Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Lake Wales City Commissioners spent a little under two hours in a workshop session June 10 becoming familiar with next Tuesday's regular June 16 meeting agenda and sharing their opinions informally with their colleagues and city staff. Commissioners indicated they like the new pre-agenda workshop proposed by new Interim City Manager James Slaton to identify and address commissioner questions prior to distribution of the formal agenda and to obtain their input on proposed...
Jean Elizabeth Wilcox, 87, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at Winter Haven Hospital. She was born August 11, 1932 in Venice Center, NY, to the late Harold and Ina Bunn. Jean was a bookkeeper and retired as a Social Services Associate. She attended Impact Church of Lake Wales. Jean was preceded in death by her first husband, John Oliver Poormon; second husband, Robert Olney; and third husband, Al Wilcox in 2007. She is survived by her daughters, Jacqueline E. Love and husband, Fred of Rodman, NY, JoAnne L....
They say cats have nine lives, but a Lake Wales chihuahua appears to have at least two. Lake Wales police reported a happy ending to the story about 6-year-old Canelo, a dog they thought had been killed and thrown into a small lake a little before 10 p.m. June 7. Lake Wales police investigated a complaint by a witness who said he saw a man, who later was identified as Cesar Cruz Sanchez, dragging a small dog by a leash, wrapping a leash around its neck and lifting it in the...
New Lake Wales Interim City Manager James Slaton is trying something new - a workshop the Wednesday before the Tuesday regular city commission meeting. The first will be at 3 p.m. June 10. Slaton said the workshops are designed to give commissioners more advance notice of agenda items - they currently receive the agenda on Friday before the Tuesday meeting. The workshop also will help get input from commissioners, answer questions and give staff a couple of days to revise...
This is the sixth 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. First, let's talk about where we are headed, and next, about one of the trouble spots we may confront in getting there. Where We're Headed. The Dover-Kohl plan, entitled "Lake Wales Connected," is a comprehensive plan for the revitalization of the Lake Wales historic core. It connects...
Shock, stunned disbelief blanketed Bartow last Sunday, June 7, as the community learned Ken Riley, 72, died suddenly from a massive heart attack. Heartbroken tributes posted on Facebook paying tribute to the NFL all-star demonstrated how beloved and well-respected he was, and showing the fragility of life. "He was at the Solemn Assembly yesterday and seemed fine," wrote Richard Dreyer on his Facebook page, as Riley was among the more than 100 people gathered. "Yes, a great per...
Body worn cameras for Lake Wales police officers got put on the back burner during a budget workshop June 3, but not without heated discussion and passionate disagreements among city commissioners. Commissioners Terrye Howell and Curtis Gibson advocated for body cameras to be a budget priority, but Mayor Eugene Fultz, who previously supported them, cited budget concerns and his doubts that cameras would resolve issues between police and citizens. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson...
McLaughlin Middle School & Fine Arts Academy in Lake Wales is seeking volunteers to paint indoor hallways and lockers at the school. Work shifts are planned from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 15-18 at the school, located at 800 S. 4th St. The work will qualify students for community service hours. People interested in volunteering or wanting more information should contact Billy Dee Washington at 863-678-4233 (work), 614-733-8536 (cell) or by emailing billy.wash...
The Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club is hosting a Free Community Shred Day Saturday, June 13 to help with post quarantine cleaning. People with material to shred can drive up to the parking lot at the Peterson Myers law office at 100 W. Stuart Ave. in downtown Lake Wales between 9 a.m. and noon. Rotary volunteers, who will wear masks and gloves, will unload the materials so people don't have to leave their cars. Things that can be shredded include: paper, credit cards, paper...
The J.C. Penney at Eagle Ridge Mall is among 154 stores to be closed nationwide in the next few months. Nine Florida stores are on the closing list, including the J.C. Penney store at Lakeshore Mall in Sebring. "While closing stores is always an extremely difficult decision, our store optimization strategy is vital to ensuring we emerge from both Chapter 11 and the COVID-19 pandemic as a stronger retailer with greater financial flexibility to allow us to continue serving our...
Lake Wales Police Detective Travis Worley was suspended with pay Friday June 5 pending the conclusion of an active internal investigation, which Deputy Chief Troy Schulze called "the best decision for everyone involved." Worley was the prime target of a protest May 31 by the Winter Haven-based civil rights group the Poor and Minority Justice Association, which called for his termination for allegedly using racial slurs, excessive force, stealing from suspects, planting drugs a...
Leon Witt, 89, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at Somers Hospice House. He was born December 1, 1930 in Meridianville, AL, to the late Dowdy and Florence Witt. He has been a resident of Lake Wales for 65 years. Leon was a retired electrician. He served in the Naval Reserve from 1949 to 1953 He liked gardening and farming, except when it came to shelling peas. Leon was a regular visitor to JayBees Restaurant for coffee. He enjoyed people and was a great dad. Leon was preceded in death by his wife in 2013. He...
A Peaceful Gathering where prayer was the central focus was spearheaded just after sunrise June 9 by the Lake Wales Business Civic and Ministry Coalition of Lake Wales - a pastor's prayer group which meets each Friday morning at 7 a.m. Pastor Herb Schlenker, the coalition's prayer leader, started the gathering right on time as the sun was shining bright across the sparkling waters of Lake Wailes. This strong group of pastors from many denominations and churches from across...
Lake Wales Finance Director Dorothy Abbott tried to calm commissioners' fears at the first 2020-2021 city budget workshop June 3. She said she's been preparing city budgets for 19 years and if she's not panicking over the likelihood of reduced revenue, neither should they. "Everybody just stay calm, tell us what you would like to see and trust your staff to bring back a budget document," Abbott said. "If I'm not too worried yet, please don't be too worried yet." Abbott said sh...
Christine Mynatt, 65, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, June 5, 2020 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born May 27, 1955 in Winter Haven to Robert and LaRue Banes. She was a driver for a Patient Transport Service. Christine enjoyed coloring pictures, playing games, and was Western and John Wayne fan. She loved her grandchildren and had a heart as big as this world. Christine was preceded in death by her father, Robert Banes. She is survived by her daughter, Brandy Martin of Lake Wales; mother, LaRue Banes of Lake Wales;...
Zantonious Jaumal Wiley, 27, of Syracuse, NY, died in Syracuse. He was born Feb. 11, 1993. Visitation will be from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, June 12 at Epps Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Masks will be required. Services will be at noon Saturday, June 30 at the funeral home chapel....
