Auburndale Community Church Hosted Fourth Annual Trunk Or Treat

Auburndale

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October 26, 2018

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Auburndale Community Church Hosted Fourth Annual Trunk Or Treat

by James Coulter

Most people have a hard time deciding what they want to dress up as for Halloween every year. Kathy Hoover from Winter Haven always knows what her costume is going to be, because it’s always the same each and every year.

For the past four years, she has been dressing up as Noah’s wife and decorating the back of her car to look like Noah’s ark for the annual trunk or treat event at Auburndale Community Church (ACC).

Every year, she places a cardboard cutout of the ark in the trunk of her van and sets up a plank along which marches two of every stuffed animal.

As a member of the church for the past 10 years, she has been attending its trunk or treat event every year that it has been hosting the event.

“The kids keep us coming back time and again,” she said. “[I] tell them about Noah’s Ark and give them candy and see all these cute kids in costume.”

For the past four years since she started attending the event, she has seen it grow each and every year, and she expects it to continue doing so for as long as she plans to continue attending.

“It will only get bigger, because people talk about it and how much fun it is,” she said.

This year’s ACC Trunk or Treat was hosted on Wednesday. Hundreds of children and their parents dressed in their Halloween costumes lined up around the church for a chance get candy, and enjoy other activities.

More than a dozen cars lined up alongside the church, with the owners decorating the back of their cars and sitting behind them to pass out candy to the children.

Bob Caszatt, an Auburndale resident, learned about the event through his friends who attend the church. He currently attends another church in town.

For his first year at the event, he decided to decorate the back of his car like an old time matinee with skeletons and other spooks set up next to a film projector and a “zombie buffet.”

“[My car] is almost like a monster mobile, so I do it all up with skulls and stuff,” he said.

With the a ticket, participants were also able to obtain a free hot dog, soft drink, and popcorn.

Other activities that evening included a bounce house, several carnival games, and arts and craft opportunities including Halloween mask-making.

The annual Halloween event has been hosted at the church’s new location for the past four years, and each and every year has seen it grow bigger and better, explained Pastor Brad Bennett.

“We had some folks in the church that thought it was a good idea,” he said. “The way that we do things here, if somebody has an idea, that is what we do. It is an opportunity to outreach.”

Most of the turnout each and every year is due to their promotion on social media. Their Facebook event received more than 1.5 thousand responses saying people would be interested in attending, with more than 300 reporting that they attended.

Pastor Bennett expects the event to continue going and growing in coming years. As the turnout continues to grow, hopefully so too will the event, he said.

“I just enjoy being around the people and ministering in any way that we can,” he said. “That has put a smile on our faces and being able to do something with kids in a positive way…We have plenty of property, so as it grows, we will grow with it.”

Hundreds Of Local Children Took Flight At Florida Air Museum

Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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October 26, 2018

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Hundreds Of Local Children Took Flight At Florida Air Museum

by James Coulter

Nearly 200 children had the opportunity to hop within the co-pilot seat of an airplane to fly alongside a pilot into the wild blue yonder above Lakeland on Saturday.

More than 200 children between the ages of 8 and 17 years old registered for the chance to take part in a Young Eagle First Flight, allowing them to take a personal flight with a trained pilot.

These flights were provided as part of the US Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Program, which, according to Wikipedia, is “designed to give children between the ages of 8 to 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane while educating them about aviation.”

From all across the county and even the state, children and their legal guardians flocked to the air museum that Saturday for the opportunity to fly alongside a pilot on one of these personal flights.

Ron Cantrell brought along three young boys from Tampa, two of whom are under his legal guardianship, and one of their friends, for this chance to enjoy the local air museum and to participate within these flights.

The overall event more than met his expectations, as one of the boys he took along was able to go on a flight. He recommends the overall experience to anyone who has never been before.

“I found out about this yesterday on the website, so I brought them out to have them learn about airplanes and possibly get a ride,” he said. “I thought it was very nice and I hope that they do this more often.”

These flights were one of many activities offered during the museum’s Aerospace Discovery Day on Saturday, allowing attendees to peruse the museum’s facilities and engage with various aerospace and STEM-related activities.

