ATTENTION customers who use Winter Haven REUSE water for irrigation. REUSE WATER IS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL FUTHER NOTICE. If you are unsure if you are a reuse water customer, start by checking your Winter Haven Water bill. You will see “RU” under your Service Readings section. Help conserve the reuse supply by following the Southwest Florida Water Managements Watering Restrictions:
Even Addresses may water on Thursday and Sunday
Odd Addresses may water on Wednesday and Saturday
Watering times are prior to 10:00 am and after 4:00pm. (The coolest part of the day)
Water loss due to evaporation happens when watering in the heat of the day and causes damage to lawns and landscapes, and puts strain on irrigation supply.
NOTE: Potable water is available and running with no issues at this time.
If you have any questions on water conservation and or this immediate issue please call 863-298-5495 or 863-291-5678.
Recognize this guy? On 5-11-21, this male attempted to pay for a honey bun at Reed’s Grocery (1516 7th St SW) with a car wash coin. (yes, you read that right) Of course, the clerk didn’t allow him to purchase said honey bun without the proper currency. Later in the evening after the store closed, this guy came back to the store and damaged the lock by filling it with glue. If you know who he is, please contact Sgt. Hall at 863-291-5736.
Local Anglers Wins First Place and Biggest Catch at Inagural Blazing Bass Challenge
by James Coulter
What could be better than winning first place at a bass tournament? How about winning first place AND biggest catch? Because that’s exactly what one team of local anglers won during the inagural Blazing Bass Challenge at A Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina, and RV Resort.
Ryan Cooper and Owen Gooding both had the honor of winning first place and biggest catch at the Blazing Bass Challenge on Saturday at Camp Mack in Lake Wales. They won first place with an overall catch of 25.58 pounds, and biggest catch with a fish weighing 8.65 pounds. Each contestant received a check for $480.
Both Cooper and Gooding have been fishing together for many years. They have participated at numerous tournaments at Camp Mack. Cooper himself is a captain for Junior Bassmasters at a local high school. As such, he and his friends are regulars at Lake Kissimmee.
“We just love fishing and competition fishing,” he said. “It is fun, as is fishing in general.”
Ryan owes his success landing the big catch with first place on overall good timing. Both he and his partner put time into their fishing, they work hard at what they do, and they go with their gut feeling, he explained.
Overall, Cooper and Gooding love the good times spent on the water with other likeminded anglers. They enjoy being able to wake up at the crack of dawn and spending the day casting lines.
“It feels pretty good,” he said. “These [catches] are bragging rights. There are pretty good sticks out here. So when a plan comes together, it is always good.”
Camp Mack, A Harvey Guy RV River Resort, hosted its inagural Blazing Bass Challenge last weekend. The event kicked off on Friday with a Captain’s Party sponsored by The Florida Brewery Co, which provided free complimentary beer to participating anglers.
The tournament commenced early the next morning at 5 a.m. and concluded with the weigh-in at 2 p.m. The remainder of the event included a bonfire party with various activities including a 50/50 raffle, live music, children’s games, and a fishing clinic on Sunday.
The tournament was the second qualifying event of the Bonfire Series Tournament & Festival. The first qualifying event was The Lunker Lovin’ Smackdown, hosted in February, with the next two events to be the Tickled Pink Playoff in October and the Bonfire Shootout in November.
Each event was hosted with proceeds going towards a local cause. This event was hosted to benefit the Bobby Lane Cup. The February event was hosted to benefit for Keep Polk County Beautiful. October’s event will benefit breast cancer awareness, and November will benefit local veterans.
As for this recent event, the turnout proved to be exceptional, even in spite of these uncertain times. Kevin DeNell, EVP, owed the overall success to people wanting to venture out into the outdoors, even after a yearlong pandemic.
“Turnout has been good,” he said. “Everyone wants to be outside…We can be outside and there is no issue with that, so the turnout has been good as a spectator and angler standpoint.”
To learn more about the Bonfire Series and Tournament Series, visit their website at: https://guyharveycampmack.com/bonfire/
Lakeland, Florida – Lakeland Police have arrested a Lakeland man for allegedly raping a woman in the early morning hours last week.
Derrick Woodard 34, is currently being held in Polk County Jail pending $115,000 bond. Woodard is being charged with sexual battery, battery, robbery and false imprisonment.
On May 7, 2021, at approximately 5:19am Lakeland Police Department officers were dispatched to the America’s Best Motel located at 518 Memorial Boulevard East, Lakeland, in reference to a disturbance where a subject was possibly being raped.
Officers arrived on scene and made contact with the the victim who was sitting on the ground visibly shaking, rocking back and forth, and crying. The victim was wearing only a t-shirt with no pants. The victim pointed at the defendant, Derrick Woodard, and said that he attacked her. She stated he penetrated her vagina with his fingers multiple times against her will and bit her on the neck. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Health for medical treatment.
