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
Before heading out the door for pool days, bike rides, summer camps and other family-favorite activities, there’s one key component to starting your day on the right foot: a nutritious breakfast. Filling morning meals help you and your loved ones power through all summer has to offer, whether you’re getting active on a hike or family walk or simply soaking in the sun.
Paired with a healthy lifestyle, an 8-ounce glass of 100% orange juice includes key nutrients such as vitamin C, folate, thiamin and potassium, as well as calcium and vitamin D (in fortified juices), that help support the immune system all year long. Summer is no exception, particularly with its usual hectic schedules that include sports and other outdoor activities. Plus, it’s fat-free, cholesterol-free, sodium-free, has no added sugar and is made up of almost 90% water, which means it’s a healthy complement to your water hydration routine, another must during the hot summer months.
While delicious and nutritious on its own, an option like Florida Orange Juice can also be enjoyed as part of morning favorite recipes like French toast. As a meal that can satisfy the entire family, this Orange Juice French Toast with Infused Whipped Cream offers a twist on a breakfast classic.
As a delicious addition to any diet, 100% orange juice is a perfect way to sit down together at the table before tackling the day’s adventures.To find more nutrition-forward summer recipe ideas, visit floridajuice.com.
Orange Juice French Toast with Infused Whipped Cream
Recipe courtesy of the Florida Department of Citrus
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup, plus 1/4 cup, Florida Orange Juice, divided
10 slices milk bread
1 cup heavy whipping cream
neutral oil
maple syrup, for serving
In shallow dish, whisk eggs, milk and 3/4 cup orange juice.
Dunk each slice of bread in egg mixture, letting it soak in.
While bread soaks, whip heavy cream until it reaches stiff peaks, about 3 minutes. Gently fold in remaining orange juice until well combined.
On hot pan over medium heat, in small amount of oil, fry both sides of each bread slice. Remove from heat when golden brown.
Serve French toast in stacks with dollop of whipped cream and drizzle of maple syrup.
Dorothy Inez Tucker of Babson Park passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Somers Hospice House in Sebring.
She was born July 24, 1942 in Lake Wales to the late George and Laura Smith; she has been a lifelong resident of the area. Dorothy was the owner of Tucker Grove Service and was of the Christian faith. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, and going to the casino. She loved to spend time with her family.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Frank Tucker; and brothers, Bill Smith, Johnny Smith, and Melvin Smith. She is survived by her daughters, Linda Inez Wilson and husband Mike of Homosassa Springs, Karen Kae Edwards and husband Keith of Lake Wales; son, Jimmy Franklin Tucker and wife Karen of Babson Park; sister Thelma Gandy and husband Wendall of Babson Park; brother, Robert Smith of Osage, Kansas; grandchildren, Tiffany and husband Kyle, Kandi and husband Jeffrey, Tara; step-grandchildren, Melissa, Tabatha; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Sean, Elizabeth, Oakley, Rylynn; and great-great-granddaughter, Paisley.
A private family service will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her honor can be sent to Good Shepherd Hospice (https://www.chaptershealth.org/for-volunteers-donors/personal-giving/).
(1) Code Enforcement Board – Members are appointed by the City Commission. The board consists of seven (7) members. Whenever possible, membership shall include an architect, a businessperson, a realtor, an engineer, a general contractor, and a subcontractor. Members must be residents. There are 2 alternate positions (3-year term)
An interview process is necessary for new applicants only.
Members are required to file an annual Form 1, Statement of Financial Interests.
Current vacancies: 2 regular and 2 alternates
2) Tree Advisory Board – Members are appointed by the City Commission. The tree advisory board shall study and advise city administration on the inventory of trees on city-maintained property. The board consists of five (5) members. A majority of members must live or own property in city limits. (3-year term)
There is no interview process requirement for applicants applying for appointment to this board.
Members are not required to file an annual Form 1, Statement of Financial Interests.
Current vacancies – 1 Vacancy
3) Board of Adjustment and Appeals – Members are appointed by the City Commission. This board hears and decides appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, decision or determination of the administrative official in the enforcement of zoning regulations. The board consists of five (5) members. Members must be residents. (3-year term)
An interview process is necessary for new applicants only.
Members are required to file an annual Form 1, Statement of Financial Interests.
Current Vacancies: 2 Vacancies
4) Historic District Regulatory Board – Members are appointed by the City Commission. The purpose of the historic board is to administer the regulations within this chapter pertaining to historic districts. The board consists of five (5) members, of which 50% of the members shall reside or own property within the City. Members shall be chosen to provide expertise in the following disciplines to the extent such professionals are available in the community: historic preservation, architecture, architectural history, curation, conservation, anthropology, building construction, landscape architecture, planning, urban design, and regulatory procedures. (3-year term)
An interview process is necessary for new applicants only.
Members are required to file an annual Form 1, Statement of Financial Interests.