Aside from the chance to fly within an airplane, attendees could also go on a scavenger hunt using drones, spot different celestial objects within the planetarium, and overall tour the museum for free.

Young children had the opportunity to learn more about aviation through various hands-on activities, from building their own model planes and wind socks to launching bottle rockets and even taking a ride within an airplane simulator.

Other activities that day included bounce houses, dodgeball, rock climbing, and several food trucks and vendors from local eateries including Chik-Fil-A.

This is one of many events hosted by the museum to not only attract potential museumgoers to the facility, but also help spark an interest in aviation and aerospace in young children.

“It has been great,” explained Richelle Floyd, Educational Director. “I enjoy seeing how excited the kids are.”

Recent studies have shown an overall decline within the aviation industry. As such, events such as this are vital to help spur an interest for the next generation of pilots, mechanics, and engineers.

“I think it is an excellent opportunity for the children of our community to come on out and discover the different aspects of aviation,” said Jeannie Schneider, Administrative Assistant. “I think the children of today need to realize that there are so many aspects of aviation community and aviation as a career that affects the gas it puts in their car to the food that is on their tables and the engineering that goes into rockets.”

Bomb Threat Hoax & Box Of Electronic’s Trash Cause Stir In The City Of Bartow Thursday

Bartow

Staff Reporter

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October 26, 2018

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Bomb Threat Hoax & Box Of Electronic’s Trash Cause Stir In The City Of Bartow Thursday

Bartow Police Department Press Release

At approximately 6:30pm, Bartow Police Officers responded to the Polk County Courthouse in reference to a suspicious device. During the initial investigation, the device was observed and believed to be suspicious in nature by responding officers. The initial call was reported by security at the Courthouse. The device was located outside of the courthouse by the east side entrance.

After determining the device was suspicious, the immediate area was secured by Bartow Police and Fire staff. All people remaining in the courthouse were evacuated. Our partners at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded with bomb detection dogs and perimeter officers to assist. The Tampa Bomb Squad was notified and they responded to investigate.

Utilizing a robot, the Tampa Bomb Squad Officers ascertained the suspicious device was discarded electronics trash. It was not an explosive device. The scene was released and normal activity resumed.

It should be noted that earlier in the day, the Bartow Police Department did receive a phoned in bomb threat for the Police Department. This occurred at approximately 1:30pm. This was determined to be a hoax and not credible.

This is an ongoing investigation.

We would like to thank the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Tampa Police Department for their assistance.

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Polk County

Staff Reporter

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October 25, 2018

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HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

Walk Safely

Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Trick or Treat With an Adult

Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe

Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.

Check It All Out

Before you let your kids dive in, dump the entire candy bag out and inspect it all. Throw out any packages that look like they’ve been opened and any homemade or repackaged goods.

Have a fun and safe Halloween!!!

Haunted Halloween Hayride Makes Epic Comeback After Hurricane Hiatus

Staff Reporter

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October 25, 2018

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Haunted Halloween Hayride Makes Epic Comeback After Hurricane Hiatus

by James Coulter

After being canceled last year due to Hurricane Irma, Haunted Halloween Hayride & Happenings made an epic return to Loyce E. Harpe Park in Mulberry last Saturday evening.

Thousands of attendees, including children and their legal guardians, most of them dressed in colorful costumes, entered the park that evening to partake in various Halloween activities.

The highlight attraction was the titular haunted Halloween hayride and walking trail. With the purchase of a wristband, guests were transported deep into the woods to brave a trail of happy haunts.

This year’s theme of “Twisted Fairy Tales” included dozens of scenes based off of classic children’s stories like “Beauty and The Beast”, “Snow White”, and “Alice in Wonderland” with a creepy and often bloody twist.

More than 50 high school drama students attended that evening to play the part of the twisted fairy tale characters. Their participation that evening allowed them to earn academic hours, explained Jaime Vance, Recreational Coordinator for Polk County Parks & Recreation.

The rest of the park provided much more family-friendly activities for children of all ages. The other big attraction included the Trick or Treat Village, where children could receive candy from more than a dozen vendors run by local organizations.

Other activities that evening included more than two dozen carnival games, an obstacle course, pumpkin patch, maze, climbing wall, bounce houses, and even a paintball field.

Even within the very first hour of operation, the event received a massive turnout, with the first parking lot being filled to capacity and the hayride tickets nearly selling out, Vance said.

The high turnout this year was most likely due to the event’s absence last year because Hurricane Irma forced it to be canceled, Vance explained.

Prior to that, the annual event attracted more than 4,500 attendees in 2016, and most likely exceeded that with approximately 5,000 guests this year, Vance estimated.

Lance Meachum, Battalion Chief for Polk County Fire Rescue, and his team participated by displaying several fire and rescue vehicles (most of which had to be dispatched due to emergency calls that evening) and a fire safety demonstration model house.

Meachum loves to participate in event such as this, not only to help teach children about fire safety, but also to help them have a great fun time.

“I love to see the kids happy, to see a smile on their faces,” he said. “It is a great turnout, the kids are having a great time, and that is the thing that we are here for.”

Johnny White, Owner of Texas Roadhouse, was one of several local eateries, including Papa John’s and Kona Ice, that helped provide food that evening.

Normally, he and his team help pass out candy in the Trick or Treat Village, but they were requested to help provide food as a vendor that evening, he said.

“We enjoy it,” he said. “We like it out here. We love seeing everybody, a lot of people around town. It looks pretty busy, so it is meeting expectations for sure.”

Jesilynn Pfeffer, Outreach Coordinator for the PACE Center for Girls, was one of several vendors helping to pass out candy within the village while also using that opportunity to share her organization’s mission.

This was her first time attending the event. She loved the opportunity to talk about her organization, as well as to see young children enjoying themselves with Halloween fun.

“Everyone is excited and kind, and I would like to do this again next year,” she said. “So it is nice to be out here to brand about PACE. Even if we only have two seconds to give them something, it is still something with their name on it, so it helps more girls.”

Winter Haven Man Arrested For Alleged Armed Attempted Rape & Drugging Of Woman

Winter Haven

Staff Reporter

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October 25, 2018

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Winter Haven Man Arrested For Alleged Armed Attempted Rape & Drugging Of Woman

Winter Haven, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Winter Haven man, Thursday October 18, 2018, who is accused of armed attempted rape & drugging of woman.

Timothy Kriston, DOB:11/13/1968, faces Poss of Firearm By Convicted Felon, Attempted Sex Battery w Deadly Weapon, Aggravated Battery Cause Bodily Harm/Disability, Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon Without Intent, Armed False Imprisonment, and Use/Display Firearm During a Felony.

According to the arrest affidavit the incident happened on 10/15/2018. According to the report Kriston accompanied a female friend to a residence, which the victim was at. The female friend of Kriston’s left to get food and that is when the alleged attack occurred.

According to the affidavit after the female friend left Kriston asked the victim if she had ever been with someone older like him. The victim felt uncomfortable with the comment and began to leave the room. Kriston told her to sit down and lifted his shirt showing the victim a gun. The victim feared that Kriston would shoot her. According to the report Kriston then injected himself with something from a syringe. According to the affidavit Kriston then allegedly put a needle to the victims arm. The victim was allegedly given a choice to either take the needle or some crystal from a bag, while pointing to his gun. The victim chose the crystal from the bag, thinking it would be a slower reaction and she still had a chance of escaping. According to the affidavit the victim thought he would put it in her hand, but he allegedly shoved it into her mouth. The crystal substance started to burn the victims mouth and some fell out. The suspect allegedly shoved more into the victims mouth. Kriston then allegedly started touching the victim inappropriately. According to the affidavit the victim was struggling with Kriston. Moments later the female friend returned and the victim cried out to her. Kriston allegedly stopped attacking the victim at this time. The victim allegedly collapsed and crawled to called for help. Kriston and the female friend exited the residence together. The victim was taken to the hospital and advised that she had been given methamphetamine. The victim denied ever taking the substance before. Pictures of the victims allegedly burned tongue were taken as evidence.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kriston on October 18, 2018. He was provided a $45,000 bond and is awaiting his next court hearing. Kriston is a convicted felon who has been arrested 19 times in Polk County since 1997.

