5.24.18 PLCO by Plant City Observer

PLANT CITY

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

•

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

learn how to make the most out of their prime real estate and blossom along with the shifting community. This month’s discussion highlighted “Summer in the City: Preparing for a Season of Success.” Two branch managers and a business consultant from SunTrust Bank formed the panel for the morning chat and dove into

topics like financial wellness and how to optimize staff size for small businesses. “How many of you have felt like you needed to stay open an hour or two after closing to have a successful day?” Jennifer Milley, branch manager for SunTrust in downtown Plant City, said. “Only

VOLUME 5, NO. 47

FREE

A SEASON OF SUCCESS

This month’s Hot Coffee Topics explored how local businesses can take small steps to prepare for success, even in the midst of the slow summer months.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Early Tuesday morning, small business owners gathered in the music loft at Krazy Kup to take part in the second meeting of Main Street Hot Coffee Topics. The new series will offer businesses expert advice on a variety of topics in order to help them

Crest baseball bound for states. PAGE 8

LITTLE MISS RETURNS

SEE COFFEE PAGE 5

YOUR TOWN

Courtesy of Chris Black

Helping the fur babies

Breanne Williams

Queen Madelynn Hardwick, First Maid Makyla Brown, Court Members Mia Jones, Makinley Jensen and Brightyn Willis.

The annual Little Miss Plant City crowned new royals. SEE PAGE 9

Summer in the Bay This summer, spend your vacation making memories in your own backyard. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Summer excursions don’t have to involve elaborate trips out of state or weekend stay-cations at the nearby theme parks. Thanks to Kristen Hare’s book, “100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay Before You Die,” you can spend your days exploring local hidden gems and become reacquainted with the Gulf Coast community tourists flock to from around the world. Hare’s guide came out in 2014,

and during her author visit at Bruton Memorial Library last week she announced its second edition is nearly complete. As she chatted with attendees about their favorite places in the area she gave insight on how to make the most of the unique and thriving community we live in. “We live in this beautiful place, don’t let the tourists have all the fun,” Hare said. To fully maximize the joy of being a hometown tourist, Hare, a journalist at Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, recommends you follow three simple steps. Think like a tourist, think like a local and then stop thinking altogether. When Hare moved to Florida

from St. Louis in 2012 she thought she would only have a year to see every nook and cranny of the state she was quickly falling in love with. As a journalist, she was writing a review for the St. Louis Beacon about the book, “100 Things to Do in St. Louis Before You Die.” When she called the publisher with a question for her article he asked where she was currently located. She said the Tampa SEE LIST PAGE 4

After more than 300 cats were confiscated from Fur ’n Feathers Farm, a rescue in Plant City, by Hillsborough County Animal Control, local shelters were having difficulty handling the influx of animals. Plant City’s Tractor Supply Co. stepped up to help by hosting a donation drive for the furry friends. Its customers provided more than 800 pounds of cat food. A large orange sign was taped to a pushcart asking shoppers to donate a small or large bag of cat food or canned food for the “fur babies.” Thanks to a ruling by a judge, the county can begin adopting the animals out as soon as they are healthy. The donated food will assist the shelters as many have reached capacity due to it being “kitten season.”

Paul Davis’ new presidential title Paul Davis, president of the Florida Strawberry Festival, was recently named the incoming president of the Florida Federation of Fairs & Livestock Shows board. The group was founded in 1951 to “increase the overall quality of Florida’s Agricultural Fairs, provide the members the support and guidance needed to enlighten our youth and educate the fairgoers on agriculture, trade, entertainment and heritage of Florida.”

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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

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Students from Chris Welbon Karate Clubs are now AAU Karate Florida State Champions. They will be advancing to nationals, which will be held at Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center from June 26 to June 30. The winners from CWKC are: Cody Barnes 13-14 Male Beginner Kobudo and Overall, Layla Coffey 13-14 Female Novice Kobudo, Kumite and Overall, Chloe Dawson 9-10 Female Novice Kata, Skye Diaz 11-12 Female Beginner Kata and Overall, Jose Duenez 9-10 Male Beginner Kata, Jordan Dyer 9-10 Female Novice Kobudo, Kumite and Overall, Julie Karlson 15-16 Female Advanced Kobudo and Kata, Cadence Fortson 11-12 Female Beginner Kumite, McKenna Mays 15-16 Female Kobudo, Kata, Kumite and Overall, Caitlin Rice 13-14 Female Novice Kata, Jose Rodriquez 13-14 Male Intermediate Kumite, Jordan Smith 9-10 Female Intermediate Kumite and Overall and Audrey Woolever 17-18 Female Intermediate Kobudo and Overall.

