The Polk County Fire Rescue is currently on scene of a fully involved structure fire on Avenue C in Lake Wales (it is off Waverly Rd.). The call came in at 12:55am.

A Captain of the Polk County Fire Rescue could be heard over the radio relaying information to the two battalion Chiefs headed to the fire.

Power lines are down in the back of the structure. They are currently checking for any victims in secondary structure. All occupants of the main structure have been accounted for at this time.

This is a developing story and we will update as more information becomes available.

More Than 29 Show Animals Were Killed at This Lake Wales School. Here’s What You Can Do to Help.

by James Coulter

After several of their show animals were killed during an attack by stray dogs, this Lake Wales school’s agriculture program is seeking donations from the community to recover and rebuild.

On Thursday morning, Jennifer Williams, the Academic Dean of Agriculture at Bok Academy North in Lake Wales, received a distressing phone call from the school custodian.

She was informed that a pack of dogs had tunneled under the fence and snuck in to kill 29 of the school’s show animals.

The dogs had ripped apart the cages, killed all the baby chicks, and killed all of the show rabbits and chickens. They were about to tear into the goat pen when the custodian chased them off, Williams said.

“They [the dogs] actually broke the wire,” Williams said. “They pulled the wire apart to get into the cages because the cages were secured and locked. So they broke the cages.”

With most of their animals killed and their fencing and cages destroyed, Williams will need to have new fences and cages constructed and reinforced to ensure their new animals will be safe from any potential threats.

Bok Academy North’s chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) was named the premier chapter last year, and they will be named the premier chapter again this year in the state of Florida. They had also enrolled more than 200 entries in this year’s Polk County Youth Fair and went to state for citrus and land judging.

Their chapter has completed nine community service projects, which included collecting more than 1,200 toiletries and other essential items for needy families, raising $1,600 for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) K-9 unit, and performing monthly cleanups along Masterpiece Road, which they adopted to participate in Keep Polk County Beautiful.

Williams is seeking donations from the community. Williams will have a supply list made available to anyone who calls the school. Anyone interested can call the front desk at 863-232-4665.

“We appreciate any help the community can give us because we try to give back to the community when we can,” Williams said.

by James Coulter

Lake Wales residents may have a chance to decide whether or not to host run-off elections in the off chance two candidates running for local office don’t receive the majority vote.

On Tuesday evening, Lake Wales City Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance that would place the issue of run-off elections on the April 2025 ballot. If approved, that ballot item would change the Charter and Code of Ordinances respectively to allow for run-off elections.

According to the city staff memo for the ordinance, the amended city code will read as follows:” “If no candidate for the office of commissioner or the office of mayor receives a majority of the votes cast in the regular election, a runoff election between the two candidates receiving the largest number of votes for said seat shall be held four (4) weeks after the regular city election in accordance with the Lake Wales Municipal Election Code.”

Run-off elections had been removed from city code in 2007 when the city commission passed Ordinance 2007-01, which placed the issue of removing run-off elections on the ballot. Voters voted to approve these charter amendments in April 2007.

Cost was the main reason cited in the city staff memo for the ordinance for considering run-off elections and placing the issue on next year’s ballot.

“The cost for the 2024 Municipal Election was $12,091,” the city staff memo stated. “The cost for a run-off election would be almost identical as the same advertising, Election materials and poll workers will be needed. This will extend the election season by four weeks. Staff and the Canvassing board would go through the same process as a regular election.”

Lake Wales has not hosted a run-off election since September 1993, with the election between Dixon Armstrong and Booker Young Jr.

If approved, the first run-off election could happen in 2026. The schedule would be as follows:

If approved the first run-off election could happen in 2026. The schedule would be as follows:

Tuesday April 7th would be the Election for Seats 3 & 5 (Thompson & Gibson)

Tuesday May 5th would be the Run-off election if needed.

Wednesday May 6th Commission Meeting would be the swearing in of winners of the April 7th Election.

June 2nd would be the swearing in of the winner of the run-off election if needed as the charter says that “shall take office at the first regular meeting in the month following their election”.

Following their victories in the recent municipal elections, Carol Gillespie and Daniel Williams were officially sworn into their respective seats on the Lake Wales City Commission.

At the recent city commission meeting on Tuesday evening, both Gillespie and Williams assumed their roles on Seat 4 and 2 respectively on the Lake Wales City Commission. Both commissioners were sworn into their roles at the start of the meeting.

Commissioner Gillespie defeated incumbent City Commissioner Danny Krueger during the race with an overwhelming 1,325 votes (more than 57 percent) to Kruegers’ 983, according to figures from the Polk County Supervisor of Elections.

