LAKELAND, FL (November 7, 2021) – On Sunday, November 7, 2021, shortly after 1:10 am, uniform patrol officers responded to the 100 block of Kentucky Avenue in reference to a shooting. On scene, officers located a male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began securing the location and rendering aid until emergency medical responders from Lakeland Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue arrived. The victim was transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries a short time later. Based on witness statements and evidence gathered at the scene, the 31-year-old victim and 30-year-old Sharainnia Gornail had just left the Hookah Palace when they began engaging in a physical confrontation near the intersection of Kentucky Avenue and Main Street. Both the victim and Gornail were striking each other multiple times. Gornail was then observed walking away from the victim and entering a nearby vehicle to retrieve a firearm. She then approached the victim again, at which time she shot him multiple times. Gornail then left the scene in a vehicle driven by a friend. Officers were notified a short time later by medical staff at the ER 24/7 on South Florida Avenue that Gornail was at the facility seeking treatment for injuries sustained in the physical altercation. While receiving treatment, she admitted being involved in a shooting. After receiving treatment, both Gornail and a witness who had driven her to the location were transported to the police station to interview with detectives. When speaking with investigators, Gornail admitted to having fought with the victim and subsequently shot him after she was punched in the face. She stated she shot the victim in self-defense; however, witness statements and evidence gathered at this time show that Gornail acted after there was no longer an active threat to her safety. Based on the evidence gathered at the scene, witness interviews, and consultation with the State Attorney’s Office, Sharainnia Gornail was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder. Detectives are continuing to follow up on leads as this is still very early in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Cory Lawson at 863.834.6900 or [email protected].
A two-vehicle crash near Lake Wales Friday morning, November 5, 2021, resulted in the death of one, with two others being sent to the hospital.
The crash occurred at around 8:18 AM, on Masterpiece Road near the intersection of Timberlane Road, in unincorporated Lake Wales. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the crash scene.
25-year old Candice Franz of Lake Wales, the driver of a red 2010 Nissan Versa, was transported to a hospital, but passed away from her injuries.
A 7-month old baby girl who was riding in Franz’s car did not appear to be injured, but she was taken to a Tampa hospital to be evaluated.
The other driver, 47-year old Jeff Corey, was treated and released from the hospital. He was the driver of a black Ford Mustang.
Based on evidence and statements, the preliminary investigation shows that Franz’s Nissan was travelling north on Masterpiece Road, while Corey’s Ford was southbound.
The Nissan appears to have hydroplaned over rainwater on the road, and spun into the path of the Ford.
It was determined that the child was properly restrained in a child car seat, and Mr. Corey was wearing a seatbelt, but Ms. Franz was not wearing one.
Masterpiece Road was closed for about three-and-a-half hours during the on-scene portion of the investigation, but the case remains open.
Frostproof Fire Chief Presented Citizen Life Saving Award By City of Lake Wales for Saving a Truck Driver’s Life
by James Coulter
The Frostproof Fire Chief was presented an award by the City of Lake Wales saving the life of a driver.
On Tuesday evening, during the city’s monthly commission meeting, Chief Chris Velasquez of the Lake Wales Police Department and Mayor Eugene Fultz conferred the Citizen Life Saving Award to Frostproof Fire Chief Jerry Riner.
Chief Riner was given the award for his valiant effort in saving the life of a truck driver who had driven off Highway 60 and nearly crashed his vehicle into a house due to cardiac arrest.
On Oct. 21, 2021, Riner saw a car drive off the road near the intersection of Highway 60 and 9th Street. He pulled over to the side of the road where the vehicle had crashed, pulled the driver from the vehicle, and, upon discovering the diver was unresponsive and not breathing, started administering CPR until Lake Wales Police and Polk County EMS arrived, explained Chief Velasquez.
“Before the driver left the scene by ambulance, their vitals improved significantly,” Chief Velasquez said. “In response to your quick thinking and willingness to administer aid, the driver survived. We present you with our citizen’s lifesaving award to commend you for your service to our community.”
Upon accepting his award, Chief Riner gave his commendations to the City of Lake Wales for honoring him, the City of Frostproof for supporting him, and the Lake Wales Fire Department for assisting him that fateful day.
“I cannot tell you how happy I was to see them coming around the house with their equipment,” he said. “I believe Lake Wales, you should all be very proud of your fire department because they did a very good job resuscitating the man.”
Mayor Eugene Fultz later commented that, if he were ever in a similar situation to that driver, he would want someone like Chief Riner to help him out.
Chief Riner was accompanied that evening by Vice Mayor Austin Gravely, his family, and members of the City of Frostproof. As he left the meeting that evening, he was pleasantly surprised by another guest who had arrived to see him.
Kandissee Maldonado, a Lake Wales resident, had read of Chief Riner’s heroic deeds on Facebook. She wanted to meet him at that evening’s meeting and congratulate him personally, not only for saving another man’s life, but also for saving her own a long time ago.
Nearly 19 years ago, when she was only two-years-old, Kandissee was rescued from drowning in a pool by Riner and his crew, who had her transported out of the county to receive immediate care. His decision was against protocol at the time, but his fateful rescue helped change that protocol, he said.
“We knew if we took you to Winter Haven, with the water in your lungs, you probably would have perished; so the paramedics flew you out and changed their protocol because of you,” Chief Riner told Kandissee.
When the young lady approached him that evening, he immediately recognized her face. He told her that he still had a picture of her when she was a toddler, and that she looked just as much of a beautiful young lady.
“That took me totally by surprise,” Chief Riner said. “I knew that she had lived, just not to the extent of her outcome. So to come here this evening and to receive this award for helping a gentleman so he can go home to his spouse, and then this young girl seeing all of this on the internet and coming out here and acknowledging all of this after 19 years is very humbling.”
Austin Gravely, Vice Mayor of Frostproof, during the public comments portion of the meeting, addressed the mayor and city commissioners. He commended them for recognizing Chief Riner and his heroism and what such an honor meant for their small city of Frostproof.
“It meant a lot,” Gravely said. “God had him in the right place at the right time. Everything happens for a reason. Unfortunately, we don’t always understand it all. It was very good to be here tonight and see Jerry be recognized.”
Chief Riner had served Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) for over 25 years and has volunteered for Frostproof for more than 30 decades. However, despite his long legacy of public service, he was suspended without pay from his position at PCFR and inevitably terminated.
He was given an ultimatum: either resign from his position as the Frostproof Fire Chief and continue working as a PCFR employee, or resign from his PCFR position and continue working at Frostproof. He was previously under investigation because he allegedly violated a four- or five-year-old policy that the county has only recently started enforcing.
Despite his termination, he is reassured by his recent award that his public service is much appreciated. He has had extensive training for such rescue situations, so doing what he did came naturally to him.
“It is something I would do regardless,” he said. “I feel more grateful that the gentlemen survived and his spouse still has him in her life. With everything that goes on nowadays, people need others by their side. I feel humbled, and I appreciated Lake Wales Police Department and the Fire Department, and the City Commissioners recognizing me…In the last month, it does make me feel I am still a vital part of the community.”
Lake Wales High School Graduate Opens Her Own Boutique
by James Coulter
Most fashionistas want to buy their clothes from a big brand name. Gucci. Louis Vuitton. Tiffany & Co. One local high school graduate hopes to make a big name for herself after opening her first storefront in Dundee. She’s started small, but she has big dreams of one day being a recognizable brand name.
“I have goals to make it big,” she said. “When someone looks at a piece of clothing, and they ask where you got it from, and they answer that they got it from Krae’s, I want to be a name [like that] someday.”
Kaylee Rae, 18, recently opened Krae Boutique, her first storefront for her boutique in Dundee. She previously operated her business through an online store, yet good fortune shone upon her when Davidson of Dundee approached her to set up her boutique in their venue.
Currently, Kaylee sells clothing and accessories like shoes, hats, and pants. Her boutique focuses on offering affordable clothing, with nothing over $50. She even sells many handmade products created by local businesses and even her friends.
Through her online store, she ships to 24 different states and two countries. While she has started small with her online and temporary venue, she has big dreams of owning her own permanent storefront.
“I did not expect to have a storefront,” she said. “And with everything that is happening, I found the time to open this, and that was really exciting.”
Kaylee always had a passion for shopping. She loved buying clothing, and she felt that she could even turn her love into a career. So with the support of her mother and using the money in her savings, Kaylee set up her business.
“I asked my mom one night about it,” Kaylee said. “I told her it was something I wanted to spend my savings on…She told me if this is what I want to do, then you can do it, I will support you.”
With her mother’s assistance, Kaylee bought a business name and tax identification number, obtained a business license, started her website, and ordered her first inventory. She initially started her boutique as an online store on November 2020.
“[It’s] a parent’s dream,” said Lora Donley, Kaylee’s mother. “She set a goal and put in the time until she reached it…I see Krae Boutique and any other project Kaylee creates reaching the next level. Hopefully, other young people will see her as an example. Most successful business owners started from the beginning. Kaylee is proof that the beginning can be created by a dreaming teenager.”
Earlier this year in August, she was approached by the owners of Davidson of Dundee. They were impressed by the pop-up she had set up there previously, and they wanted her to set up shop within their venue.
“They said they wanted to start something new there with their business where they can bring small local small businesses to other things,” she said.
Her biggest challenge thus far has been her age. As someone who started her first personal business in high school, Kaylee had to juggle many things to make her dream a reality, from applying to colleges to finishing her school work and participating in various high school clubs and the lacrosse team.
Moreover, other people remained skeptical of her endeavor. Starting a business so young seemed “foolish” when they assumed she should stick to focusing on her schoolwork. And yet, being able to run a business on her own in the past year turned many skeptics into supporters.
“They do not think it is such a good idea to start something so big at a young age,” she said. “Looking back at it, people now find me inspiring because I did it at such a young age, so it was an obstacle for me at the beginning, but it has not become something good for me.”
Currently, Kaylee is still juggling school and work with her boutique, as she is also attending college and working as a preschool teacher. Nevertheless, Kaylee has big expectations to turn her small boutique into something big.
“I have great goals of where this can possibly go,” she said. “Right now, we are going to take baby steps. We are going to do a lot of pop-ups. We are going to work with other small businesses, and we will work together with us.”
Krae Boutique is located inside Davidson of Dundee, located at 28421 US-27, Dundee, FL 33838. For more information, visit: https://shop-krae.com/
Hundreds Turn Out in Costume for Davenport Halloween Trunk Or Treat
by James Coulter
Hundreds of children and their families lined up both inside and outside Lewis Mathews Sports Complex in Davenport for the annual Halloween Trunk or Treat on Sunday evening. Attendees waited in line patiently as the passed by 30 to 40 parked cars and vendors, each offering candy with lavish Halloween displays.
Participating this year were many local organizations, including the Haines City Moose Club Lodge, Nature’s Way, Rotary Club, Davenport Historical Society, the Davenport Merchants, and the Northeast Polk County Chamber of Commerce.
When not collecting candy, attendees were able to enjoy free food like cotton candy, shaved ice, and hot dogs. They could also participate in carnival games, costume contests, and live musical entertainment provided Studio C Dance Studio.
This year’s event experienced a phenomenal turnout, with lines stretched outside the sports complex and cars lining the road to get into the parking lots, only to discover that all of the spaces have been taken.
Josh Hick, Parks Superintendent at City of Davenport, owes this year’s success to the city manager, staff, and commisioners, all of whom take pride with these city events.
“It is a free event with a big community that has that local hometown feel,” he said. “Every year it has been growing. Last year was a good turnout like this. It has met every bit of expectations, if not exceeded. We hope that it will keep on growing.”
Rock’ N Brews BBQ Contest Donates to Cancer Patient Support
by James Coulter
More than $4,500 was raised for cancer patient support by a Florida BBQ Association-sanctioned event hosted at Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina, and RV Resort on the weekend of Oct. 22 and 23.
The Rock’ N Brews BBQ Contest drew in a good crowd at the Lake Wales resort for a good old time with live music, camaraderie, and plenty of finger-licking homemade barbecue. More than 50 teams from across the state participated, including 34 in the professional division and 16 in the backyard division.
The Grand Champion titles were conferred to Smoke N Ash BBQ for the professional division and Done Right Smokin for the backyard division. Both titles were awarded by FBA judges.
Proceeds from the ticket and raffle sales and the financial support of the title sponsor, Lake Wales’ Weikert Ford, were donated to Charlene’s Dream Cancer Hope and Healing Program, an all-volunteer cancer patient support organization based in Daytona Beach, FL.
“Charlene’s Dream is a warm and welcoming haven for those with cancer, seeking to get information,” a Guy Harvey press release stated. “It is a resource center, wrapped up to look like a boutique! It’s a place to try on wigs, hats, mastectomy bras, lymphedema sleeves and breast prostheses. It is a place where ALL cancer patients can feel free to ask questions and get FREE help and assistance.”
Upon confirming the donation, Kevin DeNell of Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts commented how great the turnout was, especially for a great cause as cancer patient support.