Winter Haven Police Seeking Missing Man – Have you seen Chesere Stephon Bell

Winter Haven

Staff Reporter

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October 24, 2018

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Winter Haven Police Seeking Missing Man – Have you seen Chesere Stephon Bell

We need your help to assure that Chesere Stephon Bell, Jr. is safe. He was last seen on October 21, 2018. Chesere is 5’7, and weighs 160 lbs. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants, black slides and a black hat and was traveling on foot.

If you have any information on the location of Mr. Bell, please contact Detective Nguyen of the Winter Haven Police Department at 863-224-2856, or the on-duty Investigative Services Bureau Supervisor.

Winter Haven Police Seeking Missing Person – Shelly Yeary Or Goes By Shelly Camp

Winter Haven

Staff Reporter

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October 24, 2018

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Winter Haven Police Seeking Missing Person – Shelly Yeary Or Goes By Shelly Camp

Winter Haven Police Department Press Release

Assistance is requested in locating Shelly Yeary, who also goes by the name Shelly Camp. She was last seen on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at approximately 4:30 a.m. in Lakeland. She was driving a 4-door gray 2004 Nissan Altima with tag #140-
RAD.

Shelly is 5’10, 280 lbs, black hair and blue eyes. We just need to confirm that she is safe. If you have any information about the location of Shelly, please call Detective Cooper at the Winter Haven Police Department 863-291-5312.

Suspicious Vehicle Call Leads To The Arrest of Two Kentucky Men For Fraud In Lakeland

Staff Reporter

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October 24, 2018

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Suspicious Vehicle Call Leads To The Arrest of Two Kentucky Men For Fraud In Lakeland

PCSO Release:

A report of a suspicious vehicle in the Groveglen Subdivision on Lakeland Highlands Road in Lakeland on Tuesday morning, October 23, 2018, led to the arrest of two men involved in a scam of an elderly resident for thousands of dollars, and had traveled from Kentucky to get more money from him.

The two men who were arrested were 50-year-old Timothy Dalton of 3637 Slate Branch Road in Somerset, Kentucky, and 48-year-old Denton Phelps of 547 West Journey’s End Road in Stearns, Kentucky.

The call came in at about 8:57 a.m., and the caller said that the painted-over former ambulance had out-of-state tags on it, and was driving slowly through the neighborhood.

Deputies quickly located the vehicle on Groveglen Lane South, and made contact with the two men inside.

During the investigation, it was learned that a 70-year-old resident of the neighborhood had been scammed over the phone and the two men in the truck had traveled here to attempt to get more money from him.

The victim told detectives that contact was initially made via Facebook , and transitioned to telephone. He said he spoke with a woman who told him that he had won a million dollars and a new Mercedes Benz, but to claim it, he would have to send a deposit. He said he eventually sent about $17,000, thinking it was to cover taxes on the prize money. Once the victim realized he had been scammed, he changed his phone number.

According to the arrest affidavits, Dalton made contact with the victim at his front door, and handed the victim a cellphone for him to speak to someone who tried to convince him that he needed to pay $2,500 more to complete the process. The victim refused to pay more.

Phelps told the detective that he knew Dalton was conducting “some kind of scam” but said he was only getting paid to drive to Florida to deliver a message.

Detectives believe there may be more victims, and the investigation is ongoing.

“It’s always sad to hear that an elderly member of our community has been scammed out of their savings. Thanks to an alert person who saw something suspicious, and said something to us, we were able to arrest a pair of criminals.”- Grady Judd, Sheriff

Dalton was arrested and charged with Scheme to Defraud (F-3) and Grand Theft from a Person 65 or Older (F-3). Phelps was arrested and charged withGrand Theft from a Person 65 or Older (F-3).

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office recommends that you never share personal information with someone over the phone or internet without knowing for certain with whom you are interacting. Also, you will never be required to send money to receive a legitimate prize. If paying money is required, it’s a scam.

