The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash which occurred Thursday night, January 14, 2021, near Bartow.
The crash happened at around 7:30 p.m. on State Road 60, about a half-mile west of Century Boulevard.
When patrol deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue arrived on scene, they found 61-year-old Kenneth Nelson of Avon Park deceased, and lying in the median separating the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway. Nelson was the driver of a gray 2013 Hyundai Accent. There were two passengers in Nelson’s vehicle.
86-year-old Herbert Rogers of Sebring was driving a red 2016 Toyota Camry. He and his passenger were transported to Lakeland Regional Health where they were treated for minor injuries and released.
Also injured was Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) employee, 57-year-old Robert Burns of Sebring. Burns was working at the railroad crossing in the area of the crash.
According to the preliminary investigation, FDOT was conducting maintenance repairs at the railroad crossing in the area of the crash, when Nelson had to stop his vehicle in the median due to a flat tire. Nelson and one of his passengers exited the Hyundai.
Based on evidence at the scene and witness statements, Burns and Nelson were attempting to change the flat tire, when Rogers, believing he was being redirected due to the railroad repairs, hit the passenger side of Nelson’s Hyundai. The Hyundai rotated clockwise striking Burns, Nelson and one of the passengers.
Nelson died at the scene.
Burns was taken to Lakeland Regional Health and is in stable condition.
The passenger who was standing with Nelson at the time of the crash was treated at the scene with minor scrapes. The second passenger was not injured.
The roadway at the time of the crash was not well-lit. Impairment does not appear to be a cause.
The roadway was closed for approximately five hours.
Polk County Fire Rescue & Polk County Sheriff’s Office on scene of a fatal crash on S.R. 60 in Bartow
Bartow, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that they are on scene of a fatal crash. The accident has occurred East of Bonnie Mine Rd. Currently traffic is being rerouted. The accident appears to have occurred around 7:30pm. The sheriff’s office has confirmed a fatality, but details of any additional injuries or victims is not immediately available.
The sheriff’s office has confirmed the Eastbound S.R. 60 is shut down and traffic is being rerouted. A time frame of how long it will be shut down was not provided. Our experience is several hours in a fatal crash situation.
This is a developing story and we will update as more information is released.
OVER THE WEEKEND: On January 10th 2021 at approx.. 4:30 p.m. Polk County Fire Rescue Battalion 4, Engine 17 and Winter Haven Fire Department Engine 531 were dispatched to a residential fire alarm located on Chaucer Ln.
During response dispatch advised the fire alarm was now upgraded to a working structure fire. With the given information Battalion 4 requested a full alarm assignment be dispatched to the call. Polk County Fire Rescue Ladder 18 was the first unit to arrive on scene and found a two story residential structure with a working fire on the both floors. Battalion 4 immediately called a 2nd alarm for additional manpower and resources due to conditions.
Captain 18 established command of the scene and two handlines were deployed for initial fire suppression and exposure protection to surrounding structures. Battalion 4 then arrived on scene and assumed command. As additional units arrived, a water supply was secured from the nearest hydrant, located approx. 600 feet away.
Ladder 18’s aerial was then moved into position over the structure for operations on the second floor. Crews were quickly able to gain control of the fire from the exterior then moved interior for full extinguishment and overhaul.
It is believed that the fire was due to an electrical issue.
HAINES CITY, FL – A Haines City man was arrested on Tuesday for making threatening remarks online about carrying out violence in the nation’s capital.
Shannon Badgett, 53, is being charged with communicating a written threat to conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism. The threats made via Facebook were reported by one of Badgett’s Facebook contacts.
Shannon Badgett
Badgett’s post included a reference to the ongoing election controversies, “…our courts are unable to articulate their choice by refusing to hear any evidence regarding voter fraud.” Badgett made posts about going to a “target rich environment” in Washington D.C. if President Donald Trump did not declare martial law. The post adds “Pew. Pew. Pew” to insinuate the firing of shots.
He added that a lot of good people were going to die if “Roberts” did not resign – a possible reference to Supreme Court Justice John Roberts. In that post, Badgett claimed to be building an anti-tank rifle and sub-machine guns without applying for permitting. In his post, Badgett wrote that the government can’t tell him what to do.
Badgett, a former police officer in Ohio, was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday after allegedly sending emails to a circuit judge in Nevada. Badgett denied sending those emails.
