02.12.16 PCTO by Plant City Observer

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Family maintains wrestling legacy. See page 11

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 3, NO. 27

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Strawberry Stress

•

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

INSIDE

See the winners of the Plant City Times & Observer love story contest. SEE PAGE 7

YOUR TOWN Medical Matters

Photos by Emily Topper

Carl Grooms, owner of Fancy Farms, holds up a perfect berry. He will have some aspect of a normal season in mid-February, when berries start to produce more regularly, but has had a slow season so far because of extremely warm weather. The recent, cooler temperatures have farmers optimistic.

It’s been an upside-down strawberry season that went from warm weather to cold temperatures and rainy days.

ith temperatures easily reaching into the 90s this winter, its been a

difficult season for strawberry growers. Colder temperatures allow the strawberry plant to produce blossoms. The excessive heat prevented strawberry plants from creating blossoms, instead producing more green vegetation and runners, also called stolons. When a plant focuses its energy on producing stolons, the energy is deflected from producing Carl Grooms’ crops produced skinny “nibbler” berries early in the season, which fill less crates of berries. Though they look odd, “nibbler” berries (also called bullet berries) have the same taste and texture of the average strawberry.

strawberries, resulting in a smaller, or even fruitless, plant.

Humana Inc. opened a new integrated retail Humana Pharmacy within the Continucare medical center at 228 W. Alexander St. This new retail space will provide Humana Medicare Advantage and commercial health plan members who are patients of the Continucare medical center with clinical support and a full-service pharmacy in the same building as their physician’s office. The pharmacists at Continucare will provide medication consultation and fill prescriptions. Because pharmacists and physicians are in the same location, the pharmacist will be able to alert physicians to potential adverse reactions on the spot and resolve any prescription issues before the member leaves the medical center. The on-site pharmacy is an extension of Humana’s mail-order prescription drug service.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 3

City Commission: Don’t tell us what to do, Tallahassee

TAKE FLIGHT

The City Commission has faced issues with home rule, specifically with the election process and meeting agendas. EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER

Before the end of the week, state legislators will have a letter signed by Mayor Rick Lott voicing the City Commission’s opposition to state interference in city matters and state infringement on home rule. Though city commissioners have been individually sending letters and making phone calls to state legislature for some time, commissioners decided to take a unified action at the City Commission meeting Monday, Feb. 8. Former Plant City mayor John

Dicks, a Democrat who recently announced his candidacy for the District 6 Hillsborough County Commission seat, spoke to the City Commission on Monday about Tallahassee’s conflicting legislature with home rule. Home rule is defined as the individual governance of a region by its own citizens, provided that the citizens and local government obey state and federal laws. While Florida is a home rule state, SEE COMMISSION PAGE 5

Local club meets winged friends. Go to PlantCityObserver.com

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HAPPENING

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12, 2016

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sharon Moody, chair of Black Heritage Celebration SEE THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ON PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM.

Order up!

Trump Card

Healthy competitors

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Black history is for everybody. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the history of our heritage, a celebration of what people have done in the community.â&#x20AC;?

HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS: SMALL PLATE

Courtesy

BRUSCHETTE SICILIANI Ciabatta bread served with tomatoes, basil, oregano, red onions and Kalamata olives then topped with ricotta salata

arrabbaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italian Grill in Plant City has added some new items to its menu. From small plates made for sharing to Tuscan-infused entrees, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something to whet everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appetite.

We asked Plant City residents on Facebook if they have plans to attend a Donald Trump Presidential Rally Friday, Feb. 12, at the University of South Florida Sun Dome. Even though attendees donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;toupeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for tickets, many who chimed in on Facebook werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too impressed that the presidential candidate is coming to Tampa Bay.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ummmm let me think for a second â&#x20AC;Ś NO!â&#x20AC;?

SALAD

TUSCAN STRAWBERRY SALAD Wood-grilled chicken or shrimp served over mixed greens, strawberries, pine nuts, red onion, tomatoes and gorgonzola in strawberry vinaigrette

ENTREE

TUSCAN-GRILLED SIRLOIN AND PROSCIUTTOWRAPPED SHRIMP Sirloin (6 oz.) topped with choice of spicy Sicilian butter or gorgonzola sauce and paired with a prosciutto-wrapped shrimp skewer topped with lemon butter

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Debbie Gilllespie

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would be there if I was able.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Carolyn Dunkin Bridges

â&#x20AC;&#x153;(Twenty dollars) for parking stops me from considering. Also the fact I would probably be escorted from the rally at some point.â&#x20AC;?

CHIANTI CHICKEN Served with chianti demi sauce and an arugula salad tossed with apples, grapes, toasted hazelnuts and lemon vinaigrette. Served with a cup of soup or a side salad.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jerry Jolly

â&#x20AC;&#x153;No. Even if Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m allowed to enter, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be escorted out of the rally eventually as well.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Cenovio Villa

â&#x20AC;&#x153;He donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sugar coat nothing. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the man.â&#x20AC;?

20%

Carrabbaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is offering 20% off every guestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entire check from now through March 6.

NEW DISHES

Small plates: 6 Appetizers: 3 Soups and salads: 3 Entrees: 12 Sides: 1

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Betty Gilley

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whooooo.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Helen Huppe Fletcher

Courtesy photos

Strawberry Crest High School International Baccalaureate students participated in the Health Occupations Students of America Region 4 competition at Plant Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus of Hillsborough Community College.Â They include Emily Simmons, Jadah James, Saketh Katta, Jenni Chackochen, Nandini Goel, Cameron Cornett, Isabella Chaudhry, Kevin Chacko, Raphael Brosula, Ceona James, Michael Waggoner, Leannette Flaharty, Dallis Brown and Abraham Matthew.Â Three students placed and will move on to the state competition.Â Cameron Cornett took first place in clinical nursing. Raphael Brosula took third place in medical spelling. Kevin Chacko took third place in prepared speaking.Â

One killed in homicide A Plant City man was found dead in Lot Z on Baker Street Monday, Feb. 1. The Plant City Police Department responded to a dispute at 3607 W. Baker St. when they found Jose Manuel Cazares, 31, in the yard, just south of the residence. He died at South Florida Baptist Hospital. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Chad Rader at (813) 757-9200.Â

Little Miss P.C. registration

Registration for Little Miss Plant City 2016 will be from 9 toÂ 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at Blue Sun Realty, at 1215 W. Reynolds St. The pageant is open to girls age 8 to 10, as of Feb. 1, 2016. Any girl from eastern Hillsborough County (east of U.S. Highway 301) is eligible to participate. The cost to register is $50 (cash only), and proof of residency via driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license will be required.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

VS. Local strawberry farmers are saying this has been a season like no other. EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER

his time of year, Fancy Farms owner Carl Grooms is used to seeing rows of juicy, sweet strawberries across his 230acre farm. But Grooms, and other growers like him, have had anything but a normal strawberry season. Unusually warm weather in November and December and heavy rains in January have left Florida strawberry plants looking a little too green. Grooms started his farm with his wife, Dee Dee, in 1974 and is currently harvesting his 42nd strawberry crop. “I’m a veteran farmer, but honestly, no one has seen a season start out like this,” Grooms said. The crop has produced far less than what Grooms collects in a typical season — and looks far different. THE ‘NIBBLERS’

In an ideal season, Grooms hopes for cool weather in November and December. Colder temperatures allow the strawberry plant to produce blossoms, which eventually bloom into the favorite red fruit found in supermarkets across the United States. But the uncharacteristically warm weather has caused a significant shortage of berries in the early part of the season. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, Florida temperatures in autumn were the highest on record, including temperatures as high as 93 degrees in November and December. The excessive heat prevented strawberry plants from creating blossoms, instead producing more green vegetation and runners, also called stolons. A plant’s energy that focuses on producing stolons is deflected from producing strawberries, resulting in a smaller, or even fruitless, plant. Both strawberry varieties that Grooms planted, Radiance and Florida Sensation, produced runners. “The elements of nature we have little control over,” Grooms said. “It’s hard to dial in perfect weather in Florida. That was a big added expense. We had to cut the runners five times, normally we only cut them twice during the season.” Grooms did see some berries early in the season: smaller, elongated berries, known as “nibblers” or bullet berries, grew from his Radiance variety. “That’s another environmental phenomenon that we have no control over,” Grooms said.

“Damage comes from long rains that go on for a few days without drying. The berry absorbs the water and starts to crack.” — Shad Simmons, of Simmons Farms

SKINNY MINI Local shoppers have probably seen boxes of skinnier strawberries the past few months. Warm temperatures produced these berries in November and December, pushing the production of regular-sized berries in normal numbers to mid-February and possibly late March. IDEAL TEMPS For Carl Grooms: 45 degrees to 70 degrees For Shad Simmons: 65 is perfect; 50 to 70 degrees is ideal.

Though bullet berries are accepted in the marketplace, they are smaller and skinnier than the average strawberry, meaning that more are needed to fill a box of berries. The first few pickings of the season produced bullet berries before the strawberry plant began growing the averagesized berry. Because the odd-shaped berries are so small, Grooms’ ratio of flats he picks per acre also is off. “I expect 3,500 flats per acre in a good season,” Grooms said. “We’ve picked 650 acres so far this season. That’s way behind what it should be, about 50% off.” Shad Simmons, of Simmons Farms, has seen many of the same phenomenons. On his 130-acre farm, he harvested between five to 10 flats per acre for January. Last year at this time, he was harvesting 100 flats per acre. Like Grooms, he also has seen a number of the smaller, bullet berries. “Stress from the heat made the plants do abnormal things,” Simmons said. “We don’t have a variety that can handle the heat.” The production of bullet berries and the lack of bigger berries has driven up the price of strawberries in stores. “The bigger the fruit, the bigger the poundage,” Simmons, who grows Radiance berries, said. “That will make more packages. It’s all supply and demand.” This year, Simmons’ workers have been able to pick his entire farm in one day because there aren’t as many berries. Out of 2,000 flats of berries that were picked on Friday, Jan. 29, Simmons had to throw out roughly 300 to 400 flats of berries — about 15 to 20% of his crop, because of damage from a week of heavy rain in January. “Damage comes from long rains that go on for a few days without drying,” Simmons said. “The berry absorbs the water and starts to crack.” “When it’s raining, the sun isn’t shining,” Grooms said. “The berries aren’t ripening up. The berry will not be as sweet as it should be.” Now that the warm weather has ended, cool weather is finally producing a larger number of strawberry blooms. If it stays dry, growers from all over Florida will likely see at least one surge in production at the end of February — and possibly again at what would normally be the end of their season. MARCH MADNESS

With cooler temperatures in January, Grooms has finally started to see more blooms popping up on his farm — some even producing four blooms per plant. He expects that he’ll see a plethora of berries in mid-February and has a gut feeling that the plants will produce once more after that. The time a bloom appears on a plant through the full growing period of a strawberry is about 25 days. When it’s cold, it could take a few days longer.

Amber Maloney, director of marketing for Wish Farms, holds a runner from a strawberry plant. The excess heat caused many plants to produce long runners instead of berries, which suck up energy.

Once there’s a bloom, it takes about three weeks for the berry to grow until it’s picked.

“We could potentially pick more berries in March, and we hope the demand goes up,” Grooms said. The season typically ends in the middle of March, when California’s crops begin to drive Florida out of the market. “Hopefully this year we can go the entire month of March with better berries and more of them,” Grooms said. Even if the season does have a surge late next month, the demand for strawberries needs to continue on the East Coast. This is because both California and Florida will be in the market at the same time, and Florida will be producing berries later than usual. “A steady supply to control the market is always better,” Simmons said. “I expect California will have berries by the end of March. When it gets too big for them, they start moving east. It’s our quality versus California’s volume.” As Plant City strawberries begin making later appearances in stores, Grooms encourages shoppers to buy American-grown berries. The competition from Mexico, which has about 25,000 acres, can also drive Florida growers out of the market later in the season. “A lady on a budget will buy the cheapest berry there and not care where it’s produced from,” Grooms said. “If buyers on the East Coast begin to buy out of Mexico, it hurts us. We rely on American-buying people.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.

SHOO, FLY, DON’T BOTHER ME It’s not just weather that local growers have to worry about. A variety of pests can be brought onto crops in unusual weather, including fruit flies. Shad Simmons has noticed more than normal on his farm in the past few months. “They cause damage,” Simmons said. “We think it was from the hot weather. There’s more around than normal.”

SUPPLY AND DEMAND Chuck Hollenkamp is a grower relations manager for Wish Farms and has been in the business for over 20 years. He and Amber Maloney, director of marketing for Wish Farms, have seen a significant increase in the price per flat for wholesale berries this season. “Sometimes in March ... it’s less profitable,” Hollenkamp said of Florida berries. This year, prices could be even lower with the potential for Florida and California berries to be in the market with excess supplies at the same time. Earlier in the season, prices were high: $18 to $22 for a flat (wholesale) compared to the normal $12 to $14 for a flat in a typical year.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

IN OTHER NEWS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Florida cities are facing additional legislative action from the state legislature. Currently, the City Commission meeting agenda is set by the state — everything from the welcome and invocation to the meeting’s adjournment. In Tallahassee, a bill is being pushed that would make certain cities hold their elections at the same time as larger elections. “No city or county can set their own elections,” Dicks said. “I don’t want to see Tallahassee telling us what we can and can’t do.” For City Commissioners and local residents, the issue is about more than just the lack of consideration for home rule. If the elections were moved so that they were held in the fall, Plant City’s Commission would have to move from three-year terms to fouryear terms. Furthermore, candidates on the ballot for local city offices would be at the very end of the ballot, listed after the referendums. City Commissioners are concerned that

HOME RULE The individual governance of a region by its own citizens, provided that the citizens and local government obey state and federal laws.

“What we’re seeing a continuance of is Tallahassee taking authority away from local governments and putting authority in Tallahassee.” — Rick Lott, Plant City mayor

their priorities, platforms and goals for the city would fall to the wayside compared to the more prominent, national items on the ballot. “Tallahassee shouldn’t be telling us how long our terms should be,” Lott said. “We’ve been making phone calls ... tonight we wanted to take formal action.” After Dicks spoke, the Commission agreed that immediate action needed to be taken. Because the final 2016 session date for the Florida House and Senate is in mid-March, the Commission decided to send the letter as quickly as possible. “I agree with what John Dicks said,” City Commissioner Billy Keel said. “I think it is a shame what the state legislature is trying to do to us. I’m completely opposed to it.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.

