02.06.15 PCTO

Plant City Times &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH

FUNDRAISER

FASTLANE

AGHAPPY

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Group hopes to raise money for local entertainer.

OUR TOWN

FREE • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

Chris DeShong has entered the racing circuit.

Local FFA students qualify for states.

award tour by Justin Kline | Sports Writer

Berry to receive honors

Al Berry will receive heritage and community service awards in the next two months, in addition to being named the Florida Strawberry Festival’s Grand Parade Marshal. + Discounted tickets on sale

Discounted admission tickets for the 2015 Florida Strawberry Festival went on sale last week at participating Publix Super Market stores throughout Central Florida.

Discounted admission tickets will be available for purchase at participating Publix stores through March 8 and can be purchased at customer service desks.

Advance discounted admission tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 12 years old. Children 5 years old and under are admitted free.

“This will be our second year partnering with Publix to offer discounted admission tickets,” Florida Strawberry Festival General Manager Paul Davis said.

“Publix is a company that we greatly respect, and it is a privilege for us to partner with them in bringing this convenience to our customers.”

Nearly 300 Publix stores throughout Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter Counties will participate in selling admission tickets as well as promoting the festival to their customers.

“Our festival is a family event, and we work very hard to make it affordable for all families,” Davis siad. “We hope even more people will be able to enjoy our festival by offering this discounted price through Publix.”

To see the list of participating Publix Super Market stores, visit FLStrawberryFestival.com.

Al Berry has always liked to keep busy, especially if he’s helping out in the Plant City community.

His schedule’s about to get even busier in the coming months, thanks to some award selections and a new gig at the

Florida Strawberry Festival.

Berry, 79, is set to receive the Boy Scouts’ Dean Snyder Soaring Eagle Community Service Award Thursday, Feb. 19. On March 26, he’ll accept the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center’s Heritage Award.

Both awards reflect Berry’s long-standing commitment to service in Plant City, though the man himself says that he wasn’t expecting any of this.

“It all came kind of as a surprise,” Berry said. “You grow up in a community and you

just get involved in it. You don’t do it for awards, or things like that. I just feel like I was expected to participate and be a part of the community. I just love it.”

SEE BERRY / PAGE 4

Courtesy photo

Al Berry is known for dressing up at Mr. Berry at the festival.

FINAL RIDE

SWEET LADIES by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Chamber discontinues monthly bike festival The committee is proposing to the board the event be changed to a quarterly one.

Plant City bikers should strap on their helmets, rev up their engines and head over to Plant City Bike Fest this weekend, because it will be their last chance to go on a monthly basis.

Bike Fest is sponsored by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, but president Marion Smith said the chamber wants to move in a different direction with the event, making it a quarterly show.

“We just think that the monthly show has probably run its course,” Smith said.

When Bike Fest began as a monthly event in October 2002, and in its early years, about 15,000 people attend-

2015 Florida

Strawberry Queen

Samantha Sun

BIKE FEST / PAGE 4

+ Walden Lake to hold roundup

Walden Lake Elementary School will hold its Kindergarten Round-Up for the 2015-2016 school year at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the multi-purpose room.

Children 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2015 may register for kindergarten.

Birth certificate, immunization record, recent physical (within a year of Aug. 25, 2015), social security num-

OUR TOWN / PAGE 4

, 3&

This week’s winner is

Kelly Webb

See his photo on PAGE 15.

Fifteen contestants vied for the 2015 Strawberry Queen crown Saturday, Jan. 31. After rounds of commercials, casual and evening wear, and interviews, 17-year-old Plant City High School student Samantha Sun was crowned the winner. Deanna Rodriguez was first maid, and Payton Astin, Emily Benoit and Kellan Morris were designated court members. Miss Congeniality went to Heather Ross. For more photos, flip to page 6.

Courtesy Photo

Numbers have dwindled over the years, but 3,000 bikes are still typically seen at Bike Fest.

GOOD READ by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Sen. Rubio praises Plant City food bank in new book The book uses the United Food Bank of Plant City as an example of an agency that helps people work toward the American dream.

The United Food Bank of Plant City might be just one small piece of a global effort to end hunger, but it recently got big recognition from a na-

tional politician.

Marco Rubio, who has been a U.S. senator for Florida since 2010, released a book last month called “American

Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone.”

Rubio, whose parents worked their way up to the middle class after immigrating to the U.S. from Cuba, has run on a platform of promoting the “American dream,” and his book addresses the topic in depth.

In chapter three, titled “Equal

Opportunity, Equal Dignity, Equal Work,” Rubio poses the question of how to lift up the poor in order to make American society more prosperous for everyone. In this chapter, Rubio praises the United Food Bank of Plant City for its practical and thorough solutions to hunger in the community.

INDEX Calendar.......................2

Christine Miller, director of the food bank, serves as the voice of the organization in the book.

“I think (Rubio) does a good job of explaining where my heart is,” Miller said.

In 2013, Rubio’s wife came

SEE RUBIO / PAGE 4 Vol.2,No.29 | Onesection

Crossword...................17

Obituaries...................13

Sports.........................14

Weather......................17

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR

FRIDAY, FEB. 6

Acoustic Happy Hour — live music takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Broadway Bound — performances take place Friday, Feb. 6, Saturday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, Feb. 12, to Saturday, Feb. 14, at Plant City Entertainment Community Theater, 101 N. Thomas St. For more information visit PCEShows.com.

Christian Contemporary Music — takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

Live Music — takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Uncork your Friday! — live music takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.

SATURDAY, FEB. 7 Celebrity Chef Dinner — takes place beginning at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7, at the John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road. Cocktails and a social hour will kickoff the evening

followed by dinner prepared

by Fabio Viviani. Viviani is known for his appearance on “Top Chef” and “Top Chef All Stars.” He is a New York Times best selling cookbook author and owns six restaurants in the United States. The event will benefit the United Food Bank of Plant City. Tickets are $100.

For more information call (813) 764-0625.

The Honey Hole Market — takes place Saturday, Feb. 7, at 2201 Thonotosassa Road. The market offers antique picking and more. Mia, (813) 4841127.

Strawberry Picking Challenge — takes place from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at 3536 Futch Loop. Clemons Road will be performing and celebrity Chef Whitney Miller will be doing a cooking demonstration. Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam will make an appearance at the opening ceremony. There will be a food truck, games and more. Free.

Proceeds go to the Redlands Migrant Christian Association.

Uncork Your Weekend! — live music takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.

Young Adult Nite — takes place from 7:33 to 10:33 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at

Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Enjoy live music from local artists. (813) 7521220.

SUNDAY, FEB. 8 Beginning English for Speakers of Other Languages — takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McClendon Street. The new class is offered by the Hillsborough Literacy Council and is taught by an experienced volunteer.The class size is limited to 10 adult students. The class is free, but each student must purchase his or her workbook, which is $5.00. Students must register through the Hillsborough Literacy Council by calling (813) 273-3650, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Benefit for Lawson Family — takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. Joey Lawson of Lawson’s Hardware passed away unexpectedly, and the family has been going through a difficult time. There will be food from Smokin’ Aces BBQ, a silent auction and live music from Skip Frye. (813) 752-9100.

Divorce Care: What’s Happening to Me? — takes place from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at Plant

To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please send by mail: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563; or by email: ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.

BEST BET Strawberry Distance Challenge — takes place beginning at 7:20 a.m. in Walden Lake, 3035 Griffin Boulevard. The race supports The Youth Alliance, a non profit organization providing antibully, choices presentations all over the country. strawberrydistancechallenge.com/.

City Church of God, 2103 Mud Lake Road. This is the first program in a 12-week course.

Founders Day — takes place beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb, 8, at Allen Chapel AME Church, 1109 E. Laura St. Bring friends and family to celebrate the church’s history.

For information contact Thelma Jones at (813) 309-8600.

TUESDAY, FEB. 10 GriefShare — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Hope Lutheran Baptist Church, 2001 N. Park Road.

Following the death of a loved one you may have found that there are not many people who understand the deep hurt you may feel. Those feelings of hurt and emptiness seem to make it harder and harder for you to face each new day. Each GriefShare session includes a video seminar and group discus-

sion. (813) 752-4622.

Ladies’ Night Out: Sleep and Your Heart — takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the administrative conference room of South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St. A sleep expert will discuss the correlation between a good night’s sleep and a healthy heart. The seminar is free, but registration is required. (813) 644-6720.

The Recovery for Life — takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Lorena Jaeb Rainbow House, 504 N. Palm Drive. It is a 12-step Bible-based program to help free individuals from all forms of addiction. Debbie Ray, (813) 763-1562.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11 Citizen of the Year — takes place beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the

Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Lunch is $25. Come honor the Citizen of the Year, chosen by local civic clubs. RSVP to (813) 752-6171.

Fresh Market — takes place from 4 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 11, at McCall Park, in Historic Downtown.

Open Mic Night — takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818.

Rally for the Cure — begins at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at The Meadows off Sam Allen Road.

There will be a raffle table and a golf outing. Proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

(813) 545-1065.

FRIDAY, FEB. 13 Heritage Banquet — takes place beginning at 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 13, at the John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road. The keynote speaker will be Michael Clayton, a former Tampa Bay Bucaneer. Master of ceremony will be TV anchor Rod Carter. Tickets are $30 and must be purchased in advance at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St., or Pocket Change Beauty Supply, 1408 E. Baker St.

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money can’t buy me love by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Band raises money for friend, mentor The Peacemakers wanted to give back to its musical mentor, Dale Johnston, after much of his musical equipment was stolen.

If you’ve seen a friendly rock guitarist around town with long, curly hair and a thick gray beard, it was probably Dale Johnston. He plays at Plant City’s open mic events, such as at O’Brien’s Irish Pub each Wednesday and frequently at Big Dog’s Patio and Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill.

But Johnston had to temporarily cut back on his gigs a few weeks ago when the expensive equipment he uses to play live was stolen from his car.

Friends and connections he’s met through his involvement with the local music scene are throwing a fundraiser benefit for him beginning at 12 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 15, at Big Dog’s in the downtown district.

Big Dog’s owner Kat DeRossa announced more than a week ago that the bar would be hosting the night of appreciation for Johnston. But he

won’t know the event is actually a fundraiser for him until he picks up this week’s issue of the Plant City Times & Observer.

Though Johnston performs about five nights a week, he keeps himself busy during the day with a full-time job. He mostly works from home, but sometimes goes to his office in Oldsmar.

Johnston had a gig in Brandon one night, but he had to go to his office that day. He packed up his equipment and took it with him because it would have cost him so much time to drive back to Plant City in between work and the performance.

That day, Johnston went out to his car around lunchtime.

Nothing was out of place. But when he returned 20 minutes later, it was not as he had left it.

“Everything was gone,” Johnston said. “They stole every single one of my mics, every

Courtesy photo

The Peacemakers are Conrad Colton, Ben Luchka, Jesse Butterworth and Jordan Gude. single one of my cables, my guitar effects processor, amps and main speakers.”

In total, Johnston estimated the stolen equipment to have been worth about $2,000.

Johnston contacted the police,

but they haven’t been able to figure out what happened.

“They thought they had a lead, but it must have dried up, because I haven’t heard anything since,” he said.

Johnston has regularly kept

home at last by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

his equipment in the car at work for two years, because the parking area is gated. But the security wasn’t enough.

“Looking back, I wish I had been more cautious, but you never know when these things are going to happen,” he said.

Some of Johnston’s friends have lent him equipment so he could still play. One item at a time, he has been able to replace most of the stolen items using money he makes from gigs.

But he still needs a looper and high-quality speakers, which he estimates will cost about $600 total.

Fortunately for Johnston, Plant City’s music community has jumped on an opportunity to give him a hand.

A Plant City band of young rock musicians, The Peacemakers, owes some of their success to Johnston’s help over the past few years “He’s helped us get gigs. He gave us advice on what to do and what kind of equipment to

IF YOU GO

When: 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15 Where: Big Dog’s Patio, 103 N. Palmer St., Plant City Activities: Live music, raffles, cornhole competition buy,” Colton Conrad, a member of The Peacemakers, said.

The band got together to think about how they could help Johnston fully replace his stolen equipment. They decided to organize a fundraiser at Big Dog’s, where Johnston frequently performs and has fostered relationships with employees and regulars.

In addition to The Peacemakers, other bands have offered to donate their time to play at the event. Johnston will receive proceeds from a cookout, a cornhole competition and some raffles.

“We figured we could try to give back to him a little bit and show him that we appreciate everything he’s done for us,” Conrad said.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

BLACK HISTORY by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Black Heritage celebration set for next week

The 12th annual Black Heritage Education and Cultural Festival will begin next weekend and will include a brand-new Youth Summit.

Catherine Sinclair

Dan Middlebrooks and the honor guard transferred James Gatlin’s casket from the plane to the ground before the family gathered around it.

MISSION COMPLETE James Gatlin was well known in his family for his service during World War II, even among relatives who had been born long after he was declared missing in action in 1944. But the family, of which some members live in Plant City, were able to get closure when Gatlin’s remains arrived

in Florida, their final resting place.

Gatlin’s remains were found during an excavation in Germany in 2013, and just recently identified using DNA tests.

Some of his relatives who had submitted the matching DNA were present to greet the casket when its plane touched

Gatlin Dwyer was intrigued by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office motorcycles.

down in Tampa. One of these relatives was Gatlin’s first cousin, Cornelia Howard, who had known him personally. “(James) was a very integral part of the Gatlin family,” Howard said.

“It was real hard for my grandma when it happened,” Howard’s granddaughter,

Amanda Rodriguez, said. “The plane went down on her birthday.”

The remains had been flown from a facility in Hawaii to Los Angeles. From Los Angeles they traveled to Atlanta and arrived in Tampa Wednesday, Jan. 28. A procession then transported the casket to Hopewell Funeral Home, and it was buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell the following weekend.

Cornelia Howard and Sandy Shirley are James Gatlin’s first and second cousins.

It’s Black History Month, and Plant City is ready to celebrate it in the biggest way it knows how.

The 12th annual Black Heritage Education and Cultural Festival, presented by Black Heritage Celebration Inc., looks to be next weekend’s hot ticket.

With events scheduled from Feb. 13 to 15 and another celebration Feb. 21, area residents should be prepared for food, fun and education.

The Heritage Banquet will kick things off Friday, Feb. 13, with dinner cooked by members of Black Heritage Celebration and several guest speakers and award presentations. The highlight of this dinner could very well be the speech by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Michael Clayton, who is widely regarded as a great speaker.

Five awards will also be presented to members of the community: the Humanitarian Award (Plant City Police Dept.), the Lifetime Achievement Award (Dr. Larry Sykes, Ed.D), the Heritage Award (E.D. Reaves), the Community Service Award (Essie Dixon-Lewis) and the Cornerstone Award (Mt. Moriah Ministries).

On Saturday, Feb. 14, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center will host the festival’s first-ever Youth Summit.

According to organizer Sharon Moody, the summit is something partly inspired by national news events that unfolded in 2014, such as the case in Ferguson, Missouri. It is open to children aged 10 or older.

“One of the topics is how to coalesce effectively with police officers,” Moody said. “They (kids) need to learn how to engage, and not throw off all of these negative vibes. If they’re

Durant High School to host March of Dimes fundraiser This Valentine’s Day, Plant City has a chance to show its love at a fundraising event organized by passionate students from Durant High School and other nearby schools.

Durant’s Future Business Leaders of America is hosting a 5K and family festival for March of Dimes, to benefit premature babies.

Community service is an important part of every FBLA chapter. Durant’s chapter has

served March of Dimes longterm through an awareness event called Prematurity Week each fall.

“Durant FBLA supports the March of Dimes every year because of its strong commitment to growing families,” Kevin O’Hare, Durant FBLA’s spokesman, said.

FBLA also supports March of Dimes as a statewide level.

This year each of Florida’s FBLA districts will hold a large fund-

raising event for the March of Dimes.

O’Hare is a state officer, and he agreed to organizer the event for Plant City’s district, with Durant as the host. All proceeds from the event will benefit the March of Dimes.

“The planning group ... came up with a theme for the event, ’Baby Love,’ which would be focused around Valentine’s Day,” O’Hare said. “The date is intentional and symbolic, to show our support and love for premature babies and their families.”

Trophies will be awarded to the overall fastest male and female in the 5K. The top three male and female runners in each age group will receive a medal. All participants can help themselves to refreshments when they cross the finish line.

After the 5K will be the March for Babies, which is a free and easy walk around the track.

The morning will conclude with a family festival, with plenty of games for everyone, including corn hole, an egg toss and more. Each chapter in the district will provide a game.

being educated, I think they’ll be more respectful.”

The other two topics are, “Utilizing education and social networking to change the dynamics in a global economy,” and “Youth building bridges for strong relationships within the community.”

Members of the Plant City Police Department, as well as Marshall Middle School teacher and Gentleman’s Quest founder Stanley Glover, will be teaching at the Youth Summit.

Mayor Rick Lott is the event’s major sponsor.

At 1 p.m., the parade will start go down Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, led by Grand Marshal Mary Joyce Clayton.

Sunday afternoon, at Mt. Olive Church, Lawrence Ingram will lead the Mass Youth and Adult Choir gospel concert.

On Feb. 21, the Winn Dixie supermarket at 205 W. Alexander St. will host a fun day, with free food, entertainment and appearances by both the Plant City Police Department and Plant City Fire Rescue.

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

VISIT PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM FOR A LIST OF THE UPCOMING EVENTS

BABY LOVE by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

The event will be sponsored by student members of Durant’s Future Business Leaders of America.

Justin Kline

The first-ever Youth Summit will be held at the Martin Luther King Recreation Center, 1601 E. Dr. MLK Blvd., Saturday, Feb. 14.

“We give our members at Durant the opportunity to raise funds, which helps to teach so many different skills ... but most importantly it teaches our members that life is not all about business and making profits, but the importance of giving back to a community,” O’Hare said.

To register for the 5K in advance, download the registration packet at durant.mysdhc.org/teacher/1291stafford/ FBLA. Send it with payment to: Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City, FL, 33567,

IF YOU GO

Location: Durant High School, 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City Date: Saturday, Feb. 14 Schedule: 7:30 to 8:15 a.m., 5K check-in; 8:30 a.m., 5K start; 10 to 11 a.m., March for Babies track walk; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., festival Costs: $20 for 5K run.

March for Babies is free.

Prices for food and activities vary.

