On May 8, 2023, at approximately 4:40am, the Davenport Police Department responded to the RaceTrac store located at 38425 Hwy 27 in Davenport regarding a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, Davenport police officers discovered that a female clerk had been stabbed multiple times. She was immediately transported by Polk County Emergency Medical Services to a local hospital. Investigation revealed that an individual, identified as Marc Caseaf Tucker (dob: 03/02/1994) entered the store and began looking at various items and visiting the restroom. The clerk, who does not know Tucker, asked if she could assist him with his purchases, to which he declined. As the clerk was preparing to stock some food merchandise, Tucker approached her from behind and began repeatedly stabbing her in the back and side. The clerk fled from her attacker, however she slipped and fell to the floor, at which time, Tucker stabbed her several more times in the chest. The clerk physically resisted her attacker and was again able to escape, at which time Tucker fled the store into a nearby wooded area. Tucker later exited the wooded area and was taken into custody without incident. Other clerks were present in the store at the time of the incident, but did not witness the attack. They became aware of the event after hearing the victim screaming and observing Tucker flee the store. They rendered aid to the victim until the arrival of emergency medical personnel. As a result of the attack, the victim sustained a total of nine (9) stab wounds and is being treated at a local hospital. She is expected to survive her injuries. The victim’s name is being withheld in accordance with Marcy’s Law. “This was simply an unprovoked, random attack for no apparent reason other than the suspect, Marc Tucker, committing an evil act. The fact that the store clerk resisted and fought her attacker certainly facilitated her survival. We are praying for a quick recovery of the store clerk, and will do all we can to ensure Mr. Tucker is held accountable for his senseless actions.” ~ Chief Steve Parker 16 Bay Street W. – Davenport, FL 33837 – Telephone (863) 419-3307 – Fax (863) 419-3308
Marc Tucker is charged with Attempted First Degree Murder. Tucker, who is from the Winter Haven area but is currently homeless, has arrests dating back to 2013 that include Domestic Violence Battery, Assault, Theft, and Resisting Officer. He was released from the Florida State Prison system in January 2023 after serving less than a year of a 20-month sentence for multiple counts of Battery on Law Enforcement Officer. More recently, he was released from the Polk County Jail on April 11 after being arrested for Trespassing. Below is a photograph of Marc Tucker taken by Davenport Police following his arrest.
Two Haines City men are dead and a third hospitalized following an early morning crash on US Highway 27 at the intersection of Washington Avenue. Lake Wales Police and emergency personnel were notified and responded to the scene at approximately 2:51 AM this morning.
Lake Wales Traffic Homicide Investigators determined that awhite 2017 Cadillac driven by Aljerume Brooks, age 40 from Haines City failed to stop for the red traffic light while traveling North on Highway 27. Also in the vehicle was Gary Faniel Jr, age 24 and Javarcea Morton, age 23, both of Haines City.
The Cadillac collided with a 2009 Kalmar Industries semi-truck type vehicle, commonly referred to as a “yard dog” that is owned by Florida’s Natural and was driven by Dewey Hadden, age 62 of Frostproof.
Both Faniel and Morton were pronounced dead at the scene. Brooks was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Hadden was not injured.
This case is still under investigation. Portions of Highway 27 were closed until 11:15 AM this morning while police investigated. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office provided assistance with traffic control and Crime Scene services during the investigation.
If you have any information regarding this crash, please contact the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223. Or, if you would like to remain anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers, call 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) or from your cell phone, dial **TIPS. You can also visit the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on “Submit a Tip” or download the free “P3tips” app on your smartphone or tablet to provide information.
Despite the protests of concerned citizens, Lake Wales City Commissioners unanimously voted to approve an ordinance that would more easily permit a controversial manufacturing plant to set up shop alongside residential neighborhoods.
