Can you help identify the person in this video? Between 5-9-24 and 5-10-24, a 2015 Honda Odyssey van (Fla Tag 9411UI) was taken from a residence in Normandy Heights. The van is dark gray in color with a trailer hitch and a white heart sticker with the letter F in the center. On 5-10-24 at 4 a.m., the person in the video used a stolen credit card, that was inside of the vehicle, at the Circle K Convenience Store located at 5600 Cypress Gardens Blvd. in Winter Haven. Anyone who recognizes the person seen in this video or who knows anything about the stolen van is asked to call Det. Shook at 863-662-0178. Those who wish to remain anonymous should contact Heartland Crime Stoppers * Call 1-888-400-TIPS (8477)
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.
Linda Jennings Brooks passed away peacefully on May 3, 2024, surrounded by her family. Her loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Linda was born on December 17, 1944 in Lynchburg, VA to Raymond and Dorothy Dalton Jennings. From an early age, she exhibited a rare warmth and empathy that would define her character throughout her life.
As a mother, Linda was the epitome of selflessness and devotion. She poured her heart and soul into raising her children, imparting upon them the values of compassion, integrity, and resilience. Her love knew no bounds, and her children were her greatest source of pride and joy.
Linda loved serving her community. She volunteered her time with Meals on Wheels, Operation Christmas Child, and at Denver United Methodist Church in Denver, NC. She touched the lives of countless individuals with her kindness and compassion.
In her leisure time Linda enjoyed reading, movies, and found joy in the simple pleasures driving her grandchildren to whatever sporting practices or events they were doing. She loved her poodle Buttons who went with Linda everywhere. She cherished every moment spent with her loved ones.
Linda’s life gifts of love and kindness will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, generosity, and unwavering faith that will forever inspire those who were blessed to have known her.
Linda leaves behind her children, Keith Brooks, Kerri (Tim) Powell, Stacy (Harry) Levitt, and Jesse (Amanda) Pache; 12 Grandchildren and 5 Great-grandchildren. They find solace in knowing that she is at peace and reunited with her loved ones who have gone before her. Though she may be gone, her memory will forever be a source of comfort and strength to all who were touched by her love.
A Remembrance of Linda’s life will be held Friday May 10, 2024 at Strait Gate Bible Church located at 425 S. Lake Parker Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801 from 5-7 PM.
Linda’s light may have dimmed on this earth, but her spirit will continue to shine brightly in the lives of all who were fortunate enough to have known her. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered always.
Parts of Polk County, including Winter Haven, are under thunderstorm risk, though no severe thunderstorms are expected. Lighting and flooding threats exist with all thunderstorms, so take necessary precautions.
Other parts of Polk County are under marginal risk -isolated severe thunderstorms are possible.
“Uncertainty continues with the development, timing and impacts to the local area, but upper level energy may produce several thunderstorm complexes that could impact portions of the N FL Peninsula with a risk of severe weather today into tonight.”
Richard Burger W/M DOB 7/26/1964 of Winter Haven was arrested on May 7, 2024 after a disturbance was called in from Walmart on Cypress Gardens Blvd. Burger was arrested on the charges of one count of disorderly Conduct F.S.S. 856.011, Trespassing After Warning Structure/Conveyance F.S.S. 810.08(2)(A), Threat of Death/SBI to LEO, Public Official.
It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by Winter Haven Police Department. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. Winter Haven Daily 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 your own conclusion.
“PROBABLE CAUSE:
On May 7th, 2024 at approximately 1837 hours I responded to the Walmart located at 355 Cypress Gardens Blvd SE, Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida in reference to a subject causing a disturbance and staff wanted the subject trespassed that was located in the garden center.
Upon arrival I made contact with the Suspect, Richard Burger W/M DOB 7/26/1964 identified via a Florida Driver’s License and prior knowledge who upon arrival was observed swinging a standing ashtray around in front of the store. Contact was made with Burger at which time he was detained. Officers dealt with the subject earlier in the morning on 5/6/2014 at which time he was verbally trespassed (S#241272680).
The subject was observed highly intoxicated at the time of the incident and during contact it was learned via the reportee/witness, REDACTED, advised that suspect did not make physical contact with anyone that was at the business during my investigation only made patrons feel uncomfortable while attempting to enter/shop at the store.
The reportee advised due to this behavior and the disruption to the business he notified law enforcement.
