Week of May 28, 2025

Taxable Property Values Continue to Rise in Polk

Robert Connors | May 31, 2025

Growth in Polk County continued to record steady, rapid growth year over year in 2024, according to preliminary taxable value figures released by the Polk County Property Appraiser's office. The county had been flagged as one of the nation's fastest growing. The total value of new construction in Polk last year was valued at $2,823,688,596, a $92 million increase over activity in 2023. That brought the county's total valuation to $72,161,387,998. An 8.8 percent jump. The...

New La Provence Apartments Planned at Former Green Gables Inn Site

Robert Connors | May 28, 2025

Plans for new studio apartments with lake access on Lake Padgett are advancing following action by the Lake Wales City Commission. The construction of new apartments on the site of the former Green Gables Inn will likely proceed with a significant reduction in density after a redesign of La Provence was approved by the Lake Wales City Commission. The commission had previously approved a plan that would have allowed a total of 165 new units. Attempts to reach a representative...

Care Center Celebrates 40 Years, Looks to Future Growth

Robert Connors | May 31, 2025

A gathering of volunteers, supporters, and staff of the Lake Wales Care Center gathered Friday near the organization's offices on East Park Avenue to celebrate and mark the 40th anniversary of the non-profit that has come to be among the most essential providers of services for a significant share of the area's population. Hundreds turned out in sweltering weather to seek shelter from the intense sun in the shade of a large tent erected to house them, eager to mark their...

Hurricane Season Kicks Off With a Soggy Start, Possible Caribbean Development

Robert Connors | May 31, 2025

After a soggy end to May, Floridians are looking forward to the June 1 start of Hurricane season with a sense of trepidation. A rash of hurricanes in recent years has many still facing the costs of cleanup and repair, while along the coasts, many homes remain wrecks. According to forecasters, the upcoming season is likely to once again be "above average," although average has become a moving target. Most models are reflecting that, given sea-surface temperature closer to...

Frostproof's Lake Clinch, Two Other Lakes Get Protection Zones For Swimmers

News Staff Report | May 28, 2025

Swimming at Frostproof's popular Lake Clinch beach should be a bit safer if area boaters observe a new law requiring them to stay clear of designated zones on three Polk County lakes. Polk County Board of County Commissioners have approved an ordinance repealing and reinstating the Polk County Waterway Protection Code. Concurrently with this ordinance, the board passed a resolution establishing vessel exclusion zones for designated swim areas in certain areas of Frostproof's...

Development Proposed For Lake Wales Airport Area Includes Four Million Square Feet of Industrial Space, Nearly 3,000 Homes

Robert Connors | May 22, 2025

UPDATE: Lake Wales City Commissioners approved the relevant ordinances Tuesday on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Carol Gillespie dissenting. The ordinances will require a second reading and vote before they become final. A proposal that will permit four million square feet of industrial space and nearly 3,000 new homes will be considered by the Lake Wales City Commission at its regular meeting Tuesday night. The Stoneridge development includes 1,287 acres with frontage of SR 60...

One Killed, One Critically Injured In Crash Involving Home-Made Go-Cart

News Staff Report | May 25, 2025

A street ride on a homemade go-cart on Alturas-Babson Park Cutoff Road (ABC Road) ended in tragedy for two men Saturday night. The Polk County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call around 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 24th, about a collision between the cart and a Hyundai Elantra on the Bartwo segment of ABC Road According to traffic homicide investigators, a 33-year-old man who lives in the area was operating the go-cart with a 38-year-old male passenger. As the pair were...

CRA Moving Walesbilt Hotel Project Forward With Engineering Evaluation

Robert Connors | May 15, 2025

After a long but successful legal battle over the title to the historic Walesbilt Hotel, the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency is wasting no time moving to begin their efforts to see the building redeveloped. The CRA has approved the hiring of the engineering firm of Kimley-Horn to conduct an evaluation of the hotel that will include a structural property condition report and a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. The report the firm will generate will be included...

Fiery Head-on Crash on US 27 Claims Two Lives

News Staff Report | May 9, 2025

A Sebring woman driving north in the southbound lanes of US 27 was the apparent cause of a head-on crash Thursday night that claimed her life and that of a second motorist. According to Polk County Sheriff's Traffic Homicide investigators, a witness to the crash confirmed that a black 2021 Toyota Corolla had been heading northbound in the left southbound lane of US 27 at about 10 p.m. A separate call to the emergency 911 system reported that a wrong-way driver was traveling...

Lake Wales AdventHealth Hospital Earns "A" Grade for Patient Safety

Special to the News | May 5, 2025

AdventHealth Lake Wales has been awarded an "A" Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of excellence in patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. The Leapfrog Group assigns an "A," "B," "C," "D" or "F" grade to general hospitals nationwide based on over 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. "It's a...

