On Friday, May 8, 2020, PCSO arrested and charged 40-year-old Robin Eileen Ramos of Lakeland with one count DUI (M1). Ramos told law enforcement deputies upon her arrest that she is a teacher at Kathleen Elementary School. She told detention deputies in the jail that she is a teacher at Socrum Loop Elementary School (she is listed as a 5th grade teacher on the Socrum website).
According to the affidavit, around 1:25 a.m., a PCSO deputy observed a 2014 silver Nissan Sentra traveling northbound on Kathleen Road, swerving in and out of the lane. The deputy conducted a traffic stop at Kathleen Road and Central Avenue NW, and requested that a Traffic deputy respond to conduct a field sobriety test, based on the deputy’s observation that Ramos appeared to be impaired.
A Traffic deputy arrived on-scene and conducted a DUI investigation, and determined Ramos’ faculties were impaired. She stumbled while trying to walk, was unsteady and swaying while standing still, and her eyes were bloodshot and watery with dilated pupils. During the “finger to nose” field sobriety test, she failed to touch the tip of her nose on all six attempts. She told deputies that she had not consumed any alcohol, but that she had taken a Xanax prior to driving. The deputies asked her if her prescription for Xanax included the warning that she should not operate heavy machinery after taking it, and she told them she did not know but that she should “probably look into that.”
After Ramos was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail, she was asked to submit a breath test, which she did. The test did not indicate the presence of alcohol. She was then asked to submit a urine sample to detect the presence of any chemicals or controlled substances. She refused. “It’s important to understand that certain medications can impair you to the point where you are unable to safely operate a motor vehicle, and that is not only dangerous and puts people’s lives at risk, it is also against the law.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
City of Winter Haven Parks, Recreation & Cultural:
As you begin to visit some of our recently reopened parks and facilities, you may see the following graphic signs spread about. Be sure to use the tips shown to keep our community safe. Click the link below for more information.
Following video showing a hand cuffed individual in what appears to be two Polk County Sherriff Deputies. In the video it appears that one of the Deputies may struck the cuffed individual. Daily Ridge has reached out to Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Public Investigation Officer has advised they are aware of the incident and it is currently being investigated.
Short Video Here: Full Video at Bottom of Article.
Video was uploaded by Zack Trip. Daily Ridge has reached out
for comment.
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Affidavit: On 5/6/20 I responded to 728 Chestnut Rd in Lakeland in reference to a fight. Upon arrival I observed a male, later identified as Fernando Jimenez, attempting to get in a vehicle parked near the road. I got out of my marked patrol car with my red and blue lights activated. I was wearing my agency issued black outer vest with “SHERIFF” in large yellow letters across the chest. I told Jimenez not to get in the vehicle. Jimenez stated “I don’t have to do shit”, and continued to open the door of the vehicle. I told Jimenez again not to get in the vehicle and walked towards him. Jimenez refused to step away from the vehicle. I attempted to grab his wrist in order to detain him to keep him from fleeing the scene. Jimenez pulled away and attempted to retreat back into the yard. I grabbed Jimenez’s arms and was able to secue him in handcuffs with the assistance of D/S Verran 8648. I then began escorting Jinenez to my patrol car, Jimenez began pulling away and bracing his arms and legs in a attempt to stop me from placing him in the vehicle. D/S Verran was assisting me place Jimenez in the car when Jimenez turned his head toward D/S Verran and spit on D/S Verran’s face. Jimenez was secured in the patrol car in a rip hobble and spitmask and transported to book in without further incident. Jimenez did actually and intentionally resist my efforts to place him in handcuffs and the partol car by bracing and pulling his arms and legs. Jimenez did actually and intentionally spit on D/S Verran’s face against her will.
Charges 843.02. M1 RESIST OFFICER WITHOUT VIOLENCE 843.01. F3 RESIST OFFICER WITH VIOLENCE 784.07(2)(B). F3 BATTERY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER 1
Florida Department of Health Updates New COVID-19 Cases, Announces Sixty-Eight Deaths Related to COVID-19
~37,020 positive cases in Florida residents and 982 positive cases in non-Florida residents~
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Department of Health, in order to provide more comprehensive data, releases a report on COVID-19 cases in Florida once per day. The Florida Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard is also providing updates once per day. The state also provides a report detailing surveillance data for every Florida county. Previously, this information was only available for select communities. The surveillance data report is available here.
