01.24.13 Plant City Observer

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PLANT CITY

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SPORTS

in focus

Strawberry Crest Wild Horse Ministries to charged up for regional run. visit Plant City.

PAGE 11

Strawberry Ball kicks off 2013 festival season.

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PAGE 5

in focus: mlk celebration

OUR TOWN

by the Observer staff

by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Plant City Motorsports rumbles into downtown

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This men’s night out will take place from 6 to 11 p.m.

Feb. 9, at the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Association Building, 6404 S. C.R. 39, one mile south of State Road 60.

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Lincoln Elementary fourth-grader Jaden Clark was one of many performers of the Pride Drum Ensemble at the opening ceremonies.

Kids of all ages loved zooming around on the carnival rides.

The annual MLK parade featured plenty of student musicians.

Foundation

+ Visit our website for exclusive content The winners of the 2013 Junior Royalty Pageant sat down with Associate Editor Amber Jurgensen to share some insight into their lives, hopes and dreams.

See our exclusive video on PlantCityObserver.com!

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+ Got a love story fit for Hollywood?

Was it love at first sight?

Did you overcome some awesome obstacle to be with your spouse? Maybe your parents have a love story that rivals Hollywood’s best flicks.

If so, we want to hear from you! The Plant City Observer is planning a special edition for Valentine’s Day, and we want to hear your love story.

Contact General Manager Michael Eng, (813) 7046850 or meng@plantcityobserver.com.

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Keivonte Fuller is the vice president of Gentlemen’s Quest, a group from Marshall Middle School.

Plant City celebrated one of America’s greatest heroes with the 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Arts Festival.

The festival, themed “Faith, the Foundation of Freedom,” was a joint effort between the Improvement League of Plant City and the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival.

It kicked off with opening ceremonies Jan. 18, with special guests, Mayor Mike Sparkman and the Rev. Dr. Shafter E. Scott, of St. Erika Judd and Durant High Mary M.B. Church. The festival continued with the Step Show Jan. 18, parade Jan. 19, a School’s Alpha Cougar Omega put on a circus-themed show. two-day carnival and much more.

SEE MORE EVENT PHOTOS ON PAGE 9

INDEX Crossword.......... 14

The full-service facility, located in the former Firestone Tire building on East Baker Street, will open March 1.

The old Firestone shop at the corner of Baker and Palmer streets soon will go from servicing vehicles with four wheels to those with two, three, four — and even none at all.

Plant City Motorsports, a fullservice shop specializing in servicing all makes of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, side-by-sides and watercraft, is set to open March 1.

Entrepreneur Matt Ackles, along with Craig McKee, consultant Jerrod Monaghan, and Craig’s son, Chad, partnered to open the new shop, which they expect will fill a need in the local market.

“There are several shops in the area that will work on motorcycles, but not any that service all makes,” Monaghan said, noting the shop will service everything from Harley-Davidsons to Japanese sport bikes. “If it’s got a motor and a way of propulsion, we’re hoping to be able to service those vehicles.”

A Michigan native, Ackles attended the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, in Orlando. After graduating and returning home to Michigan, he eventually moved back to Florida for better opportunities.

“We looked at (more than) 30 different properties in the Greater Plant City area before deciding on this location,” Monaghan said about the shop’s new home, 203 E. Baker St., in historic downtown. “We did a lot of homework before settling on that location, and it was by far the best facility that we found.”

Monaghan also said the partners plan to obtain a seller’s license to sell used vehicles from the shop within six months.

According to Ackles, the reason for coming to Plant City stemmed

SEE MOTORSPORTS / PAGE 2 Vol. 1, No. 29 | One section

Obituaries.......... 10

Opinion.................8

Sports................ 11

PlantCityObserver.com

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE!

Matt Mauney

Plant City Motorsports will be located in the former Firestone Tire service shop at at 203 E. Baker St. in the historic downtown district.

MOTORSPORTS/PAGE 1 from the number of riders in this area.

“There’s not really anything else in the immediate area that meets those needs,” Ackles said.

“That’s why we’re here.”

Ackles will serve as the head mechanic and technician at the shop, while McKee also will work in-house. Monaghan is a consultant who has helped with more than 100 motorcycle dealerships and shops in the United States.

He has worked with a variety of markets but says Plant City has been one of his most unique experiences.

“Plant City has been so gracious and open-minded to us and really the entire motorcycle community,” he said, noting the city’s more that 10-year involvement with Bike Fest, a monthly

festival held in McCall Park, just a few blocks from the shop’s location. “(Brining in) hundreds of motorcycles and riders in each month could strike fear in some people, with preconceived notions of groups like the Hells Angels, but this is a family sport and hobby much more than it is about the 1%,” Monaghan said.

“I applaud this community for having that foresight and for looking at it as an asset and not a liability to bring in tourism dollars.”

Monaghan hopes the monthly festival will bring in customers and that Plant City Motorsports can build a good relationship with Bike Fest.

“It’s great to see the smalltown community feel Plant City brings,” Monaghan said. “We really feel at home in this envi-

ronment, and we are looking forward to being a part of this community.”

Monaghan added that they have made an effort to set up locally, with banking and financial services. Plant City Motorsports also has submitted paperwork to join the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and has plans to host a ribbon-cutting event April 5. Ackles also noted he has received interest from members of Plant City’s First Baptist Church, located across the street. First Baptist has a group called the Faith Riders, that ride their motorcycles to church every Sunday.

“They’ve been congratulating us on everything and are interested in what we have going on,” he said.

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.

57TH PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION. Walden Lake residents C.L. and Ione Townsend brought their favorite community newspaper with them to the 57th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 22, in Washington, D.C. This photo was taken at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

If you want to be featured in It’s Read Everywhere, snap a photo of you with the paper at your destination of choice and email it to Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com. Make sure you include your full name and where the photo was taken.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

3

outreach by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Churches unite to create new community ministry Plant City Community Ministries will offer programs to help those in need.

The mantra of the One of the most new Plant City Compopular services Plant City munity Ministries is is the food pantry, Community “Helping Families which will provide Ministry Stand,” and the minemergency food supAddress: 103 istry intends to do just plies for those who Johnson Road that by utilizing an need it. But CommuPhone: (813) educational approach nity Ministries goes 754-5968 in its work. one step further, ofThe new Plant City fering food classes ministry will open Feb. 4. through which participants will “It’s not just a band-aid ap- receive recipes and learn about proach,” Benny Keck, pastor of budgeting and planning low-cost, the First Baptist Church of Dover, nutritional meals. said. “It helps people from go“We’ve found a lot of needs ing to church to church seeking are food-based,” Director Cheryl services. We’re offering long-term Hickman said. support.”

As well as food education, the Community Ministries is offer- ministry will offer employment ing a variety of programs to help resources. Participants can work those in need, from families to on their résumés, find out about the homeless and seniors to those job openings, network and learn suffering from addiction. new skills for interviews. A closet

will be filled with business attire for participants going to interviews.

