Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH
IN FOCUS
SPOTLIGHT
Instructor inspires students through sign language. PAGE 3
OUR TOWN
+ Food Bank serves more than 3,000 For the past seven years, the United Food Bank of Plant City has been serving free breakfast and lunch to low-income kids in our community during the summer months. This year, its Children’s Nutrition Outreach Program served more than 3,000 children. Many low-income children who eat free or reducedpriced meals at school miss out on good nutrition during summer vacation. This summer, kids dined on breakfast bars, oatmeal, grits, canned fruit, canned pasta, canned soups and other breakfast and lunch items. “We see people suffering every day and making the choices between buying gasoline and putting food on the table for their children,” said Christine Miller, director for food bank. “Anything we can do to help families during the summer is not only our responsibility but our privilege.” The summer nutrition program is funded through donations of corporate sponsors and people the community. The bank is accepting non-perishable food donations. To make a donation or learn more about the organization, call Miller at (813) 764-0625.
+ Bible study starting up The Plant City Community Ladies Bible Study begins another season this September. The study meets at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. For more, call Martha Sue Skinner at (813) 7527630.
, 3&
This week’s winner is
Benito Lubrano Jr. See his photo on PAGE 15.
SPORTS
Children enjoy a ‘beary’ good time at Motion Commotion.
Kendall Dawson returns from Japan with silver.
PAGE 9
PAGE 12
good eats by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
City reinstates farmers market, food truck rallies Foodies, rejoice: Two opportunities for fun, fresh flavors will be returning permanently to Plant City this fall. Plant City commissioners approved two resolutions Sept. 8, designating food truck rallies and farmers markets as community events. The sponsors of these events hope to bring
more visitors and consumers to the downtown district. Although the event sponsors will be working largely independently, they still have to make sure the city man-
ager’s office approves most of the details, such as date, time and location. These details have not been finalized, but the sponsors do have tentative plans for them.
“Once the event parameters have been approved, the city’s role will be one of support, much like what we do now for the Bike Fest and (Strawberry Classic) Car Show,” Assistant City Manager Bill McDaniel said.
SEE DOWNTOWN / 4
File photo
Food trucks will once again roll into Plant City beginning Oct. 17.
CLOSE CALL by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor
Keys recovering from construction accident Plant City resident Brady Keys was shocked while working on a light pole in North Port. According to a crane operator, the whole ground turned red when a Plant City man was shocked as he worked Sept. 9, at a Sarasota County construction site. Brady Keys, 49, was working on the foundation for a traffic light pole on U.S. 41 in North Port, according to his family. While the crew was waiting for the concrete around 1 p.m., they worked to drag a metal casing used to funnel the concrete with a crane. Keys’ body was pressed against the casing, when the cable attached to it snapped
HOW TO HELP
The family is encouraging friends and family to post thoughts and prayers at facebook.com/brady keysrecovery. and hit the power lines overhead. The accident left 2,800 Florida Power and Light customers without electricity, said Bill Orlove, spokesman for Florida Power and Light.
SEE KEYS / PAGE 4
all for one by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
+ Police collecting expired medication The Plant City Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to collect expired or unwanted medication. Medication can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at CVS, 2302 James L. Redman Parkway.
FREE • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
Family with P.C. roots to appear on the ‘Feud’ The Houstons’ episode will air Sept. 22. Amber Jurgensen
Big cats took center stage as Pages Circus opened its Plant City show Sept. 12, at Plant City Armory. This year’s show featured everything from aerialists and acrobats to fire juggling and plenty of fun for the family. For more photos, see page 9.
GREEN THUMBS by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
Community garden takes root at Wilson Elementary School
Since “Family Feud” first aired in 1975, viewers have enthusiastically played along with the TV and dreamed about a chance to win the grand prize. For one Plant City-based family — the Houstons — watching the show was not enough. They were determined to play live. Their endearing family bond and gregarious personalities landed Janet JohnsonWright, Angela Johnson, Angela Vickers, Kiara Dickens
and Chris Bonner a spot on the show, which will air Monday, Sept. 22. Johnson-Wright, Johnson and other family members were gathered one night last December to watch “Family Feud,” when a plan was set in motion. “I looked at my mom, and I said, ‘I’m going to get us on ‘Family Feud,’” Johnson said. She emailed the producers of
SEE FEUD / PAGE 4
The garden is already in its beginning stages of preparation. Anyone can participate in planting and growing organic crops. Nothing compares to fresh, seasonal produce, especially when it is accompanied by the satisfaction that comes with hard work. In Plant City, there is a new place where amateur farmers can grow their own crops: Wilson Elementary School. Karen Elizabeth, who is leading the project, began organic gardening decades ago, when her children were small. Later, she was on the founding team of Plant City Commons Community Garden at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in 2011.
COMMUNITY GARDEN INFO MEETING WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 WHERE: Wilson Elementary School cafeteria, 702 W. English St. CONTACT: Karen Elizabeth, (813) 435-8111 or 12cir cle8@gmail.com Last spring, Wilson Principal Gina Becker approached Elizabeth at the downtown farmers market and told her about her
desire to expand the school’s small existing garden. The interest had begun with faculty member Zac Shaw. About five years ago, Shaw got the idea to grow fruits and vegetables with his students. He did not have any background in gardening, but the school district granted him training through a program called Gardening for Grades. He started a garden for second- and fifth-graders. Fifth grade is the class that has
SEE GARDEN / PAGE 4
Courtesy photo
Chris Bonner, Janet Johnson-Wright, Angela Johnson, Angela Vickers and Kiara Dickens enjoyed filming with Steve Harvey, the comedic host of “Family Feud.”
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Vol. 2, No. 9 | One section Crossword...................15
Obituaries...................11
Sports.........................12
Weather ......................15
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 Acoustic Happy Hour with Daniel Sprouse — takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818. Band Haven — takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818. Ribbon Cutting: Wayback Burgers — takes place at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at 200 W. Alexander St. Uncork Your Weekend with Skylar Clark — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100. Story Time — takes place from 11:30 a.m. to noon, Friday, Sept. 19, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St. (813) 752-8700.
— takes place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St. (813) 752-8700. Youth Fishing Derby — takes place from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the pond located behind Plant City Stadium on Gordon Food Service Drive. Contact Program Manager, Deborah Haldane, for more information and to register at dhaldane@plantcitygov.com or call (813) 659-4200 ext. 4302.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21 Back to Church Sunday — takes place at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at Springhead United Methodist Church, 2301 Sparkman Road, Springhead. National Back to Church Sunday is a country-wide initiative inviting people to start going to church or come back to church. A special service will be held that features praise singers.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
MONDAY, SEPT. 22
Double Shot — takes place from 9 p.m to 1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818. St. Mary’s Community Church Women’s Conference — takes place from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at St. Mary’s Community Church, 904 E. Renfro St. Free. Contact Sarah Governor, (863) 6444623 or sgovernor1@gmail. com. Strawberry Classic Car Show — takes place from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in Historic Downtown, 102. N. Palmer St. Uncork Your Weekend with Mark Barrios — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100. Volunteer Appreciation Event
Crochet Class — takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Beginning and intermediate crochet enthusiasts are welcome to attend, but all students must have a crochet hook. The library has a small supply of yarn that may be used during the class. (813) 757-9215. Gentle Yoga — takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. Jennifer Stanko will teach the hour-long class. The program will run for six weeks. Patrons are asked to bring a mat or towel with them. (813) 4514506. Movie Time — takes place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. (813) 757-9215.
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: ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23 Civil Rights Film Screening — takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Hillsborough Community College, Plant City Campus, Trinkle Center, Room 117. The documentary, “Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle,” tracks the history of the Civil Rights era. The screening is hosted by the Plant City Archives & History Center. For information, call (813) 7541578. Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce New Member Reception — takes place at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the chamber, 106 N. Evers St. For more, visit plantcity.org. Ribbon Cutting: Blue Thumb — takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 116 W. Reynolds St. For more, visit plantcity.org.
WED., SEPT. 24 Bible Study — The Plant City Community Ladies begin another season of Bible suds this September. The next meeting will be 11:30 a.m. Sept. 24, at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. It’s open to all interested ladies. Call Martha Sue Skinner at (813) 752-7630 for more info. Open Mic Night — takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818. Plant City Fit Club — meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, at 301 N. Dort St. Melissa, (813) 3953953.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25 BBQ Lunch — takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Train Depot, 102. N. Palmer St. The lunch will benefit the Plant City Boys & Girls Club. Tickets are $10. They can be purchased at the Boys & Girls Club, 901 Waller St., bgctampa.org or the day of the event.
and 60s are played on a large drop-down screen. (813) 7521220. Beginner Square Dance Lessons — classes take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays, at Strawberry Square, 4401 Promenade Blvd. First class is free. Plus Square Dance Lessons begin from 8 to 9:30 p.m. (813) 752 0491. Blood Pressure Checks — takes place from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St. (813) 6446720.
BEST BET Food Bank Charity Car Wash — takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at Walden Lake Car Wash, 1414 Alexander St. For a $15 donation, get your car washed and enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers while you wait. For more information call (813) 764-0625 or visit UFBPC.org. Diamonds and Denim — takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, 2107 W. Oak Ave.
Hillsborough — meets from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 27, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. (813) 757-9215.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
Acoustic Happy Hour — live music takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. The Peacemakers — live music takes place at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Uncork Your Weekend with Skip Frye — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.
Marshall High School Class of 1969 — meets from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. Willie Thomas, (813) 293-1778.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 Men of Courage Seminar — takes place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Plant City Christian Center Inc., 1214 W. Reynolds St., Suite 2. Contact Dr. Pauline Rivers at (813) 759-0260. Gifted Advocacy Council of
ONGOING 1961 PCHS Planter Classmates Monthly Dutchtreat Lunch — takes place at 1 p.m. the last Thursday of each month, at Outback Steakhouse, 1203 Townsgate Court. ACCESS and KidCare — takes place from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St. (813) 7528700. Black-and-White Nite — takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Thursdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Vintage sitcoms and sci-fi from the 50s
Gator Cutlery Club — meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month, at Linda’s Crab Shack, 200 E. Reynolds St. Anyone interested in knives is welcome to attend. Dan, 813967-1471. GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City — meets at 11 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month, at the clubhouse, 1110 N. Wheeler St. Line Dancing Lessons — takes place from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 E. S.R. 60. (813) 737-4444. 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. For more information, call (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.
