On Tuesday, November
30, 2021, undercover detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit
arrested 69-year-old Donald Wayne Johnson of Lakeland for lewd activity
at Saddle Creek Park in Lakeland.
Johnson, who was inappropriately touching himself, solicited an undercover male detective to engage in a lewd act. Johnson was issued a trespass order from all county parks for a 10-year period and arrested for Offering to Commit a Lewd Act (M2). He was released from jail after posting a $250.00 bond.
“This is completely unacceptable. Polk County parks are places where families and children go to enjoy the outdoors – they should never have to encounter disgusting acts like these. We will continue to patrol our public parks and to arrest people who publicly engage in lewd activity.”– Grady Judd, Sheriff
Welcome, World Travelers! Home Sweet Home Alone Ain’t So Sweet!
by James Coulter
Home Alone is the quintessential 90s Christmas movie. So now that Disney owns 20th Century Studios and the rights to the classic holiday flick, and now that its shiny streaming service has been going strong for two years, and now that most companies are opting to remake their nostalgic hits rather that create anything original, Disney had decided to give the Home Alone franchise a soft reboot with its latest made-for-Disney-Plus flick, Home Sweet Home Alone. And if this movie succeeds in anything, it’s continuing the tradition of making every subsequent installment in the Home Alone franchise incrementally more subpar than the original movie.
This newest movie follows the same premise as the original movie: a young boy finds himself home alone during the holidays and forced to ward off intruders through elaborate Rube Goldberg-style traps created with his toys and other household objects. However, Home Sweet Home Alone decides to put a twist on the tired-and-true formula by asking that bold cinematic question: “What if the home intruders were the main characters rather than the child protagonist?”
In the movie, married couple Jeff and Pam McKenzie are forced to sell their family home upon falling into financial straits after Jeff was fired from his job. A young boy named Max Mercer visits their open house and allegedly steals an antique doll, which they later learn is worth enough money to save their home. Now the couple is forced to break into Max’s house to retrieve the doll while his family is on vacation. Unbeknownst to them, Max was left home alone and, under the assumption they’re going to kidnap him, wards them off with traps. Wacky shenanigans ensue!
And herein lies the problem: this movie wants to remake Home Alone without understanding what made the original movie work. The original Home Alone is a holiday classic because it’s a children’s movie about a child living out a child’s power fantasy by staying home by himself and saving it from intruders. Children loved the movie because they can imagine themselves as Kevin McCallister using his smarts to set up traps and outwit the adult criminals. They want to be Kevin. They do not want to be the Wet Bandits.
Speaking of which, while the home intruders in the original movie were opportunistic criminals, the intruders in this movie, on the other hand, are a desperate married couple who are only breaking and entering because Max allegedly stole a doll from them that they need to sell to save their family house, which they would have to sell otherwise because they’re facing financial struggles following Jeff’s termination.
When Harry gets his head burned by a blowtorch and Marv gets his foot pierced by a nail, we laugh at their suffering because they’re burglars who deserve it. When Pam gets her feet burned and Jeff gets bonked in the head with a paint can, we feel sorry for them because we sympathize with their circumstances. It’s not schadenfreude seeing them suffer. It’s sadism!
As for the child protagonist, Max fares no better. In the original movie, Kevin, being the main character, received enough character development for us to know and care about him. In the first
act, he gets into a tryst with his extended family, making him wish he were alone, then discovers he was left home alone and spends quality time in his unsupervised solitude before realizing he misses his family.
Max, on the other hand, being the secondary character, receives far less development. He only spends a few minutes of screen time getting in an inconsequential argument with his mother, being mildly annoyed by his extended family, and spending a three-minute montage enjoying being home alone before getting bored. We want to see Kevin reunited with his family. We could care less about what happens to Max.
Adding insult to injury is how much the new movie blatantly references the original. There’s a scene in a church where a choir sing “O Holy Night.” The song “Somewhere in my Memory” plays during a flashback. And even Buzz McCallister, Kevin’s older brother, makes an apperance as a cop. In a better made movie, these references would be loving homages to the original film; in this movie, it’s a painful reminder that the original was better.
Perhaps the most egregious pandering fanservice is when the main family watches a movie similar to “Angels With Filthy Souls”, only with the old-timey mobster being played by a galactic warlord in a sci-fi setting. One character watching the movie begrudgingly wonders, “why they are always trying to remake the classics [because] it’s never as good as the original.”
