LAKELAND, FL (August 6, 2022) – On Saturday, July 2, 2022, at approximately 4:47 p.m., uniform patrol officers responded to the Big Oaks Apartments, located at 1586 Big Oaks Drive, in reference to a shooting. On scene, officers located a 24-year-old male victim inside an apartment with a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began securing the location and rendering aid until emergency medical responders from Lakeland Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue arrived. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Health, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
On Thursday, August 4, 2022, detectives charged Thomas Anthony Rivera, age 24, with Second Degree Murder. Rivera has been in jail since July 3, 2022, after being arrested for tampering with evidence and providing false information to law enforcement officers in this case.
Rivera had initially claimed that he had left the apartment he shared with the victim to walk his dog when he heard gunshots, returned to the apartment, and found the victim. He also claimed seeing two men running from the location with guns and fleeing the scene. Video surveillance at the property proved all of the allegations false. Evidence found at the scene indicated that Rivera was the only person in the apartment at the time of the shooting and was in close proximity to the victim when he was killed. It was also determined through additional witness interviews that Rivera had waited possibly 30 minutes or more to call 911 for the victim.
This remains an active and open investigation. No other details will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact Detective Troy Smith at 863.834.8958or t[email protected].
PSWCD Board Meeting August 16th, 2022 – 4:30pm 1702 Highway 17 S. Bartow FL, 33830 Brenneman Room This meeting is open to the public.
Call to order
Pledge of allegiance Roll call Approval of May 17th, 2022, Meeting Minutes
Chair Report- Daniel Lanier
Vice Chair Report- Joe Garrison Secretary/Treasurer Report- Katie Smith
Public Relations Report Old Business -Request missing receipts from Brett Upthagrove for 2017/2018 purchases -Finalize Budget -Review new law (SB 1078) for Soil & Water Boards -Budget -Audit Report
New Business -Plaques for 2022 Florida Land and Homesite FFA Champions
Welcome, World Travelers! Is RRR The Best Movie You’ve Never Seen?
by James Coulter
Sometimes, I wonder if I’m doing everyone a disservice by reviewing only Disney films. Does anyone really need to be encouraged to see the latest Disney or Marvel movie? Of course folks are going to watch and like it. People don’t need to be told to see it. But you know what they should be told to watch? One of the greatest blockbusters ever made that very few people have seen or even heard of!
RRR is not a Disney movie—and with a PG-13 rating that leans in hard with graphic violence, it’s not exactly a “family” film either. It’s an Indian film that experienced a limited theatrical release earlier this year before being released onto Netflix. But believe me when I say RRR is not only the best movie I’ve seen this year, but the best I’ve watched in the past several years. It is that good!
RRR can be best described as what would happen if a Japanese anime received a live-action adaptation with the budget and production value of a Marvel movie and with intermittent Hamilton-style musical numbers. It is a roller coaster of high-octane action and emotion. Everything about it is gloriously melodramatic!
Honestly, I fear words cannot do this movie justice. If the promise of explosions caused by arrow-launched grenades, strong men fighting wolves and tigers with their bare hands, and climatic action scenes set amidst hordes of attacking wild animals doesn’t interest you, I’m not sure what will. The best I can tell you is to stop reading this review, turn on Netflix, and watch this movie for yourself. The movie is just that good. And if you require more than that to pique your interest, allow me describe the first few moments of the movie:
RRR is set in India in the early 20th-century during British occupation. The movie with the British govenor and his wife visiting a small village in the middle of the jungle. A young girl named Mali attends to the wife and sings her a song. The governor’s wife loves her singing so much that she pays the child’s mother. But she is not paying for the song. She is buying the child! The mother tries to stop them, but is nearly shot by a guard. The governor stops the guard and tells him shooting her would be wrong—because it would be a waste of a good bullet! So the guard batters the mother to death with a tree branch instead. This is our inciting incident!
The movie follows two protagonists. The first, Bheem, is a tribal leader and the girl’s brother who has been sent to rescue the girl. In his introductory scene, he stands in the middle of the jungle wearing only a loincloth, lures a wild wolf to chase him and fight a wild tiger, and then fights the tiger himself with only his bare hands.
The second, Ram, is an officer in the British army. He has been commissioned to track down and capture Bheem. In his introductory scene, he single-handedly leaps into an angry mob and cuts his way through thousands of protesters using only hisbaton. One guard tells his commanding officer that the wild mob scared him. His commanding officer replies that Ram scares him more.
Both protagonists eventually cross paths, not realizing they are both enemies, and join forces to save a boy from a burning bridge. Both characters take hold of a rope. One drives one direction on a motorbike. The other, in the opposite direction on a horse. One takes hold of the Indian flag before they both jump off the bridge, swing down on the rope, and fish the boy out of the water with the flag before being crushed by the falling train. Both men then take each other by the hand in the most epic handshake against the backdrop of the exploding engine.
