Valrico
11
February 2024
Volume 21, Issue 2
February 29-March 10
Ph: 813-657-2418
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CELEBRATING 22 YEARS OF PUBLISHING P OSITIVE COMMUNIT Y NEWS
DURANT FOOTBALL’S CLAYTON VARNUM SELECTED AS TAMPA Staff Report BAY BUCS COACH OF THE YEAR gratulate all the contestants
DURANT STUDENT CROWNED QUEEN AND JUNIOR ROYALTY WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT ANNUAL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL PAGEANT
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Annistyn Griffin was crowned queen of the 89th tonight. They put in so much Florida Strawberry Festival time and effort in preparin the annual pageant held at ing for tonight, and it is our the festival grounds on Janhope that no matter the outuary 20. come, maybe that at the end Annistyn was selected of the night, they have all from a field of 17 conteshad fun, they all made some tants. Taylor Gregory was new friends and they have chosen as first maid along enjoyed their participation with court members Zion in this event.” Keese, SaraGrace Sparkman Also crowned were the Annistyn Griffin, who was and Abigail Spivey. winners of the annual Junior crowned queen of the 89th “I’m so honored and ready Florida Strawberry Festival. Royalty Pageant. One hunto give this next year of my dred and twenty-one regislife to Plant City,” said Annistered contestants from 5-15 tyn. “I’m looking forward to years old competed in four interacting with every single categories according to their guest that walks through ages: baroness, duchess, the festival gates and leave princess and queen. From an impact like they did for the top five finalists in each me.” category, a first maid and a Annistyn is the daughter winner were chosen. of Artis and Jennifer GrifBrooke Browning was fin. She is currently a junior selected as Junior Royalty at Durant High School and Queen; Ava Bikowski was dual enrolled at Hillsborough chosen as Junior Royalty Community College. She Back, left to right: Ava Bikow- Princess; Kezley Salinas was serves as a member of Na- ski, Junior Royalty Princess, chosen as Junior Royalty tional Honor Society, Nation- and Brooke Browning, Junior Duchess; and Reagan Causey Royalty Queen. Front, left al English Honor Society, Juwas chosen as Junior Royalto right: Reagan Causey, nior Class Council, Student ty Baroness. Junior Royalty Baroness, and Government Association Kezley Salinas Junior Royalty The queen and court make and the Durant Senior FFA. over 80 appearances repreDuchess. She plans to pursue a career in medical so- senting the Florida Strawberry Festival and nography to specialize in neurosonography. the Plant City community and can be seen The Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s at festival events and at community events Competition is organized by the Plant City throughout the year. Lions Club and is composed of five facets of The Junior Royalty winners will represent competition: a personal interview, onstage the Florida Strawberry Festival throughspeaking, casual wear, evening wear and an out the year also, making appearances at impromptu question. events and in the annual Plant City Christ“We especially would like to thank the mas Parade and Grand Parade during the Plant City Lions Club for sponsoring this festival. contest and for all the time and hard work For more information, visit www.flstrawthey put into making this a successful berryfestival.com, Facebook, Instagram event,” said Florida Strawberry Festival or X, formerly known as Twitter (#berryChairman Danny Coton. “I want to con- fest24).
Ybor City Museum Society’s annual Buildings Alive! Architecture Hop is a fun way to see and visit multiple historical and architecturally interesting buildings in Ybor City, which is an important area of Tampa that all residents should visit and cherish. For schedules and tickets, visit www.ybormuseum.org. Read the full article on page 30.
By Nick Nahas
Clayton Varthe award. num, Durant “It’s a little High School bit of reaffirCougars head mation that we coach, was seare doing somelected as the thing good here Tampa Bay Bucat Durant,” said caneers Coach Varnum. “It’s of the Year after hard to know leading his team how well you’re Photos courtesy of Sebastian Arbelaez. really to back-to-back doing district titles, a Clayton Varnum will represent the Bucs on the nation- when you’re the al stage as their representative for the Don Shula High 9-3 overall reone doing the School Coach of the Year Award. cord and three accounting. For straight playoff an organization berths. The Coulike the Bucs to gars have avrecognize it just eraged at least makes me confieight wins per dent in what we season since he are doing. I’ve took the job besaid it once and fore the 2021I’ll say it again, 22 season. this award beThe head longs to our coach received players, coaches, Clayton Varnum got to meet Bucs All-Pro safety $2,000 for his school and comAntoine Winfield Jr. program, official munity. Without Buccaneers swag, a personal tour of One them, things like this don’t happen.” Buc Place and two tickets to Super Bowl The former Durant High School lineLVIII. backer has coached football at Durant “I was honestly shocked,” said Var- since he graduated from the school in num. “What a great honor to represent 2011 and became the head man in 2021. Durant on such a big stage. I’m grateful He’s been a fan of the team since he was for all the people in my life who made eight years old. He is also the grandson something like this possible.” of Newsome High School founder Joe E. In addition, he got to meet Bucca- Newsome. Varnum hopes to continue his neers head coach Todd Bowles, All-Pro great run as head coach into the next safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and backup season. quarterback Kyle Trask. “I’m proud of our program and thank“Coach Bowles has been in the league ful to be representing my alma mater in a long time, so meeting anyone with that a positive way,” said Varnum. “Cougars kind of experience is awesome,” said forever.” Varnum. “Antoine and Kyle were great as well. I felt like none of them had to do that, so taking the time to talk to me was special.” FORMER ARMWOOD ATHLETE....PG 4 Varnum will represent the Bucs on the MOTORING TAMPA BAY .................PG 5 national stage as their representative for the Don Shula High School Coach NAVIGATING WILLS.........................PG 8 of the Year Award. He will be running EYE ON BUSINESS ................PGS 25-26 against all of the other National Football ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT......... PG 31 Conference teams’ representatives for
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