Winter Haven- Patricia (Patsy) Blackburn age 71, died Tuesday January 09, 2024, peacefully with family at her bedside in Winter Haven.
Patsy was born on July 11, 1952, in Tampa, Florida. Patsy moved to Winter Haven in her teens, married and raised a family. As her children got older, she began working outside her home. Patsy was State Inspector with the state of Georgia and traveled between Georgia and Florida working in the Fruits and Vegetable division for many years with her husband.
She is preceded in death by her husband Vernon (Dan) Blackburn, she is survived by her son Robert Blackburn (Michelle), and three daughters Amy Alvarado, Nicole Lamkin, Cathi Woodhead (Chris), 13 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Imprint Ministries, 1503 6th Street SE, Winter Haven, Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 10:00am.
** Wanted on Felony Warrant Charges ** Winter Haven Investigators are asking for the public’s help to locate 23-year-old Artavious Reshawn Smith who has a felony warrant for Armed Robbery and Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle. On January 12, 2024 at approximately 10:13 p.m., Smith arrived at building seven at Abby Lane Apartments where our victim was sitting inside of a vehicle just outside of the building. Smith, brandishing a firearm, demanded the victim get out of the vehicle and made the victim lay on the ground. Smith took the vehicle leaving the parking lot. Investigators obtained a warrant for Smith’s arrest on charges of Robbery with a Firearm, Grand Theft of Motor Vehicle, Armed Burglary and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Smith is asked to contact Detective Shook at 863-662-0178. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers:
Call 1-888-400-TIPS (8477)
From your cell phone, dial **TIPS
Or visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit A Tip,”
Or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet. You will always remain anonymous when you send a tip through Crime Stoppers and you are eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.
Winter Haven Public Safety Department- Operations Chief Mike Waters was recognized by Polk County Fire Rescue for his heroic actions while off duty. On May 5, 2023 a call for service was received in reference to a cardiac arrest. Though off duty, Chief Waters was in the area and stopped to render aid. He performed CPR and defibrillated the patient once prior to the arrival of the medic units. The patient was stabilized and transported to the hospital and later discharged. No doubt this patient’s recovery was successful due to Chief Waters’ high-quality CPR and early defibrillation. A statement from PCFR reads, “Chief Mike Waters, we recognize you for your life saving actions while off duty and thank you for your honorable service.” We echo those sentiments and are so proud of Chief Waters!
(Pictured are Kathy Sellen, PCFR, Operations Chief Waters and fire Chief Sonny Emery)
Want a Larger Roof for your Personal Dock? The Winter Haven City Commission Will Soon Permit You to Have One.
by James Coulter
If you live on the Chain of Lakes, chances are your house has a personal dock where you moor your watercraft, be it a boat or jet ski. Some people even own more than one.
However, current city regulations limit the size of the roof for your dock, which means some craft receive shade while others are exposed to the elements. Fortunately, city residents may soon be able to expand their roofs thanks to a new ordinance being considered by the city commission.
At their regular meeting on Monday, Winter Haven City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance updating marine structure requirements, allowing residents to build larger roofs for their docks and other water structures.
Under the revised regulations, the maximum roof areas of single-family residential marine structures would increase from 500 to 750 square feet, while the maximum roof areas for non-single family residential structures would increase from 625 to 1,000 square feet.
According to the city memo: “In October 2019, the City Commission amended Section 21-103 of the Code of Ordinances for the purpose of updating the City’s marine structures requirements….During this update, length and surface area maximums for marine structures were updated and maximum roof area square footages were also created. Prior to this update, there were no maximum roof area square footage.”
However, as the memo further elaborates, local boat owners and dock contractors had requested an increase to the maximum roof areas to better accommodate larger or multiple vehicles: “In recent years, dock contractors and residents have both sought to have larger roof areas over their docks to protect their watercraft from the Florida sun.”
City Commissioners voted unanimously 4-0 to approve the ordinance. The second reading will be held at the next city commission meeting on Mon. Feb. 12 at 6 PM.
Benjamin Gutierrez, 59, passed away on January 16, 2024. He was born to Iris and Diego Gutierrez on March 17, 1969, in Bronx, New York. He retired from the Army after 20 years of service where he received a Purple Heart. Benjamin also worked for Veteran Affairs. He is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Grace; sons, Brian, Kevin, Andrews, and Joshuah; grandchildren, Kirianys, Arielys, Leeandre, Zoe, Rose, Dylan, and Chiky.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 25 from 4-6 at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City. A service will be held on Friday, January 26 at 9:30am. Burial will follow at 12:30pm at Florida National Cemetery.
A Bartow woman was has been arrested on multiple felony drug charges after a traffic stop for not having lights on resulted in numerous drugs being found inside of the car. On Tuesday evening (1/22/24) at approximately 7:45 p.m., officers conducting proactive patrol in the area of Unity Way and Quentin Ave NW in Winter Haven spotted a purple Chevy Tohoe traveling on Ave. Q NW with the headlights off.
