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Bartow Celebrates 2nd Annual Chalk Walk Festival In Spite Of Rain

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Bartow Celebrates 2nd Annual Chalk Walk Festival In Spite Of Rain

Bartow Celebrates 2nd Annual Chalk Walk Festival In Spite Of Rain

by James Coulter

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysteriously spooky, and altogether ooky, they’re the Addams Family. And they made an appearance in Downtown Bartow—sort of!

Ken Mullen, a chalk artist from West Palm Beach, traveled to the city to draw a portrait of the creepy television family on the sidewalk. He was one of nearly two dozen artists who decorated the pavement of the downtown area with chalk during the second annual Chalk Walk Festival.

Mullen loves to create chalk drawings of various properties from popular culture. As the new Addams Family movie will be released later this week, he decided to draw a portrait of the characters from the original television series.

He attended both Saturday and Sunday. Though it rained most of the afternoon during the latter day, the rainy weather did not deter him from his artwork, as he continued working on it after the rain let up.

This was his first time attending the annual festival. The rainy weather none withstanding, he enjoyed being able to attend and looks forward to attending again next year, he said.

“I want to come back, I cannot endorse it more than that,” he said. “I think as good as it could be, considering it rained a lot, but the organizers have been nice and the people have been great. Can’t ask for more than that aside from the weather.”

For the second year, the annual Bartow Chalk Walk Festival drew in artists from across the county, and even from across the state and world, to decorate the downtown pavement with colorful chalk drawings.

More than 21 artists attended this year’s event. Some were from as close as Lakeland, while others arrived from as far away as Mexico. Together, they helped decorate Fort Blount Park outside of the Polk County Courthouse with drawings ranging from flowers and birds to characters such as the Addams Family and X-Men’s Wolverine.

“We have been doing this for two years,” said Trish Pfeiffer, Bartow City Commissioner. “The neat thing about this event is that it is a new art form to this county. So the street painting is a very popular art form that is globally very trendy…and we are happy to bring it here to Polk County.”

Aside from allowing chalk artists to create their art on the sidewalk, the event also drew in several food trucks, local vendors, and live musical performances over the weekend. While Saturday experienced beautiful fall weather, Sunday experienced intermittent rain during the afternoon.

The weather on Sunday forced many artists to cover their work and wait for the rain to stop and continue their work. The overall turnout was also smaller that day than the day before; but overall, the event proved successful for its second year, Pfeiffer said.

“It is a little tough because of the rain,” she said. “That was a little disappointing. We hate that for the artists. They worked so hard, so that was our [only] disappointment. We are just going to hope that it doesn’t rain next year. They [the artists] all want to come back, they love coming here, so we just look forward to next year.”

Even in spite of the rainy weather that Sunday afternoon, Pfeiffer has high expectations for the annual event. She hopes that it continues to grow, and she would love to see more than 30 artists show up at next year’s event.

“I love hanging with the artists,” she said. “They are awesome people…[I love seeing] the people’s expression when they see the art on the ground. They cannot believe how detailed it is, how beautiful it is, and they are so excited to see this kind of artform.”

Aside from the nearly two dozen artists attending that weekend, also attending were local bands such as the KitchenKillaz. This musical duo is famous for live streaming their musical performances from different kitchens every Friday evening on Facebook.

This weekend, they stepped out of the kitchen to serve their hot tunes at the festival. This was their second year attending. They had previously attended for one day last year, and attended the whole weekend for this year’s event, explained Billy Floyd, the leader of the group.

More than being able to perform that weekend, Floyd and his musical partner, The Commodore, loved being able to see the artwork of diverse artists from across the state and world. They also enjoyed some of the food from local vendors such as Unicorn Popcorn.

“I am excited to come back next year,” Floyd said. “It is great to see the large chalk drawings here today…It is a super tiny town that is absolutely packed with a lot of talent, and it is really cool to see them open it up and bring in people from all over the country.”

