POLK COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR’S OFFICE HAS NEW DEADLINE UPDATES IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Polk County

-

April 16, 2020

0

POLK COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR’S OFFICE HAS NEW DEADLINE UPDATES IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

BARTOW, Florida – Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency, the Tax Collector’s Office for Polk County, Florida has provided, facilitated, and updated deadline extension information, which includes the following:

License & Identification Cards: Customers who previously scheduled appointments for driver license transactions and concealed weapons licensing are affected by our COVID-19 emergency office closings. For your consideration, here is information pursuant to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle’s (FLHSMV) Emergency Order 041320 and Governor’s Executive Order 20-52:

*The effective period for all driver licenses and identification cards, expiring from March 16, 2020 through April 15, 2020, has now been extended an additional thirty (30) days. As such, the total extension is now sixty (60) days from the date of the applicable driver license expirations. Delinquent renewal fees are waived during the extension.

*The effective period for all driver licenses and identification cards, expiring from April 16, 2020 through April 30, 2020, is extended thirty (30) days. Delinquent renewal fees are waived during the extension.

*The effective period for all those having a commercial driver license (CDL) and commercial driver instructional permit expiring on or after March 16, 2020 is extended to June 30, 2020. Delinquent renewal fees are waived during the extension.

*Medical examiner certificates for those having a commercial driver license (CDL) who have proof of a valid medical certificate issued for a period of 90 days or longer that expired on or after March 1, 2020 are waived through June 30, 2020 (this waiver does not include original CDL issuances).

*DUI programs are allowed to institute distance learning methodologies, in lieu of the face-to-face requirement in statute, while Executive Order 20-52 is in effect.

Law Enforcement on Driver Licenses, Vehicle Registrations & License Plates: While an executive or emergency order has been provided regarding specified driver licenses, no such order has been similarly provided for regular vehicle registrations and license plates. However, in consultation with our Tax Collector’s Office, Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies and other law enforcement officers in Polk County are seeking to avoid the issuance of citations for:

*Driver licenses expiring on March 16, 2020 through April 30 for a period of 60 days from the license expiration. (Note: Delinquent driver license renewal fees are waived during the extension.)

*Driver licenses expiring on April 16, 2020 through April 30 for a period of 30 days from the license expiration. (Note: Delinquent driver license renewal fees are waived during the extension.)

*Registrations and license plates expiring on March 16, 2020 through April 30, 2020 for a period of 60 days from the license expiration.

*Registrations and license plates expiring on April 16, 2020 through April 30, 2020 for a period of 30 days from the license expiration.

REAL ID Driver License Compliance: The Department of Homeland Security is extending the REAL ID enforcement deadline for driver licenses from October 1, 2020 to October 1, 2021. This means individuals who do not have a “gold star” on their Florida driver license or identification card now have an additional year to become Real ID compliant.

Attention Truckers: FLHSMV is extending expiring commercial driver licenses (CDL) and waiving commercial truck hours-of-service regulations and other related regulations so emergency supplies, equipment, commodities and resources for the state’s response to COVID-19 can be moved more quickly and efficiently throughout the state.

2019 Delinquent Real Estate Property Taxes & Certificate Sale/Auction: In order to avoid having 2019 delinquent real estate property taxes go to sale/auction, the Tax Collector has extended the time to pay 2019 delinquent real estate property taxes to no later than 5:00 PM, June 12, 2020. Note: The tax certificate sale/auction is conducted online and has been moved from its original date of Monday, June 1, 2020 to Monday, June 15, 2020.

Tourist Development Tax Remittances: In consideration of Emergency Order 20-52-DOR-002, the Tax Collector is extending the tourist development tax payment deadlines as follows: Tourist development tax remittances/returns due no later than April 20, 2020 (for March 2020 sales) are now due no later than April 30, 2020.

Additionally, the Tax Collector’s Office continues to serve the people of Polk County online via a new CHAT feature at PolkTaxes.com or by phone. For customers seeking assistance, a Customer Service Specialist is available Monday – Friday, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM at PolkTaxes.com via the CHAT feature, or by phone at (863) 534-4700 or (863) 581-8099.

For more information, please go to www.PolkTaxes.com.

About the Office of Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector for Polk County, Florida

Joe G. Tedder is elected by the people of Polk County to serve as their Tax Collector. The Office of Tax Collector is provided in Florida’s Constitution to serve in the state’s political subdivisions known as counties. The Tax Collector’s Office for Polk County has service centers in Bartow, Lakeland, Davenport, and Lake Wales. The Tax Collector’s Office serves over 686,000 residents in Polk County, offering services such as: Driver licenses and identification cards; motor vehicle registrations, decals, license plates, titles and disabled person parking placards; real estate and tangible personal property taxes; county local business taxes; tourist development taxes; concealed weapons license applications and renewals; and, other services.

AdventHealth sees promise in repurposed drugs to treat the most severe cases of COVID-19

Staff Reporter

-

April 16, 2020

0

AdventHealth sees promise in repurposed drugs to treat the most severe cases of COVID-19

Medications previously used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Ebola are being pressed into service against the deadly coronavirus.

ORLANDO, Fla., April 16, 2020 — As physicians face rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, they’re trying innovative new solutions — such as repurposing existing drugs to target the deadly virus.

At AdventHealth, two such treatments are now being deployed to treat the most seriously ill COVID patients: remdesivir and sarilumab. To receive these medications, patients must be in the intensive care unit and receiving oxygen support.

Given the urgency of the COVID-19 outbreak, the FDA is allowing hospitals to deploy the drugs outside of their officially approved uses. Remdesivir was originally developed to treat the Ebola virus; sarilumab is a treatment for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that is designed to inhibit virus reproduction. Physicians are seeking to learn if remdesivir’s effects will extend to coronavirus patients too.

AdventHealth, along with leading medical institutions across the country, is administering sarilumab as part of a clinical trial to determine its effectiveness against COVID-19. Its normal function is to reduce inflammation in joints, so the hope is it will have a similar benefit in reducing the inflammatory response in the lungs of severely ill COVID patients.

“It’s very exciting that we are able to offer this trial to patients and determine what the best treatment is going to be for others with this condition,” said Dr. Amay Parikh, site principal investigator for the trial and medical director of the Neuro ICU at AdventHealth Orlando. “Having patients participate is going to help a lot more people across the nation.”

More than 30 patients have been enrolled in the sarilumab trial to date, and more are being sought nationwide.

The remdesivir and sarilumab treatments are part of a broad effort to bring innovative solutions to the fight against COVID-19. AdventHealth has launched a program to collect plasma of patients who’ve recovered from the disease to help those still struggling with the disease.

Individuals Steal From Local Non-Profit

Staff Reporter

-

April 16, 2020

0

Release by Winter Haven Police Department:

Can you help identify these guys? They pulled up to the “Support The Mission” non-profit located on Ave D SE and proceeded to take boxes of items out valued at more than $2,030. You can see in the video that they intentionally covered the tag. (And at the end you will find yourself asking, ‘Did ya forget something?’) Anyone with information on the identities of these guys is asked to call Detective Cobb at 863-837-9459. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.

Vehicle With Stolen Tag Captured on SunPass cameras

Staff Reporter

-

April 15, 2020

0

Vehicle With Stolen Tag Captured on SunPass cameras

Release by Winter Haven Police Department:

Okay citizen sleuths! Does this vehicle look familiar? The tag – yep stolen from a Rose Blvd. residence! The vehicle has been captured on SunPass cameras traveling between April 1 – April 6. If you recognize this Black Hyundai Elantra with dark tint and the sticker in the back window, please contact Detective Cobb at 863-837-9459.

COVID-19 Morning Update~21,435 positive cases in Florida residents and 646 positive cases in non-Florida residents~

Staff Reporter

-

April 15, 2020

0

COVID-19 Morning Update~21,435 positive cases in Florida residents and 646 positive cases in non-Florida residents~

Florida Department of Health Updates New COVID-19 Cases, Announces Twenty Deaths Related to COVID-19, Morning Update~21,435 positive cases in Florida residents and 646 positive cases in non-Florida residents~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 will be updated twice daily. We also encourage all Floridians to take the COVID-19 Community Action Survey by visiting www.StrongerThanC19.com. Today, as of 11 a.m., there are 22,081 total** Florida cases. 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 7,360 tests performed on April 14, there were 875 positive results, or 12 percent. Twenty people have died who tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward, Dade, Lee, Palm Beach, Sumter and Volusia counties. New Florida cases include:

453 additional positive COVID-19 cases (451 Florida residents and 2 non-Florida residents) reported to the Florida Department of Health.
There are currently 21,435 positive cases in Florida residents and 646 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.

