A Winter Haven man is facing third-degree felony charges after his temper got the best of him and he pointed a gun at another vehicle.

On February 27, 2024 at approximately 4:35 p.m., 27 year-old Brandon Williams (DOB 6-30-96, LNA 732 7th St NE, Winter Haven) was pulling into the Burger King parking lot, located at 205 Cypress Gardens Blvd. in Winter Haven. As he pulled his white Dodge Durango into the parking area, another vehicle occupied by a male and female, was backing out of a parking spot. 

Williams honked his horn and the driver of the other vehicle started pulling away. Williams began yelling at the couple in the vehicle and pulled up beside them pointing a gun directly at them. Williams then proceeded to the drive-thru lane and the victims contacted law enforcement.

The victims stayed on the line with dispatchers until Williams left the drive-thru. The victims reported the direction of travel and responding officers located a vehicle matching the description of Williams’ Durango in the area of the Murphy Gas Station on Hwy 17 across from Lowes at Citi Center.

A lawful traffic stop was conducted and Williams was detained without incident. A firearm matching the description given by the victims was located in the center console of the Durango. Williams was identified as the suspect who was at Burger King and who pointed the gun at the victims.

Williams was booked into the Polk County Jail for two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon W/O (F3).

A mom and her four-year-old daughter are safe thanks to the quick response from Winter Haven Firefighters at an early-morning fire.

On February 28, 2024 at approximately 1:25 a.m., members from the Winter Haven Fire Department and Winter Haven Police responded to a fire located at 108 11th St SE after a neighbor called in seeing flames from the residence.

Responding firefighters and officers attempted to rouse anyone inside of the house, to no avail. The fire was shooting through the roof at the back of the house. Winter Haven Firefighters breached the front door and heavy smoke billowed out of the structure. Firefighters located the mother just inside of an interior door disoriented and obviously confused and unaware of the fire. The mother and her four-year-old daughter had been asleep in the front part of the house. 

When told the home was on fire, the mother immediately screamed about her daughter and ran back into the house to get her daughter. Firefighters ran after her and were quickly able to get to the mother and daughter. There was extreme low visibility due to the heavy smoke as firefighters quickly brought the mother and daughter to safety. They were both checked out by EMS personnel on scene and neither were injured or required any medical attention. 

Firefighters extinguished the flames, which were contained to the back of the house. There were no injuries to any firefighters or officers.

The mother and daughter will be staying with family members and Red Cross has been notified for additional assistance. A cause has not been determined at this time and the fire is still under investigation.

“Our highly-trained firefighters ran into an extremely dangerous situation to rescue this mother and daughter and, no doubt, saved their lives,” said Fire Chief Sonny Emery. “I applaud the neighbor for the immediate call at the early-morning hour when most people are asleep.”

Join us for a “shamrock-in” day with our St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Tanners Lakeside!

Sunday, March 17

Corned beef and cabbage buffet from 4-9.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will host a Firearms Safety Course/Concealed Weapons Class on Saturday, March 9th, from 8:00 am – Noon.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW for March 9th – CALL 863-298-6242.

If registration for the class fills up, a second afternoon class will be added for 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

Cost of the class is $45; proceeds go to Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., and the cost is non-refundable.

This class fulfills the requirements by the FL Department of Agriculture need to obtain a concealed weapons permit. Even though permitless-carry in Florida went into effect on July 1st, there are still benefits to having a permit (reciprocity in states which don’t allow for concealed carry without a permit, and permit holders are exempt from the 3-day waiting period when purchasing new firearms).

Any questions about the CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, please call Sergeant Bennett or Sergeant Caratsole at the PCSO Training Section at 863-534-7200, during normal office hours.

YOU MUST CALL 863-298-6242, during normal business hours (Mon-Fri, 8-5) to reserve your seat. When you call, you will be given further instruction about where to go for the training.*

*we will have handguns available for the hands-on portion of the course, but we prefer you bring your own if possible.

PCSO

CWPclass #ConcealedWeaponsPermit

PewPewPew

Your2ndAmendmentRight

HelpingPeopleBeResponsibleGunOwners

GreatForReciprocityInOtherStates

Winter Haven Boat Show Showed Off Dozens of Pontoons and More

by James Coulter

What good is living on the Chain of Lakes if you don’t have a good boat to explore and enjoy the Chain of Lakes? Fortunately, the Winter Haven Boat Show showed off plenty of boats for locals to purchase.

Nearly 100 boats new and used were showcased in the parking lot of Publix along Cypress Garden Boulevard across from Legoland in Winter Haven last weekend.

Attendees could peruse various top model boats including pontoons, Sweet Water, Hurricane deck boats, and Crestliner aluminum boats.