John Storer | July 15, 1921 – October 02, 2019 | Obituary

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John Storer | July 15, 1921 – October 02, 2019 | Obituary

John Storer July 15, 1921 – October 02, 2019 John’s Obituary    John Storer, MD, a pioneer in heart and vessel surgery, died peacefully at his home in Lake Wales, Florida on October 2nd. Dr. Storer was born on July 15, 1921 in Pitman, New Jersey to parents Alexander and Helen (Stanger). John graduated from the […]
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Inwood Community Celebrates Fifth Annual Multicultural Unity Event

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Inwood Community Celebrates Fifth Annual Multicultural Unity Event

Inwood Community Celebrates Fifth Annual Multicultural Unity Event

by James Coulter

 

What do Haiti, Jamaica, and the Bahamas all have in common? They’re all islands within the Caribbean. They’re also countries where many residents from the Inwood community once lived.

Inwood may be a small neighborhood in Winter Haven, but with many of its residents having arrived from countries in the Caribbean, Central America, and Asia, their small community is home to people from all over a big world.

Last Saturday, this small community celebrated their rich multicultural heritage during their fifth annual Multicultural Unity Event, hosted by the Association for Inwood Community.

With nearly 7,000 people living within the neighborhood south of Winter Haven, many of them arrived at Westwood Park for an afternoon of food, fun, and games, all for the purpose of bringing people together to celebrate their community of diverse backgrounds.

One of the big highlights of the day were several musical performances with little children showcasing the clothing and dances of their native cultures, with many of the children coming from families who once lived in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other countries within Central and South America.

When not busy appreciating the different cultures of their fellow residents, attendees at the event could also peruse the many vendors at the park, with nearly a dozen local organizations showcasing services available to the community and general public.

“This is a mixed community, so we want everybody to get together and get to know their backgrounds,” explained Minnie Hassel, President of the Association for Inwood Community. “My goal is to have this huge community of [nearly] 10,000 people to get together and participate in everything…[and to learn about] all the things that the county provides for them.”

Many of the organizations attending were churches, many of whom were planting themselves in the local community to help meet their spiritual and material needs. One such church, Multiply Christian Church, set up a special tent to allow mothers the privacy to change diapers and breastfeed.

Jasen and Julie Whiting, both volunteers from the church, mentioned how they attended the event to help spread the message about their church family and how they are more than willing to help others within the local community at events such as this and through services such as their food pantry on Thursdays.

“It is about getting involved with the community and helping provide support for them,” Jasen said. “We want to differentiate ourselves from other churches in that we want to give back to the community…to provide for their physical needs as well as spiritual needs.”

Chris Young, Pastor of The Way of Inwood Church, two blocks away from the park, had recently moved to the community about three months ago. He decided to help spread the word of his church by providing a bounce house and helping attendees fill out surveys about their local community.

“It is a great community from what I can tell,” he said. “There is a lot of diversity and culture and people, and I am excited to be here and see what the Lord will allow me to do. My biggest thing is that we are always pointing the way to Jesus.”

Since its start five years ago, the Multicultural Unity Event has grown in the number of vendors and attendees. The annual event is hosted, not only to help celebrate the diversity of the local community but to bring the community together to help learn about their needs.

The event is hosted by the Association for Inwood Community, a non-profit association dedicated to helping bring the community together and improve it for all of the residents. They fulfill their mission through partnerships with code enforcement and local law enforcement to help better meet their local needs.

Some of the needs of the Inwood community include better street lighting, sidewalk pavement, and a community center. The center especially is something that the association has been working to obtain, which would provide local residents a place to host community events and partake in other activities, explained Bettie Harrel-Jones, Association Secretary.

For many local children, the only other place to go after school is the Boys and Girls Club along Havendale Boulevard, which is a long walking distance from the neighborhood. As such, having a local place for them would grant them better after school opportunities, she said.

“Our kids have no place to play ball, no place to go after school,” she said. “So if we can get the community involved, the county will see the need. So we want more involvement from the community so we can show the county our needs out here.”

