Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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After 27 years with the Lake Wales Police Department, Deputy Chief Troy Schulze is stepping out on faith and making a career change. May 15 will be his last day on the force, as he leaves for a management position with Chemical Containers, Inc. His role there is still being defined, but Schulze says he is enthusiastic about the new opportunity. "It's exciting to me. I am very excited, (wife) Kami's excited, but it's difficult too," Schulze said. Schulze said he expects to...
About 75 people gathered in Lake Wales at noon Thursday, May 6 for the annual National Day of Prayer observance. The event took place outside in the breezeway of the city administration building at 201 W. Central Ave. This year's theme is "Lord, Pour Out Your Love, Life, and Liberty." It is based on the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 3:17, which says "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." The program was opened in prayer by John Motis, deacon at Episcopal Church of...
Richard Clarence Wertel, 61, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, May 4, 2021 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. He was born June 2, 1959 in Hopewell, VA; and he was a cross country runner in his younger years. He and his wife recently moved here from Lanexa, VA looking forward to his retirement from Anheuser-Busch. He loved to hunt, drink beer and listen to hard rock music. He was good at repairing things and was a gun enthusiast. He will be remembered as a true family man, A-1 trouble shooter and wonderful friend. Survivors include...
Mattie Jane Green, 76, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at Winter Haven Hospital. She was born October 7, 1944 in Hazelhurst, GA to the late M.C. and Louise Hughes; she moved to Florida from Georgia as a baby and has been here her whole life. Mattie was homemaker and attended Golfview Church of God. She was a very godly women and loved her family. She made peanut brittle for the church for many years and was involved in the children's church. Mattie was...
I, Betty Bent, represent the Higher Learning Academy of Central Florida. Located in Lake Wales, FL my Preschool not only teaches from a diverse curriculum that covers a range of learning for all the race history point of view, teaching each and every child to be proud of who they are at a very young age. We start learning here at the tender age of 1 years old. We expose the young brains to absorb knowledge while the synapses in the brain are just soaking up everything that is...
Kathie Lynn Evans, 61, of Lake Wales, Florida passed away Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at her residence. She was born September 17, 1959 in Baltimore, MD to William Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Hubbard) Jewell and she has been a resident of this area since 2003 moving here from Maryland. She was a homemaker. Kathie enjoyed working out, mainly aerobics, she enjoyed the beach and spending time with her family. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, William Evans; sons, Kristopher Teal and Jason Teal, both of Maryland; mother, Mary...
After a brief closure, the Military Gallery at the Polk County History Center has reopened with a revitalized look and new displays. Among the artifacts spanning from the Seminole Wars to the War on Terror, visitors will find interpretive panels with stirring images that tell of exceptional bravery and sacrifice. Artifacts of interest include two Walt Disney Studios paintings presented to the 116th Field Artillery: "Beans and Bullets Mickey" and "Best Wishes to the Boys of...
The final public workshop to help create the city's Recreation Master Plan is planned for Tuesday, May 11. Engineering and planning consulting firm S&ME was hired by the city to put together the master plan. The firm has been working with city staff and meeting with various recreation-related groups and is now ready for the public input phase. The May 11 workshop will be online only via ZOOM from 6-8 p.m. Earlier workshops April 22 and April 29 were in-person and via ZOOM....
Green Horizon Land Trust, a Lake Wales-based not-for-profit conservation organization, announces the acquisition of a permanent conservation easement for the six-acre Scrub Plum Preserve in Babson Park. The property, which has previously been protected by a temporary easement, formerly belonged to the Babson Park Community Church. The Scrub Plum Preserve contains a series of trails that winds through native habitat on the Lake Wales Ridge that has been used for decades for...
Lake Wales commissioners will be tackling a big issue in the coming months, looking to ensure the city has an adequate supply of water for decades to come. City leaders recently heard a presentation from representatives of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, which has settled on a plan to drill into the lower Floridan aquifer to provide a new alternative water source for local municipalities. Those wells will be up to 1,800 feet deep – about three times deeper than wells i...
