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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

EVERHART TAPPED TO LEAD CITY’S STREETS AND STORMWATER DEPARTMENT

Wayne Everhart has officially stepped into his role as the new director of the streets and stormwater department.

SEE PAGE 5

2020 VISION AT THE FLORIDA

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL The imagery was picture-perfect at the 2020 Florida Strawberry Festival. Massive crowds, thousands of strawberry shortcakes and memorable concerts ensured the annual event got off to a berry-rific start.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

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Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

Vehicles of interest in fatal hit-and-run sought Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives are on the hunt for the vehicle linked to a Sunday hit-and-run incident that killed a 5-year-old child and injured their mother and two others that may have witnessed it.

HCSO said the mother and child were walking on Rogers Road after dark on Sunday when they were struck by a vehicle that immediately fled the scene.

Deputies were called to the scene at 9:23 p.m. and performed CPR until Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews could get there.

The child was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital and pronounced deceased, while the mother sustained injuries but was expected to survive.

HCSO is looking for a light-colored sedan of unknown make they said was in the area at the time of the incident and may have witnessed it. Detectives located a similar vehicle within a mile of the incident and spoke to its driver Monday morning, but their investigation later ruled out both that vehicle and its driver. Detectives are also looking for a smaller SUV of unknown make, model and color that was also traveling northbound on Rogers Road around the same time as the aforementioned sedan. On

Wednesday afternoon, HCSO confirmed a red metallic paint chip was found at the scene of the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 813-247-8200, or to call Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay to be eligible for a cash reward by calling 1-800-873-TIPS (8477).

Coronavirus appears in Hillsborough The Hillsborough County Health Department announced Sunday presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus, was open in Hillsborough and Manatee counties.

Each county had one individual who was quarantined at that time and the department said the threat of the disease spreading to the public is low. The department added that most people who contract the coronavirus will be able to recover without special treatment, and that healthy people who do not work in home health or medical facilities should hold off on buying facemasks unless they actually start showing symptoms like fever, shortness of breath, cough and other respiratory problems. You can increase your chances of not catching the coronavirus by following the same preventative measures you would during

flu season. Visit FloridaHealth.gov/COVID-19 for more information.

Early voting open Registered Democrats and Republicans can now participate in the early voting period for the 2020 Presidential Preference Primary Election, which started Monday.

The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office said the unofficial turnout for the first day was 2,810 in-person voters and 69,048 through the mail.

The early voting period will run through March 15 and voting hours are between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Visit VoteHillsborough.org for more information.

PCHS Class of ’56 luncheon The Plant City High School Class of 1956 is planning to gather at Buddy Freddy’s on March 26 for a buffet luncheon.

The “dutch-treat” starts at 11:30 a.m. that morning and anyone planning to attend is asked to call Barbara at 813752-2847.

Population up, crime down in county Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced the countywide crime rate dropped from 2018 to 2019, despite the population growing by more than 20,000.

HCSO tracked the individual crime rates in the categories of criminal homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and vehicle theft and found decreases in nearly every area, also noting 1,260 fewer crimes were committed in 2019 than in 2018. The biggest drop was in burglary cases, which saw a 22.7 percent decline from the previous year (1,460 cases in 2019 vs.

1,889 in 2018). There were also considerably fewer cases of vehicle theft in 2019 (945) than in 2018 (1,107), leading to a 14.6 percent decline. The only crime category that saw an increase from year to year was rape at 1.2 percent (248 cases in 2019 vs. 245 in 2018).

“In the last 13 years, I’m very proud to say this is the 12th year that crime has gone down, despite the number of people we serve in Hillsborough County increasing significantly. I believe it is a testament to our commitment to not only protecting and serving our residents but also educating them on how to avoid becoming a crime victim and where to turn to for help,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a news release.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

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RVR FINDS NEW HOME IN PLANT CITY THE RVR HORSE RESCUE HAS OFFICIALLY RELOCATED TO PLANT CITY AND IS PREPARING TO HOST ITS GRAND OPENING TO THE COMMUNITY.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

RVR Horse Rescue has been changing the lives of horses across the state for more than a decade, and now it’s got a new home.

Originally housed in Riverview, the rescue blossomed for years while growing its network of volunteers and expanding its name throughout the area. Then development came. Nearly all of the property surrounding the rescue was developed into residential communities, which essentially caused RVR to become a basin for runoff.

The rescue flooded uring the rainy season, leaving the horses and rescuers to battle through thick swathes of mud and standing water.

“The drainage issues were getting progressively worse and it was bad for the volunteers and bad for the horses,” Kelly Ford, spokesperson and board member of RVR, said. “Spending any extended period of time in mud and water is detrimental for horses’ hooves and can lead to abscesses and even lameness. It was hard for our volunteers to do their daily operations when they were wading though ankle-deep mud.

We have a high quality of care and RVR’s president and its executive board knew there wasn’t a choice. We had to move.”

The rescue, which was founded by Shawn Jayroe, began looking for its new home when it stumbled upon the facility on SR 60. Repairs and upgrades immediately began on the facility to make it moveready and Jayroe even went as far as to build a new 30-stall barn on the property adjacent to the other barns already on the site.

There are big plans ahead and while there are still some minor improvements needed around the location, the horses officially moved into their new home on Jan. 11 after a year’s worth of preparation. The new location also has ample room to grow.

“This is such a great location,” Ford said.

“Being in Plant City where so many people have horses, it just seems like a great fit.

Some of our volunteers are actually from Plant City and had been driving out to Riverview to work with us, so it was a great transition. Plant City was our neighbor, now it’s our home.”

The rescue rehabilitates and rehomes injured or ill horses. It specializes in taking in “the worst cases of abuse and neglect” and has years of experience handling injuries. It is also an accredited Thoroughbred

Aftercare Alliance organization. Founded in 2001, RVR Horse Rescue received its 501(c)3 non-profit status in 2004. Jayroe started the rescue alone, one horse at a time, and has since grown into a massive powerhouse that is able to impact countless lives year-round.

It’s entirely volunteer-run and has created a tight-knit family in its ranks. Some of the horse experts have grown up around the animals. Some have animal-sized holes in their hearts, but never worked with horses before connecting with RVR. When they arrive at a volunteer orientation, they begin their training and they’re soon ready to handle anything thrown their way. There are anywhere from 100 to 200 volunteers that work off and on with RVR, ranging from the core group of 30 or so people there once a week, to seasonal volunteers who come when they’re in town in the winter, and to students who come for projects or volunteer hours.

It takes a strong heart to work in the rescue business. But Ford said there are always more good days than bad. The stories can break your heart, but watching horses come in barely able to stand and then heal and evolve into trusting and thriving individuals makes everything worth it.

One of their success stories is a horse now called Ruby. When she was found following a call for her to be rehomed, RVR arrived on the scene to a gut-wrenching sight. There was the horse, skin stretched tight over its jutting bones, standing alone.

She didn’t even have a name.

The owner had several other horses that were being fed but, for some reason, this lone horse had been left to its own fate and had RVR not stepped in, the story would have quickly taken a darker turn. Unbeknownst to the group, Ruby was also blind in one eye from an old, untreated injury.

Ford said she’s made leaps and bounds in her progress in nearly three years. While she can still be a little fearful, she’s overcome so much and will make a great horse for her future family, whoever that may be.

Sometimes RVR receives a call from a concerned neighbor. Sometimes they get word from law enforcement who had to step in and handle a bad case. When the phone rings, they answer and they’ve helped countless horses find their forever homes.

While the group is not a sanctuary and shares the ultimate goal of rehabilitating and then rehoming all of its rescues, it will keep a horse for the rest of its life if they

never find the perfect fit. They have an adoption process that ensures the future owner is ready to handle their new family member. They must go through a sponsor period for 30 days to spend time with the horse, build a bond and determine if they’re a good fit. If everyone is happy at the end of the period, they can take their horse home.

There are all kinds of horses currently calling RVR home. They took in 15 Paso Fino horses and have rehabilitated them, they have a few thoroughbreds and even a mule hoping to find its family.

Several of the volunteers who work with RVR have fallen in love with rescues over the years and taken them home. A few even board their horses at the rescue as they are there every day working with the other animals. Their boarding fees go right back to the organization.

The group is always looking for help as they are entirely volunteer-run. Ford said they would love to see some of their

Plant City neighbors come out and work with them. They’re also always looking for donations. They frequently do fundraisers and apply for grants, but every little bit helps.

If you would like to sign up for the next volunteer orientation, want to stay up to date on the announcement of the upcoming grand opening event or are looking for more information on RVR Horse Rescue, visit the organization’s Facebook page or head to rvrhorserescue.org.

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COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated a stolen motorcycle, a vandalized car, stolen rims, a DUI traffic stop

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

and much more.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez

FEB. 21

FEB. 23

HYUNDAI HEIST 3400 block of Silverstone Court Stolen vehicle: Officers responded to the above listed location in reference to the theft of a 2006 tan Hyundai Elantra with a Florida license plate.

ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER North Gordon Street and East Cherry Street Recovered stolen motorcycle (HCSO case): Officers responded to this location in reference to a traffic accident. While investigating they discovered the motorcycle involved had been reported stolen to HCSO.

FEB. 22 PUNCH-DRUNK Simons Place/East Morrell Drive DUI/Battery LEO: Officers conducted a traffic stop on a 2012 Dodge Journey due to a traffic infraction and the driver being involved in a disturbance. The driver was charged with DUI and DUI refusal. While undergoing the investigation with the driver, officers added the charge of battery on LEO.

MAN VS. GOD 900 block of E. Alabama St. Criminal mischief: Officers responded to Mount Moriah church and found the front door had been shattered.

POWER TRIP 1 F. Street Criminal mischief: Officers responded to the above listed

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

location in reference to the power being turned off to the trailer at the breaker box and then found several doors and windows had been spray painted.

WINDOW PAIN 100 block of South Maryland Avenue Criminal mischief: An unknown subject used an unknown object to break a rear window of the residence at the above listed location.

They caused approximately $200 in damage.

FEB. 24

ARE YOU IN GOOD HANDS? 3800 block of Creek Way Court Fraud: Officers met with this victim who said in Jan. 2020 she received a letter Edited by David Steinberg March 6, 2020 from Allstate that her request for 44 *Found out 10 Noble rank 36 Demoninsurance was denied.

46 Roof that’s also a strated theDuring the same overhang first name validity of month, she received a bill 47 Poetic 11 Muse of 37 Sharpen from Verizon of a “before long” history 38 Spinal past due balance 48 Seed type 12 Teacher’s affliction of $747.43. that often writing 40 Driver of

Universal Crossword

17 18 22 24

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PIMP MY RIDES 1900 block of Wood Court Burglary business: This complainant reported that an unknown suspect jumped the fence at the above listed location between Feb. 22 and 24 and removed two sets of vehicle rims, which totaled eight rims. They also took a vehicle radiator and miscellaneous hand tools.

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LEAFY WEAPON OF CHOICE 1100 block of East Laura Street Criminal mischief: This victim stated that an unknown suspect broke the front window of his funeral home between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. with a large potted plant.

The damage was estimated to be $350.

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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.

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PEPÉ LE PEW 1300 block of Louisiana Street Criminal mischief: This complainant reported that between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., an unknown suspect spray painted two eightinch white lines on the rear of her vehicle.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

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MEET THE NEW FACE OF THE CITY’S STREETS AND STORMWATER DEPARTMENT

WAYNE EVERHART

Courtesy photo

Wayne Everhart has officially stepped into his role as the new director of the streets and stormwater department.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Wayne Everhart has been appointed the City of Plant City’s new streets and stormwater director.

The department was in search of “strong leadership,” according to City Manager Bill McDaniel, and he knew whoever landed in the role had their work cut out for them.

There are lots of changes ahead as the department is now officially an independent operation and McDaniel said he’s expecting to see impactful results relatively quickly.

“After a diligent search, we promoted from within,” McDaniel said. “Wayne Everhart was previously the superintendent at utilities maintenance and he rose up head and shoulders to be the leading candidate. He has been promoted to director of streets and stormwater. It’s an interesting position because I have carved out this role from where it used to be under the city engineer’s management and have made it a standalone operation because of its size and scope and responsibilities. I felt like it needed some independent leadership.”

Everhart is a face many recognize around town. He was hired with the City of Plant City in 1989 and has worked his way up the ladder, improving every position he touched. He saw departments merge and

split. He watched as communication opened to streamline efficiency and knows firsthand what needs to be done to complete a job.

Before he came to work with the city, he worked in utilities in a family-operated business. He jokes utilities are in his blood so building a career around improving the city’s utility function was a seamless transition.

He knew this was a neglected department and said he felt he could step up and help get things where they need to be. Initially he volunteered to “lend a helping hand” until the city found someone they wished to hire to run the newly carved-out department. It wasn’t until he saw the reposted job listing with an altered set of descriptions for the position that he thought perhaps he would be a good fit.

“That’s when I really decided that this was something that I wanted to go for as a career,” Everhart said. “I was very close to the different departments so some of the organizations behind the scenes and really just employee moral as a whole made me think, ‘Hey, I can help, I can get this back on track.’”

He’s only officially been on the ground in the role for three days, but he said he’s

excited to get to help open the form of communication throughout the departments and get things back where they need to be.

Everhart said McDaniel has made his goals for the city very clear and the first step upon taking the position is to figure out how the department is going to support those goals. From there, he said, he’ll begin a deep analysis of operations as a whole and get a feel for where the staff see concerns and where they feel they’re right on target.

“One of the things I’m committed to doing is making sure that our stormwater systems get managed and maintained properly,” McDaniel said. “Wayne has a very demonstrated history of success out there in utilities maintenance and I think he brings a lot to the table as our new director of streets and stormwater, and I’m looking forward to him addressing what I see as a backlog in maintenance work and then moving us forward in a very positive way.”

McDaniel echoed Everhart’s concerns.

Summers in Florida are filled with nonstop rain and it’s imperative the city has a

functioning system to carry the water away from people’s homes regardless of where they live.

There’s a lot that Everhart said he feels needs to get “back on track,” but he said that his background in utilities should help open a more efficient line of communication. Verbalizing goals better helps make sure nothing overlaps. For example, it makes sure the city doesn’t pave a street that utilities then needs to cut up a year later to do massive repairs underground.

He said he’s aware he has a “plate full,” but has no doubt that as a team they can successfully make the necessary changes.

