A crash involving two vehicles on U.S. 27 in Frostproof on Thursday, March 9, 2023 resulted in the death of one of the drivers.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, along with Polk County Fire Rescue, were dispatched at about 9:25 a.m., to the crash scene on U.S. 27 just north of U.S. 98 (Fort Meade Road).
Upon arrival of first responders, 51-year-old David L. LeBlanc of Frostproof was found deceased. He was driving a white 2014 Chevrolet Van.
The second driver, a 49-year-old Ivan Inglesias was uninjured. He was driving a white 2016 Freightliner tractor with a trailer.
Based on evidence and interviews at the scene, Traffic Homicide investigators determined that Mr. Inglesias was driving northbound and in the outside lane on U.S. 27. He was driving slowly and preparing to enter the parking lot of a business on east side of the highway.
Mr. LeBlanc was also driving northbound and in the outside lane. It appears he failed to see the Freightliner and struck the rear of the trailer.
A portion of the roadway was closed for approximately 3 hours during the investigation, which remains on-going.
Get ready to raid the art supply closet – it’s time for the 20th Annual Water Conservation Art Contest! Contest winning art will be featured in the 2024 Water Conservation Calendar.
Polk County students in grades K-12 are invited to participate. Students are encouraged to create an artistic representation that expresses the “how” and/or “why” water conservation. Suggested subjects can include the water cycle, saving water, reclaimed water, storm water protection (pollution runoff) or a combination.
Art Requirements
Identification – List student’s name, grade, school and mailing address on the back side of their entry. Any entries with incomplete or missing information may be disqualified. Entries are limited to one submission per artist.
Canvas or paper size: 8.5” x 11”
Orientation: Landscape layout or horizontal format
Accepted artistic mediums:
Drawing materials, paints, collage materials, stencils, collagraphs, block prints, original digital illustration, photographs. Please do not use glitter.
For Younger Artists
While original artwork is preferred, younger artists may choose one of the printable drawing templates listed below.
All participants will receive a ribbon for their entry!
All submitted art becomes property of Polk County Utilities and may be displayed by Polk County or our associates to promote water conservation.
Entry grants Polk County the right to use partial name, age, grade, and/or school information in future exhibits. Polk County reserves the right to refuse to display any entry determined to be unsuitable. Any artwork that depicts copyrighted images will be disqualified. All artwork must be original ideas and created by the student.
On Wednesday March 8, 2023, PCSO deputies arrested 15-year-old Aalijah Parker of Winter Haven after he stabbed a 14-year-old male student at Westwood Middle School in Winter Haven. He is being charged with multiple felonies.
The 14-year-old victim was transported to an area hospital, and the parents have been notified.
The following is preliminary information, and could change as detectives continue to investigate this incident.
At around 1:09 p.m. deputies responded to Westwood Middle School (3520 Ave J NW) in Winter Haven to the report of a student being stabbed. Westwood Middle School immediately went on a lockdown status while deputies searched for the suspect.
Deputies learned that Parker and the victim were fighting on campus, when Parker stabbed the victim with a fixed blade kitchen knife (similar to a paring knife). Parker then fled the school campus and was located and arrested at about 1:43 p.m. at a relative’s home nearby.
Westwood Middle School lifted the lockdown at around 2:00 p.m.
Parker told deputies he threw the knife behind a trailer in the area and then took deputies to the location. The deputies found the knife exactly where Parker said it would be.
“This is outrageous violent criminal behavior that we are not going to tolerate. This student is facing some serious felony charges. I’m proud of the partnership we have with Polk County Public Schools and my deputies’ quick actions. Our prayers are with the victim and we are hoping for a fast recovery.”– Grady Judd, Sheriff
This is still an active investigation, and we will send out additional details at a later time.
*Per Florida State Statute 119 information about juveniles charged with felonies is public record.
Hiring Event! Would you like to make a difference in Polk County? Polk County is hosting a Hiring Event on Thursday, March 30, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. It will be held at 1702 Hwy. US 17 S. in Bartow, FL. *Get hired on the spot! $1,000 sign-on bonus! For questions or more information, please contact Kenzie Ralston (email: [email protected].)
This Notice shall be published once a week for two weeks starting February 28, 2023.
(Week 2)
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has received a request from the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (District) for the issuance of a certificate determining that the continued operation of the District is not administratively practicable and feasible under the provisions of chapter 582, Florida Statutes.
The territory included in the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District is the same as the jurisdictional boundaries of Polk County, Florida. This Notice shall be published once a week for two weeks. Any comments or objections to the proposed certification, or any claims against the assets of the District, must be filed with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Agency Clerk, Don Hockman, 600 South Calhoun Street, Holland Building Suite 254, Tallahassee, Fl 32309; phone: (850)617-7641; email: [email protected] not later than 60 days after the date of last publication.
