09.19.13 Plant City Times & Observer

Plant City Times &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

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FREE • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

IN FOCUS SPORTS

NEWS

City Commission set to consider 2013-14 budget.

Gospelfanstreated Durant, Plant to music mastery City ready for at Sonshine Opry. rivalry rematch.

SEE PAGE 7

PAGE 3

PAGE 11

close call

HOMETOWN HERO by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

OUR TOWN

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Resident rescued after boat capsizes

+ Grills sizzle for Boys and Girls Club

A barbecue lunch to benefit the Boys and Girls Club in Plant City will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 26, at the Train Depot, in Historic Downtown Plant City.

Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the Boys and Girls Club, 901 Waller St., or at Myers Cleaners, 104 W. Grant St. or 1701 S. Alexander St.

Plant City resident Jim Morgan took five others on a fishing trip Sept. 15. They returned with a story they never will forget.

+ Hospital names interim president

Karen Kerr has been named the interim president at South Florida Baptist Hospital. The promotion was announced Sept. 3.

Kerr has served as director of patient services at South Florida Baptist Hospital since March 2001.

Before that, she worked for four years as director of patient services at St. Joseph Hospital.

She takes the post following former president Steve Nierman’s resignation.

Nierman left South Florida Baptist Hospital in August to become president at Winter Haven Hospital.

The transfer comes after Winter Haven Hospital and Tampa Bay area-based BayCare Health System completed a planned consolidation. Nierman had served as president for six years.

+ Crest shows mental muscle

With 14 National Merit Scholar semifinalists, Strawberry Crest High School is second only to King High among all Hillsborough County schools.

With 60 semifinalists, Hillsborough leads all districts in the state. Hillsborough is the third largest school district in the state but had more than Miami-Dade and Broward, the state’s two largest districts.

Neighboring Pinellas County had 14, and Pasco County had seven.

National Merit semifinalists represent less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors.

, 3&

This week’s winner is

Pam Ciganik

See her photo on PAGE 14.

Photos by Amber Jurgensen

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Oquendo enlisted in 1991. He was working as a recruiter when he died last year of cancer.

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Oquendo died Sept. 1, 2012.

Not from combat, but rather from cancer. One year later, the lessons he taught his Plant City family still resonate.

The ringing of a phone resonated throughout the humble kitchen of the Oquendos’ Plant City home. Nick Oquendo picked it up. His secondborn son, Paul, was on the line. An active veteran in the U.S. Army, Paul lived on the other side of the United States, in California.

Nick was happy to talk with him.

But the phone call soon took a dark turn.

Paul told his father he is on the way to the hospital. He had a tumor on the back side of his knee.

“I’ve got cancer,” he told his

father. “You can pray all you want to. This is set.”

His military training already had kicked in. Acceptance was protocol. Paul had covered himself in an armor of strength, ready to carve out an honorable solution.

“What can you say?” Nick says about that day. “He never smoked; he never drank; he never used drugs. Not just as a father, but as a person, you never want to seen anyone go through what he did.”

That was six years ago.

Now, all the Oquendos have

SEE HERO / PAGE 4

Plant City resident Nick Oquendo has two of his son’s uniforms.

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 Editor Michael Eng by email at meng@plantcityobserver.com or by phone at (813) 704-6850.

A Plant City man was among the six boaters rescued after their boat capsized Sept. 15 near Weedon Island.

“We have a few bumps and scratches, but no cuts, no broken bones,” Plant City resident and captain Jim Morgan said.

“And everyone survived. That’s the most important thing.”

The miles of water between the Sunshine Skyway seemed to keep stretching out in front Morgan, as he scanned over his 18-foot Hydra Sport. His girlfriend, Lisa Lyons, sat smiling, her two sons and two family friends chatted excitedly.

For some, it was their first time fishing.

The crew had set out from a ramp on the west side of Gandy Bridge. It was a beautiful day. After a morning of fishing, they brought the boat in for gas, ate lunch and then launched it back in the water.

The morning didn’t yield many catches.

Morgan thought they would have more luck in the deeper waters by the Skyway.

“That was my big mistake,” Morgan said. “I misjudged the distance. Should have launched by the Apollo Beach area.”

Once they anchored, Morgan saw a cluster of dark clouds billowing over the tree line in the distance. He figured the storm was about 10 miles away, and he knew they had to return immediately.

The waves started to toss the boat up and down. Then, the rain came. It splattered against their faces, pricking their skin like pins and needles. The wind was blowing about 30 mph. Before the crew knew it, their boat was being dunked in and out of 5- to 6-foot seas. A lifetime boater, Morgan wasn’t scared of the storm. He was

SEE RESCUE / PAGE 4

governance by Michael Eng | Editor

Pressure builds between WLCA, Walden Lake residents After residents’ pleas for transparency and term limits, WLCA Vice President Marcus Alexich resigned from the board and left the Sept. 16 meeting abruptly.

The rift between the Walden Lake Community Association and the residents it represents deepened this week following the WLCA’s Sept. 16 board meeting.

Following criticisms from

residents and pleas for transparency and term limits for board members,Vice President Marcus Alexich resigned from his post and left the meeting abruptly.

“I’m done with this,” he

said as he walked out.

Alexich’s resignation followed a particularly heated board meeting, during which resident Don Marshall ques-

SEE WLCA / PAGE 4

A document WLCA officials received from Walden Lake Golf & Country Club Managing Partner Steve Mercer includes a map of the proposed development project.

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

Vol.1,No.8 | Onesection Crossword...................14

Obituaries.....................9

Opinion ........................6

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

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR THURSDAY, SEPT. 19

Job Searching on the Internet — takes place from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

Patrons may bring a saved copy of their résumé on a flash drive.

(813) 757-9215.

Plant City Commons Community Garden — meets from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

Karen Bornstine, (813) 4358111 or karne888@yahoo.com.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21 Good Cookie 5K — takes place at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept.

21, at Courier Field, 703 N. Wheeler St., Plant City. To register, visit active.com/running/plant-city-fl/good-cookie5k-2013.

The Dosses and Trevor Thomas Drama Ministries — takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

21, at Shiloh Baptist Church Youth Center, 905 W. Terrace Drive, Plant City. No tickets are required; there will be a $5 per person donation at the door.

(813) 754-7445 or visit dossesministry.com or trevorthomasdramaministries.com.

Marshall Class of 1969 — meets from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. (813) 757-9215.

Strawberry Classic Car Show — takes place from 4 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21, at 102 N. Palmer St. For more, visit plantcity.org.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 22 Paint Your Own Wine Glass — takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City.

No reservation needed. Cost is $20, and the instructor provides all materials, including the glass and paint. Glasses are dishwasher safe.(813) 752-9100.

MONDAY, SEPT. 23 Backyard Chickens 101 — takes

To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please send by mail: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563; or by email: meng@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.

place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 23, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Nicole Pinson, from the Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension, will answer questions about keeping chickens in your backyard, as well as talk about county and local ordinances for keeping chickens. (813) 757-9215.

Heart Health Screenings — available from 1 to 2 p.m.

Tuesdays, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. Free.

Hope Al-Anon Group — meets at 7:30 p.m. Mondays, at Hull House at First Presbyterian Church, 203 Thomas St. (813) 763-3698.

Blood Drive — takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. (813) 757-9215.

Weight Loss Surgery Information Sessions — takes place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at the Ed and Myrtle Lou Swindle Medical Arts Center, 1601 W. Timberlane Drive, Plant City. Learn more about the advantages of the adjustable gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy procedures and see if surgical weight loss is an option for you. (813) 6446720.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 24 Crochet Basics — takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Patrons are asked to bring a crochet hook with them.

Yarn will be provided. (813) 757-9215.

New Member Reception — The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce will welcome its new members from 4 to 5:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the chamber, 106 N. Evers St., Plant City. For more, visit plantcity.org.

Ribbon Cutting: Riter E Cigs — takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St., Plant City. For more, visit plantcity.org.

Wilder Park HOA — meets from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

Cynthia Cervantes, (813) 6498866 or info@southshoremgmt. com.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 26 Boys & Girls Club BBQ — takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 1

a.m. Tuesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. 7579215.

Ladies Bible Study — meets at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, at Planteen Recreation Center, 401 Dort St., Plant City. For more information, call Martha Sue Skinner, (813) 752-7630 or email to mss142@tampabay. rr.com.

BEST BET

Battle of the James L. Redman Cup — Plant City and Durant high schools will meet on the gridiron at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Plant City, 1 Raider Place. Durant took the James L. Redman Cup last year for just the second time since it was introduced in 2007. Plant City owns a 6-3 advantage in the series since 2004. p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Train Depot, 102 N. Palmer St., Plant City. For more, visit plantcity.org.

Diamonds and Denim — takes place from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Center, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Royal Hills HOA — meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

Christine Wynne, (813) 6107336.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 Blueberry Stomp Mud Run — takes place Sept. 28, at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City.

Registration includes a T-shirt, two drinks (beer/wine for those over 21), and a post-race party.

For more, visit blueberrystomp. com.

Family Childbirth Center Education Programs Childbirth Class en Español — takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28, in the Community Conference Room at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. This class helps expectant mothers become informed,

active participants in the childbirth process. Participants should plan to attend no later than early in their seventh month of pregnancy. An “I Expect” Delivery Planning Guide is included with the class. $20; registration required. (813) 644-6720.

Gardenfest and More — takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28, at McCall Park and the Train Depot, 202 N. Palmer St. (813) 716-0950.

MONDAY, SEPT. 30 Girl Scouts Strawberry Community — meets from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

Malissa McNeely, (813) 6246733 or malismc5@gmail.com.

Peace by Piece — takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept.

30, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Sue Ellis, (813) 719-9127 or love2sewsue@yahoo.com.

TUESDAY, OCT. 1 Flute Circle — takes place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

Utah Farris, (863) 696-0442 or utahflutes1@wmconnect.com.

ONGOING Babytime — takes place from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. For more, call 757-9215.

Bereaved Parents Group — meets at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. For more, call Tom Sluder, (813) 659-2555.

Cholesterol Screenings — available from 2 to 3 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., Plant City. Cost is $30. No appointments necessary.

Computer Classes — take place from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. (813) 757-9215.

Crafternoons — takes place from 3 to 4 p.m. Mondays, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City.

757-9215.

Duplicate Bridge — meets at 1 p.m. Fridays, at St. Peters Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St., Plant City. Players must have partners. 752-1602.

Family Motion Commotion — takes place from 10 to 10:30

Pinecrest High School Class of 1956 — meets 10 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month, at Fred’s Market, 1401 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Carol Conrad, (813) 737- 1587.

Plant City Civitan Club — meets at 7 a.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month, at Buddy Freddy’s Restaurant, 1101 Goldfinch Drive, Plant City. (813) 754-4680.

Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club — meets at 7 a.m. Mondays, at the Community Conference Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St. For more, visit plantcitydaybreakrotary.com.

Plant City Lions Club — meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, at Buddy Freddy’s, 1101 Goldfinch Drive. For more information, visit plantcitylions.org.

Plant City Noon Rotary Club — meets at 12:15 p.m. Mondays, at HCC Plant City’s John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City.

Plant City Sunday Scrappers — meet from 2:30 to 5 p.m.

Sundays. Bring your own project, plus make quilts for donations. Linda Hill, (813) 8566120.

Republican Club of Plant City — meets at 7:15 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month, at Buddy Freddy’s Restaurant, 1101 Goldfinch Drive.

Strawberry Stitchers — meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays, at McDonald Training Center, 2902 Cork Road, Plant City. (813) 9909155.

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money matters by Michael Eng | Editor

DOLLARS & SENSE

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TAX: $2,138,070 (3%)

STORMWATER FUND: $3,423,890 (4%)

WASTEWATER DEVELOPMENT FEE $1,300,000 (2%) MISC:

Debt Service: $1,180,893 (1%) Water Development Fee $700,000 (1%) Community Services $515,900 (1%) Library Impact Fees $250,000 (.3%) Industrial Park Fund $82,398 (.09%) Stormwater Debt Service $61,200 (.07%) Cemetery Escrow Fund $30,000 (.03%) Ticket Surcharge Fund $11,000 (.01%) Library Donation Fund $6,000 (.007%)

WATER UTILITIES DEBT SERVICE: $3,165,600 (4%) STREET FUND: $2,332,521 (3%)

GENERAL FUND: $25,800,238 (31%)

The Plant City Commission will host its final 2013-14 budget hearing Sept. 23.

