The Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated a single-vehicle crash that resulted in the fatality of the passenger during the early morning hours of January 1, 2021. Preliminary information so far is as follows:
Around 2:15 a.m. on Friday, January 1st, PCSO received a 911 call in response to a 2002 black Ford Explorer that had run off the road on Country Club Road approximately one mile south of Hamilton Pointe Boulevard NE in Winter Haven. When first responders arrived they located both occupants outside the SUV, laying on the grassy shoulder.
The driver, 34-year-old Christina Bissroam of Fort Pierce, was taken by ambulance to LRHMC with critical injuries. The passenger, 69-year-old Rocky Coviello of Davenport, was deceased. It appears Bissroam was traveling southbound on Country Club Road at a high rate of speed when she failed to negotiate the curve and traveled off the roadway, causing the SUV to rotate and then overturn several times. She and Coviello were both ejected.
Excessive speed and impairment on the part of the driver appear to be a factor and are being investigated. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours during the investigation.
On December 31, 2020 at approximately 6:12 PM, officers of the Lake Wales Police Department responded to US 27 south of State Road 60 in reference to someone lying in the middle of the road. Upon arrival, officers began their initial investigation and learned a traffic crash had occurred. A bicycle ridden by a white male had been riding down the center of the southbound lanes of US 27. Initially several vehicles were able to dodge the bicyclist before he was struck by a vehicle traveling behind them. The bicyclist was then struck by several other vehicles traveling the same direction. The bicyclist was deceased upon officer’s arrival. We will not release his identity at this time as we are still attempting to locate the next of kin.
At this point, officers have determined five vehicles were involved in this crash. None of the drivers or their occupants were injured in this crash. The vehicles and their occupants are as follows: -A 2008 Ford SUV driven by Justin Cadwallader of Lake Wales, age 29. -A 2010 GMC SUV driven by Jose Maritnez of Orange City, age 24 with his three children. -A 2016 Ford SUV driven by Hayley Barrett of Frostproof, age 27. -A 2011 Volkswagon Jetta driven by Luis Pereira-Luiz of Babson Park, age 22. His passenger was Ana Goncales De Arauj of Babson Park, age 21. -A 2010 Dodge SUV driven by James White of Lake Wales, age 42.
This investigation is ongoing at this time. Anyone with information should contact Officer Meyers at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223 ext. 550.
On Tuesday, December 29, 2020, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested 37-year-old Thomas Lee Simmons of Winter Haven for Armed Sexual Battery (FL), Armed Robbery (FL), Grand Theft (F3), Dealing in Stolen Property (F2), False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer (M1). The victim called 911 from the Stay Plus Inn in Haines City. He told detectives he had been communicating with an unknown man, who turned out to be Simmons, on a dating website and had arranged to meet Simmons at the hotel. The meeting did not go as planned. According to the affidavit, the victim told detectives, “the suspect came into the room, he pulled out a fixed blade knife with a brown handle from a sheath attached to his belt and told the victim to strip naked and lay on the bed. The suspect told the victim that he was with the narcotics unit and he had other officers outside the room. During the encounter the suspect also pretended to talk on a radio to other individuals.” Simmons then took off his own clothes and sexually battered the victim. After the armed sexual battery, the suspect told the victim that he had “agents” going to the victim’s sister’s house and they were going to “get her as well.” The suspect then robbed the victim of his driver’s license, passport, an iPhone, an Apple Watch, Airpods, and three pair of Air Jordan tennis shoes. Through investigative means, detectives located Simmons at his girlfriend’s home in Winter Haven. During a search of the home, detectives found the victim’s stolen items, as well as a knife matching the description given by the victim on the front seat of Simmons’s truck. During an interview, Simmons originally gave detectives a false name. He later gave detectives his true identity. Simmons admitted to meeting someone for sex earlier at the Stay Plus Inn in Haines City. He also admitted to taking the victim’s belongings without permission. “This was the act of a violent criminal with a criminal history, and the outcome could have been much worse. I encourage anyone using online dating services to be cautious. Meet with strangers in a public place, like a restaurant, and never give out your personal information like your home address until you at least get to know that person better. Another safeguard is to tell a trusted loved one where you are going, and set up a time to check in with that person, just in case.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff Simmons was charged with Armed Sexual Battery (FL), Armed Robbery (FL), Grand Theft (F3), Dealing in Stolen Property (F2), False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer (M1), and an Orange Warrant for FTA. He remains in the Polk County Jail on no bond until a first appearance hearing this afternoon. Simmons’s criminal history includes Florida charges of Petit Theft and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and a North Carolina Assault charge
These Dance
Students Didn’t Perform in The Big Parade, But They Still Danced Their Hearts
Out
by James Coulter
They may not have performed
their big routine in the big parade, but 20 young dance students from Davenport
still danced their hearts out in a performance they spent weeks practicing.
