Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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UPDATE: Polk County Public Schools will reopen on Tuesday, October 4. Students should be prepared to resume their normal class schedules at that time, according to school officials. At the urging of County emergency officials and the National Weather Service, Polk County Public Schools are to activate some schools that will be serving as storm shelters for those evacuating their homes, creating the need to close the schools for classes effective and the end of today....
UPDATE: Hurricane Ian has continued its trek toward Florida, now with 125 MPH winds. Further intensification is expected during the next 24 hours. The storm is now a Category Three, and is projected to reach Category Four status today. For the latest information on expected impacts to the Lake Wales area, please RETURN TO HOME PAGE Projections from the NHC depict that Ian will remain a Major Hurricane as it moves over the west central coast of Florida. Ian is now on a northerl...
UPDATE: Due to the anticipated arrival of storm-force winds this week, the City of Lake Wales has cancelled the Land Use Study Workshop planned for tonight (Monday). Also cancelled are planned City Commission workshop and the Planning and Zoning meetings this week. LakeWalesNews.net will update meeting schedules when they are announced. A major city initiative that may influence future development patterns throughout the Lake Wales area will be the subject of a public...
As Hurricane Ian threatens Florida and the Lake Wales area, Polk County has announced that thirteen shelters will be opened across the county, None are in Lake Wales. The only designated shelter in the city, located at Spook Hill Elementary, will apparently not be opened despite the demand from those living in several large mobile home communities in southeast Polk. The LakeWalesNews.net had highlighted this continued neglect of the region in a story published at the start of...
In preparation for the approaching storm, all Polk County Environmental Lands sites and Natural Resources Stormwater Treatment Wetlands will be closed Monday, September 26, 2022 out of an abundance of caution and will remain closed until further notice. These sites include Circle B Bar Reserve, Crooked Lake Prairie, Crooked Lake Sandhill, Gator Creek Reserve, Hickory Lake Scrub, Lakeland Highlands Scrub, Marshall Hampton Reserve, North Walk-in-Water Creek, Peace River...
On a 3-2 vote, Lake Wales city commissioners almost approved a controversial new subdivision plat that creates 907 new building lots on the near south side before a last minute reversal. The project, called Orchard Hills, is proposed sprawl across former citrus groves stretching east of Scenic Highway and north of Passion Play Road. The proposal exceeds the city's minimum requirements for open space, primarily due to the stormwater ponds, but was criticized by residents and a...
Timothy Ulysses Poitras of Babson Park passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at his residence. Timothy was born on July 4, 1959 in Manchester, New Hampshire to the late Ulysses and Harriet Poitras; he moved to Babson Park from Deer Field Beach in 1984. Timothy was a self-employed landlord and was a hard worker. He was a very loving person who had a big heart and helped everyone he could. Timothy was a strong man and a devoted husband. Timothy was preceded in death by...
Bernice Marie Howser of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at her residence. Bernice was born June 26, 1932 in Quincy, Illinois to the late Kenneth and Sadie Sperry; she moved to this area from her hometown 52 years ago. Bernice was an entrepreneur, and an accomplished seamstress. Before coming to this area, she and her husband owned and operated Good Health Egg Company in Illinois and distributed eggs to a number of grocery outlets. After moving to this area...
A U.S. Appeals Court has reversed a lower court ruling by finding that filming on government property isn't inherently a protected activity. Indie filmmaker Gordy Price shot scenes for his 2018 film Crawford Road on National Park Service (NPS) land -- Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia -- without first obtaining a permit and paying a fee. After its first screening, the NPS cited him with a misdemeanor, which carried a potential sentence of up to six months in...
Niyom Dowudom, age 82, passed away September 1, 2022, at Bartow Regional Medical Center. He was born August 25, 1940, in Bangkok. He was a Machine operator for International Paper Co. He enjoyed working and watching football. He is survived by a loving family that includes his wife Sue Dowudom, son Sunit Dowudom (Tabatha) and grandchildren William Dowudom & Sarah Carpenter (Keenan). Memorial service will be held Monday, September 12, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Whidden-McLean...
The steady expansion of city limits is expected to continue at Tuesday's Lake Wales city commission meeting when the board will consider the annexation of 67.73 acres of land south of Lake Bella Road and east of US Highway 27. The property lies at the extreme southern tip of the municipal limits, and will bring those limits into contact with Blue Lake for the first time. Property owners and applicants for the annexation include Rama Food Mart LLC, Mckenna Brothers Inc, Hunt...
Polk County's biggest water conservation event, the 7 Rivers Water Festival, will be held this weekend in Winter Haven's Central Park The festival is a free, family-friendly event where you can discover many ways to save water, help the environment and save money, according to Polk County Utilities. Excess water use and conservation ideas will be explained using fun activities for the whole family. Live animals will also be on display for selfie photos, free water-conserving f...
A vehicle reported as stolen by the owner from near the RaceTrac gas station has been recovered from a Haines City towing yard, leading to the arrest of the tow truck operator. Jesus Melendez of J & M Towing sent a letter to the victim stating the vehicle had been towed at the gas station manager's request. The letter also told the victim he could have his car back if he paid $735 in towing and storage fees. Race Trac management confirmed to police that they do not have...
A pink-tagged bass still swimming around in Lake Walk-in-the-Water is worth thousands of dollars to some lucky angler. A second tagged bass is loose at Tenoroc, while others swim in various Florida waters as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) TrophyCatch program ends another successful season. Catching one of these special bass and successfully submitting it to TrophyCatch will net the lucky angler a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card and $1,000 to...
The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is celebrating the groundbreaking of two new houses which will soon be built next to one another on A Street in the Northwest Neighborhood. This affordable housing initiative marks the third development partnership between the City, Keystone Challenge Fund, and SouthState Bank. Earlier this year, two new houses and two refurbished houses were completed on B Street. Those homes were sold as a result of the partnerships. The...