Attn: Dawnelle Stafford.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

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3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP BERRY / PAGE 1 Born and raised in Plant City, Berry graduated from Plant City High and attended Texas Western College before returning to Florida, finishing his education at the University of Tampa. With his wife of 60 years, Patsy Darlene Davidson, Berry has three children, four grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

By sight, Berry may be best known as a director for the Florida Strawberry Festival for 43 years. He’s donned the famous red coat, as well as the famous “Mr. Berry” costume, doing whatever he can to lend a hand.

By voice, longtime residents know Berry as the silky smooth voice of the WPLA radio station, which he co-owned and worked at for 34 years.

In 1998, he was named the city’s Outstanding Citizen of

BIKE FEST / PAGE 1 ed, and there were more than 12,000 motorcycles. Collins Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard were shut down to accommodate all of the bikes.

“It was beautiful. But that was in its heyday,” Smith said.

During the recession, from 2007 to 2009, the show lost some of its key vendors, and the crowd started to change in age and interests. Attendance started to drop. The most recent shows have had about 3,000 bikes.

“The activities that have worked in the past may not work now, and we think it is time that Plant City Bike Fest gets ‘reinvented,’” Smith wrote in a public letter on behalf of the chamber.

Smith also said that because bikers and vendors have been able to count on Plant City Bike Fest every month, they often chose to attend other events when there was a scheduling conflict. They knew they would be able to return to Bike

the Year. He’s served as president of the Strawberry Festival, Plant City Lions Club, Dover Civic Club and the Plant City Band Parents Association, and was even named the city’s Civil Defense Director during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War. Currently, Berry remains active in the Lions Club and serves as a director emeritus for the Strawberry Festival.

On March 2, he’ll serve as the Grand Parade Marshal for the first time. He’s also been helping the Greater Plant City Chamber with video work, serving on the Contact Breakfast Committee and more.

“I always have something in the fire, so to speak,” he said.

“I think it’s what keeps me going.”

Whether it’s donning the “Mr. Berry” costume, emceeing the Strawberry Queen Competition or lending wis-

DON’T MISS IT

Saturday, Feb. 7, will be the final Plant City Bike Fest until the event picks up again as a quarterly, or possibly twiceannual, affair. Bike Fest will occur from 5 to 9 p.m. downtown, near the train depot.

Fest the next month.

“We need to make it so that they say, ‘Wow, Plant City’s having a show — we’ve got to be there,’” Smith said.

The chamber is forming a committee whose goal is to make Bike Fest bigger and better, though less frequent.

The next show hasn’t been planned yet. It could be as early as May, but nothing has been set in stone. Some of the changes might include better entertainment or bike-building demonstrations. The committee will include representatives from Harley-Davidson, Florida Fun Bike Center, Plant City Motor Sports, bars in the

RUBIO / PAGE 1 across a news article about the United Food Bank of Plant City.

She sought to learn more about the organization.

“She was pleased by the work we were doing, and they sent a very nice donation,” Miller said.

Miller wrote a thank-you letter to the Rubios for their donation, and soon after, one Rubio’s staffers contacted her.

Correspondence continued, and in January 2014, Miller found herself amidst a series of telephone interviews with Rubio’s staffers, who wanted to know the inner workings of the food bank.

Miller knew the interviewers were gathering information for a book, but she did not know the full premise of the book, or how much of the information would be used, if any. When she picked up the book after it was published last month, she discovered that the food bank was a primary source throughout the third chapter.

At the beginning of the chapter, Rubio discusses the “war on poverty,” a concept introduced

by President Lyndon B. Johnson. He writes that though the U.S. has been fighting this war for 51 years, the poverty rates have hardly changed.

“American Dreams: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone” was released Jan. 13. It is available at bookstores, for Nook and Kindle, and on loan at Bruton Memorial Library.

“Christine is on the front lines of what President Johnson called not just a war but an ‘unconditional war’ on poverty,” Rubio writes. “Her job is to hand out food, but her clients need so much more. She’d like to help them escape their circumstances, not just survive them.”

Rubio identifies the mission of the food bank, whose slogan is “a hand up, not a hand out.”

MR. BERRY AS “MR. BERRY” Originally, the “Mr. Berry” mascot may not have been written with Al Berry in mind to put on the suit at every festival.

But there’s a good chance that, if you’ve ever been greeted by the giant strawberry at the gate, it was Al Berry in the suit. He loves playing the part of Mr. Berry, even when it gets a little toasty inside the big costume.

As the man who possibly knows Mr. Berry better than anyone — and being a director emeritus also helps — Berry’s hoping to help bring something new to the mascot table, a female companion for Mr. Berry, not unlike the Florida Gators’ mascot tandem of Albert and Alberta.

“I want them to get a ‘Little Miss Shortcake,’” Berry said.

“Another outfit. That’s Mr. Berry’s mate, his wife. They go together — strawberry and shortcake.” dom and a helping hand to whichever organization needs it, one can expect to see Berry getting to work as long as there’s something to be done, whether he’ll get an award for it or not.

“I never anticipated any-

thing like this,” Berry said.

“I see people every year, and I support them, but I never thought that it would come my way. I certainly am appreciative of it.”

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

downtown area and vendors who have attended the shows in the past.

The shows will still be downtown, because people seem to like the ambience, and it helps the Downtown Merchants, Smith said.

Smith said there have been varied reactions to this news among bikers and vendors who had attended faithfully over the years.

“There’s some disappointment,” Smith said. “We have some people that understand. ... Others are saying, ‘Oh, no.’”

The owners of the downtown bars, Big Dog’s Patio, Cuzzin’s and Silver Dollar Saloon, have made plans to collaborate and offer a monthly event for bikers on a smaller scale. Though this offers an opportunity for local bikers to easily get together, some of Bike Fest’s biggest fans travel from far away, including Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties, and will miss the big show.

Steven Moody, a resident of Lakeland, has been attending Bike Fest for about two years.

“I think that Plant City has

gone in the wrong direction with Bike (Fest),” Moody said.

“Several of my bike-riding friends could meet at this great central location and enjoy seeing bikes of all kinds.”

Moody said he would probably continue to attend Bike Fest as a twice-annual event if some changes were made.

For example, he and other frequent attendees have said that people should be able to carry their beers with them throughout the venue instead of being restricted, like at Zephyrhills Bikefest. Moody also would like to see a food truck area, which is standard at South Florida Bike Nights. And he thinks an escorted cruise route would increase popularity by kicking off or concluding each Bike Fest with a parade of motorcycles.

The last Bike Fest will be in Historic Downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. For more information contact the chamber at (813) 754-3707.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

He commends the food bank for offering Money Smart, an FDIC financial guidance class that Miller is certified to teach, and for ensuring that clients are signed up for all governmental assistance they are eligible for.

“The Plant City food bank exists as a bridge between destitution and vast bureaucracy of federal programs for the poor,” Rubio writes.

Miller said she agreed with some of Rubio’s thoughts on poverty in the U.S. “I think ‘war’ is a strong word, but it’s definitely a war.

Our country is in a crisis,” Miller said.

Miller said she feels she was called to meet the community’s immediate need for food in emergency situations, but she hopes government leaders like Rubio will formulate and enact the policies that will lead to long-term solutions.

The United Food Bank of Plant City’s needs have continued to grow since Miller started her position in 2012. The food bank recently extended its hours to include evening distribution. The food bank has also begun accepting online donations, which can be given at ufbpc.org.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

OUR TOWN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ber, and two proofs of residency are required. Acceptable proofs of residency are any two of the following: current electric bill, current lease, current homestead tax receipt, or valid driver’s license. The school phone number is (813) 7579433 if you need additional information.

+ Poker run benefits fallen police officers

A BBQ lunch will be provided for a poker run benefiting fallen police officers if you register by Feb. 9.

The poker run will be Saturday, Feb. 14, at Church on the Rock, 301 Alsobrook St. There will be prizes for the best and worst hand, and more.

The first card is $15 and an additional rider is $5.

The money raised will go to a Plant City Police team who will be traveling out of state in the spring to ride in the Police Unity Tour. The tour is a fundraiser for fallen police officer families.

To register or for information call Bo Henry at (813) 2103614.

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opinion | our view

Never Again?

Iraqis prepare to bury their children.

This symbol is the Arabic letter N for Nasrani, or Christians.

In Mosul, Iraq, the letter was placed on homes to mark the Christian occupants.

ISIS execution in Iraq

If not we, then who will stop them?

Dear Readers: urge our nation’s elected pub- not more so, than the Nazi All of the associates in our lic servants in Washington to exterminators. company, Observer Media execute overwhelming deFor decades, millions Group Inc., live by a mission cisive force from the United around the world have said, statement that says we are States against an enemy that “Never Again.” Never another committed “to inspire our has proven to be as evil, if Holocaust. Never another communities with diabolical, megaloextraordinary local maniacal Hitler. Never content and to help again the atrocities HOW TO WIN our partners prosper.” against mankind that “One: You accept that you are in Week after week in occurred under the Nazi a war. Two: You name the enemy, our newspapers and regime.