Plant City commissioners ment. Plant City officials will host next week the secare proposing these payond of two public hearings ments be made in two PLANT CITY regarding the city’s 2013-14 1.5% installments to embudget. ployees during the fisCOMMISSION The commission is expectcal year; it is not a perBUDGET ed to approve the final budmanent adjustment to HEARING get, totaling more than $82 base wages. The cost of WHEN: 7:30 p.m. million, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23, the wage payment, comMonday, Sept. 23 at Sadye Gibbs Martin Audibined with the city’s extorium at City Hall, 302 W. isting obligations under WHERE: Sadye Gibbs Reynolds St. the public safety emMartin Auditorium The $82,638,964 budget ployee step plan, will be at City Hall, 302 W. represents a $13,127,809 deabout $600,000.

Reynolds St. crease (14%) compared to The budget is based a INFO: plantcitygov. the amended 2012-13 budproperty tax millage rate com get. The city elected to pay of 4.7157, the same rate off some of its Water Utility used in 2012-13.

Fund bonds early, which will Here is a look at the save about $1.5 million annually in fu- proposed 2012-13 budget, with closer ture debt service. examination into the General Fund revFor the first time in six years, the bud- enues, which total $25,800,238, or 31% of get includes a cost-of-living wage pay- the revenues.

CRIME by Michael Eng | Editor

TOTAL REVENUES FLEET REPLACEMENT FUND: $4,821,427 (6%)

IF YOU GO

WATER UTILITIES FUND: $19,749,852 (24%)

SANITATION FUND: $6,685,340 (8%)

TOTAL $82,638,964 TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES: $5,034,635 (6%) WATER UTILITIES R.R. & I. FUND $5,350,000 (6%)

TOTAL EXPENDITURES CAPITAL OUTLAY: $3.213,872 (4%)

THE GENERAL FUND

The city’s General Fund represents the majority of its operations, including the Plant City Police Department, Plant City Fire Rescue, Recreation and Parks Department, Plant City Commission and more.

At $25,800,238, the proposed General Fund budget is about $161,000 (1%) higher than last year’s budget. Two positions have been added to the Building Department to handle an increased work load. In General Fund revenues, for the first time in four years, ad valorem revenue increased by $280,000. Other increases include 1/2-cent local sales tax receipts, utility taxes, franchise fees, telecommunication taxes, license and permit fees, and state revenue sharing.

However, net revenue is essentially flat after accounting for interfund transfers.

COMMODITIES CONTRACTUAL: $16,641,761 (20%)

NON-OPERATING: $37,032,426 (45%)

PERSONNEL SERVICES: $25,750,905 (31%)

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT City Commission City Attorney City Management Human Resources Information Technology 1914 Community Building Historic Resources Special Appropriations Finance Department Purchasing City Clerk Fire Department Police Department Planning and Zoning Recreation Library Building Department Code Enforcement Engineering Parks Division General Services Motor Garage TOTAL:

FY 2011-12 $111,700.73 $224,719.13 $238,452.19 $215,090.61 $391,543.30 $12,134.53 $18.99 $1,742,419.52 $660,630.24 $60,460.40 $180,643.78 $4,685,357.00 $8,938,414.70 $179,741.64 $1,052,527.78 $836,888.49 $609,642.36 $0 $562,386.44 $2,882,915.28 $979,104.14 $38,099.91 $24,602,891.16

FY 2012-13* $112,250 $227,600 $391,262 $238,513 $425,986 $14,550 $200 $1,248,338 $687,082 $65,117 $201,137 $4,459,022 $8,869,838 $183,910 $1,157,932 $789,351 $749,420 $0 $586,200 $2,976,375 $1,162,706 $46,700 $24,591,252

FY 2013-14^ $113,500 $236,549 $441,975 $246,102 $559,643 $15,000 $12,200 $1,284,135 $711,718 $82,490 $217,232 $4,715,394 $9,232,407 $185,858 $1,113,932 $853,919 $652,197 $209,870 $616,236 $3,060,461 $1,184,920 $54,500 $25,800,238

TOTAL $82,638,964

GENERAL FUND REVENUE LICENSES AND PERMITS: $861,800 (3%)

TELECOMMUNICATION TAX: $1,400,000 (6%) INTER-FUND TRANSFER: $1,372,600 (5%)

INTERGOVERNMENTAL: $767,520 (3%)

FEES AND SERVICES: $1,006,600 (4%)

MISCELLANEOUS: $480,100 (2%)

PROPERTY TAX: $6,776,621 (26%)

*Expected totals; ^ As proposed

PLANT CITY FIRE RESCUE BUDGET APPROPRIATION Personnel Services Commodities/Contractual Capital Outlay Non-Operating Total

FY 2011-12 $3,902,575.71 $443,752.08 $238,235.82 $100,793.39 $4,685,357

FY 2012-13* $3,966,759 $552,706 $47,500 $88,320 $4,655,285

FY 2013-14^ $4,045,624 $579,470 $43,500 $46,800 $4,715,394

RE-APPROPRIATED FUNDS: $2,753,997 (11%)

STATE REVENUE SHARING: $3,494,000 (14%)

*Amended; ^ As proposed

PLANT CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET APPROPRIATION Personnel Services Commodities/Contractual Capital Outlay Non-Operating Total

FY 2011-12 $7,235,024.25 $1,163,183.48 $328,001.97 $212,205 $8,938,414.70

FY 2012-13* $7,430,700 $1,300,350 $41,000 $313,300 $9,085,350

FY 2013-14^ $7,571,232 $1,633,400 $27,775 $0 $9,299,100

FRANCHISE FEES: $3,425,000 (13%)

UTILITY TAX: $3,462,000 (13%) TOTAL $25,800,238

*Amended; ^ As proposed

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES NON-OPERATING: $1,442,300 (5%)

CAPITAL OUTLAY: $175,275 (1%)

COMMODITIES CONTRACTUAL: $5,964,117 (23%)

PERSONNEL SERVICES: $18,218,546 (71%)

TOTAL $25,800,238

Plant City color guard instructor arrested Plant City High School officials immediately terminated the school’s relationship with Abraham Sabastine Jarrell.

The color guard instructor for the Plant City High School marching band was arrested Sept. 13, on charges of lewd exhibition and indecent exposure.

According to Polk County Sheriff’s Office reports, deputies arrested Abraham Sabastine Jarrell, 27, of Lakeland, and charged him with two counts of lewd exhibition on a child under 16 and two counts of indecent exposure.

Three separate victims contacted the Sheriff’s Office between noon and Jarrell 2:36 p.m. Sept. 10, to report seeing a white male subject masturbating from within his vehicle. All three victims were juvenile victims; two were 14 years old and the third was 17 years old. All three were male.

The first incident occurred at Lakeland Highlands Road and Broken Arrow Trail; the second incident occurred near the Groveglen subdivision, on Lakeland Highlands Road; and the third incident occurred in the parking lot near Peterson Road and Lakeland Highlands Road. The last two incidents both occurred near George Jenkins High School at dismissal time, reports stated.

All three victims described the suspect as a white male, mid 20s to late 30s, sandy blond hair, possibly collar length, possibly wearing lightly tinted wire-framed glasses.

He wore a gray, sleeveless T-shirt and no clothing on his lower body. All three victims described the vehicle as a white late 80s through mid-90s Toyota four-door.

During the investigation, detectives received information that Jarrell owned a 1994 Toyota Tercel. Detectives made contact with Jarrell at his residence, and he admitted to “fondling” himself while in his car in the Lakeland Highlands Road area.

In April 2013, a 16-year-old male victim reported a similar incident he observed on Southern Avenue in Lakeland. Detectives have identified Jarrell as the suspect in that incident, as well.

“We believe there may be other children this suspect has targeted, and we are asking the public to contact us with any information about those crimes,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Plant City High Band Director Jackie Worley said Jarrell was terminated immediately from the Band Boosters organization, and she planned to hold a meeting with parents and students this week.

“We are all just as shocked and hurt by this as the rest of the community,” Worley said. “Abraham has worked with the band color guard for almost two years and was a level three volunteer. This means that like all of my staff, he had gone through rigorous background checks before being allowed to work with children.

He was always at every rehearsal and performance, and until Tuesday, never called in sick.

“My heart is aching for my students, because, while he committed a disgusting, unforgivable act, they have done nothing wrong,” she said. “My color guard students have worked unbelievably hard this season. Our numbers have grown from just six in 2011, to over 30.

What scares me the most are parents threatening to remove their students from this wonderful program because of this news. I want to assure them all that my band parent board, my principal and I are all working as hard as possible to replace him with an instructor who can finish out this season.

“My heart goes out to the boys who witnessed this act in Lakeland,” Worley said. “I, obviously, would never purposefully employ a known offender. However, we will still most likely be speaking with all of our girls on color guard to make sure that they were never victimized in the past while under his direction. My top priority is their safety and making sure that they get the emotional support they need through this time.”

Contact Michael Eng at meng@ plantcityobserver.com.

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WLCA / PAGE 1 tioned WLCA President Jan Griffin and Treasurer Karen Olson regarding meetings they had had with Walden Lake Golf & Country Club Managing Partner Steve Mercer.

Marshall, a 20-year resident ofWalden Lake, said the board’s actions since the Hills course closed earlier this year have him questioning board members’ motives. Marshall said he learned — and later confirmed with a WLCA representative — that Olson, WLCA Secretary/ Parliamentarian Jim Chancey and a representative for Griffin met with Mercer Aug. 22. During that meeting, Mercer presented a five-page document, titled, “Development and Renovation of Walden Lake Golf & Country Club,” which included details regarding his plans to alter the golf courses and accompanying property.

No minutes were taken at the meeting, and no copies of the document were distributed to residents, per Mercer’s request, Olson said.

“It had no information of importance in it — just Mercer’s dreams, which I’ve been listening to for years,” Olson said.

“When I called [Mercer] and asked if this could be shared, he said, ‘No, just with the board.’ Because he stated it was only for the board, I respected his statement, put it in a file and forgot about it.”

However, Marshall said he received a copy of the document from an anonymous source. The document includes a map and a bulleted list of details regarding the redevelopment project, including the addition of about 200 singlefamily homes, about 60 town homes or villas and independent and assistedliving villas and a memory care facility.

It also details renovations and improvements to the golf course and country club, including a new clubhouse and maintenance facility, renovated fitness center, aquatic center and tennis courts, and an 18-hole course and a nine-hole par-3 course.

Not all board members knew about the meeting between Mercer and the WLCA. “I was not aware of it, and nor have I been informed of it,” WLCA board member Bob Hunter said.

Resident Shelly Orrico, who has spearheaded the residents’ campaign against the golf course redevelopment, said she has been disappointed with the communication between the WLCA and the residents. During the board’s July 15 meeting, held at HCC Plant City’s John R. Trinkle Center, about 10 residents took the microphone to ask questions. At that time, WLCA attorney Web Melton said he would conduct research and find the answers.

IN OTHER NEWS • The WLCA voted 5-3 to hire L.E. Wilson & Associates Inc. as its new property management company, beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Secretary/ Parliamentarian Jim Chancey was not present. WLCA’s attorneys now will work with L.E. Wilson & Associates to draft a formal contract. L.E. Wilson & Associates replaces Rampart Properties, which had served as Walden Lake’s property management company for 11 years. Secretary Karen Olson said the change would save about $40,000. However, the official contract amount has not yet been finalized.

• WLCA board member Steve Swantek said the annual Howl-OWeen party will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the polo field. The board is working with a $3,000 budget.

• On-site Manager Tom Daramus said his crew will paint all the Walden Lake bridges with a non-slip paint, as a safety precaution.

• Daramus said several arrests have been made regarding recent burglaries in Walden Lake. He said officials from the Plant City Police Department expect more arrests soon.

However, more than two months later, Melton still has not responded to those questions.

Why not?

Simply put: The WLCA does not have a record of those questions. The minutes from the meeting do not include comments made from the residents who spoke — a fact that shocked Orrico.

“It was an official board meeting,” Orrico said. “Everybody knew exactly what would be brought up at this meeting. It was a very important meeting, so the residents should be able to get the answers to the questions that [they asked].

“The residents came there specifically asking questions,” she said. “He [Melton] said he would answer them.

He said he would get back to them. This is the board’s responsibility.”

Marshall said these behaviors have called into question some board members’ trustworthiness. He asked the board to consider imposing term limits and also supplying disclosure statements.

“Your confidence as a board ... has been lost in the community,” he said.

“You cannot un-ring a bell, and the bell got rung.”

Contact Michael Eng at meng@ plantcityobserver.com.

HERO / PAGE 1 left are pictures and documents.

