LakeWalesNews.net - Hometown stories that count from people who care

Retired U.S. Marine Kathryn "Kat" Gates-Skipper got used to being a female trailblazer throughout her 20-year military career. So it's not surprising she will become the first... — Updated 10/10/2019

The Lake Wales History Museum will honor retired Bok Tower carillonneur Milford Myhre as Pioneer of the Year during the 44th Annual Pioneer Days Festival. The celebration will take... — Updated 10/9/2019 Full story

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program of Polk County 2019 campaign will get underway on Oct. 1, when individual families or nonprofit groups serving over 25 families... — Updated 10/9/2019 Full story

Lake Wales Police arrested a 24-year-old Avon Park woman Oct. 10 in connection with a Walmart shoplifting incident 11 days earlier that turned violent with her wielding pepper... — Updated 10/10/2019

Thirty-eight days into AdventHealth's takeover of Lake Wales Medical Center, new Chief Executive Officer Brian Adams shared about the company's mission, vision and values at a... — Updated 10/10/2019

State Attorney Brian Haas has a big job, dealing with more than 43,000 criminal cases annually in Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. He told Lake Wales business leaders Friday... — Updated 10/11/2019

The City of Lake Wales now has an ambitious plan for the redevelopment of its historic downtown and the Northwest business district. City commissioners, in their role as the... — Updated 10/2/2019

Lake Wales Police are looking for a 24-year-old Avon Park woman in connection with a Walmart shoplifting incident Sept. 29 that turned violent with her wielding pepper spray and a... — Updated 10/2/2019

More than 65 volunteers gathered Saturday, Sept. 28 to help renovate a church parsonage to provide a home for homeless students attending Polk State College. A majority of the... — Updated 10/2/2019

Rotary Clubs from throughout Polk County are partnering with Heart 4 Winter Haven to renovate a church parsonage to provide a home for homeless students attending Polk State... — Updated 9/29/2019 Full story

Wilena and Courtney Vreeland of the 400 block of East Johnson Avenue knew something was amiss when their cherished pet, "Tyger" didn't show up his morning feeding. Having just... — Updated 9/25/2019

Estefany Arenas was born in Mexico and came to Lake Wales at the age of eight. Her family worked in agriculture and had very limited means, and "Things didn't come easy. It was... — Updated 9/25/2019 Full story

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding people to help prevent conflicts with bears by securing garbage and other items that might attract these... — Updated 9/17/2019

"See something or hear something, say something." That's the advice Polk Sheriff Grady Judd gave Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce members at a breakfast Thursday, Sept. 12 as the most... — Updated 9/17/2019

GOOD NEWS UPDATE: After realizing she was on video, this lady turned the $100 into police. The victim signed a waiver of prosecution, so no charges were filed. Case closed. The... — Updated 9/17/2019

Lake Wales City Commissioners will hold their second and final public hearing Sept. 24 to adopt a $55 million budget for 2019-20, with a slightly lower property tax rate.... — Updated 9/12/2019

AdventHealth, one of the largest faith-based health systems in the U.S., has finalized an agreement that officially brings Lake Wales Medical Center into the AdventHealth network... — Updated 9/5/2019

The new Love's Travel Stop and Country Store opened in Lake Wales Thursday, Aug. 29 to brisk business, some driven by customers wanting to fill up on gasoline and other supplies in... — Updated 9/5/2019

Polk Supervisor of Elections Lori Edwards is thrilled that Florida has joined a consortium of states to clean up voter lists to reduce the potential for fraud. "This is something I... — Updated 9/5/2019

Lake Wales Breakfast Rotary Club's plans to plant 200 southern live oaks around Lake Wailes lake hit a snag recently when homeowners along Lakeshore Boulevard South complained that... — Updated 8/27/2019

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced a new, nationwide effort to block illegal robocalls. Attorney General Moody and a bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general are... — Updated 8/27/2019

Vincent Harris struggled in high school and took 10 years to earn his bachelor's degree. His own experience makes him even more committed to helping adult students with... — Updated 8/28/2019

In preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Lake Wales Mayor Gene Fultz declared a state of emergency for the city starting at noon Thursday, Aug. 29 and lasting up to seven days. This... — Updated 8/29/2019

The Defenders of Crooked Lake are sounding a health and safety alarm since recent record rains have resulted in overflows of both raw and treated sewage. "Please use caution in the... — Updated 8/20/2019

The prospective developers of the historic Seminole Hotel shared conceptual site plans with Lake Wales city officials Tuesday, Aug. 13. South Florida architect Rick Gonzalez produce... — Updated 8/20/2019