Haines City, Florida – According to the Haines City Fire Department an accident on Hwy 27 & Old Polk City Rd. is causing delays. We are still gathering more information!
Accident On S.R. 60 In Lake Wales
Lake Wales, Florida – We have reader reports of a two vehicle accident on S.R. 60 in Lake Wales. The accident occurred shortly after 2pm. It is unknown at this time if there are any injuries and traffic doesn’t appear to be a major issue at this time. Although it appears eastbound traffic is down to one lane S. 3rd St. and S.R. 60. Please drive carefully.
Lakeland VW Show & Swap Classic March 18,19,20, 2016
Lakeland VW Show & Swap Classic
March 18,19,20, 2016
***FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE CAR***
No purchase necessary door prize, Giving away a turn-key, titled VW powered vehicle. Must be present to win.
Want to win a free car?? Come join us for the Lakeland VW Show & Swap Classic at the beautiful, spacious Lakeland Center on
Saturday, March 19 – Sunday, March 20, 2016.
In addition to the free rail, we will be giving away $300.00 to the Best Of Show winner this year plus thousands of dollars worth of prizes!
This is a reasonably priced, family friendly event in the heart of Lakeland, close to it all with enough space to have a good time. Last year we had amazing weather and VW enthusiasts from all over the world. Bring your chairs, grills and pop tents. With over 5,000 spaces available we are growing and expect this year to be our biggest yet! Pre-register NOW!
*On Friday, March 18th, at 6pm, we will be meeting down at the Burger King on Harden Blvd for a get together featuring great sounds from our DJ Jack Flash**
*On Saturday, March 19th, the gates open at 9am and we are featuring a bus show, best bus wins $100. All makes and models are invited for great food and fun, including 4-in-1 bounce house, live bands, new and used parts vendors and a movie back-in-time at the local drive-in theater.
We will also be offering FREE overnight camping on Saturday night only.
*Sunday, March 20th is the Main Event. Gates open at 6am for vendors and show cars and 9am for the public.
*Featuring over 40 classes of air and water cooled show cars, with trophy and cash prizes, new and used parts vendors, live bands and over $5,000 in free door prizes given away.
**KIDS ZONE: FREE face painting, cotton candy, bounce house and toys for the kids!
We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our sponsors and patrons.
The ONLY show in the country giving a way a free car. No wait time at the gate!
*Admission Details: Spectators are $5 plus can of food per person per day, kids 12 & younger free. Parking is $2 in show area, across the street is $7.
Show cars are $25 which includes admission for 2 for both days, 10×20 space and free t-shirt.
Pre-registered vendor pricing includes free t-shirt: Used parts vendors are $30 for 20×20 space. New parts vendors are $100 for 30×20 space.
Day of show pricing is $40 for used vendors and $150 for new vendors.
All vendor and show car pricing covers admission and space for both days.
For additional info Contact Eddy at 863-660-7731.
Blue Thumb Pool Care Services Lake Wales, Frostproof, Babson Park, Indian Lake Estates, and Surrounding Areas!
Blue Thumb Pool Care Services Lake Wales, Frostproof, Babson Park, Indian Lake Estates, and Surrounding Areas!
Customers want more from a pool service than just a clean pool. They want the assurance of knowing that all their pool equipment is working properly and that their calls with any questions or concerns will be returned promptly. They want assurance that their pools will be serviced as promised.
Blue Thumb Pool Care is reliable and dependable, and provides quality work at a reasonable price. If you want quality pool maintenance at reasonable prices, including Residential Service, equipment repairs, upgrades and remodeling, then give Blue Thumb Pool Care a call today. Free Home Estimate For a free at home estimate call 863-528-0979 or email us at [email protected]
Semi Issue Slowing Traffic Eastbound S.R. 60 & Buckmoore In Lake Wales
Lake Wales, Florida – According to readers a semi tractor trailer either caught fire or broke down in the eastbound lanes of S.R. 60 near the intersection to Buckmoore Rd. in Lake Wales. The incident occurred around 10am and traffic is down to one lane as crews clean up fuel spill on the roadway. Traffic is moving and no reports of injuries at this time.
Accident Has Northbound Hwy 27 In Frostproof Down To One Lane
Frostproof, Florida – The Polk County Fire Rescue & Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently on scene of an accident on Hwy 27 in the northbound lanes just South of 17 in Frostproof. At this time we don’t have details of injuries, but ambulance is on scene. Traffic is currently down to only one lane .
Sheriff’s Office Asking For Public’s Help In Kidnapping & Stolen Vehicle Incident Today
Update 5:30pm: Mulberry kidnaping and vehicle theft suspect in custody; will be charged with kidnapping, grand theft (vehicle), and occupied vehicle burglary
44-year-old Tracy Herr of 3490 Espo Drive, Mulberry is being booked into the Hillsborough County Jail today on a Hillsborough County grand theft warrant. He has been identified by Polk County detectives as the man who stole a car with a 2-year-old child inside at the Mulberry Pharmacy, 1009 North Church Avenue, in Mulberry yesterday, Thursday, March 17, 2016.