Studio C School of
Dance and Production from Davenport took their troupe of dance students and
their families to Gatlinburg, TN, where they were scheduled to perform in an
annual holiday parade. However, upon learning the event was canceled, the
dancers instead performed their routine in their hotel’s parking garage.
Karina Michel
Feld, one of the mothers of the young dancers, and the executive producer of
Tallulah Films, recorded the performance on her iPhone and sent the footage to
a local television station, which later aired on a local news broadcast.
“[I’m] just
so happy I was able to help in some way,” Feld said. “They are all so
talented and such dedicated dancers. Parade or not, they still put their heart
and soul into it…We feel very fortunate to be a part of Studio C!”
Marcia Legg,
instructor and owner of Studio C in Davenport, taught song and dance for the
past 31 years in Florida. She previously taught in Pennsylvania before moving
south in 1989.
She and her
students have traveled over the country to perform their dance routines. They
have performed for many parades and half-time shows for professional soccer
leagues. They performed for the 2017 Orange Bowl half-time show, Dolly Parton’s
homecoming, and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade twice!
Due to the
COVID-19 crisis, Legg and her dance troupe had not been able to perform since
March, and they did not return to class until earlier this September. So when
she received an invitation for her students to perform at an annual holiday
parade in Gatlinburg, TN, she immediately jumped at the opportunity, she
explained.
“I told them
we had the invitation, and they were so excited,” Legg said. ” I knew
for some of them it would be challenging moneywise…So I did not know if they
wanted to do this, and they did.”
Legg spent weeks
and weeks listening to music to find the best song for their big performance.
After making her selection, she then created the best dance routine for their
venue. As they would have performed along a broad four-lane street, she decided
upon an elaborate Rockette-style performance with ten lines assuming various
formations, she said.
Her students spent
countless hours and weeks practicing the routine. They attended their regular
classes, as well as dedicated extra hours on Mondays. When they traveled north,
they practiced the night and morning before the parade.
On the day of
their big performance, all 20 dancers and their families gathered at the
parking garage to wait for the shuttle to the staging area for the parade.
However, they inevitably heard the announcement over the loudspeaker that the
parade was canceled. The event was canceled due to inclement weather with rain
and cold temperatures, Legg said.
Feld knew her
daughter and the rest of the girls were disappointed. They had 654 miles north (1,308
miles round trip) and practiced countless hours for their big routine, and now
they were not going to be able to perform it at the parade. She decided that
the show would go on anyway.
“The hardest
thing was seeing Marcia and all the girls ready to perform and knowing how much
they had put into rehearsing and getting there,” she said. “The
thought of going back to the hotel and not having a show didn’t seem right. We
all came together and made it happen…It was amazing.”
“I approached
the kids [about the news] and not one of them complained, not one of them gave
me attitude,” Legg said. “They had the most joyful hearts, and I am
so proud of them. They said, yes, let’s do it.”
Feld used her
iPhone to record the dance routine. Another parent drove her car up the ramp
and used the headlights to light the performance. The result was a big routine
performed as though it was for a big audience, Legg said.
“And those
dancers danced like they had the major audience of 80 thousand people who were
promised to be there,” she said. “They were dancing like they were
dancing for others and not just their parents.”
The performance
video was sent to a local television station, which decided to air it during
their news broadcast later that evening. When the girls watched themselves on
television, the entire hotel room floor erupted with their cheers of joy, Legg
said.
“They screamed so loud we had one side of the fifth-floor roaring, and security had to come up and check on us,” she said. “They were so joyful, they got to perform, and they got to watch them perform.”
