Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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An apparent medical incident that left a driver partially incapacitated ended with a fatal rear-end crash on US 27 at Washington Avenue. The Medical Examiners investigation revealed Mr. Wulff died from a medical episode unrelated to the crash. This was not a traffic homicide as no other persons, to include Mr. Wulff, died as a result of the crash. According to police reports, at approximately 1:18 p.m Monday a 2008 white Chevy panel van driven by Thomas Wulff, 75, of Lake...
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include citation of a written opinion from City Attorney Chuck Galloway to city commissioners, released to the press today. April 17 - In a surprise twist, former city commissioner Kris Fitzgerald has been denied a return to her open seat on the Lake Wales City Commission despite her sudden reinstatement by Governor Ron DeSantis last week. Lake Wales City Attorney Chuck Galloway read a statement at the opening of Tuesday night's...
Two Haines City men are dead and a third hospitalized following an early morning crash on US Highway 27. Lake Wales Traffic Homicide Investigators determined that a car driven by Aljerume Brooks, age 40 from Haines City failed to stop for the red traffic light while traveling North on Highway 27. Also in the vehicle was Gary Faniel Jr, age 24 and Javarcea Morton, age 23, both of Haines City. Both Faniel and Morton were pronounced dead at the scene. Brooks was transported to...
Disabilities affect a surprisingly-large percentage of the American population, and too often those physical limitations bring along an unnecessary set of social limitations. The limited ability to enjoy the water, a Florida tradition, is one that can have a solution. A fully and intentionally inclusive water adventure area for those with disabilities, planned for construction at Lake Aurora just east of Lake Wales, is a vision shared by several non-profit groups. Two local...
James Thomas "Tom" Walkup of Lake Wales passed away at Lakeland Regional Hospital on Friday, May 12, 2023 of complications after a traumatic injury. Tom was born March 19, 1946, in Warren, Ohio to James Frederick and Anna Mae (Woods) Walkup, both now deceased. He had two siblings: Joel Frederick Walkup (deceased) and Peggy Ann Walkup. He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Mary, and four children: James Troy Walkup with wife, Tonya, of King, North Carolina, Jennifer...
A bloody toll of fatalities and serious injuries during the month of May has left multiple area families mourning their losses. The rash of deadly crashes is a clear call for increased law enforcement presence on area streets and highways. So far in this month, at least five people have been killed in four fatal accidents in the Lake Wales area. Three of those occurred in two crashes at the single intersection of US 27 and Washington Avenue. Earlier this month two Haines City...
May 12 - Long-time Lake Wales Main Street executive director Karen Thompson has announced her resignation. "I am excited about downtown Lake Wales' future and proud to have played a small role," Thompson said. "We are fortunate that both the Main Street board and the City are committed to realizing downtown's full potential and holding quality as the number one priority." The Main Street program is funded in part by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency. Thompson, who...
City Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald has been reinstated to her seat on the Lake Wales City Commission nearly two years after her suspension by Governor Ron DeSantis following her arrest on felony charges. Her acquittal on all charges in a jury trial last October allowed for her resumption of service. Fitzgerald served only two months of her elected term prior to being suspended. The reason for the long delay in her reinstatement is unclear. Reached via text message,...
Maximilian "Max" Smith, age 52 of Lake Wales passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Lakeland. Max was born on July 3, 1970, in Detroit, Michigan. Max served in the U.S. Army and was Honorably Discharged. Max received his Bachelor's of Arts degree from the University of Central Florida, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida. He worked as a Criminal Defense and Family Law Attorney for over twenty years. Max is preceded in death by his Mother Eloise Smith, Brother...
Foy Livingston McKenzie of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023 at his residence. He was born February 12, 1952 in Lyons, Georgia to the late James and Patricia McKenzie; he has been a lifelong resident of the area. Foy was a fruit receiver for Citrus World. He enjoyed spending his time in nature fishing and camping; over all else he loved his family. Foy was preceded in death by his daughters, Pamela Diane Branch, and Margaret Ann Smith. He is survived by his wife of...
May 13- An argument and poor judgement led to the death of an Orlando woman Saturday night, only some three hours after the traffic death of a Lake Wales man nearby. According to Lake Wales Traffic Homicide Investigators, Lataysha Rene Kelly, 27, of Orlando had been driving west on Chalet Suzanne Road just west of Dinner Lake Shores in Lake Wales, at approximately 10:55 pm, accompanied by Donald Dixon 34, also of Orlando. Police reported that the two were having an argument...
A Lake Wales man died in a head-on crash on US 27 just before sunset Saturday evening after driving his motorcycle northward in the southbound lanes of the six-lane highway. The 7:58 pm crash took the life of 60-year-ol Gary Restifo of Lake Wales. There was no explanation of why he was driving on the wrong lanes of the busy highway. The Polk County Sheriff's office is investigating the incident. Restifo was passing north of Dundee Road (CR 542) when he was struck by a...
APRIL 26 - A surprise announcement by the West Central Florida YMCA group that they are ending a contract allowing them to operate the Lake Wales Family YMCA has caught facility owner City of Lake Wales by surprise. The group issued a letter to the city stating they would be "closing" the facility, even though it is city property. "They delivered me notice of a six-month contract cancellation yesterday afternoon," City Manager James Slaton told LakeWalesNews.net. "I informed...