PLANT CITY GARDEN CLUB PRESENTS

RSVP TO SALLY MURPHY: (813) 758-5154

Local karate kids dominate state championship

Jeremy Culver’s film “Now Postage Necessary,” staring Plant City’s own Charleene Closshey is having its official Florida premiere and red carpet event at the Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa. The film was made in Plant City and is making movie history on July 10 when it receives worldwide distribution through

a blockchain. Blockchain is an online system that uses multiple networks to ward off piracy and illegal distribution by storing each transaction within blocks on a ledger that is updated in real time on each computer. Because this one ledger will exist in multiple places simultaneously it makes hacking records nearly impossible. Tickets for the Florida red carpet premiere are available now at eventbrite.com. The link can be found on the film’s Facebook page. The VIP Reception with the cast and red carpet arrivals is at 5:30 p.m., the doors open to the general public at 6:30 p.m. and the film begins at 7:15 p.m. The cast will host a Q&A immediately following the credits. General admission is $15 and VIP tickets are $100. A portion of the proceeds supports Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Plant City Social Dance Club finds new venue The Plant City Social Dance Club has had its share of upheaval over the past four years as it searched for the perfect venue to call home. On May 26 the group will finally begin dancing in its, hopefully, permanent home. Strawberry Square, 4401 Promenade Blvd., Plant City, will host the group on a variety of Saturdays until April 2019, when they will have the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Regular dance music is played unless ballroom music is requested. The dance hours are from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and tickets are $6.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

Library preps for nonstop summer fun This year, the library is hosting summer reading programs for both children and adults. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Summers at the library have never been more engaging. Unlike prior years, adults are finally joining in on the festivities as Bruton Memorial Library unfolds two large summer kick-off events at the beginning of June. Angel House, library services associate, said it is time adults take part in the summer celebration. She has created an adult summer series that will feature everything from professional chef tutorials and concerts to craft nights and lecture series. “We’ve always had some adult programs going on over the summer, but I wanted to do it a little different this year and offer more,” House said. “Kids have their fun things going on during the summer and that’s fantastic, it’s wonderful, but grownups want to have fun, too.” Technically the first event for the adults is a rock painting class on June 7, two days before the official kickoff event. The class has always had a big turnout and all of the materials are free. On

June 9, the real fun begins with an after-hours party held exclusively in the program’s honor. The library will close at 5 p.m. and staff will set up for the event, which takes place at 6 p.m. when the doors will be reopened to the public. There will be live music from Fifth Gear Band, who will be playing classic hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Across the hall will be an art gallery featuring local artist Jason Shiver. Like the annual kids’ program, the adult summer series will feature a friendly competition all summer long to get the community engaged with their library. During the events and throughout the week at the library, adults can pick up punch cards to join the summer reading challenge. For every event they attend and book they read, their card will be punched. At the end of the summer, the person with the most cards will win a new guitar, donated by Dark Horse Music Store. The children’s summer kickoff is June 2 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Atlantic Coast Theatre for Youth is performing a rock musical of “Little Red Riding Hood,” there are activities and refreshments throughout the party. During the event, children can also sign up for the Summer Reading Club, which works similar to the adult program. The more the

students read, the higher chance they have to win a grand prize at the end of the summer. The majority of the programs offered by Bruton are completely free. They vary from instructional lectures on finances or gardening to more leisurely events like game nights and concerts. Children have everything from movie and game nights to relaxing yoga sessions. It’s a service House said for some reason is rarely taken advantage of by the majority of the community. Even when the programs do have an attendance fee, it is always far below what competitors charge for a similar service. One of the new events this summer is an instructional painting program. Tickets are $5, which doesn’t even fully cover the cost of supplies. House said many other local programs cost anywhere from $40 to $50 for similar services. There is also a Tea-esta fundraiser, an adult tea party featuring award winning romance author M. Garnet, in July. Tickets are $10 per person. “When I’m looking around for things for me to do I’m looking around at other libraries first,” House said. “Libraries, in general, are free and I enjoy being able to use my free time to learn new skills.”