“People are getting employed,” Hickman said. “It works. Sometimes, people get discouraged.

Sometimes, you have to put 100 applications out before hearing back. But don’t give up.”

A team of pastoral counselors also will be on-site to talk to anyone dealing with addiction, grief, divorce or who may counseling.

Volunteer advocates will be staffed at the ministry from Monday through Friday. Advocates not only will help run the classes but also help connect people with services they need.

“People really want ... the educational aspect of it,” Hickman said. “They may not know what to do next. But when they come here, we help them with a shortterm and long-term plan.”

Hickman has experience running a similar ministry. She

unplugged by Michael Eng | Managing Editor

Amber Jurgensen

The ministry will operate from the back building of Johnson Road Community Church, 103 Johnson Road, Plant City. started the Women’s Resource Center in Brandon 10 years ago.

Since then, she has helped serve 25,000.

Hickman was inspired to start the center after she struggled as a single mother. She felt like there were no resources for her.

“God just laid it on me to minister to those in need,” she said.

She started a group with 100 women. Within two years, she obtained a facility and now has 17 volunteers staffing the center.

Hickman connected with Keck and Dan Morris, director of missions with Shiloh Baptist Association, after doing CareFest last year.

Morris and Keck were interested in the concept of a true community resource center that also

GOVERNANCE

taught Christian values. Glenn Culler, pastor of Johnson Road Community Church, also was interested the ministry. He needed a resource center to help mentor his senior members about issues such as Medicaid and Social Security. Culler let the ministry use its back building for the center of operations.

Several churches in the area as well as churches from the Shiloh Baptist Association have pledged to help the ministry through donations or volunteer services.

“If every church in the area contributed a little, we’d have a lot more resources,” Morris said. “We can do a lot more together.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

WLCA drafts formal policy on enforcements Walden Lake Community Association board members will take the policy home to review it for the next meeting.

Brett Bass, of Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, began playing guitar at age 11.

Music fest strums into Dover Music lovers enjoyed a weekend of camping and tunes at the first Acoustic Animal Jam Festival Jan. 18 to 20, off Berry Patch Road, in Dover.

The weekend featured plenty of talent performing in diverse styles, including Americana, folk,

bluegrass, jazz, Southern rock and more. Performers included Savanah Palen, Sassafras Acoustic, Psychedelic Possum, The CottonEyed Does, Free-Range Roosters, The Dreadful Snakes, Gypsy Wind, Big-Bear Franchise and Grandpa’s Cough Medicine.

Walden Lake Community Association board members hope an official copy of the association’s policies will help stymie any confusion regarding the community’s rules and regulations.

Last month, the board directed its enforcement committee to draft a formal policy on code enforcements. Chairman Jim Chancey presented the draft at the WCLA’s Jan. 21 meeting for board members to review and revise.

“A lot of people have questions about policies,” On-Site Manager Tom Daramus said. “We want everyone to be on the same page.”

The policy will address common subjects, such as how the notification process for violations works, defines the roles of the homeowners associations, fining, reoccurring violations and arbitration. No policies were changed.

“It’s very comprehensive,” Chancey said during the meeting. “It’s not a library book, but it addresses things we haven’t addressed in the past.”

If the document is approved by all board members, it will be sent to the 16 communities WLCA oversees. Each president then will review and return it signed.

IN OTHER NEWS WLCA President Jan Griffin thanked the presidents for decorating the entrances of their neighborhoods during the holiday season.

“You made it very tough to judge,” she said. “I thank you for bringing the Christmas spirit to Walden Lake.”

Laurel Lake won for the large category; Fairway Estates won for the medium category; and Wedgewood won for the small category.

• Former board member Chip Stone died Jan. 21. He served as a board director from April 1994 to May 2000.

• The 5K Strawberry Distance Challenge will begin at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 9.

• The board also approved a Relay for Life run on March 23, in honor of Walden Lake resident Angie Rollyson and her sister, Autumn Parrish. The run will begin at 8 a.m. The goal is to have 100 registered.

• The next annual meeting is April 11.

PRESIDENTS MEETING

Mike Coker’s nickname is “Banjo Boy.”

Attendees enjoyed cooler weather throughout the weekend.

Right: Jon Murphy sings and plays upright bass for Grandpa’s Cough Medicine.

Daramus warned the presidents about burglaries in Walden Lake. He encourages anyone who is a victim of theft to call the police. Hopefully, the number of calls would increase patrols in the community, he said.

Many of the burglaries come from unlocked cars.

“I consider those pretty much an invitation,” Daramus said.

A representative from the Plant City Police Department was supposed to be present to answer crime questions at the meeting

but was unable to attend. The police department had requested from homeowners association presidents a list of addresses of vacant homes. The police department suspects that many of the burglars will hide out around the vacant homes after committing a crime to escape police patrols.

Several presidents mentioned forming a neighborhood watch to further combat the thefts.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

giddy-up! by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Christian-inspired horse whisperer trots into town Louisiana-based Paul Daily will break an untrained horse in front of an audience as part of his evangelical ministry, Wild Horse Ministries, Jan. 25 and 26, in Plant City.

Paul Daily was no stranger to horses, but one day, in 1997, as he watched a wild horse buck and run in a fit of unruliness, he felt the call of God. “It became clear that I had been running from God,” Daily said. “I wanted to make this horse something of value, just like God makes us. There is a correlation between a man training a horse and God showing us the way.”

He held his first demonstration breaking horses at his home in Jena, La., for a Sunday school class of 92 people. It was supposed to be a one-time deal, but after the demonstration, Daily received requests to do another demonstration.

Before he knew it, Daily was traveling around to different states as a performer.

Finally, in 2000, Daily quit his job working in the oil fields to travel for demonstrations year-round.

Since his first demonstration, Daily has performed 1,612 throughout the country.

Wild Horse Ministries will come to Plant City Jan. 25, at Lebanon Baptist Church, and Jan. 26, at The Farm, in Lithia.

“This is what we do now,” Daily said.

“We travel and share the word. I’m not a preacher. I’m just a country boy.”

Daily says he doesn’t break horses but rather “gentles” them. In Plant City, Daily will gentle a 3-year-old American quarter horse gelding that has never been ridden.

“It’s not as easy as you think,” Daily said. “You never know what horse you’re going to get.

Every horse is different. It’s exciting.”

His wife, Joanna, and daughter, Lenora, have joined him on this latest tour, which also encompasses three stops in Georgia and six in Florida, including the two in the local area.

“It used to scare me,” Joanna said about her husband riding wild horses.

“You didn’t know what would happen. But you just have to give it up to the Lord.”

J o a n n a didn’t grow up around horses, but her son, Dan, and Lenora s h a r e their father’s love for the animals.

They both had horses in high school roWild Horse Ministries’ Paul Daily performed at The Farm last year.

