10.15.20 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

COMMUNITY WELCOMES

FIRE STATION

A dedication and hose uncoupling ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon for the long-awaited Fire Station Three on Park Road. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

It’s been a long time coming, but Fire Station Three is finally up and running. The city held a small dedication and hose uncoupling ceremony Tuesday afternoon for a select group of invitees in order to keep attendance down. The facility will be open for a public open house and tour sometime in November once the facility is fully operational. The ceremony was streamed on the City of Plant City Government’s Facebook page. “On behalf of the members of Plant City Fire Rescue and the City of Plant City we would like to welcome you to this very special day, the dedication of Fire Station Three,” Fire Chief David Burnett said. “The completion of Fire Station Three is a monumental moment not only for the members of the Fire Department, but also for the community we serve.” For those who have been following the saga, the event seemed like a sigh of relief. The city broke ground on the site

back in September 2018. At the time, that was a celebration in and of itself as there were plenty of speed bumps the city had to navigate to even get to that ceremony. No one expected it to take more than two years to bring it to life. The facility is located on Park Road near the Mike E. Sansone Commuity Park. Complications originally bumped the completion date from June 2019 to April 2020. There was a supply shortage, a lack of skilled construction workers in the industry and internal issues of the construction company that led to a revolving door of superintendents and project managers. Then the pandemic hit and the dedication ceremony was suddenly slid all the way to October 2020. So the mood was beyond jovial Tuesday afternoon as the small crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of the station and cheer along with the fire rescue crew at the unveiling of the gorgeous facility.

SEE PAGE 5

Justin Kline

City commissioners were presented with fire helmets during the Tuesday afternoon ceremony.

NEWS BRIEFS

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

Courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

File photo

Plant City man arrested in HCSO sting Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that 22 men were arrested following an undercover operation aimed at people who sought out sex with minors. “Operation Social Bust” ran from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2 and detectives posed as underage girls and boys on social media to find online sexual predators. One was Christian Ramirez, 37, a registered sex offender from Texas who lives in Plant City. Ramirez drove to Riverview on Oct. 1 to meet up with what he thought was a 14-year-old boy for sex and was arrested. He has been charged with using computer services or device to solicit certain illegal acts, transmission of harmful material to a minor, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and traveling to meet a minor after using computer services/ devices to solicit certain illegal acts. The 22 men arrested either hailed from Hillsborough County or traveled to Hillsborough with intent to meet up with minors.

“Protecting children from online predators is a responsibility we take very seriously and a steadfast commitment of your Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a press release.

Santa Sled Fest gets 2020 date The 30th annual Santa Sled Fest, presented by Plant City Black Heritage and Des’Aimes Social Club, is being planned to come back in mid-December. The groups announced the 2020 event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 19 at the new Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, 302 S. Maryland Ave. Santa Sled Fest gives more than 200 families of children age 5-12 free groceries, turkeys, clothes, bicycles and toys along with a family-friendly day of fun. All families who wish to participate must fill out an application and must pre-register on-site with ID up to an hour before the start time on Dec. 19. Face masks are required and social distancing will be mandated. This year’s event is also sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Plant City, the City

of Plant City, Star Distribution Systems, Global Sports Alliance Florida, Evangelical Deliverance Church and C&S Wholesale Grocers. Applications can be obtained form the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center or the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St. For more information, call Sharon Moody at 813-453-7134, Dorothy Smith at 813-255-2694 or Tanger Castillo at 386-675-2039.

Girl Scouts to host virtual dessert event Girl Scouts of West Central Florida is doing something different for this year’s Dessert First event: bringing it to you online. From 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 21, a Tampa Bayarea chef will give a live cooking demonstration you can stream in your own kitchen as you follow along to make your Girl Scout cookies of choice. If you’re participating, you’ll get to choose from Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs or Trefoils and you will be provided with a kit in advance. You will also be entered into prize drawings during the event.

All funds raised from the event will help with membership, camp experiences, programs, supplies and more. Visit gswcf. org/dessertfirst to register, donate and get more information.

Library to host Halloween event for kids Bruton Memorial Library is starting something new for the month of October. The library announced Tuesday it’s preparing to host the first annual October Treats Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30. There will be socially distanced stations with crafts, games, treats and more, plus a costume contest. The event is free and no registration is required for families to attend.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

HOPEWELL BAPTIST TO CELEBRATE The church’s big homecoming celebration will take place between Oct. 18 and 21 with a few special guests and a deep dive into its long history. For more information about the upcoming celebration, visit Hopewell Baptist Church’s Facebook page or its website, hopewellbaptistfl.org. Hopewell Baptist Church historian Beth Bugg contributed to this report.

Above photo: Justin Kline Historic photos courtesy of Hopewell Baptist Church

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Hopewell Baptist Church’s beginning was about as modest as one could get. John Robert McDonald’s 10-by-12 log cabin with puncheon seats, which was also used as a schoolhouse in the young Hopewell community, was where the church informally organized in 1870. Several buildings and 150 years later, so much has changed in and around the historic chapel building that’s become iconic for Hopewell. All of it will be celebrated this weekend and early next week. The church will host its homecoming celebration from Oct. 18-21 to celebrate 150 years in its slice of the greater Plant City area. It won’t look like previous Hopewell homecoming celebrations thanks to COVID-19, but the church staff feels now is the right time to do something special. “As far as any church I’ve pastored, this one goes back the furthest,” Pastor Justin Kirksey, who has been with the church since February 2019, said. “It’s always good to be able to honor a church for standing this long. Also it’s a good opportunity for us to regather since we were shut down for several months due to COVID-19. We were doing online only basically from March to May. People have been returning as they feel comfortable, so this is a good moment for us to see a lot of people come back.” One highlight of Hopewell’s upcoming celebration comes from its two special guests. A pair of eastern Hillsborough County natives will bring their brands of worship and music to Hopewell over the three-day celebration. There’s Rev. Rick Coram, a traveling evangelist from Valrico who has operated Rick Coram Ministries, Inc. since 1988. Coram is booked for the homecoming service at 10:45 a.m. Oct. 18 and will also lead the nightly revivals at 6:30 p.m. each evening. There’s also Terry Williams, a music evangelist and Brandon native who is the Florida Baptist Convention’s Music and Worship Consultant and director of the Florida Worship Choir and Orchestra. Williams will team up with Coram each night and bring the music.

