12.23.21 PLCO by Plant City Observer

Plant City Observer

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YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .

VOLUME 6, NO. 175

YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER FREE

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

. YO URCOMMISSION NEWS PAP ER . CITY MEETING ROUNDUP MOST RECENT MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS

At the Monday, Dec. 13 Plant City Commission meeting, two youth football teams were honored for their Mid-Florida Youth Football Championships. The Plant City Colts Junior Varsity and Plant City Colts Pee Wee teams brought back a win for their town. Junior Varsity had a winning streak

through the season of 12-0. Pee Wee had a winning season of 9-3. The City Commission Chambers almost reached full capacity as team members, in jerseys, took seats and waited to be recognized. “We’re so honored that we had two of our teams win the super bowl this year,” said Plant City Mayor Rick Lott.

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PLANT CITY NOW HAS ITS FIRST CHICK-FIL-A IN TOWN MAJOR FOOD FRANCHISE RAISES ITS FLAG IN PLANT CITY

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

With the daily lines of vehicles that build up at the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A Plant City, one can only wonder if the restaurant’s team knew the kind of reception it would receive. The restaurant chain opened its first location in Plant City on Thursday, Dec. 2. In a statement from the business, it said that “Chickfil-A is constantly evaluating potential new locations for expansion and we’ve had our eyes on Plant City for a while. The community represents a tremendous opportunity for us to serve our customers

great food with exceptional care.” The family-owned business was established in 1967 by S. Truett Cathy and is based in Atlanta. The franchise is known for its trademark chicken products. It’s also known for its iconic billboards off highways - depicting model cows painting catchy phrases. It has over 2,600 restaurants spread throughout 47 states as well as Washington D.C. and Canada. And now the eatery has made its mark in Plant City.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

NEWS BRIEFS

Plant City Parks & Recreation announces new Environmental Land Management Supervisor The City of Plant City Parks & Recreation Department has announced Chris Foster as their new Environmental Land Management Supervisor for the Parks Division. Foster brings extensive experience in conservation land management, nature preserves, trails and conservation parks as he joins Plant City from Hillsborough County’s Conservation & Environmental Land Management Department. He will

lead Plant City’s crew of Park Rangers to both enhance and preserve the park land city-wide, as well as assist in guiding the continual improvements made to McIntosh Park, including the development of enhanced wetlands and additional trails.

Two projects completed at Ellis-Methvin Park Two separate projects were completed by the Plant City Parks & Recreation Department at Ellis-Methvin Park last month. The first project included the installation of additional walking trail lighting at the park, adding 23 light poles and LED fixtures to complete the lighting along

the paved walking trail’s east segment that stretches just under a mile along North Wilder Road to the entrance on East Cherry Street. The lighting project was aimed at allowing area residents and visitors to feel safe when walking in the evenings as the trail receives regular use. Additionally, just under a half-mile of the lighted paved walking trail circled the pond at the center of the 46 acre property, that segment being completed and dedicated in December 2016. The $88,735 project was completed both on time and under budget by Synergy Lighting, LLC. The city also recently completed the resurfacing of two baseball fields at the

park. The resurfacing project included removing the existing and deteriorating grass and topsoil, testing the soil, adding fresh topsoil, laser grading the fields for better drainage, raising and adjusting irrigation heads, laying new Tifway 419 Bermuda sod and top-dressing. With the fields resurfaced, they played host to a baseball tournament later in the month. The $72,030 project was finalized on time and under budget by World Sports Turf & Maintenance, LLC.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

PLANT CITY NOW HAS ITS FIRST CHICK-FIL-A IN TOWN MAJOR FOOD FRANCHISE MARKS ITS FLAG IN PLANT CITY

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

It’s located at 1101 Goldfinch Dr., off Thonotosassa Road, and in close proximity to Interstate-4 – making it a convenient spot. It’s also a newly-built structure that was once inhabited by a Plant City staple restaurant – Buddy Freddy’s. The building spans 4,777 square feet and outside has a multi-lane drive thru. Along with indoor dining, it will offer curbside pickup when ordering on the Chick-fil-A website or through its phone app. Orders can also be delivered through

Grubhub, Uber Eats, and DoorDash. What’s more, the local establishment has provided 160 job opportunities for the community. Dawn Redmon is the new owner and operator of Chick-fil-A Plant City. With a staff working together for the best service, she has already heard positive feedback from the public. “We’ve received an outpouring of support from the community and for that, we’re extremely grateful,” said Redmon. “I’m thrilled to serve Plant City [with] our great-tasting food, with our signature hospitality.” Tommy Warnock is a frequent patron at the new eatery and takes advantage of the

service when he can. His favorite order is the chicken tortilla soup and the 12-piece grilled chicken nuggets. “We’ve got a great attitude and appreciation for Chick-fil-A wherever they may be,” he said. Chick-fil-A has pledged free service for a year to 100 local heroes from Plant City High School, Tomlin Middle School, the Plant City Police Department, and South Florida Baptist Hospital. However, its charity work doesn’t end there. It will donate $25,000 to Feeding America, which will distribute the proceeds toward partners who combat hunger.

“This partnership allows us to give back to the direct communities of our restaurants, which is important to us, especially as we enter communities for the first time,” said Redmon. Over the years it has received numerous accolades for its service. With its recognized business model, Chick-fil-A may very well become the new hub for food service in Plant City.

