If you’re looking for live entertainment around Winter Haven this weekend, several local venues are featuring talented musicians and bands performing everything from country and classic rock to crowd favorites.
Cypresswood Pub
Enjoy live music from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. all weekend long at Cypresswood Pub:
Thursday: Hunter McNeer
Friday: Gerry Williams Band
Saturday: Casey Howell Duo
Tanner’s Lakeside
Spend an evening by the water with live music at Tanner’s Lakeside:
Friday: Aggie Road | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday: Josh Hindman and the Mustang Mafia | 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday: Twizted | 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Somewhere Sports Bar
Start your weekend with live music by B. Haven on Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Joey Foley and his trio will be at Cherry Pocket Sunday from 12-4.
Tipsy Hen’s June Calendar
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing night out, a place to dance, or just great local entertainment, these Winter Haven-area venues have something for everyone this weekend.
Want Your Music Featured?
Musicians performing in the Winter Haven area who would like their shows included in a future roundup can submit their schedules to [email protected]. Be sure to include “LIVE MUSIC” in the subject line to be featured in an upcoming edition of the Winter Haven Daily music listings.
The wait is almost over for Texas Roadhouse fans in Winter Haven.
The new Texas Roadhouse location at 6023 Cypress Gardens Blvd. SE is preparing to open its doors on Monday, June 29, promising its signature “Legendary Food & Legendary Service.”
According to the restaurant’s social media page, the grand opening is just days away as staff make final preparations for welcoming guests.
Hours of Operation
Monday – Thursday: 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
The new restaurant is located at 6023 Cypress Gardens Blvd. SE in Winter Haven and is expected to be a popular dining destination for residents and visitors alike when it officially opens on June 29.
Undercover detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Lithia man after he arranged for and then traveled to have a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl.
“The suspect thought he was communicating and negotiating with a man who was going to let him have sex with his daughter for $200. The suspect even asked if it was a trap. Newsflash— it was a trap. And now there is one less dangerous pervert out there preying on innocent children, because we locked him up in the Polk County Jail.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 33-year-old Perry Thomas Olson answered a fictitious advertisement that detectives placed on a dating app. The ad was for a man who was prostituting his 14-year-old daughter for sex.
Olson texted the phone number on the ad and it was answered by the undercover PCSO detective. Olson immediately asked the detective about the price, and then proceeded to discuss the girl’s age, and the circumstances of the sexual encounter.
At around 4 pm, Olson texted that he had arrived at a designated meeting place, and he was immediately taken into custody.
Detectives found that Olson was in possession of $200 cash, two condoms, and a bottle of lubricant.
Perry Thomas Olson was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and booked-in on the following charges: Human Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Activity-Victim under 18 (FL), Traveling to Meet Using a Computer to Solicit a Parent for Sex with a Minor (F2), Attempting Lewd/Lascivious Battery on Victim 12-16 (F2), Use a Computer to Solicit a Parent/Guardian (F3), and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Communication Device (F3).
Haines City Hosting Annual Juneteenth Celebration This Week by James Coulter
This Fourth of July marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence–America’s bold announcement that “all men are created equal” and endowed with the right to freedom.
But in 1776, that promise was painfully incomplete, as millions of black Americans were still enslaved, denied both freedom and equality. It would take another 87 years and a Civil War before the Emancipation Proclamation extended that long‑delayed promise, declaring the end of slavery in the United States.
Each year on June 19th, we commemorate that moment through Juneteenth, a celebration often described as America’s “second Independence Day.” If July 4th marks freedom from tyranny, Juneteenth marks freedom from bondage, completing the story of American liberty.
Haines City is one of many cities across Polk County hosting Juneteenth celebrations. The city is hosting a week of events organized by the Haines City Juneteenth Heritage Coalition.
The weeklong celebration will conclude with two major events: the Black Tie Gala at the Lake Eva Event Center on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m., and the Music Festival at Lake Eva Park on Saturday, June 20, beginning at 4 p.m.
The Black Tie Gala will be a formal evening featuring live music, motivational words from guest speaker Dr. Marvin Pits, and an array of food, art, and cultural showcases.
The following day’s Music Festival will bring the celebration outdoors with performances from several local bands and artists, capped by a headlining set from Koffie, an international performer born and raised in Haines City. Festivalgoers can also enjoy food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and a fireworks finale to close out the night.
