A Palm Harbor man was injured following a single-vehicle crash Sunday morning on State Road 570 in Polk County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred on January 19, 2026, at approximately 11:05 a.m. near milepost 5. Troopers say a Lexus SUV, driven by a 52-year-old man, was traveling eastbound when the driver removed his seatbelt to reach for an item on the passenger side of the vehicle.
The distraction caused the SUV to leave the roadway and strike the center median guardrail.
The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Cooking on the Ridge: Glazed Barbecue Chicken Thighs
by James Coulter
Barbecue season is upon us in Polk County, a time when cities across the county fire up their grills and host their own barbecue competitions.
Lakeland will be hosting Pigfest on Jan. 23. Winter Haven will be hosting Smoke off the Water on Feb. 6 and 7. And Haines City will be hosting Ribs on the Ridge on Feb. 20 and 21.
Sadly, as I no longer reside in the county, I won’t be able to attend any of them. I miss being able to cover these events and sample some finger-licking barbecue in the process. I especially loved the barbecue nachos served at Pigfest.
So, I’ve been doing the next best thing and testing out my homemade barbecue and hot sauces with barbecue made at home on the grill. (Or rather, my relatives’ grill!)
Yes, I’ve been experimenting with making my own barbecue sauces and hot sauces. Will I ever share the recipes? Perhaps another time. For now, I’ll be sharing one of the recipes I tested my sauces on: glazed chicken thighs.
My relatives have been showing me how to man the grill, and I’ve managed to prepare some great dishes on it, including this one. My homemade sauce paired well with the chicken thighs cooked to juicy, mouth-watering perfection.
Originally, I planned to serve them with rice and peas. However, the lack of peas meant corn would be the next best thing. Either way, it was a good meal, and the mango salsa paired well with the tropical taste of my mango habanero sauce.
Whether you choose to prepare them on the grill or on the stove, these chicken thighs will prove finger-licking good when glazed with your favorite barbecue sauce, be it store-bought or homemade.
*****
Glazed Barbecue Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
• 2 lbs. chicken thighs
• ½ –¾ cup barbecue sauce
• 1 tbsp. neutral oil (only needed for stovetop)
Seasoning
• 2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1½ tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• Optional: ½ tsp cayenne (for extra heat)
Preparation
1. Pat the chicken dry.
2. Sprinkle the seasoning blend evenly over all sides.
3. Let it rest 30 minutes. (Or refrigerate overnight.)
Grill Directions
1. Preheat grill to medium‑high heat (about 400°F).
2. Oil the grates lightly.
3. Place chicken thighs skin‑side down (if using skin‑on).
4. Grill 5–7 minutes per side, or until nearly cooked through.
5. Brush with sauce and grill 2–3 minutes per side, letting the glaze caramelize but not burn.
6. Cook until internal temp reaches 165°F.
Stovetop Directions
1. Heat a large skillet over medium‑high heat and add 1 tbsp. oil.
2. Sear chicken thighs 4–6 minutes per side until browned.
3. Reduce heat to medium‑low.
4. Brush on sauce and cook 3–5 minutes, flipping and glazing until sticky and fully cooked (165°F).
5. If the glaze thickens too quickly, add a splash of water to loosen it.
Mark Scott, age 68, went home to be with the Lord, leaving behind a legacy rooted in faith, love, and faithful service. Mark loved Jesus deeply and lived his life trusting in God’s promises. After retiring as a computer architect from Microsoft, he served devotedly as the Assistant Pastor at Calvary Chapel Lake Buena Vista, discipling others with love, wisdom, and a servant’s heart.
Mark was preceded in death by his daughter, Rebekah Schlegel, and his father, Paul Schmertman.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Sherry; his daughter, Hannah Casillas and her husband Angel Casillas; his mother, Florence Schmertman; his seven cherished grandchildren; and his four sisters, all of whom were richly blessed by his love and guidance.
