The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Lake Wales contractor on fraud and theft charges after he was paid $23,500 up-front last year for work on a Davenport residence, then never began the work.
After a warrant was obtained for his arrest, 45-year old Don “Stephen” Wildmon turned himself in at the PCSO Sheriff’s Processing Center in Winter Haven, and was charged with Obtaining by Fraud (F2) and Grand Theft (F2). He then bailed out of jail on two $5,000 bonds.
“Stephen Wildmon made no effort to do the work he was hired to do. The investigation showed that he didn’t even apply for a building permit until June of 2021, but didn’t get it because he didn’t pay for it. He did no work, and made no effort to repay the victim. Thoroughly research anyone you plan to hire, it could save you big headaches and big money.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The victim first contacted Wildmon through his business Wildmon Construction, in January of 2021. The victim wanted an addition to his Davenport residence, and a contract for the work was signed on February 12, 2021. At that time, the victim paid Wildmon a down-payment of $23,500, which was half of the project’s value.
The agreement called for work to begin in April of 2021 and be completed within 90 days.
The victim contacted the PCSO in October of 2021 after the job was months overdue, and no work had been started.
After being contacted by a PCSO detective, Wildmon said that he would repay the money, which satisfied the victim, and the investigation ceased. By February 9, 2022, the victim still hadn’t received any money from Wildmon, so he contacted the PCSO again and the investigation was renewed.
The Polk County School Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to expand McLaughlin Middle School & Fine Arts Academy into Polk’s newest middle-high school.
Teachers, parents, community members and students flooded the school board meeting to show their support of the plan. They also praised McLaughlin’s positive impact on the area’s youth.
“I hope that kids in the future will be able to experience the incredible opportunities and experiences I have been able to have,” said Tristan Harbert, an eighth-grader at McLaughlin. “I know that where McLaughlin is concerned, there will always be academic and social excellence.”
“Providing our students with the highest caliber of educational experience is of the utmost importance,” said Hailey Bottoms, an English language arts teacher at the school. “Becoming a middle-high school is a testament to the dedication that this school and the district have to that goal.”
Currently, McLaughlin serves students grades 6 – 8. Under the approved plan, it will continue serving middle school students but will also add 9th grade beginning next school year (2022-23). Additional grade levels will be added each year until McLaughlin covers grades 6 – 12.
The project will better utilize available space at McLaughlin and prepare for anticipated population growth in the area.
Another benefit is allowing students to stay connected to McLaughlin as they adapt to the challenges of high school. Students can stay focused on the increased academic responsibilities while still experiencing the continuity of their familiar neighborhood school.
McLaughlin’s principal, Dr. Debra Wright Hudson, said she was touched to see how much the project has been embraced by her students, staff, families and the entire community.
With this transition, McLaughlin will be able to offer even more unique opportunities to its students, including expanded athletics, clubs and electives.
“In the words of Sam Cooke, it’s been a long time coming,” said Hudson. “This is a historic moment for the city of Lake Wales, and most importantly, the students of McLaughlin who will set the path as inaugural graduates of the class of 2026.”
School board members conducted an in-depth discussion about the expansion of McLaughlin during Tuesday’s work session.
The Lake Wales History Museum’s Summertime CitrusExhibit is now on display! Our on-loan citrus label exhibit from the Museum of Florida History displays 24 different citrus labels from around Florida. We have expounded on the industry of citrus and collaborated with the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame and the Polk County History Center to develop the story of citrus in Polk County. We are excited to be bringing the history of our area to the community so they can learn about one of the biggest industries in Florida.
You are invited to our opening reception to learn about the history of citrus in Florida and enjoy everything orange! Our opening reception will be on May 21st from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and it is open to the community! Tickets are $12 per person and members are free, they can be purchased on our website www.lakewaleshistory.org under the events page.
A Lake Wales Mom Lost Her Package, But Her Son Gained A New Ball and Glove
by James Coulter
Chamayne Brunson may have lost a package, but her son gained new baseball equipment. After reporting a missing package and recieving a friendly visit from some police officers, she received an extra surprise that very evening when those same officers arrived with a special gift for her son.
Last Sunday, Brunson and her son were taking pictures for Mother’s Day when she received a message that a package had been delivered to her apartment. When she arrived home, she was shocked to discover the package torn open with two items taken out of it.
Brunson reached out to Amazon, which provided her with a case number and assured her that her missing items would be replaced. She then called the Lake Wales Police Department, which sent out two police officers that evening to discuss her stolen items.
