Gary White

1 week ago | theledger.com | Gary White

Aksh Ladegaonkar, a sophomore at International Baccalaureate at Bartow High School, won second place in the Dr. Nelson Ying Science Competition for his project on treating pancreatic cancer. Inspired by his aunt's battle with pancreatic cancer, Aksh's research focused on improving drug delivery using modified liposomes and tested his methods on planarians. Aksh's project earned him recognition at regional and state science fairs, and he qualified for the International Science Engineering Fair.

1 week ago | theledger.com | Gary White

The owners of Lake Wales Country Club have proposed a development plan called Vintage Preserve that would add nearly 1,100 homes to the property. Residents of Lake Wales Country Club oppose the development, citing concerns about the loss of green space, increased traffic, and the developer's history. The Lake Wales Planning and Zoning Board delayed a decision on the proposal until its July meeting. The current owners have been criticized for neglecting the golf course and other facilities.

1 week ago | theledger.com | Gary White

The City of Lake Wales has regained ownership of the historic Walesbilt Hotel after a legal battle with the previous owner. The city plans to conduct a structural assessment of the building before seeking new developers. City officials hope to select a developer by the end of summer and prefer the building remain a hotel. The deed is done: Lake Wales again is the owner of the historic Walesbilt Hotel, a downtown landmark that has been vacant for decades.

2 weeks ago | theledger.com | Gary White

The Lake Wales City Commission approved a contract with Altumint to operate traffic and school zone cameras. The city will pay Altumint a monthly rental fee or a per-paid-citation fee for speed cameras, and a monthly fee for red-light cameras. Lake Wales Police Department will review recordings and issue citations. The commission also approved runoff elections starting in 2026 for races without a majority winner.

2 weeks ago | newschief.com | Gary White

Two drivers died in a head-on collision on U.S. 27 near Frostproof, Florida. A northbound Toyota Corolla collided with a southbound Nissan Altima, resulting in the Toyota catching fire. The driver of the Toyota and the driver of the Nissan were killed, while a passenger in the Nissan was critically injured. A 911 call reported a car traveling the wrong way on U.S. 27 at high speed just before the crash.