Todd Michael Jackson was sentenced April 29 to life in Florida State Prison without the possibility of parole after his conviction on two counts of first-degree murder and other charges related to the 2020 slayings of a Haines City couple Jackson, 39, of Lakeland and two other defendants were arrested and charged in the aftermath of the killings of Raymond Mark Cline This was Jackson’s second trial on the charges A previous trial in August ended in a hung jury The sentencing immediately followed the jury's guilty verdicts on all counts of the charges against Jackson Kevin Abdoney imposed two life sentences in prison For the charges of armed burglary and armed kidnapping For the two counts of tampering with evidence The non-life sentences are to run concurrently with the life sentences The prosecution said Jackson shot the Clines and disposed of the bodies in a swamp behind the Clines' home the defense had argued that another suspect pointing to inconsistencies in her statements to a law enforcement informant Defense attorney Bradley Wilson also told the jury in his opening statement that the prosecution had no physical evidence tying Jackson the the crime scene The victims’ badly decomposed bodies were found in the swamp behind their home on March 6 Jackson was arrested the same day at his home in Lakeland Investigators say Jackson was the triggerman inside the Clines’ home at 3500 Windy Hill Road Law enforcement had begun an investigation into the couple’s disappearance after family members had not seen or heard from them in weeks And Raymond Cline had not shown up for work since Feb The key tip in the case came after Nichols was attempting to sell the Clines' truck for $200 in the days after the couple’s disappearance because it had not moved for weeks and was drawing suspicion from neighbors Nichols told detectives that Raymond Cline had stolen money from Jackson the defense pointed out that her accounts varied as to the amount stolen A Polk County Sheriff’s Office charging affidavit shows Nichols was initially charged with accessory after the fact of a capital felony dealing in stolen property and two counts of failure to report a death to the medical examiner she was also charged with possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia Her last court date was a status hearing on April 25 both the prosecution and defense said the three defendants had been high on methamphetamines for multiple days around the time of the crimes Nichols told at least one person that she knew the husband and wife had been killed and that their bodies were dumped in a swampy area behind the residence a detective then recorded her conversation with the witness who at trial was identified as a police informant Nichols told the witness that she knew the firearm used during the murders was dissolved in acid and she had burned clothing at the crime scene she told the informant she shot the couple but once the detective became involved that version of the events was not repeated was charged with accessory after the fact of capital felony and two counts of failure to report a death to the medical examiner including tampering with physical evidence possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia criminal use of a deceased person’s identification criminal use of a person’s identification and a scheme to defraud had shoved an air conditioner out of a window and pushed the bodies through before dragging them to the swamp the prosecution said Waters had helped move the bodies with a green dolly containing his DNA and he had gone shopping with the victims’ credit cards Waters is set for a status hearing in a Bartow courtroom on May 16 "There was no physical evidence linking Mr Jackson to the scene," Wilson said via email on May 1 "LJ’s prints were on the a/c unit which had been removed from the window where the bodies were thrown out," Wilson said "His and Amberlyn’s DNA was found on some items And there was an unknown female’s DNA on the bottom of the dolly (used to move the bodies to the swamp) Wilson said he was not aware of any plea agreements for Nichols and Waters but that was an issue during the trial "The negotiations with the State and the co-defendants was a big issue at trial," Wilson said "They both testified they had not been promised anything by the State it was also clear they were hoping for a deal after trial neither were charged with murder on the front end A check of their cases in the Clerk of Courts filings also did not show any agreements Chief Assistant State Attorney Jacob Orr wrote in an email to a reporter on May 1 — As the population of Haines City skyrockets more commercial and residential developments are underway Ryan Mobley owns Haines City Car Care right off of US-17 We used to have a busy season and slow season Now we just have a busy season,” said Mobley More than 8,600 people moved to Haines City in the last decade Mobley said retail and restaurants haven’t kept up with the population boom “We do need the shopping and the restaurants We only have a couple of major chains here in town and we need the hotels We have no hotels in Haines City,” said Mobley A major commercial development coming to Haines City will redefine retail and residential space in one of the country's fastest-growing cities “With this development coming in here they don't have to go to Orlando They can drive in their own community to a development that has a Target,” said Morris West Crossroads Village Center is 400,000 square feet of retail space with Haines City’s very first Target store as the anchor The development will feature a mix of national retailers Millions of dollars' worth of trade area this will become We’re estimating north of a few hundred million dollars in trade that will take place on this site,” said Syed Raza Traffic infrastructure to support this new development is now a top priority for the city “We have traffic issues that we understand so we’re working with the SunRail to get an extension out of Poinciana for alternative transportation for our citizens here in Haines City,” West said Crossroads Village Center is set to open in the fall of next year bringing long-requested amenities closer to home 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 Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Haines City leaders celebrated a groundbreaking for a major commercial development on Wednesday Crossroads Village Center is expected to transform the city’s landscape residential living and retailers such as Target The commercial development is located on US-17 and spans 120 acres with more than 50 acres dedicated to retail Ryan Mobley’s mechanic shop, Haines City Car Care, sits directly in front of the future Crossroads Village When he first started as an employee 21 years ago he said US-17 didn’t see much foot traffic “We used to have a snowbird season,” he said we would be busy during the winter and then slow during the summer and now we’re just pretty much busy all the time There’s not much of a slow season for us.” He said that’s mostly thanks to the area’s rapid growth. According to Fortune magazine Haines City is one of the fastest-growing cities in America Mobley expects the number of people looking to visit or live in the city will increase even more once the commercial development is open Vice Mayor Morris West said Crossroads Village has been in the works since 2018 he said city leaders and the development company faced many bumps in the road along the way “The first issue we came across was with DOT (Department of Transportation) DOT told us about 10 times ‘no,’ but we did not take that for an answer we continued to go in front of DOT and that 11th time we got that yes that we were after,” he said West said they experienced a similar situation with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) but eventually got its approval officials are looking ahead to phase one of the development project Polk State College marked its 60th diamond anniversary with a memorable A Night of Legacy gala celebrating the institution’s longstanding commitment to education and community development hosted by the Polk State College Foundation and presenting sponsor Citizens Bank & Trust and exciting announcements about the future of the College – particularly its Haines City-Davenport Campus highlighted the transformational impact of Polk State education thanks to generous sponsors “The Polk State College Foundation awards approximately $1.2 million in student scholarships each year,” said Dr as they provide essential financial support that enables our students to pursue higher education and achieve rewarding careers within areas of our community with increasing workforce demand Every dollar raised tonight helps us continue this important work ensuring that more students have the opportunity to transform their lives through education.” embodies this return on investment for donors and supporters of the College and its Foundation exemplifying the life-changing opportunities provided by the College and the importance of continued support for student scholarships “Tearing my ACL last year introduced me to the rehab world and I experienced firsthand the importance of compassionate care and patient advocacy,” Lain said “Polk State’s PTA program is highly reputable and I feel thoroughly prepared to enter the healthcare field thanks to the exceptional education and training I have received here The new campus will only continue to enhance and grow highly skilled healthcare professionals for our community ensuring that more students can benefit from the same high-quality education that I have received.” Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank & Trust and a member of the Polk State College District Board of Trustees “On behalf of the Polk State College District Board of Trustees and our Presenting Sponsor I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Foundation’s generous donors and Legacy participants for their unwavering support of our students and community,” said Littleton He emphasized the importance of expanding the College’s reach to Northeast Polk which will create opportunities for thousands more residents The event also highlighted the significance of the new Haines City-Davenport Campus which will expand access to education and resources for students across Polk County “Your participation this evening contributes directly to the development of the Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus,” Dr “I am thrilled to show you what your support means for the future of Polk County.” The event also featured remarks from Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd; Nineteen61 Chef Marcos Fernandez; Dr Vice President for Resource Development & Executive Director of the Polk State College Foundation; and Polk State Foundation Board Chair David Fisher as well as a toast by Polk State College District Board of Trustees Chair Cindy Hartley Ross Presenting Sponsor: Citizens Bank & Trust Morgan; Winter Haven Hospital; Spath Jewelers Legacy Sponsors: AdventHealth; Center State Development LLC; LEGOLAND® Florida Resort; ORB Engineering; Ed & Nikki Smith; TECO — Tampa Electric Eagle Sponsors: AT&T; Bank of Central Florida; Mrs P.A.; Boring Business Systems; Boswell & Dunlap LLP; City of Davenport; City of Winter Haven; Duke Energy®; International Diamond Center; Lakeland Regional Health®; Physician Group; Orlando Health; Publix Super Markets Charities; Saddle Creek Logistics Services; Straughn Trout Architects Soaring Sponsors: A•C•T Environmental & Infrastructure; A.O Alejandra Arroyo; Commissioner Bill Braswell; CAPTRUST; CARTER; Cemex; Central Florida Development Council; Central Florida Health Care; CNP Agency; Dixie Southern Industrial Inc.; Economic Development Councils: Bartow – Haines City – Lake Wales – Winter Haven; Eye Specialists of Mid Florida P.A.; Harvard Jolly Architecture | PBK; Jarrett-Gordon Ford Davenport; The Mahalak Auto Group; Peterson & Myers Alex Santiago; Scott House – Ronin Assets LLC.; SouthState Bank; Straughn & Turner Inc.; UBS – The Watkins Johnson Wealth Management Group; Whitehead Construction Talon Sponsors: The Baldwin Group – Kathryn Koch; Jack & Ann Barnhart; George W Butz III P.A.; Citrus Connection; City of Haines City; CJAE Group; Mr Bill Jacobs; The Honorable George Lindsey & Mrs Paul Morin – Bond Clinic; The Honorable Dennis Ross & Mrs Cindy Hartley Ross; Rowe Architects Incorporated; Ms Bruce Lyon; Saunders Real Estate; The Honorable Sam Killebrew & Eileen Killebrew; SEMCO Construction Winter Haven · Lakeland Bartow · Lake Wales © 2025 Polk State College. All Rights Reserved. Sitemap Privacy Policy Disclaimer College Catalog Polk State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit polk.edu/compliance But the state of California produces the most peaches in the country A lesser-known state for peaches is Florida, including the Ridge Island Groves in Haines City It’s a place where anyone can come and pick peaches right off the trees “It’s fun 'cause all you do is just grab a peach Guests are given a bag and can stroll the 23 acres that Archie and Jill Ritch have dedicated to growing peach trees “Every year peach season is determined by the weather,” Archie said “Peach-picking is very unique in Florida. We have a variety called a UF one nice large peaches for a Florida peach,” Archie said The couple created Ridge Island Groves over 30 years ago Families come there for their fresh vegetables and fruits blueberry- and orange-flavored ice cream and fresh juices a lot of local people come primarily for peaches,” Archie said located adjacent to their peach and orange groves is busy with customers that come from around the state because of the freshness of what they grow “We take great pride in being able to sell what we grow," Archie said "It’s a lot of satisfaction comes from that.” Ridge Island Groves is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m Polk State College marked a historic milestone Thursday with the groundbreaking of its eighth location the Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus More than 200 community leaders and supporters gathered to commemorate this new chapter in the College’s growth which promises to expand educational access and opportunities for students in the heart of Florida The approximately $51 million project will result in a 75,000-square-foot facility that will include Central Florida’s first public higher education interdisciplinary simulation hospital the campus will include hospitality and tourism management and courses for the Associate in Arts degree Construction will start in early 2025 with a projected fall 2026 opening and the Polk State Foundation has raised approximately $130,000 through A Night of Legacy Polk State continues to advocate for approximately $17.5 million to bring the campus to full fruition “Investing in the Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus is critical as this region is the fastest-growing in Polk County and the State of Florida,” Polk State President Dr and generous donors who are bringing this longtime dream to fruition for our community.” “I have to brag on our Florida College System because of the incredible work that is being done Falconetti,” Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz “They have taken on the mission of understanding that their job is to provide opportunity not just for those students who are going to go on to get a four-year degree at a larger institution but also for those individuals who are career changers for those individuals who have left school for something that has happened in their lives and are able to come back These opportunities are provided by our institutions “It is an honor to stand here today on the site that we first assessed in 2006 and that was later purchased by our College in 2009 during my first 12-year tenure as a governor-appointed member of the Polk State College District Board of Trustees,” Board Chair Cindy Hartley Ross said “We remain committed to providing a Polk State College education for all residents of Polk County.” I am privileged to chair the Health Policy Committee in the Florida Senate I’ve chaired Health Policy in the Florida House I spent a lot of years learning about the need for healthcare professionals and affiliated careers in this field,” Senator Colleen Burton said “The facility that is going to be built here is state-of-the-art “We have the pleasure in the Florida Legislature and I have the pleasure of bragging on Polk County and specifically District 51 and what we do to make sure we are meeting the demands of our district and the business leaders,” Representative Josie Tomkow said “This is also generational change for Polk County You are going to have so many wonderful students who will go here and so many opportunities for teaching and learning But the families who will benefit from this healthcare that will be generated from this institution and this collaboration with medical professionals is unsurpassed,” Florida College System Chancellor Kathy Hebda said “It’s not only on brand but it is a shining example of exactly what we hope happens every day in our Florida College System and across our great state.” “There is nothing that can’t be accomplished when education and industry partner together,” Florida Division of Career and Adult Education Dr “That is what this facility and this building is going to be for this community and for the state.” “Focusing on the three high schools in this area approximately 1,800 students will graduate each June these students will have a place closer to home to further their education,” Polk County Commissioner Dr “Not only will their lives be enriched by a stellar education but they will also contribute to Northeast Polk’s economic development and “Polk State College represents not only bricks and mortar and changemakers,” City of Haines City Mayor Omar Arroyo said “This area is right in the middle of the mecca of potential students I’m telling you it’s going to be a great facility because we are going to have some of the largest groups of people seeking higher education right here in Northeast Polk County,” City of Davenport Mayor Brynn Summerlin said I am grateful to be a witness to the amazing growth that brings us here today Especially the growth and success of our Health Sciences programs will call this campus home,” Polk State Dean of Health Sciences Beth Luckett said who came to the College with a vision for its future and the passion and drive to not quit until our goals were met.” “When searching for colleges and radiography programs Polk State College was at the top of my list Polk State’s Health Sciences programs are highly reputable in Polk County and beyond,” student Marcia Harvey Scarlett said “The Radiography Program is very competitive with a high percentage of students passing licensure and certification exams I am incredibly proud to be a Polk State Radiography student and am so thankful for all I have learned in this program thus far.” Luckett surprised Harvey Scarlett with a one-time scholarship worth a semester of tuition an investment made by Polk State President Falconetti and matched by the Polk State College Foundation The scholarship was presented in Barney Barnett’s name in honor of the generous donation by him and the Barnett family “Their generosity has inspired others to pay it forward,” Luckett said Polk State College is a multi-campus institution serving more than 14,000 students with Bachelor of Applied Science as well as 9,000 individuals in a wide range of certificate and workforce training programs The College also operates three charter high schools Polk State’s advantages include small class sizes; hands-on learning; dedicated faculty; day and night classes; online options; affordable tuition; excellent financial aid; and a diverse community and vibrant student life 5.5.25 Polk State Music students learn from accomplished musician and professor 5.2.25 Polk State collegiate high school student to graduate with AS in Aerospace Administration 5.1.25 Gateway student to earn Polk State degree at just 15 Incumbent Anne Huffman fought off a challenger April 29 in a runoff election to serve another term on Haines City's Commission According to the Polk County Supervisor of Elections Huffman garnered 53.39% of the votes cast and West gained 46.61% 1,110 votes were cast for Huffman and 969 for West 2,088 ballots were cast for a turnout of just 9.27% of registered voters Huffman led a four-way race for Seat 5 during municipal election day on April 1 she and West faced off again in the runoff election Huffman is the city's first Black female commissioner and mayor Her reelection marks her third term in Seat 5 on the City Commission The second trial of Todd Michael Jackson started last week on two counts of first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the homicides of a Haines City couple more than five years ago the defense and prosecution gave opening statements The trial is expected to last into the middle of this week A previous trial in August 2024 ended in a hung jury Jackson, 39, of Lakeland and two other people were arrested and charged in the killings of Raymond Mark Cline Jackson was indicted on charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling while armed with a firearm two counts of tampering with physical evidence and armed kidnapping the State Attorney's Office filed an intent not to pursue the death penalty in the Jackson case The investigation and arrestsThe victims’ badly decomposed bodies were found in a swamp behind their home on Feb Law enforcement had begun an investigation into their disappearance after family members had not seen or heard from the couple in several weeks The last time that Raymond Cline had been seen at his regular work of scrapping metal was Feb Investigators say Jackson was the triggerman inside the home at 3500 Windy Hill Road The key tip in the case came after Amberlyn Nichols was attempting to sell the Clines' truck for $200 in the days after the couple’s disappearance a PCSO charging affidavit shows Nichols was charged with accessory after the fact of a capital felony Nichols told at least one person that she knew the husband and wife had been killed and that their bodies were dumped in a swampy area behind their residence According to the affidavit she told the witness that she knew the firearm used during the murders was dissolved in acid and she had burned clothing at the crime scene The Sheriff’s Office reported that Jackson of 1020 Plateau Ave. detectives reported that Nichols said Raymond Cline stole money from Jackson who was Nichols’ boyfriend and lived with her at the Clines’ home also helped clean the crime scene and dispose of the bodies Assistant State Attorney Mark Levine provided the jury with the prosecution's version of events on the day of the killings and the days after Jackson had told Nichols to leave the home She then left for McDonalds in Jackson’s red work truck Meanwhile Waters was outside roaming the Clines’ property looking for a motor he wanted for a bike he was building He told investigators he then heard gunshots a female whom Levine identified as Chasity was in the same room where the defendant shot the couple “I see innocence in your eyes,” according to Levine “He then has the audacity to get her up from the bed and he kisses her as she has blood on herself and the victims have bullets in their heads,” Levine said The defendant then pointed the gun at her and walked her out of the house saying Jackson made the same threat to Nichols and Waters multiple times over several days he saw Chasity being held at gunpoint by Jackson and Jackson turned to Waters and said The prosecutor said Waters told Jackson he didn't want anything to do with cleaning up the crime scene So they pushed an air conditioner out of the window and used a green dolly to transport the bodies to the swamp The bloody bedding and a mattress also were pushed out the window and burned Nichols then returned to the crime scene and saw blood throughout the bedroom Jackson asked an acquaintance to burn his boots and the three defendants and Chasity continued their lives Defense: Jackson not the murdererSleeping in a tent at Saddle Creek Campground Nichols gave an informant there a couple versions of what led to the killings including three guys from Tampa killing the couple and another time she said she killed them honed in on those statements to the informant in attempts to raise doubts among the jurors “Amberlyn Nichols had a problem,” Wilson said and probably with some help – I’m not 100% sure about that – they killed Mark Cline As buzzards started to circle the house at 3500 Windy Hill Road the neighbors were getting suspicious as Mark Cline’s blue truck had not moved for days and Nichols realized she need to get rid of the truck Do you know anyone who can buy this truck?" He said she then told the informant she shot the victims and that’s why she needed to get rid of the truck she also showed the informant credit cards belonging to the Clines saying they were dead and wouldn't need them anymore The informant did nothing to help her at that time whom he had contacted about Nichols' story The informant told Nichols he had found a buyer for the truck for $200 and he would get a kayak to help her move the bodies But Nichols grew suspicious and shied away from talking on the call She told the informant to meet her in person and from then on she told him Jackson shot the Clines Wilson also pointed out that Nichols had changed her story more than once about the roles of the three defendants involvement in the case “Every false attempt they have made to pin a motive on him has fallen flat,” Wilson said A massive 120-acre mixed-used development at one of Polk's busiest intersections could mark a transformational moment for Haines City executive director of Orlando-based developer Black Mountain Group LLC to celebrate a groundbreaking for the Crossroads Village Center on Wednesday morning The mixed-used development, just southwest of the junction of U.S. 27 and U.S. 17-92, will be anchored by a roughly 150,000-square-foot Target Superstore "There have been some rocks in the roadway trying to get to this day," Haines City Vice Mayor Morris West said Raza said he first began acquiring and assembling parcels of land Black Mountain Group had its first meeting with the Florida Department of Transportation about its intended plans in 2019 West said FDOT declined the developer's plans 10 times the developer and city had challenges with the Southwest Florida Water Management District Raza said that caused Black Mountain Group to go back to the drawing board and redesign the project "What we are trying to create is a village-like environment," he said live upstairs and go downstairs to go the grocery store play and there's amenities around the lake." Raza said a Target will be built in addition to 130,000 square feet of other commercial retail space by the fall of 2026 Upon completion of this store and one that's expected on U.S Target will have five locations in Polk County including two in Lakeland and one in Davenport's Posner Center The developer is currently in negotiations with Darden Restaurants Inc. but Raza would not name the company with whom Black Mountain is negotiating A second phase beginning in 2026 will consist of additional retail space residential condominiums and possibly an assisted living facility "Sometimes I'm non-committal as things change and markets change," he said Heavy equipment was on site actively moving a massive amount of dirt and soil around Wednesday Raza said the developer will need to move approximately 1.2 million cubic yards of soil Raza said crews will also dig 600,000 cubic yards to create a 14-acre lake "We are basically re-creating this land," he said "This land had about 57 acres of wetlands we are impacting." Raza said the developers are digging up to 25 feet to remove muck from the site It has also been required by the state to purchase wetlands credits Haines City Car Care Center is the sole existing business or residential development adjacent to the 120-acre construction zone said he's glad to see development of the mixed-use plaza get underway even if it comes with some growing pains "We need a hotel and need some more restaurants." Mobley said he doesn't necessarily need the additional traffic and attention it might bring to his business but there are plans to install a signal which should help Dust blowing from the construction site is his other major concern the dust clouds roll straight toward his customer's cars making it more difficult to navigate the busy intersection Mobley said construction crews have been out there daily with a water truck trying to keep the dust down The Publix will anchor the Shops at the Grove retail development The Publix store will be 48,387 square feet and have a pharmacy inside and an adjacent liquor store In a marketing piece obtained from Haines City the shopping center outparcels show a Mavis Tires and Brakes Circle K gas station on the corner lot of the plaza a multi-story climate controlled self-storage and a McDonald’s restaurant the strip mall tenants include 5th Nail Lounge The retail development team includes leasing agent Forness Properties of Winter Park and Blackfin Partners of Palm Beach Gardens. They have created drone video of the shopping center In its marketing literature, the team said the Shops at the Grove in Polk County is located in one of Florida’s fastest growing counties And there are more than 15,000 new homes under construction within a three-mile radius of the retail development The massive Crosswinds master planned community – where about 5,500 new homes are to be built – is located just north of the shopping center The population growth within three miles of the plaza is expected to grow by more than 47,000 people The closest grocery stores are Winn-Dixie and Aldi The shopping center has more than 1,930 feet of frontage along Johnson Avenue and 575 feet on Power Line Road with multiple access driveways Plans are in place to increase both Johnson Avenue and Power Line Road to four lanes to accommodate the expected growth Power Line Road is in the process of being extended southward from Hinson Avenue to State Road 17 in Dundee as well and to the north from South Boulevard connecting into U.S new industrial centers include Aldi’s 694,430-square-foot distribution center and Carvana The industrial park tenants have added about 950 new jobs to the area Throughout an eight-state operating region in the Southeastern United States Other states and store counts include Alabama Publix is one of the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the country with retail sales in 2022 of $54.5 billion Founded in 1930 in Winter Haven by George W Publix is controlled by his heirs who have carried on the practice of offering employees stock options The grocer employs 255,000 people throughout its operating area April 17 is deadline to request mail ballot for Haines City Commission runoff election More detailLakeland LedgerHaines City will hold a runoff election April 29 for a City Commission seat The candidates who advanced to the runoff are Anne Huffman and Horace West How to vote and key datesRegistered voters in Haines City who wish to vote by mail must request ballots by April 17 at PolkElections.gov All mail ballots must be returned to the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m Walk-in voting will take place April 21 through April 28 weekdays from 8:30 a.m and the Winter Haven Election Operations Center faces former Commissioner West in the runoff Huffman led the voting in a four-way race with 46.9% of the vote falling short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff Edwin Perez took 14.1% and Alisa Romero 2.1% Who are Anne Huffman and Horace West?Huffman winning a runoff election against Kenneth Kipp She became the first Black female elected official in the city's history Huffman beat Kipp after a runoff again to keep her seat She was selected to serve a one-year term as the city's mayor in 2022 Huffman told The Ledger she's "accessible to residents" and has a "no-nonsense leadership style." She said she has been advocating for Haines City to spend $3.4 million on housing rehabilitation through its community redevelopment agency She said she wants to ensure large-scale businesses moving into Haines City are employing local residents particularly if they are asking for incentives from the city Huffman said she wants to work with Citrus Connection to bring more public transport into the city Previous report: Haines City's Seat 5 up for grabs The lifelong Haines City resident has a background in underwriting for State Farm and he holds a bachelor's degree in public administration from Bethune Cookman University His 2025 campaign motto is "Hope, Belief, Change." He has promised to tackle the city's ongoing traffic issues and create new opportunities for citizens, on his campaign's Facebook website. Information from a previous report by The Ledger's Sara-Megan Walsh was used in this report Clarification: The name has been corrected for the city's Hispanic Empowerment Foundation A Haines City incumbent commissioner faces three challengers in a bid for re-election in the April 1 municipal elections Voters will head to the polls Tuesday to determine who represents Seat 5 on the the City Commission seeking election to her third term in office faces stiff competition from political newcomer Edwin Perez who is attempting to return to the commission early voting started March 17 and runs through Monday at the Elections Office Headquarters in Bartow and the Elections Office of Operations at 70 Florida Citrus Blvd. There are two locations open for Haines City residents: one of the four candidates must receive a majority of votes If no one candidate receives more than 50% a runoff election will be held on April 29 The winning candidates will be elected for a four-year term in office Haines City commissioners are not term limited The Ledger presents the four candidates running for Haines City's Seat 5 on April 1 in alphabetical order as their names will appear on Tuesday's ballot: Anne Huffman is the incumbent for Seat 5 on Haines City Commission and is running for re-election to her third term even when most of the commissioners are not," she said " A lot of time people are nervous about coming to a commission meeting and sharing what their concerns or complaints are It's important to have commissioner you can reach out to and explain your concerns Huffman beat Kipp after a runoff again to keep her seat on the commission "I have a no-nonsense leadership style," she said I ask all the questions I do to determine are we really spending taxpayers' dollars in a way that's going to benefit them." Huffman said she has been advocating for Haines City to spend $3.4 million on housing rehabilitation through its community redevelopment agency She said it would greatly benefit residents in need to receive grants to replace aging or damaged roofs refresh exterior paint and replace older windows and doors with those more storm resistant "I have an understanding how government works and I try to explain it in a way residents can understand." Huffman said she's determined to ensure large-scale businesses moving into Haines City are employing local residents Huffman said she wants to work with Citrus Connection to bring more public transport into the city to help residents get to work and find a way to increase the number of downtown parking spots She said a proposal to build a parking garage alongside the City Hall annex was badly needed but fell through Other goals include finding a way to better attract and retain qualified police officers to improve the city's public safety and find a way to create frequently requested pickleball courts Edwin PerezEdwin Perez is a relative newcomer to Haines City having moved into the area approximately three years ago But he says that he's well experienced in civil service a new face and changes into Haines City," he said "I feel like the time is now for us to start making changes in Haines City." is a retiree who moved to Haines City from Miami His background is as a small-business owner of more than 15 years ― a printing business but I've never run for office before," Perez said The political newcomer said he's highly experienced in civic service having worked with the Broward County and Greater Miami chambers of commerce local rotary clubs and several homeowner associations Perez serves as president of the Alfred Oaks homeowners association and sits as an alternate on the city's Planning Commission He serves on the city's Hispanic Empowerment Foundation to help plan the city's first annual Latin cultural celebration I realized the city needed changes and thought let me throw my hat in the ring," he said Perez said one of his focuses would be on making Haines City more friendly to entrepreneurs and small-business owners in hopes of creating a more vibrant downtown area "Haines City needs to do more in terms of investing in building out these beautiful historic buildings that we have and putting in restaurants bars and more to entice people to come to our city," he said "It's sad citizens have to come home and go outside the city to have dinner or a drink." One of the first steps would be to streamline the city's permitting process for small businesses and entrepreneurs to help mom-and-pop shops open He said the city needs to come alongside these business owners with a possible ambassador program offering to work one-on-one with them to get through the complicated process Perez said he also thinks Haines City should offer more in terms of incentives to small-business owners and provide information on other sources of grants or funding that could be available Perez said sitting on the Planning Committee has given him insight that when developers come to the table seeing a new community they need to contribute more to meet the increased demand on local schools or roads created by their development It's important to Perez that Haines City's Hispanic population is represented on the commission, given more than 45% of the city's population identifies as Hispanic, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. qualified as a candidate for Haines City's Seat 5 Her name will appear on the April 1 ballot Since then, Romero made a March 13 video with Perez that's been shared on Facebook and other social media saying she's thrown her support behind Perez. The Ledger has not be able to contact Romero despite several attempts and has been unable to identify any campaign website a former Haines City commissioner and mayor is making his bid to get back into city office The Ledger has been unsuccessful in reaching out to West despite multiple attempts The life-long Haines City resident has a background in underwriting for State Farm His 2025 campaign motto is "Hope, Belief, Change." He has promised to tackle the city's ongoing traffic issues and create new opportunities for citizens, on his campaign's Facebook website. "Haines City deserves leadership that listens leadership that believes in our community and leadership that fights for real change," reads a Facebook post "I am running for city commissioner because I believe in a future where everyone has a voice currently holds Seat 3 on the commission and is serving as vice mayor this year and a deep-rooted passion have driven Katelyn Lain to excel in Polk State College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program a graduate of Bob Jones University and fourth-generation Lakelander returned to Polk County after a sports injury Lain is a dedicated student and an avid athlete running collegiate cross country and participating in intramural sports She shared her journey with 350 donors and supporters during the Polk State College Foundation’s third annual A Night of Legacy the College’s premier fundraiser in support of the future Polk State Haines City-Davenport Campus With the support of third-time leading sponsor Citizens Bank & Trust, the event also celebrated Polk State’s 60th anniversary and longstanding reputation of excellence. Lain represented the student body, specifically that of the College’s Health Sciences and PTA Program A severe ACL injury led her down a path she hadn’t anticipated and the subsequent rehabilitation process was both physically and emotionally challenging Lain felt her path changing course as she discovered a new passion “It’s so neat how God uses experiences in life,” Lain said I know what it’s like to have to have help with the most basic life needs The subsequent physical therapy she received after surgery introduced her to Abbie Riness, an alumnus of Polk’s PTA Program bring positive energy even when I wasn’t feeling it that day Lain decided to follow in her footsteps and enrolled in the PTA Program PTA is one of several Health Sciences programs that will be housed at the new campus and benefit from Central Florida’s first public higher education interdisciplinary simulation hospital She embraced the rigorous coursework and the hands-on clinical experience at Watson Clinic including Professor Stacey Robertson and Professor Regina Tino emphasized the importance of patient advocacy and excellence in patient care “motion is lotion,” and Tino’s focus on patient education resonated deeply with Lain “Katelyn exemplifies dedication and determination in pursuing her goals,” Tino said “She actively seeks feedback to deepen her understanding of the material Her achievements will greatly benefit her patients and support her journey to becoming a skilled physical therapist assistant.” Lain’s time at Polk State was marked by growth and discovery she is excited about the possibilities in the medical field “I don’t know if I will choose the sports medicine path or if the Lord will lead me to a different area like spinal injuries or stroke victims,” Lain said “The medical field is a physically sacrificing job and the people who truly care are the ones who make the difference I’m thankful to Polk State for giving me the opportunity to pass on what I was blessed with.” 5.2.25 Polk State Nursing application open through May 15 4.25.25 Polk State Cardiovascular Technology application open through May 30 3.11.25 Polk State Nursing application open March 15 - 25 HAINES CITY — Haines City flag football roared into the Class 4A FHSAA Flag Football State Championships with an unblemished record it was supposed to be the clash of the titans But it was actually a David versus Goliath matchup in which Steinbrenner (14-5) eventually won 33-7 Wednesday night at Haines City High School because of the otherworldly activities of sophomore quarterback KK Ramsey who is a Team USA player recruited by several colleges while also being a girls basketball player who went to the state semis and a Javelin athlete thrust into regionals next week But Haines City head flag football coach Stephen Stansbury told it like it is They have top players that can throw the ball We haven't played anybody that can throw the ball like that all year I think the best quarterback we played all year can throw maybe 20 We had two or three girls that didn't make it today I think it would have been a little bit different if we had everybody Canaday: Haines City’s Canaday leads flag football team to unblemished season, regionals 57 athletes: All these sports, who to watch? Here are 57 of Polk County's top spring athletes in 2025 as she could flick the wrist and the ball traveled half the field including a 73-yard pass play to senior receiver Berkley Demeter with 7:30 left in the first as she easily put a foot into the ground and evaded the rush before using her quick twitches to outrun opponents This squad from Tampa had a true team — the team ran crossing patterns that got players wide open ― as these players have been playing with or against each other since youth flag football "...The team is up at practice 6:30 in the morning and it takes a strong commitment level to be a part of it They have great bonds off the field...," Steinbrenner head coach Gregg Puskas said the Warriors forced Canaday into four interceptions Everywhere on defense was senior defensive back Megan Medina who put up six tackles and one pass breakup Sophomore defensive back Samantha Coble registered two interceptions of her own senior defensive back Brearna Farquharson tallied eight tackles Farquharson was a part of a magnificent team that went undefeated winning back-to-back district titles heading into the regional quarterfinals including Canaday (29 touchdowns) and junior wide receiver Mikayla Hill (10 touchdowns) I think we left so much on the field...," Haines City coach Alex Craig said A Haines City ice cream shop is hoping to make some waves in a new partnership with a bold and flavorful distillery Haines City Distillery plans to start serving up flavorful cocktails at a familiar location Formerly know as Surf's Up Ice Cream Shack sometimes mixed with homemade ice cream in an updated family-friendly environment The new venture is born from an older partnership as Aponte started distilling his own hard liquors while working for Rodriguez's former air-conditioning service Aponte left to focus full time on creating alcoholic beverages "I've tasted a lot of his stuff over the years," Rodriguez said "There's a chocolate almond rum that's amazing and a vanilla whiskey." Aponte has spent over a decade fine-honing his craft within the distilling industry creating smooth and flavorful blends for others he plans on bringing its recipes to Haines City "We will do a little bit of everything," he said Unlike some distilleries that specialize in one particular hard liquor like rum or bourbons Aponte said he likes to mix it up and bring the flavor One example is a rum made with hibiscus and orange notes Aponte promised it won't put patrons to sleep "It's something very different that the market doesn't have out there," Rodriquez said will be served up alongside the homemade ice cream previously offered by Surf's Up Ice Cream Shack but Rodriguez said previous customers will still be able to get kid-friendly ice cream sundaes or a scoop "We're aiming to be more family-oriented," Aponte said you can't really bring your kid and enjoy food or ice cream and they simply aren't set up to do that." The site plans are to develop a game zone where children of all ages can play Aponte and Rodriguez say with the large outdoor area the atmosphere will be anything but a traditional bar Rodriguez hopes Haines City and other Polk County residents still stop by to a proposed series of live music events "We want to have a cruise-like feel," Rodriguez said "Just more family-based and with better food," Aponte added Customers of Surf's Up Ice Cream Shack can get the latest news on an opening date and its new menu by visiting its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/surfsupicecreamshack Cheré Senft cannot remember a time before First Presbyterian Church Haines City was part of her life Senft was baptized in the church as an infant, 82 years ago. At that time, the church itself was relatively young and her parents — Dan and Jo Townsend — were among its earliest members Senft will join with other congregants Sunday in celebrating the 100th anniversary of First Presbyterian Church Haines City “People care about each other and look after each other It's had its ups and downs and ins and outs They've always loved each other and loved their church.” Haines City Mayor Omar Arroyo recently declared Sunday as First Presbyterian Church Haines City Recognition Day Arroyo is expected to attend one of Sunday morning’s two services as well as a luncheon planned for 1:30 p.m First Presbyterian Church emerged just 11 years after Haines City incorporated in 1914 with a population of fewer than 1,000 — compared with about 37,000 today when a group of about 25 met in the offices of Judge Robert Treat Dewell played the piano for Sunday school and worship services as John became a judge and Mary was among Florida’s first 150 female lawyers Moveable church in early yearsFor the first two years the congregation held services at the defunct Marlea Theatre on North Sixth Street before the church shifted to the Women’s Club building First Presbyterian Church then rented the use of a dormant Episcopal Church building for a decade before church elders Colin Gunn and Jed Yale acquired and donated land on Oak Avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets and the congregation planned at last to build its own sanctuary and educational facilities The church constructed a one-story building and topped it with another building acquired a few years later from a Baptist congregation like running up and down the steps on the side and falling down and skinning my knee,” Senft said of the early Oak Avenue site She also recalled “having to sit real still in the chairs The church drew up plans for a sanctuary that would face Oak Avenue owned a sawmill and a brick-making machine helped produce the bricks for the planned sanctuary The church constructed the sanctuary walls but lacked the money to install windows or a roof Local residents dubbed the incomplete building “The Presbyterian Folly.” The congregation finally finished construction of the sanctuary in 1955 First Presbyterian Church remained on Oak Street through the end of the century but by the late 1990s the congregation decided to seek a new site rather than try to renovate the aging structure a grandson of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson who had been appointed as pastor in 1988 assigned a group he called the fabulous four — Skip Lawhorn Roy Walsdorf and Paul Senft — to lead the transition to a new location Paul Senft a former Polk County commissioner and founder of the Haines City Economic Development Council recalled the concern she felt when Paul told her that the committee had signed a multimillion-dollar promissory note to build a new church The congregation bought its current 21-acre property at 104 Scenic Highway and contracted with Rodda Construction of Lakeland to build the sanctuary and educational facilities The modern structure contains a few artifacts from the Oak Street church — a stained-glass window a communion table and a baptismal — Executive Pastor Danny Chandler said but First Presbyterian Church Haines City has about 650 members The church operates a food pantry and other ministries “We've got more volunteers than we know what to do with who at age 82 still does what she called “yard work” at the church they first attended First Presbyterian Church Haines City while visiting their parents who lived nearby and had been attending for a year Among their reasons for continuing to attend we were greeted with a warm welcome,” Chandler said certainly a little bit larger than a mid-sized congregation We go visit folks that are in the hospital.” Chandler listed the other two factors that drew him and his wife to the church: the “phenomenal” music and the “solid biblical teaching.” First Presbyterian Church Haines City in 2017 left Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country to join the newly created Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians roundtrip drive from Tampa to attend services for about a year before moving to Lakeland Chandler said he was technically too young to become an elder when he entered that role with the church in 2006 he completed his theological studies in 2018 and became as a minister in 2020 Chandler is essentially an associate pastor He has been leading services since the recent departure of Jason Minter Danny and Amber Chandler have raised their three children as members of the church “My wife and I consider FPC to be one of our greatest blessings,” Danny said “We’ve made most of our life decisions around FPC We've had offers to move and offers to be promoted and we’ve had all kinds of opportunities and things that we passed up because we felt that this is our church home.” the chair of the 100th Anniversary Committee after moving to Polk County from Canada 11 years ago “We walked in the door and within the first 10 minutes there is this warmth and this fellowship that is pervading Three days after attending their first service the couple showed up uninvited to a choir practice – Debbie is a singer Former congregants are traveling from across the country to attend Sunday’s services and luncheon The visitors will include three previous pastors — Jeff Winter the minister who presided over Paul and Cheré Senft’s wedding in 1964 Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13 It was all knotted up at 13 against Durant in the 2025 FHSAA Flag Football Class 4A District 6 Championship game last Wednesday at Haines City High School all The Ledger’s first team all-county selection junior quarterback Zebrielle Canaday heard was her mother blaring eventually scoring the game-winning touchdown and Canaday now has a grand total of 64 touchdowns which means arguably the area’s best player stacked seven touchdowns in districts “Extremely proud,” Haines City coach Alex Craig said “Everything these girls have been able to do this season has nothing short of incredible we really just leaned into Zebrielle Canaday and listened to her as a play caller and let her play naturally the chemistry between her and the girls really blossomed into what we have today as a 16-0 team.” the school now has accumulated back-to-back district championships “It’s feels great to help my team win the district championship and now the school has two district championship back to back,” Canaday said While Canaday makes it look easy on the field was playing in a new district against teams in different counties it was the team that helped Canaday overcome that challenge that led the program to have a 16-0 undefeated season: senior receiver Gilliana Frenell leads the team in receiving while senior linebacker Jade Madden leads the team in tackles who helped Canaday execute some of her favorite plays with her favorite being the interception executed against George jenkins — another top team in Polk — to close an important game which was a mirror image that happened last year in the same quarter with the same amount of time left against the same team Haines City’s first round regional game is 7 p.m Wednesday at home against Steinbrenner (13-5) How did it get like this when it comes to Polk County teams in the district Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal News Louis Bolden HAINES CITY – A Haines City couple found themselves in a financial nightmare after cybercriminals intercepted the money they were sending for a down payment on their new home Matthew Brock and his wife were supposed to close on a three-bedroom but their day of celebration quickly turned into one of sorrow cybercriminals impersonated the couple’s title company by altering just one letter in the email address [EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos] Instead of communicating with their legitimate contact the Brocks unknowingly interacted with the criminals “I don’t think you’re really looking for one consonant to be left out of an email either,” Matthew Brock said The criminals hijacked the email containing the wiring instructions They also removed the wire fraud prevention notice which urged recipients to verify wire instructions Secret Service refers to this type of fraud as a business email compromise (BEC) Special Agent in Charge Caroline O’Brien-Buster from the Orlando Field Office explained that BECs are common She advised always verifying email addresses and independently confirming wiring instructions with the title company “You always have to call your title company and ensure that the wiring instructions that you received are actually the wiring instructions.” But she says don’t call the number on the email Brock acted quickly by contacting the bank where the money was sent only $5,000 was recovered with the help of the Secret Service Despite the setback, the Brocks were able to purchase their home with the support of family, friends, and a GoFundMe campaign. Brock is determined to raise awareness about wire fraud Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved Emmy Award-winning reporter Louis Bolden joined the News 6 team in September of 2001 and hasn't gotten a moment's rest since Louis has been a General Assignment Reporter for News 6 and Weekend Morning Anchor He joined the Special Projects/Investigative Unit in 2014 TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group A man and woman died Saturday night in an incident the Haines City Police Department is investigating as a possible murder-suicide Officers responded to a call and found two people dead of gunshot wounds a 34-year-old Hispanic man and a 33-year-old Hispanic woman The couple had been involved in an intimate relationship for several years and had been “experiencing challenges in their relationship,” the release said The agency declined to release the names of the man or woman citing a state law that shields crime victims from identification No current orders of protection were in place against either though one was issued more than seven years ago and none were present when officers arrived The children are being cared for by family members HCPD contacted the Department of Children and Families as it does in cases when children’s parents have died Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene and assumed the investigation “This is the second time in less than a year that our community has been devastated by a domestic violence situation leaving innocent children without their parents,” Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck said in the release “We want everyone to know that there are resources available and domestic violence situations do not have to be faced alone and especially to our children to provide support and work towards breaking this vicious cycle.” has been charged with first-degree murder in her fatal shooting The State Attorney’s Office for the 10th Judicial Circuit has registered its intent to seek the death penalty against Guevara had obtained a protective injunction against the suspect six days before being shot her in her car The HCPD release included phone numbers for anyone experiencing domestic violence The National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799- 7233) and Peace River Center Victim Services (863-413-2700) offer confidential support Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13 Rise Up Feed and Seed food pantry opens its doors to those in need Carolyn Jasper-Nelson runs it inside Greater Saint Mark AME Church in Haines City and I don't have to pay one dime thanks to my pastor,” said Jasper-Nelson Much has changed since she started seven years ago “Once I retired from the Polk County School Board God wouldn't just not allow me to sit still He gave me the vision,” said Jasper-Nelson Rise Up Feed and Seed operates on Monday Jasper-Nelson said she is often there seven days a week “A lot of times Haines City Police department uses me also the Department of Children and Families and people that are just on the streets actually come up walk here and get a food box,” said Jasper-Nelson it’s no surprise that two Haines City police officers knew exactly where to turn on Sunday “We get a call about a suspicious vehicle in a Winn-Dixie parking lot and he told us about what was going on,” said officer Daniel Hicks officers Hicks and Britney Tarr went the extra mile Jasper-Nelson is also helping the family apply for government assistance I can hear the heartbreak in them and you can just see it in their eyes that they needed the help,” said Tarr The pantry serves on average 300 people daily Jasper-Nelson said the need has doubled in recent months “A lot of people are being laid off from their jobs families can't make ends meet with the income they have here in the state of Florida,” said Jasper-Nelson As more families struggle to put food on the table Jasper-Nelson said she can use help with additional resources “Looking for an additional vehicle to pick up food because it’s just me and my other volunteer,” said Jasper-Nelson — Haines City public parks will be smoke and vape free under a new ordinance One of Kaitlyn Platt's favorite things to do with her kiddos is to take them to different parks around Haines City She is glad to know that the city is taking steps to make parks cleaner and more enjoyable for everyone Not having it around the parks is going to make the air quality better for all of the children,” said Platt Lighting up in Haines City public parks is no longer allowed Commissioners just passed a smoking and vaping ban in public parks I try to stay as far away from kids in general when I smoke and not having other people smoking at the park is what’s most beneficial to all of the kids,” said Platt The smoking ban came about after a push from students with the advocacy group Polk Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) The 2022 Florida Clean Air Act allows local governments to impose such restrictions “We’re in the process of working on getting some signs made in both English and Spanish From there we are going to have a 30-day grace period to educate the public on that and then the enforcement will begin after those 30 days,” said Terrell Griffin Haines City Parks & Recreation Director People violating the ordinance could be fined up to $500 “Our intent is not to fine anybody or to have anyone arrested It's simply about young kids' lungs at play Ultimately trying to avoid secondhand smoke and being exposed to those elements,” Griffin said Students at Alta Vista Elementary School in Haines City might migrate south in the fall Polk County Public Schools is considering a proposal to permanently relocate Alta Vista’s students and staff to Scenic Terrace according to a message posted on the school’s website is about 1½ miles south of the established Alta Vista site at 801 Scenic Highway in Haines City The proposal indicates a change from the district’s original plan to have Alta Vista students remain at their campus during a complete renovation the current site would eventually host a new school for students in kindergarten through eighth grades Polk County Public Schools has invited Alta Vista’s staff students and families to tour the Scenic Terrace facility Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m The school is at 2885 Scenic Highway in Haines City Scenic Terrace has served as a temporary site the past two academic years for Elbert Elementary School in Winter Haven Elbert students are scheduled to return in the fall to their site at 205 15th St after a replacement of the original school The new Elbert Elementary will have capacity for about 1,200 students District staff have determined that it is not feasible for Alta Vista students to remain on their current campus in portable buildings as a comprehensive renovation of the site proceeds the name Alta Vista would transfer to the facility now known as Scenic Terrace The district did not have an immediate answer to a question about the school’s official capacity but Kennedy said Alta Vista is using some portable buildings Scenic Terrace occupies nearly 157,000 square feet and has room for about 1,600 students The school admits students from Haines City Alta Vista is in need of substantial improvements and Polk County Public Schools has decided that Alta Vista will be the next school to undergo a complete modernization — essentially resulting in a brand-new campus,” the district said in a letter to families the district would gradually expand the newly located Alta Vista into a school with kindergarten through eighth grade The district is polling parents of Alta Vista Elementary about the proposed shift in locations asking if parents of current fifth-graders would prefer to have their children stay with Alta Vista as they progress into middle school The district sent a letter to families on March 12 giving a deadline of March 30 for responses Polk County School Superintendent Fred Heid will update School Board members about the plans for Alta Vista at an upcoming meeting The new facility to be constructed at the current Alta Vista site is also planned as a K-8 school That arrangement is expected to relieve pressure on middle schools in Northeast Polk Boone Middle School in Haines City is using portable classrooms because of excess students president of the Polk Education Association Recent reports have ranked Polk County as the nation’s fastest-growing county and the population surge has been largely focused in Northeast Polk That boom has caused overcrowding at some schools and created pressure for the district to build new facilities The modernization of Elbert Elementary follows a model that Polk County Public Schools has used at Mulberry High School Garner Academy in Winter Haven and Southwest Middle in Lakeland Those projects involved demolishing and replacing most of the existing structures The district said that the cost of the modernizations is covered by impact fees and a half-cent sales tax that voters renewed in 2018 Scenic Terrace is an example of a public-private partnership between the district and Building Tomorrow's Schools The agreement involves a long-term lease/purchase agreement — The Haines City Fire Department is getting more calls for help than ever before “The growth as far as call volume has increased drastically There are new subdivisions constantly going in,” said Jacob Jimenez Having been a Haines City Firefighter for nearly two decades Jimenz has experienced the rapid growth firsthand That is 300 more calls than the year before so Polk County Fire Rescue steps in to cover the north section of the city With that third station we’ll be able to move in there and cover a lot of that area and take over running those calls,’ Jimenez said Construction of a third fire station is now underway It is part of a new emergency operations center being built between US Highway 27 and FDC Grove Road “The new station has doors that open like accordions The alarms for the firefighters are going to be a little less noisy,” said Interim Fire Chief Patrick Competelli The state-of-the-art facility will meet the increasing demand for emergency services in the area emergency operations were conducted out of a cramped city hall anything like that we’ll be sheltered over there then we report to the county,” said Competelli Construction is expected to be complete by the summer The Haines City Police Department has increased the reward available for information regarding a woman’s fatal shooting on Dec. 27 The agency is adding $2,500 to the $5,000 offered by Heartland Crime Stoppers for a total reward of $7,500 for information that leads to an arrest Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Haines City Police Department at 863-421-3636 Those wishing to remain anonymous may contact Heartland Crime Stoppers through its website, www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com or by calling 888-400-8477 or dialing **TIPS from a cell phone The two women were traveling together in a vehicle when they were shot from behind on Dr Police released both a photo and surveillance video footage of the suspect vehicle HCPD has not disclosed the name of the woman killed citing a state law that exempts crime victims from public records releases Fla — A Haines City man was arrested on drug trafficking charges after police said they found nearly four pounds of meth in his vehicle A Haines City Police (HCPD) officer noticed a driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck run a stop sign at Dr Martin L Way and Citrus Avenue Saturday evening around 10:30 p.m The officer then attempted to pull the driver over but the driver sped away and drove into a person's front yard at Avenue B crashing into a fence and a parked vehicle then got out of the wrecked truck and continued to run from police HCPD said they were able to chase down Pierce after he jumped a fence they found nearly four pounds of methamphetamine and almost $24,000 in cash.HCPD said Pierce was charged with multiple felonies HAINES CITY -- It was an emotional and historic day for Haines City junior point guard Terionce Jackson so Jackson has been in and out of the hospital while still training rigorously for the Class 7A The girls basketball district title finally came around Thursday at Haines City High School (20-5) vs and Jackson used her mother’s situation as motivation which ended up culminating as the game-high scorer with 14 points leading to a 77-41 win and an 11 th district title in Marsha Paul’s 14 years as head coach And I just put that in my game today and dedicated it to her,” Jackson said “…I just put in the work ethic and just put my mind on the game tonight instead of letting my emotions get to me.” And her mother made it easier to focus on the game she told Jackson that she would be good and to not worry about her situation 1 seed went on a 14-2 run with 3:11 left in the first quarter thanks to forced turnovers Celebration had difficulty advancing the ball past half court because of Haines City’s suffocating full-court press Auburndale: Auburndale's Julia Hendrieth-Barnes turns around girls basketball 2000 Mulberry's Cruz looks for 2,000 points; 5 girls basketball teams to watch in postseason 23 23 unsung Polk County girls basketball players Defense led to offense where Jackson took advantage in the paint Freshman guard Delissa Morris also registered 14 points on 54.5% shooting with four rebounds Junior guard Mikeyla Hill tallied 13 points 11 rebounds — including nine offensive rebounds — three assists and four steals And senior Olivia Howard posted 11 points and five steals the Hornets forced 18 turnovers in the first half (4) Santa Fe Catholic 16 (Class 2A District 5 quarterfinals) Davenport woman wins regional Emmy for documentary about Haines City Police DepartmentLakeland LedgerDavenport resident Karina Michel Feld recently won a Suncoast Regional Emmy Award for Outstanding Production for a documentary about the Haines City Police Department Feld directed "Heart of Florida: PD," which follows Haines City police officers as they strive to make a positive impact in their community The documentary focuses on the officers’ personal struggles and their efforts to build trust with residents Feld has multiple credits as a producer and actor including appearances in “The Starter Wife” and “CSI: NY.” “I'm so happy that the film and our local community and law enforcement got the recognition I was so hoping for,” Michel said in the release Haines City planned to present Feld with a proclamation at Thursday’s City Commission meeting “Heart of Florida: PD” can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qISei7NdUo The Haines City Police Department continues to search for a suspect who fatally shot a woman Friday night on Dr Two women were traveling together in a vehicle when they were shot from behind Evidence gathered so far suggests that their vehicle was intentionally targeted The shooting killed a 33-year-old woman was in stable condition and expected to recover The agency did not disclose the name of the woman killed The content of the video may be graphic and difficult to watch The video shows what appears to be a white van turning right from Avenue K stops behind it on the perpendicular street and someone in the passenger seat fires several shots through an open window before the car drives away Haines City police said they believe the shooting was an isolated incident and that there is no immediate threat to the public December 2023 fatal shooting: Man re-arrested days after attorney mocks Polk sheriff “Our hearts are with family of the victims during this difficult time,” Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck said in a news release “We are committed to identifying those who are involved and ensuring justice is served for their loved ones it is vital we come together as a community offering support and standing united against senseless acts of violence We encourage any members of our community who may have any information to come forward and assist in the investigation as every detail can make a difference in bringing justice to the family.” Heartland Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information about the incident, the vehicle or its occupants is urged to contact the Haines City Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through Heartland Crime Stoppers through its website, www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518 A woman died of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Haines City hospital on Wednesday About 10 a.m., Haines City police responded to reports of gunshots at AdventHealth Heart of Florida Hospital Haines City officers and Polk County sheriff's deputies arrived to find a adult woman dead inside a private patient room as result of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Preliminary investigation shows the patient was alone in her room at the time of incident Haines City officers and Polk deputies conducted a security sweep of the hospital The hospital was able to resume normal operations within an hour of law enforcement arriving Four years later: Man charged in fatal 2020 Christmas Eve shooting in Lakeland that killed 70-year-old woman Haines City police there is an active and ongoing investigation The Ledger has reached out to the police department and AdventHealth to see whether either had determined how a gun made its way into the building Woman dies from collision after attempting to pass on Lake Hatchineha Road in Haines CityLakeland LedgerA 24-year-old Kissimmee woman died after she attempted to pass another driver in rural Haines City on Saturday and collided with an oncoming pickup truck The crash happened about 7:20 p.m Saturday on Lake Hatchineha Road just east of Jennings Road in unincorporated Haines City McCoy was found by first responders entrapped in her car with life-threatening injuries The road was shut down in both directions for about three hours — Police search for a man who crashed into multiple cars in a U-Haul trailer and fled from officers Haines City Police said officers responded to a hit-and-run at 9:09 p.m A woman told police that she was driving westbound on Bates Road when a man driving a U-Haul truck Johnson then flipped the U-Haul in reverse and kept driving on Bates Road Haines City Police said that an officer spotted Johnson in the U-Haul go into a grassy median to get around other vehicles The officer then attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the U-Haul but Johnson continued to speed away from the officer The officer continued to chase the speeding U-Haul through the Oakland Community Haines City Police said that Johnson eventually rammed the officer's patrol vehicle near the intersection of 10th Street North and Avenue N Johnson continued to flee from the area until he crashed the U-Haul near 12th Street North and Avenue N. Haines City Police said they were able to search the crashed U-Haul and found Johnson's wallet inside the cab of the truck along with a glass pipe with white residue Johnson is wanted on three counts of hit and run When a mugshot is usedIf the person is still on the loose and a potential threat to the community; if there is a good chance that showing the suspect would help identify additional victims or otherwise protect the public from a serious threat or if the crime or the suspect is of such a significant note that seeing them in a mugshot is in the greater public interest Using previous mugshotsOnly if the story is specifically talking about that previous crime “We can’t celebrate until next Friday,” Haines City coach Pat Herrington said Thursday night Herrington and the Hornets can’t — though they certainly earned it The Hornets’ 13-7 victory over Ridge Community at Joe Stanley Stadium was easily their biggest win in years Beyond it being Haines City’s fourth consecutive win it gives the Hornets sole possession of first place in Class 7A-District 6 It stirred up memories of Haines City’s glory years of the ’90s under Danny Green and Tim Hatten when the Hornets were consistent challengers for district titles finished state runner-up one year and were state semifinalists in another he looked back at the large homecoming crowd in the stands and along the fence Hopefully we can get back to that at some point and get the kids to stay here.” While the comparison to ’99 and 2000 is understandable Players like Larry Kendrick and Tramell Foster had graduated after the 2000 season and Haines City wasn’t as explosive offensively in 2001 as they had been the previous two seasons the defense remained dominate that year — which is how the Hornets defeated Lakeland That’s the comparison for this year’s team The offense has had its struggles this year The Hornets have allowed seven points or less in four consecutive games Haines City’s defense bottled up Ridge for nearly the entire game Amire Hall’s 44-yard pass to Klein Gilles was the Bolts’ only big play of the game It took Ridge down to the 1-yard line and set up a tying touchdown in the third quarter It was the defense that gave the Hornets’ confidence that even after a mishandled snap on a punt-attempt late in the fourth quarter that gave Ridge the ball at the Haines City 34-yard line the Hornets would be able hang on for the win The Hornets kept Ridge’s explosive running back Lavonski Tubbs in check throughout the game and Kanai Washington’s second interception of the game at the 12-yard line clinched the victory just staying disciplined and using my keys and tracking the ball down,” Washington said Herrington wasn’t surprised that Washington came up with the interception “I send him the film first and let him watch it 'What does he see?' And he matches up with me.” The defense has playmakers all over the field “This is probably the most complete unit we've seen in awhile,” Herrington said “On each level we have Jamal (Williams) playing well It's a collective group that they just been playing out.” Herrington's confidence in his defense is such that he feels as long as the offense can score a couple of touchdowns Haines City wasn’t doing any better driving up the field than Ridge It needed field position to have any chance The Hornets couldn’t capitalize on Washington’s first interception they just grinded it out behind BJ Alston who scored on a 5-yard run Haines City answered Ridge’s score by capitalizing on a personal foul penalty against Ridge will be for nothing if the Hornets can’t follow it up The Hornets can clinch the district title with a win next week over the Eagles The last thing they want is to have the district championship determined by the rankings should two or three teams end up tied “We can’t have an Alabama,” Herrington said “We can't beat Georgia then come back and lose I just got to do my job to keep them focused and let them know what the prize is.” (This story was updated to change or add new photos.) An employee at Longhorn Steakhouse and a family-owned FedEx store in Haines City A bright soul who was always happy and loved people All are ways to describe Asiya Roberts-Husband and Haines City Police Chief Greg Goreck wants the community to know her name and see her face the department released multiple pictures of the 33-year-old This is the person that has been taken from us Around 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 27, Roberts-Husband was killed in a drive-by shooting that also injured her friend they were in a van that was targeted as it turned onto Ave The unknown shooter fired multiple rounds from a dark-colored four-door sedan “We just want to keep this story fresh in everybody’s mind,” Chief Goreck said Chief Goreck’s department has yet to make an arrest but that’s not because of a lack of effort his department has been working the case almost nonstop Every time we process evidence from the scene Every time we execute a search warrant in this case But he still needs tips and key information to connect the dots and help him find the person responsible for this Only then will Asiya and her friend get the justice they deserve A $7,500 reward is being offered for a tip that leads to an arrest Anonymity is guaranteed through Heartland Crime Stoppers Heartland Crime Stoppers can be contacted by calling 1-888-400-TIPS (8477) through their website at www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com or on their free P3tips app compatible with any smartphone or tablet she shrugs it off and works extra hard in the gym In the days leading up to the Class 7A regional quarterfinals Canaday made it a point to lead by example and go extra rigorous in practice This worked out for her and her team as the Hornets ended up winning 67-30 over Sumner High School on Thursday at Haines City High advancing the Hornets to the regional semifinals slated for Tuesday so I had to be myself to get us to the next round — further than what we did last year,” Canaday said Canaday was indeed herself as she registered 18 points in the game But Canaday was also the vocal leader on the court just as she exhibited in practice leading up to the big game This already-practiced tenacity was applied in the game 2 seed in regional action used its full-court press which turned into quick offense that led to a 43-16 halftime score district: Haines City girls basketball wins 11th district title in 14 years Sumner was caught off guard by Haines City’s offense which was a variation not shown throughout the season And head coach Marsha Paul said Haines City didn’t show everything yet “…We are going to always play defense and play hard "This team is hard to scout because all of them are balanced ‘it’s your turn to shine.’ That’s our motto.” It was also Sumner head girls basketball coach Marika Starks time shine But this year she has elevated the team to a 16-10 squad while her squad fell short in the regional quarterfinal it was a win for her team to do as well as they did we showed up and things didn’t go our way,” Starks said Winter Haven announced Drew Neubrand will succeed Chief Joseph "Sonny" Emery as the city's next fire chief Emery is scheduled to retire at the end of January after 26 years with the city who currently works as Haines City's fire chief is expect to start working for Winer Haven in early January Polk City: 52-year-old man dies in Polk City house fire. Cause is still under investigation leadership and community connection that make him a perfect fit for the Winter Haven Fire Department," City Manager T "I’m excited to welcome him to the team and confident that his passion for service and ability to inspire others will help our Fire Department continue its tradition of excellence.' Winter Haven chose Neubrand after conducting a nationwide search and engaging community members according to city spokesperson Katrina Hill Neubrand is a certified firefighter and paramedic with a bachelor's degree in public administration from St He has previously spent 13 years with former Reedy Creek Fire Department Neubrand has also worked for the Winter Springs and Hillsborough fire departments Taking a cue from RFK Jr. Winter Haven votes to stop adding fluoride to city water "I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the outstanding men and women of the Winter Haven Fire Department and further establish it as the premier fire department in the state," he said in a statement Neubrand is a Winter Haven resident for the past eight years It's the second major public safety chief named in Winter Haven in barely a month. On Oct. 18, Vance Monroe was sworn in as the city's new police chief Chicken dinners and Bo-Berry Biscuits are coming to Polk County Bojangles restaurant is expected to break ground in Haines City very soon thought to be the chain's first store in Polk County Haines City planning department received a site plan earlier this year that shows a few preliminary details for a 3,138-square-foot restaurant on a 1.23-acre site along northbound U.S The plans show a two-lane drive-thru and room for 43 parking spaces Across the highway from the coming Bojangles there is a shopping plaza that contains the Davenport Dinner and Domino's Pizza Behind the Bojangles restaurant there is the Carlise Grand subdivision That plaza offers restaurants such as Hardee’s Philly Steak & Wing of Davenport and Luke’s Legendary Pizza Love Bird: Super popular Lakeland chicken restaurant opens Winter Haven location. See what's new The single-building site is being developed by St The site plan obtained from Haines City was prepared by Landmark Engineering Group with revisions noted in June after input from the city While the site sits squarely in Haines City the restaurant has a Davenport mailing address at 40235 U.S According to Haines City planning manager April Brown the Bojangles project team has yet to request a building permit vice president of communications at Bojangles were unsuccessful via email on Wednesday Tampa Now also reported the store will be company owned and part of a nationwide expansion of the chain The coming Haines City location would be the sixth or seventh in Florida The closest to Polk County is near Clermont just over the Polk-Osceola county line in Poinciana What is Twin Peaks? This competitor to Hooters is hiring and opening soon in North Lakeland Bojangles is a restaurant chain specializing in Southern style chicken biscuits and tea made fresh daily using recipes unique to the Carolinas “Our guests are at the forefront of everything we do,” the Bojangles website said we’re committed to doing good in the communities we serve Fans from all over know Bojangles for our catchy tagline – ‘It’s Bo Time!’” The company was founded in 1977 with a single location in Charlotte and now has more than 800 locations nationwide — Polk State College is expanding its presence to the northeast part of the county helping increase the pipeline of medical professionals Marcia Scarlett nearly lost her life in a car crash in 2018 waking up and lying in the middle of the road The next thing I remember I was in the ambulance and the next thing after that I was getting x-rays,” Scarlett said Her experience with the X-ray techs in that moment inspired her to pursue a major in radiography at Polk State assuring me that everything was going to be ok Scarlett will be joining Polk County’s health care workforce once she graduates There is a growing need for medical professionals “We have thousands of people that keep moving into Haines City We build about $2,000 homes every year,” said Haines City Mayor Omar Arroyo Leaders broke ground on the Haines City-Davenport campus Thursday The new campus will focus on health science programs and include Central Florida’s first public higher education simulation hospital “Provide our faculty and students with the opportunity to observe when they reach the actual facility that they’re going to work in The $51 million project will be the first college campus built in Haines City — Police released a video of the Haines City shooting that killed one woman and injured another Haines City Police said 33-year-old Asiya Roberts Husband was shot and killed while the second victim 41-year-old Shykeitha Weems is expected to recover from her injuries Weems was just steps away from her front door when the van she and Husband were in was blasted with bullets “This should not have happened to either one of them that should not have happened,” said Missy Lewis Weems home security camera capturing it all unfold the night of December 27 four-door sedan followed the van and then shot into it several times Weems’ aunt said she ran to get help after being hit in the shoulder She told him somebody’s shooting at us and that’s all I know ‘you’re shot.’ She asked him to check on Asiya and Asyia was already gone I think,” Lynn Lewis said Investigators determined the victims were targeted and believe the shooting was an isolated incident “We do believe that they were following the van We don't know the motive currently for the reason but yes they were targeting that van or the people in the van,” said Greg Goreck Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida is offering a $5,000 reward for anyone with information regarding the homicide “Our hearts are with family of the victims during this difficult time We are committed to identifying those who are involved and ensuring justice is served for their loved ones,” said Goreck “We encourage any members of our community who may have any information to come forward and assist in the investigation Weems’ sister is hoping somebody will do the right thing It could’ve been anybody living around here This is not the time to be living by a code This code mess has got to stop,” Lewis said Detectives asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-888-400-TIPS (8477) or the Haines City Police Department at 863-421-3636.