Polk State College and the Florida Department of Education entered into an agreement last week to revitalize the College’s Cybersecurity Registered Apprenticeship Program and Haines City was a major player in doing so.
Florida Commissioner of Education Dr. Henry Mack and Polk State College President Anastasios Kamoutsas were on hand for the announcement.
President Kamoutsas said during his remarks that Haines City was the reason the apprenticeship program was revived.
Chandra Hall, Human Resources and Organizational Development Director for the City of Haines City, spoke about the importance of this registered apprenticeship program for the city’s cybersecurity and IT workforce.
“Jeremiah Anhalt, who went through this registered apprenticeship program previously at Polk State, was recently promoted to Director of Technology Management, while Shemar Mais in our Technology Management Department is looking forward to participating in the program now,” said Hall, who added that she is also a proud Polk State alumna.
“This partnership will provide valuable opportunities for our employees, strengthen our workforce, and increase cybersecurity for our city.”
When: November 14, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: MLK Park on Lake Silver (275 S Lake Silver Drive NW, Winter Haven)
A Day to Honor. A Community United. Forever Grateful.
Join veterans, military families and communities from across Polk County for Winter Haven Honors, a Veterans Day celebration recognizing the men and women who have served our country.
The morning will begin with a patriotic Veterans Day ceremony honoring veterans from every branch of the United States military.
The Program Includes:
Presentation of Colors
National Anthem
Moment of reflection
Recognition of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard
Remarks recognizing veterans and military families
Entertainment
Veteran service organizations and resources
Veteran owned businesses and community partners
Food
Giveaways and opportunities to connect
Veterans and Military Families
Veterans from throughout Polk County are invited to attend and be recognized during the celebration. Whether you served decades ago or recently completed your service, we hope you will join us.
Veteran Resources
Organizations that provide services to veterans and military families will be available throughout the event. These organizations can help veterans learn more about programs, benefits and services available in Polk County.
Veteran Owned Businesses
Veteran owned businesses are also invited to participate and introduce their businesses to the community.
Join us for Creative Threads Crochet Club, every first and third Wednesdays from October through December at the Wilfred Smith Resource Center located at 135 Ave. Y NE in Winter Haven.
Starter threads will be provided at the Oct. 7 meeting. Participants will need to bring their own supplies for all future club meetings.
Space limited to 35 participants.
Must RSVP by calling Wilfred Smith Resource Center at (863) 298-7898.
Lake Wales, Babson Park & surrounding communities, you’re invited!
Join us for a fun-filled Trunk or Treat at Webber International University on Friday, October 30th!
Bring the kids, wear your costumes, and enjoy an evening of candy, decorated trunks, and community fun! We would love to see our local families come out and celebrate with us!
Location: Webber International University parking area. Webber is located at 1201 N Scenic Hwy Babson Park, FL 33827
When: Friday, October 30, 2026
Come join the fun and help us make this a great community event!
The closing of the Lake Alfred Hardee’s caught some longtime customers by surprise this week, with several residents saying they will especially miss the restaurant’s breakfast and biscuits.
A notice posted on the restaurant door says the Lake Alfred location permanently closed effective September 18. Customers are being directed to Hardee’s restaurants in Dundee and Auburndale.
“We sincerely appreciate your business and support over the years, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” the notice reads.
Those other two restaurants have something in common with the now-closed Lake Alfred location. All three have been operated by Phase Three Star LLC, an independent Hardee’s franchisee.
News of the closing quickly generated reaction from Lake Alfred area residents.
“Going to miss them biscuits,” one resident wrote.
Another wrote, “Nooooo the breakfast was so good,” while another resident said he and his wife went to the Lake Alfred restaurant almost every Sunday for breakfast.
The exact reason for the Lake Alfred closing has not been publicly announced.
DAVENPORT, Fla. — Two people were killed and two others seriously injured in a nearly head-on crash late Saturday night on US 17/92 near West James Street, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:55 p.m. Saturday, September 19.
According to FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins, a Honda sedan driven by a 41-year-old Davenport man was traveling southbound on US 17/92 when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle entered the northbound lane.
The Honda collided nearly head-on with a Nissan sedan driven by a 37-year-old Kissimmee man.
The Nissan was also carrying a 34-year-old Winter Haven man and a 45-year-old Kissimmee woman.
All four people involved suffered serious injuries and were transported to area hospitals.
Gaskins said the 37-year-old Kissimmee driver and the 45-year-old Kissimmee woman later died from injuries suffered in the crash.
The 41-year-old Davenport man and 34-year-old Winter Haven man remained seriously injured in the information released by FHP.
