Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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After a brief closure, the Military Gallery at the Polk County History Center has reopened with a revitalized look and new displays. Among the artifacts spanning from the Seminole Wars to the War on Terror, visitors will find interpretive panels with stirring images that tell of exceptional bravery and sacrifice. Artifacts of interest include two Walt Disney Studios paintings presented to the 116th Field Artillery: "Beans and Bullets Mickey" and "Best Wishes to the Boys of...
Lake Wales commissioners will be tackling a big issue in the coming months, looking to ensure the city has an adequate supply of water for decades to come. City leaders recently heard a presentation from representatives of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, which has settled on a plan to drill into the lower Floridan aquifer to provide a new alternative water source for local municipalities. Those wells will be up to 1,800 feet deep – about three times deeper than wells i...
Eleven shovels broke ground Saturday, May 1 to signal the ceremonial start of an affordable housing initiative in the city's northwest community. "I hope you feel as optimistic as I do about the future of Lake Wales," said Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton. "We are providing hope to families to move into beautiful homes." The groundbreaking was for the first two homes being built as a partnership of the Keystone Challenge Fund, the city's Community Redevelopment Agency,...
The Lake Wales Arts Council and the Lake Wales Library Association have partnered to create a unique program that will allow library patrons to check out passes to utilize the Lake Wales Arts Center's studios for creative expression. The Studio Experience Pass program was the brainchild of the Lake Wales Arts Center's Director of Programs, Amanda McCallister. She reached out to the Lake Wales Public Library with the proposal. The Lake Wales Library Association, the library's...
To celebrate National Historic Preservation Month, the Polk County History Center's May Zoom and Vroom program features the Lake Wales Downtown Historic District as part of Polk's Heritage Trail. The popular lunch and learn series is virtual in 2021 and includes interactive elements designed to get you and your "Quaranteam" out exploring Polk County. The city was established in 1917 and residential and commercial districts which date to this era achieved National Register...
A light breeze and sunshine made for a pleasant day May 1 for the first Northwest Community Market. Vendors filled the large lots at the corner of B Street and Lincoln Avenue, offering a variety of apparel, products, services and food. The event was hosted as a partnership between the Lincoln Community Development Corporation and the city of Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency. CDC President Sara Jones said she was pleased with the turnout as well as the number and...
With no discussion or public comment the Lake Wales City Commission May 4 approved spending $110,350 for the first year implementation of police worn body cameras for all officers who interact with the public. The Lake Wales Police Department will be the first law enforcement agency in Polk County to implement a body camera program. After reviewing the city's finances six months into the new budget year, City Manager James Slaton said without dipping into reserves the city...
When the Lake Wales City Commission on Feb. 16 approved a pilot program to purchase eight police worn body cameras, Mayor Eugene Fultz predicted that eventually every officer would wear one. Now less than three months later commissioners may be moving forward with full implementation. City Manager James Slaton is recommending the purchase of 24 additional body cameras for a total of 32, which would make them available to all officers who regularly interact with the public....
Florida child care now can be more expensive than in-state college tuition, so the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County wants to help. The Coalition says many parents are struggling to pay for high child care costs along with other major expenses in their budgets. The Coalition is currently assisting over 5,000 families in Polk County with child care expenses. Parents can see if they qualify for financial assistance by calling 863-577-2450 or visiting el...
May will be a big month in the city's northwest business district. Community Redevelopment Agency Coordinator Darrell Starling called it the "coming out party for economic development on Lincoln Avenue." The Lincoln Community Development Corporation will host its first Northwest Community Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 1 at the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and B Street. The event will include vendors, entertainers, a Kids Zone with bounce house, spoken word and...
Saints Sports League is now open to the public for registration. This community sports league is for boys and girls ages 5-12, and dedicated to developing self-esteem, fundamentals and a well-rounded athlete. All skill levels are welcome to participate. Saints Sports coordinator Jason Smith stated " With so much pressure on young athletes in some leagues, we want to offer an alternative league for kids to experience competition and build character in a safe environment with...
Despite recent thunderstorms, the chances for significant brush fires in Polk County continues. Polk's firefighters were called to 107 brush fires in March, up 65 percent from 65 brush fires in February and fire crews continue to be dispatched daily to brush fires throughout Polk this month. "We are definitely in the thick of brush fire season," Polk County Fire Chief Rob Weech said. "Without significant rain, the fire conditions will continue to worsen and that means we need...
Sandy Dent never gave up hope, and after more than nine months her missing chihuahua, Valdez, is finally home. Dent regularly checked lost pet sites and posted photos on social media, hoping someone would recognize Valdez, who ran off last July 4 after being frightened by fireworks. As it turns out, Valdez has been well cared for by three different women and even added three pounds to his former 9-pound frame. "I said I would not give up, and I didn't," Dent said. "This is...
