We have reports of a fatal accident on SR 60 E and Mae Bass Rd. All Eastbound Lanes closed from CR-630 to US-441. Westbound closed from Mae Bass Rd.
Please avoid the area if possible long delays are expected.
Drive Safe we will bring you more information as it becomes available.
Sun N’ Fun 2017 CAP Cadet’s Volunteer
Civil Air Patrol cadets and senior members from all across Florida came out to volunteer at the largest aviation shows in Polk County, Sun N’ Fun 2017. The Winter Haven squadron and the Lake Wales flight FL-274 were also there to help make this event a success. CAP cadets put their team working skills and their leadership skills to the test by working the flight line and keeping spectators safe crossing the tarmac.
Cadets also got the chance to work the recruiting booth for CAP. They displayed their knowledge and history of the Civil Air Patrol program and how it has helped them personally. Cadets showed their courage and leadership skill by talking with spectators about CAP and the opportunities they have had.
Sun N’ Fun was not all work and no play for our cadets. Cadets and Senior Members were also given the opportunity to interact with cadets in other CAP squadrons and attend a meet and greet with the British Royal Air Cadets. Both cadets and senior members were able to enjoy pizza and socialize while making new friends.
We’d like to thank Sun N’ Fun for giving CAP this opportunity to show what our outstanding cadets are learning within the Civil Air Patrol program. Also a huge thank you to all of our Cadet and Senior Member volunteers. You should all be proud of yourselves; I know CAP is very proud of you.
Justin Forsett is calling it a career. The veteran running back announced his retirement on Wednesday after nine seasons in the NFL. According to an article on NFL.Com Forsett said “It’s Time”. He announced his retirement on a website called “Sports Spectrum”.
Forsett was born in Lakeland, Florida. He moved to Arlington, Texas in his sophomore year of high school after living in Mulberry. He played college football at California and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Forsett also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Denver Broncos.
“It’s time. I’m officially announcing my retirement from the game I love. It’s been an amazing ride and I’m grateful for every moment. My career has brought so many great people into my life, and I asked some of them to join me in saying goodbye.
Against all odds, critics, and naysayers, I accomplished something great. Scouts measured my height and said I was too short. They measured my 40-yard dash and said I was too slow. They looked at my build and said I wouldn’t last. But they couldn’t measure my heart, my faith, and my perseverance.
I am living proof that dreams come true and God answers prayers, and I thank God everyday for the opportunity to live out my dream.”
“It wasn’t until 2014 at age 29 that Forsett proved them all wrong. A 1,266-yard, eight-touchdown campaign served as a bright spot for the 10-6 Ravens. It was a career apex that Forsett can happily take into retirement, which he officially announced on Wednesday.” – NFL.Com (Complete Article Here)
Justin credits all his success to his relationship with God.
A special 2014 season for Justin
LtCol Dan Edgar (active duty Air Force and Commander of the Avon Park Bombing Range) C/LtCol Andrew Pitman, LtCol/CAP Roy Hall, LtCol/CAP Phil ZedonekC/LtCol Andrew Pitman with the Civil Air Patrol FL-274 received the General Ira C. Eaker Award at the American Legion Post 8. The General Ira C. Eaker Award is one of Civil Air Patrol’s most prized honors, for it marks the successful completion of all 16 achievements in the CAP Cadet Program. It is presented to cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, character, fitness and aerospace education. Eaker Award achievers are looked upon favorably by U.S. service academies, in particular the U.S. Air Force Academy. About 10 percent of the cadets at the Air Force Academy are former CAP members. Presenting C/LtCol Pitman with the award was LtCol. Edgar, active duty Air Force Commander of the Avon Park Bombing Range as well has Lt.Col Hall and LtCol Zedonek with the Civil Air Patrol.
Along with this honor, C/LtCol Pitman was also awarded a scholarship of $500 from the American Legion Post 8 to help pay for his training at the NCSA Engineering Academy this summer in Middle, Tennessee, as well as traveling funds from the Bartow Pilot’s Association. C/LtCol Pitman has been with the Civil Air Patrol for 6 years and has been an all around outstanding cadet that has shown great leadership skills, amazing character and has excelled with aerospace education.
