Central Florida Healthcare Opens New Community Health Clinic At Crystal Lake Elementary

Lakeland

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May 30, 2019

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Central Florida Healthcare Opens New Community Health Clinic At Crystal Lake Elementary

by James Coulter

Are you feeling sick? Can’t tell if you have a cold or the flu? Need to see a doctor but don’t know if you can afford a visit? No problem! Just visit the new community health clinic in Lakeland.

Located at Crystal Lake Elementary, this new health clinic provides quality, accessible primary healthcare services for everybody in the local community, regardless of whether they are insured, uninsured, or under-insured migrants.

“Our health centers serve all who seek our care regardless of ability to pay,” their website states. “Our centers rely on subsidies from federal, state and local governments to help cover the cost of services furnished to the uninsured. No individual or family is turned away or denied medical care because of income.”

Whether you need a routine checkup or a health screening, your visit will be charged based on your ability to pay based upon a sliding fee scale, developed using the federal poverty guidelines.

The clinic was created through a partnership with the elementary school and Central Florida Health Care, a non-profit organization that operates 14 other similar clinics within the county, including in Winter Haven, Dundee, Lake Wales, Haines City, Frostproof, and Mulberry.

The first day for the clinic seeing patients will be on Tues., May 21. The clinic will then be open every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. As demand for their services grows, they expect to start opening full-time, said Ann Claussen, Central Florida Health Care CEO.

The clinic was officially dedicated to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday afternoon, hosted by the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce.

Claussen expressed how “super excited” she and her staff was to open this new clinic, the 14th clinic that they have opened and operated. Being able to open it on a school campus was especially great for them, as it will better allow them to serve the local community, she said.

“To say my heart is full is an understatement,” she said. “This is just amazing. It just hit me today, coming out and seeing how this all came together. And it couldn’t happen without all the partners…[I]t has been truly amazing to see this come together.”

Kristan Fowler, Principal of Crystal Lake Elementary School, mentioned how the clinic was one of many new programs she has been able to implement since joining the school nearly a year ago. Under her leadership, she has seen the school grow and flourish, and she hopes to continue see it do so within the near future.

“We started as a D and worked our way to a C,” she said. “We are going for that A slowly but surely. I do praise the Lord for every family and partner here, because there is no ‘I’ in team, we are truly a family here at Crystal Lake Elementary School.”

Weymon Snuggs, Chamber of Commerce Board Member, mentioned how the new clinic provided great opportunities for local residents, especially in terms of helping meet their healthcare needs. Such opportunities reflect the vision that the Chamber seeks to implement within Lakeland each and every day, he said.

“This is a great day for Lakeland and our community because it is a great day for the citizens who live, work, and play up here,” he said. “Our Chamber Of Commerce is always working hard every day to improve the quality of life within our community for both businesses and individuals who live, work, and play here, so it is natural for us to be extremely excited about it.”

Sheriff Grady Judd served as a special guest that day. Being able to see a new clinic open to help the local community as he himself helps it was nothing short of a privilege for him.

“Central Florida Health Care is giving hope,” he said. “This community gives hope. These teachers give hope. And I can tell you that I am the example. You can have hope. You can turn it into a dream and make it successful. I am thankful for everyone at this school who have been here for these children and give them the opportunity to give them this community that I had here growing up.”

The Community Health Clinic is located within Crystal Lake Elementary at 700 Galvin Dr., Lakeland, FL 33801. For more information, visit the Central Florida Health Care website at: http://www.cfhconline.org/

Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, Speaks At Youth Villa Luncheon

Staff Reporter

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May 30, 2019

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Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, Speaks At Youth Villa Luncheon

by James Coulter

For more than 40 years, Fred Ridley has enjoyed an illustrious career in amateur golf. He has held the title of Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club since 2017. Before then, he had competed in 15 USGA championships (including 10 U.S. Amateurs), three Masters Tournaments, the U.S. Open and the British Open Championship, according to the Winter Haven Sun.

Though he has achieved big accomplishments in his big career, he remains humble enough to remember that he started out as a small boy living within the small town of Bartow. It was there where his later father, an avid golfer, taught him how to play the game at a public course.

It was in this same town where he also started his path to amateur golfing fame. After all, it was here where he not only participated within the Youth Villa Classic, but also won the annual golf tournament three times. So it was only fitting that he served as this year’s guest speaker at the Youth Villa Classic Luncheon last Tuesday.

“This has been more significant to me to be here today,” he said. “I have such a great warm feeling in my heart when I was riding here today, memories rushing back when I was a young boy growing up in this area. In my opinion, this is the heart of America and what is good about this county…This is where it all started, and I remain dedicated to this organization.”

