Lake Wales, Florida – On June 13, 2022 the Lake Wales Police Department arrested Joshua Lee Miller, DOB: 01/29/1988, on multiple charges. Miller allegedly lead officers on a short pursuit through the city. Here is an excerpt from the Lake Wales Police Affidavit. It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Lake Wales Police Department. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. Lake Wales Daily does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to your own conclusion.
“ On June 13, 2022, I was patrolling the area of Central Ave and Hwy 27 in my marked patrol vehicle. My patrol vehicle is equipped with large reflective insignia reading, “Lake Wales Police Department”. My vehicle is also equipped with exterior emergency lights on the roof.
While patrolling, I observed a silver Chevy Malibu bearing Florida tag QEYF75 traveling eastbound on Central Ave with a tinted windshield and dark tinted windows. I activated my emergency lights and sirens and attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The vehicle accelerated and got very close to a vehicle in front of him. As we approached the intersection of Dr. MLK Jr Blvd, the Malibu attempted to go around the vehicle in front of him, continuing south bound on Dr. MLK Jr Blvd. Det. Rhoden (L384) attempted to block the Malibu from passing the vehicle. The Malibu passed the vehicle and turned into the parking lot of Lake Wales City Hall, located at 201 W Central Ave, at a high rate of speed. As the Malibu pulled into the parking lot, it struck a curb with its back passenger tire. The Malibu continued fleeing north through the parking lot. As the Malibu was fleeing, the front passenger window rolled down and a black plastic bag flew out of the window. The Malibu then suddenly pulled into a handicapped parking spot in the parking lot of the driver door immediately opened.
I exited my patrol vehicle and retrieved my firearm from its holster. I looked at the driver of the vehicle as he exited and immediately recognized him to be Joshua Miller. I pointed my firearm at Miller and ordered him to the ground. Miller complied with my commands and laid on his stomach with his hands exposed. I placed Miller in my department issued handcuffs and cleared the vehicle of any additional occupants. I conducted a search of Millers person and placed him in the back seat of my patrol vehicle.
I had prior knowledge Miller possessed an active Polk County Warrant for Fleeing to Elude (CF22004953XX). I also had prior knowledge Miller did not possess a valid Driver’s License.
The black bag was recovered in the parking lot where he threw it out at. Inside of the bag was approximately 119.20 grams of Cannabis. The Cannabis was packaged individually in five separate bags. There was also a small clear baggie with .20 grams of Ecstasy (MDMA) and .20 grams of Methamphetamine. There was also a small scale with Cannabis residue inside of the bag. All narcotics were analyzed using department issued field analyzers and they all showed positive results. The Cannabis has been sent off for testing. I conducted a search of the vehicle and located a large amount of money in a rubber band. The wad of money added up to be $6,930. The wad consisted of 45 100 dollar bills ($4,500), 43 50 dollar bills ($2,150), and 14 20 dollar bills ($280). I utilized my department issued tint meter and found the windows adjacent to the driver were 3%, 25% below the legal limit.
I contacted the Polk County Crime Information Center (CIC) and confirmed the warrant. I also ran Miller’s criminal history for previous convictions for Knowingly Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR). CIC advised he was convicted on, 12/4/15, 1/19/2017, 8/18/2021, 11/29/2021. CIC also advised he was convicted of Reckless Driving on 1/19/2017. CIC also told me Miller was on Polk County Probation for Fleeing to Elude, set to be released on 10/20/2023. I also confirmed through CIC Miller’s driver’s license was Revoked on 06/20/2018.
Based on the facts of this case, Miller is being charged with Fleeing to Elude (AEQMLBE), DWLSR 3+ Subsequent Offense (AEQMLCE), Reckless Driving 2+ Subsequent Offense (AEQMLDE), Possession of MDMA, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sell, Violation of Probation, and a Polk County Warrant.
Miller was transported from the scene to the Lake Wales Police Department for arrest procedures and he was later transported to the Polk County Jail without incident.”
Refuge on the Ridge Helping Men Conquer Their Addictions
by James Coulter
Brian Flores hit a low point in his life six years ago. He got divorced. He lost custody of his kids. He became addicted to drugs and alcohol trying to drown his misery and pain. He went to jail, and after his release, found himself homeless and living on the street.
