BARTOW — As teams gathered on their respective side after shaking hands following the final out in the Class 6A Bartow coach Glenn Rutenbar kept pointing at Durant wanting his players to watch the scene unfolding in that Durant was celebrating a district title after hanging on for a 4-2 victory on Wednesday night The loss was the first for Bartow in a district championship game since 2010 when the Yellow Jackets lost to rival Lake Wales Bartow won 13 consecutive district titles since that loss I want you to watch them because they just beat you Softball: No-hitter by Lake Wales' Conroy leads all highlights from district semifinals How much watching an opponent celebrate a district title on their home field will be determined in how the Yellow Jackets respond the fielding has been better and the team’s hitting and pitching has been good overall it looks like what happened against Durant a lot of discipline issues and a lot of the ball in the air,” Rutenbar said Bartow will advance to the regional playoffs and still could hang on to its No 3-seed Lake Howell plays a weak Oviedo team (4-21) in its district championship game 4-seed Bloomingdale lost to Durant in the district semifinals Bartow won its first state title in 1997 after reaching the playoffs as a district runner-up to Lake Region beating Lake Region in the championship game but the Yellow Jackets have things to clean up before they can think of any more titles The mental mistakes started early when starter Brooklyn Tyson was called for multiple illegal pitches in the first two innings hit a batter and allowed two hits in 1 2/3 innings Lennix Ullrich’s two-run single in the second inning gave Durant a two-run lead Ryleigh Knowlton replaced Tyson and settled things down She allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts and was solid overall one of the runs came in on another mental mistake Betty Oderio doubled home Jenna Helfrich to make it a 3-1 game in the fifth Then when catcher Lexi Hayford was walking the ball back to Knowlton Oderio raced home with no one covering the plate as timeout wasn’t called Bartow managed just one hit through six innings stole second and third and scored on a passed ball Bartow nearly pulled off a two-out rally in the seventh B Horsley singled with one out and advanced to second on a groundout She scored when Kynley Quartermain reached on a bloop pop fly that was dropped by second baseman Giana Lopez in shallow right field Emma Huffman reached on an error and Niamah Johnson singled to load the bases Knowlton then hit a hard grounder down the third-base line that was stabbed by third baseman Leanne Allen after three innings but rallied and was on the verge of victory after taking the lead in the sixth tied the score and the team battled for three more innings before Moore Haven prevailed with a 10-7 victory on Wednesday night in the Rural Camryn Prowant stole home with the go-ahead run and Moore Haven added two more runs in the top of the 10th inning Fort Meade scored three times to take a one-run lead N Jy’Kia Faulk and Nakaia Pinkston walked to lead off the inning and later scored on an error to tie the score Ryleigh Grace later singled home Makayla DeLeon with two outs to take a 6-5 lead DeLeon went 4 of 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Miners Marleigh Carroll went 1-for-3 with two RBIs 2025 at 9:12 AM EDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBARTOW (WWSB) - A Polk County teacher and football coach at Bartow High School was arrested for inappropriate conduct towards females students has been charged with Lewd Offense against a Student by an Authority Figure (F2) Lewd and Lascivious Touching of a Minor (F3) A parent came to deputies after discovering Eden had spoken to her daughter inappropriately when the student met with him to perform extra-curricular work for community service hours Eden had offered the community service hours to the student and as she was with him the student had told her parents that he began discussing his sex life The student told him she was not comfortable the the topic but still wanted to be intimate with the teacher the female victim went back to perform more community service As the victim was helping Eden break down boxes her hoodie jacket got caught on one of the boxes and the zipper broke open Eden responded by reaching out and unzipping her jacket all the way at which point she told him that she was uncomfortable—the only clothing she was wearing underneath the hoodie was a bra The victim walked into a separate locker room area to change and told her repeatedly there were no cameras there The victim told Eden she was uncomfortable at which time Eden asked her not to report the incident The student reported the incident to her parents that evening and then to school administrators the next day Eden said that he had given her a t-shirt and that she had asked him to help fix her zipper Sheriff Grady Judd had strong words for the teacher “Not only is this highly inappropriate behavior by a teacher imagine just how frightened this student was Here was the head football coach who was already discussing lewd behavior then following her into a locker room where he remarked there are no cameras We are not going to tolerate anyone - especially school teachers and coaches - preying on our children.” detectives interviewed two other female students One student reported that Eden told her there were no cameras in the locker rooms and how it would be “easy to do certain things in there.” He also stated that he was popular and that another teacher wanted to have sex with him in the locker room The other student told detectives that Eden asked her what she wanted to do when she graduated - she told him that she wanted to go to college and be an obstetrician/gynecologist Eden told the student that he himself would be a good Ob/Gyn because he liked to perform oral sex on women He then asked the student if she wanted to earn community service hours and will have a first appearance hearing on Thursday Please direct your inquiries regarding Eden’s employment to Polk County Public Schools Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More BARTOW, Fla. — Starting this month, 16 red-light cameras will be up and running across the city of Bartow will be placed at the following eight intersections: City leaders plan to launch the program Monday speeding through red lights at several of the main intersections Though the footage was recorded during a traffic study last year says it’s a perfect example of what can happen on the road People run the red lights and even though we have the arrows Stephens says she’s learned of several car accidents nearby She says one fatal incident involved her new hire who was struck by a driver while riding her bike on East Van Fleet Drive This is why she says she couldn’t be more relieved that the city of Bartow is launching its red-light camera program some people took to Facebook to share their disappointment saying the cameras are excessive and often inaccurate One resident even created a petition in hopes of stopping the program Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker stands behind it It’s a force multiplier for us as far as I can’t have my officer at every intersection all the time Traffic is a big issue in Bartow and so we’re trying to make it safer for everyone.” Walker says roughly 2.2 million drivers make their way through the city every year The cameras are intended to help reduce the number of angle crashes at each intersection Officers will review the footage daily to check for violations Walker says each violation will result in a fine of up to $158 “Probably will be used for infrastructure improvement we have roads that need to be improved so that’s where I see it probably going,” he said she says she’s looking forward to the sense of peace the cameras will bring to the community There’s no place you need to be that that’s urgent and if it is The red-light cameras will go live on April 21 notices of violations will be sent out starting May 21 The Polk County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) and Bartow Police are investigating a shooting that injured a deputy and an officer The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Atkins Building Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said around 11:30 a.m. was allegedly holding his parents against their will in a Bartow home all day long you're not God.' He held them against their will He took their cellphones," said Sheriff Judd Volz's father convinced his son to let him go to work at Lowe's Sheriff Judd said that Bartow Police and PCSO deputies responded to the area and located the suspect Sheriff Judd said Volz shot a Polk County deputy and also shot at the deputy's patrol vehicle Volz then got into a gunfight with law enforcement and shot a Bartow Police officer in the chest which Sheriff Judd said saved the officer's life "Had it not been for the great equipment that [Bartow Police] Chief Walker provides we would have a dead Bartow Police officer this evening," Sheriff Judd said The deputy and the officer were taken to the hospital and have since been released The suspect was shot multiple times and died from injuries and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Latest Polk County News from ABC Action News Report a typo The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to provide a high-quality education for all students Laura Simpson and Leo Longworth all voted in favor of continuing the practice Mayor Trish Pfeiffer and Vice Mayor Tanya Tucker voted to stop it Simpson was disappointed but not surprised by the passage of the state bill The Bartow majority knew at the time of their vote in March that the ban had been part of the state farm bill during this legislative session “We knew that all along that that was a possibility,” Simpson said “And it is unfortunate for those in our community who do depend on the fluoride treatment that they receive through the water.”   “But I will be dedicated to trying to find ways for our city to continue to provide services for those in the community that need assistance with their dental care and fluoride access,” she said While it may be too soon to say what type of public health campaign can be mounted for those within Bartow who struggle to maintain good dental health Simpson said such a campaign would likely be in partnership with local nonprofits 'Consumer choice'Pfeiffer agreed with the language contained in the state legislation and pointed out the bill covered more than just fluoride “It is a no additives in drinking water for ‘consumer protection and consumer choice’ part of the bill I agree with,” she said "There is plenty of concerning evidence to not take a chance with people’s health.”  Pfeiffer also prefers educating the public instead of adding fluoride “We can be just as effective with education campaigns as opposed to medicating water that we have no control over consumption which very often leads to over the presumed safe limit,” she said “This is the only medication that has no regulatory mechanism for over medicating.”  The practice has become a hot topic after a federal court ruling in California in September called on the EPA to strengthen its regulation of fluoride in drinking water as it poses "unreasonable risk of injury to health or environment."  