Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 22 of 22
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, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and a few Wednesday matinees. But even more than 45 years later the memories are vivid. My hometown w...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated with information about five other lakes needing invasive plant removal. The City of Lake Wales soon will be paying $26,000 to have invasive weeds removed from two local lakes. Eventually the cost to rehabilitate Lake Weader, Crystal Lake and five more lakes could reach over $1 million, according to city Parks Superintendent Vincent Crawford. City Commissioner Terrye Howell at the April 16 meeting asked for a status on the removal of...
Lake Wales Police detectives arrested a 19-year-old Frostproof man Friday, April 26 after they say he arrived at a location believing he was there to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex. After being alerted by a McLaughlin Middle School administrator, who saw a 13-year-old student with an adult male several blocks from school that morning, police talked to the girl and learned she had been communicating with the man on social media for about a year. She also told police the man ha...
Christopher “Chris” Douglas Gaborik, 62, of Babson Park, Florida passed away Wednesday, April 24 at the Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born May 31, 1956 in Haines City. Chris loved fishing and his dog. He is preceded in death by his father Lincoln Peter Gaborik, son Christopher Gaborik Jr. He is survived by his mother Nancy Lee Becker of Babson Park, wife Lunnelle Whittle, sister Cindy Lee Whitesell, brothers Jerry Lincoln Gaborik, Lester David Gaborik and Marty Gaborik. Family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m...
Alvin Douglas "Doug" Morgan, 82, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, April 24 at the Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. He was born August 23, 1936 in Ratliff City, OK to the late Biege and Emma Lou “Ella” (White) Morgan. He has been a resident of the area since 1998 coming from Texas. He was a maintenance foreman for Sackaford County, TX. Alvin enjoyed fishing, hunting and playing the card game Canasta and spending time with his family and friends. He is preceded in death by his daughter Janet Morgan and gra...
Ronald Anderson, 92, of Rochester Hills, MI, passed away at his winter home in Lake Wales. Born on August 6, 1926 in Belfast, Ireland to the late John and Mabel (Dockery) Anderson, he began coming to Lake Wales in 1999 from his home in Rochester Hills, MI. He was a chief designer for General Motors for over 40 years. He is preceded in death by his wife Marian Marcia Anderson who passed away in 1999, and his siblings. Survivors include his daughters; Jean Hardy of Ft. Wayne, IN and Janet Engler of Clarkston, MI; 5...
Here is the latest video from NutritionFacts.org. https://nutritionfacts.org/video/sugar-industry-attempts-to-manipulate-the-science Manipulation of data to show favorable results for the funding group isn't new, but this is still a great video for the other factual information it contains. I'm always learning, too. For example, I didn't know sugar was implicated in high blood pressure. I hope you find the resources I post valuable on your journey to better mind, body, &...
Lake Wales police joined officers from Bartow, Haines City and the Polk County Sheriff's Department as part of the Polk County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force investigation that resulted in 44 arrests, three warrants and the seizure of 50 pounds of methamphetamines with a street value of $1.4 million. The task force also seized $50,000 in U.S. currency and assets along with four firearms. According to the sheriff's department, the suspects were collectively...
Eagle Ridge Mall Regal Cinemas in Lake Wales will devote half of its 12 movie screens Thursday night, April 25 to the nationwide rollout of the superhero fantasy sci-fi thriller Avengers: End Game. But unlike some theaters that plan to run the movie into the wee hours and overnight, Regal will send moviegoers home before midnight. Pre-sales nationwide hit more than $120 million by Tuesday with industry experts predicting $300 million in sales for the first four days....
Developer Ray Brown wants to purchase and restore the historic 1929 Seminole Hotel on First Street in Lake Wales but he says the city is anti-development and throwing up roadblocks. Brown, who also is in the process of restoring the historic Walesbilt Hotel, says the Seminole is a solid structure with great potential. He plans to partner with architect Rick Gonzales from West Palm Beach, who has extensive experience with restoration of historic buildings and serves as vice cha...
The Lake Wales Museum will host its next speaker series presentation at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 25. The Florida Humanities Council presentation by Andrew Frank will be Modern by Tradition: Innovation and the Transformation of Seminole Culture. Between 1700 and the present, the culture of the Florida Seminoles has remained remarkably connected to its roots while also innovating in dramatic fashion. This lecture explores this dynamic to show how the Seminoles have embraced this d...
