IDENTIFIED! 33 year-old Danny Pike. He was already out on Felony Petit Theft Charges. He’s back in jail.
Winter Haven Police Department
And we’re back with yet another tale of a skip-scanner in progress. This guy has some manners. Doesn’t attempt to run over the people in front of him as they slowly exit the store. He patiently walks behind them though many of his items weren’t scanned. The guy is pictured with a distinctive wallet by the way) at Walmart (7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd) on March 12 where he skip scanned quite a few items including items he left in the cart and didn’t bother to scan. Not cool dude! Recognize him? Call Sgt. Hall at 863-291-5736.
Spring Obsession Obsesses Over Spring At Lake Crago Park
by James Coulter
Carol Prevatt has been creating glass wind chimes for the past 14 years. She self-taught herself after repairing a pair of old chimes. Now she makes her own and sells them out of the store in her home.
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From puppy dogs to majestic swans, Carol designs her chimes after everything and anything. No matter what they look like, they all sound just as mellifluous as their glass bits clangor in the wind.
Carol has been selling her chimes at the annual Spring Obsession in Lakeland for the past seven years. She draws in plenty of customers at the show, and she loves the overall majestic landscape of the venue, customarily hosted at Munn Park. This year, the location was changed to Lake Crago Park.
This year, she made up for lost time, as the show was not hosted last year due to COVID-19. She loved being able to reunite with old customers, and she also enjoyed being able to take in the new view at the show’s new venue.
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“I do well at these shows,” she said. “I enjoy talking to the people and watching them look at the art and brag on it, I love it, they enjoy looking at it. Customers have been happy with this new venue and so am I. I love it. Everyone who comes out loves it, and they hope they will be out next year.”
Last Saturday, the Rotary Club of Lakeland hosted its 18th annual Spring Obsession outdoor spring event. More than 60 vendors showcased various flowers and plants and outdoor decor, gardening equipment, and other spring-related merchandise.
Since it first started 18 years ago, Spring Obsession has been hosted at Munn Park in Downtown Lakeland. However, due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the event was canceled last year.
This year’s event was hosted at the new Lake Crago Dog Park off of Massachusetts Avenue. The new venue was selected to not only highlight the new location but to provide a more spacious environment that would permit for better social distancing, explained Kathy McGee, Lakeland Rotary Club Member.
Gladys Baxley, a Rotary Vendor Coordinator, helped oversee the change of location. She claimed the turnout was tremendous, and she owed the overall success to their marketing strategy. Over the past few weeks, she and her team has been working overtime to promote the event and its new location.
“I think we got the word out in term of our marketing,” she said. “We knew that a new location would call for more marketing efforts, and we used all media, social media, to get the word out, and our vendors got the word out for us.”
Whether or not the event will stay at its new location at Lake Cargo Park, or return to its old home in Downtown Lakeland, has yet to be determined; however, Baxley is more than happy to have the event hosted at either location.
“The turnout has been tremendous,” she said. “We were pleasantly surprised that when we moved the event [that] had been in Munn Park for many, many years. So this was the first time we changed. People came in big numbers, so we were very pleased…It seems positive to be here. We are very happy, and if we can work all the details out, we would love to stay.”
The City of Lakeland participated as one of the many vendors. Lakeland Parks and Recreation volunteers distributed free plants and flowers that were grown at their nursery.
Most of their foliage is grown for public landscaping, with the different plants being donated to the community through an event such as this, explained Amanda James, Grounds Maintenance Supervisor with Parks and Recreation.
“We gave away a few plants,” she said. “Probably not as many as in the past, but there were quite a few people…who are interested in what we did and how we can help out.”
While Amanda enjoyed the excellent weather and tranquil atmosphere at the event, she missed its old location in Munn Park. She much preferred it being near the local eateries and shops in the downtown area.
“I don’t know if I’m fond of the new location,” she said. “I feel it is too cramped. Downtown was better because it was more open with shops and places to eat down there. The atmosphere was nice. But it has been a success for us this year.”
Bartow Hops into Spring with Upcoming Spring Fling Hop & Shop
by James Coulter
Downtown Bartow helped residents and guests fall into autumn with their Fall Festival in September and get into the holiday spirit with the Mistletoe Market in December. They hope to have people hop into spring with their upcoming Spring Fling Hop & Shop, to be hosted on Sat., Apr. 3.