“This is actually my first week, but as soon as it was announced I started making plans and preparations to make sure I was ready to get rolling as soon as I started,” Everhart said. “And we’re already in it with both feet. There’s a lot that’s ahead, but I think we’re going to really shape this into what our city deserves for it to be.”

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

PLANT CITY HONORS

TUSKEGEE AIRMAN Thomas W. Newton

A special guest slowly rode down the Grand Parade route Monday waving to the crowd. Thomas W. Newton is one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen and drew copious cheers from those gathered.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

For years, Thomas W. Newton lived his life with a quiet humbleness that kept many — even those closest to him — in the dark to his heroic deeds.

He was a veteran. A proud member of the Air Force. But that’s where they thought his story ended. One day his son, Plant City Police Corporal Steven Carmack, was pushing him for more information on his service and he delved upon a treasure he was in no way prepared for: his father served as part of the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first black flying squadron.

Carmack’s father was a Tuskegee Airman.

“One day I was asking my dad about his history, his service history in the Air Force, and he pulled out a picture,” Carmack said.

“When I looked at the picture, I had studied the Tuskegee Airmen, and I saw it said the 99th Fighter Squadron and I knew right away what it meant. It meant that he was a Tuskegee Airman. It meant that he was a part of history.”

Carmack sent his father’s service records to the Tuskegee Institute and they officially documented Newton as a Tuskegee Airman on Nov. 13, 2019.

“I never sought any recognition for it,” Newton said. “I was in the Air Force. That’s just what I said when everybody would ask

me if I served. My neighbor used to ask me if I was in the military and I would just say, ‘Yes, I was in the Air Force.’ I served just like everybody else. Thanks to my son I’m getting the recognition now.”

In fact, his neighbor has known Newton for 29 years and had no idea he was living next door to a man who helped carve out a monumental piece of history.

Newton joined the Air Force on Jan. 31, 1946 as an administrative supply clerk and was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332 Fighter Group stationed at Lockbourne Army Air Base in Columbus, Ohio. He rose to the rank of Sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge on Jan. 31, 1949. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

“My family was in the military, by brother was in the Air Force and Army and I just thought, ‘Now it’s my turn,” Newton said.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life. I went into the Air Force as an 18-yearold and really grew over the next few years.”

He taught his family the importance of serving others and soon Carmack followed in his footsteps, giving 20 years to the Air Force before ending up at PCPD. The lessons he taught about life and the character of a man have stayed with his entire family and they said they can’t think of someone more worthy of the honor.

Since his official acknowledgement by the Tuskegee Institute, Newton has been asked numerous times to speak to oth-

ers, including many youth, about his past experiences. When Carmack told his father he was chosen to ride in a place of honor in the Grand Parade in Plant City, he said he thought it was “a wonderful thing” and was very happy to come.

He and his wife Mary Birth Newton practiced their parade waves and were humbled and honored by the warm welcome Plant City gave them.

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“This truly has been an honor,” Mary Birth Newton said. “We are very excited and think it’s just a wonderful experience.

We are so happy for him and this really means so much to us. We have a lot of hidden heroes that we don’t know about. It’s good to let those stories be told. The more of your history you know, the better your future can be.”

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PALM COVE LIVING PREPARES TO OPEN ITS DOORS

A new assisted living and memory care senior living community is preparing to officially open its doors this fall.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A new 47-apartment assisted living and memory care senior living community is nearly ready to roll out the red carpet and welcome its first residents to their new home.

It’s a plan that’s been brewing for quite some time, according to Josh Crisp, CEO of Solinity, a company that focuses on building boutique-style senior living communities with multigenerational components. The compa-

ny is based in Knoxville, Tennessee, but has partnered with local developers to bring the venture to life right in the center of the city.

“Solinity is excited to form this partnership with the local owners of the community to meet the growing need and insufficient senior housing needs of Plant City,” Crisp said. “I was inspired by the vision that was shared with me by the late owner, Mark Jordan. It seems like not too long ago, Mark was sharing his vision.

But that was nearly two years ago. Shortly after his unexpected death, his son Jimmy and business

partner, Mike Tatum determined to carry forward his passion and that has inspired us to be part of the team.”

Jordan owned the property for years and originally used it as a palm tree nursery. Over the years, as he waited for the trees to mature, he watched as older adults in the community had to move away to find suitable assisted living facilitates. Looking around his tree nursery, he realized he could utilize it to be “more mission-driven.”

He reached out and began the process of getting the state-of-

the-art facility built on his land while keeping many of the trees to add to the aesthetic, hence the name Palm Cove Living.

Right off I-4, the facility will feature nearly 50 apartments built with the latest technology at the residents’ fingertips. Crisp said they want the community to be “future-proof,” so they’re making the community cloud-based.

That will help not only cater to the residents’ streaming needs, but will also store all of the facility’s care systems.

The community will also be built with visitors in mind in

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

hopes that adult children or friends of the residents will enjoy relaxing at the facility while visiting their loved ones. There will be a small coffee shop and market with self-serve coffee, barber shop and salon, a spa and wellness room, a therapy center, a game room and more.

Palm Cove will also do things a little less traditionally. Rather than have dining hall-style communal meals, it will feature an allday dining schedule. Residents will have the choice and flexibility to eat at their own schedule and will be able to order what they want, when they want and have it hot and ready to go a their leisure.

This is the first phase of the facility, according to Crisp, and the hope is at least one more will follow on its heels.

At the end of the month, a leasing and hospitality center will open at 110 S. Collins Street.

Folks are invited to schedule an appointment to learn more about the facility.

Visit PalmCoveLiving.com or call 813.444.5299 for leasing information.

“It’s been under construction for six months and if all goes as planned, and if mother nature cooperates, we will open around October of this year,” Crisp said.

“There’s 47 apartments and we are really excited about the variety of floor plans and what we can offer to the community. We’re not just excited for the residents and their families that will hopefully find everything they’re looking for here, but we’re also looking forward to the employment opportunities that will come from bringing this community to Plant City.”

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

2020 VISION AT THE FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

FROM PAGE 1 BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The first three days of the Florida Strawberry Festival had attendees reaching for their winter coat as they ran to get in line for a legendary shortcake.

Despite the crisp air, the crowds remained constant for the first two days before reaching a pinnacle on Sunday as the entire community prepared to bask in the glory of Reba McEntire. It wasn’t until Monday afternoon as the Grand Parade was in full swing that the true Florida sun began to make its presence known.

Whether you were interested in checking out local vendors, watching rescue dogs soar through the air or dance your heart out to some riveting polka music, the festival has just what you were looking for. Here’s some of our favorite moments so far from this year’s strawberry spectacular.

PlantCityObserver.com

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JAMMING AT THE FESTIVAL

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

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The annual Florida Strawberry Festival had folks flocking to the Wish Farms Soundstage to enjoy the diverse lineup of entertainers on deck.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Regardless of whether your shoes start tapping to classic country, R&B melodies or Christian rock the Florida Strawberry Festival has had a musical on deck ready to get you dancing to the beat.

Reba McEntire, Skillet, Josh Turner, Patti LaBelle, 98 Degrees, Michael Ray, Rascal Flatts and

many others sang to the crowds at either a 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. show on the Wish Farms Soundstage. McEntire packed the grandstands to capacity and still had overflow crowds lingering outside the gates singing and dancing along to her legendary tunes.

