PIRTLE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER TEAM FOR THE PROJECT, IS SOLICITING BIDS FROM QUALIFIED SUBCONTRACTORS AND VENDORS FOR THE CITY OF HAINES CITY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, LOCATED ON PARK PLACE BLVD, DAVENPORT, FL 33837. THE PROJECT IS THE OF CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND FIRE STATION 2-STORY BUILDING OF APPROXIMATELY 26,000 TOTAL SF. TRADES INCLUDE TILT UP CONCRETE, STRUCTURAL STEEL & MISC METALS, MILLWORK & CABINETS, METAL WALL PANELS, METAL ROOFING, CAULKING & SEALANTS, METAL DOORS & FRAMES, OVERHEAD DOORS, WINDOWS GLAZING & STOREFRONT, FRAMING, DRYWALL & PLASTER, CERAMIC & QUARRY TILE, ACOUSTIC CEILINGS, RESILIENT FLOORING & CARPET, PAINTING, RESINOUS EPOXY FLOORING, SPECIALTIES, SIGNAGE, OPERABLE PARTITIONS, ALUMINUM WALKWAY COVERS, FIRE SUPPRESSION, PLUMBING, HVAC, ELECTRICAL, EARTHWORK & PAVING, FENCE & GATES, AND LANDSCAPING. THE PROJECTED START OF THE PROJECT IS SEPTEMBER 2024. A NON-MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING/SITE VISIT AT THE PROJECT SITE WILL BE SCHEDULED AT A LATER DATE. TOPICS OF THE MEETING INCLUDE SPECIFIC SCOPE DISCUSSIONS, PROJECT SCHEDULE AND ANY OTHER BIDDING REQUIREMENTS. BIDS ARE REQUIRED VIA EMAIL BY JULY 30, 2024, AT 5:00 PM. BID CONTACT: SCOTT LARSON, [email protected] 954-343-5945
On June 4, 2024, a deputy with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address here in Osceola County to take a report from a teenager who alleged she had been the victim of sexual abuse nearly 4 years ago.
The victim reported that the person who had abused her was Mr. Giancarlo Gonzalez-Nieves. She reported that this abuse started when she was roughly 8 years old and continued until she was roughly 12 years old. At the time of this abuse, the alleged abuser, Mr. Gonzalez-Nieves, was over the age of 18.
The deputies taking this report began working with detectives with the Special Victim’s Unit at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout the detective’s investigation they were able to obtain multiple admissions from Mr. Gonzalez-Nieves that confirmed the allegations of abuse from the victim. This abuse occurred at a residential home on Pleasant Hill Rd. in Kissimmee Florida.
A warrant for the arrest of Mr. Gonzalez-Nieves was submitted and executed on June 27, 2024. Mr. Gonzalez-Nieves is now under arrest for the crime of Sexual Battery (suspect over 18 and a victim under 12). This charge is a capital offense in the State of Florida.
If there are any other victims or witnesses aware of any information regarding Mr. Gonzalez-Nieves, please come forward and help us seek justice by calling the number below.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to serving our community and increasing public safety. Anyone with information related to this case or any other similar incidents, please contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office
“On June 19, 2024, Taiwan Blandin was convicted of First Degree Murder, Attempted Sexual Battery, Robbery, Arson, Animal Cruelty and other charges for his October 1, 2019 crime rampage that left an 80 year old Frostproof woman dead in her home.
Following the crime spree, a nationwide man hunt ensued, with Blandin finally being apprehended two weeks later in Atlanta.
Taiwan Blandin will be sentenced on Friday, June 28, 2024 at 8:30a.m. by Senior Circuit Judge Dennis Maloney.
State Attorney Brian Haas thanks the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant State Attorney Ralph Guerra for their hard work and dedication in bringing Taiwan Blandin to justice.”
Previous News
The man who detectives said went on a crime spree in October – murdering a woman and raping another woman – was extradited to Polk County after he was arrested in Atlanta nearly three months ago.
Convicted Murderer Taiwan Blandin
Polk County detectives said 30-year-old Taiwan Blandin of Frostproof was booked into the county jail Saturday.
Sheriff Grady Judd said his crime spree began on the morning of October 1 when he broke into the first victim’s home in Fort Meade. The victim said she woke up to find Blandin standing naked. He allegedly said he was going to rape her, but she resisted, detective said at the time.
