Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 14 of 14
A very serious crash blocked SR 60 in both directions only a half-mile west of US 27 Saturday afternon, causing a massive backup for both east and west-bound traffic. UPDATE: All lanes of SR 60 were cleared by 3:30 p.m., allowing normal traffic to resume. The 1:48 p.m. incident drew nearly a dozen emergency vehicles and nearly a score of personnel to the scene to redirect traffic. Although no official word has been released, it was apparent that at least one vehicle had been...
A Bartow Police Department officer was arrested by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, after the PCSO was requested by Bartow PD on May 8, 2024 to investigate his actions involving four teenage females, inappropriate video, drugs, and alcohol. UPDATE: Former Officer Now Facing Additional Charges 24-year old Markanthony Fernandez was charged Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at the Polk County Jail with four felonies and six misdemeanors for events that occurred during the...
A proposal by Lake Wales Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson would appoint at "sergeant at arms" to monitor comments made by the public during city commission meetings. During the commission's Wednesday agenda workshop Gibson cited what he called "personal attacks" that have "driven off good people" as his reasoning behind the proposal. The city has suffered the resignation of several officials during the past two years, but most have simply returned to work at the city as...
Giving young kids safe and fun outlets to help them burn off all that extra energy is a challenge that may have a solution. Parents may rejoice thanks to a new summer program offered by staff the City of Lake Wales' Family Recreation Center. Kids entering kindergarten through 5th grade are eligible to attend Camp Squeeze. Camp Squeeze will offer campers an array of themed science, art, and sporting activities. They'll learn how to make their own Mars rovers during Space Week,...
Celia Morales Inagawa, 72, of Frostproof, Florida, passed away on May 29, 2024. Celia was born to the late Geronimo Morales and Maria Gonzales on November 6, 1951, in Cotton Center, Texas. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Olivia and Esperanza, and two brothers, Eleazar and David Morales. As a child, the Morales family relocated to Florida, where Celia spent most of her youth. While on the campus of The University of Miami, she met a...
The Lake Wales region is now officially in a drought status after conditions here worsened during the past week. Excessive heat during April and May have increased stress on agriculture and native landscapes. According to the official U.S. Drought Monitor, conditions here worsened from Abnormally Dry (D0) to Moderate Drought (D1), according to this week's U.S. Drought Monitor. The Climate Prediction Center's May Drought Outlook released on April 30, 2024, had predicted that...
Dennis Gandy, age 69, passed away May 26, 2024 at Bridgewalk on Harden Health and Rehab. He was born on February 9, 1955, in Bartow, FL. Dennis worked as an electrician. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Garfield. He enjoyed building bird houses, animals, music and being an artist. He is survived by a loving family that include his daughter Melissa Burkett (Sam) of Bartow, son Jared Gandy (Sarah) of Bartow, mother Imogene Gandy of Bartow, sisters Debbie Tucker...
Mary Margaret Knabe of Lake Wales passed away Monday, May 27, 2024 at her residence. She was born October 6, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois; she moved to Lake Wales from Chicago 20 years ago. Mary was a retired claims adjuster and was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Mary was a kindhearted person who would help everyone. She loved her nieces, nephews, and family. Mary was preceded in death by her parents William Francis Knabe and Julia Knabe. She is survived by her...
Gerald Lee Slane of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, May 26, 2024 at AdventHealth Lake Wales under the care of Vitas Hospice. He was born February 17, 1936 in Peoria, Illinois to the late John and Sarah Slane; he moved to Lake Wales from Orlando in 2004. Gerald graduated in 1965 from Bradley University and was a computer teacher for the West Orange School District in Orlando. He was a fan of the Orlando Magic and started a senior slow pitch softball league in Bartonville,...
The drought and intense heatwave that has gripped the Ridge and most of central Florida has led Polk County to declare an outdoor burn ban which will go into effect next week. The move comes just as the 2024 hurricane season begins. The annual six-month cyclone season is predicted to be far more active than normal by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a host of private weather predictions. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center has released a forecast...
Work has begun on Hickory Ridge, an 85-lot single-family subdivision that will rise just east of Lake Wales Country Club. The project is the work of Garden Street Communities Southeast, based in Pensacola, FL. It adds to the growing list of residential projects now under development in the southeast quadrant of the city. Site work is underway, being conducted by Diamondback Civil. The 47-acre project site lies in unincorporated Polk County and includes a significant wetland...
Awareness of the rapid disappearance of pollinators, critically important for agriculture, has inspired one local Girl Scout Cadet to achieve the Silver Award, the highest award in Scouting, while teaching people about these important species. River Selser, an 8th grade student attending the FLVS Florida Virtual School, is the moving force behind P4P, or "Planting for Pollinators." Selser raise the funds and conducted the project on property owned by the Green Horizon Land Tru...
The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) is cautioning the public of the presence of blue-green algae in several lakes in the Lakeland and Winter Haven area. Although none has been reported in Ridge-area lakes, boaters, swimmers, and fishers should be aware of the potential and take precautions. Water samples taken from Scott Lake, Lake Van, Lake Hancock, Lake Gibson, and Lake Conine on May 23 detected blue-green algae that have the potential to produce toxin...
A new 24-hour Dunkin outlet is planned for a small outparcel facing SR 60 East at Southgate Shopping Center in Lake Wales. Dunkin has two existing outlets in the city, which are expected to remain. Approval of the site plan will be considered by the city's Planning and Zoning Board at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28. Designs for the proposed free-standing building include the 24-hour one-lane drive-through service window as well as an indoor lobby open during more limited hours....