Still to come are several big acts including MercyMe, Charlie Wilson, Eli Young Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

WELCOME TO THE BERRY PARADES FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL The Strawberry Youth Parade and the Grand Parade drew massive crowds to the streets of downtown Plant City.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A lot of young boys and girls were brought into Plant City to watch marching bands this past week during the Strawberry Youth Parade and the Grand Parade.

The Youth Parade was held Feb. 29 and the Grand Parade on March 2. Streets were packed for each occasion as the community rallied behind the festivalthemed events. The Youth Parade featured some of the communities finest young minds as they wore their blingedout 2020 glasses, waved strawberry flags and marched to the beat of their own drums.

Two days later a much longer parade, the Grand Parade, rolled into town. The entire city practically shuts down for the event with many businesses calling Monday a holiday. Those who live along the parade route always host elaborate parade parties and crowds huddle on the sidewalks eating potluck-style lunches as they attempt to catch the multicolored beads.

Though it takes several hours, it always is a day filled with laughter and communion. Long after the parade has swept past the festival the parties continue to rage on, breaking up only for people to have enough time to run to the festival and catch the 7:30 p.m. show.

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COLORFUL CONTESTS JUSTIN KLINE

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Some of the most popular events at the Florida Strawberry Festival are the ones that let entrants show their creative side.

People always pack the Grimes Family Agricultural Center and the Publix Enter-

tainment Tent for the ag costume contests and the baby contests, respectively.

Entrants will go all-out decorating animals, their own costumes and their children’s diapers to impress the judges and please the crowds.

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SPORTS Quick Hits PCHS WINS STATE Jarrett Affronti will once again represent Strawberry Crest at the FHSAA state wrestling championships.

See Page 13

AREA PARKS HOSTING EVENTS This weekend, the Plant City Dolphins will host Youth Spring Football League 8-on-8 tackle league play. Games start between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex.

Greater Orlando Baseball/USA Travel Ball will host its Baseball Lessons 101 tournament at Ellis-Methvin Park on Saturday and Sunday. Games start between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in this 11U and 12U tournament.

GSA Baseball will use fields at the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex for league play on Saturday and Sunday, with games starting between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The National Club Baseball Association and National Club Softball Association are running their annual Spring Training Showcase tournaments at Mike Sansone Park and the MLK ball field. More than 70 college club teams from around the country will come through town all month.

Visit ncbaspringtraining.weebly.com/ for baseball schedules, team information and more, and visit ncsaspringtraining. weebly.com/ for softball schedules, team information and more.

Next weekend, GSA Baseball’s Spring Break Classic will come to Ellis-Methvin Park, Snowden Park and the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex. Games start between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. March 14 and 15.

RAIDERS, CHARGERS WIN 2020 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL SHOWDOWN AT CREST The annual Strawberry Festival Showdown at Strawberry Crest was quite a bit like last year’s tri-meet.

For the second consecutive season, both Plant City’s boys and Strawberry Crest’s girls finished the evening in first place and kept their trophies exactly where they’d been for almost a full year.

On the boys side, Durant placed second overall and Crest placed third. On the girls side, Plant City finished right behind Crest and Durant took third place when it was all said and done.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS HOOPS TITLE Plant City beat St. Cloud Feb. 28 with a buzzer-beater to win the 2020 Special Olympics Division 2 Unified Sports Basketball State Championship.

Justin Kline

Plant City brought the 2020 state championship home with the most thrilling finish imaginable, a last-second three-point shot.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

It was a good thing for Plant City High School’s Special Olympics Unified basketball team that Taylor Teeden had practiced his buzzer-beater shot, as that was the difference-maker in their Feb. 28 state championship game against St. Cloud.

“He practices that shot so many times in practice,” Austin Davis said. “He’ll just throw it up like it’s nothing. This time, it worked for us. We thought it was a little funny shooting it, but we needed it.”

The Bulldogs played the Raiders tough all game and didn’t make any points come easy. In fact, they held a nine-point lead over Plant City with two minutes left in the game. But the Raiders’ heart and hustle came out in full force after that, and the team rallied to make it a one-score game when it came down to the wire.

“We just played as a team and pulled through,” Austin Davis said. “Our athletes, they were playing a tremendous game. The other team was really good, they matched our skill level.

Down by two points with just 5.1 seconds left in regulation, the Raiders needed to go coast to coast and make a bang-

bang play to beat the Bulldogs. Ayden Perez threw a deep inbound pass to Parker Hancock-Eitenior, who immediately handed off to Teeden like a quarterback to a running back. Teeden crossed center court and fired up a one-footed shot from the three-point line as the clock drained out. The ball took a risky bounce off the base of the rim, but Teeden’s touch was just soft enough that it bounced its way down through the net instead of going back out.

“Ayden was passing it in and I just knew, ‘just get me the ball,’” Teeden said.

“They trusted me, so I shot it. I made it and we won. I’ve got to thank Parker and Ayden for that play… it felt good.”

The win gave PCHS its second Unified basketball state championship in one month, as the team also won the Special Olympics 2020 State Basketball Championship in Tavares on Feb. 8.

“It was crazy,” Perez said. “We picked up Taylor and we took him to the crowd with the trophy in his hand. We were jumping up and down. We went crazy.”

After the Raiders play in an exhibition game at Plant High School next month, that’ll be it for basketball season. The next Special Olympics USA Games are scheduled for 2022 and will be held near-

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

JUSTIN KLINE

When you need a brief break from your diet, you can’t do better than the Florida Strawberry Festival.

I usually don’t condone cheating on things. Diets, however, are an exception to that rule.

You have to have superhuman levels of discipline to not schedule a “cheat day” every so often. If giving yourself an occasional day to eat whatever you want is good enough for the Rock on a weekly basis, it’s good enough for me and should be good enough for you.

When you’re at least trying to be conscious of your dietary choices, things like the Florida Strawberry Fes-

by in Orlando, so PCHS is hoping to keep this kind of success up over the next two seasons to get the basketball team back on the biggest stage. The team also went to New Jersey for the 2014 games and, more recently, to Seattle for the 2018 games.

Several of the players currently on the team were also there for 2018 and hope to help get PCHS back however they can.

ROSTER Devin Amerson Kyle Hall Jesse Ortiz Parker Hancock-Eitenior John Davis Austin Davis Ayden Perez Taylor Teeden

COACHES Lisa Goad Jacob Goad Maverick Lawrence

THE BEST TIME FOR A ‘CHEAT DAY’ tival present a big challenge. You know you want to gorge on some of that ridiculous fair food that packs more calories in one go than three whole meals you’d normally eat in a day. You tell yourself you can’t, though, and you save your appetite for something healthy (or at least healthier) after you leave.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

PlantCityObserver.com

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

Tell me about regionals.

What was the tourney like for you this year?

It was good. It was tough. I had to come back after losing in the second round. I had to wrestle my way back up and I ended up securing my spot in the blood rounds.

You faced Alex Soto twice in the bracket and that’s a tough draw.

What did you learn from those matches that will help you at states?

Just to clean up my technique and finish shots better. The second time I wrestled him was a lot better than the first time. The first time, I got beat pretty bad. The second time was a lot closer.

What was working well for you in the tournament?

My top game was really good. I was able to hold kids down and prevent them from scoring points on me.

What’s the most important advice you’d give to the kids who will come up in the program next year, after you’re gone?

