09.11.15 PCTO

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Plant City Times &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

A PARTNERSHIP WITH

HEROES

REAL ESTATE

Keysville property tops real estate sales in August.

Plant City honors first responders at chamber breakfast.

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PAGES 9

FREE • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

FOOTBALL Three SCHS players lead the charge. PAGE 11

PRAYER FOR PEACE

RIDING

OUR TOWN

by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

Springhead UMC to host 9/11 prayer vigil

to Remember IN THEIR HONOR by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

The vigil will last 26 hours from Friday, Sept. 11, to Saturday, Sept. 12, and include fun activities.

Courtesy photo

+ Pastor celebrates 58 years

I PC

This week’s winner is

Daniel Gallegos See her photo on PAGE 15.

SEE VIGIL / PAGE 4

DEDICATED DELTA

by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

Emily Topper

Jodi Wood, Mike Graham, JP Pelillo, John Renda and Dan Mayo are all either veterans or related to veterans. They will be participating in the eighth annual Remembrance Ride Saturday, Sept. 12.

In memory of the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, motorcyclists will ride to Veterans Memorial Park in Tampa. The ride is hosted by Plant City AMVETS Post 44, and funds will be raised for James A. Haley Hospital’s recreational services.

M

ike Graham always looks forward to revving the engine of his new Indian Chieftain motorcycle. On Saturday, Sept. 12, the 20year U.S. Army veteran will join nearly 200 other bike aficionados as they ride to Hillsborough County’s Veterans Memorial Park as part of the annual Remembrance Ride. For Graham, who is riding for the fifth time, the annual trek is a way to pay homage to those who have and continue to serve.

STANDING TOGETHER

The ride, now in its eighth year, is sponsored by Plant City AMVETS Post 44 and the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County Inc. It honors first responders and military veterans, as well as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. This year, the ride will benefit James A. Haley Hospital recreational services and the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch. It also marks the 14th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Graham, a former AMVETS Post 44 commander, helped organize the event. In the Army, he was in charge of troops that carried out psychological operations. He lived the changes that occurred in the military after 9/11. He served over two years in Iraq, and lost soldiers who were deployed after 9/11. “It went from training for war to deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan continuously,” he

SEE RIDE / PAGE 4

IF YOU GO REMEMBRANCE RIDE Where: Veterans Memorial Park, 3602 Highway 301 N., Tampa When: Saturday, Sept. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: Free admission

Pastor Robert Herrin is celebrating his 58th year in ministry. Plant City Church of God is holding a service to celebrate Robert Herrin’s 17 years at the church at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. He came to Plant City Church of God in October 1998, from a church in Jacksonville. Originally from Brunswick, Georgia, he graduated from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies. He and his wife, Lisa Herrin, have been married for 21 years. They were both widowed when they met. Robert Herrin was married to his first wife, Schaunell, for 28 years. They had two children: Torrey, who pastors The Bridge in Buford, Georgia, and Latese Brownlow, who serves as administrative assistant to Robert Herrin at Plant City Church of God. Lisa Herrin’s son, Joe Quesenberry, lives in Kentucky with his family. The Herrins are the proud grandparents of five. Robert Herrin loves to read and enjoys opportunities to mentor younger pastors as they request help. His call to ministry came in a 1956 revival meeting. “There have been so many happy moments in my life,” he said. “In every season I have been blessed and fulfilled.” The best lesson he’s learned in almost 60 years of ministry is to never over-obligate, whether it’s for the church or for personal issues.

This weekend will mark a new first for Springhead United Methodist Church. Beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, the Rev. Dr. Patrick C. Elmore Elmore will lead a 26-hour prayer vigil for peace. “I use peace … because that’s something that will come out of this,” Elmore said. “If we just pray for direction, God’s guidance and peace, all

It means that we’re vulnerable, and we need to stand together as Americans … to support those that are there to serve.

— Dan Mayo, AMVETS Post 44

Photo by Stephanie Humphrey

Plant City’s Maddy Keene wins award The PCHS graduate was recently honored for her dedication to community service. When it was time for former Plant City High School college and career counselor Sherrie Mueller to nominate someone for the prestigious Florida Commission on the Status of Women’s Florida Achievement Award, service-minded Maddy Keene stood out as the

SEE KEENE / PAGE 4

FULL PLATES by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

Plant City Café to open this month Can’t decide what to eat? The variety of food available at Plant City Café, opening Sept. 14, is sure to please even the most indecisive. For anyone having cravings for more than one style of cuisine, there’s a new restaurant in town which will cater to a variety of tastes. On Monday, Sept. 14, Plant City Café will have its grand opening. The menu is full of Italian, Greek and Cuban fare. The eatery will be located in the Village strip mall, near the Walden Lake entrance on Al-

exander Street. It has been in the planning stages for about 10 months, with the staff often working 12-hour days. After the grand opening in mid-September, Plant City Café will be open seven days a week. Customers will be served as early as 7 a.m. on all days except Sunday. While customers dine, they can enjoy watching news and sports as

the managers stop to visit their table — just one of the personal touches Manager Gary McFadden said is lacking at other locations in the area. “We want to be that family restaurant for people,” Gary McFadden said. “We want people to come in and feel like part of the family.”

SEE CAFÉ / PAGE 4

Emily Topper

Melissa and Gary McFadden said they are looking forward to working in a family-friendly eatery with a variety of choices.

INDEX Calendar........................2

Vol. 3, No. 6 | One section Crossword....................15

Obituaries....................10

Real Estate....................8

Sports..........................11

PlantCityObserver.com


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