3.29.18 PCTO by Plant City Observer

PLANT CITY

bserver

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOLUME 5, NO. 39

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

A PAN-TASTIC

VENTURE A new Williams-Sonoma distribution center is coming to Plant City. SEE PAGE 2.

YOUR TOWN Hope Lutheran supports YMCA

Colleen McCormack will be back on American Ninja Warrior. See Page 8

JROTC students pursuing greatness

Breanne Williams

Return of the shack

Students at Plant City High School are on their way to the state JROTC contest. Though it demands long hours, the students all say the program has changed their lives. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Students at Plant City High School are once again proving their preeminence as members of the JROTC program conquered at their area drill meet and began

preparations for the state competition on April 7. This is not the first time PCHS has represented at the state competition, nor will it be the last, according to Lisveth Trejo, the commander of the color guard. SEE JROTC PAGE 3

Early Sunday morning members of Hope Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Park Rd, presented a check for $1500.00 to Zach Hilferding, Executive Director of the Plant City YMCA. Hope Lutheran frequently gives a portion of the proceeds from its annual Turkey Supper and its Hot Boiled Peanut booth at the Florida Strawberry Festival to the YMCA for its ongoing programs for youth and families in the area. Hilferding also took the opportunity to present Rev. Dean Pfeffer a plaque for the congregation as an expression of the Y’s thanks for Hope’s continued support.

Linda’s Crab Shack, located downtown at 202 E. Reynolds St., held its grand reopening and 25th anniversary celebration on March 24. Guests were invited to check out the renovations and enjoy the patio, which now features outside dining. There was live music from Gary Keeler from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Breanne Williams

Carlos Moreno and Adamaris Mendoza crafted an entire routine in three days before the area competition.

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

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Williams-Sonoma makes home in PC

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FLORIDA STRAWBERRY GROWERS ASSOCIATION 174990

The prominent company is establishing its new distribution center in PC. BREANNE WILLIAMS

813.752.6822

STAFF WRITER

The 53,000-square foot building at the Central Florida Commerce Center, 1855 S. County Line Road, has a well-known new tenant. Williams-Sonoma, a retail company that sells kitchenwares and home furnishings, is moving in and will distribute products throughout the state of Florida to their stores and to customers. The prominent brand’s subsidiaries include Pottery Barn, West Elm, Rejuvenation and more. Jeff Lucas, secretary and treasurer of the Plant City Economic Development Corporation, has been working toward developing businesses along Florida’s I-4 corridor. He said the addition of the branch fits perfectly into Plant City’s long-term goals, as the city is ideally situated for logistics operations and manufacturing businesses. The proximity to Tampa and Orlando, its deep labor pool and pro-business

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city leadership will continue to draw high profile businesses to the area. “They’re here because of the location, our location in the center of the state,” Lucas said. “In the middle of the state, they can reach all of Florida very easily. The city’s presence, it’s atmosphere and the available building that they needed just made it a perfect fit.” Though Williams-Sonoma is a notable brand, Lucas said the addition of the new center will not impact traffic for the community. Its proximity to the interstate and location on County Line Road means traffic will go directly from the interstate to the branch with little to no interaction on other roads. The center will officially open July 1 and is expected to offer approximately 15 jobs to the local community. The lease was signed for the new center “a couple weeks ago” and the permit was submitted and approved last week. “I think it’s good to have a Williams-Sonoma brand, as well as other businesses, open up in the city,” Lucas said. “It provides jobs for local residents and brings prosperity to the community.”

