Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 241
Rose Lanier, 68, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was born September 28, 1952 in West Branch, MI to the late Roy and Fonta Richmond; she moved to the area in 1972. Following her nursing career, she became a truck driver. She was a member of the Apostolic Church in Eagle Lake and a fan of the Tampa Bay Bucs. She loved spending time with her family, was an avid reader and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and jig saw puzzles. Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Alfred...
Shellie Lanier Castle, 50, of Babson Park passed away Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was born November 20, 1970 in Bartow to James Lanier and Claire McLemore; she was a lifelong resident of the area. Shellie was a Hospice Nurse. She loved all things ocean and her family, especially being a honey to her grandchildren. Shellie was preceded in death by her father Dewey Lanier; and son, Cody Douglas Castle. She is survived by her mother, Ann...
The Lake Wales Public Library has received "blessing bundles," courtesy of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., a community conscious, action oriented organization. The Gamma Phi Zeta Chapter of Polk County, through service within the community and the international initiative of Zetas Helping Other People Excel (Z-HOPE), provided 175 blessing bundles to Polk County libraries to include masks, sanitizer, gloves, tissues and wipes. In addition to the Lake Wales Library in Zone 4, the...
The Ramon Theatre in Frostproof will feature a tribute to Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $27 and can be purchased at the door or online at www.ramontheater.com. Seating is spread to allow social distancing. The theater is located at 15 E. Wall St. in Frostproof....
Ken Tibado, 64, of Fort Meade passed away Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 at his Lake Wales residence. He was born February 22, 1956 in Lake Wales to the late Kenneth Tibado and Imogene Stone. He loved spending time with his dogs and grandchildren. Ken is survived by his daughter, Kassandra Brewer of Fort Meade; sisters, Gala Tibado of Titusville, and Betty Shacreaw of Frostproof; brothers, Keith Tibado of Frostproof, and Kyle Reath of Orinda, CA; grandchildren, Kyler, Kaden, Karlee...
(Editor's Note: Lake Wales High School is not included in this report, since it is part of the charter system and not considered a traditional Polk high school. Its graduation rate will be reported separately.) Polk County Public Schools' graduation rate jumped to 86.5 percent last year - a new record high - even as seniors faced unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic. The district's latest graduation rate was a 5.3 percentage point increase from the previous year (81.2...
Fran (Parrish) Caraway, 81, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 at Advent Health Heart of Florida surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 2, 1939 in Fort Meade to the late William and Lucy Parrish; she has been a resident of Lake Wales since 1979. Fran was a homemaker, and a paraprofessional at Frostproof Middle/Senior School for 22 years before retiring. She spent her time bowling, reading, and fishing and she loved to dance, sing, and sew. She was...
Norma J. Fisher, 93, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 at Savannah Court of Lake Wales. She was born March 2, 1927 in Noblesville, IN to the late Charles and Ursula Millikan; she came here from Indiana in 1980. She was a homemaker and attended Winter Haven Worship Center. Norma was an avid reader, enjoyed crocheting and making afghans. She was a past member of Keenagers and the Homemaker Club in Indiana. Norma was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Fisher...
Rhoda Jean Choate, 66, of Babson Park passed away Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born January 29, 1954 in Wauchula to the late Mearl and Frances Choate. Rhoda was a homemaker; she loved her nieces and nephews and they loved her. She enjoyed watching television, playing games on her IPad, and she loved to knit. Rhoda is survived by her siblings, Joan Hazel Fairall (William) of Polk City, Mearl Clyde Choate, Jr. of Indian Lake Estates, and Martha...
Fortunately for Angela Lopez, her 6-year-old daughter Esperanza knew to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. On Oct. 21 Lopez fell at her Frostproof home and couldn't get up or call for help. When Esperanza couldn't find anyone to help, she retrieved her mother's phone and called 9-1-1. Polk County Fire Rescue personnel on Nov. 18 honored the Spook Hill Elementary first-grader, designating her a "9-1-1 hero." Fire Rescue public educator Rosa LaLonde used the special recognition event...
Mattie R. Bailey, 86 of Frostproof, Florida, died Nov. 8, 2020 at The Groves Center Nursing Home in Lake Wales. She was born July 18, 1934. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 at Epps Memorial Funeral Home chapel. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at the funeral home. Masks are required and visitation is limited to 10 at a time....
Faye Wells Baker, 90, of Indian Lake Estates passed away Friday, Nov. 6, 2020 at Bartow Regional Hospital. She was born January 13, 1930 in Cutshin, KY to the late Noah and Bessie Wells. Faye was a retired teacher and member of the Church of Christ in Frostproof. She worked for both Singer Sewing Center, and on a farm. Faye was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Baker in 2012. She is survived by her sisters, Fern Day of Keavy, KY, Jewell Baker of Orlando, KY, and Bonnie Irvin of Keavy, KY; and friend JoAnne O’Neil of I...
Supporters of President Donald Trump will host their second parade starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 - just two days before the General Election. Participants will line up at Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern, 1010 Scenic Highway North. Special guests include Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell, Frostproof Vice Mayor Austin Gravley and Republican candidates Fred Hawkins for Florida State Representative Seat 42 and Bill Olson for U.S. House of Representatives District 9. More...
John R. McCullough, Sr., 66, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Oct. 26, 2020 at Advent Health Heart of Florida in Davenport. He was born September 18, 1954 in Frostproof to the late Horace and Louise McCullough. John was the owner and operator of John’s Appliance Repair Store for over 40 years. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during Vietnam, and was of the Baptist faith. John was dedicated to his family an running his business. He was a compassionate, loving person, and a FSU and Nascar fan. John was p...
Ed Palmer officially became the Lake Wales Police Department's community liaison officer on Sept. 14. But if you ask James "Perly" Sermons, it's been Palmer's calling for a lifetime – Sermons' lifetime. The two first met when Palmer served as the School Resource Officer at Hillcrest Elementary when Perly was a student there. As luck might have it – others might call in Divine guidance – Palmer followed Sermons as an SRO when the youngster went to Roosevelt Academy and to La...
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is a community conscious, action oriented organization. The Gamma Phi Zeta Chapter of Polk County, through service within the community and the international initiative of Zetas Helping Other People Excel (Z-HOPE), have identified five (5) schools for their Adopt-A-School initiative. • Zone 1 – Greater Lakeland – Kathleen Middle School • Zone 2 – South Lakeland/Mulberry/Bartow – Gibbons Street Pre K Center • Zone 3 – Davenport/Haines City – Sandhil...
Thomas (Tom) Ancil Freeman, 94, of Lake Wales passed away on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020, at Palm Garden Health and Rehabilitation Center in Winter Haven. He was born in Lawrenceburg, TN on October 19, 1925 and lived a very full and active life. He will always be known for his magnificent artwork of Florida landscapes, nearly 1,000 originals, and his murals throughout Polk County in Lake Wales, Frostproof, and Lake Placid. Those who knew him personally, remember him as a...
Al Goldstein didn't realize being a Lake Wales city commissioner would be so time-consuming, but he's eager to sign up for another three years. He was elected without opposition in April 2019 after incumbent Commissioner Tonya Stewart failed to qualify to run for re-election. He has already started campaigning for the District 27, Seat 4 that will be filled in the April 2021 municipal election. "I'm finally understanding the job of a city commissioner," Goldstein said....
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," says Dolores Vogel, Legacy Real Estate Center broker and owner. "So, DREAM BIG, we do!" The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine hasn't slowed down this entrepreneur who moved into new digs at 218 E. Park Ave. in downtown Lake Wales. The building was purchased in 2018 and completely renovated. "I'm proud that the Center has been ranked number one in sales within the Lake Wales Association of...
The Lake Ashton Veterans Association is facilitating an initiative by Wreaths Across America to remember "the sacrifice and impact upon our great country" on September 11, 2001 from the terrorist events in New York City, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. The organization is asking Lake Ashton residents to wave the U.S. flag outside of their homes at 8:46 a.m., 9:37 a.m. and 10:03 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 to honor those lost and those first responders who still suffer the after-ef...
Debbie Anderson, 66, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020 at the Kindred Hospital in Tampa. She was born February 25, 1954 in Pekin, IL to the late Paul and Reta Guy. Debbie moved to Lake Wales from Illinois in 1984. She was a customer service manager for the Lake Wales Walmart and enjoyed cooking and reading. Debbie is survived by her husband, Doug Anderson; daughter, Trish Anderson and husband William of Frostproof; brothers, Paul Wehrenberg of Florissant, MO, and Mike Wehrenberg of Normal, IL; grandchildren,...
Gloria Clark, 81, of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was born December 4, 1938 in Lake Wales to the late James and Mildred Duncan. Gloria was a retired waitress. She was of the Baptist faith and loved shopping, traveling, and going to the beach. Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Ray Clark in 2005; brother, Ronald Duncan; and grandson, Jason Bracken in 2005. She is survived by her daughters, Tina Young of...
James Howard "Jimmy" Tillman, 65, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born December 24, 1954 in Bartow to the late James and Juanita Tillman. Jimmy was a purchasing agent for Petersen Industries, working there for over 40 years. He was a lifelong resident of the area and of the Baptist faith. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, working on things, and loved his job. Jimmy was preceded in death by his son, John Oliver...
With a possible hurricane headed toward Florida, Polk County is offering sandbags to residents wanting to protect their homes from water intrusion. Sandbags will be provided to Polk County residents at all Roads and Drainage maintenance units and another site in Poinciana from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Aug. 22 and 23. A maximum of 10 sandbags will be provided to each vehicle to help prevent water intrusion into the home. Beginning Aug. 22, the following locations...
Andrew Jackson Beasley, Jr., 74, of Babson Park passed away Sunday, Aug. 16 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born December 7, 1945 in Frostproof, Florida to the late Jack and Mary Beasley. He was a retired citrus harvester. Jack is survived by his daughters, Monica Vigna of Lake Wales, and Kimberly Starling of Lake Wales; son, Andrew Jackson Beasley, III of Lake Wales; grandchildren, Taft Vigna, Brittany Simmons, Alex Yearry, Heath Vigna, Savannah Starling, Sheridan Vigna,...
