Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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The Roarin' 20s roared into life during the annual gala of the Lake Wales Arts Council, "A Night in New York," on Saturday, March 16. Men in tuxes and ladies wearing beaded gowns were transported to a 1920s New York supper club for an evening of fine dining, jazz and hobnobbing with the who's who of Lake Wales, who joined arms to form a high stepping kick line on the dance floor. The Paul Gavin Trio entertained with Gavin on drums, Palo Arencibia on piano, Michael Ross on...
A report from the public about missing and fallen traffic signs on a county road brought a prompt response from Polk County's traffic engineering department. After damage caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017 went unrepaired for a year and a half, leaving critical warning signs lying on road shoulders or in trees, LakeWalesNews.net reached out to Polk's chief traffic engineer Jay Jarvis. Jarvis oversees a vast road network that includes over 86,000 signs. It was apparently that...
Wilson Daniel "Danny" Davis of Lake Wales passed away Monday, March 18 at his residence. He was born August 23, 1944 in Tampa to the late Wilson L. and Wilma (Howard) Davis. He was a Dock Master for Gulf Tampa and a member of the Sun City Christian Center. Danny was a veteran in the United States Army serving in Viet Nam. He is survived by his wife of 38 years Derine Davis, daughters Melia Matties (John) of Riverview, FL, Tammy White (Kevin) of Middleburg, sons Danny Davis of...
SAMUEL "DUSTY" TROY WINGATE, SR., 79 Samuel "Dusty" Troy Wingate, Sr., 79, passed away Thursday, March 21at his residence. He was born November 28, 1939 in Bradenton, Florida to the late Samuel C. and Odessa (Dietz) Wingate. He has been a resident of the area since 1985 coming from Labelle, Florida. Samuel was a truck driver and member of the Golfview Church of God. He was a veteran in the United States Army. He is preceded in death by his brother Randy Wingate and great...
Lake Ashton Veterans Association will be holding a breakfast to raise funds for Homeless Veterans in East Polk County from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, March 23 at the health and fitness center, 6052 Pebble Beach Blvd, Winter Haven. Tickets are $10 each for the meal of pancakes, sausage, biscuits and gravy....
James “Jim” Ewell Turner, 85, of Winter Haven passed away Thursday, March 21 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was born January 20, 1934 in Cottonwood, AL to the late Vie and Adabell (Jordan) Turner. He has been a resident of the area for 62 years coming from Winter Haven. Jim was a retired Army veteran serving in Viet Nam and also a retired school teacher. He was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He is preceded in death by daughter Tammy, brothers Bill and Gene Turner and sister Frances. He is survived by...
Vice Mayor Robin Gibson floated an idea at the March 19 Lake Wales City Commission meeting he admits some people might find "nutty." Gibson proposed renaming First Street, the major North-South road through the City. He wants to call it "America Avenue." "It shows the diversity of our community and the diversity of our City as well," Gibson said. Gibson noted First Street is a long road that connects many neighborhoods. Commissioner Terrye Howell reminded him that the NAACP...
Sidestreet Studio in Winter Haven starting will offer a coloring class and social engagement program for individuals with early onset Alzheimer's disease and dementia beginning April 2. The materials will be provided. Caregivers can relax, read or just rest in the other room while their loved one has an opportunity to be creative. No special skills or artistic ability needed. The program is designed as a social engagement opportunity for participants to be creative and have...
A 14-year-old Bok Academy student was arrested mid-day March 19 after another student reported he had a handgun on campus. According to the sheriff’s department, the student had a fully loaded magazine with .380 rounds in his front pocket and a Smith and Wesson .380 handgun in his book bag. The arrest affidavit said the student had no criminal record and he said he did not intend to use the weapon. He did admit having it in his waistband earlier in the day. The student reportedly said the gun belonged to his grandfather a...
Often it is momentum that dictates success and when, in the top of the first Highlander center fielder Ben Gilbert made a diving catch off a Bloodhound line drive, it set the stage for the rest of the contest. To add insult to injury #9 Gilbert hit a single in left center and came in to score when eventual Player of the Game #2 Abdiel Flores nailed a pitch over the fence for a homer in virtually the same location as Gilbert's hit and his amazing catch. Flores followed up with...
The fourth meeting of the Living Out Loud Poet's and Writer's Society is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 21 in the gallery at Melange Antiques, 250 E. Park Ave. in historic downtown Lake Wales. Participants are asked to bring original written material or a selection from a favorite writer. While attending the society meeting, participants also can enjoy a new art exhibit with the works of Nancy Dillen and Marilyn Rackelman. Those attending should bring their own beverages;...
Based upon a Florida TaxWatch independent assessment, Polk State College and others in the Florida College System offer a good return on a student's investment based upon low debt and higher anticipated work-life earnings of their graduates. The Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog, announced at a press conference the results of their independent assessment of the economic impacts of the Florida College...
The Lake Wales Museum will celebrate women's history month with a free lecture at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21 about Florida's Female Pioneers by Peggy McDonald. "Florida's Female Pioneers" examines some of the women who have shaped the Sunshine State. Dr. Esther Hill Hawks, a female doctor during the Civil War, visited Florida during the war and ran the first racially integrated free school in Florida during Reconstruction. She wrote lyrical descriptions of the St. Johns River...