During their meeting on Monday evening, with a unanimous vote of 5-0, the Lake Wales City Commission approved the second reading of an ordinance correcting a “scrivener’s error” in the City Code, a correction which changes the zoning of heavy manufacturing from “special exception use permit” to “permitted.”
Essentially, the change to the city code would permit decisions concerning proposed heavy manufacturing projects to be made administratively through city staff. Previously, such proposals were decided upon through public hearings by the city commission.
Initially, the Lake Wales Planning and Zoning Board had rejected the ordinance through a 4-1 vote during their meeting last month, and they had recommended that the city commission vote against it. Regardless, the City Commission voted unanimously to make the opposite vote.
The change to city code has proven controversial, as many residents fear it would essentially “fast track” the approval of a major manufacturing plant proposed at a nearly 100-acre site located along Hunt Brothers Road near US Highway 27.
The proposed plant would manufacture plastic pipes used for stormwater projects. The pipes would be created through recycled plastic pellets transported via rail and delivered via trucks. Proponents claim the plant would bring jobs, while opponents argue it would bring pollution and traffic congestion.
Last week, a town hall-style presentation was hosted by representatives from Advanced Drainage Solutions (ADS), the company proposing the plant, to answer questions and address concerns from residents. ADS representatives averred that their plant produced zero emissions, zero hazardous waste, and products that were 100 percent recycled and chemical free.
However, many residents remained skeptical and voiced their concerns during the public comments portion of the city commission meeting before the commissioners voted on the ordinance.
Charlene Bennett asked the city commissioners if they would approve building the plant near their own homes. She asserted that they would not, which is why they should vote against the ordinance. Furthermore, she averred that approving the proposed plant would be “racist”, as it would most negatively effect communities of color.
“Today, it is more subtle, but it is still there,” she said. “I think there is racism in this ADS project, and that is why I think it is able to move forward…The planning and zoning board made the right decision for you, you simply have to follow their lead.”
Cassandra Richards stood by that claim. As a woman of color who has lived in Lake Wales most of her life, first near Florida Natural, and now near the site of the proposed plant, she claims that the plant will only benefit people in power and hurt people of color and poor working-class white people.
“So who gains from this?” she asked. “The people with money in their pockets, the doctors, and pharmaceuticals…You are gaining it off the poor people, and it ain’t right.”
Becky Winecoop had spoken against the proposed plant at previous city commission meetings. She has since resigned the fact that the ordinance would be approved and that the plant would inevitably be approved likewise. However, she insisted she will never forget the city commissioner’s decision.
“I will remember the pipe plant discourse, about how the commission rarely, if ever, addressed the concerns of the people,” she said.
Javier Marin, Vice President of Business Development at the Central Florida Development Council, was the only person to speak in favor of approving the ordinance. He claimed that manufacturing projects like the proposed plant would not only create immediate jobs for the plant but also help create and support other jobs in other industries. He claimed such “economic diversification” was vital to growing the Lake Wales community.
On May 2, 2023, PCSO deputies arrested 38-year-old Michael Grangerand 29-year-old Leila Chaney, both from Frostproof, after they lied during a hit and run crash investigation. Both Granger and Chaney are correctional officers with the Florida Department of Corrections and assigned to the Avon Park Correctional Institute.
Deputies also arrested 63-year-old Michael Granger of Frostproof, the father of 38-year-old Granger.
At around 3:13 p.m., deputies responded to the intersection of Platt Road and South Lake Patrick Road in Frostproof in reference to a single vehicle crash. According to evidence at the scene, a gray 2021 Hyundai flipped and rolled through a fence line and into a privately owned citrus grove, causing around $3,000 worth of damage to trees and an irrigation system.
Deputies found the vehicle unoccupied and believed the driver was injured due to blood found at the scene.
Deputies located the vehicle owners, Chaney and 38-year-old Granger, at their home. Chaney told deputies that she was the one who crashed the vehicle. As Chaney had no obvious injuries, deputies continued to question her about the crash, but she continued to insist she caused the crash and then left the scene.