That pretty much sums up Home Sweet Home Alone. In short, if you want to watch Home Alone for the holidays, the original movie and its sequels are all available on Disney Plus. Watch them instead. Don’t watch this remake. It’s not as good as the original.
PCSO detectives
charged 45-year-old Bobby John Herrera, Jr. from West Palm Beach and 36-year-old
Nicholas Nigel Howard of Opa Locka with a combined 67 felonies after they
engaged in an organized cargo theft conspiracy where 5 businesses were
defrauded and about $704,487 of wooden pallets and 25 semi-trailers were
stolen.
In late July 2021, PCSO
detectives began investigating a reported theft of seven semi-trailers from two
different distribution centers – Saddle Creek Logistical Services in Auburndale
and the Walmart Distribution Center in Winter Haven – that contained a large
quantity of wooden pallets. During the initial investigation, detectives were
able to identify three semi-trucks with trailers filled with pallets had been
either stolen or burglarized by Herrera. Herrera is the owner of JCI Pallet in
Plant City.
Security footage obtained
by detectives from both Saddle Creek Logistics and the Walmart Distribution
Center showed a series of thefts where Herrera drove his company’s 2015
Freightliner semi-truck onto the facilities and illegally removing semi-truck
trailers filled with wooden pallets waiting to be delivered to other
distribution centers and businesses. Herrera was able to circumvent security
procedures at the distribution centers to steal the semi-trailers and their
contents.
PCSO detectives
traveled to JCI Pallet and met with Herrera. When detectives showed him one of
the security videos, Herrera said, “That looks like me.”
Herrera was initially
arrested in September with the assistance of the Plant City Police Department
and transported to the Hillsborough County Jail where he was later released on
a $4000 bond.
As the investigation
continued, detectives learned that Howard, the on-site manager of JCI Pallet
assisted Herrera in removing stolen trailers filled with pallets from two
different distribution centers, affecting four different companies. Over the
months of May, June, and July of 2021, the two men planned and coordinated the
theft of 25 semi-trailers which contained almost 5,000 wooden pallets. The
stolen trailers and pallets combined are worth approximately $935,663. The
victims of Herrara’s and Howard’s organized cargo theft conspiracy were Saddle
Creek Logistics, Walmart, 48Forty Solutions, and Monison Pallets.
Detectives tracked the
stolen trailers filled with wooden pallets to JCI Pallet where they were
emptied before being returned or abandoned without the stolen cargo. Two of the
trailers stolen by Herrera were determined to be empty when they were stolen
from the distribution centers. All of the stolen trailers were eventually
recovered.
Additionally, a
business in Alabama, Smith and Company, had hired Herrera to deliver pallets to
Saddle Creek Logistical Solutions. Herrera never delivered the product.
Instead, he submitted a fraudulently signed bill of ladings (detailed shipment
of goods delivered) and invoices for pallets never delivered.
“My detectives,
in partnership with the Plant City Police Department, did an outstanding job
investigating this organized crime enterprise. This type of theft negatively
impacts the consumer when business have to raise costs to account for this type
of loss. We will work hard to make sure Herrera and Howard are held accountable
for these cargo thefts. They won’t have the opportunity to steal while they are
in prison.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Bobby John Herrera,
Jr. was again arrested in Plant City and transported to the Hillsborough County
Jail with additional Polk County charges for:
Burglary of Occupied Structure (F2) (13
Counts)
Burglary of Unoccupied Conveyance (F3) (15
Counts)
Forgery (F2) (2 Counts)
Grand Theft $100,000 or More (F1)
Grand Theft (F2)
Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle (F3) (19
counts)
Theft of Cargo in Stream of Commerce (F3)
Use of a 2-way Device to Commit a Felony (F3)
Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft (F2)
Herrera’s previous
criminal history includes out of state charges from Texas, Arizona, and New
Mexico for credit card abuse, issuing bad checks, fraud, money laundering,
theft, illegal control of enterprise, forgery, conspiracy, tampering with
evidence, burglary of an automobile, and violation of probation.
