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

Staff Reporter
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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

City of Lake Wales Amends City Code to Facilitate Nonconforming Structures and Lots

Maria Iannucci
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City of Lake Wales Amends City Code to Facilitate Nonconforming Structures and Lots


by James Coulter

 

Along Kissimmee Avenue stands a two-story quadplex. The structure was built in compliance with regulations at the time, but as regulations have changed since then, the structure is considered “nonconforming.” It now stands vacant and has become a “blighted property” due to wear and tear.

Fortunately, such “nonconforming” structures and lots will now be able to be better facilitated now that Lake Wales city commissioners have approved an ordinance amending the city code.

At their regular meeting on Rues. Dec. 17, 2024, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the second reading of an ordinance amending the city code to permit structures and lotswith “nonconforming uses.”

The amended city code, according to the city agenda memo, will “allow residential uses, lots, and structures to keep their nonconforming conditions within the Core Improvement Area and Community Redevelopment Areas.”

These amendments will also exempt these nonconforming structures and lots “from losing their legal nonconformity after the use has been discontinued or in case the structure is damaged more than 50 percent of its just market value.”

These amendments to the city code were proposed to help facilitate the redevelopment of “vacant and blighted residential properties” whose redevelopment efforts were potentially obstructed due to existing regulations.

The Planning and Zoning Board recommended these city code amendments on Oct. 22, 2024. The City Commission voted to approve the ordinance’s first reading on November 19, 2024.

 

Lake Wales PD Investigating Shooting on Winston Ave.

Maria Iannucci
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Lake Wales PD Investigating Shooting on Winston Ave.
Photo by Daily Ridge

The Lake Wales Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred around or just after 4 PM on Saturday, December 21, 2024 on Winston Ave. in Lake Wales.

While it is early the investigation, Lake Wales Police Department Public Information Officer, Dale Hampton has confirmed that one person was shot in the leg. The injury is said to be non-life threatening.

Hampton says it is very early in the investigation and LWPD is working to determine a suspect.

A medical helicopter was witnessed landing in a nearby soccer field. A representative of Lake Wales Fire Department has confirmed that one person was transported.

The caliber of the weapon used is unknown at this time. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.

In Loving Memory of Aaron Peterson, 54, of Lake Wales

Maria Iannucci
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In Loving Memory of Aaron Peterson, 54, of Lake Wales

Aaron Peterson of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Bartow Regional Hospital.

He was born December 23, 1969, in Lake Wales to the late Mike and Kathy Sullivan; he has been a lifelong resident of Lake Wales. Aaron was a dredge operator for E.R. Jahna Industries. He was a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Aaron was a member of the American Legion Post 3 in Bartow and the Winter Haven Moose Lodge. He was a hard worker and in his younger days was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Aaron was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie, and adoptive parents, Pete and Merle Peterson. He is survived by his companion, Sherry Brading; brother, Ronnie Peterson of Lake Wales; and half-sisters, Kelli, Christy, and Nikki.

Graveside services will be held 2:00 PM, Monday, December 23, 2024, at the Lake Wales Cemetery.

Cooking on the Ridge: Wassail

Maria Iannucci
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Cooking on the Ridge: Wassail

by James Coulter

The nights are getting longer. The weather is getting cooler. So, what better way to warm up on a cold winter night than with a hot drink? Question is, what hot drink do you prefer: hot cocoa or hot apple cider?

Personally, I’m more of a cider kind of person. Which is why, around this time of year, I love to prepare wassail.

What’s wassail? Essentially, it’s a hot spiced apple cider. The drink was so popular during the holidays they even wrote songs about it. Ever heard of, “Here we come a wassailing”?

And what, exactly, is wassailing? Essentially, it’s a medieval form of caroling where people would go door-to-door singing Christmas songs and sharing hot drinks.

Anyway, like I said, this time of year, I love to prepare wassail. Nothing warms you up after a long cold day than heating some apple cider on the stove with cinnamon sticks and apples with cloves.

Actually, I stand corrected. The only thing that warms you up more is drinking the wassail you prepared.

I’ve been using this recipe for the past few years. It combines apple cider with different fruit juices and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The result is a warm brew that’s perfect on a cold winter night.

 

***

 

Wassail (from Tastes Better from Scratch)

 

Ingredients

 

• 2 apples

• 8 cups apple cider

• 2 cups orange juice

• 1/3 cup lemon juice

• 4 cinnamon sticks

• 15 whole whole cloves, or ½ tsp ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar, optional

 

Directions

 

1. Poke the whole cloves into the apples on all sides. 

2. Add all of the ingredients, including the apples, to a large pot over medium-low heat. 

3. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 30-45 minutes. 

4. Remove the apples and whole cloves. Ladle into mugs and enjoy!

U-HAUL Moving and Self-Storage Facility Considered for 4+ Acres of Land in Lake Wales

Maria Iannucci
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U-HAUL Moving and Self-Storage Facility Considered for 4+ Acres of Land in Lake Wales

by James Coulter

A U-HAUL Moving and Self-Storage Facility could potentially be built upon 4+ acres of land now that the Lake Wales City Commission has given preliminary approval to annex the land and change its zoning and land use designation.