When not serving as the Chairman of Augusta National, Ridley maintains his day job as a business lawyer for an international law firm, with five offices in Florida and 21 offices internationally.

Not only has his golf game offered him great achievements in his athletic career, but has also helped him maintain a healthy relationship in his family life. He has remained faithfully married to his wife of nearly 42 years, and he has raised three daughters, all of whom have carried on his love of golf.

With the game allowing him to excel in his work and his family life, Ridley owes everything to golf. It is what has allowed him to reach where he is today, and it is a game that he owes much of his life and relationships to, he said.

“Without golf, I would be on a totally different personal highway,” he said. “Did I pass up a lot of potential awards and riches on the PGA tour? Maybe. But I would not trade all the money that the PGA tour has to offer for the life I have been given and the experiences I have had, the people and the friends that I have met.”

To him, golf is more than a fun game to play. The game provides its players high character and quality that no other games can quite offer, he said.

For example, he recalls one time during his first year as chairman when he had to make a tough call regarding one prominent player and a questionable move he had played. After studying the video tape of the play closely, he determined that the player had to be disqualified.

When Ridley told the player about his decision, the player became emotional about the call; but rather than lash out in anger, he instead offered his sincerest gratitude, saying he would rather have been disqualified than given special treatment.

“That statement and integrity really struck me and reminded me how this game was played,” Ridley said. “Our players are of the highest integrity, and that makes our sport the best.”

Ridley served as the guest speaker for the luncheon on Tuesday for the Florida Sheriffs Youth Villa Classic Golf Tournament, an annual golf tournament hosted at the Bartow Golf Course to benefit the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. Originally founded in 1970 as the Girls Villa, the golf tournament celebrated its 58th year last weekend.

Recently, Sheriff Grady Judd made a donation to build a house on the property to be utilized by the children staying on the campus of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch along Highway 60. Sheriff Judd himself was unable to make the luncheon that afternoon, as he was in Washington D.C. for a special meeting with the President, explained Karen Duffey, one of the organizers of the event.

The luncheon that afternoon was hosted at the Bartow Civic Center and catered by Curly Tails BBQ, which provided a meal of pulled pork and barbecue chicken with baked beans, corn muffins, and blueberry cobbler.

Lake Parker Hydrilla Treatment Begins

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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May 30, 2019

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Lake Parker Hydrilla Treatment Begins

Hydrilla treatments begin this week on Lake Parker in Lakeland as crews from Polk County’s Parks and Natural Resources, along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, plan to spray for the invasive plant.

Treatments will continue through May 31, weather permitting, in areas where hydrilla is encroaching on beneficial native plants and may impact access to navigation.

There will be two treatment areas on Lake Parker, which include:

Eastern shore:

Treatment Area: From Centurion Drive south, along East Lake Parker Drive, to the intersection of Lake Parker Drive and Memorial Boulevard
Restriction on use of water from treated area: Three days for irrigation to turf and landscape ornamentals, three days for drinking, one day for livestock or domestic animal consumption and five days to food crops and production ornamentals. No restrictions for swimming or fishing.

Western cove:

Treatment Area: The shoreline of Lake Parker from East Bella Vista Street south to U.S. 92, and then east to Edgewater Beach Drive
Restriction on use of water from treated area: Fourteen days for irrigation of landscape vegetation or other forms of non-agricultural irrigation. Turf may be irrigated immediately after treatment. No restrictions for swimming or fishing.

The herbicides used for this treatment will be applied from an airboat and include: the Eastern section shoreline will be treated using a combination of the aquatic herbicides known as Aquathol K and Tribune and the cove on the southwestern section of the lake will be treated with the aquatic herbicide ProcellaCOR. These herbicides are approved for use in lakes by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Hydrilla is an invasive aquatic plant easily spread by boats throughout the state’s lakes and rivers. It can clog waterways, making recreational activities difficult or impossible, and competes with beneficial native plants. Managing and treating it is necessary for the health of Florida’s waters and to enable continued recreational boating and other aquatic activities.

60 Additional Criminal Charges For Possession of Child Pornography Filed Against Davenport Man

Davenport

Staff Reporter

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May 30, 2019

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60 Additional Criminal Charges For Possession of Child Pornography Filed Against Davenport Man

PCSO Press Release:

Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have added on 60 new charges of possession of child pornography (F2) against a man who was arrested on April 26, 2019. Jerome Lingenfelter was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography following his initial arrest. He was arrested again on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 after detectives discovered additional disturbing images on his laptop. The pictures depicted boys and girls between 2 and 12 years old involved in graphic exploitative sexual conduct.