Flores tried a rehabilitation program in Lakeland, but he did not succeed. His mother informed him of another program in Lake Wales: Refuge on the Ridge. He became the first person enrolled in that program. He cleaned himself up, freed himself of his drug addiction and alcoholism, and mended his relationships with his family and God.
“They taught me how to deal with issues from my past,” Flores said. “They got me through a lot of issues that led me to go into drugs and alcohol, a lot of behavior patterns that allowed me to repair relationships with my family.”
As someone who had previously attempted a program and failed, his major challenge was trusting the process. He knew he stumbled and fell before, and he did not know if he would make it a second time around.
“The biggest challenges…was trusting in the process, sitting still, listening, just giving up control over my own life, giving it up to God, and trusting the counselors there,” he said. “When I started listening to what they were trying to teach and [not having to do] it my way, the lights started to come on. I was able to see what it was all about. I have shifted from it being all about me, [to learning how to serve others, and] get my priorities straight with the Lord and my family.”
Refuge on the Ridge in Lake Wales is a ten-month faith-based regeneration program for men. As their website states, their program is dedicated to “helping men find freedom from their addictions” within a secluded, safe environment “away from the day-to-day chaos and distractions” that will allow them to focus on their relationships with their family and with Jesus Christ.
Pastor Andy Blair, the program founder, says one of the reasons for the program’s success to its unique format. Most programs are just 30 to 60 days long, not long enough to get people clean of their addiction, Pastor Andy said. His participants remain in the program much longer, enough for them to overcome their addiction and mend their relationships. They also address the core problems that lead to addiction.
Jonathan Porter teaches the program’s inner healing class, which helps participants address the personal problems that led them to their addiction. Porter helps others overcome these obstacles as he once overcame his own to help battle his addiction.
Porter was addicted to meth, alcohol, and other substances for 20 years. In 2019, he went to a regeneration program at Dunklin Memorial Church in Okeechobee. He went through the initial program in ten months, then stayed an additional two years for servant leadership training and staff training.
He later met Pastor Andy, who invited him onboard to Refuge on the Ridge. Since 2021, he has helped others overcome their addiction the same way he was helped through a similar program. Overall, he owes the program’s success to God.
“That is why we have been so successful,” he said. “Because we based everything on a Biblical aspect. We prayed to open up a relationship with God and deal with the core issues and problems in life instead of dealing with only the addiction problem. That is why we have been so prosperous because we are doing what we are supposed to be doing in the same aspect.”
Relationships are another key factor behind the program. Rather than keep them isolated from family, Refuge on the Ridge encourages quality time with family members to help their loved ones overcome their struggles. “There is healing that can take place with their wives and kids,” Pastor Andy said. “Family recovery is extremely important to us, without them, it does not work.”
Pastor Andy knows from personal experience that these methods work. After all, they worked on him. After climbing the corporate ladder for 25 years, he found himself stumbling around 2006, and the fall left him broken physically, spiritually, mentally, and financially. He found himself led down a dark path, something which he considered inevitable considering his upbringing. “I personally was a Kentucky boy who came from a family of alcoholism,” he said. “In my family, you were either a preacher or a drunk. I’ve crossed both those bridges now.”
In August 2006, he found himself on a rehab plane from Texas to Florida to go to rehab. That plane trip would spark a desire to change, and the decision he made mid-life would change the trajectory of his life: “I told God that if he removed this alcohol and drug addiction from me, I would serve him the rest of my life.”
In 2012, Andy left the corporate world and started pursuing ministry full-time. He became a senior pastor in a Mississippi church in 2014. In 2017, he and his family moved to Lake Wales to become the Family Life Pastor at Highpoint Church. As someone who overcame addiction through his faith, he decided to help others do the same through a regeneration program. He worked out a deal to start Refuge on the Ridge at the former Chalet Suzzanne property, resigned from Highpoint in September 2020. and accepted their first participants in March 2021.
Currently, they have 16 men in their program with four graduates who have finished the program thus far. He hopes to provide additional transitional housing for graduates soon.Another unique aspect of the program is that Refuge on the Ridge asks each man for only $5,000 for the entire 10-month program, though anyone unable to afford it can still participate.Most rehabs cost patients between $15,000 – $20,000 per month per person.
“Most of the men in our program don’t have $5,000. People don’t come normally come into our program because their life is great—especially financially. That being said, we will never turn anybody away for not being able to afford our program,” Pastor Andy said. “We’re a ministry. We figure it costs the ministry about $12,000.00 a person for each man to go through the entire 10-month program, so you can do the math. The more guys we take into the program the more it costs us. We rely on the generosity of the people and families in the communities we serve. We are extremely grateful for all of the support we have received.”
