Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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With the annual Pioneer Days festival only days away, the sponsoring Lake Wales History Museum has revealed Richard "Dick" Dane Howell as the 2024 Pioneer of the Year. "Mr. Howell's exceptional dedication to the Lake Wales community and his remarkable achievements truly define him as a pioneer and a worthy recipient of this prestigious award," said museum president Brandon Alvarado in revealing the selection, The honorific of "Pioneer of the Year" has been bestowed upon a...
Life-long resident and supporter of numerous area charitable causes, Dale Patrick Cain of Lake Wales passed away Monday, May 20. Pat, as he was known to his many friends, was a third generation Lake Wales resident who served as a Lake Wales City Commissioner from 1988 until 1992, serving as mayor in 1991-1992. A 1965 graduate of Lake Wales High School, he played both offense and defense on the Highlander football squads in two undefeated seasons in 1963 and 1964, as more...
Dale Patrick Cain (Pat) of Lake Wales passed away Monday, May 20, 2024 at his residence after a short battle with cancer. Pat was a third generation Lake Walean born on October 16, 1947 to the late Lucas and Mary Cain. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology on a football scholarship and later graduated with a major in finance from the University of Florida. Pat was in the financial planning industry for over 29 years following many years as owner and operator of...
Eleven local non-profit organizations benefitted from grants distributed recently by the Lake Wales Mardi Gras Committee. Several dozen representatives and community members gathered at the Lake Wales Arts Center for the annual check presentation. The Lake Wales Mardi Gras Committee and Lake Wales Mardi Gras President Joshua Curchy presented a total of $20,000 from proceeds raised in the 2024 Mardi Gras event. The Mardi Gras celebration, now planning for its 41st year, draws t...
Improvements to the Lake Wales Northwest Recreation Complex on Florida Avenue are on the way after the city received a $50,000 recreation grant from the state. The sports facility is the home of Frasier Field and hosts a variety of other recreational activities along with picnic facilities. The grant from the Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program, known as FRDAP, will pay for improvements to basketball and tennis courts, two new picnic tables, and fencing at the...
In the high-energy future facing Lake Wales there's little doubt that high-energy management is required to keep up. As Lake Wales faces a wave of growth, with about 15,000 new residences planned to be built here in the next several years, Assistant City Manager Deena Drumgo may be the ideal person to help the city face the challenges ahead. Drumgo, the former city manager of Dundee, came to Lake Wales from Winter Haven, where she oversaw that city's community redevelopment ag...
Representatives of thirteen area charitable organizations were smiling Thursday evening as they assembled to receive grant awards resulting from the efforts of the Lake Wales Mardi Gras. The event, hosted at Wales Pointe Restaurant, saw the awarding of a total of $26,000 to the groups. The $26,000 raised and donated by the Lake Wales Mardi Gras Committee represents funds raised in donations by sponsors, vendor fees, and sales during the event. The annual charitable donations...
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...
A major effort to develop a master plan to govern the future development of seven parks in the city of Lake Wales is the goal of a new contract Catalyst Design Group. The project was recently approved by the city commission. The planning effort will cover Lake Wailes Park, Kiwanis Park and Crystal Lake Park, which form the core of the city's park system. It will also include the city's soccer complex on Hunt Brothers Road, the Northwest Complex/Frasier Field park, the Little...
Sandy Rybinski of Frostproof passed away Friday December 17, 2021 at AdventHealth of Lake Wales.. He was born August 15,1941 in Blue Island, IL to the late Edmond and Angeline Rybinski. He moved to Frostproof in 1966 with his newborn son and wife Pamela to open and operate Sandy's Marrket, which he purchased from his godmother Mildred Zale. In the following decades, Sandy and Pam operated many businesses in Frostproof, most notable was the Rio Grande Bar, which entertained...
Rocky White, age 65, passed away January 1, 2022, at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born on December 6, 1956, in Bartow, FL. He was a Production Supervisor in the citrus industry. He was a member of Oakwood Golf Club, First Baptist Church Frostproof and 30+ years Little League/Dixie League umpire. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, and softball/baseball. Most of all he loved his cars and coaching. He was survived by a loving family that includes his wife Joyce White of Lake...
