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Sebring Man Charged With Armed Robbery After Lake Wales Bank Heist
A Sebring man who decided to make an "unauthorized withdrawal" from the Bank of America in Lake Wales is in jail and charged with armed robbery. Dennis T. Davis, 42, reportedly... — Updated 3/15/2024
Olmsted Day Festival Offers Fun For the Family in Lake Wailes Park March 23
A day of free fun for the entire family is offered in Lake Wailes Park on Saturday, March 23 as the annual Olmsted Day event takes place. The event is the Lake Wales observance of... — Updated 3/14/2024
Yarnell, Cohassett, Hillcrest Among Streets to Be Paved in Coming Days
As part of the city's ongoing effort to resurface streets in the city, contractors will begin paving operations on four city streets this week. Crews will begin resurfacing portions... — Updated 3/12/2024
Allegations Lead to Firing of Lake Wales Police Chief
Issues of nepotism, favoritism, and a lack of transparency are apparently behind the future replacement of Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez, who was informed Monday of a thre... — Updated 3/12/2024
Two Forums Offer Voters Insight into City Election Choices
Voters will have two chances next week to see and hear incumbents and candidates for seats on the Lake Wales City Commission air their views and positions on a wide variety of... — Updated 2/29/2024
Lake Wales Crash at 137 MPH Leads to Death, Manslaughter Charges
A Lake Wales woman is in custody after a horrific accident on Saturday morning resulted in the death of a passenger in her vehicle. After what police described as "a very active... — Updated 2/28/2024
Five Candidates Will Vie for Two Commission Seats
The final ballot is set for the April 2 City Commission election is set, and all registered voters within the city limits of Lake Wales will have an opportunity to choose two two... — Updated 2/28/2024
Lake Wales Arts Festival Happening This Weekend
Ideal weather conditions and a wide area of beautiful works of art are expected to draw residents and visitors alike to the shores of Lake Wailes this weekend as the 53rd annual... — Updated 2/27/2024
"Edwards Twins" Musical Impersonators to Perform at Ramon Theatre
A truly unique performance is coming to Frostproof's historic Ramon Theatre in March as the famed musical impersonators Anthony and Eddie Edwards perform their live musical... — Updated 2/27/2024
Carol Gillespie First to Qualify for One of Two Lake Wales City Commission Seats Up For Election
Carol Gillespie was a prompt qualifier for the April 2 Lake Wales City Commission Seat 4 on Monday as qualifying opened for a pair of three-year terms on the board representing... — Updated 2/22/2024
City Commission, CRA Considering Sale of City Park For Apartment Complex
A "pocket park" lying in a quiet neighborhood of single-family homes on the near north side of the city may be converted to a parking lot to serve a new housing complex, Lake Wales... — Updated 2/15/2024
Children Removed From Alturas Home, Parents Arrested
Polk County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a couple and removed a 7-month-old baby and a 7-year-old child who lived in the home in Alturas. Deputies had responded to a call from... — Updated 2/15/2024
Mardi Gras Season in Full Swing in Lake Wales
The two-and-a-half weeks of the 40th annual Lake Wales Mardi Gras festivities are rapidly approaching their climax as hundreds of "krewe" members prepare for the combined parade on... — Updated 2/14/2024
School Board Member Lori Cunningham Faces Ethics Violation Hearing
The Florida Commission on Ethics had found "probable cause that Polk County School Board member and Lake Wales resident Lori Cunningham has created a conflict of interest for her... — Updated 2/14/2024
Lake Wales Mardi Gras Events Begin This Week, Expected to Draw 20,000
The biggest outburst of fun and frivolity in the region, the Lake Wales Mardi Gras is preparing to offer its 40th year of festivities to residents and visitors from far and wide.... — Updated 2/14/2024
Carol Gillespie Announces Run For City Commission Seat 4
A second candidate has announced her intention to seek a seat on the Lake Wales City Commission in the Tuesday, April 2 election, which will see two candidates elected to new... — Updated 1/19/2024
Valentine's Day Wedding Ceremony Open to 30 Couples
The most romantic day of the year is going to be a bit more so as multiple couples gather to "tie the knot" on the steps of the Polk County History Center, the former Polk County... — Updated 1/18/2024
Minister and Coach Arrested on Separate Molestation Charges
Two instances of molestation of children by adult authority figures, a minister and a coach, have resulted in the arrest of two individuals by the Polk County Sheriff's Office. In... — Updated 1/10/2024
Heritage Volunteers Landscape McLaughlin Campus in Driving Rain
Lake Wales got a good bit greener last Saturday, not only because of welcome rains, but due to the efforts of a team of volunteers from Lake Wales Heritage who braved the damp to... — Updated 1/3/2024
Hundreds of Animals in Home Lead to Elder and Animal Neglect Charges in Horrifying Frostproof Case
A horrifying discovery by a sheriff's deputy led to the arrest of a Frostproof woman Thursday morning on charges of felony animal cruelty, animal neglect, and elder neglect. A... — Updated 12/22/2023
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree at Lake Wales Ridge State Forest
In a program offered annually at the nearby public lands, Lake Wales area residents are able to cut their own tree, but they have to use a hand-saw to do the work. No power tools... — Updated 12/9/2023
Violent Gang Task Force Arrests Winter Haven Man Charged With Waverly Area Shooting
Daquan Carey, a 23-year-old Winter Haven man who is a "documented gang member," according to the Polk County Violent Gang Investigative Task Force, was arrested in Winter Haven and... — Updated 12/7/2023
Time to Organize A Krewe for Mardi Gras
Although it's only early November, hundreds of people from Lake Wales and far beyond are preparing for the area's biggest festival of 2024. The 40th annual Lake Wales Mardi Gras... — Updated 12/6/2023
Sebring Man Dies in Collision, US 27 Closed for Hours
A Sebring man was killed on US 27 Monday night after failing to slow for a truck making a U-turn at Harbor Drive. Polk County Deputies and Fire Rescue personnel were dispatched to... — Updated 12/1/2023
Crooked Lake Park's Sunshine Drive to be Closed for at Least Two Months
Construction of a new sewer main and lift station will require the closure of Sunshine Drive in the Crooked Lake Park neighborhood south of Lake Wales for two months starting Monday... — Updated 12/1/2023