LakeWalesNews.net - Communication Builds Our Community

What's in a name? In a confusing prospect for Lake Wales voters, three candidates have filed to run for the District 5 City Commission seat in the April 4 election, and all three... — Updated 2/5/2023

Sharp-eyed sleuths have a chance to win one of several different prize packages stuffed with event tickets and gift certificates from area business simply by unraveling a set of... — Updated 2/5/2023

The long, seemingly endless tale of the Walesbilt Hotel continues to make its way toward an eventual settlement, although it's a process Walesbilt Hotel LLC seems determined to... — Updated 2/5/2023

A Frostproof woman died after being struck by a pickup truck on US 27 near the Camp Inn Resort early Tuesday morning. The location is north of Frostproof, and about three miles... — Updated 1/31/2023

Tragedy struck Friday morning as a McLaughlin Middle School student was killed after being struck by a truck while waiting near a school bus stop in the fog. Lake Wales Police... — Updated 2/3/2023

Mark Bennett, the senior planner for the City of Lake Wales and department head of Development Services has announced his intention to leave his post effective in two weeks. City... — Updated 1/27/2023

Balancing improved public access to the natural beauty of Crystal Lake Park with parking needs and traffic circulation and the effect upon views and wildlife drew a small crowd to... — Updated 2/3/2023

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced James Wesley Buchanan, 47, of Lake Wales to 8 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised released... — Updated 2/3/2023

Lake Wales Police are working a traffic investigation as a result of a crash on Scenic Highway. The location of the incident is within a school zone for McLaughlin Middle-Senior... — Updated 1/27/2023

An invitation to view and assess potential community investment opportunities in Lake Wales drew representatives from financial institutions looking for opportunities to invest in... — Updated 2/3/2023

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

The Lake Wales Highlanders won their semi-final football game Friday night and will face the Mainland Buccaneers of Daytona Beach in the state Class 3S Championship game, which... — Updated 12/21/2022

Anglers: Compete in new trophy bass fishing competition, Battle of the Lakes! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites you to participate in the Battle... — Updated 11/27/2022

Lake Wales High School's athletics programs continue to find success, as the men's soccer program advanced to the Polk County Champion's League semi-final game with a 3-1 victory... — Updated 12/3/2022

UPDATE: GAME TIME CHANGED TO 7:00 BY FSHAA See new story in NEWS section The Lake Wales Highlanders captured the Regional Championship and advanced to the final four in the state... — Updated 12/1/2022

UPDATE: Highlanders Advance. See the story here A Friday night Regional Championship game will be the first hosted at Lake Wales' Legion Field in memory, according to long-time... — Updated 11/26/2022

The Lake Wales Highlanders took another step forward toward their long-denied state football title Friday night as they defeated the Ocala Vanguard Knights 40-0. The Knights had... — Updated 11/24/2022

The undefeated and top-seeded Lake Wales High School Highlanders football team has drawn a rematch with the eight-seeded Auburndale Bloodhounds in the first round of the Regional... — Updated 11/17/2022

The top-seeded Lake Wales Highlander football team advanced their 2022 playoff hopes Friday night at Legion Field with a decisive 34-10 victory over the eighth-seed Auburndale... — Updated 11/12/2022

Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) and Varsity Tutors have launched a new online tutoring partnership that brings live instruction and lessons to 40,000 students across the... — Updated 1/24/2023

Four $1,200 scholarships will be offered to Florida students in 2023 by Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards. Edwards has offered the scholarships each year for a... — Updated 1/21/2023

Polk County Public Schools’ graduation rate decreased to 78.3 percent in 2021-2022, according to the latest data released today by the Florida Department of Education. District... — Updated 1/15/2023

Classes have started at Polk State College, but there is still time to enroll for the Spring 2023 Semester. Registration continues for 12-week classes, which will start on February... — Updated 1/9/2023

A $4,000 grant from Florida's Natural Growers Foundation will support Victory Ridge Academy's School Wide Behavior Management System, school officials have announced. Victory Ridge... — Updated 12/26/2022

Thursday was an exciting day for both students and administrators of Lake Wales' McLaughlin Middle/High School as they broke ground for a new $15 million gymnasium, and welcomed... — Updated 12/21/2022

Lake Wales area students in high school or middle school levels are able to sign up for a one-time special Saturday class that will leave them with surprising facts about our... — Updated 12/9/2022

A rare opportunity to touch and operate a surgical robot got a group of Lake Wales High School medical academy students excited this week, after AdventHealth Lake Wales offered... — Updated 12/12/2022

Student athletes from four local elementary schools will meet on the gridiron in an afternoon ideal for family fun. Students from Janie Howard Wilson, Hillcrest, Polk Avenue, and... — Updated 11/6/2022

A special free learning opportunity is being offered to area Middle and High School students, who will learn and earn a special completion certificate as "Student Naturalists."The... — Updated 11/6/2022

A growing business community in downtown Lake Wales got a bit stronger this week. The official ribbon-cutting for Maggie Mae's Ice Cream Shop attracted a crowd of fans and... — Updated 2/3/2023

