Lake Wales, Florida – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, the first positive Rabies case in Polk County for 2016.

On Sunday, May 29, 2016, a Lake Wales man reported that his four dogs were fighting with a raccoon in the area of 2900 Fast Trot Trail.

The PCSO Animal Control Section responded, impounded the raccoon, and sent its body to the state lab for rabies testing. The raccoon was confirmed positive for rabies by the State Laboratory on Wednesday, June 1st.

The dogs’ owner was notified of the test results and the dogs will be quarantined for 180 days.

Residents are reminded that raccoons are among the mammals considered to be high risk species or “rabies vector species” (RVS). Please do not approach any animal which is acting in an unusual or suspicious manner. If you think you or your pet has had an “exposure,” please contact the PCSO Animal Control Section at 863.499.2600.

Article Written by Robert Blanchard:

Brock’s Bistro, Burgers & BBQ; Breaking the Food Barrier

Whether it’s sound, speed or communication; barriers are made to be broken.

And the newly revamped Brock’s Bistro, Burgers & BBQ at the Eagle Ridge Mall is no exception.

The Pari family previously owned two restaurants that were  originally located in Dundee, FL; Brock’s Smokehouse and the Acropoli Italian Restaurant. The family decided to combine the two and relocated to the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales almost two years ago to bring their special style of dining to a larger audience.  Their dual menu of BBQ and Italian captured two unique genres of taste and paired well with larger groups of customers who had varying tastes among them.

But Brock’s owner Mike Pari was not yet satisfied and he felt that a new menu was in order.

“Brock’s has been a staple in this community for over two decades and as with most businesses we have evolved through that time. Keeping up with current trends in the restaurant industry we decided it was time for a change. Our new menu reflects our commitment to quality cuisine at affordable prices that is diverse as well as delicious”

And with that; the new Brock’s Bistro, Burgers & BBQ is taking its menu to a whole new level.

With dishes like Cherry BBQ Chicken, Mango BBQ Pork and seafood dishes like Coconut Shrimp and Blackened Mahi- Mahi, you would think that the menu couldn’t get any more diverse…..well folks, you are in for a surprise as Brock’s breaks the barrier where East meets West.

They now feature a Korean Stir-Fry for those that like to eat healthy and have a hunger for the Orient.

Starting with a “super-slaw” combination of Kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, Kale, Red cabbage and Carrots; these super-food vegetables are combined in a Wok with a savory Korean BBQ sauce and fresh Chicken Breast or Steak Medallions and stir-fried to perfection.  Served over a bed of Rice Pilaf with Pine Nuts, this tasty dish will satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.

For the lighter eater, Brock’s has a brand new full-size soup and salad bar where you can build your own salad creation.  Homemade Cole slaw and Potato salad are among twelve topping offered as well as gourmet homemade soups made fresh from scratch daily.

Want a sandwich with that soup and salad? Brock’s offers bistro-style gourmet deli sandwiches made with delectable, all-natural deli meats by Metro Deli.
One good example of these tasty creations is the Twisted Reuben, made with two slices of perfectly crisp, grilled marbled rye bread and stuffed to the gills with warm, thin-sliced corned beef topped with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. Add a dab of chipotle mayo and there you have it! Other sandwich choices are the New Yorker, Apple-wood smoked Turkey, Tony’s Deluxe Sub and even a Lake Wales Spicy Chicken Wrap.

For the burger lover, you might want to try the Hotel California Burger with premium Angus beef smothered in grilled onions topped with cheddar cheese and a dab of guacamole, jalapenos and a special sauce.

After your meal you can enjoy an Iced Coffee, Frappuccino, Latte or an Espresso from Green Mountain Coffee to top off your visit. There is also a Margarita Thursday for those who like a stronger finish to their meal.

So join Brock’s Bistro, Burgers & BBQ and the Pari family on June 11^th as they introduce their new concept which can only be described as the embodiment of the American Bistro.

Brock’s Bistro, Burgers & BBQ is open 7 days; Mondays 3pm – 9pm; Tuesday thru Saturday 11am – 9pm and Sundays 12pm-6pm.  Kids 8 and under eat free (Restrictions apply- call for details).

