4.25.19 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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VOLUME 6, NO. 43

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

HCSO TRACKS DOWN RUNNER A routine traffic stop lead to HCSO deputies having to pursue a man on foot through Walden Lake. SEE PAGE 3

AN EGG-CELLENT EASTER IN PLANT CITY

Breanne Williams

Children piled their baskets high with bright Easter eggs during Saturday’s annual hunt. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The 2019 Easter Egg Hunt featured crystal clear skies and hordes of excited egg hunters decked out in their Easter outfits. SEE PAGE 15

WALDEN LAKE SPEEDERS BROUGHT UNDER REVIEW PCPD spent a week heavily enforcing proper traffic laws in Walden Lake to analyze the speeders racing through the community. SEE PAGE 5

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

For decades, residents of Walden Lake have complained about speeders using roads in the community as a thoroughfare to the other side of town. It’s a complaint PCPD said they’ve continued to tackle, and despite fre-

quent traffic stops, the calls keep coming in. “PCPD had over the years and recently received multiple complaints about speeders and people using Walden Lake as a cut through,” Sgt. Al Van Duyne said. “We use our enforcement to target that and garnered the data from those stops to determine what was really going on.”

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

NEWS BRIEFS

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

South Florida Baptist Hospital/Facebook

Dr. Brooke Shepard has received national recognition for her work.

Meth trafficking hub Health Department disbanded, urges measles 17 arrested vaccinations Seven months after “Operation Ice Cubed” began looking into activity at 1804 South Forbes Road, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported the arrests of 17 people on April 17. HCSO uncovered a large meth trafficking ring based out of the Forbes Road location, which has been the subject of more than 100 calls of service in recent years, and worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration to bring it down. The agencies believe the meth being moved in and out of the Forbes Road residence was made in Mexico and imported into the United States by drug cartels. Agents purchased roughly 1,840 grams of meth in the seven-month span and seized approximately $27,700 in cash.

The Florida Department of Health is urging residents of Hillsborough and other Tampa Bayarea counties who have not been immunized to get the measles vaccine as soon as possible. Though only one case of measles has been reported to the department in 2019 — which wasn’t in the Tampa Bay area — residents of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties are being asked to take precautions just in case the contagious viral disease spreads. “The best way to protect yourself and your family against measles and other vaccinepreventable diseases is by immunization,” public information officer Kevin Watler said in a news release. “In Florida,

children should be immunized against measles with the combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) and should receive two doses, with the first at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second at four to six years of age. Adults should be vaccinated with at least one dose of MMR vaccine, with a second dose recommended for those at higher risk such as international travelers and health care workers. People with underlying health conditions should discuss with their health care provider to determine the need for additional booster doses.” Florida Health Hillsborough County does offer the MMR vaccine, which has a near-100 percent success rate. To learn where and when you can get the vaccine, as well as how much it will cost, call (813) 307-8077. For more information on measles, visit floridahealth.gov/measles.

Tractor Supply Co. to host Market Day Farmers, artisans and crafters are invited to show and sell their goods at Tractor Supply Co., 1803 James L. Redman Parkway, on May 18. Market Day is an event to be hosted at Tractor Supply Co. stores all over the United States, giving vendors a free marketplace for their wares. All vendors have to do is visit the TSC store in Plant City or go online at TSCeventpartners.com before May 15 to sign up. “Our communities are filled with incredible talent,” Mary Lawley, vice president of store administration, said. “As a company, we strive to support our communities and the out here lifestyle, which is why we created Tractor Supply’s Market Day as a way to shine the spotlight on our talented neighbors by providing

them with an easy and convenient way to share their goods with others.”

SFBH doctor wins national award South Florida Baptist Hospital’s own Dr. Brooke Shepard recently became one of 12 doctors nationwide to be named a TeamHealth Medical Director of the Year. Shepard received the honor at the 2019 TeamHealth National Medical Leaders Conference, held April 15 through 18 in Dallas, Texas. Nearly 16,000 health care professionals are affiliated nationally with TeamHealth.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL25, 2019

UNUSUAL EASTER HUNT A on-foot pursuit following a traffic stop lead HCSO deputies on an usual Easter hunt Sunday evening.

Breanne Williams

HCSO’s dive team returned Monday morning to the pond in Walden Lake to search for the missing backpack. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A traffic stop quickly turned into an on-foot police chase during the night of Easter Sunday after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies had to pursue a fleeing suspect through the woods of Walden Lake. While many families were gathered for an Easter dinner HCSO deputies pulled over a blue Chevrolet Sedan at approximately 6:56 p.m. for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign on Turkey Creek Road, according to the HCSO report. The deputy turned on his emergency lights, pulled behind the vehicle and then watched as Dylan Horne, 21, hopped out of the passenger seat and began to run eastbound down Griffin Boulevard. The deputy, who was in full uniform, yelled at Horne, “Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, stop running,” according to the report. Horne refused to comply and soon was out of sight. As Horne wove though the streets of Walden Lake several fami-

lies noticed his unusual behavior. When HCSO arrived hot on his tail, many came out of their homes to watch the commotion. Approximately 20 minutes after fleeing the Chevy, Horne was found by deputies hiding in the tall vegetation north of Griffin Boulevard by a small pond on the abandoned golf course. He was immediately taken into custody. HCSO said they found a white cigarette pack which contained a green leafy substance. It was tested and revealed to be marijuana. Horne was charged with First Degree Petit Theft, Possession of Cannabis (less than 20 grams) and Resisting an Officer without Violence. However, his game of hide-and-seek quickly became more complicated. “The subject ran from the traffic stop and threw what we believe to be a backpack into a pond,” Corporal Donald Cagnina, a member of the HCSO dive team, said. “He’s going to jail and we’re going to try to locate that bookbag.” Prior to the dive team’s arrival a deputy at the scene waded into the murky pond, using a neighbor’s

rake to attempt to fish out the bag from the area they believed it to have sunk in. In a matter of minutes he was soaked and the bag was nowhere in sight. Horne had been successfully located, but the bag had not. Soon other members of the dive team were on site and though the sun had set they suited up and began to comb every inch of the pond. Using the beams from the headlights of their vehicles they created a pseudo-spotlight on the water as the divers worked with practically nonexistent visibility. Tall, thick grass coated the bottom of the pond and while the divers were able to locate dozens of golf balls the book bag never turned up. At approximately 11 p.m., after hours of dedicated searching, they called it a night. At 8 a.m. the next morning they suited up and headed back into the water. This time the visibility was much clearer and they had high hopes they’d quickly locate the black bag. While one diver walked along the edge of the thick grass in the shallow end of the

Courtesy of HCSO

Dylan Horne was arrested after fleeing HCSO deputies.

pond he held a line that another diver further out was connected to. The deputies at the scene were back in the woods they had found Horne crouched in the night before, double checking the foliage to make sure the bag wasn’t hidden among the brush. Slowly the diver combed over inch after inch of the pond’s floor. As he was headed back toward the shoreline the dive team member walking along the edge suddenly came to a stop. His foot had struck an object hidden in the grass. At first he moved it around to determine if it was a log or a stick, but he quickly realized he was stand-

ing on top of the discarded bag. Bending down he carefully pulled it from the water shouting out, “I found it.” He carried the soaking backpack over to the golf path and begin to carefully examine its contents. A gun was pulled out of the bag as were numerous bullets. A bag filled with a white substance was also removed along with a bong and syringe. Horne appeared before a Hillsborough County Judge on Wednesday. The details of that hearing were not available at press time.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

HEALTHY KIDS DAY AT THE YMCA

PLANT CITY

Observer Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

The Plant City Family YMCA will host the free event on Saturday.

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

TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

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

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Universal Crossword

The Plant City Family YMCA’s summer camp offerings for 2019 will be highlighted at Saturday’s event.