Islamist terrorists. Three: You get the on our websites, we But they are back. lawyers off the battlefield […] you focus on local news, Different, but just as accept there will be collateral damage events and people, horrific. And despite and you do not apologize for it. attempting to inthe president’s refusal “You do not nation build, you don’t form and sometimes to identify them, all of try to hold ground. You go wherever entertain you on what America and the world in the world the terrorists are and you is happening to “you, know who this enemy kill them, you do your best to exteryour neighbors and is and what its objecminate them, and then you leave, and your neighborhood.” tive is: radical Islamic you leave behind smoking ruins and We know you don’t extremists who want to crying widows. look to us for national annihilate all Jews and “If in five or 10 years, they reconor international news Christians and establish stitute and you’ve got to go back, you and commentary. a Muslim-ruled world go back and do the same thing, and But this week, we that exterminates moyou never, never, never send Ameriare departing from dernity. can troops into a war you don’t mean our mission, with the Day after day, we see to win.” hope and intention to in newspapers and on — Ret. Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters inspire you to act: To TV, websites and social

media, gruesome videos and photos, like the ones above, of the most heinous, barbaric crimes against humanity. And yet little seems to be done to stop the perpetrators. Go down the list: Boko Haram, Al Nusra, al Qaeda, ISIS, Assad, Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Putin in Ukraine. Relentless in their determination and destruction. Retired Army Vice Chief of Staff and fourstar Gen. Jack Keane told Congress last week al Qaeda has “grown fourfold in the last five years” and is “the major security challenge of our generation.”

And what is our response?

Little if anything to make a difference. There is no urgency, no determination, no convincing commitment from the president. His response is so feckless, it’s as if he is willingly letting the Islamic extremists advance their wicked cruelty and ideology.

ISIS crucifies Christians in Iraq.

Congress is no better — nattering politicians in their starched shirts and striped ties; disorganized, fractured; all talk no action; afraid to step out of political protocol.

Yes, we all have our reservations, misgivings and objections about sending our troops to battle and becoming entangled again in the Middle East. “We can’t be the world’s policeman,” so the line goes.

But here is what Americans should ask: If not we, the United States, then who?

There is no one. No other nation with the might, the ingenuity or the ability to muster the will, courage and commitment to do whatever is necessary to end this slaughtering of innocents, to

destroy this mortal enemy of western values and civilization.

And there is no one else to do it now.

You talk to your neighbors. You read and watch the news. You see how terrorism is spreading. You see history repeating.

The world is worried; you are worried. You know, ultimately, it will be here.

We urge you then: Let your public servants in Washington hear from you. Their top priority is to protect you from harm and from being enslaved and slaughtered by foreign invaders.

The people of the Western World said, “Never Again.”

We must show — now — we meant it.

— Matt Walsh, Editor/CEO Observer Media Group

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SHARE THE LOVE by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

SweetHearts Gala to benefit children battling cancer This is the event’s second year, and all proceeds will be donated to local families whose children are fighting cancer.

Emily Pierce’s daughter, Morgan, has been fighting cancer for six years, but Pierce wanted to do something that would help other families with the same struggle. That’s why she organized a fundraiser called the SweetHearts Gala.

The event was such a success when it was first held last year that it will be returning this Valentine’s Day. “My family has been supported greatly by the community, and because the community helped us so much, I felt like this was a great way to give back,” Pierce said.

Morgan receives treatment at a facility in NewYork. The Pierces met another family there

THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS LOCAL WINNERS

2015

THIS WEEK’S CRYPTOQUIZ ANSWERS 1) Modern, 2) Chronicle, 3) Clytemnestra, 4) Maple Leaf Rag, 5) White House, Martha Graham

Opening/Closing Ceremonies, first place: Tomlin Middle School FFA Creed, first place: Emma Poole (Tomlin Middle School) Middle School Prepared Public Speaking, first place: Cole Hanson (Turkey Creek Middle School) Middle School Parliamentary Procedure, first place: Tomlin Middle School High School Prepared Public Speaking, first place: Adrian Dyer (Durant High School) High School Extemporaneous Public Speaking, second place: Anna Conrad (Plant City High School) High School Parliamentary Procedure, first place: Durant High School

whose son, Jensen Byrd, was also being treated for cancer.

Though Jensen lost his battle in 2010, the two families have stayed close.

Jensen’s family started a nonprofit organization called Jensen’s Heart of Gold, to raise awareness of childhood cancer and help organize fundraising efforts across the country. The SweetHearts Gala will be a Jensen’s Heart of Gold event, but 100% of the proceeds will stay in Plant City to help local children.

Some children who are currently fighting cancer will be at the gala, but the optional blacktie event is intended for adults.

“It’s Valentine’s night, so I think a lot of couples are using

that as their couple’s night,” Pierce said.

In addition to dinner and drinks, there will be musical entertainment by two local performers, as well as a song performed by Morgan’s sister.

At the end of the evening, there will also be time for dancing.

There will be a live auction for items such as a Charleston getaway, a night in Orlando and a cross bow and hog hunt. Local businesses have also donated many items for a silent auction, including photography sessions and various giftbaskets. Some of Morgan’s original artwork will be available at the silent auction, as well.

But one of the event’s unique features is the manner in which

IF YOU GO

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 Where: Keel Farms, 5210 Thonotosassa Road Tickets: $75 per person More information: jensensheartofgold.com

a piece of jewelry from RAOK boutique will be given away.

The jewelry will be in a locked case, and guests can purchase a key — but only one key will fit the lock. At the end of the night, when the guests try their keys on the lock, the person with the correct key will get to keep the jewelry.

The gala had this sort of giveaway last year, as well.

“The live auction is lively and very fun, but other than that, I think that was a highlight for everybody,” Pierce said.

Another fun activity at the gala will be a miniature golf game. Anyone who gets a holein-one can choose a prize from a selection of gift cards.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

agriculture by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

The team from Durant High School won first place for parliamentary procedure.

Student plans FFA contest The FFA District 9 contest, which is a qualifier for state events, was held at Hillsborough Community College in

Plant City Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Anna Conrad, a local student who is the district president, had spent months organizing

the contest in her hometown.

More than 50 students competed, representing about 15 schools.

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Vaviel Verner

The 2015 Florida Strawberry Queen contestants took a selfie on stage with one of the emcees.

QUEEN BEE Photos by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Samantha Black

Heather Ross was voted Miss Congeniality.

Payton Astin made it to the court.

Samantha Sun was crowned the 2015 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen.

Olivia Brosky

The contestants performed a dance at the beginning of the competition.

Right: Jessi Rae Varnum made one last walk as Queen down the catwalk.

Plant City Times & Observer Locally Owned by Ed Verner, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a joint-venture of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

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Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays.

It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City.

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Kellen Morris made it to the court.

Plant City Times &

Observer

General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com General Manager/Advertising / Stacey Hudson, shudson@tampabay.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writers / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com; Catherine Sinclair, csinclair@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com; Joanna Verga, jverga@tampabay.com Circulation/Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” — Friedrich Hayek, “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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it’s business by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Alan and Kelly Andrew, Dawn Kicklighter, Peggy and Steve Smith

Cameron inducted as chair

Chamber President Marion Smith congratulated Michael Cameron on his new position.

Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce members, board directors and employees gathered at the John R. Trinkle Center Thursday, Jan. 29, to induct Michael Cameron as the 2015 Chairman. Immediate Past Chairman Nate Kilton passed the gavel to Cameron who has ideas to build businesses and expand on technology to do so. Yvonne Fry received an award for her work with the Buy Local campaign. New chamber directors were also installed.

DOWN THE DRAIN by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Knights Elementary Relay team flushing away cancer The Knights Elementary Relay for Life team has toilet humor. Team leaders Linda Herman and Joanie Petty have been dropping off a purple potty in front yards for the past two weeks. That’s right — a commode they bedazzled and spray painted.

The move is part of a fundraising campaign to raise money and awareness for the Plant City Relay for Life. If the toilet ends up in your front yard, you can pay $10 to have it removed, $20 to have it removed and sent to a friend (or enemy) of your choice, and $30 to have it removed, sent to someone and insure it won’t end up back on your lawn.

“It’s awesome and it’s making money,” Petty said. “Everyone who’s gotten it has loved it.”

Herman and Petty sneak around at night with four teenage helpers, Matthew Petty, Michael Petty, Patrick Hawke and Benjamin Hawke, to move the heavy porcelain throne.

“We get in the car after a delivery and just laugh and laugh,” Petty said. “You would think that after the ninth time, it wouldn’t be as funny.

They’ve been to over nine houses, averaging about one a day. In its first week, it had already raised $240.

The duo pegged their friend, Lynn Roberts, as the one to

Amber Jurgensen

Joanie Petty and Linda Herman dropped the toilet off at Lynn Roberts’ house to get the chain going. start the chain. They texted her giggling from outside of her house that she might want to take a look at her yard. They found out they had placed it in the neighbor’s yard by accident when Roberts came out of the house next door.

“Oddly enough, I found it flattering to be the first one,” Roberts said. “Who doesn’t want a bedazzled toilet? It did it’s job. Neighbors started calling me, telling me I had a toilet in my front yard.”

“It really just takes the first person,” Herman said.

“That’s what I was thinking — who could I send it to that wouldn’t be offended or would

keep the ball rolling,” Roberts said.

Roberts sent the toilet to Debbie Hollenkamp, a breast cancer survivor.

“She’s a good sport, and I knew she would continue it,” Roberts said.

From there, it bounced around Walden Lake neighborhoods, occasionally making it out to the country.

The team has heard all kinds of stories, from rumors about people wanting to keep it to a lawn service moving it to the road so they could maintenance without it.

“It’s been fun, it’s been so much fun,” Herman said.

treble makers by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

The members of the mixed chorus have varied musical backgrounds.

