PCSO deputies arrested 28-year-old Jose Antonio Perez Jimenez (DOB 5/3/92) of Davenport for one count each of leaving the scene of a crash involving death and operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license, after a crash during the early morning hours of Saturday, November 14, 2020, in unincorporated Davenport.
According to the investigation so far, Jimenez was driving a grey 2013 Chevy Silverado truck at a high rate of speed southbound on U.S. Hwy 27 approaching a red light. An orange 2020 Yamaha motorcycle being driven by 58-year-old Juan Santos of Davenport was stopped behind a black 2009 Nissan Versa at the red light. Jimenez failed to stop, and his truck hit Santos’ motorcycle, propelling Santos over 180 feet and into the intersection with Legacy Park Boulevard. The Nissan was struck by the motorcycle, but that driver did not sustain any injuries. Santos was deceased upon the arrival of first responders.
After impact, Jimenez fled the scene on foot, but was located at his home on Country World Drive West in Davenport. He admitted to deputies that he had been involved in a crash, and that he fled because he does not have a driver’s license. Further charges are pending the outcome of the investigation. The roadway was closed for approximately five hours.
Jimenez was taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared prior to being booked into the Polk County Jail.
November 17th, 2020 – 4:00pm
Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85601214655?pwd=c0sxci9uejRReGZLSnE1OStjT0RhZz09
Meeting ID: 856 0121 4655
Passcode: P3hTvw
This meeting is open to the public. Please use the Zoom Meeting ID and Password above to join the meeting.
Lake Wales Police are investigating a shooting involving a Winter Haven teen that occurred late yesterday evening in the Lake Wales Housing Authority Grove Manor complex. The call came in at approximately 10:10 pm and officers quickly arrived to find a 17-year-old black male in the parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was flown to an area hospital and his injuries are not life threatening.
Police learned that crowds had gathered in the parking area of the complex when a late model gray Hyundai occupied by multiple black males drove past the crowds. At least one of the occupants opened fire towards two different groups that had congregated, striking the victim along with several vehicles. This investigation is active and police are urging anyone with information to contact Detective Amanda Ayers at (863) 678-4223 Ext. 264 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). You may be eligible for a reward and can remain anonymous.
More Than 200 Spaghetti Dinners Sold At Lake Wales Women’s Club Fundraiser
by James Coulter
They may not have been able to host a grand banquet like they normally do every year, but the Lake Wales Women’s Club were still able to serve up spaghetti dinners for hungry locals.
More than 220 tickets were sold prior to the fundraiser on Thursday evening. As such, more than 220 spaghetti dinners had been prepared and ready to provide through takeout.
Customers pulled up outside the Lake Wales Women’s Clubhouse where they received their paper bag filled with a spaghetti dinner, including pasta with meat sauce, breadsticks, and a pre-made salad. Gluten-free and marinara sauce alternative options were available upon request.
More than 20 volunteers worked inside to assemble the dinners and hand them out when the customers arrived. Everyone made sure to social distance and wear masks while volunteering.
“We have been very successful,” said Susan Connors, a Women’s Club member. “I think it is great. We have done over 100 meals [within the past half hour), and the driveway is constantly filling up.”
More than three days were spent preparing the meals beforehand at individual homes. Preparation was set up so that everyone worked on a separate aspect of the meal. For example, for the salad, one person cut up cucumbers, while another prepared the lettuce, and everyone brought their prepared items to the clubhouse.
“So they were in their own homes without putting more people together,” Connors said. “We are trying not to have more than six or eight people in a room.”
While preparing food ahead of time was its own challenge, the biggest challenge was spreading the word about the annual fundraiser. In previous years, the Women’s Club was able to speak person-to-person at local businesses, but due to the COVID-19 crisis, such personal contact was limited, Connors said.
“In COVID, it has been difficult because a lot of us do not meet face-to-face right now, so it was all word-of-mouth,” she said. “This year has been a lack of person-to-person contact, when you go up to an individual in one of our local businesses and ask them if you will support us this year, there has not been the face to face this year.”
The Lake Wales Women’s Club, which was first created in 1913, has been hosting these dinners once or twice a year for the past 15 to 20 years. Each year, more than 25 to 30 pounds of spaghetti are cooked to serve the hungry participants, as reported by the Daily Ridge last year.
Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting their projects as well as financing their building mainentence, as Connors explained: “We have not been able to rent our facilities since March and our rentals were a major force for our funding. This year our main focus is to fund TWO scholarships to high school seniors, sponsor 2 candidates for Hoby, and to establish a Juniorette program for high school seniors.”
Lake Wales, Florida – Residents in East Lake Wales were greeted to the sounds of sirens Thursday afternoon. Those sirens were Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies headed to a car chase on S.R. 60. According to the Lake Wales Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office a Lake Wales man was arrested for Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle, Fleeing To Elude, multiple counts of Contributing To Delinquency of A Minor, Child Abuse (endangerment), unarmed burglary and other charges.
According to the PCSO a red Hyundai Elantra was stolen on 11/7/2020. It was a rental car being used by a survey crew and it has North Carolina plates. Through the coarse of the next several days the car and a black male driving the car would be linked to multiple robberies in Lake Wales and Winter Haven.
On 11/12/20 a home owner in the area of Capps Rd. Found a man stealing a UPS package from his back door. The suspect now identified as Ernest McKnight III got into a red Hyundai Elantra and proceeded to leave the scene. The home owner followed the suspect. A Lake Wales K9 officer was heading to the scene to assist deputies when he saw the stolen vehicle. The officer attempted a traffic stop and the vehicle fled.
The LWPD Officer and PCSO deputies gave pursuit. The suspect drove East on S.R. 60 before pulling off onto Tiger Creek Rd. The suspect then turned down Lake Rosalie Rd. and eventually Tupelo Ln. According to reports the suspect then fled the vehicle along with a minor child and broke into an unoccupied home on Tupelo Ln.
The LWPD Officer and PCSO Deputies were able to talk the suspect out of the home without further incident. The suspect was not armed.
McKnight has a long history of criminal arrests. He was transported to Polk County Jail.
PCSO Lieutenant Raised More Than $87,000 For Central Florida Hearing And Speech Clinic
by James Coulter
By day, Lt. Jim Ostojic serves his community through law enforcement as a lieutenant for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout the year, on his off-time, he spent more than 200 hours raising money for the Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center.
Lt. Ostojic raised more than $87,000 fundraising for the Center’s annual fundraiser, Mr. Central Florida. He shattered so many records through his volunteer efforts that he was named the titular title of this year’s Mr. Central Florida.
He was one of the 22 contestants who competed in this year’s fundraiser. To celebrate his victory, he hosted a victory lunch at Beef O’Brady’s in Lakeland on Tuesday, and was officially crowned during a ceremony on Thursday.
He was handpicked personally to enter the contest by the Honorable Sheriff Grady Judd himself. Lt. Ostojic was proud to serve on behalf of the PCSO, as well as to further support his community by raising proceeds that will go towards providing 80 children with hearing tests and aids.
“It really feels good to win Mr. Central Florida,” Lt. Ostojicsaid. “I think the most I enjoy about this is knowing that all of the kid who need hearing aids will be getting them. I think that is important. That is why I put in 200 hours of my own time to make sure that this was accomplished.”
Daniel Bourque, General Manager of the Lakeland Beef O’Brady’s, has known Lt. Jim for the past 11 years he has worked at the eatery. Jim often frequents Beef O’Brady’s with his family, and has proven himself to be a very valuable member of the community.
Beef O’Brady’s has hosted different functions and fundraisers for the Center, including a wing eating contest. The establishment’s owner even served as Jim’s campaign manager. As such, Bourque and the other staff members could not be any prouder of Jim winning the tile of Mr. Central Florida.
