Early Wednesday morning a Chevy Trax, was traveling northbound on North Broadway Avenue and stopped for a red traffic signal at the intersection of SR-60. The vehicle then attempted a right turn onto SR-60 and collided with a bicyclist traveling westbound. The adult female bicyclist suffered fatal injuries and has been identified as 51 yr old Bartow woman. The driver, a 65-year-old Bartow man, was uninjured during the incident.
The FHP following Marsy’s Law does not release victims names.
By Kathy Leigh Berkowitz
This article is a collaborative effort between DailyRidge.com and D-R Media & Investments LLC
It might be unusual that two Polk County news outlets both have a D and an R at the head of their name.
What’s even more unusual is that The DailyRidge.com and D-R Media & Investments LLC are joining hands to share resources and extend their reach for the betterment of the community.
The DailyRidge.com, a locally owned and operated independent hyper local media company, will remain independent, as will D-R Media & Investments LLC, an extension of a family-owned newspaper business that owns the Winter Haven Sun, Polk News-Sun and Four Corners Sun in Polk County.
Understanding that the reporters for both news outlets were seeing each other at various community events and meetings on a regular basis, the companies suddenly realized that maybe they could create something sweet that would benefit the community they served: A partnership where both news outlets would remain independent, yet exchange stories and share advertising opportunities, creating a wide outreach for businesses and individuals who enjoy local news.
“We believe an informed citizenry is the best way to create sustainable great communities to live in. We admire the work the Daily Ridge does and are pleased to partner and expand the important civic information we all need,” said Dunn-Rankin.
“D-R Media & Investments LLC exists to help make the communities we serve a better place through quality journalism, helping locally owned businesses grow, events, and early-stage investments,” said owner David Dunn-Rankin.
D-R Media is owned by a fifth-generation Florida family. Their papers stretch from Lake Placid in the South and go north up US 27 to Wildwood covering America’s best small towns and include papers in Polk (Lakeland, Winter Haven, Four Corners as well as papers in Sumter, Lake and Highland counties.
DailyRidge.com is a hyper local media company focused on educating citizens by providing “Fast, Factual, and Free non-partisan news,” said Carl Fish, co-owner of the company.
“We try and showcase stories about citizens, leaders, and laws or regulations that affect our community,” Fish says.
The Daily Ridge originated in December of 2006 when two friends, Kip Kirchberg and Carl Fish, who felt the Polk County Ridge Area had a serious lack of factual unbiased news, joined hands to launch their online news outlet The Daily Ridge.
“Our contributors are everyday citizens, and our writers are from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Kip Kirchberg.
“As Polk County is larger in population than several entire states, we see a continuing need for more local news,” Kirchbergsaid.
Kip Kirchberg, Founding Partner of Daily Ridge, said “The Daily Ridge family is thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with D-R Media that is likely to revolutionize the way users consume news and information. D-R Media has a strong foothold in the printed news and information industry who has a great reputation for delivering quality journalism. The Daily Ridge is a smaller yet very successful organization with over 17 years knowledge of delivering digital hyper local news, entertainment, and community information. This Partnership will allow us both to reach a wider audience by leveraging more distribution options, while expanding coverage to provide readers more local news.”
A Lake Alfred man died Tuesday morning, October 31, 2023, after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Winter Haven.
39-year old Adam Walling was transported to a local hospital for injuries that included head trauma, but he was pronounced deceased shortly after arriving.
The crash occurred at about 9:17 am; deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and members from Winter Haven Fire Department responded to the crash on Martin Luther King Boulevard NE at Jewett Street.
According to preliminary findings of the PCSO Traffic Homicide Investigations, Mr. Walling was driving a white 2007 Honda motorcycle east on Martin Luther King Boulevard, while a white 2005 Ford Expedition was heading west.
The Ford Expedition began making a left turn (south) to Jewett Street to enter the Buckeye Ridge neighborhood, and in doing so, crossed in front of Mr. Walling’s motorcycle which had the right-of-way.
