Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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A Sebring woman driving north in the southbound lanes of US 27 was the apparent cause of a head-on crash Thursday night that claimed her life and that of a second motorist. According to Polk County Sheriff's Traffic Homicide investigators, a witness to the crash confirmed that a black 2021 Toyota Corolla had been heading northbound in the left southbound lane of US 27 at about 10 p.m. A separate call to the emergency 911 system reported that a wrong-way driver was traveling no...
A ceremonial ground-breaking for a multi-million dollar water desalination facility east of Lake Wales has marked the next step in a multi-jurisdictional effort to assure adequate water supplies for the future of Polk County. The rapid development taking place across the region has created a looming water crisis, with at least one town, Dundee, forced to declare a building moratorium due to a lack of potable water supply. Led by the Southwest Florida Water Management District...
The murder of a 22-year-old Frostproof man Sunday has led to murder and accessory charges against an Avon Park man, his teenage son, and his son's friend. 22-year-old Juan German-Garo, Jr. was found deceased in his vehicle on Washington Terrace in Frostproof shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday with multiple gunshot wounds. Two large bags of marijuana were found in the victim's vehicle. Witnesses gave a description of two suspects to detectives, who canvassed the area and located...
The death toll on area roads, already very high in recent months, rose again Saturday morning after a fatal crash that occurred shortly after midnight Saturday. The fatality is the second at the same crash in less than four weeks. According to witnesses and the Polk Sheriff's Traffic Homicide Unit, a silver Dodge van driven by a 68-year-old male from Bowling Green, FL, left the Citgo gas station at Sun Ray in Frostproof, turned left onto Charles Street, and then attempted to c...
As an increasingly-serious drought has wilted crops and increased fire dangers across the region, the hope for rain may be atop the holiday wish list for many. It's a hope that may be answered. With little measurable rain across the area since the October 10 passage of Hurricane Milton, much of central Florida, including southeast Polk, is suffering from rainfall deficits and parched vegetation. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) lists central Florida as "abnormally dr...
Frostproof's landmark, and perhaps haunted, Ramon Theatre is in serious trouble, and the volunteers who manage the venerable auditorium are turning to the community for help, pinning high hopes upon the success of a January 18 "Barn Bash." The Ramon is the cultural and entertainment soul of the southeast Polk Community. Built in 1925 at the height of the Great Florida Land Boom, the theatre hosts musical and theatrical performances around the year. The double-blows of...
The latest update from the National Hurricane Center in Miami has raised the stakes for a direct strike upon southeast Polk County and the Lake Wales area. Residents are strongly urged to rush preparations to completion. The 11 a.m. NHC report said that with sustained winds of 155 MPH, Hurricane Milton is continuing to approach Florida. Continued intensification is expected, and Milton should be at Category 5 this afternoon with sustained winds of 160 MPH or more, accompanied...
Polk County and the Ridge will escape the worst effects of Hurricane Helene, but area residents should still be prepared for a blow, according to specific forecasts. Heavy rains and winds gusting to near hurricane force are also possible as the storm passes to the west. Helene, currently entering the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, is expected to charge north and northeastward as it rapidly intensifies to become a major hurricane, reaching Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale,...
Guelda V. Wise of Frostproof passed away Sunday, September 15, 2024 at her residence. She was born September 5, 1929 in Bereah to the late Rudolph Bennett and Rita Best Donahoe; she has been a lifelong resident of the area. Guelda was a business owner. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Frostproof and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed doing needlepoint, playing bridge, sewing, and crafts. Guelda was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Wise; and son,...
Francis Donald Hodge of Frostproof, Florida passed away Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at his residence. He was born August 18, 1937 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania to the late Julia Hodge; he has been a resident of the area since 1984. Don loved to fish, work on cars, sing karaoke, and tell jokes. He enjoyed playing cards, especially poker, and having coffee with his friends and family. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, and sisters. He is survived by his...
The storm came in a destructive rush, defying predictions, and caught most Polk residents completely off-guard. When it had passed, Hurricane Charley had left a trail of incredible destruction in its wake. It was a Friday, the 13th of August, twenty years ago this week that the first hurricane in 44 years struck southeast Polk. It's a date that many who experienced the storm will never forget. In a matter of about two hours the fast-moving storm damaged virtually every...
Ridge cities are facing a challenging and expensive future effort to obtain water supplies for a growing population, according to officials from the Polk Regional Water Cooperative. PRWC Executive Director Eric DeHaven joined a team of engineers at a forum this week to explain the status of an ambitious project that expects to extract brackish water from a depth of more than 1,000 feet, substantially lower than the Floridan aquifer that currently supplies water to area...
Joe Neal Kincaid, 95, passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at Good Shepard Hospice House, Auburndale, FL. He was born March 31, 1929, on Easter Sunday to the late James Cecil Kincaid, Sr. and Mary Alma Davis Kincaid. Joe's family was one of the first pioneer families in the Lake Wales area, where his grandfather established the Lake Wales Dairy, also known as the Kincaid Dairy, in the Spook Hill area. His family also established a dairy outlet and ice cream store known as the...
