02.19.16 PCTO

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

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You can find us at 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 3, NO. 28

FREE

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

Different lesson plan For those with families that pick in the fields, strawberry flats cost more than $16 — they can cost an academic future. Find out what migrant students go through to graduate. Pages 10-11

INSIDE

Citizen of the Year

See pictures from the Independence Academy Friendship Dance at PlantCityObserver.com.

YOUR TOWN Hurley wins award

Sharon Moody was named the 2016 Citizen of the Year at a Wednesday, Feb. 17, banquet.

EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER

F

or the last 35 years, Sharon Moody has been running from one vol-

unteer gig to another. A Plant City native, Moody attributes her many involvements to giving back to the community where she grew up.

Other community leaders have definitely noticed.

SEE STORY ON PAGE 4

Emily Topper

Sharon Moody, with daughter Latesa Cohen and grandson Denzel Singleton.

The annual Plant City Friends of Scouting Dinner was held Thursday, Feb. 11. Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts and their friends, family and supporters enjoyed dinner and a presentation honoring this year’s 2016 Dean Snyder Soaring Eagle recipient, Steve Hurley.

Vice Mayor Bill Dodson and 2015 Soaring Eagle recipient Al Berry both spoke on Hurley’s behalf before presenting him with the award.

Hurley, who grew up in Lakeland, moved to Plant City in 2008 and opened Stingray Chevrolet shortly thereafter.

He is heavily involved in Unity in the Community. Every year, he and his wife, Susan, donate a vehicle to be raffled off, with all proceeds from the raffle going back to Unity in the Community. To date, Hurley has raised over $750,000 from those vehicle raffles.

SPORTS

Straight shooters: Agencies partner to stop gun violence

“We need to have people help us, because we are at a standstill without them.”

The Gun Bounty Program will seek to curb Tampa Bay-area gun violence through cash rewards.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

Plant City High’s Lady Raiders power up.

PAGE 15

Hillsborough County’s newest plan to end gun-related violence could put a lot of cash in a lot of hands.

The Gun Bounty Program was announced this month. Tipsters can receive $1,000 if the information leads to one arrest on a gun charge and recovery of at least one gun.

On Tuesday, Feb. 9, Hillsborough

County State Attorney Mark Ober hosted a press conference, flanked

by Tampa Bay-area police chiefs, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay representatives to unveil the plan. The Gun Bounty Program is a joint effort between Plant City, Temple Terrace, Tampa, Hillsborough County SherSEE GUN VIOLENCE PAGE 3

— Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober

Justin Kline

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19, 2016

“I felt that this was a family environment, and it’s home. Leaving the Sheriff’s Office and now being able to work back here in my hometown is a blessing.� — TIM LOVETT, ON BEING THE NEW FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL SECURITY MANAGER. READ MORE AT PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

Bloodsuckers

Are you ready to vote?

The deadline to register to vote or change your party for the Presidential Preference Primary has passed, but those who are registered should get prepared.

EARLY VOTING Early Voting in Hillsborough County takes place in 15 locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29, to Sunday, March 13. As long as you’re registered to vote in Hillsborough County, you can vote in any early voting site that is open.

Early Voting Location in Plant City: Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St.

A

fter Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency regarding the Zika virus in seven counties this month, including Hillsborough, state representatives are taking further action. On Monday, Feb. 8, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross co-sponsored H.R. 4400, a bill that wants to add the Zika virus to the list of diseases included in the Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher Program at the FDA. According to the CDC, the Zika virus is a disease mostly transferred through mosquito bites from an infected mosquito. Common symptoms from the

WHAT TO BRING Bring one or two forms of identification with a signature and photograph. n Florida Driver License n Florida ID Card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles n U.S. Passport n Debit or Credit Card n Military ID n Student ID n Retirement Center IDÂ n Neighborhood Association IDÂ n Public Assistance ID

The virus can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby if the mother is infected.

The virus can cause babies to have the birth defect microcephaly, which results in babies having smaller heads and brains than other children of the same age and gender. Florida has expanded the state of emergency regarding the virus to a total of seven counties.

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What is your favorite thing about the Florida Strawberry Festival?

Is it the strawberry shortcakes?

How about the cowboy country singer who makes you swoon?

With less than two weeks to go, we want to know what readers’ favorite part of the festival is.

Take our fun poll at PlantCityObserver.com or PollCaster. com/c/poll/ZgTnTrOTgShOt6VodD05oxO0MtR. We will track to see how readers’ favorites change throughout the festival.

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The Zika virus has been found in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

The virus was first found in Brazil in May 2015.Â

virus, which usually begin between two to seven days from being bitten, include joint pain, fever, rashes and red eyes. Though the World Health Organization has called Zika a public health emergency, most people with the virus typically do not go to the hospital, and the disease rarely results in death. “We do not have the luxury of time, and I strongly urge my colleagues to join this bipartisan effort and encourage the rapid development of a vaccine or treatment for this virus,â€? Ross said. “We need to make sure we do everything we can to make sure we eliminate any roadblocks to the development, testing and ultimate distribution of a vaccine for the Zika virus.â€?Â

IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA Economizer Supermarket HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ZIKA. 21 PEOPLE

2

Motorheads, we have six pairs of tickets to the Carlisle Florida AutoFest Lakeland from Thursday, Feb. 25, to Sunday, Feb. 28, to give away.

To win them, submit a photograph you took of a car — classic, quirky, fast, modern or more.

Email pictures and a brief paragraph about why you would like to attend Florida AutoFest to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

The deadline to enter has been extended to Wednesday, Feb. 25.

For more info on AutoFest: Facebook.com/FallWinterAutoFest.

FOUND

ELECTION DAY Election Day is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15. It is your last chance to vote. You must vote in the polling place assigned to your precinct.Â

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EFFECTS ON PREGNANT WOMEN

VOTE BY MAIL The deadline to request that a ballot be mailed to you is March 9. If your mailing address has changed, please fill out an online address change at VoteHillsborough.org before requesting your vote by mail ballot. After you request a ballot, you can track your ballot on the website and find out when it is sent out and when the voted ballot is received.

RY 2016 –

AT

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

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2

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

3

Stop gun violence CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

iff’s Office and Crime Stoppers.

“I am confident if we save one life, if we prevent one death ... we can make a difference in this regard,” Ober said.

SEE IT, SAY IT, STOP IT

Dr. Scott Goldsmith brought the idea of having RIO at South Florida Baptist Hospital to the table. He sees the addition of the robot as an investment and expects that it will be used in more joint replacement surgeries as time goes on.

Within arm’s reach The Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, RIO, makes hip and knee replacement procedures more precise.

Last year, 70% of homicides in the area were gun-related. “(The statistics) are very disturbing,” Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober said.

“We need to be able to walk in our communities without fear of death or bodily harm.”

Ober hopes that the Gun Bounty Program will not only curb Hillsborough gun violence, but also prevent potential firearm thefts.

STAFF WRITER

D

JUST JOINTS

According to A Nation in Motion, more than 600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States. An additional 300,000 total hip replacements are also performed each year, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

The robotic arm used in South Florida Baptist Hospital’s surgeries reduces discomfort post-surgery because of the precision of adding in surgical implants.

RIO SURGERIES Though the robotic arm is only programmed to assist with MAKOplasty Partial Knee Resurfacing and MAKOplasty Total Hip Replacement procedures, Goldsmith said that RIO will be programmed to also help with other joint replacement surgeries.

Upgrades will continually be made to the robot, just as computers undergo software and hardware updates.

THE DIFFERENCE

In general surgeries, a robot is operated by a console away from the operating table. With RIO and MAKOplasty surgeries, surgeons like Dr. Scott Goldsmith perform surgeries with robotic assistance on the operating table.

HOW IT WORKS

South Florida Baptist Hospital debuted RIO, the Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, in January, but staff had to be trained before the robot was put to use. The goal of RIO isn’t to perform the job of a surgeon, but to be a surgeon’s extra set of eyes, eventually allowing for a patient to have a quicker recovery and less pain post-surgery.

It was Goldsmith’s idea to bring RIO to South Florida Baptist Hospital.

The robot is the only robot for orthopedic surgery in eastern Hillsborough County and all of Polk County.

“I brought it to their attention,” Goldsmith said. “Some of my cohorts were using it. I went to several courses to learn how to use it and felt it would be a great addition to this community.”

The price for obtaining RIO was about $1.1 million dollars, but Goldsmith said it’s a significant investment.

“There’s a degree of variability with humans,” Goldsmith said. “It’s not always exact. With a robotic assist, we know exactly where we’re putting it.”

Prior to surgery, a patient undergoes a CT scan. The scan provides a surgeon with an X-ray, which is then evaluated in great detail.

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

STATS

EMILY TOPPER

r. Scott Goldsmith knows the operating room in South Florida Baptist Hospital like the back of his hand. He’s a prior chief of surgery and current chief of staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital South in Riverview. He specializes in total joint replacement surgery, including surgeries for shoulders, knees, elbows and hips.

This month, Goldsmith performed a total hip replacement surgery. As he worked, he looked up to a screen monitor showing him exactly where he was placing the new implant, as though he had a GPS leading him to the perfect spot.

The pinpointed accuracy is courtesy of RIO, a robot that has been trained to help surgeons make total hip and partial knee replacements as perfect as possible through MAKOplasty surgeries.

“It was exciting,” Goldsmith said.

“The surgery itself is the same as we’ve always done, but the robot assist allows a more precise and immediate feedback as far as where you’re putting the implants.”

The Gun Bounty Program does not seek to buy back guns, but rather reward those who call in anonymous tips that lead to successful arrests — one gun and one arrest ends with $1,000 in someone’s pocket.

“This program is significant for us,” HCSO Col. Donna Lusczynski said.

The bounty program is the first of its kind in Hillsborough County history, though it has been implemented in other cities. St. Petersburg has a similar program in place, as do Miami, Jacksonville and Gainesville.

But what makes Tampa Bay’s program stand out from that pack is the fact that it’s not being funded by donations. According to Crime Stoppers Executive Director Lisa Haber, the program will largely be funded through the Felony Pre-Trial Intervention program, a “sustainable source of funding,” she said, that the program hopes to be expanded upon through corporate investors.

There is currently $45,000 in funds available for the program, donated by TPD, HCSO and Buckhorn. Individuals that participate in the Felony PTI program will pay a $40 fee to benefit the Gun Bounty Program, and Ober believes that this should generate around $35,000 per year for the cause.

None of the funding comes from tax dollars.

Photos by Emily Topper

Surgeons can view the robot’s monitor to help determine exactly where to place an implant.

“This allows us to be specific to every patient’s anatomy,” Goldsmith said.

Goldsmith then conveys to the robot what was discovered in the scan. Specific cuts and images allow the robot to help pinpoint the perfect location for an implant, customized for the benefit of each individual patient.

“This brings pre-operative planning to a whole new level,” Goldsmith said. “At the time of surgery, I tell the computer and the robot the specific anatomic location of what I’m looking at. The robot makes it precise.”

In surgery, Goldsmith can attach devices to the robotic arm, which locks itself into the exact degree needed to put the implant in the right place. Though a surgeon is able to override the robot if need be, the locking mechanism is what helps the positioning of the implant stay in place. Unlike robots for general surgeries, which are operated from a console, RIO is used at the operating table.

“I’d say overall it was a very secure feeling,” Goldsmith said. “It’s a little bit of a different feel. There’s an arm now attached to it that ensures I don’t move my position. There are certain aspects of surgery that you can’t see, certain anatomic landmarks you can’t visualize. The robot is able to do that for you.”

The robot’s precision is especially beneficial during partial knee replacements. Though most surgeons are comfortable replacing the ball of the knee, replacing the cup of a knee is challenging. RIO helps remove the diseased portion of the bone in the knee.

“Anything we can do to narrow our bell curve is ideal,” Goldsmith said.

“The literature has clearly shown that even for doctors who do hundreds of these per year ... the robotic assist is far more accurate than a surgeon alone.”

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.

“I believe this is the beginning of the future, so to speak.

I don’t see this as a passing fad, which is why I wanted to get involved now.”

— Dr. Scott Goldsmith

SUCCESS RATES: KNEE REPLACEMENT Common patient age: Over 52% of knee replacement patients are over the age of 60 Immediate relief: 9 out of 10 patients Satisfaction rate: 95% Replacement lasts 10 years: 90% Replacement lasts 20 or more years: 80%

2015 OFFENSES INVOLVING A FIREARM HCSO 687 offenses 18 homicides TPD 820 offenses 24 homicides

PLANT CITY BREAKDOWN 2015 n Total criminal firearm charges: 68 n Criminal homicide: 2 n Aggravated assault: 40 n Highway robbery: 12 n Residence robbery: 4 n Commercial robbery: 3 n Convenience robbery: 3 n Miscellaneous robbery: 3 n Bank robbery: 1 n Value of stolen firearms: $17,671 n Value of recovered firearms: $2,911 OTHER n Total criminal knife/cutting charges: 22 n Total criminal other dangerous weapon charges: 40 2014 n Total criminal firearm charges: 67 n Aggravated assault: 49 n Highway robbery: 8 n Criminal homicide: 5 n Residence robbery: 2 n Gas Station robbery: 1 n Convenience robbery: 1 n Miscellaneous robbery: 1 n Value of stolen firearms: $13,129 n Value of recovered firearms: $4,419

Source: BoneSmart.org

OTHER n Total criminal knife/cutting charges: 18 n Total criminal other dangerous weapon charges: 48 n To submit an anonymous tip, call 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) or visit CrimeStoppersTB.com.

Smartphone users can also download the P3 Tips mobile app through the Apple App Store or Google Play.

4

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

Moody honored as Citizen of the Year

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This isn’t Moody’s first time in the spotlight. n November 2015 recipient for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Good Egg award n Kiwanis International President Challenge Award n Kiwanis Distinguished Lt. Governor Award n Kiwanis Distinguished President’s Award

Emily Topper

Sharon Moody, 2016 Citizen of the Year, was congratulated by 2015 recipient Dub McGinnes.

dance record. She’s also president and founder of Plant City’s Black Heritage Celebration and a founder and former president of the Plant City Junior League Woman’s Club.

Her dedicated efforts to the Plant City community were in full swing last weekend, when she organized a three-day celebration marking Black History Month. The event was complete with a gospel choir, jazz festival and parade.

Her extensive leadership roles don’t end there. She serves on the boards for Code Enforcement, the Christmas Parade and Unity in the Community.

She attends almost every local event she can, from Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce breakfasts to dinners supporting the Boy Scouts.

She has a passion for helping others, especially children. From 2004 to 2009, Moody served as the director for the Plant City Boys & Girls Club.

She also worked as a teacher’s aide from 1979 to 1981 and was a cheer-

leading coordinator for the Plant City Colts youth football and cheer teams.

Her work with the Plant City Black Heritage Celebration has helped her start a summer reading program for at-risk youth in the community.

Her family, too, is impressed with her volunteer efforts and her desire to give back. Moody raised her children in Plant City, and they were part of the Plant City Colts youth football and cheer teams when Moody was the cheer coordinator.

“I was shocked and excited for her,” Latesa Cohen, Moody’s daughter, said. “I felt she deserved it because she does so much in the community.”

Cohen, along with her husband Renford Cohen and son, Denzel Singleton, were present when Moody was presented with her award.

“I always put myself last,” Moody said. “I’m just overjoyed.”

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

We asked: How is your new year going so far?

AROUND TOWN

PC d

To acknowledge her years of hard work and endless dedication to Plant City, Moody was named the 2016 Citizen of the Year at the award luncheon Wednesday, Feb. 17. The award is given out annually to a Plant City resident who goes above and beyond for the community. Last year’s recipient, W.D. “Dub” McGinnes, presented Moody with her award.

“She creates opportunities for children to succeed,” McGinnes said.

Despite her countless volunteer hours that add up to much more than a full-time job, Moody was stunned when she was named this year’s recipient.

“I’m just so speechless,” Moody said.

As a Kiwanis Club member, Moody frequently helps with the Citizen of the Year event. This year she even worked the registration table. She noticed that over the past month many members took over some of her normal jobs, such as counting votes.

“They kept it a good secret from me,” Moody said.

For anyone who so much as glances at the long list of Moody’s service projects and organizations, it comes as no surprise that she was an obvious choice for Citizen of the Year.

Currently, Moody is the leadership chair for the Kiwanis Club, where she has an eight-year perfect atten-

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

ERIC HORNER GOSPEL CONCERT takes place beginning at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 20, at Cork United Methodist Church, 4815 W. Sam Allen Road. Enjoy gospel and patriotic music. There will be a free dinner after. Donations accepted. RSVP to (813) 704-4873.

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.

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.

TUESDAY, FEB. 23

FRIDAY, FEB. 26

EVERY ‘BUDDY’S’ BEAUTIFUL FASHION SHOW takes place beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Plant City High School auditorium, 1 Raider Place.

The fashion show is a partnership between the school’s cosmetology and special education departments.

SATURDAY, FEB. 27

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CAR SHOW takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in Historic Downtown, 100 N. Collins St.

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 27, at Plant City Airport, 4007 Airport Road. There will be planes, helicopters, model trains, automobiles, K9 demonstrations, free flights for kids, play area, vendors, computer flight simulators and more. Free admission. Parking is $5. For more information, contact the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce at (813) 754-3707.

MONDAY, FEB. 22

ONGOING

PLANT CITY DEMOCRATS MEETING takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. The speaker will be Dr. Lynn Ringenberg, a professor of pediatrics at the USF Medical School in Tampa and the current national president of the Physicians for Social Responsibility.

She will speak on fracking. All are

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.

9

LIVE MUSIC takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100.

MATTERS OF THE HEART takes place from 6 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 23, at South Florida Baptist Hospital’s Community Conference Room, 301 Alexander St. Clinical experts will discuss heart-healthy living. Free. Registration required. (813) 644-6720.

POLITICAL MEETING takes place beginning at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 23, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Concerned about politics? Worried about corporations having the same legal rights as people. Join an exploratory meeting. For more information, call Bob at (813) 4895520.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

LIVE MUSIC takes place beginning at 9 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

welcomed. If you have questions or required additional information, please email plantcityareadems@ gmail.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT takes place beginning at 8 p.m.

Wednesdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

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.

POKER TOURNAMENTS takes place beginning at 7 p.m.

Tuesdays at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse and Grill, 106 E. State Road 60. UncleMikesGrill.com or (813) 737-4444.

BEST BET

SIP AND PAINT takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Mondays at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. Painting supplies are provided. The cost is $40. You must prepay to secure a seat by the Friday prior to class.

(813) 752-9100.

SATURDAY, FEB. 20

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.

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.

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.

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.

COMPUTER CLASSES takes place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. On Feb. 24, the class is an introduction to computers and what to look for when purchasing a computer.

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. Each GriefShare session includes a video seminar and group discussion to help cope with the death of a loved one. (813) 752-4622.

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 DJ plays top 40 country hits. UncleMikesGrill.com or (813) 737-4444.

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.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER CONSULTANT MEETING takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursdays at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St. THE RECOVERY FOR LIFE takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Tuesdays, 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.

TRIVIA takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturdays at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse and Grill, 106 E. State Road 60.

UncleMikesGrill.com or (813) 7374444.

WINE AND CANVAS takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse and Grill, 106 E. State Road 60.

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

Following the Stream EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER

A

s a kid, Jorge Salmeron associated his June birthday with moving.

He grew up working in farm fields alongside his parents and 10 siblings, picking strawberries, squash, cucumbers and blueberries. When the growing season came to an end in Florida, his family would pack up their van and follow the “eastern stream” to Michigan to pick blueberries.

Sometimes Salmeron, the third eldest in his family, knew when the move was coming. Other times his father would show up to get the kids after school, the van already loaded.

“Like the rest of the migrant kids, we would travel,” Salmeron said.

“In my experience, we would travel around April or May and school hadn’t ended yet. Since we didn’t complete the year, we had summer school in Michigan.”

The living conditions were dependent on the crop or the grower and his family often traveled to the next state as soon as possible to get decent housing. It wasn’t a guarantee.

Once the season in Michigan ended, Salmeron and his family would travel back to Florida, where most of his classmates were already well into the school year. He didn’t always attend the same school either. Salmeron estimates that he went to about 12 to 14 different schools from elementary to high school.

“We would come back to school late,” Salmeron said. “That’s still a trend that’s happening with some of the families.”

Salmeron doesn’t travel much on his birthday anymore. He’s settled in the Dover area where he grew up, working as a migrant advocate at Durant High School.

His story is a reality for 42% of the nation’s three million farmworkers.

It is also one that migrant students in his classroom can relate to — and one he tells them that they, too, can overcome.

Every year, migrant students follow the “eastern stream” with their families to pick crops in season — even if it disrupts their education.

Emily Topper

Today, Jorge Salmeron is his own boss in the fields — he grows his own blueberries, onions and peppers. Growing up in Mexico, his parents were rooted in agriculture, where they grew pepper and corn. “I’ve had that agriculture in my blood,” Salmeron said. “I’ve told myself that I’m going to keep myself humble, down to earth.”

BREAKING THE CYCLE

ABOUT MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM (MEP) The United State Department of Education’s MEP-funded services include, but are not limited to, health, nutrition, counseling and social services for migrant families, necessary educational supplies and transportation. The one-time act of providing instructional or informational packets to a child or family does not constitute a support service. California, Florida, Oregon and Texas are states with the highest migrant student populations.

MIGRANT STUDENTS RECEIVING MIGRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM-FUNDED SUPPORT FOR TOTAL 2013-14 PERFORMANCE PERIOD (SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER) COUNSELING GRADE K TO 3 4 TO 5 6 TO 8 9 TO 12 STATES California 7,473 3,956 6,617 12,625 Florida 5,749 2,187 3,000 3,500 Oregon 483 220 388 831 Texas 353 195 1,403 3,085 MATH INSTRUCTION STATES GRADE K TO 3 4 TO 5 6 TO 8 9 TO 12 California 11,203 5,875 7,172 4,775 Florida 456 183 219 189 Oregon 3,444 1,489 1,085 699 Texas 841 571 1,237 615 READING INSTRUCTION STATES GRADE K TO 3 4 TO 5 6 TO 8 9 TO 12 California 11,493 6,408 7,780 6,211 Florida 958 423 409 406 Oregon 3,602 1,532 1,218 882 Texas 889 621 853 314 SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education

FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH LARGEST MIGRANT STUDENT POPULATION (rounded to nearest hundred)

Grade levels completed

some level of higher education

6%

other

5,000

40%

4,000

10th to 12th

17%

MIAMI-DADE: 2,950

ST. LUCIE: 4,200

0

COLLIER: 4,900

1,000

PALM BEACH: 5,500

2,000

first through sixth

28%

3,000

HARD LABOR

Salmeron’s family migrated from Guerrero, Mexico, when he was 7 years old, in search of a better life. He lacked proper documentation until he reached high school. His family maintained that education was important, so Salmeron did his best to stay on top of his schoolwork.

It wasn’t easy. By the time he was 12, Salmeron was working hard enough to maintain a life for himself and three of his family members.

EDUCATION LEVELS OF MIGRANT WORKERS 9%

HILLSBOROUGH: 4,000

Most of Salmeron’s students work in the fields. Some start working in the fields at age 12, the minimum age required for farm work by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. According to Student Action with Farmworkers, migrant students who are 12 and older work between 16 to 18 hours per week in the fields.

Nationwide, the graduation rates aren’t much better. Traveling disrupts students from their schoolwork. When they return to their home base, sometimes as late as October or November, the next school year has already started. In 1994, 60% of migrants students in the United States dropped out of school.

But at Durant High, his alma mater, Salmeron is doing his best to change those statistics. For the last seven years, 90% of migrant students at Durant graduated, with 100% of the students graduating in 2010 and 2014.

“The other eight to nine percent end up getting certificates of completion,” Salmeron said.

The certificate indicates that a student completed high school but did not meet all of the requirements for graduation. For many migrant students, it is low scores on the FCAT Reading Comprehension Test that prevents them from otherwise receiving their diploma. Since many migrant students grow up learning English as a second or even third language, the comprehensive test can be a challenge.

Though it shows that the student did complete high school, many employers view a certificate of completion far differently than a diploma.

As a former migrant worker, Salmeron said its important for him to encourage his students to graduate and pursue a better life. He has that same drive for his students now that he had for his own education when he graduated from Durant in 2000.

“I just knew that I wanted to better myself in life,” he said. “I wanted to be someone in the community to help out. My goal was to go to college.”

Source: U.S. Department of Education

seventh through ninth Source: 2007-09 National Agricultural Workers Survey

GRADUATION RATES 2015 STRAWBERRY CREST: 77% DURANT: 90% PLANT CITY: 86.6%

“Picking strawberries is hard on your back, legs and joints,” Salmeron said. “You’re sore by the end of the day. Sometimes I could feel the icicles in the leaves while I was picking.

My hands were numb for the first few minutes. I still can relate to the kids here in school, to the hours that you spend working in the fields.”

When Salmeron was 14 and starting high school, he returned from a summer in Michigan to Durant. Deciding that he couldn’t move forward with constant setbacks, he asked his parents if he could talk to them after dinner one night.

“I said, ‘All my life, you’ve been telling me education is the most important thing,’” Salmeron said. “‘I would like to travel after school ends and come back when school starts. If you can do that, I promise I’ll work harder in the summers and in the afternoons.

I would like for you all to support me because I want to play soccer.’”

Salmeron added that if his parents didn’t agree to the terms, he had plans of dropping out of school entirely.

His mother agreed immediately.

Salmeron graduated from Durant with a 3.9 GPA and earned scholarships to schools for soccer, cross-country and track. He worked in the fields until the last summer he went to college and then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College with a cross-country scholarship.

Salmeron has paved the way: his brothers and sisters also were able to travel on dates that coincided with the start and end of their school years.

“I did the best that I could to do everything I could,” Salmeron said. “I was kind of preventing my younger siblings from all traveling and moving. The older siblings are the ones that experience the migrant lifestyle.

We do more of the harder labor.”

NO EXCUSES

Now, Salmeron is having that same conversation again — this time, with the parents of his migrant students at Durant.

While many of Salmeron’s students still travel, some are allowed to stay with family members for a short or extended period of time to complete school or they only miss one to two weeks of school when the school year begins.

“I’ve seen it more in the last two to three years,” Salmeron said. “Kids are sent with their family members, especially seniors.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

|

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

UNITED STATES MIGRANT STREAMS EASTERN:

begins in Florida; travels to Ohio, New York, Maine, Michigan MIDWESTERN:

begins in southern Texas; branches to Midwestern states; some go to Washington state or Florida WESTERN:

begins in Southern California; travels up the coast to Washington state or North Dakota

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

When it comes to their education, Salmeron doesn’t accept any excuses from his students. He offers tutoring for students before school, during lunch, after school and on Saturdays.

Students are allowed to use the computers in his classroom to do credit retrieval if they miss school or if they don’t have computers at home that they can use, and he assists with college applications and financial aid. He encourages them to keep their grade point averages high during the school year, that way they will be in good shape if they miss or have to make up a final exam at the end of the school year.

For students who miss too much school, Salmeron offers a multitude of programs, including the High School Equivalency Program, which is available at the University of South Florida for students who are migrant workers or who have parents who are migrant workers.

For other students who fall behind, Salmeron encourages them to enter the Farmworker Jobs and Education Program, which offers free GED classes and free ESOL classes to help students learn English.

“Through life experiences, I’m relating to them,” Salmeron said. “I’m not just saying things. They know that it’s true.”

They know it because they’ve seen it. If they remained focused, Salmeron’s students are aware of what they can become — high school and college graduates, football players, artists, accountants, veterinarians. A migrant advocate, like Salmeron.

Their proof is standing at the front of their classroom.

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com. Amber Jurgensen contributed to this report.

“Picking strawberries is hard on your back, legs and joints. You’re sore by the end of the day. Sometimes I could feel the icicles in the leaves while I was picking.

My hands were numb for the first few minutes. I still can relate to the kids here in school, to the hours that you spend working in the fields.”

— Jorge Salmeron, migrant advocate at Durant High School

MARCO MARTINEZ

JESUS GARCIA

LUIS GALLEGOS

ALICIA SANCHEZ

Durant High, 18, senior Harvests: strawberries, squash, watermelon, blueberries States: Florida, Michigan

Plant City High, 16, sophomore Harvests: strawberries, blueberries States: Florida, Georgia, Michigan

Durant High, 16, junior Harvests: strawberries, blueberries States: Florida, Michigan

Strawberry Crest High, 17, junior Harvests: strawberries, blueberries States: Florida, Michigan

Though he doesn’t work in the fields, both of Luis Gallegos’ parents are migrant workers.

When they travel from state to state, he goes with them.

Gallegos’ family usually moves from Plant City in early April, when they head to Michigan to pick blueberries.

Gallegos continues school in Michigan, but transferring credits can be a challenge. And, often, Florida curriculum and Michigan curriculum are at different places in the school year — or differ entirely.

Gallegos usually returns to Plant City around October or November. Traveling has prevented Gallegos from being able to participate in extracurriculars, such as sports. He frequently doesn’t know when or where he’ll move. In Michigan, he took online classes to make up some of the credits he was missing last year. He hopes that, at some point, he’ll be able to stay in one state and has talked to his parents about staying in one state year-round for his senior year.

“It’s a hard thing to do,” Gallegos said. “Maybe there should be more help on helping migrant workers get a better job. And students, so they’ll get a better job and be able to graduate.”

Gallegos has high hopes for when he graduates next year. He wants to go to college and study something in the entertainment or arts field.

“I’ve been painting and drawing since I could remember,” Gallegos said.

Gallegos has received encouragement from guidance counselor Jorge Salmeron and has considered becoming a migrant advocate or some type of instructor to help others in similar situations.

“I like to motivate people,” he said. “I kind of want to do something like Mr. Salmeron, just show them how to do things.

If I have a better education, I can have a better job. I want to give my family more than I have now.”

Strawberry Crest has the second-highest population of migrant students in Hillsborough County.

Many of the students are like 17-year-old Alicia Sanchez, who helps in the fields with her family on weekends and breaks from school. Once the school year ends, Sanchez and her siblings travel with their parents to Michigan at the end of June, where they pick blueberries until the beginning of September.

Sanchez, who has five siblings, usually misses the first two weeks of school. The migrant program at SCHS helps her stay on track with her education.

“It’s a struggle to catch up to what they’ve already learned and try to get everything in,” Sanchez said.

It takes her two to three weeks to catch up on school work.

“I try to catch up fast,” she said. “I wish my family could just stay in one place. It’s really stressful.”

Sanchez has some stability when she travels. Her family always goes to the same farmer to pick blueberries in Michigan, but they change farms in Plant City.

Her parents weren’t able to get the education that Sanchez has had so far. Her mom finished second grade, and her dad finished first grade. They came to the United States from Oaxaca, Mexico.

“They came for better living conditions and wages,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez, who was born in Tampa, hopes to pursue higher education when she graduates.

She’s involved with Strawberry Crest’s vet assistance program, which she joined as a freshman.

“There’s just a lot of gaps,” Yulliana Novoa, one of Strawberry Crest’s migrant advocates, said.

Educational gaps that form in elementary school later cause students who miss school to have trouble earning the necessary scores on the FCAT and other exams needed to graduate. Having parents who don’t speak the language the student is learning can also create gaps.

Last year, 77% of Strawberry Crest’s migrant seniors graduated. Thirty-one out of the school’s 38 seniors walked, while seven did not because they did not pass some of the necessary tests.

Marco Martinez lights up when he talks about his experience playing football for the Durant Cougars.

It was his dream come true.

Growing up, playing football didn’t seem like it would be an option for Martinez, who played on the offensive line this past year. He started picking strawberries when he was about 12, mostly working during the weekends and on breaks from school. He often stooped and picked for 10 hours or more at a time.

Football was a respite from the labor-intensive work Martinez was used to.

After constantly being recruited by the school’s coaches, Martinez enlisted the help of Jorge Salmeron, who is both his guidance counselor and second cousin, to convince his mother to let him play. The school’s coaches also talked to her.

Instead of traveling to Michigan, where he usually picks blueberries from June to September, Martinez was able to stay at home this past summer and play football. Usually, he would return to school around mid-September, when the football team had already finished training and played a few games.

When he graduates this year, he hopes to attend Hillsborough Community College.

“It’s challenged me to do better in my life,” Martinez said.

“I see how people suffer. That’s the only way of living they’ve got.”

Martinez, the third eldest of seven children, got motivation from his brother. His brother was the first person in the Martinez family to go to college and currently attends the University of South Florida.

Salmeron, too, motivates Martinez. It was Salmeron who told Martinez that if he really wanted to play football, he should go for it.

“I want to be a migrant advocate and help people,” Martinez said. “I see how [Salmeron] helps us. I don’t care where, I want to help people.”

Jesus Garcia started helping his mom in the fields at an early age.

Now a sophomore at Plant City High School, Garcia and his family go to Georgia to pick blueberries as soon as school ends, usually arriving in Georgia on June 10. After a month in Georgia, they head to Michigan, where they pick blueberries until mid-September.

“We usually work every day but Sunday,” Garcia said, noting that picking usually starts at about 7:30 or 8 a.m. “Over there it gets dark at 9:30, so we pick until 7 p.m. or so.”

Garcia misses about the first two weeks of school. He is able to catch up on his course work within two to three weeks.

“Usually math and science are the hardest to catch up on,” he said. “They teach fundamentals and build on them.”

Garcia’s family used to pick blueberries in North Carolina around mid-May before heading to Michigan, but the family altered their travel plans so that the children could finish school for the year. Only missing two weeks of school every year has allowed Garcia to participate in a number of activities at PCHS. He is the treasurer for a service club, Latin Quarters. He also is taking an accounting class and hopes to become an accountant upon graduation from college.

Currently, Garcia has a 4.3 GPA. He hopes to raise it to a 5.0 by the time he graduates from high school. This year, he became dual-enrolled at Hillsborough Community College. He plans to apply to be part of the National Honor Society at PCHS this spring.

“I already have a 4.0, so I just want to go higher, do my best,” Garcia said.

While Garcia is able to catch up on his coursework relatively easily, he’s more perturbed by the mindset he feels that people have about migrant workers.

“They say migrant workers take jobs from people,” Garcia said. “There’s not a single nonmigrant person in the fields.

It’s not like any other class of people. They work really hard for minimum wage.”

Garcia’s migrant advocate at PCHS, Veronica Gutierrez, is impressed by Garcia’s attitude and desire to succeed.

“I know it’s not easy,” Gutierrez said. “I think it takes a lot of discipline and a certain level of maturity. He’s always been very responsible.”

11

12

REAL ESTATE

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

County Line Road home tops January sales DELL OAKS The home at 750 Charlie Taylor Road sold Jan. 12, for $100,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1952, it has five bedrooms, three and one half baths and 3,488 square feet of living area on 1.69 acres. The price per square foot is $28.67.

THE TIMES & OBSERVER STAFF

The home at 7143 S. County Line Road sold Jan. 26, for $345,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,887 square feet of living area on 10.07 acres.

The price per square foot is $182.83.

ALEXANDER WOODS The home at 2107 Grayson Woods Court sold Jan. 15, for $128,000.

Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two and one half bathrooms and 1,789 square feet of living area on 0.13 acres. The price per square foot is $71.55.

COLONIAL VILLAGE The home at 2725 Charleston Drive sold Jan. 22, for $116,500 (REO/ bank owned). Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,324 square feet of living area on 0.35 acres. The price per square foot is $87.99.

APACHE TRACE The home at 702 Burning Arrow Place sold Jan. 4, for $57,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 960 square feet of living area on 1.36 acres. The price per square foot is $59.38.

COUNTRY HILLS The home at 321 Abigail Road sold Jan. 20, for $144,000. Built in 2001, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,448 square feet of living area on 0.18 acres. The price per square foot is $99.45.

BRACEWELL HEIGHTS The home at 1400 N. Gordon St. sold Jan. 25 for $299,500. Built in 1978, it has four bedrooms, three and one half baths and 3,613 square feet of living area on 1 acre. The price per square foot is $82.90.

The home at 4604 Eastwind Drive sold Jan. 29, for $120,000. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,187 square feet of living area on 0.14 acres. The price per square foot is $101.10.

EAGLE GREENS The home at 2627 Eagle Greens Drive sold Jan. 19, for $129,000.

Built in 1999, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,236 square feet of living area on 0.05 acres. The price per square foot is $104.37.

FLETCHER COUNTRY ESTATES The home at 8209 Fletcher Country Estates Drive sold Jan. 7, for $94,500. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,620 square feet of living area on 2.51 acres. The price per square foot is $58.33.

HILLSBOROUGH The home at 702 W. Baker St. sold Jan. 29, for $50,000. Built in 1925, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 840 square feet of living area on 0.25 acres. The price per square foot is $59.52.

The home at 3607 C. A. Bugg Road sold Jan. 28, for $63,400. Built in 1984, it has two bedrooms, two

The home at 5211 Coronet Road sold Jan. 11, for $67,770 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,232 square feet of living area on 1.08 acres. The price per square foot is $55.01.

KENNEDY OAKS The home at 1325 E. Laura St. sold Jan. 29, for $114,900. Built in 1930, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,163 square feet of living area on 0.12 acres. The price per square foot is $53.12.

The home at 307 S. Daniels St. sold Jan. 22, for $71,000. Built in 1967, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 924 square feet of living area on 0.08 acres. The price per square foot is $76.84.

KINGS VILLAGE The home at 1809 Charlow Court sold Jan. 29, for $73,500. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,085 square feet of living area on 0.17 acres. The price per square foot is $67.74.

The home at 1904 N. Franklin St. sold Jan. 15, for $87,000. Built in 1941, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 976 square feet of living area on 0.19 acres. The price per square foot is $89.14.

KNOXVILLE ACRES The home at 3516 Ralston Road sold Jan. 8, for $133,000 (auction/REO).

Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,868 square feet of living area on 1.03 acres. The price per square foot is $71.20.

The home at 2906 Jap Tucker Road sold Jan. 29, for $86,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,568 square feet of living area on one acre. The price per square foot is $54.85.

LITTLE ALAFIA CREEK ESTATES The home at 3624 Alafia Creek St. sold Jan. 27, for $336,600. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, three and one half baths and 3,053 square feet of living area on 1.02 acres. The price per square foot is $110.25.

The home at 804 N. Vermont St. sold Jan. 8, for $120,000. Built in 1988, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,625 square feet of living area on 0.17 acres. The price per square foot is $73.85.

The home at 701 Whitehall St. sold Jan. 13, for $188,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1980, it has two bedrooms, three baths and 2,236 square feet of living area on 1.38 acres. The price per square foot is $84.08.

191245

BURCHWOOD The home at 109 Burchwood Ave. sold Jan. 21, for $49,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1928, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 984 square feet of living area on 0.26 acres. The price per square foot is $49.80.

The home at 4722 Silkrun Court sold Jan. 26, for $135,000. Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,304 square feet of living area on 0.14 acres. The price per square foot is $103.53.

DORENE TERRACE The home at 2204 Allen Drive sold Jan. 28, for $170,000. Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,939 square feet of living area on 0.30 acres. The price per square foot is $87.67.

GORDON OAKS The home at 1211 Gordon Oaks Drive sold Jan. 29, for $138,000. Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,545 square feet of living area on 0.19 acres. The price per square foot is $89.32.

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The home at 7143 S. County Line Road sold for $345,000.

The home at 3224 Magnolia Meadows Drive sold Jan. 28, for $176,500. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,607 square feet of living area on 0.15 acres. The price per square foot is $109.83.

The home at 3402 San Moise Place sold Jan. 28, for $192,490. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,828 square feet of living area on 0.15 acres. The price per square foot is $105.30.

The home at 3422 San Moise Place sold Jan. 18, for $191,000. Built in 2015, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,828 square feet of living area on 0.15 acres. The price per square foot is $104.49.

MAGNOLIA PARK The home at 712 Whitehall St. sold Jan. 15, for $50,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1953, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,592 square feet of living area on 0.36 acres. The price per square foot is $31.41.

MERRIN ACRES The home at 1527 W. Knights Griffin Road sold Jan. 7, for $99,000. Built in 2002, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,976 square feet of living area on 3.14 acres. The price per square foot is $50.10.

MOLL ACRES The home at 5119 Moll Acres Drive sold Jan. 6, for $182,500. Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,278 square feet of living area on 0.46 acres. The price per square foot is $80.11.

OAKVIEW ESTATES The home at 2502 Jim Johnson Road sold Jan. 22, for $27,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1910, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,272 square feet of living area on 0.49 acres. The price per square foot is $21.23.

The home at 2288 Retreat Lane sold Jan. 15, for $76,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,560 square feet of living area on 0.44 acres. The price per square foot is $48.72.

PINEY OAKS ESTATES The home at 1715 Hughes Drive sold Jan. 22, for $139,000. Built in 1975, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,220 square feet of living area on 0.18 acres. The price per square foot is $113.93.

Minimum: $27,000 Maximum: $345,000 Average: $149,292 Median: $133,000

ROBERTS The home at 4211 Three Oaks Road sold Jan. 11, for $80,000. Built in 1956, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,056 square feet of living area on 0.42 acres. The price per square foot is $75.76.

SAVANNAH OAKS The home at 4025 Ca Bugg Road sold Jan. 4, for $165,000. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,411 square feet of living area on 2.43 acres.

The price per square foot is $116.94.

STRAWBERRY VILLAGE The home at 1207 Camarosa Lane sold Jan. 22, for $170,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,452 square feet of living area on 0.19 acres. The price per square foot is $117.08.

SUGAR CREEK The home at 304 Sugar Creek Drive sold Jan. 26, for $96,000. Built in 1992, it has three bedrooms, two and one half baths and 1,260 square feet of living area on 0.18 acres. The price per square foot is $76.19.

SUNSET HEIGHTS The home at 403 Walter Drive sold Jan. 11, for $57,000. Built in 1954, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,183 square feet of living area on 0.17 acres.

The price per square foot is $48.18.

TERRY PARK The home at 1904 E. Carol Drive sold Jan. 27, for $64,000 (short sale).

Built in 1959, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 1,379 square feet of living area on 0.20 acres. The price per square foot is $46.41.

TODD ESTATES The home at 8214 Todd Place sold Jan. 28, for $276,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,095 square feet of living area on 1.01 acres.

The price per square foot is $131.74.

TOMLINSONS ACRES The home at 4907 Pless Road sold Jan. 28, for $72,900 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1940, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,072 square feet of living area on 1.05 acres. The price per square foot is $68.00.

TRAPNELL RIDGE The home at 3413 Grove Blossom Lane sold Jan. 22, for $132,100. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,584 square feet of living area on 0.15 acres. The price per square foot is $83.40.

WALDEN LAKE The home at 1725 Brookstone Way sold Jan. 22, for $243,000. Built in 2000, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,055 square feet of living area on 0.20 acres. The price per square foot is $118.25.

The home at 2401 Clubhouse Drive sold Jan. 15, for $265,000. Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,466 square feet of living area on 0.39 acres. The price per square foot is $107.46.

The home at 108 Seville Court S. sold Jan. 22, for $141,000. Built in 1988, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,329 square feet of living area on 0.06 acres. The price per square foot is $106.09.

The home at 2931 Spring Hammock Drive sold Jan. 29, for $262,500. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,215 square feet of living area on 0.26 acres. The price per square foot is $118.51.

The home at 3014 Sutton Woods Drive sold Jan. 25, for $333,000. Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two and one half baths and 2,693 square feet of living area on 0.31 acres. The price per square foot is $123.65.

The home at 3057 Sutton Woods Drive sold Jan. 25, for $315,000. Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,650 square feet of living area on 0.28 acres. The price per square foot is $118.87.

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The home at 2104 E. Timberlane Drive sold Jan. 15, for $163,900. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,682 square feet of living area on 0.30 acres. The price per square foot is $97.44.

WALDEN POINTE The home at 1815 Via Chianti St. sold Jan. 22, for $212,817. Built in 2015, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,063 square feet of living area on 0.21 acres.

The price per square foot is $103.16.

The home at 2104 Via Cortona St. sold Jan. 29, for $245,000. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,064 square feet of living area on 0.24 acres. The price per square foot is $118.70.

WASHINGTON PARK The home at 803 N. Johnson St. sold Jan. 14, for $54,000. Built in 1940, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 804 square feet of living area on 0.15 acres.

The price per square foot is $67.16.

WILDER OAKS The home at 2805 S. Frontage Road sold Jan. 8, for $81,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1977, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,395 square feet of living area on 0.85 acres. The price per square foot is $58.06.

WHISPERING WOODS The home at 2810 Holly Bluff Court sold Jan. 15, for $190,500. Built in 2013, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,864 square feet of living area on 0.16 acres. The price per square foot is $102.20.

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The home at 2007 Sycamore Lane sold Jan. 28, for $179,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1979, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,530 square feet of living area on 0.21 acres. The price per square foot is $116.99.

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The home at 3001 Pine Club Drive sold Jan. 7, for $295,000. Built in 1991, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,553 square feet of living area on 0.65 acres.

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The home at 4117 Kipling Ave. sold Jan. 15, for $223,000. Built in 1988, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 2,276 square feet of living area on 0.22 acres. The price per square foot is $97.98.

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MAGNOLIA GREEN The home at 3222 Magnolia Garden Drive sold Jan. 22, for $210,000. Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, two and one half baths and 2,854 square feet of living area on 0.18 acres. The price per square foot is $73.58.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

OVEDIA BATES Ovedia Bates, 83, of Plant City, died Feb. 8, 2016, at Community Care Center.

A native of Plant City, Mrs. Bates was the daughter of Jesse and Myra Glisson Graves. She was an assistant manager at Goodwill, attended Mt. Zion Assembly of God Church and enjoyed gardening.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Robert Bates.

She is survived by her children, Billy Ray Bates and Annette Money (Jerry); siblings, Jewel Graves and James Graves; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral service was held Feb. 13, at Haught Funeral Home in Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

ELIZABETH BRIDGET CASEY BAXLEY Elizabeth Bridget Casey Baxley, 50, of Brandon, died Feb. 11, 2016, at Sun City Center Hospice House in Florida. She was the granddaughter of Susie Lincoln Nading.

Mrs. Baxley is survived by her loving husband, Larry; sons, Corey Pierce and Justin Miller; sisters, Diane Hinojosa (David), of Toledo, Ohio, and Julia Ann Huff, of New Carlisle, Ohio; brothers, Shawn (Linda), Patrick (Sandy) and Michael Casey, all of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; parents, John Casey (Gail), of Gibraltar, Michigan; and mother, Julia Casey, of Columbus, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her son, Nathaniel; sister, Theresa Leigh Casey; and brother, Brian David Casey.

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, at Wells Memorial Funeral Home & Event Center, 1903 W. Reynolds St., Plant City. The family will receive friends beginning at 2 p.m.

Memorials may be made to LifePath Hospice in her name.

Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

CARL ANDREW COX Carl Andrew Cox, 46, of Plant City, and formerly of Lake Park, Georgia, died Feb. 7, 2016.

Mr. Cox was a member of Bell Shoals Church of Christ.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa Cox; daughter, Hannah Cox; mother, Dorothy Cox-Carter (Ronald), of Lake Park; brother, Curtis Cox, of Atlanta; parents-in-law, Rodney

and Linda Lariscy, of Plant City; step-siblings, Andy Carter, of Lake Park, and Joy Crosby (Charles), of Tifton; and many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles V. Cox. A celebration of life was held Feb. 12, at Bell Shoals Church of Christ.

Committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

MARY ELIZABETH BLAIR BROWN GIBBS Mary Elizabeth Blair Brown Gibbs, 94, of Plant City, died Feb. 6, 2016.

Mrs. Gibbs was born in Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 17, 1922.

She was the second youngest of Sutton and Myrtle Blair’s nine children.

She loved nothing more than spending time with her family. She was an avid walker, nature lover, birdwatcher and golfer who also enjoyed time at the beach and traveling the world.

She is survived by her daughter, Leslie Doepke (Chuck), of Plant City; son, Lee Brown (Frankie), of Papillion, Nebraska; stepdaughters, Irene Urzendowski, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Linda Beisner (Jack), of Wheaton, Illinois; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lt. Col. Leslie A. Brown Jr. (USAF Ret.), in 1962; second husband, Roy W. Gibbs, in 1995; son, Larry Brown, in 2009; great-granddaughter, Sara Elizabeth Hulme, in 2001; five brothers; and three sisters.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at GracePoint Church, 1107 Charlie Griffin Road, Plant City. Visitation will begin one hour prior. Rev. Scott Lawry and Rev. Don Mason will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be made to LifePath Hospice, the Alzheimer’s Foundation, South Florida Baptist Hospital or Meals on Wheels in her name.

The family would like to thank the staff at Elderberry ALF in Plant City for the loving care their mother received.

Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

TREVA HOLLAND Treva Holland, 95, of Plant City, and born in Sparta, Tennessee, died Feb. 11, 2016.

Mrs. Holland was a member of Oakwood Baptist Church in Plant City. She loved and served her Lord and her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Holland.

She is survived by her children, Ann Wilson (Jack), of Texas, Janie Sue Cole, of Plant City, Carolyn Crowson, of Lakeland, Robby Holland (Mary), of Alabama, Mike Holland (Charlotte), of Plant City, and Ricky Holland, of Plant City; niece, Nancy Watson (Gary), of Plant City; and 80 grandchildren.

A celebration of life was held Feb. 16, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

MELVIN TRAVIS JOHNSON Melvin Travis Johnson, 75, of Plant City/Dover, died Feb. 10, 2016.

A native of Plant City, Mr. Johnson was the son of Henry and Sible Henderson Johnson.

He attended Turkey Creek High School and was a Korean War-era veteran of the United States Army.

He worked for CTL for 20 years and loved to fish, garden and tinker.

He is survived by his daughters, Jenny Maggard (Mike), Sheryl Garrett (Glenn), Denise Herndon (Dwight), Patty Vickery (Richy) and Kelley Borders (Mike); sons, Buddy Daniels (LaDonna) and Tony Johnson; sister, Melba Williams; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Odessa Taylor Daniels Johnson; and siblings, Wayne, Kenny and Billy Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Plant City.

The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be held at Florida National Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

CURTIS KEATON Curtis Keaton, 72, of Plant City, died Jan. 31, 2016.

A native of Plant City, Mr. Keaton was the son of Clarence Keaton and Inez O’Kane. He was a member of

The Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 123. He enjoyed fishing, dancing, the beach and studying the Bible.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Maxwell Keaton; daughter, Debbie Beach (Leslie); and granddaughter, Bayli Beach.

A funeral service was held Feb. 4, at Youmans Praise and Worship Center.

If so desired, contributions may be made to the American Liver Foundation, 39 Broadway Suite 2700, New York, New York 10006.

Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

MARTHA LOETTE MITCHELL Martha Loette Mitchell, 61, of Plant City, died Jan. 28, 2016.

A native of Plant City, Mrs. Mitchell was the daughter of Richard Sr. and Evelyn Thompson Coppedge.

She was a manager of Sparky’s Convenience Stores.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Mitchell.

She is survived by her sons, Carl Mitchell (Yolanda) and Chad Sanchez; brother, Richard Coppedge Jr.; step-brothers, Jim and Rick Boston; and five grandchildren.

A graveside service was held Feb. 12, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

BOBBIE LEE NAVARO MOBLEY Bobbie Lee Navaro Mobley, 82, of Plant City, died Jan. 30, 2016, in Ruskin.

A native of Tampa, Mr. Mobley was the son of Robert and Dottie Durden Mobley. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, worked for Ring Power in Gibsonton and attended First Baptist Imperial Lakes in Lakeland.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mildred Lewis Mobley; sons, Eric Hart and Bobby Hart (Colleen); daughters, Kiki Carter (Van) and Carol Mobley; stepchildren, Ivy Scriben, Toni Goule (Virgil) and Terry Holder (Ricky); 19 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.

The family will be having private services.

Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

JUANITA V. NORMAN Juanita V. Norman, 90, of Plant City, died Feb. 11, 2016, in Lakeland.

Ms. Norman was born in Lakeland

on Oct. 6, 1925, to the late Fred and Inez Green. She lived most of her life in Plant City and was a member of Southside Baptist Church (Church on the Rock.)

She is survived by her children, Barbara Harman, Alan Griffin (Sue), and Lynn Griffin (Allison); siblings, Jackie Webb, Murice Green, Gary Ham and Donald Ham; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Herschel Green, Alton Green and Rusty Ham. A graveside service was held Feb. 17, at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepard Hospice, c/o Chapters Health, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 300 West, Temple Terrace 33637.

Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

ALVA ZEBENDON SWILLEY Alva Zebendon Swilley, 97, died Dec. 23, 2015.

Mrs. Swilley was born in Plant City in 1918.

She graduated from Plant City High School and then from Florida Southern College in 1939.

She married her late husband, Thomas Swilley, and served in the Navy Intelligence De pa r t m e n t i n Norfolk, Virginia.

She received a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University George Peabody Teacher’s College. She retired to Plant City from Miami High School after a 33-year teaching career. She was active in community organizations in Plant City, including First United Methodist Church, the Plant City Woman’s Club, Historical Society and the Photo Archives and History Center.

She is survived by her son, Thomas Swilley, of Portland, Oregon; daughters, Alice Smith, of Lakeland and Elizabeth Wunderlich, of Fredericksburg, Texas; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Estates Auditorium in Lakeland.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, 51 Main St., Enterprise, Florida, 32725.

Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

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OBITUARIES

14

FEBRUARY 19, 2016

SPORTS

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

Sports Plant City could use

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

Last Thursday, I was doing a Q&A interview with one of the Florida Strawberry Festival redcoats that you’ll see in our upcoming 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival Guide. Deep down on my list was an open-ended prompt: “If you could add one thing to the Strawberry Festival that’s not already there, what would it be?”

I started thinking about this question later on, but not in terms of the Strawberry Festival. What sports would I add to the Plant City scene if I could?

Several things came to mind. I couldn’t bring myself to narrow my answer to one specific sport, so I figured I’d float all of my ideas out through my column. Who knows — maybe it’ll inspire someone to start a movement?

I know we already have a little bit of lacrosse in the area, through Durant’s teams, but I’d like to see Plant City and Strawberry Crest get in on this action too. It’s got the appeal for kids that want to play hockey but don’t necessarily have the means to travel and for kids that play soccer but would like to try something a little faster and more physical.

Elijah McColister places second in tournament for Crest. Page 17

Athletes hit football recruiting trail NextLevel Sports Academe is about to start putting young Plant City athletes on the map.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

High school football never stops for underclassmen, and things really start to pick up as camps and combines begin in February. Many Plant City-area athletes are preparing for the offseason blitz with the help of NextLevel Sports Academe.

The program, based out of the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, helps develop football players from Hillsborough and Polk counties in between high school seasons. Coach Gerold Dickens and his four-person staff are currently helping around 40 high school and middle school athletes get better on the football field, get college recruiting attention at training camps and combines and, because there’s more to a roster spot than football skills, prepare to do well

in the classroom.

Of course, the camps and combines are what NextLevel focuses most intently on.

“There’s a lot on that calendar,” Dickens says. “You’ve got the Rivals camps we’ll hit, the Nike opens, the Elite 11, NUC Five-Star, VTOs — we’ll wind up hitting each and every one.

As the kids do real well, we’ll promote them out to be a part of bigger camps, and that’s a way for them to get ranked.”

NextLevel has already hit several camps, in areas such as Tampa, Orlando and Valdosta, Georgia. But it’s the Sunday, Feb. 21, Nike Football Opening Regionals in Orlando — where athletes get their SPARQ scores — that the Florida recruiting scene begins to heat up.

Not all athletes are able to partici-

File photo

Plant City wideout Antoine Thompson is one of NextLevel Sports Academe’s marquee athletes.

pate in the invite-only competition, but several high-profile athletes from the area will get to make their mark.

Representing Durant are wide receiver Brandon Myers, who led the Cougars in 2015 with six receiving touchdowns, and tight end Steven Witchoskey, a multi-sport athlete that caught three touchdown passes and averaged over 15 yards per catch.

Representing Plant City are Antoine Thompson, who excelled in 2015 playing both wideout and defensive back, and linebacker Steven Ogletree, who made 138 total tackles and led the team with nine sacks, two forced fumbles and one blocked punt.

NextLevel does not have any athletes from Strawberry Crest this year — likely because the Chargers recently hired a new head coach.

The team also participates in 7-on7 exhibitions with teams from around the state. The middle-schoolers will

STARTING HOT

The Lady Raiders have started the season 4-1, averaging 14 runs per game.

SIDELINES

SEE KLINE PAGE 17

Grapplers place at county The weekend of Feb. 12 to 13 saw varsity wrestlers from Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools place in the 2016 Hillsborough County Championships. The championships were held at Wharton High School.

Placers by weight class 106: Lane Keck (SCHS), fifth; Pedro Gregorio (DHS), eighth (tie) 113: Chase Zimmerman (SCHS), eighth (tie); Jacob Spray (PCHS), eighth (tie) 120: Elijah McColister (SCHS), second 126: Cullen Telfer (SCHS), second; Reese Haley (DHS), third; Grant Rhodes (PCHS), fifth 132: Chas Waller (SCHS), fifth 145: Na’Gee Rivera (DHS), fifth 152: Harry Combs (SCHS), sixth 160: Nathan Molle-Clark (DHS), fourth; Anthony Malpeli (PCHS), fifth; Chad Grassel (SCHS), eighth (tie) 182: Jashley Ulcena (DHS), third 195: Cody Johns (DHS), fourth; Andrew Burbridge (SCHS), eighth (tie) 220: Andrew Hampton (DHS), third; Donnie Tice (PCHS), fourth

Former Athlete of the Week Edmilly Molina moved from catcher to third base against Hillsborough.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

N

ow is a good time to be a Lady Raider.

The reigning district champs won four of their first five regular-season games, and they’ve done it with the hottest bats in the Plant City area.

Averaging 14 runs per contest, they’d outscored opponents 60-1 — including two shutout wins — before the Wednesday, Feb. 17, home game against Plant High. Going back to the team’s two preseason contests, both wins, it scored 87 runs in about four weeks.

As many expected before the season, junior Edmilly Molina is leading the way at the plate. Molina has been the only Lady Raider with at least 10 at-bats hitting above .500. Her .526 average, along with her 10 hits, 12 RBI and three doubles, are all teamleading marks.

With the exception of sophomore Rebekah Schulte, the senior and junior classes have been responsible for most of the team’s offense. Senior Allison Watson, batting .450, is not far behind Molina in hits (nine) and runs scored (eight); senior Rebecca Sorenson and junior Tori Garrison are each batting .375, and senior Morgan Slater, batting .357, leads the team with 11 runs scored.

Schulte, batting .421, is doing her part with eight runs scored, six RBI, one of Plant City’s three home runs and a team-leading two triples. Fellow sophomore Alexis Moore is also making the most of her plate appearances, hitting .429 in seven at-bats.

Photos by Justin Kline

The entire PCHS bench congratulated Rebekah Schulte following a home run.

Before the season began, it was speculated that senior Alexis Williams would take over Noelle Dietrich’s workload. While Williams has seen some action this season, freshman Ashley Blessin seems to have pitched her way into the ace role.

Blessin, last week’s Athlete of the Week, won four of her five starts (preseason included) and, while striking out 39 batters, has held opponents to an 0.92 batting average. She currently has a 2.33 ERA, and has given up four home runs, but has shown the potential to become the Lady Raiders’ rock for the next few years.

The only knock against the Lady Raiders comes from their 5-3 loss at Durant Feb. 12. After holding a 1-0 lead for most of the game, a late

meltdown allowed the Lady Cougars to score five runs in the final two innings — including a four-run seventh. Blessin, who pitched a complete game, took the loss, finishing with 11 batters struck out and all five earned runs.

Durant’s Bayli Johns was the hero of the day, driving in three RBI in four at-bats and scoring two runs.

Plant City will look to rebound, now that it’s entered a stretch of four 8A-6 matchups in the next five games. That includes a March 1 rematch with the Lady Cougars, which appears to be a must-watch game for fans of both squads.

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

SEE NEXT LEVEL PAGE 16

AROUND THE AREA The Durant Lady Cougars were the only undefeated team in the area, before heading into the Wednesday, Feb. 15, game at Riverview.

They got off to a 3-0 start with wins over Wharton, Spoto and Plant City, though it was only their 18-0 domination of the Lady Spartans that came easy.

Wharton took Durant to eight innings before losing, 10-8, thanks in part to a strong performance by junior Traile Robbins (3-for-3, four runs, three RBI, HR). And they needed a seventhinning rally to beat Plant City Friday, Feb. 12.

Perhaps the best news for the team is that junior Sloan Hammons seems to have gotten her freshman groove back. Hammons owns all three of the team’s wins and also boasts a 0.92 ERA — just one earned run allowed in 11 innings of work.

The Strawberry Crest Lady Chargers haven’t been so lucky, losing their first three games before finally getting a 16-1 win over Middleton Feb. 12.

Two of Crest’s losses have come in extra innings: Bloomingdale and Freedom both took their games to eight frames, winning each by one run. And Chamberlain thrashed Crest, 16-8, in Dover, between those two extended games.

About half of Crest’s hitters got off to a hot start, batting in the .400-.500 range. But the other half had been ice cold, at a combined .066. Pitching has kept Crest in most of its games, but the Lady Chargers are certainly looking to improve their run support while they still can.

3

16

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

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This week’s Crossword answers

Regular exercise has become your mode. Maybe you’re enjoying your favorite class three times a week or you’re killing it at the gym on a daily basis. Then you feel a cold coming on, but you hate to miss a day.

What do you do?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 425 million cold and flu cases annually, and the average person suffers three respiratory infections each year. Common cold and flu symptoms can derail many of us right when our enthusiasm for those New Year’s resolutions begins to fade.

If that’s the case, you should consider the following.

Symptoms: runny nose, dry cough or sneezing Light to moderate exercise may actually make you feel better. A

NextLevel Academe begins busy offseason

WR No. 14, Durant (JR) 2015 stats: 9 GP, 24 rec., 280 yds., 6 TD (led team)

RB No. 28, Durant (SO) 2015 stats: 5 GP, 20 car., 160 yds.

(8.0 YPC), 2 TD

On the upcoming 2016 season: “I’m excited for the opportunity that’s given to me, that coach (Greg) Meyer believes in me. That I can be one of the greats to come out of Plant City.”

On his new role: “It was good getting experience.

The year before, I was behind Garrett Rentz, so it was good to be the big-play receiver, to be reliable and make plays for the team.”

On playing varsity as a freshman: “The first couple of games, I was nervous to get out there. I was a freshman, and they don’t really know me — I might get picked on.

As games went on, I just started getting used to it, getting a feel for the defense, getting used to the tempo.”

On Durant becoming more pass friendly: “I think it will keep going. Our line’s getting better, Carlton’s getting better. We practice a lot after workouts, and we’re developing more.”

On the highlight of 2015: “Our game against Newsome, when Brandon caught a 30-yard touchdown pass. We were down in the fourth quarter, and Peyton Ledbetter got a field goal to win the game.”

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On his goals for 2016: “My goal is to get my name out there and to get college coaches to look at me, come to my games and check me out. I want to be seen as a top receiver in the area.”

On his football strengths: “I’m reliable. I can go downfield and, if you throw the ball, I’ll go up and get it. I can make yardage after the catch, and I get the best out of everything.”

*While supplies last

197578

10:00AM - 3:00PM At First Presbyterian Church 175 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. Lakeland

be in action from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Marshall Middle School field.

Contact Justin Kline at jkline @plantcityobserver.com.

BRANDON MYERS

LB No. 55, Plant City (FR) 2015 stats: 7 GP, 21 tackles (11 solo), 1 fum. rec, 1 PD

Attend Seminars and learn...

Saturday, February 20,2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ASHTON MINCEY

Come Meet the Exhibitors and Explore the Latest Hearing Technology Advancements!

Presented by

JENNIFER E. CLOSSHEY, PH.D., IS A DOCTOR OF INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC HEALTH BASED OUT OF PLANT CITY. SHE TEACHES RESTORATIVE YOGA CLASSES AT THE PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA ON THURSDAYS.

NextLevel Sports Academe coach Gerold Dickens says that these three local athletes could impress a lot of people in offseason camps and the 2016 high school season.

On his football strengths: “My power and my ability to recognize where the ball is going to go — where the play is going to go.”

EXPO

On the rebound Colds typically last a week to 10 days, and recovery from the flu can take longer: up to three weeks. So, don’t go back to 100% the first week: start at 50 to 75% of your normal workout and increase gradually.

Going back too soon and too hard can prolong the recovery phase.

A final note: common cold and flu viruses stay on door handles, computer keyboards and cell phones for hours. Touching these objects and then your mouth or nose is the primary route to infection. Wash your hands and objects in your surroundings frequently.

Most gyms increase their cleaning schedules during cold and flu season.

But don’t rely on a gym staff’s cleaning for peace of mind: clean what you plan to touch. Professional gyms, like the Plant City Family YMCA, provide cleaning supplies.

RISING STARS

On the game when everything clicked: “It was against Freedom. I got a lot of playing time and got to see how the defense really runs.”

2016

Symptoms: below the neck If you’re experience the symptoms such as chest congestion, upset stomach, muscle aches, coughing and wheezing, then it’s best to go to the doctor. If you are sick, then he or she might advise you not to go to the gym, as you’ll be contagious for the first five to seven days of a sickness.

Dr. Steve Smith, of Plant City, says that getting plenty of rest, along with extra sleep and fluids will most likely be prescribed to allow your immune system to recover.

“If you have a virus with fever and pain, the best treatment is bed rest,” Smith says. “It is too hard on the body to sweat it out with exercise.”

Under no circumstances should you exercise if a fever is present.

Body heat rises during exercise to increase metabolism and, if body temperature is high to start, the body’s temperature regulation is already out of balance.

If you’re taking over-the-counter cold and flu medications, remember

that some cold formulas increase heart rate. A combination of exercise and decongestants can cause the heart to pump very hard, which can be dangerous and lead to shortness of breath and other breathing troubles.

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On his football strengths: “I know I have speed, I can make people miss and open up space. I know I need to work on my vision and holding onto the ball.”

On his pitch to college scouts: “I’m a hard worker. I’m coachable, I have a good attitude and I can do whatever you want me to do.”

On making a big leap: “As a sophomore, I was nervous playing on varsity. As a freshman, I didn’t start on JV. Getting experience on the varsity team will help me in the long run.”

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

Wrestling at 120 pounds, Strawberry Crest’s Elijah McColister placed second overall at the Hillsborough County Championships. McColister, a senior captain, says that he wants nothing more than to make a run at states with his last chance as a high schooler.

You’ve got to be feeling pretty good about the county championships, huh?

Yeah. I wish I could have taken first, but I’ve definitely come a long way from taking seventh last year. Going all the way up to second, it’s a pretty big success for me.

What was the difference this year, the thing that helped you make that jump?

Definitely my intensity. Going as hard as I can in practice to build myself up for the people I have to wrestle. My biggest competition, like Lennard and Brandon — I beat them because of my endurance and the way I practiced.

What did you start doing differently to build your endurance?

Last year, I didn’t wrestle as much.

This year, I began to wrestle a lot with Cullen Telfer. We became daily practice partners, and I feel like he had a little bit of an influence on how I wrestle. I began to mimic his movements. He’s the biggest competition in the gym, other than coach (C.J. Gittens).

I take it you’re feeling pretty good about your season thus far, especially with your improvement at counties?

Yeah. I’m hoping that I can win districts against Lakeland — Gage Hollingsworth is going to be my biggest competition, probably — and, hopefully go to states this year and place.

How did you first get into wrestling?

My brother was actually a wrestler here. He started when he was a sophomore. I used to play the normal sports, and most of my life was baseball, up until high school. My brother brought me in when I was in seventh grade. I didn’t really like it at first … When I was a freshman in high school, and he was a senior, I came out. As time went on, I began to realize it’s a really challenging sport. That’s what I was looking for — a challenge.

What changed your mind and made the sport click for you?

At the end of my sophomore year, I wasn’t able to wrestle in districts because I couldn’t make weight.

Knowing I had a chance to go to states, it really affected me. I knew I needed to put a lot more work in. I still wasn’t that into it last year, but I felt as though I had a job to do for my team. I made it to regionals last year … I realized I’m going to be a senior this year, and it’s going to be my last shot to win. That really hit hard for me.

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How are you doing in the classroom?

Pretty good. I’m taking four AP classes and a regular JROTC class. I have a 5.2 weighted, 3.0 unweighted GPA.

What’s your favorite historical period?

Probably post-World War II America, up until Vietnam. That’s when America was greatest, and there was very little conflict. America was doing great, helping rebuild the world and stuff.

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How do you like your odds?

I’ve got some competition but I think that, with the backing of my team and my family, I can achieve what I’ve wanted to do since I was a freshman.

What’s your favorite subject?

I’d say history. Ever since I was in middle school, I always loved to learn about the battles. My favorite subject was AP U.S. History, which I took last year. It was the funnest class I’ve ever taken in high school.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

197362

Elijah McColister

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Any college plans?

I’m applying for the NROTC scholarship at USF. What are you planning to major in?

I’m looking to do criminology.

After I join the military, I’m probably going to come out and do law enforcement, or something like that. I’m looking at the Navy and the Marines. I have two brothers in the Navy, so I feel obligated — since they serve our country, so should I. Who’s your favorite athlete?

Jordan Burroughs. He’s won so many Olympic gold medals. It’s pretty crazy to see this guy that’s only in his mid-thirties, yet he’s been on top for so long. I just want to know his secret — how he does it.

— JUSTIN KLINE

Wanted sports CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

It’s also an FHSAA sport (although Durant’s teams are governed by HALAX), so it shouldn’t be particularly difficult to install in local schools.

Water polo is another FHSAA sport I’d love to see. It’s big on the east coast — several of my college buddies from West Palm Beach played in high school — and there are resources to host games around here. It’s a surprisingly rough, physical sport and, as such, I’d love the opportunity to go to a pool and take some action photos.

This one’s probably a huge stretch, but here we go: roller hockey. It wouldn’t be as easy to implement as lacrosse and water polo, which simply need the football fields and pools that we already have, because these rinks are bigger than two basketball courts put together. But it’s much easier to maintain a roller rink than an ice

rink, and it’s possible to practice and play roller hockey year-round.

The community I lived in while at Florida Gulf Coast University, San Carlos Park, had a concrete roller rink tucked away pretty much in the heart of the area, and playing out there in the spring and summer was always fun.

Not to mention, one of the highlights of watching ESPN in the 1990s was when the network would show off-the-wall sports, which included “pro beach hockey.” These rinks were built at, well, beaches, and each end had an incline to increase speed. It was very much a product of the ‘90s, but watching clips online make me wish it had stuck around.

I doubt we’ll ever see all of these things come to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World but, hey, can’t a columnist dream?

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

W EAT HER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST Todd Germick and his wife, Lisa, moved to Plant City in July.

“Love the small town feel,” Todd says. “Love the statues around town so we headed out on a Sunday afternoon and spent time with them.

“Not knowing she was a statue, I actually stopped one morning going to work to give the ‘knitting lady’ (in a downtown park) some homemade Christmas cookies. Imagine my surprise when I walked up on her and saw she was a statue! Glad nobody saw me! Love the paper!”

Todd wins a Grimes Hardware Strawberry Town Cafe gift card. He can claim the card with an ID at Strawberry Town Cafe, 3161 Paul Buchman Highway.

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.

FRIDAY, FEB. 19 High: 75 Low: 51 Chance of rain: 0%

SATURDAY, FEB. 20 High: 77 Low: 53 Chance of rain: 0%

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Shipping point: Orlando $20.90 to $24.90

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Courtesy of the United States

YEAR TO DATE:

FEB. TO DATE:

2016 6.02 in.

2016

2015 0.90 in.

2015 0.35 in.

2.51 in.

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ACROSS 1 Eats greedily (with “down”) 7 Gets possession of 14 It rolls on a rollaway 20 Corrida celebrity 21 Nightgown material 22 Woolly beast 23 Together, as a married couple 24 Lake Ontario city 25 Big hammer 26 Big name in tractors 27 Mortise companion 28 Characteristic of a prophet 30 Spot on a schedule 31 Runs out 32 Loon kin 34 Charged particles 38 Fancy flapjacks 40 It takes off a lot 41 Food-wrap brand 42 Losing lawyer, sometimes 45 Apprehensive before a game 46 “King of the Hill” beer 47 Pancake cooking surface 48 Illogical fear 49 Water mover on a house 50 Hindu queens (var.)

51 Deprived of a rind 52 Neatest possible 53 Former capital of Japan 54 Actor Richard of “The Godfather” 55 Show to be false 56 Forever, so to speak 58 Road material, sometimes 59 Took in solid food 61 Echidna’s snack 62 Picket line pariah 66 Lift mechanically 68 Declares to be true 70 Metal-in-the-raw 71 Corrupt morally 74 Devices used on apples 76 Taxi signaler 79 Emulates an active volcano 80 Economizing 81 Legendary soul singer Otis 82 Kind of tube or ear 83 Breathing stoppages while sleeping 84 Turns into wine 85 Move like a crab 86xNot fit to be an NBA center 87 Deceptively coax 88 Dispense (with “out”) 89 Piece of music?

90 “A ___ formality” 91 Goblet support 94 Half man, half goat 96 Swiss canton 97 Grain-storage sites 99 Down Under dweller 102 Slanted letters 105 Rogue or scoundrel 106 Tristan’s companion 107 Macaroon flavoring 108 Sci-fi blockbuster of 2009 109 Courtroom figure 110 Small sofas 111 Yield, as to pressure

Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a former First Son or Daughter Using the hints E=O and G=L, decipher the clues to name the son or daughter.

1. F K X E K L A K R S E K Q G 2. J E G S E 3. H Q U V S E K 4. W F G G Y E E U A 5. T A J F W G S X Q K

This child was born on February 12, 1884, the oldest of six:

SUDOKU

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

Feb 18 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.49)

3 9 2

2 1

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CROSSWORD CAKE FACTORY by Lewis Harper

CRYPTOQUIZ

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6 2

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©2015 Universal Uclick

DOWN 1 Wall board 2 Ice cream holders 3 The Little Mermaid’s name 4 Go back 5 International business mantra 6 Cover with turf 7 With greater frequency 8 Fair-haired ones 9 Roots used in poi 10 Unknown writer (Abbr.)

11 Lodge 12 Butterfly catcher’s need 13 Nation once part of Yugoslavia 14 Hindu social group 15 “___ want for Christmas ...”

16 Neurology, cardiology, etc.

17 Small child 18 Ticker tape? (Abbr.)

19 “Norma ___” (Sally Field film) 27 Hide-bound home 29 All tucked in 32 English church land 33 Lightning-quick 35 Speak pompously 36 What Rudolph used to be called

37 Sound like a bull 39 Wings on buildings 40 Industrial workers, as a group 41 Mecca native 42 See eye to eye 43 Madrid museum 44 Attach, as a corsage 45 Fraternity letter 48 Popular White House souvenir 49 A lily’s cover?

51 Rich wine 52 They split a 20 54 Bills and coins 55 Gold units 57 In a formless manner 58 Nervous twitches 60 ___ the score (gets revenge) 63 General Powell 64 “___ you ashamed?”

65 Arctic sightings 67 Bizarre 69 Small bit of work 71 Reason-based faith 72 “Sesame Street” regular 73 Ring-shaped cake 74 Camper carrier 75 Quite obvious

76 Roll-call word 77 Receptive or open 78 Like clones 80 Branch of geometry 81 Rebuff 83 Like volcanic fallout 84 Woodlands 87 Throw a lifeline to 89 Have the helm 90 Stephen King’s home state 92 Put on cloud nine 93 Notorious Bugs 95 Campaign worker 96 Inky mess 98 Divide into piles 99 Be off one’s feet 100 “Made in the ___” 101 Barnyard female 103 Podiatrist’s concern 104 Play a role 105 Golf scoring standard

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2016

~ Melissa P., a patient of South Florida Baptist Hospital

The Care You Need, When You Need It. When Melissa had a real emergency, she needed a real ER. That’s exactly what she got at

Our Specialties:

South Florida Baptist Hospital. A member of the community since 1953, South Florida

n ER: Efficient medical treatment for minor or major emergencies and illnesses

Baptist Hospital was built on quality, compassionate care. You’ll find a highly skilled and experienced team that works to make patients and visitors as comfortable as possible during their hospital experience. When you’re treated at South Florida Baptist Hospital, you’ll feel at home, close to home — all your health care needs are covered, without ever leaving Plant City. Learn more: PlantCityER.org

n Surgery: Large operating rooms, high-tech equipment and spacious recovery rooms create a pleasant environment for patients n Heart: State-of-the-art heart and vascular center offering cardiac diagnostic services and procedures

Choose South Florida Baptist Hospital.

To find out more: 1-800-BayCare BC1509003-1215

194568

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