Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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"Don't forget to be a good boy and help Mrs. Catt put the 'rat' in ratification." So were the words of the note that Tennessee Representative Harry Burn's mother had tucked in his pocket that fateful day of Aug. 18, 1920. The note inspired him to cast the tie-breaking vote, assuring the ratification of the 19th Amendment. Finally, a 2/3 majority of states had ratified the amendment and after more than 70 years of enormous personal suffering and sacrifice by countless women,...
My name is Michael Wilder. After having pastored in Kentucky for 16+ years, my wife, Tina, and I moved to Florida about 18 months ago for the purpose of planting a church in Central Florida. Upon moving here we lived in Lake Alfred as we sought the Lord's specific will. In May of 2019, we were able to purchase the property at 428 Linden Lane here in Lake Wales. It is the former home and office of Dr. Haines DDS. In time, we hope to convert the veranda into an auditorium....
The University of Florida has announced plans to honor attorney and Lake Wales City Commissioner Robin Gibson for a lifetime of exceptional accomplishments related to his law career and his support for education. An Evening of Excellence presented by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida was originally planned for April 17, but due to coronavirus concerns will be rescheduled once people can safely gather again. In announcing the recognition,...
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...
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...
Kathryn "Kat" Gates-Skipper from Lake Wales, along with 16 fellow Floridians, was inducted Monday, March 9 into The Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame at the Capitol Building in Tallahassee. The Florida Veterans' Foundation joined with the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize these Military Veterans that have made a significant contribution to the State of Florida. The Medal Ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the Cabinet Meeting room. The medal was presented by CFO...
Rob Boggess, Service Manager at Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM recently announced that Joshua Fairbanks has joined the Service Team. "It is great to have Joshua Fairbanks on board at Lake Wales," said Boggess, Lake Wales Service Manager. "I am creating a team of exceptional service professionals to handle all the automotive service needs of central Florida. Joshua is an important part of my service team." Fairbanks has joined Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM as a...
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...
As the 2020 elections take shape, one race for circuit court has drawn the interest of a prominent civil, family and general law attorney from Lake Wales. Attorney Cassandra L. Denmark filed as a candidate for the 10th Judicial Circuit, Group 19 seat now held by Judge John Radabaugh. "If given the opportunity, I assure I will serve with integrity, respect and fairness," Denmark said in announcing her candidacy. Denmark has practiced law in the state for 18 years. Prior to...
The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales will participate in the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) efforts in Conservation. The GFWC Conservation Community Service Program encourages awareness of our natural resources and caring for the world around us. It offers information and ideas to promote environmental appreciation and protection. The Florida Federation of Women's Club, and particularly the Preservation Committee chairwoman May Mann Jennings, took a deep interest...
Twenty world class skydivers dropped onto the golf course at Lake Ashton Saturday Feb. 22, paying tribute to Betty Hill, the former owner of the Florida Skydiving Center at the Lake Wales Airport. Hill died Dec. 16 at the age of 66 after a valiant 19-year battle with cancer. About 200 friends, family, neighbors and skydiving enthusiasts gathered to celebrate Hill's amazing life. She only jumped once herself but brought thousands of skydivers to Lake Wales and introduced countl...
Meg Smith calls herself "the luckiest girl in the world." She says she's filled 10 bucket lists by being blessed to play her violin with the likes of famous musicians Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman and for noted composer John Williams. For nearly a decade she's played in the orchestra on tour with opera singer Andrea Bocelli, whose voice is considered one of the finest in the world. Smith's newest endeavor is directing an adult stringed orchestra sponsored by the Lake Wales Arts...
Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club's mission is "to be a service club that focuses on caring for the youth of our community while participating in Rotary's global efforts". Our Rotary Club held an annual Boys' Camp for 27 years, but needed enough women in the club to band together to organize a Girls' Camp. Girls' Camp was created in 2011 with the theme "I AM Smart, Unique, Important, Beautiful, and Fun." Girls' Camp is an annual event, held at Lake Aurora Christian Camp in...
Twenty-two years ago Heather Eiland watched her 5-year-old daughter Jessica and her pre-school classmates link arms and parade around the school courtyard in their finest outfits. Mom and daughter watched Jessica's 5-year-old son Jaxson Hood continue the tradition Thursday, Feb. 13 in the First United Methodist Preschool's annual Valentine's Day parade. Parents and grandparents snapped photos and beamed proudly as the 44 children circled the school courtyard for the kickoff...
Lake Wales pilot Greg Love officially hung up his wings and rotors Friday, Feb. 7 after a 25-year aviation career with the Polk County Sheriff's Department. Turning just 60 this year Love actually will continue flying as a sheriff's reserve deputy and as a pilot with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The sheriff who hired him, Lawrence Crow, and current Sheriff Grady Judd showed up to recognize Love's service along with family, friends and co-workers at a luncheon held insid...
U.S. Army Reserve Captain Alexander Vacha will soon be returning to his post as the director of the Winter Haven Airport, but first he has an important engagement to keep with a class of preschool students at the Lake Wales Family YMCA. Dr. Marc Hutek, CEO of the Coalition, said is thrilled to have the special guest coming to read. "We're so glad to be able to have such an outstanding individual take time out to come and read to our children," said Hutek. "Captain Vacha is a...
The Junior League of Greater Winter Haven will be hosting a mobile food pantry in Lake Wales on Saturday morning, Jan. 25. In conjunction with Feeding Tampa Bay, the volunteers will distribute free food to those in need. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Ouellette Law Firm, 151 E. Central Ave. The Junior League moves the pantry to various locations throughout East Polk County. In November, the League distributed food for 121 households, including 263...
The GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales will participate in the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC) efforts in recognizing the celebration of the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment, which prohibits state and federal governments from denying any citizen the right to vote on the basis of their sex. The motion for women's suffrage was first submitted to congress in 1878, but its ratification was the culmination of 72 years of formal organizing and the work of...
GFWC Woman's Club members are very vocal about many things they are passionate about, so why not art? There are many studies - pro and con - regarding the arts in connection with education. However, we dare to ask the question, 'How can being taught and/or encouraged to express yourself through art - be it music, drama, making or painting something - be a bad thing?" Many people today have limited vision when they hear the word "art." They immediately think canvas and paint,...
Registration for the 28th Annual Polk Senior Games begins Jan. 2. The Games, scheduled for Feb. 29 to March 16, offer a two-week series of 98 Olympic-style events in 38 athletic and recreational sports. They attract nearly 2,500 men and women, 50 and over, with a variety of skills - the serious competitor, the fun at heart, the seasoned athlete, the late bloomer, and the physically challenged. The purpose of the Games is to promote friendly competition, fellowship, health and...
Kevin Sunderland says he was pleasantly surprised to be named City of Lake Wales 2019 Employee of the Year. As manager of information technology he does much of his work behind the scenes and behind his computer screen. In announcing his selection city Library Director Tina Peak pointed out that Sunderland's job effects the work of all city employees every day. "I enjoy trying to help everybody out," said Sunderland, who was hired six years ago as network administrator and rec...
Twenty years ago one determined Lake Wales mother decided children with disabilities deserved better. Mertice Fehringer (now Kelly) didn't like the fact that her daughter Connie and other children with special needs were pretty much ignored by the community. What started as one Sunday School classroom at First Assembly of God (now IMPACT) Church grew into the full-time Circle of Friends Ministry, which will celebrate its 20th Anniversary Reunion Saturday, Jan. 11. The...
In 1912, 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." They came to Lake Wales by way of long, difficult and sometimes dangerous trips through swamps, overcoming their fears of possible snakes and alligators, travelling through Winter Haven, then Haines City,...
It's time to request an entry book to enter the 28th Annual Polk Senior Games scheduled for Feb. 29 to March 16. The Games offer a two-week series of 100 athletic and recreational Olympic-style events. They attract over 2,500 men and women, 50 years and over, with a variety of skills - the serious competitor, the fun at heart, the seasoned athlete, the late bloomer, and the physically challenged. The purpose of the Games is to promote friendly competition, fellowship, health...
It was fun, exciting and filled with anticipation! Everyone loves the sound of children laughing while they run around, eyes wide open as their Christmas dreams come true. Well, it happened and we were there. On Dec. 10, 44 children went Christmas shopping during the Lake Wales Police Officers Association's annual Shop with a Cop event at the Lake Wales Wal-Mart. The gathering began at 6 p.m. where parents signed their children in, snacks were served and families were assigned...