PCCC performs ‘Songs for a New Day’

Ken Watts, the chorale’s conductor, has more than 40 years of experience as a professional musician.

Plant City Community Chorale performed “Songs for a New Day” Saturday, Jan. 31, at First Presbyterian Church. The diverse repertoire in this performance ranged from American folk, to a jazz-themed lullaby, to a Spanish-inspired piece and more. In addition to the 15 chorale members and accompanist, the performance featured the rhythmic sounds of a cajon on one piece.

George Hyde announced the raffle winners and other information throughout the night.

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NEWS BRIEFS + Officials clear officer in November shooting

A Florida Department of Law Enforcement report has cleared a Plant City officer of fatally shooting a man who had repeatedly stabbed his girlfriend and set fire to her home in November.

Trung Thanh Do, 31, was holding his girlfriend, Maria De Los Angeles Romano, 43, against her will and refused to follow police orders to let her go. He had set fire to her home with two children inside and was stabbing her.

Plant City Police officer James Burchett shot Do through his left eye.

Romano was able to crawl out of the window.

Burchett was placed on administrative leave in early November while FDLE investigated the incident, which is standard in a police shooting.

The report said his use of force was justified.

Do broke into Romano’s home at 107 S. Maryland Ave. in Plant City just before 4 a.m. Nov. 11. According to the report, Do stabbed her in the chest and arms several times. He then lit her house on fire because Romano had dumped him. He had previously told her he would kill her if she did not take him back, the report said.

Police arrived, along with Plant City Fire Rescue, after

receiving a call that four people were inside the burning house.

Officer Burchett helped the two children, Wendy Gonzalez, 18, and Maria Guevara, 13, out the window, the report said. Frantic, Maria told Burchett that Do had stabbed her mother in the back bedroom.

Burchett and Officer Jeffrey Hilsman then rushed to the back of the house and, through a closed window, saw Do wrapping his arms around Romano, the report said. Smoke was filling the room, and Do was refusing to drop Romano and leave the house, so Burchett and Hilsman shattered the window with their batons.

According to the report, both officers said Do tried to pull Romano further into the house.

They both took out their weapons and Burchett fired a single shot.

The teens were uninjured.

Romano was rescued and treated. State records show Do had no criminal past in Florida – only a traffic ticket in Hillsborough County from August 2014.

+ Suit settled after child fell from ceiling The Hillsborough County school district is ready to settle a 2013 lawsuit that concerns a 7-year-old, learning-disabled child who fell through a ceiling at Robinson Elementary School in 2009.

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP Pending court approval, the district will offer parents Keith and Diane Coker, of Plant City, $200,000, the maximum allowed under the state’s sovereign immunity limits, according to a report this week to the School Board.

“It’s a straight negligence suit,” said Tom Gonzalez, attorney for the school district.

The lawsuit alleges Jacob Coker, who was having his medication adjusted for hyperactivity, climbed onto a classroom cabinet and into the ceiling.

His teacher knew he was there but was unable to go after him because of a bad back. She took the rest of the class to lunch and left him in the care of aides who were not trained in child restraint techniques, according to the suit.

The ceiling collapsed and Jacob fell, hitting his head.

The teacher is no longer with the school district.

+ PC shooting, stolen car leads to standoff

Two men led police on a hunt, then standoff, at 1:30 a.m. after a Plant City shooting, Jan. 30.

The Plant City Police Department responded to a call of shots heard on Washington Street in Plant City around 3:30 p.m. An anonymous witness said the shots came from an older white Chevrolet Malibu with black wheels. The witness said could see Antwan “AJ” Gordon, of Plant City, driving the vehicle through an open window.

While searching the area for

Gordon was arrested and transported to central booking on outstanding warrants for Aggravated Fleeing to Elude and No Valid Driver’s License. Possible charges are pending on Stubbins.

+ Walden Lake pedestrian hit

AG DETECTIVES RESCUE BULL Ag detectives from Hillsborough and Polk counties rescued a large black bull who had become stranded in a wetland area with only his head above water Jan. 30. the vehicle, an officer was able to locate it and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop and began driving recklessly in an attempt to flee the area. No pursuit was initiated, to not endanger the public.

At about 10:30 p.m., the same vehicle was seen at Burger King at 2302 N. Park Road.

A traffic stop was attempted, and the driver fled again, traveling east on Interstate 4.

After a search on the tag, an officer discovered the vehicle was reported stolen by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

A local bulletin for the vehicle was sent out to neighboring agencies. Tampa police located the vehicle at about 1:30 a.m.

At 6:35 p.m. detectives arrived at 5540 Bob Smith Ave. The 1,500-pound bull was taken to a nearby barn and was doing well after being stuck in the mud and water for four hours. in Tampa. Police pursued the vehicle, the pursuit ending at 109th Avenue East and 15th Street. Gordon and his passenger, Herbert Stubbins, of Tampa, fled the vehicle on foot.

Stubbins was tracked by air and apprehended. Police then learned that Gordon, Stubbins’ cousin, was the suspect sought in the earlier Plant City shooting. Gordon made it to an apartment at 4606 Citrus Circle and barricaded himself in the attic. Police had been information he was armed. The Tactical Response Team and Hostage Negotiators responded and a negotiator convinced Gordon to surrender peacefully.

A pedestrian was hit by a vehicle Sunday, Jan. 26, while walking on Griffin Boulevard in Walden Lake.

The pedestrian was in the crosswalk at the intersection of Forest Hammock Drive and Griffin Boulevard, walking across Griffin Boulevard.

A vehicle was traveling west on Griffin Boulevard toward the polo fields and struck the pedestrian.

The driver advised that the glare from the setting sun caused them to not see the pedestrian.

The pedestrian suffered a non-life threatening injury. The pedestrian was recovering and was moved to a private room at South Florida Baptist Hospital Tuesday, Jan. 27.

+ HCFR responds to Plant City fire

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue put out a structure fire at 3306 Clay Turner Road in Plant City.

Upon arrival, HCFR found heavy smoke and flames coming from a single wide trailer.

The crews were able to contain the fire and extinguish it. Tanker operations were established for a water supply because of a lack of hydrants in the area.

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OBSERVER OBITUARIES Linda Gail Ausbourne

Linda Gail Ausbourne, 65, of Plant City, died Jan. 28, 2015. She is survived by a loving family. Services provided A Life Tribute Funeral Tampa Chapel.

Jane Brown; and two brothers.

A funeral service was held Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Wells Memorial.

Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

Vernon E. Ayscue

Louis E. Farkas

Vernon E. Ayscue, 98, died Jan. 27, 2015, at his daughter’s home in Lutz with loving family by his side.

He was born July 12, 1916, in Franklin County, North Carolina, to the late Davie Ayscue and Myrtle Woodlief Ayscue.

Mr. Ayscue was a proud U.S. Army veteran who served with the 4th Infantry (Ivy) Division in five campaigns during WWII: the Normandy invasion on D-Day at Utah Beach, Cherbourg, St. Lo, the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. He was honored to receive the French Legion of Honor medal, as one of the many heroes who participated in the liberation of France. In 1953, he and his wife, Juanita, moved from North Carolina to Plant City with their three children.

He worked in the trucking business and for Eastern Oil Company before his retirement in 1981. Mr. Ayscue and Juanita were active members of the First Baptist Church in Plant City for more than 50 years, where they made lifelong friends.

Mr. Ayscue was a member of the American Legion Post 26, serving as post commander from 1982-1984, and a member of the Lions Club, serving as president from 1968-1969. He received the Melvin Jones Award, the highest award given by the Lions Club, at the Lions Club International Convention held in Sydney, Australia, in 1991. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and did both until his mid-80s. He loved being with family and friends and was known for being a big jokester. Throughout his life, Mr. Ayscue was a hardworking, honest man who was loved and respected by many. He was a wonderful role model for his family.

Mr. Ayscue is survived by his daughters, LaVerne (Jerry) Goss and Elizabeth (Bill) Katz; grandchildren, Kelley Goss (Tommy) Tartaro, Matthew (Joy) Goss and Vernon (Keri) Joseph Katz; greatgrandchildren, T.J. and Hannah Tartaro, and Ryan and Regan Goss; sister-in-law, Janice Ayscue; other in-laws, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of almost 70 years, Juanita; his only son, Vernon Earl Ayscue Jr.; his twin brother, Virgil (Frances); and siblings, Myrtle Finch Fuller (Yarborough), Beulah Holmes (Wylie), John (Mary Ellen), David P. and Jack.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Mr. Ayscue’s honor to the Wounded Warrior Project, the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of your choice.

John “Scotty” Brown

John “Scotty” Brown, 72, died Jan. 30, 2015 in Plant City.

Mr. Brown was born in Scotland and loved the warm Florida weather and being outdoors. Surviving are sons, Johnny Queen, Doug Tinsley, Chuck Tinsley (Sam) and Bill Johnson (Robin); daughters, Jan Cunningham (Eric), Anna Cook (Robert), Roni Kilgore, Shirley Hickman and Connie Warren (John); brother, Tom Brown (Mary); sisters, Alice Armitt (Alex) and Catherine (Stephen); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by wife,

Louis E. Farkas, 68, of Plant City, died Jan. 27, 2015.

