City of Winter Haven

The City of Winter Haven will host the annual Havendale Christmas Parade on Friday, December 8th! We are excited to have interested organizations apply and participate. We look forward to yet another wonderful parade!

For more information and the application, please visit our website: https://ow.ly/kZ7t50POAzY

City of Auburndale, FL Government

Ready for a challenge? The Auburndale Police Department is encouraging food donations to help replenish local food banks from now until October 30. Donations of 10 cans or greater will receive a special challenge coin featuring former Chief K Andy Ray!

Please bring donations to the Auburndale Police Department’s lobby at 2 Bobby Green Plaza. The lobby is open Monday – Friday from 8 AM – 5 PM.

TRAFFIC ALERT
All WB lanes of Havendale Blvd. in front of Champions Church are shut down due to a traffic crash involving a vehicle vs power pole.
As a result, traffic lights at Havendale and Hwy 17 (8th St) along with Hwy 17 at Mirror Terrace are out.

Drivers should take extra caution at these intersections.

Bike Night Being Hosted at Tanner’s Lakeside for 7-Year-Old Boy with AML

by James Coulter

Photos provided by family of Luke

A young Bartow lad is currently struggling for his life with a rare form of leukemia called Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). You can help him and his family by attending a bike night at Tanner’s Lakeside on Fri. Sep. 29 at 6 PM.

The Legion of St. Michael Polk Chapter and Tanner’s Lakeside are hosting a bike night fundraiser for the family of Luke Shaver, a local 7-year-old boy currently struggling with AML. The fundraiser will include food and drink specials, raffles, live music, and even a bikini bike wash.

Young Luke was diagnosed with AML earlier this month. His condition was so severe that leukemia cells were discovered in his spinal fluid, making treatment from chemotherapy more difficult, explained Cody McCain, a close friend of the family.

Eric “Stogie” Miner, the head of the Legion of St. Michael’s Polk County Chapter, knows how it feels to have a family member struggle with such a disease. He lost his own father to AML. Not wanting anyone else to suffer a similar loss, he and his organization decided to assist Luke and his family through their time of need.

*photo provided by Eric Miner*

“I met the Shaver family a couple of weeks ago. Listening to their story, it resonated deep within my heart because I lost my dad to AML,” he said. “Seeing the family, knowing their potential fate, that is why we get involved. We do what we do. And, being able to get involved with the cause, especially one that hits home…that meant a lot to me.”

Eric “Stogie Miner has been working in law enforcement and corrections for 20 years. Aside from Legion of St. Michael’s, he also serves in the Lake Wales Lodge #242, Fraternal Order of Police, Polk Chapter #46, a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post #72 in Mulberry, and the President of Chapter 34 of the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency.

Working through so many local organizations to assist his community and beyond, his motto is: “Make a positive impact on someone today.”

For more information about the upcoming bike night fundraiser, as well as other opportunities to assist Luke and his family, visit the “Fight Like Luke” Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/820840626112959

Learn more about Eric “Stogie” Miner, his organization, and his upcoming fundraiser by listening to the latest episode of the “Chattin on the Ridge” podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chattinontheridge/episodes/Ep–12-Eric-Stogie-Miner-e29e40g/a-aac7gqt

By Carl Fish

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Natanael Santiago Bourdoin for exposing himself to a woman at a Winter Haven park. This isn’t the first time this occurred either.

Below is a partial unedited, but redacted affidavit. The Daily Ridge chooses to give you the affidavit when possible. This information are facts, but those facts are up to interpretation in a court of law. A suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty.

“On 09/13/2023 at approximately 1326 hours, I responded to 275 Lake Silver Dr S (MILK Park) in Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida in reference to a lewd act.

Upon arrival, I made contact with the victim who identified herself as REDACTED . The victim stated that she was sitting at the park eating her lunch. The victim stated that she noticed the defendant looking at her but ignored him. The victim stated he kept walking back and forth towards her. The victim stated while she was on her phone the defendant was near her, and when she looked up she saw the defendant with his penis exposed. The victim advised that the defendant was “playing” with his penis while exposed directed at her. The victim stated that she then confronted the defendant and asked him what he was doing. The victim stated she told the defendant she was going to call law enforcement and the defendant told her to do it. The victim advised the defendant then saw she was on her phone to long and then left the area. The victim confirmed that his penis was exposed and that he was playing with himself by touching his penis.

The victim provided a still image of the defendant to me, which I then created a BOLO and issued it to all department members. Ofc Crespo was able to positively identify the defendant as Natanael Bourdoin H/M 05-30-1980 whom she has had several interactions with. On 04-20-2023 Ofc Crespo completed an FIR on the defendant in reference to masturbating at a public park in the presence of women. On 05-31-2023 Ofc Crespo also had an interaction with the defendant in reference to also masturbating at a public park in the presence of a woman.

On 09/18/2023 at approximately 1558 hours, I responded to 163 Ave A SE #4 in Winter Haven, Polk County, Florida and made contact with the defendant. Post Miranda the defendant denied all allegations made by the victim. The defendant advised he was not at MLK Park on September 13, 2023 but another park. I then showed a stilll image that was provided by the victim and the defendant identified himself in the picture. The defendant then changed his story when he was told that was taken in MLK Park. The defendant then advised he visited three parks that day, but still denied allegations of exposing himself.”

The suspect was arrested for violating his bond from the previous offense and new charges of exposing himself in public.

City of Auburndale, FL Government

The Cindy Hummel Tennis Center will be hosting their annual XGLOsive blacklight tennis party on Saturday, November 4th! Space is limited, so register early!

