Welcome, World Travelers! Rivers of America Drained at Magic Kingdom
by James Coulter
Tom Sawyer has moved out, and Lightning McQueen will be moving in, now that the Rivers of America have been drained in Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
On July 7, 2025, The Rivers of America, along with Tom Sawyer’s Island and Liberty Square Riverboat, closed permanently.
The artificial river, which snaked 2,400 feet through the Frontierland and Liberty Square themed areas, was an opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom on Oct. 1, 1971.
Rivers of America served as a scenic backdrop for many attractions, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and the Haunted Mansion.
Its waterway also facilitated other attractions, including Tom Sawyer’s Island, the Mark Twain Riverboat, and even long-defunct attractions like the Mike Fink Keel Boats and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes.
In 2024, Disney Parks announced that Rivers of America would be closed and demolished to make way for a new expansion, which will include a new Cars-themed land, Piston Peak National Park, and a new land themed to the Disney Villains.
Before the river’s last operating day on July 6, 2025, several dozen trees were bulldozed to create a staging area for the proposed construction.
Nearly one month after closing, the river has since been fully drained to the point where the underlying tracks of the Liberty Square Riverboat were revealed, and some scaffolding has been removed from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The Liberty Belle riverboat was moved to a backstage marina near Bay Lake, where other Magic Kingdom watercraft are maintained.
The boat’s future remains undetermined. Some fans have speculated the boat could either be relocated to another park or serve as transportation, particularly for the Seven Seas Lagoon in front of Magic Kingdom.
While some fans eagerly await the exciting new attractions to replace the Rivers of America area, others have mourned the loss of an iconic opening day attraction, one that helped define both Frontierland and Liberty Square and served to connect the two themed lands.
As for the new attractions, while Disney has not announced any official opening dates, both the Cars-themed Piston Peaks attraction and the Villains-themed land are speculated to be completed between 2029 and 2031.
President Donald Trump has confirmed Kirk‘s death on a social media post.
The suspect in the shooting is still not in custody, according to a university spokesperson, even though the school had previously stated that someone had been detained by police
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Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot on Wednesday while appearing at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and chief executive officer of Turning Point USA, was hosting a campus event as part of his “American Comeback Tour” when shots rang out. The incident happened under a tent set up for a student Q&A session, sometimes described as a “Prove Me Wrong” booth. Witnesses reported panic as attendees scrambled for safety after Kirk was struck in the upper body, according to reports.
University police confirmed that shots had been fired on campus. The suspect is NOT in custody. Video footage shared online showed the moment Kirk fell after being hit, with students screaming and rushing away. He was quickly transported to a local hospital, though it was recently announced that he has died.
Political leaders responded swiftly to the news. Utah Senator Mike Lee asked the public to pray for Kirk and the students at Utah Valley University, saying he was closely tracking developments. Other lawmakers also offered support and urged calm while law enforcement secured the scene. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that federal agents were assisting in the investigation and monitoring for potential wider threats.
Kirk is known nationally as the face of Turning Point USA, a conservative organization that has focused heavily on outreach to college students and young voters. His events often draw strong crowds of supporters as well as protests from opponents, reflecting his polarizing position in American politics.
As of Wednesday evening, officials had not released details on the name of the suspect, or a possible motive. Authorities continue to investigate, and additional updates are expected in the coming hours.
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. – A quiet afternoon turned chaotic for one Lehigh Acres resident after a wild boar suddenly crashed through a sliding glass door, injuring a family dog and causing a major scare.
The incident happened at a home off East Third Street. Ed, the homeowner, described the terrifying moment to Gulf Coast News. He said he was relaxing on the couch when his dog came running inside, bleeding. Seconds later, a loud crash echoed through the house—the wild boar had forced its way inside.
Photos from Lee County Sheriff’s Office Body Cam Footage
“I saw blood dripping from the dog, and as I got up to check, I heard what sounded like a huge explosion,” Ed recalled. “That’s when I saw the boar.”
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the animal shattered the glass door to get inside. When Ed attempted to scare the boar off, it advanced toward him. Thinking quickly, he sat in his chair and used his walker as a barrier.