PCSO detectives believe Mr. Walling laid his motorcycle down and became separated from the bike.
Mr. Wolling slid under the front part of the Ford Expedition. He was not wearing a helmet.
Neither the driver, nor the passenger in the Ford Expedition were injured in the crash.
Martin Luther King Boulevard was reopened for traffic after approximately three hours, but the investigation remains ongoing.
The best time of year is almost here!! 🎄 On December 9th, from Downtown City of Lake Wales, Florida to the Shores of Lake Wailes, there’ll be music, laughter, spirit, and TOYS ON PARADE!! 🧸🪁🚂
Online Float Entry Form Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz-YLiMhcZr7hdKwIds-o0vpFbPEwQwwKMGHirmUHmzcSK4g/viewform?usp=send_form
The annual Christmas parade in Downtown Lake Wales is a cherished tradition that brings the community together in the spirit of the season. The historic streets are lined with excited spectators, eagerly anticipating the first notes of festive music. The children’s eyes light up with delight as they catch glimpses of Santa Claus waving and cheerful parade participants handing out candy canes and treats. The atmosphere of warmth and togetherness makes the Christmas parade in Downtown Lake Wales a heartwarming and unforgettable experience for all who attend!
Make memories with the whole family that will last a lifetime!
Parade Entry Information:
Corporation/Large Business ($75 entry fee)
Organization/Small Business ($50 entry fee)
School ($25 entry fee)
501C Non-Profit ($25 entry fee – Must include determination documentation)
Entry fees are non-refundable
Rules and Requirements:
All Floats are to be lined up no later than 5:30pm at Polk Ave Elementary
NO ALCOHOL is permitted on the float or parade activities
NO items may be thrown during the parade.
Candy has to be Handed Out ONLY
NO Santa costumes allowed. There is only one Santa at the end of the parade.
Violations of the above will result in being disqualified from judging and entry in the following year’s parade.
Please fill in the online entry form or mail in a completed form by 11/30/2023. Mail your non-refundable entry fee as indicated above to:
Rotary on the Ridge
PO Box 3428
Lake Wales, FL 33859
Checks made payable to Rotary on the Ridge
CashApp payments to $RotaryRidge (indicate what group you are with)
Online payment method (Zeffy): https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2142facb-9733-4fbb-baaf-38f8da8f9f75
Please email [email protected] for a copy of the pdf entry form
by James Coulter
Halloween is around the corner. It’s the ideal time to watch scary movies, whether you prefer classic horror flicks like Frankenstein or Dracula, slasher flicks like Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th, or captured footage films like Paranormal Activity or The Blair Witch Project.
However, as much as we love the same-old Halloween favorites, sometimes you want to watch something with new frights. And what better way to do so than uncovering some underrated scary movies from the past? Here are a few underrated cult classics I highly recommend watching this Halloween:
#1: House (1977)
Toho Studios | Not Rated (contains Blood, Gore, and Frightening & Intense Scenes)
Where to Watch: HBO Max (Streaming), Amazon Prime (Streaming), Hulu (Streaming), Sling TV (Streaming), Vudu (Rent), Apple TV (Rent)
A young teenage girl and her friends visit her estranged aunt for summer vacation. However, upon their arrival, strange things start occurring with each of them disappearing one by one. The young girl is now forced to uncover the mystery of the old house and discover why her estranged aunt was estranged to begin with. Can she and her friends survive their stay at the haunted house, all while avoiding ghost cats, man-eating pianos, and other bloody horrors?
Produced by Toho Studios of Godzilla fame, and directed by a director who previously worked on television commercials, this Japanese cult classic shifts tones between being a whimsical teen comedy and a chilling horror movie. The jarring tonal shifts create an overall haunting, blood-chilling experience with vivid visuals and splendid special effects. Each of the girls meets a bloody, gory, and creatively fitting demise that is sure to remain lingering in the deep recesses of your subconscious.
