10.28.16 PCTO by Plant City Observer

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Al Berry is Senior of the Month. SEE PAGE 5

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 4, NO. 15

FREE

YOUR TOWN

Emily Topper

•

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

HALLOWEEN IS IN THE CARDS

Little Library Winner Jeannette Teeden has won the Little Free Library giveaway for her Walden Lake neighborhood. Little Free Library was an Eagle Scout project completed by Blake Dunn, in conjunction with the Plant City Times & Observer. The cabinet-like libraries have been decorated by Plant City artists and placed around town at the United Food Bank of Plant City, Robert Willaford W. Railroad Musuem, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, the Plant City Family YMCA and the Plant City Times & Observer. Teeden said this in her entry: “I would love to win a Little Library for my neighborhood, Walden Lake East. I would put it near the clubhouse and park. I am the reading coach at Durant High School and would help keep the books up-to-date for the community.” Teeden can pick up the library at the Plant City Times & Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St. #103. Thanks to all who entered.

Emily Topper

Grab and Go Cars lined up outside the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum Thursday, Oct. 20, for the GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City’s barbecue chicken dinner fundraiser. The proceeds of the event go to scholarships for three high school students and a woman returning to the workforce. Johnson Barbeque catered the event. Members of the Woman’s Club put together about 800 to-go meals of chicken, coleslaw and beans.

Photos by Observer staff

Focus for Beauty won the Plant City Times & Observer’s Halloween costume contest for businesses.

Get Free Tickets Carlisle events is offering Plant City Times & Observer readers the chance to win free tickets to the Fall Florida AutoFest Thursday, Nov. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 13, in Lakeland. The Fall AutoFest will include a car show, collector car auction, swap meet, auto vendors and more. To enter to win a pair of tickets, email Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com.

Taylor Breuggeman decorated a pumpkin at Walden Lake’s Halloween party.

houls, ghosts and goblins stalked the streets of Plant City the week before Halloween. Schools, churches and neighborhoods held fall festivals and trunk-or-treats, including Knights Elementary and Plant City High schools, Hopewell Baptist Church and Walden Lake. Check out the CALENDAR ON PAGE 10 to see upcoming Halloween events. To see a roundup of this year’s Halloween parties as they continue to happen through Monday, Oct. 31, go to PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM.

Clowns in a scare house at Rising Star Ranch gave guests the creeps.

Contamination at Planteen Recreation Center to be checked Contamination was first detected in the 1980s and is not considered to be a threat to visitors of the center or nearby residents.

EMILY TOPPER STAFF WRITER

It was the 1980s when contamination was detected outside of the Planteen Recreation Center on North Dort Street in Plant City. Almost three decades later, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has found funds eligible for a statefunded cleanup of the site. City Commissioners approved an agreement with the Florida Depart-

ment of Environmental Protection regarding site access to the center at a Monday, Oct. 10, meeting. The contamination was first found when the center was being expanded. “When the construction was going on for the addition, the contamination was discovered when they were moving dirt around,” Jack Holland, director of the city’s Recreation and Parks Department, said. Because the center was first built in the 1960s, finding contamination two

decades later signified that the contamination was caused by something that had been on the grounds prior to the center. The contamination was thought to have been caused by a mechanical garage or similar structure that was once in the area. The FDEP did not find the funding for a site cleanup until September 2016 because the Planteen site contamination was not considered to be a threat to area residents. “They just found funding to reme-

diate older sites — the smaller, noncritical ones,” Holland said. “They’ll be testing the ground to see if there is still contamination in the area. They may test, and there may be nothing there.” The purpose of checking the site now, Holland said, is so the FDEP can remove any remaining contamination and prevent such contamination from reaching the water table. By approvSEE PLANTEEN PAGE 5

WHAT’S HAPPENING

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

WEEK OF OCTOBER 28, 2016

“I’m optimistic about Axiom’s growth, especially in the Tampa Bay market. There are currently only a few community banks with $500 million to $1.5 billion in assets serving the Tampa Bay area. As the second largest community bank in the region, we have the opportunity to serve even more customers with these new branches.” — Dan Davis, president and CEO of Axiom Bank, on a new branch that will open in Plant City in April

Food Truck Rally The Plant City Food Truck Rally will celebrate Halloween with costume and pumpkin carving contests, a ghost tour and a photo booth from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. There will also be a Girls Night Out and food drive for the United Food Bank of Plant City.

Plant City Man drives into Lakeland home A Plant City man drove into a Lakeland home Thursday, Oct. 13, killing a 76-year-old woman. Wyatt and Janice Folds has just put their morning coffee on when a pickup truck driven by Ryan Tallent, 24, crashed through their kitchen. Janice Folds and Rev. Wyatt Folds had been married for 53 years. Tallent has a 2009 DUI arrest on his record in Hillsborough County. Now he faces charges that include DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said. Judd said investigators believe Tallent came down Fitzgerald Road at a “horrific speed” before he slammed into the Folds’ home. Tallent climbed out of his truck, Judd said, and tried to leave. Three neighbors kept Tallent from fleeing, Judd said. Tallent refused to give a blood sample to test his blood-alcohol level, Judd said, but “miserably failed” a field sobriety test.

Sandwich shop owner charged with failing to pay sales tax A 61-year-old Tampa woman was arrested Monday, Oct. 17, after she failed to pay nearly $30,000 in state sales tax collected at her Plant City sandwich shop, authorities said. Candace Lee Haywood, owner of Norma’s Ybor City Cuban Sandwich at 105 E. Baker St., did not send more than $29,000 in sales tax she collected during periods between October 2013 and February 2016, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Revenue. Haywood was charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of theft of state funds and failure to file sales tax. Records show Haywood was released from the Hillsborough County Jail after posting $8,500 bail.

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

COSTUME CONTEST n Group n Baby 0 to 2 n Children 3 to 13 n Tween/teen 13 to 17 n Adult n Best in Show GHOST TOUR n Chris Koplen will lead the tour; she has done tours in Savannah, Georgia and Ybor City

herri Black wasn’t going anywhere. On Tuesday, Oct. 18, Cork Elementary students used duct tape to stick Black, their principal, to the wall. Students who had a parent sign up for PTA for the 2016-17 school year were each given a strip of duct tape to stick on Black. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade took turns in the multi-purpose room. By the end of the activity, Black was covered in silver tape from the neck down. — EMILY TOPPER

GIRLS NIGHT OUT n Sales and extended hours at select stores n Raffles for gift baskets n Canned food drive for the United Food Bank n Donations accepted for The Spring of Tampa Bay THE MENU n Papa Ron's n Taste Buddz n In the Middle n Boom Boom Box n Revolution Ice Cream n Fritango n Yo Yo Juice n Herring's Catch n Tamale Co n Vanchetta n Nico's Arepas Grill n Tree House Truck

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

BY THE NUMBERS: THE COST OF TAKING UBER RIDES THROUGH PLANT CITY With only one taxi service based in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World and one daily bus route from Plant City to Tampa, local public transportation options are limited. Though on-demand driving companies, such as Uber, can take residents where they need to be, the cost can add up to being more expensive than owning a car. News Reporter Emily Topper calculated she would have spent over $200 on Uber rides in a week if she had relied exclusively on public transportation. Below are the one-way trips Topper recorded for the week of Wednesday, Oct. 5, to Wednesday, Oct. 12.

THURSDAY, OCT. 6 TOMLIN MIDDLE Wait: 7 minutes Fare: $5.95 THURSDAY, OCT. 6 STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH Wait: 7 minutes Fare: $11

SATURDAY, OCT. 8 JUST DANCE, LAKELAND Wait: 6 minutes Fare: $12

SUNDAY, OCT. 9 PUBLIX Wait: 6 minutes Fare: $5.95

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5 WILSON ELEMENTARY Wait: 5 minutes Fare: $5.95 MONDAY, OCT. 10 PLANT CITY OBSERVER Wait: 5 minutes Fare: $6 MONDAY, OCT. 10 CITY HALL Wait: 7 minutes Fare: $5.59

A WEEK

WITHOUT WHEELS

For one week, news reporter Emily Topper tried to give up her car and rely on Plant City’s public transportation, a topic that has divided voters in Hillsborough County.