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“I think it’s good to have a Williams-Sonoma brand, as well as other businesses, open up in the city. It provides jobs for local residents and brings prosperity to the community.” — Jeff Lucas, Secretary and Treasurer of the Plant City Economic Development Corporation

P R O P E R T Y M A N AG E M E N T C O M M E R C I A L R E N TA L S R E S I D E N T I A L R E N TA L S

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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JROTC

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

SPONSORED BY HOPEWELL FUNERAL HOME

Courtesy of Martin Soto

PCHS’s JROTC Color Guard won second place at the area drill meet and advanced to the April 7 state competition.

they had a winning routine. Her intuition proved to be correct as the they were awarded second place and sent on to states. “With everything we do, we do it together,” Trejo said. “If we fail together, we fail together. If we win together, we win together. We’re a team through it all.” The dual exhibition team also paved the way to state, though its routine was far more spontaneous than the color guard’s. As the competition drew near, Mendoza decided three days in advance that they wanted to enter the contest. She and her teammate, Carlos Moreno, had been tossing the rifles back and forth and realized they had a chance at qualifying. After intense cramming, Mendoza, crafted a routine she hoped would wow the judges. Right before the competition, however, she was hit with a wave of doubt. Though it was merely hours until they performed, she and Moreno revamped their entire routine. “There were so many bruises and lots of scratches and blood,” Mendoza said. “We use ninepound rifles and it can get a bit rough. We both had other events to worry about, so we just threw

everything we had into the routine. I had made some jokes about making it to state, but Carlos really believed we could. He was definitely the optimist.” The camaraderie boosts selfconfidence in the young students and Madison Moua, a member of color guard, said it was the reason she came out of her shell. “Freshman year, I was silent and never talked until I took a leadership position,” Moua said. “I thought JROTC was only about a career in the military, but it’s not. It’s based on being a citizen and teaching students to be the best person they can.” Trejo said several of her fellow students have quit or rescheduled their jobs so that they can dedicate more time to the program, which she said is a testament to its influence. “We do things in JROTC that students don’t normally do, but people don’t know that,” Trejo said. “We listen to our superiors, some who are also our friends. We are becoming better people through this program and because our building is so secluded from the rest of the school, sometimes I think people really don’t see that.”

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She said, at PCHS, they refuse to settle for a good routine or an average performance. If they’re going to compete they will give it everything they have. It’s simply who they are. “We had been practicing every day for at least two hours before Spring Break,” Trejo said. “What’s important to remember is all of us are involved in some way on another JROTC team. We divided time with color guard and other things.” Though the students all originally walked through the doors for different reasons, they found a home in the JROTC community. Giving up hours of their time each week is hardly a sacrifice as the teams practice in hopes of perfecting their skills. When the big day came, the color guard members didn’t even have a moment to run through their routine before they had to perform. Because they were all on other teams, they had to rely on their weeks of practice to give the judges a practically perfect run. Abigail Holcomb, a member of color guard, and Adamaris Mendoza, a color guard member and the commander of the dual exhibition team, said the heavy winds on the day of the competition added another layer of pressure to the performance. “We could see our veins popping out of our arms as we fought to not let the wind ruin the routine,” Mandoza said. “Our team was there cheering us on.” Trejo said when they first stepped into their box, she knew

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

Tackling threats to schools

YOU ARE INVITED to share

Community members took part in an open dialogue about the threats facing schools and how best to respond in times of emergency. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Presented by The Sanctuary Choir & Drama Cast Of Lone Oak Baptist Church 3505 W. Lone Oak Road Plant City, Florida 813-754-5278 March 30, 2018 @ 7:00 PM and April 1, 2018 @ 6:00 PM

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Easter Sunrise Service 7:30 AM

Holy Week Worship Schedule

As hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the country on March 24 for the March for Our Lives demonstrations, local community members attended a conversation at Plant City High regarding guns and threats in schools. Held by the Improvement League of Plant City and Safe and Sound Hillsborough, the event aimed at creating an educational dialogue between community members, educators and law enforcement. “We don’t know how to respond when threats are made or things happen at our schools,” Danny McIntyre, chairman of economic development for the Improvement League and PCHS’s girls basketball coach, said. “Today is about learning the best way to react and how to keep our students safe.” Representatives from the Public Defenders Office, the State Attorney’s Office, Plant City Police Department, Plant City High School and the Hillsborough County School Board were all in attendance to answer questions and discuss procedures in place in the event of an emergency. McIntyre explained there are

