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

Frostproof

Staff Reporter

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May 22, 2023

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

Board Welcomes McKeon and Quam as New Trustees

Lake Wales

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November 24, 2025

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By Anita Todd

LAKE WALES – The Lake Wales Charter School Board of Trustees voted last Tuesday afternoon to fill two vacant seats during its monthly meeting.

In unanimous votes, the Board appointed Dr. T.J. McKeon to Seat 7 and Gail Quam to Seat 8. McKeon, a well-known and respected member of the Lake Wales community, replaced Keith Thompson. He was sworn in during the meeting and took his seat alongside the other board members. McKeon is a chiropractor who practices in Lake Wales. His term expires June 30, 2028.

Thompson never attended a board meeting after his selection because it was discovered shortly afterward that he was ineligible to serve. He resigned because his wife is an employee at Lake Wales High School. According to Florida Statutes 1002.33(26)(c), “prohibits an employee of a charter school, or their spouse, from serving on the governing board of that charter school. This provision ensures that charter school employees or their family members do not hold a position of authority on the board overseeing the school.” Seats 3, 5, and 7 are considered “board seats,” with trustees selected through a nomination process followed by final approval from the Board.

Quam, a longtime educator and former principal at Polk Avenue Elementary School, was elected to fill Seat 8. This seat became vacant at the same time as Seat 7 when Rafael Unzueta, the then-newly selected Board Chair, resigned after because his wife is an employee within the LWCS system.

Quam was one of three nominees for the position. The others, also nominated by board members, were Sarah Jones and Skip Alford.

During the Work Session prior to the official meeting, Jaime Winfree, Seat 1 trustee and teacher representative, spoke in support of Quam.

“If we are looking for somebody who has knowledge of what it’s like to be an administrator and a teacher in this system who understands school budgets and charter policy, I cannot image a better candidate. I don’t know the other two candidates so it’s not personal. It’s just if we’re running a school board, a career educator seems like a good fit.”

Seats 4, 6, and 8 are designated as SAC/PTA seats and are nominated by a committee that includes only one Board member. Quam was not at the meeting. Her term expires June 30, 2026.

The next LWCS Board of Trustee meeting will be held Jan. 20, 2026 at the Lake Wales High School.

Lake Wales History Museum Bring All Aboard for Learning

Maria Iannucci

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November 24, 2025

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Lake Wales History Museum Bring All Aboard for Learning

Recently, Lake Wales History Museum had a wonderful visit from Park Avenue Private School in Lake Wales.!Their elementary students had a great time exploring the fully open museum, climbing aboard the historic train, and discovering fascinating artifacts in the Collections Center. Students were curious and excited with the opportunity to about Lake Wales’ rich history.

The Museum welcomes field trips and group visits for students, and adults, of all ages. If your class, club, or organization would like to schedule a guided or self-guided tour, reach out to the Lake Wales History Museum at [email protected] to plan your visit.

Annexation of 10+ Acres at 30 Watts Ranch Approved by Lake Wales City Commission

City of Lake Wales

Maria Iannucci

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November 24, 2025

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Annexation of 10+ Acres at 30 Watts Ranch Approved by Lake Wales City Commission

by James Coulter

More than 10 acres of land south of Grove Avenue East and west of Hamlin Street have been annexed into the city with zoning and future land use designation changes.

At their regular meeting on Tues. Nov. 18, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously on the second reading of three ordinances regarding 10 acres of land located at 30 Watts Ranch.

The ordinances annexed the land into the city and changed its zoning and future land use designation to City Single-Family Residential (R-1D) to City Medium Density Residential (MDR).

The subject property currently consists of vacant groves and is “surrounded by existing single-family homes north of Grove Avenue, and the platted subdivision known as Groves at Hunt Club to the west, south, and east,” wrote Autumn Cochella, Director of Growth Management.

The property owners do not have any immediate plans for development.

Welcome, World Travelers: What Critics Are Saying About Animal Kingdom’s New Better Zoogether Show

Entertainment

Maria Iannucci

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November 23, 2025

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Welcome, World Travelers: What Critics Are Saying About Animal Kingdom’s New Better Zoogether Show

by James Coulter

On Nov. 7, 2025, Zootopia: Better Zoogether opened in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The new Zootopia-themed 4D show replaces the former It’s Tough to Be a Bug attraction, which had run for nearly 25 years since the park’s opening day and closed earlier this year on Mar. 16, 2025.