Total One-Way Costs: $100.50 Wait Time: 91 minutes

TUESDAY, OCT. 11 JUST DANCE, LAKELAND Wait: 7 minutes Fare: $12

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12 PLANT CITY OBSERVER Wait: 6 minutes Fare: $5.95 WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12 PLANT CITY REPUBLICAN HEADQUARTERS Wait: 6 minutes Fare: $5.95

STAFF WRITER

was late. It was Wednesday, Oct. 5: the first day of my weeklong endeavor to rely on rides from friends and public transportation instead of using my car. It was an endeavor that, just hours in, was more difficult than I’d anticipated. One of my co-workers drove me to work in the morning, but he’d overslept. We both ended up being late, and I realized the necessity of communication for those without cars. Throughout the week, I relied on rides when I could. Getting to and from work was easy thanks to my coworkers, but getting around town to interviews proved to be a challenge. In Plant City, as I came to find, public transportation is not readily available. ARE YOU MY DRIVER?

I started by looking up the local bus system, hoping for a cost-efficient way to make it around town.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

on Park Road. Round trip, these stops took 19 minutes and 5.4 miles total. I ended up spending $17.85 on Uber rides in one day. Because the costs of my week without wheels were more than I’d anticipated, I decided to switch my plan and rely on my car. I still entered everywhere I went on the Uber app for a full week to show the total cost. Between trips to Strawberry Crest High School and Tomlin Middle School, a Dancing with the Locals lessons in Lakeland, trips to work and a City Commission meeting, I would have ended up spending just over $200 in one week on transportation.

TUESDAY, OCT. 11 SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST HOSPITAL Wait: 7 minutes Fare: $5.95 TUESDAY, OCT. 11 TUESDAY, OCT. 11 HILLSBOROUGH PLANT CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE OBSERVER Wait: 7 minutes Wait: 6 minutes Fare: $5.95 Fare: $6

WHERE THEY STAND With the upcoming election Tuesday, Nov. 8, the Hillsborough County District 6 Commission seat is available. Republican candidate Tim Schock and Democrat candidate Pat Kemp both have cited transportation as a priority if elected. TIM SCHOCK (R) “We need to fix our roads and make them more efficient. That ... means installation of traffic management systems and traffic signal systems ... and making our existing roads safer and more efficient.” His plan includes modifying the existing transit system to focus on delivering services based on how people move around the county.

But there weren’t any local buses — just the HART express service that picks up Plant City residents once in the morning and drops them off in the evening. The bus made one trip to Tampa and back from Mt. Zion Assembly of God in Thonotosassa. It

PAT KEMP (D) “We need to extend our rail and look at our light rail. We really need to triple our bus service, and we really need to look at our land use.” Kemp opposed a proposed sales tax referendum earlier in 2016, citing lack of transit options as a reason for her opposition. She has supported robust bus service, rail, bicycles, walkable communities and the mass transit Tampa Bay Ferry project.

had been the one-stop shop for public transportation to Tampa since 2012. And that was it. No other buses. I didn’t need to go to Tampa, so I looked at local taxi services. The first one I came across was Dial-ARide Cab Company, which was per-

manently closed. The other, Plants Taxi Service, had multiple five-star reviews but was located across town on Gallagher Road — 11 miles and a 15-minute Interstate 4 drive from my home on Park Road. My final option was Uber, an ondemand car service I could order through an app on my phone. In major cities, there were perks to Uber. In my hometown of Orlando, multiple drivers were frequently available at all hours of the day. In Plant City, finding an Uber was largely based on chance. Drivers in Plant City were frequently headed to Tampa or Lakeland after making trips to the airport. Even so, it was my most cost-efficient — and only — form of public transportation. But it wasn’t as cost-efficient as I would like. There was a minimum cost of $5.95 associated with any trip I took, no matter how short. On Thursday, Oct. 6, I used Uber to take three trips: the first was to Krazy Kup in Historic Downtown; the second was to Wilson Elementary School; and the third was to my home

When her parents fell ill, Julie Williams decided it was time to get into shape. For her, that meant biking. She biked 5 miles every day for two years in St. Petersburg, a community she described as bike-friendly. But in her current home of Plant City, biking is more difficult. “Over here, you can’t even ride a bike,” she said. Though her family does have a car, Williams frequently bikes for exercise — to Publix and Wal-Mart and the doctor’s office, all the way through downtown Plant City. But she faces issues. Sidewalks, if present at all, come to sudden stops. Cars can be aggressive on roads like Alexander Street, where bike lanes are largely absent, Williams said. “There’s no transportation in Plant City,” Williams said. “If there was a trolley, I’d probably use it. They didn’t give the bus system enough time to take on. And then with the budget cuts, that was the first thing to go. In Hillsborough County, we get forgotten about. Thank God I don’t have to ride my bike. If I did, it’d be a nightmare. I think about people in wheelchairs, mostly. I hope I never have to worry about that.” Sandra Sroka is one such wheelchair-bound resident. After a car accident, she was forced to use a wheelchair and relies on public transportation in Hillsborough County to get around. In June, she spoke at a Hillsborough County Commission meeting and asked commissioners to consider putting a half-cent sales tax referendum on the ballot for the upcoming November election. If approved, the 15-year half-cent sales tax would have focused on improving public transit and existing roads. At the time, Plant City Economic Development Corp. President Jake Austin voiced the need for greater transportation options. “We have to do something, we have to act fast,” Austin said. “The issues are well documented, and the consensus is we have to do something.” But the County Commission opted not to put the referendum on the budget. Instead, it approved Wednesday, Oct. 19, a road-focused project list of $600 million worth of work. Commissioner Kevin Beckner — whose seat is up for election in November due to term limits — was the only commissioner to oppose the project list. In June, Beckner had voted for the referendum. In Plant City, the $600 million in funding is a positive sign for existing roads. Funding allotments include improvements at school intersections, such as an internal roadway for students to reach the east side of the parking lot at Strawberry Crest High School, and paved shoulders leading into Walden Lake and Cork elementary schools. Other long-anticipated projects include road resurfacing at major streets, including just over 1 mile from James Redman Parkway to Jim Johnson Road. But for residents without cars, like Sroka, or those who want to bike, like Williams, traveling remains a burden the county has yet to bear. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

Why race when you can color run? Plant City High’s senior class will get colorful with a paint run fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 5. THAIS LEON-MILLER STAFF INTERN

Runners in Plant City High School’s first-ever Raider Color Run 5K can get physical and artsy Saturday, Nov. 5. The fundraiser for the school’s senior class will have athletes running the track while being pelted with colored cornstarch. “In the past (the senior class has) done Calendar Guys,” Lori Yarbrough, who volunteers at the high school and has helped put the paint run together, said. “It’s sort of like a spoof of Calendar Girls. They do all this work and only make a couple hundred dollars.

THROUGH TOWN ON TWO WHEELS

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5 KRAZY KUP Wait: 10 minutes Fare: $5.95

EMILY TOPPER

They wanted to do something where they could reach people out and about and make more money. That’s how it came about.” The idea to host a color run has come up before. In 2015, the school ran out of time to plan the run. This year, with the help of cross-country coach Drew Martucci and the Plant City High School PTSA, students are hoping the event will help offset the costs of what can be an expensive high school year. There are 459 graduating seniors at Plant City High in the 2016-17 school year, and the cost of providing each

one with their senior class hoodie, a novelty cowbell and a ticket to Grad Bash, the senior class trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, can be costly. “We have about $8,000 in sponsorships right now,” Ashlyn Yarbrough, senior class president, said. “We are very fortunate for that. That will cover all of our expenses and leave some [money] left over. We’ve had a lot of donations this year, so we’ve been really fortunate.” The race track, which will be set up at the high school, will feature at least four color stations and two water stations. Martucci helped to

map the course track. The race isn’t being timed; it’s more about having fun than winning the race. Seniors will sell extra color packets at the event, and race participants will receive a T-shirt and sunglasses along with their racing bib. The run is not limited to Plant City High students but is open to the community. “We’re just very excited to have the opportunity to put it on, and we really want everyone of all ages and schools to come out and be a part of it,” Ashlyn Yarbrough said. “We just want everyone to have fun, and hopefully this is a tradition that carries on for many years.” Same-day registration is at 7:30 a.m., and the race will begin at 9 a.m.

