LAKELAND, FL – United Way of Central Florida is now accepting applications from 501(c)(3) organizations to receive nonprofit COVID-19 relief funding as an extension of Polk County Unites. UWCF and the Polk County Board of County Commissioners partnered earlier this year to distribute $15 million to Polk County residents with Polk County Unites. That program is now expanding to offer additional aid to local 501(c)(3) nonprofits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Polk County nonprofit organizations are struggling to serve our community. United Way of Central Florida, through direction from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, is providing economic support to local nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) charitable business interruptions due to COVID-19. Interruptions which may have occurred include but are not limited to; temporary closures, suspensions or reduction of services, interferences in funding, and disturbances in procedures and additional expenses due to COVID-19 social distancing, remote learning and working, personal protective equipment, and cleaning requirements. Qualifying organizations may apply for the Nonprofit COVID-19 Relief to receive $15,000, $30,000 or $45,000. Funding amounts will be awarded based on annual budget.
What: Polk County Nonprofit COVID-19 Relief is providing assistance funds available in the following tiers:
$15,000 – For nonprofits with annual budgets under $500,000
$30,000 – For nonprofits with annual budgets between $500,000-$1,500,000
$45,000 – For nonprofits with annual budgets over $1,500,000
If an organization has already received funds from a Small Business Grant through Polk CARES, that amount will be deducted from any funds disbursed. Who: Nonprofit organizations that experienced business interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. This does not exclude organizations that have already received Polk CARES funding, but the amount your organization has already received through Polk CARES will be deducted from the amount you will receive through Polk County Nonprofit COVID-19 Relief. In order to qualify, organizations must be able to provide a 501(c)(3) Determination Letter, ACH Form and Signed W-9 Form. The organization’s address must be within Polk County, Florida. When: Applications must be submitted by October 7, 2020. Applications will be reviewed by the UWCF team and updates on fund distribution will be provided via email by October 23, 2020. How: Application available at uwcf.org.
Lake Wales, Florida – Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies are currently investigating a multiple vehicle crash that occurred on S.R. 60 near Walk-in Water Rd. The accident occurred at 6:07pm.
Multiple Polk County Fire Rescue units reported to the scene & a medivac helicopter was called in to transport one victim. One person was killed, one person was listed as trauma alert and one was transported with injuries.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, Brian Brucey, advised that multiple lanes of S.R. 60 headed East are currently closed down.
Cameras at night always have a bit of a Halloween feel. Like this one.
The guy in the video attempted to open a door at the residence located on Lake Mirror Dr NW on Sept. 26, 2020. He looks around and finds a “green flashlight” on the table next to the door and takes it.
Obviously, checking the door of a residence is not a good thing.
If you recognize him, call Detective Cobb at 863-837-9459.
Being able to access all your information and email no matter where you are or what device you are using is awesome until it breaks. Well this is exactly what is going on for Companies and Individuals who use Office 365 for their business.
For you non Tech Savy people, Office 365 is the cloud office software offered by Microsoft. It includes services like outlook (email), Word, Excel, one drive (Cloud Storage), plus much more.
The service Downdetector.com shows services started going offline around 5PM EST.
Microsoft confirmed in a tweet there was an issue with their cloud software.
“We’re investigating an issue affecting access to multiple Microsoft 365 services. We’re working to identify the full impact and will provide more information shortly,”
City of Winter Haven Parks, Recreation & Culture: Special Events Are Back!!!!!!!!! (…but with more safety measures) We are happy to announce that special events have returned to the City of Winter Haven. In an effort protect our community and combat the spread of COVID-19 there are safety requirements that each event must follow. Are you hoping to host an event in one of our beautiful parks?
City of Winter Haven Special Events help build a sense of belonging and community pride. The Office of Special Events, as a part of the Parks, Recreation & Culture Division, exists to serve the community and to guide event planners through the special event permitting process.
Type of Application needed
Parade Application
A parade permit is needed if your event involves a procession, run, walk, bike ride or similar type of event. If your event additionally includes a post run/race/ride celebration on City property, you will also need to complete a special event permit application.
Special Event Application
A special event permit is needed if your event is a festival, tournament, dance, concert, block party or similar type of event that involves any of the following: closing a street, the use of any City park, sale of merchandise, food or beverage, erection of a tent larger than 10 x 10, the use of inflatables, amplified music, installation of a stage, band shell, grandstand, bleacher, trailer, van or portable toilets for public use.
COVID-19 Update: To promote safety and limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we have put safety guidelines in place for all special events. These protocols include mandatory physical distancing of vendors, sanitation stations, maximum park capacity, etc. These requirements fall in line with the CDC’s best practices for events and gatherings. Please be sure to read the COVID-19 Reopening Plan below prior to completing the special event application.
Event permit requirements
Event permits will only be considered 12 months prior to their date. All event rentals are on a first come, first served basis and reservations can be made up to 12 months in advance.
Teen Dances have additional terms & conditions waiver to sign, as well as require the hiring of Winter Haven Police Officers at organizers expense.
Events involving alcohol of any kind require the hiring of Winter Haven Police Officers at organizers expense. As well as require written approval from the City of Winter Haven.
Permit requests for consecutive or individual multiple dates will are subject to date and or location changes at City of Winter Haven discretion.
Events involving inflatables require the City of Winter Haven to be listed as a certificate holder and a copy of insurance provided to the Special Events Coordinator prior to the event. Inflatables with water features are not permitted on City of Winter Haven property.
Placement of signage promoting your event is not permitted within any public right-of-way. Please see our Street Pole Banner page for more information about permitted promotions.
The following event checklist items will be due two weeks prior to the date of your APPROVED event.
The event footprint site plan. Site plans must be legible and provide sufficient detail for any elements impacting the event footprint.
The parade route map.
The parade route turn by turn narrative.
Payment of your special event fees.
Permit Application Process
Complete and submit the event permit application below. NOTE – Completing the application does not guarantee your event will be approved. All events are required to obtain a Special Events application and comply with all the requirements of that application. Depending on your event, you may need to obtain additional permits or meet additional requirements.
An application fee of $35.00 will be required for a Special Event application once you have been approved. We do not waive the $35 application fee.
Applications can be submitted no more than one year prior to the event and no less than 30 days before the event date. Applications submitted less than 30 days before the event date are subject to be denied.
Applications are reviewed by the Special Events Review Committee the Tuesday following the date we received the application.
If you did not receive an email immediately following your submission then we did not receive your application and you should resend.
If your event requires a parade application, the Special Events Review Committee representatives will approve the route or make adjustments as well as determine as where barricades and/or cones will need to be used. Please note some parade applications will require a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) permit. If this is the case the application must be submitted at least 90 days in advance.
City of Winter Haven Police Department representatives will determine the number of required police officers/security officers the event organizer will be responsible for hiring.
All additional permits and requirements must be submitted to the Special Events office no later than two weeks prior to the event. Failure to submit all additional permits and requirements two weeks prior to the event will result in the denial of an event approval.
The Bartow Police Department is currently investigating a Traffic Fatality which occurred on SR 60 E near Van Fleet Dr. The initial investigation indicates a silver four door vehicle was travelling west bound towards Van Fleet Dr. when the driver of the vehicle lost control for an unknown reason. The vehicle veered into the center median, then back across both west bound lanes of travel before going over the north curbing and colliding with a tree.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family members. This traffic crash remains under investigation.
According to the article the man that was charged is Michael Lashman, 57, of Lakeland. He allegedly became violent with the student after he became verbally disruptive. Teachers were able to calm the child, but say that is when Lashman pulled the child into a building causing him to strike the doorway. Then he allegedly pushed the child up against the wall. The child sustained minor injuries.
Records show Lashman was released Friday after posting $2,000 bail.
Lashman ran a failed campaign in 2016 to oust Sheriff Grady Judd. He garnered 12,163 votes to Judd’s 245,174 votes.
From FDOT: SR 542 from Buckeye Loop Road to US 27 – Crews are working on utilities, placing erosion control devices, and preparing for the first traffic shift in the coming weeks. Utility companies will be working near the intersection of US 27 and Dundee Road. Watch for workers close to the road. Overlook Drive at the eastern merge with Dundee Road will be closed permanently on Sun., Sept. 27. Motorists will access Overlook Drive from Dundee Road at the flashing beacon. Expected completion is summer 2023. Contact FDOT Community Outreach Manager Sandra Mancil at 863-519-4116 for more info.
On September 19, 2020 at 2:00pm the Lake Wales Police Department responded to a call in reference to a cutting that took place in the area of 114 Lincoln Ave. The victim reported he was there to get his car washed and to get food from a vendor when he learned Tarus Scott was at the same location. The victim reported that due to a previous investigation they are not supposed to be near one another. The victim stated he told Scott they were not to be there at the same time and Scott pulled a knife out. The victim reported Scott came at him with the knife cutting the left side of his face. Numerous attempts have been made to locate Scott but at this point he has not been located.
Detective Klingler took over the investigation and obtained an arrest warrant on Scott for Aggravated Battery. Anyone who has information on this case or knows where Scott can be located is asked to contact Detective Klingler at (863) 678-4223 extension 271 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.
Walk-On’s
Sports Bistreaux Breaks Ground For Lakeland Location
by
James Coulter
What
could be better than watching the kick-off at a great sports bar? How about
watching the big game while enjoying a meal with a kick of Cajun flavor?
Walk-On’s
Sports Bistreaux isn’t your normal sports bar. It’s a family-oriented eatery
that serves great drinks and food, especially food packed with the taste of
Louisiana.
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Of
course, you have sports bar favorites like hand-pattied burgers and sliders,
grilled tacos and wraps, and boneless buffalo chicken wings. But you also have
genuine Cajun cuisine including shrimp po boys, gumbo, and fried boudin balls.
Only at Walk-On’s can you expect plenty of South in your mouth for the big
game!
“There’s
no better way to describe the uniqueness of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux,”
their website states. “We start every dish from scratch and use fresh
ingredients to bring our mouthwatering, Cajun cuisine to life. And whether
you’re here for dinner with the family, date night, cocktails with the girls or
to watch a game on the big screen, we’re always happy to share our Louisiana
culture with you.”
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Walk-On’s
Sports Bistreaux recently broke ground for their newest location in South
Lakeland along US Highway 90. Their new eatery will be located outside of
Lakeland Square Mall where the former Toys R’Us store was located.
Aside
from being the first eatery of its kind in Lakeland, the new building will also
be the first of its kind for the nationwide chain. Its building includes a long
open bar, covered patio area, and outdoor big-screen televisions.
The
spot was dedicated last Thursday with a groundbreaking ceremony, hosted by the
Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. Attendees had the opportunity to sample of the
eatery’s select menu, including blackened catfish, burger sliders, and shrimp
gumbo on rice.
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Brandon
Landry, Founder and CEO, started WalkOn’s in 2003. The name of the eatery was
inspired by his brief career as a college basketball walk-on. He only played
seven minutes of his senior year basketball season when he decided to try
another career path, he said.
Landry
and his college friend decided to run with an eatery idea that they conceived
during a plane trip from a big game. They would later pitch that idea for a
college project, but only managed to receive a C for it, he said.
Landry
took his idea to seven different banks. The first six turned him down each
time. Even more humiliating, he pitched his idea following 2001, when every
bank was willing to hand out a loan to stimulate the post-9/11 economy, Landry
said.
“It
was a time when many banks wanted to get the economy stimulated,” he said.
“If you had a pulse, you could get a loan.”
Upon
pitching their idea to the seventh bank, they were finally approved for a loan,
and they used it to open their first Walk-On’s eatery in 2003.
They
later opened their second location in LaFayette in 2006, and another in New
Orleans in 2012. Their sports bar won the title of ESPN #1. More than 43
locations have since opened across the country, with a total of 106 franchises
sold.
The
secret to their success has been their dedication to the local community. They
don’t simply set up shop and start advertising. They meet people on the local
level by attending church groups, school teams, and other community
get-togethers.
“We
will come in and be part of this community,” Landry said. “We are not
just the next chain coming to town. We had to get involved in the
community.”
Mike
Lester, Manager for the upcoming Lakeland location, looks for several things
when considering a restaurant chain: great people-first company with a great
culture, great support system for their franchisees, great business model, and
great food. Fortunately, Walk-Ons had all four.
Lester,
as with Landry, had a similar success story. He started in the restaurant
business at 14 years old washing dishes in Kentucky. His time in the industry
inspired him to shift gears from microbiology to the hospitality industry.
He
started running his own eatery at 22 years old. He later served as a joint
venture partner at Outback Steakhouse, and then in 2006, became vice president
of a restaurant chain in Tampa.
“It’s
a story we can all identify with,” Lester said. “At some point in our
lives, when the odds are stacked against us, you still persevere and work hard,
we still prepare and train.”
As
for Walk-On’s, he was drawn to the brand by its overall magic. He especially
loved the food, as it’s the food that makes or breaks a chain, he said.
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“Walk-On
has that magic,” he said. “There is something magical about this
brand. The feeling, the vibe, the atmosphere. You feel magical, you feel good
when you go in. The food is great. You get great service. It’s really
good.”
Billy
Gram, an associate with WalkOn’s, has a long history working with restaurant
chains. He had previously worked with Outback for 18 years, running 22
locations in West Virginia. He assumed he would retire on Outback, until he
discovered WalkOn’s.
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“It
is passion,” he said. “It is about quality, food, love. It is
something here, it is a passion for it. I love the interaction with the people,
and the interaction is what it is all about.”
