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  • The Haunting of a Grand Lady

    Mary Walkup, Contributing Writer|Updated Jan 10, 2021

    It was just another ordinary morning when I opened the doors of the old building. I wasn't even worried about turning on the lights. After all, I'd been here many times before and I could make my way around in the dark because I knew the place so well. Confidently, I moved inside, locking the doors behind me. The hall was dim because the day was cloudy and sunlight only filtered in on a good day when the dilapidated blinds were closed. Unhurriedly, intent on my mission, I...

  • Letter to the Editor from Shauna Krout

    Updated Jan 10, 2021

    Leaving treatment without a plan is like going on a road trip without a map. It is very important to have a set plan before leaving treatment. The plan should be realistic and the recovering person should be able to follow it without getting discouraged. This plan should include both structure and accountability. It should also have goals that are reachable and reasonable. This helps the recovering person feel accomplished and productive. The plan does not have to be filled...

  • Find Bargains Nov. 2 Along 39-Mile Yard Sale

    Updated Nov 4, 2019

    Sellers and buyers alike have a special opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Ridge Scenic Highway Scenic corridor Saturday, Nov. 2 while hunting for bargains along the 39-Mile Scenic Highway Yard Sale. The Lake Wales History Museum at 325 S. Scenic Highway is one of seven official locations, hosting 30 booths along with music and food. Tables will line the Scenic Highway from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other official locations are the Lake of the Hills Community Clubhouse, Krewe of...

  • Foundation Gala to Raise Funds for B Street Community Center

    Updated Oct 30, 2019

    The Green & Gold Foundation will host a Black & Gold Gala to raise funds to support the B Street Community Center. The Gala will include an enjoyable evening of dinner and music from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Lake Ashton Ballroom. Tickets are $65 each or $500 for a VIP table of eight. Tickets or sponsorships can be purchased online at www.bstreetcommunitycenter.org. Sponsors also are needed for the event. Sponsor levels are: $150 for Sparkle, which includes one gala tic...

  • Woman's Club Kicks Off 10 Cents a Door Game to Benefit Operation Smile

    Mary Walkup, Contributing Writer|Updated Oct 22, 2019

    Are you and your friends looking to have a great time for a great cause? Come join the General Federation of Women's Club (GFWC) Woman's Club of Lake Wales every 1st Thursday of the Month at 10:30 a.m. at 275 E Park Avenue, Lake Wales for an informative and meaningful gathering of women with the goal of bettering themselves and their community, as well as the lives of women and children locally and internationally. Lunch is available for a $5 donation. Play the "Ten-Cents-A-Do...

  • 40+ Vendors Oct. 19 for Bok Tower Rootstock Plant and Garden Festival

    Updated Oct 18, 2019

    Bok Tower Gardens will host its annual Rootstock Plant and Garden Festival from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Admission is free, but there is a $10 parking fee for nonmembers. (Members park free.) The $10 parking fee can be applied at the membership lounge toward purchase of a Bok Tower membership that day. Bok Tower says Rootstock is "Central Florida's largest plant and garden extravaganza." Duke Energy is the event sponsor. Rootstock draws more than 40 vendors, who wil...

  • Library Hosts Noted Chef Oct. 19

    Updated Oct 16, 2019

    Just a few short years ago, restaurants were booming and cooking at home was something one watched on TV, but rarely attempted in real life. Then something shifted. Perhaps it was the economy. Or a desire to eat healthier. For whatever reason, people wanted to rediscover the joy of cooking. Recognizing that need, Chef Warren Caterson wrote the award-winning cookbooks Table for Two – The Cookbook for Couples and Table for Two - Back for Seconds, and Cooking Outside the Lines ...

  • Doctor Shares How Adverse Childhood Experiences Have Lasting Health and Economic Impact

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Oct 16, 2019

    Adverse childhood experiences often have a lasting impact, resulting in negative health and economic outcomes throughout adulthood, according to Dr. Lyn Jones, who has worked with hurting people for many years. A Babson Park chiropractor and longtime psychiatric nurse, Jones shared her expertise in domestic violence, other abuse and neglect at the recent annual meeting of the GFWC Lake Wales Woman's Club. The Woman's Club has adopted domestic violence abuse and prevention as...

