New Owner Wants City to Drop Foreclosure, Waive Fines on Seminole Hotel
Henry Kebabjian wants to redevelop the historic Seminole Hotel in downtown Lake Wales, but his timing may be a little off. Kebabjian bought the three-story hotel Aug. 19 at a... — Updated 9/17/2020
Commissioners Appoint Chaplain, Continue Pre-Meeting Invocations
Lake Wales City commissioners by a 4-1 vote Sept. 9 approved an invocation policy that appoints an official chaplain and develops a list of volunteers from local congregations to... — Updated 9/16/2020
City Agrees to Invest in Public Housing
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was updated by Executive Editor Chevon Baccus after the Sept. 16 CRA meeting. City commissioners agreed to invest $460,000 to help finance a proposed... — Updated 9/17/2020
City Explores Small Increase in Development Impact Fees, First in 10 Years
For the first time in almost a decade, Lake Wales is proposing a small increase in its development impact fees. City commissioners have approved a first reading of a new fee... — Updated 9/16/2020
Legacy Leads in Local Real Estate Sales for Five Years Running
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams," says Dolores Vogel, Legacy Real Estate Center broker and owner. "So, DREAM BIG, we do!" The worldwide... — Updated 9/16/2020
New Books at Lake Wales Public Library - Week of Sept. 14
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 9/16/2020
Commissioner Gibson Announces Re-Election Bid on His 36th Birthday
Marking the occasion of his 36th birthday, Lake Wales City Commissioner Curtis Gibson on Sept. 11 announced the start of his re-election campaign. Gibson plans to qualify for the... — Updated 9/16/2020
New Leader at Circle of Friends Answered God's Call to Serve
Crystal Higbee gave up a good job as a surgical tech to answer a special calling to become president of Circle of Friends Ministry. Higbee admits like in the story of Jonah and the... — Updated 9/17/2020
AAUW Art in Schools Reaches 15-year Anniversary
COVID-19 did not deter volunteers from the American Association of University Women from delivering nearly 100 framed prints of famous fine art paintings to area schools for public... — Updated 9/16/2020
Rotary on the Ridge Names Mike Baccus 2019-2020 Rotarian of the Year
Rotary on the Ridge named Mike Baccus as its 2019-2020 Rotarian of the Year. Delayed due to the COVID-19 virus, the presentation was made Sept. 14 as the club began meeting back in... — Updated 9/16/2020
Leadership Polk Class XIV Welcomes 18 Members
Polk Vision welcomed 18 members of Leadership Polk Class XIV on Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Lone Palm Club. As the only countywide leadership development program in Polk County,... — Updated 9/18/2020
America Needs to Pray
Dr. Virgil Ullom from Babson Park presented this at the Sept. 9 Lake Wales City Commission meeting. I am grateful for a government that listens to the citizens. I am grateful for... — Updated 9/16/2020
Be Encouraged
Whether it is the half-anniversary of when the pandemic shutdowns began in full in Lake Wales, the 19th anniversary of September 11th, or listening to the rhetoric with being less... — Updated 9/16/2020
Nancy Elizabeth "Liz" Hunt, 1957-2020
Nancy Elizabeth "Liz" Hunt, 63, of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 at Orlando Regional Medical Center. She was born March 21, 1957 in Lake Wales to Ellis and Nancy... — Updated 9/16/2020
Marjorie Jane Chandley, 1928-2020
Marjorie Jane Chandley of Atlanta, GA, age 91, passed from this life surrounded by loving family on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Marjorie, daughter of Edgar Reason Chandley and Myra... — Updated 9/17/2020
Felipe Garcia, 1994-2020
Felipe Garcia, age 26, passed away Sept. 5, 2020. Born July 22, 1994 in Eustis, FL, to Carina Fernandez. He was a factory worker in the agriculture industry. He will be remembered... — Updated 9/16/2020
Alphonso "Hit" Ballard, 1957-2020
Alphonso " HIT " Ballard, 63, of Lake Wales, died Sept. 13 at The Groves Center Nursing Home in Lake Wales. He was born Jan. 27, 1957 in Lake Wales. He was preceded in death last... — Updated 9/16/2020
Marion Wagner, 1924-2020
Marion Wagner, 96, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 at her daughter's residence in Winter Haven. She was born July 14, 1924 in New London, CT to the late Rocco and... — Updated 9/16/2020
Jack Hatten Sr., 1947-2020
Jackie D. “Jack” Hatten, Sr., 73, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, Sept. 14, 2020 at his residence. He was born July 27, 1947 in Wheeling, WV to the late Effie Hatten. He moved to Lake Wales from West Virginia 30 years ago.... — Updated 9/16/2020
Barbara "Barb" Hope, 1936-2020
Barbara H. "Barb" Hope, 84, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 at the Palms of Sebring. She was born January 23, 1936 in Pennsylvania to the late Michael and... — Updated 9/18/2020
Saint McGill, 1940-2020
Saint Clair McGill, 80 of Lake Wales, died Sept. 16, 2020 at home. He was born June 28, 1940. Services are incomplete. Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales... — Updated 9/18/2020
