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Winter Haven Man Caught Stealing 16 Bottles of Dish Soap from Grocery Store

Staff Reporter
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Winter Haven Man Caught Stealing 16 Bottles of Dish Soap from Grocery Store

Polk County Sheriff’s Office –

58-year old Charles Ferguson of Winter Haven was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Charles Ferguson of Winter Haven

On September 23rd, PCSO deputies were contacted about multiple retail thefts by one suspect at the Spirit Lake Publix in Winter Haven.

During the most recent theft, a store employee stopped Charles Ferguson as he was walking out of the store with sixteen bottles of Dawn soap that he hadn’t paid for. Charles ran outside and got into a white Kia Soul.

The store employee knew Charles’ name, because Charles is a frequent customer (and apparently a frequent thief) at that Publix, and recently had to show his ID during a pharmaceutical purchase.

Deputies made contact with Charles at his Avenue Q NW residence and arrested him.

It was determined that Charles had carried out five previous retail thefts at the store, stealing $800 worth of Tide Pods and Dawn soap.

Charles confessed to his crimes, and said that he had been selling the stolen merchandise to other(s).

Charles Ferguson has an extensive criminal history of retail theft, and was out on bond for felony retail theft following an August 8th arrest.

Deputies charged Charles this time with: grand theft, scheming to defraud, and dealing in stolen property.

Know the Difference Between Tornado Watch and Tornado Warning

Staff Reporter
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Know the Difference Between Tornado Watch and Tornado Warning

A message from Polk County Emergency Management-

Polk County is under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. today. You may hear the words “watch” and “warning” throughout the day. Use this graphic to learn what they mean.

Visit https://ow.ly/QkUV50Tw7KE for all your #disaster preparedness information. You can also sign up for AlertPolk, which provides localized and timely alerts, at https://ow.ly/W0me50Tw7KC.

A Tornado Watch occurs when a tornado is possible. This is a time to prepare. Know your safe place (storm shelter, basement, interior hall away from windows). Be ready to act quickly is a Warning is issued.

A Tornado warning occurs when a tornado is happening or is imminent. This is a time to take action. Immediately seek shelter in your safe place!

Winter Haven Facility Closures Due to Severe Weather

Staff Reporter
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Winter Haven Facility Closures Due to Severe Weather

City of Winter Haven, FL –

Facility Closures due to Severe Weather:

  • Rowdy Gaines Olympic Pool – Closed 9/26. Anticipate reopening 9/27.
  • Tennis Complex – Closed 9/26. Will assess court conditions 9/27.

Staff continues to monitor weather conditions across all facilities. Additional closures will be posted if they occur.

Tornado Watch Issued for Polk County

Staff Reporter
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Tornado Watch Issued for Polk County

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Polk county until 8:00 p.m.

Severity: Extreme

Extraordinary threat to life or property

Weather Event Onset

6:45 AM (EDT), September 26

Description

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 683 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

IN FLORIDA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 15 COUNTIES

IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

HARDEE POLK SUMTER

IN NORTHERN FLORIDA

LEVY

IN SOUTH CENTRAL FLORIDA

DESOTO HIGHLANDS

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

CHARLOTTE LEE

IN WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA

CITRUS HERNANDO HILLSBOROUGH MANATEE PASCO PINELLAS SARASOTA

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ARCADIA, AVON PARK, BAYSHORE GARDENS, BEVERLY HILLS, BONITA SPRINGS, BOWLING GREEN, BRADENTON, BRANDON, BRONSON, BROOKSVILLE, BUSHNELL, CAPE CORAL, CEDAR KEY, CHIEFLAND, CITRUS SPRINGS, CLEARWATER, DADE CITY, ENGLEWOOD, FANNING SPRINGS, FLORAL CITY, FORT MYERS, HERNANDO, HOLIDAY, HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, HUDSON, INVERNESS, JASMINE ESTATES, LAKE PANASOFFKEE, LAKELAND, LAND O LAKES, LARGO, LECANTO, LEHIGH ACRES, NEW PORT RICHEY, NORTH FORT MYERS, NORTH PORT, PALMETTO, PLACID LAKES, PORT CHARLOTTE, PUNTA GORDA, SARASOTA, SEBRING, SOUTH VENICE, SPRING HILL, ST. PETERSBURG, TAMPA, THE VILLAGES, VENICE, WAUCHULA, WILDWOOD, WILLISTON, WINTER HAVEN, ZEPHYRHILLS, AND ZOLFO SPRINGS.

Action Recommended: Monitor the situation and take precautions if necessary.

