Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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The enormous task of removing the thousands of tons of debris created by Hurricane Milton damage across Polk County is a challenge for both residents and those doing the removal work. While most cities in the area have made great progress in the cleanup, for Polk County residents the task is a bigger problem, according to county officials.. "Polk County spans more than 2,000 square miles, so there's a lot of ground to cover," said Michel Teate, Polk County's Roads and Drainage...
Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Polk County families are invited to receive a free frozen turkey that they can bake at home. The free turkey giveaway will take place on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at three Polk County locations. The turkeys are limited to one per family, one per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No identification or pre-qualification will be required to receive a turkey. The giveaway is an effort of Polk Sheriff's...
Polk State College has opened the pre-registration process for students who plan to attend the four-year school during the upcoming spring semester. Priority registration for the Spring 2025 semester at Polk State College has started for students who have completed at least 50% of their program requirements and students in the following programs: Honors, TRiO, Disability Services, Collegiate High Schools, and Athletics. Open registration will begin on November 13 for all stude...
Lake Wales residents Mike and Irene Spotswood produce Cup of Joe Radio show, a nationally- syndicated radio show aimed at veterans with "the healing power of music." The show is intended to ease the symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome, or PTSD, that continues to affect veterans who experienced the stresses and horrors of war. Mike, who is a Marine who did two tours in over the course of 20 months in Vietnam, and Irene, a former nurse, say their two-hour radio show has...
Spook Hill Elementary science teacher Cynara Appling has been named the 2024-25 Polk County Teacher of the Year. Appling's honor was announced at the Inspire Awards at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland Friday night. The Inspire Awards are presented by the Polk Education Foundation and PCPS' Department of Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships. In making the announcement, the school system said "Cynara Appling makes an impact wherever she goes. She has a special role in our...
The 3rd Annual Fall Fest will feature a day of fun in Lake Wailes Park, offering food trucks, face painting, a DJ, carnival games, bouncy houses, vendors, petting zoo, selfie photo spots and more on Saturday, November 9. The event runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and is sponsored by the GFWC Lake Wales Junior Woman's Club. "The club is excited for the event and we look forward to seeing the community," said President Shelley Clemons Proceeds from the event will support our...
Amy Prill of Davenport said she believes if it were not for a routine mammogram, she might not be alive today to share her story of surviving breast cancer. Now, she's working to impress upon others how important early detection and getting an annual check-up is. "It was very scary to hear those words and not know what your future is going to be," she said. My son was 16 years old at the time. So, it's like, you know, talk about shaking up somebody's world." Prill said that in...
In honor of Veterans Day, veterans and active-duty military personnel are being offered free passport photos during November. The fee for a passport photo at the Clerk's office is normally $15. To be eligible, veterans and active-duty personnel must present their DD-214, military ID, or have a veteran designation on their driver's license. Passport photos and applications are available at all three locations in Bartow, Lakeland, and the Northeast Government Center in Lake...
A three-weekend "Pumpkin Patch" fundraising effort generated more than $2,000 in support of Mothers of Veteran Suicide, a non-profit offering support to those suffering due to those tragedies. Funds raised by the effort will provide assistance serving to help prevent suicides among veterans disturbed by PTSD and other emotional challenges. The October weekend fundraisers were held at the Red Barn Farmer's Market Frostproof and The Gravely Red Barn. The events allowed allow...
The Lake Wales Arts Council (LWAC) is excited to announce its upcoming Fiddles & Fine Art: Instrument & Art Auction on Saturday, November 16, 2024. This unique event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the historic Lake Wales Arts Center and will feature live and silent auctions of original artwork, rare musical instruments, and one-of-a-kind community-donated art pieces, with all proceeds supporting youth arts education programs in Lake Wales. Special Matching...
Art teacher Brannan Lawson of Hillcrest Elementary School in Lake Wales has been named the 2024 Arts & Cultural Educator of the Year by the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance. In partnership with the Lake Wales Arts Council, Lawson spearheaded the Creative Kids Market that creates opportunities for children to combine lessons in art making and entrepreneurship. "Brannan has been a fantastic arts educator in Lake Wales for ten years," Tommy Frank, executive director of the Lake...
A 73-year-old Lakeland man who apparently failed to see a tractor-trailer rig crossing SR 60 near Bartow was killed early Tuesday morning after his Dodge pickup truck collided with the trailer, shearing off the top of the vehicle and killing him instantly, according to Polk County Sheriff's office Traffic Homicide Unit. The PCSO is investigating the crash that occurred around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday at 2710 State Road 60, just west of Bartow. A delivery driver who had arrived early...
With the annual Pioneer Days festival only days away, the sponsoring Lake Wales History Museum has revealed Richard "Dick" Dane Howell as the 2024 Pioneer of the Year. "Mr. Howell's exceptional dedication to the Lake Wales community and his remarkable achievements truly define him as a pioneer and a worthy recipient of this prestigious award," said museum president Brandon Alvarado in revealing the selection, The honorific of "Pioneer of the Year" has been bestowed upon a...
