Flipping Handles on Rose Blvd. The video is far away and unclear, but maybe someone has information on these two. On May 31, 2021, just after midnight, this pair is seen on a home surveillance system pulling on door handles in the 2100 block of Rose Blvd. Entry was made into two vehicles where items were taken. Anyone with information on this case should call Det. Al-Shaair at 863-292-7921. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Callers are guaranteed anonymity and could be eligible for a CASH reward.
Pictures are grainy, but hopefully someone will recognize these two.
On May 12, the two pictured below worked in tandem to take merchandise from Staples totaling $571.
They left in a Dodge Magnum with a GA tag, possibly a rental car. The tag did not come back to a vehicle from the rental company.
The subjects are both white males, one 5’10 – 6’02 wearing a black cowboy hat, blue bandanna mask, green shirt, blue jeans and boots. The second is 5’8 – 6′ wearing a gray head wrap, dark sunglasses, black t-shirt, black shorts and black shoes.
Anyone with information on the identities of either of these two men is asked to call Det. Al-Shaair at 863-292-7921.
Haines City Honors Local Veterans With Memorial Day Ceremony
by James Coulter
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson designated May 31 as Memorial Day, a time when Americans would recognize the sacrifices made by armed service members. More than ten years later, Jake Polumbo, Jr., Retired Major General U.S. Air Force, joined the U.S. Air Force. Through his service, he learned to honor the servicemen and women who passed before him.
“I realized every day that I was on duty that I was standing next to people to my left and my right who would not come home, and that is something we have to remember,” Polumbo said. “They are protecting our values and freedoms around the world, every day, and every night, we should never forget those young men and women who served.”
Polumbo himself had the distinction of being a decorated command pilot who, according to his profile on the Two Blue Aces website, “logged over three thousand flying hours in all models of the F-16 and holds the distinction as the first and only U.S. Air Force general officer to fly the U-2S in combat.”
Polumbo proudly served his country. He was willing to lay his life on the line to support and protect it. Though he managed to live to be honorably discharged and continue his life as a civilian, he still remembers the brave men and women who were not as fortunate. Their memory, he insists, must live on through all of us.
“Our casualties and our number of lost Americans keep coming down but that does not mean we ever stop remembering,” he said. “If we lose one American citizen in a war overseas, we remember them. We remember that person and we remember their families. Our military is stronger, we expect to win, but we are going to take loses.”
Pulumbo served as the main speaker during the Memorial Day Ceremony hosted in Haines City on Monday. Several dozen city residents and staff congregated in Railroad Park that morning to pay respects for fallen armed service men and women.
The ceremony opened with an invocation by Chris Gillian of Oak Hill Baptist Church. Ridge Community High School JROTC members offered the presentation of colors, and the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance were recited by local resident Jason Green.
Mayor Morris West offered several remarks relating his 22 years of service in law enforcement to the spirit of Memorial Day. Just as military personnel witnessed their colleagues pass away in service of their country, so, too, did he witness his colleagues in law enforcement pass away in service of their communities. Their memories and sacrifices deserved to be honored as well as those of armed service members, he said.
“Today is the day that we can remember our comrades as we went to combat. Some saw your combats beside you get blown away by enemy fire. Let us memorialize them,” he said. “I encourage each and every one of you all to go out, memorialize, and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Go out and memorialize.”
The ceremony concluded with the placing of the wreath by Ride Community High School JROTC, accompanied by a rendition of “Amazing Grace” performed by Benjamin Pugh and “Taps” performed by Kim Lenaway. Light refreshments were served in the lobby of the public library.
Several Dozen Boats Attend Old Man Frank’s Regatta
by James Coulter
Several dozen boaters set sail to Old Man Frank’s on Sunday to enjoy the serene waters of the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes over Memorial Day Weekend.
More than a dozen boats congregated near the docks of Old Man Frank’s on the waters of Lake Howard on Sunday afternoon, allowing their passengers the opportunity to listen to live music, frolic and swim in the water, and enjoy the overall camraderie on Memorial Day Weekend.
Boaters proudly displayed their patriotic colors with the American Flag and other political flags flying from their vessel. Several dozen bar patrons enjoyed the overall atmosphere while sitting on the patio, along the docks, and upon the shore.
Old Man Frank’s hosted several regatta events previously for holidays such as Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. This year proved to be an exceptional turnout, especially since their last regatta was hosted on Memorial Day 2019 prior to COVID-19, explained assistant manager Stephanie Willamson.
“It has been an amazing turnout,” she said. “It great to see people out celebrating this year as opposed to last year being under lockdown.”
Due to the ongoing pandemic, they were unable to host their regattas last year, Williamson said. So after a nearly yearlong absence, people we willing to come out in droves to finally be able to celebrate and have fun on the water.
“We have a better turnout this year than we had then,” she said. “So I think people are just so tired of being cooped up in their houses and they can get out and the weather is awesome today.”
Winter Haven, Florida – The Florida Highway Patrol is reporting a 20 Yr Old Winter Haven woman was killed in a single vehicle crash.
