3.8.18 PLCO by Plant City Observer

Sweet memories The first Royal Roundup SEE PAGE 4

Festival concerts get grand SEE PAGE 8

VOLUME 5, NO. 36

YOUR TOWN Tick, tock. Turn forward your clock!

Parades and more photos SEE PAGE 12

FREE

PCHS rises to the top Plant City High was awarded a $10,000 NBC R.I.S.E grant to enhance the school’s drama program. SEE PAGE 3

Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. March 11.

Breanne Williams

As drama teacher Audrey Schmidt announced the school had won, her students began to cry.

StrawBuddy Selfie update This is your last chance to win Brad Paisley concert tickets through the 2018 Strawbuddy Selfie Challenge. Go to plantcityobserver.com for full details of the contest. The cutoff is at 5 p.m. on March 8 and winners will be announced March 9 on the Plant City Observer’s Facebook page. Winners can pick up their tickets at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s booth at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Design complete on new station By early 2019, the Plant City Fire Department will have three fully operational stations. SEE PAGE 6

•

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

YOUR TOWN

Breanne Williams

Reba McEntire cried as she watched her former bandmate propose to his girlfriend.

Slipping on that little rock Reba McEntire helped a former bandmate give the proposal of a lifetime Sunday evening during her concert at the Florida Strawberry Festival. Calling Wayne Lewis and his girlfriend, Roselle Everett Spann, on stage to aid in a raffle, the tables quickly turned when Wayne dropped to one knee and produced a ring. McEntire dabbed her eyes throughout the proposal, then jokingly said she should have passed tissues around and sold them for $1, saying “I would’ve made a fortune.” Lewis joked he was grateful for the help from both McEntire and the 11,500 audience members in attendance in pulling off his grand proposal. After all was said and done, the couple thanked McEntire for sharing such a special moment with them. Lewis said she truly was “one of the sweetest and kindest people” alive.

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

WEEK OF MARCH 8, 2018 BY THE NUMBERS

$10,000

“I know this is going to get put to good use, I know we’re going to do incredible things with it. We just never expected to get this opportunity, but now that we have it we’re not going to waste it.”

Photojournalism contest returns

— Lexi Knotts, drama historian at PCHS, said in reaction to the $10,000 grant the school’s theatre program won.. READ MORE ON PAGE 3.

LOCAL STUDENTS SCORE BIG

The amount of grant money won by Plant City High School through the R.I.S.E America grants. SEE PAGE 3.

10,500

The capacity of the Florida Strawberry Festival’s upgraded main concert venue. SEE PAGE 8.

The number of competitors with Titanium Gymnastics and Cheerleading in 2018. SEE PAGE 9.

Courtesy Photo

Plant City High School college and Career Counselor Jamie Stephens, Lily Batley, Makayla Johnson, Mackenzie Steele, Sara Demolli, Delaney Flowers, Kanyea Sutton and Plant City Optimist Club President Pat Stottlemyer.

MEETINGS PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. March 15 at The Community Room in the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N Evers St. The meeting is for the Plant City Toastmasters Club #4051.

hree local students participated in the annual Plant City Optimist Club Oratorical Contest on Feb. 19 at the Plant City Recreation & Parks Department. The contest asked, “Where are my roots of optimism?” and students presented a four to five-minute oration in front of an audience of more than 30 people. “This activity helps our young people prepare for their future by developing their public speaking skills,” Optimist Club President Pat Stottlemyer said in a news release. Lily Batley and Kanyea Sutton placed first,

Mackenzie Steele placed second, Delaney Flowers placed third and Sara Demolli and Makayla Johnson were honorable mentions. They were scored on poise, content of speech, delivery and presentation and overall effectiveness. The two first place finishers advanced to the Zone Contest, which is held on April 9. Winners there will advance to the North Florida District’s Southwest Regional Contest for the Tampa Bay area on April 21. The Plant City club will host both the Zone and Southwest Regional competitions this year.

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

The Plant City Photo Archives and History Center announced its photojournalism contest is open to students at Plant City High School and adult residents of the greater Plant City area age 18 or older. Those who enter must use their photographs to tell a story of Plant City or its surrounding area’s history. Up to four photos may be used and a story must be attached. Students must write a 300 to 600-word story and adults must write a 400 to 800-word story. The contest is now open and will close April 12. Winners will be announced April 19. Students should submit entries to Jamie Stephens, PCHS college and carer counselor. Adults should send entries to the Photo Archives and History Center, 106 S. Evers St., or email them to Gil Gott at gil@ plantcityphotoarchives.org. For more information call 813-754-1578.