In order for such improvements to be made to their local community, residents need to come together to events such as this to help show county officials that their neighborhood is vibrant and deserving of better accommodations, Hassle said.

 “We need the community to come forward and understand what we are trying to do for them,” she said. “I want more participation from the community, and it is hard to reach out in this community, but I do not give up, I just continue.”

Supsect Arrested in Shoplifting Incident that Quickly Escalated Into Violence

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Supsect Arrested in Shoplifting Incident that Quickly Escalated Into Violence

UPDATE – SUSPECT ARRESTED

Shoplifting Incident Quickly Escalates Into Violence

On October 10, 2019 at 12:35 a.m., Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Detective Charlie Peck received information of Doranda Ussery’s location.  He contacted Lake Wales Police Officer Mary Jerome and told her Ussery was at the Imperial Swan Hotel, 4141 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL.  Officer Jerome in turn contacted Lakeland Police Officer Chad Landry and gave him this information and of Ussery’s active warrant.  Officer Landry located Ussery at the hotel.  She barricaded herself inside of one of the rooms upon the sight of law enforcement.  After a short period, Ussery surrendered.  Officer Landry contacted Officer Jerome back and let her know Ussery was in custody.  Lake Wales Police Detective James Lewis responded to the scene.  Ussery gave Detective Lewis a full confession.  Ussery was taken to Polk County Jail on her warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft and battery.

Thanks to Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeland Police Department for their assistance in putting this dangerous person in jail. It is great to live and work in a community where law enforcement agencies work together so well.  It is a great benefit to the citizens we serve and whom we care so much for.

Original Release by Lake Wales Police Department:

On Sunday, September 29, 2019 shortly after 5:47 a.m., Doranda Jo Ussery, of Avon Park, entered Walmart at 2000 State Road 60 East and quickly escalated a minor shoplifting incident into a violent felony.  Doranda shopped for over two hours before heading to the self-checkout registers.  Loss Prevention approached Doranda and told her not to forget to pay for the sunglass and backpack she had picked up and was wearing.  Doranda said she no longer wanted the glasses and said the backpack was her boyfriends.  Doranda paid for $16.34 worth of items and headed toward the exit with multiple Walmart bags of items while still carrying the backpack.  Doranda set off the security alarms after passing all points of sale and an associate stopped her.  Loss Prevention approached Doranda and asked her to return to the store.  Doranda fled into the parking lot dropping several cards with her name on them.  Loss Prevention told Doranda they now had her identified from the information on the cards and turned to go back in the store.  Doranda followed Loss Prevention back to their office and said she would return the stolen merchandise if they did not call law enforcement.  Doranda said she was on probation and had two children.  Loss Prevention began recovering the stolen property, which totaled $358.23 and doing their paperwork. Before Loss Prevention could contact law enforcement to respond, Doranda removed a can of pepper spray from her purse and charged them, spraying it in their face.  Loss Prevention attempted to gain control of Doranda, at which time she sprayed two other associates that were in the office with them.  Loss Prevention was able to remove the pepper spray from Doranda’s hand at which time she stated, “I have a knife.” Doranda had armed herself with a knife that had a blade of three to four inches long.  Doranda made a motion as if she were going to stab Loss Prevention and even raised it over their head.  Loss Prevention believed they were in a fight for their life.  The two associates were able to escape the room and block Doranda’s swing of the knife while backing away.  Doranda fled out the office and Loss Prevention ran out behind her.  Doranda ran into the parking lot, entered the passenger side of a red Chevrolet Cruz and left the area.  The Lake Wales Police received a call of a disturbance involving a weapon and responded.  Officers were unable to locate the vehicle or Doranda.  The tag number on the Cruz lead officers to work with law enforcement in Highlands County.  They located the vehicle and the driver.  Law enforcement in Highlands County was also familiar with Doranda.