#2: The Company of Wolves (1984)
The Cannon Group | R (for Sex & Nudity, Blood & Gore, and Frightening & Intense Scenes)
Where to Watch: YouTube (Streaming), Amazon Prime (Streaming), AMC Plus (Streaming), fuboTV (Streaming), Roku Channel (Streaming)
A young girl on the cusp of adolescence falls into a fever-induced dream where she imagines herself as Red Riding Hood. Despite her deep woodland village being ransacked by wolf attacks, one of which took the life of her older sister, she nevertheless ventures into the woods to visit her grandmother. Played by the late Angela Lansbury, her granny delights her with old folk stories about wolves, through which the young girl not only learns about the strange goings-on, but also her own budding womanhood.
This movie is best described as Labyrinth meets Twilight. Framed as a story taking place within a young girl’s dream, the movie exudes an overall surreal dream-like feel, where things don’t always appear as they seem, and where events play fast and loose with the timeline of the classic setting. With equal parts blood and gore, and equal parts romance and sexual tension, this story serves as a vivid exploration of a young girl’s subconscious as she develops her own sexual awakening as a young woman. Fans of werewolves and supernatural romance are encouraged to give this film a watch.
#3: Viy (1967)
Artistic Association | Not Rated (contains Frightening & Intense Scenes)
Where to Watch: Tubi (Streaming), Amazon Prime (Streaming), Roku Channel (Streaming), Google Play (Rent)
Based on a classic Russian folktale, this Russian movie tells the story of a seminary student who ends up killing a witch who tried to kidnap and torment him. He is promptly summoned by a wealthy gentleman who wants him to conduct the last rites over his late daughter. Plot twist: she turns out to be the witch! Now the young man must survive three nights in an old church praying over her body, which comes to life every night to enact her revenge on him.
At little over an hour long, this short film is quite short compared to other horror movies. However, what little run time it has is packed with plenty of scary and spooky moments with special effects that are quite impressive for the 1960s Soviet Union. Each night the dead witch torments the young priest in new and blood-chilling ways, with him narrowly avoiding his demise thanks to his protective circle. The third and final night serves as the epic finale with horrors so horrific, that it’s best described as a living nightmare come to life.
#4: Return to Oz (1985)
Walt Disney Pictures | PG (for Frightening & Intense Scenes)
Where to Watch: Disney Plus (Streaming), Amazon Prime, (Rent) Apple TV (Rent), Vudu (Rent)
Do you fondly remember the classic 1939 Wizard of Oz? Well, this movie is absolutely nothing like it!
Set shortly after the events of the original movie, Dorothy is sent to a sanitarium for her “delusions” about Oz. She narrowly escapes receiving shock treatment and is swept away by a thunderstorm back to Oz. However, the land is nothing as she remembers from her first visit. The Yellow Brick Road has turned to rubble, the Emerald City is in ruins, and her old friends have gone missing. She must make new friends and avoid new enemies to uncover the mystery behind what happened to the once-enchanted land of Oz.
Again, this movie is nothing like the colorful, whimsical 1939 musical. While technically not a horror movie, Return to Oz is a dark, twisted take on the Oz stories (as adapted by the Walt Disney Company, of all places) with plenty of scares to frighten viewers both old and young. Many of its biggest scares come from its villains, including the demented Wheelers, the head-stealing witch Mombi, and the eerily Claymation-animated Gnome King and his followers.
#5: The Halloween Tree (1993)
Hanna-Barbera | Not Rated
Where to Watch: YouTube (Rent), Google Play (Rent), Apple TV (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent)
Four young children prepare to go trick-or-treating, only to discover that their other friend has been sent to the hospital for appendicitis. Now they must go on a time-traveling adventure to track down his lingering spirit and save it from the villainous Moundshroud, who seeks to claim it for his own. All the while, the children learn about the meaning behind their costumes by visiting the mummies of Ancient Egypt, the druid witches of pre-Christian England, and the stone gargoyles of Notre Dame.
Based on a story by Ray Bradbury, this animated special by Hanna Barbara has the late author himself deliver narration with iconic lines lifted straight from the pages of his book. The villain of dubious motivation, Mr. Mountshroud, is played by the late Lenord Nimoy, who delivers a classic and haunting performance. This special is equal parts entertaining and educational, as it touches upon the origins of Halloween and its many iconic monsters. A delightful watch to introduce to young viewers who are not ready for the bigger scares in other horror movies.
by James Coulter
Zee Zemora was watching his son performing intensive training at a local gym when his son suffered cardiac arrest. The good news is that the young boy was rushed to the hospital where he eventually recovered. The bad news is that his situation would have been better handled if the gym had an automated external defibrillator (AED) on-site.
Not wanting anyone else to suffer a similar situation like his son, Zemora reached out to Melanie Brown, founder of Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, and requested an AED for another gym, Aguilar Boxing CLUB in Wahneta.
Melanie knew one of the gym’s coaches, Anthony Bearden, ever since he was a young man. She used to cut his hair and that of his grandfather. So, being close friends with Zamora, Melanie was pleased as punch to happily donate an AED to the facility.
“It makes me feel special she chose our establishment [to] put one of her AEDs in,” he said. “I think it is awesome what Melanie is doing. She is a beautiful woman inside and out, she does a lot for the community, and I think what she is doing is amazing.”
With the previous incident involving cardiac arrest at their gym, an AED will prove quite beneficial in case of future emergencies and will ensure that no one else has to suffer a similar problem, Bearden said.
“I think it’s a good thing to have an AED,” Bearden said. “I thank God that he [the young boy] is still with us today. I think if [the AED] would have been here, things would have gone a little bit smoother for him. So, I think it is awesome, a really good thing to have, especially in the sports world.”
Melanie and her team arrived at Aguilar Boxing CLUB in Wahneta to donate and install the AED and offer a small presentation on how to use the device and explain her organization.
Miguel Aguilar, another coach and the gym owner, appreciated the donation. With the type of workouts often performed at his gym, such a device will prove useful in case another cardiac arrest or other emergency occurs.
“It feels great to have this AED donated to our facility,” she said. “The workouts you do in here are intense, so you never know what is going to happen. You just never know.”
Melanie Brown started her non-profit organization nearly three years ago following the untimely passing of her late fiancée, Michael Culpepper, from cardiac arrest. Since its founding, she has raised proceeds to donate nearly two dozen AEDs to local businesses and establishments.
This latest AED was her 23rd donation. She had donated and installed AEDs at other locations across the county, including Tanner’s Lakeside, Old Man Frank’s, and the Caribbean Bay.
Next month, she will be traveling to Clearwater Arena to donate an AED and meet up with two other AED companies, Rescue Seven from Canada and Cora AED from Nashville, Tenn.
She has high expectations for the future, as she plans on raising more money, donating nearly two to three AEDs per month, and launching a new mobile app to help users locate the nearest AED.
“I am privileged and honored to install this AED here [at Aguilar Boxing CLUB] because I see how much of a hard worker these young men do,” she said. “You never know when you can get into cardiac arrest. So, I am glad to do something to save a life in case of a tragedy.”
For more information about Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/honoringculpepper
by James Coulter
Lynda Warden is a member of the Lake Ashton Blankets of Love. She and her fellow quilters, which consists of 150 club members, sew blankets that they then donate to children in need across Polk County. Last year, they donated more than 1,500 blankets to children at local schools and through the guardian ad litem program.
Every year, they host a sale to raise money so they can purchase fabric. This year, they attended the annual Lake Ashton Craft Fair to sell some of their blankets to help raise their proceeds. Warden and her group had attended several years ago, and they decided to return this year.
“I like to see all the people and talk to all the people,” Warden said. “Everyone here is nice.”
The Lake Ashton Blankets of Love were one of nearly one hundred vendors who participated in this year’s Craft Fair hosted at Lake Ashton Clubhouse in Lake Wales. Last Saturday, these vendors showcased their diverse arts and crafts for visitors to peruse and purchase, from holiday wreaths and scarfs to gnome dolls and plastic ornaments.
Rick Arnold is a local musician and artist who has performed at many events at Lake Ashton. Aside from performing music, he also created oil paintings and painted vases. His oil paintings are created through oil and acrylic paint, and his vases are painted with acrylic. In either case, he usually paints landscapes and patriotic portraits.
Arnold has many friends who reside at Lake Ashton, which is how he learned about the craft fair. He has been attending for the past few years, with this year being his third. He loves to come back time and again for the good company.
“I keep coming back because of the good people and the good show,” he said. “It is just a very nice place to set up right, it is a good place to come and find a bunch of good prints.”
Joan DiBattista, President of The Lake Ashton Veterans Association Auxiliary, hosts this fair with her organization to raise money for charity. Every year, they choose a local organization to donate to. This year, they chose K9 for Veterans. This year drew in more than 6,000 visitors, and the proceeds they generate through it will most certainly go to a good cause, Joan said.
“The turnout has been tremendous,” she said. “We have had more than 6,000 people turn out thus far. So we know it has been the highest count. We can make a nice contribution to our veterans charity and the vendors want to come again next year.”
by James Coulter
K.C. Wilson knows how to win big. Not only does he land big deals making trades as a senior portfolio analyst, but he also lands big jumps as a record-holding slalom skier, what with him being a Jr. U.S. National Slalom Record holder, according to his bio on CPS Investment Advisors website.
So, it only makes sense that this winning analyst and slalom skier managed to win the prestigious title of Mr. Central Florida, the annual fundraiser for the Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center (CFSHC). K.C. Wilson won the title with more than 45,500 votes at the ceremony at Bonnet Springs Park Event Center on Saturday evening.
His company has had a long partnership with the Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center. Inspired by his personal experiences concerning hearing and speech issues, Wilson was inspired to compete in this year’s competition by raising money for the annual fundraiser.
“It feels good,” he said. “We have seen the impact of the center in the community. It feels good with a lot of supporters. We know what the center is doing…Seeing everyone else participate motivates and inspires me to make an impact on the community as well.”
The 11th Annual Mr. Central Florida was hosted this year by Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center (CFSHC), a local non-profit treatment facility dedicated to assisting patients with their speech, language, and hearing disorders.
The fundraising event involves several volunteers raising money on their behalf throughout the year. The participant who raises the most money is named Mr. Central Florida.
President Roxann Bonta, CFSHC President/CEO, commended the crowd that evening for their donations, which allows her organization to assist people young and old overcome their speech and hearing problems.
“I think you all know why we are here,” she said. “We are here to celebrate. You allow us to celebrate. We do so much, but we could not do it without you…the people who do the hard work, day in and day out. We put on services for language, speech, and hearing. A special thank you to everyone who is here supporting this cause. We could not do it without you. You make the center work.”
This year’s event was hosted at Bonnet Springs Park Event Center at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland. Throughout the evening, attendees could wine, dine, listen to live music, and place bids on silent auction items.
For more than 60 years, the Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center has served the Greater Lakeland community by assisting people with their speech and hearing problems. According to their website, last year alone, they provided their patients with more than 2,000 hearing services and more than 600 speech and language services.
One such notable patient was a young boy named Ayden, whose story was shared in that evening’s event program. When his mother discovered that her son was not properly developing his language skills as an infant, she took him to the center to receive evaluation and therapy.
“In six months, Ayden was showing play skills, following simple directions, copying words, gesturing and vocalizing for objects,” the program read. “Today, Ayden understands language within normal limits…His progress and success are what every Speech/Language Pathologist dreams of for their patients.”
by James Coulter
Are you ready for some football? Football season is upon us. Have you ever wanted to do more than simply watch the game? Have you ever wanted to get onto the field and play it yourself? Well, a local developmental football team in Lake Wales is looking for new coaches and players to join its team.
Lake Wales alumni Amari Ward started his developmental football team earlier this year to give young people a chance to live their dream of playing in the big game. He loves football from the bottom of his heart, and he wants other people to fulfill their love of the game by playing in it.
“So far, things have been great,” Ward said. “Guys have been coming out, they have been working, they have been showing their commitment, and it is almost time to get things rocking and rolling officially.”
While they have plenty of good players on their team, Ward is seeking new coaches and players to join his ranks. Even though football season recently kicked off, he assures potential players that it is not too late to join his team. In fact, he is accepting new sign ups until the end of January. However, practice does start in two weeks, so prospective players should apply soon.
“We do have practice starting in these next two weeks, and [then] it will be go time,” he said. “We are in the toughest conference in Florida, the Elite American Football Leauge. We want to get things started early, because once February comes, nothing will be easy. It will be playing a competition every week.”
Ward has high expectations moving forward. He expects his players to not only win big but play big. Such accomplishments can only come about when they dedicate themselves to their practice. After all, the more you dedicate yourself to the game, the more likely you can dominate the game.
“My expectations moving forward is to dominate each and every day,” he said. “Practice will be intense, and we have to come each and every day to compete and get better each and every day, to challenge the next man each and every day. The championship starts now before the season starts. It starts in the offseason. You can’t show up on Saturdays and be a ball player. You have to be dominant. It starts now.”
As for new players and coaches, while he has high expectations for the game, he is more than welcoming of anyone willing to join his team. If you’ve played before, or even if you’ve never played, you’re more than welcome to join, he said.
“Just come ready,” he said. “Just come ready and play. That is all. We don’t have any high expectations to join. We welcome everybody with open arms. [We are] looking for guys who want to be dominant at all phases of life, not just football, who want to be smart on and off the field, [and] who can be smart tough fast disciplined with character. “
Aside from Amari Ward, other coaches assisting with this season include Wladimir Bayonne, Eryk Anglin, Dale Sherman, and Tony Medina, Sr.
Behind the coaching staff is a group of guys who are expected to have high hopes this season. Offense players include Jonathan Roberson, who is FCFL (Florida Championship Football League) Leading Rusher Offensive Player Of The Year, and Tre Young dual-threat quarterback. Defense players include Treiun James, Adrian McLean, and Marcus Brown.
To learn more about his developmental football team, visit his Facebook page for the Central Florida Buccaneers: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085019469308&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Or call Amari Ward at his number at: 863-978-9576
Local Law Firm Holding 11th Annual Event for Families in Need
WINTER HAVEN, FL, October 31, 2023 —Brooks Law Group invites the community to their 11th annual Turkey Giveaway on Saturday, November 18, at 9:30 AM, where they will be donating 350 Thanksgiving turkeys and dinner items to families who cannot afford one. Turkeys will be available at the firm’s office at 123 First Street North, Winter Haven. The firm recommends arriving at 8:30 AM to secure a spot in line, as the turkeys are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“This event is one that both our team and the community looks forward to all year long,” says Brooks Law Group’s founder and managing partner Steve Brooks. “It takes a huge effort to put this on, but it’s worth it to give back and make sure that every family has a great Thanksgiving.”
Brooks Law Group will again be joined by Restaurants Against Hunger and Freedom Tour, who graciously donate the side items for a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Local radio station 97.5 WPCV will return to the event for a live broadcast.
Brooks Law Group kindly asks that those who can afford a turkey please let those in need have the donated turkeys. Donations will be limited to one per household. During the giveaway, Brooks Law Group staff will be available to speak with those in line.
Brooks Law Group is a personal injury, auto accident, motorcycle accident and wrongful death law firm, serving individuals across the state of Florida with offices in Winter Haven, Tampa, Auburndale, and Lakeland. The firm has been practicing law and serving people for more than 30 years. For more information visit www.brookslawgroup.com or call 1-800-LAW-3030.
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