

Ewing, Blackwelder, & Duce Insurance is an independent insurance agency that has been serving Polk County since 1984, with 6 locations around the county that are located in Lake Wales, Lakeland, Haines City, Bartow and two in Winter Haven. As an independent agency Ewing, Blackwelder & Duce represents many insurance companies, which give us an advantage over others to offer great pricing with great coverage. We have the experienced and diversified staff to offer you coverage for all your insurance needs. Come by one of our locations to see one of our staff members to take care of your personal, business, health, or life insurance needs.
Born: November 30, 1965
Died: February 21, 2016
Ricky C. Anderson, age 50, passed away suddenly Sunday, February 21, 2016 in Bartow. Born November 30, 1965 in Wauchula, FL , he was the son of Carlton and Louise Anderson. Mr. Anderson graduated from Fort Meade High School in 1984 and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Meade and the Masonic Lodge of Fort Meade. He worked for over 26 years in law enforcement with the City of Fort Meade Police Department achieving the rank of Lieutenant and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, most recently with the Agricultural Unit . Ricky is preceded in death by his father, Carlton Anderson and his brother Kenneth Anderson. He is survived by a loving family that includes his wife of 14 years, Kerri N. Anderson, his son, Robert M. Anderson and wife Betsy, his twin daughters: Karley and Kinsey Anderson, his mother Louise Douglas, and his sister Stella Elouise Anderson all of Fort Meade, along with many loving friends and co-workers in the Fort Meade and law enforcement communities. The family will receive friends Thursday, February 25th from 5pm to 8pm at the First Baptist Church, 307 East Broadway in Fort Meade. Funeral services will follow on Friday, February 26th at 11:00am at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Polk Sheriff Charities.
SERVICES
First Baptist Church of Fort Meade
307 East BroadwayFriday, February 26, 2016
11:00 AM
First Baptist Church of Fort Meade
307 East Broadway
Fort Meade, FL 33841
Cook 10 m
Ready In 40 m
Mulberry, Florida – Around 4:15 p.m. on Friday, February 19, 2016, according to witnesses and evidence, a black 2002 Suzuki motorcycle being driven aggressively and recklessly by 41-year-old Terry Cochran of Lower Meadow Road, Mulberry, was heading northbound on Kathleen Road approaching Falling Leaf Lane in north Lakeland, weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds, when Cochran lost control and slid into a steel guardrail. Cochran was wearing goggles but not a helmet. He was ejected from the motorcycle and propelled approximately 40 feet beyond the point of impact. He was transported to LRHMC as a trauma alert, where he suffered extremely critical injuries, and is not expected to survive.
Cochran does not have a valid Florida D.L. and has a suspended Kentucky D.L. He was arrested in August 2015 for operating the same motorcycle without a motorcycle endorsement. In his possession at the time of the crash was a pipe that field-tested positive for Meth. Initial blood testing at the hospital indicates Meth was in his system.
The northbound lanes of Kathleen Rd in that area were closed for approximately 4 hours during the crash investigation. Impairment and excessive speed appear to be factors in the crash. No other parties were involved in the crash.
Davenport, Florida – Around 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2016, a Republic Services garbage truck was stopped at the red light in the northbound lane on US Hwy 27 at the intersection of McFee Drive, when it was struck from behind by a northbound red 2015 Toyota Rav 4 being driven by 29-year-old Daniel Colon of Jaffa Court, Clermont.
The Rav 4 was severely encroached into the garbage truck, and Colon had to be extricated by Polk Fire Rescue. He sustained a severe head injury and was airlifted to Osceola Regional Medical Center. He is not expected to survive.
The driver of the garbage truck, 49-year-old Spencer Dunham of Winter Haven, was not injured.
Impairment appears to be a factor in the crash. Initial blood tests at the hospital indicate Colon had a .298 blood alcohol level.
Northbound US Hwy 27 in that area was reduced to one lane for approximately 4 hours during the crash investigation. Southbound lanes were not affected. The investigation is ongoing.
Update to early morning crash on Deen Still Road in Lakeland:
Around 5:50 a.m. this morning, Friday, February 19, 2016, a semi-tractor trailer hauling sand was heading westbound on Deen Still Road, just west of Moore Road, when a white Ford utility truck heading eastbound crossed the center line and struck the trailer portion of the semi.
The semi driver, 53-year-old Octavio Santana-Colon of 2407 North Combee Rd in Lakeland, swerved in an attempt to avoid the truck, overcorrected, and the semi flipped on its side. He was uninjured. Diesel fuel from the truck’s tanks, and sand from the trailer, are on the roadway and in the process of being cleaned off at this time.
The pickup truck driver, 30-year-old Keith Lawson of 2040 Creekwood Run in Lakeland, was airlifted to LRHMC with critical injuries. He is stable at this time and expected to recover.
The semi belongs to Santana & Melendez trucking. The Ford truck is a utility truck that belongs to Greg Wood Roofing.
The roadways in that area are still completely shut down and will be for the next two hours. I’ll send another Media Alert when the scene is clear.
Theatre Winter Haven presents, Singin’ in the Rain, a musical written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green in February and March.
The “Greatest Movie Musical of All Time” is faithfully and lovingly adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green from their original award-winning screenplay. Each unforgettable scene, song, and dance is accounted for, including the show-stopping title number, complete with an onstage rainstorm! Hilarious situations, snappy dialogue, and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards makes this show the perfect entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie musicals.
Winter Haven, FL – Registration is now open for the 12-Week Tiger’s World Body Transformation Challenge.
“We aren’t the newest gym, we are not the biggest gym, but we are the best gym, and we have proven results,” Said Dieuseul Berto, Owner of Tiger’s World. “Or results are typical. When you see our before and after photos, you can expect to see similar results yourself. We provide the personal training expertise, the nutrition plan, and the awesome workouts that will target every area of your body, and burn 1,000 calories per class. You will get results!”
Weigh-ins and “before” photos will be 2-4 PM on Saturday, March 19, at Tiger’s Worlds, 1007 6th St SE, in Winter Haven (across from Winter Haven High School). The “welcome to the Challenge” meeting will be Friday, March 25, at 6PM, and the first challenge workout will be 6 AM on Saturday March 26th.
“One of the best things about the Tiger’s World Challange is all the support you get from the trainers at Tiger’s World, and from the other people in the challenge,” said Maryemma Bachelder, who won the Fall 2015 Challenge at Tiger’s World. “I lost 42 pounds in 12 weeks and absolutely transformed my body. It was a lot of hard work, and even more self-discipline, but it was worth it. When you’re ready to get serious about getting fit and healthy, this is the program to help you succeed.”
Cost is $475 for non-members, and $350 for members, and includes meal plans, three Challenge specific workouts per week, plus all the cardio boxing classes you want during the week. Tiger’s World offers cardio kickboxing classes throughout the week at various times of day and night.
For more information or to register, call Tiger’s World at 299-3661 or stop by the gym. You can also learn more by visiting their webpage at Facebook.com/tigersworld.