As for what the future holds, Pastor Andy replied: “Whatever God wants, do we have more people there or do something else somewhere else, I have no clue. I am simply doing what God wants me to do and as long as I stay in that lane, we can continue to make an impact in this community.”
For more information on Refuge on the Ridge and how you can come alongside them, visit their website at: https://www.refugeontheridge.org or email Pastor Andy, at [email protected]
Lake Wales Man Arrested After Exposing Himself to Teen in Restaurant
On May 28, 2022 a sixteen year old female was eating dinner with her family at the Burger King restaurant located at 100 Highway 60 E in Lake Wales.
During the visit the teen noticed a male staring at her,which continued for several minutes. Moments later the girl noticed the male had his genitals exposed through the leg of his shorts as he stared at her. The girl told her guardians who contacted the store manager and confronted the male. As soon as he was confronted the male fled the area on a bicycle.
During the investigation Detectives were able to identify the male as 57 year old Lenvent Jones of Lake Wales. Jones was located on June 1, 2022 and interviewed. During his interview he admitted to being at the restaurant at the time of the event but denied exposing himself. He was taken into custody for exposure of sexual organs, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later transported to the Polk County jail.
If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Lake Wales Police Department has arrested Melanie Anne Stevens (DOB: 06/16/61) of Lime Tree Lane, Lakeland. Stevens is being charged with the criminal offense of (3 counts) uttering forged instrument and (1 count) grand theft against her employer Huston Cadillac Buick GMC of Lake Wales.
Here is a redacted excerpt of the arrest affidavit.
It should be noted that this is an unedited report of facts by the Lake Wales Police Department. These facts are up for question and everyone is entitled to question the validity of facts by law enforcement in a court of law. The Daily Ridge does not rewrite these facts as some meanings or interpretations could be in error and change context. We hope readers appreciate being able to read the information and come to
“On 05/19/2022, Melanie Anne Stevens was arrested for the criminal offense of (3 counts) uttering forged instrument and (1 count) grand theft. Huston Cadillac Buick GMC, located at 21301 Highway 27, employed the defendant, Melanie Stevens. Stevens was in the position of issuing checks and payments for the Tag and Title department. Stevens had access to the dealership’s checks and had the authority to generate checks to be paid. Stevens was required to have all checks signed by the owner of the dealership, REDACTED before the checks were payable.
On 05/09/2022, Stevens generated a check, which was to be issued to a customer under Internal Control Number REDACTED. The check number was REDACTED, in the amount of $563.08. Stevens issued the check to herself by entering her name “Melanie Bevins” on the check. It was later discovered “Bevins” was Melanie Stevens maiden name. Stevens then signed the check herself and later deposited the check into her bank account at Mid Florida bank. Stevens failed to present the check to REDACTED for approval and did not make him aware of the check being issued.
On 05/18/2022, Stevens generated two separate checks. The first check which was to be issued to a customer under Internal Control Number REDACTED. The check number was REDACTED, in the amount of $106.98. Stevens issued the check to herself by entering her name “Melanie Bevins” on the check. The second check was to be issued to a customer under Internal Control Number REDACTED. The check number was REDACTED, in the amount of $440.86.
Stevens issued the check to herself by entering her name “Melanie Bevins”. Stevens failed to present the checks to REDACTED for approval and did not make him aware of the check being issued. On 05/18/2022, REDACTED was made aware of Stevens issuing a dealership check to herself and cashing the check on 05/09/2022. REDACTED also discovered Stevens issued two more dealership checks to herself on 05/18/2022. At the time of REDACTED discovering the forged checks, the two checks issued on 05/18/2022 had not been withdrawn from the dealership’s bank account, therefore REDACTED did not have a copy of the issued checks.
On 05/19/2022, REDACTED responded to the Lake Wales Police Department to report the incident. REDACTED provided a copy of the check issued on 05/09/2022 and a copy of the two invoices for 05/18/2022. REDACTED provided a sworn taped statement confirming he did not provide Stevens with permission or consent to generate, issue or cash the above mentioned checks. REDACTED confirmed the signature on Check Number (REDACTED) which was issued on 05/09/2022, was not his signature.”
