City of Winter Haven Remembers Sep. 11 by Honoring Our Heroes

by James Coulter

Do you remember where you were on Sep. 11, 2001? Sheriff Grady Judd remembers. He was in a conference room doing paperwork when he received a call from his wife. She asked him if he had watched the news. When he asked why, she informed him that a plane had struck one of the Twin Towers in New York City.

Sheriff Judd turned on the television. No sooner had he done so, another plane hit the other tower. Sheriff Judd knew right away that the crash was a terrorist attack. When his wife asked how he could tell, he told her how he had received training to identify such a situation.

“If I asked you what you were doing a month ago, most of you wouldn’t be able to remember,” he said. “But if I asked you what you were doing 22 years ago, you can tell exactly where you were.”

During his speech, he urged his fellow citizens in Winter Haven to be mindful of their firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. It is their duty to protect and serve that ensure everyone else remains safe, especially considering such tragedies.

“[They] are out every day people doing heroic feats because they want to do what is best for you,” he said. “No one can ever break the American system as long as you live and we live as real Americans…I wish great blessing for each of our first responders and each of you and your loved ones.”

Sheriff Judd spoke these words during his speech at the Honoring Our Heroes ceremony hosted in Downtown Winter Haven on Mon. Sep. 11. The event was hosted to remember that fateful day and to commemorate the lives of the brave souls who gave their all to help those in need that day.

The Honoring Our Heroes event featured a Freedom Walk, where more than 100 residents walked through downtown in solidarity and remembrance of the lives lost 22 years ago. Participating in the walk were the honor guard, along with members of local scouting troops.

The main ceremony featured the color guard, the singing of the national anthem, and the reciting of the pledge of allegiance. Several city and county officials gave speeches ruminating on the events of that fateful day and the lives sacrificed to keep other people safe.

Gary Clark, Chairman of The Polk County Veterans Council, stressed the importance of teaching future generations about the events that occurred 22 years ago and the impact they made upon the nation.

“Evil truly does lurk in this world, and you have to go out and defeat it,” he said. “We need to be ever vigilant. That is what it means to be prepared.”

City Manager Michael T. Starves recalls being in a conference room at Temple Terrace ready to accept a job in Winter Haven. Ever since then, he has witnessed how the community has changed, and how it has thrived under the protection of its fire, police, and rescue services.

“I feel honored to represent a city that is so guarded by fire and police that work so hard to make sure you are safe in this community,” he said. “What they do every day to protect us is not without risk and is nothing without commitment.”

Melanie Brown Culpepper Donates 20th AED to Brew Hounds Sports Lounge

by James Coulter

For the past two years, Melanie Brown Culpepper has been raising funds through her organization, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, to donate several dozen automated external defibrillators (AED) throughout Polk County.

On Thursday evening, she donated her 20th AED to Brew Hounds Sports Lounge in Auburndale. The momentous occasion was commemorated, not only with her closest family and friends but also with coverage by Spectrum Bay News 9.

Ever since the tragic passing of her fiancée, Michael Culpepper, who passed away from cardiac arrest, Melanie has been doing her part to ensure that a similar tragic fate not befall anyone else. She started her organization, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation to support local first responders and donate AEDs to local businesses and establishments.

Since its inception, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation has donated and installed AEDs at locations including Tanner’s Lakeside, Old Man Frank’s, Caribbean Bay, The Mission, and several Moose and VFW halls. Melanie is currently planning on having a mobile app created to allow people to locate nearby AEDs in case of an emergency.

As for Brew Hounds Sports Lounge, Melanie was elated to not only donate her 20th AED through her organization but to also have it commemorated by her loved ones and even with coverage by a local news organization aside from Daily Ridge.

“This has been the most touching amazing time of my life,” she said. “It was amazing to be able to put out my 20th one.”

Melanie will be hosting her annual fundraiser, Saving Lives Matter, at Tanners Lakeside in Winter Haven on Sat. Sep. 16. She hopes to raise enough proceeds to continue donating more AEDs in the community and the county. She will also be announcing other projects.

