Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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In the aftermath of the ongoing surge in school shootings nationwide, Polk County Schools plan to conduct random "screenings" of students during the coming school year, which begins Wednesday, August 10. According to a released issued by Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid, "ALL screenings are done randomly." "Schools will vary the screening location on campus, the time when the screening takes place and the frequency of a screening," Heid wrote "For instance,...
Area crafters and vendors looking for a weekday marketing opportunity have an extra chance beginning in early November. Visit Central Florida's Welcome Center in Davenport is inviting vendors to participate in its seasonal market that takes place on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The weekly market offers local vendors the opportunity to share their produce and wares with Polk County residents and visitors alike. A variety of vendors are already signed up to participate...
The Lake Wales Youth Football League, which sponsors the Lake Wales Steelers teams, has been selected as the recipient of the Dyer Difference Award for August. The Lake Wales Football League provides healthy, educational, fun to up to 600 participants each year between the ages of four and 15. Whether they are learning about first downs and defense or how to encourage and support a team as a cheerleader, children who participate in the Lake Wales Youth Football League are...
Lake Wales banker Greg Littleton has been elected to serve as chair of the Polk State College's District Board of Trustees by the trustees at their annual reorganization meeting on August 22. Littleton, a Polk State Distinguished Alumnus who graduated in 1987, has served the Board since 2007, including previous terms as Chair and Vice Chair. The Polk County native is President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank & Trust. In addition to his Polk State Associate in...
Twenty-seven community leaders will soon begin exploring the complexities of managing one of the largest school districts in the nation. Inside PCPS - a new countywide leadership program - was created through the collaboration of Polk County Public Schools and Polk Vision. Superintendent Frederick Heid said the new program addresses an important goal within the district's new strategic plan. "One of our major goals is to better engage families and the community," Heid said....
The August 23 "Primary" election will be the "final" election for candidates in four heated Polk School Board races, as well as those seeking judicial slots. Voters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the issues and cast their ballots early, by mail, or on election day. Those wishing to vote early in southeast Polk may visit the Lake Wales Tourist Club at 205 North 5th Street. That location is between the playground at Crystal Lake Park and the City Tennis Courts on...
A convicted felon and a Lake Wales Police Department canine were killed in a shooting in Lake Wales Wednesday morning. Ernest Borders, 57, was killed in the exchange of gunfire after opening fire after ordered to show his hands by two Lake Wales officers. Police K-9 Max was killed, but both officers escaped without injury. Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez said that the K-9 died so that the officers could survive. According to a statement issued by the Lake Wales Police...
Faced with a expected wave of new development after approving more than a dozen new housing projects in less than a year, the Lake Wales City Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a new "Mobility" impact fee that will add $2,055.33 to the cost of new home in the city. Funds raised by the fee may be used for a wide variety of improvements, including sidewalks, trails, lighting, and street trees in addition to the standard road funding. Prepared by consultants NUE Urban...
Saturday, August 13 marked the 18th anniversary of the most destructive hurricane to strike Lake Wales in recent memory, and thankfully the tropics remain quiet so far. Only a weak disturbance drifting westward near Texas is being remarked upon by the National Hurricane Center. The Friday the 13th storm of 2004 was the first of three direct strikes here in only six weeks, an event unprecedented in recorded history. Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne came evenly spaced, three weeks...
Janet Crichfield Ward, 74, of Lake Wales passed away on August 7, 2022, after a long illness. She was born October 17, 1947, in Belle Glade, Florida, to Charles and Bertha Crichfield. She graduated from Belle Glade High School in 1965. After relocating to Lake Wales, she graduated from USF in 1970 where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She went on to attain her master's degree in 1981. Janet became an educator for the Polk County School System where she...
Kathleen Marie Greer of Winter Haven passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at Winter Haven Hospital. She was born March 26, 1946 in Lake Wales. Kathleen was a retired librarian for the Polk County Historical Library and the Lake Wales Public Library and she was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She was previously a member of the Business and Professional Women and Columbiettes. Kathleen was a member of the Counsel of Catholic Women and was a Lector and Eucharisto...
As the City of Lake Wales and Polk County prepare to finalize their annual budgets and set tax rates for the new fiscal year, both are benefitting from a substantial rise in property values. The changes could lead to further reductions in millage rates for property owners. In Polk overall, values have risen to $51,391,150,529, an increase of 17.75 percent, nearly doubling last year's sharp increase of 9.03 percent. That represents a current-year increase of more than $2.2...
