11.3.22 PLCO

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

After months of candidate advertising, debates and talk of what’s best for local cities, Hill sborough County and Florida, voting day is almost here.

Early voting for the 2022 Gen eral Election is underway and continues daily from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. until Sun., Nov. 6. Twen ty-six Early Voting locations are scattered throughout Hillsbor ough County, including Bruton Memorial Library, at 302 McLen don Street. Each early voting location will also have a Secure Ballot Intake Station for voters who want to drop off their Vote By Mail ballot in person. The dead line for mail ballots to be in the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office is Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.

“We are a large county and I want our voters to have plenty of options so I keep Early Voting

open for the maximum number of days allowed by law, including two full weekends,” said Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer.

On Election Day, Tues., Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., voters must vote in the polling place assigned to their precinct. Voters should bring a Florida Driver License or other acceptable photo and signature ID for voter check-in.

Visit www.VoteHillsborough. gov to find the full lit of acceptable Id’s, a list of Early Voting locations and to check wait time at the various locations.

Who are the candidates?

Here’s a brief synopsis of each candidate and their background. To learn more about any candidate, visit their officialampaign Website.

United States Senator Marco Rubio (Rep.)- Rubio grew up in Miami, watching his

parents, who immigrated from Cuba work for the American dream. He is the incumbent Senator who works to advance conservative ideas that address issues Americans are facing, including creating the Paycheck Protection Program. He is married and has four children. For more information, visit www. marcorubio.com.

Val Demings (Dem.)- The youngest of seven children, Demings grew up in a two-room home in Jacksonville. She was the fist in her family to graduate from college, earning a B.S. in Criminology from Florida State University, later earning a Master’s in public administration. Prior to her work in congress, she served 27 years with the Orlando Police Department, including fie years as the Chief of Police. She is married and a mother of three sons For more information, visit www.valdemings.com.

Representative in Congress- District 15 Laurel Lee (Rep.)- Raised by a two-star general in the United States Air Force, Lee has served as a circuit court judge and federal prosecutor. She served with the DeSantis administration as Secretary of State but is ready to return home to Tampa to be its voice in Congress. For more information visit www.votelaurel. com.

Alan Cohn (Dem.)- Cohn is an award-winning investigative journalist. He has called his district home for 12 years. He is married and has two children. For more information about Cohn visit www.cohnforfloridacom.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor Ron DeSantis and Jeannette Nunez (Rep.)- Born in Florida, DeSantis attended Yale University and Harvard Law School.

He served in the U.S. Navy as a JAG officer. He has also served as a federal prosecutor and was elected to Congress in 2012. He is the 46th Governor of Florida. He is married and father of three children. For more information on DeSantis visit www.rondesantis. com.

Charlie Crist and Karla Hernandez (Dem.)- Crist grew up in Florida. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 1978 and a J.D. from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham. His career in public service includes serving as State Senator, Commissioner of Education, Attorney General, Governor and Congressman. For more information about Crist visit www. charliecrist.com.

PLANT CITY TO HONOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

Plant City will hold an event this weekend to thank veterans and active military members for the freedoms that we all enjoy. The keynote speaker is J.B. Wells, retired Navy commander and chairman of Military-Veterans Advocacy, Inc., and the event will feature a BBQ lunch provided by the Wooden Spoon along with a thoughtprovoking weapons and memorabilia display from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and up to the Gulf War.

The event is a cooperative effort between the Elks Lodge, Historic Plant City Main Street and the City of Plant City, taking place on Sunday, Nov. 6 at the TECO Expo Hall at the Strawberry Festival Grounds, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Doors open at noon and the event will begin at 1 p.m.

Anyone who wishes to attend must purchase tickets in advance and no tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Veterans and active military can obtain two free tickets with their military ID, DD214

or VA Card and tickets for non-veterans will cost $10. Tickets can be purchased by cash or check at the following locations:

• Bruton Library, 302 McLendon St.

• Walden Lake Car Wash, 1414 S. Alexander St.

• Lands Used Trucks, 2900 James L. Redman Pkwy.

• YMCA, 1507 YMCA Pl.

As an added bonus, a special goodie bag will be provided to the fist 100 veterans. For more information, contact Judy Wise at 863-370-8389.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT REMINDS RESIDENTS TO CHECK IRRIGATION SYSTEM TIMERS AS DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME NEARS

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers this weekend, which is the end of daylight saving time.

Saturday night is when we will turn our clocks back one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure irrigation system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with year-round water conservation measures.

All 16 counties throughout the District’s boundaries are on year-round water conservation measures, with lawn watering limited to twice-per-week unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours. Local governments maintaining once-per-week watering by local ordinance include Citrus, Hernando, southern Hillsborough, Pasco and Sara-

sota counties and the cities of Dunedin, Longboat Key, Sarasota and Venice.

Know and follow your local watering restrictions, but don’t water just because it’s your day. Irrigate your lawn when it shows signs of stress from lack of water. Pay attention to signs of stressed grass:

• Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on at least one-third of your yard.

• Grass blades appear blue-gray.

• Grass blades do not spring back, leaving footprints on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it.

For additional information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Conservation

UNDERWAY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Attorney General

Ashley Moody (Rep.)- Moody is hoping to retain her seat as Florida’s 38th Attorney General. A former Hillsborough County circuit judge, she is supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump. In her current position she focuses on issues of human traffickin the opioid epidemic and fighting enior fraud.

Aramis Ayala (Dem.)- Ayala is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Detroit. She is a former public defender and Orlando-area State Attorney looking to unseat Moody. She said she will advocate for citizens’ rights, freedoms and security.

Chief Financial Officer

Jimmy Patronis (Rep.)- Patronis currently serves as the state’s Chief Financial Officer. He is a native Floridian and earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. He is a partner in a familyowned seafood restaurant called Captain Anderson’s but has also served in several public offices. He also serves as State Fire Marshall and member of the Florida Cabinet.

Adam Hattersley (Dem.)- A former state representative, he earned a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and is a U.S. Navy veteran. He has worked for a Fortune 500 company and in 2016 he and his wife opened a small business helping other businesses promote themselves.

Commissioner of Agriculture

Wilton Simpson (Rep.)- Simpson is an egg farm owner whose family has been in Florida for fie generations. He has strong ties to the agriculture industry, supplying eggs for Florida’s families in supermarkets across the state.

Naomi Esther Blemur (Dem.)- A Miami native and small business owner with a background in finane, she wants to be an advocate for small farmers, using her background to connect more farmers to resources.

State Representative District 68

Lawrence McClure (Rep.)- McClure was born and raised in Hillsborough County. He is a business owner and resident of Dover. He is the current incumbent, assuming offie in 2017 and works to address policies that negatively impact the environment, water supply and future land use. He is married.

Lorissa Wright (Dem.)- Wright was born in South Florida into a hard-working Jamaican family. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida in 2022. She is an entrepreneur, realtor and Hillsborough County substitute teacher. She is also active in her community.

State Senate District 23

Danny Burgess (Rep.)- A lifelong resident of Pasco County, he was elected in 2020 to represent District 20 in the Florida Senate. At the age of 18 he was elected to his hometown City Council, making him the youngest elected official in the ate of Florida. He is an attorney by trade and a partner at a law firm He is married and has three children.

Michael Harvey (Dem.)- Harvey was born into a military family. He is an entrepreneur at heart, building up a familyowned transportation company. He is raising fie children.

Board of County Commissioners District 5

Donna Cameron Cepeda (Rep.)- Dr. Cepeda is an Army veteran and author. She earned a B.A. from USC and advanced degrees from LCU, where she has worked as an associate professor. She is a licensed and ordained minister, counseling people that have suffered life trauma.