Update 10pm: Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigators are confirming that four people have been located who were in the two planes that crashed. All four are deceased. Three of those are:
Faith Irene Baker, 24, of Winter Haven, a pilot/flight instructor with Sunrise Aviation (Cherokee Piper 161) Zachary Jean Mace, 19, of Winter Haven, a student at Polk State College (Cherokee Piper 161) Randall Elbert Crawford, 67, from Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Piper J-3 Cub)
Deputies are working to confirm the identity of a fourth deceased person (Piper J-3 Cub). Once a positive identification has been made, and next of kin notification has been made, we will release the identity.
All four located persons are the only occupants of the planes. It is no longer a search and rescue operation, but a recovery operation.
“My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who were killed in today’s crash. The NTSB and FAA will be investigating the cause and circumstances of the collision. Please keep the families in your prayers during this difficult and stressful time.” -Grady Judd, Sheriff
Update 8pm: Polk County Sheriff’s Office Update:
Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigators are confirming that the two small airplanes involved in the mid-air crash over Lake Hartridge in Winter Haven have been positively identified:
1 A Piper J-3 Cub sea plane operated by Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base in Winter Haven 2 A Cherokee Piper 161 fixed wing plane operated by Sunrise Aviation (Ormond Beach) on behalf of Polk State College
Investigators have not positively identified those who were on the planes. Once positive identification has been made and next of kin notification has been made, we will release their identities.
At this point in the search and rescue operation, two deceased bodies have been located.
Update: Winter Haven Police and Winter Haven Fire have responded to Lake Hartridge where two small planes have collided. Assistance is also being given by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue. At this time the water is being searched and there is also an air search being conducted.
Winter Haven, Florida- The Winter Haven Fire Department and the Polk County Fire Rescue is currently on scene of a reported plane(s) crash into a Winter Haven lake. According to 911 calls a plane or planes crashed into Lake Hartridge.
Crews are currently working on the North West side of the lake in the Hartridge Hills Ct. area. This is a very active scene with 11 crews on scene and another 9 crews headed to the scene.
We believe injuries are involved. This is a developing story. We will update as more information becomes available.
PCSO investigates fatal motorcycle crash in Lake Hamilton
Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide detectives are investigating a motorcycle crash that occurred on Saturday, March 4, 2023. The driver died at the scene.
Based on the evidence so far, PCSO detectives determined that at around 11:00 p.m. the driver of a 2008 Honda Sport motorcycle was traveling northbound on Scenic Highway at a very high rate of speed. The driver failed to negotiate a right hand curve just south of the intersection with West Bryant Avenue. The motorcycle then exited the road and onto the west shoulder.
The motorcycle continued north, where it struck a drainage culvert at West Bryant Avenue and became airborne. The motorcycle and rider crossed over West Bryant Avenue and over a seven foot tall fence before it struck a large group of plastic citrus boxes on the northwest corner of Scenic Highway and West Bryant Avenue. A fire began and totally engulfed the motorcycle, driver, and citrus boxes.
The driver has not yet been identified. This investigation remains on-going.
On Sunday, March 5, 2023, at approximately 5:38 p.m., officers responded to a traffic crash in the 2800 block of US 98 North involving a bicyclist and two vehicles. Officers learned that just prior to the crash, a 2019 BMW SUV was traveling in the southbound lane of US 98 North. At the same time, a bicyclist was traveling northbound in the southbound bike lane. A 2005 Honda sedan, also traveling southbound directly behind the SUV, entered the right turn lane that led into a private business and struck the bicyclist. After hitting the bicyclist, the Honda swerved, striking the SUV, and then spun out, crossing the center median, and entered the northbound lanes of US 98 North, where it was struck by a 2015 Dodge truck that was traveling in the northbound lane. The Honda continued across 98 North, hitting the curb before coming to a final rest in a grassy field. All drivers came to a stop and remained at the scene.
The Lakeland Police Department Patrol Unit, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on scene to provide life-saving measures. The bicyclist, a 64-year-old man from Lakeland, was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene. The driver of the Honda and the passenger of the truck were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The roadway was shut down while the scene was photographed for the follow-up investigation.
The driver of the Honda was identified as:
Daniel Eli Viana
Age: 36
Beverly Hills, FL
The driver of the BMW was identified as:
Cody Allen Dawson
Age: 25
Lakeland, FL
The driver of the Dodge was identified as:
Adam Richard Chandler
Age: 44
Zephyrhills, FL
The victim’s name is not being released at this time, as officers continue to attempt to locate and notify the next of kin. This remains an open and active investigation.
Welcome, World Travelers! Gov. DeSantis Repeals Disney’s Special District
by James Coulter
On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law that gave the state control over the special district formerly known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the self-governing district of the Walt Disney World Resort.
“Today, the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end. This is what accountability looks like,” Gov. DeSantis said upon signing the law, which was signed, ironically enough, at Reedy Creek Fire Station No. 4 on Disney World property.
I had previously discussed the Reedy Creek district and the situation surrounding it in a previous column last year. If you want to learn more about it in detail, read the whole piece here: https://dailyridge.com/2022/05/18/welcome-world-travelers-what-is-the-reedy-creek-improvement-district/
In summary, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) was a special taxing district created in 1967 that granted Walt Disney World the same authority and responsibilities as a county government. Through it, the resort could fund and build its own roads and utilities and move forward more easily with new construction projects.
However, following Disney’s denouncement of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill (commonly referred to as the Don’t Say Gay bill) and its announcement to pause political donations to Florida lawmakers, Gov. DeSantis fired back at the company by threatening (and later, succeeding) to revoke its “special corporate privileges” including the Reedy Creek Improvement Act.
The new law renames the former Reedy Creek district as the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The new district will now be controlled by the state with a new board with members appointed by Gov. DeSantis. As Axios explains:
“The new legislation will create a new state-controlled tax district that will oversee the 25,000 acres surrounding Walt Disney World.
The new district — renamed the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District — will have a five-person board overseeing it, with members appointed by DeSantis and approved by the Florida Senate.
The legislation removed parts of the district’s power, including the ability “to build a nuclear power plant and an airport, but those powers had never been used,” according to Variety.”
Gov. DeSantis claims the new law will end “Disney’s special privileges” and bring forth “a new era of accountability and transparency.” However, many critics have argued the law was created in retaliation to the Disney Company speaking up against the Governor’s discriminatory “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.
As State Rep. Anna Eskamani mentioned in a statement: “Disney still maintains the same tax breaks — but their First Amendment rights have been suppressed, and it sends a message to any private individual or company that if you don’t purport to what the governor wants, then you’ll be punished.”
Many other critics have argued the new law will also, as Axios reports, “make it harder for the company to operate its parks as efficiently.” Furthermore, the tax burden for local services would be shifted to the taxpayers of Orange and Osceola County. That tax burden amounts to at least $105 million in general revenue, $280 million in property taxes, and nearly $1 billion in bond debt, CNBC reported.
Many Republicans like DeSantis claim to believe in “limited government” that allows businesses to more easily grow and flourish in the “free market” with low taxes and limited government oversight. Ironically, DeSantis’ new law will force more government oversight over Walt Disney World and increase taxes for Florida taxpayers. So much for the “free market”!
But what do you think? Was Gov. DeSantis right to strip Disney World of its special district? Or will this move only hurt Florida economically by killing the goose that lays the golden egg? Leave your comments on Facebook.
Ryan was a fun-loving, free-spirited, loyal yet sensitive lad whose life was tragically cut short by Fentanyl. In Dec. 2018, his young life was snuffed out by a drug overdose.
One month later, the friends of his mother organized a bike ride in his memory. Five years later, that bike ride has transformed into a movement to preserve the memories of the lives cut short by drug overdoses and to spread the word about the dangers of Fentanyl and other opioids.
The 5th Annual Ryan’s Ride Memorial Event was hosted last Sunday at the Haines City Moose Lodge along Highway 27. The event started early that morning with participating cyclists starting their route from the lodge.
The ride concluded around noon back at the lodge, where a barbecue dinner was served and several local vendors were set up selling merchandise and raising proceeds for the event.
Ryan’s mother, Mary Beth Moore-Zocco, started the event five years ago through The FRoM Project Inc., a local non-profit organization that, according to its website, sends “free personalized handmade cards to parents who have lost a child to a substance use disorder.”
The ride itself is an annual event commemorating our loved ones taken too soon by the opioid and fentanyl crisis. By the third year, the ride transformed into a larger event. This year was the first it was hosted in Polk County, as Mary Beth lives in Davenport.
“We decided to host it in my backyard for local businesses,” she said. “We found that there was nothing like this offered in Polk County…This is not an advocacy thing. This is not a rally. This is for local support. Support for grieving families and friends that come.”
One of her closest friends, Michelle Pepin, has been attending each year to demonstrate how to use Narcan to stop the symptoms of a fentanyl overdose. She lost her son in 2018 to Fentanyl poisoning, so she has grown close to Mary Beth and joined her cause through the event.
“Stop saying, ‘not my child,'” she said. “It [overdose] does not discriminate. It hits all walks of life. Education is a must. We need to get the word out. Tough love does not work. It doesn’tmean you are enabling them. So be there for your kid.”
Mary Beth likewise wants other people to know the potential harm of opioids, and she wants other people to take the opioid addiction crisis seriously.
“Addiction is a disease,” she said. “A treatable disease. There is help out there. Stop the stigma behind opioid use disorder. The worst thing you can go through is losing a child like this because you are left with a stigma like this, but we want to let people know they are not alone.”
To learn more about Ryan’s Ride and The FRom Project, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/thefromproject/