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I know that my Redeemer lives! Job 19:25

multiple levels of responses to threats in schools ranging from access control to a lockdown. In normal school hours, routine protocol includes limiting access points on campuses and directing visitors through main entrances. During emergencies, that protocol changes. Lock-ins occur when there is a threat nearby. but not on campus. Students and staff are secured on campus until the local area is secure. Lockouts occur when there is a non-active threat on campus. Students and staff are removed from campus to control what is happening on site. A lockdown is the most restrictive response to a crisis. If there is imminent danger, the students are told by administrators how to respond — hide, lock the doors, quiet cell phones — the threat is triaged and could then be deescalated to a lockout or lock-in. Evacuations are also sometimes used as a response. Often, the students are simply moved away from the buildings, like in the case of a fire, while other times they are sent to their designated off-campus locations. For PCHS, this would be Plant City Church of God. In a small town, it doesn’t take long for the public to know when a threat has occurred. However, Susan Sullivan, principal at PCHS,

MARCH

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Freddy Barton, Executive Director of Safe & Sound Hillsborough, said schools had policies in place to help combat bullying, but any student who felt their voice wasn’t being heard should reach out to his group. The Improvement League and Safe and Sound plan to make these meetings a regular occurrence so communication between community members and those involved can continue to blossom. The consensus among those in attendance was simple: times are changing. Just days prior, Barton had been at a meeting with a group of youths. He jokingly complained about his weekend and how taxing it had been. When he asked what they did, one 17-yearold girl looked him straight in the eyes and said: “I got shot.” “There were 24 youths there and they didn’t think anything of it,” Barton said. “They were so straight-faced. I couldn’t move on but they were so desensitized to violence. She was shot at her school. We have got to, as a community, realize that times have changed and we have to change along with them. Otherwise, the generation following ours will be completely lost.”

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said immediately attempting to remove your child from school, constantly calling the student or the school or telling the student to leave campus could cause more harm than good. “As a principal, my first priority is keeping my kids safe,” Sullivan said. “If there’s an emergency, my first response is not to pick up the phone to call parents. It’s to handle the threat and act in response to keeping the kids, their parents and the community safe.” Several of the parents in attendance brought up bullying in schools and how it often instigated threats. They questioned how schools were responding to the issue and talked about the best way to handle it at home. “It used to be you told kids to stand up for themselves,” Darbi Vanderford said. “Now your kid hits them and they pull a gun. Kids are scared of the repercussions from peers both in person and on social media, so they don’t talk about it.” Her son, Dalton Vanderford, spoke on the harassment he has undergone while at school. He participated in the March for Our Lives rally at PCHS and said he felt there was lack of support from administration.

EASTER WORSHIP SERVICE 10:45 am Hopewell Baptist Church

6001 CR 39 South Plant City, Fl 33567

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CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The Greater St. Luke MB Church

Located at 108 South Warnell Street, Plant City, will be celebrating its Centennial Anniversary throughout the month of April 2018. Scheduled worship services and activities are listed below. Please call the Church office at 813-754-4992 for additional information.

Tuesday, April 3 6:30 p.m. Worship Service

Rev. Dr. Shafter E. Scott and St. Mary MB Church, Plant City

Tuesday, April 10 7:00 p.m. Worship Service

Rev. Jimmie D. Howard, Sr. and Mt. Olive AME Church, Plant City

Saturday, April 14 6:30 p.m. Gospel Extravaganza

Evangelist Anita Cooper-Williams, Progressive Church of God in Christ, Plant City Various soloists and choral groups

Sunday, April 15 . 11:00 a.m. Worship Service

Saturday, April 21 6:30 p.m. Centennial Anniversary Banquet Guest Speaker: Rev. Joseph A. Sykes, Pastor, Macedonia MB Church, Tampa

Sunday, April 22 11:00 a.m. Worship Service

Pastor Michael Howliet, Pastor, God’s House of Worship, Jacksonville

Tuesday, April 24 6:30 p.m. Worship Service

Rev. Dr. Antonio Wilkerson and Mt. Olive MB Church, Plant City

Saturday, April 28 10 a.m. Youth Activities Sunday, April 29 Worship Service 3:30 p.m. Elder Larry D. Sykes, Pastor

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Rev. T. D. Leonard and Mt. Tabor MB Church, Tampa

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Evangelist Mary Washington, The Pentecostal Church of God, Plant City

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

SOUND OF MELODIES Praise in the Park is a diverse Christian worship experience in downtown Plant City. It will feature a variety of genres of live music ranging from Christian rap to contemporary worship.

Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek

“Road to Serfdom,” 1944

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major CMajor@yourobserver.com Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Nearly two weeks after thousands in Plant City will gather to celebrate Easter at their individual churches, Frank Trunzo hopes to unite them downtown in an evening of worship. Praise in the Park was dreamed up years ago by Trunzo, owner of Krazy Kup, when he and his wife first opened the doors of their now award-winning coffee shop. The shop regularly holds Christian Music Nights and Trunzo said while at first it was a slow build, now the music loft is packed every week. It was time to see his dream come to fruition. “It was serendipitous,” Trunzo said. “Railfest is that morning in downtown and I am emceeing and doing auctioning there. Then when it wraps up it will transition into Praise in the Park. People can come and have a full day in Plant City. Plus, it’s my birthday and I truly cannot think of a better way to celebrate it.” The event will feature 10 handselected bands, many of whom Trunzo developed relationships with over the years due to his weekly music nights. Regardless of musical preference, Praise in the Park will feature something for everyone. There will be Christian rap and rock, traditional gospel, contemporary worship and more. Trunzo said it was his goal to have a mix of genres and ethnicities performing on stage so that it would accurately represent the community. Praise in the Park is centered around being a perfect family outing. There will be fresh strawberries, a stilt walker, balloon artists, a face painter, a bounce house, a puppet show, food trucks and more. Churches are invited to set

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Advertising / Chandler Workman CWorkman@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising / Al Berry Al@InTheFieldMagazine.com

Courtesy of Krazy Kup

“From Ashes” is one of the Christian bands performing in the inaugural Praise in the Park event, to be held in downtown Plant City on April 14.

up tables at the event on a firstcome, first-serve basis so the community can get to know its Christian spiritual leaders. Trunzo said the community rallied together to help him pull off the feat. He said it was almost “effortless” to get sponsors on board. Everyone from Mayor Rick Lott to Wish Farms agreed to get behind the event, which will benefit the Pregnancy Care Center of Plant City. “I’m not sure that anyone was waiting for this event. It’s more like it arrived and everyone said ‘I’m getting on that train,’” Trunzo said. “It’s a good cause and the response has been incredible. Next year we may make it a two day event and get another 10 bands to join.” The majority of the bands will be playing at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum in downtown Plant City, however, the final act, the Descendants, will bring the party full circle back to Krazy Kup’s loft. Trunzo said that will help ensure the festivities don’t stop regardless of Florida’s temperamental weather. Though Krazy Kup has held many events over the years, this is the first of its caliber to be hosted by the Trunzos. Praise in the Park is shepherding in a new era of community involvement for Plant

City’s hometown coffee shop. Trunzo said for years they have “been throwing softballs,” but now they’re ready to help draw more attention to downtown. Soon, Krazy Kup will feature a lip-sync battle, themed trivia nights, bluegrass nights, black-and-white movie nights, a steampunk night and more. By partnering with other groups and organizations, Trunzo said Krazy Kup will hopefully become a center of synergy and a destination for events in downtown. Other businesses are also getting on board with the movement to revitalize downtown and Trunzo said there is a “sweetness” about the different business owners that is spearheading the successful cooperations. “I’ve come to a place in my life that we, my wife Wenda and I, want to do something that is meaningful, something that is meaningful to others,” Trunzo said. “We share the idea of doing not just what benefits us but what is beneficial to others. We want to do things that last, things that have an impact on our community.”

All to the Top, Inc.

