A Haines City man was arrested early Friday morning after detectives learned that he had been touching a young child inappropriately for about two years. Mario Bautista, 34, is being charged with lewd molestation. On several occasions, Bautista has touched an elementary school-aged child on the genitals and forced the child to touch him.
Detectives began investigating after the victim confided in a trusted adult, who then contacted law enforcement and the Florida Department of Children and Families. Throughout the investigation, it was learned that the victim would be alone with Bautista when the inappropriate touching would take place. The victim has lived in fear of Bautista since the touching began.
Bautista denied any intentional touching of the victim, but told investigators and family members that it could have happened by accident. Bautista did acknowledge to one incident about a month ago where he touched the victim while the two were laying down together. Bautista denied all other incidents or touching any other children.
Bautista was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was notified after the investigation revealed that Bautista is in the United States illegally.
“We will do everything in our power to make sure that this monster stays as far away from the victim as possible and where he belongs, in a cell,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “I commend the reportee, who prompted this investigation, which led to a predator being put behind bars. As always, if anyone has been a victim or knows of any other victims, we encourage them to come forward.”
Just when you think they’ve tried everything, scammers are now targeting citizens with overdue library book notices. Citizens in our County have received overdue notices either by email or phone call saying they have an overdue book from a long time ago. One scammer emailed a citizen and showed a book the citizen had previously checked out, but then demanded more than $97 in overdue fees. The email had a link to click for payment. Spread the word! If you receive a call or email regarding an overdue fee, DO NOT act on the notice and call your local library to inquire. More than likely it’s a scam!
TRAFFIC ALERT First Street and Avenue O South intersection will have temporary lane closures beginning tonight at 9 p.m. until tomorrow morning at 5 am. There will also be signage and arrow boards during the operation hours.
LAKELAND, FL (March 31, 2021) – On the evening of March 28, 2021, the Lakeland Police Department along with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol conducted a target-specific operation aimed at combating illegal street racing.
The operation named “No Need for Speed” was in response to the numerous complaints received from property owners, tenants and citizens about street racing groups. Detectives responded to the preplanned meeting location at 6870 First Park Boulevard in Lakeland, Florida that drew a crowd of more than 300 people. No Trespassing signage is prominently displayed at the property. Officers observed several individuals driving recklessly, doing burnouts and donuts in the parking areas.
During the operation, a total of 53 arrests were made and 165 citations were issued. Detectives also recovered seven guns, seized a variety of illegal street drugs and impounded 31 vehicles for illegal street racing. Out of the total arrests made, 92% resided out of Polk County. Past experiences have also shown that often small groups splinter off from these larger events, blocking the flow of traffic for drifting and racing on public roadways and highways.
Fire It Up! Frostproof will be firing up in Frostproof again this year for its fourth annual event. And while the barbecue pits and grills may not be firing up as usual, this year’s event is expected to bring the heat with plenty of food, fun, and music.
Hosted at Henderson Field in Frostproof, Fire It Up! Frostproof will offer a day of good food and good times. Two local bands and a DJ will be providing live musical entertainment, while the newly-expanded kid’s zone will offer plenty of carnival rides and bounce houses for the little ones.
Unfortunately, the signature KCBS-sanctioned barbecue competition will not be held due to funding. However, food trucks will be serving plenty of good eats and treats, the Central Florida Ski Team will be performing a live ski show, and even a Jeep event will be hosted showcasing several top-of-the-line vehicles.
Best of all, the event is free and open to the public. No entry fees will be charged, so everyone is free to attend the event and spend as much money as they need to have a good time.
This year’s event is being sponsored by four local businesses: Nucor Steel is sponsoring the kids’ zone, Patton Tire is sponsoring the Jeep event, and the remainder of the event will be sponsored by Bagwell Lumber and PJ Recreation.
Due to these uncertain times, special measures will be taken to ensure public health and safety. The kids’ zone will have its equipment and rides routinely disinfected, and attendees are advised to take precaution through proper social distancing and mask-wearing.
“We are hoping to still have a good turnout this year,” said Audrey Figel, Frostproof City Clerk Assistant. “This is the fourth year that we are having it. The sponsorships we are going to get, along with the interest in the community, keeps it as a big hit, and our ability to change it up every year keeps people interested.”
