Week of December 17, 2025
Week of December 17, 2025
Construction of a proposed toll highway through eastern Polk County will avoid direct impacts to the Lake Wales Area under a new design released this week by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise. After earlier designs offered plans that connected the tollway to SR 60 just west of Lake Wales, community opposition led to a modified plan that now terminates the road at US 27 just north of the city limits of Lake Wales, and south of the Town of Dundee. The project, funded entirely...
The heart of Lake Wales will twinkle a little brighter this holiday season as the community gathers for Lake Wales Live/Make It Magical this Friday, December 12. The annual event "snowfall" event will be even more beautiful this season because of the stunning holiday lighting installed throughout the Market Plaza and along Palk Avenue and nearby streets. The 5 p.m. start will be followed by "snowmaking," much to the delight of children, many of whom have never seen the chilly...
An argument between two young men turned deadly early Tuesday afternoon in Lake Wales, leaving one facing a charge of second degree murder. A neighbors on South 9th Street told Lake Wales News.net that he heard shouting between the two men from two different homes, which were separated by other property, shortly before the shooting, which happened shortly after 1 p.m. After hearing apparent gunfire, police were summoned and quickly located 20-year-old Jayvyn McFadden of Lake...
Watering restrictions are now in force across the area after action by the Southwest Florida Water Management District in recognition of the very dry conditions across the area. According to the National Drought Monitor, Most of Polk has received less than 25 percent of normal rainfall over the past 30 days.. SWFWMD has issued what it calls "Phase 1 Water Shortage Restrictions," effective December 1 through July 1, 2026. These restrictions apply to all of Polk County and...
A proposal for a major new mining operation on 855 acres just east of Lake Wales is scheduled to be heard by the Polk County Planning Commission on Wednesday morning. Neighboring residents are upset that they had little public notice of the proposal. The mine would add a daily average of 1,072 heavy truck trips to SR 60 traffic, according to the applicant, PH Citrus, a Boston-based firm. Daily operations would be conducted from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to planning...
A new county-wide burning ban is in effect across Polk due to the unseasonably dry weather conditions that have impacted the area this fall. Polk County officials issued a burn ban effective Nov. 25 that includes the entire county and its municipalities. Despite the line of showers that gave a brief respite to weeks of dry weather on Thanksgiving, the prolonged shortage of rainfall since the summer have allowed drought to spread over much of the area. ”After examining the...
The future of the historic Lake Wales Country Club is very much in question after the abrupt rejection of an attempt by current owners to have it annexed into the City of Lake Wales. Commissioners unanimously rejected a proposal presented by Lakeland attorney Timothy Campbell at this week's city commission meeting, but property owners have two remaining options, Campbell said. Lake Wales Country Club and the adjacent former golf course of Oakwood were combined within the...
The former CEO of the East Polk Association of Realtors has been arrested and charged with embezzling more than $81,000 from the association, which is based in Winter Haven. Jennifer Garula-Mers is alleged to have stolen the funds over a period of time as she worked for the Realtor group. After the discovery that funds were missing, the Polk County Sheriff's office conducted an investigation that led to the issuance of a warrant for the arrest Garula-Mers, 53, of Spring Hill,...
A new $16 million federal grant will permit Polk County Fire Rescue to hire 50 new firefighters and emergency medical technicians, allowing the department to keep up with the rapid growth being experienced across much of the county. PCFR was awarded the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the 50 positions. The program is designed to help fire rescue departments nationwide increase and...
A special performance portrayal on former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg entitled "I Dissent: A One-Woman Tribute Performance," will be offered to the community ito start the new year. "I Dissent: A One-Woman Tribute Performance of Ruth Bader Ginsberg" will be offered at the Vanguard School Performing Art Center by The American Association of University Women, Lake Wales Branch. The performance by award-winning actress Sheryl Faye will take place January 4, 2026, 7...
In further evidence of the significant strides being made to upgrade the AdventHealth Lake Wales Hospital, the facility has been awarded a second straight "A" Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit upholding the standard of excellence in patient safety in hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections that...