All of this happens before the opening title sequence—nearly 40 minutes into the movie, which is three hours long! Again, if these first few moments do not encourage you to keep watching the movie, I’m not sure what will.
Yes, you read that correctly. RRR is a three-hour movie! Yet the film is so jam-packed with thrills and action that you’ll hardly feel time pass. Every action scene feels epic and climatic, to the point where you’ll assume the movie is near the end, only to notice that many more minutes of the movie still remain.
Such is the case with one action scene where Bheem attempts to rescue Mali by crashing a truck into a mansion, unleashing a horde of wild animals onto unsuspecting partygoers to be horrifically maimed and killed, and to stand off against another character who enters in on a flaming chariot pulled by a herd of deer. This climatic scene feels like the movie’s epic conclusion, but it comes in at only the halfway point!
Everything about this movie is over-the-top. The protagonists aren’t just good guys. They’re heroes with Herculean strength performing death-defying feats. And the antagonists they face off against aren’t just bad guys. They’re mustache-twirling villains without a single trace of sympathy. The govenor values the cost of a bullet more than actual human life (a sentiment that ironically comes back to haunt him), and his blood-thirsty wife nonchalantly offers a barbed whip to use on a prisoner. This movie wants you to actively cheer the heroes and jeer the villains.
The only thing larger than the action scenes are the musical numbers. Yes, like any good Indian movie, there are cinematic musical numbers. The best, by far, has the two main characters engaged in a Bollywood-style dance battle against stuffy stiff-upper-lipped British aristocrats during a formal party. Then there’s one scene where a character is being publicly flogged, singing a song so moving it inspires the crowd to riot. And the movie ends with an ultra-patriotic number lauding the praises of India—a number which, had it been performed in an American movie about America, would have been decried as either parody or propaganda.
There is so much I want to praise about this movie, but I’ve already written so much. Overall, RRR is not a good movie. It is not even a great movie. It is one of the best movies. That may sound hyperbolic, but to quote Patrick Willems’ review: the movie itself is hyperbolic. It has everything: action, adventure, romance, comedy, suspense, and great music. It’s everything a great movie should be. If you have Netflix, go watch it. You will not be disappointed!
More Than 17 Local Political Candidates Attend Polk Politics Rally
By James Coulter
Born and raised in Polk County, and having taught within its school system for years, Tara Wheat knows the needs of local children. She hopes to service their needs, along with the needs of adults, when she assumes the position of Polk County Judge (Group 8) if elected.
She had taught at Bartow High School and George Jenkins High School for three years. At the latter school, she even taught legal studies, teaching both business and civil law. She later worked at the public defender’s office where she represented juveniles charged with delinquency offenses in court. As a firm believer in constitutional rights, she believes everyone has a right to a proper defense, and she hopes to represent people thusly as a judge.
“Some people think you are just helping criminals try to get out of their punishment…but often…we are counseling people and telling them what the law is and teaching them [about it], and we are helping them basically with the best possible resolution that they can, and if their rights are violated, then it is our job to make sure that it is rectified,” she said.
Tara Wheat was one of the many judicial candidates for county judge, as well as many other political candidates running for other positions, who participated in this year’s Polk Politics Candidate Rally, hosted at the Bartow Civic Center.
Hosted by the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, the rally was attended by 17 political candidates running for local positions, from school board members to county judges and even a congressional seat. Each candidate set up booths inside the civic center, where they could distribute pamphlets and other information about their political platform. They also had five minutes of stage time to share their platform with an audience.
Aside from being able to meet the candidates and learn more about local politics, attendees were also able to enjoy free hot dogs, popcorn, and water. They could also register to vote in the upcoming election and vote in a straw poll to determine which of the participating candidates were the most popular during the event.
The political rally had been hosted every other year by the local chamber, usually to coincide with either a presidential or midterm election. Last year’s event had been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s event experienced a much lighter turnout of 150 attendees, slightly shy of their average attendance of 200 to 250 attendees.
Nevertheless, Virginia Condello, Interim Executive Director of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, was still impressed by the turnout, especially by the participating candidates. She had spoken with someone who had attended a similar rally several days ago, and it was only attended by two candidates. So seeing 17 candidates attend this rally was great, she said.
“This event [succeeds because] the community would like to know their candidates, this gives them an opportunity to meet and greet them,” she said. “A lot of times, they cannot do that, so that is why this is often a success.”
Rob Kincart, a member of ACT Environmental, and moderator for the event, was slightly disappointed with the turnout, as previous years often drew in larger crowds. He attributed the low attendance to this year being a midterm election, and thus not receiving as much attention from local constituents.