The report studied fluoridation in foreign countries with much higher exposure levels But supporters of fluoridation say the National Toxicology Program's report studied fluoridation in foreign countries —including Canada Pakistan and Mexico — where fluoride levels are much higher than what's allowed in the U.S The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services currently suggests that communities add fluoride to bring their drinking water to 0.7 mg/L The World Health Organization recommends fluoride levels not exceed 1.5 mg/L The Environmental Protection Agency recommends families don't drink water with fluoride levels higher than 2 mg/L Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in the soil. It can be found in groundwater and many foods, according to the National Institutes of Health The mineral can inhibit or reverse the initiation and progress of tooth decay and stimulate new bone formation The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics point to research that found fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25% in children and adults some have begun questioning the continued need for fluoridated water given the prevalence of fluoride in toothpaste and other dental products and its natural occurrence in water and food Higher levels of the mineral are found in brewed tea and coffees according to the National Institutes of Health ranging from 0.07 to .22 milligrams per serving The only communities in Polk County that are still adding fluoride are: Winter Haven voted to stop the practice in November. Lake Alfred followed suit shortly after, and Lakeland voted to end it in March This story contains previously reported material by Ledger reporters Paul Nutcher and Sara-Megan Walsh — Bartow High School's head football coach was arrested for inappropriate behavior towards female students The Polk County Sheriff's Office stated that they launched an investigation on April 2 after a parent reported inappropriate conversations that Tyler Eden had with their 16-year-old daughter when she met with him to perform extracurricular work in exchange for community service hours Eden has also been a PE teacher at the school since 2023 Detectives interviewed students and a school administrator during their investigation and learned that Eden asked a student if she wanted to earn community service hours by helping him with his athletic chores The student agreed and headed to the locker room PCSO said that while the victim was sorting football helmets at Eden's direction he talked to her about a teacher who "wanted to have sex with him" in the locker room The victim told Eden that she didn't want to talk about that telling her that he was married but still wanted to engage in sexual activity with the teacher the victim returned to perform more community service she asked Eden if she could have a t-shirt to put on so she could cover herself up The victim said Eden then reached out and unzipped her jacket all the way Eden repeatedly tried to "fix" the jacket despite the victim telling him she was uncomfortable Inappropriately touching children is even worse," said Sheriff Grady Judd she said Eden was standing behind her and watching Eden complimented her bra and told her repeatedly that there were no cameras there She told Eden again that she was uncomfortable and Eden asked her not to report the incident “He violated all the ethics and morals of our community and the law We’re supposed to trust teachers,” said Judd PCSO said the student told her parents that evening and then the school administrators the next day Eden told administrators that he only provided the student with a shirt when he was informed that he was being placed on administrative leave he stated that he "wanted to admit something" and told staff that he had attempted to help fix the victim's zipper at her request so that’s very concerning,” said Farmesha Morris “Teachers should protect them while they’re in their care Detectives interviewed two other female students during the investigation One reported that Eden told her there were no cameras in the locker rooms and that it would be "easy to do certain things in there." He also told her a similar story about another teacher wanting to have sex with him The second student told detectives that Eden asked her what she wanted to do when she graduated to which she replied that she wanted to attend college to become an obstetrician/gynecologist Eden told the student in graphic language that he himself would "be a good gynecologist" because he liked to perform oral sex He then asked the victim if she wanted to earn community service hours “It’s unconscionable that an educator and coach would engage in this kind of behavior with students This individual has shown that he cannot be trusted and deserves to face justice for his actions We commend the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and for taking action to protect students," Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid said PCPS said in a statement that they are terminating Eden’s employment due to the arrest and he will have no further involvement with students Eden was arrested and charged with lewd offense against a student by an authority figure He was booked into the Polk County Jail and will have a first appearance hearing on April 17 Two law enforcement officers are injured and a Fort Meade man is dead after a gunfight broke out outside Lowe's Home Improvement in Bartow on the afternoon of April 18 Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said the Bartow Police Department received a 911 call shortly before 4:30 p.m The incident started when Volz got into a verbal argument with his parents in their shared Fort Meade home Friday morning Volz threatened him and pointed a gun at the man's forehead Volz held his parents hostage in their Fort Meade home starting about 11:30 a.m Judd said he made threats to kill his parents speaking with references to how he was Jesus and God Volz is known to local law enforcement as "long-term drug addict," Judd said said he needed to go to his work shift at Lowe's Volz said he needed to run some errands as well and agreed to drive him to Bartow 'Go to Bartow and kill a lot of people anyway,' " Judd said.The first stop involved Volz purchasing drugs from a man in Bartow the father went inside and immediately told his co-workers what was happening and after a short period of time Volz came into the store looking for his father Bartow police officers and Polk deputies arrived at the scene including a drone operator to help locate Volz he saw Volz walking between Florida Department of Transportation offices and Lowe's instructed him to stop or threatened to stun him Volz ran around the corner of the building pulled a gun and opened fire on law enforcement officers was shot clean through the forearm of his gun hand Bartow Police Officer Mark Sills was shot in the chest but the bullet was stopped by his ballistics vest Law enforcement officers fired in return at Volz Both law enforcement officers were taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center for treatment of their injuries Both are in good condition and "good spirits," according to Judd Volz was taken to Bartow Regional Medical Center where life-saving measures were taken but he died of his injuries and the 10th Judicial Circuit Officer-Involved Deadly Incident Task Force will investigate what happened will be forwarded to State Attorney Brian Haas for a separate investigation and review Judd said there will be no further updated information on the shooting released over the Easter weekend Voigt pleaded guilty April 3 to a second-degree murder charge and an attempted first-degree murder charge instead of facing a trial and the potential for a life sentence The shootings took place late on the evening of Dec and Voigt was taken into custody in Orlando in the early morning hours of Dec faced charges of first-degree murder with a firearm attempted first-degree murder with great bodily harm and shooting into a building he will serve a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison for the two most serious charges The State Attorney’s Office agreed to drop the third charge Bartow police officers arrived to find Marvin Voigt dead in the driveway after suffering a gunshot to his head The location of the family’s residence was redacted from the affidavit was inside the residence with a serious gunshot wound to her head She told police that her son shot the couple and fled the scene in a grey Toyota Camry she had given him as a gift Bartow police asked the Polk County Sheriff's Office to join the investigation A notice was issued to other law enforcement agencies in Central Florida for the vehicle Joseph Voigt was driving his vehicle was spotted in Orlando on International Drive Orlando police conducted a felony traffic stop and took Voigt into custody He later told deputies he had shot his parents, the Sheriff's Office said Joseph Voigt said his father was upset with him about spending the majority of his time playing video games and "riding" him about making something of himself and getting a job Sheriff Grady Judd said in the release that the rapid response of Bartow police led to the quick apprehension of the suspect Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker said the shooting was “tragic and senseless.” the head football coach and a teacher at Bartow High School charged with lewd behavior toward a female student The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that Eden has been charged with lewd offense against a student by an authority figure after a parent reported inappropriate conversations Eden had with their daughter Detectives learned that Eden asked a student if she wanted to earn community service hours by helping him with athletic chores The student agreed and reported to the locker room where Eden directed her to sort football helmets Eden talked to the student about a teacher who wanted to have sex with him in the locker room The student said she told the coach that she didn't want to discuss the subject telling the student that he was married but still wanted to engage in sexual activity with the teacher the student returned to the locker room to perform more community service The student was wearing only a bra under the hoodie and asked Eden for a T-shirt to cover herself with Eden responded by reaching out and unzipping her jacket the rest of the way and the student told him that she was uncomfortable Eden repeatedly tried to fix the jacket but eventually handed the student a T-shirt The student walked into a separate locker room area to change Eden was standing behind her and watching her He then complimented her bra and told her repeatedly that the area had no cameras The student told Eden she was uncomfortable The student reported the incident to her parents that evening and then to school administrators the next day PCSO investigators interviews students and a school administrator Walking with Lauren: Former legislator spotlights child abuse with group trek in Lakeland When asked by school administrators what occurred Eden first said that he only provided the student with a shirt When told that he was being placed on administrative leave One reported that Eden told her there were no cameras in the locker rooms and that it would be "easy to do certain things in there." Eden also told the student that he was popular and that another teacher wanted to have sex with him in the locker room and she told him that she wanted to attend college and become an obstetrician/gynecologist Eden said that he would be a good OB-GYN because he liked to perform oral sex on women Eden then asked the student if she wanted to earn community service hours Polk County Public Schools is “moving forward with terminating Eden’s employment based on this arrest,” spokesperson Kyle Kennedy said by email “He has been relieved of his duties and will have no further involvement with students.” “It’s unconscionable that an educator and coach would engage in this kind of behavior with students,” Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid said in the news release “This individual has shown that he cannot be trusted and deserves to face justice for his actions We commend the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and for taking action to protect students.” Bartow High hired Eden as a physical education teacher and coach in April 2023 he served as an offensive coordinator at University School in Ohio and Davenport High School He is an Ohio native and played football at Lake Erie College according to public records and his social media imagine just how frightened this student was,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in the release “Here was the head football coach who was already discussing lewd behavior Judd added: “We are not going to tolerate anyone — especially school teachers and coaches — preying on our children.” Eden was booked into the Polk County Jail and had a first court appearance hearing the afternoon of April 17 Judge Catherine Combee granted a request from the State Attorney’s Office to continue the case to the morning of April 18 with plans to file a request for pretrial detention Eden was due back in court Friday at 8:30 a.m Eden’s arraignment is scheduled for May 20 A recording said that his phone number was not in service A voicemail left with Eden's lawyer was not immediately returned The arrest is the second in the past week of a teacher or administrator at a school in Polk County for allegedly inappropriate behavior with a student Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518 Polk County and the City of Bartow agreed to design and build a joint fire station along Smith Lane near U.S 98 to provide fire services for the fast growing population in northern Bartow The station would provide first responder emergency services to North Bartow Highland City and unincorporated Polk County A heatmap presented to the Commissioners said in 2024 Station 9 in Bartow and the county's current Highland City station handled a combined 6,219 calls for service The contract states that its purpose is to avoid duplication of costs The Polk County Commission approved a contract April 1 to construct and maintain the $12 million joint-use Fire Rescue station costing the county $6.78 million and the city $5.22 million Bartow city commissioners had approved a similar contract in February The contract calls for a 60% county and 40% city split on the costs Polk County will provide the plans to build the estimated 19,432-square-foot facility with Bartow using 7,775 square feet and Polk $11,657 square feet The manpower and equipment will be equivalent to an individual city or county station The four acres for the station was purchased by the county in 2022 from Lakeland Regional Health Systems with the intent to replace the county's Highland City fire station Local government cooperation In introducing the project to the commissioners County Manager Bill Beasley said the joint-use fire station “represents a really solid good governance attitude about the county and how we relate to the municipalities.”   “I think it's really indicative of the strong working relationships that exist today across Polk County between county government and those municipalities and frankly I think it's what the citizens expect of us And I think this will bear out just how productive we can be.”  Bartow Mayor Trish Pfeiffer agreed with Beasley “We are excited about this co-location station,” she said “I think it is a good use of resources and land and where we needed to locate in the northern part of the city “Grateful that y'all were open to that and that we were able to work it out between our fire chiefs and just look forward to getting that thing online because we can use it right away Bartow has asked the state Legislature for funds to purchase another fire truck for the station City Manager Mike Herr said by email Monday "It made a great deal to our City leadership team and the Polk County leadership team to build one station for both County /Fire /EMS and City of Bartow Fire Services since Polk County chose a strategic location on the west side of US 98 just south of Smith Lane "The county was planning to close their Highland City station and relocate to this site to better handle their volume of calls that had been changing over time geographically," he added "That said our City has permitted a lot of single-family and multi-family developments on the east side of US 98," Herr said "Our evaluation of new growth and response times for service calls led us to believe that we needed a new fire station along the U.S "County taxpayers are benefiting from increased efficiency concerning calls for service and we are saving money by building one station," he said the County Commission adopted a resolution to create a Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee and approved 15 nominees to serve on the board The committee was established “to provide an independent and external perspective on the County’s Comprehensive Plan policies” and “to ensure that such policies align with the best interest of the public and the County Commission’s vision.”  “The red-light safety cameras have been shown in multiple studies to reduce redlight running and reduce serious T-bone and angle crashes at intersections,” said Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker who worked for Lakeland police during its implementation of a similar program panic-stop types of crashes can become more common at red-light camera equipped intersections these types of crashes are typically at lower speeds less serious and result in less severe injuries police and drivers are spared the time needed for traffic stops and the issuance of a traffic violation Walker said fewer injuries also mean less expensive and less frequent hospital visits for drivers Walker’s case for the program is backed up with studies Statistics collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for fiscal year 2022-23 showed a decrease in injury crashes and fatal crashes after red-light cameras are installed. The statistics also found a decrease in drivers running red lights, the Bartow website said How the program started Bartow is at least the seventh jurisdiction within Polk County that has decided to adopt red-light camera enforcement Lake Hamilton and Polk County Schools/Polk County Sheriff’s Office are using the safety program Lake Wales is looking at bids to implement the program The Bartow City Commission voted unanimously May 20 to authorize city staff to negotiate with Verra Mobility The safety program was first discussed between City Manager Mike Herr and the commissioners in April 2023 traffic crash statistics were collected and analyzed a request for bids advertised and a community chat held “Video was captured at these intersections that were chosen where vehicles ran the red lights frequently," Mayor Trish Pfeiffer said Wednesday At least one of the videos Pfeiffer described was recently posted to the Facebook account of fellow Commissioner Laura Mills Simpson “We even saw one pedestrian almost get hit Why wait until someone dies,” Pfeiffer said were installed at the following intersections which are marked with signs saying that cameras are in use:  Similar red-light safety programs across the U.S gathered 4.6 million red-light citations in 2023 indicating most violators do not repeat their illegal behavior The fine amount for a red-light safety camera violation $70 is remitted to the Florida Department of Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund $10 goes to the Florida Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund $3 to the Florida Department of Revenue for deposit into the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund Red Light Camera citations are not considered “moving violations," the city said and a citation will not affect a driver’s insurance rates The Bartow website also contains a page for frequently asked questions for further information about the program BARTOW — Bartow returned its top four singles players from last season’s regional championship squad With just one match remaining from a return trip to the state tournament Bartow repeated as district champions last week and advanced to the regional finals on Tuesday with a 4-1 victory over Strawberry Crest in the Class 4A Bartow will play Newsome on Thursday in the regional finals and they definitely wanted to make it back,” Bartow coach Lindsay Hanger said “They made lots of plans regarding it but still kept their heads down and played one match at a time.” District Tennis: Tennis: Hutto's 3-peat leads McKeel girls to team title plus more districts results Boys Tennis: Winter Haven avenges losses to George Jenkins to capture district title The Yellow Jackets felt confident going into the match against Strawberry Crest that they had a strong chance to advance “We were looking at the stats and comparing teams so we came in having the mentality that we're going to win this,” sophomore Montserrat Vasconez said The victory follows up last week’s district championship “It was a stronger district than last year and I think it felt really good for everyone because we're really fought our way through it,” Vasconez said Vasconez set the tone for Bartow as the first player to win her match all-county selection last season after going 12-2 Vasconez went 10-6 season but feels she’s improved She’s in a strong half of the county that includes state qualifiers McKenna Battilla of Auburndale and Hannah Windham of Frostproof but I feel this year I got more competitive matches,” Vasconez said which was amazing because she’s plays really good While Bartow returned its top four singles player from last year She had the hardest-fought win of the game and her come-from-behind victory allowed Bartow to clinch without playing doubles The final three singles spots are all seniors 3 where Tiffany Chan defeated Bhavya Pinapala “They're very high achievers off the court,” Hanger said of her team “All three of my seniors are going to the University of Florida for academics They’re are involved in community service projects so it's nice to see them be successful on the athletes side as well.” Girls Tennis4A-2: George Jenkins falls to NewsomeNewsome ended district runner-up George Jenkins’ season with a 4-0 victory in the Class 4A Piuri and Kassidy Duke defeated Knowlton and Juliett Davila and Victoria Pressley and Miranda Alvarez defeated Raigan Spradley and Layla Lopez 3A-2: Lake Wales falls to Wesley ChapelLake Wales fell short of the region finals with the closest score of the day losing both doubles matches in which each set starts tied 2-2 Sophia Evia and Saaya Felder defeated Makayla Matthews and Mary Updike and Ava Trigueros and Bella Palluzi defeated Grayce Parrish and Gracie Berkau Lake Wales got back in the match when Molly Lewis defeated Teju Kolapo at No Wesley Chapel declined to play the tiebreaker after clinching the match McKeel lost just three games in the four singles matches that were completed and defeated Hernando 1; Briley Davis defeated Valentina Vega-Diaz 2; Leia Johnson defeated Snowanna Mazourek and Ashley Operderbeck defeated Georgia Downs McKeel’s Ciara Smith was leading Annabelle Chamberlain Jenkins to meet in region finalsWinter Haven and George Jenkins will meet in the 4A-2 region finals for the second year in a row as both teams won their semifinals match-up 2; Layton Kemp defeated Siddharth Muthukumar and Everett Whitehead defeated Darsheel Panchal and teamed with Dylan Mitchell to defeat Cabrera and Luke Baldemor The doubles matches begin with a 2-2 score Logan Bright and Brayden Mitchell defeated Cole Linthicum and Lander Feldman George Jenkins and Winter Haven will meet at 3 p.m in the 3A-2 semifinals and will play Wiregrass Ranch at 3 p.m The McKeel boys won four singles matches and defeated Nature Coast 3 singles match was called when McKeel won its fourth singles match with McKeel’s Colton Smith leading Colton Rostel Marie Carvajal has lived in Bartow since age 4 and is fond of its small-town feel But if a 2,245-home development is approved by Bartow she fears her idyllic upbringing will be lost for her kids as well as the city’s existing population of about 20,000 people The massive proposed community called Emilie Springs would be built in phases over the next five to 10 years Hearings on the developer’s plans could start as soon as April 28; the city has yet to confirm the exact date But residents such as Carvajal are not waiting for a hearing to begin voicing opposition to the developer's plans Carvajal decided to start a Change.org petition in opposition to the development The developer has submitted a land-use map and applied for a zoning change and annexation for Emilie Springs East and West north of State Road 60 and the Peace Creek canal including the two-lane SR 60 where the developer plans to put one of the subdivision entrances “I don’t know where they want all these people to go,” Carvajal said adding 2,445 homes adds roughly 5,000 more cars to Bartow's streets ― at an average of two cars per dwelling ― and 10,000 more people to its population She also said the city told her about 27,000 commuters come and go each day to jobs in Bartow She was concerned about statements that the children who move into Emilie Springs would attend existing schools in the area and I decided to start the petition because I felt like that was a good place to start,” Carvajal said “I've never done anything like this before,” she said “I'm not a politician; I'm not anything really Her concerns were amplified by other residents on the City of Bartow’s Facebook page as comments about the development rose exponentially this week Many were upset that the project’s land development engineer hosted a community meeting but few residents were aware of the meeting Approvals for portions of the Emilie Springs land to be developed have been denied twice at the county level The Clear Springs Emile East and West Project would require Bartow to approve a voluntary annexation request a comprehensive plan amendment and an application to rezone land The latest application and site plan were submitted by CBD Real Estate Investment And while the proposal has yet to be heard at an advertised public meeting who say the city did not publicize the development team’s meeting on Tuesday with land engineering firm Stantec While many Facebook posts found fault with the lack of communications others sounded off about existing traffic congestion and the potential for additional flooding along the low lying Peace Creek watershed The outrage came to a boil by the weekend and by Monday the city had responded with a post of its own − about 24 hours before the developer's meeting “Some of you who own property within 500 feet of the project site received a letter from Stantec Consulting Services notifying you about a community meeting being held tomorrow night (March 4) from 6 - 7:30 pm The location of this neighborhood workshop will be Polk State College “Please note this is not a required public meeting by the City of Bartow as part of the entitlement process that governs these types of private sector projects,” he said “It is a public meeting the developer is holding on their own to better communicate with area residents about the nature of the project and to address questions from our citizens "I did not ask our staff to put a notice out on behalf of the City because it was not a sponsored City meeting that was required by the City regulatory process,” Herr said “After reading many of your comments today I should have acted more proactively about this meeting so please accept my apologies for not having done so.” Herr added that the project will go before the Planning Commission and City Commission within the next 90 days “There will be plenty of time for citizens to express their point of view either in favor of the project or against the project.”  