Lingenfelter, 55, from 243 Oxford Road in Davenport, was booked into the Polk County Jail on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. He is being held without bond until his first appearance hearing.

“The forensic examinations of Lingenfelter’s electronic devices are ongoing, so depending on what the detectives find, additional charges may be filed. We are committed to protecting our children from those who possess and distribute child pornography. Lingenfelter is a part of a worldwide underground child pornography distribution system – the demand for this vile material harms children, and ruins lives.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

At the time of his initial arrest, deputies seized two laptops, a tablet, cameras, and several electronic storage devices.

PCSO Investing Robbery at Fifth Third Bank in Lakeland

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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May 30, 2019

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PCSO Investing Robbery at Fifth Third Bank in Lakeland

PCSO Press Release:

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Robbery detectives are currently investigating a bank robbery that occurred today, Thursday, 05/30/2019 at approximately 12:04 p.m. at the Fifth Third Bank, located at 435 Combee Road South in Lakeland. The unknown suspect walked up to the clerk and produced a note, demanding cash from the drawer. The clerk provided the suspect with money at which time the suspect fled the bank on foot, south on Combee Road. Neighboring business surveillance cameras captured the suspect enter and exit what appeared to be a gold Chevrolet Cruze, prior to and after the robbery occurred.

The suspect was described as a white male in his late 30’s to early 40’s, with a dark goatee, approximately 5’7” tall, and medium build. The suspect was wearing a black ball cap, large tan framed sunglasses with black lenses, a long sleeve black shirt, blue denim jeans with rips in the left knee and right thigh areas, and dark shoes with white soles.

Detectives believe this is likely the same suspect from a bank robbery that occurred in the city of Lakeland on May 25, 2019, at 1:58pm at the Chase Bank, located at 5555 Walt Loop Road. The suspect entered the bank two minutes prior to closing and produced a hand-written note, told the teller not to look at him and requested money. The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of money, after which he exited the business and ran to a light-colored (possibly gold or beige) Chevrolet Cruze that was backed into a parking space on the north end of Executive Cleaners & Launderers. The vehicle was observed driving south through the Plantation Plaza towards the exit at Old Combee Road.

If anyone has information about the identity of the suspect, please contact Detective Daniel Grant at 863-298-6200, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward leading to an arrest, 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

Attached are photos from today’s bank robbery and from the Chase Bank robbery.

Bank robbery suspect from the Fifth Third Bank (4 images) followed by bank robbery suspect from Chase Bank (3 images):

Former School Bus Attendant Re-Arrested On Additional Abuse Charges

Staff Reporter

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May 29, 2019

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Former School Bus Attendant Re-Arrested On Additional Abuse Charges; review of video shows more abuse

PCSO Press Release:

On May 29, 2019, PCSO Special Victims Unit detectives arrested 43-year-old Juanita Tappin of Lakeland and charged her with one new count of child abuse (F-3) and one new count of abuse of disabled adult (F-3), after a review of 30 days’ worth of bus video that showed she abused two other victims, a special needs child and an adult. The review of the previous bus video also revealed other incidents of abuse on previously identified victims, showing an ongoing course of criminal conduct.

According to the affidavit, Tappin was previously arrested on May 9, 2019, for 6 felony counts of abuse on disabled adults and special needs children on the school bus where she worked as an attendant. Tappin was seen abusing the victims on bus video from May 7, 2019.

After her arrest, detectives reviewed the school bus video for the previous 30 days. The video clearly depicts Tappin striking two of the previously identified victims on several other occasions during the month of April 2019.

A review of the video also revealed two additional victims not previously identified. One of those victims is a disabled adult – Tappin struck him on the face with her hand. Another victim is a special needs child – Tappin struck him in the head with a plastic bottle and the metal end of a seatbelt.

Most of the bus riders are non-verbal and unable to speak about the abuse.

Per Florida State Statute 119, we are not releasing the bus video, as it would identify the victims of this type of abuse.

“We were hoping that we wouldn’t see any more abuse when we went back and reviewed a month’s worth of bus video, but we knew in our guts that we probably would. There are no words to describe how sickened we are to see this woman prey upon these helpless, most innocent of victims.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Tappin is being booked into the Polk County Jail on the above-mentioned charges, where she will be held until a first appearance hearing on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

According to Polk County Public Schools, Tappin was suspended without pay on May 15, 2019 and she will be terminated at the June 18, 2019, school board meeting.

PREVIOUS RELEASE FROM MAY 9, 2019:

On Thursday, May 9, 2019, Polk County Sheriff’s Special Victims Unit detectives arrested 43-year-old Juanita Tappin of Ridgeglen Circle East in Lakeland and charged her with 3 counts child abuse (F-3), and 3 counts abuse of a disabled adult (F-3).

According to the affidavit, the investigation began after a special needs child who rides the bus to Doris A. Sanders Learning Center reported to school staff that she had been hit by her bus attendant, Tappin. The school nurse documented two red welts on the victim’s face.

Detectives interviewed the victim and reviewed the bus video, which revealed Tappin striking the victim 11 separate times by popping her with a rubber band and hitting her on her face and neck. While reviewing the video, detectives also saw Tappin punch other victims, strike other victims with a hard plastic seatbelt cutter tool, and strike victims with a rubber band by snapping it on their faces and necks.

The victims are three disabled children and three disabled adults. The abuse occurred while the victims were riding the bus to school.

Some of the victims’ disabilities hinder them from being able to report the abuse, as they are non-verbal.

Most of the students who ride the bus are non-verbal, and unable to elaborate on what they witnessed and/or were subjected to. Some of the students are strapped into their seats with harnesses, and unable to physically move away from Tappin during the abuse.

“This suspect will be held accountable for her reprehensible abuse against the most vulnerable of victims. In the video, the innocent children can be seen cowering in fear. She should never have access to children again.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

No more information about the victims will be released, per F.S.S. 119. The video will not be released, per F.S.S. 119.

During an interview with detectives, the suspect denied hitting the students, and said she was acting in a “playful manner.”

None of the abuse could be described as disciplinary – all of the abuse was intentional, malicious, and unprovoked.

Tappin has been booked into the Polk County Jail and is being held on no bond until a first appearance hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2019. She will be housed at Central County Jail in Bartow.

According to Polk County Public Schools, Juanita Tappin is on paid administrative leave at this time. She was hired on January 27, 2014. There is no past disciplinary action in her personnel file. Her annual salary is $13,856.

“We count on our transportation staff to be courteous, professional and caring. Our students deserve peaceful rides free of aggravation and unkindness. The unacceptable allegations against this bus attendant are very troubling. If true, I will recommend that this employee be fired. We are conducting an internal investigation, and the employee has been placed on administrative leave.” –Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd

Bartow Man Arrested for Aggravated Child Abuse

Bartow

Staff Reporter

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May 29, 2019

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Bartow Man Arrested for Aggravated Child Abuse

Bartow Police Department Press Release:

On 5/28/19, the Bartow Police Department Detective Section responded to a report of an alleged Child Abuse. The abuse was reported by the child’s school, and worked in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services.

The investigation revealed that the child, aged 9 years, had arrived at school with a bruised left eye. She also had what appeared to be a significant burn to her right palm. During an interview with the child, she stated that her father had disciplined her by placing her hand over a hot stovetop. This action resulted in the child sustaining the injury to her hand.

Detectives responded to 540 W. Dorothy Street, Bartow, Florida in reference to contacting the suspect, Felipe Casanova B/M 09/07/1979. When advised of the nature of the interview, Casanova stated that he had disciplined the child by placing her hand over the stovetop due to her stealing from the family. He advised this discipline was used to “teach her a lesson”. Casanova further stated that the victim had pulled away from the stove, at which time she fell over a stool located beside the stove, causing the black eye to the victim.

Casanova was arrested at scene for Aggravated Child Abuse.

UPDATE: Fatal Crash on Kathleen Road and Oak Ave NW in Lakeland

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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May 29, 2019

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UPDATE: Fatal Crash on Kathleen Road and Oak Ave NW in Lakeland

PCSO Press Release:

On May 29, 2019, around 9:35 a.m., PCSO Deputies and PCFR units responded to a vehicle crash involving a motorcycle and a Hyundai Sonata on Kathleen Road and Oak Ave NW in Lakeland. The motorcyclist, 22-year-old Justin Barrier of Lakeland, was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel. The two occupants of the Hyundai Sonata, 76-year-old driver Sandra McGinty and 84-year-old front seat passenger Owen McGinty, both of Lewellyn Road in Lakeland, were transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center for minor injuries, where they were treated and released.

According to the preliminary investigation and interviews with witnesses, the motorcyclist was traveling on his 2010 Kawasaki at a high rate of speed southbound on Kathleen Road when the Hyundai attempted to make a left-hand turn from Kathleen Road onto Oak Ave NW. The motorcyclist struck the front passenger side quarter panel and was ejected from the motorcycle he was operating. The motorcyclist traveled approximately 78 feet in the air before striking a light pole located on the west side of the roadway.