ª
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
education by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor
governance by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
Walden Lake leaders introduce plans for park A committee of Walden Lake residents hopes to develop a park on the community’s old polo fields.
Amber Jurgensen
Michael Tansey made the sign for surfing. He’s an avid short boarder, after his brother gave him a couple of boards.
HAND SIGNALS Michael Tansey teaches sign language at the Plant City’s HCC Campus, as well as the campus on Dale Mabry.
Michael Tansey’s classroom is full of lively discussion and interactive presentations. But, unlike other classrooms, it’s quiet most of the time. Tansey teaches American sign language at the Plant City and Dale Mabry Hillsborough Community College campuses. He knows it well, because it’s a language he uses every day. Tansey is deaf. “I hear a little, but when I sign, I get more,” Tansey said. “It fills in the gaps.” Tansey was born in Mexico City. His father worked for Pillsbury. No one knows whether he was born hard of hearing. But, they suspect it might have been German measles that affected his sense. His family moved to Guam, back to Mexico, then came back to the United States. Through his travels, he was able to soak up different cultures.
“It was very interesting,” Tansey said. “I learned the culture, I learned Spanish.” He lived in Miami until going off to college in North Carolina. “In high school, people thought I was crazy, because I wanted to take Spanish and wanted to go to college,” Tansey said. “I was one of the few deaf students to get a diploma.” He got perfect attendance, too. But, it wasn’t until college that he learned sign language. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he worked for five years for an insurance company. When he decided to go back to school, he worked part-time at the insurance company. He went on to get his master’s degree in educational computer technology. “I like to integrate technology in my classroom,” Tansey said. Tansey didn’t immediately
go into teaching. He worked at a deaf service center where he helped train deaf people on job skills. There, he met people who were proficient in signing. In 2006, he made teaching his full focus, working at Miami Dade College. After leaving Miami, Tansey came to Tampa to be closer to family. He came to HCC in fall 2013. “I like challenging students’ perspective,” Tansey said. “But I don’t expect all the students to be fluent. I tell them it’s like Spanish or French. You have to take time at it, but I tell them not to give up.” Tansey is one of four deaf instructors this year at the college. He teaches at the Plant City campus Tuesdays and Thursdays. “He’s been a great teacher,” said Linda Horton, the program manager for the sign language interpreting pro-
gram. “The student evaluations have been very good. He’s been a great addition to the school.” Horton said having deaf instructors benefits the students. “They love learning the language from people who us it, speak it in life,” Horton said. “We like to have them.” And on the flip side, Tansey has students who are hard of hearing. He even has a student with cerebral palsy. The disease affects range of motion for those who have it. But, Tansey said the student is excelling at learning and making all of the signs. Tansey teaches not only sign language but also its culture. He uses fun games like “I Spy” to learn basics such as colors. “It try to be the best I can be,” Tansey said. “I know I’m not perfect, but I want the students to get the best of me, not the worst. I have to make sure I teach the right way.” Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com
GET INSPIRED by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
PCHS starts competitive arts program This year, Plant City High will offer its students the opportunity to submit original work for Reflections, a national competition for performing and visual arts students. For any students at Plant City High School who have goals of changing the world through their art, an opportunity has arisen this fall, and it is time to start working on those influential projects. Reflections is a competition for which students can submit their visual art, photography, literature, music composition, film production and dance choreography. There is also a Special Artist division for students who have physical, cognitive or mental disabilities recognized by ADA guidelines. Students who enter at PCHS could be selected to continue on to the Hillsborough County competition, and from there, potentially the state and national levels. Even those who do not win in their category, are eligible to advance. Although the National PTA has sponsored Reflections for decades and Tomlin Middle School and Walden Lake Elementary School have a history of participation, this is PCHS’ first year. This year’s theme is: “The world would be a better place if ...” Students will be judged based on their skill, creativity and adherence to the theme. PTSA President Yvonne Fry will be confirming the judges soon, but a final decision had not been made yet as of press time. Sunni Baerwalde is the PTSA representative who is organizing the competition. Baerwalde is a professional vocalist and wants Reflections
Catherine Sinclair
Honors 2-D art students Zoe Wills, Royce Wills, Samantha Sun and Ashleigh Shenefield — all juniors at PCHS — are planning to submit visual artwork to Reflections. to encourage students in their own artistic endeavors, as well as provide a college resume booster for them. “Because it’s our first year doing it, I’m really having to create this thing all new,” Baerwalde said. Two work days were held Sept. 15 and 17, in art department head Niki Carpenter’s classroom. Arts faculty was available for advice and critique. Carpenter said she had been encouraging many of her upper-level students, including those in her photography class, to enter Reflections. Though entries are not due until midOctober, some students are already forming ideas for what they might submit.
DATES TO REMEMBER Oct. 1: Entry forms are due Oct. 9: Entries are due Oct. 14 to 16: Entries will be judged Nov. 4: Awards reception at 6:30 p.m. (Location TBD) Zoe Wills, a junior in Carpenter’s first-hour mixed art class, wants her project to focus on female empowerment in developing countries, and specifically, the Middle East. Samantha Sun, another student of Carpenter, is considering a similar idea about women’s rights. “The world would be a better place if women were held up to a higher standard in other
countries,” Sun said. “I really don’t like the idea of the onechild policy in China. ... Let’s find a more moral way to fix the population. So I’m going to develop that and see what I can do.” The National PTA created the admission forms and requires each student to write a thesis statement about how his or her piece fits the theme. “The theme is what they’re judged on probably more than anything else,” Baerwalde said. “We want to make sure on the local level that they’ve gotten that correct ... and that they’ve expressed themselves well.” Baerwalde is planning a reception to display applicants’ visual artwork and announce the winners. The location will be determined after the deadline for entering has passed, so Baerwalde knows how many students to expect. As prizes for the winners, Baerwalde is hoping to have gift cards that relate to each genre of art. For example, the winner for musical competition might get a gift card from Guitar Center, but the prize for dance choreography could be a gift card from a dance studio or supply store. Entry forms are due Oct. 1. To submit an entry or ask a question about Reflections, contact Sunni Baerwalde at (813) 951-8953 or pchsreflections@gmail.com. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.
The Walden Lake Community Association’s board of directors unanimously voted Sept. 15, to move forward with plans for a new park in place of the polo fields. Although the project is far from confirmed, the board has a design for the park and has agreed to obtain quotes and advice from civil engineering firms. Residents use the 26-acre polo fields for recreational purposes such as soccer, but the fields have no specific functional designation. Throughout the last 10 years, WLCA has spent more than $100,000 to mow the fields. Shelly Orrico, a Walden Lake resident and member of the Polo Field Use Committee, supports the development of a park where youth of all ages can stay active. “Why not build it into something our community can use at all times?” she said. “We have a really nice park with a lake, but we don’t have anywhere for kids 12 and over to go to. ... We really think this is a need.” The committee plans for the park to include a softball diamond, soccer field, volleyball court and horseshoes, as well as a quarter-mile walking track. There also would be pavilions with barbecue areas, a playground and a splash park. The dog park could be relocated to this area, as well. At Monday’s meeting, three young residents expressed their desire for this park: Alvin Orrico, Alex Wells and Travis Rainey. “We really need a sports facility, so all the kids can hang out ... and not stay inside all day, and stay active,” Wells said. The committee proposed their park map to the board, but explained that a civil engineer is needed to consider water sources, elevation and other factors, and develop an official design. The board voted to authorized the property manager to invite three civil engineering firms to submit designs and estimates for the project. Bob Hunter, WLCA treasurer and committee member, said he hoped the estimates would be complete by the end of the calendar year. Jim Chancey, president of WLCA, was concerned about the possibility of deed restrictions on the polo fields and said this would have to be researched. It is possible that all Walden Lake residents would have to vote on the project, and the park could be built only if it had the majority’s approval.
MANAGEMENT
The board also discussed the selection of a property management company for 2015. Associa has managed Walden Lake for more than a decade, but board members were divided on whether to stay with the company or switch to another. Board member Bruce Rodwell contacted five poten-
TOWING POLICY
The board approved a policy regarding towing of unauthorized vehicles around the lake. After corresponding signage has been posted, vehicles without a Walden Lake sticker will be towed only if the WLCA is notified and then calls the towing company. The towing company will not “troll” the park to search for violators without receiving a call. Residents’ guests may park at the lake, but they must first obtain a visitor pass from the office. The policy is in accordance with Florida Statute 715.07, which defines towing practice for homeowners associations.
tial management companies, and the Contract Committee then narrowed it down to two options: keep Associa or switch to Greenacre Properties. Rodwell recommended switching to Greenacre. “We just felt that Greenacre offered a lot more,” he said. “We’ve had problems with Associa over the years.” Greenacre is a local, familyowned company, while Associa is a national corporation. Rodwell said Greenacre would not require certain fees from residents that Associa has historically required. “I just feel that we need a change,” said WLCA secretary Heather Updike. “Not only do they support the website, which is another project we’ve been putting off, but they’re a small family. They’re debt-free.” Hunter does not support the switch. “I think Associa has done a very good job for us,” he said. “With their vast pool of information with other communities they provide services to ... they would continue to be good for Walden Lake.” Hunter said the contract Associa submitted for next year showed better costs than Greenacre’s, and the company offered good ideas for community improvement. Hunter also was concerned about a section of Greenacre’s contract regarding Walden Lake’s three administrative employees. The contract designates them as non-compete employees. “If we were to hire Greenacre and then decide after a year or so that we wanted to go with someone else, our three current employees could not stay with us,” he said. Four board members voted to switch to Greenacre, and three voted to stay with Associa. Because one member was absent and could have cast the deciding vote, the issue will be discussed further at the meeting Oct. 20, but the board must make a decision by Oct. 31. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.
