Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 13 of 13
A motorcyclist was killed Tuesday evening, April 29, 2025, in a two-vehicle crash near Lake Wales. Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and members of Polk County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the crash on Mammoth Grove Road near Stokes Road at about 9:53 pm. When first responders arrived, they determined that 38-year old Justin Casey Weyburn of Lake Wales was deceased. Weyburn had been the operator of a black 2017 Harley Davidson motorcycle. The other person involv...
A new convenience store "with gasoline service and outdoor display and sales" is planned for the northeast side of Lake Wales, according to a proposed site plan on the Tuesday agenda of the city's Planning and Zoning board. The seven-member P&Z board will consider whether to recommend approval of a Special Exception Use Permit for the 3.1 acre site on the southwest corner of Burns Avenue and Buck Moore Road. The intersection is presently signalized but a long-term...
A population boom is expected in Lake Wales in coming months and years as design work or construction is advancing for at least 40 projects within the city limits, in addition to others outside the city. A LakeWalesNews.net calculation shows a total of more than 15,660 new residential units have already met some level of approval by the city commission, with many having already received final plat approval for construction, even as other projects are nearing completion. If the...
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 Highlander from 100 years earlier, tracking the growth of the community a century ago, when Florida was in the midst of a great land price boom and rapid population growth. The images are retrieved from the digital archives of the Lake Wales Public Library. The Lake Wales Highlander eventually became...
The parade of development proposals that have stirred citizen concerns of runaway changes to Lake Wales continued to be evident at the most recent city commission meeting as details emerged for several more projects. A calculation by LakeWalesNews.Net staff has indicated that more than 12,000 new single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and mobile homes are included in developments already on the drawing table. At least three other projects have been proposed but remain to...
The rush to develop housing in Lake Wales shows no sign of abating as new proposals continue to come before the Lake Wales City Commission. Tuesday's agenda saw an approval of an annexation that will pave the way for a 90-acre residential development south of the Eastlake Center, which houses Winn-Dixie and Rural King. The proposed annexation of 62 acres will join them with another 29 already under the same ownership group. If approved for medium density residential...
With hundreds of new homes slated for construction along the booming Buck Moore Road, Lake Wales City Commissioners have unanimously approved hiring an engineering firm to conduct a traffic study to keep things moving along that corridor. "This is a proactive step to anticipate and mitigate any impacts" from the new subdivisions, City Manager James Slaton said in introducing the proposal at a Commission workshop. "We want to do the corridor study now to have it in place when...
Plans and proposals for new housing developments in Lake Wales have come in waves during 2021 and show no sign of abating. More than 8,300 new dwellings are now "visible" on the planning documents at the City of Lake Wales Development Services. Those residences are likely to house more than 23,000 new citizens, an expected population increase of some 140%. "Everybody wants to come where we are," said City Commissioner Robin Gibson, when asked about the growth spurt. "It's a...
Rutha M. Turner, 62 of Lake Wales, Mammoth Grove, died at Lake Wales Advent Health Hospital. Born in Dublin, Georgia. Memorial Service: Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, Mammoth Grove Road, Mammoth Grove, Lake Wales. Mask Required. Visitation: Monday, October 4, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Epps Chapel. Mask Required. Interment: Tuesday, October, October 5, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Lake Wales Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 581 Hunt Brothers Road,...
Margie Turner, 68 of Mammoth Grove, Lake Wales, died at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale, Florida. Memorial Service: Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. at Corenerstone Church, Mammoth Grove Road, Mammoth Grove, Lake Wales. Mask Required. Visitation: Monday, October 4, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Epps Chapel. Mask Required. Interment: Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Lake Wales Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 581 Hunt Brothers Road, Lake Wales. Mask...
Martha Turner, 83 of Mammoth Grove, Lake Wales, died at Advent Health Hospital in Lake Wales. Memorial Service: Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Cornerstone Church, Mammoth Grove Road, Mammoth Grove, Lake Wales. Mask Required. Visitation: Monday, October 4, 2021 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Epps Chapel. Interment: Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at 11:00 am. at Lake Wales Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 581 Hunt Brothers Road, Lake Wales....
Polk County Public Schools and Polk Vision have teamed up to help improve internet access for students through a new initiative: Synced for Students. With campuses closed through the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, PCPS students are engaging with their teachers and lessons online as part of a statewide transition to distance learning. However, the change has been difficult for many families who lack internet service at home, or have limited internet options in their...
Starting Thursday April 9 the Lake Wales Charter School bus drivers will start delivering meals to 18 locations along five routes. Meals will be available to children 18 and under regardless of where the student attends school. Social distancing of at least six feet is mandatory for neighborhood pickup locations. If able, masks and gloves are highly recommended for the safety of all. Children need to be present to receive the meals. Meals will be delivered Monday through...
