Planning Professionals Unveil Design Concepts for Revitalized Downtown
A vision of restored brick streets and sidewalk cafes under the shade of umbrellas and spreading Live Oaks changed many viewers' ideas of the future of downtown Lake Wales Thursday... — Updated 8/5/2020
School Board Candidate Forum Available for Viewing Online
The four candidates for two Polk County School Board seats participated in an online forum that through Facebook has reached more than 6,000 viewers and garnered more than 1,100... — Updated 8/5/2020
Atheist Offering Invocation at Commission Meeting Met with Resistance, Prayer
About 30 people stood outside the Lake Wales city administration building praying to God while Sarah Ray of the Atheist Community of Polk County gave the invocation at the city... — Updated 8/5/2020
Split Commission Moves Forward with Mask Mandate
Lake Wales commissioners in a 3-2 split vote Aug. 4 took the first step toward mandating masks in businesses throughout the city. Their ordinance would not take effect until after... — Updated 8/6/2020
Sealed Vote by Mail Return Envelope Concerns Voter
Polk Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards has confirmed "a very small handful of people" have reported problems with their vote by mail return envelopes being sealed shut. Lance... — Updated 8/5/2020
Early Voting Sites Open Aug. 3-15
Eligible voters may vote in advance of the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary Election at nine convenient locations around Polk County. Early voting in Lake Wales will be at the James P.... — Updated 8/5/2020
Vote by Mail Ballot Request Deadline Aug. 8
Polk County voters have until Saturday, Aug. 8 to submit a request for a ballot to be mailed for the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary Election. Requests for mail ballots can be made by... — Updated 8/6/2020
Please Support Local Restaurants
During these trying times when businesses are struggling to reinvent themselves to adhere to both Governor decrees and social norms as well as keeping six feet between employees,... — Updated 8/5/2020
New Books at the Lake Wales Public Library - Week of Aug. 3
The Lake Wales Public Library, with the assistance of lakewalesnews.net, has revived a tradition that existed in our local weekly newspaper for many years, the publication of a... — Updated 8/6/2020
Woman Holds Out Hope of Finding Sick Chihuahua Lost During July 4 Fireworks
Sandy Dent is very worried about her 9-pound chihuahua that got frightened and ran off during to the July 4 fireworks. Valdez has kidney disease and without special food he could... — Updated 8/5/2020
Polk Democrats Plan "Ridin' with Biden Caravans Aug. 16
The Democratic National Convention starts Aug. 17, and Polk County Democrats will be revving up enthusiasm with three "Ridin' with Biden" caravans the day before the convention... — Updated 8/5/2020
Letter from the Rev. Dr. James Moyer about Reaction to Recent City Invocation
Theologian John Wesley is attributed with once saying that "Christ came to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable." After witnessing the actions of several local... — Updated 8/6/2020
Letter from Sarah Ray, Atheist Community of Polk County
Think of 25 people you know. One of them is likely atheist. And probably afraid of you finding out. We know that there are even nonbelievers working in governments and sitting on... — Updated 8/10/2020
Curtis Gibson: Life as a City Commissioner
Hello my name is Curtis Gibson, I am a Lake Wales city commissioner in district 19, seat 2. I never thought about getting into politics. In fact, I used to say I am not a... — Updated 8/10/2020
Curtis Gibson: Life as a City Commissioner
We are elected to make tough decisions for the citizens of our community and the betterment of our city. I have always been a stand alone official, where I do not have anyone... — Updated 8/10/2020
Despite Pandemic Impact, Highlander Band Director Remains Optimistic
Stephen Cornelius had big plans to grow the Lake Wales High School Highlander Band, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now starting his second year as director, Cornelius is... — Updated 8/5/2020
Lake Wales High School Sports On Hold for Now to Avoid COVID-19 Spread
Sports at Lake Wales High School are on the shelf for the time being as the result of a vote Tuesday, Aug. 4 by the charter system's Board of Trustees. The group unanimously voted... — Updated 8/6/2020
Alfred "Chip" Thullbery
Alfred Charles (Chip) Thullbery, Jr., 67, of Lake Wales died on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, in Moffitt Cancer Center, from an aggressive melanoma cancer in his liver and bone marrow.... — Updated 8/8/2020
Bruce Weeks, 1949-2020
Bruce Weeks, 70, of Avon Park passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2020 at his residence. He was born Nov. 7, 1949 in Mulberry. He was a retired accountant for SunTrust Bank. He graduated from Lake Wales High School and continued his... — Updated 8/6/2020
Kenneth Sanders, 1961-2020
Kenneth William Sanders, age 59, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 at his home in Lake Wales. Born January 3, 1961 in Marlow, OK, he was the son of the late David and Nora Joan... — Updated 8/6/2020
Robert Battles, 1951-2020
Minister Robert Battles, aka " So Proud," 68, of Lake Wales, died Aug. 3, 2020 at Advent Health Hospital in Orlando. He was born Dec. 8, 1951. Services are incomplete. Epps... — Updated 8/6/2020
Harold "Lee" Bolden, 1952-2020
Harold Lee Bolden, 68, of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 at the Lake Wales Advent Health. He was born May 9, 1952 in Lake Wales to the late Shirley Leon and Veva Juanita (Bryant) Bolden and he has been a lifelong... — Updated 8/6/2020
Doris Gibb, 1935-2020
Doris Gibb, 85, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, July 31, 2020 at her residence. She was born June 22, 1935 in Madison County, FL to the late Valto and Bernice Scurry. She moved... — Updated 8/6/2020
Sonny Holloway, 1957-2020
Franklin Lee "Sonny" Holloway of Lake Wales passed away Friday, July 31, 2020 at the Winter Haven Hospital. He was born Oct. 12, 1957 in De Grace, MD to the late Roy and Virginia... — Updated 8/6/2020
Kenneth Bartholomay, 1955-2020
Kenneth P. “Ken” Bartholomay, 65, of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 at Advent Health Lake Wales. He was born February 3, 1955 in Portland, ME. He moved to Lake Wales from Port St. Lucie in 2006. Ken was a... — Updated 8/6/2020
John Glockner, 1943-2020
John E. Glockner, 77, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Aug. 3, 2020 at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was born January 5, 1943 in Arcadia, FL to the late Herman and Wilma Glockner. He moved to Lake Wales from Arcadia... — Updated 8/6/2020
Brenda McKinney, 1948-2020
Brenda Gail Stephens McKinney, 72, passed away Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 at Advent Health Lake Wales. Brenda was born January 4, 1948 in Ft. Payne, AL to the late William and Maggie Stephens. She moved to Lake Wales from Winder, GA... — Updated 8/10/2020
