Obituary of Alvin Lamar Garrett

ALVIN L. GARRETT, age 90, passed away unexpectedly on January 26, 2024 from heart failure. He was born in Pahokee, Florida on July 10, 1933, to Birdie (nee Conley) and Clyde Garrett. He graduated from Belle Glade (FL) High School in 1951. In 1953, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea, in the Army Security Agency, and was honorably discharged four years later at the rank of Sergeant. He and his wife, Ilene, lived many years in Lake Alfred, FL, before “retiring” to Winter Haven. They spent many years traveling in their motorhome seeing the country, visiting with old friends, and attending Korean War and Army Security Agency (ASA KOREA) reunions. He faithfully maintained his motorhome hoping to take at least one more trip.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 40-years, Ilene J. Garrett, and his son Michael A. Garrett (first marriage). He is survived by his daughter Matty L. Garrett, Tucker, GA, and stepdaughters Kathy Carr (Larry), St. Mary, WV, and Sandra Messer (Buddy), Huntsville, AL. He is survived by his grandchildren Christopher, Stephanie, Ryan and Kathleen and by 6 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his half-brothers Tim Garrett and Jack Garrett.

Funeral Services will be held at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL, February 2, 2024 at 11:30 a.m..  In recognition of his military service, this will be a Military Funeral with Honors.  

Boil Water Notice for Thornhill Road Area

Bartow, Fla. (February 1, 2024) — Polk County Utilities is issuing a Department of Health required precautionary boil water notice due to a main break for customers located on Thornhill Road and surrounding area within the Central Region public water system. This affects about 440 customers due to low pressure from a water main break.

As a precaution, we advise that all water users drink bottled water and/or boil water to a rolling boil for at least one minute for cooking and drinking.

This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until ongoing water sampling analysis is completed. Polk County Utilities will issue notice rescinding this precautionary measure once satisfactory results have been confirmed, which is normally after 48 hours.

As a further precaution, the water lines in your area have been flushed.

For more information regarding this notice, you may contact customer service at (863) 298-4100 or Erica Sparks at (863) 344-2587.

UPDATE
Bunny mail registration officially closed

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=tpwxfkcab&oeidk=a07ek8ceb9w7df0dac5

It’s February, and Polk County Parks and Recreation is gearing up for Bunny Mail on Monday, Feb. 5!

Polk County Parks and Recreation will be mailing out notes from the Easter Bunny and friends. We will post a registration link to our Facebook page at 8 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 5. Registration is free, but will be limited to 1,000 registrations.

Each household can register once with up to three children’s names. This program is meant for children up to the age of 12 years old.

For more information, please call (863) 534-6911

Winter Haven Public Safety Department

Officer Recognized For Saving Drowning Child

Master Officer Alex Collazo was awarded the Distinguished Service Award at the recent Polk County Police Chiefs Association Annual Awards Banquet for his quick response to a call involving a child that was drowning.
When Officer Collazo arrived on scene, he saw the child struggling and going under water in a local lake. The child was quickly drifting farther away from the shore. With bravery above the call of duty, Officer Collazo jumped into the water and quickly retrieved the child bringing the young victim to safety and immediately started life-saving measures until medics arrived.
Undoubtedly, without the quick response of Officer Collazo, the outcome for this young child could have been much worse.
Way To Go Officer Collazo!!!

Auburndale Police Department release-

ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY:

On 1/12/2024, at approximately 5:29 A.M., a theft occurred at Dwight H. Pate dentist office located at 306 Pilaklakaha Ave, Auburndale. The unknown suspect approached the front of the business and removed the multilayer topiary-style bush from the planter that was at the business entrance.

Suspect – White or Hispanic female with purple pigtails, white shirt, black jacket, light capri style jeans, white socks, sandals/slides, and a pink heart cross body purse. The suspect may also have a tattoo on her lower left le

If you have any information, please contact Detective Seymour at 863-965-5555 or by email [email protected].

On January 23, 2024 Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested Michael Bays , DOB: 09/13/1965 and charged him with attempted felony murder. The charges stem from an incident in the Cypress Wood Community.

According to the arrest affidavit Bays became upset with the victim, who was on motorcycle, while they were on the roadway inside the Cypress Wood Community. Bay reportedly followed the victim home. Bay confronted the victim in a threatening manner at the victims home. This prompted the victim to threaten Bay saying he had a knife and Bay needed to leave. As Bay was leaving the victim took pictures of his tag and then trying to get a picture of Bays. Bays allegedly turned the wheel, of the truck, towards the victim knocking him down. Bays allegedly put the truck in reverse trying to run the victim over again, but he was able to roll out of the way. Bay eventually left the area.

The incident was witnessed by a neighbor and Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Bay and transported him to Polk County Jail.

Spirit of the Buffalo Pow-Wow Wows Crowd

By James Coulter

Katrina Fisher is part Plains and Creek Indian. For the past five years, she has been attending the annual Spirit of the Buffalo Pow-Wow in Auburndale to demonstrate her traditional indigenous practices.

Every year, she sets up her teepee, starts an open campfire, and showcases her quilts, fur pelts, and other indigenous tools and memorabilia. She discusses many aspects of her heritage, including the fur trade, cooking, and the Hudson Bay Company. She especially highlights the importance of women in those aspects of indigenous culture.

Aside from being able to share her culture, Fisher also enjoys the pow-wow because it gives her a chance to visit her children in Florida and escape the snow and cold from up north. She loves the overall sense of community the pow-wow provides.