as residents took to the city’s webpage to air their grievances One Facebook friend of the city's page posted a link to all of Bartow's elected officials' emails and a sample email to send off in opposition to the housing development Others called to vote out current commissioners if they vote in favor of the development "If they (city commission) let this happen (annexation/development indicated above) what can we do to recall all of those who vote for this and hold elections to replace them?" one commenter wrote We have waaaay too many subdivisions popping up now and roads are getting worse and infrastructure just isn't there," she added More than half of the university’s 1,954 graduating students will walk in commencement this semester. The University of Alabama at Birmingham will host two ceremonies for graduating students Saturday 1,061 students are expected to walk in the ceremonies At least 1,954 students are eligible to graduate.  The first ceremony, for all graduate students, including master’s, educational specialist and doctoral, will be at 9:30 a.m. For fall 2024, the UAB Graduate School will confer the university’s highest degrees on 240 students from 23 states and 14 countries UAB provides accommodations for graduates and guests with special needs. Visit the commencement website for full details about the ceremonies parking and more. There is no limit on the number of guests who can attend the ceremonies Thirteenth Street South between Sixth Avenue and University Boulevard will be closed to through traffic Saturday.  Watch the UAB livestream of both ceremonies on Facebook and YouTube senior associate dean for Global and Women’s Health in the UAB Marnix E will carry the academic mace for both ceremonies Tita is a sub-specialist in maternal-fetal medicine and one of the country’s leading innovators on the topic For his contributions as a researcher and clinician and his service to UAB Tita was recognized with the 2023-2024 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award This is the highest honor bestowed by UAB’s academic health center on a faculty member who has advanced the frontiers of science and made outstanding contributions to education Sierra Frazier of Madison, Alabama, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with a minor in psychology will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the morning ceremony. Reagan Martin of Cullman graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the afternoon ceremony and Mary Parks HeersinkUAB President Ray L Watts will confer the 2024 UAB President’s Medal upon Marnix E The President’s Medal is one of the highest honors bestowed by UAB and recognizes individuals who have attained scholarly distinction and/or rendered distinguished service to UAB The President’s Medal is awarded to Heersink in recognition of his extraordinary vision leadership and generosity to UAB and the state of Alabama.  have supported UAB and numerous organizations and initiatives aimed at improving health education and economic development throughout Alabama and beyond Their efforts have forged strong partnerships in research patient care and education among leading universities a new conference center and supporting endowments this historic gift has been used to enhance and accelerate critical initiatives in the HSOM including leading-edge biomedical innovation in strategic priority areas and growth of international partnerships in global health — The city of Bartow is the latest to talk about removing fluoride from its drinking water During a meeting Monday, leaders considered recent guidance from State Surgeon General Dr Ladapo spoke against the long-held practice after Winter Haven commissioners voted 3-2 to remove fluoride from its water supply officials said they want to hold a workshop where they can hear from experts and have more time to discuss the pros and cons of water fluoridation Two commissioners raised concerns about what removing fluoride would mean for public health saying tooth decay can lead to serious health conditions "I have to feel better about voting to remove fluoride from water knowing that it affects people who are from marginalized communities who can't afford dental care - and there are a lot of people like that," said commissioner Leo Longworth Bartow Mayor Trish Pfeiffer said she thinks the health of the whole body is more important than that of just the teeth "If someone wants to treat their teeth that should be their choice," Pfeiffer said and I feel that if we're in a body to make decisions The mayor says she plans to reach out to Ladapo to ask him to attend the upcoming workshop “Water fluoridation in this country was the greatest public health intervention in the 20th century,” she said Prendiville started practicing dentistry in 2011 Decades before opening Prendiville Family Dental in Bartow she said fluoride improved generations of teeth she says it continues to benefit her young patients we have over 700 species of bacteria in our mouth that are constantly producing acids,” Prendiville said “Fluoride reinforces and compacts the crystalline structure of the tooth Ladapo acknowledged that fluoride supports dental health he claimed there are other ways for people to receive the mineral other than through water “Fluoridated toothpaste is widely accessible Fluoride mouthwashes are another option that can strengthen teeth without forcing people to systematically absorb fluoride we have issued new guidance encouraging Floridians to stop adding fluoride to their water supply.” The three-page document lists several studies showing that fluoride exposure has negative impacts on children’s developing brains and IQs But Prendiville says these effects are mostly seen in cases where people are not ingesting fluoride in moderation “It’s like anything in our diet — we don’t want to overdo it It keeps them out of emergency rooms and prevents major procedures at a very young age.” Prendiville said she hopes city leaders will take that into consideration before making a final decision According to Florida’s Department of Health Bartow is one of five cities in Polk County that still add fluoride to drinking water Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has been arguably the most vocal law enforcement official when it comes to speaking on cases and arrests within the 863 area code On Thursday morning, the well-known sheriff held a press conference regarding former Bartow (Florida) head football coach Tyler Eden who was arrested on three charges of lewd offense against a student by an authority figure lewd and lascivious touching of a minor and voyeurism Below is video of the press conference Judd held Thursday regarding Eden's arrest: Eden was the head coach of the Yellow Jackets varsity football team the last two seasons the school has tabbed Yellow Jackets' defensive coordinator Grady Morrell as the program's new head coach Bartow is scheduled to face Wiregrass Ranch on May 16 in a spring game and also slated to take part in a jamboree on the 17th at Lakeland's Bryant Stadium Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App -- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi ANDY VILLAMARZOAndy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007 writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. BARTOW, Fla. — The city of Bartow and Polk County are teaming up to build and share a new fire station. Officials say the plan has been in the works for more than a year. Shane Evans, a third-generation firefighter, joined the Bartow Fire Department in 2016. In recent years, he says responding to calls has become more challenging due to the city’s rapid growth, especially on the north side of town. “We have more calls there now and it’s a little farther away for us because that’s the part of town that just blew up a little faster with housing, so it is important that we get closer and closer to that area to help with that,” he said. After hearing from Fire Chief Jay Robinson and firefighters like Evans, Bartow and Polk County leaders formed a plan to build a joint fire station. Right now, City Manager Mike Herr says the current station serves 53 square miles on its own. “That’s why we decided to really take a look at this location because it was very strategic, and it provided for efficient service,” Herr said. The joint fire station will be located on Smith Lane near U.S. 98. It will serve north Bartow, Highland City and unincorporated Polk County. Herr says the business agreement calls for both parties to split the construction costs. The city will pay $5.2 million, while the county will cover $7 million because it will need more space for EMS services. “At the end of the day, the citizens are going to be paying less because of this business model,” he said. “I think it’s a good deal. Response times will improve, and you know, we’re going to be very timely in terms of our ability to provide fire services to the north side of our community where we presently have growth and people moving in.” As for Evans, he says he’s looking forward to the added support. This way, he can keep doing what he loves at a time when efficiency can mean saving someone’s life. SearchSearchSunday, February 16Birmingham, Ala.3 p.m.UAB Photo by: Ken ShepherdUAB Hosts South Florida for Bartow Classic2/15/2025 12:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball Bucking the trend to eliminate fluoride from city water systems across Polk County the Bartow city commissioners voted 3-2 to keep the additive in the city's water system Mayor Trish Pfeiffer and Vice Mayor Tanya Tucker voted to remove it The decision comes amid controversy surrounding potential health risks associated with fluoride there is a pending Florida bill to prevent local governments from adding fluoride to water that could pass this year The practice has become a hot topic after a federal court ruling in California in September called on the EPA to strengthen its regulation of fluoride in drinking water as it poses "unreasonable risk of injury to health or environment." Opponents of the practice also point to a federal report from the U.S. Department of Health's National Toxicology Program analyzing other medical studies on how fluoride affects children's developing brains and IQs. The federal report linked high levels of fluoride in drinking water above 1.5 mg/L and total exposure in foreign countries with lower IQs in children, as USA Today reported. who has a history of working in healthcare debunked several of the popular positions held by fluoride’s detractors Simpson spoke at length about her research on the topic And Longworth wanted to keep fluoride to help kids from low-income areas Ball said at no point in the California case did it say to remove fluoride from the public water supply The case recommended the Environmental Protection Agency look into appropriate levels While the California case did say high levels of fluoride could be toxic, that was based on studies in Canada and Mexico and those results of have not been fully vetted, Ball said.  The suggested level of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is 0.7 mg/L and Ball said Bartow’s water comes out of the ground with a fluoride content of 0.25 to 0.30 “The study left fluoride on the table,” Ball said Simpson said she had read all the articles and studies and listened intently to people’s input on the topic “I truly have come into this topic unpersuaded,” she said "I have lived in Bartow my entire life and I like the water here This was not a mandate to remove fluoride.”  