Mariella Smith (Dem.)- Smith is a fourth-generation Tampa native with Cuban heritage. She ran her own graphic design business for 30 years before winning election to the commission in 2018. She has long been involved in protecting the community’s character and environment.

Board of County Commissioners District 7

Joshua Wostal (Rep.)- Wostal is a successful entrepreneur, decorated veteran and passionate advocate for disadvantaged children. He earned his M.B.A. from the University of Florida. He owns and operates a shipping and printing business. He is married and has one son.

Kimberly Overman (Dem.)- Overman is the incumbent and has lived in the Tampa Bay area for 37 years. She is a successful small business owner in the financial planning sector. She was elected to the Commission in 2018.

Supreme Court Justices

Justice Charles T. Canady- Born in Lakeland in 1954, Canady received his B.A. from Haverford College in 1976 and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1979. He was a practicing lawyer at Holland and Knight from 1979 - 1982 and at Lane, Trohn, et. al. from 1983 - 1992. He served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives then served in the United States House of Representatives. He was General Counsel to Governor Jeb Bush and appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal beginning in 2002. He was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Governor Charlie Crist in 2008.

Justice John D. Couriel- Born in Miami in 1978, Couriel, a native Spanish speaker, received his A.B. from Harvard College in 2000 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2003. His early career included a clerkship for the Honorable John D. Bates of the United State District Court for the District of Columbia. He also practiced law with a firm in Nw York. In 2009, he became an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. He prosecuted cases involving international monetary laundering, public integrity, healthcare fraud and human traffickin crimes. He was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2020.

Justice Jamie Grosshans- Raised in Mississippi, Grosshans graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law. She served as an assistant state attorney for the Ninth Circuit of Florida in both the misdemeanor and felony divisions where she tried numerous criminal jury trials. She later entered private practice and founded her own law firm whee she focused on family law and criminal defense matters. In 2018 she was appointed by former Governor Rick Scott to the Fifth District Court of Appeals. She was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court in 2020 by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Justice Jorge Labarga- Born in Cuba in 1952, Labarga arrived in the United States at age 11. He graduated from the University of Florida with a B.A. in 1976 and a J.D. in 1979. He became an Assistant Public Defender in West Palm Beach. In 1982 he joined the State Attorney’s Office, where he tried cases ranging from theft to homicide. In 1987 he joined the firm f Cone, Wagner, Nugent, Roth, Romano & Eriksen and specialized in personal injury trial work. In 1992 he participated in founding the law firm oth, Duncan & Labarga, where he continued to specialize in personal injury litigation and criminal defense. In 2008 he was appointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Fourth District Court of Appeal then in 2009 he took office on the Florida Supreme Court after appointment by Governor Christ.

Justice Ricky Polston- A native of Graceville, a small farming community in the Panhandle, Polston graduated from Chipola College in 1975 with an associate’s degree, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, where he was named FSU’s Most Outstanding Accounting Student. He became a certified public acountant but after seven years returned to FSU for his law degree. He obtained a juris doctorate in 1986. He worked in private law practice for 14 years before becoming a judge at the Florida First District Court of Appeal in 2001. He became a justice of the Florida Supreme Court in 2008. Polston and his wife have been married for 44 years, have 10 children, including an adopted sibling group of six and numerous grandchildren.

District Court of Appeal Judges

Judge Patricia Joan Kelly- Kelly earned a B.A. degree in political science from the University of South Florida and her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law. She practiced law with firms inWest Palm Beach and Tampa. She obtained board certifiation in appellate law from The Florida Bar in 1998. In 2001, Governor Jeb Bush appointed her to the Second District Court of Appeal.

Judge Nelly N Khouzam- Khouzam earned a B.A. degree in history from the University of Florida in 1979 and her J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law in 1981. She served as law clerk to Honorable Jack R. Schoonover of the Second District Court of Appeal, entered private practice and then served 14 years as the circuit court judge in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. She was appointed to the Second District Court of Appeal in 2008. She is also an author and lecturer. She is married and has one daughter.

Judge Suzanne Y. Labrit- Born in Nashville, Labrit earned a B.A. from the University of Florida in 1981 and her J.D. from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law in 1986. She has worked in private practice, where she handled litigation and appeals involving commercial real estate, healthcare, insurance coverage and intellectual property. Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Labrit to the Second District Court of Appeal in 2020. She is married and has three children.

Judge Matt Lucas- A Tampa native, Lucas earned a B.A. degree in economics from Florida State University and a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He then went into private practice in Tampa. He is board certified in Businss Litigation Law. In 2010, Governor Charlie Crist appointed Lucas to the Hillsborough County Court and then appointed to the Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in 2013 by Governor Rick Scott. In 2014, Scott appointed him to the Second District Court of Appeal. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family and writing.

Judge Robert Morris- Born in Jacksonville and raised in Florida and The Bahamas, Morris earned a B.S. from the University of Florida, a J.D. from DePaul University and a L.L.M. from Duke. He practiced law for 17 years, served as a chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. He has served as an appellate judge in the Second District Court of Appeal since 2009 and is its chief judge. He is married and has three children.

Judge Stevan Travis Northcutt- Born in Tallahassee, Northcutt earned a B.A. in mass communications from the University of South Florida in 1975 and a J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law in 1978. He has been in private practice with firms inTampa. Governor Lawton Chiles Jr. appointed Northcutt to the Second District in 1997. He is also involved in many civic activities. He is married and has one child.

Judge John K. Stargel- Born in Kentucky, Stargel earned a B.S. degree in economics and business management from the University of Tampa in 1987 and a J.D. degree from the Florida State University College of Law in 1991. He started his legal career working on tax and budget issues for the Florida House of Representatives. He served as Assistant General Counsel and General Counsel for several corporations and was a partner in a Lakeland law firm He was elected as a Circuit Judge, Tenth Judicial Circuit, in 2006. Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Stargel to the Second District Court of Appeals in 2020. he is married and has fie children and six grandchildren.

Judge Craig C. Villanti- Born in New York, Villanti earned a B.A. at State University of New York in 1974 and a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 1977. He has worked in private practice, was appointed as a trafficourt magistrate for the Sixth Judicial Circuit and circuit court judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Governor Jeb Bush appointed him to the Second District Court of Appeals in 2003. He is married and has three children.

County Circuit Judge Group 14

Melissa Black- Born to immigrant parents and raised in Brandon, Black earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. She has more than 16 years of experience inside a courtroom, serving as a public litigator with the Attorney General’s office before staring her own family law practice. She’s done a lot of pro bono work, serving hundreds of children in need. As a mother of three, she is an advocate for foster children and teens across Hillsborough County.

Mike Isaak- Isaak earned an undergraduate degree from Rollins College in 1986 and a J.D. from Samford University in 1992. He has practiced law for more than 30 years. He served as an assistant state attorney, where he spent more than fie years prosecuting criminals. He has also worked in private practice where he focused on criminal defense. He has tried more than 150 jury trials as lead counsel and more than 500 non-jury trials. Isaak is married and has two children.

Soil and Water Conservation- District Group 2

Ryan Gill- Gill is a sixth generation Floridian. His family has farmed and ranched in Hillsborough County for more than 100 years and is currently Chairman of the Florida Strawberry Festival Beef Breed Show. He hopes to enrich conservation issues and protect land owner rights.

Kim “Klarc” O’Connor O’Connor, a native Floridian, graduated from the University of South Florida with a philosophy degree then earned a J.D. degree from University of Florida. While living in Key West she earned the nickname “KLARC” for her dancing skills. She held this position in the past but resigned to run for a county commission seat.

