A suspect who is in the country illegally from Mexico was apprehended by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office after he was seen crashing his friend’s truck and then running into a wooded area.
Omar Sotero-Vera, DOB 1/19/04, has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage (M1), no valid driver’s license (M1), DUI (M1), and DUI with property damage (F3). Each of these charges is upgraded one level due to his illegal status.
The crash occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026. A witness called 911 and reported that a black Nissan truck had crashed into a concrete barrier on SR 33 North near Old Polk City Road in Polk City, and that the driver and sole occupant had fled the scene on foot. Deputies arrived and called for a drone unit to respond. The deputy sheriff operating the drone found the suspect walking in a nearby wooded area. He was taken into custody without incident, and he was positively identified by the witness.
During an interview with the suspect, who displayed injuries consistent with a crash and signs of impairment, he told deputies that he ran because he was scared due to the fact that he does not have a driver’s license. Deputies contacted the truck’s registered owner, who told them that he was out having drinks with friends (including the suspect) after work when he decided to get a ride home, at which point he left his truck keys with Sotero-Vera and asked him to move the truck so it would not get towed.
Sotero-Vera failed field sobriety tests and his breath alcohol content measured 0.143 and 0.139 (the legal threshold for impairment is 0.08).
Deputies contacted ICE and confirmed he entered the country illegally three years ago. They placed a detainer on him in the jail.
“I’m very proud of the witness who called us and the swift actions of my deputies who took this illegal criminal alien into custody. As drunk as he was it’s a miracle he didn’t hurt or kill anyone.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Polk County Fire Rescue Responses to Fatal Fire on Scenic View Street
Bartow, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2026) — Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) crews responded to a fatal fire on Scenic View Street in Lakeland on Sunday morning. Upon arrival PCFR units found a fully involved single-wide mobile home with an individual potentially inside.
PCFR members worked quickly getting the fire knocked down and once deemed safe for entry, members conducted a search and found an individual inside the home. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Notification of next of kin is pending.
“Scenes like this are always tough for all involved — especially when entrapment is suspected. Our first arriving crews encountered heavy fire conditions, our crew gained access to the structure and made a valiant effort to locate any entrapped occupants. Our crews located a victim who succumbed to their injuries,” said Fire Chief Shawn Smith. “All Polk County Fire Rescue members send our condolences to the family and friends of the individual at this difficult time.”
No PCFR member sustained injuries, and the incident is currently under investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s office.
11-Year-Old Lakeland Dog Handler Sets Her Sights on Westminster
LAKELAND, FL — While most 11-year-olds are still discovering their hobbies, Ava Silva has already found her calling inside the competitive world of dog showing. The Lakeland native is quickly emerging as a promising young handler in Junior Showmanship, fueled by discipline, emotional intuition with animals, and an ambitious dream: competing at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
Raised in a family deeply committed to ethical breeding and breed preservation, Silva grew up surrounded by dogs — particularly Rottweilers and Toy Fox Terriers. Her early exposure helped cultivate a confidence and understanding rarely seen at such a young age.
Ava and Prancer
Her journey began remarkably early.
“It all started when I took the lead of my Rottweiler, Bronx, at age three,” Silva recalls.
By age seven, she entered Junior Showmanship competition, drawn by both the challenge and the opportunity to grow.
“I like competition,” she says.
Today, Silva competes alongside her Toy Fox Terrier, Prancer, a partnership defined by trust and connection rather than simple command.
“When pressure is on, I sing a song — any song,” Silva explains. “Your dog can feel the pressure through the lead. When I relax, so does Prancer.”
Before entering the ring, Silva prepares with a breathing ritual and a quiet moment of affection, petting Prancer and giving her a kiss on the head.
Their bond extends far beyond competition.
“Me and Prancer are best friends in and out of the show,” Silva says. “When I grab a blanket, she’s ready to cuddle. She’s always right by me.”
Outside the ring, Silva maintains an active lifestyle. She mountain bikes with her brother, helps manage her mother’s dog grooming salon, assists with bathing and fluffing dogs, and continues to expand her knowledge of canine behavior.
“My mom always educated me on behavior and every dog breed — not just the ones I like,” she says.
