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  • Foundation Kicks Off Annual Fundraising to Support Charter Schools

    Lake Wales Charter Schools|Updated Dec 11, 2019

    The Lake Wales Charter Schools Foundation has kicked off it's 2019-20 giving campaign, committed to improving the educational opportunities for all students in the community, according to campaign chairman and Foundation chair James Tully. With the opening of Bok Academy North two years ago, the charter system now operates seven schools, serving a total of approximately 4,750 students. For the fiscal year that ended June 30, the system realized overall revenues of $39.5 millio...

  • Festival of Wreaths Continues Through Dec. 12

    Updated Dec 11, 2019

    Thirty-two colorful and unique wreaths remain on display at the Polk History Center in Bartow through Dec. 12. Local businesses, individuals and organizations donate them for the annual Festival of Wreaths, with auction proceeds going to support History Center programming. The History Center, located at 100 E. Main St. in Bartow is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The interested in the wreaths can view them and place bids or purchase them online at...

  • Volunteers Needed for Invasive Plant Removal at Circle B

    Updated Dec 11, 2019

    Volunteers are needed Dec. 11 and 18 to help remove the invasive species Caesar's weed at Circle B Bar Reserve. Bring your favorite pair of gloves, and some water, and plan to spend a couple hours, or as long as you can last, removing the weeds. The work that has been done already is changing the landscape at the Reserve and we just need a couple of more hands to keep pushing forward. Invasive plant removal is from 8:15 to 10 a.m. Wednesdays Dec. 11 and 18. Another work day...

  • Alligator Tours at Circle B Dec. 13 and 20

    Updated Dec 11, 2019

    Circle B Bar Reserve volunteer guides on Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 will be taking visitors on a personalized tram tour through the marsh to view and learn more about alligators. The American alligator is a keystone species of the reserve, located at 4399 Winter Lake Road in Lakeland. This will be a great time of year to observe alligators and learn some facts about them and their behavior. To register, stop by the reception desk or call (863) 668-4673 ext. 205. This tour is limited...

  • Polk Schools Break Ground for New High School in Davenport

    Polk County Schools|Updated Dec 11, 2019

    Polk County Public Schools broke ground Dec. 4 on a new high school in fast-growing Davenport. The new school, located adjacent to Davenport School of the Arts, is scheduled to open in August 2021 and will accommodate 2,500 students, providing enrollment relief to nearby Ridge Community and Haines City high schools. It will offer programs in the fine arts, hospitality and hotel management, technology, computer modeling and gaming. At the groundbreaking ceremony,...

  • Polk State to Graduate 550 at Dec. 12 Commencement

    Updated Dec 11, 2019

    More than 550 students with Polk State College's 121st graduating class will walk the stage Thursday, Dec. 12, at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland to receive their diplomas. The commencement ceremony, which is a free ticketed event, will start at 6:30 p.m. at 701 W. Lime St. The ceremony will feature remarks from Polk State President Angela Garcia Falconetti and December 2019 Distinguished Alumna Susan Copeland. "Commencement marks a significant milestone of perseverance and...

  • Library to Offer Access to Grant Funding Database

    Tina Peak, Contributing Writer|Updated Dec 11, 2019

    The Lake Wales Public Library is proud to announce a new service focusing on connecting individuals and non-profit organizations with foundations who provide funding opportunities, Foundation Center's the Funding Information Network and Grants to Individuals. The database of more than 13 million grants and 140,000 grant makers is available within the Lake Wales Public Library, during regular hours of operation. You are encouraged to bring your own device, use our computer...

  • New 96-Bed Behavioral Health Center to Benefit Polk County

    Sean Mallott, Contributing Writer|Updated Dec 11, 2019

    Lakeland Regional Health, with support from the City of Lakeland, is planning to construct a three-building, 96-bed center to better serve the behavioral health inpatient and outpatient needs of the Polk County community. The $46 million Center for Behavioral Health & Wellness will be built near Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center and will treat adults and adolescents for mental health problems, substance abuse, memory disorders and more. Outgoing LRH President Elaine...