The Florida Museum of Natural History is offering free admission to all fee-based exhibits for active-duty military personnel and their families from Armed Forces Day, May 15, through Labor Day, Sept. 6, as a part of the nationwide Blue Star Museums initiative. This is the ninth time the Florida Museum has partnered with Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums...
Eleven shovels broke ground Saturday, May 1 to signal the ceremonial start of an affordable housing initiative in the city's northwest community. "I hope you feel as optimistic as I do about the future of Lake Wales," said Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton. "We are providing hope to families to move into beautiful homes." The groundbreaking was for the first two homes being built as a partnership of the Keystone Challenge Fund, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency,...
Janice Darlene Moran Snell, 67 of Lake Wales, died April 28, 2021 at Saint Joseph Hospital in Tampa. She was born July 25, 1953 in Lake Wales. She was an educator. Services are scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, May 8. Location to be announced. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is handling arrangements....
The Lake Wales Arts Council and the Lake Wales Library Association have partnered to create a unique program that will allow library patrons to check out passes to utilize the Lake Wales Arts Center's studios for creative expression. The Studio Experience Pass program was the brainchild of the Lake Wales Arts Center's Director of Programs, Amanda McCallister. She reached out to the Lake Wales Public Library with the proposal. The Lake Wales Library Association, the library's...
To celebrate National Historic Preservation Month, the Polk County History Center's May Zoom and Vroom program features the Lake Wales Downtown Historic District as part of Polk's Heritage Trail. The popular lunch and learn series is virtual in 2021 and includes interactive elements designed to get you and your "Quaranteam" out exploring Polk County. The city was established in 1917 and residential and commercial districts which date to this era achieved National Register...
If Macy Sinner's life could be a mathematics equation, it might look something like this: Academic Achiever + Soccer Star = Outstanding! At Lander University, the graduating senior has had a full roster of activities -- academic A-lister, Lady Bearcats' soccer forward and a math-whiz tutor to her peers. This semester, she even found a new endeavor -- coaching soccer to children at the Greenwood YMCA! The Lake Wales High School graduate followed her sister Hannah to Lander,...
A light breeze and sunshine made for a pleasant day May 1 for the first Northwest Community Market. Vendors filled the large lots at the corner of B Street and Lincoln Avenue, offering a variety of apparel, products, services and food. The event was hosted as a partnership between the Lincoln Community Development Corporation and the city of Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency. CDC President Sara Jones said she was pleased with the turnout as well as the number and...
April Dawn Hartman, 53, passed away Monday, May 3, 2021 at Advent Health of Lake Wales, Florida. She was born June 20, 1967, in Frostproof to Danny Hartman and the late Sharon Horne; she has been a resident of the area for five years coming from South Charleston, OH. She was a caregiver in health care and loved gardening. Survivors include her sons, Nathan Finley of Frostproof, FL and Ryan French of Springfield, OH; father, Danny Hartman of Pompano Beach, FL; sister, Kim...
Michael Lynn Phillips, 49, of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, May 2, 2021 at his residence surrounded by his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. He passed peacefully in his sleep. He was born May 23, 1971 in Bartow to the late Bennie Phillips (Edna Phillips) and Linda Guffey; he moved to Lake Wales from Auburndale to enjoy the great fishing that Lake Wales has to offer. Michael loved fishing, animals, and picking on people. Michael is survived by his wife of 28 years, Angela...
With no discussion or public comment the Lake Wales City Commission May 4 approved spending $110,350 for the first year implementation of police worn body cameras for all officers who interact with the public. The Lake Wales Police Department will be the first law enforcement agency in Polk County to implement a body camera program. After reviewing the city's finances six months into the new budget year, City Manager James Slaton said without dipping into reserves the city...
