Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the September 18, 2024 edition


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  • BREAKING NEWS: Alarming Increase in School Threats an Alert For Parents Who Could Face Consequences

    Robert Connors|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    Polk County Schools are undergoing a crisis as the system reports receiving an overwhelming wave of threats against schools and individuals in the first four weeks of the new school year. The school system reported that in 28 days they have conducted 140 threat assessments. Twenty-four individuals were arrested on second-degree felony charges for written threats to kill, a rate of nearly one per day of school. Polk School Superintendent Polk County School Superintendent Fred...

  • "Stuck on These Islands" Offers a Charming Evening of Youth-filled Entertainment

    Casey Gist|Updated Sep 20, 2024

    Offering a joyful evening that will bring a smile to all who attend, "Stuck on These Islands" is the newest offering of the annual children's production at Lake Wales Little Theatre, opening tonight for a two-weekend run at the intimate theatre at 411 North Third Street.. With a cast of youngsters guaranteed to steal hearts, the play depict a cast of tiny insect who find themselves marooned, requiring them to cooperate in a variety of ways to find their way off their isolated...

  • William E. Zeigler, 1949-2024

    News Obituary Service|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    William E. Zeigler, age 74, passed away on September 14, 2024, at Lakeland Regional Health and Medical Center. He was born on November 5, 1949, in Springfield, MO. He was an Engineering Business Manager for Jacobs Engineering. He enjoyed his family and being in nature. He is survived by a loving family that includes his wife Pamela Zeigler of Lakeland, daughters Jessica Hicks (Fred) of Belmont, MA & Maegan Neely (Greg) of Lakeland, brother Robert "Bobby" Zeigler of Orlando,...

  • City Offers Grants to Park Avenue Retailers Who Remain During Street Construction

    Robert Connors|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    The ongoing construction work on Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales has had serious financial impacts on many businesses along the three-block stretch, but new assistance is being provided by the City of Lake Wales to help them survive the challenges. Restaurants, salons, and retail establishments dependent upon foot traffic are eligible to receive individual business-retention grants of $5,000 to help offset the disruptions they have faced. The Lake Wales city commission...

  • Lake Wales Theatre Facing Financial Challenges as it Provides Community Arts Outlet

    Robert Connors|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    Offering live theatre in southeastern Polk County remains a challenge for volunteers who operate Lake Wales Little Theatre, according to a representative of the organization. The company is the only live theatre in the immediate area and is now in its 48th year of operation. Like many arts organizations, the non-profit, all-volunteer theatre company struggles to maintain its intimate auditorium while also paying for the other aspects of the five-a-year shows it produces. With...

  • Canal Road Blocked for Coming Days

    Special to the News|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    According to officials of the Polk County Road and Drainage Division, Canal Road in Lake Wales will be closed beginning today, Thursday September 19 from Porter Road to Black Road. The closure is one of several that has impacted motorists across Polk County in recent weeks and months. The stretch of road is being reconstructed through a process called "full-depth reclamation" that restores the roadbed to a like-new condition, after which it will be finished with a new asphalt...

  • Shirley Whitehead, 1936-2024

    News Obituary Service|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    Shirley Whitehead of Lakeland passed away Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at Lakeland Hospice House. She was born October 21, 1936 in Owenton, Kentucky to the late Floyd and Mary Furnish. Shirley and her husband were joint owners of Dairy Queen in Lake Wales for 50 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Wales and Golfview Baptist Church. Shirley had a love for music. She played both the piano and organ for many churches, funeral homes, and weddings. Shirley also...

  • Walgreen's Offering Free Flu Shots This Friday

    Special to the News|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    Walgreens is offering free flu vouchers for uninsured patients on Friday, Sept. 20 at all Florida and Puerto Rico Walgreens locations. This is part of a broader effort by Walgreens to help ensure underserved and at-risk communities stay safe from respiratory illnesses while improving awareness, access and equity to vaccines. Walgreens offers 200,000 flu vouchers annually to provide free flu immunizations for medically underserved populations that need them most. Black and Hisp...

  • Citrus Connection Seeking Public Input on County's Bus Services

    News Staff Reports|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    Citrus Connection, in partnership with the Polk TPO, is conducting a public survey to better define the transportation needs of the community. The survey is requesting comments from everyone, including daily commuters, occasional riders, or those who have never used public transportation. The goal of the survey is to help improve public transportation services to better meet the needs of our communities. Citrus Connection provides the local circulator bus service in Lake...

  • Updated Sep 19, 2024

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  • TROPICAL WEATHER UPDATE: Storm Potential Grows for Florida

    Robert Connnors|Updated Sep 19, 2024

    After a surprisingly quiet several weeks in the midst of the hurricane season, it's time for Floridians to make certain that they are prepared for a storm as the tropics begin to heat up. Forecast models are developing a low over the Caribbean that could become a significant cyclone in the Gulf of Mexico in another week to ten days. The 2024 Atlantic season has stymied the long-range forecasters who predicted a season far more active than normal, as the feared Cabo Verde...

  • Costanzo Family Creates Scholarship Fund at Webber University

    Special to the News|Updated Sep 18, 2024

    Jessica Costanzo, an alumna and former Webber University volleyball player whose life was tragically cut short in a car accident in 2014, has been honored by the naming of the school's volleyball court in her honor, as well as the creation of the Jessica Costanzo Scholarship Fund. The new scholarship fund will provide scholarships for graduating seniors from Venice (FL) High School, where Costanza graduated. A volleyball match on September 11 was preceded by a small reception...

  • Special Needs Students Reportedly Kicked Out, Animals Evicted From Ag Program at Local School

    Robert Connors|Updated Sep 13, 2024

    UPDATE: The Media Relations Department of the Polk County School System has released a letter from McLaughlin Principal Diameshia H. Williams addressing a decision by "the administration" to remove the Exceptional Student Education Farm from the school campus. The entire text of the letter is reprinted below. A valued program that allows special needs students to participate with others in an agricultural program at a Lake Wales school is reportedly being terminated, to the...

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