Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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UPDATE: Polk County Public Schools will reopen on Tuesday, October 4. Students should be prepared to resume their normal class schedules at that time, according to school officials. At the urging of County emergency officials and the National Weather Service, Polk County Public Schools are to activate some schools that will be serving as storm shelters for those evacuating their homes, creating the need to close the schools for classes effective and the end of today....
UPDATE: Hurricane Ian has continued its trek toward Florida, now with 125 MPH winds. Further intensification is expected during the next 24 hours. The storm is now a Category Three, and is projected to reach Category Four status today. For the latest information on expected impacts to the Lake Wales area, please RETURN TO HOME PAGE Projections from the NHC depict that Ian will remain a Major Hurricane as it moves over the west central coast of Florida. Ian is now on a northerl...
As Hurricane Ian threatens Florida and the Lake Wales area, Polk County has announced that thirteen shelters will be opened across the county, None are in Lake Wales. The only designated shelter in the city, located at Spook Hill Elementary, will apparently not be opened despite the demand from those living in several large mobile home communities in southeast Polk. The LakeWalesNews.net had highlighted this continued neglect of the region in a story published at the start of...
In preparation for the approaching storm, all Polk County Environmental Lands sites and Natural Resources Stormwater Treatment Wetlands will be closed Monday, September 26, 2022 out of an abundance of caution and will remain closed until further notice. These sites include Circle B Bar Reserve, Crooked Lake Prairie, Crooked Lake Sandhill, Gator Creek Reserve, Hickory Lake Scrub, Lakeland Highlands Scrub, Marshall Hampton Reserve, North Walk-in-Water Creek, Peace River...
While two independently owned and operated new restaurants are planned for opening on Highway 60, including Locorrito and Brake Burger Garage, and two more are planned to open on First Street downtown and on Lincoln Avenue, three more are aiming for construction on US 27 near the Eagle Ridge Mall. All three new restaurants will be located on the east side of US 27, and will occupy among the last of the rapidly-filling mall outparcels. A Starbucks coffee outlet is planned for...
A major step to preserving the history of Polk County was trumpeted during a recent presentation to the Polk County Board of County Commissioners by Stacy Butterfield, Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. Butterfield presented the full preservation of the county's first-ever deed book, labeled "Deed Book A." "This is a significant historical artifact for our county and I felt it should be presented to our citizens in a formal presentation," Butterfield said. "...
Thomas D McKeon, D.C., 72, of Reunion, Florida passed away Tuesday morning August 30, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. Tom was born August 26, 1950, and was a devoted chiropractor and community leader. Always ready with a joke or a story, Tom’s sense of humor and skill as a chiropractor made him a popular doctor in Lake Wales with many patients seeing him for decades. His commitment to his hometown, his dedication to community service, and his ability to get things done made him a...
Polk County is seeking volunteers interested in housing and neighborhood development who are willing to serve in a volunteer capacity.on the Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC is comprised of up to fifteen members who assist in reviewing and evaluating the Public Service grant applications for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds according to criteria established in the Polk County Consolidated Pla...
The Southwest Florida Water Management District is sharing a friendly reminder that when it comes to irrigation systems, Polk County residents must follow certain watering schedules and restrictions. Because of Florida's exponential growth, potable water is increasingly in short supply. There is considerable demand upon inland water resources from coastal counties. The following rules apply to all residential and commercial properties that use irrigation systems to water their...
Another traffic-delaying project is about to impact some motorists in the Lake Wales area. A roundabout project is now under construction at the intersection of Old Bartow-Lake Wales Road and Rattlesnake Road (County Road 653) in Lake Wales. The route is one of the few 'back-door" routes allowing commuters to avoid traffic delays between Lake Wales and Winter Haven. The work will close the intersection for one month starting Tuesday morning, September 6. According to Polk Coun...
In the aftermath of the ongoing surge in school shootings nationwide, Polk County Schools plan to conduct random "screenings" of students during the coming school year, which begins Wednesday, August 10. According to a released issued by Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid, "ALL screenings are done randomly." "Schools will vary the screening location on campus, the time when the screening takes place and the frequency of a screening," Heid wrote "For instance,...
Area crafters and vendors looking for a weekday marketing opportunity have an extra chance beginning in early November. Visit Central Florida's Welcome Center in Davenport is inviting vendors to participate in its seasonal market that takes place on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The weekly market offers local vendors the opportunity to share their produce and wares with Polk County residents and visitors alike. A variety of vendors are already signed up to participate...
The Lake Wales Youth Football League, which sponsors the Lake Wales Steelers teams, has been selected as the recipient of the Dyer Difference Award for August. The Lake Wales Football League provides healthy, educational, fun to up to 600 participants each year between the ages of four and 15. Whether they are learning about first downs and defense or how to encourage and support a team as a cheerleader, children who participate in the Lake Wales Youth Football League are...
