Lakeland, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Office on scene of a downed tree on Old Dixie Hwy & K Ville Ave. The call came in at 8:59pm. Two cars were reportedly caught underneath the tree.
Atleast one person was transported for medical care.
This is a developing story. We will update when more information is available.
Polk CARES 2020
Polk County’s Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program
The Polk County Board of County Commissioners has accepted nearly $2 million in additional CARES Act Funds. These funds will be made available to Polk residents to pay delinquent rent and mortgage payments due to layoffs and furloughs caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The program will provide eligible applicants up to $6,000, which will be paid directly to landlords, property management and mortgage companies on behalf of qualifying Polk County residents. If you have been awarded $2,000 Polk CARES funding your assistance may be adjusted.
Polk residents will be able to apply for the available funds beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5. All applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Link to website: Online Application: Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program
City of Winter Haven:
Ave. B SW between First St. S. and 2nd St. SW will be closed Thur., Aug. 20 – Fri., Aug. 28 from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., with the road re-opened each evening. Local businesses will have access to properties; all other traffic should follow the detour. Contact Roger Spangler from Garner at (863) 632-2673 with questions or for more info.
Release by Polk County Sheriff’s Office:
Sunday afternoon, a black 2009 Toyota Corolla was stuck in an orange grove near the intersection of Lake Mabel Loop Road and HL Smith Road in Dundee. It’s not really surprising since Corollas are not the vehicle of choice when it comes to navigating through orange groves.
Deputies arrived in the area and one of them saw 15-year-old Jeremiah walking.
Jeremiah told the deputy that the car was his aunt’s, and it got stuck because the brakes stopped working. That story could have made sense. Except the car did not belong to his aunt, it was stolen, and what’s a 15-year-old doing driving a car by himself?!? 15-year-olds don’t have a lot of experience with sugar sand in an orange grove.
Out came the handcuffs, off went Jeremiah, and the chase was at hand. Or afoot.
Jeremiah was a much better runner than he was a driver or excuse maker. After losing sight of him during a foot pursuit, deputies brought in a ringer…someone who is very hairy and has a cold, wet nose.
K9 Mako arrived and tracked Jeremiah to a shed on Bagley Road, and the run was done. Good boy! Mako, not Jeremiah.
A detective spoke with Jeremiah, and the boy confessed to stealing the car in Kissimmee three days prior.
Jeremiah was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center in Bartow and charged with Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Burglary, and Resisting.
Polk County Public Schools will begin the fall sports season on Aug. 26, with practices permitted to go forward on that date.
“Our schools will reopen on Aug. 24, so we thought it would be wise to let a couple days pass before having practices or any athletic activities start up again,” said Dan Talbot, PCPS senior coordinator of athletics. “We wanted everyone to get settled into the new school year. Our athletic competitions, including football games, can begin the week of Sept. 7.”
Talbot said there will be safety measures put into place for spectators attending athletic competitions, and more information will be released once those measures are finalized.
Last week, the Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors voted that fall sports could begin on Aug. 24. However, the decision on when to start is ultimately left up to each school district.
Four suspects are being sought by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, after a personal armed robbery occurred Saturday morning at around 1:50 a.m. at Della Vita Apartments in Winter Haven.
Deputies were dispatched to Della Vita Apartments in unincorporated Winter Haven at around 2:00 a.m., on Saturday, August 15, 2020.
According to the preliminary investigation, a tenant (the victim) at the apartment complex told detectives he posted on SnapChat that he was selling a quarter ounce of marijuana. An unknown person responded to the post, and the victim made arrangement to meet at the apartment complex to carry out the transaction. The victim also told detectives that when he left his apartment to meet the suspect in the parking lot, two black males brandishing firearms grabbed him and robbed him. The victim also stated that two more suspects exited a white or cream colored four-door Cadillac, beat the victim, and dragged him back to his apartment.
The victim then told detectives he freed himself from the suspects and entered his apartment. The suspects then fled.
The victim and a roommate armed themselves and went after the suspects, firing at the suspects as they fled down the stairs of the apartment building. The victim continued to fire at the suspects as they drove away from Della Vita Apartments. A stray bullet struck a neighbor who, hearing the gunfire, had left his home to investigate. The neighbor was treated at a local hospital and released.
The victim was also treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released.
This investigation is on-going.
“These suspects are dangerous. They have put innocent residents’ lives at risk, and for what – a so-called non-violent marijuana drug deal! These criminals need to be caught, and caught quickly. Please contact our detectives with any information about this violent crime, or call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS to remain anonymous.”- Grady Judd, Sheriff
The suspects are described as four black males wearing hoodies. The vehicle is described as a white or cream colored four-door Cadillac.
If anyone has any information regarding the incident, the suspects, the vehicle in question, or any other information that might be helpful to this investigation, please call Detective Escheu at 863-298-6200, or to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers – call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477), visit ww.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
Fatal hit and run of a pedestrian being investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
The Traffic Homicide Unit of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation of a fatal hit and run of a pedestrian which occurred in the early morning hours Saturday, August 15, 2020 on US 17 and the intersection of Hammock Lake Drive in Fort Meade.