Mark was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother. He found joy in good food and coffee, meaningful fellowship with friends and family, and traveling, always grateful for the beauty of God’s creation and the memories he made along the way. His faith shaped the way he loved others—with kindness, strength, and grace.
While he will be deeply missed, his family rejoices in the promise of eternal life and takes comfort in knowing that Mark is now in the presence of his Savior. As Scripture says,
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
His life was a testimony to God’s faithfulness, and his legacy will continue through the lives he touched and the faith he shared.
Ronald Lorren Forsberg was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, to Donald “Lorren” Forsberg and Esther Violet (Frye) Forsberg on July 30, 1946. In 1955 at the age of nine, Ron and his family moved to Florida. They became members of the First Church of God of Tampa where he met and later married his wife, Viriginia (McMillan) Forsberg, known to all as Gigi. He graduated from Chamberlain High School in Tampa in 1964 and from Anderson College in Indiana in 1968.
Ron married Gigi on June 25, 1966. They began married life in Anderson, Indiana while Ron finished college. Ron and Gigi moved back home to Florida where they lived in Tampa, Lakeland, Auburndale, and later settled in Winter Haven. They were blessed with three daughters, April Lee, Kristi Lynn, and Roni Lauren. Later they were also blessed with six grandchildren, Kara, Jared, Hunter, JT, Isaac, and Julia. Ron loved his family with all his heart and leaves behind a legacy of faithfulness as a husband, father, and Papa.
Ron was employed by State Farm Insurance in Winter Haven and retired after 37 years of faithful service. Ron was a lover of music, singing in choirs and quartets his entire life, even leading music at the First Church of God in Winter Haven for over 15 years. Ron was a long-time member of Faith Baptist Church and served as deacon in the church for 24 years. He took the role seriously loving people and caring for others in the church.
Ron loved being outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and archery. He was known for being a fisherman and took many friends (young and old) out on his boat to catch the biggest fish. His greatest joy was watching any concert, play, or sporting event that his grandchildren performed in.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lorren Forsberg and mother, Esther Forsberg. He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 ½ years, Gigi Forsberg; his sister, Brenda (Steve) Birch and daughters, April Kilgore, Kristi (Timothy) Stacy, and Roni (Craig) Goodwin; and his six grandchildren, Kara (Christian) Bedwell, Jared (Kinsey) Kilgore, Hunter (Jordyn) Goodwin, JT (Zenna) Stacy, Isaac Goodwin, and Julia Kilgore. He is also survived by two aunts and nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Ron went home to be with the Lord on January 14, 2026, at the age of 79. His Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, January 24th beginning with a time of visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Services will be held at Faith Baptist Church located at 2140 Crystal Beach Road, Winter Haven, FL 33880.
Ages 16+, come hang out under the Sensory Garden canopy for a fun, drop-in craft session. Create something cool, enjoy the outdoors, and take a creative break!
January Projects:
January 22: Button Bouquet
January 29: Petal Tea Lights
Space and supplies are limited, so swing by early and craft while you can!
Visit our website at tinyurl.com/whplibrary to see all upcoming Crafting Under the Canopy dates and craft projects!
FOODEESFEST is taking over Lakeland Square Mall for a three-day Food & Culture Festival packed with incredible eats, local creativity, and feel-good community vibes.
From savory street food to crave-worthy desserts, this is your chance to taste it all and enjoy a weekend made for food lovers of every kind.
🔥 What’s in Store: 🚚 Over 40 food trucks and specialty vendors 🎨 Local artisans and makers with unique finds 🎈 Family-friendly fun for all ages 🌍 A celebration of food, art, and cultures coming together
On Jan. 17, 2026 at approximately 6:20 pm, Winter Haven Police officers responded to a reported fight at the Chain of Lakes Complex Baseball Fields located at 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven. Officers located two victims, one a 21 year-old umpire officiating a game wearing his official umpire identifiers (Victim 1) and the other victim the umpire’s father (Victim 2) who was in the stands watching the game.