Meanwhile, Williams secured his seat with 939 votes (more than 42 percent of the total vote), defeating opponents Brandon Alvarado and Crystal Higbee, according to the election figures.

As for former Commissioner Krueger, he was honored for his term with an official plaque presented by city staff.

Both Gillespie and Williams started their new term on the city commission by joining in the unanimous vote to approve an ordinance that would change the Charter and Code of Ordinances respectively to place the issue of run-off elections on next year’s ballot.

Their next vote was to appoint the roles of deputy mayor and representatives for the airport authority, housing authority, and the Ridge League Of Cities. Robin Gibson was appointed to serve as deputy mayor once more, while the other three positions were filled by Mayor Jack Hilligoss. Daniel Williams, and Carol Gillespie.

Commissioner Gibson expressed his gratitude and appreciation for continuing his role as deputy mayor, especially since that position oversees community redevelopment, an issue he takes personally to heart.

“I appreciate your sentiments,” he commented. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with my fellow commissioners. We have had some bumps in the road, but I am committed to doing it.”

The Lake Wales Police Department is working a traffic crash at the intersection of Burns Ave and Old Scenic Hwy.

There are two vehicles involved, a black car and a gray suv. One occupant from each vehicle is being transported to local hospitals as a precaution.

There are no life threatening injuries. Eastbound and Westbound traffic on Burns Ave have been re-routed but a tow truck is on scene to clear the roadway. Traffic flow will return to normal shortly.

By Carl Fish

Lake Wales City Manager Seeking Employment Elsewhere

Lake Wales, Florida – The Daytona Beach News-Journal, in it’s April 22 online edition, is reporting that Lake Wales City Manager James Slaton is one of 13 candidates chosen to be a semi-finalists for its vacant city manager position.

The news comes as a shock to many in the community. Slaton has been an employee for the city for almost 19 years (June of 2005). He spent 7 years as the cities Director of Information & Technology. He also spent various time as Director of Support Services, Director of Public & Support Services and Deputy City Manager. Since June of 2020 Slaton has been city manager for Lake Wales.

The Next Step For The City Of New Smyrna

“The next step is to prepare each semifinalist for the interview process, according to Thomas.

They will complete “a fairly detailed” questionnaire and participate in video interviews and a media search by SGR.

After the City Commission reviews the information, it will select three to five finalists for the next phase. This will take place during a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. May 16.” according to the The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Recent Decisions Dogging Lake Wales City Manager

Recent decisions, regarding the Lake Wales Police Chief, by Slaton has put him at odds with most of the constituents at one point or another. A grievance was filed against Chief Velazquez for his handling of advancement of staff to Lieutenant positions. The grievance felt race was an issue in the selection process and that a reposting of the position allowed one member an opportunity that the grieved felt was not fair. An independent company reviewed information gathered by the cities Human Resources Manager, Sandra Davis, and they concluded no racism occurred, but the appearance of favoritism and nepotism existed, but fell short of saying it occurred. The independent review also did not find that Chief Velazquez broke any rules by the city in his actions. It found that the chief was not consistent in how he handled job postings. This prompted Slaton to write a memo to Chief Velazquez instructing him that he was going to seek a replacement and relieve him of his duties once a replacement was found. “On April, 2024, I will advertise a search for a new police chief. You may remain in your current position until a new chief has been appointed.” said Slaton. This memo was provided to an organization named the Poor Minority Justice Association who leaked it to the media (entire memo here). This all happened on Monday March 11 as Chief Velazquez left on a family vacation cruise. A little over a week later, without much explanation, Slaton addressed the commission and advised he had changed his mind.

The memorandum coming out to the public without any further explanation and the fact it was sent the first day the chief left on vacation didn’t sit well with many residents. It allowed no opportunity for the Chief to even respond to the accusations or the memorandum. Additionally it brought into question why the police department was in charge of job postings and not the Human Resources Department, who has a much better understanding of labor laws and job postings.

The reversal decision by Slaton with little response to the public didn’t sit well with many residents. It even prompted Lake Wales City Commissioner Daniel Williams to state the following “I need everyone to know that when you see black people in the City of Lake Wales right now, and they’re frustrated, they got a reason to be frustrated,” Williams said. “We can handle anything if you tell us the truth. But if it seems like you said one thing today and then certain people call and then things get changed it makes us feel like we still up under Jim Crow, and we ain’t going back there!” 

“You have literally today told black people that power is more, and…or color is greater in this city,” Williams said. “I am extremely frustrated about how this went down.”

This coming from a sitting city commissioner was extremely damning of Slaton and sent a clear message a rift between the two had occurred.

This news brings more questions than answers at a time when so much is occurring in the central Florida city.