Nick shuffles through a letter on the table. It’s a final report of casualty from the U.S. Army.

“We are here for you,” it reads.

Paul died Sept. 1, 2012 — not from combat, not from a stray bullet, not from an IED, but rather a rare form of cancer. Although this is the first anniversary of his death, Paul’s family knows the diagnosis was just a tiny part of his life’s story.

AMERICAN DREAM

Paul was a first-generation United States native. Nick arrived Jan. 26, 1961, to Miami from Puerto Rico. By 7 p.m. the same day, Nick traveled to Tampa to work as a farmer. It was there he met his wife, Mercedes, whose father planted strawberries in Plant City.

Their three children, Nick Jr., Paul and Melissa, grew up in Plant City.

Paul found his interest in athletics at Plant City High School. He also liked to preach at Whitehurst Baptist Church. But all the while, he was watching Nick Jr., who was eight years older than him.

Nick Jr. had enlisted in the U.S. Army, while Paul was still in school.

Paul saw the military as an out. He wanted to create a better life for himself, building on what his parents had forged for him. He wanted to go to school.

“We are poor people,” Nick says.

“If you want a good future, he had to decide. He went in to go to school.”

So, in 1991, after he graduated from high school, Paul enlisted in the Army. At first, he didn’t like it.

He’d call home and ask his father’s advice. He also would call Nick Jr. “As a big brother, he had gone though things,” Nick says. “Paul could trust him.”

After three years, Paul began to adapt to the military lifestyle. He decided to reenlist.

RESCUE / PAGE 1 only worried for his passengers’ safety.

“It was the worst storm I’ve ever been in,” Morgan said. “Never imagined the bay could be like that.”

Morgan called some of the men to start bailing water out of the back of the boat. They were fine as long as the boat kept moving. But, their luck didn’t last long. A piece of rubber lining from the outside of the boat ripped off, whipping around

Paul worked with computer systems, before making a career change to become a recruiter. He also built a life with his wife, Dora, and their two daughters, Emily and Abigail. The family traveled the United States — from Georgia to Colorado and New York to Arizona. At one point, Paul also went to South Korea.

“As a soldier, a lot of people believed he was a great member of the Army,” Nick says. “He was there for the people. He wanted to help people become better.”

Paul found a niche as a recruiter.

He communicated well with younger individuals looking to join.

“He told them, ‘If you want to spend the rest of your life with your mother and father, then that’s fine, but if you want to be a man, then join the Army,’” Nick says.

As a recruiter, Paul had to fight for aspiring service members against families, ideologies and stereotypes.

But in 2008, he began a very different fight.

Nick digs out two of Paul’s uniforms from a hall closet. The colors of green, tan and black look vibrant, almost brand new. An American flag patch sits gloriously on the right shoulder. Next to it, on the chest, is Paul’s last name.

Before he died, Paul gave those uniforms and a matching winter hat and jacket to his father.

Paul had worked in those uniforms, even after his diagnosis.

For a couple of years, Paul had complained of pain in his knee. He had two surgeries on top of his knee in Sacramento.

But it wasn’t until 2008 that doctors uncovered the source of his irritation. He had sarcoma cancer, a cancer found almost exclusively in children.

“When they found out he had

cancer, they told him that would be it,” Nick says.

He underwent surgery to cut the cancer out of his leg. He also endured chemotherapy and radiation. His parents and siblings flew to California to be with him while he received treatments.

“At the beginning, he thought about giving up,” Nick said. “But, he believed if you don’t do everything you can, your family might say you didn’t try.”

Nick caught a glimpse at one of Paul’s medical bills. It totaled more than $100,000.

“The Army took care of everything,” Nick says.

In 2011, Paul’s leg was amputated.

He still pressed on.

For months, he had been trying to return home to Florida. In June 2012, he finally was stationed in Tampa and continued treatment at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute. In addition to treatment, he wanted to set his family up in a home near family.

They finally moved into a house in Lithia.

Paul had only been in the house for four days before being sent to hospice in Ruskin. He said he wanted to die at home, so the family transported him back on a Saturday. Twelve hours later, Paul died.

“He was stronger than us,” Nick says, looking at a picture of his three children on the wall. “Even though Paul is gone, it’s like he’s still here. I learned so much from him. I think more than he did from me.”

Nick was never in the military.

But the pride he feels for his sons swells in his heart every day.

“People in the military should be treated like high class, because they’ve earned it,” Nick says. “People in this country need to think about why we’re free. There’s blood of the soldiers everywhere.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

to the back. It got tangled in the the propeller.

The boat halted and then capsized. The passengers were thrown into the water, trapped under the boat. Everyone surfaced quickly except Jared Lyons; the boat had come down right on his chest. He thought he was going to die. But, he, too, managed to surface.

One friend swam to call for help.

About 30 minutes later, Jared and his girlfriend also left to call for help.

The remaining crew was rescued,

clinging to the capsized boat near Weedon Island.

“The miracle is the boat flipped over right on top of us, and no one was hurt,” Morgan said.

Morgan returned Sept. 17, to salvage the boat. The center console had twisted around but can be repaired. Two out of eight expensive rods managed to stay in the boat.

But six cell phones, an iPad and an iPod were lost.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

DIAGNOSIS IN CAMO

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COPS The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Plant City Police Department.

SEPT. 3

BOLD MOVE

2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Shoplifting/Aggravated Assault. One white male subject placed two 46inch flat-screen televisions on a cart and pushed the cart out of the emergency exit, in the garden section of the store, to another white male waiting in a car. The first white male then exited the store using the garden section’s main entry/ exit and was confronted by loss prevention employee. The white male threatened the loss prevention employee by raising a metal object. He then fled to the waiting car, and both subjects drove away. One of the televisions was left behind by the two white males. Detectives are conducting a followup investigation.

SEPT. 2

SHOTS FIRED

2000 block of South Frontage Road. Shots Fired. A witness saw a burgundy Hummer, occupied by a black male with dreads, parked next to an orange Camaro (unknown occupants), when he heard 3 shots fired. The orange Camaro jumped the curb and fled east on Interstate 4. The Hummer fled east on South Frontage Road. Three casings were found at the scene and placed into evidence. The Florida Highway Patrol and Polk County Sheriff’s Office were notified.

SEPT. 3

DON’T FORGET THE VEST

1410 block of Plantation Boulevard. Vehicle Burglary.

Sometime between 6:25 p.m.

Sept. 2, and 8:30 a.m. Sept. 3, unknown suspect(s) entered the vehicle by unknown means and stole an iPod, a pair of Perry Ellis sunglasses, a pair of Oakley sunglasses, a TomTom GPS and a denim vest.

SHOWING OFF

100 block of North Palmer Street. Carrying Concealed Firearm. The officer responded to a call that a white male was showing his gun to other patrons. The suspect was identified by witnesses as the individual. A loaded .22-caliber Ruger was found in his waist band and an ASP baton in his pocket. The suspect was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail.

SEPT. 4

COPPER CRIMINAL

1700 block of North Park Road. Copper Theft. Sometime overnight, unknown suspect(s) stole 60 feet of 12-gauge electrical wire from one of the baseball field’s scoreboards.

The copper is valued at about $60.

MISSING GUNS

900 block of North Gordon Street. Burglary/Theft of Firearms. The victim came to the police department to report two Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolvers and a Smith & Wesson .32-caiber semi-auto-

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MANATEE

CORNER

SEPT. 4

ANYONE SEE A SHORT MAN CARRYING AN ANIMAL-PRINT PURSE?

2440 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Robbery by Sudden Snatching.

According to the reporting victim, an unknown Hispanic male, described as about 5 feet, 4 inches tall, thin build and wearing blue jeans, ran up behind her and stole her animal-print purse. The suspect fled on foot toward the convenience store on James L. Redman Parkway. The victim called the police about three minutes later.

Several officers and detectives were in the area. A search was conducted of the parking lots and stores, but the suspect was not found.

matic were stolen from a shed in his yard. The victim stated the guns could have been stolen anytime in the last 10 days.

The value of the guns is $800.

DANGEROUS SITUATION

2300 block of North Park Road. Armed Robbery. The night manager said he walked out to his car upon closing the business. He was in possession of the day and night deposits.

He was approached by a black male, wearing a dark blue hoodie, blue jeans, and a bandana around his face. The suspect pointed a gun at him and demanded the money. After he gave the suspect the money, the suspect took off running.

SEPT. 5

THICK-HEADED AS THIEVES

2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail Theft/ Dealing in Stolen Property.

The suspects walked into the Garden Center at Walmart and selected a Snapper lawn mower. They walked outside with the mower without paying.

Next, they re-entered the store with the mower and walked to Customer Service to get a fraudulent refund on the mower that was just stolen. When they were denied the refund, they left the store and loaded the mower into their van. They were driving out of the parking lot when officers located them.

They were arrested and transported to the Orient Road Jail.

The mower was returned to Walmart.

MISSING JEWELS

510 block of Langford Drive.

Grand Theft. The victim reported that, while she on vacation, some jewelry was stolen from her home. The jewelry was taken between Aug. 22 and 25.

GREAT EXAMPLE

2100 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Shoplifting/Petit Theft. The suspect and a juvenile were arrested for stealing store merchandise.

SEPT. 6

JUST COME ON IN

1900 block of North Maryland Avenue. Residential Burglary. At about 11:45 a.m., a black male suspect, in his 20s to 30s, with short or no hair, forced open the front door to the residence’s motherin-law suite and stole a gold wedding band and $300 in coins. The suspect left the residence in newer maroon Nissan SUV.

WHAT WAS THE POINT?

600 block of East Laura Street.

Criminal Mischief.

Sometime between 6 p.m.

Sept. 5, and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 6, the light bulbs and soap dispenser were damaged inside the bathroom of Marie B. Ellis Park.

PILL PUSHER

1200 block of West Grant Street. Drug Possession. A Hispanic male juvenile student was found in possession of three Xanax pills, after school officials were informed the student was selling pills at school. The student voluntarily turned the pills over to a school official when questioned. The student was arrested and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center, in Tampa.

FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT

2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail Theft. The suspect concealed miscellaneous items, totaling $53.71, in her purse and attempted to leave without paying. She was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail.

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE ...

200 block of Waller Street.

Battery. The victim advised she had been drinking at a friend’s residence, when they got into a verbal argument. The suspect head-butted the victim in the face. A Request for Prosecution was completed and issued to the victim to file with the State Attorney’s Office.

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CRIME by Michael Eng | Editor

Narcotics lab discovered near Walden Lake Elementary

One Plant City man is facing charges after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office investigators discovered a narcotics lab in a home less than one mile from Walden Lake Elementary School.

Ronnie Dale Porter, 36, was charged with possession of, methylamine, a precursor chemical.

A simple eviction turned into a daylong investiga- Porter tion Sept. 17, when Sheriff’s Office investigators discovered what appeared to be bomb-making materials inside the home, 4911 Pandora Place. However, after an

outside lab tested a sample of a chemical found in a refrigerator, investigators concluded the chemicals and other devices were part of a narcotics lab.

The home’s owner, Kelly Doyle, said she had rented the home for 13 years to Porter, her third cousin, and his family, which includes a 4-year-old and a 12-yearold. Doyle said Porter had fallen behind on payments in the past, and she had tried to help. However, this year, she began eviction proceedings.

Doyle and her brother, Wes, arrived at the home at 9 a.m. Sept.

17, to begin the eviction. As they searched the home, they discovered an 8-foot python, a tarantula and a bearded dragon. The Doyles called animal services to remove the animals.

However, the animal services official discovered chemicals and pressure cookers in one of the rooms and evacuated the home.

According to Sheriff’s Office Col. Jim Previtera, the pressure cookers were the same models used in the Boston Marathon bombing.

“He [the tenant] tried to tell me it was his daughter’s science project,” Kelly Doyle said.

Officials from Hillsborough

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

+ Mercer raises more questions than he answers

Dear Steve Mercer: Most people have empathy for those who run their own businesses, and I doubt anyone in this community has any personal animosity toward you or your partners. However, your recent letter in the Plant City Times & Observer raised more questions than it answered.

You stated, “No one was interested in buying the Walden Lake Golf Course for three years.”

This is just not true. It is possible no one was interested in paying the price and terms that you and your partners did. Regardless, are you trying to suggest that you were acting selflessly in doing this community a favor?

