*** DEADLINE *** If you are interested in attending Bartow Police Department’s 2018 Citizens Police Academy, you must submit your application by Sunday, Jan. 28th. Don’t miss this fun ‘once a year’ Program! Call today for your application!
Lakeland PD is Conducting Investigation into Homicide at Lakeland Manor Apartments
LAKELAND, FL (January 23, 2018) – On Monday, January 22, 2018, shortly after 4:00 p.m., Lakeland Police officers were called to Lakeland Manor Apartments, 929 Gilmore Avenue, in reference to a suspicious death. Officers were met by the facility’s maintenance worker who advised that he had discovered a deceased male inside apartment #11 while performing an inspection.
Upon entering the apartment, officers confirmed that an individual, later identified as Roderick Childs, age 55, had been shot and killed. Detectives immediately responded to the scene and began interviewing residents in the area.
There are no suspects identified at this time and detectives encourage anyone with information to call 863.834.8955. This is an ongoing investigation.
Winter Haven Gives Away Free Trees At Arbor Day Celebration
Winter Haven Gives Away Free Trees At Arbor Day Celebration
by James Coulter
It’s not easy being green, especially in the middle of a white winter, but it’s never too early to start thinking green.
That’s was the intention of the City of Winter Haven during its fifth annual Arbor Day Celebration last Friday.
The Arbor Day event was hosted last Friday afternoon in collaboration with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Services and the Florida Forestry Service.
The event served to educate participants on tree care with demonstrations about properly planting, pruning, selecting, and caring for trees.
Each participant received their own paper passport, which would be stamped at four stations where they could learn more about plant care.
Upon having their passport filled out, they were then eligible to receive a free tree, ranging from a large sweet bay magnolia, a medium-sized dahoon holly, or a small sparkleberry tree.
Each of the trees this year were provided through a grant by the Florida Forestry Service, and were selected for high-wind resistance, as many trees in the county had been lost due to Hurricane Irma, explained MJ Carnevale from the City of Winter Haven.
Helping with the event were volunteers from the Master Gardeners program through UF/IFAS Extension Office, which helps provide local citizens with information and education about plant care.
Through these demonstrations, the volunteers helped educate participants about avoiding mistakes that most new tree owners often make.
For example, one mistake that many new tree owners make is digging their hole too deep, explained volunteer Sandy Woods.
As such, when digging a hole for a new tree, people should be attentive and not dig the hole too deep nor cover up the soil around the tree, she further explained.
Another common mistake is fertilizing trees too soon. Never fertilize trees during the first four to six weeks, as doing so could burn and harm the roots, explained volunteer Julie Shelb.
“If you think you have a nutrient deficiency, then call our extension office our Master Gardener Plant Clinic,” she said.
Betty Harrison, another Master Gardener volunteer, has been cooperating with the event since its inception five years ago, and she enjoys helping teach people about local plant life and care.
“I enjoy meeting all the people, and they are getting something to help our environment,” she said. “I want them to take away the joy of having something green and growing in their yard.”
For the past five years, the Arbor Day Celebration has inspired locals to become more interested in planting their own trees, and as such, help inspire them to become more concerned about their local urban environment, Carnevale explained.
“When you look at urban forestry as a whole…we are trying to increase diversity across town,” he said. “By giving these trees away, we are able to get them planted in the urban forest.”
5K Event At Bone Valley ATV Park
5K Event At Bone Valley ATV Park
(Jan. 23, 2018) – Bone Valley ATV Park’s second annual Color the Trail 5K run is coming up on Feb. 3
Participants will enjoy a fun and adventurous trail run that features 3.1 miles of uneven terrain and blasts of color along the way. The race will be timed by FITniche this year and will end with an awards ceremony for various age groups.
Runners can pre-register at https://www.athlinks.com/event/color-the-trail-5k-228477. The race entry fee is $25 per person and includes a t-shirt and swag bag. Runners can also register the day of the event at the park for $30 per person with t-shirt and swag bag available while supplies last. For more information about the Color the Trail 5k Run, please call (863) 534-6911.
Bone Valley ATV Park, located at 104027 County Road 630 West, Mulberry, will be closed to all off road vehicles during the event. The park will resume normal operations after 1 p.m. and will be free for all dirt bikes, ATVs and riders. For more information on the park, along with all regulations, visit www.BoneValleyATV.com or call (863) 428-0525.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort Kicks off the End of January with LEGO NINJAGO Days
LEGOLAND Florida Resort Kicks off the End of January with LEGO NINJAGO Days
By Allison Williams
LEGOLAND Florida Resort kicked off its LEGO NINJAGO Days Saturday. When the gates opened, children ran inside the park to explore all of the Ninja-themed events and shows throughout LEGOLAND.
During LEGO NINJAGO Days, the park opens at 10 a.m. and just as the gates open, the crowd is invited in to gather around for to see the opening show. One lucky child gets chosen from the crowd to hit the gong, signaling that the park and LEGO Ninjago Days is officially open.
Not only do children get to experience Ninja-themed events throughout the day, but also they are encouraged to go to LEGOLAND dressed in their favorite ninja or villain costumes. The children dressed up have a chance to win a prize each day.
During park hours, children are given the opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt to locate Master Wu, the famous ninja mentor in The LEGO Ninjago Movie. Children pick up entry forms toward the front of the park at the LEGO Studio Store and then head to MINILAND USA to see how many hidden Master Wu characters they can find. MINILAND USA has several landmarks from around the United States made entirely out of LEGO bricks.
After completing the scavenger hunt, children bring back their entry form with the number of Master Wu figures they found and receive a LEGO brick prize for playing. The entry forms are also put into a box for a drawing to win a LEGO prize pack.
The Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theater also has showings of Master of the 4th Dimension playing multiple times throughout the day. This short movie gives children a 4D experience about the heroes of NINJAGO City. Children are also able to meet Master Wu himself at the theater.
Just outside of LEGO NINJAGO World, real-life ninjas perform a show for the crowd three times a day. They dance, flip, fight and show off theirs ninja skills to entertain the crowd.
Also outside of LEGO NINJAGO World is where Ninjoga takes place. At 2 p.m. a ninja-themed yoga class takes place. The first 50 children who sign up for Ninjoga receive a souvenir LEGOLAND towel to take home with them after the Ninjoga class.
LEGO NINJAGO Days is only available for a limited time.
Dates:
January 20-21
January 27-28
February 3-4
Haines City Unites On MLK Unity Day
Haines City Unites On MLK Unity Day
by James Coulter
Being raised in a small town like Haines City allowed James Taylor to accomplish big things in both the world of sports and business.
Having started out as a humble basketball player at Haines City High School, Taylor would go on to become the second men’s basketball player to be inducted into Lynn University Hall of Fame.
As the founder of Taylormade Athletes, he inspires and mentors young people to grow up and become exceptional individuals like himself.
His many other accomplishments range from winning the 2013 emerging business award from the Palm Black Chamber of Commerce to being honored in the White House in 2011.
All of the big accomplishments he made in life he owes to the values he gained growing up in Haines City, which he considers to be the “Heart of Florida.”
Such heart allowed him to do great things, and it is the same heart that Martin Luther King, Jr. had that motivated his role in the civil rights movement.
“The spirit of [MLK] is here because he had a heart for what was right, for what was hard…to stand up to injustice…to show us as people that we are responsible to build our own bridges to get our way out, not to sit back and wait for someone else to do it for us,” Taylor said.
Taylor was honored for his big deeds that he accomplished from his small town with an award conferred to him during this year’s MLK Jr. Unity Day Festival in Haines City on Saturday.
Taylor served as the keynote speaker that afternoon, and spoke alongside other figures within the community to honor the late civil rights leader and his legacy.
Keeping in line with MLK’s legacy of unity, the theme for this year’s celebration was “we can do better only if we do it together.”
City Manager Deric Feacher underlined this theme during his welcome speech as he assured his constituents that he and his fellow staff members were dedicated towards moving the city forward into a better direction.
“We are excited about the great things here in Haines City as we prepare to move Haines City forward,” he said. “It is a new day and a new vision and we are moving forward together.”
Pastor Dorothy Kennedy of Free Hope Baptist Church offered the spoken word, in which she reminded everyone that, despite the progress made in civil rights since MLK, that there is still much more progress that needs to be made.
“As long as there is still police brutality, we can never be satisfied,” she said. “As long as there is a [person] in Mississippi who cannot vote and a [person] in New York who believes he has nothing to vote for, we can never be satisfied…[and] we shall never be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness as a mighty stream.”
Pastor Frank Adams of New Horizons Church in his invocation reminded everyone that such progress could only be made as long as everyone remains vigilant within their faith.
“I hope that you are empowered to keep moving forward together in unity and love,” he said.
The celebration was hosted on Cook Field and featured various local vendors and food trucks offering merchandise ranging from jewelry to homemade crafts.
Earlier that morning, the celebration kicked off with a parade that started at City Hall on Main Street and moved through downtown before ending at Cook Field.
More than two dozen floats were featured within the parade from local schools, churches, and organizations including the local Boys and Girls Club, NAACP, and the Haines City Northeast Revitalization Group.
Also participating in the parade were a few local politicians using the opportunity to promote their campaigns, including Bob Doyel for State Senate District 22and Sarah Fortney for the Polk County School Board.
Musical performances were provided by local bands and dance troupes, including Haines City High School and Bishop Brothers and Entertainment.
