Release by Winter Haven Police Department:
Somebody should recognize the distinctive walk.
This guy decided to walk into the carport of a home on 16th St NW and see what he could find in the vehicle. Nothing was taken but it’s still a burglary when you enter someone’s property without permission!
If you recognize this man, contact Detective Lewis at 863-401-2256. Callers who wish to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477)
All State Bartow Celebrates Grand Opening With Ribbon Cutting
by James Coulter
As the agency owner for All State Bartow, Josh Zarandona considers the doors of his business to be open to everyone, be they clients, potential clients, or even fellow members of the business community.
When he first came across the office space to the new location for his business, he saw that the conference room in the back was very spacious—so much so that he believes that such space should be shared with the entire community.
“If you need a place to meet, even if it is a competitor, you are more than welcome to use this space for community organizations, bible studies, you name it,” he said. “It is one of the things we would like to do to give back to the community.”
Such an open-door philosophy has been the underpinning of his company. All State is not only one of the largest insurance providers in the United States, but also boasts of being one of the top companies in claims resolutions, Zarandona said.
As such, if you need assistance, Zarandona and his team of agents will assure that you receive it when you need it. They remain committed to staying true to their company’s motto: “You’re in good hands!”
“The reason to have insurance is to pay claims when they are needed,” he said. “Almost no one is as good, much less better, than All State is in that respect.”
All State Bartow celebrated the grand opening of their new location along Main Street during their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Bartow Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.
Preceding the ribbon cutting, Zarandona was conferred by the Chamber a plaque with his business’ first dollar. The ceremony continued that afternoon with light refreshments and a raffle drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card.
Zarandona moved to Bartow after the previous company he worked for offered him the office that covers the Polk County area. Since then, he has since taken the opportunity to open an All State agency in Bartow a few months ago, during which time his business experienced great growth.
“We expect continued growth, being able to serve the community, serve the state, and basically be able to leave our clients in better shape than we found them,” he said.
Kathryn Belvilacua-ely, Chamber Membership Director, has been an associate of Zarandona since he joined the Chamber a year ago. During that time, he has demonstrated to be a reliable member, making her feel confident that he and his business will serve the local community well.
“I expect that he will do an amazing job,” she said. “He is very intrepid. I expect him to continue to grow. He has grown over the last six months since he has been here, and he will just continue to grow and expand his business here for Bartow, for our people.”
Leo Longsworth, Bartow Mayor, opened the ceremony that evening with a prayer, not only for the new business, but also for the people who could not make the event that afternoon. Specifically, he asked for prayer over Vice Mayor Billy Simpson who is currently experiencing health challenges.
Longsworth may be with State Farm, but he appreciates new businesses like All State and new entrepreneurs such as Zarandona, as they arrival signal economic growth and development within their city.
“He is on my side, and I am his good neighbor,” Longsworth said. “Thank you so much for selecting Bartow. We wish you well, we wish you the best, and anything you need from the city, certainly feel free to let us know. On behalf of all of us, we thank you for selecting Bartow, and we wish you well. God bless!”
All State Bartow is located at 435 E. Main Street, Bartow, FL 33830. For more information, call 863-904-4757.
This past weekend Lake Wales Pal Basketball boys won their first tournament championship located at Polk state college.
They played the Lakeland Spartans in the championship game with a final score of 42-40, winning the game at the buzzer with 3 seconds left in the game.
HAINES CITY, FL – A Haines City man was charged with driving under the influence after crashing his lawn mower into a Haines City Police Department vehicle before 7 p.m. Saturday evening.
The police vehicle was parked at Rodriguez Fashion, 1100 U.S. 17/92 N., while the officer was tending to another matter inside when he heard a loud noise from outside the business. The officer walked outside and saw Gary Wayne Anderson, 68, on a lawn mower with an attached trailer and noticed minor damage to the rear plastic portion of the police vehicle’s bumper.
Anderson told police that he did hit the vehicle, but didn’t cause any damage and that he was drunk. Anderson was unable to complete the field sobriety tests and his demeanor ranged from laughing to aggressive. After being transported to the Haines City Police Department, Anderson claimed that he had been poisoned by police and asked to be taken to a hospital.
Anderson was transported to Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center where he maintained that he had been poisoned. At the Police Department, Anderson agreed to submit to a breathalyzer, but would not provide an adequate sample. Anderson provided an adequate sample at Heart of Florida.
Anderson’s blood-alcohol content returned at .241 – more than three times the legal limit. There was also cocaine in Anderson’s system. Anderson accused police of putting the cocaine into his system while directing profane language and racial slurs at the officer.
Anderson’s driver’s license has been suspended since March 1978. Anderson has two prior DUI convictions with the last coming in 1987 in Osceola County, making the charges a third DUI violation more than 10 years and refusal to submit to a DUI test after license suspended. Both charges are first-degree misdemeanors.
There was no other damage to the police vehicle. Anderson’s lawn mower and trailer were towed.
“I’m proud of the professional demeanor our officers showed when dealing with this heavily-intoxicated, belligerent offender,” Chief Jim Elensky said. “It’s never a good idea to get behind the wheel drunk, even if that wheel is to a Craftsman, Massey Ferguson or John Deere.”
Bartow, Florida – The Polk County Sheriffs Office is working a multiple vehicle injury crash at the intersection of Griffin Rd / Ninety-One Mine Rd. & 17 in Bartow. The crash appears to involve two silver in color pickup trucks.
At least one person has been transported for medical care. The accident was first reported at 7:35am.
Traffic is able to drive around scene.
Polk County Sheriffs Office Press Release
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a hit-and-run fatal crash from this morning
Deputies were called to the scene around 5:00 a.m. of a possible hit-an-run crash involving a bicyclist at Washington Avenue and US Highway 27 near Lake Wales. Deputies believe the crash occurred at around 2:00 a.m. this morning. Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene and found 59-year-old Ramond Johnson of Lake Wales on a grassy shoulder of Washington Avenue, near the sidewalk and rendered aid. Mr. Johnson was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center for treatment of his injuries but later succumbed to his injuries.
During the investigation it was learned Ramond Johnson was traveling west on Washington Ave on a bicycle and was struck by an unknown vehicle as he was nearing the Northside of roadway. Mr. Johnson was ejected from his bicycle and landed partially on the sidewalk and grassy shoulder of the roadway.
Photographs of Mr. Johnson and possibly the vehicle that struck him were obtained from a security camera in the area. The security images showed a cyclist riding in the roadway and within about 1 second a vehicle of interest is seen driving in a path of travel that would be consistent with the path of travel of the cyclist prior to impact. The vehicle appears to be a full-sized sedan of some type.
This case is still under investigation. If anyone has information about this incident or the identity of the driver, they are urged to contact PCSO at 863-298-6200. Or to remain anonymous, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers – call 1-800-226 TIPS (8477), visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,” or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
Deputies responded to a reported vehicle/pedestrian crash that occurred early this morning at approximately 2:45 a.m. on Skyview Drive and Goodyear Avenue. Polk County Fire Rescue also responded to the scene and found one pedestrian, 33-year-old Venus Drayton of Goodyear Avenue, in roadway of Skyview Ave, deceased, and another pedestrian, 16-year-old Tiara Johnson of Goodyear Avenue, with serious injuries—Tiara Johnson was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for treatment, where she later died. Drayton and Johnson were mother and daughter.
Based on interviews, analysis at the scene and evidence collected, detectives learned 33-year-old Nicholas Christie of Tampa was driving a white Dodge Ram pick-up truck eastbound on Skyview Dr. While driving eastbound, he said he observed what he thought was a trash bag in the roadway and attempted to swerve around it but was unsuccessful. Christie stated something did not feel right after he ran over the trash bag so he pulled over and drove back to the area. Once at the crash site, he said he learned he struck two pedestrians and awaited for law enforcement.
Christie consented to a blood draw and the rental vehicle he was operating was taken to crime scene to be inspected. Christie also consented to a search of the vehicle and nothing of evidentiary value was located inside the truck.
Friends who were with Drayton and Johnson prior to the crash reported Ms. Drayton (Johnson’s Mother) and Tiara Johnson (Drayton’s Daughter) were at their residence on Goodyear Ave. For an unknown reason, Johnson ran out of the house and Drayton ran after her. Shortly after leaving the residence, the friends heard the crash and went outside. They found both Drayton and Johnson were struck by a vehicle.
