The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested and charged Richard Cordial with Aggravated Battery Of A Person Under 18, Possession Of A Weapon, Carrying Concealed Weapon and Disrupting A School.
Below is an excerpt from the arrest affidavit. Remember a suspect is considered innocent until proven guilty.
“On 09/19/23, while assigned as the school resource officer at Auburndale High School, the suspect and victim entered the common area bathroom located in the 700 building of Auburndale High School during class change. The suspect and victim entered into a physical altercation. During the altercation, the suspect brandished an 11-and-a-half-inch white-handled steak knife from under his waist. The knife was concealed inside the suspect pants. The suspect placed the knife against the victim’s neck. The victim noticed the suspect had a knife and attempted to push the suspect off him and call for help.
As a result of the altercation, school staff had to leave their posts to stop the altercation.
It was found that the suspect was in possession of a weapon on school campus and was carrying the weapon in a concealed manner to avoid being caught. The suspect brandished and knowingly and intently used the weapon with the intent to cause bodily harm.
The suspect has prior arrest history with teen court diversion for pulling a fire alarm at a school facility”
Editors Note: This past August the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with municipalities and the Polk County School Board, started taking over certain schools resource officer duties. Auburndale High School was one of those schools.
Join us for a delightfully haunting time with our Tanners Lakeside Halloween Party and Costume Contest Saturday, October 28th Live Music by 99 In The Shade 7-10pm Food and drink specials all day and all night!
Have kids? Bring them in with their costumes on and they eat FREE!!
Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation Hosts 2nd Annual Saving Lives Matter Fundraiser
by James Coulter
Three years ago, tragedy struck the life of Melanie Brown Culpepper. Her fiancée, Michael Culpepper, suffered cardiac arrest. Despite the best efforts of first responders, he was unable to be revived and he passed away before arriving at the hopsital, where he was declared dead.
Not wanting others to suffer a similar fate, Melanie started Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to donate and install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout Polk County and finance scholarships to firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders.
Since its inception three years ago, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation has donated and installed nearly 20 AEDs in local establishments and businesses including Old Man Frank’s, Caribbean Bay, and Tanner’s Lakeside. Melanie and her crew donated and installed their 20th AED at Brew Hounds Sports Lounge last week.
Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation hosted its annual Saving Lives Matter fundraiser on Saturday afternoon at Tanner’s Lakeside in Winter Haven. Several hundred people attended this year’s event to listen to live music, eat barbecue dinners, and buy raffle tickets for various prizes donated by local businesses.
“I’m thankful and blessed that they all came out to support Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation,” she said. “It touches my heart. The way the community is pulling together, the way that everybody is coming out, they gave me raffles, they are helping me, and it is just an amazing turnout.”
This year’s turnout proved to be bigger and better than last year’s. Melanie owes her success to the overall goodwill that other people witness through her program. The more AEDs they donate to the community, the more people see the good that her organization is doing.
During the fundraiser, Melanie announced a new project: a mobile app that will allow users to locate nearby AEDs, especially those provided through her organization. The app is available on CulpepperAED.com.
“They are seeing that I am helping to save other people and that is how we have to do it to get money in to get AEDs out,” she said. “Honestly, [I love] everyone getting together and the town and community means so much to me that they all pull together when it means the most, and that is what it is all about.”
Brian Parrish has been a close friend of Melanie’s. She has assisted with his organization’s event, Winter Haven Ducks Unlimited. So, he gratuitously returns the favor by assisting with her organization.
“It is a real [good] cause,” he said. “It can happen to anybody at any time no matter where you are. If you are out with family having dinner, breakfast, or lunch, or you are out shopping, it can happen to anyone at any time. And if we had more of these AEDs in every location, it would save lives.”
Steve Wert has been a friend of hers for two years. He also knows her through Terica Kenne, another friend of Melanie’s who works closely in Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation.
“[I am] more than happy to help today,” Wert said. “Right now, it is early, but it looks good right now. It is a good turnout. All the tables are full. I hope we get more people and lots of donations and sell lots of tickets and we have a turnout for the auctions.”
FHP Sergeant Steps into Road, Selflessly Attempts to Prevent Driver from Striking Pedestrian
~ 71-Year-Old Driver Fails to Yield, Striking Sergeant resulting in minor injuries~
TAMPA, FLA. – Today, Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Troopers assisted with morning traffic control for the Hillsborough Academy of Math and Science. While stationed at the signalized intersection of West Waters Avenue and Montague Street, an FHP Sergeant observed a pedestrian pushing a child in a stroller traveling southbound on Montague Street.
As the pedestrian began using the crosswalk with a green signal, the Sergeant witnessed a motor vehicle traveling northbound on Montague Street and turning right under a green traffic signal, failing to yield to the pedestrian. To prevent a collision, the Sergeant stepped into the roadway and attempted to gain the compliance of the motor vehicle driver to yield to the pedestrian; however, the driver continued eastbound on West Waters Avenue.
Moments later, a 2020 Nissan Rouge, also traveling northbound on Montague Street, proceeded to turn right onto West Waters Avenue and struck the Sergeant after failing to stop. The 71-year-old motor vehicle operator was cited for failure to yield.
The Sergeant, a Marine Veteran who has been a member of FHP for 29 years, suffered minor injuries.
Editors Note: The FHP has. It released the Sargents name at this time.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA), recognizes October as Pedestrian Safety Month, placing emphasis on reminding drivers and pedestrians that staying safe is a shared responsibility. To learn more, visit: Pedestrian Safety – Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (flhsmv.gov).