All vessels were provided by Home Marine Supply in Winter Haven, which has been the local go-to store for boats, boat supplies, and even boat repairs for more than 70 years.

“The turnout has been good with beautiful weather, lots of people coming out, and we sold several boats,” said Kent Darling, Sales Manager with Home Marine Supply. “We still have a lot of people here today cruising around. We will be here tomorrow.”

Darling owes the success of boat shows such as that hosted last weekend to the overall enthusiasm of the local community to get out onto the water, especially with the weather getting warmer and COVID-19 numbers going down.

“The people out here are great in Florida,” he said. “They love to boat, they love to get outside, and do water activities. We are happy to get them into a boat to do it…It has been a lot of great people coming out and looking at new boats and used boats, and getting out there. They are getting over that whole Covid thing and getting out and starting to have fun again.”

Heads up! The Auburndale Police Department wants to alert everyone about circulating counterfeit money. Recently, there have been incidences involving “Motion Picture” currency, so be extra cautious.

Here’s a quick reminder to stay vigilant when handling cash. If your bills have “MOTION PICTURE USE ONLY” on them, they’re not legal tender. To be safe, consider using money markers – they’re affordable and available online.

If you come across any counterfeit money, reach out to us at Auburndale Police Department. Remember, our lobby is always open if you need a safe meeting spot. Let’s keep our community informed and secure!

Check out this link provided by US Secret Service for a better understanding of current United States currency:

KnowYourMoney.pdf (secretservice.gov)

OBITUARY OF GERALD MCCANN

Gerald Paul McCann, Jr., 68, of Haines City, FL, passed away on February 21, 2024, at AdventHealth Heart of Florida. Born on January 9, 1956, in Dover, Delaware, to Gerald Paul Sr. and Shirley Dianne Barr McCann.

Gerald proudly served his country for 20 years in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of ENC. His dedication was reflected in numerous decorations, including the Good Conduct Medal with 3 Stars, the National Defense Service Medal with 1 Star, the Navy Commendation Medal with 1 Star, the Navy Achievement Medal with 1 Star, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal with 1 Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Battle “E” Ribbon.

After his honorable service, Gerald relocated to Florida in 2005 from California. He became a member of the Manantial de Bendición Church in Haines City, FL, and contributed his skills as an engineer at Lakeland Regional Hospital for 10 years. Later, he joined AutoZone as a customer service representative, retiring in February 2023.

Gerald found joy when he had his own encounter with God. He believed that he was chosen because when he was 6 weeks old, about to die due to a valve in his stomach that was closed, the doctor said that he would have died if his parents had waited one more day.

During his life, God has saved him many times. Beginning the list with his 4 heart attacks where doctors said they did not know how he made it off the table and why he lived. In addition to that, on his second of five strokes, doctors said he was going to be a drooler until he died but he was not.

On his first motorcycle accident, the driver hit him and ran him off the road. His bike was stuck in a ditch, when he got up, a dump truck driver got out of his truck to help him get back on the road. This man was big and told Gerald, God loves him! He rode 78 miles sore and on a broken bike.

He did not know about Jesus Christ but in the process of getting to know God’s purpose in his life, he knew his health was declining. His kidneys, heart and diabetes were not helping.

He also thanked God and prayed everyday for his son Jerry and his daughter Melissa, he wanted to share his new life and joy that he was living. Gerald was grateful for his sister Joy and Jack for helping him finish his Navy years. He always mentioned Joy, James, Julie, Ginger and Gayle, Melissa, Gerald, Isabelle, Joseph, and his grandson Gerald in his prayers, always asking God for his blessings.

Gerald knew where he was going knowing God, his saying was, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

He is preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Jay McCann and Julie Nastoga. Gerald leave behind to cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Nancy McCann; son, Gerald Paul (Vanessa) McCann, III of Woodlawn Park, CO; daughter, Melissa Snyder of Peoria, AZ; siblings, Joy McNally, James McCann, Ginger McCann and Gayle McCann; grandchildren, Isabelle Snyder, Joseph Snyder, and Gerald Paul McCann IV. He will be remembered as a devoted family man, a proud veteran, and a friendly soul who touched the lives of those around him.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.

St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church Celebrates Annual Greek Festival for 40 Years Strong

by James Coulter

Unless you’re of Greek heritage, chances are you’ve never heard of the word “philotimia.” It’s a Greek word that translates to “love of honor.” However, as another website explains, the word encompasses “an attitude toward fellow humans and humanity at large.”

For more than 40 years, St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church has been sharing “philotimia” with the surrounding Winter Haven community by sharing its culture and heritage through its annual Greek Festival.

“We have vendors from across the country and even Greece,” said Tina Thomas, President of the Parish Council. “People have been raving about our food and pastries. People came back today, and they are coming back tomorrow, they tell us.”