Linda Constant Photography

IF YOU GO WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 WHERE: Lebanon Baptist Church, 110 N. Forbes Road, Plant City CONTACT: Glen Churchwell, (813) 754-7722 WHEN: 3 p.m. Jan. 26 WHERE: The Farm, 7820 Lithia Pinecrest Road, Lithia CONTACT: Riviere Thomas, (813) 764-8064 deos and help out frequently with the show.

“Lenora is a real cowgirl,” Daily said.

During the two-hour demonstration, Daily will train the horse while sharing corresponding Scripture. As he works the horse, he follows what he calls the Round Pen of Life, which includes 10 steps or similarities to the relationship God has with his people. The Round Pen of Life is based on trust, faith and obedience.

Plant City resident Riviere Thomas first heard about Wild Horse Ministries two years ago.

He instantly became interested and wanted to get the ministry to come to Plant City. Last year, he invited Daily and his ministry to Plant City. This year, he is pleased to have Daily return.

“I love horses and how they relate to me and the message of God,” Thomas said. “The ministry reaches a number of people that do not come to organized church.”

Thomas is a member of Plant City’s First Baptist Church, but he worked with friends in Lithia to invite Daily, Cowboy Up Ministry and Frontline Ministry for a weekend of faith.

The weekend starts on Jan. 25 with an inspirational country music concert. On Jan. 26, there will be square dancing, and Daily will give his horse d e m o n s t ra t i o n .

The weekend concludes with a cowboy church and a free barbecue dinner. Skipper Calder, with the Cowboy Up Ministry, will perform a horse demonstration with the horse Daily broke to show how continued faith and obedience coincide with a relationship with God. Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

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by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

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Strawberry Ball sweetens season Residents dressed in glitzy gowns and snazzy suits dined and danced at the 2013 Strawberry Ball Jan. 19, at the Evelyn and Batista Madonia Agricultural Center.

This year’s ball featured a Mardi

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The event drew about 350 attendees.

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Triple Threat In addition to other notable performances, Plant City native Charleene Closshey will star in her first feature length film this year.

By the time actress Charleene Closshey is done starring in her first feature film, she will have lived Christmas all year long.

“An Evergreen Christmas” is a holiday-themed dramedy that will start shooting in February. It is set to release Christmas 2013.

“It’s my favorite time of year, and I’m so happy that my first feature film is a Christmas film,” Closshey says.

Closshey describes the movie as a “Sweet Home Alabama Meets” and “A Wonderful Life.” From the producers of “Hit and Run,” the film is expected to premier as a TV movie. It follows an aspiring musician who returns to her small hometown after her father dies.

A triple threat, not only can Closshey act, but also she is a musician and composer, making her a perfect fit for the part of the vivacious musician.

“That’s one of the things that is so intriguing about this character,” Closshey says. “She’s a musician.

Like any artist, she’s trying to find her voice. Without that journey, as an artist, you’re just recreating not creating something new.”

If all goes according to the script, in the opening scene, Closshey will be playing the violin. In the closing scene, she will be leading a Christmas carol on the piano. The

movie contains original and seasonal music.

“We’ve really got an amazing team on the project,” Closshey says. “It’s really a stellar team of songwriters and producers.

HOMETOWN GIRL

This isn’t Closshey’s first experience with performing.

In 2012, she spent the summer in Australia working on a theatrical show, “Feather,” which had its world debut in Queensland at The J Noosa. Originally called “Catharsis,” the show is performed in a style that has never been done before. Each show benefits a charity. One person from the charity is selected to have their story told and performed on-stage. Furthermore, an artist from New Guinea paints that person’s portrait in the middle of the performance.

Closshey produced, starred and wrote the music for the performance. She directed the mood of the scenes with musical compositions she also improvised at times.

“You have the freedom to create in that moment, similar to the visual art,” she says. “You never know what you’re going to get, which is exhilarating.”

Closshey hopes that the performance will make its American debut on Broadway at the New York

Courtesy photo

Charleene Closshey says her favorite part of the performing arts is being able to connect with people.

Musical Theatre Festival, in July. If not, the show was invited back to Australia for a tour.

Closshey works at a fiery pace.

She wrote the music for “Feather” in just three weeks. Before that, she was commissioned in May 2012, to compose a yoga album for the 13th Annual Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology. It took her one week to make the music flow into an album called “Glimpse.”

Closshey also scored her first short film, “Walking with Francis,” in one month. The film, about the life of St. Francis Assisi, premiered in Italy and will be distributed by the Vatican.

“That’s the beauty of faith and connectivity,” Closshey says. “I’m not even Catholic, but good story

ing and acting. She performed as a violinist during a Josh Groban tour and shared the stage with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Frank Sinatra Jr. She continued her artistic education at both Circle in the Square Theater School in New York City and with Juilliard’s Dalcroze studies.

Other theatrical performances include “A Thousand Cuts,” a television pilot, “Terminal Kill” and a variety of other feature and shortfilm appearances.

“I love being in a position where I can connect with people and connect people with people — whether that’s marketing or acting,” Closshey says.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

and message transcends presets that humans have.”

BORN TO PERFORM

Closshey has been telling stories since she was a red-headed infant on the packaging of Northern Bathroom Tissue. She attended the Harrison Center for Performing Arts, in Lakeland. She purposefully chose not to go to conservatory after high school and instead obtained degrees in marketing management and exercise science from Florida Southern College, in Lakeland.

“I didn’t want performing beaten into me,” Closshey says.

“I wanted to have the freedom of exploration. I didn’t want it to be a job.”

But Closshey came back to sing-

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

FAITH

7

by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Courtesy photo

LIfted Fitness offers men’s and women’s apparel, along with hats, gym bags and other items.

Lifted Fitness combines athletic wear, evangelism

The local clothing line benefits Plant City’s First Baptist Church’s homeless ministry.

Since becoming an avid runner, Rebecca Rothman wanted to find a way to stand out from the crowd.

The perfect idea came to her while working out at the Plant City Family YMCA. “God graced me with the idea of designing athletic apparel to witness to others — whether it be at the gym, a marathon or just at the store,” she said.

That day, Rothman was inspired to create her own clothing line, which later became Lifted Fitness, a local athletic apparel line dedicated to sharing the Christian faith.

Rothman opened the line with her husband, Mark, in December. In the first 24 hours of shirts being up for sale, they had more than 40 orders.

“It’s being blessed more than I could have imagined,” she said. “We have gotten wonderful response, mainly because it is such a unique item and there is nothing quite like it available.”

Originally, the line offered only men’s tech fabric Tshirts and women’s tech fabric tank tops, but the line has expanded to include several other items with the launch of a new website, liftedfitness.seuniforms.com, including baseball caps, gym bags and golf towels.

Each piece features a Bible verse.

“Typically, the gym is not conducive to conversation, (because) iPods are frequently used,” Rothman said. “(Because) we have Bible verses on the back side of our shirts and cross design logos on the front, it is meant to be a visual display of our faith in Christ.”