My Personal Thoughts

I haven’t been able to visit the new attraction in person. However, I have watched video footage of the 9-minute show on YouTube. Personally, I feel it’s okay. I love the Zootopia movie, but I felt this attraction was, at the most, serviceable, something families can enjoy between riding Avatar: Flight of Passage and the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Not great, but good enough.

I never experienced the former It’s Tough to be a Bug attraction when it was open. As a kid, I was scared at the prospect of being “stung” by my theater seat and especially by feeling bugs “crawling” along my legs. (A similar attraction, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, literally traumatized me with its mice escaping from the screen. There was no way I was going to suffer a similar experience.)

So, I don’t really have the same nostalgia for the Bugs show that other guests may have. And personally, as forced as it might be, a show based on a recent popular movie like Zootopia is a much better fit for Animal Kingdom than one based on a Pixar movie that hasn’t been relevant since it first premiered in the late 1990s.

What Other Critics Are Saying

I appear to be alone in that assessment, as other critics claimed that the former attraction fit better with Animal Kingdom’s overall theming than the new show literally based on talking animals.

Tom Corless from WDW News Today, while admitting that Better Zoogether was “perfectly serviceable”, felt that the attraction “undermines the entire idea of this park”, even going so far as to claim the show evokes “some weird dystopian future where humans died and all animals live together in harmony and do not eat each other.”

“No matter how you felt about ‘It’s Tough to be a Bug’, it fit in Animal Kingdom again because there was an edutainment aspect,” Corless argued, writing how the new show, in stark contrast, is “a 9-minute Zootopia short that in no way connected to conservation or the real animal world.”

Many other critics felt that the new show, despite being based on a movie about animals, felt “out of place” in Animal Kingdom. Tom Bricke from Disney Tourist Blog called the attraction “a suboptimal fit”, claiming the show could have easily fit into any other park.

“This show could go literally anywhere, Bricke said. “In fact, if you told me that this was originally slated for Animation Courtyard[at Disney’s Hollywood Studios] or literally any other theater on property, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Like Corless, Bricke insisted the show clashed with the overall theming of Animal Kingdom, a park created to celebrate biodiversity and champion environmentalism, elements clearly lacking in the new show.

“Diehard Walt Disney World fans know that Animal Kingdom revolves around the balance and harmony between the human world and the animal kingdom,” Bricke wrote. “On that basis, Zootopia actually isn’t perfect for the park.”

A staff writer for WDWMagic expressed a similar sentiment, explaining how Better Zoogether “feels disconnected from the setting” and “doesn’t contribute to Animal Kingdom’s broader message about wildlife and conservation.”

As for the actual show itself, the WDWMagicstaff writer criticized it for being too fast-paced “with constant cuts, overlapping dialogue, and a dense sound mix that can make it difficult to follow the story.” And unlike the show it replaced, the new show “a single comparable ‘wow’ moment.”

Lake Wales Woman Is Charged With Grand Theft Arrested in Bartow

POLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

carl

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November 22, 2025

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Lake Wales Woman Is Charged With Grand Theft Arrested in Bartow

According to information provided by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office PIO, deputies responded early Saturday, November 22nd, after a Winter Haven resident reported their Chevy Malibu had been stolen from the driveway of their home.

The victim told deputies the vehicle was taken without permission by a known suspect, 30-year-old Nikki Nicole Waters of Lake Wales. The victim attempted to call Waters after discovering the theft, but she refused to answer.

Deputies were able to track the stolen Malibu to Lime Street in Bartow. While checking the area, deputies found Waters hiding inside a trailer at that location.

Waters was arrested and transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center. She was charged with Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle. She also had an active Polk County warrant for Failure to Appear for Petit Theft.

Goin’ Postal Lake Wales Celebrates Grand Opening With Ribbon Cutting and Specials

Business & Economy

Allison

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November 21, 2025

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Goin’ Postal Lake Wales Celebrates Grand Opening With Ribbon Cutting and Specials

Goin’ Postal Lake Wales officially opened its doors and held a grand opening event November 20, 2025, marking the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by community members and the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce. Owner Irene Wasso shared her excitement about serving the Lake Wales area, offering a wide range of shipping, printing, and mailbox services to meet both personal and business needs.

