Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Whether it is the half-anniversary of when the pandemic shutdowns began in full in Lake Wales, the 19th anniversary of September 11th, or listening to the rhetoric with being less than two months from "the most important election in our lifetime," or all of these and much more, life may seem scary and unprecedented these days to some. To the majority of others in the world (and even people in Lake Wales) daily life was extremely challenging before the pandemic, actually...
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was updated by Executive Editor Chevon Baccus after the Sept. 16 CRA meeting. City commissioners agreed to invest $460,000 to help finance a proposed redevelopment of the 140-unit Grove Manor public housing complex. Pantheon Development, which in 2018 formed a partnership with the Lake Wales Housing Authority to do the work, requested the money from the city's Community Redevelopment Agency as part of a plan to help finance the construction of six...
Barbara H. "Barb" Hope, 84, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 at the Palms of Sebring. She was born January 23, 1936 in Pennsylvania to the late Michael and Matilda Tomko; she came here from New Jersey in 2003. Barb was a retired customer service representative at First National Bank which later became Wells Fargo in New Jersey. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and taking care of her home; she was of the Catholic faith. Barb is survived by her husband of 63 years,...
Saint Clair McGill, 80 of Lake Wales, died Sept. 16, 2020 at home. He was born June 28, 1940. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is handling arrangements....
Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson in July voted against raises for himself and his fellow commissioners, but he's apparently had a change of heart. At the commission's Sept. 16 workshop Gibson asked for the issue to be reconsidered. Interim City Manager James Slaton quickly placed the item on the Sept. 23 agenda to meet a fast approaching deadline. Commissioners have the power to raise their salaries, but any action must be at least six months prior to the city election. The window...
Henry Kebabjian wants to redevelop the historic Seminole Hotel in downtown Lake Wales, but his timing may be a little off. Kebabjian bought the three-story hotel Aug. 19 at a bargain-basement price of $10,500, two months after the city's Code Enforcement Board voted to foreclose on the property. The city in 2017 declared the building unsafe, emptied it of tenants and condemned it for multiple code violations. Recent owner Cardiff Howell of Orlando was unable to submit an...
Marjorie Jane Chandley of Atlanta, GA, age 91, passed from this life surrounded by loving family on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Marjorie, daughter of Edgar Reason Chandley and Myra Althea Curtis Chandley, was born in Lake Wales, FL on Sept. 17, 1928. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her sons Charles Edward Chowning, Jr. of Dallas, GA, and Christopher Dru Chowning of Atlanta; grandsons Charles Edward Chowning III (Chelsea) and Justin Grady Chowning; great-grandchildren Jacie...
Rotary on the Ridge named Mike Baccus as its 2019-2020 Rotarian of the Year. Delayed due to the COVID-19 virus, the presentation was made Sept. 14 as the club began meeting back in person. As his last official act Immediate Past President Herb Gillis presented Baccus with a plaque at an early dinner gathering of members. Then during the club's regular meeting in-person and on the online Zoom platform, 2018-19 Rotarian of the Year Drew Truitt re-presented the award so the rest...
Lake Wales City commissioners by a 4-1 vote Sept. 9 approved an invocation policy that appoints an official chaplain and develops a list of volunteers from local congregations to fill in as needed. Two atheists who live outside the city and one city resident who described herself as non-religious failed to convince commissioners to abandon the invocations or replace them with a moment of silence. Lake Wales resident Charlene Bennett said the policy "pretty much guarantees you...
Marking the occasion of his 36th birthday, Lake Wales City Commissioner Curtis Gibson on Sept. 11 announced the start of his re-election campaign. Gibson plans to qualify for the April 2021 ballot, seeking a 3-year term to continue his service as the District 19, Seat 2 commissioner. Before announcing his candidacy in a live online video, Gibson paid tribute to those killed or impacted by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack, reading out details of the historic day's events. "N...
COVID-19 did not deter volunteers from the American Association of University Women from delivering nearly 100 framed prints of famous fine art paintings to area schools for public display. This year the selections range from Middle-Ages masters Durer and Brueghel to more modern artists such as Matisse and Dali. Advancing through their K-12 school years, with displays changing annually, students see a wide variety of styles and periods of art through this program. More pieces...
Jackie D. “Jack” Hatten, Sr., 73, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 at his residence. He was born July 27, 1947 in Wheeling, WV to the late Effie Hatten. He moved to Lake Wales from West Virginia 30 years ago. Jack was a retired truck driver and attended the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lake Wales. He was a Vietnam veteran, serving in the U.S. Marines. Following his initial career as a truck driver, Jack became interested in coaching and he went back to college and earned his bachelor’s degree in socia...
Alphonso " HIT " Ballard, 63, of Lake Wales, died Sept. 13 at The Groves Center Nursing Home in Lake Wales. He was born Jan. 27, 1957 in Lake Wales. He was preceded in death last month by his brother, Rev. Robert "So Proud" Battles. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales. Mask required....
Marion Wagner, 96, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 at her daughter's residence in Winter Haven. She was born July 14, 1924 in New London, CT to the late Rocco and Mary DiPaulo. She moved to Lake Wales from Parsippany, New Jersey in 1978. Marion was the manager for the Mountain Lake 11th Tee Snack Bar for 30 years and she enjoyed visiting friends and shopping. Marion was preceded in death by her husband, Beverly "Bill" Wagner; and eight brothers and sisters....
Nancy Elizabeth "Liz" Hunt, 63, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 at Orlando Regional Medical Center. She was born March 21, 1957 in Lake Wales to Ellis and Nancy Hunt. Liz was a homemaker and attended the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Wales. She enjoyed singing, going to the beach, and spending time with her family. Liz was preceded in death by her son, Carson. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth White of Orlando, Lauren Wilhite and husband David...
Felipe Garcia, age 26, passed away Sept. 5, 2020. Born July 22, 1994 in Eustis, FL, to Carina Fernandez. He was a factory worker in the agriculture industry. He will be remembered for always having a smile on his face, ability to be funny and his love to drive around listening to music. He was preceded in death by his brother Sergio Garcia. He was survived by his mother, Carina Fernandez; sisters, Angelica Donjuan (Benjamin Michael Lewis) & Maribel Fernandez; brothers, Ovaldo...
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," says Dolores Vogel, Legacy Real Estate Center broker and owner. "So, DREAM BIG, we do!" The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine hasn't slowed down this entrepreneur who moved into new digs at 218 E. Park Ave. in downtown Lake Wales. The building was purchased in 2018 and completely renovated. "I'm proud that the Center has been ranked number one in sales within the Lake Wales Association of...
For the first time in almost a decade, Lake Wales is proposing a small increase in its development impact fees. City commissioners have approved a first reading of a new fee structure, which not only includes an overall impact fee increase of just over $95 per new residential household, but also significantly reallocates in which category those fees will be collected. That's important because those funds can only be spent on projects for which they are specifically...
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a sampling of new books available at our library. The list will be updated weekly. The Lake Wales Public Library continues to offer safe door-side pickup of materials during our current hours of operation. Call the library to request that holds are placed on items for pickup at the Lake Wales Public...
