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In Loving Memory of Glynn Brewer

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Glynn Brewer

August 14th, 1934 – January 27th, 2025

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Glynn M. Brewer, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and cherished friend. Glynn peacefully departed this life on January 27, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida, leaving behind a legacy of love and service.

Glynn M. Brewer was born on August 14, 1934, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. A man of admirable character and dedication, Glynn spent his career as a safety supervisor at General Motors, retiring after 32 fulfilling years. His professional life was marked by unwavering commitment and integrity.

A man of kindness and compassion, Glynn was deeply involved in his community. He served as an elected Trustee for The Village of Hodgkins, Illinois, Glynn also was an active board member of the Homeowner’s Association for Rainbow Woods in Springhill, Florida. His dedication to service extended to his faith; he was a regular attendee and volunteer at his church where he found strength and peace until he became ill.

Beyond his communal commitments, Glynn nourished his soul through gardening, a passion he cherished deeply. His greatest joy, however, was watching his grandsons play baseball, finding immense pride in their endeavors and growth.

Glynn was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Vesper Brewer; his sister, Willowdean Hagan; and his son Michael Brewer. Glynn is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Karol; his cherished daughter, Lynn (Michael) Panico; his grandsons, Kyle (Caitlin) Panico and Collin Panico; his great-grandson, Brantley Panico. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Sister Jean Sauntry, CSJ. 

Visitation was held on Friday, January 31, 2025, from 6 to 8 PM with another visitation Saturday from 10:00 -11:00 AM with the funeral service following at 11:00 AM, interment immediately following at Auburndale Memorial Park.

Glynn touched the lives of many with his unwavering dedication and gentle spirit. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to know him.

May Glynn rest in eternal peace, reunited with those who have gone before him, forever in God’s embrace.

In Loving Memory of Karen Rae Beland, 70, of Lake Wales

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Karen Rae Beland, 70

Karen Rae Beland of Lake Wales passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, after bravely fighting cancer, at home with her devoted husband by her side.

Karen was born on June 28,1954 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island to the late Raymond and Louise Potter. Karen lived most of her life in various parts of Rhode Island, growing up in Cumberland, before retiring to North Carolina and eventually Lake Wales, Florida with her husband, Tom, 4 years ago.

Karen spent many years in Banking and retired as a Member Service Representative from Coventry Credit Union in 2015. Karen enjoyed taking cruise vacations, making puzzles, crocheting, and playing bingo. She also enjoyed a good Chinese meal and spending time with her friends and her beloved feline companion, Angel.

Karen is survived by her husband Tom, to whom she was married to for 52 years this March, and their daughters, Dawn Amaral and her husband, Steven, of Chepachet, RI, and Joy Bolduc of Lincoln, RI. She is also survived by her sisters, Susan Ribeiro and her husband, Edward, of Williamsburg, Virginia, Lynda Maurer of Providence, RI, Debbie Menard of Coventry, RI, and Kimberly Roy and her husband, Steven, of Winter Haven, FL and her brother, Raymond Potter of Winter Haven, FL. She also leaves behind her 4 grandchildren, whom she loved with her whole heart, Julia, Aaron, Austin, and Layla.

Karen’s services will be held in Rhode Island at a later date. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.marionnelsonfuneralhome.com

Polk Emergency Responders On Scene Of Very Bad Crash On Pine Tree Trail In Davenport

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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Polk County Fire Rescue are on scene of a very bad crash in Davenport. According to initial reports the accident occurred at the intersection of Pine Tree Trail & Solterra Blvd. The crash occurred at 6:41pm.

Initial reports are multiple people seriously injured including one pediatric patient and to adult patients going by helicopter. Currently emergency is working landing zone for the helicopters.

We have a message into Polk County Sheriffs Office regarding roadway conditions.

This is a very bad accident. So we would advise people to find alternative route rather than Pine Tree Trail.

This is a developing story and we will update as information becomes available.

JC Reviews: Kraven the Hunter Makes Madame Web Look Good!

JC Reviews: Kraven the Hunter Makes Madame Web Look Good!

by James Coulter

 

Let’s be honest: was anyone expecting this movie to be good?

 

Kraven the Hunter is the last in the line of films attempting to create a cinematic universe of Spider-Man characters sans Spider-Man: Venom, Morbius, and Madame Web. And to no one’s surprise, nobody wanted to watch Spider-Man movies without Spider-Man.

 

Every single one of these movies has been terrible. The only exception is Venom, but only because those movies proved to be so bad they’re hilarious. So, was it any surprise Kraven the Hunter turned out to be a massive flop?

