrian who suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.
Following the collision, which appears to have occurred around 6:50pm Saturday evening, the suspect vehicle fled the scene and was described as possibly a silver Dodge Caliber with Virginia plates.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call *FHP or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS
MELISSA MCELROY | APRIL 18, 1978 – NOVEMBER 24, 2022 | OBITUARY
MELISSA MCELROY (AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS BECKY), 44, PASSED ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022 SURROUNDED BY HER FAMILY AND HER LIFELONG FRIEND. MELISSA WAS BORN ON APRIL 18, 1978 IN LAKE WALES TO HENRY AND MARY (CAIRNES) MCELROY JR. SHE WAS OF PENTECOSTAL FAITH.
Melissa is survived by her husband Jose Garcia, her three sons Jason McElroy, Brian and Tyler Chaney, her parents Henry and Mary McElroy Jr., mother-in-law Facilita Garcia, sisters Mary Milton (Todd) and Carla McElroy, brother Henry McElroy III (Christan), sister-in-laws Caty (Aaron) and Samantha Garcia, brother-in-law Alejandro Garcia (Ana). Melissa is also survived by her nieces Samantha, Charley, Katy, Maylen, Gracie, Nyra, Alessandra, Karen, Nora and Alondra and nephews Henry IV, Lucas and Isaac, three great nieces and three great nephews whom she spoiled and adored: as well as her lifelong friend, Telecia Lane and a large extended family.
Melissa loved her sons, family and friends dearly. She had a sweet and kind spirit that will be remembered and missed. Melissa graduated from Frostproof High School in 1997 and worked at Cargill and Citrosuco for much of her adult life. The past several years she took great pleasure in babysitting and spoiling her great nieces and nephews.
The immediate family will have a private service on November 29, 2022. Friends and extended family are invited to celebrate Melissa’s life on January 8, 2023 starting at 3 p.m. at the Frostproof Community Center on Wall Street. Please come and share your memories of Melissa with her family.
*Celebration of Life updates can be found on Melissa’s Facebook page and her sister Mary’s Facebook page.
Welcome, World Travelers! The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is Pure Holiday Fun!
Welcome, World Travelers! The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is Pure Holiday Fun!
by James Coulter
Sigh, yes! I know, I know! I said I was going to get around to reviewing Disenchanted. But the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special premiered Thanksgiving weekend and I’mgoing on vacation this week. So given the choice between watching two full-length movies to review one movie properly or watching a less-than-an-hour-long holiday special based on my favorite Marvel franchise, that choice is a given! (I promise my next review will be Disenchanted!)
Did I mention that Guardians is my favorite Marvel franchise? Because it is! The only thing better than the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie is its sequel Vol. II. And you bet Cosmic Rewind has become my favorite attraction in Disney World, if not Epcot Center. (I even wrote a review on that ride!)
So, when I heard there was going to be a Guardians holiday special, you know I was looking forward to it. That special made its premiere this Thanksgiving weekend on Disney Plus. Now the question remains: is The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special the best, or is it the best?
As anyone who’s seen the Guardians movies know, Peter Quill was kidnapped by space pirates called Ravagers when he was a child. When he was initially captured, young Peter wanted to celebrate his earth holiday of Christmas, but the Ravager leader,Yondu, being opposed to any “sentiment”, did not approve. Since then, Peter has never celebrated the holiday.
Cut to present day, and, upon hearing that story, the Guardians want to cheer up Peter by giving him the best Christmas ever. They decide to do so by giving him the best present ever. And what do they consider getting him? His favorite Earth hero, the legendary Kevin Bacon. Will the Guardians succeed in their mission in finding Bacon for Peter’s Christmas gift?
This special is rather short and to the point. So, the review of it will be equally short and to the point. Essentially, the Guardians of the Galaxy go to Earth to find Kevin Bacon. Wacky hijinksensue!
What makes Marvel movies work so well is how character-driven they are. These are not films with characters in them. Rather, they are about characters who appear in movies. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is all about the characters—all of whom are so well-rounded, energetic, and animated that they work well in any scenario, even outside of their standard action-adventure superhero storylines.
This is the reason why the Avengers work equally-well fighting in action scenes as they do hanging out in a café eating shawarma at the end of The Avengers or chilling out in a cabin in the middle of the wilderness during Age of Ultron. These characters are so relatable that they work well simply bouncing off each other in casual settings. So, having Marvel superheroes starring in a Christmas special where they do nothing else other than try to make it through the holidays makes for great entertainment even without them engaging in high-octane action scenes.
The Guardians of the Galaxy work well for such a casual storyline, as these characters and their movies already had a healthy level of comedy to them. Because, well, they’re the Guardians of the Galaxy! Two of their main characters are a snarky gun-toting racoon and a talking tree that can only say its name. It would be weirder if these characters only took themselves seriously. So, of course a Christmas comedy special was right up their alley.
Again, there’s not much to this movie. The Guardians want to cheer up their leader, so they go to Earth to get him Kevin Bacon as his Christmas present. Again, wacky hijinks ensue. And of all the characters to go on this mission, Drax and Mantis are the most apropos. One is an alien whose species is biologically and culturally incapable of grasping metaphorical language, and the other is a telepathic bug person whose isolatedupbringing makes her socially naïve and awkward. So, of course, seeing these aliens without any grasp of Earth culture bumble their way through Hollywood in search of an actor they assume to be a legendary hero is pure comedic gold.
