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Frostproof triple-murder case delayed as defendant TJ Wiggins faces federal firearms trial
Since last summer, Tony “T.J.” Wiggins has waived his appearances for court hearings in Bartow on first-degree murder charges in the 2020 Frostproof triple-homicide case. And again at a hearing on Friday in Bartow he was not present. Assistant State Attorney Mark Levine told a judge in the 10th Judicial Circuit that the federal authorities would not transport Wiggins to attend his trial nor any hearings in the Polk County case until after his trial on federal firearms charges was over − possibly by the fall.
'Our guys are fantastic': Mulberry boys volleyball goes down in district championship
The Mulberry’s boys’ volleyball program played their best game of the year versus the Tampa Bay Heat in the FHSAA Class 1A District 12 Championship game Thursday night on the road. But Mulberry still fell short and would go on to lose 3-0. Still, the Panthers made history. They are the first Polk County team in history to reach the district championship game, as this is just the second year that boys' volleyball is sanctioned. ...
Davenport man thrown from truck, killed in second of two consecutive crashes: Deputies
LAKE WALES, Fla. - A 50-year-old Davenport man died at the scene of a deadly crash on Saturday morning, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office. Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit say the man identified as Edgar Penaloza was involved in two crashes. The...
Lakeland Groups React as Florida’s Six-Week Abortion Ban Takes Effect
On Tuesday, the last day women in Florida could receive an abortion up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, a dozen cars were parked behind the Lakeland Women’s Health Center on South Florida Avenue and an escort was walking women into and out of the clinic. Next door, at the...
Lakeland woman targeted by two scammers loses $400K: Grady Judd
LAKELAND, Fla. - A Lakeland woman is now without more than $400,000 after she was targeted by two scammers. It all started when two men called her, saying she had won the "Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes." Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said Michael Lawrence and co-defendant Max Richards told the victim...
'We felt in control': Winter Haven beach volleyball advances to state for the 2nd time
WINTER HAVEN — Winter head beach volleyball coach Dylan Sechrest knew that Satellite would be a tough team to reckon with. After all, this year Satellite is the 31st ranked beach volleyball program in the state. But the Blue Devils, the No. 23 team in the nation this year, beat them last year en route to state. And the same thing happened this year in the Class 1A Play-In 2 Game Wednesday at Polk State College where...
Winter Haven's Ben Saltman comes one match short of FHSAA tennis title
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS — Winter Haven junior Ben Saltman was one of the favorites in the Class 4A state tennis tournament this spring and went into Tuesday's individual finals against Jack Satterfield having defeated Satterfield four times, including a win in October. Satterfield, however, was the defending Class 4A state...
District softball: Take a look at how each district shapes up for Polk County teams
Polk County has had at least one team in the state softball tournament in 33 of the 35 years in which the tournament has been held, including 16 years when there were multiple teams. So the odds are in the county’s favor that at least one of the top Polk teams will be playing in Clermont in mid-May, although some stiff competition are in the way of the top teams.
District baseball: Winter Haven plays waiting game after loss, plus all semifinals results
WINTER HAVEN — The Winter Haven baseball team is playing a game it didn’t want to be playing. With a 6-1 loss in the Class 7A, District 6 semifinals to Newsome on Tuesday, Winter Haven will now have to endure the waiting game to see if it makes the regional playoffs. A win would’ve cemented the Blue Devils...
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