Due to the above incidents Burger disrupted and affected the peace of the business to include the operation of the location. Burger also violated public decency attempting to engage in vulgar and unwanted contact with subject/subjects at the business.
After placing Burger under arrest the subject made multiple statements to this officer that were violent in nature and are as follows;
“I will kill your ass”
“I will stab You (It should be noted that this subject is know to carry a knife/pocket knife) These threats were repeated throughout the ride to the Sheriff Processing Center.
The defendant is being charged with one count of disorderly Conduct F.S.S. 856.011, Trespassing After Warning Structure/Conveyance F.S.S. 810.08(2)(A), Threat of Death/SBI to LEO, Public Official”
Carl Wenner Jr., passed away on May 3, 2024 in Winter Haven, Florida.
He is survived by his loving wife, Teddy of Auburndale, FL.; children, Mary Lizabeth Jasinski of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Carl William Wenner III of Salem, Virginia, Christopher Scott Tryon of North Brunswick, New Jersey and Matthew Stephen Tryon of Roseville, California. He will truly be missed.
A Celebration of Bill will be held on June 27, 2024 at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce 401 Ave B NW Winter Haven, Florida from 4:00 – 7:00 pm.
AED Placed at Brack Sheck in Memory of Young Man Lost in Car Crash
by James Coulter
Several years ago, Jason McNeer, the son of Shalbgeen”Geenie” Sutton, passed away in a car crash. The young man had been involved as a team member with Kick Yo Butt BBQ, a barbecue team led by Bracken Smith.
As such, both Geenie and Smith decided the best way to honor the memory of her son and his close friend was to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) installed at the Brack Shack in Auburndale. So, Geenie had an AED donated.
On Tuesday evening, Melanie Brown Culpepper and a few other volunteers from her organization, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation (CCF), donated and installed their 41st AED at the Brack Shack, a popular barbecue eatery in Auburndale.
Melanie met Sutton through her son Jason. Sutton offered a generous donation to support CCF when it first started. And Smith has catered Melanie’s events and fundraisers with his award-winning barbecue. As such, it only made sense to Melanie to return the favor by donating an AED to the Brack Shack.
“Well, one evening, I was thinking about when I started CCF and how she [Sutton] was one of the ones who helped me from the beginning by that 1st donation,” Melanie wrote on Facebook. “I felt like she should be able to place an AED in memory of Jason to keep his memory alive…So when we got together to talk about where to place the AED in Auburndale, what better place to put it than The Brack Shack.”
Melanie started CCF more than three years ago following the untimely passing of her fiancée, Michael Culpepper, from cardiac arrest. Not wanting to see anyone suffer a similar fate, Melanie has donated more than 40 AEDs through Polk County through the proceeds raised from her organization.
Smith felt honored to have the AED donated and installed to his business, especially since Jason was “a great friend and teammate of Kick Yo Butt BBQ team.”
“Feels secure knowing that we could save a person’s life thanks to this wonderful foundation,” he said. “Our community is lucky to have [Melanie and CCF] and all that [they] do.”
Geenie was likewise honored to have the AED donated in honor of her son. She appreciates that a life can potentially be saved in memory of her son’s own life.
“It was both gratifying and humble to know that I was privileged [to play] a small part in being able to donate an AED in memory of my son,” she said. “Jason loved working with The Brack Shack Team, and from the stories Jason would tell, it was more like grilling and chilling with friends than working!”
Patty Horning Whiting, Jason’s ex-girlfriend, was pleased to know that Sutton considered her and her daughter a part of their family, and she likewise appreciates the AED being donated in his honor.
“It makes my heart so happy for his family and community that Ms. Geenie contributed to the AED donation in Jason’s honor, knowing Jason’s memory will live on in a way to help others is just so beautiful,” she said. “I would like to say how Melaine has taken the pain of her loss into a passion of caring and commitment to community is truly something to be admired. She’s always been a warrior for the community being next to her for several years of different events. This is a whole new level.”
Another close friend, Steven Gillette, who had known Jason for 15 years, also had some words about the AED donated in his friend’s memory: “To be honest, being a part of this is absolutely humbling and I feel honored Honestly I feel Jason would be proud of all of us to have an AED donated in his name. [It] means more than anything really.”
Kenneth McNabb was born February 18, 1936 in Knoxville, Tennessee. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on May 2, 2024. Kenneth was a devoted son, brother, husband, father and friend. He married the love of his life, Nancy Ann Brown, on December 4, 1954 and moved his family to Davenport, Florida in June of 1971.
