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New Tropical Mural Graces Downtown Lake Wales

Staff Reporter
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by James Coulter

The Bird of Paradise is an elegant bird that loves to be seen and loves to be heard, as the old Disney song goes. Visitors to Downtown Lake Wales will certainly love to see the bird of paradise in a newly-painted mural.

A tropical mural grace the outside of The Oasis Spa building with palm trees, blossoming flowers, and an elegant bird of paradise.

The mural was funded by both Erica Schindler, the owner of Oasis Spa, and by Downtown Main Street to help accentuate the city’s downtown beautification efforts.

The mural itself was designed by Caley Churchy, who runs a local marketing firm, and painted by her mother, Laura Beatty, a former art teacher at Lake Wales High School.

“I am sure if you have seen anything in Lake Wales, you have seen my work,” Churchy said.

Churchy has been longtime friends with Shindler, who approached her about the mural and, along with the help of Lake Wales Main Street, commissioned her to paint it.

“She wanted a jungle vibe. She wanted something that tranquility, something to do with her spa that exuded luxury and tranquility,” she explained.

While Churchy was able to create the digital design for the mural, actually painting the mural itself would prove to be another task entirely. She would need extra help with that task.

As such, she decided to enlist the help of her mother, who had served as a fine arts teacher at Lake Wales High School. Together, they brought the mural to life.

“I think the thing we are most excited about is just we got to be a part to beautify downtown Lake Wales,” she said. “They are going through a huge revamp and they are doing a lot of stuff.”

More importantly, the new mural, aside from helping promote Oasis Spa, will also aid in the overall beautification of Downtown Lake Wales. Anything that makes Lake Wales a more beautiful place is always a beautiful addition.

“I think more than anything, we are excited to be a part of that process,” she said. “The only thing that is most important, Erica Shindler and Downtown Main Street are getting highlighted because it is all their vision, we are the ones who get to do it, they are the ones who made this happen.”

The new mural is located outside The Oasis Spa at 245 E Park Ave, Lake Wales, FL 33853.

Lake Wales High School Female Wrestler Meets Olympic Gold Medalist

Staff Reporter
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Lake Wales High School Female Wrestler Meets Olympic Gold Medalist

by James Coulter

The first girl to ever place in the Wrestling State Tournament for Lake Wales High School met the first female wrestler to win gold at the Olympics.

Jennah Mustafa, 16, has been wrestling throughout her high school career. Last year, she won first place in the Knockout Christmas Classic. At 145 lbs., She is currently unbeaten with a record of 19-0.

Mustafa recently had the opportunity to meet a personal inspiration during a movie premiere hosted in Tampa. Helen Maroulis, an award-winning female wrestler, was promoting her documentary, “Helen | Believe”, which chronicles her journey to become the first female athlete to win Gold at the Olympics in wrestling.

According to Wikipedia: “At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil she became the first-ever American to win a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling at the Olympic Games.”

The new movie tells her journey of how she was able to win the gold medal while also struggling to cope with her PTSD. As the film’s website explains, it follows her “astonishing comeback to the sport after suffering a career-ending injury that forced her into retirement after becoming America’s first female gold medalist.”

When Mustafa learned that her hero and inspiration was visiting Florida, the high school wrestler and her family decided to attend the movie premiere for a chance to meet the famous female wrestler.

“She is very well-known in the wrestling community, especially with girls wrestling,” Mustafa said. “It was my first time meeting her in real life. It went well. I was nervous at first. But once I got to meet her, she was a really nice lady. She is really good and inspiring.”

Mustafa was able to meet with Maroulis during the event. The young girl shared her achievements, along with her dreams and aspirations.

“She [Maroulis] taught me to never give up,” Mustafa said. “No matter what anyone says, I can do whatever I put my mind to.”

Aside from being Knockout Champion, Mustafa has also won district twice, became a regional two-time champion, and reached the state championship last year. She trains every day to reach her goals, and she hopes to improve to finish big her senior year.

“I learned a lot these last couple of years in high school. It is my last year, so I want to make it a good one and earn a state title,” she said. “I train every day. That’s what it is all about. You cannot just go to one practice and come home. You have to continue training every single day. Both

times a day. Training whenever you can. The people you are surrounded with help a lot, too. Pushing you to your limit.”

