Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Due to a deadly virus, one with a 100% mortality rate, governments have secured the services of the world's most prominent scientist to find an antidote. Many ideas have been brought forward, but none were successful. The government has declared a State Of Emergency. Laboratories were being set up throughout every city, and at which time the civil service siren sounded, residents of that community were to come to the laboratory in their community to be tested; scientists were...
The office of Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder continues to serve the people of Polk County online via a new CHAT feature at PolkTaxes.com or by phone. For customers seeking assistance, a Customer Service Specialist is available Monday – Friday, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM at PolkTaxes.com via the CHAT feature, or by phone at (863) 534-4700 or (863) 581-8099. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Once offices reopened, the CHAT function was discontinued.) Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder wants people to know the...
Although Lake Wales leaders don't know the specifics about local COVID-19 cases, those confirmed to have been sickened by the virus are still being closely monitored. Emergency Operations Director Joe Jenkins, who is also the Lake Wales Fire Chief, said while he is not kept updated on each infected person, officials from the Polk County Department of Health monitor them on an almost daily basis. "The Department of Health has that list. They know who those people are. They...
The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida will facilitate the loan process for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, for small businesses in 10 counties in the Tampa Bay region, including Polk County. The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, activated by Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday, March 16, is available to small businesses in Florida that are experiencing economic damage as a result of COVID-19. "We understand the urgency...
Myrtle Marie Stanford, 86, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, April 6, 2020 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. She was born August 16, 1933 in Flemingsburg, KY to the late Robert and Vernie (Crum) McVey; she came here from Chicago, IL in 1971. She was a retired productions supervisor for Washington Mills. Myrtle loved to travel through the Kentucky mountains for family reunions, loved being a grandma, and was a wonderful caretaker for many. She was of the Nazarene Faith....
Attending the annual Easter Sunrise Service has been a tradition for generations; however, this year, viewers will be able to worship in new ways. Bok Tower Gardens has made two viewing options available. First via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/boktowergardens/ or second, the embedded virtual viewer on the Bok Tower Gardens website at https://boktowergardens.org/join-us-live/. The service is also being recorded and uploaded later to the Bok Tower Gardens YouTube...
Gene Ray Stenger, 74, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. He was born June 21, 1945 in Indianapolis, IN to the late Harold and Elizabeth Stenger; he moved to Lake Wales from Orlando in 1976. Gene was retired from State Farm Insurance. He was of the Episcopal faith. Gene was preceded in death by his grandson, Zachary B. Stenger. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Judith E. Stenger; sons, Jeffrey Stenger of Lake Wales, and Bryan Stenger of Tulsa, OK; brother, Terry...
Levonzo Roberson, 58 of Lake Wales, died April 8, 2020 at home. He was born Aug. 7, 1961 in Lake Wales. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is handling arrangements....
Gary A. Luing, 82, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at his home in Lake Wales. He was born April 24, 1937 in Collins, Iowa, to the late Dwight and Marjorie Luing. He was the first in his family to attain a college degree, and devoted his life to education. As the youngest Dean in the state of Florida, he retired from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton after 37 years as Dean of Business and a revered professor. As a lifelong learner and teacher, he had diverse interests in books, music, gardening, and...
The Lake Wales Charter Schools system is offering to buy the city's old high school property north of Seminole Avenue for $575,000 to turn it into a permanent site for Bok Academy North. The City Commission in its capacity as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will consider the proposal at an April 14 meeting. Due to coronavirus concerns the meeting will be held online beginning at 6 p.m. via video teleconference and live streamed on the city's website at...
Myrtle M. Stanford, 86, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, April 6, 2020 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. She was born August 16, 1933 in Flemingsburg, KY to the late Robert and Vernie (Crum) McVey; she came here from Chicago, IL in 1971. She was a retired productions supervisor for Washington Mills. Myrtle loved to travel through the Kentucky mountains for family reunions, loved being a grandma, and was a wonderful caretaker for many. She was of the Nazarene Faith. Myrtle was preceded in death by her husband, Harold...
Jerry Whitehead, 84, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born April 30, 1935 in Winter Haven, to the late Rufus and Dolly Whitehead. Jerry was retired from the Quality Control department of NASA. He was of the Lutheran faith. Jerry is survived by his wife of 30 years, Janet Whitehead; daughter, Tania Weisenniger of Tampa; son, Erik Whitehead of Florida; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. There are no services scheduled at this time. Marion Nelson Funeral Home in...
Lake Wales voters Tuesday re-elected Commissioner Robin Gibson for another three-year term. Gibson took 63 percent of the vote against challenger Bob Wood. Turnout was not quite 15 percent, with only 1,420 of the city's approximately 9,770 voters making a choice. The final tally was 898 votes for Gibson and 522 for Wood. The 2019 city election drew a little over 1,800 voters. The COVID-19 virus scare made campaigning difficult and apparently kept some people away from the...
Buying a house is an exciting time! There's the thrill of it, and also the "to do" list that seems longer than the lot line. Even on a normal day, buying a house is a big deal. But during a global pandemic, no day is normal. A key concern you may have is you be able to record the proof of your new home ownership - - being able to get the deed recorded. I have been doing real estate law in Florida for nearly 30 years. There have been times when things were slow, due to economic...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was first published in April 2019. We are re-publishing it on Palm Sunday 2020 as we enter into Easter Week. Easter Week always brings fond memories of the three months each winter that the Lake Wales community came together to participate as "extras" to help dramatically depict the last seven days of Jesus Christ on Earth. I don't remember exactly how many years I participated in the Black Hills Passion Play winter productions – so many Tuesdays, T...
Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez is urging residents to use "common sense" when it comes to adhering to the state's recently imposed "safer at home" mandates. But, city officials warn, enforcement of those guidelines will become more strict if the public ignores them. "We're doing everything we can to educate, and encourage the community to stay at home. It's really just a matter of using good common sense," Velasquez said. "There are statutes that are in effect that...