 

Doranda is still at large and the investigation is ongoing.  Lake Wales Police Department Detective James Lewis was able to obtain an arrest warrant for Doranda Ussery for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft and battery.  Doranda’s arrest history includes burglary, grand theft auto, resisting an officer without violence, giving false identification to law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 

Anyone having information on Doranda’s whereabouts call Detective James Lewis at (863) 678-4223 extension 264 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

 

 

Head Coach Corbin Weeks Leaving Mulberry High School

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Head Coach Corbin Weeks Leaving Mulberry High School

Head Coach Corbin Weeks Leaving Mulberry High School

by James Coulter

The head coach at Mulberry High School, who has spent nearly three years turning the school’s baseball team around for the better, and who recently sent four seniors to college on scholarships last spring, will be stepping down from his position.

Corbin Weeks will be heading off to Montreat College in Black Mountain, North Carolina to become a Graduate Assistant Baseball Coach. The college is a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

For the past two and a half years, Weeks has been working hard to turn the high school’s baseball team into a winning program. Prior to being hired, the team posted a 2-23 record in 2017. In the spring of 2018, the team posted an 11-14 record. Then in the spring of 2019, the team finished at 13-10 – the program’s best record since 1993.

“The last two years was the first time Mulberry has had success in a number of years,” Weeks said. “There have been great coaches in Mulberry in the past, and there will be great coaches in the future. I have played a small part in this big picture at Mulberry High School.”

His new position at Montreat College will have him working with the hitters as well as high school recruiting. He expects to remain in his position for three years. Once they are complete, he will be looking for an assistant coaching position either at Montreat College or at another university.

Weeks will be serving under head coach Jason Beck, who had formerly been the head coach at Southeastern University in Lakeland for 15 years where Weeks attended college. As a former protégé under his old coach, Weeks is more than eager to serve under him.

“To work alongside my head coach is a blessing,” he said. “He knows me better than anyone, and it is an opportunity I am looking forward to. My dream was always to coach college baseball. And it was the right opportunity at the right time.”

Weeks attended Evangelical Christian School in Fort Myers where he graduated in 2012. Through his athletic career there, he broke nearly every hitting record at the high school. He was a three-time News-Press First Team All-Area, an ESPN All-State Honorable Mention, a Pre-Season Perfect Game Southeast All-American, and a 2012 Bartley’s Sporting Goods All-Star.

Prior to graduating high school, he was invited to a prestigious Home Run Derby called the Power Showcase. He placed second at the event, becoming one of the top 100 power hitters in high school throughout the country.

As a Freshman at Southeastern University, Weeks played in 56 games for the Fire baseball team while batting .281 with 9 doubles and 30 RBI. He helped lead the Fire to the 2013 NCCAA National Championship Game at Prasco Park.

In 2013, as a Sophomore, Weeks played in 43 games while batting .293 with 10 doubles and 4 home runs. Weeks helped lead the Fire to its first NAIA World Series Opening Round appearance in school history.

Weeks went on to lead the South Florida Collegiate League in hitting in the Summer of 2014, posting a .395 batting average for the Broward Breakers. In 2015, Weeks’ started the first 15 games for the Fire before suffering a career ending arm injury. In 2015, Weeks posted a .305 batting average with 3 doubles, 1 home run, and 9 RBI.

Following his graduation in 2016, he became an assistant coach at George Jenkins High School in Lakeland. He has since served as the head coach at Mulberry High School for nearly three years.

During his three years at Mulberry High School, he saw the baseball team and field vastly improve. Last year alone, the school raised almost $10,000 to purchase new netting and sound speakers for the field, along with new uniforms for the team. One of the student’s fathers even volunteered his time towards helping renovate the field, with in-field work estimated around $40,000.

Though helping the baseball team was a high priority, his main motivation was more on how his students performed academically in the classroom rather than athletically on the field, he said. To him, they were more than students, they were like a second family for whom he saw much potential.

“Athletics are important, but seeing people pursue their dreams at the end of the day is what I am focused on,” he said. “I always say that winning isn’t always in the scorebook. Wins and losses do not make a winner. In our program, a winner is defined as someone who is respectable, who lifts up their team and does the things that they need to do.”

