Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Mary Louise (Lou) Dailey, 83, passed away on Oct 18, 2021, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. The family will hold a memorial service on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 2 PM EST at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home on 650 East Main St., Bartow, FL, with the burial immediately following at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow. Mary was born Sept. 20, 1938, in Fairmont, WV, to her late parents Hinton Noble and Edna Violet (Merrifield) Peirce. The youngest of eight children, she grew up in a busy...
Paul Michael Smerdell of Lake Wales passed away Monday, October 4, 2021 at Highland Regional Medical Center. He was born October 21, 1955 in Morgantown, West Virginia to the late Joseph and Jean Smerdell. Paul was a retired coal miner for the states of West Virginia and Pennsylvania and was a member of Christ Church on the Move and Blacksville Methodist Church in West Virginia. He was a member of the NRA and the Christian Sportsman Club and was an avid outdoorsman. Paul was...
AdventHealth's COVID-19 patient census continued to drop this week to about 660 patients hospitalized across our hospitals in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Polk, Lake, Volusia and Flagler counties. This figure is less than 50% of the level of inpatient hospitalizations we saw at the height of the Delta surge in August of about 1,700 hospitalized patients. AdventHealth continues to operate under "Green Status" or normal operations. "This slow, but steady decline in new admissions...
Kevin O'Quinn, age 58, passed away September 27, 2021, at Bartow Regional Medical Center. He was born on September 15, 1963, in Bartow, FL. He worked as a Plumber. He enjoyed racing cars, jeeping and woodworking. He also enjoyed having a cold beer in the rain on the porch and spending time with his family. He is survived by a loving family that includes his children: Dania O'Quinn of Frostproof , Sheina Castleberry (Jamie) of Bartow, Chelsea O'Quinn of Lakeland, Brittany...
In a dramatic turnabout involving Florida’s new surgeon general, the state Department of Health has created a new COVID-19 related emergency rule that allows parents to keep kids in school even if they have been exposed to the virus. Previously, students would have to quarantine at home for a certain time period before going back to school, raising Constitutional questions about who controls public schools — the executive branch, local school boards or parents. New Sur...
Monica Denise Richardson, age 45, of Bartow, FL, died Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She is survived by One Daughter: Jerrica Lenae' Williams, Bartow, FL; Three Sons: Jeramy Lorenzo Williams, Bartow, FL, Christopher Butler, Lake Wales, FL, Chrishawn Butler, Bartow, FL; Mother: Loretta Richardson, Bartow, FL; and One Grand Child. Arrangements are being handled by Gause Funeral Home, 625 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow, FL. Memorial service will...
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 17, 2021 – The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized across AdventHealth’s Central Florida system remained on a downward slope this week to about 850 as the hospital transitioned back to normal operations or “Green Status.” “I think it’s really important our patients understand we are now business as usual,” said Dr. Neil Finkler, chief clinical officer for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, at Thursday’s AdventHealth Morning Briefing. “We understand that COVID will be with us and we are going...
Robert Eugene "Bobby" Duncan, Jr. of Lakeland passed away Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was born December 31, 1943 in Williamson, West Virginia to the late Robert and Edna Duncan. He was a retired truck driver. Bobby was preceded in death by his first wife, Sharon Runyon Duncan; second wife, Linda Perez Duncan; and son, Ricky Eugene Duncan. He is survived by his brother, Mark Duncan (Rebbia) of Lake Wales; and girlfriend, Judy Schmelzer...
Polk County Fire Rescue has received the American Heart Association's Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks. Each year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it is critical to restore...
(NAPSI)-For many students, learning and school excitement can be stifled by caution and worry about bullying-but it can be alleviated. The Problem Children who are bullied or who bully others may have lasting difficulties. Bullies are more likely to drop out of school, engage in criminal behavior and have difficulty keeping steady jobs. Victims of bullying suffer from anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. Bystanders may feel powerless, fearful or guilty. The U.S....
Mary Mercades Drainville of Lake Wales passed away Monday, September 6, 2021 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was born April 10, 1934 in Valley City, Ohio to the late Leo and Olive Nilges; she moved to Lake Wales from Homestead in 2001. Mary was a retired bookkeeper and was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. In her younger years, she enjoyed bowling with her husband and singing at the county fair. She was a great mom and team mom for her kids. Mary was preceded...
A Polk County Commissioner is coming under fire for promoting a common ulcer medication as a cure for Covid-19. There is no medical or clinical evidence to support his claim. Neil Combee, who represents the northwest corner of Polk but is elected county-wide, asserts that "the government knows" that the over-the-counter medicine is effective but is covering it up for unknown reasons. He offered no explanation as to why any authority would do so but says that he "doesn't trust...
Memorial Services for Rose Marie Laureti, 75, of Lake Wales, who died Aug. 12, 2021 will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25 at Lake Wales Lutheran Church, with Pastor Bill Whitehead officiating. Rose was born on December 12, 1945 in Genoa, NE to Herman and Mary Silverberg. Rose's first love was God and family. That love was followed closely by her love and devotion for her work in the medical profession where she worked in various capacities for over 40 years. When she...