City commissioners at their April 20 meeting consented to Mayor Eugene Fultz's appointment of Marcus Kirby to the Lake Wales Charter School Trustees. Kirby is transitional housing coordinator for the Lake Wales Care Center and a part-time associate pastor of High Point Church. He served in the U.S. Navy for six years and has lived in Lake Wales for 15 years. Commissioner Terrye Howell challenged Fultz's contention that he didn't need to seek input from commissioners or offer t...
The Polk State College District Board of Trustees (DBOT) will consider changes in lab fees for college credit, Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety, and Educator Preparation Institute courses offered at the College at the May 24 board meeting. Each year the college evaluates all fees to ensure that charges accurately reflect any changes in the cost of instructional materials or supplemental items required for courses. Polk State has a total of 224 lab fees for the...
Despite a recent change to the City Charter requiring more input from city commissioners on appointments, Mayor Eugene Fultz did not involve them and is bringing forth only one name for an opening on the Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees. In an exchange at the end of an April 14 commission workshop, Fultz told commissioners the charter trustee position was “my spot” and he alone had the authority to choose. Commissioners could then vote to accept or reject his app...
Polk County's COVID-19 Eviction Prevention Program is assisting tenants who are unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, using federally approved funds, assists Polk's most vulnerable tenants who are in imminent danger of eviction and provides property owners with an alternative to eviction. The program will provide up to $7,000 for past due rent that will be paid directly to the landlord. The landlord will initiate the application process; however, both p...
This week, the Lake Wales Public Library encourages all community members to visit their website to explore and access virtual services and programs. The Lake Wales Public Library offers a wide array of online resources that are available from the comfort of home, including online training resources through Gale Courses and Gale Presents Udemy. The website also features downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, movies, television and magazines with their OverDrive, Hoopla and Flipster...
Ollie Mae Baker, 86, of Lake Wales passed away Monday, April 12, 2021 at Winter Haven Hospital. She was born January 30, 1935 in Lincoln, AL and has been a resident of Polk County for 63 years. Ollie was a retired depalletizer for Procter and Gamble and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, watching the Lawrence Welk show, and being the boss of her house. Ollie was preceded in death by her husband, Trueman “Bill” Baker in 2008; daughter, Karen Davis in 2018; father, Leona...
Offering one of the most picturesque race routes in the country, the Carillon Classic 5K presented by AdventHealth returns to Bok Tower Gardens, Saturday, May 1 at 7:30 a.m. Registration for the event began Friday, March 12, and is available at www.boktowergardens.org. The cost is $30 per participant and includes an event t-shirt, event momento, and post-race refreshments (price increases to $35 week of race). Prizes will be awarded for the top three runners in each age...
Applications are now being taken online for Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) for the 2021-22 school year. The VPK application process is now being conducted entirely online. Applications will no longer be accepted in person or by mail. To obtain and file a VPK application, visit polkschoolsfl.com/vpk and follow the instructions. Applications will be reviewed and sorted by school VPK program locations for the process of selection. Selections will be based on the time and date...
A team of law enforcement experts from the Center for Public Safety Management will conduct a full analysis of the Lake Wales Police Department to recommend improvements. The city will pay $45,550 to the center, which is affiliated with the International City/County Manager Association. City Manager James Slaton said the top-to-bottom assessment will result in an action list of improvements. According to the agreement for a comprehensive analysis of law enforcement services...
Editor's Note: Candidates for City Commission were asked to complete a questionnaire. Their responses are being printed as submitted. Dr. Ricardo Navarro Lake Wales City Commission Seat 2 Candidate Age: 33 years old Occupation: • Internal Medicine Physician. • Owner and President of Navarro Medical. • Medical Director for the Hospitalist Medicine program at Advent Health Lake Wales • Consulting Physician for Vitas Healthcare Years Living in Lake Wales : Twenty-seven (27) ye...
Editor's Note: Candidates for City Commission were asked to complete a questionnaire. Their responses are being printed as submitted. Al Goldstein Lake Wales City Commission Seat 4 Incumbent OCCUPATION: Retired YEARS LIVING IN LAKE WALES: 8 COMMUNITY SERVICE: Former President of Lake Ashton Republican Club., Former Vice Chairman of Polk Republican Executive Committee EXPERIENCE SERVING ON BOARDS: Lake Wales representative to the PRWC Polk Regional Water Cooperative, Lake Wales...
Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez released an investigative report Friday, March 26 that concluded there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by two officers during a Feb. 5 arrest. The complaint involved a traffic stop of 37-year-old Christopher Cordero that escalated into charges of resisting arrest without violence, threat of death or serious bodily injury of a law enforcement officer and assault on a law enforcement officer. Cordero accused Officers Colt Black and...