There are no criminal or civil charges expected at this time, pending a testing of Christie’s blood.
Dundee Citrus Growers Association
By Allison Williams
Photos courtesy of Steven Callaham
Right here in Polk County sits the Dundee Citrus Growers Association. Steven Callaham, Executive Vice President and CEO has been apart of this organization for 20 years.
“Dundee Citrus Growers Association is a grower owned cooperative established in 1924 that handles the harvesting, packaging and marketing of its members’ agricultural products,” Callaham said. “The association handles Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemons, Tangerines, Peaches and Blueberries. Due to Citrus Greening Disease, Dundee has diversified and adapted new technologies.”
Callaham added, “We are a service oriented business serving the needs of our growers. We are the largest employer in Dundee and Lake Hamilton.”
Just in the last year 110 acres of “Citrus Under Protective Screen” or “CUPS” have been developed by Dundee Citrus Growers Association. In addition, currently in the works is “Phase 2” which comprises 113 acres of CUPS.
“This high tech and environmentally sustainable method of growing citrus excludes certain pests and diseases, requires less water and fertilizer to produce the highest quality fruit,” Callaham said.
A local Lake Wales resident, Callaham was exposed to the citrus industry growing up. In fact, anyone who has driven through Lake Wales can see an abundance of citrus throughout.
In Callaham’s teenage year, he worked at the University of Florida Citrus Research Center. This was the moment he realized he was passionate about pursuing both education and a future career in the citrus industry. Now 20 years later, he is thriving in the citrus industry.
For more information visit www.dun-d.com.
Phone:
(863) 439-1574
YouTube @ Dundee Citrus
Artcade Scores Big With Pinball, Retro Games, And Art
by James Coulter
After a long day of work, there’s nothing that Madison “Maddie” Gibbons loves more than blowing off some steam, either by playing a few rounds of pinball or by working on her newest art piece. Fortunately for her, she can do both at the Artcade in Winter Haven.
Ever since it first opened last year, Maddie has been a regular customer at the Artcade. Often she spends hours trying to get the high score in pinball, her favorite cabinets being Demolition Man and Addams Family.
“What I enjoy most about the Artcade is the peace and relaxation,” she said. “I can come here before work, after work, or during break to wind down. There is always somebody here to talk to, but you can come over here and play games for hours and get lost in it.”
When not playing pinball, Maddie also spends her free time working on her art. Her artwork focuses heavily on bright colors and bold lines, with her biggest artistic influence being Jhonen Vasquez, the creator of “Invader Zim” and “Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.”
Both the lively, electric energy of the Artcade with its pinball machines and retro video games, and the bright, colorful atmosphere with the overall design prove most inspirational for Maddie and her art. Many of her own pieces hang in the bathroom and upon the back wall.
“[I love] the ability to take a break, but not lose the creativity, because if I am worn out and don’t know what to draw, I can just get up and play some Addams or Demolition Man,” she said. “I could play for an hour or two, and then sit down and have a new idea to draw,” she said.
Whether it’s the games, the creative energy, or the camraderie with other customers and the owner, the Artcade provides the perfect haven for Maddie where she can either relax after a long day or energize herself with creativity and artistic inspiration.
“For me to come over here and have a peaceful place to draw or play while also supporting a really cool business is absolutley on point with how I want to spend my free time.”
Located in Bells Alley along First Street in Winter Haven, the Artcade, true to its name, is an arcade that combines art with pinball and retro gaming. When they all collide, they create quite the spectacle, like a silver pinball knocking against colorful bumpers and lights. So think of it like “Painting With A Twist,” only with more gaming and not strictly focused on gaming, owner Jett Carrerou said.
Recently, the Artcade hosted its first monthly Open Art Night, where guests could exercise their creativity and express themselves by working on their own art canvases using their own combinations of paint, glitter, and magic markers.
“Our art is open up for interpetation,” Carrerou said. “We have a bunch of people here bouncing ideas off of each other, kind of like open mic night.”
More than a dozen pinball machines and retro arcade cabinets are provided at the venue for customers to play, with the option to pay and play by the hour for $8 or all-you-can-play (AYCP) for $15 the entire day.
