Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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The office of Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder continues to serve the people of Polk County online via a new CHAT feature at PolkTaxes.com or by phone. For customers seeking assistance, a Customer Service Specialist is available Monday – Friday, from 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM at PolkTaxes.com via the CHAT feature, or by phone at (863) 534-4700 or (863) 581-8099. (EDITOR'S NOTE: Once offices reopened, the CHAT function was discontinued.) Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder wants people to know the...
The Polk County Democrats announce that Robert Connors of Lake Wales was elected to the office of Polk County State Committeeman. The vote was held April 13 during a virtual meeting of the Polk Democratic Executive Committee (DEC). The office of Polk County State Committeeman includes informing the Polk County DEC of any questions to be brought before the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) State Executive Committee, reporting all actions taken at both the FDP Central and State...
Since September Raymond had been living in his car. The music education major at Polk State College said he had two blankets for cold nights, but if he didn't remember to tape his car's door gaps on rainy nights the water poured in and woke him. Raymond stayed committed to his studies despite spending most nights in a WalMart parking lot. Two weeks ago he left the ranks of the homeless and moved into the new Lenfestey Scholarship House at the Manse on Avenue Q in Winter...
Although Lake Wales leaders don't know the specifics about local COVID-19 cases, those confirmed to have been sickened by the virus are still being closely monitored. Emergency Operations Director Joe Jenkins, who is also the Lake Wales Fire Chief, said while he is not kept updated on each infected person, officials from the Polk County Department of Health monitor them on an almost daily basis. "The Department of Health has that list. They know who those people are. They...
Polk County Public Schools will be joining the national movement "Be The Light" on Thursday, April 16. The significance of the movement is designed to honor and celebrate all Polk County Public School students and the Class of 2020 by illuminating our stadium lights at 8:20 PM (20:20 military time) for 20 minutes. With athletics, band, JROTC, and cheerleading, being such an important part of the Polk County community, Athletic Directors feel it will be a deserved act of...
The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida will facilitate the loan process for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, for small businesses in 10 counties in the Tampa Bay region, including Polk County. The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, activated by Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday, March 16, is available to small businesses in Florida that are experiencing economic damage as a result of COVID-19. "We understand the urgency...
Enrollment is open at Polk State College for the Summer 2020 Semester, which will be fully online to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The semester will begin on May 6. Currently enrolled students are also able to register for Fall 2020 Semester classes starting April 13. Open enrollment for fall will start on June 1 and classes will start on August 17. Students currently enrolled at Polk State may register for classes through their PASSPORT accounts. Dual enrollment...
Starting Thursday April 9 the Lake Wales Charter School bus drivers will start delivering meals to 18 locations along five routes. Meals will be available to children 18 and under regardless of where the student attends school. Social distancing of at least six feet is mandatory for neighborhood pickup locations. If able, masks and gloves are highly recommended for the safety of all. Children need to be present to receive the meals. Meals will be delivered Monday through...
The Lake Wales Charter Schools system is offering to buy the city's old high school property north of Seminole Avenue for $575,000 to turn it into a permanent site for Bok Academy North. The City Commission in its capacity as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will consider the proposal at an April 14 meeting. Due to coronavirus concerns the meeting will be held online beginning at 6 p.m. via video teleconference and live streamed on the city's website at...
Five days before the April 7 city election, 1,041 Lake Wales citizens had returned their vote by mail ballots. That's about 41 percent of the 2,541 who requested ballots to vote by mail and 82 percent of the total 1,275 who voted by mail in the 2019 city election. Only one race will be decided Tuesday, Seat 5 between incumbent Commissioner Robin Gibson and challenger Bob Wood. Although the Seat 3 race will appear on the ballot, votes won't count because incumbent Commissioner...
Connie L. Hurst Truluck, 69, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at her residence. She was born December 20, 1950 a native of Baker County, Georgia to the late R.J. and Ethel (Ray) Lanier. Connie has been a resident of Lake Wales since 2005 coming from Lakeland where she resided from 1975 to 2005. She was a retired office manager and of the Methodist faith. Connie was a wonderful dedicated mother that loved her family dearly, she was a great cook, enjoyed air boating, fishing and anything to do with the...
As Polk State College moves to an online learning environment for the remainder of the 2020 Spring Semester to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, faculty and staff have partnered and are taking innovative approaches to convert courses, motivate students, and assist each other through the challenging circumstances. Classes will resume online on Monday, March 30, including dual enrollment courses and Polk State's three collegiate high schools. For weeks, faculty have been...
