Lake Wales, Florida – On March 24, 2020, Victory Ridge
Academy (VRA) was awarded funding from Mountain Lake Community Service, Inc.
Funding received from Mountain Lake will go towards purchasing two Rifton
Activity Chairs for VRA’s Physical
Therapy Department.
The Rifton
Activity Chair accommodates most individuals with special needs with its wide
variety of features and accessory options. It is a positioning chair intended
for classroom and home use enabling its users to learn functional sitting
skills while actively participating in activities, tasks, and routines. Providing
the right amount of support, freedom and comfort is key to almost all of the
day’s activities, including eating, playing, doing homework and therapy applications.
The Rifton Activity Chair provides the necessary sensory input that students
require to participate fully in their learning environment, while enabling
students to remain calm and focused for table-top activities.
Both staff
and students at Victory Ridge Academy would like to thank Mountain Lake
Community Service, Inc. for their generous donation and continued support over
the years!
Victory Ridge
Academy is a Title 1, 501 (c) (3) non-profit public charter school that
exclusively serves children and adolescents with special needs. Victory Ridge
Academy is based on the belief of the administration, staff and Board of
Trustees that early intervention is crucial to helping children and young
adults with special needs to cultivate healthy lifestyles and grow into
well-adjusted persons. It is the school’s belief that students need a safe,
positive and nurturing learning environment to develop communication skills,
social skills, academic and technical skills in order to build their
self-confidence and become productive members of society.
For more
information about Victory Ridge Academy, please visit the Academy’s website at www.victoryridge.org
On April 22, 2020, Florida Highway Patrol responded to an
accident on I-4 Westbound at mile marker 33 where a 2007 Volvo Semi tractor
trailer was traveling in the outside lane, when Driver, Carlton L Goodman of
Jacksonville, failed to maintain control of the tractor trailer.
The tractor trailer entered the outside shoulder, then over-corrected back across the roadway. The tractor trailer began Rotating, then entered the center median and collided with the guardrail with the front of the vehicle. Continuing to rotate, it overturned onto its right side in the center median and came to final rest.
Driver was transported to Lakeland Regional with minor injuries.
Charges were Careless Driving, no seatbelt and driving while license suspended
On Saturday, April 18, 2020, a woman living on Saint Kitts Circle in Winter Haven saw an obviously injured bat, placed it into a container, and contacted Polk County Animal Control.
An ACO responded, retrieved the bat, and sent its carcass to the state laboratory in Tampa to be tested for rabies. The positive rabies was confirmed today (April 21, 2020).
The woman and the Department of Health were both notified. She was advised to seek medical treatment.
In 2019, there were 11 rabies cases in Polk County – five bats and six raccoons. This is the second positive rabies case for 2020. The first case was a raccoon.
The Heineken Heist
Two cases may not be considered a heist, but taking something that you don’t pay for still earns a spot in the limelight. The below pictured man went to the Circle K convenience store (1000 1st St South) on April 14 and proceeded to pick his beverage of choice.
He then makes no attempt to pay and is seen leaving in a maroon Buick.
Anyone with information on who the is should call Detective Maldanado at 863-837-0946
Florida Department of Health Updates New COVID-19 Cases, Announces Sixteen Deaths Related to COVID-19, Morning Update~26,761 positive cases in Florida residents and 734 positive cases in non-Florida residents~
Polk County has 351 confirmed cases and 14 confirmed deaths.
TALLAHASSEE —To keep Florida residents and visitors safe, informed and aware about the status of the virus, the Florida Department of Health has launched a COVID-19 dashboard that is updated twice daily. Today, as of 11 a.m., there are 27,495 total** Florida cases.There are currently 313 long-term care facilities with positive cases of COVID-19. The Florida Department of Health has published the list here. The twice daily COVID-19 report also includes information by county about deaths related to staff or residents in long-term care facilities. Of the 2,001 cases of residents or staff in long-term care facilities, 207 have died.While Florida’s testing has increased over the past week, the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall is 10 percent. Of the 10,729 tests performed on April 20, there were 1,054 positive results, or 9 percent. Sixteen people have died who tested positive for COVID-19 Broward, Dade, Escambia, Lee, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties. New Florida cases include:
437 additional positive COVID-19 cases (432 Florida residents and 5 non-Florida residents) reported to the Florida Department of Health.
There are currently 26,761 positive cases in Florida residents and 734 positive cases in non-Florida residents.
Florida recently partnered with private laboratories around the state to expand COVID-19 laboratory testing capacity. This partnership will increase the number of tests conducted each day and ensure Floridians receive the critical health information they need in a timely manner.Expansion to private laboratories changes the COVID-19 testing landscape in Florida. Private laboratories are running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners. Testing and reporting times vary among commercial and DOH laboratories. Demographic information may be updated during investigations. These twice daily reports reflect the state’s efforts to accurately and transparently share information. More information on a case-by-case basis can also be found here.
