11.5.20 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER FREE

VOLUME 6, NO. 120

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

YO UR NEWS PAP ER . CONTRACT FOR ROLL-OFF CONTAINER HAULING SERVICE LEADS TO DEBATE

A seemingly clear-cut award of service agenda item last week led to a lengthy discussion by city commissioners over who to award a contract to for hauling roll-off containers.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

One small item on last week’s commission agenda led to a more than 30-minute discourse at the dais. The city commissioners had to decide whether they would award a contract to Republic Services of Florida for two years to haul roll-off containers. Currently, Plant City’s Solid Waste Department utilizes a waste disposal contractor for hauling “roll-off” containers for its commercial customers. Those

are extra-large containers that hold construction material or industrial sized trash compactors. The contract itself is not new. The current provider for Plant City is Progressive Waste Solutions of Florida, Inc. The city has 42 accounts with a varying number of containers and those containers are either owned by the city, the contractor or the customer. When its agreement was set to expire, the city sought new bids.

SEE PAGE 5

REDMAN CUP REMAINS WITH

PLANT CITY

The Raiders’ 35-7 win over the Durant Cougars on Oct. 30 secured a threepeat in the Battle for the Redman Cup rivalry series. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Redman Cup trophy isn’t going anywhere in 2020. Durant and Plant City’s annual rivalry game, this time held at Durant, ended with a 35-7 victory for the Raiders, who have now completed their first Redman Cup three-peat in nine years. It was an especially big night for junior running back Romello Jones, who scored all of Plant City’s five touchdowns. The first score of the game came late in the first quarter. Facing fourth down at Durant’s 43-yard line with 3:07 left in the quarter, the Raiders decided to go for it — which would be a recurring theme for both teams all evening — and the gamble paid off with Jones taking that handoff to the house. The Raiders’ twopoint conversion attempt was unsuccessful, giving them a 6-0 lead over Durant.

SEE PAGE 11

Justin Kline

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

Photos courtesy of the City of Plant City

Above: Local church and civic leaders came together to pray for the nation on Monday night. Right: The Plant City Parks and Recreation Department thanked Juan Ortiz for more than 13 years of service with the Parks division.

Deceased Army soldier to get headstone, military honors Fifty-four years after his interment at Garden of Peace Cemetery, Army Pfc. Henry Van Demps will finally get some long-overdue recognition. Demps, who died at age 22 on a tour of duty in south Vietnam, has lain in an unmarked grave in the Plant City cemetery since Sept. 3, 1966. That’s going to change next week. At 4 p.m. Nov. 10, Demps will be given a government-issued headstone and a military honors ceremony with the playing of Taps, a rifle detail and the Durant High School JROTC Color Guard. Cemetery Operations Department Superintendent Jeff Black coordinated the ceremony with the Army Casualty Assistance Office at Fort Stewart, Georgia. This was made possible by a joint effort between the City of Plant City Cemetery Operations Office and the Coffelt Group, which is an organization that compiles a database of the military men and women who died in the Vietnam War. Represen-

tatives from the Coffelt Group and the Hillsborough County Veterans Services Office will join relatives of Demps at the ceremony.

Pre-election night of prayer held Monday Though division has been a major talking point in the 2020 general election, Plant City came together Monday night for a display of unity. Church and civic leaders from Plant City hosted the Patriotic Night of Prayer at McCall Park in an effort to bring people together through the power of non-partisan prayer. After Charleene Closshey performed the national anthem, Mayor Rick Lott led the Pledge of Allegiance and spoke before a round of pastors — Michael Pippin, Calvin Callins, Brian Stowe and Carlos Ramirez — came up to pray. Commissioner Mary Mathis closed the event with a prayer of her own. Parks and Recreation Department Director Jack Holland said more than 100 people attended the event.

File photo

Parks and Rec department congratulates longtime employee, new retiree On Friday, the Plant City Parks and Recreation Department said farewell to a longserving employee. Landscape Crew Groundskeeper I Juan Ortiz, 79, “hung up his steel toes” on Oct. 30 after 13 and a half years in the city’s Parks division. “At 79 years of age, his retirement is well-earned,” the department said in a press release. “(We are) thankful for his hard work and dedication!”

Durant alumna wins scholarship Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union recently announced this year’s group of scholarship winners through its All Aboard Youth Program, and one of the six recipients graduated from a Plant City-area high school.

Carissa Rodriguez, who graduated from Durant High School, earned a $500 scholarship through the program. Rodriguez graduated with a 7.21 GPA and plans to study nursing at Hillsborough Community College. Scholarship recipients were chosen based on categories “including, but not limited to, Community Involvement, Educational Accolades, Overall Grade Point Average, and Credit Union knowledge,” RIFCU said in a press release. Applicants must be RIFCU members in good standing.

Corrections An earlier version of the article “Mike Windom need Master Pilot” said Windom flew a B-52. He flew a B-25 and the text has been updated online. An earlier version of the article “‘Our votes matter:’ Local church organizes march to library for early voting” identified Maurice Wilson as the pastor of Greater St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church. Wilson is an associate minister of the church and the text has been updated online.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

TO THE ‘ABYSS’ AND BACK The 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis were some of the most tense in American history. Plant City resident Ivan Cardwell, who served in the United States Air Force at the time, knows that better than most. Now he wants to pass his knowledge and experience of the 1962 event on to future generations so the story won’t ever be forgotten — and so they’ll always know how close of a call it was.

Photos by Justin Kline

Above: Ivan Cardwell, then a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force, had a unique experience during the Cuban Missile Crisis as one of 43 stationed in the Raven Rock Military Complex, which could have been one of the few safe zones in the event of nuclear war. Above right: Ivan Cardwell said his Joint Chiefs of Staff badge is one of his “most prized possessions” and a reminder of that fateful time in 1962.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Six years ago, Ivan Cardwell was visiting Boston with a group from First Baptist Church of Plant City when they all took a trip to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. It was supposed to be a half-hour outing and the group would then move on to the next thing in the itinerary. But just as they were about to wrap it up, one last exhibition caught Cardwell’s attention. The museum was then hosting “To the Brink: JFK and the Cuban Missile Crisis.” It gave museum attendees an in-depth look at the 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, primarily from the lens of President John F. Kennedy and his advisors in an effort to illustrate just how close the world came to witnessing nuclear war between the United States and Russia in 1962. Cardwell was immediately and completely captivated. “I didn’t even know that this was there,” he said. “I was walking around looking at the various exhibits and this was the last one on our way out the door. Everybody on the bus was hollering, ‘Ivan, come on, we’ve got to get out of here!’” Cardwell did pull away from the exhibit, but not before snapping a photo of a paragraph displayed in the exhibit. “Pieces of the story that appear hazy now may come into sharper focus over time; others that are now clear will blur as the episode recedes further into history. And perhaps the most intriguing questions of all, which concern the mystery of human behavior, will remain unanswered — known only to the men who looked into the abyss of a nuclear catastrophe, and then stepped back.” He knew the feeling. He was one of those men. And for more than 50 years he bore that burden largely by himself, only opening up to a handful of people in his life. Even then, they only got bits and pieces of the big picture as Cardwell saw it from within the Raven Rock Mountain Complex, shielded underground by tons of granite and three-foot thick steel doors just in case the nuclear weapons were used. Cardwell, who served with both the United States Air Force and the United States Army, was a staff sergeant with the Air Force at that time and was in the middle of a three-year assignment working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Cardwell and his 43-man team split time between Raven Rock and the U.S.S. Northampton CC-1 cruiser ship. His team happened

to be on duty at Raven Rock on Oct. 22, 1962, the date of one of the most pivotal moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis: President Kennedy’s television address to the nation, which revealed to the public the evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. “When we came in at noon, everything was relatively normal,” Cardwell said. “Then we came into the cave in the Rock and you could feel there was something different. We didn’t know what it was.” According to Cardwell, the situation was very grim. His team was briefed and it was there the group learned the two nations were very much on the brink of nuclear war. In fact, they were told to listen to Kennedy’s speech for a top-secret code that would signal the start of a war. At that point they were underground and the thick steel doors were shut behind them in anticipation of the nuclear bombs that, thankfully, never fell on either country. The team members were permitted to call their families that night as they normally would, but not to reveal any information to them — not that it would have mattered much anyway, as those bombs dropping on American soil meant their families (and a large part of the United States population) would likely have been killed no matter where they would have tried to escape to. Another paragraph in the JFK Library’s Cuban Missile Crisis exhibition, Cardwell said, helps highlight exactly how close of a call this was. It was a quote from a 1964 interview with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who expressed her desire to stay at the White House with the President and their two children no matter what would happen. “I said, ‘Please don’t send me to Camp David…if anything happens, we’re all going to stay here with you…even if there’s not room in the bomb shelter in the White House…’ I said, ‘Please, then I just want to be on the lawn when it happens…I just want to be with you and I want to die with you and the children do, too, than live without you.’ So he said he wouldn’t send me away.” “Every person who signs up in the military knows they’re signing up with the possibility of being killed,” Cardwell said. “When we sign up, we know that’s a real possibility. You’re prepared for it at all times. You don’t know when you’re gonna be thrown into combat or whatever situation. But we never once dreamt that our families would be killed and we would live.” Cardwell and the others on the team didn’t have time to process that feeling, as they all had urgent jobs to do. And that nightmare scenario never became reality as Kennedy did not give the signal to start

a war that night. Kennedy and his administration instead were able to negotiate a deal with Soviet chairman Nikita Khrushchev to avoid conflict through a mutual compromise. Cardwell had to compartmentalize that feeling in that moment, and he continued to do so afterward. His military career was far from over in 1962. After 17 years with the Air Force, he joined the Army in 1969 and retired in 1972 as a Chief warrant officer two with a Bronze Star award for his service during the Vietnam War. Even after retirement, Cardwell’s Cuban Missile Crisis experience and his feelings in that moment were cards he kept close to his chest at all times. There were a handful of family members to whom Cardwell shared some details, but that was just scratching the surface. “I think the reality of that has built up in him over the years,” Dorinda Cardwell, Ivan’s wife, said. “I wasn’t his wife at the time, but I think that’s what’s happened with him. The reality of that situation has built up within him over the years.” When he saw that exhibition at the JFK Library, memories of that time and those feelings came rushing back to the front of his mind. He walked away invigorated with a new sense of purpose. He knew he had to start opening up to others. “It’s important history,” Dorinda said. “These guys aren’t gonna be around much longer, that were involved in it, and it’s just gonna die away. That’s what (Ivan) feels, that he needs to pass this on because there aren’t many of them left. And how many were part of this small team? They’re probably all gone, besides one or two. It’s very important that this gets out.” For reference, Cardwell was the second-youngest member of his team in 1962. He’s now 85 years old. He does not want the details of this important moment in history to die with those who lived through it. With encouragement from family and friends, Cardwell decided to take things a step further than just opening up more to his family. He made it his mission to compile as much publicly available information about the 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis as he could. He spent many months researching and making phone calls until he had enough to put together an exhibition of his own to, in a way, continue the work done by the JFK Library here in Florida. With help from the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center, Cardwell created an exhibition with 10 charts to display for background information. The charts, he said, “tell the whole story” of the Cuban Missile Crisis and his personal experience

brings a human element to the presentation. His first time displaying this exhibition was with his Bible study class at First Baptist Church. Though inexperienced as a presenter, Cardwell captivated his classmates. They encouraged him to take his story to the Photo Archives and he said he spent nearly eight hours interviewing with Anne Cardenas to share his entire story. COVID-19 foiled other presentation plans around town this year, but Cardwell still wants to get the message out there and is open to telling his story to anyone willing to hear it — especially younger audiences who may have read about the Cuban Missile Crisis but are too many decades removed from it to have a deep understanding of how it felt to live in that moment. Teaching others is his main goal, but audiences won’t be the only ones who benefit from this. This whole process has been therapeutic for Cardwell. It’s been a way for him to lighten a load he’s carried in private for so long, to get something big off his chest that’s clung to him for longer than many who will read this article or hear him talk have been alive. “The families didn’t sign up to be killed,” Cardwell said. “We did. But here, it turns out, my family, all the team members’ families and more than half of the United States was gonna be killed. We were gonna live. We didn’t know for how long, but we would live. For 58 years I’ve had to carry that and file it. To get this and talk about it, it helps a lot.” To learn more about the days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, check out the JFK Library’s interactive online exhibit at https://microsites.jfklibrary.org/cmc/.

iStock

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

PLANT CITY

This week on Cops Corner:

Observer

Plant City Police investigated a truck theft, garage door damage, $80,000 in prescription cards stolen,

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

stolen credit cards and more.

OCTOBER 23 EASY IN, EASY OUT 1100 block of North Burton Street Vehicle burglary: This complainant stated an unknown subject entered his unlocked white Jeep and stole several items from within. DON’T BE SUSPICIOUS 900 block of Monroe Street Resisting officer, giving false name: Officers responded to a call about a suspicious person standing in the roadway, obstructing traffic. The man gave a false name to the officers and resisted arrest. He was taken to Orient Road Jail. GARAGE BARRAGE 1020 block of Ashentree Drive Criminal mischief: This complainant stated someone kicked and damaged several panels on his garage door. PARTY TIME 2210 block of North Park Road Theft: A subject stole three cases of beer from a convenience store.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

Photo: iStock

The cases were valued together at $38.97.

