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WOUND CENTER RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS; EXPANDED CENTER UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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WOUND CENTER RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS; EXPANDED CENTER UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 WOUND CENTER RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS; EXPANDED CENTER UNDER CONSTRUCTION

 Lake Wales, FL – Lake Wales Medical Center physicians, leaders and clinicians gathered recently to celebrate the hospital’s Wound Healing Center receiving both the Center of Distinction Award and the Center of Excellence Award from Healogics.

“This is our fifth year winning the Center of Excellence Award, and our sixth year winning the Center of Distinction award, and we are very proud of that accomplishment,” said Tiffany Rodriguez, RN, Program Director at the Wound Healing Center. “We have won these awards consecutively every year that we’ve been  eligible since we opened in December 2010.”

Hospital CEO Rebecca Brewer praised the center’s success rate in healing difficult wounds.

“Our Wound Healing Center has consistently provided excellent patient care since it opened, and as a result, has gotten so busy that we are building an expanded facility for it, scheduled to open late this year,” Brewer said.

The new facility is being built at the corner of Hwy. 60 and 11th Street in Lake Wales. “We are excited to be expanding our Wound Healing Center because we know the positive impact it has on the lives of so many patients each year.”

The Center of Distinction award recognizes outstanding clinical outcomes for twelve consecutive months, including patient satisfaction higher than 92 percent, and a minimum wound healing rate of at least 91 percent within 30 median days to heal.

The Robert A. Warriner III, M.D., Center of Excellence award recognizes the Wound Healing Center meeting benchmarks including patient satisfaction rates higher than 92 percent and a healing rate of at least 91 percent in less than 30 median days, among other quality standards for a minimum of two consecutive years.  The award is named for Dr. Robert A. Warriner III, a pioneer in wound care and the former Chief Medical Officer for Healogics.

The Lake Wales Wound Healing Center offers highly specialized wound care to patients suffering from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds which have not healed in a reasonable amount of time. Advanced treatments include negative pressure wound therapy, bio-engineered skin substitutes, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, biological and biosynthetic dressings and growth factor therapies. The expanded facility will add a third hyperbaric chamber, with the option of expanding to four when needed.

The center is a member of the Healogics network of nearly 800 Centers.

 

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Photo Info: Lake Wales Medical Center staff and physicians celebrated recently the hospital’s Wound Healing Center, which received two prestigious awards, the Center of Distinction and the Center of Excellence awards from Healogics. Both awards are given to outstanding wound treatment centers for meeting and exceeding benchmarks in healing rates and patient satisfaction. Pictured are, Front row, from left: Amanda Williams RN; Monte Holm, certified hyperbaric technician; Irena Neal, office coordinator; Dr. Fred Howard; Estela Bass, office coordinator;  Dr. James Nelson, Medical Director; Lindsay Kula CMA; Dr. Sajid Ismail; Lisa Foster, Area Vice President for Healogics; Tiffany Rodriguez, RN, Director of the Wound Center; Dr. Prerna Mall; and Porscha Haak, RN.

 

 

UPDATE on Fatal Crash from Last Night on Rifle Range Rd and 1st Street West in Wahneta

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UPDATE on Fatal Crash from Last Night on Rifle Range Rd and 1st Street West in Wahneta

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit investigated a two-vehicle crash last evening that resulted in one fatality. Preliminary information so far is as follows:

Around 8:20 p.m. on Sunday, June 10, 2018, PCSO and PCFR responded to Rifle Range Road at 1st Street West in the Wahneta area of Winter Haven. They found an adult male in his 60s who lives in Wahneta partially ejected from his 2001 Ford Explorer, and deceased. He was the only occupant of the SUV. The Explorer was turning left from eastbound 1st Street West onto northbound Rifle Range Road when it entered into the path of a 2014 Nissan Altima that was heading northbound on Rifle Range Road. When the vehicles collided, the Explorer spun and flipped onto its side, partially ejecting the victim.

The driver of the Nissan, 31-year-old Susan Smith of Winter Haven, was wearing her seatbelt and was not seriously injured. She was taken to Winter Haven Hospital where she was treated and released.

Rifle Range Road was closed in both directions for several hours during the investigation.

Efforts are ongoing to locate next of kin for the deceased.

