Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 601 - 625 of 1183
The process of converting barren downtown streets into a shady pedestrian oasis got a financial boost as the City expects to receive a Federal grant. In a presentation to area citizens via an Internet link from Washington DC Tuesday evening, Congressman Darren Soto mentioned that an $800,000 infusion for downtown street rehabilitation had been included in the recent bi-partisan Infrastructure package approved by the US House. The package is now awaiting Senate approval. Soto gave Mayor Eugene Fultz credit for having brought...
A million-dollar second mortgage will fund the renovation of the original 1919 Lake Wales school building into new classroom space under action taken by the Lake Wales Charter School System. The building has been a white elephant and neighborhood eyesore for many years, and the plan brings relief to many. The path to the new loan was cleared Wednesday evening by the Community Redevelopment Agency board, which recorded no opposition to the mortgage being offered by Citizen's...
In a special recognition of his efforts, Lake Wales resident Joseph Lunsford will be the recipient of his very own "day" upon the issuance of a Proclamation from the City of Lake Wales declaring a "Joseph Lunsford Recognition Day." Lunsford, 28, has been selected to represent Florida in the 2022 Special Olympics USA to be held in Orlando June 5th-12th, 2022. Lunsford is a multi-sport athlete and has competed in a wide range of Special Olympics sports, including track,...
After more than 90 years, new flowering trees will soon be planted as part of a city-wide landscaping effort. More than two dozen new flowering trees will line several blocks of South 4th Street. The plantings are initial steps of a program that will ultimately involve well over one thousand trees. The original designs for city streetscapes were created by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. shortly after he completed his design of Bok Tower Gardens. Olmsted...
As the city prepares to embark on a transformative Lake Wales Connected redesign of the historic Park Avenue that forms the heart of downtown Lake Wales, one city commissioner is making his own effort to support the makeover. The blank stucco wall at 244 East Park will be replaced by the original broad windows open to the street, thanks to a substantial personal investment by Robin Gibson. "I've driven by that building many times" Gibson said of the two-story structure at 244...
The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency took "first steps toward a pretty major transformation of Lake Wales" Wednesday evening, City Manager and CRA Executive Director James Slaton told the five board members after their historic vote to move forward on a major bond issue. "I hope you realize the weight of that." The vote to retain the law firm of Bryant Miller Olive, PA (BMO) to guide the borrowing of up to $18.5 million dollars set in motion the full implementation of...
Plans and proposals for new housing developments in Lake Wales have come in waves during 2021 and show no sign of abating. More than 8,300 new dwellings are now "visible" on the planning documents at the City of Lake Wales Development Services. Those residences are likely to house more than 23,000 new citizens, an expected population increase of some 140%. "Everybody wants to come where we are," said City Commissioner Robin Gibson, when asked about the growth spurt. "It's a...
The plan proposed by Manatee County to treat the estimated 270 million gallons of polluted wastewater from the Piney Point gypsum stack ponds and inject it deep underground has been controversial. Deep well injection has been used extensively in Florida as an alternative to surface discharges. The best example locally is a well near Mulberry that is used to dispose of acidic wastes that were previously discharged, causing concrete bridge supports downstream to begin...
Ardella Green has been a resident of Lake Wales since 1942 and at 97 years old, she has gotten to the point in life that climbing up to fix the roof of her aging home on Alabama Street was no longer an option. Thanks to a grant from the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency, that is no longer a challenge she must contemplate. Hers was one of several aging homesteads in the city that have been repaired thanks to a $68.000 fund established by the CRA board. Referred to the p...
Every civic club, church, and sponsoring organization in Lake Wales is invited to take advantage of the free advertising available for their events, meetings, and services simply by clicking a link. "This is rather a game-changer for the community," said News.Net City Editor Tom Paulson. "We're really glad to offer this as an alternative to the multiple and confusing calendars that are offered on several other local websites." The Community Calendar can be seen by Clicking a...
Lake Wales electric car enthusiasts shared their stories of success with interested visitors at a special car show Saturday at the MarketPlace in Lake Wales. An all-electric Mustang Mach-E seemed to be the hit auto, based upon the reaction of visitors. "The best thing about these cars is that there's nothing to maintain," said one visitor to the show,. "They don't even need an oil change, because they don't use oil, so there's no oil pump, no spark plugs, no fuel filter or inj...
Grace Nicole Ensey of Lake Wales went to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday, September 23, 2021 at her residence surrounded by her family. She was born August 5, 2005, in Haines City. Grace had the faith and witnessing of an angel. She loved music, dancing, and singing. She touched so many lives that we may never know. Grace is survived by her parents, Wesley and Stacey Nicole Ensey of Lake Wales; sisters, Correy Cordle of Lake Wales, and Savannah Taylor of Virginia;...