OCTOBER 24 RUNNING ON EMPTY 500 block of East Devane Street Vehicle theft: This complainant stated someone stole his white Dodge Ram pickup truck from his driveway overnight. The truck was found on Merrin Street later that day and it appeared the thief abandoned it when it ran out of gas. The complainant picked up the truck and signed a waiver of prosecution. LIVING ON THE EDGE 1010 block of Southern Oak Drive Grand theft: This complainant stated someone stole a Stihl trimmer and edger from their lawn trailer. The stolen items were valued together at $900. The complainant signed a waiver of prosecution. ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER 2600 block of Thonotosassa Road

Multiple charges: A woman was caught stealing $24 in merchandise from a convenience store. Police found she was also in possession of drugs, so she was arrested on charges of theft, felony drug possession and possession of paraphernalia. She was taken to Orient Road Jail without incident. SEE YOU LATER Alexander Street/Reynolds Street Leaving the scene of a crash with injuries/NVDL: A driver involved in a three-car crash with injuries was caught after attempting to leave the scene. He was found to not have a valid driver’s license and was arrested. He was taken to Orient Road Jail without incident.

someone broke into his vehicle and stole a wallet containing $60 in cash. Another complainant stated someone burglarized her vehicle overnight and stole four credit cards — all of which were expired.

Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com

CLEANED OUT 2000 block of West Reynolds Street Burglary: Advanced Dermatology reported unknown suspect(s) stole more than $80,000 in prescription cards, laptop computers and other office items.

Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

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OCTOBER 28

Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

APPLIANCE SHOPPING 3000 block of Bridgeman Court Residential burglary: DR Horton Homes reported someone entered a new construction home overnight and stole a refrigerator/freezer, a top-load washing machine and a front-load electric dryer.

OCTOBER 26 FOOL’S GOLD 1200 block of Goldfinch Drive Vehicle burglary: Two vehicle burglaries occurred at this location. One complainant stated

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

ROLL-OFF CONTAINER HAULING CONTRACT SPARKS DEBATE IN COMMISSION MEETING

City commissioners talked at length about how to handle a contract for hauling roll-off containers. FROM PAGE 1 BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Four came in, with Russo & Sons, LLC being the lowest at $635,483 and Republic Services of Florida coming in second at $730,655.75. This was where the issues began to arise. The city said “it was determined through several weeks of requests for clarification from Russo & Sons the company did not meet the criteria set forth in the bid. Upon evaluation of the bids, Republic Services of Florida was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.” Russo & Sons, LLC. disagree with that assessment and on Sept. 17 a letter of protest was received from Mark Connolly, an attorney representing the company. On Oct. 8, city leaders met with Connolly and Brad Avery from Russo & Sons to discuss the protest. Then the City Manager sent a letter to Connolly agreeing with the recommendation from the Procurement Manager to “reject the bid from Russo & Sons, LLC and award the bid to Republic Services of Florida.” It seemed relatively straightforward. But then Commissioner Bill Dodson voiced his lack of support for the decision during the Oct. 26 commission meeting. “I think what it comes to, for me, is this is a matter of the city imposing costs on its residents for an additional $95,000 by the second-highest bidder, which was Republic Services, when it could be supplied quite adequately by the lowest bidder, Russo & Sons… I think if the wording of the documents and bids were differently proposed, it would enable them to show they have plenty of sufficient experience to adequately perform the duties outlined and required by the city for the service,” Dodson said. “This is a business activity that

is a very simple business activity, actually. It involves a contractor that the city would employ to provide a service on behalf of the city through the solid waste department to about 40 of our commercial customers.” To be clear, the customers’ rates are not increasing with this decision regardless of who is selected. Dodson also said he believed the city could always award the contract to Russo & Sons and see what happens. If things go wrong, they could simply end the contract and move on. Solid Waste Director Jill Sessions immediately voiced her disagreement with painting the job as “simple.” She listed the many intricacies and dangers involved with the job and said it was crucial the selected business had the experience and met the requirements laid out in the bid request. They have to know what they are doing or else things could quickly go wrong, Sessions said. “It’s very hazardous and also very expensive,” Sessions said. “One compactor alone could cost $40,000 or more and if there’s damage to that, or injury, I know someone that was almost killed by the door on one of those things. When they pushed it back in, the door flew open and hit him and knocked him into a wall. Easily $100,000 can turn into a big loss if the company does not have enough experience… To me it wasn’t worth the risk. I know you said we could award it to them and see what happens, but we are responsible for the customer relationship here. There are contractors, but ultimately the city’s relationship with those customers could be tarnished if we allowed them to do on-the-job training.” Staff found that Russo & Sons “ failed to demonstrate experience in roll-off container operations (minimum of five years in the same type of work prior to the bid date).” Of its 10 references, only six had contracts with the company. Of those six,

two indicated there were five years’ experience but neither had evidence of experience with roll-off compactor service. Three references with Inland Waste didn’t have experience in open-top roll-off containers or compactors. The company also failed to demonstrate a minimum of three projects of similar size and scope. According to the City of Plant City, none of the 10 references listed were of similar size and scope to the city’s operations. Dodson also brought up the idea that the city began looking to take this service in-house rather than rely on an outside contractor. Commissioner Mike Sparkman, Mayor Rick Lott and McDaniel said they agreed that was a step the city would have to look at in the years to come, but

that now was not the moment to spend too much time wondering over the cost and potential savings that could arise from that future decision. To bring that decision to the forefront, a full market analysis as well as a business case study would have to be completed so the city would know its full responsibilities before it would take on the prospect of bringing the service in-house. After the lengthy discussion, Lott called for a vote. The commissioners agreed 3-1 to allow McDaniel to enter into a contract with Republic Services of Florida. The transition of services took place between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2. The contract is for two years and grants McDaniel authorization to execute one two-year renewal.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

ELECTION TOES THE LINE IN MANY RACES

PRESIDENT

In Hillsborough County there are 934,346 registered voters. Of those, 714,286 cast ballots, which resulted in a 76.45 percent voter turnout. According to the unofficial results, Hillsborough voters showed up for Joe Biden, who received 374,714 votes, or 52.69 percent of the votes. Donald Trump received 326,158 votes, or 45.87 percent of the votes. The next-closest candidate was Jo Jorgensen, who received 5,622 votes, or 0.79 percent of the total votes.

REPRESENTATIVE

It appears Gus Michael Bilirakis (Rep) is the winner for Representative in Congress District 12. Bilirakis received 5,549 votes, which was 63.48 percent of total voters.

Kimberly Walker (Dem) received 3,192 votes, or 36.52 of the total. Kathy Castor (Dem) won 223,227 votes in her race for Representative in Congress District 14, which brought her to 60.25 percent of the total. Christine Y. Quinn (Rep) had 147,276 votes cast, which was 39.75 percent of the total. Scott Franklin (Rep) pulled slightly ahead of Alan Cohn (Dem) in the Representative in Congress District 15 race. Franklin received 99,545 votes (52.69 percent) while Cohn received 89,372 votes (47.31 percent). One of the tightest races in the county area was for Representative in Congress District 16. Vern Buchanan (Rep) went toe-to-toe with Margaret Good (Dem). Buchanan received 66,286 votes (51.96 percent) and Good received 61,282 votes (48.04 percent).

