Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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"Don't forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the 'rat' in ratification." So were the words of the note that Tennessee Representative Harry Burn's mother had tucked in his pocket that fateful day of Aug. 18, 1920. The note inspired him to cast the tie-breaking vote, assuring the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Finally, a 2/3 majority of states had ratified the amendment and after more than 70 years of enormous personal suffering and sacrifice by countless women,...
In Law School, one of the first things we learn is why our U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights (the first ten Constitutional Amendments ratified in 1791) is critical to the United States. The First Amendment to our U.S. Constitution guarantees Freedom of the Press. This right was so important that it is in the First Amendment! Freedom of the Press is critical to our U.S. way of life; it plays a vital role in informing citizens about public affairs, monitoring the actions...
It's not quite New Orleans, but Lake Wales no doubt throws one of the greatest Mardi Gras parties most people will ever attend. Unbound revelry, crazy costumes, colorful floats, beads and brew will highlight the 36th annual event scheduled for Feb. 21-22. The Lake Wales Mardi Gras attracts an estimated 15,000 people, making it one of the largest events of its kind outside of New Orleans. Mardi Gras starts at 6 p.m. Friday Feb. 21 with the annual 5k GLOW run around the...
Dorothy Elizabeth (Stanley) Kenney, 92, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday Feb. 18, 2020 at Bon Secours Manor in St Petersburg. She was born April 28, 1927 to the late Arthur Paul and Margaret Elizabeth (Molter) Stanley in Lake Wales. She was raised on Twin Lakes in Lake Wales where much of her life was influenced by water. She water-skied on barrow slats tied to her feet, learning to swim before she could walk. As a young woman she would ride her bicycle out to the local municipal airport where she took flying lessons and...
The Living Out Loud Poet's and Writer's Society gathering Feb. 20 will feature author and illustrator Grace Engholm reading her latest adult graphic novel accompanied by her own illustrations on a big screen TV. Sponsored by Melange Antiques and Art Gallery, the event will be held at 222 S. Lakeshore Blvd. starting at 7 p.m. Engholm's presentation will be a retrospective of her work, including an hour-long reading of her recent graphic novel followed by a lively critique and...
Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club's mission is "to be a service club that focuses on caring for the youth of our community while participating in Rotary's global efforts". Our Rotary Club held an annual Boys' Camp for 27 years, but needed enough women in the club to band together to organize a Girls' Camp. Girls' Camp was created in 2011 with the theme "I AM Smart, Unique, Important, Beautiful, and Fun." Girls' Camp is an annual event, held at Lake Aurora Christian Camp in...
Dr. Diana Reigelsperger speak Thursday, Feb. 20 about Tavern Life in Colonial Florida - a time when American consumption of alcohol was at an all-time high, and early Temperance movement organizations arose. The free presentation begins at 6 p.m. in the city commission chambers at 201 W. Central Ave. in Lake Wales. Reigelsperger is an associate professor of history at Seminole State College in Sanford, FL Her research focuses on trade in colonial Spanish Florida, particularly...
When Lake Wales City Manager Ken Fields asked in February 2019 for a change to his retirement account contributions, City Commissioner Terrye Howell was happy to make the motion to approve it. After all, Fields stated that the fiscal impact for the year would be just 2.6 percent or about $3,560, an increase she felt was reasonable. It turns out the city's 2019 contribution of $51,490 to Fields' retirement accounts was actually about $14,500 more than 2018, and Howell is not...
Twenty-two years ago Heather Eiland watched her 5-year-old daughter Jessica and her pre-school classmates link arms and parade around the school courtyard in their finest outfits. Mom and daughter watched Jessica's 5-year-old son Jaxson Hood continue the tradition Thursday, Feb. 13 in the First United Methodist Preschool's annual Valentine's Day parade. Parents and grandparents snapped photos and beamed proudly as the 44 children circled the school courtyard for the kickoff...
In a split 3-2 vote the City of Lake Wales General Employee Pension Board agreed Friday Feb. 14 to recommend to the city commission that they allow employees to buy up to five years of service credit for their work for other governmental entities in Florida. Pension Board Member Sarah Kirkland, the city's utilities director, said she was prepared to vote "no" until Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson made the case that because of politics, especially in small towns, few city managers co...