IF YOU GO Raider Color Run 5K When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 Where: Plant City High School, 1 Raider Place Info: Get there early to collect your free t-shirt, sunglasses and racing bib. Cost: $35 to $40 day of race; register early to get discounts. RSVP: Visit RaiderColorRun. com Contact: info@RaiderColorRun.com

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

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Felton’s offers our customers the very best produce at the best prices. Most of the produce is purchased from local growers. We offer every day the best in produce available plus any seasonal or ethnic produce. We buy daily from the local markets. Come in and compare price and quality against any other store. We guarantee you will enjoy the experience of shopping at Felton’s 39

WALKER PLAZA

FROM PLANTEEN PAGE 1

ing the agreement with the FDEP, the City Commission granted the organization access to conduct soil and groundwater investigations, collect waste and water samples, remove contaminated soil and remove and install utility connections. Though the dates the FDEP will be checking the contamination at the center are not yet confirmed, activities are set to proceed as scheduled. Contamination levels will be checked at the front of the building on Dort Street, but residents can access the building through the entrance on Oak Avenue, which is ADA-compliant and is connected by sidewalks. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com.

IN OTHER NEWS

4 7

The contamination was detected when the Planteen Recreation Center underwent expansion in the 1980s.

the undersigned is entitled to satisfy an owner and/or manager’s lien of the goods hereinafter described and stored at the Uncle Bob’s Self Storage location(s) listed below.

And, due notice having been given, to the owner of said property and

all parties known to claim an interest therein, and the time specified in such notice for payment of such having expired, the goods will be sold at public auction at the below stated location(s) to the highest bidder or otherwise disposed of on Wednesday, 9:00 am, November 9th, 2016 at 1005 South Alexander Street, Plant City, FL 33563, 813-759-9526. CUSTOMER NAME

After graduating from Plant City High School, Berry left Plant City for El Paso, Texas. While there, he attended Texas Western College and worked as a toll collector. When he returned to Plant City, Berry began his 34-year career in broadcasting. He worked as a deejay at WPLA in Plant City before going into broadcasting sales. He ended up co-owning the station with Ercelle Smith, after Smith’s father sold them the station. One of the station’s most popular shows was This N’ That, a two-hour segment. “People would call and buy and sell things,” Berry said. “We had some regulars.” There was a woman known as Aunt Maggie, who would call the station from Springhead to sell jewelry she made out of rattlesnake hides, and Junior, a man who begged the hosts to let him play his guitar on the air. “We made the mistake of let-

INTHEFIELD

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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, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

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any problem talking about it.” Today, Berry works as an advertising representative for the Plant City Times & Observer and In the Field Magazine and writes his column “Rocking Chair Chatter” for In the Field Magazine, a publication owned by his daughter and Observer co-owner Karen Berry. “I would be fully miserable if I fully retired,” Berry said. “I’m kind of excited about the direction Plant City is going. I think we’ve got good management. And I think we’re doing well financially for a town our size. That comes from good management. Plant City has its own flavor.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@ plantcityobserver.com. INTHEFIELD

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Courtesy photo

Plant City native Al Berry has served as the president of the Florida Strawberry Festival, the Plant City Lions Club and a board member of many local organizations.

MAGAZIN

1005 SOUTH ALEXANDER STREET PLANT CITY, FL 33563 PHONE: (813) 759-9526 FAX: (813) 759-9481

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Locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a jointventure of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

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8 5

ting him play once,” Berry said. “We turned the volume down and took other calls. When we turned it back up, he was still playing.” Berry found success in advertising, a skill he took to the Florida Strawberry Festival. “As a kid, there were two exciting things that happened in Plant City,” Berry said. “There was the Silas Green from New Orleans Traveling Minstrel Show. My dad was a policeman, and he took me to see the show.” The second event, Berry said, was the Florida Strawberry Festival. Berry is a past president of the festival and a former Redcoat. He went emeritus in 2015. He did promotion and advertising for the festival. “I did their guides,” Berry said. “It was exciting to watch the festival grow from a little five-day fair to what it is today.” Berry, who was named Citizen of the Year in 1998, also is a 52-year member and past president of the Plant City Lion’s Club. He was able to see the club bring concerts to the festival. Today, Florida residents line up to buy tickets for their favorite musicians. For Berry, selling ads for the festival came naturally — it was the organization he was passionate about. “I felt good about what I was selling,” he said. “When you feel good about the product, you don’t have

INVENTORY

217369

(sections 83.801 - 83.809), there being due and unpaid charges for which

In advertising, Al Berry has always believed in the products he sells — just as he believes in the town he lives in.

When it comes to community boards in Plant City, Al Berry’s name can frequently be found on them. The Plant City native has served as a trustee for Hillsborough Community College and on the boards of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center and the City of Plant City’s Board of Adjustment, among others. For Berry, the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World is more than just the basis for his service work — it’s home. “The main thing about Plant City is the community itself,” Berry said. “It has a lot of atmosphere and a lot of flavor that a lot of small towns don’t have.”

Live Here, Love Here, Play Here

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SENIOR OF THE MONTH: AL BERRY

EMILY TOPPER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

LEGAL NOTICE

Emily Topper

1400 Plantation Blvd. Plant City, FL 33566 P: 813.757.6616 | F: 813.752.8569 plantation@shelton-cook.com

At the 34th Annual Planning and Design Awards Thursday, Oct. 20, the Hillsborough County CityCounty Planning Commission presented an award of merit to the City of Plant City for the redevelopment of Snowden Park. “I want to offer my deep thanks to everyone involved in the project,” Jack Holland, director of Recreation and Parks for the City of Plant City, said. “We got it all together in the end, and it’s really a shining example of what can be done. I was glad to be part of the team to bring it to fruition.” “It’s a first-class park, and it’s being well-used,” Mayor Rick Lott added.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

Call Al Berry, Sarah Holt or Danny Crampton, at (813) 704-6850.

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 Times & Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

2016

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer Publisher / Karen Berry, kdberry@inthefieldmagazine.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Sports Editor / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Emily Topper, etopper@PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major, cmajor@yourobserver.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

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

Nicole Orlando, Miss July

Madelyn Wengyn, Miss November Photos by Emily Topper

Natalia Cuebas was crowned the 2017 Cover Girl.

hirty-seven girls competed for 13 slots in the 2017 Durant High School Calendar Girl competition Saturday, Oct. 22. Following a preliminary round and a round of questioning, Natalia Cuebas was crowned the 2017 Cover Girl by a panel of judges. She was crowned by 2016 Cover Girl Kenlee Andreu.

WINNERS

Natalia Cuebas, Cover Girl Baylee Astin, Miss January Alexia Nyiri, Miss February Autumn Smith, Miss March Paige Conlyn, Miss April Haley Riley, Miss May Mary McAnnally, Miss June Nicole Orlando, Miss July Jillian Oddo, Miss August Chloe Tew, Miss September Kirstin White, Miss October Madelyn Wengyn, Miss November Adrianna Lane, Miss December

— EMILY TOPPER

Paige Conlyn, Miss April Adrianna Lane, Miss December

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

Haley Riley, Miss May

Kirstin White, Miss October

Chloe Tew, Miss September

Jillian Oddo, Miss August

Autumn Smith, Miss March

Alexia Nyiri, Miss February

Mary McAnnally, Miss June

Baylee Astin, Miss January

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located at 1205 S Alexander St., Plant City, FL 33563, 813 - 759 - 2800. NOTICE OF SALE In accordance with the provisions of State Law there being due and unpaid charges for which the undersigned is entitled to satisfy and owner and/or manager’s lien of goods hereinafter described and stored at: Rentlok Self Storage located at 1205 S Alexander St., Plant City, FL 33563, 813-759-2800. And due notice having been given, to the owner of said property and all parties know to claim an interest therein, and the time specified in such notice for payment of such having expired, the goods will be sold at public auction at the above stated locations to the highest bidder or otherwise disposed of on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016 @ 9:30 AM. OR ANY DATE THERE IN AFTER.