Silva credits a strong support system for helping shape her growth in the sport, including mentors Kimberly Cardona, Scott Keffer, Kristina Criscoe, breeders Susan and Steve Thibodeaux, and her parents, Sheena and Peter Silva.
Ava and Prancer with the awards
Despite her competitive drive, Silva emphasizes resilience over ribbons.
“Believe your skills. Don’t care if you lose or win. My way of showing is a win is a win and a loss is a win.”
Her long-term aspirations extend beyond handling. Silva hopes to one day breed dogs herself, contributing to the preservation and advancement of beloved breeds.
“I do see myself doing this sport in the future,” she says. “It is one of my passions.”
With maturity beyond her years and a clear sense of purpose, Silva represents the next generation of excellence in the dog show community.
Lakeland may be her hometown — but her eyes are already set on the bright lights of New York.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the political and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement, is assassinated in New Delhi by a Hindu extremist on January 30, 1948. His death marks a profound turning point for the nation, underscoring the deep political and religious tensions that persisted after the 1947 independence from British colonial rule resulted in a partition between India and Pakistan.
Gandhi was shot at close range while walking to a prayer meeting in the garden of Birla House, a residence where he had been staying. The assassin, Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who opposed Gandhi’s views on religious tolerance and his approach to relations between India and Pakistan, fired three shots into Gandhi’s chest. The leader fell to the ground, reportedly uttering his last words: “Hey Rama” (translation: “Oh God”). He was taken to his room and died shortly afterward. Godse and an accomplice were later tried and hanged.
Gandhi’s assassination provoked widespread shock and mourning in India and around the world, with millions participating in funeral rites and memorial processions. The Indian government moved quickly to restore order, banning extremist organizations linked to the assassin and reaffirming its commitment to secularism and nonviolence.
Born in 1869 to an Indian official and a deeply religious mother, Gandhi was exposed early to Jainism, a morally rigorous Indian religion that advocated nonviolence. Although he was an unremarkable student, in 1888 he was given an opportunity to study law in England. In 1891, he returned to India, but failing to find regular legal work he accepted in 1893 a one-year contract in South Africa.
Settling in Natal, he was subjected to racism and South African laws that restricted the rights of Indian laborers. Gandhi later recalled one such incident—in which he was removed from a first-class railway compartment and thrown off a train—as his moment of truth. From there on, he decided to fight injustice and defend his rights as an Indian and a man.
When his contract expired, he spontaneously decided to remain in South Africa and launched a campaign against legislation that would deprive Indians of the right to vote. He formed the Natal Indian Congress and drew international attention to the plight of Indians in South Africa. In 1906, as the Transvaal government sought to further restrict the rights of Indians, and Gandhi organized his first campaign of satyagraha, or mass civil disobedience. After seven years of protest, he negotiated a compromise agreement with the South African government.
In 1914, Gandhi returned to India and lived a life of abstinence and spirituality on the periphery of Indian politics. He supported Britain in the First World War but in 1919 launched a new satyagraha in protest of Britain’s mandatory military draft of Indians. Hundreds of thousands answered his call to protest, and by 1920 he was leader of the Indian movement for independence. He reorganized the Indian National Congress as a political force and launched a massive boycott of British goods, services, and institutions in India. Then, in 1922, he abruptly called off the satyagraha when violence erupted. One month later, he was arrested by the British authorities for sedition, found guilty, and imprisoned.
After his release in 1924, he led an extended fast in protest of Hindu-Muslim violence. In 1928, he returned to national politics when he demanded dominion status for India and in 1930 launched a mass protest against the British salt tax, which hurt India’s poor. In his most famous campaign of civil disobedience, Gandhi and his followers marched to the Arabian Sea, where they made their own salt by evaporating sea water. The march, which resulted in the arrest of Gandhi and 60,000 others, earned new international respect and support for the leader and his movement.
In 1931, Gandhi was released to attend the Round Table Conference on India in London as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress. The meeting was a great disappointment, and after his return to India he was again imprisoned. While in jail, he led another fast in protest of the British government’s treatment of the “untouchables”—the impoverished and degraded Indians who occupied the lowest tiers of the caste system. In 1934, he left the Indian Congress Party to work for the economic development of India’s many poor. His protege, Jawaharlal Nehru, was named leader of the party in his place.
