Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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A million-dollar second mortgage will fund the renovation of the original 1919 Lake Wales school building into new classroom space under action taken by the Lake Wales Charter School System. The building has been a white elephant and neighborhood eyesore for many years, and the plan brings relief to many. The path to the new loan was cleared Wednesday evening by the Community Redevelopment Agency board, which recorded no opposition to the mortgage being offered by Citizen's...
Polk State College’s District Board of Trustees elected Ashley Bell Barnett as Chair and Greg Littleton as Vice-Chair for the 2021-2022 Academic Year on Monday during the DBOT’s annual reorganization meeting. The role of Chair was previously filled by Cindy Hartley Ross and the role of Vice-Chair was previously filled by Barnett. The Board also includes members Dan Dorrell, Teresa V. Martinez, and Mark Turner. Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti expressed her gra...
A small fleet of electric vehicles is expected to roll quietly into downtown Lake Wales on September 25, where they will be on display along Market Street in conjunction with the Saturday Farmers Market. Vehicles including a Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach E will be open to public inspection, so visitors may safely sit in and check out the quiet motors, high-tech features, and the comfortable interiors of the cars. The display of vehicles will take place on Market Street...
Lake Wales electric car enthusiasts shared their stories of success with interested visitors at a special car show Saturday at the MarketPlace in Lake Wales. An all-electric Mustang Mach-E seemed to be the hit auto, based upon the reaction of visitors. "The best thing about these cars is that there's nothing to maintain," said one visitor to the show,. "They don't even need an oil change, because they don't use oil, so there's no oil pump, no spark plugs, no fuel filter or inj...
After several years of operations as a purely city-run facility, the Lake Wales History Museum may soon be under the control of a not-for-profit group once again. The Wednesday City Commission workshop agenda cites a discussion of the transfer, which would include $150,000 in annual funding to aid in running the museum. The group would in turn pay the City $1 a year to lease the facility. "It's going to be a wonderful partnership," said Museum Director Jennifer D'hollander....
Florence Alicia McLeod of Frostproof passed away Monday, September 20, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born January 8, 1927 in Akron, Ohio to the late Leonard and Violet Nixon; she was a resident of Frostproof for most of her life. Florence was a retired secretary for Ben Hill Griffin and Polk County. She loved her cats and her family. Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Howard McLeod in 2020 after 72 years of marriage. She is survived by her daughters,...
Jane "Grams" Poppell, 77, of Lake Wales, Florida passed away Thursday, September 16, 2021, at Advent Health of Lake Wales. She was born August 15, 1944, in Lakeland, Florida to the late Edwin and Susie Walker and she has been a resident of Lake Wales since 1993. She was a retired Administrative Secretary for the Polk County School Board. Jane was a graduate of Kathleen High School, a member of Southside Baptist Church of Jacksonville and First Baptist Church of Lake Wales....
Polk County residents are invited to apply to become election workers during an informational meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 23rd. “These are paid positions working at polling places on Election Day,” explained Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards. The meetings will be held at 10:00 am and 6:00 pm at the Election Operations Center, 70 Florida Citrus Boulevard, Winter Haven and no reservation is required. Voters who have served as election workers in Polk County in recent years are welcome but do not need to att...
Hugh Kelly Sheffield of Lakeland passed away Monday, September 13, 2021 at Bartow Regional Hospital. He was born February 2, 1924 in Frostproof to the late John and Caroline Sheffield. Hugh was a retired heavy equipment operator for Polk County and a veteran of the United States Navy that served in World War II. He loved fishing, gardening, and woodworking. He was a great storyteller. Hugh was preceded in death by his wife, Lois Sheffield in 2016; sisters, Beatrice Lanier,...
More than six months after the departure of lauded Lake Wales Charter Schools Superintendent Jesse Jackson, the process of seeking his replacement being conducted by the Board of Trustees is in disarray. Board Chairman Danny Gill has written a memo calling for an opportunity for citizens to voice their opinions at the September 20 meeting of the board. His memo states that “This is not a meeting to discuss who the next Superintendent should be or will be. This meeting will b...
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...
In a much-anticipated showdown between two top Polk County football squads, the Lake Wales Highlanders will host the Lakeland Dreadnaughts this Friday at Legion Field. The big game will kick off at 7:30 pm. The Dreadnaughts are ranked 3rd statewide in class 7-A, while the Highlanders are ranked 10th in Class 6-A Both teams are sporting 2-0 regular season records going into the non-conference tilt. Lake Wales is coming off a 55-16 victory over Davenport Ridge Community....
