Frostproof, Florida – There will be a prayer service at the Frostproof City Hall Auditorium on Thursday, May 2,2013 from 12:00 – 1:00 PM in honor of the National Day of Prayer.

By Superintendent Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson Lake Wales Charter Schools Superintendent

By early 2000, the once great tradition of outstanding local schools for Lake Wales’ citizens had reached a point of decline. It was at that time when concerned citizens, with the support of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce education committee, decided to do something to reverse that trend. What emerged from their initiative was an accountability driven charter school systems that continues to make significant improvement in all areas of student achievement. Little did anyone know at the time that Lake Wales Charter Schools, the system of charter schools that resulted from the citizens’ initiative nearly ten years ago, would become one of the town’s largest employers. In fact, the determination shown by local citizens to improve the quality of public education initially had two objectives, to significantly improve local schools, and to ensure Lake Wales’ families would have no reason to send their children to schools outside this community. To say that Lake Wales Charter Schools profoundly exceeded everyone’s expectations is an understatement.

Since 2004, when five Lake Wales’ public schools were converted to public charter schools, and with the addition of Bok Academy and the International Baccalaureate program to Lake Wales High School, a significant reversal has taken place both in terms of quality and the participation in our local schools. Many families that had previously decided to seek other opportunities to educate their children outside Lake Wales have found favor in our excellent system of public charter schools. The Lake Wales Charter Schools system now provides educational services for approximately 4,000 students. While the majority of these students live in Lake Wales many come from surrounding towns including Lakeland, Bartow, Haines City, Winter Haven, Dundee, and Frostproof. The greater challenge for the LWCS system now is to continue its effort to pursue educational excellence while upholding the highest measures of academic and fiscal accountability.

Lake Wales Charter Schools pioneers such as Robin Gibson, Clint Horne, David Ullman and many others could feel quite satisfied when reflecting on the impact of their effort to improve local schools. However, when the details are analyzed it becomes quite clear that the LWCS system offers more than just a great education for this community. The mere shift of the schools’ management from Bartow to Lake Wales has profoundly impacted Lake Wales’ economy. Economists and others have long attempted to quantify the economic impact that education has on a community. These analyses often focus on educational outcomes such as high school dropout rates, graduation rates and college completion. Such information is used to make inference about their impact on income potential for perspective workers. While the primary aim of converting Lake Wales’ schools to charter schools was to influence the academic outcomes of our schools, the decision has yielded many residual benefits for our town as well.

As locally controlled schools, the principals are granted the authority to run Lake Wales Charter Schools as Chief Executive Officers. In this role, the principal has the autonomy and responsibility to make decisions regarding the most effective way to run his or her school, including decisions about financial matters. With each school’s annual budget ranging from approximately $2.5 million to nearly $6 million, managing the operations of our charter schools is a huge responsibility. The autonomy provides our principals the freedom to make decisions regarding their engagement with businesses when purchasing goods or services. Along with this freedom our principal leaders, Chief Financial Officer, myself and other members of our leadership team have the responsibility and are compelled to adhere to the strictest finance and accounting principles to ensure that our system’s finances are managed properly.

Our success as an effective school system has enabled us to evolve into a locally based multi-million dollar enterprise with an annual budget of more than $30 million. We do business with more than 109 Lake Wales area businesses. Lake Wales Charter Schools’ financial transactions with local businesses in 2012 amounted to more than $920,977.22 spent to purchase local goods or services. Additionally, Lake Wales Charter Schools conducted business with over 144 other vendors that are located within Polk County, including Polk County Schools, which resulted in more than $1.8 million spent in 2012 to purchase goods or services and over $6 million are held in local deposits as cash reserves for operation of the system. As a service industry (providing educational services to our families), we believe our greatest contribution to the Lake Wales economy are the nearly 480 full, and part-time jobs we provides to local citizens. As a resident of this great community I live and shop locally as do many of my fellow employees. Our collective action contributes millions more to the Lake Wales and local economy.

Michael Shuman’s book Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age, identifies several important strategies for communities that are seeking to become financially sound and self-reliant. Among these strategies are nurturing locally owned businesses which use local resources sustainably, employing local workers at decent wages, and serving primarily local consumers. As a “community anchor,” Lake Wales Charter Schools is well positioned to support the transition of our great city toward self reliance. Lake Wales Charter Schools system will continue its effort as a vibrant academic and economic engine for this community; we will also need to continue our effort to bank locally and patronize local businesses. Such an effort will go a long way toward ensuring that Lake Wales Charter Schools is supporting the growth and development of the local economy as well as fostering self-reliance among community members.