Land Remembered Tour comes to Plant City

You can see “A Land Remembered” and Patrick Smith’s other popular books come to life at 7 p.m. March 8 at the Bruton Memorial Library. Call the library at 813-7579215 to reserve your space. The event is funded by the Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library.

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PlantCityObserver.com

PCHS drama wins big The school received $10,000 from NBC’s R.I.S.E. America program.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

OTHER GRANT WINNERS n Charles Henderson (Troy, AL) n American Canyon (American

Canyon, CA)

n Henry J. Kaiser (Fontana, CA) n Mariposa County (Mariposa,

CA)

n Vaughn Next Century Learning

Center (San Fernando, CA)

n Seaside (Seaside, CA) n Kunsmiller Creative Arts Acad-

emy (Denver, CO)

n Enfield (Enfield, CT) n School Without Walls

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Tears flowed early Tuesday morning in the Plant City High School auditorium after theater students learned they had won a $10,000 grant from NBC’s R.I.S.E America. Through R.I.S.E America, which stands for Recognizing and Inspiring Student Expression, 50 schools were selected out of 1,000 applicants to receive $10,000 grants to use for their theater programs. NBC partnered with the Educational Theatre Foundation for the nationwide award. Plant City High students spent weeks creating a video and writing an essay to explain why they deserved the grant. It was one of only two Florida schools to receive the award. “I cried and then I laughed,” said drama teacher Audrey Schmidt. “I was just in shock and so humbled and so proud of these kids and the effort they put into being kids deserving of a prize like this. That’s what they are. They’re so deserving and so humble and they care about this community. Then I just laughed because it’s Plant City. Who in Plant City gets national recognition?” When Schmidt made the announcement from the auditorium stage Tuesday morning her students reacted in shock, with many reduced to tears at the news. Behind her, a banner from NBC saying “Congratulations PCHS Troupe 1449” hung above a table adorned with a large cake in their honor. As the students rushed the stage, several walked behind the curtain, tears flowing from their eyes as they called their parents to tell them the news. “I know this is going to get put to good use, I know we’re going to do incredible things with it,” Lexi Knotts, drama historian, said. “We just never expected to get this opportunity, but now that we have it we’re not going to waste it…theater teaches kids skills that I don’t think they could learn anywhere else. It teaches them camaraderie, it teaches them how to work together and function in a

(Washington, D.C.)

n Hallandale (Hallandale

Beach, FL)

n The Howard School (Atlanta,

GA)

n Nanakuli High and Intermediate

School (Waianae, HI)

n Jefferson (Cedar Rapids, IA) n Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, IL) n Scecina Memorial

(Indianapolis, IN)

n Leavenworth (Leavenworth, KS) n Boyle County (Danville, KY) n Alfred Bonnabel Magnet

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n Hamtramck (Hamtramck, MI) n Pine Island (Pine Island, MN) n Grand Center Arts Academy

(St. Louis, MO)

n Gautier (Gautier, MS) n Park (Livingston, MT) n Malcolm Public Schools, Dis-

trict 148 (Malcolm, NE)

n Belmont (Belmont, NH) n Bound Brook (Bound

Brook, NJ)

group, but also to love the people that you’re with.” Schmidt said the theater program is the only reason some of her students come to school. She said the experience teaches them how to empathize with other people, which is “something our world desperately needs.” Principal Susan Sullivan said it was exciting to see the program grow so quickly over the past few years. Theater has only recently been offered as a class at PCHS and, under Schmidt, it is one of the fastest-growing courses available. Sullivan said plugging into a program helps students feel connected and supported, which ultimately helps them do better in classes. Though budgets across the country are tight for the arts, Jason Katims, creator and executive producer of R.I.S.E., said offering the grants and directly impacting high school drama programs is a “dream come true.” “It has never been clearer that the future of our country rests on the shoulders of the next gen-

eration of young leaders,” Katims said in a news release. “I am excited about the notion that the R.I.S.E. America grants will help support, inspire and nurture creative young minds throughout the country, especially at a time when arts in education is undervalued and under-funded.” The money will be used to enhance the program and help them put on more shows that deal with a social issue, Schmidt said. This year, the group is putting on a dual-language production of “Aladdin,” which she said may have been key in helping them win the grant. She said the group is taking a risk on something no one else is doing, costing “the entire theater budget” to accomplish. “They found theater and they found a place to belong, they found a home,” Schmidt said. “Now they don’t want to leave and they’re pulling more and more people in, which is how we’ve gone from one class to five in three and a half, four years.”