Family members told detectives that Badgett has been diagnosed with mental health disorders. There were no guns in the home. Badgett acknowledged writing the posts, but insisted that he had no intentions of harming anyone. He said the posts were a way of expressing his frustration with voter fraud and that he was free to post whatever he liked.
Badgett was transported to the Polk County Jail with a Baker Act form. His mental health will be evaluated. A risk protection order was served on Badgett to restrict his access to guns and ammunition.
“Given the high political tensions of late, these threats simply could not be ignored,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “Our detectives acted swiftly to ensure that these posts did not escalate into actions here or anywhere else. For the safety of everyone around him, he will be evaluated mentally to ensure he has access to the help he needs.”
A deputy was conducting proactive traffic control Saturday afternoon in Eagle Lake when he noticed a car travelling at 25 mph over the speed limit.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver.
It was at that time in which the driver informed the deputy that her license is currently suspended. This turned out to be quite the understatement.
The deputy ran the woman’s information and learned she was being modest. Her driving privileges weren’t just suspended….she’s had them suspended TWELVE TIMES since December of 2019 for reasons such as: failure to pay citations, racking up twelve points in twelve months, racking up eighteen points in eighteen months, and driving without insurance to name just a few.
That’s a lot of suspensions for one person in such a short period of time.
We’re thinking she should consider changing her mode of transportation. A bicycle, perhaps? A skateboard? Maybe a dirigible?
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a middle school teacher early Tuesday morning, January 12, 2021, after she was found asleep in a car. 40-year-old Robin Ramos was arrested on drug charges around 1:00 am, in the parking lot of a RaceTrac store at 6650 Hwy 98 North in Lakeland. Ramos is employed as a teacher at Kathleen Middle School. Their website shows Ramos is a 6th Grade Math teacher.
According to the arrest affidavit, as the deputy pulled into the parking lot, she noticed that Ramos appeared to be asleep in the driver seat of a silver Nissan Altima, so the deputy checked to make sure she was well. Once awakened, Ramos told the deputy that she was waiting for someone to come drive her home since she doesn’t have a driver’s license.
The keys to the car were not located. However, a syringe containing a clear liquid was found on the passenger seat of the car. Additionally, a metal spoon encrusted with a white crystal-like substance was also found in the car. Field testing of both items indicated that the substances were methamphetamine.
Ramos admitted to the deputy that she occasionally does meth, but she denied taking any today.
“The parents of this woman’s students must be shocked and angry. It shocks and angers me, and I don’t have any children in her class. We also arrested her last May for DUI, so this makes the second school employee we’ve arrested in as many weeks who has a prior criminal history. That is completely unacceptable.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Robin Ramos was transported to the Polk County Jail and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine (F3) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1).
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible. Please direct any inquiries regarding Ms. Ramos’ employment to Polk County Public Schools.
On January 11, 2021 at approximately 7:52pm the Lake Wales Police Department was dispatched to a traffic crash in the area of 520 Mountain Lake Cutoff Rd. Upon arrival officers learned the crash involved a 2011 Honda motorcycle and a 2012 Mazda 6 four door car. The investigation revealed the motorcycle was being operated by Matthew Gnas, a 25 year old Lake Wales resident, and the Mazda was being driven by Austin Gladney, a 32 year old Lake Wales. Investigators were told both vehicles were traveling westbound on Mountain Lake Cutoff Rd. The Mazda was traveling a normal speed and the motorcycle drove up behind the Mazda at a high rate of speed and crashed into the rear of the Mazda causing serious injuries to Gnas and major damage to the Honda motorcycle.
The Lake Wales Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene to provide medical treatment to Gnas. Gnas’ injuries were severe and as a result of those injuries he died at the scene of the crash. Gladney was not injured. Anyone who has information about this crash investigation is asked to contact Traffic Homicide Investigator Officer Sean Robertson at (863) 678-4223 extension 548.
Lakeland Fire Department Training Center Complex Celebrates Grand Opening
by James Coulter
Lakeland firefighters can now train to be the best they can be while also being available to answer local fire calls at their new Training Center Complex.
Located at 2450 W. Lake Parker Drive, the new facility offers the latest state-of-the-art training opportunities for personnel at the Lakeland Fire Department.
The training facility underwent several years of planning and construction until finally being officially opened and dedicated with a grand opening ceremony last Monday.
The event, attended by city and local officials, featured a hose uncoupling ceremony and tours of the new facility, a live training demonstration, and refreshments.
