Patricia Ann Beasley of Babson Park passed away Thursday, June 24, 2021 at her residence.
She was born February 18, 1964 in Vicenza, Italy to the late William “Bill” and Doris Haskin; she has been a resident of Babson Park as a child and has been a lifelong resident since. Patricia was a retired administrative assistant for Webber International University. She traveled all over the world with her family, and enjoyed cooking, family time, fishing, boating on crooked lake, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Patricia was preceded in death by her brothers, Rick Haskin, and Frank Haskin. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Raymond Michael Beasley; daughter, Jennifer Hutto and husband Cody of Frostproof; son, Michael “Mikey” Beasley and wife Hillary of Babson Park; brother, Bill Haskin and wife Cheryl of Valdosta, Georgia; sister-in-law, Peggy Haskin of Orlando; and six grandchildren.
The City of Winter Haven Public Works/Streets Unit, will be cleaning and sealing brick paver sidewalks within the downtown area along W Central Avenue from Third Street to First Street, on both sides of the roadway.
Work will be performed on Sunday, June 27 from 4:00 a.m. until noon.
During the cleaning and sealing process, the sidewalk areas will be temporarily closed to the Public. However, to minimize the impact to your business, crews will accommodate accessibility needs within these areas, as needed.
On Thursday, June 24, 2021, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 50-year-old Andrew Scott of Lakeland for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Scott had just been released from the Polk County jail the previous day.
Shortly before 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, deputies responded to a call where Scott was threatening another man with a baseball bat. According to the victim, Scott became angry with him during an argument about Scott’s illegal drug use – the victim told deputies he agreed to let Scott stay there to “get back on his feet” since he had just been released from jail. Scott armed himself with a baseball bat and threatened the victim. Scott also told the victim he was going to use the bat to make law enforcement shoot him.When deputies arrived, Scott was alone in the backyard holding the baseball bat. Deputies told Scott to drop the bat; Scott did not comply. Instead he turned toward the deputies and lifted the bat as if preparing to swing it. With only about 15 feet between Scott and the deputy, the deputy successfully deployed his agency-issued Taser. The deputies took Scott into custody without incident.
“I am proud of the quick response of my deputies. They were able to end a deadly situation without anyone getting hurt. This is just one example of many where deputies respond to a violent situation and disarm a violent suspect in order to keep people safe.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Scott was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (F3), Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer (F2), Resisting without Violence (M1), and Violation of Probation. He is currently in the Polk County Jail with no bond. At the time of his arrest, Scott had been released from the Polk County Jail on June 23, 2021 after serving a 30 day sentence for Trespassing, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Introduction of Contraband. He was also on probation for these charges.
On Thursday, June 24, 2021, PCSO Agricultural Crimes detectives arrested and charged 52-year-old Dashong Bonner of Bartow with two counts felony animal cruelty (F3) and one count misdemeanor animal cruelty (M1) after an investigation into the severe neglect of dogs at her home. When Animal Control and Ag deputies arrived at 490 9th Avenue in Bartow, they found one dog deceased, and two dogs severely neglected and emaciated. The following is an excerpt from the affidavit, which is very graphic and self-explanatory: “Dog #1, a brown in color female Pit Bull Terrier named Mocha, was located in a wire kennel with no plastic floor, covered in feces, with a 1/2 eaten plastic dog food bag in the kennel. In the bottom of the kennel were pieces of plastic the dog had digested and passed with its feces. The dog could barely stand and was carried to the animal control transport vehicle at the scene. Upon an evaluation of the dog by the Polk County Animal Control Veterinarian the dog was found to have a body score of a 1, with 1 being completely emaciated and 9 being obese. The dog was found to be suffering from heart worms and hook worms, anemic, severely underweight, and weighing only 24.1 pounds at approximately 5 years of age. This dog suffered repeated pain trying to stay alive eating a plastic dog food bag. The dog was unable to escape the wire kennel and attempt to hunt for food or water. Dog #2, a tan Cur mix female dog named Caramel, was located roaming in the yard of the residence. The dog was severally underweight and was picked up and carried to the animal control transport vehicle at the scene. Upon an evaluation of the dog by the Polk County Animal Control Veterinarian the dog was found to have a body score of a 2. The dog weighed 22 pounds and was determined to be approximately 1 year old. The dog was found to be suffering from hook worms, whip worms, and heart worms. The dog was denied proper food and water or proper care.