Winter Haven Man Wanted for 1st Degree Murder by PCSO

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Winter Haven Man Wanted for 1st Degree Murder by PCSO

UPDATE:

Last night, PCSO detectives arrested first degree murder suspect 36-year-old James “Spooky” Williams in the Carefree Cove neighborhood after a Crime Stoppers tip led detectives to his location. He was taken into custody without incident. He was arrested on his warrant for one count first degree murder, one count attempted first degree murder, and one count possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in the murder of 23-year-old Nasir Sutton and shooting of 38-year-old Bennie Joiner, on Sunday, June 10, 2018. A handgun was also recovered during the arrest.

PCSO Release:

Winter Haven Murder suspect being sought by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have obtained an arrest warrant for the man who shot and killed 23-year-old Nasir Sutton and critically injured 38-year-old Bennie Joyner, Sunday, June 10, 2018 at around 6:22 p.m. The arrest warrant is for 36-year-old James Steven “Spooky” Williams, who lived (on and off) with the victims.

Deputies responded to a reported shooting at 1098 Carefree Cove Drive, Winter Haven Sunday evening, June 10th. There they discovered Sutton, deceased with at least one apparent gunshot wound. Joyner suffered at least one gunshot wound and was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.

Detectives have determined that a known suspect 36-year-old James Steven “Spooky” Williams arrived at the address, an argument occurred, and the Williams fired gun shots killing Mr. Sutton and injuring Mr. Joyner & then left the area.

If anyone knows where James Steven “Spooky” Williams is, please call 863-298-6200 or, if you’d like to remain anonymous, and be eligible for a CASH REWARD of up to $3,000, you can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Anonymity is guaranteed!

The investigation is ongoing.

One Person Killed & One Critically Injured In Winter Haven Shooting Last Night

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Polk County Sheriffs Office Press Release

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a homicide and shooting investigation in the Carefree Cove area of unincorporated Winter Haven. Deputies were called at 6:22 p.m. this evening, Sunday, June 10, 2018 to a reported shooting at 1098 Carefree Cove Drive, Winter Haven. There they discovered 23-year-old Nasir D. Sutton of 1098 Carefree Cove Drive, Winter Haven, deceased with at least one apparent gunshot wound. Another man from the same residence, 38-year-old Bennie Joiner, suffered at least one gunshot wound and was transported to an area hospitalhe was in critical condition as of 9:30 p.m. Detectives have determined that a known suspect arrived at the address, an argument occurred, and the suspect fired gun shots killing Mr. Sutton and injuring Mr. Joiner & then left the area. The investigation is ongoing.

Lakeland Man Found Shot To Death In Alleyway

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Lakeland Man Found Shot To Death In Alleyway

Lakeland Police Department Press Release

LAKELAND, Fl (June 9, 2018) – On June 8, 2018 at approximately 1:52 a.m., the Lakeland Police Department responded to 519 West Magnolia Street in reference to an unresponsive male with an injury to his head located in the alleyway. A citizen had located the victim in the alleyway. The subject was transported to Lakeland Regional Health and was subsequently declared deceased at 2:33 a.m.

Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to investigate the incident and interviewed the witness as well as canvass the neighborhood. Later in the day, the Medical Examiner determined that the victim had been shot. He has been identified as, Mack Holloman Jr, 38 years old, 508 East Memorial Boulevard, Apartment#123, Lakeland.

There are no other details at this time.

If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the Lakeland Police Department at 834-6900. If you’d like to remain anonymous, and be eligible for a CASH REWARD, you can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Anonymity is guaranteed!

Media inquiries should be directed to 863.583.2357.

Viral Video Goes Live Moments After Man Shot In Auburndale.

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Viral Video Goes Live Moments After Man Shot In Auburndale.

Auburndale, Florida – An Auburndale man was shot on Friday and a live Facebook video caught the aftermath.

According to Scott Wilder, Public Information Officer with the PCSO, the shooting took place around at 12:30pm on Friday in the area of Henry St.

The victim (person shot) is Jim Bob Beardon a resident of Auburndale. He was listed in stable condition at a local hospital.

According to Wilder the investigation is ongoing as to exactly what took place. An arrest appears to be imminent, said Wilder.

The video which show Beardon went live moments after he was shot. He was seen laying on the ground bleeding from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Here is a link to the graphic video: Link

The video was taken by Anthony Martin, Jr. The video is rather graphic and unedited.

