Lakeland, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a death on Apache Lane in unincorporated Lakeland. According to Carrie Horstman, Public Information Officer, with the PCSO a shots fired call went out at 1:35pm.
Horstman advised the sheriff’s office had a suspect in custody and there was “no danger to the public”.
This is a developing story. We will update as more information is released by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Bartow, The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a crash on S.R. 60. According to Carrie Horstman, Public Information Officer, with the PCSO the westbound lanes of S.R. 60 are closed near Old Connersville Rd.
We have reader reports that the accident involved a motorcycle. We will update this information as more is confirmed and released by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Lakeland, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a situation occurred in North Socrum Loop Road (near Fulton Green Road) in unincorporated Lakeland, in which deputies responded to a report of shots being fired. They eventually take a suspect into custody and find four people shot and killed in two homes. They also found an 11 year old girl shot multiple times.
Sheriff Grady Judd reported to the media that the situation initially started at 7:30pm Saturday night. A call came in regarding a suspicious car and a suspicious person at a home on Socrum Loop Road. The suspicious person told a woman that God told him to speak to one of her daughter. Deputies arrived shortly after the call but the suspicious person was gone.
Sheriff Judd then relays what unfolded 9 hours later (4:30am). A Polk County Sheriff’s Office Lt. who was at a different call two miles away heard bursts of gunfire. Polk County Deputies and Lakeland PD responded. Law enforcement found a truck on fire and a popping sound coming from the truck. They also saw a man dressed in camouflage and body armor, head into a house. Deputies did not see the man have any type of weapon at that time. Moments later they heard gunfire again this time coming from inside the house. They heard a woman scream and as Judd put it a baby whimper. Deputies attempted to get access into the house. However they found it barricaded. A gun battle ensues with officers and the now armed assailant in the home. Eventually things calm down and the man comes out of the home with his arms raised, with no weapons. Deputies take the man into custody. He has been shot once. They transport him to the hospital for treatment.
According to Sheriff Judd, deputies went inside the home and found three people deceased. A woman clutching a child was killed along with the child. A male was also found in that house. And anotherThe property has three homes on it. A house adjacent to that house also had a dead woman in it.
While at the hospital the assailant attempted to gain access to a Lakeland Police Department Officer service weapon. A struggle ensued and they assailant had to be sedated.
The 11-year-old girl was transported to Tampa general hospital and is undergoing surgery now.
The suspect advised that he was on methamphetamines and possibly other drugs.
Currently no motive for this horrendous shooting has been discovered. This however is a very active ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released as soon as it’s available.
Lake Wales Police Department Press Release
On Saturday, September 4, 2021 at approximately 1:15 pm, a vehicle crash occurred on Highway 27 at Washington Avenue between a 2014 Freightliner tractor trailer and a 2003 Nissan Frontier pickup. The Freightliner was driven by Sterling Robles, age 59 of Fresno, California. The Nissan Frontier was driven by 62 year old Edwin McMillan, of Lake Wales.
As McMillan traveled southbound on Highway 27 through the intersection in the outside lane, Robles was turning left from northbound Highway 27 onto Washington Avenue westbound. The Freightliner struck the Frontier on the driver side causing major damage to both vehicles. Both vehicles came to rest in the middle of the intersection at the point of impact.
It is unclear at this time which vehicle had the right-of-way. McMillan was extricated from the Frontier by the Lake Wales Fire Department and flown by helicopter to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with life threatening injuries. McMillan later succumbed to his injuries at 2:20 pm at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. McMillan.
Highway 27 was shut down for some time while emergency personnel treated the drivers and cleared the roadway. The complete roadway was reopened at approximately 6:00 PM.
No charges have been filed at this time as this case remains under investigation. If anyone has information about this crash, please contact Officer Sean Robertson or Officer Rocky Myers at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223.
Annual Big Belly BBQ Battle Being Hosted This Friday & Saturday
by James Coulter
Don’t let these uncertain times hinder your cravings for barbecue. Come on down to Downtown Davenport for a weekend of good food, great music, and even greater company during the annual Big Belly BBQ Battle.
The festivities kick off on Friday and continue on through Saturday. The Jason Green Band and Blake Free Band will be revving up their amps to play live music, while teams from across the state and county will be arriving to prepare their barbecue and compete in a Florida Barbecue Association-sanctioned contest.
This year’s event will be raising money for Nature’s Place, a local therapy center that offers rehabilitation services with the help of animals. Nature’s Place is currently seeking an expansion of their facilities and services.
“We are hoping to raise as much money as we can for Nature’s Place because they are seeking new things in their facilities, and we want to be able to help with that because they do a lot,” said Samantha Summerlin Tomlinson, past president of the Davenport Merchants.
Samantha helped start Big Belly BBQ Battle nearly 12 years ago. She fondly remembers when Labor Day weekend was a big deal in the community. Everyone in town came out to enjoy everything from barbecue dinners to ugly dog contests and horse races, which were hosted along North Avenue by her father, a local feed store owner.
