LakeWalesNews.net - Communication Builds Our Community

Police are seeking the help of the public in locating 35-year-old Jose Chaidez of Haines City, who is accused of battering his 64-year-old former girlfriend and then severely... — Updated 9/26/2023

The multi-million-dollar reconstruction of Park Avenue is proceeding close to schedule, as evidenced by the hard-working crews who have been seen laying the thousands of bricks... — Updated 9/26/2023

A 37 year old Tampa resident was arrested following quick action by Lake Wales Police officers who responded to a reported robbery. The suspect was charged with stealing a $6,000... — Updated 9/22/2023

Owners of the rapidly-growing number of electric vehicles in the Lake Wales area, as well as travelers passing through the city on SR 60, will be pleased to find four new electric... — Updated 9/19/2023

As the City of Lake Wales faces an onslaught of development proposals totaling more than 14,000 residential units, a responsive city government is making the needed adjustments to... — Updated 9/23/2023

The City of Lake Wales plans to spend nearly $80,000 on renovations of the former Family YMCA on Burns Avenue as it steps into control of operations there. The facility is being... — Updated 9/20/2023

On a split vote, Polk County Commissioners refused to overturn the narrow approval of a sprawling development on a rural two-lane road in eastern Polk County about ten miles... — Updated 9/19/2023

A "commercial fire" alert at Eagle Ridge Mall that went out on a 911 emergency channel gave some folks a start on Sunday afternoon, but happily turned out to be "not much,"... — Updated 9/24/2023

After a two-day spell of autumn-like weather to mark the official start of the season this weekend, summer-like rains are expected to return to Florida, but the threat of a... — Updated 9/24/2023

Lake Wales will become a healthier city if traditional neighborhood design standards are applied to future development proposals here, according to studies shared by Dr. Joanna... — Updated 9/22/2023

Polk State Soccer Head Coach Dee Shivraman and Assistant Coach and Recruiting Director Tawanda Kaseke are taking a community approach as they begin their first year with the... — Updated 8/22/2023

A new school year means many things: getting used to new schedules, making new friends, and for fans of the defending state championship Lake Wales Highlanders, a new season of... — Updated 8/18/2023

The Lake Wales High School Softball team is angling to bring back a second state championship in a single scholastic year after defeating Lemon Bay (Englewood) 5-0 in a semifinal... — Updated 5/25/2023

The women of the Lake Wales High School softball team were all smiles in Clermont Thursday afternoon after winning the state softball class with 7-2 a victory over Wakulla. The... — Updated 6/15/2023

We know anglers care about big bass, which means they also care about how they handle big bass. Especially in recent years, concerns have been voiced about how anglers handle bass... — Updated 5/12/2023

A $3000 grant has been awarded to a local athletic league that will allow them to continue to provide participation and support for local athletes wishing to participate in their... — Updated 3/28/2023

Increased numbers of boats and anglers are expected on Lake Reedy in Frostproof this Saturday, March 25, as the Frostproof Church of God hosts their 12th Annual Bass Tournament.... — Updated 3/22/2023

Lake Wales weightlifters won the Olympics-style county title while placing second to Lakeland in the traditional competition. In the Olympic competition, Lake Wales won with 53... — Updated 3/16/2023

A team of skydivers from a dozen nations cooperated to build canopy stacks of a 54 and 65 persons at Lake Wales Airport this week while descending from well above 10,000 feet. The... — Updated 1/13/2023

The Lake Wales Highlanders have completed a perfect 15-0 season with a 32-30 win over Daytona Mainland to win their first state championship. After falling behind early by a 10-0... — Updated 12/17/2022

Like a mushroom after a summer rain, a beautiful new gymnasium has popped up this week on the campus of McLaughlin Middle/High School of Excellence. The building is being... — Updated 9/15/2023

EDITOR'S NOTE: Students enrolled in the Bok Academy North agriculture program are excited for the opportunities they are being offered this year. Among those are participation in... — Updated 9/5/2023

For the second year in a row, Webber International University's team has left the annual Future Business Leaders of America conference with a number of awards. Twelve FBLA... — Updated 8/24/2023

Thousands of area students will stream back to school tomorrow for an unusual Friday start to the new school year. Seven schools operated by Lake Wales Charter Schools and several... — Updated 8/10/2023

Area teachers are now eligible to apply for individual grants of up to $250 that can fund special classroom activities or programs that can enhance the educational process for... — Updated 8/9/2023

A Lake Wales High School graduate bound for college will be honored at a special celebration hosted by a local auto dealership Friday. Hannah Battles, a 2023 graduate, will be... — Updated 8/4/2023

The sudden resignation of Bok Academy South Middle School Principal Damian Rosado has resulted in the quick appointment of Dr. Julio Acevedo to fill the role on a temporary basis.... — Updated 8/3/2023

