Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Lake Wales weightlifters won the Olympics-style county title while placing second to Lakeland in the traditional competition. In the Olympic competition, Lake Wales won with 53 points, while Lakeland was second with 48. Ridge Community (30 points), Lake Gibson (27) and Haines City (28) trailed. Individual lifters who played major roles in the team victory for the Highlanders included Sean Major (219) Trent Grotjan (199), Noah Wise (unlimited), Harrison Thrift (129), and...
A very dry January and February in the Lake Wales area have led to critically dry conditions, despite a few scattered showers passing over the area. This week humidity levels will once again approach red-flag conditions, making any fire a severe risk. As drought conditions prevail and low humidity persists, Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) would like to encourage the public to help prevent accidental bush fires throughout the county. Since January 2023, Polk County Fire Rescue...
Enrollment for the Summer 2023 Semester and the Fall 2023 Term at Polk State College will start on March 27 with priority registration for students who have completed at least 50% of their program requirements. Open enrollment will start on April 3. Currently enrolled students will be able to check the completion status of their program requirements on March 20 to determine if they are eligible for priority registration in Passport, where students register for classes....
The Federal Railroad Administration Friday gave SunRail and Brightline, Central Florida's dual passenger train ambitions, an extension of the looming deadline to apply for funding to expand from Orlando's airport to the region's tourism hub and across Polk County to Tampa. Sun Rail currently serves 16 locations between Poinciana and DeBary. The Florida Department of Transportation is responsible for coordinating local governments and the private Brightline Trains, which are...
Teaching children to read is one of the most important steps in the life-long project of learning. Getting them started early is critical, many educators believe. Among those who created reading material that draws children into the learning process was the beloved Dr. Seuss. As a way to mark Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2, Lake Wales Charter Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Rodolfich, accompanied by Bilingual Specialist Dr. Julio Acevedo and PD Coordinator Stacie Padgett,...
Lake Wales Police have recovered more than $400,000 worth of stolen property and arrested a 51-year-old man suspected of dealing in stolen property. The Friday February 17, arrest of Billy Joe Byrd by Lake Wales Police detectives came after they received a tip that stolen property was being stored at 254 N Miami Street in Lake Wales. Police are seeking others involved in a wide-spread theft and fencing operation. Detectives obtained permission from the property owner before...
A pair of public hearings are planned to allow area residents to learn more and speak about the proposed Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC). The hearings will address a planned Southeast Wellfield & Water Supply Facility project proposed near Lake Wales. The project would draw water from the "sub-Floridan" aquifer to supply cities across Polk County using a new network of huge pipelines. The project has anticipated costs that could approach or exceed a billion dollars...
A forum to hear from four candidates for the Lake Wales City Commission is planned for mid-March to allow voters to learn about the goals and platforms prior to the April 4 election. Two seats on the five-person commission are at stake in the vote. The American Association of University Women Lake Wales Branch will join with the GFWC Woman's Club of Lake Wales in sponsoring the forum on March 13th. The candidates for the two seats include Deputy Mayor Robin Gibson, who will...
The Dyer Difference Award for February has gone to Polk Sheriff's Charities. Since 2006, Polk Sheriff's Charities have been supporting first responders and members of the community in a variety of ways that show dedication, commitment, and loyalty to Polk county residents. What started as a response to the murder of Deputy Matt Williams and K-9 DiOGi after a routine traffic stop, has blossomed into a veritable font of kindness and compassion for the community. First...
The public is being invited to learn and comment on a new trail segment being proposed to continue expanding the bicycle and pedestrian links around Lake Wales. The segment would connect the Lake Wailes Trail with the Rails-to-Trails track. A trail design concept created by city consultant Hale Innovation of Maitland envisions the new trail linking the existing at three points while looping around Kiwanis Park. A Federal Recreational Trails Program grant application to help...
Four separate construction projects are causing lengthy detours for area drivers, according to Bill Skelton, Project Management Liaison for Polk County. Travel delays, some lengthy, can be expected while traffic is detoured to bypass these closures. The newest announced closure is along Lake Wales-Alturas Road North, just west Crews Road, in rural, unincorporated Lake Wales. That road is closing at the railroad crossing on Thursday, February 23 for two to five days to allow...
An event designed to share healthcare and vital resources with the broader community will give residents a chance to learn and take advantage of many free services, ranging from health screenings to free cookies and snacks.. The Community Resource Fair will take place on March 11th from 10am to 12pm at the Lake Wales Library. A dozen vendors will set up throughout the library lobby, as well as along the front entrance sidewalk, according to Christine Runyon, the library's...
