Just after midnight on November 8, 2024 Polk County Fire Rescue and Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle crash at the intersection of Recker Hwy and Coleman Road in Winter Haven. The call came in around 12:20 a.m.
Two vehicles were reportedly involved in the crash, both 4-door sedans, colors unknown.
We reached out to Polk County Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Nathaniel Gale regarding the injuries, and he confirmed one patient was transported from the scene via ground to a local hospital.
The scene was cleared roughly an hour after the crash was called in.
Four Elements Moonlight Music and Floating Lantern Festival will be held at Bok Tower Gardens on Saturday, November 16 from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m.
The evening will celebrate the Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind with a creative collision of music, dance, and moonlight.
Aerialists Paula Blackwelder and Berenice Perez will perform the incredible “Double Lyra” under the Tower oaks. Their aerial ballet will begin the evening, and then Dr. Fen-Fang Chen and her students from Florida Southern College will present a night of incredible classical music underneath the Sundial. Geert D’hollander will also be playing the Carillon.
Bring your chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets! Keep scrolling to learn more about the Festival.
This event is free for members and included with admission for non-members.
Jim Hurst Jr. of Lake Wales, Florida entered eternal glory on 11/7/24.
Born on April 14,1956 to James Hurst Sr. and Louise Crane Hurst. Jim was a devoted husband to Belinda DuBose Hurst for 43 years until her passing in 2022. He was the very loving father of Jimmy Hurst III (Emily) of Frostproof, Marshall Hurst of Lake Wales and Lindsey Shick (Jeremy) of Lake Wales.
Jim took unspeakable joy in life with his 7 grandchildren. Grace Louise, Jamesy, Jude and Sophie Hurst as well as Everett, Ruby and Emmett Shick.
Jim is survived by his 3 children, his son and daughter in law, his brother Mike Hurst of Frostproof and his sister Cindy Wise of Frostproof. He also leaves behind numerous friends and extended family that he always treated as his own family.
A graduate of Frostproof High School in 1974, Jim lettered in 5 sports and was inducted into the Frostproof Athletic Hall of Fame. His bachelor’s degree came from the University of Florida in business administration.
Jim was a trusted and respected Insurance agent his entire life. Helping his clients in the agriculture industry with crop insurance as a focus. He leaves a legacy of kindness and compassion with his beloved co-workers
Selflessness and dedication marked his involvement in civic organizations. Jim was a little league coach for his kids and many others. He was an accomplished umpire and trainer of youth baseball umpires. He was involved in Rotary, Ducks Unlimited, volunteered for youth camps and impacted young people’s lives for good anyway that he could.
Generosity will be his legacy. He believed in and donated to the Lake Wales Care Center, Refuge on the Ridge, FCA and Victory Ridge Academy. He supported both the Lake Wales and Frostproof athletic booster clubs at once. He also gave to and helped many individuals financially throughout the years. Believing that he was a steward of God’s money.
An avid hunter and fisherman, love of family, friends, outdoor sports and athletics were supremely important to him. This however was all secondary to his faith in God. Jim was a faithful and dedicated member of the Church of Christ in Frostproof, Florida. He was a song leader among other duties within his church. He enjoyed his family of faithful Christians and being accountable to the local church. This example resonates with his children and bolsters their faith in Jesus.
James Hansel Hurst Jr. has been called many names while on this earth. Jimbo, Jimmy, Jim, Uncle, Daddy and Pops. Now, eternally restored in Heaven, he has been called “good and faithful servant”.
Kidney cancer has brought his time on earth to an end after 68 years. Faithfully, he recognized that he was fighting a battle that Jesus has already won on a cross at Calvary.
A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Lake Wales. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his honor can be sent to FCA (www.my.fca.org).
On the afternoon of November 6, 2024, Auburndale Police Department, Auburndale Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to a school bus vs. vehicle crash at Ariana Ave and Melton Ave in Auburndale.
The call came in at 2:52 p.m., apparatus went enroute at 2:53 p.m. and arrived on scene at 2:58 p.m.
The vehicles involved in the crash were a Toyota Tacoma and a Polk County Public Schools school bus. The Tacoma sustained heavy front end damage.
Polk County Fire Rescue transported one trauma alert patient via ground. The occupants of the bus were checked for injuries, and there were none reported.
The scene was turned over to Auburndale Police Department for investigation.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a single-vehicle crash that occurred at the intersection of Lake Parker Drive East and Broadway Street in Lakeland, Florida. The crash occurred on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at approximately 5 PM, and resulted in three injuries and one fatality.
The single vehicle (a white Kia sedan) had three occupants, the driver, a 30-year old from Winter Haven, and his two young children. It appears the car was traveling west on Broadway Street, towards the intersection with Lake Parker Drive East. The car travelled through the intersection, into a grassy, wooded area and collided with a tree. The car caught fire, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene.
A witness and the driver attempted to extricate the children from the back seat of the car. One was successfully extricated, but the other child tragically died in the fire. The driver and the surviving child were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries. The witness who helped at the scene was also taken to the hospital to be treated for burns sustained while helping pull the occupants out of the car.
PCSO Traffic Homicide detectives respond to all fatal crashes. They are investigating the crash. The investigation is still ongoing at this time.
PCSO – Social media is a great way to communicate with long-distance friends or family members. Teens can instantly send messages and make or receive video calls through most of the social media platforms. That said, while social media can be fun to use, parents need to be aware of the dangers their children may be exposed to. Additionally, technology continues to grow, everyone should be aware of the benefits and risks it can bring.
