Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
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INSIDE
Keel & Curley brews up new beer, festival. PAGE 3
FREE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013
EXCLUSIVE
SPORTS
Durant hosts area marching bands for WCI contest.
Crest cheerleader Macy Gay ready to returnfromkneeinjury.
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FAITH
OUR TOWN
GREETINGS FROM SUNNY FLORIDA
by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Author Liz Coursen will present a vivid postcard collection that depicts the history of Florida.
+ Galeno completes Marine boot camp Plant City native Justin Galeno graduated Oct. 11, from the U.S. Marines boot camp. He is visiting his family in Plant City, until he ships out Oct. 21, to his next duty station, Jacksonville, N.C. “This is the proudest moment of my life ... to know that I filled the big boots, just like I set my mind to do,” Galeno said. Galeno left for bootcamp July 15. “Nothing prepared me for all of this,” his mother, Noemi Pabon, said. “It is the most challenging thing to do as a mom — to release your child to the military, but (it comes with an) amazing feeling of pride that no words can describe.”
+ PCHS inducts Duane Ackerman
Duane Ackerman was inducted Oct. 14, into the Plant City High School Hall of Fame. A member of the Class of 1960, Ackerman didn’t accept the distinction because of his triumphs. Instead, he wants to motivate students to reach for the sky. Ackerman served as vice chairman, president and CEO of BellSouth.
+ Have you seen this kitty?
Socks, an adorable 1-year-old, neutered male, has been missing since Oct. 14. He was last seen in The Hammocks of Walden Lake on Laurel Oak Drive. If you see Socks, call Veronica Prostko, (813) 716-0007.
, 3&
This week’s winner is
Cherity Miller
See her photo on PAGE 14.
by Amber Jurgensen
First Baptist selects pastor Dr. Brian Stowe will take the pulpit at Plant City’s First Baptist Church beginning Dec. 8.
Wish you were here … R
esidents will get a glimpse of Plant City’s past during a special program on postcards Oct. 21, at Bruton Memorial Library. In conjunction with Viva Florida 500, Liz Coursen has been traveling the Sunshine State in celebration of its 500-year anniversary of Juan Ponce de León’s arrival on the East Coast. She will present the program, “Having Fun, Wish You Were Here! An Illustrated History of the Postcard in
Florida,” to share the history of Florida through her vintage postcard collection. “The feedback has been off the charts,” the Sarasota-based author said. “People are fascinated with how Florida developed.” Coursen’s program is an 80-minute PowerPoint presentation that features visuals of unique, vin-
SEE POSTCARDS / PAGE 4
Liz Coursen will display some of her favorite vintage postcards during her presentation. Postcards of Plant City are particularly rare — and valuable.
The search for a new pastor for Plant City’s First Baptist has come to an end. The congregation of Plant City’s largest church approved Dr. Brian Stowe Oct. 13, as its new leader. His first day will be Dec. 8. “He is extremely g e n u i n e,” said Coleman Davis, chairman of Dr. Brian Stowe the pastor search committee. “He is the real deal, as far as I’m concerned. He’s full of energy and full of love for the people.” A native of Georgia, Stowe most recently served as pastor of Maysville Baptist Church, in Maysville, Ga. “We’re grateful for the opportunity and privilege that not only the Lord has given, but the congregation, as well,” Stowe said of First Baptist. Although Stowe did not submit a résumé for the position, First Baptist’s search committee discovered him through networking. The committee sent two groups of four to visit Maysville Baptist to see him preach. The committee agreed was the perfect fit. Stowe agreed. “It was a God thing,” Stowe said. “If the Lord wanted us to move, He would move us. We’re willing to say, ‘God, You are in control, and we’re willing to obey You.’” Stowe earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1991, from the Georgia Institute of Technol-
SEE STOWE / PAGE 4
twice as nice by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
Twins help renovate Plant City theater for Eagle Scout project Chris and Spencer Tatum are working toward scouting’s highest honor by completing projects on Plant City Entertainment’s downtown home.
Anyone who spends 10 years doing something they love is bound to miss it when it is gone. Twins Chris and Spencer Tatum, 17, have just about a month to go before they age out of the Boy Scouts program, and they’d like to keep going by becoming Eagle Scouts.
To do that, they’ve had to put in a lot of work. “It’s about 21 merit badges that you have to complete,” Chris said. “They’re Eagle-required and, as following with the rest of the actual rank, there’s a lot of paperwork involved in those badges — a lot of work. So,
that usually takes up quite a bit of time from the time you get in, till the time you hit Eagle.” Everything has to be completed before the Scout’s 18th birthday, and the Tatums found themselves just one project away
SEE SCOUTS / PAGE 4
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Courtesy photo
The twins completed their work on Plant City Entertainment last weekend.
Vol.1,No.12 | Onesection Cops.............................5
Crossword...................14
Obituaries...................10
Sports.........................11
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