Lakeland Police Detectives are investigating a shooting that took place during the early morning hours on Friday, November 27, 2020. According to investigators, two males entered a residence located in the 500 block of Crescent Drive at approximately 4:00 a.m. and shot an adult 19-year-old male. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Health, and at last update was in stable condition. It is believed that the suspects fled the residence in a white Ford Mustang, described as having a loud exhaust.
This is an active and open investigation, and updates will be provided as additional information becomes available for release. No other details will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact Detective Laura Dunn at 863.834.6974 or [email protected]. To remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-226 TIPS (8477), visit www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” or download the free “P3tips” app on a smartphone or tablet.
Downtown Winter
Haven Lights Up For Holidays With Starlight Nights
by James Coulter
It’s beginning to
look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go. This holiday sentiment is
certainly true for Downtown Winter Haven. The holiday lights are up and the downtown
businesses are open late for its first annual Starlight Nights.
For the next six
weeks, residents and guests can either take a holiday stroll or drive through a
Winter Wonderland, as countless lights, holiday displays, and Christmas trees
have been set up and lit up for the holiday season.
Every evening from
5:30pm to 10pm, Downtown Winter Haven will be alive with holiday lights with
local eateries, bars, and shops open late. When you’re done admiring the
lights, feel free to step inside one of the many shops or eateries.
Take a peek at the
many Christmas window displays before stepping in for some evening holiday
shopping or a bite to eat. Many bars and eateries will be hosting specials.
Dozens of local
businesses are currently partaking in a holiday window display contest. On the
week of Dec. 7, these displays will be judged by mystery judges to determine
which display is the most festive. The first-place winner has a chance to win
$1,000.
Various
holiday-themed events are also planned at the Ritz Theater. A special Elvis
Tribute Show will be hosted on Dec. 3 and 4 at 8pm. Jolly Old Saint Nick will
also be dropping by for pictures on Dec. 5 at 6pm.
Starlight Nights
was conceived to help promote the holiday spirit in Downtown Winter Haven. Due to
the COVID-19 crisis, many large-scale events such as the annual holiday tree
lighting ceremony had to be canceled. Main Street Winter Haven wanted to create
something to help draw people out of their homes and downtown this season,
hence Starlight Nights was created, explained Bailey McDaniel, Assistant
Director at Main Street Winter Haven.
“Starlight
Nights was born out of a need for holiday joy this year,” McDaniel said.
“I think everyone can use something to be excited this year.”
The holiday lights
were officially lit on Nov. 25, the evening before Thanksgiving. A test run was
hosted earlier that morning to ensure that everything worked, McDaniel said.
“The only
challenges we worked through were getting everything to get on at the same time
and to make sure we were all doing this in a pandemic friendly way,” she
said. “I think people will be cautious these couple of nights. Tonight
[Nov. 25]…being one of the most foot traffic-heavy downtown, especially for
our bars and eateries, I think we will be getting a good number of people
downtown, and I think it will pick up from there.”
Vaughn McAshan,
Vice President of Citizens Bank and Trust, and a member of the Main Street
Board of Directors, like everyone else on the board, wanted to see something
done for the holiday season to bring people together downtown, especially to
help lift their spirits during these uncertain times.
Setting up the
holiday lights and displays required countless hours from dozens, if not
hundreds, of volunteers within the past few weeks. Last Sunday, many high
school students from the Interact Club, Key Club, and Boys Club, gathered
together to help decorate the downtown area, McAshan said.
“Main Street
got together and we decided we really would like to do something to bring the
community together at Christmas time and Starlight Nights idea was born,”
he said. “It is exciting to see all the lights come on. We have been
holding our breath.”
Hopefully, the
bright holiday lights, coupled with the businesses remaining open late during
the holiday season, will draw many curious onlookers downtown. McAshan and the
others are hoping that word of mouth will help spur interest in locals taking a
holiday stroll or drive downtown and frequenting the local businesses there.
“I think
people are ready for something like this where they can celebrate together safely
and enjoy downtown,” he said. “It will be an attractive part of
downtown and bring a lot of businesses to the downtown area and bring the
community all together in this challenging time.”
For more
information about Starlight Nights, visit the WH Main Street website at: https://www.mainstreetwh.com/event/starlight-nights-downtown,
or their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/425279485101217/
by Kevin Kieft, President/CEO of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council
From our family here at the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce to yours, we wish everyone a happy and bountiful Thanksgiving! We know during these uncertain times it feels as though there isn’t much to be thankful for, but like every other optimist, we choose to see our gravy bowl as half-full rather than empty. This holiday is the perfect time to allow us the opportunity to count our blessings and give thanks for everything in the city that we at the Chamber are thankful for this year.
First, we are thankful for the City of Lake Wales. Without the City and their exemplary work, we wouldn’t be able to operate as seamlessly as we do or have the plethora of wonderful amenities available to all of us. We are thankful for the opportunity to partner and work with them on behalf of the Economic Development Council to help generate economic development. We are thankful for their trust in us to do this important work on behalf of the city.
On that related note, we are thankful for the economic development created this year. These uncertain times may have thrown a monkey wrench into the economic development world, especially with this still-lingering COVID-19 crisis; but despite these obstacles, the local economy still managed to continue the upward trend.
I am especially thankful to see all targeted industrial buildings that once lay vacant in years past now occupied with new businesses moving into town and employing local citizens and neighbors. The EDC fulfilled its obligation to ensure that existing industrial spaces were filled with new businesses like GrowHealthy, The Fence Outlet, Central Florida Plywood, Pamlico Air, Alsim, and Soval. Supporting and growing business is our main goal and objective and whenever we reach or surpass these targets, we take pride and pleasure in knowing that our desired impacts have been reached.
We are thankful for our new City Manager, James Slaton. We know that he will continue to deliver excellence for the city. We are also thankful to our partner, Lake Wales Main Street Inc. for developing our downtown area. Currently, underway is the “Lake Wales Connected” plan to renovate downtown. We also appreciate the work of the city leadership team and departments.
Finally, we are thankful for all of our chamber members and sponsors who help make these changes possible. We couldn’t do what we do without our President’s Circle members and Economic Development partner investors, all those who support us at the highest level and sit on our boards and committees; we could not do it without them. Economic development and chamber work is a citywide effort to make positive progress. It takes us all working together to continue to see the city moving ahead.
Despite all the challenges this year, we are still a strong community, and we are poised for growth next year, including the addition of residential developments currently underway. We’ve come this far, and we all agree that it has been a challenge, but we have thrived together as a
chamber and a community. Despite these unchartered times, we are still moving forward with our plans and 2021 is a new year.
On behalf of the EDC and Chamber of Commerce, we wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
And the hits just keep on coming!
The guy in the video goes to Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd) on Nov. 21, 2020 and selects a few items, scans and bags them up. He then uses what appears to be a debit card incorrectly. Puts it in the reader one time, then another and then grabs the bag and leaves without the transaction going through. He swiftly left on a black motorcycle with another subject.
Recognize him? Call Detective Cobb at 863-291-5858.
Winter Haven Police Department Now these tattoos are fairly unique. The guy pictured below went to Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd) on 11-20-2020 around 6:55 p.m. He selected a reciprocating saw and decided to scan a notebook valued at $0.27 at a self-checkout instead of the saw. Yes, see the saw in the bag in his hands? Someone will recognize him and that hand tattoo. Please call Detective Cobb at 863-291-5858.
On Wednesday, December 02, 2020, 18-year-old Tarmetris Daniel Mack and 17-year-old Alfred Higgs, Jr., both of Kissimmee/Poinciana, who both have Polk County warrants for armed robbery and first degree murder, turned themselves in to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, at the Northeast District substation in Davenport.
They have been booked into the Polk County Jail & JAC respectively, on their felony charges, and will have first appearance hearings at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 3, 2020.