“I hope everyone comes out to support me because, without the community and their support, I cannot make this possible,” she said. “Without the donations and sponsorships, I cannot make this happen, so I owe everything to them.”

Skip Jacobs has been the co-owner of Brew Hounds for 14 years and counting. He has been close friends with Melanie and has helped her with many of her endeavors. As someone whosefather passed away from cardiac arrest, he understands the importance of an AED and how such a valuable piece of equipment could help save someone’s life.

“She has been diligent with this community helping all of us,” he said. “It gives us as business owners the safety and security when someone is in need that is here, and she does great work with this community and putting out these AEDs, and we appreciate it and we are very thankful…We may not think about it, but for people who have been through these incidents, they can have peace of mind.”

Skyler Mazzarella has been working at Brew Hounds for two years. She has also been close friends with Melanie, and one of her friends who worked at Melanie’s salon now works at Brew Hounds. She appreciates what Melanie does and wishes her well in her philanthropy and charity.

“I adore Melanie,” she said. “She is everywhere, always helping everybody, and everybody sees that. I am personal friends with her. She is a sweetheart. It is personal for her, she took something that was a horrible situation and turned it into something amazing.”

For more information about Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, visit their website at: https://honoringculpepper.com/

Lake Hamilton Police Department Receives AED from Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation

by James Coulter

Unlike other cities, Lake Hamilton’s police department is not part of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. As such, most of its funding is local and its budget is smaller. So, when the department was unable to afford an automated external defibrillator (AED) for one of its vehicles, a local organization stepped in to donate one for them.

During the Lake Hamilton City Commission meeting on Tuesday evening, the police department was presented with an AED donated by Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to assisting first responders and installing AEDs across the county.

The AED was presented during the town hall meeting, which also included a swearing-in ceremony for six new law enforcement officers. Melanie Brown Culpepper, the founder of Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, offered a few remarks about the donation.

Melanie is good friends with someone whose aunt works at Lake Hamilton Town Hall. That person is Regina Pirtle, Police Operations Manager for Lake Hamilton, who had reached out to Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation to request an AED.

“I reached out to her, and she agreed to help us on the spot,” Regina said. “It is awesome. I think what she is doing is fantastic. I am all for it.”

During her remarks, Melanie mentioned how she started her foundation following the tragic passing of her late fiancée, Michael Culpepper, who had passed away from cardiac arrest.

During her emergency call, she was asked if an AED was available, as it would have helped her fiancée during that situation. Not wanting anyone else to go through what she went through, Melanie decided to start her organization to raise funds to donate and install AEDs throughout Polk County.

“I do it all for the sake of saving lives,” Melanie said. “If I can save one person’s life, then that is worth doing.”

Chief Michael Teague highly appreciated the donation, especially considering his department’s tight budget. As the PCSO does not fund their department, they were unable to give both of their police cars. So a donation like this is greatly appreciated, he said.

“We get called daily for AED use most of the time,” he said. “The officers will be the first on the scene before the paramedics and EMTs. So, it is a much-needed thing…I think it [Culpepper’s] is an awesome program. It will save a lot of lives. Everybody should be a part of the program.”

Since starting her organization two years ago, Melanie has donated nearly two dozen AEDs throughout the county. She will be donating another AED at Brew Hounds Sports Bar in Auburndale.

She will also be hosting her fundraiser Saving Lives Matter on Sat. Sep. 16 at Tanner’s Lakeside in Winter Haven. For more information, visit her website at honoringculepper.com

Winter Haven Police Department Hiring

Are you experienced with Florida Law Enforcement standards? We will pay you for that experience and give you a $5,000 sign-on bonus. Come find out all that Winter Haven PD has to offer!

Winter Haven Public Safety Department

Have you seen 16 year-old Jah’Metria George?
Jah’Metria was last seen at her Ridgewood Rd. residence on 9-2-23 around 1 p.m. She left the residence walking towards Home Depot.
She is 5’8 with medium length black hair.
She was last seen wearing (unknown color) a t-shirt, shorts and carrying a bag.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Maldonado at 863-837-0946.

City of Auburndale, FL Government

Support us in the fight against Breast Cancer!