Urgency: Take action in the near future.

Affected Area: Polk

Issued By: National Weather Service

Duke Energy Readies 8,000 Workers, Urges Customers To Stay Safe As Tropical Storm Approaches Florida

Carl Fish
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Duke Energy Readies 8,000 Workers, Urges Customers To Stay Safe As Tropical Storm Approaches Florida

Duke Energy readies 8,000 workers, urges customers to stay safe as Tropical Storm Helene approaches Florida

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Duke Energy Florida is readying 8,000 workers to respond to Tropical Storm Helene. As the storm approaches, these skilled individuals are being strategically placed across the state, enabling them to respond as quickly as possible to widespread power outages that are expected as a result of strong winds and heavy rainfall.

 

The company is also sending crews from Duke Energy’s Midwest operations in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

 

Responders include power line technicians, vegetation workers, damage assessors and support personnel.

 

Trucks will begin arriving at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg College Tarpon Springs, The Villages and Suwannee Valley Farmer’s Market later this afternoon. Staging locations are positioned along the outside of Helene’s projected path, but as close to the impacted areas as possible. Crews are prepared to start power restoration as soon as conditions are safe.

 

“As soon as conditions allow, our dedicated team will be on the ground, carefully assessing the damage and working tirelessly to get the lights back on for our customers,” said Todd Fountain, Duke Energy Florida storm director. “In the meantime, our customers should continue to prepare for this rapidly moving storm and remain vigilant in the days ahead.”

 

Duke Energy Florida urges its more than 2 million customers to consider the following safety tips:

 

  • Do not walk, swim or drive through floodwaters.

 

  • If rising water threatens your home or business – or if you evacuate due to flooding – turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box.

 

  • Never replace a fuse or touch a circuit breaker with wet hands or while standing on a wet or damp surface.

 

  • Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging. Consider all lines energized as well as trees or limbs in contact with lines. Report all power line hazards to Duke Energy at 800.228.8485 or contact your local emergency services department or agency.

 

  • If a power line falls across a car that you are in, stay in the car. If you MUST get out of the car due to a fire or other immediate life-threatening situation, do your best to jump clear of the car and land on both feet. Be sure that no part of your body is touching the car when your feet touch the ground.

 

  • Electric current passes easily through water, so stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Do not drive over – and do not stand near – downed power lines. Downed lines will be hard to see in the rain and can potentially be hidden in standing water. If you encounter large pools of standing water, stop, back up and choose another path.

 

To report a power outage, text OUT to 57801, call 800.228.8485 or report online or through the mobile app. For more safety tips, please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips. 

 

Duke Energy Florida 

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.  

 

Duke Energy 

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.  

 

More information is available atduke-energy.com and theDuke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy onX,LinkedIn,InstagramandFacebook, and visit illuminationfor stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

City of Auburndale Shares Hurricane Helene Updates That Impact Auburndale Residents

Staff Reporter
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City of Auburndale Shares Hurricane Helene Updates That Impact Auburndale Residents

City of Auburndale, FL Government –

HURRICANE HELENE UPDATE:

NO changes to SANITATION SERVICES on Thursday and Friday. The City will continue to monitor wind gusts and sustained winds to ensure safety of Employees. The City will cease sanitation operations only if the storm poses a safety risk.

City TENNIS COURTS and outside ATHLETIC FACILITIES will close on Thursday September 26 and should be open on Friday September 27.

CEMETERY ADVISORY – In preparation of Hurricane Helene, we advise that if you have any valuables located at a gravesite, in a cemetery, that the items be secured. This is to reduce the amount of potential debris from the storm.

For all other Hurricane Helene updates, visit https://auburndalefl.com/eoc/

Winter Haven Man Wanted for Armed Robbery and Other Charges

Staff Reporter
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Winter Haven Man Wanted for Armed Robbery and Other Charges

Heartland Crime Stoppers:

Today’s Warrant Of The Day is 19 year old Latarius Matthews, Jr., AKA “PJ” who lives in Terranova in Winter Haven and has a Polk County Warrant for his arrest for armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

His charges stem from an armed robbery he committed on Friday, September 20th at the One Stop gas station on West Pipkin Road in Lakeland, during which he arrived in a black Chevy Camaro to ostensibly meet the victim and buy the victim’s iPhone. He tried to give the victim counterfeit money. After a short scuffle, he pointed a handgun and threatened to shoot and kill the victim, before fleeing in his Camaro.

