St. Patrick’s Day Festival Planned For Downtown Winter Haven March 16th
St. Patrick’s Day Festival Planned For Downtown Winter Haven March 16th
Main Street Winter Haven and downtown businesses are sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival Thursday, March 16th, on Central Ave from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. Entertainment features live Celtic Music performed by Celtic String Along, along with dining, dancing and maybe even a little green beer!
Central Park Art Festival: March 18 & March 19 in Winter Haven
Central Park Art Festival: March 18 & March 19 in Winter Haven
WINTER HAVEN – Ridge Art Association will hold its 39th Annual Central Park Art Festival Saturday, March 18th and Sunday, March 19th 2017 in Winter Haven’s Central Park. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The festival, which has become a cultural mainstay for the community, is a juried competition festival featuring fine art from accomplished artists hailing from both within Central Florida and beyond. This two-day event showcases paintings, sculptures, mixed media art work, hand crafted jewelry, artisan glass crafts, wood carving and more.
Prizes totaling $8,500 will be awarded to the winning artists as well as purchase awards.
The Mission of the Ridge Art Association is to educate and promote understanding of the Visual Arts and to sponsor cultural events within our community.
For more information visit https://www.ridgeart.org
Winter Haven Commissioners Take A Field Trip To Tallahassee Today
Winter Haven Commissioners Take A Field Trip To Tallahassee Today
WINTER HAVEN – City commissioners are in Tallahassee today for an annual field trip to learn what state legislators are doing on behalf of Polk County and to advocate for the issues important to its citizens.
Part of “Polk County Day,” commissioners were scheduled to meet Tuesday morning with State Representatives Sam Killebrew and Ben Albritton and State Senator Kelli Stargel, followed by a 9 a.m. cabinet meeting and meetings with Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a Polk County native, and Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Ryan Matthews.
On the commissioners’ agenda will be to seek passage of the Heartland Headwaters Protection and Sustainability Act, which is designed to protect water resources in Polk County, and to seek funding to buy land and construct local trails around Lake Elbert, which would connect with miles of trails statewide. They will also seek to make a final push to lease Nora Mayo Hall from the state for use as a venue for city organizations and public events.
Commissioners will take part in a Polk County Day reception in the State Capitol building that evening. They will be joined by members of area Chambers of Commerce, part of their “Capitol Connection” program, along with nearly 100 other community advocates from Polk County.
Bartow Officer Placed on Leave, To Be Investigated for Calling Obama “Gorilla” In Online Post
Bartow Officer Placed on Leave, To Be Investigated for Calling Obama “Gorilla” In Online Post
BARTOW – A Police officer is on paid leave and has been removed as a future witness by the state attorney in response to her post on Facebook last November referring to Pres. Obama as a “gorilla.”
Protests this past week outside of the Bartow Police Department’s offices highlighted the post, in which officer Christina Arribas stated, ““Yes!!! This year we lost two gorillas. One is in heaven, and one is moving out of the White House. One will be missed. One will not be.”
The post was made on her personal Facebook page, in which she goes by the name “Chrissy GillRakers.” The page could not be found during a Facebook search today.
Protesters reportedly called for her to be fired. They also called for Police Chief Joe Hall to be fired for not taking action against her.
On Friday, State Attorney Brian Haas removed Arribas as a witness in court in any cases that will come before his 10th Judicial Circuit’s office in the future. Experts have said removal as a witness often can mark the end of an officer’s career.
“As far as here in Polk County and Highlands County and Hardee County, she won’t be a witness in our cases,” he said during a press conference.
The statement received a quick response from the Bartow Police Department, in which they announced that she has been put on paid leave, pending a disciplinary hearing.
“In response to the letter received from the State Attorney’s Office regarding Officer Christina Arribas, Chief Joe Hall has placed Officer Arribas on Administrative Leave, with pay, and a notice of pre-disciplinary action is forthcoming.”
The statement said the department would make no further comments about the case, since it’s under investigation.
PCSO Arrests Two Juveniles For Armed Burglary, Suspect Posted Pic of Stolen Gun on Facebook
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PCSO Arrests Two Juveniles For Armed Burglary, Suspect Posted Pic of Stolen Gun on Facebook
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On March 10, 2017, PCSO deputies arrested two 16-year-old boys for armed burglary, during which a firearm and credit cards were stolen from the victim’s car when it was parked in her driveway. One of the suspects, Aaron Atkinson, posted a photo of himself holding the stolen gun, on Facebook. One of his friends commented that he was “doing too much on Facebook” and the “polk sheriff” would be on his tail, to which Atkinson replied, “[expletive] ’em” (see photos below). Aaron Atkinson, DOB 5/26/2000, of Bartow, is being charged with:
Raven Scott, DOB 5/22/2000, of Lakeland, is being charged with:
They were both arrested and taken to the JAC. As such, we do not have mugshots for them. The following are excerpts from their affidavits, and they are self-explanatory: On 03/09/2017 between 7:00 PM and 11:17 PM, the suspect, Aaron Atkinson, walked into a driveway on Iowa Road in Lakeland, as the co-defendant, Raven Scott, stayed nearby on his bicycle. Atkinson approached the victim’s 2016 Nissan Rogue that was parked in the driveway and stole items from within while Scott remained on Iowa Road assisting in the burglary as a lookout person. Atkinson stole a Thompson .45 caliber semi-automatic firearm valued at $400.00 from within the center console of the vehicle; the victim’s brown leather Dooney & Burke purse valued at $350.00, which contained the victim’s Florida driver’s license, Capital One credit card, and Wells Fargo debit card; a 14kt. yellow gold wedding band valued at $200.00; a 14kt. yellow gold pendant with charms valued at $300.00; and a silver metal necklace valued at $8.00. Atkinson and Scott returned to the residence at 2121 Christy Lane in Lakeland (Scott’s home). On 03/09/2017 at 11:26 PM and 11:41 PM, Atkinson contacted Domino’s Pizza located at 339 Bartow Road in Lakeland, and attempted to purchase three large pizzas, chicken wings, and a two litter of Coke each time. Both times Atkinson used the victim’s Capital One card and wanted the food delivered to 2121 Christy Lane in Lakeland, but each transaction for $49.88 was declined. On 03/10/2017 at 12:42 AM, Atkinson attempted to purchase jewelry via an online purchase from SP Industries in Pasadena, California, using the victim’s Capital One card but the transaction for $799.99 was declined. On 03/10/2017 at 12:44 AM, Atkinson attempted to purchase jewelry via an online purchase from SP Industries in Pasadena, California using the victim’s Wells Fargo debit card but the transaction for $799.99 was declined. Detectives determined the phone number used in the Domino’s Pizza order was registered to Shane Atkinson, which was connected to a Facebook profile. While conducting a search through Facebook for the suspect, detectives located a photograph of the suspect holding a black semi-automatic firearm, posted on his Facebook page on 03/10/2017 at approximately 1:45 AM. The victim viewed the photograph and positively identified the firearm as being the Thompson .45 caliber semi-automatic that was stolen from the center console of her vehicle. The victim stated that her father had drilled holes in the trigger guard to make the firearm unique and the firearm in the photograph had the same identifying features. Atkinson was later located in the roadway in front of 2230 Christy Lane in Lakeland, Florida. He identified himself as John Shane Johnny with the date of birth of 05/26/97. Detectives called phone number 863-547-7890, twice, and during both times the phone in “John Johnny’s” possession began to ring. Detectives again asked the suspect his name, and the suspect continued to state that his name was John Johnny. When they told the suspect they were calling his cellular phone, the suspect stated “You tricked me,” and advised that his name is Aaron Shane Atkinson. In the suspect’s backpack, detectives located a 14kt. gold charm, a silver metal necklace and charm, and a pack of Marlboro Special Blend cigarettes (the same brand the victim smokes). Post Miranda, both Atkinson and Scott stated during the night of 03/09/2017, they went to Eaton Park, and while Atkinson broke into a white car, Scott rode down the roadway on his bicycle and acted as a lookout person. Detectives located the stolen Thompson .45 caliber from the bottom drawer of a dresser within Scott’s bedroom. Atkinson told detectives he hid it there without Scott’s knowledge. All of the other stolen property was located as well. A check through the Department of Juvenile Justice database was conducted – it was determined Atkinson was found guilty for burglary of an unoccupied conveyance (court docket #2016-CJ-001384-0000-00) on 07/27/16; possession of a weapon or ammo by convicted felon (court docket #2014-CJ-000198-0000) on 02/12/14; and burglary of an occupied dwelling (court docket #2012-CJ-002961-0000) on 08/29/12. Atkinson has an extensive juvenile criminal history with charges such as petit theft, trespassing, motor vehicle theft, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, interfering with custody of a minor, battery, burglary of an occupied conveyance, grand theft, dealing in stolen property, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, possession of stolen credit cards, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon on school property, possession of a weapon or ammunition by convicted felon, stalking, resisting arrest without violence, burglary of a dwelling cause over $1,000 in damage, burglary of occupied dwelling, and felony criminal mischief. Scott has an extensive juvenile criminal history with numerous counts of burglary of unoccupied conveyance, numerous counts of burglary of an unoccupied structure, felony criminal mischief, petit theft, motor vehicle theft, grand theft, grand theft of fire extinguisher, burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and trespassing.