n Union Senior (Union, NJ) n Digital Arts & Technology Photos by Breanne Wiliiams

Top: Drama teacher Audrey Schmidt surrounded by her theater students. Above Left: Lauren Mendoza cut a cake that had been made in the students’ honor. Above: Drama teacher Audrey Schmidt began to cry while announcing to her students they had won the $10,000 grant.

Academy (Albuquerque, NM)

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Plant City man flees troopers, kills woman FHP said a 61-year-old woman died after being hit by a Plant City man’s vehicle in Wildwood. DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

Wherever Troy Kinkade was heading Tuesday morning, he was trying to get there fast. He got to jail instead, with a homicide charge added to an already lengthy rap sheet. Kinkade, 23, of Plant City, was

arrested Tuesday morning for vehicular manslaughter, among other charges, after leading troopers on a chase that resulted in a 61-year-old woman’s death, Florida Highway Patrol said. According to FHP, around 6 a.m. Tuesday, a trooper clocked Kinkade driving a 2017 Nissan Altima at 92 mph as he passed the Sumter and Marion county line on southbound Interstate 75. The chase began. The trooper, FHP said, attempted to overtake Kinkade as he headed south with a 17-yearold Plant City boy, 33-year-old Lakeland man and 35-year-old

Texas woman in the car. Racing the trooper down the highway just a dozen miles south of Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Kinkade suddenly turned off the highway at the State Road 44 exit. Just as Kinkade was blowing through a solid red light at the end of the exit ramp, FHP said, Kristin Reed, 61, of Homosassa Springs was heading east on SR-44 in 2006 Toyota Camry. Kinkade’s vehicle struck Reed’s as she passed through a solid green light, FHP said. The two vehicles spun and stopped along the grass of the intersections southern shoulder. Reed died at the scene.

Ending life was apparently not enough to end the chase for Kinkade, according to an FHP report. After the crash he led the trooper on a foot chase, but was apprehended. Kinkade was taken to Sumter County jail and charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, driving while license suspended involving a death, leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and a felony warrant for resisting an officer with violence and misdemeanor warrant for no valid driver license from Hillsborough County. According to records from the

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Kinkade has been arrested at least 10 times before on charges including drug possession, domestic violence and multiple arrests for armed robbery since he was 15 years old. As of Wednesday, he is still being held in Sumter County jail. FHP spokesperson Steve Gaskins said the passengers did not flee and were not charged with anything. All three passengers were treated for minor injuries at Leesburg Regional Medical Center. Reed was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, FHP said.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

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“It was kind of like Christmas morning,” Queen’s Court member Selena Berrios said. “I set my alarm for 2 a.m. but still woke up early. I was just so excited, we all were. It was finally here.” By 5 a.m. the girls were dressed to the nines, smiling and standing under the flashing lights of the fair rides as they greeted the media and talked about what to expect over the next 11 days. When the gates opened at 10 a.m. they were standing at each turnstile, waving and even occasionally hugging visitors to the festival. Their itinerary was extensive, but their smiles and enthusiasm never wavered. “This is really who they are, they’re very genuine and just truly love the festival,” Donna Keel, chairman of the Strawberry Queen committee and co-strawberry mom to the royals, said. “They never once wavered. It’s a long day. We’re here before the sun is up and stay until late that night, but they never complained and were excited for each new thing we did. They use their titles for the good of the festival, not the good of themselves and that shows.” Though they’ve had the crown and sashes for months, the girls said they are still caught offguard by the number of people who want to meet them. "I just think it’s really cool how people come up to us because we all think we’re just normal people, but the love we’re shown is truly humbling,” Queen Ally Burt said. “That first day, a mom just handed her baby to us. They’re all so kind and we’re honored to get to be a part of this.” The 11 days of the festival have been described by previous queens as a “whirlwind experi-

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

Left: Court member Selena Berrios helped First Maid Dallas Baker with her makeup before they left for a concert. Above: Queen Ally Burt's aunt, Jules Burt, painted these portraits for The Palace.

