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Wednesday, October 8, 2025

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Orlando Woman Charged With DUI With Serious Bodily Injury After Crash Critically Injuring 2 Young Children In Frostproof Crash

32-year-old Ashauntie Cox (DOB 2/15/1991) of Orlando, who caused serious bodily harm to two children in her vehicle while fleeing from two crashes and driving under the influence, was arrested in Polk County on Friday, May 19, 2023, and charged with several felonies.

According to witnesses and information developed during the investigation, the first crash occurred around 8:00 p.m. on US Hwy 27 at the intersection with US Hwy 98 near Frostproof. Cox was driving a blue Kia southbound on Hwy 27 when she struck a grey Chevy Silverado pickup truck and then fled at a high rate of speed. As she continued to recklessly speed south down Hwy 27, weaving in and out of slower moving traffic, she rear-ended a 2016 Honda CRV while trying to pass between that SUV and the vehicle next to it which were both also going southbound. The victim driving the CRV was taken to Sebring Hospital, where he was treated and released with minor injuries.

The collision caused Cox’s vehicle to flip several times, ejecting two Orlando children, ages 5 and 8 years old. Both sustained significant injuries, and they were taken to Tampa General Hospital where they are both in critical condition. A 27-year-old female passenger was also seriously injured along her spinal cord, hip, and back. She remains at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in stable condition.

When deputies arrived at the scene of the crash, they detected the odor of marijuana and located a bottle of tequila in Cox’s vehicle. Cox was transported to the hospital and interview by deputies. Cox told deputies they were driving from Orlando to Avon Park to celebrate the 5-year-old’s kindergarten graduation. She admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day, and to having four shots of tequila. Her blood was drawn for further analysis, and she displayed several signs of impairment. 

She was booked into the Polk County Jail and is being charged with:

·        Three counts DUI with serious bodily injury (F3)

·        Two counts negligent child abuse with great bodily harm (F2)

·        Reckless driving (F3)

·        One count DUI with property damage (M1)

·        One count DUI (M2)

Further charges are pending the outcome of the investigation. 

“This woman had no regard for anyone’s life when she got behind the wheel intoxicated and then drove recklessly down a major highway, but what’s worse is the blatant disregard she had for the lives of the innocent children in her car. I expect a successful prosecution to hold her accountable—and let’s hope she loses her driving privileges if she’s released from jail or prison. Please keep these babies and their families in your prayers.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Downtown Lake Wales Hosts Annual Halloween Spooktacular

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Lake Wales Main Street invites families to enjoy a frightfully fun evening at the Annual Halloween Spooktacular in downtown Lake Wales!

The event will be filled with activities for all ages, including Trick or Treating, delicious food, and a Haunted Alley for those seeking a thrill. Guests can also snap photos with The Addams Family and explore displays from the Lake Wales Police and Fire Departments.

To wrap up the night, a not-so-scary movie will play under the stars. The Halloween Spooktacular takes place Friday, October 25 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in downtown Lake Wales. For more information, call 863-249-7936.

Flyer courtesy of City of Lake Wales, FL

Trunk or Treat and Airboat Contest Set for Lake Wales

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Get ready for spooky fun at Tractor Supply in Lake Wales on Saturday, October 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.!

This year’s Trunk or Treat will feature candy, costumes, and a special twist — a best decorated airboat contest sponsored by Carbon Concepts.

Participants must sign up to join the event to be eligible for prizes, including $200 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third.

Bring your creativity and Halloween spirit to 1450 State Road 60, Lake Wales.

To RSVP your boat, contact Christy at 850-490-4998 by call or text.

Event by Kissimmee River Valley Sportsman Association

Explore the Natural Beauty and History of SUMICA in Lake Wales

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Located at 14020 Hwy. 60 E., Lake Wales, SUMICA is the largest of Polk County’s Environmental Lands and a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Spanning over 4,000 acres along the shore of Lake Weohyakapka, SUMICA offers stunning landscapes of pine flatwoods, scenic marshes, and shaded oak hammocks—perfect for hiking, biking, or nature photography.

Photo source Polk County Parks and Rec

Climb the former railroad bed that rises six feet above the land for a beautiful view of the countryside. Visitors can also enjoy horseback riding trails, picnic areas, and a primitive campsite for an immersive nature experience.

The name SUMICA stands for Société Universelle Mining Industrie, Commerce et Agriculture, a French company that once harvested timber here. Founded in 1917, the town of SUMICA thrived on lumbering and turpentine before disappearing in 1927. Today, this preserved land protects valuable ecosystems and cultural history, serving as a modern-day tribute to Florida’s natural heritage.

City Workshop Reviews Tax Payor Funded Annual Grant Of $175,000 To The Lake Wales History Museum

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LAKE WALES — During its October 1 City Commission workshop, Lake Wales officials discussed proposed renewals of the lease and operational agreements with the Lake Wales History Museum, which would continue the city’s long-standing support for the museum at $175,000 per year over a new three-year term.