More than 16,800 test results were reported to the Department of Health on Tuesday, May 5. Today, as of 11 a.m., there are 563 new positive COVID-19 cases (528 Florida residents and 35 non-Florida residents) and sixty-eight deaths related to COVID-19.
While Florida’s testing has increased over the past week, the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall is 8 percent. On May 5, 3.7 percent of new cases** tested positive.
The Florida Department of Health also releases a list of long-term care facilities in Florida associated with COVID-19 cases with active cases and number of deaths in each facility in order to provide real-time data. The list of long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases is available here. The list of long-term care facilities with deaths in available here. To date, 577 individuals that were staff or residents of a long-term care facility have died.
There are a total of 38,002 Florida cases** with 1,539 deaths related to COVID-19.
Since 11 a.m. on May 5, sixty-eight people have died who tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, Dade, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties.
Florida recently partnered with private laboratories around the state to expand COVID-19 laboratory testing capacity. This partnership will increase the number of tests conducted each day and ensure Floridians receive the critical health information they need in a timely manner.
Expansion to private laboratories changes the COVID-19 testing landscape in Florida. Private laboratories are running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners. Testing and reporting times vary among commercial and DOH laboratories. Demographic information may be updated during investigations. This daily report reflect the state’s efforts to accurately and transparently share information.
More information on a case-by-case basis can also be found here
.
For more detail on Florida resident cases, please visit the live DOH Dashboard here.
* Florida residents that are diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated out of state are not reflected on the Florida map.
**This percentage is the number of people who test positive for the first time divided by all tests, excluding people who have previously tested positive.
***Total cases overview includes positive cases in Florida residents and non-Florida residents tested in Florida.
More Information on COVID-19
To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, please visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website, this website is also available in Spanish and Creole. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, please visit the travel advisory website.
For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to [email protected].
About the Florida Department of Health
The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Lake Wales Family Restaurant Goes Above and Beyond
Frank Papadopoulos, owner of the Lakes Wales Family Restaurant is a proud supporter of many local sports teams and likes to provide breakfast before a big game. He is also a big believer in supporting his community in times of need. He serves meals for Thanksgiving and just recently he provided the Lake Wales Care Center with free dinners for them to give out to the people in need.
For many years, the local diner has managed to succeed and thrive where previous establishments failed in the very same location, as his restaurant has consistently provided quality food and service, including a complimentary bowl of soup for every meal.
Owing
his success to the community of Lake Wales, Papadopoulos has dedicated himself
to giving back to the very small town that has allowed him to thrive for as
long as he has.
Thank you to Frank for continuing to support Lake Wales Community.
Brew Hounds Sports Lounge Hopes To Soon Be
“Always Among Friends” Again
by James Coulter
Nearly one year ago, Brew Hounds Sports Lounge in
Auburndale was crowded with dozens of people to celebrate the local sports
bar’s ten-year anniversary. Partygoers gathered in the parking lot to play corn
hole, eat fresh barbecue, and even watch as a local artist painted a portrait
of Elvis Presley to the song “Hound Dog.”
Now, since the stay-at-home order has forced it and
many other local bars to closed, the building remains vacant, its parking lot
empty. Occasionally, people passing by can hear music playing as the owner,
Skip Jacobs, works on renovations.
“We have people checking in when we have our
jukeboxes on because they know we are inside painting and they play
songs,” he said. “It is very inspirational and a good sense of
community. We miss seeing all the friendly faces that we consider our
family.”
While their bar has been closed and remains closed,
Jacobs and his staff have been busy at work renovating, cleaning, and most
importantly of all, sanitizing. Once the bar re-opens, patrons old and new can
come to expect a nicer, cleaner non-smoking establishment.
