Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 191
For the second time in three years, $2.5 million of Polk State College’s recurring operational budget – more than 5 percent of the College’s total budget – is at risk of veto and the College is requesting the community’s support to protect these funds to ensure the Polk State JD Alexander Center, Polk State’s Lake Wales Campus, may continue to serve southeast Polk County with quality higher education and workforce training. The 2019 Legislative Session concluded May 4 with...
Jessie Freeman Welch, 85, of Babson Park passed away Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 at Advent Healthcare in Lake Wales. She was born April 4, 1934 in Fitzgerald, GA to the late Donald I. and Florita (Barnes) Freeman. She has been a resident of the area since 1996 coming from Auburndale. She was a seamstress and a member of the Babson Park Community Church. She was known for her southern cooking, especially her pecan pies, spice cakes and candy for the family and church functions....
Sellers and buyers alike have a special opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Ridge Scenic Highway Scenic corridor Saturday, Nov. 2 while hunting for bargains along the 39-Mile Scenic Highway Yard Sale. The Lake Wales History Museum at 325 S. Scenic Highway is one of seven official locations, hosting 30 booths along with music and food. Tables will line the Scenic Highway from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other official locations are the Lake of the Hills Community Clubhouse, Krewe of...
Adverse childhood experiences often have a lasting impact, resulting in negative health and economic outcomes throughout adulthood, according to Dr. Lyn Jones, who has worked with hurting people for many years. A Babson Park chiropractor and longtime psychiatric nurse, Jones shared her expertise in domestic violence, other abuse and neglect at the recent annual meeting of the GFWC Lake Wales Woman's Club. The Woman's Club has adopted domestic violence abuse and prevention as...
Clara Joan Waddle, 83, of Lake Wales, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019 at Lifecare Center in Winter Haven. She was born July 11, 1936 in Lake Wales to the late Maynard and Mary (Smith) Davis. She has been a lifelong resident of the area and is of the Pentecostal faith. She was a citrus packer. Clara enjoyed shopping, karaoke, family gatherings, the beach and flowers. She is preceded in death by her husband Rayburn Waddle. She is survived by her daughters Lucinda Hayes and husband Larry of Lake Wales, Brenda White and...
Susan Martene Pistole, 73, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 at the Winter Haven Hospital. She was born November 11, 1945 in Minneapolis, MN to the late Conrad J. and Vera I. Holm. She has been a resident of the area for 8 years coming from California. She was in guest services at Legoland. Susan loved her family, liked to crochet, garden and went to all the games her family participated in. She is preceded in death by her husband Gary Pistole. She is survived by her sons Gary R. Pistole and wife Pamela of...
Leadership Lake Wales Class 24 kicked off its 10-month program Wednesday, Sept. 18 with a class retreat at Bok Tower. The program is coordinated by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and EDC through its nonprofit Lake Wales Area Foundation. Class 24 has 20 members, representing various businesses, nonprofits and government agencies in the area. Alumni from some of the previous 23 groups came to meet the new class, reflect on their participation and offer suggestions on...
Jeanette Eve Sands, 92, of Babson Park passed away Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019 at her residence. She was born December 24, 1926 in Newberry, SC to the late Clarence E. and Maggie (Mills) Perkins. She has been a resident of the Winter Haven area since 1963 coming from Newberry, SC. She was a retired unit aecretary for Winter Haven Hospital and was of the Baptist faith. Jeanette enjoyed crafting, cooking and being a grandmother. She is preceded in death by her son Lawrence Pope...
Mary Janet Reese Seitz, 89 a resident of Bellatage Assisted Living Facility in Winter Haven, Florida, departed this life in the faith and fear of the Lord on Thursday, August 22, 2019. Jan, as she was known, was born February 14, 1930 in Massilon, Ohio, the youngest daughter of Charles and Marjorie Reese. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Thomas C. Seitz, Sr., and sisters Constance, Barbara and Carolyn. She is survived by four sons, Thomas Seitz, Jr....
The Defenders of Crooked Lake are sounding a health and safety alarm since recent record rains have resulted in overflows of both raw and treated sewage. "Please use caution in the vicinity of standing water in the Crooked Lake Park area. The discharge of wastewater can result in increased concentrations of coliform bacteria and present a risk to human health," said an alert by Defenders President Jim Tully. Tully said the Babson Park area typically receives eight inches of...
Frank H. Haskin, MSGT U.S Army (Ret.), passed away on August 10, 2019 due to complications of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. He was born April 27, 1949 in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany. His parents were William L, and Doris (Radloff) Haskin of Babson Park. He graduated Class of 1968 from Lake Wales High School. He enlisted in the United States Army September 20, 1968, and his first duty station was in Dong Tam, Vietnam, where he was part of the 9th combat MPs. During his...
