Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 51 - 65 of 65
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Lake Wales continues to function as close to normal as possible, Emergency Operations Director Joe Jenkins said Tuesday night. Jenkins, also the city's fire chief, updated Lake Wales leaders on the latest measures and precautions being taken in light of the national health emergency, including where to go if someone suspects they might be infected. Most city facilities are closed to the public – like the library and history museum – but city...
The City of Lake Wales will close, or restrict, many of its services to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17. Recognizing the diverse populations that city departments serve, the closures are undertaken to protect all ages, most critically, those in high risk categories. The city's staff will continue to work; however entry to the City's Municipal Administration Building, 201 West Central Avenue, will not be available to residents and customers. Phone calls and email...
While the Polk County Public Schools anticipate about 1,600 teachers to be absent Monday, Jan. 13 to attend an education rally in Tallahassee, Lake Wales High School Principal Donna Dunson said she didn't expect any disruption in the local charter schools. Dunson said charter school teachers support the purpose of the rally, but most are expected to be in their classrooms Monday. Polk County Public Schools were scrambling to provide coverage for the absent teachers, with about...
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...
A downtown Lake Wales fixture since 1976, Cliff's True Value Hardware will be closing the end of May. Owner Larry Tonjes announced plans in a letter posted Nov. 16 on Facebook. Tonjes said both of his parents recently celebrated their 80th birthdays, his sister was pursuing other career options and he was ready to join his wife Cindy in retirement. Cindy Tonjes has been a longtime local school teacher. "We have always appreciated the support that we have received from Lake Wal...
Recognizing her increased responsibilities in development services as the City of Lake Wales experiences a growth spurt, Kathy Bangley recently was promoted to assistant city manager for planning and economic development. Bangley's promotion carries with it an annual salary of $98,000, a pay increase of 10 percent over what she was making in July. Bangley's office has been extremely busy working with numerous developers planning new restaurants, retail establishments and...
"See something or hear something, say something." That's the advice Polk Sheriff Grady Judd gave Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce members at a breakfast Thursday, Sept. 12 as the most effective way to avoid an active shooter situation. Judd said prevention is key because a "nut" with a gun can do tremendous damage within the first two to five minutes, before most law officers can even arrive on scene at a crisis situation. Judd also advocated having more trained "good guys" carr...
In preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Lake Wales Mayor Gene Fultz declared a state of emergency for the city starting at noon Thursday, Aug. 29 and lasting up to seven days. This declaration followed a similar one by Gov. Ron DeSantis covering the entire state of Florida. The order gives City Manager Ken Fields authority to enact emergency management procedures for the city. The city's Emergency Operations Center is expected to open in the main fire department around noon on...
Lake Wales pioneer and historic preservationist Mimi Hardman may soon have a city building named in her honor. The Lake Wales History Museum will be seeking donors to help restore and rehabilitate the historic 1916 Seaboard Airline Freight Depot, and repurpose the interior of the building as the new permanent Mimi Hardman Collections & Research Center. Items in the city collection date back to 1852, when the original government survey of Lake Wales was completed. A project of...
Richard Anthony "Dick" Dragonetti, 91, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born December 7, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Richard and Mary Rose (Marcello) Dragonetti. He has been a resident of the area since August of 1990 coming from Miami. He was a mechanic for the City of Miami Beach where he retired as the lead mechanic for the Miami Beach Fire Department. Richard loved his car, hiking, gardening, Sunday family drives,...
About one-third of the City of Lake Wales staff recently participated in a two-day training program to help them become "servant leaders." Texas consulting firm SGR conducted the training "A Radical Strategy for Creating an Authentic Servant Leadership Culture" for the city's supervisory personnel and those likely to become supervisors. The 65 trainees chose Lake Wales Fire Department Lieutenant Paul Byrd to share their workshop experience with city commissioners. After...
Vera Mathews, 88, of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, May 5 in Lake Wales. She was born January 30, 1931 in Lake Wales to the late E.C. and Bernice (Tatum) Dyal. She has been a lifelong resident of the area. She was a homemaker and a member of the Central Avenue Baptist Church in Lake Wales. Esther was a past member of the Lake Wales Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and she enjoyed gardening, bowling, fishing and crafts. She is preceded in death by her first husband William P....
More than 100 civic and business leaders gathered for breakfast at the Vanguard School to hear the annual "State of the City" report delivered by Lake Wales Mayor Eugene Fultz on Wednesday morning, and most were impressed by what they heard. Ranging from a summation of new businesses arriving, including a Lake Wales Medical Center Wound Care facility, plus Aldi's, Wawa, and Love's, to imaginative plans for re-invigorating the downtown area and Crystal Lake Park, the address wa...
John David Washington, 88, of Lake Wales died Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. He was born Aug. 15, 1930 in Lake Wales, the son of Herman and Mary Washington. He was a firefighter in Oregon and Lake Wales and a volunteer deputy chief with Highlands Lakes Volunteer Fire Department for a number of years. He and his wife, Edna, operated Washington Nursery on Altvater Road in Avon Park, taking it over from his father. He is survived by his son, Dan (Esther) Washington of Winter Haven,...
The City of Lake Wales is planning to add a new library branch and recreational facility on Chalet Suzanne Road on the northern edge of the city near the Eagle Ridge Mall. The new recreational facility would include playground equipment, picnic tables, a basketball court and bathroom facilities. The new branch would occupy an existing unused garage located on city property where the current northern Lake Wales Fire Department is located. The cost of the project, according to...