His daughter, Stacy Wells, credited his quick thinking and use of the walker for keeping him safe. “He made the right move,” she said. “By putting the rollator between him and the boar, he avoided becoming the next target.”
Stacy, who later arrived to check on her father, said the boar remained in the home for nearly 45 minutes. It appeared dazed and calm—until deputies showed up. Once they arrived, the animal became aggressive, charging at them.
Officers attempted to capture it using a rope, but the boar was uncooperative and eventually bolted back into the nearby woods.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office advises residents to stay calm and retreat to a safe space in similar situations. They recommend contacting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) first, followed by the sheriff’s office, to handle dangerous wildlife encounters.
Body cam footage courtesy of Lee County Sheriff’s Office
It was another electric Saturday in Tallahassee as the Florida State Seminoles delivered a performance for the ages at Doak Campbell Stadium. Picking up right where they left off after their thrilling win over Alabama, the Seminoles put on a show, dismantling their opponent with a staggering 77-3 victory. Yes, you read that right, 77-3.
From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, Florida State was in complete control, amassing 729 total yards of offense, 29 first downs, and 11 touchdowns. Despite two turnovers, the ‘Noles never let their foot off the gas. It was a historic outing that tied a program record for the largest margin of victory, a mark set all the way back in 1949 when FSU defeated Whiting Field 74-0, before Doak Campbell Stadium even existed.
Seminoles Vs East Texas A&M
One of the game’s standout performers was wide receiver Duce Robinson, who exploded for 173 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Remarkably, 160 of those yards came in the first quarter alone, breaking a Florida State record for most receiving yards in a single quarter.
As a result of the Seminoles’ dominant performance, they move up four spots in the rankings, jumping from #14 to #10 in the country. This ranking has many fans and students alike in shock, as just a year ago, it was a good day if they scored more than 21 points in a game.
The Seminoles played for more than just themselves on Saturday as they competed with heavy hearts, rallying behind teammate Ethan Pritchard, who was shot in the back of the head last weekend while taking his grandmother home to Havana, Florida, after the Alabama game. In a powerful show of solidarity, players wore #35 armbands in his honor.
Following the victory, an emotional scene unfolded in the locker room. A distraught coach Mike Norvell presented the game ball to Ethan’s father, Earl Pritchard, and invited him to “break the rock”, a cherished post-win tradition at FSU. The moment served as a reminder that this team is more than just a football squad; they are a family.
The bond wasn’t just on the field, it echoed throughout the stands as well, with the student section once again packed and roaring in support of their Seminoles. The renewed energy around the program is undeniable.
FSU heads into a bye week at 2-0, already matching last year’s win total. While that stat speaks volumes about the struggles of the 2024 season, it also highlights how much this year’s team has already surpassed expectations.
After the bye, the ‘Noles return home to face the Golden State Golden Flashes before opening ACC play against the Virginia Cavaliers, a stretch that will begin to reveal just how far this team can go.
For now, though, it’s clear: Florida State football is back, and with every snap, they’re reminding fans and foes alike what it means to play at Doak and be a Florida State Seminole.
With the current consultant’s contract set to expire in November,most board members say hiring an in-house leader is more cost effective and sustainable.
By Anita Todd
HAINES CITY – The Community Revitalization Agency (CRA) Board held its monthly meeting Thursday, with much of the discussion centering on the future of the Agency’s leadership.
Since the end of last year when CRA Director Jane Murphy resigned, the organization hasn’t had a full-time leader. However, Alex Abraham, a local businessman, who had worked for the City in similar capacities was retained as a temporary consultant on three month contract intervals. There were no fully qualified city employees at the time.
As previously reported, Darrell Starling of D. Starling Consulting presented at the Aug. 5 CRA meeting, seeking to be retained as a consultant. His proposal called for a three-year contract at $300,000 per year.
With Abraham’s contract close to ending on Nov. 19, City Manager Jim Elensky added “Discussion for CRA Leadership Position” to the Sept. 4 agenda.
“Although I realize the decision is mine, based on the current Charter, I wanted to hear feedback from the Commission and, subsequently, receive their thoughts. Upon conclusion of the discussion, it was made clear the majority wanted to seek a CRA manager/director, and, at this point, I concur,” Elensky said. He was not present at the meeting but shared his comments with The Daily Ridge via email afterward.
Board members debated the pros and cons of contracting with a part-time consultant, such as Abraham or Starling, versus hiring a full-time CRA Director.
“We need a CRA manager. We aren’t looking for a consultant, they are meant to be hired for a limited time. We call them when we need them,” said Haines City Mayor and CRA Board Member Morris WestV.
Vice Mayor Vernel Smith and Mayor Morris West
“I concur. It is time to get someone leading in-house. We can pay a director one-third of what a consultant would get paid,” added CRA Board Member Omar Arroyo. “That is not a good use of our funds.”
Commissioner Kim Downing
When the vote was taken, CRA Board Member Kim Downing was the lone dissenter.
“I am still in favor of a consultant. They can get the CRA where it needs to be before we entertain hiring a director,” Downing said. She expressed support for Starling following his presentation last month.
During the meeting, City Attorney Fred Reilly clarified the authority structure, noting that the City Manager holds full authority to hire and fire employees, including a Director. Hiring a consultant, however, requires a different process.
“The CRA Director, currently Elensky until he hires one, has the authority to hire a consultant after following the purchasing policy process. This process puts the position out for bid since a consultant is a contract position, unlike a hired employee,” Reilly said. Elensky said he plans to have the Director position posted by next week.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 53 people for Driving Under the Influence of alcohol and/or drugs last month, and one person for Boating Under the Influence.
Among these arrests, 13 were involved in crashes.
Three of the arrested had children in the vehicle while they were driving impaired, and they were additionally charged with negligent child abuse.
Eight of the arrested are in the United States illegally, and ICE has been notified of their presence here.
These 54 arrests were PCSO arrests only, and does not include arrests in Polk County made by any of the city police departments or the Florida Highway Patrol.
If you see someone who appears to be driving while impaired, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
LAKELAND, FL — An Ohio man was arrested on September 1, 2025, after allegedly driving without a license, driving over 100 mph, and attempting to bribe a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officer following a traffic stop on I-4 Eastbound in Polk County.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol incident report, Trooper Corporal Matthew P. Lee initiated a stop near mile marker 38 in Lakeland at approximately 2:27 p.m. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Joshua David Bradley of Cleveland, Ohio, was pulled over after being observed committing multiple traffic violations.
Bradley allegedly admitted he did not have a driver’s license and showed signs of impairment, including “watery, glassy eyes” and “white foaming at the edge of each side of his mouth,” FHP reported.
It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Florida Highway Patrol. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to your own conclusion.
“On September 1, 2025, at approximately 2:00 P.M., I Corporal Matthew Lee was running stationary radar eastbound on Interstate 4 in the paved emergency turn around at mile marker 35 when I observed a grey sedan traveling at an extremely high rate of speed. I visually estimated the vehicle to be traveling at 100 Miles Per Hour (MPH) in a posted 70 MPH Zone. I activated my Stalker DSR 2X Radar. The audio doppler tone for the Stalker Duel DSR 2X was steady and consistent. The grey sedan entered my front mounted radar head at 100 MPH. The grey sedan then entered my rear mounted radar head at 100 MPH.
I conducted a traffic stop on the grey sedan on Interstate 4 eastbound at exit 38. I made contact with the driver of the grey sedan and identified him as Mr. Joshua David Bradley, Date of Birth 8/31/1995, by his name and date of birth from a photograph of his passport. Mr. Bradley stated that he did not have a driver’s license. While talking with Mr. Bradley I could immediately detect that Mr. Bradley had water, glassy eyes along with white foaming at the edge of each side of his mouth.
I had the Tampa Bay Regional Communications Center (TBRCC) query Mr. Bradley through all 50 states to see if he had a valid drivers license. While I was waiting for the TBRCC to locate whether or not Mr. Bradley had a valid driver’s license, he stuck a glass bottle with sand out the driver’s window. Mr. Bradley then exited the vehicle on his own and placed the glass bottle with sand on the ground next to the driver’s door. At this time, the TBRCC stated that Mr. Bradley only had a valid identification card. I ordered Mr. Bradley to stand by the rear of his vehicle. I then placed Mr. Bradley under arrest for super law and driving without a license and bribery of a law enforcement officer.
