March 3, 2025
A vehicle crash on Cypress Gardens Blvd in front of TD bank has shut down westbound lanes temporarily. Expect delays and find alternate routes at this time.
The 911 call for the crash came in just before 2:00 p.m.
Roadway still closed at time of publication.
The reported vehicles involved are a darker grey car and a blue suv.
Polk County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Nathaniel Gale confirmed they had one trauma alert patient transported via helicopter.
A woman is confirmed to have been bitten by an alligator at Tiger Creek Canal in Lake Wales earlier today.
The Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) has released the following statement through PIO, Officer Specialist, Aaron Gonzalez, South West Region:
“On March 3, 2025, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) received a report of a woman who was bitten on the elbow by an alligator while paddling at Tiger Creek Canal in Polk County. The FWC and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene, and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper has been dispatched to remove the alligator. The victim was transported to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.
“Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida. The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP). SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property. People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), and we will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation.
“The FWC works to keep Floridians and visitors informed and recommends the following precautionary measures near alligators, including in or near the water, to reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators:
“Never feed an alligator. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild.”
Gonzalez, citing an ongoing investigation in regard to this incident, could not comment on the circumstances that led up to the victim being bitten, nor if anyone else was hurt during the incident.
Several stories are circulating in speculation of what may have led to the the victim being bitten. Lake Wales Daily cannot confirm any of that speculation, as FWC is currently working an investigation on the incident.
A further update will be provided at a later time if new information becomes available.
Note: an earlier version of this article referred to the location of the incident as Tiger Creek Preserve, as it was reported to us by FWC. Lake Wales Daily has since confirmed that the incident in question indeed occurred in Tiger Creek Canal. The article has been updated to reflect this.
City of Winter Haven Considers Purchasing Permitting and Licensing Software for $80K+
by James Coulter
The City of Winter Haven will be able to streamline permitting, application submissions, and building inspections if it approves the purchase of cloud-based permitting and licensing software.
At their regular meeting on Mon. Feb. 24, Winter Haven city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance to purchase permitting and licensing software.
Utilized by Polk County and other counties and municipalities across Florida, Accela, is a ” cloud-based permitting and licensing software” used for “application submittal, permitting, plan review, and building inspection,” according to the city agenda memo.
Through integration with another a complementary software system called Selectron, Accela, as the memo states, also offers, “inspection scheduling and proactive communication with contractors and home owners via text message and a web based, map centric, inspection management tool that brings all activities in the field into a single dashboard to assist with workload balancing.”
Typically, Accela costs between $200,000 and $300,000 to implement. The overall cost will be $527,001.20; however, through a partnership with the County, which has agreed to allow the city to utilize its configuration templates, the City’s implementation will cost $80,475.
Payments will be made over five years, with an option to renew after the fifth year. The first-year payment has been budgeted into Building Divisions Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget, with available excess revenue to be budgeted in years 2 through 5.
City commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the ordinance. The second reading will be voted upon at an upcoming meeting.
The Florida wildlife commission, Polk County Fire Rescue and Polk County Sheriffs Office are currently on scene of an alligator attack on a canal off Tiger Lake. Details are still coming in, but it appears that the incident occurred at 1:22 PM today.
As of this time we believe there’s two victims. One person, believed to be female, is a trauma alert with severe injuries and a second person has injuries, but it’s not listed as trauma alert.
*Editors Note: Initial reports were that a man and a woman were bitten. However only one person was treated. The FWC could not confirm two people bitten. So we are updating the information. Additionally the FWC listed the attack occurring at Tiger Creek Preserves. This appears to be in error on their part, but we are getting clarification.
Emergency units are utilizing boats and airboats to gain access to the injured victims. As of a few minutes ago they have reached the victims and are preparing to bring them back to land.
This is a developing story and we will update as information is received.
Here is an update to this original story, but some items are being clarified as FWC may be incorrect in the location:
New Details on the Incident Involving a Victim Airlifted with injuries from Alligator Bite in Tiger Creek Preserve; statement from FWC:
by James Coulter
The City of Lake Wales will be considering two agreements to aid renovations to the Lake Wales Public Library.
At a work session meeting on Wed. Feb. 26, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners reviewed two agenda items concerning library renovations.
The first proposal was for a piggyback agreement with Library Interiors of Florida for shelving reconfiguration of the adult book collection “due to the library redesign,” Library DirectorBelle Reynoso wrote in the city agenda memo.
The second proposal would be to award the bid to Qualis General Contractors for the library renovations.
For the first proposal, Library Interiors of Florida was chosen due to its extensive work with other libraries within the county, as well as its overall expertise and professionalism.
“Library Interiors of Florida are professionals who know the protocols of working in libraries while open for service,” Reynoso wrote. “They have included the reuse of many of our existing shelf and furniture components in this quote.”
If approved, the City will expend $138,825 from the Library’s impact fees for this agreement.
The second proposal will be to award the bid for library renovations to Qualis General Contractors, which was one of six interested parties that had responded to an invitation bid issued by the City on Tues. Jan. 21, 2025.
Qualis General Contractors was chosen over the lowest bidder, as the lowest bidder “did not include substantial items” as detailed within the invitation to bid, with these items including the structural steel, carpet, and the movable partition.
The library renovations will include a “new and improved multipurpose room” that will help meet increased demand, especially with an increase of “40-50 library programs per month using the meeting room.”
