News Flash

It’s clean up time! Round up the junk from your garage, back yard, or attic - get it to the curb before 6am on Saturday, March 7th.Here is your chance to place general junk, mattresses/box springs,  furniture, tires (4 per household, without rims), and appliances (White Goods) at your curbside. How to Participate:1) Place materials at your street curb before 6am on Saturday, March 7th.  Do not place materials at the curb two days before the scheduled cleanup day.2) No Hazardous waste items (paint, batteries, chemicals or solvents, no asbestos items, motor oil, or antifreeze).3) No Construction Debris: (fence materials, remodel materials).4) No food waste.5) Please do not attempt to help the cleanup crew load your materials.6) Remember to always take recyclable items to your local community charity organization.

Residents and business owners experiencing a loss of water may have a frozen above-ground backflow preventer. The device will unfreeze as the outdoor temperature rises. Rest assured, the City’s utilities department confirmed water is flowing properly. 

Notice of Commission Election!

There will be a municipal election on Tuesday April 7, 2026 to elect a Commissioner for Seat 3 currently held by Keith Thompson and a Commissioner for Seat 5 currently held by Robin Gibson. Terms are 3 years. Qualifying will be February 16 -20, 2026. Commissioners must have lived in City Limits for 1 year. For more information on running for office click here  https://fl-lakewales.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/14447/2026-Election-Notice-English?bidId=   

City of Lake Wales commission adopted the Florida Water Star℠ certification program, initiated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. 

The program requires a builder to obtain an official certificate that validates a newly constructed house or commercial building includes water-efficient appliances, low-flow plumbing fixtures, micro-irrigation systems and water quality benefits from best management practices in landscapes.

Lake Wales is the first municipality in Polk County to require all new construction to achieve Florida Water Star certification through a formal third-party inspection.

 “We plan to grow the city responsibly by conserving the water we source from the upper Floridan aquifer,” City Manager James Slaton said. 

A homeowner with a Florida Water Star℠ certified house may save up to $530 on annual utility bills and up to 48,000 gallons of water each year. Owners of commercial buildings will save even more water.

“As we catch this at the point of new construction, we can stop a tremendous loss of water right at the time the home or commercial building comes out of the ground,” District Sr. Government Affairs Regional Manager Cindy Rodriguez said. 

It costs a builder between $700 to $1,400 to equip a house to be Florida Water Star℠ certified. Upon inspection, builders may apply for a $1000 rebate, while rebates last.

The Florida Water Star℠ certified program is the City’s third water conservation program.

Residents may help reduce water usage through two complimentary City conservation programs, in partnership with the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, Water Conservation Kit Program and Wireless Rain Sensor Program. Select this link to request a water conservation kit and scroll to the Lake Wales option. https://prwcwater.org/water-conservation/rebates-incentives/#

To learn more about how you can help conserve water, follow this link: https://prwcwater.org/water-conservation/conservation-tips/

The water conservation kits are provided by the City of Lake Wales and Polk Regional Water Cooperative.

Along with the School Zone Speed Camera Enforcement Program, the City of Lake Wales will be launching a Red Light Enforcement program in Fall 2025. This safety initiative is designed to reduce speed-related incidents caused by running red lights and promote safer driving habits. 

Intersections to be enforced: Westbound State Road 60 and 1st StreetWestbound State Road 60 and 3rd StreetWestbound State Road 60 and 11th Street

Once the technology is installed, a promotion campaign with the start date will be published in advanced on social media and the City of Lake Wales website. A 30-day warning period will commence on the start date of the enforcement program, during which violators will receive a written warning instead of a citation. Following this period, full enforcement will begin and citations will be issued. Each red light violation will result in a $158 fine with no points being assessed to the driver's license. 

When a violation occurs the system will record the date, time, location, vehicle speed and license plate number. A citation will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle and will include images of the violation and documented speed. All citations will be reviewed and approved by a member of the Lake Wales Police Department before being issued.  