With a convincing victory at their home opener at Legion Field the Lake Wales Highlander varsity football squad improved their regular season record to 2-0. Both offense and defense sparkled as they defeated the Ridge Community Bolts 55-16. The Highlanders jumped out to a first-quarter lead of 30 -8, partly on the strength of running back Marquish Seabon's 80-yard scamper for a touchdown. He ran for 196 total yards and three scores in the Highlander's victory over Clermont...
Nature or nurture? It's probably both when you look at three generations of women sharing a heart for serving the community. When she turned 18 in July, Jillian Gillis became Rotary on the Ridge's youngest member, joining her parents and grandparents as full members of the service club. Jillian's mom, Megan Gillis, is the 2021-22 club president and grandparents Sheri and Marshall Hartley joined when Megan served her first term as president in 2018-2019. Rotary is indeed a...
The Lake Wales History Museum will celebrate the community's history and heritage through the 45th Annual Pioneer Days Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23 & 24. The free community festival held along the shores at Lake Wailes Park features a heritage village that includes dozens of historical demonstrations of pioneer camps and early American trades. Activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The public is welcome to experience, learn, share and buy...
Richard Craig "Dick" Adamson of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, September 5, 2021 at Palm Garden Winter Haven. He was born January 11, 1940 in Middletown, Ohio. Dick was a veteran of the United States Air Force and was a retired marketing director for CMP Dental. He was proud of his career in the Air Force, most of which was served in Germany and Washington D.C.; he was particularly honored when he received the General George S. Patton distinguished service award, awarded by...
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...
Shirley Louise Brantley, 86 Shirley Louise Brantley of Frostproof passed away Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Lakeland Regional Hospital. She was born April 16, 1935 in Boaz, Alabama to the late Luther and Euna Garrard; she moved to Lake Wales from Alabama as a teen. Shirley was retired from the Polk County School Board as a cafeteria worker, from Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., and Proctor and Gamble. She also volunteered at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School and Frostproof Elementary School. Shirley was preceded in death by her...
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District and South Florida Water Management District have scheduled a joint public workshop to solicit stakeholder input on each District's annual update of their priority list and schedule for the establishment of minimum flows and water levels as well as water reservations. This workshop is being held to promote consistent water resource planning in the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI)...
Dr. Lyn Irene Jones, DC, passed away suddenly on Monday, Aug 9, 2021 at her home in Babson Park, FL at age of 75. She is survived by her eldest son, David Jones of Port Huron, MI, her brothers Wayne Baird (Jenny) of San Jose, CA, and William Baird (Chris) of Sterling Heights, MI, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, John & Peg Baird of Frostproof, FL and by her sons Adam Jones of Florida and Brian Jones of...
Barbara Jane McCranie, 66, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021 at Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. She was born October 31, 1954 in Lake Wales. Barbara was an administrative assistant for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. She loved western movies. Barbara was preceded in death by her brother, David McLeod. She is survived by her son, John McCranie (Michelle); sisters, Debbie Clemons, and Ann Sexton (Bill); brother, Larry McLeod (Martha) of Lake Wales; and grandchildren, Ashur, and Cavin. A memorial s...
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...
Members of the Lake Wales Police Department have been pleased with the roll out of eight body-worn cameras already in use, with an additional 24 cameras to come on line later this fall. Deputy Chief David Black said officers who are currently using the cameras are providing constructive feedback and reacting positively to having them available. "The guys seem to love the body worn cameras. They're excited to have them. We've already had a couple of criminal cases with them. I...
It was a "bumpy start" as Lake Wales rolled out one-fourth of their new police worn body cameras Monday, July 26. Police Chief Chris Velasquez said the department will use the experiences of the first eight officers wearing the cameras to make sure the program is running smoothly when fully implemented in two or three months. "It's going to be a matter of working through, seeing how they work with us and how we can work also with all the other partners," Velasquez said. Since...
George Dixon (Dick) Chandley, age 90, passed away on Thursday, July 15, 2021 in Lake Wales. He was born December 12, 1930, in the Lake Wales Hospital, the son of Myra and Ed Chandley (both deceased), longtime residents of Lake Wales. After completing the Lake Wales public schools, Dick attended Davidson College 1948-1949 and Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1949-1955, receiving both a BS and an MS in Metallurgy, cum laude. Mr. Chandley was in the Army Ordnance Corps from...
