Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the September 9, 2020 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 12 of 12

  • Letter to Class of 1985 to Right a Hurtful Wrong

    Terri Miller, Staff Writer|Updated Jan 10, 2021

    In 2016, I was compelled by something deep inside me to right a wrong. The wrong, I felt, was how I had been treating other people my entire life. At the time, Lake Wales News, print newspaper, was still in operation and I thought I would write a letter and submit the letter to the editorial department in hopes it would get published. I had never sent a letter to a newspaper before, but I had a heavy heart and I wanted to apologize. I was raised in the same town I live in even...

  • John Leeks, 1950-2020

    Updated Sep 12, 2020

    John Leeks " Lurch", 69 of Lake Wales, died Sept. 11, 2020 at the Lakeland Hills Nursing Center in Lakeland, Florida. He was born Jan. 9, 1950. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is handling arrangements....

  • Franklin Thomas, 1943-2020

    Updated Sep 11, 2020

    Franklin James Thomas, 77, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, Sept. 9 at his residence in Lake Wales. He was born August 2, 1943, in Middleburg, FL to the late Lafayette “Fid” and Ellen (Matschat) Thomas. He has been a resident of this area since the late 1970s moving here from Eagle Lake. He was a production manager for a canvas manufacturer. He was an Army Veteran in Vietnam and was on The Grand Ol’ Opry circuit as the front man for the band Arkansas Travelers. He played with gospel groups and was a very talented songwrite...

  • Commissioners Question Why City Hall is Still Closed to Visitors

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 10, 2020

    Lake Wales Interim City Manger James Slaton says if your grocery store has an outbreak of COVID-19 among its employees you can always go to another store. But he says there's no alternative if the pandemic impacts a large number of city employees. That's how Slaton justifies keeping city buildings shut down to visitors, when so many other businesses and government offices are opening. "There's no replacement for what we do," Slaton said, noting the city is taking a...

  • Florida League of Cities Taps Commissioner Goldstein to Chair Legislative Committee

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 10, 2020

    Lake Wales City Commissioner Al Goldstein has been tapped to chair the Florida League of Cities Land Use and Economic Development Committee. FLC President Tony Ortiz, an Orlando city commissioner, appointed Goldstein, who also is currently serving on the league's Federal Action Strike Team, which visits Washington, DC to discuss legislative issues at the national level. Ortiz said Goldstein will be responsible for working with other committee members to discuss the many...

  • Robert Tucker, 1956-2020

    Updated Sep 10, 2020

    Robert Elisha Tucker, 63 of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020 at the Winter Haven Hospital. He was born December 7, 1956 in Lake Wales to the late Elisha and Shirley (Scott) Tucker and he has been a lifelong resident of this area. He was a refrigeration mechanic and tech for Alcoma/Citrosuco for over 45 years. He loved to hunt, fish, and was of the Baptist Faith. Survivors include his wife Teresa of 42 years, daughter, Neoisha White (William) of Lake Wales;...

  • City Charter Review Moving Quickly; More Citizen Input Welcome

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 10, 2020

    The Lake Wales Charter Review Committee is ahead of schedule and looking for public input on changes that can make city government operate better. The next Committee meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 at the city administration building, 201 W. Central Ave. People can attend in person or join online by registering at https://www.lakewalesfl.gov/Register The current Charter, which was last reviewed in 2010, can be found online at http://lakewales.e...

  • Bienvenido "Benny" Fernandez Jr., 1949-2020

    Updated Sep 10, 2020

    Bienvenido "Benny" Fernandez, Jr., 70, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday morning, Sept. 10, 2020 at his residence. He was born October 11, 1949 in Yabocoa, Puerto Rico to the late Bienvenido and Edelmira Fernandez, Sr. He moved to Lake Wales from Winter Haven six years ago. Benny was a retired housekeeper for the Metropolitan Hospital in New York City and was of the Pentecostal faith. He loved cars, birds, his plants, his tools, and cooking. Benny is survived by his wife of...

  • Polk Democrats Hosting Celebrate Blue Gala Virtual Fundraiser Sept. 12

    Updated Sep 10, 2020

    The Polk County Democrats will be holding their annual fundraising gala from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 as a unique, virtual event. The Celebrate Blue theme reflects ongoing efforts to elect Democrats in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. Keynote speaker will be Nikki Fried, commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Special guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. Val Demings from Orlando. Others participating include U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, Florida...

  • Lake Ashton Veterans Promote Flying U.S. Flag to Remember Sept. 11 Sacrifice

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 10, 2020

    The Lake Ashton Veterans Association is facilitating an initiative by Wreaths Across America to remember "the sacrifice and impact upon our great country" on September 11, 2001 from the terrorist events in New York City, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. The organization is asking Lake Ashton residents to wave the U.S. flag outside of their homes at 8:46 a.m., 9:37 a.m. and 10:03 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 to honor those lost and those first responders who still suffer the after-ef...

  • Gerald Chance, 1956-2020

    Updated Sep 10, 2020

    Gerald Chance, 64, of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born July 26, 1956 in Cullman, AL. He moved to Lake Wales from Alabama as a child. Gerald was a custodian for Walmart, the Post Office, and Citrus World, and he attended Golfview Baptist Church when he was younger. He was a CB radio enthusiast who never missed the trading post segment on the radio every morning, and he enjoyed playing bingo with his mother in the nursing home. Gerald was preceded in death by his father,...

  • Debbie Anderson, 1954-2020

    Updated Sep 10, 2020

    Debbie Anderson, 66, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 at the Kindred Hospital in Tampa. She was born February 25, 1954 in Pekin, IL to the late Paul and Reta Guy. Debbie moved to Lake Wales from Illinois in 1984. She was a customer service manager for the Lake Wales Walmart and enjoyed cooking and reading. Debbie is survived by her husband, Doug Anderson; daughter, Trish Anderson and husband William of Frostproof; brothers, Paul Wehrenberg of Florissant, MO, and Mike Wehrenberg of Normal, IL; grandchildren,...

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