On November 7, 2024, Park Avenue Private School administrators contacted Lake Wales Police and told them they had terminated substitute teacher Gayle Wessel for showing sexually explicit photographs to her elementary students.
Police launched an investigation and determined 60 year-old Wessel of Babson Park showed several of her students sexually explicit photos that were on her phone. Subsequent interviews with the children revealed consistent accounts of the incidentsand an analysis of Wessel’s phone uncovered hundreds of explicit images and videos, many of which included herself. When detectives contacted Wessel, they noticed her attempting to delete nude photos from her device.
On January 7, 2025, Wessel was located and arrested at a local motel. She admitted to knowingly exposing the students to inappropriate material and acknowledged she tried to destroy the evidence during the initial investigation. She was charged with six counts of showing obscene material to minors and one count of tampering with evidence.
Wessel’s criminal history included prior arrests for trespassing, battery, resisting arrest and criminal mischief.
The Lake Wales Police Department remains committed to protecting the children of our community and holding individuals accountable that endanger their safety.
Anyone with additional information about this case is urged to contact Detective Raines at the Lake Wales Police Department.
Bring your little ones for a special MLK Storytime as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through engaging stories, crafts, and activities!Date: Tuesday, January 14 Time: 3pm – 4:30Pm Location: Winter Haven Public Library
325 Ave A NW in Winter Haven
This fun and educational event is perfect for kids of all ages to learn about Dr. King’s message of love, equality, and kindness.
Activities include: -Story readings inspired by Dr. King read by author Matthew Hale -Creative crafts to take home -Interactive fun for the whole family
Admission is free, so come and join the celebration of unity and hope!
I grew up during the Console Wars of the 1990s. Back then, the big divide was between Sega and Nintendo. My first game console was a Super Nintendo, so I was squarely on the side of Nintendo.
But even though I was raised on Mario, I still had an affinity for Sonic. My friend at the time had a Sega Genesis, which we would play together when I visited their house. I was enamored with the super-fast blue hedgehog running at the speed of blast processing.
Now, nearly 40 years later, it seems as though the console wars have been revived. Only instead of games played on the small screen, both Mario and Sonic have transitioned to the big screen with their own movies. Of course, while the red plumber has one, the blue hedgehog now has three.
But how is the third installment of the Sonic film franchise? Does it have the hedgehog rolling around at the speed of sound? Or will he have to live and learn not making it to the end of the level?
Sonic 3 takes place one year after the events of the last two films. Sonic and his friends are celebrating his birthday when a new threat rears its head—and strangely enough, it looks like a darker version of the blue hedgehog.
Shadow is his name, and with the aid of not only Dr. Ivo Robotnik, but also the doctor’s long-lost grandfather, Dr. Gerald Robotnik, he has his evil eyes set on unlocking a super weapon to—you guessed it!—destroy the world! Will Sonic stop his dark doppelganger in time?
I’ve watched many films last year. Some were great (The Beekeeper and Deadpool & Wolverine). Some were bad (Harold and the Purple Crayon and Madame Web). And others were bland and boring (Despicable Me 4 and Kung Fu Panda 4). So, when I decided to end the year by watching one last film, I was thoroughly surprised to watch a movie that was…pretty good.
Sonic 3 essentially delivers what you want to see in a Sonic movie: our favorite blue hedgehog going super-fast and fighting evil machines and bad guys. And it delivers it pretty well. It’s an entertaining movie which, while not superbly profound, was still a fun movie to watch.
This movie adapts the Shadow storyline from Sonic Adventure 2 on the Sega Dreamcast, later released for the Nintendo GameCube. Shadow is a dark clone who was created by GUN for his super powers. His only friend was a young girl named Maria who met with a tragic fate. Placed into stasis and awakened 50 years later, he now sets on to avenge her.
If you understood any of that, congratulations! You understand the basic premise of this movie, and you will no doubt be pleasantly surprised as to how faithfully this movie adapts this nearly 30-year-old storyline. Certainly helping matters is Keanu Reeves’ performance, which flawlessly captures the dark hedgehog’s dark and brooding personality.
Jim Carrey returns again to not only reprise his role as the Mad Doctor Robotnik, but also as his long-lost grandfather, Dr. Gerald Robotnik. As always, Carrey does an excellent job of hamming it up as a hammy villain. And his entire dual performance as two mad doctors certainly delivers a real ham and cheese sandwich.
The Sonic movies are not profound cinema. They were never meant to be. They’re film adaptations of a popular video game franchise created to entertain little children and Sonic fans. And, well, these movies certainly succeed at doing just that. Sonic 3 was no exception. It’s a pretty good movie in a pretty good film series. And that’s…well, pretty good.
FWC – For years, waterway users in Florida have had to juggle multiple sources of information to plan, prepare and navigate safely to enjoy their time on the water. Understanding weather forecasts, finding local boat facilities, official warnings and notices, waterway zones, and safety equipment requirements often required using several apps, websites and publications, leading to uncertainty about where and when to go, what to do and how to fully enjoy a range of water activities safely.
