Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Lake Wales voters will get a final opportunity to hear the position of four candidates seeking terms on the city commission in the April 4 election. The Lake Wales History Museum will host the forum on Tuesday, March 28, beginning at 5:30 PM. Seat 5 candidates, including incumbent Robin Gibson and challenger Danielle Pride Gibson will be joined by Seat 3 candidates Michelle Threatt and Keith Thompson, who are competing for a three-year term on the seat being vacated by Terrye...
Crews from Gomez Construction will be barricading a block of West Park Avenue between First Street and Wetmore Street on Monday, March 6 to begin the $11.5 million transformation of that street and, eventually, the adjoining eastern blocks and the adjacent MarketPlace. The project is the first major undertaking of the ambitious $20 million project defined by the Lake Wales Connected plan, which was developed with wide public input. The finished product will feature a brick-pav...
An upbeat assessment of activities during the past year and a positive look toward the future was offered by Lake Wales Mayor Jack Hilligoss at the annual "State of the City" luncheon sponsored by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce Friday. The event drew some seventy area residents to the Performing Arts Center at The Vanguard School. In a speach running about 25 minutes Hilligoss cited the implementation of a "180" utility city area, which "establishes the footprint" of...
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape the future livability of Lake Wales begins Monday at Bok Tower Gardens as a high-powered team of planners bring their national reputations. talents, and insights to bear on the city. The project, designated "Lake Wales Envisioned," will consider the future of a large area around the city and include topics ranging from parks, recreation, and conservation to future sites for commercial, residential, and industrial uses. Transportation...
Four city commission candidates facing an April 4 election shared a stage at the Lake Wales Womans Club Auditorium Tuesday evening to compare their positions on a variety of topics raised by audience questions. Few major differences were apparent on subjects ranging from public transportation to electric car chargers. The candidates responded to five questions submitted in advance by the two organizations, followed by others submitted by the audience. Surprisingly, none of the...
An effort to reduce or eliminate fatal crashes at a dangerous intersection east of Lake Wales will see the Florida Department of Transportation closing crossing traffic in favor of U-turns. The intersection includes Boy Scout road, which runs north of SR 60 and serves Lake Kissimmee State Park and the Lakes Rosalie and Kissimmee areas. South of SR 60, Walk-in-the-Water Road serves a growing number of residents, as well as serving as a connector to CR 630. Traffic on the two...
A host of proposed housing developments that could more than double the population of Lake Wales have created worries that the once-quiet community will be overrun by sprawling growth. In response, citizens are being encouraged to join in a process to help prevent bad outcomes. A March 20 afternoon "symposium" at Bok Tower Gardens will be a key part of a months-long project called "Lake Wales Envisioned." "Olmsted's City 10, 25, and 50 years" is a tagline for the process, and...
A very dry January and February in the Lake Wales area have led to critically dry conditions, despite a few scattered showers passing over the area. This week humidity levels will once again approach red-flag conditions, making any fire a severe risk. As drought conditions prevail and low humidity persists, Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) would like to encourage the public to help prevent accidental bush fires throughout the county. Since January 2023, Polk County Fire Rescue...
Several happy amateur detectives are celebrating their wins in the Lake Wales News Treasure Hunt game after finding the prize claim forms at area businesses. Charmaine Walker, Bridget Nicole, Thomas Dunn, Juanita Zwarczuk, Hattie Johnson, Amy Mincet and Cristina Carver collected prize packages sharing $1000 worth of gift certificates, event passes, and prize items. Sponsors including Melanie's Seafood Company, Dyer Chevrolet, Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Maggie Mae's...
A recent private meeting, held out of the reach of Florida's "Sunshine Law," allowed city commissioners and their legal counsel to discuss the ongoing mediation in their lawsuit seeking title to the Walesbilt Hotel. The Florida law permits such meetings only in the case of such matters which would otherwise reveal the city's negotiating position. The long-festering issue of needed restoration of the eleven-story structure, which dominates views of the city, came to a head just...
A policy change allowing increased public input reverses a controversial decision by the Lake Wales City Commission to that sharply limited public input. The modification to a standing policy regarding public comment was approved by the City Commission Tuesday. The policy will continue to limit speakers to five minutes, and all comments to a 45-minute period, unless the commission majority to extends the period for an additional 15 minutes, the maximum allowed. The earlier...
The Lake Wales City Commission will consider relinquishing authority on major zoning changes to a city planning staff person who will serve as the final decision-maker. That choice may determine who controls decisions related to a proposal for a nearly 100-acre industrial facility on the city's south side. The issue is particularly timely because of the pending rezoning from "light industrial" to "heavy industrial" of the site, which adjoins both Highland Park and Highland Par...