From 10 am to 4 pm, Downtown Bartow will host countless vendors along their streets, showcasing various wares from crafts and jewelry to jams and jellies. Even the Easter Bunny will be visiting for the smallest attendees to enjoy! A little bit of everything and anything will be available during this inaugural springtime market.
“It is a fun day out in beautiful Downtown Bartow with great places to eat, great retail shops, and a large variety of vendors for people to come out and shop with,” explained Linda Holcomb, Executive Director of Main Street Bartow. “We are always looking for ways to bring people to our beautiful downtown and bring revenue to the downtown shops.”
Main Street Bartow routinely hosts outdoor markets to draw in residents and guests alike to Downtown Bartow. They had previously hosted similar events such as the Fall Festival and Mistletoe Market, along with other events such as the Honey Bee Festival and Craft Fair and SyFy Bartow.
This Spring Fling Hop & Shop will be their inaugural event. More than 90 vendors will be set up Central, Summerlin, Wilson, and Florida Avenue rather than Main Street’s usual location. Their new venue will allow vendors and guests to spread out more, thus better facilitating social distancing.
To ensure public health and safety during these uncertain times, special measures will be implemented to meet COVID-19 protocols. Vendors will be spaced ten feet away from each other, additional hand sanitizing stations will be offered, and masks will be encouraged for attendees.
“We are hoping for a beautiful spring day,” Linda said. “Our expectation is to bring out a nice crowd. Because we are doing everything that we can for COVID safety, we have spread out the event over a larger area so it will separate people and they will feel safe to come to shop. Our retail shops will be all set up for people to bring [their merchandise] on to the sidewalks and serving lunch, and I am hoping it will be as successful as our other events.”
Spring Fling Hop & Shop will be hosted on Sat., Apr. 3 from 10 am to 4 pm. The event will be located in Downtown Bartow along Central, Summerlin, Wilson, and Florida Avenue. For more information, visit the Main Street Bartow website at: http://www.MainStreetBartowFL.com/
Polk County Parks and Recreation: Certified Bug Hunter is the title you will win for completing Polk County Parks & Recreation’s Bug Hunt at Simmers Young Park. Bug Hunt is a self-guided virtual scavenger hunt. By using a QR scanner on your mobile device, participants will explore the park with the goal of finding all seven life size bugs! If you can complete the hunt, you will be mailed a prize!🐝🦋🦎
Simmers Young Park
339 American Spirit Rd.
Winter Haven, FL 33880
1.3 mile hike/walk between clue #1 and clue #7
After clue #2, all clues will be accessible by car
Each bug will have a QR clue code that will guide you to your next clue
Sometimes we just have to put the faces to the crimes. Remember the pair that continued to go to Walmart multiple times and, at one point, attempted to take more than $4000 in merchandise? Well, they did a lot more than that. And people couldn’t wait to call them out. Now, they are right where they belong. Destiny Bass and Frankie Murray. They currently sit in the Polk County Jail where they belong. Destiny on theft charges and Frankie, well his a little more. In addition to grand theft, he was in possession of methamphetamine and he had contraband on him when he went to the jail – adding on additional charges. Also false ID to law enforcement.
——————— Can you identify this pair? On at least four occasions between Feb. 25 and March 10, this pair have skip scanned items at Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd.) involving more than $4,000 worth of merchandise. On March 10, the pair selected numerous electronic items and can been seen exiting the Garden Center without even attempting to skip scan. They skipped right past the registers! They have been seen entering and exiting a silver or dark gray SUV. If you recognize either of these two, please call Detective Maldonado at 863-401-2256.
One person was killed in a five-vehicle rush-hour crash Tuesday morning, March 16, 2021, which remains under investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash occurred at about 8:05 AM on US Highway 98 South at the intersection of Smith Lane, between Highland City and Bartow.
23-year-old Kayla Harris of Lake Placid was killed at the scene of the crash, and two other drivers suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Ms. Harris was the driver of a red 2005 Chrysler Sebring. The other drivers involved were: 29-year-old Kellen Pfantz of Lakeland (black 2003 Ford F150 pick-up), 36-year-old Jayme Jamison of Auburndale (red 2014 Chevy Sierra pick-up), 48-year-old Edward Cantrell, Jr. of Winter Haven (white 2014 Freightliner semi and trailer), and 57-year-old Bryan Green of Lakeland (white 2016 Ford F150 pick-up).
According to the preliminary investigation, Mr. Pfantz was driving east on Smith Lane and possibly suffered a medical episode. His black Ford proceeded through a red light, onto the southbound lanes of US 98 and into the path of Mr. Jamison’s red Chevy; the black Ford truck was struck in the driver’s side door.
