On Saturday, December 30, 2023, a Polk County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a two-vehicle crash with minor property damage on Spirit Lake Road at the entrance to The Villages at Spirit Lake subdivision. When the deputy arrived, only one vehicle involved remained at the scene. That driver told the deputy that an unknown female in a white pickup truck struck her vehicle, a Toyota Camry, and then got out of the truck and declared that there was no damage to either vehicle. As the person who was hit called law enforcement, the at-fault driver immediately got back in her truck and left the scene. The person who was hit had damage to the rear of her car.

The deputy spoke with residents nearby, one of whom had the crash on video surveillance. The video clearly showed the white truck and its license plate, which was registered to another resident in that neighborhood, 39-year-old Ashley Welch. The deputy contacted Welch, who agreed to meet him later at her home. When the deputy arrived, he asked her where her white truck was, and she said she parked it at another location. Deputies eventually tracked down the truck and confirmed it was the one involved in the crash.

Welch was issued a citation for leaving the scene of a crash with property damage without providing information, and was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail. She was released that evening after posting $250.00 bond. Welch is employed as a nurse practitioner at Advent Health Sebring.



“All Ms. Welch had to do was stop and exchange information. She turned a minor fender-bender into an arrest. Crashes are inconvenient and a part of life. We ask everyone to follow the law and do what’s right.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

A WEEKLONG CELEBRATION : 2024 MLK WEEK EVENT SCHEDULE
The City of Winter Haven is proud to announce a weeklong celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Week 2024! This commemorative event aims to honor the legacy of Dr. King and inspire our community towards unity, equality, and social justice.

Presentation to City Commission – January 8
A presentation to City Commission will take place at the City’s commission meeting held in City Hall, John Fuller Auditorium at 6 pm.

Story time with Martin – January 9
Sit down with us for a story time with Martin that will be held at the Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center, from 4pm – 5pm.

Importance of Service – January 10
Join us at the Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center from 4pm – 6pm in commemorating Dr. King Jr. life and work, which he dedicated to the service of others, not only as a pastor, but also as a civil rights activist.

Wreath Laying Ceremony & Movies with Martin – January 11
Come join us for the Wreath Laying Ceremony in Dr. King’s honor in MLK Park at 10 am. Movies with Martin will also be held later the same day at the Ritz Theatre staring at 6 pm, showing ‘Harriet’.

Unity Luncheon – January 12
Join us at 11:00am – 1pm at Nora Mayo Hall to celebrate diversity, unity and community at the City of Winter Haven’s Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Luncheon! Enjoy a catered lunch, and live musicians, with our award-winning journalist, and keynote speaker, Deanne King. We will also be honoring the 2024 Local Black Heroes and celebrating their accomplishments in our community. Tickets will be $15 and can be purchased at the Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center, and Nora Mayo Hall.

MLK Commemorative Parade – January 13
The 45th Annual Winter Haven Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 10:00am at MLK Blvd. If your organization would like to participate in the parade, please visit the MLK Parade Commission’s website: https://whmlkparadecommission.org/

For further information, contact Natalie Wilson, Special Event Coordinator, at the Parks and Recreation main office (863-291-5656) or [email protected].
Join us in this weeklong celebration with our community!

OBITUARY OF REBA MOBLEY

Reba G. Mobley, 81, of Winter Haven, FL went home to be with the Lord, Sunday December 24, 2023, at the Good Shepherd Hospice Forsythe Hospice House. 

Born January 9, 1942, in Eagle Lake, FL to Cleo and Annie Rice Daniels, she has been a lifelong resident of the area. She was a member of the First Assembly of God in Eagle Lake where she led the women’s ministry for many years.  She was a beautician and Owner of Reba’s Beauty Salon in Winter Haven.   

Reba is survived by: her husband of 39 years, Jack Mobley; her children, Ronnie Henderson, Regina Brossart, Tim Kriston, Jack Dwayne Mobley, Daryl Gene Mobley, and Karen Lynn Jones; a brother Ricky Daniels; thirteen grandchildren, Tamiesa Moore, Daryl Brossart, Cory Brossart, Matthew Henderson, Mike Henderson, Marissa Floyd, Leah Kriston, Brandon Mobley, Ashley Mobley, Brittany Parson, Kalee Taylor, Katlyn Jones, and Kayla Smith; and seventeen great grandchildren. 

