Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Incumbent Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson easily turned back a challenge from Danielle Pride Gibson for his District 5 seat on the Lake Wales City Commission Tuesday. Michelle Threatt was defeated by Keith Thompson in a relatively close contest for the District 3 seat, which is being vacated by long-time Commissioner Terrye Howell. Thompson garnered 904 votes, or 53.27% of the tally, while Michelle Threatt collected 793, or 47.73% of the 1,698 ballots cast in the District 3 race....
Honoring those who have served to defend is a longstanding tradition in nations around the world, no less so in the United States. The freedoms we enjoy, so easily eroded from within, were also defended from foreign enemies by those who have donned the uniforms of our five branches of service. March 31 marks the end of what is considered by many the saddest of America's military efforts. Tens of thousands died in the futile conflict, both military and civilian. Opposition to...
The year-long lawsuit between plaintiffs the City of Lake Wales and defendants Dixie-Walesbilt LLC of Winter Haven has taken a significant turn. The future potential redevelopment of the 11-story hotel, a Lake Wales landmark, hangs in the balance. A ruling issued by Circuit Judge William Sites on Wednesday denied the defendant's motion for summary judgement on each of the five points. The suit filed by the city and the Community Redevelopment Agency alleges that...
Overall this is just a fun movie. It's fun for the whole family and everybody can enjoy it. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars. Zachary Levi is back as Shazam, a teenager, who can turn into an adult superhero, and his band of foster siblings who are trying to save the world from angry Greek gods. This group of heroes is continuing to learn to be a team but also learning to be their individual selves at the same time. This is something many teenagers go through as they transition to...
In a surprise move, the Lake Wales Planning and Zoning Board voted 4-1 Tuesday evening to reject the "correction of a scrivener's error" that would eliminate a step in future zoning decisions. The decision has immediate impact in the impending decision regarding a proposed plastics manufacturing plant. Dozens of residents filled the chambers as the board, unused to crowds, opened the meeting. Chairman Chris Lutton told the group that the controversial plant was not on the...
It was a very unhappy group of Lake Wales City Commissioners who spent more than 45 minutes discussing their generally dismal evaluations of City Attorney Chuck Galloway Wednesday. At their regular workshop meeting the commission discussed the notes they had turned in as part of an annual performance review. Galloway received a total of eight "unsatisfactory" scores from four commissioners who completed their evaluations. Commissioner Daniel Williams had not yet submitted his,...
Frostproof's limited dining options will expand with the addition of one new choice Friday, March 31 as the highly anticipated Frostproof BBQ Company is slated to open. Although several other popular dining places are already operating, many locals are quite excited to have another choice. The Frostproof BBQ Company will make owner Joel Vann's eighth location, following in their duo's work with Lakeland BBQ Company and Polk City BBQ Company. Preparations at the new business...
Lucille F. Stanton, 82, of Frostproof passed away March 28, 2023. She was born January 26, 1941 and was mother to seven children. She was predeceased by her daughter Dorothy Brooks. She is survived by her daughters, Grace Shottland and Sheila Stanton, and sons, Dewey Hadden Jr. and wife Gloria, Wayne Hadden and wife Kevy, Allen Hadden and wife Mary, John Stanton and wife Jennifer, and son-in-law James Brooks. Lucille was grandmother to 22, great grandmother to 23, and great...
Dozens of Lake Wales High School students will be able to dress up and attend the annual Junior-Senior prom this year thanks to the work of a dedicated group of volunteers from the GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales. Club members held a grand opening Monday morning of their special, free "Prom Store" on the school campus where those needing the clothing could "shop" to fulfill their dreams. The members gathered prom dresses, suits, dress coats, ties, high heel shoes, men's dress...
A surge in readership and community reach is being celebrated as a reflection of the growing awareness and trust of LakeWalesNews.net among residents of the Ridge area. The expansion of readership and advertising is powering an expansion of news coverage as well as the News increases coverage of events in Frostproof, Babson Park, Indian Lake, and surrounding communities through the hiring of new staff and correspondents. In addition to a substantial base of readers who...
March 31, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the final withdrawal of US military forces from Vietnam, ending more than a decade of fighting in support of the government of South Vietnam. At its peak in the late 1960's more than 500,000 Americans were serving in-country, and a million others were working in support of the massive effort. Some 282,000 US and allied forces were killed in the fighting, many soldiers of the Army of Vietnam. An estimate by the Department of Defense...
A collision between a work truck and a bicyclist claimed the life of a 90-year-old Lake Wales resident Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Walk-In-the-Water Road and Uncle Joe's Fish Camp Road, southeast of Lake Wales. The crash occurred at about about 12:15 pm. First responders from Polk County Fire Rescue found the victim, 90-year old David Linne of Lake Wales, suffering from serious injuries. He was transported to a local hospital but passed away shortly after...
Travelers on US 27 should be aware that there will be new traffic shifts on US 27 northbound at the construction site at SR 60. Motorists should expect an outside lane closure on northbound US 27 near the intersection, while crews place drainage and pour concrete in the area. On Sunday, April 2, traffic will be shifted onto the new concrete pavement to allow construction of the permanent northbound lanes. Motorists should use caution in the area and watch for workers in the co...
Leland K. Young, Citrus Industry legend, died peacefully on March 24, 2023, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale at the age of 91. Leland was born to William Henry and Flora Lee Young on September 15, 1931, in Falco, Alabama, the second of their eight children. Leland attended Alturas Elementary, where, in second grade, he met his future bride, Wanda Perdue. He graduated from Summerlin Institute in 1949. Leland and Wanda married on March 15, 1953. He served in the Army as...
A $3000 grant has been awarded to a local athletic league that will allow them to continue to provide participation and support for local athletes wishing to participate in their programs. Nearly every parent knows how costly it can be to have children involved in sports. Between the registration, equipment, cost of transportation, meals, and even the time commitment, the price can become prohibitive. No Limits Volleyball in Polk County helps to bring affordable, Christian-bas...
Lake Wales preschool director and owner of Blessed Child Daycare Vivian Lewter Loydd understands the literacy dilemma in the United States, and resolved to do something about it. Florida has the third highest percentage of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills and its population has a literacy rate of just 80.3 percent. With over 22 years of experience, the poet Loydd had a great idea to foster that love with her 4 and 5-year-old students recently. She realized that the...
Four hundred Lake Wales area residents will have received free tax-filing assistance this season thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers associated with the American Association of Retired Persons. The group, working from space donated by the Church of the Good Shepherd, is part of the annual effort by the AARP Foundation. Tax-Aide volunteers have been providing in-person tax assistance at the church on South Fourth Street in Lake Wales for over 20 years. Tax-Aide...
A major effort to develop a master plan to govern the future development of seven parks in the city of Lake Wales is the goal of a new contract Catalyst Design Group. The project was recently approved by the city commission. The planning effort will cover Lake Wailes Park, Kiwanis Park and Crystal Lake Park, which form the core of the city's park system. It will also include the city's soccer complex on Hunt Brothers Road, the Northwest Complex/Frasier Field park, the Little...
Dean Pitts of Lake Wales passed away Monday, March 27, 2023 at The Groves Center. He was born December 17, 1937 in Lake Wales to the late Murray Odis and Lois May Pitts. Dean was the owner of an auto repair shop and previously a banker. He was a Green Beret and a paratrooper for the United States Army. Dean was preceded in death by his brother, Havis Lavaughan Pitts in 2005. He is survived by his children, Mike Pitts and wife Tanda of Auburndale, Gregory N. Pitts and wife...