Twenty percent of the proceeds from clothing sales benefit Church at the Park, Plant City’s First Baptist Church’s homeless ministry that Rothman launched last year.

“Someone from our church begins the evening with a short devotional and blesses the food, then myself along with a team of faithful volunteers serve the food that we prepared earlier in the afternoon,” Rothman said.

Prayer and needs cards also allow church members to pray for those in need.

“It is such a need in our community, and we are blessed to be able to fulfill a small portion of their needs,” she said.

Now about a month into taking orders, Rothman said business has continued to be good, with orders coming in steadily.

“The more we sell, the more benefit it is to the less fortunate, and that’s the main purpose of our faith and our clothing line,” she said.

Rothman’s ultimate vision is for Plant City to have a fulltime food pantry and clothes closet. In the meantime, she hopes the line continues to do well and help spread the word of God. “My prayer is that these shirts promote conversation which in turn allows a person to more effectively lead someone to know our one true God,” she said. “As for the Lifted Fitness brand, I am trusting that God will guide us in the direction that is in line with his will for our business. He has big plans for this, I am sure of it.”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver. com.

We’re reclaiming the land and creating jobs.

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Founding Publisher / Felix Haynes General Manager and Managing Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver. com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editors / (Community) Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@ PlantCityObserver.com; (Sports) Matt Mauney, mmauney@PlantCityObserver. com Advertising Executive / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Coordinator / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com Accounting Manager / Petra Kirkland, pkirkland@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising-Production Operations Manager / Kathy Payne, kpayne@ yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Coordinator / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@ yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Peter Carlson, pcarlson@yourobserver. com; Monica DiMattei, mdimattei@ yourobserver.com; Marjorie Holloway, mholloway@yourobserver.com; Luis Trujillo, ltrujillo@yourobserver.com; Chris Stolz, cstolz@yourobserver.com

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

observed | never a dull moment

Daughter injured in freak accident I’ve always been bothered by those signs in factories or industrial work zones that read, “This site has been accident-free for X days.” If the number is really low, then everyone who sees it wonders what had just happened. If the number is high, then it seems like disaster is about to strike any second now.

If we had one of those signs at our house on Jan. 19, it would have read: “This daughter has been accidentfree for 1,105 days.”

MICHAEL The next day: ENG “This daughter has been accident-free for 0 days.”

Throughout our entire lives, neither my wife nor I have ever broken a bone (knocking on some wood even as I type this).

Sadly, we cannot say this about our daughter, Aria, who just turned 3 Jan. 8.

During our bedtime routine last Saturday, my wife, Jess, was reading the kids’ their bedtime story. Usually, this is a family affair — with both kids and both parents participating. On this night, I had dozed off — exhausted from several assignments earlier that day and one the night before. Jess generously offered to do bedtime on her own, allowing me to stay in bed. We had planned to have a parents’ date

later in the evening — take out and a movie.

She took the kids into our son Lyric’s room and began the story.

After a few minutes, Aria began to scoot herself to the edge of the bed; she wanted to get down to tell me something. But, she scooted one inch too far and fell backward, landing awkwardly on her shoulder.

It is true that parents can discern even the most minute of nuances in their children’s cry. This one was distinctively different and rattled me from my half-asleep state. In the seconds it took me to jump out of bed, Jess already had Aria in her arms.

She writhed in pain as heavy tears chased one another down her cheeks. She wouldn’t let either of us anywhere near her shoulder area.

The next minute is blurry — much like the early morning when Jess’ water broke almost six weeks before her due date with our son. Before I knew it, Jess had her keys in hand, purse over her shoulder and Aria strapped into the car. We decided I would stay home with Lyric to keep him settled.

After finishing his bedtime routine, I suddenly found the house empty and deafeningly quiet. I couldn’t sit still. I paced. I picked up toys. I paced. I picked up more toys. I grabbed the iPad and began my own diagnosis.

(After all, an Internet connection makes anyone a qualified

Michael Eng

Ever the trooper, Aria seems to be adjusting to life with one arm just fine.

physician, right?) I waited with my phone in hand for a report from Jess.

Finally, the first text came through: “Tests. I’ve been holding her until now. They just took X-rays. She’s in a lot of pain.”

The ER doctor confirmed Aria had fractured her collarbone, which, according to my Googling, is a common injury among preschool-age children.

The ER sent Aria home on ibuprofen and with a referral to a pediatric orthopedic specialist.

Jess phoned me as they left the ER, and I stood outside to wait for their arrival.

Much to my surprise, Aria was in good spirits — even

smiling. She happily showed me the special bear they gave her at the ER, and Jess told me the doctors had given her a blue slushie as a treat. Aria showed off her blue tongue, which matched the blue sling that now held her left arm.

And, because of the blue slushie, she proclaimed: “I’m all better now. My boo-boo is gone.”

If only.

Today, four days after our first ER trip as parents, Aria seems to be recovering just fine. The specialist said in four weeks, it likely would be impossible to tell which collarbone had been broken. Aria has amazed us by her ability to accomplish everyday tasks — such as climbing into her seat at the dining table or pulling up her pants — with only the use of her right arm and hand.

This morning, Aria even returned to her preschool, with her arm tucked securely in her sling. She was thrilled to go back — she was done with reruns of “Team Umizoomi” and “The Fresh Beat Band” — done with the couch.

As one of my friends told me, these accidents always are more traumatic for the parents than the child. And as my stepmother said, “Now, she’ll have a good story to tell when she’s older.”

Dad, remember that time I broke my collarbone, and you were fast asleep?

Yep, I can hear it, already!

JOSHING AROUND

God’s love is the ultimate academy award Several years ago, I played a small part in the movie, “Why I Got Married, Too,” directed by Tyler Perry. Although it has been a while, I am still not 100% sure how to describe the experience.

In my past, I had been an extra in a few films and knew how to blend in with the best of them.

Heck, when I was in the Sandra Bullock movie, “The Blind Side,” I blended into the football crowd so well that you couldn’t even see me. Yes, it takes a seasoned actor to not be noticed.

But this movie was different. I was chosen for this role and had to wear makeup.

But that isn’t the weird part. OK, I was told to be in JOSH this movie and LOUDERMILK not worry too much about my lines. They were paying me pretty decently, so I did like any other person who can’t afford their Starbucks habit — I showed up on the set to make a few bucks.

Let’s back up for a second.

I wasn’t even aware I was in a movie. I thought it was a commercial or something. Apparently, one of the casting directors was at one of my comedy shows and picked me for this role. I am still not sure why I was picked.

Anyway, I showed up at the set in Atlanta and was escorted through several layers of security and told to hit the dressing room. Once there, they took away my normal clothes and made me wear a suit, while several people cut my hair

Courtesy photo

Josh Loudermilk played a white guy in Tyler Perry’s “Why I Got Married, Too.” and applied layers of makeup to my freckled face. During the frenzy to make me look cameraready, the script director came up and, with a condescending look, handed me my lines for the scene and told me to be natural. This made me suspicious.