“Since it was a midterm election, they are not as concerned, which upsets me, [as this] is time to step up, meet the candidates, and vote for who you want to so you cannot complain that you are not getting the candidates making the decisions that you want,” he said.
Nevertheless, he was satisfied with the participation of the local candidates. Every political position in a democracy is important, which is why both voters and candidates need to be engaged with one another and become more informed about each other, he said.
“I wish people would take more interest in the candidates,” he said. “I am proud of the folks who are running. It is a tough job, but they are taking control of the situation.”
A back-to-school physical is more than just a routine doctor appointment. It’s a great way to get your child’s school year off to the healthiest start possible.
Back-to-school physicals (also called well-child exams) are a chance for the doctor to evaluate your child’s growth and development, screen for common childhood conditions and make sure immunizations are up to date. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your child’s next check-up.
Prepare Some Questions
Before the visit, think about any questions you have related to your child’s health. Back-to-school physicals can be busy, and it’s easy to forget what you wanted to ask. Maybe you’re worried about your child’s sleep habits, screen time or fitness level.
When you arrive for your child’s appointment, let a nurse or physician assistant know about your questions so they can give the doctor a heads up.
Bring Your Forms
Many schools ask parents to fill out and return health-related forms before school starts in the fall, most of which require a doctor’s signature. Be sure to bring those school health forms with you to your child’s physical. If you don’t have the forms you need, check the school website or call the school secretary for help.
Think About Other Prescriptions
It’s also important to bring along a list of the medications your child takes regularly. Another option would be to download the AdventHealth app, where you can find physicians, schedule appointments, create personalized medical profiles for your whole family, and more.
Be sure to let the doctor know if your child received other medical care in the last year. This could include physical therapy, speech therapy or chiropractic care, for example.
Prepare for Immunizations
Immunizations keep kids and communities safe. They protect infants, children and teens from serious diseases. All school systems require certain immunizations in order for children to attend classes. Your child’s back-to-school physical is the ideal time to get up to date on those shots. If your child missed any immunizations at a younger age, the doctor may give “catch-up” immunizations.
Talk It Out
During the appointment, the doctor will want to talk with you and your child about health and safety. The conversation might cover topics such as exercise, nutrition, healthy sleep patterns, school work or household chores. It’s a way for the doctor to learn more about your child’s whole health and identify problems that may need medical care.
Before You Go
At the end of the appointment, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing you’re doing all you can to start your child’s next school year in the healthiest way possible.
If you need a pediatrician or family medicine doctor, AdventHealth is here to help. Learn more at PolkFamilyCare.com.
On Sunday, July 31, 2022, PCSO deputies arrested 21-year-old Kyle Raemisch of Winter Haven after he fatally shot a family member in their shared home and then called 911 to report it. He has been booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with first degree murder, a capital felony.
If PCSO receives permission from the family to release the victim’s name, we will do so at that time. Per Marsy’s Law we do not release victim information unless we have permission from the family.
Just after 10:00 a.m. that morning, PCSO received two 911 calls about the incident: one call from a neighbor who called to report that the suspect was shooting a gun in the garage — while that caller was on the line with the dispatcher he reported seeing the victim deceased in the garage; and one call from the suspect stating he had shot the victim and that the victim was dead.
The following are excerpts from Raemisch’s affidavit, and they are self-explanatory:
Upon arriving on scene, Deputies located the suspect, Kyle Raemisch, and detained him. Multiple Deputies entered the residence through the open garage door and observed the victim lying on the garage floor, obviously deceased. Law enforcement conducted a safety sweep of the residence to ensure no other victims were present. Located on a shelf directly across from the inside garage door was a black, Sig Sauer a (9MM) semi-automatic handgun.
Located on the floor of the garage were 14 spent shell casings. Located in the foyer directly in front of the garage door was 1 spent shell casing. In total, fifteen (15) spent shell casings were located at the scene. Located on the garage floor, the decedent was lying on his side with apparent gunshot wounds throughout his body. On the south end of the garage were two (2) apparent bullet holes to a garage door. Next to the door was a surfboard with apparent entry bullet holes. Both the door and the surfboard were directly behind the decedent’s body.
Prior to Law Enforcement arriving, suspect Kyle Raemisch contacted 911. The suspect stated to the 911 dispatcher he had shot the victim and was following instructions from the 911 dispatcher. When asked where the suspect shot the victim he stated “The head.” When asked why he shot the victim, the suspect stated “Because of the money.” The suspect stated he has been held hostage for far too long. When asked how many time he shot the victim the suspect stated “Too many times.”
While on scene, I made contact with suspect Kyle Raemisch and read him his Miranda Rights from an agency issued Miranda card. While reading the suspect his rights, he quickly stated he wanted a lawyer.
PCSO looking for hit & run driver who caused serious injuries to motorcyclist
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a hit & run crash that occurred on K-Ville Avenue (County Road 542) at Thornhill Road in the Winter Haven area, which left a motorcyclist with life-threatening injuries.
The crash was called into the Emergency Communications Center at about 8:47 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, 2022.
The victim, a 67-year old Auburndale man, sustained numerous broken bones and head trauma, and was taken to a local hospital.
Based on evidence and statements, the preliminary investigation determined that that the victim had been driving his motorcycle west on K-Ville Avenue while another vehicle was heading eastbound. At the intersection with Thornhill Road, the suspect turned left (north) and crashed into the victim.
The suspect’s vehicle continued to push the motorcycle across the pavement for several feet before coming to a stop. At that time, the suspect put the vehicle in reverse to separate the vehicles.
The suspect then fled from the scene, continuing northbound on Thornhill.
The PCSO helicopter was used to look for the suspect vehicle, but was unable to locate it.
The suspect vehicle is described as being a maroon pick-up truck with a lift kit (which raises the truck’s height). The front left area of the truck may have damage caused from the crash.
If anyone has any information regarding this hit and run investigation, please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. Tips can also be made anonymously to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477), and if the tips leads to an arrest, the tipster could be eligible for a reward.
LAKELAND, FL (July 30, 2022) – On Friday, July 29, 2022, at approximately 10:15 p.m., officers responded to a traffic crash near the intersection of South Crystal Lake Drive and Lowry Avenue in Lakeland. Prior to the crash, a 2015 Nissan Rogue was traveling eastbound on South Crystal Lake Drive. At the intersection, the driver attempted to make a left turn onto Lowry Avenue and crossed into the path of a 2012 Honda Accord traveling westbound on South Crystal Lake Drive. The two vehicles collided, causing the Honda to leave the roadway onto the road shoulder and strike a pedestrian who was in the grass area placing a garage sale sign.
The Lakeland Police Department Patrol Unit, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department arrived on the scene and began life-saving measures. The pedestrian, a 41-year-old male from Lakeland, was pronounced deceased at the scene by on-scene medical personnel. The driver of the Honda, an 18-year-old male from Lakeland, was transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment. The driver of the Nissan, a 16-year-old female, and one adult passenger, both from Lakeland, did not require transport to the hospital.
Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The roadway was shut down for approximately four hours while the scene was processed for the ongoing investigation.
If anyone has any additional information regarding the crash, please contact Sergeant Dale Deas at [email protected].
Hundreds of Children Flock to Harvest Church for Back to School Bash
by James Coulter
Hundreds of children and their parents were able to receive free backpacks filled with school supplies and enjoy food, fun, and games this weekend during the Back to School Bash at Harvest Church in Lakeland.
Several hundred backpacks packed with school supplies were handed out to children at the church, where they could engage in other fun activities including bounce houses, face painting, and lawn games. Attendees young and old could also eat hot dogs, chips, and drinks.
This year’s event was themed to video games. Video games characters from the Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog series decorated the inside of the church, and the sanctuary was decorated with giant sonic loops, item blocks, and green pipes.
The main festivities were hosted inside the church sanctuary, which was packed both nights to near standing room only by children and their families. They had the opportunity to sit in either “Team Mario” or “Team Sonic” and participate in games and activities hosted by church members dressed as video game characters.
Despite the occasional rain over the weekend, which forced attendees inside and stopped the outdoor activities, the Back to School Bash drew in large crowds. Previous events have drawn in turnouts of more than 600 attendees, explained Pastor Keith Conley.
Harvest Church considers itself a very community-oriented church whose core value, according to its website, is to love God, and love all people. As their mission statement claims: “We believe in order to see our world come to know Jesus, we must be fully committed to growing our personal lives, giving to the ministry, and serving those in need.”
For 20 years, they have hosted their Back To School Bash. Previous events had been hosted at local stadiums and at the Lakeland Civic Center, only to be inevitably packed out, with current events hosted at their church, Pastor Conley.
“We moved it in here so we would have a more intimate touch with our community,” he said. “We know the need in Polk County is great. It wasn’t long ago more kids went to bed hungry than any other county in America. So, we feel like we need to make sure the church is doing outreach and meeting the needs of the people.”
Their second biggest event is their Halloween event, which has experienced near similar turnouts with nearly a thousand attendees. Pastor Conley is confident that their future outreaches will be just as large, if not larger, and they have more than high expectations.
Harvest Church is located at 2120 Airport Rd in Lakeland, FL. Sunday morning services are hosted at 9 and 11 a.m. and Sunday evening at 6 p.m. For more information about its ministries and upcoming events, visit their website at: https://www.harvestlakeland.church/