He is to be considered ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

If you know where Latarius is please contact Detective Delgado at 863-298-6200. Or to remain anonymous and collect some real (not counterfeit) cash, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida in one of four ways:

CALL 1-888-400 TIPS (8477)
DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone
VISIT the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
DOWNLOAD the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.

Flood Watch Issued for Polk County For This Evening

Staff Reporter
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Flood Watch Issued for Polk County For This Evening

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Polk County:

Severity: Severe

Significant threat to life or property

Weather Event Onset

8:00 PM (EDT), September 25

Description

The Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of southwest Florida and west central Florida, including the following areas, in southwest Florida, Coastal Charlotte, Coastal Lee, Inland Charlotte, and Inland Lee. In west central Florida, Coastal Citrus, Coastal Hernando, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Levy, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Pasco, Coastal Sarasota, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Inland Citrus, Inland Hernando, Inland Hillsborough, Inland Levy, Inland Manatee, Inland Pasco, Inland Sarasota, Pinellas, Polk, and Sumter.

* From 8 PM EDT this evening through Friday morning

* WHEN…From this evening through Friday morning.

* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

Action Recommended

Make preparations per the Description.

Urgency

Take action in the near future.

Affected Area

Polk

Issued By

National Weather Service

Next Polk County Sheriff’s Office Women’s Basic Self Defense FREE Class Coming Up

Staff Reporter
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Next Polk County Sheriff’s Office Women’s Basic Self Defense FREE Class Coming Up

Polk County Sheriff’s Office:

The next Polk County Sheriff’s Office Women’s Basic Self Defense* and Personal Safety* class is scheduled for Saturday, October 5th from 10am – Noon.

Join our Crime Prevention Unit for a couple of hours to learn some basic moves and information that could help keep you safe in a bad situation.

The upcoming Saturday, October 5th between 10:00 a.m. – Noon, will be held at the PCSO Sheriff’s Operation Center, 1891 Jim Keene Blvd near Winter Haven.

The class is FREE of charge and designed for ladies 13 years and older. Those under 18 will need a parent present to sign a waiver at the start of class.

Each class is approximately one hour long unless more than 30 women attend. For every additional 10-15 females, 15 minutes are added to the time frame.

The class consists of lecture (approximately 15 minutes) and hands-on techniques (approximately 45 minutes). Attendees will demonstrate all of the techniques on a body opponent bag (B.O.B.) which we will supply.

NEXT CLASS:
Saturday, October 5th
PCSO Sheriff’s Operations Center
1891 Jim Keene Blvd, Winter Haven
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

If you wish to attend, please RSVP to
[email protected], and please include your name and phone number.

And check out our calendar
https://www.polksheriff.org/events
and our website
https://www.polksheriff.org/programs-services
for more information! You can also contact the team at
863-298-6677 or [email protected] with any questions.

*Personal Safety: Common sense safety tips are presented on how to avoid being the victim of a crime.

*Women’s Basic Self-Defense: Learn basic safety tips and techniques to enable women to escape less than desirable situations.

Hurricane Helene Now Category 1 and Expected to Become Major Hurricane by the Time it Makes Landfall

Staff Reporter
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Hurricane Helene Now Category 1 and Expected to Become Major Hurricane by the Time it Makes Landfall

National Hurricane Center 11am update for September 25, 2024

“…HELENE BECOMES A HURRICANE… …EXPECTED TO BRING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, DAMAGING WINDS, AND FLOODING RAINS TO A LARGE PORTION OF FLORIDA AND THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES…

Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are expected over northeastern portions of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico today where Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings are in effect. Tropical storm conditions are occurring over portions of western Cuba within the Tropical Storm Warning area, and hurricane conditions are possible today within the Hurricane Watch area.

Due to the large size of Helene, there is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend. The highest inundation of greater than 10 ft is expected along the Florida Big Bend coast. Residents in those areas should follow advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do SO.

Devastating hurricane-force winds are expected across portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia where the core of Helene moves inland. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed by early Thursday since tropical storm conditions are expected to begin within these areas on Thursday. Because of Helene’s expected fast forward speed, damaging and life-threatening wind gusts, are expected to penetrate well inland over portions of the southeastern United States, including in the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.

Helene will bring heavy rain to portions of the western Caribbean with potentially significant flooding across western Cuba and the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula into early Thursday. Considerable and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding is expected across portions of northwestern and northern Florida, the Southeast, southern Appalachians, and the Upper Tennessee Valley Wednesday through Friday. This includes the risk of landslides across the southern Appalachians. Widespread minor to moderate river flooding is likely, and isolated major river flooding is possible.”

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