SAFETY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH (NW) CORNER By Fay Wood, NW Chief The Lake Ashton Neighborhood Watch “Meet the Police Chiefs Forum” took place at Monday Coffee on February 3. Chief Velasquez from the Lake Wales Police Department and Chief Vance from the Winter Haven Police Department were there to give City updates and answer questions from residents. On March 10, your Neighborhood Watch Team hosted an afternoon with Sheriff Grady Judd! It was standing room only, with community residents in full attendance. He updated residents on what the Sheriff's Office is working on and gave his perspectives on current issues. At the conclusion, he received a standing ovation and shared a photo opportunity with some of the NW Deputies and residents in the immediate area before leaving. NW leadership wants to thank all of you for coming out and making this event the success that it was! Stay tuned for more exciting updates along the way. • Check to see if the text is legit. Reach out to the tolling agency using a phone number or website you know is real — not the info from the text. • Report and delete unwanted text messages. Use your phone’s “report junk” option to report unwanted texts to your messaging app or forward them to 7726 (SPAM). Once you’ve checked it out and reported it, delete the text. • Learn more about spotting and avoiding text scams at ftc.gov/textscams. WILDLIFE ALERT - WATCH FOR ALL IGATORS Alligator courtship typically begins in early April, with mating occurring between May and June. Residents may notice male gators lifting their tails high and slapping the water with their jaws to create vibrations throughout the water during mating season. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds residents to be cautious when having fun in and around water. The FWC recommends keeping pets away from the water. FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline: 866.FWC.GATOR (392-4286). They will give you a reference number that will need to be provided to staff at the Clubhouse if the alligator is in a body of water in Lake Wales or to staff at the HFC if in a body of water in Winter Haven. Alligators and crocodiles are an important part of Florida's heritage and play a valuable role in the ecosystems where they live. Remember, it is illegal to feed or harass alligators. • Always give these reptiles a respectful distance — at least 10 feet — and always leave them alone. • Alligators are nocturnal (more active at night). After dark, avoid fresh and brackish bodies of water, though alligators sometimes lurk in salt water. Unprovoked bites will often occur at the edge of the water. • Never feed alligators; it encourages them to lose their natural fear of people. • Small animals, like pets, and small children are generally more at risk than large adults. To avoid a text scam like this: • Don’t click on any links in, or respond to, unexpected texts. 24 • Female alligators protect their nests by hissing and opening their mouths; this does not mean they are preparing to attack. • Alligators under four feet in length are not considered a threat to humans.
25 Publizr Home