You can also order online at ChowNow.com.  Call for information on Catering as well.

Brock’s is located in the Eagle Ridge Mall, 823 Eagle Ridge Drive Lake Wales FL 33859.

Call 863-318-9710 for more info……. Happy Dining!!

Bartow, Florida – Some people were told in an email and others were told at a meeting. The end result was several people lost their job. The Sun Coast Media Group laid off multiple people on Thursday. The number of layoffs isn’t known, but at least 5 and possibly 10.  Not all were full-time employees. Several were contracted with the paper for years. An initial email coming from the local editor of the Lake Wales News and the Frostproof News advised that all employees were laid off except for one.

The Daily Ridge contacted Sun Coast Media Group for comment on Friday, but the newspapers publisher Chris Sexson has not contacted us back yet. Sexson took over in April as the new publisher for Sun Coast Media’s Polk County properties, which includes The Polk County Democrat, Lake Wales News, Fort Meade Leader, Frostproof News and Polk County Sun. The Frostproof News & Fort Meade Leader had been rolled into the Lake Wales News and Polk County Democrat respectively for the last year or so. The Polk County Sun was the self proclaimed largest and newest paper of the Sun Coast Media’s Polk County division. Sexson was the publisher of multiple papers including the Metro Times, Creative Loafing & The Pitch.

One of those people let go was editor Kathy Leigh Berkowitz.  A ray of sunshine came into Lake Wales when Kathy started to report for the Lake Wales News, said Daily Ridge Editor, Carl Fish. He first met Kathy Leigh at a open house for the radiology at Lake Wales Medical Center, several years ago. She was energetic, exciting and wrote stories from the heart. She will be greatly missed, said Fish.

The news of the layoffs comes just months after Sun Coast Media Group newspaper founder Derek Dunn-Rankin passes away. Dunn-Rankin’s career in newspapers began at age 11, when he became a delivery boy for the Miami News.  He build Sun Coast Media into a group of newspapers published in Charlotte, Sarasota, DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties in Florida.     In December 2006, Dunn-Rankin’s group bought three Frisbie-family owned newspapers. Those papers were the Lake Wales News, The Polk County Democrat and Fort Meade Leader. In 2007 the group bought independently owned Frostproof News.

It is difficult to see how the papers would continue to produce weekly content for the 4 cities and the Polk County Sun with a limited staff.

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

Stanley William Britt April 8, 1942 – May 27, 2016

Stanley William Britt of Lake Wales, passed away Friday, May 27, 2016, after complications due to Alzheimer’s Disease, at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family.  He was 74.

Stanley was born on April 8, 1942 in Camilla, Georgia to the late Willie Coley Britt and Edna Ford Britt.  He moved to Lake Wales as a young child and remained a lifelong resident of the area.  Stanley owned and operated rental properties and worked in the citrus industry for Florida’s Natural.  Stanley was a skilled tennis player.  He enjoyed boxing, fishing, hunting, and watching Bobby Bowden coach the Florida State Seminoles.

Stanley was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry Coley Britt and sister, Lucretia Paige Britt, both of Lake Wales.  He is survived by his former wife of 53 years, Ann Carr Britt of Lake Wales; sister, Elaine Tucker of Winter Haven; three sons, Rickey Britt (and wife, Tina), Troy Britt, and Tracy Britt (and wife, Tonda), all of Lake Wales; 16 grandchildren; 5 greatgrandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Pastor David Koon, at Golfview Baptist Church, 107 Hibiscus Drive, Lake Wales, Florida 33898.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

Lake Wales, Florida – The Lake Wales Police Department is attempting to identify the suspect in these photographs. During the afternoon of May 26, 2016, the suspect pulled in front of Wal-Mart, located at 2000 SR60 E, driving this truck and pulling this trailer. The suspect loaded a Coleman Go-Cart and a Coleman Mini-Bike onto the trailer and drove away without paying for either item. The go-cart is valued at $998 and the mini-bike is valued at $499. The suspect was wearing a Wal-Mart vest and name tag but current Wal-Mart staff was not able to identify him.