Best Walmart Sale Ever! Or maybe not! 2 King-Sized Sunbeam Warming Blankets – for less than $6? This pair got this deal at Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd) on 12/23/20) when they ticket-switched on these two blankets worth a total of $218. They paid the low price of less than $6 cash (they made sure to grab the change) Recognize them? Call Sgt. Hall at 863-291-5736. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Santa Socially Distances At Haines City Fire Department
by James Coulter
You better watch out, you better wear a mask, and you better stay six feet apart, and I’m telling you why: because Santa Claus came to town—and he was staying safe by social distancing!
Just as he has for the past three years, Jolly Old Saint Nicholas paid a visit to the Haines City Fire Department during its annual Santa at the Station event last Friday evening.
Yes, even during these uncertain times, Santa Claus was still able to arrive in Haines City. Special precautions were taken, of course, to ensure both his safety and the safety of his young visitors.
During the event, attendees needed to wear a mask and wait outside in a line six feet apart. Special stars were marked off in chalk to indicate where visitors were to stand while waiting for a visit with Old St. Nick.
Once inside the fire station, Santa Claus remained seated within a vintage fire engine while visitors sat on the ground in front of him and had their pictures taken.
Unlike previous years, no fire station tours were offered, and the fire trucks were off-limits. However, guests could still visit the fire engine bay for cookies and coloring book activities.
Holly Gorsline, Executive Assistant with the Haines City Fire Department, and her staff faced challenges while preparing for the event; nevertheless, the annual visit with Santa Claus still proved successful, with plenty of children and their families eagerly arriving.
“Just because of COVID-19, it was a little bit more difficult to see how to set it up, so it was safe for everybody, but I think we did a good job with social distancing and masks,” she said. “We had a line since we started…Everything is going great thus far. Our expectations are just for the community to come out and have a good time, and everyone is having a good time thus far.”
Jake Jimenez, Haines City Fire Department Battalion Chief, loves being able to help every year. Though this year was less interactive due to the lack of tours and fire trucks, he could still see and meet many eager young visitors.
From within the town limits of Haines City, and as far away as Lakeland, Lake Wales, and Lake Alfred, visitors often come far and near to visit their annual event, and even these uncertain times would not deter them from good old-fashion holiday fun.
“I love getting out and interacting with the community,” he said. “We get to speak and talk with people everywhere…They hear about this event, and we get to talk with them, and they ask questions, and we clarify stuff they do not understand, and it is great community involvement.”
by Kevin Kieft, President/CEO of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and EDC
Happy holidays, everyone! Around the middle of the year, the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual awards ceremony. The awards honor citizens and businesses who’ve made a big difference in the community throughout the year.
While we could not host our awards gala in person due to these uncertain times, we could still move forward with accepting nominations, our committee selecting the winners, and honoring them like any other year.
We are currently producing a video announcing and highlighting the winners. We will upload the video onto our website in the next few weeks. However, here’s a sneak peek of this year’s winners and their contributions to their local community:
Larry Bossarte – Citizen of the Year Award
A licensed real estate broker and appraiser, Larry Bossarte has more than 40 years of experience in the real estate industry, especially in Lake Wales. He has utilized that experience to aid the city with economic development through commercial real estate. Furthermore, he has served on numerous boards and committees. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of our Chamber Ambassador’s Program.
As someone who has been more than willing to give his time helping the community, from working in the real estate industry to serving with the Chamber and Lake Wales Main Street, Larry embodies the Citizen of the Year. He wants to make Lake Wales better, and he gives his own time to help make that happen. We could not think of a better person for the award than him.
Gail Quam – The Jerry Miller Community Leadership Award
This award goes to a person who might not be active with the Chamber, but who is more than involved in the community. The award is named after Jerry Miller, a former chamber chairman who served on many boards and committees and who recently passed away. As someone who embodied the award’s spirit, it’s only fitting we rename it in his honor.
This year’s award goes to Gail Quam, Principal of Polk Avenue Elementary School. Gail has served the Lake Wales community, both through her students and outside of the school walls, so we thought she was the perfect person to receive that award.
Chief Joe Jenkins – Public Servant of the Year Award
Since taking charge of the Lake Wales Fire Department, Chief Joe Jenkins has proven to be a real asset to the city, especially during these uncertain times. He and his team have been on the frontlines with everything concerning COVID-19 this year. He has been the go-to person for updates, and he has worked as a pandemic expert with different agencies in the city. We want to
thank Chief Joe for everything he does, but all the more so this year because he has gone above and beyond with his department.