Cyclists and pedestrians are one step closer to being able to travel safely from downtown Lakeland to downtown Bartow. The Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) today accepted funding for construction of a 2.4-mile extension of the Fort Fraser Trail, which currently runs parallel to U.S Highway 98 for eight miles along an abandoned rail line, from State Road 540 to State Rd. 60. The extension will go from U.S. Highway 98 at Winter Lake Rd. to Lake Highlands Rd. at G...
For one day only, Polk County is putting the brakes on collection fees and getting drivers back on the road during Operation Green Light. Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Stacy Butterfield has announced the program in coordination with clerks of court across the state. During the one-day event, the collection fees applied to unpaid court fines are waived, which saves customers up to 40 percent on their outstanding fines. Once paid, customers can proceed with the...
Several innovative designs presented for possible development of a site south of Southgate Shopping Center led the Lake Wales City Commission to approve the rezoning of a 6.5 acre parcel to allow higher density development. The change from LDR, or low density to MDR, or medium density, will allow up to 42 residential units in a variety of housing types in the various scenarios. The change would allow up to 12 units p[er acre rather than the five units common in subdivisions....
Working to conduct safe and fair elections is a contribution toward protecting our democracy, and now Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards offering citizens an opportunity to be a part of that process. Edward will be hosting an informational meeting in Lake Wales for anyone interested in serving as an election worker. The one-hour meeting will be held Tuesday, February 28th at 10:00 am at the James P Austin Community Center at 315 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd....
Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has just earned the title of 2022 CARFAX Top-Rated Lifetime Dealer, along with two other dealerships in Florida, also owned by the Mahalak family. The Award is given for exceptional customer service. The Low Payment Kings at Lake Wales Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and the Mahalak Auto Group have much to Celebrate in 2023. The Low Payment Kings, powered by Mahalak Auto Group, is also celebrating the 57th Anniversary of the founding of its first...
Music fans are invited to a special concert this Saturday afternoon beginning at 3:00 at the Lake Wales Arts Center. According to a statement issued by the Arts Council, the concert is "part of the Lakeland Symphony Orchestra's ensemble series, featuring small ensembles of musicians performing in smaller venues throughout Polk County. This intimate, one-hour concert offers the chance to hear LSO musicians up close while still finding space to get lost in the music." Patrons wi...
Following voter approval of Polk Foever, a new 20-year environmental land tax passed last November, Polk County is reactivating its long-standing citizen's committee that successfully guided a prior 20-year effort. The Board of County Commissioners this week approved the re-creation of the Polk County Conservation Land Acquisition Selection Advisory Committee (CLASAC). As an advisory committee, CLASAC members will review potential Polk County land acquisitions for...
Tragedy struck Friday morning as a McLaughlin Middle School student was killed after being struck by a truck while waiting near a school bus stop in the fog. Lake Wales Police Department reports indicate that Jadin Galindo, 13, was waiting for his school bus in the dark at about 6:15 am when he was struck by a 2013 GMC Sierra truck. According to police reports the alleyway where he was sitting, near the intersection of Miami Street and Dr. JA Wiltshire Avenue, near Florida's N...
Representatives of three different first responder organizations were honored at a special luncheon organized by the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce. The event, held at the Lake Wales Arts Center on Thursday, is the second such annual recognition event run by the Chamber, and apparently the only one in this part of Florida. The top honorees, Firefighter EMT George Gibson of Polk County Fire & Rescue, (LtoR) Deputy Sheriff Steven Mills of the Polk County Sheriff's Office,...
It was a relaxed Mark Bennett who shared his thoughts about the many changes both ahead and behind in Lake Wales and Polk County recently. Bennett is stepping down as director of the City of Lake Wales Development Services department after an eventful 30 months in a role he called "challenging, demanding, stressful." During his time at the helm of city planning Bennett has dealt with a wave of annexation requests as owners of declining citrus properties weigh their options...
A Frostproof woman died after being struck by a pickup truck on US 27 near the Camp Inn Resort early Tuesday morning. The location is north of Frostproof, and about three miles south of Warner University. The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating the fatal crash. Janie Barnett, 43, of Frostproof was transported to a local hospital but died from her injuries shortly after arriving. Evidence and witness statements collected by the Traffic Homicide Unit revealed that Ms....
"One of the most stressful parts of getting married is planning the wedding," according to Polk County Clerk & Comptroller Stacy M. Butterfield. Now Butterfield is offering a way to remove that stress on one special day. Registration is now open for courting couples wanting to tie the knot on the most romantic day of the year. On Valentine's Day at noon, Butterfield plans to is host the 10th annual group wedding on the steps of Polk County's historic courthouse, which is now...
Four $1,200 scholarships will be offered to Florida students in 2023 by Polk County Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards. Edwards has offered the scholarships each year for a number of years, part of her effort to encourage higher and engagement with government by Polk students. The scholarship will go to those currently enrolled in a senior college of university in Florida. Those students are typically not eligible for scholarships, which often go to those entering college...