Officer Emmanuel Viera has been with the department for six years. He works as a K9 officer who performs patrol, backup, and responds to calls. He and his partner arrived on the scene to answer Brunson’s call.
While speaking with Brunson, Officer Viera noticed her son coming outside with a baseball and bat. As he was playing alone, Viera decided to let his partner speak with Brunson while he played with her son.
Officer Viera often interacts with children during cases. Sometimes he plays sports with them. Other times, he offers them a spare toy car he brings along in his trunk. Either way, he focuses on keeping the child occupied while his partner works the case, he said.
During their playtime, Officer Viera inquired the young boy about his ball game, asking if he participated in a team or played with other friends. He also offered him some pointers on how to improve his game. When the boy retrieved a baseball glove, he noticed it was too small for him.
“I wanted to do that so he could practice,” he said. “Maybe if he had some friends, he can play with him…He brought out his glove, and I saw it was too small for him. So I thought about it after I left. I wanted to get him a glove so he can play baseball and practice…and he was super excited about that.”
Brunson was pleasantly surprised by the overall interaction, especially by a police officer within the northwest Lake Wales area. Most officer interactions are not as cordial, so seeing the officer play with her son like that was a relief, she said.
“I loved seeing the smile on my son’s face,” she said. “He is not often that you do not see an officer come out, [and] it is very rare to see an officer interact with a child, it is a call being made, and the fact this was so minor, he got time to spend time with my son, and I would love to see that more because I am sure the kids are afraid of the police.”
Later that evening, she and her son heard a knock at their door. They opened it to discover the officers from the night before at their door with two new baseballs, a bat, and a practice baseball stand. The smile on her son’s face was ten times bigger than the day before, Brunson said.
More than simply giving her son gifts, the entire experience offered him a positive experience with law enforcement that, sadly, many children his age, especially children of color, rarely receive, she explained.
“They turned a bad day into a great day, it made all the difference in the world,” she said. “Something so small and so simple like that made a difference to my son, and that is really where I wanted to give them the recognition that they deserve because sometimes they get overlooked.”
Officer Viera felt proud to give back to a young child. Not only did Brunson’s son receive a new ball and glove, but he also gained better respect and appreciation for law enforcement, which is something very few young people these days have, Officer Viera said.
“To me, it was what it was all about,” he said. “Especially nowadays, it is trust issues between law enforcement and the public, and the kids like that outside who trusted me and whose mom trusted us with the call. He trusted me to play some baseball, and I could see how excited he was. He was innocent. He did not think anything bad about us, and that is how we like to keep it…and [to] show him that the Lake Wales Police Department is more about the community than anything else.”
AdventHealth Lake Wales Achieves Leapfrog Grade “B” in Patient Safety
The hospital raised its patient safety score from a “C” to a “B” from The Leapfrog Group.
(May 10, 2022) Lake Wales, FL – AdventHealth Lake Wales has achieved a “B” patient safety grade by the prestigious Leapfrog Group. The safety grade is awarded based on a hospital’s performance in preventing medical errors, injuries, accidents, infections, and other harms to patients in their care. The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country.
AdventHealth implemented and enhanced several division-wide processes to keep patients safe, including, elevating best practices in bar code scanning as a safety net to assure that the right patient receives the right medication every time. This effort is just one of the many initiatives in place to ensure patient safety.
“We are committed to providing the highest quality of care for every patient and family choosing our services,” said Royce Brown, CEO of AdventHealth Lake Wales. “Our team has worked extremely hard to raise the bar on how we’re caring for patients and this honor from the Leapfrog Group highlights our ongoing dedication to create a culture of safety for anyone in our care.”
Leaders at AdventHealth Lake Wales implemented a list of additional initiatives to enhance patient safety, including:
Enacting protocols to standardize best practices in patient care, specifically in central lines.
Instituting stronger nursing communication when rounding to assist patients with a better understanding of discharge orders and after care plans.
“It takes an entire team to create a culture of safety and I can’t think of a better group of clinicians and staff to share this journey with than our team here at AdventHealth Lake Wales,” said Imee Unto, Chief Nursing Officer of AdventHealth Lake Wales. “This is just the beginning of our work to continue to reduce infections and improve the safety of every patient, every time.”
The Leapfrog Group awarded AdventHealth the Emerald Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Health Care System, a first for any health system. The achievement honors AdventHealth’s performance across Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades and Top Hospital award, which is one of the most competitive quality awards a hospital and its team members can receive.
