Ryan Layton Pickles, 42, of Winter Haven, passed away Wednesday, January 8th in his home.
Ryan was born June 17th, 1982, in Lake Wales, to Sammie and Becky Pickles. He was the assistant director for the City of Auburndale in the Parks and recreation department.
He loved the Miami Hurricanes, and going to their games. He loved family gatherings and especially enjoyed being around his nieces and nephews.
Ryan is survived by his parents, Sammie and Becky Pickles of Lake Wales, sister Kelli Pickles-Davis and her husband Jason, of Lake Wales, brother Connor Pickles and his wife Ariel, of Winter Haven, and nieces and nephews Lana, Aleah, Jace Davis and Lainey Pickles.
43-year old Jeremy Owens of Winter Haven got arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in the wee hours of Wednesday, January 29th.
He is well-known to law enforcement. He has a criminal history that includes arrests for theft, narcotics, child neglect, resisting, fraud, criminal traffic, and VOPs and failures to appear.
Jeremy had a warrant out of Hardee County for petit theft, and DWLSR/Habitual Traffic Offender.
He also had a Polk County warrant for Violation of Probation (grand theft).
Wednesday morning at around 3:17am, PCSO deputies went to Monterey Drive in Winter Haven and located Jeremy, whose initial response was to flee…but as soon as he saw K9 Ghost, Jeremy surrendered.
Jeremy Owens was taken to the Polk County Jail and booked-in on his warrants.
To help finance the city’s future growth and development, the City of Lake Wales is considering updating its impact fee study with the assistance of a financial consulting firm.
At a work session on Wed. Jan. 29, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners reviewed a proposal to enter into a piggyback agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants Inc. for $110,000.
The agreement will be for services to update the city’s Municipal Impact and Utility Connection Fee Study. This study helps the city identify impact fees that help fund public services like police, fire, parks, and recreation.
“Impact and connection fees are charged by the City to cover the capital costs of services to new development,” wrote Autumn Cochella, Director of Growth Management, in the city agenda memo.
“The update will recalculate appropriate fees based on the City’s 5-year capital improvements plan for the parks, police, fire, recreation, and libraries impact fees as well as the water and wastewater connection fees,” she further elucidated.
The process for updating the study will take approximately 18 months. The final report is expected to be presented to the City Commission at a future workshop.
Deputy Mayor Gibson praised the importance of impact fees, claiming that they were necessary to help finance local infrastructure and thus promote economic growth and development that benefited the city in the long run.
“I am a big believer in economic incentives,” he said. “The amount of those impact fees is very important. Dovetailing [them] with our priorities [as a city] is also important.”
Alluding to the Lake Wales Connected Plan (which, according to the city’s website, is “a strategy for revitalization of Lake Wales’ historic downtown”), Gibson insisted that impact fees helped aid the city’s revitalization efforts, which not only preserves the city’s unique aesthetic, but also cut down on urban sprawl.
“[Impact fees] enable us to get more of what we want to make this place unique, distinctive, and carry the characteristic of quality as distinct from other places,” he continued. “It becomes a draw, a market advantage, and it also elevates property values that allow us to do more for our people.”
Ameé Bailey, Planning Consultant explained that the city would be able to determine how the impact fees rates would be implemented once the study has been completed and approved.
“The study is estimated to take 18 months,” she explained. “Once you approve them, it takes 90 days for them to become effective.”
Commissioner Carol Gillespie inquired about how competitive these impact fees would make Lake Wales in terms of other cities and municipalities.
“We have been told we are in competition with other cities, which are also charging impact fees,” she said. “So that would make us aware of what the other cities are charging so that we are not out of range so the good developers come here.”
Bailey, according to the city memo, replied that the study would allow commissioners “to make informed decisions about the appropriate fee structure” and would allow for “flexibility and consideration of the city’s unique priorities and goals.”
Ivette Rivera Rodriguez of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, January 30, 2025 at home.
She was born January 25, 1950 in Ponce, Puerto Rico to the late Antonio and Felicita Rivera; she moved to Lake Wales from Puerto Rico in 1973. Ivette was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Ivette was preceded in death by her husband, Raul Rodriguez; and son, Omi Rodriguez. She is survived by her daughters, Ivelisse Rodriguez, and Leslie Hernandez; sons, Raul Rodriguez, Jr. (Valgerdor), Martin Rodriguez (Kacy), Juan Rodriguez (Cindy), and Jose Hernandez; 14 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m., until the funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Mr. Ivory Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Lake Wales Memorial Gardens
Spoiler alert: the little groundhog saw his shadow.
Punxsutawney Phil has made the call from Gobbler’s Knob; get ready for six more weeks of winter.
As the sun came up this morning, just after 7:20 a.m local time, thousands of people gathered, as,they do every Feb. 2, to watch Phil make his grand prediction. With temperatures in the 20s this morning at Gobbler’s Knob, about a 90-minute drive from Pittsburg, PA, bus loads of excited fans of the groundhog started their commute as early as 3:00 a.m., according to Weather Channel.
For the 139th time, Punxsutawney Phil has taken his stance on how long winter will last, with mixed results of accuracy. 1886 is said to be the first year in which Groundhog Day is documented in local newspapers.
The tradition has grown more popular over the decades and is celebrated around the world. While the 2020 Census says the population of Punxsutawney is just over 5,700, over 40,000 have been known to make the pilgrimage in previous years.
Phil usually sees his shadow on Groundhog Day. Wikipedia states he’s only made a prediction of an early spring 20 times since the 1880s.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in Lakeland on January 27 to investigate a domestic disturbance call.
