Patsy R. Morgan, 77, of Lake Wales, passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2018. She was born in Millen, GA on July 21, 1941 to the late Newitt and Lois Roberts. Patsy and her family moved to Mulberry, FL in 1953. She worked for many years as a Food Service Director, and was known for […]
POLKOBITS
In Loving Memory Of Patsy R. Morgan JULY 21, 1941 ~ NOVEMBER 10, 2018
In Loving Memory Of Lawrence G. Harfst MARCH 25, 1941 ~ NOVEMBER 10, 2018
Dunnellon – Lawrence George (Larry) Harfst, 77, after a long illness went to be with his Lord and Savior November 10, 2018. He was preceded in death by his mother and his father Harrison and Vivian Harfst, his daughter Kathy Rene’ Harfst, and his brother Thomas Harfst. He is survived by his wife Dianne, his […]
POLKOBITS
In Loving Memory Of Jo Ann Wheatcraft MARCH 6, 1939 ~ NOVEMBER 13, 2018
Jo Ann Wheatcraft, 79, of Lakeland, passed away on Tuesday November 13, 2018. Services for Jo Ann will be held at Lakeland Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Monday November 19, 2018. Visitation will be from 11-12 pm. Service will begin at 12 pm.
POLKOBITS
In Loving Memory Of Alan Mann November 24, 1971 – November 14, 2018
Alan D. Mann of Lake Wales, Florida passed away Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born November 24, 1971 in Keene, New Hampshire to the late David and Sandra (Stamatelos) Mann. He has been a resident of the area since 1972 coming from Keene, New Hampshire. Alan enjoyed building models, […]
POLKOBITS
STOUT NAMED EMPLOYEE OF MONTH AT LAKE WALES MEDICAL CENTER
STOUT NAMED EMPLOYEE OF MONTH
Lake Wales, FL – Nancy Stout, CNA, was named f the month for September at Lake Wales Medical Center.
“Nancy makes sure all the patients are safe, not only patients that she is assigned to,” a co-worker wrote in her nomination. “When those call lights turn on, she gets up in a flash to answer them. Nancy comes in to work with a smile on her face; she goes beyond her limits to help her co-workers and patients. She loves her job, and her patients love her.”
“She always puts the needs of the patients first, above all else. She never complains about her assignment. Every time I come in and see I’m working with her, I know my shift is going to go smoothly.”
Nancy has worked at LWMC since 2017.
Lakeland Man Arrested for 100 Counts of Child Pornography
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Lakeland Man Arrested for 100 Counts of Child Pornography
 PCSO Release:
A Lakeland man is now in custody after over 100 images of child pornography were discovered on his cell phone. Detectives received a tip that John Horton, 52, of Glenoak Drive North, Lakeland, had graphic pornographic images of children on his cell phone.
A search warrant was obtained for the phone and detectives found more than 100 images of child pornography, as well as web searches indicative of searching for and downloading child pornography. The pornographic images depicted children between 3 and 13 years of age being sexually molested and battered by adults, children engaged in sexual acts with each other, and images of children displaying their genitals in a lewd manner.
When questioned by detectives, Horton admitted to viewing, downloading and storing the child pornographic images on his phone.
Horton was arrested and charged with 100 counts of possession of child pornography. The charges are enhanced to a 2nd degree felony because of the number and age of the children depicted.
“We thank the person who provided the tip that allowed our detectives to investigate this child pornography case. The images located on Mr. Horton’s phone are horrific. People like Horton create a market for these kinds of images that are dependent upon the continued sexual abuse of children. I appreciate the hard work our detectives did that was necessary to file these charges.” – Grady Judd, Sherriff
Horton has a previous criminal history in New York including charges for burglary (twice), grand larceny, petit theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Horton is being held in the Polk County Jail with no bond.
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U.S. Marshals Task Force & PCSO deputies arrest Shauncey Miller of Lakeland in Daytona Beach on Polk warrant for Kidnapping, and 14-year-old Oklahoma fugitive with murder warrant in Lakeland
| U.S. Marshals Task Force & PCSO deputies arrest Shauncey Miller of Lakeland in Daytona Beach on Polk warrant for Kidnapping, and 14-year-old Oklahoma fugitive with murder warrant in Lakeland
PCSO Release: On Thursday, November 15, 2018, the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force (FRFTF), to which PCSO has detectives assigned, located Polk County fugitive Shauncey Aubrey Miller, DOB 9/16/1997, to Daytona Beach, where he was taken into custody and booked into the Volusia County Jail on his Polk warrant.
PCSO issued a warrant for Miller’s arrest on November 6, 2018, for 2 counts kidnapping (F-1), one count robbery (F-2), one count domestic battery by strangulation (F-3), and one count burglary (F-2), after an incident that occurred on November 5th in Lakeland. That evening, Miller got into an altercation with his ex-girlfriend, got into her car, choked her, pushed her out of her car, and took off with two children still inside. An Amber Alert was issued, and then cancelled shortly thereafter when Miller left the children with a relative, and fled. PCSO deputies working with the U.S. Marshals FRFTF located Miller in Daytona Beach on November 15th. He will be extradited to Polk at a later date. His criminal history includes prior arrests for battery domestic violence, no valid DL, and failure to appear.