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

PLANT CITY

This week on Cops Corner:

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigate shots fired at night, a stolen scent and an

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

altercation at a bar.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com istock

DEC. 10 NIGHT TERRORS 900 block of Loganderry Ln. Theft: Officers were dispatched to the listed location in response to a report of a theft that occured overnight. A SHOT IN THE DARK 100 block of W. Ball St. Shooting: Officers responded to the area around the listed location in regards to a report of gunshots being heard.

DEC. 11 G-UNSAFE 3700 block of Crystal Dew St. Vehicle burglary: Officers made contact with the victim who advised them that at some point during the previous night, an unknown suspect had opened his vehicle and his firearm was stolen from it.

FALSE ALARM 3700 block of Crystal Dew St. Vehicle Burglary: Officers made contact with a victim on the same block as the previous incident, being advised that an unknown suspect had entered his vehicle but nothing was taken.

DEC. 12

which led to the dispute becoming physical. The victim signed a waiver of prosecution and officers encouraged the bar’s employees to contact PCPD in the case of an incident and not have individuals who are not employees of the establishment act as bouncers.

DEC. 13 FOLLOW THE SCENT

A PRETTY LOW BAR 100 block of N. Palmer Dr. Simple battery: Officers responded to a bar at the listed location in reference to a physical altercation. Upon arrival, officers observed subjects actively involved in an altercation. The victim had been struck in the face by the suspect which caused swelling on the right side of the face. The victim, who does not work at the bar, stated that he told the suspect to leave and that he was not allowed to have any additional beer due to a previous dispute, then taking it upon himself to remove a beer from the suspect’s hand

300 block of Hickory St. Vehicle burglary: Contact was made with the victim who had entered his vehicle and discovered that his cologne had been stolen. NO ONE SAW IT COMING 2900 block of N. Franklin St. Burglary of an unoccupied structure: Officers responded to the residence at the listed location where the victim advised them that an unknown suspect had entered his unlocked shed and removed a 20 volt circular saw.

BAD DREAM 800 block of W. Warren St. Petit theft: Officers responded to the residence and met with the victim who alerted them that she had discovered that $60 had been stolen from her bedroom. BAD CELL SERVICE 100 block of W. Alexander St. Robbery: Officers responded to a Cricket Wireless store in reference to a robbery that had occurred.

DEC. 14 FIRST CLASS TICKET 2700 block of Pine Club Dr. Residential burglary: Officers responded to the listed location in reference to a residential burglary where the victim stated that raffle tickets and $270 in cash had been stolen from the residence.

Sports Writer / Taylor Jenkins tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com Staff Writer / Brian Fernandes bfernandes@plantcityobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

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Advertising / Richard Brame richard@plantcityobserver.com Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

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CITY COMMISSION EVENING AGENDA DETAILS OF PLANT CITY MEETING

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

Both teams had the opportunity to stand in front of the audience as Commissioner Mary Mathis presented each with his own pin and to take photos. Angelo Murray, the Colts president, stood before everyone and spoke on the teams’ effort to make it to the top. “This year kind of started out on shady ground,” said Murray. “We had a lot of obstacles in our way, but we pulled together.” He also took the time to acknowledge the parents, coaches and board members who’ve been supportive toward the youth. RETIREMENT

Lena McLemore, who is the current executive assistant to Plant City City Manager Bill McDaniel, is retiring from her post. For 24 years she has worked alongside McDaniel as he’s transitioned from one city department to the next. The city commission gave a proclamation for her years of service. “It was a pleasure to recognize all of those champions that were here in the room,” said McDaniel. “This lady right here is my champion.” She became emotional as she was commended for her work in the city. McDaniel continued stating, “Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure. You’ve meant the world to me, you always will. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better in the last 24 years.” McLemore’s last day will be on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31.

TRANSITIONING INTO A NEW ROLE

Jack Holland is leaving the city division that he’s been a part of for 45 years – the

Parks and Recreation Department, which he is current director of. He’s not retiring but taking on another city title – assistant city manager. “It’s bittersweet for me to step aside from Parks and Rec.,” he said. “I’m excited for this next step to help the city move forward in other areas.” The commission unanimously voted in favor of him taking on the new leadership role, passing approval by 5-0. CITY VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES

The commission granted City Manager McDaniel authorization to oversee any necessary purchases for vehicles or equipment for fiscal year 2022. Pricing and availability in the vehicle and equipment market is ever-changing. Manufacturers may produce items with a limited supply, and in some cases production stops abruptly. This in turn, increases buyer demands and competition. As a result, McDaniel will be able to take quick action when the city is in need of these resources. As it currently stands all small city equipment needed, has already been ordered. For larger equipment that exceeds $4,000, seven have been ordered out of 36. One out of 29 city vehicles have been ordered, while 12 police-vehicle orders have been stalled due to contract re-negotiations. Under marketing conditions, quotes are generally valid for 10 days and a unit can be sold before the quote expires. Also, dealers cannot quote units that aren’t in stock but can sell to the first buyer once units arrive.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

