On November 20, 2021 at approximately 3:25 am, Lake Wales Police responded to the area of North 1st Street and West Sessoms Avenue in reference to a male subject expressing suicidal thoughts. While investigating that incident, officers were guided to an apartment on West Sessoms Avenue to check on the wellbeing of the resident. Officers discovered a horrific scene at the residence. Inside the apartment, officers found a female beaten, battered, and lying on the floor unresponsive. Lake Wales Fire Department and Polk County Emergency Medical Services responded and were able to stabilize the victim. They transported her to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation of her serious injuries.
Lake Wales Police Detectives responded and completed a search warrant. The interior of the victim’s apartment was completely destroyed by violence with blood spattered throughout. The investigation revealed Charles Aaron Armstrong Jr. was responsible for the violent attack on the victim. Detective Klingler obtained an arrest warrant for Armstrong for Aggravated Battery with great bodily harm. Armstrong is from Lake Wales and was born March 26, 1982. Armstrong will be booked into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Jail. Armstrong has a violent arrest record of past convictions to include Aggravated Battery, Armed Robbery and Attempted Murder. Armstrong was most recently arrested in February of this year for Throwing a Deadly Missile into an Occupied Vehicle. This is another example of a person who should be in prison instead of out in public endangering our citizens.
The victim is in critical condition. The Police Department is keeping the victim in their thoughts and prayers as she will have a long recovery. If anyone has any further information regarding this investigation, police are asking you to contact Detective Russell Klingler at 863-678-4223. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).
Welcome, World Travelers! Goodbye And Good Riddance, Virtual Queue!
by James Coulter
Earlier this September, Walt Disney World discontinued virtual queues for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios. Virtual queues are still being utilized on the West Coast at Disneyland with Rise of the Resistance and Spider-Man: Web Slingers, but over here on the East Coast, guests will now wait in an actual line rather than a virtual one for attractions.
Virtual queues were exactly what they sounded like. If you wanted to ride an attraction with a virtual queue, you did not wait in line. Instead, you would open your app at a designated time, either 7 a.m. or 2 p.m., for a chance to designate your place on a “virtual queue.” If you received a “boarding pass,”you would return to the attraction at your assigned time to gain admission. However, that’s only if you were lucky enough to receive a boarding pass, which were infamous for running out in mere seconds.
If virtual queues sound like a lottery, that’s because they essentially were. Many other news outlets and blogs have stated that fact. Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider wrote how Disney had a “lottery problem” with its virtual queue system and howthe entire experience felt like the actual lottery.
“That is frustrating thousands of fans who feel like they’ve wasted an expensive ticket when they are denied a chance to ride,” he wrote. “I love the idea behind a virtual queue… It’s the theme park version of putting your name in at a busy restaurant. But when tens of thousands of people try to enter a virtual queue at once, ‘first-come, first-served’ becomes meaningless.”
I had two experiences with the virtual queue. Neither of them were good. During my first trip, I had opened the My Disney Experience app at precisely 2 p.m. when I heard someone in line exclaim in frustration that all of the boarding groups had been filled. I soon discovered that very truth for myself when I opened up the virtual queue.
I nearly had some luck on my second trip. Five minutes before the 2 p.m. mark, I opened the app and repeatedly refreshed the virtual queue until 2 p.m. Through a stroke of luck, I was notified that a boarding group was available. Awestruck, I pressed the button and waited in anticipation as the app told me it would prepare my boarding pass—for 25 minutes, during which time the announcement was made over the park loudspeakers that all boarding groups had been filled. Needless to say, I did not go on Rise of the Resistance.
Now, are there ways to cheat the system? Sure. There were plenty of videos and articles explaining how guests could guarantee themselves a boarding pass on the virtual queue. But that’s the problem. If you need to “cheat” the system to participate in it properly, then the system is broken. It doesn’t matter if I woke up at the crack of dawn to get a spot on the morning queue, or if I opened and refreshed the app ad infinitum until the afternoon queue, the fact guests have to go to such extreme lengths to have a slight chance of riding an 18-minute attraction is ludicrous.
Say what you want about the now-discontinued Fastpass system: at least if you didn’t get a fastpass for an attraction, you could still ride that attraction. You would have to wait a long time for some of the more popular attractions, but if waiting three hours in line means actually getting to ride Flight of Passage, then it’s more than worth the wait.
But if you didn’t get a boarding pass for Rise of the Resistance? That’s it! You’re not riding Rise of the Resistance. There’s no actual line to wait in, only the virtual queue. So if you don’t get a spot in the virtual line, you’re not getting on the ride. You’ll have to come back another day and try again.