“I’m so sick of hearing that drugs aren’t dangerous. We have a young man who’s dead today, because he came to a gas station to sell drugs to these two suspects, who ripped him off, then shot and killed him.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Original Article
Two suspects wanted in Poinciana homicide
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating 18-year-old Tarmetris Daniel Mack and 17-year-old Alfred Higgs, Jr., both of Kissimmee/Poinciana, who both have Polk County warrants for armed robbery and first degree murder. Mack and Higgs fatally shot a Poinciana man on Monday, November 23, 2020, at the 7-Eleven store located at 398 Marigold Avenue in Kissimmee/Poinciana. The victim met the suspects at the store to sell them a bag of marijuana. During the transaction, the suspects robbed the victim, which resulted in the exchange of gunfire between them. The victim was fatally shot, and the suspects fled the scene heading westbound on Walnut Street.
Mack is 6’1″ tall, 170 lbs., and Higgs is 5’8″ tall, 145 lbs. They may be driving Mack’s 2016 blue Chevrolet Malibu with FL tag PVZB39.
Higgs’ criminal history includes 7 felonies and 6 misdemeanors, in Homestead, Osceola, and Polk, including carrying a concealed weapon, vehicle theft, trespassing, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, and possession of paraphernalia.
These suspects are to be considered ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Tarmetris Mack or Alfred Higgs, Jr., please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers: * Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477) * From your cell phone, dial **TIPS * Or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” * Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet. You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
Victory Ridge Clay Shoot Raises Funds For School Bus
by James Coulter
Wayne Faulkner and his staff from Faulkner Tree Service have been attending the Victory Ridge Clay Shoot for the past four to five years. This year, they had the honor of winning first place as the highest-scoring team.
Faulkner loved being able to win, but he loves being able to participate nonetheless. He loves venturing out into the great outdoors to shoot clay, and he loves the camraderie among his fellow shooters. He especially appreciates being able to do all this to support the Lake Wales school for special needs students.
“As going out to help these kids, it is just something we look forward to ever year,” Faulkner said. “This money goes to this school, and you have to be an extra-ordinary teacher or administrator to do this for these children with Autism. It is great, hopefully next year we can have more shooters and raise more money.”
Victory Ridge Academy has been hosting their annual clay shoot to raise funds for their school and programs. As a non-profit organization and member of Polk County Charter Schools, the school helps service the needs of special needs children.
According to its website, the school’s mission is “to provide children and adolescents with exceptional needs intensive, collaborative classroom-based educational and therapeutic interventions to promote independence, academic success and community inclusion for all students.”
The annual fundraiser was hosted at the FFA Training Center in Haines City. Teams gathered around 8 a.m. to venture out into the field and take turns shooting clay. They then returned to the main hall to enjoy a barbecue dinner, partake in a raffle drawing, and hear the winners of the event during the award ceremony.
A new school bus, which was displayed at the event, had been purchased using funds from a previous fundraiser. The proceeds from this year’s fundraiser have not yet been designated, but they will inevitably be used to finance the school and its services.
“We host this event every year. It helps raise funds for the extra things our children need. We enjoyed a lot of support,” said Vic Story, Chairman for the Charitable Fund for Victory Ridge.
He loves the event because, “you get to see a lot of people that you know, and you know that they are supporting you mission there. And that is what I enjoy that: the camraderie with the people.”
Victory Ridge Academy currently serves 275 students with 150 staff. The majority of our students and families are served on-site, with only a small percent being taught virtually. Fundraisers like this help them to offer their quality education even during these uncertain times, explained Steve Whittaker, Executive Director for Victory Ridge.
“To make a difference with those kids, we have to be there and hands on five days a week,” he said. “For us to make progress, we are hands on, we have to make sure our staff are prepared ahead of time, and we appreciate so much of our families and what they have to do. It is the least we can do.”
The clay shoot remains successful due to its many sponsors. This year’s event proved especially successful with 74 people attending, even in spite of these uncertain times, explained Donna Nobles, Central Office Manager for Victory Ridge.
“We are very excited to see how things end up, and I think we overall have given all that is going on had a very good turnout,” she said.