PROPERTY APPRAISERS AND PATCH PRAISES PLANT CITY WAS GIVEN A PRESENTATION BY COUNTY APPRAISER AND HOSPITAL AWARDED CHECK Plant City residents had the opportunity to hear from their Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Bob Henriquez, on Thursday, Dec. 9.He gave a presentation on the fluctuating market for various properties and how tax dollars play a pivotal role. It was the most recent luncheon hosted by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce at the Arthur Boring Civic Center. As an appraiser, Henriquez said, “our job is to determine the assessment or the value of all the properties in Hillsborough County. We report all that information to the taxing authorities.” He explained that there are approximately 520,000 properties in Hillsborough County, including residential, commercial, industrial and tangible. This year’s county tax roll has accumulated over $184 billion in just value – or market value. The vast majority of it comes from residential properties making up 57%. The overall property value in Hillsborough County has been rising steadily – anywhere from 6.5% to 10% since 2013. According to estimates, the COVID-19 pandemic has had little impact. Henriquez predicts that 2022 will see a historic high that could exceed a 10% increase in property value. January 1 is always the beginning of a new tax year when the appraiser assesses county-wide properties. For example, a house’s value is based on its current condition when inspected and by the value of the surrounding houses. Residential properties are physically inspected every four years and sales are inspected in the year they are sold. Commercial properties are analyzed based on the cost, market and income approaches. For tangible properties, the appraiser examines the returns submitted by the taxpayer.

The appraiser will report to the taxing authorities the assessed value plus any incentives such as a homestead exemption. Within Florida, this exemption allows up to a $50,000 deduction from the assessed value of a homeowner’s primary place of residency. It also limits an increase in assessed value to 3% or a change in the consumer price index (CPI) – whichever is less. The taxing authorities, in turn, factors all of that information when calculating the millage rates, ultimately determining what the proposed property taxes are. Then in August, the appraiser mails out the notice of proposed property taxes (trim notice) to property owners, explaining the value as well as the taxes that have been determined. Henriquez encourages property owners to carefully look through the notice in case they see any discrepancies with property value or taxes owed. “The reality of it is, it has literally everything that’s important that you should know as to what goes into your taxes,” he explained. If taxpayers object to what’s in the notice, they have a 25-day period to make an appeal to the Value Adjustment Board. However, discussing the matter with the property appraiser can help the owner have a better understanding of what’s calculated on the notice and they may potentially withdraw the appeal. Then in November, tax collectors mail out tax bills which are due by March. 30 of the following year. Another highlight at the luncheon was Plant City presenting a check donation to the South Florida Baptist Hospital Cancer Resource Center – A Place for Her. Read more online.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

SERVICING OTHERS ONE PUPPY AT A TIME PLANT CITY HOSTED A COURSE TEACHING CANINES TO BE GUIDE DOGS BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

The Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum was occupied by man’s furry friends during a dog training session on Saturday, Dec. 11. The morning program was hosted by the Southeastern Guide Dogs organization, with the mission of teaching canines to become service dogs. Eight labrador and golden retriever puppies were accompanied by their “puppy raisers” to take part in an hour-long exercise routine. Puppy raisers are everyday people who join the organization with the willingness to help train dogs at a young age. In turn, those dogs can provide service for the blind and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Christie Bane is a manager for puppy training and development at Southeastern Guide Dogs and was the instructor for that day. She noted that puppy raisers do the hard work because they work one-on-one with their dogs, to instill discipline. “We breed our own dogs, and they are mostly labrador retrievers, but we also crossbreed golden retrievers and labrador retrievers,” explained Bane. “Those are just the breeds that over time have proven to have a higher success rate for the kind of job we need them to do.” Kennedy Eliasen is a puppy raiser who works with Ben, a golden and labrador retriever mix.

Since she started training the 1-year-old, she has seen significant progression. “He’s improved so much since we started doing these classes,” said Eliasen. “One of his biggest struggles is being around other dogs, but going to places like this really helps him work through those challenges.” Based in Palmetto, Southeastern Guide Dogs began its mission in 1982. Since then, it has provided services throughout the country. It currently has over 1,200 dogs in its care and provides them to recipients free of charge -including lifetime follow-up services. These canines go through two years of training starting at birth and are entrusted within puppy raisers’ homes, Canine University as well as the organization’s Puppy Academy. As part of that training, the retrievers go through a relaxation protocol exercise. With this, puppies stay down for five seconds and are given a treat for doing so. The timing increases to 10 seconds. Then puppy raisers take one step back and return forward. If the puppies stay down, they are once again given a treat. Throughout the exercise, the puppy raisers will continue to make motions by either stepping backward, forward, side-to-side or clapping. The puppies are given a treat in between each motion, as a reward for remaining down during each. The concept is for the retrievers to remain calm and reserved while their owners are standing in one spot. They will

associate positivity with being stationery. Another exercise is getting the leashed puppies to continue walking, and not stopping, while their owners are still in motion. With this, markers such as orange cones, are lined down the path the puppy raisers are walking along. Each marker is set at a distance from the next and lets the owners know where to stop with their dogs. When the dogs stop at each marker, they are rewarded with a treat, and then are told “let’s go” when the owners are ready to resume walking. This is repeated at each marker. The command “let’s go” is an effective cue for dogs to continue walking after a treat. “That’s communicating to the dog, ‘okay, now we’re ready to go,’” said Bane. “Then it gets the dog in the habit of checking in with you as opposed to just going forward.” She added that if owners can get their dogs’ tails to wag during the exercise, then it can be done while giving them praise. Stating “good boy” or “good girl” can be an effective way to do so. There’s an exercise to help keep the dogs focused and moving forward, even when there’s one or more distractions present. Have a participant stand to the side of the walkway. When passing by, the puppies may naturally move toward that person who is calling out to them. When passing by the individual at the side, the raisers first give a verbal marker such

as “yes” that the puppies recognize. After that, puppies are given a treat. Then they’re praised with a “good boy” or “good girl” followed by a second treat. “Yes” is the keyword that the retrievers will automatically associate with something good. The praise then comes next, which the dogs will also associate with something positive. Tina Della is no stranger to these exercises as she works with her third and current training dog, Bravo. She takes the 1-year-old outdoors as often as possible so they can apply those techniques in public. While Della said it will be difficult parting ways with him, she understands it’s for a much greater purpose. “Once you see that dog matched with that person,” she said, “it’s really rewarding.”