Perhaps more important is the long term benefit. A 2012 report published by The Alliance For Excellent Education highlighted the imperative that exists between education equity and the American economy. The report noted that educational achievement benefits society and the economy in more ways than just tax revenues and consumer purchases. The report cites the work of noted economist Henry Levin of Columbia University and his colleagues, which documented the impact that improving educational outcomes and preventing dropouts could have on a community’s social cost such as health care, unemployment and incarceration. The Alliance report noted a separate study by Anthony Carnevale and his Georgetown University colleagues, which showed how improving educational outcomes for students from traditionally under-served and underrepresented groups is a major factor in breaking the cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement. While these studies provide evidence of many indirect economic benefits of a community’s education system, our Lake Wales community has realized many direct economic benefits for managing our school system locally.

Every weekday around mid-day we will have the Polk Mugshot of The Day. The mugshot will be someone arrested in Polk County in the past couple of weeks. The mugshot along with the charges will be posted. Please remember these individuals are innocent until proven guilty.

JOHNSON, JEREMY  ROME

DOB: 7/6/1983

Charge: BATTERY TOUCH OR STRIKE – DV; Surety $5000

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Lake Wales, Florida – The Lake Wales Police Department was out in force this afternoon around Polk Avenue searching for a missing 3 year old girl that wandered from home.

According to Troy Schulze with the LWPD the little girl was found safe just a short time ago.

We don’t have further details at this time, but we have had so many people asking about the situation we wanted to put peoples minds at ease. The girl has been found and is safe.

Lakeland, Florida -Polk County Sheriff’s traffic deputies arrested 21-year-old Edward McCoy of Lakeland Thursday night and charged him with multiple charges in Sunday morning’s (April 28) crash that resulted in the deaths of three victims and the severe injury of another. McCoy is charged with: driving under the influence (DUI) causing death (3 counts), DUI causing serious bodily injury, vehicular homicide (3 counts), DUI with property damage (2 counts), possession of marijuana, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

“McCoy’s reckless and criminal actions caused the death of three innocent people, severe trauma to a fourth person, and enormous pain and suffering to the victims’ family and friends. This was a senseless tragedy that was 100% preventable. We are committed to assisting prosecutors to make sure McCoy is held accountable for his disastrous and deadly behavior.” —Sheriff Grady Judd

At around 2:40 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, 2013, a 2000 GMC Sierra pickup truck driven by Edward Casey McCoy at a high rate of speed northbound on Coronet Road ran through the stop sign at the intersection of Shepherd Road and Coronet Road near Lakeland and struck a red 2006 Chrysler Sebring that was lawfully traveling through the intersection. The force of the impact forced both vehicles 150 feet north of the intersection and caused both vehicles to roll onto their roofs. As a result of the crash, three passengers in the Chrysler received fatal injuries.

Edward McCoy was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center (LRMC) with several broken bones. A strong odor of alcohol emanated from McCoy at the crash scene and at the hospital. Deputies obtained a warrant for blood toxicology results for McCoy’s blood which indicated he had a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .234gm/dl. Blood alcohol content is defined as the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood per 100 milliliters (ml) of blood. In Florida, the BAC limit is .08, which that means that anything over .08 ml of alcohol per 100 ml of blood is considered “under the influence” and it is against the law to drive under the influence. McCoy’s BAC was nearly three times the legal limit.

56-year-old Dorothy Operhall of Mulberry, 48-year-old Melina Helbig of Rochester, PA, and 51-year-old Leonard Simmons of Mulberry (Dorothy’s common law husband/live-in boyfriend) were declared deceased at the scene of the crash. 50-year-old Robert Helbig, Jr., of Rochester, PA (Melina’s husband) was transported to LRMC; he remains in the hospital and is in very serious condition as of Friday, May 3

Lake Wales, Florida – Drivers are urged to use caution today while they travel  westbound on Central Ave. in Lake Wales. Crews are currently working to remove a power pole and one lane is blocked and others may be blocked once they removal starts.

Remember to drive carefully!

