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(178) stories found containing 'Babson Park'


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  • Debra "Debbie" Pharo Morrison, 1952-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Aug 12, 2023

    Debra "Debbie" Pharo Morrison, 70, of Babson Park passed away Monday, August 7, 2023. Debbie was a woman of strong Christian faith and a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her love of family, church and community is a beacon that will live on in the lives of everyone who knew her. Debbie will be remembered for her strength and determination and her generous spirit. Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Helen Pharo; brothers, William Pharo and Thomas...

  • Thousands of Students Return to Classes Tomorrow

    News Staff Reports|Updated Aug 10, 2023

    Thousands of area students will stream back to school tomorrow for an unusual Friday start to the new school year. Seven schools operated by Lake Wales Charter Schools and several other area schools controlled by the Polk School District will draw in more than 5,000 students to face the new academic year with high hopes. Some students in the northwestern portion of the Lake Wales area will be assigned to a new elementary school in southeast Winter Haven, which has changed...

  • Today in History: Lake Wales Highlander of July 11, 1923

    News Research Staff|Updated Jul 30, 2023

    Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century age. The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library. The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became The Daily Highlander under several different names, and was published six times a week as a Sunday morning paper, and afternoons Monday through Friday until 1995.The original...

  • Pauline and James Bradford, Married 63 years, Passed Two Days Apart

    News Obituary Service|Updated Jul 19, 2023

    A Babson Park couple shared 63 years of marriage before passing away within two days of one another recently. James Thurman Bradford passed away Thursday, July 13, 2023. His wife, Pauline Bradford, followed him on Saturday, July 15. Both were under the care of Vitas Hospice at AdventHealth Lake Wales. James was born December 15, 1939 in Cookeville, Tennessee to the late William and Lena Bradford. Pauline was born June 3, 1941 in Cookeville, Tennessee to the late Elvin and...

  • Vaughn Cofer, 1928-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Jun 21, 2023

    Vaughn Cofer of Babson Park passed away Saturday, June 17, 2023 at George G. Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. She was born October 14, 1928 in Glade Hill, Virginia to the late Ulis and Nannie Powell; she moved to Babson Park from Frostproof in 1958. Vaughn worked as secretary, environmental teacher, and substitute teacher for the Polk County School System for 10 years. She then worked for 10 years as a staff writer and family news writer for the Daily Highlander where...

  • Adrian Roland McEachern, 1940-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Jun 7, 2023

    Adrian Roland McEachern of Lake Wales passed away Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at Somers Hospice House in Sebring. He was born June 30, 1940 in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Alexander and Pauline McEachern; he moved to Lake Wales from Derry, New Hampshire in 1991. Adrian was a retired warehouse manager for FFE Transportation and a veteran of the United States Army. He enjoyed walking around the lake. He loved his wife and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Adrian...

  • State Attorney Rules August 2022 Police Shooting Was Justified

    News Staff Reports|Updated Jun 7, 2023

    In a long-delayed ruling, the State Attorney's office has announced that their investigation into a exchange of gunfire between police and a suspect last August determined that police use of deadly force was justified. Earnest Borders, 57, of Lake Wales, was killed. A police department K-9, Max, also died in the gunfire. A letter signed by Assistant State Attorney Mark Thomas Levine states that "it is my opinion that Officer Jared Joyner and Officer Esaul Hernandez were justif...

  • Babson Park Resident Narrowly Escapes House Fire

    News Staff Reports|Updated Jun 4, 2023

    A fire in a mobile home in a remote location nearly took the life of a Polk County resident early Sunday. Polk County Fire Rescue firefighters responded to 2:20 am medical call in Babson Park that was quickly escalated into a structure fire with a trapped victim. Rescuers responding to 1562 Pfundstein Road, southeast of Babson Park, found a mobile home in flames, and at least one resident who had managed to flee the structure with injuries. After unsuccessfully attempting to g...

  • 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"...

  • Cindy Lilly of Babson Park Named "Woman of the Year"

    Special to the News|Updated May 9, 2023

    Local resident Cindy Lilly has been honored as the "Woman of the Year" by the Babson Park Woman's Club. According to a statement issued by club vice-president Saundra Roach Turner, the recognition was due to the fact that "Cindy has worked tirelessly this past year to facilitate the maintenance and repair of the Club building." Lilly was presented with a beautiful spray of flowers, and will have her name engraved on a plaque in honor of her service. In November the BPWC will...

  • Babson Park Student Wins Tag Art Contest

    News Staff Reports|Updated May 6, 2023

    Babson Park Elementary student Grace Sullins now has the special honor of having her license tag design mounted on the front of Polk County Tax Collector Joe Tedder's truck. Sullins is this year's special Tax Collector's Choice Award recipient. Sullins won the special recognition in The Kids Tag Art (KTA) program, created by Tedder in Polk County. The Kids Tag Art (KTA) program now spans 15 counties across Florida, inspiring fifth grade student artists to create their own...

  • William Richard Kahler, 1956-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated May 2, 2023

    Billy Kahler of Babson Park passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at his residence. He was born January 30, 1956, in Lake Wales to the late Richard and Nancy Kahler; and he was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Lake Wales High School in 1974 and Florida State University in 1978. He retired from UPS and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Wales. He was also the owner and operator of Gary's Boating Center and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, scuba...

  • ADS to Host Public Meeting Over Pipe Plant Concerns

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Apr 25, 2023

    A public meeting seeking to respond to public concerns over a proposed plastic pipe manufacturing facility will take place on Wednesday, April 26 at the Lake Wales Arts Center. The meeting will be hosted by Advanced Drainage Systems, or ADS, the company seeking to build on a 97-acre site fronting South 11th Street and Hunt Brothers Road. The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm. Some residents have voiced opposition to the "heavy" industrial use of the property, although it has been...

  • Jim Lefils, 1944-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Apr 24, 2023

    Jim Lefils, 79, of Babson Park passed away, Thursday, April 20, 2023, at AdventHealth Lake Wales after a short illness. Jim is survived by his wife of 59 years Carolynn "Dede" Watson LeFils. He recently retired from Watson Pharmacy, Frostproof, where he was the co-owner and pharmacist for 50 years. Jim served in the U.S. Air Force and was a graduate of the University of Florida School of Pharmacy. He was a licensed airplane and glider pilot. Jim and Dede were avid travelers,...

  • Highland Park Manor Organizers Call a Second "Town Hall" Meeting

    News Staff Reports|Updated Apr 7, 2023

    A "town hall" community organizing event is planned to take place Monday at the Mary Norma Campbell Resource Center in Highland Park Manor. The 7:00 pm event is the second meeting of the community located southeast of Lake Wales. Concern over the lack of transparency by the city of Lake Wales over rezoning of an industrial site to accommodate proposed plastic pipe factory appears to be one of the catalysts for the revival of the neighborhood association. Both Highland Park...

  • LakeWalesNews.net Cited as Top Source for Area Information

    News Staff reports|Updated Mar 29, 2023

    A surge in readership and community reach is being celebrated as a reflection of the growing awareness and trust of LakeWalesNews.net among residents of the Ridge area. The expansion of readership and advertising is powering an expansion of news coverage as well as the News increases coverage of events in Frostproof, Babson Park, Indian Lake, and surrounding communities through the hiring of new staff and correspondents. In addition to a substantial base of readers who...

  • Fiery Crash on Scenic Highway Claims Life of Frostproof Woman

    Christa Jones, News Correspondent|Updated Mar 22, 2023
    1

    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...

  • Robert Clifton Hannan, 1932-2023

    New Obituary Services|Updated Mar 8, 2023

    Robert Clifton Hannan of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at his residence. He was born January 15, 1932 in Lawrenceburg, Indiana to the late Lyle and Thelma Hannan; he moved to Lake Wales from his hometown in 1963. Robert was a retired teacher for Babson Park Elementary. He was previously a minister at First Christian Church of Lake Wales and Babson Park Christian Church. Robert was proceeded in death by his wife, Betty Jane Hannan in 2015; and daughter, Nancy...

  • School Superintendent Rodolfich and Staff Read to 59 Classes in Marathon Effort

    Special to the News|Updated Mar 3, 2023

    Teaching children to read is one of the most important steps in the life-long project of learning. Getting them started early is critical, many educators believe. Among those who created reading material that draws children into the learning process was the beloved Dr. Seuss. As a way to mark Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2, Lake Wales Charter Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Rodolfich, accompanied by Bilingual Specialist Dr. Julio Acevedo and PD Coordinator Stacie Padgett,...

  • Raymond Lee French, 1930-2023

    News Obituary Service|Updated Feb 3, 2023

    Raymond Lee French of Babson Park passed away Thursday, February 2, 2023 at his residence. He was born August 10, 1930 in Kalamazoo, Michigan; he moved to Babson Park from West Palm Beach 18 years ago. Raymond was a retired Air Traffic Controller and a veteran of the United States Army who served in the Korean war and earned the Bronze Star. He was the past director at Audubon Society and a past City Councilman for Hillcrest Heights. He loved model car collecting and...

  • KT'S Sunshine Foundation Brings BBQ and Music to Lake Wailes Park

    Special to the News|Updated Jan 20, 2023

    KT's Sunshine Foundation will host the Southern Sunshine BBQ & Music Festival this weekend in Lake Wailes Park, drawing thousands of fans for the fun, and the purpose. The festival was created in memory of "KT," a nursing student who died in a tragic traffic accident, In its short existence, KT's Sunshine Foundation has awarded $22,000 in scholarships to high school seniors interested in pursuing a medical degree, helped 9 families with funeral expenses, and donated $1,000 to...

  • EDITORIAL: Limiting Speech at Commission Meetings Is a Bad Idea

    News Editorial Board|Updated Jan 4, 2023
    1

    Stifling Dissent is Not a Solution The essential freedoms that we often take for granted as Americans set us apart from much of the world, where speaking out against a government action or official can bring harsh responses. More than ever, speaking out is needed in Lake Wales. There is no better forum for sharing concerns and ideas about the course of our community than the meetings of the City Commission. Now, under a proposed resolution, Lake Wales citizens may be...

  • Carol Loretta Pirich, 1939-2022

    Updated Dec 19, 2022

    Carol Loretta Pirich of Babson Park passed away Thursday, December 15, 2022 at her residence. She was born December 25, 1939 in Astoria, New York to the late John Cohn and Jean Kilroy; she moved to Babson Park from Astoria, New York in 1969. Carol was a retired bookkeeper and a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She was devoted to her family. Her family envisions her drinking a scotch on the rocks in Heaven. Carol was proceeded in death by her husband, Michael Pirich in...

  • Eusebio Irwin Salud, 1971-2022

    Updated Dec 12, 2022

    Irwin Salud, of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor. He was born August 7, 1971 in Hartford, Connecticut; he moved to Lake Wales from Connecticut in 1974. Irwin worked for Publix and was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Born in Connecticut, Irwin and his family made Lake Wales, Florida their home in 1974. He attended Hillcrest Elementary and was a proud Babson Park Gnat. He graduated from The Roosevelt...

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