Polk County, Florida has 1,798.1 square miles of land area and is the 4th largest county in Florida by total area. Polk County, Florida is bordered by Highlands County, Lake County, Osceola County, Pasco County, Manatee County, Orange County, Okeechobee County, Hillsborough County, Sumter County, and Hardee County.
With over 2,000 square miles of land and water, Polk is the 4th largest county in the state. We have 17 municipalities – the largest being Lakeland, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, Bartow, Haines City and Davenport (full list), and have a current estimated population of over 810,000.
That population is larger than three states in the United States of American. Those states would be
North Dakota (788,940), Alaska (733,536), Vermont (647,818) and Wyoming (647,818)
Polk County, Florida, covers an area of approximately 2,011 square miles. Several U.S. states are physically smaller than this county. These states are:
Rhode Island – 1,214 square miles
Delaware – 2,489 square miles (However, only 1948 are on land. The other portion is Delaware Bay).
“For King, Country, and Love” Delivers Action and Romance in World War One
By James Coulter
Elizabeth Parsons is an 18-year-old girl from Newfoundland who enlists in the British Army at the start of World War One. (Or, as it was known back then, The Great War).
Her service soon has her crossing paths with a man who had previously assaulted her, along with his brother and even a potential suitor. Will she make it out of the war alive? And will she succeed in seeking justice and finding love along the way?
“For King, Country, and Love” is the fifth installment of the Love and War series written by Sebring author Mark Barie. Following his retirement, Barie has since written five books and received numerous awards for them.
His latest book is set during World War One through the eyes of a young woman seeking to overcome the obstacles in this war-torn, male-dominated world.
Sebring author, Mark Barbie
“Her journey into a male-dominated world of horrific violence, fearless soldiers, and blood-soaked surgeons will leave you emotionally spent but forever hopeful that true love will ultimately triumph over the death and destruction of war,” Barie wrote on his website.
Barie always had an invested interest in history. His passion was further ignited following a discovery by his genealogist wife, who had learned that several of his ancestors fought in various American wars, from the Revolution to World War II.
Since then, not only did he become even more invested in studying history, but he also decided to use the information he gleaned from his studies to weave into fictional narratives.
“I have always been a history buff since I was a teenager, and my wife describes me as a romantic slob, so, that turned into four novels, soon to be five,” he explained. “I know intimate details about a lot of wars and battles around the world, and that is where inspiration comes from, between my romantic tendencies and my love of history and [my interests in] someone who was in the trenches and the battlefield and what they went through in those wars, and the rest is made up.”
As with many authors, Barie has often suffered from “Imposter Syndrome.” However, his self-doubt is usually stifled by the many awards his books have won over the years. His first novel, “War Calls, Love Cries,” received a gold medal from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association.
With his previous four books set during the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Spanish Spanish-American War, and his upcoming book set during World War One, many people would assume that his next book will be set in World War Two. However, surprisingly enough, Barie claims it will not.
“There are too many books already, novels and otherwise, based on World War Two, so my publisher advised against it rather adamantly,” he said. “So, believe it or not, I will be going back to the Civil War.”
“For King, Country, and Love” will be published next month on Barnes and Noble and other book distributors. To learn more, visit Barie’s author website at: https://www.markbarie.com/
Recently, Barie appeared on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss his upcoming novel. Listen to his interview in the latest episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-41-love-war-a-circle-of-friends-wcrystal-higbee-mark-bari
The Florida Highway Patrol has released details of a fatal crash that occurred early afternoon on August 9th. According to Sergeant Steve Gaskins, Florida Highway Patrol Public Affairs Officer, a Ford Edge, driven by a 62-year-old Gibsonton man, was traveling eastbound on I-4 in the inside lane near Milepost 26 when the driver suffered a medical emergency. The driver lost control of the vehicle which traveled to outside shoulder, struck a tree, overturned and came to rest in a water filled drainage ditch.
The driver suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash while a passenger traveling in the vehicle, a 51-year-old Gibsonton woman, suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol following Marsy’s Law does not provide the names of vehicle crash victims.
Notice is hereby given that Lake Wales Storage intends to sell the property described below to enforce a lien under the Florida Self Storage Facility Act, Statutes (section 83.80-83.809). The owner will sell at public auction on or after August 21st, 2024 at 10:00 am at storageauctions.com Units belonging to the following:
CUSTOMER NAME:
Vanessa Winn
This sale will be continued on such succeeding sale days thereafter as may be necessary to be completed. *Unless otherwise noted units contain household items.
…TROPICAL STORM WATCHES ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS…
Key Messages for Potential Tropical Cyclone Five SundayAugust 11, 2024 5:00 PM EDT:
The disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm before reaching the Leeward Islands, where Tropical Storm Watches are in effect. Tropical storm conditions could begin on Tuesday for portions of the area.
Heavy rainfall may result in locally considerable flash flooding and mudslides in portions of the northern Leeward Islands Tuesday and Wednesday, and into Puerto Rico Wednesday through Thursday.
Additional watches or warnings will likely be required for the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico tonight or early Monday, and interests in these locations should monitor the progress of this system.
En Español: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/205233.shtml?spanish_key_messages#contents
For more information, visit: hurricanes.gov/#Five For the latest marine forecast, visit: hurricanes.gov/marine
—————
Original report
National Hurricane Center –
This Satuday, shower and thunderstorm activity continues to increase in association with a tropical wave located roughly midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system during the next several days while it moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph across the central tropical Atlantic. A tropical depression is likely to form by the early to middle part of next week while the system approaches and then moves near or over the Lesser Antilles, and interests there should monitor the progress of this system. Then, the system is forecast to move generally west-northwestward and could approach portions of the Greater Antilles by the middle to latter part of next week. It has a medium (40 percent) chance of formation in the next 48 hours and a high (80 percent) chance in the next 7 days.
