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
On Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 5:56 p.m., a traffic collision was reported on Buckmoore Rd. N near Sunset Dr. in Lake Wales.
A representative from Lake Wales Police Department has confirmed that it was a single car crash resulting from a medical episode. The vehicle rolled a few times; the driver was entrapped for a short time but was quickly extricated.
As of 6:55 p.m., law enforcement remains on scene awaiting the arrival of a tow truck to remove the vehicle. We are awaiting information on injuries.
Drivers are advised to exercise caution if planning to use Buckmoore Rd. tonight as there is also construction equipment in that area.
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, four talented and more-than-deserving individuals entered the LWHS Highlander Hall of Fame during a ceremony held at Webber International University. Over 100 attendees and sponsors of the program were present.
Photo credit: Maria Iannucci
This year’s list of Hall of Famers includes April Caraway Barnhardt, class of 1994; Paul Buehner, former Athletic Director; Pat Cain, class of 1965; and Bill Marston, class of 1965. Barnhardt and Buehner were present at the event; Cain and Marston were awarded posthumously.
Photo credit: Maria Iannucci
Shelli Jacobs, Highlander Hall of Fame Chair, says Lake Wales is a tremendous place to create history through sports.
Photo credit: Maria Iannucci
“There are things so special about growing up in a small town that you just can’t put words to,” says Jacobs. “I will forever be proud of the place I call home. It is where I was raised and where I chose to raise my children. I am so proud to say I graduated from LWHS and truly believe there is nothing like the Highlander Heritage.”
Photo credit: Maria Iannucci
April Caraway Barnhardt graduated from LWHS is 1994. She was active in the Lake Wales Little League program. While attending high school, she played varsity volleyball for three years and varsity softball for four years. She was named All-District and All-State in softball during each of her for four years. She was also named All-County and All-Area in volleyball. During her senior year, April was selected as the Lake Wales High School Femaile Athlete of the Year after receiving a softball scholarship to play, at what was then called, Polk Community College. She continued playing the game throughout her years in higher education. As a graduate of the University of Mississippi, she returned to Lake Wales to begin her teaching career at Lake Wales High School, where she has coached the girls volleyball and softball teams over several years. Barnhardt has continued her support of student education in athletics by working for the LWCS for 25 years and coaching multiple youth sports programs. 
Paul Buehner has been involved at Lake Wales High School since 1985, when his oldest child was a freshman. He was named the Athletic Director in 1987. He inherited a program that was more than $20,000 in the red, and was told that his job was “to get Lake Wales in the black” in just a few years. By motivating and supporting the coaches, LWHS was able to turn that around. Every sport became involved in fundraising. He sold Highlander sweat attire and Highlander Barbecue Sauce, known as Highlander Hooch, just to name a few of his initiatives. Buehner credits the Highlander Booster Club for playing a big role in helping athletics to cut expenses. He would serve the next 26 years at Lake Wales, serving several different areas, including AD for 16 years, teaching physical education classes, and also serving as the Migrant Director. He taught in several capacities at the high school during his term. Under his leadership, Lake Wales won several district championships, along with County, regional, and state titles. He spent 43 years in the field of education before his retirement.
Photo credit: Maria Iannucci
Pat Cain, who passed away in May 2024, was third generation Lake Wales resident. He was class vice president all four years of his high school career, and also played offensive and defensive line for the Highlanders football team. His senior year, his team won the SW Florida Conference under Coach Wes Abbrams. He attended Georgia Tech on a football scholarship and later graduated with a major in finance from the University of Florida. He worked in the Financial industry for over 29 years. He has served Lake Wales as mayor and city commissioner, as well as had a heavy involvement in many community organizations by serving on the boards of Lake Wales Citrus Growers Association, Lake Wales Care Center, Lake Wales Charter Schools, Victory Ridge Academy, and the Lake Wales Arts Center. Cain was past president of the Lake Wales YMCA and the Lake Wales High School Booster Club. 