City staff presented revised drafts of both agreements, which outline a continuing partnership between the City of Lake Wales and the nonprofit Lake Wales History Museum, Inc. The agreements cover management of the city-owned historic sites, including the 1928 ACL Railroad Depot, 1920 Crystal Lodge, and the Mimi Hardman Collections and Research Center .

According to the city’s memorandum, the renewal proposal maintains the same annual funding level as in the previous contract. A previous request appeared to ask for $200,000, but has since been revised. Commissioners requested additional measurable goals and reporting standards. Those measurable outcomes are expected to be added before the agreement returns for a formal vote.

The operational draft specifies quarterly progress reports detailing attendance, programming, fundraising, and social-media engagement . The museum would also continue hosting the annual Pioneer Days Festival and overseeing day-to-day operations and maintenance of the historic facilities.

While commissioners reviewed the documents at the October 1 workshop, the item does not appear on the October 7 City Commission meeting agenda as of publication.

At this time, Lake Wales Daily is reaching out to both the Lake Wales History Museum and city commissioners to gather additional information on the proposed changes and timeline for consideration.

If approved in the coming weeks, the proposed new three-year agreement would renew the city’s annual grant and preserve the public-private partnership that helps maintain the city’s key historical landmarks. However, it appears the length of the agreement may be another factor for discussion also. The city may want a year to year agreement going forward.

Movie Night at the Lake Wales Library

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Get ready for a cozy evening at the Lake Wales Public Library! Join us for Movie Night on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room. Bring your friends and family, grab some popcorn and candy, and enjoy a fun, relaxing night at the library.

This free community event is the perfect way to unwind and enjoy a great film together. Whether you’re a regular visitor or new to the library, everyone is welcome to join in on the fun.

For your free tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/movie-night-at-the-library-tickets-1708742317269?aff=efbevent&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwNQzGJleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHuDXOxpaoPCd2dm8P-s-KmNdYtvGEYE5VVYYXcviRcyXpmRySpr1uzcnZHVo_aem_CFafKLBPrsDCbvJdq-MuCw

Curious about the movie? Give the library a call or stop by to find out what’s showing! Please note that all viewers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Don’t miss this chance to kick back, connect with your community, and enjoy movie night at the library!

Location: 290 Cypress Garden Lane, Lake Wales, FL

Photo source Lake Wales Library

The Lake Wales Arts Council presents Sacred Currents: Spirituality in African Art

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Want to experience Sacred Currents: Spirituality in African Art on a group tour? Gather your friends, family, school group, or community and join in!

The Lake Wales Arts Council presents Sacred Currents: Spirituality in African Art, an extraordinary exhibition from the collection of Daniel Jones, on display October 1 through December 12, 2025. This captivating collection explores the deep connections between art and spirituality across African cultures, showcasing works rich in symbolism, tradition, and meaning.

Group tours begin October 17 and are available Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Perfect for schools, community groups, or families, these tours offer a unique opportunity to engage with the artwork on a deeper level.

Special events include the Opening Reception on October 16 from 5:30–7:00 PM and a Lunch & Learn on November 20 from noon–1:00 PM.

Reserve your group tour today at Register Here.

Lake Wales Arts Council, 1099 State Road 60, Lake Wales, FL

Flyer courtesy of Lake Wales Arts Council

The Woman’s Club of Lake Wales to Host Third Annual Plant & Garden Festival

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The Woman’s Club of Lake Wales invites the community to its Third Annual Plant & Garden Festival on Saturday, October 18, and Sunday, October 19. The free, family-friendly event takes place on the historic clubhouse grounds overlooking Crystal Lake, offering a scenic backdrop for a weekend of shopping and fun.

Festivalgoers can browse dozens of vendor booths featuring a wide selection of plants, flowers, and garden accessories. A variety of food options will also be available for purchase. The event will run rain or shine.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the GFWC Lake Wales Woman’s Club scholarship and community service programs. To date, the club has awarded more than $2,500 to Lake Wales High School graduates pursuing higher education.

The Woman’s Club is located at 275 East Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales. Festival hours are Saturday from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

One Movie Later: War of the Worlds…Yeah, It’s Really That Bad!

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War of the Worlds Movie Poster

by James Coulter

Since its publication in 1898, H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds has served as the template for alien invasion stories. The novel itself has received countless adaptations, the most infamous being a 1938 radio drama that fooled many listeners into believing it was a real alien invasion.

War of the Worlds has been adapted into film (including two notable movies in 1953 and 2005), video games, and even a rock opera. Now, in 2025, Amazon released its own film adaptation that boldly answers the question: “What if an alien invasion was observed through one person’s computer screen? And also doubled as a commercial for Amazon?”

Yes, that premise is as bad as it sounds. And the overwhelming negative reviews prove it. There’s no doubt the movie is one of the worst of the year. So, the question isn’t so much, “Is it bad?” but rather, “How bad is it?”

