Earlier this evening on November 5, 2024, Polk County Fire Rescue and Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle crash near the Glen Abbey Memorial Gardens.
Units were dispatched to Hurst Road E & K Ville Avenue in Auburndale just before 6:00 p.m.
The reported vehicles involved in the crash were:
-Blue 2005 Dodge Caravan
-Silver 2013 Toyota Avalon
We reached out to Polk County Fire Rescue’s Public Information Officer Nathaniel Gale, and he confirmed that one patient was transported via ground to a local hospital. The patient’s injuries did not appear to be life threatening.
Though several people reported traffic delays and slowdowns at the time of the crash, the crash is now clear.
As this was a crash without life threatening injuries, no further details are available at this time.
Live Pro Wrestling Returns to Tanners Lakeside on Nov 8th! Get ready for an action-packed night as Thunder Championship Wrestling makes its return to Tanners Lakeside in Winter Haven on November 8th! Join us at Tanners Lakeside for an evening filled with thrilling matches, intense rivalries, and non-stop excitement. Don’t miss out on the adrenaline-pumping experience of witnessing live wrestling in person and is fun for the whole family! Mark your calendars and be there to witness Thunder Championship Wrestling invade Tanners Lakeside! Friday Night November 8th Doors Open: 7pm Bell Time: 8pm Event Location: Tanners Lakeside 1006 S. Lake Howard Drive Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-662-5948
Dorothy Nell Phillips, 94 of Winter Haven, Florida went home to be with her Lord and Savior on November 3, 2024. She was born in Ennis, Kentucky to the late Harry and Jeanetta Maxberry.
Dorothy worked 25 years as a sales associate for Bealls Department stores. She enjoyed being a florist in Shively, Kentucky before relocating to Winter Haven. She also worked in a flower ministry, using the pulpit flowers each week to make small flower arrangements to deliver to shut-ins and patients. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church Winter Haven.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, Lenard Wright and Herbert Ritchie; brother, Bobby Maxberry and stepson, Craig D. Phillips. She is survived by her husband, Dewaine J. Phillips; son, Timothy (Charlotte) Wright; daughter, Pamela (Mike) Lunsford; four grandchildren, Scotty, Andy, Deana and Joseph; four great grandchildren, Madalynn, Scotty Jr., Jaxon and Tytan; sister-in-law, Myra Maxberry.
A visitation service to honor the life of Dorothy Nell Phillips is planned for Thursday November 7, at 10:00 with a funeral service immediately following at 11:00 at First Baptist Church Winter Haven. Reverend Steve Harness will officiate. The burial will be in Kentucky. Those who prefer memorial in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church Winter Haven or Good Shepherd Hospice.
Amendment 3, which proposed to legalize recreational marijuana for adults in Florida, failed to pass in the 2024 election.
Although a majority of voters supported the mesure, it fell short of the 60% supermajority required to amend the state constitution. The initiative aimed to allow adults 21 and older to use, purchase, and possess marijuana. Its defeat maintains the current restrictions, with legal cannabis use limited to approved medical purposes within Florida.
By a little after 8:15 p.m., the amendment had received about 56% support, a simple majority, but below the 60% needed for passage.
Polk County only pulled 52% yes votes to legalize Marijuana.
Melony Bell, a former Florida state representative, will win Supervisor of Elections in Polk County.
After serving in the Florida House and with previous experience in county government, she brings a strong background in public service to the supervisors office. Bell has expressed a commitment to ensuring the security and transparency of the election process if elected.
Bell ousted current supervisor of elections Lori Edwards. It’s been a very long successful career as the supervisor. Edwards was in the position since 2000.
Melony Bell has a substantial political history in Polk County, Florida, where she’s held multiple public offices over the years.
Here’s a brief overview:
County Commissioner (2006-2018):
Bell began her local political career as a Polk County Commissioner, serving for 12 years. In this role, she was responsible for various aspects of county government, including budget oversight, infrastructure projects, and local policy development.
State Representative (2018-2022):
Bell was then elected to the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 56. As a state legislator, she focused on issues important to her constituents, including agriculture, water quality, public safety, and local government affairs. During her tenure, she sponsored legislation relevant to rural communities and agriculture, which are key areas in her district.
A Victory Ridge Academy student gains valuable experience as a result of partnership with Publix Supermarkets. Photo provided by Victory Ridge Academy.
by James Coulter
Customers visiting Publix Supermarket along Highway 60 in Lake Wales can expect to be greeted and served by friendly students with developmental differences now that the store has partnered with a local school.
