News Update for 8/12/24
Avon Park’s CRA Communications and Project Coordinator Shawn K. Holiday was terminated Friday morning after serving 11 months in the role. Reportedly, Holiday stated that the termination was due to a violation of city policy but didn’t give any further explanation. Avon Park Interim City Manager Christian Hardman and Human Resources director Denise Koger also declined to comment on the termination. No reports on a replacement or interim for Holiday’s position have been made.
A warrant suspect Douglas Kidd, 47, of Davenport who is accused of violently stabbing his cousin more than 15 times is back in a Polk County and in jail after fleeing to Virginia. The original stabbing incident took place in Davenport back in April of this year. A woman with 15 stab wounds was found when officers responded to the scene. The victim identified the attacker as her cousin, Douglas Kidd — who had been living with the victim and her husband for about a year. On April 16, 2024 the Fugitive Task Force in Norfolk, Virginia located Kidd’s vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, where he was arrested. Kidd has now been extradited back to Polk County to be prosecuted for 2nd degree attempted murder.
Lightning is believed to be the cause of a fire in Polk County. The Haines City Fire Department says lightning hit a house on Cattle Ranch Road yesterday afternoon. None of the people that live there were hurt, but firefighters say the family dog passed away due to smoke inhalation. There’s no word on how much financial damage the fire caused.
A tropical depression is likely to develop today or Tuesday off the Lesser Antilles. This is according to officials with the National Hurricane Center, who say a maturing system is forecast to approach the Greater Antilles by the middle of the week as it matures into a tropical depression. Current models show it continuing to skew northward. Should the system reach the proper threshold, weather officials say it will be named “Ernesto.”
Jury selection begins today in Marion County where a woman is on trial for killing her neighbor. Ocala’s Susan Lorincz shot AJ Owens over a year ago when Owens approached Lorincz’s home. The sheriff’s office says Owens wanted to talk to Lorincz after Lorincz threw roller skates at Owens’ kids. Lorincz is charged with manslaughter. She claims self-defense.
A Sarasota County family is now homeless after Hurricane Debby. Anthony Smith says he, his wife and their three kids lost their home due to the flooding. They’re struggling to find basic necessities, and they stopped by a resource center yesterday at Sarasota Christian Church. The Smiths were able to apply for FEMA assistance. While they wait, they’re trying to stay positive. Anthony tells ABC Action News if they’re persistent and take the right steps, everything’s going to play out in the long run.
A Tampa Bay woman is talking about a discovery she made while cleaning up after Hurricane Debby. Suzanne Flament-Smith told WTSP that she found what appeared to be a message in a bottle. She removed the letter from inside the bottle and saw that it was dated March 4th, 1945. It had been written on U.S. Navy letterhead from the Amphibious Training Base in Little Creek, Virginia.
Disney will pay tribute to some of its most popular villains. Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced on Saturday the company plans to build a villains land at the Magic Kingdom. He says it’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be. No specifics were announced, though, like what it’ll include, where it’ll be or when it’ll open. D’Amaro also announced two Cars attractions will be added to Frontierland, there will be a new nighttime parade called Disney Starlight and Hollywood Studios is getting a Monsters, Inc land. He says work on Tropical Americas will start this fall, and it’s expected to open in 2027 where Animal Kingdom’s Dino Land is. D’Amaro also says Disney Cruise Line will add four ships for a total of 13. The first will launch in 2027.