With the constant construction and development in our area, local wildlife is on the move. This particular creature is one we’d rather not run into.
A resident living off of Masterpiece Road discovered a snake skin in a wooded area beside his home. It appears to be the skin of a water moccasin, or cottonmouth, a venomous snake known to be found in and near bodies of water.
What’s special about this one is that it appears to measure almost 68 inches in length. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History website, the average adult Florida cottonmouth is 30-48 inches in total length. The Florida State record is said to be 74 inches.
This snake is heavy bodied with a pattern of light brown and dark brown crossbands containing many dark spots and speckles. The pattern darkens with age so adults may become uniformly black. The eye is camouflaged by a broad, dark, facial stripe. The color pattern of juvenile cottonmouths is much lighter than in adults, and newborns have a sulfur-yellow tail tip.
Fortunately, in this case, the resident did not encounter the snake that left his skin. But it’s a healthy reminder to be aware of your surroundings when walking in wooded areas.
Before a new trail can be constructed at Kiwanis Park along Tower Boulevard, a topographical study of the land must first be conducted.
For that, the City of Lake Wales has approved $20,485 to be spent on a task order with Chastain Skillman to perform a specific purpose and topographic survey of the land where the trail will be constructed.
Lake Wales City Commissioners approved the agenda item, along with several other items on the consent agenda, during their recent meeting on Tues., July 2.
A new trail, which will stretch along Tower Boulevard from Lakeshore Blvd. to Burns Ave., has been proposed at Kiwanis Park. To build this new trail, the City will be applying for a grant application of $282,380 with a match of $70,595 from the City, according to the city website.
On Mon., Feb. 26, a public information meeting was hosted, according to the city website, “for the sole purpose of discussing the grant application to the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Recreation Trails Program.”
“Specific Purpose and Topographic Survey of Tower Boulevard are required for the grant,” the city staff memo states. “This Task Order will provide the necessary documents required for the grant.”
The task order will be carried out by Chastain Skillman, which falls under the Master Consulting Agreement the City has with the firm.
This Marine Vet Turned Attorney is Running For Florida House of Representatives
by James Coulter
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She protected the freedoms of her fellow Americans as a Marine. She protected their rights as an attorney. Now she wants to serve their political interests by running to be their representative.
Amilee Stuckey is campaigning for Florida House of Representatives District 48. The primaries is on Tues., Aug. 20. She is currently running against six other candidates, five Republicans and one Democrat.
Amilee Stuckey has lived in Polk County since 2009. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps before starting her career as a lawyer. She currently runs a practice in Lake Wales, and she recently moved into a new office space on Central Avenue in Downtown Winter Haven.
As someone who has fought for the freedoms of her fellow Americans as a Marine vet and protected their rights as an attorney, Stuckey has spent her life upholding the values of the US Constitution. She hopes to continue doing so as a State Representative.
“As an attorney, I have noticed some glitches in the law that need to be fixed,” she said. “I always felt I had a calling on my life to serve others. I have served my country, my community, and [this campaign] is another step in my service to my fellow man.”
Previously, she had served as the Polk County Chair of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Campaign and as the Florida State Committee Woman. Having developed relationships with several lawmakers through her position, combined with her education and experience, makes her the most qualified candidate.
Stuckey felt a calling to become an elected representative. She prayed that if this was the Lord’s will to run, that a district be created in which she would be able to serve the people she cares most about. When such a district was created after reappointment, she knew the time to run was now.
“I noticed there is still more that can be done that cannot be done as a state committee woman, so the next natural step was to run for this office,” she said. “So, it was time for me to run.”
As a Christian conservative, Stuckey stands by the “America First” principles shared by other notable Republican politicians like President Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Specifically, she stands by the governor’s policies against illegal immigration and keeping Florida free.
“Right now there are thousands pouring across the Southern border and a lot of them end up in Florida. This is dangerous,” she said. “So, that is my top priority: to continue working with the governor on the work that he is doing to keep illegal immigrants out of Florida.”
Another top priority will be insurance. Currently, she sees Florida in a crisis where home insurance remains unaffordable and inaccessible. She hopes to work with lawmakers to enact
policies to benefit local homeowners and business owners to help alleviate their financial burdens.
“I have built a successful business here in Lake Wales, and not all of the candidates have been able to do that,” she said. “The combination of experience that I have sets me apart from everyone else. I have experienced living in many places. So, I have seen how things are done in other places. It is the breadth of my life experience that puts me above everyone else.”
In closing, she said: “I humbly ask for your vote on August 20th. I will be your conservative voice in Tallahassee who is unafraid to stand for you.”
If you play pickleball, or if you’d like to play, you don’t have to go far.
South Lake Wales, Church of God, located at 210 Presidents Dr. in Lake Wales, is home to three indoor pickleball courts. Use of the courts is free. The lines are permanent, but you’ll need to bring your own net.
Pickleball is a paddle sport where 2 to 4 players use a paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a net.  The sport has specific rules of play including court dimensions.
For more information, call 813-478-3801 or visit www.slwcog.com.