That’s when Blandin allegedly pulled a knife, held it to her throat, and raped her. The victim said Blandin grabbed two handguns and two shotguns from her home, bound her wrists and ankles, wrapped her in a blanket, put her in the backseat of her own car.
Detectives said she told them they drove toward Frostproof, turning down dirt roads. They finally stopped at a dirt path where she said Blandin got out of the vehicle and opened a gate. They drove through to a mobile home. She said Blandin got out, knocked on the door, and spoke an elderly woman, and went inside the mobile home with her.
The victim said she had been trying to remove the bindings from her arms and legs and, when Blandin went inside the mobile home, she broke free, got in the front seat, and took off, detectives said. The victim told deputies Blandin had taken her cell phone, so she drove back to her home and asked a neighbor to use the phone to call for help.
Soon after, the victim said Blandin sped up driving a red Chevy Cruze and opened fire. An 81-year-old neighbor of the first victim was shot in the foot.
When detectives spoke to the two victims, the first victim realized she knew Blandin. She told them Blandin and her ex-boyfriend once attended school together.
Once investigators figured out where Blandin had taken the victim and whose car he was driving, they rushed to the mobile home where the first victim escaped. When they arrived, there was smoke coming from the home.
Inside, they found the body of Clara ‘Peggy’ Margaret Schiering, 80.
Neighbors and family say Schiering was active and was still working as a substitute teacher for the Polk County School Board.
Harry Edward Erich of Haines City passed away Sunday, June 23, 2024 at Winter Haven Hospital.
He was born January 3, 1946 in Baltimore, Maryland to the late Harry and Ruth Erich; he moved to Haines City from Illinois in 1999. Harry served with the United States Coast Guard which lead him to travel to Antarctica. He was a field service technician and was good with woodworking. Harry was a fan of Mickey Mouse, Corvettes, and Harley’s. He loved the Gulf of Mexico and Bermuda.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Ruth Erich; and son, Ray Houston. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Jean Erich; daughters, Renee Zimmerman, Tracey L. Schmidt, Kathy Ziglar, and Chris Michki; son, Mike Houston; sister, Georgann Srock; 11 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Lake Wales, Fla. (June 26, 2024) – The City of Lake Wales was awarded a $22,930,000 grant to fund the redevelopment of four road segments in historic downtown Lake Wales. The funding was awarded by the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.
First Street, Central Avenue, Lincoln Avenue and A Street will be redeveloped into complete streets according to the City’s award-wining Lake Wales Connected Plan.
The City’s project plan is one of 148 nationwide projects to be awarded funding by the RAISE program.
“This grant greatly impacts the core of historic Lake Wales, accelerating the revitalization of the downtown district and northwest neighborhood,” City Manager James Slaton said.
The plan comprises a road diet, separated cycle track, expanded ADA accessible sidewalks, safety enhancements at sidewalks and railroad crossings, increased shade tree canopy cover and raingardens, lighting, underground high-speed fiber and streetscaping.
“Lake Wales beat out other major cities throughout the nation,” Lee Hale, civil engineer and grant writer with Hale Innovation said.
Other projects within the Lake Wales Connected plan include the recently completed 3,000-foot multiuse Park Avenue Connector Trail that connects Lake Wailes Park to downtown, and the construction of an $18.5 million revitalization project on Park Avenue, scheduled to be completed this fall.
The RAISE program provides funding to projects of local and regional significance, such as multimodal and multijurisdictional road, rail, transit and port projects.
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It is the goal of the City of Lake Wales to ensure that the services we provide are as accessible for individuals with disabilities as they are for individuals without disabilities. If this correspondence or any attachments provided do not address your specific needs, please email us and we will work to provide the information to you via alternative means. If you have questions or require additional information, please contact the City Clerk at [email protected].
City of Lake Wales e-mail and web site domain name have changed to Lakewalesfl.gov. E-mails to cityoflakewales.com addresses will no longer be delivered.
NOTICE: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this department by phone or in writing.
Robin Lynn Cappert of Lake Wales passed away Monday, June 24, 2024 at her residence.