Eric Edwards has been appointed General Manager at Alfa Romeo FIAT of Winter Haven, according to a statement issued by Mike Mahalak, president of the Mahalak Auto Group. "We are... — Updated 1/30/2023

Sometimes even pain and disaster can lead to blessings for others. Such was the result of the tragic death of 22 year-old Kaitlyn Kinard. Just as the rest of the world was going... — Updated 1/17/2023

A gathering of community and Chamber of Commerce leadership were present at noon Thursday to mark a new name and new ownership of the former Savannah Court assisted living... — Updated 1/13/2023

Feeding veterans and their families and aiding in preventing suicides is a pretty significant contribution to Polk County residents, and the Dyer family has taken the time to... — Updated 1/1/2023

Rural small businesses face greater challenges to economic recovery and are less optimistic about the future compared to their non-rural counterparts, according to new survey data... — Updated 12/13/2022

A concerted effort to attract new businesses to Lake Wales now includes the hiring of a consulting firms to help market the area to prospective retail and restaurant chains. The... — Updated 10/27/2022

A major step to preserving the history of Polk County was trumpeted during a recent presentation to the Polk County Board of County Commissioners by Stacy Butterfield, Polk County... — Updated 9/9/2022

The efforts of the US Transportation Secretary Marty Walsh and direct intervention by President Joe Biden have succeeded in averting a nationwide strike that would likely have led... — Updated 9/15/2022

A spurt of new restaurant development will soon be offering a wider range of choices for Lake Wales residents. The growing list has risen to seven new food and beverage outlets.... — Updated 10/17/2022

A population of non-native aggressive, air-breathing fish known as the goldline snakehead (Channa aurolineata) was documented for the first time in the Gulf Coast region, according... — Updated 1/24/2023

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to "Skip a Week" or more of watering during the cooler months of January... — Updated 1/10/2023

Polk County commissioners are looking for volunteers who would like to serve on the county's Lake Access Advisory Committee. The Lake Access Advisory Committee studies how to... — Updated 12/27/2022

Several Polk County Environmental Lands sites have reopened to the public following Hurricane Ian, including Crooked Lake Prairie, Crooked Lake Sandhill, Gator Creek Reserve,... — Updated 10/5/2022

In preparation for the approaching storm, all Polk County Environmental Lands sites and Natural Resources Stormwater Treatment Wetlands will be closed Monday, September 26, 2022... — Updated 9/26/2022

As Floridians say goodbye to Swallow-tailed Kites for the year, we get ready to welcome a new wave of visitors on their cross-continental journey. Be on the lookout for a host of... — Updated 8/26/2022

If you are a lover of nature and wildlife, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would like to invite you to learn how to attract wildlife to your yard by planning... — Updated 8/4/2022

There's nothing quite like a bird in flight but Florida's butterflies have their own appeal. Over 190 butterfly species have been recorded in Florida, the most of any state east of... — Updated 8/20/2022

Did you know that over-watering can weaken your lawn's roots, and stimulate the growth of fungus and other lawn diseases? Despite near-daily rains during the summer, many residents... — Updated 6/19/2022

Depictions of the beauty and diversity of Polk's county-managed environmental preserves are the focus of a juried art competition being organized by Polk Forever, a local... — Updated 6/29/2022

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

The crush of development pressure that has been applied to Lake Wales by the owners of large tracts surrounding the city has raised alarm in many quarters. Ownership of land... — Updated 7/29/2022

As the campaigns that will shape the election of a mayor and city commissioner come to a close, some have asked whether our editorial board will endorse any of the five candidates.... — Updated 4/2/2022

Lake Wales has been blessed by the creation of the Lake Wales Charter Schools system nearly two decades ago. Now representing seven schools educating students in grades 1 through... — Updated 3/19/2022

As Russian tanks roll into Ukraine and global energy supplies are pinched, rising prices are driving home the point that dispersed sources of renewable energy are critical to our... — Updated 3/18/2022

Symbols of Success and Failure Long recognized as the dominant symbol of downtown Lake Wales, the eleven-story Walesbilt Hotel is now among the dominant topics of conversation in... — Updated 1/19/2022

The energy demands of the Sunshine State are rising apace of our booming population. New homes, schools, and businesses need electricity in plenty. The problem for Florida is that... — Updated 1/18/2022

Democracy relies upon "the consent of the governed" to function. Consent implies an understanding of the questions of importance to the populace, which in turn requires an educated... — Updated 12/13/2021

It's that zany time of year for thousands of celebrants who will participate in the annual Lake Wales Mardi Gras, with festivities running from February 11 through 21. Between two... — Updated 2/5/2023

LakeWalesNews.net is offering readers a chance to claim one of several prize packages worth up $100 or more in a fun contest that will be published on the website during February.... — Updated 2/5/2023

Ideal weather and a special anniversary celebration will make this weekend's Lake Wales Car Show an extra draw. The monthly show of antiques, classics and hot rods of all sorts and... — Updated 1/29/2023

