Lakeland will be celebrating a decade of LGBTQ pride with the 10th Annual Pride in the Park, to be hosted on Sat. June 14 at Munn Park in Lakeland.
The outdoor celebration will be hosted from 10 AM to 3 PM with festivities for all ages including live music, food trucks, arts and craft vendors, and drag shows.
Pride in the Park is part of a weeklong celebration being hosted to commemorate LGBTQ Pride Month. Other events throughout the week include:
Pride For Youth, a party for young people, hosted at United Women’s Club on Wed. June 11 at 6:30 PM.
Pride in Faith, an interfaith worship service, hosted at Beacon Hill Fellowship on Thurs. June 12 at 7 PM.
Friday Night Pride, a night of drinks, dancing, and drag, hosted at The Parrot on Fri. June 13 at 9 PM.
Pride After Dark, an 18+ party and drag show to be hosted at Union Hall on Sat. June 14 at 9 PM.
Scott Guira and Kerri McCoy, president and vice president of Polk Pride FL, recently appeared on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss the 10th Annual Polk Pride celebration. Listen to the full podcast here: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-62-in-ten-tionally-proud-wkerri-mccoy-scott-guira
Notice is hereby given that Lake Wales Storage intends to sell the property described below to enforce a lien under the Florida Self Storage Facility Act, Statutes (section 83.80-83.809). The owner will sell at public auction on or after June 19,2025 at 10:00 am at storageauctions.com
Units belonging to the following:
Ike Knighten/ Unit 1002
Lasaysha Taylor/ Unit 208
This sale will be continued on such succeeding sale days thereafter as may be necessary to be completed. *Unless otherwise noted units contain household items.
Speed Humps to be Installed on Eleventh Street Southeast and Friedlander Road near Highland City
by James Coulter
Diane is a resident who lives near Friedlander Road near Highland Park Manor. She has four grandchildren. Every afternoon, she worries for their safety when they and 40 other students get off the bus. Her concern, like that of many other residents, is with the traffic traveling during that time in that area.
Diane recently approached the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) during a public comments portion concerning the proposed installation of three-speed humps on Friedlander Road. She urged them to approve those traffic calming devices.
“We do need those speed bumps,” she said. “If you put those speed bumps there [on the road], that really, really help us slow that traffic down traffic and help those kids get back and forth [safely]. I sincerely thank you all for what you have done so far for us.”
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Polk County Commissioners voted to approve two resolutions to install traffic calming devices on two roads within the Highland City area: Eleventh Street Southeast near Highland City, Friedlander Road near Highland Park Manor.
In both instances, a resident had approached the county requesting the installation of traffic calming devices. County staff then conducted studies on both roads and “determined that the roadway met the Policy criteria based on traffic speed and volume,” wrote Jay M. Jarvis, Roads & Drainage Division Director.
Staff had also distributed ballots to residents living near those roads inquiring about the proposed speed humps. In both cases, those proposals “received a favorable vote from the required percentage of that population.”
The speed humps for Eleventh Street Southeast will cost an estimated $20,000 for their installation, while the installation of speed humps at Friedlander Road is estimated to cost $15,000.
Davenport, FL – A Bradenton man who is in the country illegally has been arrested and charged with manslaughter following a fatal incident at a construction site in Davenport on June 4, 2025. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred at the Grand Pointe Apartments development on Founders Way.
Deputies responded to the site after receiving a report of an industrial accident. The victim, identified as Jose Lopez, was found deceased beneath the raised loading bucket of a skid steer. The victim had suffered fatal head trauma consistent with being crushed by the heavy equipment.
Angel Bautista Martinez, 29, was arrested at the scene and is accused of operating the machinery at the time of the incident. Blood spatter within the operator’s cab and on Martinez’s pants was cited in the affidavit as evidence contradicting his claim that he was standing away from the equipment when the fatal injury occurred.
Martinez initially told deputies that the victim was manipulating the skid steer controls while standing beneath the bucket. However, the investigation determined that no blood or footprints were found in the area where Martinez claimed to have been during the incident.
Two witnesses provided statements indicating they believed Martinez was the one operating the skid steer at the time. One witness reported seeing the equipment moving as dirt was being driven back and forth, and stated no one else besides Martinez and the victim was in the immediate area during the incident. Another witness confirmed seeing the victim on the front of the machine and Martinez operating it.
The affidavit stated that Martinez’s operation of the skid steer while the victim was in an unsafe position showed clear culpable negligence. Investigators concluded that his actions were unreasonable and flagrant, ultimately leading to the victim’s death in violation of Florida Statute 782.07.