  • Howard Named State NAACP Branch President of the Year

    Updated Oct 16, 2019

    Lake Wales NAACP President Wanda Howard was recognized at a recent state NAACP conference as Branch President of the Year. Howard became Branch 5109 president in January 2017, the first female to serve in that capacity. She joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1986, right out of college, and is now a Life Member. She previously served as Youth Council Advisor with emphasis on the ACT-SO and Back-2-School/Stay-in-School programs. "I was...

  • NAACP to Kick Off Local ACT-SO Youth Program Oct. 14

    Updated Oct 14, 2019

    The Lake Wales NAACP Branch #5109 will host its first meeting Oct. 14 to organize for the national 2020 Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) competition to be held July 23-26 in Boston. ACT-SO is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. The kickoff will be at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the James P. Austin Community Center, 315 Dr....

  • Polly Stephens Celebrates 100th Birthday

    Trey Heath, Staff Writer|Updated Oct 9, 2019

    20, Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President, prohibition had gone into effect, the United States Congress approves the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, World War I ends, The Florida Keys Hurricane killed 600, and Polly Stephens was born in Sumner, GA on September 18, 1919. Polly recently turned 100 and her family and friends celebrated at a Lake Wales restaurant. 100 years, 10 decades - however you want to slice it - that is a long time. Businesses, as rare as they...

  • Activist Wynkoop Named Democratic Woman of the Year

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Oct 9, 2019

    After 30 years and countless volunteer hours for candidates and issues, Becky Wynkoop of Lake Wales finally earned recognition Friday Sept. 27 as the 2019 Marlene Duffy Young Polk County Outstanding Democratic Woman of the Year. "She has truly been a mentor for me and a leader in the Polk County Democrats," said Kathie Sutherland, chairwoman of the Polk County Democratic Executive Committee. "She just has so much history. It's about time she got this award. She's very...

  • Youth Leadership Program Opens with Teambuilding Retreat

    Updated Oct 9, 2019

    Twelve area high school juniors kicked off their Youth Leadership Lake Wales year with an opening retreat Sept. 28 at Lake Aurora Christian Camp. This program of the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council enables high school juniors to develop leadership skills, while increasing awareness of their community. The students attend a Parent/Student Opening Retreat, five Program Days - one per month, each with a different focus - and a Graduation...

  • Woman's Club Focuses on Domestic Violence Awareness

    Updated Oct 2, 2019

    The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales will hold its annual meeting beginning at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. Since October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the guest speaker will be Dr. Lyn Jones. She will speak on the impacts of domestic violence by parents or guardians on the physical and psychological development of the child. Guests are asked to wear purple in support of domestic violence prevention. The Woman's Club is located at 275 E. Park Ave. All women in the...

  • Deputy Chief's Son Chooses Police Career

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Oct 2, 2019

    Terry Schulze grew up in a "blue home" where he watched his father head out daily to protect and serve the community. Becoming a police officer was a natural choice for the 19-year-old, whose father Troy is the Lake Wales Police Department's deputy chief, now approaching 25 years on the job. Terry entered the profession with open eyes, having served nearly three years as a volunteer patrol cadet before completing 770 hours of training at the police academy at Polk State...

  • Cain Growing Sea Scout Program in Lake Wales and Beyond

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 25, 2019

    Most people know about the Boy Scouts, but its water-related affiliate, the Sea Scouts, is far less known. But 20-year-old Ron Cain from Lake Wales is working to change that. "We're the premier aquatic program in the country," said Cain, who is serving as Southern Region Boatswain, an ambassador and national board member for the co-ed program that serves young people ages 14-21. "They always say it's like the best kept secret in scouting." Cain joined Sea Scouts at age 16,...

  • Waller Named Toys for Tots 2018 Coordinator of the Year

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 25, 2019

    David Waller, coordinator of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign of Polk County, recently attended the annual Toys for Toys Training Conference in Washington. Waller was recognized as "Coordinator of the Year for 2018" for the Southeast United States and also served as a mentor to new coordinators. Waller grew up in Lake Wales and now lives in Lakeland. After retiring from law enforcement and selling his paver business Waller said he was looking for a...

  • History Museum Curator Delcamp Earns State Professional Award

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 25, 2019

    Lake Wales History Museum Curator Bartholomew Delcamp worked tirelessly for the last three-plus years cataloguing nearly 20,000 items, organizing collections, creating new exhibits and assisting in educational programs and tours. His hard work and dedication to the history of Lake Wales were recognized Sept. 17 when he was named 2019 Outstanding New Professional by the Florida Association of Museums. Delcamp started as an intern, then served as a part-time museum assistant...

  • New Friends Group Organizing to Support Lake Wales History Museum

    Updated Sep 19, 2019

    The new Friends of the Lake Wales Museum will host a mixer Sunday afternoon, Sept. 22 to recruit members, introduce its board of directors, talk about fundraising projects and describe how people can get involved. Complimentary refreshments will be served from 2-4 p.m. at the museum, located in the old Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot at 325 South Scenic Highway. The event is free but people are asked to register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friends-of...

  • "Lady Lawyer" Shares Arctic Adventure

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 18, 2019

    Cynthia Crofoot Rignanese is a world traveler extraordinaire, recently completing an arctic adventure that took her to her 109th country and 7th continent. This trip was particularly exciting as she became the first person ever to set foot on Cape Yalik, a remote site on one of the 192 uninhabited islands of Franz Josef Land in the Russian High Arctic. The Lake Wales attorney, with a law office in Winter Haven, works hard so she can devote about two months each year to her...

  • Woman's Club of Lake Wales Leads the Way in Conservation Efforts

    Mary Walkup, Contributing Writer|Updated Sep 17, 2019

    There's an old truth about hurricanes: they take out the trees that gardeners don't have the heart to cut down. Like wildfires, they clear the land of deadwood. They fell trees weakened by disease or stunted roots, leaving only the strongest – or the luckiest – when skies clear. Such ruthless pruning reveals which plants can stand up to a 100-mile-an-hour wind. Palm trees hold up beautifully in storms: their limber trunks bend with the wind, which blows right through the...

  • Arts Center Classes Begin Sept. 16

    Updated Sep 12, 2019

    The Lake Wales Arts Council is launching its 2019 Fall Semester education classes beginning Sept. 16. A variety of returning favorites and some new programs are scheduled for kids and adults. Classes are eight weeks in length. Enrollment fees are for the entire semester and include ALL supplies (excluding band and orchestral instruments). Multi-enrollment discounts are available as well as scholarships for youth programs. Payment plans are available for all Lake Wales Arts...

  • New VP Raising Funds for Florida Poly

    Updated Sep 12, 2019

    When Kathleen "Kathy" Bowman became chief development officer of the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, the school's development team was bringing in an average of $4 million per year over a five-year period. When she left the position of five years last month to become Florida Polytechnic University's new vice president of advancement, the average was over $22 million per year. "We ensured best practice and procedures were in place...

  • Kayak Fishing Grows in Popularity

    Updated Sep 12, 2019

    Kayak fishing is a growing sport and it's easy to see why. Kayaks are nimble, less expensive than most motorized boats and provide access to places even the best casts from land just can't reach. The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation confirms that kayaks are the most popular type of boat for Americans to own and that the number of people participating in kayak fishing has gone up in the past six years. But those who love the sport say kayak fishing is more than just a...

  • The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales - Women Pioneers in History

    Mary Walkup, Contributing Writer|Updated Sep 5, 2019

    The early settlers of what is now Lake Wales were hearty, adventuresome people, real Pioneers, descendants of their ancestors who traveled via oxen-driven covered wagons and were true to their code of "Ten Tandra Via Est" meaning "The way remains to be tried". Such people included Nellie and her husband, Nile E. Stewart. In October 1912, after a long and difficult, sometimes dangerous trip through swamp, overcoming their fears of possible snakes and alligators, they travelled...

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