William “Bill” Marston, who passed away in 2017, was a proud graduate of Lake Wales High School, class of 1965, and made a lasting impact on the school’s athletic legacy. He was the varsity football quarterback and punter for the Highlander’s. He also showcased his athletic prowess as a member of the varsity basketball and baseball teams. Following his graduation, Bill attended Morehead State University where he continued his football career. In 1966 he led the Morehead Eagles to an Ohio Valley Conference football championship. He holds the remarkable distinction of being the all-time leader for both Morehead State University and the OVC in two-point conversions in a career with a record of eight (4 rushing and 4 passing). He also ranked 19th in all-time passing yards per game at MSU in 1969 with an impressive average of 175.4 yards, just shy of the legendary Phil Simms, who average 204.1 yards in 13th place. Fueled by his passion for the game, Bill transitioned into coaching shortly after completing college. He was head football coach for the Santa Fe Catholic Crimson Hawks, where he led them to an impressive 8-1 record in 1972. He also served as coach at Kathleen High School and later as assistant coach at Lake Wales High School in the late 1980s.
Photo credit: Maria Iannucci
Jacobs says that starting the Highlander Hall of Fame in 2019 has personally brought her so much happiness.
“Being able to start the tradition six years ago of the Highlander Hall of Fame has brought so much joy to my life,” she says. “Giving back to a place that gave me so much as a high school student just feels right.”
Photo credit: Maria Iannucci
In establishing the Highlander Hall of Fame:
Our Purpose is to Celebrate the Highlander Athletic Program, Honor the Past Success of Highlander Athletics, Inform Students & the Community about the Highlander Athletic Program’s history, Promote School Spirit & Unity, and Reconnect Alumni with the Highlander Booster Club and Athletic Program.
During the May 6, 2025 Lake Wales City Commission meeting, officials passed multiple items on their consent agenda pertaining to the Lake Wales Municipal Airport.
First on the docket was a purchase of a fuel trailer for $50,265. The action would execute necessary documents to facilitate the purchase. The City originally budgeted for a whole truck, but price increases scaled that plan down to just a trailer. The trailer holds 500 gallons of fuel. The reason for the purchase is to increase convenience for airport tenants (decreasing trips to the fuel farm), which would theoretically increase sales of fuel.
Despite this scaled-back purchase, the city still had enough money for a more pricey investment. A JetA fuel truck costing $75,000 was approved for purchase. The Municipal Airport had been renting a similar fuel truck for $1,000 per month since February 2024; this arrangement dramatically increased the fuel sales for the airport.
Other substantial items were discussed as well, as 24,239.52 square feet (or 0.56 acres) of airport ground space were approved for leasing to Jump Florida Skydiving. This lease leaves the tenant responsible for all costs associated with the land (utilities, survey costs, etc.). The lease runs for 30 years and cost $0.29 per square foot (or $7,029.46 per year).
172 square feet of office space were approved for a leasing renewal to Fun Flight Training. The lease has been running since September 2020 at a rate of $0.23 per square foot, or $474.72 per year. Fun Flight Training will also pay the city $5 per hour of flight instruction as a fee, and an aircraft ferry fee of $50 per ferry. This lease will run for 12 months with a renewal clause for two 12-month periods after agreement of both parties.
Like the rest of the consent agenda, these items were readily passed with no comment or concern from the public.
BOK TOWER GARDENS – You will love creating your own Travelers Flower Press Book to take along wherever botanicals may lead you. Make a compact size flower press that will fit in your backpack or purse that is perfect for pressing small flowers. There is no stitching in this basic bookmaking class and all materials are provided. Claire Formilan from Beyond the Fold Paperie will give step-by-step instructions to walk you through the whole process. Along the way we will talk about some tips for pressing flowers and using your book. You’ll take home your own Travelers Flower Press Book (4.5” X 6”) along with instructions for pressing flower.
Members of LWFD assist citizen during traffic rollover
By Capers Gay
At the May 6, 2025 Lake Wales City Commission Meeting, a re-authorization of the city’s Citizen Advisory Task Force (or CATF) was approved. This task force exists to provide public input on city projects. In the past, the task force has been used to review grant applications made by the city, and will likely continue to do so.