Also on November 15, the FRFTF located 14-year-old Wesley Moman of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who has a Tulsa warrant for his arrest for first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a juvenile, at the America’s Best Motel on Memorial Blvd in Lakeland. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Polk County Jail, awaiting extradition to Oklahoma. Please contact the Tulsa Police Department for any inquiries related to that warrant. “Partnerships with local and federal agencies are invaluable. By combining our resources, we are able to apprehend violent criminals, whether they’re hiding here in Polk from another state, or hiding in another county or state with a Polk warrant. We appreciate all the hard work and dedication provided by our U.S. Marshals’ task force.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
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Locally Owned Roofing Company in Lake Wales
Locally Owned Roofing Company in Lake Wales
By Allison Williams
Photos provided by Taylor’s Roofing
Taylor’s Roofing is an Owens Corning Preferred contractor in Lake Wales. They offer a variety of services:
- Asphalt Shingles
- Metal Roofing
- Modified Bitumen
- EPDM
- TPO
- Sprayed Polyurethane Foam
- Skylights
- Rain Gutters
- Waterproofing
- Storm Damage Emergency Roof Repair for residential and commercial buildings
- New constructions
The Taylor’s staff shared what they are about:
“We have a track record of success built on superior service and reasonable rates. Our roofing company is the reliable Central Florida roofing contractor that you can count on to get the job done right, on time and within budget. Our commitment to excellence is what sets us apart from other roofing companies. We always offer FREE estimates. We are licensed and insured and offer financing if you need it.”
Scott Taylor is the President of Taylor’s Roofing, Scott McRae is the Vice President/State Certified Roofing Contractor License Holder, and Tony Kula is the Roofing Specialist Consultant.
McRae has been in the roofing industry for more than 10 years to date. He specializes in residential and commercial systems, including metal and shingle roofs, SPF foam, TPO, mod bit and EPDM, utilizing both mechanically fastened and self-adhered installation processes.
Kula has 15-20 years of experience under his belt. His specialties are also with commercial and residential roofing systems. He specializes in:
- TPO
- Mod bit
- EPDM
- SPF foam
- Shingle and metal roofs
- Soffit, facia and gutter replacement.
The motivation behind what they do is having the opportunity to help others. They believe in providing roofs that are both safe and reliable for their customers.
As we all know, hurricanes are unfortunately expected in Florida from time-to-time. This year, Taylor’s Roofing traveled to Panama City and helped victims from Hurricane Michael.
Having a hardworking group of individuals contributes to the success of the company. Quality is important and they make sure to do a quality job with each and every one they complete for their loyal customers. The customers are truly appreciated by the Taylor’s Roofing crew. Loyal customers spreading positive words about the business has lead to recommendations to use Taylor’s as well, which they appreciate.
Taylor’s Roofing now offers financing and credit card payments. Visit www.taylors-roofing.com for more information.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Taylors.Roofing1
Address:
108 Dr JA Wiltshire Ave E
Lake Wales, FL 33853
Phone:
863-676-2555
Email:
Business Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday- Closed
Angels Among Us Fundraiser Supports Educational Programs For Local Girls
Angels Among Us Fundraiser Supports Educational Programs For Local Girls
by James Coulter
For the third year in a row, State Rep. Sam Killebrew (District 41) and his wife, Eileen, served as the main “archangel” sponsors for this year’s Angels Among Us, the annual pre-holiday fundraiser for Girls Inc. of Winter Haven.
He and his wife have been involved with Girls Inc. for the past three years, as they appreciate the services that it provides to young girls within the local area.
The Killebrews tend to gravitate towards donating to local organizations that help support young children, as doing so serves as an investment for the next generation, and as such, as an investment within the future of the local community.
“We do this because, basically, I know where that money goes: that money goes to the kids,” he said. “Rather than donating it to something where you don’t know exactly where the money winds up, I like this because I know it goes directly to help those girls.”
Having been involved with Girls Inc., Killebrew and his wife have seen firsthand how the organization has helped young girls grow up into empowered young women, thus remaining true to its motto to “inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.”
“This group here does such a great good,” he said. “They do such a great job with the girls, and we are really proud that all these people showed up to help raise funds to help these girls.”
Aside from helping out with the local organization, he and his wife had also served as the main sponsors for their annual pre-holiday fundraiser, Angels Among Us, which was recently hosted on Tuesday evening at Arabella’s in Winter Haven.
Though he was unable to attend last year’s event, as he was pre-occupied with committee week that year, he noticed that this year’s event was much bigger and better than previous years, drawing in more participants and sponsors.
“We have more people than we had last year,” he said. “The whole community comes out and supports this, it gives them the opportunity to donate. They all get together and it is a community event, and anytime we can do a community event, I get excited about it.”
This year’s event was hosted at Arabella’s Ristorante and Ave Bar in Winter Haven. Not only did this venue provide the most posh and exquisite setting for an evening social, but also offered enough space to allow for more attendees to participate, explained Peggy Threlkel, Executive Director for Girls Inc.
“I think it is a great turnout,” she said. “It is wonderful that we have been able to utilize Ave Bar as well as Arabella’s. That allowed us to open it up to more people.”
During the event, guests could sample fine cuisine as served by Arabella’s, including ravioli, meatballs, and grilled vegetables. When not eating their food and sipping their wine, guests could bid on various prizes and gift packages within the silent auction.
Ever since it first started several years ago, Angels Among Us has helped raise money for Girls Inc. of Winter Haven and their educational and tutoring programs for young girls. Their overall success has no doubt been the result of the attendees and sponsors who attend year after year, Threlkel explained.
“The people always seem to have a good time,” she said. “People make a plan to come every year. We are actually exceeding what we are expecting last year.”
Founded in 1948 by local activist, Virginia Snively, Girls Inc. of Winter Haven, according to its website, is “a national non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold….[It] has provided vital educational programs to millions of American girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas.”
More than 100 local girls from 14 local schools are served daily during its after school tutoring and educational program, ensuring that they receive a well-rounded education with academic and social skills.
Amanda Jo Nicholson, Vice President of Member Services at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, has been serving with Girls Inc. for the past nine years, and currently sits as their Chair on the Board of Directors.
She appreciates the services the organization provides young girls, and she enjoys how much the local community in turn supports the organization through events such as this.
“We very much appreciate the community support,” she said. “It is great to see the community coming out in droves to support the local organization.”
For more information about Girls Inc. of Winter Haven, visit their website at: https://www.girlsincwinterhaven.org/
Polk Sheriff’s Charities Will Be Giving Away Free Turkeys This Saturday
Polk Sheriff’s Charities will be giving away free turkeys this Saturday
Polk Sheriff’s Charities, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable organization, is sponsoring a free turkey giveaway this Saturday, November 17th, at three Polk County locations. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the Polk Sheriff’s Charities board decided to contribute turkeys to families who may be finding it tough to put a meal together for the holiday.
“This is our way of saying thank you’ to Polk County citizens for their support of our deputies. In some communities around the country, you can find tension and mistrust between law enforcement and residents. Not here. We work hard with our communities to keep our neighborhoods, families, and children safeand we get so much support from so many people. Building relationships and connections in our neighborhoods is what we are all about. We literally could not have the success in fighting crime that we have without our communities’ support. So, we know that there are families out there who are struggling financially and we want to do our small part to help out this Thanksgiving.” -Grady Judd, Sheriff
The turkeys will be distributed one per family, one per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No identification or pre-qualification will be required to receive a turkey. “We trust that folks will do the right thing,” Sheriff Judd said. Deputies will be at each location to hand out the birds, which are in the 15 to 17 pound range. Up to 1,300 turkeys will be given away.
“If we have any turkeys left over, Polk Sheriff’s Charities will donate them to the jail to help them serve turkey to the inmates,” said Bunky Hill, Chairman of Polk Sheriff’s Charities. “But I have a feeling we may run out on Saturday. We have a lot of turkeys, but we also have a lot of need in Polk Countynot just folks down on their luck, but we also have working families that could just use a boost for the holiday.”
The locations and times where the turkeys will be distributed are:
East Polk: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Church on the Hill, 1111 Scenic Hwy, Dundee
Central Polk: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Champions Church, 1801 Havendale Blvd. NW, Winter Haven
West Polk: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Victory Church, 1401 Griffin Rd., Lakeland
Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. was officially formed in December of 2006 and is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit charitable organization. Although the idea for the charity had been discussed for some time, it was formed as a result of the tragic murder of Deputy Matt Williams and K-9 DiOGi after a routine traffic stop. The community’s outpouring of emotional and monetary support after that tragic event ultimately demonstrated how a charity like PSCI would be supported.
To date, the charity has provided monetary support to Polk County Sheriff’s Office members who are facing significant unexpected negative events in their lives, scholarships for law enforcement family members and other deserving Polk County students, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office law enforcement memorial. The charity also supports needs that the law enforcement community has identified, such as purchasing Christmas gifts for children in Polk County’s most economically challenged neighborhoods, supporting organizations dedicated to assisting victims of crime and domestic violence, supporting local charities who positively impact crime and quality of life issues in communities the Sheriff’s Office serves, and supporting the agency’s K-9 unit for replacement of their beloved K-9 partners.
Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc. presents two annual fundraisers that help support its charitable work: the Annual “Bustin’ Clays With Sheriff Grady Judd” event at Tenoroc Sporting Clays in Lakeland and the Annual “Jeepin’ With Judd” event at Clear Springs Ranch near Bartow. Those wishing to support either or both events, or to make a contribution to Polk Sheriff’s Charities are encouraged to go to: http://www.polksheriff.org/about/polk-sheriff’s-charities#, call 863-298-6604, or write to Polk Sheriff’s Charities, ATTN: Deb VanConant, 1891 Jim Keene Blvd, Winter Haven, FL 33880.