Polk County detectives, working on several tips, located Herr today at the Roadway Inn, 210 Fowler Avenue East in Tampa. PCSO detectives were assisted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the US Marshals Service in taking Herr into custody. Polk County Detectives will be serving arrest warrants on Herr at the HCSO jail for kidnapping, grand theft (vehicle), and occupied vehicle burglary. Herr has an extensive criminal history including 26 prior felonies, 24 prior misdemeanors, 12 unknown level charges, and he’s been to Florida State prison 4 times and he’s been arrested on 22 separate occasions.
“This doesn’t surprise us that a multiple repeat offender stole this car and endangered that baby. Hopefully, the criminal justice system, after full due process, will send him back to prison where he belongs. This guy is a one man crime wave.” -Grady Judd, Sheriff
Mulberry, Florida – At approximately 3:03 pm, on Thursday, March 17, 2016, PCSO deputies were alerted to what was reported as an abduction of a 2-year-old child from the Mulberry Pharmacy, 1009 North Church Avenue, in Mulberry.
Deputies learned the child was in the care of an adult female, who had driven to the business to fill a prescription for the child. The family friend left the toddler in the car, with the keys in the ignition, and went inside the business. The family friend told deputies she was only in the store for a few minutes when she returned to find the car, with the child inside, missing.
Less than five minutes later, at 3:07 pm, deputies were advised the child and the car were at a nearby store, the AutoZone, 6609 North Church Avenue, where both had been abandoned. The child was examined by emergency medical personnel and is uninjured. He has been reunited with his mother.
The female described a possible suspect as a white male who was wearing a black t-shirt, gray or khaki cargo shorts, and black shoes. The male had a very short haircut and wore sunglasses on top of his head. He was observed behind the female victim while she was in the store.
“Never leave your child unattended in a car. This family is very fortunate their baby was located unharmed, the outcome could have been dramatically different. And please remember, if you see something, if you hear something, say something – the safety of a child may be dependent upon your reaction.”
Anyone with information about this investigation, or who can identify this suspect, is urged to contact the Detective D. Grant at 863.499.2400.
Hit & Run Crash Blocking Combee Rd.
Lakeland, Florida – According to multiple witnesses an accident on Combee Rd. near Grimes Rd. Is blocking traffic. Witnesses report downed power lines at this time. According to the Florida Highway Patrol the accident call came in at 5:55pm and it was a hit & run. No reports of injuries at this time, but you may want to find another way home.
We will update this article as soon as more information is available.
22 Year Old Lake Wales Man Arrested On Lewd Battery & Lewd Molestation
Lake Wales, Florida – On 2/29/2016 the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was called to a residence in unincorporated Lake Wales (outside of city limits). According to a reportee a suspect, Dylan Standridge (DOB:01/21/1994), may have been having sexual intercourse with a minor, according to an arrest affidavit. Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a recorded statement with the underage victim in which she alleges to have had consensual sex with Standridge multiple times, according the affidavit. Deputies then conducted a recorded statement with Standbridge post Miranda. Standridge allegedly confessed to having sexual intercourse with the underage victim multiple times both vaginally and orally.
Standridge was arrested and charged with multiple counts of Lewd Battery, multiple counts of Lewd Molestation.
Mulberry Man Facing Vehicle Homicide Charges From Lakeland Accident Last August
Lakeland, Florida – On August 16, 2015, at 1:40pm, the Lakeland Police Department responded to a traffic crash at Harden Blvd and Beaker Blvd. James R. Birkhold, the driver of the 2014 Lexus ES 350 was eastbound on Beaker Blvd. Birkhold traveled into the intersection of Harden Blvd to make a left turn and was hit by a vehicle.
That vehicle, a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was driven by Kyle T Cooper, 24 years old. Cooper was traveling south on Harden Blvd in the left hand lane and hit Birkhold in the left side. Cooper was redirected off the roadway and into a ditch as a result of the collision. Cooper had his seat belt on and he is from Mulberry, Florida.
James Birkhold, 66 years old, was later pronounced deceased at the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Centerl. He was wearing a seat belt. Next-of-kin has been notified. Don Lindleg, 66 years old was a passenger in the vehicle. Lindleg is from Blythewood, South Carolina.
Morgan Thomas, 20 years old was a passenger in Coopers vehicle and was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Health Center.
The traffic investigation was turned over to a Traffic Homicide Investigator. During the course of the investigation several witnesses came forward saying the black pickup driven by Kyle Cooper was driving recklessly, according to Coopers arrest affidavit. “A witnessed stated that he was cut off by the black pick-up and he observed the black pick-up truck weaving in and out of traffic”, according the the affidavit. Another witness, an off-duty, Polk County Sheriff’s Officer advised if he was on duty he would have pulled the pick-up over, since it was driving so erratic while changing lanes and passing cars. According to another witness the pick-up would speed up and slowdown almost colliding with other cars. Another witness advised that a black pick-up took off from a red light at a high rate of speed. This prompted investigators to pull red camera video footage which supported the witnesses statement according to the affidavit.
Investigators requested to download the Crash Data Retrieval System in Coopers truck (otherwise known as the vehicles “black box”, but he declined. A search warrant was obtained and the data was downloaded. The downloaded data allegedly showed the Cooper was traveling at a speed of 70 mph 2.5 seconds before the crash and 52 mph with a half second of the crash that killed Mr. Birkhold.
A reconstruction, according to the arrest affidavit, showed that if the pick-up was driving at the normal rate of 45 miles an hour posted speed the accident would not have occurred. Kyle Cooper has was arrested and charged with vehicle homicide and is currently out on bail.