C/Maj Thomas Carlin is dually enrolled with the Civil Air Patrol FL-274 and Post 888 BSAVenturing and Sea Scouts. He was awarded the Eagle Scout, the highest achievement attainable in the Boy Scouting program. C/Maj Carlin also had to do a project for his Eagle Scout. His project was a beautiful Chapel Restoration at the American Legion Post 8.
C/TSgt Brown also earned his promotion to C/MSgt and C/SSgt Hamilton earned the promotion of C/TSgt. Both Brown and Hamilton earned their promotions by completing test in leadership and aerospace, physical fitness and drill. Congratulations to all of these outstanding cadets.
If you are interested in more information about Civil Air Patrol or how to join you can visit our website www.gocivilairpatrol.com or contact the Polk County Composite Squadron Commander Maj. Pat Pitman at (863) 528 – 3748. Also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PolkCountyCAP.
Today is another Red Flag Day. What does that mean??
When the National Weather Service along with the Department of Forestry (DOF) issues this alert it states:
“CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORLTY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR”.
This burn ban includes Polk County.
There is also a multi-county burn ban in effect
Due to the complete lack of rain the dangers of fire spread are extremely high.
Use extreme caution with discarding tobacco products along with any other heat source including tractor/mower/vehicle mufflers near dry brush.
Please be careful.
Annual Polk County Peace Officers’ Memorial Set for May 4th
In observance of 2017 National Police Week, the Fraternal Order of Police Polk County Lodge #46 and the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Inc., will present the 30th Annual Polk County Peace Officers’ Memorial Service on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 10:00 AM at the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial in the Lakeland Veterans Memorial Park. The park is located on Lime Street, between Lake Beulah Drive and the west side of the Lakeland Center.
This year’s memorial service will include the addition of a fallen hero. Mulberry Constable Myrle A. Whidden will be added to the memorial after historical research determined that he was shot and killed in the line of duty on April 11, 1936.
A total of 32 other Law Enforcement and Corrections officers who made the “supreme sacrifice and died in the line of duty” while serving the citizens of Polk County with various State, County and Local law enforcement and corrections agencies will also be honored during the Memorial Service “Roll Call of Heroes.”
Family members of fallen officers, representatives from various Polk County Law Enforcement and Corrections agencies, public service organizations, and Federal, State, County and Local government agencies will be participating.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will be the keynote speaker at this year’s memorial service.
Highlights of the service will include: Joint Agency Officer Processional March; Presentation of Colors by a Joint Agency Color Guard; Roll Call of Heroes; helicopter Fly Over; Retreat of the Fallen Rider by the PCSO Mounted Unit; bagpipe players; 3 Gun Volley; and Taps. The Harrison Singers from the Harrison School for Visual and Performing Arts will perform an ensemble of patriotic and spiritual songs.
Immediately following the memorial service, the 30th Annual Memorial Service Luncheon, hosted by the FOP Polk County Lodge #46 and the Polk County Law Enforcement Memorial Fund Inc., will take place at the FOP Polk County Lodge #46, located at 125 West Brannen Rd, Lakeland (east from South Florida Ave @ Sonny’s). The public is invited to attend the memorial service and luncheon.
For more information, please call Bill LePere, Assistant Chief (Retired) and PCLEMF, Inc., Chairman, at 863-834-8911.
PCSO deputies arrest Osceola County Corrections Deputy
On Tuesday, May 2, 2017, deputies arrested 27-year-old Joseph Hicks of Lakeland, who works for the Osceola County Corrections Department, for one count battery on a law enforcement officer (F3), and one count resisting officer without violence (M1).
According to the affidavit, around 7:30 p.m., deputies responded to Duff Field at Hunt Fountain Park (2020 Duff Road, Lakeland) in reference to a drunk and disorderly person. When deputies arrived, they witnessed Hicks acting belligerently towards the players, coaches, and other parents while he was attending his daughter’s soccer practice.
Hicks was had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and he displayed the usual signs of intoxication with slurred speech and unsteadiness, and had been asked to leave the park several times. Mr. Hicks’ wife, Rebecca Hicks, was present and begged her husband to get in her vehicle so that they could leave. While deputies were trying to calm him down, Hicks displayed his corrections badge from Osceola County Department of Corrections. Mr. Hicks was told by deputies several times that he needed to calm down and leave.