Take a blast from the past with classic pinball machines like Addams Family or Ghostbusters, arcade cabinets like Street Fighter II, or even retro gaming consoles such as the Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo with a diverse gaming library to select from.
When not trying their hands at playing games, customers can also get into their creative side through various art events, both public and private. The arcade is available to rent out for parties and other special events during or after business hours.
Every month, the Artcade hosts its Monthly Artcade Meetup, an International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) sanctioned pinball tournament. Other tournaments and events have included games ranging from Street Fighter II to Dungeons and Dragons. Basically, any game that you love to play, be it video, card, or board, the Artcade can either provide or help facilitate.
For many regular customers like Brittany Hudson, the big draw, of course, are the pinball games. Before first arriving in January, she wasn’t big into pinball; but now she loves it so much that she has joined the women’s pinball leauge, Belles and Chimes, of which Carrerou is the Florida Chapter Director.
“I have been coming here since January,” Hudson said. “I have been really into pinball, and I’ve never been into pinball before…Seems like fun to create art with local people. I love the people that I met through here.”
The Artcade opened in August of last year. Before then, Carrerou had also been running her other business, The Piercing Boutique, across the street for the past 7 years. As a pinball aficionado, Carrerou purchased her own pinball cabinet in 2014.
Her love for pinball and art soon inspired her to open her own arcade and art venue. Since opening last year, her business has boomed with plenty of regular customers, some of whom participate in monthly and three-month memberships.
“We already have regulars who come weekly, who come monthly, and we do monthly memberships and three month memberships,” she said. “Both of them have active memberships, which is very awesome.”
Currently, business has done so well that an expansion next door is planned, not only offering more space, but also more games including air hockey and billiards. Hopefully, if business continues to boom, Carrerou even plans to move to a larger location within a year.
The Artcade is located at 1149 1st Street S, Winter Haven, FL, 33880. For more information, call 863-656-1715. Or visit their social media pages on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ARTCADEWinterHaven/, or on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/artcade_winterhaven/
Release by Winter Haven Police Department:
Alert Neighbor Calls Police When Seeing Suspects Burglarizing Vehicles In His Neighborhood
On 5/1/19 at approximately 11 p.m., a resident who lives on 10th St NW was outside of the home when he noticed two subjects down the street walking into a driveway and entering the parked vehicle. He saw the brake lights go on as if the pedal was being pressed. He then saw the subject walk away from that vehicle and started walking towards the witness’s residence.
He immediately went inside, had a relative call 9-1-1 and then started watching his own home surveillance. He saw the two subjects enter his driveway and pull on the door handles of two vehicles parked in the driveway. The witness turned on an outside light and the two subjects left the property.
As police arrived, they found 20 year-old Jessie Lee Dunn (Kissimmee FL) and 17 year-old Matthew Maldanado ( Ocala FL) along 10th St NW. Both were wearing black gloves. Officers reviewed the witness’s video footage and saw two subjects wearing clothing matching what they were currently wearing. The witness was able to identity of both Dunn and Maldanado as the two seen entering the vehicles at neighboring residents while standing outside.
As officers were investigating the burglaries in the neighborhood, they went to the Travel Lodge Motel on 8th St NW, just a five-minute walk from where the burglaries occurred. Both Dunn and Maldanado are seen earlier on video at the motel exiting a red SUV parked on the south side of the building. The vehicle was still parked in the same spot. Officers went to the vehicle and found 20 year-old Isaiah Menard sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. He had a marijuana blunt and there was marijuana on the floorboard beside the driver’s seat in plain view. Officers also found a large canister on the back floorboard filled with marijuana, which was accessible from the driver’s seat. Also located was a Tri-Star handgun under the driver’s seat. A search found that the gun was reported stolen from Osceola County.
Dunn, Maldanado and Menard were all booked into the Polk County Jail under the following charges:
Dunn: Four counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Vehicle (F.S. 810.02(4)(b) F-3
Maldanado: Four counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Vehicle (F.S. 810.02(4)(b) F-3
Menard: Grand Theft of Firearm (F.S. 812.014(2) F3, Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams (F.S.S. 893.13(6A) F-3 and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (F.S.S. 893.147(1) M-1
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