An aggressive facilities expansion to add a high school to the campus of McLaughlin School of Excellence has been devastating to the landscape at the school, but help is coming... — Updated 8/5/2023

As McLaughlin Academy of Excellence completes its transformation from a middle school to a middle-high school, community organizations are stepping up to support the effort.... — Updated 7/24/2023

Teachers and staff preparing for a new school year at Spook Hill Elementary were the happy recipients of a complimentary "thanksgiving" lunch this week in gratitude for their... — Updated 7/26/2023

Lake Wales newest restaurant, Kualao, celebrated its recent opening with a ribbon cutting this week, hosting an enthusiastic group of fans to free samples of their creative and... — Updated 9/26/2023

Several dozen Rotarians, area business people, and many of their customers attended a "Ridge Taking Care of Business" networking opportunity Thursday evening at Native Imagery in... — Updated 9/25/2023

The Office of the Tax Collector for Polk County (TCPC), Joe G. Tedder, reminds business owners that the deadline to renew their County Local Business Tax Receipt (BTR) is Monday,... — Updated 9/5/2023

Another Lake Wales business is joining the growing wave of movement to solar power, with installation of a large rooftop array slated for this fall. The Low Payment Kings... — Updated 8/12/2023

A celebration of 19 years of contribution toward the development of community leaders drew some 200 guests to the annual meeting of Polk Vision Wednesday evening. The gathering in... — Updated 8/17/2023

A new business incubator funded in large part by the City of Lake Wales was celebrated at a recent ribbon cutting featuring a host of government and business representatives. The... — Updated 8/5/2023

A ten-year-old project helping farmers find a return on their truck investment is being maintained after three Low Payment Kings dealerships recently renewed their eligibility in... — Updated 6/8/2023

Going back to school in August is as intimidating for some students as it is exciting for others. Polk State College understands the challenges faced by many families in our area... — Updated 6/2/2023

The 10th Annual "18 Aces to Conquer Cancer" golf event is sponsored by the Mahalak Auto Group, owners of a local auto dealership, to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research and... — Updated 5/5/2023

Lake Wales area homeowners who are tired of keeping up with the mowing, want to find a good lawn service, or just need a break from the chores now have a new option: the nation's... — Updated 4/25/2023

A team of researchers from Florida is making a significant contribution to the survival of a number of bird species endangered by deforstation in their Andean home. Birds native... — Updated 8/22/2023

Polk County's Environmental Land's program is opening the process for accepting site nomination forms from landowners beginning August 1. A 2022 voter-approved referendum created... — Updated 8/8/2023

Close on the heels of the recent discovery of a black bear hiding in a tree on the Lake Wailes Trail, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is sharing the... — Updated 6/11/2023

It's raining hard. You need to get to an important appointment. You're halfway to your destination when you hit a roadblock. The intersection is flooded, wind gusts have downed... — Updated 5/9/2023

Did you know that, according to Florida State University's Climate Center, Florida is the state with the most tornadoes per 10,000 square miles? This means that, while other states... — Updated 5/2/2023

APRIL 21 - A Florida panther, an endangered and protected species, has been seen in Lake Wales overnight and during the early morning hours of Friday, April 21. The big cat was... — Updated 4/26/2023

An endangered Florida panther, a rare, protected species, has been seen by several members of the public in the vicinity of Lake Wales Country Club. Area residents are encourage to... — Updated 4/21/2023

Florida has long been known as the lightning capital of the United States. In 2022, Polk County led the way in central Florida with 285 lightning strikes per square mile. Lightning... — Updated 4/19/2023

With warmer temperatures and April kicking off the best time of year to plant, spring means more people are heading outdoors to upgrade their landscaping, install a fence and... — Updated 4/5/2023

Following voter approval of Polk Foever, a new 20-year environmental land tax passed last November, Polk County is reactivating its long-standing citizen's committee that... — Updated 2/7/2023

Change is coming to Lake Wales. Are you worried? If so, your concerns are shared by thousands of your friends and neighbors. Ours is a growing community. This special place has... — Updated 8/2/2023

A bloody toll of fatalities and serious injuries during the month of May has left multiple area families mourning their losses. The rash of deadly crashes is a clear call for... — Updated 5/18/2023

Honoring those who have served to defend is a longstanding tradition in nations around the world, no less so in the United States. The freedoms we enjoy, so easily eroded from... — Updated 4/12/2023

"Growth" is a word that means opportunity for some and strikes fear in the hearts of others. It has been the driver of both the economic health and the environmental destruction... — Updated 2/23/2023

Stifling Dissent is Not a Solution The essential freedoms that we often take for granted as Americans set us apart from much of the world, where speaking out against a government... — Updated 1/4/2023

Kenneth Branagh's latest Hercule Poirot film, A Haunting in Venice, is a haunted house movie but isn't that scary. It is a surprisingly enjoyable and suspenseful mystery. While it... — Updated 9/26/2023