The expected reinstatement of suspended City Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald was raised again by Commissioner Terrye Howell, who questioned the lack of action from Governor Ron DeSantis at the most recent meeting of the commission. DeSantis suspended Fitzgerald in June of 2021 after she was charged with two felonies. Fitzgerald was acquitted by a jury trial in October. Florida statutes call for the governor to end her suspension "forthwith" upon her exoneration of the charges....
The LakeWalesNews.net Treasure Hunt Game is concluding, but there are still three prizes that remain unclaimed. Did we make our clues too tough for the Sherlock Holmes of Lake Wales? We hope not! If you were one of those who tried without success to determine where to go and how to claim one, we are going to give you the answers now so you can still grab one of the great prize packages. We would first like to thank both our contest sponsors and the prize donors, including...
Residents in Lake Wales who are not already registered to vote, but wish to participate in the April 4th Municipal Elections must register to vote on or before Monday, March 6th. Registration forms may be completed online at PolkElections.gov. Forms are also available at Lake Wales Public Library on Cypress Gardens Lane downtown, and The Lake Wales City Administration building on Central Avenue. Voter registration forms are also available for pick up at many convenient...
Lake Wales Police have recovered more than $400,000 worth of stolen property and arrested a 51-year-old man suspected of dealing in stolen property. The Friday February 17, arrest of Billy Joe Byrd by Lake Wales Police detectives came after they received a tip that stolen property was being stored at 254 N Miami Street in Lake Wales. Police are seeking others involved in a wide-spread theft and fencing operation. Detectives obtained permission from the property owner before...
A forum to hear from four candidates for the Lake Wales City Commission is planned for mid-March to allow voters to learn about the goals and platforms prior to the April 4 election. Two seats on the five-person commission are at stake in the vote. The American Association of University Women Lake Wales Branch will join with the GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales in sponsoring the forum on March 13th. The candidates for the two seats include Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson, who will...
A complicated traffic pattern requiring drivers to make U-turns on US 27 both north and south of SR 60 will be in place on two successive weekends beginning March 10, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. As the new, permanent traffic pattern at the busy intersection of US 27 and SR 60 begins to take shape, traffic changing roadways at the intersection will face new detours, but law enforcement officers are expected to be on hand to assist in directing...
Citizens and residents of the Lake Wales area are being invited to take a major role in defining how and where growth will take place in the area as part of a new city effort to map future land uses and plan for future infrastructure needs. "Lake Wales Envisioned" is a year-long process that will offer multiple opportunities for Lake Wales residents to add their voices and opinions to the final product, which is expected to guide future development for 10, 25, and 50 year...
Tickets to the Strawberry Festival, free oil change coupons, ice cream, free bowling, and restaurant gift certificates are among the prizes waiting to be claimed at specific area merchants participating in the Lake Wales News Treasure Hunt. Each prize package contains multiple prizes with a value up to or exceeding $100. A bit of simple detective work is all you need to claim them. The Treasure Hunt is open to all, and clues are spread throughout this news site, most at the...
A Lake Wales man is dead after speeding into a slower vehicle on US 27 early Saturday morning. Officers from the Lake Wales Police Department responded to calls reporting a vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 27 at 1:13 A.M. Arriving officers at the scene, near Weikert Ford, found 38-year-old Eliecer Padilla of Lake Wales lying deceased in the north bound lanes. A passenger in his 2015 Chevrolet Camaro, 40-year-old Jeanette Gonzalez of Lake Wales, was also ejected from the car and...
The public is being invited to learn and comment on a new trail segment being proposed to continue expanding the bicycle and pedestrian links around Lake Wales. The segment would connect the Lake Wailes Trail with the Rails-to-Trails track. A trail design concept created by city consultant Hale Innovation of Maitland envisions the new trail linking the existing at three points while looping around Kiwanis Park. A Federal Recreational Trails Program grant application to help...
Thousands of residents and visitors from across the state and nation gathered in downtown Lake Wales Saturday for the highlight of the local Mardi Gras celebrations, enjoying a zany and colorful extravaganza of performance art. More than a dozen colorful Krewes parades floats and costumes while tossing more than 100,000 "throws" to the gathered throngs of celebrants. The parade featured the crowd-pleasing all-female Krewe of ZaZu, bringing cheers from the crowd with their ente...
Four separate construction projects are causing lengthy detours for area drivers, according to Bill Skelton, Project Management Liaison for Polk County. Travel delays, some lengthy, can be expected while traffic is detoured to bypass these closures. The newest announced closure is along Lake Wales-Alturas Road North, just west Crews Road, in rural, unincorporated Lake Wales. That road is closing at the railroad crossing on Thursday, February 23 for two to five days to allow...
For one day only, Polk County is putting the brakes on collection fees and getting drivers back on the road during Operation Green Light. Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Stacy Butterfield has announced the program in coordination with clerks of court across the state. During the one-day event, the collection fees applied to unpaid court fines are waived, which saves customers up to 40 percent on their outstanding fines. Once paid, customers can proceed with the...
