City of Winter Haven, FL-
Meet Alexandra de Roos, our new Miss Winter Haven! A classically trained ballet dancer and founder of two nonprofits, Alex is also a premed student at USF’s Honors College and an advocate for brain injury funding. As a lifelong Winter Haven resident, she’s ready to give back. Let’s cheer her on as she represents us at Miss Florida!
City of Auburndale, FL Government
REMINDER:
Spring Clean-up Week: April 8th -12th, 2024
During Spring Clean-up Week, the City of Auburndale will provide additional trash collection services at no extra charge. Once again, this is for the week of April 8th – 12th only. Please read the following information:
Categories for separated items:
Hazardous waste, paint, or electronics will NOT be collected!!
The Public Works Department (915 Charles Avenue, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) accepts used motor oil, anti-freeze, and automotive batteries for drop-off.
Other items must be taken to North Central Landfill Hazardous Collection Facility (10 Environmental Loop S. Winter Haven, FL 33880, Phone: 863-284-4319).
For more information, please contact City of Auburndale Public Works Department at 863-965-5511.
These Two Pastors Served Their Church for Nearly 20 Years. Now They’ve Stepped Down to Serve on the Mission Field.
by James Coulter
Pastors Frank and Sheri Hawley have served at Garden Grove Church in Winter Haven for nearly 20 years. Now this couple is stepping down from their roles as pastors to go into the world and preach the good news in Europe and Asia.
The two pastors officially stepped down from their roles as pastors in February. Their son-in-law, John Schreck, who previously served as the youth pastor, will now serve as the church’s head pastor. John will be serving alongside his wife, Joy, who is also the daughter of Pastors Frank and Sheri Hawley.
Pastors Frank and Sheri now plan on traveling to churches in Europe and Asia. They will be taking up the roles as pastors while the missionaries who planted those churches return home to America for brief reprieves.
The couple decided to step down from their positions and embark on this new “season” of their life and ministry after finally paying off the mortgages to their church, allowing them to leave it “debt-free” in the hands of the new pastor.
Pastor Frank received the call to ministry ever since he became a Christian in high school. He attended Southeastern University in Lakeland, where he prayed to God about his future family. Afterward, he met Sheri, and the two of them became a couple and eventually married.
Pastor Sheri was inspired to enter the ministry after taking up a position as a Sunday school teacher at her father’s church. She loved teaching so much that she decided to go to college to pursue an educational degree. She later became credentialed as a minister during a time when it was uncommon for women to be pastors.
Together, Pastors Frank and Sheri attended Garden Grove Church in Winter Haven at the behest of their eldest daughter, Kristin, who was serving as a student volunteer. The two of them loved the church so much that they stayed and eventually jumped at the chance to become the new pastor once the old pastor stepped down.
During their nearly two decades serving at the church, both of them have grown to love the people who attend and live within the surrounding community. Their ministry has included outreach programs including their annual fall festival, Break Your Fall, in November.
“Our ministry has been to simply love these people and love this community with our whole hearts,” Pastor Sheri said. “We had a real burden, a real desire to accept people where they are, and to love them to come a little closer to what God has for them, helping people where they belong in the body of Christ.”
“It boils down to listening to and spending time with Jesus, to be in his presence, to get his heart for what he wants us to do here in Polk County,” Pastor Frank said. “These people have been ready and receptive to do what God has called us to do, and they have come alongside us and helped us through the ministry of what God has called us to. The success of this church…has been the determination and the love of God’s people for him and each other, which makes this church a very healthy and successful church.”
Pastors Frank and Sheri Hawley recently appeared on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss their past ministry at Garden Grove Church and their future ministry on the mission field. Listen to the episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-28-pastors-frank-sheri-hawley?
This Winter Haven Weightlifter Will Be Representing America in the World Strength Games in April
by James Coulter
Dan Miner only started weightlifting eight years ago. So, when he received an invitation to compete in the World Strength Games in Utah this April, he initially assumed it was sent to the wrong address.
“I actually thought it was a mistake,” Miner said. “I sent the promoter a message back saying, ‘Hey, man, I think you sent this to the wrong guy.’ He said, ‘No, I sent it to the right guy. You are ready.’ So, it is kind of one of those Cinderella stories where somebody thinks I’m ready when I really don’t because of the things that have happened.”
Born and raised in Winter Haven, Miner has been a fan of weightlifting ever since he was a little kid. Every year, he would watch the World’s Strongest Man competition and dream of one day competing.
As an adult, he became a self-taught lifter. He would work out at the gym every day and teach himself how to deadlift and other lifting techniques by watching and observing how others lifted.
“It has been a real significant change,” he said. “When I first started lifting, I was just the Average Joe at the gym…So, going from just barely picking up the bar off the floor to deadlifting 600 pounds, you know, those are major accomplishments.”
His ultimate inspiration has been O.D. Wilson, a local American world champion powerlifter and world champion Strongman competitor, who passed away in 1991. Miner especially hopes that O.D. is looking down and giving the big “Nightmare” approval.
Dan is married to his beautiful wife Elizabeth with 3 amazing children: Madison, Brianna, and Colin. His ultimate goal is to one day compete at the World’s Strongest Man competition. For now, he’s both excited and anxious to be able to compete in a world-renowned competition like the World Strength Games, and he hopes he can rise to the challenge.
Dan Miner recently appeared on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss his preparation for the upcoming competition. Listen to his personal fitness journey in our latest episode on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-27-world-strength-games-wdan-miner
A Student Went into Cardiac Arrest. Now This High School Has an AED in Case Another Emergency Arises.
by James Coulter
Last year, a high school student went into cardiac arrest. The closest automated external defibrillator was in another locked building. The other closest device was in the gymnasium across campus.
Fortunately, the student survived. However, not wanting another student, teacher, or staff member to suffer a similar experience during an emergency, Avon Park High School had an AED donated and installed inside their main building.
Melanie Brown Culpepper and her team of volunteers from Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation presented the AED on Wednesday evening. Melanie was contacted by Heather Barnes, a dean at the high school, about having a device donated to the school. She requested the AED due to the difficulty that arose during the emergency last May.
“Thankfully we were able to get to an AED in time and our student survived,” Barnes said. “But we realized how the incident and the staff were ‘in the right place at the right time’ for that incident and things may not always happen that way.”
Barnes learned about Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation from a story about a donation to another local high school in Mulberry. Now that an AED has been donated and installed at their school, they will not experience similar difficulties in case another emergency happens.
“I believe that it will give all of us a sense of peace knowing that we can get to an AED quickly anywhere on campus now if we need it,” she said. “You never know when something like this can happen, our student was perfectly healthy and going about her normal day when this happened. It wasn’t until afterward that her and her family discovered she had a heart condition.”
Melanie started Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation three years ago following the untimely passing of her late fiancée Michael Culpepper, who passed away from cardiac arrest. Not wanting anyone else to experience a similar fate, she started her non-profit organization.
Since its inception, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation has donated nearly 40 AEDs to local businesses and other establishments across Polk County. Recently, they launched a website that will allow people to locate the nearest AED in case of an emergency.
“Melanie’s story really touched my heart,” Barnes said. “We know how lucky we were to have the response time we did and the incredible staff that worked together to save our student. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people that don’t survive…Melanie and her organization are giving a chance of survival to hundreds of people every time they put one of these devices in a school or building. She said ‘If we save one person, it’s worth it’ and I wholeheartedly agree with her.”
For more information about Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, visit their website at: https://www.facebook.com/honoringculpepper
Winter Haven Public Safety Department
Make your plans to Purge Your Pills & Shred Your Stuff!
On Saturday, April 27, from 10 am – 2 pm, citizens can bring their expired and unused medications (including pet meds) to the Police Department (125 N Lake Silver Dr., NW) for safe disposal. Additionally, this is a great time to gather paperwork that you have that could potentially fall into the wrong hands and we will shred it for free! No limit to how much you can bring! (No businesses please)
Winter Haven Public Safety Department
Are you looking for a dynamic career with great opportunities for growth? The Winter Haven Police Department will hold a Job Fair on Saturday, April 13 from 11 am – 3 pm at the Police Department, located at 125 N. Lake Silver Dr., NW in Winter Haven. Both sworn law enforcement and civilian positions available.
The Winter Haven Police Department employs 92 Police Officers and 33 civilian support personnel. To maintain the highest level of efficiency, we incorporate state-of-the-art equipment with ongoing innovative in-house training programs.
If you feel you are a candidate who can support our mission, purpose, core values, and beliefs, a law enforcement career with the Winter Haven Police Department offers a challenging and exciting opportunity. We have a very active Reserve Unit as well.
Candidates for Police Officer are chosen from a competitive field of applicants based on test scores, assessments, and a rigorous background investigation.
The City of Winter Haven is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To view all job openings, please visit the City of Winter Haven Job Opportunities Page.
Download the application for a police officer position and turn it in at the City of Winter Haven Human Resources Division, located at:
500 3rd Street NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Contact Personnel Selection at 863-291-5858, ext. 2243 or send an email for more information.
Winter Haven Police Department
Do you recognize this guy?
On March 28, 2024 at approximately 1:30 p.m., the male in the photos entered Lowes (Citi Center) and took two power tool chargers with no attempt to pay. When approached by associates, he ran from the store. He has a tribal-style tattoo on his right hand and an “813” tattoo on the right side of his neck. Anyone who can help identify him is asked to call the on-duty supervisor at 863-401-2256.
Polk County Parks & Rec
Lake Gwyn Park, located south of Winter Haven in Wahneta, boasts distinctive amenities such as green spaces, a playground, multipurpose sports fields, basketball courts and a screened in pavilion available for rent. Lake Gwyn Park’s screened-in pavilion, located next to the playground, is a perfect location to host family gatherings.
Screened in pavilions are consistently one of the most sought-after park amenities. To reserve a pavilion for your next event, call or use the link below to reserve online. Please make your reservation at least two weeks in advance.
Screened in pavilion cost: $25 per hour (minimum four-hour rental)
To check pavilion availability, call (863) 534-6911 or click the link below:
https://bit.ly/PCPRPAV
Lake Gwyn Park
137 Avenue A East
Wahneta, FL 33880
Cecelia Theresa Castro-Haye, 78, passed away on March 22, 2024, at the Select Specialty Hospital, Orlando, Florida.
Cecelia was born on March 18, 1946, in Kingston, Jamaica. Her life’s journey led her to the United States in the early 1960s, where she embarked on a lifelong mission of care and kindness. Settling in Bronx, New York, she shared her life with her husband, Aston, and her son, Christopher, who later left home to serve his country in the Marines.
Cecelia’s heart overflowed with empathy, guiding her to dedicate her days to the service of the sick. For almost four decades, she worked for Beth Israel Hospital and was unwavering in her commitment to healing and comfort. Patients were not just recipients of her care; they were embraced by her genuine love and concern. When she retired and hung up her scrubs she moved to Kissimmee, Florida, where she quickly found a home at Landmark Baptist Church. She continued to have a great impact on everyone around her, always looking for ways she could be of service, and feeding the homeless was one of her most recent passions.
Beyond her noble profession, Cecelia possessed a gift that added beauty to the lives of those around her. Cecelia possessed a smile that lit up any room and a laugh so infectious it had everyone joining in.
A master of crochet, her nimble fingers wove threads of love into intricate patterns, crafting blankets and christening outfits with meticulous care. Each stitch was a testament to her generosity and the joy she found in creating something special for others.
Her love for family and friends is evident to all who enter her home, adorned with walls that seem to breathe with photographic memories. Each corner tells a story, each frame a cherished moment captured in time. Despite the crowded walls, she always finds space for one more snapshot, ensuring that no memory is left behind. She had a vivid recollection of each photograph and the occasion, which she was always happy to share.
After every family gathering, we can anticipate the arrival of an envelope in the mail containing pictures from the latest celebration. She may not have fully embraced the digital age, preferring the nostalgia of printing photos at the pharmacy and mailing them to us, but her dedication to preserving memories is unwavering.
Her legacy extends far beyond her professional accomplishment, but in the way she lived her life, touching the hearts of all who knew her. She reminds us of the profound impact one person can have on the world simply by sharing their gifts and spreading love.
Though she may have retired from this world, Cecelia’s spirit continues into the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know her. In every warm embrace, in every handmade treasure, her presence lives on, A beacon of light and love for generations to come.
Cecelia is survived by her devoted husband, Aston Haye, her loving son, Christopher Brown and his wife, Hollyn, cherished grandchildren, Christopher, Harper, and Ashanti. She leaves behind her siblings, Mildred (Joyce), Roy, Fay, and Pamela, along with Pamela’s husband, Derrick, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless others who were fortunate enough to have been touched by her kindness and grace throughout her lifetime.
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Landmark Baptist Church
2020 E Hinson Ave
Haines City, Florida
12:00 pm
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Landmark Baptist Church
2020 E Hinson Ave
Haines City, Florida
1:00 pm
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Forest Hill Cemetery
Grace Ave
Haines City, Florida
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