LakeWalesNews.net - Communication Builds Our Community

After a two-day spell of autumn-like weather to mark the official start of the season this weekend, summer-like rains are expected to return to Florida, but the threat of a... — Updated 9/24/2023

The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales... — Updated 9/20/2023

Stephen Thomas Rodda has been charged with first-degree murder after apparently killing his own 16-year-old son on Monday. Rodda, 37, was booked into the Polk County Jail Monday... — Updated 9/13/2023

After causing a scare in the east Polk region by approaching Florida from the southwest, Hurricane Idalia behaved much as the computer models had predicted, staying well offshore... — Updated 8/30/2023

Precautions are advised for strong winds and heavy rains due to the approach of Hurricane Idalia, still expected to move near Florida's Gulf Coast overnight on Wednesday. The 11:00... — Updated 8/29/2023

The National Hurricane Center has issued Hurricane Warnings for much of the Florida west coast north of Longboat Key, and raised the former Tropical Storm Watch in Polk County to a... — Updated 8/29/2023

The threat of a direct strike from Hurricane Idalia on east Polk and the Lake Wales Ridge area continues to diminish this morning as the storm has continued on a northerly track... — Updated 8/29/2023

Plans are underway for its 2nd Annual Fall Festival, a free event that features food trucks, beer, music, professional carnival games, inflatables including two bounce houses,... — Updated 8/29/2023

The 5:00 pm update from the National Hurricane Center contains some positive news for the Lake Wales area as the most recent model runs for future movements of Tropical Storm... — Updated 8/29/2023

A Babson Park man has been arrested and charged after a crash that took the life of a local woman. Coleden Snowden was arrested by Polk County Sheriff's deputies after an extensive... — Updated 8/23/2023

The Lake Wales Highlander of 100 years ago reveals much about the history of our community. Each week the Lake Wales News will publish a front-page image of the former Lake Wales... — Updated 8/17/2023

As the 19th anniversary of the devasting impact of Hurricane Charley approaches on August 13, many Ridge area residents turn a wary eye on the tropics. Despite "super-heated"... — Updated 8/10/2023

A general lack of sidewalks on county roads in eastern Polk County may serve as motivation for local residents who would like to become advocates. Polk County commissioners are... — Updated 8/5/2023

You can expect to meet crowds of bargain-hunters on one area roadway as the 16th annual Ridge Scenic Highway "39 Mile Yard Sale" takes place on on Saturday, November 4th. The event... — Updated 8/4/2023

Joseph William DePietro of Frostproof passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at his residence. He was born July 9, 1936 in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Joseph and Phyllis... — Updated 8/3/2023

Jose Manuel Velez, Sr. of Frostproof passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at his residence. He was born February 23, 1941 in Lares, Puerto Rico to the late Rafael and Isabel Velez... — Updated 7/11/2023

An attempted traffic stop by a Highlands County deputy sheriff near Avon Park Thursday evening ended in a chase to Frostproof, an exchange of gunfire, the wounding of a deputy... — Updated 6/30/2023

Marjorie Bedell Lanier of Frostproof passed away Saturday, June 24, 2023 at her residence. She was born May 31, 1931 in Dundee to the late Harold and Minnie Bedell; she was a... — Updated 6/27/2023

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... — Updated 6/21/2023

A family Father's Day celebration tragedy took the life of a 17-year-old Frostproof resident, who drowned in Lake Clinch after a boating crash. Jose Torres was reportedly the... — Updated 6/19/2023

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... — Updated 5/28/2023

John Herbert Cofer of Frostproof passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at his residence. He was born October 31, 1929 in Frostproof to the late Clifford and Bertie Cofer; he has been... — Updated 5/28/2023

Two Haines City men are dead and a third hospitalized following an early morning crash on US Highway 27. Lake Wales Traffic Homicide Investigators determined that a car driven by... — Updated 5/25/2023

Police are seeking the whereabouts of a Haines City man who reportedly drove at high speed and ran a red light on US 27, resulting in the deaths of his two passengers. Lake Wales... — Updated 5/24/2023

Foy Livingston McKenzie of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023 at his residence. He was born February 12, 1952 in Lyons, Georgia to the late James and Patricia McKenzie; he... — Updated 5/15/2023