Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 16 of 16
A well-attended reception Thursday evening offered the Lake Wales community its first opportunity to meet the four remaining candidates for superintendent of the Lake Wales Charter Schools system. More than 100 interested residents attended, taking the opportunity to become personally acquainted with the finalists. The candidates, including Emilean Clemons, Andy Oguntola, Wayne V. Rodolfich, and Anuj Saran, were introduced one at a time, giving them an essentially private...
Shaken community confidence in the search for a new superintendent to lead the Lake Wales Charter School system has generated a wave of criticism from educators, community leaders and parents, amid suggestions that the system may see a "mass exodus of quality employees." Following a stunning revelation last week that Lake Wales High School Principal Donna Dunson has retained legal counsel in the face of "harassment," others involved in the school system are questioning the...
If your kids enjoy the outdoors, here's a great way to let them have fun, and perhaps win a college scholarship at the same time. Florida State Parks and the Florida Prepaid College program are partnering to encourage families to get outside and explore Florida's award-winning state parks through the Junior Ranger Program as well as prepare for their little ranger's future with a risk-free college savings plan. As part of the promotion, ten Florida children will receive a...
A portion of Hunt Brothers Road will be closed on close on Monday and Tuesday, February 14 and 15 for a repair project. The closure will be at the rail crossing west of Lilly Street and near the Hunt Brothers Citrus Growers Cooperative in Lake Wales. The two-day long repair project will be the first of six that will eventually be conducted along nearly nine miles of tracks between Lake Wales and Frostproof by Florida Midland Railroad Company, Inc. The railroad operates trains...
James Waters of Lake Wales, FL, died Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at home. He is survived by his wife: Judy L. Waters; one daughter: Tuyla Waters, Lake Wales, FL; three sons: Brian Waters, Lakeland, FL, Calvin (Tynesha) Waters, Hiram, GA, Eric (Teresa) Waters, Altamonte Springs, FL; siblings, Dorothy Milton, St. Petersburg, FL, Alfreda Bashir, Pinellas Park, FL, Gloria Waters, Daytona Beach, FL, Arlene Waters, Warner Robins, GA, Elijah (Lynn) Waters, Cordele, GA, Isaiah...
Lake Wales High School's girls' basketball team advanced in their effort to win a state title at home Thursday night as the top seed Highlanders defeated 8th seed Zephyrhills in the Class 5-A District playoffs by a convincing 66-33 score. The Lake Wales squad is now 19-4 overall this season. The Lady Highlanders will face a stiffer challenge at 7:00 on Tuesday, February 15 as they face the Bishop Moore Hornets, who devastated their first-round opponent Tampa Robinson by a 59-1...
Four finalists for the position of superintendent for the Lake Wales Charter Schools system are participating in the interview process today. The day's agenda includes one-on-one meetings with members of the Board of Trustees and a tour of facilities and the general community by a volunteer. The finalists are Emilean Clemons, Andy Oguntola, Wayne V. Rodolfich, and Anuj Saran. The four were left after the withdrawal of PJ D'Aoust immediately after he was selected as on of the...
A festive February evening and pleasant weather drew hundreds of pedestrians to fill the sidewalks of downtown for the Lake Wales Mainstreet Winedown event. Some two dozen businesses opened their doors to the after-dark social event, offering complementary hors d'oeuvres and beverages to guests who purchased the $20 tickets. Patrons and supporters of Main Street enjoyed a wide range of tasty delights, including shrimp cocktails, pasta dishes, chocolates, a wide variety of...
A unique and colorful specialty shop is holding a grand opening Saturday in the Rhodesbilt Arcade on Stuart Avenue downtown when "Modern Day Tiffanys" opens their doors to the public. Owner Rita Strempack offers a stunning array of the beautiful and traditional favorites. The shop offers chandeliers, table lamps, and dozens of lighting variations. The appropriate location in the well-known arcade building brings the stained-glass collection in close proximity to the many...
The Lake Wales History Museum is "immediately" launching a nationwide search for a new executive director after Jennifer D'hollander announced that will be leaving the organization on March 5. D'hollander recently led the conversion of the museum from a city owned facility to a non-profit organizational structure within a secure City of Lake Wales-Museum partnership. The board of directors of the museum issued a statement praising her "inspiring leadership," and wishing her...
Abandoned signs are apparent in numerous locations in Lake Wales, a problem that City of Lake Wales Development Services staff are planning to address as part of the ongoing review of city codes. Although the signs are not permitted under the present regulations, many have been in place after businesses have been closed for more than a decade, detracting from the appearance of the city, and potentially serving as a disincentive to new investment. Ironically, many of the dereli...
An effort by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to increase the availability of affordable housing through public/private partnerships is producing significant results. The recently-completed Phase Two of the program's participation with the Keystone Challenge Fund added more housing to the historic Northwest Neighborhood. The City partnered with Keystone to build two additional houses on B Street, complementing the adjacent homes that were developed in the...
The fate of the storied Walesbilt Hotel has been placed in the hands of the courts after the City of Lake Wales and the Community Redevelopment Agency filed a twelve-count lawsuit in Circuit Court. The lawsuit effectively deters any immediate work to rehabilitate the structure, which has been the focus of interest by a team of developers working with current owner Ray Brown. The lawsuit alleges that Brown, through his corporation Dixie Walesbilt LLC, defrauded the City and...
Anglers are starting to limit out at night on Lake Wales-in=the=Water by drifting minnows under lights. Get out there and give it a try. Bass fishing has been slow with the lake being low, but they should be moving up to spawn this week. On Lake Hatchineha, specks can be found in lily pads by marker 10. Try using a jig tipped with Bobby Garland. On Lake Kissimmee, fisherman are finding speckled Perch on deeper grass lines early. As the day goes on try moving inside to the gras...
Lake Wales area residents are being offered a hands-on habitat restoration activity which will see the planting of 5,000 young Long Leaf pines at the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. The effort is being sponsored by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Division and their Ridge Rangers volunteer program. The purpose is to reintroduce native Long Leaf pines, in an effort to restore native and globally threatened habitats of the Lake Wales Ridge. Mature Longleaf pines provide essential...
Joyce Swallows, age 81, passed away February 2, 2022, at Lakeland Regional Health. She was born on January 18, 1941, in Colquitt County, GA. She was a Sectionizer in the Citrus Industry and then worked in the school lunchroom. She volunteered her time at Floral Avenue Elementary School. She was a member of Community Christian Church in Bartow. She was preceded in death by her brothers Melvin Williams & Jerry Williams and sisters Jacquline Zalys, Gloria Jean Donnell & Darlene...