Hispanic Heritage Festival Hosts Annual Event at Lake Gwyn Park
by James Coulter
For more than a decade, the annual Hispanic Heritage Festival has allowed Winter Haven residents, both Hispanic and non-Hispanic alike, to celebrate their community’s diverse culture and representation.
In previous years, the annual festival has been hosted at the Eloise Resource Center in Winter Haven; however, due to its growth in recent years, the event has since relocated to Lake Gwyn Park for this year’s event last Saturday.
“Normally, it was hosted at the Eloise Resource Center,” explained Boris Rodriguez, Rec Coordinator 3. “But because it has received so much recognition in the past couple of years, it has outgrown its location. So, we came here to Lake Gwyn to see if we could make it bigger and better.”
This year’s festival showcased the beautiful diversity and representation of the Winter Haven community, especially of its Hispanic residents and families. The event featured live entertainment, music, games, crafts, art, and food trucks and vendors.
Throughout the day, various children from local schools and dance groups showcased their cultural heritage with musical and dance performances.
Rodriguez owes the festival’s success to the overall support from the local community. Whether they are Hispanic or not, residents have shown that they are more than willing to embrace their community’s multicultural diversity.
“[It’s because of the] diversity of people who come out. Just the families coming together, different nationalities having a great time together,” he said. “It is a well-organized event with people coming out to support themselves as families.”
RainDance Winter Haven Apartments Opens 105 Units With Ribbon Cutting
by James Coulter
With more than six floors and 105 units, RainDance is the newest upscale apartment complex located in Downtown Winter Haven.
Located at 200 Avenue C SW near 1st and 3rd Street, RainDance Winter Haven Apartments has 105 one- and two-bedroom units with resort-style amenities including an outdoor pool with cabanas, a 24-hour indoor fitness center, and even a private pet spa and dog park.
RainDance celebrated its grand opening on Thursday evening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. Catering was provided by Lucille’s American Cafe.
Anita Strang, Executive Director of Main Street Winter Haven, mentioned how the apartment complex was part of an overall plan to provide more residential housing in the Downtown Area. The idea was recommended by Kennedy Smith, an expert in downtown revitalization.
“[He said] the recipe is here…[but] you need to build 500 residential units as fast as you can, and Downtown will flourish,” Strang said. “You will be able to support your eateries and top-notch retail.”
After two years of planning and developing through Six/Ten LLC, the apartment complex opened, managing to more than exceed expectations, Strang said.
“This apartment complex did not just provide residential, it went above and beyond,” she said. “This is beautiful. the amenities here, you do feel like you have stepped into the community that we’ve always dreamed we would grow into.”
Bud Strang, Chief Executive Officer of Six/Ten LLC, owed their success to their dedicated staff of investors, without whom none of this would have been possible.
“These projects are difficult to do,” he said. “They take a committed group of investors, and we have a great group. They are a great group and they are committed to Winter Haven and the surrounding community.”
RainDance is part of a plan to provide more than 500 residential units in Downtown Winter Haven to help promote economic growth and revitalization.
Jaquis McCullough, Community Director for the Winter Haven Planning Commission, commended the apartment complex for being a “visionary” and “beautiful development.” She hopes that the new complex will help draw out the best of Downtown Winter Haven, especially with its close proximity to many local eateries and other establishments.
“This apartment complex is part of your community,” she said. “Anything you love here in Downtown Winter Haven is here for you.”
RainDance is located at 200 Avenue C SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880. For more information, visit their website at: https://www.raindancewh.com/
“A nineteen-year-old facing felony Robbery charge after using a firearm to rob a smoke shop.
On Sept. 12, 2023 at approximately 3:16 p.m., 19 year-old Cervonte Omar Griffin (DOB 10-19-04, redacted) entered The Smoke Shop located at 211 Central Ave. E in Winter Haven. He approached the two owners inside of the store brandishing a firearm demanding, “Put all the stuff in the bag.” One of the victims told Griffin “no” at which time Griffin reached behind the counter taking multiple boxes of Vape Cartridges valued at approximately $1,000. Griffin started walking away, but then walked back towards the victims with the firearm in his hand advising the victims to “go back go back” and he left the store.
Winter Haven Police used images taken from store video helped to identify Griffin as a Winter Haven High School student. A positive identification was made and Griffin was taken into custody. Griffin was also identified as the suspect who grabbed 10 boxes of Elf Vape Pens valued at $600 from the same store on July 10, 2023.
Griffin was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with one count of Robbery With a Firearm (FL) for the Sept. 12 incident and one count of Petit Theft (M1) for the July 10 incident.”
On Thursday, September 21, the Auburndale Public Library will be hosting Family Night. This month’s theme is Apples to Apples! From 4:30 PM to 6 PM, enjoy a plethora of apple-themed crafts, snacks, and games.
Family Night is hosted on the third Thursday of each month at the Auburndale Public Library (100 W Bridgers Avenue). It is a great time for the whole family!
ROAD CLOSURE Lake Howard SW will be closed to thru traffic due to utility work. The closure starts around Ave. A SW to the bridge over the canal connecting Lk Howard and Lk May (where Old Man Frank’s is located). Detour signs will direct drivers at 15th St. SW and Ave. A SW (see the map attached) as a workaround on 7th St SW. This closure is anticipated to run to February 2024.
Join in for a great day of fun for the whole family, Saturday, October 14th at Tanners Lakeside for our annual Pumpkinpalooza. FREE EVENT 4-8pm. Costume contest for the kids. Kids in costume eat FREE. Have fun with Crafts. Soul2Earth is LIVE 7-10pm.
Also, businesses sign up for the opportunity to showcase your business. Email: [email protected]