McKeon Chiropractic Clinic, P.A. – Carl F. Durso Award for Excellence in Business (small business)
McKeon Chiropractic Clinic has not only been an exceptional chiropractic practitioner, but they have also volunteered in the Lake Wales community. They have served with different boards, committees, and churches, to assist the local community, especially during these uncertain times. This year, they have stood out offering what they do, making them a prime candidate for this award.
Dyer Kia Dyer Chevrolet – Carl F. Durso Award for Excellence in Business (large business)
Dyer Kia Dyer Chevrolet has grown over the years, not only with their business but also with their local community involvement. They recently expanded into their new facility along Highway 27. They have also worked with the Chamber, and they have donated to many local non-profits. A business with such an extensive outreach deserves the award for the best large business.
Congratulations to all our winners. We apologize for not being able to host our awards in person this year. If you go on our website, you’ll be able to see our video honoring them. And when you see our winners in person, congratulate them because these five awards are the five most significant awards of the year.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to everyone, and hopefully, everyone has a Happy New Year. We look forward to a prosperous 2021!
PCSO investigating a fatal vehicle crash that left a
pedestrian dead in Babson Park
At about 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 25, 2020, the PCSO
Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a fatal crash
involving a pedestrian that occurred in the area of 900 Scenic Road in Babson
Park.
Preliminary information so far is as follows:
According to evidence at the scene and witness interviews,
the pedestrian, an adult male, whose name is being withheld pending next of kin
notification, was observed in the roadway waving his arms as if attempting to
stop traffic.
A 55-year-old Babson Park woman was driving a 2015 white Toyota Venza south on Scenic Highway, when she struck the pedestrian who was standing in the middle of the southbound lane. The Babson Park woman was uninjured and stopped her vehicle.
The pedestrian died at the scene.
The driver was wearing her seatbelt. Driver impairment does not appear to be a cause for the crash. Although, impairment on the part of the pedestrian is a possible cause. The area of the crash was not well lit.
The roadway was closed for approximately three hours during the investigation. The investigation is ongoing. We will bring you more information as it becomes available.
Babson Park, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that they are on scene of a fatal crash on Scenic Highway in Babson Park. The initial call came in around 8:10pm on Christmas Day. The roadway is currently blacked off and traffic is being rerouted.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed any details, but we are bring advised the accident involves a pedestrian.
Local Fire Fighters Donate More Than $3,000 Worth of Gift Cards to Former Member with Cancer
by James Coulter
More than 200 local firefighters have decided to donate more than $3,000 worth of gift cards to a former member who is currently battling cancer.
Members of IAFF Local 3531 Polk County Professional Firefighters received $20 Publix gift cards as Christmas gifts from their union. Most of them have since decided to donate their cards to a former member in need.
Clay Geiger previously worked for Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) but now serves at the Lakeland Fire Department. He is currently out of work receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer, explained Dean Molnar, Captain Paramedic of Polk County Fire Rescue, and IAFF Local 3531 Secretary.
Darren Monk, a Special Ops Captain Paramedic, decided to donate his card to Geiger. He posted his intentions on the message board, and his memo received a massive response with other members wanting to do the same.
“I asked our union president if it was okay if I donated mine to Clay,” Monk said. “I made that suggestion, and everybody jumped on board [with the idea].”
Many of the IAFF members had known Clay working with him in PCFR. Some of them knew him, having attended paramedic school or fire standards with him. Upon hearing that he was battling cancer, most were more than willing to follow Monk’s lead and donate their gift cards, Molnar said.
“Darren posted on the message board that he wanted to check and see if it was okay to donate his to Clay because Clay had a rare form of cancer and had been out of work for treatment,” explained Molnar. “It blew up after that post, and we ended up having quite a few people donating their gift cards to him as well.”
More than 185 cards were provided for Clay so far from the members, with 15 to 20 more wanting to donate their cards. Collectively, the $20 gift cards amount to nearly $4,000 donated to Geiger during his time of need.
Previously, the union had offered turkeys to their members on Christmas; however, this gift idea proved challenging to manage and distribute, as more than 440 turkeys would be provided to people, Molnar said. The choice to switch to gift cards proved more manageable, and in the case of this year, much more beneficial.
“It is nice to see our members doing this, giving something that was intended for them, just giving it to somebody else to help them out,” he said. “It was nice, the brotherhood. He was a former employee, and now we have half of our members who donated their gift cards to him.”