The officer conducted a lawful traffic stop due to the vehicle not having headlights on while traveling on a public roadway. When contacting the driver, 34 year-old Brenda Anganetta-Michelle Williams (DOB 9-19-89, 3369 North Ave., Bartow FL) the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The officer also saw a white container with the insignia “Trulieve” on the side consistent with a medical marijuana container. The officer asked Williams if she had a medical marijuana license and she stated she did not.
Upon a search of the vehicle, multiple baggies were located inside of the car that contained Cocaine, marijuana, Oxycodone and Ecstasy pills as well as Fentanyl. All total, the amount found inside of the vehicle was .1 grams of cocaine, 16.5 grams of Methamphetamine, 32.9 grams of MDMA 10.8 grams of Oxycodone, 114.9 grams of marijuana and 2.8 grams of Fentanyl.
Williams was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on the following charges: Trafficking-Amphetamine/Methamphetamine. >= 14 grams: (F1); Trafficking of Oxycodone (F1); Trafficking-Phenethylamines/MDMA 10 LESS 200G (F1); Possess Structure or Vehicle Know Sell Drugs (F2); Possession of Cocaine (F3); Possession of Fentanyl (F3) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia: (M1)
Winter Haven Public Safety Department Road Closure Alert Starting Tuesday, January 23, 4th St SW between Ave. C SW and Ave D SW will be shut down while a new water main is being installed. The road is anticipated to be closed through the full week. Detours around the construction will be posted.
Now through January 23, there will be a paving project on South Main Street. This is the last area to be paved. This work will continue until Tuesday, January 23rd. Please plan accordingly.
Auburndale Police Department ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY: A Burglary conveyance and theft of a debit card occurred at Walmart located at 2120 Hwy 92 W., Auburndale. Three White / Hispanic subjects, two males and one female, appeared to be watching the victim as he entered his debit card number in the checkout line. When the victim left the store, he was holding his debit card in his hand. Arriving at his vehicle, he tossed his debit card in the passenger seat and started the car as he loaded his groceries.
When the victim returned to the driver seat, an unknown Hispanic female began speaking to him from the passenger side window, asking if he dropped a $20.00 bill and if he had any receipts. During the conversation she tried to open the victim’s door and eventually leaned through the window as she continued to speak to him before ending the conversation and walking away. Later the same evening the victim received notification that his debit card was used for two fraudulent charges. Surveillance video showed two suspects in this incident where the victim’s debit card was used.
SUSPECT #1 – A White/Hispanic Female, wearing a blue and white sleeveless dress, white sandals, long strap black purse, brown/black shade hat with sunglasses.
SUSPECT #2 – A White/Hispanic Male, wearing a red/white/gray long sleeve plaid shirt, long blue jeans, black tennis shoes, white baseball cap, with short gray facial hair and prescription glasses.
PERSON OF INTEREST #3 –A White/Hispanic male, wearing a white T-shirt, light blue long sleeve Polo shirt unbuttoned, blue jean shorts, black and white tennis shoes, dark in color medium length facial hair, gray and black checkered bucket hat with sunglasses.
If you have any information, please contact Detective Perrington at 863-965-5555 or by email [email protected]
Winter Haven, FL – Major League Table Tennis (MLTT), the first professional table tennis league in the USA, has released tickets for sale for its three days of games from Feb. 9-11 at AdventHealth Field House in Winter Haven. The best of the best in MLTT’s East Division will be competing in their second clash since the league’s winter break.
Here’s a glimpse of the MLTT Second Half Season Lineup:
● January 5-7: East Division | Broward Table Tennis Club, Davie, FL
● January 26-28: West Division | Portland Expo Center, Portland, OR
● February 9-11: East Division | AdventHealth Field House, Winter Haven, FL
● February 23-25: West Division | Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett, WA
● March 15-17: East Division | Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
● April 5-7: West Division | Koch Arena, Wichita, KS
MLTT features world class players — the best in America — representing 40 total countries, and competes in an innovative team game format that concludes with the Golden Game, a pulse-pounding race to 21 points where every member of each 5-person team rotates in every 4 points.
General admission tickets for the event start at $20, and $40 for VIP. Tickets also grant fans access to the fan zone, where they can play on ping pong tables, meet the pros, and potentially even get a chance to play a few points against them.
“The first half of our season has been a tremendous success, exceeding our expectations in terms of player performance and fan engagement,” MLTT Commissioner Flint Lane said. “As we enter the second half of the season, we’re excited to build on this momentum and continue to deliver high-quality, competitive table tennis to our growing fan base. Central Florida is home to a thriving table tennis community, and a number of MLTT players. To say we’re looking forward to this event is an understatement.”
The league will soon announce the location for Championship Weekend, which will be the highlight of the season, where teams will be competing for the coveted MLTT Cup and $100,000 in prize money. Tickets for all matches will soon be available for purchase. Fans eager to witness the live action and cheer for their favorite teams are encouraged to book their spots in advance. Tickets can be conveniently purchased on the official MLTT website at MLTT.com/tickets.
Tickets on Sale for Major Table Tennis Games at Winter Haven’s AdventHealth Field House