Shawn Meade has several palm trees in her backyard. Several branches and other parts fall from them. Her husband, James, wanted to burn them. She did not want to throw them away. So she decided to use them for her arts and crafts.
Upon discovering she could paint on the leaves and branches, she began painting them. She initially painted basic shapes. Her husband took it one step further and used them to create more elaborate sculptures, which she then painted. When they learned they could sell their crafts, they decided to do so through the annual Haven Holiday Craft Show in Winter Haven.
“We put our hearts and souls into it, and it is good to see people appreciate it,” she said.
She and her husband started Treefish to sell their painted palm art. They have been attending the Haven Holiday Market ever since it first started. Their return customers keep them coming back time and again every year. Many come from as far as Orlando, Sanford, and Clearwater.
They also love the camraderie among the other vendors, as she always walks away with something from somebody else, she said. And, of course, people always buy what they have to sell. They even sold many items before they finished setting up their booth.
“It is good for Sergio [Cruz, the organizer] to host an event like this,” Shawn said. “It gets people a chance to make money, especially right now when it is hard to do. So good for him for standing up and giving people a chance to make some money. There are people who need it right now.”
Meade was one of nearly 92 vendors who set up shop within Central Park in Downtown Winter Haven during the Annual Haven Holiday Market on Saturday. Everything from homemade wreaths, trees, ornaments, and other arts and crafts were sold to get locals into the holiday season.
Jay Allen, who sells raw honey through Pat’s Apiaries, has been attending the annual holiday event ever since it first started. She sells raw honey made from orange blossom and palmetto. The honey is sold raw, as it was never heated over 125 degrees, and it still contains pollen, which allows her to trace where the honey originated from.
Her main motivation for returning to the event ever year? “I make money,” she replied. “I haven’t sat down since I’ve been here.”
“I have been doing this market since it started,” Jay said. “I stopped all my other markets because this has been the best. These markets are the best.”
Sergio Cruz and his wife Andrea, publisher and editor respectively of 863 Magazine, started the event seven years ago as a way to allow local artisans and crafters to sell their wares one week prior to Thanksgiving, giving them a head start on the holiday season.
Their first event started with a humble 62 vendors. Their numbers grew to 162 last year. Their numbers decreased slightly by 92 this year; however, despite these uncertain times, they still drew a good turnout, Sergio said.
“It was harder because we have a lot of artists and crafters who are scared, they are living with fear, they are totally fine but they are afraid to go out and be exposed to COVID-19,” he said.
Preparing and setting up this year’s event proved challenging, as their event had to meet social distancing guidelines. Booths were set up far enough from each other, and every vendor was wearing a mask, Sergio said.
Overall, the pure energy and enthusiasm among the people keep the event going time and again each year. Not even the looming threat of a pandemic could prevent people from coming out for early holiday shopping.
“The people, the energy, they are amazing,” Sergio said. “The people inspire me. The people show me the energy how happy they are, and they encourage me to make it better next year. So every year we have been better.”
Do you recognize these youngsters? Yes, we believe they are juveniles. They went to Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven) and each selected the beer of their choice. And then proceeded to walk out without paying. They were seen getting into a green, 2-door GTS Toyota. If you recognize either of them, please call Detective Lozado at 863-595-1721.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a drug-related homicide investigation in Poinciana, near the intersection of Marigold Avenue and Walnut Street, on Monday, November 23, 2020.
A shooting was reported at 3:04 pm at the 7-Eleven gas station at 398 Marigold Avenue.
When deputies arrived on scene just four minutes later, they found a male victim deceased inside of a car, with apparent gunshot wounds; the victim of a drug-deal gone bad.
The suspects are believed to be two black males, who got out of a dark blue Chevy (possibly a Malibu).
“At this early point in the investigation, it appears this was a meeting for the purpose of making a transaction over marijuana. I am tired of hearing that marijuana is a low-level non-violent crime. We have a man who was murdered today at this scene as proof that there is nothing low-level or non-violent about this.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
If anyone has any information that could help in this investigation, please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers: * Call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477) * From your cell phone, dial **TIPS * Or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” * Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet. You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