He was a member of Cowboy Up Ministry in Plant City. He was a lifetime citrus grower and nurseryman. He loved his family, and he enjoyed the outdoors and traveling. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Peggy Walden Farkas; children, Crystal Lutz (David), John Farkas (Lucretia) and Cindy Carr, all of Plant City; mother, Mary Farkas, of Plant City; sister, Mary Ann Fussell, of Plant City; grandchildren, Sarah, Jonathan, Cole, Skylar, Brody and Zoie; and greatgrandson, Max. A celebration of life was held Feb. 4, at Hopewell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cowboy Up Ministry, 117 Evangeline Way, Arcadia, Florida, 34266.

Online condolence may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.

Albert “Wesley” Gallagher

Albert “Wesley” Gallagher, 77, a lifelong resident of Dover, died Jan. 29, 2015, surrounded by his loving family.

He proudly served our country for six years in the Army as a medic.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Judy; son, David (Ursula); daughters, Heather (Craig) and Susan (Derrick); son-in-law, Scott Richardson; sister, Corine Andrews; brother, Bobby (Judy); 10 grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and hunting buddies. He is predeceased by his brother, Harley; sister, Alma Bartoe; and daughter, Amy Richardson.

A funeral service was held Feb. 2, at the Church of Christ, Plant City. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Florida College Academy, in Temple Terrace, in honor of Wesley Gallagher.

Minnie Lee Jones Gatlyn

Minnie Lee Jones Gatlyn, 91, of Brandon, died Jan. 25, 2015.

She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Lloyd L. Gatlyn; children, Jacqueline Elaine (Bobby) Campbell, of Brandon, and Eugene (Paulette) Gatlyn, of Brandon; brother, William (Frances) H. Jones, of Alachua County; and eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Clara Jones.

A celebration of life was held Feb. 1, at Hopewell Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to AldermanPelote Cemetery, P.O. Box 655, Lithia, 33547. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Ed Gorzka

Ed Gorzka, 88, died Jan. 23, 2015 in Plant City.

Mr. Gorzka moved to Florida from Rochester, New York, in 1988. He was a Navy veteran who served during WWII. Loving family who survive are wife of 39 years, Carole Gorzka; sons, Robert Gorzka and Michael Gorzka; daughter, Barbara (Mike) Bunting; stepchildren, Keith Qualtrough, Kirk (Nancy) Qualtrough, Kyle (Wendy) Qualtrough and Kathleen Prebola; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

Online ondolences may be made at WellsMemorial. com.

Velton Andrew Hunter

Velton Andrew Hunter, 85, died Jan. 18, 2015, with his family by his side.

He was born Aug. 10, 1929, in Welcome, to Alvin and Minnie Hunter. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Linnie Mae Hunter; brother, Leonard Edwin (Inez) Hunter, of Lithia; children, Dianne (Joel) Wilkes, of Lakeland, Velton Edward Hunter, of Zephyrhills, Jerry Bruce Hunter, of Lithia, Rex Andrew (Phyllis) Hunter, of Lithia, and William Carl Hunter, of Lithia; 24 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren and 4 great-greatgrandchildren.

Visitation and funeral were at Wells Memorial.

Burial at Welcome Cemetery in Lithia. Condolences may be made at WellsMemorial. com.

Doris Helen Myers

Doris Helen Myers, 76, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015.

She was born March 4, 1938, in Plant City, to Homer Lee and Irene Gladys (Crowley) Giddens. She was of the Baptist faith and loved family history and genealogy.

Survivors include daughters, Cathy Jones and Rita (Dale) Lance; sisters, Becky (Jeff) Nestor and Sandy Giddens; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

Mary Lou Peacock

Mary Lou Peacock, 91, of Plant City, died Feb. 1, 2015 at her home.

Born Oct. 10, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Ruben and Wesley Ashmore Greer. She was the wife of the late Howard Peacock.

Mrs. Peacock was a member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church and loved to read and quilt.

Surviving are daughter, Delores Tolbert; son-in-law, Phillip Smith; brother, Robert Greer; sisters, Doris Williams and Grace Dorminey; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by daughter, Gayle Smith.

A graveside service was held Feb. 3, at Cedar Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralhome.com.

Clayton Edward “Ed” Pollard

Clayton Edward “Ed” Pollard, 62, of Lakeland, died Jan. 24, 2015.

He was a retired supervisor with New Wales-IMC/ Mosaic. He is survived by his fiancee, Linda Kay Berry; and her daughter, Carissa (Jerry) Saus, of Lakeland; stepson, Jimmy Belisle, of Pinecrest; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Pollard; parents, Clayton and Verna Mae Pollard; and brother, Donald Pollard.

A celebration of life was held Jan. 29, at Beulah Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Beulah Baptist Church. Online condolence may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

James Y. “Jimmy” Williams

James Y. “Jimmy” Williams, 78, of Plant City, died Jan. 26, 2015.

He was a lifetime farmer and retired from CSX railroad. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Melba Johnson Williams; children, Michael Williams, Stephen Williams and Vicki Williams, all of Plant City, and Teresa Williams (Tom) McClure, of Chattahoochee; sister, Jean Burtz, of Lakeland; 14 grandchildren, 15 greatgrandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life was held Jan. 31 at Hopewell Funeral Home. Online condolence may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Eric Ugarte had a solid soccer season. 16

SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

SIDELINES Do you have a good sports scoop for us?

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver. com.

BASKETBALL

+ Crest girls win district

For one half of Thursday’s 7A-7 district championship game, the Plant City defense was in control.

In the second half, Strawberry Crest proved that defense doesn’t always win championships.

A third-quarter rally, capped off with an even stronger fourth-quarter push, allowed the Lady Chargers to edge out the Lady Raiders, 64-59, for the title.

Plant City held a 28-21 lead at halftime, although the game wasn’t as close as the score suggested.

The Lady Raider defense smothered Crest at nearly every opportunity, fueled

by Shayna Lawrence’s presence inside.

In the third quarter, Lawrence was benched after getting a technical foul. That’s when Crest’s offense woke up, scoring 12 points in threeand-one-half minutes and eventually ending the quarter down by two points, trailing 43-41.

Lawrence re-entered the game halfway through the final quarter, and the two teams traded leads throughout the final two minutes of play.

But, with 45 seconds on the clock, Crest pulled ahead for good with a layup. Terra Brooks got the ball back, scored a layup and drew a foul, but couldn’t convert at the line. Crest stole the ball with 11.2 seconds left, when Plant City sent Maiya Trigg to the foul line. That proved to be the dagger, as the senior guard drained both free throw attempts.

Championship results from the boys district tournament at East Bay this week were not available at press time.

SOCCER

+ Venice tops PCHS girls in regionals

The Lady Raiders’ latest run through regionals came to a close Friday, Jan. 30, as Venice rolled to a 2-0 win at home.

The loss came after a series of nail-biting, 1-0 home wins against Osceola and East Bay Jan. 22 and 27, respectively. Plant City was able to contain this Lady Indians team, which had just beaten Lakewood Ranch, 3-2 in extra time (won, 7-6, on penalty kicks), but the hosts proved to be one step ahead of the Lady Raiders that night.

A win at Venice would have sent this Plant City team to the state tournament for the first time in program history. The Lady Indians will face Pembroke Pines Charter at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, for a chance to make the 4A state championship game.

softball by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

BATTER UP

Last season’s race for the district title was dominated by Plant City-area teams. That could happen again in 2015, but which of the fresh faces will stand out among the rest?

All three teams have already begun regularseason play, but don’t worry about missing the home openers — there’s still plenty of time to plan to be there.

Area softball teams sporting new looks

By the time this issue of the Plant City Times & Observer hits the newsstands, softball season will be underway. If this season is anything like the 2014 season, then fans of all three area teams should be in for a good ride over the

next few months.

On the other hand, all of the three area teams are going to have to deal with big losses and changes. None of them came out of the offseason unscathed, whether they were hit by graduations or a staff change.

What’s worth keeping an eye on this year?

DURANT

The 2014 7A-District 7 champions earned that title with a solid run through the tournament, outplaying their under-

dog status against Strawberry Crest and ripping Plant City to shreds the next evening.

Durant lost six seniors to graduation, including clubhouse leaders Shannon Bell

SEE SOFTBALL / PAGE 15

Each team will play its first home game at 7 p.m. on the following dates: 2/10: Newsome at Durant 2/13: Plant at Plant City; Riverview at Strawberry Crest

racing by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Justin Kline

Chris DeShong drives a 1995 Honda Prelude in the Sports Car Club of America Majors Tour.

Prelude to Victory Durant High senior Chris DeShong is new to sports car racing, but he is already making a name for himself out on the track.

At the moment, Chris DeShong’s 1995 Honda Prelude doesn’t look like a winner.

Damage to the front fender and a minor issue with the suspension means that the car’s going to be staying in the garage until it gets repaired.

Looks aren’t everything, though. If this car could talk, it would have some bragging rights to its name right now.

DeShong, just a month into his first season as a sports car racer, has already scored a win and some top-five finishes

around Florida while driving the Prelude. The Durant High senior’s recent success has put him on a path he’s wanted to take since he was a pre-teen: the road to the professional circuits.

IN THE FAMILY

At 9 years old, DeShong was brought into the racing world by way of a quarter midget car, which he learned to drive at Ambassador Racing in Wimauma. His father, who has been racing for two decades, is large-

ly responsible for getting the young boy hooked so early on.

DeShong wasn’t a big fan of the oval tracks, however, and wanted to try his hand on road courses.

“I just didn’t really like it,” he says.

