Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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I am so blessed to live in such a wonderful and diverse state. Not only do we get to boast about being the happiest place on earth because Disney World is not too far down the road, but we also are a huge agriculture state - from citrus to cattle to fruits and vegetables. Sometimes I take it for granted how blessed I am to have all this bounty around me. When my sister asked if I wanted to go pick blueberries three weeks ago, I was so excited. Growing up, I thought...
Greater love has no man than this, that a man would lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13. Memorial Day is a day to remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country. Those who serve are certainly cut from a different cloth and while I was at the Lake Wales History Museum today, I decided to go and actually read the plaque that has been there for, well, I don't actually know how long it has been there. What is says is, "BLUE STAR...
Not having lived through a global pandemic, every day may seem fraught with more uncertainty. Here are some pieces of information regarding our present situation that I believe to be true: • Some people have gotten sick or died, and it is a small percentage of the population. • More people are in very serious need of daily food, monthly shelter, and steady employment. • Everyone has been inconvenienced at the very least, some much more inconvenienced than others. • We are mov...
To provide the community with a beautiful destination for healthy walks and mental well-being, Bok Tower Gardens is reopening to the public on Monday, June 1, with timed entry. A soft opening for members is planned for May 26 through May 31. Until further notice, all visitors/members planning to visit the Gardens must reserve/purchase a ticket at boktowergardens.org before arriving at the entrance gate. Visitors must select their entry time from the following periods: 10...
After more than 13 years of devoted service to the mission of ElderPoint Ministries, Executive Director Jane Hammond is taking the next step in her career journey and leaving the organization at the end of May. "I took the job for 6 months and stayed for over 13 years. It is simply time to start a new chapter for me and for ElderPoint to continue to grow under new leadership," said Hammond. During Hammond's tenure, ElderPoint Ministries of Greater Lakeland expanded to include...
Linda Charline Emmett, 68, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at the Winter Haven Hospital. She was born January 26, 1952 in Frostproof, to the late Gary and Shirley Drawdy. She was a State Inspector for the Florida Department of Agriculture. To Linda, family was most important, and she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She would always make you smile and was loved by everyone around her. Linda was preceded in death by her daughter, Tammy...
Toward the end of their June 2 Lake Wales City Commission meeting is an agenda item labeled "Status of the Employment of the City Manager." Commissioners asked for the item to be placed on the agenda after Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson at the last meeting suggested it was time for Ken Fields to consider early retirement. Gibson said it is time for a "new voice" and new leadership to oversee from the ground up the city's ambitious downtown redevelopment initiative. But Gibson also...
The City of Lake Wales has reopened tennis courts, but playgrounds and many other recreation facilities remain closed. City staff will get input about reopening at the next city commission meeting June 2. The June 2 meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the city administration building on Central Avenue. It's being called a "hybrid" meeting since some commissioners and staff will be physically present and others will join online. The public will have three participation options – a...
Trying to make sense of her 10-year-old daughter's drowning death, Parys Miller concluded in a TV interview: "Maybe it was just her time." The loss of Spook Hill Elementary student Irys Wright, who was caught in a riptide current Sunday at Siesta Key Beach, set off an outpouring of sympathy and support for the family she left behind. Her former 4th grade teacher, Amy Rietschel, shared on social media and in a TV interview her memories of the amazing "precious angel" who...
"I'm back. Back in the saddle again." Song: "Back in the Saddle" Aerosmith, 1976 Album: Rocks Hello Everyone. For those that don't know exactly what Florida Pickers is now is the perfect time to find out. This is my own conception, a concoction of mixing antiques and advertising, as a way of making potentially lucrative and beneficial connections. It began a few years ago as video snippets I posted regularly on Facebook. I simplified it into a written piece with photos about...
Achievement Academy staff members were honored by their colleagues Thursday, May 21. Grace Doran, a Lakeland teacher, was honored as Teacher of the Year. Doran has been a teacher for 34 years, the past 11 years employed at the Achievement Academy. This recognition was especially memorable as she recently announced her retirement scheduled for the end of this school year. Doran's classroom consists of 10 students and two paraprofessionals. The small class size is important as...
Richard Vernon Price, 71, of Frostproof passed away Sunday, May 24, 2020 at his residence. He was born November 9, 1948 in Rockford, IL to the late Charles and Verna Price. Richard was a retired Sgt. Major for the U.S. Army following 30 years of service. Richard was awarded the Legion of Merit Award, Bronze Star, Meritorious Unit and Air Medal. He was very proud of his military service. Richard is survived by his wife of 21 years, Beth Vogel; daughters, Shawn Scott (Buck) of Babson Park, and Meri An Bell (Dan) of Buckle, TN;...
Michael McCaskill, 56 of Lake Wales, died May 22, 2020 at AdventHealth South Hospital in Orlando. He was born Oct. 21, 1963 in Boston, GA. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is handling arrangements....
Many people still have the wrong impression that living trusts are only for high-wealth people. While it is true that persons with large estates have added tax benefits, the general premise that living trusts should only be used by persons with big estates is wrong. The revocable living trust is a useful and popular estate planning vehicle for persons with more or less than the federal estate tax floor amount representing the amount of assets required before federal estate...
Edward Duane "Ed" Stoops, 67, of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, May 23, 2020 at his residence. He was born November 22, 1952 in Frankfort, IN, to the late William and Thelma Stoops; he moved to Lake Wales in 1979. Ed was a retired EMT for Polk County, following 20 years of service. He enjoyed cooking for a crowd. He attended The Bridge Central Church and The Ephraim Light Assembly Church. Ed was preceded in death by his sister, Donita Jarrell, and brother James Stoops. He...
Douglas P. Lee, 75 of Lake Wales, died May 24, 2020 at Winter Haven Hospital. He was born July 7, 1944 in Elba, Alabama. He was a veteran of U.S. Armed Forces. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is handling arrangements....
Polk County's Board of County Commissioners has approved a plan that will help residents and small business owners left struggling financially from COVID-19 pandemic layoffs and business closures. In late April, the county received $126 million from the federal government's Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grant meant to provide relief to small businesses and residents who were either furloughed or laid off from their jobs. Assistance will help pay fo...
When Gus hops on the bus he may have some extra stop options in Lake Wales. Erin Killebrew, director of external affairs with the Citrus Connection, gave city commissioners an update on the four local routes at their May 19 meeting. Killebrew said the current routes take riders from Lake Wales to Haines City, Lake Wales to the Eagle Ridge Mall, the mall to Legoland and the mall to Babson Park. The transit system is asking the city to nearly double its annual contribution to...
Lake Wales City Commissioners at their May 19 meeting approved hiring a Clearwater consultant to determine the feasibility of building a sports and recreation complex that might attract tournaments and other special events. The city will pay Sports Facilities Advisory (SFA) $42,500 plus travel expenses for the study, which would be one element of an overall recreation master plan funded by recreation impact fees. Rather than do its own request for proposals the City...
Creating the menu for Granny's Kitchen, Stephanie (Granny) and husband Bob chose from the many experiences Bob could draw on having owned several successful restaurants featuring New England seafood. One of the specialties of the house is New England Clam Chowder, Bob's own recipe, that has won multiple awards in Newport, Rhode Island. Stephanie is the more outgoing personality, and loves marketing. She worked 25 years in sales and customer relations in Virginia. Stephanie...
In the midst of Florida's stay at home order, the clubwomen of GFWC Florida (www.gfwcflorida.org) used online meeting technology to announce the unprecedented accomplishments of their 8,400 volunteer force. Participating in the online celebrations were clubwomen and guests from across the state and dignitaries from the General Federation of Women's Clubs (www.gfwc.org). GFWC Florida club women volunteered over 1.2 million hours in 2019, a 50% increase over 2018, and donated...
From his service 10 years ago as a police officer Dr. Anthony DeWald still remembers end-of-shift backaches after repeatedly getting in and out of his patrol car wearing a heavy duty belt and other equipment. That's what made him feel even better about giving free exams and treatments this week to members of the Lake Wales Police Department as a thank you for their service: "There's kind of an instant camaraderie when people find out you were law enforcement as well." DeWald...
This is the fifth installment in the Lake Wales Renaissance series. Lake Wales City Commissioner Robin Gibson serves as Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency. Dover, Kohl & Partners is an internationally known town planning firm working out of South Miami. Among their many achievements are nationally recognized revitalizations of traditional communities much like Lake Wales. Victor Dover is co-author of the definitive work on the subject...