The City of Lake Wales continues to be under a declared State of Emergency by Mayor Fultz. There is no curfew at this time. As Covid-19 updates for Florida's residents continue daily, many City of Lake Wales staff have begun working from home, while others continue to work within the City of Lake Wales Municipal Administration Building, 201 West Central Avenue and other facilities. The Lake Wales Municipal Administration Building remains closed to residents and customers until...
Polk State College will continue all classes online through the Summer 2020 Semester to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The College suspended instruction on March 16 and resumed all classes, including dual enrollment and Polk State's three collegiate high schools, online on Monday, March 30, for the remainder of the Spring 2020 Semester. Due to the evolving public health emergency, faculty and staff are also preparing for a fully online summer semester. "Polk State...
ElderPoint Ministries of Greater Lakeland is a non-profit agency committed to serving nutrition and transportation needs of elderly Polk County residents, with a goal of meeting seniors at their point of need. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for senior residents of Polk County through empowering services that support healthy, independent living. The ministry delivered 45 hot meals Thursday from Mission BBQ to clients in Winter Haven and Lakeland and continued...
Polk County Public Schools April 1 began distributing 60,000 internet-accessible devices to families in need. Parents should receive device distribution instructions from administrators at their child's school. Parents should not go to their child's school until they receive notification from the school about days devices will be distributed and instructions for receiving a device. Devices will be provided only to students enrolled in each school. Parents will need to present...
Charles Herbert Fugate, Sr., 90, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, March 26, 2020 at his residence. He was born Oct. 4, 1929 in Weaubleau, MO to the late David and Mamie Fugate. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service as a Postal Clerk, the National Guard, and the Polk County School Board. Charles was a veteran of Korea, serving in the United States Army. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion in Lake Wales. Charles was preceded in death by his...
Due to concerns about the COVID-19 virus, the Lake Wales Public Library will postpone the book signing for Tom Freeman's Florida originally scheduled for March 16. Library staff can provide Freeman's contact information for those who would like to purchase a book directly from him. The Library also will cancel all programming for children ages five and under, Pokemon Card Club and Tuesday afternoon teen programs, including Dungeons and Dragons. Call 863.678.4004, extension...
Polk County Public Schools has released its Instructional Continuity Plan, which details how learning will continue for the district's students while schools remain closed through April 15 in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). "I commend my staff for their diligent work on this plan. For weeks, they have carefully considered the dynamics of our district: our English Language Learners, our students with special needs, and the areas of the county where internet access is scarce...
The Polk County School Board will be distributing school breakfast and lunch at 46 drive-through locations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 17-20. The only Lake Wales site is McLaughlin Middle School at 800 S. 4th St. The school board said since the feeding sites will be closed for spring break March 23-27 they will give out extra food on March 19-20. Children under age 18 may pick up a meal at any location; they do not have to attend that school. The students must be in the car...
Lake Wales area voters chose Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump as their party candidates for president March 17, with totals that closely mirrored preferences in Polk County and the State of Florida. Just under 85,000 Polk County residents voted in the March 17 Presidential Preference Primary, making voter turnout slightly less than 27 percent. Polk Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards said turnout was about 13 percentage points less than she expected, but given...
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Lake Wales continues to function as close to normal as possible, Emergency Operations Director Joe Jenkins said Tuesday night. Jenkins, also the city's fire chief, updated Lake Wales leaders on the latest measures and precautions being taken in light of the national health emergency, including where to go if someone suspects they might be infected. Most city facilities are closed to the public – like the library and history museum – but city...
The Early Learning Coalition of Polk County is encouraging parents who want to help prepare their preschoolers for kindergarten to sign them up for a VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) Program. ELC officials say VPK provides high quality early childhood programs that will include great introductions into literacy, math and important social emotional learning skills. They say at the end of the program VPK students score higher on school readiness tests and are better prepared...
Additional closings and program suspensions have been announced in the wake of growing concerns over the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus. Lake Wales Arts Council The arts council is suspending program and the Lake Wales Arts Center will be closed from March 16-29. Arts council staff will still be taking phone calls and receiving emails. Rentals are not currently affected by the closure. The center intends to resume classes on March 30 for an additional two weeks for...
In partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay and United Way of Central Florida, Central Florida Health Care is proud to announce a FREE food pantry for the Polk County families of Lake Wales. During the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, residents can begin to line up at Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal South Lake Wales from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until supplies are gone. Each family will be receive a week's worth of free food that will feed a family of four. No qualifications are...