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Adults $10.00 / Children $5.00 proceeds to benefit our community

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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What is your favorite thing about fall?

OCT. 14

MAKING THE ROUNDS 400 and 600 blocks of Vining Street. Vehicle burglary, grand theft auto: Officers responded to multiple locations and met with complainants, who stated unknown suspect(s) broke into several vehicles and stole one. A 2002 Dodge truck, 2007 Dodge van and a 2007 Toyota were entered and ransacked. All three vehicles were unlocked. A red Dodge Avenger was stolen from the 400 block of Vining Street between 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, and 6:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14.

“Bonfires on a cool night.”

COUNTERFEITS AND CHEESEBURGERS 2600 block of Thonotosassa Road. Fraud: Officer met with complainant, who stated someone had attempted to buy fast food with a counterfeit $20 bill.

— Peggy Wilson, 54

FAST AND FURIOUS South Alexander Street/East Timberlane Drive. Racing, no valid driver’s license: Officer arrested a subject for participating in a street race and not having a valid driver’s license.

“In Florida, the anticipation of somewhat cooler weather and better fishing.”

OCT. 17

— Phillip Scearce, 49

JUST CHECKING? 520 block of Lindsay Anne Court. Information report: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) left a hand-printed note in a plastic bag on her car. The note asked if complainant had enough supplies for her family if there were no supermarkets, food, water or help. Complainant and her family were disturbed by the note, which was impounded.

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DINE AND DASH 2000 block of South Frontage Road. Theft: Officer met with complainant, who stated a witness saw a male and female order and eat food at a restaurant, then leave without paying. STEALING FROM STORAGE 1000 and 1200 blocks of South Alexander Street. Burglary: Complainant stated that, overnight, unknown suspect(s) broke into trailers at two adjacent storage facilities. Items were confirmed stolen from two units. CAUGHT RED-HANDED 1100 block of East Alabama Street. Criminal mischief, battery on a law enforcement officer: Officers met with complainant, who stated a known suspect had broken one of the front windows of her home. The suspect was arrested for felony criminal mischief and battery on a law enforcement officer.

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YOU CAN’T SEE ME 2000 block of Mud Lake Road. Vehicle burglary: Officer met with complainant, who stated unknown suspect(s) stole two pairs of camouflaged shorts and two shirts from an unlocked vehicle.

OCT. 15

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

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Your Battle is Our Battle

“Cooler weather.”

The Jeff Walmsley Benefit Event and Truck and Car Show

— Julie Ham, 51

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 302 Carey Street, Plant City, FL 33563

“Fall is my favorite season. When I leave Florida, I love seeing the change of leaves. And pumpkin everything.”

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— Mara Latorre, 27

• Fred’s BBQ Dinner Tickets at only $10 per person, BBQ served from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or pre-ordered by emailing us at JeffWalmsleyBenefit@yahoo.com

• Great raffle prizes—$5.00 and $10.00 tickets available at the door or you can pre-purchase by emailing us at: JeffWalmsleyBenefit@yahoo.com

• Truck and Car Show entry fee is $20 per car. Want more information? Send us an email at the address above or visit our Facebook page: “Your Battle is Our Battle Benefit for Jeff”

• Make any checks payable to Jeff Walmsley Benefit Fund or donate at www.crowdrise.com/ jeff-walmsleys-battle-is-our-battle/fundraiser/ annewalmsley

“Cooler weather and less humidity.” —Tim Lewis, 59

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

FRIDAY, OCT. 28

BARBECUE CHICKEN FUNDRAISER 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Jarrett-Scott Ford, 2000 E. Baker St. A $10 donation includes barbecue chicken, baked beans, cole slaw and a roll. Proceeds benefit the Plant City Christmas Parade. Call Sharon Moody at (813) 453-7134 or Henry Falcon at (813) 754-9338. FOOD TRUCK RALLY 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at McCall Park, 100 N. Palmer St. Enjoy 12 different trucks, a Halloween costume contest, pumpkin carving contest, raffles and Girls Night Out with select downtown stores. Bring canned food items for the United Food Bank of Plant City. RISING STAR PUMPKIN PATCH 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, from Friday, Oct. 28, to Monday, Oct. 31, at Rising Star Ranch and Auction, 1710 W. State Road 60. Enjoy pony rides, raffles, food, face painting, pumpking carving and more. The cost is $10 per person; children under 2 years old are free. RisingStarRanchPlantCity.com. SIR HENRY’S HAUNTED TRAIL 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, to Monday, Oct. 31, at 2837 S. Frontage Road. Enjoy a spooky trail walk. Cost is $10 for a single trail; $20 for combo trails. Call Zach Glaros at (863) 944-0748, email SirHenrysHauntedTrail@gmail.com or visit SirHenrysHauntedTrail.com. ZOMBIE HUNT 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Oct. 28, to Monday, Oct. 31, at Rising Star

Ranch and Auction, 1710 W. State Road 60. Get tickets at RisingStarRanchPlantCity.com.

SATURDAY, OCT. 29

BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Bethany Baptist Church, 3409 N. Cord Road. There will be games, candy, hayrides, crafts and more.

CORK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHILI COOK-OFF AND FALL FESTIVAL 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Cork United Methodist Church, 4815 W. Sam Allen Road. Chili judging will begin at 4 p.m. There will be hot dogs, beverages and desserts at 4:30 p.m. Trunk-or-treat will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. COUNTRYSIDE BAPTIST FALL FESTIVAL 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Countryside Baptist Church, 13422 Sydney Road. Enjoy hayrides, a trunk-or-treat, bounce house, games, food and face painting. (813) 571-8200.

Baptist Church of Plant City, 503 N. Palmer St.

SATURDAY, OCT. 29

MONDAY, OCT. 31

FRANKENSTEIN 5K AND WOD-O-WEEN 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Alderman Ford Park, 100 Alderman Ford Park Drive. Run a 5K to support the United Food Bank of Plant City. Complete a CrossFit workout and enjoy pumpkin carving. Visit goo.gl/B7Ls23 for more information.

ART CLASS TAUGHT BY WILDLIFE ARTIST WAYNE CHUNAT 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St.

CLASS OF 1973 REUNION 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Oct. 29, at the John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road. This Raiders class was the last of the Marshall Dragons. (863) 604-4800.

BEST BET

CRAFT FAIR AND INDOOR YARD SALE 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at American Legion Post 26, 2207 W. Baker St. FOX SQUIRREL CORN MAZE 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, to Sunday, Oct. 30, at Futch Family Farms, 3002 Charlie Taylor Road. Enjoy food and vendors, a country store, corn maze, games, hay rides and more. FutchEntertainment. com. HOPE LUTHERAN TRUNK-OR-TREAT SHOW 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, atPlant City Family YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place. LITTLE SHOW OF HORRORS 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Plant City Entertainment, 101 N. Thomas St. Children are admitted free. Visit SoaringSoundsTampa.org.

AMERICAN LEGION TRUNK-OR-TREAT 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, at American Legion Post 26, 2207 W. Baker St. This is a free event.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 402 W. English St. The menu consists of pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit, orange juice and coffee. The church is asking for a $5 donation for adults and a $3.50 donation for children ages 4 to 10. Children under 4 are free. PLANT CITY HOUSING FAIR 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at St. Mary’s Community Church, 904 E. Renfro St. Resources will be available about housing and local social services. WEST THONOTOSASSA BAPTIST CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at West Thonotosassa Baptist Church, 10625 1st St., Thonotosassa.

