Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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More than 900 communities have lost their local newspapers in recent years. The print version of the Lake Wales News was nearly 100 years old when its owners decided it no longer was viable. Market conditions, printing costs and lack of advertisers contributed to its demise. Enter LakeWalesNews.net. Nearly two dozen area residents have come together and volunteered to create a free, online news site. The goal is to serve as a watchdog of the public interest and a promoter of community spirit. Local businesses already have...
More than 100 civic and business leaders gathered for breakfast at the Vanguard School to hear the annual "State of the City" report delivered by Lake Wales Mayor Eugene Fultz on Wednesday morning, and most were impressed by what they heard. Ranging from a summation of new businesses arriving, including a Lake Wales Medical Center Wound Care facility, plus Aldi's, Wawa, and Love's, to imaginative plans for re-invigorating the downtown area and Crystal Lake Park, the address wa...
Just in time for the Fat Tuesday celebrations happening across Europe and the Americas, a new Carnival club has been conceived for Lake Wales. The "Krewe Renaissance" will be a step back in time to the roots of Lake Wales' 35-year traditions of Mardi Gras. They announced plans to sponsor a black-tie-optional masquerade ball, complete with a dance band, food, and drink, to highlight the 2020 celebrations. "We are conspiring to ramp up the fun for next year!" said a krewe member...
Dr. Tameka Bradley Hobbs set the tone with famed jazz singer Billie Holiday's haunting 1939 classic "Strange Fruit," a musical tale of lynchings, burning flesh and dripping blood. Her Black History lecture Thursday, Feb. 21 at the Lake Wales Museum continued with fascinating but disturbing stories, statistics and photos of far too many black men and women hung from trees in the South. While many Black History lectures celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans, Hobbs...
Travelers passing through the Lake Wales area will have an additional reason to pause upon the completion in June of the Love's Travel Stop and Country Store now under construction on U.S. 27 at Hunt Brothers Road. Filling almost 11 acres of former oak forest on the northeast quadrant of the intersection, Love's is designed to offer convenient service for truckers and travelers. It will feature a "trio" of fast food offerings including Subway, Godfather's Pizza, and Chester's...
Bok Tower Gardens is hosting another and 80s-themed Bok After Dark event Friday evening, March 8. Experience live music on the Terrace from 5-7pm followed by a 7:30 pm carillon concert with Geert D'hollander. D'hollander will present a "Tubular" concert featuring "gnarly" hits from 80's artists Modern English, U2, Toto, Wham, Journey, a-ha, Culture Club and more. The event is free with general admission or membership. The Blue Palmetto Cafe will offer a dinner of Boursin...
The 5th Annual CommunityFest FREE Family Fun Festival is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 9 in downtown Winter Haven. Citizens Bank & Trust is the presenting sponsor. CommunityFest is a family-friendly event that encourages the community to come together and enjoy games, entertainment, food and more. This free festival allows businesses to give back to the community while families enjoy fun-filled activities and entertainment in the park. Planned games and activ...
The 2019 Citizens Bank & Trust Arts Festival attracted a large crowd for the beautiful weather, great art, kids activities and variety of food vendors. Award winners were Jeff Ripple, Best in Show; Susan Currier, President's Award; Jeff Eckert, CB&T Award; Isaac McCaslin, Stephen Brehm, Marilyn Rackelman and Paul Stevens, Awards of Excellence; Richard Currier, Tai Tacoalii, Deborah Barnes, Peggy Miller and Carolyn Currie, Awards of Distinction; and Mary Bassham, Dennis...
Our Highlander boys varsity basketball are now idle after a loss Friday night March 1 to home team Lakewood Spartans in the FHSAA Regional Final in St. Pete. But the Lake Wales team and its supporters should be proud of their stellar, break out season nonetheless under the direction of Coach Don Grant, Assistant Head Coach Anthony Jones and Assistant Coaches J. R. Grant, Norman Jackson and Marcus Walker. Although falling one game short of entering the Final Four to participate...
John David Washington, 88, of Lake Wales died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. He was born Aug. 15, 1930 in Lake Wales, the son of Herman and Mary Washington. He was a firefighter in Oregon and Lake Wales and a volunteer deputy chief with Highlands Lakes Volunteer Fire Department for a number of years. He and his wife, Edna, operated Washington Nursery on Altvater Road in Avon Park, taking it over from his father. He is survived by his son, Dan (Esther) Washington of Winter Haven,...
Changing venues to move most of the Lake Wales Mardi Gras activities to the shores of Lake Wailes appears to have been a good decision. Hundreds of revelers came Friday night, March 1 to enjoy music, food and fun. Mardi Gras President Joshua Curchy promised a family friendly festival, and the event didn't disappoint. Children enjoyed a variety of activities in a special Kids Zone location while their parents enjoyed food, drink and dancing. Led by Eric Farewell of Aviator...
Kathy L. Pressley of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 at Lake Wales Medical Center. She was born Oct. 19, 1952 in Niagara Falls, NY to the late Harley and Imogene (Frye) Griffith. She has been a resident of the area since 1989 coming from Niagara Falls. She was a lab technician for Citrosuco. Survivors include her husband of 28 years, Vernon Pressley; daughter Nicole Keinath and husband Kristopher of Winter Haven; sons Steve Jones and wife Holly of Davenport,...
The Erskine Choraleers will perform in a free concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 3 in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales, 16 N. 3rd St. The Choraleers are an auditioned choral ensemble from Erskine College of Due West, SC. The chorus is conducted by Dr. Keith Timms. The Choraleers perform throughout the US and internationally....
David C. Messer, of Lake Wales, born Dec. 12, 1941, in Cuthbert, GA, went to fish with the Lord on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. He is survived by his loving wife, Gale Martin Messer, of 50 years; devoted sons Chuck Messer (Diane) and Daniel Messer (Amber); and sister, Sue Turner. He was blessed with eight grandchildren: Emma, Alexander, Andrew, Matthew, Joshua, Danielle, Arman and Aidana. Visitation will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2, at Golfview Baptist Church until the...
In the final seconds of a hard fought Regional semifinal with the season on the line Lake Wales freshman Donald Gatlin took matters into his own hands sinking a 2-point shot with two seconds remaining, and the defense shut down the Tampa Jesuit Tigers to lead the Highlanders to victory, 45-44, at home. Lake Wales will face off with the 25-3 Lakewood High Spartans in the Regional State Championship Final in St. Petersburg. Lake Wales is 22-7. When asked what factor contributed...
Franklin C. Brosius Jr. of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Feb. 25 at the Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born March 30, 1950 in N. Tonawanda, New York to the late Franklin C. and Ruby R. (Piper) Brosius. He has been a resident of the area since 1999 coming from N. Tonawanda, New York. He was a Retired Technician for Fargo Electric. Franklin was a veteran in the United States Air Force serving from 1969-1980. He was a volunteer for the Lake Wales Model Railroad Club of the...
With enthusiasm for details and processes, Polk State College students in the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program explain to faculty and staff members what they have learned through assistantships, lab experiences, and national conferences made possible by the LSAMP Grant, and how these skills will assist them in pursuing degrees and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The LSAMP Program, funded by the National Scie...
Lillian O. Collins of Babson Park passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Feb. 25, 2019 at her residence. She was born May 15, 1937 in Wise County, Virginia to the late Willie and Bonnie V. (Bolling) Roberts. She has been a resident of the area since 1973 coming from Texas. Lillian and her husband owned and operated former restaurants including Collins' Family Restaurant, Coppertop Restaurant and the Babson Park Restaurant where she was known for her famous...
For the past 13 years she served as the voice on the phone and the smile at the counter of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission. Many Chamber members and most of the people who served as president/chairman during her tenure showed up Feb. 26 to wish Charlotte Kosek a happy retirement. Past CEOs Betty Wojcik and Jim Bell came to recognize her service. Current President/CEO Kevin Kieft said she really would be missed. "There's always the...
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently announced Polk State College President Angela Garcia Falconetti as a 2019 Paragon Award for New Presidents and Regional Distinguished Service Award recipient for her dedication to students and their success. More than 500 college presidents were eligible for the Paragon Award, with only 25 being chosen by the international organization, which will recognize Falconetti during the Society's annual convention in Orlando this April. "Phi...
Nearly a month into his new position as Dean of Academic Affairs on the Polk State College Lakeland Campus, John Glenn already has his finger on the pulse of what students need because "I am our students," he says. "I was the student who didn't know how to go to college," Glenn explains, pointing to the demographics of Polk State's students, including the 52 percent who are the first generation in their families to go to college. In addition to 75 percent of students enrolled...
The Lake Wales Public Library will host Add Color to Your Landscape with Flowering Bulbs at noon, Thursday, March 7. This program is part of the library's Lifelong Learning Series sponsored by Florida's Natural Growers Foundation and the Lake Wales Library Association. A horticulture specialist from UF/IFIS Polk County will present information on growing flowering bulbs in your Florida landscape. This presentation is a lunch 'n learn program and is free; registration is...
After more than 40 years of color and creativity, big changes are afoot for the 2019 version of the Lake Wales Mardi Gras. A burst of street art that couldn't be contained, the Lake Wales Mardi Gras popped into existence in 1984, and has been entertaining residents and visitors ever since. Hosted by more than a dozen private "krewes" and coordinated by a five-person committee, the 2019 events will take place on March 1 and 2, and include music, entertainment, and food, and...
Major relationship transitions can be overwhelming, both personally and practically. Dealing with the impact of divorce on your financial life can make an emotionally difficult time even more challenging. Although divorce is seldom easy, you can prepare for it-and being prepared will help you feel more in control and better equipped to make informed, confident decisions about your financial future. Assembling a Team of Trusted Advisors Going through a divorce can be lonely,...
The latest addition to Roosevelt Academy is bubbling with promise. In a modest 400-gallon tank at Roosevelt's outdoor FFA facility, a small school of gambusia appear to be thriving. As implied by their more common name - mosquito fish - the tiny gambusia are famous for their pest-devouring abilities, and Roosevelt students could help boost their numbers in Polk County. If all goes well, the Roosevelt team will soon expand their project to house approximately 1,000 mosquito...