PRAISE IN THE PARK When: April 14 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Where: Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum and Krazy Kup’s loft SCHEDULE Valley’s End: 3 p.m. Bound No More: 4 p.m. Ray & the Joshua Generation: 5 p.m. Make it ’til Morning: 6 p.m. FBCPC Praise Band: 7 p.m. Dark Horse: 8 p.m. The Descendants: 8:30 p.m. Martyr-X: In between sets The Word: In between sets

The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

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1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103 Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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COPS CORNER

FUSSY FIEND Multiple locations. Vehicle burglary: Complainants at three locations stated an unknown suspect entered their vehicles, rummaged through them and did not take anything. The vehicles were located at the 110 block of East J. Arden Mays Boulevard, the 110 block of South Collins Street and the 100 block of East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

Commission takes first step toward potential property development

MARCH 16

COLD CAR, COLDER HEART 700 block of East Ohio Street. Vehicle burglary: Complainant stated unknown suspect(s) entered her vehicle and stole its keys and a backpack. Complainant had turned the vehicle on to run the heater at 5:20 a.m., then went inside to eat breakfast and brush her teeth while it warmed up. The vehicle was entered during this time.

City commissioners unanimously voted to take the first step in potentially developing nearly 163 acres of land on West Johnson Road. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

City commissioners unanimously voted Monday evening to send a plan amendment regarding nearly 163 acres of land on West Johnson Road to the Department of Economic Opportunity for review. If the DEO positively reviews the amendment, the city commissioners will determine if they will hold a public forum before voting on whether to alter the land to include more development. The land parcel is between Walden Lake and James L. Redman Parkway, where First Baptist Church of Plant City has recently undergone major construction for its new facilities. While it is too soon to tell what the specifics

MARCH 17

SOMETHING STINKS 2430 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Retail theft: Complainant stated unknown suspect(s) stole clothing and several Little Trees air fresheners from a dollar store.

of the proposed plan would look like, approval could increase the land parcel from having approximately 160 homes to nearly 650 dwellings. Currently, the area is mostly being used for agriculture purposes and has single farm homes. In the preliminary analysis, it was found local schools like Trapnell Elementary do not currently have enough room for the potential increase of students that could move into the developed area. The DEO will present its comment in approximately 30 days and a decision is estimated to be made by the end of May or the beginning of June. Schools are not the only things that will be affected by the development. A cursory traffic analysis provided by the Hillsborough

County Planning Commission and Transportation staff found the increase in homes would cause an increase in traffic, which would impact a roadway that is at capacity, like Trapnell Road. Two in attendance voiced their concerns regarding the project. “My daughter attended Springhead and Trapnell and both are already at capacity,” Sheryll Broadnax said. “To bring another 600-plus homes into that small, tight-knit area, I really think the commission needs to address the educational process.” While this vote does not determine the final fate of the property, commissioners said future steps would include working with local agencies, including the schools, to figure out how to accommodate the large increase in homes. “It’s an extensive process,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “All deficiencies would have to be dealt with.”

LOCATED AT 1205 S. Alexander Street Plant City, FL 33563 813-759-2800 NOTICE OF SALE

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In accordance with the provisions of State Law there being due and unpaid charges for which the undersigned is entitled to satisfy and owner and/ or manager’s lien of goods hereinafter described and stored at: Rentlok Self Storage located at 1205 S. Alexander St., Plant City, FL 33563, 813-759-2800. And due notice having been given, to the owner of said property and all parties know to claim an interest therein, and the time specified in such notice for payment of such having expired, the goods will be sold at public auction at the above stated locations to the highest bidder or otherwise disposed of on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018 @ 9:30 A.M. OR ANY DATE THERE IN AFTER. Elibel Jean-Household

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MARCH 29, 2018

HIGH

SPORTS

Jordan Wiggins was named MVP of the March 23 Jack Rice Invitational. SEE PAGE 9

5 PLANT CITY’S NINJA

Courtesy of Billy Teeden

Plant City High seniors Matt Simpson and Triston Evans represented the Raiders in the March 22 TBBCA All-Star Game at Tampa Prep and helped the East team pick up a 115-114 win. Evans was named the East team’s MVP for his efforts. Simpson also played in the March 24 FACA All-Star game at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.

