at the Greenville Nursing and Rehab Center
Illinois and attended a one room schoolhouse in Pleasant Mound
She attended and graduated from Mulberry Grove High School
Georgia and Raymond Kendall were united in marriage December 5
They enjoyed 42 years together before his passing on November 17
Surviving are her daughter Wanda Kendall of Greenville
and son Michael (Dalonna) Kendall of Greenville; grandchildren
Jennifer (Daniel) Baumberger of Greenville
Georgia was preceded in death by her parents
She started in Smithboro and became Postmaster of Hagarstown
she loved going to grandchildren’s ball games and events
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at 12:46PM at her oldest daughter&rsquo;s home in Baton Rouge
bright smile and always a kind word will be greatly missed by her family
but we rejoice in the fact that she now resides in heaven with her husband and many family members
Lindfors viewing will be at Stuhr Northwoods Chapel on Saturday
from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm at 2180 Greenridge Rd
The service will immediately follow at 2:30PM
She will be buried at Riverview Memorial Park Cemetery
in North Charleston beside her husband.Mrs
Florida and spent most of her adult life living in Charleston
Wayne Russell Lindfors and his spouse Sharon Davis Lindfors; her son Ralph Frank Lindfors and his spouse
Fonda Lindfors New &nbsp;and her spouse Kenneth W
thirty-five (35) great grandchildren and two (2) great-great grandchildren that knew her as Grandma and Nana.&nbsp;Her 14 grandchildren are: Russell Wayne Lindfors
Williamson and Kenneth Ryan Williamson.&nbsp;Her 35 great grandchildren are: Sarah Lindfors McDonald
Williamson.&nbsp;Her two great-great-grandchildren are: Hayden M
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recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends over two days this month
where she graduated from Sussex High School
She attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg
Wahneta moved to Branchville so that she could work at Selected Risks Insurance Company as it was required that you live in Branchville in order to work there
The Grange was popular and of course the Branchville Fair was the main yearly attraction
Most everyone went to church and attended church functions,“ she told her daughter
She retired in 1948 from Selected Risks and after raising her daughter
She and her husband were married for nearly 40 years when he passed away in 1985
often taking her daughter and grandchildren with her
She also cruised with her niece to Bermuda several times
She has been active in many volunteer projects
and checking on abandoned homes for the National Park Service
She was a member of the Branchville Grange
was the center of social life in the borough
She has been an active member of the Branchville Methodist Church
and is now a member of the Minisink Reformed Church
She was the past Matron of the Owassa chapter of the Eastern Star
and is an active member of local historical societies
At family gatherings she often jokingly says to her daughter
held at a meeting of the Montague Seniors Club
there was a decorated cake and Wahneta received a bouquet of flowers from the club
Her family honored her with a party at the Grange Hall in Montague the following day
that was attended by many family members and friends and she received even more good wishes
walks a half-mile every day and her only daily medicine is a multi-vitamin and two low-dose aspirin
She drinks a concoction of apple cider vinegar and honey every morning
She also helps her daughter take care of the grandkids
Marjorie Shay and Nancy Sayre also turned 100 this year
The three women all worked at Selected Risks together
roomed together and were in each other’s weddings
Marjorie passed away right after her 100th birthday
BARTOW — The second suspect connected to Saturday's armed robbery on the streets of Wahneta is in custody
was arrested Tuesday with help from a sheriff's canine at a residence on Palmetto Ridge Drive in Wahneta
according to a Polk County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit
He's charged under allegations of robbing a 44-year-old Wahneta man who was walking along Avenue A East at Seventh Street at about 6 p.m.
They took his wallet and as they fled in a red
a witness took note of the license plate number
Also charged in the Saturday robbery is Steven Alberto Ramos
who was arrested Sunday at his Wahneta home
Detectives recovered a BB handgun and air rifle matching weapons allegedly used to rob Siney
Ramos and Cisneros are being held at the Juvenile Assessment Center in Bartow on charges of robbery with a firearm
The two teenagers are suspects in several other recent street robberies in the Wahneta community
Additional charges are pending as the investigation is ongoing
Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528
WAHNETA | A project that will increase retail space in Wahneta can have wide-ranging impact on this unincorporated area south of Winter Haven that is home to many Latino families
a grocery and taco stand on Rifle Range Road
and build apartments and other multi-use spaces for people wanting to start their own businesses
said construction of the first phase should begin in December
Plaza Mexico sits on a little more than 15 acres owned by the brothers
Carlos Gamez opened the store 13 years ago with his brother-in-law while Remigio Gamez was studying accounting at USF
the brothers took over the business and decided to open a taco shop outside
Plans call for the construction of a new grocery and retail store more than triple the current 12,000 square feet
The 400-square-foot taco stand and picnic area located in front of the current store would move to the front of the new grocery location and a laundry facility would be added
The first phase of construction is expected to be complete in February 2016
"It is exciting to see us moving closer to the future," said Gamez
but it will bring a lot of needed services to the area."
said the project will have an impact on local residents
"The owners of the property want to create a living and working space that is accessible to the community of Wahneta," she said
they will be able to carry more goods and offer more services
apartments and multi-use space for people who want to start a small business and need to have a place to do it
It's a very comprehensive project that will come in phases."
Martinez-Hubert said there is an added perk for Wahneta residents in need of reliable transportation
The county Transit Authority plans to add a bus stop
"Local residents often walk to do their shopping or sometimes use local transit," she said
"so they will appreciate having the facilities right there
The second phase will include a 24,100-square-foot health clinic
Gamez said this phase of development should begin in late 2016 and take about eight months to complete
The final project will be the construction of 150 multi-family residential units
which will be used for office space or residential use
Construction is planned to begin in late 2016 and will take about 12 months to complete
said he first heard about the project in 2012 and is pleased with the way the owners are handling it
"I've had many conversations with Remi and Carlos over the last couple of years," DeGennaro said
"and I am very impressed with the level of maturity
commitment and entrepreneurship exhibited by the Gamez family
some Plaza Mexico employees start coming in at one in the morning to open at five
''For 12 years they have put their entire beings into making this business a success
it will be a tremendous success for the family and expand development in the Wahneta area."
business manager at El Olivo Mexican Restaurant and owner of Rifle Range Tax Shop
has been a community activist in Wahneta for years
legal and tax services that are professional and speak their language
Villarreal said she would like to open a community center where residents can obtain free computer and English classes and other kinds of help
Although she welcomes the growth of Plaza Mexico
the area also needs chain stores and restaurants
"People don't want to come in because of a reputation they base on stereotypes
and they don't really give us a chance," she said
"We're just like everyone else and we have a need to fill."
Gamez said he takes particular interest in offering high-quality goods and services
and that it won't change as the business grows
"People come to the taco stand and line up sometimes
The new taco stand will be more like an outdoor restaurant
with seating under cover outside and an area for live music
and people seem to like the fact that it's authentic
And we believe in the people of the community as they have believed in us."
Monivette Cordeiro can be reached at monivette.cordeior@newschief.com or call 863-401-6969
WAHNETA | Not much is known about the small community of Wahneta that has Rifle Range Road running through it
The Polk County Historical and Genealogical Library doesn't have any paper trace of the history of the small community
The population in Wahneta is relatively young with the median age at 27 years old
About 64.7 percent of the population identifies themselves as Hispanic and it's apparent through a quick drive around the community
A trace of the Hispanic culture can be found throughout the community
Rifle Range Road is lined with stores selling products imported from Mexico and other Latin American countries
Most restaurants specialize in serving traditional tacos that can be found in plazas throughout Mexico
signs are in Spanish and English and employees answer the phone in both languages
School officials said there are about 500 students and there is a large Spanish-speaking population
Norman Farland of the Guadalupe Catholic Church at 2150 Bomber Road in Wahneta said most of the church services are in Spanish
Farland said the size of his congregation changes since some are migrant workers that follow work
He estimates that the population of migrant workers has reduced over the years to about 15 percent to 20 percent
"There are a lot of permanent people here," he said
"There are a number of people who come and go."