Coping With Mental Health While Social Distancing

Staff Reporter

-

April 15, 2020

0

Coping With Mental Health While Social Distancing

Everyone’s world has been turned upside down, so I put together a list of things experts are suggesting may help you cope during this time. I want to reiterate I am not a medical professional. There are some websites I found that have some helpful tips on coping with mental health and social distancing. Like the CDC, The American Psychological Association, and The Brain and Behavior Foundation. These tips are helpful to everyone not just those who have mental illness, we all could use some destressing and relaxation.

Social distancing doesn’t mean that you can’t socialize, you just need to find different ways to interact with people. In today’s world there are so many options like facetime, video calls through your phone, Instagram, Facebook, Facebook messenger, and the latest Zoom (that most of us for work or your kids school are getting a crash course in) just to name a few. The important take a way is that we need to socially interact with others.

This tip was across the board unanimous among the CDC, The American Psychological Association, and The Brain and Behavior Foundation. Limit your news intake, the more you watch the more you will worry and stress. It is important to be informed so you can take the necessary precautions, but you need to find a healthy balance of focusing on other things that are unrelated to the pandemic. Also, make sure you are getting your news from a reliable source that gets their information from the CDC and local government.

Exercise if you can, going outside can help your mood. You are still allowed to go outside for recreational purposes like walking, biking, etc. as long as you are social distancing. Gardening is a good way to relieve stress and still get exercise if you don’t have the yard space use potted plants in the house. Or any activity that gets you moving and helps you to relax, everyone has their own hobbies.

If you are having difficulty with mental health reach out to someone a neighbor, friend, family member, or coworker. You can also reach out on social media there is so much content that people are putting out about what they are going through and dealing with during this time. I bet you can find someone going through the exact same thing you are. Reaching out when you need help does not make you a burden or a bother and it doesn’t make you weak, we are all in this together.

Here are some other resources to help if you are struggling.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990

Let’s make sure we are doing are part to check up on family members or neighbors who can get out or don’t really have a handle on electronics to be able to reach out and ask for help. This is a stressful time for all young and old healthy and unhealthy. I truly believe we are all in this together and must look out for one another. Have a blessed day and stay safe.

By,

Amy Archibald

HCPD Seeks Information Regarding Shooting

Haines City

Staff Reporter

-

April 15, 2020

0

HCPD Seeks Information Regarding Shooting

HAINES CITY, FL – The Haines City Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place on Saturday night at a local business in the Oakland neighborhood.

Officers are looking for witnesses to come forward and provide sworn testimony regarding the identity of the individual or individuals that pulled the trigger during an incident where about 20 shots were fired before 9 p.m. The shooting at Family Discount Supermarket, 1604 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, left three men injured and put several other people in harm’s way.

Quontavius Heggs, 23, Keyshawn Jordan, 22 and Stephon Parker, 25, all suffered gunshot wounds. Heggs was shot in the shoulder. Jordan was shot in the right ankle and Parker in the right knee.

All injuries to the three men were non-life threatening and all three have since been released. All three stated that they did not wish to cooperate with the investigation nor would they identify who shot them.

Although the shooting victims were uncooperative, police are looking for anyone present at the scene or with knowledge of the incident to come forward. Patrons and employees inside and outside of the store, who were not associated with the apparent dispute, were put in grave danger as shots were fired.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com. Those who come forward with information can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward up to $3,000.

