Girls 9–10 won sectional Championship this past weekend in Land O Lakes and advance to state tournament next weekend in DeLand – good luck girls and great job!
Christmas in July At The Oasis Spa
Don’t forget our 12 Days of Christmas in July!
Today is Free Facial Peel or Microderm w/ any Facial!
245 E Park Ave
Lake Wales, FL
(863) 232-6968
Open
8:30AM – 6:00PM
#relaxforless
#christmasinjulyohmy
Belk Winter Haven at Citi Centre will be Holding Their 9th Annual Pampering Event to Fight Cancer in September
Belk Winter Haven at Citi Centre will be holding their 9th Annual Pampering Event to fight cancer in September and are looking for vendors and sponsors to come out and help join the fight against cancer.
The annual event features exciting activities and special events along with vendors and prizes including a Fashion Show where models who are also cancer survivors take center-stage in the latest fashions.
The spot light for this years Pampering Event will be “Breast Cancer & Ovarian Cancer Awareness”. The theme this year is Pink for Breast Cancer and also Teal for Ovarian Cancer.
There will also be two different hair styling salons on-site that will be offering to cut your hair (8″) for the charity of your choice and will mail it for you to the charity to be made into wigs for women & children.
Tucker & Tillis Limousines will also be there and for a small donation will be giving limo rides to any and all guests who would like the experience.
The event will start at noon on Sunday Sept 18th…..the Fashion Show starts at 2:30pm
Bond Clinic and Gessler Clinic have already reserved their spot at this years event.
Should you wish to partake by helping as a vendor or food vendor, donating a door prize or a sponsorship; please contact Chris Hazelwood at (863) 412-6865 for more information
Congratulations to Winter Haven Woman’s Hospital for receiving the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Care Award.
Congratulations to Winter Haven Woman’s Hospital for receiving the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Care Award.
Lactation counselors Kathie, Asheia and Ann, as well as board certified lactation consultant, Cynthea were applauded by the hospital for their efforts and implementation of a donor human milk program as an option for supplementing breast milk for newborns.
They taught patient care providers the important benefits of donor human milk, how it is processed at a milk bank and when it is appropriate to use donor human milk.
A relationship was established with Florida’s Human Milk Bank to provide human donor milk to patients, and the hospital partnered with Mother’s Milk Bank of Florida to become a milk depot for human milk donations.
The successful donor program is credited with winning the Winter Haven Women’s Hospital the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Care Award for excellence in lactation care.
Lake Wales Little League Boys 10/11 Regional Title Championship 1st Runner UP
Lake Wales Little League boys 10/11 resumed play a rain out but lost in regional title championship game to Lakewood Ranch (Sarasota), coming in as first runner-up. Great journey for our boys this summer and very proud of them!
Winter Haven Police Are Asking for The Public’s Help in Finding a 16-Year-Old Runaway
The Winter Haven Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a 16 Year Old Runaway.
Marissa Aquino was last seen at her residence (536 Ave. A, NE) on 7-6-16 at approximately 2:15 a.m.
Aquino has run away before and is thought to still be in the area.
She was last seen wearing a red fitted t-shirt and black NIKE shorts and possibly red Nike Jordan’s. She should have a backpack with her as well.
Though the photos do not show, her hair is cut very short now, so she may be wearing a hat as she is self-conscious about it.
Anyone who knows her whereabouts is asked to call Detective Bret Hebson at 863-401-2256.
Breaking News: Small Plane Crashes Near PCSO Training Facility Near Bartow
Bartow, Florida – According to the Polk County Fire Rescue a small plane crashed around 11:15 am this morning. The crash occurred in a field near the Polk County Sheriff’s Office training center. A single occupant in the plane was transported by county natural resources helicopter to Bartow Airbase where they were treated and taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center. The victim appears to not have suffered any life threatening injuries.
Currently this is all the information available at this time.
Horrific Crash On Hwy 98 Kills 3 People
Lakeland, Florida – The Lakeland Police Department is investigating a triple fatality crash on Hwy 98 N. & Plaza Drive. Te accident occurred in the early morning hours of July 10, 2016. Lakeland Police responded to the crash and the investigation indicated that a blue Nissan driven by Christopher L. Stewart (age 22) was traveling North on Hwy 98. An orange Volkswagon driven by Michael J. Marrero (age 26) was traveling South on Hwy 98. At some point, the orange Volkswagon lost control and crossed over into the northbound lanes and struck the front of the blue Nissan. The Nissan ran off the roadway to the right and rolled over. The Volkswagon came to final rest facing South in the north bound lanes. Both the driver, Christopher Stewart, and his passenger, Kathrin R. Pitock (age 22) in the blue Nissan were declared deceased at the scene. Another passenger in the rear seat of Stewart’s vehicle was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, but later passed away. This passenger has not yet been positively identified.
Michael J. Marrero, the driver of the Volkswagon, was transported to Lakeland Regional Health for treatment. His condition at this time is unknown.
30 Year Old Man Arrested After Stabbing Another Man Over a Reported $2 Debt
A 30 year-old man has been arrested after stabbing another man over a reported $2 debt.
On 7-8-16 at approximately 5:20 p.m., 36 year-old Odell Kindricks Jr. (DOB 7-28-79) was walking on the sidewalk in his neighborhood along 3rd St. N.W. in Winter Haven.
Kindricks was approached by 30 year-old Michael Stevenson (DOB 3-25-86, 1555 3rd ST NW, Winter Haven.) According to Kindricks, Stevenson told him that he wanted his $2 back that was owed. When Kindricks refuted the supposed debt, Stevenson stabbed Kindricks in the upper back and ran away.
Kindricks fell to the ground, but immediately got up running to the area of his own residence located at 306 Palmetto Ave. NW. A witness in the area who saw the altercation contacted 9-1-1 and emergency personnel immediately responded. Officers circulated the area looking for Sevenson, but he was not located at that time.
Due to the severity of his injuries, Kindricks was airlifted to Lakeland Regional Health where he was listed in critical condition. At the time of this release, Kindricks is in stable condition.
After interviews with multiple witnesses who were in the area as well as interviews with the victim, Stevenson was identified as the suspect who stabbed Kindricks. An arrest warrant was obtained and today (7-9-16) at approximately 9:20 a.m. Stevenson was taken into custody at his home (1555 3rd ST NW, Winter Haven) without incident.
Stevenson, who has an extensive criminal history, was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of Attempted Second Degree Murder with a deadly weapon.
“This senseless attack on a citizen walking in his own neighborhood is tragic,” said Chief Charlie Bird. “I applaud the swift actions of the residents in the neighborhood who worked with us along with the victim to identify Stevenson and get him behind bars.”
A snapshot of Stevenson’s criminal history with penalty level is below:
Battery M1 (2x)
Obstructing Justice F3 (2x)
Carrying Concealed Weapon M1 (4X)
Possession of Weapon F2 (3x)
Resisting Officer WO Violence M1 (2x)
Drugs-Deliv/Distr F3
Marijuana Possess M1
Prob Violation F3 (2x)
Drugs Deliv/Distr F2
Marijuana Possess F2
Poss of Cocaine F3
Poss of Cannabis F3
Prob Violation F2
Drugs Equip Possess M1
Cocaine Possess F2 (2x)
Drugs Equip Possess M1
Drugs Equip Possess F3
3 People Shot In Winter Haven 2 Critically Injured
Update: In response to your inquiries, please find a portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Paul McLees, the victims in yesterday’s home invasion/shooting/homicide investigation, that occurred on Laurel Oak Drive in Winter Haven.
Mrs. McLees was released from Winter Haven Hospital yesterday after being treated for two wounds related to the shooting. She was struck by bullet fragments on her left knee, and grazed by a bullet on her right foot.
Mrs. McLees told us that although this portrait is several years old, it is one that she wanted to share of them together. They got married at the age of 19 years old and had 2 children. She told us, “While I am so sad to have lost him, I feel so lucky to have had him for 53 years before yesterday.”
The McLees family remains in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Update: According To The Polk County advised that home invasion suspect Ricardo Garcia Gomez, was pronounced deceased at 15 minutes after midnight last night/this morning, at the hospital. Here are some of his previous arrests:
5/30/09 – arrested by WHPD for Shoplifting
9/16/09 – arrested by LWPD for DUI, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Public Intoxication
2/4/10 – arrested by PCSO for Trespassing
3/22/10 – arrested by PCSO for VOP
9/11/10 – arrested by PCSO for DWLSR, Harassing Police Dog
3/29/14 – arrested by HCSO for Battery Domestic Violence, Resisting Arrest
Winter Haven, Florida – Around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2016, the PCSO Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call in reference to a shooting that had taken place at 5463 Laurel Oak Drive Lot 279 in unincorporated Winter Haven, which is the home of 78-year-old Paul McLees and his wife, 72-year-old Mary McLees.
When deputies arrived on-scene, they encountered Mary outside the home, and she had been shot twice. She told deputies an armed and unknown Hispanic male suspect was still in her home with her husband, Paul. Deputies made a tactical approach into the home and located Paul and the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Ricardo Garcia Gomez (last known address, 107 Vaughn Rd, Winter Haven), in a back bedroom, both of whom were suffering from gunshot wounds.
According to the investigation so far, which is in its very early stages and is subject to change, Gomez entered the McLees’ home armed with a large knife. While Gomez was forcing Paul McLees at knifepoint to open a safe, Paul McLees pulled a firearm out of the safe and began shooting at the armed and dangerous suspect. In the process, Mary was shot twice. She was able to escape and run to a neighbor’s home to call for help.
Paul McLees was unable to be revived by first responders at the scene, and was declared deceased. The suspect, Gomez, was taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries and is undergoing surgery.
It is unknown at this time why Gomez chose this location to rob these victims, or exactly how the subsequent shootings of Gomez and McLees took place. We won’t have any additional information about this until deputies are able to further interview Mary McLees and the suspect, Gomez.
“This is a horrific and tragic situation. We are early in this investigation and hope to be able to piece together how this 78-year-old man who was defending himself and his home was fatally shot. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.” – Sheriff Grady Judd
Gomez has one prior arrest in Polk County, in 2010 for DWLSR and Harrassing a Working Police Dog.