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Eagle Ridge Food Vendor Offers Fresh Twist On Pretzels

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Eagle Ridge Food Vendor Offers Fresh Twist On Pretzels

Eagle Ridge Food Vendor Offers Fresh Twist On Pretzels

by James Coulter

They say necessity is the mother of invention. They also say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

So when Pretzel Time closed down at the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, the vacancy left a necessity for a new pretzel shop at the mall.

Fortunately, Ashely Caraway was more than willing to invent a new place to fill this necessity, as well as make some lemonade—as well as pretzels—in the process.

She opened a new store, Fresh Twist Pretzels, last September. Since then has been serving fresh lemonade and handmade pretzels to mall shoppers and guests.

“It was a new experience, a new opportunity,” she said.

Fresh Twist Pretzels, true to its name, offers a fresh twist on pretzels by serving various types of pretzels, from big soft pretzels to small pretzel bites and even pretzel dogs. Their menu features six different pretzel items, each with six different flavors.

Aside from the titular pretzels, the food stall also offers several drinks to wash everything down with, including soft drinks, lemonade, and frozen slushies. Also served are various homemade baked goods including cupcakes and muffins, the type of items rarely sold at such mall vendors.

 

Though their stall is small, their menu has been expanding with bigger and better items. Recently, they started selling Starbucks coffee and fresh fruit smoothies, and they plan on offering even more.

As someone who loves to bake, Caraway loves experimenting with different baked goods and selling them at her food stall. Being able to offer something aside from the usual mall fare of pretzels and lemonade is quite the experience for her.

“I loved to bake,” she said. “It is actually really easy. If you can follow the ingredients and the instructions, then it explains itself.”

Caraway originally started her business at the Sebring Mall four years ago. She and her family recently moved to Lake Wales. So rather than drive all the way to Sebring and back, she decided to open up a place nearby in town. As such, she immediately pounced at the opportunity to open up something in Eagle Ridge Mall, she said.

Her husband has been working at Wal-Mart for the past fifteen years. Between the two of them, they both have years of professional experience running a business, so they are always running something, she said.

Since opening up shop several months ago, her business has proven quite successful within the mall. She hopes to add more items to her menu and offer a more diverse selection than what most other mall stalls usually offer.

“We are starting to pick up on business a lot more,” she said. “At first, it was slow because a lot of people thought it was closed, but it is doing a lot better now maintaining itself.”

Fresh Twist Pretzels is located within Eagle Ridge Mall, located at 451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Lake Wales, FL 33859​. For more information, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/FRESH-TWIST-Pretzels-2107052239566982/

DNA Evidence Leads To Arrest For July Burglary

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DNA Evidence Leads To Arrest For July Burglary

DNA Evidence Leads To Arrest For July Burglary

Haines City Police Department Press Release

HAINES CITY, FL – DNA evidence led to the Tuesday arrest of a Davenport teen for a burglary that took place in late July.

It was after 9:30 a.m. on July 31 that an employee of the car dealership, GP Auto Connection, came to work to find the business had been burglarized. The suspect broke a glass window before entering the location. The owner could not find anything missing.

The business’ alarm was not set and surveillance cameras were not functioning, but Crime Scene Investigators were able to locate droplets of blood that the owner claimed were not there the day prior to the break-in. Samples were collected and sent to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab.

Returned results identified Elijah Parsons, 17, as a match. Parsons was located at Ridge Community High School on Tuesday and interviewed by detectives. Parsons told detectives that he went to the dealership in hopes of getting money. Parsons said that he knew he would be identified after cutting his finger, but claimed to have not taken anything out of fear.

“Our detectives did an outstanding job and so did our forensics team,” Chief Jim Elensky. “Their due diligence allowed us to be able to make this arrest.”

Parsons acknowledged to a December arrest in which he was pursued in a stolen vehicle and later on foot by officers before being apprehended by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at Ritchie Brothers Salvage Company in Davenport. Parsons denied involvement in other dealership burglaries that took place around the same time.

Parsons, who is currently on probation, is being charged with burglary, a third-degree felony, and criminal mischief. He was arrested and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center without incident.

Parsons was previously arrested on charges of grand theft auto, battery, fleeing to elude and driving without a license.

“Attention to detail and being thorough in our investigations is a big reason why we’ve been able to significantly increase our arrest and clearance rates over the last year,” Elensky added. “Forensics is a big part of our intelligence-led policing model and I’m really proud of the investigative work our team did in this case.”