1
6
1
2 5
12
4
8 7
1
10
11
3 9
The rough sketch for a potential new park at Walden Lake includes athletic facilities that will cater to residents of all ages. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Pavilion Baseball field Horseshoes Soccer field
5. 6. 7. 8.
Volleyball court Basketball court Playground Splash park
9. RV parking 10. Large dog park 11. Small dog park 12. Parking
ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP DOWNTOWN / PAGE 1
FARMERS MARKET
The farmers market will make a comeback this fall with a new name: Plant City Local Harvest Farmers Market, sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association. The market will be open between 4 and 8 p.m. every Wednesday in McCall Park, between Palmer and Evers streets. The market will run year-round, except July and August. Patricia Rogers, president of the Downtown Merchants Association, said details could not be solidified until insurance issues had been worked out. Two insurance companies have been working on quotes. So far, 15 vendors who used to come to the market have agreed to return. Karen Elizabeth, a member of the Downtown Merchants Association and an organizer of the original and new markets, said there definitely would be at least two produce vendors, including Ecofarm. One critical criterion for the vendors is that their products were locally made or grown. Rogers hopes the market will lead patrons to become more familiar with the businesses in the downtown district. The market will have an information table, where members of the association can display flyers or other literature about their businesses. “A lot of people don’t know all the great things we have downtown,” Rogers said. Elizabeth said she had other ideas to make the market even more enjoyable for visitors, such as monthly themed days. For example, one market day might be petthemed, and special vendors could sell pet-related products. There also be could a Halloween event in October.
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS
This summer, the City of Plant City hosted downtown food truck rallies. The event was canceled after two months, but it will return under new leadership this fall. The Robert B. Willaford
FOOD TRUCK RALLY SPONSOR: Robert B. Willaford Railroad Museum Society Inc. OPENING DAY: Friday, Oct. 17 SCHEDULE: 5 to 9 p.m. every third Friday of the month LOCATION: Train Depot
LOCAL HARVEST FARMERS MARKET SPONSOR: Downtown Merchants Association OPENING DAY: Uncertain SCHEUDLE: 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays LOCATION: McCall Park Railroad Museum Society Inc., will be operating the rallies from now on. Benny Lubrano, the museum’s director, has taken on responsibility for the event. Lubrano said the community had really enjoyed the short-lived food truck rallies. “It’s a shame that they weren’t able to do it more than two times,” he said. Now, the event will become a fundraiser for the museum. Unlike when the event was under the city’s control, each food truck will be charged a vendor fee, which will support the museum. “It’s not like we need to make tons of money on it, but it would be nice to make a few dollars every month,” Lubrano said. Some vendors will commute from Tampa, but Lubrano expects the majority of them to be Lakeland-based. “The ones from Tampa, for them to be here at 5 on a Friday afternoon ... That, I think, is going to be our hardest sell for them,” he said. Lubrano hopes the first food truck rally in support of the railroad museum will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17. The rallies will continue every third Friday of the month at the same time, as long as they are popular. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.
THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS
2014
THIS WEEK’S CRYPTOGRAM ANSWERS 1.
The woman claimed to have a good nose for future events. By all accounts, she was a very gifted and brilliant fortune smeller.
2.
The antelope wanted to improve her image. She made a very smart move. She decided to go to a new spa where she could get a gnu hairstyle.
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
FEUD / PAGE 1 the show and told them about the Houston family’s history. Ida Bell Houston and Butler Houston, known as Big Mama and Big Daddy, had 12 children in Plant City around the turn of the 20th century. Eleven of those children survived to adulthood. Although today’s decedents are spread throughout the country, they always return to Plant City for reunions. “All family trees have roots that begin and spread in all directions,” Johnson-Wright said. “Our tree is rooted in Plant City, Florida.” All five of the Houston “Family Feud” contestants currently live in the Tampa Bay area. The producers loved the family’s identity, and JohnsonWright got a response inviting her family to audition. Their January audition was in Tampa, where thousands of other families also auditioned in the course of just one weekend. Later, Johnson got an email again, inviting her team to film an episode. The family practiced to prepare for the show. “We always came together in prayer, and we always ended in prayer, so no matter what the
KEYS / PAGE 1 When paramedics arrived three minutes later, they had to use special gloves to lift Keys from the scene in unison, his niece, Lindsey Hoover, said. His body was too hot. “That was kind of incredible for me that they could do that,” Hoover said. He was pronounced dead at the scene, but after his body jerked, paramedics continued to work. He was shocked nine times in the ambulance. “One young paramedic just refused to give up on my uncle, praise God,” Hoover said. They were able to secure a bed for him at Tampa General Burn Center. Otherwise, he would have been transported to either Gainesville or Miami. He is on a ventilator and in stable but critical condition. The electricity entered his hands and left through his feet, Hoover said. “We just really don’t know at this point,” Hoover said. “They’re not telling us either way. Doctors from around the hospital have come to see him, because the type of electrocution, they can’t believe he is alive.”
outcome of the show, it was done in God first, love and just a lot of fun,” Vickers said. In June, the family traveled to Atlanta for filming. “Every person that we met that was part of the ‘Feud,’ no matter what their role, they treated us with extreme care and made us feel like we were royalty,” Vickers said. She appreciated how the show’s staff had made the atmosphere so enjoyable and welcoming. Steve Harvey has hosted “Family Feud” since 2010, and Bonner said he was just as fun and entertaining off-screen as he appears on the show. “I remember watching him when he had ‘The Steve Harvey Show’ a long time ago, so it was almost surreal meeting him,” Bonner said. “The whole process was fun.” Although Bonner is generally a calm person and remains stoic for his career in law enforcement, his charisma fully came out during filming. “Steve Harvey picked up on that and said, ‘I’m going to marry you off!’” Vickers said about her son. The Houston family colors are red and white, but the producers of “Family Feud” did His family has remained by his side since the accident. Nicknamed the “Incredible Hulk,” Keys was a champion wrestler at his high school in Brandon. He had scholarships in the sport, but turned them down to work with his father, Bill, in construction. Hoover said he helped install the original traffic light at the intersection of Timberlane Drive and Alexander Street. He moved to Plant City after having his children, Kyle, Kasey, Kelsey and Brittany. Keys also has a daughter-inlaw, Amanda; grandkids, Bailey and Brayden; girlfriend, Dedra Box; 12 nieces and nephews; two sisters; and a brother — all in Plant City. He frequents Daisy Dukes, a local restaurant. Even his usual waitress cried when she found out about the accident. The family asks for privacy at this time, but they will be posting update to Keys’ Facebook page. They encourage friends and family to post thoughts and prayers on the page at facebook.com/bradykeysrecovery. Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.
FAMILY TREE
Contestants are in bold.
Ida Bell Houston (1888-1974)
Butler Houston (1886-1962)
Earnestine Vickers Hester Harvey | | Janet Johnson Wright Loretta Vickers | | Angela Vickers Angela Johnson Kiara Dickens not allow contestants to wear white. Instead, the family substituted the color purple for white. Some of the family’s other favorite moments from filming included dancing the “Cupid Shuffle” and doing their team cheer. At one point on the show, Vickers said she had 600 children — but, you’ll have to tune in to find out what she meant by that, she said. Contestants on the show are not allowed to reveal their results to anyone until after their episode has aired. But, even before they competed, the Houston team had a plan for what they would do with the $20,000 prize if they won. The family at large is actually incorporated as the Houston
10 other children
Chris Bonner Family Club. Every year, they collectively donate money to the family members who are graduating high school and headed to college. That $20,000 would be used for tuition if it ended up in the Houstons’ possession. “We all had different strengths, which made the perfect team,” Vickers said. “One without the other, you cannot do. That’s why our family motto is ‘One for all, and all for one.’” To see the Houstons on “Family Feud,” tune in to WTTA at 6:30 or 7 p.m. Sept. 22, in Plant City, or at 7 or 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22, in Tampa. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.
GARDEN / PAGE 1 mainly worked in the school’s garden, but second grade also uses it when they go through a unit about soil science. “It follows along with a lot of the benchmarks that students need to know,” Shaw said. One of the first days of this school year, a fifth-grader, who had watched the garden for years, asked Shaw whether the students would get to work there this year. Shaw assured the class the garden was still for student use, though the plan was to expand it for community use, as well. When they discussed the beginning stages of the garden expansion project, Elizabeth told Becker success stories of other Tampa Bay-area schools that had gardens. The schools provided property and water and allowed neighbors to take it from there. Becker introduced Elizabeth to Shaw, and the three decided to make the dream a reality. “I’m a certified holistic health coach, and my passion is bringing better, cleaner, fresher, local, organic food to the Plant City community,” Elizabeth said. “And certainly to the children, so they understand where our food comes from, and that you can have control over the source of most of our food.” Gardeners do not have to have a connection to Wilson Elementary to participate. The garden has about 35 beds, each of which is a 4-foot-by-12foot plot. It will be open permanently, year-round and 24 hours a day. “That’s pretty mandatory when it comes to people being able to get in the garden when they have an opportunity after work or on a weekend,” Elizabeth said. Most of the plots will be on the northeast side of the school
Catherine Sinclair
Karen Elizabeth succeeded in founding the Plant City Commons Community Garden in 2011. Now, she is starting another garden in town.
between Garden and Dixie streets. Some spaces will be available in the school courtyard. The cost to participate is $35, but Elizabeth hopes local businesses will sponsor the garden to cover the expense for gardeners who cannot afford it. She also is seeking supply donations. There already have been two informational meetings. The next will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in the Wilson Elementary cafeteria. “Now that everybody’s settled back into school, this next one should attract a larger crowd,” Elizabeth said. “We can’t get this going if we don’t have the community coming in and supporting it.” New gardeners should be warned: Organic gardening can become a lifelong hobby. “Gotta love those plants,” Elizabeth said. “Once you get your hands in the ground and you know how they were cared for ... there’s no going back.” Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.
ª
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
ART ATTACK by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor
Cheryl Worsham shared her secrets to scarf design.
Area women scarf down design class A group of women gathered in a sunny room Sept. 4, at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center to take a class in designing scarf designs. Bottles of vibrant dyes dotted the table tops, as Peggy
Peggy Paramore helped teach the class, along with Cheryl Worsham.