Joyce Slaton, 90, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, April 23 at her residence. She was born January 4, 1929 in Lake Wales to the late Minor E. and Agnes (Davis) Jones. She was one of the first Polio patients diagnosed during a time when they weren't sure what it was and called it Infantile Paralysis. In spite of going thru that, she persevered and conquered her disability. Everyone knew her for her strength and perseverance, her infectious smile and her laughter. She let...
Lake Wales attraction Spook Hill has now earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. City Clerk Jennifer Nanek announced the special designation at the Lake Wales City Commission meeting April 16. City Manager Ken Fields credited Nanek with persistence in seeking the special designation, which needed nomination by the State of Florida and then approval by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The National Register is the official list of the nation's historic...
Step into Steve Warner's office at Eagle Lake Elementary and your eyes will be drawn to the whiteboard, where he's drawn a large, pyramid-shaped illustration. The names of the two Winter Haven-area high schools he serves as Polk County Public Schools' first community liaison director are at the apex, followed by the names of four middle schools and 12 elementary schools. The drawing is more than just a way to help Warner remember school names. It's also a depiction of what he...
Jim Davis is well known for rigorously training highly-skilled professionals for Central Florida fire departments, and that includes instilling in firefighters the importance of honor. After 42 years in the fire service, 30 years as a part-time fire instructor at Ridge Technical College, and nearly a decade as a Polk State Fire Science Technology Coordinator, Davis continues to pass on his traits of respect and selflessness in addition to the technical skills individuals need...
Darlene Michelle Graham Nanek Mulkins, 66, of Lake Wales, passed away April 23 from complications related to lung cancer. She was born on September 7, 1952 in Poughkeepsie, NY to David and Gladys Sharp Graham. She moved to Lake Wales in 1980 and obtained her Nursing Degree in 1987 from then Polk Community College. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Wales She enjoyed horseback riding, camping, riding her bicycle and spending time with her grandchildren Seth and...
It takes a dedicated person to stand in line a day or two in advance just to buy tickets to a movie – a true fan. From Star Wars to the Marvel Universe, this phenomenon has been enticing fans to do just that two to three times a year. Fans not only want to invest their time into making sure they are the first to see a film or event, they are willing to invest their money, sometimes thousands of dollars, on buying items with their favorite characters on them. Mel Brooks said i...
If you like to fish and are willing to drive a couple of hours, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) have a list of invasive fish they would like you to catch. The two groups are hosting the 2019 Invasive Fish Roundup event April 26-28, with a weigh-in to occur from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 28 at Bass Pro Shops, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers. The roundup is a...
Alfred J. Huth Jr., 89, of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, April 21 at the Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. He was born December 18, 1929 in Ft. Wayne, IN to the late Alfred and Bertha (Dyson) Huth Sr. He has been a resident of the area since 2005 coming from Wolcottville, IN. He was a laborer for a Carbide Factory. He is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife of 68 years Joanne Huth, daughters Floydette Blalock and husband Ron of Cape Coral, FL, Sheri Cross and husband Jerry of...
The 93rd annual sunrise service at Bok Tower In Lake Wales is a tradition for many people and families. The sun created the horizon at exactly 6:59 and the brisk spring breeze gave all who attended one more reason to pull out the sweaters, boots and pashminas before the mercury rises and humidity sets in. The birds singing joined in to the chorus of the Lake Wales Chorale and orchestra. Carillon music filled the air. The crowd sang "In Christ Alone," and the sounds of...
Unity in Community of Lake Wales gathered about 50 people April 18 for a traditional Passover seder. Joyce Preston and Howard Kay guided the group through a ritual of prayers and responsive readings that brought to life the story of how God brought the Jewish people out of slavery in ancient Egypt and into their freedom as a nation under the leadership of Moses. The UIC seder was held at First United Methodist Church of Lake Wales, bringing together Christians and Jews for...
Bok Academy students recently put a new twist on an old idea. The Lake Wales Charter school's "Renaissance Knight" didn't look back at history but instead provided parents and friends a chance to hear and see the talents and skills of hundreds of middle school students who sang, played and even showed off their television production skills. Beginner and advanced orchestras from both Bok North and South performed on the outdoor stage at Bok South, along with school choirs and...
