PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 4, NO. 27
FREE
Crest defeats Lennard
SEE PAGE 12 •
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017
Alexander Street to be resurfaced in 2018 The decision to start work on the project was made by the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization on Wednesday, Jan. 4. EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR
Mayor Rick Lott announced at a City Commission meeting Monday, Jan. 9, that Alexander Street will be fully resurfaced in 2018. The decision and funds to resurface the street comes from the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning
Organization meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 4. The intersections of both Jim Johnson Road and Alexander Street and Alexander Street and James L. Redman Parkway will also receive improvements after the resurfacing project is completed, with design funding allocated for the 2021 fiscal year. Design funding for both intersection improvements are allocated at $100,000 each, with an estimated $2 million each for construction. Bids are currently out for the Alexander Street resurfacing project. “That’s been a request we’ve had for a long time now,” Lott said. “It’s currently a city street, but we are
Justin Kline
Bids are currently out for the resurfacing project, which is scheduled for next year.
SEE ALEXANDER PAGE 5
YOUR TOWN
WHO WILL
REIGN?
Meet the contestants for the 2017 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen and Court, and say farewell to 2016 Queen Haley Riley. SEE PAGES 2-3
CityPointe Church to celebrate one year anniversary The church will be celebrating its first year operating out of the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World Sunday, Jan. 29.
EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR
When Scott McIntosh made the decision to start CityPointe Church in his hometown, he knew he wanted it to be a different kind of experience for his congregation. “We’re brand new,” McIntosh said. “We wanted an authentic, delightful place to worship Jesus together. We wanted to focus more on similarities than differences. Our vision was for a
different kind of church. Our goal is to bring folks together.” Currently based out of the John R. Trinkle Center on the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College, CityPointe Church will celebrate its first anniversary Tuesday, Jan. 31. The church, which is currently debtfree, will commemorate the anniversary with a celebration Sunday, Jan. 29 — including 100 dedications to God. SEE CHURCH PAGE 5
Courtesy photo
Family throws 80th surprise birthday party for local resident Not one for big parties, local resident Dr. James Beier expected his 80th birthday to pass quietly. But on Saturday, Jan. 7, Beier and his wife, Deanne, arrived at the Sarasota home of his eldest daughter, Elaine Dabney. Expecting to join his daughter and her husband, Tom, for a postholiday lunch, Beier was surprised to find six Beier children, their families, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter together for a surprise party. Many had flown in for the weekend to greet their patriarch with a birthday flash mob. Other surprises that highlighted the weekend celebration included a presentation of more than 100 birthday cards from family and friends, many of which dated back to Beier’s childhood days growing up in the Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. The weekend concluded with a military serenade performed by The First Baptist Church of Sarasota playing the former Eagle Scout and United States Marine’s all-time favorite, “Marine Corp Hymn.”
Rise Plant City now accepting members After forming a board in 2016, Plant City’s newest young professionals organization is now accepting general members. The organization, geared for young professionals between the ages of 21 to 42, seeks to create a better community for all through economic development, philanthropy, networking opportunities and more. The membership fee for Rise Plant City is $50 annually. Once a payment is made, members will be added to a mailing list to be notified of upcoming events and meetings. Interested members can sign up at RisePlantCity.com. Those seeking more information can contact the Rise team at info@ riseplantcity.com.