However, as the years went by, the festivities dwindled, and Labor Day weekend no longer became an important event. Samantha wanted to reinvigorate interest, which is why she and her team at Davenport Merchants started Big Belly BBQ 12 years ago. The barbecue competition was started during a time when barbecue was becoming popular and before such competitions were sanctioned by the Florida Barbecue Association.
Samantha herself started competing with her then boyfriend with their team. He has since become her husband of two years, and they run their current team Cooters n’ Smoke. Because of their participation, she has turned over her presidential duties to Bonnie JoSonger.
“The most we are looking forward to is the community coming together like we always do,” Samantha said. “This is a great event for a great cause, and we are hoping that the community will come out and show their community spirit and eat good barbecue and fellowship because it has been really hard the last year, we have not been able to do that very much, so we are hoping to do that.
Davenport’s Big Belly BBQ Battle will be hosted on Fri., Sep. 3 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sat., Sep. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be hosted along Main Street in Downtown Davenport. For more information, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/DavenportsBigBellyBBQBattle
Lake Wales Steelers Youth Football Leauge Hosting 1st Home Game This Saturday
by James Coulter
With 150 players and counting, the Lake Wales Steelers youth football leauge is set to host their first home game of the season this Saturday at 9 a.m. at Legion Field, located at 240-298 N Wales Dr, Lake Wales, FL 33853.
More than 150 to 160 players between the ages of 4 to 15 (with mascots at the age of 3) were enrolled this season completley free of cost. The youth football leauge is still accepting football enrollment from players ages 7 to 15 at no cost. (Flag division ages 4 to 6 is full.)
The first home game will kick off with an apperance from Lake Wales Mayor Eugene Fultz, the Director of the YMCA Lake Wales, and several principals from the local schools, including Spook Hill Elementary, Polk Elementary, Bok Academy North, and Lake Wales High School.
Deanna Holtsclaw, Head of Fundraising and Head Flag Division Cheerleading Coach, hopes that the attendance of such important local figures will serve as an inspiration for the players, as they will know that their whole town supports them and their athletic endeavors.
“It is not just the coaches that believe in them, it is everybody, the pillars throughout the community,” she said. “It is our educators, it is our mayors, it is our doctors and our lawyers. There are so many people who want to truly want to see these children to strive and achieve these things.”
As for the players themselves, this year saw an exceptional turnout, even in spite of the ongoing COVID crisis and the recent outbreak of the Delta variant. While Holtsclaw expects some players to drop out due to these uncertain circumstances, she also expects many more to enroll and those who remain to endure.
“We have had a great turnout,” she said. “These children have poured their hearts into the season. They have dedicated themselves, they jumped in with both feet, and they do an absolutley amazing job. We have amazing coaches in every single division.”
The Lake Wales Youth Football Leauge, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-deductible organization. To ensure that all children are able to participate regardless of economic status, all children between 4 to 15 can join at no cost to themselves. The only requirement asked from the parents is to provide cleats for the boys and tennis shoes for the girls.
“Our normal tuition is $150 per child, [but] we waive this because we see that the world all around us in a complete pandemic,” Deanna said. ” I want all children to feel the support, the encouragement, and the pride that we have in them knowing that no matter what they come from, no matter what they background, some of them come from hardship situations where they face economic hardships and they would not normally be able to sign on.”
To help cover their expenses, the youth football leauge often hosts fundraisers. They also accept donations, which are tax-deductible. Overall, 90 percent of everything was completley covered,
explained Holtsclaw. Being able to cover these expenses has allowed the organization to accept children from all backgrounds, thus offering them an opportunity they would otherwise be shut out of, she said.
“We wanted to show that they can achieve anything outside our mission,” she said. “[We want] to motivate them and inspire them and to show them that they are able to reach new pinnacles and they are able to do things that their heart desires if they put the effort behind it—that us, as their activists, the coaches and teachers and volunteers, we can show them that they can accomplish all things. I cannot wait to see what the outcome will be.”
Currently, the youth football leauge is accepting donations of all kinds, be it monetary, food, or even transportation. Many of their players are unable to afford transportation to out-of-town games, so they are currently seeking to purchase two 15-passanger vans. They would appreciate either money to purchase these vehicles, or donations of the actual vehicles themselves.
As for their upcoming game, both the children are excited to be able to participate, and the coaches are excited to give them the opportunity to play and prove themselves when they otherwise would not have that chance.
“Every game is a win,” Holtsclaw said. “As long as we go out there with heart, and believing in each other and supporting each other and cheering for each other, every game is a win. Obviously, the children are going for the win, but not matter what the outcome is on the score board, every child there won because they had somebody show up and say that they cared and that they made a difference.”
Donations can be made to: 319 S. Scenic Highway Suite 104B, Lake Wales, Florida 33853. Their Tax ID is: 59-3587696. For more information, call 863-332-2500.
Four Charged After Child Suffers Gunshot Wound to Hand
HAINES CITY, FL – A 38-year-old Haines City woman, a 20-year-old Orlando man and two juveniles were criminally charged after a 3-year-old child suffered a gunshot wound. There were also nine dogs at the location that were not being properly cared for.
Olivia Sweeney, 38, is charged with child neglect with great bodily harm and nine counts of improper confinement of an animal. Donald Walker, 20, and the two juveniles are charged with tampering with evidence and violation of probation.