Here is an exerpt from the arrest affidavit: Officers made contact with two witnesses. One witness advised he was standing in the parking lot of 508 Memorial Boulevard East when he heard the victim screaming for help. He stated he began searching for the victim and located her at 518 Memorial Blvd. He stated he saw the defendant on top of her actively holding her arms down. He stated he saw the defendant actively penetrating the victim. He began yelling at the defendant and he did not stop. He stated the defendant told them that the victim was his wife and to get out of their “business.” He advised he heard the victim tell the defendant to stop multiple times. He advised the victim was clearly not consenting to the sexual contact. The witness also stated the defendant stole the victim’s cell phone during the attack. Another witness, advised he saw the defendant on top of the victim, but did not see the penetration due to the angle he was standing at. He advised he heard the victim screaming for help and telling the defendant to stop. The witness advised the defendant was doing “thrusting” motions with his hips and it was clear he was having sex with the victim. He stated the defendant then stole the victim’s cell phone and left the parking lot.
According to the arrest affidavit the victim stated she was in the parking lot picking up trash when the defendant walked up to her and grabbed her hand. The victim stated she attempted to pull away and the defendant became aggressive with her, accusing her of stealing his money. The victim stated the defendant grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her onto the ground, becoming increasingly more violent. She stated the defendant used his fingers to penetrate her multiple times, and grabbed her around the throat, impeding her breathing. She stated he then pulled her pants down. She stated the defendant also stole her phone and left. She stated the entire encounter lasted approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
According to the affidavit when patrol officers responded to the scene, they detained the defendant walking away from the scene. He had in his possession the victim’s shorts and her stolen cell phone. The defendant allegedly spontaneously stated, “that’s just her pants, just her pants, and her phone, she stole mine.”
Woodard is no stranger to the legal system. He is a convinced felon and spent 2 1/2 yrs in prison for armed robbery, not with a gun, fleeing to elude and child abuse. He also spent just over 8 years for armed robbery when he robbed the Winter Haven Family Dollar at gunpoint.
LAKELAND (May 16, 2021) – On Saturday, May 15, 2021, at approximately 4:04 p.m., officers responded to a traffic crash involving a single motorcycle near the 1100 block of North Lincoln Avenue. According to reports, just before the crash, the driver of a 2018 Kawasaki motorcycle was traveling southbound on North Lincoln Avenue when they lost control of the motorcycle for unknown reasons. After striking a curb, the driver was separated from the motorcycle and hit a chain-link fence.
The Lakeland Police Department Patrol Unit, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived on the scene and began to provide life-saving measures. The driver, 53-year-old Darry Darnell Townsend of Lakeland, was transported to Lakeland Regional Health, where he was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.
The roadway was shut down for approximately three hours while the scene was processed for the ongoing investigation.
If anyone has any additional information regarding the crash, please contact Officer Camilo Almeida at [email protected].
Mother’s Day Dine & Dash At Denny’s (but with your kids?) Sigh
Well, we don’t know they are her children, but the adult in this video had two juveniles with her on May 9, 2021 at 9 a.m. The have a great breakfast to the tune of $89.55!
The girl who has long fluffy hair leaves the restaurant first. A short time later, the woman along with the boy swiftly walk out. The woman is wearing a black tank top, blue scarf and jeans that appear to have rips down on the legs. Yes, we know the images are blurry. But someone may remember a friend or relative who talked about a wonderful breakfast at Denny’s on Mother’s Day.
They possibly left in a white four-door sedan.
Know who they may be? Please call Sgt. Hall at 863-291-5736.
On 05/12/2021 around 0225 hours, the Auburndale Police Department responded to Wal-Mart, located at 2120 Highway 92 west, in reference to a person who had been shot. Upon unit’s arrival, a black male was found with a single gunshot wound in the parking lot. Officers attempted life saving measures until Polk County Fire Rescue arrived and took over medical treatment. The person shot was transported to LRMC where he later succumbed to his injury. Two persons of interest have been identified and interviewed. After consulting with the State Attorney’s Office and presenting the information known at this time, no formal charges have been filed.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident and was not interviewed, please contact Detective Harry Anderson at 863-965-5555 or via email at [email protected].
Not feeling well, and interested in a COVID-19 test? Come to the free Central Florida Health Care walk-up and drive-thru testing site at 200 Ave. R NW on May 13 or May 27 between 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
After 27 years in law enforcement, Deputy Chief Troy Schulze has retired from the Lake Wales Police Department. Schulze recalls two important childhood memories that inspired him to follow his career path.
The first memory was of a long-retired officer Joe Elrod. He served a full career in law enforcement, and also as a little leauge baseball coach. Through him, Schulze was able to realize that cops were normal people with normal lives in his community.
The second memory was through peer counseling in Lake Wales High School. Deputies often took him and other students to elementary school to speak with students there. He even had the opportunity to ride along with the deputies. The quality time he spent with them inspired him to follow in their footsteps.
“The brotherhood, the professionalism, the camraderie, the uniform, the trust that I saw the community had in these few people, that was it, that was the inspiration,” he said.
Those two pivotal moments in his life inspired him to take up the badge. For 27 long years, he served his local community through the Lake Wales Police Department. He has announced his retirement, which will begin May 15, 2021.