Edited by David Steinberg April 25, 2019

48 Brunch, e.g. 11 Many a 38 Precise Kids also gain weight 52 academically. Swiss Monopoly 39 Place to play SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR twice as fast during summer than calculus property: darts automaker the school year. As spring turns pioneer Abbr. 5 What strap42 “The Big summer, Healthy12 Kids Day is a 53 to *Trevino ABC hangers do Bang powerful let chilNewberyreminder not to counterpart 10 “Mad ___: Theory” role Camp Extravaganza at the Plant dren idleabout away their14 summer winner Typedays. Fury Road” 44 Porto ___, City Family the Y wants a portrait, 20 families Uses asto 13 YMCA Start ofcomes with Instead, Brazil an added bonus this Saturday: it’s focus on helping children imagine 1965 a roost a play (REGALE running concurrently with the what they can accomplish over the 56 Graffiti, 21 Wall St. 14 *Robbie anagram) national Healthy Kids Day initia- summer.” to some debut skating 45 Sign up tive. Camp Extravaganza will bring 58 Policy 25 Really funny biopic, 2017 for again All Tampa Metropolitan Area even more activities to the Plant unfriendly to person 15 College 46 Seemingly YMCA locations will host Healthy City Y, from pool relays and a mini Tibetans? 26 Gunpowder wall vine endless Kids Day on Saturday as a free way camp to sports and family Zumba, Wide-eyed container Bronx cheergames,59 that 48 Native Kiwi to get kids16 active through morning and afternoon. The Possesses 28 ___’s 17 Hang 49 Conclude pool activities, music, healthy60 day is meant to highlight the Plant 61 *Asimov applesauce around with snacks and more. Parents can also City Y’s summer offerings and sci-fi book, 18 fun Pince-___ 50 Southwest join in on the and learn how to encourage families29 to Fresh sign their 1950up for the location’s thought 19 *Eckhart brick develop healthy routines for their kids sumkids at home to keep them sound62 mer Healthy H.S.camp. classAs with31 Mac Kids monster 51 Toy bricks of mind and body when they’re not Day, families withthere sinesis no cost for alternatives film, 2014 54 Inch or having fun22 at the Y. attend the event and some 63 to Nahasap32 have Scottish Crooner Mel ounce “When 23 kidsMovie are outlotof school, fun. eemapetilon topper 55 S.F. winter they can facelocales hurdles that pre- of“It’s open to the whole commu“The 33 Once ___ hours vent them24 from reaching their full nity, ” Elizabeth Patton said. “We’re Simpsons” blue moon Executive 56 “Eureka!” potential,” senior communica-64 showcasing all the excitement that Fork prongs 34 Corporate washroom 57 Childish tions directoraccess, Lalita Llerena said our summer camp’s going to have 65 Counting gatherings: say Gambino in a news release. “Research shows to offer this year.” rhyme Abbr. 27 Senior’s genre without access to out-of-school opener 36 Least bit workplace learning activities, kids fall behind DOWN 37 Grappling concern 1 Sizzling martial art 29 “Scout’s tortilla dish honor!” This week’s Sudoku answers2 Arctic mist This week’s Crossword 30 Interrupting PREVIOUS PUZZLEanswers ANSWER 3 Pied-___ jazz 4 Coffeetechnique flavored 35 Captain’s Italian journal dessert 36 “So excited!,” 5 Messy or a hint to rooms the starred 6 1,000 answers kilogrammes 39 Luau staple 7 Teen 40 Illusionist’s feeling coy 8 Vetoes, in explanation Moscow 41 One-eighty 9 “Double43 Camera dog” memory chip 47 Peninsula challenge south of 10 Broadway 4/24 © 2019 Andrews McMeel Universal California legend Liza www.upuzzles.com

We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Sarah Holt, SHolt@PlantCityObserver. com.

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Mail: The Plant City Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

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IF YOU GO Camp Extravaganza and Healthy Kids

Day run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The Plant City Family YMCA is located at 1507 YMCA Place. For more information, call 813-757-6677.

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“When I’m writing, I think about the garden. ...I do a lot of writing by putting something in the ground.” ~ Jamaica Kincaid

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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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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

SPEEDING THROUGH WALDEN LAKE? NOT ON PCPD’S WATCH

Plant City Police Department recently spent a week heavily enforcing speeding in the community to help curb one of the most common complaints among Walden Lake residents. FROM PAGE 1

Breanne Williams

Speeding is something PCPD doesn’t take lightly so officers cracked down on the issue in Walden Lake after receiving numerous complaints.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

A team of officers dedicated a week, approximately 25 hours, to heavily monitoring Walden Lake, pulling over those going well above the limit. Van Duyne said officers work with leniency. If someone is going five or six miles above the posted 30 mile per hour limit they weren’t citing them, however, once people began to fly past and go above 40 miles per hour they quickly got into motion. Van Duyne said there were even a few reckless drivers going more than 50 miles per hour on the winding roads. In the week the officers gave out 28 written warnings, 16 were issued to Walden Lake residents. They also gave out 24 traffic citations, 15 of which were issued to Walden Lake residents. Originally PCPD was hoping to use a radar unit that would be left out for the entire time to monitor the speeds of every car coming toward and driving away from the machine. However, due to a variety of conditions including the curving and narrow roads, the

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live elsewhere and are using the long and winding roads as some sort of shortcut to the other side of town. Van Duyne said whenever someone is stopped for speeding their data is collected by the police. By analyzing that data he was able determine where each heavy-footed driver lives. When all was said and done, the majority of the reckless drivers had addresses right there in the community. “I had a preconceived notion that was going to be the case because I’ve worked here for 20 years,” Van Duyne said. “Over

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gers and walkers frequent, the golf cart paths and the parks and pathways that many take their young children, grandchildren or even their pets to enjoy. The roads themselves are not designed for speeding cars. Every once in a while PCPD has to respond to calls where there have been accidents on Timberlane due to the driver going off the road due to excessive speeding, bad weather or simply not paying attention and missing a curve at night. “You’ve got to slow down and take your time when you’re driving through there,” Van Duyne said. “So many of the accidents we’re called out to could have been easily avoided had the driver been doing what they’re supposed to.” The data, however, didn’t indicate the culprits of the speeding were entirely those “cutting through” Walden Lake. It’s a complaint a large portion of the residents frequently cite. Whether in calls to the police, posts on the Nextdoor app, long protests on Facebook or even calls to the Plant City Observer, residents have frequently expressed the belief the speeders are those who

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unit was not able to get an accurate count. So the final analysis was entirely collected and based off the data from the traffic stops of the officers in Walden Lake. “There weren’t many major speeders, just maybe one or two of those,” Van Duyne said. “Our biggest take away is, we’re not trying to beat people up and hammer them, but when we do enforcement we tend to concede a little before we even pull people over. The speed limit is 30 (mph) and if you’re driving a safe speed we will probably let you be. If you don’t we’re not pulling you over just to be strict, we’re doing it for safety.” Officers still had to split their time enforcing the limit in the community with calls they received for other areas of the city. However, the teams were on site during the early and late morning, right after school and during the evening when commuters would be returning from work. Driving recklessly though the community is dangerous for more than just the at fault drivers. Van Duyne said he understands why residents worry about speeding being an issue, what with the variety of walking trails that jog-

813-986-1266

the years as a line officer pulling people over and then as a sergeant dealing with the people that call me after they’ve gotten a ticket, I’ve kind of been able to create this map in my head of what was going on. Many of those people have lived in Plant City or Walden Lake. To their credit, it’s not hard to go over the speed limit. You look down and think you’re going 35 (mph) and you’re actually doing 48 (mph). I get that, but then again, in a residential area you have to be cognizant of that. You have to drive safe to keep others safe.”

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

LOCAL ARTIST GAINS RENOWN FOR DREAMING AMONG THE STARS Plant City artist Murphy Elliott has spent his life painting homes during the day and creating awe-inspiring artworks at night. His space work in particular has gained him a dedicated following.

Courtesy of Murphy Elliott

Murphy Elliot with “Alien Pirates,” a large oil painting that is the cover of a sci-fi novel. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

urphy Elliott may have built a career as a master painter and home decorator, but he’s spent his life cultivating a cult following thanks to his more creative artworks. It started when Elliott was merely a child. His sister, who was approximately 18 months older, watched in frustration as Elliott would steal her coloring books and create images more vivid than she was able to produce despite her older age. His father was artistically inclined and Elliott said he used art to get his attention. The summer before he went to high school, humanity sent a man into orbit. Suddenly Elliott’s head turned toward space and it never left. Though he was still in many regards a child he wrote to the Chamber of Commerce of all 50 states and asked how they were participating in the space race. Within three weeks he had a stack of papers flooding his mailbox with their replies. “It was a picture of cooperation,” Elliott said. “It’s something that is hard to find nowadays.

