Home Blog Page 653

This & That: What’s Going On With Lake Wales Parks & Recreation, Streets , & The Walesbuilt Hotel

Carl Fish
-
0
This & That: What’s Going On With Lake Wales Parks & Recreation, Streets , & The Walesbuilt Hotel

By Jack Hilligoss

    Once again, my thanks to Carl Fish and the Daily Ridge for providing this opportunity for me to respond to questions and, hopefully, provide some helpful understanding to the citizens of Lake Wales.

    I also hope these articles are helpful to those who call Lake Wales “home” but live outside the city limits. One source of frustration I encounter is this reality: the City Commission of Lake Wales has jurisdiction over the property and streets located within the city limits only.  So, there are many who call Lake Wales home, but the day-to-day governmental decisions they deal with are more at a county level.

    In this third article, I am going to cover some miscellaneous topics I received questions about.

Parks and Recreation

    There were a few questions/concerns expressed about the plans for and condition of our parks and recreation in the city.There have been some good developments in this area  and there are great plans moving forward.

    Perhaps the biggest news of this last year was our city assumed control of what was the YMCA on Burns Ave. Lake Wales received abrupt notice from the national YMCA organization that they would be ending their day-to-day management of the location in the summer of 2023.  

    This presented the city with a real challenge that was turned into a great opportunity. At first, there was a debate about trying to find private, entities to occupy the building. There was even discussion of a possible sale. However, the citizens of Lake Wales expressed an overwhelming desire to maintain this location for the benefit of the city. In response, our Parks and Recreation Department-headed by Stephanie Lutton-went to work.  The city invested a great deal of money and human resources into renovating, renewing, and reopening what is now The Lake Wales Family Recreation Center. This has become a great hub of community activity including regular “Parents Night Out” and “Flick and Floats.”  Fitness classes, sporting events, swim lessons, and other activities are hosted there. Currently, well over 1000 citizens have purchased memberships.

    A big investment has also been made in the linear park which runs between the Lake Wales Library and Scenic Hwy downtown.  This past year, fencing was installed, and the city received a generous donation to create a sculpture garden in the park.  The linear park has become the hub of many of the evening events which are hosted in downtown Lake Wales.

    The City is also near completion of a long-range, master plan, for the improvement and upgrades for its seven parks which was begun in 2021.  We have worked with Catalyst Design Group to put this plan together and sought a great deal of input from residents as to what things they would like to see become a part of our parks and trail network.  We just hosted an open house for more input on the first, exciting, conceptual plans that propose up to a $28 million investment in these, important parts of our community.

Lakes

    Some asked about the maintenance and condition of our lakes. In the last two years we have removed over 650 tons of invasive weeds from Lake Cooper, Lake Eva, and Lake Wailes.  There were others who expressed a concern about shoreline clean up on Lake Wailes. However, that remains a point of contention with many opposing efforts to do that for fear it would disrupt the natural habitat.

The Walesbuilt

    The City of Lake Wales is still involved in litigation over the control of this property. A judge recently granted a motion for summary judgement on the property however, the city does not own the property at this time.

Roads, streets, and highways

    Traffic is an issue we receive the most complaints about. It is also the issue we, unfortunately, do not have much, direct, control over. Most of the roads you travel each day are not under the jurisdiction of the City of Lake Wales. We oversee and maintain only the residential streets within the city limits (I.E.-Johnson, Bullard, Polk Ave. etc)

    Regarding those streets, for the last three years we have been able to fully fund and implement a street repaving program in our city. We have improved and repaved over seven miles of city streets in that time. 

    We also enacted a multi-modal fee on all new development which has brought funding to our city that has allowed us to develop trails, bike paths, and purchase golf carts for our downtown “Squeeze” route.

    All other roads and highways are under the jurisdiction of the Polk County Commissioners. They work with the Transportation Planning Organization. The TPO monitors traffic conditions on over 425 roadway segments in the county. They keep track of traffic volume on these roads/highways and based upon “Annual Average Daily Traffic” assign each roadway a “Level of Service” grade of “A” which means free-flowing traffic, to “F” which means it is a parking lot. 