During the game, Victim 1 gave a verbal warning to 25 year-old Marcos Antonio Aballi (Kissimmee Florida) who was a coach of one of the teams playing in the tournament.
Right after the warning, the father of the umpire (Victim 2), was approached by 38 year-old Yosmany Guzman Fernandez (Kissimmee Florida), who is a father of a player on the team of the coach who received the warning. Guzman started an altercation with the victim due to his displeasure of the warning. Guzman proceeded to push the victim and started punching the victim in the face. (It should be noted Guzman and both victims have had negative encounters in the past prior to this event.)
Seeing his father being attacked, the umpire (Victim 1) left the field in an attempt to separate the two when he was punched from behind by the warned coach, Aballi. The victim fell to the ground due to the attack. At this point, the team of the coach who was warned emptied the dugout and joined in the fight. A witness jumped onto the victim in an attempt to shield the umpire from the attack and was also struck.
Fernandez’s son, 17 year-old Yosmany Alejandro Fernandez who was on the team, joined in the fight and started kicking Victim 1 while he was on the ground. Fernandez was pulled off the victim by witnesses but immediately re-engaged in the fight. Victim 2 did not require medical attention, however the umpire, Victim 1, was transported to the hospital for his injuries.
“There is absolutely no room for parents to ruin what should be a great showcase of sports talent during these tournaments,” said Police Chief Vance Monroe. “The talent of players should be in the spotlight – not the actions of these instigators.”
It should be noted that all involved parties are Legal US Citizens.
The three defendants in this case are being charged as follows:
Marcos Antonio Aballi (25 years-old) – Battery on a Sports Official During an Event (F3) Transported to the Polk County Jail
Yosmany Guzman Fernandez (38 years-old) – Battery on a Sports Official During an Event (F3) and Simple Battery (M1) Transported to the Polk County Jail
Yosmany Alejandro Fernandez (17 years-old) – Battery on a Sports Official During an Event (F3) Transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center”
A 19-year-old Plant City man was killed Friday night following a three-vehicle crash on State Road 39 in Hillsborough County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 9:05 p.m. on January 16, 2026, south of Moriczville Lane. Troopers say a Chevy Silverado driven by a 77-year-old Plant City woman was traveling northbound on SR-39, with a Ford F-350 driven by a 32-year-old Plant City man traveling behind her. At the same time, a Nissan Versa driven by the 19-year-old man was traveling southbound.
Investigators report that the Chevy Silverado attempted to make a left turn into a private driveway and entered the path of the southbound Nissan Versa. The Nissan struck the Silverado, causing the Silverado to rotate onto the west shoulder of the roadway. The Nissan then rotated into the northbound lanes, where it was struck by the Ford F-350.
The 19-year-old driver of the Nissan Versa suffered fatal injuries. The 77-year-old driver of the Chevy Silverado sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The driver of the Ford F-350 was not injured.
LAKELAND, Fla. — What began as a routine traffic stop quickly escalated into a high-speed chase, a six-vehicle crash, and a major drug trafficking arrest Thursday afternoon in Lakeland, according to Sergeant Steve Gaskins, Public Affairs Officer for the Florida Highway Patrol.
Gaskins said the incident began at approximately 2:26 p.m. on January 16, 2026, when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper stopped a 35-year-old Tampa man for traveling 61 miles per hour in a posted 45 mph zone.
According to Gaskins, the driver initially stopped but fled as the trooper exited his patrol vehicle. The suspect accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 mph, leading troopers through Lakeland before crashing into six vehicles at the intersection of County Road 540A and Carter Road.
Gaskins said deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office assisted in taking the suspect into custody following the crash.
After being detained, the suspect told troopers he was “going back to jail for a long time,” admitting there were drugs inside the vehicle, Gaskins said.
A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered trafficking-level quantities of narcotics, including 52.6 grams of cocaine, 135.2 grams of cannabis, and 20.2 grams of fentanyl, according to Gaskins.
No serious injuries were reported as a result of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