To celebrate the opening, the store is offering special discounts through November 30, including:

• $1 OFF shipping

• BOGO $1 OFF greeting cards

• BOGO 50% OFF select gift items

Located at 2509 State Road 60 E, Lake Wales, FL 33898, the store offers convenient parking and can be reached at 863-275-1051. More information is available at their website: goinpostal-lakewales.com.

Products & Services Available

Goin’ Postal Lake Wales provides a full suite of services designed to simplify shipping, mailing, printing, and packaging needs for the community.

Shipping Services

Fast, secure shipping is available through UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL, serving both domestic and international destinations. Customers can take advantage of easy drop-off services, package tracking, and optional insurance for valuable items.

Mailbox Services

The location offers USPS-approved physical mailboxes as well as iPostal 1 digital mailboxes, providing secure mail and package management. Customers can receive mail safely, get email alerts, and access deliveries from anywhere—ideal for travelers and remote workers.

Printing & Office Services

Goin’ Postal offers full-service printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. They create flyers, business cards, and brochures, and offer laminating and binding through trusted local partners.

Packaging & Supplies

Customers can shop a wide selection of boxes, envelopes, bubble wrap, tape, and packing peanuts for shipments of any size or shape. For fragile, irregular, or high-value items, the store offers expert packing to ensure safe, secure transit.

With its new Lake Wales location, Goin’ Postal is setting out to become a reliable one-stop destination for shipping, business services, and everyday mailing needs—backed by friendly service and a commitment to the community.

Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation Places AED #80 at Whispering Pines Community in Frostproof

Kip

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November 21, 2025

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Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation Places AED #80 at Whispering Pines Community in Frostproof

“A Gift of Life” for the Residents*

FROSTPROOF, Fla. (November 20, 2025) – Last night, Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation (CCF) reached another life-saving milestone by installing its 80th Automated External Defibrillator (AED) – this time at the Whispering Pines, a quiet residential community in Frostproof.

The placement was made possible after resident Ernie Fuller reached out to CCF founder Melanie Brown Culpepper, expressing the community’s desire to have an AED on site at their clubhouse for the protection of residents and guests.

When the CCF team arrived, they were greeted by a packed room of eager residents ready to learn. Vanessa, President of the Whispering Pines HOA (serving for 12 years), expressed her gratitude:

“I felt truly honored that our little community was chosen to receive this gift of life from the Culpepper Cardiac Foundation. Melanie and her team made it a priority, and their generosity and commitment to saving lives is inspiring. We are proud to now have this life-saving device here in Whispering Pines.”

Longtime Winter Haven Fire Department paramedic and CCF volunteer Eric Shimkus (24+ years of service) led an in-depth hands-on demonstration covering:

AED operation
Hands-Only CPR
LifeVac anti-choking device
Narcan administration for opioid overdoses
Fire extinguisher use – included in loving memory of Jolynn, the young girl tragically lost in a vehicle fire in November 2024

“Eric was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to make sure everyone understood,” Vanessa added. “He answered every question and made us all feel confident and prepared.”

Melanie Brown Culpepper founded CCF in memory of her late fiancé Michael Culpepper, who passed away from heart failure in July 2020 at age 34. Since then, the all-volunteer organization has placed at least two AEDs every single month across Polk County while also awarding three annual scholarships to future first responders (Fire, Medical, and EMT).

“Last night reminded me why we do this,” Melanie said. “The residents of Whispering Pines welcomed us with open arms and open hearts. Seeing an entire room full of people ready to learn how to save a life – that’s what community is all about.”

Vanessa closed with a call to action for others: “I encourage everyone in Polk County to support Melanie’s mission – whether by volunteering, donating, or helping raise funds. What she is doing is a wonderful thing, and together we can all pay it forward.”

The new AED is now permanently mounted and ready for use at the Whispering Pines Clubhouse, giving residents and visitors a critical fighting chance in the first minutes of a cardiac emergency.

For more information on Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation, current AED locations, or to donate: Visit CulpepperAED.com Contact Melanie Brown Culpepper at (863) 662-2694

Saving Lives Matters – because any one of us could be the closest first responder.

