A burglary in the area of Lake Deer Drive NW in Winter Haven on June 2nd.
During this crime, a bicycle was stolen.
The bicycle is described as a woman’s Huffy bike, light purple in color.
If you have any information about this case or you think you know who the suspect could be, you’re asked to contact PCSO Detective Stroud at 863-944-2589 or [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
New details have come in from Florida Forest Service regarding the fires around River Ranch.
3:20 pm update:
Last night (June 5), out of precaution, 2 firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation. They were both treated and released and are back in the office today. These are the only reported injuries thus far.
Indian Lake Estates is still about 95% contained at this time.
County Road 630 is closed to thru traffic.
There are bulldozers (tractor plow units) on scene brought in by Florida Forest Service. These are used to cut/dig about 6-8 feet paths and remove vegetation to prevent further burn.
Helicopters are also on scene working to get the fires under control.
An investigation has NOT yet started to determine the exact cause of the fire(s). Florida Forest Service has stated that they are still in suppression operations but they have called in aglaw personnel, and once the fires are “safe” enough, they will start the investigation as to what exactly started the fire(s).
Central Florida and South Florida are experiencing extremely dry conditions. Normally by this time of year, rains have moved in, but this 2024 year, the rains aren’t moving in as fast, and it is a lot drier right now because of the lack of rainfall.
We would need a significant amount of widespread rainfall to make a difference to the dry conditions.
Florida Highway Patrol has released additional information regarding the vehicle vs. dump track crash this morning (June 6) in Winter Haven.
Vehicle 1 = Ford Fusion
Vehicle 2 = tractor trailer
Vehicle 1, a Ford Fusion, driven by a 65-year-old Winter Haven man, was traveling southbound on Old Lucerne Park Road. Vehicle 2, a tractor trailer, driven by a 60-year-old Hialeah man, was traveling westbound on Lucerne Park Road. At the intersection of the two roadways, Vehicle 1 turned left into the path of Vehicle 2. As a result, Vehicle 2 collided with the left side of Vehicle 1. Post-impact, both vehicles rotated to final rest along the south shoulder of the roadway with Vehicle 1 also impacting a utility pole. Driver 1 suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash while Driver 2 was uninjured.
———-
Initial report by Winter Haven Police Department:
In the early morning hours of June 6, 2024, Winter Haven Police responded to a vehicle crash involving a car and a dump truck. The call came in just before 5:30 am and seven units were dispatched to 5890 Lucerne Park Rd in Winter Haven.
At approximately 5:27 am, a crash occurred on Lucerne Park Rd. at Old Lucerne Park Rd. involving a car and a dump truck resulting in one fatality.
Both directions of Lucerne Park Rd at Old Lucerne Park Rd are closed and being diverted down Old Lucerne Park Rd. Drivers will see significant delays in the area and are encouraged to take alternate routes.
Winter Haven Police Department has turned the scene over to the Florida Highway Patrol for the investigation. No further information will be available until FHP concludes their investigation.
We are getting reports now that all entry into the River Ranch Hunt club is to be stopped/entrance is closed – only personnel allowed to enter is Forestry. The community is advised to avoid 630 too, as closures might be possible.
———-
As of 12:00 pm (noon) June 6, Florida Forest Service has confirmed that there are still active fires in the River Ranch area. There are multiple fires still occurring. Personnel are currently on scene fighting these fires and more resources are coming in to aid with the fires.
Video from June 6, 2024
Florida Forest Service now has access to two helicopters. They will be coming on scene shortly, which will be a huge resource in helping get these fires under control.
Additional resources across the state have also been contacted to help with the containment of the fires.
The first of the fires started yesterday in the River Ranch area. The fire jumped over County Road 630 (2 lane road) then jumped into the Indian Lake Estates area. No houses were reported in danger in the Indian Lake Estates area, but the fire did burn about 100 acres here. At this time, the fire in this area is 95% contained.
If you are in or near the fire areas, please use caution and drive carefully as roads are back open. Please avoid the areas if possible still though, as there are a lot of emergency vehicles driving around the roads.
June 5, 2024 – Polk County Fire Rescue along with Frostproof Fire Department, Fort Meade Fire Departments and Florida Forest Service responded to a residential structure and brush fire on Dummonds Road in Frostproof.
Crews received the initial tone 3:27 p.m. with Engine 12 arriving on scene first. Upon arrival, Engine 12 reported a heavily involved structure, a brush fire in the nearby surroundings and difficult terrain.
