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/
Polk County Native Vies For Judge Seat In Upcoming County Election
Tara Wheat, a Polk County native is running for Polk County Judge Group 8. Wheat’s family has a long history here, as her great grandparents moved to Lake Wales in the early 1920s, her grandmother was born on the grounds of Bok Tower Gardens and her mother has lived in Lake Wales her whole life. Wheat also was born in Lake Wales and moved back and forth between Lake Wales and Lakeland during her school years.
“Like my grandmother and mother before me, I attended high school at Lake Wales High School,” Wheat said. “I also received dual enrollment credit from Polk State College. Upon graduation, I received numerous scholarships from sources such as Florida Southern College, Polk Education Foundation, and Mountain Lake. I graduated from Florida Southern in three years with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration.”
While pursuing her education, Wheat met her now husband, Randy. They got married in 2006 and have four children: stepchildren Branden (23) and Kalle (20), and children Chacea (15) and Holden (10).
“After three years as an English teacher at Lake Wales High School, I enrolled at Stetson University College of Law, in their part-time program, on a full merit scholarship. I worked as a teacher at Bartow High School and George Jenkins High School while attending Stetson. I graduated from Stetson in May of 2012 and passed the Florida Bar Exam later that year. I continued teaching legal courses at George Jenkins High School in the Academy of Legal Studies, as well as practicing law on my own on a part-time and pro bono basis from 2013 to 2016. In 2016, I began working full time as an assistant public defender and have continued in that position for the past six years. I currently serve as an attorney representing juveniles in delinquency court.”
This year, Wheat is running for Polk County Judge in Group 8 and she is the only Polk candidate running who was both born and raised locally. For those who do not know what being a county judge entails:
“A county judge is a public servant who handles legal matters in areas of misdemeanor criminal law, traffic law, civil law under $30,000 ($50,000 in 2023), evictions, and small claims,” Wheat said. “It is often said that county court is the “people’s court” because, over their lifetime, if someone comes to the courthouse, it will, more likely than not, be for county court. As a judge, it would be my duty to faithfully follow and uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Florida Constitution and the law of Florida. I am running for this position because I have been a public servant for almost 20 years, as a teacher and an attorney at the Public Defender’s Office, and I believe I have the qualifications and temperament necessary to serve as an unbiased, impartial, and balanced presence on the county bench.”
It is important to Wheat that all people in the community are respected, and that they are heard and their concerns are properly addressed.
“When people come into county court, I want to ensure that they feel they’ve been heard, that their concerns have been validated, and that they have been treated fairly and with respect. As Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” If their only experience in the justice system is in county court in their lifetime, I want people to have as good of an experience as possible, regardless of whether the outcome was in their favor or not.”
As judge, Wheat plans to treat all people as equals and work her hardest to ensure people feel appreciated and respected.
“I care deeply about my community and its citizens and promise to treat all citizens equally and fairly under the law,” she said.
Why vote for Wheat?
“I have the necessary experience, knowledge of the law, and temperament to be an impartial and unbiased presence on the county bench. As the only candidate born and raised in Polk County, with roots going back to the 1920s, I have the strongest ties to this community and its citizens. I love Polk County and have never even considered calling anywhere else my home. I want to continue to be a public servant for my community and its people. As a former educator for ten years, I’ve had to manage a classroom of students of all different backgrounds; this is not so different from managing a courtroom of people from all different walks of life. In essence, a judge presides over a courtroom the way a teacher would over a classroom. My work as an attorney in the Public Defender’s Office, as well as my time as an educator, have taught me to approach difficult decisions with logic and objectivity. When evaluating cases, I believe in the importance of thorough examination of facts and legal precedent, which would allow me to evaluate each case with sound, objective reasoning, always ensuring I am following the laws of Florida and the United States, as well as the Constitution.”
There are often questions asked to judicial candidates that they cannot answer. Wheat understands that this could make voting decisions difficult when choosing who to vote for.
“I hope that voters understand that the Florida Statutes as well as the Rules of Judicial Conduct prohibit me (and the other candidates) from answering any questions about my political affiliation or any political issues that may come before the court, or that may hint at a particular political affiliation,” Wheat said. “Judicial races in Florida are not just non-partisan, but are specifically non-political, and answering these types of questions could cause a judicial candidate to be disciplined, fined, or even removed from the race. Regardless of any personal beliefs, it is a judge’s duty to set aside all biases in order to maintain impartiality and neutrality while on the bench. It is important in the judicial race that all candidates follow these rules – as much as it might be difficult for voters to make their decisions without having the answers to those questions, it’s much more important that, as a candidate, I prove to the public that I will always follow the rules, even during campaigning.”
The upcoming primary will be held on August 23.
