Speed is to blame for the death of three young people who died in a horrific car wreck on Highway 98 in Lakeland Saturday night, just before midnight. Lakeland Police said Brittany Lewis, 24, Christopher “CJ” Stewart, 22, and Kathrin “Katie” Pitock, 22, all of Lakeland, died in that crashContinue Reading
The man suspected in the deadly Winter Haven home invasion has died, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said. Ricardo Garcia Gomez broke into the home of Paul McLees and Mary McLees, threatening the pair with a knife to get into their safe. McLees, 78, opened the safe, pulled the gun fromContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Education on Friday released school grades for more than 3,000 schools across the state with the bad news that the overall number of schools with “A” grades declined, according to the report. The Florida Standards Assessment introduced a more difficult grading system a few years ago and schools haven’tContinue Reading
The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH- Polk) advises residents of an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity in areas of Polk County. Two horses and one sentinel chicken have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus within the past two weeks. The risk of transmission to humans hasContinue Reading
The couple attempting to run from a Polk County sheriff’s deputy, but rammed their vehicle into his cruiser, dragging the patrol car into a ditch, have been identified. Cody Bridges, 19, of Plant City, was being sought for a felony warrant out of Hillsborough County for a stolen vehicle, according to theContinue Reading
At the Florida Wildlife Federation’s 79th Annual Conservation Awards Banquet to be held June 25, 2016, at the Courtyard Marriott Riverfront Hotel in Bradenton, ten outstanding Florida conservationists will be recognized for their conservation achievements. The Federation’s annual selection of conservation award winners is one of the oldest in theContinue Reading
Lakeland Police have identified the man found in the mouth of an alligator earlier this week in Lake Hunter. Richard Zachary Taylor, 72, was identified by his fingerprints, says police. The medical examiner is still conducting a toxicology report. The alligator was captured late Tuesday and authorities confirmed it had remainsContinue Reading
Officials in Polk County have reported a case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a horse this week. The eighteen month old, unvaccinated Quarter Horse had not been off the property in at least 6 months. Clinical signs began April 4th and the horse passed on the same day. The caseContinue Reading
In an undisclosed location in Polk County, beginning on Tuesday, March 29, through Monday, April 4, 2016, Polk County Sheriff’s undercover detectives, along with detectives and investigators from other agencies, conducted a week-long undercover investigation targeting online child predators and arrested 18 suspects. “Operation April’s Fools” included detectives and agents fromContinue Reading