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ence.” In order to be sure they are all able to remember their experiences, Burt is keeping a journal in which she has each girl write their favorite moment of the day before they all leave for the night.

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While taking a moment to relax in the Palace — a room at the festival where the Queen and Court get ready and rest between events — the girls joked about the influence their strawberry moms, Keel

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and Di Lott, have already had on their lives. Berrios said they’ve already begun to pick up some of their quirks, like calling any purse a “pocketbook.” Though laced with light teasing, the girls unanimously agreed they would never have been able to “pull this off” without Keel and Lott. From them, the girls said, they continue to learn how to deepen their love of their town and how to serve others. “That attitude, that’s what the festival is all about,” Burt said. “Its southern hospitality and Plant City is deep in tradition. Whoever we meet here, we try to show them that.” First Maid Dallas Baker and court members Baylee Astin and Zoe Rasmussen all shared moments from the past week that

they know will stay with them forever. Rasmussen talked about the love she’s seen from the two women who volunteer to help them get ready each day. Baker shared stories of getting to know the people who are in charge of parking who greet them with a smile and kind word each morning. Astin smiled as she reflected on getting to greet and help some of the people who first came in the gate early Thursday morning. Though they may be tired, the girls all agreed this has been one of the greatest experiences of their lives. “This is just the beginning,” Berrios said. “I can’t wait to see what we’ll get to do with our community over the next year.”

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

Plant City goes green with new fire station Design work is complete and construction set to begin on city’s third fire station. DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

Plant City’s newest fire station is fully designed, under budget and prepped for continued energy efficiency. The new fire station, the city’s third, will be built along Park Road near the old Tourist Information Center building at 1702 N. Park Road. The station was originally estimated to cost around $319 per square foot, but was reduced to about $267 square foot at the 30% design phase. The price has dropped even more with design completion, coming in at around $262 per square foot for building construction, giving the total project a price tag of just over $3 million. “Not only are we getting a fire station that meets our needs, but we’re building this on a very prominent location in one of the gateway streets of our city and that will be quite a statement for the traffic passing by,” City Manager Bill McDaniel said. “I think that, for the fire department, it’s a very fitting addition that we have a nice display area for the antique fire engine. This design incorporates many of the modern features and needs of our fire department.”

Courtesy rendering

The new fire station is expected to open in 2019.

Jeff McDowell of Wannemacher Jensen Architects, the project designer, said the new building was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Green Building Initiative Green Globe standards, which measure a building’s energy efficiency and

climate impact. It will not, however, receive certification from the organizations because of the costly process, he said. McDowell said he was able to come in under budget, but include all the requested design elements like a display bay out front for the city’s 1927 American LaFrance

fire engine. “The people of Plant City are really proud of their heritage,” McDowell said. “We were able to preserve and display it with that bay out front.” While Plant City’s past was able to be preserved, McDowell said the station still looks to the

future, incorporating modern design elements for ease of maintenance and movement. “The plan is designed to get firemen from their dorms to the truck as quickly as possible and with no obstacles in the way so they don’t run into anything in the dark,” he said. The three-bay station is set to be equipped with seven private dorms with individual bathrooms for privacy, making it easier to accommodate mixedgender crews. The building will also feature exposed brick that works structurally as well as aesthetically. The building will also feature polished concrete floors, solid-surface countertops, limited paint and conduits on the roof to add solar panels, which will increase the building’s efficiency. “Virtually every problem we’ve had has been addressed,” Fire Chief Daniel R. Azzariti said. “The firefighters are very excited about it. They are thrilled to death to have it move forward.” Currently, the city is divided into two zones with fire stations at 604 E. Alexander St. and 809 N. Alexander St. The new station will divide the city into three zones, with the third serving the city’s northeast quadrant, where the highest volume of growth is expected to occur. Construction on the new 8,400-square-foot fire station is expected to be completed by February of 2019.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

Florida Highway Patrol said an 80-year-old woman died following a crash on Interstate 4 Tuesday. According to FHP, Thomas Stedem, 57, of Lakeland, was driving Gertrude Minneman and Marvin Minneman, both 80 and both of Maryland, east on I-4 in a 2015 Ford Escape. William Grimer Jr., of Plant City, was behind them in a 2017 Ford F-350. The two vehicles passed the Alexander Street exit just after 3 p.m., FHP said. Stedem saw traffic stopped ahead and drove onto the left shoulder to avoid collision. Grimer did the same. It was then, FHP said, that Grimer’s vehicle crashed into the

