Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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A bond issuance exceeding $18 million dollars is contemplated under an agreement being considered by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) at their next meeting Wednesday evening. Funds from the bond sale would be utilized for a variety of community redevelopment projects within the boundaries of the CRA, including the Lake Wales Connected plan. Under the award-winning Connected concept, the CRA plans to revamp several blocks of Park Avenue between Scenic...
Twenty-four young oaks planted this week along South Scenic Highway in Lake Wales mark the first step in the development of a new "pocket neighborhood," being created by noted urban planner Victor Dover and his wife, architect Maricé Chael. The innovative infill project will occupy a long-vacant parcel lying between the Grove Motel and the SR 60 overpass. The development will be built over several years in "micro-phases" beginning with "phase zero," Dover told...
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 by Almost There at 7:30. The scene will be accompanied by local food vendors to...
The Lake Wales History Museum will celebrate the community's history and heritage through the 45th Annual Pioneer Days Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23 & 24. The free community festival held along the shores at Lake Wailes Park features a heritage village that includes dozens of historical demonstrations of pioneer camps and early American trades. Activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The public is welcome to experience, learn, share and buy...
Significant growth within the municipal limits of Lake Wales is driving changes in the city’s annual budget, which will see significant investments in improvements to city facilities while reducing the overall property tax rate. Despite the rate reduction, 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 $...
The City of Lake Wales Recreation Team is inviting families to a free Lake Night Cinema on Saturday, Sept. 4. Weather permitting, the movie "The Goonies" will be shown beginning at dusk at Lake Wailes park. Food trucks and other activities are planned starting at 6 p.m. The date was changed to avoid conflict with Lake Wales Highlander Football. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. Updates will be posted on the Lake Wales Recreation Facebook page. For more...
Ron Miller of Davenport passed away Thursday, September 2, 2021 at AdventHealth Heart of Florida. He was born March 31, 1963 in New Castle, PA to William and Rose Miller. He came to the local area as a child with his parents. He was the owner and operator of Ron Miller Lawn and enjoyed going to the Hardrock Casino and fishing. He also spent several hours in the evenings with his blue crowned conure, Rocco. Ron was preceded in death by his mother, Rose Miller. Survivors include his daughters, Melissa Rose Burry of Davenport,...
A fatal crash between a light pickup truck and a Freightliner resulted in an afternoon-long blockage of US 27 in Lake Wales Saturday. Edwin McMillan, 62, of Lake Wales was southbound on US 27 at 1:15 pm when his Nissan Frontier collided with the left turning truck driven by Sterling Robles of Fresno, California, who was uninjured. The crash occurred at the intersection of Washington Avenue, which has signalized left-turn lanes. If remained unclear which driver had the...
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@...
David Arthur Lester, 70, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 at Winter Haven Hospital. He was born October 1, 1950 in Winter Haven to the late D. Donald and Frances "Frankie" Lester. David took great pride in being a University of Florida graduate. He worked for the State of Florida and later worked at Disney as a resort security manager. He was of strong Catholic faith. He took great joy in making wonderful meals for his family and friends, taking trips with famil...
Judy Ann Smith, 63, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born September 16, 1957 in Harrisburg, IL to the late Betty Ann Jones; she moved to Lake Wales from Haines City in 2017. Judy was a Quality Controller for McLanes Suneast Distribution Center. She loved wild horses, wolves, and all Native American thing. She enjoyed going to theme parks and riding the roller coasters and the ferris wheels with her daughter and...
Wade C. Scaggs, 72, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, Aug. 3, 2021 at the AdventHealth Lake Wales. He was born September 16, 1948 in Lake Wales to the late Frank and Sarah Jane Scaggs; he started his professional career in Tallahassee in 1968, then continued his work in Tampa and later Newberry before returning to Lake Wales in 1988. He was a retired investigator for the State of Florida States Attorney’s office and in the U.S. Navy Reserves and U.S. Army Reserves, 600th MP Battalion, 4th ARCOM. He was a member of the Church...
Amos L. Mazzant Jr., 84, of Lake Wales went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 at Winter Haven Hospital. He was born March 15, 1937 in Ellwood City, PA, to the late Ames and Rose Mazzant; he has lived around the Lake Wales area for six years after leaving the Seminole Reservation at Big Cypress where he was for five years where he had a golf ministry. Amos was a retired teacher and was a member of Lillyville Church of God in Ellwood City....
Elizabeth Luzon, 59, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born March 11, 1962 in the Dominican Republic, to the late Rafael and Morima Olivo; she moved to Lake Wales from Allentown, Pennsylvania 7 years ago. Elizabeth was a sales associate for the Ross department store in Lakeland and was an active member of Iglesia Cristiana Pentecostal del Consolador in Kissimmee. She was a hard worker who had two jobs to support her family....
Nelton "Pluggie" Emmons, 72, of Lake Wales, died Aug. 19, 2021 at Advent Health Heart of Florida Hospital in Haines City. He was born in Lake Wales on July 24, 1949. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3 at Epps Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be in the chapel at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4. Masks are required for both....
Members of the Lake Wales Police Department have been pleased with the roll out of eight body-worn cameras already in use, with an additional 24 cameras to come on line later this fall. Deputy Chief David Black said officers who are currently using the cameras are providing constructive feedback and reacting positively to having them available. "The guys seem to love the body worn cameras. They're excited to have them. We've already had a couple of criminal cases with them. I...
Gary Larson Helm, 74, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, July 29, 2021 at Select Special Hospital in Orlando. He was born May 20, 1947 in Lake Wales, to the late Elmer and Lola Helm. Many people in Lake Wales remember him as a community hero, who as a young sergeant in 1972 helped save a grocery store full of people and a fellow officer by engaging five armed robbers in a gun battle. Gary shot and killed two robbers at the Publix on SR 60 and arched his back to narrowly...
After hearing from supporters of the four applicants, Lake Wales City Commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Jack Hilligoss to the temporary vacancy created by the suspension of newly elected City Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. Hilligoss will be sworn in Aug. 17 and will serve until either Fitzgerald is reinstated or a commissioner is elected in April 2022 to complete the final two years of the term. Hilligoss, 55, is senior pastor of HighPoint Church and has been a...
The wife of former Lake Wales City Commissioner Pete Perez has indicated her interest in filling his old seat, which is vacant now due to the suspension of newly elected Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. He served as a commissioner from 2015-2017. Jacqueline Perez, 79, served as president of the Social Committee at Lake Ashton, a two-year term where she coordinated monthly social events which she said resulted in positive revenue for the group. Prior to retiring she served as a da...
Former Lake Wales City Commissioner Betty Wojcik has applied to fill the temporary vacancy created by the suspension of newly elected Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. Commissioners at their Aug. 3 meeting will consider Wojcik and any others who apply before then. A Lake Ashton resident, Wojcik served on the commission from 2011-2015. She retired in 2014 as executive director of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce. Asked why she was interested in serving, Wojcik said "It just...
Pastor Jack Hilligoss has added his name to the list of people interested in filling the city commission vacancy created by the suspension of newly elected Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. Commissioners will consider making an appointment at their Aug. 3 meeting. Hilligoss, 55, is senior pastor of HighPoint Church and has lived in Lake Wales since 1997. He is a 1992 graduate of Warner Southern College. In his email asking to be considered Hilligoss pointed out that all three of...
Retired Lake Wales Police Chief Gary Helm died July 29 after a lengthy illness and hospitalization. He was 74. Many people in Lake Wales remember him as a community hero, who as a young sergeant in 1972 helped save a grocery store full of people and a fellow officer by engaging five armed robbers in a gun battle. Helm shot and killed two robbers at the Publix on SR 60 and arched his back to narrowly avoid being shot himself. Friends said he kept the shirt with the bullet hole...
It was a "bumpy start" as Lake Wales rolled out one-fourth of their new police worn body cameras Monday, July 26. Police Chief Chris Velasquez said the department will use the experiences of the first eight officers wearing the cameras to make sure the program is running smoothly when fully implemented in two or three months. "It's going to be a matter of working through, seeing how they work with us and how we can work also with all the other partners," Velasquez said. Since...
Roderick Thomas Parker SR, 70, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday July 27, 2021. He was born June 25, 1951, in Windsor, VT; he moved to Lake Wales in 1981. Roderick was a retired laborer for the city of Lake Wales, and was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He was of the Catholic faith. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. Roderick was a past member of the Knights of Columbus and the Marine Corp League. He was a city of Lake Wales and Golfview -Woodland Volunteer firefighter for many years. He also was a Lake Wales...
Following a 16-month undercover investigation, Polk County Sheriff's Office undercover Narcotics detectives and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force made 29 arrests in the Lake Wales area and obtained three arrest warrants related to the trafficking, sale, and possession of illegal narcotics. The operation was dubbed the "Bell Gang Blues." Seventeen of the suspects and two still at large were from Lake Wales. During the investigation, detectives and agents...