Lake Wales banker Greg Littleton has been elected to serve as chair of the Polk State College's District Board of Trustees by the trustees at their annual reorganization meeting on August 22. Littleton, a Polk State Distinguished Alumnus who graduated in 1987, has served the Board since 2007, including previous terms as Chair and Vice Chair. The Polk County native is President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Bank & Trust. In addition to his Polk State Associate in...
Twenty-seven community leaders will soon begin exploring the complexities of managing one of the largest school districts in the nation. Inside PCPS - a new countywide leadership program - was created through the collaboration of Polk County Public Schools and Polk Vision. Superintendent Frederick Heid said the new program addresses an important goal within the district's new strategic plan. "One of our major goals is to better engage families and the community," Heid said....
The August 23 "Primary" election will be the "final" election for candidates in four heated Polk School Board races, as well as those seeking judicial slots. Voters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the issues and cast their ballots early, by mail, or on election day. Those wishing to vote early in southeast Polk may visit the Lake Wales Tourist Club at 205 North 5th Street. That location is between the playground at Crystal Lake Park and the City Tennis Courts on...
A convicted felon and a Lake Wales Police Department canine were killed in a shooting in Lake Wales Wednesday morning. Ernest Borders, 57, was killed in the exchange of gunfire after opening fire after ordered to show his hands by two Lake Wales officers. Police K-9 Max was killed, but both officers escaped without injury. Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez said that the K-9 died so that the officers could survive. According to a statement issued by the Lake Wales Police...
Faced with a expected wave of new development after approving more than a dozen new housing projects in less than a year, the Lake Wales City Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a new "Mobility" impact fee that will add $2,055.33 to the cost of new home in the city. Funds raised by the fee may be used for a wide variety of improvements, including sidewalks, trails, lighting, and street trees in addition to the standard road funding. Prepared by consultants NUE Urban...
Saturday, August 13 marked the 18th anniversary of the most destructive hurricane to strike Lake Wales in recent memory, and thankfully the tropics remain quiet so far. Only a weak disturbance drifting westward near Texas is being remarked upon by the National Hurricane Center. The Friday the 13th storm of 2004 was the first of three direct strikes here in only six weeks, an event unprecedented in recorded history. Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne came evenly spaced, three weeks...
Janet Crichfield Ward, 74, of Lake Wales passed away on August 7, 2022, after a long illness. She was born October 17, 1947, in Belle Glade, Florida, to Charles and Bertha Crichfield. She graduated from Belle Glade High School in 1965. After relocating to Lake Wales, she graduated from USF in 1970 where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She went on to attain her master's degree in 1981. Janet became an educator for the Polk County School System where she...
Kathleen Marie Greer of Winter Haven passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at Winter Haven Hospital. She was born March 26, 1946 in Lake Wales. Kathleen was a retired librarian for the Polk County Historical Library and the Lake Wales Public Library and she was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church. She was previously a member of the Business and Professional Women and Columbiettes. Kathleen was a member of the Counsel of Catholic Women and was a Lector and Eucharisto...
As the City of Lake Wales and Polk County prepare to finalize their annual budgets and set tax rates for the new fiscal year, both are benefitting from a substantial rise in property values. The changes could lead to further reductions in millage rates for property owners. In Polk overall, values have risen to $51,391,150,529, an increase of 17.75 percent, nearly doubling last year's sharp increase of 9.03 percent. That represents a current-year increase of more than $2.2...
While the 2022 Hurricane Season has so far seemed quiet from our vantage point in Lake Wales, weather forecasters are warning that this is expected to be an above average season. The August outlook offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reduced the expected number of storms only by one. That prediction now includes a total of 14 to 20 named storms, of which only three have occurred. The hurricane season runs from June 1 until November 30, but the peak...
Ballots are now available for eligible voters who wish to vote by mail in Florida's Statewide Primary Election on August 23rd. The Primary Election will be decisive in four local school board races and a judgeship as well as the selection of major party nominees for governor, US senator, and other statewide offices. Voters can request a mail ballot by phoning Election Headquarters at (863) 534-5888 or by visiting the Supervisor of Elections website at PolkElections.gov. If...
Another reduction in property taxes may be in the cards if Lake Wales city commissioners agree to a proposal from city staff to adopt the "roll-back rate" for the upcoming fiscal year as the city's values surpass a billion dollars for the first time. In a document prepared for consideration at Tuesday's commission meeting, Finance Director Dorothy Abbott is recommending that the city accept the certified property values and adopt an interim millage rate of 6.3626. Once set,...