“Due to significant business and residential growth within the city, the demand for extra space has never been higher than in the past couple of years,” Reynoso wrote. “With an average of 40-50 library programs per month using the meeting room, public requests are often left without a space to conduct their business.”
City Commissioner Robin Gibson inquired about what the redesign would entail. Reynoso replied the redesign will add three new rooms, with a new teen room and a multipurpose room with a partition in the middle to create separate study rooms.
Commissioner Gibson asked if the redesign would “take advantage” of the library’s view of Crystal Lake. Reynosoreplied the view had not been factored into Phase 1 of renovations, but will be in Phase 2.
Both agenda items will be reviewed and voted upon at the next regular meeting on Tues. Mar. 4 at 6 PM at Lake Wales City Hall, located at 201 W Central Ave.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit is investigating a traffic fatality that occurred this past weekend.
A crash occurred around 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2025, on US Hwy 92 West at Payne Street in unincorporated Auburndale. Around that time, the PCSO Emergency Communications Center began receiving calls from motorists reporting that an adult female was sitting in the middle of the road in the eastbound lanes of Hwy 92, and that cars were having to drive around her. Deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue were immediately dispatched.
While one caller (who had made a U-turn and stopped in the median to call) was still on the phone with the PCSO Telecommunicator, and first responders were enroute, the caller reported that the woman had just stood up and started walking in the road when she was struck by a red SUV. She died at the scene.
The 71-year-old male driver of the SUV immediately stopped after striking the woman. It was dark at the time, and the driver reported to deputies that he didn’t see her until she appeared right in front of him. It does not appear that he was impaired or speeding at the time of impact. The woman was 45-years-old, and PCSO is still working to notify her next of kin.
by James Coulter
The newly-refurbished Market Plaza and Park Avenue area of Downtown Lake Wales will be officially unveiled to the public at a ribbon cutting ceremony to be hosted on Fri., March 7, 2025at 5:30 PM.
For the past two years, Park Avenue between Wetmore Street and 1st Street has been shut down to allow for renovations in the area. These renovations included new sidewalks, streetlights, benches, trees, and other landscape and streetscape enhancements.
“The redesign features on-street parking, enlarged sidewalks, enhanced lighting, outdoor seating, and dining areas,” the city’s website explained. “The landscape architecture comprises street trees, native plants, hanging-flower baskets, and rain gardens.”
These renovations were implemented in four phases over two years starting in August 2023. They are part of the city’s overall “Lake Wales Connected” Plan, which seeks to revitalize the city for economic growth and redevelopment.
“Lake Wales Connected seeks to build upon recent momentum, providing a strategy that aligns with the City’s legacy by using a community-based vision to direct future improvements, growth, preservation, and economic vitality,” the city’s website explained.
Now that Market Plaza and Park Avenue have been renovated, other streets in the downtown area will undergo similar refurbishments. Orange Avenue and Crystal Avenue will be rehabilitated with new street surfacing, lighting, and landscaping. These refurbishments will be funded through a federal grant and intergovernmental agreement with Polk County.
Aside from a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the upcoming celebration will also include a Taste of Downtown event with complimentary appetizers, wine, and beer being served at local bars and restaurants. To help facilitate these festivities, Lake Wales city commissioners plan to approve a special event permit for a road closure and the serving of alcohol.
That permit, along with the rest of the consent agenda, will be reviewed and voted upon at an upcoming city commission meeting on Tues. Mar. 4 at 6 PM at Lake Wales City Hall, located at 201 W Central Ave.
Join Horticulture Manager Taylor Walker for a presentation about how to grow a beautiful edible landscape that will provide aesthetic enjoyment and delicious, fresh foods.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Alexander Discovery Center
Free for members/ $20 for non-members (includes admission)
Registration required
Please Note:
To assist Bok Tower Gardens with the rising costs of online transactions, a small processing fee is required for to confirm your registration.
Ticket price includes general admission to the Gardens. Tickets are available for purchase at boktower.org, in person at the Visitor Center or by phone at 863-734-1222. All programs and classes promptly begin at stated time and visitors are encouraged to arrive at least 10 minutes before class begins for check-in. Check-in begins 30 minutes prior to the class start time. Culinary events are demonstration based and late arrivals may not be accommodated. For classes held after 5 pm, the entrance gate will stay open for an additional 30 minutes after the start time. Once the gate closes, late arrivals will not be admitted. Due to the nature of culinary events held at the Outdoor Kitchen, Bok Tower Garden may attempt, but cannot guarantee, to accommodate food allergies. Dogs are not permitted at any educational program.
A single vehicle crash occurred around 2:40 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, 2025, on Eloise Loop Road at the entrance to the Terranova subdivision in Winter Haven.
According to the evidence at the scene, it appears that the 50-year-old male driver of a 2008 gold Nissan Altima was heading westbound on Eloise Loop when he failed to negotiate the sharp curve, resulting in the car leaving the roadway to the south and crashing into a tree.
Speed appears to be a factor. His FL driver’s license was cancelled in 2009. He was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene. The name of driver has not been released. His next of kin has not yet been notified of his death. There were no other vehicles or people involved in this incident.
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 March 13, 2025 at 10:00 am at storageauctions.com
| StorageAuctions.com Storage Auctions is the best place to find online self storage auctions. Search through an unlimited amount of auctions for free. Get text alerts about auctions you are bidding on. Always be the first in line for new auctions in your area.storageauctions.com |
Units belonging to the following:
CUSTOMER NAME:
Richard Whitaker
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.
© 2021 WinterHavenDaily.com | All rights reserved.
