Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 201 - 225 of 463
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,...
Polk State College’s District Board of Trustees elected Ashley Bell Barnett as Chair and Greg Littleton as Vice-Chair for the 2021-2022 Academic Year on Monday during the DBOT’s annual reorganization meeting. The role of Chair was previously filled by Cindy Hartley Ross and the role of Vice-Chair was previously filled by Barnett. The Board also includes members Dan Dorrell, Teresa V. Martinez, and Mark Turner. Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti expressed her gra...
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...
Paul J. "Buster" Hartbarger, Jr. age 64, passed away Wednesday, September 29, 2021. He was born October 20, 1956 in Chattanooga, TN to Paul & Merita Hartbarger. He graduated from Bartow High School. He was a Supervisor in the Phosphate Industry. Paul loved being on the water fishing and he was at peace while working in his garden. He is survived by his wife of 47 years Terri Hartbarger of Lake Wales, two sons Paul H Hartbarger, Sr. & wife Daisy and Christopher S. Hartbarger....
Ora "Oz" Caldwell of Lake Wales passed away September 9th due to complications of Covid-19. Known to many by his nickname of "the Great One," Caldwell was a graduate of West Point and served for many years in the office of the Public Defender in Polk County. He was known to many in the Lake Wales area as a man of generous spirit and manner. "He was an officer and a gentleman," said former Public Defender Marion Moorman. "He was a fantastic lawyer, a true trial lawyer who had...
Ora "Oz" Oscar Caldwell, age 83, of Lake Wales passed away on September 9th, 2021 at 2:20pm at Advent Health in Davenport, Florida from respiratory complications due to Covid 19. Oz was born on October 19, 1937 in Lake Wales Florida. Oz spent his formative years on his father's dairy farm. He would often speak of these times with great fondness of the cowboys and hard lifestyles of the post-Great Depression period in Central Florida that he witnessed firsthand. During this...
The small-town spirit shone through in Lake Wales Thursday as a thousand spectators gathered to watch the annual Homecoming Parade organized by the students of Lake Wales High School. Representatives of area elementary schools and cheer clubs also participating in the show, one of the events marking the special week in the school year. Each class in the school placed and entry in the parade, as did several of the school's athletic teams including the soccer, football,...
A small fleet of electric vehicles is expected to roll quietly into downtown Lake Wales on September 25, where they will be on display along Market Street in conjunction with the Saturday Farmers Market. Vehicles including a Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach E will be open to public inspection, so visitors may safely sit in and check out the quiet motors, high-tech features, and the comfortable interiors of the cars. The display of vehicles will take place on Market Street...
Jane "Grams" Poppell, 77, of Lake Wales, Florida passed away Thursday, September 16, 2021, at Advent Health of Lake Wales. She was born August 15, 1944, in Lakeland, Florida to the late Edwin and Susie Walker and she has been a resident of Lake Wales since 1993. She was a retired Administrative Secretary for the Polk County School Board. Jane was a graduate of Kathleen High School, a member of Southside Baptist Church of Jacksonville and First Baptist Church of Lake Wales....
Lake Wales Little Theatre has announced open auditions beginning Thursday, Sept. 23 for its next production, Last Roundup of the Guacamole Queens. Co-directors Chevon and Michael Baccus are looking to cast eight or nine women who can pass for ages 50s to 80s and four men, 40s to 90s. Auditions are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, Monday, Sept. 27, and Tuesday, Sept. 28 at the theater, located at 411 N. 3rd St. Interested persons can review the script at the Lake Wales Public...
Shirlene Viola Hart Shirey Anthony Chott 84, of Sebring, FL, passed away September 8, 2021, in Sebring FL. She was born August 3, 1937 at home near Zolfo Springs, FL, to the late TC and Mabel Hart. She is the oldest of five children and the bossiest. Her brother Butch Hart preceded her in death. She leaves behind her sisters Judith Jump (Bob) Sebring, FL, Jeraldine Perry Sebring, FL, Nadine Elver (Dirk) Young Harris, GA. She attended Oak Grove Elementary (grades 1-6) Wauchula...
More than six months after the departure of lauded Lake Wales Charter Schools Superintendent Jesse Jackson, the process of seeking his replacement being conducted by the Board of Trustees is in disarray. Board Chairman Danny Gill has written a memo calling for an opportunity for citizens to voice their opinions at the September 20 meeting of the board. His memo states that “This is not a meeting to discuss who the next Superintendent should be or will be. This meeting will b...
