Winter Haven Public Safety
Make your plans to come out to find your future career at the Winter Haven Police Department. We’ll have demonstrations and food trucks! Come meet the family that makes our Department great! June 7, 2023 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 125 N Lake Silver Dr., NW
City of Winter Haven
Dr. John Maddox moved to Winter Haven from Bartow in 1922 due to a growing need for an experienced veterinary technician to look after cattle. Dr. Maddox is recognized as one of the pioneering black professionals in our community.
To learn more about pioneering figures in Winter Haven’s history, visit: http://ow.ly/qj4Y50O07yS
City of Winter Haven Proclaims June LGBTQ+ Pride Month
by James Coulter
The City of Winter Haven released an official proclamation recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Winter Haven Mayor Bradley Dantzler read the proclamation during the city commission’s regular meeting on Monday evening. It affirmed the city’s overall mission of promoting diversity and inclusion, especially in regard to gender and sexual identity.
“Winter Haven, Florida, is part of a global community in which people of diverse cultures, races, creeds, genders, and sexual identities must work together toward peace and understanding,” the proclamation read.
Furthermore, the City of Winter Haven recognizes Pride Month “in honor of freedom from prejudice and bias in any form, and in recognition and praise of those members of our community who constantly fight the battle for equal treatment for all citizens regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, creed, ethnic origin or religion.”
National LGBTQ+ Pride Month originated in 1999 as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. The month-long celebration includes Pride Day on June 28 to commemorate the Stonewall Riots which started the Gay Rights Movement. As such, Pride Day is celebrated on June 28.
The city proclamation was read not only to recognize National LGBTQ+ Pride Month, but also in conjunction with local organizations such as Polk Pride, PFLAG of Polk County, and the Lakeland Youth Alliance to help promote the upcoming Polk Pride event next month.
Started in 2015, Polk Pride is a weeklong celebration in June with several public events hosted in Lakeland. The main event is Pride in the Park hosted in Munn Park in Downtown Lakeland. This year’s Polk Pride will be hosted from June 10 to 17, with Pride in the Park hosted on Sat. June 17 from 10 am to 2 pm.
Scott Guira, president of the Polk Pride celebration, appeared at the city commission meeting on Monday for the official proclamation. He commended the city for regularly releasing their proclamation every year and recognizing the need for diversity and inclusion.
“I just want to thank you all very much for insistently offering this proclamation every year,” he said. “We began Polk Pride in 2015. It has happened every single June, and it has gotten larger every single year. Especially at a time right now where there is so much question about how we will treat each other equally and kindly and fairly. I really appreciate the commission standing up and standing firm that they will continue to embrace everyone in the community.”
For more information about Polk Pride, visit their website at: https://polkpridefl.org/
It’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! Let’s celebrate the diverse cultures and contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and pay tribute by engaging with some contemporary AAPI literature! #AAPIHeritageMonth
Books featured in the image: Hawaii’s Story By Hawaii’s Queen by Liliuokalani; The Decoy Girlfriend by Lillie Vale; Bliss Montage by Ling Ma; Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng; She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran; Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman; Better the Blood by Michael Bennett; Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim.
The City of Winter Haven has approximately $95,000 remaining for residents who incurred damage due to Hurricane Ian and are in need of assistance with insurance deductibles or repairs. Applications are being accepted now until all funds are gone.
Eligibility Requirements:
The home must be owned and occupied by the applicant for at least one year as documented by homestead exemption status. In addition:
· The home must be within the city limits of Winter Haven.
· The applicant must be current on Polk County property taxes.
· The applicant must have filed a claim with their insurance company.
· The applicant must have filed with FEMA, if applying for repairs.
Applications will be accepted on a first qualified, first served basis. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applicants must qualify based on total household income.
**Priority will be given to applicants who have Special Needs in accordance with F.S. 420.0004, and includes:
· An adult requiring live-in services in order to maintain housing or develop independent living skills and has a disabling condition.
· A person receiving Social Security Disability Insurance or Social Security Supplemental (SSI)
· A person who receives veterans’ disability benefits.
Contact:
Diane Durr, Affordable Housing Programs Manager
(863) 291-5600 Ext. 6108
Winter Haven City Hall
451 Third St. NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
To apply online, click the link below. All required documents must be uploaded and sent electronically (email) or mailed to address above.
Saturday, May 20
FREE Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show 5:00 PM
Location: Lake Silver
Bring your lawn chair!
Concessions available
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Latest update
A two-vehicle crash Thursday morning, May 18, 2023 east of Winter Haven left one person dead and three others injured.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched at about 5:06 am, along with Polk County Fire Rescue. The Florida Department of Transportation also responded to provide assistance with traffic control.
The crash occurred at the intersection of US 27 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard.
Evidence and witness statements revealed a white 2013 Freightliner truck, driven by 23-year old Jeffrey Glover of Lake Wales, was traveling north on US 27 and turned left (west) toward Cypress Gardens Boulevard on a red light.
The truck collided with a southbound blue 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, which entered the intersection on a green light.
The driver of the Tahoe, a 22-year old Haines City man, and a 24-year old male passenger suffered only minor injuries. A 25-year old male passenger suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene and a 38-year old male passenger was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and was listed in critical condition.
Parts of US 27 and Cypress Gardens Boulevard were closed for approximately four hours.
There are no criminal charges anticipated at this time, but as the investigation continues civil charges are likely.
UPDATE: 10:02AM
All roadways are back open. Complete details will be released later today.
ORIGINAL POST FOLLOWS:
The crash occurred at about 5:06am Thursday (5/18) and was reported to be a collision between a box truck and an SUV, but possibly three other vehicles were involved.
Detectives will work as quickly as possible to get this area cleared, but it is possible this could be a major issue for a few hours.
City of Winter Haven, FL
The Florida League of Cities recognizes local leaders who consistently work alongside the league to provide a local voice of advocacy to important legislative issues. This year, both Mayor Dantzler and Commissioner Mercer will receive this award this year.
“The league and its legislative team appreciate the individual advocacy efforts undertaken by municipal officials throughout the state,” FLC Chief of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook said in a news release. “Home rule heroes are some of our biggest advocates for protecting local decision-making. These league members stand out for their high level of participation, knowledge, and effectiveness. This year’s home rule heroes continuously advocated for their communities throughout the 2023 legislative session.”
Thank you Mayor Dantzler and Commissioner Mercer for advocating for Winter Haven!
Main Street Winter Haven
You may notice some dogs at Bark in the Park Downtown with a yellow ribbon tied to their leash. This dog might need a little extra space while enjoying the event. Please be mindful, kind, and stop by the Main Street Winter Haven tent if you’d like a yellow ribbon for your four-legged friend!
Bark in the Park is May 19 from 5:30-8:30
Winter Haven Police
Can you help identify this subject?
On March 27, 2023, the female went to Home Depot (8th St) in Winter Haven renting multiple pieces of equipment, including a trailer, 4 Toro Dingo TX427 Hydraulic Pkgs, 4 Auger Power Head attachments, and 8 Auger Bits never returning the items on the due date, April 3, 2023.
It has been determined the female provided a fake Michigan DL.
The amount of the equipment is valued at more than $71,000. She is also identified as conducting similar transactions at the Lake Wales Home Depot the next day.
Anyone with information on her identification or knowledge of this case is asked to contact Detective Meredith Moore at 863-837-9754.
f you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers:
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