What makes their wacky antics even wackier is that, despite their sheer ineptitude, they are both insanely super-powered compared to the average earthling—excuse me, Terran! Believe me when I say that seeing these two plow through cops by Drax deflecting bullets with his bulletproof skin and Mantis subduing people by controlling their minds and placing them in trances legit made me feel intimidated by these two. No spoilers, but I legitimately felt worried and concerned for Bacon, who, despite being pursued and kidnapped by two space aliens, acted cool as a cucumber throughout the special.
I won’t go into too much detail with this review, as the special is rather short and saying any more about how it plays out would be giving too much away. Let’s just say that this special has as much heart as it does laughs—and let’s say the heart-warming moments truly are! Oh, and, of course, it has some real sweet tunes. What Guardians film would be complete without them?The opening song not only works as a real catchy earworm, but also a comedic riot as it’s written by an alien with a gross misunderstanding of Christmas and Earth culture.
In short, while The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special isn’t going to make the pantheon of great holiday classic specials like Rudolph or Grinch or Charlie Brown, it certainly is a special treat in and of itself and certainly worth the watch, especially if you’re a Marvel fan—and especially if you’re a Guardians fan! It’s not a Christmas feast, but it is a sweet piece of peppermint—short yet sweet and savory in its own small way!
Test-Drive Ends With Fatal Crash in Winter Haven
Press Release Provided by PCSO
A Davenport woman was killed Saturday, November 26, 2022, when the vehicle she was riding in was involved in a crash with another vehicle in Winter Haven.
At about 5:42 pm, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash on Cypress Gardens Boulevard, in front of the Hill Nissan car dealership.
Upon the arrival of first responders, 76-year old Jean Worme was found deceased.
The PCSO Traffic Homicide Investigations learned that the victim had been a front passenger in a white 2023 Nissan Rogue that was being test driven by 86-year old Clifford Worme, and the vehicle was making its return to the dealership.
Based on evidence and witness statements, investigators say that the Rogue was traveling east on Cypress Gardens Boulevard and began a left turn into Hill Nissan, crossing into the path of a red 2007 Nissan Murano that was traveling in the westbound lanes.
Mr. Worme only suffered minor injuries. The rear passenger in the Nissan Rogue, who was a Hill Nissan sales representative, and the driver of the Nissan Murano were both uninjured.
All of the people involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts.
The westbound lanes of Cypress Gardens Boulevard were closed for about four hours.
This investigation remains ongoing.
Beltone Hearing and Diversity Healthcare Celebrate Ribbon Cutting
Beltone Hearing and Diversity Healthcare Celebrate Ribbon Cutting
by James Coulter
Do you or your loved one have a problem hearing? Do you feel you or they might require a hearing aid or any other product to help them understand others?
Or perhaps you’re a man who requires attention for your male-related health issues? Or you’re someone who identifies as LGBTQ requiring treatment in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment.
Whether you need better hearing or healthcare sympathetic to your unique needs, the new facility for Beltone Hearing and Diversity Healthcare can assist you.
Located at 1011 East Main Street, the new facility provides convenient access for patients in the downtown area. There,patients can enjoy personable healthcare that can attend to their hearing problems or male-related or LGBTQ-related health issues.
Both healthcare providers celebrated the grand opening of their facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Northeast Polk Chamber of Commerce on Monday morning. Two ribbon cuttings were hosted for each provider.
Beltone Hearing is a nationwide service that helps patients with their hearing problems, be it hearing loss or tinnitus, with high-quality products ranging from hearing aids to closed-captioned telephones.
“At Beltone, you get a hearing partner who is with you every step of the way,” their website states. “Your Beltone hearing care professional will take the time to get to know you to ensure personalized care that’s tailored to your needs and lifestyle. You can count on Beltone whenever and wherever you go.”
Beletone Hearing has been in the Haines City area for 20 years. Chris Fisher, Hearing Instrumental Specialist, purchased it from the previous owners five years ago. He moved it to its current location earlier this year in January.
Previously, Beletone was located at MidFlorida Eye Specialists for 18 years. When the Eye Specialists decided to expand their facility, Fisher decided to move Beletone to their facility in the downtown area.
“We wanted to bring more downtown and see what we can do to revitalize and grow the area,” he explained. “We are growing along with Diversity Healthcare. We are trying to get more space and [help] revitalize the Haines City area. It is great to see more businesses move into the area. We are glad to be part of the Haines City family and see the city grow.”
Diversity Healthcare shares the same facility. They are a primary healthcare provider with a focus on men’s and LGBTQ health issues. No matter your gender, sex, or orientation, you are guaranteed to receive friendly, personable care in a judgment-free environment.
“We provide comprehensive patient-centered healthcare,” their website states. “People who come to Diversity Healthcare can expect polite, friendly, helpful staff members who relate to each person as an individual, recognizing their history, relationships, culture, sexual identity, and specific individual needs.”
Clay Reedy, a Nurse Practitioner, opened their practice on September 12. As the first and only healthcare provider focused primarily on the healthcare needs of the LGBTQ community, he is excited about opening their new facility and sharing it with Beletone Hearing.
“We are glad to be in this new building, we are sharing the wealth of this new building, and we are glad you are all here,” Reedy said. “I am excited about this facility. It is a beautiful building with comfortable space and we are excited about being here in Haines City.”
Beltone Hearing and Diversity Healthcare are located at 1011 East Main Street, Haines City, FL 33844. For more information, call 863-421-4415.