    This is all a part of the “concurrency” issue I wrote about in my first article for the Daily Ridge.  When a developer submits a plan to the city that meets all city zoning requirements, that plan is then advanced to county and state for review to make judgments on the ability of infrastructure to handle the demands of the new development. “Level of service” on local roads and highways are a part of that estimate. While all our local roads are certainly busier than we have been used to, there are currently none that have grown beyond what is determined to be “adequate level of service” by the TPO. The greatest congestion on local roads is to the north of our city and the highest, near-term, priority will be on Thompson Nursery and Chalet-Suzanne Roads.

    We saw the completion of a four-year improvement of the Hwy 27 and Hwy 60 interchange this year.  This has made that section of highway much safer and more convenient for all traffic. We will also receive $900,000 of funding this year for two railway safety projects in our city, one at Johnson Avenue and the second on Hwy. 60. 

A Huge Win

    On Wednesday, June 26, it was announced at a City Commission Work Session that Lake Wales will receive a $22.9 million RAISE grant to continue the renovation of our historic downtown which we began in earnest on Park Ave.

    I mention this here because, of course, it is exciting news and a big win for Lake Wales. It will help us come much closer to the full implementation of the exciting Lake Wales Connected plan. 

    Many strategic plans just become very expensive three-ring binders gathering dust on some city manager’s bookshelf. That has not been the case in Lake Wales. Every long-term plan we have invested in has been diligently and carefully pursued. This grant is the sort of reward that can come to a city when its leadership and administration do the hard work of innovative and visionary planning and, the even harder work of implementing the plan.   

   Our city staff has done that with “Lake Wales Connected”, we are also taking the necessary steps to codify the zoning changes necessary to implement “Lake Wales Envisioned”, and I believe we will see these sorts of things come our way as we also pursue the final plans for our parks and recreation department.

    Thanks again to Carl and the Daily Ridge. My invitation for you to send me any questions or schedule an appointment to meet with me at the Mayor’s office stands.

Polk County Waste & Recycling Independence Day Schedule

Carl Fish
-
0
Polk County Waste & Recycling Independence Day Schedule

 

Bartow, Fla. (July 1, 2024) – The North Central Landfill and North Central Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday, July 4 for Independence Day. The landfill and transfer station will re-open Friday, July 5.

 

Due to the landfill closure, there will be no Polk residential waste collection services. Normal scheduled services for Thursday, July 4, will take place on Friday;Friday services will take place on Saturday. 

 

For holiday schedule information and closures visit https://www.polk-county.net/services/waste-and-recycling/

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office welcomes new Public Information Officer – Meghan Petty

Carl Fish
-
0
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office welcomes new Public Information Officer – Meghan Petty

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the addition of Meghan Petty to our team as a Public Information Officer. She brings a wealth of digital communications experience and a strong commitment to serving the citizens of Polk County with integrity, compassion, accountability, and professionalism.

Meghan joins us with three years of experience in social media and marketing management. She has a proven track record of effective communication using data to transform social media and marketing strategies. Meghan holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Florida International University. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and is actively learning both French and Portuguese. 

“I am excited about Meghan joining our Polk County Sheriff’s Office family. I look forward to her positive contributions to engage and keep our citizens informed about Polk County’s quality of life, our historically low crime rate, and ways we can all work together to promote and protect public safety.” –Grady Judd, Sheriff

“I am honored to be joining the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and look forward to working for such a meaningful and mission-centered public safety organization,” said Meghan. “Together, we will continue to build on the agency’s strong commitment to keeping the public informed about vital public safety information and delivering the highest possible level of customer service.”

Polk Correctional Institute Officer arrested for misuse of 911 and resisting arrest

Carl Fish
-
0
Polk Correctional Institute Officer arrested for misuse of 911 and resisting arrest

PCSO deputies arrested 34-year-old Douglas Morse of Polk County after a routine traffic stop in Winter Haven. Around 11:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2024, a deputy sheriff on patrol witnessed a man driving a red Jeep in the area of Recker Hwy and Avenue G NW, repeatedly honking its horn. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and spoke with Morse, who was driving the Jeep. Morse said he honks his horn because it “makes him drive faster.”