After impact, both trucks rolled across the median and entered the northbound lanes of US 98.
Ms. Harris was driving in the inside northbound lane and attempted to avoid colliding with Mr. Jamison’s red Chevy by moving to the right, but she lost control and the Chrysler began to spin. Her car was struck by Mr. Green’s white Ford truck.
Mr. Jamison’s red truck struck the front of Mr. Cantrell’s Freightliner (owned by the Saddle Creek Corporation) which was travelling in the center northbound lane. Mr. Pfantz’s black Ford truck struck the side of the semi-truck.
No criminal charges are anticipated but a final determination is pending the outcome of the investigation.
Also assisting in the crash were Polk County Fire Rescue, Bartow Police Department, a Winter Haven Police Officer who happened to be passing by at the time of the crash, and the Florida Department of Transportation.
US 98 was closed in both directions for approximately six hours.
Crawlin On The Lake Raises Proceeds, Awareness to Keep Local Lakes Clean and Beautiful for 2nd Year
by James Coulter
For nearly 30 years, Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful has been keeping its shores and waters within the Chain of Lakes “clean and beautiful” through its annual Project Eagle event in April.
After postponing its clean-up event last year due to the COVID-19 crisis, Project Eagle is once again prepared to go out on the lakes to clear their waters of litter and debris this April. For its second year, Tanner’s Lakeside hosted a fundraiser to help raise funds and proceeds for the annual clean-up.
Several hundred people assembled outside the local eatery along Lake Howard’s shores for an afternoon of live music, spirits, and fried gator. Attendees could participate in 50/50 raffles and lotto hat drawings for a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses.
All the while, participants could listen to live music performed by Robert Jennis and the Josh Blevins Band, allow their children to frolic in the water slide and bounce house, and enjoy barbecue dinners with all the fixings, including actual fried alligator.
“It has been a beautiful day,” said Melanie Culpepper Brown, Event Coordinator. “Even with coronavirus and everything going on, it has been a great turnout.”
Melanie Brown serves on the board for Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful and many other local boards and associations. As someone who coordinates and hosts many local fundraisers, she is more than experienced in raising funds and awareness for such local causes.
She is more than excited for Project Eagle to host their clean-up event this year on April 24 after being unable to host it last year. Two years ago, more than two tons of garbage was cleared from the lakes in under four hours, one volunteer explained.
After a year’s hiatus, Project Eagle is more than likely to clear even more garbage from the lakes this year, Brown said.
“[Our expectation is] getting our lakes cleaned up, putting the community back together, getting everybody out, and just getting together again to make this thing work,” she said. “So we are ready for a great year because we haven’t been able to clean up the lake in two years.”
Rhonda Todd, President and Executive Director of Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful, Inc., was more than pleased with the turnout for the fundraiser on Saturday afternoon and the hard work and effort done by Melanie to move it forward.
“This had gone above and beyond,” she said. “The crowd is ready to support events to help our community, so we are extremely excited and happy about today…The proceeds from today will
go towards Project Eagle so we can go out into our community in our lakes and clean it up and keep our community the treasure and jewel it is today.”
As for the upcoming Project Eagle event, Todd is more than certain that it will be a huge success. After a year’s absence, both she and her team are more than ready to head out on the lakes to clean them up.
“It will be the same and better because people are ready to get out and support our community and continue the efforts to keep Winter Haven clean and beautiful,” she said. “We will keep our waterways clean and protecting our environment to keep Winter Haven clean and beautiful.”
Greg Gay, Volunteer and Sponsor, has been attending Project Eagle since it first started. He has seen generation after generation step up to do their part to keep their local lakes clean, and he is more than willing to venture out once again this year to do the same.
“This is…a real worthy cause, to keep the lakes clean and beautiful,” he said. “We couldn’t do it last year, so it means there’s twice as much trash to pick up this year, so hopefully we can get tons and tons of trash out of the lake, make it cleaner, prettier, and healthier.”
Polk City, Florida – Members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Underwater Search & Recovery team found & recovered a stolen pickup Tuesday morning. The dive team was spotted by readers, who contacted the Daily Ridge, in Mudd Lake just West of Polk City. . According to Brian Bruchey, Public Information Officer with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the pickup truck was stolen from Orange County.