That break came on his fifteenth birthday, when his parents surprised him with three days at the prestigious Skip Barber Racing School in Lime Rock Park, Connecticut. Under the tutelage of former Formula Ford champion Bruce Ma-

cInnes, DeShong learned how to drive fast. And he used what he learned quickly.

“He told me that I was the second-fastest kid at the school,” DeShong says.

The one ahead of DeShong had about a decade of karting experience. DeShong? Not so much. “(MacInnes) almost passed out when I told him I had only driven quarter midgets for four years,” DeShong says.

SEE DESHONG / PAGE 16

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

Endurance racing is serious business

when I was young and I have to admit it: Automotive racing isn’t my dad brought me to really one of my strong watch my uncle race suits. his sprint car.

I have nothing Not long ago, I wrote against the sport. It’s about what is and isn’t just not something I’ve considered a sport. I really kept tabs on, know that the general outside of NASCAR’s feeling about racing JUSTIN Chase for the Cup, in — especially NASKLINE the same way most CAR — down south is America gets curious completely different about soccer once every four from what I grew up with up years. I’ve just never been north, but I consider it to be a able to commit to it, even sport. These men and women

are putting their bodies through a torture test in those cars, often sweating profusely enough to shed pounds like a boxer before a weigh-in.

This is especially true of people who voluntarily compete in those all-day endurance races. I couldn’t bring myself to watch much of the 24 Hours of Sebring, just as I can’t commit to a regular NASCAR race right now, but that’s probably because I look at racing as something

I’d rather do than watch. And because those drivers go out there and race for 24 hours, I can’t knock them at all.

I didn’t know much about those races before this weekend. (Though I did have some assumptions.) I wanted to know more, so when Durant High School senior Chris DeShong mentioned an endurance race he’d driven in, I pressed the subject.

Chris’ race team has raced in several of these events, and

he himself has raced in one of the 14-hour events. Everything is split into two-hour shifts for every driver a team has on hand, as long as everything goes well with the car’s fuel levels. If it’s running low, they’ll switch earlier at the pit.

He remembers the race well: It was in October, and things really didn’t go as planned.

“It was so funny,” he says.

SEE KLINE / PAGE 15

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KLINE / PAGE 14 “That weekend, the last time that that car had been raced was September of 2013. I did the 8-to-10 a.m. shift, which was when the race started, then got out of the car and let the car’s owner in. Within 15 minutes, he said he wasn’t feeling very good and brought the car back in.”

Chris ended up getting back in the car for another two hours. This is a rough deal for older drivers, who often elect to wear “cool suits” lined with tubing that pumps cold water throughout in order to prevent the person from baking

into a human casserole. But, because teenagers have more stamina than they know what to do with, Chris got back in there in a regular fire suit.

No big deal, he says.

“It’s really the focus that we have in the car, and the exhilaration,” he says. “When we’re driving, we simply focus on driving and nothing else.

“Unless, of course, a spider starts crawling down here and you see it dangling. Then you’re like, ‘Oh, God, no!’ I had that happen once.”

Just after noon, Chris was able to get out of the car. He nearly passed out because of a combination of the intense

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP heat and having sat in a car for nearly four hours straight.

“You’re sitting in there, and you can smell the heat coming from the engine,” he says. “‘Oh, yeah, this is pretty hot,’ but you’re not trying to focus on that. You get out of the car and you’re like, ‘I can’t believe I just did that!’”

After he walked it off, he drove back home, threw on a tux and drove to Tampa for Durant’s Homecoming dance that night.

Can’t knock an effort like that, no matter what your opinion of auto racing is.

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

wrestling by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Blake Getchell attempts an escape in the 152-pound match.

Plant City High wrestling honors seniors, beats Hawks

File photo

SOFTBALL / PAGE 14 and Brooke Freeman. Those two each batted over .365, and combined for 60 runs, 61 RBI, 19 doubles and seven home runs.

On the other hand, head coach Matt Carter got the most out of his youngsters last season. Traile Robbins, as a freshman, led the team in batting average (minimum 20 games played) with .385 and with 12 stolen bases. Morgan Slater and Selena Bezares, now juniors, each batted over .375 last season, and Bezares’s 29 RBI mark was second only to Bell’s 45.

And on the mound, local fans have to remember how well Sloan Hammons pitched throughout the district tourney as a freshman. The sophomore hurler is back and looking to improve upon a 2.08 ERA, 141-strikeout season in 2015.

This team’s regular-season Achilles’ heel was its play in district games and, if the Lady Cougars can fix whatever problems they had in those games, then they’ll be a team that no one wants to play early in the tournament.

PLANT CITY

The district runner-up, Plant City had a successful year under first-year head coach Maggie Fiex and nearly got revenge against Durant in the FHSAA regional tournament. With the

team’s only district loss coming at the hands of Strawberry Crest, the Lady Raiders were likely favored by many to win the district if Crest couldn’t get the job done.

And, like their blue-and-gold counterparts to the South, this team also got great efforts from its younger players. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that a freshman, Edmilly Molina, stepped up and nearly led the team with a .415 batting average. Rebecca Sorenson enjoyed a great sophomore year, leading the team with 28 runs and 23 RBI while batting .373. And, although she didn’t play in every game, freshman Tori Garrison hit .545 when she was out there and scored 15 runs in 15 plate appearances.

The team lost seniors Emily Register and Kacie Booth, .400plus hitters, to graduation. But staff ace Noelle Dietrich, who posted an excellent 1.10 ERA and a 14-3 record, is back for one more year.

The only uncertainty with Plant City is that the program is now on its fourth head coach.

Fiex left the program on good terms for personal reasons.

Ashley Bullion is now in charge, and Raider fans are anxious to see if she can keep the program successful.

STRAWBERRY CREST

Mindy Miltner always seems to run a powerhouse on Gallagher Road, and last year’s Lady

Chargers team was no exception. Riding a winning streak that lasted for a month and one half, Crest ended with a 20-6 record and lost only to Plant City in district play before the tournament.

The team did deal with some injuries, but still looked strong thanks to a high-powered senior corps including Mia Fung and Cacey Simmons — two of the best players in the Tampa Bay area. The team lost three hitters with averages at or above .500, three hitters who combined for 89 runs, 76 RBI and 17 homers, and a workhorse pitcher, Sammie Tyler, with a 1.28 ERA and 139 strikeouts.

There are good things that are carrying over from 2014.

Junior Scottie Todd should be able to transition into Tyler’s old role smoothly. As a sophomore in 2014, Todd posted a 7-1 record with a 2.07 ERA and 42 strikeouts in just over 50 innings. Freshmen Brandy Ashmore, Stephanie Dwyer and Rachel Peak batted .800, .600 and .500 in limited action.

Sophomores Kaylan Kelly and Kasey Locke played well when called upon to take bigger roles throughout the season.

If Miltner continues to get the most out of her players, then Crest will likely continue to be a formidable foe in the district.

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

Plant City had only one home meet in the 2015 season, and the Raiders made it count.

The wrestling team sent off its seniors with a 4222 win in seven matches over the Armwood Hawks Wednesday, Jan. 28. The team’s five seniors, Kaleb Daugherty, Roberto Jaramillo, Jesse Jaramillo, Chris Ratcliff and Brett Estrada, were honored by head coach Nick Ferrario before the meet began.

Upper right: Rocco Malpeli cruised to a win in the 160-pound match.

Right: Kaleb Daugherty made quick work of his opponent in the 195-pound match.

0,!.4 #)49 4)-%3 /"3%26%2 &2)$!9 &%"25!29

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP DESHONG / PAGE 14 MacInnes suggested that DeShong compete in the school’s IndyCar Shootout, but the teenager declined. The three-day instruction itself cost $3,000, and the money needed for this race simply wasn’t there.

It was then that DeShong decided to break into the Sports Car Club of America scene, and he got his start in his father’s old MG Midget. Though he admits the car was nothing special, because a lack of available funds, it recorded a few wins and solid ďŹ nishes.

But DeShong knew that that wasn’t the car he really wanted to compete in.

PUMPED-UP CHUMP

When they were invited to run in an SCCA Chump Car race, the right car came up. Although neither DeShong nor his father owned the ďŹ rst Prelude, they were allowed to race in it.

The car was ready to go for the Chump class, in which drivers can spend no more than $500 in upgrades (excluding safety features, on which drivers may spend up to $2,000). In that car’s last Chump race, which was at Sebring International Raceway, DeShong ďŹ nished 50th out of 80 racers. But he posted the

INVESTORS? POSSIBLY YOU

Chris DeShong’s dream is to go pro. But, that’s a long-term goal. In the short term, his goal is to find enough money to own his Prelude, free and clear, and to be able to participate in SCCA races, especially October’s SCCA Run-Offs in Daytona.

The Durant senior is looking for sponsors. If interested, contact him by email at chrisd5@verizon.net. third-fastest lap time of any driver at the event.

The Prelude currently in DeShong’s garage is not the original car: That one was wrecked in a race at Charlotte, North Carolina three years ago. “We looked at all the safety equipment and said, ‘Yeah, this thing would never pass it,’�

DeShong says. “So, the owner bought a new tub and hired us to build the car. We built it to SCCA rules, but it’s still legal for Chump Car. We’d just have to do a few things, like put the stock wheels back on it.�

He entered his ďŹ rst SCCA season in January and almost immediately got out on the track.

