Today 05.SEP.08 Lake Wales, FL - Yesterday morning around 9:30 am the SunTrust Bank (on hwy 60 in Lake Wales) had someone come in to make a withdrawal. Unfortunately it wasn't a legal one. According to Lake Wales Police a young black male entered the bank, gave the teller a note requesting money and showed he was armed with a gun. The teller gave the man money and he fled on foot towards the Walgreen's Pharmacy. The last time he was seen was in the parking lot of the pharmacy. [More]

Lake Wales, FL - The Lake Wales Highlanders take on the Auburndale Bloodhounds tonight. The highlanders high octane offense and stubborn defense will be at home tonight to take on the hounds.

The Bloodhounds are coming off a hard loss at the hands are Hardee last week. But look for them to try and advance the ball through the air against the Highlanders.
[More]

Today 05.SEP.08 Lake Wales Police Press Release Lake Wales, FL - All-terrain vehicles operating upon the public right-of-ways, roads, highways, streets, sidewalks, trails, parks and parkways of the City of Lake Wales present a clear danger to the health, safety and welfare of bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists. The performance capabilities of all-terrain vehicles combined with deficient personal ability and unpredictable environmental and terrain conditions greatly increase the hazards and risks of all-terrain vehicle operation. Responsible all-terrain vehicle riders manage risk effectively by wearing protective gear and riding in an environment and terrain which provides limited hazards. In contrast, operating an all-terrain vehicle upon a public right-of-way, road, highway, street, sidewalk, trail, park or parkway is a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. [More]

Lake Wales, FL - City Commissioners voted 4-1 to not pass fire fee. The following is a good article in the Newschief

[NewsChief Article]

Lake Wales, FL - This evening will be the regular scheduled meeting of the City Commission. Attached is the agenda for the meeting.

CITY COMMISSION OFFICIAL AGENDA
September 2, 2008
Regular Meeting
6:00 p.m.

1. INVOCATION

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. ROLL CALL

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 20, 2008, Regular Meeting, August 20, 2008, Budget Workshop Meeting ACTION TAKEN MAYOR

5. PROCLAMATION: Constitution Week, September 17-23, 2008
Curtis D. Ammons, Jr. Recognition Day
CITY MANAGER

6. Ordinance 2008-27, Limits on Concurrent Appointments to Boards – 2nd Reading &
Public Hearing

7. Ordinance 2008-28, Membership to Board of Appeals and Planning & Zoning Board -
2nd Reading & Public Hearing

8. Ordinance 2008-29, Core Improvement Area - Impact Fee Exemption – 2nd Reading &
Public Hearing

9. Ordinance 2008-30, Revision to Chapter 5, Alcoholic Beverages – 2nd Reading &
Public Hearing

10. Ordinance 2008-31, Correction: Ordinance 2008-11, Historic District Regulatory Ordinance -
1st Reading

11. Ordinance 2008-32, Donation of Surplus Vehicles – 1st Reading

12. Resolution 2008-14, Final Fire Assessment Resolution – Public Hearing

13. Resolution 2008-15, Rehabilitate Runway 6-24 Medium Intensity Taxiway Lights (MITL)
System (Design Only) - Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc. Master Agreement & Task Order #10

14. Resolution 2008-16, Correction – Resolution 2008-10 Lake Wales Municipal Airport Extension
of Runway 06-24 (design only), Master Agreement Task Order #9

15. Key Issues – Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR) – Public Hearing & Scoping Meeting

16. Award of Bid: Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Coverage

17. Appointments to Historic District Regulatory Board

18. Contractual Services for Preparation of CDBG Application

19. Contract Renewal: Fellowship Dining at Austin Center
COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITION
City Commission Tracking Report



(The full staff memo will be incorporated into the official record)

Minutes of the City Commission meeting can be obtained from the City Clerk's Office. The minutes are recorded, but are not transcribed verbatim. Persons requiring a verbatim transcript may make arrangements with the City Clerk to duplicate the recording, or arrange to have a court reporter present at the meeting. The cost of duplication and/or court reporter will be the expense of the requesting party.

In accordance with Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons with disabilities needing special accommodations to participate in this meeting should contact the City Clerk's office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day prior to the meeting.

