Week of December 11, 2024
Week of December 11, 2024
The purchase of 4,158 acres of land on the southwest side of Lake Wales by an active land-development company may be a harbinger of yet another major development proposal. The long-discussed 5-R Ranch property could potentially host many thousands of homes along with commercial and industrial uses if purchaser Richland Communities decides the time is ripe to develop the sprawling property south of Lake Wales Airport. Richland purchased the property for a local-record $50...
One of central Florida's biggest annual music events happens this weekend when the annual Orange Blossom Revue opens in Lake Wailes Park. The festival will feature eight top touring bands who are expected to draw large crowds from across the nation to the annual lake-side performances. Headlined by JJ Grey and Mofro, the charity fundraiser also offers performances by The War and Treaty, Robert Earl Keen, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sam Grisman Project, Emily Nenni, Wyatt Ellis, and...
Frostproof's landmark, and perhaps haunted, Ramon Theatre is in serious trouble, and the volunteers who manage the venerable auditorium are turning to the community for help, pinning high hopes upon the success of a January 18 "Barn Bash." The Ramon is the cultural and entertainment soul of the southeast Polk Community. Built in 1925 at the height of the Great Florida Land Boom, the theatre hosts musical and theatrical performances around the year. The double-blows of...
The City of Lake Wales has earned the designation of Tree City USA, joining a list of more than 160 communities in Florida who have won that designation from the National Arbor Day Foundation. "This is a prestigious honor for our city," city Horticulturist Kevin Polk said. Polk now leads a team of parks employees who are planting and maintaining hundreds of trees and thousands of shrubs across the city. Lake Wales met all criteria to qualify for the designation by operating a...
The prospect of a transformative high-end development along SR 60 west of Lake Wales advanced with a unanimous vote in favor of the annexation of about 558 acres that will be the site of the proposed Lake Wales Commons at the most recent city commission meeting. Lake Wales Commons could host as many as 3,200 new dwelling units, along with more than a million square feet of light industrial and warehouse space on about 558 acres fronting along SR 60 West, Old Bartow Road, and...
The long construction project to turn the once-desolate Park Avenue in downtown Lake Wales into an attractive pedestrian magnet is apparently approaching a conclusion. Once completed, the entire length of Park Avenue will be open for two-way traffic for the first time in nearly two years. Traffic on Scenic Highway has been detoured around the construction site since late October. The project timeline suggested a 90-day closure, but that schedule may be surpassed if progress...
Flames rapidly engulfed a camper parked on a lot in the Lake Garfield area east of Bartow Monday afternoon, claiming the life of a 53-year-old man, despite the heroic efforts of neighbors who pulled the victim from the flaming trailer. Polk County Fire Rescue responded to the 3:43 p.m. call of a fire on Pipes Road, reportedly arriving at the scene only two minutes later and finding the camper engulfed in flames. They provided immediate first aid to the victim who was lying...
The enormous task of removing the thousands of tons of debris created by Hurricane Milton damage across Polk County is a challenge for both residents and those doing the removal work. While most cities in the area have made great progress in the cleanup, for Polk County residents the task is a bigger problem, according to county officials.. "Polk County spans more than 2,000 square miles, so there's a lot of ground to cover," said Michel Teate, Polk County's Roads and...
Polk County's Conservation Lands program is set to finalize a $5.2 million deal that will bring another large tract of land into permanent protection. It will become part of the "Big Green Network" of environmental lands will forever form limits to the potential urbanization of the Lake Wales area. The vision of a Big Green Network emerged as one of the major elements of the Lake Wales Envisioned project to assure that Lake Wales remains a livable area in the face of enormous...
Before watching the sequel, I revisited the 2000 classic, Gladiator. It's a timeless masterpiece that catapulted Russell Crowe to stardom. The film's epic scale, powerful performances, and gripping story remain unforgettable. Gladiator 2 is a legacy sequel, set and filmed many years after the original. Directed once again by Ridley Scott, the film stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal. Connie Nielsen reprises her role as Lucilla. The sequel introduces Lucius,...
Here is a technological marvel, a testament to the innovative spirit of filmmaker Robert Zemeckis. The same team behind the Academy Award winning Forrest Gump returns with a film that explores the enduring power of place. Set in a single location, the narrative traverses centuries, following the lives of various families who have called this spot home. While the specific location remains somewhat uncertain, certain clues make it seem to be in Pennsylvania. However, the true...
While Venom: The Last Dance doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it still delivers a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Directed by Kelly Marcel and starring the ever-charismatic Tom Hardy, this film continues the entertaining dynamic between Eddie Brock and his symbiote alter ego. The screenplay was co-written by Marcel and Hardy. The heart of the movie remains the comedic and often heartwarming interplay between Eddie and Venom. Like the other movies this...
A new bicycle and pedestrian trail will connect the Lake Wailes Trail and the Lake Wales Trailway paths with Bok Tower Gardens as a result of a newly-awarded $282,380 grant. Plans for the development of the new multiuse trail along Tower Boulevard include the construction of a 12-foot-wide surface to connect Lake Wales Park Trail to Bok Tower Gardens. Five park benches, trash receptacles, bike racks and directional signage will complement the trail. Lake Wales was one of four...
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