Courtesy of Angel House

The library plans to host many diverse and exciting events for adults this summer.

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“Dance. I’m a dance teacher at Drawdy Dance School so it’s what I want to do in my life. It’s my passion and something that I feel comfortable being able to talk on and on and on about.” — Aidan MacGirvin, 19

“Social media. The pros and cons of it.” — Grace Denhoff, 17

“OCD. It’s a condition that I have and for school I did it all the time because it’s something not a lot of people know about. It’s really meaningful to my heart so it’s easy to talk about it.” — Korina Rodriguez, 18

“I would give it on minimalism, tiny houses and eating raw food. Well I think when you minimize your belongings you have more time for the more important things in your life, and living tiny is the same thing.”

“The joys of parenthood. There’s so many stressful moments but you have to enjoy the little times, the fun things. Put the technology away and enjoy parenting.”

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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

Backyard escapade This summer don’t feel like the only way to have an adventure is to plan a vacation out of town. Thanks to, “100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay Before You Die” you can find a new experience just around the corner.

DIVING IN Hare breaks her book down into sections based on the type of experience one is looking for. Based off of Hare’s recommendations we have selected our favorites from her list that are outside of Plant City.

FOOD & DRINK

FROM LIST PAGE 1

area and before she could blink she was drafted to create a book for the Bay. Using the spots her family had already explored as a foundation she dove into “interviewing the locals” to find out what everyone from the checkout girl at Publix to a random waiter counted as their favorite locations in the Bay area. Her list is intricate, ranging from iconic destinations like the Columbia Restaurant to hidden gems like Solomon’s Castle. The key to finding some of the lesserknown amenities of each town is to act like you know nothing, Hare said. Utilize the tourist agencies in the area, find out what outsiders are told are the highlights of the city. In Tampa, one of the great resources available are the eBoats. These electric boats can be rented out by the hour, don’t require a captain and allow visitors to explore the Hillsborough River and Bay on their own. When you pair the marketing from the cities with the knowledge of locals you begin to have a well-rounded grasp of the area. Locals know locations tourists will seldom stumble upon. In Plant City, Hare said, Medard Park with its trees that make a “forest of exposed roots” is one of her favorite places. Of course, the antique shops, Parkesdale Farm Market, Keel & Curley Winery, Dinosaur World and the Florida Strawberry Festival all also make her list. Many of her favorite finds have come from Hare simply turning off her internal GPS and taking in her surroundings. Whether it’s stopping at something that catches her eye on her commute or getting out of her car and walking around, she said some of the greatest discoveries have come from opening her eyes and adopting an adventurous spirit. “Many of the things on my list I’ve found through serendipity,” Hare said. One mistake many locals tend to make is to assume the cities they’ve grown up around haven’t undergone major change. Downtown Tampa used to offer very little in the form of entertainment. Now, it is home to dozens of must-see locations like museums and restaurants. An influx of entrepreneurs to the area has revitalized many of the local cities and suburbs. This summer, instead of spending your money in another state’s economy, consider grabbing Hare’s book and taking advantage of the diverse adventures found in your own backyard. “I hope you are inspirited to do and see more things,” Hare said. “This is a beautiful area. It’s time we took advantage of all it has to offer.”

Breann Williams

Kristen Hare with her book, “100 Things to Do in Tampa Bay Before you Die” during her chat at Bruton Memorial.

14 LOCATIONS BRE’S PICK: WAT TAMPA’S SUNDAY MARKET The Wat Mongkolratanaram offers a Sunday Market full of freshly cooked Thai food and gorgeous plants. It’s cash only, but the food is some of the best in all of Tampa Bay. It’s a great place to try new things — I highly recommend the noodle soup — and experience a beautiful culture. The Buddhist temple offers an informational Q&A before its services start and festivals are frequently held on the grounds.

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

9 LOCATIONS BRE’S PICK: LET IT SNOW ON 7TH Ybor City’s annual parade features nearly 20 marching bands, Santa and unique floats. Throughout the entire event “snowflakes” fall along 7th Avenue.