 

Honestly, the only reason I even watched this stinker was because I had to watch two movies, one of which was Nosferatu. The only other movies playing at the theater were Sonic 3(which I already reviewed), Gladiator II (which I never saw the first movie), and Mufasa (which I refuse to watch on principle).

 

So, I knew I was watching this movie under protest. And I knew it was going to be bad. The only question was, “How bad?” Bad enough to make you visit the DVD aisle of a store just so you can find a copy of Madame Web and apologize for being too harsh on it.

 

Yes, that bad!

 

Let’s skip pretenses. We know this movie was awful. Let’s just explain why.

 

Kraven the Hunter follows the story of Sergei, one of two sons of a criminal overlord. During a hunting trip, he is mauled by a lion. His life is saved through a potion given to him by a voodoo priestess. That potion also gives him the strength and agility of a lion. Sergi eventually escapes the clutches of his abusive father and uses his new powers to hunt down poachers. And so he becomes Kraven the Hunter, a hunter who hunts the hunters.

 

Years later, his brother, Dimitri, is kidnapped, and now Kraven needs to hunt down his captors. However, he will need to evade a super-powered assassin and one of his father’s former colleagues to do so. Will Kraven take down the hunters along with his father and his criminal empire?

 

Kraven the Hunter does the impossible. It makes Madame Weblook good in comparison. Yes, it’s really that bad!

 

Madame Web was undoubtedly bad, but at least it was bad in interesting ways. At least it had interesting ideas and concepts, even if it failed spectacularly in implementing them.

 

Madame Web had an interesting concept concerning time travel and manipulation. It didn’t implement that concept very well, but it was interesting nonetheless and could have made for a good movie if done properly.

 

Sure, Madame Web had bad dialogue, line deliveries, flat characters, and incessant Spider-Man Easter eggs up the wazoo, but at least all of those flaws made the film so bad it’s good. At least Madame Web was bad enough to be unintentionally hilarious. At least it had notable flaws to talk about.

 

But, folks, what am I supposed to talk about with Kraven the Hunter? This isn’t even a movie that’s so bad it’s good. It’s just so bad it’s boring. There is nothing interesting to talk about, either good or bad.

 

Stop me if you heard this one before: a person is on the near brink of death until he is saved by magic that gives them superpowers. If that sounds like something that’s been done before, that’s because it is, and Kraven the Hunter does absolutely nothing new or original with it. Kraven is just some guy who’s super strong and agile and who uses his powers to fight criminals…you know, like most other superhero movies!

 

The only interesting note is with the villains. One is an assassin who can freeze time, which sounds cool, but, like everything else in the movie, this character’s not put to good use. And his defeat in the end feels extremely anti-climatic.

 

And then there’s the Rhino. No spoilers, but let’s just say that anyone who ever made fun of the Rhino mech suit in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 owes it an apology. Because…my goodness, is this version of the Rhino bad!

 

The only good part of the movie is the opening act, which is an excellent prison breakout scene. In fact, if you do watch this movie, only watch that part and stop the movie after it’s done. Because the movie won’t get any better after that.

 

To quote another movie critic, Kraven the Hunter is “less of a structured narrative with a beginning, middle, and end and more like disjointed scenes and action sequences thrown into a blender and spat out the other side. Actions and events have almost nothing in common with their consequences, characters talk at each other like they’re having completely different conversations, the antagonist is one of the weakest and most ludicrous villains I have seen in any movie ever, the acting is atrocious, the effects are laughable, and there’s an almost palatable air of indifference to the entire movie.”

 

Thus Kraven the Hunter ends the Spider-Man-less Spiderverse, not with a bang, but a whimper.

Four Bedroom Home for Sale in Winter Haven

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The Can Do Team has a property for sale in Winter Haven!

4 bed 2.5 bath

$300,000

Property details:


Welcome to the community of Eagle Landing in beautiful Winter Haven, Florida. This new 2023 construction home offering 4 Bedrooms/2.5 Bathrooms with a spacious two-story layout that maximizes space and natural light perfect for any lifestyle. Featuring a modern kitchen design with Island and Breakfast Bar complete with granite countertops. The primary bedroom with en-suite bathroom with dual sinks, walk in shower and walk-in closet. Conveniently located in a quiet neighborhood, this property is ideally situated close to Publix, Legoland, and schools. If you’re looking for a modern, quiet neighborhood, this is your chance. Schedule your showing today before it’s gone! 

Listing details: https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/M9397443771

863-294-7541

Barbara’s Center For Dance Daddy Daughter Dance

**Welcome to Candyland** Daddy Daughter Dance

Get ready for a night of dancing, bonding, and creating unforgettable memories with your little princess at our Daddy Daughter Dance!

