FHP Troopers have narrowed the search for the suspect vehicle to a 2021 or newer Tesla Model X, dark in color, likely black or gray. The Tesla will likely display damage to the front and/or front-right portion of the vehicle. The Model X is outfitted with gull-wing doors.
Again, anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS.
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January 24, 2025 @ 8:19 PM
Vehicle 2, a Mazda 3, driven by a 37-year-old Lakeland man, was traveling southbound on I-275 near the 32 Milepost, just north of 4th Street North in Pinellas County. The vehicle suffered a flat tire and the driver pulled to a stop along the shoulder of the interstate. While outside of the vehicle and in the process of changing the tire, the driver was struck by a passing vehicle that failed to move over. Transported to an area hospital, the driver later expired from injuries suffered during the crash. Preliminary reports indicate that Vehicle 1 is possibly an unknown model Tesla.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call *FHP (*347) or Crime Stoppers at **TIPS
Chances are, if you’re familiar with Nosferatu, it’s for two reasons:
1) It’s one of the most iconic silent horror movies of all time, and
2) Because the titular character has become a recurring character on SpongeBob SquarePants. (No, I’m dead serious!)
In all seriousness, the original 1922 silent film is one of the most notable horror movies of the silent era, what with its German expressionist visuals, its haunting use of shadows, and, of course, the nightmarish design of the vampire character.
So, nearly a century later, acclaimed direction Robert Eggers has taken on the task of directing a reboot of this horror classic. But was it worth bringing this film back from the dead? Or does it need to be warded off with a crucifix and garlic?
The year is 1838. The place is Wisborg, Germany. A young real estate agent name Thomas Hutter has been sent to the castle of the Count Orlok to sign the deed for a new home. However, to no one’s surprise but Thomas’, this enigmatic count living in a country infamous for vampires turns out to be a vampire!
Count Orlok eventually moves to his new home in Wisborg, where his arrival unleashes a deadly plague that…well…plagues the town. Even more troubling, Orlok seeks to hunt down Thomas’ newlywed wife Ellen to feast on her blood and…uh, do other things. Can Thomas stop the vampire with the help of a vampire hunter? Or will Orlok take more than Ellen’s blood?
I never watched any of Egger’s other films. But I have heard they are good: The Lighthouse, The Witch, The Northman. So, unsurprisingly, his Nosferatu remake turned out to be…pretty good.
If you’re familiar with the original silent movie, Nosferatu essentially follows the exact same story. However, now that a century has passed, Eggers is able to do much more with this movie than the original was able to accomplish, both technically and artistically.
From a technical standpoint, this movie has the benefit of being filmed in color, with sound and spoken dialogue, and with much better and more elaborate special effects. Furthermore, perhaps the most notable upgrade is with the inclusion of sex and violence.
Yes, while the original film was undoubtedly hampered by the puritanical censors and moral standards of its day, what with the aversion toward gory violence and explicit sex and nudity, the 2024 remake, in all of its R-rated glory, leans real hard into the gratuitous blood, gore, and sex. Because aside from wanting to drink Ellen’s blood, now, Count Orlok has a great desire to…eh, do her!
While the movie, in contrast to the original film, is shot in color, it maintains a rather muted color tone that essentially makes it feel like a black-and-white movie.
Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd plays the eponymous Count Orlok, and to no one’s surprise, the actor chilled audiences with his performance of Pennywise the Clown in the It remakes absolutely killed it with his equally chilling performance as the infamous vampire.
And while most of the other acting is rather stifled, William DeFoe provides a breath of fresh air with his almost operatic performance of the eccentric vampire hunter, Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz.
If I have a nitpick to make…well, I have several. Because while the movie was good, there were a few notable “odd” choices that Eggers made.
For example, Count Orlok has a mustache now. And a bushy one at that! Eh, I don’t think anyone was ever intimidated by a Ron Swanson stache but…I guess Eggers has a thing for mustaches. Also, Orlok sleeps in his coffin naked. Why did we need to see the vampire’s dick? Who but Eggers knows. But I guess it was a choice.
Also, while this film has no scruples with leaning into its R-rating with nudity, some of the choices for nude and sex scenes were…questionable.
For example, at the start of the film, Thomas spies on a group of villages leading a naked woman on a horse to the grave of a vampire. Why is she naked? Well, you’d assume it’s to lure the vampire out. But, no. The villagers just exhume his corpse and drive a stake into his chest no problem. So, why bring along the naked chick? You know, aside from having a naked chick on screen?
There’s also a sex scene that’s…well, curious. It’s between Thomas and his wife Ellen. Thing is, he decides to do it with her right after she suffers an epileptic fit with her ranting gibberish and with vomit running still down her cheek. Then he decides to do it with her…fully clothed. (Eh, kinky?)