J.P. Williamson of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Sebring. He was born December 28, 1972 in Fort Lauderdale to the late Michael Williamson and Noel Trent; he moved to Lake Wales from Fort Lauderdale 34 years ago. J.P. was a meter reader for Tampa Electric. He enjoyed football, baseball, golfing, fishing, and spending time at the beach. He was active in the Lake Wales Little League by coaching, umpiring, and was on the Board...
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...
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...
Frank Sikes, 90, of Lake Wales passed away and went home to be with his Lord Jesus Monday, March 1, 2021 at his residence. He was born Nov. 27, 1930 in Cobbtown, GA to the late Eli and Zelma Sikes; he moved to Lake Wales from Cobbtown 84 years ago. Frank was the retired president of First Federal Savings and Loan of Lake Wales, former president of Lake Wales Little League, a cattle rancher with a passion for raising, training, and riding cutting horses. He enjoyed singing and...
William G. "Bill" Lanoue, 67, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 at Advent Health in Kissimmee. He was born July 11, 1953 in New London, CT to the late William and Florence Lanoue; he moved to Oldsmar, FL in his youth. He participated in scouting, was active in little league baseball, was an altar boy at church, enjoyed camping, fishing, and building model cars. In later years he enjoyed traveling and practicing flight simulation. He was a Tampa Bay Rays and New...
City leaders are continuing to cast an eye towards improving the quality of life by approving the creation of a master plan for parks, trails and open spaces in Lake Wales. Commissioners have approved the hiring of S&ME to come up with the plan, a process that will involve a number of public workshops and meetings, and should take around 10 months to complete, according to the Orlando-based firm. "A master plan will serve as a guiding tool in order to elevate the current...
Lake Wales City Commissioners got good news at their second budget workshop Aug. 12. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic's negative impact on the economy, projected state revenue is about $100,000 higher than originally expected. Budget Director Dorothy Abbott said she is confident that the City can adopt a balanced budget at a slightly lower "rollback" millage, the rate that is expected to generate the same amount of property taxes as this year. The current rate of 6.9339 may be...
Roger Lee Strickland, 82, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, June 26, 2020 at the Winter Haven Hospital. He was born December 31, 1937 in Flatwoods, KY to the late Joshua and Martha Strickland. He graduated in Russell, KY in 1955, received his two-year Associate's degree from Ashland Community College, his Bachelor's from Marshall, and a Master's from Webber. He was a certified Management Accountant. Roger moved to Jacksonville to work for his brother-in-law at Stewart's Air...
About 125 peaceful protesters gathered Sunday afternoon at the Lake Wales Police Department, but unlike groups around the country their issue was not the killing of a black man by a white Minneapolis police officer. Instead, they were calling for racial justice at the local level and demanding the firing of a Lake Wales police detective, who ironically was named 2019 Officer of the Year. The Poor and Minority Justice Association, a Winter Haven-based civil rights group,...
The City of Lake Wales has reopened tennis courts, but playgrounds and many other recreation facilities remain closed. City staff will get input about reopening at the next city commission meeting June 2. The June 2 meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the city administration building on Central Avenue. It's being called a "hybrid" meeting since some commissioners and staff will be physically present and others will join online. The public will have three participation options – a...
The City of Lake Wales continues to be under a declared State of Emergency by Mayor Fultz. There is no curfew at this time. As Covid-19 updates for Florida's residents continue daily, many City of Lake Wales staff have begun working from home, while others continue to work within the City of Lake Wales Municipal Administration Building, 201 West Central Avenue and other facilities. The Lake Wales Municipal Administration Building remains closed to residents and customers until...
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...
In an abundance of caution to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus various organizations in the Lake Wales area are canceling events or taking extra safety measures. As of 1 a.m. March 14 the Florida Department of Health still reported no cases in Polk County, and a total of 83 cases statewide, which resulted in three deaths. Updates are available online at http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/index.html Walt Disney World and Universal...
James Henry “Jimmy” Bolden, Jr., 56, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, March 6, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born Oct. 20, 1963 in Lake Wales to James Henry Bolden Sr. and Linda Gail (Willis). Jimmy was a firefighter and EMT for the City of Lake Wales for seven years before becoming a lineman for Florida Power and an engineer for Duke and Progress Energy. Jimmy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Wales. He was a lifetime vol...
