If you have missed some of the local back to school giveaway events, you still have a chance to get the kids what they need and have some family fun while you’re doing it.
The Visit Central Florida Welcome Center, located at 101 Adventure Ct., in Davenport, is hosting a Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 3, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Free backpacks will be given to the first 500 students (child must be present to receive backpack).
Vendors will be on site giving away additional school supplies and other kid-friendly items.
Enjoy free caricature drawings, games and kid-friendly crafts.
For more information, please check out www.visitcentralflorida.com.
Just under a week ago, a young mother was stabbed to death in Winter Haven following an alleged altercation with a male suspect. The suspect stabbed the victim multiple times, ultimately resulting in her death. The 26-year-old victim was identified as Angel Snell of Winter Haven.
Angel had a 5-year-old daughter who she left behind. Her daughter is now in the care of Angel’s mother, Cherie.
The family of Angel is collecting donations after this tragic and unexpected loss. To donate to her family, please email Geneva Granger: [email protected].
Images provided by family of Angel Snell
** WINTER HAVEN POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATE ** Heartland Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest in this case. Come forward – anyone who knows anything, even if you think it is insignificant, call the tip in. You just may have the key to solving this case and bringing justice to this victim and her family.
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Original post:
Winter Haven Police investigators are asking the public for any information involving the stabbing and ultimate death of a 26 year-old female late Friday night.
On July 26, 2024 just before midnight, officers responded to a call involving a stabbing in the construction area behind the old Banyon Beach motel located at 1630 6th St NW (Hwy 17) in Winter Haven. According to a witness who was with the victim, the female was involved in an argument with an unknown male a distance away from where the witness was standing. The witness heard the argument and saw the male strike the victim numerous times.
The victim started screaming that she had been stabbed and the witness ran to the victim as the suspect fled southbound. The witness ran to find someone to call 9-1-1 and authorities arrived within three minutes, starting life-saving measures on the victim. EMS personnel arrived transporting the victim to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to call Detective Moore at 863-837-9754. Callers wishing to remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH reward are asked to contact Heartland Crime Stoppers. * Call 1-888-400-TIPS (8477) * 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. 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.
Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday happening now! Here is the info from flgov.com:
“Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which begins on Monday, July 29, and runs for two weeks, ending on Sunday, August 11. The sales tax holiday will help families to save money on items their students need for the new school year.
“I am proud to announce the return of the annual Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Our great financial standing means we can give money back to the taxpayers through various forms of toll and tax relief. I hope this Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday helps as families prepare for the coming school year.”
The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday includes items such as:
School supplies selling for $50 or less per item, such as:
Binders
Notebooks
Pens and pencils
Lunch boxes
Learning aids selling for $30 or less per item, such as:
Interactive Books
Jigsaw Puzzles
Other toys that teach reading or math skills
Clothing and footwear selling for $100 or less per item, such as:
Backpacks
Pants
Shoes
Shirts
Sweaters
Personal computers and related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use selling for $1,500 or less per item, such as:
Laptops
Flash drives
Printers
Headphones
The Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday is in addition to the Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday which is running through July 31, 2024. The Freedom Summer Sales Tax Holiday makes items such as fishing supplies, outdoor recreation equipment, and admission to state parks and museums sales tax free.”
In loving memory of Olivia “Oly” Janette Estrada-Ariza
Olivia “Oly” Janette Estrada-Ariza, 33, of Winter Haven, Fl passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at Lakeland Regional. She passed surrounded by her family after a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She was born in Bartow, Fl on July 18, 1991. Olivia was a strong woman, a devoted mother, an aspiring make-up artist and a relentless fighter. She dedicated her life to the Lord at Haven Worship Center on May 3, 2023. She remained strong in her faith throughout her toughest battles. She loved traveling with her loved ones especially to Georgia, her favorite place. She was very creative and enjoyed expressing her artistic side in many ways from her makeup to drawing and painting, she did it all. Olivia took pride in her independence and the confidence she had in herself to always find a way in everything she did. Such as in life, Olivia will always be remembered as beautiful, bold and above all brave.
She is survived by her children, Marcos Isaiah Ariza (17), Isabella Ariza Cauley (12), Isaac Preston Cauley (11); her boyfriend, Audencio Castillo; mother, Felisita Estrada; siblings, Diana Rodriguez, Marcos Ariza, Gerardo Ariza, Veronica Ariza, Jaime Treviño; as well as her 8 nieces and nephews; and beloved dogs Chalula and Canela.
Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears. -Helen Keller
Visitation Oak Ridge Funeral Care 2425 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 August 1st, 2024 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Funeral Service Oak Ridge Funeral Care 2425 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 August 2nd, 2024 2:00 PM
Interment Auburndale Memorial Park 1889 W Derby Ave, Auburndale, FL 33823 August 2nd, 2024 3:00 PM
If you were in the area of the Raj Food Mart at 1000 Loop Road in Auburndale on Tuesday evening, July 30th, and you saw PCSO activity, here’s what went down…
The PCSO received information that a wanted person was at the store.
The person was identified as 19-year old Tayden Morris of Auburndale, and he was wanted for aggravated battery (felony).
Deputies arrived at the location and placed Morris under arrest without incident.
Tayden Morris was then taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and booked-into the Polk County Jail.
Jane Louise Hill (nee Karr) on Wednesday, 7/24/24 passed on to be with her husband Bill. Jane and Bill were married for 53 years. Jane was a devout Christian woman.
She is survived by her children; Bill Hill, Easton PA; Maryellen Moree, Winter Haven FL; Ruthanne Kirby, Washington D.C.; Charles Hill, Reading PA; Betty Jarvis, Denver CO; Tim Hill, San Diego CA. Jane’s daughters-in-law Debbie, Margaret & Dina. Also surviving her are 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Bill her husband pre-deceased her in November 2002. Her parents Streper Karr III and Martha Karr (nee Jameson), Flourtown, PA pre-deceased in the 1980s.
Jane was well loved by all. She could walk into a room full of strangers and make friends. She adored her Siamese cat “Kitty”. She will be dearly missed.
The funeral service will be at Steele’s Family Funeral Services, 207 Burns Lane SE, Winter Haven, FL 33884 on Saturday 8/17/24 at 2:00 p.m.
The Lake Wales Police Department, Lake Wales Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue are currently on scene of a motor vehicle crash on Hwy 27 at Thompson Nursery Rd. The call came in at 11:52 am. The accident appears to involve two vehicles.
One person appear to be preparing to be transported by ambulance from the scene. Southbound traffic is still flowing, but slowly. The Northbound traffic is moving fairly unencumbered.
We will update if further details become available.
Lakeland, Fla., (July 31, 2024) – The Greater Lakeland Advisory Board of Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) proudly hosted the Community Appreciation and Recognition Social on July 30, 2024. This special event celebrated the dedication and contributions of outstanding individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted the lives of children and families in the community.
During the event, six distinguished awards were presented:
2024 Advocate of the Year: Dawn Chapman, a long-time CHS Greater Lakeland Advisory Board Member and Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee, was honored as the Advocate of the Year. She is a tireless advocate for children and families and recently spent time with CHS front-line staff to express appreciation for their efforts.
2024 Community Partners: Heartland for Children was recognized as the Community Partner for their responsiveness and collaboration in supporting local CHS initiatives and fostering positive relationships with law enforcement ensuring better outcomes for youth. The Florida Network for Children’s Advocacy Centers was also celebrated for their outstanding support of CHS’ Children’s Advocacy Center Team in Bartow and their steadfast efforts advocating for additional funding to support critical work on behalf of children and families in Greater Lakeland and statewide.
2024 Legislative Champion: Senator Colleen Burton was named the Legislative Champion for 2024. As a long-standing child advocate, Sen. Burton has championed improvements in the lives of Florida’s citizens. She was recognized for her leadership in health care reform during the past Legislative Session and her ongoing support of CHS and the Community Partnership Schools™ model.
2024 Community Supporter: Fresh Kitchen was celebrated for their contributions to local CHS initiatives, including making CHS a beneficiary of their annual fundraiser.
2024 Community Supporter: The “Friends”, comprising of four volunteers: Courtney Wentworth, Kayla Plouffe, Samantha Judd and Liz Plemons were recognized for their support of local CHS events including the CHS Charity Pickleball Tournament, the Back-to-School donation drive, and the annual holiday drive for children and families.
“We are incredibly thankful for the dedication and passion of our award recipients,” said Dr. Amy Bratten, Board Chair and Provost for Polk State College. “Their commitment to advocating for and supporting children and families in our community is truly inspiring. Each of them plays a vital role in creating brighter futures, and we are honored to recognize their outstanding contributions.”
The Community Appreciation and Recognition Social was graciously hosted by Boring Business Systems which is celebrating 100 years of serving the greater Tampa Bay area’s business needs — from IT solutions to copy and print services.
Immediately following the Social, the CHS Greater Lakeland Advisory Board held their advisory meeting and welcomed new governance including Chair Clint Rhoton and Vice Chair Nate Pearson. They will each serve a 2-year term.
For more information about Children’s Home Society of Florida, please visit chsfl.org.
About Children’s Home Society of Florida On the front lines since 1902, Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. Children’s Home Society of Florida serves more than 50,000 children and family members throughout the state each year. More: www.chsfl.org.
It’s common for most people to want to spend more time with their families, and sometimes earning a living gets in the way of that goal. But, for a few, putting those two ideas together can have a lasting impact.
Over the past five years, Arthur and Stephanie White of Lake Wales have significantly advanced their business ventures in Polk County, Florida. They successfully ran Kingdom Fitness and Nutrition, a personal training studio in Lake Wales, for five years and operated Orgen D’nal Cafe and Juice Bar for three years, all while teaching full-time for the Polk County School Board.
Arthur White, at Orgen D’nal in Lake Wales
Recently, the Whites visited Tanzania in East Africa to reconnect with their African ancestral culture. Feeling led by God, they decided to move their entire family abroad for eight months. During their time in Tanzania, they founded a tourism and hospitality company, opened three Airbnbs, and launched an online vlog to share their journey.
Stephanie emphasizes the importance of the value of self before tackling big dreams.
“I believe you deserve to feel seen, heard and understood, as a person, by all who love you,” Stephanie says. “But, before you expect anyone else to understand you, first you have to see yourself, love yourself, hear yourself and understand yourself. Then those that love you will see exactly who you are even if they don’t always understand. You will then have the space mentally to give them grace when they don’t always understand.”
The White Family in Africa
Arthur’s vision for himself and his family is ingrained in positivity.
“Africa has always held a special place in my heart,” Arthur says. “I aim to inspire and uplift as I share my real experiences as a follower of the Most High God, a traveler, entrepreneur/ business consultant, a Father and Husband on a mission to make a positive impact in Africa and America.”
The White Family
Now back in Lake Wales, the Whites are once again growing their entrepreneurial spirits. They’re hosting an East African-inspired simple juices class at Bok Tower Gardens on October 12 this year.
“We are traveling as a digital nomadic family,” Arthur says. “We returned this summer to host a non-profit science camp at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland and we are also online teachers and tutors.”
Arthur White giving a juicing demonstration
The couple has two daughters, who are said to have loved the experience of travel to Africa.
“Homeschooling aboard was great: we are teaching our daughters Swahili, how to build a business aboard,” Arthur shared. “Our older daughter had a hard time adjusting to Tanzania just because she missed family and friends. Overall, our older daughter says the major difference between Lake Wales and Dar es Salaam Tanzania is, ‘Tanzania has fresher air, they play more soccer, and the culture is more peaceful.’”
The Whites find it important to impress the importance of factual information and realistic expectation when it comes to expanding one’s sights.
The White Family
“The most important thing we want the Lake Wales community to know is there is a lot of misinformation about Africa and the only way to breakdown the barrier is to travel Africa or follow others that travel to Africa.” Arthur says.
“It is possible for anyone to travel the world; you have to be strategic about saving and planning ahead. It doesn’t take a lot of money to just go and enjoy, but you have to learn to budget properly. We encourage people to at least try to learn more about traveling abroad to see the world; don’t stay trapped in the dome because the outside world is waiting to help you grow and heal. God made the world for us to explore and interact with different cultures and grow stronger as a people.”
If you’re interested in traveling to East Africa in 2025, you can reach out to them at [email protected].
The family’s Vlog Is @SoloSoul24.
On YouTube & Stephanie Mentors moms facing Postpartum Depression her Facebook Group is: “Moms Overcoming Postpartum Depression” and her YouTube: @SarayahMichelleOvercomer.
Joe Neal Kincaid, 95, passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at Good Shepard Hospice House, Auburndale, FL.
He was born March 31, 1929, on Easter Sunday to the late James Cecil Kincaid, Sr. and Mary Alma Davis Kincaid. Joe’s family was one of the first pioneer families in the Lake Wales area, where his grandfather established the Lake Wales Dairy, also known as the Kincaid Dairy, in the Spook Hill area. His family also established a dairy outlet and ice cream store known as the Kandy Jane. Joe grew up in Lake Wales, graduated from Lake Wales High School and attended University of Florida, remaining a staunch Gator all his life. Joe was also a member of the Florida National Guard and an avid golfer, playing twice a week until very recently. He was a member of Main Street Baptist Church in Bartow.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Mary Kincaid, brothers Cecil Kincaid, Jr, and Leo Kincaid. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Katherine Wooten Kincaid, sisters Jane Kincaid Thomas, Jacksonville, FL and Kandy Kincaid, Winter Haven, FL; children Kathy Kincaid Seaton and husband David, Chesapeake, VA; Alan Kincaid and wife Marsha, Lake Wales FL; Robbie Kincaid and wife Sandy, Lake Wales FL; Melodie Kincaid, Frostproof, FL; Cheryl Watson, Bartow, FL; and Dale Barefoot, Tallahassee, FL. Joe had twelve grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
