Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 15 of 15
Elizabeth J. “Beth” Satterwhite, 61, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born April 4, 1960 in Winter Park to Jimmie R. and Jimmie Lou Beasley; she moved to Lake Wales in 1989, but left for Texas in 2006. She returned to the area four years ago and has been a resident since. Beth was a former dispatcher for the Lake Wales Police Department and a former caregiver. Beth was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her daughters, Crystal Guerrero of Corpus Chr...
Karla Y. Colson Ballou, 58 of Lake Wales, died May 16, 2021. She was born July 14, 1962 in Lake Wales. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 28 at Epps Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Lake Wales. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, May 29 at Lake Wales Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 581 Hunt Brothers Road. Masks required for both....
Tammy Lynn Park Grimes, 57, of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born July 29, 1963 in Cleveland, OH to the late Larry and Patricia Park; she moved to Lake Wales from Orwell, OH in 1980. Tammy was a homemaker and loved to ride her bike. She was an angel who had a heart of gold and helped everyone. Tammy is survived by her husband of 31 years, Tim Grimes; daughter, Summerlynn Marie Park of Lake Wales; sons, Joel Matthew Grimes of...
Charles H. "Charlie" Fitts, Jr., 60, of Babson Park passed away Thursday, May 27, 2021 at Advent Health Orlando. He was born January 7, 1961 in Orlando to Charles Henry and Erika Fitts; he moved to Babson Park from Orlando in 1990. Charlie retired in 2015 as a State Trooper for Florida Highway Patrol and was a veteran of the United States Army. He attended Christian Fellowship of Frostproof. Charlie was an avid motorcycle enthusiast and enjoyed going to car shows and motorcycl...
Richard Ivan Brown, 92, of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, May 20, 2021 at his residence in Waters Edge. He was born December 3, 1928 in Louisville, KY to the late Richard and Ethel Brown; he moved to Lake Wales from Fort Myers in 1958. Richard was a Sgt. First Class in the United States Army and was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Wales. He enjoyed working in his yard. Richard was preceded in death by his aunt, Helen Preston. He is survived by several cousins. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m....
Polk Vision welcomed 45 program members to accomplished ranks of Leadership Polk Alumni on Friday, May 21, 2021 at the Balmoral Estates. Those with close ties to Lake Wales included Andy Oguntola from Polk State College, David Black from the Lake Wales Police Department and Michelle Yodonis with the Polk County Clerk of the Courts. Leadership Polk says its Alumni include some of the community's best thought leaders. They understand the value of collective impact and value the...
One in five children in Florida lives in poverty, and statistics show that children who live in poverty are five times more likely to drop out of high school. Since 67 percent of the prison population is comprised of high school dropouts, programs promoting stability, independent living, counseling, mentoring, and guidance are critical to help turn the tide. It might be a surprise to learn that one in four children in the Florida Foster Care System is working with a team...
Due to lack of rain, Polk County has experienced dry weather conditions for an extensive period of time, therefore Polk County Fire Rescue has issued a burn ban. The increase in risk of brush fires and uncontrolled fires are a threat to the public health, safety and general welfare of Polk County. There are also no signs of abatement of these dangerous fire conditions anytime soon. The burn ban includes, but is not limited to: • Campfires • Bonfires • Unpermitted contr...
Willie D. Bracken, 79, of Lake Wales passed away Friday, May 28, 2021 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. She was born April 11, 1942 in Gaffney, SC and has been a resident of Lake Wales since 1959, coming from Chattanooga, TN. She was a homemaker and enjoyed crocheting and cooking. She loved spending time with her family and babysitting. Survivors include her husband of 63 years, James F. Bracken; daughters, Tammi Vaczi of Lake Wales, Terri Pruitt (Bernard) of Lake Wales and Tina...
A scholarship program supporting talented students in achieving their technology-fueled goals at Florida Polytechnic University, received a significant boost from the family of one of the school's first and biggest advocates. The John R. Alexander Scholars Program honors the legacy of one of the University's most ardent and earliest supporters. Alexander passed away in 2018. "John was a strong supporter of Florida Poly from its inception," said Sarah Jane Alexander, the wife...
AdventHealth is teaming up with partner Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) and their NASCAR Cup Series drivers Ross Chastain and Kurt Busch to raise money and awareness for mental health and provide fans with a chance to compete against Chastain and Busch on iRacing, the premier online simulation for motorsports. With May marking Mental Health Awareness Month and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 race just around the corner on May 30, the two drivers are taking some time to Play It Forward and en...
The Lake Wales City Commission, serving as the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, has set aside up to $68,000 for a new Legacy Housing Rehabilitation Program. This program is designed to pay respect to the seniors living in the Northwest Neighborhood by doing exterior improvements to their homes. These improvements include repairs or replacements of the roof and painting the outside of the home. In addition to the improvements, each home will receive a raised planter to...
Lake Wales Main Street is proud to launch a vibrant new logo and brand. The rebranding initiative reflects the alignment with the revitalization of Downtown Lake Wales. The new logo draws inspiration from the distinctive Rhodesbilt Arcade building in downtown. The rebranding includes a redesign of the non-profit's logo, printed materials, signage, and other marketing communications. "Downtown Lake Wales is experiencing an explosion of growth with new businesses, events, art,...
Polk County commissioners at their May 18 meeting approved a six-year, $4.5 million agreement to purchase and maintain new cardiac monitoring and defibrillator systems for emergency vehicles. The agreement with Phillips North America also includes the training of staff, repair, maintenance and warranty for the new equipment. "We want to be able to offer the best medical care possible to our patients and this contract will allow us to do that," Polk Fire Chief Robert Weech...
When spring is in the air, motorcycles are everywhere. Do you long for the freedom that comes with riding on the open road? Then it's critical to respect your machine and improve your skills throughout your lifetime. But that's only half the story. Motorists interested only in four-wheeled vehicles still have a major responsibility in keeping motorcyclists safe on the road. In recognition of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May, the National Safety Council reminds...