ABRIDGED VERSION Mark Hudson, director of the City of Plant City’s Planning and Zoning Division, presented updates made to Imagine 2040: The Plant City Comprehensive Plan (previously called the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Plant City) for City Commission approval. Updates made to the plan included eliminating redundancies, utilizing user-friendly language and consolidating goals. The updated plan also focuses on priority areas in Plant City, such as County Line Road. The plan was consolidated from 634 pages to 314 pages. The City Commission approved the updates.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

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Commission wants autonomy FRACK IS WHACK C.L. Townsend approached the City Commission at the Feb. 8 meeting about Florida’s position on fracking, the process of using chemically treated water to break open rock formations and release oil and natural gases. A bill that would create regulations around fracking was passed in the Florida House of Representatives but has yet to be voted on in the Senate. Townsend came to the meeting to ask the City Commission to take a stance on fracking. He gave City Commissioners a proposed resolution supporting a statewide ban on fracking. “To my knowledge, Plant City is the lone holdout in Hillsborough County among the city and county bodies about this matter,” Townsend said. “You have an opportunity to speak on behalf of your constituents to help avoid the problems associated with fracking.” City Commissioners decided to do further research before taking a position on fracking. City Attorney Ken Buchman agreed to bring back information from both the Florida House and Senate to the City Commission.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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ity of life by conducting a multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign. They always reached our goals. The Plant City YMCA raised nearly $3 million to replace the old branch. Hillsborough Community College Plant City raised $2.5 million to fund campus growth into the future, and every year the United Way conducted a strong campaign. All that slowed significantly in 2007 and 2008, and most of those new residential developments were never built. We began to lose major businesses like Smithfield and Albertson’s. But the First Baptist Church of Plant City, Unity in the Community and the United Food Bank of Plant City figured out how to raise money in the midst of the longest national recession since the Depression. And city managers David Sollenberger and Greg Horwedel coped with the recession by preparing Midtown and northeast development plans for when the economy turned positive. Late in 2014 Plant City picked itself up by its bootstraps, and good economic successes began to occur again. Our City Commission hired a new city manager, Mike Herr, who brought a strong skill set in economic development. Herr reached out to a former Plant City mayor and commissioner, Randy Larson, who had also served as CEO of a couple of state and national companies. Larson and banker David Sullivan put together a new Plant City Economic Development Corp., and in less than a year our local economy has begun to look more and more like it did in the early 2000s. As the Plant City EDC’s success accelerated, leaders from the city,

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Felix Haynes is a co-owner of the Plant City Times & Observer.

It’s OK to have a failed New Year’s resolution

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the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and the Plant City EDC re-defined the roles of each and laid the groundwork for more future local economic development growth. As of now, the Plant City EDC has recruited 40 dues-paying members, with a goal of 50 by the end of 2016. It just approved a 2016 budget of nearly $400,000 and has hired Jake Austin as its new CEO. Austin brought a strong educational background and several years of experience working in Kentucky, Hillsborough County and Plant City for the Tampa-Hillsborough EDC. Along with nearly 100 other business representatives, city employees, educators and nonprofit workers, I attended the EDC’s second meeting a couple of weeks ago. Most of the meeting was taken up with stimulating presentations from businesses newly-recruited to the community, such as Sparkle Skirts, AgFreeze and Central Florida Development. In an important example of the Plant City EDC’s commitment to focus equally on existing business growth, Sunshine Bank’s decision to keep its base in Plant City was reaffirmed. Herr reported on the city’s streamlined permitting processes, enhanced internet marketing capabilities and expanded water and water treatment services to support new business development. Focusing on the energy in the room generated by the business presentations and the large attendance, I left the meeting with a smile on my face and one thought: seems like old times.

Some New Year’s resolutions get kept, and others get broken. While the uplifting feeling you get from following through on a resolution is motivating, letting a resolution slip away from you is not as negative as it may seem. The act of accomplishing what we want to do while leaving something less desirable for later helps to clarify our priorities. Resolving to have regular contact with a friend may improve the emotional health of both you and the other person. However, if the genuine preference is to do something else with your time, that resolution will get broken. You could berate yourself for giving up on the goal, or you could start finding out what goals you would rather fulfill this year. One definition of a goal is something that you want to accomplish. You may want to walk more, but then the questions of when, where and how far you walk need answering. A goal accompanied by a plan makes an achievable resolution. Sometimes, the necessity of a resolution is made clearer by a compelling set of circumstances. For instance, a doctor’s directive to improve your physical health or face a disabling disease could fortify your resolve to exercise on a more frequent basis. People have thoughts followed

SEND US YOUR NEWS We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Times & Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

by emotions related to what they are thinking. If your thought is that getting up earlier in the morning lets you do more of what you choose to do then this leads to anticipation of the day’s events. This could end the dread at the prospect of the alarm going off in the morning. Bringing a resolution to fruition because you want to do so is much more enjoyable. Starting to ask the question, “What do I want to do?” allows you to pursue goals that come from you as a person. Living on this basis leads to an enhanced appreciation for the better moments in life. Thus, you are able to project positive energy into the world. It also helps to find out if your resolution comes from someone else’s suggestion or from something someone thinks you should do. This serves as a good criterion for discovering whether or not it is coming from a genuine intention you have. If the resolution comes from you then it may be done without obligation to anyone else’s agenda. I know someone who lost complete sight in both eyes from an accident. He made the resolution to live as normal a life as possible despite being unable to see. At some point, he had to make the decision that he wanted to continue working with the help of his seeing eye dog, his friends and his family. This was his answer to the question of what he wanted to do without eyesight. Suited to yourself, a resolution can provide a framework for what you want to accomplish in the coming year. Enjoyment is added if it is one that touches on your true desire to do it. Scott Toler is a licensed mental health counselor living in Plant City. he can be reached at etoler25@tampabay. rr.com.

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer Publisher / Karen Berry, kdberry@inthefieldmagazine.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Sports Editor / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Emily Topper, etopper@PlantCityObserver.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

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

A Love for the History Books Jeff and Delicia Wallnofer enjoy participating in historical re-enactments with their three children — but their history didn’t start out perfect. EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER

s far as love stories go, Jeff and Delicia Wallnofer’s had a rocky start. Now happily married, the Wallnofers first met, albeit virtually, through an AOL chat room for Mason-Dixon Line Civil War reenactors. At that time, Delicia was relatively new to the rule-filled world of re-enacting. “I was still starting to learn how things worked and how things didn’t work,” Delicia said. Occasionally, arguments started in the chat room over proper behavior at re-enactment events: everything ranging from proper clothing to appropriate camping gear. When Jeff inserted himself in chat room spats, Delicia frequently jumped in on the opposing side. “We never got into it,” Delicia said. “I would defend people he started arguments with.” Things didn’t go much better when the Wallnofers met in person for the first time. As part of their chat room’s online group, they individually decided to attend the 135th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, an event that was held in the first week of July in 1998. “The chat room decided because so many people were coming, we’ve got to put faces to screen names,” Delicia said. Though they were part of the same chat room, they both had their own group of friends whom they spent time with at the re-enactment. While watching a pre-battle, one of Delicia’s friends told her about a friend she wanted Delicia to meet who also was at the event. Having just ended a relationship,