New Tattoo Art Studio Spreads Love With Art

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New Tattoo Art Studio Spreads Love With Art

New Tattoo Art Studio Spreads Love With Art

by James Coulter

Ever since he could pick up a crayon, Parker -Wingnut- Beaudoin has been creating art. He continues to express himself through his art to this day, though he has long since switched out his crayons for a tattoo machine.

Over the past 20 years, this Kissimmee native has been continuing his artistic endeavors, be it through a paint and brush on canvas, or with ink and a tattoo pen on skin. Tattoos are by far his favorite art form, as evidenced by every inch of his skin beings covered with them.

“It is a different art form,” he said. “Every day is different. Every customer you tattoo, they get to carry around a piece of your artwork with them for the rest of their life. It is something different, something different for each one.”

-Wingnut- has since set up shop in Winter Haven, where he plans to “Spread Love With Art” through his new business of the same name. Located at 1126 1st Street South, his new store will be offering custom tattoos, original artwork, signed prints, and much more.

Spread Love With Art recently celebrated its grand opening on Sunday, which allowed guests the opportunity to bid on several of his original art pieces through a silent auction and raffle drawing.

Beaudoin brings with him more than 20 years of tattooing experience and at least five years of proffesional experience, through which he has developed his own brand through the help of his fiancée and his father.

More than simply unique tattoos and artwork, he is selling a philosophy, true to his store’s name, of spreading love with art. During a time when the world seems more divided than ever, being able to heal the rift through a shared love of art seems more important now than ever, he said.

“Spread Love With Art was created as a way to help spread love and happiness around the world with art,” his website states. “With this new company…the purpose is to take the negative in this world of which we see and are around every day and change it to become positive.”

Born in 1985, -Wingnut- has been involved with art ever since he could pick up and use a crayon. Several years later, his endeavors would change to tattooing with his very first tattoo: a skull and cross on his forearm.

Since then, every inch of his skin, from head to toe, has been covered with tattoos, but his very first one proves to be his favorite, since it is the one that sparked his interest, which has since turned into a business.

His father, Jekyll Beaudoin, a retired master piercer, recalls the time his son came up to him asking for a tattoo. He agreed to pay for the tattoo under the condition that he receive one as well. That was the first time either of them received a tattoo, and their love for tattooing has grown ever since.

“Mainly, I have him do my tattoo work on me, because I have gone to other artists, and he is the one I am most comfortable with,” Jekyll said.

-Wingnut- himself has been tattooing for the past 20 years. During that time, he has been featured in 70 publications, received 30 awards, and has even broken a world record for creating the smallest tattoo. He has even published a book on the subject: “The Ever Lasting Itty Bitty.”

Of everything that he has accomplished during that time, his most proud accomplishment has been being able to share his artwork with others by putting it on them. What better way is there for others to share his art, he said.

“I give it my all with every tattoo that I do,” he said. “I do what the customer wants, and I go above and beyond to give them the best quality tattoo.”

He has worked alongside his fiancée and father at their shops in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach for the past year and a half. Having since relocated to Central Florida, he decided to open up shop in Winter Haven.

Rather than simply run a simple tattoo parlor where clients come in and out, -Wingnut- makes his services much more personable, ensuring that his customers are treated like family and friends rather than simply another dollar sign.

“They can expect an excellent experience, and something to tell their friends and family and anyone else they come in contact with,” he said.

Previous customers have praised him for not only his artistic abilities, but also for his personable service, making him someone that they can go to for all of their tattooing needs.

“[He’s an] amazing human being, phenomenally talented artist, and bad ass tattoo artist,” one Facebook reviewer said. “Personally have his talents permanently on my skin and couldn’t be happier. Only problem is I now live in Philly and can’t see him.”

-Wingnut- hopes to continue offering such high-quality services through his new shop, and by doing so, he hopes to make the world a slightly better place to live in.

“We hope to be a landmark and a household name, where everybody knows it, whether it is for the tattooing or the artwork, and to be able to add something positive to the community,” he said. “What I do, it is all to spread love through art, both as an art form as well as the tattoos and paintings so that collect the artwork and have it collected in their art as well.”

Spread Love With Art is located at 1126 1st Street South, Winter Haven, Fl, 33880. For more information, call 863-247-8110 visit their website at: http://www.spreadlovewithart.com.

Former Bartow Police Department Evidence Custodian Arrested

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Former Bartow Police Department Evidence Custodian Arrested

Bartow Police Department Press Release

On 03/05/2019, detectives with the Bartow Police Department arrested  Stacey Lee Schaufler of Eagle Lake, Florida on charges stemming from her employment at the police department. Schaufler was arrested and charged with:

        Computer Crime to Defraud/Obtain Property 1 Count

        Destroy/Tampering with/Fabricate Physical Evidence 1 Count

        Grand Theft over $5000.00 1 Count

Schaufler was booked at the Polk County Jail.