For more information on the organization or to become a dog raiser, visit www.GuideDogs.org and by calling (800) 944-3647 or (941) 729-5665.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

FL residents scramble to get last Walking Liberty Rolls FLORIDA - Once Florida residents got wind that Florida State Restricted Bank Rolls filled with Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s were being handed over, there was a mad dash to get them. That’s because some of these U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins are already worth hundreds in collector value. “It’s like a run on the banks. The phones are ringing off the hook. That’s because everyone is trying to get them before they’re all gone,” according to officials at the National Mint and Treasury who say they can barely keep up with all the orders. In fact, they had to impose a strict limit of 4 Florida State Restricted Bank Rolls. So, if you get the chance to get your hands on these State Restricted Bank Rolls you better hurry because hundreds of Florida residents already have and you don’t want to miss out. You see, the U.S. Gov’t stopped minting

these Silver Walking Liberties in 1947 and there can never be any more which makes them extremely collectible. And here’s the best part. The rolls are unsearched so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value. That’s why at just the $39 state minimum set by National Mint and Treasury it’s a deal too good to pass up. But you better hurry because these Florida State Restricted Bank Rolls are the only ones known to exist and Florida residents are grabbing them up as fast as they can. That’s because they make amazing gifts for children, grandchildren and loved ones. Just imagine the look on their face when you hand them one of the State Restricted Rolls — they’ll tell everyone they know what you did for them.

■ GOT ‘EM: Residents all across Florida who get their hands on these State Restricted Silver Walking Liberty Bank Rolls are definitely showing them off. That’s because they are the only ones known to exist. And here’s the best part, these Bank Rolls are loaded with U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberty coins some dating back to the early 1900’s and worth up to 100 times their face value so everyone wants them.

Last State Restricted Silver Walking Liberty Bank Rolls go to Florida residents

Florida residents get first dibs on last remaining Bank Rolls loaded with U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value for the next 2 days STATE DISTRIBUTION: A strict limit of 4 State Restricted Bank Rolls per FL resident has been imposed

FLORIDA - “It’s a miracle these State Restricted Bank Rolls even exist. That’s why Hotline Operators are bracing for the flood of calls,” said Laura Lynne, U.S. Coin and Currency Director for the National Mint and Treasury. For the next 2 days the last remaining State of Florida Restricted Bank Rolls loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties are actually being handed over to Florida residents who call the State Toll-Free Hotlines listed in today’s newspaper publication. “National Mint and Treasury recently spoke with its Chief Professional Numismatist who said ‘Very few people have ever actually seen one of these rarely seen Silver Walking Liberties issued by the U.S. Gov’t back in the early 1900’s. But to actually find them sealed away in State Restricted Bank Rolls is like finding buried treasure. So anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Bank Rolls had better hold on to them,’” Lynne said. “Now that the State of Florida Restricted Bank Rolls are being offered up we won’t be surprised if thousands of Florida residents claim the maximum limit allowed of 4 Bank Rolls per resident before they’re all gone,” said Lynne. “That’s because after the Bank Rolls were loaded with 15 rarely seen Silver Walking Liberties, each verified to meet a minimum collector grade of very good or above, the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars sealed away inside the State of Florida Restricted Bank Rolls have never been searched. But, we do know that some of these coins date clear back to the early 1900’s and are worth up to 100 times their face value, so there is no telling what Florida residents will find until they sort through all the coins,” Lynne went on to say. And here’s the best part. If you are a resident of the state of Florida you cover only the $39 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, that’s fifteen rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties worth up to 100 times their face value for just $585 which is a real steal because non state residents must pay $118 per coin which totals $1,770 if any coins remain after the 2-day deadline. The only thing Florida residents need to do is call the State Toll-Free Hotlines printed in today’s newspaper publication before the 2-day order deadline ends. “Rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins like these are highly sought after, but we’ve never seen anything like this before. According to The Official Red Book, a Guide Book of United States Coins many Silver Walking Liberty Half Dollars are now worth $40 - $825 each in collector value,” Lynne said. “We’re guessing thousands of Florida residents will be taking the maximum limit of 4 Bank Rolls because they make such amazing gifts for any occasion for children, parents, grandparents, friends and loved ones,” Lynne continued. “We know the phones will be ringing off the hook. That’s why hundreds of Hotline Operators are standing by to answer the phones beginning at 8:30 am this morning. We’re going to do our best, but with just 2 days to answer all the calls it won’t be easy. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to answer them all.” Lynne said. The only thing readers of today’s newspaper publication need to do is make sure they are a resident of the state of Florida and call the National Toll-Free Hotlines before the 2-day deadline ends midnight tomorrow. ■