James Hannon of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born March 13, 1934 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to the late Edward and Edna Hannon; he moved to Lake Wales from Lima, Ohio in 1998. James was a retired superintendent for Ford Motor Company. He was a member of the engineer's club, the Bass Masters, and was a former president who organized the Lake Resort Citizens Assisted Patrol of Saddlebag. He was an avid fisherman,...
As a service to area residents and small businesses, LakeWalesNews.net is now offering a free Business Services Directory that will include listings from service-oriented businesses serving area homeowners. “This will be an opportunity for local ‘mom and pop’ businesses to connect with customers who need their services,” said Tom Paulson, spokesperson for LakeWalesNews.net publisher New Day Market Research. Businesses and those seeking services may post their listing by sending their information to editor@...
The Polk County Supervisor of Elections will join in a nationwide effort to register voters on Tuesday, September 28th in celebration of National Voter Registration Day. Registration tables will be available at seven locations around Polk County. New voters will have the opportunity to register to vote, and current voters will be able to update their record if they have moved, or changed their name. October 4th is the deadline to register to vote in Polk County’s November 2nd Municipal Elections in Fort Meade, Lakeland and W...
After several years of operations as a purely city-run facility, the Lake Wales History Museum may soon be under the control of a not-for-profit group once again. The Wednesday City Commission workshop agenda cites a discussion of the transfer, which would include $150,000 in annual funding to aid in running the museum. The group would in turn pay the City $1 a year to lease the facility. "It's going to be a wonderful partnership," said Museum Director Jennifer D'hollander....
Margaret Sarah Crosby of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, September 18, 2021 in Sebring. She was born December 19, 1928 in Hialeah, Florida. Margaret was a homemaker and lifelong resident of Lake Wales. She was the coolest, most fabulous 92-year-old there ever was. She was an amazing cook and great biscuit maker. She enjoyed sewing and was a member of the Eastern Star in her earlier years. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Pat Crosby in 2002; daughter, Linda...
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY CITY OF LAKE WALES. LakeWalesNews.Net will attempt to update the schedule as details become available. Do you follow a Long and Winding Road? Do you ever need Help? Would you take a ride in a Yellow Submarine? In short, are you a Beatles fan? If so you won't want to miss the free Third Friday show on September 17, when Beatles tribute band Aggie Road opens at 6:00 pm on stage at the Library Park at 290 Cypress Gardens Lane across from the Lake Wales Public Library. Aggie Road will be followed...
Richard Scott “Ricky” Batson of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at his residence. He was born December 16, 1964 in Haines city to Sterling and Mary Batson. Ricky was the owner and operator of RSB Services and was a member of impact church. Ricky poured his heart and soul into his work and did everything to perfection. Welding was his passion and he touched many life’s trough his business. He was an avid fisherman and loved spending time on the water with...
A September 28 reception has been scheduled to give Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce members an opportunity to meet the new head of the organization's economic development efforts. Skip Alford was retained several weeks ago, and was briefly introduced to City Commissioners during a recent meeting. The reception will be the first opportunity for many business leaders to meet Alford. The City of Lake Wales provides significant funding to the Chamber as a "public-private...
The Lake Wales City Commission voted Wednesday evening to adopt a $68,780 budget based upon the "roll-back" property tax rate. The move continues a slow trend toward lower property taxes in recent years. Property tax receipts are expected to increase by $240,613 due to growth within the city limits. Several other funds are also expected to grow significantly from 2020, including sales and use taxes, which will jump by $355,200 on the back of increased economic activity. Licens...
Sharon Ann Bass of Frostproof passed away Monday, September 6, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 26, 1962 in Frostproof. Sharon was a Utilities Billing Manager for the City of Frostproof. She loved spending time with her granddaughter and was an amazing grandmother to her. She enjoyed going to the beach and sitting in the sun and warm weather whenever possible. Sharon loved cats, and her purses and shoes and shopping for more....
Mary Mercades Drainville of Lake Wales passed away Monday, September 6, 2021 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was born April 10, 1934 in Valley City, Ohio to the late Leo and Olive Nilges; she moved to Lake Wales from Homestead in 2001. Mary was a retired bookkeeper and was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. In her younger years, she enjoyed bowling with her husband and singing at the county fair. She was a great mom and team mom for her kids. Mary was preceded...
The largest proposed development in Lake Wales history has taken another step forward. City Commissioners have approved a new zoning designation for over 1,800 acres of vacant land south of Thompson Nursery road and west of U.S. Highway 27 at the request of the Winter Haven Corporation, which has owned the property for decades. The property will now be zoned as Planned Development Mixed Use. Previously, there was no zoning classification on the land. The plan calls for 2,800...
The Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency has agreed to sell a parcel of land at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and B Street on which developers have proposed a mixed-use building that includes both commercial and residential space. After the city issued a request for proposals, two bids were received to develop the vacant tract, currently owned by both the city and CRA. Florida Development Corporation was unanimously approved as the firm to move forward with its...
