Things that make you shake your head. On 6-25-2020 at 5:13 p.m., the man in the video went to West Marine and proceeded to stuff his pockets through the store, even walking to the store associate and asking a question. All totaled, he took two phone mounts, a tee shirt and an American Flag. Stuffed those cargo shorts and out he went. Recognize him? Please contact Detective Shook at 863-401-2256. 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.
Nearly one month after re-opening to the public, Bok
Tower Gardens has been going strong, especially amidst such fair
spring-turned-summer weather.
Bok Tower Gardens re-opened on June 1 after remaining
closed for several weeks following the COVID-19 outbreak and the resulting
statewide stay-at-home order.
Since re-opening, Bok Tower has implemented several
precautions to ensure the health and safety of their visitors, from requiring
face masks indoors and with interactions with staff, to setting up hand
sanitizer dispensers throughout the park.
Initially, the gardens utilized timed-entry tickets,
which required visitors to purchase their tickets online and select an allotted
time. They would arrive at the gardens during the selected time and be able to
remain until the gardens closed at 6 p.m.
“After watching our traffic and seeing we were
not hitting that [full] capacity, we stopped,” explained Erica Smith,
Director of Marketing & Public Relations. “Like many destinations, we
are experimenting with what keeps our visitors as safe and healthy as
possible.”
Their main priority has been to require visitors to
wear face masks, especially when visiting indoor facilities and interacting
with park staff and attendants.
“That is our number one priority,” she said.
“When you interact with the gate attendant, we ask that you have your mask
on. When you come inside the visitor center or come inside the shop at Bok or
order at the café, we ask you to have on a mask.”
The Gardens has also advised visitors to take social
distancing precautions by remaining at least six feet apart from other park
guests. In areas where guests can be more than 12 feet apart, masks are not
required in outdoor areas.
Even with these safety precautions, certain services
and activities have not been continued. The indoor theater that plays the video
detailing the history of the park will remain closed until further notice, as
the space inside is not sufficient to meet social distancing guidelines.
Summer programming such as various youth camps and
activities have also been canceled. On the bright side, the Clarion Concerts
are moving forward as scheduled, and Camp Bok, with various in-person and
virtual educational experiences, has been started: https://boktowergardens.org/camp-bok-activities/
Visitors have boasted about the beauty of the gardens,
especially in light of the current pandemic, and despite current guidelines.
One Facebook review praised the park for its natural beauty, with the person
who wrote it becoming so enamored that they renewed their passes.
“We love this place,” they wrote. “We visited today
and everyone was so friendly, we had a delicious late lunch at the cafe, did a
little shopping in the cool AC (if you like unique and plants, you will love to
shop here) and the gardens…wow! The tower was playing music more than I
remember it did in the past and my daughter loved feeding the Koi fish. Just a
great experience all around. We renewed passes too!”
Since re-opening, park attendance has proven slow, as
summertime is the slowest season for the Gardens, Smith said. While they do not
have record crowds, they have seen more visitors than they usually see for a
typical summer day, Smith said.
“We have 258 acres of space that we can spread
people out, and we do see that our visitors are taking advantage of our wide-open
spaces and all of our nature trail areas,” she said. “This place has
experienced world wars and depressions and hurricanes, and the gardens are
still fierce.”
The “keyword” to their success since
re-opening has been “pivot.” The Gardens has experimented with
various safety guidelines and measures. If something doesn’t work, they try
something new. Such flexibility has allowed them to remain resilient, Smith
said.
“We are watching, like some Americans are, what
will happen and what we will need to do,” Smith said. “We would try
one thing and if that didn’t work, then we needed to make changes and we
pivoted and made those changes…We are being resilient in this pandemic and
trying to find what is the best walk that line between keeping visitors safe
and being a wonderful outdoor attraction that people will enjoy.”
Bok Tower Gardens is located at 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake
Wales, FL 33853. For more information, visit their website at: https://boktowergardens.org/
Lakeland man killed in Sunday morning motorcycle crash
A motorcycle that was reportedly driving at a high speed crashed Sunday, June 28, 2020, at around 6:28 am in Lakeland, killing the operator.
63-year-old George Jones, Jr. of Lakeland died at the scene of the crash on U.S. 98 and Illinois Avenue.
According to the preliminary investigation being conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit, Jones was driving a black 2009 Kawasaki sport motorcycle north on U.S. 98, when his tire struck a raised curb on the northeast corner of the intersection with Illinois Avenue. The bike struck a street light pole causing fatal injuries to Jones, and heavy damage to the motorcycle.
The force of the impact caused debris from Jones’ bike to be propelled into the southbound lanes where it struck a silver 2004 Volkswagen, driven by 58-year-old Valerie Tutton of Lakeland. Ms. Tutton was not injured, and her vehicle received only minor damages.
After impact with the pole, the motorcycle continued down the road for an additional 252-feet before coming to a stop.
A witness told investigators that the bike had passed her at a high speed, about 1/3rd of a mile south of where it crashed.
It was determined that Jones was not wearing a helmet or other protective equipment while driving the motorcycle.
The northbound lanes of U.S. 98 remained closed for about four hours during the investigation. Lakeland Electric also responded to repair the street light pole that was damaged.
Visitors
to events at the RP Funding Center will be able to stay in Lakeland and enjoy
its local amenities by booking a room at the new SpringHill Suites by Marriott
Lakeland.
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Located
next door to the RP Funding Center, the hotel suites are within walking
distance to not only the convention center, but to many local eateries, shops,
and businesses in Downtown Lakeland.
Whether
they want to take a dip in the outdoor pool, take a jog on the treadmills in
the fitness center, or enjoy a bite to eat or beverage to drink from either the
bar or the shop, SpringHill Suites offers guests comfort unlike any other hotel
suites.
“Enjoy
spacious suites that are designed to blend how guests work and relax,” its
website states. “Once your day is complete, enjoy a craft cocktail or
local beer in our full-service bar featuring an evening menu with innovative
food offerings. Our hotel also features 4,000 sq. ft. of flexible function
space, perfect for corporate meetings, social gatherings, and sports groups
visiting our Lakeland Convention Center hotel.”
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SpringHill
Suites of Marriott Lakeland celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony hosted by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. Following the
ceremony, the hotel suites were officially opened to the public and open for
businesses at 3 p.m. that afternoon.
SpringHill
Suites is not only the first hotel suites of its kind in Lakeland, but it is
also the very first hotel project to be constructed in partnership with Mayfair
Properties of Lakeland and the Lakeland Hospitality Group.
“We
worked hand-in-hand with the city to get this done,” said Wesley Barnett,
partner with Mayfair Properties of Lakeland. “This hotel is a work of art.
We put in a lot of work into making sure they will be a jewel for Lakeland that
would stand out, and I believe we succeeded for the most part.”
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The
planning for the hotel started three years ago. Since then, the construction
and overall execution of the hotel project have more than met the expectations
of all of the organizations working on it, explained Randy Hassen, President of
Hotel Management with McKibbon Hospitality.
“This
property is a testament to their commitment to excellence and quality at every
turn,” he said. “We are excited to be part of the Lakeland community.
Our journey starts today. We have a successful opening, which is a testament to
what we bring to the table.”
Mark
Jackson, Director of Central Florida’s Tourism and Sports Marketing, mentioned
how the opening of this hotel amidst a pandemic mirrored two other local
businesses that opened during economic disruptions: Cypress Gardens during the
Great Depression, and LEGOLAND Florida during the Great Recession.
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As
such, with SpringHill Suites opening during uncertain times, Jackson insisted
that it was a good sign of things to come, and that things would improve
economically from here on out.
To
illustrate his point, he explained how total revenue from hotels and motels
were currently down 73 percent, and were expected to improve to 57 percent in
total revenue. However, during a recent sporting event, those numbers improved
by 19 percent.
“I
am an optimist,” he said. “We are seeing the industry come back, it
will bode well for this property…This property will be successful. It will be
a powerful economic engine for us.”
Lakeland
Mayor Bill Mutz expressed his excitement for the hotel suites opening, and how
it was a sign of improving times and economic expansion within the city.
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“It
is exciting for us to see not only the expansion of the people working here,
but also the impact it will have on the economy,” he said. “We are so
grateful for your investment and your willingness to have that vision for
Marriot support.”
SpringHill
Suites by Marriott Lakeland is located at 511 W Lime St, Lakeland, FL 33815.
For more information, call 863-413-1700, or visit their website at:
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpasl-springhill-suites-lakeland/
On June 26, 2020 at approximately 4:40 pm, firefighters were called to 1516 Lake Howard Dr SW. When crews arrived, fire was coming from Charlie side (back) of the house. Crews got the fire under control. The fire is believed to have started in one of the bedrooms. Residents self-evacuated the house, however, their dog was rescued and treated on scene by fire/medics until transport was available for further treatment. The outcome is not available at this time. Winter Haven Fire Department EN541, EN511, EN521, BC510, TR510, MD510, PV511 and Polk County Fire Rescue EN005, EN17, MD029, AT019, MD229, BC004, and TR003 responded to the fire. There were no reported injuries of any of the firefighters on scene and the Winter Haven Fire Marshall office is still investigating the fire at this time.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash in Lakeland Friday afternoon, June 26, 2020, in which a motorcyclist was killed.