Raymond L. Dease, 74, of Lake Wales, Florida passed away Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at the Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born May 24, 1945 in Lake Wales to the late Quincy A. and Alma (Respress) Dease. He was a lifelong resident of the area and of the Baptist faith. Raymond was an automobile enthusiast He is preceded in death by 2 brothers and 1 sister. Survivors include his wife of 36 years Martha Caraway Dease, daughter Ray Lynn Dease of Lake Wales, son Dewayne...
Overcoming significant challenges of language and poverty, the Lake Wales Charter Schools maintained or improved their 2019 school grades released July 11 by the Florida Department of Education. "We are very, very proud of their improvement and success, of the work that's being done," said charter schools Superintendent Jesse Jackson. "What we have done over the years is try to build a system for success. . . create a structure. Personalities come and go, but we're building a...
Joann Martin McKenna, 91, entered Eternal Life on Thursday, July 25 at Winter Haven Hospital surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on March 14, 1928 in Lake Wales. Joann graduated from Lake Wales High School, Marquette University (BA) and the University of South Florida (MA) and received a honorary PhD from Webber International University. Over the course of her career at Webber International University, formerly Webber College, she held 7 different titles including...
Linda Soltow, 72 of Babson Park died May 11 at Grace Healthcare in Lake Wales under Good Shepherd Hospice Care. She was born Nov. 2, 1946 in Corning, Arkansas. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements....
Betty Louise Jakeway, 94, of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, May 18 @ 5:35am, at Winter Haven Hospital. She was born June 12, 1924 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to the late Harold and Vernetta M. (Johnson) Harter. She has been a resident of this area since 1971, moving here from Los Angeles, CA, when her husband Dr. Wade Jakeway came to work for Warner Southern College, now Warner University. She coached softball at Warner and umpired for local recreation leagues, drawing from h...
Hope Ramsey, 49 of Ocoee, formerly of Babson Park, died May 27 at the Orlando Health Regional Medical Center in Orlando, Florida under Cornerstone Hospice Care. She was born Oct. 21, 1969. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is in charge of arrangements....
Constance E. Jones, 80, of Babson Park passed away Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Grace Healthcare in Lake Wales. She was born October 3, 1938 in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania to the late Richard A. and Bernice (Brown) Wood. She lived in Hillcrest Heights Florida for 56 years. She retired as the secretary of Babson Park Elementary school after 36 years. She is preceded in death by her parents, first husband Howard Fink, second husband Harry W. Jones, her brother Dick Wood, and her...
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...
Rotary on the Ridge members presented the "Josh the Otter" water safety program May 14 to about 200 kindergartners at Chain of Lakes Elementary School. The school's adult-size fuzzy otter mascot visited kindergartners at Spook Hill Elementary School in Lake Wales May 1 and May 3 to stress the importance of safety around the water. Rotary on the Ridge President Megan Gillis read the book "Josh the Baby Otter" to teach the children some very important water safety concepts. Club...
An adult-size fuzzy otter is visiting kindergartners at Spook Hill Elementary School in Lake Wales May 1 and May 3 to stress the importance of safety around the water. Rotary on the Ridge Vice President-elect Trey Heath read the book "Josh the Baby Otter" to teach the children some very important water safety concepts. Heath reinforced the importance of having a swim buddy, making sure there's an adult present at all times and floating on their backs should they ever end up...
Linda Soltow, 72, of Babson Park, Florida, died May 11 at Grace Healthcare in Lake Wales under Good Shepherd Hospice Care. She was born Nov. 2, 1946 in Corning, Arkansas. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales is in charge of arrangements....
Marty Griffin, 66, of Babson Park passed away Wednesday, May 8 at his residence. He was born October 31, 1952 in Adel, GA to the late Carson and Sally F. (Greene) Griffin. He has been a resident of the area for seven years coming from Georgia. He attended elementary and high School in Frostproof. He was employed as a boat loader and was of the Baptist faith. Marty liked wrestling, video games, motorcycling and fishing. He loved the Lord and his Momma, and he would always check on everyone by phone every day. He is survived...
The Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council at its annual awards gala May 9 presented two local companies with Carl F. Durso Excellence in Business Awards. The small business winner was Capo Security and the larger business award went to Grow Healthy. Durso was a longtime Lake Wales supporter and Chamber executive director. Criteria for the award includes length of time in the community, number of employees, growth or expansion of the business...
Christopher “Chris” Douglas Gaborik, 62, of Babson Park, Florida passed away Wednesday, April 24 at the Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born May 31, 1956 in Haines City. Chris loved fishing and his dog. He is preceded in death by his father Lincoln Peter Gaborik, son Christopher Gaborik Jr. He is survived by his mother Nancy Lee Becker of Babson Park, wife Lunnelle Whittle, sister Cindy Lee Whitesell, brothers Jerry Lincoln Gaborik, Lester David Gaborik and Marty Gaborik. Family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m...