Leadership Winter Haven Alumni Share Their Experiences

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Leadership Winter Haven Alumni Share Their Experiences

Leadership Winter Haven Alumni Share Their Experiences

by James Coulter

When Becky Helms, Senior Sales Manager of LEGOLAND Florida, decided to move to Winter Haven, she preferred to live within a small town like Winter Haven rather than a bustling city like Orlando.

Not only does such a town allow her to live within a much quieter setting with less hassle and traffic, but it allows her to better know the people she lives with, she explained.

“I love being able to visit the wine bar and see someone I know there,” she said. “I love going to a Chamber event and see people I was in a class with along the way.”

Upon buying her house and moving to Winter Haven back in 2007, she desired to become a part of the community and learn more about it.

That desire compelled her to attend Leadership Winter Haven as to better learn the ins and outs of her local community and everyone and everything within it.

“It allowed me to become part of the people in my community, but it also allowed me to learn more about the industries and the services and the businesses and the people that are in this community that really make us who we are, and I think through this class you’ll learn how special Winter Haven is,” she said.

She has since become the day chair for her class’s Tourism Day at LEGOLAND Florida, and has now become the co-chair of this year’s class.

Speaking from experience about how the class benefited her, she encourages others to enroll within it, as it will allow them a better opportunity to learn about their community.

“I encourage you all who are thinking about it, to really take that plunge,” she said. “It is a commitment, but you will be rewarded for it…and it will really pay back where you are living, so it really opens up your eyes to the wealth of things we have in this community.”

Helms shared her experiences with the program during an “Everyone Bring One” event last Tuesday at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce, which allowed alumni the opportunity to discuss the program with potential members.

Leadership Winter Haven is a program which, according to its website, “has been dedicated to developing a well informed and diverse pool of leadership talent ready to help the community and area reach its full potential.”

Since its start in 1980, making it the second oldest leadership program in Florida, the program has allowed its participants to learn more about their surrounding community and the various industries and businesses within it.

The class included various themed days with tours and field trips of the city’s various industries and aspects from culture, art, politics, and tourism.

“Class participants can learn more about different industries within Winter Haven and the surrounding areas, not from a surface perspective, but they will actually get to know how a business works and show how it works,” said Amanda-Jo Nicholson, Vice President of Member Services at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce.

Historically, the program has enrolled more than 500 people, with approximately 27 within this year’s class, Nicholson said.

Not only does the program allow its participants to learn about their local community, but build connections and relationships with local business owners and leaders, as well as each other.

“If you would like to build your network, build your connections, get to know more about the people and the places in the city you are in, Leadership Winter Haven is the program for you,” she said.

Brian Reeves, an independent associate at Legal Shield, was able to extend his network thusly during his own involvement with the program.

During his own participation last year, he was able to partake in tours and visits of different businesses and establishments.

“One of the things I always try to do is be connected with local businesses and so on,” he said. “I saw that as a way to see other aspects of the city I would normally not be able to take tours of.”

During that time, he established many connections within local industries, but also with his own classmates, all of which has proven beneficial to his own career.

“Overall, I benefited tremendously from the program because a lot of times, you will find that even your classmates develop some great relationships long ever after the program has ended,” he said. “It has helped me to make more connections from a business standpoint…[and] those connections are key to me continuing with my business.”

As such, Reeves more than recommends anyone wanting to make an impact within their local community through their business consider joining the program.

“You will garner a lot of things from the program, not just on a business standpoint, but also grow as an individual learning different things, learning management skills, and so on,” he said.

The deadline for Leadership Winter Haven Class 39 will be June 9. Interviews for potential participants will start in August, and classes are scheduled to begin in October.

For more information, visit: http://www.winterhavenchamber.com/leadership-winter-haven.html

Beth Ford: A Selective Retrospective

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Beth Ford: A Selective Retrospective

Beth Ford: A Selective Retrospective

By James Coulter

Most high school seniors don’t know what they’re going to do after graduation; but for Beth Ford, a local artist and art teacher, she always knew that art was her passion, and she has been following that passion for more than 50 years long after graduating high school.

“I was never in any doubt that this was my calling,” she said. “I could draw at an early age, and that let me know that there is something to being an artist.”