With the outbreak of World War II, Gandhi returned to politics and called for Indian cooperation with the British war effort in exchange for independence. Britain refused and sought to divide India by supporting conservative Hindu and Muslim groups. In response, Gandhi launched the “Quit India” movement it 1942, which called for a total British withdrawal. Gandhi and other nationalist leaders were imprisoned until 1944.
In 1945, a new government came to power in Britain, and negotiations for India’s independence began. Gandhi sought a unified India, but the Muslim League, which had grown in influence during the war, disagreed. After protracted talks, Britain agreed to create the two new independent states of India and Pakistan on August 15, 1947. Gandhi was greatly distressed by the partition, and bloody violence soon broke out between Hindus and Muslims in India.
In an effort to end India’s religious strife, he resorted to fasts and visits to the troubled areas. He was on one such vigil in New Delhi when Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who objected to Gandhi’s tolerance for the Muslims, fatally shot him. Known as Mahatma, or “the great soul,” during his lifetime, Gandhi’s persuasive methods of civil disobedience influenced leaders of civil rights movements around the world, especially Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States.
Want to Know What to Expect for Rockin on the Chain 2026? Check Out What Happened Last Year! by James Coulter
If you’re looking to have a good time for a good cause, then come on down to Rockin on the Chain, happening at Tanner’s Lakeside in Winter Haven from Fri. Apr. 10 to Sun. Apr. 12, 2026.
If you want a good idea of what this year’s event will be like, then take a look back at last year’s event!
Three days. 27 bands. $25,000 for a local school. $90,000 for a local organization. That was the outcome of Rockin on the Chain.
Last April, the annual fundraiser celebrated its 3rd year with more than two dozen bands performing over the weekend, including performances by musicians like Kai7en, a local musician with Autism.
And what brought so many people to the scenic shores of Lake May in Winter Haven? Aside from good music, the opportunity to raise proceeds for local individuals with Autism and other special needs.
“100 percent of the net proceeds for this year will stay right here in Polk County to support families affected by Autism,” announced Joey Foley, the head event planner and master of ceremonies.
The event brought together many people with Autism to share their life experiences, including this local reporter.
“My Autism is not a source of shame for me; it is who I am,” said James Coulter, reporter for the Daily Ridge, who spoke during the event. “And if anyone has a problem with that, well, that should be a source of shame for them.”
Rockin on the Chain originally started in 2015 as Rockin on the River, spearheaded by John Straughn, another visionary gentleman. One of its founding members, Tom Roisad, was honored with a plaque set at the event’s venue, Tanner’s Lakeside.
“For your commitment and dedication to the special needs and Autism, Rockin on the River and Rockin on the Chain will always be grateful,” said John Straughn, presenting the plaque.
Last year’s event raised more than $90,000 for the Winter Haven Foundation and $25,000 for Victory Ridge Academy, a special needs school in Lake Wales.
“We had a nice chunk of change that was leftover that we had to find a home for,” Joey Foley said, presenting the check. “So, we all decided that Victory Ridge was a great place for that home.”
Rockin on the Chain has grown bigger and better since its inception, and it hopes to continue moving forward with that momentum going into 2026.
“We got the kids zone set up, we got the food vendors here, we got more music than you can stir with a stick,” Joey Foley said. “You guys, come on out, be with us, help us for a great cause. It’s all about Autism, and we want you to join us.”
Rockin on the Chain 2025 was covered on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast. Listen to it on Acast:
LAKE WALES — As Polk State College moves past a recently concluded independent investigation, a newly announced development elsewhere in Florida is raising questions about whether President Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti could soon be weighing her next professional move.
In a recent development, the University of North Florida District Board of Trustees announced it will consider Falconetti, a Jacksonville native and UNF alumna, for the role of interim president, according to reporting by The UNF Spinnaker. While no decision has been made, the consideration places the longtime Polk State leader in the conversation for a high-profile leadership role at one of Florida’s public universities.
Investigation Concludes With No Findings
The UNF development follows the conclusion of an independent investigation commissioned by the Polk State College District Board of Trustees related to the use of foundation scholarship funds to cover outstanding student balances.
During the January 26 Polk State board meeting, Trustee Chair Ann Barnhart stated that investigators found no violations of state law or college policy, no misuse of scholarship funds, and no effort to manipulate enrollment data or conceal information. The review centered on an administrative request to apply up to $125,000 in Polk State Foundation scholarship funds toward unpaid student fees.
