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Popular Polk County Car Dealerships Under Investigation

Posted Oct 28, 2008 by Jennifer Leigh

Updated Oct 28, 2008 at 02:59 PM

Michael Holley Chevrolet in Lakeland and Michael Holley Pontiac Buick GMC in Bartow are under investigation by the state attorney’s office over claims the dealerships accepted trade-ins and didn’t pay off the loans.

According to a search warrant application filed by the state attorney’s office, three customers complained to authorities that vehicles they traded in had not yet been paid off by Michael Holley.  Deborah Cascioli is among those still waiting for a loan payment.

Cascioli says she traded in a 2007 Chrysler 300 and a 2004 Silverado truck on Sept. 6.  By the end of the month she learned neither loan had been satisfied. “Well, my credit report shows I have three vehicles, and I have a credit report showing I’m late on two vehicles and actually I got a repossess letter on the Chrysler car, and I told Chrysler I don’t have the car. There’s no way to repossess it,” Cascioli said.

Investigator David Lyon says since he launched his inquiry he has received about 30 additional complaint calls from Michael Holley customers.  Lyon says the bulk of the problems seem to involve trade-ins that happened since Sept. 1.

An attorney for Michael Holley contacted News Channel 8 to say the longtime car dealer would not be commenting for this story, but would likely issue a statement of some kind before the end of the week.  In the meantime, Deborah Cascioli is waiting for more than just an explanation.  “I just want our loans paid off and our credit to not be hurt,” Cascioli said.

The state attorney’s office says it may be several days before the investigation is complete.  So far no charges have been filed.

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Water Wings And Wild Things

Posted Oct 27, 2008 by Jennifer Leigh

Updated Oct 27, 2008 at 03:30 PM

The Circle B Bar Reserve is ready to welcome back an annual event that allows the public to get up close and personal with nature.  Water Wings and Wild Things is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The free event will be at the reserve’s new Nature Discovery Center. Inside, participants can experience interactive exhibits that focus on the Green Swamp, water systems and Central Florida lakes. Also on tap: nature-based art vendors, workshops, Florida animals, hands-on activities and guided tours of the reserve. Some of the family activities include tree climbing, kite making, birdhouse building and a butterfly tent.

Water Wings and Wild Things has been held at IMC Agrico park the past two years while work was being completed on the Nature Discovery Center.

Circle B Bar Reserve is at 4399 Winter Lake Road in Lakeland. The entrance is about two miles east of U.S. 98.

For information on workshops, call (863) 534-7377. Reservations are required for workshops.

 

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Lakeland Clothing Store Offering ‘Trade-In Sale’ To Help Local Charity

Posted Oct 20, 2008 by Jennifer Leigh

Updated Oct 20, 2008 at 02:20 PM

Want to save a little money on new clothes and help a local charity?  The Patchington Store and Peace River Center have teamed up on a plan that will likely tempt the philanthropist and shopper in you.

Patchington Resort Fashions and Accessories, 1456 Town Center Drive in Lakeland, is holding a “Trade-In Sale” to benefit the Peace River Center’s domestic violence program. Here’s how it’ll work.  Beginning Tuesday, you can bring in your gently worn clothes and in exchange get a discount on new clothing.  All the traded in items will be donated to the Peace River Center, which provides domestic violence shelters and programs that help women and children who have been victimized by abusers.

The trade-in offer is going to run through Oct. 27.  Participants will receive allowances on comparable merchandise: $10 for tops, $15 for pants and skirts, and $20 for jackets and dresses.  For information, contact Patchington manager Alex Jonas at (863) 686-3640.

 

 

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History Channel To Feature Polk Landfill Bioreactor

Posted Oct 13, 2008 by Jennifer Leigh

Updated Oct 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM

It turns out one man’s wastewater is another man’s cable television feature. The History Channel show “Modern Marvels” will showcase Polk County’s North Central Landfill’s bioreactor at 8 tonight.

To fully understand how the bioreactor program works, you first have to understand a little bit about landfills.  Here’s the deal. Rainfall that seeps through the waste in a landfill is called leachate.  By regulation it has to be contained and treated as wastewater.  The bioreactor collects the leachate and pumps it back into the landfill waste, which in turn makes the waste decompose faster.  That increases landfill capacity, makes more space for waste and ultimately saves money.

Officials say that since 2000, the bioreactor has saved the residents of Polk County approximately $2.5 million.  Until 2000, Polk County was paying $1.5 million to $3 million every year to haul 10 million to 15 million gallons of leachate water to a wastewater plant for treatment.

In just eight years the bioreactor program has been deemed a huge success.  It is credited with cutting leachate disposal costs in half. Researchers say Polk’s program has become a model for the state and the nation.

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16-Year-Old Charged In Friend’s Slaying Turns Himself In

Posted Oct 7, 2008 by Jennifer Leigh

Updated Oct 7, 2008 at 04:24 PM

Winter Haven police say a 16-year-old responsible for shooting to death a teenage friend and wounding another man is in custody.  Detectives say Jamel McKenzie faces charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.  McKenzie, accompanied by his attorney, turned himself in this morning.

Investigators say the trouble started Saturday night outside a Family Food Store on Avenue T Northeast in Winter Haven. According to an incident report, McKenzie pulled a gun during an altercation and started shooting.

Lindsey Buckner, 19, thinks he was the target. Buckner says he was fighting with 16-year-old Jarod Cole. He knocked Cole to the ground, and that’s when McKenzie opened fire, he says.

“He shouldn’t have pulled no gun. It’s stupid. I ain’t see nobody else with no gun. He wants to pull a gun and shoot at people, and then now his homeboy’s dead and stuff, and he’s got to live with it,” Buckner said.

Police say Jarod Cole died from a gunshot wound to the upper body after being flown to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Edward Turner, 25, was wounded. He was in the crowd and started running when he heard the first shots. He says he didn’t initially realize he was hit in the left arm. “I had three different holes. I don’t know how many times I got shot, but I got 24 staples, and it broke my bone, and I got a long rod, metal rod in my arm,” Turner said.

Winter Haven Police say the area where the shooting happened is known for trouble. Sgt. Brad Coleman said officers have responded to everything from drug sales and fights to a homicide near the location of the shooting. “It wasn’t too long ago, probably within the last year and a half or so, we did have another homicide of a young man probably about a block from where this incident occurred,” Coleman said.

Anyone with information should call Detective Mark Zagar at (863) 291-5730 or Detective Eric Outlaw at (863) 291-5752.

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