To never give up. Things might get rough when you’re wrestling and you may have a few losses you know you shouldn’t have had. It’s a tough sport and you just have to keep working and improving. Soon you’ll see everything was worth it.

Any college plans?

Not for wrestling, but I am gonna go to FSU. I might try out some intramural sports, but nothing huge.

What’s been your proudest moment as a Charger?

Definitely making it to states this year and last year. It’s a really tough thing to do, and especially doing it two years in a row is even better.

I would say my neutral has been pretty good this season. It was pretty good last season, but not as good as I think it is this season. This season, usually I’m able to get the first takedown on most kids.

You’ve been here all four years. What was the experience like for you?

It’s been awesome. I’ve been here when it wasn’t that good. I’ve been here when we got our first district win and now I’m glad to be able to finish it off here at Crest.

What was big for building up the culture in the program?

Though the Durant Cougars have yet to face a team with a winning overall record, they’re playing like a real threat to win the district title and make the cut for regionals.

After Tuesday night’s 7-0 at Strawberry Crest, Durant has a 4-0 record and a full head of steam going for it as district play heats up. On Tuesday, Durant had five batters drive in runs (Kenzi Marsh, Shyanne Wood and Kelly Swank each got two hits) and pitcher Kayla Swinson gave up just two hits and one walk while striking out nine Chargers.

The win came just a few days after the Cougars hosted Plant City and picked up a 16-0 win in four innings with 17 hits (.604 team average), five home runs and five stolen bases. Though most of the offense played very well against the Raiders, it was an especially good night for Shelby Allen and Emily Smith. Both Cougars got a hit in each of their atbats. Allen went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three stolen bases. Smith went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, five RBI and two home runs. Five other Cougars batted over .500 that night. That’s

Definitely when we opened up our club.

It allowed us to practice in the offseason because we didn’t have an actual place to practice in the offseason. Practicing in the offseason is what gets you a lot better. If you only practice during the actual season, you’re not gonna get that much better. If you’re constantly practicing in the offseason and going to camps, that’s what’s gonna get you better and that’s what our coaches did.

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Everything has been working for Durant, the only undefeated team in Class 6A-District 5, thus far in 2020.

Where have you improved most on the mat since last season?

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including a three-hit, six-RBI performance and the game-ending two-RBI double from Kelly Swank, plus freshman Peyton Haxton’s two solo home runs in three at-bats.

Durant is getting solid contribution across the board: six Cougars are batting at or above .300 with eight or more plate appearances through four games, the team has a .372 average with a .427 on base percentage and have now sent eight pitches over the fence for home runs.

The defense has also been excellent with just three runs allowed — which makes Durant the only team left in the district to have given up fewer than 10 runs on the season. Swinson’s steady presence on the mound (29 batters struck out versus four walked) has tied everything together.

The Cougars will host Bloomingdale at 7 p.m. tonight before hitting the road for their next three games.

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

SPORTS SCORES AND MORE

WRESTLING

MARCH 14

MARCH 6

Durant, Plant City, Crest in Saladino Tournament through March 17

States through March 7

BASEBALL FEB. 25 Durant 12, Lennard 3 Plant City 3, Strawberry Crest 2 FEB. 27 Durant 6, Newsome 0 Plant City 3, Armwood 0 Strawberry Crest 8, Riverview 3 FEB. 28 Strawberry Crest 12, Freedom 2 MARCH 3 Durant 2, Riverview 0 Plant City 3, Leto 1 Strawberry Crest 2, Armwood 0 MARCH 5 Strawberry Crest at Leto, 7 p.m.

MARCH 7 Sickles at Strawberry Crest, 10 a.m.

MARCH 7 Sickles at Strawberry Crest, 10 a.m.

MARCH 24

MARCH 10

Durant at Leto, 7 p.m.

Plant City at Plant, 7 p.m.

Strawberry Crest at Newsome, 7 p.m.

Bloomingdale at Durant, 7 p.m.

Lakeland at Plant City, 7 p.m.

Kathleen at Strawberry Crest, 7 p.m.

MARCH 26

MARCH 12

Lennard at Durant, 7 p.m.

Plant City at Strawberry Crest, 7 p.m.

Durant at Brandon, 7 p.m.

Plant City at Kathleen, 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL

Plant City at Seffner Christian, 4:30 p.m.

FEB. 25

MARCH 20

Strawberry Crest 9, Plant City 6

Strawberry Crest at McKeel Academy, 4:30 p.m.

FEB. 27 Durant 16, Plant City 0 Strawberry Crest 17, Kathleen 3 FEB. 28 Sunlake 11, Strawberry Crest 0 FEB. 29 Strawberry Crest 7, Palm Harbor University 4 Canterbury 6, Strawberry Crest 1 Lake Mary 9, Strawberry Crest 3 MARCH 3

Durant at Spoto, 7:30 p.m.

East Bay at Plant City, 7:30 p.m.

Hillsborough at Strawberry Crest, 7:30 p.m.

Durant vs. East Bay, 3 p.m.

Plant City vs. Plant, 3 p.m. (boys only) Strawberry Crest vs. Newsome, 3 p.m.

MARCH 12 Strawberry Crest at Durant, 7:30 p.m.

MARCH 23

MARCH 26 Durant at Armwood, 7:30 p.m.

TRACK AND FIELD MARCH 7

MARCH 13 Durant, Plant City, Strawberry Crest at Jack Rice Invitational, 4:30 p.m.

Bloomingdale at Plant City, 7 p.m.

MARCH 10

MARCH 5

Durant at Plant City, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay Tech at Strawberry Crest, 7 p.m.

Bloomingdale at Durant, 7 p.m.

Kathleen at Plant City, 7 p.m.

Strawberry Crest at Lakeland, 7 p.m.

Brandon at Durant, 7:30 p.m.

Plant City at Newsome, 7:30 p.m.

Strawberry Crest at Blake, 7:30 p.m.

MARCH 9 Durant at Jefferson, 5 p.m. (girls), 7 p.m. (boys) MARCH 25

MARCH 27

Plant City vs. Newsome, 3 p.m.

Strawberry Crest vs. Lennard, 3 p.m.

Manatee at Durant, 5 p.m. (girls) Steinbrenner at Durant, 5 p.m. (boys)

Durant vs. Bloomingdale, 3 p.m.

Plant City vs. Lennard, 3 p.m.

Strawberry Crest vs. East Bay, 3 p.m.

MARCH 10 Strawberry Crest vs.

George Jenkins, 3 p.m.

MARCH 23

MARCH 5

Durant at Newsome, 5 p.m. (boys), 7 p.m. (girls)

MARCH 5

Durant vs. Lennard, 3 p.m.

Plant City vs. Riverview, 3 p.m.

FLAG FOOTBALL

MARCH 6

Durant at Riverview Sarasota, 5 p.m. (girls only)

MARCH 12

Western Conference at Spoto, 1 p.m.

LACROSSE (DURANT ONLY)

TENNIS

MARCH 9

Durant, Plant City, Strawberry Crest at Nash Higgins Relays, 8 a.m.

Durant 7, Strawberry Crest 0 Newsome 10, Plant City 0

Durant vs. Robinson, 3 p.m.

Plant City vs. Plant, 3 p.m. (girls only) Strawberry Crest vs. Wharton, 3 p.m.