Upon arrival, deputies found the motorcyclist, 22-year-old Gabrielle Meek of Lakeland, deceased.
The driver of the other vehicle, 54-year-old Letterva Ries of Lakeland, was entrapped in her vehicle, but uninjured.
Meek was the driver of a black 2002 Suzuki motorcycle, and Ries was driving a silver 2008 Kia Spectra.
Deputies were dispatched to the crash on U.S. 92 at Meridian Avenue in Lakeland, about 4:49 pm.
According to the preliminary investigation, Meek was travelling west on U.S. 92 on the inside lane. Ries’ Kia approached a stop sign at the intersection while going south on Meridian Avenue.
Ries attempted to turn left onto U.S. 92 (eastbound), but crossed in front of Meek’s motorcycle, which had the right-of-way.
Meek’s motorcycle struck the Kia just in front of the driver’s door, which caused Meek to be ejected from the bike.
Meek was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but suffered fatal trauma from the impact.
A witness stated that Ries’ vehicle did not come to a complete stop before it entered into the intersection, but any charges are pending the outcome of the investigation, which is ongoing.
All lanes of U.S. 92 near Meridian Avenue were closed for approximately three hours for the investigation.
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a teacher from Lakeland’s Lake Gibson Middle School on Thursday, June 25, 2020, after it was discovered that she had sexual relations with a juvenile.
The teacher, 49-year-old Leslie Bushart of Lakeland, was booked into the Polk County Jail, charged with Lewd Battery (F-2). During her arrest, she told detectives that she has been a teacher for 29 years. Please refer all inquiries regarding her employment to the Polk County School Board.
The investigation began on June 16th after the boy’s parents notified the PCSO. They reported that the incident occurred on June 6th during a graduation party for the victim’s older sister.
According to the arrest affidavit, Bushart told another person at that party that she had just performed oral sex on the teenage victim. That person then informed the mother of the victim. The mother confronted Bushart, who then quickly left the party.
Bushart later reached out to the victim’s mother via Facebook Messenger and tried to rationalize her behavior by saying she was drunk at the party.
When detectives met with Bushart, she confessed to the crime. She told them that she and the boy walked away from the crowd together and she attempted to smoke marijuana, but was so drunk that she couldn’t get it lit. At that point she began performing oral sex on the victim.
“Leslie Bushart victimized a teenage boy. She betrayed her profession, as well as her friends during what was supposed to be a very special day. There is technically one victim in this case, but the entire family and school community have suffered from this.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Auburndale, Florida – Auburndale Police Officer reportedly shot in the ankle during traffic stop.
According to published reports, around 11:15pm an officer with the Auburndale Police Department made a traffic stop on U.S. 92 and Dairy Road. During the stop the officer was shot and the suspect also was shot.
Witnesses saw a large procession of officers and Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies accompanying the officer to the hospital. The scene is still being investigated with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office & State Attorneys Office along with Auburndale Police Department.
This is a breaking story and more information will be released as it comes available.
around 11:15 p.m. At one point during the traffic stop, the officer was shot in the ankle, according to APD chief Andy Ray. The suspect was shot by the officer and is in serious condition, police say. The officer has minor injuries, according to police. Both the suspect and the officer were taken to area hospitals.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, PCSO deputies arrested 20-year-old Marshall Hayes and 18-year-old Bellamia Sperandio, both of South New York Avenue in Lakeland, for the shooting of a 15-year-old Lake Wales boy that occurred on June 23rd.
Hayes has been charged with attempted murder (F1), discharging a firearm from a vehicle within 1,000 feet of a person (F2), tampering with evidence (F3), and conspiracy to sell marijuana (F3). Sperandio has been charged with an active warrant she had for threats to inflict serious bodily harm on a law enforcement officer, as well as accessory after the fact of a felony (F2), conspiracy to sell marijuana (F3), tampering with evidence (F3), and resisting arrest (M1).
The investigation began when the PCSO Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding shots fired in the area of Hampstead Place in Lake Wales. First responders located the victim, a 15-year-old male with gunshot wounds, and he was airlifted to a hospital, where he is in stable condition.