Though this year’s event will not be hosting its popular barbecue competition, they still expect to draw in a good turnout even despite these uncertain times. If anything, it will offer locals an opportunity to enjoy quality time outdoors after a year of indoor quarantining.
“Each year, it is shaped a little differently to better fit the people and the feedback that we have gotten from the people who have shown up to make it more geared toward them,” Audrey said. “[Our big draw is] the ability that it gives them to have something fun to do that doesn’t cost them a lot of money that is in the area without them having to drive very far.”
Fire It Up! Frostproof will be hosted on Sat., Apr. 10 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Henderson Field, located at 71 N. Lake Reedy Blvd. Frostproof, FL 33843. For more information, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Fire-It-Up-Frostproof-1952590951479967
Repticon FIRExpo Slithers in Once Again to Lakeland
by James Coulter
Three years ago, Blair needed a carrier for her bearded dragon. As someone who goes camping a lot, she wanted something to keep her scaly bearded friend close to her outdoors.
She looked online for something to carry it in. She didn’t find what she was looking for. So she did what anyone would do: make it herself.
She sewed her own personal lizard carrier. She wears it like a sling over her shoulder with her pet strapped over her chest. She loved it so much that she decided to merchandise it.
“And I thought if I needed it, then many other people do, so I started making them,” Blair said.
Three years later, Blair has been crafting personal reptile pet carriers from various fabrics and selling them online through her small business, Sandfire Slings. She has been selling her wares at reptile shows, including the annual Repticon FIRExpo in Lakeland, which was hosted last weekend.
Along with her merchandise, she also brought along her new bearded iguana pet, Helios, whom she has owned for the past year. While Blair loves her reptile sling, Helios does not particularly care for it, she said.
“He tolerates this,” Blair said. “It is not his favorite thing. He is tough to get in it.”
She has been attending Repticon FIRExpo for several years, though she often visits the conventions hosted in Orlando and Tampa. Sometimes she even travels out of state to Georgia and Texas.
She had not attended Lakeland Repticon for some time. She did note that the event was smaller than she remembered, most likely due to the current COVID-19 crisis. However, she loves the event nonetheless and hopes to continue attending soon.
Blair and Sandfire Sling were one of many vendors to attend this year’s Repticon FIRExpo, hosted over the weekend at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. More than 50 vendors participated to showcase reptiles of every shape and size, from the smallest gecko to the largest tortoise and every other creature in-between.
Tom Davis of Redfoot Ranch showed several tortoise species as bred at their ranch. Their breeding facility breeds more than 200 tortoises with hundreds of eggs and babies produced each year.
“Working with these species, they adapt well in Florida climate,” he said. “This is the perfect climate for a lot of these species in Florida. They are a wonderful pet for many people because they do interact and walk around and eat the same food that people eat. So it becomes a nice pet for people.”
Davis has been coming to the local reptile show for nearly a decade, ever since Repticon originally started. He loves being able to attend and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow reptile enthusiasts, even amidst these uncertain times.
“Wearing masks and everything…it is obnoxious,” he said. “It is a pain in the butt, but it will be over in a while when everyone gets vaccinated. We will be back to normal soon.”
Scott Wisenski, the owner of Family Reptiles, has been attending the event since 2012 and sponsoring it since 2016. As the owner of a local reptile store, which will be expanding into a new location this April, he appreciates the camaraderie of reptile owners and lovers at these shows.
This year’s show proved slow at the start, but quickly picked up momentum throughout the day and weekend. Overall, it was a good turnout, even despite these uncertain times.
“We are seeing a lot of our regular customers. So people are out, they are spending their stimulus checks, they are stimulating the economy, they are picking up some new animals, and it is good to see people just getting out of the house and seeing different things,” he said. “So it is fantastic. We can get out, we can be safe, we can have fun, we can shop around, and we can do it safely.”
For more information about Repticon, visit their website at: https://repticon.com/
More Than Ten Local Bands Will Play At This Outdoor Event In Plant City
by James Coulter
Spring is in the air. Summer is around the corner. COVID-19 rates are decreasing, while vaccination rates are increasing. So why not celebrate by venturing outdoors to breathe some fresh air and listen to live music?