SILVER: one of the last silver coins minted for circulation

ENLARGED TO SHOW DETAIL: year varies 1916-1947

LAST REMAINING: minted in philadelphia, denver & san francisco

RARELY SEEN: minted by the u.s. mint in the early 1900’s

FACTS:

HOW TO CLAIM THE LAST STATE RESTRICTED BANK ROLLS

Are these Silver Walking Liberties worth more than other half dollars:

Yes. These U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Walking Liberties were minted in the early 1900’s and will never be minted again. That makes them extremely collectible. The vast majority of half dollars minted after 1970 have no silver content at all and these Walking Liberties were one of the last silver coins minted for circulation. That’s why many of them now command hundreds in collector value so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

How much are State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls worth:

It’s impossible to say, but some of these U.S Gov’t issued Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s are worth up to 100 times the face value and there are 15 in each Bank Roll so you better hurry if you want to get your hands on them. Collector values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do know they are the only Florida State Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and Walking Liberties are highly collectible so anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Silver Bank Rolls should hold onto them because there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday.

Why are so many Florida residents claiming them:

Because they are the only State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and everyone wants their share. Each Bank Roll contains a whopping 15 Silver Walking Liberties dating back to the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value. Best of all Florida residents are guaranteed to get them for the state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $39 per Silver Walking Liberty for the next two days.

How do I get the State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls:

Florida residents are authorized to claim up to the limit of 4 State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls by calling the State Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-979-3771 Ext. RWB3280 starting at precisely 8:30 am this morning. Everyone who does is getting the only State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Rolls known to exist. That’s a full Bank Roll containing 15 Silver Walking Liberties from the early 1900’s some worth up to 100 times their face value for just the state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $39 per Silver Walking Liberty, which is just $585 for the full Bank Rolls and that’s a real steal because non state residents are not permitted to call before 5 pm tomorrow and must pay $1,770 for each Florida State Restricted Walking Liberty Silver Bank Roll if any remain.

If you are a Florida State Resident read the important information below about claiming the State Silver Bank Rolls, then call the State Toll-Free Hotline at 8:30 am: 1-800-979-3771 EXT: RWB3280

NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. NATIONAL R1043R-5 MINT AND TREASURY, PO BOX 35609, CANTON, OH 44735 ©2021 NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

PLANT CITY NATIVE SHOWS OFF AWARD-WINNING PUP

Christy Layton’s Australian Shepherd, Vegas, was recently named National Finals Champion. Photos courtesy of Christy Layton

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

If you’ve ever stopped by the Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort here in Plant City, you may have met veterinarian Christy Layton. Earlier in the year, Layton’s Australian Shepherd Vegas qualified first in the nation for the 2021 Australian Shepherd Club of America Open Obedience CDX (Companion Dog Excellence) Finals, earning him his spot among 10 dogs that would be invited to the national competition in November. Once at Nationals in Bryan, Texas, Layton and Vegas’ run of success continued as he was named the 2021 ASCA National Specialty Open CDX National Finals Champion. Long before Layton’s role as chief of staff at Timberlane and before her relatively newfound love of showing dogs, however, a love of animals was born. When Layton

was 13 she received her first Appaloosa and began showing horses alongside her mother at 14. Layton continued to show Appaloosas until around 10 years ago, retiring from showing after winning multiple world classes with her last horse, a horse that she still has roaming around her pasture today. “I’m kind of a goal-setter, I always have been,” Layton said. “I think that showing horses all of my life always made me set goals, with my ultimate being to win the world show in a couple of classes. The last year, [my horse] ended up winning two world championships and two reserve championships so I took a step back and said, OK, what else am I going to do?” After taking some years off from showing, Layton eventually picked the sport back up again five years ago after her mother, but this time with Australian Shepherds. While she had shown some Aussies before — and

says that she has always had them in her life — she found herself without one when Vegas entered her life four years ago. “I think I missed the competition and I missed the camaraderie,” Layton said. “The Appaloosa world is a tight-knit family. All of us that showed Appaloosas together, I’m still friends with them and I’ve been out of it for 10 years now. It was a close family and I think I missed that, the competition, the closeness that you get with the animal when you’re training them. I think that, along with the fact that my mom was doing it. I also missed our weekends together and I think that all of that kind of led me back to showing dogs.” Layton now enjoys the pace of dog shows, not only working better with her busy schedule by offering closer and quicker

competitions that require less intense preparation and travel, but she also notes the bond that it allows her to develop with Vegas, a pet that she not only trains but can also sleep at the foot of her bed and head to work with her every day. In addition to Vegas’ championship performance, Layton’s mother showed her dog Josi at the national competition as well, finishing fourth.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

SPORTS

PCHS ESCAPES CLOSE CONTEST, REMAINS UNDEFEATED Plant City hosted Robinson last week, narrowly escaping with a win to keep their undefeated record intact.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