You stated, “In the beginning, the community supported the golf club … then the recession hit.” The recession hit everyone, not just you and your partners. Plant City residents now spend their money at 54 golfing holes in Lakeland to our east (including 36 holes at Champions Gate — your home); 36 five-star golfing holes to our north at Lake Jovita, in little Zephyrhills; 36 five-star golfing holes to our south at Windsong, in little Bartow; and to our immediate west at Riverhills, Bloomingdale, and Buckhorn, in Brandon. In fact, the last golf course in our area to be closed was the course you managed before the recession even got started — the Plant City Municipal Golf Course.

The surrounding golf courses survived the business cycle and now are thriving — what are the real reasons for the current conditions of Walden Lake Golf & Country Club?

You stated, “[The partners] repeatedly asked the community for help but received the answer [the community] cannot help.” If you are referring to the club tax you suggested to the Walden Lake Community Association to help support you and your partners, did you not realize the recession was hitting everyone else, too? The WLCA has said your suggestion of a club tax was dismissed immediately, because it came with no accountability. Regardless, many businesses near Walden Lake depend on patronage from Walden Lake residents. Would you suggest they ask the WLCA impose a tax on each household to subsidize their businesses? If you had had a win-win proposal for the residents of Walden Lake, was it not incumbent upon you to market or sell your plan/business to this community at large — your potential customers?

You state, “Only 10% of those homes adjoining golf courses belong … and why hundreds of golf course are failing around the country.”

Again, what community golf course has failed within 50 miles of Plant City?

You state, “We are planning a rebirth … something the community can be proud of.” What is your track record? If you really planned on all these “enhanced amenities,” why haven’t you at least maintained some of what you had?

You state, “We see the possibility … to make our partners whole again — to recover from a hole no one thought possible.” How do we know that your scheme and dreams of a housing development to build out a newer pristine golf course is not just a fast-buck scheme to get out of this debt hole — at the cost of depreciating the assets of the entire community and one that sends the residents of Plant City to other communities to spend their money?

You state, “People are threatening you … bombarding you … up in arms.” I share Vice Mayor Rick Lott’s comments from the July 22 City Commission meeting: “It is wonderful to see the residents exercising their civic responsibilities.” In the last five years, what communica-

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tions, letters, flyers, emails or any other marketing have you sent to the people of Plant City, your potential customers?

You wanted to clarify rumor versus fact. But, please review your letters and emails. Much of the confusion rests with your communication — or lack thereof. Just a few weeks ago, you presented a four-page “Development and Renovation Project” to a few select people at the WLCA. This paperwork detailed which backyard gets a dwelling and which will not.

The WLCA board members represent the “deed restrictions of the master-planned community.” They do not represent this homeowner in any other capacity. Do you not realize that, in general, a lack of transparency, the mere appearance of impropriety or conflicts of interests can create an environment of mistrust? (This does not just apply just to you. It includes the WLCA, elected officials and to all of us as a community.) Are you taking for granted the individual homeowners and their interests yet again?

You state a federal trustee has released you of restrictions regarding zoning and level of care of the property. Once again, the lack of transparency and full candor leads to more confusion and mistrust. To my knowledge, no one has suggested to the city that it explore exercising eminent domain rights pertaining to the poor conditions of the property? Are you referring to the 25-year golf property clause put in place by WCI, which the WLCA said you tried to buy out years before WCI went bankrupt? Are you referencing your own bankruptcy? If one takes your comments at face value, it seems to smack squarely up against the earlier statement that zoning for something other than golf rests entirely with the city? If you are referring to your Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, one would presume you would have detailed your re-development plans to bankruptcy Judge Rodney May. Are you stating that this federal trustee and his zoning restriction release renders Plant City zoning or citizens concerns irrelevant?

Ironically Mr. Mercer, you and your partners closed by stating, “All we ask is our rights be afforded to us by this great country in which we are proud to live.” On that point, we agree.

Nearly 1,000 residents have signed a petition to present to our elected city officials, and once your plans are presented to the public at large, we will have more questions for you, your partners and elected officials.

John Adams Walden Lake

+ Is the Walden Lake Community Association out of bounds?

Dear Editor: Transparency, consistency and objectivity are minimum standards all dues-paying members deserve from their homeowners association. A lack of transparency, a lack of consistency and conflicts of interest in any public entity can lead to the appearances of impropriety and to an environment of mistrust.

At a recent board meeting of the Walden Lake Community Association, there was a motion to vote on whether the press should be allowed to attend and report on board meetings for residents who otherwise could not attend.

Treasurer Karen Olson, stated with her “no” vote, “... Our bad PR is bad enough ...”

Fortunately, the “yes” vote carried the day. I hope this letter serves as an example of why we need more transparency, more consistency and more objectivity —not less. The good news is that a minority on the board agree whole-heartedly and practice it without supervision.

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To contact us, send your information via: Email: Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com.

Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

County Sheriff’s Office, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Haz-Mat and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms arrived to the home, evacuated five surrounding homes. They collected samples of chemicals for testing, as well as other evidence, Previtera said.

One of the chemicals tested as methylamine hydrochloride, which is used to manufacture MDMA, or Ecstasy. Previtera said the size and type of narcotics lab was alarming.

“A lab like that is not something that is common in this area,” he said.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@ plantcityobserver.com.

In mid-July, there was an ad-hoc overflow meeting of more than 300 residents in the hot sun at our community center, starving for information regarding what the golf course owners may be planning and what it may mean for their homes and community. Voices from the crowd asked, “Is anyone here from the board of the Walden Lake Community Association?”

The response was, “(President) Jan Griffin has said that she was advised by legal consul to play ‘Geneva.’”

Just a few weeks later, the attorney for the WLCA reiterated this in front of a crowd at the John R. Trinkle Center. He told resident the WLCA represents the community deed restrictions pertaining to common areas and such.

The golf course is private property. The golf owners will need to first approach the City of Plant City. Until then, he recommended the board members not comment on hypotheticals.

Although I may not have fully agreed with the position taken, I understood it and could accept it.

I find it difficult to accept the following behavior that has come to my attention. Just last week, I had several of my neighbors tell me that one owner of the golf course met with board members Aug. 22, to discuss his plans.

They also said one of the three board members in attendance was denying any such meeting occurred. I called the WLCA and asked the following questions; 1.Was there a meeting with golf course owner?

Answer: Yes. 2. Am I on speaker phone?

Answer: No. (Karen Olson subsequently said I was.)

3.Who called the meeting?

Answer: Mr. Steve Mercer 4.Who was at the meeting?

Answer: Subcommittee members. We have 13 subcommittees.

5.What subcommittee?

Answer: Community Involvement 6.Who is on the subcommittee?

Answer: Jan Griffin, Karen Olson and Jim Chancey. Jan was out of town but asked for a stand-in.

She did know of the meeting.

7.What did they discuss?

Answer: Not sure, no minutes were taken. We are not required to take minutes if a specific head count is not met.

8. Did they discuss plans?

Answer: No 9. Did they receive any paperwork that said proposal, project, renovations, maps of where homes may go, etc.?

Answer: Well, he did submit a few sheets of paper.

10. May I get a copy?

Answer: No. If this reads like I was pulling teeth, it certainly felt like the person I was speaking to and others now listening on speaker phone were obfuscating. Frustrated, I asked if I could take the association’s attorney up on his offer to speak to him, and I was told, “No.” It was at this time that I felt I had no other alternative than to write this letter and attend the Sept. 16 WLCA board meeting to convey the gist of it to the board in advance, should they want to offer a rebuttal.

My objection to the board is this: If your attorney advised you to “play Geneva,” why would you entertain Mercer’s Aug. 22 meeting while choosing not to attend the meeting in July of more than 300 residents? Adding insult to injury, it also came out at last night’s board meeting, that Griffin had been “summoned to attend a planning meeting” with Mercer last June.

When asked what was discussed,Griffin said she had been advised not to comment. As I explained to Griffin and the board, much of this information is already circulating in the public domain, and there is now developing a lack of confidence in the board as a whole. I suggested several steps to remedy the situation and begin a path to restoring confidence in the WLCA: 1. Because Jan Griffin had met with and reviewed plans in June and did not disclose to the community, did not meet with the July gathering and now entertained a meeting with

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City.

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Courtesy photo

At first, suspect Ronnie Porter said this was his 12-year-old daughter’s science project.

Mercer again, she has lost the confidence of the community and should resign or step down.

2. Because Karen Olson first denied that an Aug. 22 meeting ever took place when first confronted by informed residents — and subsequently denied she received documents showing where homes may go and where they may not — Olson also has lost the confidence of the community and should step down.

3. I would propose the WLCA discuss setting term limits at the next meeting.

4. I would propose that members of the WLCA issue disclosure statements that would prevent any potential conflicts of interest on any significant matters in front of the board (i.e. other family members on other sub-association boards, business interests, any special community/golf perks, etc.).

This community will be facing some serious challenges in the not-too-distant future, and having confidence in transparency, consistency and objectivity will be important. I am sure the WLCA and your neighbors would love to know what you think.

Don Marshall Walden Lake

+ Lady Raider’s composure on golf course impresses spectator

Dear Editor: It was 3 p.m. I was bored and went to watch the Plant City High School girls play a round of golf with the girls from Steinbrenner High.

Not only was I cured of the boredom of a hot summer afternoon, but also I was treated to a golf clinic put on — if you can believe this — by a young lady, a sophomore no less, named Kendall Johnson.

A short summary: She started out with a double bogey on hole No. 3. Her drive found the rough, she chipped out and was on the green in four. Her fifth shot rimmed the cup and thus her double bogey.

She went on to par the fourth, fifth and birdied the sixth. Made par on the seventh and eighth, then went on to eagle the par-five ninth hole. Yes, I said eagle.

She was on the green in two and faced a nasty left to right putt. I only can imagine the pressure that faced this young lady in this situation. Showing absolutely no emotion at all, she took her practice stroke, looked at the hole and sunk the putt. No smiles, no hand slapping, no outward emotion at all. She made her way past the astonished spectators without a glance and got ready for her next challenge. She made par on the No. 1 hole and finished her game with a birdie on No. 2. She finished with a nine-hole round of 34.

This kid is something else. Tiger Woods could learn a thing or two from this young lady in the art of controlling one’s emotions. Nerves of steel is the best description I could come up with, and that doesn’t describe exactly what I saw.

I don’t care if you’re a teenager or 70 years old — to shoot a 34 at Walden Lake is amazing.

The course is in terrible condition. No grass on the fairways, a cruel, ankle-deep rough, sand traps without sand, and fire ants throughout the course challenges the best of you. Oh, did I mention she carried her bag in the 94-degree Florida sun for the entire nine holes?

Ms. Johnson, thank you for making my day of boredom one to remember.

Louis Artalona Plant City

+ Walden Lake golf course trouble truly a shame

Dear Editor: Thanks for the letter about the Walden Lake Golf & Country Club in the Plant City Times & Observer.

I am afraid I am one of the non-joining ones who are to blame not supporting the golf course/clubhouse. I’m one of those who is here part-time and away part-time.

All this is too bad. It is a shame that there were not dues to support the golf courses, such as the dues we pay for streets and yard work.

Ellen Starmer Walden Lake

Plant City Times &

Observer General Manager/Editorial / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com

General Manager/Advertising / Tony Del Castillo, tdelcastillo@tampabay.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editors / (Community) Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com; (Sports) Matt Mauney, mmauney@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@tampabay.com; Joanna Verga, jverga@tampabay.com Circulation/Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” — Friedrich Hayek, “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

CLUB HUBBUB

If your club would like to post announcements, email them to Associate Editor Amber Jurgensen, ajur gensen@plantcityobserver. com.

+ P.C. Commons Community Garden

With the fall season coming, the Plant City Commons Community Garden is looking for new members and seeks to renew old members.

It’s the second fall planting season for the garden.

Gardeners can nurture beans, cabbage, collards, eggplants, broccoli, peas, onions, mustards and more.

The garden also will host the “Gaia’s Garden” book study at 7 p.m. Sept. 19, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. For more, email Karen Elizabeth at karene888@ yahoo.com.

Renee Chewning Riddle performed with Ramblin’ Rose.

Ramblin’ Rose features three generations of family members.

+ Plant City Garden Club

The Plant City Garden Club and the Plant City Downtown Business and Merchants Association again have teamed up to host this year’s Gardenfest and More, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at McCall Park and the Train Depot, 202 N. Palmer St. The event will feature plants for fall gardening needs, garden art to spice up gardens, as well as antiques, art, crafts, food and more. At 9:30 a.m. a speaker will talk about gardening. Other speakers include photographer George Veazey and artist Beverly Farley, both from the Art Lounge Gallery.

For more, call (813) 716-0950.

+ Unity in the Community

The fifth annual Unity in the Community Sporting Clays Event will take place Saturday, Sept. 21, at Fishhawk Sporting Clays, 13505 Hobson Simmons Road, Lithia. Registration will begin at 8 a.m.

