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Tips on keeping safe this Hurricane Season

Tips on keeping safe this Hurricane Season

Polk County, FL -- June is National Hurricane Preparedness Month and marks the beginning of hurricane season.

According to forecasters, the Atlantic basin is facing a busy hurricane season with an estimated 12 to 18 named storms this year including six to 10 that will become hurricanes.

As a public service, Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling of Polk County, a leading provider of fire and water damage clean up and restoration services for residential and commercial properties, is offering these tips for hurricane season to help keep families safe.

According to Kevin Lethers, Paul Davis office owner, hurricane preparedness includes:

Lakeland Police Chief Womack will hold monthly "Chief's Chat" with citizens

Lakeland Police Chief Womack will hold monthly "Chief's Chat" with citizens

Lakeland, FL -- Lakeland Police Chief Lisa Womack has announced she will conduct an open forum on the first Monday of each month to give citizens the opportunity to discuss topics of interest in the community.

The forum will be held from 6 - 7 p.m. The first meeting will be held on Monday, June 6.

Community members are invited to attend to get to know better the Chief and the Lakeland Police Department.

Chief Womack will use this forum to introduce herself to the community and share her visions for the Lakeland Police Department as they move forward into the future.

Kingsford Elementary's Community Connection Fair

Kingsford Elementary's  Community Connection Fair

Mulberry’s Kingsford Elementary hosted a school-wide Community Connection Fair.  The fair consisted of 13 stations with different themes.  The event connected students with diverse elements of their community by educating them about local organizations and companies.

The fair consisted of 13 stations spread throughout the school.  Each grade level traveled the stations following a different route.  At each stop, students learned something about the organization or company operating the post and how it connects with the community.

“This event was like having 13 mini-field trips all in one day,” said Kingsford principal Jodi Lamb.

Facebook bragging leads to arrest

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) -- A Polk County man accused of poaching wildlife and bragging about it on Facebook has been arrested on several charges, including unlawful hunting.

Darin Lee Waldo is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, armed trespass, attempting to take wild turkey and deer during closed season, among other charges.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported Friday that the 43-year-old Waldo exchanged photographs of illegally killed game with investigators, participated in chat rooms describing his actions and invited undercover agents to participate in two illegal hunts.

Authorities say Waldo and other suspects hid small boats and guns at Lake Marion Creek Wildlife Management Area near Haines City.

The wildlife agency's Internet Crimes Unit investigates wildlife exploitation. Investigators have made 177 arrests so far.

 

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One person dead in Lakeland shooting

Lakeland, Florida - One man is dead after getting into an argument at a gathering in Lakeland on Sunday.

Police responded to 2709 Providence Road Sunday at approximately 2:40 a.m. after receiving a report of the shooting. Officers arrived and found Anthony B. Cox, 40, dead from a gunshot wound.

Witnesses stated there was a small gathering at the location when Cox, who was reported to have been drinking throughout the day, entered into a confrontation with two women.

After Cox began chasing the women and threatening them, the women barricaded themselves into a bathroom to get away from Cox.

Missing 12-year-old Polk County boy has been found

Polk County, Florida -  At around 8:00 a.m., Saturday, 12-year-old Joshua Thielen was reported missing from his house on McLeod Road in Eagle Lake by his mother, who is divorced from Joshua's father.

Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff's Office say Joshua's father, 46-year-old David Thielen, took Joshua who was skating in front of his home Saturday morning.

Investigators say David, who lives at 3612 S.W. 14th Place in Cape Coral, told his current wife he was going to pick up Joshua. That's despite a court order that prohibits David from having any contact with Joshua.

Early Sunday morning the Polk County Sheriff's Office announced that 12-year-old Joshua Thielen has been found and that he is not hurt. 

Polk students awarded laptops for community volunteerism

Polk students awarded laptops for community volunteerism

Twenty local students who have demonstrated a commitment to their community through volunteerism have been named winners of Bright House Networks’ Volunteer Youth Awards for 2011.

Each winner received a new laptop computer and computer carrying case on Friday night May 27, 2011 at Tropicana Field before the Tampa Bay Rays took on the Cleveland Indians at 7:10 p.m.

Winning students performed at least 50 hours of community service throughout the year while maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or above. Winners faced stiff competition; over 150 applications for the awards were received from students throughout the seven county areas served by Bright House Networks Tampa Bay region.