Unlike other similar establishments, Brew Hounds has not
been offering to-go drinks. It has been offering BOGO opportunities for gift
certificates, as well as novelty t-shirts with uplifting messages such
“You Can’t Keep A Good Hound Down.” All the proceeds have been going
to support their bartenders during these uncertain times.
“We have been patiently waiting for when we can
reopen,” Jacobs said.
Skip Jacobs, co-owner of Brew Hounds, moved down to
Florida from Atlanta. He eventually met his business partner, who had moved
from Palm Beach. Both of them started chatting with one another and discovered
that they both had a desire to open their own bar. They opened that bar ten
years ago in Auburndale, and the rest, they say, is history.
What has drawn patrons, both old and new, has been the
overall sense of camraderie and community. Like the bar from the television
show “Cheers”, it is a place where everybody knows your name–or as
the regulars put it, it is a place to be “Always Among Friends.”
Since the bar closed earlier this year due to the
stay-at-home order, patrons have been sharing their love for their favorite
hometown bar on social media, expressing their willingness to return once it
re-opens.
“I’m sure that your loyal clients will continue
to support you and your staff because you have always shown everyone love and
respect for their business,” one person wrote on Facebook. “I hope
that you and your staff are doing well and can’t wait to have a few drinks and
play darts again at Brew Hounds Sports Lounge!”
“Hope you guys are staying safe,” another
person wrote. “Can’t wait to go back to the BH life.”
Jacobs hopes to see his bar re-open eventually. He
anticipates seeing many people return to not only a place they call a home away
from home, but also a place that has been renovated and upgraded to their
liking.
“It has been fantastic watching people post
through social media about waiting to reopen, how they miss our staff, how the
camraderie and hanging out with patrons and missing their hometown bar,”
he said. “We hope to bring smiles to the people who walk through our doors,
experiencing a new environment smoke free and newly renovated.”
Brew Hounds Sports Lounge is located at 318 Havendale
Blvd, Auburndale, FL 33823. For more information, visit their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/brewhounds863/
Recognize this subject?
She visited Staples, located at 470 Citi Centre St. and selected $840 worth of ink cartridges. She placed them in her handy basket that Staples provides and then proceeded to put them inside of a larger bag and out the door she went.
Anyone who recognizes her is asked to contact Detective Cobb at 863-291-5620. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Florida Department of Health Updates New COVID-19 Cases, Announces Seventy-Two Deaths Related to COVID-19~36,492 positive cases in Florida residents and 947 positive cases in non-Florida residents~
Overall from the number of active cases and total cases it appears that approximately 686 people have recovered. (This number has not be regularly updated so that number may not be accurate)
Polk County has 547 Confirmed Cases and 28 Confirmed deaths.
TALLAHASSEE —The Florida Department of Health, in order to provide more comprehensive data, releases a report on COVID-19 cases in Florida once per day. The Florida Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard is also providing updates once per day. The state also provides a report detailing surveillance data for every Florida county. Previously, this information was only available for select communities. The surveillance data report is available here.More than 23,800 test results were reported to the Department of Health on Monday, May 4. Today, as of 11 a.m., there are 542 new positive COVID-19 cases (523 Florida residents and 19 non-Florida residents) and seventy-two deaths related to COVID-19.While Florida’s testing has increased over the past week, the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall is 8 percent. On May 4, 2.6 percent of new cases** tested positive.The Florida Department of Health also releases a list of long-term care facilities in Florida associated with COVID-19 cases with active cases and number of deaths in each facility in order to provide real-time data. The list of long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases is available here. The list of long-term care facilities with deaths in available here. To date, 534 individuals that were staff or residents of a long-term care facility have died. There are a total of 37,439 Florida cases** with 1,471 deaths related to COVID-19.Since 11 a.m. on May 4, seventy-two people have died who tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, Escambia, Flagler, Hendry, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Suwannee and Volusia counties.Florida recently partnered with private laboratories around the state to expand COVID-19 laboratory testing capacity. This partnership will increase the number of tests conducted each day and ensure Floridians receive the critical health information they need in a timely manner.Expansion to private laboratories changes the COVID-19 testing landscape in Florida. Private laboratories are running tests as they receive swab samples from practitioners. Testing and reporting times vary among commercial and DOH laboratories. Demographic information may be updated during investigations. This daily report reflect the state’s efforts to accurately and transparently share information. More information on a case-by-case basis can also be found here.
