Four Educators Honored At She Knows Where She’s Going 2018 Awards

-

May 15, 2018

Four Educators Honored At She Knows Where She’s Going 2018 Awards

by James Coulter

Four outstanding local women who have served their community through education were recognized at the 27th Annual “She Knows Where She’s Going” Awards hosted by Girls Inc. of Winter Haven.

Founded in 1947, Girls Inc. was started with the mission of teaching young women to be bold, smart, and strong as to better prepare them for the future.

Serving more than 250 young women from ages 5 to 18 in schools throughout the county, the organization has ensured that their members receive a well-rounded education.

The “She Knows Where She’s Going” awards ceremony was started in 1992 to honor local women who embody the principles heralded by the organization.

This year’s award winners are as follows:

George Jenkins Awards: Elizabeth Ann Birdsong

Elizabeth Ann Birdsong retired in 2008 after 36 years of leadership and service at Hillsborough Community College, a long and fruitful career through which she has received countless awards.

Believing that young women can fully realize their potential through education, she has strived to provide local girls with such opportunities through local civic organizations such as Florence Villa Community Development Corporation, the Polk County Chapter of 100 Black Women, and especially at Girls Inc.

She considers it fitting that she received the award named after George Jenkins, as it has been his example that has served as a personal inspiration of what one person can achieve through collective, unified efforts within their own community.

“Our responsibility to this community is not just to glean it of its resources, to take all that we can get and then not give back,” she said. “Our responsibility is an awesome one, that our greatest ability to make our community the best it can be is uniting our efforts. We are all endowed with special skills and talents, our gifts to humanity, and it would be a shame to rob humanity by not sharing those talents with each other.”

Virginia Snively Award: Jaqueline Byrd

For more than 25 years, Jaqueline Byrd has worked to ensure that all students receive a quality education through her roles as a teacher, principal, district administrator, and currently as a superintendent.

Her innovative ideas have garnered her much recognition, including winning the Key to The City in Lakeland in 2018. She continues to facilitate educational opportunity through many local civic organizations such as the Polk Education Foundation.

As someone who has scaled the career ladder due to the educational opportunity provided to her by her local community, she understands that it is her responsibility, as well as that of everyone else, to provide the same opportunity to young children today.

“I, too, was a student, and I did not know where I was going as a student, but God directed me into the path that he wanted me to go,” she said. “But upon the direction I was given a responsibility to direct you…and with that responsibility, I want to make sure that I pave the way and pay it forward.”

Ralph and Alice Thompson Award: Terri Nelson

Currently serving as a principal at New Beginnings High School in Winter for the past three years, she has served in many roles to help advance the education of children within the community, from a guidance counselor at Lake Wales High School to a basketball coach at Lake Gibson High School.

Aside from her career, she has also dedicated herself to giving back to her community through her church at New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist in Lakeland and though numerous civic organizations.

Believing in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, she realizes that the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in servicing others, understanding that she can reach her fullest potential by serving her local community.

“What I gained out of the experience, and what I realized was that I was at my happiest, not when I focus on myself and only what benefits me and my family, but when I was acting compassionately to help others,” she said.

Julie Pope Award: Dr. Nanette Rodgers

After 50 long years serving within education, Dr. Rodgers retired from her position as supervisor of early childhood education in 2003 and as coordinator for staff and support at Polk State College in 2010.

Since then, even exceeding age 80, she has continued to live a healthy and productive lifestyle, serving as an active member of the Lakeland Runners Club, and running and even winning many local marathons.

The secret to her long and healthy life has been a plant-based diet as promoted by the local health advocacy group, Chat and Chew, which has allowed her to become healthy enough not to require medicine.

When asked what in the past she would change as we move forward into the future, she advised everyone to focus on their mind, body, and soul.

“I know many people who have to take medicine, but at my age, I take no medicine,” she said. “For me, it is working well for my body.”

“Clean It Up to Green It Up” Program heads to the Inwood, Jan Phyl Village & Sun Acres Communities on May 19, 2018

Staff Reporter

-

May 14, 2018

0

“Clean It Up to Green It Up” Program heads to the Inwood, Jan Phyl Village & Sun Acres Communities on May 19, 2018

Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. in partnership with Polk County Board of County Commissioners is bringing their “Clean It Up to Green It Up” Program to the Inwood, Jan Phyl Village & Sun Acres Communities on Saturday, May 19, 2018.

Residents are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this program that will consist of a large-scale trash pick up throughout the selected communities (clean sweep). This program will provide disposal of items that are NOT generally collected with their residential garbage such as remodeling & household construction debris (shingles, drywall, etc.) on THIS DAY ONLY. All households are asked to participate by placing these items by the curb no later than 7 am for this one day event.

Absolutely NO tires or hazardous waste will be collected curbside.

Polk County Residents are asked to join Keep Polk County Beautiful at the Westwood Park, 1145 36^th St. NW, for a FREE Tire Recycling Event from 8am- noon. Residents of Polk County may dispose of up to 24 tires. Absolutely NO COMMERCIAL WASTE OR TIRES WILL BE ACCEPTED. Participants must show photo ID/proof of Polk County residency to take advantage of the free disposal. Waste Tire Hauling limits will be strictly enforced.

Trash collection services donated by FCC and Tire Hauling serviced donated by Advanced Disposal Services.

For additional information on the “Clean It Up to Green It Up” program, Tire Recycling or to find out when/if this program is scheduled to come to your community, contact Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. at (863) 875-8911 or email [email protected] .

It is a violation of Florida Administrative Code Rules to transport more than 24 Waste Tires over public highways without a permit. Violation of this rule would constitute a 1st degree criminal misdemeanor and be punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 and/or by 6 months in jail for further information please regarding the handling of waste tires please visit the DEP website http://www.dep.state.fl.us/ .

Routine Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest For Trafficking in Meth and Other Charges

Staff Reporter

-

May 14, 2018

0

Routine Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest For Trafficking in Meth and Other Charges

PCSO Release:
During the early morning hours of Monday, May 14, 2018, PCSO deputies patrolling the US Hwy 92 East area of Lakeland arrested 30-year-old Joshua Wesley Robertson, who has an active warrant for his arrest, and found a trafficking amount of meth and drug paraphernalia in his truck.

According to the affidavit, around 2:30 a.m. this morning, deputies made contact with the driver of a truck in the parking lot of the Bradley Motel, located at 3208 US Hwy 92 East in Lakeland. The driver had just gotten out of a red Ford truck that was registered to a registered sex offender (Robert Rogers) who has a curfew between 10:00 p.m. at 6:00 a.m.

When deputies asked Robertson who he was and asked for his identification, and then told him who the truck was registered to, Robertson laughed and said the truck’s owner was a friend of his who lets him use the truck at night because he cannot, due to his curfew. When deputies checked Robertson’s identification, they learned he had a warrant for his arrest for revoking his pretrial release on a domestic battery charge. Robertson also made a statement that he’s had a string of bad luck lately.

While searching Robertson, they found a piece of paper in his pocket that looked like a ledger, with names and numbers. A canine team responded, and the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the truck. A search of the truck revealed a backpack that contained the following:

Three bags containing: 19.98 grams of Meth, 0.80 grams of Meth, and 0.45 grams of Meth
Two bags containing: four Alprazolam (Xanax) pills, and two Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) pills
A digital scale
A plastic spoon
Three bags containing unused small Ziploc-style bags
Swabs and a straw
Another list similar to the one in his pocket, with names and numbers
A court snapout sheet for Joshua Robertson with case number 2018MM-002721 with a court appearance date for May 15, 2018.

“Good news – Joshua Robertson will make his May 15th court appearance. Bad news – he’ll have a whole new slew of charges. I’d say he hasn’t had bad luck lately – I’d say he’s been making bad decisions.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Robertson, whose last known address is 2910 Hickory Rd in Auburndale, was booked into the Polk County Jail and charged with:

1 count Trafficking in Meth (F-1)
1 count Possession of Hydromorphone (F-3)
1 count Possession of Alprazolam (F-3)
1 count Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M-1)
1 count Violation of Pretrial Release (M-3)

Tennis Lovers Will Love To Love-Love On New Winter Haven Tennis Complex

Staff Reporter

-

May 14, 2018

0

Tennis Lovers Will Love To Love-Love On New Winter Haven Tennis Complex

by James Coulter

Joan Birkes, a Winter Haven resident, has been playing tennis for 40 years, but has developed a recent love for pickleball ever since joining the Auburndale Pickleball League, known as the “Pickleball Gang.”

She and the 200 other members often play within the indoor courts of the Auburndale Community Center & Gym, but they now have a new playing location centrally-located within Winter Haven with the newly re-opened Tennis Court Complex.

Most tennis courts are not often built to accommodate pickleball. The nets for tennis are higher, and the boundaries for pickleball are smaller and shorter than tennis, she explained.

But the newly-refurbished tennis complex in Winter Haven not only has eight clay courts for tennis, but a bank of courts made specifically for pickleball.

“We are celebrating because typically we have to play on courts that are built for tennis,” Birkes said. “I found pickleball and love it because we laugh we act silly, it is great exercise, and it is just fun.”