Lake Wales, Florida – LAKE WALES – Teachers of the Year and Support Employees of the Year are being honored by schools in the Lake Wales Charter School system.
Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary Teacher of the Year is Rosalyn Layton, a kindergarten teacher. Support Employee of the Year is terminal operator and secretary Sharon McClure.
Hillcrest Elementary Teacher of the Year is physical education coach Debbie Knuth. Support Employee of the Year is Cheryl Donaldson, financial and principal’s secretary.
Janie Howard Wilson Elementary Teacher of the Year is Tiffany Weaver, art. Support Employee of the Year is Brianna Cole, paraprofessional in a classroom for autistic students.
Polk Avenue Elementary Teacher of the Year is Kristine Shollenberger, third grade math and science. Support Employee of the Year is Jenny Gilbert, paraprofessional for Exceptional Education inclusion students.
Edward W. Bok Academy Teacher of the Year is Josh Fell, a science teacher. Support Employee of the Year is Tami Lefstead, administrative assistant.
Lake Wales High Teacher of the Year is Allie Kapphan, science, physics and cross country coach. Support Employee of the Year is Carol Floyd, student support paraprofessional.
These Teachers of the Year and Support Employees of the Year will be recognized Monday, May 6 during a celebration sponsored by the Polk Association of Charter Schools. The event will be held at the Auburndale Civic Center, and is being coordinated by Berkley Accelerated Middle School.

Auburndale, Florida – At approximately 2:40 am, on Thursday, May 2, 2013, 27-year-old Jack Edmund Darley Jr., DOB 08/12/1985, of  4th Street Polk City, was traveling southbound on Berkley Road approaching Gapway Road in a white, 1995 Chevrolet Blazer when for unknown reasons, Darley lost control and started to slide sideways while negotiating the curve.

The Blazer struck the curb on the west side of the road sideways, then rolled and went airborne. The Blazer then struck a fence and a tree and came to rest in a drainage area on the west side of Berkley Road. Darley was ejected from the vehicle and came to rest in the middle of the intersection of Berkley Road and Strickland Lane. It was raining in the area and the roads were also wet.

Darley was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center where he is currently listed in critical condition.

Charges are pending toxicology.

Lakeland, Florida – On April 2, 2013, Lakeland Police were contacted by alert school personnel in reference to disturbing information they had seen on a student’s notebook. Upon learning of the information the school resource officer immediately made contact with the student and began an investigation. Through the investigation, it was learned that the student, along with two others, were making plans to cause “chaos” at Sleepy Hill Middle School.

Because of the actions of school personnel and the Lakeland Police Department, a potential crisis at this school may have been interrupted.

The students are 12 and 13 years old and have been arrested and charged with Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Battery and Conspiracy to Construct Destructive Devices. Police do not believe there are any other students involved.

The Lakeland Police Department and Polk County Public Schools take it very serious when potential threats to the safety of schools, and the children that attend them, come to our attention. The partnership we have with school officials will ensure that we do everything possible to keep our children and community safe from harm.

Lakeland, Florida – At approximately 6:56 pm, on Sunday, May 5, 2013, 55-year-old Christina Brown Partanna, DOB 07/29/1957,  12th Street, Zephyrhills, was traveling southbound on Old Dade City Road, near Rockridge Road, on a 2003 Purple Honda motorcycle.

Partanna was traveling in the lead of a pack of other motorcycles which were being operated by her brother in-laws.  According to witness information, Partanna was slightly ahead of them and started around the curve at the Old Dade City, Rockridge Road intersection at about 30 MPH.

When Partanna’s relatives negotiated the curve, they could no longer see Partanna on the roadway.  They turned around and found Partanna had struck the guardrail and was ejected from her motorcycle.  She was not wearing a helmet.  She died at the scene.

Winter Haven, Florida -Polk County Sheriff’s Office Computer Crimes detectives received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the possible transmission of a child pornography video from a residence in Winter Haven.

On May 3, 2013, PCSO detectives executed a search warrant at 845 Avenue F, NE, Winter Haven, home of 36-year-old Rayborn Williams, DOB 09/01/1976.

Williams admitted detectives would probably find child pornography on his computer. Williams also admitted to using video chat and chatting with underage girls (children) online. Williams told detectives he would masturbate while video chatting with children.

An on-scene preview was conducted on the suspect’s desktop computer which revealed images of child pornography depicting children engaged in sexual acts with adults and other children and/or displaying their genitals in a lewd manner. The preview also revealed three videos of animals engaged in sexual acts with humans.

Williams was charged with four counts of Possession of Child Pornography and three counts of Possession of Obscene Material.