After a lull of several weeks without even a tropical depression, let alone a named storm, the Atlantic Hurricane Season is heating up again. August and September form the heart of the storm season, which peaks around September 10, according to historical records. Forecasters and computer models have alerted to the possible formation of a new cyclone this week in the vicinity of the Antilles. If the storm forms there, it is likely to track in the general direction of the...
Twelve "Safe Zones" under the monitoring of the Polk County Sheriff's Office are now available to all Polk County residents for the purposes of custody exchanges of e-commerce sales, according to officials with the sheriff's office. The locations offer 24/7 continuously-monitored video surveillance with recordings retained for at least 45 days. They also provide adequate lighting and signage for safety. The Florida Legislature recently passed a law which requires count...
Cities across the county are seeing significant rises in property tax income, according to the preliminary tax roll published by Polk County Property Appraiser Marsha Faux. Despite the recent surge in home prices and the value of new construction, however, property values in most Ridge-area municipalities have seen only modest increases so far. The valuations have significant impacts on city budgets, since local shares of the taxes are based upon the millage rates set by...
An upbeat message of economic progress was shared with more than 100 area business leaders during a Business After Hours event at the Eagle Ridge Mall Tuesday evening. The event was sponsored by the Lake Wales and Winter Haven Chambers of Commerce. Eagle Ridge Mall General Manager Curtis Gibson told the gathering that the mall "belongs" to the people of the Ridge, from Frostproof to Winter Haven, and touted the expansion of business that has been happening there. When he took...
The June Business Expo luncheon hosted by the Frostproof Chamber of Commerce drew a crowd of local businesspeople Tuesday to network, sharing camaraderie and ideas. More than 20 organizations were represented at the event, organized by the Chamber's new executive director Emily Bennett, who introduced each business to the crowd. Business representatives were then given an opportunity to speak at the event, offering a chance to introduce their product or services to others in...
Two instances of molestation of children by adult authority figures, a minister and a coach, have resulted in the arrest of two individuals by the Polk County Sheriff's Office. In an incident that took place in Frostproof, 20-year-old Skylar Ready of Fort Meade was charged with four felonies related to an illegal and inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old student at the school, whom he allegedly threatened to kill is she had sex with anyone else. Ready had served as a...
A large wildfire is raging tonight near Indian Lake Estates and the Canopy Oaks resort in eastern Polk County. More than 25 emergency units have been assigned to try to bring the inferno under control, and the Florida Forest Service has delivered heavy equipment to firefighters in an apparent attempt to build firelines to stop the spread of the flames. Units from Lake Wales and Frostproof were sent to the scene to assist state and county firefighters under the direction of the...
Sara Ann Morey, a beloved member of the Frostproof community and a cherished mother, daughter, and friend, passed away at her home on Friday, April 19th, 2024. She was born on December 31, 1947 to the late Richard and Gladys Riley. Sara was a remarkable woman who touched the lives of many with her kindness, compassion and love. A lifelong resident of the area, she was a proud member of the United Methodist Church of Frostproof and volunteer for the Frostproof Historical Museum...
UPDATED The horrifying murder of a second grade teacher has shocked residents of Frostproof and the surrounding area. Elvia Espinoza, who taught second grade at Ben Hill Griffin Elementary School in Frostproof, was stabbed to death by her own son after he returned home from college for a family gathering. Espinoza, 46, was attacked after opening the door to her home in the Sun Ray neighborhood her son, 21-year-old Emmanuel Espinoza, who had just arrived after driving from...
Lorey Blackwelder of Frostproof passed away Thursday, February 8, 2024, at her residence. She was born July 18, 1970 in Winter Haven to the late Alvin and Mary Meadows; she was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a homemaker and attended the First Presbyterian Church in Frostproof. She loved being with her family and enjoyed football. Survivors include her husband of 28 years, Alan Blackwelder; daughter, Savanna Blackwelder of Frostproof; son, Joshua Alan Blackwelder and...
A new financial disclosure requirement that has caused hundreds of municipal officials across the state to resign their offices is also having impacts in the Lake Wales area. The state law, which takes effect January 1, requires every elected official in cities, towns, and villages across the state to complete a comprehensive disclosure of income and assets that many consider draconian. The form will replace the simpler, and less invasive, Form 1 previously required. The...
In a program offered annually at the nearby public lands, Lake Wales area residents are able to cut their own tree, but they have to use a hand-saw to do the work. No power tools are allowed in the forest. A tree-cutting permit costs only $10, a great deal when fresh trees cut in other states and brought to Florida cost far more. Available trees are 10 feet to 15 feet tall, but may be trimmed back to the desired size after leaving the forest. Trees will be harvested along...