The Winter Haven Tennis Complex was officially dedicated and opened to the public during the grand re-opening and ribbon cutting ceremony last Wednesday evening on May 9.

The newly-refurbished complex features eight clay courts, along with one instructional court and several smaller pickleball courts.

In the center of the complex stands a two-floor structure with an elevated observation deck on top and a pro-shop on the bottom, all of which is covered with a shading tarp nearly a block long, thus providing optimal shading and a panoramic aerial view of the entire complex.

The new complex will be used for various tennis classes and programs spanning ages young and old, from a USTA Net Generation class for ages 5-18, to adult drills for both men and women, as well as private and semi-private lessons, tournaments, and leagues.

The area on which the complex now stands was the original location of the Citrus Festival Grounds more than a century ago, and was even visited by President Calvin Coolidge on his way to the dedication of Bok Tower in 1929, explained Nathaniel Birdsong, Winter Haven Mayor Pro Tem.

By 1937, both the city commissioners and Rotary Club set aside the land for recreational purposes, and the tennis complex was constructed and opened later in 1942, Birdsong said.

Originally, the tennis court had asphalt courts and coin-operated lighting, but renovations were eventually made, with the main building being remodeled in 1977. The complex had since not received any major refurbishments over the past 50 years.

The past 20 years has seen the downtown area make a comeback with new facilities ranging from Trailhead Park to the Splash Pad, with the tennis complex being the most recent refurbishment, Birdsong said.

“For the past 90 years, many people have enjoyed the grounds of this part of town for recreation…[and] this complex with serve as an example of excellence for our community and Polk County for the next 90 years,” he said.

Mayor Brad Dantzler has been a supporter of the tennis complex refurbishment for many years, as he and his wife are avid tennis players, and even played one of the first matches together at the complex.

He remembers ten years ago when he received e-mails from city commissioners about why the complex needed to be refurbished, and he is now proud that those refurbishments have finally come into fruition.

His own family has been invested in the community’s recreational facilities and overall well-being for generations, as his grandfather was a supporter of tennis and recreations back in the 1930s.

“I am proud to know that my family has been involved in Winter Haven and its quality of life more than 75 years ago,” he said.

Refurbishments to facilities such as this are a mark of private investment within the downtown community, all of which will more than pay back in both economic development and overall higher quality living standards for local residents, he said.

“In addition to bringing tournaments, as businesses seek to relocate and prospective residents are looking for a new place to settle, I feel confident that they will be looking at our city as a place to be,” he said. “I am thrilled that this has finally come into fruition, and I am ready to get this place open and dedicated.”

The Winter Haven Tennis Complex is located at 209 Avenue F NW, and is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit the city’s website at: http://www.mywinterhaven.com/parks-and-recreation/facilities-parks/winter-haven-tennis-complex/

Or visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/CityOfWinterHavenTennis/

Cold case murder from 1986 solved in Polk County

Staff Reporter

-

May 11, 2018

0

Cold case murder from 1986 solved in Polk County

The 1986 murder of 37-year-old John Blakely has been solved by a Polk County Sheriff’s Office detective who picked up the investigation in 2015. Two men, James Mason and Milton McIntyre have been identified as Blakely’s killers.

On the morning of November 16, 1986, Blakely’s burning car was found in the woods near Idylwood Avenue and Highway 60, near Bartow. Two weeks later, on November 30, Blakely’s decomposing remains were discovered under a bridge over Charlie Creek on County Line Road, Fort Meade, with his hands bound.

Witnesses told investigators in 1986 that Blakely was last seen with James Mason. When questioned, Mason gave different accounts of Blakely’s death, but ultimately blamed it on his cousin, Milton McIntyre. Numerous witnesses told detectives that McIntyre had been overheard speaking about how he had killed Blakely; with one claiming McIntyre confessed to killing him.

McIntyre was never located during the initial investigation, and the case went unsolved.

In 2015, the case was re-examined. Several of the witnesses had died, including James Mason, who passed away in 2008.

A witness who was interviewed in 1986 was re-interviewed, and stood by his claim that McIntyre told him that he had killed Blakely, but threatened to shoot him if he ever told anyone.

Another witness came forward with a Crime Stoppers tip, and told detectives that McIntyre shared details of how he murdered Blakely.

McIntyre’s former girlfriend in 1986 stated that McIntyre and Mason used her car the night Blakely was last seen.

The detective spoke with McIntyre in the Hillsborough County Jail, and he denied knowing anything about the murder. However, he lied about living in the Ft. Meade or Bowling Green areas at the time of Blakely’s murder, and then lied about being in prison when it occurred.