Soil and Water Conservation- District Group 3

David Maynard- A West Virginia native, he earned a B.A. from the University of South Florida. He formerly held a seat on the Soil and Water Conservation Board for two terms.

Adam Young- Young, the former president of the Florida Strawberry Grower’s Association, is a strawberry farmer and active in his community.

Constitutional Amendment #1

This amendment will allow the Florida Legislature to pass laws that would make improvements intended to protect homes from flood damae exempt from higher tax assessments. A ‘yes’ vote means you approve the change. A ‘no’ vote means you prefer the status quo and flood esistance improvements may result in higher property assessments and higher taxes.

Constitutional Amendment #2

This amendment seeks to abolish the Constitution Revision Commission, that meets every 20 years. This doesn’t affect the ability to revise or amend the State Constitution through other means. A ‘yes’ vote would eliminate the Constitution Revision Commission. A ‘no’ vote keeps the commission intact.

Constitutional Amendment #3

This amendment would authorize the Legislature to grant an additional homestead tax exemption for non-school levies of up to $50,000 of the assessed value of homestead property owned by classroom teachers, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, fiefighers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, child welfare services professionals and active duty members of the military. A ‘yes’ vote would allow the Legislature to create the new exemption. A ‘no’ vote would reject it.

Hillsborough Transportation Surtax Referendum

A judge struck down the language of the referendum. While still on the ballot, a vote for or against the referendum will still be counted but it may be a moot point depending on the appeals court that will hear the case.

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police Investigate a stolen golf cart, a missing stove and counterfeit bills.

OCTOBER 21

NO LICENSE TO DRIVE

N Howard St./W. Mahoney St.

No Valid Drivers License Arrest: An officer conducted a traffi stop for an improper turn. The individual was later placed under arrest for not having a valid drivers license and transported to Orient Road Jail.

OCTOBER 24

HOT OUT OF THE OVEN

1400 Block of Tahitian Sunrise Dr. Burglary: An officer responded to the location listed and was advised by an individual that over the weekend someone entered the residence and removed a GE stove.

OCTOBER 26

GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CART

600 Block of E. Alexander St.

Grand Theft: An officer respond ed to an individual at the location listed in reference to theft of a golf cart.

THE DISH RAN AWAY WITH THE APPLIANCES

1400 Block of Tahitian Sunrise Dr.

Burglary (Residence): An officer responded to the listed location and was informed of a theft of kitchen appliances.

Observer

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

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TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

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OCTOBER 23

NOT A MIAMI FAN

2300 Block of James L. Redman Pkwy.

Theft: Officers responded to at the location listed in reference to an individual who stated his vehicle’s Miami Marlins specialty license plate had been stolen.

OCTOBER 25

DRUG THROUGH THE WRINGER

Park Rd. S./Dr. MLK Blvd. E. Drug Arrest: During a traffictop, an officer made contact with an individual with a suspended license who was also in possession of Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

FUNNY MONEY IS NO JOKE

2400 Block of James L. Redman Pkwy. Counterfeit Currency: Officers responded to a business at the listed location in reference to counterfeit $20 bills found in the register till.

OCTOBER 27

ROTTEN TO THE CAR

3300 Block of N. Lake Dr.

Grand Theft Auto: An officer responded to the listed location where an individual reported a vehicle theft.

STICKY FINGERS SUBDUED

2600 Block of James L. Redman Pkwy.

Shoplifting: An officer responded to a business where an employee had detained an individual for shoplifting.

AY-CAR-AMBA!

100 Block of W. Alexander St.

Grand Theft Auto: Officers responded to the listed location where an individual reported their vehicle was stolen from the parking lot.

CONTACT US

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throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B.

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2023 NEIGHBORHOOD MINI-GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS

PLANT CITY CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICTS CAN APPLY FOR THE INFLUX OF CASH UNTIL NOV. 14.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Hillsborough County Neighborhood Relations is providing neighborhoods with an opportunity to invest in their commu nities and create a legacy for years to come via an influx of cash. Applications are open for the 2023 Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program.

The grant provides up to $5,000 in funding for neighborhood organizations to foster healthy, safe and engaged com munities through innovative and creative projects in several categories, including Neighborhood Identification, Leadership Empowerment, Safety Opportunities and Education, Environmental Enhancements, Health and Wellness Engagement, Neigh borhood Preparedness and Neighborhood and Community Innovation.

Don’t live in a neighborhood? Civic asso ciations, homeowners’ associations and special taxing districts in Hillsborough County are eligible to apply. Neighbor hood organizations must be registered in the Neighborhood Directory Listing before applying for a mini-grant.

Division director for customer engage ment and support Stephanie Agliano said she’s seen some great projects that have come to fruition because of the grant.

Tampa’s Bowman Heights residents used the grant to enhance its entry to help residents foster pride in their community. Bella Villa Luxury Townhomes built a zen garden. Carrollwood Village’s association installed a flagpole that lit up at night. Residents of Fletcher’s Mill Townhouse

created a walking group to promote health and wellness.

River Hills’s homeowners’ association discovered an environmental area in its now-defunct golf course that was con verted into a one-mile walking trail.

“That project encourages citizens to get active and get outside,” said Agliano. “The money can be used for many projects that strengthen communities and bring people together.”

Closer to home, Bealsville Inc. was one of the groups awarded the grant last year. They purchased Adirondack chairs for a program they dubbed ‘Cool Breeze Under the Trees.’ The chairs, purchased from Southern Hospitality in July, were placed near the historic Glover School under the shade of canopied oak trees.

Bealsville Inc. executive director Gwen dolyn Thomas said residents and visitors now have a place to relax in the shade and take in the scenery. When the chairs were first delivered and set up, several senior citizens came out and started modeling the chairs for us,” joked Thomas. “It was a great photo opportunity for us.”

The original grant only allowed for the purchase of five chairs but they were able to order more because another group that was awarded a grant didn’t use the money. “If you don’t apply for this program then you’re missing out,” she said.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. Visit HCFLGov.net/MiniGrant to learn more about the grant application process, the requirements and to complete the application.

Nicholas

PLANT CITY VETERANS CELEBRATED ON HONOR FLIGHTS

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Plant City residents and veterans James and Kathy Flemister have done a lot of things together in their 51 years of mar riage but this year they were recognized for their military service with Honor Flights to Washington D.C. to see memorials erected in their honor. Separately.

Jim was on Honor Flight 44 in October and Kathy flew on Honor Flight 42 in June.

The all-expense paid trips flew par ticipants from St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) to BaltimoreWashington International Airpot (BWI), where they took a chartered bus to the nation’s capital to tour the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial, Air Force Memorial, World War II Memorial and others. All meals were paid for by gener ous donors.

“It was a very nice day and the weather was perfect,” said Jim, who went on the

last flight of the year. “The bus driver was like travel agents, giving us details about all the things we were seeing.”

His favorite stop was the Korean War Veterans Memorial, located near the Lin coln Memorial. Dedicated in 1995, it com memorates the sacrifices of the 5.8 million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the three years of the Kore an War. Nineteen stainless steel statues of poncho-clad American servicemen, approximately eight feet tall, stand in patches of Juniper bushes and are sepa rated by polished granite steps which give a semblance of order and symbolize the rice paddies of Korea.

He wasn’t expecting the reception he received when the flight returned to Tampa. The walkway in the terminal was packed with more than 700 people cheer ing and welcoming them home.

“It meant a lot to get off that plane and see the support,” he said. “Other veterans were saying it was a very different wel

Husband and wife, both veterans, were recognized on separate flightsthis year for their service.

courtesy of

come from the one they received when they came home from war.”