STATE ATTORNEY

Andrew Warren (Dem) edged ahead of Mike Perotti (Rep) in the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit race. Warren received 367,573 votes (53.36 percent) while Perotti received 321,344 votes (46.64 percent).

STATE SENATOR

For the State Senator District 19 race, Darryl Ervin Rouson (Dem) won 121,052 votes (65.87 percent) while Christina Paylan (NPA) won 62,726 votes (34.13 percent). Kathy Lewis (Dem) pulled ahead of Danny Burgess (Rep) in the State Senator District 20 race. Lewis had 63,094 votes (52.09 percent) and Burgess had 58,024 votes (47.91 percent). In the State Senator District 21 race, Jim Boyd (Rep) received 61,116 votes (59.80 percent) while Anthony “Tony” Eldon (Dem) received 41,083 votes (40.20 percent).

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A quick snapshot of the election shows a few overlying themes: early voting broke records, races in many areas were too close to call at the end of Election Night and there appears to be a long wait ahead for final answers. Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer posted unofficial results for the 2020 General Election at VoteHillsborough.org. According to the Supervisor of Elections, these results “do not include provisional ballots, ballots with signature issues that may be cured, or overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day (November 3) which may be received until ten days after the election. In accordance with Florida Statute, the unofficial results will be certified by November 7 after provisional ballots have been canvassed. The certification of Official Results is expected November 13. Results can be found at VoteHillsborough.org.” These are the initial results that were released as of press time on Nov. 4.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Mike Beltran (Rep) was ahead in the State Representative District 57. Beltran had 66,900 votes (54.46 percent) and opponent Scott “Mr. H” Hottenstein (Dem) received 55,944 votes (45.54 percent). In District 58 Lawrence McClure (Rep) was ahead for State Representative with 40,743 votes (55.78 percent) with opponent Cleo L. “CL” Townsend Jr. (Dem) receiving 32,304 votes (44.22 percent). In the State Representative District 59 race, Andrew Learned (Dem) inched ahead with 45,479 votes (50.69 percent). Michael Owen (Rep) received 44,241 votes (49.31 percent). In District 60, Jackie Toledo (Rep) received 57,256 votes (54.33 percent) and Julie Jenkins (Dem) received 48,130 votes (45.67 percent). In the State Representative District 62 race, Susan L. Valdes (Dem) was ahead with 38,198 votes (57.55 percent). Angel S. Urbina Capo (Rep) received 25,016 votes (37.69 percent). Laurie Rodriguez-Person (NPA) received 3,154 votes (4.75 percent). In the State Representative District 64 race, Traci Koster (Rep) received 37,642 votes (53.36 percent) and Jessica Harrington (Dem) received 32,897 votes (46.64 percent).

SHERIFF AND PROPERTY APPRAISER

Chad Chronister (Rep) will remain sheriff with 379,713 votes (54.83 percent). Gary Pruitt (Dem) had 248,259 votes (35.85 percent) and Ron McMullen (NPA) had 64,522 votes (9.32 percent). Bob “Coach” Henriquez (Dem) won the (Property Appraiser race with 386,781 votes (56.50 percent). D.C. Goutoufas (Rep) received 297,833 votes (43.50 percent).

TAX COLLECTOR

Nancy C. Millan (Dem) pulled ahead in the Tax Collector race with 375,633 votes (54.78 percent). TK Mathew (Rep) had 310,071 votes (45.22 percent).

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

In District 1, Harry Cohen (Dem) inched ahead with 91,018 votes (50.73 percent) and Scott Levinson (Rep) had 88,395 votes (49.27 percent). District 3 had Gwen Myers (Dem) winning in a landslide with 88,042 votes (72.34 percent) over Maura Cruz Lanz (Rep), who received 33,671 votes (27.66 percent). In District 6, Patricia “Pat” Kemp (Dem) beat Sandra L. Murman (Rep). Kemp had 358,623 votes (52.62 percent) and Murman had 322,965 votes (47.38 percent).

OTHER

Voters chose to retain Justice Carlos G. Muniz as Justice of the Supreme Court with 410,479 votes (65.67 percent). They also chose to retain Judge Drew Atkinson to the District Court Of Appeal with 418,520 votes (67.34 percent). Judge Morris Silberman was retained to the District Court of Appeal with 417,816 votes (67.49 percent). Judge Daniel H. Sleet was retained to the District Court of Appeal with 417,510 votes (67.53 percent). Judge Andrea Teves Smith was retained in the District Court of Appeal with 452,308 votes (73.17 percent). Monique Scott received a slight majority of the votes for County Court Judge Group 7 with 336,780 votes (55.18 percent). Bill Yanger had 273,518 votes (44.82 percent). For the full list of unofficial results, head to votehillsborough.org.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

MEET YOUR DOWNTOWN STRIKE TEAM Over the past few months, a massive undertaking has been accomplished in Plant City. There have been facade and landscaping improvements throughout downtown thanks to the Downtown Strike Team. STAFF WRITER

McCall Park has never looked more welcoming. Over the past few months, a dedicated group of employees — dubbed the Downtown Strike Team — has brought new life to the community. The group was created in January by City Manager Bill McDaniel, who wanted the team to be dedicated solely to improving the facade of downtown. The strike team fills in the gaps that are currently in historic downtown. Current city leaders have expressed a vision to revitalize the downtown core and part of that vision lies in making sure the local corresponding amenities are welcoming and pristine. Two city staffers make up the strike team. Saul Ortiz has been in Plant City for 35 years and has worked for the city for more than 10 years. Teresa Lungo has been in Plant City on and off since 1995 and has worked for the City of Plant City for three years. Together, along with a temp worker, they keep the downtown sector looking the best

it's been in decades. Some of their duties include picking up trash, responding to work requests, landscaping, cleaning debris and buildup, cleaning sidewalks and tackling any issues that arise while walking through the sector. “This says who Plant City is,” Lungo said. “If everything is beautiful, people will be more inclined to stay downtown. No one wants to come to a town and spend time and their business in a downtown that’s run down or that doesn’t look inviting. Since we’ve started this team we’ve gotten a lot of feedback. People appreciate that we care. People are coming into the park and are having their lunch or getting here early to enjoy a cup of coffee. And we have only just begun.” Lungo and Ortiz have a passion for landscaping and use their talents to creatively design aspects of and maintain the area. Though the task force was recently created in January, the crew has already noticed a shift in the attitude toward downtown. More people are lingering in McCall Park and using it as a gathering place, as it was originally intended.

When it was announced the city was planning to create this task force, Lungo said she volunteered immediately even though she was in another department at that time. Ortiz was also chosen from another department and said he felt very privileged that he was considered for the role. “All of the eyes are on downtown,” Ortiz said. “It’s a big responsibility and we work hard to make sure we do a good job. One of the things I like the most is working with the outdoors and working with the natural atmosphere and keeping it safe for the children. We take our job seriously and we’re seeing the results. We have seen families come in and spend the morning with their children. We’ve seen people really appreciating this change in downtown. I really want to thank Bill McDaniel, the City Manager. He has provided us with all of the

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tools and everything we need to keep this place clean and organized.” The strike team is a standalone crew managed by the Parks Division. You’ll find them downtown bright and early and they’ll frequently pause to chat with the public as those who pass by stop to voice their appreciation and praise of the massive difference downtown. The duo said they love the feedback and hope the public takes the change downtown as an invitation to pick up the mantle of taking care of their downtown. “If people consider us as a team, we can keep it clean,” Lungo said. “Do your duty. Watch your children and teach them to pick up their trash. Use all of the revitalization downtown as a way to teach them this is our earth and we want to protect it and keep it nice.”

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BREANNE WILLIAMS

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

COUNTRY ENTERS THIRD WAVE OF COVID-19 SPREAD You may be tired of hearing about the spread of COVID-19, but the virus is still here and it continues to infect thousands. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Hospitalizations are on the rise due to the increase of COVID-19 infections while deaths have remained constant. In mid-October, Florida hospitals had less than 2,100 people admitted for COVID-19. There have been 235 cases in the last week that resulted in hospitalizations and 2,450 people are now in the hospital with a primary coronavirus diagnosis, according to the Agency for Health Care Administration. Of those, 520 are in Tampa Bay. Florida has 27 percent of its hospital beds and 26 percent of its intensive care unit beds available. In Tampa Bay, those numbers are even smaller with 24 percent of hospital beds and 20 percent of ICU beds open. On Tuesday, the state added 4,637 COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of coronavirus infections in Florida up to 816,700, according to the Florida Department of Health. It’s the highest level Florida has seen since Aug. 20. For the third day in a row, Florida’s case average has increased and the state is now at a weekly average of 4,341 infections recorded per day. Tuesday’s data also showed there were 56 new COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the total up to 17,099 coronavirus deaths in Florida since the pandemic began. The average is around 55 per day. In Tampa Bay, there were 667 coronavirus cases and 12 deaths added on Tuesday. Of those deaths, eight were in Polk County, three were in Pinellas County and one was in Citrus County. Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Hernando counties didn’t have any new deaths reported. Hillsborough still has the highest spread of COVID-19 in the area with 49,100 cases and 827 deaths. However, it is not ranked at the top with the highest average weekly positivity rate. Citrus, Pasco and Manatee have an average weekly positivity rate of 7 percent. Hills-

borough and Polk are averaging 6 percent and Hernando and Pinellas are averaging around 5 percent. With many health experts calling this the nation’s third wave of COVID-19, the fear has been that as the nation enters flu season, COVID-19 symptoms will be ignored or passed off as another illness. The initial symptoms are nearly identical, though they do tend to range from person to person. If you experience any symptoms, experts say you should call your doctor, explain your symptoms and self-quarantine until you know for sure what the cause of your illness is. There is also the chance people can become infected with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Doctors encouragepeople to wear their masks, social distance and get their flu shots. Widespread testing will help continue to let both the public and researchers know where the spread is most prevalent. Continued public health measures like mask wearing, social distancing and limiting exposure to large groups will continue to keep infections down. However, there are many areas where those protocols are no longer in place. A model from the University of Washington shows that while deaths are currently well below the peak the nation had in April, where there were 2,200 people dying per day, approximately 386,000 people may be dead by Feb. 1, 2021. Hospitalizations have also jumped in nearly 40 states in the past two weeks and staff are bracing for the influx of COVID-19 patients as well as flu patients. With more frequent testing, it is difficult to make direct comparisons. The U.S. did, however, record more than 80,000 new cases on Oct. 23 and 24. Visit floridahealthcovid19.gov to stay up-to-date on the local COVID-19 spread.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

CHIEF DUNCAN

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Courtesy photo

NAMED CHRISTMAS PARADE GRAND MARSHAL Plant City Police Chief Ed Duncan will be given a send off unlike any other as he ends his time as the Chief of PCPD with the coveted role as grand marshal of the Plant City Christmas Parade. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Every year, the annual Plant City Christmas Parade brings the community together to revel in the holiday spirit. One local resident is honored as the coveted grand marshal of each parade. This year, the distinction has been awarded to PCPD Chief Ed Duncan. “It was such a surprise,” Duncan said. “Here I am on my last couple weeks of employment and I got the call that the board had voted and wanted me to be the grand marshal. I was so humbled by that. It is a great honor that this city is comfortable with me and supports its law enforcement so vocally. I can’t think of a better sendoff.” Duncan’s wife, Kelley, will join him throughout the parade. Both of them are recognizable throughout the community. Kelley was born and raised in Plant City and was a guidance counselor at Plant City High School before helping open Strawberry Crest High School. They will throw beads and wave to the crowds along the parade path. Duncan said they both take this role seriously and are beyond humbled to have been considered for it. He said the board doesn’t extend this invitation lightly and he hopes they are able to help spread the Christmas spirit while at the head of the route. “I’ve been in the parade for years, but never in this role,” Duncan said. “It’ll be interesting to see it from this perspective. I

have been so blessed in my career and I can honestly say this has been the best job I’ve ever had. This community has embraced me, even back when I was with the Sheriff’s Office and working out on the edge of Plant City. I am extremely humbled and proud to have served as their chief and this is just, this is more than I could have expected.” PCPD will be joined by HCSO during the event to secure the parade route and walk among the floats. “We are very excited to have Ed as our Grand Marshal because he has worked in law enforcement for so many years helping to keep the residents of Plant City and Hillsborough County safe,” Parade President Dodie White said. “And we feel that he’s done an outstanding job in his position as Police Chief in leading our wonderful Plant City police force. He’s boosted morale and his door is always open. Also, we chose him as our Grand Marshal before his retirement was announced. So often we take our policemen and all first responders for granted and this is just a small way for us to say ‘Thank you.’” Those who have attended in the past know it's one of the most anticipated events of the year. Families flock to the route to celebrate the holiday season with their loved ones and children wait anxiously to get a glimpse of Santa. “I honestly think it’s because of the whole spirit in Plant City,” Duncan said. “It’s a small town and it has a sense of comfort and safety that you just rarely find in larger cities these days. People thoroughly

enjoy it here and I think there’s a very good reason so many people call this area home. I think people are starved for peace and I think people really believe by coming to Plant City they can enjoy those experiences without all of the stress that comes so frequently in today’s day and age... This event really brings the spirit of Christmas to the forefront and it’s no wonder it’s always one of the biggest events of the year.” The Christmas Parade board announced just a few weeks ago that the event was in fact returning this year. The parade’s major sponsors are Unity in the Community and Stingray Chevrolet. It will feature floats, marching bands, participation from churches and organizations as well as a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The parade route will start at Collins and Alsobrook Streets, travel north on Collins through downtown, turn right onto Reynolds Street and end at the courthouse. Spectators are asked to begin lining up on Collins, one block north of Alsobrook Street in order to view the parade in its entirety. The 2020 Plant City Christmas Parade will start at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. Follow the Plant City Christmas Parade on Facebook for updates or check out pcchristmasparade.homestead.com.

File photo

NOVEMBER 5, 2020

SPORTS Quick Hits Courtesy of Plant City Colts

DURANT BOYS DOMINATE XC DISTRICT MEET Durant High School’s boys cross country team ran away with the Class 4A-District 10 championship at the Oct. 31 meet at Eagle Lake-Lake Region High School. How good were the Cougars that day? Of the top 10 finishers, six hail from Durant. Five of the six Cougars with top-10 finishes were in the top six. Senior Haydon Patrick placed first overall with a time of 17:58.06, and the teammates directly behind him were Jacob Malinchak (third place, 18:10.56), Mason Ritenaur (fourth place, 18:25.98), Raven Skousen (fifth place, 18:31.13) and Hubert Almand IV (sixth place, 18:50.14). Dylan Lane finished with the 10th-place time of 19:09.32.

Courtesy of Tina Bradford

Jackson Bradford is a two-sport athlete at Strawberry Crest as well as a star in the classroom. See Page 11

GAME OF THE WEEK:

FREEDOM AT STRAWBERRY CREST

The Chargers are looking to close out the 2020 regular season with a win over the Patriots in Dover.

File photos

PCHS VOLLEYBALL MAKES REGIONAL SEMIFINAL The Plant City Raiders’ 2020 volleyball season, one of the best in school history, came to an end in last week’s 6A-Region 3 semifinal. Plant City advanced to the semifinal round with a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Leto at home and then hosted Hillsborough, itself fresh off a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Armwood. The Terriers were able to pick up the 3-2 win but the Raiders didn’t go down without giving them a fight. Neither team won consecutive sets in their Oct. 28 game at Plant City and only the game’s second set, in which Plant City cruised to a 25-14 win, was decided by more than five points. The loss meant the Raiders finished the season with a program-best 13-3 record (.812 win percentage) and a perfect 7-0 record against the other 6A-District 11 teams.

CITY YOUTH BASKETBALL REGISTRATION UNDERWAY Registration for the Plant City Parks and Recreation Department/Optimist Youth Basketball Program’s upcoming 52nd season is now open and all area hoopers age 8-16 are eligible to play. The season begins in early January and runs through the end of February. There are six age groups for the league and a player’s age will be determined as of March 1, 2020 (birth certificates are required). All age groups will play most games on weeknights and the co-ed 8-9 age group may also play Saturday mornings. Coaches and referees are also needed for all age groups. The cost to register is $35 per player and that includes uniform fees and supplemental accident insurance. Families have until 4:30 pm. Nov. 18 to register their children. To sign up, you can visit the PCPRD office, 1904 S. Park Road, or get a registration form by emailing recinfo@plantcitygov.com and mailing everything back to the PCPRD office. You can also call 813-659-4255 for more information.

OTHER GAMES TO WATCH DURANT @ WHARTON, 7:30 P.M.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Last week’s game against Bloomingdale did not go so well for Strawberry Crest — the Chargers lost, 62-0 — but that one’s in the rearview mirror now. The Chargers’ last game of the 2020 regular season looks to be a much-needed break from what was one of the toughest four-game stretches any Hillsborough County team has had all season. After taking on Lakeland, Plant City, Durant and Bloomingdale, Crest now has a Friday night showdown at home with Freedom to look forward to. This is going to be a battle between two teams looking for their first win of the season now that the Patriots are coming off a 47-8 loss to Gaither last week. Freedom’s offense does have a slight edge on the stat sheet, as the Patriots have only been shut out in their season opener against Wharton. Crest, meanwhile, was held scoreless through the entire month of October. It is, however, important to note that Crest’s schedule has been much tougher pound for pound. The Patriots have had much more success through the air than on the ground. They’re averaging 97.3 receiving yards per game and have six passing touchdowns against 56.7 rushing yards

REDMAN CUP REMAINS WITH PLANT CITY The Raiders’ 35-7 win over the Durant Cougars on Oct. 30 secured a three-peat in the Battle for the Redman Cup. SEE PAGE 11

per game (including two games against Land O Lakes and Alonso with negative total rushing yardage) and three rushing touchdowns. Two things do jump off the stat sheet, though. First, Freedom has blocked three field goal attempts this season (including two in their 45-6 loss to Robinson on Sept. 25). Second, and arguably more important for the Chargers, is that the Patriots have been very good at forcing turnovers. Freedom has forced 10 fumbles this year and has also recovered 10 (including five recoveries in their 40-19 loss to Land O’ Lakes, and two of those fumbles were forced by FHS). Two fumble recoveries turned into Freedom touchdowns. Crest’s run-heavy offense should be able to get the Chargers back on the scoreboard this week. Freedom has given up more than 200 rushing yards in almost every game this season, with the exceptions of Gaither (64 yards and four touchdowns on 11 carries) and Robinson (64 yards on 16 carries). Spoto’s stats from Sept. 17 were not available on MaxPreps.com. If the Chargers can establish the run and secure the football, there’s a very real chance they can head into next week’s regional play-in game with a win to their name.

Last week, Durant took a 35-7 loss to Plant City in the Battle for the Redman Cup but, unlike many teams this year, was able to limit the Raiders’ aerial attack. This week, Durant will travel to Wharton for the 2020 regular-season closer. The Wildcats are 6-0 after their 10-0 at Plant on Oct. 23, and last week’s scheduled game at Steinbrenner was canceled. The Wildcats’ 2020 record is impressive, but several of their wins have been decided by two or fewer scores. Those opponents (Plant, King and Palm Harbor University) are a combined 7-11 in 2020 and four of those wins belong to King. In short, don’t look at Durant’s 3-4 record and count the Cougars out before kickoff — they very well could play the spoiler to a perfect record on Friday. PLANT CITY @ HILLSBOROUGH, 7:30 P.M. Last week, the Raiders picked up a 35-7 win in the Battle for the Redman Cup thanks in large part to 203 rushing yards and five touchdowns from running back Romello Jones. Plant City’s passing attack wasn’t quite as explosive as it can be (though 12.1 yards per completion for 169 total isn’t bad by any means), but Jones’s breakout performance meant it didn’t need to be on that night. This week, Plant City will travel to Hillsborough High School to end the regular season against a 5-1 Terriers team coming off a 25-0 win at Middleton. Hillsborough has been on a scoring tear of late, beating its last four opponents by a 211-18 margin, but the Raiders have the kind of firepower on offense that could make this one a barnburner if Hillsborough can keep its rhythm against the PCHS defense.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Photos by Justin Kline

