Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 501 - 525 of 546
The process of converting barren downtown streets into a shady pedestrian oasis got a financial boost as the City expects to receive a Federal grant. In a presentation to area citizens via an Internet link from Washington DC Tuesday evening, Congressman Darren Soto mentioned that an $800,000 infusion for downtown street rehabilitation had been included in the recent bi-partisan Infrastructure package approved by the US House. The package is now awaiting Senate approval. Soto gave Mayor Eugene Fultz credit for having brought...
Lovers of Amish cheeses and hearty deli sandwiches will be delighted to learn of Lake Wales' newest business, The Lake Wales Cheese Shoppe and Deli opened for business last week on Bullard Avenue. The brightly lighted shop features stocked coolers and shelves of specialty food products. "We specialize in Amish meats and cheeses," owner Tim Johnson told LakeWalesNews.Net. "We stock popular brands like Troyers from Ohio, Kunzler from Pennsylvania, and Yoders from Michigan." Othe...
In a citrus crop forecast released Tuesday, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried mentioned a startling number for Florida's peak citrus production: 244 million boxes in the 1997-98 season. Some 25 years later, the citrus forecast shows much lower numbers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast reported 47 million boxes of Florida oranges for the 2021-22 season - down 11 percent (52.8 million boxes) from last season, and 3.8 million boxes for grapefruit, down eight percent...
Finding a new superintendent for the Lake Wales Charter School System is a painstaking process, with huge focus on finding the ideal candidate, according to Bill Vogel. Vogel, 72, is himself a former school superintendent who is providing services to the Charter Schools Board of Trustees as a consultant to the Florida School Board Association. "We're very impressed with the commitment of the Board of Trustees to finding the right candidate," he told the LakeWalesNews.Net...
In a special recognition of his efforts, Lake Wales resident Joseph Lunsford will be the recipient of his very own "day" upon the issuance of a Proclamation from the City of Lake Wales declaring a "Joseph Lunsford Recognition Day." Lunsford, 28, has been selected to represent Florida in the 2022 Special Olympics USA to be held in Orlando June 5th-12th, 2022. Lunsford is a multi-sport athlete and has competed in a wide range of Special Olympics sports, including track,...
In what is likely to be the deciding contest of the 2021 football regular season, the Lake Wales Highlanders will face off against the undefeated Auburndale Bloodhounds Friday night at Legion Field. The Bloodhounds have already dominated district rival Heritage Palm Bay by a 20-0 score, and Kissimmee Gateway 47-7. Lake Wales has yet to face either of those teams. The Highlanders have played only a single district game, a 43-27 victory over Melbourne Eau Gallie. There has been...
The Lake Wales History Museum will honor Gladys Howell as the 2021 Lake Wales Pioneer of the Year as part of the 45th Annual Pioneer Days Festival at Lake Wailes Park. The recognition celebration will be held during the festival on Saturday, October 23 at 10:00 am. The Lake Wales History Museum's Pioneer Days Festival is synonymous with Lake Wales history and culture, and celebrates the heritage of the greater Polk County community. The two-day event will feature 50 craft &...
Returning to the form that marked the early games of the season, the Lake Wales Highlanders struck early and often against the Hardee Wildcats, running up a score of 21-0 barely halfway through the first quarter in a Friday night contest in Wauchula that was never in doubt. Hardee, a non-conference 5-A foe, came into the game with a 3-2 record. The Highlanders' first two touchdowns came on the strength of their explosive ground game led by running back Marquish Seabon, who...
"Removing the barriers" and financial impediments for families wishing to visit Bok Tower Gardens was a primary motivation for a program that has proven immensely popular with patrons of Lake Wales Public Library, according to Trisha Martin Morrison, Director of Education at Bok Tower Gardens. Four week-long "Garden Lane Passes" are available to be checked out to allow guests to visit the gardens without fee. "There's a waiting list," said Head Librarian Tina Peak of the...
With hundreds of new homes slated for construction along the booming Buck Moore Road, Lake Wales City Commissioners have unanimously approved hiring an engineering firm to conduct a traffic study to keep things moving along that corridor. "This is a proactive step to anticipate and mitigate any impacts" from the new subdivisions, City Manager James Slaton said in introducing the proposal at a Commission workshop. "We want to do the corridor study now to have it in place when...
With their District 7 title hopes still riding high, the Lake Wales Highlanders notched their first important win against a conference rival by defeating Melbourne Eau Gallie 43-27 ay Legion Field in Lake Wales Friday night. For the second week in a row the local team started slowly, leading only 8-6 at the half after giving up a fumble in their own end zone. The Highlander points came on a Trent Grotjan pass to Carlos Mitchell that covered 30 yards. The second half was a diff...
As the city prepares to embark on a transformative Lake Wales Connected redesign of the historic Park Avenue that forms the heart of downtown Lake Wales, one city commissioner is making his own effort to support the makeover. The blank stucco wall at 244 East Park will be replaced by the original broad windows open to the street, thanks to a substantial personal investment by Robin Gibson. "I've driven by that building many times" Gibson said of the two-story structure at 244...