Victory Ridge Academy, a school for students with special needs in Lake Wales, has entered into a business partnership agreement with Publix Supermarket on Highway 60 to offer (CBVE) Community-Based Vocational Education Training for students ages 14 to 22. Through this partnership, students with developmental differences attending Victory Ridge Academy will be able to gain valuable job and life skills by working at the local supermarket, all while supervised by a certified teacher and their (SES) Supported Employment Specialists. These SESs are certified by the State of Florida and Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
Evelyn Lewis, Director of Transitional Service at Victory Ridge Academy, contacted the local supermarket last year seeking vocational opportunities for her students. Six months later, she was contacted by a representative from Publix, who offered Victory Ridge Academy a contract agreement.
“It is an awesome partnership with Publix,” she said. “That is one more partnership to add to the list that we already have.”
Victory Ridge Academy has entered into similar partnerships with other local businesses, including Vocational Rehabilitation Services, AdventHealth of Lake Wales, Bok Tower Gardens, Eagle Ridge Mall, Lake Wales Bowling Alley, Hampton Inn & Suites, The Freedom Tour, and Lake Wales Care Center.
A Victory Ridge Academy student gains valuable experience as a result of partnership with Publix Supermarkets. Photo provided by Victory Ridge Academy.
“The main skill [we want these students to learn] is to be independent,” Lewis said. “We focus on employability skills [and] social skills…just for them to be the best that they can be, and to know that they are not limited just because they have a disability; they are not handicapped, they are handi-capable. That is my saying. They are handi-capable.”
Lewis has served as an educator for 33 years. She has an Ed.S Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction and is certified in ESE, ESOL, and Reading. She previously worked in the Polk County School System for 21 years. As the Director of Transitional Services, Lewis has been seeking other potential partnerships with businesses in the Lake Wales community. However, while many businesses have expressed interest, some are still thinking about it, while other businesses have not only agreed to offer vocational training opportunities, but have gone above and beyond in making a way for the students.
“As a matter of fact, we have students at Hampton Inn & Suites now participating in (WBLE) Work Based Learning Experiences….to learn different skills from housekeeping to maintenance,” Lewis explained. “We want them to get as much training and experiences that they can while they are here with us so once they age out of school, they are able to go out and do more than just sit on the couch watching TV. This is our passion, and we love it. As long as we are able to continue to assist our students, we will continue working trying to make a difference.”
Hannah Herring, Publix Super Markets Media Relations Manager for the Lake Wales area, offered the following statement when asked about the company’s relationship with Victory Ridge Academy:
“Publix has a relationship with schools in our footprint to offer a community-based vocational education program to high school ESE (exceptional student education) students. This work experience allows students to perform tasks alongside Publix associates and gain knowledge, experience and confidence in the workforce.
“Many students are able to jumpstart their careers either at Publix or with another employer by becoming gainfully employed once they’ve completed the program. Students have an opportunity to gain experience in a variety of roles, including front-service clerk and stock clerk as well as roles in our bakery and produce departments. The students enjoy learning job skills that will serve them well into their futures, and Publix is proud to invest in local students and our communities through this program.”
A Victory Ridge Academy student gains valuable experience as a result of partnership with Publix Supermarkets. Photo provided by Victory Ridge Academy.
Lewis chose Publix as their next business partnership due to the overall “friendly” and “community” image of the local supermarket chain. Through their training, students will not only be able to gain vocational skills, but also communication skills and other valuable life skills for them to live independent lives.
“It is our goal for them because that is rewarding for them when we hear them say, ‘I did it! I got a job!’ That makes us happy; that makes us know we’ve done what we could to assist them in getting there,” she said.
Lewis has high expectations for her students serving at Publix Supermarket, and at other businesses. She has even higher expectations to form more business partnerships with other local businesses. “I just thank my Executive Director, Steve Whitaker for having faith in me by giving me this opportunity back in 2016, and telling me to run with it. I thank my staff that assist the students every single day, but most of all, I thank the parents and students. To all the business partners, I am looking forward to great things to come,” she said.
“A lot of people do not know that these students can do great things. Never say can’t. They can do it. . I am proud of my school. I am proud of the students here. And like I said: Victory Ridge Academy Transition Program is rocking and rolling, and I thank God for that.”
Amendment 4 in Florida, which sought to protect abortion rights up to the point of fetal viability, was placed on the November 2024 ballot. If passed, the amendment would have added protections to the state constitution to limit government interference in abortion access before viability or in cases where the patient’s health is at risk. However, Amendment 4 did not pass as it failed to reach the required 60% supermajority needed for constitutional amendments in Florida.