He was booked into the Polk County Jail on no bond.

The DailyRidge.Com has started to feature one recipe every Monday that we think our friends and subscribers would love to eat! This recipe is so easy and anyone can make it! We are positive your friends will ask you why you don’t make these more often and again they are EASY! Please try it and let us know how it goes at your next dinner or party!

• 8 oz. Mozzerella Cheese, shredded or diced
  
• 1 pt. Grape Tomatoes
• 3 tbs Olive Oil (Extra Virgin)
• 1 tbs Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 loaf Italian Bread
• 6 tbs Basil Pesto

Directions

Preheat oven to 400° F.

1. Toss mozzarella, tomatoes, 2 tbs olive oil, and balsamic vinegar in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Brush each half of bread with 1 tbs olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake on a lined baking sheet until slightly toasted, about 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven.
3. Brush 3 Tbsp. pesto on each half of bread. Divide the mozzarella mixture on top of the pesto on each bread half.
4. Bake for 7-9 minutes until cheese starts to melt and the tomatoes are warm throughout. Remove from oven and slice each half into six pieces

Auburndale, Florida – At 7:46 pm, on Friday, May 3, 2013, deputies responded to 3921 Owens Road, Auburndale and made contact with one of the residents, Randall Keith Huggins, DOB 12/31/1963. Deputies told Huggins they had received information about possible drug activity and Huggins agreed to allow deputies to search the property.

While waiting on Huggins to secure loose dogs seen on the property, Bernice Mae Walskey, DOB 10/23/1957, arrived. Walskey also denied having drugs on the property.

A PCSO K-9 assisting with the investigation alerted to the odor of narcotics in Walskey’s vehicle. When deputies searched the vehicle, two large bags of a green leafy material were located. The material was identified as “Hawaiian Haze and Orange Krush” herbal alternatives to marijuana. Additional items used for packing and distributing illegal narcotics were also located.

While conducting the drug possession investigation, deputies contacted PCSO Agriculture deputies and PCSO Animal Control Officers requesting their assistance with 47 dogs found on the property. The dogs were confined in cages stacked on top of each other inside the residence in deplorable conditions. The dogs were standing in their own feces and urine and were not provided food and water.

The odor of feces and urine was overwhelming inside the residence. The dogs had not been out of the cages and were not provided room for exercise or change of air. Many of the dogs suffered signs of malnutrition, skin conditions and fleas.

During the course of the investigation an additional fourteen pounds of a green herb and several bags of chemicals commonly used to produce synthetic cannaboid.

The animals were taken to the PCSO Animal Control facility. A veterinary evaluation is being conducting.

Huggins was charged with 40 counts of Animal Cruelty, and, Walskey charged with three counts of Possession of Listed Drug and 40 counts of Animal Cruelty.

Walskey bonded out of jail on May 5, 2013. Huggins remains in jail.

Every weekday around mid-day we will have the Polk Mugshot of The Day. The mugshot will be someone arrested in Polk County in the past couple of weeks. The mugshot along with the charges will be posted. Please remember these individuals are innocent until proven guilty.

LEON, CHRISTINA  M

DOB: 11/18/1981

Charge: FTA POSS CLONAZEPAM No Bond, FTA POSS DRUG W/O RX No Bond, FTA POSS DRUG PARA No Bond, POSS METH Surety$5000, POSS OF CLONAZEPAM Surety $2000, POSS DRUG PARA Surety $2000, WAOJ HILLS CO RESIST ARREST/RETAIL THEFT Surety $1000, WAOJ HILLSBOROUGH CO POSS CANNABIS Surety $500

The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of DailyRidge.Com or any employee thereof.

The DailyRidge.Com reserves the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner it sees fit comments that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, or is otherwise unacceptable.

Lake Wales Police Detectives are seeking information on the theft of a 2005 Nautique vessel which was stolen from Huston Motors, located at 21280 HWY27 N in Lake Wales. Sometime between April 20 and April 29, 2013 the suspect(s) gained access to the dealership by cutting a lock which secured a gate. Once gaining access to the lot the suspect(s) stole the vessel and the Ramlin Trailer the vessel was on. The vessel is black in color with silver writing “Air Nautique” on the sides.

Anyone having any information on the suspect(s) or the incident is urged to contact Detective Bill Raebig at (863) 678-4223 extension 264 or Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-8477.