“I don’t think it could have happened to a better person,” Borquesaid. “Jim is a good guy. He cares about the kids so much, he raised so much money to help so many kids. It is phenomenal. He is dependable. If you call him, he is there, he is willing to give you advice, talk to you, as well as anything else you need. We really like having him come in here. It makes our day better when he shows up.”
Channon Eickenberg, Development Director for the Center, was especially proud of this year’s Mr. Central Florida event. Despite occurring during these uncertain times, the fundraiser and individual contestants managed to shatter previous records. This year’s event raised more than $256,000, she said.
“Jim was very motivated and worked hard on this,” Eickenbergsaid. “The money he raised had never been raised before, and it shattered all records.”
Due to the COVID crisis, the ceremony was hosted via livestream, with the stream being broadcast on its website and at the Silver Moon Drive-In in Lakeland. Even without a live event, the award ceremony received such a virtual turnout that next year’s event will also be planned to be livestreamed.
“The gentleman were able to rally the audience and engage with our guests, and it was a lively event,” she said. “Everyone enjoyed getting out of the house with a safe social distancing. I thank everyone who supported the event.”
More Than 200-Year-Old Army Veteran Honored At Haines City Veteran’s Day Ceremony
by James Coulter
The name Zebulon Montgomery Pike may not ring a bell, but if you’ve ever visited Colorado, chances are you know of Pikes Peak, a mountain named after him.
Under the authority of Thomas Jefferson, Brigadier General Zebulon Montgomery Pike led two westward expeditions following the Louisiana Purchase. During one expedition, he crossed the Rocky Mountains and explored the territory now known as Colorado. This achievement earned him the honor of having Pikes Peak named after him.
During his service, he was captured by the Spanish colonial authorities near Santa Fe, taken to the territory that is now Mexico to be interrogated, and was later released near Louisiana. His exploits he wrote in a book published in 1810 and translated in Dutch, German, and French.
As a Brigadier General who served 14 years in the U.S. Army, Pike served in the War of 1812. He was killed with many American troops while leading an attack in the Battle of York in 1813.
Nearly 200 years after his death, his legacy was recognized in Haines City during their annual Veteran’s Day Celebration on Wednesday, where Pike was named Veteran of the Year. The City will install a plaque in his honor, and his descendants received the award in his honor.
Cynthia Morrison, one of his descendants, was proud that Haines City recognized the valiant efforts of her ancestor. She learned about the harsh conditions he and his men faced during his expeditions, battling both frostbite and hunger. She is humbled that his efforts helped aid the Westward Expansion.
“They say you cannot choose your family,” she said. “I want to say that I thank you all mightily for letting Zebulon be part of mine. I am very proud of him that he had such a role in developing this country.”
Pike was one of many veterans honored during the annual Haines City Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday. The ceremony was initially planned to be hosted at Railroad Park in Downtown Haines City, but due to inclement weather, the event was moved indoors to the Haines City Public Library.
The ceremony opened with the pledge of allegiance, national anthem, and an invocation provided by Arnulfo Gomez, a National Guard veteran and pastor of Rooted Outreach Ministries. The Haines City High School JROTC led the presentation of colors and organizational colors, which included recognizing the newest branch of the military, Space Force.
Gary Clark, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and chairman Polk County Veterans Council, served as the guest speaker during the event. He spoke of many aspects of the military, including the importance of Space Force.
As someone who served in the Air Force during the 1980s, he was involved with the creation of Air Force Space Command in Colorado. There he oversaw the procedures in the war room with detecting ballistic missiles during Project Desert Storm. From launch to impact, a missile could travel within 60 to 70 seconds; during that time, identifying the missile takes 10 seconds. Time was of the essence to detect, identify, and stop these missiles, he said.
His experience within Air Force Space Command helped him recognize the importance of Space Force. With more and more countries venturing into space for military purposes, the United States needs to catch up with the rest of them and be prepared.