In an exciting development for the boating community, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced a new initiative in collaboration with the National Safe Boating Council to pilot interactive safety content through a free mobile app called DECKEE. The app is designed to keep boaters safe and informed.
Whether you’re navigating the coastline in a powerboat or sailing yacht, paddling in Key West in a kayak, or heading out for a day of fishing with friends, content delivered through the DECKEE app unifies everything Florida’s water enthusiasts need for their next day on the water.
Over 1 million boat owners in Florida now have access to the following benefits and safety features in the free DECKEE app:
Plan your next adventure on the water with detailed maps, facility information, official warnings, aids to navigation and community insights.
Access personalized equipment checklists, boating forecasts, regulations and resources from the FWC to ensure you are always ready for the ideal weather window.
Automatically log your activities while on the water and share your live location to give friends and family peace of mind.
The FWC and the National Safe Boating Council will collaborate on the pilot program to seamlessly integrate safety content into the DECKEE app. This will help boaters plan, prepare and enjoy their activities on the water, and gain insight into how the campaigns are influencing overall boater behavior.
One example of an integrated campaign will be improving education and outreach about dangerous weather conditions, which significantly contribute to boating incidents. Many boaters need help understanding and interpreting the weather forecast, what it means for their boat and their intentions on the day.
The pilot program will introduce a personalized boating forecast targeted to the user’s watercraft and plans, which will give meaning to the information and help users make sense of it.
“Our goal is to create a safer boating environment for everyone in Florida,” said Brian Rewinkel, FWC Boating Safety Education Coordinator. “This pilot program will measure the effectiveness of delivering safety information directly to boaters in an engaging and accessible manner. This initiative represents a significant step forward in our commitment to protecting our waterways and those who enjoy them.”
Peg Phillips, Executive Director of the National Safe Boating Council, said, “Measuring the impact of boating safety outreach has always been very challenging for the government agencies like the FWC that manage our nation’s waterways. With the DECKEE app pilot program, we now have an accurate and scalable way to measure the influence of our strategic priorities and outreach efforts.”
Florida boaters are encouraged to explore the new safety capabilities in the free DECKEE app, available from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Deckee.com/download.
For more information about FWC boating safety initiatives, visit MyFWC.com/boating.
In December, Tanners Lakeside announced an exciting update about their business operation. Paul Diakomihalis would be joining the team as its newest operations partner.
Here is the message from Tanners Lakeside: “Hello everyone! We have a special announcement-Joining our team as an Operations Partner is Paul Diakomihalis. We are excited to have Paul join our team and help bring your waterfront dining experience to a new level of service and food. Please look for future updates soon.”
Diakomihalis has been working with Tanners for the past few weeks and he shared his excitement about the opportunity.
“I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the warm welcome I’ve received as the new Operations Partner at Tanners Lakeside,” he said.
He added, “The past three weeks have been incredible and I’m thrilled to hear that the changes we’ve implemented have been well-received.
Your feedback has been invaluable and I’m so glad to know that you’re enjoying the enhancements we’ve made. I’m committed to continuing this momentum and taking Tanners Lakeside to the next level…!!
My goal is to provide top tier customer service and unforgettable dining experience for each and every one of you.
I’m dedicated to working tirelessly to ensure that every visit exceeds your expectations.”
Tanners and Diakomihalis thank the community for the support and kindness. Diakomihalis is honored the be a part of the Tanners team.
Tanners Lakeside is located at 1006 S Lake Howard Drive in Winter Haven.
Adelaide Elaine DePietro of Frostproof passed away Saturday, December 21, 2024, at AdventHealth Sebring.
She was born July 29, 1938, in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Americo and Angelina Lessa; she moved to Frostproof from Randolph, Massachusetts. Adelaide was a retired schoolteacher for William Holland Lapidary School. She enjoyed making jewelry with beads and infusing glass.
Adelaide was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph DePietro. She is survived by her daughter, Dianne DePietro of Frostproof; son, Anthony DePietro (Carolyn) of New Port Ritchy; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the family’s home.
I grew up during the Console Wars of the 1990s. Back then, the big divide was between Sega and Nintendo. My first game console was a Super Nintendo, so I was squarely on the side of Nintendo.
But even though I was raised on Mario, I still had an affinity for Sonic. My friend at the time had a Sega Genesis, which we would play together when I visited their house. I was enamored with the super-fast blue hedgehog running at the speed of blast processing.
Now, nearly 40 years later, it seems as though the console wars have been revived. Only instead of games played on the small screen, both Mario and Sonic have transitioned to the big screen with their own movies. Of course, while the red plumber has one, the blue hedgehog now has three.
But how is the third installment of the Sonic film franchise? Does it have the hedgehog rolling around at the speed of sound? Or will he have to live and learn not making it to the end of the level?
Sonic 3 takes place one year after the events of the last two films. Sonic and his friends are celebrating his birthday when a new threat rears its head—and strangely enough, it looks like a darker version of the blue hedgehog.
