Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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David Hazlett was born and raised in Northville Michigan, to Beatrice and Percy Hazlett, the sixth of seven children. They were a close family and he spoke lovingly of them often, making sure to keep in touch across the time and distance. David met his future wife Ellen Pearl Stark while attending Northville High School, before enlisting in the US Army. David and Ellen married in Northville and lived the Military life for a few years, moving to Virginia and giving birth to...
Even though the 2022 Olympics are on the other side of the globe, decisions made by governments, sponsors, and media organizations will be seen and felt here in Polk County The Olympics used to be a happy, friendly, celebration of amateur athletics. It was all about the games themselves and the great, human stories behind the athletes. Who can forget the fantastic story behind the 1988 Jamaican bobsled team that was loosely portrayed in the movie, Cool Runnings (1). But for...
The historic Friedlander Department Store building has been purchased by Lake Wales investor Tammy James and her husband Stephen James. The building at 101 East Park stands at the corner of Park Avenue and First Street. It was the location of True Value Hardware until 2019, but has been vacant since that time. "We're excited about the changes happening downtown," Tammy James said. "With (new restaurants) Wales Point, Melanie's, and now an ice cream parlor, and The Ranch, it's...
Lake Wales is slated to get its first-ever townhome project this year as the Lake Wales City Commission gave its approval to the preliminary plat for Hunt Club Grove North, a 600-unit subdivision to be built on 130 acres on the southeast side of the city. The entire project is expected to be developed in a single phase, according to City of Lake Wales Development Services staff. All the units will be within easy walking distance of three major shopping centers, a factor that...
A long-awaited proposal to redevelop the prominent former Walesbilt Hotel into a luxury full-service hotel and conference center is still viable, according to representatives of the development team, who pledged to keep working toward an agreement with the city that will assure the success of the project. Citing "progress" but large remaining differences between the parties, the Lake Wales City Commission Tuesday night authorized legal action against Dixie Walesbilt, LLC...
The year just ended saw a wave of filings for growth projects in the city, with more than a dozen subdivision, townhome and apartment complex proposals now on the books. The new year has begun at the same frenetic pace, but the City of Lake Wales Development Services Director Mark J. Bennett is expanding his team to support the unprecedented amount of development. In order to meet current demand, and in anticipation of more projects being added to the growing workload,...
Exposure to the Covid-19 virus among members of the cast and crew at Lake Wales Little Theatre have interrupted the current schedule of performances, causing the cancellation of three shows this Friday through Sunday, February 21-23. ":Due to an exposure to our cast and crew, and out of an abundance of caution, we regret having to cancel the three shows of this weekend's scheduled performance of "Ripcord." a special statement issued by the theatre said. The normal schedule is...
Wales Pointe is the city's newest restaurant and is already proving to be yet another bright spot downtown. Located at 207 East Park Avenue across from the well-known town clock, Wales Pointe occupies space that formerly housed Tres Jolie, a French café restaurant. A few outdoor tables offer dining "al fresco." Serving a varied menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Wales Pointe also hosts a great Sunday brunch that offers a late breakfast menu into the afternoon. Designed to h...
One historic downtown hotel has become city property even as city commissioners wrestle with a development proposal on another. City Attorney Chuck Galloway reported to the board at Tuesday night's meeting that the deed to the Seminole Hotel would be recorded today, Wednesday, and that he would soon prepare documents transferring the title again, this time to the Community Redevelopment Agency. The announcements was met with nods from commissioners. The hotel was acquired afte...
Construction of the first of two new bridges designed to carry traffic on SR 60 over US 27 took a major step forward over the weekend despite a spate of inclement weather. Crews managed to lift fifteen steel I-beams weighing nearly 30 tons each, placing and securing them to massive concrete bases during a 54-hour window created by the temporary closing of US 27. Numerous police officers were on duty at traffic chokepoints. Heavy rains early Sunday, about 40 hours into the...
Symbols of Success and Failure Long recognized as the dominant symbol of downtown Lake Wales, the eleven-story Walesbilt Hotel is now among the dominant topics of conversation in the city. Opened with great fanfare in 1926, the hotel has seen good times and bad. It fell victim to the Great Depression in its infancy, hit its hey-day during World War II, and was last renovated in 1972. Vacant since 1995, it's been abused, stripped of its prestigious furnishings and trim, and...
The impending 54-hour closure of US 27 is expected to snarl traffic throughout the city for an entire weekend, but Florida Department of Transportation planners are taking steps to try to mitigate the resultant traffic snarls. Among them are extra police officers posted at key intersections and an extensive web of signage to guide drivers on nearly a dozen different routes. Described by some as "Traffic-geddon," the normally smooth flow of traffic around the Lake Wales area...
The energy demands of the Sunshine State are rising apace of our booming population. New homes, schools, and businesses need electricity in plenty. The problem for Florida is that generating most of that electricity requires vast amounts of water to cool the generators. Water is in increasingly short supply. Enter a solution: solar electric energy. Power from solar panels is used in ever larger percentages across the state and requires no water for cooling. Rooftop solar has c...