The church provides English as a second language classes
GED classes and brings in people to give the community legal advice
Farland has lived in Wahneta for about 20 years and says he considers it peaceful
"It's relatively quiet and tranquil," he said
[ Elvia Malagon can be reached at elvia.malagon@theledger.com or 863-802-7550
WAHNETA | Shortly after a colorful dawn gave way to a cloudy blue morning
students and parents who were both anxious and excited filled the walkways of Wahneta Elementary School
sporting a shirt and shoes in matching highlighter-blue
Another — probably not the only one — was struck speechless as he hovered near his mother's leg
But even the kindergartners were sniffle-free by the end of roll call
Monday was the first day of school for more than 96,000 students enrolled in the Polk County School District
Wahneta Elementary was brimming with optimism even though it is in transition
has been moved as part of the district-managed turnaround plan that a school has to adopt after receiving two F grades or three D grades
The district recently began a national search to fill the vacancy
Fourteen schools are getting new principals this year
leaving the district with a short period of time to fill positions
Kathleen High and Lawton Chiles Middle Academy also are waiting for principals
the schools are getting extra support from the district
Wahneta parents and staff said Monday that they are sad to lose Myers
who is now assistant principal at Alta Vista Elementary
but are optimistic about the new school year
after convincing her daughter to stop clinging to her clothes
She said her children have excelled in school with the help of teachers who are caring and dedicated
Teachers and staff say parents are supportive and active with the school and that students work hard for their teachers and administrators
"It doesn't feel like a school; it feels like a community," said Diana Elders
who teaches kindergarten and is in her third year at the school
said the district is looking for the right principal for the school — someone who is experienced with a turnaround school
is interested in becoming part of the community
who is a paraeducator at Wahneta Elementary and is involved with the Parent Teacher Organization
said the students worked hard last year in hopes of bringing the school grade up for Myers
She is worried the students will feel like they failed her
"I really don't know how this year will turn out because the kids really like Lisa
"I just hope they don't go back and give up."
Sudduth brought a petition with more than 60 signatures to the July 29 School Board meeting
She and three others pleaded with the board to not move Myers
But Superintendent of Schools Kathryn LeRoy told her the district has no power to stop the move because it's part of state policy for struggling schools
the school received extra help from the state and devoted more time to literacy
The percent of fourth- and fifth-graders who passed the FCAT reading increased by double digits
but third-graders suffered in both reading and math
The school's grade stayed a D and fell nine points
almost 90 percent of the student body identified as Hispanic
and about 350 of them speak English as a second language
a portion of the school's students — "enough to make a difference," Assistant Principal Stephen Gaymont said — are from migrant families
the school will have a sudden surge in population
That population will fluctuate around picking seasons
These realities create obvious challenges for the school with language barriers and students who bounce around to different schools
sometimes missing chunks of the school year
Elders said she thinks the biggest struggle is that many kids come in without background knowledge — shapes
English vocabulary — so a lot of time is spent catching up
"That's something they have to learn and they have to overcome
"It just takes a lot of work on their part and my part."
Elders spent the first day reviewing rules and basic techniques with her students
like how to hold a pencil and how to color
She read "Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten," asking students whether they brushed their teeth and put on shoes that morning like the book characters did
so I'm excited to see how the kids learn and grow and transform throughout the year from these little babies who are learning to sit down and hold a pencil to kids who are ready for reading and writing and adding and subtracting," she said
[ Sara Drumm can be reached at sara.drumm@theledger.com or 863-802-7547
WINTER HAVEN — Four people from Orlando were arrested Friday on charges related to the robbery of a man outside a store
leading to one of them being bitten by a K-9
105 in Orlando; Pierrette Myra Nikki Bazin
who face charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery
armed robbery and attempted first-degree murder
Cedano faces an additional charge of child neglect and Scott faces an additional charge of resisting without violence
The fourth suspect is William Demtric Ellison
who faces charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery
felon in possession of ammunition and resisting without violence
The four are accused of robbing a Lake Wales man outside of the Wahneta Supermarket
3301 Rifle Range Road in unincorporated Winter Haven
Surveillance footage obtained from the store shows the suspects' SUV pulling into the parking lot
The Sheriff's office said the footage shows Cedano getting out of the SUV and going inside the store
She then comes back out and is seen talking with the other suspects
when Dias retrieves his firearm from his car and is seen running after them and shooting
Scott and Ellison fled on foot while Cedano and Bazin took off in the SUV
After setting up a perimeter and involving a helicopter and K-9 team
and Scott and Ellison were located hiding inside a shed
Scott was arrested without incident but Ellison
All four were arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail
BARTOW — Polk County Public Schools' Information Technology Department brought a little bit of the North Pole to Bartow on Tuesday for more than four dozen pre-school and Head Start students from Wahneta Elementary School
Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd welcomed and gave high-fives
to some students as they got off the bus at the Civic Center and walked into the main room
The children all lined up in front of their waiting families and jingled some sleigh bells as they sang several holiday songs — a program for which the children and parents thought they were there for
a senior manager in instructional technology) gathered them around a rocking chair and read to them Clement Moore's “Twas The Night Before Christmas” before a surprise guest walked out from behind the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree
“Santa!” several of the children whispered as some of their classmates gasped
What the students and parents didn't know was that the IT department had been secretly buying gifts for the children
holding bake sales and fundraisers throughout the year in order to pay for an estimated $150 worth of clothes
assistant superintendent for information systems and technology
said the department has been doing this for one school each holiday season for at least 20 years
“I think it's our way of giving back and staying connected with the children and the mission of the district,” Barrios said
A few of the students didn't have a family member with them
so district staff “adopted” them for the day
as he unwrapped a large cartoon character fire truck with a light-up spotlight and siren sounds
“It's a very special time of the year and to see the smiles and the laughter ..
we could learn a lot from just babies like this about kindness and giving back to each other,” Byrd said
“I was sitting with my little friend Tony and we were singing the songs
and to hear the songs about their heart — it keeps us reminded and it should keep us grounded of who we are and why we should be kind
After each child sat with Santa (retired PCPS employee Bill Bucklew) to receive their gift and to have their picture taken
they saw that there was a bicycle for each one of them
The civic center then turned into a little bit of a racetrack as the children rode their bikes in a circle
it was their first time learning how to pedal
“I'm excited for her — she's a good kid,” Reckart said
These kids need that nowadays — something positive.”
Jennett dug through her bag of presents to show off a doctor dress-up outfit
“I liked it when I got the thing where I could dress up,” she said
Moore can be reached at kmoore@theledger.com or 863-802-7514
The Polk County Sheriff's Office has charged two Lake Wales men with first-degree murder in connection with an October 2006 armed home invasion in Wahneta
Ruben Alberto Muro was shot in the head during the armed burglary on Oct
a community located south of Winter Haven off Rifle Range Road (County Road 655)
who was visiting the residence at the time of the incident
was airlifted to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and died of his injuries there on Oct
was arrested by Sheriff's Office detectives without incident at a residence in Lake Hamilton at approximately 6 p.m
attempted robbery with a firearm and violation of probation for a previous charge of possession of cannabis
armed burglary of an occupied dwelling and attempted robbery with a firearm
who has been in the Polk County Jail since July 23 on an unrelated charge of possession of drug paraphernalia
the suspects broke into the Wahneta residence to steal drugs they believed to be in the home
When Muro and others arrived at the residence and surprised the burglars
According to the initial report of the Oct
Muro was outside the residence with a family member when he was shot several times
The Sheriff's Office listed Muro's address as 171 First St
The Sheriff's Office reports the investigation of the case is ongoing
Knighton and Townsend both are being held in the Polk County Jail
WAHNETA — Ground was officially broken Wednesday for the installation of pipe that will provide better water quality and pressure for the community and less work for those who maintain it
Department of Agriculture officials and Wahneta Water System employees gathered to celebrate the beginning of the construction phase of a project that will remove and replace asbestos cement pipe that has been there since 1963
“It was just old and brittle and hard to work with,” said Daniel Magro
managing director of Aclus Engineering in Orlando
It’s great to see all these things coming together.”
The $3.72 million project is funded through a USDA grant and 30-year
is through grant money allocated in a 2014 Farm Bill
CEO of Lakeland-based engineering and surveying firm ECON South
“These programs are great for communities that don’t have a lot of city or county money behind it and are at very little cost to the residents.”
Wahneta Water System is governed by five board members
has six employees and supplies water to 1,500 homes
the plant’s chief operator for more than 20 years
said funding for improvements has always been an issue
it’s a very low-income area,” Descalso said
a lot of time has been spent on engineering
but Magro wanted to make sure everyone was available for a formal groundbreaking celebration
very skilled and very easy to work with,” Magro said
“It takes a little bit of time for everything to come together.”
About 8 miles of pipe are needed for the new system to be ready for use
construction manager for Young’s Communications
Garrison estimated between 30 percent and 40 percent of the pipe has been laid
but there is some testing that will need to be done
The project could be complete by September
“We’re ahead on production,” Garrison said
— Mike Ferguson can be reached at Mike.Ferguson@theledger.com or 863-401-6981. Follow Mike <a href=mailto:onTwitter@MikeWFerguson>onTwitter@MikeWFerguson</a>
BARTOW | A jury found Dylan Knighton guilty Friday of killing a 22-year-old Wahneta man during a botched robbery
Jurors spent about three hours deliberating before finding Knighton guilty of first-degree murder
armed burglary and attempted armed robbery
Circuit Judge Dennis Maloney scheduled a sentencing hearing for Sept
Assistant State Attorney Hardy Pickard said Knighton was one of several men who wanted to steal money and drugs from Manuel Muro Jr.'s Gerber Dairy Road home Oct
told jurors that he participated in the botched home invasion robbery
and Knighton was responsible for fatally shooting Muro's brother
Pickard told jurors that a deal had to be struck with Donaldson so that not everyone involved would get away with murder
argued jurors could not trust Donaldson's testimony
He described Donaldson as a felon and drug dealer who manipulated the criminal justice system
"He was given absolute immunity," Hernandez said
Hernandez told jurors that no physical evidence linked his client to the scene of the shooting
Donaldson's testimony has been successful before in securing a conviction against another person charged with Ruben Muro's murder
He was sentenced to life in prison without parole
who is accused of being the getaway driver
[ Jason Geary can be reached at jason.geary@theledger.com or (863) 802-7536
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WAHNETA - Kindergartners in Wahneta Elementary's dual language classes color with crayons for half the day and coloreando con crayones the rest of the day
five more elementary schools will have students attending escuela in the morning and school after lunch
The Polk County School District is expanding its dual language immersion program
from about 250 students in five schools to more than 750 in 10 schools starting in August
Wahneta was one of five schools that began the dual language kindergarten classes this year as an experiment
The results were so good that district officials opted to expand the program
"We've been given an opportunity to help the future of Polk County," said Victor Duncan
who oversaw the development of Wahneta's dual language program
Duncan is now the principal of Alta Vista Elementary
Sandhill and Wahneta Elementary schools started the district's first dual language programs this year
This year's kindergartners will continue in the split language program into first grade
and another set of kindergartners will enter into the program
Jesse Keen and Snively Elementary schools will start a program in kindergarten
Maria Martinez and Darlene Strickland split the lessons into Spanish and English for their combined 33 students at Wahneta
Half of their day is spent in Martinez's classroom
learning regular kindergarten lessons of grammar
The other half of the day is spent in Strickland's classroom learning about the same things but in English
The most difficult part about the program wasn't teaching in two languages but learning how to cram so much information into one school day
many of the Spanish-speaking children thrive because they understand everything their teacher says
Another boon is that Spanish-speaking parents
normally reluctant to volunteer in a class because of the language difference
regularly contribute to the Spanish-speaking classes
The dual language program is sponsored by the district's ESOL department
or English for Speakers of Other Languages
the program cost about $200,000 in start-up costs
That included training the teachers and buying all the necessary materials
It costs each school about $20,000 to add a dual-language program
The classes are divided into half English-speaking students and half Spanish-speaking students
But that doesn't mean that half the students are Hispanic and the other white or black
About 90 percent of the students at Wahneta's dual language classrooms are Hispanic
But many don't speak Spanish as the primary language at home
One of the reasons the School Board so strongly supports the dual language programs is that it promises increased test scores
students in dual language programs consistently outscore their English-only counterparts
But their performance is tracked with a set of standardized tests given throughout the year
Strickland said many of her students who scored at the lowest level last August were scoring at the highest levels by the end of the year
the kindergartners will continue the dual language program in first grade and continue it at Wahneta until fifth grade
Strickland and Martinez will take another class of kindergartners
The district plans to add one year at a time until students have dual language in all six years of elementary school
Strickland said she'd like to see it through middle school
"The two languages become second nature to them then," she said
Julia Crouse can be reached at julia.crouse@theledger.com or 863-802-7536
The Wahneta Dixie Belles 15-and-under softball team outlasted two rain delays to win the state championship Monday in Franklin County
The Wahneta All Stars topped Okeechobee 8-4 to win it all
earning a trip to the World Series in Virginia on July 29
the team earned the tournament's sportsmanship trophy
The Wahneta team opened the five-team tournament with a run-rule 20-3 drubbing of West Pasco on Friday
they topped host Franklin County 16-3 in another run-rule contest
in the bottom of the sixth inning before they waited two and a half hours for the rain to stop
They started again and reached the seventh inning
They ended up winning the title 8-4 with five players who played on the 2008 World Series
Both Wahneta's 10-and-under and 12-and-under All-Star teams were eliminated from the state event with 1-2 records
A 21-year-old Wahneta man who brutally raped a 14-year-old girl at knifepoint in Wahneta when he was 15 was sentenced to 50 years in prison Tuesday
It was 10 more years than Brandon Gage received after his first trial for sexual battery in 2012 when was 17
the 2nd District Court of Appeal threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial for Gage
asked Circuit Judge Reinaldo Ojeda to depart from sentencing guidelines
Wright argued that Gage was only 15 when he committed the crime and that he suffers from bipolar disorder
But Ojeda said he couldn't ignore the criminal convictions Gage faced while in prison during the last several years
"Even while awaiting trial you committed new crimes on top of a significant juvenile history," Ojeda told Gage
"No way I can do what your attorney is asking."
he was found guilty of possession of contraband in jail
Assistant State Attorney Mark Levine said Gage planned to use a long piece of metal as a weapon
Gage was found guilty of attempting to escape
He and other inmates planned to dig out of jail
"His day has come where he has to face consequences," said Levine
who asked Ojeda to sentence Gage to 60 years
but he told Gage that he robbed a girl of her innocence
"You snatched up a girl in broad daylight and sexually battered her," Ojeda said
"I don't understand how he could have done anything while he was still at home," Smith said after the sentencing
She said detectives were searching initially after the rape for a Hispanic man in a red hoodie who was taller than Gage
The 14-year-old victim was wearing her school backpack when someone began following her south on Rifle Range Road in Wahneta about 6:30 p.m
the girl called out for help as a woman walked by
The woman heard what was happening and tried to pull him off the girl
Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives said in reports
The assailant got up and pushed the witness against a fence and warned her not to touch the knife
He then went back to the girl and continued to batter her
The woman picked up the knife and ran to the gas station
as the girl yelled "please don't leave me," according to reports
The witness flagged down a sheriff's deputy and the girl escaped
Gage was arrested the following day after the girl
identified him while Gage was talking to deputies
A new trial was ordered two years after the first sentencing
Second DCA judges wrote in an opinion that during the first trial prosecutors announced their intention to play for the jury a recorded Polk County jail phone call between Gage and his mother that contradicted their earlier statements on the stand
Gage's former attorney said if he had known about the recordings he would not have had Gage take the stand
The DCA found that the court failed to conduct a hearing to determine the significance of the recording
— John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588
CARABELLE - The Wahneta Ponytails swept three-straight softball games over the weekend to win the 12-and-under state championship and a trip to the Ponytails World Series
Wahneta pitcher Toni Warren fired a one-hitter beating Wewahitchka
Warren was also the winning pitcher in Saturday's 1-0 win over Wewahitchka
South Carolina on July 27 to begin World Series play
WAHNETA | Welcome to the future Lake Gwyn Park
a 120-acre tract that lies east and north of Wahneta Elementary School near the end of East Fourth Street
What was for years a dry lake bed drained and bisected by a Depression-era drainage canal is gradually being restored to a natural wetlands system that will send cleaner water to the Peace River
provide more wildlife habitat and give area residents a place to take a stroll through nature
new wetlands habitat will be forming as water from the Wahneta Farms drainage canal is diverted back to the lake
where it will be treated before being released downstream
The restored wetlands habitat is expected to attract wildlife and the berm enclosing the project will provide visitors with a scenic view along the 1.5-mile walking path that will circle that portion of the project
An observation pier adjacent to the trail will complement the park
Adjacent to the wetlands area will be a soccer field
Polk's director of parks and natural resources
"We've been planning this for close to a decade; it's great to see it come together,'' he said
said the park will offer a number of benefits to the school and the surrounding community
"It's a tremendous benefit to the elementary students to have a park that doesn't require them to try to cross Rifle Range Boulevard," he said
referring to the busy highway that bisects the community
The only public park in Wahneta is a ballfield complex on the west side of Rifle Range Road
Gaymont said the wetlands viewing area is a more convenient site for science education
explaining they have taken students to Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland
but this park could provide a similar experience without having to arrange to get buses
Spence said he and his staff have met with school officials to explain the project
"We're Wahneta's unofficial city hall and people come by for information on what's happening," he said
In addition to providing a new recreational site for the community
Spence said the $2.1 million project solves a historic environmental problem
which flows from a structure on the south side of Lake Lulu in Winter Haven to the Peace Creek Drainage Canal west of Rifle Range Road
was dredged through the lake and surrounding territory by the Wahneta Drainage District
the district was created by the Florida Legislature in 1929
The water from the canal system ultimately flows to the Peace River and on to Charlotte Harbor
Polk County took over the canal system after the Florida Legislature abolished the district a decade ago
state federal and environmental officials had been working on projects that would reduce water pollution flowing into natural water bodies such as the Peace River
said the main water quality problem in the canal has been bacteria
He said the wetlands system under construction is projected to remove more than 60 percent of the bacteria along with tons of nitrogen
phosphorous and silt coming from the canal's 3,258-acre drainage area before it reaches the Peace River
"We'll do actual measurements after the construction is completed,'' Kollinger said
a Winter Haven environmental leader and organizer of a private citizen support group to aid county parks
"The project will increase water retention capacity
enhance wildlife habitat and eventually provide an educational and recreational component to what was an historic blunder," she said
Ryan added the new trail will likely be a venue for the Trek Ten Trails
an annual series of hikes in parks and conservation sites around Polk County that's designed to acquaint the public with more public recreation areas
Spence said the restored wetlands is bordered by a mature forest that will contain part of the trail system
Trees had invaded most of the historic lake bottom and were removed to restore the lake
Kollinger said the project was aided by grants from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
which last year announced it had committed $580,000 toward the cleanup
Fish and Wildlife Service provided an additional $150,000 through a program administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Polk County also received $600,000 from the Southwest Florida Water Management District
[ Tom Palmer can be reached at tom.palmer@theledger.com or 863-802-7535
Read more views on the environment at http://environment.blogs.theledger.com and more views on county government at http://county.blogs.theledger.com/
WAHNETA | Wahneta's baseball and softball teams were so obscure at Dixie Youth tournaments that people called them Wahnetta
Their 8-year-old softball team was so bad that folks from their own ballpark on Rifle Range Road said they were wasting money sending the team to the state tournament
Now they're the talk of the county because not one
but two teams from the Wahneta Sports Association are bound for the World Series
Softball mom Karissa Olmos heard someone talking about it in Home Depot
She heard others talking about it in a Winter Haven restaurant
She even heard about a friend in Mexico who heard the news
The Wahneta Darlings (8-and-under) and Ponytails (12-and-under) All-Star softball teams are heading to Pineville
this week for the Dixie Youth World Series
Opening ceremonies are Friday with games starting Saturday
They're the only teams — baseball or softball — from Polk County this year to earn berths to a World Series
The small program from a migrant community located southeast of Winter Haven has never received such attention
That's because it's the first time in the program's history — more than 25 years — that Wahneta (pronounced Wa-NEE-ta) is sending a team to a World Series of any kind
Program founder and former Wahneta Sports Association president Dan Noble is proud and excited
'It's very exciting for the community,' Noble said
We've come close to winning a few state titles
Folks in Louisiana still might not know who or where Wahneta is
The teams will wear uniforms with 'Florida' printed on the front
it's a huge deal,' Wahneta Sports Association president Rhonda Alejandro said
'Folks are calling me and congratulating me
One of our parents gave a little party for the girls.'
Twelve teams from the South will compete in the double-elimination tournament
The girls will have to win five games to reach the finals
It doesn't really matter,' Ponytail player Nikki Dowdy said
Teams from the Wahneta league joined the Dixie Youth organization a few years ago to compete with other programs from towns and cities of the same size
But their teams were doormats when it came time for All-Star tournaments
where All-Star teams are selected by taking the 'best' players from league teams to make a more competitive one for postseason play against other programs
they are getting a lot better,' said Dixie Youth District 7 baseball director Eddie Barnett
it advances to the state tournament to play against other district champions
as both the Ponytails and Darlings did in Belleview
'Every single one of us cried pretty much,'' said Ponytail player Susan Hinks
The Ponytails expected to make the World Series this year after placing third at state two years ago and second last year
Darlings coaches were not as confident but reasonably hopeful
'We just practiced hard,' manager Daniel Jurado said
The Darlings went 2-0 in the district tournament
'They wanted it,'' head coach Yolanda Rodriguez said
they reached the championship but fell to Hardee
'The loss didn't bother them one bit,' Jurado said
'People still can't believe it,' Jurado said
all these kids will have something to look forward to.'
[ Lisa Coffey can be reached at lisa.coffey@theledger.com or at 863-401-6971 or by fax at 863-401-6999
Four Polk County teams won Dixie Softball District 5 titles during the weekend
The Wahneta Dixie Softball program won three and Mulberry won one
All four teams advance to the state tournament in Hernando July 3
Wahneta won the Coach-Pitch division with a 12-10 victory over Mulberry
Wahneta also claimed the 10-and-under division with a 15-1 win over Fort Meade
Playing for Wahneta's 10-under team were Rosa Vasquez
Wahneta's 11-12 girls won teir division with a 19-4 win over topped Lipscomb Park/Melbourne
Playing for Wahneta's 11-12 team were Kelly Young
The Mulberry 15-and-under Belles won their second consecutive district 5 title
Jamie Barrow of Lake Wales won the Florida State High School Rodeo pole bending championship in Okeechobee during the weekend
Barrow also took second in barrel racing and fourth in breakaway roping
She's headed for the national finals in Farmington
Brandon Martin won the powerlifting Champion of Champions trophy for earning four gold medals in the Male/Teen Junior Bench Press category of the Sunshine State Games
won the bench press in the male teen II division (for 16-17-year-olds)
unequipped lift division and the Open (age 14-and-older) title
The AuburndaleHOOPS eighth-grade boys' basketball team won its division of the Central Florida Summer HOOPfest YBOA Open tournament during the weekend at the McGrady Gym at Auburndale High School
Auburndale defeated the Central Florida Express from Orlando
The Plant City Panthers defeated Florida United
The Eagle Lake T-ball baseball team won the Auburndale Invitational with a 21-8 victory over Winter Haven on June 14
Playing for Eagle Lake were Ryan Koukoulis
Three Polk County Babe Ruth All Star baseball teams advanced to the District 9 finals during the weekend in the Tampa and Lithia areas
All three fell short of a district championship
The Winter Haven 13-and-under team fell to Fishhawk in the final
FishHawk defeated South Lakeland in the 13-15 division championship game
BARTOW — Prosecutors described Tuesday how a 14-year-old girl walking home from a friend's house was raped at knifepoint in 2010
then chased down a street by the rapist after a woman disrupted the assault
"She thought she was going to die that night," Assistant State Attorney Mark Levine said in opening statements
who was convicted in 2012 of sexual battery when he was 17 and sentenced to 40 years in prison
the 2nd District Court of Appeal said prosecutors withheld evidence and ordered a new trial for Gage
Gage was 15 at the time of the assault and tried as an adult
Testimony before Circuit Judge Reinaldo Ojeda is expected to continue today
a lawyer with the state's 2nd District Office of Regional Counsel based in Tampa
told jurors there was no DNA evidence to convict Gage
He said jurors would hear about inconsistent statements made by witnesses about the identity of the rapist
but it was not done by Brandon," Ehrhardt said
Levine said the 14-year-old victim was wearing her school backpack when someone began following her south on Rifle Range Road in Wahneta about 6:30 p.m
holding a foot-long butcher knife against her
Stanley testified that the victim was crying hysterically when she came to his home
He said a man whom he described as Gage was close behind
Stanley was told that the man may have a knife and he went inside the home to grab a shotgun
Ehrhardt asked Stanley if he saw the person with anything in his hands or pockets
He asked Stanley if he was able to see he assailant's eyes well since he was wearing glasses
the woman who helped the girl picked up the knife
ran to the gas station and flagged down a sheriff's deputy
identified him while Gage was talking to deputies who were patrolling the area searching for the rapist
BARTOW - After arresting two men in the killing of a Winter Haven man Friday
the Sheriff's Office said it is investigating the slaying as a hate crime
of Sixth Street in Eloise were arrested and charged with the death of Ryan Keith Skipper
whose body was found on the side of a road near Morgan Road and 19th Street West in Wahneta early Wednesday morning
The Sherrif's Office was investigating the crime as a robbery homicide because his car and computer had been stolen
But a witness Friday evening told officials that one of the suspects later said Skipper
On his way from the interrogation room to the booking office at Polk County Jail in Bartow on Friday night
Brown was close to tears and apologized to Skipper's family
Congress has defined hate crimes as those in which victims are chosen because of their race
Detectives are still piecing together the events of Wednesday morning that led to Skipper's death
"What we do know is that Ryan was out looking to pick up someone that evening," Judd said
Skipper was driving around Wahneta on Tuesday night when he found Bearden walking along Sixth Street in Eloise about 11 p.m
where they smoked marijuana and discussed using Skipper's computer to copy checks
Skipper was studying computers at Traviss Career Center
but has no record of fraud arrests in Polk County
They left Skipper's house with his laptop and went to another home
they decided to rip Ryan off for his car and his laptop," Judd said
Bearden and Skipper left the home together in Skipper's car
Judd said Brown and Bearden attacked Skipper inside his own car
The two suspects then drove to another home at 2131 Cypress Gardens Road
where they discarded some papers from the car
in Haines City to try to clean up the vehicle
"The car was full of blood because the homicide had occurred in the vehicle," Judd said
The men even cut out a seat belt because it was too badly soiled
a confidential source who works with the Sheriff's Office narcotics unit recognized it from media reports and called deputies
The suspects had paraded Skipper's bloody car around
The suspects had left by the time deputies arrived
but deputies noticed a Traviss Career Center parking sticker on the front lawn of the Haines City home and verified that it belonged to Skipper
"A significant amount of evidence" was seized at the home
Skipper's car was found later that day abandoned on a dock near Lake Pansy in Winter Haven
possibly because the suspects decided they couldn't sell it
Brown at his sister's home in Winter Haven and Bearden at the Eloise Hilton Hotel
Detectives interviewed Brown and Bearden late Friday night
and had extracted partial admissions from both men
though neither has admitted killing Skipper
A third man sought in connection with the murder of Skipper
turned himself in to sheriff's officials Friday afternoon
Judd said it's unlikely he will be charged
Several more witnesses also were interviewed Friday night
and it was during one of those interviews that Brown's admission was revealed
"William Brown told (a witness) that Ryan Skipper was messing with him
Neither William Brown nor Bearden had any prior violent crimes on their criminal records
Classifying Skipper's murder as a hate crime will not add additional charges against the suspects
As part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Congress made designating a crime as hate-motivated a "sentencing enhancement." Suspects found guilty of hate crimes have their charges elevated by three offense levels
Both men are charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery
They are being held at the Polk County Jail without bail
First-degree murder is a capital punishment
which means it is eligible for the death penalty
"Capital murder is as serious as it gets," Judd said
Eva Kis can be reached at eva.kis@theledger.com or 863-802-7550
LAKELAND | The Florida Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a man found guilty in the 2007 stabbing death of Ryan Keith Skipper of Winter Haven
The court ruled unanimously Thursday that Joseph Bearden
who was convicted of second-degree murder in a trial that received national attention
Skipper's vicious slaying was described as a hate crime
Investigators said Bearden had made derogatory remarks about Skipper being gay
Chief Justice Jorge Labarga wrote that testimony from a woman who received a confession should have been allowed in the court
"The trial court improperly evaluated the credibility of (Angela) Tyler's testimony," Labarga wrote
overturning the 2nd District Court of Appeals decision
Tyler told a Polk County Sheriff's detective that Ray Allen Brown admitted to her that he was with his cousin
"Bill-Bill" Brown was convicted in March 2007 of killing Skipper and received two life sentences
"Tyler acknowledged that she believed Ray Allen Brown's admission that he was with William Brown when Skipper was killed
inculpating him in Skipper's murder and exonerating Bearden in any direct involvement in the murder," the opinion reads
a spokesman with the State Attorney's Office
said Thursday they are reviewing the decision
Authorities discovered his partially burned car
The 25-year-old was a student at Traviss Career Center
Brown admitted to police that he was in Skipper's car the day of the attack
but said he "blacked out" at the time of the attack and doesn't know what happened
Larry Dougherty of Foley & Lardner in Tampa
said he planned to tell Bearden about the favorable ruling Thursday
Bearden has said he was at a friend's home when the stabbing occurred
"He will get a defense he was entitled to have at his first trial."
Michael Hunter heard Tyler's testimony without the jury present
Hunter said the testimony was inadmissible when Bearden's lawyer at the time
asked to allow Tyler to testify before the jury and to recall Ray Allen Brown to ask him whether he had made the statements
Hunter said Thursday he didn't specifically remember Tyler but he did recall a number of people from Wahneta who asked to testify during the trial because they were watching it on Court TV
"He's always expressed his innocence," said Carol Bearden of Wahneta
Joseph Bearden told Hunter that he was sorry but "he didn't even see what took place."
Bearden was sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder and 40 years in prison
theft of a motor vehicle and tampering with evidence
[ John Chambliss can be reached at 863-802-7588 and john.chambliss@theledger.com
WINTER HAVEN - The first-grade student smiled triumphantly when she painstakingly completed reading aloud to the woman sitting next to her
But Nana isn't the girl's grandmother or even her classroom teacher
the eldest of three generations of educators in her family molding young minds at Wahneta Elementary School
who retired in 2002 after teaching 30 years at Snively Elementary School
volunteers her time as a reading coach five days a week
She splits her day between the classrooms of two teachers she knows extremely well - her daughter
worked at the school from 1980 to 1987 as a paraprofessional before going on to teach preschool at Beymer Preschool for two years and another 13 years at All Saints' Academy
she completed her associate of science degree in elementary education from Polk State College (then Polk Community College) and bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida
She returned to "home" to Wahneta Elementary School as a first grade teacher nearly four years ago and brought her mom with her as a volunteer
began preparing for her teaching career as a youngster
Taking tips she learned from hanging out in her mother's classrooms
she set up her own school inside a backyard fort
seating and her younger brother and neighborhood children as "students."
she earned service hours by volunteering in her mother's classroom
Armed with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from the University of Central Florida
a master's degree from National Louis University and experience teaching in Lake County schools
Bilbrey joined the Wahneta Elementary faculty in September
"All three of them are awesome," said Principal Lisa Myers
Martin smiles when asked how she feels about her daughter and granddaughter following in her footsteps
She didn't encourage or discourage them from seeking a career in education
pick up some positive traits from their personal role model
She puts the children's welfare above hers," Martin said
though younger and more animated in manner
She cares about her children's welfare and buys them things they need and makes home visits," Martin explained
But while Martin is proud of Splinter and Bilbrey
they aren't the motivation for her dedication to the children of Wahneta Elementary
I do it thinking I can make a difference for the children
a student thanked Martin for reading with her and questioned why she was called Nana
She quietly and simply explained she was Mrs
"I'm just a special friend," Martin told the girl
"They do more for me than I do for them," she said of the children
Splinter and Bilbrey trace many of their positive traits back to Martin
The three women use similar words to describe each other - dedicated
"She taught me to be dedicated to people and to this profession," Splinter said of Martin
Splinter credits her mother for her strong work ethic
focus on community service and heart for families in need
And Martin still oversees Splinter's grammar
"If I say something or spell something incorrectly
she corrects me," Splinter said with amusement
said she learned about humility and giving through Martin
"She would adopt families at Christmas time," Bilbrey said
adding that her grandmother provided holiday items
with help from All Saints' Academy students
"She took so much pride in these families."
Martin is an extra resource to use in providing the best education possible for their students
Kids need that one-on-one time," Bilbrey said
she'd have to look to the community for volunteers
"It's very hard for teachers to do that one-on-one (teaching) every day."
Bilbrey describes her mother as her best friend
Her classroom is the same one used by Splinter during her first year at the school
she will help me and tell me what to do," Martin said
who has been the school's principal for nearly four years
said the trio accentuates a major school trait: the family atmosphere
"These three ladies don't work from 7:30 a.m
They do whatever it takes to get the job done and be ready for tomorrow," she said
They make each other better educators because of the experience they share and their habit of bouncing ideas off each other
And this sharing extends to those in their "school family." When they make plans for after-school activities
such as going to the movies or out to dinner
They've also been known to provide these experiences to students
"It's not just a mother and daughter thing," Myers said
Myers said the concern the women have for their students is not lost on students
"These kids know that they care," she said
"They really strive to do the best for these teachers."
While Wahneta Elementary has had its share of husband-wife and mother-daughter duos over the years
there haven't been many generational trios
When you bring three members in one family here
WAHNETA -- A woman died and a man was burned over 75 percent of his body in a mobile home fire early Sunday morning
spokeswoman for the Polk County Sheriff's Office
The couple were visiting Efrain Tapia and his wife
The family was able to escape and to help Tapia get out
They couldn't find Amill before being driven outside by the fire
The relationship of the couple to the family was not available Sunday night
The fire tore through a mobile home on Ridgeview Drive about 3 a.m.
a spokeswoman for the Polk County Fire Department
The cause of the fire has not been determined
Epifanio Tapia was flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Tampa
Tapia was in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital on Sunday night
Firefighters cleared the scene shortly after 7 a.m
It's been a deadly year for mobile home occupants in Polk County
This is the fourth fatal mobile home fire in the last two months
Five people died in three separate mobile home fires in Polk County in a single week at the end of February
Dana Willhoit can be reached at dana.willhoit@theledger.com or 863-802-7550
A Polk County Sheriff's Detective shot a 31-year-old man who they say&nbsp;brandished a handgun Thursday
This is the third shooting of a suspect to come out of the Polk County Sheriff's Office this year
PCSO officials said detectives were following-up on a report of a man in the Wahneta area of unincorporated Winter Haven
around 3:45 p.m.,&nbsp;who possibly had a stolen handgun and may have also been connected with a stolen motorcycle
Also: <a href=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2022/02/26/suspect-car-theft-store-robbery-shot-polk-sheriffs-sergeant/6953508001/ target=_blank>Polk sheriff says Winter Haven man shot by sergeant after stealing car, robbing store</a>
More: <a href=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2022/01/24/polk-deputies-kill-man-who-attacked-them-knife-pcso-says/6635226001/ target=_blank>Polk deputies kill man who attacked his mother then the deputies, Sheriff's Office says</a>
two detectives spotted the suspect&nbsp;walking on Avenue A West near 17th Street West
detectives stopped and tried to make contact with the man who is now known to be Brent Conley
sheriff's office officials said Conley "abruptly" pulled out a hand gun
one of the detectives fired his handgun at
Conley to stop the threat," The sheriff's office said in a release
"The detectives then began life-saving measures on Conley and requested medical assistance from Polk County Fire Rescue."
Officials said the suspect was taken to a local hospital for treatment and was last reported to be in critical but stable condition
Sheriff's officials said the weapon retrieved from the scene&nbsp;was a loaded 9 mm.&nbsp;
Did you know: <a href=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2022/06/27/polk-county-sheriffs-office-says-dont-fall-jury-duty-phone-scam-lakeland-florida/7746865001/ target=_blank>Scammers are threatening people with arrest for missing jury duty - then demanding money</a>
you can expect to be shot," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a prepared statement
The sheriff's office officials&nbsp;said they will release more information about the ongoing investigation early next week
standard protocol for all deputy-involved shootings includes three independent investigations: PCSO will conduct a criminal investigation
PCSO Administrative Investigations will conduct an administrative inquiry
and the State Attorney's Office will conduct a separate investigation
LAKELAND | A 15-year-old Wahneta boy has been charged as an adult in the Nov
8 sexual battery of a 14-year-old girl and was denied bail Wednesday in his first court appearance
violation of conditional release and two counts of felony battery
according to Polk County Sheriff's Office arrest reports
Gage was ordered held without bail on the sexual battery charge by Judge John Kirkland and a public defender has been assigned to his case
according to State Attorney's Office spokesman Chip Thullbery
The 14-year-old victim in the case told detectives that she was walking south on Rifle Range Road in Wahneta about 6:30 p.m
put a knife to her throat and forced her onto a vacant lot
While Gage was sexually battering the girl in the vacant lot
the girl called out for help as Christy Daniels walked past the lot
Daniels heard what was happening and tried to pull him off the girl
Gage got up and pushed Daniels against a fence and warned her not to touch the knife
Daniels picked up the knife and ran to the gas station
[ Jeremy Maready can be reached at jeremy.maready@theledger.com or 863-802-7592
WAHNETA - Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives are seeking information about the brutal murder of a Winter Haven man
who was killed sometime late Tuesday or very early this morning
near the intersection with 19th Street West
An autopsy revealed the man died from multiple stab wounds
the Sheriff's Office reported this afternoon
detectives have learned that Skipper's car - a 2007 four-door
light blue Chevrolet Aveo - was stolen sometime between 11 p.m
the car was found abandoned at approximately 6 p.m
Highway 92 and east of Winter Haven Municipal Airport
Detectives are seeking the public's help in locating the person responsible for Skipper's death
Anyone with information is urged to contact sheriff's Detective Ric Bias at 1-800-226-0344 or 863-534-6379
Anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers line at 1-800-226-TIPS
Wahneta Elementary students and staff gathered Nov
22 for the presentation of a $3,000 donation by Polyglass USA to the school
Staff say the money will be used to help furnish classroom libraries for the school’s 11 new teachers
is a corporate engineer manager for Polyglass USA
He spent his Principal for a Day experience with Wahneta Elementary Principal Nildalis Caraballo
Polk County Public Schools hosted a “Principal for a Day” program involving a handful of Winter Haven area schools
spearheaded by PCPS Community Liaison Director Steve Warner
was to welcome in local business leaders and allow them to soak in what goes into the day-to-day management of area schools
those leaders might have a better understanding of how to lend a hand
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WAHNETA — Investigators are hoping for leads in last week’s shooting death of a 50-year-old man whose body was discovered at a Wahneta residence where marijuana was being grown illegally
Raidel Armas Gonzalez of Mulberry died of an apparent gunshot wound
according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
His body was discovered shortly before 9 p.m
Wednesday in the yard of a house at 441 Fernandez St
was inside his home when the shooting occurred
No other details about the shooting had been released as of Monday afternoon
deputies discovered that the home of Gutierrez was an active marijuana grow house and charged him with multiple violations
possession or use of narcotic paraphernalia
possession of a structure known to traffic drugs and trafficking cannabis in excess of 25 pounds
Gutierrez remained at Polk County Jail Monday with bond set at $127,000
Also arrested in connection with the grow house was Rolando Zamora
He’s charged with cultivation of cannabis and possession of narcotic paraphernalia
Zamora was expected to be released Monday from Polk County Jail after posting bond of $100,500
Deputies recovered 162 pounds of marijuana from Gutierrez’ home
and investigators believe Gonzalez’ death is connected to the marijuana operation
“Illegal marijuana cultivation is a dangerous and violent business,” Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said in a videotaped statement
Anyone with information about the shooting or the grow house operation is urged to contact the PCSO at 863-298-6200. To remain anonymous and eligible for a cash reward for information leading to an arrest, contact Heartland Crime Stoppers, 1-800-226-8477, or visit <a href="http://www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=196&">www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com</a>
For these reasons — as well as for the camaraderie they offer — massage collectives are growing in popularity
Consider <a href="https://www.myhih.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hands in Harmony</a>
a collective of 34 staff working between two locations in eastern Iowa
including 28 licensed professionals and seven support staff
“We are a diverse group working together for the greater good of our clients and our staff,” owner Wahneta T
This business was started in 2006 to bring therapists together in harmony — hence the name
we talked to therapists at collectives in Kansas
Tennessee and New York to show you the benefits and challenges you might expect when working in this type of venue
Joy deMaranville, LMT, founded the <a href="https://www.southwindhealthcollective.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Southwind Health Collective</a> in Lawrence
33 years ago with the vision of being independent and having a massage clinic that provided a supportive environment for massage therapists
She brought together therapists with the shared mission of putting clients’ needs first
“I didn’t want to have a boss or be a boss,” said deMaranville
What started out as two massage therapists has grown to seven who share the four treatment rooms
Each therapist controls their own business within the collective
but they also participate in the running of the business
The <a href="https://www.tnmassagecollective.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee Massage Collective</a> was founded by Blake Bates
eight months ago after he had grown tired of the questionable business ethics of other employers he had worked for as an independent contractor
“They would often take a lion’s share [of pay] — and it didn’t bother me that they were taking a portion or even a big portion
but the way that they operated bothered me quite a bit,” Bates said
“I felt as a massage therapist I was being taken advantage of.”
Bates also realized that as an independent massage therapist it was hard to get noticed online and that banding together with other therapists could get them all noticed
While the Tennessee Massage Collective doesn’t have a central location all therapists work out of
their collective focus is on uniting massage therapists who work independently and sharing the resources they have
Bates’ office is open to anyone in the collective to use for business
clients can book services with any of the practitioners for an office or in-home session
Their approach is directed at developing a strong online presence and marketing themselves to events and hotels
was also formed from frustrations therapists were experiencing when working for employers
“I worked for the largest spa provider in the New York City area
so when I decided to leave them and go out on my own it was a bit intimidating — but also freeing
because I couldn’t stand the corporate structure,” said Emily Glinick
who founded the Brooklyn Bodywork Collective in January 2019
Glinick rented a 1,000-square-foot studio with one treatment room and a large community room that could be divided into small work areas
It has had as many as two massage therapists and two physical therapists sharing the space and referring clients to each other
Her vision in the collective is to bring together bodywork and movement therapy to create one location where clients can receive massage therapy
Massage therapists throughout the U.S. have faced challenges related to coronavirus (COVID-19), from mandatory business closures to developing increased <a href="https://www.massagemag.com/7-steps-for-proper-massage-therapy-table-sanitation-during-covid-19-126963/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safety and sanitation protocols</a>
Social distancing can present a particular challenge to team spirit and inspire new ways of connecting
“We are down from 54 staff prior to COVID-19,” said Hands in Harmony’s Dimmer
Iowa licensed massage therapists and estheticians were unable to work
We maintained our social connections on a private Facebook page
Marco Polo and occasional Zoom cocktail meetings.”
As her team prepared to come back together
the goals were to create the safest possible environment for the therapists and clients and still offer a nurturing spa experience
“We have changed protocols for client missed appointments and no-shows; we don’t want clients to feel obligated to come to an appointment if they are feeling sick yet worried about money,” said Dimmer
“Our team has truly stepped up in the event of testing
quarantine and illness for staff to cover client needs.”
There is little to no competition within the collective because therapists agree that the main focus is for clients’ needs to be met and for the group to match each client with the massage therapist who is most compatible with the client
therapists can have peace of mind that when they are on vacation or have to take a leave from work for a major life event
their clients will be well taken care of by their colleagues and there is no threat of losing them to another therapist
Teaching clients that it is encouraged to receive treatments from different massage therapists within the collective without feeling like they are stepping on anyone’s toes allows the collective to be successful as a whole
“We are constantly highlighting different people in the collective
we don’t have a lot of competition because we are supporting each other and holding our clients’ needs in the forefront,” said deMaranville
A collective is a win-win for both clients and massage therapists
With hundreds of massage therapists with their own independent listings online
it is hard to get noticed and it can be even more difficult for clients to find the right massage therapists for their individual needs
A collective takes the legwork out of the equation for clients and gives people a place they can go for a quality massage
Massage therapists feel less alone and less overwhelmed with the tasks of running a business divided among the members of the collective and most responsibilities fitting the talents each one brings to the business
we talk about the ways we could market better or get more clientele in the door.”
That supportive environment and camaraderie is one of the benefits of being in a collective
Massage therapists can develop a built-in group of people they can count on
When deMaranville lost her son in a tragic car accident a few years back
her collective colleagues and friends were there to hold her hand
and my coworkers took care of my clients while I was off
Other times when she has felt strong and her coworkers were going through an issue like a divorce or life problems
that is one of the best parts of being in a collective,” she said
Success is not reached alone and Bates recognizes that as a positive aspect of his collective
The team is there to help each therapist learn
There are massage therapists within the collective who are good with websites
and they can handle that task for the group and also share success strategies with the team
“You have to have people who have your back in order to be successful in anything in life,” said Bates
“You need people who have your best interest in mind.”
and many are set up as an LLC and have a common bank account for paying overhead
If you have dependents you support or other commitments
then taking a business gamble away from a regular paycheck can be daunting
You can reach out to those who have gone before for advice
Perhaps find a collective already up and running in your area
pull the best people you know together and start your own
If you have built up a great list of contacts within your field whom you know to be quality professionals you trust to be responsible in their commitments
then the rewards could be well worth any risks
“If you can stay independent and develop your craft
and innovate and educate yourself and have this team of people around you who push you to be better
that’s the obvious move for the industry,” said Bates
“You just have to find the team that makes you better.”
What type of massage therapist will thrive in a collective
deMaranville has recognized certain traits in massage therapists who work best in a collective business environment
“It requires people who are self-motivated
who can see what needs to be done and does it
It works best for people who are independent but also willing to work in a group,” deMaranville said
“They need to be people who are self-motivated and good communicators — and always hold our clients’ needs at the forefront.” 
Articles and advice to help your massage practice thrive
even when your school days are long past,…
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BARTOW -- Family members of an 18-year-old Wahneta woman killed in a 2003 drive-by shooting watched Wednesday as the man responsible for her death was sentenced to 20 years in prison
Fidel Penaloza-Hernandez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and four counts of attempted second-degree murder
into a group of people socializing in the front yard of a home at 125 Ninth St
Investigators concluded that Penaloza-Hernandez "was angry with a resident of the home where the victims were standing" because of a fight that occurred earlier at a nightclub on Combee Road in Lakeland
Nuria Salazar died from multiple gunshot wounds
A second-degree murder charge can carry a life sentence
a spokesman with the State Attorney's Office in Bartow
said plea negotiations went forward because Penaloza-Hernandez's statement to law enforcement officers was likely to be suppressed
and the case was "extremely weak" without it
Assistant State Attorney Mark Levine told Circuit Judge Donald Jacobsen that Penaloza-Hernandez should be in prison for the rest of his life
but the plea agreement would "ensure as positive an outcome as could be guaranteed under the circumstances."
her death "will always be in their lives the most traumatic and tragic thing that they will ever have to go through."
one of those shot who survived the shooting
"She is not going to scratch herself out of the grave in 20 years
"She wasn't somebody from the streets," Hernandez said of Salazar
Her mom did the best she could to raise her to be the best
"It's not right that they are giving him 20 years."
Jason Geary can be reached at 863-533-9079
2019 at 12:56 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Elias Alan-Arturo Flor was charged with battery and committing a lewd act in the presence of a child 16 or younger
(via Winter Haven Police Department)WINTER HAVEN
FL — A 19-year-old Wahneta man surrendered to Winter Haven police on Saturday night in connection with an incident at a Polk County Walmart in which the man allegedly masturbated on a woman who was shopping with a 12-year-old child
Elias Alan-Arturo Flor was charged with battery and committing a lewd act in the presence of a child 16 or younger
according to Jamie Brown of the Winter Haven Police Department
She said the incident occurred around 8:30 p.m
Friday night at the Walmart store located at 355 Cypress Gardens Blvd
"The woman was looking at the shelves of toys and in the buggy
while the child was on the side of the buggy," Brown said
"Flor is seen on video apparently looking for the right opportunity to commit the act."
 Brown said the child witnessed the act and was distraught
"When the woman realized the child was upset and inquired as to the reason
Flor had fled the aisle and out of the store," Brown explained
"Management was immediately alerted and law enforcement was notified."
She said the child described what happened
Store surveillance video confirmed the child's account
"This situation is absolutely sickening," said Winter Haven Chief Charlie Bird
"I applaud the child's bravery to speak up and give details that gave information we could get to the media that assisted with the ultimate arrest of the suspect."
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The mother of <a href=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/regional/2021/11/28/woman-me>a woman shot and killed</a> in 2021 by a Polk County deputy in Wahneta has sued the deputy and Sheriff Grady Judd
11 by Tampa attorney Life Malcolm on behalf of the estate of Jessiram Hweih Rivera and her mother
who is also the personal representative of the estate and grandmother to Rivera's two children
the Sheriff’s Office had not responded to the filing of the lawsuit
The lawsuit was filed with the 10th Circuit Court and seeks monetary and punitive damages of more than $100,000 for alleged negligence on the part of the defendants
A letter of intent to file the lawsuit and the complaint were filed together on Nov
two years to the day after Rivera was fatally shot by Polk County sheriff's Sgt
agencies such as the Sheriff’s Office have six months to file a response to a lawsuit
Malcolm would not elaborate further on allegations within the lawsuit
As previously reported by The Ledger, <a href=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2021/11/12/shovel-attack-polk-county-florida-deputy-shoots-kills-winter-haven-woman-jessiram-hweih-rivera/8584103002/>Speakman fired four shots</a> at Rivera from his agency issued firearm as she walked toward him wielding a shovel
“The above-named Defendants (Judd and Speakman) are jointly and severally liable for all damages alleged herein since their negligent
are a direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff’s damages
injuries and losses,” the complaint signed by Malcolm said
According to previous reports in The Ledger, <a href=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2021/11/16/mother-jessiram-hweih-rivera-shot-polk-county-deputy-says-system-failed-her/8636527002/>Rivera, 24, had a history of mental illness</a>
and her mother had attempted to have her committed to rehab or the county jail under the state's Marchman Act twice in the seven days leading up to her death
but Rivera checked herself out of Tri-County Human Health in Bartow immediately
the Sheriff's Office had received several reports of a woman
walking in and out of traffic on Rifle Range Road at 3:17 p.m
The first arriving deputy couldn't find the woman and left the scene
He found Rivera walking along a long dirt road near Rifle Range Road and Noles Lane with a shovel in her hand
who was highly trained in crisis intervention
but she raised the shovel and slammed it into a nearby stack of wood
She then raised it over her head again and began approaching Speakman
<a href=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2021/11/20/polk-county-florida-sheriff-grady-judd-defends-deputy-actions-fatal-shooting-woman-shovel/8689850002/>According to Judd</a>
two witnesses said they saw Rivera approaching Speakman with the shovel over her head
and that Speakman ordered her to drop it as he drew his weapon and backed away
The Sheriff's Office does not provide body cameras for its deputies
the Sheriff's Office said Speakman did not know Rivera's identity at the time of the confrontation
nor was he aware of her record of mental illness and drug use
In an interview with The Ledger in the days after the shooting
Rivera's mother expressed frustration at Speakman and the Sheriff's Office
maybe you thought your life is at risk,” Hweih said
The lawsuit filed in November made similar allegations of excessive force
“The force that Speakman used to stop Jessiram did not match the force Jessiram displayed,” it said
Rivera's mother and two minor children are named as beneficiaries in the lawsuit
The lawsuit seeks damages for pain and suffering
burial expenses and Rivera's loss of potential income
The wrongful death claim against Judd also says: “Defendant Judd and his agent
because Judd promotes his law enforcement officers killing people as funny and cool
following Judd’s written or unwritten policies
“Defendant Judd’s actions were not initiated for the protection of the general public
nor could she reasonably be said to be a risk to others
A Ledger reporter’s request for an agency report on an investigation into the incident is still pending
PCSO Communications Director Scott Wilder said Speakman was a sergeant in the Southeast District patrol at the time of the shooting and remains a sergeant
“He did not have to get any additional training
“He was placed on paid administrative leave for a few days pending a ‘fitness for duty’ evaluation by a psychiatrist
After that evaluation he was cleared to return to work
“There was no disciplinary action—there were no violations of general orders or law,” he added
WAHNETA | Friday was special at Wahneta Elementary School and many other schools around Polk County
and for more than 1,100 children it meant that they and their families would have a Christmas feast
a weekend meal program created by the Agape Food Bank in Lakeland in January 2012
the students not only received the normal backpack of food
they also were given a second one packed for Christmas with a ham
Wahneta Elementary student Ruby Valenzuela
smiled shyly as she spoke almost in a whisper about what SmilePak means to her family
Her stepfather is a mechanic and her mother is unemployed
Ruby said this is her first year in the program
the last SmilePak of the fall semester also was filled with extra cereal
juice and peanut butter to help stave off hunger until the students return in January
Each super-sized SmilePak contains about eight days worth of food
western region director of Catholic Charities of Central Florida
This is the first time Agape was able to provide food for the holiday break to go along with the customary SmilePak
"We were only able to do it because of the generosity of the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland," Reddout said
Wahneta Principal Lisa Myers said 97 percent of her school's 500 students qualify for free or reduced lunches
"The students get breakfast and lunch for free at our school
but a lot of times they won't have another square meal until they come in for breakfast the next day," Myers said
the program provides a backpack full of food on Fridays for each participating child
The student then brings back the empty backpack the following week so they can be filled again for the upcoming weekend
Wahneta Elementary receives about 125 backpacks per week
They are among the 1,148 students in 21 Polk County schools who are in the program
SmilePak provides for the family over the weekend as well as the individual student
"You know that a lot of these students have younger siblings at home
and even the parents may be going without food so their kids can eat," she said
Reddout estimated there are 62,000 hungry kids across Polk County
it really brings it home how much need is out there," she said
Myers is grateful for the extra food her students will receive until they come back to school in 2014
"I know there are a lot of missions in the area that go to other places
but I don't think people realize how much of the population here in Polk doesn't readily have access to food," Myers said
And now she has help with the considerable task of packing the food each week
three residents of the Floral Lakes community in Bartow are helping," she said
the program reaches out to people who may not even have students at the school
"We have no place in Wahneta like The Church Service Center in Bartow
so when someone's house burns down or they have some other type of major emergency
it's hard to find immediate help," Hall said
the Wahneta SmilePak program has provided food for the families until the Red Cross could step in
And the staff has been known to buy shoes for students who badly needed them
One of the teachers provided a box of new stuffed animals to tuck in with the holiday SmilePaks
says SmilePak is "helpful to families when they are running out of money."