Hicks ultimately tried to approach one of the deputies in an aggressive manner. He was verbally warned not to touch the deputy; Hicks did not comply with the deputy’s command-Hicks grabbed the arm of one of the deputies and was taken into custody and handcuffed.
While Mr. Hicks was in custody he continued yelling at deputies and was uncooperative.
“Mr. Hicks’ behavior was embarrassing. He was publicly drunk, disrespectful of others, including the deputies who were just trying to get him to leave, belligerent, and he ruined what should have been a fun and healthy family experience for others. Mr. Hicks will be trespassed from this park to prevent this from happening in the future.” Grady Judd, Sheriff
Hicks was taken into custody on the aforementioned charges, and booked into the Polk County Jail being held on no bond until a first appearance hearing this afternoon.
Any questions regarding Hicks’ employment should be directed to Osceola County Corrections Office.
PCSO Traffic Unit is investigating a single-vehicle crash that occurred late last evening and resulted in one fatality, in Davenport.
Preliminary information so far is as follows:
Around 11:10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, a 2015 grey Toyota Corolla that was heading southbound on US Hwy 27 near Legacy Park Blvd in Davenport, for unknown reasons left the roadway and flipped, landing on its roof on the grassy shoulder, and on top of one of the vehicle occupants who was ejected while it rolled.
That occupant, 26-year-old Vanessa Miller of Kissimmee (female), died at the scene.
The other occupant, 22-year-old Luigi Grieco of Kissimmee (male), was airlifted to LRHMC with significant injuries, but is expected to recover.
The roadway in that area was shut down for several hours during the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing.
This update sponsored by:
Success has always been in the cards for Theresa Pickard.
As the owner of Pyramid Fasteners in Bartow, Theresa’s rise to the top of the company seemed to be a part of her predetermined destiny.
As a young girl in high school, Theresa joined the fledgling company in 1979, two years after it was started by a husband and wife ownership team. The company provided all kinds of bolts, nuts and threaded fasteners to almost any industry you could name.
As one of four employees, Theresa would keep track of inventory, handle the mail and take orders over the phone as her part-time job in high school.
She continued working at the company while also attending college. When she wasn’t studying, she was expanding her knowledge of fasteners and distribution and taking on more and more responsibility at work. When graduation came, the owners asked her to stay on and run Pyramid Fasteners.
Years passed and in 1988 with a growing staff of 8, the couple who started Pyramid Fasteners decided to sell and quickly found a buyer named Bill Diehl from Michigan. Bill wanted to relocate to Florida and needed something to keep busy until retirement. Bill agreed to buy Pyramid Fasteners on one condition; that Theresa would stay and run the business. If she agreed and stayed with the company, Bill would eventually sell the company to her when he retired.
A decade later Theresa Pickard took over the helm of Pyramid Fasteners, guiding it forward in production and distribution to become the award-winning company it is today. Last year, Pyramid was recognized for their excellent service by the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce with the 2016 Business and Industry Champions Cup Award for Business to Business (B2B) Business of the Year.
The Champions Cup awards recognizes and honors businesses/organizations that have championed exemplary best practices and have had a positive influence on the economic well being of the Bartow area business community.
Through the years, Pyramid has grown to 15 employees with over 3500 items in inventory housed in a 20,000 square foot warehouse in Bartow. They deliver 95% of their orders on their own trucks, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Need it now???
You can normally pick it up yourself in less than an hour of placing your order.
They have our own machine shop in house to make custom studs, sag rods and special threaded fasteners so that Pyramid can offer exactly what their customers need.
“We treat our customers the way we want to be treated, like family” says Theresa
“I have a great group of people working here with me, two of them have been here over 20 years, and several over 10 years. My children grew up here; I would weigh them on the bolt scale when they were little”.
So what does the future hold for Theresa and Pyramid Fasteners??
“ My retirement plan is a long one” says Theresa “ Three years ago I started selling 48% of the company to my son, Brandon (24%) and (my) god-son Travis Skipper (24%)”.
Both currently work at Pyramid and are proudly pushing the family business towards even greater success.
And the tradition continues!
© 2021 WinterHavenDaily.com | All rights reserved.
