Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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The City of Lake Wales Recreation Department will host Lake Wales Live starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17. The entertainment will be Back Porch Revival Folk Music. The free event is held in the park in front of the Lake Wales Public Library at 290 Cypress Gardens Lane. Food will be available for purchase from food trucks. Rotary on the Ridge will offer beer and wine for donations to support community service projects. For more information, contact Recreation Coordinator...
Lake Wales Main Street Director Karen Thompson is so excited about the possibility of a tap room breathing life into downtown Lake Wales that she's asking city commissioners to allocate $100,000 in incentives for a proposed "specialty tavern" that would feature a self-serve, high-tech "beer wall" with 40 taps. That's half of what the city budgeted for incentives for the entire 2019-2020 year. Operating as the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, the commission will consider...
Facing vocal opposition to eliminating the citizen Code Enforcement Board, Lake Wales city commissioners expressed support for a hybrid system where they would keep the board but also hire a magistrate to handle more complex quasi-judicial issues. City commissioners Terrye Howell and Curtis Gibson at their Jan. 7 meeting opposed the staff recommendation to eliminate both the Code Enforcement Board and Board of Appeals, saying they wanted to encourage more citizen involvement...
City Commissioner Curtis Gibson was in elementary school when Chuck Galloway became the Lake Wales city attorney 26 years ago. Gibson says it's time to at least consider whether the city might be better served by a new attorney. During the commissioner comment time at the end of the Jan. 7 meeting Gibson made a motion to put out a request for proposals for legal services, and Commissioner Terrye Howell seconded the motion. Gibson said he would encourage Galloway to submit his...
Lake Wales Assistant City Manager Kathy Bangley is asking city commissioners to eliminate the citizen-staffed Code Enforcement Board and Board of Appeals and turn their duties over to a special magistrate. The change would require two public hearings to change city ordinances related to the boards. The first public hearing will be at the Jan. 7 commission meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. in the city municipal building. The current ordinance calls for a Code Enforcement Board...
A Wawa convenience retail store manager who completes 25 years can retire a multimillionaire because of the company's lucrative profit-sharing program, according to George Wood, who will become the company's chairman of the board next June. Wood will take over from his brother Dick, who is also his next door neighbor in the exclusive gated community of Mountain Lake, just outside the Lake Wales city limits. The brothers are the third generation to own homes in Mountain Lake,...
Betty Hill only jumped once herself, but she brought thousands of skydivers to Lake Wales in the more than two decades she operated the Florida Skydiving Center. Friends, family and aviation sports enthusiasts began mourning her death Dec. 16 after a valiant 19-year battle with cancer. Hill was the brains behind the business and tirelessly promoted skydiving for more than 40 years. Instead of going to college, she and first husband George Kabeller opened their first skydiving...
Editor's Note: Memorial is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13 at 1st United Methodist Church in Lake Wales, with musical prelude starting at 1:30 p.m. The grand lady in red, white and blue, Lake Wales legend Mimi Hardman died Friday, Dec.13. A driving force for historic preservation and celebrating the pioneers who built Lake Wales, Hardman left behind an extraordinary legacy. Her service as chair of the Bicentennial Commission led to the opening of the Depot Museum on July...
Mildred Bailey “Millie” Gravel, 71, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Mildred was born April 2, 1948 in Haysi, VA to the late Basil and Altia (Owens) Bailey. She has been a resident of the area since 2004 coming from Moneta, VA. Millie was a retired postal clerk and was of the Christian faith. She is preceded in death by her 2 brothers Jake and Monroe. She is survived by her husband of 31 years David Gravel, daughter Heather Haas (Mike) of Madison, WI, stepdaughter Chr...
In 1912, the early settlers of what is now Lake Wales, were hearty, adventuresome people, real Pioneers, descendants of their ancestors who traveled via oxen-driven covered wagons and were true to their code of "Ten Tandra Via Est" meaning "The way remains to be tried." They came to Lake Wales by way of long, difficult and sometimes dangerous trips through swamps, overcoming their fears of possible snakes and alligators, travelling through Winter Haven, then Haines City,...
Greg Massey invested in a house in August and made plans to renovate it and rent it out. Unwilling to give him the extra time he requested to submit restoration plans, the City of Lake Wales had it demolished. The demolition took place on Tuesday, Dec. 17 – the same day City Manager Ken Fields knew Massey planned to address the city commission to seek their help. The demolition permit, issued Dec. 3, was good through Jan. 17. At the commission meeting Massey detailed the t...
In partnership with the Florida League of Cities, Lake Wales Mayor Eugene Fultz will be hosting a town hall meeting Wednesday, Jan. 8. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the city municipal administration building at 201 W. Central Ave. Scott Dudley, legislative director of the Florida League of Cities and executive director of the Florida League of Mayors will speak about issues likely to be considered by the Florida Legislature, which will convene Jan. 14. Some topics include...
Juanita O. Durso (Mrs Carl F. Durso) died Dec. 7, 2019. She was born Sept. 23, 1920. A sixth generation Kansan of Scottish descent, Juanita Orrick an original "Designing Woman" was owner of Nita Durso Interiors with customers in the Alameda Plaza and Kansas City area. Attending Kansas City Business College and Chicago Arts Institute, she was a Mid West Tennis Champion, and musically talented as a pianist and trumpeter performing with the Wyandotte High School Band and on local...
A City of Lake Wales incentive program to draw new restaurants to downtown has reeled in its first big catch. Melanie's Seafood Co. is scheduled to open in January at 120 Park Ave., thanks in part to $50,000 in grant funds from the city's Community Redevelopment Agency. The 35-seat eatery will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the site of the former Pedro's Downtown Deli, and will be owned and operated by Steve and Melanie Manwell, a couple who spent 17 years in a partnership at...
Jeri Ann Nicolas, 37, of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019 at AdventHealth in Orlando. She was born December 29, 1981 in Haines City to the late Abner L. and Donita (Mahoney) Hayes. She was a homemaker. Jeri was a caring and wonderful mom, children always loved her and would go to her. Jeri's family was her life and she loved them dearly. She is survived by her husband of 18 years Rafael Hernandez, daughters Kellee Yolanda Nicolas and Diana Elizabeth Nicolas,...
William "Bill" Thomas Stephens, 65, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019 at Advent Health in Orlando. He was born February 27, 1954 in Ft. Payne, AL. He has been a resident of the area since 1986 coming from South Dakota. He was a mechanic for over 40 years and retired from Jarrett Gordon Ford. William loved fishing, camping and boating. He is preceded in death by his parents William T. and Maggie A. (Burries) Stephens, brothers and sisters. He is survived by his d...
The City of Lake Wales Recreation Department will host Lake Wales Live starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20. The Jonathan Kaufman Trio will perform a night of jazzy holiday favorites. The free event is held in the park in front of the Lake Wales Public Library at 290 Cypress Gardens Lane. Food will be available for purchase from food trucks. Rotary on the Ridge will offer beer and wine for donations to support community service projects. For more information, contact Recreation...
The sale of the Lake Wales Family YMCA to the City is one step closer to reality. Commissioners approved a loan proposal from CenterState Bank totaling $900,000 at their regular meeting of Dec. 3, and will vote on a final sales contract at a future meeting. The total sales price is $565,000, according to Deputy City Manager James Slaton. The additional funds will go largely towards rehabilitation work at the YMCA. CenterState was one of six bidders on the loan. CenterState...
Lake Wales City Commissioners and the mayor may be getting a pay raise, but it will be April 2021 at the earliest. Commissioners at their Dec. 2 meeting asked City Manager Ken Fields to look into the possibility of a significant boost in pay. The current annual rate is about $4,817 for commissioners and $7,226, who by charter gets 50 percent more, plus he receives a $300 per month car allowance. They also are eligible for city health insurance and the get whatever cost of...
Lake Wales NAACP Chapter President Wanda Howard died Sunday of cardiac arrest after an 18-year battle with cancer. "This is a very sad day for the City of Lake Wales. Wanda was such a bright light for our community. She will be missed in so many ways," said Mayor Eugene Fultz. Howard became NAACP Branch 5109 president in January 2017, the first female to serve in that capacity. She was named branch president of the year at the state conference in September. She joined the...
City Commissioner Al Goldstein has been appointed by the Florida League of Cities to its Federal Action Strike Team, also known as FAST. The appointment announcement said Goldstein was selected because of his leadership within the League and his relationship with the local congressional delegation. Goldstein recently participated in the League's FAST Fly-in to Washington, DC, which the organization said was successful in bringing attention to a number of key federal issues....
Lillian Margaret "Twink" Amerson, 96, of Frostproof passed away Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at Winter Haven Hospital. She was born Jan. 20, 1923 in Hartford, CT to the late Arthur L and Lillian C. (Tripp) Jaques. She worked for the City of Frostproof for 43 years and was their longest employee. She served as City Clerk for 31 years and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Frostproof. Lillian loved to travel, going to Canada and Mexico. She was a member of the...
The Lake Wales hospital cafeteria filled with people Sunday bidding a fond farewell to Dr. James Nelson and his wife Janie, who are moving to Southwest Georgia. There were hugs, tears and stories about what the doctor meant to them and in some cases how he saved their lives. Former patients talked about the deep relationships Nelson built, taking time to talk about not only health issues but their shared faith in Jesus Christ. Several related how Nelson helped them through...
Thousands of barbecue, craft beer and music lovers will converge on the shores of Lake Wailes this weekend for the 2019 Orange Blossom Revue. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Lake Wales, the event runs from 4:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 and noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7. Admission is free and proceeds from food sales and raffles will support arts and education programs for Lake Wales area youth. The event, in its 6th year, grew out of an annual barbecue hosted by the club....
Dr. James Nelson, who has practiced Family Medicine in Lake Wales for more than three decades, will be honored at a retirement reception to celebrate his contributions to the community. The reception will be held at 2 pm. Sunday, Dec. 8, in the hospital cafeteria. The afternoon will include a special video presentation, comments from the hospital COO, remembrances from former patients and office staff, and a proclamation from the City of Lake Wales. The community, particularly patients and former patients, are invited to atte...