Jim joined the Navy in 1963 and was assigned to be a photographer after com pleting courses at U.S. Naval School of Photography in Pensacola. In the days before everyone carried a cell-phone cam era in their pockets, it was his job to capture imagery to document history in Guantana mo, Cuba, Jacksonville, Florida and other stations around the globe.

He left the Navy after his four-year enlistment term with a better understand ing of what he wanted to do with his life. He used the GI Bill to earn a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Art from the University of Wyoming then went on to have a successful career in advertising. He retired in 2008.

Kathy was in the Army from 1965 through 1968. She served as a nurse in the Army Nurse Corps, training at Fort Sam in Texas before transferring to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. where she worked as the head nurse in an

infectious disease unit. In 1966 she was transferred to Japan, where she worked at a U.S. Army Hospital, later known at the Far East Burn Unit. Helicopters would ferry seriously injured American soldiers from Vietnam for treatment.

“It was very difficult work, we had a lot of patients that were burned over more than half of their body and for some the only parts that weren’t burned were the bottoms of their feet,” recollects Kathy.

“So many soldiers died because we weren’t equipped to treat those kinds of burns.”

After leaving the Army, she met and married Jim in 1971. She used the G.I. Bill to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Metropolitan State College in Denver in 1976. Her nursing career spans 48 years, 30 of which were at Tampa General. Enjoy ing the structure of military life, she served in the reserves from 1987 through 1996 and earned the rank of Major.

The Honor Flight she took was remark able because it had approximately 20 wom

en veterans that were included and recog nized for their service.

“We all had a wonderful time,” she said.

Every veteran is attended to by a guard ian, who serves as a traveling companion, providing safety, comfort and friendship.

“My guardian wouldn’t let me do any thing,” said Kathy. “She carried my purse and when my knee started hurting at the end of the day she encouraged me to get in the wheelchair they provided.”

Her favorite monuments were the Iwo Jima Memorial, modeled after the iconic Pulitzer-prize winning photograph of Marines raising the American flag atop a hill overlooking the island and the Viet nam Women’s Memorial, depicting three uniformed women caring for a wounded soldier, serving as a reminder of the impor tant caregiving roles that women played as nurses in the war.

“It was just beautiful and very moving for me,” she said.

She also appreciated the “mail call” they

had on the flight home, when each veteran received letters, cards and pictures thank ing them for their service and sacrifice.

The couple said their Honor Flight trips has left an indelible impression on them.

Applications for 2023 flights are cur rently being accepted. If you have worn a military uniform, have not participated on an Honor Flight and haven’t seen the memorials, you’re eligible to apply for a flight. While priority is given to World War II and terminally ill veterans from all con flicts, the program includes Vietnam and Korean War veterans.

Not a veteran but want to honor those who do fly on these trips? The organiza tion is seeking cards, notes and drawings to give to attendees on next year’s flights. Mail the correspondence to Honor Flight of West Central Florida, P. O. Box 55661, St. Petersburg, FL 33732.

For more information or to complete the application for an Honor Flight visit www. honorflightwcf.org.

PLANT CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZED

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Not everyone will be happy that the Plant City Police Department received recognition on Oct. 27 for its participation in the Florida Department of Transporta tion’s (FDOT) Enhanced Law Enforcement Engagement program, a six month long program focused on enhanced speed traf fic enforcement.

The award? Three TruSpeed S laser radar devices featuring split-second speedcapture, courtroom credibility and pin point targeting to equip officers to detect speed at long distances.

Speeders, you’ve been warned.

The program provided law enforcement agencies with opportunities to demon strate how they promote traffic safety enforcement within their communities and target specific violations on state roadways documenting the outcomes of their efforts. Enforcement of traffic safety laws is used to reduce traffic crashes, seri ous injuries and fatalities and help stop speeding, aggressive driving and impaired drivers.

To participate in the program, and as its regular call volume permitted, PCPD offi

cers conducted traffic enforcement along local and state roads throughout Plant City. For every two hours with three offi cers conducting traffic enforcement, the Department earned 10 points. At the end of the program PCPD had accumulated 250 points that determined the traffic equip ment they received.

“It’s important to note there wasn’t quotas or stipulations regarding the out come of the traffic stop,” said PCPD cor poral Jason Fowler. “Each officer has the discretion to complete a citation or issue a warning during any traffic stop.”

Through FDOT’s partnership with PCPD and other neighboring law enforce ment agencies, Hillsborough County and its surrounding counties has seen a more than 11% reduction in traffic crash fatali ties.

Handing out tickets wasn’t its focus.

“Our end goal is to ensure roadways are safer for all of our citizens and visitors,” said Fowler. “We want everyone to arrive at their destinations safely.”

To that end, it reminds drivers to be mindful of traffic laws, drive at safe speeds, obey traffic signs and refrain from aggres sive driving. PCPD continues to conduct traffic enforcement to further reduce traf fic crashes on Plant City’s roadways.

PCPD RECEIVES THREE RADAR DETECTORS BECAUSE OF ITS PARTICIPATION IN ENHANCED LAW ENFORCEMENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.

LOCAL BROTHERS SHINE LIGHT ON DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS

Plant City area natives Aaron and Nate Davis have gained national attention for the work they’ve done to help charitable organizations following natural disasters.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

Aaron and Nate Davis grew up on a 10-acre farm in Antioch, just outside of Plant City, no strangers to hard work.

Eventually the brothers would run busi nesses of their own, with Aaron taking over a family business now known as Florida Agency Network, a network of independent real estate title and development agencies throughout the state of Florida, and Nate currently serving as the president and CEO of Florida Mortgage Firm right here in Plant City. But despite the transition from farm life to offices, the two were never afraid to get their hands dirty when others needed some help.

“Both of us were born in Antioch and went from guys that were used to outside labor from the way we grew up, both of us have worked outside, I was on a stucco crew, I was in the marines, so hard work is nothing foreign to us but both of our jobs and professions took us out of that and put us in more of an office environment,” Nate Davis said. “So as weird as it sounds, we do enjoy that work sometimes. We don’t want to every single day anymore, but getting back to it is rewarding.”

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Nate made a Facebook post looking for any oth er volunteers as he grabbed a chainsaw and set out to assist TECO employees and other first responders with cleaning up their own properties as they helped others in the area in the same fashion.

“I kind of knew what it would be like to have your own house in a bit of disar ray — your yard, limbs and everything are still down — but you’re working double and triple shifts for the next few weeks,” Nate Davis said. “So every time you come home your house is still trashed while everyone else’s is starting to get put back together, but you can’t always fix it because you’re

trying to get power back on and do all of the things that the rest of us benefit from.”

Nate and the group that had been assembled to volunteer took the next few days driving around to help senior citi zens, police officers, TECO employees and other community members in need as they continued to recover from the storm. He also took the opportunity to get his family involved and teach his children the value of hard work that he and his brother learned throughout their upbringing.

In 2021, Aaron flew to Austin, Texas where his girlfriend was living at the time, looking to help as her house had flooded following the massive snow storms that wreaked havoc on much of the state. He sought out volunteer opportunities while there and eventually found himself assist ing a church in the 1,200-person town of Harper, a two-hour drive west of Austin. After donating 30 chainsaws and getting to work, a photo of Aaron with a chainsaw in his hands and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers cap on his head made its way to social media and he was dubbed the “Tampa Chain saw Man.” As the picture made the rounds Aaron was contacted by People Maga zine looking for an interview. He obliged and once the story broke it rapidly gar nered enough momentum to raise nearly $100,000 toward the efforts of Harper’s non-profit volunteer fire department over the next week.

Over a year later Aaron was now in Texas when he was contacted by People Maga zine once again, this time in the wake of Hurricane Ian’s devastation throughout the state of Florida in late September. They asked if he would be breaking out the chainsaws to help again and coincidentally he was actively in the process of planning his trip back home to help as Nate was already jumping from from job site to job site, wasting no time springing into action.

“When I was in Texas I ended up buying

30 chainsaws and donating it to the fire department for them to hand out to their volunteers and I said to Nate, let’s do the same thing,” Aaron Davis said. “Everyone focuses on food and water and some of the necessities but a lot of times the volun teers are using their own chainsaws and the professional organizations are using their assigned chainsaws and there’s so many people where, if you give them the tools they’ll help out, so we kind of took on this ‘help the helpers’ mentality.”

While devising a plan on how to help Southwest Florida, Aaron stumbled upon a website for the Southern Baptist Conven tion Disaster Relief that was in search of, “food, resources and volunteers to oper ate chainsaws,” and that was his sign. As fate would have it, in making calls to find where he could help, Aaron ended up on the phone with a former Plant City High School classmate Richard Rigdon who had recently left Hillsborough County Fire Res cue to take over as the Operations Manager for Florida Disaster Relief with the Florida Baptist Convention, actively working in Port Charlotte when they spoke.

“I look on Facebook and saw that he was boots on the ground down at Mur doch Baptist Church in Port Charlotte and they’ve got a whole rescue operation set up down there with volunteers,” Aaron Davis said. “They cooked 100,000 meals in the first week after the storm, they’ve coordinated all of these volunteers com ing in from across the state to help out and they’ve just got this massive operation set up, but he said that the one thing they were missing was chainsaws. Guys were bring ing their own saws, they’re breaking them left and right, they’re worn out, they’re 15 years old and he said that this was the big gest blessing. If we could put chainsaws in these guys hands, that’d help them keep working and working for the weeks and months to come.”

Aaron and Nate made a stop by I-4 Power Equipment in Plant City, worked their way south, delivered the chainsaws and joined a crew to help.

Two or three days later they were informed by People Magazine that their story was put together, presented to edi tors and would be listed in their annual Kindness Issue, an issue that shines a light on five different cases of good samaritans making their communities a better place.

Read more online

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAGNET & CHOICE APPLICATION WINDOW OPENS

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

It seems like the school year just started but it’s already time to start planning for next school year. On Thurs., Oct. 27 Hills borough County Public Schools opened its application window for Magnet and School Choice programs for the 2023-2024. The application window is open until Dec. 16.

Each year, families can choose from a variety of educational pathways that best fit their student’s interests and career goals. The District offers 90 innovative Magnet program options in more than 42 schools offering a variety of focus areas including Medical, Construction, Inter national Baccalaureate, STEM, Performing Arts, Animal Sciences and more.

Two new and exciting program options created to help better prepare students for high-paying, in-demand jobs directly upon graduation and offered to incoming 9th grade students are the Medical Acad emy at D.W. Waters and the Building and Construction Academy at Bowers Whit ley. The construction academy will offer courses in Electrical, Plumbing, Build ing and Construction with HVAC courses offered in the near future. Local magnet options include Lincoln Elementary Mag

net School located at 1207 East Renfro Street, Marshall Middle School located at 18 South Maryland Avenue and Strawberry Crest High School located at 4691 Galla gher Road, which all offer International Baccalaureate programs.

According to superintendent Addison Davis, the District provides some of the most exciting and robust pathways for students to truly take ownership in their learning while preparing for jobs of the future. Many of them are nationally recog nized, offering unmatched opportunities for students and their families. “Parents have more choices than ever when it comes to their student’s educational options,” said Davis.

Explore available educational options at the Magnet Schools and CTE Expo on Thurs., Nov. 3 from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. at ZooTampa. During the event, parents and students will have the chance to meet school administrators, teachers and stu dents and learn more about schools and program offerings. Admission is free and there’ll be food and beverages available for purchase.

To learn more about each program offered or to fill out an application visit https:// www.hillsboroughschools.org/magnet.

Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Public Schools

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA EVENT

Wreaths will be placed on 1,350 tombs of veterans in Plant City’s four cemeteries.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

The 1,350 veterans buried in Plant City’s four cemeteries will be honored on Satur day, Dec. 17 during Wreaths Across Amer ica Day but local organizers say they need the community’s help with the enormous task. Location coordinator Kimberly Kitchen said they need financial donors to sponsor wreaths for $15 each, veterans to read the names of the deceased at the cer emony and volunteers to assist with event set-up and to helping to lay the wreaths the day of the event.

Before the wreath-laying there will be a ceremony at 9 a.m. at Veterans’ Memo rial Monument Park, located at 703 North Wheeler Street. Local officials will offer remarks and the names of every veteran in the cemeteries will be read aloud to the crowd.

“I’d love to see the entire community come together to assist us with this worth while cause,” she said. “We’re excited to bring the community together to honor these veterans.”

Kitchen’s goal is to place a wreath on every veteran’s tombstone. They have 72 sponsored so far so have and have long way to go to reaching their goal.

Was there a special veteran in your life?

“If you know a veteran in one of the cemeteries in town, there’s a button on the Website so you can sponsor that specific person and they’ll definitely get a wreath,” she said. “You can either place the wreath on the grave yourself or a volunteer can place it for you.”

Kitchen sponsored a wreath for her father Alfonso Murray, a World War II veteran. Her grandchildren will place the wreath on his headstone. “It’ll be emo

tional to hear his name read aloud at the ceremony,” she said.

Wreaths Across America began in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester who donated 5,000 wreaths to lay on the cem etery’s tombstones. The charitable orga nization officially organized in 2007 and has been spreading throughout the world ever since.

For more information about Wreaths Across America or to sponsor a wreath visit https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/ FL1006P or call Kitchen at 813-562-4495.

A SPOOKTACULAR SPECTACLE AT PLANT CITY STADIUM

MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE TURN OUT AT THE EVENT FOR TRICKS AND TREATS.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Plant City resident Maribel Ramirez saw a Facebook post about Monster Mash, hosted by Plant City Parks and Recreation, and thought it would be a fun event for her five-year-old daughter Chloe.

They’re glad they attended the event. “We just loved it,” said Ramirez. “We love Plant City so much, it’s nice and quiet and small.”

While the city may be small, it’s mighty when it comes to event turnout. More than 1,0000 people attended the trickor-treating festivities last Friday at Plant City Stadium.

“We had a great turnout and can’t wait to do it again next year,” said special events coordinator Ivanna Ibarra.

She credits her Parks and Recreation team, the sponsors, those that set up trunks and the Plant City High School

Key Clubbers (who helped with the spooky scare zones) for the event’s success. At one point in the evening, she looked out across the crowd and was just in awe of the hard work that was put into the event.

Ibarra found satisfaction in seeing everyone dressed up and enjoying them selves. “This is truly why I love doing spe cial events- creating memories for all ages to one day look back on,” she said.

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE

Did you take the Observer with you on vacation? Send your pictures to Associate Editor Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

VIRGINIA: Morgan and August Finton brought a copy of the Observer along with them as they celebrated Halloween in Reston, Virginia.

BY NITISH S. RELE

First introduced in 2004, the compact SUV has undergone a makeover in the past. But the inside out redesign and power train transformation for the front-wheel or all-wheel-drive 2022 Tucson is major. So is the launch of its all-new plug-in hybrid version.

Undoubtedly, the Tucson is a bigger vehi cle than the predecessor in every respect. Length is up by 6.1, width and height 0.6 and wheelbase 3.4 inches; cargo volume increases by 7.7 and passenger volume 6 cubic feet. In essence, there is plenty of leg room now for rear-seat passengers. Make it a total of 108.2 cubic feet for total passenger room. Cargo space is a cool 80.3 cubic feet with the rear seat down.

A 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged hybrid engine develops a total of 261 horsepower and 258 pounds-feet of torque with a 44.2kw electric motor and 13.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The SUV can be electric-only for nearly 33 miles before fuel kicks in. You can juice up the battery in fewer than two hours with the on-board charger. Power routed through the 6-speed auto gearbox gives sufficient peormance. The front MacPherson strut and multilink rear suspension have been re-engineered while body rigidity, sound dampening and safety enhanced with advanced highstrength steel.

A top-selling SUV for Hyundai, the fourth-gen Tucson boasts a sporty, modern, sleek look up front as diamondcut elements gaze at you from the sharp parametric-jewel grille. The cabin is “hidden tech” as the Hyundai folks likes to call it with a lowered and hoodless digital instrument cluster, button less center stack, capacitive touch controls, multi-air mode, ambient lights, 10.2-inch color touch infotainment display, Hyundai digital key (lock/unlock vehicle with phone), latest version of Bluelink and remote smart park assist. Standard features on the Limited trim include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, heated/cooled and power front seats, Bose premium audio, hands-free power liftgate, tilt/telescopic steering column, and 60/40 fold seat with recline/ center armrest.

Safety is paramount for Hyundai with dual front and side airbags, side curtain with rollover sensor, lane keep/follow assist, forward-collision warning, four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, front/rear parking sensors and crumple zones, electronic stability and traction control, blind-spot warning, forward collision avoid-assist, remote keyless entry, daytime running lights and tire pressure monitoring system standard.

High gas prices a burden on daily driving? The Tucson PHEV may be the perfect

alternative, especially if you drive around 30 miles every day. Regardless, this is a promising start from Hyundai as the Korean carmaker seeks to electrify more of its vehicles. The hybrid engine shows off pleny of power to result in a well-balanced ride, with sharp handling and decent overall balance. A roomy, attractive and well-crafted cabin is another plus.

TUCSON (LIMITED, AWD)

Tires: P235/55R19

Wheelbase: 108.5 inches

Length: 182.3 inches

Width: 73.4 inches

Height: 65.6 inches

Weight: 4,235 pounds

Fuel capacity: 11.1 gallons

Combined gas only: 35 mpg

Combined MPGe: 80 Base price: $44,640 Web site: www.hyundai.com

Common Sense. UNIFYING. Leadership.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Danny Burgess, Republican, for State Senate, District 23.

CUTEST CRITTER

Do you want Plant City to see how cute your favorite pets are?

Send your pictures to Staff Writer Brian Fernandes at bfernandes@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

DIVA: Sharon Maxwell sent the Observer this photo of her Australian Shepherd Diva as she helped deliver papers.

SPORTS

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

After opening their season on a five-game win streak, the best start in school history, Strawberry Crest wrapped up their season on Friday with a 14-6 win over Plant City to end the year at 6-4.

“I think that this is just great for football in the Plant City area to begin with because Durant and Plant City have played competi tive football and we’ve been late to the party but now we’re here,” head coach Phillip Prior said. “And we’ve proven that there’s some great football over here in eastern Hillsbor ough County, specifically in the Plant City area, but this was really just a great win for us to kind of establish that. We’re really proud of our guys for that but it’s also a really special game because a lot of these guys know eachother, growing up together and playing youth football together and all of that stuff, so it means a lot to the kids too.”

Plant City took the opening kickoff and wasted no time moving into Chargers ter ritory on their first drive of the game, later moving all the way down to the Strawberry Crest 25-yard line on a completion to receiv er Jaylen Smith, but would ultimately move no further as the ensuing first down carry went for no gain, followed by a false start penalty, a sack and a short run on third down to set up a punt from the 34.

Crest’s Marcus Springfield returned the punt to the 19-yard line but the Chargers would go three-and-out.

Plant City opened their next drive near midfield as the Crest punt rolled out of bounds at the Raiders’ 45-yard line and running back Jaden Mccants immediately broke off a big run to the Crest 25-yard line. Mccants then gained nine more on a first down run and picked up another first with a short carry to the 16-yard line on third. After entering the Crest red zone the Raid ers would stall out once again, moving no further on the next three downs as they ulti mately settled for a field goal attempt that was blocked and turned the ball back over to Crest.

On Crest’s next possession they were able to run the ball with success, picking up first down after first down on the backs of quarterback Jordan Lewis, Springfield and running backs Devin Blunt and Gage Reib some. Facing third-and-five at the Plant City 30, the Chargers moved into the red zone for the first time as Lewis rolled out to his right and found receiver Quincy Hart open for a 10-yard gain to the 20. Carries from Spring field and Blunt kept the Chargers moving downfield but a fumble would mark the end of the long drive as Plant City defensive back Chase Dexter recovered to give the Raiders possession back at their own 10-yard line.

On their next offensive possession the Raiders moved the chains just once as they worked their way up to the 30 before

a third-and-seven pass over the middle of the field was intercepted by Crest line backer Abe Craig at the Plant City 40-yard line, and Crest would finally cash in. After a quarterback keeper gained one yard on first, Lewis dropped back and found a wide open receiver in Thimothee Woods down the left sideline as he hauled in the diving reception to put Crest down inside the Plant City red zone at the 10. And one play later, Spring field took the first down carry to the left side and into the end zone untouched to give the Chargers a 7-0 lead with 4:15 left in the first half, a lead they would take into the locker room after the first two quarters.

Coming out of the break, Plant City imme diately took advantage to steal a possession as they recovered an onside kick at their own 48-yard line, but one play later the Chargers would flip the field in their own direction as a strip sack put the ball on the ground and Crest was able to jump on it and to take right back over at the 50-yard line. On their next drive the Chargers deployed a wildcat formation spearheaded by Spring field. Blunt took the first down carry for four yards and Springfield gained just one yard on second before breaking free for a 25-yard run up the middle on third and five, moving the Chargers down to the 20-yard line. Reib some gained three yards on the next first down carry, then Springfield gained five on second and picked up a first down on third with three-yard carry to the nine-yard line. After a four-yard carry from Springfield put the Chargers at the five-yard line, a false start penalty backed them up and they were faced with second-and-goal from the 10, but running back Ryan Weems took the direct snap on a sweep to the left for a 10-yard touchdown run on the next play as Crest extended their lead to 14-0 with 5:54 left in the third quarter.

The Raiders would finally find the end zone in the fourth quarter. Starting at their own 35-yard line, back-to-back completions to Smith and receiver T.J. Knighten gave Plant City a first down at midfield. After a gain of two on first down, Mccants broke free for another big run as he scampered 28 yards up the right sideline to put Plant City at the 20. Three plays later the Raiders were facing a fourth-and-one but Mccants kept the chains moving with a run down to the five. Two more carries from Mccants had the Raiders down right at the goal line and run ning back Dominic Jones surged forward for the one-yard score to get Plant City on the board, cutting the Chargers’ deficit to 14-6 after the unsuccessful extra point attempt.

Despite the Raiders breaking into the scoring column late and narrowing the con test to a one-score game, Crest was able to dominate possession for much of the final quarter and their defense stood tall late as the Chargers escaped with a win to move to 6-4 on the year.