     If you have information on the identity of the suspect please contact Detective Stephanie Goreck at (863) 678-4223 exten

Lake Wales, Florida – After 58 years a local Lake Wales business is closing today. The original owner, Clyde Kieffer, opened up Kieffer and Son’s as a full service gas station in 1958. Located at 842 FL-60 (across the street from the Lake Wales Country Club)  it benefited from the traffic on S.R. 60.   The business was also ran by 3 brothers, the sons of Clyde, for many years. The sons Kim, Kerry and Kevin Kieffer all worked together until just a few years ago when Kevin left to work at a local container company.

The closing is bittersweet. Asked why they were closing and the two remaining brothers, Kim & Kerry, stated they were retiring. Mind you they said this with a smile on their faces. You could tell this was both a sad and glad moment for them. Asked what the brothers would do now and one said fishing.

The brothers recalled how the business started as a gas station and then progressed to minor mechanic work and eventually after self serve gas came in it changed to just service repair. They reminisced about  working on cars brought down by snowbirds which were always rusting out. A local from the Golfview Park area just behind the shop shared these memories  ” all of us as children use to run down there and get a cold drink out of the cooler box not a machine and if our grandma / parents gave us at least another dime or so we could get a good amount of candy” said Debbie Booth.

Asked why no one else in the family took over the business the brothers just smiled. They explained that everyone else had a good job. Many of the male grandchildren of Clyde had jobs working for the local power companies. Clyde’s wife reminisced about how the shop was smaller when it first opened. Clyde added on a waiting room and atleast one more bay for repairs.

Editors Note: While the closing of this longtime business is sad, it is also nice to see that it is done on their terms. It was an absolute pleasure to speak to Kim & Kerry along with the rest of the Kieffer family. It was very easy to see how they were in business for 58 years serving this community. We wish them all the best in there retirement and hope they enjoy every minute of it. 

LAKE WALES MEDICAL CENTER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS

Lake Wales, FL – Lake Wales Medical Center has an immediate need for volunteers for courtesy shuttle drivers, the gift shop, and the front lobby information desks. Courtesy shuttle drivers bring patients and visitors to the hospital entrances from parking areas. Gift Shop volunteers assist shoppers in the hospital gift shop. Front lobby volunteers greet visitors, hand out visitor passes, and answer questions. All volunteers must be friendly, personable, and at-ease interacting with the public.

“As we move into the Summer season, many of our volunteers head back up North, and we have a need for year-round residents who can volunteer four hours per week,” said Julie Sing, manager of volunteer services at the hospital.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, complete an application, submit a letter of recommendation, and pass a background and drug screening. Top applicants will be interviewed, and available positions will be filled based on best fit.  Not all applicants will be brought on as volunteers. Shuttle drivers must be 21 years of age and will be trained on courtesy shuttle safety prior to beginning their assignment.

Hospital volunteers receive a free meal ticket for the hospital cafeteria for each shift worked, a volunteer uniform, and a free flu shot once per year. Volunteers ages 50 or older who work an average of at least 4 hours per week will receive free membership to LWMC’s Senior Circle program.

Applications are available in the lobbies at the hospital, or can be downloaded online at www.lakewalesmedicalcenter.com and click on the “Volunteers” tab at the top of the home page.

Lake Wales, Florida – Rumors have been circulated for awhile now about the closing of Starbucks. The Eagle Ridge Mall coffee venue has been around nearly 10 years. Originally the location, which is just off the food court, was a Barnie’s Coffee for many years. According to multiple employees the location is going to close in the future,  but an exact date has not been given. According to one employee they know it will be after summer, but before the holidays.

The restaurant chain has a Winter Haven location and employees were given option to working there.

It has been confirmed that another location in the mall will begin to sell coffee & another food vendor is entering the mall.

We will update this article as more information becomes available.

HARDY NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Lake Wales, FL – Lorraine Hardy, RN in the Emergency Department at Lake Wales Medical Center, was presented with Employee of the Month for April. Hardy was recognized for her excellent rapport with patients and their families, and her willingness to support the entire ER team.