On 05/19/2022, I responded to 21301 Highway 27, to meet with Melanie Stevens and REDACTED regarding the incident. I met with Stevens and conducted a non-custodial taped interview. Stevens was informed numerous times, she was free to leave at any time. Stevens willingly provided a statement regarding the incident.
Stevens willingly confessed to generating the above mentioned checks and depositing the checks into her Mid Florida bank account for her sole gain. Stevens alleged she was going through medical issues and needed money to pay for her procedures. Stevens confessed she knowingly and willingly accessed the dealership’s checks, generated the checks utilizing the customer’s account but wrote her name on the checks to have the funds issued to her. Stevens advised the amounts on the checks were the refund amounts to be issued to the customer for each account. Stevens confessed she then signed the checks herself. Stevens knew what she did was wrong and was sorry for committing the act. Melanie Stevens passed or offered to pass as true, 3 Huston Cadillac Buick GMC dealership checks, Melanie Stevens knew the checks to be forged, and intended to injure or defraud some person or firm. Melanie Stevens knowingly and unlawfully obtained or used the funds totally $1,110.92 belonging to REDACTED, she did so with the intent to, either temporarily or permanently deprive REDACTED of his right to the property or any benefit from it.
Due to the above statements and facts, Melanie Stevens was arrested for the criminal offense of (3 counts) uttering forged instrument and (1 count) grand theft.
Lucky Dog Donuts Raises Proceeds for Lucky Dogs (And Other Rescue Pets)
by James Coulter
What better way to start your morning than with a donut? And what could be better than a pastry hot from the cooker and freshly dusted with sugar? If you want a warm, soft donut that melts in your mouth, then check out Lucky Dog Donuts whenever they are in town.
Lucky Dog Donuts appears randomly throughout Lake Wales at different places and times. And yet whenever they arrive, people line up for their freshly-made donuts. Their menu remainssimple with choices of donuts dusted with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. Sometimes, they make the occasional red velvet or devil’s food cake flavor.
What Lucky Dog lacks in variety, they more than make up in consistency. Customers can expect the same freshly-made donuts made in front of their eyes and ready for their consumption immediately after they order. Unlike, most other shops, their donuts do not sit on the shelf for extended periods to get cold.
“The fact that they are hot and they are fresh [is what our customers love],” said owner Jessica Jarvis. “Nothing ever sits. [At other places], they may sit on the shelf for an hour or two before you get [them], every bag is hot and fresh when they come out and the other cool factor is you get to see them being made right in front of you.”
Jessica purchased the food truck for Lucky Dog Donuts on a total whim. She bought it from its previous owner, who had been attending Florida Flywheelers for the past 12 years. Whenever Jessica would visit, she would always stop by the truck and order a fresh batch of donuts every time. When she learned that the original owner was selling, she decided to buy it for herself, even though she admittedly did not have any prior experience making donuts.
“I got tired of working for everybody else, and I had an opportunity to purchase a donut truck,” she said. “I have no experience making donuts. I have been a waitress and bartender for many years, I also worked at auto parts. I am pretty lucky because the machine makes the donuts.”
To make her donuts, Jessica simply needs to load the machine with her dough, turn it on, and watch as it does the rest of the work stretching the dough, poking holes into each donut, and flipping them over when they cook.
“It is like watching a taffy machine at the beach that stretches it all,” she said. “You get to see the donuts made in front of you. So they are nice and hot and fresh. Never sit for more than 30 seconds to cool for the sugars. Otherwise, it is a novelty being able to see the donuts in the process of being made.”
Aside from making good donuts, Lucky Dog Donuts, true to its name, also gives back to a good cause with proceeds going to rescue pets at Hardee County Medical Clinic. The money raised helps cover the medical costs of adopting a rescue pet, including vaccination, spaying and neutering, and other expenses. As such, adoptees will be able to adopt their new pet for free, Jessica said.
As the owner of three rescue pets herself, she knows the burden of paying the costs of the adoption process. So she hopes that her support will allow people to more freely and easily adopt their own pets with overall less hassle.
“It is near and dear to my heart that not everybody can afford the whole adoption process to spay and neuter and shots and medical care. It gets expensive,” she said. “All of our shelters are overflowing right now, both public and private, so if we can get one dog into a good home and make a family happen and a good companion or emotional support, we are all for it.”