Lucille Mae Leeks Coleman, 91, of Lake Wales, died Aug. 14, 2021 at Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, FL. She was born July 4, 1930 in Live Oak, FL. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20 at Epps Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Services are at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21 at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 343 D St., Lake Wales. Masks are required for both....
Does Congress really want professional police reform? Police professionals support and welcome real police reform. Why is Congress missing a huge opportunity to change and improve police culture in America? The current federal police reform bill includes a laundry list of fragmented proposals designed to create political talking points, not a genuine attempt to fix problem policing where it exists. There is a big lie being told in the police reform debate: "qualified immunity...
In preparation for hurricane season, which begins on June 1, Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing and Polk County Emergency Management have partnered with Publix Super Markets to produce and distribute the "Polk County Public Shelters" maps for 2021. The map is designed to assist both resident and tourist evacuees in finding shelter during an impending storm. "In the event a hurricane threatens Central Florida, we will work closely with our accommodations partners to...
Polk County commissioners at their May 18 meeting approved a six-year, $4.5 million agreement to purchase and maintain new cardiac monitoring and defibrillator systems for emergency vehicles. The agreement with Phillips North America also includes the training of staff, repair, maintenance and warranty for the new equipment. "We want to be able to offer the best medical care possible to our patients and this contract will allow us to do that," Polk Fire Chief Robert Weech...
The promotion of two long-time Polk County Fire Rescue veterans to deputy chief also brings a first for the division – it's first woman to hold the rank of deputy chief. Jennifer Huff and Eugene Gorokhov were promoted to deputy chief this week by Fire Chief Robert Weech. They will serve in the Planning and Training Division respectively. "Deputy Chief Huff's promotion is a huge milestone for Polk County Fire Rescue," Weech said. "In a profession dominated by men, Huff has s...
About 300 people are hospitalized May 20 across AdventHealth's Central Florida hospitals, part of a recent "continual decline," said Dr. Steven R. Smith, chief scientific officer, on AdventHealth Morning Briefing. "Vaccinations are getting in arms and that's protecting us all from COVID-19," Smith said on national Clinical Trials Day, a fitting tribute to the doctors and volunteer patients who participated in trials at AdventHealth that helped bring the vaccines to market....
There are an estimated 90 million dogs living in U.S. households. Each year, millions of people are bitten or attacked by dogs, however these incidents can often be prevented. A new report from State Farm and The Insurance Information Institute (III) explains how it isn't just people affected by the COVID pandemic. In fact, your own pets may have been picking up on your stress and anxiety. In 2020 there were 16,991 related injury claims in the US with over $853 million paid....
Linda Brooks, 72, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, April 9, 2021 at Select Specialty Hospital in Edgewood. She was born July 14, 1948 in Paris, KY to the late Elmer and Emma McFarland; she moved to Lake Wales from Kentucky in 2010. Linda was a retired Administrative Executive for the VA Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky and North Point Training Center in Danville, Kentucky. She was a Louisville Cardinal fan and made and sold her own line of jewelry. Linda is survived by her husband of 52 years, Ronald G. “Ron” Bro...
Addicts and alcoholics will be quick to jump into a detox program in hopes to solve their addiction in 3-7 days. One of the reasons they get stuck on drugs and alcohol is because when they try and stop they go into withdrawal and it is very uncomfortable. Short term medical detox programs will get you through the physical withdrawal as comfortably as possible with the use of drugs, and that's really it. Let's not forget that they still need to deal with why they got addicted...
Seat 2 on the Lake Wales City Commission will have a new occupant after the April 6 municipal election – either Ricardo Navarro or Daniel Williams. Incumbent Commissioner Curtis Gibson is not seeking re-election, but is instead considering a run for Lake Wales mayor in 2022. Navarro, 33, is an internal medicine physician, owner and president of Navarro Medical. He also is a consulting physician for Vitas Healthcare and medical director for the hospitalist medicine program a...
Editor's Note: Candidates for City Commission were asked to complete a questionnaire. Their responses are being printed as submitted. Dr. Ricardo Navarro Lake Wales City Commission Seat 2 Candidate Age: 33 years old Occupation: • Internal Medicine Physician. • Owner and President of Navarro Medical. • Medical Director for the Hospitalist Medicine program at Advent Health Lake Wales • Consulting Physician for Vitas Healthcare Years Living in Lake Wales : Twenty-seven (27) ye...
Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez released an investigative report Friday, March 26 that concluded there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by two officers during a Feb. 5 arrest. The complaint involved a traffic stop of 37-year-old Christopher Cordero that escalated into charges of resisting arrest without violence, threat of death or serious bodily injury of a law enforcement officer and assault on a law enforcement officer. Cordero accused Officers Colt Black and...
