Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 209
Mindy Dougherty of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, March 30, 2025, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. Mindy was born May 4, 1958, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Alvin Gross and Myra Ludwig. Mindy was a retired CNA, and a member of Winter Haven Worship Center. She loved and supported the Special Olympics and played for the team herself. Mindy loved Clearwater Beach and deep-sea fishing, as well as her Yuengling and Peach Schnapps. Mindy is preceded in death by her...
Walburga "Wallie" Sylvia of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, February 20, 2025 at Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. She was born May 20, 1937 in Augsburg, Germany to the late Englebert and Walburga Schafhauser; she moved to Lake Wales from Derry, New Hampshire in 1980. Wallie was a homemaker and of the Catholic faith. She loved music and visiting the VFW. Wallie loved spending time with her husband, especially fishing and dancing. Wallie was preceded in death by her...
Wayne Helm of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, February 22, 2025 at his residence. He was born October 20, 1948 in Lake Wales to the late Elmer and Lola Helm; he has been a lifelong resident of Lake Wales. Wayne was a retired Captain for the Lake Wales Police Department and served with the United States Army in Vietnam. He and his wife, Laura, were fans of the band Alabama and the University of Florida Gators. Before becoming ill, Wayne loved his cigars, going fishing, and...
John "Jack" Moulton of Winter Haven passed away Thursday, January 23, 2025 at Waters Edge. He was born February 9, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Robert and Mildred Moulton; he moved to Winter Haven from Wisconsin in 1995. Jack was a retired wildlife biologist for the State Government and was a veteran of the United States Army. He enjoyed playing tennis, going fishing, biking, being outdoors, and taking care of nature. Jack is survived by his wife of 59...
An assortment of proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution are on the November 5 ballot, leading to numerous questions as voters try to weigh the impact of the proposals. Florida law requires any amendment to receive at least 60 percent of the vote in order to be approved, a requirement added by the legislature aimed at limiting the number of changes to the state's governing documents.m At the same time, legislators continues to propose amendments of their own design,...
Jimmy Glass of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, September 12, 2024 at Saint Joseph's Hospital. He was born September 1, 1970 in Eugene, Oregon; he has been a lifelong resident of the area. Jimmy was a maintenance worker for RV parks and was of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed fishing, camping, animals, and tinkering with different things. Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife, Patty Glass; and father, Noel Glass. He is survived by his mother, Molly Glass of Lake Wales; and...
Area boaters, fishers, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders in the area's natural resources are being invited to attend a public meeting that will influence future management of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced a public meeting to discuss aquatic habitat management in the chain on Wednesday, Sept.18. The meeting will be held from 6-8 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Extension Office, 1921 Kissimmee Valley Lane,...
Donald R. Shattler, age 80, passed away on August 28, 2024, at Winter Haven Hospital from complications due to cancer. Don will be remembered for his profound love of family, youthful joy for life, and kindness to all. He was born on January 20, 1944, in St. Petersburg, FL and lived in Lake Wales, FL from 1973 until 2022 when he moved to Bartow. He met his dearest love, Etta Grubbs, at Steak 'N Shake in 1962, and they were married the following year. They enjoyed almost 61...
Site work has begun on the site of Belle Lago, an 84-home subdivision on Lake Belle on the south side of Lake Wales. The project is one of several housing projects now underway across the city. The city Lake Wales City Commission approved preliminary plans for the project in July, 2021 after it received the nod from both city planners and the Planning and Zoning Board. The project is immediately south of and adjacent to a portion of the Ridge Manor subdivision, an enclave of...
Benny A. Watson, Sr. of Bartow, age 86, passed away on August 10, 2024, at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was born on October 28, 1937, in Trenton, FL. He was a United States Navy Veteran. He was an Electrical Instrument Technician in the mining industry. He enjoyed fishing, running 5K races, biking and archery. He is survived by his loving family that includes his wife Christine Watson of Bartow, daughters Cindy Sterling (Robert) of Virginia Beach, VA & Jennifer Hunt (David)...
Major Richard (Dick) S. Kenney, 73, of Lake Wales, FL, passed away peacefully on July 2nd, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Lorain, Ohio, on July 31, 1950, to Jim and Dorothy (Stanley) Kenney, Dick was a lifelong adventurer. He attended Lake Wales High School and was a proud member of the JROTC. After earning an associate's degree from Polk County Community College, he continued his studies at Northeast Louisiana University, majoring in game management and ecology. Dick...
Autry Key , age 83, passed away July 16, 2024, at his residence in Bartow. He was born on August 24, 1940, in Leesburg, FL. He worked in the Signal Corps for the United States Army. He enjoyed fishing, planting flowers and watching tv. He was preceded in death by his daughter Melinda Clark, brothers Richard Key & Hoyt Key and sister Iduma Dean. He is survived by a loving family that includes his wife Agnes Key, daughter Kimberly Key, grandchildren Ashley Auer and Jessica...
