Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1026 - 1050 of 3345
A spurt of new restaurant development will soon be offering a wider range of choices for Lake Wales residents. The growing list has risen to seven new food and beverage outlets. The first to open is expected to be Locorrito, a new effort from area restaurateurs Matthew Brock and his partner, Dwayne McQuillen. The new "fast-casual" spot will open in late September in a former pizza-outlet location at 218 SR 60 East, next door to Citizen's Bank. The building has been...
Ambitious plans to beautify and recognize the unique features of the Druid Hills neighborhood on the east side of Lake Wales were advanced during a four-hour conference held Saturday at Bok Tower Gardens. Among the ideas discussed at the conference was special recognition of the area as the "Historic Olmsted Druid Hills District," including the installation of boundary and historical markers explaining the importance of the area, which would form a portion of an "Olmsted...
While two independently owned and operated new restaurants are planned for opening on Highway 60, including Locorrito and Brake Burger Garage, and two more are planned to open on First Street downtown and on Lincoln Avenue, three more are aiming for construction on US 27 near the Eagle Ridge Mall. All three new restaurants will be located on the east side of US 27, and will occupy among the last of the rapidly-filling mall outparcels. A Starbucks coffee outlet is planned for...
A $500,000 grant to Bok Tower Gardens for "Saving the Olmstedian Landscape Gardens at Mountain Lake Sanctuary – Lake Wales" has been announced by the National Park Service (NPS). The grant is awarded "in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services," according to an accompanying press release. "This project will complete the rehabilitation and reinvigoration of the original l...
Traffic around the Lake Wales area will be snarled again this weekend as US 27 will be closed at the SR 60 overpass construction site all weekend. The closure of the busy federal highway will allow construction crews to set the massive steel beams which will support the new bridge. Closure of the highway is planned to begin at 11:00 pm Friday and last until 5:00 am on Monday. Elaborate detours will be in place for the multiple potential traffic movements that motorists will...
William B. Newton ("Bill") of Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away last Thursday afternoon, September 1, 2022, at the Scottsdale Honor Health Hospital on 92nd street and Shea after a nine-month battle with nocardiosis. His wife of 58 years, Pamela (Pam) Newton, and his daughter, Elena A. Newton, were by his side throughout the day, holding him and telling him how dearly he is loved. All of his family spoke with him, thanked him, and shared their enduring love for him - his son...
More than eighty community and business leaders were in attendance this week as the Dyer family celebrated the grand opening of their second new auto dealership across from the Eagle Ridge Mall on US 27 in Lake Wales. The ribbon-cutting ceremony at Dyer Chevrolet marked the official dedication of the new 28,000 square-foot facility, which cost more than $5 million to construct. The Chevrolet operations stands adjacent to their recently-constructed Kia dealership. Guests...
Thomas D McKeon, D.C., 72, of Reunion, Florida passed away Tuesday morning August 30, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. Tom was born August 26, 1950, and was a devoted chiropractor and community leader. Always ready with a joke or a story, Tom’s sense of humor and skill as a chiropractor made him a popular doctor in Lake Wales with many patients seeing him for decades. His commitment to his hometown, his dedication to community service, and his ability to get things done made him a...
Bob Johnson of Lake Wales was born on 0ctober 21, 1958, to Helen Roe Johnson in Racine Wisconsin. As a child they moved to Ohio, then to Kentucky, where he has nieces and nephews. In 1972 after the loss of his mother at age 12, he moved to Lake Wales with his aunt and uncle. Bob graduated from Lake Wales High school class of 1978, and Ridge Voc-tech in 1980. His more than 44 years in the workforce was as a welder- foreman in the trucking industry, with Oakley Transport and,...
An unexpected sharp rise in cost has shrunk the planned kayak and paddleboard rental project planned for Lake Wailes Park, in a shift approved by the city commission. The rental program will be created in partnership with a company called Rent.Fun. The rental program was proposed in May by Recreation Manager Stephanie Edwards as an inexpensive way to offer more opportunities for citizens to get on the water and enjoy the outdoors. At that time the commission approved a...
Two new restaurants are being developed in the historic districts of Lake Wales, and both are receiving inducements from a special grant program. "Smokin' DJ's" anticipates opening early next year at 122 1st St N, Unit #4. The new restaurant will offer table service and the signature barbecue ribs already popularized locally by the "D on Wheelz" food truck. Co-owner Jennifer Leeks told LakeWalesNews.net that they are tackling the extensive renovations required to convert the...
Another weekend of detours and traffic snarls for Lake Wales drivers will take place in mid-September as contractors raise nine enormous steel I-beams that will soon be bearing three lanes of eastbound vehicular traffic and a bicycle lane over US 27. Planned for the weekend of September 16 through 19, Florida Department of Transportation traffic engineers designed the complex series of eight different detour routes that will lead both light and heavy commercial traffic...
The Southwest Florida Water Management District is sharing a friendly reminder that when it comes to irrigation systems, Polk County residents must follow certain watering schedules and restrictions. Because of Florida's exponential growth, potable water is increasingly in short supply. There is considerable demand upon inland water resources from coastal counties. The following rules apply to all residential and commercial properties that use irrigation systems to water their...