The stunning photography of renowned artist Clyde Butcher will be featured in an exhibit running through December 6 at The Museum of Florida Art and Culture (MOFAC) at South Florida State College (SFSC) in Avon Park. Butcher uses a large-format camera to create high-resolution black and white images that portray the subject in exquisite detail. Frequently called Florida's Ansel Adams, Butcher, 82, resides on 14 acres of land he purchased in the heart of the Big Cypress...
In a heart-wrenching incident, a 10-year-old passenger was crushed to death by a 2,700-pound off-road vehicle after it rolled over during a turn on Thursday. The incident happened shortly after the passage of Hurricane Milton. The vehicle, a 2022 Polaris Ranger, was being driven by a 15-year-old. A group of other children were also aboard as passengers. All were ejected when the vehicle flipped. No driver's license is required to drive an off-road vehicle. They also lack many...
Myrtice Young, Canter Brown Jr. and Jim Stafford are among a group of well-known Polk County residents being inducted into Polk's Hall of Fame. Myrtice Young | Museum Director | Lake Wales A Polk County resident for 74 years, Myrtice Young has been the Preservation Manager at the Polk History Center for nearly 14 years. Young was born in Blakley, Ga., but grew up in Lake Wales after her family moved to Florida. From the beginning of her career as Historical Preservation...
A three-weekend “Pumpkin Patch” fundraising opportunity will allow local shoppers to enjoy raffles, apple cider, and photo ops while also supporting the non-profit group Moms of Veteran Suicide. The Red Barn Farmer's Market Frostproof and The Gravely Red Barn will be hosting the charitable organization as a fundraiser on three consecutive Fridays in October. The events will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 11, 18, and 25. “These folks do an awesome job of helpi...
Polk County Utility customers will see an increase in their cost of water and sewer bills starting today. Water and wastewater rates have been increased by 6% beginning Oct. 1. According to county spokesperson Jeff Foley, "the surcharge assessed on water usage and reclaimed water usage also will increase, as will connection fees. The increases are necessary to allow the county to meet its current and future water demands." The increase is the first that Polk County Utilities...
According to officials of the Polk County Road and Drainage Division, Canal Road in Lake Wales will be closed beginning today, Thursday September 19 from Porter Road to Black Road. The closure is one of several that has impacted motorists across Polk County in recent weeks and months. The stretch of road is being reconstructed through a process called "full-depth reclamation" that restores the roadbed to a like-new condition, after which it will be finished with a new asphalt...
Walgreens is offering free flu vouchers for uninsured patients on Friday, Sept. 20 at all Florida and Puerto Rico Walgreens locations. This is part of a broader effort by Walgreens to help ensure underserved and at-risk communities stay safe from respiratory illnesses while improving awareness, access and equity to vaccines. Walgreens offers 200,000 flu vouchers annually to provide free flu immunizations for medically underserved populations that need them most. Black and Hisp...
Jessica Costanzo, an alumna and former Webber University volleyball player whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident in 2014, has been honored by the naming of the school's volleyball court in her honor, as well as the creation of the Jessica Costanzo Scholarship Fund. The new scholarship fund will provide scholarships for graduating seniors from Venice (FL) High School, where Costanza graduated. A volleyball match on September 11 was preceded by a small reception...
Three residents of Water's Edge in Lake Wales are celebrating landmark birthdays as they reach the century mark of life's grand adventure. All three hail from the Midwest and are active in their community. Esther Shelton was born August 18,1924 in Indianapolis Indiana. Esther moved to Florida in 1990 and has been a resident of Waters Edge of Lake Wales for eight years. Esther worked at Western Electric for 28 yrs making telephones. She was married and raised two children....
The City of Lake Wales is inviting you to learn to explore the underwater world with SCUBA. The entire certification course will be compressed into a single week and include instructions from certified instructors. SCUBA stands for "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus," an invention that has enabled humans to explore what had, throughout history, hidden and unavailable. Now Lake Wales Parks and Recreation is offering area residents a chance to engage in the sport....
The Lake Wales History Museum will add a new kick-off feature to the popular annual Pioneer Days festival in October by hosting "Beers with Pioneers: A Fun Evening of Craft Beer and Local Heritage." Described as "a one-of-a-kind event," the fundraiser will take place on Friday, October 25th beginning at 6 p.m. A $20 ticket allows each adult participant to sample a wide variety of craft beers, according to Museum Director Angela Rosado. The tasting will run until 9 p.m. "This...
Dozens of members of the AdventHealth Heart of Florida and Lake Wales hospitals came together Friday, September 6, to celebrate the start of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers season. Team members donned red Bucs shirts and struck their best Buccaneer poses to cheer the team on as they get ready to open their season on Sunday, September 8, against the Washington Commanders at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. As the exclusive hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, AdventHealth aims to...
