Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH
ƃ @3 Ƅ ƚ
CAPITALGIRL
FFA student raising money for conference. PAGE 3
PLANT CITY LITTLE LEAGUE PREVIEW: PAGES 12-14
FREE • FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015
GOT POWER?
Kids at the library transform into superheroes. PAGE 8
OUR TOWN tribute by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Family, friends remember barber The only thing the owner of Bruce’s Barber Shop loved more than FSU football was his family.
+ Former Queen makes dean’s list
Chelsea Bowden was named to the Spring 2015 dean’s list at Samford University. She is an early childhood education/early childhood special education/ elementary education/elementary collaborative major. Samford University releases dean’s lists after the close of the fall and spring semesters each academic year. To qualify for the dean’s list, a student must have earned a minimum 3.5 grade point average out of a possible 4.0 while attempting at least 12 credit hours of coursework. The dean’s list is the highest academic recognition given by the school at the end of each semester. Samford University is Alabama’s top-ranked private university and provides nationally-recognized academic programs rooted in its historic Christian mission. Bowden was the 2012 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen.
Mr. Hancock died Tuesday, June 16, at home. Although the medical examiner’s report has not yet been released, officials believe that Mr. Hancock’s death was most likely caused by an electrocution that occurred while he was replacing a ceiling fan. Mr. Hancock was well-liked in the Plant City community. Many have already stopped by Bruce’s Barber Shop to pay their respects. The shop is located near Publix on Thonotosassa Road in Plant City.
Westley Hancock often joked that he was going to make his wife, Emily Hancock, the best barber in town. “He was one of a kind,” Emily Hancock said. “He was full of life.” After attending the Plant City High School cosmetology program and graduating in 1992, Mr. Hancock opened Bruce’s Barber Shop. He named it after his grandfather. Mr. Hancock was the third barber in his family, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
After his death, his friends and family also took to Facebook to share memories and photos. Mr. Hancock loved FSU football, fishing and the beach. Julie Hasting, a Plant City resident, grew up with both Mr. Hancock and Emily Hancock. “He was such a caring person and a strong leader,” Julie Hasting said. “He was a problem solver and always had everyone’s back.” Julie Hasting’s 14-year-old son, Cole Hasting, recognized
Mr. Hancock’s genuineness. He went to Bruce’s Barber Shop every two weeks to get his hair cut. “He always cared about what was going on in everybody’s life,” Cole said. Many believe this is what made Mr. Hancock have such a lasting impact on members of the community. “When you care, you have to remember and show it,” Julie Hasting said.
SEE HANCOCK / PAGE 4
HOMETOWN HEROES by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Westley Hancock
SPARK IN THE PARK by Abby Baker | Staff Intern
July Fourth celebration to go off with a bang For four consecutive years, Plant City will opened its skies for a finale of fireworks.
Hundreds of people have made their way into the Plant City Stadium to enjoy grilled food and family activities on the Fourth of July holiday, and the tradition booms on in 2015. Plant City Recreation & Parks Department, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce
FIREWORKS / PAGE 4
going up by Amber Jurgensen
+ Student chosen as intern
Plant City High School senior Katelyn Scott was accepted into the intern program at the Photo Archives and History Center and began Friday, June 12. The Plant City Photo Archives and History Center’s internship program is designed to provide students the opportunity to learn museum, archives, and history center skills in a real-life setting. During her internship, Katelyn will be assisting with an inventory of image enlargements and library resources, and
OUR TOWN / PAGE 4
, 3&
Courtesy photo
Timothy Conway V, Timothy Conway IV and Timothy Conway III were together for Timothy Conway V’s graduation from the University of Virginia.
Runs in the Family The Conway family has three generations of service to the United States.
P
lant City residents know Dr. Timothy Conway III, of Conway & Mathews P.A., for his outstanding dentistry service, which has been a staple in the Plant City community since 1977. Lesser known is Timothy Conway’s service to his country. The Plant City dentist served in the Florida Army National Guard from 1988 to 2009, where he served as a dentist in the
131st Mobile Army Surgical Hospital and as a lieutenant colonel chief of dentistry for the state of Florida. “I owed something,” Timothy Conway said of his decision to join the military. “Since I lost a lot of friends [in Vietnam], I owed something back.” While serving, Timothy Conway was the commander of a unit that received an award. The unit was given accommodations for deploying soldiers
to Afghanistan and Iraq. “The unit got recognition,” Timothy Conway said. “I was extremely proud of my soldiers.” Even with the recognition, which he never expected, Timothy Conway acknowledged that the military life was not for the faint of heart. “It’s not for everybody,” he said. “So few people … find time to do their part. They want things to happen, but they’re just not
willing to make any sacrifices.” Timothy Conway isn’t the only one in his family to have served in the military. His wife, Pam Conway, was raised by family members who served in the Army, Coast Guard and Air Force. The legacy continues in his own bloodline. Timothy Conway’s oldest son, Timothy Conway IV, and his grandson, Timothy Con-
Addison Frances Lumsden was born between the second and third floors of South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City. Not many people can say they have taken half an elevator ride. But Amanda and Jeff Lumsden’s newborn daughter, Addison Frances, has. She was born in one of the South Flor-
SEE BABY / PAGE 4
SEE HEROES / PAGE 4
HOMETOWN HEROES
EDITOR’S NOTE: Hometown Heroes is a recurring feature in the Plant City Times & Observer in which we profile veterans from Plant City. If you have a loved one currently serving or who has served in the past, please contact Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen by email at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com or by phone at (813) 704-6850.
This week’s winner is
Scott Kudlinski See the photo on PAGE 15.
Baby born in hospital elevator
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Amber Jurgensen
Addison was born at 9:52 a.m., and weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 18 inches long.
Vol.2,No.40 | Onesection Crossword...................15
Obituaries...................11
Sports.........................12
Weather......................15
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP