Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 176 - 191 of 191
Wow, what a week! People are important in each community. Yes, even in Lake Wales. We honor the Pioneer every year, we elect city commissioners, and there are many other important people who don't hold city positions who affect our daily lives. Although what I am about to write about isn't directly related to the City proper, all of these helped shape me to become the person I am. I now understand the importance of bringing these outside experiences back to my town. For 10...
Nothing ventured, nothing gained; this phrase has been stated for years as a way for people to take chances, or better yet, opportunities that might stretch them. Anything new brings that sense of excitement, trepidation, fear of failure, and allure of success. Time also causes excitement and fear. It continues to march on and although we can never catch it, reflection of what it has taught us can open many fond memories or cause pain from the pictures stamped in our mind. As...
Webber International University in Babson Park is now offering six undergraduate and three master's degree programs online. Established in 1927, Webber is a nonprofit organization accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). Webber focuses on a worldwide business environment, modern business practices and entrepreneurship, but also offers more. Webber has a program that caters to the non-traditional student and offers a fully online program for...
Congratulations to "Team Planktons," winners of the third annual Big Kahuna Paddle Challenge on Saturday April 6 at Webber International University. Team members Jennifer Nanek, Richard Moody, Dan Hurst and Webber students, along with Bill Redmon at the helm, were victorious, but gave the winning prize to their competitor, The Vanguard School of Lake Wales. It's the third year for Nanek, Lake Wales city clerk, to compete in the event. "The secret to success is teamwork,...
While some of the world's finest pilots demonstrated their skills at the 45th Annual Sun 'n Fun Fly-in & Expo in Lakeland a contingent of teenagers gathered nearby rebuilding a wing and tuning up a jet engine. Babson Park's Jackson Gerard and his friends in the Lakeland Aeroclub hosted hundreds of visitors to the Fly-in, including officials from the Federal Aviation Administration who were interested in meeting the next generation of aviators. Sixteen-year-old Gerard is in...
Good food and fun are drawing crowds into the popular Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern, but there's also a fascinating bit of Babson Park history behind the success. Featuring a large and diverse menu and a full bar, the Crooked Bass is already a familiar dinner-time destination for folks in Babson Park and Frostproof, but as its reputation grows, people are making the drive from Lake Wales, Avon Park, Winter Haven, Haines City, and surrounding towns. The project of Tammy and...
Nancy D. Kahler, 91, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, April 3 at Winter Haven Hospital. She was surrounded by all her loved ones. Nancy was born October 26, 1927 in Elizabeth, NJ to the late Fred A. Dreier and Rose (Vierling) Dreier. Nancy was a graduate of Gettysburg College, PA with a major in chemistry and a minor in math. She has been a resident of this area since 1952 coming from Westfield, N.J. She was an Agent/Broker and owner of Plantation Inn Realty. Prior to...
You might say that Samantha Havens is the Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary School Teacher of the Year because she hits all the right notes. Now in her ninth year at the Lake Wales Charter System, the school's music teacher earned a bachelor's in music education from Warner University in 2010, where she was inspired by Dr. Steven Darr. "Dr. Darr taught me that if you want something to be spectacular, then you need to put in the time and effort," Havens noted. "He is...
The 2019 Crooked Lake Heritage Festival will celebrate the rich history of Babson Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 at Webber International University. The free event includes live music, history displays, art activities, food trucks and performance by the Babson Park Elementary chorus. At 9 a.m. teams will compete in the Big Kahuna Paddle Challenge. Teams of 10-14 paddlers will race a 29-foot Voyager canoe around a buoy and back to earn the title "Big Kahuna."...
April Love Belligan, 61, of Venice, Florida, died March 13 in her sleep at the Venice Regional Bayfront Health Hospital. She was born on March 1, 1958 in Lake Wales to the late Norma (Wooten) and Remus Perry Love Jr. She was the youngest daughter of six children. She is survived by her husband Richard Belligan of Nokomis, FL, who she married Oct. 14, 2005. April grew up in Polk County. She had various talents and interests. She enjoyed working in several management positions such as office manager of Swango Animal Hospital....
Lillian O. Collins of Babson Park passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on Feb. 25, 2019 at her residence. She was born May 15, 1937 in Wise County, Virginia to the late Willie and Bonnie V. (Bolling) Roberts. She has been a resident of the area since 1973 coming from Texas. Lillian and her husband owned and operated former restaurants including Collins' Family Restaurant, Coppertop Restaurant and the Babson Park Restaurant where she was known for her famous...
Registration is underway for teams and sponsors to enter the Big Kahuna Paddle Challenge from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 6 at Webber International University in Babson Park. A project of Webber's Rotaract Club, with help from area Rotary Clubs, all proceeds will be donated to Stirring Waters. "We need 10 to 14 paddlers per team who race a 29-foot Voyager canoe 500 yards around a buoy and back to earn the title of Big Kahuna," details Redmon. "High school, college,...
Mary R. Pearson of Babson Park passed away Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Auburndale. She was born October 5, 1932 in Marion, Michigan to the late Isaac and Nora (Dipmore) Lytle. She has been a resident of the area since 1951 coming from Indiana. She was a phone operator for Wal-Mart and worked in Central Supply at Lake Wales Hospital. Mary enjoyed doing crafts and jigsaw puzzles. She was of the Baptist faith. She is preceded in death by her husband Dewey Pearson, daughter Brenda Anderson and 12 brothers...
Principal Donna Dunson may or may not have shed a few tears when she was interviewing Lillian Anderson a while back. But what is clear is Dunson was convinced Anderson needed to teach at Lake Wales High School, and that she was going to do whatever it took to get her there. Seven years later, Anderson has been named Teacher of the Year for the Lake Wales Charter System, honored recently along with teachers and support staff from each of its seven schools during the system's...
Three Lake Wales Charter schools were among 21 schools in Polk County recognized recently as Five Star School award winners by the Florida Department of Education. Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary School, Hillcrest Elementary School and Polk Avenue Elementary School were among about 700 schools statewide to receive the honor for the 2017-18 school year. The Five Star School award honors schools for exemplary community involvement and their commitment to incorporating...
Polk County commissioners sent plans for a large gas station and convenience store back to the Polk County Planning Commission after hearing public concerns that the development is too large for the area and might harm Crooked Lake. The gas station – a Circle K is being planned By Atlantic Funding Limited – would be at the intersection of U.S. 27 and County Road 640 just outside Lake Wales. It was proposed to have 28 spaces to pump gas. There would be no overnight par...
