On Tuesday April 19, 2022 we at the Police Department dispersed a release asking the public for help identifying two people who stole merchandise from our local Wal-Mart. The community response was immediate, with both subjects being identified within a short time. Within hours of the post Amber Perdue was under arrest, confessing to the crime and the stolen property had been recovered. The second subject was identified but has not been charged at this time. The members of the Police Department would like to thank those in the community who stepped up and provided information by calling, emailing and utilizing Heartland Crime Stoppers. It brought this case to a quick conclusion. We would also remind you that those committing these seemingly “small crimes” make costs rise for all of us.
If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223.
Michael “Mike” Holt-Reynolds went home to the Lord on March 5, 2022 at the age of 60, in Winter Haven, Florida. He had a talented eye for photography, a great sense of humor, and a way of telling stories.
Preceded in death by his father Virgil Holt, mother Christine Reynolds-Dolin, bonus father Lawrence “Larry” Reynolds, and grandaughter Olivia Ruthe Myers.
Mike is survived by his wife, Penny of Lake Wales, FL; sisters Sheila (Jim) Daniel of Philadelphia, MS and Traci (John) Kaspar of Las Vegas, NV; daughter Ruthe (Timothy) Myers of Harvest, AL; grandchildren Zachary and Lydia Myers of Harvest, AL, as well as nieces, nephews, and friends from all over.
A celebration of life will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, April 23rd, at South Lake Wales Church of God, at 210 Presidents Dr, Lake Wales, FL 33859. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that you give donations to the Alabama Chapter of The TEARS Foundation,
Highlands County, A 35-year-old Lake Wales man driving a motorcycle was pronounced deceased by Florida Highway Patrol after a fatal crash.
According to the report, the driver was heading East on Panther Parkway, between Avon Park & Sebring, approaching a right curve then it reportedly traveled off the roadway entered the grass median, and overturned.
The driver reportedly was found away from his vehicle resting on the grass median.
He was pronounced deceased on the scene.
FHP says that the crash remains under investigation.
*** Due to Marsy’s Law the FHP does not release names of accident victims
On Monday April 18, 2022 at approximately 9:38 PM a robbery was reported at the Gate gas station located at 24179 Highway 27 North. During the robbery a black male entered the store producing a handgun and demanding money from the employees. After retrieving an undisclosed amount of money the subject fled the store.
The suspect is described as a black male in his early 20s with a thin build. He was wearing a red hoodie and a grey face mask carrying a multi-color backpack.
If you have information regarding this case please contact Detective David Arana at 678-4223. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).
April 15, 2022, Lake Wales Police officers responded to 2000 S.R. 60 (Wal-Mart) in reference to a retail theft. One white female and one Hispanic female failed to scan merchandise and passed all points of sale, failing to pay for the items. The Lake Wales Police Departments is seeking assistance with identifying the individuals.
If you have information pertaining to this case or the identity of this person, please contact Officer Sittnick at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223. Or, if you would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers: call 1-800-226- TIPS (8477) or from your cell phone, dial **TIPS, or visit the website www.heartlanderimestoppers.com and click on “Submit a Tip”, or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
City of Lake Wales has ribbon cutting for new affordable housing
The City of Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) provides homes to new residents in the Northwest Neighborhood, as part of phase one of the affordable housing initiative. The city partnered with Keystone Challenge Fund to build two houses on lots previously owned by the Green and Gold Foundation across the street from the B Street Center.
“It’s rewarding to see our efforts positively impact families,” said CRA Project Manager Darrell Starling. “The affordable housing initiative aligns with the steps and goals included in the award- winning Lake Wales Connected Plan for the revitalization of the city’s historic downtown district and Northwest Neighborhood,” he noted. Officials said the homes have an estimated value of $175,000 with mortgage payments estimated at $950 a month, according to Jeff Bagwell, Keystone’s Executive Director.
“If you have looked at rents, what they cost, very few people can find a decent rental for $950, especially in the market we are in today,” said Bagwell. “This program truly changes people’s lives, and there’s a ripple effect,” he noted.
The houses were built by a collaborative effort of the city, CRA, Keystone, Polk County Housing and Neighborhood Development, and SouthState Bank, formally CenterState Bank.
The city paid $10,000 to acquire the lots. An additional $30,000 to cover closing costs was awarded to the city in the form of a community reinvestment grant from SouthState Bank. The county provided up to $250,000 in initial building costs, while Keystone gave more than $50,000. CRA officials said the project will generate about $10,000 in tax increment funding over a three-year period, which would cover the purchase price on the empty lots. Increased tax revenues generated by new growth go back to the CRA to be used towards future development projects.
“We know if we do this right, we can take the entire block and really turn it around,” said Bagwell. We’re very excited about coming to Lake Wales,” Bagwell noted. Bagwell also expressed interest in working with the CRA on beautification projects for additional houses along B Street.
Families picked for the housing will go through class work provided by Keystone to cover such topics as credit, budgeting and how to apply for a mortgage.
“When we sell a home to a family, they are prepared, no doubt about it,” said Bagwell. CRA Chairman Robin Gibson reflected the positive response from city commissioners, which doubles as the CRA board.
“I’m excited to see this partnership go forward. This is something we have been talking about for a while, and this is an avenue that’s going to get us there,” Mayor Eugene Fultz added. Keystone Challenge Fund is a non-profit organization established in 1991 in Lakeland, Florida. For almost 30 years, Keystone has maximized the availability of affordable housing for low-to- moderate-income home buyers to connect families with home ownership, according to company officials.