Lucky Dog Donuts appears through Lake Wales at various locations. They often post their schedule at the beginning of the week on Facebook. Previously, they appeared at Camp Mack for a free donut day, and they will be appearing at other locations soon.
“For the future, we are going to make sure that Lake Wales is taken care of and have good snacks in the morning time, but also give back to the community and do good community events,” Jessica said. “Everybody is welcome to come down grab a bottle of water or cup of coffee, have some donuts, socialize, meet the neighbors, meet the community, and give back while they are supporting them.”
For more information, visit their website at: https://www.facebook.com/LuckyDogDonuts
In early May 2022, Lake Wales Police began investigating a sexual battery involving an underage victim and an adult male. During the investigation Detectives learned the suspect and victim met on social media and began communicating. As conversations progressed the suspect coerced the victim into sending him explicit photos. During later conversations the suspect used the photos to blackmail the victim into meeting him in person, threatening to release the photos on social media for everyone to see if she didn’t meet. During their first in person meeting, the suspect sexually battered the victim.
On Friday May 20, 2022, the suspect traveled to meet the victim a second time using the threat of exposing the explicit pictures as a reason for the meeting. Upon arrival, Lake Wales Police Detectives were present and took him into custody.
Arrested was 19 year old Alex Lavon Cooper of Lake Wales. Cooper was charged with Sexual Battery, False Imprisonment and Unlawful use of a 2-way communication device. During an interview, Cooper admitted to meeting the victim but denied any other wrongdoing.
Detectives do not believe this is Cooper’s only victim. If you think your child may have been in contact with Cooper, please contact the Lake Wales Police Department. If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223.
I wanted to share the letter that I just sent to the LWCS board and general counsel. These changes will be voted on tonight. Please write letters, or sign up to speak, to protest these changes, which are not based on any precedent set by any other school system! The meeting is at 5:30 tonight at Lake Wales High School.
Dear LWCS Board of Trustees,
I read the proposed amendments to the current bylaws for the Lake Wales charter system. I have several issues with these proposed changes.
Regarding the CFO preparing a system wide budget, each school prepares their own budgets based on the needs of their student body population. “The CFO shall prepare an annual systemwide budget for adoption by the board at the beginning of each school year”. The CFO cannot possibly know what the needs are at each individual school.
Regarding the removal of authority and autonomy from the Superintendent to hire exceptional leaders as Principals- “The Superintendent’s hiring authority is authorized through an appointment of a duly qualified appointee. The approval of set appointee shall be final only upon consent of the board. Executive level administrator such as Principals and CFO must be hired through an appointment with board approval”. Where is the precedent for a change like this? What is the reason for a change like this, if only to remove the Superintendent’s powers and authority? Not only that, but it appears this change was made to protect and insulate the CFO’s position.
The removal of language stating that the Principals are the Chief Executive Officers for the schools’ Principals are ultimately responsible for operating the schools on balance budgets. The issue is with the proposed new language, “The Principals are the administrators for the schools. Principals are ultimately responsible for the day-to-day operations of the schools and the Principals are responsible for operating the schools within the budget approved by the board”. Principals have always generated their own school budget depending on the individual needs of their schools. This is a process that has worked for years, is done at every other county in our state, and gives local control to the Administrators.
And finally, the proposed by law changes regarding board member compensation is outrageous. This is an appointed board of trustees. The taxpayer has no ability to vote in or out the chosen trustees. If this is passed, you would be the only charter system in the state of Florida to pay their board members. Further, the suggestion that unaccepted payments are donated back to the foundation creates unnecessary exposure to liability and creditors.
At a time when community confidence in our school system and some members of the LWCS board of trustees has never been lower, the by-laws changes are suggesting that you be paid for what has been a volunteer position for over 20 years. Every trustee that accepts this position should know ahead of time full well what their responsibilities are, and the expectations and commitment of their personal time will be.
Polk County school board members are elected by the taxpayers. There are over 150 schools in the system, not including charter schools and ESE “center” schools and specialty schools. Each district board member is expected to manage and create policy for and vote on issues for every school in the system and is also “assigned” greater than 20 schools in their individual districts. They are paid a starting teacher’s salary.
In contrast, Lake Wales charter schools’ trustees are responsible for seven schools and are each assigned one school that is their school. And yet this amendment to the by-laws suggests you be paid 20% of what PCSB members are paid, with no way for the taxpayer that is footing the bill to vote any of you out for underperformance, mismanagement, or for any other reason.