Surveillance Video Released on Eagle Ridge Mall Incident
UPDATE:
Eagle Ridge Mall Incident
On January 23, 2018 a digital composite image of the person referred to as person of interest 2 was completed. This case remains an active investigation and there is no other information to release at this time. Anyone who recognizes this person of interest is asked to contact Detective Whitney Dukes at (863) 678-4223 extension 269 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.
Eagle Ridge Mall Incident
LWPD Release:
As the Eagle Ridge Mall investigation continues, we have determined there were only two devices which were ignited in the service corridor. These devices were not IEDs or pipe bombs but rather they were flares disguised with electrical tape. Bomb technicians indicated the devices were not constructed to detonate or explode. Based on the investigation it is believed the damage to the ceiling was caused by the suspect, not an explosion.
At this point in the investigation the motive of the suspect(s) has not been determined. There has been an overwhelming amount of support and assistance from all levels of law enforcement. We are working closely with these agencies to examine evidence, locate and review surveillance video, and follow up on all leads.
Persons of interest at this time are described as: 1) White male, middle aged, heavy/stocky build, wearing a grey shirt and grey hat. 2) Believed to be white male, 20 – 40 years of age, wearing a dark colored hat with a jacket, and light colored shirt.
There is no current indication of any terrorist connection to this crime. There have been no other items located at the Eagle Ridge Mall that have caused concern. The public is safe and the mall is open for business.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Whitney Dukes at (863) 678-4223 extension 269 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.
PCSO Seeking Public’s Help for Information on a Fatal Hit & Run
The PCSO Traffic Unit is investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 21, 2018, and is seeking the public’s help.
Preliminary information so far is as follows:
On January 21, 2018 at approximately 11:30 PM, the PCSO Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 911 call in reference to an adult male pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle in front of International Market World, 1052 US Hwy 92 West in Auburndale. It appears the victim was struck by a vehicle in the westbound turn lane that turns into the Flea Market. The vehicle would have been traveling westbound.
The victim has been positively identified as 45-year-old Eduardo Sanchez of Dietz Road in Bartow.
“We’re hoping someone saw something in the area at the time this man was killed. No matter how insignificant you think something is, if you saw or heard something suspicious, please, please give us a call. Whomever killed this man needs to be identified and arrested.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
If anyone has information about this incident they are urged to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.
Anyone with information who wants to REMAIN ANONYMOUS and be eligible for a CASH REWARD is asked to call HEARTLAND CRIME STOPPERS AT 1-800-226-TIPS or log onto www.P3tips.com to submit your tip via the web. For a secure and password protected mobile app for your smart device, go to the app store and download the free “P3tips” mobile app. No caller ID, no recorded lines, no tracking cookies, no saved IP addresses. Anonymity is Guaranteed!!
UPDATE: Improvised Explosive Devices Found at Eagle Ridge Mall
UPDATE: 8:15 AM
It was determined there were 2, not 5 or 6, improvised explosive devices inside the service corridor. Both of the devices had been ignited. No other explosives were found in the backpack that was in the corridor.
The two improvised explosive devices are described as a type of flare, inside a pvc pipe, and then wrapped in electric tape.
It has not been determined how they were ignited. These two devices did minimal damage inside the corridor. No other devices have been located inside or outside the mall. There is nothing at this time to indicate this act was terrorism. Video surveillance is being reviewed for leads at this time.
We will bring you more when it becomes available.
UPDATE: Improvised Explosive Devices Found at Eagle Ridge Mall
On January 21, 2018, at 5:22pm the Lake Wales Fire Department responded to Eagle Ridge Mall, located at 451 Eagle Ridge Dr in Lake Wales, in reference to an alarm call. While enroute the call was changed to a structure fire. Once on scene the fire department located smoke coming from a corridor located next to the mall entrance of JCPenney.
The fire department discovered an improvised explosive device had been detonated in corridor. They also located a backpack in the same corridor with other possible improvised explosive devices in it. There were no injuries as a result of the explosion but there was damage to a drop ceiling and possibly to the corridor wall.
At 5:30pm the Lake Wales Police Department responded to begin a criminal investigation.
The mall has been evacuated. On scene assisting with the investigation is the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshall, and the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad.
Based on information provided by witnesses we are looking for a person of interest who is described as a middle-aged white male, heavy/stocky build, wearing a grey shirt and a grey hat.
We will bring you more as it becomes available.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Lake Wales Police Detective Whitney Dukes at (863)678-4223 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.
Possible Bomb Threat Investigation Underway at Eagle Ridge Mall
We have reports of a suspicious packages placed throughout Eagle Ridge Mall, suspected to be homemade bombs. Suspect was seen fleeing wearing a ski-mask.
The mall is currently being evacuated.
Please stay away from the area and check back here for updates as this situation unfolds.
Update: 6:13PM
Whitnesses on scene are stating they seen several suspisious packages around the mall. Attention was drawn to the situation after people heard something that sounded like firecrackers exploding.
The suspect was seen fleeing the scene wearing a ski mask.