38-year-old Granger also told deputies that Chaney was the only person in the Hyundai at the time of the crash and there were no others in the house.
When deputies attempted to take Chaney into custody, she began yelling and pulling away to avoid being arrested. Deputies were able to quickly gain control and arrest her.
Once arrested, Chaney confessed to lying about the crash. She told deputies the driver of the Hyundai was actually 63-year-old Michael Granger and that he was hiding in the house.
Deputies located 63-year-old Granger and transported him to an area hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and then taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center to be booked in on three charges.
“There is never a good reason to leave a crash scene or lie about your involvement. Just do what’s right – it will be better for all involved in the long run.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Once upon a time, there were certain things you did not need to tell people they shouldn’t do because it was common sense they shouldn’t do them. Sadly, common sense is dead these days. So now we must tell people not to do these things because they don’t know they shouldn’t do them.
So here are three things you should not do at Disney World—which, apparently, we need to tell you not to do because some people weren’t smart enough to know not to do them:
#1: Harass the Disney Characters
The meet-and-greet Disney characters are more than willing to do anything for guests: take pictures, sign autographs, and even record video messages. However, even Disney characters have personal boundaries (because everyone does), and yet some guests don’t know better enough not to cross them.
Case in point, in September 2021, a female guest thought it was a good idea to feel up the Gaston character at Magic Kingdom. Now, Gaston may be a flirt in the animated movie, but in real life, he’s played by a real-life human being with personal boundaries. So, when this girl decided to cross them, he demanded that she leave. No photo. No autograph. Just go and bring forward the next guest.
As Disney Fanatic reported: “The female Guest didn’t seem to understand what she had done wrong, or that the character performer was serious, but Gaston did not let up and refused to take a picture with her!”
Sadly, many Disney characters get mistreated by guests who don’t seem to know about personal space and bad touch. Many Disney princesses have reported being groped and touched inappropriately by guests, as have many scantily-clad characters like Tarzan. Even Jack Sparrow has been offered many hotel keys—but not to find buried treasure. And do we even have to spell out the type of harassment that black characters like Tiana have faced?
So, when you participate in Disney character meet and greets, remember the lessons about “bad touch” you should have learned in school. If you wouldn’t want to be touched somewhere, chances are, the Disney characters don’t either.
#2: Bathe in the Fountains
Disney World offers many opportunities for guests to cool off on a hot day. Many parks have water rides like Kali River Rapids and Splash Mountain (which, sadly, is closed for renovations). Every hotel has a swimming pool, and some even have water slides and splash pads. And, of course, if you can afford them, there are two water parks: Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.
Unfortunately, it seems some guests simply can’t wait to return to their hotels to go swimming. Recently, several guests visiting Epcot thought it was a bright idea to cool off by taking a dip in one of the fountains. These guests were caught on video, which was then uploaded to TikTok with the caption, “What not to do in Epcot.”
Now, most people are smart enough to know that fountain water is not appropriate to swim in. It’s also not safe to drink, and yet too many guests insist on refilling their water bottles in water filled with chemicals, debris, and other dirty stuff that will certainly make them feel worse than slightly thirsty.
If you’re sweating up a storm and need to cool off, just hop a bus back to your hotel, put on your swim trunks, and take a plunge in the pool. Some hotels even have hot tubs. You certainly don’t need to turn a public fountain into one.
#3: Watch Dirty Videos and Do Dirty Things on Rides
Look. We get it. Waiting in two-to-three-hour long lines can be boring. And some of the rides the kids want to ride may not be entertaining for your liking. So, you’re tempted to take out your smartphone and watch something more interesting. Nobody is stopping you from watching the new season of The Mandalorian on Disney Plus while waiting in line for a ride—or even while you’re on the ride! (You spent money on admission. You do you!)
But…sigh. Do we need to tell you that you shouldn’t whip out your phone to watch dirty videos? And do we need to tell you that you shouldn’t whip something else out and play with it while you watch said dirty videos?