According to reports, the victim was living with the suspect, Amy Burgess (DOB:
01/04/1975), and arrived home to find Burgess allegedly drunk and agitated. The victim feared Amy, as she had previously assaulted them on January 21, 2025. The suspect allegedly struck the victim multiple times in the face and head with a closed fist. The victim did not initially report the incident, as they did not want Amy to be arrested.
During the investigation, while the suspect was being directed by a deputy, she became combative. According to the arrest affidavit:
“I observed and heard Amy disobey multiple lawful commands to walk and stand up. I saw Amy throw her bodyweight to the floor multiple times as Deputy Goodman attempted to guide her to my vehicle. Once Amy arrived at my patrol vehicle, I witnessed her kick toward Deputy Goodman multiple times. After Deputy Goodman was able to place Amy in my patrol vehicle, she repeatedly stated, ‘Don’t fucking touch me, and began kicking at Deputy Goodman once again.”
The suspect was taken into custody and transported to jail.
Amy Burgess previously pleaded guilty to DUI in July.
Martin Aguilar started playing soccer at the ripe age of three. Now, this 16-year-old striker from Lake Wales High School (LWHS) has found recognition from a couple of local sources.
Martin currently ranks as the leading player on the LWHS varsity soccer team. Undoubtedly, his biggest accomplishment this season was scoring the winning goal during a game on Jan. 15, 2025, which was played against the #1 seed in the district.
“With only 30 seconds left, he took on the last defender and the goalkeeper to complete the score 5-4,” read a newsletter naming him the Athlete of the Week. “Martin is now sitting with one game left in the season earning 12 goals, 6 assists, and 161 steals.”
Ever since Martin started playing at the age of 3, his father has inspired him to continue playing the game and improving his skills as a player. Being able to make his family proud has, by far, been the biggest inspiration of them all.
“I like to make my family proud when I achieve good things on the field,” he said. “The game has become a passion of mine, as it does not feel like work and has allowed me to keep progressing as a player. The more I learn the better I become.”
Martin has been playing varsity soccer in high school since his freshman year. Not only has he excelled in sports as an athlete, but also in school as a student. His coaches have commended him, boasting how his “1Q is extraordinary” and “skill set is always improving.
“He is a player that will not let you down,” Varsity Assistant Head Coach Mehki. “He is a player that drives our team.”
Recently, Martin was nominated with over 19,000 votes as The Ledger’s Top Soccer Player. He’s even been recognized by Sheriff Grady Judd for his exceptional soccer skills.
When he eventually graduates high school, Martin hopes to continue playing soccer in college.
Overall, being able to impress his family and make friends along the way keeps him motivated to continue playing hard, working hard, and studying hard. And he has a high aspiration that his hard work, both on the field and in school, will pay off.
“I am very proud of myself and the people who keep pushing me and inspiring me,” he said. “I enjoy just making new friends and playing the game because I always have fun playing soccer. My main motivation is to make my family and friends proud and to just have enough money so my family don’t have to work.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash that occurred at approximately 12:30 AM on Saturday, February 1, 2025, on US-27 near Charles Street in Frostproof.
Two vehicles were involved in the crash: a silver Dodge van and a white semi-truck, each containing one occupant at the time of the crash. Witnesses observed the driver of the van exit a gas station, turn onto Charles Street, then execute a turn on to US-27 South. The van crossed into the path of the semi-truck, which was travelling southbound on US-27. The driver of the semi-truck was unable to maneuver out of the path of the van to avoid a crash.
The driver of the van, a 68-year-old male from Bowling Green, FL, was killed in the crash. US-27 was closed for approximately 4 hours.
The PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the crash. The investigation is still ongoing.
Head downtown tonight to the Lake Wales Car Show in the historic downtown district tonight, Feb. 1, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. This free event occurs on the first Saturday of each month.
Get up close and see a display of customized late-model cars and trucks, antiques, and classic cars, some dating back to the 1920s. East Stuart Avenue will be blocked from First Street to Scenic Highway. South Market Street will be blocked from East Stuart Avenue to Central Avenue.
The car show is free and open to the public. The next car show is scheduled for sat., March 1, 2025.
Cooking on the Ridge: Lemon Cucumber Mint Ginger Detox Water
by James Coulter
It’s a new year. You know what that means? New year’s resolutions!
This year, my resolution is to cut back on soft drinks and fast food. I’m not going to cut all of that completely out of my diet, but I want to drink less soda and eat less fast food than what I’m currently accustom to.
However, for January, I have decided to go cold turkey on soft drinks and fast food–at least for this month. Otherwise, I’mstrictly eating food prepared at home and drinking nothing but water.
Well, I’m not simply drinking water. I’m drinking detox water made with lemon, cucumber, ginger, and mint. Not only does it taste better than plain water, but it also provides better benefits and nutrients.
Lemons and cucumbers contain water, which help aid in hydration. Ginger and mint reduce inflammation. Lemon and ginger boost metabolism. And ginger helps soothe digestion to help reduce bloating and indigestion.
I didn’t tell anyone I had given up soft drinks for water. However, one week after starting my diet, a family member told me that I looked slimmer and less bloated. So, it seems to be doing it’s job.
If you want to start off with a healthier new year, give this detox water. It’s much more refreshing and rejuvenating than carbonated drinks, and best of all, it has no empty calories.
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Lemon Cucumber Mint Ginger Detox Water
3 lemons, sliced
1 cucumber, sliced
2 tablespoons grated ginger
1 bunch mint leaves
1. Rinse ingredients and place into a large pitcher. Fill pitcher with water. Stir until well mixed. Add a few squeezes of lemon or lime juice for added flavor.
2. Drink as desired. Refill when pitcher gets near empty. Add lemon juice as desired. Contents should be good for a week in refrigerator.