Weeks didn’t care only about raising good athletes. He was helping to teach and raise young men to pursue their dreams after high school, with many of them going on to be first-generation high school graduates, and even first generation college and trade school graduates.

“The most important aspect of my job is seeing all of the kids move on to their futures, whether that is to college or baseball or the work force,” he said. “That is the greatest accomplishment, just helping these kids figure out what they want to do with their lives and producing young people of character.”

Kimberly Kinsley | June 01, 1979 – September 30, 2019 | Obituary

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Kimberly Kinsley | June 01, 1979 – September 30, 2019 | Obituary

Kimberly Kinsley June 01, 1979 – September 30, 2019 Kimberly’s Obituary Last weekend, our agency suffered a tragic and untimely loss. Kimberly Kinsley, PCSO Crime Scene Technician member number 5910, who dedicated 18 years of her life to public service, passed away from a sudden illness. We will have a Celebration of Life service for […]
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Compass Blending Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Of New 10,000 Square Foot Facility

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Compass Blending Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Of New 10,000 Square Foot Facility

Compass Blending Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Of New 10,000 Square Foot Facility

by James Coulter

 

Compass Blending, a dry food blending and processing company, opened its doors last year with only eight employees. Since then, the company has experienced tremendous growth. Not only have they grown to 34 employees, but they have also grown to the point where they had to move to a larger facility.

Having previously operated from a 3,100 square-foot location along Kidron Road in Lakeland, their business has since moved its operations to its new 10,000 square-foot facility along Anchuca Drive, down the road from Lakeland-Linder Airport.

Compass Blending celebrated its expansion into a newer, larger location through its grand opening ceremony, commemorated with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce on Friday afternoon.

The company operates in the industry of dry food blending, which includes various dry food products ranging from drink and cake mixes. If it’s something you prepare by just adding water, then it’s probably a product that Compass Blending specializes in.

Angie Fortes, CEO of Compass Blending, started her business last year. She has been living within Polk County and the state for the past 20 years. She firmly believes that this is the best of all places to start a new business such as her own, she said in an article for BizJournal.

“I’m extremely excited for this venture,” she said in the article. “When I went to open my own business, Polk County and Lakeland were willing to do business and they have worked in the industry. All signs pointed to Lakeland.”

When she started her business, she had no idea how much it would grow. So the growth that her business has experienced since only opening one year ago has been nothing short of a pleasant surprise, and she hopes to see even more growth in the near future.

“There has been tremendous growth,” she said. “We had no idea we were going to grow this fast, and quite honestly, we are still growing. The sky is the limit.”

Fortes and her employees celebrated the opening of their new facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Guests could take a tour of the building, as well as sample many food products that are blended, processed, and manufactured there, including ice slushy mixes and barbecue seasoning rubs.

Greg Ruthven, a Certified Commercial Investment Member and local real estate broker, boasted of the economic growth that the company managed to not only create for itself, but in turn help create for the local community.

“[This has been] tremendous growth, as fast as anybody we ever had in the history of our family as far as a customer,” he said. “We are really proud of what you have done. You have worked hard, and you deserve the accolades.”

Justin Troller, Chair of the City’s Municipal Boards And Committees, representing the City of Lakeland on behalf of the Mayor, also boasted about the economic growth experienced and promoted by the company.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, not only on the national level, but also the local level,” he said. “So we are thrilled you are able to employ people here…and congratulations on your expansion.”

Compass Blending is located ar 3850 Anchuca Dr, Lakeland, FL 33811. For more information, visit their website at: http://compassblending.com/

In Memory ROBERT WILLIAM HELMS

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In Memory ROBERT WILLIAM HELMS

In Memory ROBERT WILLIAM HELMS

Robert “Billy” Helms, 48,of Babson Park, entered into rest Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Lake Wales.  He was born Jan. 11, 1971, in Bartow, to Ray and Bertha Helms.