These bylaw changes clearly remove power from the newly hired superintendent and any subsequent superintendent and increase the power and authority of the CFO. They give more power to the central office and take away power and autonomy from the individual schools. Principals have always overseen their schools, their budgets, and any other issue that arises in their schools. They have always been the CEO of their schools. In no way do I understand why these changes are necessary, other than to give power to people who continue to abuse it.
Lastly, to implement these changes before the new superintendent assumes his position is not only irresponsible, but it is shady. If for no other reason than to restore confidence in our system and the board, you should table this until his arrival.
These Bass Fishers Won 1st Place at the Inaugural Battle of the Bass, And They Won 1st Place Again This Year
by James Coulter
Lamar Farrow and his friends attended the inaugural Battle of the Bass tournament more than four years ago. They won first place again this year at the fourth annual.
Farrow owes his success to his more than 30 years of bass fishing experience. Aside from being able to win this year’s event, he appreciates being able to give back to a good cause like Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Not to mention he loves the rush of fishing, he said.
Farrow and his team won first place with a catch of more than 29 pounds during the fourth annual Battle of the Bass Tournament hosted last Saturday at Camp Mack in Lake Wales.
More than 33 boats attended this year’s event, which started at 5 a.m., and nearly a dozen weighed in later that afternoon at 3 p.m., explained Amy Hollington VP of Development for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.
First Place winners receive $5,000 from the tournament entry fees. The remainder of the proceeds goes towards Big Brothers, Big Sisters and their mentoring program. This year’s event raised at least $20,000. With their mentoring program costing $1,500 per match, these proceeds will help fund nearly a dozen children and their mentors, Hollington said.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Tampa Bay services nine bay area counties with their one-on-one mentoring programs for at-risk youth. More than 100 children will be able to be mentored due to the proceeds from this year’s fundraiser.
Hollington owes their success to the leadership of Darrel Davis and his wife, Tammy, both members of their board of directors. Of course, the beautiful weather, despite the stormy forecast, also helped, she said.
“We had a beautiful day, it was beautiful, we were thrilled that the weather held out for us,” she said. “We had great local support for our rafflers and our auctions to cheer on our raffles on our way in.”
As a pro bass fisher, the bass tournament was how Darrel Davis decided to contribute to his organization. He and his wife have been overseeing the past four events, and they have proven successful every time.
This year’s event coincided with two other major fishing tournaments that drew in more than 400 boats on the water. Despite this, their turnout proved decent, and they hope to draw in 150 to 200 boats next year, he said.
“Camp Mack is a gracious host for letting us be here, it was pretty awesome,” he said. “Hopefully, we can grow…if we get the word out and people know what is going on.”
More Than 300 People Given Free Sanitation Products from Lake Wales Funeral Home
by James Coulter
Freedom Tour Food Bank and Caver Funeral Home are giving away free sanitation and cleaning products. More than 300 people waited in line since the break of dawn on Wednesday morning to receive free hand sanitizer, bleach, and other cleaning products from Caver Funeral Home.
For the past seven months, the Lake Wales funeral home has been offering free products to residents in need to help curtail disease during the ongoing pandemic. Linda Thompson, the funeral home director, has been overseeing these monthly giveaways and partnering with Freedom Tour Food Bank in Lake Wales to obtain donated items for distribution.
This is the seventh month the funeral home has hosted the community sanitation giveaway event. She said the event is held each month on different dates. They take enough of the supplies to the funeral home for the crowd of 300 to 400 people.
As a funeral home director, Thompson has seen her fair share of death, especially during the pandemic. Wanting to help curtail the number of COVID-related deaths, she reached out to Pastor Bobby Williams of Freedom Tour Church to have his church donate sanitation products for her to distribute.
Over the past seven months, his church has provided her with eight palates a month at least once a month, he said. She sends two trucks to their facility once a month, his volunteers load it up, and then some of them go there to help unload and distribute donations, he said.
As the country transitions from a time of pandemic to a time of recession and war, with plenty of anxieties looming over the heads of the public, Pastor Williams and his church, with the help of local volunteers like Thompson, are here to help people in their time of need, he said.
“Linda Thompson is a good friend and awesome volunteer,” Pastor Williams said. “She is a good-hearted woman who wants to help out and give back. She is doing a great job, [she is] a great partner, [and she has] great people who want to help out with the community and be a blessing to the community. And we see that in Linda, we see that with her. We see a good heart and good loving woman who wants to help give back.”