While the 2022 Hurricane Season has so far seemed quiet from our vantage point in Lake Wales, weather forecasters are warning that this is expected to be an above average season. The August outlook offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reduced the expected number of storms only by one. That prediction now includes a total of 14 to 20 named storms, of which only three have occurred. The hurricane season runs from June 1 until November 30, but the peak...
A 312-acre parcel expected to host the Mayfair development nearly two decades ago is now the proposed site of a 1,020-unit project dubbed Ridgecrest. The Lake Wales City commission on Tuesday will consider the application for a preliminary subdivision plat and a special exception use permit for a residential Planned Development Project (PDP). Ridgecrest is planned to be constructed in three phases and will fill in a large blank in the city's residential areas stretching from R...
A divided boulevard featuring median plantings, turn lanes, sidewalks, bikeways, and efficient traffic roundabouts may be in the future of Buck Moore Road, depending upon the cooperation of Polk County in improving the county-maintained road. The corridor has been a concern for area residents as traffic has grown in recent years, and another 684 single-family homes are planned for construction along the one and a half mile connector link between SR 60 and Burns Avenue. The roa...
Students heading back to school will get a welcome boost as 700 backpacks full of school supplies are given away to students from kindergarten through college age. The event marks the return of the Polk State College "Start Right" campaign and includes free school supplies, haircuts, food, and more for students and their families ahead of the 2022-2023 Academic Year. The event will begin at 9:00 am on Saturday July 23 at Polk State College's JD Alexander Center, 152 E....
A pair of forums offering voters a chance to hear from seven school board candidates has been moved to an online event due to the recent upsurge of Coved cases in Polk County. The event had been scheduled for the James Austin Center in Lake Wales with a capacity of 100 guests. The event will now take place via Zoom, with a link to be posted for interested guests. The August primary election will be the final chance to vote in some local races, including those for new school...
Ballots are now available for eligible voters who wish to vote by mail in Florida's Statewide Primary Election on August 23rd. The Primary Election will be decisive in four local school board races and a judgeship as well as the selection of major party nominees for governor, US senator, and other statewide offices. Voters can request a mail ballot by phoning Election Headquarters at (863) 534-5888 or by visiting the Supervisor of Elections website at PolkElections.gov. If...
Another reduction in property taxes may be in the cards if Lake Wales city commissioners agree to a proposal from city staff to adopt the "roll-back rate" for the upcoming fiscal year as the city's values surpass a billion dollars for the first time. In a document prepared for consideration at Tuesday's commission meeting, Finance Director Dorothy Abbott is recommending that the city accept the certified property values and adopt an interim millage rate of 6.3626. Once set,...
Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards advises residents to watch for their new Voter Information Cards which have been mailed to more than 450,000 voters. When the new cards arrive, voters should confirm that all the information is correct including: · Name; · Residence Address; · Party Affiliation; and, · Date of Birth "While the new cards are not required to cast a ballot, they provide helpful information to voters, including the location of their polling pla...
The growing enthusiasm of staff, students and parents is lending a boost to McLaughlin Middle School as preparations are made to co-locate a high school on the campus. The results are showing up in positive ways. A new mural entitled "We Paint Our Path," featuring the school's phoenix mascot, was recently dedicated, the result of a week's effort by noted muralist Hamilton Glass. That project was the result of a grant from the Florida Education Association, the teachers' union....
The August primary election will be the final chance to vote in some local races, including those for new school board members for four different seats on the seven-member board. A total of nine candidates are seeking spots on the board, which governs more than 100 local schools. The two events will take place on Monday, July 18 and Thursday July 21., The public is encouraged to come hear the candidates discuss the challenges facing public education, and the important role...
A shooting in a parking lot has left one victim with wounds and a suspect on the run. Lake Wales police officers responded to the mid-evening call from the Lake Wales Garden Apartments. Officers found one victim with gunshot wounds and witnesses who identified the suspected shooter as Aaron Devon Garrison of Bartow. Officers learned Garrison, 27, shot the victim in the parking lot after arguing arguing with a person upstairs. After that altercation Garrison walked downstairs...
Polk County is seeking residents to serve on the Community Development Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC). The 15-member advisory committee assists the Housing and Neighborhood Development (HND) Office of Health & Human Services in reviewing and evaluating the applications for funding from the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). This program, funded through the US Housing & Urban Development (HUD), assists low to moderate income people struggling with housing...
The concept of "community service" is alive and well in Lake Wales, as evidenced by an award presented to one of three local Rotary Clubs this week. Rotary on the Ridge received a membership award from Rotary District 6890 Governor Deborah Williams after the club doubled its membership in 2021-22, achieving the highest rate of growth among District 6890's 32 clubs. The club, which meets in Lake Wales, grew from 30 to 60 members in the year to end June 30. Williams presented...
