Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Mr. Winston Henry Martin was born April 23, 1956 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Eunice Hollingsworth and the late Eugene Decosta Martin. Winston transitioned to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at Advent Hospital in Sebring, Florida. Winston served in the United States Army 82nd Airborne as a paratrooper where he was honorably discharged after 20 years. He later worked for the AutoZone Corporation. He ended his work history after six years at the...
The enormous task of removing the thousands of tons of debris created by Hurricane Milton damage across Polk County is a challenge for both residents and those doing the removal work. While most cities in the area have made great progress in the cleanup, for Polk County residents the task is a bigger problem, according to county officials.. "Polk County spans more than 2,000 square miles, so there's a lot of ground to cover," said Michel Teate, Polk County's Roads and Drainage...
Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Polk County families are invited to receive a free frozen turkey that they can bake at home. The free turkey giveaway will take place on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at three Polk County locations. The turkeys are limited to one per family, one per vehicle on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. No identification or pre-qualification will be required to receive a turkey. The giveaway is an effort of Polk Sheriff's...
Weather-exhausted Floridians are casting a weary eye back at the tropics this week as yet another tropical cyclone is expected to threaten the state next week, even as Hurricane Rafael, briefly a Category 3 storm, fizzles in the Gulf. The National Hurricane Center in Miami has identified a new area of disturbed weather south of Cuba that is expected to drift to the west across the Caribbean as it slowly becomes better organized. Forecasters there are currently giving it an 80...
Polk State College has opened the pre-registration process for students who plan to attend the four-year school during the upcoming spring semester. Priority registration for the Spring 2025 semester at Polk State College has started for students who have completed at least 50% of their program requirements and students in the following programs: Honors, TRiO, Disability Services, Collegiate High Schools, and Athletics. Open registration will begin on November 13 for all stude...
Spook Hill Elementary science teacher Cynara Appling has been named the 2024-25 Polk County Teacher of the Year. Appling's honor was announced at the Inspire Awards at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland Friday night. The Inspire Awards are presented by the Polk Education Foundation and PCPS' Department of Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships. In making the announcement, the school system said "Cynara Appling makes an impact wherever she goes. She has a special role in our...
Motorists passing through Babson Park are warned to exercise caution as work crews will be conducting a major reconstruction of Scenic Highway through the heart of the village. The Florida Department of Transportation has begun a Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) Project on SR 17 (Scenic Highway). The project zone includes about one mile from 5th Street to North Crooked Lake Drive. That zone include the Polk Fire and EMS station as well as Webber International University. In...
The Lake Wales Police Department will soon be stronger and better-prepared for any emergency, thanks to either Drake or Eli, two Belgian Malinois dogs who represent a generous donation from Chad Landry, the owner of Patriot Canine Service of Plant City. Canine units have become an integral part of police work, and the Lake Wales department is no exception, relying upon the highly-trained dogs since 1997 for criminal apprehension, tracking missing persons and suspects,...
Amy Prill of Davenport said she believes if it were not for a routine mammogram, she might not be alive today to share her story of surviving breast cancer. Now, she's working to impress upon others how important early detection and getting an annual check-up is. "It was very scary to hear those words and not know what your future is going to be," she said. My son was 16 years old at the time. So, it's like, you know, talk about shaking up somebody's world." Prill said that in...
In honor of Veterans Day, veterans and active-duty military personnel are being offered free passport photos during November. The fee for a passport photo at the Clerk's office is normally $15. To be eligible, veterans and active-duty personnel must present their DD-214, military ID, or have a veteran designation on their driver's license. Passport photos and applications are available at all three locations in Bartow, Lakeland, and the Northeast Government Center in Lake...
The much-anticipated grand opening of Ollies is happening Wednesday morning. Crowds are expected to visit in coming days, shopping and exploring the more than 20 different departments of the discount store. The new store will occupy a former Kash'n'Karry grocery store at 1340 SR 60 East that has remained vacant for more than two decades as the once-thriving center struggled to generate traffic. Ollies is a national chain of more than 500 stores featuring a changing line-up of...
The Lake Wales Arts Council (LWAC) is excited to announce its upcoming Fiddles & Fine Art: Instrument & Art Auction on Saturday, November 16, 2024. This unique event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the historic Lake Wales Arts Center and will feature live and silent auctions of original artwork, rare musical instruments, and one-of-a-kind community-donated art pieces, with all proceeds supporting youth arts education programs in Lake Wales. Special Matching...
