Fletcher Electric Nationals won LWLL minor-league baseball championship tonight over Faded Fresh Red Sox in a very competitive ‘down to the final inning’ game. Congratulations to both teams!
Silver Alert Cancelled: Ronald Weimer Located Safe
UPDATE 12:20 AM May 19:
Ronald Weimer has been located safe and sound. The Silver Alert is cancelled.
Original Release 10:30 PM May 18:
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a silver alert this evening for missing and endangered 78-year-old Ronald Weimer.
Ronald Weimer was last seen by his wife at his home, located at 4725 Cypress Drive in Lake Wales, around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Mr. Weimer left in his vehicle, a 2009 Honda Accord Silver 4-door with a Florida tag, N277GP. Mr. Weimer is medically diagnosed with dementia and diabetes (he was due to take his insulin approximately 1 hour ago).
Mr. Weimer has gray hair, blue eyes, weighs 145 pounds, and is 5’8″ tall. A photo of him is attached.
If you see Ronald Weimer, please call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200 or Detective Maria Sorenson at 863-287-7441
Springtime spurs activity for Florida black bears, cubs
Springtime spurs activity for Florida black bears, cubs
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds the public to be aware that bears are becoming more active this time of year. There are important things people can do over the next few months to reduce negative interactions with Florida’s largest land mammal.
“Now is the time to expect bears to show up looking for food,” said Dave Telesco, who directs the FWC’s Bear Management Program. “If they can’t find food in your neighborhood, they’ll move on.”
With temperatures increasing, bears are out of their winter dens and are moving around in search of food. June also marks the beginning of black bear mating season in Florida. This causes bears to be more active as they search for potential mates.
Female bears that gave birth to cubs that were only 12 ounces at the end of January are beginning to move around more with their young, which may now be 5 to 10 pounds. As the cubs continue to grow, the family unit will roam and can be more visible to people.
While black bears generally are not aggressive, they have injured people in Florida. Never intentionally approach any bear. When walking dogs in bear country, keep them close to you – preferably on a non-retractable leash – and be aware of your surroundings. Dogs can trigger defensive behaviors from bears, especially females with cubs.
To keep bears away from your home and neighborhood, follow these simple tips:
- Secure household garbage in a sturdy shed, garage or a wildlife-resistant container.
- Put household garbage out on morning of pickup rather than the night before.
- Secure commercial garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters.
- Protect gardens, beehives, compost and livestock with electric fencing.
- Encourage your homeowners association or local government to institute bylaws or ordinances to require trash be kept secure from bears.
- Feed pets indoors or bring in dishes after feeding.
- Clean grills and store them in a secure place.
- Remove wildlife feeders or make them bear-resistant.
- Pick ripe fruit from trees and remove fallen fruit from the ground.
It is illegal in Florida to intentionally feed bears or leave out food or garbage that will attract bears and cause human-bear conflicts.
As bears increase their movements this time of year, they also increase the number of roads they cross. For the safety of yourself and bears, remember to slow down when driving, particularly on rural highways at dawn or dusk. Watch for road signs identifying bear crossing areas. Each year in Florida, an average of 240 Florida bears are killed after being hit by vehicles.
Having conflicts with bears? Call one of the FWC’s five regional offices. Go to MyFWC.com/Contact, and click on “Contact Regional offices” to find the phone number for your region. If you feel threatened by a bear or want to report someone who is either harming bears or intentionally feeding them, call the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
More information is available at MyFWC.com/Bear, where you can access the “Guide to Living in Bear Country” brochure.
Help us help bears and other wildlife by purchasing the “Conserve Wildlife” tag at BuyaPlate.com
UPDATE on Fatal Crash in Bartow Involving SUV and Semi
UPDATE TO TRAFFIC CRASH IN BARTOW:
The PCSO Traffic Unit is investigating a two-vehicle crash in Bartow this morning, involving an SUV and a semi, that resulted in one fatality (to the SUV driver).
Preliminary information so far is as follows:
Around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 18, 2017, a blue 2002 Ford Expedition was heading westbound on SR 60 West near the 2500 block in Bartow, while a 2000 Mack truck pulling a trailer was heading eastbound, and turning left into the Cedar Trail Landfill. The rear portion of the trailer was still in the westbound lane as the SUV approached, and the SUV struck it, critically injuring the driver and sole occupant, 49-year-old Dennett Blue, Jr. (male), of Bartow. He was trauma alerted to Bartow Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.
The semi driver, 68-year-old Ariel Soto (male) of Tampa, was not injured.
Tow trucks are en-route and the roadway should be clear in approximately one hour. There is one lane each eastbound and westbound clear in the area at this time. The investigation is ongoing.
