Sorted by date Results 951 - 975 of 3345
The Lake Wales Connected plan took a major step forward this week as the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) voted Tuesday to award a construction contract for the Park Avenue reconstruction. Work on the multi-million dollar project is expected to begin in January. "This is the showpiece project of the Lake Wales Connected plan," City Manager James Slaton told city commissioners sitting as the CRA board. "It's been at least a couple of years to get to this point."...
A pair of proposed apartment developments near Eagle Ridge Mall may add 824 new dwelling units to the city, but in each case developer proposals to reduce required parking created some heartburn for city commissioners. The first and most prominent of the pair is proposed for a site directly behind Shoppes on the Ridge, on the north side of Chalet Suzanne Road and across from Wawa. It would consist of six four-story buildings containing 272 units on a 12.1 acre site. Tentative...
The Lake Wales Highlanders took another step forward toward their long-denied state football title Friday night as they defeated the Ocala Vanguard Knights 40-0. The Knights had ended the Highlanders' last two title runs, making the victory particularly sweet. The win advances the top-seeded and undefeated Highlanders to the Regional Championship Game, which will take place Friday evening at Legion Field when they host the number three seed Zephyrhills Bulldogs. Game time is s...
The Lake Wales Fire Department and the City of Lake Wales want to alert residents to some very important tips regarding "deep frying" turkeys, a popular trend in recent years. Watch the video for some dramatic evidence. Among the tips: &bull: ALWAYS USE A FRYER OUTDOORS. Keep the fryer away from flammable materials. &bull: PLACE THE FRYER ON A LEVEL, STABEL SURFACE. If a fryer can tip or be knocked over by accident, it can cause a catastrophe. &bull: ALWAYS THAW THE TURKEY...
The City of Lake Wales finished the 2021-2022 fiscal year in better-than-expected financial shape, based upon figures included in a year-end budget amendment approved by city commissioners. The fiscal year ended on September 30, but final balances were not available for a few weeks. City Budget Director Dorothy Abbott presented the documents to the commissioners, explaining that the changes in the numbers reflected the needed final look back at the year concluded. The General...
More than three miles of streets around Lake Wales are in for improved surfaces in coming months, part of the city's multi-year street maintenance program. The largest single project will be the resurfacing of 2,260 feet of Sessoms Avenue from Scenic Highway to Wales Drive. The project will use a process called "cape seal," which will extend the life of existing asphalt band and allow the budget to cover more streets, according to Division Manager Beverly Pennington of the...
The undefeated and top-seeded Lake Wales High School Highlanders football team has drawn a rematch with the eight-seeded Auburndale Bloodhounds in the first round of the Regional playoffs, state football officials have announced. Due to their seed they will host at least through the Regional games. The Highlanders are 10-0 on the season, and have outscored their opponents 429 to 41 in games that were rarely in doubt after the the first quarter. The Highlanders defeated...
One-time Hurricane Nicole passed over the Lake Wales area this morning, with the broad center of the storm positioned directly over the city at 7:00 am today. Despite gusty winds and steady rains, few serious impacts have been reported so far. Once again, forecasts from the National Hurricane Center have proven uncannily accurate in predicting the movement of the storm, from predictions of its formation three days before evidence was seen, to its entire unusual course. Nicole...
A late-evening shooting Wednesday at a local apartment complex left two men hospitalized and a suspect or suspects being sought by the Lake Wales Police Department. According to Lieutenant M. Smith of the LWPD, the two victims were sitting outside an apartment talking when they heard a series of shots ring out. They both realized they had been hit, and called for help. They also reported that there had been no prior disturbance or argument prior to the incident. At...
An alert Lake Wales Police officer led to the Saturday seizure of illegal and prescription drugs, as well as a large amount of cash. Officer Terry Schulze was on patrol and noticed a vehicle parked at the Prince of Wales motel which matched one usually driven by 24 year old Carlos Williams of Winter Haven, who is wanted on multiple violent felony crimes. Carlos Williams is . He is wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence charges, and a warrant...
The Circle of Friends will be celebrating Thanksgiving this Saturday, November 19, beginning at 11:00, and are inviting the entire community to join them in the Historic District of downtown Lake Wales for the event. The celebration will take place in front of their facilities at 105 East Stuart Avenue. The entire block will be closed for the day's activities. Guests will find family friendly entertainment and a day of free games and activities for all ages, with an area speci...
The solution to a missing persons case that has festered for years remains our of sight for investigators after an excavation under the floors of an aging home of Dr. J.A. Wiltshire Avenue turned up no remains. The home was the focal point of years of rumors after 24-year-old Debbie Williams was reported missing by family members in 1990. Her daughter Tamesha, then about nine years old, was subsequently raised by her grandmother. She has never had closure in the matter of her...