Everyone was united for a common cause. You don’t see that now unless there’s a disaster. I loved it, watching that cooperation take place. Competition is good, but a little of both is great. If it’s out of balance, you have a problem.” After completing his stint in the military Elliott went to trade school and eventually became a master painter. Homes were transformed under his careful hand and he built a career working with buildings. In his free time he turned his creative outlet toward oil paintings and pencil sketches, carpentry and sculpting. Anything his mind thought of he brought to life. It wasn’t long before his works of art, especially those of the universe, were gaining international attention. His work has been published in countless magazines and publications throughout the world and has even been featured by NASA. His father was a Pentecostal minister and faith had been drilled into Elliott’s core. It’s no wonder his mind constantly was encamped among the stars. He was looking for Heaven and his imagination, coupled with the intricate facts he knew about the

universe, helped him paint an awe-inspiring reverence to the wonders of galaxies humans have only dreamed of observing. His opinions on the future of space exploration, including the potential of one day using asteroids for mining purposes, have sparked international debates and inspired countless books, poems and paintings. “You can only reach where I am at the speed of imagination,” Elliott said. “You’ve got to imagine it first. The universe has so much to offer us. Yes, I use my imagination, but it’s real to me. It’s called science fiction for a reason. It’s real, it just hasn’t happened yet.” His work has gathered not only a large group of loyal fans — including thousands of social media followers and millions in traffic to his website — but also inspired others. His images are often used as the inspiration for poems and other pieces and he even has a science fiction literary character named after him thanks to a partnership with authors Bob Bello and Tim Longwell. As captivating as his galaxy paintings are, his pencil artworks have drawn in an equally dedicated following. His other work is

all over the community including some of the massive new murals at Dinosaur World. He draws everything from celebrities to commissioned portraits of children and families. For an average of $250 he will create a highly detailed, pencil-sketched portrait of your loved one based entirely off of one good photograph. “People like it because I can take the best photo of their mom and the best photo of their dad and combine them into one high quality drawing,” Elliottt said. “Attention to detail is so important to me. My problem became my pencil drawings were so detailed they looked like photographs. I didn’t want that. I reworked it so if you’re paying for a pencil drawing, you’re getting one. A detailed one, but it will still look like that style of art.” He said he knows he’s “gearing down” and as he continues to age he hopes to be able to produce more commissions of portraits. It’s one of his favorite things to create and he loves seeing the joy on the customer’s face when he presents an image that captures the very essence of the person he’s drawing. He also hopes to be able to work more with the families

and loved ones of fallen soldiers or law enforcement. His artwork, “The Praying Soldier,” has been used by countless groups and organizations including a Catholic church that sends cards with the image to those deploying overseas. Elliott loves a challenge and said there’s never been a request he hasn’t wanted to try to conquer. While he continues to hone his skills and master new artistic practices he said he always looks to help make a meaningful impact on others. “I see other artists and they blow me away with their talent,” Elliott said. “I keep trying to get better. I’m my own worst critic. But I’m constantly in awe of the inspiration others seem to glean from my work. It feels good that somebody saw my artwork and were then inspired to do something of their own.”

INFORMATION Call: 813-300-4433 Email: MurphyElliott@hotmail. com Visit: murphy-elliott.pixels. com or his Murphy Elliott Facebook page

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

ASKED AND ANSWERED The city will soon be unveiling a new project signage program to help facilitate conversations regarding a variety of projects around town between the community and its city leaders.

Courtesy photo

The right image is a mockup of the proposed signage.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The City of Plant City will soon be adding another method to its lineup to help keep residents up to date on the wide variety of city projects underway throughout town. Within the next month, detailed signs will be erected at several of the locations throughout the city where development or improvements are underway. The project signage program will help those who drive or walk by know exactly what is happening at the location as well as its estimated completion date. “I want people to know what the city is doing as well as the completion date for each project,” City Manager Bill McDaniel said. “It’s a way for us to better communicate with the public.” Right now the city is in the process of identifying a vendor and then the details of how the signage will be made will be worked out. The vendor will need to be able to have a near immediate turnaround and be capable of printing the city’s high quality renderings, logos, graphics and other necessary images on the large pieces of signage. McDaniel hopes to unveil the new signage and officially kick off the program during the groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming community center on May 8. The city anticipates a large attendance for the event and will be able to show off not only the future plans for the longawaited center, but also display the indepth signage for the first time. From there, other major projects that are going to be underway this year, like the renovation of the city’s dog park and the multiple parks facilities projects, including the Tennis Center and Brewer Park, will all have their own unique signs on display for all to see. The city is spending approximately $50,000 on installing lighting at Snowden

Park, approximately $115,000 to build bathrooms at Brewer Park, $990,000 to create new concession and restroom facilities at Ellis-Methvin Park, $35,000 for new lighting in the Tennis Center’s parking lot and $275,000 for a restroom and shower facility at the center. All-in-all the total parks renovations throughout the city add up to more than $1.4 million and will be causing major changes throughout the city. However, projects take time. Between finding contractors, getting designs created and approved, breaking ground and then finally having the opening ceremony the public frequently questions the timeline and status of a variety of projects. The hope is having the signs in place at the designated sites will help create a clear and open line of communication between the general public and city leaders. Viewers will have an image of the rendering for the renovation, the construction period, project details, the names of current city commissioners, the project partners and contact information all on one sign. Funding for the signs will either come out of the projects existing budget or will be pulled from the contingency funds. McDaniel said the cost for the signs will be minimal in comparison to the major budgets associated with each project. “People don’t know what we’re doing,” McDaniel said. “I want the public to know what we’re spending our money on, what improvements we’re making throughout the community. We’re doing some phenomenal work this year and there are a lot of impressive projects underway. This signage program will help continue that conversation. It will hopefully reach people that maybe don’t use social media or don’t attend our commission meetings, the people that may be curious, but don’t know what is taking place.”

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

Photos by Justin Kline

The cadets of Class 1805 graduated at the Florida Strawberry Festival’s TECO Expo Hall on April 19.

HCSO HOSTS GRADUATION CEREMONY IN PLANT CITY Forty-five new Hillsborough County deputies wrapped up 30 weeks of intensive training on April 19. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office typically hosts graduation ceremonies at its headquarters, but due to the size of class 1805, had to move Friday’s event to the TECO Expo Hall at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds to accommodate everybody in attendance at the 10 a.m. ceremony. This graduating class is, according to HCSO, one of the most diverse in the agency’s history. It includes 12 women,

10 military veterans, two former college football players, a cancer survivor, several natives of other countries (Peru and Cameroon) and several speakers of French and Spanish. “These are all things we should embrace and celebrate, which I know will make us a better and stronger agency,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said during the ceremony. Class 1805 has also logged the most volunteer hours of any class before it, tallying up more than 1,000. Chronister celebrated the class for its passion and drive to serve the community, and urged the new deputies to stay true to their mission and represent the agency as pillars of the community.

“You are the next generation of peacemakers… we are proud of each and every one of you for your steadfast and unwavering commitment which has led you here today.” — Chad Chronister

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

BERRY PATCH QUILTING GUILD EVENT COMING UP THIS WEEKEND The guild’s quarterly retreat is also open to anyone interested in learning the art of quilting.

Photos courtesy of Laurie Johnston

The Berry Patch Quilting Guild has been active for nearly 20 years. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The art of quilting is alive and well in Plant City, as anyone who enters First Presbyterian Church’s basement over the next few days will learn. Berry Patch Quilting Guild, a Plant City-based group set to celebrate its 20th anniversary this summer, meets in the basement every Wednesday morning, but also hosts three-day “retreats” there every four months that are open to anyone interested in learning their brand of handiwork. The first such retreat of 2019 starts today, but really kicks

into high gear tomorrow and ends Saturday. The goal is not only to put together intricate, beautiful quilts, but also to get others in the Plant City community to give quilting a shot. “We are not what I would call a ‘hardcore’ quilt guild. We’re more of a friendship club,” president Cathie Williams said. “We share our knowledge, experience, tips and shortcuts. We teach each other. Our desire is not only to get new members, but also to make sure none of the skill sets of a true quilter are lost in this day and age.” If anyone ever wondered why Inspire!, a quilting supply shop, needed such a large space down-

town, it’s because the quilting scene is quietly thriving in the Tampa Bay area. Women from Plant City, Valrico, Keysville, Seffner, Dover and even Zephyrhills come to town weekly to meet up and sew. The Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Brandon is well-known in Florida quilting circles for its sheer size and organization. Other smaller guilds dot the landscape of the Tampa Bay area from Brooksville to Bradenton. “It’s one of those things where if you don’t know about it you don’t know about it, but if you do know about it, it’s actually a big community,” longtime member Laurie Johnston said. Though the Berry Patch Guild doesn’t consider itself “hard-

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we are willing to teach you the rest,” Williams said. The ladies plan to spend much of today setting up in the First Presbyterian basement. Tomorrow, the retreat will be active from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the ladies do plan to enjoy the food truck rally in the evening. They will end the retreat activities by 2 p.m. Saturday. Anyone interested in joining the guild can contact either Williams or Johnston, or stop by the church’s basement any Wednesday morning. The church is located downtown at 404 W. Reynolds St.

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core” or even “formal,” as others in nearby cities are, it currently has 35 members and no plans to set a hard cap on a membership count. “Most of us are either relatively new quilters, like myself, and we have a few women who are phenomenal quilters and win championships,” Williams said. The Berry Patch guild prides itself on its commitment to offering one-on-one assistance to its members and regularly features members’ work at art shows like the Florida Strawberry Festival’s, but is also novice-friendly and keeps membership dues down to $25 per member per year. “As long as you can sew a straight seam and thread a needle,

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

TACOS PIKI BRINGS NEW FLAVOR TO DOWNTOWN PLANT CITY

The Dover-based restaurant opened its new Plant City location on April 18. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Less than two years after starting to chase his dream of running his own restaurant, Omar Gonzalez and his family are living it in the heart of Plant City. Tacos Piki officially opened its doors at 115 E. Reynolds St. on April 18 and is ready to introduce Plant City at large to the flavors that have won over the hearts — and bellies — of many in the Dover area. Omar Gonzalez, an electrician by trade, always enjoyed cooking the food for his family’s parties and decided in 2017 it was worth seeing how well received his tacos would be outside of the Gonzalez clan. Changing careers can be quite a gamble but, to hear the family tell it, this one paid off. “Everyone enjoys our tacos, so he decided to just do it,” Leslie Gonzalez said. “It ended up being a great idea.” Tacos Piki has his fingerprints all over it: the name came from his childhood nickname “Piki,’ short for “little pepper,” and the logo was inspired by Cariño, his favorite band. The restaurant started up in his mother’s house, then did well enough to enable a move to 4303 McIntosh Road in Dover within six months. The tacos should prove to be popular with anyone in the area looking for a quick and inexpensive, yet delicious, lunch. They can be ordered at $1.75 each with steak (regular or shredded), pork (seasoned or shredded), chicken, broiled barbacoa beef or tripe, come wrapped in corn tortillas and are topped with cilantro, onion, avocado and cheese. Tacos may be the stars of the show at Tacos Piki, but the restaurant also offers a full suite of classic Mexican favorites such as tostadas, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, elites and menudo. Should the restaurant do well in Plant City, the menu could expand.

The family is still heavily involved with the business and crucial to its success. His wife, Adela Duenas Gonzalez, co-owns the restaurants with him. His children, daughter Leslie and son Ismael Gonzalez, help out at the restaurant when they’re not in their college and high school classes. Also included in the Plant City location’s staff are cousin Pavel Lugo and Elizabeth Bueno, a close family friend “who is pretty much a cousin.” The members of the Gonzalez family want nothing more than to share the food they’ve loved for so long with the rest of the community and see that Tacos Piki has a long, bright future ahead of it. “We all contribute here and we all help out our dad,” Leslie Gonzalez said. “It’s a pretty big thing for him and we’re here to support one another.” Hours for Tacos Piki’s downtown Plant City location are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. For more information, call 813-652-8134. The Dover restaurant’s phone number is 813-756-3197.

Tacos Piki/Facebook

Tortas are a popular menu item with Tacos Piki customers.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PC RALLIES FOR RELAY

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

MELODIES COME TO MCCALL PARK The city has installed new audio equipment throughout McCall Park.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Visitors to McCall Park and the Robert W. Willaford Train Museum may notice a new spring in their step as they listen to streamed music through the city’s new audio equipment that was installed last week throughout the park. The weatherproof speakers are mounted on poles at the depot and in McCall Park and can be used for a variety of events held downtown as well as for background music in the park. “I actually saw this in Sebring during its Soda Festival,” City Manager Bill McDaniel said. “They have a sound system built up through their downtown circle. I thought that was a great idea and could really be a huge benefit for the community.” From 9 to 11 a.m. the speakers will play classical music and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. will play a Top 40 mix. The city pays for multiple music licenses to use music for things like Recreation and Parks activities and events downtown. Those licenses include McCall Park. The music will softly play all through the eastern half of the park and if an event calls for it, can be cranked up to an impressive level to blast announcements through the area. “Really what motivated us to do this was we saw the issue during Empty Bowls,” McDaniel said. “They had a small sound system and were struggling to get their announcements and entertainment heard throughout the massive crowd that attends the event every year. We thought we should have something in place to help ensure that doesn’t happen again.” Now if an event is held downtown, the microphones being used can plug in directly to the city’s audio equipment. The same concept applies for any bands or live entertainment setting up. Instead of having to rely on their own speakers they

Breanne Williams

The audio equipment is weatherproof.

can broadcast their music throughout the entire park with a few easy clicks of a button. Unlike Sebring, which has to put up and take down the equipment for every use, Plant City decided to install weatherproof speakers. They should continue to play soft music throughout the park, rain or shine.

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ONLINE

This week on Cops Corner: PCPD tackled hit-and-runs, tailgate thieves, Wal-Mart pickup conners, a relaxation drug covetor and more.

APRIL 12 VEHICLE HACKER 3100 block of Sammonds Road Burglary vehicle: This victim told officers during the night of April 11 an unknown suspect entered her vehicle, which was unlocked, and stole two laptop computers. CRACKING THE HIT-AND-RUN Turkey Creek Road/Business Lane DWLSR three or more convictions: Officers came out to a hit-and-run vehicle crash. The driver at fault was placed under arrest for leaving the scene of a crash with property damage and DWLSR three or more convictions. He was transported to Orient Road Jail without incident. FLEE THE CRIME, DO THE TIME 1-4/Thonotosassa Road Aggravated fleeing to elude: PCPD’s traffic motor unit attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle suspected of a hitand-run with property damage that took place on April 9. The driver was arrested for aggravated fleeing to elude, an active civil child support warrant and the possession of methamphetamine. He was transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

SEEKING RELAXATION Park Road/Bond Street Possession of drug arrest: An 18-yearold man was found in possession of Xanax, cannabis, cannabis THC oil and paraphernalia. He was arrested and transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

APRIL 13 LEARNING TO CHECK A BILL 2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway Counterfeit: This complainant told officers while they were counting the business cash drawers they discovered $1,350 worth of fraudulent $50 bills from multiple registers. NAILING THE SUSPECT 1900 block of East Linda Street Vehicle burglary: This victim reported that between 4 and 5 a.m. an unknown suspect entered an unlocked vehicle and removed two unknown make and model Sawzaws and two unknown make and model nail guns. Combined the items were worth approximately $400.

dog bit his face. He received a minor scratch on his nose. Plant City Fire Rescue responded and treated the victim and once his parents realized it was a minor injury they refused transport to the hospital. Animal control was notified. THE GRAND GRACO 500 block of West Ball Street Vehicle burglary: PCPD received a report that a vehicle had signs of forced entry and a Graco paint sprayer had been stolen. The merchandise was valued at $5,000.

APRIL 15 TEARIN’ UP THE FIELD 2500 block of Turkey Creek Road Criminal mischief: This victim reported an unknown person cut the chain link fence of their property, entered its perimeter and then caused damage to a variety of tarps and fields while present. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? 2500 block of Sprucewood Lane Vehicle burglary: Officers responded to this victim who told them someone entered her unlocked vehicle and took her iPhone 8 and its corresponding charger.

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APRIL 14

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APRIL 16 TAKING THE TAILGATE 2000 block of West Baker Street Business burglary: An employee at this auto sales business reported that an unknown suspect had removed and stolen a tailgate from a Toyota Tundra, which was for sale on the lot.

APRIL 17 CONVENIENTLY CONNED 2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway Information report: This victim told officers she was from Washington State and that her Walmart account had been activated without her consent. Someone used the account to fill an online pick-up order and spent $181. She was directed to her local law enforcement agency and PCPD responded to Walmart.

APRIL 18 METH-STAKE Mud Lake Road/Murray Farms Road Drug investigation: Officers performed a routine traffic stop and found the driver was in possession of methamphetamine. He was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance and was transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

COPS CORNER

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES The Bruton Memorial Library meeting room was filled to capacity last week as the community gathered to learn more about and meet several unique reptiles as part of the Reptile Discovery program.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Snakes, turtles an alligator and several other reptiles participated in an informational meet-and-greet last week with local youth at Bruton Memorial Library. The library invited Bruce Shwedick, a Plant City native and creator of Reptile Discovery, to bring some of his favorite animals to the event. The room was packed as children and their parents gathered to learn more about the animals, the importance of conservation and listen to Shwedick share stories of his youth. Shwedick created Reptile Discovery in 1994 and has visited more than 1,000 schools across 45 states over the years. Once he shared anecdotes and facts about each animal he invited a handful of the children gathered to come up and gently pet the creatures. Though the meeting ran for well over an hour, Shwedick kept their attention

and after a long line formed as kids waited to get a photo with one of his snakes. It was also Shwedickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 60th birthday so Youth Services Associate Amanda Preece presented him with a card and passed out cupcakes for the festive attendees.

Breanne Williams

Children interacted with the creatures.

Breanne Williams

Bruce Shwedick showed off some of his favorite animals on his birthday during the event.

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SURPRISES

ABOUND AT CITY EGG HUNT

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

The 2019 Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Recreation and Parks Department, had children of all ages hunting for 10,000 colorful eggs.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Despite a Friday night of heavy rain, the sky was crystal clear Saturday morning as anywhere from 800 to 1,000 children and their parents flocked to the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex to take part in the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Hosted by the Recreation and Parks Department, the event never fails to provide a morning full of fun for the community. Families enjoyed a bunny themed magic show and then children were separated into age groups and led by volunteers to their “nests.” When the crowds counted down from five the children rushed under the colorful tape and begin peering under small piles of hay, tossing the bright eggs into their baskets. Two lucky kids from each age group found the coveted golden eggs, which they redeemed for an elaborate easter basket following the hunt. Families were then able to sit back and enjoy a free hotdog lunch before the children ran off to play on several bounce houses, ride two trains and even get a photo with the Easter bunny.

Breanne Williams

The egg nests and live entertainment are always a hit with the local youth.

Breanne Williams

Troy Ocegueda, Leo Brito, Sydney Evans, Aaliyah Delatrinidad, Christian Roque, Xavier Sanchez, Rylee Pendino and Annaliese Feliciano won the coveted Easter baskets.

Breanne Williams

Guests were able to get their photo taken with the Easter Bunny at the event.

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FOCUS ON FITNESS

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

ANGELA FULGIERI

Active Kids According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity affects one in every five children and adolescents in the United States. The behaviors that lead to excess weight gain are essentially the same as adults: not enough physical activity, overeating, a sedentary lifestyle such as watching TV or playing video games and not enough sleep. Consuming a healthy diet and being physically active is necessary for children to grow, maintain a healthy weight, build strong muscles and bones and prevent chronic diseases. It’s best to get kids moving from a young age so that regular physical activity becomes part of their lifestyle, but it is never too late to start them. I know it can be challenging for parents to make sure their kids are active enough and eating right. These days, parents must accompany kids to parks, working parents may have less time to

prepare meals and screens present a whole new challenge. It is recommended children get a minimum of 60 minutes of vigorous activity per day. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be all at once. Short bursts of exercise throughout the day provide the same benefit. If you have a child who plays a sport, getting enough activity is easy, but there are ways to get kids moving that don’t involve sports or require any athletic ability. A great way to get them engaged is to play games. Kids tend to get bored with repetitive exercises and they certainly don’t want to feel like they are “working.” While it might be difficult to find an hour to spend at the park, you might spare a few minutes

to play Frisbee in the yard with them, or have your child invite a few neighbors over to play tag, have Nerf gun wars, jump rope, or come up with their own fun. If it’s age-appropriate, they can ride bikes around the neighborhood. When my youngest child has friends over, I allow them to play video games only after they have played outside for at least 30 minutes. Teach by example. Kids who see their parents exercising will likely take an interest in it as well. If your child is interested in resistance training, they can work with light dumbbells, resistance bands or balls at home or in a gym as long as they can move with proper technique (and the gym allows children). At the YMCA, kids can use the equipment starting at age 10

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under the direct supervision of a parent. They are first required to do a fitness education session which teaches them how to use the equipment with proper form, gym etiquette and the importance of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. It’s great to see kids get excited about working out and see their confidence grow as they progress. Get them moving doing something they enjoy and they will develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Perhaps even more challenging than getting kids to move is filling their bellies with nutritious foods. Do you have healthy recipes that work? Share them for a chance to be featured in my next column. To help keep teaching kids how to move and learn all summer

long, the Plant City YMCA is hosting its annual Camp Extravaganza featuring Healthy Kids Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, April 27. It’s free and open to the entire community.

Angela Fulgieri is the Wellness Experience Director at the Plant City YMCA. Contact her at observerfitness@ gmail.com.

APRIL 25, 2019

Tyler Dowdy pitched a no-hitter against East Bay on April 18. See Page 18

SPORTS

AREA BASEBALL TEAMS END DISTRICT PLAY

Quick Hits PCHS BASEBALL HITS MILESTONES

Plant City and Strawberry Crest finished in first place in their respective districts.

Tuesday’s 8-2 win over Hillsborough was doubly special for the Plant City Raiders baseball team. For starters, the win was the 19th of the Raiders’ season. No other team in Raiders history has won more than 18 games in a season. In addition to that milestone, the win was also the 100th of head coach Mike Fryrear’s career with the school. Fryrear’s accomplishment was honored on the field after the final out and he was presented with a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

Justin Kline

Jarod Wingo and the Plant City Raiders cruised to an 8-2 win over Hillsborough Tuesday night. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

hen the action for districts 8A-4 and 8A-6 wrapped up for the 2019 season last week, two area teams came out on top looking to make some noise in the upcoming tournaments. Both the Plant City Raiders (18-2; 7-1 district) and Strawberry Crest Chargers (11-8; 3-1 district) won their April 18 games to finish in first place — Plant City with a 10-0 win over East Bay and Crest with a 4-3 win at Wharton. After a 2-1 win at Bloomingdale on March 16, Plant City’s

offense picked back up to the level of production it’s been at for much of the 2019 season and peppered the visiting Indians to the tune of 10 runs on nine hits. Cole Cothren and Casey Mawhinney had a great day at the plate, as Cothren went 2-for3 with a run scored and three RBI while Mawhinney went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. But perhaps the Raiders’ most valuable player on the day was pitcher Tyler Dowdy, who threw a 53-pitch no-hitter with nine strikeouts through the game’s five innings. The win completely guaranteed Plant City the 8A-6 tournament’s top overall seed. Riverview and Bloomingdale each

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

JUSTIN KLINE

finished with 5-3 records in 8A-6 play. Crest, meanwhile, started its April 18 game in control over the Wildcats and never lost it. Led by senior Tanner Kelley (3-for3, two runs scored, one RBI), five Chargers combined for seven hits and four runs scored (four earned) through five innings against Wharton starter Brian Baughman. That gave Crest a 4-1 lead after the fifth. Wharton had some luck on both sides of the ball with its ensuing pitching change in the sixth, though: Carson Caso and the defense kept the Crest offense completely off the scoreboard and stat sheet, and the Wildcats offense came to life with two runs in the sixth

inning. Though the Chargers were unable to score in the top of the seventh inning, reliever Kade Manderscheid helped starter Alex Marshall preserve the win by stopping Wharton when it mattered most. The win put Crest into a firstplace tie with Wharton thanks to a split of the teams’ season series, creating a coin-flip scenario to determine the top seed in the district tournament. The 8A-6 tournament begins at 7 p.m. May 6 at Plant City High School. Strawberry Crest will host the 8A-4 tournament beginning at 7 p.m. May 7. Both district championship games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. May 9.

THE MORE, THE MERRIER

Since javelin throwing became an option in 2019 and girls wrestling on the horizon for 2020, sanctioning more high school sports looks like a realistic option.

s someone who believes athletics should be for everybody, I’ve been pretty pleased to see that additions to the FHSAA’s list of sanctioned sports are coming. The recent news about positive developments on the girls wrestling front has been especially good to hear.

Maybe now that interest in sports traditionally linked to one gender is growing among those of others, we’ll finally get to see high schools offering something for everyone sooner or later.

SEE KLINE, PAGE 19

GSA BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Global Sports Alliance’s State Championship tournament for 7U though 18U teams comes to Plant City next weekend. The tourney runs from May 3 through 5 at Ellis-Methvin Park, Mike Sansone Park, Snowden Park, Plant City Stadium, the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex and the MLK ball fields, as well as the Chain of Lakes complex in Winter Haven. Admission for fans is $5 at the gate.

10K ON SATURDAY The Best Friends 10K, a U.S. Road Running event, comes to Plant City on April 27. Teams of two are encouraged to sign up to tackle a 10K loop around the pond at Ellis-Methvin Park, relay-style, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Single runners may also participate in the event. Unique medals will be awarded and awards for top runners and the best costumes will be given out as well. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. The cost to register is $40 per team and $50 for single runners. Sign up online at runsignup.com/Race/FL/ PlantCity/BestFriends10KRelayand10KIndividualEllisMethvinPark. For more information or to get help finding a running partner, contact Darrin at missy@usroadrunning. com or 717-885-6864.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

SPONSORED BY SPORT CLIPS

Tyler Dowdy Pitching depth has been a staple of Plant City baseball in recent years and, in 2019, junior Tyler Dowdy has offered further proof of that. Throwing two perfect innings against Bloomingdale on April 16 was a good look for Dowdy, but he topped that performance two nights later with a five-inning no-hitter against East Bay. The Raiders went on to win the game, 10-0, and close out district play on a high note thanks in part to Dowdy’s gem of a ballgame. You’re coming off of a couple of great performances on the mound, and it wasn’t that long ago that I saw you hit a game-winning, threeRBI double at the plate (March 14 vs. Strawberry Crest). It looks like you’re having a good season, but how would you say you’re doing? Right now I’m kind of slumping down a little bit, but pitching’s stayed the same. It’s been good really all year. I stepped it up after the Sickles game. Hitting hasn’t been there but we’ve been working on that and we’re gonna get that back.

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

SCORES AND MORE

every day before practice, too. I hit BP and then if I’m pitching I do put on my headphones. I’m not as out there as (Parker) Messick — I talk a little bit, he’s all about no talking — but I stay business. I know what I need to do.

BASEBALL

May 3

Apr. 27

Apr. 18

Spoto at Plant City, 7 p.m.

Plant City at Armwood, 10 a.m. Apr. 30

Durant 9, Armwood 1 Plant City 10, East Bay 0 Strawberry Crest 4, Wharton 3

What’s something you’ve learned that’s helped you get better as a pitcher and go have these good games? Playing all the time. Playing summer ball, getting time and reps, getting my arms stronger and working on stuff every day. It’s an every day grind, not having any days off.

Apr. 23 Durant 5. Lennard 1 Plant City 8, Hillsborough 2 Sickles 5, Strawberry Crest 1

You’ve been playing baseball a long time now. What keeps you going? Baseball’s a game of failure. You’ve got to be tough to play it. You can go 4-for-4 one night and 0-for-3 the next three games, like I have now, but it’s fun… you can’t let it get to your head. You’ve just got to come out here and play and do your best. If it’s not your night it’s not your night. If one night you’ve got to step up, you’ve got to step up and be the guy.

Apr. 25 Strawbery Crest at Durant, 7 p.m. Plant City at Lennard, 7 p.m.

8A-4 TOURNAMENT at Strawberry Crest, 4 p.m. May 7 - 7 p.m. May 9

Durant vs. Bloomingdale, 4 p.m. (District tournament)

8A-6 TOURNAMENT

8A-4 TOURNAMENT

at Plant City, 7 p.m. May 6 - 7 p.m. May 9

at Freedom, 4 p.m. April 30 - 7 p.m. May 2

SOFTBALL Apr. 18

8A-6 TOURNAMENT

Durant 10, Armwood 0 Plant City 1, East Bay 0 Wharton 3, Strawberry Crest 2

at Plant City, 7 p.m. April 29 - 7 p.m. May 2

Apr. 22 Apr. 27 Plant City at Armwood, 10 a.m.

Sebring 1, Plant City 0 (9 innings)

Apr. 30

Apr. 23

Plant at Durant, 7 p.m. Brandon at Plant City, 7 p.m. Strawberry Crest at Spoto, 7 p.m.

Durant 11, Lennard 1 Plant City 7, Hillsborough 0 Sickles 5, Strawberry Crest 4

May 2

Apr. 25

Durant at Gaither, 7 p.m. Chamberlain at Strawberry Crest, 7 p.m.

Strawbery Crest at Durant, 7 p.m. Plant City at Lennard, 7 p.m.

TENNIS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS at Sanlando Park, April 29 - May 1 TRACK AND FIELD

Before throwing that no-no last week, how were you feeling? Anything different before the game or did you go into it the same way you usually would? I just go out there every day, and every day I get the chance to be on the mound I trust my defense. We’ve got a pretty good one. I just go out there and throw strikes. The team has a great record right now and you’re about to host the district tourney. Winning it would make PCHS history. With all that said, how are you all trying to not let that get to your heads before games?

Apr. 26 Regional championships at George Jenkins, 8 a.m. FLAG FOOTBALL REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS May 2 - 6 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS at Boca Raton High School, May 11

We don’t worry about our record. We don’t worry about anything but who the next game is. We’re just worried about going 1-0 for the rest of the season. How do you get ready for each game? We hit BP before every game. We have our coaches throw to us. We get our music going, get hyped up. We do it

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AREA SOFTBALL ROUNDUP

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

The Plant City Raiders were all smiles on their Senior Night, and it wasn’t hard to understand why. The Raiders’ final regular-season home game resulted in an easy 7-0 win over Hillsborough during which each of the team’s four seniors picked up a hit and three saw some action on the pitchers’ mound. Plant City’s offense scored all of its runs with six hits, five walks and three Terriers errors in the first four innings. Haley Frangioni led the way by going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Rylee Moorman and Abbie DeWeese each finished with one hit and one run scored, and DeWeese added an RBI for good measure. The Raiders got just over four quality innings from Blessin on the mound, with the senior giving up just two hits while striking out 12 Terriers. DeWeese and Moorman got some time on the mound during the game’s last three innings and DeWeese struck out two batters in the process. Plant City will travel to Lennard tonight and Armwood Saturday morning to close out the regular season. Durant also picked up a blowout win Tuesday night, posting an 11-1 score at Lennard fueled by 10 total hits from the offense. It was a big night at the plate for a pair of freshmen: Shelby Allen and Haleigh Thomas each went 2-for-3 and put some runs on the board. Allen scored two runs of her own and Thomas finished with one run scored and an RBI driven in. Kayla Lissy, Andrea Rebello and Samantha Hampton also scored two runs each for the Cougars, and Jordan Noble led the team with two RBI. Durant scored all 11 of its runs in the third and fourth innings after getting into a 1-0 hole in the bottom of the sec-

JUSTIN KLINE

The FHSAA is sanctioning more high school sport for boys and girls to compete in. It could be a step in the right direction. FROM KLINE, PAGE 17

Justin Kline

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

THE MORE, THE MERRIER

Abbie DeWeese and the Plant City Raiders enjoyed Senior Night with a big win.

JUSTIN KLINE

ond. That included a seven-run explosion in the fourth inning. The Cougars only needed five innings to win the game and Kayla Swinson made all four of hers count. Though Durant got into a 1-0 hole in the bottom of the second inning, Swinson was otherwise rock solid and limited the Longhorns to four hits on the night with six strikeouts. McKenna Thompson finished the game on the mound for the Cougars. Durant will host Strawberry Crest at 7 p.m. tonight in both teams’ season finale and will kick off district play on April 30 with a 4 p.m. home game against Bloomingdale. Crest didn’t get quite as lucky on its own Senior Night, giving Sickles a serious run for its money but ultimately falling, 5-4, at home. The Chargers went down 2-0 after the top of the first inning but found a rhythm midway through the game. Thanks to productive third and fifth innings from the offense, Crest was able to fight its way up to a 4-2 lead heading into the sixth inning. But the Gryphons snapped out of their own scoring slump in the next two innings, scoring once in the sixth to get within striking distance and putting two more on the board in the seventh to go ahead for good. The FHSAA 8A-District 6 tournament featuring Durant and Plant City will be held at Plant City High School beginning at 7 p.m. April 29 and ends with a 7 p.m. championship game May 2. The 8A-District 4 tournament, in which Crest will compete, will take place at Freedom High School beginning at 4 p.m. April 30 and also ending with a 7 p.m. game on May 2.

This is obviously a much bigger deal for women than men. We’re seeing so many more stories of women breaking the mold by getting into mens’ sports wherever they can these days, whether they’re playing for teams at the high school level and below, refereeing games, joining professional coaching staffs and front offices or even making it into the broadcast booth to call games on live TV. Say what you will about physical differences and whether men and women should play together on teams at or above the high school level — I’m not getting into that firestorm today — but all this says there’s undeniable interest and passion for the mens’ games that in many cases equals or exceeds our own. With that in mind, why keep waiting so long to sanction these sports at the high school level? If girls want to wrestle, they’ll soon have their own all-girls teams and official state championship series. Girls can already try out to join boys sports teams — something that’s happened several times in our area since I’ve been here — but why not give them the opportunity to field all-girls teams in traditionally male sports like baseball and 11-on-11 football in full pads? With the boys in mind, why not extend them the same courtesy when applicable? The window of sports for girls that boys traditionally can’t or don’t play is much smaller, but there is one big thing that jumps to mind right away. Given how popular the sport is with adult men young and old, there’s got to be a healthy interest in FHSAA-sanctioned boys softball

that hasn’t been tapped yet. Getting into rec league softball is almost as popular an option for men as playing golf, and we already offer boys golf at the high school level. You can’t tell me no one would want to play high school softball. The one thing that would hamper schools’ ability to offer so many sports at once is money. Nothing’s free here. Here’s what you could do, though: let the FHSAA sanction said sports and, if there’s enough interest and money available in the budget, give it a shot on that level. If there’s not enough interest, that’s where schoolaffiliated club teams could come in and hopefully fulfill enough expectations to make their schools willing to go all-in and register with the FHSAA sometime down the road. Sports get better when we open up more doors for athletes who want to feel like they belong in them. Right now we’ve got a few walls blocking athletes from trying things they’re interested in. I read somewhere that every wall’s a door to something new. If that’s true, why not let them through?

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Observer. Email: jkline@ plantcityobserver. com.

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David W. Stickney, 64, of Dover, born on Jan. 10, 1955 in Shelby, Ohio, entered into eternal rest on April 12, 2019. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Kenneth George Mathes Kenneth George Mathes, 80, of Plant City, passed away, Sunday, April 14, 2019. A celebration of life service was held April 20 at Youmans Praise and Worship Center, 3816 US-92, Plant City, FL. Kenny was born Aug. 24, 1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He married Wilma Jean Mathes on April 6, 1959. He worked as a mechanic and millwright and diver until he retired in 2008 from the Lakeland Power Plant. Kenny was a man who loved his family and God. He loved animals and loved to bowl, golf, old cars, boats, Ohio, and wood working. He was a hard worker that never slowed down and never stopped whistling. He is survived by his wife Wilma Mathes, his sons, Brian and his wife DeeDee Mathes and Bruce and his wife Amy Mathes, eight grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren. Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

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Barbara Ann Jeffers Barbara Ann Jeffers, 80, of Dover, and formerly Terre Haute, Indiana, died on April 15, 2019. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Curtis Clark ‘Big C’

Tony Tucker

Mr. Curtis Clark “Big C,” Feb. 20,1958 entered into eternal rest on April 16, 2019 in Pompano Beach. Mr. Clark will be funeralized Sat. April 27 at St. Mary M.B. Church, 1840 E. State Rd. 60, Plant City, FL. A Winslow Honors Funeral Chapel Service, 1110 E. Laura St., Plant City, FL.

Tony Tucker, 80, of Plant City, born on Nov. 28, 1938 in Lyons, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on April 21, 2019. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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Lou Renaud Lou Renaud, 94, of Plant City, passed away on April 23, 2019. The family will receive friends April 29, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W Dr MLK Jr Blvd, Plant City, FL. A rosary will follow at 7:00 p.m. A mass will be held April 30, 2019, 11:00 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church, 1104 North Alexander Street, Plant City, FL. Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

James ‘JD’ Kirkland III ‘Buck’ James “JD” Kirkland III, “Buck”, 69, of Plant City, born on Nov. 2, 1949 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on April 21, 2019. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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Milton ‘Uncle Shorty’ Willis

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Milton “Uncle Shorty” Willis, 94, of Plant City, born on April 8, 1925 in Berrien County, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on April 19, 2019. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Ms. Margaret Doe, born Jan. 25, 1930, entered into eternal rest on April 4, 2019. Ms. Doe was funeralized on April 23 at Moriah M.B. Church. A Winslow Honors Funeral Chapel Service, 1110 E. Laura St., Plant City, FL

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25

YOUR CALENDAR

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

7:30 to 9 a.m. Plant City Toastmasters is held every Thursday. Guests are always welcome to come join the free meeting at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St.

SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB

10:30 a.m. Come on out to the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St., each Thursday to find out more about a new Shuffleboard Club. Topics being discussed are days of the week, times, skill levels and anything else you may want to know. The club is hosted by Anita Balch and she can be contacted at 808-722-5821 for more information.

down the topic of credit. During the presentation you will learn about credit reports, interpreting scores, common myths and more. No registration necessary.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 THE FANCY FLEA

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Fancy Flea, a vintage home and garden market, is being held at 2866 Reynolds St. W., from April 26 to April 27. Admission is $5 per person, kids under 12 are free. Parking is free. No pets are allowed. Scooter rentals are available and there will also be food options on site for purchase. Vendors will have unique goods ranging from chic furniture, antiques, repurposed items, artisan jewelry, soaps, handmade clothing and more.

BEST BET SATURDAY, APRIL 26 GARDEN WALK 2019

5 to 8 p.m. The Garden Walk 2019 at the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St., is hosted by the PC Chamber Leadership Committee. Everyone is welcome in the garden. For info, vendor and sponsorship opportunities call 813-763-7043 or email breanna@ plantcity.org.

PLANT CITY FOOD TRUCK RALLY

PLANT CITY JOB FAIR

12 to 2 p.m. Some of Plant City’s top employers will be present at the 2019 Job Fair and ready to hire for their fields. The event is free and open to the public. Bring a resume and be prepared to talk with local employers. The job fair is held at the Trinkle Center, 1206 North Park Road.

YOUR HOSPITAL STAY AND POSTPARTUM ISSUES

6 to 8 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital is hosting a class to discuss hospital policies regarding hospital stay, emotional changes and adjusting to the new parent role. Participants can bring one guest to the class and are asked to bring a notepad. The class is held in the ICU Conference Room, 2-South. Registration is required, but is free for the class. Call 1-855269-4777 for more information.

RETRO MOVIE NIGHT: STAR WARS V

5 to 9 p.m. The monthly Plant City Food Truck Rally is held in downtown Plant City, 102 N. Palmer St. The dog friendly event will have a variety of food trucks and a mobile DJ truck. The April event will have an Earth Day theme.

MINIFIG TRADING NIGHT

6 p.m. Brick City Bricks, 107 E. Reynolds St., is hosting its monthly Minifig Trading Night. Come and trade your minifigs with other LEGO fans. There will be food, fun and specials.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF IVY GAP

8 p.m. First Baptist of Ivy Gap, a southern-fried comedy is being presented live onstage by Plant City Entertainment, Inc., 101 N. Thomas St. The play spans 25 years in the lives of six women, from World War II until the Vietnam War. Shows are April 26-28 and May 3-5. April 28 and May 5 also have 2 p.m. matinees. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for students and seniors and $12 for PCE members. For more information visit pceshows. com.

6:33 to 8:33 p.m. Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd., is hosting its free monthly Retro Movie Night. This month they will feature Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Watch out for fun themes, sweet movie treats and more.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

UNDERSTANDING CREDIT

KEEL FARMS PEACH FESTIVAL

7 p.m. Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., is hosting an Understanding Credit seminar. Join GTE Financial expert Michelle Christie as she breaks

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road, is hosting the Keel Farms Peach Festival. Admission is

free and parking is $5. There will be a u-pick, bounce house, music, food and craft vendors and more. The peaches are $4 per pound. A free shuttle bus will transport guests to the peach fields. The blueberry fields will also be open for a $6 per pound u-pick.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

COMPOSTING WORM TOWER WORK SHOP

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 READ WITH BONNIE THE THERAPY DOG

9 a.m. A worm tower is, essentially, a mini worm farm that you plant in your flower or veggie garden. It continually feeds your garden and provides you with a rich, ongoing source of fertilizer. The Plant City Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St., will furnish one predrilled PVC tower and clay pot topper that you will paint/decorate, take home worms and a guide to installing and maintaining your worm tower. Suggested $15 donation. RSVP required. Call 813-435-8111 for more information.

PLANT CITY SOCIAL DANCE

6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Plant City Social Dance is kicking off its summer schedule with three April dances at Strawberry Square MHP, 4401 Promenade Blvd. The cost is $6 and will include slow dances, waltzes, line dances, cha-cha and more.

PLANT CITY LIONS CLUB

12 to 1 p.m. The Plant City Lions Club holds a meeting every Tuesday at Buddy Freddy’s, 1101 Goldfinch Drive. For more information on membership call 813-924-3829.

4 to 5 p.m. Bonnie the Therapy Dog comes to Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., every week for children to have the opportunity to share a book and some soft pats on the head. You can find her on the couch in the children’s area. Reading with Bonnie can help children improve reading, communication skills and build confidence.

THURSDAY, MAY 2 PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

7:30 to 9 a.m. Plant City Toastmasters is held every Thursday. Guests are always welcome to come join the free meeting at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St.

SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB

else you may want to know. The club is hosted by Anita Balch and she can be contacted at 808-722-5821 for more information.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER CALL TO PRAYER 12 to 1 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Call to Prayer event is held all over the U.S. This year’s theme is “Love One Another.” Plant City has participated for more than 20 years. There are two locations to assemble this year. The Plant City City Hall Auditorium, 302 W. Reynolds St., has a meeting from 12 to 1 p.m. and City Pointe Church, 503 N. Palmer St., has a meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Check out NDP.org for more information.

HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY CLASS

6 to 8 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital is hosting its Have a Healthy Pregnancy Class at the ICU Conference Room, 2-South. The class will cover topics like the highlights of each trimester, proper nutrition, safety concerns and warning signs. Registration is required and free. Call 1-855-269-4777 for more information.

SAT, APRIL 27 | 10am-1pm AT THE PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA 1507 YMCA Pl., Plant City 813.757.6677

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

Edited by David Steinberg April 24, 2019

4/24

FORECAST THURSDAY, APRIL 25 High: 88 Low: 67 Chance of rain: 10%

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 High: 81 Low: 64 Chance of rain: 90%

SUNDAY, APRIL 28 High: 87 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 40%

BLUEBERRIES Shipping point: Central Florida $12-$16

Hidden Strength by Matthew Sewell

ACROSS 1 “In that event ...” 5 Cheetah markings 10 Map app relative 13 Ukraine’s capital 14 “Tomb Raider” actress Vikander 15 Sturdy literary symbol in 42-Across 16 Youth-Dew cosmetician 18 Marseille assent 19 Delights 20 “One of ___ days ...” 22 Bay Area baggage code 23 Defended oneself, skunk-style

25 Annually celebrated promotions? 30 Hall rug 31 Relatives 32 Quest for 36 Award for “Green Book” 37 Tiny antenna user 38 Do a crossword, say 39 Neighbor of Libya 40 Supporting 41 Gadget enthusiast 42 Bond film with a Duran Duran theme song 45 Closest friends, slangily 48 Solo who said “Chewie, we’re home!”

49 Does a critic’s job 50 Lose altitude 54 Fury 55 Old-time players 59 Chowed down 60 Martial artist Chuck 61 Roaring literary symbol in 25-Across 62 Golden Knights’ org. 63 Curriculum divisions 64 Red Muppet DOWN 1 ’50s president 2 Crushing literary symbol in 55-Across 3 Meyers of late-night

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, April 25

6:54a

7:59p

Friday, April 26

6:53a

7:59p

Saturday, April 27

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Sunday, April 28

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Monday, April 29

6:50a

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Tuesday, April 30

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Wednesday, May 1

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MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 High: 87 Low: 65 Chance of rain: 10%

4 Broken off 5 Winding Winter Olympics event 6 Any of 12 popes 7 Repetitive condition, briefly 8 Attachment 9 “No Exit” playwright 10 Like hot fudge 11 (II) button 12 Competed in a 5-Down 14 Totally supporting 17 Michael once in charge of Mickey 21 Padded footstool 23 Fit of pique 24 Sty or stylus 25 Swamp snapper, for short 26 Teeming with greenery 27 Native Peruvian 28 Meeting one’s match? 29 “Tell me about it!” 33 K-12 34 Diabolical 35 Hull backbone 37 Shieldbearing Greek god 38 Event with spirits 40 Sliced dessert 41 “Cheers!”and others 43 Four-armed Hindu god 44 Dissertation 45 Williams on MSNBC 46 Gophers dig it 47 Tempered literarysymbol in 16-Across 50 Scandalous gossip 51 Creator of Perry and Della 52 ___ Patrick Harris 53 Pessimistic prophecy 56 Charge carrier 57 “Casual” day; Abbr. 58 ___-Caps

May 4 New

May 18 Full

May 9 First

Apr. 30 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Apr. 15

0.03

Tuesday, Apr. 16 0.00 Wednesday, Apr. 17

0.00

Thursday, Apr. 18 0.00 Friday, Apr. 19

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Saturday, Apr. 20 0.00 Sunday, Apr. 21

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YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2019 4.28 in.

2019 0.89 in.

2018

2018 1.33 in.

5.15 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

45 Closest ACROSS 14 Totally 40 Sliced friends, 1 “In that supporting dessert slangily event ...” 17 Michael 41 “Cheers!” 48 Solo who Editor Justin 5 Cheetah once in at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com and others Send your photo submissions to Associate Kline said “Chewie, markings charge of 43 Four-armed or hashtag #iloveplantcity onwe’re Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature. home!” 10 Map app Mickey Hindu god 49 Does a relative 21 Padded 44 Dissertation critic’s job 13 Ukraine’s footstool 45 Williams on 50 Lose altitude capital 23 Fit of pique MSNBC 54 Fury 14 “Tomb 24 Sty or stylus 46 Gophers 55 Old-time Raider” 25 Swamp dig it players actress snapper, 47 Tempered 59 Chowed Vikander for short literary down 15 Sturdy literary 26 Teeming with symbol in 60 Martial artist symbol in greenery 16-Across Chuck 42-Across 27 Native 50 Scandalous 61 Roaring 16 Youth-Dew Peruvian gossip literary cosmetician 28 Meeting 51 Creator of symbol in 18 Marseille one’s Perry and 25-Across assent match? Della 62 Golden 19 Delights 29 “Tell me 52 ___ Patrick Knights’ org. 20 “One of ___ about it!” Harris 63 Curriculum days ...” 33 K-12 53 Pessimistic divisions 22 Bay Area 34 Diabolical prophecy 64 Red Muppet baggage 35 Hull 56 Charge DOWN code backbone carrier 1 ’50s 23 Defended 37 Shield57 “Casual” president oneself, bearing day: Abbr. 2 Crushing skunk-style Greek god 58 ___-Caps literary 25 Annually 38 Event with symbol in celebrated spirits 55-Across promotions? Toni Colon wins this week’s I Love Plant City photo contest. Local nature photographer Toni Colon 3 nighttime Meyers shot of of flowersPREVIOUS 30 Hallcaptured rug recently a striking blooming in Walden Lake.ANSWER PUZZLE late-night 31 Relatives 4 Broken off 32 Quest for Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, 5 Winding 36 Award for ON L I N E @PlantObserver on Twitter and Plant City Observer Winter “Green on Facebook. Olympics Book” event 37 Tiny antenna 6 Any of user 12 popes 38 Do a 7 Repetitive crossword, condition, say briefly 39 Neighbor of 8 Attachment Libya 9 “No Exit” 40 Supporting playwright 41 Gadget 10 Like hot enthusiast 42 Bond film fudge with a Duran 11 (II) button Duran theme 12 Competed in 4/23 © 2019 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com song a 5-Down

THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

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THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019

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