Breast Cancer Awareness Shirts are on sale for $20. All profits will be donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida. Please bring cash or check made out to the City of Auburndale.

The deadline to preorder is Thursday, September 14, 2023. Orders and payment can be submitted at the Auburndale Fire Department located at 100 Ariana Avenue, Auburndale, FL 33823.

For any inquiries, please contact (863) 965-5522.

City of Winter Haven, Fl

Downtown residents, businesses, and visitors, please take note of some minor re-routing you may need to take over the next few months.

We are excited to be introducing sidewalk cafes to Downtown Winter Haven! Crews will need to close portions of Central Avenue between 2nd and 4th Street to safely complete construction. Here are some important notes:

• Closures will begin after Labor Day and are planned to be done by mid-November.
• 2nd, 3rd, and 4th streets will remain open to north / south traffic.
• All businesses along the corridor are open and ready to serve you! Plenty of pedestrian pathways will remain open, and way-finding signs have been posted to guide you to your favorite business.
• Plenty of parking is available in the parking garage on the corner of Ave A and 3rd St NW. Newly installed space counters are visible as you enter the garage to indicate the number of available spaces inside.

Want to learn more about the project or sign up for construction updates? Visit the project page here: https://ow.ly/hZSh50PHcG0

Local Biker Group Raises More Than $400 for Local Boy with Leukemia

by James Coulter

Local bikers were able to listen to live music, buy law enforcement memorabilia, eat wings, and drink shots for a good cause. Not only did they have a good time, but they raised money to support a young boy with cancer and his family.

The Polk County chapter of Legion of St. Michael, a law enforcement motorcycle club, hosted a bike night at Tanners Lakeside on Friday evening. The event featured a live performance by the Conspiracy Theory Band, memorabilia sold by Ten-86 Outfitters, and specials including $1 wings and $ Jell-O shots. They even auctioned off a crossbow, several air pods, and a gift card for Old Man Frank’s.

Overall, the bike night event raised $425 to help cover the medical expenses for Luke Shaver, a 7-year-old boy from Bartow who was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

A Facebook group, Fight Like Luke, was started a week ago to help garner financial and emotional support for Luke and his family. The page has since gained more than a thousand followers.

Upon hearing about Luke’s diagnosis, Eric Miner, the state boss for the Legion of St. Michaels, decided to host the shindig on Friday evening to help support Luke and his family. 

Eric Miner’s father had passed away from AML, so he can empathize with Luke and his plight. He had the opportunity to meet the kid’s family over the weekend, and upon doing so, decided to gain support through the bike night.

“This kid is a fighter,” Miner said. “Being able to help is the biggest thing for me. Getting everyone out here to help and give the kid all that more inspiration…[We want to] do what we can to help raise some money.”

Another fundraiser for Luke will be hosted at Beef O’Brady’s in Lake Wales on Sat. Sep. 9 from 11 AM – 2 PM. A donation box will be present, and several gift baskets will be raffled off. To learn more, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/820840626112959

Polk County Parks & Rec

Find your favorite (not too spooky) friend and join Polk County Parks & Recreation’s Ghostly Gala at Eloise Resource Center!

Polk County Parks & Rec are bringing in a haunted weekend to Eloise Resource Center with fun Halloween games, creation stations, and lots of prizes and giveaways for families! Kids will have the chance to show off their favorite Halloween costume at our 7p.m. costume contest.

It’s going to be a haunted who’s who at Eloise Resource Center on Friday, October 27 from 6-8p.m. Admission is free!

Ghostly Gala
710 Snively Ave., Eloise
Friday, October 27

A reminder from Winter Haven Public Safety Department

In the aftermath of Idalia, please don’t let your guard down. Scammers are out there for either residential or business repairs and those rascals who choose to set up fake Relief Effort sites.
Do NOT cave in to those pressure “sales” to help you clean up or repair.
And donations to help, Don’t fall for it. Only give to reputable agencies and never give your personal and/or financial information over the phone.
When in doubt, tell the solicitor you need to talk to your family. And stay firm. (If on the phone, HANG UP) and if they are in person, don’t open the door and, goodness gracious do not let them inside!
That will shut them down.