The film follows William Radford (played by Ice Cube), a DHS agent who spies on American citizens for the sake of national security. In fact, he’s so certain that mass surveillance is necessary that he even uses his job to spy on his own adult children. However, his belief in security over liberty is challenged when the Earth is invaded by aliens, and…well, if you’re familiar with the plot of War of the Worlds, you know how the story unfolds.

This version of War of the Worlds has been adapted into the screenlife subgenre, which tells stories through the perspective of a single computer screen. Screenlife was popularized with movies like Unfriended (which, ironically enough, was produced by the same person who produced this movie). And while movies like Searching and Missing show the subgenre’s potential, movies like this prove its overwhelmingly poor reputation.

Undoubtedly, the movie’s worst aspect is its cinematography and special effects. This movie was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it shows. Most of the film involves characters talking with each other via video chat. The rest of the film consists of stock footage being passed off as “real” video. The footage of the alien spacecraft is the worst offender, as the CGI looks worse than a PS2 video game.

The only thing phonier than the special effects is the acting, especially with the main character. Ice Cube’s performance can be best described as Samuel L. Jackson if he were given a dozen Benadryl. Ice Cube is on record saying he shot his scenes for this movie in 15 Days isolated from the director and other actors. I believe him. Because his acting proves that to be true.

Not helping matters is how his role is essentially watching the events of the movie unfold from his computer screen from a single location and reacting with the most underwhelming reactions, usually by whispering “damn.” When you react to the military destroying an alien spaceship the same way you’d react to a touchdown during a football game, you know your acting is weak.

Oh, and could you tell this movie was created by Amazon for its Prime Video streaming service? Because the movie never forgets to remind you of that fact. The main character’s job is frequently derided as spying on people’s Amazon carts. One of the characters is literally an Amazon delivery person, and the climactic scene involves him delivering a jump drive with a

computer virus to destroy the alien ships using an Amazon delivery drone. (Mankind’s salvation, brought to you by Amazon!)

No, actually, I take it back. The worst part of the movie is its angle on mass surveillance. War of the Worlds has often been adapted to comment on the current cultural anxiety. The original novel was a condemnation of British imperialism. The 1953 movie tapped into Cold War paranoia, while the 2005 movie tapped into post-9/11 trauma.

And this recent adaptation? A not-so-subtle commentary on mass government surveillance. The aliens literally invade Earth to steal the world’s data, and they’re able to do this because of the mass surveillance undertaken by the world’s governments, including the American government.

The movie’s message is as subtle as a brick: mass surveillance is bad. However, that message is severely undercut by the main character working in the surveillance state. While the character’s arc undoubtedly involves him learning the error of his ways, his actions in the movie carry some creepy implications.

Will Radford literally uses his job to spy on his own kids. He hacks into his pregnant daughter’s fridge, spies on her in a coffee shop, then chides her for having a muffin for breakfast.

He also hacks into his son’s computer, deletes a new video game, then chides his son for his chosen profession as a video game streamer. Then, later in the movie, he hacks into a Tesla vehicle and programs it to drive his daughter to safety.

Forget aliens invading Earth. A government agent being able to do all of that from his computer is a far scarier prospect, because—holy s***!—is that a dystopian nightmare that makes Orwell’s 1984 look like a utopia in comparison.

So, yeah! This movie is bad. It’s not even “so bad, it’s good” like The Room or Sharknado, as many other reviewers have compared it to. It’s just cheap, boring, and dull. This movie about a man watching a cheap alien movie from his computer screen is about as appealing as…well, a man watching a cheap alien movie from his computer screen.

Home Depot Offering Free Haunted Candy Box Workshop For Kids October 4

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The Lake Wales Home Depot is offering a FREE workshop for the kids!

Kids will make a haunted candy box October 4.

Time: 9am- noon

Spots are limited!! Registration link below

https://www.homedepot.com/c/kids-workshop

*be sure to change the location to Lake Wales before registering

Home Depot is located at:

24201 North Us Hwy 27

Lake Wales, FL 33859

Photo source The Home Depot


Celebrate Local History at the 49th Annual Pioneer Days Festival

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The Lake Wales History Museum invites you to Lake Wailes Park on October 25–26, 2025 for the 49th Annual Pioneer Days Festival!

This free, two-day community event honors the rich history and traditions of Lake Wales, offering an exciting weekend filled with:

-A living heritage village

-Engaging historical demonstrations

-Delicious local food vendors

-A bustling marketplace

-Live music and entertainment

-Family-friendly activities

…and plenty more to enjoy!

Be sure to stay connected by following the Lake Wales History Museum on Facebook and Instagram, or by visiting lakewaleshistory.org.

Kick off the celebration early with Beers with Pioneers on Friday, October 24—a 21+ evening featuring local craft brews, live music, and a lively atmosphere.

Save the dates and get ready for a weekend of history, heritage, and fun!

Photo source Lake Wales History Museum