He was a resident of Babson Park for 28 years, coming from Fort Meade. He was a heavy equipment operator at Mosaic South Fort Meade Mine for 21 years and of the Christian faith.

Billy enjoyed vacations to Casey Key and the mountains, fishing, baseball, being with his wife, girls, family and friends. He also enjoyed attending church at the First Christian Church of Babson Park.

He was preceded in death by his loving mother, Bertha Helms.

He is survived by his wife, Carole Helms, of Babson Park; daughters, Leigh-Anne, Lacey and Lindy; father, Ray Helms; sister, Cindy Richman (Rob); brother, Wally Helms (Wendy); sister, Leta Short (Russel); and many nieces and nephews. He was expecting his first granddaughter, Olivia Rae, in November.

Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, at

First Christian Church of Babson Park.

Man Shot Twice During Incident At Lake Wales Residence

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Man Shot Twice During Incident At Lake Wales Residence

Polk County Sheriffs Office Press Release

A fight between two Lake Wales men on Monday, October 7, 2019 ended with one of the men being shot twice and sent to the hospital. He remains in critical condition.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded at about 6:08 P.M. Monday night, October 7, 2019, to a residence just off US Hwy 27 near Bok Academy.

During the fight, one man was shot with a Glock 9mm, once in the thigh, and once in the abdomen.

Both men were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

The names of the two men are not being released at this time, as the investigation is ongoing.

The man who was shot is in critical condition. The other man was treated for minor head injuries, and was released from the hospital.

Detectives spoke with several witnesses, with some saying that they saw the two men fighting on the ground.

One witness said the confrontation started when she came to her former residence with the man who was eventually shot. She was there to retrieve her remaining property from the home where the man who shot the other man lives.

According to the shooter, the other man had followed him into his residence before both men exited and a physical fight took place outside.

The shooter said he had been punched numerous times in the face, and was being held in a headlock which made him feel like he was about to pass out, so as a last resort, he shot the other man.

He said he then handed his gun over to a witness and remained on scene until deputies arrived.

Evidence at the scene corroborates statements from the witnesses and shooter.

The man who was shot has not been able to speak with detectives due to his condition.

Detectives are reviewing the shooting to determine if the facts support a “Stand Your Ground” self-defense case.

Chief Charlie Bird Seeking Winter Haven Residents to Participate in the 2020 Winter Haven Police Leadership Council

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Chief Charlie Bird Seeking Winter Haven Residents to Participate in the 2020 Winter Haven Police Leadership Council

Chief Charlie Bird Seeking Winter Haven Residents to Participate in the
2020 Winter Haven Police Leadership Council

Winter Haven Police Chief Charlie Bird is seeking residents of Winter Haven, who are over the age of 18, to participate in the Winter Haven Police Leadership Council. The dates for the council will be held every other Tuesday beginning in January until the end of April 2020.

The Council will consist of approximately 20 members who will serve voluntarily and meet every other Tuesday from 6 – 9 p.m. with Chief Bird and agency members from both Police and Fire for a total of eight meetings. The Council will begin on January 21, 2020. Participants will be asked to complete assignments and provide feedback on Department operations.

Members of the Council will experience hands-on activities over the course of the eight weeks while gaining a much better understanding of what it takes to operate Municipal Police and Fire Departments. Council members will participate in tours at the Polk County Jail book-in, Central County Jail and the Courthouse. Participants will be required to serve specified times at the Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Center and complete a Ride-A-Long with an officer. Participants have proven to be a valuable community resource in advising on topics that affect the agency.

Those interested in serving on the Police Leadership Council can request an application by calling 863-291-5858, ext. 2351. Applications can also be obtained by going to the Department website at www.WinterHavenPD.com and clicking the Community Services link on the homepage or send an email to [email protected]. Applications must be submitted no later than December 1, 2019 to be considered for the upcoming council that will begin on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Citizens awarded the opportunity to serve will be notified no later than December 15 in order to make plans for the meeting dates. A listing of meeting dates will be sent along with the application.

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