The event will include be raffles, prizes and trophies.

Shooting divisions include ladies, juniors, men and teams.

To register in advance, call Howard Johnson at (813) 727-8851.

+ Plant City Lions Club

Jay Collins, a senior planner with the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, was the featured speaker at the Plant City Lions Club meeting Sept. 17, at Buddy Freddy’s.

Collins spoke about the county’s Imagine Hillsborough 2040 campaign, which seeks to gain resident input regarding how the county should handle future growth.

For more information or to take the survey, visit planhillsborough.org.

Tommy Cash performed some of his most famous tunes, as well as some from his brother, Johnny Cash.

JOYFUL

NOISE Gospel music fans flocked to the Florida Strawberry Festival Sept. 14, for the 2013 Sonshine Opry Gospel Music Festival.

This year’s lineup included a mix of local, regional and national acts, including performers from Plant City Church of God, Harmony Baptist, First Baptist Church of Dover, New Hope Worship Center, East Thonotosassa Baptist Church and Hopewell Baptist Church. Headliners included Tommy Cash, Dennis Lee and Ramblin’ Rose.

Loretta Woodson started Ramblin’ Rose with her daughters.

+ P.C. Daybreak Rotary Club

The club is selling tickets to win the Big Green Egg. The raffle will take place at the Country Cracker Feast, Oct. 25. The winner does not need to be present at the event.

For raffle tickets or event tickets, visit plantcitydaybreakrotary.com.

Myrle Henry served as emcee at this year’s Sonshine Opry.

Left: Gospel fans enjoyed a day full of music.

spotlight by Michael Eng and Amber Jurgensen | Plant City Times & Observer

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STORE AROUND THE CORNER by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Uptown Girls Boutique What do an accouncarries women’s aptant, national account parel, shoes, jewmanager and Merle Norelry, purses, hats UPTOWN GIRLS man associate all have and sunglasses. The BOUTIQUE in common? They love merchandise rangfashion. So much so es from brand new ADDRESS: 110 E. that they’ve combined products to upscale Reynolds St. Suite forces to open up their consignment.

Be300 own boutique in Historic cause of the mix, PHONE: (813) 391Downtown Plant City. prices can range 7684 Carole Wright, Tara from $10 to $300.

EMAIL: uptowngirlSmith and Diane Mueller “What we try to do spc@gmail.com celebrated last week the is to pick out things INFO: Consignment grand opening of Upthat are unique and by appointment only. town Girls Boutique, loo n e - o f - a - k i n d ,” Call the store or Tara, cated at 110 E. Reynolds Smith says.

(813) 756-6901.

St., Suite 300.

The store’s racks A brilliant Tiffany blue are full of chiffon ties in their Parisian modresses, lace tops tif. The Eiffel Tower is whimsically and designer jeans. Bright chevron painted on the back wall by friend prints, large gold zippers and overand artist Mar Harrer. The store sized pleated sleeves are just some

BASICS

of the hot trends integrated into the clothing.

The idea to start a store has always been a dream for the trio.

When they went last year to Atlanta, to look at clothing and accessories, they decided now was the perfect time to turn the dream into a reality.

Wright was a huge advocate for having the store downtown. Her office is also downtown, and she finds the area to be ideal for shopping.

“I love being downtown,” Wright Amber Jurgensen says. “It’s growing, and it’s changing. It’s getting better. We’re excit- Diane Mueller, Tara Smith and Carole Wright always wanted to own a clothing ed about being involved with the store.

Downtown Merchants Association.”

“I’m most excited about doing To tap into the community, Up- promoting the store’s events. it,” Mueller says. “I’m a workaholic. town Girls Boutique will be holding “I’m most looking forward to I love fashion like the rest of them. monthly events for their best shop- working as a team,” Smith says.

And it will be fun interacting with pers and partners. The first one will Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurcustomers that come in.” be Oct. 24. Smith is in charge for gensen@plantcityobserver.com.

HEROES WITH HAMMERS by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

TOP BUILDING PERMITS These are the building permits issued by Plant City for Sept. 9 through 13, in order of dollar amounts.

Address

David Contreras

Randy Ames loved volunteering his time.

Service with a Smile

The colorful hallways of Everyday Blessings in Thonotosassa were filled with busy workers gluing, hammering and unrolling tubes of carpet last week as part of Plant City Lowe’s Heroes Project.

Volunteers included employees from the Plant City Lowe’s and contractors from Keller Interiors, which works directly

with Lowe’s Home Improvement. Each year, Lowe’s allocates money for the Heroes Project. This is the 10th year the Plant City location has participated in the service project.

Last year, the local volunteers completed renovations to the Pregnancy Care Center of Plant City.

Lowe’s leaders learned about

Rylan and Reagan Ames Everyday Blessings from the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

Everyday Blessings cares for up to 28 children in Thonotosassa, while they wait for permanent placement. The children in the program range in age from newborns through 17.

They have been removed from their home, because of abuse, neglect or abandonment.

3503 Walden Reserve Drive 103 Alexander Woods Drive 113 Alexander Woods Drive 107 Alexander Woods Drive 111 Alexander Woods Drive 105 Alexander Woods Drive 109 Alexander Woods Drive 303 Lemon St. 911 Cherry St. W. 2807 Pineclub Drive 1703 Johnson St. N. 2602 James Redman Parkway 2104 Country Club Court 2508 Oak Ave. W. 2704 Clubhouse Drive 2816 Clubhouse Drive 122 Drew St. 2504 Walden Woods Drive 4009 Concord Way 3306 Silverpond Drive 707 Baker St. W. 113 Lee St. W. 102 Magnolia St. 2606 Lakeview Way 3006 Via Milano 1307 Spencer St. E. 4736 Bloom Drive 3503 Walden Reserve Drive 705 Wilkins Ave. 1705 Johnson St. N. 2003 Johnson St. N. 3402 Regner Drive

Permit

101-Single Family Detached 102 - Single Family Attached 102 - Single Family Attached 102 - Single Family Attached 102 - Single Family Attached 102 - Single Family Attached 102 - Single Family Attached 437-Non-Res Alt/Rep 329-Structures-Non Bldgs.

434-Res Alt/Rep Pool 437-Non-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep 437-Non-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep 437-Non-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep Mechanical/Residential Mechanical/Residential Fence 437-Non-Res Alt/Rep 434-Res Alt/Rep Plumbing/Residential 434-Res Alt/Rep Mechanical/Residential Mechanical/Residential Electrical/Residential

Est. Value $213,130 $90,000 $90,000 $83,000 $83,000 $83,000 $83,000 $39,000 $25,018 $18,000 $18,000 $18,000 $17,300 $15,000 $13,700 $12,438 $10,000 $9,500 $9,000 $7,820 $7,500 $7,200 $6,907 $6,900 $6,763 $6,700 $6,200 $6,000 $5,890 $5,000 $5,000 $4,644

Permit Date Sept. 12 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 11 Sept. 13 Sept. 11 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 11 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 11 Sept. 13 Sept. 10 Sept. 11 Sept. 12 Sept. 11 Sept. 10 Sept. 10 Sept. 13 Sept. 11 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 13 Sept. 12

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LESSONS FROM THE FIELD

Commitment bracelet reminds of God’s love

Have you ever had something fall out reminders that life will sting and burn. of a box that took you back instantly in It is through these experiences that I time? While still unpacking the numerdecide to become better or bitter. It is in ous boxes from my final move from the times of trials and testing that I am the military life to the civilian one here able to catch a glimpse of who I really in Plant City, a small, tattered, wornam. As one author stated, “Pressure does out bracelet hit the floor. Within a few not make character; it simply reveals it.” seconds, I was standing in the emerI wore this bracelet as a daily remindgency room of the Iba Sina Hospital, er that I was to do my very best for each commonly known to all as the of my families. To serve is not to Baghdad ER. simply do a job but rather to have The memory began with a depth of commitment to do the me seeing one of the medics job. That means when the days wrapping 5-50 cords together to are long, the needs are great, and make a small bracelet. When I the strength (and sometime paasked, the young sergeant what tience) is low, I would look down she was doing, she replied, at my bracelet and go a little fur“Making a bracelet. Do you ther. Soldiers are expected to go want one?” the second mile is our service of CHAPLAIN RET. “Yes!” came my quick reply. duty, honor and country. It is, in MAJ. DANIEL She then told me that she MIDDLEBROOKS reality, their dedication and comwould meet me at my office mitment that beckon them to go and let me pick out the materials. Sgt. the third, fourth and more. These extra Kathleen Vinson came to the office the miles are what separate the so-called next morning with an assortment of servers in life from the servers of life.

5-50 cords. I actually was surprised at During the days when I did not feel the various colors found in this usually the best in body, mind or spirit, I looked drape U.S. Army material. down at my bracelet to remind me of After I chose two colors, she started the cost that had already been paid. the process, and then, after a few turns, You see, on my bracelet are small black looked up and said, “Want to do the dots that reminded me of the warriors rest?”

I served on their final journey home.

I smiled and took the cords in my That is why it is a Soldiers Commitment fingers and did what she told me to do.

Bracelet. It is not for me — but for them It was an easy craft. In the end, she put — that I wear it. I remember seeing a the finishing touches on the new bracequote on one of the T-wall in Kuwait that let by burning the ends, using a needle said, “All gave some; some gave all.” to put on the button to hold it together There is also another saying that and placed it around my wrist. As I said expresses this type of strength in combefore, it was a simple craft, but this one mitment and priceless gift of life. John held a deeper meaning for me.

15:13 states, “Greater love has no one This was a Soldier’s Commitment than this, than to lay down one’s life for Bracelet. When I chose the colors, a friend.”

I was, in fact, choosing the color of We all need visual reminders of the my commitment. I was and still am incredible jobs we have in the numermilitary. I grew up in a military family, ous areas we serve and sacrifice for served and am now retired. The light others. For me, it starts with a bracelet and dark shades of green stand for the that reminded a mind to push the body green I wore proudly as a soldier. The because of the love of God for all. two colors intertwined represent two What is the symbol you wear that families I love and to which I am everreminds you of the called life of sacrifice committed — my spouse and daughters we should live? I have some extra 5-50 and my brothers and sisters in arms. cord to get you started.

They are together in my life, and each is Chaplain Ret. Maj. Daniel Middlewrapped together in an intricate pattern brooks is president and CEO of Compreof strength and splendor. The button hensive Chaplaincy Care and Consultrepresents my faith relationship with ing and pastor of Hopewell Baptist God. He is what holds my life together Church. For more information, call (813) just as this button does the bracelet. The 767-2082 or email to chaplainmiddleneedle used and the flame needed are brooks@hotmail.com.

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OBSERVEROBITUARIES

Zane Blanton

Zane Blanton, 89, of Plant City, died Sept. 9, 2013.

He was the son of the late Bernard and Eva Cone Blanton.

The Blanton farm was one of the oldest farms in Hillsborough County. Mr. Blanton served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a dedicated member of the Plant City Elks Lodge, holding several officer positions. Mr. Blanton was a member and past president of the Plant City Noon Rotary Club, where he was recognized locally and nationally for 52 years of perfect attendance as a Rotarian. He was also a member of the Cattlemen’s Association, the Republican Party and the First United Methodist Church of Plant City.

Mr. Blanton had been a rancher, a citrus grower and developer and was an avid big-game hunter.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Cundiff Blanton, daughters, Cheryl Bachelor, Donna Van Slambrook and Stacy O’Donovan; stepchildren, Diane Fleming, Vicky Conner, Kim Wilhjelm and Jim Roark; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Miriam Scott.

He was preceded in death by siblings, Frances Trammell, and Bernard and Kenneth Blanton.

The family received friends Sept. 14, at First United Methodist Church of Plant City.

Donations may be made to Plant City Noon Rotary Club or Plant City Elks Lodge.

Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Willard F. “Frank” Bugg Jr.

Willard F. “Frank” Bugg Jr., 69, of Plant City, died Sept. 10, 2013.

He was a proud fourth-generation Floridian.

He is survived by his wife, Bernadette; son, Lance Colada; and sister, Ellen Rice (James).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Brunette Bugg.

A Celebration of Life was held Sept. 17, Turkey Creek First Baptist Church, Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at hopewellfuneral.com.

Emilio Guzman

Emilio Guzman, 89, of Seffner, died Sept. 13, 2013.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marcelina; children, Evelyn (Artemio), Emilio, Jr. (Marilyn) and Elizabeth (Leoncio); seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many family and friends.