Officers responded to AdventHealth Heart of Florida before 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday to find the child hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the hand. During the ensuing investigation, those present at the home, where the shooting occurred, told detectives that the shot was self-inflicted and had come from a BB gun.
From the evidence however, it was clear that the wound came from an actual firearm. Suspects told detectives that the gun had been destroyed and thrown away. A thorough search of the incident location failed to reveal the location of the firearm, but detectives did collect other evidence.
Sweeney, who has custody of the child, told detectives that she had left for work that morning and made no arrangements for supervision for the child. She also acknowledged that the two juveniles stayed at her home — a violation of their probation.
Once aware that police were involved, Walker and the juveniles made efforts to clean the blood from the gunshot and conceal the severity of the injury. They also cleaned the area where the shooting occurred and disposed of the firearm.
The child was driven to the hospital by an older brother of one of the juveniles, who was also present at the time of the shooting. The child suffered a broken finger and was transported from AdventHealth Heart of Florida to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital due to the complications of surgery that would be required.
During the investigation, detectives found that the child had no proper bedding and there was almost no food in the home suitable for a child to eat.
Nine dogs were also crammed into three kennels indoors. There was no dog food anywhere in the home and the dogs were confined in such a way that it was difficult for them all to sit or lay down. Urine and feces were present in the kennels and all throughout the house. Polk County Animal Control took possession of the dogs.
The Florida Department of Children and Families is also investigating. Further charges are possible as the investigation continues.
“If you have firearms in your home, it is your legal and moral obligation to secure them, so children do not have access to them,” Interim Police Chief Loyd Stewart said. “We are thankful that this child was not hurt more seriously or killed.”
The Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District is seeking a Multi- County Conservation Technician to assist with the implementation of The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) adopted Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) program. This will include working with the FDACS cost share program, Implementation Verification (IVs). The position will be based in Polk County, but will also require travel to surrounding counties. The applicant should be team oriented, independent and have an agricultural and/or natural resources background, with computer and office management skills. Employment is a grant funded position and ends June,2023. With renewal.
Applicant will be required to perform clerical and field work.
A pre-employment federal background check will be performed.
Although resumes are accepted an application form must be completed and sent to:
Polk Soil and Water Conservation District
1700 US HWY 17 South
Suite #2
Bartow, FL 33830
August 2021
Conservation Technician
Position Description
Summary
This is a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) technical and professional team-oriented position under direction of the supervisor in the Office of Agricultural Water Policy’s (OAWP) in partnership with the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District (PSWCD). The position will be assisting with the coordination and implementation of FDACS-adopted best management practices (BMPs) and assisting with agricultural related projects with the PSWCD. The primary office of the technician will be in Polk County. The primary area of the technician will be Polk County, but will travel to neighboring counties such as Hardee, Hillsborough, and Highlands County. This position will involve travel to agricultural operations, meetings, and will include a vehicle. These are the primary responsibilities of the technician position:• Conducting evaluations for the OAWP’sImplementation Verification to assure implementation of FDACS-adopted BMPs • Coordinating with partner agencies, follow-up visits with agricultural operations, generating maps, data collection and analysis, and cross-checking parcel identification information. • Assisting the OAWP team with implementation of BMPs and enrollment into the FDACS-adopted BMP Program by conducting on-site field evaluations of agricultural operations using BMP manuals, checklists and other tools to assist producers in enrolling by filing with the FDACS a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Implement BMPs. . • Assisting PSWCD and OAWP with administration, implementation and verification of the BMP cost-share program, such as the review of cost-share projects, invoices and deliverables documentation. • Assisting in education, outreach, and implementation of the FDACS’ responsibilities under the Florida Watershed Restoration Act/Total Maximum Daily Loads Program through producer enrollment in the FDACS-adopted BMP Programs.• Assists in delivery of information to and input from the PSWCD, Extension Service, and the local agricultural community on non-regulatory strategies, cost-share and other incentives, technical assistance needs, and research and demonstration needs. These include assisting the FDACS and the PSWCD by helping plan, and participate in meetings, workshops, field days, and distribution of printed and electronic materials.
Winter Haven Police Department:
We love our community and earlier this week Sgt. Kondor met two great citizens. These wonderful women dropped by with goodie bags for members to enjoy. Yummy treats, practical things like hand sanitizer, wipes and Chapstick and yes, even some great granola bars and bags of nuts and dried fruit. We are so blessed to serve our wonderful community.
Winter Haven Police Department
Check this guy out. On August 28 around 2:15 p.m., he went to Publix at Northgate (1395 6th St NW) and had a large bag with him. He proceeded to the laundry aisle and selected 3 large containers of Tide Pods (Clean Breeze for those interested in the scent) and one large container of Downy Unstopables (Fresh scent) and stuffed them inside the bag. He goes through the registers without attempting to pay. The associate attempted to stop him, but he just pushed past her.
Management saw him walk across Hwy 17 and down Unity Way towards Ave. O NW.
If anyone knows his identity, please contact Lt. Phillips at 863-291-5750.
© 2021 WinterHavenDaily.com | All rights reserved.
