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  • August 22, 1923 Lake Wales Highlander

    News Research Staff|Updated Aug 22, 2023

    The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century ago, when Florida was in the midst of a great land price boom and rapid population growth. The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library. The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became...

  • Polk County Seeks Stakeholders for Opioid Abatement Effort

    Jeff Foley, Polk County Media Relations|Updated Aug 18, 2023

    Polk County's Health and Human Services Division is hosting "Shaping the Future of Opioid Abatement in Polk County" in collaboration with Polk Vision and the Crescendo Consulting Group. An abatement plan was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is now the intent of the division to revisit the work previously advised through a community prioritization event. While the event is open to the public, it is intended to bring community stakeholders together to discuss the...

  • August 15, 1923 Lake Wales Highlander

    News Research Staff|Updated Aug 17, 2023

    The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century ago, when Florida was in the midst of a great land price boom and rapid population growth. The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library. The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became...

  • August 8, 1923 Highlander

    News Research staff|Updated Aug 17, 2023

    The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century ago, when Florida was in the midst of a great land price boom and rapid population growth. The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library. The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became...

  • August 1, 1923 Highlander Tells Tale of City History

    News Research Staff|Updated Aug 17, 2023

    The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century ago, when Florida was in the midst of a great land price boom and rapid population growth. The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library. The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became...

  • Polk County Seeking Non-Profit Partners to Address Indigent Health Care

    News Staff Reports|Updated Aug 12, 2023

    Polk County's Indigent Health Care program has issued a Request For Applications (RFA) to healthcare-related, non-profit organizations who are interested in receiving Community Partner Grant funding to provide healthcare services to qualified Polk County residents. Applicants who submit an RFA must be able to provide direct healthcare services or coordinate the delivery of those services to county residents with incomes of up to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. This R...

  • Volunteers sought for County Sidewalk Advisory Committee

    Special to the News|Updated Aug 5, 2023

    A general lack of sidewalks on county roads in eastern Polk County may serve as motivation for local residents who would like to become advocates. Polk County commissioners are looking for volunteers who would like to serve on the county's Sidewalk Advisory Committee. The 12-member advisory committee assists the Board in determining the priority of locations for new sidewalks to be built throughout the county. Five members of the committee are appointed by the Board, with...

  • Annual 39 Mile Yard Sale Happens November 4

    Special to the News|Updated Aug 4, 2023

    You can expect to meet crowds of bargain-hunters on one area roadway as the 16th annual Ridge Scenic Highway "39 Mile Yard Sale" takes place on on Saturday, November 4th. The event typically draws thousands of visitors from across central Florida and beyond, coming to seek unusual finds and great bargains brought forth from barns, garages, attics, and other treasure storerooms. The sale runs from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm along the entire length of the Ridge Scenic Highway,...

  • Lake Wales Arts Council Staff Honor Volunteers

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Aug 2, 2023

    The critical importance of volunteers who help to keep the Lake Wales Arts Council and its many programs running was emphasized by director Tommy Frank at a special reception organized to thank those who step up to support the efforts of the Council. Each volunteer present was awarded a certificate and a custom, artistically hand-crafted ceramic mug. The Monday evening reception at the Arts Center drew a small crowd how shared refreshments and conversation before Fran...

  • This Week in History: July 25, 1923 Highlander

    News Research Staff|Updated Jul 30, 2023

    The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community, including overcrowded schools and the divisive debate over free-range versus fences. A referendum would soon decide whether to end free-range cattle that often wandered onto roads. The build-out of the 1919 school building was underway, but The Highlander pointed out that some 100 minority students still had no facility. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of t...

  • This Week in History: July 18, 1923

    News Research Staff|Updated Jul 30, 2023

    The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community, including incipient battles over lake levels, and the potential for the further growth of Mountain Lake and the development of Edward Bok's garden sanctuary plans for the top of Iron Mountain. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century ago, when Florida was in...

  • Today in History: Lake Wales Highlander of July 11, 1923

    News Research Staff|Updated Jul 30, 2023

    Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century age. The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library. The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became The Daily Highlander under several different names, and was published six times a week as a Sunday morning paper, and afternoons Monday through Friday until 1995.The original...

  • Lake Wales Highlander of July 4, 1923

    News Research Staff|Updated Jul 30, 2023

    Starting this week the Lake Wales News will begin publishing historic reproductions of the Lake Wales Highlander newspapers from 100 years ago. The images, retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library, will portray the front page of each week's newspaper. The Lake Wales Highlander was a weekly publication that tracked the growth and progress of the fledgling community, which had only recently exceeded a population of 500. At that time it was poised for...

  • Maintaining Fitness in Senior Years Achievable Goal

    News Services, NAPS|Updated Jul 19, 2023

    (NAPSI)-One of the greatest joys-but potentially biggest challenges-for many grandparents is time spent with the grandkids. Whether yours are toddlers or teens, keeping them entertained requires a level of fitness that might include everything from lifting a child to chasing them at the playground to competing in a round of golf. For grandparents seeking an enriching and active experience with their grandkids, it's important to engage in everyday fitness routines that can...