In Loving Memory of Kenneth Ray McNabb
Kenneth was a member of the First Baptist Church of Davenport. He was a Teamster for 30 years, then owned and operated his semis for the next 15 years before retiring. Kenneth was a gifted handyman who loved helping others and above all enjoyed being with his family and friends.
Preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Bessie McNabb; Sisters, Betty Jo Braden and Margaret Butcher.
Survived by his wife, Nancy McNabb; son, Ricky McNabb; daughters, Vicky Holloway (Mark), Becky McClary and Kendra McNabb; 9 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; sister, Patsy Phelps and extended family Clay and Mary Lou Adams, Gary and Debbie Anderson, and Jerry and Vickie Johnson.
In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the First Baptist Church of Davenport.
Service to be held at Oak Ridge Funeral Care – Haines City on Saturday, May 11th with viewing at 11:00am and service at 12:00pm. Interment following at Evergreen Cemetery in Davenport.
WHHS Beach Volleyball Team Going to State Championship 2nd Year in a Row
by James Coulter
For the second consecutive year, the Winter Haven High School (WHHS) beach volleyball team is set to compete in the state championships this weekend.
After their stunning victory in the district championships last month, the Winter Haven Blue Devils beach volleyball team will be heading to Tallahassee on Thursday to compete in the state championships on Friday morning.
“It feels good,” said head coach Dylan Seacrest. “We came into the year with high expectations, some big goals, to try to repeat from last year, to try to build the program, and move everything forward.”
Coach Seacrest considers their success twofold. First, and most importantly, he owes their victories this past season to the grace of God.
“I think the first thing we owe our success and appreciation to is God,” he said. “He is a big part of our program and I make sure He is a part of the program. He has been gracious to us and blessed us this year and helped us tremendously so. So, the first thing we will do is give Him the glory.”
Secondly, he owes their success to the hard work and effort of his 16 players. After reaching state championships last year, they strove this year to repeat that same milestone, and through their hard work, repeated it they did.
“It has been high expectations for the girls,” he said. “They have known this entire season what the goals were and what we were trying to accomplish. Because of that, they had to work really, really hard. They have accomplished their goal thus far in winning a second district championship in a row, winning two regional games, and making it back to Tallahassee.”
Even more impressive, many of the players also participate in the club volleyball team. Playing in two different sports teams while also balancing their school and personal lives proves to be a real challenge, but one his players are more than capable of overcoming.
“I give God the praise and those kids the credit,” Coach Seacrest said. “These girls are pulling late nights and pushing their bodies [with] a lot of strenuous activities. They are doing a great job. They have stayed all in…Those kids deserve all the credit because they are the ones out there busting their butts and working hard to get us where we are. They work hard to make us look good.”
Coach Seacrest not only hopes that his players play hard and win big in the coming state championship in Tallahassee, but also that the teams they play against will offer them a proper challenge.
“We are excited to get a different challenge of a team that we know will be good in Vero Beach, but also we do feel confident we are traveling with confidence and working extremely hard,” he said. “I know the girls are excited to be going back up to state, and I think this year we will go up there with a new mindset.”
The Winter Haven Blue Devils beach volleyball team will be traveling to Tallahassee on Thursday evening and competing in the state championships on Friday morning.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will host a Firearms Safety Course/Concealed Weapons Class on Saturday, May 11th, from 8:00 am – Noon.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW for May 11th – CALL 863-298-6242.
If registration for the class fills up, a second afternoon class will be added for 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Cost of the class is $45; proceeds go to Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., and the cost is non-refundable.
This class fulfills the requirements by the FL Department of Agriculture need to obtain a concealed weapons permit. Even though permitless-carry in Florida went into effect in 2023, there are still benefits to having a permit (reciprocity in states which don’t allow for concealed carry without a permit, and permit holders are exempt from the 3-day waiting period when purchasing new firearms).
Any questions about the CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, please call Sergeant Bennett or Sergeant Caratsole at the PCSO Training Section at 863-534-7200, during normal office hours.
YOU MUST CALL 863-298-6242, during normal business hours (Mon-Fri, 8-5) to reserve your seat. When you call, you will be given further instruction about where to go for the training.*
*we will have handguns available for the hands-on portion of the course, but we prefer you bring your own if possible.