A sample of her award-winning artwork, spanning more than 50 years and various media, will be showcased in “Beth Ford: A Selective Retrospective”, an art exhibition at Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland from now until September 23.

As she is a true “Jane-Of-All-Trades”, her exhibit is a culmination of her mastery over different art media, ranging from drawings, paintings, and intaglio printmaking.

Ford describes her artwork as the juxtaposition between the real and imagined. Often she takes objects familiar and recognizable to her and other people and re-works them into more abstract figures, thus making the ordinary more extraordinary.

“I have worked with a familiar object or familiar theme or something I am really involved with,” she said. “But sometimes, it is just fun to work with the media itself and make it an emotional thing and see what can come out with the color and the design and motion of the shape.”

One such item is an award-winning art piece from Mayfaire in 1983, which is a drawing of hers wrapped in a package. This very important piece exemplifies a metaphor of her feelings back when she first created it, she said.

Another of her art pieces deals with the topic of censorship, showcasing several paintings of such famous artists as Picasso and Goya all wrapped up, representing how their art, which is now widely-lauded, were once shunned as “controversial”, she explained.

Perhaps her favorite and most personal piece is a 9-foot-by-9-foot painting divided into three parts, with each of the smaller, individual panels showcasing one of her beloved pets.

“I am an animal lover,” she said. “I consider that painting my scrapbook of memories, and I want to keep it for a long time.”

At least 15 of her drawings are featured within her book, “Room 4”, with more than 60 colored pencil drawings created to preserve her childhood memories.

“Everybody has a story,” she said. “I really knew I wanted to preserve with my own illustrations my memory of being a child growing up in a Southern Mississippi hotel.”

Ford was born in Mississippi and raised within the McColgan Hotel in McComb. Ever since she was a little girl, she has been an artist all her life.

She attended the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida at age 16. Following her high school graduation in 1948, she went on to attend the University of Mississippi.

There she met her husband of 65 years, whom she married, left school after one year, and went on to have three children.

She would later resume her college education at the University of South Florida, where she received both her degrees in fine arts and art education.

Her first job was teaching at Polk State College (then Polk Community College) from 1966 to 1968. She later served as proffesor emeritus at Florida Southern College for over 40 years, where she still teaches a course in print making.

Her own art was influenced by Marie Hall, a Mississippi artist whose art she became familiar with and inspired by during her early college years married to her husband.

During her time at USF, print making began as a trend. She decided to follow that trend and learn more about the art form, including monotype, etching, relief printing, silk screening, serigraphy, and intaglio printmaking, which she considers her forte. She had since taught the art for more than 40 years.

A true Renaissance woman, Ford has practiced and studied various art forms from drawings and paintings to print making and ceramics.

Whatever art form she delves into, she puts more than 100 percent into, and she often finds herself hopping from one art form to the other, going wherever her creativity takes her.

“I have been sort of a media hound because I love to explore and discover different techniques,” she said. “So I don’t feel guilty making other media. I milk it until I get as much out of it at the moment. Sometimes, the ideas surface again, and I go and work on it some more.”

“Beth Ford: A Selective Retrospective” will be hosted until September 23 at the Polk Museum of Art, located at 800 E. Palmetto Street in Lakeland.

Ford will be present at the museum for two upcoming event: Point of View Gallery Talk on Friday, June 8 at noon, and Coffee With The Artist on Saturday, June 9, at 10:30am.

She will later host a public lecture and book signing of her book, which is available within the museum’s gift shop, on Saturday, September 8, at 2pm.

For more information, visit the museum’s website at: https://polkmuseumofart.org/

One Man Shot & Another Arrested After Altercation On 4th St. In Lake Wales

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One Man Shot & Another Arrested After Altercation On 4th St. In Lake Wales

Lake Wales Police Department Press Release

On Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at approximately 7:24 p.m., Lake Wales Police Department was notified of a shooting at Mercy Apartments, 504 south 4th Street in Lake Wales. This was received from an off duty officer who heard a gunshot while driving near the area. When officers arrived it was learned four males, including Brandon Jones and Antonio Ray were outside of apartment 8D at the above address, when they were approached by Daquand Devontea Marion. There has been an ongoing disagreement between Marion and at least one of the four males. Marion does not live in the apartment complex. As Marion passed by the group he began to stare them down and circle around them. One of the four males swung his fist at Marion striking him in the head. Marion stumbled backwards and drew a handgun from his waistband. As the handgun cleared his waistband, he fired it once. The round struck Antonio Ray in the lower abdomen. Ray stumbled into apartment 8D where he was helped by Deandre Jones. Marion left the area on foot.