Paramore and Cheryl Worsham taught the group how to create a pattern of color on the scarves. The Arts Council of Plant City provided the supplies, and the East Hillsborough Historical Society provided the space.
Sophia Camacha had a blast at the class.
CUTESTCRITTER
C
hristy Shepherd’s cat, MissyPrissy, is this month’s winner of our Cutest Critter Contest. “MissyPrissy likes to strike a pose,” she says. Turkey Creek Animal Hospital and Animal Wellness Center have partnered to present a monthly Cutest Critter Contest. Entering is simple: Just submit a high-resolution photo (200 dpi or better) and a sentence or two about why your pet is the cutest. Include your name and contact information. Photos will be showcased in the Plant City Times & Observer. Submit your entries to Executive Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver. com; subject line: Cutest Critter Contest. Good luck!
ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
NEWSBRIEF
STAR POWER by Tracy McMillan | Business Observer
+ Suspect sought in St. Pete murder A suspect has been identified in the St. Petersburg shooting of a Plant City man. Devin Pierre-Antione Dixon, 30, of Plant City, is wanted on an outstanding first-degree murder warrant for the Sept. 8 shooting of Clinton Bailey, 24, of Plant City, in front of Dixon a Queensboro Avenue South home. Bailey was outside the home with several other people, including the suspect. Without provocation, the suspect produced a firearm and shot
multiple times in the direction of Bailey. Bailey was transported to Bayfront Medical Center, where he died. The suspect fled the scene. Efforts to locate Dixon so far have been unsuccessful and investigators are seeking the public’s help to locate him. Dixon is 6-foot-3, 250 pounds and goes by the nickname of “D’Smooth.” He is believed to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding Dixon’s whereabouts is asked to contact Special Dep. Chris Herron, of the U.S. Marshals Service, at (727) 639-1167. A $2,000 cash reward is available for information leading to Dixon’s arrest.
WHEN IT RAINS … by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer Mark Wemple
Emily and Jack Kemp say running a quick-service restaurant is like having 10 kids: “They need a lot of TLC,” she says. The ribbon cutting for the Plant City location took place Tuesday, Sept. 16.
BURGER BRANCH
Army veterans Emily and Jack Kemp always wanted to own a business. After buying 10 Hardee’s locations, they’re leveraging their military principles to prepare for growth.
The couple wanted to find an opportunity that mirrored the military structure to which they had become accustomed. They landed on quick-service restaurants, where they manage teams similar in size to an Army platoon. For two-and-a-half years, Emily and Jack Kemp searched for franchise opportunities, looking for the right brand with the right deal. Evaluating data and information from bankers, brokers, industry publications, conferences and brand materials, they considered 74 different deals in the burger space before eventually landing on Hardee’s. In July 2013, the Kemps moved from outside Boston to buy 10 Tampa-area Hardee’s locations from the 54-year-old burger chain, with a goal to break ground on five new restaurants in the next two years. They are funding the venture with their personal savings combined with a bank loan covering 75% of the investment. They believe they are buying into the brand “in the upswing,” and hope to build their initial investment to open 50 locations in Florida over the next 20 years, according to Jack. Although the two don’t have restaurant experience, they do have a heavy arsenal of business and team-building knowledge. Both graduated from West Point, both left the Army with the rank of captain, and both have MBAs. Jack’s experience in the corporate world comes from his time as vice president and CFO for a $600 million segment of OneBeacon Services, a public services financial company. Emily’s most recent job was leading private equity fundraising efforts at a boutique real estate investment company. The Kemps named their company Phase Three Star, because they felt phase one of their lives was in the Army, phase two in corporate America and phase three is now
this new venture. The star is in reference to the Hardee’s logo.
Developing Tampa
Through their research, they determined the Tampa area to be the most promising opportunity to expand the brand’s reach, Jack says. In areas of the country where there is already market saturation, like in North Carolina, there is one Hardee’s for every 35,000 people. Those kinds of numbers make Tampa “a phenomenal opportunity for growth,” he says. It can be difficult to prioritize growth opportunities, according to Jack. “There are a number of markets in the greater Tampa area where we know we can do well, but we spend a great deal of time working through the projected economics and making sure that we don’t outgrow the operational capabilities of the company,” he says. Before Jack and Emily get too wrapped up in expansion, they are focusing on opening their first new location in Plant City this month. The couple is working hard to make sure they have the management, people, and processes in place to grow. “Good food is important, but much more important is building a good team,” Jack says. With a background in development, looking for new opportunities is Emily’s specialty. In addition to the Plant City location, the couple has two other sites under contract, and are almost ready “to put the foot on the gas on development,” Jack says.
Revising operations
Jack, on the other hand, focuses on the operations and finance side of the business. In fact, one of the reasons they settled on quick-service was to align Jack’s skill set with the challenges that quick service businesses face — making operations as efficient as possible. Though Jack says “we weren’t looking for a turn-
Plant City Times & Observer Locally Owned by Ed Verner, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a joint-venture of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.
110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850 www.PlantCityObserver.com &RS\ULJKW 3ODQW &LW\ 0HGLD //& $OO 5LJKWV 5HVHUYHG
ARMY PRACTICE Jack and Emily Kemp say working in a Hardee’s is just “like the Army, but different uniforms.” And running the business is just like running a platoon. It’s all about showing up “on time, in uniform, with your name tag, looking clean with a smile on your face and having discipline,” Emily says. Looking back at their rise through the military rankings, they say they understand where each of their employees fits in the system. For example, the Kemps started their careers with the Army in the platoon, or the “lowest common denominator,” Emily says. This position is similar to a Hardee’s crew person, making it easy to understand where employees are coming from. Emily worked her way up in the ranks from a platoon leader to a company executive officer, to brigade staff and eventually to assistant for a four-star general. Working for the general and understanding what he cared about is like working with Hardee’s corporate, Emily says. Using this structure of thought, the Kemps say they can make decisions both tactically and strategically. The key to success is teamwork and setting clear objectives, Jack says. “My time as a platoon leader prepared me better than business school.” around situation (where we would be) in with a wrench banging on stuff day one,” he has made a few key changes to operations. One of the first steps was adding additional employees to improve customer service and minimize wait times for food. Starting with 275 employees, they’ve grown to 400 employees. They tried to keep health plans and hours as good as or better than when the company was owned by corporate, to “keep as much of their lives the same as possible,” Emily says. They’ve also analyzed the hours of operation when there’s the most traffic to determine how long they should remain open. Corporate kept locations open from 5 a.m. to midnight, but the Kemps have decided to cut early morning and late-night hours at locations where traffic is low. Instead of working from his home office, Jack sets up shop in one of the stores to make himself more visible to employees. It also allows him to
TO ADVERTISE
Call Veronica Prostko, (813) 716-0007, or Joanna Verga, (813) 451-6489.
SEND US YOUR NEWS
We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563
be on site to coach and train, interact with the team and understand when additional resources are needed. And training is an important part of making the restaurant run efficiently and profitably. “What happens behind the counter is complicated,” Emily says. “It’s fast, hot, it has to be efficient, you have to get the orders right, you’re multitasking and customer-focused.”
Becoming entrenched
But the couple was pleasantly surprised to find that managing a crew of 10 or 11 people at a time felt very similar to leading a platoon. With the new store in Plant City, the Kemps are starting from scratch, hiring 60 people from crew members through a general manager. Retention can be a challenge, as the industry is known for high turnover. To recruit employees, the Kemps are starting a “Pom Pom Program,” where they provide pom poms at football games in local high schools’ colors. They are also encouraging managers to get out of the store to build relationships — to meet customers and bring business in the door. “Our store managers are not sitting in starship Hardee’s, they have to get out there and interact,” Jack says. A second challenge is refamiliarizing people with the Hardee’s brand. The Kemps purchased radio spots and are looking for more ways to engage in the community. According to Jack, Hardee’s corporate has also kicked off a national cable campaign that “is hitting more of our target lunch and dinner audience — 18- to 24-year-old ‘young, hungry guys.’” For a Hardee’s store, the average volume is about $1.2 million, Jack says. He hopes to increase that to $1.5 million in the next few years. He’s convinced if he can get people to try the Black Angus burger, tacos or the Hardee’s breakfast, he can get them to come back. The key is “service with a smile,” he says. Despite the challenges, the Kemps are certain that forcing themselves off the corporate track was the best decision they’ve ever made. Many of Jack’s friends from Harvard Business School talked about wanting to start a business, “and they’re still just talking about it,” he says. “Sometimes execution is more important than the perfect plan.” “You hear you don’t want to own a restaurant and you take that as gospel,” Emily says, “But this is actually a great fit for us.”
CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.
Flooding plagues residential street Ineffective stormwater management in Magnolia Green has caused repeated flooding in the lowest parts of the subdivision. A summer evening shower isn’t usually considered a disaster. Garden enthusiasts might welcome a chance to turn off the sprinklers for a day. And pool owners could appreciate the free water level boost. But for Wes Bayes and other residents of Magnolia Green, a neighborhood located about one mile east of the Turkey Creek Road and Trapnell Road intersection, two hours of rain the evening of Monday, Sept. 8, turned into a catastrophe. “We’re basically the secondlowest point in the neighborhood,” Bayes said. “At the end of my driveway, we had a foot of water.” The water reached all the way up to his garage. The streets surrounding Bayes’ house were flooded to the point that only some pickups were able to drive through. Bayes said an elderly woman’s new Mercedes broke down at a nearby intersection, and the water ruined her car’s electronic system. “Her car is likely totaled because of it,” Bayes said. “She was OK but just scared.” Flooding in Magnolia Green has been a common occurrence for Bayes. He said he could recall five times that it had been a significant problem since he moved to his house in January 2009. The source of the problem is a stormwater drainage point on Magnolia Meadows Drive that becomes clogged easily. Plant City Engineer Brett Gocka said the problem was not the design of the system but the location of the drain in relation to the landscaping. “The HOA continues to place mulch around the area of the drain,” Gocka said. “When it rains, the runoff moves the mulch onto the drain gate, causing the blockage.” Bayes said the Public Works Department had responded to
STORMWATER
Stormwater is excess water that accumulates after heavy rain but does not percolate into the ground. As it travels across various surfaces, it can collect sediment, chemicals and debris. When polluted stormwater eventually finds its way into the watershed, it decreases water quality.
each flooding incident he has witnessed, but workers typically arrived after Bayes had cleaned out most of the drain himself. “I was standing in almost three feet of water (this time), trying to clear the vent,” he said. Bayes has encouraged his neighbors to call the Magnolia Green Homeowners Association to complain. He has repeatedly called the HOA and left voicemails, but he has received no response. Gocka said he had discussed the issue with a representative of the HOA after the first flooding incident, to suggest surrounding the mulch with stones to try to block it from escaping. “Nobody wants to write a check and pay to fix this, and I can understand that, but they’re one bad experience from having to write a big check, or some kid gets drowned or something like that,” Bayes said. Eric Davidson is the COO of Meritus Communities, a Tampa company that manages Magnolia Green. He said he had not heard anything about the flooding problem. The company’s local property manager, Ken Joines, did not respond to the Plant City Times & Observer’s attempts to contact him. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@PlantCityObserver.com.