Nicholas Nigel Howard
was arrested in Opa Locka and transported to the Miami-Dade County Jail with
Polk County charges for:
Burglary of Occupied Structure (F3) (3 Counts)
Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (F3) (4 Counts)
Grand Theft (F2)
Burglary of Unoccupied Conveyance (F3) (3
Counts)
Use of 2-way Communication Device (F3)
Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft (F3)
Howard’s previous criminal history includes
charges of fraud, trespassing, resisting a law enforcement officer, possession
of marijuana, violation of probation and failure to appear.
LAKELAND, FL (November 28, 2021) – The Lakeland Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Sunday morning shortly at 2:15 a.m. on Interstate 4, near exit 31 at Kathleen Road. On Sunday, November 28, 2021, at approximately 2:05 a.m., the Lakeland Police Department (LPD) received a call requesting officers to respond to a suspicious vehicle parked in a construction zone on Interstate 4. Two uniform patrol officers responded to the location within minutes to investigate. As officers arrived on the scene, they observed a man sitting in the vehicle. Officers approached the vehicle and tapped on the window to speak to the driver. At some point, the man retrieved a handgun and pointed it toward one of the officers. In fear for their safety, officers fired their weapons, shooting the driver. The man, age 61 and sole occupant in the vehicle, was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the gun he possessed was recovered. No officers were injured in the shooting. Standard protocol for all officer-involved shootings will include four independent investigations. The LPD Violent Crimes unit is conducting the death investigation. LPD’s Office of Professional Standards is conducting an administrative review. The State Attorney’s Office responded to the scene and will conduct an investigation, and the 10th District Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an investigation. Per agency protocol, the officers involved will be on administrative leave with pay during the initial phase of the investigation. The officers who responded to the scene are Tammy Hathcock, a 15-year veteran officer with LPD, and Garrett Zeigler, a 9-year law enforcement veteran who has served with LPD for the past five months.
On November 26, 2021, at approximately 11:54 PM, the Auburndale Police Department responded to a call at the intersection of Lime Street and Charles Avenue regarding a person lying in the roadway. Upon arrival officers located the victim, 18 year-old Zachary Jorden-Lee Brown, unresponsive with two stab wounds.
The suspect, 14-year-old Jerome Zacarez, who resides in close proximity to where the incident occurred, ran home to phone for medical assistance for the victim. The suspect returned to the scene and was still on scene when officers arrived. The suspect was taken into custody. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival. The incident is still an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Chris Wall at (863) 965-5555 or if you have information and would like to remain anonymous call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS(8477).
Excerpt of the arrest affidavit:
“On November 26, 2021, a reported cutting occurred at the intersection of Lime Street/Charles Avenue at approximately 2352 hours. At approximately 2358 hours Auburndale Police Officers arrived at the location and located two individuals later identified as Zachary Brown (victim) and Jerome Zacarez (suspect) at the reported incident location. Brown was located in the street and appeared to be severely injured with a significant amount of blood loss where he was later treated by Polk County Fire Rescue and transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment. Brown and Zacarez have been in a dating style relationship for approximately nine months at the time of the incident and had previously arranged to meet near Zacarez’ house which was common for the two. Brown brought alcohol for the two of them and they both drank at least approximately one shot of Fireball (whiskey) while they were together. During that time Zacarez stated that they got into an argument about something he could not remember, and during the argument Brown closed Zacarez’ finger in the door toBrown’s vehicle that they were outside of. Zacarez stated that he got mad because of that and wanted to get his things and go home for the evening. Zacarez stated that he did go back to his house to treat his finger which he stated was bleeding. Once Zacarez treated the injury to his finger with a band-aid and some ice he collected a kitchen knife from a cabinet in the kitchen and returned to where Brown was still located in the area of his vehicle. Zacarez stated that he did not have the knife to where Brown could see it and confronted him about the argument that occurred approximately 10 minutes earlier. Zacarez stated he did not remember exactly whathappened other than he stabbed Brown in the arm, and maybe his chest. Zacarez stated that he panicked, and that Brown told him to call 9-1-1. Zacarez ran back to his house barefoot as indicated by the trail of bloody footprints leading from the location where Brown was bleeding to the back door of Zacarez’ residence at 319Pine Street, Auburndale, FL. Zacarez entered the residence for the second time and called 9-1-1 to request medical assistance for Brown. Prior to exiting the residence Zacarez also grabbed a standard bathroom type