As for Thompson, she appreciates being able to assist people during these trying times. She has seen people arrive from as far as Frostproof and Babson Park to receive sanitation products through her free giveaways, and she hopes to continue giving to even more people.
“They come expecting a blessing and they know it can last them until the next month,” she said. “When I see people come up in wheelchairs, crutches, and bicycles, that it touches my heart and I have a ministry which is to help people. I enjoy helping people.”
The Freedom Tour is a disaster relief ministry founded by PastorWilliams. Outside of partnering with Caver Funeral Home to help people amid COVID-19 surge, Freedom Tour also partners with One More Child. Freedom Tour does two to 10 food drives across Polk County cities each week, feeding 3,000 to 5,000, Williams said.
Lake Wales, Florida – The Lake Wales community has been in turmoil for half a year after some controversial handling of the Lake Wales Charter School Superintendent search and the rescinding of a resignation by current Lake Wales Charter School Principal Donna Dunson. A rescinding that was not accepted by interim superintendent Alricky Smith. Also in just the past couple of weeks the arrest of Lake Wales Charter School Board member Marcus Kirby has further brought a spotlight on the charter system.
Last April, the Lake Wales High School Advisory Council made it clear, in its last meeting of the year, that it wished Alricky Smith, Board Chairman Danny Gill & the rest of the Lake Wales Charter School Board would like to have Principal Donna Dunson retained. Those pleas fell on deaf ears. During last month’s meeting 8 out of 10 speakers came to the podium in support of LWHS Principal Donna Dunson. Those pleas also fell on deaf ears with no comment from Board Chairman Danny Gill and very little comments by board members. The response has been that the charter school administration and board, bereft of an actual Human Resources Coordinator, was following policy and procedures in not allowing Principal Dunson to return for one more year. Unfortunately no bylaws appeared to address the rescinding of resignation or the process in which to bring back Principal Dunson. The only bylaw that appears to have been broken was new superintendent to be, official start date July 1, has no authority to guarantee principal employment as that is the sole responsibility of the board. However, his recommendation is essential in that process. It had come to the attention of Daily Ridge that email correspondence had been sent by LWCS Board Chair Danny Gill to Dr. Rodolfich regarding the matter. That email correspondence prompted some LWHS School Advisory Council members to label chairman Gills email as bullying, threatening or at the very least overstepping his authority.
New email correspondence has come to light that further shows what transpired on April 8, 2022, the day Daily Ridge published its first article reference the above issues. As a matter of fact the following email was sent by board chairman Gill to Dr. Rodolfich merely 45 minutes after Daily Ridge ran this article.
Many including board members have said that all the facts are not available for people to make a proper assessment of the situation. “There’s is a lot of miss information out there” said board member Paul Gerrard. Who himself had advised he was not returning to his board seat, but changed his mind and is now staying.
In an effort to get facts out to the public here is email correspondence between chairman Gill and Dr. Rodolfich. We believe the emails speak clearly for themselves:
“On Fri, Apr 8, 2022 at 10:55 AM Gill, Danny <[email protected]> wrote:
Good Morning Dr. Rodolfich,
Following the public announcement made yesterday by you and Ms. Dunson, we had some conversations about proper protocol and the inability for you to be able to make public comments or personnel decisions until you take office July 1st. We discussed the proper ways to handle your request and this could have been averted with good communication between you, the current Superintendent and the Board. The decisions you made yesterday without conferring with the current superintendent and the Board has created a firestorm in our community. If you wanted to bring Ms. Dunson back, it could have been handled in a professional manner with open dialog. Superintendent Smith, myself and the Board are taking the heat from your decision and the blame has been put on the Board for an action that they were not involved with. I asked you yesterday to figure out a way to reel this back and hopefully in a way that was calming to the community. I am asking you to be the strong leader that we expect and hired to take ownership of this mishap and publicly announce your misunderstanding of the protocol, policies and procedures along with you not being in the position until July 1, 2022. I would expect you to absolve the Board , Superintendent Smith, and myself of any wrongdoing. I need this handled before the close of business today.