He said some kids struggled to have enough to eat before the program started
and they feel it's needed for a lot of families," said Freddie
BARTOW -- A Wahneta man described by court officials as mentally ill and borderline mentally retarded agreed to a deal with prosecutors Thursday that will allow him to avoid the death penalty for killing three men at a child's birthday party nearly three years ago
who also admitted killing a man whose body was found in a grove a few hours before the party
He pleaded no contest to three counts of first-degree murder and to one count each of seconddegree murder
attempted firstdegree murder and attempted second-degree murder
"The doctors say that he's nuts," Assistant State Attorney John Aguero said
Court-appointed medical experts diagnosed Gonzalez with schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis
but he was ruled mentally competent to stand trial
Prosecutors could have sought the death penalty for Gonzalez if he turned down a plea agreement
Assistant Public Defender Bob Trogolo wasn't willing to gamble his client's life on an insanity defense
"The whole trial was going to be about his sanity," Trogolo said
sanity defenses have not done well in Polk County 
Polk Circuit Judge Judith Flanders sentenced Gonzalez to three life prison sentences for the murders of Omar Guzman
during a birthday party for his 8-year-old niece in Wahneta
Flanders also sentenced Gonzalez to 25 years in prison for the attempted first-degree murder of Nicholas Garcia Peralta
whom Gonzalez shot in the chest during the birthday party
Gonzalez received 25-year sentences in the shooting death of Pedro Ramirez
the 38-year-old man whose body was found in an Alturas orange grove hours before the birthday party killings
and for slashing the throat of Jose Carranza
who was incarcerated in the Polk County Jail with Gonzalez in March 2000
The killings rank among Polk County's deadliest rampages
But prosecutors were never able to establish why Gonzalez killed any of the four men
only one of whom -- Guzman -- he barely knew
The most likely explanation is that the attacks
were brought on by Gonzalez's mental problems
The only clue prosecutors had to Gonzalez's motive in the birthday party killings was a statement he made to investigators after being arrested
asked him to lift up his shirt because they suspected he had a gun
Polk sheriff's investigators said the Ramirez shooting and the birthday party murders might involve drugs and money
But Aguero said that doesn't appear to be the case
Prosecutors offered Gonzalez the plea agreement he signed Thursday months ago
After defense lawyers finished deposing mental health experts involved in the case last week
Gonzalez must fill in the blanks of Ramirez's murder for authorities
Aguero said prosecutors plan to meet with him next week
The State Attorney's Office did not formally charge Gonzalez with Ramirez's murder until Thursday morning
shortly before he signed the plea agreement
Part of what authorities want to know is whether Gonzalez acted alone in killing Ramirez
Gonzalez's fingerprints were found on the car in which Ramirez's body was found
But sheriff's investigators said early on that several people may have been involved in the killing
Jeff Scullin can be reached at jeff.scullin@theledger.com or 863-533-9079
SUSSEX BOROUGH — Shortly before their graduation from Sussex High School in 1938
a friend wrote in Wahneta Young's autograph book: "Wahneta now
having been converted to Sussex Middle School after the opening of High Point Regional High School in 1966
Some of the subjects that once were standard parts of the curriculum
But though she may no longer be "young," it would be hard to fault Wahneta Young Fountain for not doing her best to defy the prediction made by a friend 74 years ago
was very much in evidence Wednesday as Fountain gathered with four of her classmates for a class reunion at the Sussex Queen Diner
constitute five of the 11 remaining members of the original 65-member class
the other classmates on hand for Wednesday's gathering included Evelyn (Dyer) Bell
Also joining them Wednesday were two members of the Class of 1937
There was lightness and laughter aplenty Wednesday
even as the attendees lamented the toll that time has taken on them and on their schoolmates
for whom getting together every few years has been a tradition they have steadfastly upheld
Although they had planned to hold a 75-year reunion
Devine said that with their dwindling numbers
the graduates decided the time was right to get together again for a reunion this year
who was the principal organizer of Wednesday's gathering
had with her a scrapbook filled with photos and mementos from prior years' reunions
held in 1988 at the former Glenbrook Inn in Wantage
the class received a letter of congratulation from then-President Ronald Reagan
A flag previously flown over the United States Capitol in Washington
also was presented to the class that year by then-Congresswoman Marge Roukema
which was held in 1998 at the Bella Vita restaurant in Wantage
received similar fanfare as dignitaries including then-President Bill Clinton and the two U.S
"I remember jitterbugging to the ‘Jersey Bounce,' listening to New Jersey's own Frank Sinatra
state and country change and grow over the years."
some of these classmates may have lost a step or two
but in no sense could any of those at Wednesday's gathering be described as shrinking violets
Just ask any elected official in Sussex Borough
remains a fixture at municipal meetings and continues to keep borough officials on their toes
retired only three years ago after working since age 9
He later spent his high school years working at Simon's Butcher Shop in Sussex Borough and spent nearly the entire period during World War II in Europe as a soldier in the U.S
he was hired as the manager of a new lawn and garden shop and hardware store in Flemington that later merged with Agway
where he continued working to the age of 90
The hardscrabble life experienced by these children of the Depression was in some ways doubly hard for the two African-American graduates of Sussex High School's Class of 1938
during their senior-year class trip to Washington
the class had planned on staying at the Cairo Hotel
only to learn when they got there that Dorothy and Edith
Like many establishments in the nation's capital at the time
lodging was secured at the YWCA for the two sisters
who remained with their classmates during the day
The other members of the class took a collective stand against discrimination by refusing to enter establishments where Dorothy and Edith were not welcome
"I didn't know about discrimination until I went to Washington
Devine recalled that the girls' grandmother
owned a hat shop in Sussex Borough and frequently doted on the other children in town
she bandaged a girl's head after she had been injured during play
but the glow in the hearts of those who were reunited Wednesday remains strong
and it would be hard to fault any of them for not living up to their class motto: "Grow
Note: The original story gave an incorrect year for the opening of High Point High School
WAHNETA - Polk County sheriff's detectives have charged two Lake Wales men in connection with an armed home-invasion that left a man dead
were charged Thursday in connection with the attack Oct
Detectives are seeking a third suspect in the case
He was airlifted to Lakeland Regional Medical Center and died of his injuries six days later
Knighton was arrested at a Lake Hamilton home about 6 p.m
Townsend had been in the Polk County Jail since July 23 on an unrelated drug charge when he was charged in this case
Both men were charged with first-degree murder
armed burglary of an occupied dwelling and attempted robbery
Both are being held in the Polk County Jail without bail
Wood would not say whether another inmate in the jail provided the information that led to the arrest of the two men
detectives interviewed an inmate Wednesday who said he was present during the attack
He told the detectives that the suspects had broken into the house to steal drugs they thought were there
The inmate said Townsend and Knighton were told by another person that "a Hispanic male in Wahneta" had huge quantities of cocaine and marijuana at his house
He said that the three of them watched Manuel Muro's house for 20 minutes from an orange grove west of the residence to ensure no one was there
the suspects forced their way into the home by breaking the window in the rear door
Manuel Muro told investigators that he and his brother
returned to his house after receiving a call from his wife
they saw Knighton and Townsend fleeing from the back of the house and the two shot at the car
Anthony Anamelechi can be reached at 863-401-6970
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