No additional information is available at this time regarding how the pickup came to be in Mudd Lake
Balmoral Resort To Bring Irish Spirit With Shamrocks and Shenanigans
by James Coulter
After nearly a year of COVID-19 putting a lid on the Irish spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, Balmoral Resort is helping unleash some Irish fun with their upcoming Shamrocks and Shenanigans on Sat., Mar. 20.
Balmoral Resort will be hosting its inaugural St. Patrick’s Day celebration with an afternoon of Irish food, music, and dance. A great lineup of Irish entertainers will help invigorate the luck of the Irish through song and dance. Among the performers that day will be The Byrne Brothers, a troupe of Irish jig dancers who regularly perform at Disney Springs.
A specialty menu will be serving traditional Irish cuisine like bangers and mash, Irish stew, and shepherd’s pies. Also being offered that day will be appearances by a bagpipe player and walk-around leprechaun character.
This all-Irish event was inspired by the resort’s all-Irish owner, Garret Kenny, who is from Dublin, Ireland. He wanted to help bring some Irish spirit this year following most previous holiday events being postponed or canceled last year due to COVID-19, explained Amber Pierce.
“This is our first time we have hosted this event,” she said. “We are excited to potentially make this a tradition. I think it is a day to bring out your family, be outside, and enjoy something fun with entertainment. And people can afford to learn something about Ireland.”
Balmoral Resort opened its Feltrim Sports Village in 2019 and its Event Center late last year. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, many planned events at the resort last year had either been postponed or canceled. Since then, events have been hosted to help draw people to their facilities.
Pierce is excited about the upcoming Shamrocks and Shenanigans. She especially cannot wait to see the jig dancers. As for safety measures, she assures that their open-air facility, especially the pool area at the clubhouse and grill, has enough space to accommodate guests safely.
“Our expectations going forward is to be able to provide a safe and fun environment for people to come out here at an open-air facility, so we feel like we can socially-distance people properly,” she said. “We are excited for the opportunity to host an event that could bring people together and keep them together in a safe environment.”
Their next big event will be the Battle of the Bands, to be hosted on Apr. 17. From noon to 9 p.m., ten local bands will have the opportunity to perform their best music for a chance to win up to $1,250 in a first-place prize.
Shamrocks and Shenanigans will be hosted all-day on Mar. 20. Admission is $15 per person. The event will be hosted at the Bar and Grill at Balmoral Resort, located at 124 Kenny Blvd, Haines City, FL 33844. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.feltrimresorts.com/balmoral-resort
UPDATE ON INCIDENT
THAT TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 29, 2021.
The original release
is included below
LAKELAND, FL(March 12, 2021) – Sadly, the victim mentioned in the press release below succumbed
to his injuries on March 7, 2021. The 58-year-old man had remained hospitalized
since the assault and had never regained consciousness. The findings of an
autopsy, conducted on March 9, 2021, determined the cause of death to be trauma
to the head, and the manner of death was classified as a homicide.
Mandel Baker, age 35, is now facing an
additional charge of Manslaughter (F2). Baker remains incarcerated in the Polk
County Jail.
LAKELAND, FL (February 1, 2021) – Lakeland Police have made an arrest in the felony battery of a convenience store employee that took place on Friday, January 29, 2021. Mandel Baker, age 35, has been charged with Felony Battery with Great Bodily Harm.
On Friday, January 29, 2021, at approximately 5:36 p.m., officers
were called to the Food Mart/Mobil Gas Station, located at 1615 West Memorial
Boulevard. Inside they found an adult male motionless on the floor with a
laceration to the head. According to a witness, a man, later identified as
Baker, had been in the store just prior asking for cigarettes. Baker had asked
the store clerk to give him cigarettes for payment at a later date. The clerk
denied Baker’s request. Baker then approached another store employee with the
same request, and he was denied again. Baker then ran toward the employee
punching him in the face. The victim, age 58, fell back and hit his head on the
hard floor surface, sustaining critical life-threatening injuries. He was
transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment. At last update, the
victim remains in critical condition.
Using surveillance footage and citizen tips submitted through
Crime Stoppers Florida, Baker was identified and arrested on Saturday, January
30, 2021. Baker’s booking information can be found at https://www.polksheriff.org/inmate-profile/2103567
If you have additional information related to this case, please
contact Detective Biko Duhaney at [email protected] or (863) 834-5918. Or if you wish to
remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida:
* Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone
or tablet.
You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime
Stoppers, and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to
an arrest.
The name of victim is
being withheld in accordance with Marsy’s Law.