According to the board, the funds were used for their intended purpose, and the investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing by Falconetti or members of her administration. The investigation was conducted by Tampa-based attorney Terin Barbas Cremer, hired by the board and Polk State’s legal counsel.
Nearly Eight Years of Expansion at Polk State
Dr. Falconetti was named Polk State College’s fifth president in May 2017, following a national search. During her tenure, the college has undergone significant expansion and investment, with an emphasis on workforce alignment, student success, and community partnerships.
Under her leadership, Polk State secured more than $106 million in legislative funding, broke ground on its eighth campus in Haines City–Davenport, and completed $16.2 million in renovations to the Winter Haven Fine Arts Building—an effort that had remained unfunded for more than a decade before receiving PECO support.
The college also preserved the JD Alexander Center, and in 2021 earned decennial reaffirmation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) with no findings, placing Polk State among an estimated five percent of institutions in the southern region to receive a clean review.
Statewide and National Leadership Profile
A native Floridian with more than two decades of service in higher education across three states and Washington, D.C., Falconetti holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University and both a master’s degree and doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. She later completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Community College Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin and became a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) in 2016.
Her prior roles include Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Virginia Western Community College and Special Assistant to the first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Colleges at the U.S. Department of Education.
Falconetti has served as chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents, leading efforts that resulted in a record $400 million allocation in PECO funding and an additional $150 million appropriation for Florida’s 28 state colleges.
She also holds or has held appointments and leadership roles on numerous statewide and national boards, including gubernatorial appointments under Governor Ron DeSantis and service with organizations focused on workforce development, economic growth, and higher education policy.
February 5 Could Bring Clarity
According to The UNF Spinnaker, the University of North Florida Board of Trustees is expected to consider the interim president appointment during its February 5 meeting. No timeline has been announced for a final decision, and the agenda for that meeting has not yet been finalized.
While consideration does not guarantee selection, the upcoming meeting represents the next formal step in the process and could provide clearer insight into whether Falconetti’s name advances beyond discussion.
Any potential transition would also require coordination with the Polk State College District Board of Trustees, which has not publicly discussed succession planning or interim leadership.
What Comes Next
For now, Dr. Falconetti remains president of Polk State College. However, with UNF trustees expected to take up the interim presidency question on February 5, the coming weeks may offer clearer insight into whether her consideration reflects recognition of experience—or the early stages of a leadership transition.
A substitute teacher was arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Tuesday morning, January 27, 2026 while in a school parking lot.
At around 10:29 am on Tuesday, a Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy who is assigned to Lake Alfred Polytech (925 N. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Alfred) as a school resource officer, as he was attempting to back out of his parking space.
The substitute teacher was identified as 44-year old Micah Alan Dyal of Haines City.
A Field Sobriety Test was administered to Dyal, and he showed multiple obvious signs of impairment, including the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath.
Micah Dyal was subsequently arrested and transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center where he was charged with DUI.
Dyal consented to a blood draw, and the sample will be submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for testing to determine blood-alcohol content and/or drug use.
“This substitute teacher was drunker than Cooter Brown at school while he was supposed to be teaching our children. We gave him an education when we took him to jail.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Polk County Public Schools provided the following statement:
“We commend our school staff for noticing that something was off, and not allowing this individual to proceed to the classroom yesterday. What a terrible decision and unacceptable behavior from someone working on a campus. This person will no longer have any involvement with PCPS.”
Notice is hereby given that Lake Wales Storage intends to sell the property described below to enforce a lien under the Florida Self Storage Facility Act, Statutes (section 83.80-83.809). The owner will sell at public auction on or after February 11,2026 at 10:00 am at storageauctions.com
Units belonging to the following:
Robert Mitchell/Unit 406
This sale will be continued on such succeeding sale days thereafter as may be necessary to be completed. Unless otherwise noted units contain household items.
Chris Singleton: Healing Division Through Unity by James Coulter
With a new year comes new opportunities to bring about new beginnings through change. One motivational speaker who recently spoke at a local high school has a bold vision to bring about said change in the lives of young people.