Respectfully,
Danny Gill
Chair, Board of Trustees
Lake Wales Charter Schools”
The following is Dr. Rodolfich’s response to chairman Gill:
“On Fri, Apr 8, 2022 at 3:21 PM Rodolfich, Wayne <[email protected]> wrote:
Good afternoon,
First I would like to say that my family and I drove from Gautier, MS to Lake Wales, FL on Wednesday, April 6. We left Gautier around 12 noon and arrived at our AirBnB about 12 midnight. I was very excited about the schedule that I had planned and which was sent to the Board on Friday, April 1. This marks the second trip within 2 weeks for my family and I to Lake Wales. Both trips have been made with the best of intentions to help facilitate a seamless transition, learn the physical structures of campuses, and evaluate campus needs. I do not want to hesitate to begin building relationships with principals, teachers, and community members. Both of these trips were made at my own expense without any desire or expectation to be compensated for my additional time and efforts. I am a worker.
On Thursday, April 7, I visited 5 schools and had an afternoon meeting with Ms. Collins.
On Friday, April 8, I visited the Charter Office to talk about strategic planning in order to better inform the Board of the needs of campuses. I then visited Hillcrest and Polk Ave. Elementary schools. I then attended a celebration of Lake Wales youth leaders at the Lake Wales Arts Center as a guest of Rob Quam. I was warmly greeted by the Chamber Director and was asked to speak in June at the Chamber’s Power Luncheon. The speaker at the most recent Power Luncheon was Sheriff Grady Judd.
I received a warm welcome on every campus, and I can’t tell you how many times people expressed their optimism and excitement about the future. I saw a lot of good things going on in our schools.
My children also visited Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary where Ms. Tyler was kind enough to give them a tour while we registered them for next school year, and they also took academic screeners on which they did very well.
I would like to draw your attention to the highlighted sections of the email that I sent on Friday, April 1.
I provided you with my itinerary for these past two days and also noted my intent to have Ms. Donna Dunson remain as the Lake Wales High School principal.
Additionally, on Friday, April 1, I spoke with 3 board members separately and individually on the phone: Mr. Danny Gill, Mr. Marcus Kirby, and Mr. Rusty Ingley. During those phone calls, I expressed my intent to keep Donna Dunson as the high school principal. Only one of those board members expressed any misgivings, but he ended our conversation with, “But that decision is up to you.”
I think these two attempts, both in writing to the entire Board and to the individual board members via phone, clearly communicated my intent without any ambiguity. I have no record of a response from any board member regarding my April 1 email.
I apologize that I misinterpreted the lack of response to that email as there being no issue with my decision to bring Ms. Dunson back. I was told after I was selected as Superintendent and signed my contract that I would be fully supported. With that being said, I apologize for making the announcement about Ms. Dunson returning as the high school principal. I also apologize that I did not formally contact Mr. Alricky Smith, Interim Superintendent with my decision to bring Ms. Dunson back.
In regards to miscommunication, you noted my “inability…to make public comments or personnel decisions until [I] take office July 1st.” I apologize for not understanding this fully because on my last visit to Lake Wales (when I and my family drove down during our Spring Break), I met with you, Mr. Alricky Smith, and Dr. Julio Acevedo at separate times and discussed the open Director of Human Resources position. I was given the resumes of all applicants for that position, and I then provided a list of recommendations for interviews to both Mr. Smith and Dr. Acevedo, and I asked them to create a committee to interview these applicants and make a decision to present to the Board at the April 26, 2022 Board meeting. I now have clarity based on your email today that personnel decisions are not in my purview until July 1.
Since I do not have the ability to make public comments until July 1 and want to ensure that I am following the policies as I now understand them, I would like to communicate clearly and seek approval for the following requested public statement as directed by the Board Chair:
“Dear Parents, Students, and Educators of the Lake Wales Charter School System,
I am communicating about my announcement yesterday at a Lake Wales High School faculty meeting of my intent to retain Donna Dunson as the LWHS principal. This meeting was part of my 7 school tour over the last 2 days to meet with principals and teachers. At the time of the announcement, I was not aware that Ms. Dunson had submitted her resignation earlier this school year nor that her resignation had been acted on and accepted by the Board. I did not contact Acting Superintendent Alricky Smith, nor did I formally request a discussion with the Board prior to making the announcement. Additionally, the process for applications for the LWHS principal position had been opened and closed. I am publicly acknowledging my misunderstanding of the policies and my inability to make such decisions before my contract begins on July 1, 2022.”
I await your feedback as well as your direction as to where/what media outlet I should make this public statement.