Enough probable cause was established showing that John Blakely had been murdered by Milton McIntyre and James Mason, but just before it was presented to the State Attorney’s Office, it was learned that McIntyre died in prison on April 9, 2018.

On May 2, 2018, PCSO detectives and prosecutors with the State Attorney’s Office, 10^th Judicial Circuit, determined that the case should be cleared as solved, with the offenders deceased.

On Person Severely Burned & Haines City Firefighter Injured In Overnight Fire

Haines City

Staff Reporter

-

May 11, 2018

0

On Person Severely Burned & Haines City Firefighter Injured In Overnight Fire

Haines City Press Release

HAINES CITY, FL – Haines City Fire Department responded to a house fire Thursday night. Firefighters arrived at 29 Ash Street at approximately 10:15 p.m.

Upon arrival, crews found the house 80 percent involved in fire. It took approximately 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

“With the aggressive actions of the first arriving units, the Haines City Fire Department was able to contain the fire from spreading to nearby residential structures,” said Chief Mossgrove.

One occupant was severely burned and airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment. A Haines City firefighter sustained minor injuries but has since been released.

The fire is currently under investigation by Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Polk County Sheriffs Working Fatal Crash On S.R. 60

Staff Reporter

-

May 11, 2018

0

Polk County Sheriffs Working Fatal Crash On S.R. 60

PCSO Press Release

The East bound lanes of Highway 60 East of Bartow are now open. Traffic is flowing through the area in both directions, though please use caution. PCSO investigated a fatal crash (single vehicle, 1 fatality) on Highway 60 at Hadden Road East of Bartow that occurred around 6:00 a.m. East bound lanes were shut down until approximately 11:20 a.m. East bound traffic was detoured around the crash. West bound lanes remained open.

Crash information: at approximately 6:00 a.m. this morning, Friday, May 11, a single vehicle crash occurred on SR 60 near Hadden Lane, Alturas. Polk County Fire/Medics and Southeast District Patrol responded to render aid. Upon arrival the drver was determined to be deceased at the scene. No other vehicles were involved and no other victims were located.

The vehicle, a 2016, Hino Commercial flatbed truck was hauling metal building supplies at the time of the crash. Witness statements and evidence at the scene indicated that the truck was eastbound on SR 60 near Hadden Lane, when it drifted off the inside (left) lane into the grass median. The driver appears to have overcorrected, at which time the truck lost traction and began to slide and rotate as it travelled southeast across both eastbound lanes of SR 60. The truck travelled onto the south shoulder where it rolled over onto the roof. The cab of the vehicle collapsed, pinning the driver and causing fatal injuries. There is no evidence any other vehicles were involved.

The driver was not seat belted and the truck was not equipped with airbags. There are no obvious indications of what may have contributed to the crash. Impairment does not appear to be a factor at this time. The investigation is Here’s the driver information…

The victim has been identified as 27 Yr Old

Derek Thomas Fowler Of Thonotosassa, Florida.

Duke Energy Volunteers Come Together to Restore Habitat at Lake Wales Ridge

Staff Reporter

-

May 10, 2018

0

Duke Energy Volunteers Come Together to Restore Habitat at Lake Wales Ridge

By Allison Williams

On Monday, Duke Energy and Bok Tower Gardens partnered together for a volunteer event aimed at restoring the Lake Blue Scrub, which is part of the Lake Wales Ridge habitat. The location of this restoration project is 1801 Hobbs Road, Auburndale, Florida, 33823.

Jerry Miller, Government and Community Relations Manager and Nancy Dodd, Public Relations Assistant welcomed all the volunteers to the event. Miller stressed the importance of Florida’s scrubland. “If you’re from Florida or you’ve been here a long time, then you have an appreciation of the scrubland,” Miller said.

Peveeta Persaud, Duke Energy Spokesperson, is committed to giving back to the community and environment. Duke Energy is participating in 62 events throughout 35 counties in the state of Florida this month for Duke Energy in Action month.

“Duke Energy is committed to being a good environmental steward and community partner, Persaud said. “We are proud to partner with local agencies in Polk County to give back and to show that we are true neighbors in the area. We live here, we work here, we raise our children here, and we are proud to be able to reinvest not only grant money but also our time and energy put back into the communities.”

This is Duke Energy’s second year in a row partnering with Bok Tower Gardens to put on a volunteer event such as this restoration project.

David Price, President of Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales shared with volunteers that Bok Tower Gardens is one of 43 public gardens organizations in the United States that currently work with rare plant conservation.