According to the FHP, a sedan was traveling eastbound on Cypress Gardens Boulevard near 10th Street Southeast when the driver lost control of the vehicle for unknown reason. The sedan departed the roadway and collided with a utility pole before coming to final rest along the south shoulder. The female driver suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.
Due to Marsys Law the FHP no longer releases the name of victims.
The Clermont Police Department is asking for assistance in locating Amber Smith, W/F, possible driving a silver Ford F150 with an unknown temporary tag or a lime green Chevy Camaro with black racing stripes bearing Florida tag 79AFDS. Amber is the suspect in an Attempted Homicide. She is considered armed and dangerous. If anyone has information regarding her whereabouts they are asked to notify law enforcement.
Three Armed Juveniles Arrested With Stolen Vehicle
LAKELAND (May 28, 2021) – On Wednesday, May 26, 2021, shortly before 9:00 p.m., officers from the Lakeland Police Department were notified that a recently reported stolen vehicle was spotted at the BP Gas Station on Memorial Boulevard. After being unable to locate the car at the location, a Sergeant began canvassing the area. A short time later, three male juveniles were observed airing up the tires of the suspected stolen car, a 2011 Chevy Malibu, at a nearby gas station. Upon confirmation that the vehicle was stolen, the three teenagers, two age 13 and one age 15, were detained. Each of the juveniles had a loaded concealed firearm on their persons. The juveniles were transported to the station, where their parents met with detectives. During the investigation, detectives learned that one of the three firearms seized had been stolen during a recent vehicle burglary in Winter Haven. One of the suspects is also believed to be connected to numerous vehicle burglaries at an apartment complex in North Lakeland. He confessed that he and the other two teenagers knew the car was stolen. The juveniles were later transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center, where they face multiple charges, including Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Concealed Firearm with an Altered Serial Number, and Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
Celebrate Memorial
Day Weekend On The Water At Old Man Frank’s Regatta
by James Coulter
What’s a better
way to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend than by spending it on the water? How
about spending it on the local chain of lakes while enjoying live music
performed by local bands?
Local boaters can
enjoy such a fun and free Memorial Day weekend by participating in Old Man
Frank’s Regatta, to be hosted on the waters of Lake Howard on Sun., May 30 from
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Rev up your boat
and drive on out to Old Man Franks, located along the shores of scenic Lake
Howard, for an afternoon of camraderie with fellow boaters and live music as
performed by live musician Patrick Renney and friends. Of course, all boaters
are more than welcome to pull up onto the dock and come inside to order drinks
and food.
While most people
would choose to travel out of town to go boating, the regatta allows locals an
opportunity to enjoy a fun Sunday afternoon on the local waters of the Chain of
Lakes. All are invited to come on by and have fun, provided they keep the lake
clean and beautiful.
“The regatta
is a good excuse for everybody in Central Florida to come out and enjoy the
Chain of Lakes,” said manager Jesse Hadsock. “They can get on their
boat, get an excuse to get their boats serviced and get them in the water and
get everybody that option to stay local and enjoy what Central Florida has to
offer rather than take a trip out of town every holiday.”
For nearly nine
years, Old Man Frank’s has been drawing dozens upon dozens of vessels to their
docks for their regattas. Last year saw nearly 50 to 60 boats pull up to the
lakeside eatery for its Fourth of July Regatta.
The key to their
success has been to promote their events locally. Their regattas have always
provided an opportunity for local boaters to enjoy a fun, free time on the
water locally, allowing them to appreciate their local Chain of Lakes.
“We try to
promote local and cater to the local residents,” Hadsock said. “We do
not try to make it a huge event with people from other countries and other
states. We try to keep this a low-key event for local lake and county
residents.”
Especially during
these uncertain times, their regattas allow local boaters to enjoy quality time
outdoors, especially after a yearlong pandemic that has required extensive
lockdowns and physical distancing. After all, what better way to physically
distance than on a boat?
“We want to
give them opportunity to get out in the sunlight get on the boat anchor up and
listen to live music,” Hadsock said. “I think people can expect to
get out of it what they put into it. If everybody goes into it for a fun
relaxing time, socially distanced, with entertainment in their own boat, and it
really buys into the message of lake conservation and boating safety, and
people can expect to have a great fun-filled day that is safe for the whole
family, that is what I think people can expect from this.”
The Memorial Day
Regatta will be hosted on Sun., May 30 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Old Man
Frank’s, located at 1005 S Lake Howard Dr., Winter Haven, FL 33880. For more
information, visit their Facebook page or their website at:
http://www.oldmanfranks.com/
Sheriff Judd will brief the media at 10:45 am today at the Sheriff’s Operation Center (1891 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven, FL 33880) about a drive-by shooting where two teenagers were shot in unincorporated Winter Haven on Wednesday.
This guy… Went to Walmart and chose a $77 pair of headphones. Do you think he paid? Nah… He went into the men’s restroom and opened the package, hid said headphones somewhere on his body and left the store. An associate observed him go into the restroom with the headphones and found the empty package when he exited. He had left the store by the time the associate got to the front of the store. Anyone who recognizes him should call Detective Hebson at 863-291-5620.