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Traffic Alert: Winter Haven 1st Street South In Front of The Sweet Center
Traffic Alert: Accident in Winter Haven 3 cars involved one person injured
1 Street South in front of The Sweet Center
Drive Safe
MEDICAL GROUPS PLANS OPEN HOUSE
MEDICAL GROUPS PLANS OPEN HOUSE
Lake Wales, FL – The physicians of Lake Wales Medical Group are hosting an Open House to showcase their new office space, and give the community an opportunity to meet the physicians.
The Open House will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, at the Medical Group’s new surgical office, 407 S. 11th St., across the street from the hospital’s Emergency Department.
“We are excited to be opening this new office location for our surgeons, and we are taking this opportunity to invite the community to come and meet some of our physicians and learn about all the services we offer at Lake Wales Medical Group,” said Greg Hall, manager of Lake Wales Medical Group.
The medical group consists of primary care providers and specialists, including gastroenterology, otolaryngology (ENT), gynecology, and wound care.
“One of the most beneficial things about our providers is that we often have same-day appointments available,” Hall said. “In fact, very soon, several of them will have the capability for patients to go online and schedule an appointment with just a few clicks. We want to make sure we are easy for patients to access and that we are providing great care for our community.”
There is no fee to attend, but registrations are appreciated. Call 679-6869 to register.
Explore Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas with FWC’s Geocaching Challenge!
Explore Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas with FWC’s Geocaching Challenge!
Grab your smartphone or GPS unit and go looking for geocaches scattered over Florida’s Wildlife Management Areas.
It’s your chance to join a modern-day treasure hunt while soaking in the beauty of the wildlife and scenery on lead WMAs managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The Geocaching Challenge, celebrating the 75th anniversary of Florida’s WMA system, officially begins March 13, when people of all ages can get started on finding one or more of the 49 geocaches hidden on the lead WMAs.
If you get lucky, you may find the two 75th WMA Anniversary Geocoins!
“Go geocaching on a Florida Wildlife Management Area if you want the excitement of a modern-day treasure hunt set in incredibly beautiful places where you can experience wild Florida at its best,” said Jerrie Lindsey, director of FWC’s Public Access and Wildlife Viewing Services Office. ”While you are out geocaching, you also get the chance to explore our WMAs and all the outdoor recreational opportunities they provide, from wildlife viewing to fishing, hiking, paddling and hunting.”
“The Geocoin Journey is part of the fun,” Lindsey said. “The goal is to get the two trackable geocoins to all of the 49 geocache locations, with your help of course!”
Ready to get started? Go to MyFWC.com/WMA75 and click on “Find a Treasure! Join our Geocaching Challenge. There you will get information on how to geocache, how to participate in the challenge (including the Geocoin Journey), and what prizes are offered. You have until Dec. 31, 2017, to find the geocaches on Florida’s WMAs.
On a practical note, what if you are unable to use your smartphone because you are in a remote WMA area? FWC staff say you should be able to use a GPS unit or the GPS signal on your cellphone, which should work even when you can’t get a phone connection.
More on the WMA 75th anniversary, including upcoming events, the 75 Years Wild photo contest and how to find a WMA near you, is at MyFWC.com/WMA75.