U.S. Army Corporal Frank Blish, Ret. – photo provided by Kat Gates-Skipper
The public is invited to attend an upcoming award ceremony for a very special Lake Wales resident.
U.S. Marine Corps General James “Hammer” Hartsell, Executive Director of Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, will present 99-year-old WWII Army veteran Corporal Frank Blish, with the Bronze Star Medal and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star.
According to Kat Gates-Skipper, USMC/USMCR (GySgt. Ret.) U.S. Marine Corps Gulf War Veteran, Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, Blish will be one of a handful of veterans who will be honored at the ceremony.
“There will be several Vietnam veterans, a Cold War Veteran, a Gulf War veteran, and OIF and OEF Veterans,” says Gates-Skipper.
“I’m honored to be part of this special event for a special warrior; he deserves all the recognition and praise” that he’s entitled to.
After many years, this award was approved via the Army Review Board on June 25, 2024.
Cpl Blish served 2 years in the Army 1943-1945. He was attached to the 101st Airborne Division and parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, behind enemy lines.
He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was in Bastone when it was surrounded by German forces. He was wounded during this time.
He was awarded the Victory Medal, American Theatre Campaign ribbon, and a CIB. He is a Lake Wales resident.
The public is invited to attend. The ceremony will take place:
Wednesday, July 10, 2:00 pm at the Community Building at Peace Creek RV Park , 26397 US Hwy 27,Lake Wales, FL 33859. (Located off of Hwy 27 N., between Waverly and Dundee).
I’m a big fan of Japanese culture. (Or a “weeb,” as the kids these days call themselves!) I love Japanese anime, manga, video games, and especially the cuisine. Sushi. Ramen. Tempura. Curry. You name it. So, I recently decided to try preparing a popular Japanese dish: katsu.
“Katsu” means “cutlet” in Japanese. So, essentially, they’re fried cutlets (either chicken or pork) only prepared with Panko breadcrumbs rather than regular breadcrumbs.
What’s the difference? Well, according to Allrecipes: “Panko are made from a crustless white bread that is processed into flakes and then dried. These bread crumbs have a dryer and flakier consistency than regular breadcrumbs, and as a result, they absorb less oil.”
In other words, meat breaded with Panko flakes absorbs less cooking oil and thus tastes lighter and crunchier than regular fried food.
As with most Asian dishes, katsu is often served with rice. Sometimes it’s served with curry. Other times, it’s simply covered in gravy or sauce. One such sauce is tonkatsu sauce, which is what I decided to serve with my katsu.
“Tonkatsu” translates to “pork bones.” As such, it normally refers to pork dishes. That makes tonkatsu sauce essentially a Japanese barbecue sauce. The main difference is that, while American sauces have a sweeter taste, tonkatsu sauce (at least the recipe I prepared) has a more “umami” (or “savory”) flavor akin to soy sauce or mushrooms.
Cooking the katsu was easy enough. It simply required pounding flat my chicken breast patties, breading them in flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs, and frying them in oil. I then prepared the sauce and boiled the rice and peas to serve alongside it.
One personal recommendation: buy thin chicken breasts. It’ll save you the time tenderizing the meat beforehand. Also, cut the meat in half. It’ll allow it to cook quicker and more thoroughly.
The only problem I experienced was burning my hand while frying the chicken. Never cook the chicken on high heat. And never toss it in with only your hands. Use a fork or tongs to place it in the oil. That should go without saying, but since I was left with a second-degree burn on my right hand…well, that was on me, wasn’t it?
Another pro-tip: in case you do burn yourself, immediately run your burn under cold water. Also, you should never place ice on the burn, as counter-intuitive as that sounds. Place ointment or toothpaste on it. (Good to have a sister who’s a nurse and thus a medical expert on hand, quite literally!)
Anyway, if you’ve never had Japanese food before, I’d highly recommend trying this recipe. It’s both familiar enough not to be off-putting for newbies yet distinct enough to provide a unique dining experience. If you like chicken or pork, you’ll love this recipe.
(The following recipes were taken from AllRecipies.com)
Chicken Katsu
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (or pork cutlets)
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 egg, beaten
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 cup oil for frying
1. Flatten chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Place flour, beaten egg, and panko crumbs into separate shallow dishes. Coat chicken breasts in flour, shaking off any excess; dip into egg, and then press into panko crumbs until well coated on both sides.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken in the hot oil, and fry until golden brown, 3 or 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
4. Serve with rice, veggies, and your choice of sauce or gravy.
Tonkatsu Sauce
½ cup ketchup
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp mirin (or substitute with sherry, wine, or vinegar)
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking qualified men and women in Polk County who desire to work as substitute crossing guards this year.
Substitute school crossing guards are needed in the Davenport and Four Corners areas of Polk County.
Anyone interested in applying should contact Supervisor Courtney Branch at (863) 534-7300 ext. 109.
Applicants should be available to work for one hour in the morning and for 30 minutes in the afternoon when scheduled to work a crossing.
