What began as a routine traffic stop on July 27 resulted in the discovery of evidence associated with illegal cockfighting.
During the investigation, Lakeland Police officers recovered marijuana along with numerous items used in the training and preparation of fighting roosters, including cockfighting knives (also known as slashers), knife-mounting devices, sparring muffs used to condition birds for fighting, double-edge razor blades, rooster conditioning supplements used to improve stamina and recovery in fighting roosters, and other equipment commonly associated with organized animal fighting.
Based on the evidence recovered and statements made during the investigation, the driver, 38-year-old Baltazar Mandujano, was arrested and charged with:
Possession of Equipment Used for Animal Fighting (F3)
Possession of Marijuana Under 20 Grams and drug paraphernalia (M1)
Families are invited to celebrate the start of the new school year at the City of Lake Alfred’s Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Lake Alfred Public Library, located at 245 N. Seminole Ave.
The free community event will feature waterslides, crafts, and free backpacks and school supplies available while supplies last, helping students get ready for the upcoming school year.
For more information, visit www.mylakealfred.com or contact Lake Alfred Parks and Recreation at 863-291-5272.
The 5th case of rabies in Polk County this year has been confirmed in Lakeland.
On Monday, July 27, 2026, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control responded to Lakewood Circle after a woman reported her cat playing with a bat outside. The Animal Control Officer impounded the bat and its body was sent to the state lab for testing.
Test results were received at Animal Control today (July 30, 2026), confirming the bat tested positive for rabies. The cat is currently vaccinated.
“Rabies is a deadly disease – we urge everyone to stay alert and avoid contact with stray or wild animals acting strangely. If you see something suspicious, call us, don’t take chances with your health. Also, please keep your pets’ vaccinations up to date.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Please do not approach any animal that is acting in an unusual or suspicious manner. If you think you or your pet has had an “exposure,” please contact the PCSO Animal Control Section at 863.577.1762.
The Backpack Giveaway for students in Grades K-8 is happening this Saturday, August 1st, 2026, from 10 AM – 12 PM, while supplies last. This year we are partnering our Backpack giveaway with the reopening of our monthly Market Day. Please see the information and flyer below for important details.
𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Dundee Depot (103 W. Main Street) 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐩 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬: 9:30 AM 𝐍𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐩: Please do not arrive before 9:30 AM. 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐮𝐩: 𝑺𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑴𝑼𝑺𝑻 𝒃𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒌. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬: Open to students entering K–8th Grade. While supplies Last. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Available at the Dundee Citrus loading dock parking lot (Corner of West Main and 1st Street, behind the depot).
Thank you for your cooperation, and we will see you there!
On July 21, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners approved a $2.15 million contract with Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC. for construction services for the Kathleen Road and Deeson Road signalization project in Lakeland.
The project will add new traffic signals, extend existing turn lanes and construct a new southbound right hand turn lane on Kathleen Road to improve traffic flow throughout the intersection. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Neurodivergent Diversions: Why SpongeBob Couldn’t Start His Essay — And Why Many Autistic People Struggle Too
by James Coulter
For over 25 years, SpongeBob SquarePants has been everyone’s favorite sponge living in a pineapple under the sea. He’s beloved by kids, adults, and especially autistic people. Many have speculated that SpongeBob himself is neurodivergent. Even his voice actor, Tom Kenny, has described the character as having autism, even calling it his “superpower.”
It’s easy to see why. There’s no neurotypical explanation for the Sponge. His intense special interests, difficulty understanding sarcasm, challenges with emotional and sensory overload, and earnest social quirks clearly show he’s somewhere on the spectrum.
And nowhere is that clearer than in the episode “Procrastination,” where SpongeBob is assigned a simple task and avoids it until the last minute, a common struggle for many autistic people.
SpongeBob and Procrastination
In the classic episode, SpongeBob is assigned to write an essay about what not to do at a stoplight, due the next morning. Sounds simple, right? Even SpongeBob thinks so, too…until he actually tries to write it!