The five-acre complex includes both a five-story and four-story tower, allowing the facility to run multiple training drills and train its staff in half the time, explained John Almskog, Division Chief of Training.
“The expectation is for the citizens of Lakeland to know that our people are operationally prepared, trained, and ready for an all-hazards approach,” Almskog said. “Anything that can happen in the community, we can train for so that we are ready to create calm out of chaos.”
With over 23 years of experience working at the fire department, Almskog was a subject matter expert who helped design the facility with the contractor, architect, and engineering groups involved with the project.
The facility was designed and constructed according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, focusingon their personnel’s health, wellness, and safety.
“When individuals come here and conduct live-fire training, they can degrade their bunker gear, take it off, and launder it here,” Almskog said. “[Then they can] put on their spare set of bunker gear and shower here, fill their air bottles, and get everything back in service so they can be operational when they leave this property.”
Special consideration was taken towards carcinogen exposure during live-training drills. Firefighters have a higher cancer ratethan regular citizens, as exposure to carcinogens is a leading cause of death, explained Janel Vasallo, Public Relations and Information Manager.
To prevent carcinogen exposure and cross-contamination, dirty classrooms are provided to allow spaces for firefighters after outdoor training, allowing them to be contained in one area.
“We take into account the fact that when they are training, they can be exposed even with live fire with carcinogens on their clothing and equipment,” she said. “So we have clean classrooms where they can leave those carcinogens outside…[The facility offers] a lot of very cool features like that which we could not imagine ten years ago because it was not a present issue in fire service.”
The Lakeland Fire Department has trained at the same training facility since the 1960s. Often, firefighters would have to travel to other specific training facilities in or even out of the county.
The new facility was constructed to facilitate new state-of-the-art training practices and provide a more convenient training location so firefighters can more immediately answer fire calls.
“Our new training center was built at the same location but to meet our training needs and the number of calls our station receives at present day,” Vasallo said. “We were able to make an amazing training center on a tight budget, but we were still able to get all our needs with multiple classrooms, and it is still in the center of Lakeland so we can answer fire calls from there in a timely fashion.”
More than 75 to 100 people, including personnel from other fire departments in the county, attended the grand opening ceremony on Monday. With the complex sitting on five acres of land, the property more than accommodated proper social distancing for the gathering.
Expectations remain high for the new training complex, which is expected to help the department maintain its ISO Service 1 rating. The rating is the highest that any fire department can have. Lakeland’s Fire Department is one of 40 in Florida and one in 300 in the country to have that rating.
“I like that the department takes a lot of pride in the quality of service that we provide,” Vasallo said. “We like to think that we are the best, and to be the best, we need the best. That goes for people as well as equipment and facilities.”
Do you want to venture out into the great outdoors on your next vacation? Or do you want to escape to the sandy shores of a tropical hideaway? Why not have both? You can at Resort at Canopy Oaks in Lake Wales
Located off State Road 60 between Lake Wales and Frostproof, Canopy Oaks is a first-class luxury resort and RV park. With more than 1,000 sites on 200 acres of land, the resort offers RV spaces and cottages that allow visitors to get away from it all amid Florida wilderness.
Whether you and your family are seeking a simple camping trip, or planning a wedding, corporate event, or other big gatherings, Canopy Oaks offers more than enough space in the great outdoors with scenic waterside features, including tiki huts set on sandy islands.
Come and escape to a tropical getaway set in the middle of the rugged wilderness, with all of the first-class amenities of a first-class resort, including a spa, salon, pizza and sandwich shop, ice cream parlor, coffee shop, and country store.
Canopy Oaks is the first of several sites across Florida being developed by Sunlight Resorts, a Georgia-based company. Other resorts and properties are set to be created in Ocala, Sebring, and Punta Gorda, explained Tristan Farrell, President of Sunlight Resorts.
“There is nothing like this around the country, and people from around America are infatuated with this place, and it has been overwhelming to see this support online and in the RV industry,” he said.
Farrell and his company have more than high expectations for the new RV resort. Already, it has drawn in visitors from across the state and country. With first-class amenities and accommodations that combine RV and cottage settings with upscale landscaping, the resort offers something “which is uncommon in the RV industry.”
“This is definitely something I think is putting Lake Wales and Polk County on the map,” Farrell said. “We are bringing people from all over the country who want a destination and create something distinct and unique. There is nothing like this across the country, and I think it is going to make a big splash in the area.”