Former MLB player Chris Singleton is on a mission: to make the world more united than it was on the day that took his mother’s life.
“The mission for me is that we realize the fact that everyone’s got stories behind the reason of why they are like what they like,” he told an auditorium of students at Lake Region High School.
“See, most of the time people don’t open up…because people won’t understand,” he said. “And when you share your story, you might realize…I am more like this person than I thought.”
In 2015, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton was one of nine people killed during a shooting at Emmanuel Church in Charleston, SC. The shooter wanted to divide people and start a race war. Chris seeks to do the opposite and bring people together.
“Before I said love is stronger than hate and forgive my mother’s killer, I did not have anything on my mind about what I am going to say,” he said. “So sharing those words, I think it was a higher power putting that on my heart, and I see why now: because now that’s my whole life’s mission. It just fuels me to keep pushing forward and be the opposite of the guy who took my mom. His mission was division and hate. My mission is unity, love, and resilience.”
Chris visits schools nationwide to spread his message of hope and unity. He recently appeared at Lake Region High School to participate in its Weekend of Wellness event.
The event’s centerpiece was a school assembly, where he addressed more than 3,500 students and staff. And while kids these days are usually glued to their phones, when Chris speaks, they listen.
“Once I start speaking, they see how passionate I am about this mission,” he said. “They open their hearts. And so when their hearts are open, I share a message of unity, a message of peace, resilience, and they always gravitate toward that.”
Chris’s message is simple yet poignant: love is stronger than hate, unity holds better than division, and no matter what problems you are going through, there’s always someone who cares.
“Kids are coming up afterwards, taking pictures,” he said. “Some of them, you can look in their eyes that they are going through something, whether it is a parent struggling with addiction, whether it is losing a loved one…But you know what? When you get knocked down, we don’t stay there. We stand up,and we keep moving forward, and we honor the people that we lost, that we loved. I want kids to know that they are not alone when they go through tough stuff. When they heard me share my story, they could tell that I genuinely care, too.”
Millions of Americans are living with low vision, a visual impairment that can turn everyday moments – recognizing a friend’s face across the street, reading a recipe or checking a text message – into unexpected challenges.
Low vision isn’t a natural part of getting older, though the conditions that cause it do become more common with age.
Whether low vision is affecting you or a loved one, Low Vision Awareness Month (February) is a perfect time to have your eyes examined for signs of eye diseases and to take steps to make daily life easier if you are experiencing low vision.
Consider this information from the National Eye Institute to make the most of your vision and improve your quality of life.
Understanding low vision
You may have low vision if you can’t see well enough to read, drive, recognize faces, distinguish colors or see screens clearly.
Many different eye conditions can cause low vision, but the most common causes are age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can cause vision loss in people with diabetes.
The most common types of low vision are:
-Central vision loss (not being able to see things in the center of your vision)
-Peripheral vision loss (not being able to see things out of the corners of your eyes
-Night blindness (not being able to see in low light)
-Blurry or hazy vision
Diagnosing low vision
Your doctor can check for low vision as part of a simple, painless comprehensive dilated eye exam.
He or she will ask you to read letters that are up close and far away and will check whether you can see things in the center and at the edges of your vision.
Then eye drops are used to widen your pupils and check for other eye problems – including conditions that could cause low vision.
Low vision is usually permanent, but glasses, medicine or surgery may help with daily activities or slow progression.
Living with low vision
If you have low vision, you aren’t alone. There are steps you can take to make life easier.
For minor vision loss, simple adjustments like using brighter lights, wearing anti-glare sunglasses and using magnifiers can help. Changing the settings on your phone and computer to increase contrast, make text larger or have the device read out loud may also help.
If your vision loss is getting in the way of everyday activities, ask your eye doctor about vision rehabilitation. These services can give you skills and resources to help manage your daily life and keep your independence. Examples include:
-Employment and job training
-Environmental modifications, like improving lighting and contrast
-Assistive devices and technologies, like magnifiers, filters and screen readers
-Adaptive strategies for daily living and independent living skills training
-Emotional support, like counseling or support groups
-Transportation and household services
Finding the right vision rehabilitation services and support may take time, but working closely with your eye doctor or care team is an important first step. Discuss your needs and goals for living with your visual impairment so they can help identify the best services for you.