The top-seeded Lake Wales Highlander football team advanced their 2022 playoff hopes Friday night at Legion Field with a decisive 34-10 victory over the eighth-seed Auburndale Bloodhounds, making a small step forward to their season-long goal of a state title that has proved elusive. The Highlanders have advanced as far as the championship game in past seasons, but never brought home the trophy. Their hopes are riding high this year on the strength of their undefeated season,...
Can two strangers find love at IKEA? Possibly-with a playful ghost involved. We will soon know as a cast of ten actors will perform "Lost (and Found) in Ikea January 13-29 at Lake Wales Little Theatre, 411 North Third Street. Auditions for the comedy are being held at the theatre this Monday and Tuesday evenings beginning at 7:00 pm. Five women and five men are needed to perform roles both large and small for nine performances. A perusal script is available at Lake Wales Publi...
Two new apartment complexes totaling 824 units may bring a burst of new economic activity to the city's booming north side. The Lake Wales City Commission will consider action on the two projects Tuesday after discussing the proposals at their agenda workshop. Hillpointe, the larger of the two projects, is proposed to include 552 units 137 acres lying north of Chalet Suzanne Road and the existing Serenity Luxury Apartments. The construction would take place on the...
Robert Alan "Bob" Decker of Winter Haven passed away Saturday, November 5, 2022 at his residence. He was born October 11, 1946 in Elizabeth, New Jersey to the late Stanley and Evelyn Decker; he moved to Lake Wales from New Jersey 16 years ago, living the last 6 months in Winter Haven. Bob was a retired Catholic Priest and a member of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. He sang in the church choir and loved the theatre and Broadway. He enjoyed computer games and music....
Andrea Garwood Littleton of Lake Wales, Florida passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2022 with her children and husband by her side at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. She was born on April 12, 1952 in Newton, Massachusetts to the late E Peter and Shirley Garwood and was raised in Saginaw, Michigan. They raised their three sons in the Boston area and the family later relocated to Wilmington Delaware, and eventually retiring to Lake Wales ten years ago....
Juan Trinidad Eliserio of Frostproof passed away Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. He was born May 5, 1951 in Mercedes, Texas to the late Jesus and Josefina Eliserio; he moved to Frostproof six years ago. Juan was a Laborer for Aslpandh and a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Juan is survived by his wife of 20 years, Rosalba Eliserio; daughter, Sulema Eliserio; son, Juan Eliserio; sister, Maria Meagher; eight grandchildren; and three...
The Warner University Royals initiated a brand new football field on their South Lake Wales campus Saturday, hosting their first on-campus game by taking on Southeastern University in a Sun Conference game. The new facility, although still lacking the bleachers and field house that are expected parts of a college field, has a high-quality playing surface featuring artificial turf emblazoned with the Warner University Lion logo. A press box towers over the west side of the...
A missing woman, a distressed family, and decades of rumors have led the Lake Wales Police Department to reopen a "cold case" investigation that has many questioning why it's taken so long. At Tuesday's City Commission meeting, two residents came forward to challenge an official narrative about the case, stating that the family is "still grieving" and needed closure. The issue was raised only days after a private search and rescue team found evidence that a murder victim likel...
Student athletes from four local elementary schools will meet on the gridiron in an afternoon ideal for family fun. Students from Janie Howard Wilson, Hillcrest, Polk Avenue, and Babson Park elementary schools look forward to the highlight of both the autumn of the school calendars and the spring of their football careers. The annual "Elementary Turkey Bowl" takes place on Tuesday, November 15, beginning at 10:00 am. on the storied grounds of Legion Field in Lake Wales....
Despite the arrival of dry autumn-like weather, unseasonable warmth has left the door open for possible tropical storm development, and forecasters are now keeping an eye on the potential for a rainy, windy spell for the state of Florida. For several days long-range weather models have been depicting a new low forming over the northeastern Caribbean and south-west Atlantic before drifting over the Bahamas and approaching the east coast of Florida. That path alone would make...
Lake Wales Little Theatre is offering an entertaining and timely comedic romp through the American political landscape in its production of "The Outsider," which runs through November 20. What would you do if you were suddenly thrust into public office, and were terrified of crowds and cameras? That's the dilemma facing accidental Governor Ned Newley While the script provides its appropriate level of laughs, it's the cast that brings the play to life, with solid performances...
After an October 27 public forum that City Manager James Slaton described as "disorganized," City of Lake Wales staff is reviewing and restarting the entire process of conducting a land use study that will outline future desired uses of property in and around the community. City staff plans to enhance public engagement in the City's Land Use Study, designed to evaluate land areas in the city's utility service area beyond the city limits in unincorporated Polk County. "The...
Fans of Christian music will have a rare treat as the First Presbyterian Church brings the Ball Brothers to Lake Wales for a single free concert on Wednesday, November 30, beginning at 7:00 pm. The Ball Brothers are a popular Christian entertainment group consisting of two brothers, Andrew and Daniel Ball, along with brother-in-law Chad McCloskey and newcomer Rhett Roberts. According to their website, the group travels world-wide, singing their distinctive brand of Christian...