She was born September 30, 1971 in Port Heron, Michigan to the late H. Wesley and Michal Sunderman; she was previously a resident of Frostproof. Robin was a Gas Station Manager. She was a faithful Christian woman who helped lead her son to Christ. She loved art, painting, fishing, going to the beach, and her children.
Robin is survived by her daughter, Cynthia-Anne Tabor of Greenville, South Carolina; sons, Marcus Cappert of Winneconne, Wisconsin, William Tabor (Yamaris Valentin) of Menasha, Wisconsin, and Nicolas Cappert of Winneconne, Wisconsin; brother, Sean Sunderman of Muncie, Indiana; and grandson, Miles Liam Tabor-Valentin.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 27, 2024 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Mr. William Tabor officiating.
The Lake Wales Police Department has arrested Glenn Skinner, DOB: 11/22/1969 on multiple charges, included attempted murder and arson, after he allegedly poured gasoline on a homeless man and his dog. The incident occurred in the early morning hours of June 16th. According to the report Skinner doused the man and his dog with gas and allegedly threatened to light him on fire. The incident occurred at the old McDonald’s near the Orangemont Plaza.
Here is a long 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 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 their own understanding and conclusions):
LWPD Arrest Affidavit
“On June 16, 2024 at approximately 0600 hours, I was dispatched to the area of Highway 60 east and 11th Street in Lake Wales in reference to a disturbance.
The reportee, REDACTED, advised dispatch that another subject, later identified as Glenn Skinner, threatened REDACTED with a “claw hammer”, poured gasoline on him and his dog, and threatened to set them on fire.
When I arrived in the area of the incident location near 1450 Highway 60 East. REDACTED waved me down in the parking lot area near Subway washing his dog using a hose located between the businesses. When I pulled my agency issued, marked patrol unit next to REDACTED, he immediately said, “he’s on a green bike”, and described Skinner’s clothing and description. REDACTED also warned that Skinner had a claw hammer in his possession. I asked REDACTED if he knew the suspect by name and said he knows his first name is “Glenn”. REDACTED said he did not know his last name.
At the same time, officers made contact with Skinner who was riding a green bicycle, headed East on Highway 60 near RaceTrac gas station. Ofc. Blaser attempted to stop Skinner, by illuminating the overhead lights on his agency issued patrol car and ordering him to stop, at which point, Skinner refused Ofc. Blaser’s lawful commands to stop by continuing to ride his bicycle East on Hwy 60. Skinner was ultimately placed under arrest and a silver “Zippo” style lighter was removed from his possession.
Suspect Glenn Skinner
Because Skinner knowingly and willfully resisted Ofc. Blaser, who at the time was engaged in the execution of his legal duty as a uniformed law enforcement officer, probable cause existed to charge Skinner with resisting without violence as outlined in Florida Statute 843.02. Please review Ofc. Blaser’s supplement for further details on his involvement.
I asked REDACTED the details of incident. REDACTED said he went to get cigarettes at the 7/11 gas station at around 0400 hours. REDACTED said he saw Skinner with a “claw hammer” in his hand. REDACTED said Skinner was waving the hammer and saying something to him but he had headphones in his ears and could not hear Skinner
I asked REDACTED how he knows Skinner!” REDACTED advised LONG REDACTED SENTENCE said Skinner had been “stalking her” for approximately “eight days” by driving around her house.
REDACTED said he left the gas station and headed West on Highway 60 towards the shopping plaza at 1450 Highway 60 where he has a homeless tent camp. REDACTED said Skinner followed and when they got near the Tractor Supply store in the plaza, Skinner threatened him again. REDACTED said he armed himself with a baseball bat he had in his possession when Skinner came within approximately 10 feet of him. REDACTED addressed Skinner and confronted him, not to provoke Skinner, but in an effort to defend himself. REDACTED said Skinner left the area so he went to his camp in the dumpster area of the old McDonalds which is located at 1110 Hwy 60 E.
REDACTED said he went to sleep and woke up shortly after to the smell of gasoline. REDACTED said he got up and walked out of his camp and observed Skinner with a “Mountain Dew bottle” of gasoline standing outside his camp area.
REDACTED said Skinner squeezed the gasoline from the bottle towards him pouring some gasoline on to his socks. REDACTED said Skinner was running up to him and backing off. REDACTED’s dog came out of the camp area. Skinner poured gasoline from the bottle onto the dog’s head and face.
