Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 198
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...
Arlie "Skipper" Richards of Lake Wales passed away Friday, November 17, 2023 at James A. Haley Hospital in Tampa. He was born May 8, 1961 in Portsmouth, Virginia to the late Arlie and Ruth Richards; he has been a lifelong resident of the area and graduated from Lake Wales High School in 1978. Skipper retired from the United States Air Force then worked as a mechanic for Citro Suco. He loved fishing and working on cars. Skipper loved his family dearly and was a great dad 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...
Lake Wales Little Theatre has another entertaining offering on the boards in November, as the company offers the tender classic, "On Golden Pond," which opens Friday, November 3 for a three-weekend run. A talented cast, under the direction of Jamie Clark, turn the script into an enjoyable night out. During a visit to their rustic cabin on Golden Pond, the cantankerous retired professor Norman Thayer Jr. and his long-suffering wife Ethel expose the inner workings of their tende...
Polk County commissioners are looking for volunteers who would like to serve on the county's Lake Access Advisory Committee. The LAAC studies how to increase public access to Polk County's lakes and reports findings and recommendations back to the County Commission. The Lake Access Advisory Committee includes 10 members appointed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. Each Commissioner appoints two members to the Committee, with staggered member terms. Members are...
Marjorie Bedell Lanier of Frostproof passed away Saturday, June 24, 2023 at her residence. She was born May 31, 1931 in Dundee to the late Harold and Minnie Bedell; she was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a retired citrus packing and shipping officer at Ben Hill Griffin. She had a good life, loved her family and was a great momma. She loved fishing, fish fry's, baking and cooking. She was a hard worker and enjoyed yard sales and traveling. Marjorie was preceded in...
A family Father's Day celebration tragedy took the life of a 17-year-old Frostproof resident, who drowned in Lake Clinch after a boating crash. Jose Torres was reportedly the driver of a vehicle, described as "a waverunner," that tumbled out of control about 200 yards off shore just after 8:00 pm Sunday, throwing him and a passenger into the water. According to reports, the Frostproof Fire Department was notified at 8:19 pm and responded to the scene, calling local fisherman...
Westgate River Ranch, just east of Lake Wales, was named the No. 1 Glamping Spot in the nation in the annual USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards. The largest dude ranch East of the Mississippi River, Westgate River Ranch is rooted in the history of the nation's first cowboys and lies on 1,700 lush acres in the heart of Florida's cattle lands. The location offers cowboy-themed accommodations ranging from tent camping and a lodge to luxurious two-bedroom cabins, Glamping...
John Herbert Cofer of Frostproof passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at his residence. He was born October 31, 1929 in Frostproof to the late Clifford and Bertie Cofer; he has been a lifelong resident of the area. John was a retired corrections officer and served with the United States Army during the Korean war. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Frostproof and enjoyed fishing, gardening, and traveling. He loved spending time with his family and having cookouts. John...
Foy Livingston McKenzie of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023 at his residence. He was born February 12, 1952 in Lyons, Georgia to the late James and Patricia McKenzie; he has been a lifelong resident of the area. Foy was a fruit receiver for Citrus World. He enjoyed spending his time in nature fishing and camping; over all else he loved his family. Foy was preceded in death by his daughters, Pamela Diane Branch, and Margaret Ann Smith. He is survived by his wife of...
We know anglers care about big bass, which means they also care about how they handle big bass. Especially in recent years, concerns have been voiced about how anglers handle bass during catch-and-release fishing. This has prompted Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and University of Florida biologists to develop a research project to examine this important issue. The results showed that none of the three tested handling methods caused any permanent...
Jerry Arthur Atkins, 78, of Frostproof, passed away at his home, May 10th. Born June 14, 1944 in Muncie, IN, to the late Lloyd and Ruth (Pence) Atkins, he moved to Frostproof in 1980 where he worked as a truck driver for Ben Hill Griffin. Jerry loved his wife and daughters, his family and his dog, Doc. He loved motorcycles and boating, but mostly he enjoyed taking his wife out so she could go fishing. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sherry Colleen Atkins of...
Billy Kahler of Babson Park passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at his residence. He was born January 30, 1956, in Lake Wales to the late Richard and Nancy Kahler; and he was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Lake Wales High School in 1974 and Florida State University in 1978. He retired from UPS and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Wales. He was also the owner and operator of Gary's Boating Center and loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, scuba...