DOCTOR’S NOTE

rear of Stedem’s, launching the Ford Escape into the driver’s side of a Cadillac SRX stopped for traffic. The Escape overturned and Gertrude Minneman was ejected from the back seat of the vehicle. Grimer’s truck rotated and hit the rear driver’s side of the SRX. Gertrude Minneman was transported to South Florida Baptist Hospital, where she died from her injuries. FHP said she was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Stedem and Marvin Minneman were transported to Lakeland Regional Health with minor injuries. Grimer and the driver of the Cadillac did not report any injuries. FHP said alcohol or speed are not believed to be factors in the crash, but charges are pending. Tuesday’s crash shut down the two left lanes of I-4 surrounding the accident for about four hours, causing even more congestion than usual during the busy Florida Strawberry Festival season.

LETTER

One dead in Tuesday afternoon I-4 crash Most of eastbound I-4 in Plant City was shut down for several hours.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

Make Plant City great again The out-of-town land speculators, who gambled on a land development scheme within Walden Lake that would have destroyed the essence of the Walden Lake community, have come up “snake eyes” — thank goodness. Their visions of a windfall, from the sweat equity of many, are now nothing but a mirage. Today, the 350-plus acres now sit in receivership with Today’s Bank of Little Rock, Arkansas — now what? The time has now come for the many talented men and women of Plant City, in government, in civic associations, in academia and in business, to come together to build a meaningful solution — not just for the residents of Walden Lake, but for all the residents of Plant City. I can see a government, civic and private partnership — a consortium —

that could very well become a model for other municipalities facing similar challenges across the country. I am submitting these specific ideas to the Mayor and commissioners of Plant City, WLCA and other interested business interests. The 350 acres of green space that surround our homes is very much our “community center.” In fact, I would say it has the potential to impact beyond Walden, and even beyond the City of Plant City. Without going into detail here, if this “consortium” thinks outside the box and acts without haste, this land could become a city asset that pays many dividends. I encourage others to come forward. More important than money is that we now act together to make Plant City even greater! DON MARSHALL PLANT CITY

FLORIDA E.N.T. & ALLERGY

Identifying voice and swallowing disorders Don’t wait too long to seek treatment for some of your body’s most important functions.

our voice and your ability to swallow are all things you may take for granted, until you have a problem with one of them. Because your voice is the best tool for communication, it is important to do everything you can to keep it healthy. While singers, actors and public speakers might be first in line seeking care for their voices, we all depend on our voices either for our profession or for our daily interactions with others. Swallowing disorders, often referred to as dysphagia, can affect people of any age. Normal swallowing involves the movement of food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach while

protecting the airway. Ear, Nose and Throat physicians who specialize in disorders of the throat and larynx (“voice box”) are called Laryngologists. So how do you know when you should visit a Laryngologist? When voice and swallowing problems start to interfere with daily functioning and persist more than two weeks, it is time to seek treatment. “We are very fortunate to

be able to offer efficient and comprehensive evaluation for patients with these kinds of concerns here at our facility,” Daniel Vincent, M.D., Laryngologist and Director of the Florida Center for Voice and Swallowing, said. “Depending on the cause of the voice or swallowing disorder, a variety of treatment options exist to help our patients get on the road to better quality of life. Individuals are different, so therapy is customized to each patient’s needs.” There are many methods for treating disorders of the throat and larynx, depending on the diagnosis. Noninvasive options may include voice or swallowing therapy with our speech pathologists, or medical treatment for common conditions like reflux or allergy. In some cases, surgery may be necessary, and it is most

often through brief outpatient procedures. The Florida Center for Voice and Swallowing specializes in the diagnosis and management of voice and swallowing disorders, offering the latest technology and a coordinated team approach to patients. It is a dedicated center of excellence at Florida E.N.T. & Allergy, the region’s premier single-specialty ear, nose and throat practice. With board certified ENT physicians in 11 convenient locations, our experienced team specializes in all aspects of ear, nose and throat care to address your concerns.

For more information about Florida E.N.T. & Allergy, visit www. floridaentandallergy.com.