After losing a rain-soaked tilt against the 7-A regional powerhouse Lakeland Dreadnaughts the Lake Wales High School Highlander 11 are focusing on righting the ship when they host the Naples Lely Trojans September 24 at Legion Field following a bye week. Like the Highlanders, the Trojans play in class 6-A, though a non-district foe. They sport a 1-1 record on the season thus far. The Highlanders will not face a District 7 opponent until they entertain Melbourne Eau Gallie on...
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...
Lake Wales will continue to enjoy the presence of a local news source focused on the community thanks to a recent business agreement. It was announced today that New Day Market Research (NDMR) has acquired the assets of LakeWalesNews.net and will continue frequent publication of important stories and community news. NDMR intends to continue the focus on local news while increasing coverage of local sports and community groups. Two and half years after its inaugural issue the...
Jack E Wymer, Jr. passed away August 26, 2021. Jack grew up in Florida with his mother, Rafaela and his sisters, Lily and Lucy. He learned to love hard work and the importance of caring for family and friends. A year after high school, he joined the Navy and crossed the country to his new home port in San Diego. He ended his 19 years of service with the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was particularly honored to pilot an LCU for the USS Tarawa. Jack met his beloved wife,...
Eric Scott Gouge, 44 of Winter Haven, Florida formerly of Englewood, passed away suddenly, Friday, August 20, 2021. Eric was born March 24, 1977 in Dayton, Ohio to Wayne Scott Gouge and Mary Jane (Bixler) Munson. He was preceded in death by his father Wayne and his step-mother Lynne Brane Gouge, his paternal grandfather Walter Gouge, maternal grandparents, Francis and Esther Bixler, step-paternal grandfather Arden Hughes. Eric leaves to cherish his memory, two sons David...
Dr. Lyn Irene Jones, DC, passed away suddenly on Monday, Aug 9, 2021 at her home in Babson Park, FL at age of 75. She is survived by her eldest son, David Jones of Port Huron, MI, her brothers Wayne Baird (Jenny) of San Jose, CA, and William Baird (Chris) of Sterling Heights, MI, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, John & Peg Baird of Frostproof, FL and by her sons Adam Jones of Florida and Brian Jones of...
Kevin N. "Kev" Jackson, 37, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born March 6, 1984 in Winter Haven, to Donald and Danise Jackson. Kev was the parts manager for Fields Equipment in Zolfo Springs and was a member of Impact Church in Lake Wales. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was the Vice President of the FFA Alumni. Kev was the leader of the Orange Blossom 4-H and was a member of the Federal Christian Sportsman and the...
The Lake Wales Charter Schools and the local community are mourning the passing of Dr. Damien Moses, principal of Bok Academy South. "It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the passing of our beloved principal and colleague, Dr. Damien Moses," said Superintendent Alricky Smith in a July 23 email announcing Moses' death. "Dr. Moses was a pillar with the Lake Wales Charter Schools system serving since its inception." Prior to being appointed principal of Bok...
Some viewed his email as a threat to withhold future funding, but Henry McCance says that's not what he intended. The largest donor to Lake Wales Charter schools, McCance says he just wants officials to know that he expects them to show "leadership" to ensure students can safely attend school in-person this year. His recommendation: Mandatory vaccines for all teachers and staff and mandatory masks for students, teachers and staff. "I feel strongly enough about these issues...
A celebration of life for Bok Academy South Principal Damien Moses is scheduled for noon, Saturday, July 31. The event will take place at the Lake Wales High School gymnasium and also live streamed on You Tube. Masks will be required to attend in person. Those wishing to share photos, stories or leave sympathy for the family can do so at https://everloved.com/life-of/damien-moses/ The link for the live stream is https://youtu.be/ykDCjGuW55k Moses died July 22. Our story,...
As of July 19 only three people had expressed an interest in filling the temporary vacancy created by the governor's suspension of newly elected City Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. Former Commissioner Al Goldstein, who lost to Fitzgerald by 32 votes in the April 6 city election, and rental property owner Richard DeLoach Sr. notified City Clerk Jennifer Nanek they would like to be considered. A third candidate, child care worker James Loydd, submitted a resume July 19. Commissio...
Robert Francis Douskey, 78, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, July 15, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born June 26, 1943 in New Milford, CT to the late Adam and Marion Douskey; he moved to Lake Wales from Connecticut 30 years ago. Robert worked for the Kimberly-Clark Corp. as a supply truck driver. He was a friend to all who met him and truly liked by all. He was a great sports fan. Robert was the track star in the early 60s for New Milford High School and won many awards for the school. After high school, he...