Delicia was uninterested in meeting someone new. Her friend, however, was adamant. Hoping to end the conversation once and for all, Delicia gave in and agreed to a meet and greet. Much to Delicia’s dismay, her matchmaking friend had paired her with her online rival: Jeff. After recognizing their screen names and associating it with their predetermined dislike of each other, Jeff and Delicia each offered a quick, gruff ‘hello’ before going their separate ways. “He ignored me,” Delicia said. “Then I spent the next two days complaining about him.” Jeff, who admits that back then he was young and “mouthy,” still defends his initial behavior. “I was shy at the time,” he said. But as the week progressed, relations between the would-be rivals improved. They began attending the same events at Gettysburg, eventually leading Jeff to give his now-wife a second chance. “She seemed like she was nice,” Jeff said. “I started talking to her.” “I guess he figured if everybody else in the room could stand me, I wasn’t that bad,” Delicia added. Once the week-long re-enactment ended, Jeff and Delicia continued to stay in touch. They began messaging each other outside of the chat room and occasionally talked on the phone. By June 1999, Jeff and Delicia were engaged. They began planning a reenactment wedding, which Delicia said turned into a “logistical nightmare.” Throwing their wedding plans to the side, the Wallnofers eloped after spending a weekend together at a re-enactment. “We did it the fun way,” Delicia said. The Wallnofers settled in Plant City. Delicia’s grandparents were in Florida, and she wanted to be around to take care of her family members. Because Jeff is from Baltimore and Delicia is originally from Virginia, the pair eventually hopes to move some-

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The Wallnofers have three children: Paige, Virginia and Carmen. Jeff and Delicia Wallnofer married in 1999 after finding love through Civil War re-enactments.

where in the middle of the two states. The Wallnofers have three children: Paige, Virginia and Carmen. Their oldest daughter, Paige, is a student at Plant City High School, where she is a manager for both the football team and the wrestling team. Between sporting events, the Wallnofers are passing on their love of reenacting to their children. Delicia is the president of Plant City’s chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy, and Paige is the treasurer for the national board of the Children of the Confederacy. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.

“You can’t knock heads. You’ve got to let logic rule over emotion. If you can’t, that’s not going to work.” —Jeff Wallnofer, on the key to a successful marriage

RUNNERS-UP

Paul and Melissa Ranieri baby shower or paint his nursery. “It was definitely testing on our marriage,” Melissa said. Many of their conversations about the future were held late at night, when they were in bed with the lights out. But they were in it together, for better or for worse. They played off each others’ strengths and weaknesses. “We never could do what we did alone,” Melissa said. “We knew we had to go through this together.” Melissa ended up being Evan’s kidney donor. Though he will need another transplant in his lifetime, the couple says they are “on the other side of the hurdle.” The couple’s oldest child, daughter Avery, has food allergies. Melissa has become an advocate for both of her children and frequently shares her story and expresses her gratitude for the pediatric unit at Tampa General Hospital, where Evan was treated. The couple has held multiple fundraisers, and Melissa has spoken at at least six speaking engagements. “She’s a great mother,” Paul said. Their children take top priority, but Paul and Melissa still make time for themselves and their friends when-

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ever possible. They throw familyfriendly parties whenever they get the chance. Though they rarely have a moment for themselves — they’ve only ever been away from their kids overnight once — they enjoy their time spent as a family. In their free time, the couple enjoys visiting with their children, especially going to the Union Station Depot and local antique stores. “We spend 95% of our weekend time together as a family,” Melissa said. The Ranieris consider themselves to be a normal couple, despite what they’ve been through. They enjoy binge-watching Netflix shows on the

couch, especially hit favorites like “Making a Murderer,” “New Girl” and the ultra-relatable “Parenthood.” “We love just opening up a bottle of wine and sitting on the couch,” Melissa said. The couple will be holding an anniversary in the spring to mark their 10-year marriage milestone. They will be renewing their vows. “Because of everything we’ve been through as a family, we want to show appreciation for the friends and family who have supported (us),” Melissa said. “It’s more of us saying thank you to all the people along the way, new and old friends.”

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he last decade has been full of surprises — and some hardships — for couple Paul and Melissa Ranieri. Paul and Melissa met through mutual friends when they were college students. Melissa was a student at the University of South Florida while Paul was attending Florida State University. “We just ended up really hitting it off,” Melissa said. The couple had a long-distance relationship for two years and stayed in frequent contact through phone calls, emails and AOL Instant Messenger. They moved in together after Paul graduated. “I never made it back to my parents’ house,” Paul said. They were married on May 27, 2006. But it hasn’t all been easy for the couple. When Melissa was pregnant with Evan, the couple’s youngest son, they were told that he would need a kidney transplant. “We didn’t know what the outcome was going to be,” Paul said. The couple didn’t have time to prepare because of Evan’s immediate need for surgery. They didn’t have a

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

FRIDAY, FEB. 12

YOUR CALENDAR

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

13TH ANNUAL BLACK HERITAGE BANQUET takes place beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the John R. Trinkle Center, 2206 E. Cherry St. For more information contact Sharon Moody, (813) 453-7134. GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT takes place from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St. Enjoy sales and raffles.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13

13TH ANNUAL BLACK HERITAGE JAZZ FESTIVAL takes place after the Black Heritage Festival around 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. BLACK HERITAGE PARADE takes place beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Lake St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1601 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. HEART OF GOLD GALA takes place beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. The price per ticket is $75. The attire is black tie and fairytale. The evening includes dancing, raffles and more to benefit childhood cancer research. JensensHeartofGold. com/events LUNCHEON FASHION SHOW takes place beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Springhead United Methodist Church, 2305 Sparkman Road. There’s a $10 suggested donation. For tickets and information call Sandra at (352) 467-8520 or selmore1213@yahoo.com. SPRING GARDENING WORKSHOP takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St. Learn how to successfully start your own seedlings and prepare a simple nutrient rich bed for transplanting. A $12 fee includes a seed tray, soil, flower and vegetable seeds and a demonstration of sheet mulch garden bed preparation.

YOUTH SUMMIT takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1601 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

CHRISTIAN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

SUNDAY, FEB. 14

CLASSIC CAR SHOW AT UNCLE MIKE’S takes place the second Saturday of every month at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse and Grill, 106 E. State Road 60. UncleMikesGrill.com or (813) 737-4444.

GOSPEL CONCERT takes place beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 604 W. Ball St. SQUIRE PARSONS GOSPEL CONCERT takes place beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at Harmony Baptist Church, 6008 W. Knights Griffin Road. The concert is free but a love offering will be received. (813) 986-7165.

CORN HOLE TOURNAMENTS takes place beginning at 7:30 p.m. Fridays at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse and Grill, 106 E. State Road 60. UncleMikesGrill.com or (813) 737-4444.

TUESDAY, FEB. 16

CARD PARTY LUNCHEON takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Plant City Woman’s Club, 1110 N. Wheeler St. The doors will open at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $20 per person, payable at the door. There will be door prizes and baskets. Groups play table games. Proceeds will support the club’s scholarship programs and other community projects. EVENING BOOK DISCUSSION takes place from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Share your thoughts on Maya Angelou’s “Mom & Me & Mom,” and pick up a copy of next month’s selection.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON takes place beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave. The lunch is $25. The recipient is a surprise until they are announced at the luncheon.

SATURDAY, FEB. 20

FAMILY ART WORKSHOP takes place beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Free and open to all ages. FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at the John R. Trinkle Center on the Hillborough Community College campus, 2206 E. Cherry St.

COMPUTER CLASSES takes place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. On Feb. 17, the class is on the library’s website and digital resources.

BEST BET LITTLE MISS PLANT CITY REGISTRATION takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at Blue Sun Realty, 1215 W. Reynolds St. Registration is open to girls ages 8 to 10, as of Feb. 1, 2016. Open to eastern Hillsborough County residents only (east of U.S. 301), including Plant City, Thonotosassa, Mango, Wimauma, Brandon, Seffner, Dover, Balm, Valrico, Keysville, Lithia and Durant. Proof of residency (driver’s license) is required at registration. Registration is $50; cash only. RELAY FOR LIFE TEA PARTY takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at First Baptist Church of Plant City, 503 N. Palmer St. Tickets are $10 per seat; $100 per table. Decorate your own table to the theme: holidays. Tea and food will be provided. Proceeds go to the Relay for Life team of your choice. Janice Perkins, (813) 7637976 or Jani.Perk@gmail.com. STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CAR SHOW takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in Historic Downtown, 100 N. Collins St.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13

THE FLORIDA OPRY takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. On stage will be a Patsy Cline tribute by Carolyn Cline and new country artisit Chris Poindexter, along with Master of Ceremonies Randy Scott. Tickets for The Florida Opry are $12 for adults; $5 for students. For information please contact EHHS at (813) 757-9226.

ONGOING

ACOUSTIC HAPPY HOUR takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. BLUES NIGHT takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays, at Top Shelf Bar & Grill, 110 E. Reynolds St. Blues veteran Don Lehman brings sophisticated, contemporary blues, soul, funk and jazz to Historic Downtown. No cover. (813) 704-6994.

COUNTRY-FRIED FRIDAYS takes place from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 E. State Road 60. Ladies drink free and the deejay plays top 40 country hits. UncleMikesGrill.com or (813) 737-4444. ENGLISH CONVERSATION CORNER takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays in January, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. The class is in conjunction with the Hillsborough Literacy Council. For information about the class, please call the Hillsborough Literacy Council at (813) 273-3650. FARM FRESH MARKET takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St. Enjoy local products including produce, honey and arts. GRIEFSHARE takes place beginning at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, starting Jan. 12, at Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Road. (813) 7524622. KARAOKE takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse and Grill, 106 E. State Road 60. UncleMikesGrill.com or (813) 737-4444.

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CALLED TO SERVE. PREPARED TO LEAD. EARLY ENDORSEMENTS BY Randy & Chris Larson Reverend Scott & Rachel Lawry Mike & Brittany Lopez T.J. & Brittany Lopez Tim & Pam Lopez Hon. Rick & Di Lott Jeff Lucas Jo-An Lusk Gail Lyons Dub & Pec McGinnis Mac McGrath Reverend Don Mason Dr. Tricia & Ray McNab David Miller Reverend Maxi Miller, Jr. Carol Moody Jamey & Courtney Moody Sharon Moody Matt & Courtney Murrell Rick & Sandi Norman Tony Norris Robert Norton Corey & Melissa Odom Joshua & Marie Paige Jared & Summer Parker Billy & Marsha Passmore Angel & courtney Paat Helen Parke Brown & Casey Peterson J.R. & Elizabeth Pierce Gary & Tina Pike J.R. Pitts Paul Pritt Pat Pogue Hon. Dan & Shirley Raulerson Jimmie Dan & Karen Robinson Kyle & Rebecca Robinson Bob Roderick Bruce & Marge Rodwell Rhett & Tara Rollyson Rolly & Janet Rollyson Sherry Scheitler Sara Schibler Jim & Leigh Scott Joe & Paula Sedita Carole Moody Shelton Bill & Phyllis Shively Robert & Ashley Showalter Keith & Jane Smith Marion M. Smith Mac & Cookie Smith Adam & Candace Snyder Steve & Aimee Solomon Chris & Angela Sparkman Steve & Terry Sparkman Hon. Mike & Diane Sparkman Jodi Stevens Don Stine Dr. Steve & Teresa Strait David Sullivan Jim & Shari Sun James Surrency Brian Sweat

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

Vera Melba Allen

OBITUARIES

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

Vera Melba Allen, 91, of Plant City, died Jan. 31, 2016. Mrs. Allen attended First Assembly of God Plant City with her family. She is survived by two sons, Dewayne Caraway (Sharon) and Donald Caraway (Lynda); daughter, Eulonda Carnley (James); sister, Myrtle Raffield, of Alabama; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by one son; two grandchildren; one greatgrandchild; three brothers; and three sisters. A funeral service was held Feb. 5, at Wells Memorial Funeral Home & Event Center. Burial followed at Memorial Park Cemetery in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

Jose Manuel Cazares Jose Manuel Cazares, 31, of Plant City, died Feb. 1, 2016. Mr. Cazares is survived by his children; Jose Cazares Jr., Suehaylie Carbajal and Jovian Cazares; parents, Juana Cazares, of Plant City, and Juan Cazares, of Mexico; and siblings, Hector Cazares, Jannet Cazares and David Cazares. A celebration of life was held Feb. 6, at Hopewell Funeral Home. Committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Edna Marcelle DeShong Edna Marcelle DeShong, 90, of Dover, and born in Louisville, Kentucky, died Jan. 27, 2016. Mrs. DeShong was a member of Countryside Baptist Church and formerly First Baptist Church of Dover. She is survived by her sons, Dwayne DeShong (Sandra) and Dana DeShong (Susan), of Valrico; grandchildren, Gregory DeShong (Toni), Angela Mercer (John), Christopher DeShong and Connor DeShong; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dorian DeShong; and three brothers. A celebration of life was held Feb. 1, at Hopewell Funeral Home. Private interment was held at Hopewell

Memorial Gardens in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Elder Everett Hulen Harvill Elder Everett Hulen Harvill, 78, of Plant City, died Jan. 31, 2016. Mr. Harvill was an ordained minister and pastored several primitive Baptist churches in the Plant City area, where he also owned and operated Sunshine Wholesale Nursery. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Loreta “Rita” N. Harvill; children, Linda Volden (Tarrel), Mitch Harvill (Theresa) and Mike Harvill; grandchildren, Brandon, Kindell, Shea, Kevin, Rusty, Taylor and Hunter; five great-grandchildren; and sister, Lois Cercy. A funeral service was held Feb. 4, at Mt. Enon Primitive Baptist Church in Plant City. Committal followed at Mt. Enon Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Waneta I. Hedberg Waneta I. Hedberg, 88, of Plant City, died Feb. 3, 2016. Mrs. Hedberg was a native of Fort Dodge, Indiana. She was the daughter of Harry and Louise Fink Anderson. She was a member of the Salvation Army Church and loved to read, watch television and sew. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, William Hedberg; sons, Hedberg (Cila) and Craig Hedberg (Dot); daughters, LeeAnn Jaquith (Jake) and Barbara Hedberg; brother, Ken Anderson; and nine grandchildren. A memorial service was held Feb. 6, at Salvation Army Church in Lakeland. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Leandro Resendez Leandro Resendez, 58, of Mulberry, died Dec. 30, 2015. Mr. Resendez is survived by his wife of 39 years, Idalia Resendez; children, Leandro Resendez Jr. (Adriana), Isaias Resendez (Pricilla), Amulfo Resendez (Alyssa) and Anita Jose (Gerardo), of Mulberry, Patricia Trevino (Alex), of Wimauma, Vicente Resendez, of Mulberry, Sarai Astudillo (Israel), of Lakeland, Iliana Resendez, of Mulberry, Eli Resendez (Victoria), of Lakeland, and Alejandro Resendez (Belen), of

Mulberry; six grandchildren; and 19 grandchildren. A celebration of life was held Jan. 5, at Faro Divino in Mulberry. Pastors Anacleto and Matilde Sanchez officiated. Committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Walter Riddle Walter Riddle, 83, of Plant City, died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, at his home. A n a t ive o f Clarksville, Texas, Mr. Riddle was the son of Andy and Margaret Elam Riddle. He was a member of Plant City Church of God and a veteran of the United States Navy. He also was the owner of Hometown Realty. He is survived by his wife, Darla Bryant Riddle; children, Wesley Riddle (Ida), Wade Riddle, Steven Riddle and Becky Riddle; and grandson, Aaron Riddle. A funeral service was held Jan. 19, at Plant City Church of God. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Sharolyn Rounds Sharolyn Rounds, 61, of Plant City, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. A native of Plant City, Mrs. Rounds was the daughter of Wilson Smith and Evelyn Simmons. She retired from the Hillsborough County School District, where her last position was working at the Dover Exceptional School. She was an active member of Shiloh Baptist Church, a certified sign language interpreter and was pursuing her master’s degree in biblical studies. She is survived by her parents; beloved husband, Wesley Rounds; son, Simon Wesley Rounds; sister, Theresa Stewart (Robert); brotherin-law, Leroy Short; and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service was held Jan. 26, at Shiloh Baptist Church in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Emma Lou Schuett Emma Lou Schuett, 74, of Plant City, died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, in Lakeland. A native of Chattanooga, Tennes-

see, Mrs. Schuett was the daughter of Dale and Florence Hixson Case. She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church. She is survived by her children, Michael Schuett (Shana), Melissa Schuett-Johnson and Melanie Nunez (Allan); brother, Bill Case (Beverly); and 10 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Milton Schuett. A funeral service was held Jan. 13, at Hope Lutheran Church in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Raymond Andrew Spirnock Raymond Andrew Spirnock, 78, of Plant City, and born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, died Jan. 13, 2016. Mr. Spirnock was a member of the Presbyterian Chapel in the Grove in Lakeland, and on the board of directors for Florida Vegetation Management. He was a veteran of the United States Army and the co-owner of Complete Vegetation Management. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Custead Sprinock; stepson, David Higginbotham (Robin), of Plant City; and many other family members who were loved. A celebration of life was held Jan. 17, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Committal followed at Mt. Enon Cemetery, Plant City. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Enon Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 326, Plant City 33564. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Patricia “Pat” Sprouse Patricia “Pat” Sprouse, 63, of Plant City, died Feb. 4, 2016. Mrs. Sprouse is survived by her sons, Mark Tucker, of Plant City, Kenneth Tucker (fiancee Barbara Bynum), of Seffner, and Phillip Tucker (Katina), of Plant City; father, Charles Hall, of Plant City; grandchildren, Phillip Tucker Jr., of Ft. Stewart, Georgia, Keith Frier (Sandra), of Plant City, Brian Tucker, of Plant City, Kenneth Tucker (Sydney), of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and Kayla Tucker, of Plant City; great-grandchildren, Amanda and Piper; and siblings, Wendell Hall, of Plant City, Robert Hall (Sue), of

Antioch, Shirley Lane, of Mulberry, Marie Ausburn, of Irving, Texas, Joy Hall, of Plant City, and Theresa Stinson (Tommy), of Ft. Lonesome. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Sprouse; mother, Mazzie Hall; and three siblings. A celebration of life was held Feb. 11, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. Committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Grace Elaine (Young) Strand Grace Elaine (Young) Strand, 90, died Jan. 29, 2016, in Lakeland surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Strand was born Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1926, in Warren, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of the late George and Ivah Young. She always held family, friends, faith, church, music and singing closest to her heart. She graduated from Warren High School in 1944 and attended Edinboro State Teacher’s College. After taking care of her beloved family and friends, she was always one to volunteer selflessly in an effort to make life simpler for others. She worked as a librarian and a bank teller, and served as choir director and treasurer for Long Hill United Methodist Church in Trumbull, Connecticut. She was an amazing seamstress and also mastered knitting, calligraphy and other hand crafts. She is survived by her devoted husband of 67 years, Richard A. Strand; daughters, Kathy Pancoast (Richard), of Stratford, Connecticut, and Vickie Duprey (James), of Oro Valley, Arizona; son, Gary (Donna), of Derwood, Maryland; grandchildren, Ryan (Shelly), Sara, Bob (Leanna), Alyssa, Jessica and Robert; and one great-grandchild, Noah. She was preceded in death by her parents; and sisters, Meredith and Gladys. A memorial service will be held in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, in late spring. Memorial donations in her name can be made to the Loving Care Endowment at Florida Presbyterian Homes, 16 Lake Hunter Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803. Online condolences may be offered at WellsMemorial.com.

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FEBRUARY 12, 2016

SPORTS

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

What young athletes can learn from the Super Bowl

Ashley Blessin is a standout on the Lady Raiders pitching mound. Page 17

12 YEARS of takedowns

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

As always, the Super Bowl brings us a bittersweet moment: some of us get to see our favorite players get a ring (or we win a lot of money), but all of us have to deal with losing football for six months. Bummer. This year, the Denver Broncos’ immaculate pass rushing giftwrapped this game for the antiCam Newton crowd. It wasn’t the outcome I had desired, as a Cam fan, but I always appreciate watching a team put on a clinic in some aspect of the game (when the Buffalo Bills aren’t on the receiving end). You know who else put on a clinic? Cam Newton. There are a lot of young football players in Plant City that look up to him, and for the right reasons: he’s great with his fans, he excels at his job and he (almost) always looks like he’s having more fun than anyone. “He’s not just a good player — he’s got good character all around, he gives back to the community and everything,” past Athlete of the Week Cory Cotnoir told me. So, when I say that Cam “put

CUTTING WEIGHT John Haley

Chase, Austin, Hendon, Reagan and Reese Haley are Durant’s “first family” of wrestling.

Members of the Haley family will have wrestled at Durant High School for 12 consecutive years. JUSTIN KLINE

SEE KLINE PAGE 12

SIDELINES

SPORTS EDITOR

here’s a different aura in any gymnasium when a wrestler’s reputation precedes them. Few, if any, in the Plant City area know this better than Daniel “Reese” Haley. The lanky Durant High sophomore is no stranger to his last name drawing extra attention from coaches. It affects his seeding in a meet and even changes the way a matchup is viewed. That’s what happens when a family of five boys makes a name for itself over the years.

Durant reports five signings Unlike many high schools, Durant chooses not to get caught up in the National Signing Day hoopla. But the home of the Cougars did report that five of its athletes recently signed letters of intent to play sports at the collegiate level. Signees: Jacqueline “Mack” Thompson (soccer): University of Central Florida Rebekah Anderson (soccer): University of South Florida

CHASE Justin Kline

Daniel “Reese” Haley is the only brother currently enrolled at Durant High.

It all started with Chase Haley, the oldest of the five boys, in 2008. Initially, he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, John, in football. Chase joined the team as a SEE HALEYS PAGE 12

Spencer Nelson (baseball): Andrew College Jake Sullivan (baseball): Dallas Baptist University Madison Farrell (softball): Florida Atlantic University

Boys tourney wraps up On Feb. 2, Strawberry Crest took a 57-43 quarterfinal loss to eventual runner-up Tampa Bay Tech. That same day, Plant City got revenge on Durant for the Improvement League Classic game with a 73-53 win at 1 Raider Place. The Raiders took Bloomingdale to two overtimes the next day, but ended up taking a heartbreaking 59-58 loss. Bloomingdale ended up winning the tournament, 61-58, over Tech in the Feb. 5 championship game.

One of the hardest parts of wrestling has little to do with what happens on the mat. Cutting weight is an important part of wrestling, as it is for mixed martial arts and any given combat sport. Inability to meet weight class requirements can mess up a match before it even happens, and it could also be dangerous to any grappler facing a big enough mismatch. For high schoolers, such as the Haley boys, one of the easiest ways to cut weight is to skip meals and even drinks, as water weight can also kill a weigh-in before it happens. It can be hard to sit at the family dinner table and stare at an empty plate when the rest of the family is enjoying mother Stephanie Haley’s cooking, but the athletes have been nothing if not committed to the process. “Our food bills go way down during wrestling season,” Stephanie says.

Durant laxers prepare for life without stars Young athletes step up after two of Hillsborough’s best players graduate. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

Andrew Madden’s hunch is that things could be pretty good for his Durant Cougars in 2016. The only head coach in program history would know firsthand: he can be found with a stick in his hands at every practice, participating in drills with the boys and going as hard as they do. If someone’s getting hyped up, then they’ve done more than just pass an eye test. These good vibes are crucial for a Cougars team that, going into its third season, have two huge holes to fill. Losing Robert Seguin and Jordan Jolly to graduation after 2015 is no

small obstacle to cross. Seguin, a blue-chip prospect, wrote the school record books playing in the middle and has taken his talents to Hendrix College. Jolly, a prolific offensive threat, was still productive despite playing his senior season with a hurt shoulder. Now enrolled at Valdosta State University, Jolly has gotten surgery to fix his shoulder and is on the recovery trail. “It’s not gonna be just two new players stepping into those spots — that’s not what I even want,” Madden says. “At the end of the day, I don’t think we were as effective last year as we could have been, just because some of the kids were literally mesmerized by what Jordan and Robert could do.” Even if those two can’t be replaced, Durant could work around it and find success in other ways. SEE LAX PAGE 12

Justin Kline

The Durant boys will have to come together to make 2016 a success.

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AUSTIN AND REAGAN

The fraternal twins, Austin and Reagan, got to Durant after Chase had joined the team. It didn’t take long for both boys to get involved — when they came around to the sport, that is. “We started the summer before our freshman year, in eighth grade,” Reagan says. “(Chase) did it his freshman year, when we were in seventh grade. We really didn’t like it. I know I didn’t like it that much.” That changed when the boys went to Chase’s first tournament, and the twins got hooked on it once they learned how the sport works. “When I really started to learn, and catch on to those things, I was like, ‘This is what I want to do,’” Reagan says. The twins wrestled at the club level, practicing as often as they could. They worked with Millard, who was then running Durant’s club team, after school days. After their first two tournaments at that level, things started clicking for the twins. Reagan spent his freshman year exclusively at the JV level, but Austin got called up to the varsity team near the middle of the season. The boys spent their high school careers avoiding each other’s weight classes to not have to compete against each other and found their own successes. Austin’s stellar junior and senior seasons cemented him as the only two-time Übermensch in Durant history. Reagan set the school record for career pins in his final win as a Cougar, though that record has since been broken. The boys have qualified for states but, unlike Chase, never placed. By the time the twins found success, the youngest Haleys didn’t need any of the convincing that their older brothers did: they were all-in.

REESE AND HENDON

The youngest boys, Reese and Hendon, were the only ones to spend several years training with Millard at the club level before making a high school debut. Since they’ve spent more time developing, and since the older boys had already established a reputation, the high school experience has been, and will continue to be, different. Reese became the first of the Haleys to join the varsity squad without having to spend time at the JV level. He currently wrestles at 126 pounds and is hoping to make an impact at districts. He says he’s adapted his style from all three of his older brothers, taking cues from their strengths: Chase and Austin’s top-position moves and Reagan’s neutral-position skills. When asked about dealing with any pressure that comes from living up to the Haley name, he simply flashes a smile. Hendon, an eighth-grader at Franklin Prep Academy, already is equal in confidence to his brothers. Starting at the youngest age of the bunch, and never wavering from the sport, surely helped in that department. He’s already known for his fearless approach on the mat and, in Millard’s own words, has the potential to be the most successful of the bunch by the time he graduates high school. “He’s the meanest of them all,” Millard says. All told, the Haleys will have had a constant presence in Durant’s gym for 12 years once Hendon’s Cougar career is finished. And, although there may not be any more Haleys in the Durant system for a while, any future family grapplers will have plenty to live up to. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

Cougar boys reload for lax season

Call 813-707-1000 OR EMAIL: RHETT@FEARNOWINS.COM

2016

wide receiver but, being undersized, felt as though football might not have been the right sport for him. “I was 90-something pounds, playing football,” Chase says. “I was just getting pummeled.” A friend turned Chase on to wrestling instead, as he would never have to worry about facing a size mismatch. Adding in the fact that wrestling is a more individual-focused sport — which still allows one to score enough points to benefit a team — was enough to get Chase involved. Working with head coach Drake Millard, Chase felt like he had found his athletic niche on the mat. “It gave me a ton of confidence,” Chase says. “It really helped me out. When I was a freshman, I didn’t play a single snap in an actual (football) game. I wasn’t able to build any confidence because of my size.” Chase wrestled at 119 pounds for much of his freshman year (sometimes fluctuating to 112) for much of his career. He closed out his career at 132 pounds in his final year and ended up being a two-time state qualifier, placing sixth in his senior season. “When I got to varsity, I gained confidence when I started beating people that I knew were good,” Chase says. “I kept pushing, and those results gave me confidence — knowing that I could compete at that level.” Had he been a little younger, Chase could have won an “Übernensch” award, given annually to a Cougar that, in addition to recording at least 40 pins, maintains a good GPA and exhibits solid leadership skills. The family didn’t have to wait long for someone to get one, though.

Rhett Rollyson, President Rolly Rollyson, Sr. Advisor

” Vicki & Kevin Strickler

Haley family builds legacy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Thursday- 3pm Saturday - Noon, Preview 1 Hr. before

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

Many prep athletes play club sports throughout the year to stay in shape for the high school season. This happens in everything from baseball to soccer to lacrosse. But that’s not to say that the club scene mirrors that of any high school experience. Many high school coaches choose to work around the club experience, tailoring programs that allow kids to both utilize what they’ve learned on their travel teams and learn to play in ways they won’t be able to with their clubs. “‘Looser’ is probably the best word to describe (club lacrosse),” Durant head coach Andrew Madden says. “It’s more of a quickpaced, ball-off-the-ground, not a ton of structure, not a ton of slow-down offense, or grinding out a possession. It’s about getting the ball down, finding a good first look, going to the cage and trying to score. “When you get into the spring season, it’s way more defensively oriented. Way more long possessions. You’re searching for the right look, not the first look. I try and push the pace here, in the spring, but not at the detriment of throwing balls away because, ‘Oh, I saw a look, Coach!’ I’m trying to make sure the kids know, you might have seen a look but, if we worked the ball around, we could have gotten a better look. I want the ball to zip around the perimeter of the field fast, find that perfect look and put it in the back of the net.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

The good news is that the number of kids coming into the program with no previous playing experience is getting lower each year, Madden says. This year’s crop of freshmen has plenty of Central Florida club experience, playing for programs such as Tampa Elite, West Florida Lacrosse and Apprentice Athletics. “The biggest part is that they enjoy the game,” Madden says. “They’re young, and they’re gonna make young players’ mistakes but, at the end of the day, they’re out here five days a week, working hard. They’re willing to work their butts off.” Madden says that the team will get the most out of its strong defense, building outward from the goalie position. He raves about sophomore Alex Cordero, who will be the Cougars’ starting netminder this season. “He was honor roll, all-county last year,” Madden says. “He’s gonna be a rock for us.” Of all the players who will be tasked to make up for Seguin and Jolly’s production, midfielder Max Griffith may get the most work. Griffith, a junior, looks to be the centerpiece of the Cougars’ attack. “He’s a great two-way player, as well,” Madden says. “He was hurt last year, couldn’t play at all, so to have him come in and be able to fit, almost, right into that spot is great.” But make no mistake: Madden is not asking Cordero and Griffith to carry the weight of the team on their backs, from Friday night’s season opener. “It’s gonna be everybody working hard, to make up for the offensive transition and the defensive lockdowns,” he says. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

QUICK HITS

NICK ALBANO (sophomore, LSM): “I think we have a pretty solid team, this year. We lost a couple of our starters last year that were really good, but I think we’ll be able to pick up the slack and recover this year. “I think, this year, we do have a really strong attack line. If we just coach them up and get them to start meshing together, I think we’ll have a really strong attack.”

