Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Land donations from Orlando Health and the Sanlan RV & Golf Resort will provide a clear path to an extension of the Fort Fraser Trail. The donations, which were approved for acceptance by the Board of County Commissioners Jan. 5, will eventually have a paved path that will be developed jointly by the City of Lakeland, Polk County and the Florida Department of Transportation. The trail will parallel the south side of the Polk County Parkway between U.S. 98 and Lakeland...
(Editor's Note: Lake Wales High School is not included in this report, since it is part of the charter system and not considered a traditional Polk high school. Its graduation rate will be reported separately.) Polk County Public Schools' graduation rate jumped to 86.5 percent last year - a new record high - even as seniors faced unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic. The district's latest graduation rate was a 5.3 percentage point increase from the previous year (81.2...
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a sampling of new books available at our library. The list will be updated weekly. The Lake Wales Public Library continues to offer safe door-side pickup of materials during our current hours of operation. Call the library to request that holds are placed on items for pickup at the Lake Wales Public...
Looking for a new fundraiser to help offset COVID-19 losses, the Rotary on the Ridge is now offering "Otter-grams" for special occasions. The regional after-hours service club had to postpone its Treasure Map fundraiser until 2021, so the club came up with a unique gift idea to make up some of the lost revenue. The club has a human-sized otter costume it uses to make presentations of the Josh the Otter water safety program to area kindergartens and day cares. A costumed club...
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Dec. 23 the appointments of Ashley Bell Barnett, Greg Littleton, Teresa Martinez, and Mark Turner to the Polk State College District Board of Trustees. All members are continuing their service to the Board along with Chair Cindy Hartley Ross and member Dan Dorrell. "Our District Board of Trustees is comprised of dedicated members whose unwavering support of our students and steadfast commitment to providing affordable access to quality...
The Florida Department of Health Polk County's COVID-19 vaccine hotline opened to the public the morning of Jan. 8 and by 1 p.m. all reservations for next week's vaccine event were filled. The phone line, (863) 298-7500, will be staffed for the foreseeable future by employees from both the Florida Department of Health and Polk County Board of County Commissioners from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Employees staffing the hotline will continue to register residents...
Rhoda Jean Choate, 66, of Babson Park passed away Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born January 29, 1954 in Wauchula to the late Mearl and Frances Choate. Rhoda was a homemaker; she loved her nieces and nephews and they loved her. She enjoyed watching television, playing games on her IPad, and she loved to knit. Rhoda is survived by her siblings, Joan Hazel Fairall (William) of Polk City, Mearl Clyde Choate, Jr. of Indian Lake Estates, and Martha...
The Lake Wales City Commission Dec. 1 approved its first permit for a large-scale event in 2021 – the 50th annual arts festival the weekend of Feb. 19-21. Lake Wales Arts Council Executive Director Andrew Allen described safety modifications being made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Allen said the artists' booths will be configured differently to allow a one-way flow and more green space between them. Marketing materials will stress the importance of wearing masks and f...
For the past 12 years, the Lake Wales Police Officers Association (LWPOA) has made the holidays a little happier for children in the community through several events, including the much-beloved Shop-With-A-Cop program, which pairs officers with children on a shopping spree neither will ever forget. An average of 40 children each year receive a $100 gift card to spend at Walmart and have the opportunity to spend the day with a police officer chosen especially for them. This...
Responding to complaints from downtown visitors, Lake Wales commissioners have unanimously approved the first reading of a new panhandling ordinance for the city. The new law is patterned after a similar statute from Osceola County, which has not been legally challenged since it was passed about five years ago. City Attorney Chuck Galloway said finding an ordinance that would hold up in courts is an important part of the new proposed law. "Several years ago, there was a United...
The Lake Wales Public Library will conduct the annual Holiday Food for Fines program through Dec. 31. Food for Fines is an annual fine amnesty program that provides library patrons the opportunity to "pay" overdue fines with a donation of food to the Lake Wales Care Center's Food Pantry. Overdue materials may be returned with at least five non-perishable food items, or outstanding fines owed may be "paid" with the same donation. The library will accept returned library...
The Polk County Democratic Executive Committee organizational meeting & election was held Monday, Dec. 7 via the ZOOM online platform and also live on Facebook. Elected to serve as the 2020-2022 Board Officers include: Catherine Price, Chair; Veysel Dokur, 1st Vice-Chair; Jiwa Farrell, 2nd Vice-Chair, Polly Burkhart, Secretary; Norman Wilderson, Sergeant-At-Arms and Cindy Ransbottom, Treasurer. Also elected to serve from 2020-2024 were Karen Welzel, State Committeewoman, and...
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a sampling of new books available at our library. The list will be updated weekly. The Lake Wales Public Library continues to offer safe door-side pickup of materials during our current hours of operation. Call the library to request that holds are placed on items for pickup at the Lake Wales Public...
City leaders are continuing to cast an eye towards improving the quality of life by approving the creation of a master plan for parks, trails and open spaces in Lake Wales. Commissioners have approved the hiring of S&ME to come up with the plan, a process that will involve a number of public workshops and meetings, and should take around 10 months to complete, according to the Orlando-based firm. "A master plan will serve as a guiding tool in order to elevate the current...
The Polk County History Center is hosting a traveling Smithsonian exhibit - Voices and Votes: Democracy in America - through Dec. 11. Our democracy demands action, reaction, vision, and revision as we continue to question how to form a more perfect union. How do you participate as a citizen? From the revolution and suffrage to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story-the story of our American democracy. The exhibition...
Fortunately for Angela Lopez, her 6-year-old daughter Esperanza knew to call 9-1-1 in an emergency. On Oct. 21 Lopez fell at her Frostproof home and couldn't get up or call for help. When Esperanza couldn't find anyone to help, she retrieved her mother's phone and called 9-1-1. Polk County Fire Rescue personnel on Nov. 18 honored the Spook Hill Elementary first-grader, designating her a "9-1-1 hero." Fire Rescue public educator Rosa LaLonde used the special recognition event...
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a sampling of new books available at our library. The list will be updated weekly. The Lake Wales Public Library continues to offer safe door-side pickup of materials during our current hours of operation. Call the library to request that holds are placed on items for pickup at the Lake Wales Public...
Well into the 20th century, bank accounts, credit cards, and household finances were legally left to the control of men. Women's lack of financial freedom was one of General Federation of Women's Club's founder, Jane Cunningham Croly, foundational rallying cries for women across the country. GFWC Clubhouses have come to play a significant role in the preservation of America's historic buildings. Many clubs are situated within historic buildings or were constructed or...
Open enrollment at Polk County Public Schools will take place Nov. 10 - Jan. 12. During open enrollment, families can apply for their students to attend Cambridge AICE, choice schools, career academies, pre-academies, International Baccalaureate, and magnet schools. Application instructions and more information can be found at polkschoolsfl.com/schooloptions. Parents must apply through Parent Portal. For instructions on how to create a Parent Portal account, visit...
Elijah Daniel Simpson, 70, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 at his residence. He was born June 12, 1950 in Tifton, GA to the late Elijah and Vida Simpson; he came here from Bartow 47 years ago. Elijah was a retired heavy equipment operator for Polk County. He loved his grandbabies and was a super grandpa. Elijah was preceded in death by his son, Nick Simpson in 2017; and sister, Judy Ball. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Joanne Simpson; daughter, Amy Simpson of Lake Wales; son, Scott Simpson of Winter...
Lake Wales City Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 20 to appoint James Slaton as the next city manager. Slaton has been serving as interim city manager since June 2, when Ken Fields agreed to take an early retirement. Slaton has worked for the city for more than 17 years, most recently as deputy city manager in charge of nine departments. Commissioners considered other options for a search and decided Slaton had proven himself during his more than four and a half mo...
Enrollment for Polk State College's Spring Semester will begin on Monday, Oct. 26 with priority registration for students who have completed at least 50 percent of their program requirements. Open enrollment will begin on Monday, Nov. 2. Classes start January 6. Students can check the status of their program requirements and whether they qualify for priority registration on Passport. Currently enrolled students may register for classes through their Passport accounts. Dual...
Ed Palmer officially became the Lake Wales Police Department's community liaison officer on Sept. 14. But if you ask James "Perly" Sermons, it's been Palmer's calling for a lifetime – Sermons' lifetime. The two first met when Palmer served as the School Resource Officer at Hillcrest Elementary when Perly was a student there. As luck might have it – others might call in Divine guidance – Palmer followed Sermons as an SRO when the youngster went to Roosevelt Academy and to La...
Lee Alexander "Alex" Wheeler III passed away Tuesday, October 27, 2020 after unexpected complications following surgery. A third generation Lake Walean, Alex was born in Lake Wales on February 4, 1953, and was a graduate of Lake Wales High School and the University of Florida. Alex was a CPA practicing at Bunting Tripp & Ingley, where he specialized in not-for-profit tax law. Alex was an avid scuba diver who loved hiking, camping, and the outdoors in general. His underwater...
The Boy Scouts of America's regional Greater Tampa Bay Area Council will honor local sheriff's offices with Participating Citizenship Awards in a series of virtual events from Oct. 26-28. The local Council previously honored Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd with the 2008 Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award for service to young people. The Badge of Honor Virtual Event "recognizes the selfless service of local heroes" in the nine departments serving the Council's...