By Kip Kirchberg, DailyRidge.com #SavingLivesMatters #CulpeppersCardiacFoundation #AED80 #WhisperingPines #Frostproof #CommunityHeroes #PayItForward

Serve a Naturally Sweet, Flavorful Fall Pumpkin Soup

Maria’s Meal Picks

Maria Iannucci

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November 20, 2025

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Serve a Naturally Sweet, Flavorful Fall Pumpkin Soup

Cool, crisp fall evenings call for the warmth and comfort of a big bowl of soup, filled with the flavors of the season. This Sweet Pumpkin Soup offers a naturally sweetened and creamy fall staple.

Crafted with canned pumpkin, carrots, celery, honey and a medley of autumnal spices, this Sweet Pumpkin Soup is sure to become your fall go-to. With raw, local, and exclusively USA-sourced honey, you can feel just as good about your ingredients as you do their flavor. Many honey products labeled “pure” or “local” can contain blends from multiple sources that make honey untraceable and diluted with additives.

Sweet Pumpkin Soup

1/2 cup carrots, chopped

1/2 cup celery stalks, diced

1 cup shallots, chopped

3 tablespoons butter

30 ounces canned pumpkin (not pie filling)

6 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup raw Honey

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

parsley (optional)

red pepper flakes (optional)

In stockpot, saute carrots, celery and shallots in butter until slightly browned.

Add pumpkin, broth, cloves, allspice and ginger.

Bring mixture to simmer and cook about 20 minutes.

Remove from stockpot and puree using immersion blender.

Return to stove and slowly add cream and honey until well combined. Return to simmer and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste.

Garnish with parsley and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Lake Wales City Commission Approves Annexation of Land for Future Fire Station

City of Lake Wales

Maria Iannucci

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November 19, 2025

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Lake Wales City Commission Approves Annexation of Land for Future Fire Station

by James Coulter

A future fire station planned for five acres of land south of Hunt Brothers Road is closer to being built now that city commissioners have approved the annexation and changes to zoning and future land use of the property.

At their regular meeting on Tues. Nov. 19, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners voted unanimously to approve the second reading of an ordinance annexing five acres of land into the city limits.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve two ordinances changing the zoning and future land use of the subject property to City Light Industrial (I-1) and City Industrial (IND), respectively.

The subject property is five acres of land within a 19-acre parcel located south of Hunt Brothers Road and west of Nest Egg Road. The site is being considered for the future construction of Lake Wales Fire Station 3.

“The additional 14 acres still owned by the McKenna family will also be annexed in the future, along with a request for Industrial future land use and zoning designations,” wrote Autumn Cochella, Director of Growth Management.

Upon review, City Staff determined that the proposed zoning and future land use changes were “consistent with those assigned within the surrounding area” and that the property was located “within the City’s utility service area and future development will connect to municipal water, sewer, and reuse, maximizing the utilization of the City’s utility system.”

In Loving Memory of Ramiro Corona Granados, 47

Obituaries

Maria Iannucci

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November 19, 2025

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In Loving Memory of Ramiro Corona Granados, 47

Ramiro Corona Granados, affectionately known as Rami, passed away on November 10, 2025.

Born on November 20, 1977, in Mexico City, Mexico, Rami was a vibrant spirit whose laughter and kindness lit up the lives of everyone around him. He leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, and an unforgettable sense of humor. As the owner of Granados Produce in Haines City and Frostproof. Rami was not just a businessman; he was a cornerstone of his community. His dedication to his work and his ability to uplift those around him were well known. Rami would often ask, “Are you working hard or hardly working?” – a favorite phrase that perfectly captured his blend of diligence and personal charm.

Rami’s true pride and joy were his family. He is survived by his beloved daughters, Katherine Granados of Winston, Georgia and Lailea Granados of Lake Wales; his sons, Ryan Granados and wife Florinda of Lake Wales, Adam Rivas of Lakeland, and Christian Granados of Lake Wales; his father Ramiro Granados Fajardo of Mexico; his mother Lorena Corona Granados of Lake Wales; his sisters, Cameilia Granados of Lake Wales, Marie Granados of Atlanta, Georgia and Lorena Espinoza and husband Margarito of Lake Wales; and his four cherished grandchildren. Rami was preceded in death by his brother, Adam Granados.

All services will be private. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.marionnelsonfuneralhome.com

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