Appeals concerning decisions on issues requiring a public hearing: Persons who wish to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect to any matter considered during a public hearing at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based

Today 02.SEP.08 Winter Haven, FL - On Monday, September 1, 2008, just after 4:00 a.m., Polk County Sheriff's patrol deputies from the Northeast and Southeast Districts responded to 4312 Shadow Wood Trail in Winter Haven, off of Winter Lake Road, to a home invasion in progress call. The caller was a female who stated men with guns were in her home. The caller then disconnected. When deputies arrived on-scene, they located the two victims, identified as Virgilio De La Paz, DOB 6/22/75, and Barbara Rodriguez, DOB 7/15/80, in a closet. De La Paz was handcuffed and bleeding from a head wound. The victims told deputies that 2 Spanish-speaking men came into their home, pistol-whipped the male victim, and forced them both into a closet. As deputies searched the home for the suspects, they located a sophisticated marijuana grow operation set up in two rooms in the house. Approximately 100 mature marijuana plants were removed from the home by narcotics detectives and will be destroyed. Photos of the house and plants are attached here. De La Paz and Rodriguez are the only 2 people who live in this home. Both are of Cuban descent. [More]

Frostproof, FL - Polk County Sheriff’s Traffic deputies worked a fatal traffic crash on Monday, September 1, 2008, involving a motorcycle and a truck on US 27 in Frostproof.

Around 3:50 p.m. that afternoon, Charles Williams III, DOB 3/9/55, of Crestview, FL, was driving his Ford F-150 pickup truck southbound on US Hwy 27, attempting to make a left-hand turn onto SR 17 (Scenic Hwy), crossing over US Hwy 27 North. As he was making the turn, Kevin M. Lund, DOB 6/20/61, of Frostproof, FL, who was traveling northbound on US 27 on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, struck the right front portion of the truck. Lund was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead on scene. Nobody else was injured during the crash. The crash is still under investigation.

Avon Park, FL - The Lake Wales Highlanders want to be better than last year. To do so they need to play better. Well it is hard to play much better than they did last season routing the Avon Park Devils 39 - 0. But the Highlanders did the best they could to top that feat by routing the Devils 46 - 6 tonight.

Lake Wales scored early and often going up 13 - 6 at the end of the first and 20 - 6 by the end of the half. What was impressive was the depth the Highlanders have. The second half of the game was all Lake Wales. They outscored Avon Park 26 - 0 in the second half.

Senior quarterback Javarious Riley showed why he is the leader of the football team at this time. He threw for 2 touchdowns and ran another one in from 20 yards out. Riley has been pushed all summer in practice by Sophomore Justin Shafer. And Justin Shafer showed why tonight by throwing for two TD's himself.

Senior running back James Norwood didn't get in the endzone tonight, but is looked at to control the ball and the clock in the upcoming season. The defense was very solid even though they gave up an early touchdown. The special teams played well tonight and included a touchdown by A.C. Lesley on a blocked punt.

Yes it looks like some real deep talent on the Highlander team this year and it should be fun to watch.

Next up Auburndale at Legion Field (nicknamed The House of Pain)

Lake Wales, FL - The Lake Wales Arts Council, Inc. is pleased to present “Connections & Combinations…With a Twist” exhibit featuring artists Rocky Bridges, Susan Livingston and Arnolkis Turro. The public is cordially invited to attend the Opening Reception on Thursday, September 4, 2008 from 5 to 7 PM in the Michael Crews Gallery at the Lake Wales Arts Center, located at 1099 State Road 60 East in Lake Wales. The exhibit will be on display through Friday, October 17, 2008.

“Connections & Combinations…With a Twist” features three Florida artists who have shown their work all over the United States. Mr. Rocky Bridges is a mixed media, found objects artist who is also an art instructor at The Lois Cowles Harrison School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Lakeland. Mr. Bridges has displayed his artwork all over the United States, including New York City, Washington D.C. and Massachusetts as well as various cities in Florida. He earned his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts at the Altos De Chavon School of Art and Design and has furthered his studies at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Ms. Livingston is a sculpture artist who uses clay, fossils, waxes, apoxy and floor stains to design her pieces. She is known for combining classical and contemporary art in beautiful sculpture and is very innovative in working with clay. Her work has been exhibited all over the United States, including New York, Washington D.C. and New Mexico. Ms. Livingston received a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting from Florida State University.

According to Mr. Turro, his artwork “ reflects human behaviors as they are the source and structure in transforming societies and their cultures in all different stages of development.” His work is based on emotions and the proliferations of colors. Mr. Turro has displayed his work all over the United States, Spain, Germany, Nicaragua and Cuba.

For more information, please contact the Lake Wales Arts Center at (863) 676-8426.