PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 4, NO. 2
Yellow in Florida isn’t just reserved for the sun’s rays. Page 14 FREE
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FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016
Holy Toledo, Batman Lakota Lockhart, 7, is using his rare disease to change the world. See page 13.
YOUR TOWN
Business of the Year Nominations for Business of the Year are being accepted from now until Friday, Aug. 12. The program is hosted by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and includes awards for small, medium and large businesses and businesses that have contributed exemplary community service. Winners will be honored at the 23rd Annual Business Awards Banquet Tuesday, Nov. 3. For nomination forms, email samantha@plantcity.org. Fax nominations to the chamber at (813) 752-8793, email samantha@plantcity.org or mail to P.O. Box CC, Plant City, FL 33564.
Welcome a teacher
Three of every four vehicles burglarized are unlocked. EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER
Each year, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce hosts a New Teacher Coffee at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. This year, it will welcome 225 new teachers to the Plant City area on Friday, Aug. 5. The chamber is accepting cash sponsorships or goodies to put in goodie bags that will go to each teacher. For more information, call the chamber at (813) 754-3707.
SPORTS
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ne of the biggest ways to prevent a thief from stealing valuables in your car — or stealing
the car — is to lock car doors. Three out of four cars that are burglarized are unlocked, according
safeguard your car on Page
3.
Remembering the Rev. Lester Durst The Rev. Lester Durst served as the priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for seven years and was known throughout the Plant City community. EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER
Durant High welcomes a new wrestling coach. See page 23
to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. HCSO has made two public service announcement videos on the topic. Even if you’re going inside of your house or a shop for a few minutes, make sure to turn off and lock your car. You could get a ticket for leaving
your car running. According to the Plant City Police Department, more cars were stolen or burglarized in June 2016 than June 2015. But there’s good news: the trend of thefts of cars and burglaries from cars so far this year is downward compared to data through July 2015. To keep it that way, check out more tips to
Even 14 years after he left, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Carey Street still boasts improvements that were made under the leadership of the Rev. Lester E. Durst. The parish hall is still named Bender Hall. The remodeling of the church’s Hargrave House was Mr. Durst’s doing, as well as the purchase of a youth house for the church’s younger members to have their own area. He was responsible for introducing the Family Fall Festival, an ongoing annual tradition, and introducing
Wednesday night suppers. But it was Mr. Durst’s welcoming personality and compassion for his congregation that left the biggest impression. After his term as rector ended, he was still brought back to the church frequently to preside over weddings, funerals and baptisms. “He had a lot of talent as a priest,” his daughter, Lauren Durst, said. “He was a very authentic person. He made it feel like a place where humans could go to worship, and not just perfect Christians.” Mr. Durst, 65, died June 22, 2016. SEE LESTER PAGE 5
Courtesy photo
The Rev. Lester Durst was a priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church from 1995 to 2002.