SUNDAY, OCT. 30

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at First

Disconnect with us as we bring families TOGETHER, getting everyone MOVING and having FUN!

EASTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH AND CITY POINTE CHURCH TRUNK-OR-TREAT 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, at 1318 E. Calhoun St. There will be free food, drinks, games, a puppet show, hayrides, train, candy, a bounce house and more. The Gideons and SOS Ministries will present a salvation message, and the new Hispanic congregation will present a Hispanic Ministry. FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, at First United Methodist Church of Plant City, 303 N. Evers St. Fun, games and candy at a trunkor-treat style festival. Visit the pumpkin patch at the playground, ongoing throughout October. ST. CLEMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH TRUNK-OR-TREAT 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, at St. Clement Catholic Church, 1104 N. Alexander St.

TUESDAY, NOV. 2

PRAY FOR AMERICA Noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, at First Presbyterian Church, 404 Reynolds St. Prayer will be focused around the election.

ENJOY: » Family fitness and sports » Crafts & games » Fall Festivals » AND SO MUCH MORE!

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RUTH VIRGINIA JENKINS Ruth Virginia Jenkins, 78, of Plant City, died Oct. 10, 2016. Born in Tampa, she was the daughter of John Jr. and Evelyn Castleman Toole. She spent her life in the service of the Lord as a pastor’s wife. She was raised in the Welcome Baptist Church and attended many throughout her life. Her family meant everything. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Richard Jenkins. She is survived by her children, Leatha Harrell, Debbie Kline, Ruth Wallace, Ginny Stickle, David “DeJay” Jenkins, Paul “Ben” Jenkins and Michael Brown; siblings, Carol Sheffield, Geraldine Hamilton, Janice Jenkins, Alfred Toole and Jimmy Toole; 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held Oct. 15, at Welcome Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

JUDITH “COOKIE” JONES Judith “Cookie” Jones, 72, of Plant City, died Oct. 8, 2016. She was the daughter of the late Arthur and Estelle Ruggles Bullard. She was a member of the Plant City Church of God and cherished raising her daughters. She is survived by her husband, Fennely “Lee” Jones; children, LeAndra D. Jones and Cheri D. Price; siblings, Shirley Lukomski, Sonia Smith and Kathy Lucien; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Erin R. Jones. A memorial service was held Oct. 17, at Haught Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation at ALZFDN.org. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

LAWRENCE G. “LARRY” LIGGETT

Lawrence G. “Larry” Liggett, 72, of Plant City, died Oct. 3, 2016. He was born in South Bend, Indiana on June 29, 1944. He was a veteran of the United States Army,

having served in the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Plant City Kiwanis Club. His passion was aviation. He is survived by his children, Jeff Liggett, of Plant City, and Jennifer Simmons, of Georgia; granddaughter, Elisabeth Simmons; mother, Kathryn Liggett, of Plant City; and brother, Alan Liggett (Deborah), of Suwannee. He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Liggett. A graveside service will be held at a later date at Hopewell Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

PAUL LORD Paul Lord, 79, of Plant City, died Oct. 4, 2016. A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Lionel and Bertha Gagnon Lord. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, where he was stationed at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He then launched a successful career as a car dealer. He was the president of Lowell Toyota and established his own business, Lord Toyota, in Weymouth, Massachusetts. He was well-known for his creative approach to advertising and promotions, most notably as Superman in his “Home of the Super Deal” campaigns. He also was an active member of the Dracut community, including as a coach for various football leagues. He was happiest when surrounded by friends and family. An entertainer, he was known as a compelling storyteller and often commanded the attention of whatever room he was in. He often recounted stories of his years of travel with his wife to destinations around the world. He most cherished the time they spent in the Bahamas, where they resided part time for many years. In his retirement, his favorite pastimes included golf, billiards and backgammon. He participated in golf leagues in the Plant City area, as well as friendly golf matches with his wife. He hosted his own Golf Classic for friends and family for 10 years. He was a member of the Zephyrhills Moose Lodge 2276. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Theresa Vezina Lord; chil-

dren, Kimberley Curtis (Gregory), of Lowell, Massachusetts, and Keith Lord (Traci), of Windham, New Hampshire; grandsons, Jason, Derek, Korey, Connor and Brayden Lord and Tyler Borrelli; sister, Denise Gormley (Michael); and stepsister, Cheryl Blackburn (Charles). He was preceded in death by his children, Kevin and Karen; and grandson, Dylan Borrelli. A Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at St. Michael’s Parish, in Lowell, Massachusetts. Interment of ashes will directly follow at. St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association, 1200 Hosford St., Suite 101, Hudson, Wisconsin 54016-931 or online at Lung.org. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

ALFRED MERRIAM Alfred Merriam, 94, of Plant City, died Oct. 4, 2016, in Temple Terrace, Florida. He was born in Skowhegan, Maine and was a veteran of the United States Navy. He also was a business owner for many years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Flora Merriam. He is survived by his current wife, Yvonne Merriam; and sons, Bruce and Roger Merriam. A graveside service with military honors was held Oct. 11, at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

JAMES THOMAS “TOM” STEWART James Thomas “Tom” Stewart, 69, died Oct. 9, 2016, surrounded by his family and friends. He was born and raised in Tampa. He was a proud Hillsborough High School Terrier, where he lettered in both football and baseball. He still has many loved friends from high school and childhood. He proudly and passionately served his country in Vietnam in the United States Army. He was honorably discharged at the rank of staff sergeant and was a disabled

veteran. He later became a teacher at Oak Grove Middle School and was chosen as Teacher of the Year three times. He became an assistant principal and later principal at Ben Hill Middle School. He then moved to the principal position at Youth Services, where he was runner up for Principal of the Year. He became the principal of Tomlin Middle School in Plant City and led it to receive “A” ratings for many years. His professional experience as an educator gave him many friends who dearly loved him. He touched the lives of many teachers, staff and students as well as many in the Plant City community, where he lived for the last 18 years. He received his Ph.D. from Sarasota University. He later taught as an adjunct professor at Barry University and St. Leo University, among others. He held his mortuary license and worked in funeral homes beginning in high school and throughout his life, even after his retirement from the school system. He loved his work and was very genuine in his caring for grieving families. His deep faith kept him focused. He served on the Bishop’s Educational Committee, as a lector and a Fourth Degree Knight. When his health became an issue, his cabin in Blairesville, Georgia was a place of refuge, where he enjoyed spending quality time with his wife and family. He was able to make one last trip to say farewell. He will be remembered for his kind soul, love for his family and friends, his love of life and deep faith. He is survived by his wife, Judy Anne (Sobrecueva) Stewart; sons, Kris (Missy), Jason (Diane) and Derek; stepdaughter, Yvonne Balbin; grandchildren, Dylan, Wyatt, Ava and Hunter; dogs, Webster, Yukiko and Dazey; and brother,

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

Glen Stewart. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dale; and parents, Martha and William “Bill” Stewart. A Mass was held Oct. 18, at St. Clement Catholic Church, in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

JIMMY WILLIAMS Jimmy Williams, 73, of Plant City, died Oct. 3, 2016. He loved to take care of animals and make people laugh. He is survived by his children, Michael Williams (Hope) and Suzy Kozicki (Chris); seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and brother, Morris Williams. He was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine Williams; son, Brian Williams; and siblings, Sam, Buddy, Merle, Anna Lou and Charlene Williams. A graveside service was held Oct. 7, at Fellowship Cemetery in Ft. Lonesome, Florida. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

FRANCES WILSON

Frances Wilson, 79, of Plant City, died Oct. 4, 2016. She was the daughter of Rosco and Clara Wilbanks Staggs. She is survived by her husband, Glenn Wilson; children, Ricky Terrell (Debbie), Terry Terrell, Linda Ussery, Lisa Terrell and Elaine Terrell; siblings, Jimmy, Larry, Brenda and Evelyn; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held Oct. 10, at Haught Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.