Schaufler was employed by the Bartow Police Department as the Evidence Custodian. In December 2018, she was terminated from her employment as a result of a policy violation. Subsequent to her termination, Chief Hall ordered an audit and inventory of the evidence room, as standard procedure. The audit and inventory has been ongoing since that time. During the course of the audit in inventory, detectives identified items of evidence missing, including cash that had been seized by the department.  The resulting criminal investigation revealed that $7,412.73 in cash was stolen from evidence from several different cases. In some of the empty evidence envelopes, detectives found paper cut in the shape of paper bills.  In all, there were a total of 25 case numbers affected with currency, and 19 additional evidence cases tampered with. In each of the affected cases, only the cash was stolen. No other items were stolen, or unaccounted for in the audit.

During this same time period, Schaufler used the department’s database to fabricate locations of evidence. Schaufler altered the computer evidence logs to indicate that the stolen items were transferred to the rightful owner, the state crime lab, or destroyed pursuant to court order; in an effort to conceal her actions.

 

Young Artists Showcase Art Through Prodigy Youth Arts Program

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Young Artists Showcase Art Through Prodigy Youth Arts Program

Young Artists Showcase Art Through Prodigy Youth Arts Program

by James Coulter

 

When he was much younger, Angelo Cecere, like most other teenagers, had a much more cynical view on life. Joining the Prodigy Youth Arts Program allowed his worldview to broaden by expanding his horizons through art.

Not only did the program allow him to get creative by learning about and experimenting with art, but it also taught him valuable life skills that have improved him as a person and turned him into the productive citizen that he is today.

Most of all, the program helped shift his worldview, changing him from a cynical to a more optimistic person who sees potential in his life and the lives of others, he said.

“It has taught me to never give up,” he said. “Throughout any difficulty, there is always opportunity. It also had me thinking, no matter [what], your future is somebody else’s past. The energy you put out is the energy you get back.”

Currently, he serves as a produce clerk at Publix. During his off time, he volunteers within his local community in an effort to give back. He especially enjoys being able to volunteer at Prodigy and help offer the children there the same opportunities he once had.

“I want them to see there is hope in the world,” he said. “No matter what the situation is, I want them to see how we can change their life. All these kids I work with have great potential, whether it is helping with homework or art, they have great potential, and I see that.”

Several dozen local children shared the art, both visual and performative, that they had been learning about and engaging in through an after-school art program during an art showcase on Thursday evening.

Hosted at Snively Elementary School in Winter Haven, the art showcase shared the artwork created by students through Prodigy, a local after school arts program for local children.

   

“Prodigy is a research-based prevention and diversion program for at-risk youth ages 5-18,” its website states. “Prodigy uses visual and performing arts as a way to help young people develop life skills such as communication, leadership, problem solving, anger management, career aspirations, and goal setting.”

While enjoying light refreshments, attendees that evening could peruse many of the art pieces created by the children through the program. Many of these art pieces were created to emulate the art styles of various famous artists, including Pablo Picasso, Monet, Vincent Van Gough, and Andy Warhol.

Aside from visual art, many of these young children also showcased their involvement through performative art with a musical performance. Nearly a dozen students dressed in decorative costumes took to the stage to dance along to the song “Jolly Holiday” from Disney’s “Mary Poppins.”

Following the performance, a small awards ceremony was hosted, conferring certificates to the students within the program and flowers to their parents. Also hosted that evening was a raffle drawing, offering several door prizes to attendees.

This evening’s event was the second arts showcase hosted by Prodigy, with the event showcasing everything that its students had learned since earlier that school year in August, said Polly Loeber, executive director.

“It was very successful,” she said. “We had a wonderful turnout. Family was here. Friends were here to support, as well as community members.”

Aside from teaching students about the arts, the program also helps teach them important life skills, thus offering them a more holistic learning experience than other similar arts program, she said.

“We want them to take away the idea that they can do anything that they want,” she said.

Each art class within the program is led by a professional artist who serves as an instructor as well as a mentor to the children involved. Kelly Vanbuskirk, one of the art instructors, enjoys being able to offer her experience, as it allows her to utilize her child psychology degree.

“I like the kids,” she said. “I like everything about them. I just love them…. [I love] helping them provide things and prevent them from doing things that they would do if they were not with us.”

For more information, visit their website at: https://www.uacdc.org

Help Winter Haven Police Department Identify Thief

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Help Winter Haven Police Department Identify Thief

 Winter Haven Police Department Release:

We’ve Said It Before – There Is No Such Thing As Finders Keepers
This guy obviously needs to hear that! Our victim was at the Murphy Gas Station (7454 Cypress Garden’s Blvd) and while in the store, left a black IphoneX on a food rack. Honest people turn found items in. But not this guy. This is theft!
Do you recognize him? Call Detective Chapnick at 863-401-2256. Callers who wish to remain anonymous should call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) Anonymity is guranteed and you could be eligible for a CASH reward.

 

MidFlorida Celebrates Grand Re-Opening Of South Winter Haven Branch

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MidFlorida Celebrates Grand Re-Opening Of South Winter Haven Branch

MidFlorida Celebrates Grand Re-Opening Of South Winter Haven Branch

by James Coulter

Twenty years ago, the South Winter Haven branch of MidFlorida started as a trailer along Dundee Road. Since then, the branch has grown to the point where it outgrew its former location and moved into a new building at its current location along Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

Valerie Dollison, Senior Vice President of East Polk County, was the very first manager for the branch at its former location. Being able to see it grow into the local institution that it is has been nothing more than remarkable for her.

“Growth has been phenomenal these past few years,” she said. “We just hope that it continues, in the deposits, as well as the lending and membership within this area.”

MidFlorida celebrated the grand re-opening of its South Winter Haven Branch, which had recently undergone remodeling to upgrade the interior of its bank lobby.

The grand opening ceremony was hosted on Friday, with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. The ribbon cutting that morning was attended to by various chamber members, as well as Mayor Brad Dantzler and Mayor Pro Tiem Nathanial Birdsong.

The remainder of the day’s event also provided a free lunch to clients and guests, which included hot dogs, cookies, soft drinks, and popcorn. A prize drawing was also hosted, along with a radio show apperance by Max 98.3.

The grand opening did not start until 10 a.m. that morning. The ribbon cutting was hosted much earlier at 9:30 a.m. Even then, the turnout for the event more than exceeded expectations, explained Dan Pfeffer, Vice President Area Manager.

“As soon as you walk in [to the building], you feel like you are welcome,” he said, claiming how he wants to “make sure the community knows that we are here, that we are involved, and we do as much as we can to help others around us. We are here for the people, we are a member-owned credit union.”

 

The building’s redesign included new floors, countertops, and lighting, giving the credit union’s interior a sleeker, modern look, Dollison explained.

The redesign was part of a rebranding effort by the credit union, with intentions to remodel the outlining offices within the county. The South Winter Haven branch was the very first to receive this remodeling, Dollison said.

Dollison hopes that the new design and branding will attract in potential customers. With the overall growth the branch has undergone since its inception, she expects it to continue growing with more accounts and clients in the near future.

“This office is very successful,” she said. “We hope to continue that success and continue to grow in this area. This market is very prosperous and growing, so many businesses in this area, and we hope to be an asset to help businesses in this area.”

Started in 1954 as the Polk County Teachers Credit Union, MidFlorida is a credit union which initially started with 273 members and $7,000 in deposit, but has since grown, according to its website, to “nearly 50 branches, more than 800 employees and assets over $3.3 billion.”

The MidFlorida Winter Haven South Branch is located at 5540 Cypress Gardens Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33884. For more information, call 863-688-3733, or visit https://www.midflorida.com.

The City of Winter Haven Utility Services Department Promotes EPA’s “Fix a Leak Week”

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The City of Winter Haven Utility Services Department Promotes EPA’s “Fix a Leak Week”

The City of Winter Haven Utility Services Department Promotes EPA’s “Fix a Leak Week”

March 18th, 2019 Through March 22nd, 2019

Winter Haven Florida, March 2019- As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ongoing We’re for Water campaign, this year’s Fix a Leak Week encourages Americans to help put a stop to the nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted from household leaks each year.

Sponsored by EPA’s WaterSense® program, Fix a Leak Week is March18th through March 22nd, 2019. In support of We’re for Water, Winter Haven Utility Services is promoting finding residential leaks in Winter Haven Florida.

“Leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year—the amount of water it takes to wash 270 loads of laundry, “As a WaterSense partner, we are encouraging consumers to find and fix leaks to save water in our community.” – Keeli Carlton

To help save water for future generations, Winter Haven Utility Services is asking consumers to check, twist, and replace:

  • Check for leaks. Look for dripping faucets, showerheads, sprinklers, and other fixtures. Also check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank, waiting 10 minutes, and seeing if color appears in the bowl before you flush. Don’t forget to check irrigation systems and spigots too.
  • Twist and tighten hose and pipe connections. To save water without a noticeable difference in flow in your bathroom, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator.
  • Replace the fixture if necessary. Look for WaterSense labeled models, which are independently certified to use 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models.