At their regular meeting on Tues. Dec. 17, 2024, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of three ordinances about 4+ acres of land.

The subject property, according to the city agenda memo, is located “east of US Highway 27 and adjacent to the Parc at Lake Wales multi-family development underway” in unincorporated Polk County.

The ordinances would annex the property into the city limits, change its future land use designation to LCI Limited Commercial, and amend its zoning to LCI Limited Commercial Industrial.

The new designation will help facilitate the proposed development by permitting “low traffic generating commercial and industrial uses fronting on major roadways that will not result in commercial strip development.”

Lake Wales city staff had reviewed the proposal, and determined that the proposed development “will maximize existing infrastructure investments by connecting to municipal water and sewer.”

 

In Loving Memory of Michelle Shannon, 62, of Lake Wales

Maria Iannucci
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In Loving Memory of Michelle Shannon, 62, of Lake Wales

Michelle Shannon of Lake Wales passed away Monday, December 16, 2024 at AdventHealth Heart of Florida.

She was born October 21, 1962 in Meridian, Mississippi to the late Franklin Strickland and Rosie Courtright; she moved to Lake Wales from Clermont as a child. Michelle was an office administrator for Mountain Lake. She was a fan of Florida State University and enjoyed reading, fishing, and hunting, but above all else loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Michelle is survived by her husband of 43 years, Russell Shannon; daughter, Amber Shannon Apple (Leland) of Winter Haven; son, Christopher L. Shannon (Nicole) of Tallahassee; sister, Terry Joan Whitefield of Orlando; brother, James Alec Cortright of Winter Haven; and grandchildren, Liam, Lennon, Andrew, and Benjamin.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. 

One Dead in Two-Vehicle Crash on State Road 60 in Lake Wales

Maria Iannucci
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One Dead in Two-Vehicle Crash on State Road 60 in Lake Wales

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 7:30 AM on Thursday, December 19, 2024 on State Road 60 and Boy Scout Camp Road in Lake Wales. Upon the arrival of first responders, they discovered the driver of a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, a 61-year-old male from Lake Wales, deceased. The driver of the second vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital by PCFR. Both were the only occupants of their vehicles.

Deputies closed both westbound and eastbound lanes of SR 60, the northbound lanes on Walk in Water Road, and the southbound lanes on Boy Scout Camp Road, diverting all traffic around the crash while PCSO Traffic Homicide detectives investigated the crash. These roads remained closed for approximately five hours. The Toyota truck was travelling southbound on Boy Scout Camp Road and pulled out onto SR 60 westbound, where it collided with the Jeep. The driver of the Jeep stated that when the truck pulled out in front of her, due to the weather conditions, she did not see it in time to brake or maneuver her vehicle to avoid a crash. Both cars came to a final stop in the eastbound lanes of SR 60, travelling over the median, after colliding. At this point in the investigation, PCSO Traffic Homicide detectives believe that the foggy morning weather was one of the contributors to the crash.

The investigation is still ongoing at this time.

Proposal for Lake Wales Police Annex Building Currently Tabled by City Commission

Maria Iannucci
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Proposal for Lake Wales Police Annex Building Currently Tabled by City Commission

by James Coulter

 

A proposal to refurbish an annexed building for the Lake Wales Police Department has been tabled by the City Commission until the proposal’s finer details can better be ascertained by commissioners.

At their regular meeting on Tues. Dec. 17, 2024, Lake Wales city commissioners voted to table discussion of a proposal for full architectural and engineering services on the annex building until a later time.

 

Located at 122 E. Tillman Ave., formerly known as the Family Elder Law Building, the building was recently purchased by the police department, located directly across the street. The department plans on using the building to house several of itsunits.

Parlier + Crews Architect, P.A. had submitted a proposal to the city to redesign and refurbish the building for $89,000. According to the city agenda memo, the planned renovations include a “training room, several interview rooms, conference room, and a storage room.”

If approved, the city will authorize the city manager to execute the appropriate documents on the city’s behalf and to expend $89,000 for the services to be provided by Parlier + Crews Architect, P.A. per the proposal.

If not approved, as the memo stipulates, “the building layout would remain as it is and would not be in the best form for use by the Police Department.”

The proposal was one of the many items in the meeting’s consent agenda. City Commissioner Carol Gillespie had requested that the item be pulled from the agenda for discussion that evening.

Commissioner Gillespie raised several concerns about the proposal’s fine print, as she noted several alleged inconsistencies within it. She also voiced concern about what would happen if the architect walked away from the project without completing it.

“I worked in this field for a while,” she explained. “It makes for a sloppy contract when you use your terms inconsistently…Before we sign it, I would appreciate to try to clear up the inconsistencies. Also, specify what will happen if the architect tries to walk away from the project.”