Tropical Storm Rafael, expected to soon reach hurricane strength as it moves toward Jamaica, Cuba, and the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to hold little threat for central Florida, but could bring welcome rains. The cyclone, which reached tropical storm strength on Monday, could undergo a period of rapid intensification due to its passage over the still superheated waters of the Caribbean. Once it enters the Gulf of Mexico region, however, hostile conditions and...
Bringing a plane to Bartow for an inspection was supposed to be a routine flight from Fort Myers for Robert Mosier, 45, of Winter Haven. When the plane in question began to lose power near Homeland with no airport in sight, Mosier proved his worth as a pilot. At about 11:05 Thursday morning Mosier guided the small replica war plane to a safe landing on the northbound lanes of US 17 near Homeland Garfield Road in Bartow. Mosier is a commercial pilot but also works part-time...
Art teacher Brannan Lawson of Hillcrest Elementary School in Lake Wales has been named the 2024 Arts & Cultural Educator of the Year by the Polk Arts and Cultural Alliance. In partnership with the Lake Wales Arts Council, Lawson spearheaded the Creative Kids Market that creates opportunities for children to combine lessons in art making and entrepreneurship. "Brannan has been a fantastic arts educator in Lake Wales for ten years," Tommy Frank, executive director of the Lake...
A 73-year-old Lakeland man who apparently failed to see a tractor-trailer rig crossing SR 60 near Bartow was killed early Tuesday morning after his Dodge pickup truck collided with the trailer, shearing off the top of the vehicle and killing him instantly, according to Polk County Sheriff's office Traffic Homicide Unit. The PCSO is investigating the crash that occurred around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday at 2710 State Road 60, just west of Bartow. A delivery driver who had arrived early...
Harold Stephen Wysock of Lake Wales passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at his residence. He was born July 4, 1925 in Springfield, Massachusetts to the late Stephen and Louise Wysock; he moved to Lake Wales from Fort Meade 15 years ago. Harold developed and managed the New England Mobile Home Park in Hollywood, Florida. He served with the United States Army during WWII. He enjoyed traveling and gardening. Harold loved farm animals including exotic animals and birds. He...
Motorists traveling on city streets around Lake Wales will find the going much smoother as work progresses on an aggressive program of improvements being conducted under city contracts. Portions of 12 roadways are presently being resurfaced with either a cape seal or a double-micro slurry of liquid asphalt as part of the city's Pavement Management Program. Both processes are preservation treatments to extend the life of the roadways for several years, creating a smoother...
After suffering through the most destructive hurricane season on record, will Florida face yet another bout of severe tropical weather in November? That is the question being considered by forecasters as long-range models are suggesting that scenario. Several models monitored by Lake Wales News as well as meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center and elsewhere are predicting the formation of yet another cyclone to our south. If it reaches tropical storm force winds...
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following report was written by Kendall Farrar, reporter for the Bok Academy North Future Farmers of America chapter (FFA). We are very proud of these students who work so hard toward their future careers. Bok North FFA has had an action-packed month, filled with exciting activities, community service projects, and meaningful opportunities for students to strengthen their bonds with each other and the community. The month kicked off with a Keep Polk County...
The Polk County Sheriff's Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating a fatal crash that took place early Saturday directly in front of the Babson Park station of the county's fire rescue department. Paramedics from the station responded immediately after the impact but were unable to save the life of the Fort Myers man who was driving a 2018 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Kenneth Ellefson, 53, was reportedly not wearing a helmet when his motorcycle collided head-on with a 1999 Mazda...
Two people who broke into a home on on Fast Trot Trail, allegedly to "escape" during Hurricane Milton, were arrested and charged with burglary and criminal mischief in additional to other charges. The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested the two suspects on Thursday, October 10, for burglarizing the vacant home in the aftermath of the storm. Deputies responded to a 9:40 a.m., call about a residential burglary in progress and found the rear door pried open. The two suspects we...
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has announced the opening of Operation Blue Roof, which will provide and install a tarp on roofs damaged during the passage of Hurricane Milton. Operation Blue Roof is a program offered by FEMA through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to eligible homeowners and landlords. It provides a temporary covering of blue plastic sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. The blue plastic sheeting...
A two-vehicle crash on SR 60 East took the life of a Lake Wales man early Tuesday evening. Duane Matthew Kolaski, 74, of Lake Wales was driving a black 2017 BMW X7 SUV eastbound near Story Road when, for unknown reasons, his vehicle "drifted" across the median, according to Polk County Sheriff's office investigators. Kolaski's vehicle then entered the westbound lanes into the path of a black 2021 Dodge 3500 pickup truck. The truck was driven by 45-year old Maksim Zakharov of...
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...