“I have been coming here for the past four to five years,” she explained. “I am grateful to be here among other indigenous people where we are like a community here…I am proud of who we are, who I am, and what my family is. I love talking to people and sharing with them certain things. If they get something out of it, that is fine.”

The Spirit of the Buffalo Pow-Wow hosted its annual event last weekend and will be hosting it again this weekend at International Market World in Auburndale. For more than two decades, this annual pow-wow has drawn indigenous people from across the state, country, and even the world to share their culture and heritage. The event includes demonstrations, song and dance numbers, and vendor and food trucks.

Randy Endicott is from Battle Creek, Mich. He creates contemporary native artwork, mostly portraits and abstract artwork. He creates his art to help others learn more about indigenous culture and spirituality.

This year was his first attending Spirit of the Buffalo. He was invited by a close personal friend. He enjoyed being able to connect with other people, especially those of similar indigenous backgrounds.

“I love to be able to share my culture with others,” he said. “It is a meaningful thing for me, for myself and others to give them [a piece of myself.]”

Another vendor, a business called Sunka Beads, creates and sells bead artwork and other crafts inspired by native American culture. The couple involved, her husband is Taino, so most of their work is inspired by his side of the family.

“We have been here twice,” she said. “We decided to come back because we love it around here. We love the weather. Just what is in our minds, that is what inspires our artwork.”

Spirit of the Buffalo Pow Wow is being hosted between Fri. Feb. 2 and Sun. Feb. 4. The event is hosted at International Market World, located at 1052 US Hwy 92 W, Auburndale, FL 33823.

Two Winter Haven men were involved in a crash early Saturday morning, January 27, 2024; one of the men died, and the other fled the scene.

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and members of Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash on Cypress Gardens Boulevard at the north end of Old Helena Road in Winter Haven at around 12:25 am.

When first responders arrived, they found 26-year old Reuben Goss deceased.

Mr. Goss had been driving a 2007 black Suzuki motorcycle south on Cypress Gardens Boulevard when he was hit by a white GMC pickup truck that was northbound when it crossed in front of the Suzuki while attempting to turn onto Old Helena Road. 

Mr. Goss was wearing a helmet, but the force of the impact caused him to be ejected from the motorcycle.

PCSO deputies began investigating the crash and searching for the driver who fled from the scene in the truck.

The white GMC was found unoccupied and parked behind a local pub about 600-feet away.

The owner of the truck was identified as 38-year old Wayne Berry.

The investigation revealed that Berry parked his truck and went inside the pub, but he left on foot after employees refused him service because they felt he was “not right.” He walked over to a lounge on Cypress Gardens Road and left there a short time later after he got a ride from a friend. 

Berry was located by PCSO detectives at his residence and he was arrested and charged with DUI Manslaughter and Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death.

Berry has had one previous DUI arrest and several license suspensions.

“I pray for the family of Mr. Goss; their loss is immeasurable. We can’t bring him back, but the Traffic Homicide detectives tracked down the man responsible, and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that Mr. Goss’ family sees justice served.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The crash remains under investigation.

Obituary for Jeanette Oliver

Jeanette Oliver, 89, of Auburndale, Florida passed away January 25, 2024, at home surrounded by her family in Auburndale, Florida. She was born on January 21, 1935, in Houston County, Alabama to Earnest and Bernice (Lawrence) Parrish. Jeanette enjoyed sewing, shopping, cooking, gardening, camping, fishing, listening to George Jones, traveling, and spending time with her loved ones. Jeanette is survived by: her 3 children; Sheila Diane Bailey of Winter Haven, Florida, Terry Lynn Oliver (Tonya) of Polk City , Florida, and Melissa Ann Holman of Auburndale, Florida. 10 grandchildren; Heather, Tony, Brian, Garrett, Bailey, Clayton, Jerry, Flora, Blake, and Noah. 8 great grandchildren; Kien, Kai’a, Ivy, Chloe, Eve, Abby, Sam and Levi. She also leaves to cherish her memory many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband Thomas; daughter Pam and grandson Joshua; sister Katherine Parrish; brothers James L. Parrish and Sanford Parrish. Family and friends will be received at First Missionary Baptist Church on January 30, 2024, from 10:00AM – 11:00AM Funeral services will be at 11:00AM on January 30, 2024, at First Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor David Price/ Pastor David Gurgel officiating. Interment will be at Auburndale Memorial Park. Thank you for your support.

Gayle A. Nelson, age 87, of Haines City, Florida passed away on Friday, January 26, 2024. She was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on June 5, 1936.

Gayle performed many various jobs and tasks throughout their travel for her husband’s military assignments. Most importantly she was a devoted wife and mother of 3.

Gayle was predeceased by her loving husband Charles H. Nelson Jr. along with her parents Walter Barr and Dorothy Vickers Barr. She is survived by her daughter Donna Nelson of Haines City, FL, son Charles H. Nelson III and wife Gail of Pawleys Island, SC and daughter Lori Kelly of Stover, Missouri and sister Cynthia Ostrander and husband Irving of North Carolina. Gayle also leaves behind her grandchildren Jason, Tia, Kayla, Jarrett, Ileah, Chris, Stacy, Timmy, Austin, Casey, Tiffany, Alyssa Chad, Jerid, Thomas, and Derek (Kelley) as well as 16 great grandchildren. 

A visitation will be held at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home in Winter Haven on Friday, February 2, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM with a funeral service to begin at 2:00 PM. Gayle will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gayle’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Folds of Honor Foundation.