Dog #3, a tan Cur mix male dog named Buster, was located in a wire kennel on the open back porch of the residence. The dog was found to be deceased. The dog was removed from the property and taken to Animal Control where it was found to have a body score of a 1. The dog had no visible fat on its body and appeared to be skin and bones. The dog clearly suffered a cruel death by starving to death inside a wire kennel with no food or water, and no way to escape to hunt for food or water. The floor of the kennel had one small piece of very dry feces in it indicating the dog had not had any food over an extended period of time.
The suspect was located at her residence and surrendered ownership of the dogs to the Sheriff’s Office upon contact. While surrendering the dogs the suspect stated she was given the dogs by her ex-husband. She stated the following: She had bought a bag of dog food a few weeks ago and then one again this past Monday. When asked when the last time she observed or fed the dogs she stated ‘I don’t know.’ When asked who is responsible for feeding and watering the dogs she stated she tells her kids to when she remembers to tell them. Upon showing her where the dogs were located on the open back porch and the conditions they were in, she stated she had no idea the area looked like that, and that she didn’t know the dog was dead in one of the kennels. When asked if she could smell the odor of the feces and the area where the dead dog was located she stated she was not home much and did not smell it.” Bonner was booked into the Polk County Jail, where she is being held on $2,500 bond ($1,000 per felony charge, $500 for the misdemeanor).
“Our Ag Crimes detectives and Animal Control personnel have seen some pretty awful things, but this is the worst case of animal cruelty they’ve encountered in a very long time. These dedicated men and women are working around the clock restoring health to these two severely neglected dogs. It’s a shame we didn’t get there in time to save them all. We appreciate the anonymous citizen who saw something, and said something.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
On June 24, 2021, Kelvin Ford, who has a Polk County Warrant for his arrest for second degree murder and tampering with evidence, turned himself in at the Orient Road Jail in Hillsborough County. He will be transferred to Polk at a later date.
Original Article
Cat Man” AKA Kelvin Ford Sought By The Polk County Sheriff’s Office For Murder The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is searching for 41-year-old Kelvin Ford (also known as “Cat Man”) who is wanted for 2nd degree murder and tampering with evidence.
His charges stem from an incident that occurred Friday morning, June 18th, in the Brenda Lane area in unincorporated Auburndale.
Around 11:00 a.m. that morning, Ford shot a man who was sitting in a vehicle. The victim then drove away from Ford, ultimately crashing on Old Dixie Highway. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he later died from his injury.
Kelvin Ford is still at-large.
This was not a random shooting – Ford and the victim knew each other. We are asking that if you see him, please do not confront or engage with him – he is being considered ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
If you see him or know of his whereabouts, please immediately call 911.
Or, if you would like to stay anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers: * Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477) * From your cell phone, dial **TIPS * Visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” * Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
The Lake Wales Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant for Tex Gifford age 40 of Sebring for the murder of Bruce Spry, age 42 of Bradenton. During the investigation, police learned Gifford was involved in a verbal argument with Spry earlier in the evening on Sunday, June 20th. Afterward, Gifford walked away from the immediate area. He then returned within the hour, walking up to Mr. Spry who was sitting on the tailgate of a pickup and began firing at him. Gifford shot Mr. Spry at least six times, in this senseless and heinous act of violence on Father’s Day. Gifford has been charged with first degree murder and police are asking for the public’s help in locating this dangerous individual. Additional charges are pending as this investigation progresses. Gifford should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who knows his whereabouts is asked to immediately call 911 and notify law enforcement of his location. Heartland Crime Stoppers is offering a $5000.00 reward for any information leading to his arrest.
This remains an active investigation. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Ricky Hartwell of the Lake Wales Police Department. Or, if you would like to stay anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers: • Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477) • From your cell phone, dial **TIPS • Visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” • Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet. You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
UPDATE:
At approximately 11:32 p.m., long after most people had returned to their homes after celebrating Father’s Day, Lake Wales Police Officer Emmanuel Viera was patrolling the area of Lincoln Avenue. As he neared B Street, he could hear loud music and drove toward the noise, which became louder as he approached D Street. As he turned onto D Street, he could see a large crowd had gathered near the intersection of Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Avenue in the parking lot of a vacant and dilapidated building. This location is in the middle of a residential neighborhood with nearby commercial businesses.
Officer Viera was approximately half a block away when he heard multiple gunshots and saw the crowd running from the area. He rushed toward the gunfire and requested available units to come assist. As he approached the crowd, citizens began to shout for him and directed him to the victim. Officer Viera located the victim, a 42-year-old male from Bradenton unresponsive at the tailgate of a pickup truck. The Lake Wales Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue arrived on scene and attempted lifesaving measures to no avail.
Officers soon learned a second person had been shot during this incident and was at a local hospital receiving treatment. This victim, a 28-year-old Lake Wales man, was treated and later released from the hospital. Police believe this person was unintentionally struck during the reckless gunfire.