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Plant City

10/13/16 11:03 AM

OCTOBER 28, 2016

SPORTS

“I was very nervous. I was just thinking, ‘I’ve got to do this for my team and make it.’” Ashton Copen helped the varsity Dolphins go undefeated. PAGE 14

GAME OF THE WEEK Do you have a good sports scoop for us? Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

BLOOMINGDALE AT

STRAWBERRY CREST

Courtesy Photo

Local fighter wins gold

ike Thomas, who goes by the nickname “Rhino,” had a big showing in Orlando Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22. Thomas, who trains with Rudy Rogers at Rogers Nisei Karate and Open Air Dojo in Plant City, won four gold plates at the 2016 Blitz Mayan Challenge. He won two gold plates for point fighting, one for continuous fighting and one for kata.

Optimist youth basketball league sign-ups

he 48th season of the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/ Optimist Youth Basketball Program begins in January, and registration has begun. Boys and girls ages 8 to 16, as of Wednesday, March 1, 2017, are eligible to play in the league’s six age groups. The season runs from the beginning of January through the end of February, and last year’s season saw around 400 players on 39 teams compete. Games are usually played Saturdays and weeknights at the Plant City Family YMCA gym and the Marshall and Tomlin middle school gyms. Registration, which costs $35, covers uniform and insurance expenses and will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16. The program is also looking for coaches at this time. Fees can be paid via mail or at the Recreation and Parks office, 1904 S. Park Road. For more information, visit PlantCityGov.com, call (813) 659-4255 or email RecInfo@PlantCityGov.com.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? FRIDAY NIGHT NOTES PAGE 14

Justin Kline

David Tabakovic wants to keep the fullback position alive as his sport moves away from it.

Durant fullback David Tabakovic came to the United States from Russia eight years ago and transitioned from rugby to football. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

Justin Kline

The Chargers agree: the adversity of the 2016 season has brought them closer together.

The Strawberry Crest Chargers are taking as many positives as they can from a currently-winless season. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

t face value, Strawberry Crest’s latest football season hasn’t been one to write home about. The 0-8 record is on everyone’s mind and, with just two chances left to get a win in 2016, the sense of urgency may be greater than ever. But that doesn’t mean the Chargers have no reason to smile. The coaching staff and players are taking whatever positives they can get out of this season. Although many of them apply more to the future than the present, no one can accuse this program of not counting its blessings. “I think we established a process for how we’re doing things,” head coach Ron Hawn says. Although there have been ros-

ter cuts since the season began, the Chargers are dressing more players now than they have before with junior varsity call-ups. “We dressed 32, 31 (players) the whole year on varsity,” Hawn says. “We tried to keep kids down on JV where we could. We brought kids up at the end of the year, and we’re dressing 59 now. I’m very happy with it.” Some of these players are producing. Perhaps most notable among the JV call-ups is freshman running back Jaquell Narine, whose play against East Bay Friday, Oct. 21, helped spark the offense for a big second half. Narine, called “Boosie” by his teammates and coaches, says the winless season hasn’t hurt the relationships between himself and his remaining

teammates. “There’s a connection with me and my linemen and my other teammates,” Narine says. “There’s brotherhood. It’s trust, and you’ve got to have trust on a team. If there’s no trust, if you don’t trust your teammates, then you have no team.” Hawn is pleased with the way some of his year-long varsity players have developed, such as wide receiver Frank Murphy, who caught two touchdown passes against East Bay. “He’s come from being a kid that caught a couple of passes and didn’t really do anything with it to now being a kid that’s really making a lot of plays,” Hawn says. SEE GAME PAGE 14

Dedmen drives into top 10 at states The junior, who transferred to Plant City High this year, shot a 151 in this week’s FHSAA state championship tournament. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS EDITOR

In two months, golfer Taylor Dedmen went from “just happy to be here” to her new school’s record books. With that came a trip to the FHSAA state championship tournament, which wrapped up Wednesday, Oct. 26. “I feel pretty amazing,” Dedmen, who plays for Plant City High School, says. “I didn’t expect this to happen this season. I was just expecting to go to a new school and play as best as I could. I didn’t expect to be able to win regionals or shoot the school record.” Dedmen, a junior, transferred to Plant City High School after two years at Seminole High School. She picked up golf four years ago and began playing competitively when she got to high school. Her grandfather, an avid player, is responsible for getting her into the sport and onto the course. Dedmen says the two have played together nearly every week for the past four years. “We practice Saturdays and Sundays, usually around eight to 10 in the

morning, and then he’ll stay with me for a couple hours,” Dedmen says. Those weekends help Dedmen hone her skills, which have been put to good use: she helped the girls golf team finish the regular season undefeated and make it to regionals together. The group, which prides itself on staying relaxed, welcomed Dedmen into its ranks and helped her improve her focus. “At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t focused. I wasn’t focused on playing well,” Dedmen says. “I was

just out there. Now, toward the end of the season, my mind has been straight, and I’ve been able to focus on the tasks I need to complete.” The last four weeks have been kind to Dedmen. At the end of September, she averaged a 37. In October, at the team’s season-ending match against Lennard, Dedmen shot a 33 in nine holes and broke a long-standing record she didn’t know about. “That day was pretty crazy,” DedSEE GOLF PAGE 13

Justin Kline

Taylor Dedmen was the only Lady Raider to advance past regionals.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

men says. “Going into the match, I was like, ‘This will be a pretty good day.’ At the end, when I shot the 33, my coach said, ‘You just shot the school record.’ I was astonished because I didn’t think I was capable of doing that. I had no idea.” At regionals, Dedmen’s hot streak continued. She won the entire tournament as an individual, finishing with a 72 at Capri Isles Golf Club on

Tuesday, Oct. 18. “I just acted like it was a normal nine-hole match,” Dedmen says. “I didn’t put too much in. I just practiced on the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, I played my game and focused, and that’s what made me shoot low … I didn’t let any bad shots bother me. I just relied on the other holes to bring back the shots that I missed.” As the only member of her team to make it out of regionals, Dedmen went into the state tournament at Mission

Inn and Resort with a specific goal in mind: to place in the top 10. She tied for 10th overall. On the first day, she shot a 79. On the second day, she shot a 72. Her total score was 151. The rest of the golf team left school early Wednesday, Oct. 26, to cheer her on during her final hole.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

STATE FARM® AGENT

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Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

Auto | Annuities | Home | Life Small Businesses | Retirement

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FROM GOLF PAGE 12

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JENNIFER E. CLOSSHEY, PH.D.

Secrets for a healthy attitude up. Once the list gets too long, it is normal to feel overwhelmed. Repeated occurrences of feeling overwhelmed or behind on things to do might become a pattern. Once this pattern starts, it is more difficult to break. Before taking extreme action, such as changing jobs, try a weekly yoga class. Yoga, especially restorative and gentle flow yoga, refocuses the mind-to-body connection with a total distraction from the ongoing conversation in the mind. Usually an hour long, a yoga class provides stretching, balancing and strengthening exercise, plus a cleansing break for the thought process.