Haines City’s Juneteenth celebration was spearheaded by several local non-profits coming together to form the Haines City Juneteenth Heritage Coalition in 2021. Since then, the event has expanded with new festivities added every year, including parades, music festivals, and essay writing contests.
President and CEO Cynthia Downing has been with the coalition since its inception and has seen the overall event grow every year. She appreciates being able to help organize an event that brings the community together to celebrate unity and diversity.
“We bring people together to learn about Juneteenth, as well as unity about the culture, and different festivities to bring the community together,” she said.
Her favorite aspect is the Black Tie Gala, being able to see everyone, especially local officials, in their best formal attire to enjoy an evening of art, culture, music, and food.
As with previous events, her expectation for this year is to see the celebration continue to expand with more festivities and even more attendees.
“Our expectation is for it to be bigger and better,” she said. “Each year builds upon itself, and so this year, we have a full coalition involved, and we did a little differently, so we are looking for it to be bigger and better and to educate the community about Juneteenth and unity.”
Winter Haven Approves $129K for Alternative Water Supply Pipeline Design by James Coulter
To provide an alternative water supply from Lake Wales to Winter Haven and nearby communities, city commissioners approved funding to plan and design a proposed extension of a transmission line.
At their regular meeting on Mon. June 8, 2026, Winter Haven commissioners voted unanimously to approve their consent agenda, with one item on a project for The Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC).
The project will extend the city’s existing transmission main by approximately 2,300 feet, consisting of 1,400 feet of new main and a 900-foot extension to a receiving facility on Derby Avenue East.
This new transmission will enable the city to receive the county’s alternate water supply from Lake Wales and distribute it to the neighboring cities of Auburndale and Lake Alfred.
The City of Winter Haven, along with 15 other municipalities, formed the PRWC to coordinate planning for future growth and to address the county’s long-term water supply needs.
To meet these needs, the PRWC has been developing an Alternate Water Supply (AWS) to prevent the over-dependence of the traditional Upper Floridan Aquifer as a main water source. By 2045, the county will be expected to supply nearly 106 MGD of water, according to the PRWC website.
Through the PRWC, Winter Haven will receive 4.17 million gallons per day (MGD) of AWS from a new facility in Lake Wales via a 60-mile transmission line.
The water will be delivered to the city’s receiving facility on Pollard Road, with 1.65 MGD being distributed to Auburndale and 1.0 MGD to Lake Alfred.
“This project will improve the regional water system and allow water to be delivered through the City of Winter Haven to Auburndale,” wrote Gary Hubbard, Water Department Director. “By using the City’s existing system, PRWC member governments will avoid the cost of constructing a separate transmission main, resulting in significant savings.”
To help receive and distribute this AWS, the transmission line extension will be planned, designed, and permitted by Dewberry Engineers, Inc., whose services are estimated to cost $129,555.
Funds are currently budgeted in both this fiscal year and the next, and the City and PRWC are preparing a reimbursement agreement under which the City will be reimbursed 100 percent of its investment in the water main installation. The project is expected to be ready for construction by July 2027.
“This project supports the City’s ongoing Capital Improvement Program by upgrading and expanding water infrastructure to provide reliable, high-quality service to Winter Haven and neighboring communities,” Hubbard elaborated.
After tracking the weather and analyzing the county’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) average, Polk County officials have repealed the May 5 burn ban.
The conversations between Polk County Fire Chief Shawn Smith, local municipal fire chiefs and Florida Forest Service Lakeland District Manager Pat Keogh said it is safe to repeal the ban as the county moves into the rainy season.
“As we look at weather forecasts and the decrease in the KBDI, it confirms that our numbers are going in the correct direction for a repeal of the burn ban,” said Fire Chief Smith. “As always we will continuously monitor the KBDI and weather in case conditions change and we begin to experience another period of dry weather.”
As of June 16, Polk County’s KBDI average is 455 with 70% of the county under 500.
The KBDI is a continuous reference scale, ranging from 0 to 800. It assesses the soil’s moisture content from no moisture deficiency (0) to maximum drought conditions (800).
Despite the lift of the burn ban – if you see a potentially dangerous fire – report it to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Line at 863-298-6200 or call 9-1-1 if life or property is in immediate danger.
Kids have more ways to connect than ever. They can text, scroll, game, comment and chat all before they even leave the house. Yet for many young people, all that connection does not necessarily translate into feeling known, useful or part of something larger than themselves.