After the deputy wrote Morse a citation for the violation, Morse became upset and verbally abusive. He then dialed 911. When the deputy asked him to hang up, he refused, saying he did not agree with the citation. He also refused to step out of his vehicle when directed to. When the deputy took control of Morse’s arm to escort him out of the Jeep, Morse pulled away and continued to resist.

Mr. Morse was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail for misuse of 911 and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. Staff at the Florida Department of Corrections were notified of the arrest.

“We expect more professional behavior from those who work in the public service industry. And dialing 911 because you are upset that you received a traffic citation is not only ridiculous, it ties up an emergency line and resources that are designated for those who have true emergencies.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

J.C. Reviews: The Acolyte is a Subversive Breath of Fresh Air for Star Wars

Staff Reporter
-
0
J.C. Reviews: The Acolyte is a Subversive Breath of Fresh Air for Star Wars
#image_title

by James Coulter

I’ll confess: As much as I like Star Wars, I’ve never really been a huge fan. I love the original movies and prequel films, but mostly as popcorn flicks. I’ve never been deeply invested in the lore to the point of becoming a walking encyclopedia—or rather, Wookiepedia.

That’s especially been true of Star Wars since Disney’s acquisition. I consider the sequel film trilogy to be one exceptional masterpiece sandwiched between two mediocre movies. And as for the Disney Plus streaming shows? Aside from The Mandalorian, most of them haven’t captured my interest, being middling at best and meh at worst.

(I’ve heard Andor is great, but I could never make it past the first few episodes. So, I’ll take everyone’s word that it’s the GOAT.)

But then something like The Acolyte comes along: a highly-promising show with a highly-promising premise that carries with it the potential of setting itself apart from the current sludge of mass-produced Disney/Star Wars content—if for no other reason than it’s an original show that doesn’t try to connect itself to the larger Star Wars narrative.

So, will The Acolyte succeed in fulfilling this potential and bringing balance to the Force? Or will its potential end up being burned away more severely than Anakin after Obi-Wan defeats him on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith?

The Acolyte takes place during the High Republic Era, nearly 100 years before the events of the prequel films. A former Jedi named Osha is framed for the murder of several high-ranking Jedi. Now, she must team up with her former Jedi master to clear her name and solve these crimes.

Through their investigation, she learns the culprit is her long-lost twin sister, Mae, who was presumed dead following an incident on their home planet. She also learns that these murders are connected to that same fateful incident, implying that what happened long ago may have been a cover-up for much shadier intentions. Will Osha solve this mystery and uncover the truth about the past?

As I mentioned, The Acolyte has the potential to become a great show, if for no other reason than that it’s an original story. Most of the other Star Wars streaming shows set themselves during the main movies. As such, they usually devolve into mere fan service by trying to tie themselves into the larger Star Wars narrative and through cameo appearances of fan-favorite characters.

By being set during the High Republic Era, not only can The Acolyte explore and develop a time period rarely explored in Star Wars media (outside of the Knights of the Old Republic video games), but it also forces the story to succeed or fail on its own merits. There will be no Uncanny Valley appearances of young Luke Skywalker or obscure characters from children’s shows to fall upon for cheap fan service. The Acolyte can only prove itself through good storytelling and character development.

So far, four out of eight episodes have been released on Disney Plus, and (despite the incessant whining of terminally online toxic fanboys) The Acolyte is showing some real promise. The

entire story is an unfolding mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers guessing until the very end. (No spoilers, but the fourth and newest episode does reveal one character to potentially be a red herring and another to be the real mastermind behind the scenes.)

The premise itself is sheer gold. The main characters are a set of twins: one raised on the light side of the Force, and the other (presumably) on the dark side. As such, they serve as a unique foil for one another and make for a much more compelling “force dyad” than what was offered in the sequel film trilogy. (Also, this series has a Jedi Wookie. How is that not cool?)

Moreover, The Acolyte explores themes and concepts often overlooked in the Star Wars universe. For example, witches who use magic rather than the Force have long been established in the franchise but rarely explored. This show manages to expand upon their presence and belief system, revealing themselves to be a small religious faction with a contentious history with the Jedi.

Speaking of the Jedi, the show also fleshes them out as an institution. For most of Star Wars, the Jedi were presumed to be the only (if not most dominant) religious belief system in the Star Wars universe. By introducing another religion (and a rival one at that), the show makes some implications about the Jedi and their rise to power.

Many fans have complained this show has “ruined” Star Wars by implying that the Jedi may not have always had noble intentions (you know, like most other religious institutions). But, if anything, the show is only continuing to add depth and dimension to the Jedi that George Lucas started exploring in the prequels. After all, this was a group of “warriors for truth and justice” who were more preoccupied with grooming a prophesized “chosen one” that they unwittingly assisted a dictator’s rise to power that led to the downfall of them and the republic.

Overall, only time will tell if The Acolyte’s unfolding mystery will pay off by the series finale. But so far, this is proving to be one of the more interesting Star Wars streaming series to debut on Disney Plus in a long time—for me at least. Don’t listen to the toxic fanboys! Give this show a watch and decide for yourself.

#image_title

This Local Attorney with 17 Years of Experience is Running to Become First Female Public Defender for Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties

Staff Reporter
-
0
This Local Attorney with 17 Years of Experience is Running to Become First Female Public Defender for Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties
#image_title

by James Coulter

When most people think of lawyers, they think of one of the highest-paying jobs second only to doctors. However, when Blair Allen started her career as a lawyer 17 years ago, she did not do it for the money. She did it to advocate for people who needed the most support. She did it for her clients.

“I did not become a lawyer for prestige and wealth,” she said. “I wanted to give a voice to the voiceless in our system, to advocate for our clients who all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Even with the most challenging of clients, those clients who may be dealing with mental illness or drugs or trauma, I remind myself that this is someone else’s child, that this person’s life has meaning.”

Born and raised in Polk County, Blair Allen began her career path after her high school graduation from Lakeland Senior High School in Lakeland. She went to college in Virginia at Washington & Lee University before attending and then graduating law school in St. Petersburg from Stetson College of Law.

Her career officially started in 2006 at the State Attorney’s Office in Bartow. She worked there as a prosecutor for a year before transitioning to the Public Defender’s Office in 2007. For the past 16+ years, she has served in nearly every division of the office, allowing her to learn every aspect of public defense, and thus making her the most qualified to run for Public Defender.

“It gives me a unique perspective, knowing the challenges we face and difficulties we face and knowing how to do the job and do it well,” she said.

Over the years, her mentors and those who knew her best encouraged Allen to consider running for Public Defender in the future. They saw her level of dedication to the job, to the clients, and to the justice system.

“It was not a decision that I made quickly or lightly,” Allen said. “I knew how hard the campaign would be on our family…I prayed about it, and when the decision was made to do this, I felt a moment of clarity, of peace, and of confirmation that I was meant to be the next Public Defender. Because I believe in our community and a bright future for it. I believe in public service, and the best way to serve our community is for me to serve as the elected Public Defender.”

Allen begins with her three ideals that have served as the modus operandi through her career. The first of these ideals, ideally enough, is idealism. Allen firmly believes that every client deserves a fair defense. She is an idealist believer in the justice system. She became an attorney with the Public Defender’s Office to ensure that all of the clients’ rights are protected—that they are protected—which is a fundamental right that our Constitution is based on and that our adversarial justice system depends on.

Her second ideal is fairness. Through her life and career, she has carried with her the idea of fundamental fairness, challenging the adage that “life isn’t fair” by striving to make it fair – for everyone. As such, everyone deserves a fair and speedy trial, as guaranteed by the 6th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“There’s a misconception that public defenders do not like rules, but we do, we just expect those rules to be applied fairly and equally to everyone,” Allen said. “To the prosecutors, to law enforcement, to our clients, regardless of whether that client is poor or a person of color or a person struggling with mental illness. We believe that the justice system must be fair to everyone because that is what it is fair.”

Her third and final motivating ideal is service. Being able to serve her community by defending the vulnerable and giving a voice to the voiceless through her clients has motivated her to wake up every morning and go to work for the past 16 years. And she only expects to continue her commitment to service through her position as the elected Public Defender.

“My career has been a commitment to service,” she said. “I have spent countless hours with clients in trial, spending nights and weekends meeting with clients at the jails, or staying up to research and prepare a client’s defense. I have spent time away from family. I It is often a thankless job. But I am committed to being a public servant who is compassionate, resilient, and unwavering in the belief that everyone deserves an advocate in life, and sometimes we are the first real advocate that individual has. Putting others before our self is the very essence of a public defender. That is who I am.”

As the elected Public Defender, she expects to tackle one of the biggest problems facing criminal justice, which is retention of staff while facing increased caseloads. Currently, the annual turnover for public defenders throughout the state of Florida is about 28 percent, which is huge.

“So, it is really challenging to figure out creative ways to retain our experienced defenders and staff,” she said. “But I am optimistic that we will be able to figure out ways to keep those quality people on a long-term basis because that is what our system needs.”

Overall, with her motivating values of idealism, fairness, and service, Blair Allen has high expectations in becoming the first female elected Public Defender for Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties.

“I believe in what we do as public defenders: defending our clients, serving as a check on any government overreach, and challenging the system so that the rules are equally applied to everyone, regardless of who that person is,” she said. “I believe in our clients – their plights, their trauma, and even their mistakes. I believe in their humanity. I believe in being a public servant, placing others’ needs before my own, giving back to the community that raised me so that I can be a positive change-maker in it. And most of all, I believe that I am the best candidate for Public Defender. I am by no means perfect or infallible, but what defines a leader is the ability to make hard decisions and to lives with the consequences of those decisions. And to lead by example, with integrity, with high expectations, and with the optimism that together, we can make a difference.”

Polk County Repeals Burn Ban

Carl Fish
-
0
Polk County Repeals Burn Ban

BARTOW, Fla. (July 1, 2024) — Thanks to an increase in rain, Polk County is repealing the active burn ban today, July 1. The Polk County Fire Chief declared a burn ban throughout Polk County on May 28, due to dangerous fire conditions throughout the county.

Less than 10 percent of Polk County is averaging over 500 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) and the average KBDI across Polk County is 312. The KBDI index is used as an indicator to determine the likelihood and severity of brush fires. The scale begins at zero, which is no danger and rises to 800, which is extreme danger.

Polk County could reinstate a burn ban if conditions get dry once again. 

The repeal means residents in all unincorporated Polk and municipalities who participated in the burn ban can now burn yard debris, campfires, bonfires and construction debris.

Fire officials warn residents celebrating Independence Day to be mindful and use caution when using fireworks, ensuring they are a safe distance from structures and people.

Estranged Boyfriend Allegedly Shoots & Kills Mother Of His Children In Haines City

Carl Fish
-
0
Estranged Boyfriend Allegedly Shoots & Kills Mother Of His Children In Haines City

Haines City Police Department Press Release

HAINES CITY, FL. – Yesterday morning, the Haines City Police Department (HCPD) responded to a fatal shooting near La Fiesta Mexicana Restaurant. The victim, a 29-year-old female, succumbed to her injuries despite emergency medical efforts. A suspect believed to have been involved has been arrested.

 

At approximately 10:55 AM, HCPD received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the parking lot near the restaurant. Multiple calls followed, confirming that someone had been shot. The victim also called 911, describing the suspect as the father of her children; estranged boyfriend of at least 7 years, Rolando Guevara Zarate.

 

Units arrived on the scene at 10:58 AM and found the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Witnesses provided a description of the suspect’s vehicle, a burgundy Ford Mustang, prompting HCPD to issue a BOLO to surrounding agencies while they began providing first aid to the victim.

 

At 11:18 AM, a Winter Haven Police Department K-9 officer spotted a vehicle matching the description coming into their jurisdiction. With assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Aviation Unit, the vehicle was stopped, but the suspect fled on foot. He was promptly apprehended by Winter Haven police officers. The suspect’s vehicle was seized for evidence, and a rifle was observed inside, for which a search warrant is being obtained.

 

Despite the swift emergency response from both Haines City Police Department, Haines City Fire Department, and hospital staff, the victim was pronounced deceased at approximately 12:03 PM.

 

“This is a tragic and needless loss of life! Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones,” said Chief Greg Goreck. “I commend the coordinated efforts of our officers and the cooperation with the Winter Haven Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the swift apprehension of a suspect we believe to have carried out these heinous acts.”

 

Detectives are processing multiple scenes, continuing to interview the suspect, and notifying the victim’s family members. Zarate has confessed to the crime, stating that he was concerned the victim was going to take their children from him. He also confessed to disposing of the firearm he used, while driving away from the scene. A weapon matching this description has since been recovered. 

 

Zarate also has a past allegation of domestic battery with the victim along with; possession of cocaine, DUI, possession of methamphetamine, violation of injunction, battery, aggravated battery, and several misdemeanor traffic charges.

 

Rolando Guevara Zarate is being charged with the following offenses:

  • First Degree Murder (Florida Statute 782.04)
  • Aggravated Stalking (Florida Statute 784.048(3))
  • Violation of an injunction for protection against domestic violence (Florida Statute 741.31)
  • Discharging firearm in public (Florida Statute 790.15)
  • Tampering with or fabricating physical evidence (Florida Statute 918.13)
  • Unlawful use of a two-way communications device (Florida Statute 934.215)

 

As part of our investigation, we will be examining the interactions between the suspect and the victim leading up to this fatal incident; to include any calls for service received by this agency, or other agencies. The Haines City Police Department will conduct a comprehensive review of these interactions to ensure that all protocols were followed.

 

The investigation remains ongoing. If you or anyone you know has information about this investigation, contact the Haines City Police Department at (863) 421-3636. For those wishing to provide information anonymously, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at (888) 400-8477.

 

39 Yr Old Mulberry Man Struck & Killed Crossing SR 60

Carl Fish
-
0
39 Yr Old Mulberry Man Struck & Killed Crossing SR 60

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a vehicle versus pedestrian crash that occurred around 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in the eastbound lanes of State Road 60 at Turner Roadin unincorporated Mulberry.

 

The driver of a gold Ford Taurus, 59-year-old Tressa Brantley of Winter Haven, was heading east on SR 60 when the pedestrian, 39-year-old Maximino Amiltempa of Mulberry, entered into the path of the car as he was attempting to cross 60. Brantley was unable to avoid striking Amiltempa, and he suffered significant injuries. He was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, where he was declared deceased. Brantley and her passenger were not injured.

 

Brantley was evaluated and showed no signs of impairment, and neither excessive speed nor distracted driving appear to be factors. It was dark at the time of the crash and there is no crosswalk in the area. The eastbound lanes of SR 60 were closed for approximately three hours during the investigation, which is ongoing.

PCSO Investigating A Fatal Pedestrian Accident Which Is Blocking Eastbound Lanes Of SR 60 In Mulberry

Carl Fish
-
0
PCSO Investigating A Fatal Pedestrian Accident Which Is Blocking Eastbound Lanes Of SR 60 In Mulberry

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a fatal pedestrian involved crash that is shutting down all eastbound lanes of SR 60 between Willow Oak Rd and Pine Grove Rd until further notice. The initial call came in at approximately 10:08pm and multiple units from the Polk County Fire Rescue including an ambulance and fire truck.

The driver who struck the pedestrian stayed at the scene to assist the pedestrian.

Please use alternate routes.

We will update as more information is released.

1...652653654...1,392Page 653 of 1,392