Ten local bands will provide live entertainment at the inaugural Central Florida Cannabis Fest, to be hosted at the Plant City Flea and Farmers Market on April 24 and 25. Come bring your blanket and lawn chair and set them upon the lush green grass as you enjoy the great outdoors while listening to live music performed by this inaugural year’s illustrious lineup.
Performing this year will be The Groovediggers, The Lint Rollers, Monkey Bone, Wendy Rich & The Soul Shakers, Ace Jackson & The Jump Kings, and Peace of Woodstock, Greg Billings Band, Jim Stafford, and Bryce Mauldin.
Other fun outdoor activities will include bounce houses, knocker balls, and even a Born 2 Ride Bike Show hosted on Sunday.
Aside from offering great fun and music, The Central Florida Cannabis Fest will also serve as an educational health and wellness event. Attendees can peruse various vendors and attend educational seminars hosted by local experts to learn more about medical marijuana and CBD.
Alcoholic proceeds from the event will go towards funding Autism awareness through two local non-profit organizations: the Autism Awareness Shop in Tampa, and Rockin On The River in Polk County.
“I want everybody to come out and have a good time, and for two days let last year fade out a little bit, [to] just enjoy themselves,” said Diana Frazier, Marketing Director. “I want everybody to come out and have a good time.”
The Central Florida Cannabis Fest was inspired by Dr. Brown CBD, who suggest hosting the event. The local vendor had previously set up a booth at the farmer and flea markets on Wednesday, so they were familiar with the venue. After coordinating with Boss Hogg, a local radio station, Cannabis Fest was planned and formed.
While the event will allow attendees to enjoy quality time outdoors through fun activities and live music, it will also offer them an opportunity to educate themselves on the health and wellness benefits of medical marijuana and CBD.
Frazier herself once knew nothing about the medical marijuana industry. Still, upon learning more about it, she has since learned about its many health benefits, and she hopes that the event will allow others to cast aside their preconceptions.
“I would love for people to come out and educate themselves on the CBD and [its] benefits,” she said. “Educate yourself on it. So at least, if it is not for you, at least you know.”
Central Florida Cannabis Fest will be hosted on Apr. 24 and 25at the Plant City Farm & Flea Market, located at 906 West Sam Allen Rd in Plant City. Admission is free with $2 parking.
For more information, visit their website at:https://centralflcannabisfest.com/
All traffic lights along Cypress Gardens Blvd from Hwy 17 to Overlook Dr as well as First St. from Cypress Gardens Blvd to Ave G SE are not operating at this time. TECO is aware and working on the situation, however this could last for up to 6 hours. Drivers are reminded to treat each intersection as a four-way stop if there is no law enforcement presence.
Babson Park Actress Plays Iconic Homeless Lynn In Netflix’s Cobra Kai
by James Coulter
Whether begging for food or money or even helping to twirl a sign, Homeless Lynn remains a common sight around the Cobra Kai dojo in the Netflix series, Cobra Kai, currently streaming its fourth season.
Susan Gallagher, a Polk County local, plays the spunky homeless character. While a relatively minor character, Lynn has become popular among fans. She even has a fan group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2701589869963294
In fact, when Susan posted an Instagram photo earlier this year of an Atlanta skyline with the caption, “Great to be back in Atlanta and even be better to wake up to this view,” fans interpreted the post as proof that the series was back in production.
“To me, the character of Homeless Lynn is just as important as any other character, and she is one of the funniest on the show,” said the narrator in a video on the Cobra Kai Kid YouTube channel, which has more than 123 thousand subscribers.
Susan has been an actress in Central Florida for many years. She currently lives in Babson Park with her husband, Jimbo Jahna (born and raised in Lake Wales), and her two children, Caroline and Bo.
Her current role came about while browsing Actor’s Access, a self-submission audition website for actors. She discovered a call for a character called Lynn the Homeless Woman in Cobra Kai. Upon learning that the series would be a continuation of the Karate Kid franchise, Susan realized the role could be huge. While it wasn’t a role she would typically apply for, she decided to apply to expand her potential, she explained.
