Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the March 30, 2022 edition


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  • Olmsted Connected Lake Wales With Mountain Lake, Bok Tower Gardens

    Brian Ackley, Special to the News|Updated Apr 14, 2022

    Long before Frederick Law Olmsted left his generational "City in a Garden" imprint on Lake Wales -- and a decade before he transformed impoverished scrub into the lush gardens of Bok Tower – the first of his Florida landscapes was the verdant canvass of Mountain Lake. By early in 1915, the famed landscape architect who will be celebrated locally on April 30 – and whose work is the foundation for the city's current "Lake Wales Connected" redevelopment plan for the historic dow...

  • Candidates' Finance Reports Reveal Support, Differing Strategies

    Suzie Schottelkotte, LakeWalesNews.Net Staff Reporter|Updated Apr 3, 2022

    Thursday, March 31 was the final day candidates for two Lake Wales municipal seats could accept contributions, and their final reports, filed Friday, offered a glimpse into their bases of support and the strategies they pursued to attempt to win office. Collectively, the five candidates have spent $27,775 in the last few months to win the support of Lake Wales voters. Three seek to be the city's next mayor, and two others hope to fill an open seat on the City Commission....

  • Why LakeWalesNews.Net Will Not Endorse in City Races

    News Editorial Board|Updated Apr 2, 2022

    As the campaigns that will shape the election of a mayor and city commissioner come to a close, some have asked whether our editorial board will endorse any of the five candidates. We believe a response is in order. The three candidates for mayor, Curtis Gibson, Jack Hilligoss, and Tammy James, agree on much, but offer clear distinctions in their leadership styles and priorities. The two candidates for city commission seat 4, Danny Krueger and James Loydd, differ not only in...

  • T Mobile Gives City $48,000 Toward Landscaping "City in a Garden"

    Robert Connors, managing Editor|Updated Mar 31, 2022

    A Thursday-morning ceremony in downtown's new linear park saw plenty of smiles as a crew representing T Mobile presenting a mock-up giant check representing their company's grant of $48,623 that was awarded to pay for landscaping the park, which borders Scenic Highway opposite the public library. The grant is part of T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants Program to help communities across the country kickstart development projects that will enhance the area and help enrich the lives o...

  • Downtown Property Redevelopment on the Upswing

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 30, 2022

    Downtown Lake Wales is seeing a significant uptick in property transactions that some see as the result of ambitious street renewal plans being advanced by the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency. The CRA plans to invest some $18 million in renovations across a wide swath of the historic city center. In the latest transaction Monday, investors Stephen and Tammy James have acquired four additional parcels from the Park Avenue Building Company. The couple had purchased...

  • Elections Health Precautions May Affect You on April 5

    Tom Paulson|Updated Mar 28, 2022

    Municipal elections will be held April 5, and Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards has some important tips to keep in mind as workers and voters employ safe practices when voting. Precautions to protect voters and workers from COVID-19 mean less voters may be allowed in each polling location at one time. Face masks are encouraged, but not required for voters in the polling room. Election staff, however, will be wearing face masks and/or face shields. Voters may...

  • Crystal Lake Trail Groundbreaking Happens April 4

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 28, 2022

    The public is invited to join officials and staff of the City of Lake Wales for the groundbreaking of the Park Avenue Connector Trail on Monday, April 4. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at 11:00 am on Third Street, behind the library. A portion of that street between Crystal Avenue and Park Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic to become a part of the new trail, which will link the Lake Wailes Trail with the downtown commercial district's restaurants and...

  • Fishing Has Heated Up, It's Time to Get On The Water!

    Charlie Wynperle, Fishing Expert|Updated Mar 28, 2022

    Fishing is red hot at the moment, so don't miss this opportunity to get a hold of a bucket-mouth or a stringer of shellcrackers! On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, anglers are catching a ton of shellcrackers in the main lake and in the canals, using worms in the pads and grass. Bass are moving to outside edges and can be caught on a frog around the reeds and grass. On Lake Hatchineha, shellcrackers can be found in the lily pads on the east side of the lake with bluegill mixed in. The...

  • Chamber of Commerce Organizes Another Election Forum

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 28, 2022

    An unexpected third election forum for candidates for Lake Wales mayor and city commission has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 29 at the Lake Wales Arts Center, 1099 SR 60 East. The event was revealed by Chamber President and CEO Skip Alford, who said that the Chamber has a responsibility to the citizens to make sure they are well informed. This will be the third forum of the election cycle. Three candidates for mayor, and two for city commission seat 4, have been invited to...

  • Bone Marrow Gives the Gift of Life

    NAPS, Special to the News|Updated Mar 23, 2022

    Being a hero and helping repair the world may be easier than many people realize. How? Become a blood stem cell or marrow donor, volunteer or a supporter. Every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society estimates that 186,400 people will experience this frightening news just this year. While a bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant can serve as a cure for leukemia...