The church is also working on a big presentation to teach attendees how the church came to be and how it has evolved over the years. Hopewell was created in 1870 by McDonald and his family and formally organized in 1873 by both Elder L.J. Simmons (who became its first pastor) and J.N. Tatum. Its longest-serving pastor, Walter McDonald, came aboard in 1888 and led the church for the next 45 years. He was there for the move to Grange Hall on Old Hopewell Road and in January 1902 for the opening of Hopewell’s signature chapel, which was remodeled in 1955 to add the steeple, entryway columns, stained-glass windows and extra rooms. The church has expanded greatly since then and now operates out of a new 8,350-square foot multipurpose facility completed in 2006. The new building cost $1.125 million to build — a far cry from the $854.92 cost to build the original chapel in 1902. The church’s historians have been hard at work digging up information and photos for the presentation, so the one to be shown at the church will have a wealth of content history buffs will be sure to enjoy. “It’s nice to be able to walk over there (to the old chapel) and see the history, think about what was going on 100, 150 years ago,” Kirksey said. Some members of Hopewell’s congregation have been around for nearly half of the church’s life and they will be honored during the homecoming celebration. The two longest-tenured members, for example, are Jeane Bugg (74 years) and Marlene Mathew (71 years). Hopewell will also honor its oldest living members and is planning a tribute to members who have passed since its last homecoming celebration. The church will practice social distancing and other safety methods to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 now, and Kirksey said there will be more to come at a later date to essentially make up for what can’t be done safely right now. “When things get better with the pandemic, we will probably have another big celebration to add on to this,” he said. “We wanted to go through with it because you only turn 150 one time.”

Maryland Ave.

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

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JUSTIN KLINE

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COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

PLANT CITY

This week on Cops Corner:

Observer

Plant City Police investigated broken vehicle windows, a home break-in,

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

slashed tires and more.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

OCTOBER 2

OCTOBER 4

FAKE IT ’TIL YOU MAKE IT

OCTOBER 5

ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

AMATEUR LOCKSMITH

3500 block of West Baker Street. Fraud: Shortly after 4:15 p.m., a subject entered a business and loaded a debit card with $400. The business then learned the subject may have used 20 counterfeit $20 bills in the transaction.

CLOSE CALL

1100 block of West Washington Street Criminal mischief, warrant: This complainant stated someone broke his vehicle’s windows. A woman was arrested in connection with the incident and officers discovered she also had an outstanding warrant. She was taken to Orient Road Jail and the victim signed a waiver of prosecution for the criminal mischief.

OCTOBER 3 SECURE THE BAG 500 block of West Ball Street Theft: Officers met with this complainant, who stated someone stole $718 from her purse.

2300 block of Maki Road Burglary: This complainant stated someone broke into his home by breaking through a window near his back door’s deadbolt. The incident happened sometime between 9:45 and 10:30 p.m. Oct. 3. CHAIN REACTION 2400 block of James L. Redman Parkway Battery: Officers learned two co-workers got into an altercation which resulted in a necklace being broken. The subject who owned the necklace approached the co-worker who broke it and her boyfriend to demand money to pay for the repair, then punched the boyfriend’s vehicle. Multiple waivers of prosecution were signed and no further investigation was required.

Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com

Madison Street/Tyler Street Shooting into occupied conveyance: This complainant was driving on Madison Street near Tyler Street when a single round from a gunshot hit his front windshield. The driver signed a waiver of prosecution.

MYSTERIOUS MISCHIEF 300 block of South Frontage Road Criminal mischief: This complainant stated an unknown subject slashed three of her Nissan SUV’s tires while it was parked in a lot at her complex. Surveillance video did not show any suspects, but slash marks were clearly visible on the three tires.The complainant said she was not in a dispute with anyone and had no idea who could have caused the damage, and a waiver of prosecution was signed.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

FIRE STATION THREE UNVEILED TO THE PUBLIC Plant City’s newest fire station, located on Park Road, opened its doors Tuesday afternoon and a small ceremony was held to celebrate.

STAFF WRITER

Commissioner Mike Sparkman shared stories of growing up as a local high school student who volunteered for the fire department. He remembered having to work with old and degraded equipment and said he vowed all those decades ago to do everything he could to ensure the fire department always had the top equipment so it could serve the community to the best of its ability. “Striking” is the word many used to describe the new station. Even from the road, it draws the eye with a set of massive glass walls that display an original 1927 American LaFrance Fire Engine as well as glass hangar doors to give a peek inside at the in-service trucks and equipment. Pair that with the exposed brick and you’ve got one sleek facility. The new fire station will enhance current levels of service as well as put the city in a proactive position for the growth that is on its way on that side of town. North Park Isle, which is set to be built north of I-4, is planned along with a variety of other residential communities for the surrounding area and there will soon be an even stronger demand for emergency service stations on the northeast side of town. “Fire Station Three is an 8,400-square foot facility that’s built to keep up with the growth via quick response to the northeast quadrant of the city,” Burnett said. “When needed, the assets within this fire station are going to enhance our first response to the rest of the city. The station includes

three drive-through truck bays. Has the capacity of holding six apparatuses.” Vice Mayor Nate Kilton said the location of the fire station sends a message of how the city wants to present itself to the rest of the world: that Plant City is proud of who it is and what it does. He said he is very proud of the continued progress the city has made. “Certainly the most important thing we do in city government is safety for our citizens, from our Police Department to our Fire Rescue. That’s priority number one,” Kilton said. “Having this fire station sends the message loud and clear that in Plant City we love our first responders and we want them to have all the tools that they need to do their job well. Chief Burnett, we have so much respect for you and all of your team members from your leadership team to all of your staff for the job that we do.” Photos by Justin Kline