In many cases, fixture replacement parts pay for themselves quickly and can be installed by handy do-it-yourselfers or local plumbing professionals. Irrigation professionals certified through a WaterSense labeled program can also check your systems for leaks. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to find WaterSense labeled products or an auditor in your area.

The City of Winter Haven Utility Services Department’s Water Conservation Specialist is teaming up with Winter Haven area students and our first 200 Utility customers to become Leak Investigators of Winter Haven. We will detect leaks one toilet at a time and report back at the end of the week to see how many gallons of water was saved!

We are also encouraging Plumbers in our area to send in photos as they perform their everyday duties as they fix leaks.

The entire community is encourage to share their leak stories with us, and why water conservation is important to them on social media by using the HASHTAG #ConserveWaterWinterHaven.  We are excited to be a part of this event. All questions about this event, and photo submissions will be turned into Keeli Carlton at [email protected]

For more information on Fix a Leak Week, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.

Bartow Man Involved In Deadly Shooting Turns Himself Into Polk County Sheriff’s Office

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Bartow Man Involved In Deadly Shooting Turns Himself Into Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Bartow Man Involved In Deadly Shooting Turns Himself Into Polk County Sheriff’s Office

On Monday evening, March 4, 2019, 28-year-old Joshua Jay Pacheco turned himself into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the deadly shooting at the Citgo Food Market, located at 4660 Highway 17 North in Bartow Saturday night. He was wanted for two outstanding warrants: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of probation.

Pacheco told detectives he was waiting for her girlfriend to pick him up when an unknown man, 29-year-old Julian Garcia of Apopka, walked over and started attacking him threatening to kill him. Pacheco said they both fell to the ground and he admitted to displaying a handgun. He said the gun went off because Garcia attempted to get the gun once he saw it.  Garcia was taken to the hospital where died from a gunshot wound.

After shooting Mr. Garcia, Pacheco fled the scene. He told deputies he was scared due to being on probation and his convicted felon status. He also told deputies he later removed his clothes and threw them into a dumpster. Pacheco turned the gun into detectives.

Pacheco was booked into the Polk County Jail charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (F-2), Violation of Probation, (M-2), and Tampering with Physical Evidence (F-3). His bond is $50,000.

Investigative findings will be forwarded to the state attorney’s office.

Winter Haven Woman Arrested After Driving Stolen Vehicle

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Winter Haven Woman Arrested After Driving Stolen Vehicle

Winter Haven Police Department Press Release:

On 3-3-19 at approximately 1 a.m., Winter Haven Police received a call of a suspicious vehicle that was reported in the area of Palmetto Ave NW and Unity Way NW. A silver 4-door vehicle was located that matched the description given by the caller.

The vehicle, driven by 31 year-old Tabitha Nicole Singletary (Palmetto Ave., Winter Haven) headed south on Unity Way towards Ave. O NW. Singletary ran the stop sign at Unity Way and MLK Blvd turning west towards Hwy 17. The officer activated his emergency lights in an attempt to make a lawful traffic stop. Although Singletary was not speeding nor driving erratically, she did not stop. The officer continued to follow Singletary where she ran the red light at Hwy 17 and MLK Blvd. As Singletary passed Champions Church, she swerved towards oncoming traffic headed eastbound. The officer turned off his emergency lights and stopped on the side of the roadway.

Singletary was seen approaching 21st St where a vehicle was temporarily blocking the intersection forcing her to stop. The officer approached the vehicle and Singletary got out of the car and started running, disobeying verbal commands to stop. The officer deployed his department-issued Taser and Singletary was struck in the back causing her to fall to the ground. Once the officer approached Singletary, she started struggling with the officer and refused to place her hands behind her back. Singletary continued to fight the officer and during the struggle, the officer’s radio fell off of his belt and was on the ground under Singletary during the struggle.

Responding back-up officers arrived and were able to assist in making the arrest.

Singletary refused to give her information, however officers were able to locate information in the vehicle with her name and identification was made. Once a check was made, it was discovered that Singletary had a suspended license since October 2018 and also had an active warrant for failure to return a leased vehicle.

Singletary booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with one count each of Knowingly Driving With a Suspended License (M2) F.S.S. 322.34(2), Resisting Officer W/O Violence (M1) F.S.S. 843.02 and Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle (F3) F.S.S. 812.014(2)(C)

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