A lighted football field proposed for Washington Park near US 27 is expected to make a big difference to hundreds of young people involved in two Lake Wales youth football leagues. The new facility is proposed to be built by Polk County Parks and Recreation using Community Development Block Grant funds. CDBG funds are restricted to projects serving underserved neighborhoods and communities. Among users of the new football facility are likely to be the Lake Wales Youth Football...
Plans and proposals for new housing developments in Lake Wales have come in waves during 2021 and show no sign of abating. More than 8,300 new dwellings are now "visible" on the planning documents at the City of Lake Wales Development Services. Those residences are likely to house more than 23,000 new citizens, an expected population increase of some 140%. "Everybody wants to come where we are," said City Commissioner Robin Gibson, when asked about the growth spurt. "It's a...
The small-town spirit shone through in Lake Wales Thursday as a thousand spectators gathered to watch the annual Homecoming Parade organized by the students of Lake Wales High School. Representatives of area elementary schools and cheer clubs also participating in the show, one of the events marking the special week in the school year. Each class in the school placed and entry in the parade, as did several of the school's athletic teams including the soccer, football,...
Riding on their 3-1 season record and seeking to repeat as district champs in their new higher classification, the Lake Wales Highlanders football squad will face the Melbourne Eau Gallie Commodores this week. It will be their first district game of the year. Lake Wales enters the game with its powerful ground game intact, with a triple threat of quarterbacks Trent Grotjan and Nick Young and an explosive running back in Marquish Seabon. Corey Harris, Devin Hardy and Carlos...
Ardella Green has been a resident of Lake Wales since 1942 and at 97 years old, she has gotten to the point in life that climbing up to fix the roof of her aging home on Alabama Street was no longer an option. Thanks to a grant from the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency, that is no longer a challenge she must contemplate. Hers was one of several aging homesteads in the city that have been repaired thanks to a $68.000 fund established by the CRA board. Referred to the p...
After being stymied by the stout defense of the Naples Trojans for most of the first half, the Lake Wales Highlander eleven found the winning formula in the second half, opening with four straight touchdowns to chalk up a 32-0 victory Friday night in front of a Homecoming crowd at Legion Field. With the win the Highlanders advance to 3-1 on the season as they face their first district for next Friday night when they host Melbourne Eau Gallie. Senior RB sensation Marquish...
The public is invited to bring their loved pets to receive the annual blessing this Saturday at the Church of the Good Shepherd. The service will take place outdoors. It's non-denominational and open to the all animal lovers and their pets, said event coordinator Jessica Bray. The date honors the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment, and is hosted by the Good Shepherd Church's Daughters Of the King Chapter. The 10:00 am program...
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has announced changes to rules governing camping reservations on District lands. These rules went into effect June 23 and will be enforced beginning Oct. 1, 2021. The draft rules were submitted to the Florida Legislature during the 2021 legislative session. The newly implemented rules "provide more fair opportunities for all users and create greater consistency with the other water management districts," SWFWMD stated in a news...
A vision of restored brick streets and sidewalk cafes under the shade of umbrellas and spreading Live Oaks changed many viewers' ideas of the future of downtown Lake Wales Thursday evening. Those images were among many shared during a 90-minute presentation by consultants and engineers hired by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to create the "Lake Wales Connected" plan. The plan is designed to attract crowds, and thus business investment, to the neighborhood...
Efforts to beautify and green Lake Wales streets got another boost Saturday as community volunteers led by the Lake Wales Woman's Club prepared three street "triangles" along Lakeshore Boulevard for new floral plantings. "I'm totally stoked!" said Bonnie Poller, who is chair of the Environment Committee of the Woman's Club, which is spearheading the project. "Neighbors came out to help." More than a dozen volunteers participated. "This was only Phase one," Poller added....
A group of Lake Wales police officers were treated to a free tasty lunch and desserts on Friday by a group of homeowners from Lake Ashton, who wanted to show their appreciation for the peace-keeping efforts of the department. "The Loop" is a five-block neighborhood of the sprawling development on the north side of Lake Wales, and home of a casual organization that organizes community events three times a month. Calling itself the Looplanders, the neighborhood group has been...
Lake Wales has long been known as "The Crown Jewel of the Ridge," but that didn't happen by accident. It took the efforts of Edward Bok and Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. While many are familiar with Bok, the name of Olmsted, arguably the more significant historic figure, is an enigma. It was Olmsted who designed Bok's famous gardens, as well as Mountain Lake, and scores of private landscapes there. It was Olmsted who designed the Colony House, and our familiar Town Clock. And it...
Memorial Day is about far more than beach outings and barbecues. Now students of Bok Academy in Lake Wales have a special understanding of what Memorial Day means, thanks in part to Lieutenant Colonel William Rumse, a veteran of what was then known as "the war to end all wars," which ended 100 years ago. A childhood neighbor of Bok Academy teacher Nicole Sealey, Rumse impressed upon her the significance of the day. Sealey takes special pains to pass her appreciation to her...