“One plant in particular is the plant we are introducing onto this property and that is scrub lupine,” Price said. “Scrub lupine is a plant that could go extinct in our lifetime. We are working to propagate that plant and then put that plant back out into the wild. There are only one or two sites where it occurs naturally and those sites are vastly being encroached upon.”

Price expressed his gratitude for all the volunteers who came to help remove the scrub overgrowth and enhance the scrub lupine habitat in order to improve biodiversity.

Whitney Costner, Conservation Biologist at Bok Tower Gardens appreciates the partnership Bok Tower has with Duke Energy. She stressed the importance of recovering scrub lupine.

“The scrub lupine is federally and state listed as endangered,” Costner said. “The recovery goals for this species is to propagate plants and establish populations on publically protected lands. We’ve selected this site with FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) as a reintroduction site to help create populations so it can persist into the future. Part of that is clearing the landscape of all these really dense oaks, because what the lupine needs is open sandy spots so it can flower and set seed.”

Tom Palmer, Writer, Blogger and Wildlife Explorer brought photos of various plant species to educate the volunteers. He explained how far the land has come even since the 1980s when there was no garbage pickup available and people would dump trash into the woods.

Between the educated staff and helpful volunteers, The Lake Wales Ridge made tremendous progress in just a few hours. People scattered about and worked tirelessly for a few hours to condense the scrub, pull unnecessary weeds and improve the habitat so that the scrub lupine can thrive in its new habitat.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Haines City

Staff Reporter

-

May 10, 2018

0

Public Notice

Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of SolyMar Corazon de Calaca and intends to register the said name with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Tallahassee, FL and /or Clerk of the Circuit Court of Polk County, FL

Marysol Jaimes

SolyMar Corazon de Calaca

131 South 20th St Haines City, Florida 33844

4 Suspects Arrested Linked to More Than a Dozen Northeast Polk County Car Burglaries

Staff Reporter

-

May 10, 2018

0

4 Suspects Arrested Linked to More Than a Dozen Northeast Polk County Car Burglaries

PCSO Release:

On Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at about 2:49 a.m., deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in the Davenport area regarding suspicious people in a neighborhood, which ultimately resulted in the arrest of three adult men and a female juvenile for numerous car burglaries.

Arrested were 18-year-old Lazarus Mauvais, 19-year-old Keshawn Hodge, his brother 20-year-old Keith Hodge, all of Apopka, and 16-year-old Anaya Gaskins of Orlando.

On Tuesday morning, a resident of the Loma Del Sol neighborhood saw the group approaching several parked vehicles, before leaving in a dark colored pickup truck.

Deputies immediately responded, and attempted to make contact with the occupants of a truck in the neighborhood that matched the description. The four people within the truck jumped out and fled in different directions. It was discovered that the truck had been reported as stolen out of Orlando.

Two were caught trying to conceal themselves in a retention pond. The other two were stopped as they were walking through the neighborhood. A fifth unknown suspect is believed to have been involved.

During the investigation, detectives were able to connect the four suspects to more than a dozen car burglaries in the area, which also includes the Loma Vista, West Haven, and Four Corners neighborhoods.

“All four of these suspects have been in trouble before, and yet here they are again, out committing even more crimes. Our detectives are working with other law enforcement agencies in the Orlando area to see if they are connected with any recent burglaries there as well. We commend the residents in the area who saw something and said something – without that, we would not have caught these suspects so quickly” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Each one of the suspects is being charged with the following: Burglary Conveyance (15 counts), Attempted Burglary Conveyance (2 counts), Petit Theft (4 counts), Grand Theft (3 counts), Conspiracy to Commit Burglary Conveyance (17 counts), Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft (3 counts), and one count each Grand Theft motor vehicle, Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft motor vehicle, Loitering and prowling.

Mauvais and the Hodge brothers were additionally charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (Gaskins).

Anaya Gaskins was listed as a missing juvenile at the time of her arrest, and was already on juvenile probation for battery on a law enforcement officer and robbery by sudden snatching. She was also charged with violating her probation. Her criminal history consists of four felonies (robbery, battery on a leo/three counts) and five misdemeanors (petit theft, resisting/two counts, and disorderly conduct/two counts).

Keith Hodge’s criminal history includes four felonies (Grand Theft Motor Vehicle, Armed Robbery, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Sell, Resisting) and two misdemeanors (Possession of Paraphernalia/two counts).

Keshawn Hodge is currently on juvenile probation for Dealing in Stolen Property (felony), his only prior offense.

Lazarus Mauvais has a prior Burglary of Conveyance charge (felony).

Gaskins was arrested and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) in Bartow. The other three were arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail in Bartow.

DailyRidge.comFast Factual Free News!

DailyRidge.comFast Factual Free News!