Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Three rail crossings on the west side of Lake Wales will be closed for repairs to the grades, although CSX has predicted that each closing will last only 24 hours. Scheduled crossing closures include Old Ice House Road, North Lake Wales Alturas Road, and Alturas Babson Park Cut-off Road. All three crossings serve the main CSX line, which carries both passenger and freight traffic. Old Ice House Road is scheduled to close at the rail crossing south of Morrel Avenue at 7 a.m....
Polk County’s Health and Human Services Division partnered with Polk Vision to host the second annual Conversations in Behavioral Health Summit on Thursday. More than 230 parents, mental health professionals and residents attended the summit. “I can’t think of a better way to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month than with an event about the power of hope and healing,” said Holly Vida, Behavioral Health Program Manager for Polk County. “I’m thankful to all of our speakers wh...
Stephen Dale Schwidde of Frostproof passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at his residence. He was born December 15, 1957. Stephen was a machine shop operator and attended First Baptist Church of Frostproof. He loved to take his stepmother's dog, Sugar, for walks any chance he got. Stephen was preceded in death by his father, Harvey Schwidde; and mother, Sherry Toalson Schwidde. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Pam Schwidde; daughters, Amy Gray of Saint Louis,...
AdventHealth Lake Wales has been awarded an "A" Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of excellence in patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. The Leapfrog Group assigns an "A," "B," "C," "D" or "F" grade to general hospitals nationwide based on over 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them. "It's a...
A daring daylight robbery of an 11-year-old child participating in a school fundraiser resulted in the arrest of a Davenport man who is now facing multiple charges. According to Lake Wales Police, the child was selling chocolate on a downtown street and proudly revealed to the robber that he had collected $107 in donations for his school. The man, later identified as 18-year-old Isaiyah Cabrera of Davenport, "snatched an envelope containing the money and fled the scene on an...
A Dundee man who was attempting to cross County Road 542 in Dundee was struck and killed by a vehicle Friday,. The incident occured in darkness at about 10L45 p.m. According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Unit, the 911 center received a call from the 900 block of Dundee Road in Dundee. The 41-year-old driver of a 2004 Buick sedan was reportedly heading east on Dundee Road, entering the right turn lane to head south on U.S. Hwy 27 as the pedestrian was...
Elizabeth "Betty" Brown King passed away on April 30, 2025. She was 94 years old. Mrs. King was born June 5, 1930 in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada and met the man she would marry while he was stationed at the U.S. Naval Base in Argentia, Newfoundland. Betty and Amos King would marry there on October 18th, 1947. Mrs. King would follow her bridegroom home to Alturas, Florida where she would live the rest of her life, raise an extensive family, and was widely known as the...
Sinners, a horror film directed by Ryan Coogler of Black Panther fame, stars Michael B. Jordan in a standout dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack. Set during Prohibition, the story follows the brothers as they leave Chicago and return to their Mississippi hometown to open a nightclub. The film's first act unfolds over the course of a single day, building anticipation for the club's grand opening. This section is rich in character development, allowing viewers to...
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A motorcyclist was killed Tuesday evening, April 29, 2025, in a two-vehicle crash near Lake Wales. Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and members of Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash on Mammoth Grove Road near Stokes Road at about 9:53 pm. When first responders arrived, they determined that 38-year old Justin Casey Weyburn of Lake Wales was deceased. Weyburn had been the operator of a black 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle. The other person involv...
A new hotel and a possible new manufacturing and distribution facility are among anticipated developments at Longleaf Business Park, located on US 27 two miles south of SR 60 in Lake Wales. Maryland-based Sunset Hotel Group recently completed the purchase of a two-acre parcel at the park from the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency for $197,600. Officials with SHG told Lake Wales News.net that they are deeply engaged in due diligence negotiations with several hotel...
Researchers Cori Lausen and Maleen Mund step out of the warm spring sun and into a dimly lit workshop. The only light streams in through the doorway behind them and a few dusty windows. It's been a cool start to the season in the Lower Mainland, but some bats have already emerged from their winter hibernation. A couple dozen are roosting in cozy clusters in the rafters of this old, wood building near Hayward Lake, about 35 miles east of Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada....
