Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the February 15, 2023 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 9 of 9

  • Sun Rail Seeks Your Opinion as it Considers Extension Into Polk

    News Staff Reports|Updated Mar 4, 2023

    The Federal Railroad Administration Friday gave SunRail and Brightline, Central Florida's dual passenger train ambitions, an extension of the looming deadline to apply for funding to expand from Orlando's airport to the region's tourism hub and across Polk County to Tampa. Sun Rail currently serves 16 locations between Poinciana and DeBary. The Florida Department of Transportation is responsible for coordinating local governments and the private Brightline Trains, which are...

  • Billion Dollar Water? Polk Regional Water Cooperative to Host Public Hearing

    News Staff Reports|Updated Feb 28, 2023

    A pair of public hearings are planned to allow area residents to learn more and speak about the proposed Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC). The hearings will address a planned Southeast Wellfield & Water Supply Facility project proposed near Lake Wales. The project would draw water from the "sub-Floridan" aquifer to supply cities across Polk County using a new network of huge pipelines. The project has anticipated costs that could approach or exceed a billion dollars...

  • City Planners Launch "Envision" Effort, Seek Citizen Input For Future Land Use Planning

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Feb 28, 2023

    Citizens and residents of the Lake Wales area are being invited to take a major role in defining how and where growth will take place in the area as part of a new city effort to map future land uses and plan for future infrastructure needs. "Lake Wales Envisioned" is a year-long process that will offer multiple opportunities for Lake Wales residents to add their voices and opinions to the final product, which is expected to guide future development for 10, 25, and 50 year...

  • Highlanders To Celebrate State Championship Season With Community Celebration at Kiwanis Park

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Feb 25, 2023

    The entire Lake Wales community is invited to come out and share some Highlander Pride to celebrate the Lake Wales High School Highlanders first state football championship. The event will take place Saturday morning, February 25 in Kiwanis Park on North Lakeshore Boulevard, less than a mile east of Legion Field, where the majority of their 15 season victories took place. The Highlander's unprecedented season saw them dominate district rivals, smash their way past regional opp...

  • Lake Wales Envisioned Offers Us Each a Chance to Protect Our Quality of Life

    Lake Wales News Editorial|Updated Feb 23, 2023

    "Growth" is a word that means opportunity for some and strikes fear in the hearts of others. It has been the driver of both the economic health and the environmental destruction that has reshaped Florida for more than a century. Rising prosperity has too often been accompanied by traffic congestion, water shortages, urban sprawl, and overcrowding, crushing the quality of life in some parts of the state. While growth has been largely focused on other places, it's now arrived...

  • Mardi Gras Lights Up the Night in Lake Wales

    News Staff Reports|Updated Feb 21, 2023

    The Lake Wales Mardi Gras celebrations have reached their climactic day as crowds are preparing for the annual parade, continuing a local tradition now in its fifth decade. The big parade of Krewes, always a major highlight of the event, will step off at 3:00 today on Park Avenue before winding down Stuart and Central Avenues, ending at Lake Wailes Park, where the ongoing Mardi Gras Music Festival will continue into the night. More than a dozen colorful Krewes will parade...

  • Ballot Set for April City Commission Election

    News Staff Reports|Updated Feb 19, 2023

    Four candidates have qualified in two city commission races which will be decided during an election on April 4. Lake Wales commissioners finalized the ballot, which will include one open seat, at a special meeting on Friday afternoon. Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson will face a challenge from political newcomer Danielle Pride Gibson in the Seat 5 race, while Michelle Threatt and Keith Thompson will face off over Seat 3, which is being vacated by long-time commissioner Terrye...

  • Election Workers Sought at Special Meeting February 28

    Rachel Harris, Community Services Director|Updated Feb 15, 2023

    Working to conduct safe and fair elections is a contribution toward protecting our democracy, and now Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards offering citizens an opportunity to be a part of that process. Edward will be hosting an informational meeting in Lake Wales for anyone interested in serving as an election worker. The one-hour meeting will be held Tuesday, February 28th at 10:00 am at the James P Austin Community Center at 315 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd....

  • Noah N. Carbone, 1933-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Feb 14, 2023

    Noah N. Carbone of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. He was born November 14, 1933 in Newark, New Jersey to the late Noe and Anna Carbone; he moved to Lake Wales from New Jersey 29 years ago. Noah was a veteran of the United States National Guard and of the Catholic faith. He was a Hamm Radio operator and was a fan of baseball, football, and hockey. Noah married his high school sweetheart Barbara on February 14, 1953. Noah was...