For more detail on Florida resident cases, please visit the live DOH Dashboard here. * Florida residents that are diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated out of state are not reflected on the Florida map.**Total cases overview includes positive cases in Florida residents and non-Florida residents tested in Florida.More Information on COVID-19 To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, please visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, please visit the travel advisory website. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to [email protected].About the Florida Department of HealthThe Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
Around 2:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2020, the PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call from the Circle K store located at 6340 Coronet Road in unincorporated Lakeland, during which the clerk reported being robbed at gunpoint.
The suspect was described as a white male, wearing a red bandanna or shirt tied around his face, armed with a grey-colored revolver. During the robbery, the suspect demanded money, lottery tickets, and cigarettes, and then fled the scene in a silver sedan, which the clerk describes as possibly a Toyota Corolla.
A BOLO (be on look out) was broadcast, at which time deputies learned that the Lakeland Police Department was also working an armed robbery that occurred just prior to this one, within the city of Lakeland, at a different Circle K store on Airport Road. The suspect matched the same description, and the car the suspect was driving was described as a Honda Civic.
Fifteen minutes later, LPD was called to a third robbery, within their jurisdiction at a store located on County Line Road, committed by the same suspect driving a Honda Civic.
Shortly thereafter, a Plant City Police Officer who heard the BOLO spotted the suspect (a white male with red covering his face) get into a silver Honda Civic on County Line Road and drive away. He followed the car, traveling east on Frontage Road South in Lakeland, notified Lakeland P.D., and activated his lights and siren. The officer saw the driver point a handgun at him and heard two shots being fired in his direction, as the car continued to flee. The car eventually lost control on the shoulder of Old Tampa Highway, and PCPD and LPD officers took Kenneth Allen Phelps, Jr. (DOB 04/14/1997) into custody without incident.
Inside the car, detectives investigating the robberies found cigarettes, lottery tickets, and a grey .22 caliber revolver, along with two spent shell casings. The evidence is being processed. “We are all very grateful that nobody was shot by this dangerous felon during his armed robbery spree, and that the quick actions of law enforcement officers working together in Lakeland resulted in his swift apprehension. He belongs in prison. ” – Grady Judd, Sheriff Phelps was charged by PCSO with:
Armed robbery (F-L)
Armed burglary with battery (F-L)
Attempted second degree murder (F-1)
Fleeing to elude (F-3)
Additional charges by other agencies are pending. His criminal history includes 2 felonies and 4 misdemeanors, for charges such as grand theft of a firearm, battery domestic violence, carrying a concealed firearm, petit theft, and violation of probation.
Polk Museum Of Art Showcasing Student Art Through
Virtual Exhibit
by James Coulter
The COVID-19 crisis may have closed the museum until
further notice, but that hasn’t stopped them for showcasing the choicest
artwork of students from local schools.
From now until September, the Polk Museum of Art in
Lakeland will be showcasing selections from the Polk County High School Fine
Art Competition, with more than 60 art pieces created by students from Polk
County schools, through a virtual gallery on their website.
First Place Shaun Morgan Primal Influence Ink and Marker Harrison School for the Arts, Grade: 11 Instructors: Rocky Bridges, Beth Garcia, Joshua Steele
The virtual exhibition can be accessed by visiting the
Polk Museum of Art website and clicking on the “Our Finest” link,
which will take guests to a virtual gallery where they can view up to 60
distinct pieces from local schools.
Second Place Alison McNeely Tea for Two with a Frog Ceramic Kathleen High School, Grade: 11 Instructor: Patrick Dragon
The exhibit will be showcasing artwork for their
annual student exhibition, which was originally scheduled to be displayed in
the George Jenkins Student Gallery at the museum. However, the current pandemic
and stay-at-home order has forced the museum, as with other local businesses
and institutions, to close until further notice.
Third Place Grace Knox Degraded Mixed Media Harrison School for the Arts, Grade: 10 Instructors: Rocky Bridges, Beth Garcia, Joshua Steele
Ellen Chastain, Education Manager at the Polk Museum
of Art, mentioned that the idea for the virtual exhibit was inspired a week
after the museum was closed. As most of the art exhibits had already been
photographed for posterity, the idea was to display these facsimiles online for
the general public during the current situation, she explained.
Merit Award Brianna Wunsch Gone Digital Photography Lakeland High School, Grade: 12 Instructor: Kim Gallagher
“So after going home and working from home, we
went through our exhibition material,” she said. “We had already
taken photographs of all these pieces already, and so that allowed us the
ability to put it online.”
The artwork within the exhibit were curated through a
countywide juried competition among various local schools, created through a
partnership among the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, the Polk Arts
Alliance, Polk County Schools, and the Polk Museum of Art.