He sits down, ready to begin…and writes only the title and his name. Minutes turn into hours. He suddenly does anything but writing: calisthenics, feeding Gary, cleaning his kitchen, chatting with the mailman, calling Patrick.
Even when he finally starts writing, all he produces is an ornate, overdramatic “The,” followed by a snack break where he agonizes over rye versus pumpernickel. By the time morning arrives, he has one hour left and ends up frantically writing an essay about everything he did instead of writing the essay.
It’s funny because it’s relatable. Everyone procrastinates. We’ve all had moments where we put off an important task until the last minute.
But for autistic people, procrastination often isn’t about laziness or poor discipline. It’s tied to deeper neurological patterns that make starting, stopping, and switching tasks genuinely difficult.
Two of the biggest culprits are “autistic inertia” and “executive dysfunction.”
Autistic Inertia
Most people remember Newton’s law of inertia: an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion. Autistic inertia is a similar idea, but applied to tasks rather than physics.
Autistic Inertia describes the neurological difficulty many autistic people face when trying to start, stop, or shift tasks. It’s not about motivation or willpower, but the brain’s wiring.
Even simple actions can feel like pushing a boulder uphill. Getting out of bed. Opening a document. Sending an email. Starting a load of laundry. The desire to act is there, but the ability to initiate the action feels “blocked.”
And once an autistic person starts a task, stopping can be just as hard. Hyperfocus kicks in. Hours disappear. Interruptions feel jarring or even painful.
You finally started writing an essay? Well, that’s what you’re doing for the next few hours, and you better hope there’s no interruption, because once you get started, there’s no stopping.
As Alex from Reframing Autism explains: “The ‘unbalanced force’ required is larger than that for a neurotypical individual… Once we hit hyperfocus: wow! Once we’re locked in on our target, we are like a dog with a bone, and woe betide anyone who attempts to interrupt the flow.”
As a freelance journalist with autism, I know this intimately. I’ve spent entire days stuck at the threshold of starting an article, only to finally begin and then work straight through without taking breaks. Before I realized it, I missed lunch, forgot my chores, and even lost track of time.
Executive Dysfunction
Another major factor is executive dysfunction, common in both autism and ADHD.
Think of executive function as the brain’s “air traffic control system.” It manages planning, prioritizing, organizing, and starting tasks. When it works smoothly, daily life works smoothly.
Executive Dysfunction happens when that system misfires. Tasks feel overwhelming. Planning feels impossible. Switching between steps feels like trying to jump-start a stalled engine. Even tasks you want to do can feel too complicated to begin.
Cynthia Kim of Musings of an Aspie describes it well: “If you have poor EF, people might mistake you for being disorganized, lazy, incompetent, sloppy, or just plain not very bright… Nearly everything we do calls on areas of executive function. Cooking. Cleaning. Parenting. Work. School. Self-care.”
Autistic people are often highly organized—sometimes to a fault. But the process of organizing, planning, or sequencing tasks can be challenging. I’ve frequently underestimated how long an assignment will take, only to feel overwhelmed or stressed once I’m in the middle of it. That frustration isn’t carelessness — it’s executive dysfunction.
Overcoming Procrastination
Autism isn’t an excuse for procrastination, but it is an explanation. And understanding the underlying causes makes it easier to develop strategies that actually work.
Here are a few helpful approaches from Autism Ascent:
1. Break Tasks Into Micro-Steps. Big tasks feel impossible. Small tasks feel doable. Instead of thinking “write the essay,” try: “write one sentence.” Then one paragraph. Then one page. You can also use a “task sandwich” by pairing a challenging task between two enjoyable ones: listen to a favorite song, do 15 minutes of work, then go for a short walk.
2. Build Environmental Supports. Prepare your workspace before you begin. Remove distractions. Keep tools within reach. Use visual reminders like post‑its, calendars, or apps. Reducing friction makes starting easier, and it eliminates the excuse of having “to find something.”
3. Work With Your Natural Rhythms. Schedule demanding tasks during high-energy periods. Save routine tasks for low-energy times. Make boring tasks more engaging with music, gamification, or personal interests.
4. Practice Emotional Regulation. Procrastination often comes with guilt, shame, or anxiety. Be kind to yourself. Focus on what you accomplished. Use grounding techniques like the “5‑4‑3‑2‑1” method to calm your nervous system.
Whether you’re autistic, neurotypical, or a cheerful sponge living under the sea, procrastination is universal. But for autistic people, understanding autistic inertia and executive dysfunction can turn a frustrating struggle into something manageable, even predictable.
And like SpongeBob, you’ll eventually get that essay written!
If your wallet is feeling the squeeze of prescription drug costs as other living expenses like grocery and energy prices rise, you’re not alone.
More people are worrying about affording essential medications these days. In fact, more than 40% of adults said they skipped doses or didn’t fill prescriptions in the past year due to cost, according to a KFF Health survey.
People who take multiple drugs to manage chronic conditions often feel this pinch even more severely. They’re also more likely to make more frequent visits to their clinic or health system for care. That’s where a powerful ally can help them manage their drug costs: a health-system pharmacist.
These medication experts work side-by-side with the clinicians who prescribe drugs in health care practices — and sometimes prescribe medications themselves. Their deep knowledge can help people get the most out of the drugs they take.
“Pharmacists really know the full picture of medications, including pricing, insurance coverage, alternative therapies and potential side effects,” said Lindsey Amerine, PharmD, chief pharmacy officer for the Cleveland Clinic. “That’s why it’s helpful to not only count on your doctor to diagnose your condition and prescribe therapies, but also your pharmacist to optimize your medications.”
Get a Comprehensive Review of Your Medications
Asking the pharmacist on your health-system care team to go over your medications may reveal opportunities to save, Amerine said. Health-system pharmacists are uniquely qualified to provide this service because they keep close track of medication costs as well as approvals of new drugs and how those compare to older options.
A full review might reveal:
• Drugs once needed may not be as useful anymore. People often continue taking medications unaware that something new could offer greater benefits or their condition no longer requires the same therapy.
• Changes in your condition may mean you could safely take a lower dosage of a drug, thereby reducing costs.
• There may be less costly alternatives that would work as well such as a generic or older medication.
Get Help Exploring Discount Options
You’ve probably heard about programs that can help lower prescription costs, including discount and patient assistance programs. Pharmacists can help you understand how to navigate these programs and access potential discount programs and opportunities, Amerine said. Here’s how:
• Pharmacists can guide you through discount programs your health system offers.
• They can check your eligibility for drug maker discounts and help you understand how those discounts work with your insurance, especially if you have a high-deductible plan.
• Pharmacists can help you navigate the various prescription cost-savings programs and how they work.
• They can also help you learn about patient assistance programs that provide free or discounted medications to people who cannot afford them.
Medications are a vital part of your health care. Before you try to stretch a costly medicine or give it up altogether, talk to the medication expert on your health care team: your health-system pharmacist. For more information, visit yourpharmacist.org.
On July 11, 2026, the male individual in these photos purchased $1,284 worth of Pokemon cards at the Flo-Go Shop at 2254 East Edgewood Drive in Lakeland.
He then purchased $1,698.50 worth of Pokemon cards at the Plant City Card Shop in Plant City.
Both of these purchases were made with stolen credit card information.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Detective Ryan at 863-292-3396 or email [email protected]
If you wish to remain anonymous AND be eligible for a reward, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:
Polk County families are invited to a back-to-school bash from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Join the Polk HealthCare Plan outreach team for: No-cost health screenings ⚕️ School-age physical exams and children’s vaccines Bike helmet fittings Teen driving simulator Polk County Sheriff’s Office ✨ Bounce houses Hotdogs, popcorn and other refreshments Backpack giveaway – 200 backpacks will be given away on a first-come-first-serve basis.
RidgePoint Church 100 Hatfield Road Winter Haven, FL 33880
For any questions about the event, please call (863) 289-1170.