En Español: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATWOSAT.shtml For the latest updates, visit: Hurricanes.gov Marine Forecast: Hurricanes.gov/marine
The Lake Wales Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in an attempt to identify the individual in the provided photos. The following represents LWPD’s information, issued on August 9:
“The male pictured below entered the Dollar General at 306 Highway 60 E in Lake Wales. He was wearing a white shirt, black pants and black sunglasses. He then filled a shopping cart before filling a garbage bag full of items. He then exited the store through the fire exit without making any attempt to pay for the merchandise.”
If you have information pertaining to this case or the identity of this person, please contact the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223.
Or, if you would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers: call 1-888-400-TIPS (8477) or from your cell phone, dial **TIPS, or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit a Tip”, or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet.
The Lake Wales Police Department is located at 133 East Tillman Avenue, Lake Wales, Florida 33853 – (863) 678-4223 Office – (863) 678-4298 Fax
Mary Alice Rhoden Collins of Winter Haven passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at AdventHealth Lake Wales.
She was born December 31, 1957 in Lexington, North Carolina to the late James and Fannie Rhoden; she has been a lifelong resident of the area. Mary was a homemaker and of the Pentecostal faith.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents along with many brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Maryann Atmore (Jacoby) of Winter Haven; sons, Michael Collins of Winter Haven, Ross Younger of Winter Haven, Kevin Younger of Arkansas, and Gray Younger of Lake Wales; sisters, Ruby Britt (Scott) and Rosie Lewis (Kenny); brother, Aubie Rhoden; grandchildren, Minnie, Tamara, Lona, Josh, Ashley, Dalton, Faith, Destiny, Baby Jody, Hailey, Makayla, and Chris; and many great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 16, 2024 at Vanessa’s Home.
Town of Dundee Celebrating Grand Opening of Johnson Dog Park on Saturday
by James Coulter
Whether they get there on two legs or four, residents of Dundee and the surrounding area are invited to arrive for the grand opening of the city’s public dog park this Saturday.
Johnson Dog Park, located at 800 Edmund Ave., will be hosting its grand opening celebration on Sat. Aug. 10 from 10 AM – 2 PM.
The festivities will include a ribbon cutting to commemorate the official opening of the park to the public, as well as opportunities for residents and their pets to explore the park and its many amenities.
Adoption opportunities will also be provided through Polk County Animal Control. While animals will not be presented on-site, official adoption forms will be made available for potential pet owners.
The new park area includes various amenities for pets and owners alike, from benches and shade trees to dog tunnels, hoops, and a weight station.
Over the past two years, the City of Dundee has receivedrequests from residents to designate a public space as a dog park for local pet owners, explained Tandra Davis, Town Manager.
As the town owned a vacant park area that was not being put to immediate use, the city decided to utilize that space to construct the proposed dog park, Davis said.
“The dog park was an idea left to our stakeholders and residents,” she said. “We had numerous residents who came to town city commission meetings over the last two and a half years request[ing] that we look into having a dog park and [into] the communities that have these areas for their loved ones.”
While dog parks exist in most other cities within Polk County, the Town of Dundee wanted to create something unique to their community and its needs, said John Vice, Public Works Director.
“I am trying to be different from other municipalities in other surrounding areas,” he said. “We wanted to put ours on the map. We did not want it to be what you see going along the road. We wanted this to be different. It is an ideal concept. What can we do to reuse other products to build a dream factor while constructing this park.”
The Town of Dundee has nothing but high expectations for the new park and its grand opening. Residents have been asking for such a facility for a long time, and hopefully, this new public park will meet their needs, said Lita O’Neil, Town Clerk.
O’Neil owes the success of the park’s construction to the support from their various partners, both inside and outside the city, including the Town of Lake Hamilton, the City of Davenport, Polk County Animal Control, and Odum Contracting.
“We just want to welcome and make sure we have a welcome to anyone who wants to come out and participate and that they bring their loved ones with them,” she said.
Johnson Dog Park is located at 800 Edmund Ave. in Dundee. The grand opening will be hosted on Sat. Aug 10 from 10 AM to 2 PM
On Mondays, many of us are gearing up for a full week of work and stress. The Lake Wales Public Library has a way to help you with… color therapy.
Lunch Hour Coloring For Grown Ups is happening at the Lake Wales Public Library on Mondays, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The next session is scheduled for August 12 in the Schoenoff Meeting Room.
All supplies will be provided and at no cost to participants.
Drop in and destress with some simple fun. Bring your own favorite coloring book and utensils or the library will provide. This is open to the public and no reservations are required.
CRIME: BUSINESS BURGLARY CRIME SCENE: SUPREME BARGAINS STORE, 2836 RECKER HWY, WINTER HAVEN POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CASE: #24-31136
Polk County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a business burglary that occurred at the Supreme Bargains store on Recker Hwy in Winter Haven, around 5:55 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2024,
The two suspects seen here in video surveillance entered the store by tunneling through the wall of an adjoining business. They filled some bags with jewelry, designer purses, and the cash register, then fled on a bicycle and a UHaul pulling a trailer.
If you recognize these suspects please contact Detective Quattlebaum at (863) 978-9688 or at [email protected].
If you wish to remain anonymous AND be eligible for a reward, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers in one of four ways:
CALL 1-888-400 TIPS (8477)
DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone
VISIT www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
DOWNLOAD the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet
