Plant City Observer
y Observer
YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .
YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER
FREE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2023
VOLUME 11, NO. 26
. YO UR NEWS PAP ER . AVELO AIRLINES TO TAKE FLIGHT IN LAKELAND IN 2024 Plant Citians will soon have another option for air travel (and a shorter commute to the airport).
MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER
Plant Citians hoping to catch a flight but not wanting to make the trek to the Orlando, Tampa or St. Pete airports will be happy to learn that Monday, Dec. 18, Lakeland City Commission unanimously approved a deal that would bring commercial air service to
Lakeland Linder International Airport beginning in 2024. Avelo, an ultra-low cost air carrier that took flight for the first time in 2021 and currently serves 44 destinations throughout the United States, has steadily built a reputation for convenient, affordable and no-frills air travel.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
COUPLE MAKES DONATION OF BIKES TO “BACK THE BEARD” CAMPAIGN
ANDY AND PATTI-ANN STORCH, WHOSE LIFE WAS SAVED IN MAY AFTER A SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST, DONATED THE BIKES IN HONOR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CONTRIBUTED TO HER MIRACULOUS RECOVERY. MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER
A news article ran in the Plant City Observer two weeks ago that officers of the Plant City Police Depart-
ment (PCPD) had raised more than $5,800 from its “Back the Beard” fundraiser and used the money to purchase toys and gifts for local children and families.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
A SPECIAL VISITOR WALKED INTO MARSHALL MIDDLE MAGNET
A special visitor walked into Marshall Middle Magnet IB World School’s band class on Monday. The person brought seventh grade student Eli Muller’s hand to his open mouth and tears to his eyes. The visitor was his brother, Army Private First Class Ethan Muller, 19, who flew home to surprise his younger sibling on his 13th birthday. Eli hadn’t seen his brother since he graduated from boot camp at South Carolina’s Fort Jackson in October. Private Muller will be home until Jan. 2, when he flies to Fort Huachuca in Arizona for Advanced Individual Training (AIT), where he will learn the skills needed to perform his job as an Intelligence Analyst.