About AdventHealth West Florida Division
The West Florida Division of AdventHealth has some of the nation’s brightest medical minds making lifesaving breakthroughs with surgical pioneers, scientists and researchers using leading edge technology and innovation to deliver our brand of whole-person care. Our network of care includes AdventHealth Carrollwood, AdventHealth Connerton, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Heart of Florida, AdventHealth Lake Placid, AdventHealth Lake Wales, AdventHealth North Pinellas, AdventHealth Ocala, AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Tampa, AdventHealth Wauchula, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Zephyrhills, as well as seven freestanding offsite Emergency Rooms including AdventHealth Belleview ER, AdventHealth Brandon ER, AdventHealth Central Pasco ER, AdventHealth Four Corners ER, AdventHealth Palm Harbor ER, AdventHealth TimberRidge ER, and AdventHealth Westchase ER. We are more than hospitals, as we have a robust system of care including specialty acute care, over 200 primary care and specialty employed physicians, Express Care at Walgreens clinics, urgent care centers, wound care, physical therapy, home care, mobile mammography and more. AdventHealth is a faith-based not-for-profit health care system with a mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ. AdventHealth has hundreds of care sites and nearly 50 hospitals across the United States. For more information about AdventHealth, visit AdventHealth.com, or Facebook.com/AdventHealth, and for West Florida Division, click here.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward for patient safety. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. For more, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our newsletter.
City awarded nearly $1.2 million grant to increase pedestrian safety
Lake Wales, Fla. (May 6, 2022) – The City of Lake Wales was awarded nearly $1.2 million to widen sidewalks and footpaths in the Northwest Neighborhood to increase the safety of pedestrians on designated walking spaces.
Lake Wales is one of ten Florida communities to receive funding through the Rural Infrastructure and the Community Development Block Grant – CV program, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
“This grant is going to help the City make an immediate impact to the infrastructure in the Northwest Neighborhood,” City Manager James Slaton said. “Residents will be able to commute safely to nearby schools and area parks,” he mentioned.
Construction on the sidewalks is set to begin this year on select streets between Dr. J.A. Wiltshire and Florida Avenue. Plans include rehabilitating preexisting sidewalks. New sidewalks will be added along established streets without sidewalks.
The City of Lake Wales welcomes Joanna Abernathy as Deputy City Manager. Abernathy will be working alongside City Manager James Slaton overseeing various municipal operations.
“I’m both honored and excited to be chosen as Lake Wales’ Deputy City Manager,” Abernathy said. The City is experiencing tremendous growth, and I’m thrilled to be part of a forward-thinking municipality,” she added.
Abernathy has 30 years of experience working in government. She previously served as Assistant City Manager both in Palm Beach and Polk Counties. Additionally, she obtained her Master Municipal Clerk designation in 2012, and she brings with her more than 10 years’ experience working as a City Clerk for Palm Beach, West Palm Beach and Greenacres in Palm Beach County. Her proudest accomplishment was implementing a Department of State Passport Processing Facility within city hall in Greenacres, which has proven to be a resounding revenue source for that municipality.
“Our new Deputy City Manager is an accomplished and results-oriented leader who has served in diverse government settings,” City Manager James Slaton said.
Abernathy boasts a successful track record managing capital projects. She grew up working for her parents’ construction company in upstate New York. She also has extensive experience in the operations of development services and land use planning. Her other skillsets include strategic business planning, financial budgeting, grant writing, public relations and emergency management.
Abernathy holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history with a master’s degree in public administration and emergency management.
On 04/29/2022, at approximately 0326 hours, I responded to the area of Cody Villa Rd and Scenic Hwy S in reference to a vehicle crash involving a possibly impaired driver and serious bodily injury.
Upon arrival, I made contact with Polk County Sheriff’s Office Southeast District Patrol deputies who had secured the scene and separated the involved parties. I was advised that a female victim, VICTIM, had fallen from a moving vehicle and suffered injuries. I was advised the driver of the single vehicle involved, a 2016 Honda Pilot (FL Tag: 359NUD), in the incident was possibly impaired by drugs and or alcohol.
I made contact with witness, Wanda Pope, who advised she did not witness VICTIM fall from a vehicle, but did locate her lying down on the east shoulder of Scenic Hwy S. She advised the suspect, Ross Windom, and his passengers, Philip Scopano and Luke Pallone, arrived on scene shortly after she discovered VICTIM on the side of the roadway. She advised Windom was the driver of the involved vehicle when it arrived on scene. Pope stated that she noticed Windom and his passengers to be possibly under the influence of drugs and or alcohol.
