Rosemarie Stagnitta Pragano, age 88, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2026. She was the widow of Gabe Pragano, with whom she shared many years of marriage defined by commitment, partnership, and family. They were formerly of West Haven, Connecticut, and in 2007 relocated together to Winter Haven, Florida, where they continued to build their life and remain close to family. Born on March 27, 1938, Rosemarie was the daughter of the late Rosario and Josephine Stagnitta. She is survived by her son, Stephen Pragano, and his wife, Robin. She was a devoted grandmother to Anthony Pragano and his wife Kayleen of Texas; Ryan Pragano and his wife Rebecca of Winter Garden; Heather Pragano of Davenport; Brian Pragano of Orlando; and Amber Pragano of Davenport. She also leaves behind three great-grandchildren, Ryder, Jaxson, and Palmer, who brought her much happiness. Rosemarie took pride in her family and the life she shared with her husband and loved ones. She will be remembered for her steady presence and the importance she placed on family. A memorial service was held April 17, 2026.
A Lakeland woman has died following a two-vehicle crash that occurred Saturday morning in Lakeland.
According to the Lakeland Police Department, officers responded at approximately 9:33 a.m. on April 18, 2026, to a crash at the intersection of Providence Road and West 14th Street.
Investigators say a brown Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 65-year-old Tina Swakcerd of Lakeland, was traveling south on Providence Road at the time of the crash. A white Lexus SUV, driven by 34-year-old Lattessia Lankin of Tampa, was traveling east on West 14th Street and entered the intersection, striking the passenger side of the Chevrolet.
The impact redirected the Chevrolet southeast, where it then struck an utility pole. During the sequence of events, the Lexus also collided with the Chevrolet a second time.
Emergency crews, including the Polk County Fire Rescue and the Lakeland Fire Department, responded to the scene and provided life-saving measures. Both drivers were transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment.
Due to the severity of the crash, members of the department’s Traffic Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. The roadway remained closed for approximately four hours while the scene was processed.
Swakcerd sustained critical injuries and, despite medical efforts, died during the morning hours of April 20, 2026.
The crash remains under active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Travis Payne at the Lakeland Police Department.
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned pursuant to the fictitious name statutes 865.09 Florida statues will register with the division of corporations of the state of Florida upon receipt of proof of publication of this notice the fictitious name to NDKF HEALTH SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY the fictitious names are Primeaux Clinique, Primeaux Medical and Denisthetics in Polk County, Florida that parties interested in said business enterprises are as follows Names or officers Nigel K Denis, MD, MHA
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned pursuant to the fictitious name statutes 865.09 Florida statues will register with the division of corporations of the state of Florida upon receipt of proof of publication of this notice the fictitious name to Your Comic Crush LLC the fictitious name is Studio Stoa in Polk County, Florida that parties interested in said business enterprises are as follows Names or officers Daniel Charles Burkey and Nicole Christine Burkey.
The City will officially rename the facility the Bradley T. Dantzler Tennis Center in recognition of his years of service and his advocacy for tennis, pickleball, and quality-of-life investments across Winter Haven.
The City of Winter Haven will hold a rededication ceremony on Wednesday, April 22, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Tennis Center, 209 Ave F NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881, where the facility will officially be renamed the Bradley T. Dantzler Tennis Center in honor of former Mayor and City Commissioner Brad Dantzler.
The renaming recognizes Dantzler’s nearly 13 years of service on the City Commission, including eight years as mayor, and his lasting impact on recreation and quality-of-life investments throughout Winter Haven. The City Commission approved the naming through Resolution R-25-56 after recognizing Dantzler’s support for major recreation improvements across the city and his direct role in advancing the tennis center project.
The ceremony will include opening remarks, the reading of the resolution, remarks honoring Dantzler’s legacy, special remarks from Dantzler, and the unveiling of the new facility sign. Guests will also have an opportunity for photos following the unveiling.
“This rededication honors a leader whose commitment to Winter Haven helped shape many of the recreational spaces and amenities our residents enjoy today,” said Brian Yates, Mayor. “Brad Dantzler understood that quality of life matters, and he consistently supported investments that created more opportunities for people to be active, connected, and proud of their community.”
Dantzler first joined the City Commission in 2013 and was later re-elected in 2017 and 2021. During his time in office, he supported major recreation-based capital improvements throughout the city, including projects at the AdventHealth Fieldhouse and Conference Center, Chain of Lakes Park, the Winter Haven Recreation & Community Center, Reuben Williams Sports Complex, Sertoma Park, Lake Conine Nature Park, Lake Elbert Trail, MLK Park, South Central Park, Davis Park, and others.
He was also a strong advocate for both tennis and pickleball facilities. Dantzler was instrumental in securing funds for the new tennis center and served as a City Commission liaison for the overall project. The City began redeveloping the former tennis facility in 2017 and officially opened the new center in May 2018, expanding recreational opportunities through clay tennis courts and the addition of pickleball courts.
The rededication reflects the City’s desire to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the community and to recreation in Winter Haven. It also creates a lasting tribute at a facility closely tied to Dantzler’s advocacy and public service.
What residents need to know
The rededication ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The event will take place at the Tennis Center, 209 Ave F NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881.
The facility will officially become the Bradley T. Dantzler Tennis Center.
The ceremony will include remarks, a resolution reading, a sign unveiling, and photo opportunities.
Guests will be invited to stay briefly after the program for refreshments and photos.
The City of Davenport is inviting residents to come together for a day of connection, education, and community support at its upcoming Autism Awareness Expo. The free, family-friendly event is designed to bring awareness to autism while providing valuable resources for individuals and families.
The expo will take place on April 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tom Fellows Community Center, located at 207 North Blvd W, Davenport, FL 33837.
Attendees can expect a variety of local resources, guest speakers, and support groups, all aimed at strengthening understanding and offering practical tools for navigating life with autism. The event creates a welcoming environment where families can connect with organizations and professionals dedicated to advocacy and care.
City officials say the expo reflects Davenport’s ongoing commitment to promoting awareness, inclusion, and unity within the community. By bringing people together and sharing knowledge, the event hopes to foster a more supportive and connected city for all residents.
The Autism Awareness Expo is open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend.
With the amount of phishing texts, emails, and messages on the rise, having the knowledge and wherewithal to detect and protect yourself and others from phishing attempts is vital.
Taking this class will teach you:
-How to recognize phishing attempts -Prevent them from affecting you and those around you -Proper way to report phishing attempts -The next steps if you believe you were a victim of phishing
Don’t fall for the bait and get hooked, get educated on the dangers of phishing.
A tragic late-night crash in Hillsborough County left two people dead on Friday, April 17, 2026, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:25 p.m. along State Road 60, just west of Horton Road. Authorities say a 20-year-old man from Plant City was driving a GMC Yukon westbound when a 50-year-old Plant City woman walked into the vehicle’s path.
Despite the driver’s attempt to take evasive action, the SUV struck the pedestrian. Following the collision, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the roadway and overturned. During the rollover, the driver was ejected from the vehicle.
Both the driver and the pedestrian suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a woman was found deceased Sunday morning near a bridge in Plant City.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, a call came into the 911 Dispatch Center at approximately 9:26 a.m. on April 19, 2026, from a person who reported seeing an unresponsive woman near a bridge along Paul Buchman Highway close to Tollar Road.
When deputies arrived, they located an adult female who was deceased. Investigators noted the woman had sustained upper body trauma and was found within a known transient camp in the area.
The identity of the woman has not yet been released as authorities work to notify next of kin.
This remains an active investigation. No additional details have been released at this time.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
With the world anxiously watching, Apollo 13, a U.S. lunar spacecraft that suffered a severe malfunction on its journey to the moon, safely returns to Earth on April 17, 1970.
On April 11, the third manned lunar landing mission was launched from Florida, carrying astronauts James A. Lovell, John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise. The mission was headed for a landing on the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon. However, two days into the mission, disaster struck 200,000 miles from Earth when oxygen tank No. 2 blew up in the spacecraft. Swigert reported to mission control on Earth, “Houston, we’ve had a problem here,” and it was discovered that the normal supply of oxygen, electricity, light and water had been disrupted.
Photo Source Getty Images
The landing mission was aborted, and the astronauts and controllers on Earth scrambled to come up with emergency procedures. The crippled spacecraft continued to the moon, looped around it, and began a long, cold journey back to Earth.
The astronauts and mission control were faced with enormous logistical problems in stabilizing the spacecraft and its oxygen supply, as well as running on batteries due to the loss of the fuel cells to allow successful reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. Navigation was another problem, and Apollo 13‘s course was repeatedly corrected with dramatic and untested maneuvers. On April 17, tragedy turned to triumph as the Apollo 13 astronauts touched down safely in the Pacific Ocean.
