Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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A strong feeder-band of storms is expected to pass over the Ridge area beginning about 3:45, with possible tornados and very gusty winds accompanied by heavy rains. Those needing to travel are encouraged to wait out the storms which should clear the area in about an hour. The heavy band of rain has already cleared the Bartow and Fort Meade area, where a rotation was detected by Doppler radar. An earlier funnel cloud was seen by multiple witnesses as it passed over Lake Wales,...
Heavy squalls passing through the Lake Wales area early Sunday afternoon generated a funnel cloud that hovered over Lake Wales. If was unconfirmed if it had touched the ground at any point during its south-to-north passage over the city, although there were numerous reports of very strong wind bursts from north of Crooked Lake to the city's north side. The squalls are part of the right flank of Tropical Storm Debby, which is intensifying over the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane and...
Heavy rains southeast Polk and the Ridge area may be accompanied by gusty winds on Sunday and Monday as Tropical Storm Debby. currently located near Cuba will affect Florida's weather. The current forecast keeps the center of newly-designated Tropical Storm Debby away from the Tampa Bay area over the Gulf, reaching the coast only in the Big Bend area. The National Hurricane Center in Miami is projecting that the Debby will reach hurricane strength as it passes over the very...
Highway 60 was blocked west of Lake Wales for about five hours Friday night after a vehicle crossed the median and was struck by an oncoming truck. A Lake Placid woman lost her life in the tragedy. According to investigators from the Polk County Sheriff's office, at about 8:19 p.m., 32-year old Nakeyma Williams of Lake Placid was driving a 2011 Toyota Camry westbound when she apparently lost control of her vehicle, which slid into the eastbound lanes where it was struck...
The countdown is on to the start of school for Florida students and their families. It's a time that brings a lot of excitement, but no one wants their child to get sick at the start of the year. However, doctors at AdventHealth say there are steps families can take now to make sure their child stays as healthy as possible. Medical experts say getting a back-to-school physical examination and making sure children are up to date with their recommended vaccinations is critical...
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking public input on draft revisions to the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan. The Management Plan outlines the necessary objectives and conservation actions needed to lower the rate of gopher tortoise population declines and ultimately remove the species from the Florida Endangered and Threatened Species List. Themes of the proposed revisions include 1) streamlining and aligning with other FWC management plans,...
In a feel-good success story about the rebound of one local native species, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and partners have released their 1,000th captive-bred Florida Grasshopper Sparrow. Florida Grasshopper Sparrows live only in central Florida's grasslands and are federally designated endangered. To preserve the species, the allied teams began a captive breeding program in 2015. According to Adrienne Fitzwilliam, assistant research scientist at the...
Skyrocketing development pressures are colliding with dwindling supplies of water across Florida. Those same forces are now causing angst for elected officials along the Ridge, who are wrestling with increased costs and possible building moratoriums, even as the collapse of the citrus industry along the Ridge in eastern Polk has caused many former citrus growers to offer their huge tracts of land to developers. The Town of Dundee, which has grown to 6,000 residents in recent...
James Jackson III age 42 of Lake Wales, FL, died Saturday July 27, 2024, at Winter Haven Hospital in Winter Haven, FL. He was a member of Allen Temple AME Church in Lake Wales, FL. His memories will be forever cherished by his loving parents, James Jackson Jr. of Lake Wales, FL and Angela Dawsey (Charlie) (Jacksonville, Florida). siblings: Ladarian Hasley (Johnnetta) Atlanta GA, Nikki Fulbright (Joshua) Ocala FL, Candace Jackson Altamonte Springs FL, Vontrice Dawsey (Derrick)...
Avoiding the likelihood of an expensive lawsuit, the trustees of the Lake Wales Charter School have accepted a settlement of issues connected to their abrupt June 7 termination of the system's former superintendent. Dr. Wayne V. Rodolfich had served just under two years at the head of the seven-school system when he was cited for one or more "grievances" filed by employees. Details of the accusations have not been made public but based upon statements made by both Rodolfich...