Immediately, I was ushered to the movie set, where I was introduced to a very tall AfricanAmerican man with a familiar face. It was Tyler Perry. Perry welcomed me to the set and explained the movie to me. My role was to act like an uptight white architect. Yes, I had to play a white character. It was a stretch, but I felt up for it. Anyway, I had to simply carry files to a secretary, chat with her and then look upset when my office environment is interrupted by an irate wife of a fellow co-worker.

He then told me to “be cool,” because the wife was being played by Janet Jackson, and her brother had just died a few weeks

earlier. Be cool?! Was he kidding me? Yes, he told me that I was going to be with Janet most of the day and that she was upset.

Basically, I was told not to look her in the eyes or partake in small chitchat.

But, Perry didn’t tell me what would happen next. We got into places, and Perry told me to simply act by being natural. OK. As I carried the papers to the office worker and engaged in chitchat, Janet came running in, screaming at me that it was her husband’s birthday.

It got weird. Janet was being followed by a large birthday cake on rollers. The cake stopped next to me and, all of a sudden, a slender man jumped out of the cake and began dancing with me. Act natural? How do I act natural when something so unnatural is happening? So I danced — kind of. It wasn’t good dancing. It was horrible dancing. It was so bad that after

about 20 takes of me trying to dance, Tyler told me to never dance again and to simply look surprised and stunned. I found this much more natural.

It was a unique experience to say the least. I thought it was behind me, until TBS showed it on local television recently, and I was hounded (teased) by friends laughing at my incredible acting ability. Maybe they were surprised I could play a white guy so well?

Folks, I don’t know many of you and am still fairly new to Plant City. Let me share a lesson I have learned through all of this acting nonsense. Don’t settle in life for a few minutes of fame and do not waste your life playing a supporting role to someone else.

Sure, you should be a supporting role to your family, friends, and church, but I am not talking about that. Rather, I’m saying don’t spend your lives living a life that is not yours and reading everyone else’s script. Be the main character in your life, be the hero, be the character you were made to be. You are loved by God, deeply loved. Let that love not only guide you but define you and free you from fear. Remember: Even when the script of life does something strange, embrace it. For you have everything you need to win the Oscar for best lead role — the deep love of God. Josh Loudermilk is an inspirational speaker/comic and available to speak at your church, group or event. He, his wife, Melissa, and daughter, Chloe, live in Walden Lake. You can reach Josh at louderthoughts@yahoo.com.

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

9

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

T.J. Jennings showed off his dance moves at this year’s carnival.

Taken By Surprise’s zombie-themed show won this year’s Step Show.

The Rev. Dr. Shafter E. Scott, of St. Mary M.B. Church, was a speaker at the opening ceremonies.

The Hillsborough County Twirlettes performed a routine during this year’s parade.

Left: This spinning attraction had its riders spinning in every direction.

The Kappa League steppers won second place.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

OBSERVEROBITUARIES Adam Christopher Bowman

Adam Christopher Bowman, 21, of Plant City, died on Jan. 17, 2013.

Born June 3, 1991, in Syracuse, N.Y., he was the son of Ray Bowman and Lisa Klosheim Bowman.

Mr. Bowman was 2009 a graduate of Durant High School. He enjoyed playing guitar, writing poetry, karaoke and playing pool.

Survivors include brothers, Jesse Bowman, Ray Bowman II and Tim Bowman; sister, Holly Bowman; grandparents, Sharon

and Alvin Bowman; and a beloved cousin Todd Secor.

Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome. com.

officiating. Interment followed at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens, Brandon.

Online condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.

Lillian Retha Price

Michael Edward Sprouse

Lillian Retha Price, 84, of Plant City, died Jan. 15.

Mrs. Price was a former member of New Hope Worship Center.

She was predeceased by husband, Ervin “Erv” Price.

Survivors include stepsons, James Alvin Price (Denise) and Joseph Ervin Price; and niece, Becky Hart (Shelby).

Funeral services were Jan. 22, at Wells Memorial & Event Center Chapel, with the Rev. Jim Creel

Michael Edward Sprouse, 53, of Polk City and formerly of Plant City, died Jan. 9.

Born Oct. 17, 1959, in Banks, Ala., he was the son of the late Billy Sprouse and the late Alice Veasey. Mr. Sprouse worked for Southern Milling and Lumber. He

enjoyed bicycling, reading and movies.

Survivors include daughters, Ashley Yavonne Sprouse, Samantha Ann Shouse and Lindsey Nichole Johnson; brother, Kenneth Sprouse; sister, Debora Veasey; uncles, Rex Veasey and George Sprouse; aunts, Ann Hostetter, Barbara Hittle and Judy Newman; and one grandson, Logan Bradley Shouse.

A graveside service was conducted Jan. 16, at Memorial Park Cemetery, Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome. com.

Gayle Jean Chrisp Thomason

Gayle Jean Chrisp Thomason, 82, of Plant City and Tupelo, Miss., died Jan. 16, at Sun City Center Hospice House, Ruskin.

Born Jan. 10, 1931, in Jackson,

Tenn., she was the daughter of the late Charles Chrisp and the late Gladys Chrisp Young. She was the wife of Billy Thomason. She was preceded in death by her sister Bette Marie Chrisp.

Mrs. Thomason was a church secretary at Englewood Baptist Church, in Jackson, Tenn., and attended Plant City’s First Baptist Church in the winter months. She also attended Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo, Miss.

Survivors include a son, Dennis Thomason; daughters, Deborah Gurriere and Dorothy Rogers; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

In lieu flowers, donations be made to either the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (PDF.org) or the church of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome. com.

in memoriam

David Hawthorne remembered for revitalizing downtown The Plant City native died Jan. 17, in Pinellas County.

Plant City can’t talk about its downtown revitalization without mentioning the work of David Hawthorne and his wife, Vicki. Mr. Hawthorne, responsible for renovating at least seven historic buildings, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Jan. 17. He was 62.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a welfare call made by neighbors at about 10:45 a.m., Jan. 17, in South Pasadena, where Mr. Hawthorne was staying. The case remains under investigation.

The impact Mr. Hawthorne made to Plant City through his work is undeniable. He, along with Heritage Construction owner Tim Martin, began downtown renovations in 1997. By the time they were done, they had breathed new life into the Pennisular Phone Building, Hookers Department Store, McCrory Department Store, Blacks Department Store, Old Fish Market, the Miller Building and Kilgore Seed Warehouse.

Mr. Hawthorne originally hired Martin to complete work on his

historic homes on Calhoun and East Reynolds streets. Hawthorne later asked Martin to join him on his new venture.

“It was a lot of work,” Martin said. “We basically took it back to just walls and started over.”

They worked for four years to transform the downtown.

“He was a walking calculator,” Martin said of Mr. Hawthorne.

“He and I would walk through a building, and he would ask me how much it would cost to do this or that, and would add it up in his head and know before we even walked out if it was even worth doing.”