The family will receive friends from 10:00am till 11:00am, Wednesday, January 3, 2023, at First Assembly of God in Eagle Lake.  Funeral Services will follow at 11:00am, followed by interment at Glen Abbey Memorial Gardens. 

OBITUARY OF HORACE PILGRIM

Horace Pilgrim, 83, of Lakeland, Florida passed away on December 27, 2023. Born in Auburndale, Florida he moved away for a while but then came back to his home 48 years ago.   

Horace was a proud member of Turning Point Worship Center in Bartow, Florida. He was a preacher for many years. Horace enjoyed driving the golf cart, one memorable story was when he got it stuck in the mud. He liked fishing, watching tv especially old westerns, romance movies, Heartland show, and the news and Jimmy Swaggart ministries were some of his favorites.   

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dewitt and Nora; his loving wife of 56 years, Clara “Susie” Pilgrim; brothers, Harvey Pilgrim, David Pilgrim, Wayne Pilgrim, James Pilgrim; sisters, Cathryn Trussel, Linda Sanford. He is survived by his companion, Jeanne Williams; son, Horace H. (Peggy) Pilgrim; daughters, Debra (Jeffrey) Williams, Judy (Paul) Holmes, Glenda (Timmy) Jenkins; brother, Lamar Pilgrim; sister, Gloria Pettus; grandchildren, Ryan Tomaszewski, Eric Welch, Brandon Jenkins, Bradley Jenkins, Chelsea Johnson, Kristin Aguirre, Brittney Pilgrim, Kristal Bermudez, Amanda Maltos. Katie Jenkins; twenty-one great grandchildren. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.   

VISITATION

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Oak Ridge Funeral Cae

2425 Havendale Blvd

Winter Haven, Florida

863 967 5090

FUNERAL SERVICE 

3:00 pm

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Oak Ridge Funeral Cae

2425 Havendale Blvd

Winter Haven, Florida

863 967 5090

INTERMENT

Auburndale Memorial Park.

1889 West Derby Ave.

Auburndale, Florida

Philip Grinker, age 82, of Auburndale, Florida passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023. He was born on May 31, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois and moved to Florida from Park Forest, Illinois 17 years ago.

Philip worked in sales and designing for communications systems. He was a member of temple Beth Shalom, Amateur Radio, Hamptons Choraliers, CERTS and the Greater Winter Haven Democratic Club.

Philip was predeceased by his father Henry Grinker and his mother Lucille Grinker. He is survived by his wife Sandi Grinker of Auburndale, FL, son Richard Grinker and his wife Jane, daughter Deborah Grinker and his sister Diana Gloakner. Philip also leaves behind numerous extended family members and friends who will miss him dearly.

A Graveside Service will be held at Rolling Hills Cemetery in Winter Haven on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Philip’s name to the Temple Beth Shalom in Winter Haven or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Investigations responded to a fatal single-vehicle crash Sunday evening, December 31, 2023, east of Winter Haven.

PCSO deputies and members from Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched at around 9:50 pm, to the crash scene on US 27, just north of Peace Creek RV Park Road in the Waverly area.

The only person involved in the crash was 22-year old Serrina Bielss of Winter Haven; she was the driver of a gray 2015 Fiat coupe.

Ms. Bielss was transported to a local hospital, but succumbed to her injuries.

The PCSO’s Forensic Investigations assisted detectives with collecting evidence while the southbound lanes of US 27 were closed for about four-and-a-half hours.

Based on evidence and witness statements, detectives determined that Ms. Bielss’ Fiat had been traveling north on US 27.

For unknown reasons, the Fiat left the roadway, crossed the median and southbound lanes and crashed into brush along a ditch.

Detectives found no evidence of corrective steering or braking.

Ms. Bielss was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

This investigation remains ongoing.