The amendment faced significant opposition from anti-abortion groups and political figures, including Governor Ron DeSantis. These opponents argued that the measure would override Florida’s existing six-week abortion ban, which had already faced legal challenges. This led to a politically charged campaign environment, with high-profile advocates and lawsuits on both sides of the issue.
Despite substantial funding and advocacy for the measure, the Florida electorate ultimately did not grant it the necessary support for enactment.
We will update when all ballots are counted, but it would appear the measure failed by only garnering 57% of the 60% needed. It does however send a message to legislators that the majority are not happy with the very restrictive laws, which give little room to have an abortion even for the health of the mother.
Amendment 4 in Florida, which sought to protect abortion rights up to the point of fetal viability, was placed on the November 2024 ballot. If passed, the amendment would have added protections to the state constitution to limit government interference in abortion access before viability or in cases where the patient’s health is at risk. However, Amendment 4 did not pass as it failed to reach the required 60% supermajority needed for constitutional amendments in Florida.
The amendment faced significant opposition from anti-abortion groups and political figures, including Governor Ron DeSantis. These opponents argued that the measure would override Florida’s existing six-week abortion ban, which had already faced legal challenges. This led to a politically charged campaign environment, with high-profile advocates and lawsuits on both sides of the issue.
Despite substantial funding and advocacy for the measure, the Florida electorate ultimately did not grant it the necessary support for enactment.
We will update when all ballots are counted, but it would appear the measure failed by only garnering 57% of the 60% needed. It does however send a message to legislators that the majority are not happy with the very restrictive laws, which give little room to have an abortion even for the health of the mother.
A couple weeks ago was Indigenous Peoples’ Day (formerly known as Christopher Columbus Day). To commemorate the occasion, I decided to try a traditional indigenous dish: Three Sisters Soup.
This traditional recipe originates from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) people, though it is also enjoyed by the Cherokee and Chickasaw. The soup is so named because it contains the three sister crops–beans, corn, and squash–which grow together.
This recipe originally contained only vegetables. However, I decided to add some meat to it to give it a little more–well–meat. I decided to use ground turkey to keep with the indigenous theme. My other option would have been venison, but—well—you can’t exactly buy that at the grocery store.
Also, the original recipe used stovetop instructions. However, I opted to use my trusty slow cooker instead. Because who doesn’tlove making meals with a crockpot? You dump all the ingredients in at the start of the day, then set it and forget it until dinner rolls around. Convenient.
Overall, this soup was very hearty. The ground turkey gave it a chili consistency, and with it having been cooked in beef broth, I almost forgot it was ground turkey. It was really beefy—only leaner.
As for the rest of the soup, it certainly tasted good, especially on a cool Virginia autumn day. Again, it was almost like a chili. However, some of the other people I ate with claimed it was slightly “fruity.” I’m not sure about that. The spices certainly added a much-needed “kick.”
(The following recipe was taken and modified from Palatable Pastime):
Ingredients
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. chopped garlic
1 large onion, chopped
2 medium zucchinis, diced
15.5 oz. canned corn kernels
14.5 oz. canned diced tomatoes
4 cups beef broth
15.5 oz. canned kidney beans
2 tsp. ground cumin
1.5 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
4 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. chopped cilantro
Instructions
1) Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil in a large saucepan or soup pan.
2) Add remaining ingredients and simmer gently for about 30 minutes. (Or place in slow-cooker and set on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours or more).
Becky Troutman (Rep) and Kay Klymko (Dem) are competing for the Polk County Commission open District 1 seat in the 2024 election. With the major bulk of votes in the Daily Ridge calls the race for Becky Troutman.
A resident of Lakeland, Troutman has a background in education, psychology, and business. She holds multiple degrees in special education, educational leadership, and school psychology, and she operates businesses in school psychology and interior decorating. Additionally, she has been a licensed realtor for two decades.
Her campaign is centered on priorities like public safety, smart growth, and infrastructure improvements, with a focus on balancing development needs with the protection of property rights and minimizing financial burdens on residents.
Troutman has served on the Polk County Planning Commission, including two years as its chair, gaining experience in land use and development issues. She emphasizes sustainable community growth and enhanced infrastructure as key elements of her vision for Polk County’s future, along with economic opportunities that preserve the area’s character.
A 166 of 172 precincts have reported! The total votes cast is 336,578. Here are the current numbers for the District 1 seat:
