Polk County Fire Rescue, Winter Haven Fire Department (Winter Haven Public Safety Department), Auburndale Fire Department and Dundee Fire Department responded to a two-alarm residential structure fire on Oak Hill Place in Winter Haven on April 9, 2024.
Crew received the initial tone at 5:41 p.m. Dundee Engine 61 was first on scene, arriving seven minutes later to find a fully-involved 2,500 square-foot abandoned residential structure with fire through the roof along with a small adjacent vegetation fire.
The initial crews had water on the fire within minutes of arrival. Incident command called for a second alarm at 6:19 p.m. due to the size and scope of the fire eliciting additional units and resources. Thanks to the collaborative multi-department effort the fire was under control at 7:10 p.m.
“I am proud of the effort and professionalism displayed by all individuals involved in fighting this residential structure fire. Due to the difficult nature reaching the structure, everyone had to work together closely and find solutions that allowed them the best possible plan of attack. It is truly amazing seeing the interagency cooperation displayed in Polk County,” said Fire Chief, Hezedean A. Smith, D.M.
A PCFR firefighter was transported from the scene to a local medical facility. After the fire was extinguished, crews conducted a primary search and found no occupants in the structure; however, crews continue to conduct a secondary search.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. #PolkFLFireRescue #StructureFire #ResidentialFire
Starting on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Free Shredding and Prescription Pill drop off event, the Winter Haven Police Department will begin a giveaway of gun locks to ensure our citizens have the proper security for their guns at home.
Educating the community on firearm storage safety is the main priority for this campaign.
“It’s important that we get as much information out about how to properly secure your firearms,” said Police Chief David Brannan. “To minimize a child getting hurt is paramount in our dedication to this campaign.”
This simple piece of equipment can minimize a firearm being used in a very tragic situation. Firearm ownership is a huge responsibility.
The kick-off event will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Winter Haven Police Department, located at 125 N. Lake Silver Dr., NW in Winter Haven from 10:00 am – 2 p.m.
If you can’t make it out to this event, starting Monday, April 29, you can visit the Winter Haven Police Department, Monday – Friday from 8 am – 5 p.m. to obtain a free gun lock.
For more information, contact the Winter Haven Police Crime Prevention Unit at 863-291-6178 or 863-291-5858.
On October 23rd, 2023, a retail theft occurred at the Lowes Store located at 2301 Hwy 92 West, Auburndale, FL.
Two unknown males stole merchandise totaling $828.18.
Suspect 1 utilized a stolen Lowes associate red vest and entered the store through the garden center. Suspect 2 entered the store through the main entrance. From 6:12pm to 6:32pm Suspect 2 was selecting items from different departments and loading them onto a pushcart.
He then went to the back of the garden center and waited for suspect 1. Suspect 1 entered at 6:37pm and went to the back of the garden center where suspect 2 was waiting. At 6:40 both suspects walked out of the garden center together and made no attempt to pay for any of the stolen items.
SUSPECT 1 – is described as a White Male, short brown hair, last seen wearing a Lowes red vest, dark blue Mossy Oak hoodie with an American flag on the front, blue jeans, and dark black shoes.
SUSPECT 2 – is described as a White Male, short, balding grey hair, minimal facial hair, last seen wearing a bright green, short-sleeve fishing type button up shirt, Black pants, black shoes, and a visible tattoo sleeve on both arms as well as a wristwatch on his right hand.
Both suspects left in a tan Mercury car with an unknown Florida license plate.
If you have any information, please contact Officer MaldonadoIf at 863-965-5555 or by email to [email protected]
On Sunday morning, April 7th, at about 10:54 AM, a PCSO deputy responded to an Auburndale residence in the area of Lundy Road and State Road 559, after receiving a call about a battery on a pregnant person.
The deputy arrived and spoke with 29-year old Tiffany Maltbie and her mother, 51-year old Tonya Allen.
They informed the deputy about a civil agreement Tiffany had with a male relative regarding an automobile that was registered in his name.
Tiffany said that the man had come to her residence to take the car back, and while he was there, he intentionally shoved her, causing her to lose balance. Tiffany’s mother backed up the story by saying that she witnessed the shove.
When the deputy made contact with the suspect to get his side of the story, the suspect provided a video of the incident. The man said he figured something like this might happen, so he had a friend record the interaction.
The video showed the man arrive at the residence. He got out of his vehicle, removed the tag from the shared vehicle, then got back into his car and drove away. There was no physical altercation.
The deputy returned to the incident location and arrested Tiffany and Tonya and took them both to the Polk County Jail.
Mom & daughter were both charged with: False Information to LEO During a Felony Investigation and Providing False Report to LEO.
Rockin on the Chain Rocked Out for Good Cause its Second Year
by James Coulter
Joey Foley has been performing and fundraising in Polk County for nearly 40 years. So, when it came time to organize a fundraiser for special needs in Winter Haven, he was chosen to help spearhead Rockin on the Chain last year.
Rockin on the Chain
This year, the fundraiser proved to be bigger and better, with more than 30 musical acts over the course of three days. Of course, that such a musical event proved successful was not a surprise to the local musician.
“It has been great,” Foley said. “We have a great crowd here. Our kickoff [Friday] night was amazing. [Saturday] has been record-breaking. And we are excited about Sunday. It has always exceeded my expectations. It gets bigger and bigger each year. It is [because of] the cause itself. It is about Autism. It is about helping people in our community in Polk County, and that is why I want to be a part of it. I’m just grateful to be here.”
For the 2nd consecutive year, Rockin on the Chain drew in large crowds with live music, great food, and plenty of raffle prizes for a good cause. For three straight days, nearly 30 local bands and artists, from Joey Foley to Spankie Sadie, performed on rotating stages at Tanner’s Lakeside in Winter Haven.
Greg Gay, owner of Tanner’s Lakeside, loves being able to offer his venue for the annual fundraiser. While a man of very few words, his words were nothing short of abject praise for Rockinon the Chain.
“It is a great experience,” he said. “Love everyone involved with it. I love the cause they are supporting. So far, it is looking pretty good.”
Melanie Brown Culpepper is a philanthropist and volunteer who helps organize local fundraisers. As someone who has been with Rockin and Crawlin on the Chain for years, this year’s event more than exceeded her expectations.
“It is bigger than I ever could have imagined,” she said. “It is great. The way that everyone has come together for this is outstanding. It has been beyond even the expectations I imagined. [Saturday] has been [still] going and tomorrow it will hopefully be better.”
Aside from listening to live musical performances by local musicians, attendees could also enjoy food from food trucks, have their children play around in bounce houses and enjoy other activities, and place bets on prizes for raffles and silent and live auctions.
Bracken Smith, owner of the Brack Shack, attended to serve up his famous barbecue, including his barbecue brisket and mac and cheese eggrolls.
Smith has attended fundraisers such as this before, and he not only appreciates being able to serve great food, but also do so while supporting a great cause.
“It is a good win-win situation with us,” Smith said. “They always call on us to pitch in and help this event. That is what I love the most. Everybody loves our product. This event is top notch and fully meeting expectations. I hope everyone donates.”
Proceeds from the event will go toward a new sensory garden being constructed and installed at the Winter Haven Public Library. The Friends of the Library appeared to sell books and offer promotional material.
Victory Ridge Academy, a Lake Wales school for special needs children, which has been participating at previous fundraisers, also appeared with their school bus turned food truck.
John Straughn, who helped to found Victory Ridge Academy, and who has been involved with previous fundraisers, appreciates being involved with Rockin on the Chain. The event allows him to give back to the community and support a good cause, especially since his own son has special needs.
“We have a great crowd for Friday,” he said. “I want to help the community with special needs. It is the right thing to do. We like to give back to the community. If you saw the crowd here, it is beyond imagination.”
Jamie Bonafay has previously volunteered for On The Edge, a local organization that advocates for adaptive water skiing and other sports for children with special needs. She has since started volunteering for Rockin on the Chain. The fundraiser never disappoints, she said.
“So far, it has exceeded expectations,” she said. “We have more sponsors, more music and entertainment, we have more for people to do, and so far, it is exceeding expectations. I appreciate the sense of community, everybody coming together to support people with Autism and special needs.”
Karen McGhee Millette has been with the event since it started last year. Since then, it has grown immensely, and she has seen that growth for herself.
“We have grown upon what we built last year,” she said. “The community involvement, the enthusiasm for this event has been wonderful, amazing, with people wanting to volunteer, wanting to sponsor, wanting to donate their money and just give their time. I appreciate the community support, love, and friendship.”
City assigns Future Land Use and Zoning to a recently annexed 19 Acre Parcel
by James Coulter
A maximum of 231 new residential units may be constructed, subject to site plan approval and infrastructure concurrency determinations, after the city assigned the zoning and future land use designations for more than 19 acres of land in southeastWinter Haven. The assigned zoning and future land use designations are consistent with designations to the north, east, and northwest of the site.
City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the second reading of two ordinances that will assign the 19-acre parcel with Neighborhood Suburban Future Land Use and Multi-Family Residential-Low Density (R-3) zoning.
The parcel in question is located southwest of the intersection of Old Bartow Lake Wales Road and Waters Road. It was recently annexed into the city last November. Prior to its annexation by the city, the parcel had been designated as Agriculture/Residential Rural (A/RR). Currently, the property consists of citrus groves.
Shelton Rice petitioned and requested to assign the zoning and future land use designations to facilitate a future development, which, according to the city memo, would consist of “…residential, but a specific product mix and units has not been determined at this time.”
However, “at the maximum density of 12 dwelling units per acre”, as permitted by the new zoning and future land use designations, a maximum of 231 units may be developed on the property. The parcel is located southeast of the Peace Creek Reserve subdivision, currently under construction with single family homes and where 120 townhomes are planned.
Shelton Rice addressed the city commission concerning comments made in a previous meeting by commissioners about traffic and concurrency.
Rice mentioned that a traffic study is currently being conducted. While no results have thus far been produced, he assured commissioners that he will address them during the development review process.
In terms of concurrency and workforce housing, he mentioned that the proposed development is similar to a subdivision located north of it. That subdivision offers residential units for first time homeowners with a $2,000 mortgage payment with some additional costs not counting homeowner assessment dues.
As such, the downpayment would amount to an $1,700 obligation at 20 percent down. Such a payment appears affordable, Rice claimed, when compared to the 72,000 annual income as estimated by local census data.
“I am no economist. This is kind of back of the napkin math. Wages have increased over a few years. But this is very close if not within range of the definition of workforce housing,” he said. “We think this is somewhat affordable even though the costs are really high right now.”
Commissioner Brian Yates said he appreciated the effort to estimate the affordability of workforce housing, and he felt that such a provision could be provided with the proposed development.
“You know that currently our area is experiencing a challenge for a lot of people trying to afford housing in Winter Haven. We are making an effort to try to do our better to make it available as much as possible,” he said. “People are relocating to the area.We are happy to see the expansion and growth. But we are concerned about the people who are here and would like to have a decent place to live.”
Winter Haven City Commission Votes to Consider Acquiring the Historic Ritz Theatre
by James Coulter
For nearly 100 years, the Historic Ritz Theatre has been a cultural cornerstone of Winter Haven. Now, the City is considering taking the historic theater under its ownership.
At their regular meeting on Monday, March 25, Winter Haven City Commissioners voted unanimously to provide guidance to staff to pursue conversations around acquiring the theater, placing its ownership and maintenance directly in the hands of the City.
Since 2004, the City of Winter Haven has provided financial support with more than $515,000 in contributions through annual grants and aid payments. Unfortunately, the theater is facing “a dire financial position” with mortgage obligations and general operation costs.
“[City] Staff suggested a total budget of $100,000 spread over two years to address these minor repairs and any routine items that may develop,” the City staff memo stated. “The biggest long-term needs identified are the replacement of the membrane roof and three 30-ton air conditioning units. Given the condition of the roof, replacement would need to occur in the next 3-5 years.”
As such, earlier this year, representatives from the Historic Ritz Theatre Board of Directors met with the City Manager” to discuss the future of The Ritz and the financial challenges they are anticipating.”
One proposed suggestion would be to place the ownership and operation of the Ritz Theatre under the City’s care. As the staff memo suggested: “In the event the City were the owner and operator of The Ritz, Theatre Winter Haven would be willing to program and manage the space, similar to their programming and management of the theatrical spaces at Chain of Lakes Park.”
“The Ritz is not only a historic structure, but also a significant element of the downtown core,” the memo said. “Fully activating the space can have a direct economic benefit to the other downtown businesses by creating an arts and cultural destination that results in residual or ancillary spending at restaurants, bars, and retail establishments.”
City Commissioners briefly mulled over the idea of the City acquiring and owning the historic theater. Mayor Nathanial J. Birdsong, Jr. wondered if the theater’s 501c3 non-profit status would be affected by the potential transfer.
“Whether they would permit a transfer of ownership, that would have to be looked at,” said City Attorney John Murphy. “We could look at and analyze that. Make sure we can see a pathway forward. The rest is in the details.”
During public comments, several people stepped forward to attest to the Ritz’s significance in their community. One resident, Jessica Scuba, mentioned how much of a cultural cornerstone the theater has been, and how acquiring it could make it more of an asset than a liability.
“I want to say I fully support the city purchasing the Ritz,” she said. “I think it could be a great asset for the City and it will be good for you to have more control over what happens in there.”
Many of them were members of Bridge Church, which utilizesthe auditorium for their church services. Its pastor, Dimitri Phillips, mentioned how he started the church after moving from Hawaii to Florida, or, as he put it, “left one paradise for another.”
Since starting his church three years ago, his church has reached 600 people with 200 members currently in his congregation. Aside from services, his church also provides programs that benefit local youth and adults, from training in financial security to STEM programs.
Jacob Paulson started attending the church when he moved from Missouri. It allowed him to develop his leadership skills, and now he serves as a local teacher. There he also met his girlfriend, who later became his wife.
“The utilization of that space has developed me as a young man and [it is] representing a generation,” he said.
Dakota Richardson, another congregation member, has been attending for two years. The church, and, by extension, the theater, has proven to be both a cultural and spiritual force within the city, and acquiring the theater will allow its reach to grow stronger.
“This city has the opportunity to be blessed with this theater,” she said. “Since walking through the entryway of a unique movie theater and calling this a church, I knew the Ritz Theater would be a cornerstone of diversity. It has provided beautiful unity rather than uniformity and also a place where the heart God can reach the city through the church.”
Local musician Joey Foley has performed everywhere in the Southern U.S. from Orlando and Tampa to Gatlinburg and Nashville. But perhaps his most honorable performances are at local fundraisers like the upcoming Rockin’ on the Chain.
Not only will Foley be one of the 30 musical acts performing at the three-day music festival this weekend, but he is also helping to organize it.
Having to juggle 30 acts on a rotating stage over three days proves to be quite the challenge, but when it comes to supporting a good cause like Autism Awareness, Foley is more than up for it.
“I am up for the challenge,” he said. It is a blessing to be able to have musicians in Polk County who are willing to give their time and effort to help with Autism and to help with this event. My goal is to keep this thing rolling and keep it rolling smoothly throughout the day, to have it start on time and have it end on time.”
Foley was previously involved with a similar event, Rockin’ on the Chain. He was approached by some people in Winter Haven to help organize a similar event in town.
“So I jumped right in with both feet,” he said. “I am a sucker for a good cause. And when these people came to me and said, ‘Hey, let’s do this,’ I was all in. Let’s do it. Let’s make it happen. And let’s make it bigger and better than it ever was before.”
Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward the new sensory garden being constructed at Winter Haven Public Library. With more than 40 years of experience performing at and organizing benefits and fundraisers, Foley is both excited and honored to organize this year’s Rockin’ on the Chain.
Rockin’ on the Chain will be hosted from Fri. Apr. 5 to Sun Apr. 7 at Tanner’s Lakeside, located at 1006 Lake Howard Dr. SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880.
For more information, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Rockinonthechainbenefitingautismspecialneeds
Joey Foley recently appeared on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss Rockin’ on the Chain and his involvement with it. Listen to the episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-30-rockin-on-the-chain-wjoey-foley?
Polk County will experience a partial solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.
We expect the eclipse to impact Polk beginning at 1:44 p.m. and ending at 4:15 p.m.
Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse, even for a short time, can cause permanent vision damage. Sunglasses do not offer sufficient protection for viewing the eclipse.
Please be sure to speak with your children about the eclipse and the dangers of looking directly at the sun during this time.
To minimize the risk to students, Polk County Public Schools will move ALL outdoor activities — such as athletic practices, band rehearsals, and afterschool care programs — indoors between the hours of 1:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. School dismissal times will remain unchanged.
Due to the timing of this eclipse and the potential risk to students, student absences will be excused on the day of the eclipse.
Parents and guardians should also use caution while driving during the time of the eclipse. We urge everyone to be especially careful in car rider pickup lines, and avoid distracted drivers, students and pedestrians.
Bus drivers have been advised to caution students against looking directly at the eclipse, and schools will take necessary precautions to protect students while on campus.
Registration for the 2024 swim lesson program will open up on Wednesday, April 10th at 8:30 AM, and will continue until all spots have been filled.
Registration will be available in-person at the Lake Eva Community Center, the Oakland Neighborhood Center, and online using Community Pass. Each session is $40.00 per child. One session = 8 classes.
Morris & Leah West Foundation Thank you to the Morris & Leah West Foundation for their continued sponsorship of free swim lessons for the community. Now in the 4th year of their sponsorship, the foundation will be providing 50 free swim lessons this year. For more information about this program, please contact the Morris & Leah West Foundation directly at https://www.morrisandleahwestfoundation.org/
American Red Cross Centennial Our continued partnership with the American Red Cross Centennial program will allow Haines City Parks & Rec to offer one (1) reduced-rate session per participant (while scholarship funds last).
*To have the Centennial Program scholarship applied at the time of payment, you will need to register in-person at the Lake Eva Community Center or at the Oakland Neighborhood Center.
*If you would like to register online and take advantage of the scholarship opportunity, please check ‘yes’ when completing your registration. Note: the scholarship amount will be refunded or credited back to you/your account. * * * Online registration will open up at 8:30 AM (the same time as both community centers).