WARRIOR Colleen McCormack will compete in Season 10 of the sports entertainment TV show in April. JUSTIN KLINE

The March 23 Jack Ryan Invitational at East Bay High was a success for Plant City’s track and field teams, with the boys winning first place and the girls placing second. Jordan Wiggins was named MVP of the meet. Durant’s boys placed fifth overall and the girls placed sixth, and Strawberry Crest’s boys placed sixth while the girls placed fifth.

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

In the Federal Division Western Conference track meet at Spoto on Tuesday, Plant City’s boys placed second overall and the girls placed fourth. Durant’s boys and girls teams both placed ninth overall.

Durant’s softball team put together a monster performance at Hillsborough on Monday night, beating the Terriers 20-0 in five innings with 11 hits and nine walks. Sophomore Jordan Noble had an extremely efficient game, smacking a home run with her only hit of the night, drawing walks in her three other plate appearances and finishing with three RBI.

The Plant City High boys soccer team is about to get another trophy for its historic state championship win. The team will be presented with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy, associated with the MaxPreps Tour of Champions, at the school’s gymnasium at 1:45 p.m. this afternoon. Plant City finished the 2017-18 season as the 10th-ranked team in the country on MaxPreps.com, which accounts for more than 16,000 boys teams.

Photos by Justin Kline

From top to bottom: Rock wall climbing, peg board training, ring work and hanging core exercises help Colleen McCormack stay strong and ready for any American Ninja Warrior obstacle course.

When most people watch American Ninja Warrior on TV, they see the obstacle course for what it is: America’s craziest playground. Colleen McCormack doesn’t. Instead, she sees it as a metaphor for life. McCormack, a Plant City resident, knows it better than most. She’s preparing to compete on the show for a third consecutive season in mid-April when she’ll travel to a regional competition in Miami that will be televised nationally in May. There, as usual, she’ll aim to complete two goals: win the event and inspire viewers to chase their own dreams. “I’m just a normal person,” she said. “I’ve been through some really rough things that most people don’t ever have to go through. Here I am, dreaming big, and you can do it.” A longtime fitness enthusiast, McCormack was introduced to the show in 2014 and got hooked right away. She found inspiration in Kacy Catanzaro, who made history that year by becoming the first woman to climb the warped wall and complete city qualifying and finals courses. “That opened the door for women to be like, ‘Wow, we can actually do this. Let’s do this,’” McCormack said. McCormack completed the show’s application process and trained for eight months with the goal of appearing on the show in 2015. While the fitness portion seemed straightforward enough — you must prove you’re physically strong and able to compete — the producers also wanted some backstory in a three-minute video. She said they tend to look for both inspirational stories and “regular,” working-class folks. She checks both boxes. When she’s not training, McCormack holds down two jobs as a server and a bartender, and much of her

surplus income is devoted to saving for American Ninja Warrior events, training and maintaining a healthy diet. Aside from being inspired by Catanzaro’s 2014 runs, she’s endured several personal tragedies. “In a nutshell, I lost my mother to MS when I was a teenager,” McCormack said. “When I was 27, my dad became permanently handicapped with a memory disorder due to alcoholism. I’ve certainly had my fair share of obstacles.” For McCormack, overcoming the obstacles on the American Ninja Warrior course is just like overcoming the obstacles in her childhood and adult life. That keeps her motivated every time she sets foot on a course or even at her home gym, Evolution Dynamic Fitness in Valrico. “The obstacles on the show represent overcoming obstacles in life, so that, paired with watching (Catanzaro) conquer this course, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m meant to do this.’” Though she barely missed out on the 2015 TV tapings, even after waiting a week in the show’s walkon line and getting a chance to run the course off-camera, McCormack persisted in the gyms and got the casting call for the show’s eighth season in 2016. She made it to that show’s second obstacle, got eliminated and vowed to come back. In 2017, she did. But McCormack faced yet another obstacle before that TV appearance when, while training for the Team Ninja Warrior spin-off show, she tore the triceps tendon in her right arm off the bone. After a grueling, “humbling” four months of physical therapy, she resumed training and again got the casting call. But, perhaps because she missed so much training time while rehabbing her arm, she was once again eliminated at the secSEE WARRIOR PAGE 10

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How did you feel going into the meet? When did you get comfortable? I felt like we left a little bit early. I was a little tired coming into it. But all in all, I felt great. I felt like I performed amazing. We got there like, three hours before it started. I had time to go to sleep, so I went to sleep, woke up and felt great.

