Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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The first ad valorum tax rate increase in nearly a decade was approved by the Lake Wales city commission on first reading Wednesday. The new property tax hike of 16.34 percent will contribute to the city's $99.5 million budget for fiscal year 2022-2023, which begins October 1. For many years in a row, Lake Wales commissions have simply adopted the "roll-back" rate, which was the rate which would generate the same revenue year after year, while the rate fell. That steady...
The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century ago, when Florida was in the midst of a great land price boom and rapid population growth. The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library. The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became...
Stephen Thomas Rodda has been charged with first-degree murder after apparently killing his own 16-year-old son on Monday. Rodda, 37, was booked into the Polk County Jail Monday after he was arrested by Polk County Deputies and charged with killing the teen with an angle-grinder, a power tool normally used to cut metal. He will have a first appearance hearing at 1:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, September 5, 2023. According to the Sheriff's office, the victim's grandfather returned...
The dramatic, and very loud, collapse of a large gas station canopy at Scenic Highway and Polk Avenue Tuesday afternoon brought a quick response from emergency services, but happily no one required medical attention. The 3:00 pm collapse was heard by area residents, who said it made a "very loud boom" that brought them out to see what had happened. It was apparent, they said, that a tractor trailer that was driving past the structure had clipped it and destabilized it. The...
The strongest hurricane to form over the Atlantic basin in recent years may be in the offing as National Hurricane Center forecasters are predicting that now Tropical Storm Lee will strengthen into a fearsome Category Five hurricane by the weekend, menacing the east coast of the United States with winds of 150 mph or more after a period of "explosive" intensification. That rapid rise in power is largely due to heated oceanic temperatures, as much as three degrees above...
Stephen Lee Rodda of Lake Wales passed away Monday, September 4, 2023 in Lake Wales. He was born October 12, 2006 in Winter Haven. Stephen loved playing video games and spending time with his family. He was devoted to taking care of his grandmother and had a close bond with his friends and family. He was so amazing in so many ways and didn't have a mean bone in his body. Stephen is survived by his mother, Stephanie McDaniel; step-father, Murry McDaniel; maternal grandparents,...
Nighttime lane closures will require extra caution for drivers on US 27 at the signalized intersection of Washington Avenue in Lake Wales. Turn lanes will be closed to allow Polk County crews to resurface the busy cross street, which handles truck traffic for Florida's Natural Growers as well as other area industry. Drivers can expect turn lane closures from US 27 onto Washington Avenue between 8:30 pm and 5:00 am. Lane closures are expected to be nightly for approximately...
Each year RSVP Polk volunteers give generously to Home Instead's "Be a Santa to a Senior". Working with local case managers this project ensures that seniors in care receive something for the Holidays. More than 5,000 seniors have been adopted in Polk County in the past few years. This year RSVP Polk is looking for volunteer elves to assist the project with the behind-the-scenes activities. This is a short-term opportunity (Early November – December 18). • Gift Runners: Pic...
A recently-hired deputy sheriff proved himself unworthy of his selection by driving his vehicle at high speed and fleeing to elude fellow deputies early Sunday morning. Jakob Kite, 22, was arrested following a high-speed chase around an area between Bartow and Lakeland, After his speed was measured at over 100 miles per hour he refused to pull over for a traffic stop, instead fleeing from deputies. Polk County Sheriff's Office traffic deputies were conducting traffic...
While multiple named storms have swirled harmlessly all week in the mid-Atlantic, a weak tropical wave that emerged off the coast of Africa several days ago is now the system to watch for Florida. The National Hurricane Center in Miami is now assigning the system a near-100 percent chance of development during the coming three days, during which time it is forecast to be approaching the area of the Virgin Islands. By that time it should be a powerful hurricane. Despite still...
Versie Rene Stoudemire Meeks transitioned from this life to eternity on Thursday, July 27, 2023. She leaves to cherish her memories a loving and devoted husband of 61 years, Fred Meeks, Sr.; Children: Linda (John) Jones, Miami, FL; Rita (Leroy) Johnson; Cynthia Meeks, Fred (Antoinette) Meeks, Jr., Mary Rahett, Cheryl (Tony) Garnett, Sharon (Jonas) Henderson all of Lake Wales, FL; Jarvis (Kizzie) Meeks, Tampa, FL.; 25 Grandchildren; 35 Great-Grandchildren; 6 Great-Great...
Carlene Marie Tschida of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, September 3, 2023 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. She was born July 30, 1944 in Mandan, North Dakota to the late Bernie and Clementine Sterma. Carlene married her husband Gabriel L. Tschida on February 19, 1963. In 1965, she and her family moved to Babson Park from North Dakota. She enjoyed watching sports, especially football and baseball. Carlene was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Gabriel Tschida. She is...
The Office of the Tax Collector for Polk County (TCPC), Joe G. Tedder, reminds business owners that the deadline to renew their County Local Business Tax Receipt (BTR) is Monday, October 2, 2023. Any business that does not renew its BTR by the deadline will face late penalties. The late renewal penalty after the deadline in October will be 10% of unpaid taxes owed plus collection costs; the penalty rises to 15% plus collection costs in November, and continues to rise each...
EDITOR'S NOTE: Students enrolled in the Bok Academy North agriculture program are excited for the opportunities they are being offered this year. Among those are participation in the Future Farmers of America programs. LakeWalesNews.net plans to publish monthly stories written by students of the program. Instructor Jennifer Williams says she is teaching students that agriculture "is much more than just cattle and oranges." Our members are excited about our new year and so are...
In a move that local officials hope may help save lives and property, Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) has added 45 new FLIR Thermal Imaging Cameras (TICs) to its fire engines, ladder trucks, squads and tower trucks. "These new TICs will enhance the decision-making abilities and save lives," said Fire Chief Hezedean A. Smith, D.M. "By helping to protect Polk County's residents and visitors, and by making sure our members come home safely every day, these cameras will ensure safe...
Jerry Cook, age 84, of Rocky Face, Georgia passed away on Friday, September 1, 2023 at Calhoun Health Care. He was preceded in death by his parents Enos Cook and Carrie Cook Mehaffey; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Anne Cook; and brother Glenn Mehaffey. Jerry was a member of Westside Church of Christ. He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Kim Cook of Rocky Face, Georgia, Dale and Rebecca Cook of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Brian Cook also of...