Fun for all ages!

When: Saturday, February 22 from 5 – 7pm

Where: Grace Lutheran School gym

321 Avenue C Southeast

Winter Haven, FL 33880

This event is the perfect opportunity for dads and daughters to bond and have a great time together. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!

Barbara’s Center For Dance Dazzler Dance Team is hosting a Ties and Tiaras Daddy Daughter Dance to continue their development of artistic talent through traing and competitions.

We will have a candy bar station, a craft station, kid friendly food, photos, and a raffle for items such as an American Girl Doll and a barbie dream house.

Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/welcome-to-candyland-daddy-daughter-dance-tickets-1063989624609?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=&utm-share-source=mobile-search-results

SIP HAINES CITY GETS OK FOR FULL-SERVICE

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BY Anita Todd, Special Articles

HAINES CITY – Sip Haines City has some new beverages on the menu.

Sip Haines City is a lounge and wine bar that, until recently, only served wine and beer in addition to a variety of menu options. However, on Jan. 9, the Haines City Commission gave approval for the establishment to become a full-service bar.

In December, Jonathan Anglin, the owner of the establishment, applied to the City of Haines City for a conditional use permit “in order to change a wine bar, Sip Haines City, to a full-service bar.

According to the request submitted to the Haines City Planning and Zoning Department, “This conditional use request is not only a necessary pivot to ensure our viability but also an opportunity to align more closely with the preferences and expectation of Haines City residents and visitors.”

At the time, there were two other full-service venues located in downtown Haines City – Rudy’s Liquorup Lounge and The Cigar Quarters. According to the request, Sip Haines City has partnered with another business with a state liquor license.

The request also reads, “Sip was originally established with a business model focused on being a high-end wine bar with a limited menu. Despite our best efforts and significant investments in the initial concept, we have faced challenges that have rendered the original business model unsustainable. Factors contributing to this include changing consumer preferences, evolving market dynamics, and unanticipated operation constraints.”

Anglin continued the request writing that by the venue becoming a full-service bar this “adjustment aligns with our commitment to adapt our offerings to better meet the desires of our customers while remaining a valued contributor to the local economy.”

The owner of the building, Christopher Diaz, spoke during the meeting in support of the request.

“The Sip bar owners have been model tenants and as the property owner, I fully support the move,” Diaz said. “It is wonderfully run and managed.” The Commission voted unanimously for approval of the request.

The business opened its doors in 2022 and can be found at siphainescity.com.

Sip Haines City is located at 21 6th Street North.

Traffic Stop for Speeding in Eagle Lake Leads to Police Chase and Drug Bust

On January 18, 2025 a Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was attempting to make a traffic stop after finding a vehicle speeding in Eagle Lake. After a short police chase by car and then on foot, the driver of the vehicle was stopped and identified as Lashawn Marquice Boone.

Boone picked up several charges including trafficking in fentanyl.

It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by Polk County Sheriff’s Office. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. Winter Haven Daily does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to your own conclusion.

“PRB_CAUS

On 01/18/2025, I was conducting proactive traffic enforcement in the area of E Laurel Ave/5th Street, Eagle Lake, FL., when I observed a gray Chevrolet sedan travelling northbound at a high rate of speed. I had a clear visual of 5th St. and the target vehicle, which I estimated to be travelling approximately 60 mph in a 45 mph zone.

I confirmed the speed of the vehicle at 62 mph in a 45 mph zone utilizing a handheld radar speed measuring device. As I was catching up to the target vehicle to initiate a traffic stop, I initiated my red and blue lights and my siren on my marked agency issued Polk County Sheriff’s Office vehicle to initiate a traffic stop.

After I initiated my lights and sirens, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and began weaving in and out of traffic on 5th St. The vehicle suddenly turned right onto E McLeod Ave and turned right again into the parking lot of the Miss K’s daycare facility; which is a fully operational daycare which looks after more than 5 children during normal business hours. As the vehicle turned into the parking lot, I continued to follow with my lights and sirens still activated.

As the vehicle came to a rest in the northwest corner of the parking lot of Miss K’s daycare, I observed a black male subject exit the driver’s seat and take off running in a full sprint towards 5th St. The suspect was observed wearing a blue t-shirt and white pants. I remained inside my patrol vehicle with my lights and sirens still activated and continued to follow the suspect while he continued to flee on foot.

As I entered into the median area of 4th and 5th St., I observed the suspect run across 4th street and eventually onto 3rd St. As the suspect entered the intersection of W McLeod Ave., and 2nd St., he realized he was not out running my agency vehicle. As I exited the vehicle the suspect began uttering statements such as “I’m done, I’m done” and proceeded to raise both of his hands in the air, symbolizing he was surrendering. The suspect was quickly and safely placed in handcuffs and apprehended.