“I’m just so incredibly proud of our kids,”

Prior said. “We knew that this year had a chance to be special. We set out with a lot of goals that we wanted to accomplish and we fell short of them but we also accomplished some of them. That was one of the goals right there, to beat Plant City. We knew that game was right there in Week 10, waiting for us, to end our season. And our kids kept fighting, we went through a rough patch there losing four games in a row but they came out this week, we had a great week of practice, they were motivated, we knew that we could get this one and we did.”

Lewis completed three of his six pass attempts for 46 yards and added 11 rushing yards on five carries as much of the Char gers’ offense was predicated on their strong ground game, a rushing attack that totaled 229 yards on 43 carries. Out of the back field, Blunt paced the unit with 106 yards on 16 carries, followed by 77 yards and a touchdown from Springfield, 21 yards and a touchdown on six carries from Weems and 14 yards on five carries from Reibsome.

Defensively, senior Deegan Fearnow led the unit with 11 total tackles, followed by senior Steel Craig and junior Quintin Walker. Freshman Malachi Johnson and Steel Craig had one sack each while Walker and Fear now each notched a half-sack of their own. Johnson totaled three tackles for loss, fol lowed by Fearnow and Walker with two each and Steel Craig with one. In addition to his team-high three tackles for loss, Walker was also credited with both of the Chargers’ fumble recoveries on Friday, coming by way of one forced fumble each by Steel Craig and senior Daniel Cruz.

Offensively for the Raiders, quarterback Champ Mitchell completed eight of his 14 pass attempts for 74 yards while Mccants totaled 111 rushing yards on 14 carries, good for 7.9 yards per attempt. Behind Mccants, Jones totaled nine yards and a touchdown on five carries. Out wide, Smith led all receiv ers with 46 yards on four receptions, fol lowed by 15 yards on two receptions from Knighten and 13 yards on one reception from junior Judah Bendorf.

After just three combined wins over the first two years under head coach Phillip Prior, the Chargers made huge strides in 2021 as they finished the year at 5-5 — their best record since going 7-5 in 2013 — before improving on that finish in with a 6-4 record in 2022. For Plant City, the loss puts them at 2-7 as they host another 2-7 team in Jeffer son next Friday to wrap up their first season under head coach Michael Clayton.

Across town Durant wrapped up another winning season with a 30-26 district win over Riverview to finish the year at 8-2. And despite previously securing their dis trict title with a win against Newsome last month, holding the tie-breaker over Sum ner, the win over Riverview leaves the Cou gars alone at the top of the standings with a 3-0 district record.

Offensively, quarterback Mike Ryan com pleted just seven of his 17 attempts for 34 yards but added 83 rushing yards on 13 attempts. Out of the backfield, running back Alex Daley returned from an ankle injury and exploded for a season-high 171 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, good for 10.7 yards per attempt. Behind Daley and Ryan, sophomores Jarelle Franklin and Jayden Cornelius totaled 28 yards on four carries and 10 yards and a touchdown on two carries, respectively, followed by seven yards and a touchdown on four carries from senior Calub Connell and four yards and a touchdown on one carry from feshman Tre on Williams. At receiver, junior Jayden Forte led the unit with 23 yards on three recep tions, followed by 10 yards on three recep tions from Cornelius and one yard on one reception from senior Jeremiah Gines.

Defensively, sophomore Hale Sollmann led the unit with 12 total tackles, followed by 11 each from senior Ty Merkle and soph omore Justin Zinke. Sollmann, Zinke and Greg Smith each notched 1.5 tackles for loss, Gines added an interception and junior Luther Scarlett came up with the Cougars’ only fumble recovery of the contest, forced by senior Anthony Giovenco.

With playoffs once again on the horizon for Durant, the Cougars have now secured at least eight wins in their first two seasons under head coach Claybo Varnum after fin ishing 2021 at 8-3, their highest single-sea son win total since going 8-3 in 2016. In his two years at the helm, Varnum has now led Durant to 16 total wins, two playoff appear ances, two wins over rival Plant City, their first win over rival Newsome since 2017 and their first district championship since 2014.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

ESCAPED WITH A 14-6 WIN OVER PLANT CITY TO FINISH THE SEASON AT 6-4.

STRAWBERRY CREST BEATS PLANT CITY IN LOCAL MATCHUP, DURANT WRAPS UP REGULAR SEASON WITH A DISTRICT VICTORY.

Quick Hits

PLANT CITY NATIVE NAMED TO NCAA PRESEASON WATCH LIST

Plant City native Johni Broome has been selected an early candidate for the best power forward in college basketball as he found his name on a short preseason watch list for the 2023 Karl Malone Award.

The award is named after two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone and recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. In late January, the watch list of 20 players will be narrowed to 10 and then down to fie in late February. In March, the fie finalits will be presented to Malone and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected. Previous winners of the award include Keegan Murray, Obi Toppin, Zion Williamson, Deandre Ayton, and Montrezl Harrell, among others.

As a freshman at Morehead State, Broome averaged 13.8 points and nine rebounds per game while racking up accolades. By season’s end — playing in the Ohio Valley Conference — he had garnered OVC Freshman of the Year, fist-team All-OVC, OVC AllNewcomer Team, OVC All-Tournament Team, OVC Tournament MVP and nine different OVC Freshman of the Week awards en route to MSU’s fist conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011. As for MSU, Broome set freshman records for total rebounds (271) and blocks (56). As a sophomore, he led the Eagles to a 23-11 record and a second consecutive appearance in the OVC Conference Championship behind a team-high 16.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game. His mark for blocks was good for the third-best mark in Division I college basketball last season, and his mark for rebounds was ninth-best. Broome was named OVC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and his 131 total blocks were not only a single-season record for MSU, but finished as a higher otal than eight other OVC teams as a combined unit. Broome then entered the transfer portal in early April, being contacted by a long list of Power 5 programs before announcing his commitment to Auburn later in the month. After a 28-6 record in 2021-2022, Auburn is currently ranked No. 15 in the AP Top 25 preseason college basketball rankings.

STRAWBERRY CREST SWIM SWEEPS DISTRICT MEET

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

A year after the girls team won the school’s first district championship in swimming, Strawberry Crest took home both the boys and girls district titles this year.

For the boys, they were able to come away on top of the eight-team district on the heels of three bronze medals, six silver medals and two gold medals. For the girls, it was an even more dominant per formance with four bronze medals, five silver medals and seven gold medals.

On the boys’ side, Josiah Tan earned bronze in both the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual med ley, Kristian Walker earned silver in both the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle, Noah Jones earned gold in the 200-yard individual medley and silver in the 100-yard backstroke and Hubert Pili chowski earned silver in the 200-yard individual med ley and gold in the 100-yard breaststroke. And on the girls’ side, Emmy Hamilton earned gold in both the 50-yard and the 100-yard freestyle, Saige Starford earned gold in the 200-yard freestyle and sil ver in the 100-yard freestyle, Bailey Scott earned gold in both the 500-yard freestyle

and the 200-yard individual medley, Mimi Bitting earned silver in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly, Michaela Walker earned silver in the 100-yard breaststroke and bronze in the 100-yard butterfly, Alex Ball earned silver in the 200yard individual medley, Jillian Starford earned bronze in the 200-yard freestyle and Chin Hargewar earned bronze in the 200-yard individual med ley. In addition to their indi vidual medals, the boys took silver in the 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay and bronze in the 200yard freestyle relay while the girls took gold in the 200-

yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay and bronze in the 400-yard free style relay.

Advancing to the 25-team regional meet last week, Strawberry Crest didn’t med al in either the boys or girls competition as both teams finished 12th in the region, however top-10 finishes from both Pilichowski and Saige Starford clinched their spot in the state meet as Pilichowski finished ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke and Starford finished eighth in the 100yard freestyle.

