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(40) stories found containing 'Andy Oguntola'


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  • Charter Trustees Issue Apology, Approve Superintendent's Departure Feb. 26

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Feb 4, 2021

    The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees unanimously approved a separation agreement Monday, Feb. 1 that will end Superintendent Jesse Jackson's 13-year tenure on Feb. 26. Six of the eight trustees, including the non-voting teacher representative Jennifer Simpson, also signed a letter of apology requested by Jackson as part of the agreement. Trustees Danny Gill and Becky Gaston chose not to sign the letter. The trustees approved allowing Jackson to take a payout of...

  • Charter Trustees to Act Feb. 1 on Superintendent's Exit End of Month

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Jan 31, 2021

    The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees will consider an agreement Feb. 1 for Superintendent Jesse Jackson to exit Feb. 26 with about $59,000 owed him for accrued vacation and sick leave benefits. The negotiated separation agreement would reinstate him from the suspension issued one week ago, and he would continue receiving salary while not performing any duties as superintendent. Chief Financial Officer Alricky Smith would continue as interim superintendent. The...

  • Commissioners Give Final Look at Proposed Charter Changes

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Nov 11, 2020

    The Lake Wales City Commission will give a final look Nov. 3 to seven proposed changes to the city charter that would go on the April 2021 municipal ballot. Commissioners decided to hold their meeting early at 10 a.m. at the city administration building to avoid election day conflicts. Two weeks ago commissioners approved seven ordinances to place before the voters changes recommended by the five-member Charter Review Committee. They decided to define the duties of city...

  • Citizens Police Advisory Board Holding First Public Forum Oct. 26

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Oct 25, 2020

    The Citizens and Police Community Relations Advisory Board will hold its first public forum at 6 p.m. Monday Oct. 26 at the B Street Center. Due to the COVID-19 virus, attendees must wear masks and have their temperatures checked upon entrance. About 20 seats will be available to accommodate social distancing, so participants may be rotated into the meeting to offer five minute comments. The Lake Wales City Commission re-established the committee in August with the following...

  • Citizens and Police Advisory Committee Holds Organizational Meeting

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 23, 2020

    The newly recreated Citizens and Police Community Relations Advisory Committee held its first meeting Monday, Sept. 21 to organize and get acquainted. The Lake Wales City Commission re-established the committee in August with the following purposes: - Providing a forum for citizens to express their opinions about police procedures and to receive informal information from the police department regarding police procedures. - Providing a forum for citizens and the police...

  • City Charter Review Moving Quickly; More Citizen Input Welcome

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 10, 2020

    The Lake Wales Charter Review Committee is ahead of schedule and looking for public input on changes that can make city government operate better. The next Committee meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 at the city administration building, 201 W. Central Ave. People can attend in person or join online by registering at https://www.lakewalesfl.gov/Register The current Charter, which was last reviewed in 2010, can be found online at http://lakewales.e...

  • Lake Wales Chamber Board Votes to Support Face Mask Mandate

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Jul 30, 2020
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    The Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council Board of Directors went on record Friday July 24 calling for the city commission to adopt an emergency resolution to mandate face masks in the city to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. A letter signed by Chamber President Kevin Kieft and Board Chairman Andy Oguntola said face masks should be a "government led issue" and the Chamber board "voted to support and push for a mask mandate in the City of Lake Wales...

  • City Charter Review Committee Holds Organizational Meeting

    Updated Jun 25, 2020

    The Lake Wales Charter Review Committee held its organizational meeting Wednesday, June 24, and all five members expressed a willingness to kick in with twice monthly meetings to get the job done by December. The charter details how the city is governed, and any suggested changes will be put to the voters in April 2021. The committee elected consultant and publisher Chevon Baccus as chairperson and college administrator Andy Oguntola as vice chairperson. Other members are all...

  • Committee Appointed to Review Lake Wales City Charter

    Brian Ackley, City of Lake Wales|Updated Jun 24, 2020

    A blue-ribbon committee of residents will spend the next few months reviewing the Lake Wales charter – the document that details how the city is governed – with an eye towards putting any suggested changes in front of voters next spring. The five-person group will conduct all its meetings publicly, and ultimately can only suggest changes. Those suggestions are then considered by the current city commission, and then go on the ballot if they give them a thumbs up. The com...

  • Commission OKs Negotiating with Charter Schools for Purchase of 1919 School Property for Bok North Academy

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Feb 19, 2020

    Lake Wales city commissioners in their role as the Community Redevelopment Agency authorized the city manager to explore the possible sale of the 1919 school property to the Lake Wales Charter Schools to become the permanent home of Bok Academy North. But commissioners raised several issues they want resolved during negotiations. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson left the room during the discussion to avoid any ethical conflict since he serves as legal counsel for the charter system....

  • Polk State's Oguntola Assumes Chamber Reins at Annual Holiday Banquet

    Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council Board Chairman Maryemma Bachelder celebrated a successful year at the annual holiday luncheon Dec. 6 as she prepared to turn the reins over to Andy Oguntola. Past board chairmen, formerly called presidents, lined up in date order for the annual tradition of passing the gavel. First in line this year was Edwin Friedlander, who was Chamber president 60 years ago in 1959. Oguntola has the distinction of...

  • Hospital Employees Donate School Supplies

    Updated Jul 30, 2019

    Employees at Lake Wales Medical Center donated three carloads of backpacks and school supplies to help area children go back to school with all the tools they'll need for success. Departments were challenged to use a Dr. Seuss theme to create a display of school supplies donated by employees. Community judges viewed each entry and selected the Laboratory as winner of the contest. Lab employees receive a pizza / ice cream party. The hospital also gave a $100 gift card to an...

  • Lake Wales Community Rallies in Support of Polk State J.D. Alexander Center

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated May 16, 2019

    About 100 business and community leaders, elected officials and educators gathered Thursday morning, May 16, to rally support for continued funding of the Lake Wales J.D. Alexander Center of Polk State College. Rather than include $2.5 million for the Lake Wales campus in its regular budget, the Florida Legislature placed it as a separate line item, making it subject to a potential veto by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti reminded the crowd that...

  • Polk State's Oguntola Receives Community Leadership Award

    Updated May 14, 2019

    Andy Oguntola, director of the Polk State College J.D. Alexander Center, was presented with the Community Leadership Award at the Thursday, May 9 annual awards gala of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council. Past winner Brian Marbutt of Citizens Bank and Trust presented the award and announced to the crowd that Oguntola had recently completed his doctorate in higher education leadership. Oguntola started out by thanking "Jesus Christ, my Lord...

  • Chamber Recognizing Community Leaders

    Updated May 10, 2019

    Three individuals, two businesses and one service organization will be honored Thursday, May 7 at the annual fundraising gala hosted by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council. The event theme is "Feeling Groovy," and many attendees are expected to dress in costumes from the 1970s. The event is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. in the Lake Ashton Banquet Hall. Tickets are $75 for individuals and $1,000 for a table of 8. Other sponsorship levels are...