I placed Mr. Bradley in the back of my marked assigned patrol vehicle. While in the back of my patrol vehicle, Mr. Bradley attempted to bribe me to let him go and that his girlfriend would drive them back to their Airbnb. He stated that ‘he would pay whatever he needed to pay’ to let him leave. While in the back of my patrol car talking to his girlfriend, he made spontaneous utterances that he was speeding. He also stated that ‘he fucked up’. As his conversation with his girlfriend continued, he stated that ‘he fucked up, he should have been driving so fast’. He kept telling his girlfriend that ‘he was sorry’. Due to the signs of impairment that Mr. Bradley was showing, I requested that he perform Standardized Field Sobriety Exercise (SFSE). Mr. Bradley agreed to perform the SFSE.
I transported Mr. Bradley to the 711, located at 7247 Bridgewater Center Drive, Lakeland FL 33805. I read Mr. Bradley his Miranda Warnings and he stated that he would be willing to talk to me. Mr. Bradley agreed to perform the SFSE’s.
I explained the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus exercise to Mr. Bradley. I had Mr. Bradley perform the exercise and he performed poorly. Mr. Bradley had all six indicators on Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. The six indicators were Lack of Smooth Pursuit in both the left and right eyes, Distinct and Sustained Nystagmus at Max Deviation in both the left and right eyes, and Onset of Nystagmus prior to 45 Degrees in both the left and right eyes. I had to tell Mr. Bradley to keep following the stimulus with his eyes. During the vertical gaze nystagmus portion of the exercise, Mr. Bradley stated that his eyes were dry and that he needed to blink.
I then explained and demonstrated the Walk and Turn exercise to Mr. Bradley. I then had Mr. Bradley perform the exercise and he did poorly. During the instructional phase of the exercise, Mr. Bradley had trouble keeping his balance, he kept leaning over to the side as if he was going to fall over. Mr. Bradley had four Indicators on the Walk and Turn exercise. The four indicators were incorrect number of steps, stopped while walking, misses heel to toe, and steps off line. Mr. Bradley took 10 steps out, and 8 steps back. When Mr. Bradley would miss heel to toe, he would slide his foot back so the heel of his front foot would touch the toes of the rear foot. During the exercise, Mr. Bradley failed to count out loud in English. Mr. Bradley stated that he decided to count out loud in other languages.
I explained and demonstrated the One Leg Stand exercise to Mr. Bradley. I then had Mr. Bradley perform the exercise and he did poorly. Mr. Bradley had two indicators, uses arms for balance and sways. Prior to beginning the exercise, Mr. Bradley was asked if he understood the instructions and he stated that he did. When I told Mr. Bradley to begin the exercise, he asked if he lifted his knee up or kept it straight. I told Mr. Bradley again that he needed to lift his leg approximately 6 inches off the ground with his legs straight. Mr. Bradley decided that he wanted to complete the exercise with his leg at a 90 degree angle instead of the prescribed 6 inches.
I explained the modified Romberg exercise to Mr. Bradley. I then had Mr. Bradley perform the exercise and he did poorly. Mr. Bradley had three indicators, which were eyes don’t remain closed, eye lid tremors, eyes did not remain closed.
Based on Mr. Bradley’s performance on the SFSE’s he was also placed under arrest for DUI.
I requested a lawful test of Mr. Bradley’s breath which he refused. At this point, Mr. Bradley decided that he wanted to sit and that pavement. I then read Mr. Bradley Implied Consent which he still denied providing a breath sample. Polk County Deputy Janiak, ID number 9829 was also on scene and had a breath test machine in his assigned Polk County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. Mr. Bradley was given an opportunity to provide a breath sample in the breath test machine in Deputy Janiak’s patrol vehicle. While waiting for the 20-minute observation period to end, Mr. Bradley stated multiple times that he would provide sexual favors in order to be allowed to leave and not get arrested. While waiting for the 20-minute observation period to finish, Mr. Bradley kept kneeling on his knees for unknowns reasons. At one point he stated that his knees were hurting him. I instructed him to stand up then and asked him why he was kneeling on the ground in the first place. Mr. Bradley stated that “he wanted to show that he would obey”. After the 20-minute observation was completed, Mr. Bradley was given an opportunity to provide a breath sample. Mr. Bradley refused to provide a breath sample and the machine timed out stating no breath sample was provided in the allotted time. For the second sample, I gave Mr. Bradley an opportunity to provide a breath sample but he again refused. At this time, I pressed the “R” button to record the refusal.