The FHSAA Florida 4A State Championship will take place on Nov. 11 and 12 at the Sail fish Splashpark and Acquat ics Center in Stuart, Fla., just south of Port St. Lucie.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

For the first time in chool history, both the boys and girls teams won district championships.

Photo courtesy of Strawberry Crest Swim and Dive

by Lawrence McClure, Republican, for State Representative.

Ruby Jean Redman

Ruby Jean Redman, 87, of Plant City, Fla., born on April 17, 1935, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 26, 2022.

She was the 1953 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen - where she continued to serve as a festival volunteer for many years, a 1957 graduate of Florida State University - where she was a member of the FSU Circus and Alpha Gamma Delta, a founding member of the South Florida Baptist Hospital Women’s Auxiliary and Pink Ladies, a member of First Baptist Church Plant City - where she sang in the choir and served as a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Plant City Lion’s Club Auxiliary, and a member of the Bruton Memorial Library Board of Directors. She loved spending time with her family. She also enjoyed reading, traveling, and working in her yard.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Redman. She is

survived by daughters, Susan Sullivan (David), Pamela Bowden (Hilman Jr. “Bud”), and Jeanne Knotts (Andy); grandchildren, Katie Corby (Alex), Aaron Sullivan (Denise), Chip Bowden (Nina), Bradley Sullivan (Mara Kay), Christopher Sullivan (Lacey), Re gan Knotts (fiané, Michael Byrne), Chelsea Barnett (Carson), Drew Knotts, and Jackson Knotts; greatgrandchildren, Brent Corby, Beau Corby, Caroline Sullivan, Mark Sullivan, Hilman Bowden IV, Briar Corby, Tripp Barnett, and Walker Sullivan; sister-in-law, Lou Ann Barker; and many extended family and friends.

A funeral service was held Oct. 31, 2022 at First Baptist Church Plant City, 3309 James L Redman Pwky, Plant City. In lieu of flwers, memorial contribu tions can be made to South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation at https://www. sfbhfoundation.org/, and/ or First Baptist Church Plant City at https://fbcpc. onlinegiving.org/donate.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Helen A. Reagan

Helen A. Reagan, 74, of Plant City, Fla., born on March 22, 1948 in Cullman, Ala. entered into eternal rest on Oct. 25 2022.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Elymire ‘Mira’ R. Stanford

Elymire “Mira” R. Stanford, 84, of Plant City, Fla., born on Sept. 25, 1938 in Wauchula, Fla., entered into eternal rest on Oct. 19, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Strout

Sharon Louise Strout, 62, of Plant City, Fla., born on Aug. 27, 1961, entered into eternal rest on Oct. 26, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral. com.HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4

THE FANCY FLEA

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2866 W. Reynolds St. The Fancy Flea is a mecca for shabby chic lovers rejoice. At Plant City’s Fancy Flea you will find furnitue, garden decor, repurposed items, antiques, original art, handmade clothing, artisan jewelry and soaps and more. The event will take place on Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5. Parking for the event is free and admission is $5.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

BLUEGRASS JAM!

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. This is an open invitation for local Bluegrass musicians and fans to come to the Krazy Kup loft and jam, clap hands, stomp feet and enjoy! Krazy Kup holds their Bluegrass JAM on the fist Saturday of every month.

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE

6 to 9:30 p.m. at 4401 Promenade Blvd. DJ Ken will be hosting the Plant City Social Dance every Saturday throughout the month of November at the Strawberry Square Dance Center. Cups and water will be available and the event’s cost is $7 per person. For more information or a chance to look at sample playlists, visit www. djkenmiller.com.

PASSPORT SATURDAY

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 301 N. Michigan Ave. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court & Comptroller will host Passport Saturday on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Plant City Courthouse. The event will help obtaining a passport more accessible to community members that are unable to visit their offices during the work week. In addition, passport photos will be available for $15. Walk-ins are welcome or schedule an appointment at www.hillsclerk.com.

BEGINNING TANGO LESSONS

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the 4401 Promenade Blvd. Strawberry Square Dancing will be hosting beginning tango lessons at the Strawberry Square Dance Center this month, an event that’s fun for all with no experience required. The class will cost $7 per person and more information can be found at www.strawberrysquaredancing. com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

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 or non-retention, and would like to review your benefis 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 tim.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12

FORK RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON 5K 7 to 9:30 a.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. Lace up your running shoes to get some exercise and support a worthy cause. All finess levels are encouraged to participate in this 5K and proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Unied Food Bank. Cost to participate is $35 and includes a ticket

featuring musical acts Shevonne, Blanco Brown, Saint Motel, Kim Richey, Bishop Briggs and headlined by ZZ Top. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and the musical performances will begin at 4:30 and continue to run throughout the day until ZZ Top takes the stage at 10 p.m. Local food favorites will be available for purchase throughout the event including authentic tacos, artisan stone-fie pizza, smokin’ BBQ, mouthwatering burgers and sweet donut treats, along with full bars situated throughout the venue. General admission tickets can be purchased for $125. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. wishfarms.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

PLANT CITY GARDEN CLUB MEETING

9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 303 N. Evers St. The Plant City Garden Club will host their monthly meeting at the First United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall. There will be a coffee meet and greet at 9:30, followed by a general meeting at 10. November’s meeting will include guest speaker Patrick Strickland, owner and CEO of Stalk-n-Vine, who will speak about sustainable and natural growing methods. For more information, contact Christy Linke by email at clinke3173@aol.com.

IMPROV NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Improv night is making its way back to Krazy Kup this month and all are welcome to join in for a hilarious night of interactive side-spitting comedy. The event is free of charge and fun for patrons of all ages.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 6:30 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In is back on Saturday, Nov. 19, rain or shine. Cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1996 can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music by DJ John Paul Gasca.

BLUEGRASS NIGHT WITH SOUTHERN EXPRESS

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Head to Krazy Kup and enjoy some great Bluegrass music with the local Southern Express Bluegrass Band. Based in Auburndale, the group features several experienced Bluegrass musicians and is no stranger to performing all throughout the Central Florida area. Admission is $15 and will be available at the door on the night of the event or at www.eventbrite. com

to the United Food Bank’s Empty Bowls Project event later that day. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.forkranawaywiththespoon5k.com

OPEN MIC NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Open Mic Night is back at Krazy Kup. Join them for a fun night where you get to be the star of the show. Come out, strut your stuff and shw everyone what you’ve got.

PIXIEROCK

4 p.m. at 1301 S. Frontage Rd. Wish Farms is celebrating 100 years with their second annual PixieRock music festival,

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

PLANT CITY PIG JAM

5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at 1401 Gordon Food Service Dr. Don’t miss out on this Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition offering you the change to enjoy mouth-watering BBQ, live entertainment, a kids’ zone, complete with a rock climbing wall and moonwalks. The event will take place on both Friday and Saturday where admission is free for all to attend and parking will cost $10 per vehicle.’

I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST

THURSDAY, NOV 3 High: 87 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 17%

FRIDAY, NOV 4 High: 86 Low: 68 Chance of rain: 8%

SATURDAY, NOV 5 High: 87 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 10%

SUNDAY, NOV 6 High: 88 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 24%

MONDAY, NOV 7 High: 86 Low: 71 Chance of rain: 21%

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Nov 3 7:41a 6:42p

Friday, Nov 4 7:42a 6:41p

Saturday, Nov 5 7:42a 6:41p

Sunday, Nov 6 7:43a 6:40p

Monday, Nov 7 7:44a 6:39p

Tuesday, Nov 8 7:44a 6:39p

Wednesday, Nov 9 7:45a 6:38p

MOON PHASES