On April 18, 2022, PCSO detectives arrested 34-year-old Taleta Collier of Winter Havenfor Criminal Use of a Personal ID (F3) and Uttering a False Document (F3) after she created a fake police report to avoid repercussions for excessive tardiness at work.
On April 4, 2022, detectives were contacted by the Assistant Federal Security Director of Law Enforcement with the Federal Air Marshal Service after Collier, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Officer submitted what appeared to be a fake PCSO burglary report.
During the investigation, PCSO detectives learned that Collier was on a TSA employee improvement plan for excessive tardiness when on March 20, 2022, she called the TSA telecommunications office and said she was going to be late for her scheduled shift. Once she arrived at work, Collier told her supervisor she was late because while she was at her parents’ home, a man armed with a knife attempted to burglarize her parents’ vehicle. Collier told her supervisor she drew her agency issued weapon and pointed it at the alleged suspect causing him to flee.
Collier informed her supervisor the incident was reported to PCSO. When asked for a case number or business card of the investigating detective, Collier said she was not provided with either. Collier was instructed to obtain and provide a copy of the report to her supervision.
On April 3rd, Collier texted her supervisor a screen shot of a document that looked similar to a police report. Collier was then instructed to provide an actual copy of the report and not a picture of it, which she never provided. Collier’s supervisor told detectives that the image provided by Collier was cut off halfway through the second page and no incident description was visible.
When Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives reviewed the image, they determined it was an obvious fake PCSO report. The form used to create the document was not an official PCSO form. Furthermore, Collier used the name of a current PCSO deputy and his assigned member number on the document. The deputy was on vacation and out of the country at the date and time listed on the fake report and told deputies he did not respond or create a report on the incident alleged by Collier.
Collier’s parents told detectives that they had no knowledge of a burglary report and that their vehicle had not been burglarized.
Collier was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail. When detectives asked Collier about the armed burglary in an effort to investigate the alleged crime, Collier asked if her employer had contacted PCSO and that she didn’t want to discuss it.
“You can’t make this stuff up. I don’t understand why anyone would go to the extent of creating a fake police report to avoid a reprimand at work for tardiness. Collier has violated the trust of her coworkers and the people she was supposed to keep safe.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
In response to suggestions from our citizens, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announces a new free program where citizens can elect to put decals on their homes and vehicles alerting deputies that someone within has been diagnosed with autism.
“Our deputies are trained on the unique characteristics, behaviors, and needs of people with autism. When a deputy sees one of these stickers, or responds to a home that has registered for this program, he or she will know they might interact with someone who has difficulty communicating or interacting with others. This enables us to better communicate with those who have special needs.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The Autism Decal comes with a registration form, and the information on the form is entered into a database. Those who do not wish to affix a decal to their home or vehicle can still fill out the registration form to be entered into the database. The database enables PCSO to flag addresses into the dispatch system, so arriving deputies will be aware that someone with autism lives in the home.
If you are interested in participating in this program, please email [email protected] and a Crime Prevention Specialist will send you the form and corresponding information.
More Than 100 Artists Display Work at 8th Annual 863 Art Fest
by James Coulter
Most people don’t think twice when they see driftwood washed ashore on the banks of a river. For San Dyke, however, these stray pieces of fallen trees serve as canvases for his creativity.
Dyke loves to travel along the waterways of the panhandle in search of the gnarliest piece of gnarled driftwood. He then takes it back to his place, washes it, sands it down, and transforms it into a unique art piece that can either be used for landscaping or indoor decoration.
“I love being on the river,” he said. “I go out on the river and I treasure hunt, I am always looking for a more unique piece every time, that is how I find all the different pieces.”
Dyke showcased his driftwood artwork at the 8th Annual 863 Art Fest last Saturday in Downtown Winter Haven. From pieces of wood small enough to fit on a table, to gigantic pieces large enough to step inside, he displayed his various driftwood pieces large to small.
He was informed about the event by a local friend. This was his first time attending it. Overall, he enjoyed being able to interact with the locals and he was more than willing to come back again next year.
“This is my first time here, and I want to be back again,” he said. “I will definitely come back. Plenty of people are interested in my craft…I hope more people come to the next event and see what I have.”
Dyke was one of nearly 100 vendors who gathered together at Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven for the 8th Annual 863 Art Fest. From metal sculptures made from scrap to painted pottery and ceramics, anything and everything that could be classified as art was showcased that Saturday.
Caroline and Laurie Hart a married couple who create one-of-a-kind handcrafted, hand-painted pieces of art, from as small as a plank of wood to hang on a wall to as large as a table.
As they previously owned a 1970-style camper, they used to travel across the country and become inspired by the places they visited. Their favorite subject to paint is Disney, as they frequently visit the parks.
This was their first year attending the festival, and their first visit more than meet their expectations. “We love meeting people and people who love our art,” Laurie said. “Everyone is very friendly and cheerful.”
When Sergio Cruz started the Art Fest eight years ago, it had 41 vendors. This year’s event had 97 vendors. And they expect to have 30 percent more next year, especially since they will not be hosting the event on Easter weekend, Cruz explained.
As for its popularity, he owes its success to their marketing and promotions, especially utilizing Google rankings. The 863 Art Fest has been growing exponentially since its inception, and it’s expected to continue growing, Cruz said.
“We are promoting arts and crafts from throughout Central Florida,” he said. “We love doing that…[and this year’s event] is above expectations, above our goal.”
Lake Wales, Florida – The Polk County Fire Rescue is on scene of a wildfire in unincorporated North East Lake Wales. The call came in around 3:15pm with specific location being Huggins Rd.
Currently 7 units are on scene with another 6 units in route. It appears that a rv type vehicle is fully involved also.
This is a developing story. We will update if additional information comes in.
