Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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BARTOW - A Circuit Court ruling Thursday has set the stage for reverting ownership of the historic Walesbilt Hotel in Lake Wales back to the city, ending a years-long legal battle for control of the 10-story building. Circuit Judge William T. Sites ruled that the current owner, Dixie-Walesbilt LLC's Raymond Brown, fraudulently induced the city into contracting with him to redevelop the property, and ultimately to sign the deed over to Brown, according to the ruling. The...
An upcoming exhibit at the Lake Wales Arts Center will feature the Solivita Artisan Guild. The Guild includes artisans and artists in the community located within Poinciana in northeast Polk County. Members will share their interests in a wide range of crafts and fine arts. The special exhibit will open March 4 and include works of painting, drawing, jewelry, photography, sculpture and ceramics, tie-dye and batik, quilting and sewing created by members of the organization....
A "business incubator" operating under a three-year, $1.2 million contract approved by the Lake Wales City Commission appears to be operating in violation of several laws, a five-month-long LakeWalesNews.net investigation has determined. Among questionable practices identified within a web of interconnected businesses are business activity lacking county and city occupational permits, apparent violations of Florida's registered agent law, plagiarism, faked testimonials, and a...
A Lake Wales woman is in custody after a horrific accident on Saturday morning resulted in the death of a passenger in her vehicle. After what police described as "a very active and ongoing traffic homicide investigation," the Lake Wales Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Jeanette Gonzalez of Lake Wales for DUI Manslaughter. The crash took place on U.S. Highway 27, in front of Weikert Ford, where officers found 38-year-old Eliecer Padilla of Lake Wales deceased...
Ideal weather conditions and a wide area of beautiful works of art are expected to draw residents and visitors alike to the shores of Lake Wailes this weekend as the 53rd annual Lake Wales Arts Festival take place in Lake Wailes Park. The show will be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10: a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday. Seventy artists have been accepted into the juried showing hosted by the Lake Wales Arts Council and will offer an array of media and...
Polk County's annual Water Conservation Art Contest is open for all Polk County students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Winning entries will be featured in Polk County Utilities' 2025 Water Conservation Calendar. Participants are encouraged to create a poster or picture that demonstrates the "how" and/or "why" of water conservation. Students may use words or slogans, images, etc. Suggested subjects include saving water, reclaimed water, stormwater protection (pollution...
Business owners lined up at the beginning of the Lake Wales City Commission meeting Tuesday evening to explain to commissioners the various ways they are working to enhance the Lake Wales economy and the Northwest Neighborhood. They joined Florida Development Corp, Inc. COO Derrick Blue and CEO Frank Cornier after a special presentation period was added to the commission agenda. FDC operates the BizLINC business incubator under a $1.2 million contract with the City of Lake...
An annual event that draws thousands of art lovers from Lake Wales and around the state, the 53rd Annual Lake Wales Arts Festival ill be happening Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24 and 25 at Lake Wailes Park, preceded by a special event for artists and patrons on Friday evening. Hosted by the Lake Wales Arts Council, this year's festival will be enhanced as 70 artists have been accepted into the juried show to display their creative works. The show attracts submissions from...
In an effort to help address the need for transportation around the downtown area, City Manager James Slaton and staff have brought another solution forward. The "Squeeze" is an eight-passenger open vehicle which has already proven successful in downtown Lakeland, according to Erin Killebrew, who presented the concept during a special presentation to the Community Redevelopment Agency board. The proposal would provide the vehicle as a free service to riders needing to move...
Polk County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a couple and removed a 7-month-old baby and a 7-year-old child who lived in the home in Alturas. Deputies had responded to a call from the Department of Children and Families to the home, located in the 8000 block of Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road, to find "a total disaster," according to Polk Sheriff Grady Judd. The children were living with their parents, Tawnya White, 43, and her husband, 39-year-old Devin White, in deplorable...
The Florida Commission on Ethics had found "probable cause that Polk County School Board member and Lake Wales resident Lori Cunningham has created a conflict of interest for her sales of clothing to the Lake Wales Charter Schools and a Dundee school. According to the complaint, Cunningham's personally-owned company, Applied Images, has been selling school uniform shirts to at least four local schools for years, specifying "over $16,000 in sales made to charter schools since...
McLaughlin Middle/High School in Lake Wales is among the schools that will benefit from an effort by Junior Achievement. The JA of Florida Foundation has received a $70,000 grant from State Farm to support a statewide statewide initiative of learning experiences in eight localities throughout Florida, enabling thousands of young people to participate in JA's nationally recognized financial literacy and career readiness learning experiences. At McLaughlin School the Principles...