As an annual passholder, I could theoretically re-visit the park day after day and test my luck with the virtual queue system until I finally get on a boarding group. And some people might actually have the free time to do so. But most annual passholders aren’t visiting the park every day. Some only come a few times per year. And some park guests only visit the resort once a year or even once in a lifetime. So, if they don’t get on the ride, they may never have a chance to do so again.
Zoë Wood, a contributor to the Disney Information Station (DIS), voiced her disapproval of the virtual queue and its overall unfairness: “You spend five minutes furiously poking at your phone until something pops up to tell you ‘bad luck.'” She even mentioned how one of her friends visited the park five times and not once received a boarding pass!
“As you can see, I’ve got some feelings about this one, and even though I am usually more of a go-with-the-flow type, this strong departure from being able to choose your own adventure to a five minute window that decides what you will and won’t miss out on for the whole day doesn’t feel very Disney to me,” she wrote. “Sure, COVID threw a curve ball, anyone in business gets that, but the ongoing lack of a standby line feels so discouraging.”
Could the virtual queue work? In theory, yes. But I’ll be darned if I knew how. The best suggestion I’d make is to offer both a virtual and physical queue. However, that’s too similar to the Fastpass system, which has since been replaced by Disney Genie Lightning Lanes, which are essentially Fastpasses you pay for.
Interestingly enough, the virtual queue was discontinued around the same time Lighting Lanes were implemented. Call me cynical, but that change seems rather too convenient. Get rid of virtual queues so guests wait hours in line, thus “encouraging” them to pay big money through Disney’s shiny new app so they can skip it? Wouldn’t surprise me if that was the Mouse’s Modus Operandi. Either way, the virtual queue will not be missed.
A Davenport man and woman were stabbed Monday morning, November 15, 2021 at their residence in the Thrive apartment complex, and detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were able to locate the suspect later that afternoon in Orange County.
28-year old Brayan Zambrano Solorzano and his girlfriend, 27-year old Angie Molina Rojas, were located at the Travel Lodge Motel and arrested with the assistance of deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Both suspects were booked-into the Orange County Jail.
“Our detectives did a great job by tracking our suspects down so quickly, and we want to thank the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. We hope the victim has a full and speedy recovery.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
According to the complaint affidavit for Zambrano Solorzano, he and Molina Rojas were visiting a couple at the apartment complex when an argument began among them at around 7:30 AM. Zambrano Solorzano grabbed a kitchen knife and slashed the male victim across his abdomen, causing serious injury. The man had two knife wounds to his abdomen, and one on his right thigh. The female also received minor knife wounds to her arms and abdomen.
The male victim was admitted to a local hospital in critical condition.
The suspect, with the aid of his girlfriend, fled the scene.
Molina Rojas gathered their property from the hotel where they had been staying, and moved it to another motel. She hindered the investigation by providing multiple statements to detectives, and admitted to disposing of the knife used by Zambrano Solorzano.
Brayan Zambrano Solorzano was charged with Attempted Murder (2-counts, F1).
Angie Molina Rojas was charged with Accessory After the Fact (F2), False Information to LEO (F3), and Tampering with Evidence (F3).
Both suspects are from Colombia and are in the United States illegally. An ICE hold has been placed on both.
Lake Wales Honors Local Retired Service Members WithVeterans Day Parade
by James Coulter
Lake Wales honored its armed services members, both active and retired, with a parade through downtown on Veterans Day.Several dozen units participated in the parade, which started near City Hall along Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, traveled along Central Avenue, and ended at Lake Shore Boulevard.
Attending this year’s parade were several members of the Lake Wales City Commission, Lake Wales High School Band, JROTC, Knights of Columbus, Lake Wales VFW, and Ya’llCome Back Saloon.
Andy Anderson, Commander Post 71, was in charge of this year’s parade. The last parade he was involved in was six years ago. As a someone who served in the Air Force in Vietnam from 1971 to 1976, he appreciated being able to congregate with his fellow service members and celebrate their legacy in the U.S. Armed Forces.
And as someone who has resided in Lake Wales for 40 years, he enjoys living in a small hometown where he knows everybody and can see everybody honoring them on this momentous occasion, he said.
“I enjoy seeing all the veterans who come out,” he said. “My expectations is for people to be on the street honoring our veterans. God Bless America, and we are still the greatest country in the world because of our veterans.”
Kathryn Gates-Skipper is a local retired U.S. Marine who served 20 years in active reserve and became the first female marine in combat operations, with her achievements inducting her into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. She is married to an Army veteran, and they have had two sons together: one in the Navy, and one in the Air Force.
As someone who has lived in Lake Wales for the past 25 years, she loves the overall camraderie of the Veterans Day event, as well as the close-knit community of her small hometown.
“I think it is great anytime we can do things with our community,” she said. “I am glad to see a lot of people who turned out because this is important to support our veterans. My heart is overjoyed to see so many people today…We all come together as one no matter what background…That is what I like about Lake Wales, it is a small community and we stick together.”
