Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1185
A five-day-long undercover human trafficking operation which began on October 2, resulted in the arrest of 157 suspects involved in illegal acts related to soliciting prostitutes, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Vice Unit. Those arrested were allegedly offering to commit prostitution or aiding and abetting prostitutes. Three other suspects were arrested for traveling to sexually batter juveniles. Detectives identified and arrested one suspect for human...
The fourth local traffic fatality in a week took the life of a 24-year-old woman, who died following a head on crash on on Hatchineha Road Saturday evening. The crash happened after she attempted to pass another vehicle. The woman was reported by law enforcement to have been driving a a 4-door green Nissan Sentra on Hatchineha Road just east of Jennings Road at approximately 7:22 p.m. Saturday evening when she entered the eastbound lane into the path of a a white Nissan...
A foggy morning is likely to have contributed to the third traffic fatality in a single week in the Lake Wales area after a crash at SR 60 and Boy Scout Road east of the city. Traffic was blocked in four directions following the early Thursday smash-up. According to Polk County Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Unit investigators, a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by a 61-year-old Lake Wales resident was travelling southbound on Boy Scout Camp Road. At the intersection if...
A Lake Wales teacher is facing three felony charges after a violent assault at a local home. Polk County Sheriff's deputies arrested 51-year-old Thomas Griffin, a middle school teacher at McLaughlin Middle-High School in Lake Wales, charging him with burglary with assault, false imprisonment, and battery by strangulation. According to witnesses, on December 14 Griffin arrived at the residence of a woman with whom he had a prior romantic involvement and began banging on the...
Two men were killed Monday after entering SR 60 into the path of a Freightliner tractor-trailer rig at the intersection of West Lake Road just west of the Lake Wales city limits. First responders responded to the crash scene at around 9:38 pm, where they found two men deceased in a white 2002 Chevy 2500 work van operated by Florida Degreasers, a restaurant service company. The preliminary investigation, based on evidence and witness statements, indicated that the Chevy van...
As an increasingly-serious drought has wilted crops and increased fire dangers across the region, the hope for rain may be atop the holiday wish list for many. It's a hope that may be answered. With little measurable rain across the area since the October 10 passage of Hurricane Milton, much of central Florida, including southeast Polk, is suffering from rainfall deficits and parched vegetation. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) lists central Florida as "abnormally dr...
The purchase of 4,158 acres of land on the southwest side of Lake Wales by an active land-development company may be a harbinger of yet another major development proposal. The long-discussed 5-R Ranch property could potentially host many thousands of homes along with commercial and industrial uses if purchaser Richland Communities decides the time is ripe to develop the sprawling property south of Lake Wales Airport. Richland purchased the property for a local-record $50...
The City of Lake Wales has earned the designation of Tree City USA, joining a list of more than 160 communities in Florida who have won that designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation. "This is a prestigious honor for our city," city Horticulturist Kevin Polk said. Polk now leads a team of parks employees who are planting and maintaining hundreds of trees and thousands of shrubs across the city. Lake Wales met all criteria to qualify for the designation by operating a...
Frostproof's landmark, and perhaps haunted, Ramon Theatre is in serious trouble, and the volunteers who manage the venerable auditorium are turning to the community for help, pinning high hopes upon the success of a January 18 "Barn Bash." The Ramon is the cultural and entertainment soul of the southeast Polk Community. Built in 1925 at the height of the Great Florida Land Boom, the theatre hosts musical and theatrical performances around the year. The double-blows of...
Flames rapidly engulfed a camper parked on a lot in the Lake Garfield area east of Bartow Monday afternoon, claiming the life of a 53-year-old man, despite the heroic efforts of neighbors who pulled the victim from the flaming trailer. Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the 3:43 p.m. call of a fire on Pipes Road, reportedly arriving at the scene only two minutes later and finding the camper engulfed in flames. They provided immediate first aid to the victim who was lying...
The prospect of a transformative high-end development along SR 60 west of Lake Wales advanced with a unanimous vote in favor of the annexation of about 558 acres that will be the site of the proposed Lake Wales Commons at the most recent city commission meeting. Lake Wales Commons could host as many as 3,200 new dwelling units, along with more than a million square feet of light industrial and warehouse space on about 558 acres fronting along SR 60 West, Old Bartow Road, and W...
Polk County's Conservation Lands program is set to finalize a $5.2 million deal that will bring another large tract of land into permanent protection. It will become part of the "Big Green Network" of environmental lands will forever form limits to the potential urbanization of the Lake Wales area. The vision of a Big Green Network emerged as one of the major elements of the Lake Wales Envisioned project to assure that Lake Wales remains a livable area in the face of enormous...
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...
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...