School Crossing Guard services are provided by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office through funds provided by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. This vital program provides adult crossing guards at selected hazardous school crossings to ensure the safety of our elementary school children walking to and from school.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office on July 4th arrested a Lakeland man, Rodney Ramer, charging him with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Ramer, DOB: 3/21/58, was involved in an incident in the parking lot of Miller’s Ale House. The incident occurred on July 3, 2024.
The following is a long exerpt from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit (It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to their own understanding and conclusions) :
“On July 3, 2024 at approximately 1400 hours, I responded to Miller’s Ale House restaurant located at, 5650 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland, in reference to a disturbance with a weapon that occurred. Upon arrival, I made contact with REDACTED, REDACTED and REDACTED, who were victims of this incident. During this investigation, I learned that REDACTED, REDACTED and REDACTED had just exited the restaurant and were talking in the parking lot next to their vehicles.REDACTED had taken a seat in the passenger’s side of REDACTED ‘s truck while they talked.
The suspect, Rodney Ramer, was leaving the parking lot in his vehicle. As the suspect pulled straight ahead between both REDACTED and REDACTED his large extended side mirrors brushed up to REDACTED. REDACTED, stated that this was not on purpose and just an accident by the suspect. REDACTED pushed the mirror closed (they fold) as to not damage the mirror. The suspect, hearing the mirror close started a verbal argument with the victims as he drove by. The suspect stopped his truck and backed slightly so as to better position his vehicle as he brandished a firearm, pointed it directly at the victims and threatened to kill REDACTED, REDACTED and REDACTED. The suspect began to pull away but again stopped and threatened the victims as he held a pistol in his hand.
The suspect, Rodney, was identified through his vehicle tag number and a credit/debit transaction receipt provided by the Miller’s Ale House staff.
Contact was made with the staff at Sushi Masa and surveillance was observed, which captured the incident that took place, where Rodney was observed brandishing a firearm and pointing it towards the victims.
A CIC check was conducted on Rodney Ramer, which showed clear of any prior assault charges.
Probable cause exists that Rodney Ramer did commit the crime of Aggravated Assault. Rodney Ramer did actually and intentionally assaulted REDACTED, REDACTED and REDACTED with a deadly weapon. The suspect brandished a firearm and threatened the victims’ lives, placing them in fear. The suspect did not act with intent to kill but did intend to commit a felony towards REDACTED, REDACTED and REDACTED.
On July 4, 2024 at approximately 0951 hours, I responded to the residence located at REDACTED Lakeland FL, 33813 and contact was made with Rodney Ramer. Pre-Miranda, Rodney spontaneously uttered he knew why law enforcement was there and stated “They started it” and “People were just acting stupid.” Rodney was then placed under arrest, read his post Miranda rights and advised he did not wish to speak to law enforcement without his legal consul present. Rodney was transported to The Sheriff’s Processing Center (SPC) without incident.”
The Senior Team of the Haines City Little League will be heading to the Southeast Regionals in two weeks after winning the state championships this weekend.
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The Haines City Little League’s senior team experienced victory last weekend at the Florida League Championship after defeating North Springs Little League from Cape Coral.
Before the state championship, they had competed in the district tournament representing the local area of Plant City, Haines City, and Lake Wales.
They then moved on to the sectional tournament, where they played against teams from Dr. Phillips and DeLaney. The recent state tournament this weekend had them compete and win against the top 8 little league teams in the state of Florida.
Their senior team consists of 14 players ages 14 to 16 from Haines City and surrounding cities. Their motto this year, according to their League President Joshua Haranda, is, “We Didn’t Get This Far to Get This Far!”
“We really didn’t have any expectations because the biggest thing is we never thought we would make it as far as we did,” Haranda said. “That is our biggest thing: we continue to strive and move onto the following game. Nobody expected us to be where we are at. The first time in our league history that we made it to the regional tournament.”
Haranda owes their success to their pitching and defense, which has led them to victory at each of their tournaments. As for their expectations, since they never made it this far, being able to tackle the upcoming championships will prove to be a new challenge. But they hope to meet them with their best, Haranda said.
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“The biggest obstacle is our team not being put in that situation before,” he said. “That will be our biggest obstacle. The only way to overcome it is to continue doing what we have done. Not change anything. Do not get big-headed. Even with the best that we have had this year, they will be the biggest thing this year.”
Joyce Marie Coopy of Lake Wales passed away Monday, July 1, 2024 at her residence.
She was born November 8, 1937 in Alamo, Tennessee to the late Joseph and Hazel Myrick; she moved to Lake Wales from Virginia in 2000. Joyce was a Computer Systems Analyst for the Department of Defense for 27 years and was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She did beta testing for Microsoft until she was in her 80’s. Joyce enjoyed quilting, shopping, gardening, and cooking. She loved her family dearly.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Philip Coopy in 2020; son, Gary Mark Harris in 1997; and brother, John Myrick. She is survived by her daughter, Donamarie Phillips and husband, Robert of Lake Wales; sons, Kevin Harris and wife Deborah of South Carolina, Tony Harris and wife Lisa of Knoxville, Tennessee; and John Coopy and wife Nilza of Venice; 15 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