Schulze lived a typical small-town life. He grew up in Lake Wales. He played little leauge baseball. He graduated from Lake Wales High School. He married a local girl, his high school sweetheart since 11th grade. They had two children, a son and a daughter.
He plans on spending quality time with his family, especially since their lives won’t be as frequently interrupted by police calls. Still, Schulze will miss the camraderie with his fellow officers.
For nearly three decades, he has heeded his higher calling to serve through law enforcement. His career brought him many highs and lows, but it will be the highs that he will cherish and miss the most now that he has retired.
“It has been a tremendous career,” he said. “I do believe law enforcement is a calling, and I am thankful for the protection. And it has been an amazing journey.”
Schulze took his first step in his career in 1992. He enrolled in the Law Enforcement Academy Track at Polk Community College. He graduated from the two-year program in 1994.
He spent six months as a reserve officer with the Lake Wales Police Department from May until Oct. 3, 1994. That was the day he officially began his full-time career as a police officer with the department.
Since then, Schulze had the honor of serving in most of the positions at the department. He has served as a field training officer, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and ultimately as deputy chief. He has worked in support services, patrol, K9 training, school resource, operations, and investigations.
“[I worked] a lot of assignments in between,” he said. “[They were] not always fun, but I feel that God has kept me safe and blessed me and given me support of family to give me a successful career.”
Chief Christopher Velasquez knew Schulze since the day he started. The two of them worked in a number of different areas. Velasquez has seen the former deputy chief exhibit all of the best qualities of a good law enforcement officer.
“He has always been a stand-up guy,” Chief Velasquez said. “He is well respected, hardworking, dedicated, a family man, meticulous of what he does, and we have always had a positive working relationship…He is just a great person and a great friend and he has been a great cop. He is just an awesome example for everyone to follow.”
Lieutenant David Black worked under Schulze under many positions. Schulze served as a true mentor who proved to be a good listener who offered solid advice and direction. No matter what position he served under, Black became close friends with his commanding officer, and he expects to continue that friendship long after his retirement.
“We have become close friends and our families are very close,” Lieutenant Black said. “I know we will still be friends, but I will miss getting to know him on a daily basis and talk to him and his leadership, and his department will miss his leadership. He is the chief’s right-hand man, he put a great man beside him, and we are going to miss him.”
Lt. David Black & Deputy Chief Troy Schulze spending time at Janie Howard Wilson Elementary at Dad’s and Donuts. Not all the kids had dad’s that could come so they filled in.
Reverend JJ Pierce currently serves as the department’s senior chaplain. As the pastor of First Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, he worked alongside the police department to help bridge the gap between the racial divides within his community.
To help fulfill his goal, Rev. Pierce worked alongside Schulze. The pastor saw firsthand the deputy chief’s faith and how it influenced his life, both professionally and personally. Not only was he an officer of strong conviction, but also a family man with strong family values and ties.
“He has the ability and the strength to rule with his head as we execute the law, and yet he has compassion to also make decisions with his heart when necessary,” Rev. Pierce said. “His faith in God is his strength. What is believes directs and guides him. He is founded in the Christian faith, and he tries to follow the teachings of Jesus, so it is a great foundation to have.”
As a school resource officer, Schulze often visited local schools on calls. His time at the schools allowed him to meet many young children. He was able to meet many of their needs and likewise inspire them. Then there were the moments that truly inspired him.
One year, he supervised the bus load area during the last day of school for Christmas break. Schulze noticed a young boy sitting on a bench crying. He sat next to the young lad, consoled him, and asked him why he was crying. He learned the boy was not as excited as the other children to leave school for two weeks because he did not have a good home to return to.
“School was a safe place for him,” Schulze said. “He saw the teachers and me there as an officer as a safe place. He knew he had food. He knew he had friends. He knew he had people who could look after them and take care of them. He did have a home that cared for him, but financially, Christmas was not like that for a lot of other students.”
Meeting someone who was less fortunate than himself, especially during the holiday seasons, truly resonated with him. That memory lived on with him through his career and helped shaped his outlook as an officer.
“That story, it really impacted me that the children, their relationships we develop with them is important, to get to know them and their families,” he explained. “This young man completley opened my eyes to a different way of thinking about policing.”
Now that Schulze has retired from law enforcement, he plans on shifting gears and beginning a career with Chemical Containers, Inc. Moreover, he plans on spending more quality time with his family, something which was often interrupted with his previous occupation.
“As a police officer, you react to crisis, and crisis does not have a clock,” he said. “It could be any day of the week, any hour of the night, and you have to respond to it. So as much as I have enjoyed this job for the last 27 years, I am looking forward to time with family that is not interrupted as it has been.”
When you want to steal something so bad that you don’t mind waiting!
The female in the video went to Walmart (355 Cypress Gardens Blvd) on May 7 around 11:46 a.m. She heads to the electronics counter. She sees the associate working behind the counter… and she waits. For five minutes actually. When the associate helps a customer, she slips behind the counter and snags a pair of Airpod Pros (worth $197). Tucks the package inside of her purse and leaves the store. Her vehicle is caught on video as well. (couldn’t get the tag though) If you recognize her, please contact Detective 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.