addressing opponents’ argument for giving residents a choice “What has always been my pet peeve is related to the issue of children They don’t get to choose what family they are born into Those who were born into low-income families So why should we choose to deprive them of a cavity fighting mineral and adults are depriving them of the choice to potentially remove fluoride from the city’s drinking water and expect them to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste Longworth said he knows of children too poor to afford toothbrushes Fluoride opposition Pfeiffer said she was disappointed to hear a majority of the commissioners’ stance was to keep the additive in the water especially as she is someone with health issues Tucker said her job as a commissioner was to listen to residents and vote in favor of what they want They said adding fluoride to one's drinking water supply should be a choice and the government was taking that decision away They also said city water utility workers were terrified of the chemical But the majority of commissioners each said no one had been injured from handling hyrdrofluorosilicic acid at Bartow’s utility during the current director’s 18-year career with the department the city has added hyrdrofluorosilicic acid to reach the recommended level of 0.7 mg/L since 2004 After Monday's vote, the only communities in Polk County that still fluoridate their drinking water are Bartow Lake Alfred stopped the practice in a unanimous city commission vote on Dec and Lakeland ended the practice on March 3 Winter Haven abruptly ended the practice at a City Commission meeting in November Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo visited that city and issued the first state guidelines to stop fluoridation Bartow, amid its own debate about whether to continue fluoridation, held a widely followed public forum on Feb American Fluoridation Society Johnny Johnson and dentists and medical professionals Information from previous reporting by The Ledger's Sara-Megan Walsh was used in this report Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application  Our beloved Father and brother passed away on April 23  A Gathering of Remembrance will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Monday with a Prayer Service to follow at 6:00 pm  A Funeral Service will be at 9:30 am on Tuesday followed by a Committal Service at 11:00 am at Fort Bliss National Cemetery  Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast  Please visit his online memorial at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Bartow has received an application to build 2,245 homes north of State Road 60 and the Peace Creek canal for a sprawling Emilie Springs residential community The application and site plan from CBD Real Estate Investment in Celebration seeks zoning changes and other approvals to build the homes, which have been previously denied The community would be separated into Emilie East and Emilie West The western section is currently within the city limits and comprises 560 acres Emilie East would require annexation for the 344-acre subdivision The first phase would likely be the first of five potential phases It would be seeking to build on 1,151 lots in Emilie West CBD Real Estate President David Waronker said about 92% would be single-family homes and 8% townhouses He called the development affordable market rate housing The Bartow City Commission could deliberate on the plans within weeks “They have a few things to correct in the application from our initial review,” said Bob Weigers The new plans will be twice the size of the previous Peace Creek Ranch proposal The prior proposal was denied three times because of incompatibility concerns The Emilie Springs proposal is now located immediately to the west of Clear Springs giving the developer more confidence of approvals CBD Real Estate is purchasing acreage from Clear Springs Land Co. and is seeking a comprehensive plan amendment and zoning Waronker has applied for a comprehensive plan amendment to change the future land use and a zoning change This project has been more than three years in the making The conceptual plan attached to his application it shows the primary access point as a new roadway from State Road 60 with a bridge over the Peace Creek Canal “It is a massive project,” Waronker said in the Growth Spotter report This project will improve the infrastructure The city has been seeking to expand for some time.”  Waronker expects this to be the most significant project the city has seen Waronker anticipates the project will take five to 10 years to finish building out and he will market it to national homebuilders he’s done business with before CBD Real Estate has several housing developments across Polk County The goal is to break ground in Bartow on the first 500 lots by the end 2025 The development will consist of four phases: the first phase will have 528 residential lots Emilie West is projected to have 1,151 lots consisting of 255 lots measuring between 40 feet and 60 feet Emilie East is expected to have 1,094 lots There will be three amenity centers on 8.18 acres in total a walking and biking trail and several parks Clear Springs: Governor approves special district to manage massive development in Bartow The schools closest to the development would be Union Academy Magnet School Floral Avenue Elementary School,Bartow Middle School and Bartow High School “This will be a $100 million gross revenue project for a builder,” Waronker told GrowthSpotter “This will be the third largest project in the county and the second largest project I have ever done in my history.”  He said the developments will include donated land for a police substation The site plans included extending Enterprise Boulevard to a four-lane road and building a bridge across Peace Creek to avoid wetlands and a third access point will be located on Gaskins Road CBD is hiring a consultant to conduct a noise level study throughout the property originating from the Bartow Executive Airport “We are being very sensitive to the residents city and county,” Waronker said in the report The application listed Alyson Utter of Anderson Lesniak Limited in Tampa as landscape architect Others include: Tim Talbott of Stillwater Environmental; Rob Cornelius of Geotech consulting firm Andreyev Engineering Inc surveyor Mike Lewis; project attorney Leonard Johnson of Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney in Tampa; and CDD attorney Carl Eldred This project is located south of The Ranches at Lake McCleod a multi-phase Lennar community just off Bomber Road More than half the 1,150 homes have been built at The Ranches of Lake McCleod “This is a highly developing area,” Waronker said in the GrowthSpotter report The commute to Tampa and Orlando will be pretty simple." "The bottom line is that you now have multiple studies the vast majority of studies that show very clearly an association between higher fluoride levels and neurotoxic communications director for the American Fluoridation Society speaks in favor of water fluoridation in Bartow on Tuesday "There is a mountain of fluoride information that has been put forward," Slott said "To pluck a few studies out and put them forward as fact is a mistake Residents listen to speakers during a Bartow City Commission workshop on fluoridation at the Bartow Civic Center Tuesday speaks in favor of water fluoridation during workshop Tuesday Fluoridation of the water has helped and "is needed," Johnson said saying the water helps strengthen teeth still under the gums while fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash treats those above the surface Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo listens to Kelly Parker speak in favor of water fluoridation during the workshop Tuesday in Bartow rebutted Ladapo's claim that easy access to dental supplies is an alternative to fluoridation Parker said many of her students didn't eat their first meal until they arrived at school and lacked easy access to basic needs Lakeland's Liz Suits held her infant son in her arms as she said she's upset she didn't have the choice whether to ingest fluoridated water while pregnant "It has been a concern of mine in how it's going to affect him," Suits said "It is considered a drug regulated by the FDA Any drug being ingested should be treated as a medical informed consent situation." "We've been calling it fluoride all night To me it's hydrofluorosilic acid," said Paul Childers a Bartow resident who works as a water treatment plant operator for the city "If the commissioners want it or not want it You are putting acid in your water that will dissolve concrete but you want us to drink it." Bartow City Commission workshop on water fluoridation at the Bartow Civic Center on Tuesday Bartow has always been a place we take take care of each other," Kelly Parker "If keeping fluoride will help those most vulnerable those without resources for annual dental care Bartow commissioners listen to speakers during a workshop on water fluoridation at the Bartow Civic Center Tuesday Residents listen to speakers during a Bartow workshop on fluoridating drinking water Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo spoke against water fluoridation during the workshop "Considering what's at stake and what we know from the science "Complexity is the friend of people who don't want you to think with your brain." Bartow commissioners listen to speakers during the workshop Tuesday While most were silent about their own opinions She made clear she's opposed to continued fluoridation read a letter of support into the record emphasizing Bartow's fluoridation is within the CDC's recommended guidelines and is ethically sound Frisbie cited medical research showing stopping fluoridation can put adults at triple risk of dental decay "Please don't allow activists and partisans to pull the wool over your eyes," he said practicing dentistry 35 years in Polk with offices in Lakeland "I help people who have the benefit of fluoride and those who don't have the benefit of fluoride I can tell you where fluoride is available; it's not magic." Paul said he estimates that in areas with fluoridated water he sees an average of one or two cavities per child Bartow commissioners listen to speakers during a workshop on fluoridation at the Bartow Civic Center Tuesday Justin Harvey speaks against water fluoridation during a City of Bartow workshop Tuesday "Let me start by saying to add fluoride to our water is to say God got it wrong," Bartow resident Marcia Brooks said I should be able to choose if I want to or not." Chris Russell of Gainesville said he had more than 20 years' experience working in water plants He said said the hydrofluorosilicic acid used to add fluoride "terrifies" him requiring gloves and extensive coverage to prevent it from touching his skin it's not required," Chris Russell of Gainesville said Dr. Ashley Malin, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, presented her own research, a May 2024 study on total fluoride exposure of 229 pregnant women living in Los Angeles and impacts on their children at age 3. Her study found fluoride was associated with neurobehavioral problems that include anxiety headaches and stomach aches with no known medical origin asked Bartow commissioners whether it could be put for a public referendum or will you give the people the choice?" she asked a Bartow native and water treatment plant operator said he agrees that hydrofluorosilicic acid is "one of the most hazardous chemicals" used in the industry "Water regulations are more stringent than they were a decade ago It's entirely possible the future of fluoride regulations could further restrict or prohibit its use," Eckert said a dentist with the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology presented medical research with Ladapo against fluoridation Wendy Pate speaks in favor of water fluoridation during a Bartow workshop Tuesday Bartow Commissioner Gary Ball speaks during the workshop Tuesday Bartow Mayor Trish Pfeiffer and Commissioner Leo Longworth listen to speakers during a workshop on fluoridation Tuesday "I don’t want other people with health conditions to be forced to take something in their water that will not help their condition," she said "I’m pretty convinced that just the makeup chemicalization of this chemical is not compatible with the human cells Residents listen to speakers during a Bartow workshop on fluoridation "In those children I’ve treated that were not exposed to fluoride there’s a great — anecdotally — a much larger preponderance of caries severe dental infections and also tax dollars to hospitals for dental emergencies due to dental infections that are 100% preventable."  Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Dr.Griffin Cole listen to speakers in favor of water fluoridation in Bartow on Tuesday Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo speaks against water fluoridation in Bartow on Tuesday Ladapo issued statewide guidelines against the practice during a stop in Winter Haven in November - about a week after Winter Haven voted to stop fluoridation Joel Boheimer, co-founder of Stand for Health Freedom, a health advocacy group in Naples, gave a presentation relying heavily on his group, GreenMedInfo for compiled information on fluoride and fluoridation Boheimer said his group's website showed fluoride has 26 adverse pharmacological actions and is potentially contributing to 91 diseases but did not provide further specific details Geoffrey Rintel speaks in favor of water fluoridation during a Bartow workshop Tuesday Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo poses for a photo with Bartow Mayor Trish Pfeiffer at a Bartow workshop on fluoridation Nine-time state softball champion Bartow in a 22-19 game When other coaches and fans heard the score they were incredulous and needed the score repeated that indeed was the score of Bartow’s victory over Sumner in its first game on Friday yet the Yellow Jackets went on to advance to the championship game a crucial bases-loaded error with two outs allowed Bradenton Inspiration to take the lead and the Lions went on to beat defending champion Bartow to win the 2025 Bartow Home of Champions Softball Tournament “We played a 22-19 game so that should tell you where we’re at,” Bartow coach Glenn Rutenbar 2025 Softball Preview: Here are Polk County's top 45 players to watch this season Top performer: Lake Region's Makenna Meadows emerging as Polk's top pitcher after 3 wins over state powers More: Consistent pitching key for defending champion Bartow in weekend softball tournament Bartow trailed 11-4 with both his starting pitchers struggling and not getting help defensively Bartow rallied with three runs in the fifth and 11 runs in the sixth to take an 18-11 lead then game up eight runs in the bottom of the sixth The Yellow Jackets answered with four runs in the top of the seventh and held on “That was the strangest game I’ve ever seen in my life,” Rutenbar said There were some wild defensive moments — one in Bartow’s 12-2 win over Plant City that allowed runs to score but Rutenbar described as something he hadn’t seen in his 37 years of coaching The costly error came in the championship game Starting pitcher Ryleigh Knowlton was struggling with the umpire’s strike zone as neither pitcher was getting the calls on borderline low pitches She walked the bases loaded with one out but nearly got out of the inning a fly ball to left was dropped allowing three runs to score and the batter to reach third Knowlton allowed an RBI double before getting out of the inning Rutenbar acknowledged there were positives from the tournament Brooklyn Tyson turned in back-to-back pitching gems — more on that below — and for the first three games “It’s all the inconsistent stuff and then not knowing what you’re doing.” Rutenbar said he needs to do a better job reinforcing what players should do in certain situations to help cut down on mental mistakes Lake Region finished in third place after losing 1-0 to Inspiration in the semifinals then beating Plant City in the third-place game Here are highlights from players and teams from Polk County in the two-day tournament Lake Region senior Makenna Meadows turned in the best pitching performance by a Polk County pitcher in the tournament She hurled a two-hitter and allowed just one unearned run with 11 strikeouts and no walks in the Thunder’s 1-0 loss to Inspiration in the semifinals Meadows also tossed a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts and one walk in Lake Region’s 5-3 win over Evangelical Christian Meadows had a big bat to go along with her pitching as she hit .500 with a pair of doubles and seven RBIs she went 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts and one walk in 13 innings and allowed just four hits Best Bounce BackBartow sophomore pitcher Brooklyn Tyson pitched one inning and allowed five runs on four hits with one walk in the 22-19 debacle on Friday Tyson then came back and pitched the second game on Friday that started at 10 p.m and she threw a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts She then pitched the semifinal game on Saturday morning that started at 10 a.m She allowed just two unearned runs with seven strikeouts and no walks Lake Wales trailed defending Class 2A state champion Fort Myers Evangelical Christian 5-2 on Saturday morning and rallied for one run in the sixth inning and three in the top of the seventh to take a 6-5 lead could not hold the lead as Lake Wales made a pair of errors in the bottom of the seventh Twice is Nice in Digging the Long BallAuburndale hit two grand slams in one game Lake Wales hit two home runs in one inning and Lake Region’s Kristin Aldridge hit two home runs in one game Rylee Bass’ grand slam in the third put Auburndale up 4-3 and Brylyn Miller’s grand slam in the top of the sixth put the Bloodhounds up 12-8 as they rallied from an 8-4 deficit with eight runs in the inning Lake Wales’ Keira Davis and Mattie Cockrell homered in the first inning to give the Highlanders an early 2-0 lead against McKeel In Lake Region’s 16-0 win over Winter Haven Kirsten Aldridge homered in the first inning and in the fourth inning and finished with six RBIs Lake Region: Batted .727 (8 for 11) with a double and seven runs scored Bartow: Batted .575 (4 for 7) with a double and five RBIs Auburndale: Batted .555 (5 for 9) with a double Lake Region: Batted .500 (7 for 14) with three doubles and seven RBIs Auburndale: Batted .467 (7 for 15) with six RBIs Fort Meade: Batted .467 (7 for 15) with four RBIs McKeel: Batted .428 (6 for 14) with two RBIs Lake Region: Batted .417 (5 for 12) with two doubles Lake Wales: Batted .417 (5 for 12) with a double and three RBIs Bartow: Batted .400 (6 for 15) with four RBIs Lake Region: Batted .400 (4 for 10) with three RBIs Fort Meade: Batted .400 (4 for 10) with four RBIs Lake Wales: Batted .385 (5 for 13) with one home run and three RBIs Fort Meade: Batted .385 (5 for 13) with four RBIs McKeel: Batted .385 (5 for 13) with two RBIs Fort Meade: Batted .375 (6 for 16) with 2 doubles and seven RBIs Bartow: Batted .375 (6 for 16) with two doubles and four RBIs — The City of Bartow is working to improve community safety by installing red-light cameras at intersections with high traffic volume so semi-trucks are commonly seen alongside commuters on the city’s streets “We have at least 100,000 people [daily] coming to Bartow Whether they’re coming here for municipal or county business or whether they’re traveling through here to be able to get to State Road 60 or U.S Videos from the Bartow Police Department show drivers running red lights along Highway 60 and Highway 17 The city has installed 16 red-light cameras at eight high-risk intersections for people to arrive safely and leave safely,” Herr said Each intersection is marked clearly with signs to alert drivers that cameras are in use ahead are installed at the following intersections: “This system is not formulated to validate safety but rather to act as a cash cow for private companies at the cost of everyday drivers,” said Jonathan Cavanaugh.Cavanaugh created an online petition to stop the red-light program There’s an endless way to solve this problem,” Cavanaugh said As long as you’re doing what you’re supposed to do obeying the rules and the law,” said Castadero Hudnel A man was killed in a collision involving an SUV and a tanker truck along State Road 60 near Bartow on Thursday night Polk County deputies and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to reports of an accident in the 3000 block of State Road 60 A black Honda Pilot SUV and a blue Peterbilt semi-truck and tanker had collided Detectives have determined the semi-truck was exiting a property on the south side of the roadway making a left turn crossing the eastbound travel lane of State Road 60 to head westbound The SUV was traveling east at a very high rate of speed and collided with the rear wheels of the tanker trailer The collision's impact lifted the empty 30,000-pound trailer off the ground and into the westbound lanes He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the impact The Sheriff's Office does not anticipate any charges as a result of the crash State Road 60 was closed in both directions for approximately four hours A judge sentenced a Lakeland man to 20 years in prison for a hit-and-run crash last year that killed a Bartow High School student received the sentence Thursday morning from Polk County Judge Michelle Pincket after pleading guilty in February to three counts including vehicular homicide and failure to remain at a crash involving death Zach Clabough, 18, was weeks away from finishing his senior year at Bartow High School when he was fatally struck by a speeding vehicle on Jackson Avenue while walking to school in the dark on March 27 the Florida Highway Patrol reported at the time Troopers learned that he had departed in another vehicle that belonged to him Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies found that car parked at the Brandon Mall and located Rosado inside the mall Rosado had sped away from Bartow High School that morning after being involved in a minor crash while delivering his 18-year-old daughter to school The State Attorney’s Office for the 10th Judicial District recommended a sentence of 45 years in prison died in September 2020 when a driver smashed through the wall of a convenience store in Winter Haven striking him in the pre-dawn darkness as he stood near the counter Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13 Access Church is celebrating a rebirth of sorts The Lakeland-based church will hold a grand opening Sunday for its new location, the former Bartow First Assembly of God Church at 915 S. Broadway Ave. It is the second expansion in seven months for Access Church, which launched a North Lakeland site in August life-giving season at our church,” said Jason Burns every once in a while you'll get a complaint from someone that Access is all about the numbers And it's been such a fun season of seeing our church grow seeing our church reach out into the community and then seeing God bless us and allow us to expand Bartow First Assembly of God opened in a 13,600-square-foot main building in 1990 according to Polk County Property Appraiser records The church thrived for decades before experiencing a decline in attendance Burns learned last year from the church’s pastor that the site was in danger of closing and that ownership would switch to the Assemblies of God denomination the congregation voted unanimously in July to become a satellite of Access Church Access purchased the property in November for about $780,000 is nondenominational but has a relationship with the Assemblies of God Since Burns announced plans last year for the expansion to Bartow some former Bartow First Assembly of God members have been attending services at Access Church’s main location in Palm Center at 4303 S “It’s been really great because so many of the people that were still there have made the drive and have found their home at our church,” Burns said As the Access Church staff searched for a pastor to lead the Bartow location they found a candidate with connections to Ryan Jordan Jordan had been a youth pastor years earlier to Derek Shackelford Burns said that he prefers to hire based on existing relationships as much as possible Polk district considers permanently shifting Alta Vista Elementary to new facility said he and Emily started as college pastors and then established and ran a church in Lake Mary Shackelford has been overseeing renovations to the former Bartow First Assembly of God Church The makeover has included exterior painting new carpeting and what Burns called “a more modern feel to the lobby.” Access also thoroughly upgraded the interior lighting “We took a beautiful building and we just made it more modern So our hope was just to take that legacy and build upon it for the future.” 'People are excited'All the activity has generated curiosity “We've been getting a lot of emails,” he said we've been getting a lot of people asking questions — When are we open A lot of people asking about youth groups.” The site also has an indoor basketball court and some Bartow residents have inquired about using it Shackelford will lead live services Sunday mornings at 9:30 and 11 at the Bartow site with the sermon streamed on screens from the South Lakeland church The Bartow church has held “soft opening” services the past two Sundays and a “night of worship” that drew capacity attendance He described the mood of congregants as “very excited just pumped to see what God's going to do at that location.” Access Church plans to hold 13 services on Easter “That (Bartow) location has been there for a very long time,” Shackelford said ‘My daughter was baptized in this location to see it have such a historic legacy in Bartow I think people are excited to see it kind of coming back to life.” BARTOW — Bartow coach Glenn Rutenbar is looking for one thing from his team this weekend in the Bartow Home of Champions Softball Tournament — consistency The two-day tournament features 12 teams in four groups and will be played on Friday and Saturday at Bartow High School and the 555 Softball Complex but it is hardly the same team that finished Class 7A runner-up as the team graduated seven senior starters And it’s in the pitching circle where Rutenbar is looking most for that consistency and Brooklyn (Tyson) was doing great,” Rutenbar said Both pitchers saw considerable action last season as Oxley’s backup on three hits with five walks in her first two appearances over 5 2/3 innings she has pitched 16 2/3 shutout innings over three appearances with 35 strikeouts and two walks Knowlton slumped to .235 batting after a strong start and had just eight plate appearances Back in the lineup consistently — she’ll play first when not pitching — she’s batting .435 as the team’s second-best hitter behind second baseman Niamah Johnson (.448) and 13 hits in 21 2/3 innings over her first four appearances with 20 strikeouts and just one walk having allowed eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings along with 18 hits with seven strikeouts and two walks Tyson’s best start in showing her ability was a 3-0 loss to Lake Region in eight innings All three runs were unearned and came in the eighth inning She beat Lake Region in last year's championship game Along with getting the pitching consistent Rutenbar is looking for hit hitters to have more quality at-bats and clean up some of the sloppy defensive plays Bartow is the favorite Group A that includes Sumner (5-4) and Okeechobee (3-4) Here’s a quick breakdown of the other three groups The Miners’ lineup has feasted on bigger schools that have struggled with pitching With Auburndale (3-8) having lost its starting pitcher before the season with an injury this group might come down to Fort Meade and Plant City (7-1) The Raiders’ only loss was to George Jenkins Group C: The winner of Lake Region-Fort Myers Evangelical Christian could very well end up being the eventual champion Evangelical Christian went 28-2 and was the Class 2A state champion last season One of its losses came against Lake Region in this tournament last year The other team in this group is Winter Haven (2-6) which is trying to rebuild under new coach Luis Morales Group D: Lake Wales is trying to get back on the winning track this week the Highlanders lost three straight heading into Wednesday night’s game against Davenport This group could come down between Lake Wales and Bradenton Inspiration (7-4) They play in the first game on Friday at 4 p.m Lake Region and George Jenkins and were outscored 37-6 A retired Polk County Sheriff's Office sergeant was killed by a suspected drunken driver in Bartow on St Polk deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a pedestrian had been struck on Van Fleet Drive in Bartow of Bartow had pulled his vehicle over into the northern edge of the road and turned on his hazard lights Cooley got out of his vehicle to retrieve a large tote that had fallen from his vehicle into the roadway the Sheriff's Office said in a news release was driving a 2008 Jaguar S-type westbound in the center lane when he struck Cooley The Sheriff's Office said an 11-year-old girl was in the car with Wells First responders attempted to perform life-saving measures on Cooley who was taken to Bartow Regional Medical Center Cooley was resuscitated multiple times before dying of his injuries "Sergeant Dan Cooley was a public servant for over 20 years and had been enjoying retirement for nearly as long when he was tragically and senselessly struck and killed by an impaired motorist," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement "The driver clearly has no regard for human life – not only choosing to get behind the wheel drunk Deputies at the scene said they smelled an alcoholic odor coming from Wells Field sobriety tests were performed in which Wells showed signs of impairment Wells was arrested and taken to Polk County Sheriff's Processing Center The Sheriff's Office said his breath samples measured 0.092 and 0.105 ― above the legal limit of 0.08 Lakeland hopes to stop road fatalities: 'One accident is too many': Lakeland considers plan to eliminate serious traffic crashes Deputies said Wells told them he drank several beers prior to driving He faces a second-degree felony count of driving while intoxicated and third-degree felony negligent child abuse Cooley was originally hired by PCSO as a detention deputy in 1986 reaching the rank of sergeant in January 2002 The Florida Department of State manages our state's elections historical and cultural resources and our libraries Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that Main Street Bartow has been designated the December 2024 Florida Main Street Program of the Month Bartow has historically made huge strides in developing its agricultural and mining presence not only within Florida but across the country," said Secretary Byrd Bartow has become a destination for understanding and appreciating the rich history of Central Florida while encouraging modern and sustainable economic growth." Archaeological sites document that human history in the Bartow area spans over 12,000 years residents began planting citrus trees and building schoolhouses and churches the city evolved from a small frontier outpost to become the seat of Polk County a cattleman named Jacob Summerlin donated a large part of the old Blount homestead to build the first Polk County courthouse the Summerlin Institute (now Bartow High School) served as the first brick schoolhouse in Florida south of Jacksonville Bartow grew exponentially during the last two decades of the 19th century becoming the 15th most populous city in the state Bartow became a national hub of the emerging phosphate mining industry Following freezes throughout North Florida Polk County became one of the leading citrus-producing counties in the United States the city constructed an airport northeast of town; the federal government used the airfield during World War II to train Army Air Forces pilots (MSB) plays an important role in preserving the city’s history and its small-town feel It was established in 1984 for the purpose of preserving and improving Bartow’s central business district and received its designation as a Florida Main Street Program in 1986 Main Street Bartow has reported over $70 million in public and private investment 160 net new businesses providing 960 net new jobs The community’s main street district supports an eclectic mix of restaurants MSB has developed and managed numerous events that are designed to bring people downtown to experience Bartow and foster a desire to return to shopping and dining in Bartow “Main Street is the symbol of how we care for our community both in the physical sense of how the place looks and feels and in the economic sense showing our mix of thriving businesses,” says Linda Holcomb “Communities value having a strong Main Street; it is considered the heart of the Community Over the past 8 years we have gone from downtown being over half vacant to having very few spaces available We now attract people downtown by creating an inviting A vibrant & safe downtown attracts even more businesses and people We manage a growing number of events designed to bring people downtown to experience Bartow and hopefully foster a desire to return and shop or dine in Bartow These events communicate progress and excitement which attracts more investors Bartow always has something going on.’ There is never a boring moment on Main Street Bartow.” For more information on Main Street Bartow, visit MainStreetBartowFL.com or follow on Facebook or Instagram To learn more about the Florida Main Street program, visit FloridaMainStreet.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram Florida Main Street is a program administered by the Division of Historical Resources under the Florida Department of State which currently oversees 57 communities throughout the state By implementing the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach Florida Main Street encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation through the revitalization of Florida’s downtowns – the community’s heart and soul If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request do not send electronic mail to this entity contact this office by phone or in writing Copyright © 2025 State of Florida Clifton Lewis regularly posts photos on Facebook of visitors from distant localities Lewis has reported on visits to the historic home by residents of New York Lee and Tamika Cobb traveled only from Winter Haven to tour the house on Monday will be participating as vendors for the first time at the L.B it takes you back in history,” Tamika Cobb said ‘How can someone so long ago have the ingenuity and the motivation that he had to do these great things?' And some of these things are far advanced back then This will be the 24th edition of the festival held on the grounds of the structure at 470 L.B Victorian home stands as the physical legacy of Lawrence B a man born into slavery in Alachua County who became a prosperous and respected businessman in his adopted home of Bartow The house, built in 1892, is one of many homes Brown constructed in Bartow and is considered possibly the only remaining example in Florida of a home built by a formerly enslaved person pursuing such activities as furniture making and repair Brown constructed and rented houses in a mostly Black section of eastern Bartow Modern art: Renovation brings 47-year-old building at Polk State College into 21st century the vacant house fell into disrepair and faced potential demolition before Bartow residents led an effort to rescue the structure through a nonprofit Brown House now serves as a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places The building is also recognized in an exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington The house is open to visitors during the two-day festival The event will feature some 55 vendors selling clothing This year’s festival occurs during a time when some federal agencies are curtailing references to Black History Month “Regardless of how you feel about history or the house itself that story tells itself because it's so well documented.” Displays inside the house include receipts and other records that Brown kept that chronicle his business activities “It's the epitome of the American dream,” Lewis said of Brown’s life and yet by the time he died in 1941 he's considered to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars according to the University of South Florida.” Lewis added: “We stay out of the politics of it Tamika Cobb pronounced Monday’s tour of the L.B Brown House “enlightening.” She said the festival serves an important purpose “It’s one thing for our younger generation to know that we have we have people before us that were great people and did great things,” she said “It’s a great experience for them to come and see what he's done and then look at some of the things in there And it took me back — the smell in the house reminded me of my grandmother's house.” The entertainment each afternoon features a mixture of genres Lewis said it is not unusual for audience members to take the stage and perform This year’s event will honor two local residents a Bartow native known for dressing in cowboy attire director of Polk State College's TRIO Program Both will receive community service awards — Camp on Saturday afternoon and Bentley on Sunday afternoon and the Wonder House in Bartow opened to the public in the 1930s “By 1937, it was Florida’s No. 1 tourist attraction, and it was on the back of the tourism catalog,” said Krislin Kreis, the owner and guide of the Wonder House just as the self-taught architect who built it — Conrad Schuck “It was actually called the ‘Crazy House’ before it was called the Wonder House because people didn’t know what he was doing and what he was trying to build,” Kreis said Schuck built the house with concrete slabs “So Conrad and Mary’s nine kids would be doing a lot of work,” Kreis said She still has floor stenciling and some of the mosaic material the children worked with to make the intricate designs on the floors and walls Two of the coolest parts of the multistory 25-room structure are the bedrock-carved sub-basements and a former rain collection/air conditioning system “Rainwater would have actually cooled the house about seven degrees,” Kreis said She offers insight to Schuck’s inventions throughout the tour “Conrad made it almost a true icon of Florida Roadside History if you will,” Kreis said “And I just want to make Conrad proud.” Kreis wants people who walk in thinking “weird,” to walk out thinking “wonder.” The house is a full-time private residence so tours must be reserved online They cost $25 for adults and $12 for children 10 years old and younger LAKE WALES — Lake Wales folks just outside of Albert Kirkland Gymnasium were walking with purpose to see Florida Gator national champion Walter Clayton Jr. Children outside the gym were jubilantly playing in the bouncy house as their parents looked on in the blistering sun Friday in Lake Wales Local folks were selling food out of food trucks as folks were filling up their bellies just before the show The amenities outside were all a part of a larger spectacle that inside featured a 13,000-square-foot surface area in the gymnasium that was restored to be more durable which accommodates various types of athletic sports But the main attraction was Walter Clayton Jr. who participated in a ribbon cutting that signified the new and improved gym stood on a stage set up in the middle of the gym as dozens of local folks sitting in chairs looked at him in awe had just helped Florida to its third national championship — first since 2007 — and he was named March Madness' Most Outstanding Player thanks to his 182 combined points: Clayton Jr put up 34 points in the Final Four semifinal game against Auburn which cemented him with the likes of Larry Bird scoring at least 30 points in back-to-back games in the Elite Eight and after He also scored 23 points against Norfolk State in the first round 23 points against UConn in the second round 13 points against Maryland in the Sweet 16 30 points against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and 11 points in the national championship game against Houston to cap off a historic season would finally speak on some fond memories in the Lake Wales gym said on the microphone as folks cheered him on "...It's a lot of fun memories in here honestly (I'm) thinking about all the times me and my friends used to play five-on-five..." Who's the GOAT?: Column: Is Walter Clayton Jr the best college basketball from Polk County? If not, then who? Milestones: Gators' Clayton continues to reach milestones in NCAA tournament to go with multiple awards A milestone was also accomplished amongst his friends in the gym: Clayton Jr executed his first dunk in the Lake Wales gym That dunk led to some seminal highlights for the Highlander though he was a highly touted football player for Lake Wales he was a four-star safety prospect and received offers from Florida He even took a visit to Gainsville where his longtime friend decided not to follow family members and do great things with that pigskin He'd rather take his Lake Wales basketball experience and take his talents to Bartow High School The rest is history, as the Polk County product is the current record holder for the most consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer thanks to a streak of 42 games, surpassing Michael Frazier II; Clayton Jr. has drained a 3 in 54 of his 55 games at Florida. He's also the first Gator to become a first-team All-American. With his journey ballooning into a hoop dream turned reality, Clayton Jr. was fully qualified to answer pertinent questions pertaining to dreaming big. "Chase your dreams. Whatever you want to do in life you can do it. You just got to put the work in every day...," he said. Still, he basked in all of the supporters who graced themselves in his presence. "It feels great. Obviously, a lot of familiar faces in here growing up from Lake Wales, so it just feels great having everybody here for this ceremony," Clayton Jr. said. The future NBA player is now gearing up for the NBA draft, which is slated for June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. SearchSearchSunday 85vs78South Florida Photo by: Ken ShepherdBlazers Down South Florida in Bartow Classic2/16/2025 7:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInATLANTA (Atlanta News First) - Homeland Security and several other law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into possible labor trafficking at a Bartow County flooring manufacturer “It’s a long-running investigation,” said Lindsay Williams a public affairs officer with Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta federal search warrants were executed at the Wellmade Industries facility and at several homes in Bartow County Homeland Security said the operation focuses on “serious allegations of labor trafficking involving foreign nationals and financial crimes tied to the employer’s practices.” Other agencies involved in the investigation include the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office FBI officials said authorities are investigating allegations that the manufacturer was using “fraud and coercion to induce Chinese nationals and other immigrants to work.” The bureau brought in at least 20 linguists and a victim specialist to help the dozens of potential victims “Main thing today out here was identifying victims of labor trafficking so we can fully identify them and interview them,” said Brian Ozden Officials have arrested Wellmade Industries’ owner He faces three counts of trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude has also been arrested on the same charges who lives next to one of the homes that were searched said he often noticed “unusual activity.” “They used to have like a 15-passenger van,” he said “And I noticed how a lot of people were going in and out the house.” Officials said while there was a “significant” law enforcement presence in Cartersville They are asking the public to avoid areas with active law enforcement scenes In 2020 Wellmade Industries invested $35 million to expand its facilities to Bartow County One former employee filed a lawsuit against Wellmade alleging unlawful labor practices and racial discrimination The lawsuit states that the employee was never given a promised role as director “Non-Chinese employees were not given an opportunity to compete for management roles,” the lawsuit said Atlanta News First spoke with another former employee who said none of the allegations are surprising described the warehouse as “unsafe,” with materials stacked too high and heavy equipment being moved without regulated strappings “A lot of stuff you would bring to their attention I wasn’t coming in here and lose my life over this man making money.” Check back with Atlanta News First for updates Lakeland has chosen to delay its public hearing on whether the city will continue to add fluoride to its drinking water Public pressure has gradually increased on Lakeland officials over whether to continue fluoridation in an effort to prevent tooth decay Residents and doctors have spoken up at several City Commission meetings this year on both sides of the issue Mayor Bill Mutz originally instructed city staff to schedule a public hearing for the commission's second February meeting A public hearing on fluoridation does not appear on the commission's agenda for Monday morning Several Lakeland officials have expressed interest in attending Bartow City Commission's public workshop set for Feb. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m Among those attending Bartow's workshop will be Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and American Fluoridation Society President Johnny Johnson there will be an opportunity for questions and public comments Bartow is currently one of five municipalities that add fluoride to their water supply with samples ranging from 0.50 to 0.67 mg/L Other cities who add supplemental fluoride are: Auburndale What's the controversy about fluoride?Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in the soil. It can be found in groundwater and many foods, according to the National Institutes of Health The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services currently suggests that communities add fluoride to bring their drinking water to 0.7 mg/L Who adds fluoride to their water in Polk County?Hubbard said the following cities in Polk add supplemental fluoride to their water: Here's what to know | Photos10 PHOTOSRed light camera installed at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Van Fleet Drive in Bartow The city's red-light camera program kicks off Monday A red light camera at Broadway Avenue and Van Fleet Drive in Bartow The City Commission voted unanimously May 20 to authorize city staff to negotiate with Verra Mobility.  “The red-light safety cameras have been shown in multiple studies to reduce redlight running and reduce serious T-bone and angle crashes at intersections,” said Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker who worked for Lakeland police during its implementation of a similar program.  Bartow is at least the seventh jurisdiction within Polk County that has decided to adopt red-light camera enforcement Lake Wales is looking at bids to implement the program.  "It was very frightening to watch.”  Spessard Holland Parkway and Georgia Street is one of the eight intersections A sign crew installs a red-light camera at Spessard Holland Parkway and Dr The fine amount for a red-light safety camera violation Bartow's City Commission will hold a public workshop regarding the pros and cons of adding fluoride to its water supply on Feb Florida Surgeon General Joseph Lapado and American Fluoridation Society President Johnny Johnson will be among the panelist Following presentations on both sides of the issue Based on the information and feedback gathered during the meeting the commission will vote on whether to continue to add fluoride to city water at a future regularly scheduled meeting State steps in: Florida Surgeon General Ladapo bucks CDC, calls fluoridating water 'health malpractice' Five cities in Polk County currently add fluoride to drinking water: Lakeland Ladapo said recent medical studies show fluoride can lower young children's IQs causing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other neurobehavioral issues But dental professionals argue that those studies analyzed other countries, where fluoride levels are much higher than what's allowed in the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services currently suggests that communities add fluoride to bring their drinking water to 0.7 mg/L fluoride Environmental Protection Agency requires all water utilities show their fluoride levels stay below 4 mg/L The Centers for Disease Control calls the practice of adding fluoride to tap water systems one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the last century. Major medical groups, such as the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have also endorsed water fluoridation at recommended levels as a way to boost oral health. In a 2022 city water report, Bartow reported fluoride levels ranging from 0.50 to 0.67 mg/L. The Bartow Civic Center is located at 2250 Floral Ave. Information from previous reports by The Ledger's Sara-Megan Walsh was used in this report. SearchSearchPhoto by: Brantley BargerhuffKnow Before You Go for the 2024-25 Season10/31/2024 4:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball The Florida Supreme Court has permanently revoked the law license of the executive director of a Bartow-based nonprofit legal group The court ordered the disciplinary revocation for Sonya Charmaine Davis who is listed as executive director of the Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society The revocation is effective 30 days after a Jan The Supreme Court cited a court finding that Davis had forged the signature of a representative of the State Attorney’s Office on an application for a certification of eligibility to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement according to a news release from The Florida Bar Davis failed to take action to expunge a client’s arrest record and criminal charges and the client’s father sued Davis in small claims court to recover the fee he paid Davis “failed to be diligent and failed to timely respond to reasonable requests for information from her client in a dissolution matter.” Davis also failed to appear for a case management conference and a final hearing and she left a motion to withdraw pending for more than a year without setting it for a hearing Davis received an admonishment from the Supreme Court in 2020 over her failure to respond in time to notices from The Florida Bar during an inquiry into her handling of a divorce case The Supreme Court issued a formal reprimand to Davis in 2021 after The Florida Bar determined that her failure to file court documents harmed a client’s bid for the modification of child support Polk County judge: Florida Supreme Court orders 25-day suspension, reprimand for John Flynn a graduate of the University of Florida College of Law is a nonprofit firm providing free civil legal assistance to low-income residents in the 10th Judicial Circuit The nonprofit works to protect survivors of domestic violence promote economic self-sufficiency and foster stability for low-income families