A Celebration of Life was held Sept. 18; interment followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens, Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at hopewellfuneral.com.

Charles Wayne Hart

Charles Wayne Hart, 74, of Plant City, died Sept. 13, 2013.

He retired from Publix, where he was a cabinet-maker. He was a member of the Plant City Church of God. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Shirley Hart; daughters, Connie Smailes (Greg) of Plant City, and Melody Poage (Wayne) of Texas; grandchildren, Barrett Smailes, Lucas Smailes, Erin Poage, Leigh Poage and Will Poage; siblings, Sue Butler, Linda Walker, Lee Hart and Dan Hart; siblings-in-law, Sandra Lewis, RogerWebb and DavidWebb; sister-in-law, Pam Hart; mother of his daughters, Carol Hunt; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Steve Hart.

A Celebration of Life was held Sept. 18, Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City. Interment followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be made at hopewellfuneral.com.

Fannie L. Johnson

Fannie L. Johnson, 89 of Plant City, died Sept. 14, 2013, at South Florida Baptist Hospital.

Born April 25, 1924, in Plant City, she was the daughter of the late Wesley and Bessie Cason. She is survived by her husband, Alvin “Red” Johnson.

Mrs. Johnson was a sectionizer at the canning plant in her early days, was a teacher’s aide for 24 years and also drove a school bus for 17 years.

Survivors also include daughter, Annette Granger; grandchildren, Dana Collier, Michelle, Jay W. Jr. and Deana Granger; and four greatgrandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 at Plant City’s First Baptist Church, 503 N. Palmer St., Plant City. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Adaira Emilene Kilgore

Infant Adaira Emilene Kilgore, of Plant City, died Sept. 13, 2013.

She was born July 8, 2013, in Tampa. She was a ray of sunshine to everyone who had the opportunity to be graced by her presence. Her dark hair, brilliant blue eyes, and infectious smile warmed everyone’s heart. She loved her stuffed monkey, which was with her at all times.

She is survived by her parents, Lisa-Lynn Septer and Sean Madison Kilgore; grandparents, Toni Septer, Vivian Kilgore, Cathy Kilgore and Don C. Kilgore; great-grandmother, Margarete Ball; godmother, Alyssa Santana; aunts, Keri Kilgore, Bambi Hooker, Kim Player and Cheri Zugay; uncle, Michael Septer; great aunt, Christine Castaldo; and cousins, Julia Haubert and Stefan Rojas.

Graveside services were held Sept. 17, at Old Hopewell Cemetery, Plant City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to thetearsfoundation.org.

Online condolences may be made at hopewellfuneral.com.

Deborah Pitts Tamborello

Deborah Pitts Tamborello, 61 of Seffner, died Sept. 12, 2013.

She was a longtime resident of Seffner, a homemaker, and a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.

She loved her family and friends and will be missed by all.

She is survived by husband, Bobby Mayhew; son, Anthony Tamborello; brother, William Jack Pitts Jr.; his wife, Marylyn; nephew, Jason R. Pitts; niece, Jacki Pitts Jonas; her husband, Kimball; great-nephew, Ilya Jonas; and many cousins and close friends.

She is predeceased by her father, William J. Pitts Sr.; mother, Voncille H. Pitts; and, brother James A. Pitts.

Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP southern sounds by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

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CampGrass picks Plant City to host music fest

The annual CampGrass will feature a night of camping, followed by a day full of musical instruction and concerts.

Musicians of all experience levels will strap their guitars, banjos and more for the annual CampGrass, a musical workshop sponsored by the Central Florida Bluegrass Association.

For the first time, the event will be held at Boone’s Nursery, 3201 N. Maryland Ave., Plant City. A night of camping, jamming and a low-country boil on Sept. 20 will lead into a full day of workshops Sept. 21.

The goal of CampGrass is to provide pickers with the opportunity to learn more

about their instruments.

Charlie Boone, owner of Boone’s Nursery, is a member of “Little Girl and The Dreadful Snakes,” which will be one of bands performing at the MiniFest Stage Show following the workshops. Boone also will be teaching a beginner guitar class and a songwriting workshop. Boone joined his first band in the eighth grade and has written more than 50 songs.

“I’ll actually be taking a guitar class with the advanced instructor,” Boone said about Er-

nie Evans, a third-generation musician, who recently toured as a member of Grammy nominees Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike, Grammy Award winner Vassar Clements and Motown legends The Platters.

“That’s the great thing about events like this — there is always something you can learn and get better at,” Boone said.

In addition to Boone and Evans, other instructors include Damon Wack, a retired pilot, who will be teaching the dobro, and banjo instructor Josh Griffin, who currently is touring nationally with Evans and the Florida State Bluegrass Band and the Evans Acoustic Trio.

Plant City resident Ken Bailey, owner of Bailey Acoustic Shop in Historic Downtown Plant City, will be teaching the stand-up bass. Bailey plays banjo for Little Girl and The Dreadful Snakes with Boone.

Cheri Hornsby, the organizer of CampGrass, plays standup bass in the band, which includes members from Plant City, Lakeland and Riverview.

According to Hornsby, CampGrass’ classes are unique.

“When you take a regular

Don Smith

Little Girl and the Dreadful Snakes and Cotton-Eyed Does are two of the bands that will perform during the music festival portion of CampGrass. guitar lesson, it may be an hour long, but between our intermediate and advanced classes, you get an in-depth saturation course,” she said.

“This is about taking time as a musician to invest in your skill.”

Boone and Hornsby noted the music at CampGrass isn’t the typical 1940s bluegrass.

The genre is diverse in musical origins, spanning from classic country to pop to rock ‘n’ roll.

Little Girl and the Dreadful

IF YOU GO

Inc., 3201 N. Maryland Ave., Plant City

WHEN: Camping begins Sept. 20. Instrumental workshop begins at 9 a.m. Sept.

21, followed by the music festival from 3 to 9 p.m.

DETAILS: Premium camping spots, with electric and water hookups, currently are booked, but primitive camping is still available. Guests may choose not to camp and arrive at 8:30 a.m.

Sept. 21, for

CAMPGRASS

WHERE: Boone’s Nursery

Snakes have been known to play acoustic bluegrass versions of The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix tunes and even a song by rapper Lil’ Wayne.

“We all come from different musical backgrounds,” Boone said about the band. “I come from more of a rock background, but the great thing is how everything blends together.”

Other bands set to perform after the workshop include newcomer K’Lynn and Her the workshops. A MiniFest concert, featuring bluegrass bands from throughout the state, will begin at 3 p.m.

All campers and workshop students attend the concert for free. Anyone else may attend for $10 per vehicle.

Instrument workshops start at $10.

WORTHY CAUSE by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Amber Jurgensen

Hospital foundation kicks off fall fundraising season

From bidding on sparkling diamonds to a romp in the mucky mud, residents have plenty of ways to donate to the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation this year.

DIAMONDS AND DENIM

The glittering fundraiser Diamonds and Denim, which takes place from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Sept 26, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Center, has been the signature fundraiser for the foundation for 17 years.

Attendees have enjoyed the casual gala, which requires them to wear jeans instead of evening gowns and tuxedos.

“Our goal was to have a gala but have it be a fun, casual event, because most galas are black tie,” foundation Executive Director Jana Butler said.

“It’s always a fun time. People seem to enjoy it.”

Sponsored by Advanced Care Hospitalists, Diamonds and Denim always has featured a silent auction, musical entertainment and a dinner

ic support to South Florida Baptist Hospital through contributions and community events.

Two upcoming fundraisers have been established to help the foundation succeed in its goal. One, Diamonds and Denim, has been a Plant City classic for almost 20 years. The second, Romp in the Swamp, is a new venture that also benefits the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

DIAMONDS AND DENIM

WHEN: 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 26 WHERE: Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Center, 2301 W. Oak Ave., Plant City prepared by chefs from the hospital. This year, it will add two new traditions.

In addition to the silent auction, there also will be a live auction with professional auctioneer, Frank Trunzo, who has donated his time. Six special travel and lifestyle packages will offered: a beach trip; hunting excursion in New Mexico; Buccaneers sports package; North Carolina vacation package; gourmet dinner party by a

INFORMATION: Cheri Hornsby, CFBA.News@gmail. com, or visit sites.google. com/site/centralfloridabluegr ass/2013CampG rass.

ROMP IN THE SWAMP

The committee still needs about 20 high school volunteers. Members of the Plant City High School Civitan Club are among the helpers.

Any town requires certain civic services to run, including a city hall, post office, schools and, of course, a hospital.

Because of the rate medical technology advances, South Florida Baptist Hospital requires a steady stream of funds to ensure it offers the latest in health care.

Established in 1995, the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation provides philanthrop-

Mandolin, the Florida State Bluegrass Band, the Toni Brown Band and the CottonEyed Does, an all-female Americana and bluegrass band.

Hornsby said CampGrass is for everyone from beginner musicians to fans of music who want to see regional bands.

“If you like acoustic music and just good music with harmony, you’ll like this event,” she said.

professional chef; and an outdoor package that includes a porch swing and plants.

There also will be a drawing for a VIP dining experience with their own special menu and table side service by the head chef. For $10, attendees can buy a ticket. If they win, their entire table will get the VIP experience.

Last year, Diamonds and Denim raised $96,000.

“Our goal is to always be better than that,” Butler said. “We would like to break that this year.”

Money from the gala will go to the hospital’s general fund. It will help buy orthopedic surgical equipment and a stereotactic breast biopsy machine, which costs about $135,000.

Mud runs and adventure races have been all the rage recently. A new one, Romp in the Swamp, will take place Oct. 12, at the Lower Green Swamp Preserve, formerly Cone Ranch.

The 5K is more of an obstacle course race with some mud, versus a full-fledged mud run. The race will benefit both the South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation and the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

With 25 heart-pounding obstacles, the race offers something for everyone.

“This is a family event,” Butler said. “We encourage families with children to come.”

There will be one-mile races for kids age 5 to 8 and 9 to 13. There also will be a wedding wave at 10:30 a.m., during which couples can get married or renew their vows. Special wedding-themed obstacles will be offered, and couples will have to drag a ball and chain behind them and tie the knot by being tied together to complete an obstacle.

The maintenance team at the hospital designed and built the obstacles, such as the alligator death roll. Runners will have to crawl their way through four spinning tubes.

The idea for a run first came up from past hospital president Steve Nierman and David Sullivan.

“Our goal was to have a large community event to expose more people to the foundation and what it does and what it goes to,” Butler said. “We want to get the word out more and to a different generation.”

Butler presented the idea to the chamber to do a partnership.

Orthopaedic Medical Group sponsored the event.

Hillsborough County donated the use of the preserve.

ROMP IN THE SWAMP

WHEN: Oct. 12 WHERE: Lower Green Swamp Preserve, 3536 E. Knights Griffin Road WEBSITE: rompin theswamp.org

Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | SENIORS | COMMUNITY | TENNIS

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Diana Corzine follows family’s proud tradition. 13 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

SIDELINES GOLF

+ Plant City girls off to great start

The Plant City High School girls golf team is off to a strong start this season.

The Lady Raiders are 7-0 on the year, following a win against Newsome Monday, at River Hills Golf Club.

The match was limited to five holes, because of rain. Kaylee McIntosh shot 21, while fellow sophomore Kendall Johnson shot 22.

Captain Kellyanne Hurst missed the match, because she was in Washington, D.C., for an academic obligation.

Plant City’s landmark win this season came Sept.

12 against Steinbrenner, a team that finished the 2012 regular season undefeated.

The Lady Raiders won 149 to 157. Johnson shot a 30 in the eight-hole match for the best score of the day.

After having a double bogey on hole three, Johnson made par on seven and eight before having an eagle on the par five ninth. McIntosh (37), Hurst and Lindsey Box (44) rounded out the scoring for Plant City.

young powerhouses by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Area youth programs earn national recognition Six Plant City Dolphins teams and the 10U Plant City Raiders Elite received national rankings by the United Youth Football League and SigningDay.com.

Youth sports teams in Plant City have seen plenty of success in recent years.

From Little League teams winning state and region titles to youth soccer programs advancing to state competitions, the area is rich in young talent.

Most recently, Plant City’s youth football players took the national spotlight for their achievements and accolades on the field.

SigningDay.com has partnered with the United Youth Football League to release national rankings of UYFL affiliate youth football programs. Seven local teams have been

ranked by the national recruiting website, including one, the 10U Plant City Raiders Elite, ranked No. 1 in its age division. Six Plant City Dolphins teams also are ranked.

For the past two years, the UYFL National Championships have been held at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, in Plant City, through a partnership between the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department.