City Commissioner Keith Thompson noted the proposal was not written by the City, but by the architect that submitted it. He also stated the architect would be paid for any work they completed if they walked away.

“They should be paid for the work that they do. Whatever work they perform, they should be paid for,” he said. “I do not think there is enough inconsistency for me not to vote for it tonight.”

Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson claimed he had no qualms with the proposal, as he has worked extensively with the people who submitted it, and their reputation precedes themselves. However, he agreed to vote to table the discussion for the time being.

“I want Commissioner Gillespie placated,” he said. “Raising these things might alarm some of our constituents, and I want them to be comfortable with what we are doing for them. It is the best thing we can do.”

The Commission voted 3-1 to table the proposal. City Commissioner Daniel Williams offered the only vote against it.

UPDATED 8:45 am: Emergency Crews Working Very Bad Crash On S.R. 60 & Walk In Water Rd.

carl
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UPDATED 8:45 am: Emergency Crews Working Very Bad Crash On S.R. 60 & Walk In Water Rd.

UPDATED 8:45am:

TrafficAlert

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash on State Road 60 at Walk-In-Water Road, east of Lake Wales.

The crash occurred at about 7:31am, Thursday, December 19th.

It was reported that two vehicles were involved.

Eastbound and westbound SR 60 is closed in this area, at this time, please avoid this area.

We will update when additional information becomes available.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Polk County Fire Rescue currently on scene at a very bad crash on S.R. 60 and Walk In Water Rd. The accident involves multiple vehicles. At this time Eastbound S.R. 60 is entirely shutdown & Westbound is also being shut down completely.

The area has zero visibility due to fog per Polk County Fire Rescue battalion chief.

According to initial reports the accident occurred at 7:31am.

This is a developing story and we will update information as it becomes available.

In Loving Memory of Samuel Richard “Sammy” Arthur of Lake Wales

Maria Iannucci
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In Loving Memory of Samuel Richard “Sammy” Arthur of Lake Wales

Samuel Richard “Sammy” Arthur was born on May, 7, 1943 in Lake Wales, Florida, to Fenley and Maggie Arthur. He started working for Publix at age 16 and worked there for 31 years. Every store he worked in was one of George Jenkin’s private stores. He retired as a Produce Manager at 49 years old. 

Sam enlisted in the US Army in 1964 and served for 3 years. He was a crew chief on a helicopter mechanical crew in Germany during his service. When he got out of the Army, he met and married “the prettiest girl in Polk County,” Patricia Leverette Arthur. 

When he retired from Publix, Sam began driving a school bus for Polk County School Corporation and drove for 15 years. When he wasn’t driving the bus, he worked at Mountain Ridge Citrus where he picked fresh fruit and made juice. 

Sam and Pat were married for 56 years. They began their life together for a short time in Bartow then moved to Winter Haven for 10 years. They then moved to Lake Wales, where they lived for 30 years and raised two amazing sons, Michael and Chad. In 2007, Sam and Pat moved to Blue Ridge, Georgia. Lake Wales called them back in 2021, and they have resided in Oakwood Community ever since. 

Sam had a love for the Lord that was evident to all who met him. He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at a young age at Westside Baptist church. Sam was a Deacon and member of the building committee and several other committees at Golfview Baptist Church then First Baptist Church of Lake Wales. When he moved to Blue Ridge, he was an active member of Epworth Baptist Church where he served in the Happy Hearts Senior Ministry, and sang in the church choir and as a member of the Jordanairs 2 quartet. When he came back to Lake Wales, Sam returned to First Baptist Lake Wales. Sam shared his love of Jesus with all he met – whether it was his waitress, the lawn guy or the man he hired to paint his house. He was going to be sure that everyone had the opportunity to learn about Jesus. 

Sam loved fishing, gardening, golfing, hiking, traveling with his wife and friends, watching cowboy movies and YouTube, and reading. When he lived in Georgia, he took up hiking and hiked part of the AT Trail. When he was not spending time with his wife, friends, and sons, Sam loved spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids – from watching sports and school programs, attending graduations, teaching them to drive stick shift, babysitting, playing taxi, or just loving on them. Pepaw was loved by all of his grands and even the “grands” he gained through friendships. Sam would go on and on about the many blessings in his life. He truly felt blessed by the Lord in all areas, especially his family life.

Sam left this earth for his Heavenly home on Tuesday, Dec. 17 while at Good Shepherd’s Forsythe Hospice House. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Gail Tew, and his brother, Sonny Arthur. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia Arthur; his son, Michael (Jeanine); his son, Chad (Laura); 8 grandchildren – Megan Allen (Dalton), Jacob Arthur, Josh Arthur (Daisy), Kyle Arthur, Cole Arthur, Kate Arthur, Madison Arthur, and Jordan Arthur; and 5 great-grandchildren – Wynn and Wade Allen, Finley Arthur, and Remington and Melanie Arthur.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Lake Wales. 

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