After moving to 7-0 in a nail-biting one-score game against local rival Durant the Friday before, the Plant City Raiders hosted Robinson High School last Friday and moved to 8-0 with another narrow 71-66 finish. After the opening tip, Plant City took control of the game early and built a 20-12 lead in a matter of minutes with a barrage of three pointers, hitting four in the game’s first seven minutes. Robinson answered back with a three of their own from freshman Marion Ward and a fast break layup from senior Myron Thomas, making it a three-point game at 20-17 with less than a minute left in the first quarter. With five seconds left in the first, Plant City turned possession over on the inbound and Ward threw up a half-court prayer as the buzzer sounded, hitting the incredible shot and leaving the game tied 20-20. Plant City dominated the second quarter, starting the period on a 7-0 run before eventually building a 38-23 lead, their largest lead of the contest, and it seemed as

though they would cruise to victory with a 15-point lead in hand. Robinson answered with another late bucket but the Raiders were able to take a 38-25 lead into halftime. Coming out of the break it was like a switch was flipped in the Robinson huddle. The Knights immediately opened the second on a 5-0 run with another three from Ward and a bucket on the next possession to make it a single-digit deficit. A putback layup from Plant City’s D.J. Haynes off a missed three put them back up 10, leading 40-30, but Robinson continued to chip away. Trailing 42-33, Robinson senior Joshua Walker drove the lane and hit the tough layup through contact, also drawing the foul. He converted his lone shot from the stripe and it was now just a six-point game. Robinson showed grit throughout the third quarter and seemingly had a response every time Plant City tried to regain their hold on the game. After outscoring the Raiders 21-13 in the third quarter, Robinson’s 13-point deficit had been shaved to just five as they headed into the fourth quarter trailing 51-46. Robinson opened the game’s final quarter the same way they had the quarter

before, with a three from Ward, and tied the game 51-51 on the next possession with a transition layup from Donovan Kelly. Plant City’s Damian Jones gave the Raiders their lead back on a tough layup, but Robinson answered with a bucket of their own. D.J. Haynes took the lead back with a pullup jumper on the next possession, but Robinson again answered with a free throw and a put back bucket after the second free throw clanged off the iron, giving the Knights their first lead of the game at 56-55. With under three minutes left and the Raiders still trailing 61-60, Jones chased down a loose ball to keep it in bounds, made an amazing play to dribble through the double team and drive the lane, ultimately converting on the layup through contact and putting Plant City up 62-61 with 2:32 left in the contest. Robinson tied the game with a free throw but the Raiders’ sophomore guard Mike Bell answered in a huge way with the biggest shot of the game, a corner three to put Plant City up 65-62 with 1:35 left. With under a minute left and the score the same, Robinson was forced to foul and Jones added two

more points at the line, extending the Raiders lead to five and giving them their largest lead since Robinson had battled back to tie it early in the fourth. Robinson cut the lead to three and had one last chance to tie it after two missed free throws from Plant City, but the Knights’ luck ran out as their final three point attempt wouldn’t fall and the Raiders escaped with the 71-66 victory, moving to 8-0 on the year. Jones led all scorers in the contest with 25 points, followed by Haynes with 19 and Bell with 8. Despite keeping their undefeated record alive on Friday, the Raiders dropped their first contest of the year on Saturday with a 66-57 loss at the hands of Wharton High School. Plant City will be back in action during the holiday break, kicking off tournament play in Fort Myers against Evangelical Christian on Monday, Dec. 27.

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

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

D.J. GORDON FORMER PLANT CITY LINEBACKER COMING HOME After three years at the University of Minnesota, Gordon transferred to USF. TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

A former three star recruit out of Plant City High School in the class of 2019, linebacker James “D.J.” Gordon IV originally committed to continuing his athletic and academic career at the University of Minnesota over other Power 5 offers from Kentucky, Miami and Florida State. Largely a special teams contributor, Gordon played sparingly over his three seasons with the Golden Gophers, totaling just 22 tackles, one tackle for loss and one interception in nine games on defense. And on Nov. 28 he announced on social media that he would be entering the transfer portal to continue his remaining years of eligibility at a new university. “During my time at Minnesota, I have learned valuable lessons that I will carry throughout my life,” Gordon said in his announcement. “Being a leader, being attentive and also handling adversity. All of these lessons have shaped me into who I am today.” For Jeff Scott — head coach at the University of South Florida — that announcement was all he needed to see. Scott wasted no time hopping on a plane headed north with the intention of luring Gordon back to the Tampa Bay Area. On Dec. 11, Gordon announced that he had indeed received an offer from USF and made a verbal commitment the following day. Despite a late push

from the University of Miami, Gordon officially signed with USF on Dec. 15. “I’m fired up,” Scott said in an interview during USF’s Early Signing Period last week. “As soon as [Gordon] entered the portal, I was on a plane to Minneapolis, Minnesota the very next day. I was up there eating wings with him and the restaurant where I met him for dinner one night was actually called Ray Jay’s. He’s from Plant City, right here in the area. He’s a big, strong, athletic guy who loves contact. He plays with great emotion and this was a big get for us. He got a call from [Miami] here in the past couple of days and chose not to pursue that offer and to sign with us instead. I think that he’s going to be a really big part of our defense here moving forward.” Gordon joins a 2022 recruiting class that prominantly features a staggering amount of transfers for USF, a class that currently sits at the top spot on 247Sports’ topranked 2022 Football Transfer Rankings and includes 12 of their 25 total signings coming by way of the transfer portal.

“He was a great player,” Plant City head coach James Booth said. “Extremely athletic, gifted beyond belief, great academics and a great leader, so when he left to go up to Minnesota I figured that it would be a great fit for him. It didn’t work out, he was looking for an opportunity to play and South Florida had spots available. They were targeting him pretty heavily and I’m excited for his family and I’m excited for the Plant City family to be able to go see him more often and hopefully he can bring back some more wins to South Florida.”

Despite spending three years at Minnesota, Gordon heads to USF with at least two years of eligibility remaining due to a redshirt season and a possible extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19.

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

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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Darlene Marie Rice Royal, 69, of Valrico, Fla., born in Miami on Oct. 25, 1952, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 3, 2021. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Nettie Jean Sloan Nettie Jean Sloan, 87, of Plant City, Florida, born on January 24, 1934, entered into eternal rest on December 16, 2021. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Richard Greene Richard Greene, 66, of Plant City, Fla., born in Dayton, Ohio on March 6, 1955, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 8, 2021. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Thelma Claire Holsberry Brock

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Michele Glass

Michele Glass passed away on Dec. 4, 2021, at age 52 due to extenuating circumstances and a heart condition. Michele celebrated over 25 years of marriage to Brad Glass who survives her along with her three daughters and two granddaughters. Originally from Pennsylvania, she enjoyed a blended life of country comforts and HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM family celebrations. She is preceded in death by her sister and best friend Hugh S. Stacey and her mother Kathy. Waldron, Sr. May shewe’re finddedicated peace intojoinhelping families create a HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM WE’R E PR OU D TO SERVE our community them. Funeral services memorial that truly unique and meaningful with personal, compassionate care since ing 1896. at Wells Hugh S. Waldron, Sr., 80, of celebrates theMemorial life it represents. As your Dignity Memorial professionals,were held in Plant City, Fla., on Saturday Plant City, Fla., born in Stark Betty Miley > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Dec. 11, 2021. on Aug. 28, 1941, entered into > The Compassion Helpline® > Bereavement Travel Assistance Fond memories and expreseternal rest on Dec. 18, 2021. HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM sions of sympathy may be Expressions of condolence Betty Miley, 87, of Plant shared at www.WellsMemoat HopewellFuneral.com City, Fla. passed away on Proudly supporting therial.com Plant City Festival. for Strawberry the Glass family. Dec. 16, 2021. Funeral services were held Dec. 20, 2021 at Mt. Zion Assembly of God. HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM 3005 Thonotosassa Rd, Plant City, FL 33565. In lieu WELLSMEMORIAL.COM of flowers contributions can be made to Lifepath Hospice Melech House. Wells MeMorial & event Center Online condolences may PlanT CiTy be left for the family at www. 813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com haught.care.

Leo F. Houck, 82, of Plant City, Fla., born in Mayo on July 2, 1939, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 15, 2021. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Myron Louis Weeks, 89, of Tampa, Fla., passed away Thelma Claire Holsberry on Dec. 20, 2021. Myron was Brock, born Sept. 26,1929 a retired SSGT with United passed away in Lakeland, Florida on Dec. 12, 2021. Fu- States Air Force. The family neral services were held Dec. will receive friends Dec. 27, 2021, from 10 to 11 a.m. at 22, 2021 at Haught Funeral Haught Funeral Home ChaHome 708 West Dr. Martin pel, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther Luther King Jr. Blvd Plant King Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL City Florida 33563. 33563. Funeral services will Online condolences may follow at 11 a.m. be left at haught.care. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

BEST BET THURSDAY, DEC. 23 CHRISTMAS IS NEAR

5 to 9 p.m. at 303 Lemon St. This free event promises non-stop fun with a number of Christmas-themed amenities. Held at the Strawberry Festival Grounds Wish Farms Sound Stage, kids will have a youth zone to keep them occupied, plus a chance to take photos from 5 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., attendees will also be entertained with live performances by Kenzie Wheeler and Rekindled Bluegrass. And to round off the night at 7:30 p.m., there will be a Christmas concert as well as a candlelight service. Parking Entrances are off of Oak St. and Reynolds Ave.

TUESDAY, JAN. 4 SQUARE DANCING LESSONS

SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH ESTRANGED FAMILIES

6:30 to 8 p.m. at 4401 Promenade Blvd. Head down to the Strawberry Square Dance Center in January to kick off the new year with Modern Western Square Dancing Lessons. The event offers great physical and mental exercise, all through a fun social activity. The first lesson is free and any following lessons will cost $7 per person per lesson, with children from eight to 18 admitted free with parents. For more information or to register, call 860-9419841 or 813-723-0941.

6:30 to 8 p.m. at GracePoint Church, 1107 Charlie Griffin Rd. Join other parents who are estranged from their adult children. PEAK (Parents of Estranged Adult Kids) group provides a safe place to listen, share and support others going through the hurt of adult family abandonment. Meetings will include group discussions, self-care and positively-influenced activities to help cope with the situation. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. For more information, visit www.peaksupportgroup.com.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 5

SUNSET SOUNDS

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 benefits please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-706-5800 to set a specific time.

6 to 8 p.m. at 5202 Thonotosassa Rd. Sunset Sounds is a summer music series featuring acoustic music from local artists. Head over to Keel & Curley Winery every Wednesday evening to enjoy music, food, drinks and sunshine on their patio.

THURSDAY, JAN. 6 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.The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/PlantCityToastmasters.

BLUEGRASS NIGHT

7 to 8:30 at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Krazy Kup will hold a very special Bluegrass Night to kick off the new year, welcoming three award-winning, Grammy-nominated artists in Richard Bennett, Shawn Lane and Cory Walker to the Loft. Bennett, a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for JD Crowe and the New South Flashback Band, is a two-time Grammy-nominated artist. Lane, a long-time mandolin and fiddle player, vocalist and songwriter for Blue Highway, has garnered 22 IBMA awards and three Grammy nominations. Walker, of The Walker Brothers, has played alongside several major Bluegrass acts in addition to being named the IBMA Momentum Banjo Player of the Year. Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased on-site or online at www.eventbrite.com.

MLK Parade, the Battle of the Bands, Unity Night, the MLK Health Fair and more – visit www.plantcitymlkfestival.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 8 BEGINNING WALTZ LESSONS

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 4401 Promenade Blvd. Head down to the Strawberry Square Dance Center this January for beginning waltz lessons. The event provides a fun way to get out and exercise, in addition to making some new friends. Beginning waltz lessons will take place every Saturday throughout January, February and March. The first lesson is free and all following lessons will cost $7 per person per lesson. For more information or to register, text or call Cindy at 864-723-6965.

FRIDAY, JAN. 7

SATURDAY, JAN. 15

MLK FEST OPENING CEREMONY

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1601 E, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. The 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Arts Festival will kick off on Jan. 7 at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. The opening ceremony will start an 11-day run of events associated with the Cultural Festival. Additionally, Plant City’s African American Historic Trail will begin on Jan. 7 and run through Jan 17, a selfie tour through 28 historic structures, places and parks affiliated with African American History. For more information on the opening ceremony or any of the Festival’s other events – including the

3 to 6:30 at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Classic Cruise-In is back on Saturday, Jan. 15, rain or shine. Cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1996 can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music will be provided by DJ John Paul Gasca.

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FORECAST

Send your photo submissions to staff writer Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

THURSDAY, DEC 23 High: 69 Low: 46 Chance of rain: 5%

FRIDAY, DEC 24 High: 74 Low: 50 Chance of rain: 7%

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Dec 23

7:16a

5:38p

Friday, Dec 24

7:16a

5:39p

Saturday, Dec 25

7:17a

5:39p

Sunday, Dec 26

7:18a

5:40p

Monday, Dec 27

7:18a

5:40p

Tuesday, Dec28

7:18a

5:41p

Wednesday, Dec 29

7:18a

5:42p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, DEC 25 High: 77 Low: 57 Chance of rain: 7%

SUNDAY, DEC 26 High: 79 Low: 57 Chance of rain: 8%

MONDAY, DEC 27 Jim Flemister snapped this photo of a sunset over Plant City.

ONLINE

High: 81 Low: 60 Chance of rain: 8%

Across 1 Swedish pop group with the hit “Chiquitita” 5 Top dog 10 Trojan War hero 14 Stroller, in Sheffield 15 Give up, informally 16 Serenity “before the storm” 17 Foamy tubful for unwinding 19 Excessive publicity 20 Needlelike engraving tools 21 Mae __, first Black woman in space 23 Airer of Tyler Perry’s “The Oval”

24 Harmonic 25 “Last Week Tonight” network 27 Lumber on a diamond 33 Deli sandwich, initially 34 Nobelist Wiesel 35 Use the exit 36 On the __: quarreling 38 Inn offering a morning meal, briefly ... or a hint to six puzzle answers 41 Whole heap 42 Turns to soup, as ice cream 44 Mystical vibe 46 Jest 47 Bryan Cranston crime drama

50 Investigative journalist Nellie 51 “Check it out for yourself!” 52 Bird in Liberty Mutual ads 54 Ali of “Love Story” 57 Artist’s board 61 Loafing around 62 Fish-and-chips coating 64 Old Russian ruler 65 Hosp. trauma pro 66 Caramel-filled candy 67 Shift and Tab 68 Praises highly 69 Small bills

Down 1 Police dept. alerts 2 Very dry, as Champagne 3 Infant’s source of nourishment 4 Easygoing pace 5 Help a robber, say 6 Experiment sites 7 Links org. 8 Assassin’s assignment 9 Greek goddess of wisdom 10 Trojan War hero 11 Blue birds 12 Purina rival 13 Marvel-ous heroes? 18 Do not disturb 22 Retail complex 24 Like many first-time workers 25 Cold War threat 26 Clearer, as a sky 28 Priest’s robe 29 One-named “Chandelier” singer 30 Icon with a left-facing arrow 31 Be of use to 32 Bear in a kid’s bed 37 Walks drunkenly 39 Name, as a knight 40 Bikini top 43 Toffee candy bar 45 Journalist __ Rogers St. Johns 48 Author Allende 49 Period “ushered in” 53 Paris subway 54 Rocking Jagger 55 Axlike tool 56 Potter’s material 57 Jab 58 Elementary lesson 59 Marketing prefix 60 Greek matchmaker 63 Tulane URL ending

Jan. 2 New

Jan. 7 First

Jan. 17 Full

Dec. 26 Last

RAINFALL LAST WEEK:

MONTH TO DATE:

0.41 in.

0.42 in.

YEAR TO DATE:

DEC. AVERAGE:

51.03 in.

2.66 in.

STRAWBERRIES Shipping point: Central Florida $14.90-$20.90

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

Don’t let fear stop you from getting the care you need. Don’t delay getting essential medical care. We’ve put enhanced safety measures in place to help keep you safe. COVID-19 has stopped people from doing many things. But we can’t let it stop us from getting what we need most: medical care. BayCare is helping to keep our patients safe by following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for safety processes and cleaning procedures. This makes sure that everyone can feel secure getting the care they need. Don’t let fear of this pandemic make other health conditions worse. Learn more about how we’re keeping you safe: BayCare.org/Safety

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