For more detail on Florida resident cases, please visit the live DOH Dashboard here. * Florida residents that are diagnosed with COVID-19 and isolated out of state are not reflected on the Florida map.**This percentage is the number of people who test positive for the first time divided by all tests, excluding people who have previously tested positive.***Total cases overview includes positive cases in Florida residents and non-Florida residents tested in Florida.More Information on COVID-19 To find the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19, please visit the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For information and advisories from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), please visit the CDC COVID-19 website, this website is also available in Spanish and Creole. For more information about current travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State, please visit the travel advisory website. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-866-779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to [email protected].About the Florida Department of HealthThe Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
The Winter Haven Tennis Center opened Phase I on Friday May 1 at 8am. Please familiarize yourself on the Guidelines and Procedures to keep everyone safe.
MEMBERS of the Winter Haven Tennis Center. In order to create a safe Check-In environment, we have placed the Check-In key fob machine by the North side of the Pro Shop window. If you called in for a court reservation, when you arrive, go to the North side of the Pro Shop to swipe in at the machine. A staff member, at that time will show you a court number through the window, (see example). You will not have to enter the Pro Shop. PLEASE don’t forget your key fob. ALL MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THIS POLICY. DO NOT ARRIVE AND WALK ON TO A COURT BEFORE CHECKNG IN.
The Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District is seeking a Multi- County Conservation Technician to assist with the implementation of The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) adopted Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) program. This will include working with the producers to enroll agricultural property in the BMPs, assisting producers with the FDACS cost share program, Implementation Verification (IV) program and outreach efforts. The position will be based in Polk County, but will also require travel to surrounding counties. The applicant should be team oriented, independent and have an agricultural and/or natural resources background, with excellent computer and office management skills. This position is state funded, annually.
Applicant will be required to:
• Perform clerical and field work,
• Complete a pre-employment state/federal background check will be performed,
• Hold a valid Florida Driver License and
• Have a good driving record.
Although resumes are accepted an application form must be completed and sent to:
Polk Soil and Water Conservation District
1700 US Highway 17 South, Suite #2
Bartow, FL 33830-6654 [email protected]
(863) 439-6550
April 28, 2020
Conservation Technician
Position Description
Summary
This is a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) technical and professional team-oriented position under direction of the supervisor in the Office of Agricultural Water Policy’s (OAWP) in partnership with the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District (PSWCD). The position will be assisting with the coordination and implementation of FDACS-adopted best management practices (BMPs) and assisting with agricultural related projects with the PSWCD. The primary office of the technician will be in Polk County. The primary area of the technician will be Polk County, but will travel to neighboring counties such as Hillsborough, Manatee, Sumter, Pasco and Highlands County. This position will involve travel to agricultural operations, meetings, and tradeshows/workshops and will include a vehicle. These are the primary responsibilities of the technician position:
• Assisting the OAWP team with implementation of BMPs and enrollment into the FDACS-adopted BMP Program by conducting on-site field evaluations of agricultural operations using BMP manuals, checklists and other tools to assist producers in enrolling by filing with the FDACS a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Implement BMPs.
• Coordinating with partner agencies, follow-up visits with agricultural operations, generating maps, data collection and analysis, and cross-checking parcel identification information.
• Conducting evaluations for the OAWP’s Implementation Assurance Program to assure implementation of FDACS-adopted BMPs.
• Assisting HSWCD and OAWP with administration, implementation and verification of the BMP cost-share program, such as the review of cost-share projects, invoices and deliverables documentation.
• Assisting partner agencies, such as the University of Florida’s Extension Service, in coordinating and conducting education and outreach regarding the BMP program.
• Assisting in education, outreach, and implementation of the FDACS’ responsibilities under the Florida Watershed Restoration Act/Total Maximum Daily Loads Program through producer enrollment in the FDACS-adopted BMP Programs.
** Deadline for applications will be Friday May 8th**