towel from the bathroom and brought it to where Brown was lying in the street. Zacarez stated that heattempted to render aid and stop the bleeding, and he stayed there until law enforcement arrived. Zacarez was taken into custody approximately eight minutes after the initial 9-1-1 call. At that time Zacarez’ clothes andparts of his body were covered in apparent blood and made several spontaneous statements indicating that he stabbed Brown. Zacarez stated that at no time was anyone else involved, and that he and Brown were the only individuals present at the time the incident occurred. Brown was later found to have a laceration to both the arm, and the upper chest area, that were consistent with being stabbed by a knife. Zacarez described the knife as a kitchen knife with a black handle that he later put in Brown’s truck after stabbing both Brown, and the tire of Brown’s vehicle. A black handle kitchen knife was also located in plain view in the front passenger seat of Brown’s vehicle. Brown was later declared deceased by the hospital staff at 0044 hours on November 27, 2021, as a result of the injuries sustained from the stabbing. Zacarez also later provided a post-Miranda recorded statement outlining the incident at 0222 hours. At this time there is no articulable reason to believe that any other parties were involved in the incident. On November 26, 2021, Zacarez unlawfully struck Brown with a knife against his will causing serious injuries that later resulted in Brown’s death. Due to the totality of the circumstances regarding this case, we would ask the Honorable Court to grant the issuance of this warrant in reference to FSS 782.04(2) related to the murder of Brown. In order to seize and secure any potential items of evidence, photographs, clothing, weapons, or other miscellaneous items of evidentiary value.“
On Thursday, 11/25/2021 the Bartow Police department responded to Bluebird Ave in Bartow in reference to a possible runaway, a 15-year-old with medical disabilities.
A search of the area was conducted by Bartow Police Department patrol units as well as the K9 Unit, detectives, and support personnel from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The search continued throughout the evening and into the late morning hours of 11/26/2021.
On the morning of Friday, 11/26/21, the Bartow Police Department requested the assistance of the public to start conducting an area search. Numerous citizens took the call and began responding. At approximately 11:30 AM, just prior to beginning the search, the missing was youth located in Lakeland by a concerned citizen.
The child was found in good health and will be reunited with family soon. The BPD would like to thank all members of the department and the many citizens who responded with tips and information and assisted in the search over the last several hours.
The WAY Center Celebrates Another Annual Fall Fundraiser
by James Coulter
A young lady had been in a nine-year relationship with a man who considered her worthless. He forced her to quit her job and controlled every aspect of her life. They drifted from motel to motel and regularly got high.
One day, her boyfriend left for work and never returned. She found herself without a home, job, or money. She was scared out of her mind. The death of both her grandparents proved to be the breaking point for her.
She prayed to God and asked Him if this was the life she was supposed to have. God responded by opening doors of opportunity for her, all of which led her to The Way Center in Haines City. There, she turned her life around both literally and spiritually.
She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized. She lost 25 pounds, she has been sober for 74 days and counting, and she is currently seeking a career in criminal justice.
“All my hard work paid off and I am where I need to be,” she said. “My foundation has been laid and my future is amazing. I know I am love I am worthy and I am not disposable I am strong through Christ who strengthens me. Without you all I would not be standing here today.”
This young woman was one of many women whose lives were touched by The Way Center. She gave her testimony during its annual fundraiser last Thursday evening at Snively Ranch in Haines City.
Several dozen residents, business owners, and philanthropists from the Haines City community congregated at Snively Ranch on Thursday evening to learn more about The Way Center and the services it provides to local women and families in need.
Attendees were able to enjoy a dinner catered by The Cattle Company while listening to musical performance, a comedic keynote speech, and several testimonies from women who were assisted and supported through the non-profit organization.
Another young lady ran away from an abusive family. Even in a relationship, she felt alone. Upon learning that her one-year-old son’s father had been caught in a series of lies, she decided to reside in Florida, where she had originally left for vacation.
She was recommended The Way Center, and there she turned her life around for the better. She took several workshops about parenting to better develop her skills as a mother. She took an aptitude test that assessed her abilities. She receives child care vouchers, diapers for her son, and clothes for an interview. Most importantly, she re-dedicated her life to Christ and made the decision to get re-baptized.
“I would not now where I would be without you all,” she said to the staff members in the audience that evening.