Because Martinez is reportedly in the country illegally, deputies are submitting paperwork to upgrade the charge to a first-degree felony. An ICE hold has been placed on him at the Polk County Jail.
Martinez was scheduled to make his first appearance in court. The investigation is ongoing.
On Sunday, June 1, 2025, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit arrested a Lake Wales man for felony animal cruelty, and seized horses and goats from his property on Poe Road in Lake Wales.
The investigation began after PCSO received a tip regarding two horses in a field that appeared to be malnourished. The horses were found by deputies in the following conditions: one was extremely skinny, with its rib and hip bones visible; another was laying on the ground in its own feces, unable to lift its head, and barely breathing – this horse succumbed to its severe neglect and was deceased by the time detectives arrived.
Detectives also found numerous environmental hazards, and several adults and children living in various structures on the property. The homeowner, Joemanuel Nunez-Suarez, DOB 10/20/1984, claimed ownership of most of the livestock, including eight horses (including the deceased one), 11 goats, and two sheep. Three of the horses were neglected and in poor condition. He told detectives that he was taking care of the animals for a friend but that it was too expensive to feed them, and that he told the friend to come get the animals three months ago. All of the animals were seized by PCSO and will be rehabilitated.
Piles of solid waste, including rotting household trash, scrap metal, waste wood, 23 tires, hundreds of flies, and broken appliances, were scattered about. Detectives also located a trough filled with a mixture of antifreeze and gasoline, leaking into water that the animals were then drinking.
Two suspects (Jorge Almeida Rodriguez & Idanys Queveto) were charged with the environmental crimes; two suspects (Barbara Suarez & Hennycha Rosa Rosa) were charged with resisting arrest; Barbara owned one of the horses, and she was additionally charged with animal neglect.
Nunez-Suarez was placed under arrest and charged with felony animal cruelty (F3), animal cruelty (M1), and three counts confining animals without proper food, care, and sustenance (M1).
Thunder, a two-year-old stallion owned by Barbara Suarez, that was kept in a small stall in a dark barn and never turned out to pasture.
“We appreciate the tipster who alerted us to the deplorable conditions on this property. It’s a shame we were unable to save one of the abused horses, but we will make it our mission to rehabilitate all of the animals that were subjected to this filth and neglect, and ensure these suspects are never again allowed to own animals.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Last month, my family and I went on a 7-day cruise on the Carnival Jubilee. We sailed from Galveston, Texas to Honduras to Mexico. Here’s a day-by-day travel log of my trip.
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Day 5: Mahogany Bay (Tues. May 6, 2025)
Today was our first port of call: Mahogany Bay in Rotan, Honduras. A scenic little island with lush green trees, rolling hills, and crystal blue waters.
One of the first things we did when we stepped off the ship was ride the chair lift to the private beach. It was crowded with folks sunbathing on the shore and wading in the water. We took a dip in the water for a little bit, then dried off and went to browse the shops. One of our family members bought a tiki, which was wrapped in a long brown package.
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There were many amenities at the beach. One place allowed you to dip your feet into a tank and let fish nibble at your toes. They claimed to have health benefits. I highly doubt that, but I bet fish tickling your toes feels good.
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I went back to the ship and had lunch at the sandwich shop Beach Buns. I ordered a grinder on a baguette with ham and cheese. I ate it with a side of chips and a bowl of tomato soup. The soup tasted more like sauce, and it had the texture of sauce.
I spent the rest of the afternoon napping in my cabin. I had nausea earlier that morning. I woke up in the middle of the night with nausea, and I woke up that morning with nausea. My sister gave me a pill to take. I did not have breakfast that morning. Only a ginger ale and a banana. Up until recently, I was feeling fine. I was not seasick. I just guess the extra rocking of the ship made me seasick.
We went to Chibang for dinner. It was a Mexican/Chinese fusion eatery. I had pot stickers with noodles and kung pow chicken. It was decent. I ordered the chicken because it was allegedly the spiciest dish on the menu. I’ve had spicier. And I had better Chinese food.
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I went to a comedy show later that evening. I didn’t care much for his jokes. One funny joke: he mentioned the ship’s coaster Bolt. It’s called Bolt because of a missing part. And the vehicles are shaped like jet skis so if they fly off the track, you can ride them to your next port of call.
Day 6: Costa Maya (Wed. May 7, 2025)
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Our second port of call was Costa Maya in Mexico. A scenic little getaway with swaying palm trees, thatched roof houses, and sandy white beaches with turquoise waters.