MARCH 31 Durant at Plant, 5 p.m. (girls), 7 p.m. (boys) APRIL 1 Lakeland at Durant, 5 p.m. (boys only) APRIL 2 Durant at Winter Haven, 7 p.m. (boys only) APRIL 6 Wharton at Durant, 5 p.m. (girls), 7 p.m. (boys) APRIL 9 Sickles at Durant, 5 p.m. (girls), 7 p.m. (boys)

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MARCH 26

East Bay at Durant, 7:30 p.m.

Armwood at Plant City, 7:30 p.m.

Strawberry Crest at Bloomingdale, 7:30 p.m.

MARCH 17

MARCH 25

MARCH 9

SPORTS SCORES

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WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

JUSTIN KLINE

THE BEST TIME FOR A ‘CHEAT DAY’ FROM PAGE 12

You don’t need to do all that. You can still eat that stuff. It’s all about balance.

As someone who likes to eat but doesn’t want to climb back up a chonk chart, I’ve figured out how to eat whatever I want up there and stay around a weight I’m comfortable with. I’m not here to debunk the “Festival Calories Don’t Count” shirts or tell you not to buy them. I think they’re fine. I’m just saying that’s more like a half-truth than a whole truth. You should be able to look at something and gauge how many calories are probably in it, which is usually to say a lot, so the trick on a non-cheat day is to go get that thing you want from that food vendor and make that your biggest meal of the day.

When I’m trying to be good but have a long day at the festival, I like to eat light and plan my biggest caloric intake around whatever greasy, fried fair food I buy there. Pickle Barrel sirloin tips will give you plenty of calories in one go, even if you don’t feel so full you could burst after downing them. The fried pepper jack cheese by the TECO Expo Hall is terrible for you, but it’s so good that I’d say it’s worth making some other sacrifices for. Just remember to go to the gym and/or get your extra steps in to burn some of those calories off.

But if you are planning to go buck wild on cheat day, go ahead and commit to it. Chase that Polish sausage dog from Netterfield’s with a strawberry shortcake and a giant lemonade. Crush that onion from Alessi’s and then let your stank breath part the line at Peachey’s for you like the Red Sea. Have fun and do whatever makes you happy, but know you’ll have some hard work to do for the next day or six.

Eat well and enjoy the rest of the festival, my friends.

|

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

REGIONAL WRESTLING TOURNEY ACTION

Two local high school wrestlers advanced to the FHSAA state championships after doing well in the 3A-Region 2 tournament.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Justin Kline

Fried pepper jack cheese sticks thicker than Andre the Giant’s fingers are some of many things at the Florida Strawberry Festival worth (temporarily) wrecking a diet for.

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Observer.

Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

After the FHSAA 3A-Region 2 tournament over the weekend, Durant’s Hendon Haley and Strawberry Crest’s Jarrett Affronti are both bound for states for the second consecutive season.

Haley, wrestling at 138 pounds, beat Sickles’ Derek Sachoa by 13-2 major decision in the first round but then lost to North Port’s Tyler Eastes by 4-3 decision in the quarterfinal. Haley entered the third-place bracket in its second round and picked up two decisions and one fall to meet Eastes again in the final round, then got revenge for his earlier loss with a win by fall (2:40) to lock up third place and a state tournament berth.

Affronti beat Celebration’s Chase McBroom by 8-1 decision in the first round of the 132-pound bracket but then wrestled Riverview’s Alex Soto for the first time in the quarterfinal. Soto won by 10-0 major decision and sent Affronti to the thirdplace bracket, where the two would later meet again in the final round. Though Affronti lost the rematch by fall (3:53), his fourth-place finish was enough to get him into the state championship series.

Plant City’s Brent Ruedeman also had a good run in the regional tournament, making it to the 132-pound semifinal round after beating Newsome’s T.J. DeBolt by 10-7 decision in the first round and then Riverview Sarasota’s Edwin Hernandez by a 10-6 decision in the quarterfinal. Unfortunately for Ruedeman, he was beaten in the semifinal by regional runner-up Trenton Johnson of Manatee by 13-3 major decision. He then faced Affronti in the semifinal round of

the third-place bracket but lost to the Charger (SV-1, 10-8).

The FHSAA state championships will be held at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee starting tomorrow and ending Saturday.

OTHER REGIONAL COMPETITORS DURANT 120 pounds: Chris Perez 182 pounds: Josh Cannon 195 pounds: Austin Bovee 220 pounds: Trystan Allison PLANT CITY 106 pounds: Benjamin Best 113 pounds: Jeremiah Smith 126 pounds: Blake Johnson 138 pounds: Lane Best 145 pounds: Jermarian Jackson 152 pounds: Josiah Anderson 160 pounds: Austin Porter 170 pounds: Austin Bridges 182 pounds: Quentin Silas 195 pounds: Caleb Turner 220 pounds: Donte Woodard 285 pounds: Nelson Cortes STRAWBERRY CREST 106 pounds: Frank Font 113 pounds: Aaron Ortiz 120 pounds: Carter Willis 126 pounds: Taylor Riggs 145 pounds: Jacive Sheppard

OMG IT’S WEDNESDAY! PLANT CITY FARM AND FLEA MARKET Highway 39 North at Sam Allen Road—1 mi. N. of I-4 Exit 21

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1606205

15

PLENTY OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

WWW.PLANTCITYMARKET.COM

16

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

289704-1

We asked: What was your favorite thing about the Florida Strawberry Festival this year?

“Getting to meet all the people, especially taking photos with the little girls. You never know what kind of an impact you have on certain people.”

— Lacie Collins

“Meeting Reba. I cried three times over her. I grew up watching her show, so it was “The pig races because I’ve swaggy being able to see her in person and hear her laugh. raised pigs and I think they were so cute jumping into the Heaven shined a light on her. I swimming pool.” — Emma Miller felt her presence.”

— Kennedy Sapp

“All the public speaking. We’ve done a lot between news, “The 98 Degrees show was concerts and any show we go great and they’re my new to. I even consider small talk favorite boy band.” and meeting friends as public — Denim Hughes speaking.” — Meghan White

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Susan Arlene Pollock, 59, of Lakeland, born on Jan. 3, 1961 in Lakeland, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 24, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Donald Accola Donald Accola, 83, of Plant City, born on March 22, 1936 in Des Moines, Iowa, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 21, 2020.

Care provided by Hopewell Funeral Home.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Joyce Turner Camp Joyce Turner Camp, 87, of Lakeland, born on April 1, 1932 in Springhead, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 27, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Shelba P. Davis Shelba P. Davis, 82, of Plant City, born on March 2, 1937 in Tarrytown, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on March 1, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Tampa. The celebration will be held in the Waterside room on the second floor.

For more information please John “Johnny” Matthew Baskin, email careyrm@aol.com or call 80, died peacefully on Feb. 11, 2020, after a six-month battle with 727-244-5775.

ALS. He is survived by his longtime companion, Renee Carey; his brother, Neal Baskin; his daughter, Ashton Ortiz P.D. Menzel; his son, Mark Baskin; and three granddaughters. Ashton Ortiz, 14, of Plant City, An avid golfer and licensed pilot, passed away on Feb. 23, 2020.

John was born in Birmingham, Services were held March 3, AL. He spent most of his years 2020 Plant City Church of God, in Plant City and the Tampa Bay 2103 Mud Lake Road, Plant City, area. After graduating from Plant FL 33566.

