Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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The Lake Wales Charter Schools and the local community are mourning the passing of Dr. Damien Moses, principal of Bok Academy South. "It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the passing of our beloved principal and colleague, Dr. Damien Moses," said Superintendent Alricky Smith in a July 23 email announcing Moses' death. "Dr. Moses was a pillar with the Lake Wales Charter Schools system serving since its inception." Prior to being appointed principal of Bok...
Gary Larson Helm, 74, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, July 29, 2021 at Select Special Hospital in Orlando. He was born May 20, 1947 in Lake Wales, to the late Elmer and Lola Helm. Many people in Lake Wales remember him as a community hero, who as a young sergeant in 1972 helped save a grocery store full of people and a fellow officer by engaging five armed robbers in a gun battle. Gary shot and killed two robbers at the Publix on SR 60 and arched his back to narrowly...
After hearing from supporters of the four applicants, Lake Wales City Commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Jack Hilligoss to the temporary vacancy created by the suspension of newly elected City Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. Hilligoss will be sworn in Aug. 17 and will serve until either Fitzgerald is reinstated or a commissioner is elected in April 2022 to complete the final two years of the term. Hilligoss, 55, is senior pastor of HighPoint Church and has been a...
The wife of former Lake Wales City Commissioner Pete Perez has indicated her interest in filling his old seat, which is vacant now due to the suspension of newly elected Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. He served as a commissioner from 2015-2017. Jacqueline Perez, 79, served as president of the Social Committee at Lake Ashton, a two-year term where she coordinated monthly social events which she said resulted in positive revenue for the group. Prior to retiring she served as a da...
Former Lake Wales City Commissioner Betty Wojcik has applied to fill the temporary vacancy created by the suspension of newly elected Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. Commissioners at their Aug. 3 meeting will consider Wojcik and any others who apply before then. A Lake Ashton resident, Wojcik served on the commission from 2011-2015. She retired in 2014 as executive director of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce. Asked why she was interested in serving, Wojcik said "It just...
Pastor Jack Hilligoss has added his name to the list of people interested in filling the city commission vacancy created by the suspension of newly elected Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald. Commissioners will consider making an appointment at their Aug. 3 meeting. Hilligoss, 55, is senior pastor of HighPoint Church and has lived in Lake Wales since 1997. He is a 1992 graduate of Warner Southern College. In his email asking to be considered Hilligoss pointed out that all three of...
Retired Lake Wales Police Chief Gary Helm died July 29 after a lengthy illness and hospitalization. He was 74. Many people in Lake Wales remember him as a community hero, who as a young sergeant in 1972 helped save a grocery store full of people and a fellow officer by engaging five armed robbers in a gun battle. Helm shot and killed two robbers at the Publix on SR 60 and arched his back to narrowly avoid being shot himself. Friends said he kept the shirt with the bullet hole...
Some viewed his email as a threat to withhold future funding, but Henry McCance says that's not what he intended. The largest donor to Lake Wales Charter schools, McCance says he just wants officials to know that he expects them to show "leadership" to ensure students can safely attend school in-person this year. His recommendation: Mandatory vaccines for all teachers and staff and mandatory masks for students, teachers and staff. "I feel strongly enough about these issues...
Sandra Turner Massey, 85, of Shellman, GA passed away at her residence on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Mrs. Massey was born on December 8, 1934 in Lake Wales, the daughter of the late Irby Lee and Buena Mae Norman Turner. She was a retired school bus driver for the Polk County Florida Public School System and was a member of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Robert Franklin Massey. Survivors include her three daughters, Lauri Rhoden of Indiantown, Sylvia Kennedy of Shellman, GA, and...
Life is challenging in so many ways, and sometimes it's a comfort to know that there is a place you can go filled with people who are committed to helping engage, restore, and empower individuals in the community to reach their fullest potential. That's exactly why Peace River Center is the go-to resource for individuals in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties who are need help with mental health, substance abuse, and victim services. The nonprofit organization provides...
The Polk County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the selection of Randy Mink as the next County Attorney. Mink will succeed current County Attorney Michael Craig when he retires next month. A vote on Mink's contract will be made at a later date. Mink, 42, graduated from the University of South Florida in 2001 and received his Juris Doctorate in 2006 from Stetson University College of Law. While at the County Attorney's Office, Mink has advised several of the...
Following a 16-month undercover investigation, Polk County Sheriff's Office undercover Narcotics detectives and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force made 29 arrests in the Lake Wales area and obtained three arrest warrants related to the trafficking, sale, and possession of illegal narcotics. The operation was dubbed the "Bell Gang Blues." Seventeen of the suspects and two still at large were from Lake Wales. During the investigation, detectives and agents...