The Way Center is a non-profit faith-based organization dedicated to serving women, children, and families in need. As their website states: “The WAY Center Mission is to provide a variety of spiritual and social services for families in need or crisis. Our desire is to work with our clients for a period of time to help them overcome obstacles that keep them from meeting personal, financial & spiritual goals.”
This year, The Way Center was able to purchase the building to their thrift store thanks to the generosity of their landlord and Polk County Sheriff’s Charities. They also invested in a new computer database to help streamline their case management services and internal communications, and they received additional training to handle situations concerning unemployment, human trafficking, and domestic violence.
“We want to see lives transformed through the love of Christ,” said LeAnn Price, Executive Director. “As the world gets darker, we are a light in the darkness and a beacon of hope for those who are lost.”
In-between his comedic quips about being unable to put his airline seat in its upright position during a recent flight and getting two six-inch sponges stuck in his stomach following a surgery, keynote speaker Mike Williams lauded how his life had benefited from organizations like The Way Center.
Williams grew up in Chicago in a family of five. One brother died on the streets, another died in jail, and two sisters became drug addicts. His mother offered to give him away to the mailman, who mentioned that his daughter was praying for a child for 12 years. Mike was taken into his new family, where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Sadly, tragedy struck when his foster mother became stricken with multiple sclerosis and his father had a car fall on him while fixing it, crushing his leg and breaking his back, and forcing him to become addicted to pain killers. Through such hard times, charities and organizations similar to The Way Center reached out to help him and his family.
“I know that everyone in this room is one tragedy away from life going crazy,” Williams said. “I am here tonight because of organizations like The Way Center. I am here because of people who said they cared…Everyone wants to know that through this journey of life [that they] matter and you can do that through The Way Center.”
To learn more about The Way Center, visit their website at: https://www.thewaycenter.org/
At around 10:30 p.m.
on Monday, November 22, 2020, PCSO deputies located a stolen vehicle at the Shell gas station (2225
Combee Road S) in unincorporated Lakeland. The vehicle was a silver 2009 Ford F150 reported stolen from
Okeechobee County.
The driver, later
determined to be 50-year-old Tracy Mercer of Avon Park, was asleep
behind the wheel. As deputies attempted to make contact with Mercer, he woke up
and fled southbound on Combee Road South before turning North on to US 98
South.
Deputies followed the
stolen vehicle at a distance.
Mercer fled the area,
turning westbound on Holloway Park Drive where he drove the stolen truck
through a chain link fence dragging pieces of the fence behind the truck.
Mercer then stuck a barbed wire fence where livestock was held as well as a
second chain link fence and gate. Deputies activated their emergency lights and
attempted to stop the stolen vehicle.
Mercer then turned
southbound on Marion Drive heading back to US 98 South, where he continued to
flee from deputies and committed two hit and run crashes when the fence pieces
he was dragging struck two vehicles.
As Mercer approached
Hancock Avenue Southeast in Highland City on US 98, deputies attempted to stop
the stolen truck by using stop sticks which successfully punctured and deflated
the front passenger side tire. Mercer did not stop, and continued toward Bartow
where he struck another vehicle at the intersection of US 98 and CR 540A.
The Bartow Police
Department assisted deputies by blocking traffic at the intersection of US 98
and SR 60 causing Mercer to continue along US 98 and onto Broadway Avenue. As
he approached Clower Street, a deputy engaged the stolen vehicle in a PIT
(precision immobilization technique) maneuver, successfully stopping Mercer.
No one was injured
during this incident.
When deputies
apprehended Mercer, he was smoking methamphetamine in a pipe and still had his
foot pressed on the accelerator causing the tires to spin. Mercer was taken
into custody, arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail.
“This career felon’s
criminal history speaks for itself. He is a menace to society and obviously has
no regard for the public’s safety. We will do everything we can to hold this
man accountable for his actions and send him back to prison, away from society,
where he belongs.”– Grady Judd,
Sheriff
The following was
located during a search of the vehicle:
Over 31 grams of methamphetamine
A stolen license plate
A shotgun
13 rounds of 12 gauge shotgun ammunition
43 rounds of 40 caliber ammunition
Drug paraphernalia
Mercer was transported
to the Polk County Jail and charged with:
Leaving the Scene of a Crash (M2) (3 counts)
Knowingly Driving with a Suspended License
(M1)
DUO with Property Damage (M1) (3 counts)
DUI (M1)
Fleeing to Elude (F2)
Criminal Mischief (F3)
Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon
(F2)
Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
(F2)
Petit Theft (M1)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1)
Damaging Fence Containing Animals (F3)
Tampering with Evidence (F3)
Grand Theft Auto (F3)
Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine (FL)
Mercer had a warrant for
Violation of State Probation, as well as a warrant for Highlands County for
charges of Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamines, Fleeing to Elude, 3
counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Harassing a
Police Dog. He is currently being held without a bond.
Mercer’s criminal
history includes 4 prison incarcerations, 53 felonies, and 24 misdemeanors.
Some of his previous charges are:
This Former Convict Turned His Life Around. Now He Writes Uplifting Music to Inspire Young People
by James Coulter
Sometimes to get the masses out of the street and into the church, you need to go into the streets. That’s been the driving philosophy behind the street gospel of artist Don Solomon Donaldson.
His songs contain street rhythm combined with the transcendental spiritual messages of hymns. Together, they create music that uplifts the children of the streets, encouraging them to seek a higher purpose in life and strive to do better.
When Donaldson shares his message, it’s never in a pandering manner. When he sings how today’s youth can do better, it’s always straight from his heart and based on his own experiences. As a troubled youth who spent time in prison and inevitably turned his life around for the better, he wants his music and experience to inspire others to set their lives straight, delivering messages he wished he heard as a boy.
“I am not afraid to go into the streets and tell people about hope and God and that they can change,” he said. “There is hope no matter the circumstances they are in, and anybody can change.”
By all accounts, Robert Andre Donaldson should have grown up to be an upstanding citizen. He was raised in a Christian home with a family of pastors and clergy. He grew up in Lake Wales with his mother, but circumstances had him live with his grandfather in Babson Park.
Despite being raised in a Godly environment, Donaldson grew up to be rude, disobedient, and unruly. His wild life as a troubled teen led him down a dark path where he ended serving time in juvenile detention and prison.
His older cousin, Justifi Donaldson, was fortunate enough to grow up taking the straight and narrow path by dedicating his life to God and becoming ordained as a minister. Seeing his younger cousin passing through the wide gate and down the narrow path that leads to destruction disheartened him. So, one Easter weekend, Justifi visited Andre in jail and shared with him the Word of God. As a result, Andre was successfully led to Christ and determined to turn his life around.
“Since then, we have been walking closer,” Justifi said. “For the past seven years, it has been a complete turnaround in his life, in his choices and decision-making, in his relationship with God, and having a will, not just a relationship, but a will to change.”
During his time in prison, Donaldson re-committed his life to God and passed his time by studying his Bible, dictionary, and thesaurus and using his new knowledge to write poems and music. By the time he was released, he had written 1,000 songs.
Donaldson had grown up with a musically-inclined family, with many members singing in the choir and performing instruments. However, he did not learn he had musical talent until he enrolled in the musical programs in juvenile detention.
Since then, he combined his newfound talent with his rekindled walk with God to write music to not only spiritually uplift others but also inspire and uplift himself. His message was as much to convince him as well as others that a better path was possible.
“Music has been my escape,” he said. “It helps me from going back to the streets.”
While incarcerated, he obtained his GED, and upon his release, he had earned his driver’s license. He then rekindled his relationships with his family and girlfriend and became employed. Whatever money he had leftover from his rent and bills, he invested into a studio. He went through several studios and started recording his music.
His journey soon opened new doors for him and provided him with better opportunities to share his music. Since then, he has recorded several songs and albums, performed the opening act for two-time Grammy-award winner, Canton Jones (Cajo), and filmed a video with Mr. Jones that was recently released on Nov. 1.
“God helped me find a way and seek out a way to make the music for the betterment of the community and the youth,” he said. “So sticking with it is hard. It has not been easy. It has been hard. There have been many times where I wanted to give up,and so, I think every person who has come from where I came from, they have a temptation to give up and go back to what they used to be doing, because, right now, it has been a struggle…I am not wanting for nothing, so I want to keep pushing with what little I do have.”
This year will be seven years since he was released from prison. Seeing how his life has changed from the moment he accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior in his jail to where he is now is nothing short of awe-inspiring. It is the inspiration he wishes to impart unto others.
“I give them inspiring words of hope and tell them that they can change also, but to change, they cannot get out and continue to do the things they did that got them in there in prison or jail,” he said. “I owe it to all the positive people who helped me…and to God, all the people who kept telling me to keep going and who believed me. I cannot give myself all of the credit.”
His cousin, Justifi, watched him walk his life path from a troubled teen and convict to a changed man and accomplished musician. If anyone’s music has the power to change the world and inspire millions, it’s him, he asserts.
“Right now, he is the hottest thing in Florida,” Justifi said. “His music, you gravitate toward it because you can hear his pain and struggle, you can also hear his victory as well…It will enlighten. It will encourage. It will inspire. It will strengthen and give you something to strive for and thank God for, to have you analyzing your own life and you can relate to it…and I think once the world hears it, it can change the world, it can change the vibrations of the whole earth realm.”
To learn more about Don Solomon Donaldson and his music, visit his website at: https://www.donsolomondonaldson.com/
Former Christian Camp Executive Director Named Lake Wales Citizen of the Year
by James Coulter
For more than 50 years, Bill Redmon has dedicated his life to serving others in the Lake Wales Community, from assisting with fundraisers and working as a camp director, to creating a vision for a water park accessible to people with disabilities.
His life of “passion and compassion” was rewarded last Friday evening when he received the honor of being named the Citizen of the Year at the 5th Annual Lake Wales Chamber Annual Gala.
Redmon served as the Executive Director at Lake Aurora Christian Camp for 34 years, during which time he helped expand the camp’s facility from 25 to 75 acres. He had also been involved with many local civil and civic organizations including the Chamber of Commerce, Depot Museum, Lake Wales Rotary, and Circle of Friends.
He started many fundraisers for local organizations and causes, including the Lake Wales Soccer Club, Rotary Club, and Interact. One of his most popular fundraisers is the Big Kahuna Paddle Challenge to help fund local boys and girls camps.
Redmon serves as the President of Removing the Barriers Initiative, a local non-profit with the mission of “helping to remove the barriers to great experiences for people with disabilities.” Their major project is Stirring Waters, a proposed water park to be built in east Lake Wales with the goal of being inclusive of people with disabilities.
Larry Bossarte, who was last year’s Citizen of the Year recipient, boasted about how everyone in attendance would know who this year’s winner would be from his accomplishments alone. Bossarte described Redmon as a “truly amazing person” with “passion and compassion” who “tackles extraordinary challenges.”
Even with everything that he has accomplished in the past half century, Redmon himself was “shocked” to have received his honorary title that evening. He owed his success to his wonderful community and to the grace of God.
“God gifted me with ideas…[and] as long as God keeps me living, those visions keep coming,” he said.
The Greater Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council hosted its Fifth Annual Awards Gala last Friday at Lake Ashton Country Club. This year’s event had a Western theme, with judging for best cowboy, cowgirl, and western-themed outfit.
Several awards were presented that evening to citizens and organizations that exemplified the spirit of the local community. The Carl F. Durso Award for Excellence in Business was conferred to both AdventHealth Lake Wales & All Veterans Center, Inc.
AdventHealth Lake Wales was recognized for its valiant efforts in the past year during the ongoing pandemic, and the All-Veterans Center was recognized for assisting local veterans.
Since its start in 2017, the organization has assisted 33 homeless veterans and prevented seven suicides, its representative said.
Jerry Miller Community Leadership Award was awarded to Tony Mathewson of the Lake Wales Soccer Club. The Community Service Organization of the Year Award was awarded to the Lake Wales Soccer Club. And the Public Servant of the Year Award was given to Zaliet Suri, Assistant to the City Manager, Deputy City Clerk, and Cemetery Division Coordinator.
Mayor Eugene Fultz accepted the award on behalf of Suri, who was unable to make it that evening due to a family situation. He spoke highly of her ability to manage the city office, especially during the absence of the city manager, and her ability to maintain decorum while attending to family members of recently deceased while assisting them with locating plots in the city cemetery.
“When they come in [to the cemetery division] to do business, she comforts them during the purchase,” Mayor Fultz said. “She does not treat it like a business, she treats it like a family member addressing another family member.”