Vote by mail ballots have already been mailed to the public, however, voters can still request a mail ballot until August 13 online at polkelections.com. Early voting will occur in nine locations throughout Polk County from August 13-20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voters who plan to vote on August 23 should double check their new voter registration card, as some precincts have recently changed.
This Local Lake Wales Actor Starred in Star Wars: Kenobi on Disney Plus
by James Coulter
Obi-Wan Kenobi and young Princess Leia find themselves stranded on a remote planet. They come across a mole-like alien named Freck, who agrees to give them a ride to the nearest port. Kenobi walks to the back of the vehicle to step on, only to discover an Empire flag proudly draped upon it. They are not in safe company.
They drive along a deserted country road, listening to Freck sing the Empire’s praises, when they stop. Three Stormtroopers board. Freck has agreed to give them a ride as well. Now Kenobi and Leia are not in safe company.
“Where are you all coming from?” Freck asks them.
“They’re moving us around,” one Stormtrooper replies. “We’re looking for a Jedi.”
“A Jedi? Out here?” Freck asks, not realizing Kenobi is the Jedi they’re referring to. “Hope we’re not in any danger.”
This scene plays out in the third episode of “Kenobi”, the newest Star Wars mini-series on Disney Plus. While most Stormtrooperare nameless, the actor playing this Stormtrooper has a name: Shane Hartline.
A Lake Wales native, Shane Hartline has appeared in roles from shows like Disney Channel’s “Stuck in the Middle” to movies like “Rock of Ages.” Recently, he made an appearance in a comedy sketch on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and he even played a Stormtrooper in Star Wars’ “Kenobi,” acting alongside EwanMcGregor’s titular character.
Hartline has been a lifelong Star Wars. He has fond memories of the movies, both the originals and prequels, and he still has videos of himself playing with his toys as a child. His favorites movie are the “Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,”though the prequels have a special place in his heart. So he was more than excited to finally appear in a Star Wars project.
“It was a dream come true,” Hartline said. “It was surreal. I will never forget the experience, and I geeked out the whole time…With the Kenobi series, it is nice to see the prequels get some love and appreciation because I think they are great films that deserve great attention.”
Hartline was both excited and nervous to work with such a famous actor like Ewan McGregor, though working inside a large clunky suit more than helped, he admitted. For three days, Hartline worked alongside McGregor on that particular scene. The hardest part, admittedly, was keeping quiet about the whole production for a year before the mini-series premiered last month.
During that time, he and McGregor conversed with one another, talking about their acting careers. One interesting tidbit Hartline learned was that this scene was Ewan’s first interaction with a real physical Stormtrooper. In the prequel films, most of the Stormtroopers were CGI characters, so Hartline’s character was one of the first real-life Troopers McGregor spoke to in character.
“I did not want to be one of those annoying actors, so I kept it casual; but, on the inside, I was freaking out,” Hartline said. “It is Obi-Wan and I am sitting across from him for three straight days…It was incredible.”
A Lake Wales native, Hartline became interested in acting by shooting his own home movies and music videos with his parents’ camcorder. He later took improv classes through Comedy Buffet in Winter Haven and the Sak Comedy Club in Orlando. He even hosted improv comedy sketches at the Lake Wales Care Center and Toy World in downtown Lake Wales.
He later moved to Los Angeles, where he auditioned for and appeared in several roles. His biggest role before Kenobi was in the movie “Rock of Ages”, allowing him the honor to act alongside big-name stars such as Tom Cruise, Russel Brand, and Alec Baldwin.
Since then, he has appeared in the independent movie, “Addicted To You”, several television shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “Graceland”, several television commercials, and many other appearances on Nickelodeon and MTV.
Recently, he appeared in a comedy sketch on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” He had been on the show seven times before. His latest appearance allowed him to work with guest host Anthony Henderson, the first time Hartline worked alongside another celebrity on the show. Coincidentally enough, Ewan McGregor appeared on an episode before his own appearance.
“Usually with most shows, you audition, and you do not hear back for weeks or months,” Hartline explained. “With Kimmel, they call you the day off and ask you if you are available. I was called the day before and I am on set the next day. So it is a really quick process, but it is exciting with a good cast of people every time they ask me.”
Currently, Hartline is working on writing scripts and auditioning for other roles. By far, being able to star in a Star Wars production was the highlight of his career. He loved the movies ever since he was a child, so appearing on “Kenobi” was nothing short of a dream come true. And he’s especially proud of how the role will potentially allow him to land even bigger roles in the future. He was even able to appear on a guest panel at San Diego Comic-Con because of it.
“If Star Wars hadn’t happened, I don’t think that [guest panel appearance] would have happened. It is starting to open doors but I don’t think I have scratched the surface of what it has done for my career,” he said. “It is a big deal, one of those projects, no matter what part you are, it is an actor’s dream. There are so many big names in this industry who are pushed to even be background roles in the universe of Star Wars. Just be able to say they were there. Even massive stars like Jason Sudeikis havebeen a stormtrooper in ‘Mandalorian.’ So, I am in good company.”