Furry Florida Friends Take Fun Frolic in Children’s Book by Local Author

Staff Reporter
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Furry Florida Friends Take Fun Frolic in Children’s Book by Local Author

by James Coulter

What did you want to be when you grew up? Chances are, the answer to that question changed many times as you grew older. You probably still don’t know who you are even now that you’re an adult.

Personal identity, like childhood, like life in general, is a chaotic experience, and that is a truth portrayed quite humorously in the debut children’s book of a local Central Florida author.

In her debut novel, “The Most Important Thing in the World”, Kelly Sanford takes young readers on a humorous yet often heartfelt journey through the wilderness of Florida with a guinea pig and her eclectic group of animal friends.

Emma is a guinea pig with an identity crisis, the pet of a Tolkien-obsessed boy. Certain she is either a dragon or a German shepherd, she sets off with an iguana and a duck on a journey of self-discovery to learn who she is.

“In an adventure that is at times heartwarming, heartbreaking, and hilarious, these friends learn that true clarity comes when one refuses to be shaped from the outside in and instead tells their own story from the inside out—however unexpected that story may be,” Sanford wrote.

Since its debut, “The Most Important Thing in the World” has received rave reviews, its often compared to the works of Beverly Cleary and Roald Dahl. This “instant classic” was recently selected as the featured middle-grade novel on Reedsy Discovery.

Sanford is no stranger to her writing receiving such accolades. A journalist who has covered the yachting industry for the past 18 years, she has also been a Royal Palm Literary Award winner and a proud member of the Florida Writers Association.

Normally an author who leans more toward an adult audience, Sanford was inspired to write her children’s book several years ago to cheer up her then middle school-aged daughter after losing a friend.

“This story came alive when my daughter was going through all the difficult social-emotional learning that comes with adolescence,” she explained. “Raising kids today, they start asking themselves very difficult questions very early in life. I wrote this story hoping to dial down the noise and to guide my daughter through her adolescence by encouraging her to seek fewer answers from her devices, and more answers through analytical thinking and living a life of doing real things—not online things.”

The book was one-part inspired by Sanford’s daughter and her friends (as well as favorite characters from other popular stories), and other-part inspired by the local Florida wilderness. Sanford even spent some time in the Everglades and other parts of the Florida outdoors to help the natural setting in her book “come to life.”

The book has a clear message about personal identity and self-discovery that proves especially relevant at a time when many young people are starting to question their own identities. Sanford proudly claims that her book’s relevancy to current issues about identity was “100% intentional”, yet she also claims that her story pushes “no agenda.”

“It’s an age-appropriate story about what identity really means and the perils of arbitrarily branding ourselves and others. But it’s all done at a level a kid can understand,” she explained. “Kids spend way too much time looking for answers on their screens and not enough going through the ups and downs of life to develop resiliency and clarity. I see way too many kids growing up fragile and afraid of everything they can’t control.”

“The Most Important Thing in the World” is sold in paperback, e-book, and audiobook on Amazon and other book distributors. It available statewide in any public library affiliated with the Indie Florida digital lending program. Paperback copies are on the shelves in the libraries of Lake Placid, Sebring, and Avon Park. It is available for sale at the Blueberry Patch in Lake Placid and Gatorama in Palmdale.

For more information, visit Sanford’s website at: https://www.kellysanfordwrites.com

To learn more about Kelly Sanford and her book, listen to the first podcast episode of the newest podcast, “Chattin on the Ridge,” where she in interviewed as a guest: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/XnUze9h8Iyb

Allegedly Lakeland Mom Barged Into Polk Elementary School And Landed Herself In Jail

Carl Fish
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Allegedly Lakeland Mom Barged Into Polk Elementary School And Landed Herself In Jail

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Safe Schools deputies arrested 39-year-old Ivy Mechelle Smith of Lakeland for battery on a school employee (F3), disrupting a school function (M2), and trespassing on school grounds (M2).

At around 11:00 a.m., Smith arrived at Medulla Elementary School (850 School House Road) in Lakeland and once in the main office area, she began yelling and cursing at the school staff. She was asked to calm down and stop cursing as there were several students nearby.

