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SPORTS
CONTEST
Plant City’s NRG needs a lift to NYC.
Area athletes excel on fields, in classrooms.
See inside for this week’s photo contest winner.
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graduation 2013
OUR TOWN
by Michael Eng | Managing Editor
by Michael Eng | Managing Editor
Michael Eng
Private investigator Brad Sparkman and Mel Ardelean
+ Woman’s Club awards scholarships The Plant City Woman’s Club awarded three $1,000 scholarships to students at Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools May 14, at its annual spring social and scholarship awards luncheon. This year’s recipients include Kelsey Newsome (Durant), Hannah Cowart (Plant City) and Zora Millerleile (Strawberry Crest). Plant City High rising senior Kellyanne Hurst, last year’s Hugh O’Brien Leadership Award recipient, also spoke at the luncheon.
The graduates filed into the center of the building in two long lines. Left: Jamell Garrett with cousin B.J. Johnson, 5
COUGAR PRIDE The graduates, including Jerri Rowell, enjoyed receiving their diplomas in front of a packed house.
+ Duffy takes reins at SUNY Adirondack Dr. Kristine Duffy, of Syracuse, N.Y., recently was named president of State University of New York Adirondack, in Glens Falls, N.Y. She is the daughter of Jan L. and Amity W. Kokochak, of Plant City. The Kokochaks have lived in Plant City for about four years, after moving from Vestal, N.Y. Amity is a member of the Plant City Noon Rotary Club and a mentor at Plant City High School. Jan is a member of Plant City Daybreak Rotary, Plant City Elks Lodge 1727 and Lone Palm Country Club, in Lakeland. Jan is president and CEO of World Radio Inc. and a partner in its subsidiary, Goals International.
crime
Durant High Schools Class of 2013 celebrated its Commencement Program at 8 p.m. June 3, at the Florida State Fairgrounds Exposition Hall. The program included speeches by Principal Pam Bowden, Salutatorian Natalie Raschke and Valedictorian Jacob Bernier. Senior members of the choir also performed a special song, “The River.” Coverage of Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools will be in the June 13 edition.
Senior choir members performed a special song.
Parents snapped lots of photos of their children.
Valedictorian Jacob Bernier
For more photos and a complete list of graduates, visit PlantCityObserver.com. INDEX Classifieds............15
Hundreds light night for Misti Whitfield Residents gathered for a candlelight vigil to pray for the missing woman. Investigators now are treating the case as a homicide. The sky was gray and the air heavy with humidity as the words came out of Mel Ardelean’s mouth. More than 200 had gathered for a candlelight vigil June 4, at the Train Depot in Historic Downtown Plant City, to offer prayers and support for Ardelean’s stepdaughter, Misti Whitfield, 35, who has been missing since May 2. They came hopeful that she still may be found alive. But, at the podium, before the candles were lit, Ardelean shared the heartbreaking news his family still is trying to comprehend. “The case has taken a more ominous turn; I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you,” he said. “The fact of the matter is Misti has not been found. It has taken an ominous turn toward, unfortunately, a homicide.” Just two-and-one-half hours earlier, also under the Train Depot’s canopy, Ardelean and private investigator Brad Sparkman in a press conference said they believe Whitfield was murdered the night she disappeared. She was last seen at about midnight May 2, at Nautical Marine, 5525 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. Through interviews, Sparkman said he learned Whitfield had two physical altercations with a man named Richard Corn, who also is
SEE WHITFIELD / PAGE 2 Vol. 1, No. 49 | One section
Crossword.............14
Obituaries...............9
Sports...................10 PlantCityObserver.com