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

GET YOUR SPOOK ON

Sir Henry’s Haunted Trails is back. The attraction has made some changes to safely scare attendees to their heart’s content. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

For years Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail has drawn thousands of attendees to the outskirts of Plant City. The spooky attraction prides itself on offering what few can: genuinely terrifying trail walks with outstanding acting and affordable prices. The place is normally packed without an ongoing pandemic, so owner Zach Glaros said the team had to sit down and decide how to still host the event for its loyal fans while making sure everyone was safe. Luckily, the answer was relatively simple. “Our first goal was to entertain all of our guests,” Glaros said. “Its what we always try to strive for. We do it better than everyone else and in a very unique way. 2020 has been a wild roller coaster and if we could come up with a plan to safely offer this experience to people, we wanted to make it happen. I really feel that people need it more than ever.” Glaros said the event has always been outside, so that part was already golden. Three heavily-themed trails wind through the massive outdoor property drawing guests deeper and deeper into the creepy storytelling while actors lie in wait to bring the guests’ nightmares to life. The new safety plan got the seal of approval during dress rehearsals when the actors and staff realized they could execute the experience safely and effectively without ever putting anyone at risk. Face masks are required for both actors and attendees. The queue lines — which have always been the only moments of mass gathering — are now socially distanced. They’ve also cut down massively on attendance. Sir Henry’s reduced its capacity to around 50 percent and attendees now have to purchase tickets online in advance. When picking up a ticket, they are then asked to

select a time slot so the Trail can keep tabs on exactly how many people will be on the property at any given moment. It also added some “very rigorous cleaning and safety measures on the back end” for the costuming and actors, according to Glaros. Temperature checks are required for all guests and actors, and the actors will also have less direct interaction with the attendees as they weave through the trails. “The biggest change within the trails is nothing will be touching you or coming in contact with you as you walk through,” Glaros said. “We’ve come up with very creative ways for actors to still interact with the guests and for the guests to really be on their toes throughout the trail.” The experience has also forgone the escape game and laser tag arena. However, the photo opportunities, t-shirt stand and concessions are still available. The three trails this year are The Candy Tree, Marionette of the Dead and Midnight Slaughter. While all three trails are considered to be “high-intensity,” the Midnight Slaughter Trail is a lights-out experience. Usually that means guests hold a flashlight and walk in pitch-black darkness toward safety. With COVID-19 still present, the attraction shifted slightly and took control even further from the hands of the guests. A small light, barely the size of a flashlight beam, will lure the brave walkers deeper and deeper into the trail. For those who have been fans of Sir Henry’s for years, some of the stories may seem familiar. Both Marionette of the Dead and Midnight Slaughter are continuations of themes and stories from last year’s trails. You now get “chapter two” in each respective story. The funeral home from last year’s Reaper’s Haunting trail has been shut down and abandoned. A schizophrenic puppet mas-

Photos courtesy of Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail

ter has squatted within, building puppets from the remaining parts she finds inside. Unfortunately she needs more than what is available and has started drawing guests in to finish her creations. Midnight Slaughter follows the Brown family, whose Harvester Trail received rave reviews last year from guests. “I think we are very different event than, say, the mainstream theme parks,” Glaros said. “One of the things I pride myself on and try to create in the event itself is the atmosphere. Our experience has a northeastern Halloween vibe and feel, which is very rare to find around here. Everything from the theming to the characters, sets and pieces, it’s all a part of this visual storytelling you’re not going to see anywhere else.” The trail will run Oct. 16-18, 23-25, and 30-31. Tickets start at $25 and you can grab them from sirhenryshauntedtrail. com. If you plan to come, wear closed-toed shoes. The trails are recommended for those age 12 and older and it wouldn’t hurt to use some bug spray in advance. To stay up-to-date on all of the themed events at Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

PlantCityObserver.com

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

GFWC WOMAN’S CLUB REMINDS WOMEN OF FIGHT FOR RIGHT TO VOTE This year marked the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. The GFWC Woman’s Club spent this week reminding woman of the past so they would be encouraged to play a role in the future of this country. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City reminded women all around the community that their right to vote is something to be cherished. On Monday, the group received a proclamation from the City of Plant City in honor of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. The timing may seem odd as the amendment was passed by congress on June 4, 1919 and was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920. Like so many things, the ongoing pandemic put many celebrations on hold. Now that the state is reopening, the proclamation came just in time for Election Day. The club then met early the next morning for a special meeting where all of the members dressed in white and wore sashes reading “Votes for Women” in honor of the many legendary walks and parades that advocated for the suffrage movement. They held their normal meeting first and then a ceremony in honor of the anniversary. Four women were also installed into the club that morning. “I think it’s really important to me that people know, especially the young girls, what happened in this country to allow women to be able to vote,” Patricia Wolff, president of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City, said. “Use it, use it, don’t waste it. Once you are of the age to vote, do it because there were so many women that suffered so much to make this possible. They were beaten, they were incarcerated, they suffered so we can vote. Use your right and go vote. We have it easy,

but the ones before — they didn’t. I hope that people know what came before so that they understand how important this is.” Leading the group of women Tuesday morning in an inspirational and historical look back at the suffrage movement was Tom Mortenson. Mortenson touched on a variety of topics while detailing for nearly half an hour what women in this country had to do to secure their rights at the polls. He shared the full history of the movement, including the fact there was a massive divide in suffragettes as some white women in the movement didn’t want the right to extend to their black counterparts. Black men and women were absolutely a crucial part of the suffrage movement in the U.S., but there were those also in the movement who were vehemently opposed to the diverse support. In 1920, the 19th Amendment became law stating that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” The fight was won, except that wasn’t the case at all: the 19th Amendment did not guarantee any woman in this country could vote. What it did was make the reservation of ballots to be strictly for men an unconstitutional act. Women still had to weave their way expertly through a variety of state laws — some of which were valid, like the age and citizenship requirement, and others, like mental competence, were completely subjective — and many were still barred from the voting booth. Then there was the fact that racism had not

died with the failed secession of Southern states decades earlier. The 15th Amendment made it illegal for states to deny a vote because of the color of someone’s skin. So Southern and Western lawmakers got creative and decided to create laws that would keep black citizens out of politics. There were the literacy tests, grandfather clauses and poll taxes, not to mention the threat of unspeakable violence toward those who dared attempt to make their voices heard. That’s not to say black women didn’t vote in the election of 1920. In fact, history shows a massive wave of those brave pioneers went to the polls, many arm-inarm with their fellow white suffragettes. If they passed the “tests” of their states, they got to cast their votes. In many states it had been legal for years for women to fill out a ballot. Native women — the literal descendants of the tribes that originally called this land home — and Asian-American women faced other federal citizenship laws. Native women were barred from voting until 1924 and some Asian women didn’t get the right to vote until the 1950s. So while 1920 was a momentous year for women in this nation, it was just the first step toward achieving the right for a woman to stand up and have a say in how the nation she called home was run. And the fight still continues to this day. It’s a lesson the GFWC Woman’s Club hopes the incoming generations of young voters don’t forget. So many women fought tirelessly, facing incomprehensible threats and hurdles to achieve the right to walk into a polling station on Election Day

and make their mark. Yet in 2016, only around 55.7 percent of the U.S. voting-age population cast their vote. Wolff said she fears women today take their right to vote for granted. She hopes that events like the Woman’s Club held this week, as well as conversations people can have with those they know, will help pass this important part of history on. “It’s sad that many young people think that it may be like this from the beginning and it was not,” Wolff said. “We don’t want that to be lost because we don’t appreciate what we have. Even myself, I knew about the suffrage movement and what it was about, but it there was still so much to learn… These opportunities we have, sometimes we take them for granted and we may think ‘Does my vote really matter?’ But when you look back and see what they went through to give us these freedoms and these rights to vote, you know that you have to inform yourself and show up to vote.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WOMAN’S CLUB Website: gfwcwomansclubofplantcity.org Facebook: GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City Call: (941) 725-1135

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Combine & Save.

COVID-19 is still a major factor in Florida. Despite Governor Ron DeSantis launching Florida toward the third phase of his reopening plan at the end of September, the spread of the coronavirus is still ongoing throughout the state. Florida added 2,725 COVID-19 cases and 123 COVID-19 related deaths on Tuesday, according to the Florida Department of Health. That brings the total infections since March up to 738,749 for the state with 15,722 deaths. In the U.S., that number is now at 7,859,320 infections with 215,914 deaths. The nation added 52,406 infections and 802 deaths on Tuesday. Much of the country is reopening with few to no restrictions despite the figures. Other states remain on a staggered lockdown, restricting travel to and from those individual states in hopes of containing the spread. Tuesday’s numbers show Tampa Bay added 592 COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths. Hillsborough had 10 of those deaths while Pinellas, Polk and Manatee each had four deaths. Citrus County had three deaths reported and Hernando County reported one death from COVID-19. Pasco County had no deaths reported. Health officials have repeatedly said that reporting of coronavirus-related deaths is a timely process — it rarely happens immediately and can take weeks to confirm, so the numbers that are reported each day are not an accurate snapshot of what the state really looks like at that exact moment. The latest numbers show that the weekly death average for Florida is now at

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approximately 111 deaths per day. To break that down further, the state’s positivity rate is used to get the most accurate reading of where Florida is currently standing in the pandemic. There are two different ways to calculate it. The Florida Department of Health does not include positive retests in its calculations and announced Florida’s average weekly positively rate at 4.3 percent. John Hopkins University, however, does include positive retests as it takes its calculations from all of the tests that were released that week. On Tuesday, it found Florida’s positivity rate to be at 11.74 percent. To put that in perspective, the World Health Organization — which has been the leading voice in the international fight against this pandemic — said a state should maintain a positively rate of 5 percent or less for at least two weeks before it begins loosening social distancing restrictions. Depending on which statistic you believe accurately sums up the state’s status, Florida may or may not be within that range of safety for its relatively nonexistent regulations. Local elected officials will discuss the state of COVID-19 in Hillsborough County during the Board of County Commissioners meetings. You can find the BOCC’s schedule and agenda’s at hillsboroughcounty.org/en/government/board-ofcounty-commissioners. Emergency management will become an agenda item in each meeting.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

FOCUS ON FITNESS DEVELOP HEALTHY HABITS NOW, REAP THE BENEFITS LATER You and your loved ones can benefit from establishing healthy habits now. It’s especially good for children who will model your behavior.

People, societal norms and culture play a huge role in who we become and the habits we acquire. The habits we start in the earlier stages of life will set us up for success or failure, which is why it’s critical that as adults, we help our families set healthy habits. The earlier we set these in life, the more likely these habits will have a lasting effect. Not only do these habits affect us, but they also affect those around us. It’s a winwin! Research shows children learn best by observational learning, which is watching another individual’s behavior, attitudes and emotional expressions and modeling them. There are so many easy ways to help establish healthy habits and the positive effects are endless. Here are some great ways to implement those habits into your day-to-day routine as a family:

Start your day off right. One thing that was impressed upon me and my husband earlier in our youth was that our parents started their days off early before work. They would take a couple hours before work to sit in the stillness of the morning to wake up and read while drinking tea or coffee. This practice helps you mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepare for your day. While I don’t believe that a lot of us are early birds, I challenge you to try it. Take family walks. This can not only aid in digestion after a meal, but also help for a more restful night of sleep. This is also great way to get some movement at the end of your day and spend time together as a family. Eat at home. Now, this is not always realistic. We have hectic schedules and when it comes down to it, it is better to eat out than to not eat at all. But there are so many benefits to eating at home. It is not only cheaper

to eat home-cooked meals, it is also much healthier. You control the ingredients and you decide the cost. Go to the gym. Go as a family! Who said going to the gym could not be fun? It is important for children to not only see adults and parents work out consistently but also to see them having fun while doing it. This falls right into observational learning. In my youth, going to the gym as a family was a regular activity. It wasn’t always perfect, but watching my family take those steps to be active together has been imprinted into my brain to this day. These are just a few ways to help implement healthy habits into your family and children’s everyday lives so that you can help set them up for success.

Some of the best advice I have ever received is to live by example. Are you living your life in such a way that you want

people to follow it? There are so many good habits that I continue today because my parents took the time to show me the importance of exercising your body, eating healthy foods and feeding your soul. It all counts and pushes us toward who we are created to be. Whether you are a parent, teacher, coach or boss, we all have the power to be of influence — but it starts at home with our families.

Hannah Franklin is a Wellness Director at the Plant City Family YMCA.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY HOLDS HISPANIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL The school set up a drive-through display in its parking lot on Oct. 8 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Parents were invited to stop by, grab a bite to eat and learn.

Photos by Justin Kline

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

All of Faith Christian Academy got together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this year, which those who passed by the West Reynolds Street school on Oct. 8 got to see firsthand in a drive-through format. Students set up tables in the parking lot and displayed their pasteboard projects, each containing photos and information about various Hispanic countries. There was country-specific food laid out for anyone to snack on and music from each country pumped through the speakers throughout the event, which started at 1 p.m. and ended at approximately 3 p.m. “The whole school is involved,” Keila Vega, a teacher at FCA who organized the event, said. “Every homeroom, every grade has two countries. In other years it was only my classes — Spanish and art — but this year we tried to make a different dynamic, so we included all the grades from kindergarten through 12th. I think they’ve responded

really, really well… we are a family here, so they appreciated it and they worked hard to set everything up.” FCA is temporarily located at 1211 W. Reynolds St. and hopes to move to a new, permanent location closer to the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds next year. The school is looking for corporate sponsors or donations and anyone interested can learn more at fcafalcons.org.

OCTOBER 15, 2020

Nate Brennan, a three-sport athlete, refused to let a health scare change his athletic career. See Page 14

SPORTS

GAME OF THE WEEK:

STRAWBERRY CREST AT PLANT CITY The Chargers visit the Raiders tomorrow night in the first Plant City-area crosstown rivalry game of the 2020 football season. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Friday night’s showdown at 1 Raider Place will kick off this year’s area rivalry series on the gridiron. Strawberry Crest will head into the game fresh off of a bye week. The last time the Chargers (0-4) took the field — Oct. 2 — they hosted the Lakeland Dreadnaughts (2-1) and lost, 44-0. Two turnovers on three fumbles did Crest no favors against Lakeland, which held a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and a 35-0 lead after the second. Marcus Springfield led the Chargers on offense with 17 rushing yards on eight touches, recorded a team-high four total tackles on defense and also chipped in on special teams with 77 kickoff return yards. Plant City is coming off of a 43-42 win at Tampa Bay Tech, a nail-biter that came down to the last play of the game — quarterback Nick Felice’s keeper — and saw several lead changes throughout the evening. The Raiders (2-2), who had lost back-

to-back games with a bye in between, busted the slump by heavily favoring their passing game and forcing the Titans’ (2-3) defensive secondary to try and stop their all-county caliber wide receiver group. The battle between Crest’s secondary and Plant City’s wideouts is worth a look here. Defending the pass has arguably been what the Chargers’ defense has done best in 2020. Not counting the Lakeland game — Bill Castle’s old-school offense is as runheavy as you can get these days — Crest’s other three games saw the team hold quarterbacks to 25 completions on 51 attempts for 257 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions. That’s about 85 passing yards on about eight completions per game. It is important to note, however, that Crest has not faced a passing game as good all around as Plant City’s. Last week’s game at TBT put the Raiders’ potential on full display. Felice completed 30 of 38 pass attempts for 424 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions (one of

Quick Hits

Courtesy of Christa Hubble

which came from an unlucky bounce off the receiver’s hands). Mario Williams and Aramoni Rhone each caught seven passes for 85 yards and combined for three touchdowns: two for Rhone, one for Williams. The best receiving performance of the night belonged to slot receiver Reagan Ealy, who caught 12 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

If you can’t make it to any of this week’s games, you’re not out of luck: NFHSNetwork.com live streams every game, every week, and you can watch anywhere with a subscription.

Photos by Justin Kline

Above: Nick Felice threw five touchdown passes and ran for another last week at Tampa Bay Tech. Left: Austin Osborne finds an open receiver around Sumner’s defense.

OTHER GAMES TO WATCH DURANT

CREST ALUMS QUALIFY FOR BASSMASTER NATIONALS

COVID-19 may have ruined some big fishing plans for Chase Hubble and Brent May, but things are looking up for the Strawberry Crest graduates. Hubble and May couldn’t do all the fishing they wanted to because of the pandemic, but the two competed whenever they could and still managed to make the cut for the upcoming Bassmaster High School National Championships in Paris, Tennessee later this month. Hubble and May, who are respectively enrolled at Florida Gateway College and Palm Beach State College, will compete there from Oct. 22-24. They were also one of 10 high school teams to qualify for the next Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth, Texas, which will be held from March 19-21, 2021.

AT LAKELAND, 7:30 P.M. Last week, the Durant Cougars (2-2) started their two-game road trip at Bloomingdale (4-0) and took a 30-0 loss. Offensive stats for the game were not available for either team at press time, but the Cougar defense did record two sacks and Aashton Kirkland forced and recovered a fumble. This week, Durant will go to Lakeland to take on the Dreadnaughts. Lakeland will look to bounce back from last week’s 41-20 blowout loss to 2019 7A state semifinalist Venice, in which the Indians (5-1) scored 28 secondhalf points and threw for four touchdowns and 389 yards.

DISTRICT VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP All three Plant City-area teams competed in district tournament semifinal games on Tuesday night. Of the three, only Plant City High School advanced to the next round. SEE PAGE 14

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

RAIDERS ROLL ON TO DISTRICT FINALS; CHARGERS, COUGARS OUT

The Plant City Raiders’ strong season lives on after Tuesday night’s 6A-District 10 semifinal win over Strawberry Crest. Plant City (9-2; 8-0 district) was able to send the Chargers (6-7; 2-5 district) home after three sets and didn’t let Crest take a lead at any point in the game. But after the first set ended quickly with a 25-16 win and the Raiders held a 17-9 lead in the second, the Chargers suddenly got hot and went on a 10-3 scoring run to cut the PCHS lead to just two points. The teams battled back and forth and at one point tied the set at 24-24, but the Raiders were

Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at JKline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

What led to your diagnosis?

Photos by Justin Kline

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Nate Brennan

Nate Brennan was in for a shock shortly before his senior year started: he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. But Brennan, a three-sport athlete, refused to let his condition take anything away from him. He adjusted his diet, stayed positive and kept moving forward to get back into football shape in time for this season. In addition to football, Brennan is a member of Durant’s hockey and track and field teams and he has a 4.12 GPA.

After winning Tuesday’s home game against Strawberry Crest, Plant City will now face Armwood for the 6A-District 10 championship. JUSTIN KLINE

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

able to get the job done for the 26-24 win there. The final set was also won with a 25-16 score. The Raiders are now set to play at Armwood on Thursday night for the 6A-10 championship. Plant City is 2-0 against the Hawks (3-8; 0-4 district) in 2020 and did not lose any sets in either match. In the 7A-District 12 tournament, Durant hosted Wharton in the semifinal round and lost, 3-0. The Cougars (7-9; 0-3 district) scored 15, 15 and 13 points, respectively, in their three sets with the Wildcats (16-8; 5-3 district). Wharton will travel to Newsome (16-2; 3-0 district) on Thursday night to play for the championship.

For about four months, over the summer when quarantine started off, I started losing a lot of weight. Before quarantine, I was 215 pounds. In four months, I went to 165 and was feeling horrible all the time. I was still going to practice and working out, trying to push through it, but it wasn’t working out, so I told my parents I wanted to get checked out. I went to the hospital for four days and that’s when I was diagnosed. I have type 1 diabetes, so I have to inject insulin because my pancreas doesn’t produce it. You clearly didn’t want to let diabetes affect your athletic career. How did you stay motivated and what adjustments did you have to make to your life? I just have a strong mindset to stay positive all the time, no matter what. I try to

always think about the positives. I’ve been doing the same things — it’s only little changes in my diet and how I prepare for games. Depending how high or low I am can affect how I play, so I have to make sure I’m well-nourished, hydrated and ready to go at all times. The main thing is the carbs. I can’t break down the sugars, so my diet’s gotten better. I used to have a good amount of junk food even though I was working out, but I don’t take in as much carbs. I’ve leaned out but still maintain mass and size. I’m already back up to 205 pounds. The first week out of the hospital, I went in at 168 and I came out at around 182. That was mostly because of water weight. I lost a lot of water weight and I drank a lot, like an unhealthy amount. I drank about two gallons and it would go straight out. What are some signs people your age who may have diabetes be on the lookout for, assuming they have it but may not know it yet? How you feel, how your mindset is. If you feel different, like having different thoughts or you feel weird, or if you feel unhealthy, that could be a sign. You can read the full Athlete of the Week interview with Durant’s Nate Brennan on plantcityobserver.com.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

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Due by 7 p.m. November 3 October 19 – November 1 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

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Craig Latimer

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

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We asked Facebook: Now that Fire Station 3 is officially open, what do you hope is the next project the city will pick up? “Splash pad!!! One in the downtown area would bring families in town every night!!!” — Alan Nelson “Hopefully to clean up & maintain what we already have, but I’m sure there already are more development of subdivisions/apartment complexes lined up.” — Austin Salter “A municipal swimming pool!” — Delicia C. Wallnöfer “More technical schools, Smoothie King, Tropical Smoothie” — Graciela M. Gonzalez “Fix that dang road coming out of where Burger King & Bealls is at! Jesus at the size of the potholes!” — Heather Certelli Walmsley

“Free housing for single young pregnant females that decide to choose life even though life will be harder because of that decision. Work with health care providers, colleges, and employers to help them through these challenges.” — John Simmons “Red light that functions right before school starts and after school gets out on Alexander at Maki Road. A hard intersection to get across after school!” — Jessica Messick Hall “Fixing the roads in the area of Lincoln and Marshall off Park Road. It’s awful the condition they’re in, and new MASSIVE holes open up every other day. They put a bandaid on one and then the same hole opens back up a week later. Those are high traffic roads in a residential area with one school whose transportation is mostly cars and not buses.” — Jamie Newman

“We need Chick-fil-A asap!!” — Danielle Hitson “Asian market.” — Fritzie Manalo “How about a traffic light at Alexander Street and YMCA Place? Why, as I was told by a high ranking city official, does it have to take a number of accidents before this can be addressed? If residents from Walden Lake East wants to walk to the Y, they take the lives in their hands by trying to cross there, or have to walk to the Walden Lake light or the high school light that takes forever to change for pedestrians to cross. Do we need to start a petition?” — Jana Kirkland Butler

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Tyrone Power Page

Tommy Horne Beal

Tyrone Power Page, 81 of Dover, born on July 5,1939 in Tiger Bay (Ft. Meade), entered eternal rest on October 8, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Tommy Horne Beal, 81, of Lithia, born on July 1, 1939 in Trenton, entered into eternal rest on October 8, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Jerome Romeo Fernandes