More than 300 pieces were entered into the competition
from public, private, and home-schooled students. Of the artwork entered, 60
were rewarded and selected to be displayed within the exhibit.
These art pieces were judged in various categories.
The top category was Polk County Commissioners Award, in which the winning
piece will be displayed within in the Polk County Board of County Commission
Building for a year.
The Polk County Commissioners Award was conferred to
“Entrapment”, a digital art piece depicting a heron with a fresh fish
snared in its beak. This award-winning piece was created by Elizabeth Summers,
a ninth grader from Ridge Community High School, instructed by Casey Hall.
Merit Award Kara Wilson Tik Tokz Mixed Media Lake Region High School, Grade: 12 Instructor: Angela Fout
“It is a really impressive group of students and
talent for Polk County Schools,” Chastain said. “A lot of people will
be impressed by what is here. Granted, it is not as personable as being in the gallery
itself, seeing the art pieces up close, but this is certainly a great
opportunity for us to make this virtual and accessible to everybody.”
To view the virtual exhibit, click read: https://polkmuseumofart.org/our-finest-2020
Merit Award Emma Galbraith Identity Mixed Media Lakeland Christian School, Grade: 10 Instructor: Kari Clever Merit Award Jiayun “Lucy” Zhang Night Blooming in Grandma’s Yard Acrylic All Saints Academy, Grade: 11 Instructor: Nancy Fonseca
City Police Vehicles Treated With PermaSafe by Local Dealership
On April 13,
2020 the Lake Wales Police Department received an email from Bobbi Watson at
Huston Cadillac Buick GMC, located at 19510 US27, which in part said the
following:
“In an effort
to help keep our First Responders safe and show our appreciation for your
efforts in keeping our community safe, we at Huston Cadillac Buick GMC would
like to offer one complimentary application of PermaSafe, an Antimicrobial
Surface Protectant to the personal vehicle of each First Responder also to the
Patrol Cars in your fleet to keep all officers safe while on tour.”
After receiving the invitation officers
began taking their vehicle to the dealership to be treated with PermaSafe. At
Huston Cadillac officers were treated with priority and professionalism by the
Service and Parts Manager, Michael Gallardo, and other members of the Service
Department Staff. Deputy Chief Troy Schulze said “It was a no-brainer, we had
to take them up on the offer! In light of COIVD-19 our officers have been
equipped with gloves, masks, eye protection, and face shields to protect
themselves and those they come in contact with. The shifts have also been
provided Lysol spray and wipes to keep the interior of their vehicles clean. We
have not had access to a product like PermaSafe and we are thankful Huston
Cadillac made this available to us. At this point a little more than half of our
police vehicles have been treated and the remaining vehicles will be treated
soon. The treatment will help to keep our officers safe as well as anyone they
transport in their vehicles. We are extremely grateful to the Huston Cadillac
dealership, Michael, and his Service Staff!”
Service and Parts Manager Michael Gallardo said: “Last month we rolled out a new product at Huston Cadillac Buick GMC called PermaSafe. PermaSafe is a two-step product that kills 99.9% of bacteria, viruses, mold & mildew, and other harmful organisms from your vehicle. As well as allergens and odors. We were called to give back to our community by offering this product to Healthcare Workers and First Responders. Since then, we have sanitized over 30 vehicles. Now more than ever, we recognize the sacrifices and importance of our everyday heroes who support our community. We at Huston Cadillac Buick GMC are happy to be giving back during this time of crisis. We’re all in this together!”
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help looking for two juveniles, 14-year-old Addison Franks and his sister, 17-year-old Pamela Caulder.
They are both listed as runaways but we are concerned for their safety based on statements Franks made, as well as his history of mental health issues. They were both reported missing by their parents on April 18, 2020, after the teens repeatedly refused to return home and then cut off communication. The family believes the teens may have initially gone to St. Pete to stay with friends, and might have returned to Polk County, possibly in Winter Haven.
Addison is 5’5″ tall, 145 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. He is shown here to the left, and his sister is on the right.
If you have any information on Addison Franks or Pamela Caulders whereabouts, please contact Detective Rudd at 863-287-7441.
Tampa Bay/Ruskin – FL, US, National Weather Service
Affected Area
Polk County
Description
The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for… Southern Polk County in central Florida…
Until 230 PM EDT.
At 154 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Jan Phyl Village to near Bartow to 14 miles southeast of Medulla, moving east at 45 mph.
HAZARD…60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include… Winter Haven, Bartow, Lake Wales, Fort Meade, Crooked Lake Park, Frostproof, Eagle Lake, Hillcrest Heights, Highland Park, Homeland, Alturas, Indian Lake Estates, Lake Wales Municipal Airport, Babson Park, Bartow Municipal Airport, Wahneta, Waverly and Cypress Gardens.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
HAIL…0.88IN; WIND…60MPH