Obituary of John Edward Giles

Mr. John Edward Giles, age 76, a resident of Auburndale, Florida passed away Thursday, December 28, 2023 at his home surrounded by family. Mr. Giles was born October 28, 1947 in Lakeland, Florida to Ralph Willet and Madeline (Prater) Giles. He was a lifetime Polk County resident, graduated from Lakeland High School and was a United States Army Veteran serving in Vietnam as an MP. John continued his education at the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture. He received the Nursery Grower of the Year award in 1980-1981. John raced & drove late model stock cars both at Lakeland and Auburndale speedways, also raced motorcycles all over Florida at different flat/dirt tracks. He enjoyed football, NASCAR and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother – Robert “Bobby” Lonnie Giles. John is survived by his loving & devoted family, son – Mark (Angela) Giles of Clermont, Florida; 2 daughters – Jennifer Giles (Mike “Frog”) Johnson and Amanda Giles (Chris) Register both of Auburndale, Florida; sister – Nancy Lee of ; 4 grandchildren – Justin, Karley (Sidney), Hunter & Raegan and 1 great grandchild – River. Funeral services will be 11am Tuesday, January 2^nd at Kersey Funeral Home with visitation beginning 10am at the funeral home. Interment will follow with Military Honors at Auburndale Memorial Park.

Visitation

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Kersey Funeral Home 

108 Lake Stella Drive

Auburndale, Florida

863-967-1167

Funeral Services

11:00 am

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Kersey Funeral Home 

108 Lake Stella Drive

Auburndale, Florida

863-967-1167

Interment With Military Honors

Auburndale Memorial Park

1889 West Derby Avenue

Auburndale, Florida

863-965-5514

Rev. Horace E. Howell (April 18, 1933 – December 25, 2023)  

Age 90 passed away December 25, 2023, at South Seminole Hospital in Longwood, FL. A resident of the Nature’s Edge Resort Community of Lake Wales, FL, for 18 years. Born in Wynne, AR (also known as Dark Corners). Horace served as a minister for 61 years. He pastored several churches in Arkansas, Illinois, and Florida. He served as a director of Child Evangelism Fellowship in Illinois, and later served in various leadership roles in a couple churches in Florida. He also held several secular jobs. Horace enlisted in the Army (Korean War) at the age of 18 and served in Anchorage, Alaska for 2 years. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant, and then served in the Arkansas Army Reserves for 2 years.  

Horace was preceded in death by his daughter Robin Howell; father Fred Howell; mother Myrtle (Saddlewhite) Howell. He is survived by his beloved wife Lois (Parker) Howell of 70 years of marriage; brother Homer (Louise) Howell; son Ronald (Sharon) Howell, son Wendell (Maureen) Howell; 5 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren. He had many beloved friends.  

Visitation Saturday January 13, 2024, from 11am – 12pm at Lake Pierce Baptist Church 3643 Canal Rd, Lake Wales, FL 33898. Life celebration service will follow 12pm – 1pm. Burial site: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Elwood, IL. 

Donation’s can be made at Gideons.org; or mailed to The Gideons International, PO Box 97251, Washington DC, 20090-7251.

In addition the church has some “In Memory” cards from the Gideons with a donation card inside them. The cards could be mailed to Lois and family and the donation cards and envelopes mailed to our local Gideons office in Lake Wales.

Winter Haven, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a two vehicle crash that occurred December 29th at 6:30pm. The crash happened at the intersection of US 92 & 21st Street NW.

According to Sergeant Steve Gaskins , Public Affairs Officer, with the FHP a Lexus sedan, driven by an 83 yr old Lake Alfred woman, was traveling northbound on 21st ST NW. The second vehicle, a Honda sedan driven by a 25 yr old Winter Haven man, , was traveling eastbound on US-92. At the intersection, the Lexus reportedly turned left into the path of and was struck by the Honda.

The driver of the Lexus suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash. The driver of the Honda sedan suffered serious injuries.

The FHP adheres strictly to Marsy’s Law thus no names are released of victims in motor vehicle crashes.