Photos from the scene show both vehicles with extensive front-end damage and debris scattered across the roadway. Airbags can also be seen deployed in at least one of the vehicles.
The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate what caused the Honda to enter the northbound lane.
LAKE WALES, Fla. — Lake Wales Police are investigating a serious single-vehicle crash that occurred around noon today in the area of Burns Avenue and Sherwood Drive.
The incident initially came across emergency dispatch as a medical emergency, which is why Daily Ridge did not immediately pick it up as a vehicle crash. Dispatch information later indicated that a vehicle had left the roadway and crashed through a shed.
Crash Burns Avenue
A witness who posted about the crash on a local message board said an older black pickup truck ran off the road, went through a shed and then through a fence. The witness said the driver was unconscious and appeared to have a head wound when they stopped to help.
Lake Wales Police Lt. Figueroa confirmed to Daily Ridge that officers are conducting an investigation into the crash. Burns Avenue remains open. LWPD have not released the name of the person involved or current medical condition. Lt. Figueroa confirmed the truck went through the shed. However he advised it also struck a trailer and then a fence.
Daily Ridge will update this article with additional information when more details are officially released.
MasterCraft Boat Company, a subsidiary of MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc (NASDAQ: MCFT) and the best-selling towboat brand, has announced that the 2026 MasterCraft Pro Ski Tournament will be held at a brand-new venue on Champions Lake in Auburndale, FL from September 18–20. The MasterCraft ProStar will serve as the official ski boat of the tournament as competitors take on slalom, jump, and, new this year, trick skiing. The world-class venue and exceptional skiing conditions provide competitors with the ideal setting to deliver their best performances.
As the official ski boat, the ProStar will take center stage, powering the Men’s and Women’s slalom, jump, and trick events and showcasing the full versatility and performance that has made it the gold standard in competitive waterskiing. The MasterCraft ProStar is a purpose-built, precision-obsessed waterski boat refined for today’s elite skiers and engineered for the demands of competition. Featuring perfected ergonomics, a meticulously designed hull, and a thoughtfully crafted layout, the ProStar delivers the most respected pull in the industry.
“This year marks an exciting evolution for the MasterCraft Pro Event as we introduce a new venue and expand the competition to include trick skiing alongside slalom and jump, said Krista Schipner, Senior Vice President of Marketing at MasterCraft Boat Holdings. “The ProStar has long been the boat of choice for the world’s top waterski athletes, and we’re proud to have it serve as the official ski boat for the event. As we continue to grow the MasterCraft Pro Event, our goal is to create a bigger platform for competitive waterskiing, showcase the incredible talent in the sport, and bring more fans into the experience.”
Featuring the world’s top waterski athletes, including Freddy Krueger, Freddie Winter, Joel Poland, Karen Truelove and Ali Garcia, who will all compete for some of the season’s highest scores, the event will bring three days of nonstop competition to Champion Lake and give fans the opportunity to experience the action in person.
Krueger, a world-record holder and one of the most accomplished waterskiers in the sport, will bring his extensive competitive experience to this year’s expanded tournament. “MasterCraft’s heritage is competition. The MasterCraft Pro gives us the opportunity to show the world, and ourselves that we are continuing to put out the best boats in the world,” said Freddy Krueger, MasterCraft Athlete. “Anyone can make an ad saying they are the best. The Pro is MasterCraft’s proving ground helping us to keep getting better every year.”
TWBC will stream the action live, giving fans everywhere the opportunity to tune in and follow the competition.
To register, please go to https://www.mastercraft.com/mc-pro and download the USA Waterski Entry Form, W-8 or W-9, and waiver. Please email the completed documents to Chris Bischoff at [email protected], then Chris will forward you the payment link.
For those unable to attend the event, it will be webcast on TWBC, so everyone can watch. To get more details, visit www.MasterCraft.com and follow along on Instagram, YouTube, X, and Facebook.
About MasterCraft:
MasterCraft is a world-renowned innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of premium performance sport boats. Founded in 1968, MasterCraft has cultivated its iconic brand image through a rich history of industry-leading innovation, and more than five decades after the original MasterCraft made its debut, the company’s goal remains the same – to continue building the world’s best ski, wakeboard, wake surf, and luxury performance powerboats.
About MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc.:
Headquartered in Vonore, TN, MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCFT) is a leading innovator, designer, manufacturer and marketer of recreational powerboats through its five brands, MasterCraft, Crest, Balise, Chaparral, and Robalo. For more information about MasterCraft Boat Holdings, and its five brands, visit: Investors.MCBH.com, www.MasterCraft.com, www.CrestPontoonBoats.com, www.BalisePontoonBoats.com, www.ChaparralBoats.com, and www.Robalo.com.