City High School, he attended the Online condolences may be University of Tennessee where he left for the family at www.haught. earned a B.S. in Business Adminis- care. tration. With a continuing passion for education, he earned two more degrees later in his life: a Master of Education, and an M.B.A. HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM Independent and hard-working, John served three years in the U.S. Ervin Williams Army and seven years in the U.S. Ervin Williams, 92, of Plant City, Army Reserve Special Forces as a passed away on Feb. 27, 2020.

Green Beret. He began his civilian Ervin served in the U.S. Air career as a train master in Illinois. Force during World War II and He then moved back to Plant Korea.

City and opened Baskin & AssociServices were held March 3, ates, a bookkeeping, accounting 2020 at Mt. Enon Primitive Bapand tax practice. After sixteen tist Church, 3660 N. Frontage Rd., years working as an accountant, Plant City, FL 33565. he moved on to teach accountOnline condolences may be ing. John spent over 25 years left for the family at www.haught. teaching accounting with most of care. those years at Tampa College. As a devoted and empathic teacher, he encouraged his students to persevere and commit to earning HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM their degrees.

Please join us to celebrate John’s life on Sunday, April 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Westin Tampa Waterside Hotel located at 725 S. Habour Island Blvd. in

John ‘Johnny’ Matthew Baskin

school was putting on jersey #83 and playing defensive end for the Planters. He also enjoyed the rodeo scene with his family and friends. He was an outdoorsman who loved any type of hunting or fishing. Haw Creek and Lake Nellie were two of his favorite places on this earth. He worked as a cattle rancher for many years and also owned a citrus grove caretaking business with his father.

He was a member of the Midway Volunteer Fire DepartWilliam ‘Arlin’ Futch ment for many years and was a former member of Midway Baptist Church. He also loved William ‘Arlin’ Futch passed away to both play softball and coach on Feb. 23 at the age of 66. girls’ softball. “Coach Futch” Arlin was born Aug. 25, 1953 in volunteered with Plant City Little Plant City, to William Ralph and League, the Plant City High Dorothy Ussery Futch.

School Lady Raiders, Plant City He was a fifth-generation Invasion, and Tampa Heatwave. descendent of many of Florida’s Services were held Feb. 28, great pioneer families including 2020 at Mt. Enon Primitive BapFutch, Cone and Collins. tist Church.

He is survived by his wife Pam If you would like to make a Futch, his daughter Stacey Breugdonation to honor Arlin’s life, geman, son-in-law Dr. Eric Breugwe’re dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community LifePath Hosgeman, granddaughters, Elise and please consider unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. the life it represents.

As yourHe Dignity pice or celebrates The Juvenile Diabetes Taylor Breuggeman. isMemorial also professionals, > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Research Fund. survived by his sister >Patty Going Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® Expressions of sympathy may (Tim) and brother-in-law Larry beR shared at www.WellsMemoOsborn. supportingrial.com the Plant Cityfor Strawberry Festival.family. the Futch He was pre-deceased byProudly his parents and his sister Linda Osborn.

Arlin was a graduate of Plant City High School, was active in WELLSMEMORIAL.COM his FFA chapter and played many sports. His favorite thing in high

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17

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

OBITUARIES

Susan Arlene Pollock

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10/27/15 10:42 AM

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

YOUR CALENDAR

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

OBITUARIES

18

Theresa Loise Egbert Theresa Loise Egbert, née Fletcher, departed this life to be with her lord and savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, February 22, 2020. She was 96 years old and is survived by her five children; Linda, Shelly, Nancy, Peggy and Kevin, as well as nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Theresa was a proud member of her Plant City community and believed strongly in volunteering her time to help those less fortunate so in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either Plant City Meals on Wheels or Life Path Hospice (Sapphire Team).

A memorial service to celebrate her life and honor her memory will be held on Saturday, April 18th at 10AM at Whitehurst Road Baptist Church, 901 Whitehurst Rd., Plant City, FL where she was a member. All who knew her are welcome to attend.

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

BEST BET SUNDAY, MARCH 8 KEEL FARMS PAWS & PINTS

12:30 to 4 p.m. Keel & Curley Winery at Keel Farms, 5210 Thonotosassa Road, is once again partnering with Florida Giant Dog Rescue to host a Pet-Friendly Rescue Awareness Day out on the patio.

Bring your pups to the Keel Farms Pawty this Sunday.

They will have a raffle and some pet-friendly prizes.

The proceeds will benefit Florida Giant Dog Rescue, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

MAHJONG CLASS

2 to 4 p.m. Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., hosts a Mahjong Class on Thursdays. Whether you’re a first-time player or a seasoned expert, join them every week to play American Mahjong

HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY CLASS

6 to 8 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital is offering a Have a Healthy Pregnancy Class. This class covers recommendations for a healthy pregnancy and will be held the first Thursday of every month. Participants may bring one guest to classes.

Please bring a notepad to take notes.

Snacks will be provided. The class is held in ICU Conference Room, 2-South. Registration is free, but required. Call 1-855269-4777.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 DUPLICATE BRIDGE

1 p.m. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St., is now hosting a weekly Duplicate Bridge game, the most widely used variation of contract bridge in club and tournament play. Contact Walt Arnold at 813-752-1602 for more information.

HAPPY HOUR YOGA

7:30 to 9 a.m. Plant City Toastmasters meets every Thursday morning at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St. This week’s theme is Strawberry Fields Forever.

6 to 7 p.m. The Corner Store, 121 E. Reynolds St., is partnering up with Plant City Yoga for a special happy hour. Sam will lead guests through the yoga flow while the Corner Store makes drinks. It’s $15 for the yoga class and a drink. Bring your friends, find balance and let loose. All levels welcome, just bring your own mat.

PLANT CITY COMMUNITY LADIES BIBLE STUDY

AMVETS POST 44 FRIDAY NIGHT DINNERS

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It’s strawberry time for the Plant City Community Ladies Bible Study. Come for this monthly strawberry luncheon and Bible Study and bring a covered dish. The Bible study is held at the Plant City Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St., and all ladies are welcome. There is a $1 suggested donation.

6 p.m. The AmVets Post 44, 5521 FL-60, Plant City, FL 33567, is hosting a weekly dinner on Friday nights. The first Friday of every month is a menu of steaks and sides for $10. For more information visit amvetspost44.org.

KRISTEN HAMRICK AND SHELBY BEDWELL

6:30 p.m. Join Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., in the loft for an evening of worship led by Kristen Hamrick and Shelby Bedwell. A love offering will be collected.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

TOD

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

7:30 to 9 a.m. Plant City Toastmasters meets every Thursday morning at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St.

RAISED EARTH BOX WORKSHOP 9 a.m. Come on out to the Plant City Commons Community Garden. 2001 E. Cherry St., for a Raised Earth Box Workshop. Build your own table height garden. Ed Buckley will furnish materials and guide you step by step to assemble your new growing space. Suggested $35 donation. RSVP required. Contact Karen at 813-435-8111 or by emailing 12circle8@gmail.com.

BLUEGRASS JAM

7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., is hosting its monthly Bluegrass Jam. This is an open invitation for local Bluegrass musicians and fans to come to the Krazy Kup Loft and jam, clap hands, stomp feet, and enjoy. Don’t forget about our Bluegrass Nights on the third Thursday of every month.

MONDAY, MARCH 9 PLANT CITY DAYBREAK ROTARY CLUB

7 to 8 a.m. The Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club holds a meeting every Monday morning. Now the group will be meeting in the Community Meeting Room of the Plant City Family YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place.