An Adult Mixed Media Art class is taking place today, June 28, 2025, at the Lake Wales Family Recreation Center. It is designed for ages 13+ and will be led by local artist Toni Doku. Participants will integrate painting and textiles to create a unique art piece. The class runs from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Also at the Lake Wales Family Recreation Center today, a Youth class is available for children in Kindergarten through 13 years old. Toni Doku will guide participants in integrating painting and sculpture. This class is scheduled from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
Mike died peacefully with his wife, Carol by his side on June 24, 2025. He lived in Ohio and joined the Navy at age 24. He was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida stationed in VP5, a sub hunter outfit. This was during the Cold War. He lived in Lake Wales, Florida for the past 20 years.
Mike had a blend of deep faith, a love for life, and a sense of humor. Being an altar boy in both the Byzantine and Roman Rite Catholic Churches was a unique and meaningful experience, showing his strong commitment to his faith. Mike had a passion for golf and appreciated the good things in life, like his wife cooking and making others laugh. Mike had a strong sense of responsibility, as the resident Quality Control Officer of the house and the worst back seat driver.
Mike is survived his wife Carol of 61 years and his son Bryan (Maggie) and family of Ohio. He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews. Ron Jevcak, Cindy and Geoff Rozich, Kevin and Beth Fox, and Larry and Kelly Fox, and several great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Amber, sister, Magda Molcan, and his parents Mary and Andrew Jevcak.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Ruskin, in Southeastern Polk County in central Florida, including Lake Wales, until 4:15 PM on Friday, June 27, 2025.
At 3:38 PM, a severe thunderstorm is located 8 miles south east of Lake Wales, moving northeast at 20 mph.
It is recommended that you take shelter in place or per instruction.
60 mph wind gusts are possible.
Locations impacted may include Highland Park, Crooked Lake Park, Babson Park, Hillcrest Heights, Frostproof, and Lake Wales.
To prevent the city’s water and wastewater systems from exceeding capacity limitations, the City of Lake Wales is considering an expansion to its wastewater treatment plant, estimated to cost $89 million.
At their workshop session on Wed. June 23, Lake Wales city commissioners were given a presentation by representatives from Kimley Horn & Associates, which had been contracted by the city “to identify capacity limitations within the wastewater and reclaimed water systems.”
Jamison Tondreault, water/wastewater project manager at Kimley-Horn, presented the flow projections for the city’s water and wastewater system. Currently, the system is at 1.2 million gallons per day (MGD), which is over half the current capacity of 2.19 MGD.
Furthermore, Tondreault explained that the city is expected to reach 3.5 MGD, potentially even 4.6 MGD, within 20 years. In fact, the city could even reach 80 percent capacity by 2028 or even exceed capacity by 2031.
To alleviate these capacity limitations, Kimley Horn has proposed three solutions to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The main solution they recommend would be a proposed expansion to the plant, which would add a second oxidation ditch, a third clarifier, an additional sludge holding, and electric improvements.
This proposal is highly recommended, as it would be the most cost-effective, provide the most operational familiarity to staff, and provide more efficient disposal capacity and lower downtime for construction, Tondreault explained.
If approved, the first phase of construction is estimated to take two years, with the overall construction to be completed within four. The first phase would cost approximately $55 million, with the overall construction estimated to cost $89 million.
“The plant may exceed capacity within the next five or six years, so this fits in the time frame,” Tondreault said.
The other two alternatives would have been to either convert the plant’s system to a membrane bioreactor or to purchase an additional plant from Waverly and split the flow between the two plants. Both alternative solutions would have cost $99 million and $91 million, respectively.
Most of the city commissioners agreed with Kimerly Horn representatives that the proposed wastewater treatment expansion would be the best option for the city. While Mayor Jack Hilligoss was intrigued by the technology for converting the system to a membrane bioreactor, he felt the overall cost to the city and its residents would not work currently.
“While the technology is there, it is not cheap, it is expensive,” he said. “So, taking what you flush and bringing it back to potable water sounds like a really great idea until you figure out what the cost of it is. Even if you can get over the psychological effects of that, you are probably
not going to like your water bill when all is said and done. So, not only would you be drinking toilet water, you would be paying [a] premium for it.”
“We are not a spaceship,” added Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson.
Deputy Mayor Gibson asked if the proposed expansion, aside from being a cost-effective process, would also prove to be the most efficient for both the short and long term. Tondreault replied that it is.
Frostproof residents are being notified of a planned water service disruption late Sunday evening, June 29, as the City’s Utilities Department conducts infrastructure improvements.
According to city officials, water service will be temporarily shut off at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, with improvement work beginning shortly after at 12:30 a.m. Monday morning. The work is expected to last several hours, with water service resuming by 3:00 a.m., and normal water pressure returning around 4:00 a.m..
As part of standard safety protocols, a Precautionary Boil Water Notice will be in effect following the work. To lift the notice and ensure the water meets safety standards, two separate water samples must be taken 24 hours apart and tested for quality.