  • Ken Suarez Comes to Lake Wales

    News Staff Reports|Updated Jul 14, 2023

    A face and voice familiar to most Polk County residents will soon be sharing lots of information about Lake Wales as Ken Suarez begins his duties. No stranger to the camera, the long-time Tampa Bay-area broadcaster recently left his full-time job as a television journalist to begin serving the City of Lake Wales as part-time host of a video series about events in the area. Suarez worked for years at WINK TV in Fort Myers before moving into the Tampa market almost 35 years...

  • Circle of Friends Celebrates New Campus With Ribbon Cutting

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Jun 24, 2023

    Nearly 100 guests joined the elated leadership of the Circle of Friends to celebrate their new campus with a ribbon cutting ceremony and reception on June 22. The longest day of the year was perhaps symbolic of the long effort of the local charitable group to achieve their dreams of a permanent home. Dedicated to supporting, teaching, and perhaps in the near future, housing permanently-disabled adults, the Circle of Friends Ministry recently relocated from their cozy downtown...

  • Lake Wales Woman's Club Has Big Impact on Community

    Special to the News|Updated Jun 8, 2023

    The outsized impact of a relatively small number of Lake Wales women continues to shape and improve the lives of Lake Wales residents. With only two dozen members, the GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales continues to be a dynamic contributing force within the community. Part of the international Greater Federation of Women's Clubs, the local organization has served the community for more than 100 years. Operating from their historic clubhouse and auditorium at 275 East Park...

  • Circle of Friends to Host Ribbon-Cutting at New Campus

    Special to the News|Updated Jun 5, 2023

    A ribbon-cutting event celebrating the Circle of Friends new location is planned to include a ribbon-cutting and reception co-hosted by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council, according to an announcement by the non-profit group. The organization serves an adult disability community from their new home at 333 Lime Ave, Lake Wales. The public reception will take place on June 22 beginning at 11:30 am with a program following at noon.. "We have...

  • Only One Public Shelter Will Serve Lake Wales & Frostproof Areas This Hurricane Season

    News Staff Reports|Updated May 28, 2023

    Polk County Emergency Management has release the "Polk County Public Shelters" maps for 2023, revealing that there remains only a single shelter to serve the nearly 100,000 residents of Southeast Polk County. Spook Hill Elementary, at 321 Dr. J. A. Wiltshire Ave East in Lake Wales, is the only shelter in a broad area that Includes Dundee, Frostproof, Babson Park, Nalcrest, and other area communities. The 2023 map includes 47 shelters, including three "Special Needs Shelters"...

  • River Ranch Named Nation's "Best Glamping Spot" in USA Today Readers Poll

    Michael Hogan, Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing|Updated May 28, 2023

    Westgate River Ranch, just east of Lake Wales, was named the No. 1 Glamping Spot in the nation in the annual USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards. The largest dude ranch East of the Mississippi River, Westgate River Ranch is rooted in the history of the nation's first cowboys and lies on 1,700 lush acres in the heart of Florida's cattle lands. The location offers cowboy-themed accommodations ranging from tent camping and a lodge to luxurious two-bedroom cabins, Glamping...

  • Annual Orange Blossom Revue Set to Happen in Lake Wales December 1 and 2

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated May 26, 2023

    An annual "celebration of music, community, and nature" is returning to Lake Wales for a ninth year and is expected to draw crowds of music-lovers to town for the early December festival. The Orange Blossom Revue is a two-day event featuring a lineup of top musical acts in a wide range of genres ranging from "R&B to country to folk to jazz," according to festival organizer Rusty Ingley. Ingley and Reid Hardman have been running the concert since its inception. "it was an...

  • "StirringWaters" Offers Social Connections to Those Living With Disabilities

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated May 22, 2023

    Disabilities affect a surprisingly-large percentage of the American population, and too often those physical limitations bring along an unnecessary set of social limitations. The limited ability to enjoy the water, a Florida tradition, is one that can have a solution. A fully and intentionally inclusive water adventure area for those with disabilities, planned for construction at Lake Aurora just east of Lake Wales, is a vision shared by several non-profit groups. Two local...

  • Avoid Stroke Risks and Identify Stroke Symptoms Fast

    NAPSI|Updated May 12, 2023

    Like many people, you likely work hard to help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy. To help, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) reminds everyone that stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. About 800,000 people in the country have a stroke each year. The good news is, when treated quickly, survival is possible and damage can be greatly reduced. That's why understanding your risk for stroke, knowing signs...

  • Eye Care Essential for All Adults

    NAPSI|Updated May 9, 2023

    Eye disease affects more than your ability to see the world clearly. People with impaired vision face an increased risk of falls, fractures, injuries, depression, anxiety, cognitive deficits and social isolation. One of the best ways to protect yourself against vision loss from eye disease is to get regular eye exams. Ophthalmologists-physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care-have more tools than ever before to diagnose eye diseases earlier, and to treat them...

  • Cindy Lilly of Babson Park Named "Woman of the Year"

    Special to the News|Updated May 9, 2023

    Local resident Cindy Lilly has been honored as the "Woman of the Year" by the Babson Park Woman's Club. According to a statement issued by club vice-president Saundra Roach Turner, the recognition was due to the fact that "Cindy has worked tirelessly this past year to facilitate the maintenance and repair of the Club building." Lilly was presented with a beautiful spray of flowers, and will have her name engraved on a plaque in honor of her service. In November the BPWC will...

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