What are your goals for the rest of this season? Make it to state. I want to go to state in the 4x100 and the long jump.

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Plant City’s track and field teams had a good showing at the Jack Rice Invitational, held March 23 at East Bay High School. It was especially good for senior Jordan Wiggins, who was named the event’s Most Valuable Player after winning in the long jump and 4x100 relay, and tying for first place in the 100-meter dash with an 11.64. Wiggins also played football for the Raiders and will play for Quincy University in the fall.

It’s amazing. Like, everybody’s taking you in, you never have to worry about anything, come out here and it’s just a whole big family.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jordan Wiggins

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

What’s the best advice a coach has given you? Coach (Melvin) Jenkins, he’s not here no more but he always kept telling me, “Keep faith in what you do. Trust the process.”

What are you going to remember most about your time playing sports at PCHS? The camaraderie. People here in Plant City just, it’s like a whole big family. You’ve got to love it here.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

Warrior

HOW TO BE A ‘NINJA WARRIOR’ According to Colleen McCormack, the process includes six pages of short-answer questions and a three-minute video you must submit for consideration. The producers, McCormack said, want to know who you are and why you do what you do, and they want to see how your personality translates on camera. Her training regimen is highly specialized for American Ninja Warrior courses. “When I’m getting ready for a competition, my training regimen is six days a week for two hours a session,” she said. “Now that I know the fundamentals of what it takes to run the obstacle course, I just focus on that. Muscle endurance. Being able to hold up your body weight for an extended period of time. An exercise that I do will literally just be hanging from a bar for a minute, two minutes, however long I can just to train my body to be able to do that. A lot of grip strength because a lot of it is very upper-body intense. Leg power, you want to be able to explode and change directions. Also, the mental aspect of if you’re going through an obstacle and then you mess up, instead of failing, being able to recover.” Her advice to potential ninja warriors is simple. “Be persistent,” she said. “Be patient. Just don’t give up.”

FROM PAGE 8

ond obstacle. She’s spent the last nine months training at Evolution, where owner John Hambor has gone all-in to help out. Hambor updated the gym’s equipment to better suit McCormack’s training needs, adding things like a peg board, ledges, specialized monkey bar obstacles and more. Though McCormack’s training was the reason they were built or acquired, Hambor and the other gym members use them to put a unique spin on their own training. This year, she said, she’s ready for anything the show will throw at her — especially that second obstacle, which does change each year. But whether she makes it to the second obstacle or the show’s national finals in Las Vegas, McCormack wants to show people that, no matter what obstacles life throws at you, you can persevere. “Even adults need a reality check,” she said. “Don’t stop playing. Life gets hard, there’s adult problems that we have to deal with, but you can still have fun in the midst of it and be healthy and be happy.”

Plant City Y exploring new teen programming The Y will add a Junior Lifeguard program and swim conditioning teams. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Before this summer, teens in the Plant City Family YMCA’s swimming programs didn’t have many options. Now, the Y is hoping to make a splash with what it considers an underserved group. Aquatics Director Maggie Cattell said the Plant City Y will add two programming options specifically for the 12-to-17 age group this summer: a Junior Lifeguard program and conditioning teams for middle and high schoolers. “We had a really successful season last year,” Cattell said. “So the issue became, once they hit 12 or 13, we didn’t have anything for them. That’s a huge disservice.” The Junior Lifeguard program is a volunteer program where teens will assist lifeguards and swim instructors on the pool deck,