Alcoma Athletics Won Lake Wales Little League Major Division Championship
Alcoma Athletics won LWLL major division baseball championship last night over the Medlock Tree Service Marlins in a close & hard fought game. Congratulations to both teams!
PCSO Traffic Unit is Investigating a Single Vehicle Crash in Lakeland
The PCSO Traffic Unit is investigating a single-vehicle traffic fatality that occurred off of Morgan Combee Road in Lakeland today. Preliminary information so far is as follows:
Around 3:45 p.m. this afternoon, Wednesday, May 17, 2017, PCSO received 911 calls from witnesses who saw a pickup truck that was heading westbound on Morgan Combee Road, veer off the roadway to the south, down an embankment, and into a body of water (a filled-in phosphate pit, part of Saddle Creek Park).
The driver, who has been positively identified as 86-year-old Charles Custer, was awake and talking to the witnesses as they yelled at him to get out – his window was partially down. Custer was unable to get his seatbelt off and get out of the truck, and it quickly became completely submerged underwater.
The first first responders to arrive on-scene were Polk County Fire Rescue personnel, Cody Bentz and Cimberly Harris, who both jumped into the water. The first PCSO deputy sheriff to arrive on-scene, Deputy Josh Ringdahl, also jumped into the water. They were unable to locate the truck.
The PCSO Dive Team responded to the scene, and recovered the truck, with Custer’s body inside. It was down approximately 30 feet underwater.
Custer was employed by PCSO as a civilian in Court Security from 1988 until he retired in 1999.
The investigation is ongoing.
Body of Unknown Man Found in Retention Pond Near Imperial Parkway in Mulberry
UPDATE to death investigation in Imperial Lakes area:
The deceased person found floating in the water near Imperial Lakes yesterday has been positively identified as 26-year-old Jonathan Andrew Whitted, with no known address.
He was positively identified via fingerprint analysis, and positive identification from his family members.
At this time no foul play is suspected. His autopsy is pending toxicology.
Original Release:
PCSO detectives working a death investigation
At approximately 10:56 a.m., on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, PCSO received a 911 call from a witness who was fishing in a retention pond, near Imperial Parkway in Mulberry, and discovered a body floating near the shore.
Deputies arrived on scene and found the body of an unknown white adult male with brown hair, wearing a blue Florida Gators jersey, and black and orange swim trunks. The decedent also has multiple tattoos on his hand, arm, chest, and knees.
The decedent has not been identified at this time.
If you have any information about the decedent described above, please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200, Or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477), or visit www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.
Reward Increased to $10,000 for Information Leading To Arrest in the Homicide of Preston Burnett
UPDATE to Preston Burnett homicide investigation:
On May 17, 2017, PCSO sent out photos of two unidentified women, related to the Preston Burnett homicide investigation, seeking the public’s help to identify them.
Thanks to the media coverage, we received tips and have positively identified these two women. We are no longer seeking the media or the public’s help to identify them.
The women are cooperating with PCSO on this investigation.
The reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) remains at $10,000. We appreciate your cooperation.
We will bring you more information when it becomes available.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Heartland Crime Stoppers to increase the reward to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) responsible for killing 29-year-old Preston Burnett.
As previously released, Burnett’s body was found around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, in a wooded area off of Skyview Blvd in Lakeland.
Burnett was last seen leaving Teri Street in the Sun Acres subdivision in Auburndale on foot, around 2:30 a.m. on May 10, 2017. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt, white and blue New Balance sneakers, and a black ball cap with a Camping World logo on it.
During the investigation, these two photos were found with Burnett (see below).
PCSO needs the public’s help to identify the women in these photos. Detectives would like to speak with them.
If you can identify the women in these photos, if you know who killed Preston Burnett, or if you saw Preston Burnett between the hours of 2:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, please contact Detective Keith Brannon at 863-224-7964.
Anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a $10,000 CASH REWARD is urged to contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Or log onto www.p3tips.com to submit your tip via the web, or download the free “P3tips” mobile app.www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED!
Haines City’s Memorial Day Ceremony Will Be Downtown at 9:00 AM
Memorial Day Ceremony
Please join us Monday, May 29, 2017 to remember all those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and freedom! Haines City’s Memorial Day Ceremony will be Downtown at the Military Court of Honor at Railroad Park at 9:00 AM.
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show Saturday May 20th
Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show
Saturday, May 20 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Free Cypress Gardens Water Ski show, 3rd Saturday of every month. Concessions are available bring a lawn chair or blanket for seating.
Details
Date:
Saturday, May 20
Time:
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Cost:
FREE
Venue
MLK Park
199 E Lake Silver Dr NE
Winter Haven, FL 33881