Last year’s tournament featured players, ranging from 6 to 16 years old, representing 110 youth football teams from 22 states. The national

championships will return Dec 8 to 13, to the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, with as many as 160 teams expected to participate.

QUICK SUCCESS

The highest ranked local team has played together for the shortest amount of time.

The 10U Raiders, an “Elite,” or AllStar team comprising of members of the Plant City Colts and players from Brandon and other surrounding areas, formed last October. As an Elite team, it doesn’t play a full

SEE YOUTH / PAGE 12

Matt Mauney

The 10U Plant City Raiders Elite team won a national title at the UYFL National Championships last December, at Otis M. Andrews Park, in Plant City. The team is ranked No. 1 nationally in the 10U division.

GAME OF THE WEEK

SHOW ME THE MAUNEY

DURANT AT PLANT CITY | 7:30 P.M. SEPT. 20

Redman Cup recalls favorite rivalries

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

+ Coney impressive in college debut

Former Plant City High standout Bennie Coney finally got his chance to showcase his talents last week for the University of Cincinnati.

The redshirt freshman quarterback made his first college appearance, completing all five of his passes for 60 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown pass to Shakim Alonzo Sept. 14, in the Bearcats’ 66-9 victory over Northwestern State.

Coney entered the game in place of starter Brendon Kay, with 6:51 left in the second quarter. Cincinnati was leading 21-0.

Coney was a highly recruited Class of 2012 Plant City High graduate. He also had offers from Arkansas, Michigan, Virginia Tech and Texas Tech, while current UC head coach Tommy Tuberville was coach of the Red Raiders.

Coney was redshirted last year and was the No. 3 quarterback when he started this fall, but a season-ending injury to Munchie Legaux moved him up in the depth chart.

BASEBALL

+ Danish shines in first pro season

Former Durant pitching standout Tyler Danish didn’t waste any time making his presence known in the professional ranks.

Danish, drafted in the second round (55th overall) by the Chicago White Sox, ended his first year of pro ball with a 1.20 ERA with 28 strikeouts. He started with the Bristol White Sox, Chicago’s Rookie League affiliate, where he made 13 appearances and compiled a 1.38 ERA through 26 innings pitched.

He then was promoted to Chicago’s Single-A affiliate Kannapolis. Danish made two appearances with the Intimidators in relief work, pitching four innings and allowing just two hits to six strikeouts. Danish now moves on to offseason workouts and training camps. Opponents only hit .162 against him in his rookie season.

Danish helped lead Durant to its first state championship appearance last spring.

by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor File photo

Durant defeated Plant City 22-7, last season en route to its 10-0 regular season record. The Raiders hope to avenge the loss this Friday, while the Cougars are looking for their first win of the season.

BRAGGINGRIGHTS Winless Durant will look to get its season back on track against undefeated Plant City this week, in the battle of the James L. Redman Cup.

What a difference a year can make.

This time last year, the Durant Cougars and Plant City Raiders entered their annual rivalry game on different sides of the spectrum.

Durant was 4-0, well on its way to its first undefeated regular season. The Raiders were 3-1 but would lose five of their last six after going into their game with the Cougars.

This year, Durant still is searching for that first elusive win with a young and inexperienced team, while Plant

City comes off its bye week at 2-0 after a 33-0 win over Wharton.

This year’s battle for the James L. Redman Cup is also the district opener for both schools, so although they enter the game on opposite sides of the win-loss standings, the district and the two available playoff spots are up for grabs.

PLANT CITY

The Raiders are breaking in their new up-tempo offense, but it’s Plant City’s defense

that has impressed so far this season.

The Raiders only have allowed three points this year, coming on a field goal in the season opener against Steinbrenner. The only other score allowed by Plant City this year was on a 83-yard punt return

by Steinbrenner’s Kezio Snelling.

“We were thrilled with what our boys did against Wharton,” defensive coordinator Greg Meyer said. “We

SEE GOTW / PAGE 12

SERIES STANDINGS

Durant took the James L. Redman Cup last year for just the second time since it was introduced in 2007. Plant City owns a 6-3 advantage in the series since 2004.

2004 — PCHS, 38-24 2005 — PCHS, 45-32 2006 — DHS, 17-13 2007 — PCHS, 14-13 2008 — DHS, 25-6 2009 — PCHS, 27-24 2010 — PCHS, 27-21 2011 — PCHS, 43-12 2012 — DHS, 22-7

As Plant City and Durant prepare to square off in another chapter of the battle for the James L. Redman Cup this Friday, it got me thinking about some of my favorite football rivalries.

We all know of FloridaGeorgia, Michigan-Notre Dame and the rivalry of the Giants and Cowboys in the NFL, but here is a list, in no particular order, of five rivalries that stick with me. Although possibly not as well known as some of the aforeMATT mentioned MAUNEY series, these games still bring plenty of emotion each year and have created some memorable moments.

1. Jefferson-Jackson County: First I’d like to start with a high school rivalry few of our readers know about, but one I was fortunate enough to be a part of as a prep reporter in northeast Georgia.

The football stadiums at Jefferson High and Jackson County Comprehensive High School are separated by just over a mile. But, the two schools — which share the same city (Jefferson) and county (Jackson County) — hadn’t faced each other in 25 years.

Now, there were rumors flying (mostly from Jackson County fans) that Jefferson, a city school in its own school district and a perennial powerhouse in a lower classification, was afraid to play Jackson County, a county school that has a tradition of losing.

Because they were in sepa-

SEE MAUNEY / PAGE 12

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

DIANA CORZINE Plant City High senior Diana Corzine has a passion for playing soccer, but running cross country in high school has improved her game. She finished first on her team at the East Hillsborough County Invitational with a time of 22:46, placing 11th overall.

She plans to play soccer for Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn., where all three of her older sisters attended.

What got you into cross country?

One of my sisters was an amazing runner starting in middle school, and I just always looked up to all of my sisters. So, when she started playing soccer, I took on that when I was 6 and then started running as soon as I was old enough.

Obviously, the two sports go hand in hand, so how has running benefited your soccer?

My competitive soccer team calls me the ‘Energizer Bunny’ sometimes, because I have a higher fitness level than a lot of the girls,

The PCHS soccer team had a strong season last year, so what would you like to build on this season?

I want to go even further. Through the years, the team has gotten closer and closer. When I came in as a freshman, I was a part of a big group, and that’s kind of been the core of the team. Now, we’re the leaders. This year could be the best yet.

You’ve had three cross country coaches and several soccer coaches.What has been the toughest part of that?

Every time, I’m worried that the coach may make us apply ourselves but not do that much for the team. It turned out that every new coach has been amazing.

especially coming into the season.

What are your goals this cross country season?

My goal for the season is to get my time under 20 minutes, so anything under that, even if it’s 19:59, that would be amazing.

Do you run track as well?

I did my first two years, but last year, the academic side got to be too much.

Being a student is more important than being an athlete, so when something has to give, it will always be athletics.

MAUNEY / PAGE 11 rate regions and classifications, they weren’t required to play — until 2010, when a GHSA reclassification put them in the same region.

The games have brought the small town together and has created a great community rivalry. Just like Durant and Plant City, the games features players who grew up playing youth football together and now attend church together.

Although Jefferson has had the upper hand in the rivalry, including winning 28-6 in their state championship season last fall and 49-0 this year, the game is still a great rivalry between two schools that are within walking distance of one another.

2. Georgia-Georgia Tech: Probably the biggest college football connection I have with people in Florida is the rivalry between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators.

Well, in Georgia, there is another rivalry that gets pretty heated.

Growing up in Atlanta, I was a minority, because I cheered for Georgia Tech instead of UGA. It made sense to me. I’m from Atlanta, not Athens, and I had just as many family members with degrees from Tech as degrees from UGA. The nickname “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate,” pretty much sums up the GT-UGA rivalry.

UGA boasts having a better overall program and a stronger fan base, while GT jokes that although that may be true, Tech graduates will be the bosses of UGA grads one day.

3. Navy-Army: Sure, it’s usually referred to as “Army-Navy,” but we all know which one should go first.

This one is special to me, because it brought my dad and I together each year to watch the game. Although he didn’t attend the academy in Annapolis, he served in the U.S. Navy during Vietnam, so there is no secret which team he (and by default, I) rooted for in the battle for the Thompson Cup. As my love for college football grew, I became a bigger fan of Navy, after making a coaching connection between them and my alma mater (Georgia Southern). Our former head coach, Paul Johnson, had a successful stint at Navy before becoming the head coach at Georgia Tech. Johnson’s famous triple option wishbone offense still can be seen at Georgia Southern and Navy.

While I’m eight hours away from my father now, we will still call each other on Army-Navy weekend to give our pre-game and post-game reports.

Navy and Army will face off for the 114th time Dec. 14.

As always, Go Navy, beat Army!

“

What’s your plans for the future?

I am in the process of applying to Trevecca Nazarene. It’s where all three of my sisters went, and I’m accepting a soccer scholarship, as well.

Are any of your sisters still up there?

All three of them will actually be up there for a few years. One is working on campus, and one is going to graduate school at Vanderbilt. Christina is still at Trevecca.

JAMES L. REDMAN CUP

IN THEIR WORDS

The rivalry trophy was added to the mix in 2007. Plant City won that game 14-13.

James Redman was a longstanding state representative and a Plant City native. He was also a lawyer for many years and active in the Plant City community.

The road named after Redman is also one of the connecting routes of the two high schools, which are separated by 10 miles.

Two of his grandchildren played for the schools, with Chip Bowden as Durant’s quarterback and Aaron Sullivan as the center at Plant City High. The two are only a few months apart in age, and both graduated in 2006 to go on and play in college — Bowden at West Point and Sullivan at Campbell University (N.C.). Their mothers, Redman’s daughters, are local principals — Pam Bowden, at Durant, and Susan Sullivan, at Tomlin Middle.

LANDON GALLOWAY Senior, QB, Plant City “This is southwest versus Plant City is the way I see it.

They came after us, so they’re wannabes.”

GOTW / PAGE 11 feel like we underperformed against Steinbrenner, and that’s no disrespect to them, but we expected to come out and do some things and got off to a slow start.”

Meyer said he saw a complete change in his defense in the Wharton game.

“Those kids were dialed in,and we knew they were going to play well,” he said.

“Pitching the shutout was big, but to be honest, we have yet to play our best ball.”

That’s a scary thought. So far, the Raiders have recorded seven sacks, three interceptions, one forced fumble and nine tackles for loss in just two games.

The strong play of the defense has allowed the Raiders offense to ease into the new system. Plant City has had a balanced offense so far. The Raider passed for 185 yards and rushed for 164 yards against Steinbrenner, while they passed for 128 yards and ran for 158 yards against Wharton.

Head coach Wayne Ward isn’t taking Durant lightly for it’s 0-3 record, noting that they have a “brutal schedule” and are aggressive on defense.

He said not turning the ball over, something Plant City did several times against Steinbrenner, will be key against Durant.

“The biggest thing is paying attention to the details,” Ward said. “If you turn the ball over and give up big plays on defense, it’s a recipe for disaster.”

DURANT

Durant head coach Mike Gottman wasn’t discouraged by his team’s 31-10 loss to Tampa Bay Tech last week, because he saw a fight and will to win in his young team.

“We gave up,” Gottman said in reference to the 28-0 loss to Sickles. “This week (against TBT), we played hard all four quarters. I really felt like we had a good week of practice and made some improvements. I know the score doesn’t reflect that, but I was proud of the effort.”

Turnovers and penalties have plagued Durant in all three games this season.

“It never fails,” Gottman said. “Every big play we get, it comes back. It’s been like that all year.”

Durant had a touchdown called back because of a penalty, and quarterback Trey VanDeGrift threw one of his three interceptions inside the TBT 12-yard-line down 24-10 with seven minutes to play.

Durant lost several seniors to graduation, including vocal leaders Alex Wood and Chris Smith.

“We’ve been asking our seniors to lead this team and show these younger guys how to do it, and they’ve tried,” Gottman said. “It’s a challenge every week, so we just have to hunker down and try and weather the storm.”

Gottman knows that with the district opener staring his team in the face, the season isn’t lost, but getting better fundamentally and limiting mistakes will be crucial if they

JOHN BROOME Senior, DE, Plant City “We always have a bitter taste every time we play Durant.

We want to bring that trophy back home where it belongs.”

CRIS ATKINS Junior, RB, Durant “The bragging rights are high.

To have 365 days of bragging rights feels good, so we just have to go out and win.”