Deandre drove Ray to the Lake Wales Medical Center where they had to conduct emergency surgery to stabilize him. Officers continued to look for Marion throughout the night. At one point, they were able to speak to him on a phone. He told officers he was going to Bartow to turn himself in. Officers did locate him in Bartow at a local bails bond business. Marion was taken into custody without incident and brought back to the Lake Wales Police Department. Marion told detectives he was at the apartments, was struck by one of the subjects, pull his gun out and shot it.

Marion is 24 years of age and lives at 422 Domaris Avenue, Lake Wales. Marion has been charged with Aggravated Battery with a Firearm with Serious Bodily Injury, Carrying a Concealed Firearm and Discharge of a Firearm in Public.

Marion was arrested in 2015 in Leon County for Sale of Marijuana Within 1000 feet of a College. He has also been arrested twice by the Lake Wales Police Department. He was arrested once in 2016 for an active warrant out of Leon County for Possession of Marijuana. The second arrest was in February of this year for Possession of Marijuana under 20 grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

This investigation is ongoing as detectives attempt contact other possible witnesses. Anyone having information on this case is asked to call Detective Whitney Dukes at (863) 678-4223 extension 269 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477 if they wish to remain anonymous.

Manny’s Chophouse In Lake Wales Undergoing Renovations

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Manny’s Chophouse In Lake Wales Undergoing Renovations

Manny’s Chophouse In Lake Wales Undergoing Renovations

by James Coulter

From the roof to the floor, from the windows to the tiles, every square inch of Manny’s Chophouse in Lake Wales is undergoing $200,000 worth of renovations, once approval is received from The Franchisor, Manny’s of Haines City, who will also personally be overseeing all construction work.

These renovations include everything from installments of new floors, tiles, windows, blinds, and paint jobs, to refurbished restrooms and bar areas, explained new Franchisee, Sonny Sharma.

Until renovations are completed, the restaurant will remain closed for nearly ten days, and is expected to re-open at least by June 16, the Saturday before Father’s Day, Sharma said.

“The renovations was required for a while,” he said. “Now was the right time to get this stuff done, and we want to get this stuff done.”

Sharma became the new Manny’s Chophouse Franchisee four months ago, and with his new manager, has brought the restaurant chain under new ownership and management.

With the local restaurant chain’s reputation for customer satisfaction through fresh food served from fresh ingredients, Sharma was inspired to assume his role as the new owner, he explained.

“People love Manny’s,” he said. “[With] good food and a good name brand, that is what I was looking for.”

Renovations had been planned for a long time, but they were eventually delayed due to the restaurant’s busy season starting once Sharma assumed his role as the new owner, he said.

The need for such renovations became even more expedited following an incident a few weeks ago when a Facebook video went viral of a rodent crawling within the restaurant at night.

Allegedly, the incident occurred due to a hole within the roof that had allegedly been left behind by the roofer after the roof was replaced two weeks ago, Sharma explained.

Since then, the restaurant had taken proper precautions to address the incident and ensure that something like that never happens again, Sharma said.  There are also plans for the restaurant to undergo tent fumigation prior to the renovation.

The entire roof had been replaced rather than simply patched, pest control has been visiting every day to ensure there are no other vermin residing within the premises, and the restaurant has enacted the necessary measures recommended by the health inspector to rectify the situation and to prevent potential ones from happening within the future, Sharma said.

“They came one evening, they told us what needed to be done, we improved ourselves, and we passed the very next day,” he said.

With Manny’s Chophouse being closed for nearly ten days while $200,000 worth of renovations are completed, Sharma and everyone else there hopes that the restaurant will remain within prime condition with no further problems.

If anything, Sharma hopes that these renovations will help reassure customers and ensure that their satisfaction remains guaranteed, he said.

“We care about our customers, and that is the only reason we are putting all this money in to keep the customer happy,” he said. “They should have a good experience coming back to the fresh restaurant.”

Manny’s Chophouse is located on 210 FL-60 in Lakes Wales. For more information, visit their website at: http://www.mannyschophouse.com/

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