Gary Eugene Jones of Lake Wales passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at his residence. He was born October 4, 1945 in Saginaw, Michigan to the late Eugene and Eva Jones; he moved to Lake Wales from Saint Petersburg in 1994. Before retirement, Gary was a engineer for GTE then Verizon. He also worked at CitroSucco for 10 years and for the Florida Fish and Game Commission. He served with the United States Navy under the “Seabees” during the Vietnam War. Gary was a hard worker and a...
Emily Shade, 85, passed away at home in Frostproof, FL on June 28, 2024. She was a longtime resident of Salisbury, MD until 2020. Emily was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 30, 1938, the same night of Orson Welles' famous "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast. Her family soon made its way to Berlin, MD, beginning her love of the Eastern Shore. Her father's work in the poultry business led her to North Carolina, Illinois, Virginia, and New York. Emily attended St. John's...
A new county boat ramp is being constructed to provide public access to Lake Buffum in un-incorporated southern Polk County. According to county officials, the new boat ramp "will include a walled channel to provide entry to the lake no matter the water level." The annual fluctuation of water levels in the 1,268 acre lake have often caused problems for launching boats. While the new boat ramp is under construction, the old boat ramp is open for public use. The new ramp is...
Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton finds his relaxation, he recently told Lake Wales News, by fishing, typically on salt water far from the ring of a telephone. It's an understandable outlet. Slaton has demonstrated that he can play just as well on dry land, whatever the game. The job of city manager is undoubtedly one of the more interesting and challenging careers in the modern workforce. Charged with running a government as an appointed, rather than elected, official,...
After over two decades serving the Lake Wales community, Montella's Fish Market is closing its doors for good. Owners Lisa and Mike "Junior" Montella have decided that they will retire after running successful fish markets in Florida for 37 years. The property at 1341 SR 60 East may be in for a big change. "The buyer is going to lease it," Montella stated. "He's an investor." Lake Wales News sources indicate that the purchaser of the property scouts, purchases and leases...
William Braunlin of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, May 11, 2024 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. He was born September 10, 1948 in New Jersey City, New Jersey to the late William and Isabell Braunlin; he was a resident of Lake Wales for most of his life. William was a cab driver and a veteran of the United States Marines. He was a very friendly person who loved fishing and talking to people. William is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sharon Braunlin. No services are scheduled...
Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives have solved and closed a murder investigation that started 52 years ago in unincorporated Eloise. Detectives have identified the victim using advanced forensic genetic genealogy, and uncovered the two suspects responsible for the murder, both of whom are dead. On May 17, 1972, Polk deputies responded to a reported body found in a field just to the south of the canal between Lake Lulu and Lake Ship, and southeast of the US 17 overpass...
Toni Kronyak Le Lievre of Freeport passed away Thursday, May 2, 2024 at HCA Florida Hospital in Gainesville. She was born September 20, 1966 in Miami; she moved to Freeport from Lake Wales 27 years ago. Toni was the owner and operator a floor covering company. She was a free spirit with a crazy and goofy personality. She enjoyed bartering and going to the bay to go mullet fishing. Toni loved her dogs, Tootsie and Speckles. Toni was preceded in death by her father, Nicholas...
Mary Starling Sullivan, 91, of Babson Park, FL, died on Saturday, March 30 after a full life and quality time with family and loved ones. She was born on January 17, 1933, in Miami, FL, to Clyde and Georgia Starling. In 1950, she graduated from Miami Edison High School. Mary met Richard J. Sullivan (Dick) in Connecticut. They were married at Forest Park Christian Church of Miami, in 1952. Mary and Dick began their family in south Florida. In 1973, they relocated to Babson...
Gary Eugene Fenner of Frostproof passed away Monday, March 25, 2024 at his residence. He was born May 18, 1945 in Illinois; he moved to Florida from Illinois over 40 years ago. Gary was a welder and enjoyed fishing. He was an animal lover and favored dogs and horses. Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Fenner and brother. He is survived by his son; friends, Manuel and Sylvia Andrade; and his dog Abraham that he rescued from the Winter Haven Human Society. No...
Charles Kiel ("Chuck") Harriman, Jr., 71, of Lake Wales, FL passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, in Winter Haven, FL. Chuck was a lifelong resident of Lake Wales, graduating from High School in 1970 and after attending college at Florida State University, he returned to serve the community with the United States Post Office for 40 years. The residents of the town will remember him as the young, tall mailman that would go the extra mile to help them, while their dogs will r...
Seniors who are feeling that competitive edge and want to show their best moves against a field of peers have their best opportunity of the year fast approaching. Registration for the 31st Annual Polk Senior Games will open January 2 for those wishing to participate in a long list of athletic endeavors. The Games, scheduled for February 24 through March 9, offer a two-week series of 97 Olympic-style events in 38 athletic and recreational sports. They attract over 2,100 men and...
Kenneth “Cricket” Bessette of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, November 16, 2023 at AdventHealth Lake Wales. He was born October 12, 1958 in England to the late Kenneth Bessette and Doreen Hamilton; he came here from Riverview 15 years ago. He was a retired collections representative and of the Catholic faith. He enjoyed family, fishing and hunting. He was always the life of the party. He loved his family dearly and was loved by everyone. He was an animal lover and loved his...