Getting lost inside an enormous Ikea store leads to zany discoveries for one young couple and their "ghostly" matchmakers in the latest production from Lake Wales Little Theatre,... — Updated 1/23/2023

KT's Sunshine Foundation will host the Southern Sunshine BBQ & Music Festival this weekend in Lake Wailes Park, drawing thousands of fans for the fun, and the purpose. The... — Updated 1/20/2023

Music, tens of thousands of lights, and the official arrival of Santa Claus will mark the Lake Wales Christmas Night Parade, sponsored annually by the Kiwanis Club of Lake Wales.... — Updated 12/12/2022

Traditional music, costumed characters, and an "English Pub Feast" are in store for up to 80 guests quick enough to obtain a ticket to the annual "Old-Fashioned Dickens Christmas"... — Updated 12/9/2022

The Circle of Friends will be celebrating Thanksgiving this Saturday, November 19, beginning at 11:00, and are inviting the entire community to join them in the Historic District... — Updated 11/15/2022

Fans of Christian music will have a rare treat as the First Presbyterian Church brings the Ball Brothers to Lake Wales for a single free concert on Wednesday, November 30,... — Updated 10/31/2022

With election season upon us, Lake Wales Little Theatre is presenting a timeless and hilarious comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy. The action takes place in the... — Updated 10/31/2022

(NAPSI)-Spring is coming, and as we get out our lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment from storage to work in our yards, businesses and other green spaces, it's important... — Updated 2/5/2023

It was a relaxed Mark Bennett who shared his thoughts about the many changes both ahead and behind in Lake Wales and Polk County recently. Bennett is stepping down as director of... — Updated 2/2/2023

Representatives of three different first responder organizations were honored at a special luncheon organized by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce. The event, held at the... — Updated 2/3/2023

The Lake Wales History Museum will resume its popular speaker series with a presentation on Florida's past presented by guest speaker and local historian Robert Connors. Connors is... — Updated 2/3/2023

Lake Wales neediest families will be a good bit less so thanks to the generosity of the 300 guests who packed the Family Life Center of the First Presbyterian Church Tuesday... — Updated 2/3/2023

A special presentation by noted urban planner Bruce Stephenson will take place at Bok Tower Gardens at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 28. Stephenson is a consultant and a professor... — Updated 1/27/2023

"One of the most stressful parts of getting married is planning the wedding," according to Polk County Clerk & Comptroller Stacy M. Butterfield. Now Butterfield is offering a... — Updated 1/23/2023

Enjoying the beauty of art and accomplishing an important social work at the same time is more than enough to draw a crowd to the annual Empty Bowls Action, and the 2023 edition is... — Updated 2/1/2023

Hurricane Ian is estimated to have caused more than $60 billion in private insured losses in Florida, effectively making it the second-largest disaster loss event on record,... — Updated 1/20/2023

There's still time to register for those wishing to compete in the annual Polk Senior Games, but that window is closing fast!. The games are an annual two-week series of 33... — Updated 1/23/2023

Sharon Van Dyne Lawrence of Frostproof, Florida passed away Monday, January 30, 2023 at The Club at Lake Wales in Lake Wales, Florida. She was born June 27, 1938 in Martins Ferry,... — Updated 2/2/2023

Raymond Lee French of Babson Park passed away Thursday, February 2, 2023 at his residence. He was born August 10, 1930 in Kalamazoo, Michigan; he moved to Babson Park from West... — Updated 2/3/2023

Reida Hansford Keen of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at her residence. She was born August 22, 1952 in Lakeland to the late Henry and Eleanor Hansford. Reida... — Updated 1/26/2023

Louise Ann Whittle of Lake Wales passed away Monday, January 16, 2023 at her residence. She was born May 28, 1929 in Clearwater to the late Robert and Bertha Hammond; she has been... — Updated 1/18/2023

Darrell Lee Papproth of Lake Wales and Paducah, Kentucky passed away Sunday, January 22, 2023 at home. He was born November 15, 1953 in Belleville, Illinois to the late John and... — Updated 1/24/2023

Allison Jennings McCance, beloved wife of Henry F. McCance, passed away peacefully at her home in Mountain Lake, Lake Wales, FL, on January 15, 2023, of complications from... — Updated 1/15/2023

Sir Richard V. Giordano KBE, an iconic American business leader who led a transformation of British corporate culture, creator of the BOC Challenge sailing race and Knight... — Updated 1/23/2023

Katherine Elizabeth Hart of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at her residence. She was born December 11, 1964 in Lake Wales; she recently moved to Lake Wales from... — Updated 1/12/2023

Sukhni Meetoo of Lake Hamilton passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at her residence. She was born June 11, 1921 in Guyana. Sukhni was of the Hindu faith. Sukhni was proceeded in... — Updated 1/12/2023

Donna Kosman, age 80, passed away December 31, 2022, at her residence in Lake Wales. She was born on October 28, 1942, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She was a Paralegal for Orange County... — Updated 1/5/2023