The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) issued a rabies alert for the Bartow and Loughman areas in response to raccoons that have tested positive for rabies last week. All residents and visitors in Polk County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population,Continue Reading
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, the ninth positive rabies case in Polk County for the year. On Monday, November 11, 2019, PCSO received a call from a resident in southeast Bartow whose two dogs had cornered a raccoon in her backyard.Continue Reading
Polk County Sheriff’s are are looking for an attempted murdersuspect linked yo a shooting in the Dawn Heights Drive area in Lakeland. According to witnesses, 34-year-old Marlon Tyrone Burgess shot a 20-year-old man after they met at another location in Winter Haven and Burgess drove the two of them toContinue Reading
The manhunt for murder suspect, 35 yr old Stanley Eric Mossburg AKA “Woo Woo,” according to Polk County Sheriff’s this morning. Sheriff Grady Judd made the announcement this morning. Mossburg was taken into custody around 5:10 a.m. this morning, Tuesday, October 15, 2019, by PCSO SWAT. He has been barricadedContinue Reading
Winter Haven Police in Florida are investigating two separate shootings that occurred Wednesday in the Florence Villa neighborhood, identifying the two men dead as Cody Hunt and Rorey Copeland. Public Safety Director Charlie Bird detailed that officers were on Palmetto Avenue 11:36 a.m. Wednesday investigating the shooting of Rorey Copeland,Continue Reading
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, the fifth positive Rabies case in Polk County for the year. On Sunday, May 12, 2019, PCSO received a call in reference to a Winter Haven resident who stepped on a bat that was on theContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has reported a confirmed Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case in a eight year old quarter horse in Polk County. The horse presented with symptoms on April 24 and was humanely euthanized due to poor prognosis. So far in 2019, Florida health officials have reported EEEContinue Reading
Florida is one of some 18 states experiencing a hepatitis A outbreak, reporting 1359 cases since 2018. The Tampa Bay area has been especially hard hit by the outbreak with five counties accounting for more than half the state total. Pinellas County has seen the most statewide with 300 cases,Continue Reading
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Tueday, April 9, 2019, the fourth positive Rabies case in Polk County for the year. On Saturday, April 6, 2019, PCSO received a call that a dead bat had been located inside a garage at a home on Longleaf CircleContinue Reading
Fans can meet with talk show host as she celebrates her latest release New York Times best-selling author Elisabeth Hasselbeck will host two Florida book signings where she will meet fans and sign copies of her new book, “Point of View: A Fresh Look at Faith, Work and Freedom” – named one ofContinue Reading
Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 14-year-old Dakota Hall of Lakeland Tuesday for one count written threat to kill or injure others. Hall, who was recently expelled from Lakeland Christian School (LCS), posted two threats via Snapchat indicating he would shoot and kill numerous students. According to the arrest affidavit,Continue Reading
A Lakeland school principal recently earned a state-wide “Principal of the Year” award, praised for his inclusion of technology into the daily learning processes. Lawton Chiles Middle Academy Principal Brian Andrews told Bay News 9 that he’s always reading technology-related news stories, searching for new ideas and devices that studentsContinue Reading
While voters will take to the polls in Pinellas, Manatee and Polk counties to cast ballots for mayor and/or various referendums, the big race in the area is in St. Pete: Rick Kriseman, the mayor of St. Petersburg versus the former mayor Rick Baker taking back the office. The two candidates have raised $2.6 millionContinue Reading
A 26-year-old Lake Wales man has been arrested in connection with a homicide that occurred in October, police say. Detectives with the Lake Wales Police Department have linked Julian William Bird to the shooting death of Mohammad Allam. Police say that Bird and another man robbed Allam on October 27, then shotContinue Reading
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Lakeland man for the death of a 74-year-old woman was hit and killed by a vehicle earlier this month. Jarvis Kendrick, 37, of Lakeland, was charged with one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, and one count of tamperingContinue Reading
Investigators in Tennessee Monday found a 4-year-old girl who disappeared from her central Florida home on Saturday, and said the former family friend accused of kidnapping her is now in custody. Rebecca Lewis and her kidnapper, “West Wild Hogs,” were located in a vehicle near a Memphis hospital. A nurse recognized theContinue Reading
Three employees of a Lakeland Walmart store are now facing manslaughter charges after an investigation into a shoplifter’s death. Police identified those arrested as Nathan Allen Higgins, Crucelis Nunez, Randall Eugene Tomko and charged them with the manslaughter death of Kenneth Edger Wisham. On Thursday, Lakeland Police arrested store support manager Higgins,Continue Reading
Polk County police have arrested the president of the Kathleen High School Athletic Booster Club for abusing purchasing power and stealing funds. Identified as Aaron Wilborn, Polk Sheriff Grady Judd detailed the case for the media and members of the community. Investigators say Wilborn stole more than $9,800 from the Kathleen High School AthleticContinue Reading
Attorney Edgardo Martinez, of the Law Offices of Edgardo Martinez, LLC, opens two satellite offices to better serve clients. Immigration attorney Edgardo Martinez, founder of the Law Offices of Edgardo Martinez, LLC, recently opened two satellite offices. The new offices are located at 1102 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland, FL,Continue Reading
Police in Lakeland are looking for the murderer in the shooting death of Johnathan “Jay” Charles-Pierre, pronounced dead last night, just before 11 p.m. Monday. Officers responded to the report of gun shots to find Charles-Pierre, 35, dead with gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The home, located at 940 CastleContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Education named Jessica Solano its Teacher of the Year and spoke to the press today. “It was complete shock,” she said. “It was really surreal. You kind of listen to it and you’re thinking, ‘They did not just say my name.’ But they did, so itContinue Reading