CSX to Close Three Lake Wales Area Crossings for Improvements

Special to the News | May 6, 2025

Three rail crossings on the west side of Lake Wales will be closed for repairs to the grades, although CSX has predicted that each closing will last only 24 hours. Scheduled crossing closures include Old Ice House Road, North Lake Wales Alturas Road, and Alturas Babson Park Cut-off Road. All three crossings serve the main CSX line, which carries both passenger and freight traffic. Old Ice House Road is scheduled to close at the rail crossing south of Morrel Avenue at 7 a.m....

Daylight Snatching Robbery Lands 18-Year-Old in Jail

News Staff Report | May 5, 2025

A daring daylight robbery of an 11-year-old child participating in a school fundraiser resulted in the arrest of a Davenport man who is now facing multiple charges. According to Lake Wales Police, the child was selling chocolate on a downtown street and proudly revealed to the robber that he had collected $107 in donations for his school. The man, later identified as 18-year-old Isaiyah Cabrera of Davenport, "snatched an envelope containing the money and fled the scene on an...

Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Car in Dundee

News Staff Report | May 5, 2025

A Dundee man who was attempting to cross County Road 542 in Dundee was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday,. The incident occured in darkness at about 10L45 p.m. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Unit, the 911 center received a call from the 900 block of Dundee Road in Dundee. The 41-year-old driver of a 2004 Buick sedan was reportedly heading east on Dundee Road, entering the right turn lane to head south on U.S. Hwy 27 as the pedestrian was...

  • Ribbon Cutting Marks Completion of Renovation Project of Historic Downtown Building

    Robert Connors | May 28, 2025

    The ongoing revitalization of downtown Lake Wales took a major step forward Tuesday with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting that opened a fully-restored building at 244 East Park Avenue. The structure now features two finished retail spaces on the ground floor and four apartments on the second level. The historic building was constructed in 1916 by Lake Wales pioneer builder Jimmy "Good" Rhodes. Rhodes went o to construct many of the original masonry buildings in the historic...

Polk Parks and Natural Resources Receives Environmental Stewardship Award

Special to the News | May 30, 2025

The Polk County Parks and Natural Resources Division has received the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award from the Southwest District of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The award recognizes local governments for their efforts to protect and enhance the region's natural environment. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work, innovation and passion that the Parks and Natural Resources team brings everyday to protect Polk County's water, wildlife and...

Great Florida Birding Trail Gets Expansion, Upgrades

Special to the News | May 16, 2025

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is proud to announce the launch of the newly redesigned Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail website. The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail is a longstanding FWC program that connects people to over 500 birding and wildlife watching locations statewide. The Trail includes multiple sites around eastern and southern Polk County which are featured on the new site.. The Great Florida Birding Trail is a program...

Relationships Between Four Grandmothers Gives Life to "Nonnas"

Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic | May 28, 2025

The movie Nonna's, now available on Netflix, is directed by Stephen Chbosky and stars Vince Vaughn and is loosely based on a true story about an Italian restaurant where the food is prepared by Italian grandmothers-Nonnas. It's apparently still open. The story follows Joe who grieving the recent loss of his grandmother. He fondly remembers her Sunday dinners, filled with family, laughter, and delicious food. In an effort to recapture that warmth, he opens a restaurant with...

Orange Blossom Revue LIneup Announced, Discount Tickets Offered to Locals

Special to the News | May 16, 2025

The Orange Blossom Revue returns to Lake Wales for its 11th annual celebration December 5–6, 2025, according to festival organizers.. Florida's beloved boutique music and arts event takes place in the scenic Lake Wailes Park, just outside historic downtown Lake Wales and an easy drive from central Florida hubs like Tampa and Orlando. This year's edition is expected to deliver a dynamic mix of gritty Southern rock, swampy soul, and high-energy Americana. Known for its...

"Thunderbolts" Shines With Strong Performances

Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic | May 15, 2025

I've been looking forward to Thunderbolts* for a long time, and it did not disappoint. This latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings together an unexpected team of lesser-known heroes-and delivers the humor, heart, and action Marvel fans crave. Directed by Jake Schreier, Thunderbolts stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The story centers around a group of familiar but underdog characters-Yelena Belova (Black Widow's sister), Bucky Barnes...

Lake Wales High School Student Selected for Youth Exchange Program Scholarship, Will Study in Germany

Special to the News | May 31, 2025

Ezran Kane, a rising junior at Lake Wales High School, is one of 210 American high school students to be awarded the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year. CBYX is a bilateral exchange program co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and German Bundestag (Parliament). The award was announced by the non-profit Council on International Educational Exchange. The CIEE is a nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange...

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