At the time of the crash, Justin Barrier was wearing riding gear to include helmet, leather jacket and riding gloves.

Kathleen Road was closed for approximately 3 ½ hours during the investigation.

Annual May Day Festival Celebrates Winter Haven’s Oldest Black Community

Staff Reporter

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May 29, 2019

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Annual May Day Festival Celebrates Winter Haven’s Oldest Black Community

by James Coulter

More than a century ago, the area that is now southeast Winter Haven served as the location from one of the city’s most vibrant African American communities. This community would be named Pughsville, named after one of its founding pioneers, the Reverend Charles Pugh, pastor of the oldest church in the community, Zion Hill Missionary Church.

From the early 1900s to the late 1970s, Pughsville would serve as the home of many influential African American figures within Winter Haven, helping produce the city’s first black mayor, city commissioner, doctor, fire fighter, and postal worker.

The community would see a decline in the late 1970s, but its memory and heritage would be kept alive with the annual Historic Pughsville May Day Festival, an annual historical festival and reunion that has been going strong since it started in 1978.

The annual event once again brought together former community members and their relatives to reminisce about their history and to help preserve its legacy for future generations with a day of food, music, and camraderie.

The food was catered by Salem’s Resturant and other local eateries such as Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden, offering guests a diverse buffet of options from hot dogs and chicken wings to gyro wraps and beans and grits.

Also attending the event were several local businesses operating small vendors, offering merchandise such as handmade jewelry and food options such as Italian ice, candy apples, and barbecue ribs.

Previous events had been hosted at the Chain of Lake Complex, but as the recreational center is currently undergoing renovations, this year’s festivities were hosted at Zion Hill Missionary Church.

Pastor Suarez Worth was approached by one of his congregation members and asked to host the event at the church, since the church served as a continuation of one of the founding churches of the Historic Pughsville community. He agreed to let his church grounds host the event, which more than met his expectations.

“I thought this would be a good place to host it,” he said. “It is a great time for the community to come out and fellowship and for everybody to get together, who plays an important role in bringing this event together is good.”

Russell Burney, President of the Historic Pughsville Association, the non-profit organization that coordinates the event, was the congregation member who had suggested hosting the event at the church.

Burney has been with the event since its very inception, and he appreciates how it allows former community members and their families to come together and reminisce about the good old days, keeping the community’s memory alive with the older generation and passing down the legacy to new generations.

“You always want to know where you come from,” he said. “So actually we are an organization where we teach people where we came from, we are grateful for our heritage, grateful for the people that we had who passed on before, and we want to remember and honor them as well as the people today who will carry us forward.”

Currently, his organization is working to obtain the building of the original Zion Hill Missionary Church and transform it into a historic building. State law requires them to own the building before it can receive its historic recognition, so his organization are seeking sponsors to help them purchase the building.

This year’s event also honored several local high school seniors with $500 scholarships, as well as two local women who have served as some of the oldest members of the Pughsville Community.

Beulah Harvey-Clark, one of the organizers for the event, was thankful for everyone who helped make the annual event possible, and hopes that the event will continue to grow and prosper in the near future.

“I thank God for the Historic Pughsville Association, I thank God for the people and vendors who came out here today to help us,” she said. “I like the crowd, I love the crowd, and I thank God for this May Day festival.”

Culvert Replacement Project Closing County Road 630 for Two Months

Frostproof

Staff Reporter

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May 28, 2019

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Culvert Replacement Project Closing County Road 630 for Two Months

Bartow, Fla. (May 28, 2019) — Starting Monday, a Polk County drainage project to replace an aging concrete box culvert will close County Road 630 just east of Monk Road near Frostproof for two months. The box culvert carries traffic over the Crooked-Clinch Canal flowing between Crooked Lake and Lake Clinch. Roadway approaches and culvert interior are in poor condition. The new culvert will be 38 feet longer than the current structure and the roadway reconstruction will widen shoulders on each side to allow for permanent removal of the existing guardrail.

To ensure worker and traffic safety, a June-to-August road closure with detour was authorized to coincide with the Polk County Public Schools summer break. County Road 630 should reopen by early August. During closure, traffic will bypass the work zone along County Road 630 West and U.S. Highway 17 via Fort Meade Road. Detour may be lengthy, depending on destination and direction of travel. Commuting delays are expected. Motorists are advised to drive carefully and add extra time to trips through the area. Call Bill Skelton with the Polk County Roads & Drainage Division at 863-535-2200 for further details.

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