Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 11 of 11
Benny A. Watson, Sr. of Bartow, age 86, passed away on August 10, 2024, at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born on October 28, 1937, in Trenton, FL. He was a United States Navy Veteran. He was an Electrical Instrument Technician in the mining industry. He enjoyed fishing, running 5K races, biking and archery. He is survived by his loving family that includes his wife Christine Watson of Bartow, daughters Cindy Sterling (Robert) of Virginia Beach, VA & Jennifer Hunt (David)...
A proposal to spend $565,000 to re-purchase the 1.44 acre Lake Alta property the Community Redevelopment Agency previously sold for less than $9,000 will be considered at Tuesday's meeting of the board. The City of Lake Wales, seeking to dispose of unused lands, had transferred the remnant parcel, part of a larger city-owned site containing tiny Lake Alta park, to the CRA in 2015. The CRA sold it through an offering that brought only one bid from Harout "Henry" Kebabjian and...
Family Elder Law owner and attorney Jason Penrod has filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court acknowledging the misuse of client living trust funds and requesting the disciplinary revocation of his law license. The petition, filed by Penrod's attorney Richard Allen Greenberg, states that Penrod admits his violation of the strict rules governing attorney practices, and pledges to "reimburse the Client Security Fund (CSF) for any and all funds CSF has paid or may pay out...
The storm came in a destructive rush, defying predictions, and caught most Polk residents completely off-guard. When it had passed, Hurricane Charley had left a trail of incredible destruction in its wake. It was a Friday, the 13th of August, twenty years ago this week that the first hurricane in 44 years struck southeast Polk. It's a date that many who experienced the storm will never forget. In a matter of about two hours the fast-moving storm damaged virtually every...
As the economy continues to improve in the Lake Wales area, the Orange Grove, a large and long-underused shopping center on SR 60 east at 11th Street, is showing multiple signs of new life as tenants snap up space in the sprawling plaza, once left behind by outward growth. New businesses planned for the center include a Stone Cabin Coffee and Cheesecake restaurant, the fourth location for that family-owned chain, offering elaborately-decorated cheesecakes in a wide variety of...
As a long-time Marvel fan, I was eagerly anticipating Deadpool and Wolverine. With the deluge of Marvel movies over the past few years, it's refreshing to have a single, standout entry this year. Surprisingly, I've missed the cinematic Marvel Universe, and this film felt like a much-needed reunion. The marketing leaned heavily into the joke that Deadpool is "Marvel Jesus," here to save the franchise, a reference many have seen in the trailers. This isn't just a clever...
A new road closure will require long detours for yet more motorists in eastern Polk County, while other projects extend well beyond their announced completions. Drainage upgrades will close Timberlane Road just south of the intersection with Canal Road northeast of Lake Wales beginning Thursday, August 8. The work is scheduled to take two weeks. The cross drains beneath the roadway leading to Lake Pierce are being replaced ahead of a county project to resurface Timberlane...
The Ridge area and southeastern Polk generally escaped damage during the passage of Hurricane Debby to the west of the peninsula, but the tropics remain active, with yet another disturbance following in the path of the recent storm. Unlike areas along the coast that saw serious flooding from both heavy rains and storm surge, the local area generally avoided problems with high water. Rainfall totals across the area generally fell in the six-to-eight inch category during the pas...
The serious and too-often deadly violation of passing a stopped school bus is receiving an appropriately-serious response in Polk County, and drivers should be alert and aware. To combat the recurring problem, all Polk County school buses are being equipped with cameras to identify drivers passing buses when the stop-arm is activated. According to the Florida Association of School Administrators, a survey revealed that "98,065 school bus drivers reported that 66,322 vehicles...
A long-awaited effort to add sidewalks and street trees throughout the Northwest Neighborhood is set to begin in coming weeks, and city officials want to make certain that residents of the area are prepared for what's to come. Most of the streets in the area will see some impact during construction. An August 22 public meeting at the B Street Community Center will give residents an overview of the project and a chance to ask questions. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m....
A list of more than 100 residents and businesses are eligible to claim funds now held by Polk County, according to Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Stacy M. Butterfield, Each of the checks listed is worth $100 or more. The list of individuals with unclaimed checks issued during court-related activities is published annually. Funds must be claimed by September 1 or be forfeited to the county. "We hope to inform people so we can return these funds to their rightful...