Martin said Mr. Hawthorne shared his love of history by renovating the buildings, but that Mr. Hawthorne was also in the business of making money.

Mr. Hawthorne’s family settled in 1840, in Plant City. His family still has property north of Varn Road. When he was 18, he joined the U.S. Army. He attended the University of South Florida from 1972 to 1975 and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In 1977, he enrolled at the University of Tampa, where he earned his master’s degree in business administration.

For 13 years, he worked for Gardinier Inc., a coalition of French companies. In Florida, the com-

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pany bought phosphatic fertilizer.

From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Hawthorne got his first dose of rehabilitating almost-lost causes, working for a couple of businesses that focused on revitalizing failing companies.

In 1990, Mr. Hawthorne took a job with Servico Hotels and Resorts, in West Palm Beach. There, he met Vicki. The two married in 1995. Mr. Hawthorne was serving on the board of directors and acted as chairman of the compensation committee for SuperMedia and was the owner of Black Angus Cattle Company when he died.

The family has not set a time and date for his service with Hopewell Funeral Home.

— Amber Jurgensen

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Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | SENIORS | COMMUNITY | TENNIS

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Edgar Morales anchors Raiders soccer team. 14

PLANTCITYObserver.com

show me the mauney

It’s hard being a die-hard fan Sports have the ability to have an effect on a lot of things.

They can bring people together or tear them apart.

They can give a city hope or send that same city into a state of depression.

I was hoping to be able to write a more uplifting, lighthearted and inspirational column this week — but things didn’t play out that way.

Instead, I’ll explain why being a true die-hard fan of a team is the both the greatest and the worst thing in the world of sports.

But first, a little background.

I grew up in a sports household.

My brother, 12 years older than me, played baseball. My father was a former football and MATT baseball MAUNEY player and coached my brother for a few years.

I, being the rebel I am, decided I would do the opposite.

Yes, I played sports when I was younger — mainly baseball and soccer — but I often spent more time wondering what the post-game meal would be rather than concerning myself with whether my team won.

And when it came sports I didn’t play, I could not care less.

Growing up in Atlanta, my whole family was fans of the Atlanta pro teams, especially the Braves and the Falcons.

Even though I didn’t care that much then, when the Braves won it all in 1995, my 8-year-old self jumped up and down with the rest of my family, but I couldn’t truly appreciate what would become the only championship in Atlanta sports history to this day.

I can honestly say I truly began to be a sports fan three years later, when a guy named Gary Anderson missed a field goal, a guy name Terance Mathis made a touchdown catch, and a guy named Morten Andersen made a field goal.

It was Jan. 17, 1999, and the Atlanta Falcons were going to the Super Bowl.

I’ll spare you the details of the game (feel free to look it up), but needless to say, it was one of my proudest memories and one of my first as a true fan.

My dad is one of the biggest Falcons fans I know. He went

SEE MAUNEY / PAGE 12

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

senior sluggers by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Plant City to host slow-pitch tourney The 53-team Tournament of Champions will feature elite senior teams ranging in age divisions from 50 to 75 at Plant City Stadium and the Randy Larson Softball Complex.

Age isn’t a factor in sports.

Just ask any of the participants in this weekend’s International Softball Federation/International Senior Softball Association World Tournament of Champions.

The event will be held this weekend, at Plant City Stadium and the Randy Larson Softball Complex, along with other facilities throughout the Tampa Bay area. The tournament will feature 53 teams in age divisions ranging from 50 to 75.

“This tournament is just an-

other example that the game of softball is for anyone,” said ISF president Don Porter. “And don’t let their ages fool you, this is always a competitive tournament.”

The field of teams comes from across the country and the globe, representing 13 states, as well as teams from Canada and Colombia.

All domestic entries had to qualify through previous events held across the United States, including winners of ISSA tournaments and national champions

from all major softball associations.

The tournament will be from Jan. 25 to 27, in Plant City. Admission is free.

PREMIER VENUE

The event continues a long history of bringing prestigious softball events to Plant City since the ISF moved its headquarters here in 2000.

The ISF is the official governing international federation for softball in the world. The ISF hosts

tournaments all over the globe, but Porter hopes to continue to bring quality events to the place the ISF calls home.

“Our goal is to have several international tournaments held here each year,” Porter said.

“Unfortunately, we have limited facilities here, which makes it hard to have large tournaments.

We’re trying to expand international events here as much as possible, but it depends on the

SEE VENUE / PAGE 12

basketball by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Freshman Alexis Brundridge is one of several underclassmen on this year’s young Strawberry Crest team.

HIGH HOPES With a young but maturing team, the Strawberry Crest Lady Chargers are seeking their first trip to regionals.

With the district schedule in the books and only a few regular season games on the docket, the Strawberry Crest girls basketball team is getting ready for the Class 6A District 11 tournament.

The young Lady Chargers team is hoping to continue what has been a strong second half to the season by getting to the district championship and securing one of the two available spots for the Class 6A Region 3 tournament.

Strawberry Crest sits at 16-5 and has won its last five games

going into Wednesday night’s non-district showdown at Hillsborough. The Lady Chargers have won 11 of their last 13 after dropping three straight from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4.

“We have been playing really well lately, and the girls have really been coming together and gelling as a team,” said head coach Latosha Lewis.

The Lady Chargers are a young team but have been playing beyond their years this season. They have no seniors on the roster and

only two juniors.

One of those juniors is leader Aliyah Gregory, who leads the team with 22 points per game.

Sophomore guard Maiya Trigg also has had a strong year, scoring nearly 17 points per contest, along with posting five assists, 4.4 steals and nearly five rebounds per game.

In addition to the play of that duo, Lewis said the improvement the rest of her team has shown is equally as impressive.

“We’ve grown up a lot over the

Matt Mauney

last few games,” she said. “We still have some young players that are lacking the confidence that I’d like them to have, but they are playing well and logging some quality minutes for us.”

The program at Strawberry Crest has come a long way since it began in 2009. After a 0-21 inaugural season, the Lady Chargers went 15-12 in 2010-11 before posting a .500 record at 11-11 last season after moving up from Class 4A to 6A. Now, they have their sights set on their first trip to regionals.

“Anything can happen, but we definitely plan to be playing for a district championship,” Lewis said.

To get there, Lewis said that she will have to continue to have strong play from her post players — freshman Terra Brooks and sophomore Nandi Jorden.

SEE BASKETBALL / PAGE 12

12 PlantCityObserver.com

BASKETBALL/PAGE 11 “Everyone knows that Maiya and Aliyah are going to put on a show, but we will have to be solid down low on both offense and defense to go deep into the tournament,” Lewis said.

The team to beat will be Sickles, the host of this year’s district tournament and a team the Lady Chargers fell to in both regular season meetings.

Armwood, also a young team, will be another challenge. Strawberry Crest split with the Lady Hawks in the regular season, avenging an early season road

FUTURE PLANS

In December, the ISF partnered with the International Baseball Federation to form the World

loss by beating them 40-37 Dec. 19, at home.