“The BBQ tastes good, but all of our teams agree, it feels even better to bring folks together to help support those dealing with cancer,” he said. “In our book, everyone’s a winner. We’re looking forward to cooking more BBQ and raising more money in our future Rock’ N Brews events.”
Camp Mack has hosted many events within the past year. Its next event will be the Bonfire Series Shootout, to be hosted Fri. Nov. 19 to Sun. Nov. 21. The resort is located at 14900 Camp Mack Rd, Lake Wales, FL. For more information, visit: https://guyharveycampmack.com/
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit continues to investigate a fatal crash that occurred late Monday evening, November 1, 2021 near Bartow.
PCSO deputies and members of Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the scene of the single-vehicle crash on US-17 South near Transport Road, at around 10:45 PM.
The first responders found 31-year old Brittany Reynolds of Lakeland dead at the scene.
Ms. Reynolds was the only person involved in the crash; she was driving a red 2011 Hyundai Sonata.
Based on evidence at the scene, Ms. Reynolds had been traveling south on US-17 when her car swerved off of the roadway and into the median. The Hyundai drove for approximately 400-feet before coming back onto the roadway, across both southbound lanes, and then off of the west side of the road where it struck a tree.
Ms. Reynolds was not wearing a seat belt.
The southbound lanes of US-17 South were closed for about three hours while emergency crews were on scene investigating.
On Sunday, October 24, 2021, at approximately 8:50 p.m., officers responded to 321 Weaver Avenue in reference to a stabbing. Upon arrival, Lake Wales Police Officers found the victim covered in blood and bleeding profusely from the head and neck area. The victim told officers that an unknown white male stabbed him while he was walking down the road. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries because of the attack and was flown by helicopter to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he was in critical condition.
Upon checking the reported crime scene, officers located a large pool of blood in the area of Miami Street and Bullard Avenue. They set up and perimeter and searched with canines along with aviation support from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office but did not locate a suspect. Detectives located and interviewed a witness who reportedly saw someone running from the area around the time of the stabbing.
The next morning around 5:50 a.m., officers received a break in the case when a family member of the suspect called to report suspicious and concerning information about their nephew, Noahmyan Nathan Rivera-Valentin. With this information, Officers located Noahmyan at 327 Weaver Avenue. Noahmyan still had dried blood on his right hand. A bloody knife and bloody clothing belonging to Noahmyan was also located at the residence. Detectives were able to determine that 18-year-old Noahmyan of Lake Wales had attacked the victim in this case. Noahmyan, was arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery.
We are thankful that the victim survived this unprovoked and random attack. If anyone has any further information regarding this investigation, police are asking you to contact Detective Ricky Hartwell at 678-4223. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477) or from any cell phone, dial **TIPS.
Last evening, October 31, 2021, the PCSO Traffic Unit was called to the scene of a three-vehicle crash with serious injuries and one fatality.
The crash occurred around 7:35 p.m. in the 19000 block of SR 60 East in Lake Wales near Grape Hammock Road. According to the witnesses and evidence, a 2015 silver Buick Lacrosse being driven eastbound on SR 60 by 42-year-old Michael Franks of Lake Wales for unknown reasons drifted over the center line and into the westbound lane. The Buick struck a 2015 black Honda four-door, propelling the Honda off the roadway and into a ditch. The Buick continued down the westbound lane and struck head-on a 2020 silver Chevrolet Silverado that was pulling a livestock trailer with pigs inside. The trailer became detached and was pushed into the rear of the truck. The pigs were not injured.
Franks was deceased on-scene.
The driver of the Honda, 34-year-old Diery Clavier of Tampa, suffered non-life threatening injuries and is at a local hospital. His passenger, 30-year-old Jude Dorelus, was airlifted to a local hospital with serious injuries and is expected to recover.
The driver of the Chevy truck, 33-year-old Jacob Wise of Punta Gorda, was taken via ambulance to a local hospital with serious injuries, but is expected to recover. His front seat passenger (his wife), 32-year-old Alicia Wise was airlifted to a local hospital with serious injuries; her 12-year-old daughter Gracia Logan was not injured.
All of the vehicles’ occupants were wearing seat belts. It is unknown at this time what caused Mr. Franks to cross the center line, and the investigation is ongoing. Neither of the other drivers was impaired or speeding.
SR 60 in that area was closed for approximately 6 hours during the investigation.