The ďŹ rst venue was Home-

stead-Miami Speedway, where he started with a promising second-place ďŹ nish in his class on Saturday, Jan. 10. But in Sunday’s big race, DeShong had to settle for a DNF when a tire went rogue on him. “We were pretty disappointed,â€? he says. “We’d actually gotten the car faster since the previous race, but there’s nothing we could do about a blown tire.â€?

The following weekend, DeShong was back in action at Sebring. He caused the car’s front fender injury Friday, Jan. 16, ďŹ nished in fourth place Saturday and started Sunday’s race in ďŹ fth place.

DeShong stayed near the lead for a good portion of the race and, in clutch time, he found himself in third place with a shot at a win. Two drivers were ahead of him, and the Mazda MX-5 in ďŹ rst place spun out allowing DeShong and second-place holder Mike Flynn to move up. The two battled it out until the last lap, when DeShong pulled ahead for good at the last corner. “I was absolutely excited for that,â€? DeShong says. “I couldn’t believe I managed to pull out a Majors win in this thing. It’s a Chump Car, for crying out loud!â€?

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

ERIC UGARTE Plant City’s boys soccer team is coming off of an appearance in the FHSAA regional tournament, ending with a 5-3 loss at Palmetto Thursday, Jan. 29. Head coach Chris Black has been pleased with the team’s effort this season, especially praising the efforts of freshman Eric “Peanut� Ugarte.

So, everyone calls you “Peanut.� How did you get the nickname?

When I was little, I guess I looked sort of like a peanut. I was short, and I’m brown. My next-door neighbor had given me that name, and it just carried on from there.

What role do you play on this team?

MidďŹ eld and forward.

What’s it like, stepping into a pretty good team as a freshman and making an impact in your ďŹ rst year?

At ďŹ rst, it was somewhat difďŹ cult.

You had to compete against seniors and other sophomores and juniors. Coming as a freshman, it’s really hard. But I’m glad that I made it, and I thank God for my talent.

The Palmetto game didn’t go so well for you guys, but that was only your ďŹ rst playoff game.

What did you learn from that one?

There’s going to be harder teams out there. We’ve just got to come in more prepared than we did in the ďŹ rst half.

What happened in the ďŹ rst half?

Well, the ďŹ rst half, I guess we came in too conďŹ dent. Not really trying. Thinking, ‘We got this game.’ Then, we got this speech from another player, Jorge (Navarrete), and it inspired us to do better. He spoke about how, for seniors, this is their last year and they might not ever get a chance again. It inspired

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me, too, to step my game up because I didn’t want to let my teammates down.

So the second half was the better half for you guys?

We played a lot better. We came out and pressured them. We had them, 3-2, but we just let three goals come through us.

Do you play any club soccer?

I do. I play for Plant City Lancers, and I’ve played it since I was U9. I’ve been playing soccer since I was three years old.

Any other sports?

Just soccer. All soccer, all the time.

What are your favorite movies? “Observe and Report� and “The Notebook.�

What about TV? “Jersey Shore,� and pretty much all of the soccer channels.

I’ve got to watch FC Barcelona, my favorite team.

So, Leo Messi must be your favorite player?

Messi, yeah.

If you could meet him, what would you want to ask him about?

What his experience was growing up and becoming a professional, and how that impacted his life. And, maybe one day, get to play with him.

Who do you go for in the World Cup? Argentina, for Messi.

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WEATHER

THURS. Jan. 29

0.00

FRI.

TEMPERATURES

Jan. 30

0.00

SAT.

Friday, Jan. 30 Saturday, Jan. 31 Sunday, Feb. 1 Monday, Feb. 2 Tuesday, Feb. 3 Wednesday, Feb. 4 Thursday, Feb. 5

Jan. 31

0.00

SUN.

Feb. 1

0.00

MON. 0.00

TUES. Feb. 3

0.00

WED.

Feb. 4

0.00

FEB.

TO DATE

1.78 (2014: 0.00)

YEAR

PLANT CITY

RAIN

(INCHES)

Feb. 2

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP

HIGH 72 74 79 77 73 76 74

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES SUNRISE Friday, Feb. 6 7:13 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7 7:12 a.m.

Sunday, Feb. 8 7:12 a.m.

Monday, Feb. 9 7:11 a.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 10 7:10 a.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 11 7:10 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 12 7:09 a.m.

SUNSET 6:12 p.m.

6:12 p.m.

6:13 p.m.

6:14 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

6:16 p.m.

6:16 p.m.

STRAWBERRIES

LOW 48 56 60 56 58 59 54

MOON PHASES

Feb. 11

Feb. 18

SHIPPING POINT: Orlando

$12.90

TO DATE 1.78 (2014: 0.00)

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

CRYPTOQUIZ Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a renowned dancer. Using the hints A=E and C=R, decipher the clues to name the dancer.

1. H U F A C B 2. K G C U B O K X A 3. K X W Q A H B A R Q C E 4. H E J X A X A E D C E L 5. M G O Q A G U N R A This dancer has been called the “Picasso of Dance”:

SUDOKU

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and box.

Feb. 25

March 8

, 3&

Kelly Webb loves walking around the big lake in Walden Lake Park. The best time to go is right as the sun is coming up, she says. Webb captured this at the green across the street where many water fowl live and thrive. She calls it “Rise and Shine.”

The Plant City Times & Observer and Grimes Hardware have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest. Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $15 gift certificate to Grimes Hardware’s Strawberry Town Cafe! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City. Winners can pick up their prize at Grimes Hardware.

CROSSWORD POINT TAKEN by Jessica C. Crawford ACROSS 1 Capo’s group 6 Pasta, potatoes and such 11 Swimmers’ woes 19 “Dynasty” actress Linda 20 Garlicky garnish 21 Swallow routes 22 Common tablet PC feature 24 Waterproof roof joints 25 Architectural band 26 ___ Arabia 28 Jack and Jill’s carryall 29 Island near Java 30 Make fun of 32 Examine, as evidence 35 Story with bite 38 Moisten, as a roast 40 “If ___ told you once ...”

43 Bro or 18-Down, e.g.

45 “Long ___ ...”

46 Temporary paper currency 48 Earth, air, fire or water, e.g.

51 Rock with value 52 Bodybuilder’s exercise 54 ___ Bell (fast-food chain) 55 Respect for others’ beliefs 57 Come up again 59 Opposite of apex 62 Grand ___ (vintage) 63 Better suited 64 Refuse receptacle 66 Assessor 68 Like Scrooge McDuck 70 ___ carotene 71 Facial flaw 74 Drive-___ window 75 Producing an effect 78 “___ Man” (Village People hit) 79 Fishing nets 82 Civil War general 83 “Born in the ___” (Springsteen tune) 86 Vacation memento 88 Have a funny feeling 89 Next life 91 Unwritten test 93 ___ good example 94 Cause wonder 95 Small hairpieces 98 Tiniest bits 100 Radiation dosage 101 Fold, spindle or mutilate 102 Air pressure meas.

103 Overturn or overthrow 105 Gentlemen (Abbr.)

107 “Answer, please” (Abbr.)

110 Cook’s covering 112 Catcher’s need 113 “___ as good a time as any” 116 Owl noises 118 Temporary period 122 Not aboveboard 126 Part of the brain 128 Tire mishap 129 Spine-tinglingly weird 130 Arrival island for many 131 Trouble spot for Indiana Jones

132 Forms an opinion 133 Corn-chip dip

34 Toyota model 35 Pelvic bones 36 Fevers with chills DOWN 37 Leaders of movements 1 “I never ___ man I didn’t like” 38 Antacid, for short 2 The Bard’s river 39 Having no feet 3 Goat-legged deity 41 Soft palate 4 Demons that prey upon sleepers 42 Hurricane heading, sometimes 5 Masonry stones 44 Distrustful 6 Desert growths 47 Bled in the laundry 7 Balloon’s filling 49 “... yadda, yadda, yadda” 8 Some reddish deer 50 Bad-mouths 9 Sounds from a flock 53 Swiss canton or its capital 10 Curve in and out 56 Mimicries 11 Amazon zapper 58 Knocking noise 12 “... and make it fast!”

60 Agendum, e.g.

13 Santa ___, California 61 Amend, as an atlas section 14 Sap-sucking insect genus 65 Actress Fabray, for short 15 Hotdog topper, sometimes 67 With money to burn 16 Harrison in “Star Wars” 69 “___ your call” 17 Breakfast item 72 Guaranteed winner 18 Sibling, in brief 73 Drag race participant 23 Cull 75 Old Irish memorial inscription 24 “Jaws” sighting 76 Period before a conflict 27 Two-person fight 77 Ballerina’s skirts 31 Malayan island 80 “Steer” anagram 33 Ones leading the pack 81 Parts of a baseball

84 Old photo tone 85 “___ we having fun yet?”

87 Bran type 90 Affected dandy 92 Thin plate or layer 96 Continental currency 97 Parodied 99 Colonizes 104 Main dish 106 “A Streetcar Named Desire” role 108 Sweater style 109 ___-cochere (carriage entrance) 111 Impressive degree 112 Pesky arachnids 114 Defeat a la Ali 115 Mumbai dress 117 In need of a massage 119 Bagel kin 120 Large wading bird 121 Clifflike, flat-topped elevation 122 ___ and downs 123 Her life is in order?

124 Modern evidence 125 Tennis court divider 127 “Bus” or “rod” starter

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