Shoplifting Suspect Tased By Lake Wales Police After Forcibly Resisting Arrest

Lake Wales

Staff Reporter

-

April 15, 2020

0

Shoplifting Suspect Tased By Lake Wales Police After Forcibly Resisting Arrest

LWPD Press Release

On April 14, 2020 at approximately 10:11am the Lake Wales Police Department received a call about a shoplifting in progress at Wal-Mart, located at 2000 SR60 E. Upon arrival officers made contact with Loss Prevention who witnessed the suspect concealing electronics and other items in an empty shoe box. Officers were with Loss Prevention when they made contact with the suspect inside the store. As an officer attempted to take the suspect into custody the suspect pulled from the officer and ran. A foot chase took place inside Wal-Mart which eventually ended up outside the store in the parking lot.

Once in the parking lot the foot chase continued and the suspect managed to get inside his own vehicle and lock the doors. One officer used his patrol vehicle to block the suspect from driving away while another broke the window of the suspect’s vehicle so they could get to the suspect. The suspect forcibly resisted the officers while they were taking him into custody. The officers were able to remove the suspect from the vehicle and the suspect still actively resisted until the officers were finally able to get him handcuffed. Once the suspect was secured in handcuffs he was transported by EMS to Advent Health where he was treated and medically cleared for abrasions and taser application.

Wal-Mart determined the suspect was attempting to steal $974.00 worth of merchandise, all of which was recovered. The suspect was identified as Jeremiah Poole, a 33 year old from Sylvester, GA. Poole was transported to the Polk County Jail charged with Felony Retail Theft, Resisting Arrest with Force/Violence and Resisting Arrest without Force/Violence.

The Police Will NOT Call To Say You Have An Arrest Warrant. Beware of Scammers

Staff Reporter

-

April 15, 2020

0

The Police Will NOT Call To Say You Have An Arrest Warrant. Beware of Scammers

Release by Winter Haven Police Department:

And they’re at it again!
Scammers are calling people claiming there is a warrant for their arrest and they must pay to make the warrant “go away.”
News Flash – no law enforcement agency will call to let you know you have a warrant. If you have a warrant, we take great pride in giving first-class customer service in person! Don’t fall for these scams!
We Make House Calls!

Haines City Man arrested following multi-county vehicle pursuit

Haines City

Staff Reporter

-

April 14, 2020

0

Man arrested following multi-county vehicle pursuit

HAINES CITY, FL – A Haines City man was arrested in Osceola County early Monday morning after a pursuit that followed the man’s attempt to hit a police officer with his vehicle.

Javaris Parham, 37, is being charged with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a law enforcement officer, domestic violence with aggravated stalking, criminal mischief, fleeing to elude, no valid driver’s license, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Parham had outstanding Polk County warrants for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence with aggravated stalking and burglary with battery.

Officers were responding to a disturbance after 12:30 a.m. where Parham had tried to force his way inside the home of a woman he had a previous relationship with. Parham called the woman seven times in a two-minute window and texted his intentions to shoot her.

Parham’s 2001 Chevrolet was seen by police in the area of 10th Street and Valencia Avenue. Lights and sirens were activated on the patrol vehicle and Parham was followed as he turned onto Valencia Avenue.

The officer exited the vehicle in an attempt to make contact with Parham. After the officer exited the patrol vehicle, Parham then backed up, put his vehicle in drive and drove directly toward the officer. The officer gave commands for Parham to stop, but was ultimately forced back into his vehicle to avoid being struck.

The pursuit continued northbound on 10th Street. Parham drove from 10th Street to Davenport Boulevard to U.S. 17/92 to Ronald Reagan Parkway to State Road 547 and into Osceola County at speeds as high as 90 miles per hour. The Polk and Osceola County Sheriff’s Offices assisted in the pursuit. Attempts to stop the vehicle in Polk County were unsuccessful. Osceola deputies were able to utilize Stop Sticks to bring the vehicle to a rest at Reedy Creek Boulevard and West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway.

During a search of the vehicle, a plastic bag containing cocaine was found in Parham’s cup holder. His driver’s license has been suspended since October. No officers were injured during the pursuit. Parham’s criminal history includes fleeing to elude, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence among numerous drug-related and other charges. Parham has served three stints in a Florida State Prison. “This is a great example of the dangers that officers face each and every day,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “We’re grateful that no one was hurt and for our law enforcement partners in Polk and Osceola Counties.”

DailyRidge.comFast Factual Free News!

DailyRidge.comFast Factual Free News!