Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the November 22, 2023 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 10 of 10

  • Businesses Remain Open as West Park Avenue Transformed into Shady Oasis by Construction

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Dec 6, 2023

    In nothing less than a transformation, the formerly dreary stretch of Park Avenue west of First Street is swiftly becoming an attractive green oasis intended to help draw pedestrian traffic to the heart of Lake Wales. The three-block-long stretch of the street west of Scenic Highway is the heart of the $20 million investment being made by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency to reinvigorate the city's urban core. Conceived as "Lake Wales Connected" by a team of...

  • Last Chance to Enter Lake Wales' Christmas Night Parade

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Nov 26, 2023

    The deadline for entering a float in the Lake Wales Christmas night parade is fast approaching, according to members of the sponsoring Rotary on the Ridge. Those interested in being a part of the event have until November 30 to send in their entry forms. The theme of this year's procession is "Toys on Parade," and numerous entries are expected to feature toys, some on a gigantic scale. The parade will follow a modified route through the city this year after lining up at Polk...

  • Arlie "Skipper" Richards, 1961-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Nov 24, 2023

    Arlie "Skipper" Richards of Lake Wales passed away Friday, November 17, 2023 at James A. Haley Hospital in Tampa. He was born May 8, 1961 in Portsmouth, Virginia to the late Arlie and Ruth Richards; he has been a lifelong resident of the area and graduated from Lake Wales High School in 1978. Skipper retired from the United States Air Force then worked as a mechanic for Citro Suco. He loved fishing and working on cars. Skipper loved his family dearly and was a great dad and...

  • November 21, 1923 Highlander

    News Research|Updated Nov 23, 2023

    Lake Wales voters were facing three election sin a 60-day span 100 years ago, with the first of the separate ballots to decide the burning issue of whether to require the fencing of livestock, thereby ending the "open range" era of life in this part of the state. The decades-long battle between advocates of open range livestock and those who opposed the practice had sometimes led to violence due to incidents including fence-cutting. Those clashes were referred to as "range...

  • Walter D.Chaney Jr., 1942-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Nov 22, 2023

    Walter D. Chaney Jr., 81, loving husband and father, passed away on November 19th,2023. He is survived by his wife Susan L. Chaney, son Patrick, step daughter Diana, grandsons Darren, Trenton, and Landen, and granddaughters Keena, Kiera, and Paxtynn. He was born in Macon, Georgia on October 25, 1942, and was predeceased by his parents Walter Sr. and Elizabeth Chaney. He was a graduate of Savannah Christian High School in Georgia where he played trumpet in the marching band....

  • There's Still Time to Take Home a Free Pizzano's Pizza!

    News Staff|Updated Nov 21, 2023

    There's still time for you to be one of our 26 winners who get a free "all-the-works" pizza just by sharing a news story on your social media feed. Yep, you can earn the large pizza of your choice from Pizzano's of Lake Wales just by sharing the important stories we publish about our community. Pick an impactful story from our sections about Schools, Fun, Ridge Life, Business, it's all up to you! Just know that you could very well be enjoying one of our delicious prizes. Two...

  • Brian Paul Herr

    News Obituary Service|Updated Nov 21, 2023

    Polk County firefighter/paramedic Brian Paul Herr died in a traffic accident Saturday, November 18, in Davenport. He was 41. Herr, of Lutz, Florida, is survived by his mother: Susan Kishlicky, Castleton, NY, father: Richard Herr, Children: Julian and Andrew Herr, Lutz, FL aunt: Pat Buckley, Castleton, NY, and the brothers and sisters of Polk County Fire Rescue. Funeral service will be at Lakes Church, 1010 East Memorial Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33830: Thursday, November 30, 2023,...

  • Kenneth "Cricket" Bessette, 1958-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Nov 20, 2023

    Kenneth “Cricket” Bessette of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, November 16, 2023 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. He was born October 12, 1958 in England to the late Kenneth Bessette and Doreen Hamilton; he came here from Riverview 15 years ago. He was a retired collections representative and of the Catholic faith. He enjoyed family, fishing and hunting. He was always the life of the party. He loved his family dearly and was loved by everyone. He was an animal lover and loved his...

  • Elinor Lorraine Palmatier, 1934-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Nov 20, 2023

    Elinor Lorraine Palmatier of Frostproof passed away Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Somers Hospice House in Sebring. She was born September 13, 1934 in Berwyn, Pennsylvania to the late George and Viola Hurd; she has been a resident of the area for many years. Elinor was a member of First Baptist Church of Frostproof. She was an animal lover and enjoyed bird watching. She loved her family overall. Elinor was preceded in death by her husband, James Palmatier; daughter, Karen...

  • A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: A Thrilling and Thought-provoking Prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy.

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Nov 20, 2023

    "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is a captivating and suspenseful prequel to the beloved dystopian trilogy. I read the book several years back and very much enjoyed it. Set 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute, the movie follows the ambitious and cunning Coriolanus Snow, a young man from a prominent but poor family in the opulent Capitol. When he is selected as a mentor for District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird, a defiant and talented musi...