Sharon E. Lawson, 72 of Bartow passed away Tuesday, March 19 at the Winter Haven Hospital. She was born March 4, 1947 in Bartow to the late Joseph Lamar and Mary Joyce (Luna) King and she has been a lifelong resident of this area. She was a retired aluminum fabricator and of the protestant faith. Sharon was an amazing cook and enjoyed cooking for family gatherings, liked playing on her tablet, enjoyed cross-stitch, crafts and was a great seamstress. She was an extremely...
The Lake Wales City Commission at their March 19 meeting shot down a proposed city policy that attempted to regulate their ability to comment freely on social media. City Commissioner Curtis Gibson said he supported a clear social media policy for employees but said he felt including elected officials was "out of bounds." "Frankly, as the youngest member of the commission and the one who uses social media the most, I feel targeted by this proposed policy," Commissioner Gibson...
An experienced cast and a script full of twists and turns lead to an entertaining evening of live theatre in "The Assassin's New Friend." The psychological thriller runs through March 31 at Lake Wales Little Theatre. Bok Academy educator Jeff Herman plays Kendrick, the "crazed man" plotting to kill attorney Douglas Brendan, played by engineer John Durbin. Both are veterans of multiple shows, as is apparent in their performances. Herman's portrayal of the "psycho" Kendrick...
Lake Wales MainStreet is inviting people downtown for Hops, Shop and Stroll from 5-9 p.m. Friday, March 22. Fifteen local restaurants are donating food to pair up with wine and beer at 15 business locations in the historic downtown. Each $25 ticket includes a souvenir wine glass and a map with participating locations. At each participating location, guests will have their map stamped and enjoy a beverage sampling and food paired specifically with each wine. Once all locations...
The Polk County Public Schools surplus book warehouse is a treasure trove filled with hidden gems of knowledge. Every week, people dig through thousands of old textbooks and library books that would otherwise be destined for recycling. Instead, the books find new life as they make their way into the hands of other young learners. Best of all? They're free. "It's like a box of Cracker Jack," said Michael Boire, gesturing to the hundreds of boxes stacked throughout the warehouse...
Urban planners from the Miami firm Dover Kohl will be in Lake Wales the first week of April to get citizen input on a neighborhood plan for the core of Lake Wales. Dover Kohl is leading the development of a Town Design Strategy for the City of Lake Wales, being called Lake Wales Connected. Phase one of construction should begin soon after completion of the plan, which is expected to determine community needs not for the short-term, but for 20 years out, according to Lake...
The City of Lake Wales Parks & Recreation Department will be hosting Lake Night Cinema Friday, March 22 on the shores of Lake Wailes. Activities will begin at 5 p.m. and the Disney movie, Ralph Breaks the Internet, will begin at dusk. This family friendly evening is free to the public. The movie is the second in the "Wreck-it Ralph" series. It is about video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz must risk it all by traveling to the World Wide Web in...
Parents of students throughout Florida have enrollment options available to them for the 2019-2020 school year through a process called "controlled open enrollment." Polk County parents will be able to seek transfers by applying online between April 1 and April 26. The Florida legislature passed a statute that allows students to request a transfer to another school besides their zoned school, including transfers to public schools in surrounding counties. Parents seeking...
Rotary on the Ridge inducted Destini Lewis as a new member March 18. Lewis is Realtor ® and founder of her own company, Unique Destiny. She was sponsored by the club's newest member, Jonathan White, who supports her in marketing her real estate business, Homeexpo. Rotary on the Ridge is family friendly, and members have enjoyed getting to know White, Lewis and their 3-month-old Lily and 9-year-old Charles-Anthony. The family lives in Bartow. The county's only after hours...
Eugene "Gene" Wilhoyte Brackin of Lake Wales, Florida passed away Friday, March 15 at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born September 28, 1931 in Sebring, FL to the late James and Jeanette (Oliver) Brackin. He has been a resident of the area since he was a child. He was a retired building contractor and veteran in the United States Navy serving in Korea. Gene loved fishing and watching the news on T.V. He is preceded in death by 2 sisters and 2 brothers. He is survived by his wife Janie Brackin, daughter Cindy Wilkinson of...
To honor the French language and culture during the internationally recognized La Francophonie month of March, the Polk Museum of Art is hosting a free-of-charge La Francophonie Celebration on Saturday, March 23, from noon to 4 p.m. This French-focused education program sanctioned by the Organisation international de la Francophonie in Paris coincides with the closing of the Museum's three-month long Edgar Degas: The Private Impressionist exhibition. Throughout the afternoon...
The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales raised more than $1,000 at its March 8 spaghetti dinner, reaching nearly half of their goal of $2500 in support of Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an international nonprofit that offers life-saving surgery to children with a cleft palate or cleft lip. Each year, Operation Smile conducts hundreds of medical missions in locations around the world. Club members donated all the supplies, prepared and served the food so the entire proceeds...