Doyle ‘Stan’ Stanton Porter

Doyle “Stan” Stanton Porter, 91, of Plant City, born on January 25, 1929, entered into eternal rest on October 8, 2020. He was a retired Lieutenant Commander for the United States Coast Guard, and former owner of a tugboat company. He was a devoted Christian, loved his family, loved his wonderful friends and enjoyed working on his 1951 Ford tractor, motor home traveling with friends and fishing. He was preceded in death by wife, Peggy Porter. He is survived by children, Robert “Bob” Porter (Connie) of Ferndale, Washington, Pamela K. Ryan (John) of Hanover, Massachusetts, David A. Porter of Plant City, Patricia L. Robinson (Glenn) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Roy M. Porter of New Bern, North Carolina; eight grandchildren; 17 great- grandchildren; a brother, Lamar Porter; brothers-in-law, Jim Meyers of Brooksville and Raymond Goble (Hilde); and many other family members and friends. The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 24 from 10-11:00 A.M. at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 South

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

Patricia Ann Dawson Patricia Ann Dawson, 79, of Plant City, passed away on October 7, 2020. Services will be held privately. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

Vernon E. Blackadar

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM Vernon E. Blackadar, 85, of Lithia, born on February 21, 1935 in LawJerome Romeo Fernandes, 80, of Juan Felipe Soto rence, Massachusetts, entered Plant City, born on November 9, into eternal rest on October 10, 1939 in British Guiana, entered Juan Felipe Soto, 32, of LakeHOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM 2020. into eternal rest on October 3, land, passed away on October Expressions of condolence 2020. 7, 2020. William ‘Bill’ Lowell at HopewellFuneral.com. Expressions of condolence The family will receive Wood at HopewellFuneral.com. friends Thursday, October 15, 2020 from 10:00 AM to William “Bill” Lowell Wood, 82, of 12:00 PM at Haught Funeral Lithia, born on August 3, 1938 in Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Hazelhurst, Georgia, entered into HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. eternal rest on October 2, 2020. HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM Funeral services will follow at Expressions of condolence Richard Bruce 12:00 PM, when a live stream at HopewellFuneral.com. will be available. Masks will be Sandra P. Longoria Campbell Sr. required to attend the service. Condolences may be left at Sandra P. Longoria, 54, of Plant Richard Bruce Campbell Sr., haught.care. City, born on July 12, 1966 in 77, of Plant City, passed away Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, on October 8, 2020. Services HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM entered into eternal rest on Octowill be held privately. ber 9, 2020. Online condolences may Edward Yost Lewis Expressions of condolence be left for the family at www. HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM at HopewellFuneral.com. haught.care. Edward Yost Lewis, 76, of Seffner, born on April 25, 1944 in Olean, New York, entered into eternal rest on September 26, 2020. Expressions of condolence HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM at HopewellFuneral.com.

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OBITUARIES

County Road 39, Plant City, followed by a graveside service at 11:30 A.M. at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, 7051 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City, FL 33567. For those unable to attend, the graveside service with military honors will be live-streamed at Facebook. com/HopewellFuneral. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

OBITUARIES

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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community

Teresa Marie Bradshaw

Marilyn Germain is all about.

Marilyn Germain, 84, of Plant City, passed away on Sunday, October 11, Teresa Marie Bradshaw, 55, we’re dedicated to helping families create a W E ’R E P R OU D TO SE RV E our community unique and meaningful that truly 9, with personal, compassionate since 1896. 2020. Marilyn was bornmemorial on January of Plant City, passed away on care celebrates the life it represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, 1936. October 10, 2020. Services > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® memories and expressions of will be held privately.> Bereavement Travel Fond sympathy may be left at www.WellsOnline condolences may R Memorial.com for the Germain family. be left for the family at www. Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival. haught.care. ®

WELLSMEMORIAL.COM

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Dan Gorman

Wells MeMorial & event Center

PlanT CiTy THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15

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Taking care of each HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM other is what

community Nellie Fay Stratton is all about.

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813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com 10/27/15 10:42 AM

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

10/27/15 10:42 AM

7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters for breakfast, laughs, and fun; there’s no better way to start your Thursday mornings. Bring a chair and a mask. The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. Visit the Facebook page, facebook.com/PlantCityToastmasters/, for meeting locations and information.

SLABACH & CO. GRAND OPENING

BEST BET SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 8 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In is back this Saturday, rain or shine. Cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1995 can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music by DJ John Paul Gasca.

FRIDAY, OCT. 16

813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com

Dan Gorman, 88, of Plant City, passed away on October 10, 2020. Services will be held Friday, October 23, 2020 at 6:00 PM at Shiloh Baptist Church 905 W. Terrace Drive, Plant City, FL 33563. The family will receive friends following the service. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.

YOUR CALENDAR

Taking care of each other is what THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

Slabach & Co., a farmers market at 110 E. Keysville Road, is hosting a Fall Festival to celebrate its grand opening. First responders and health care workers can stop by starting at 6 a.m. to get free coffee from Patty’s Bake Shop and the Family Fall Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. There will be coffee, vendors and food truck on site as well as photo opportunities for the family. Call or text 352-978-1269 or email SlabachCo@gmail.com for more information.

RETRO MOVIE NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. Visit Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., for Retro Movie Night. This month’s feature is the animated Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) and there will be a special showing of an episode from the 1966 Batman TV series before the movie begins.