Mr. Bradley was then placed back into my assigned patrol vehicle and transported to the Polk County Jail. While on the way to the jail, Mr. Bradley became extremely agitated, started yelling, screaming and saying racist comments. When I arrived at the jail, I requested that the Polk County Sheriff”s Office have some of their detention deputies meet in the sally port to assist me in taking Mr. Bradley inside of their facility.
Polk County Sheriff’s deputies arrested six suspects who are in the country illegally from Guatemala after being called to the Willow Oak Mobile Home Park to investigate a death and discovering that the victim had been fatally struck by a vehicle then dragged inside his home and left there.
The investigation began during the early morning hours of Sunday, September 7, 2025, when the PCSO received a 911 call reporting the 21-year-old man’s death. The caller relayed to call takers that the man was dead inside his home. When deputies and detectives arrived they quickly realized that the victim’s injuries were consistent with being run over by a vehicle, and they summoned the PCSO Traffic Unit to conduct an investigation.
Traffic Homicide detectives learned that a large party had taken place outside one of the trailers inside the mobile home park on Saturday evening. Nearly everyone at the party was consuming alcohol. A witness told detectives that the victim was lying down on the driveway. The witness saw 52-year-old Ponciano Cinto-Ramirez get into a van that was parked on the driveway, put it into reverse, and back over the victim, before leaving the scene. People at the party yelled at Cinto-Ramirez that he had run over the man but Cinto-Ramirez continued to drive away, then parked outside lot #32 and went inside.
When deputies went to lot #32 there were several people inside, all of whom refused to come out. Eventually, one by one, they came outside but refused to give deputies information or cooperate. Two of the men who came outside gave false IDs to the deputies. Once deputies had everyone in custody and interviewed, they learned all six of the suspects are in the country illegally from Guatemala. The following arrests were made, and all of the charges are enhanced due to their illegal statuses:
Ponciano Cinto-Ramirez, DOB 5/24/1973, charged with:
Leaving the scene of crash involving death (F1)
Driving without a license causing death (F2)
Resisting arrest (F3)
Alfredo Cinto-Ramirez, DOB 12/5/1976, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Giving false info to LEO (F3)
Rigoberto Lopez Morales, DOB 10/1/2002, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Jacinto Lopez Morales, DOB 8/23/1979, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Leonel Cinto Lopez, DOB 7/12/2001, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Giving false info to LEO (F3)
Ramiro Cinto Lopez, DOB 7/26/2002, charged with:
Resisting arrest (F3)
Giving false info to LEO (F3)
Possession of altered firearm (F3)
“All of these suspects are facing serious felonies, and ICE has placed holds on them as well to hopefully deport them back to Guatemala. What started out as a neighborhood party ended up with a 21-year-old man dead and a group of illegal aliens going to jail.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The Polk County Sheriff’s Traffic Homicide Unit investigated a single-vehicle traffic fatality early this morning in Fort Meade. The driver and sole occupant, 23-year-old Samuel Maisonet of Sebring, was killed.
The PCSO received a 911 call from Duke Energy workers around 4:40 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, when they responded to a power outage and discovered a wrecked car in a pasture near the intersection of Avon Park Cutoff and Singletary Roads. When first responders arrived, they located Maisonet deceased. Through investigation it appears the crash occurred around 3:30 a.m. when his 2007 Toyota Corolla left the roadway southbound on Avon Park Cutoff Rd, hit a ground anchor wire for the power pole, then rolled, ejecting him. Duke Energy responded due to the power outage the crash caused, at which time they found the wrecked car and called law enforcement. It is possible speed is a factor in the crash, based on the damage to the car, roadway markings, impact points on the ground, and the distance the car travelled after impact. The investigation is ongoing.