“Space represents another field of combat that we need to prepare for,” Clark said. “We are concerned with what happens in space. China is a competitor. China is working hard. We know. We know they have the technology.”
Mayor Morris West allowed his grandson, Austin, from Dundee Ridge Middle School, to say a few words on behalf of local veterans. The young lad commended them for their valiantefforts to defend their country abroad.
“I would like to thank all the brave men and women for their service and what they did for this country and how great they were in participating in the army and putting their life on the line,” he said.
The Mayor likewise shared his own gratitude towards local veterans. He expressed the need for every city to aid those who had served their country, and explained how his own city has done likewise.
“You are part of an unbroken chain who served this country for the lives of our nation,” Mayor Morris said. “Today we remember and say thank you to all who made the ultimate sacrifice…Therefore, all should receive all the care, the honor that you deserve. Every city across this great nation should help our veterans by providing them jobs and care that they need when they return home. We, the City of Haines City, provide jobs and places to live and raise a family.”
Congressman Darren Soto appeared at the event to offer a few remarks about veterans. He and his office have worked with many veterans and veterans’ hospitals to ensure that those who served their country receive the care they require. As they served their country, so, too, must their country serve them.
“We are proud to serve those who have served,” Soto said. “You and your families have sacrificed so much in defense of our country, and we thank you so much for your service. The story of American heroism continues, it keeps going. It continues to this day.”
Nearly 100-Year-Old WWII Veteran Spoke At Lake Wales Veteran’s Day Lunch
by James Coulter
Julien McCall will be turning 100 years old soon. He is a retired Captain who served in World War II. While he was honored to have served his country during the war, he knows full well the horrors such a war brought to the world. As such, he hopes and prays that a similar world war never again comes into fruition. However, he fears with current political and national strife the possibility of a civil war.
“I would recommend that we never again get involved in a world war,” McCall said. “Nobody wins. Everybody loses. You gain nothing. Unfortunately, we may have some more civil wars with the way the political scene is developing in the United States. I hope it is not here in this country. But we have to be careful.”
McCall still feels proud having served his country as a veteran, and he joined his fellow veterans in celebrating their victory, as well as joined local civilians to honor their contribution in defending the country.
“I wish you all great happiness and success,” he told his fellow veterans. “It is still a wonderful country.”
McCall was one of many veterans who attended the Veteran’s Lunch hosted at Dyer Chevrolet in Lake Wales on Wednesday. He served as one of several guest speakers who spoke on behalf of the sacrifice made by veterans such as himself.
Mayor Eugene Fultz served in the military for 24 years: four years in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and 20 years in the Army National Guard during Desert Storm. He attended the event dressed in his army uniform.
He owes his success as a local politician to his time within the service. His military experience allowed him to gain the discipline that he has since applied to his role as the city mayor. Moreover, his service allowed him to contribute to what he considers to be the cornerstone of the nation.
“To all of the veterans out there, keep your head up high, be proud of who you are, and be proud of the service that you rendered to this country,” Fultz said. “I pray that everybody will recognize you for the heroes that you are.”
Kathryn “Kat” Gates-Skipper served in the Marines for nearly 20 years. She now serves as a local veteran’s advocate, and previously served as a national advocate for the “Veterans ForTrump” campaign.
As a local Lake Wales resident, she was honored to attend the event with her family and fellow veterans. She was honored to speak a few words on their behalf and express her gratitude for being able to serve her country faithfully.
“It means everything in the world to me,” she said. “I am a proud American veteran who served my country…I want everyone to honor our veterans who served past, present, and future.”
David Dlugokecki, General Manager for Dyer Chrysler Chevrolet Lake Wales, hosted the event at his dealership to show his support for local veterans. The event was hosted in partnership with American Legion Post 71 and All Veterans Center, Icn. What started as a simple gesture to offer a free meal to veterans had since grown into a full-blown celebration with an all-veterans band and guest veteran speakers.
One of his staff members was a Marine veteran. David’s own father served in Vietnam and was buried in Bushnell Cemetery following his death in 2002. David had since spoken with many of his father’s veterans’ friends and learned through their experience how little their efforts often go unrecognized. For that and many other reasons, he decided to honor local veterans with a lunch at his dealership.
“We are hoping to let the people know that we are in Lake Wales and we care,” he said. “Today is not about selling cars. It is not about car deals. This is a day to celebrate the veterans, they deserve this, and this is what we are here for. I would like to thank the Lake Wales community to do the things we do and become a big part in helping the people out and share what we can and give back.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the homicide of 21-year-old Danne Frazier of Lakeland, who was found deceased in a Lake Wales orange grove off of Helicopter Road on Tuesday, November 10, 2020. An autopsy is being performed tomorrow (November 13) to determine his exact cause of death, but through investigative means it is apparent that his death is suspicious and he is likely the victim a homicide.
Danne was reported missing on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, to the Lakeland Police Department, by his family. He left work (Publix warehouse in Lakeland) at 2:00 a.m. that morning, and was last seen around 2:20 a.m. at the WaWa gas station located on Edgewood Drive in Lakeland. He lived in Winter Haven, but never arrived home.
“As we recreate the final days of this young man’s life, we know that there are those out there who know what happened to him. You can remain completely anonymous – and get cash – for your information. All you have to do is contact Heartland Crime Stoppers. He was brutally murdered, and then dumped in an orange grove, and his family deserves justice.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
If anyone has information on Danne Frazier’s murder, they are urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200. Or to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers – call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477), dial **TIPS from your cell phone, visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
Frostproof Celebrates 3rd Annual Fall Street Dance
by James Coulter
Neither rain nor deadly pandemic nor divisive election results could prevent Frostproof residents from dancing in the street on Saturday evening. Nearly a hundred local residents and guests congregated along North Wall Street in front of the Ramon Theater in Downtown Frostproof for the third annual Frostproof Fall Street Dance.
Providing live musical entertainment on the stage was Shell Shocked, a dueling piano duo that often performs in the Orlando area, specifically at Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk. Such a lively musical duo offered high octane metropolitan musical flavor to the rural small town that evening.
When not busy dancing and singing along to live music, attendees could grab a bite to eat from one of three food trucks including Cuppa Joe and Smokin Ox. They could also enjoy a street performance by fire eater and juggler Flaming Joe.
The evening forecast was cloudy with a chance of showers. While the rain may have kept some people away earlier that evening, nothing could stop the dedicated locals from enjoying an annual fall tradition. Not even the COVID-19 crisis and tumultuous election could sour people’s moods.
“We love bringing the community together, especially for a night like this during an election,” said Austin Gravely, City Council Member and the event’s main organizer. “Coming together, it don’t matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat. It is nothing like that. It is strictly a community.”
For the past three years, the street dance has been bringing the local townsfolk together. The tradition started shortly after the town’s 100th anniversary three years ago when hanging lights were hung over North Wall Street. Ever since, they have been making good use of the lighted streetscape with these events.
This year’s fall street dance was hosted with funding from the City of Frostproof, as well as sponsors like Iceberg Cooling and Elite Lawn & Landscaping. Another street dance will be planned around mid-February for Valentine’s Day. As with the Fall Street Dance, this will likewise be the third annual event for the spring.
“It is something we started years ago, and we want to keep it going as long as people keep coming out,” Gravely said. “The rain has kept some people away, but obviously, as you see now, it was a good turnout.”
Leslie Brewer, another City Commissioner, loves the overall nostalgia the event evokes. She remembers when similar street dance parties were hosted back in the day, and being able to attend dances today bring back fond childhood memories.
“[I love] seeing everybody come out of all ages, small kids, the older adults that have come here with all the variety of entertainment that we have here tonight,” Brewer said. “We put a lot of effort into giving something for the community to come to, something that doesn’t necessarily cost them money, but just get everybody together to get that small town spirit going and keep it alive.”