Look. I’m not saying this movie was bad. It’s just one of those movies that I can agree was good but that I didn’t personally jive with. Aside from the odd filmmaking choices, the overall film was more than two hours long…and it certainly felt longer watching it.
Overall, if you’re a horror fan who’s into the classics, then you’ll certainly get some enjoyment watching this remake of a horror classic. For me, though, I feel like I need to watch something with more excitement and less…old vampire dong.
Bartow, Fla. (Jan. 24, 2025) – Polk County Parks and Recreation will host its 9th annual The Hunt for Sasquatch trail race beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, at Bone Valley ATV Park, located at 10427 County Road 630 West, Mulberry.
The park will be closed to all off-highway vehicles from 8 a.m. to noon, but will offer free entry to all off-highway vehicles and riders when it reopens.
The trail race includes a 10K, 5K, and 1-mile color fun run on the scenic trails of the park. Races will be timed by FITniche and conclude with an awards ceremony for various age groups. Participants can register for the race online at https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Mulberry/TheHuntforSasquatch. Registration costs include a t-shirt and swag bag, while supplies last. Race day registration is available for an additional $10 per race.
For more information on the park, along with all regulations, visit www.bonevalleyatv.com or call (863) 428-0525. Contact Parks and Recreation at (863) 534-6911 for more information about The Hunt for Sasquatch trail race.
Be prepared for the cold night ahead! According to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL, coldest temperatures of the season so far are expected this evening (January 24, 2025) with multiple cold weather hazards anticipated.
A cold weather advisory has been issued for parts of Florida, including Polk County:
…COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM EST SATURDAY…
WHAT…Very cold wind chills as low as 27 expected.
WHERE…Portions of southwest and west central Florida.
WHEN…From 1 AM to 8 AM EST Saturday.
IMPACTS…Wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
“We are proud to announce that the 28th Annual Lakeland Pigfest will again be held at the SUN n’ FUN Expo Campus in Lakeland, Florida, on January 24th and January 25th, 2025.
Through the continued support of our community, the event has been able to donate over one million dollars of unrestricted funds to local charities since its humble beginnings in 1997. Our local non-profits, who provide the manpower to host this event, are as excited as we are, as we look to continue to grow Florida’s Preeminent Barbecue Contest.
Join the Lakeland Pigfest Board of Directors and the over 150 competition barbecue teams for a weekend of good eatin’, good friends, and good tunes to benefit Lakeland-area charities as we kick off the 28th Annual Lakeland Pigfest!
Admission to Lakeland Pigfest is just $5 and kids 12 years and younger can enter for free. The good eatin’ won’t cost you much and is well worth the value. Stop by a Pig Bucks booth (located near the entrance and various locations throughout) and exchange your cash for Pig Bucks, the official currency of the Lakeland Pigfest. By purchasing food from competition teams, you are supporting their efforts and local charities.”
Friday, January 24, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 10:00 a.ma to 5:00 p.m.
Sebring Police Department was on scene of a multiple vehicle accident this afternoon just before 2:30pm in the Southbound Lanes of US Hwy 27 and New Life Way.
The fatality accident involved a bicyclist and two vehicles, one of which had rolled over. Unfortunately the 21 Year-Old Male bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two patients from the rollover vehicle were flown to a local trauma hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Two patients from the second vehicle were transported to a local hospital.
This scene is now clear and the accident will remain under investigation.
Winter Haven Firefighters were on scene early this morning of a residential fire that has displaced a family.
The call came in at approximately 5:10 am this morning, January 24, 2024 at a home on Silver Fox Drive SE in Winter Haven. The family got out safely with no injuries. When fire crews arrived, flames were coming through the roof of the home.
Additional information will be sent as it becomes available.
Winter Haven Police are investigating a shooting that occurred overnight at the Briarcrest Apartments on Ave. K SE in Winter Haven January 23 into January 24, 2025.
The victim has non-life threatening injuries and is being treated for the injuries.
There is no danger to the public.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a crash that occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025, in unincorporated Winter Haven on Cypress Gardens Blvd. near the intersection with U.S. Hwy 27.
A 2021 Jeep Gladiator being driven by a 52-year-old man from Bartow was heading west on CGB, moving from the right lane into the left lane, when the Jeep began to hydroplane. It was raining most of the day and the roads were wet. The driver lost control and the Jeep crossed over the raised center median and into the path of a 2023 Nissan Sentra that was heading eastbound. A head-on collision occurred, causing the Sentra to rotate, and the Jeep to roll onto its side. A 2016 Audi that was behind the Sentra also collided with the Sentra, due to being unable to avoid it. The driver of the Sentra, a 60-year-old woman from Haines City, was killed. She was the only occupant of her vehicle.
The driver of the Audi, a 58-year-old Winter Haven man, and the driver of the Jeep, both had minor injuries; they were taken to a local hospital. They were each the only occupants of their vehicles.
CGB was closed for approximately 4 hours last evening.