Local 16-Year-Old Forcefully Removed from Restaurant At Universal Studios While Celebrating His Birthday

Uncategorized

Staff Reporter

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October 24, 2018

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16-Year-Old Forcefully Removed from Restaurant At Universal Studios While Celebrating His Birthday

by James Coulter

The son of a local pastor wanted to celebrate his 16th birthday by spending it at Universal Studios Florida, but ended up spending it at the emergency room instead following an altercation at one of the park’s restaurants.

A short Facebook video of the altercation shows the young man, Jermaine Shepherd, Jr., being forcibly dragged and shoved out of Mel’s Drive-In allegedly by the restaurant’s manager.

The video, posted on Saturday by his father, Jermaine Shepherd, Sr., pastor of City of Grace in Orlando and Lake Wales, has since gone viral, receiving more than eleven thousand views, 200 shares, and nearly 100 comments since being posted early Saturday morning.

“People wonder why our young black men are angry,” one comment read. “They are the most disrespected people on the planet. This makes me so angry I will never go there ever.”

The evening of the incident started innocently enough, as Shepherd Jr. decided to spend his 16th birthday on Friday with at least five of his friends at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando.

He met his friends at Mel’s Drive-In around midnight. Upon entering the restaurant, he was greeted with them singing “Happy Birthday”, he said.

Their small celebration caught the attention of the restaurant’s manager, who allegedly approached them, yelled at them to keep quiet, and even ordered one of the young men to leave the facility, Shepherd, Jr., said.

“He tried to kick someone else out of the store because he was singing happy birthday to me,” Shepherd, Jr. said. “So I stood up and asked him why he was kicking him out if he was only singing happy birthday to me. And he said because he can.”

The manager then ordered Shepherd, Jr. to leave. Shepherd, Jr. refused, insisting that he did nothing wrong, and sat down anyway, he said.

“At that moment, he grabbed my son’s shirt by the arm and physically began to push and sling him around to get him out of the restaurant,” Shepherd, Sr. said. “In the process of getting them from the table to the door, my son was hit against chairs and tables…as this man was physically throwing him out of the cafe.”

Shepherd, Jr. mentioned how he was pushed out of the restaurant and pushed several hundred feet further across the street and against a rail or fence.

Despite his pleas, the manager kept pushing him until several park security officers approached and yelled at him multiple times to let him go, Shepherd, Jr. said.

Shepherd, Jr. was escorted away by the security officers to their office, where he filled out a police report and waited for his father to arrive.

His father later transported him to the hospital, as he had complained about pain in his back, neck, shoulder, and ankle, which he had allegedly twisted during the altercation, he said.

After an examination and x-ray, Shepherd Jr. was prescribed painkiller medication to help alleviate his pain, Shepherd, Sr. said.

Several hours after posting the video of the altercation to Facebook, his father posted a photo of him within the emergency room.

“What a way to spend his 16th Birthday,” Shepherd, Sr. wrote. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect my son but I’m not gonna [sic] let this slide!”

When Shepherd, Sr. met his son at the park to pick him up, he told the park’s investigator that he did not appreciate the way his son was treated by the restaurant’s manager.

“I told him that it would not fly well with me, and he said it does not fly well with them either because they don’t condone touching,” Shepherd, Sr. said.

His father attests to his son’s overall good character. He claims his son is a devout Christian, a good student, and a junior deacon within their church. As such, he is not someone who would otherwise be involved in a violent incident such as this, he said.

Shepherd, Sr. is currently pursuing to press charges and is set to meet with a lawyer for legal consultation on Thursday.

“The police confirmed that it was a crime for this man to physically assault my son who is 16-years-old without bothering everybody, just trying to have fun with his friends for his birthday,” he said.

As for Shepherd, Jr., while he loves visiting Universal Studios and will continue to visit the theme park in the near future, he has no plans to return to the restaurant as long as the manager who allegedly assaulted him continues to work there.

“I would say discrimination needs to stop,” he said. “I always hear about this, and the fact that it happened to me, it was huge. It is crazy.”

The Daily Ridge attempted to contact Mel’s Drive-In directly, but were directed to Universal Studios Florida. The Orlando Police Department and Universal Studios Florida have been contacted for comment. Neither have yet responded to our requests.

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