  • Juanita Branch, 1936-2019

    Updated Dec 10, 2019

    Juanita Meeks Branch, 83, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at her residence. She was born Aug. 14, 1936 in Eagle Lake to the late Thomas C. and Sally E. (Lane) Meeks. She has been a resident of the area since 1947 coming from Winter Haven. She was a retired administrator for the Public Defender's office in Polk County and has the distinction of serving under the first Public Defender LeRoy Horton and 3 of his successors. She was a member of the Lake Wales...

  • Polk State named Philanthropic Corporation of the Year; Student Also Recognized

    Polk State Newsroom|Updated Dec 5, 2019

    Polk State College and the Polk State College Foundation were collectively named the Philanthropic Corporation of the Year during the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Polk County's National Philanthropy Day Celebration, where student Makenna Hansel was also honored with the Youth in Philanthropy Award. Polk State joins corporations recognized in previous years including Allen & Company, Citizens Bank & Trust, Mosaic Company, Regal Lakeland, and Publix...

  • Polk Business Groups Host International Trade Symposium

    Updated Dec 5, 2019

    The Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and the Central Florida Development Council recently hosted the 5th annual international trade symposium Polk Goes Global. Javier Marin, CFDC director of business development and global trade, moderated discussions on tariffs and their impact on global trade and local businesses. "As we seek to attract high tech and aviation opportunities to Polk County, we remain committed to helping existing business growth, specifically manufacturers and...

  • Ritz Theater Hosts Winter Wonderland Dec. 7

    Updated Dec 5, 2019

    The Ritz Theater in Winter Haven will host a Winter Wonderland event Saturday, Dec. 7. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during Carols in the Park and will feature a picture with Santa and Mrs. Clause, cookie decorating, Christmas entertainment and create your own reindeer mix. Gift wrapping will be available for a donation Attendees who bring a new unwrapped toy, three non-perishable food items or make a $5 donation will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a...

  • Historic Cemetery Tour Dec. 7 Focuses on Veterans' Graves

    Updated Dec 5, 2019

    The Polk History Center's monthly cemetery tour Dec. 7 coincides with National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and will feature a focus on the veterans of World War II interred at the cemetery. Oak Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Bartow, which was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The early gravesites date to 1860, and people interred there include Confederate Gen. Evander M. Law, Bartow land donor Jacob Summerlin and Polk pioneer settlers...

  • Area Students Now Can Access Free Library Materials and Resources

    Updated Dec 5, 2019

    Library cards are still a thing. And now, every single student in the Lake Wales Charter Schools and Polk County School system has one. The Polk County Library Cooperative has partnered with Lake Wales Charter Schools and the Polk County School System to provide free access to public library materials and online resources. Tina Peak, Director of the Lake Wales Library, said the new program is beneficial on many fronts. "This is a wonderful partnership. We often see students...

  • Public Safety Institute Undergoing Accreditation Assessment

    Updated Dec 5, 2019

    A site-based assessment team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive Dec. 2 to examine all aspects of the Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. Verification by the team that the Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process...

  • Message from Lake Wales Main Street Executive Director

    Karen Thompson|Updated Dec 5, 2019

    Can you see it? Can you feel it? Something's in the air and although the holidays are fast approaching, I am specifically referring to the Dover Kohl "Lake Wales Connected" downtown revitalization plan that focuses our resources and attention to rejuvenating downtown. To keep connected, let's talk about what has happened since the Aug. 13 town hall meeting when Victor Dover unveiled the final plans. In full-speed-ahead mode, Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. posted on Nov. 15 the...

  • Polk Furniture Store Looking for New Owner

    Drew Truitt, Associate Editor|Updated Nov 27, 2019

    If you are are in the market for buying an existing business with plenty of goodwill and lots of potential look no further than Steve Seisel's Polk Furniture Store. A bargain at $16,500 Steve says the store is so well known he never has to go out and search for inventory. People call him, often "two or three time a day," says Seisel. "As far as I know I am the only consignment shop in Winter Haven." While that may or not be totally accurate it doesn't matter because in my own...