The suspect was identified as Lashawn Marquice Boone by his FL ID card. Mr. Boone was read his Miranda rights and stated he understood them and was willing to talk with me. Post Miranda, Boone stated he ran due to his license being permanently revoked and for having an outstanding warrant. I confirmed Boone’s identity through his FL ID card and the provided information through the DAVID database.

A query through FCIC/NCIC, revealed Boone had an active Polk County warrant for Writ of Bodily Attachment; reference case #53-2021-DR-008516-AXXX-XX for further information. The query also revealed that Boone’s driver’s license was permanently revoked as of 10/31/2020. The suspect vehicle, which Boone advised belonged to his father, also did not have any insurance on file.

While conducting an inventory search incident to arrest, I located two small clear plastic baggies in the front center console of the vehicle; one with yellow cylinder pills and the other with white rectangle pills. Located on the front of the white rectangle pills, was a capital letter “Y” and on the back of the pill was the number “21.” Utilizing drugs.com, I was able to confirm the white rectangle pills were Alprazolam (Xanax), which is a controlled 4 substance. There were 19 Xanax pills located in the one plastic baggie. The unknown yellow pills did not have any markings or unique identifiers, which raised suspicion they were homemade pills in a pill press. I field tested some yellow residue that was in the same baggie as the yellow pills with a Narc 2 33 Fentanyl Reagent test kit which immediately displayed a red color, indicating a presumptive positive test result for Fentanyl. There were a total of 23 Fentanyl pills located in the clear baggie with additional yellow Fentanyl powder in the baggie as well.

After packaging the narcotics into evidence, it was determined Boone was in possession of 4.85 grams of Fentanyl, which is a trafficking amount, and 5.03 grams of Alprazolam.

Through my investigation, I determined that Boone violated FSS 316.1935(2) by fleeing to elude my marked patrol vehicle with lights and sirens activated. Post Miranda, Boone also advised he ran because he “didn’t think I would chase him.” Boone also violated FSS 843.02 by resisting due to him fleeing on foot from my traffic stop and my marked patrol vehicle. FSS 893.13(6A) by being in possession of Alprazolam without a prescription. FSS 324.022 for failing to maintain motor vehicle insurance as an operator of the vehicle he was operating on Florida public roadway. FSS 322.34(2)(A) for driving while Boone knew his license was revoked. FSS 893.13(7)(A)5 for maintaining a vehicle for drug use by having Alprazolam and Fentanyl inside of his vehicle. FSS 893.147(1) for being in posession of 6 marijuana baggies and 4 clear small plastic baggies used for the Xanax and Fentanyl pills. Lastly, FSS 893.135(1)(C)4A for being in possession of a trafficking amount of Fentanyl without prescription, which is anything over 4 grams.

Boone was placed under arrest and transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center without further incident.”

J.C. Reviews: “Nosferatu” Was…Pretty Good, I Guess

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by James Coulter

 

Chances are, if you’re familiar with Nosferatu, it’s for two reasons:

1) It’s one of the most iconic silent horror movies of all time, and

2) Because the titular character has become a recurring character on SpongeBob SquarePants. (No, I’m dead serious!)

In all seriousness, the original 1922 silent film is one of the most notable horror movies of the silent era, what with its German expressionist visuals, its haunting use of shadows, and, of course, the nightmarish design of the vampire character.

So, nearly a century later, acclaimed direction Robert Eggers has taken on the task of directing a reboot of this horror classic. But was it worth bringing this film back from the dead? Or does it need to be warded off with a crucifix and garlic?

The year is 1838. The place is Wisborg, Germany. A young real estate agent name Thomas Hutter has been sent to the castle of the Count Orlok to sign the deed for a new home. However, to no one’s surprise but Thomas’, this enigmatic count living in a country infamous for vampires turns out to be a vampire!

Count Orlok eventually moves to his new home in Wisborg, where his arrival unleashes a deadly plague that… well… plagues the town. Even more troubling, Orlok seeks to hunt down Thomas’ newlywed wife Ellen to feast on her blood and…uh, do other things. Can Thomas stop the vampire with the help of a vampire hunter? Or will Orlok take more than Ellen’s blood?

I never watched any of Egger’s other films. But I have heard they are good: The Lighthouse, The Witch, The Northman. So, unsurprisingly, his Nosferatu remake turned out to be…pretty good.