CHECK-UP SYMPTOMS TO WATCH: n Consistent hoarseness n Persistent sore throat n Voice projection problems n Chronic cough n “Lump” in the throat n Coughing during or after eating n A wet or gurgled sounding voice during or after eating/ drinking n Difficult or painful swallowing n Recurring pneumonia or chest congestion after eating n Weight loss or dehydration COMMON CAUSES OF VOICE DISORDERS: n Overuse and abuse of the voice n Polyps, nodules or cysts of the vocal cords n Reflux n Allergies

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

PLANT CITY

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 / Daniel Figueroa IV DFigueroa@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major CMajor@yourobserver.com Daniel Figueroa IV

Greg Buckner of GT Grandstands takes in the Oak Ridge Boys from the grandstands he helped build.

Grand(stand) opening Fans tried out the Florida Strawberry Festival’s new seating for the first time during the Oak Ridge Boys’ March 1 concert. Reba McEntire’s concert was the first sell-out show since the remodel. DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

Thirty-five years in the bleacher and grandstand business can mean a lot of opening days, but March 1 was different for Greg Buckner. Buckner, vice-president of GT Grandstands, sat with his arms spread across the strawberry-red back of the festival’s new grandstand seating as the Oak Ridge Boys took the stage and broke into their 1984 song, “Everyday.” “I’ve been to a lot of opening ceremonies, but none like this,” he said, a smile stretching from ear to ear. “This has been fantastic. It far exceeds our expectations.” Being a part of a project like the $5 million grandstand’s construction is a special experience, but even more so, he said, because he got to do it in his hometown. For anyone in his industry, he said, it’s a rare treat. The new seating, an upgrade from the steep concrete bleachers of old William Schneider Memorial Stadium that once served as home to Plant City High School’s football team, has been a sore subject for some. It took away the free bleacher seating that drew many to the festival. Some patrons, not used to paying for seats above ground, took exception to being placed in the grandstand. “It’s terrible,” longtime festival-goer Carolyn Tester said. “They didn’t ask if we needed handicapped seating. We thought we’d be down there.” Carolyn and her husband, Lloyd, have been attending the festival for more than 20 years. While the seats look nice, they said, they wouldn’t have opted to pay for it in lieu of the old free bleacher seating. Daniel Six, however, disagreed. A first-time festival-goer who has been looking forward to attending for some time, said he was glad to have finally made the trip over from Clermont. Sitting stage left, he said the seats are good from any vantage and it looks like a venue built for a true

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Daniel Figueroa IV

The Oak Ridge Boys playing the Wish Farms Soundstage on opening day, March 1.

concert-going experience. “I love the ramps and handicap spaces,” he said. “I’m more than willing to pay the money. This is a nice facility.” Six, who uses a wheelchair, said he was especially excited to return Wednesday evening to see Trace Adkins. His only disappointment was not being able to get a ticket for Reba McEntire’s show. The new grandstand is designed to provide an improved sonic experience, but also offers better viewing and photographic opportunities, Harry Jeffcoat, a longtime festival photographer said. The back of the new grandstand sits 12 feet closer to the stage than the front of the old bleachers. “It’s a perfect angle for some of the stage shots,” Jeffcoat said. “It gives me a chance to get more of a variety. I didn’t have a raised platform before. As the Tennessee quartet finished up their first song, tenor Joe Bonsall walked to the front of the stage. “Is this the first show in the new amphitheater,” he asked the crowd to a response of cheers. “Give it up for the new amphitheater,” he responded back, getting more cheers in return. A festival mainstay, Bonsall said the boys will be back in town next year. “All we have to do is keep breathing,” he said, “and we’ll be here.”

To contact us, send your information via: Email: Sarah Holt, SHolt@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

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is locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC.

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SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE The Oak Ridge Boys may have had the honor of being the first to play for the new grandstands, but it was Reba McEntire's March 4 show that was the first to sell out the redesigned venue. The Florida Strawberry Festival's concert grounds reached its 10,500-person capacity for the first time during her Sunday night performance. Festival President Paul Davis said responses from the community have been positive, but his crews are still working out kinks with the new seating. Davis said sound engineers are tweaking the mixes for different crowd sizes to achieve the perfect balance as concerts go on. He also said the Festival is looking at adding numbered gates to the tickets so patrons can know which side of the arena to enter for quicker seating.

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MARCH 8, 2018

HIGH

SPORTS 1

Trenton White recently won two billiards championships in three weeks. He won the Billiard Education Foundation’s 14U 9-Ball state championship in Jacksonville on Feb. 17, then won the BEF’s state 10-Ball championship in Tampa on Sunday.