Shadow is his name, and with the aid of not only Dr. Ivo Robotnik, but also the doctor’s long-lost grandfather, Dr. Gerald Robotnik, he has his evil eyes set on unlocking a super weapon to—you guessed it!—destroy the world! Will Sonic stop his dark doppelganger in time?
I’ve watched many films last year. Some were great (The Beekeeper and Deadpool & Wolverine). Some were bad (Harold and the Purple Crayon and Madame Web). And others were bland and boring (Despicable Me 4 and Kung Fu Panda 4). So, when I decided to end the year by watching one last film, I was thoroughly surprised to watch a movie that was…pretty good.
Sonic 3 essentially delivers what you want to see in a Sonic movie: our favorite blue hedgehog going super-fast and fighting evil machines and bad guys. And it delivers it pretty well. It’s an entertaining movie which, while not superbly profound, was still a fun movie to watch.
This movie adapts the Shadow storyline from Sonic Adventure 2 on the Sega Dreamcast, later released for the Nintendo GameCube. Shadow is a dark clone who was created by GUN for his super powers. His only friend was a young girl named Maria who met with a tragic fate. Placed into stasis and awakened 50 years later, he now sets on to avenge her.
If you understood any of that, congratulations! You understand the basic premise of this movie, and you will no doubt be pleasantly surprised as to how faithfully this movie adapts this nearly 30-year-old storyline. Certainly helping matters is Keanu Reeves’ performance, which flawlessly captures the dark hedgehog’s dark and brooding personality.
Jim Carrey returns again to not only reprise his role as the Mad Doctor Robotnik, but also as his long-lost grandfather, Dr. Gerald Robotnik. As always, Carrey does an excellent job of hamming it up as a hammy villain. And his entire dual performance as two mad doctors certainly delivers a real ham and cheese sandwich.
The Sonic movies are not profound cinema. They were never meant to be. They’re film adaptations of a popular video game franchise created to entertain little children and Sonic fans. And, well, these movies certainly succeed at doing just that. Sonic 3 was no exception. It’s a pretty good movie in a pretty good film series. And that’s…well, pretty good.
On January 7, 2025 a 911 call came in around 12:10 p.m. for a vehicle crash on Havendale Blvd and 34th St NW in Winter Haven.
Polk County Fire Rescue, Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Winter Haven Fire Department responded to the scene.
Nathaniel Gale, Polk County Fire Rescue’s Public Information Officer confirmed they are currently evaluating one patient, but haven’t transported anyone yet. If this changes, we will update the article.
Brian Bruchey, Polk County Sheriff’s Office’s PIO said it was reported that a semi and sedan (unconfirmed at this time) were involved in the crash. One vehicle caught fire.
Havendale is currently shut down. This is an active scene at the time of publication. Please avoid the area if possible.
City of Auburndale- CSX Transportation’s Track Maintenance Project includes several railroad crossings through Auburndale during the week of January 13, 2025 that will require temporary closures:
Tempsford Rd – Closing on/around the Week of Jan. 13, 2025
Pilaklakaha Ave – Closing on/around the Week of Jan. 13, 2025
W. Bridgers Ave – Closing on/around the Week of Jan. 13, 2025
McKean St. – Closing on/around the Week of Jan. 13, 2025
Magnolia Ave – Closing on/around the Week of Jan. 13, 2025
W. Deby Ave – Closing on/around the Week of Jan. 13, 2025
Crossings will be closed anywhere from 2 days to 5 days, depending on the maintenance type.
For more information, please contact CSX Transportation by visiting https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-us/contact-us/contact-us-crossing-closure/
Lakeland, Florida – Yesterday afternoon United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the indictment and arrest of Stephen Andrew Leedy (59, St. Petersburg) on three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted on all counts, Leedy faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. According to the indictment and court documents, Leedy, a palliative care doctor in the Tampa Bay area, including limited treatment privileges at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in Polk County, utilized the username “maximumuncle#9112” to sexually exploit and victimize approximately ten minors online. In online conversations and video chats, Leedy instructed the minors to produce sexually explicit images of themselves and directed them to cut, choke, and hang themselves. In November 2021, Minor Victim 1 was discovered deceased, having hanged herself in front of her phone in a manner consistent with instructions Leedy had previously provided her.
In a statement to the Daily Ridge, Timothy J. Regan, MD, President of Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and Chief Medical Officer of Lakeland Regional Health, addressed Dr. Leedy’s limited association with the hospital and outlined the hospital’s swift actions in response to this tragic news:
“We are deeply troubled to learn of the recent arrest of Dr. Stephen Leedy. Dr. Leedy is not, and never has been, employed by Lakeland Regional Health and there is no record of Dr. Leedy ever treating patients at our hospital. Through his affiliation with an outside hospice organization, he had limited consulting staff privileges for adult-only hospice and palliative care and was not on the active medical staff. These privileges at our hospital were relinquished immediately upon notification of his arrest.”
The US Attorney would go on to say:
“An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the FBI – Tampa Office, with assistance from St. Petersburg Police Department, FBI – Atlanta Office, and the Holly Springs Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.”
This is a developing story and if any further information comes to light we will update this article.
