PLANT CITY TIMES &
Observer
UYFL is back. SEE PAGE
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 4, NO. 21
YOUR TOWN
Times & Observer names interim managing editor Emily Topper, who joined the editorial team of the Plant City Times & Observer as a staff writer in 2015, has been named interim managing editor. Topper, 23, is replacing Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen. Jurgensen is considering other opportunities inside and outside of the Observer Media Group Inc., part-owner of the Plant City Times & Observer. After graduating from Flagler College, Jurgensen became a member of the original staff of the Plant City Observer when it launched in July 2012. In the summer of 2014, she was named managing editor. She led the newspaper’s digital and social media presence and its being recognized in the 2015 Florida Press Association’s Better Weekly Newspaper Contest for local features, news, photography and sports coverage. A native of Winter Park, Topper is a journalism graduate from Flagler College in St. Augustine. She graduated with cum laude honors and departmental awards, and was a 2014 Society of Professional Journalists finalist for commentary writing. Since joining the Times & Observer team in 2015, Topper has covered the newspaper’s City Commission beat as well as general assignments for news and features. Her community involvement includes leading journalism classes at Plant City High and Tomlin Middle schools, participating in the Noon Rotary Club’s 2016 Dancing with the Locals event and speaking at various schools for the Great American Teach-In. She also helped establish six Little Libraries in Plant City. In 2016, she received Observer Media Group’s community ambassador award.
Win Christmas Lane tickets With the holidays approaching, Christmas Lane has partnered with the Plant City Times & Observer and Publix Supermarkets Inc. to help one family in need during the holiday season. To nominate a deserving family, send entries of no more than 500 words to Managing Editor Emily Topper at etopper@PlantCityObserver.com. Entries must be submitted by Tuesday, Dec. 13. THE WINNING PACKAGE INCLUDES: n A $200 Publix gift card n Four VIP tickets to Christmas Lane n A professional photo with Santa n Four Christmas Lane concession stand tickets
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2016
New fire station gets an architect Wannemacher Jensen Architects will design Plant City’s newest fire station, which is set to open in April 2018. EMILY TOPPER MANAGING EDITOR
On paper, Plant City’s third fire station is starting to come to life. City Commissioners approved Wannemacher Jensen Architects to design a new fire station for Plant City on Monday, Nov. 28. The new station will be located off of Park Road near Interstate 4, next to Mike E. Sansone Community Park. In June, the City of Plant City received nine proposals for the design of the station. A selection committee comprised of Assistant City Manager Bill McDaniel, Buddy Storey, City Engineer Michael Schenk, Mark Emery and Plant City Rescue Chief Dan Azzariti chose three companies to make design presentations, later choosing Wannemacher for the SEE FIRE STATION PAGE 5
Emily Topper
The Plant City Tourist Information Center will be incorporated into the new fire station as administrative offices or related services.
Plant City Police Officer Priscilla Clark has started a shoe drive for those in need. EMILY TOPPER | MANAGING EDITOR
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lant City Police Officer Priscilla Clark is making a list and checking it twice. At the Winter Visitor Center on Dort Street, Clark supervises the Friends of the Park nightly feedings for those in need. At 5 p.m., they come to the center for dinner. Men. Women. Children. Some come by car but most come on foot, wearing flip-flops and worn tennis shoes: shoes that carry them, step by step, through Tampa, Lakeland and Plant City as they look for resources. “They were coming to me with blisters on their feet,” Clark said. “A lot of them have callouses, blisters and no socks. My heart was just breaking for them.” Clark wanted to help. She’s collected the shoe sizes of the center’s regular visitors and has since created a shoe drive. Now, she has a vision. When they arrive at the center for Christmas dinner on Sunday, Dec. 25, each patron will have a pair of new, unused shoes in their size under the tree.
SEE SEASON PAGE 5
THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE Check out holiday events, photos and more. SEE PAGE 3 - 10