After each finishing with a 7-3 district record, Strawberry Crest will take the No. 2 seed into the district tournament after winning a tie-breaking coin toss, held Tuesday.

Lewis hopes a tough district schedule combined with a nondistrict schedule full of tough games and holiday tournaments will have her young team ready for the tournament.

After a first-round bye, Strawberry Crest will face the winner of Armwood and Leto Jan. 30 for a spot in the finals.

PLANT CITY

Entering Wednesday’s nondistrict game with Durant, the Plant City Lady Raiders were losers of five straight and dropped seven of their last eight.

Plant City ended its Class 7A District 8 schedule with a 58-22 loss to Riverview Jan. 18, ending the regular season at 2-8 in district play.

The Lady Raiders are led by sophomore Avery Brown (9.4 ppg), freshman Shayna Lawrence (7.3 ppg) and senior Delazia Jones (6.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg).

As the No. 5 seed, Plant City will face East Bay in the first

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Calling this season a rebuilding year for the Durant girls team would be an understatement.

The Lady Cougars entered the year after a 23-5 season in which they went 8-2 in Class 8A District 7 and lost in the semifinals of the district tournament.

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record of 1-16 entering Wednesday’s game with Plant City.

They wrapped up the regular season district schedule Jan. 18 with a 46-42 loss to Bloomingdale.

Even as the No. 6 seed, Durant coach Kyla Donlevy hopes her team can take others by surprise.

“We have had a rough season,” Donlevy said. “We have lots of post players, but we have young, inexperienced guards, so we have struggled with ball handling and feeding our post.”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver. com.

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to the first exhibition game in 1966, at Fulton County Stadium, which the birds shared with the Braves, way before the Georgia Dome, the Falcons current home, was built.

The Falcons were bad for the majority of the years between that game, my birth and my evolvement into a sports fan.

There was a time I actually thought the Falcons were not allowed to be broadcast on TV, because they were never on it.

My dad would listen to them every Sunday on the radio — where I thought they had an exclusive contract, not realizing that people had to actually go and watch a team play for them to air the game on television.

Obviously, that 1998-99 season was a big one for my dad, my brother and even my mom.

But it meant more for me. Sharing that experience opened my eyes to the great and terrible life of being a true sports fan.

The Falcons would be blown

out by John Elway — playing in his last game — and the Denver Broncos in that Super Bowl, but it didn’t matter. That shred of hope was planted in me that day.

Every year since has been filled with hope. Hope, sandwiched between a lot of pessimism. Hope was at an all-time high this year. The Falcons won 13 games in the regular season and finally got over the hump and won a playoff game in the Mike Smith and Matt Ryan era.

Then, Sunday came, and the Falcons fell to the 49ers, one of their first NFL rivals, in the first NFC Championship played at the Georgia Dome.

I credit the Falcons as the reason I love sports to this day.

You could even say they are the reason I do what I do for a living.

The way this season ended was hard pill to swallow, but I woke up Monday morning still a Falcons fan.

That’s something that will never change. Sadly, winning a Super Bowl may not, either.

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MAUNEY/PAGE 11

Baseball Softball Confederation, to get both men’s baseball and women’s fast-pitch softball back on the Olympic Programme, beginning in 2020.

Both sports are former Olympic sports, but after they were voted not to be included by the International Olympic Committee, the two federations decided to team up and run as one ticket.

Porter will continue to stay busy with international presentations through May to promote the bid.

The final decision will be made in September in Buenos Aires.

Porter has several potential plans for tournaments he would like to see come to the area, including one that could tie in with the Florida Strawberry Festival.

“I’ve been working with the College Coaches Association, discussing what might be possible,” he said. “We would love to do a tie-in with the festival and have the ‘Strawberry Festival Cup’ or ‘Strawberry Festival Tournament.’”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.

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number of teams and participants.”

Currently the ISF has access to Plant City Stadium — the former spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds — and the Randy Larson Fourplex, bringing the amount of useable fields to five.

Plant City Stadium was converted into a baseball stadium after the Reds left town, making it a great fit for the ISF when it moved its from Oklahoma City.

In 2001, the Plant City facilities hosted the first Junior Girls World Cup, and the Slow Pitch World Cup was held in June 2002. That same year, the facilities were used for North American tryouts for the 2004 Greek Olympic Team.

The ISF headquarters also hosts umpire certification seminars, coaching clinics and various meetings.

Although no concrete plans are in place, Porter hopes the facilities can expand to bring more tournaments, thus bringing in more money for the local economy.

“We have interest to maximize the use of the facilities we have,” he said. “One of the prime reasons we came here was to work with the city to expand participation and the use of the facilities.”

The World Tournament of Champions is the only ISF event planned in Plant City this year, but the Girls International Youth World Cup and the ISF Coed and ISF/ISSA Masters/Seniors International Tournament of Champions plan to come here in 2014.

The ISF recently held another in-state tournament when the Men’s Fast Pitch International Tournament came to Altamonte Springs (Orlando) earlier this month. That tournament featured 28 teams from the United States, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas and Venezuela, as well as players representing New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.

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district champs by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Lady Raiders best East Bay in finals After playing to a scoreless tie in the regular season, the Plant City High girls soccer team got the best of East Bay in the Class 4A District 9 tournament finals Jan. 18, at Strawberry Crest.

The Lady Raiders faced a 1-0 deficit going into the half but battled through, tying the game in the second half, before winning it in penalty kicks, after two scoreless overtime periods.

The win gave Plant City its second consecutive district title and clinched a No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the Region 3 tournament, which began Wednesday night, when the Lady Raiders faced Tarpon Springs.

“We’re both extremely physical and fast teams,” said head coach Caleb Roberts after winning districts. “When you put us side by side, you can see that we’re very evenly matched and we love to play them, because we love to play good teams.”

This is the second consecutive year Plant City has won the Class 4A District 9 championship.

Plant City faced East Bay on a cold and windy night for the district title.

Freshman midfielder Kylee Burroughs (6) has performed well as a young player this season.

Ericka Lott has led the Plant City offense this year.

Junior Diana Corzine has been solid in the midfield for the Lady Raiders.

This week’s Crossword answers

2013

This week’s Cryptogram answers

CROSS_ANS_012413

100430

1. The annoying and infuriating habit of snoring could aptly be described as “sound, asleep.”

2. The slickest Halloween threat on Twitter is “trick or tweet.”

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2013

big wheels by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

athlete of the week

by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

edgar morales In a year during which his team faced a multitude of injuries and suspensions due to red cards, senior center-mid Edgar Morales stayed on the field for the entire season for the Plant City boys soccer team. He finished his final season with the Raiders with eight goals and four assists. Morales was one of the senior leaders for Plant City, which fell 3-2 to Hillsborough in the opening round of the Class 4A District 9 tournament Tuesday.

William Dunbar was amazed at the size of Maximum Destruction’s tires.