REDACTED said Skinner had a “gray, Zippo lighter” in his hand and told him, “I’m going to light you up, it just takes a second”. REDACTED said he responded with “light me up then” but also said he was in fear that Skinner was going to light the gasoline and set him and his dog on fire.
I went to REDACTED’s camp area. I observed a plastic bottle laying near the entrance to the dumpster area where REDACTED says he sleeps. The bottle was clear and had a green label. The bottle also had a yellowish liquid in the bottle. I also smelled the strong odor of gasoline in the area and around the bottle in particular. I took photographs of the scene before moving the bottle to see if the liquid was gasoline. I picked up the bottle and could tell by the odor, the liquid was gasoline. It should be noted, the bottle was actually a Sprite bottle However, REDACTED could have mistaken the green label on the bottle as Mountain Dew.
I asked REDACTED if he was in fear that Skinner might actually set him on fire. He advised he was in fear and he thought Skinner was about to light the fire.
We conducted a show up in which REDACTED positively identified Skinner as the suspect.
I obtained a sworn recorded statement from REDACTED regarding the incident. The statement was downloaded to Evidence.com and also e-filed to be attached to this report.
Ofc. Blaser advised Skinner of his Miranda Rights by reading from his agency issued, waiver of rights card. Post Miranda, Skinner denied the allegations of the incident. He stated he was only riding his bike through the area.
Ofc. Blaser transported Skinner to the Lake Wales Police Department. Once I arrived at the police department to take custody or Skinner, Ofc. Blaser went to interview REDACTED.
In his interview, REDACTED told Ofc. Blaser she saw Skinner yesterday (June 15. 2024). She said Skinner told her he planned to kill REDACTED. REDACTED said Skinner advised he would kill REDACTED by beating him with an axe handle he had in his possession at the time. Ofc. Blaser obtained a sworn recorded from REDACTED. Please refer to Ofc. Blasers supplement report for further information.
Based on REDACTED’s statements, there is reason to believe Skinner intended to commit the crime of First-Degree Premeditated Murder.
Skinner committed an overt act toward the commission of First-Degree Premeditated Murder that went beyond mere preparation, by putting gasoline in a bottle, following REDACTED to his camp, and pouring the gasoline on REDACTED and his dog. Because Skinner failed to complete the First-Degree Premeditated murder. probable cause existed to charged him with Attempted First-Degree Murder as outlined in Florida Statute 782.04*.
Because Skinner willfully and unlawfully, while engaged in the commission of Attempted First Degree Murder, also attempted to cause a fire in a structure where Skinner knew, or had reasonable grounds to believe, would be occupied by REDACTED, probable cause existed to charge Skinner with Attempted Arson as outlined in Florida Statute 777.04(1).
Because Skinner unnecessarily poured gasoline on the face and head of REDACTED dog, in a cruel and inhuman manner, in an attempt to set the dog on fire, probable cause existed to charge Skinner with Animal Cruelty as outlined in 828.12(1).
Because Skinner knowingly and intentionally poured gasoline on REDACTED’s feet, probable cause existed to charge Skinner with simple battery as outlined in Florida Statute 784.03(1)(A)1.
This year is proving to be one of the most contentious, heated elections of all time. Fortunately, one local Marine Veteran has experience navigating heated battlefields. And she wants to use her 20 years of experience to help Florida Republicans navigate the upcoming battlefield of the 2024 Presidential Election.
Kathryn “Kat” Gates-Skipper is currently campaigning to become the Polk County State Committeewoman for the Florida Republican Party. As a Marine Veteran, she served her Country in the military for more than 20 years on Active Duty and in the Reserves. Now, she wants to continue her service through Politics, specifically by helping Political Candidates get Elected on All Levels of Government.
“My proudest accomplishments was serving my Country,” she said. “I am in Politics because I want to continue my service to my Country.”
As a Female Servicewoman who enlisted in the U.S. Marines in the 1970s, Gates-Skipper helped pave the way for Women like herself to serve within that branch of the military. She was the First Woman in the Marines to perform Joint Service Exercises with men and women, the First to serve aboard a Warship, and the First to serve in Combat Operations in Desert Storm.