The city appreciates residents’ understanding as these critical improvements are completed. For additional information, residents may contact the Frostproof Utilities Department at 863-635-7850.
DeVere Morris Williams of Frostproof passed away Monday, June 23, 2025 at AdventHealth Lake Wales.
He was born July 25, 1955 in Florida to the late NR and Elizabeth Williams. DeVere was a mechanic and a welder in the citrus industry. He loved hunting and fishing. He was a beloved father, brother, and friend.
DeVere was preceded in death by his daughter, Della Amanda Williams. He is survived by his son, Joseph Brian Williams of Soperton, Georgia; and brother, Newton Riley Williams, Jr. and wife Kathy of Frostproof.
40 new jobs. $560,000 in wages. $75,000 in business revenue. These are some of the results a local business incubator has been able to produce over the past three years for the City of Lake Wales. And those numbers are expected to continue growing.
At their workshop on Wed. June 25, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners were provided with a presentation from BizLINC, a business incubator located in the historic core of Lake Wales.
As their website states: “BizLINC is Lake Wales’s one-stop source for coordinated business incubation and development services. BizLINC connects entrepreneurs to much-needed resources to achieve success and sustainability.”
Three years ago, BizLINC entered a $1.2 million contract with the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to facilitate the city’s redevelopment and revitalization efforts by providing resources to local business owners and entrepreneurs.
Frank Cornier, CEO and co-founder of BizLINC, claimed that, since its inception, BizLINC has generated $750,000 in business revenue and created 40 new jobs that have resulted in $560,000 in wages, which in turn resulted in a return value of $1.3 million.
As such, the initial investment the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has made into BizLINC has seen a 9 percent return. For every dollar invested, BizLINC has generated a $1.09 in return, he explained.
Such results prove how much of a vital asset BizLINC has been to economic development, especially since the incubator started in a “negative position” three years ago. Essentially, they started with less than nothing and made something from it, Cornier explained.
“Year one was a foundational year for us,” he said. “In some cases, we probably started from a negative position because we are trying to start from zero. But in some communities you come into where private investment has long left, you’re starting at a disadvantaged position.”
BizLINC has facilitated this economic development through 17 business training and seminars, 600 hours of technical assistance, and 10 verified mentorship sessions. Furthermore, while most incubators focus solely on the tech industry, BizLINC has created a mix of white- and blue-collar jobs in construction, health and wellness, and financial planning.
In fact, one construction firm has since doubled its revenue since participating in the incubator, Cornier said. Likewise, another business from Lakeland has expressed interest in setting up a chicken wings eatery on Lincoln Avenue.
Derrick Blue, BizLINC co-founder and COO, averred that BizLinc has also boosted local morale by creating businesses that allow residents to see others working and thriving in their local community.
“[We created] an ecosystem that didn’t exist,” he said. “There isn’t a true entrepreneurial ecosystem in that [Lincoln Avenue] area, and it has not been in a long time. In fact, I think we are the only business that operates right now on Lincoln. What that means for us is that there are children and other people in the community who get to see people walking into a business who look professional…[so] it is a place where people can imagine something different for themselves.”
Both Cornier and Blue have high expectations for BizLINC moving forward. In fact, they expect their numbers to grow by 25 percent the next time they address the Lake Wales City Commission.
Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson was especially impressed by the results. He considers BizLINC to be the standard bearer for the City of Lake Wales investing in prospective non-profit organizations. He wants the City to invest in such a way that non-profits eventually become self-sufficient and no longer require city funding.
“We have been successful. We do have money. And that puts a target on our heads,” he said. “That is not our money. It belongs to the City of Lake Wales. And we are using it for these projects. So, I am interested in measuring the results, and I am very interested in a decline of support from us to where these projects become [as] self-sufficient as much as possible.”
Blue agreed. He hopes BizLINC eventually creates enough businesses in the community that no more can be created.
“We are asking for less,” he said. “Our goal is to put ourselves out of business because we are doing what needs to be done, and people no longer need us.”
Commissioner Keith Thompson claimed his rubric for BizLINC’s success will be the redevelopment of Lincoln Avenue. If the incubator can bring more businesses to that area, he would be more than willing to reward them for their success.
“I think the city should be responsible in rewarding success,” he said. “If you are successful and improving property value and creating jobs, I am more than willing to reward that and get behind that.”
Mayor Jack Hilligoss insisted the City should look at any means necessary to promote redevelopment on Lincoln Avenue, noting the “vacant and unoccupied property” in that area as well as the downtown area. Deputy Mayor Gibson even suggested eminent domain.
“We have a lot of inventory downtown that is not activated, and we have folks that are showing real interest in trying to start businesses down there who are finding it difficult to get in,” Mayor Hilligoss said. “So, one of the things that we should discuss is what we can do as a commission that can really incentivize current owners to get active, whatever we can legally do without violating their rights.”