Floridians will have the opportunity to make their choice for Presidential candidates on March 17th, but only members of the Republican or Democrat parties are eligible to cast a ballot. Florida is one of 12 states that have closed primary elections. Only registered Democrats are eligible to vote in the Democratic Presidential Primary and only registered Republicans are eligible to vote in the Republican Presidential Primary. Voters wishing to participate in the Presidential...
One of America's iconic historical figures speaks to us across the decades when touring actress Jane VanBoskirk presents Across A Barrier of Fear: The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt at The Vanguard School's Performing Arts Center in Lake Wales at 4 p.m. Feb. 21. The performance-part of the 100-year commemoration of women's gaining the right to vote in the U.S.-will benefit the Lake Wales AAUW's scholarship fund for mature women returning to school for higher education. Tickets are...
The Lake Wales History Museum opened the major traveling exhibit, Spirited: Prohibition in America on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Organized by the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA, in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO, Spirited: Prohibition in America explores the era of Prohibition, when America went "dry." Visitors will learn about the complex issues that led America to adopt Prohibition through the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in 1919 unt...
Edith Smith Williams, 84, of North Chili, NY passed away Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. She was born Feb. 8, 1936 in Red Creek, NY to the late Ray and Viola (Keller) Smith; she has been coming to Lake Wales as a winter resident for 23 years. She was a homemaker, member of Pearce Memorial Church in North Chili, NY and an active attendee of First Baptist Church in Lake Wales, where she was involved in the Life Connection Group. Edith and her husband...
Edith M. Goodwin-Love, 76, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. She was born July 10, 1943 in Pecan Gap, TX to the James Albert and Ada Sue McNutt; she came here from Georgia in 1976. She retired from Winter Haven Hospital as an insurance clerk after more than 25 years. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother, her life revolved around her daughter and grandchildren. She had a sweet calmness that was shared with everyone and loved by many. She enjoyed frequent...
Dr. Eugene John Landry, 94, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2020 at the Palm Gardens of Winter Haven. He was born April 14, 1925 in Dexter, ME to the late Louis and Olivine Landry; he came here from Moline, IL in 2000. He was a retired surgeon and served as a deacon at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Winter Haven. Dr. Landry was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army as a medic under George Patton. He was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W.,...
Natali Jane Moreno, 20, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 in Lake Wales from injuries from an automotive accident. She was born Aug. 30, 1999 in Sebring to Juan Moreno and Melanie Garcia; she came to Lake Wales from Avon Park in 2004. She was of the Baptist faith. Nat had two dogs she left behind Ace Moreno and Drako Moreno they were her kids. Natali loved going to the mountains and staying in cabins, her girl's trips, and long days at the beach. Her favorite...
Known to live his life like Jesus, Rev. Robert "Van" VanBuren Capps, 81, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, in Fort Myers, FL. He entered this world on Aug. 19, 1938 in Atlanta, GA. Van dedicated his life to sharing the love of the Lord with everyone he met. A graduate of Emory University, he served as Youth Week Pastor at First Baptist Church of Atlanta and State Music Director and State Vice President of Georgia BSU. He went onto graduate from Furman...
Evelyn Faye Andrews, 86, of Lake Wales passed away Sunday Feb. 16, 2020 at her home. She was born Nov. 30, 1933 in Clyde, NY to the late Everett and Janie Williams. She was a retired bookkeeper from Florida’s Natural and of the Baptist faith. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Howard Andrews; brother, Everett Lee Williams, Jr; sisters, Phyllis Ann Ireland and Delores J. Williams. Survivors include her brother, Richard M. Williams of Wolcott, NY; sister, Vivian Murrell of Red Creek, NY; and many nieces and n...
Vern O. Harrell, 89, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020 at Water’s Edge. He was born Sept. 7, 1930 of Geneva County, AL to the late Herman and Bertie Harrell; he moved to Lake Wales from Winter Haven in 1962. He was the retired owner/operator of Badcock Furniture in Lake Wales, was of the Baptist faith and served in the Army National Guard. Vern was a private and corporate pilot, past exalted ruler of Lake Wales Elk’s Lodge also a member of the Moose Lodge and Lake Wales Masonic Lodge #242. Vern was pre...
Lake Wales city commissioners in their role as the Community Redevelopment Agency authorized the city manager to explore the possible sale of the 1919 school property to the Lake Wales Charter Schools to become the permanent home of Bok Academy North. But commissioners raised several issues they want resolved during negotiations. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson left the room during the discussion to avoid any ethical conflict since he serves as legal counsel for the charter system....