Plant City scored again on its next drive, which bled into the second quarter. The Raiders chipped away at Durant’s defense and a pair of Nick Felice passes to Mario Williams and Reagan Ealy quickly got them from Durant’s 32-yard line to Durant’s five-yard line. Jones ran to his right for a five-yard score with 9:15 to go in the half and Williams’ two-point conversion pass to Ealy worked, giving Plant City the 14-0 lead it would eventually take into halftime. After returning the second half opening kickoff to Durant’s 40-yard line, Ealy caught a pass for a five-yard gain and the Raiders only needed two more plays to go the distance. Jones scored on a 35-yard run on third down and Tebo Navarrete’s PAT kick gave Plant City a 21-0 lead. But Durant had an answer for the Raiders this time. A big kickoff return by Collin Cole set the Cougars up at Plant City’s 45-yard line to start the ensuing drive and Jeremiah Gines picked up enough yard-

age after catching a Marcus Miguele pass to get to Plant City’s 28-yard line. A first down catch by Tyler Bokor eventually led to Zaevion Jordan getting a few good looks. He caught a pass to get Durant to the PCHS 13-yard line and then took a handoff 13 yards for the Cougars’ lone touchdown of the game with 6:43 left in the third quarter. A touchback, a false start and 25 seconds later, Jones was back in the end zone — this time with an 85-yard run that saw him bounce off of defenders and a teammate, then shift to second gear. The final scoring play of the game came with 9:26 left to play. After Plant City forced a turnover on downs at Durant’s 38-yard line, Jones and Williams teamed up to march the Raiders down to the Cougars’ 10-yard line. Shortly after an incomplete pass to Williams in the corner of the end zone, Jones took a pitch to his left for 10 quick yards and another touchdown.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

REDMAN CUP 2020: PLANT CITY 35, DURANT 7

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

Strawberry Crest offensive lineman Jackson Bradford never stops working hard. Bradford is one of the captains of the varsity football team this season and also competes in the shot put and discus events for Crest’s track and field team. He has a 5.6 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society and has an offer to play football at Bowdoin College after graduation. Bradford is also working on his Eagle Scout rank and finished his Eagle Project over the summer. We’re now most of the way through football season. What’s something you learned from the experience this year that’s really gonna stick with you going forward into college? Learning how to be a leader. Being a senior this year, I was one of the guys coaches trusted with leading the offensive lineman. It’s been great for me to learn how to set an example and be there for them. I think the most important thing about being a leader is setting an example for people who follow you. If you don’t do things you want people who follow you do to, they won’t be where you want them to be. For a group to be effective, you have to set the example. What were your goals for yourself going into this football season, and how have they come along since then?

My top goal was to win some games. That’s not over yet. We have two more we can compete in and we can beat them if we work hard. Also to be closer with my teammates and I think that goal, we’ve become a tight-knit group. You’re working on attending Bowdoin next year. What about that school and that football program made you feel like that was the best fit for you? It’s academic. They’re in a high academic conference similar to the Ivy League. It’s one of the best schools in the country. Academics are the most important thing for me. I’ve talked to the coaches and I’m impressed. They have a record of turning programs around. I’m impressed with the way they run things, so I’m excited. I’m not entirely sure what I want to major in yet. Maybe business and economics. One thing I’m considering is sports management. You work hard on the field and in the classroom. How do you manage your time so you can succeed where you need to? It’s definitely quite a bit, but I just make sure to focus on what I need to do and set my own priorities so I get things done. Just keep going, basically. You can read the full Athlete of the Week interview on plantcityobserver.com.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

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Wallace D. Frier, 75, of Dover, born on January 10, 1945, entered into eternal rest on October 27, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Franklin Dewitt Bland

Franklin Dewitt Bland, 63, of Plant City, born on October 7, 1957, entered into eternal rest on October 30, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Robert Thomas Saranko (Bobby) Robert Thomas Saranko (Bobby), 82, of Plant City, born in Turkey Creek on December 21, 1937, entered into eternal rest on October 31, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Junell Holbrook Junell Holbrook, 89, of Plant City, born on April 24, 1931 in Marianna, entered into eternal rest on October 29, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Dennis Carrol Culpepper Dennis Carrol Culpepper, 71, of Plant City, born on February 24, 1949, entered into eternal rest on October 31, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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John Edward DeLong John Edward DeLong, 93, of Plant City, born on September 25, 1927 in Muncie, Indiana, entered into eternal rest on October 29, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Charles ‘Ronald’ Sewell

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Charles “Ronald” Sewell, Sr., 79, of Valrico, born on October 24, 1941, entered into eternal rest on October 31, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

William F. “Bill” Medders, 85, of Plant City, formerly of Orangeburg, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest on October 31, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 7 a.m. The course will close at 9 a.m. to local traffic for the neighborhood. Awards will begin at 9 a.m. There will be a trail car or golf cart assistance as needed. The cost to register is $35. You can sign up and get more information online at forkranawaywiththespoon5k.com.

BEST BET THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5 HAPPY FEET WALK FOR ALZHEIMER’S

9 a.m. The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City invites you to participate in its first walk for Alzheimer’s. “Happy Feet” is a small walking group part of its Health and Wellness Community Service Program. The group walks once a month at Brewer Park, 1491 Hunter St. The club is dedicating its November walk to raise awareness and fundraise to help the ALZ Organization. Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. For more information, contact Patricia Wolff at wolffone@hotmail.com or 941-725-1135.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

BLUEGRASS JAM

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

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES

6:30 to 9 p.m. This is an open invitation for local bluegrass musicians and fans to come to the Krazy Kup Loft, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., and jam, clap hands, stomp feet and enjoy. They have a Bluegrass Jam the first Saturday of every month.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

Plant City Recreation presents Baton Twirling Classes at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Classes are held every Thursday. Beginner classes are from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Intermediate classes are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Your first class will be free. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact Barbara Patrick at 813626-4554.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing. If you’ve served any time in the military, retired nor non retention, and would like to review your benefits, please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcomed or call 813704-5800 to set a specific time. Masks are required and temperatures will be taken at the door.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12

WHAT REMAINS LIVE AT KRAZY KUP

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

7 to 8:30 p.m. at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. for a night of worship with What Remains. A love offering will be collected.

7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters for breakfast, laughs, and fun; there’s no better way to start your Thursday mornings. Bring a chair and a

mask. The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. Visit the Facebook page, facebook. com/PlantCityToastmasters/, for meeting locations and information.

