Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the October 30, 2024 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 14 of 14

  • Lake Wales Arts Council Plans Fiddles & Fine Arts Auction

    Special to the News|Updated Nov 5, 2024

    The Lake Wales Arts Council (LWAC) is excited to announce its upcoming Fiddles & Fine Art: Instrument & Art Auction on Saturday, November 16, 2024. This unique event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the historic Lake Wales Arts Center and will feature live and silent auctions of original artwork, rare musical instruments, and one-of-a-kind community-donated art pieces, with all proceeds supporting youth arts education programs in Lake Wales. Special Matching...

  • Steven Lee Wolfson, 1952-2024

    News Obituary Service|Updated Nov 4, 2024

    Steven Lee Wolfson of Lake Wales passed away on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. He was born June 18, 1952 in Lake Wales to the late Herbert and Rae Wolfson; he has been a lifelong resident of the area. Steven was a retired salesman and attended Temple Emmanuel in Lakeland. Steven was the mayor of Lake Wales from 1995 - 1996, a City Commissioner of Lake Wales from 1992-1996, and a member of the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce in 1992. Steven is survived...

  • Rafael Not Expected to Have Serious Impacts Here, May Bring Welcome Rains

    Robert Connors|Updated Nov 3, 2024

    Tropical Storm Rafael, expected to soon reach hurricane strength as it moves toward Jamaica, Cuba, and the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to hold little threat for central Florida, but could bring welcome rains. The cyclone, which reached tropical storm strength on Monday, could undergo a period of rapid intensification due to its passage over the still superheated waters of the Caribbean. Once it enters the Gulf of Mexico region, however, hostile conditions and...

  • 39-Mile Yard Sale Expected to Draw Thousands of Shoppers to Scenic Highway Saturday

    Robert Connors|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    What do model railroad trains, lawn mowers, rare coins, and collectible art have in common? They will all be offered for sale this Saturday, November 2, along Scenic Highway. Thousands of bargain shoppers are expected to enjoy ideal conditions for browsing among the hundreds of booths that will line the route of the annual 39-mile Yard Sale. The event draws visitors from across the state and beyond to explore the arcane and sublime offerings brought to the sale by vendors...

  • Katrina Ann Ybarra, 1960-2024

    News Obituary Service|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    Katrina Ann Ybarra of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at AdventHealth Celebration. She was born January 29, 1960 in Bartow to the late Billy and Susie Davis; she has been a resident of Lake Wales for 45 years. Katrina was a homemaker and a very smart person. She was an artist with a special love for painting and drawing. She loved to fish and talk to people. Katrina is survived by her husband, Tomas Ybarra; daughter, Stormee Ybarra of Portland, Oregon; son,...

  • Pilot Escapes Uninjured After Emergency Landing on US 17

    News Staff Reports|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    Bringing a plane to Bartow for an inspection was supposed to be a routine flight from Fort Myers for Robert Mosier, 45, of Winter Haven. When the plane in question began to lose power near Homeland with no airport in sight, Mosier proved his worth as a pilot. At about 11:05 Thursday morning Mosier guided the small replica war plane to a safe landing on the northbound lanes of US 17 near Homeland Garfield Road in Bartow. Mosier is a commercial pilot but also works part-time...

  • Art Teacher Brannan Lawson of Lake Wales Named the 2024 Arts & Cultural Educator of the Year

    Special to the News|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    Art teacher Brannan Lawson of Hillcrest Elementary School in Lake Wales has been named the 2024 Arts & Cultural Educator of the Year by the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance. In partnership with the Lake Wales Arts Council, Lawson spearheaded the Creative Kids Market that creates opportunities for children to combine lessons in art making and entrepreneurship. "Brannan has been a fantastic arts educator in Lake Wales for ten years," Tommy Frank, executive director of the Lake...

  • Linda L Rogers, 1941-2024

    News Obituary Service|Updated Oct 31, 2024

    Linda L Rogers, a native Floridian, 83, of Lake Wales, FL passed away October 26, in Naples, FL. She was born in Avon Park, FL in 1941 to Ralph T Rogers & Dorothy Rogers (Hand). After graduating from Sarasota High School, she attended FSU and then earned her bachelor's degree in fine arts at William & Mary College in VA. She joined Kennedy Space Center - NASA in 1966 and earned multiple recognitions, awards and medals over her 30year career of procurement & contract...

  • SR 60 Crash Claims Life of Lakeland Man

    Special to the News|Updated Oct 30, 2024

    A 73-year-old Lakeland man who apparently failed to see a tractor-trailer rig crossing SR 60 near Bartow was killed early Tuesday morning after his Dodge pickup truck collided with the trailer, shearing off the top of the vehicle and killing him instantly, according to Polk County Sheriff's office Traffic Homicide Unit. The PCSO is investigating the crash that occurred around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday at 2710 State Road 60, just west of Bartow. A delivery driver who had arrived early...

  • Renovated Crystal Lake Apartments Dedicated by Care Center

    Robert Connors|Updated Oct 30, 2024

    An attractive renovation of the historic Crystal Lake Apartments was unveiled in Lake Wales Tuesday, showcasing a development which will contribute to ongoing efforts to increase residential uses in the city's downtown area. The two-story building at 282 East Park Avenue offers eight fully-remodeled one and two-bedroom apartments. Officers and directors of the Lake Wales Care Center hosted some 100 guests who toured the like-new facility and enjoyed refreshments following the...

  • Harold Stephen Wysock, 1925-2024

    News Obituary Service|Updated Oct 29, 2024

    Harold Stephen Wysock of Lake Wales passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at his residence. He was born July 4, 1925 in Springfield, Massachusetts to the late Stephen and Louise Wysock; he moved to Lake Wales from Fort Meade 15 years ago. Harold developed and managed the New England Mobile Home Park in Hollywood, Florida. He served with the United States Army during WWII. He enjoyed traveling and gardening. Harold loved farm animals including exotic animals and birds. He...

  • Your Monster is a Quirky Blend of Genres

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Oct 29, 2024

    Your Monster, written and directed by Caroline Lindy, is a quirky blend of horror, comedy, and drama. Starring Melissa Barrera, Meghan Fahy, and Tommy Dewey, the film delves into the tumultuous aftermath of a painful breakup. Inspired by Lindy's personal experiences, the film follows Laura, a woman recently diagnosed with cancer who is abandoned by her boyfriend, Jacob. Jacob is a musical theater director who has a show going on that he wrote with Laura's help. Seeking solace...

  • Lake Wales Street Resurfacing Project Correcting Miles of Rough Surface - Is Your Street Included?

    News Staff Reports|Updated Oct 29, 2024

    Motorists traveling on city streets around Lake Wales will find the going much smoother as work progresses on an aggressive program of improvements being conducted under city contracts. Portions of 12 roadways are presently being resurfaced with either a cape seal or a double-micro slurry of liquid asphalt as part of the city's Pavement Management Program. Both processes are preservation treatments to extend the life of the roadways for several years, creating a smoother...

  • Tropics Becoming Active Once Again, Gulf Storm Expected to Develop

    Robert Connnors|Updated Oct 28, 2024

    Ridge-area residents will find a changing weather pattern over the coming week as the tropics become active once again. The western Caribbean's "Central American Gyre" that has already spawned two destructive hurricanes is once again the source of potential trouble. The National Hurricane Center in Miami is tracking a few disturbances already, and models are suggesting that others may follow. A broad circulation, still devoid of significant storms, is being given an 80...