The City of Lake Wales will launch its School Zone Speed Camera Enforcement program on January 14. The program will begin at Hillcrest Elementary, with cameras monitoring traffic eastbound and westbound on State Road 60. 

A 30-day grace period will commence on Wednesday, January 14. During this time, violators will receive a written warning instead of a citation. The grace period consists of 30 active school days, including half-days. After the grace period concludes, full enforcement will begin and citations will be issued. Each violation will result in a $100 fine with no points being assessed to the driver's license. Money from the fines will be distributed to school crossing guard programs, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, State of Florida, and the City of Lake Wales. 

Enforcement will begin approximately 15 minutes before school starts and will run throughout the school day until 15 minutes after school ends. After the school day is over, the cameras will no longer be active. Motorists are encouraged to follow the posted speed limits when school zone lights are flashing. Cameras will also enforce the normal posted speed limit during the school day while the flashing lights are off.Cameras will not be recording during school holidays or after early release times. 

When a violation occurs, the system records the date, time, location, vehicle speed and license plate number. A citation will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle and will include images of the violation and documented speed. All citations will be reviewed and approved by an enforcement officer at the Lake Wales Police Department before being issued.

School zones to be enforced: - Hillcrest Elementary - Eastbound and Westbound on State Road 60- Lake Wales High School - Eastbound and Westbound on Burns Avenue- McLaughlin School of Excellence - Northbound and Southbound on Scenic Highway between Domaris Avenue and Winston Avenue

School zone times: - Hillcrest Elementary: 7:15am - 8:45am | 2:45pm - 3:45pmEarly Release: 12:15pm - 1:15pm - Lake Wales High School: 6:15am - 8:00am | 2:45pm - 3:45pmEarly Release: 12:25pm - 1:30pm- McLaughlin School of Excellence: 6:15am - 7:30am | 1:30pm - 2:30pmEarly Release: 11am - 12pm

30-Day Warning Periods: - Hillcrest Elementary: Began January 14Last day of warnings will be Thursday, February 26, with citations going live on Friday, February 27. - Lake Wales High School: Began February 4Last day of warnings will be Friday, March 13, with citations going live on Monday, March 23, due to spring break.  

Start dates for additional school zones will be announced once permitting and system installations are complete.    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Lieutenant Dale Hampton, Investigations Commander dhampton@lakewalesfl.gov (863) 678-4223 ext. 2018 | Cell: (863) 632-6303 

Former GrowHealthy employee arrested after stealing over 20 pounds of Marijuana

Lake Wales, Fla. (July 18, 2025) – On July 9,2025 former employee, Kadeem Jones, was reported to have entered the GrowHealthy facility before his scheduled shift and stole approximately 21.52 pounds of cannabis. The value of the cannabis was valued at $132,833. 

Detectives attempted to obtain the surveillance video footage but after eight days of no action taken, the Lake Wales Police Department executed a search warrant at the GrowHealthy facility located at 309 South Acuff Road. After reviewing footage of the incident, he was seen gathering white tubes containing cannabis into a plastic container and putting the container on top of a black tub also containing cannabis. Surveillance footage shows Jones walking out of the building with the tub, placing it into a vehicle and proceeding to drive away from the facility. 

Upon the report, Jones was initially identified by the Director of Compliance and Security, Michael Schower, through electronic logs that show where Jones scanned his badge to enter. His identity was later confirmed by his supervisor, Wyatt Grooms, after reviewing the surveillance footage. 

On Thursday, July 17, detectives visited his residence in Dundee and 33-year-old Kadeem Jones was arrested for Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sale, Grand Theft greater than $100,000 and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The missing cannabis has not been located and the investigation is ongoing. The Lake Wales Police Department will be forwarding the investigation to the Department of Health who is responsible for licensing businesses to cultivate, process, and dispense medical marijuana to qualified patients.