Among the most popular options for a quick restaurant-supplied meal in the Lake Wales area is pizza. With multiple outlets available, including several national chains, we decided... — Updated 9/26/2023

A special performance by the well-known touring band Big Al and the Heavyweights is happening this Friday night, September 22, at The Spot in Lake Wales. Led by "Big Al" Lauro, the... — Updated 9/23/2023

The history of human transportation gets a rousing send-up in the humorous "Are We There Yet" which will be on stage at Lake Wales Little Theater this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.... — Updated 9/21/2023

I finally got to see Blue Beetle over the weekend. This is a superhero character I had never heard of. Blue Beetle is a fun and enjoyable superhero film that brings a fresh... — Updated 9/15/2023

Red, White & Royal Blue is a fun, silly, and heartwarming romantic comedy about the unlikely romance between Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the United States President, and Prince... — Updated 8/29/2023

Plans are underway for its 2nd Annual Fall Festival, a free event that features food trucks, beer, music, professional carnival games, inflatables including two bounce houses,... — Updated 8/29/2023

A gallery exhibition entitled "Floridian Fire: Contemporary Ceramics in the Sunshine State," will be unveiled September 5th at the Lake Wales Arts Center. Featuring 39 ceramic... — Updated 8/28/2023

Happiness for Beginners is a July, 2023 romantic comedy film that follows Helen Carpenter, a 32-year-old woman who, in an attempt to rebuild her life after a difficult divorce,... — Updated 8/8/2023

The newest release from streaming service Hulu is Rye Lane, a fun and enjoyable romantic comedy that follows two youngsters reeling from bad break-ups who connect over a... — Updated 8/1/2023

The cost of enjoying a day in the relaxing environment at Bok Tower Gardens may add a bit of unfortunate stress to budgets after the gardens announced that the their admission... — Updated 9/26/2023

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... — Updated 9/26/2023

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... — Updated 9/20/2023

The significant way that features such as sidewalks, bicycle tracks, trees, parks, and public squares affect the overall health of the general public will be discussed by a panel... — Updated 9/15/2023

An opportunity to produce fresh fruits and vegetables in the heart of a "food desert" has motivated a team of volunteers to plan the city's second community garden on a plot of... — Updated 9/16/2023

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... — Updated 9/13/2023

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... — Updated 9/13/2023

Each year RSVP Polk volunteers give generously to Home Instead's "Be a Santa to a Senior". Working with local case managers this project ensures that seniors in care receive... — Updated 9/7/2023

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... — Updated 9/5/2023

Who will be the next "Pioneer of the Year?" That's a honor you may have a hand in deciding. The annual honor of Pioneer of the Year has been a highlight of the two-day Pioneer... — Updated 8/22/2023

John Spencer Waldrop of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. He was born February 5, 1941 in Bonifay to the late Leonard and... — Updated 9/21/2023

Walter James Davis, Sr., age 80, of Lake Wales, FL, died Sunday, September 10, 2023, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Sebring, FL. He is survived by his son: Walter J. Davis, Jr.;... — Updated 9/16/2023

Carol Ann Stone of Lake Wales passed away Monday, September 11, 2023 at Lakeland Reginal Hospital. She was born December 30, 1939 in Detroit, Michigan to the late William and... — Updated 9/13/2023

Arthur Henry Stafford III, 84, of Babson Park, FL passed away peacefully on September 13,, 2023. Art was born to Arthur Henry Stafford Jr and Charlotte Sarah Clark Stafford in Polk... — Updated 9/16/2023

Stephen Lee Rodda of Lake Wales passed away Monday, September 4, 2023 in Lake Wales. He was born October 12, 2006 in Winter Haven. Stephen loved playing video games and spending... — Updated 9/8/2023

Carlene Marie Tschida of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, September 3, 2023 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. She was born July 30, 1944 in Mandan, North Dakota to the late Bernie and... — Updated 9/5/2023

Jerry Cook, age 84, of Rocky Face, Georgia passed away on Friday, September 1, 2023 at Calhoun Health Care. He was preceded in death by his parents Enos Cook and Carrie Cook... — Updated 9/3/2023

Versie Rene Stoudemire Meeks transitioned from this life to eternity on Thursday, July 27, 2023. She leaves to cherish her memories a loving and devoted husband of 61 years, Fred... — Updated 9/5/2023

Steve McGill, age 71, passed away on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at his home in Bartow. Born July 16, 1952, in Lake Wales, he was the son of the late Rex McGill and Joan (Duncan)... — Updated 8/29/2023

Joanne Edwards died at the age of 93 on August 24, 2023 after a short illness. Joanne Aileen (nee Williams) Edwards was born in 1930 in Portland, Oregon. In 1944 she and her family... — Updated 8/29/2023