Lake Wales will need to have an alternative water source in place sooner than experts had anticipated, according to a consultant hired by the city to explore its future utility options. Dave Edson, from Hoyle Tanner and Associates, said the city will need to have a new water supply in place as early as 2027 because of projected growth in the coming years. Lake Wales is expecting slightly more than $7 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding, and city leaders are...
Polk State College will be moving to Phase III of its Return to Campus Plan on Monday, August 2, 2021, with the majority of services returning to campus and more face-to-face class options available for the Fall 2021 Semester, which starts on August 16. Phase III is a return to traditional operations; however, while all student and academic services will be available on campus, they will also continue to be offered via remote options so that the College may serve all students...
Polk County Public Schools is finalizing plans for the 2021-22 school year and will offer two learning options for students. The first option will be traditional campus learning with face-to-face instruction. The second option will be Polk Virtual School, the district's longstanding program that allows students to take online lessons. Students have flexibility in their daily work schedule and may work at an accelerated pace, so time management and self-motivation are...
Robert Francis Douskey, 78, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, July 15, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born June 26, 1943 in New Milford, CT to the late Adam and Marion Douskey; he moved to Lake Wales from Connecticut 30 years ago. Robert worked for the Kimberly-Clark Corp. as a supply truck driver. He was a friend to all who met him and truly liked by all. He was a great sports fan. Robert was the track star in the early 60s for New Milford High School and won many awards for the school. After high school, he...
Carole Curlee, 79, of Fayetteville, AK passed away Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at Katherines Place in Fayetteville. She was born August 29, 1941 in Lafayette, IN to the late Arthur and Anna Eberle; she moved to Waverly from Indiana in 1969 and has been a resident of Arkansas for the past year. Carole was a retired clinic nurse from the Polk County Public School System and was a member of Waverly Baptist Church. Carole was preceded in death by her husband, Lemuel “Boe” Curlee in 2001; son, Jerry Curlee in 1961; daughters, Cat...
A $1.63 million Polk County project to replace the Walk-In-Water Road Bridge over Tiger Creek in rural Lake Wales will close Walk-In-Water Road for three months starting Monday, July 12. The bridge, built in 1960, is structurally deficient and is being replaced with a new bridge to meet current standards. During construction, traffic will be detoured around the bridge crossing along State Road 60 (Hesperides Road) and County Road 630E. Depending on traveling destination, the...
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...
Polk State College President Angela Garcia Falconetti was inducted in June as Chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents for 2021-2022. The Council of Presidents (COP) is comprised of the presidents of Florida's 28 public colleges who advise and advocate to state and federal legislators, oversee the coordination of statewide functions such as risk management, and maintain close working relationships with universities, school boards, and more, among other...
Polk County's Roads and Drainage maintenance units are now equipped with automatic sandbag machines to assist residents with storm preparation. The machines will be deployed at each of the six locations throughout the county – Mulberry, Lakeland, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Auburndale and Dundee. The machines will also be used to produce sandbags for a site in Poinciana. "With the significant need for sandbags during nearly every storm event, it made sense to purchase these for o...
Qualified attorneys who would like to be considered for a county judge opening have until 5 p.m. Friday, July 23 to apply. The Tenth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission has been asked to provide Gov. Ron DeSantis with nominees for the vacancy on the Polk County Court created by the elevation of Judge Lori A. Winstead to the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court. The commission requests that interested candidates submit an application for consideration. Applicants must meet the...
Barbara Bishop left this world to go dancing in her heavenly home on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at the age of 91. Barbara Ann Ingle was born Nov. 2, 1929, in Princeton, IN to parents Granville and Thelma Ingle. Barbara married the love of her life, Tom Bishop, in 1951. They met at a dance while both were attending the Indiana State Teachers College and they continued to enjoy dancing together throughout their 46 years of marriage. Barbara taught in her native state of Indiana...
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order today (July 7) suspending newly elected Lake Wales City Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald from office. Fitzgerald waived her arraignment this week and entered pleas of not guilty, asking for a jury trial on two charges: interference with custody of a minor and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Fitzgerald was arrested June 3 on two felony charges for allegedly taking an 11-year-old boy from his home without permission an...
Polk County Public Schools is no longer requiring students and staff to wear face coverings. During its June 8 meeting, the Polk County School Board voted unanimously to lift a requirement that students wear face coverings. The requirement for PCPS employees to wear face coverings is also being lifted. Beginning June 9 face coverings will no longer be mandatory in PCPS schools, offices, and buses. Face coverings will be optional for students and staff members for the 2021-22...
