Communication Builds Our Community

Articles from the May 31, 2023 edition


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  • Lake Wales Envisioned Process Moving Ahead, Rotarians Told

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Jun 15, 2023

    A vision for the long-term future of the Lake Wales region that shifts away from the contemporary development style toward "traditional neighborhoods" was the subject of discussion at the Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Thursday morning. "Most towns are already 100 years old when they decide what they want to be when they grow up," city planner Victor Dover told more than two dozens in attendance, explaining that Lake Wales has a huge head start due to the efforts of the city's...

  • Lake Wales Main Street Program Earns Reaccreditation

    Special to the News|Updated Jun 2, 2023

    Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. has again been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards, Program Director Ronni Wood has announced. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. “We are very proud to acknowledge this year’s 862 Acc...

  • Movie Review: The Little Mermaid

    Jennifer Nanek, News Film Critic|Updated Jun 2, 2023

    The Little Mermaid is a live-action remake of the 1989 Disney animated classic. The film stars Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, and Javier Bardem as King Triton. The film follows the same basic story as the animated version, with a few key differences most notably that Eric and Ursula get a bit more back story and depth to their characters. The film also adds new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken. The new songs are...

  • Catherine "Cathy" Zorn, 1933-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Jun 2, 2023

    Catherine "Cathy" Zorn, age 89 passed away May 26, 2023 at home. She was born in Bridgetown, NJ on June 15, 1933, and moved to Florida at the age of 19 where she lived until the end. She was an executive secretary for David McKee Engineering Co. She was a member of Moose Lodge, American Legion and Fraternal Order of Eagles. She enjoyed dancing, traveling, taking pictures, and bingo. She was kind, loving and had a beautiful smile. Cathy was preceded in death by her father,...

  • Dyer Difference Award Goes to Polk State Lake Wales

    Ilena Luts|Updated Jun 2, 2023

    Going back to school in August is as intimidating for some students as it is exciting for others. Polk State College understands the challenges faced by many families in our area and the trepidation so many young students and their families feel, and they've come up with a way to help. On July 29, 2023, Polk State College will be hosting an event called "Start Right." The goal of this program is to reduce bullying, enhance students' success rates in the classrooms, and...

  • Charmayne Turner Marston, 1947-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated May 28, 2023

    Charmayne Turner Marston of Babson Park passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. She was born July 5, 1947 in Fort Thomas, Kentucky to the late Frank and Martha Turner. Charmayne lived in Kentucky before moving to Lake Wales where she has resided for the past 38 years. She was a homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School. Charmayne was a volunteer at the Little Theater, was named volunteer of the year at...

  • Only One Public Shelter Will Serve Lake Wales & Frostproof Areas This Hurricane Season

    News Staff Reports|Updated May 28, 2023

    Polk County Emergency Management has release the "Polk County Public Shelters" maps for 2023, revealing that there remains only a single shelter to serve the nearly 100,000 residents of Southeast Polk County. Spook Hill Elementary, at 321 Dr. J. A. Wiltshire Ave East in Lake Wales, is the only shelter in a broad area that Includes Dundee, Frostproof, Babson Park, Nalcrest, and other area communities. The 2023 map includes 47 shelters, including three "Special Needs Shelters"...

  • River Ranch Named Nation's "Best Glamping Spot" in USA Today Readers Poll

    Michael Hogan, Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing|Updated May 28, 2023

    Westgate River Ranch, just east of Lake Wales, was named the No. 1 Glamping Spot in the nation in the annual USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards. The largest dude ranch East of the Mississippi River, Westgate River Ranch is rooted in the history of the nation's first cowboys and lies on 1,700 lush acres in the heart of Florida's cattle lands. The location offers cowboy-themed accommodations ranging from tent camping and a lodge to luxurious two-bedroom cabins, Glamping...

  • Annual Orange Blossom Revue Set to Happen in Lake Wales December 1 and 2

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated May 26, 2023

    An annual "celebration of music, community, and nature" is returning to Lake Wales for a ninth year and is expected to draw crowds of music-lovers to town for the early December festival. The Orange Blossom Revue is a two-day event featuring a lineup of top musical acts in a wide range of genres ranging from "R&B to country to folk to jazz," according to festival organizer Rusty Ingley. Ingley and Reid Hardman have been running the concert since its inception. "it was an...