BATON TWIRLING CLASSES

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14 THE FORK RAN AWAY WITH THE SPOON 5K 7 a.m. at the train depot, 102 N. Palmer St. The Fork Ran Away with the Spoon 5K benefits the United Food Bank of Plant City. The organizers encourage a lifestyle of fitness, and building relationships in the process is important. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned runner, you, your family and friends are invited for the run and for the fun. All must be at start line by

EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT

St. This helps keep diversity in the local food system. The library is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Call (813) 435-8111 for more information.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. Open Mic Night is back at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. You get to be the show in this “krazy” fun night. To sign up, visit https://forms.gle/tYPLqRiyYBmNTtCP9.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The United Food Bank of Plant City’s annual Empty Bowls Project fundraiser is coming back downtown to the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, 102 N. Palmer St. Attendees can buy handmade bowls crafted by local artists and groups, dine on tasty soup (takeout is also available) and enjoy live music by Larry Clark and Ace Jackson and the Jump Kings. All proceeds benefit UFBPC. For more information, visit: https:// ufbpc.org/empty-bowls-project/.

FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

VOLUNTEER DAY AT PCC COMMUNITY GARDEN

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19

9 a.m. Spend a couple of hours in the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St. There are always projects that need special talent and attention. You do not have to be a gardener. You can help by building, painting, cutting, drilling and more. Volunteer days are the second Saturday of every month. Call (813) 435-8111 for more information.

SEED LIBRARY OPEN AT PCC COMMUNITY GARDEN

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

9 a.m. Choose or donate heirloom seeds at the Seed Library in the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry

FRESHEST MEAT & LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN! VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THIS WEEK’S SAVINGS Mon-Sat 7am - 9pm | Sundays 7am - 8pm At Felton’s we offer a complete line of fresh meat and produce. You’ll ﬁnd only the best quality meats at bargain prices. Whether it be that special occasion dinner, or you are planning a large party, call or stop by today. No matter what your needs, Felton’s is sure to have the ﬁnest, most tender meat and tasty produce anywhere.

231-1927-PCO-Lakeland-YFSH-HC-5x6

Plant City Observer 5x6 VRS 10/30/20

1702 S. Alexander, Plant City, FL 33563

YOUR FUTURE

STARTS HERE EARN YOUR DEGREE FROM KEISER UNIVERSITY

Health care programs include: Health Services Administration • Health Science Medical Assisting • Exercise Science Radiologic Technology • Dietetics and Nutrition Online programs available

888.588.7604 KeiserUniversity.edu

Keiser University is a private, not-for-profit university

Felton’s Market CHOICE MEATS • PRODUCE • GROCERIES

Visit FeltonsMarket.com

WALKER PLAZA 617 N. Maryland Ave., Plant City (813) 752-1548

Sam Allen Rd.

PLANT CITY Baker St. olds

Reyn

St.

4 County Line Rd.

11/5 & 11/19

Park Rd.

813.752.7202

289695-1

Tony Lee CLU, CHFC

Maryland Ave.

STATE FARM® AGENT

288231-1

YOUR CALENDAR

Lakeland

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FORECAST

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

THURSDAY, NOV. 5 High: 86 Low: 70 Chance of rain: 20%

FRIDAY, NOV. 6 High: 84 Low: 71 Chance of rain: 20%

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Nov. 5

6:43a

5:40p

Friday, Nov. 6

6:44a

5:40p

Saturday, Nov. 7

6:44a

5:39p

Sunday, Nov. 8

6:45a

5:39p

Monday, Nov. 9

6:46a

5:38p

Tuesday, Nov. 10

6:47a

5:37p

Wednesday, Nov. 11

6:47a

5:37p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, NOV. 7 High: 83 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 40%

SUNDAY, NOV. 8 High: 79 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 60% Dee Dee and Carl Grooms leaned into the spooky season last weekend as the Plant City Observer 2020 Wonder Woman dressed like her namesake for her church’s trunk-or-treat. The duo even decorated their vehicle with a traditional comic book layout.

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TOMATOES

Shipping point: Central Florida $19.95-$21.95

ACROSS 1 Bldg. units attended to by supers 5 “Queen of Soul” Franklin 11 Flow back, as the tide 14 Half a toy train? 15 “You cheated!” 16 Water tester 17 *Very limited consolation 19 Gasteyer of “Mean Girls” 20 Approaches 21 “__ show time!” 22 Illuminated 23 Left-hand page 24 Sun.-to-Sat. periods 26 Go for the hook

27 Greek vowel 28 *Tidy Lotto prize 32 Skin pics 34 Boston skyscraper, with “the” 35 Low grade 36 Parlor game encouragement suggested by the starts of 17-, 28-, 45- and 60-Across 41 Novelist Rand 42 “The Simpsons” bartender 43 Northern New Mexico art community 45 *Genuine greetings 50 Monotonous routine

51 Above 52 Number that’s its own square root 53 Beav’s big brother 55 Bumped into 56 Nashville awards org. 58 Scout’s merit __ 59 Square of butter 60 *In-demand real estate listing 64 Apply 65 Iron deficiency concern 66 Riga resident 67 Guys 68 Fails to 69 Watched closely

DOWN 1 Duke’s conf. 2 Back-and-forth missed calls 3 Put up with 4 Root beers, e.g. 5 Calendario units 6 Bucharest is its cap. 7 Terrible grade 8 Lao-tzu’s philosophy 9 Trumpeter Al 10 Performing __ 11 Bibliography spacesaver 12 Beautiful, in Barcelona 13 Scrambled, as eggs 18 Gator’s kin 23 Chow Chow checker 24 __-out: exhausted 25 Jack who played Quincy 26 Sanctified 29 Express a view 30 Twiddled one’s thumbs 31 “Seinfeld” uncle 33 “Forever” post office purchase 37 Norse war god 38 Apple throwaway 39 Tea named for William IV’s prime minister 40 Casino wheel 44 Snorters’ quarters 45 Beads once used by Native Americans as currency 46 Opposite of “Atten-hut!” 47 Way past ripe 48 Pointed beard 49 Cashless deal 54 One-named “Hello” singer 56 Landlocked African land 57 Like old records 58 Dinghy or dory 61 Canadian VIPs 62 __ Tin Tin 63 Since Jan. 1

Nov. 15 New

Nov. 19 First

Nov. 29 Full

Nov. 10 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Oct. 26

0.00

Tuesday, Oct. 27 0.13 Wednesday, Oct. 28

0.00

Thursday, Oct. 29 0.12 Friday, Oct. 30

0.03

Saturday, Oct. 31 0.00 Sunday, Nov. 1

0.05

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 51.35 in.

2020 0.05 in.

2019 39.18 in.

2019 0.00 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

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

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

20-1213541-0920

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