SATURDAY, OCT. 17 FOX SQUIRREL CORN MAZE 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Futch Entertainment presents the ninth annual Fox Squirrel Corn Maze at 3002 Charlie Taylor Road North, featuring a corn maze, pumpkins for sale, hayrides, games and simply enjoying the great outdoors! There will be food, fall cakes, roasted corn, boiled peanuts, kettle corn, shaved ice, honey and more yummy delights. Vendors will feature pumpkin painting, a butterfly experience, arts and crafts, handmade children’s clothing, face painting, horse and pony rides and more. Most vendors are cash only and there is no ATM on site. Fox Squirrel Corn Maze is open Oct. 10 through Nov. 1 on Saturdays and Sundays only. Guests are asked to

exit the venue by 6 p.m. See FoxSquirrelCornMaze.com for COVID-19 restrictions, rules and pricing.

IMPROV WITH SWAN CITY

7 to 8:30 p.m. Need a laugh? Visit Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., on Oct. 19 for an interactive, laugh-filled evening of improv with Swan City. It’s free, family-friendly fun for everyone.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing. If you’ve served any time in the military, retired nor non retention, and would like to review your benefits, please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-704-5800 to set a specific time. Masks are required and temperatures will be taken at the door.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22 BATON TWIRLING CLASSES

Plant City Recreation presents Baton Twirling Classes at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Classes are held every Thursday. Beginner classes

are from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Intermediate classes are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Your first class will be free. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Barbara Patrick at 813-626-4554.

FRIDAY, OCT. 23 BLUEGRASS NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Central Florida’s own Bits of Grass (formerly “Little Bits”) will perform at Krazy Kup’s next Bluegrass Night. Performing a blend of traditional bluegrass, country and Christian/gospel Music, this is a show you don’t want to miss.

SATURDAY, OCT. 24 BING HOUSE SPORTS HALL OF FAME

1 to 2 p.m. at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St. As part of the Bing House Museum’s Sports Hall of Fame, local coach Wayne Ward will be interviewed and will share his experiences growing up in Plant City, finding success on the football field at PCHS and Virginia Tech and more. There will be limited seating available and the interview will also be live streamed online. Visit PlantCityBingHouse.com/ Events for the stream link and to get more information.

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FORECAST

Send your photo submissions to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

THURSDAY, OCT. 15 High: 90 Low: 71 Chance of rain: 20%

FRIDAY, OCT. 16 High: 89 Low: 69 Chance of rain: 10%

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Oct. 15

7:29a

6:58p

Friday, Oct. 9

7:30a

6:57p

Saturday, Oct. 16

7:30a

6:56p

Sunday, Oct. 17

7:31a

6:55p

Monday, Oct. 18

7:31a

6:54p

Tuesday, Oct. 19

7:32a

6:53p

Wednesday, Oct. 20

7:33a

6:52p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, OCT. 17 High: 88 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 10%

SUNDAY, OCT. 18 High: 88 Low: 72 Chance of rain: 40%

OKRA Brenda Ruiz took this sunset photo at Ellis-Methvin Park on Oct. 1. “How beautiful is Plant City?” she asked.

ONLINE

Shipping point: Central Florida $12.35-$12.85

ACROSS 1 “... morning roses newly wash’d with __”: Petruchio 4 Jacket stories 8 Caused trepidation 14 Phoenix-to-Albuquerque dir. 15 O’Neill’s daughter 16 “Happy Days” diner namesake 17 Networking technology 19 Jalopy sound 20 Offering in shellfish worship? 22 Mississippi sight 23 Storage furniture

24 “__-haw!” 25 Expanse 26 Word often preceded by a leader’s name 29 Shellfish massage? 35 Perfect place 37 “Modern Family,” e.g. 38 Good name for a budget shellfish dealer? 42 “Catch you later” 43 Traditional knowledge 44 Rate for records, briefly 47 High spirits 50 Hit the big time 52 Like one who exchanges texts with a shellfish? 55 One of an infant’s pair

56 Sore application 57 City adjoining Champaign, Illinois 58 Began, as a co. 59 Fourth bk. of the Jewish Torah 60 U.S. IOUs 61 Relative of -ity 62 Fast sports cars DOWN 1 With intensity 2 Dinner menu item 3 Merchant’s assurance during a sale 4 Carried 5 They’re charged

6 Land parcel size 7 Bag with a strap 8 Bollywood costumery 9 Modeling, say 10 They’re not with you 11 Uniform education org.? 12 Bardot was on its cover at age 14 13 Golfing pres. 18 Lea grazer 21 __ admiral 25 “Don’t delay!” letters 26 Taking parts of 27 Early initials in American cars 28 Certain limb 30 News agcy. since 1958 31 __City: computer game 32 In __: actual 33 YouTube star __ Marie Johnson 34 Honda FourTrax, e.g.: Abbr. 35 Very active port? 36 Genesis pronoun 39 Baldwin of “30 Rock” 40 Closed 41 Vet’s concern, perhaps 45 Like many hobby shop mat boards 46 Surfing equipment 47 Hint 48 Dior design 49 Some big box stores 50 Neuters 51 Canadian Thanksgiving mo. 52 Well-used 53 Vagrant 54 “Dang!” 55 Objection

Oct. 16 New

Oct. 21 First

Oct. 31 Full

Nov. 10 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Oct. 5

0.01

Tuesday, Oct. 6 0.00 Wednesday, Oct. 7

0.00

Thursday, Oct. 8 0.00 Friday, Oct. 9

0.00

Saturday, Oct. 10 0.00 Sunday, Oct. 11

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 49.44 in.

2020 10.24 in.

2019 34.71 in.

2019 1.32 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2020

when treating a heart attack or stroke, time is of the essence. even during these times.

Don’t hesitate when it comes to getting emergency treatment. Even during a pandemic, you still need to be treated immediately if you have an emergency. Debating whether or not to risk going to an emergency room during a heart attack, stroke or other health emergency—waiting even a few extra minutes—could be harmful. That’s why in

20-1213541-0920

all BayCare hospital emergency rooms, patients who have symptoms of COVID-19 are screened and treated in a separate area. This helps keep emergency room patients and our team members safe. So if it’s an emergency, don’t wait. For more information: BayCareEmergencyCare.org