More Than 900 Families Served at Annual Backpack & School Supply Giveaway
by James Coulter
In only four hours, more than 900 families and 2,100 were provided with free backpacks and school supplies during the annual Backpack & School Supply Giveaway in Lake Wales, hosted by the Polk State College Start Right Campaign on Saturday.
Several hundred attendees lined up outside the Polk State JD Alexander Center on Central Avenue in Lake Wales to receive their free backpacks filled with school supplies. More than 765 backpacks were given away during this year’s event, explained event organizer Andy Oguntola.
Aside from receiving free supplies for the new school year, attendees could also receive free groceries from a food pantry provided by Freedom Tour Church, and receive free haircuts provided by Gifted Cutz and Ruben’s 5 Star Academy. They could also enjoy food trucks, local vendors, bounce houses, and other fun and games.
“The turnout was just unbelievable and truly we are all blown away by the magnitude of this event,” Oguntola said. “This was truly a blessing! There were no expectations our goal was if we served 100 families or 1000 families people were served.”
The first Backpack & School Supply Giveaway was hosted in 2017. Oguntola was inspired to create the event after dropping off his daughter at school and seeing that many of her other classmates did not have school supplies. He saw a need in the community and decided to help fill it.
“It took me back to when I was a young kid and my family did not have the monetary means to support our family,” he said. “We made a commitment to create this event to make sure any family who wants their child to Start Right their first week of school has the ability to do so. We are not just a community but we are a family! Students should have the ability to have a nice haircut, groceries at home, a nice hot meal, and supplies at their disposal which is our main purpose.”
Nearly 13 sponsors assisted with this year’s event. Host sponsors included Duke Energy, The Freedom Tour, Dyer Kia in Lake Wales, and Tonya Stewart Law. Also, Warner University and its football team assisted families by taking their free supplies to their vehicles and loading them.
“A big thanks to President Angela Falconetti. Without her leadership and support none of this would be possible,” Oguntola said. “Last, I want to thank everyone on my team, Polk State College, and every volunteer who came to assist us with Start Right! [I appreciate] the opportunity for our entire community to become a family for the day and everyone assisted is what I loved! Lake Wales is just so special and unique and moments like this show why. Whenever we decide to come together we can move mountains.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit is investigating the fatal shooting of a 17-year old Davenport male, whose body was found near the roadway near Jennings Road and Jack Watkins Road in Haines City, on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at around 4:51 p.m.
Detectives believe the case is related to a non-fatal shooting of a 17-year old Winter Haven male that occurred on the 600 block of Lemon Street in Dundee, which was reported about 16-minutes earlier.
Detectives are working to find additional witnesses and evidence related to the shooting deaths. If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. If they wish to remain anonymous and eligible for a reward, they can provide information to Heartland Crime Stoppers at 863-226-TIPS (8477).
Anglers Attend Guy Harvey Camp Mack’s Blazing Bass Challenge
by James Coulter
Teams took to the waters of Lake Kissimmee for the Blazing Bass Challenge, the second qualifying tournament of the Bonfire Series Tournament & Festival at Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort in Lake Wales.
Anglers attended the fishing tournament for a chance to land the biggest catch and the biggest fish. Overall, the award for the winner of the Open Division went to Andrew Hall and Will Brown with a weigh-in of 29.9 lbs, the overall winner of the Family Division went Owen and Kyle Gooding with a weigh-in of 20.05 lbs, and the Big Fish went to Scott Siller of the Bait Shop Tap Room Team with a catch weighing 9.53 lbs.
Aside from being able to spend quality time out on the water, attendees could also partake in several raffles for prizes from sponsors like LiPPERT, Aftco, Jackson Kayak, and Blackfly by Vaughn Cochran, listen to live music, enjoy food provided by food vendors, and, of course, witness the lighting of the championship’s signature blazing bass sculpture by local artist Bo Woods on the Friday evening before the big event.
The Saturday tournament was the second qualifying of the Bonfire Series Tournament & Festival. Their first event was the Lunker Lovin’ Smackdown hosted in April. Their next two events will be the Tickled Pink Playoff on Sept. 23 to 24 and the Bonfire Shootout on Nov. 4 – 6.
The Blazing Bass Challenge benefited the Bobby Lane CupFoundation, a fishing tournament hosted by MLF Pro Bobby Lane to raise money for scholarships for local high school student and to give back to his community.
“Bobby wanted to give back to the community that supported him in his journey to becoming a professional bass fishing angler,” their website stated. “This tournament provides a platform for Bobby to encourage our youth to get outdoors and start fishing and introduce them to competitive bass fishing! With the help of the Bartow Yellow Jackets and the Lakeland Jr. Bass Masters he has provided a platform to raise money for scholarships for further education after high school!”
Kevin DeNall, Guy Harvey ResortsEVP, was quite impressed by the turnout for their latest tournament, and he has high hopes for their next two tournaments this fall. These events offer a little bit of everything to bring people down to Lake Kissimmee, and it is all to help raise proceeds for good causes such as the Bobby Lane Cup.
“Bobby Lane Cup has been going on for 11 years and Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort with scholarships to local high school students, so it is a great foundation that Bobby Lane started and we want to give backand support a great cause,” he said.
Camp Mack, A Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina, and RV Resort is located at 14900 Camp Mack Rd, Lake Wales, FL 33898. For more information about their upcoming bass tournaments, visit their website: https://bonfireseries.com/
Local Fort Meade Softball Team Heading to Dixie Youth World Series
By Allison Williams
A local softball team out of Fort Meade will be heading to the World Series soon. The 12 and under Ponytails division with Fort Meade Dixie Youth recently won the Silver Bracket at the SFP (Southeastern Fast Pitch) Sun & Fun tournament, which will help them prepare for the upcoming Dixie Youth World Series from July 29-August 2.
They have had a great season and the team has worked hard all summer to get where they are today. They are excited about the opportunity to represent Team Florida in the World Series.
The special bond that these girls share and the fact that they have all played together for a long time contributes to their successes on the field. Both the players and couches have put in so much work both on and off the field in order to be successful.
Team Roster:
Sahara Cornelius
Destiny Smith
Amiyah Melhado
Giselle Grace
Ryleigh Grace
Skyla Cagle
Na’Kaia Pinkston
Karleigh Puckett
Cadence Reid
Mahala George
Tessa Price
Ivianna Russell
Coaches:
PC Cornelius
Jemalle Cornelius
Brandon Fulse
With travel ball comes costs. To find out ways to donate toward the team for the upcoming World Series traveling, visit the Fort Meade Dixie Youth Page.
Wear Sunscreen Everyday for Healthy, Protected Skin
This time of the year is the perfect opportunity to explore a new beach, play poolside or head to a local park. As you head outside, be sure you and your family enjoy the sunshine safely.
Wear Sunscreen Every Day
Summer isn’t the only time you should wear sunscreen. Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen every day, in every season. Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are two types of UV rays: UVA rays penetrate the deep layers of skin to cause skin damage, and UVB rays damage the skin’s surface and cause sunburn.
The sun’s damage goes deeper than signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots. UV causes damage to the DNA in skin cells, which may make them grow and divide abnormally into cancerous cells. Protect your skin in sunscreen every day — whether it’s a daily lotion and moisturizer in the winter, or a thick sunscreen in warmer months.
Wear Enough and Apply It Everywhere
Experts recommend using at least one ounce of sunscreen to cover the entire body, which is about the size of a marshmallow. Be sure to get easy-to-miss areas including your scalp, around your eyes and feet.
Reapply
Once isn’t enough when it comes to sunscreen application. Apply one ounce of sunscreen at least every two hours or after swimming, towel drying or sweating. Check the bottle’s label for additional directions for your sunscreen.
Pick the Right Sunscreen for You
The best sunscreen is one that you’ll apply regularly. Find a sunscreen that feels good on your skin, so you feel comfortable wearing it every day. Sunscreen is generally divided into two types: Physical and chemical.
Physical sunscreen creates a barrier between your skin and the sun by reflecting UV rays or absorbing it with active ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These types of sunscreens are generally hypoallergenic and may be better for sensitive skin.
Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and break them down with a chemical reaction to stop them from damaging your skin. Whichever you prefer, dermatologists recommend you choose a sunscreen that is:
SPF 30 or Higher
UVA and UVB Protected
Water Resistant
Sunscreen isn’t the only way to prevent skin damage. You can also wear sun protective clothing and take breaks from the sun by choosing shady areas to cool down.
If you notice something unusual on your skin, reach out to your doctor for advice. Find a provider at YourPolkCare.com
LAKELAND, FL (July 25, 2022) – On Monday, July 25, 2022, at approximately 12:32 a.m., officers responded to a traffic crash near the intersection of Swindell Road and County Line Road in Lakeland. Prior to the crash, the driver of a 2013 Toyota Rav4 was traveling northbound on County Line Road at a high rate of speed. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign, traveled across Swindell Road onto the grass shoulder, and hit a tree.
The Lakeland Police Department Patrol Unit, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on the scene and began life-saving measures. The operator of the Toyota, 25-year-old Matthew Chiarenza of Brandon, was pronounced deceased at the scene by on-scene medical personnel.
Members of the Traffic Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The roadway was shut down for approximately two hours while the scene was processed for the ongoing investigation. If anyone has any additional information regarding the crash, please contact investigating Officer Tyler Anderson at [email protected].