Guests are welcome.

TUESDAY, MARCH 10 SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB

9 a.m. Come on out to the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St., each Tuesday to play Shuffleboard. You’ll be an expert in no time. The club is hosted by Anita Balch and she can be contacted at 808-722-5821 for more information.

WHEN SCHOOL’S OUT

UP N G I S AY!

THURSDAY, MARCH 12

MAHJONG CLASS

2 to 4 p.m. Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., hosts a Mahjong Class on Thursdays. Whether you’re a first-time player or a seasoned expert, join them every week to play American Mahjong.

BIRTH EXPERIENCE CLASS

6 to 8 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital is offering a Birth Experience Class. This class covers various aspects of labor and delivery, such as labor signs, breathing techniques, pain control options and hospital policies. Participants may bring one guest to classes. Please bring a notepad to take notes. Snacks will be provided.

The class is held in ICU Conference Room, 2-South. Registration is free, but required.

Call 1-855-269-4777.

FUN IS IN!

Bring your kids to the Plant City YMCA on most school holidays* for an exciting, enriching experience while you’re at work or out and about!

PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA 1507 YMCA Pl., Plant City | 813 757 6677 | tampaymca.org

SPRING BREAK

IS AROUND THE CORNER!

*See website for available dates.

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg March 5, 2020 PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

3/5

FORECAST THURSDAY, MARCH 5 High: 87 Low: 62 Chance of rain: 20%

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 High: 74 Low: 45 Chance of rain: 10%

33 Small role for a big star 34 Garments that may run 35 Child’s first card game, maybe 36 FedEx alternative 37 Borscht ingredients 39 Showed up 40 Friend 41 Heavenly bear 42 Opinions 43 Devious 44 Cloak-and-dagger figure 47 Cow’s mouthful 48 Foot-long item?

49 Its tech hub is Bangalore 52 Fulfills 57 What’s full of cold cuts?

59 Egg-shaped tomato 60 Dangle 61 Hideaways 62 Furry creature from Endor 63 Cookie with an annual mystery flavor 64 ___ & Young 65 Lighten, as a burden DOWN 1 Parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme 2 Air freshener target 3 Not fooled by 4 Mail boxes?

5 Mojave, for one 6 Literary Twist 7 Lymph ___

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

High: 69 Low: 48 Chance of rain: 0%

SUNDAY, MARCH 8 High: 76 Low: 55 Chance of rain: 10%

STRAWBERRY Shipping point: Central Florida $6.90-$8.90

8 More than ajar 9 Casual shirt 10 Stick on 11 “___ there, done that” 12 Rear 13 Graphic design and others 19 ’70s jeans style 21 Alexa’s smart speaker 24 Room littered with toys, e.g.

25 Keurig machine inserts 26 Stuffy-sounding 27 Hint at 28 Start of a rumor 29 Nickname for Dorothy 30 No longer sleeping 31 Microwavable noodle dish 32 Feature of a blue jay’s head 37 Born’s partner 38 Key pushed in desperation 39 How some hens are raised 41 Ordinary 42 New Mexico art colony 45 Perfume ingredients 46 Craving 47 Phillips 66 competitor 49 Texter’s “If you ask me” 50 Warm, in a guessing game 51 Native of Copenhagen 52 “The Lion King” villain 53 Related (to) 54 The Hawkeye State 55 Angsty teens, perhaps 56 Sushi go-with 58 ___ Miss

19

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Mar. 5

6:48a

6:32p

Friday, Mar. 6

6:47a

6:32p

Saturday, Mar. 7

6:46a

6:33p

Sunday, Mar. 8

7:45a

7:33p

Monday, Mar. 9

7:44a

7:34p

Tuesday, Mar. 10

7:43a

7:35p

Wednesday, Mar. 11

7:42a

7:35p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, MARCH 7

After Dark by Martha Kimes

ACROSS 1 Circular earring 5 Words before “PASS GO” 10 “Waterloo” band 14 ___ Turnblad (lead role in “Hairspray”) 15 Run for your wife?

16 Cause of goosebumps 17 Campus military org.

18 Part of a long list in many drug commercials 20 Neither profited nor lost 22 Sausage servings 23 Farm measure 24 Limit, informally 25 ’80s TV series with a KITT car 30 Storyline shape

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Mar. 23 New

Mar. 28 First

Mar. 9 Full

Mar. 19 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Feb. 24

0.00

Tuesday, Feb. 25 0.11 Wednesday, Feb. 26

0.50

Thursday, Feb. 27 0.04 Friday, Feb. 28

0.00

Saturday, Feb. 29 0.00 Sunday, March 1

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 02.46 in.

2020 0.00 in.

2019 03.22 in.

2019 0.42 in.

WEATHER

44 Cloak-and19 ’70s jeans 39 How some ACROSS dagger style hens are 1 Circular figure 21 Alexa’s raised earring smart 41 Ordinary 5 Words before 47 Cow’s mouthful speaker 42 New Mexico “PASS GO” 48 Foot-long Room 10 art colony Send“Waterloo” your photo submissions to Associate Editor24 Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com item? littered with band 45 Perfume or hashtag #iloveplantcity Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

49onIts tech hub toys, e.g.

14 ___ Turnblad ingredients is Bangalore 25 Keurig (lead role in 46 Craving 52 Fulfills machine “Hairspray”) 47 Phillips 66 57 What’s full of inserts 15 Run for your competitor cold cuts?

26 Stuffywife?

49 Texter’s “If 59 Egg-shaped sounding 16 Cause of you ask me” tomato 27 Hint at goosebumps 50 Warm, in a 60 Dangle 28 Start of 17 Campus guessing 61 Hideaways a rumor military org. game 62 Furry 29 Nickname 18 Part of a 51 Native of creature for Dorothy long list in Copenhagen from Endor 30 No longer many drug 52 “The Lion 63 Cookie with sleeping commercials King” villain an annual 31 Microwav20 Neither 53 Related (to) mystery able noodle profited 54 The flavor dish nor lost Hawkeye 64 ___ & Young 32 Feature of 22 Sausage State 65 Lighten, a blue jay’s servings 55 Angsty as a burden head 23 Farm teens, DOWN 37 Born’s measure perhaps 1 Parsley, partner 24 Limit, 56 Sushi sage, 38 Key informally go-with rosemary pushed in 25 ’80s TV 58 ___ Miss or thyme desperation series with 2 Air freshener a KITT car target 30 Storyline PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER 3 Not fooled shape ThisSmall Muscovy duck loves Panera 33 role by more than some humans so, as Shelley King saw that she built her nest right under their marquee sign on James L. Redman Parkway. for a big star 4 Mail boxes?

Follow us on social 5 Mojave, for media: @PCObserver on Instgram, 34 Garments ON I N run E @PlantObserver one thatLmay on Twitter and Plant City Observer Literary 35 Child’s first on6Facebook.

Twist card game, 7 Lymph ___ maybe 8 More than 36 FedEx ajar alternative 9 Casual shirt 37 Borscht 10 Stick on ingredients 39 Showed up 11 “___ there, 40 Friend done that” 12 Rear 41 Heavenly 13 Graphic bear design and 42 Opinions 3/4 © 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal 43 Devious others www.upuzzles.com

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020

PlantCityObserver.com