Winter Haven, Florida – Winter Haven Police have arrested Antonio Demetrius Neal (DOB 8-2-67, LNA 1610 3rd St. NW, Winter Haven) on Attempted Second Degree Murder charges after a tip led them to a location in Auburndale.
On the afternoon of 5-6-13, Winter Haven Police Detectives and members of the Auburndale Police Department went to a home located at 530 Pilaklakaha Dr. in Auburndale and arrested Neal without incident. Neal was booked into the Polk County Jail and is being held with no bond.

Neal is accused of attacking the victim ( Arthur Tellis, of Winter Haven) who was trying to defuse an argument between the suspect and another citizen.
As Tellis attempted to talk to Neal to calm him down, Neal retrieved a butcher knife and lashed out at Tellis striking him in the side causing significant injuries. Tellis was taken to Winter Haven Hospital by a relative where he was admitted for serious injuries due to the stabbing. Tellis lost a large amount of blood due to the laceration from the butcher knife that went into his side approximately nine inches. At the time of this release, Tellis is listed in critical, but stable condition at Winter Haven Hospital.
An arrest warrant had been obtained for Neal for Attempted Second Degree Murder with a Deadly Weapon (L-F). Neal was considered extremely dangerous due to his violent history.

Authorities say three brothers have been arrested after three women who vanished about a decade ago in separate cases were found alive Monday in a residential area just south of downtown Cleveland, just a few miles from where they disappeared.

One of the women said she had been abducted and told a 911 dispatcher in a frantic call, “I’m free now.”

Police said one of the brothers, a 52-year-old, lived at the home, and the others, ages 50 and 54, lived elsewhere. Authorities did not release names and gave no details about them or what charges they might face.

Authorities described one suspect as a Hispanic male. They planned a news conference Tuesday.

Complete Article Here:

Undated File Photo

Auburndale, Florida – Police officers from Auburndale & members of the PCSO were at Stambaugh Middle School this morning after a bomb threat. According to Auburndale police Operations Commander Thrashy Tucker a hand written note was found in a bathroom. The school was searched and nothing was found.

Tucker would also say that after all that has transpired recently that every threat is taken seriously. The police are actively investigation who may have written and placed the letter in the bathroom.

Lake Wales, Florida – On April 23, 2013 Lake Wales Police Department recognized their volunteers at a luncheon hosted at The View 4141 in Lake Ashton. During this recognition luncheon Police Chief Chris Velasquez thanked the members of V.O.I.C.E. (Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Efforts) and the Public Safety Cadets for their many hours of hard work and commitment to the citizens of Lake Wales.

In between the dates of April 2012 – March 2013 the members of V.O.I.C.E. and Public Safety Cadets volunteered 3,936 hours providing a wide variety services. These volunteers provided assistance with clerical work, special events, patrolling, and other key areas of the Police Department. “The many hours worked by our volunteers are vital to the day to day operation of the police department. The services provided by our volunteers allows for our employees to focus more time on solving crime and putting offenders in jail. Our volunteers work in close partnership with the full time police department staff and the community. During the appreciation luncheon disassembled puzzles were placed on the restaurant tables. Without being prompted police department staff and volunteers began putting the puzzles together. This was to symbolize that all volunteers and full time police department staff work together as the pieces to complete the common goal of accountability, professionalism, and quality in our service to the citizens of Lake Wales.”

We would like to thank The View 4141 for hosting the Lake Wales Police Department 2013 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. The service was excellent, the food was delicious, and it will only take you eating there on time to understand why it is called “The View” because the view is gorgeous.

Children at Polk Ave. Elementary Make Headbands To Sell & Raise Money For St. Judes.

Lake Wales, Florida – Polk Avenue Elementary fourth grade students are working on a “leadership project” now through the end of May with the proceeds benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Students are designing, making and selling headbands, scrunchies and bracelets. They also are using their math and computer skills to keep track of inventory and sales.

The fourth graders were inspired by Kid President, a child about their age who has a disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Kid President (www.kidpresident.com) makes inspiring videos to encourage children and adults to “make their world more awesome.”
“Our students decided to make our world more awesome by making these things, selling them, and giving the proceeds to St. Jude’s for Osteogenesis Imperfecta research,” said Sydney Mercado, one of the fourth grade teachers E-mail Sydney.mercado@lwcharterschools.com for more information about

Merchandise will be sold at the farmers market in Downtown Lake Wales this Saturday!