Courtesy photo
Water flooded the street and encroached into the yard of Wes Bayes after heavy rain Sept. 8.
Plant City Times &
Observer
General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com General Manager/Advertising / Stacey Hudson, shudson@tampabay.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writers / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com; Catherine Sinclair, csinclair@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.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
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
ª
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
gobble it up by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
Turkey Creek High School alumni to gather at picnic This year’s TCHS Alumni Picnic will be Saturday, Oct. 4. Alumni from any class year are welcome. Pat Gibson Ballard has invited Turkey Creek High School alumni to a luncheon every fall since 2011. This year’s reunion will be Oct. 4 at the Strawberry Festival Grounds. Ballard first organized an alumni sock hop in May 2011. “Everyone enjoyed it so much that in November of that year, we had a picnic, and we’ve had a picnic every year since then,” Ballard said. The building at 5005 Turkey Creek Road that was once historic Turkey Creek High School is now Turkey Creek Courtesy photo Middle School. A 1953 photo of Turkey Creek High School shows the building The TCHS class of 1908 was that now houses Turkey Creek Middle School. the first to graduate at that location, but the oldest living anyone who graduated up un- company run by Kevin and alumni graduated in the early til 1972, when the high school Jenifer Goolsby, will cater 1940s. All alumni are welcome was closed. lunch for the picnic. They are at the picnic, which includes Southern Style Catering, a Ballard’s neighbors, and she
has hired them for the event all four years. “Good food and super nice, good, Christian people to work with,” Ballard said. “They’re kind of like my kids.” However, dessert is up to the guests. Everyone who wants to can bring a potluck dessert to share. Guests also may volunteer to bring handmade items as door prizes. Ballard said these typically include crafts such as crochet, woodworking and flower arrangements. “Just a variety,” she said. “Anything anyone is interested in making and donating.” Alumna Glenda Cooper Roberts’ (Class of 1962) granddaughter has even made a painting of a turkey that says, “Turkey Creek Gobblers Forev-
run like the wind by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
MOVIE NIGHT by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor
er” as one of the larger prizes. There will be a display of memorabilia at the picnic, including TCHS letterman’s jackets, cheerleading sweaters, class rings and photos. Ballard also keeps a list of alumni who have died since last year’s picnic, and she has made a memorial booklet for the display. Alumni’s guests are welcome, too. “We even have some Plant City Planters coming — our rival from back then. I even married one of them,” Ballard said. “They come from out of state,” Ballard said. “They come from all around. It’s a good time. Someone compared it to just a huge family reunion.”
IF YOU GO DATE: Saturday, Oct. 4 TIME: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. LOCATION: Arthur Boring Building at Strawberry Festival Grounds, 2406 W. Reynolds St., Plant City COST: $25 per person (increases to $30 after Sept. 19) CONTACT: Pat Gibson Ballard, (813) 659-1240 or pgballard@tampabay. rr.com To register, send a check for $25 per person to TCHS Alumni, P.O. Box 93, Dover, FL 33527. The price increases to $30 after Sept. 19. Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.
Children enjoyed a variety of post-run activities. Camille Becerra, Kirsten Bassinger and Jean Bassinger sported matching tutus.
Runners sweeten Plant City at third Good Cookie 5K The Good Cookie 5K raised money for children’s cancer research Sept. 6. The course began at the Train Depot and led runners through Plant City’s historic district. A festival of food, music and family activities awaited everyone at the finish line.
Amber Jurgensen
Mills Cooper and Keith Williams had been working on their own projects before they teamed up for “The Entrepreneur.”
Local filmmakers in talks to contract newest flick Maverick Entertainment Group is in contract negotiations with Plant City director Mills Cooper and Lakeland producer Keith Williams for their film, “The Entrepreneur.”
Morgan Pierce sold her original artwork for donations and autographed each item sold. Pierce’s mother, Emily, organized the event.
Paul Warren started at a slower pace and pulled his son, Caidan, in a wagon.
Runners in this year’s event took their first steps at 8 a.m.
For director Mills Cooper and producer Keith Williams, their newest film, “The Entrepreneur,” is all about following passions by stepping out on faith. Main character Jeffrey Thomas finds a way out of his dead-end life by starting up a successful car detailing business. Cooper and Williams find a way to share untold stories by shooting films. But their art is now going farther than selling the latest copies of their feature film out of the back of a car trunk on the streets. They are in talks for a distribution deal with Maverick Entertainment Group, an independent film label based in Deerfield Beach. If the deal goes through, Maverick will help distribute the film in 2015
internationally and contribute to its marketing costs. “For a film that had zero budget, no one knows us — it speaks volumes,” Cooper said. “This is just the beginning of it.” The 75-minute movie might be released under a new title, but it will maintain its original storyline and flavor. Because of that, it might be released under the Christian genre. “It’s a story about stepping on faith and just pursuing a passion,” Cooper said. “Not just working a job you’re not happy with. He’s religious but terrified of pursuing his calling.” The film draws parallels to the creators’ own lives. “We’re both entrepreneurs,” Williams said. Williams always had an inter-
est in film and art. He went to school for commercial art. “I did a lot of stuff on my own, but there was still something missing,” Williams said. He ended up going back to school for film at the International Academy of Design and Technology. Since then, he’s been working on a variety of projects including music videos, weddings, short films and commercials. “If it deals with cameras, shooting and editing, I’ve done it all,” Williams said. He saw some of Cooper’s work after working with a mutual friend and was inspired by it. Cooper had just wrapped up his film, “Generation Curse.” When he reached out to him on Facebook, the two got together to collaborate a project. Mills wrote the script within a week. The film stars David A. Jackson as Jeffrey Thomas, a man with a criminal background and a series of unfulfilling and temporary jobs. He’s eventually laid off. His family and girlfriend push him to do better, but he still doesn’t rise up. After his girlfriend leaves him, he decides it’s time for a change. He starts his own detailing business. They shot the film in Plant City, Lakeland and Tampa over the course of 20 days. After post-production editing, it was finally finished in early 2014. Over the summer, they reached out to Maverick Entertainment Group. And even though they have hit some luck with Maverick Entertainment Group, they have no plans to stop filmmaking. They’ve been looking at a few scripts but have targeted in on one that deals with domestic violence. “Now we don’t have to hit the streets,” Williams said. “We can focus on our next project.” Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.
ª
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
books and bears by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
To close out the morning, the children played and danced amid a steady stream of bubbles from a machine.
Library offers ‘beary’ good time at Motion Commotion Plant City children embarked on fun-filled journey during Motion Commotion Sept. 2, at Bruton Memorial Library. The bear-themed event led children on an imaginary
journey to search for bears, dance with ribbons, pass bean bags and play with a bubble machine. Librarian Mary Hoover also read three stories about bears to the group.
Wren Shearer wanted to be close to the action while librarian Mary Hoover read the children’s book “The Bear Came Over to My House.” Left: Ashley and Ava Barrett danced to a song about what it would be like to meet a bear.
FELLOWSHIP by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
KeeLee Tomlinson and Roxanne Fulwood are friends and business partners who opened a holiday store, SASSI, last fall, in Plant City. They arranged centerpieces for the luncheon and displayed other items from their store.
Plant City Christian women connect at monthly luncheon Every second Tuesday of the month, the Plant City Christian Women’s Connection meets for lunch, music and a speaker. The group has gathered
in the Walden Lake community for almost 20 years but recently was forced to find a new location. Their first meeting at the Plant City Elks
Ann Combs, this month’s speaker, discussed decision-making and the importance of asking God for his help.
Lodge was Sept. 2. “It’s different — it’s smaller,” said chairwoman Diane Kennedy. “But, I feel like we’re closer and can fellowship better.”
Marge Masek provided background music as the women arrived and found their tables.
Neighborhood R E A L E S TAT E | P L A N T C I T Y L I F E | O B I T U A R I E S | G A M E S | FA I T H | S P O RT S
PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM
-
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
CLUB HUBBUB If your club would like to post announcements, email them to Associate Editor Amber Jurgensen, ajur gensen@plantcityobserver. com.
+ Plant City Lions Club South Florida Baptist Hospital President Karen Kerr was the featured speaker at the Plant City Lions Club meeting Sept. 9. She updated the members on new hospital happenings.
The jugglers stepped things up with fire.
Light-up toys were popular.
Lion Frank Cummings was honored at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s contact breakfast. He won the Good Egg award for all his charitable contributions. One of his recent good deeds was holding a charity car wash for Taylor Goethals, a local teen battling cancer. The Lions Club meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, at Buddy Freddy’s Restaurant, 1101 Goldfinch Drive. For more information visit plantcitylions.org.
+ Plant City Daybreak Rotary The Plant City Daybreak Rotary is proud to present the Fourth Annual Cracker Country Fest Oct. 24. The night will include live entertainment from Little Girl & The Dreadful Snakes, Brett and Brigetta Truitt, and Sharon Philbin and Dan Orrico. There also will be plenty of delicious food and drinks. A raffle with gift cards will be another main feature. The raffle tree has more than $600 worth of prizes and counting. Gift cards come from Outback Steakhouse, Home Depot, Chili’s, Applebee’s, Panera Bread and Wendy’s to name a few. Tickets are $5 or $20 for five. You do not have to be present to win. To purchase a ticket, email Sharon at sherrybebe@aol.com. Tickets for the fest are $75. Proceeds benefit the United Food Bank of Plant City. The Food Bank has more than doubled the amount of families it served last year at the same time. Daybreak Rotary meets at 7 a.m. Mondays, at the Community Conference Center at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301. N. Alexander St. For more information email George Banning at wenlake@aol. com.
+ E. Hillsborough Historical Society The East Hillsborough Historical Society will host an intermediate silk scarf design class from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the historic 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. Artists and designers Peggy Daubar and Cheryl Worsham will return to teach a followup class. Supplies will be included in the $30-per-student cost. Register by calling (813) 757-9226 or email qcenter@tampabay.rr.com or sbenderpc@aol.com. The registration deadline is Oct. 7; space is limited to 20 people.
The show included camels, big cats, horses and elephants.
UNDER THE
BIG TOP CIRCUS SHENANIGANS by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor
From jugglers to aerial artists, there was something for everyone at Pages Circus Sept. 12, at the Plant City Armory. Lions, tigers, camels and horses enthralled the many children in the audience. Some even got an elephant ride.
Aerial acrobats performed a Little Mermaidthemed dance.
All ages enjoyed the show. Aerial stunts require a lot of strength.
ª
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
OBSERVEROBITUARIES Virginia Harris Going
Virginia Harris Going, 79, of Plant City, died Sept. 16, 2014. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Jack Going; children, Peggy Pippin (Larry), Diane Keene, Debbie Solomon and David Trudell (Delta); siblings, Helen Kinman and Johnny Everidge; 10 grandchildren; and 19 greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Don Going. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 C.R. 39 S., Plant City. Family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery, Plant City. Condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
Annifaye Gatlyn Hall
Annifaye Gatlyn “Faye” Hall, 82, of Plant City, and born in Lithia, died Sept. 15, 2014. She was a charter member of Faith Temple Assembly of God, sang gospel music in the group, “Gatlyn Sisters,” and was a volunteer with Plant City’s Support Our Soldiers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glynn Hall; and siblings, Grace Weaver, Leone Williams, Wanda Williams, Ruby Jameson, Betty
Sawyer, Cecil Durden and Jennings Gatlyn. She is survived by her children, Randall Hall, Sandra Strobel (Gary), Marilyn Salisbury (Tony) and Teresa Hodum (Arnold); brothers, Lloyd Gatlyn (Minnie Lee), and Daniel Gatlyn; grandchildren, Miranda Hall-Ferneau, Eric Salisbury (Robin), Mariel Salisbury, Andrew Hodum (Alexis), Hannah Hodum, Garrett Strobel and Daniel Hodum; and great-granddaughter, Addison Salisbury. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 C.R. 39 S., Plant City. A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at Faith Temple Assembly of God, 4240 N. Frontage Road, Plant City. Interment to follow at Pelote Cemetery, Lithia. Condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
John Samuel “Johnny” Judah
John Samuel “Johnny” Judah, 66, of Plant City, died Sept. 10, 2014, at his home. Born June 27, 1948, in Plant City, he was the son of the late N. S. and Eunice Hill Judah. He was the husband of Linda Tussing Judah, who survives.
Mr. Judah was a member of Westside Baptist Church and graduated in 1967 from Plant City High School. He was also a long-distance truck driver who enjoyed friends, family and NASCAR. Also surviving are son, John S. Judah Jr.; daughter, Jamie Judah Farkas (Larry); brothers, Harry Judah (Bobbie) and L. S. Judah (Cookie); and grandchildren, Leann and Lindsey Farkas. He was predeceased by sister, Betty Lou Judah Tillman. A funeral service was held at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 13, at Haught Funeral Home Chapel. The family received friends Sept. 12, at the funeral home. If so desired, donations may be made in his name to either LifePath Hospice or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Condolences may be made to the family at Haught FuneralHome.com.
Delta D. Loyd
Delta D. Loyd, 74, died Sept. 12, 2014, at home. She was born April 5, 1940, in Plant City, to Jay and Mildred (Williams) Crofton. A lifelong resident of the area, Mrs. Loyd was married to Danny Loyd for 42 years. Along with her husband, she is survived by son, William
Kirk Loyd; daughter, Sandra McGavin (Michael); sisters, Karol Johnston (Weldon) and Donna Humphrey; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Loyd was preceded in death by two sons, Terry and Todd Loyd; and two brothers, Ronald and Reggie Crofton. A funeral was held Sept. 15, at Wells Memorial. Visitation was held Sunday evening at Wells Memorial. Burial took place at Mt. Enon Cemetery. Memorials may be made to LifePath Hospice in Tampa. Condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.
Ira V. “I.V.” Roberts
Ira V. “I.V.” Roberts, 80, of Plant City, died Sept. 9, 2014. He was an operating engineer, a “backyard mechanic” and a member of Tampa IUOE Local 925. He was devoted to his family, a man of integrity and insight, and full of humor. These traits, along with his compassion and generosity, are his legacy. He loved his family and friends, and was the best Papa and surrogate father to many. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Glenda Cooper Roberts; children, Jewell Roberts, Gayle Johnson (Steve), Angie Harvey, Valarie Roberts (John
Horton) and Vicki Noble (Jeff); grandchildren, Erica Ogden (Patrick), Sharon Snyder, Jordan and Parker Meredith, and Tyler, Emily, Jordan and Robbie Noble; great-grandson, Jacob Taylor; siblings, Dorothy Boyt, Bobby Roberts, Arthur Roberts, Blondell Cooper and Darlene Taje; mother-in-law, Louise Jackson Cooper; former sonin-law, Wayne Meredith; and many other family and friends. A celebration of life was held Sept. 12, at Hopewell Funeral Home, where the family received friends. Private interment was at Hopewell Memorial Gardens. Condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
Joy G. Taylor
Joy G. Taylor, 86, of Plant City, died Sept. 9, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan E. Taylor, and son, Stephen Taylor. She is survived by her daughter, Joy Lynn Henderson and grandson, Derek Thomas. Private interment was at Sunset Memory Gardens. Condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
Linda D. Wells
Linda D. Wells, 87, of Asheville, N.C., died Sept. 13, 2014, at her home. A native of Plant City, she was the daughter of the late Claude and Mary Sue DeVane. She was an alumnus of Florida State University Class of 1948, where she received a degree in education. After 20 years of teaching,
she retired from the Broward County school system. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John D. Wells. Surviving are her children, Sherry Wells and Laurel Wells, both of Asheville; and grandchildren, Erin and Graham Gallagher, and Nick Novak. A private service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be made at AshevilleMortuaryServices. com.
William Howard Witherspoon
William Howard Witherspoon, 74, of Plant City, died Sept. 10, 2014, at his home. Born Sept. 25, 1939, in Plant City, he was the son of the late Chester and Cenova Witherspoon. He was the husband of Mary Groves Witherspoon, who survives. Mr. Witherspoon was a longdistance truck driver for more than 50 years, and he loved his family greatly. Also surviving are son, Jeffery Witherspoon; daughters, Annette Dossey (Dave) and Pam Pomfret (Mark); brother, Larry Witherspoon; sisters, Louise Brock-Pugh and Judy Bratcher; and grandchildren, Gary Kovacs and Ryan Judah. He was predeceased by brother, Ardell Witherspoon. A memorial service was held Sept. 14, at Sydney Assembly of God, Dover. Condolences may be made to the family at HaughtFuneral Home.com.
Sports
YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Kendall Johnson anchors strong Raiders squad. 14 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
baseball by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
Dawson returns with silver medal Although Kendall Dawson and her Team USA teammates didn’t come home with the gold, she says her experience in Japan was a good one. Earlier this month, Kendall Dawson traveled out of the country for the first time ever. But it wasn’t a vacation. She found herself playing competitive baseball on an international stage. Dawson, a catcher from Plant City, suited up for Team USA in the 2014 Women’s
Baseball World Cup. The eight-team tournament was held in Miyazaki, Japan, from Sept. 1 to 7. The Americans went home with silver medals, but Dawson wasn’t too disappointed. “Representing your country is such a big thing,” she says. “It was definitely a fun experi-
SIDELINES Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
FAN CLUBS
+ PCHS unleashes new Orange Crush The term “Orange Crush” should be familiar to any longtime NFL football fan, but it’s now going to have new meaning for fans of all Plant City High School sports. Students, teachers, alumni and parents have teamed up to form the PCHS Orange Crush, a group of Raider fanatics dedicated to supporting their favorite high school athletes wherever they go. Orange Crush plans to hold game days and spirit nights, when members attend a game or event and meet at a local restaurant afterward. Anyone who wishes to become a part of the Orange Crush can pick up a T-shirt for $10 in the PCHS front office or by contacting a member of the group. Game schedules will be announced on the Plant City High PTSA Facebook page, facebook. com/pages/Plant-City-HighSchool-PTSA/149704 0307193415?ref=br_tf. For more information, contact Niki Cribbs at (813) 546-0736 or cribbs813@gmail.com.
VOLLEYBALL
+ Durant rebounds from tourney loss September hasn’t been too kind to the Durant Lady Cougars. After dropping three straight in the Academy of the Holy Names Varsity Volleyball Invitational Tournament, things weren’t looking so good for last year’s district champions. Last week, though, the team came back with a vengeance. It dropped Tampa Bay Tech in three straight sets Monday, Sept. 8, and followed up with an impressive 3-1 win over a streaking Strawberry Crest team two nights later. Tuesday night, the Lady Cougars defeated Plant City 3-1, giving the team the edge in yet another tight district race. A Sept. 10 loss was Strawberry Crest’s only loss of the season, and the Lady Chargers followed up Tuesday night with a 3-0 win over Brandon. All three teams saw some action Thursday night, but results were not available for press time. They’ll all be back on the floor at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23: East Bay hosts Durant, Plant City hosts Brandon, and Strawberry Crest hosts Tampa Bay Tech.
ence. I wouldn’t have changed anything, except for winning the gold.” Although she spent much of her time on the diamond, visiting the Land of the Rising Sun was an experience she won’t soon forget. Before the trip, Dawson spent two weeks training with
the team near Malibu, Calif. That came with just one day off. Ironically, the Florida resident spent it at the beach. So, Japan was an opportunity to experience something totally different. As soon as the team arrived in Japan, the girls were met with fanfare. “The people were awesome,” Dawson says. “They had a wel-
SEE DAWSON / PAGE 13
GAME OF THE WEEK PLANT CITY AT DURANT
Road to the Redman Cup The annual Durant-Plant City game, the biggest rivalry in the area, doesn’t have a long history. But, it does have an intriguing one. The Redman Cup may not be as iconic as the Paul Bunyan Trophy, the Jeweled Shillelagh or the Victory Bell, but that doesn’t matter to the Durant and Plant City football teams. This is the biggest rivalry game in the area, and it sounds like everyone involved is ready to make something big happen. “It’s our arch-rival,” Durant head coach Mike Gottman says. “The kids, they know each other, and it’s got All games begin at a lot of his7:30 p.m. unless tory. Emootherwise noted: tions are gonna be SEPT. 19 high, and Plant City at it’ll be a Durant; 4748 great high Cougar Path, Plant school atCity mosphere.” Strawberry Crest S u r e , at Brandon; 1101 the past Victoria St. 10 years have been SEPT. 26 kinder to the Raiders Durant at Gaither; than the 16200 N. Dale Cougars — Mabry Highway, Plant City Tampa owns a 6-3Bloomingdale at 0 record in Plant City; 1 Raider that span. Place, Plant City But, for the Strawberry Crest at most part, Freedom, 17410 the local Commerce Park fans have Blvd., Tampa been treated with some quality games, and memorable performances from players past and present.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
DURANT
Two of Durant’s three wins — the games in 2008 and 2012 — came at home, which is a good sign for Cougar fans this week. It’s that 2008 game, though, that sticks out the most in Gottman’s mind. It’s one of his favorite wins as the Durant head coach over his long tenure with the team. It was marked by a 165-yard, three-touchdown effort from senior running back Ryan Rice. For the most part, however, it’s been a series populated with Durant losses. “Plant City’s kind of had our number,” Gottman says. “You look at that trophy, and it’s like,
‘Dang, we need to beat those guys!’ They usually have very good talent, and very good coaching.” Last year’s 14-13 loss at 1 Raider Place still lingers in his mind — and in the minds of many of his players — this is a different year. Durant’s fielding its best team since that magical 2012 season and is coming off of two strong performances against Sickles and Tampa Bay Tech. The Cougars look as though they finally have figured out how to win those close ballgames. And, they’re not planning to kill their momentum at the game Sept. 19. “We expect to play well enough to win,” Gottman says. “I just told the team in our meeting that we’ve got to continue to get better. We made mistakes in our last game, and we want to learn from our mistakes to get better. Work on the little picture, and the big picture takes care of itself.” With the highestscoring offense in the district, and a defense that’s been making plays at exactly the right moments, this Durant squad looks like one of Plant City’s biggest threats in at least the past five years. “Always a great day when we can beat Plant City,” Gottman says.
PLANT CITY
Beating the Raiders is no simple task, though. The only undefeated team in the district (the Steinbrenner game, which was canceled by lightning, is a tie and will not be resumed), Plant City also has enjoyed a huge
SEE RIVALS / PAGE 13
Justin Kline
Kendall Dawson was a catcher for Team USA in this month’s Women’s Baseball World Cup.
WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?
Has it already been one year? By the time you read this, I’ll have been the sports guy at the Plant City Times & Observer for one year and one day. Time flies when you’re having fun! I’m glad that the past 366 days have played out in the way that they have, for the most part. (But getting sick last Friday morning, missing football and being quarantined to the couch all weekend was not fun.) I’m glad I can look back on my first day, which I spent copy editing and interviewing members of a Flugtag collective, and say that I’ve grown quite a bit as a journo. And, going through some of the photos I took that week, I can also say that I’ve kind of learned how to use a camera since then. Thursday might have been the big day, but this particular Friday, Sept. 19, is also meaningful for JUSTIN me. We’ve got KLINE the Battle for the Redman Cup, between Plant City and Durant, and last year’s matchup was one of my first assignments on the Plant City sports beat. That game — which was awesome, by the way — brought about a series of firsts for me. I had never ventured out of the press box (or bleacher/ table setup, if you count Naples-First Baptist Academy) to cover a game before. I had tracked all of the stats through the window and relied on the photographers on the field to turn in our shots. Last year, they stuck a camera in my hand and had me shoot my first real football photos. Thankfully, Mike Eng was around to shoot the game with me. And, if you checked out last Friday’s game photos, you’ll see that he hasn’t lost his touch since then. I had never done a recap and created a photo gallery in the same post before — I was used to scrambling to the nearest computer around 10:45 p.m. to get the stats and recap filed by either 11 or 11:30 p.m. Now, after spending many late Friday nights in our (maybe) haunted office building, I’ll never complain about how much of a hassle that is again. I had never been on the field for a rivalry game before. I’ve covered a few lesser rivalries than this one,
SEE / PAGE 14
ª
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
RIVALS / PAGE 12 competitive edge in the Redman Cup series since Wayne Ward took over the head coaching job five seasons ago. Take away that 2012 loss, and the Raiders have outscored the Cougars, 84-46, in that span. Just don’t tell Ward. “You can throw records out of the door when it comes to a game like this,” Ward says. “What’s in the past is in the past. Right now, we’re focusing on this week, and focusing on the next play.” This has surely been Ward’s line of thought in each of those four games, with his favorite being 2011’s 43-12 win at home. Bennie Coney had a five-touchdown game. Whether Austin Carswell or Corey King can do something similar isn’t as getting the win.
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
MATCH-UPS STRAWBERRY CREST An 0-3 start to the season probably wasn’t what head coach John Kelly and the Chargers had in mind, all things considered. However, if there was ever a time for Crest to redeem itself on the field, it’s this district-opener at Brandon. The Eagles (2-1; 0-0 district) have gotten off to a better start than usual, picking up a season-opening, 21-20 win over Blake and a “A neighborhood rivalry — the guys really get up for games like this,” Ward says. “I’m sure they’re doing the same thing over there.” Luckily for Plant City, Ward
swimming by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
14-7 win over Riverview last Friday. Like the Chargers, Brandon dropped a close one to Bloomingdale, 22-16, on Sept. 5. Brandon may be undefeated at home, but the Chargers appear to be the best opponent that the Eagles have hosted so far. It should be much easier for all three units to work against the Eagles, in comparison to the Leon Lions in last week’s 48-9 loss, and fans can surely expect a more competitive outing tonight. says this team has definitely improved over the last two games — which were marked by shaky starts. He knows facing this defense won’t be easy, so he’ll try to do what Sickles
and Tech both failed to do: have patience. “You can’t get so caught up in the hoopla, you can’t get so caught up in the crowd, you can’t get so caught up in the game itself,” he says. “You’ve just got to go play by play. It’ll be a really good opportunity for us to stay calm but, at the same time, play fast and play furious.” Patience will be crucial, because the Raiders will be playing in maybe the most hostile environment they’ll walk into during the regular season. The home crowd played a big factor in Durant’s win over Sickles. But, if the Raiders can block out the crowd, then fans can expect a good game. “Let’s play some football,” Ward says. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
Crest, Durant make splash at competition A little bit of rain didn’t stop Tuesday afternoon’s aquatic action in Plant City, when Strawberry Crest hosted a meet with Durant and Brandon. The Chargers and Cougars tied for the lead with 75 points apiece, while the Eagles placed last with 20 points. Right: The Strawberry Crest boys were all business in the water.
Plant City-area swimmers came ready to compete. Right: The girls’ races led to the only 10-point score in the meet.
DAWSON / PAGE 12 coming ceremony after we got off the plane.” The crowd consisted of Japanese greeters and members of the local media, making the Americans feel welcome — a trend that continued throughout the week. “Everyone was always waving when they saw us,” she says. “It seemed like they really like American people.” Of course, communicating with the locals was a different story. “I think the hardest thing for me was not being able to talk to anyone,” Dawson says. “Everyone spoke Japanese, and all I knew how to say were, ‘Hello,’ and, ‘Thank you.’” Two translators, and a Team USA member who was born in Japan, helped the team in that regard. The team was on a strict schedule but got acquainted with the local culture right away. A team dinner on the first evening consisted of traditional Japanese foods, including fish that still had their heads. This also came with a quick lesson on table manners. “There’s an old rule, not to put your chopsticks in your dish when you’re finished,” Dawson says. “They do that when someone in the family dies. A few people forgot to (not) do that.” Most days were spent practicing and playing games. The Americans went undefeated in pool play, thanks to an 8-7 walk-off thriller of a win over Canada Sept. 3. The next day, the girls were given a break before Final Four play. “We got to go to a temple there, and some little Japanese shops,” Dawson says. “I don’t know what the temple was called, but it was really awesome. It’s where they go and pray, and they write their wishes on these wooden boards, burn them in, and then hang them on trees around the island. It was a forest. And they had different things you could do to bring you luck.” One of those activities involved picking up a bow and
WHERE IN THE WORLD? Miyazaki is the capital city of the Miyazaki Prefecture, located on Japan’s southernmost island, Kyushu. For a rough comparison, one can think of a prefecture as Japan’s answer to an American state. Miyazaki is located right on the east coast of the island and, unlike Florida, has plenty of mountains and waterfalls to look at when not on the coast. The locals there are a full 13 hours ahead of us and, if you’re reading this Friday morning, they are currently enjoying their Friday evening. There are religious shrines, hot springs, old castles and more to explore in Miyazaki, or one could just hang out at its many resort hotels near the ocean — much like a Florida tourist. trying to shoot arrows into different barrels — each with a different meaning. All of the Americans tried it. But none of them made it. “That’s why we lost,” Dawson jokes. “No, I’m just kidding.” The team also visited a sumo wrestling training facility and got to take pictures in the circle where the wrestlers do battle. Team USA advanced to the gold medal game as the No. 2 seed, behind Japan, but lost, 3-0, Sept. 7. “I think we did a really good job preparing,” Dawson says. “It just didn’t fall our way this year.” The flight — well, five flights — home riddled Dawson with jet lag for a few days, but being able to see her family again was worth it. “I missed my family,” she says. “I thought that I would say the food, but I actually enjoyed the food there.” Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
KLINE / PAGE 12 and some with more history, but actually being on the sideline to experience a game like this is a huge contrast from watching it unfold in the press box. It makes gathering information about everything other than stats much easier for piecing a story together.
Sure, there have been plenty of times when I’ve wished I had a stringer on the field to take photos for me, while I did stats in the press box, but few things feel as good as when you glance at a photo you just took and know that you got a killer shot. It’s been an interesting transition, but moments like
that make it worthwhile. When I was in J-school at Florida Gulf Coast University, I would occasionally hear from friends that being a sportswriter is probably one of the coolest jobs out there. After one year — even though I’m not covering pro sports — I’d say they were right.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
KENDALL JOHNSON Plant City’s successful girls golf team lost one of its key components when Kellyanne Hurst graduated, but that doesn’t mean the Lady Raiders have had a down year. In fact, the girls have proved they may be as good as usual — thanks in part to strong play from junior Kendall Johnson, who shot a 36 and a 19 (with rain delay) in last week’s wins at Newsome and Wharton. This season, you seem to be taking on a bigger role with the team. Yeah, I would say so. Last year, Kellyanne kind of helped me a lot. This year, it’s me kind of helping the girls. It’s not that much pressure, because I don’t really get that nervous, but I’m excited. Would you say you’ve gotten off to a good start this season? Yeah, I’ve done pretty well, I would say. Really, my main goal is to break Coach’s record — it’s a 33. Last year, I shot a 34. This year, I’ve only gotten down to a 35. What else do you want to accomplish this year? Probably to make it to states with the team, and to win states would be awesome. I know, as a team, we can make states easily if we all pull together. What’s your favorite course to play? I guess Juliet Falls, which is east of here, I guess. My mom drove. It’s really nice. What’s your dream course? I don’t know. I guess something in, like, England. One of those Scottish courses, like St. Andrews. What’s the strongest part of your game? My short game, I would say. I think I’ve gotten pretty good at getting up-anddowns. And where do you think you could improve? Putting, because I get to the green and then I can’t make the birdie putt. It’s kind of frustrating. Sometimes, I’ll hit it too hard or too soft. What’s your opinion on those belly putters — is using one like cheating? No. I mean, I really don’t know. Some of the best putters in the world don’t use a belly putter. Who’s your favorite pro golfer? Adam Scott. I think he
plays very well, and I like his composure on the golf course. He hits the ball extremely well. What are some of your other hobbies? I ride horses sometimes, so equestrian sports, I guess. I haven’t done eventing since eighth grade, but I went trail riding in Lithia Springs. It’s really nice. What else do you like to do for fun? Hang out with my friends. I’m a teenager, so that’s what I like to do. What’s your favorite food? Pizza. I like Pizza Hut, with the cheese-stuffed crust, or Marco’s Pizza. What are your favorite movies? I like a lot of the action movies, like the Marvel stuff. I’m not really, like, a romantic comedy kind of thing. My favorite is “Iron Man” — I liked all of them. What about TV? I watch “The Voice,” with Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. I like them both, but I really like Maroon 5, so Adam Levine is my favorite. Favorite music, besides Maroon 5? Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars. If you could be either rich or famous, what would you pick? I would say famous, because then, a lot more people would know me. Then, I could motivate or inspire a lot of people. Other than just with money. If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be and what would you talk about? I would go with Tiger Woods. I would ask him about his journey of golf, like how he came to be so good, and all his struggles. He’s an interesting person.
ª
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª
PLANT CITY
RAIN
(INCHES)
WEATHER
THURS.
Sept. 11
0.00
FRI.
TEMPERATURES
Sept. 12
0.00
SAT.
Fri., Sept. 19 Sat., Sept. 20 Sun., Sept. 21 Mon., Sept. 22 Tues., Sept. 23 Wed., Sept. 24 Thurs., Sept. 25
Sept. 13
0.00
SUN.
Sept. 14
0.00
MON.
Sept. 15
0.00
TUES.
Sept. 16
0.12
WED.
Sept. 17
.89
SEPT.
TO DATE
3.09 (2013: 1.92)
YEAR
TO DATE 26.51 (2013: 32.90)
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
HIGH 83 87 89 89 91 90 89
SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES Fri., Sept. 19 Sat., Sept. 20 Sun., Sept. 21 Mon., Sept. 22 Tues., Sept. 23 Wed., Sept. 24 Thurs., Sept. 25
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 7:30 p.m. 7:28 p.m. 7:27 p.m. 7:26 p.m. 7:25 p.m. 7:24 p.m. 7:23 p.m.
LOW 68 69 69 70 71 71 71
MOON PHASES
Sept. 8
Sept. 15
OKRA SHIPPING POINT: ORLANDO SIZE 1/2 bushel ctns
LOW $12.35
HIGH $12.85
Sept. 23
Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture Sept. 2
, 3&
Benito Lubrano Jr. submitted this beautiful shot of a rainbow peeking out from behind the clouds. The Plant City Times & Observer and Grimes Hardware have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest. Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $15 gift certificate to Grimes Hardware’s Strawberry Town Cafe! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City. Winners can pick up their prize at Grimes Hardware.
KIND DOGS?
By Mary Jersey | Edited by Timothy E. Parker ACROSS 1 Kings and jokers 6 Those guys 10 List bits 15 Main branch 19 “He’s ___ nowhere man” (Beatles lyric) 20 Institution since 1701 21 Update boundaries 22 Jewish month 23 New York city or its college 24 Quiet “Yoo-hoo!” 25 Fan setting 26 Andrews or Carvey 27 Photographer’s tool 29 Cowboy’s controls 31 Hawaiian Punch rival 32 Burns and Griffey 33 Rocks, at the bar 34 Where Mark Twain is buried 37 Axis submarine 39 Milquetoast’s antithesis 41 Spike and Peggy 42 Blooms in a Whitman poem 43 Pours forth 46 Drummer Ringo 48 Attacked 49 Midnights’ counterparts 50 Carrier’s task 52 Witches’ gathering 53 Manor master 54 White-water craft 55 Lobster coral 56 Adroit 60 Order in a pub 61 Gunpowder alternatives 64 Kind of dog 66 High-___ graphics 67 Bicycle racing’s Tour de ___ 68 Plumb tuckered out
69 70 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 80 82 83 84 85 87 89 90 91 92 94 95 99 100 102 105 107 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
Youngest of Alcott’s March sisters Kind of dog Mollycoddles Turtledove sound Ogler Self-conceit Poolroom ploy Personal adviser Doctor, one would hope At the original locale Care for a wound Alternative to plastic at a supermarket ___ role (act) Does some cobbling Place at Hollywood and Vine Dutch settler in South Africa Westminster, for one Non-earthling Top arrangement? Some consider it a gift Participate in a child’s game “Pacific ___” (2013 film) Islamic spirit Interchanges Racetrack shape Up in arms Entertainer Amos or Spelling Calms Surrealist painter Joan Causes of destruction Spew forth Maternally akin Simon’s verb Mensa-suitable Suggestive Commercial designer
SUDOKU PACIFIC Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.
DOWN 1 Render airtight 2 Clarinet man Shaw 3 Sit on the throne 4 Kind of dog 5 Picket fence part 6 Given similar parts 7 Pick up the pace 8 “If all ___ fails ...” 9 British length measure 10 Rolled-over item 11 Kind of dog 12 Muslim princes (var.) 13 Suffix with “Beatle” or “Wrestle” 14 Go from side to side 15 Irish boy 16 Gem State resident 17 “Flashdance” hit 18 Flower features 28 Speechless actor 30 Hotel offering 35 Gaucho’s grasslands 36 Turn two companies into one 38 Like Marilyn Monroe 40 Sibilant sound 42 Bunny kin 43 Increase the size of a picture 44 Tom’s behavior? 45 Predict 46 Batting posture 47 Faint hue 48 Give comfort to 51 Justice Sandra Day 52 Beacon mounted on a pole 57 Displaced person 58 Of the thighbone 59 Auditions 61 Poet’s “frequently” 62 Man with a menu 63 African wagon train
© 2013 Universal Uclick
64 65 68 71 72 76 77 79 81
encampment Putin’s land Bouncers check them Heifer’s handle Secret, as rituals Baseless story One who’s in it for the long run Kind of dog Overthrow Polished elegance
82 83 84 86 87 88 89 90 92
Word with “more” and “merrier” Race before a race Kind of dog Retreats from shore Billiard bounces Newton-John of “Grease” High-potassium fruit Mushroom with an umbrella cap Walker of whisky
93 96 97 98 101 103 104 106 108
Weasel’s wet cousin Muslim faith It may be found around the mouth City northwest of Frankfurt Small sails TV angel Downey It may be copped by a perp ___ Alamos Wild finish?
C RY P T O G R A M S 1. VCL MQKYE UJYZKLP VQ CYHL Y OQQP EQDL NQB NTVTBL LHLEVD. XW YJJ YUUQTEVD, DCL MYD Y HLBW OZNVLP YEP XBZJJZYEV NQBVTEL DKLJJLB. 2 . O G S W F O S I M L S RW F O S C O M K Q L Z M U S G S Z K Q W D S . E G S Q W C S W U S Z T E Q W Z O Q M U S . E G S C S V K C S C O M D M O M W F S R E LW R G S Z S E G S V M P I C D S O W D F P G W K Z E OT I S .
ª 3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
0,!.4ª#)49ª4)-%3ª ª/"3%26%2 &2)$!9 ª3%04%-"%2ª ª