Anthony Blake Caraway, 50, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, May 1, after a long battle against cancer. He was born in Lake Wales and had been employed for many years as a glass cutter and installer in West Virginia before returning to Lake Wales during his health challenge. He enjoyed playing his guitar, fishing, collecting coins, and flying his drone, and was very handy with home maintenance. Anthony was preceded in death by his parents, Phyllis Johnson (Kris) Caraway and...
The 10th Annual "18 Aces to Conquer Cancer" golf event is sponsored by the Mahalak Auto Group, owners of a local auto dealership, to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research and patient aid. "The goal of 18 Aces to Conquer Cancer is to raise funds for pancreatic cancer, but also to have a fun time doing it." said Ralph Mahalak Jr., co-owner of the Mahalak Auto Group. "This year we will be honoring five members of the community that have recently passed: Glenda Kennon, Jeff...
Darlene Waters Hollinsed, 69, of Lake Wales, Florida passed Friday, April 28, 2023 at her residence. She was born November 13, 1953 in Winter Haven, Florida to the late Jule E. Waters and Hazel (Stokes) Waters and was a lifelong resident of Polk County. Darlene was a bank teller and loved nature, hummingbirds, and fishing. She was preceded in death by her first husband Ricky Thompson, and her son Glenn Thompson. ,Survivors include her husband, Philip Hollinsed; sister Martha...
May 3, 2023- Quadruple murder suspect Al Joseph Stenson has been killed in a shootout with police after fleeing to a motel in Sanford, Florida, Lake Wales Police have reported. Police believe that Stenson may have murdered a mother and her three children early yesterday morning. Stenson was the only suspect in a horrific quadruple-murder that took place in Lake Wales Tuesday. Police confirmed that he was known to the victims, and was likely injured during the predawn event....
Mary C. Grose, age 92, passed away April 28, 2023, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. She was born on December 27, 1930, in Millerburg, Ohio. She was a Homemaker. She enjoyed reading, going to church and traveling. She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Grose. She is survived by a loving family that includes her daughters Jean Ellington (Robert) of Lake Wales, Rebecca Nusbaum (Raymond) of Temperance, Michigan, sons Thomas Grose (Kathy) of Collins, Ohio and John...
Billy Kahler of Babson Park passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at his residence. He was born January 30, 1956, in Lake Wales to the late Richard and Nancy Kahler; and he was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Lake Wales High School in 1974 and Florida State University in 1978. He retired from UPS and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Wales. He was also the owner and operator of Gary's Boating Center and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, scuba...
APRIL 25 - A public "town hall" meeting about the proposed ADS plastic pipe plant scheduled for Wednesday evening will be chaired by Lake Wales Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson, it was announced this week. The meeting will offer residents an opportunity to ask questions about the operations and impact of the facility. "They asked the city to be in charge of things," Gibson told LakeWalesNews.net, and specifically suggested that Gibson should chair it. "I told them 'If you want that,...
Lake Wales area homeowners who are tired of keeping up with the mowing, want to find a good lawn service, or just need a break from the chores now have a new option: the nation's leader in on-demand lawn mowing has just launched its service in Lake Wales. GreenPal, which has been described as "Uber for lawn care," is already being used in 48 states by more than 1 million homeowners. With the Corona Virus and its variants still lingering and social distancing remaining a...
APRIL 22 - An early spring and nearly summer-like temperatures have already led to parking problems at Frostproof's Lake Clinch Beach, and the Frostproof City Council is poised to do something to attempt to correct the situation. The agenda for a scheduled 5:00 pm public workshop on Monday, April 24 includes discussion of the possible implementation of parking permits for the Lake Clinch beach area. The Council unanimously agreed to hold a workshop at their April 17 meeting...
APRIL 21 - A Florida panther, an endangered and protected species, has been seen in Lake Wales overnight and during the early morning hours of Friday, April 21. The big cat was seen by residents of Lake Wales Country Club. According to reports and photos posted by the public, a second panther has been seen in an area near US 27 between Lake Wales and Frostproof. That cat is apparently a mother of kittens. The males of the species tend to wander long distances in search of mate...
A chance to relax in the shade, enjoy food from your favorite food truck, listen to four different bands, and let the kids burn off steam as they learn and play is expected to draw crowds to Lake Wailes Park Saturday. The 10:00 am to 8:00 pm event will include a kite festival, a family-feud style trivia game, nature walks, a giant inflatable obstacle course, nature walks, a "fishing pond," and a wide variety of games and prizes for adults and kids. A silent auction and gift...
Jim Lefils, 79, of Babson Park passed away, Thursday, April 20, 2023, at AdventHealth Lake Wales after a short illness. Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years Carolynn "Dede" Watson LeFils. He recently retired from Watson Pharmacy, Frostproof, where he was the co-owner and pharmacist for 50 years. Jim served in the U.S. Air Force and was a graduate of the University of Florida School of Pharmacy. He was a licensed airplane and glider pilot. Jim and Dede were avid travelers,...