I made contact with Scopano who advised he was in the vehicle when the incident occurred. Scopano advised Windom was the driver of the vehicle during this time.
Passenger, Luke Pallone, reported that the suspect was the driver of the Honda during this incident. He further reported that at the time of this incident the victim was sitting on the right rear window ledge of the vehicle, with her upper body outside of the vehicle, when she fell out.
I then made contact with Windom, I advised Windom I was transitioning from a civil crash investigation to a criminal DUI investigation. Windom was provided with his Miranda Warnings via agency issued Miranda Warnings card, to which he advised he understood. I asked Windom if he was driving when VICTIM fell from the vehicle, he stated yes. I asked where he was coming from and where he was headed. He stated he was coming from P&J Recreation in Frostproof, FL and was heading back to Webber University. He advised as he drove, the windows to the vehicle were down and music was playing at a high volume.
While speaking with Windom, I detected the scent of an alcoholic beverage to emanate from his breath. I noticed his eyes to be bloodshot and watery and he demonstrated a side to side sway while standing.. When asked if he had consumed any alcoholic beverages he initially stated no, but when asked again later, he advised he did have 3 Natural Light beers.
Based on these indicators, I asked Windom to submit to a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST’s), to which he consented to participating in the SFST’s.
The following are the results of the SFST’s.
1. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus – Observed 4 out of 6 clues, 4 or more clues is an indicator of impairment.
2. Walk and Turn- Observed 8 out of 8 clues, 2 or more clues is an indicator of impairment.
3. One Leg Stand – Observed 2 out of 4 clues, 2 or more clues is an indicator of impairment.
Based on my observations, I determined probable cause existed to believe Windom was driving a vehicle in Polk County, Florida and based on my training and experience, I determined Windom was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol to the point his normal faculties were impaired which resulted in serious injury to victim, VICTIM.
Windom was transported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Processing Center where I began a 20 minute observation period on him. Prior to conducting this observation, Windom’s mouth was checked to be clear of any foreign material. Windom was placed in a temporary holding cell #3 which was checked to be clear of any foreign material. During the 20 minute observation, Windom did not regurgitate and did not put anything in his mouth during the 20 minute observation period.
At the conclusion of the 20-minute observation period, I requested Windom to provide a minimum of two lawful breath samples to determine his breath alcohol content, Windom consented to the breath test.
The breath samples showed the Windom’s breath alcohol content to be 0.098g/210L and 0.092g/210L.
Windom was issued Florida DUI citations for DUI-Serious Bodily Injury
Early Saturday morning, April 30, 2022 at approximately 1:50 A.M. emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 27 and Chalet Suzanne Road.
The crash involved a 2002 Honda Accord driven by Tyrell Rashad Sloan, a 31-year-old Lake Wales resident. The preliminary investigation indicates that Sloan was traveling North on Highway 27 in the middle lane. As he approached Chalet Suzanne Road for unknown reasons, he lost control of the vehicle. The Honda traveled into the Northeast corner of the intersection closest to Citizen’s Bank where it struck a concrete pole and eventually overturned. Sloan was declared deceased on scene. Excessive speed may be a factor in this crash.
If you have any information regarding this crash, please contact Officer Rocky Myers at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223.
Lake Wales, FL – Lake Wales Care Center is devastated that a trusted employee, Marcus Kirby, appears to have misappropriated a considerable sum of funds for personal gain. Mr. Kirby accomplished this through intentional inappropriate handling of client funds. We want to emphasize that no donor or grant funds have been compromised in any way. This mishandling was a matter of not recording and depositing, in Care Center accounts,payments made by clients from various programs. Funds that were allocated for Individual Savings Accounts have been “made whole”.
When Care Center administration learned of this misappropriation of funds, authorities and board leaders were notified immediately. Care Center has cooperated to the fullest extent with the Lake Wales Police Department and intends to pursue appropriate legal action, to include restitution.
For 37 years, Care Center has received annual financial audits by a certified public accounting firm and without exception has received a clean audit for financial practices. Those audits are not designed to detect for fraud, however they do ensure our policies and practices for handling funds are appropriate and sound. This incident is not a result of inadequate procedures, but instead a deliberate deceptive action of an employee who did not follow prescribed protocols.
Care Center is saddened and highly disappointed in Mr. Kirby’s actions. Our hearts break for all those affected by his actions. It is our prayer he will follow a path of correction, restoration and restitution. We further pray that his family and all those affected by his actions will find peace and healing.
All questions and concerns should be addressed to Care Center Executive Director, Rob Quam.