Teddie Singletary, 88, passed away peacefully at home on April 24, 2025. She was born in Maitland, FL on July 16, 1936 to the late Rev. F.W "Ted" and Vicki Brocksmith. She moved to Lake Wales in 1953 where her father became the Pastor for Westside Baptist Church. She started working for Woolfolk and Myers shortly after moving to Lake Wales, then went to work for Clinton Curtis as a legal secretary for over 50 years. She retired from Peterson Myers in 2012. Teddie enjoyed FSU f...
AdventHealth Lake Wales Wound Care Center has been honored with three prestigious awards by Healogics, the nation's leading provider of advanced wound care services, highlighting the center's commitment to exceptional patient satisfaction and the best in clinical outcomes. AdventHealth Lake Wales Wound Care Center recently received the President's Circle Award, the Center of Distinction Award, and the Robert A. Warriner III, M.D., Clinical Excellence Award. The Center achieved...
Famed University of Florida basketball player, Walter Clayton Jr. is scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Albert Kirkland Gymnasium in Lake Wales on Friday, April 18 at 5:15 p.m. A small motorcade will begin at the corner of Kissimmee Avenue and 4th Street at 5 p.m. and travel to the gymnasium. Citizens are encouraged to line the streets and follow the motorcade. "It is exciting to see a hometown hero return to the gym he played in for years," Stephanie Lutton,...
With the approval of a deal with Walesbilt Hotel owner Raymond Brown, the Lake Wales City Commission has cleared the way for the private redevelopment of the landmark building. The acceptance of the lawsuit settlement by the five-person commission, which also sits as the city's Community Redevelopment Agency board, ends a three-year battle over the building. The settlement brings the building back under city control more than a decade after it was given to Brown's Dixie...
Lake Wales received a wave of television coverage this week as area broadcasters sent teams to cover the big economic news of the settlement between Dixie Walesbilt LLC and the City of Lake Wales that will return ownership of the landmark hotel to the City after more than a decade. Interviews with City Manager James Slaton and Community Redevelopment Agency Chairman Robin Gibson were conducted Tuesday in front of the 10-story structure by four different Tampa Bay area...
I really enjoyed watching the new Snow White movie, directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. This live-action remake pays homage to the classic Disney film while thoughtfully updating it to reflect modern sensibilities. It strikes a nice balance between nostalgia and fresh perspective. First of all, Gal Gadot-aka Wonder Woman-was fantastic as the Evil Queen. She brought just the right mix of elegance and menace to the role. One of the things I...
Celeste Moore Alligood passed away March 31, 2025 in Windermere, Florida. Mimi, as most people affectionately called her, was born on March 21, 1934 to O.M. Moore and Rosa Swain Moore, in Lake Wales, Florida, and was the youngest of two daughters, following Juanita “Nita” Moore (Hicks). Educated in Lake Wales, she graduated from LWHS where some of her activities included: lifeguard at Big Lake Wailes, school plays, class officer, captain of the cheerleaders, softball, co-...
Maureen Helen Thurston, beloved wife, mom, nana, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2025 at the age of 85. Maureen was a self-proclaimed snowbird who shared the past 24 winters in Nalcrest, Florida with her husband, Paul, and enjoyed the warmer months at their beautiful home in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Born on September 19, 1939 in Boston to the late Herman and Helen Schreffler, Maureen was known for her warmth and kindness to others. She found joy...
Donald Gene Harvard of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at George C. Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. He was born January 1, 1935 in Winter Haven to the late Burl and Lyda Harvard; he has been a lifelong resident of the area. In his early years, Donald worked with his father at Burl Harvard's Builders. He was the owner of Harvard's Groceries in the early 70's and was a refrigeration technician for Florida's Natural before retiring after 40 years. Donald...
Duane (Dewey) Westerburg, age 85, of Frostproof, Fl and Bemus Point, N.Y. went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 2, 2025. A native of Jamestown N.Y, he was born January 15,1940. He was the son of the late Emil and Jessie Custer Westerburg. He was a 1958 graduate of Jamestown High School and was employed by Pepsi Cola Bottling Plant for 27 years. In earlier years he had worked for Crescent Tool Company for 18 years. He was a member of the Christian Missionary Alliance chu...