If you’re familiar with the original silent movie, Nosferatu essentially follows the exact same story. However, now that a century has passed, Eggers is able to do much more with this movie than the original was able to accomplish, both technically and artistically.

From a technical standpoint, this movie has the benefit of being filmed in color, with sound and spoken dialogue, and with much better and more elaborate special effects. Furthermore, perhaps the most notable upgrade is with the inclusion of sex and violence.

Yes, while the original film was undoubtedly hampered by the puritanical censors and moral standards of its day, what with the aversion toward gory violence and explicit sex and nudity, the 2024 remake, in all of its R-rated glory, leans real hard into the gratuitous blood, gore, and sex.

While the movie, in contrast to the original film, is shot in color, it maintains a rather muted color tone that essentially makes it feel like a black-and-white movie.

Bill Skarsgård plays the eponymous Count Orlok, and to no one’s surprise, the actor chilled audiences with his performance of Pennywise the Clown in the It remakes absolutely killed it with his equally chilling performance as the infamous vampire.

And while most of the other acting is rather stifled, William DeFoe provides a breath of fresh air with his almost operatic performance of the eccentric vampire hunter, Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz.

If I have a nitpick to make…well, I have several. Because while the movie was good, there were a few notable “odd” choices that Eggers made.

For example, while this film has no scruples with leaning into its R-rating with nudity, some of the choices for nude and sex scenes were…questionable.

At the start of the film, Thomas spies on a group of villages leading a naked woman on a horse to the grave of a vampire. Why is she naked? Well, you’d assume it’s to lure the vampire out. But, no. The villagers just exhume his corpse and drive a stake into his chest no problem. So, why bring along the naked chick? You know, aside from having a naked chick on screen?

Look. I’m not saying this movie was bad. It’s just one of those movies that I can agree was good but that I didn’t personally jive with. Aside from the odd filmmaking choices, the overall film was more than two hours long…and it certainly felt longer watching it.

Overall, if you’re a horror fan who’s into the classics, then you’ll certainly get some enjoyment watching this remake of a horror classic. For me, though, I feel like I need to watch something with more excitement and less…old vampire.

In Loving Memory of Dr. Timothy Blair Swango, Local Veterinarian

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Dr. Timothy Blair Swango, DVM 

(08/22/46 – 01/24/25)

Dr. Timothy Blair Swango left us peacefully to be with the Lord on January 24, 2025.

Tim or “Doc” as many knew him, was born in Dayton, Ohio on August 22, 1946. He attended both Centerville High School in Ohio and Pine Crest School in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where he graduated at the top of his class. From there he attended Mercer University in Macon, GA where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and where he met his wife Glynn. Together they moved to Columbus, Ohio for Tim to attend The Ohio State University’s Veterinarian program, while also welcoming two sons. Upon graduating from vet school in 1974 (again at the top of his class), they decided to move their family to Winter Haven, FL.  At Myers Animal Hospital he began what would become a long and successful career as a veterinarian. While sharpening his skills treating clinical patients, he also treated zoo animals at Cypress Gardens.  He later opened his own practice, Swango Animal Hospital in Lake Wales, FL, where he cared for countless animals (and their owners) for over 35 years. 

He pursued many hobbies during his life and with each one he would go all-in, but his true passion was fishing.  Most know him by Doc Swango, Doctor Bass…or Doctor No Bass… depending on who you talked to; but everyone would say “we love your dad”, “he’s the best”, “what an amazing vet”.  He had an incredible way with animals, and their humans.  He loved telling fishing stories.  He also had an incredible sense of humor and loved playing jokes on people including the rubber snake he would keep in the rear hatch of every  boat he owned.  We will all miss him, his stories, and his sense of humor dearly.

Dr. Swango is survived by many loved ones including his wife, Glynn Goulding Swango, son, Timothy Brett Swango and wife, Stacy, son, Shawn Michael Swango and wife, Cori, grandchildren, Timothy Baron Swango, Alee Blair Swango and Camryn Melissa Swango, brothers, Terry Swango and wife, Marsha, Stanley Swango and wife, Sally, nieces, Kim Swango and Kiersten Swango; as well as Connie Thurman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley Sterling Swango and Monda Hott Swango.

Remembrance services will be held February 8, 2025, at 11:00am at First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven (637 6th St NW, Winter Haven) with a reception to immediately follow at the Valhalla Clubhouse (130 Woden Way, Winter Haven).

On February 22, 2025, there will be a celebration of life at Doc’s favorite place on earth Camp Lester (14400 Reese Dr, Lake Wales), including an armada of boats traveling to Lake Kissimmee to start the party at 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Moffitt Cancer Center or the Humane Society of Winter Haven in honor of Dr. Swango’s name.