Apparently, we do. Because one man thought it was a bright idea to do so on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This guy was caught watching something that wasn’t family-friendly while doing something that most certainly wasn’t family-friendly. And to top it all off, he was smoking. Smoking in the parks is already prohibited, but what he chose to smoke was worse than a cigarette, if you know what I mean.
Look, if you need to ease some tension from a long day at the park, do everyone else a favor and wait until you get back to the hotel room. The bathroom in your guest room is going to offer much better privacy than an attraction, and it certainly isn’t going to jostle you around as much. (And please, keep the pot at home. It isn’t legal in Florida!)
What do you think? Do you think these guests lacked common sense? Did you think what they did went to far? Leave your comments on Facebook.
Detectives worked with Sanford Police Department and Seminole County Sheriff’s Office as Al Joseph Stenson fled to Slumberland Motel in Sanford, Florida. Stenson made statements that he would kill himself or force law enforcement to kill him. After hours long standoff involving crisis negotiation and SWAT, interactions ended in an officer involved shooting. Stenson was pronounced deceased at the scene. This case remains an active investigation and is ongoing. Law enforcement requests anyone with information regarding this case as it relates to Lake Wales, to contact Detective Ricky Hartwell at 863-678-4223.
Any inquiries revolving around the activities at SlumberlandMotel need to be directed to Sanford Police Department or Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
——— Updated 1 —————
News Update 6:51am –
Detectives were able to determine Al Joseph Stenson murdered a mother and her three children early yesterday morning. Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Stenson on four counts of 1st degree murder. They have located Stensen and are actively working to take him into custody.
During this investigation, Detectives determined Stenson shot the victims in an apartment then fled immediately thereafter at approximately 5 AM. It was not until 8:51 PM on May 2 that law enforcement was notified when the victims were discovered by family members. The motive for the murders is unknown, however the victims and the suspect knew each other. We will not be releasing the names of the victims at this time due to Marsy’s Law.
We will provide additional updates as they become available. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
—————— Original Press Release —————
Mother and Three Children Killed
Police Actively Investigating
On Tuesday, May 2 at approximately 8:51 PM, officers responded to Dawnligt Drive in Sunrise Apartments in regards to a medical call. Officers arrived on scene and found a mother and her three children, one adult and two juveniles, dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers are looking for Al Stenson, age 38 of Lake Wales. Officers believe he may live at the apartment, and could be injured as well. If anyone knows Mr. Stenson‘s whereabouts, please contact Lake Wales Police Department immediately at 863-678-4223 or dial 911.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact DetectiveRicky Hartwell with the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223. Or, if you would like to stay anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD through Heartland Crime Stoppers:
There once was an old lady who had problems with her air conditioning. She called a local company to fix her problems, but they only made them worse to ring more money out of her.
She ended up paying more than $6,000, which was a new thermostat and a monthly subscription to a club membership. The company supposedly performed other work on her air conditioning, but despite all the money and effort, her unit kept breaking down on her.
That elderly woman was the grandmother of Scott Martines, who was currently working at another air conditioning repair company at the time. She called him in the middle of the night to inform him that her unit had broken down again. It was 89° in her home and she couldn’t bare the heat anymore.
Not only was the broken AC unit messing with her health, but it was also draining her bank account. When she informed Scott of the thousands of dollars she had spent trying to fix it, the news broke his heart. She never called him because, like any grandparent, she didn’t want to feel like a burden.
“I went over there one night and saw the company that charged her did none of the work that they said and actually made it worse,” he said. Things were disconnected and rigged to break, to give her no other choice than to replace them. “If it was done to my grandmother after she told them she had a grandson who works in the industry, and they still were able to do that to someone, you have to imagine how many companies are doing that to people, and I want to try to stop that.”
Learning how another AC repair company swindled his late grandmother with faulty and unnecessary repairs and expenses inspired him to start his own company to offer better, more honest service. That story and many alike is how Mission Air Services started.