Here are some tips to keep your children safe while using any social media platform:
Safety tips for Teens
· Do not share personal info (eg: address, birthdate, etc.)
· Keep passwords and location private.
· Ask for permission before posting pictures or videos.
· Do not accept friend requests from a person you don’t know.
· Do not reply to unknown messages.
· Tell a trusted adult if you see something strange.
· Block or report any suspicious person.
· Follow parent’s rules about your time on social media.
Safety tips for Parents
· Teach your child about the dangers of social media.
· Monitor their social media. Know their passwords.
· Use parental controls.
· Be alert of cyberbullying.
· Set social media boundaries for them.
· Keep devices out of their bedrooms.
· Learn which social media your child wants to use.
· Report if any information has been compromised.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office offers free programs such as Internet Safety and Cyberbullying. If you would like more information or to schedule a presentation, please call the Crime Prevention Unit at 863-298-6677 or email [email protected]
Town of Lake Hamilton: The Town of Lake Hamilton is excited to announce the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Town. Our kickoff celebration will be on November 9 beginning at 3 PM. Come out and celebrate with Live Music, adult beverage tent, food trucks, craft vendors, our inflatable kid zone, dunk tank, fireworks and more! A once in a lifetime event to celebrate! If you would like to be a vendor at our November 9 celebration fill out the vendor application online or visit Town hall. Free entrance, free parking
100 Smith Ave
Bruce Martin Park located between Main Street and Smith Ave in Lake Hamilton
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a single-vehicle crash that occurred at the intersection of Lake Parker Drive East and Broadway Street in Lakeland, Florida. The crash occurred on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at approximately 5 PM, and resulted in three injuries and one fatality.
The single vehicle (a white Kia sedan) had three occupants, the driver, a 30-year old from Winter Haven, and his two young children. It appears the car was traveling west on Broadway Street, towards the intersection with Lake Parker Drive East. The car travelled through the intersection, into a grassy, wooded area and collided with a tree. The car caught fire, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene.
A witness and the driver attempted to extricate the children from the back seat of the car. One was successfully extricated, but the other child tragically died in the fire. The driver and the surviving child were taken to the hospital to be treated for their injuries. The witness who helped at the scene was also taken to the hospital to be treated for burns sustained while helping pull the occupants out of the car.
PCSO Traffic Homicide detectives respond to all fatal crashes. They are investigating the crash. The investigation is still ongoing at this time.
Billy Ray Reed of Frostproof passed away on Friday, November 1, 2024 at his residence.
He was born June 16, 1950 in Spring City, Tennessee to the late Dale and Pauline Reed; he moved to Frostproof from Tennessee 50 years ago. Billy was a retired framer for Robin Builders and a veteran of the United States Army. He was an occasional gambler and liked to sing karaoke. He enjoyed going to flea markets, fishing, and was an avid CB radio enthusiast.
Billy is survived by his wife of 24 years, Cindy Lou Reed; daughter, Donna (Silk) Groeneveld of Missouri; son, Robert Pavelski of Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Kayla, Britteny, Taylor, and Dalton; great-grandchild, Damian.
The Lake Wales Arts Council (LWAC) has announced its upcoming Fiddles & Fine Art: Instrument & Art Auction on Saturday, November 16, 2024. Taking place from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the historic Lake Wales Arts Center, this unique event will feature live and silent auctions of original artwork, rare musical instruments, and unique community-donated pieces, with all proceeds supporting youth arts education programs in Lake Wales.
Special Matching Sponsorship Opportunity In addition to the auction, this year’s event features a special matching sponsorship generously offered by Karla Campbell, a passionate supporter of LWAC’s mission and the transformative impact of music and arts education on young people in Lake Wales. Karla has pledged to match all donations up to $10,000, effectively doubling every dollar raised in support of these programs. This matching gift opportunity means that each contribution will have twice the impact, allowing LWAC and Sandy’s MusicGirls to reach even more children and youth through quality arts education experiences.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: Doors open at 5:00 PM, Auction from 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: Lake Wales Arts Center, 1099 State Road 60 E, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Tickets: $20 per person (includes hors d’oeuvres)
Dress Code: Cowboy Formal The Fiddles & Fine Art Auction promises an evening filled with live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a festive atmosphere celebrating art, culture, and community. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on exceptional artworks inspired by Polk County’s natural beauty, rare musical instruments, and other unique items, knowing their support will make a direct impact on youth arts programs. “We’re thrilled to bring the community together for an event that not only celebrates art and music but also supports the next generation of creatives,” said Tommy Frank, Executive Director of the Lake Wales Arts Council. “With Karla Campbell’s matching sponsorship, this year’s auction is an even greater opportunity to make a difference. Every dollar raised will go twice as far in supporting our mission to empower young people through the arts.”
Limited Tickets Available Only 150 tickets are available for in-person attendance, so early reservations are encouraged. Community members can also support LWAC’s youth programs from afar by participating in the online auction, which will feature many of the same incredible pieces as the in-person event.
For tickets, online bidding information, or further event details, please visit https://onecau.se/_6bn5d1 or contact the LWAC office at (863) 676-8426 or [email protected].
Join LWAC for an unforgettable evening of art, music, and community, where every bid brings us one step closer to a brighter future for Lake Wales youth.
ABOUT LAKE WALES ARTS COUNCIL: The Lake Wales Arts Council is committed to fostering the arts in Central Florida through education, performance, and community engagement. Since its founding, LWAC has provided diverse programming that serves artists of all ages, while striving to ensure that art remains an integral part of the community’s cultural landscape.