ALEX CORDERO (sophomore, G): “As a goalie, you’re kind of either an all-star out there, or you’re the guy that messes up everything. You have the weight on your shoulders already. But I know what I need to do: I need to stay focused throughout the season, and I think I’ll be fine. “You just practice and stay focused. Goalie is more of a mental game than it is a physical game. You just have to have the right mindset when you go out there.”

Kline’s mind: Super Bowl lesson CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

on a clinic” at the Super Bowl, I’m not talking about his on-field performance. While many of the Panthers’ offensive struggles came from an inconsistent offensive line and bland, ignorant play-calling, Cam was clearly scared of that pass rush and played more like Josh Freeman than an NFL MVP. That post-game press conference, for which Cam has been getting slammed, is the teachable moment I’m talking about. I understand fully well that, even though football is just a game, the Super Bowl is the biggest of them all. Losing it is never fun, and this is especially true when you’re one of the main reasons your team failed. So, the fact that a player sat slumped in his chair, head down, and gave one-word answers before

leaving abruptly is understandable. But when you want to be like Cam — when you want people to see you as a team leader, an icon, the real deal, whatever — you need to learn how to own up to your biggest losses as well as you can after any win. I don’t think he’s figured that out yet. I’m still hoping that I’ll talk to kids around here that cite Cam as a favorite athlete, and even a role model. But I want them all to look upon that press conference and realize that it was out of character for the star quarterback, the NFL MVP, that they’ve been looking up to. I couldn’t believe he wasn’t owning his persona when he had the best possible opportunity to silence the “I hate Cam, he’s fake” crowd. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an athlete get grilled harder in a loss than LeBron James did after the

Miami Heat lost the 2011 NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks in six games. And LeBron — upset as he was — did not back down from any of the hardball questions that were thrown at him. Say what you will about LeBron as a team player, but no one can watch that and deny that he knows exactly how a selfprofessed leader should act when facing the facts. I doubt that very many of Plant City’s athletes will ever get grilled like that. Heck, many of today’s pros won’t ever have to deal with it. But for all of the kids that want to one day get to Cam Newton’s level, it’s better to learn this now than later: you have to own up to your failures as well as you can own up to your successes. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

PlantCityObserver.com

You didn’t really waste any time getting wins since you got here. What’s it been like, with everything working in your first three high school games? It’s been good. At first, I was nervous. It was high school — I didn’t know how I would come in and do. The seniors, and everyone else, definitely helped me. I love the seniors. Everyone’s really nice. What have you learned from the seniors? We have six seniors on the team, and it’s going to be really hard losing them. They’ve encouraged me throughout the way. How did you feel when you first took the mound in your first game? I was nervous. But, after an inning, I definitely calmed down and felt a lot better. I felt more relieved. How long have you been playing softball? I’ve been playing since I was 6

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years old. I started in a machine pitch league. I’ve been pitching since I was about 9. I’m 15 now.

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Do you play any other sports? I used to play basketball, but I got hurt a lot, and I just want to focus on softball now. What made you want to try softball? When I was little, I tried all the sports. I tried cheerleading, gymnastics, basketball, soccer — nothing really worked. Then I tried softball, and I really loved it.

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What’s your favorite sports movie? That’s a hard one. There’s a lot of sports movies. I like “Remember the Titans,” and we just watched “The Natural.” If you could play any sport you’ve never tried before, what would you pick? Water polo. You get $1 billion in the bank. What’s the first thing you buy? A pet. A realistic pet, or a unicorn. I’d buy an alpaca.

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Do you have a picture that speaks to the personality of Plant City? To enter the I Love Plant City photo contest, email that photo and a caption to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com. Winners will have their picture featured and receive a special gift.

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ACROSS 1 Blood partner? 6 ___ tube (television) 10 Bring to a halt 15 Maximum trio? 18 Singer Lenya or Lehmann 19 SeaWorld attraction 20 With no more chips for the pot 21 Longest river 23 “What you don’t know can’t hurt you” 26 “What died?” provocation 27 Sound, as bells 28 Make drinkable, as sea water 29 The Masters city 31 Big item in Hollywood? 33 Type of tide 35 Victory margins at the track 36 Butler’s announcement 43 “Well, lah-di-___” 44 Palindromic Beatle spouse 45 Las Vegas illumination 46 Does a checkout chore 48 Ownership document 52 Cream of society 54 Common greeting 57 Fill to full 59 LaBeouf of films 60 Accessory for Miss Universe 61 In an adventurous manner 64 Large, sweet cherry 66 Be plucky? 68 Astronomical scales 69 Capital on the Danube 70 Bee Gees brothers 72 Chop off, as branches 73 Another common greeting 74 Certain work of art 76 Income’s opposite 78 Separated substances 82 Ends and extremities 83 Creatures with tentacles 85 Ascend 86 Shaving cream additive 87 Channel-changer of yore 89 Vatican VIP 90 ID component 91 Any Sam Cooke tune 93 Wedding VIP 96 Miscellaneous mixture 98 Suffix with “musket” or “ballad” 99 Drain of energy 101 Thought of one seeking payback 105 Frilly shade of Scarlett? 109 Carpet layer’s calculation 110 Floral necklace 111 In a hurry 112 Nonabrasive 115 British noblewoman 119 Kind of starch or pudding 120 Intellectual’s motto 125 Group of three 126 Charley horses, e.g. 127 Grant and Majors 128 Attacks flies 129 Banned pesticide 130 Supplied hoof plates 131 “Giant” author Ferber 132 So far

DOWN 1 Somersault 2 Orchestra alternative 3 Peak of Sicily 4 Hot 5 That woman 6 Radius, but not diameter 7 Tolkien monsters 8 Arctic and Antarctic 9 Property receiver 10 Auto for hire 11 Architectural annex 12 He was thrice the champ 13 Twine fiber 14 Followed as a result 15 “No more!” 16 “There’s a spy in our ___!” 17 Lazy animal 22 Remembered times 24 Be gaga over 25 Night sights 30 Annoying buzzer 32 Unit of 42-Down 34 Pipe type 36 Perform, King James-style 37 Altar acquisition 38 Racket, to a landlord 39 Sioux City’s state

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016

Join Us for a Heart-to-Heart Discussion

February Is American Heart Month Free Ladies Night Out Seminar Matters of the Heart Part of our Ladies Night Out series. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve brought together a team of experts to discuss risk factors and treatment for heart disease, including a board-certified interventional cardiologist. Also, hear about heart-healthy eating options from our registered dietitian, and learn about increasing your heart health through exercise from our rehabilitation manager. Blood pressure checks will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis from 5 to 5:45pm. This event is free and open to women and men.

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