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Florida Polytechnic University and FDOT Partner to Develop SunTrax Test Facility

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Florida Polytechnic University and FDOT Partner to Develop SunTrax Test Facility

Tallahassee-  Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Jim Boxold today announced a long-term partnership between FDOT and Florida Polytechnic University to construct the new, state-of-the-art transportation technology testing facility, SunTrax. The creation of this facility will establish Florida as a transportation technology leader and create a high-tech hub for the research, development and testing of emerging transportation technologies related to tolling, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and automated and connected vehicles.

SunTrax includes a 2.25 mile oval track on a 400-acre site in Polk County, centrally located between Tampa and Orlando. The facility will be placed right outside the city of Auburndale and adjacent to the Polk Parkway, just north of Braddock Road.

Florida Secretary of Transportation Jim Boxold said, “SunTrax at Florida Polytechnic places the future of tolling and technology testing squarely in the Sunshine State. This facility creates a partnership between the public and private sectors to tackle new technology challenges facing the industry for our road users.”

Florida Poly President Dr. Randy Avent said, “The SunTrax partnership is an exciting venture for Florida Polytechnic University and an unparalleled economic driver for the State of Florida.  This joint facility for research, development and testing of advanced transportation concepts will greatly increase our opportunities for faculty research and industry partnerships. As a University founded in the practice of applied research, we look forward to these increased opportunities that SunTrax will bring to our faculty, students and the State of Florida as a whole.”

The initial phase of the project will focus on the construction of an innovative toll testing facility expected to offer local and potentially national and international certification for tolling technologies. The construction of the oval track will be designed to support high speed testing of toll technologies, with multiple lanes and parallel tolled express lanes similar to those being constructed on many current highway widening projects throughout the state.  This phase of construction will also include structures and other facilities to support toll systems testing and development, including the hardware and software utilized on tolled facilities.

The facility will allow Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) and the state of Florida to continue leading the way in the development of new transportation technologies. FTE has over 5.5 million SunPass customers who use their toll facilities daily, and FTE processes over 1.3 billion toll transactions annually on a statewide basis for FDOT and for multiple regional and local toll agencies. The new test facility will be within 45 minutes of the Turnpike headquarters in Ocoee, centralizing testing operations and significantly reducing the current travel times to other testing locations.

The approximately 200-acre infield of the track will be developed next, and is expected to become a hub for automated and connected vehicle testing.  The infield will be developed in partnership with Florida Poly, allowing the University to offer its students unique opportunities to participate in the research, development and testing of these cutting edge technologies.  A few of the features that would likely be included are; a learning laboratory, a simulated city center, suburban and rural roadways, interconnected signalized intersections, interchange ramps, roundabouts, various types of pavement, and many others. The included features would be equipped to perform research, development and testing for data and security, vehicle safety and equipment certification. This facility will provide a safe environment for testing these emerging technologies before they are deployed in live traffic.

SunTrax will be the first step in building the surrounding area into a destination for the development of this quickly emerging and advancing automotive technology.  Hundreds of acres are available immediately adjacent to the facility for the future development that will support the growth of this emerging industry.

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Up A Creek Without A Paddle; Winter Haven PD Looking For Kayak Thieves

Staff Reporter
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Up A Creek Without A Paddle; Winter Haven PD Looking For Kayak Thieves

The Winter Haven Police are searching for an Adult and juvenile who absconded with potted plants and a blue kayak from a Walmart in Winter Haven. The pair exited the store with the oddly unrelated combination of items and loaded them into a truck, never attempting to pay. Could they have been in a rush to landscape their fishing camp!?

The post from the Winter Haven Police Facebook page appears below:

What do a kayak, potted plants and these two people have in common? You probably already guessed – a theft from Walmart.

On 9-22-16 around 1 a.m., the adult male and a child, who appears to be 11 – 13 years of age, entered Walmart at 7450 Cypress Gardens Blvd. and took the unusual combination of potted plants and a kayak.

Obviously, they chose to not make any attempt to pay for the items.

They are seen in the video loading the items into the bed of a white pickup truck pictured below.

Anyone with information on the identities of these two is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).

Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a CASH Reward.kayak-theft-01kayak-theft-03-1

 

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Lakeland Regional Health Joins Mayo Clinic Care Network 

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Lakeland Regional Health Joins Mayo Clinic Care Network 


Lakeland,  Florida –  Today, Lakeland Regional Health and Mayo Clinic announced the start of a new collaborative relationship with the addition of Lakeland Regional Health to the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

 This formal agreement facilitates the transfer of shared knowledge between the two organizations to enhance the delivery of Health Care to the patients of Lakeland Regional Health. As a result, patients receive care from their own trusted local providers while benefiting from Mayo Clinic expertise at no additional cost. 

We continue to deliver on our promise to strengthen the health of this community through strategic clinical relationships,” says Lakeland Regional Health President and CEO Elaine C. Thompson, Ph.D., FACHE. “We are honored to work with Mayo Clinic for the benefit of those we serve.”

As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network,Lakeland Regional Health will work with Mayo Clinic to share clinical resources. Physicians will have access to information and services, including:

  • eConsults that allow physicians to connect electronically with Mayo Clinic specialists and subspecialists when they believe additional input will benefit their patients
  • AskMayoExpert, a database that offers the latest Mayo Clinic-vetted information at the point of care, including the management and treatment of a wide variety of medical conditions
  • Health Care Consulting that helps members to realize desired levels of operational, financial and patient care through shared best practices
  • eTumor Board conferences that invite physicians to present and discuss complex cancer cases with a multidisciplinary panel of Mayo Clinic specialists and other network members.

The new collaboration also offers Lakeland Regional Health providers access to Mayo Clinic’s library of patient education materials and archived Mayo Clinic Grand Rounds presentations that feature Mayo Clinic physicians and scientists.

“We were pleased to extend this invitation to Lakeland Regional Health, an organization that offers high quality, patient-centered care,” saysRyan Uitti, M.D., medical director, Southeast region, Mayo Clinic Care Network. “We share its focus, and we welcome the opportunity to work more closely with its medical professionals. We’ll collaborate so that patients and the Central Florida community benefit.”

The benefits this new collaboration brings to our patients and families, physicians and clinicians are tremendous,” says Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center President and Lakeland Regional Health Chief Medical Officer Timothy J. Regan, M.D. “Joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network provides the 624 accomplished and dedicated physicians of our Medical Staff with unique tools and services with which to continue the clinical excellence and innovative care our patients expect and deserve.”

The Mayo Clinic Care Network has more than 40 member organizations in the U.S., Mexico, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Lakeland Regional Health underwent a rigorous review process based on quality, service and operation criteria. Members of the Network remain independent and collaborate with Mayo Clinic to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare.

About Lakeland Regional Health

As a catalyst for community health, not-for-profit Lakeland Regional Health is reaching beyond its hospital walls to promote wellness, education and discovery in new places and new ways, providing a wide range of inpatient and outpatient health care services at its Medical Center, Hollis Cancer Center and ambulatory care locations. LRH has earned workplace awards fromForbes, Gallup and Becker’s Hospital Review. Its 849-bed comprehensive tertiary referral hospital, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, operates a Level II trauma center, a Level II neonatal intensive care unit, the Bannasch Institute for Advanced Rehabilitation Medicine and the state’s busiest single site emergency department. For more information about Lakeland Regional Health, visit http://myLRH.org.

About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education and research, providing expert, whole-person care to everyone who needs healing. For more information, visithttp://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic orhttp://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/.We will update this article shortly with additional information.  

***Bolo for Missing Endangered Adult Auburndale***

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***Bolo for Missing Endangered Adult Auburndale***

***Bolo for Missing Endangered Adult ***

Be on the lookout for David Lavaris Jones, b/m, 27 years old. He is  5’10”/180lbs, black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing thigh cut-length gray sweat pants, blue shirt, and brown hiking boots.  He was last seen around 10:00 pm on 7/27/16.  He has not been seen or heard from since he left his mother’s residence in Auburndale.  If located, please contact Det. Anderson at the Auburndale Police Department at 863-965-5555.

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Another Shooting In Haines City Monday

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Another Shooting In Haines City Monday

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Haines City, Florida – According to the Haines City Police Department a shooting took place Monday, September 26. This is the second shooting in 3 days. According to Jay Hopgood, acting chief of Haines City Police Department, an officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle driving erratically. The officer discovered that the driver was trying to make it to Heart of Florida Hospital after had been shot in the left forearm. At this time the victims name is not being released. According to Hopgood the victim was provided with a police escort to the hospital.

Some readers had contacted the DailyRidge.Com trying to find out if Heart of Florida Hospital was on lockdown, but according to Hopgood he did not believe that was the case. Due to the shooting victim being brought in several officers were at the hospital.

According to police the victim gave a few different partial stories regarding the shooting and eventually didn’t co-operate with the investigation. Currently no concrete information is available regarding how the gunshot wound occurred. If anyone has any information regarding the shooting yesterday they may call the Haines City Police Department 863-421-3636.

Several Vehicles Broken Into Early Monday Morning In Lake Wales

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Several Vehicles Broken Into Early Monday Morning In Lake Wales

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Lake Wales, Florida – On Monday September 26, 2016 Lake Wales Police were called to the Tower Point Circle Apartment and to a residence on Highpoint Drive in Lake Wales. Three separate vehicles were broken into at the apartments and one vehicle at the residence on Highpoint Drive. One victim reported sometime between 9:30pm and 6am an unknown subject or subjects broke her vehicle’s driver’s side window to gain access to her vehicle. The vehicle was rummaged through, but nothing of value was stolen. Another victim who saw officers with a neighbor advised that reported her rear passenger window had been broke. Officer’s also observed where the suspect or suspects attempted to break the driver’s side front window and passenger front window but were unsuccessful. Again, nothing was taken from the vehicle but it was rummaged through. Shortly afterwards officers were advised that another victim had their driver’s side window broken and the victim explained they found their check-book which had been in the vehicle was on the ground, the vehicle had been rummaged through and cash was taken from the center console. Officer’s were able to obtain latent prints from the scene.

Officers responded to Highview Dr. in reference to a vehicle burglary. The victim advised that between 2:20pm and 7:50am someone had opened the victims car door and the inside of the vehicle had been rummaged through. Noting appeared to be taken.

These crimes are currently under investigation.

COOKING ON THE RIDGE: THREE-INGREDIENT BAKED CHICKEN BREAST

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COOKING ON THE RIDGE: THREE-INGREDIENT BAKED CHICKEN BREAST

Three-Ingredient Baked Chicken Breasts

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Ingredients

Directions

  • Prep 10 m

  • Cook 30 m

  • Ready In 40 m

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter a baking dish.
  2. Stir 1/4 cup melted butter and salt together in a bowl.
  3. Arrange chicken in the baking dish. Brush butter mixture onto the chicken until thoroughly coated, pouring any extra over the chicken.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 30 to 45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Get the fresh ingredients for your side dishes to go with this delicious chicken from Sweet Ella’s Produce!!!

sweet Ella's

Tire Removal Project in Poinciana a Success

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Tire Removal Project in Poinciana a Success

Tire Removal Project in Poinciana a Success

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Polk County, FL –Keep Polk County Beautiful in partnership with Polk County Board of County Commissioners hosted a Tire Collection Event in Poinciana aimed at reducing the Zika Virus on Saturday, September 24th.  The event consisted of a public tire collection event as well as volunteers cleaning up tires, junk and debris from vacant properties and public rights of way.  Students from New Dimensions High School’s Rotary International Interact Club and other private and county agencies partnered to make this event a success.  87 volunteers and staff worked hard to collect 12,760 lbs. of dumped trash and 947 tires in just 4 hours.  Thanks to a generous donation by Republic Services, all trash/tires were collected in roll-offs and hauled at no charge.  This program is made possible by the support of Polk County’s Government, Republic Services, and local community and volunteer support.

 

This program is slated for the North Lakeland Area in late October.  For more information on this or other Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. Community Events, contact (863)875-8911 or visit www.keeppolkcountybeautiful.org .

Polk County Heart Walk Set For This Saturday In Bartow

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Polk County Heart Walk Set For This Saturday In Bartow

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The Polk County Heart Walk kicks off this Saturday in Bartow.

Participants attend the Polk County Heart Walk to create hope, inspire change and celebrate the lifesaving work of the American Heart Association.

Each year, 1.2 million Americans will suffer a coronary attack and 700,000 will have a stroke. In Central Florida, over 3,700 deaths occur a year due to a cardiovascular issue, and over 43,500 statewide. By adopting a lifestyle of physical activity, individuals can reduce their healthcare costs, increase their productivity and improve their overall quality of life and longevity.

The event will also feature free hands-on CPR demonstrations for all participants who want to learn the lifesaving skill.

Combining fitness and philanthropy, this annual walk brings together over 100 local corporate sponsors, walk teams, individual walkers, survivors of heart disease and stroke and lifestyle change heroes who are all taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle while raising funds to combat heart disease and stroke, the No.1 and No.5 leading killers, respectively, of American men and women.

Location:

Mosaic Park

2250 S Floral Ave

Bartow, FL 33830

Date/Time Information:

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Festivities start at 7:30 a.m., the walk kicks off at 8:30 a.m.

Fees/Admission:

The event is free and open to the public. Teams can register in advance at PolkHeartWalk.org.

Polk State to Host Guitarist Elias Tona for Three Free Performances

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Polk State to Host Guitarist Elias Tona for Three Free Performances

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Polk State College will host three performances by acclaimed guitarist Elias Tona.
A native of Venezuela, Tona studied at the School of Jazz of Caracas, and currently teaches at the Players School of Music in Clearwater. He has performed for award-winning musical productions and with Grammy-nominated ensembles.
Tona will give three free performances at Polk State, including:

Oct. 5
12:30 p.m.
Polk State JD Alexander Center
152 E. Central Ave., Lake Wales

Oct. 6
12:30 p.m.
As part of Polk State’s second-annual Arts Day
Polk State Lakeland Student Center
3425 Winter Lake Road

Oct. 7
7 p.m.
Polk State Lake Wales Arts Center
1099 State Road 60 East
All performances are free and open to the public.
Tona will perform as part of the College’s Downtown and Campus Concert series, both of which have brought a wide variety of performers to the area.
For more information, call 863.298.6883, email [email protected], or visit polk.edu/boxoffice.

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