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Plant City Lions Club tees off at annual tourney.
OUR TOWN
+ P.C. battalion chief retires
After more than 27 years serving at the Plant City Fire Rescue, Battalion Chief Henry Smith retired Sept. 30. Family and friends gathered Oct. 3, to celebrate his success. Smith started his career 32 years ago as a volunteer. He was working at the mines, when he got involved in civil service. At age 30, he decided to make a career change and was hired into the department as a firefighter. Smith rose in the ranks from firefighter to driver to captain. Seven years ago, he became battalion chief. Smith’s favorite aspect about working in the industry is the constant challenge and variety. “No day is never the same,” he says. “There’s that excitement.” Smith plans to spend more time remodeling his home. He also has a lawncare business that he plans to continue operating.
IN THIS ISSUE
SPORTS
PAGE 7
PAGE 11
PlantCitymother seekscontroversial treatmentfordaughter.
PAGE 3
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This week’s winner is
Yeniffer Hidalgo See her photo on PAGE 14.
Raiders looking for revenge against Tampa Bay Tech.
done deal by Michael Eng | Editor
Canadian investment company buys 1,000 acres in Plant City Walton International Group purchased the Cone-Graham property, for $18.1 million. It plans to build an upscale community with up to 2,500 homes.
A Canadian real-estate investment and development firm closed Oct. 4, on more than 1,000 acres in north Plant City, in what is one of the largest land deals in the community’s history. Calgary-based Walton In-
ternational Group purchased the 1,008-acre Cone-Graham property, located generally at the southwest corner of Knights Griffin and Charlie Taylor roads, for $18.1 million, from the Robert G. Graham Family LP and the David
J. Tozlosky Family LP. The firm plans to build an upscale, master-planned community with up to 2,500 homes. The community also will feature a mixed-use village center with multi-family housing, as well as up to 395,000 square feet of
INSPIRATION by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
commercial and office space. The site also has about 164 acres of wetlands and about 106 acres designated as natural preservation. Another 700,000 square feet of commercial space could be developed on nearby or adjoining parcels,
City Manager Greg Horwedel said. “Walton is excited to be part of Plant City and looks forward to working with the community to design a livable, mixedused community that includes new housing options, commercial and retail space,” said Bob Sebesta, Walton’s general
SEE SALE / PAGE 4
family affair by Michael Eng | Editor
Plant City puzzler: Corn maze set for 2013 season Fox Squirrel Corn Maze brings a plethora of fall family fun on the farm beginning this weekend.
+ Comic relief coming to P.C.
Christian entertainer Mark Lowry’s “Unplugged & Unplanned” tour rolls into the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Plant City’s First Baptist Church, 503 N. Palmer St. Lowry will perform songs from his new album, “Unforgettable Classics,” along with pianist Stan Whitmire and Warren Barfield. Tickets are $20 for general admission; $25 for preferred seating; and $18 per person for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (855) 223-1008 or visit fbcpc.com.
FREE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013
Courtesy photo
Duane Ackerman said he wants to inspire today’s teenagers with his success story.
LOUD & CLEAR
Hillsborough County’s only corn maze returns this weekend for a second year of oldfashioned fall fun. Fox Squirrel Corn Maze opens for four consecutive weekends, beginning Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Futch family’s Single R Ranch, 3002 Charlie Taylor Road N., Plant City. In its inaugural year, the maze attracted about 7,000 puzzle-lovers. This year, with a completely revamped and larger maze, along with a plethora of new activities, the Futch family is expecting an even larger draw. In addition to the 5-acre maze, this year’s event will feature live music, pony rides, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, corn box for toddlers, cornhole games, a butterfly experience, face painting and a country market. Guests also can take a tour of the grounds via a hay ride, try their hand at roping a steer and watch demonstrations of Florida Cracker skills. “Our target market is families with young kids,” said Carson Futch, who, along with family members Janet and Wayne Futch, came up with the idea for the corn maze two years ago. The ranch has been in the
IF YOU GO FOX SQUIRREL CORN MAZE
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 12 through Nov. 2. The maze will be open Fridays by reservation for groups of 20 or more. WHERE: Single R Ranch, 3002 Charlie Taylor Road N., Plant City COST: $10 per adult; $9 per child ages 9 to 17; free for children under 2 WEBSITE: foxsquirrel cornmaze.com family since 1920. Ralph Futch pieced together the ranch to raise cattle and citrus. His son, Alvin, purchased in 1972, the ranch and cattle business and continues to operate a smaller portion of the ranch. With the rise of agritourism, the Futches decided the corn maze would be the perfect way to share their Plant City heritage with children and families throughout Tampa Bay.
SEE MAZE / PAGE 5
Duane Ackerman, Plant City High School’s 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, retired in 2007, as president and CEO of BellSouth Corporation.
Duane Ackerman’s career has been the stuff of dreams. He served as vice chairman, president and CEO of BellSouth, navigating the company through mergers and changes in the industry. With his lifetime of business experience and tech-savvy nature, he’s been involved in numerous startups. Ackerman also
serves on many distinguished boards, including those representing Allstate, Home Depot and UPS, as well as on the National Security Advisory Council. Because of these accomplishments, Ackerman, has been selected as the 2013 inductee into the Plant City High School Hall of Fame. But,
Ackerman, a member of the Class of 1960, didn’t accept the distinction because of his triumphs. Instead, he wants to motivate students to reach for the sky. “I’m one of the few that believes the American Dream is not dead,” Ackerman said.
SEE ACKERMAN / 4
Courtesy photo
Every member of the Futch family helps organize and run the annual Fox Squirrel Corn Maze.
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Vol.1,No.11 | Onesection Cops.............................5
Crossword...................14
Obituaries.....................9
Sports.........................11
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