Despite the challenges, the units worked quickly sizing up the fire and executing a defensive strategy with water on the structure within three minutes of arrival. The crews worked diligently control the spread and had the fire under control at 5:51 p.m.
Florida Forest Service took the lead with the brush fire with the aid of two PCFR brush trucks.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no reported injuries and no patients transported.
In the early morning hours of June 6, 2024, Winter Haven Police responded to a vehicle crash involving a car and a dump truck. The call came in just before 5:30 am and seven units were dispatched to 5890 Lucerne Park Rd in Winter Haven.
Photo provided by Jessica Rivera
Winter Haven Police Department released this statement regarding the crash:
At approximately 5:27 am, a crash occurred on Lucerne Park Rd. at Old Lucerne Park Rd. involving a car and a dump truck resulting in one fatality.
Both directions of Lucerne Park Rd at Old Lucerne Park Rd are closed and being diverted down Old Lucerne Park Rd. Drivers will see significant delays in the area and are encouraged to take alternate routes.
Winter Haven Police Department has turned the scene over to the Florida Highway Patrol for the investigation. No further information will be available until FHP concludes their investigation.
Several dozen crews are battling brush fires that have spread in Lake Wales over the course of several hours. The initial fire call came in earlier today, June 5, at 3:50 pm for a vegetation fire at HWY 630 & Deland Ave in Lake Wales.
The fires have been burning in the River Ranch area/Southeast Polk and they have burned over several hundred acres.
As of 10:15 pm (June 5), crews are still fighting the fires.
Florida Forest Service has taken the lead with these brush fires and PCFR is also on scene aiding/working to protect local homes around the fire areas (along with other departments).
Earlier this evening Indian Lake Estates Golf & Country Club put out a notice that they will be leaving Gate arms open for the evening so that emergency vehicles can enter and exit.
At 9:03 pm, they also updated that the fire has jumped HWY 630 on the southwest corner near the claypots off of Orange Ave and the Woodlands area.
The odor from the fires has spread across much of Polk County. Local Fire Departments have been getting numerous phone calls of people reporting smoke/odors.
This is a developing story and we will be adding new details about the fire(s) as they come in.
Polk County will now be able to set up special needs shelters more efficiently during emergency activations, thanks to a $1.4 million contract approved with Whitehead Construction, Inc. by the Board on Tuesday.
The contract provides for construction of the Polk County Emergency Operation Center Warehouse. The 8,000-square-foot facility will be built on Jim Keene Boulevard in Winter Haven, behind the county’s Emergency Operations Center. The facility will give the county a central location to store and quickly access supplies for setting up special needs shelters. It will house cots, bedding and wheelchairs, and will enable the county to efficiently distribute those items to its three special needs shelters in an emergency activation.
Virginia Pearl Ford, 86, of Winter Haven, Florida passed away May 26, 2024 at her daughter Sharon Knowles’ residence. She was born on August 24, 1937, in Pilot Point, Texas to William and Nona (Balthrop) Bevers.
In Loving Memory of Virginia Pearl Ford
Virginia is survived by: her daughters Shelia (William) Vegter, Lenora (David) Berch, Sharon (Troy) Knowles, her grandchildren Jenny (Skyler) Ford, Rebecca (Juan) Tarquino, Matthew (Marianne) Vegter, Jacob (Alyssa) Vegter, Jeric Heflin, Kyle (Kelly) Heflin, Melody (Kevin Adams) Gantt, Amy Bush, Danielle (Joseph) Grimes, Brady Knowles, 21 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by: her husband Dewey E. Ford, her parents William and Nona Bevers, and all 5 of her siblings: Cleo, LaVern, Eugene, Elton, and Janelle.
Virginia was born and raised in Pilot Point, Texas. She married the love of her life, Dewey, on August 17, 1952 at Union Hill Baptist Church after the Sunday morning services. About a year after they were married, they moved to Winter Haven, Florida where they started their family business of Ford’s Auto Trim Shop. Virginia worked at The Haven Hotel, and Polk Community College, and later worked at Winter Haven Oaks, where she made many life long friends. Both Dewey and Virginia retired in the 90’s. The churches Virginia was a member of throughout the years were Southside Baptist Church, Hope Baptist Church, and Faith Baptist Church. She was an active member in her church choirs. She loved to participate in her church and help out in any way she could. Virginia will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