Smith was upset because her child had received discipline referrals from a teacher and wanted her child removed from the teacher’s classroom. 

A school administrator heard the disruption and approached Smith. Smith demanded that her child be placed in another class. The administrator asked Smith to calm down, stating they would arrange a meeting to discuss her child’s behavior and the potential to be placed in another class. Smith then told the school administrator she was there to retrieve her child and walked past school staff toward the classrooms. 

The school administrator followed Smith, telling her to stay in the main office and follow the proper procedures to check her child out of class. Smith continued to yell at the school administrator. She then pushed the school administrator and attempted to open a set of locked hallway doors. 

When Smith realized she could not open the locked doors, she left the school building and jumped over a gate to flee from the school. 

Smith then called the PCSO Emergency Communications Center. She told the Telecommunicator she was at the CVS (510 South Florida Ave.) in Lakeland and would wait for a deputies. 

“There is a right way and a wrong way to present concerns to school administration. This is an example of how to go about it the wrong way. Our teachers already have the difficult task of educating our children, and we will never allow anyone to come on our school campuses in this manner, assaulting staff and disrupting classes. That conduct is a guaranteed trip to the county jail.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Smith was transported to the Polk County Jail and later released after paying a $1,500 bond.

27 Yr Old Lakeland Woman Killed In Mulberry Crash

Carl Fish
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27 Yr Old Lakeland Woman Killed In Mulberry Crash

According to the investigation so far, PCSO received a 911 call around 9:53 p.m. from the area of SR 60 West near the intersection of Coronet Road. When first responders arrived, they found 27-year-old Laura Gonzalez of Lakeland who had sustained life-threatening injuries. She was transported to an area hospital where she later died from her injuries.

Gonzalez was the passenger of a blue 2002 Saturn; the driver was 32-year-old Antonio Gutierrez of Lakeland. Gutierrez suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital where he is being treated.

Gutierrez was traveling west on SR 60 West, when for unknown reasons, he lost control of the vehicle. The Saturn crossed the outside lane and a right-hand turn lane before it struck a metal street light on the passenger side door. After striking the street light, the car flipped onto its roof and stopped in a ditch on the north side of the road.

The impact caused the street light to break and fall onto the roadway.

Impairment does not appear to be a factor in the crash. This investigation is on-going.

A portion of the roadway was closed for approximately 3 hours during the investigation, which remains on-going.

Fatal Crash On 17-92 Blocking Traffic At Earnie Caldwell Blvd.

Carl Fish
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Fatal Crash On 17-92 Blocking Traffic At Earnie Caldwell Blvd.

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, along with Polk County Fire Rescue, were dispatched at about 2:36 p.m., to the crash scene on U.S. 17-92 North near the intersection of Ernie Caldwell Boulevard.

Upon arrival of first responders, 56-year-old Leonardo Pereira of Orlando was found deceased. He was driving a silver 1999 Infiniti I30t.

The second driver, a 43-year-old Felicien Blot of Kissimmee was uninjured. He was driving a white Freightliner Cascadia semi with a refrigerated trailer. His passenger was also uninjured.

Based on evidence and interviews at the scene, Traffic Homicide investigators determined that Pereira was traveling east on Ernie Caldwell Boulevard while the Freightliner was traveling south on US 17-92 North.

Pereira attempted to turn left onto US 17-92 North. He failed to stop at the intersection and pulled directly into the path of the Freightliner. The front of the Freightliner struck the driver’s side of the Infiniti.

The roadway in the area of the crash was closed for approximately 4 hours during the investigation, which remains on-going.

Have you seen Quetnie Hyacinth Stephen? Lakeland Police Asking For Public’s Help In Finding Missing Endangered Woman

Carl Fish
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Have you seen Quetnie Hyacinth Stephen? Lakeland Police Asking For Public’s Help In Finding Missing Endangered Woman

Update: Lakeland Police Advise Quetnie Was Located Safe

Have you seen Quetnie Hyacinth Stephen?

Quetnie, age 55, was last seen walking at approximately 7AM this morning near Summer Landing Drive in Lakeland. Approximately 5’ 8” & was last seen wearing a yellow and multi-colored dress with a pink & blue bandana covering her head.