Local Entrepenuer Rose from Rags to Riches with JonesBoy’s Pressure Cleaning & Mobile Detailing
by James Coulter
Do you need your car washed and detailed pronto but don’t have time to stop by the car wash? No worries. Just call Djuan Jones and his team, and they’ll bring the car wash and detailing to you.
JonesBoy’s Pressure Cleaning & Mobile Detailing offers detailing of any vehicle, size, and place. Whether you’re at home, at the office, or on the go, Djuan and his team will come to you and detail your vehicle for you.
“I wanted it to be a little different,” Jones said. “We go to different schools and businesses, and we detail your car on-site, so if you have plans, it is done in time for you to have a clean vehicle.”
A 34-year-old CEO and entrepreneur, Jones has been running his unique business for the past seven years. He faced many struggles creating his business, especially being a single parent, but he not only overcame those struggles, but he also rose to the top to become a successful business owner and turn his life around.
Jones moved out of his parent’s house at a very young age. At age 21, he found himself having to grow up faster than usual, especially after his son, Djuan Jr., was born in 2007. To turn his life around, he decided to start his own business.
As he brainstormed ideas, he remembered his childhood when he would go to work with one of his mother’s friends who detailed vehicles and tinted windows. At the young age of nine and ten, he had picked up those skills, so he decided to put them to good use by starting a detailing business.
When he started his business, he researched different detailing tactics to apply to his own. For example, he offers one service to apply foam all over a vehicle to make it resistant to weather such as rain and snow.
JonesBoy’s has become most famous, not only for its unique mobile detailing service, but also for its customer service. Jones ensures that his customers remain his number one priority. When you do business with him, you’re not just a customer; you’re just like family, he explained.
“When we welcome you, we want you to feel like family,” he explained. “We want you to feel comfortable and to know that we are trustworthy of getting the job done at high quality…That is what our ultimate goal is here at Jones Sports, to know that things will not go up missing and make sure things are done right.”
Hannah Taylor, the owner of Taylor’s Roofing and Taylor’s Industrial Coating, has been doing business with Jones for several years. He and his team have detailed many of her company and personal vehicles, from trucks to SUVs to even a boat. In every instance, Jones has proven himself to be nothing less than proffesional and timely, Taylor said.
“He does his job himself, or he sends someone trustworthy to do that. A lot of times, he comes by and makes sure I am satisfied afterward,” she said. “He shows up when he tells you he will show up, and his level of work is consistent…If we ever had any complaints with something we have not been satisfied with, he has always come back and redone it and made sure we are 100 percent satisfied.”
Jones does not set any high expectations for himself (as it prevents him from being disappointed), but he does set plenty of high goals with the hopes of accomplishing them. In the future, he plans on setting up an on-site shop that can offer detailing and pressure washing for those who want to drop by, and he expects to continue expanding his mobile service with more vehicles.
As someone who started with the financial and emotional struggles of being a single parent, Jones shows that anyone can rise to the top given enough elbow grease and positive thinking–that and a real professional knack for detailing vehicles.
“I would say keeping a mindset of staying encouraged and stay positive and no matter your struggles, just keep working, stay persistent doing the same thing, try to come up with ways to be quicker in doing stuff,” he said. “We appreciate all our supporters. We do not take it for granted. If you ever used us, we want you to give us a try to make sure you are satisfied.”
For more information about JonesBoy’s, call 863-286-2711, or visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/jonesmobiledetailingandpressurewashing
Bartow Honey Bee Festival and Craft Fair Celebrates Biggest Event Ever
by James Coulter
Most people expect to see honeybees at a honey bee festival. But, this year, attendees at the Annual Honey Bee Festival could see butterflies as well.
Go Natural Organic Butterflies set up a butterfly tent outside the Historical Center at this year’s event. Attendees could step inside, pick up a cotton swab dabbed with sugar mixture, and look at dozens of butterflies up-close. Some of the butterfly species on display included white peacocks, malachites, julias, and zebra longwings.
Last Saturday was the first time Go Natural attended the Annual Honey Bee Festival in Downtown Bartow. They had previously set up their butterfly tent during the Bloomin Art Festival in May.
Jan Austin, one of the volunteers for Go Natural, noted how the overall event started slow but quickly picked up foot traffic,with more people turning out throughout the morning and afternoon. She appreciated being able to attend and share with people information about butterflies.
“They can find enjoyment and pleasure and learn more about nature,” she said. “I enjoy everybody. It is a pleasure watching everyone enjoy it, and it is a very good feeling.”
Main Street Bartow hosted its 30th Annual Honey Bee Festivaland Crafts Fair last Saturday. Several dozen vendors set up their booths along Main Street, allowing attendees to peruse their merchandise, arts, and crafts.
