Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the March 22, 2023 edition


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  • Standing Room Crowd Hears Lake Wales Envisioned Kickoff

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 4, 2023

    A packed house greeted a team of planners, traffic engineers and developers Monday afternoon to hear presentations that may help shape the future of Lake Wales. Experts shared the keys to creating a superior community to begin the process of Lake Wales Envisioned. The months-long effort to deal with an anticipated wave of growth was initiated by the City of Lake Wales with the support of a host of co-sponsors. Interested citizens filled the theatre at Bok Tower Gardens for...

  • Lake Wales' Economic Development to be Topic For Noted Economist

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 4, 2023

    Noted Economist Joe Minicozzi will introduce a variety of economic opportunities that are becoming available to residents, property and business owners, and city governments as a result of an approaching wave of growth in the area. Minicozzi, a partner of the Urban3 planning firm, will share the "Dollars and Sense" of good planning as a part of the ongoing Lake Wales Envisioned planning effort. Minicozzi is well-known for his economic insights into the drivers of property...

  • New Shopping Center Site Approved for US 27 in Lake Wales

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 29, 2023

    A fifty-one acre site has been approved for a potential shopping center construction by the Lake Wales City Commission at their Tuesday night meeting, but there are no immediate plans in place to develop the site. A 9.37 acre parcel that had been outside the city limits was annexed Tuesday on first reading and added to the site, most of which had been annexed earlier. The annexation was requested last year by property owners 360 Lake Wales LLC. The group purchased the two...

  • "Unhappy Hour" Planned by Women's Group to Mark Gender Pay Inequality

    News Staff Reports|Updated Mar 27, 2023

    The American Association of University Women Lake Wales Branch is inviting the public to gather with them on Friday, March 31st to conduct an "Unhappy Hour" marking the disparity between wages earned by men and women in the workforce. March 14 is Equal Pay Day 2023, a day that symbolizes the full year and two and a half months of the new year in which women must work to earn what men were paid the previous year. "Since March 31st is the last day of Women’s History Month, a m...

  • "State of the City" Good, Mayor Hilligoss Reports

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 25, 2023

    An upbeat assessment of activities during the past year and a positive look toward the future was offered by Lake Wales Mayor Jack Hilligoss at the annual "State of the City" luncheon sponsored by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce Friday. The event drew some seventy area residents to the Performing Arts Center at The Vanguard School. In a speach running about 25 minutes Hilligoss cited the implementation of a "180" utility city area, which "establishes the footprint" of...

  • Eyesore Building Escapes Code Enforcement for Another Year

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 24, 2023

    City action may at last be pending against a long-derelict eyesore property that confront thousands of travelers each day passing by on Scenic Highway. The former "Five Points" Shell station at the intersection of Scenic, Fourth Street and Polk Avenue has been abandoned for nearly two decades and has been through a number of ownership changes, including two different tax deed sales in 2015 and 2021. The property has been repeatedly battered by hurricanes, and was damaged in...

  • Juanice Lawson, 1928-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Mar 23, 2023

    Juanice Lawson, age 94, passed away March 16, 2023, at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born on November 4, 1928, in Clearwater, FL. She was a Secretary for the City of Bartow. She was a former member of the Lions Club and Bridge Club. She enjoyed square dancing, sewing, and stitching. She is survived by a loving family that includes her daughter Deborah Broadrick, grandchildren Jason Hillman, Jodi Pueschel, Deena Hillman, Slade Par and Lane Par, seven great grandchildren,...

  • Fiery Crash on Scenic Highway Claims Life of Frostproof Woman

    Christa Jones, News Correspondent|Updated Mar 22, 2023
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    A Tuesday night crash has claimed the life of a Frostproof woman as she left her place of employment at the popular Coop in Babson Park. 53-year-old Patricia Robarts of Frostproof left the parking lot and turned onto Waverly Road at about 11:30 pm driving a silver 2018 Kia Stinger. According to reports from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, she stopped at the intersection of Waverly and Scenic Hwy North and then began a left turn onto Scenic Highway. For unknown reasons, her...

  • Lake Reedy Bass Tournament to Benefit Youth Activities

    Christa Jones, News Correspondent|Updated Mar 22, 2023

    Increased numbers of boats and anglers are expected on Lake Reedy in Frostproof this Saturday, March 25, as the Frostproof Church of God hosts their 12th Annual Bass Tournament. The tournament will benefit the church's youth department. The tournament will run from first safe light until 2:00 pm. Each boat will be allowed a five-fish limit to submit for the weigh-in upon the conclusion of the tournament. No live bait is allowed in this tournament, which requires artificial...

  • Saturday is Last Day to Request Vote By Mail Ballot for City Elections

    News Staff Reports|Updated Mar 22, 2023

    Saturday, March 25th is the last day registered voters who reside in Lake Wales can submit a request to receive a ballot by mail for the April 4th Municipal Elections. Four candidates are seeking election to new three-year terms on the city commission in the voting. New requests for mail ballots can be made online at PolkElections.gov or by calling the Elections Office at (863) 534-5888. Voted ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off to the Supervisor of Elections, but...

  • Old Furniture, Mattress Clutter at Home? Free City-wide Cleanup Day is This Saturday

    Special to the News|Updated Mar 22, 2023

    That old tire that always breeds mosquitos, that old sofa with the springs coming out, all the nagging trash that refuses to fit in your trash can should be gone forever this Saturday, April 25. The City of Lake Wales will use their trash contractor to collect the old debris during a city-wide cleanup day. The annual Curbside Cleanup is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 25. Patience is requested as workers from Republic Services collect waste and debris left behind...