The city is looking to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (or CDBG); previous iterations were reviewed by the CATF in 2015 and 2020.
A new fire station will be constructed at the southwest corner of the intersection of Nest Egg Road and Hunt Brothers Road in Lake Wales, and they need the task force’s re-authorization in order to move forward. The reason for this is because a CDBG grant must benefit low-to-moderate income communities with at least 70% of its funds, and this CATF will comprise of folks from that income bracket.
Specifically, the task force must have at least five city residents as members, 51% of which must come from low-to-moderate income households. None can be elected officials, and no more than one can be city employees. Four past members of the CATF have been recommended for appointment with a new member to join them. Like other items on this meeting’s consent agenda, the re-authorization went through with no controversy.
On the May 11, 2025 Lake Wales City Commission meeting, renovations for the city’s public library made it onto the consent agenda. Arrangements between the city and the selected company, Qualis General Contractors were already made by the end of March, as Qualis had won the bid for renovations with its contract price at $249,864 with additional permit fees of $1,850, totaling out to $251,714.
These renovations appear to go deep as the scope-of-work includes structural steel installation, drywall installation, furniture replacement, HVAC relocation, a new paint job, and other renovations.
The job is expected to take 120 days after commencement, and the Library Impact fee for the fiscal year of 2024-2025 is estimated to be $500,000. The approval of this agreement would allow the city manager to execute documents necessary to facilitate the project’s commencement. Like other items on this meeting’s consent agenda, the agreement passed without controversy.
Rosemarie Lillian Strauch of Bartow passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at Bartow Regional Medical Center.
She was born December 28, 1949 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island; she moved to Bartow from Lakeland in 2000. Rosemarie was a retired sales associate for Home Depot and Bealls Outlet.
Rosemarie was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Strauch; son, Toby Hill; brother, and Richard Turgeon. She is survived by her daughter, Kelly Cox and husband Anderson of Richmond, Kentucky; brother, Roger Turgeon; grandchildren, Hillary, Dakota, Matthew, Thomas, Daniel; and six great-grandchildren.
No services are scheduled at this time. Inurnment will be at Florida National Cemetery.
The City of Lake Wales released the following press release on May 9, 2025:
City of Lake Wales reached a milestone, officially obtaining the deed to the iconic Dixie Walesbilt Hotel on May 9thafter a three-year legal battle with Walesbilt LLC owner Ray Brown.
The City paid Brown $450,000 to transfer ownership of the property to the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Brown relinquished all claims against the city.
A unanimous vote by the city commission to approve the settlement agreement took place in April.
“Negotiating a deal and avoiding a protracted legal battle was the strategic course of action,” City Manager James Slaton said.
Slaton, who also serves as the executive director for the Lake Wales CRA spent eight hours with Lake Wales’ attorney Kevin Ashley negotiating the deal with the Dixie Walesbilt legal team.
A comprehensive assessment of the hotel will take place before City staff prepares a request for quotation for prospective developers.
Cheryl Ann Farris passed away peacefully at the age of 53 on April 28, 2025. She was born on June 2, 1971, at the Army Air Base in Augusta, Georgia.
Cheryl was a kind and vibrant soul who cherished life and found joy in making others smile. She loved her children, her grandson, animals, spending time outdoors, and gardening. Her laughter and warmth brightened the lives of those around her, and she always sought to make someone’s day a little better.
She was preceded in death by her father, Jimmy Wayne Farris, and her mother, Wanda Gail Ward. Cheryl is survived by her three children: Desiree Nicole Crumbly (Lance Crumbly), Christina Grace Hunt, and Malichi Joseph Dewbre (Kelly Dewbre); her beloved grandson, Asher Mack Dewbre; her stepfather, Jimmy Alex Ward; and her stepsister, Michelle Ward.
Cheryl will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
In her honor, the family will hold a celebration of life at Bok Tower Gardens on Sunday May 18, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