Many of these vendors featured products made from honey and beeswax. The Ridge Beekeepers even set up live honey bee demonstrations, allowing curious onlookers to watch as bees worked within a transparent hive to produce wax and honey.
David Smith, President of the Ridge Beekeepers, regularly attends the annual bee festival to educate the public about beekeeping. In addition, his organization meets monthly on the third Wednesday at the Polk County Extension Office along Highway 17, where their members discuss beekeeping and even offer outdoor demonstrations.
“This is where we can come and talk to people about the importance of bees,” he said. “If they want to get more educated, they can come to our meetings. I think (this year’s event) has turned out great. There are a lot of people here. They are asking a lot of questions, and that is always a good thing.”
This year’s bee festival and crafts fair proved to be their biggest yet, explained Linda Holcomb, President of Main Street Bartow. More than 126 vendors lined the streets, which were packed with attendees not only buying from the vendors but also from local shops and cafes, she said.
“It is one of our biggest yet,” she said. “The streets are packed. People are shopping and buying, they are shopping in the retail stores, and everybody seems to be happy.”
The Honey Bee Festival has been going strong for the past 30 years. Its long-running success has been attributed to its overall reputation, Holcomb said. The organizers work hard to ensure the event runs smoothly, and people have come to expect great times downtown, whether they are a local or a visitor.
“We work hard with it,” she said. “We try to work to make sure the vendors are happy, we have a lot to offer the community, and our reputation has grown over the years…I like seeing all the people in our retail eateries and businesses and them coming to beautiful downtown Bartow and doing business with us.”
Downtown Bartow will be kicking off its holiday next Friday with their Magic on Main, where the downtown area will light up for the holidays at 6:30 pm. Other holiday festivities include the Mistletoe Market on Dec. 4 and the Bartow Christmas Parade on Dec. 10. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
Haines City, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting a fatal crash on Hwy 27 and Sanders Rd in Haines City. The crash occurred at 4:27am Monday morning.
According to reports a single unit box truck, was traveling southbound on US-27 and had stopped for a red traffic signal at the intersection of Sanders Road. A sedan, driven by a 33 Yr old Davenport man, traveling southbound on US-27, failed to stop and collided with the rear of the truck. The Davenport man suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.
No additional information regarding drivers due Marsys Law.
PCSO recovered body of a Zephyrhills man and his car from
a pond Thursday
The body of a Zephyrhills man was found in his car,
Thursday, November 11, 2021, submerged in a pond near Polk City.
Family members of 39-year old Jose Mercado contacted
deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office just after 1:00 PM Thursday
afternoon, to report the man missing. They reported that he left a residence at
around 1:00 AM (twelve hours earlier) to go home, but he never arrived.
One of Mercado’s relatives checked the location of his
phone, and it showed that it was near the intersection of Moore Road and Deen
Still Road. When the family went to that location, they found evidence of a
possible crash at the scene, and contacted the PCSO.
Deputies responded and launched a drone, which soon revealed
what appeared to be a submerged vehicle in the pond.
The PCSO’s USART (Underwater Search And Recovery Team)
members were brought in and confirmed there was a vehicle in the pond, and
assisted with its removal.
Mr. Mercado was found deceased inside of the black 2013
Dodge Durango, and detectives from the PCSO’s Traffic Homicide Investigations
took over the crash investigation, with assistance from the Crime Scene Unit.
Based on evidence from the scene, Mr. Mercado’s Dodge had
been travelling north on Moore Road at a high rate of speed, and failed to stop
at the intersection with Deen Still Road, which is where Moore Road ends.
Mr. Mercado’s Dodge went over an embankment, and began to
topple end-over-end before landing in the pond.
ROAD OPEN ALERT! After many weeks of construction, we are happy to announce the utility project on Eloise Loop Road is complete and the road is NOW OPEN (11/12)! Temporary repairs have been made to the road, and final road restoration will take place in the New Year with anticipated lane closures (not road closures). It’s been a long project causing travel delays and overall aggravation, and your continued patience has not gone unnoticed. Thank you!
On 11/11/2021 at approximately 11:00pm, Bartow Police Officers responded to the area of State Road 60 East and Flamingo Drive in reference to a single vehicle traffic crash with serious injuries. The following was determined during the preliminary investigation: a 2011 Honda Civic was traveling west on State Road 60 approaching the intersection at Flamingo Drive. For unknown reasons, the vehicle struck the center raised median and lost control. The vehicle ended up traveling off the south side of the roadway, crossing the opposite lanes of traffic, and struck a tree. The vehicle overturned and came to rest on its roof.
The driver sustained serious injuries, a rear passenger sustained injury and the front passenger succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. All of the passengers were identified, however, their names will not be released pending notified of next of kin.