The World Health Organization (WHO) calls loneliness a global health threat, and the numbers explain why. With 1 in 6 people affected worldwide, loneliness hits the hardest among teens and young adults ages 13 to 29, where between 17% and 21% report feeling lonely. Young people experiencing chronic loneliness are twice as likely to develop depression and 22% more likely to earn lower grades, according to the WHO. If screens are now built into childhood, what actually helps kids build confidence, purpose and belonging?
New research from Harris Poll, commissioned by Scouting America, examined more than 3,000 U.S. adults, including those who earned the Eagle Scout rank, the program’s highest designation, and compared them with adults who never participated. Conducted for three months beginning October 10, 2025, the survey of 3,178 adults asked for feedback on well-being, civic engagement, leadership and character development. The findings reveal meaningful differences in how those groups describe their relationships, outlook, civic involvement, connection and sense of purpose.
The clearest difference may be loneliness. Just 11% of those who earned the Eagle Scout rank say they frequently feel lonely, compared with 23% of non-participants. Those who earned the rank are also more likely to report a strong sense of purpose, with 78% saying they feel one compared with 60% of those who were never in the program, and 95% describe themselves as happy versus 82% of adults who never took part.
The data does not reduce childhood connection to a single activity. It shows how structured, real-world experiences can give young people repeated chances to be active participants rather than passive ones, working alongside others, taking responsibility, solving problems, serving a community and building confidence over time.
That matters because belonging is not built in theory, it is built through repetition and lived experience. A young person shows up, learns a skill, helps with a project, gets trusted with responsibility and begins to see that their presence matters. From the outside these moments may look small, but over time, they can shape how a person sees themselves and how they relate to others.
Those patterns extend into adult life. The research does not establish that the program causes these outcomes, but the consistency across measures is striking. Some 74% of those who earned the Eagle Scout rank say they have held leadership positions at work, compared with 31% of non-participants. Another 57% say they have spoken up for a cause they believe in or on behalf of others, versus 33% of those who never took part.
The story inside the numbers is not that every child needs the same path. It is that young people need places where they are asked to show up, contribute and be counted on. They need adults who mentor them, peers to collaborate with them and real responsibilities that help them practice who they are becoming.
In a childhood increasingly shaped by digital life, those experiences can be easy to underestimate. But the research shows the long-term value of giving kids something to do, somewhere to belong and a reason to see themselves as capable. For families worried about loneliness, confidence or lack of meaningful connection alongside their digital lives, the takeaway is practical: Look for structured experiences that allow young people to participate, contribute and lead. Connection is not just something kids feel. It is something they get to practice.
Methodology
The research was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Scouting America among 3,178 U.S. Adults ages 18-plus, including 1,549 who were never members of Scouting America (“non-Scouts”) and members of Scouting America (“Scouts”), including 1,067 who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout (“Eagle Scouts”) and 562 who did not achieve the rank of Eagle Scout (‘non-Eagle Scouts”). The survey was conducted initially from Oct. 10 through Nov. 17, 2025, and relaunched from Dec. 16, 2025, through Jan. 9, 2026.
Brenda Joyce Cameron, age 72, of Winter Haven, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2026. She was born on September 18, 1953, in Winter Haven, where she spent her entire life surrounded by family and friends.
Brenda was the beloved wife of 43 years to Harold Cameron; their enduring marriage was a testament to deep commitment and unwavering companionship. She was the cherished daughter of the late James Laster Jr. and Mamie Lou Laster. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Clifford Laster; her sister-in-law, Patricia Laster; and her brother-in-law, Eugene Glenn.
She leaves to cherish her memory her brothers, Edward Laster of Ocala, Florida, and Mark Laster (LaTanga) of Winter Haven, Florida; her sister, Lutricia Glenn of Winter Haven, Florida; her devoted nieces and nephew, Denise McGriff of Winter Haven, Florida, Kiwana Davis of Winter Haven, Florida, Danielle Dexter of Manassas, Virginia, Tiffany Laster of Fort Myers, Florida, Dr. Kristen Laster of Houston, Texas, Dawn Laster of Chicago, Illinois, Lisa Gaston of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Matthew Laster of North Carolina; her sisters-in-law, Carmen Pink (Durant) of Mount Vernon, New York, and Dawn Humphrey of Atlanta, Georgia; as well as a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins who will also continue to cherish her memory.
Brenda was a proud graduate of Winter Haven Senior High School, Class of 1971, and continued her education at Ridge Technical College in Winter Haven. She worked faithfully for many years as a dietary aide for Haines City Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and Consulate Health. She truly enjoyed working with the residents in these facilities and took pride in caring for them with kindness and respect.
A lifelong member of Hurst Chapel A.M.E., Brenda attended church there all of her life and loved participating in church functions. Her faith and her church family were central to her life.
Brenda enjoyed shopping, traveling, fishing, and gardening immensely. She cherished the time spent participating in activities with her Winter Haven Senior High School Class of 1971 and made many lifelong friends along the way. She was very kind, compassionate, and generous with her time and resources, always willing to help her family and friends. Always welcoming and genuine in her interactions and encounters with people, she made everyone feel valued and seen. Blessed with the gift of gab, she especially enjoyed long conversations on the phone, filling them with her warm spirit and infectious laughter.
Her loyalty was unshakable, her trustworthiness second to none, and her kindness left an indelible impression on everyone she met. Quick-witted and always a straight shooter, Brenda said what she meant and meant what she said. Her personality was larger than life, and she had a special gift for making strangers feel like friends. Her warmth, humor, and joyful laughter touched all who knew her.
As we remember Brenda, we celebrate a life well lived. Brenda’s legacy of faith, love, compassion, laughter, and service to others will forever remain in the hearts of her husband, her family, her church family, her classmates, and the many friends who were blessed to share in her life.
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Hurst Chapel A.M.E., 875 Avenue O NE, Winter Haven, FL 33881. A repast to honor and celebrate Brenda’s life will be held immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall. Family, friends, and all whose lives were touched by her “light” are warmly invited to share memories and find comfort in one another as we say our goodbyes.
A 23-year-old Lakeland pilot who died in an experimental aircraft crash Monday evening in north Polk County has been identified as Michael “Cole” Robinson, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash occurred shortly before 8 p.m. in a remote, wooded area west of Moore Road near Lakeland. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Robinson’s identity Tuesday afternoon, while noting that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
According to information previously released by the Sheriff’s Office and reported by Daily Ridge media partner Eye In The Sky News, Robinson was flying a single-seat experimental aircraft while another pilot was operating a separate aircraft nearby. Investigators said the two aircraft had departed from different locations, with Robinson reportedly taking off from Bartow and the second pilot departing from Lakeland.
Robinson (’24) graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Sciences from Polk State College
The surviving pilot told authorities he observed Robinson’s aircraft come apart, or a portion of it separate in flight, before the aircraft rapidly descended into a heavily wooded area. The pilot immediately called 911 and helped direct emergency responders to the crash site.
Deputies, Polk County Fire Rescue personnel, and other emergency crews located the wreckage in the remote area. Robinson was pronounced deceased at the scene.
While the investigation remains in its early stages, witness accounts cited by Eye In The Sky News suggested the aircraft may have been flying in close proximity while performing aerial maneuvers before the crash. Authorities have not confirmed those reports, and investigators have not released any findings regarding what caused the aircraft to break apart.
Pilots and co-pilots performed a fly-by in honor of first responders back in 2020 at SUN’n FUN . Robinson was among the pilots. Photo: From left to right- Sean Stoltz, Cole Robinson, club director Mike Zidziunas, Nick Poucher, and Layton Bracey. Cole Robinson is a senior at the Aerospace Center for Excellence. Stolz, Poucher, and Bracey are 2020 graduates. (Photo courtesy the Lakeland Aero Club.)
Although only 23 years old, Robinson had already established himself in the aviation community. Social media posts from Seminole-Lake Gliderport and publicly available professional information indicate he had been flying since at least 2018 and was actively involved in multiple aviation roles.
Robinson was a certified flight instructor and had worked as an Airside Operations Technician at Bartow Executive Airport. He also served as a glider tow pilot and had previous experience working at Winter Haven Regional Airport and Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base.
In a tribute posted Tuesday, Seminole-Lake Gliderport described Robinson as one of its tow pilots and noted he had been a member of the Lakeland Aeroclub for several years.
“Cole, you will be deeply missed. Fly high,” the organization wrote.
A 2019 post from the gliderport celebrated Robinson’s first solo glider flight and highlighted his plans to pursue a future in aviation, a goal friends and colleagues say he was actively living out through his work as both a pilot and instructor.
The FAA and NTSB will determine what caused the crash. No additional information has been released.