Maximum Destruction rumbles into Plant City Monster Jam truck Maximum Destruction and driver Tom Meents made a stop in Plant City Jan. 18, at Walmart to promote the Tampa Monster Jam, held Jan. 19, at Raymond James Stadium.

Fans had the chance to take a picture with Max-D and get an autograph from Meents, a four-time Monster Jam World Racing Champion.

Meents is also the only driver to win both the World Racing Championship and the World Freestyle Championship in the same year.

Brent Calero, 6, was excited to meet and get an autograph from Maximum Destruction driver Tom Meents.

Edited by Timothy E. Parker

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Being a senior, what was your role through all that?

I told them that is just a part of soccer and you can’t expect everything to go your way. If you go against them, they’re just going to fall down worse, so my role was to learn from everything that happened on and off the field and be able to deal with that.

How many years did you play at Plant City?

I played my freshman, junior and senior years.

O B S E RV E R C RO S S WO R D

1. X A G

What was it like dealing with all the adversity this season?

We had a lot of players back from previous years and thought that we would have a good year. We had a lot of seniors and juniors, and unfortunately, they had a hard time not only with injuries but also red cards and some indiscipline.

We had a lot of players on the bench that were ready to come in and play, so I had faith in the team.

What are some moments you will remember?

I don’t just look at the good things, I also look at the bad. I want to think about what I did

good and also the bad moments, because those are the things that make you a better player.

What are some things that you’re going to miss?

I’ll miss teaching the players during practice.

I always like to stop when something didn’t go our way and pull them to the side and tell them what they did good and also how they can do better. Just teaching them how to be team players.

Do you have plans for college?

I’d like to go to a fouryear school. I’ve looked at maybe going to Florida Gulf Coast and maybe walking on the soccer team there.

Do you know what you’d like to study?

Ever since I was little my main interest was engineering, so I’d like to do something with that. I really like aeronautics, so I’d like to maybe be an air-traffic controller or something like that one day.

On THE HOT LIST by Sheldon Brecker

ACROSS

plains, once (var.)

86 Like a teddy bear 1 Ralph Kramden, for 87 “___ you the clever one one!”

7 “I” problem 88 Red-spotted 13 Omega’s opposite creatures 18 Said without feeling 90 “Not only that ...”

20 Daydreamer’s 93 Bladed boot drawings 96 ___ loss for words 22 Noted ancient 97 Moved forward by Greek physician its own force 23 Three things on a 102 Prof’s aides “hot” list 103 Hot Wheels 25 Arkansas’ ___ company Mountains 105 Brother of Moses 26 Some denim 106 “ ___ Around” garments (Beach Boys song) 27 ___ for tat 108 Grommet 28 Capital of Italia 111 Casts desirous eyes 30 Salt Lake City’s at home 113 Bird sacred to 31 First family’s ancient Egyptians garden home 32 Unbroken, as a line 117 Pat baby on the back 36 Angler’s hope 119 Fizz flavoring 38 Barbed spear 121 Palindromic 42 Cordage fiber exclamation 44 Jong and Kane 123 Vice President 47 Abbr. on a Agnew toothpaste box 124 Invite for a 50 Habitual method nightcap, e.g.

54 Lennon’s Yoko 126 Four things on a 55 Fast sailboat “hot” list 57 Where to find 131 “Harlem Nights” dishes piled up? co-star Della 58 Hayloft locales 60 Arum family plants 132 Property recipient, in law 61 “Dragnet” star Jack 133 Roseanne’s 65 Pub television daughter 67 Church recesses 134 Words before 68 Big name in tea “remember” or 71 Nightingale or “relax” Barton, e.g.

72 Bodybuilder’s unit 135 Becomes inflexible 136 Garden tool 73 Two things on a “hot” list dOwn 75 Bit of school 1 Volume in a writing courtroom 78 Impolite looker 2 Proceeding 81 Refuse to accept independently 82 Toyota model 3 Cooking apparatus 84 Home on the 4 Imitating a cow

5 “No ifs, ___ or buts” 6 Wedding notice word 7 The first people to play crosswords 8 “Red state” grp.

9 “Aah!” accompanier 10 Promise at the altar 11 Utter one’s words indistinctly 12 A quark and an antiquark 13 “A long time ___ in a galaxy far ...”

14 “Lapis” follower 15 Three things on a “hot” list 16 “Iliad” quarreler 17 Egyptian symbol of enduring life 19 Banned bug spray 21 Teamster’s truck 24 “Whether ___ nobler ...”

29 Not yet up 33 Chinese philosopher ___-tzu 34 Babysitter’s handful 35 Day, to Claudius 37 Hush-money payer 39 Accumulate 40 Supporting 41 Consumer’s protective agcy.

43 Preposition in poetry 45 ___ Arbor, Mich.

46 “Help!”

47 Rose oil 48 Hang loosely 49 Four things on a “hot” list 51 Render mad 52 Tiny tunneler 53 Subtle difference 56 Homer’s barkeep 59 “___ Poetica” 62 “Good heavens!”

63 ___ noire 64 Alliances 66 Saturn SUV introduced in 2002 68 Like the Northern Lights 69 Scandinavian seaport 70 Look embodied by Kate Moss

73 Cheerleader’s requirement 74 Up to 76 Prefix meaning “five” 77 Lugs around 79 Grasp 80 Apartment dweller 82 ___ deux (dance for two) 83 Noah’s boat 85 Character in a Christmas special, often 88 Where many war vets fought 89 Airport posting (Abbr.)

91 Masseuse’s milieu 92 Kind of testimony 94 Monumental 151?

95 Brain scan (Abbr.)

98 90-degree pipe joints 99 Seam treasure 100 “Once upon a midnight dreary” poet 101 Dresses like a justice 104 Keyboard operator 107 Have more than a few 109 Exile island for Napoleon 110 Implements 112 “That’s all ___ wrote!”

114 Any animal with two feet 115 “Flashdance” singer Cara 116 More black-andblue 117 Simpson kid 118 Rehab candidate 120 Stage direction 122 Unusual 123 Parched 125 Classical opening?

127 “Look at Me, I’m Sandra ___” 128 Free-throw score 129 Ducktail application 130 Backwoods patriarch CROSSWORD_012413

““ ” Plant city observer

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Why THe observer?

The Plant City Observer has created quite a positive stir within the Plant City community. Through our activities with many local families, we hear nothing but praise for the local coverage. Everyone enjoys seeing the articles but also the many photographs — in color — that bring the paper to life every week. Their efforts to reach us immediately with event coverage through social media is well received.

The Plant City Observer is a great addition to our local way of keeping in touch with the happenings of the Plant City area.

“

”

JaCk Holland

Director, Plant City Recreation & Parks Department

RIChIE long Reader

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What I love about the Plant City Observer is that it is a great paper with big, vibrant, beautiful pictures and stories from the heart about great local hometown people. The local sports coverage is second to none and covers a variety of local sports. Best hometown newspaper ever.

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