“Because of my specific look and category, none of my agents would have submitted me for a character-type role of a homeless woman; but I have been determined for many years to bust out of that small box that the business has put me in because I love character type roles and challenging myself as an actor that way, so I submitted myself,” she said.
For her submission, she had several headshots taken by a close friend from Crooked Lake, Beau Williams, who has been in the business for many years. She decided to have a headshot taken with her in character, so she had one taken of her looking as messy as possible.
“I went for a different look, for a woman down on her luck or drug addict or someone working the early bird shift at the Waffle House and has not gotten enough sleep,” she explained. “It is a completely gritty-looking headshot with a different headshot from the others.”
She also filmed footage of herself at a local taping studio. For the test reel, she dressed up in her husband’s oversized, worn-out sweatshirt, wore her hair out long with a few dreadlocks, and added dark under her eyes and white on her lip. She made herself appear as disgusting as she could.
She filmed two takes with two different acting styles, allowing her to show off her range. She submitted her headshots and test reels with her audition. Three weeks later, she received a call from her agent informing her that she had received the audition.
“I didn’t even tell them I was doing it because they know I am very independent and proactive, and I do a lot of stuff submission,” she said. “It was a long shot that I even forgot all about telling them. Three weeks later, my agent called me, and they thought they made a mistake because they had a callback for Cobra Kai for Lynn, the Homeless Woman. I was like, ‘Oh, wow, I forgot all about it.'”
When she attended her audition in Atlanta, she met the three creators of the show. She dressed for the part by dressing in full character, a move that made quite the impression, she said. She acted for them, and a few days later, she was chosen for the role.
“It was a wonderful opportunity,” she said. “I have fallen in love with Cobra Kai. And it is not just the hardcore Karate Kid fans [that love the show], but also the new Cobra Kai fans. So it has been a blessing for me and my family, just being part of something so special, and I am very thankful for.”
Because Lynn was so different from her previous acting gigs, acting out the role proved quite challenging. Nevertheless, she enjoys being able to explore her character and stretch the boundaries of her role-playing.
Her role begins in the hair and makeup chair. Layers of dirt and makeup are applied to her face, body, and even under her nails. Her hair is messed up with dreadlocks. Her clothes are ratty and tattered, even beaten with chains to wear them down. The icing on the cake is when her teeth are painted individually with brown on and in-between each tooth.
“Basically, I am so filthy that [it] helps me to get into the character beneath her filthy skin,” she said. “It really helps me as an actor to feel like I am this homeless woman and to bring some truth to this character and the words on the page.”
Getting dressed and prepared with makeup may be challenging, but equally so is getting out of wardrobe and makeup, which is very important, she said.
“It is challenging to clean up afterward,” Susan said. “You can’t jump into your car and stop by Starbucks on your way home; otherwise, you get arrested.”
Interestingly enough, Susan is a black belt in Tai Kwan Do, as is everyone else in her family. Even then, despite acting in a series based on the Karate Kid movie franchise, she has not required any special training for martial arts, nor needed to utilize any of her own martial arts skills, though she is more than prepared to do so.
Thus far, her character has provided comedic relief to the series, with her quirky character bouncing off the more straight-forward characters like Johnny Lawrence. Four seasons in, and she still enjoys her role, especially with the surprise popularity it has received.
“We don’t know where they will take this character because she has become a fan favorite, and I am having a blast,” she said. “I keep my expectations somewhat low because I am not in a position to make these decisions regarding my character, I enjoy the ride and am grateful for being in however many episodes they have me in to keep bringing me back. So, I like to stay here in reality and take it a day at a time and be grateful for anything that comes my way.”
Cobra Kai is currently streaming its fourth season on Netflix. To learn more about Susan Gallagher, visit her Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/iamsusangallagher, her Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SusanGallagherOfficial, and her Twitter at: https://twitter.com/susanlgallagher
Please help us locate 30 yr-old Eric Daniel Bryan. He’s 5’11” and weights approximately 170 pounds. Eric made comments of harming himself early Sunday morning. He sent his ex-girlfriend videos indicating he wanted to harm himself and had cut his arm. He was last seen near his mother’s home on Byron Place around 2:15 a.m.Sunday riding a children’s BMX bike. He was wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans and boots. He had a cut on his arm. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Det. Esteve at 863-401-2256 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).
