City of Winter Haven, FL: The eastbound lane on Avenue O SW will be closed for scheduled work on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Eastbound traffic should follow the posted detour routes. The westbound lane will remain open. Thank you for your patience!
The Lakeland Police Department is currently conducting a shooting investigation. According to Stephanie Kerr, Lakeland Police Department Public Information Officer, Lakeland police officers responded to shots to shots fired call late Saturday evening October 26th. The call came in at approximately 9:25 pm directing officers to the area of N. Ohio Ave. A 23-year-old victim was shot once in the lower extremities by an unknown person.
The victim was transported Lakeland Regional Health for treatment with a non-life-threatening injury. Detectives responded to collect evidence and after canvassing and speaking to those at the scene, no one came forward yet as a witness to identify the shooter.
Readers report multiple shots being fired, but Lakeland police didn’t have a current count of how many shots were fired. Also it’s unknown at this time if it was an isolated incident or a gang related shooting. Neighbors in the area were very upset that the shooting took place so close to a church. It appeared the shooting took place mere feet away from Pilgrim Rest Freewill Baptist Church.
Kerr advised that this was still an ongoing investigation and more details may be released as the investigation continues. We will update this article as more information is released.
Lake Wales, Fla. (October 28, 2024) – Portions of 12 roadways were resurfaced with either a cape seal or a double-micro slurry of liquid asphalt as part of the City of Lake Wales’ Pavement Management Program. Both applications are preservation treatments to extend the life of the roadways for several years.
Eleven segments of roadways are scheduled to be milled in December. The roads will be treated and reshaped before applying a new two-inch lift of asphalt.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we catch up on a backlog of roadways,” City Manager James Slaton said. “The program was funded for the first time in 2021.”
More than three miles of roadways were resurfaced in 2022 and 2023.
The City’s program is a six-year plan that includes an inventory of roadways with condition ratings and prescribed treatment methods, such as cape seal, double-micro slurry or milling.
The list of roadways: Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bullard Avenue, Campbell Avenue, Carlton Avenue, Center Street, Circle Drive, Cypress Garden Lane, Druid Circle, Fifth Street, Fourth Street, Johnson Avenue East, Linden Lane, Marietta Street, Polk Avenue West, Polk Avenue East, Steedly Avenue, Sunset Drive, Townsend Avenue, Triangle Drive, Weaver Avenue, Westend Boulevard, 11th Street and 12th Street.
Join us for a spooky good time at the Winter Haven Police Department on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 4 – 6 pm!
Kids dressed in their Halloween costumes are invited to trick-or-treat and enjoy a fun evening with us.
Located at 125 N Lake Silver Dr., NW. Don’t miss out on the candy and great time!
by James Coulter
Two 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’t love 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).
Around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024, a crash occurred on New Tampa Highway just west of Pine Chase Avenue in Lakeland where a green Freightliner semi-truck belonging to Publix and being driven east by a Publix employee struck a 34-year-old Lakeland man who was lying in the roadway. The man died at the scene.
According to the family members of the deceased, he had been at a bar drinking just west of that location earlier in the evening. He had driven his motorcycle to the bar but due to being too inebriated to drive, he told people at the bar that he was going to walk home.
The truck driver saw the man lying face down in the middle of the eastbound lane of New Tampa Highway and took evasive measures to avoid striking him, but was unable to do so. The driver had just ended his shift and was returning the truck to the Publix warehouse.
Nearly 100 Animatronics to be Displayed at Auburndale Haunted Yard
by James Coulter
Matthew Reynolds, 18, remembers visiting Spirit Halloween at age 6. His parents bought him two animated decorations. That visit would inspire his love for Halloween decorations and set the course for his life.
Since then, Reynolds has collected dozens of animated Halloween decorations. For nearly a decade, he has decorated his front yard with them every Halloween.
Nearly 1,000 visitors come to his house each year to see all the ghosts, zombies, and other monsters in action. Many are set in his front yard. Others are in the backyard, shed, and even a makeshift building created with PVC pipe.
This year, Reynolds hopes to impress visitors with new animatronics and scenes. Last year, he had most of his werewolf figurines displayed in a barn. Now, he plans on creating a full barnyard set piece with bales of hay and everything set outside.
“They [visitors] assume I have some help, but this is my passion,” he said. “I do it all myself with months of planning. There are new things every year. I like to add and improve every year.”
Reynolds has been collecting these animatronics for most of his life. Some were given to him by his parents. Most of them he bought himself. He especially loves buying used vintage collectibles online.
Aside from being able to collect animated decorations, Reynoldsalso taught himself to repair broken animatronics. He aspires to become an electrical engineer and even work as a technician at a theme park like Universal Studios.
Sometimes, Reynolds visits the parks and rides the attractions not to have fun, but to observe how the many animatronics operate. He plans to apply for a job once he reaches age 21, which is the age listed for a park ride technician.
Until then, Reynolds hopes to continue wowing guests with his vast collection of animatronics. He invites anyone to drop by his house on Halloween night. They can’t miss it. It’s the house on the street with the most decorations outside.
“I think our event has become so large, we have to be biggest in the neighborhood, if not the county,” he said. “I do it for the kids and adults. It is nice to see people come and smile and see the display. This is something I have done all my life doing, and to see people come and enjoy my display, it really pays off.”
The Haunted Yard will be on display Halloween evening, on Thur. Oct. 31 from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM, at 136 Patterson Drive, Auburndale, FL.
Immerse yourself in the profound world of “Cold Feet, Hot Flashes” by John Jacopelle at the Lake Wales Arts Council this fall from Oct. 29 – Dec. 12. This exhibition explores the boundaries of artistic freedom and self-discovery through radical abstraction infused with poetic expression. Jacopelle’s artworks, crafted with a stream-of-consciousness approach, invite viewers to interpret shapes, lines, and marks, revealing a journey of introspection and connection to the subconscious. Each piece is a testament to the artist’s ongoing quest for identity and deeper spiritual connection, rendered in ambiguity yet rich with emotional resonance.
John Jacopelle’s artwork has been showcased in exhibitions along the East Coast and is part of both corporate and private collections across the United States and England. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of Art and Design at Purchase College, State University of New York, located in Westchester County.
Tickets are available now and can be purchased online at www.lakewalesartscouncil.org.
Polk County Fire Rescue:
Captain Tim Ray is a Winter Haven, Florida native. Ray is a first-generation Fire Service member.
Captain Ray has been a valued member of Polk County Fire Rescue since joining the department in 1987 as a Firefighter. During Ray’s time with PCFR, he held the ranks of Firefighter and Engineer before reaching his current rank of Captain in 2004.
Tim presently works out of Station 37 – Solivita in Poinciana on the A shift. He has continuously worked at this station and on this shift since it opened 20 years ago.
Captain Ray aspired to reach his current position as he felt it was the best place for him professionally.
When asked for advice for aspiring Fire/EMS service members, Tim said take the leap and join the profession. It is a great career that comes with excellent benefits.
Outside of work, Captain Ray enjoys hunting and karting.
Cora Elizabeth Acree, 83, of Orlando passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024 at Orlando Lutheran Towers under the care of Vitas Hospice.
She was born February 8, 1941 in Haines City to the late Carl and Ethel Meeks. Cora was a retired bus driver and was of the Pentecostal faith. Her favorite things were roses, the beach, gardening, attending family gatherings, reading her bible, and watching Christian TV. She loved her children and grandchildren dearly.
Cora was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Walburn (Ronald) of Lake Wales; son, Cleve Acree (Rick Ribeiro) of Orlando; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 28, 2024 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Dr. Scott Markley officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her honor can be sent to the Lake Wales Care Center.
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