Justin Kline

Fire Fist Boxing Promotions fighters William Silva and Ricky Tomlinson won their March 3 fights in Clearwater. Silva’s win over Rogelio Casarez earned him the IBO Continental North American Lightweight and National Boxing Association World Lightweight championships. Tomlinson beat Ernest Hall in four rounds.

Tomlinson picked up a win in his March 3 boxing match.SEE PAGE 11

Remembering Terry Thomas Sr. The former Negro Leagues baseball player and Plant City resident died Feb. 16. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Terry Thomas Sr.’s two greatest loves in life were his family and his favorite sport, baseball. The Plant City native, who played in the Negro Leagues and semiprofessional baseball leagues in the 1940s and part of the 1950s, died Feb. 16. He was 89. Terry Thomas Sr., born in the Coronet Quarters, always loved playing sports. He found his calling in baseball after a stint in

semi-professional football with the Plant City Trojans and played for the Plant City Aces and Pepsi-Cola Giants between 1944 and 1950. Though he primarily played in the outfield, he was known locally for being able to pitch with either arm — a trait passed on to his son, Terry Thomas Jr. In 1947, Terry Thomas Sr. was recruited by the Atlanta Black Crackers of the Negro Leagues and spent time playing for them, the Homestead Grays and the New Orleans Black Pelicans. He crossed paths with hall-of-famer Jackie Robinson — whom Terry Thomas Sr. called “the fastest guy I’ve ever seen” in 2016 — and other legends of the game including Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. SEE THOMAS PAGE 11

File photo

Terry Thomas Sr. was proud of his baseball playing days and never lost his love for the sport.

They’ve got spirit

Titanium Gymnastics and Cheerleading’s teams are performing well in the 2018 competition season. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Carlson Gracie Plant City/CrossGuard Fitness moved to downtown Plant City, 109 E. Reynolds St., on March 3. Approximately 60 people came out to the grand opening event, which featured black belt seminars and catering from Norma’s Plant City Cuban Sandwich Shop and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Durant and Plant City’s baseball teams played a close game at Cougar Path on March 2 that ended with the Raiders picking up a 2-1 win. Parker Messick pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts and five hits and one walk allowed to get the win for Plant City. On the softball field, the Raiders picked up an 8-1 win over the hosting Cougars. Ashley Blessin also pitched a complete game to earn the win, striking out six and allowing four hits and two walks.

Titanium’s Level 1 Mini team may be young, but the girls have confidence and sass in spades.

Five local wrestlers competed in the FHSAA 3A state championship tournament over the weekend. Strawberry Crest’s Chas Waller was the only one to place, finishing sixth overall in the 152-pound bracket. Crest teammates Jake Spray (126), Trenton Davidson (170) and Joe Hatfield (182), along with Durant’s Daniel “Reese” Haley (152), also wrestled in the tournament.

Titanium’s Level 2 Juniors team loves performing in front of cheering crowds, big or small.

Sometimes, two heads work better than one. Titanium Gymnastics and Cheerleading can vouch for that, as its Plant City and Lithia locations are working together to win lots of hardware at competitions this season. The all-stars cheer teams have been to five competitions and consistently performed well — especially the Level 1 Mini team, which has placed in the top three in each event. Most recently, on Feb. 25, the Level 1 and 2 allstars teams took first and second place, respectively, in the JAM Bash Kissimmee competition, held at Silver Spurs Arena. The move to consolidate the gyms’ rosters helped bring Titanium’s total number of competitive athletes in the program up to 47 for 2018, which coach Gina Pribil said is an increase from last year’s total. “We’re hoping to keep building that and see where we can go,” Pribil said. The Level 1 and 2 teams have been the center of attention thanks to their winning ways. Pribil said the Mini team, made up of kids age 5 through 8, quickly got over any nerves they had early in their first competitive all-stars season. The group built up its confidence over time and is now the “sassiest” in the program. “They’re a really sassy team,” Pribil said. “There’s only six of them, but you would think there’s 20 of them with the amount of sass that they have. Their sass keeps you on your toes and they SEE TITANIUM PAGE 10

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

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Not doing what we know is best for us can leave us with the feeling of being out of touch or disconnected from ourselves. We can feel unmotivated or overwhelmed, shut down or even hopeless. This lack of “fire in the belly” is frequently attributed to why we stopped going to the gym or never started in the first place. Let’s explore how procrastination and lack of motivation go hand in hand and what can be done about it.

Time is the number one reason cited for not going to the gym, talking a walk or meditating every day, yet we all have the exact same amount of time. There are 24 hours in every day for everyone. The difference is where we put our priorities and how we spend our time. A sense of failure or frustration is challenging to overcome, especially when your self-care list grows longer and longer.

YOUTH PASTOR

needed in the Plant City area.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “As for my style, for my vision of the cinema, editing is not simply one aspect, it’s THE aspect.” – Orson Welles Puzzle Two Solution: “From the time I was twelve I was dancing for bread and butter, but in my heart I was always an actress.” – Rita Hayworth

This week’s Sudoku answers

This week’s Crossword answers

Pick one personal goal that would truly be just for you. Keep the goal simple and one you really want. Select a goal directly related to your well-being. If you know you need to exercise, maybe working with a personal trainer once a week can get you on the right path. Going to bed 30 minutes earlier every night can start the catch-up on sleep. Remember diet, exercise and sleep are the biggest three things required for healthy living. Start with just one thing for you. ELIMINATE ‘I MUST’ PRESSURE

Take a step back to examine how true some of the “I must” feelings really are. Must you exercise every day or is once a week OK to get going? The fact is, working out once a week is better than not working out at all. Must you take care of everyone else ahead of yourself? Taking care of “number one” is critical to your ability to be able to take care of others as well. Must you answer that text the second it comes in?

Only if you give your cell phone more control than you have. Maybe checking the cell phone at designated times will let you get more done in the bigger picture, rather than stopping what you are doing to respond. Self-care and boundaries are not self-indulgent. They are essential for healthy, happy living. Avoid burnout by recognizing your limits and taking action to honor your needs and preferences. The stress and tension we feel from not taking care of ourselves lurk in the background like a constant nagging reminder. Taking that first step provides unimaginable stress relief. Like a breath of fresh air, feelings of being in control brings a sense of calm and composure. It is a breakthrough. Jennifer Closshey is a doctor of integrative health and a Plant City YMCA yoga instructor.

Titanium FROM PAGE 9

have no filter whatsoever.” The Level 2 Junior team, Pribil said, looked more confident than ever before at JAM Bash. “They were nailing their stuff five times harder and better,” Pribil said. “They were pushing themselves even more and really encouraging each other.” When practicing in the Plant City gym, the Juniors always have their own “audience” — drawings of fans made by the athletes that hang on the back wall of the training room. Pribil said the team thrives off of crowd noise and competing in front of an audience, so they pretend the pictures are real people and get encouraged to do their best. The Level 1 and 2 teams spend three and four hours a week, respectively, honing their craft in the gym. Proper stretching and strength and flexibility training are prioritized early in practice sessions before the gymnasts hit the floor to work on their routines. Pribil and the Titanium coaches often have the athletes practice their tumbling skills 10 times in a row, then show the coaches they can do their techniques properly. If mistakes are made, the gymnasts have to start over again until their technique is perfect. The Titanium teams have two events left on the schedule. For now, their eyes are set on the American Open at the Orange

STEP BY STEP Want to know how to do the perfect cartwheel? Titanium gymnastics coach Gina Pribil broke it down into four steps. 1. Square your hips and reach your arms all the way up. Keep your chin up. 2. Bend forward into a “T” position, and then go to 2018

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Titanium’s competitive teams now practic exclusively in the Ball Street gym in Plant City.

County Convention Center, which will take place March 24 through 25. Everyone in the program wants to win first-place trophies, but Pribil said the ultimate goal of this season is to help every gymnast walk away with more self-confidence than when they started. The Plant City gym will host intermediate and pre-team gymnastics tryouts at 10 a.m. April 14 for $10 per athlete. It will also host cheer tryouts May 15 and 17. The Lithia gym’s cheer tryouts will be held May 19.

a “lever” position where your back leg is straight up in the air, your hands are placed sideways on the floor and your head is tucked in. 3. Kick with your “lever” leg while your bottom leg pushes at the same time. This is the “windmill effect.” We tell kids it’s a 4 step thing: hand, hand, foot, foot. You can’t put both

For more information, visit facebook.com/TitaniumNorth.

hands down at the same time. 4. Land in exact same position as you started. Finish in a lunge with your toes planted, because it’s pretty.

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