  • Polk State Wins Florida College System Chancellor's Best Practice Award for First Year Experience and Guided Pathways

    Polk State Newsroom|Updated Nov 27, 2019

    For the second consecutive year, Polk State College received a Chancellor's Best Practice Award from the Florida College System – this time for its First Year Experience and Guided Pathways programs focused on ensuring students persist on their paths to degrees and careers. College representatives accepted the award Thursday in Palm Harbor alongside colleagues from State College of Florida, Eastern Florida State College, and Florida SouthWestern Sate College who were also r...

  • United Way of Central Florida COO Penny Borgia to Retire in March

    Updated Nov 27, 2019

    United Way of Central Florida President and CEO Christina Criser Jackson has announced the upcoming retirement of Chief Operating Officer Penny Borgia in March 2020. "I cannot thank Penny enough for the countless hours of hard work and the passion she has poured into this organization," Criser Jackson said. "A United Way without Penny is hard to imagine but I'm confident she has set us up for success. Her transformational community impact initiatives will strengthen our...

  • TrophyCatch Partner Bartow Ford Drives Conservation Forward

    Updated Nov 27, 2019

    Honk if you love bass fishing! Bartow Ford is investing in Florida bass conservation by partnering with FWC's TrophyCatch angler recognition program. The company has provided a Ford F-150 to be the "TrophyCatch Truck," which is being used to promote the program throughout Florida. The F-150 is also the designated tow vehicle for the TrophyCatch boat, donated by partner Phoenix Bass Boats. The colorfully wrapped duo of truck and boat provide a mobile billboard that encourages...

  • Four Polk Colleges Training Cybersecurity Experts and Analysts

    Sean Mallott, Contributing Writer|Updated Nov 27, 2019

    As the nation struggles to train enough cybersecurity experts and analysts to fill a shortage that has grown by 50% since 2015, four Polk County colleges are offering courses and degrees to help prepare students for this growing field. In the next two years, about half a million cybersecurity jobs will remain unfilled, according to the Principles for Growing and Sustaining the Nation's Cybersecurity Workforce. Around the world, that number could reach 3 million, according to...

  • Polk Avenue Developing Students into Confident, Effective Leaders

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Nov 21, 2019

    Reading, writing, math and other academic subjects are important, but Principal Gail Quam wants to make sure students also leave Polk Avenue Elementary with leadership skills. That's why the school for 10 years has been participating in the Leader in Me program, patterned after Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Polk Avenue is a Leader in Me Lighthouse School, incorporating a schoolwide process that develops staff and students as leaders, transforming...

  • Florida Poly Professor and Wife Donate $100,000 to Endow Scholarships

    Updated Nov 13, 2019

    Dr. Muhammad Rashid knows from experience what a difference education can mean in a person's life. As a first-generation college graduate, he sees his own struggles and concerns reflected in many of the students he encounters at Florida Polytechnic University, where he is professor and chair of the electrical and computer engineering department. That's why he and his wife decided to make a $100,000 gift to the University to create the Drs. Muhammad H. and Fatema Rashid Future...

  • McLaughlin in Transition, Shooting for Improved School Grade

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Nov 13, 2019

    The stakes are high, but the leaders are optimistic. Unless McLaughlin Middle & Fine Art Academy raises its state grade this year the school faces the possibility of being closed, turned charter or run by a private company. Co-Principals Sharon Chipman and Debra Wright-Hudson are reaching out to the greater Lake Wales community to share their goals for improvement and to ask for help. The school on Nov. 5 hosted its first Community Assessment Team meeting of the year, sharing...

  • Sonya Frantz, 1963-2019

    Updated Nov 13, 2019

    Sonya Lee Frantz, 56, went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, She was born August 8, 1963 in Lake Wales, the daughter of the late Robert L. Meeks and Elaine Wingate. Sonya retired from the Polk County School Board in 2018. She enjoyed bowling, crocheting, painting and playing bingo with her many friends. She will always be remembered for her kindness of the underprivileged and will be missed dearly. She is survived by two daughters Cara Lee Frantz of Port Huron, MI, Cassie Lynn Frantz of Clyde, MI,...

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