Two other cruise ships were moored at our pier. So, there was a lot of traffic with people disembarking from the ships. And the shopping plaza was even more crowded. Two unique locations included a poolside bar and a dolphin area where people can pet and ride dolphins.
My group mostly browsed the shops. One lady tried to get my sister to buy a $75 lotion. A lot of the shopkeepers pressed potential buyers to buy their merch.
I specifically wanted to find something with a mermaid. We’re in a tropical aquatic area, so I considered it fitting. I managed to find a snow globe. It went for $25. But my sister managed to haggle it for $20. So I got it for that.
Back at the ship, we ate lunch. I wanted the taco bar, but it did not open until 1 PM. So, I had a hot dog and shawarma instead. I then went to the gym to workout. The biggest downgrade: no air-conditioning. Back home, the treadmills had built-in fans, so that made jogging up a sweat more bearable.
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For dinner, we went to a hibachi grill: appetizers included a soup or salad and some seaweed salad with tempura. They served rice without eggs (because one of our family members has an egg allergy). It was really buttery. I ordered the shrimp and chicken. I even had some steak. It was good, but not as good as the Japanese places back home.
I went to the comedy club after. The comedian was Tim Young. His jokes did not impress me. Here’s one: “People fear that immigrants are taking their jobs. But robots are the ones who you really need to worry about. I should know. I gave my girlfriend…” Well, something I can’t say. Rimshot!
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So that’s two ports of calls down. One more to go. The trip is almost over. And how did it go? Stay tuned and find out as my tale comes to its conclusion.
Notice is hereby given that Lake Wales Storage intends to sell the property described below to enforce a lien under the Florida Self Storage Facility Act, Statutes (section 83.80-83.809). The owner will sell at public auction on or after June 19,2025 at 10:00 am at storageauctions.com
Units belonging to the following:
Ike Knighten/ Unit 1002
Lasaysha Taylor/ Unit 208
This sale will be continued on such succeeding sale days thereafter as may be necessary to be completed. *Unless otherwise noted units contain household items.
On Friday, May 30, 2025, deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men on multiple counts of animal neglect after discovering six dogs living in deplorable conditions inside a residence with no power or ventilation.
When deputies arrived to the scene, they were unable to make contact with anyone at the residence but observed and heard multiple dogs inside the home. The home had no power and there were no windows open for air circulation. The temperature inside the home was measured at 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
The dogs were visibly panting and the inside of the home was covered in trash, feces, and urine, the odors of which could be smelled from outside the home. In one of the bedrooms deputies observed trash and items stacked to the ceiling making it impossible to navigate through the residence, forcing them to climb over items and through feces to get around. No food or drinkable water was accessible to the dogs.
PCSO deputies conducted an emergency seizure of the animals. Body temperatures of the dogs reached as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit and ammonia levels in the home registered 25 ppm, a hazardous reading compared to the standard 0 ppm for clean air.
During the investigation, 29-year-old Alan Alderman and 65-year-old Thornton Arnold arrived at the property where they claimed only two of the dogs were theirs, three belonged to Alderman’s girlfriend who is currently in jail, and they were unaware the sixth dog existed. They were both placed under arrest and booked into the Polk County Jail.
All dogs were taken to Polk County Animal Control for medical evaluation and treatment.
Alan Alderman and Thornton Arnold were both charged with six counts of animal neglect, a first degree misdemeanor.
“We don’t tolerate animal abuse in Polk County. These dogs suffered due to pure neglect and now, their abusers are right where they belong.”– Grady Judd, Sheriff
Bartow, Fla. (June 2, 2025) – The 2025 Atlantichurricane season has started and the Polk County Emergency Management team reminds residents and visitors to act now to ensure they are ready for the upcoming storm season.
“Storms don’t wait and neither should you,” said Paul Womble, Polk County Emergency Management Director. “Taking action now can make all the difference when severe weather strikes.”
Prepare Now with These Tips for Developing an Emergency Plan
Build a Seven-Day Emergency Supply Kit
Residents are encouraged to compile an emergency kit that includes enough food, water, medication and essential supplies to last at least seven days. Potential items may include flashlights, batteries, important documents and items for pets.
Update your family’s communications plan. Establish how your family will stay in contact if separated, be sure to designate an out-of-town contact everyone can check in with. Make sure that everyone has key phone numbers written down, and not just stored in phones. Have a plan that includes the possibility that both power and cell phone service may be out.