During the investigation, deputies identified a possible suspect who had been communicating with the victim via Snapchat using the name “BellaMia0314.” The two were discussing the sale of marijuana. She was positively identified as Sperandio.
On June 23rd, Sperandio’s boyfriend Marshall Hayes drove her to the victim’s neighborhood to sell the victim 8 grams of marijuana. An altercation ensued, during which Hayes fired several shots at the victim, striking him two times. The loaded handgun was later found along the route that the suspects took while fleeing. Images of the suspect vehicle, which were captured on video surveillance systems nearby, were BOLOed and released to the public.
After positively identifying Sperandio, detectives responded to her home on South New York Avenue in Lakeland, and found the suspect vehicle parked in the driveway. They placed Sperandio under arrest for her warrant. She admitted to discussing selling marijuana to the victim, but denied being in the area when he was shot. Her criminal history includes prior arrests for battery on LEO, resisting arrest, battery, threats to harm a LEO, failure to appear, and probation violation.
Detectives placed Hayes under arrest, where he admitted to shooting the victim during the drug sale.
“There are still people out there calling the possession and sale of marijuana a ‘low-level, non-violent crime.’ Tell that to this 15-year-old child’s mother. He is lucky to be alive. Hopefully he will fully recover, and the suspects who shot him will go to prison.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Personal photos taken by Allison Williams (Hurricane Irma in US Virgin Islands)
With all that is going on the world right now, it might be easy to forget that we are in the midst of hurricane season. Hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30. Living in Florida, there is always a risk each year to be impacted by these storms, whether it’s a tropical depression or a hurricane.
The lower level storm is referred to as a tropical depression. During a tropical depression, winds do not reach above 38 miles per hour. Once the winds pick up and are between 39-73 mph, the storm level upgrades to a tropical storm. Hurricanes produce the strongest winds of 74 mph and above and there are different categories of a hurricane.
Joe Garrison, CEO of Garrison Companies says it is important to prepare now if you have not already.
“We need to start preparing now,” Garrison said. “While the supplies are still in the stores, it is time to stock up on essential needs, such as non-perishable items/canned foods, water, medicine, etc.”
Garrison added, “The entire country is at unrest and people are protesting, but regardless of your race or your beliefs, hurricanes do not take names. They don’t go by statistics, whether you are white, black, Republican, Democrat or anything. As everybody is looking at their big picture and what is important in their lives, it is also important to not ignore the fact at how devastating these storms can be and how much they can destroy lives and property in a matter of hours. Don’t get tunnel vision and so wrapped up in all this that you ignore the fact this it is hurricane season.”
BEFORE AFTERBEFOREAFTER
Another way to prepare for hurricanes is by getting together sandbags before it is too late. Last year, many of us waited in line for long periods of time to fill sandbags to prepare for a hurricane that was heading our way. Even though there is no storm heading our way right at this time, we can still take steps to prepare sandbags.
“Mother nature does not take sides,” Garrison said. “Prepare because if you don’t, you could get injured, hurt, lose your house or even death. Don’t be dependent on government for everything and assume they are automatically going to have sandbags available. Though part of it might be their responsibility, it is important to self-prepare. Be creative and think outside of the box by using heavy duty trash bags for sandbags and stock up and store your items now, because once the hurricane hits, just like toilet paper with coronavirus, you are going to be out of a lot of stuff.”
Garrison recommends to order bags off of Amazon or to pick up extra heavy-duty trash bags from places like Home Depot, Lowes, and Rural King and fill them with sand.
“You don’t need a designated sand location to pick up sand,” he said. “You can simply go in your backyard in Florida and probably find sand, especially here in Polk County.”
Garrison Companies tries to be an additional resource to the residents of Polk County every year by providing sand and sandbags to residents during the times where fire stations and other local spots have run out of sand. It helps those who are not able to pick up in time or wait a little too long and are in desperate need of sandbags. Garrison often uses a local company’s donation of sand on 27 and provides the sandbags himself. A previous donor that Garrison Companies has worked with to do this is Tucker Paving. Garrison provides the bags and a donor provides the sand to give people an extra location to pick up sand. Once Garrison has this year’s plan mapped out, we will update readers with more information.
Prepare early so that when/if the times comes, you are not in a scramble to get sand and supplies.
In the event that we are hit with a hurricane, keep Garrison Companies in mind. They offer clean up services and it is best to leave it to a professional. Remember to NOT attempt crossing flooded roadways or bridges. Stay away from fallen trees or power lines. Call Garrison Companies for help 863-439-6550.