Canopy Oaks officially opened on Dec. 28, 2020, and celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 9, 2021. Nearly 100 people from the campgrounds and surrounding community congregated at the open bar at the tiki hut to enjoy drinks, live music, and the occasional game of cornhole.
Members from the Lake Wales and Frostproof Chamber of Commerce arrived to conduct the ribbon cutting. Many Chamber members celebrated the resort’s addition, with high hopes that it would draw in visitors to their respective cities.
Allen Tatem, Vice-Chair of the Lake Wales Chamber, loved the scenic outdoor atmosphere, especially with the fresh air and live music. He expects many avid campers to visit and hopefully boost the local economy.
“I think it will be huge to bring people here and feed the traffic for downtown Lake Wales and Frostproof,” he said. “I think they will have a hard time bringing people in here just because they will be at capacity all the time.”
Resort at Canopy Oaks is located at 16950 County Road 630 Lake Wales, Florida 33898. For more information, visit their website at: https://resortatcanopyoaks.com
Lake Alfred Bluegrass Bash Brings Blues & BBQ For Sixth Year
by James Coulter
Many years ago, Bracken Smith introduced the world to his famous barbecue eggrolls at Smoke On The Water in Winter Haven. His eggrolls have since brought massive success to his barbecue team and catering business, Kick Yo Butt BBQ.
Smith is now set to open The Brack Shack, a takeout eatery with first-come, first-serve seating in Auburndale. The restaurant is planned to open sometime this February. However, Smith will always have a special place in his heart for barbecue events such as the Lake Alfred Bluegrass Bash, which he attended last Saturday at Lions Park in Lake Alfred.
Smith served his signature eggrolls and other barbecue favorites,including brisket and pork sandwiches, naked and hand-breaded wings, bacon-wrapped meatballs, fried sweet pickles, and their new bacon jalapeno pork rinds.
He and his team with Kick Yo Butt BBQ have been attending the annual bluegrass and barbecue festival for the past five to six years. He loves being able to serve his signature barbecue, as well as engaging with the overall camaraderie of the event.
“Every time Lake Alfred has a bluegrass festival, we are here to vend and sell food,” Smith said. “I love the love, the kiss the cook love, that we get from people, their support…People are willing to get out after what has gone out in the world, so that is why people will be out today.”
For the sixth consecutive year, the Lake Alfred Bluegrass Bash drew people to the lake shores near Lions Park for a whole day of good old-fashioned barbecue, bluegrass, and fun times overall.
Nearly a dozen vendors from throughout the county arrived to offer the best of their barbecue, whether it’s old-fashioned pulled pork and ribs or spins on old favorites like pulled pork nachos or barbecue eggrolls.
Dennis Caves and his family attended the event as their team, Two Crackers Cookin. They served barbecue ribs and other items prepared with their dry rub seasoning.
He started attending the event with his father six years ago, and they have been coming ever since. He eventually started his barbecue team, Smokin and Pokin, but has been cooking along with his father at these events.
“It is fun. You meet a lot of people, good music, [and] good food,” Caves said. “We love meeting new people and barbecuing. I love barbecuing. I love seeing people loving my food.”
He considered the turnout well-received, even despite these current uncertain times. The weather was slightly cooler than in previous years but was overall good.
“The sun is shining, [and the] wind died down. It will be cool one minute, hot the next, depending on where you stand at,” he said. “This is the first [barbecue] event we have done since the Corona. So we thank Lake Alfred for letting us do it, and we hope that they come out to join us.”
The Lake Alfred Bluegrass Bash originally started as a stand-alone event for bluegrass music but evolved to include a barbecue and chicken wing competition.
Though the wing contest did not move forward this year, many vendors still attended to serve chicken wings and barbecue, with five bands and two clogging groups performing throughout the day, explained Richard Reeds, Director of Parks and Recreation at Lake Alfred.
“I enjoy the food,” he said. “That is always my favorite part. These guys all bring something a little different, they all get creative. I like to go throughout the day and sample a little bit of everything.”
To help maintain public health and safety amid the current COVID-19 crisis, precautions were taken to set vendors at a safe distance from one another and to offer hand sanitizer and masks to attendees.
This year’s turnout proved slower than previous years, most likely due to the fears over the pandemic and the brisk 50-degree weather; otherwise, the event managed to attract a sizeable crowd, Reed said.
“We are always thinking towards next year’s event,” he said. “We will see how the rest of the day goes and go back with Joey and see what kind of pros and cons about what we can do better next year.”