teach lessons, help administer the Y’s swimming band tests and more. Cattell said the program provides both on-the-job experience and a way for teens to get volunteer hours. Though there is a fee to get in the program, the money will cover certification costs — teens in the program can earn their Junior Lifeguard certification and also receive CPR, AED and first aid training. The conditioning teams are non-competitive groups meant to help swimmers stay in shape during the high school offseason, allow athletes in other sports the opportunity to swim for exercise in their offseasons and prepare swimmers for competitive team tryouts. Cattell said swimmers looking to do well at their tryouts will be able to learn their strokes at the Y and receive feedback from the coaches to help them improve in the pool. The season will begin in June and practices will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” – Mark Twain Puzzle Two Solution: “We must come to terms with our responsibility to be the gatekeepers to end childhood hunger.” – Edward James Olmos

Special Thanks: Grand Marshal Steve Hurley, Sun Pass (DOT), Mike Sparkman, Paul Davis, Florida Strawberry Festival Directors and Staff, Regions Bank, I-4 Power: Marc Waller, Gulf Coast Tractor, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department and Florida Highway Patrol Parade Judges: Jeanne Cameron, Steve and Diane Otto, Michelle South, Jeanette Tipton and Tatiana Tipton Parade Committee: Victor Bevis, Chris Brewington, Michael Cameron, Jennifer Chamberlain, Bill Charles, George Domedion, Joe Golden, Frank LaBarbera, Brian Mattair, Ellany Noriega, Bruce Rodwell, Stephen Rossiter, Michael and Theresa Roxburgh, Randy Sears, Lee Williams AND most of all the Plant City Police Department and Sgt. Dale Peterson THANK YOU to All the Participants! From Berry Fine Productions, Inc., Gail Lyons President

This week’s Sudoku answers

Congratulations to the

2018 Florida Strawberry Grand Parade Winners

BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL DIVISION MARCHING UNIT

1st - Notichica LLC Media 2nd - Krewe of Carnival 3rd - Krewe of Castaway 1st - Strawberry Crest High School Band 2nd - Durant JROTC 3rd - Mulberry JROTC

CIVIC/CHURCH DIVISION

1st - First Baptist of Midway 2nd - Sea Poucher 3rd - Robert W. Wilaford Train Museum

ANTIQUE DIVISION

1st - Robert W. Willaford Train Museum 2nd - Harley’s Hero’s 3rd - Hillsborough County Fair

SPECIAL FEATURE DIVISION SCHOOL CLUB/YOUTH SPORTS DIVISION

This week’s Crossword answers

1st - Strawberry Express Cloggers 2nd - Sweet & Southern Cloggers 3rd - Strawberry Crest Cheerleaders 1st - Plant City High Calendar Girls 2nd - JS Robinson Elementary 3rd - Faith Christian Academy

*You may pick up your trophy at Regions Bank, 2303 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City, FL 33563 | (813) 567-7070

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2018

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

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o wind, no rain and no overcast weather Saturday morning made for perfect Dean's Ride conditions. The 2018 edition of the Plant City Family YMCA's annual Livestrong bike ride featured 18, 38 and 62-mile routes, an off-road ride at Alafia River State Park and a 10-mile spin at Hillsborough Community College, where the road riders started and finished. Approximately 170 riders participated in the event, as did the Iron Pigs Motorcycle Club.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

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Students, teachers and parents held an anti-gun violence rally outside the school on March 24.

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Plant Citians young and old came out to call for an end to school shootings and gun violence.

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Send your photo submissions to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature. Instagram user @christylynn720 captioned this submission to the @igersplantcity account with just two words: “Girl Power.”

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shooting. Vanderford said $6 from every $10 shirt sale would be donated to the families of victims and those injured in the shooting, and the remaining $4 would be paid to the shirts’ manufacturer. The group promoted stricter regulations for gun ownership and voting for elected officials who are pro-regulation, and spoke out against the AR-15 rifle. Though there aren’t currently any plans set for future events, the students were surprised to see so many people come out to join them. “It’s good,” Knotts said. “It makes it feel like there’s a chance that even in our community, which is very pro-gun, that we have a say.”