The January 30, 1924 issue of the Highlander was filled with significant reports, including one claiming that Polk County, with it's sparse population, had been recorded as having the highest per capita income in the nation. A second story indicated part of the reason: at 70,000 acres,Polk County had more acreage of citrus planted than the next five Florida counties combined. The surge of planting here had already generated immense wealth, and Lake Wales was the center of the...
Polk County voters who have moved or changed their name are encouraged to update their record with the Elections Office before the March 19th Presidential Preference Primary Election. It’s also important to notify the Elections Office if your signature has changed. The City of Lake Wales municipal elections will follow on April 2, so making certain your voter record is correct will avoid any problems in voting. Many changes can be made by calling the Elections Office at (...
Linda Marie Baker, 61, of Frostproof, FL, passed away on January 20, 2024. Linda was born March 9, 1962, to the late Robert Felesky and Norma Herzog. She moved to Frostproof from Key West in 2014 and lived in Maryland prior to Key West. Linda met the love of her life Butch (Merritt K.) Baker in FL, and they married July 21, 2012. Linda worked for the Polk County Department of Health. Linda was the administrative assistant for the Tobacco Program. She was instrumental in...
AdventHealth Foundation West Florida is delighted to announce the appointment of Leigh Ann Wynn as the new Executive Director for the Polk County region. As a seventh-generation Floridian hailing from Lake Wales, Wynn brings a deep connection to the community and a wealth of experience to her new role. Wynn, born and raised on her family's cattle ranch, embodies the spirit of Central Florida's agricultural roots. Graduating with a bachelor's in public relations and a minor in...
Teachers and other school-based professionals that work directly with students at a local school are invited to apply for a mini-grant that will fund classroom activities. The GFWC Lake Wales Junior Woman's Club Grants for Great Ideas program is offering $5,000 that will be divided into $250l grants to augment teaching, Instructors at Lake Wales Charter Schools and Polk County Public Schools with a physical Lake Wales address are eligible. Grant applications have been sent to...
The most romantic day of the year is going to be a bit more so as multiple couples gather to "tie the knot" on the steps of the Polk County History Center, the former Polk County Courthouse, on Valentine's Day. The free ceremony is limited to 30 couples and registration is first come, first serve. The ceremony will take place on Feb. 14 at noon as Clerk & Comptroller Stacy M. Butterfield hosts the 11th annual group wedding on the steps of the historic building. The ceremony...
Polk State College invites prospective students, their families, and community members to an open house at the Polk State JD Alexander Center on January 25 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 152 E. Central Ave. in Lake Wales. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the Center's new Director, Von McGriff, as well as faculty and staff. Tours of the campus, assistance with admission and registration, and information about programs, financial aid, and scholarships will be available....
A historic decline in breast cancer death rates has been partly attributed to improvements in early detection, Lake Wales area patients seeking the best in care can now rely on local resources after AdventHealth Lake Wales cut the ribbon on a new 3D mammography unit. The new technology is designed to provide potentially lifesaving screenings for women and men and fill a critical need in the community. AdventHealth Lake Wales CEO Royce Brown said this new 3D mammography unit wi...
Polk County residents Hap and Chris Hazelwood were the recipients of the Courage Award presented at a luncheon following the 11th Annual 18 Aces to Conquer Cancer Golf Tournament at Winter Haven Country Club. Both are cancer survivors who epitomize the strength it takes to fight the disease. "The goal of 18 Aces to Conquer Cancer is to raise funds for pancreatic cancer, but also to have a fun round of golf for a Great cause!" said Ralph Mahalak Jr., co-owner of the Mahalak...
The wild swings of weather seen in central Florida in recent days is expected to continue this week with a dash of severe threats thrown into the mixture, as the long-predicted El Nino weather pattern takes hold here. The immediate concern is for Tuesday evening, when a strong, fast moving squall line is expected to pass over the Lake Wales Ridge with the potential for damaging winds. Cloud to ground lightning and a slight risk of tornadoes has been forecast as well....
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...
Colonel James R. (Jim) Bell, 85, of Babson Park, Florida, died on December 12, 2023, after a brief struggle with lymphoma. He was a decorated Air Force fighter pilot and longtime public servant in multiple positions of civil government. Born April 25, 1938 to Tracy and Dorothy Bell and happily raised in Albany, Georgia, Jim began his flying career as a teenager, achieving his pilot's license in high school. Participating in ROTC during high school and college, he graduated...
Sammy Ray Bryant, beloved husband, father and grandfather, died Jan. 31 after complications following surgery and a struggle with dementia. The native Kentuckian and longtime Polk County resident was 90 years old. Sam was unfailingly kind, adventurous and eager for new experiences. He loved sailing, traveling with his wife, spending time with family, and had a great appreciation for grouper sandwiches, banana pudding and a glass of “good red wine.” He worked for decades as...