This remains a very active investigation and detectives are working around the clock to identify the shooter and determine motive. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Ricky Hartwell at Lake Wales Police Department.
Or, if you would like to stay anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers: • Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477) • From your cell phone, dial **TIPS • Visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” • Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
ORIGINAL:
Lake Wales Police Department detectives are conducting an active homicide investigation, which occurred in the late evening hours on Sunday, June 20, 2021. The shooting occurred in the area of D Street and Dr. J A Wiltshire Avenue. At this time, one person is deceased and a second is being treated for a gunshot wound. Detectives are in the early stages of this investigation and are looking for anyone who may have knowledge of this incident. Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Ricky Hartwell at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).
Krazy Kombucha Celebrates Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting
by James Coulter
We all want to eat healthy. However, sometimes the key to good health isn’t necessarily what you eat but how you digest what you eat. For that reason, you should consume more probiotics, and a tasty way to get probiotics is by drinking kombucha.
You’ve probably heard of kombucha, but you don’t know what it is. Essentially, it’s like a fermented tea brewed with a SCOBY, or symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. This brew produces healthy acids and bacteria that help aid in digestion. And it tastes great, too!
If you’re looking to try kombucha, head on down to Lakeland’s newest brewery, Krazy Kombucha, located along South Florida Avenue near Dixieland. While the location is new, the business has been operating for three years and selling its brew at local farmer’s markets.
Their signature drink, the Krazy Kombucha, according to its website, is “made with organic cultures of bacteria and yeast…a blend of organic oolong, china black, gunpowder green, and white peony teas, [and] organic cane sugar.”
Their best seller is the Ginger Kombucha, made with a flavorful combination of organic ginger and apple juice. Other flavors include pineapple, mermaid lemonade, and organic strawberry.
Wendy Johnson has been brewing kombucha for several years. She was inspired to do so through her occupation as a certified holistic nutritionist. As a nurse for 24 years, she has treated issues related to digestion, and she has learned the best way to ail them.
“Kombucha is very good for digestion,” she said. “This 20-year span has helped me to get to this point where I am able to buy this business.”
She and her business partner, AJ Jackson, a fitness instructor and “avid kombucha brewer”, have been operating their business for the past three years.
They previously sold their brews at farmer’s markets. Now they finally have their own brewery and taproom where they can produce and sell their brews in-house.
“We feel the sky is the limits now that we have the room,” Johnson said. “They can expect a place to come and try something new and to look for new ferments that [are] beneficial to them.”
As someone who has worked with “gut health” for more than two decades and brewing kombucha for three years, she knows how beneficial the drink is to digestion and overall health. She hopes that people will drop by and give what they have to offer a try.
“I know that every drop of the drink is benefiting them, and that is why I do it,” she said. “I love brewing it, and I love playing with the flavors and organic and putting good nutrition in their system and also drinking to your health.”
Krazy Kombucha celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Bill Mutz congratulated the new business and
commended the street realignment project along South Florida Avenue, which is better helping such businesses.
“What is most important is being able to see a fruit of passion that comes from people who want great health, who have worked hard to create wonderfully delicious kombucha, and then make it possible on the retail basis to have it affordably,” he said. “That is what we have here. And so we are so grateful for the city for you to invest that way and use your talents and skills to make it happen.”
Krazy Kombucha is located at 1030 South Florida Ave Lakeland, FL 33803. For more information, visit their website: https://krazykombucha.life
These overhead photos are what we have, but someone should know who this man is.
He may have information regarding a retail theft of more than $340 at Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd).
If you recognize him, please give Detective Maldonado a call at 863-837-0946.
Local Children’s Author Takes Kids Dreaming “Into The Stars” With Third Storybook
by James Coulter
When Little Ari goes to sleep every night, she and her talking dog, Pepper, go on many amazing adventures. In their latest adventure, they travel to outer space, where they meet an astronaut, Galaxy Joe, who takes them on a galactic tour of the solar system and beyond.
“Into The Stars” is the third installment in the children’s storybook series, “Let’s Go Dreaming,” by Shanita Allen, Lakeland author and Behavior Analyst. Her newest book was released on Monday and is available as a physical storybook and e-book from Amazon. Already, her new book has reached the Top 20 Bestseller’s list in two categories on Kindle
The series follows the young child protagonist, Ari, and her talking dog, Pepper, as they go on adventures together in her dreams. The first book, “Sleep, Tiny Dreamer?” has little Ari learn about her dreams and the many fun things she can do in them.