FEEL GROUCHY? WORK OUT

A robust workout improves the mood. The increased circulation from exercise increases endorphins, the “happy” hormones. Research shows regular exercise of 30 to 60 minutes a day level out moods by keeping a fresh supply of endorphins coming our way. Go to the gym a grouch and come out smiling. Perspiration helps detox our bodies and emotions. Go for it with gusto, as if each rep is a way to sling off what’s bothering you. Every movement increases blood flow, and circulation increases the detoxing. A walk in nature lets the cares of the world slip away as gentle breezes and the soft sounds of nature replace the hustle and bustle going on in the mind. A calmer mind can let go of the insignificant bothers of life and figure out what is really going on. Taking a nature break can increase

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productivity instead of taking time away from a busy day. Make time in nature more meaningful by enjoying it with a friend — even a four-legged friend. I don’t have a dog, so I feed the squirrels and birds. FEEL OVERWHELMED? TRY YOGA

Tasks and responsibilities can pile

Find a group you are interested in. The YMCA offers a wide range of group exercise classes including Zumba, aerobics and water classes line dancing and Tai Chi. Bruton Memorial Library offers book clubs and special interest groups such as Florida history and gardening. Form a walking group in your neighborhood. If you don’t know your neighbors, introduce yourself and see who wants to join you. Once you get the word out, welcome new members to your group. Jennifer E. Closshey, Ph.D., is a doctor of integrative health based out of Plant City. Contact her at JenniferClosshey@gmail.com.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

JUSTIN KLINE

Friday Night Notes Sports Editor Justin Kline weighs in on the Friday, Oct. 21, district championship football game.

he good news: the Durant Cougars are going to the playoffs, no matter what happens from here on out. A 27-7 home loss to Tampa Bay Tech, Friday, Oct. 21, which gave the Titans the district title, couldn’t change that. Really, there was more good to come from the game than the final score suggests. I’m not saying it was the closest 27-7 game in the history of the sport, since there were some mistakes made that the team will have to work on, but this game deserves more of a microscope than it may get at a glance. As Durant fans know, the team

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

caught a case of “fumble-itis” before the game, and it ended up defining the first half. But the score at the end of the second quarter was 14-0, which is the most obvious sign the Cougars’ defense wasn’t fazed by five fumbles. I thought the stop unit played well, all things considered, and did a good job of making Tech go out and fight for every yard. Most telling is that it held Tech to 192 yards passing and 70 yards rushing. Michael Penix Jr., who was hurt last week, was healthy enough to play at Durant, so I finally got to see what the hype was about. It certainly wasn’t his best game in terms of efficiency. He completed 51% of his

passes and wasn’t always accurate. But Penix has a cannon attached to his shoulder which can be tough to play against when the receiving corps has speedsters like Tech’s. Even without top wideout Daquon Green, Penix threw four touchdown passes. With nothing to lose, Durant decided to give quarterback Carlton Potter the night off. This should come back to help the Cougars later, as Potter was dealing with a sore shoulder sustained against Plant City and, with this week’s bye, got two weeks to get back to 100%. Senior Maverick Carter got the start, but couldn’t make anything happen through the air when given the chance. The Cougars ran the ball 40 times and gained 178 total yards, led by Cameron Myers’ 83 yards and a touchdown. Tech’s front seven gave Durant’s offensive line all it could handle, but the home team still managed to break off a few big plays from time to time.

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Durant did well in the self-control department, only taking one penalty in the first half. At one point in the third quarter, the Cougars had just one penalty to Tech’s 16. In my opinion, that one penalty was questionable: I could tell the ref didn’t see Durant linebacker Brandon Guido get thrown to the ground, as I was right in front of the scrum when it happened. I don’t know how the ref, when he did look right in front of himself, didn’t see Guido looking directly at him, lying on his back and willfully restraining himself from hitting the Titan who got a little dirty on that play. Guido thought he would get the call because, had the ref paid attention, he likely would have. The ref called offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on both players, and I know that to err is only human, but it was a mistake that shouldn’t have been made. Now that the game’s over, here’s the scoop for the rest of Durant’s season: Potter should definitely be

ready to play at King Friday, Nov. 4, and my guess is the coaching staff will let him play. Although there’s no reason Durant needs a win against King, it might not be good for Potter to have three weeks’ worth of rust heading into a playoff matchup at East Lake. It’s going to be a tough matchup, and the Cougars will need Potter to be sharp. Also ready to go for the King game will be tight end Steven Witchoskey, who ditched the walking boot for the Friday, Oct. 21, game and switched to a light brace. I’m also not 100% sure if he’ll play against the Lions, but I do know Witchoskey’s presence will make life easier for Potter come playoff time.

FROM GAME PAGE 12

inspires all of us.”

Murphy says the biggest positive he’s taken from this season is he and others have learned not to quit. “We had a lot of people that slacked off or left the team just because we’re not winning,” Murphy says. “Or, they said we’re not good. Really, coach Hawn is putting together a work in progress.” The head coach is also glad the Chargers have been able to adapt to a big mid-season change. The offensive scheme was switched from a gap scheme to a spread zone, with which Hawn found success while at Tarpon Springs High. The proof is in the details: in just one half against East Bay, Crest scored 21 points — 10 shy of its current season total. Hawn made the switch during the Chargers’ bye week and, while it’s not yet working to perfection, the new offense is working. “These are things that we’re going to continue to do for the rest of my time here,” Hawn says. Perhaps most importantly, and most immediately, the culture Hawn wanted to inject into the program seems to be in full effect now. This team may not be the most successful, but the players say they know they’re there because they’re willing to work hard to turn things around. “I’ve personally improved a lot,” Josh Young says. “I’ve seen that the team morale has improved since Coach Hawn came in … he brings the fire. He’s got a hard work ethic. He

VS. BLOOMINGDALE

Justin Kline is the sports editor at the Plant City Times & Observer. Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

The Chargers are treating last week’s 34-21 loss as something more than just a loss. “If there is such a thing as a ‘moral victory,’ that was it,” Hawn says. Crest’s switch to a spread zone offense seems to be just what the doctor ordered, and it will need the offense to recapture that second-half success against another team that also played its best offensive game against East Bay. Two weeks ago, the Bloomingdale Bulls hosted the Indians and came away with a 40-34 win. It was the first time the Bulls had scored more than 23 points in 2016, but not the last. On Friday, Oct. 21, Bloomingdale traveled to Lennard and left with a 29-0 win. The Bulls trampled the Longhorns, rushing for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Seniors D.J. Williams and Jadarrien Quails accounted for most of that total. The defense held Lennard to 28 yards rushing and 125 yards passing, though that came with a 43% completion rate. Crest does have confidence going into this matchup, and players believe this could be the turning point everyone involved has spent much of the past two years seeking. “It should happen, in this Bloomingdale game,” Murphy says. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

THE OTHER GUYS DURANT Durant has a bye week before their Friday, Nov. 4, game at King. PLANT CITY When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Lennard High School, 2002 E. Shell Point Road, Ruskin Plant City is coming off of a bye week, following a 16-6 loss at Durant that saw a few players get banged-up. The Raiders will travel to Ruskin to face the Lennard Longhorns, losers of three consecutive games.

Political Advertising Design, Paid and Approved By Jose Vazquez, Candidate for Representative District 58 (D) 2016. Ad layout t the request of Jose Vazquez

Ashton ‘Bo’ Copen The Plant City Dolphins’ varsity football team wrapped up an undefeated season Saturday, Oct. 22, with a 16-14 win over the Lakeland Eagles. Kicker Ashton Copen put the ball through the uprights for what would be the final two points of the game, sealing the win for the home team. Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

“TOGETHER

Where did the nickname, “Bo,” come from? I don’t really know. I’ve had it since I was 4 years old.

WE ARE STRONGER”

You hit the game-winning kick the other day and clinched the undefeated season. When you were getting ready for that kick, what was going through your head? I was very nervous. I was just thinking, “I’ve got to do this for my team and make it.” Now you’re getting ready to go to the playoffs with the team. What are your expectations? To try hard and win. How far do you think these guys can go? All the way.

FOR US CONGRESS

Superbowl win? Yes, sir.

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You also play middle linebacker, not just kicker. Is there anything else? That’s it.

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What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done on a football field? I had a pick six against the (Brandon) Cowboys this year. We beat them, 44-0.

Is football the only sport you play? I also play soccer too. Which is your favorite? I like both. Is there any sport you’ve always wanted to try, but haven’t? No, sir. If you could go pro in either sport, which would it be? Football. What team would you like to play for? FSU in college and for the Bucs. Let’s say a kid from the Pee Wee squad asks you for advice about getting better on the field. What do you tell him? Try hard. What’s the best advice a coach has ever given you? Never give up. Work until the end.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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FORECAST

High: 86 Low: 66 Chance of rain: 60%

SATURDAY, OCT. 29 High: 87 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 59%

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Do you have a photo that speaks to the personality of Plant City? Submit it to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver. com.

High: 87 Low: 63 Chance of rain: 60%

MONDAY, OCT. 31 High: 87 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 58%

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WEDNESDAY

1503 S. Collins Street 813-754-0777

1 Girl in Scotland 5 Site for a tiny flag 10 Hold ‘em alternative 14 Proto or ecto attachment 19 Drop, as from a list 20 Egg producer 21 Tiny amount 22 Jouster’s need 23 Infatuated 24 Do without 25 Checked garment 26 Essential flower oil 27 On “board” observation (Part 1) 31 Took for granted 32 Con votes 33 Tiny arachnid 34 Very small amounts 35 Secure, as a fat contract 36 Word of invitation 37 Undergrad degs. 40 Concubines’ confines 43 Roasting platform? 44 Word with “order” or “bet” 45 Hooked wrigglers 46 Words before a witnessed kiss 47 Halloween apparitions 50 Easy to get into 52 Matchstick-removing game 53 Relating to the Boston Pops, e.g. 55 Pizza feature 56 Anonymous John 57 Beverage in Kensington 58 Warty hopper 59 Half a colon 60 On “board” observation (Part 2) 69 Not hold one’s tongue 70 A pretty fruit it’s not 71 Quaker tidbit? 72 By way of 73 Writing of King David 76 Willingly jumped out of a plane 80 Kay follower 81 Undone, as laces 83 Ultimatum’s end 85 Make a tach needle jump 86 Bird in a crazy simile 87 Diplomat’s forte 88 Kind of casserole 89 Nostalgic fashion trend 91 Sheepcote mama 92 Casino cubes 93 Sound an arched-back cat makes 94 What Floyd Mayweather used to do 96 Dandy’s companion 97 Out of the oven 98 Chemical-free 102 On “board” observation (Part 3) 108 Sweet spread 109 Presidential caucus state 110 Scrap, as a space mission 111 Noisy shoe attachments 112 ___ artery (kidney’s blood supplier) 113 Far from nice 114 Office machine supply 115 Bounced-back sound 116 Throw into confusion 117 Makes a miscalculation 118 It may require a fee 119 Indian dish of stewed legumes

1. D U P H E N 2. W E A Y Z B V 3. E D C 4. E C U F V S Y V V 5. N U J V Y F Z

This Mount Olympian came to the aid of heroes more than once:

SUDOKU

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 Oct 13 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.65) through 9 in each row, column and box.

4 7 7

6 7

5 2

6:48p

Saturday, Oct. 29

7:38a

6:47p

Sunday, Oct. 30

7:38a

6:46p

Monday, Oct. 31

7:39a

6:45p

Tuesday, Nov. 1

7:40a

6:44p

Wednesday, Nov. 2

7:40a

6:44p

Thursday, Nov. 3

7:41a

6:43p

MOON PHASES

Oct. 30 New

Nov. 21 Last

Nov. 7 First

Nov. 14 Full

Thursday, Oct. 20

0.00

Friday, Oct. 21

0.00

Saturday, Oct. 22

0.00

Sunday, Oct. 23

0.00

Monday, Oct. 24

0.00

Tuesday, Oct. 25

0.00

Wednesday, Oct. 26

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

OCT. TO DATE:

2016 52.56 in.

2016 5.36 in.

2015 29.50 in.

2015 0.96 in.

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ACROSS

Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a Mount Olympian. Using the hints E=O and Y=R, decipher the clues to name the god or goddess.

7:37a

CROSSWORD

CRYPTOQUIZ

Friday, Oct. 28

8 5

DOWN

Oct 13 (Hard, difficulty rating 0.65)

9 5

4 3

7 4

6 1

1 7

8 6

5 2

3 8

2 9

1 Sayings of Jesus, e.g. 2 Gather, as a fortune 3 Speaks without speaking 4 Legislative product 5 Tossed high in the air 6 Tries not to meet 7 Wife who survived Henry VIII 8 Cogito, ___ sum 9 Cooked with onions 10 Commanded a dog to attack 11 Some traffic sounds 12 State of the Union 13 Product of software engineering 14 Missouri feeder 15 Carpenter’s machine 16 Chip for a poker hand 17 Line of surgery? 18 ___ mortals 28 Muslim VIPs 29 Electrically charged particles 30 Uses a stopwatch 35 Cardinal number that is the fifth power of ten 36 “Seventeen-year” insect 37 Indian “sir” 38 Feels sick 39 “Never mind,” to a proofer 40 Language in Kolkata

41 Goodbye, in Mexico 42 Balcony climber of Shakespeare 43 Dwarf with spectacles 44 Paper fragment 45 Personal delivery? 48 Coral colony member 49 Common cookie 50 Tiny bit of matter 51 Coretta ___ King 54 Unemotional 57 Texas Revolution battle site 59 Twosomes 61 Woman’s stocking material 62 Subtle distinction 63 Plumed bird 64 Not nude 65 Caroler’s offering 66 Redirect, as one’s eyes 67 Bathroom flooring installer 68 Round of fire, as a salute 73 Emulate a crybaby 74 Winter blanket? 75 Common lotion ingredient 76 Tranquil period for a country 77 Rent sharer 78 Footed vases 79 Green drink? 82 What angry bees do

84 Muse for a lyricist 88 Louise, Turner or Yothers 90 Flew off the handle 92 Small wooded hollow or dell 93 “___ Heroes” (old sitcom) 94 Noisy napper 95 Food closet 96 Vital exam 97 Handle on a flask? 99 Target of some motel ads? 100 Omega’s opposite 101 Disinfectant spray brand 102 Actress Sorvino 103 Got the highest grade on 104 Compassionate 105 One performing ground strokes? 106 Black, in poetry 107 ___ Blanc (French peak)

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, OCT. 28 Toni Colon took this Plant City sunset shot in Walden Lake while she was walking on a trail.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

BayCare Health Events Join Us at South Florida Baptist Hospital

Community Education Diabetes Management Course

Total Joint Replacement Options

The Journey for Control is a four-class series that teaches healthy lifestyle changes, whether you are diabetic, prediabetic or a caregiver.

An orthopedic surgeon discusses advanced treatment options such as robotic surgery for common hip and knee pain or arthritis.

Monday, October 31, 5:30pm Community Conference Room Cost: $40

Thursday, November 3, 6pm Scott Goldsmith, MD Community Conference Room Cost: Free

Men’s Health Roundtable Discussion Physicians will discuss issues in areas including urology, orthopedics, the colon and emergencies. Men only, please. Wednesday, November 2, 6pm Administrative Conference Room Cost: Free

Safe Sitter Covers babysitting basics: Minor to lifethreatening situations, infant/child choking rescue, EMS, safety, behavior and entertainment. Registration is required.

Smoking Cessation Class

Friday, November 11*, 8:30am–5pm Community Conference Room Cost: $65

Two-hour class provides valuable tools to help you quit using tobacco. Includes four free weeks of patches, gum or lozenges.

*Veteran’s Day – Hillsborough County School Holiday

Approaches to Anemia

Thursday, November 3, 10am Thursday, December 1, 10am Cancer Resource Center 1708 Palmetto Ave., Plant City Cost: Free

A physician will discuss types of anemia, and the treatments and diet considerations. A question and answer session will follow. Thursday, November 17, 6pm Mosharraf Hossain, MD Administrative Conference Room Cost: Free

Healthy Lifestyle Screenings

Volunteers

Blood Pressure Checks

Volunteers Needed

No appointment is necessary.

If you are a compassionate, energetic person, become a valuable resource and an important part of the South Florida Baptist Hospital family. Volunteering is a wonderful way to support your community. You can use your special skills, learn new ones, meet new people and maintain an active lifestyle.

Every Tuesday, 1–2pm Community Health Resource Room Inside Main Lobby Cost: Free

Cholesterol Screenings Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and glucose (no fasting required) No appointment is necessary.

To register for a class or for a physician referral:

(855) 314-8352 Persons with hearing and speech disabilities can reach the above number through TDD and other specialized equipment by calling the Florida Relay Service at 711.

For more information: (813) 757-8199

Fourth Tuesday of every month, 2–3pm Community Health Resource Room Inside Main Lobby Cost: $30 BC1606706-0916

BayCareEvents.org

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