Since her military service, Gates-Skipper has had a fruitful career as a civilian. She currently owns and operates Kat & Son Airport Transportation Service and a Cattle Ranch. Her most notable accomplishments include being Inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, receiving the Inaugural Florida Woman’s “Edna Giles Fuller” Award, becoming the First Woman Commandant of the local Marine Corps League, and serving as the Florida Federation of Republican Women Armed Services Chair.
Perhaps her most humbling accomplishment was working for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.S. President Donald J. Trump. She served as the Florida Veterans State Director and National Surrogate for Trump in 2016 and 2020 and on the Trump Advisory Board for the National Veterans/Military Families in 2024.
As a proud Republican, her political beliefs and actions are grounded in Biblical truths and the U.S. Constitution, and she firmly believes that many of society’s ills can be alleviated by returning to these fundamental guiding principles.
She aspires to do just that through her position as Florida Republican State Committeewoman if elected, vowing to place Conservative Candidates into office on All Levels of Government. Her years serving in government, business, and the military have provided her the experience and wherewithal to accomplish such a task head-on.
“I have a proven track record of Success, from serving in the United States Marine Corps, which I am obviously very proud of, raising my Family, starting and running a Small Business, raising Cattle, and serving on various Leaderships Boards,” she said. “I have demonstrated for more 30 years that I can effectively Lead, overcome Challenges, and achieve meaningful results.”
Kathryn “Kat” Gates-Skipper recently joined us on the Chattin on the Ridge podcast to discuss her political campaign and her military experience. Listen to the full interview on the latest podcast on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/chattin-on-the-ridge/episodes/ep-38-kathryn-kat-gates-skipper-updates-on-past-guests
A woman was arrested following a domestic disturbance in Lake Wales Monday afternoon, June 24, 2024, in which she intentionally drove over a man who was holding an infant, injuring them both.
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office authored an arrest warrant for 27-year old Aaliyah Ross of Lake Wales, and located her in Orlando where she was arrested. She is currently being held in the Orange County Jail.
The 25-year old male victim was treated and released from the hospital, having suffered bruising to his body and lungs.
The 16-month old boy remains hospitalized with a broken left shoulder and collar bone, multiple broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung, and abrasions and bruising on his body.
As the argument escalated between Ross and the man, she placed two other small children (4 years old, and 6 months old) into her car, and got into the driver’s seat of a Toyota Corolla. The man picked up the infant and began to run away as Ross accelerated directly at the two victims, and ran over them before she crashed the vehicle into a trailer.
At approximately 12:22pm, Ross returned to the now unoccupied residence and put the infant inside, leaving him alone there while she left again.
Following her arrest, Ross told a detective that there have been several times in the past that she has acted as if she was going to run over the man, but she would swerve at the last second to avoid hitting him. She said she assumed that because of that, he would have moved out of the way in this instance, but he did not.
“Aaliyah Ross made a series of incredibly unthinkable choices Monday: running over a man and a baby with a car, leaving the baby alone, and failing to get medical treatment for the obviously injured baby. Someone who does this to a baby will do this to anyone—her uncontrollable rage is a threat to the public.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
The other two children were located and the Florida Department of Children and Families is currently evaluating their plan of custody.
Ross will be transferred from the Orange County Jail to the Polk County Jail.
She is being charged with: Aggravated Child Abuse (F1), Aggravated Battery-Domestic (F2), Negligent Child Abuse (F3), Battery-Domestic (M1), and Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage (M2).
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a deputy sheriff who showed up for duty on Saturday morning, June 22, 2024, and exhibited signs of being intoxicated.
27-year old Joseph Everett was taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center and charged with Driving under the Influence (DUI) Alcohol. Everett has worked for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for two years.
“Anytime someone chooses to drive under the influence of alcohol, it shows a lack of good judgement. If you lack the proper judgement when it comes to drinking and driving, you have no business working in law enforcement. We hold our deputies to a higher standard than the community, and he failed to meet that standard.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
According to the arrest affidavit, D/S Everett’s supervisor noticed the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Everett’s breath and suspected he was under the influence of alcohol.
Everett admitted that he consumed about three coffee mugs of whiskey Friday night. A Standardized Field Sobriety Test was administered to Everett and he exhibited numerous signs of obvious impairment. Joseph was cooperative during the investigation and he resigned upon his arrest.