The second book, “What Is A Dream?” has her learn that her dog can talk, and she learns even more fun things they can do together while she dreams. She has nine books planned for her series, with six more planned soon.
Shanita always dreamed of becoming a children’s book author when she was in middle school. However, throughout her high school and college career, she learned she had an interest in psychology, which inspired her career path.
She currently works full-time as a Behavior Analyst in Hillsborough County, working with individuals with developmental disabilities. She also enjoys writing, which motivated her to combine her work experience with her childhood dream and write her own children’s storybooks based on child psychology.
“I loved writing and reading ever since I was young,” she said. “So that was my goal in life, that was my dream when I was young, to become a published author.”
She published her first book, “Sleep, Tiny Dreamer” in 2018. Her books have since sold an estimated 1,000 copies. Her most significant milestone is having her work featured by local news organizations, including the Lakeland Ledger and Daily Ridge.
Most of all, she loves meeting with children at author events at local schools and libraries. These in-person events were placed on hold over the past year due to the pandemic. While she appreciates virtual events, nothing can replace meeting and interacting with children in person.
“I love that closeness [with] speaking with the children one-on-one [and] hearing about what their dreams are,” Shanita said. “Just that energy you get when you are next to them, and they can see you and touch their books and have lots of hugs because they appreciate your story and what you represent. That is the part that I missed with COVID. So I am looking forward to doing all of that again.”
Shanita will be attending an upcoming event hosted by the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County on Sat., June 26 from 9 am to 1 pm at their location in downtown Lakeland, located at
115 S Missouri Ave, Lakeland, FL 33815. She hopes that with the pandemic winding down that she will be able to attend more events like it soon.
“Now that things are returning to normalcy, it is a much better time to be able to go out and interact with individuals, especially kids, because I missed that,” she said. “I look forward to more events and connecting with children and parents.”
The “Let’s Go Dreaming” book series is available to purchase on Amazon and other online retailers. For more information, visit her website at: https://www.letsgodreaming.com/
Haines City Celebrated Inagural Juneteenth With Parade And Soul Concert
by James Coulter
Haines City celebrated its inagural Juneteenth with a two-day celebration last weekend, which included a gala, parade, and a soul concert. The event officially kicked off Friday evening with a Black Tie Gala at the Lake Eva Event Center, which included dinner, live music, and a special guest speaker.
The celebration continued the next day. Saturday’s festivities started with a parade with several dozen floats, vehicles, and performers. The parade started at Trinity Worship Center and continued along MLK Way and ended at Myers & Wiley Field.
Participating in the parade were representatives from the Haines City Commission, including Mayor Morris West, as well as from the Haines City Fire and Police Department and even the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The remaining festivities continued at the athletic field with the Juneteenth Soul Concert, which included vendors, food trucks, and live musical performances by “Solivita”, CeCe Teneal & the Soul Komotion Band, and Omar Cunningham.
Juneteenth commemorates the freeing of black slaves following the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. This year’s celebration proved especially momentous, as the occasion was officially recognized as a national holiday by President Joe Biden.
“The emancipation is a landmark event in our nation’s history as we continue to seek equality for all people. I’m very proud that our city was at the forefront, marking Juneteenth as a holiday even prior to President Biden making it a federal holiday,” Mayor Morris West said. “This celebration means a lot for our diverse community. It’s exciting to see a new tradition come to fruition in our great city.”
The overall celebration drew in a good turnout with the festivities on Friday and Saturday. The Soul Concert on Saturday afternoon especially attracted a great crowd. An estimated 300 to 400 people attended that evening’s concert, said Terrell Griffin, Parks & Recreation Director.
“For a first-time event of this magnitude, I was pleased with the turnout for the events both Friday night and Saturday,” he said. “I was pleased to see the outcome of the community working together to collaborate on such an important event in American History.”
Griffin appreciated seeing the community come together to celebrate the occasion, especially with the yearlong pandemic hopefully winding down. Moreover, residents of diverse backgrounds. gathered together in fraternity to live up to the town’s motto of “Haines City Forward – One City One Vision.”
This year’s Juneteenth Celebration was made possible by the hard work and efforts of the following local organizations and individuals: City of Haines City Event Center Coordinator, Lekia Johnson, Northeast Revitalization Group, Northeast Rattlers, and Unity in the Community and the NAACP (Haines City Branch).
With this year’s event being the inagural celebration, expectations were more than exceeded. Hopes remain high for next year’s celebration, especially now that Juneteenth has been officially recognized as a federal holiday.
“The event exceeded my expectations and I look forward to future events,” said Griffin. “The bar has been set high, however with continued community collaboration, I think future events will be bigger and better than this year’s event.”