Six candidates for superintendent of Lake Wales Charter Schools are still under consideration following the latest meeting of the ten-member search committee, according to consultant Dr. Bill Vogel of the Florida Association of School Boards. The remaining candidates each received expressions of interest from at least five members of the committee, Vogel said, while two of the eight still under consideration were dropped in the continuation of a slow winnowing of the original...
Caroline Dykes, age 90, passed away January 6, 2022, at Advent Health Lake Wales. She was born on October 7, 1931, in Monroe, MI She was a Homemaker. She enjoyed reading, watching game shows and couponing. Most of all she loved her family and taking care of them. She was preceded in death by her husband Delbert Dykes and one grandson. She is survived by a loving family that includes her daughters, Evonne Grace and Karen Redding, both of Lake Wales, one granddaughter, six...
Congressman Darren Soto, Mayor Eugene Fultz, Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson and other elected officials were among speakers presenting Monday as Lake Wales marks the national holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. A rich program was offered by the Dr, Joseph A Wiltshire Scholarship Foundation to mark the day. The program began with the 10th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Legacy Breakfast. and included a showing of the landmark film "Selma" during the afternoon. The film is based...
Wanda Gail Ward passed away December 19, 2021 at the age of 67 in Tampa Florida. She was born Feb 5 1954. A life-long resident of Florida, she was a house wife and a long-haul truck driver for Airtec Sprayers. Gail was born in Ozark, Alabama on February 5, 1954. Her family moved to Florida when she was very young. She went to college for business and financing and drove for Polk County school systems. Gail was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and all around great...
The latest reports from area lakes are solid evidence that it's time to break out the tackle and head out. On Lake Walk-in-the-Water, specks being caught in the grass and around the lily pads on jigs. Bass are moving up into shallow water, and getting ready to spawn. Try throwing a "Boy howdy" top-water lure in the morning around isolated cover, switching over to a black blue Senko later in the day. On Lake Hatchineha you should try drifting with minnows out in the middle of...
An evening of often hilarious one-upmanship between roommates with a dash of Halloween flair is the basis of plenty of great gags as Lake Wales Little Theater (LWLT) presents "Ripcord," a comedy by David Lindsay-Abaire about learning to live with others despite perceived differences. Set in a senior living facility, the play features some atypical competition between roommates. Resident Abby Binder, played by Dorinda Morrison-Garrard, is a grouchy woman who seems to prefer...
A festive evening of colorful costumes, dance music, food and fun is in store for guests at a special Mardi Gras themed party hosted by the Lake wales Woman's Club. The party, slated for Saturday, February 19, comes exactly a week ahead of the climactic day of the Lake Wales Mardi Gras, when area "krewes" will parade through the streets of the city showing off their best costumes and floats. The party will be the first return to a long tradition of krewe costume balls that...
Live theatre offers a great alternative to pre-recorded television shows, and that "anything can happen" excitement makes for some surprising moments. The opportunity to take in live play in Lake Wales is back as Lake Wales Little Theatre presents "Ripcord" beginning this Friday night. The intimate theatre offers great views from every seat, and tickets may be purchased in advance online. "Ripcord" offers a different twist on the roommate problems you may remember from your ow...
The ongoing transition of the Lake Wales area from broad tracts of citrus to new housing projects is taking another leap forward as two prominent citrus families have proposed voluntary annexations totaling some 266 acres. The tracts lie immediately north and south of the present city center. Annexation will make the sites eligible for municipal water and sewer services, allowing development at attractive densities. The largest of the new annexation applications covers about...
Barbara Cox Reeves passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022. She was born on July 9, 1926 in Homerville, Georgia to Sherman and Clayra Nesbit Cox. The family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1936. Barbara graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida, Stetson University in Deland, Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and from the University of Florida with a master's degree. In 1948, Barbara married Walter L. Reeves. They lived in Jacksonville where...
Sandy Rybinski of Frostproof passed away Friday December 17, 2021 at AdventHealth of Lake Wales.. He was born August 15,1941 in Blue Island, IL to the late Edmond and Angeline Rybinski. He moved to Frostproof in 1966 with his newborn son and wife Pamela to open and operate Sandy's Marrket, which he purchased from his godmother Mildred Zale. In the following decades, Sandy and Pam operated many businesses in Frostproof, most notable was the Rio Grande Bar, which entertained...
Whether working on large projects like the Park Avenue Connector Trail or coordinating the usage of the city's recreation facilities, Stephanie Edwards is the one the city can count on. Edwards has also been tasked with overseeing the city's acquisition and rehabilitation of the YMCA, including setting up free swim access for residents. Edwards serves as the busy Support Services and Recreation Manager for the City of Lake Wales Parks and Recreation Department, so she meets...