“A situation like that hitting so close to home for me is what inspired me to get my own thing going so that I could stop exploitation in the HVAC industry,” he said. “I really want to be there standing in the gap stopping unethical things done by other companies.”
Martines has eight years of experience working in the air conditioning industry. His first-hand experience working within it did not leave a good impression on him. He learned how underhanded the industry could be and how frequently some companies swindle their customers.
His previous employer proved especially greedy and unethical. Martines mentioned how his former co-worker would ruin the air conditioning units of clients on purpose to force them to consider buying new, more expensive air conditioners.
” Martines said. “He would ruin the air conditioners and give them only one option to replace them. He was not a good person and damaged the lives of good, honest and hard-working blue collar families.”
Martines also worked with other companies that intentionally coached their employees to purposely ruin air conditioning units so customers would pay more for repairs and replacements. Working alongside such unabashedly unethical people inspired him to leave and start his own company and offer more ethical service.
“It always broke my heart because I care about this community, I care about customers. I am a customer myself,” Martines said. “The customer should always have their opinion matter. The power should always be given to the homeowner and not stolen from them.”
When you do business with Mission Air Services Inc., you can rest assured that what you pay for is what you need and nothing more. You will not be sidelined with hidden fees or unnecessary repairs. What you pay for is what you get.
Chris Fletcher, one of the owners with 14 years of experience, promises customers fast and reliable service with plenty of options. With his level of experience in the industry, he also knows how other companies treat customers like dollar signs rather than real-life people, and he hopes Mission Air can change that.
“Every company we were at, they turned into commission base, which is essentially forcing you into people’s homes and sell stuff when they did not need it,” Fletcher said. “We wanted to get away from that where it feels like we are salesmen coming into your house. We want to go to your house, fix your AC, and give you options to do other stuff.”
If you’ve ever been swindled by an AC repair company for paying for service you don’t need, or forced to replace a new air conditioning unit when your old unit worked just fine, rest assured that Mission Air Services knows your pain and will only offer you what you need and nothing more.
“It is the main reason for our name: our mission is to save customers from situations like that,” Martines explained. “Our mission is to provide our customers with not just better pricing but 100 percent customer satisfaction and 100 percent granted that customers will not be treated like that anymore. They will get the authentic company that they have not been offered yet.”
Scott Hirst, who also co-owns Mission Air, doesn’t consider his teammates to be mere fellow employees or his clients to be mere customers. They’re all like a big family to him, and he intends to treat them like one.
“I love scheduling to help customers out with affordable air, and it feels like I’m not working at the big companies,” Hirst explained. “I feel guilty in a sense of how they treat customers like a check. [We] treat them like people, like family.”
Not only does Mission Air expect to offer authentic, honest service, but they also want to inspire other companies to offer the same. They want to serve as an exemplar that serving customers with honesty and integrity, treating them as people and not dollar signs, is the true key to success.
“We are hoping other companies will see how we are doing it,” Martines said. “They will realize we are bringing all that bad stuff to light and they will change it. They will stop doing the
negative stuff and understand that you can still have a successful business. We are just hoping to change the game. We can bring back honesty and integrity to this industry.”
To learn more about Mission Air Services, visit their website at: https://www.missionairservices.com/
Looking for a great night to unwind and have fun with a few good laughs? Here are five reasons you should attend Jokes and Jamz 5 at Wales Pointe on Fri., May 19:
#1: Stay Out Late After 8 pm. Wales Pointe is the only place in Downtown Lake Wales where you can have a good time and good food after 8 p.m.
#2: Drinks. Wales Pointe recently opened its full bar. So if drink specials and libations are something you are interested in, then quench your thirst with some cocktails and other drinks.
#3:Very Funny Comedians. Want to laugh so hard that you began to tear up? Then take a listen to the hilarious comedy stylings of comedians Ryan Robinson and Scott Simpkins.