Quetnie has medical issues that require daily medication.If you have any information on her whereabouts, please call 911 or the Lakeland Police Department at 863-834-6966.

More Than 4,000 Eggs Collected at Visit Central Florida’s Easter Egg Hunt

Staff Reporter
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More Than 4,000 Eggs Collected at Visit Central Florida’s Easter Egg Hunt

by James Coulter

More than 700 children joined their families at the Visit Central Florida Visitor Center at Davenport for their annual Easter Egg Hunt event last Saturday.

Several egg hunts were hosted that morning for various age groups ranging from toddlers to pre-teens. Participating children were able to scout the playground area for plastic eggs filled with goodies.

More than 700 children participated in these egg hunts, where more than 4,000 plastic eggs were collected within the first two hours, explained Dennis Budde of Visit Central Florida.

Other festivities that day included vendors, face painting, chalk drawing, and a bounce house. For the past three years, the event has been a big success for the Visitor Center, Budde said.

“It more than exceeded our expectations,” he said. “They [local residents] know it is here, so they come in. We have been blessed. We had good help. We have great volunteers. And the people are really nice to work with.”

The Visitor Center will be hosting its kitten and puppy cuddle in June, and their back-to-school giveaway in August, where they will hand out more than 400 backpacks filled with school supplies.

For more information about upcoming events, visit their website at: https://visitcentralflorida.org/

Two People Killed & 4 People Seriously Injured Hwy 27 Crash In Davenport

Carl Fish
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Two People Killed & 4 People Seriously Injured Hwy 27 Crash In Davenport

PCSO investigates a three vehicle crash in Davenport; a father and 8-year-old daughter deceased

The PCSO Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a three-vehicle crash that occurred in Davenport on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 that resulted in the deaths of 28-year-old Christopher Roque-Pabon and his 8-year-old daughter, Crisyareiliz Roque. Crisyareiliz was a student at Lake Point Academy in Clermont. Roque-Pabon was driving a white 1995 Toyota Tercel.

Also involved were:
53-year-old Miguel Perez Diosdado of Haines City who was driving a white 2020 Ford F150. There were four passengers in the vehicle.
50-year-old Pedro Lopez of Haines City who was driving a silver 2006 Toyota Corolla. There was one passenger in his vehicle.

PCSO received a 911 call around 6:07 a.m. that morning from the area of US Hwy 27 just south of US 192. When first responders arrived, they found Roque-Pabon and his daughter deceased in his vehicle.

Diosdado, Lopez, and their passengers were transported to area hospitals where they are being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

According to the investigation so far, Roque-Pabon was driving southbound on US 27 when, for unknown reasons, he veered to the southeast. The Tercel lost traction and began to rotate before it crossed the grass median and entered the northbound lanes of US 27.

The Tercel entered the inside northbound lane and into the path of Diosdado’s F150. The front of the Tercel crashed into the front driver’s side of the truck. Upon impact, the truck rotated and stopped in the center northbound lane. Lopez, who at the time was travelling in the center northbound lane, was unable to avoid crashing into the truck. The Corolla glanced off the truck and then crossed the east side shoulder where it struck an embankment along the edge of the highway.

Neither Roque-Pabon nor his daughter were wearing seatbelts.

Diosdado was wearing his seatbelt; the passengers in his vehicle were not wearing seatbelts.

Both Lopez and his passenger were wearing their seatbelts.

“My heart aches for this family who has lost a father and his little girl. Fatal traffic crashes are devastating. In the blink of an eye, a happy and healthy loved one can be instantaneously taken from this world. Please, drive safely and wear your seatbelts.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The investigation is ongoing. Northbound US 27 in that area was closed for approximately five hours.

Two Deceased Adult Males After Early Morning Hostage Situation In Lake Wales

Staff Reporter
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Sheriff Grady Judd and Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez will brief the media at 10:00 AM this morning, Monday, April 10, 2023, at the north end of Lindsey Place in Lake Wales – at the intersection with Tartan Loop – regarding a hostage situation that occurred during the early morning hours which is now resolved.  There are two deceased adult males inside the home – the suspect and the victim, who is the suspect’s adult stepson. 

We will bring you more information as it becomes available.

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