GABE BROWN Senior, DB, Durant “We came out 0-3, but that’s in the past. We’re going to have to take it as 0-0 and go out just like every game and try and win it.”

“

want to rebound from their 0-3 start and make a run at a third straight district championship.

“In the grand scope of things, the game against Plant City is a huge game,” he said.

“But what happens is, when you lose like this, you kind of lose your steam, so when something goes bad you have that ‘here we go again’ mentality, and that’s what we have to keep them out of.”

OTHER AREA ACTION 4. Harvard-Yale: This is one of my favorite rivalries and proves that rivalries aren’t just for “big schools.”

In fact, the annual game between Harvard and Yale is the second oldest rivalry in college football (behind Yale-Princeton), dating back to 1875. Because of this, the rivalry has appropriately been nicknamed “The Game.”

Although it is never a top-billed game on ESPN, the game is usually televised, and I always try to watch it. Ivy League schools don’t give athletic scholarships, and very few of the players ever make it to the NFL, so not only are they some of the smartest student athletes in the country, but also they are playing for their love and passion for the game.

Harvard has owned the series in recent years, but it’s still a fun game to watch.

5. Georgia Southern-Appalachian State and GSU-Furman: I couldn’t end this list without some shameless promotion of my alma mater. Although only hardcore college football fans know of Georgia Southern outside of 100 miles of Statesboro, the school has a great football tradition and some great rivalries that fuel them.

The GSU-Furman rivalry truly fits the bill of how rivalries are born. The Eagles first faced Furman in 1985 in the Division I-AA national title game, which GSU won 44-42.

It was Southern’s first of six national championships.

Furman defeated GSU three years later for the school’s only title, while GSU went on to win titles in 1999 and 2000.

The rivalry heightened when GSU joined the Southern Conference with Furman in 1993, and the two schools have had some epic games since. The demographics of each school — GSU is a 20,000 student public university in the deep south, while Furman is a private liberal arts college in South Carolina with less than 3,000 students — makes for an interesting fan-base dynamic.

GSU’s rivalry with Appalachian State is more recent but arguably much more competitive. The two schools have similar academic and student enrollment profiles.

In 1987, the Eagles and Mountaineers met in the I-AA playoffs, beginning the rivalry in the modern era. App. State owns a 12-10 advantage in the series in the modern era.

While App. State has the upper hand in the series, GSU has some notable wins, including winning 38-35 in 2007, in Boone, N.C., the same year the Mountaineers defeated Michigan and won the FCS national championship. That win snapped the Mountaineers’ 30-game home winning streak, the longest in the nation at the time at any level.

The two schools will move up to FBS football next year, playing in the Sun Belt Conference.

BRANDON AT STRAWBERRY CREST

LAST WEEK: Strawberry Crest fell to Leon 32-26, while Brandon fell to Riverview 28-21.

NOTES: Austin Carswell replaced injured quarterback Tristan Hyde and nearly led the Chargers

(1-2) back from a 32-14 deficit to win the game against Leon (Tallahassee).

Carswell struck for two touchdown passes in the closing minutes and with 15 seconds remaining, he threw for a third, only to have it wiped out by illegal motion.

Brandon also enters Friday at 1-2 after a loss to Riverview. The Eagles also attempted to mount a comeback, closing within touchdown with 4:27 to play. They got the ball at their own 13 with 3:02 to play, but quarterback Brandon Jones’ was intercepted with 39 seconds left to end the game.

This is the Class 7A District 8 opener for both teams.

YOUTH / PAGE 11 schedule, such as the ranked Dolphins teams.

The Raiders’ first tournament — the Turkey Day Classic, in Atlanta — came just a month after they started practicing. The Raiders went home 0-2.

It was a different story a few weeks later at the UYFL National Championships in Plant City. The team went 3-0 in the tournament, claiming the national title in the 10U category.

The Raiders beat teams from Newark, N.J., Jacksonville and Chicago to win the championship, which was a large factor of the team’s No. 1 ranking this year.

“We knew that with some of the players we had our team was going to be special, but we didn’t expect a No. 1 ranking,” 10U Raiders Elite defensive coordinator Timothy Knighten said. “That’s a great accomplishment, especially for a new program.”

Chicago’s Homewood Flossmoor, the team the Raiders beat in the finals, came into the national tournament undefeated for the past two years.

According to Knighten, there will be a Raiders 10U team at this year’s tournament, but most of the players on the national championship team will play for a 12U team.

“Some of the kids are 11, and others are just turning 11, so by playing as a 12U team, they will be together for two years,” he said. “We feel like we can compete with the older kids in the 12U division.”

Maurice Anderson, who played running back for the Plant City Dolphins peewee team that competed in the UYFL championships, is expected to play for the Raiders Elite this year.

Knighten’s son, Zamir, was one of the standout players for Raiders last December. He has been piling up accolades and invites off the field since and will compete in the All-American Bowl as a part of Team USA in late December and early January.

DOLPHIN PRIDE

Having six Plant City Dolphins teams ranked

by SigningDay.com is no surprise to Dolphins longtime President Buddy Bennett.

“We have several head coaches with 12 to 15 years of experience,” Bennett said. “That really shows when they’re on the sidelines.”

Matt Mauney

The 10U Plant City Raiders Elite won the 2012 UYFL National Championship.

The Dolphins only had two teams represented in last year’s national championships — peewee and junior varsity. According to Bennett, three teams are expected to participate this year — varsity, JV and midgets — with peewee as a possibility.

The highest ranked Dolphins team is ranked third in the Junior Midget DI division. Another Dolphins team is ranked 11th in that division.

Other ranked Dolphins teams include 15U (12th), Mighty Mites (sixth), Cadet (10th) and Junior Peewee DI (ninth).

“It’s great to have an event like this right here in Plant City,” Bennett said about local teams being able to compete on a national level with virtually no expenses or travel costs.

Teams coming from the Northeast or Midwest usually take a week or more off from work and school to compete in the tournament, while local teams are able to compete in the afternoons and at night, without interrupting daily routines.

There will be plenty of competition for the Dolphins and Raiders this December, with 160 teams expected. The championships are expected to return in 2014 and officials are already estimating 200 or more teams.

“With even more teams, it will make it tough to win it and keep those rankings up,” Bennett said.

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ON THE GREEN by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Stan Hobby, Jack Holland, Jared Arnold and Richard Calhoun

Optimist Club, Plant City tee off with annual golf tourney Local golfers took to the links for the 19th annual Plant City Optimist Club/Plant City Recreation and Parks Department Golf Tournament Sept. 14, on The Lakes course at Walden Lake Golf & Country Club.

Prizes for the putting contest, two longdrive holes and two closest-to-the-pin holes were awarded, and participants also had the chance to win door prizes.

Colin Hines was ready to roll.

Walt Arnold and Jeb Hicks

Deanna Jackson

Optimist Club members helped register this year’s golfers.

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PLANT CITY

RAIN

(INCHES)

WEATHER

WED.

Sept. 11

0.33

THURS.

TEMPERATURES

Sept. 12

0.23

FRI.

Thurs., Sept. 19 Fri., Sept. 20 Sat., Sept. 21 Sun., Sept. 22 Mon., Sept. 23 Tues., Sept. 24 Wed., Sept. 25

Sept. 13

0.00

SAT.

Sept. 14

0.15

SUN.

Sept. 15

0.31

MON.

Sept. 16

0.06

TUES.

Sept. 17

0.02

SEPT.

TO DATE

2.62 (2012: 4.82)

YEAR

TO DATE 33.58 (2012: 37.16)

HIGH 91 91 90 88 86 91 91

LOW 73 72 73 73 75 73 73

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

MOON

Thurs., Sept. 19 Fri., Sept. 20 Sat., Sept. 21 Sun., Sept. 22 Mon., Sept. 23 Tues., Sept. 24 Wed., Sept. 25

Sept. 12

SUNRISE 7:15 a.m.

7:16 a.m.

7:16 a.m.

7:17 a.m.

7:17 a.m.

7:18 a.m.

7:18 a.m.

SUNSET 7:29 p.m.

7:28 p.m.

7:27 p.m.

7:26 p.m.

7:25 p.m.

7:23 p.m.

7:22 p.m.

OKRA PRICES (SOUTH FLORIDA)

PHASES

Sept. 19

SHIPPING POINT: ORLANDO

PRODUCT 1/2 bushel cartons

LOW HIGH $14 $14.85

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

Sept. 27

Sept. 5

, 3&

Pam Ciganik calls this photo, “Stadium Reflections.” “I took this photo of the Plant City Stadium during a VSI soccer match,” she says.

The Plant City Times & Observer, State Farm Insurance agent Tony Lee and The Corner Store have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest. Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $10 gift certificate to The Corner Store! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City. Be sure to include your name.

I GET AROUND

By Jill Pepper | Edited by Timothy E. Parker ACROSS 1 Historical record 6 Synagogue official 11 Hop, ___ and a jump 15 Wild, desperate guess 19 Certain New Zealander 20 Field measures 21 Planning to vote no 22 Coastal flier 23 Bit of tomfoolery 24 Compartment in a stable 25 Big name in hotels or crackers 26 Mentally together 27 Toilet kit item 29 Lifeboat device 31 Century plants 33 Neatly arranged 36 Directory contents 37 It doesn’t pay 38 Alexander the Great conquered it 39 Maximum bet 40 Reddish-brown horses 42 Self-proclaimed “greatest” of boxing 43 Automobile feature 46 All’s fair in it 48 Mississippi restraint 50 Omega preceder 51 A billion years, in astronomy 52 Quote as fact 53 Commandments count 54 Clairvoyant’s claim 55 Puts in a concise form 60 Has a crush on 62 Terms of enlistment 63 Long-tailed American finch 64 Cigar residue 66 Bolt attachment 67 Helicopter sounds 68 Afghan coin 69 It could make a molehill out of a mountain 70 Battered 72 Pursue wild geese?

73 Angelic figure 75 Frantic or free 77 Coffee server 78 Always, to an old poet 80 Neap or ebb, for example 81 Teens may fake them 82 Say further 83 Ignored, as a bridge suit 85 Weep, and then some 86 Hospital posting 92 Old greeting for Caesar 93 Narrow, steep-sided valleys 95 Philanthropist 96 “The ___ Josey Wales” 98 Unhealthy chest sounds 99 Make good on a debt 100 By ear 101 One awaiting a catch 103 Elite Navy group 104 Means of restraint 105 Prosperity, as of the public 106 Math branch, briefly 108 Down the road 111 Granolalike

115 Port between Buffalo and Cleveland 116 Very small amount 117 100, in Italy 118 Proclamation of the czar 119 Big name in electronics 120 Early Genesis victim 121 Tool put away for the winter 122 Pan-fry DOWN 1 Org. for doctors 2 Miss Bobsey 3 “... she loves me ___” 4 Crops up 5 Black jelly bean flavor 6 Unpleasantly grating 7 Play part 8 Woman’s undergarment 9 Crone 10 Of the Muslim faith 11 Ranis’ wraparounds 12 Wrinkle, as one’s brow 13 “Addams Family” cousin 14 Conqueror of Peru 15 Bagel type 16 Commit a certain hoops infraction 17 Hathaway of Hollywood 18 Busy buzzers 28 Banned apple spray 30 White House “no” 32 Flower ___ (wedding party member) 33 Lustrous gem 34 Rent to another tenant 35 Negotiate well 36 Not yet final, as a decree 37 “The agony of de feet” 39 Calls a spade a thpade?

40 Airport landings 41 Shiny cotton fabric 44 Truman’s defeat of Dewey, e.g.

45 Closes in on 47 Stopwatch button 49 Ultimate point 52 Raven remark 54 Blow a fuse, say 55 Frome of literature 56 Hush breaker 57 Like many hams 58 Often illegal road action 59 Entertainer Falana 61 Heavy burden 64 Borders on 65 Prom attendee 67 Bridge ancestor 68 Concealed 71 Concert souvenir 72 Muslim magistrates 73 The sweat of Caesar’s brow 74 Compose 76 Greets the day 79 ABC, to CBS 82 Greeting from Popeye 83 Taking too much interest 84 Damp at daybreak, as grass 86 Repulsive 87 Newton subject

© 2013 Universal Uclick

88 89 90 91 94 97

Inventor’s brainchild “There’s ___ like home” Ground, as teeth Lecherous man Area between mountains Japanese prime minister Kakuei 99 Majestic 100 Fervidness 101 Astonishes

102 Emperor who fiddled around?

103 Location 107 A Reiner of Hollywood 109 High school subj.

110 Did some noshing 112 Fraternity letter 113 Ultimate suffix 114 Word before a maiden name

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