#4: Hot R&B Talent. Nothing goes better with drinks and a meal than live music performed by amazing artists. Enjoy the husband/wife duo Just The 2 of Us, with the wife singing covers to her husband playing saxophone. R&B Soul Songstress K. Tenee’ will also be performing.
#5: Great Food. Wales Pointe has a diverse selection of menu items ranging from wings & fries to shrimp & grits. Everything on the menu for Jokes and Jamz will be under $20.
“If you want to laugh and not worry about the problems of the work week and have fun without spending a whole bunch of money doing it, Jokes and Jamz 5 is for you,” said DJ Bush, organizer and official DJ of the Jokes & Jamz series.
This is the fifth installment of Jokes and Jamz, held at Wales Pointe Restaurant in Downtown Lake Wales. This is a quarterly event hosted every three months. The next show in the series will be hosted by Big Zee on May 19, with subsequent events in August and November.
DJ Bush started this series of comedy and music fusion as a way to provide entertainment in Lake Wales for young adults, the kind of entertainment normally found in big cities like Orlando and Tampa.
“I am from a larger city where there are a lot of things to do for different age groups, and I noticed in Polk there is a void for young professionals, folks 25 to 45,” he explained. “There is not much for us to do unless we want to hit a bar–which there is nothing wrong with that, but sometimes we want to do something different.”
DJ Bush has been deejaying out of Polk County for the last four years. He normally hosts private events like weddings, proms, birthdays, and homecomings. He wanted to bring his big-city experience to a small-town setting by creating something unique for young people to enjoy.
“So Jokes and Jamz was my attempt to create something fun for us to do that did not require us to drive to Orlando or Tampa and spend a ton of money to have a good time,” he further
elucidated. “We can enjoy a large city feel right here in Polk, have a great time, take a short ride home safely, and not break the bank.”
Since its inception, Jokes and Jamz has drawn out large crowds, and he expects even larger, more livelier crowds in the future.
“People come out to Jokes & Jamz to have a good time and have fun,” he said. “They want to be able to forget about their problems for a little bit.”
Jokes and Jamz 5 will be hosted by Big Zee of ZK Beauty on Fri. May 19 from 8 p.m to midnight at Wales Pointe, located at 207 E. Park Ave. Lake Wales, Fl, 33880.
For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit http://www.djbushentertainment/events. Tickets begin at $30.
Summer is right around the corner. Everyone should have the chance to cool off and enjoy the water, especially those with special needs and disabilities. That reason is why Paddle On Lake Wailes is being hosted this Saturday at scenic Lake Wailes Park.
Not only will the event provide aquatic activities with paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking for everyone, including families and individuals with special needs and disabilities, but the fundraiser will also raise proceed for an aquatic park being planned for such individuals.
Attendees are invited to bring along their favorite personal watercraft, be it paddleboard, canoe, or kayak, and enjoy the scenic waters of Lake Wailes Park. Special watercraft designed for people with disabilities will also be provided, allowing everyone the opportunity to enjoy the water.
The big event will be an aquatic poker run. Attendees will be able to paddle their way to five poker stations located around the lake for a chance to obtain a poker hand and win various prizes. They don’t even need to get in the water. They’re more than invited to walk around the lake and collect their cards as well.
Various other activities and chances to win prizes will be offered throughout the day. Proceeds will go toward funding Stirring Waters, a proposed aquatic park being planned and designed for individuals with disabilities.
“Hopefully, we can make some money,” said Bill Redmon, founder, and organizer of Stirring Waters. “If we can raise $10 to $15 thousand off of it, we can be very happy, and we will probably do that the way it is shaping up.”
Redmon served as the director of Lake Lord Fishing Camp for 34 years before retiring in 2006. Following his retirement, he served many programs to help benefit and serve people with disabilities. He also started a non-profit organization called Removing the Barriers, an initiative to help organizations with disabilities including Lake Lord Christian Camp.
“I was a trained lifeguard for 34 years, so I know the value of water when it comes to play and quality of life,” he explained. “When it comes to serving people with disabilities, I realize that the traditional water experiences were not working for them. I started to problem solve and figure out what would work.”
He hosted various focus groups to learn how people with special needs and their families experienced various aquatic activities. He asked them three main questions: one, what works for them at various water parks and pools; two, what does not work and gives them trouble; and, three, what are major dealbreakers that prevent them from going?
After analyzing the data he collected, Redmon concluded that the best solution would be to build a water park where people with disabilities and their families could enjoy various aquatic activities. That idea became known as Stirring Rivers.
Paddle On! will serve as a fundraiser for Stirring Rivers. So far, the event has been received well by the city and its residents. Many people have expressed interest in attending, and many have registered beforehand.
“We really do not have high expectations for the crowd, but we are very pleased with it as far as an initial event where it is right now,” Redmon said. “Come paddle with us. My heart is for families with disabilities to come with a fun on-the-water experience.”
Paddle On! Lake Wailes will be hosted on Sat. May 6 from 9 AM to 2 PM. To learn more and register, visit their website at gopeacemakers.com
A Lake Wales father managed to save his children and paralyzed wife before their house burned to the ground early Friday morning. Now his family is seeking donations for everything that they lost in that tragic fire.
In the early morning hours of Fri., Apr. 21, Saisha Sanchez received a call from her family informing her of the tragic news that their family home had burned down.
Around 2:50 a.m., her father awoke to a hot feeling on his face and a burning smell. He sleeps in the back room, and, according to the fire chief, the fire started on the patio. He had leaped out of bed and raced out of the room, which was the first that the flames hit and the fire spread to.
Frantically, he worked to awaken and hurry out his four children. The flames were halfway through their house when he carried out his paralyzed wife who is confined to a medical bed. He placed her on a wheelchair to wheel her out, and, once outside, dragged her out the rest of the way to the road.
Saisha received a call from her college-aged sister that their house was on fire. She called her father, who informed her that their house had burned down completely.
“I had no idea if he and his wife and his kids were burning, or if he was out,” she said. “I started calling and crying. He told me he was okay and he got everybody out of the house alive. The house is gone though. It is no more.”
Even after saving his four kids and paralyzed wife from certain danger and seeing the family house he built with his own hands burn down, her father decided to head to work that day. He works at Florida Natural from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and has worked there for over 25 years.
“He went straight to work three hours after the fire,” Saisha said. “Because in his mind, [he thought to himself], I already lost my house. I lost everything I owned. I can’t lose my job. So I went to work.”
Since the fire, the local community has reacted with overwhelming charity and kindness. The family has received care and donations from Polk Avenue Elementary and Lake Wales High School. Her father recently visited the Lake Wales Care Center to see how they could assist his family.
Saisha has been feeding her family while her father is working most of the day. Her house is currently being used as a drop-off location for donations. She has washed all the clothing donations she has received. Even a gift as simple as socks proves to be a real kind gesture, she said.
“The whole situation makes you stand back and reflect on the little things in life we take for granted,” she said. “I am not even talking about the house or car. I am talking about the littlest thing. When we bring these kids socks, it is like Christmas to them because they have nothing. They have no toys or beds. They have nothing and they are so positive in this situation.”
Overall, Saisha remained amazed about how positive her whole family has been acting throughout this tragedy. Even though they have lost their home and possessions, they remain optimistic that things will turn out for the best. Considering the outreach of their community, such optimism feels warranted.
“I have no idea how I would react if I had everything taken from me in the blink of an eye,” she said. “All I can keep thinking about these last three days is if my dad did not wake up when he woke up, he and his family would not be here today. I don’t even know how he was able to save himself, his paralyzed wife, and his children from a burning building.”
Please contact [email protected] on information on needs and how to donate.