There will be two sessions: One session from 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM, and another session will follow from 8:15 PM – 9:15 PM. You can register by calling the pro-shop at 863-965-5544 or email [email protected].

You do not want to miss this fun event! Must be at least 11 years old to participate.

Winter Haven, Florida – A Polk County crossing guard avoided serious injuries after being struck near Garden Grove Elementary In Winter Haven. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has advised that yesterday morning, September 21, one of its crossing guards was struck by a vehicle. The vehicle thankfully was going about 10 miles an hour. The female crossing guard was transported to the hospital, where she was treated and later released.

If your interested in becoming a Florida crossing guard here is some important information:

Florida School Crossing Guard Training Program

In 1992, the Florida legislature passed the “Ramon Turnquest School Crossing Guard Act.” This law (now incorporated in Section 316.75, F.S.) requires most local governmental entities that administer school crossing guard programs to train their guards according to Florida School Crossing Guard Training Guidelines [En Espanol] developed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The FDOT encourages local governmental entities and private schools with crossing guard programs not covered by the law to train their guards according to these Guidelines. Uniform training promotes the consistent, effective operation of guarded school crossings throughout the state. 

Motor Vehicles – State Uniform Traffic Control 316.75 School crossing guards. —The Department of Transportation shall adopt uniform guidelines for the training of school crossing guards. Each local governmental entity administering a school crossing guard program shall provide a training program for school crossing guards according to the uniform guidelines. Successful completion of the training program shall be required of each school guard except for the following: 

(1) A person who received equivalent training during employment as a law enforcement officer.
(2) A person who receives less than $5,000 in annual compensation in a county with a population of less than 75,000. 
(3) A student who serves in a school patrol. 

Upon contract, school crossing guard training programs may be made available to nonpublic schools.

History.—s. 2, ch. 92-194; s. 42, ch. 97-190.

Note.—Former s. 234.302.

City of Winter Haven, FL

Contact The City of Winter Haven Water Department to reserve your FREE water conservation today!

Conservation kits available

(863) 298-5495

O n05/31/20231257hours.responded t o
in reference to subject masturbating.
n
U p o narrival, I made contact with the victim who identified herself with a Florida driver license a s
T h e victim advised she came to the boat ramp to eat her lunch and saw the defendant sittingon the bench east ofthe park. The victim advised she went to sit on the west side of the boat ramp, and that the defendant got up and sat on a bench across from her. The victim advised as she was talking on the phone she saw the defendant with his shorts completely down with him holding his penis looking at her and masturbating. The victim advised she asked what the defendant was doing, and that he continued to masturbate not saying anything to her.The victimadvised the defendant then got on his bicycle and left the area. The victim was able to take pictures of the defendant before he left and provided it to me.
The defendant was then stopped at Trailhead Park. A show-up was conducted, and the victim positively identified the defendant being the one who masturbated at the
Contact was then made with the defendant and he identified himself as Natanael Bourdoin. Post Miranda the defendant advised he was never at t h e a t any time of the dayand denied allegations of masturbating in public. The defendant was then showed still images that were provided by the victim, and he positively identified himself in the pictures. The defendant then changed his story again and said he was by the Lake Heritage Boat Ramp but was only ridingon the trail.
The defendant’s information was entered into CIC for prior exposureof sexual organs, and CIC advised the defendant did have prior convictions, (LEWD OBSERVED BY OTHERS 11/12/2002 MIDDLE SEX COUNTY AOCMID02002015-001 SUMMON # W20020018221225) AND (LEWD OBSERVED BY CHILD MIDDLESEX COUNTY 12/9/2010 AOCMID10001850-001 MID100801202I).
The defendant was transported to PolkCounty jail without issue.

Polk County Board Approves Creek Ranch Plans

BARTOW, Fla. (September 19, 2023) – By a vote of 3-1, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners approved plans today for the construction of 1,876 single family homes, as well as commercial property, in Poinciana. Residents had requested a De Novo hearing after the county’s Planning Commission previously approved plans for the Creek Ranch development, off of Lake Hatchineha Road, by a vote of 4-3.

At today’s Board meeting, the residents who requested the De Novo hearing expressed concern for the area’s wildlife corridor, as well as stormwater and traffic issues. They also said that the development would not be compatible with the surrounding area, and they discussed potential school overcrowding.

Polk County’s public school concurrence plan indicates that the schools will be able to handle the expected growth. 

The developer, Center State Development, said that more than 50% of Creek Ranch will be preserved as wetlands and open space, and that the development will include a 1.25-mile wildlife corridor, which will be protected by a permanent easement. The plans also call for retention ponds and a portion of Marigold Avenue to be widened to four lanes.

Commissioner Martha Santiago emphasized that construction will not begin until every aspect of the plans are in place, including utilities and road improvements. “You cannot ignore the development that is taking place in Poinciana,” Santiago said. “All throughout Poinciana, we have development. So, I can’t say that this is not compatible.”

“This development, the way it’s laid out, how it’s designed, this is what Polk County has been trying to get to for years,” said Commissioner Rick Wilson. “This is one of the most compatible things I’ve ever seen.”

“The wildlife corridor is an important asset to our state,” Commissioner Bill Braswell said. “Just the fact that you’re locking it in, preserving it … I think it’s a good idea. We will know forever that this wildlife corridor exists.”

Commissioner George Lindsey recused himself due to a business relationship.

Commissioner Neil Combee cast the lone dissenting vote. He said, “I don’t think this is compatible. The road system out there is terribly inadequate. It’s a nightmare waiting to happen