Another traffic-delaying project is about to impact some motorists in the Lake Wales area. A roundabout project is now under construction at the intersection of Old Bartow-Lake Wales Road and Rattlesnake Road (County Road 653) in Lake Wales. The route is one of the few 'back-door" routes allowing commuters to avoid traffic delays between Lake Wales and Winter Haven. The work will close the intersection for one month starting Tuesday morning, September 6. According to Polk Coun...
A popular and long-running community event returns this year, and organizers are offering plenty of advance notice to those wishing to participate. The 15th annual 39-mile Yard Sale will be held on Saturday November 5, 2022. The event runs from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm. and sees thousands of shoppers descend upon the route of State Road 17 between Frostproof and Haines City. With its central location, much of the activity focuses on the Lake Wales area. The Ridge Scenic Highway...
Maxine Merrill Gilmore, 101, and formerly of Lake Wales, FL, died in her Whispering Pines, NC home surrounded by love and family on August 6, 2022. Maxine Lura (Merrill) Gilmore was born April 17, 1921 in Spirit Lake, Iowa, daughter of the late John Edwin and Cleeta Fern (Doolittle) Merrill. Maxine was also preceded in death by her husband of 69 years Dr. William Edmund Gilmore, sister Beth Merrill Harsch (and David) and brother John Edwin Merrill, Jr. Maxine is survived by...
The Lake Wales Youth Football League, which sponsors the Lake Wales Steelers teams, has been selected as the recipient of the Dyer Difference Award for August. The Lake Wales Football League provides healthy, educational, fun to up to 600 participants each year between the ages of four and 15. Whether they are learning about first downs and defense or how to encourage and support a team as a cheerleader, children who participate in the Lake Wales Youth Football League are...
Lake Wales banker Greg Littleton has been elected to serve as chair of the Polk State College's District Board of Trustees by the trustees at their annual reorganization meeting on August 22. Littleton, a Polk State Distinguished Alumnus who graduated in 1987, has served the Board since 2007, including previous terms as Chair and Vice Chair. The Polk County native is President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank & Trust. In addition to his Polk State Associate in...
The August 23 "Primary" election will be the "final" election for candidates in four heated Polk School Board races, as well as those seeking judicial slots. Voters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the issues and cast their ballots early, by mail, or on election day. Those wishing to vote early in southeast Polk may visit the Lake Wales Tourist Club at 205 North 5th Street. That location is between the playground at Crystal Lake Park and the City Tennis Courts on...
Saturday, August 13 marked the 18th anniversary of the most destructive hurricane to strike Lake Wales in recent memory, and thankfully the tropics remain quiet so far. Only a weak disturbance drifting westward near Texas is being remarked upon by the National Hurricane Center. The Friday the 13th storm of 2004 was the first of three direct strikes here in only six weeks, an event unprecedented in recorded history. Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne came evenly spaced, three weeks...
Growing a Lake Wales medical practice of his own has long been the vision of one area physician, an outcome that has come to fruition for Dr. Ray Knisley, a board-certified dermatologist. Dr. Knisley is celebrating the first anniversary of his Clear Choice Dermatology clinic here on July 5 after working for other clinics in the area. "I couldn't do this sooner due to a non-compete clause," he said. Clear Choice is presently located in a two-story medical office building at...
Janet Crichfield Ward, 74, of Lake Wales passed away on August 7, 2022, after a long illness. She was born October 17, 1947, in Belle Glade, Florida, to Charles and Bertha Crichfield. She graduated from Belle Glade High School in 1965. After relocating to Lake Wales, she graduated from USF in 1970 where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She went on to attain her master's degree in 1981. Janet became an educator for the Polk County School System where she...
Shirley Ann Connors of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, August 7, 2022 at AdventHealth Heart of Florida in Davenport. She was born January 18, 1947 in Lake Wales to the late Carlos and Louise Weeks; and has been a lifelong resident. She was retired from Florida's Natural and enjoyed watching TV. She was a fan of the Miami Dolphins and FSU. Survivors include her son, Neil Watson of Lake Wales; brother, Carson Weeks (Kay) of Winter Haven; two grandchildren and several...
Kathleen Marie Greer of Winter Haven passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at Winter Haven Hospital. She was born March 26, 1946 in Lake Wales. Kathleen was a retired librarian for the Polk County Historical Library and the Lake Wales Public Library and she was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She was previously a member of the Business and Professional Women and Columbiettes. Kathleen was a member of the Counsel of Catholic Women and was a Lector and Eucharisto...
As the City of Lake Wales and Polk County prepare to finalize their annual budgets and set tax rates for the new fiscal year, both are benefitting from a substantial rise in property values. The changes could lead to further reductions in millage rates for property owners. In Polk overall, values have risen to $51,391,150,529, an increase of 17.75 percent, nearly doubling last year's sharp increase of 9.03 percent. That represents a current-year increase of more than $2.2...