The church once more hosted its annual Greek festival last weekend, where it served authentic Greek food, performed traditional Greek music and dance, and hosted tours of its Greek Orthodox Church building.

Thomas and her dedicated committee members worked hard all year to organize and plan the festival. Not only does the event allow them to share their Greek culture and heritage with fellow parishioners, but also with the surrounding community.

Her church has been involved with charitable work and donations, which help serve as their outreach. They offer plenty of food, clothes, and other donations throughout the year. It is their way of expressing their own “philotimia.”

“We love it. We live for it,” she said. “We as Greek people are very philanthropic and generous and we always reach out to our American non-Greek people. We want them to come to our church and festivals. We want them to be Greek for the weekend. Especially over the last two years, we had so many people convert. We share our love and faith for people and reach out to people.”

Sheriff Grady Judd Enjoys Jeepin with Judd for 10th Annual Event

by James Coulter

There’s nothing Sheriff Grady Judd loves more than working hard to serve and protect his community. However, he managed to take time out of his busy schedule last weekend to go Jeep riding in Bartow.

For the past decade, Jeepin with Judd has not only allowed local Jeep owners an opportunity to go off-road riding on 1.5 acres of rugged Florida wilderness but also raise proceeds for Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., the charitable arm of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization, does everything from providing Christmas gifts for needy children to allowing previously incarcerated women to transition back to a free life to assisting other local charities like Hope Equine Rescue, which cares for horses that have been abused, neglected, or abused.

“We have a philosophy that no child wakes up on Christmas morning without a Christmas presents, [and] we want people to have a big dinner with their family on Thanksgiving,” Sheriff Judd said. “So when a deputy sees someone who is down and out, then they report that to our charity and we help them out.”

Sheriff Judd, along with hundreds of other Jeep owners and enthusiasts, had the opportunity last weekend to ride one of the many trails in the 1.5 acres of land at Clear Springs Ranch in Bartow.

“I did the gator trail a few minutes ago. It was awesome,” he said. “It went uphill and downhill and through mudholes and it was a rush. So, if you have a Jeep and you are not here. You are just not cool.”

Aside from trail riding, the event also allowed attendees to peruse vendors and food trucks and show off their vehicles. There was even a mini-Jeep trail for toy Jeeps that little children could ride.

“I enjoy the people,” Sheriff Judd said. “There are hundreds of people from the Sheriff’s Office volunteering their time. But I love the people the most. I like to ride the trails, and I really appreciate our veterans who come here every year. If it weren’t for the community, we would not be able to raise money for the charities and the charities would not be able to help people.”

Sheriff Judd commended Clear Springs Ranch for facilitating the annual fundraiser, and Orlando Jeep Club for putting in thousands of volunteer hours helping set up for the event.

“As a result, we raise a lot of money for our charity, and then we will that those proceeds and help those less fortunate in the community,” he said. “It has exceeded our expectations. Our goal was to make sure that we have enough trails that people rode trails rather than waited in line for this year.”

This Local Business Owner Worked in EMS for 36 Years. He Knew How Important Buying an AED for His Business Was.

by James Coulter

Joe Garrison knows how important an automated external defibrillator (AED) can be in an emergency. He worked as a firefighter and EMT for 36 years. He also lost a fellow paramedic and close friend to cardiac arrest.

As such, Garrison not only had his employees take a CPR and first aid class, but he also purchased an AED for his business from a local organization dedicated to promoting heart health.

On Thursday evening, Melanie Brown Culpepper and her volunteers from Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation provided and installed an AED at Garrison Property Services in Dundee.

Garrison had purchased the AED from Melanie. As someone with extensive experience in EMS, he understood the importance of having an emergency device like that in case such an emergency arises.

“Melanie does an awesome job promoting [public safety] so we certainly wanted to buy from her, and hopefully other companies will,” he said. “I can tell you from experience, being a firefighter and EMT for 36 years, they do work, and you never know when that time is coming and you need to be ready when it comes.”

Melanie Brown Culpepper started her non-profit organization three years ago following the untimely passing of her late fiancée, Michael Culpepper, who passed away from cardiac arrest.

Not wanting anyone else to suffer a similar fate, she started Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation and has donated more than 30 AEDs to local businesses and establishments across Polk County.

Her most recent donation, aside from Garrison’s Properties, was at Barrel 239 in Winter Haven. She plans on donating another AED to the Historic Ritz Theater in Winter Haven next week.

Melanie was inspired by Garrison’s background as a firefighter and EMT, as well as his dedication to requiring his employees to receive emergency training like first aid and CPR.

“I am just glad he was able to give back to the Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, and also share his story,” she said. “I will continue to keep raising funds and anything I can do to raise awareness.”

For more information about Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, visit their Facebook page at:https://www.facebook.com/honoringculpepper