Prepare Your Property
Homeowners and renters are urged to review their insurance policies and store important documents in a waterproof container. It is also recommended to create digital backups of essential records.
Trimming low hanging limbs and overgrown vegetation surrounding your home can protect the structure and help keep you and your loved ones safe.
Special Needs Planning
Families with medical needs should also review their emergency plans. Make sure you have a plan for those who may require the use of electrical equipment, oxygen or other special needs.
If anyone in your household requires medical devices or electricity, has mobility or cognitive impairments, be sure to plan for transportation and assistance in advance. A special needs shelter plan may be appropriate during a hurricane or emergency event.
To register for a special needs shelter and/or transportation, visit the Florida Special Needs Registry https://snr.flhealthresponse.com/.
Potential Polk County Public Emergency Shelters
Polk County has 48 emergency public shelters including three pet-friendly shelters and three special needs shelters that can be activated during an emergency. It is important to remember that not all public shelters are automatically activated during an emergency as shelters are opened as needed.
Residents should also sign up for the local alert system, Alert Polk to receive emergency notifications and follow Polk County Emergency Management on social media for real-time updates and safety information during a storm.
HAINES CITY – There’s an empty chair now on the porch of the home at 1005 Avenue D. Neighbors and passersby no longer receive a friendly wave or hear a cheerful “hello” from its longtime resident, Janet Jolly Smith. There will be no more invitations to join her there in the shade of the overhang to talk about the day’s events. The larger-than-life 95-year-old passed away on May 17.
Janet’s porch
“She yelled at many she knew to, ‘Come here, young blood’ or ‘Brotherman’ or by your name,” said Carolyn Jasper, a longtime friend and fellow church member of Janet’s. “She would even call you on the phone to ask, ‘Didn’t I see you pass by here? You didn’t stop.’”
She invited friends, police officers, and a host of others to sit on the porch – her life was there.
“From the time she got up in the morning until dark, she was on that porch,” Jasper said.
Smith was beloved by many on and off her porch —and occasionally challenged by some—for her unwavering commitment to what she believed was right. A familiar presence at city commission meetings, she never hesitated to speak up—whether to report a needed repair or to advocate for raises for the police department.
“Haines City was Mrs. Smith’s heart,” Jasper said. “She only wanted what was for the betterment and the safety of the city.”
Among her many passions was the push for a neighborhood pool in Oakland, where she lived. Although she didn’t know how to swim, Smith believed children and families deserved a safe, fun place to enjoy the water. In 2020, her efforts paid off when the city opened a new facility and named it in her honor: the Janet Jolly Smith Aquatics Center. At the grand opening, she joyfully dipped her feet into the water.
A Haines City native, Smith attended cosmetology school and went on to open Janet’s Beauty Salon which served the community for many years. She also owned Bexley’s Restaurant, open just on Friday and Saturday evenings.
“People came from far away for her food! She was a great cook,” Jasper said. She was somewhat famous for her “Flips,” a frozen dessert everyone loved she sold at the restaurant. The businesswoman also owned several rentals in the area, worked as a teacher’s aide and, eventually, as a substitute teacher in local schools.
In 2019, she was recognized for her love of the town when she was inducted into the city’s Hall of Fame.
In the program for that honor, it read, “Mrs. Smith has a heart and a love for Haines City. She was the first African American female to run for city commissioner. Although her bid was unsuccessful, she continues to be an active part of city politics until this day. She is one of the oldest active citizen organizers and community advocates in Haines City. Mrs. Smith has championed numerous initiatives. She has been instrumental in many community projects for the Oakland neighborhood and throughout the city. Her desire is to be simply known as a concerned citizen who wants the best for Haines City.”
Although she married twice, she never had any children of her own. But, she loved entertaining little ones saying that they just needed attention.
According to one of her two nieces, Sheryl Martin, her aunt had many “Janetisms,” like calling her walking cane, Will.
“For the last 25 years of her life, she was never without her constant companion, her cane, ‘Mr. Will.’” Martin said. “She said that he was so named because ‘he will help me walk and he will bring peace out of confusion.’”
For years, she was a devout member of the Greater St. Mark AME Church in Haines City.
“Sometimes at church, if the pianist didn’t show up, Mrs. Smith would play ‘Try Jesus, He’s Alright,’” Jasper said.
She is survived by her stepdaughter, Dannette Allen, Sheryl, one other niece, two nephews, their children and grandchildren, cousins, and other family and friends.
Janet Jolly Smith’s voice may be quiet now, but her legacy echoes through every corner of the city she fought for—and in the lives of those who answered when she called them by name.