At this point in the investigation, the identity of the victim remains unknown. Detectives describe the victim as a Hispanic male, approximately 60 years of age.
The crash was reported at about 3:54 am. When deputies and Polk Fire Rescue arrived on scene, the victim was found in the outside lane of southbound US 17. According to the preliminary investigation, it appears the victim was walking or standing in the outside (right) lane of southbound US 17 when he was struck. The victim was wearing dark clothing at the time of the crash.
Based on evidence found at the scene, deputies believe the vehicle involved may be a commercial vehicle. The vehicle did not stop following the crash.
If anyone has any information regarding the driver, the commercial vehicle, or any other information that might be helpful to this investigation, please call Detective Brackley at 863-297-1100, or to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers – call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477), visit ww.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
*** Update: A live missle has been found at Lakeland Linder Airport
A social media post has been issued for evacuation of the Polk State College Airside East & West location
PSC ALERT-AIRSIDE: An evacuation is ordered for Polk State Airside East & West. Evacuate immediately. If off campus, do not enter.
Airside West
3515 Aviation Drive
Lakeland, Florida 33811
Main Telephone: 863.297.1000
Airside West Map
Airside East
2949 Airside Center Drive
Lakeland, Florida 33811
Main Telephone: 863.297.1000
Airside East Map
We will update as more information is released.
City of Winter Haven:
The City Utility Department is working with Hydromax USA to flush existing waterlines as part of its infrastructure maintenance program. It started on the southwest side and will continue towards the northeast until finished. Interruption in service is NOT anticipated. Some homes may experience a slight temporary drop in water pressure and/or colored water. The colored water does not pose a health hazard; however, iron (red water) and manganese (black water) may be stirred up during the procedures. If this happens, run faucets a short time until the water is clear, especially prior to doing laundry. Residents with medical conditions requiring clean water should acquire bottled water for their needs as a precaution. For more information and to answer questions, please contact the Utility Services Department at (863) 291-5853.
A New Downtown Lake Wales Is Right Around the Corner
by Kevin J Kieft, President/CEO Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council
Imagine a bright, sunny day in Lake Wales. Imagine walking down Park Avenue along brick streets and under the shade of blossoming trees. Imagine crossing the road without having to watch your step over curbs or halting for speeding cars. Imagine having lunch outside at a sidewalk cafe before perusing the nearby stores and boutiques.
Soon you won’t have to imagine all that. These refurbishments and more are currently underway, and they are expected to be completed within the next year or so. Soon you will be able to enjoy a new downtown bustling with pedestrian traffic and economic development.
These downtown renovations are being pushed forward as part of the “Lake Wales Connected” plan created and funded by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Lake Wales Main Street, in partnership with the urban planning company Dover Kohl. These updates have been unveiled over the last few months.
Park Avenue will be the first street to receive these renovations, with further changes planned for the intersections of Scenic Highway and First Street. Most prominent of these changes will be brick streets which will better match the original historic downtown pavement.
Gone will be the diagonal parking spaces and the curbs of sidewalks. In their place will be parallel parking spaces and curb less streets. These changes will provide more space to the downtown area for streetscaping, pedestrian traffic, outdoor dining, and public events.
These refurbishments will undoubtedly benefit out city in more ways than one. More than simply making the downtown aesthetically pleasing, they will also serve as a “marketing tool” for potential investors and entrepreneurs.
A better-looking Park Avenue will spur economic development by attracting potential businesses to the downtown area. Already, we have the new Ranch Tap Room being constructed, Wales Pointe restaurant, and Melanie’s Seafood, all of which will be complemented by freshly-paved brick streets and freshly-planted streetscaping.
Best of all, this brand-new Park Avenue will benefit you, our local residents and business owners. With a better-looking downtown area to be proud of, you won’t need to drive out of town for a lively unique shopping experience. You can enjoy what your own hometown has to offer.
According to Karen Thompson, Executive Director, Lake Wales Main Street Inc.: “Downtown revitalization MAGIC occurs only when public and private investment meet halfway. The two go hand-in-hand. The City’s commitment to downtown improvements will give the private investors the reassurance that they will see huge return on their investment.”
That’s the best part of these renovations: they will help generate economic development that will generate more money to invest in your downtown. You can stay close to home and spend your money locally. The money spent downtown will circulate in the local economy and doesn’t leak out. These profits remain with local businesses and employees rather than being outsourced to big nationwide corporate chains, and thus they fund local goods and services that improve your local community.
Of course, these changes won’t come easily. As with any major project, they will require funding. Fortunately, both Main Street Lake Wales and the Lake Wales CRA have remained on top of facilitating funding through private investments and public grants for planning and engineering. Renovating an entire street doesn’t come cheap, but the investment is well-worth the long-term benefits.
The downtown area is the heart and soul of a hometown. It is how every city is judged. It is their feel, their brand. So how much you invest into your downtown, or how much money the municipality spends, or business spends, says a lot about the community. If you want your downtown to be its best, then you have to provide your best.
If you want to learn more about the changes coming to Park Avenue and downtown, watch the livestream footage of the presentation at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APD6-xqut1g
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