SPORTS & RECREATION

Photos courtesy of Jackie Neitez

The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg is one of Hare’s top choices for things to do in the Bay.

44 LOCATIONS BRE’S PICK: TAMPA BAY RAYS Some of my favorite memories growing up include watching the Rays at Tropicana Field. My grandpa would buy me a hot dog and a Coke and we’d cheer on our home team. It’s a tradition I continue to this day with my friends. I simply can’t go to Tropicana without purchasing a hot dog and remembering all of the memories we made around this sport.

CULTURE & HISTORY

The Tampa Theatre is a local icon that has been around since 1926.

25 LOCATIONS BRE’S PICK: TAMPA THEATRE There are few places in this world I cherish as much as the Tampa Theatre. It first opened its doors in 1926 and it continues to offer a wide range of independent, foreign and documentary films. Its holiday and summer classic series feature some of the best films ever made. It’s utterly gorgeous and an experience like no other.

SHOPPING & FASHION

Old Tampa Book Company is one of the hidden gems on Hare’s list.

8 LOCATIONS BRE’S PICK: OLD TAMPA BOOK COMPANY Nestled in the heart of downtown Tampa lies one of the best book stores in the country. Old Tampa Book Company has more than 40,000 collectible, rare, used and out of print books. Books are literally stacked from floor to ceiling.

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 / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major CMajor@yourobserver.com Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

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The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103. 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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Back to her roots, Jayme Harris, Plant City native, PCHS graduate c/o 1990 and USAF veteran has officially opened her boutique in Downtown Plant City. A PEACE of Plant City offers an array of boutique retail items to include locally made strawberry-themed shirts, hats, jewelry, organic soaps, lip balm, lotions, bath bombs, bath and body scented salts and oils. Spoil yourself or the ones you love with the perfect gift for all occasions. Private event space rental options. Inquire for rates and additional information to secure your booking. This UNIQUE BOUTIQUE is located at 120 North Collins Street, Suite 101 270258

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A large part of drawing people in lies in having a successful presence on social media and online. Waters has repeatedly said it is one of the weak spots of many downtown businesses and something she hopes will soon be revamped. In fact, using online tools to expand sales reach is the topic of next month’s discussion on June 26. Being interactive and up to date on social media helps customers feel connected to the business. The more one posts, the more interactions they are bound to receive. Without a strong online presence, Milley said, there is no hope of staying relative in the changing society. “We’re little ole’ Plant City, we’ve got to get people to come here,” Milley said. “They aren’t coming here on a whim, they’re coming because they want to see something or do something. We have to advertise our businesses so we make them want to stop in our town.”

Park Rd.

Eron Walker, a business consultant, said finding a way to link multiple responsibilities into one will help eliminate hours worth of work and stress.

Maryland Ave.

half of small business owners feel like they’re running a successful business.” There is no simple solution to combating the slower traffic that comes through the city each summer. However, with some simple steps and studious planning, Milley said there is hope to combat the financial drought. Miller asked about customer interactions and said that on average it takes approximately 45 days for an invoice to be returned. Many businesses struggle month to month and owners are unable to start saving for a 401k or even accumulate enough funds to cushion the blow of a rainy day. It’s crucial small businesses have enough put away for emergencies, like if several staff leave at the same time or if there is an unexpected expense at the business. “We’re not getting any younger and it’s getting harder to save,” Milley said. Part of the problem businesses face is when owners spread themselves too thin trying to handle all aspects of the company. Eron Walker, a business consultant, said finding a way to link multiple responsibilities into one will help eliminate hours worth of work and stress. By reducing the time spent on the intricacies of management, business owners can spend more time working to draw people into their businesses. Having incentives like rewards programs and regular promotions are key to establishing a loyal and frequent customer group. Walker recommended businesses offer promotions like if you spend so much today, you get a discount.

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

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of 10% off in two weeks. This will help bring customers back through the doors and also show you care about the community. Jane Waters, executive director of Historic Plant City Main Street, said local businesses have to do an in-depth analysis to determine where they truly stand. She said business owners should know both the strengths and the weaknesses of their company. Only by knowing where the faults lie can one start to take the steps necessary to improve.

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BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

After nearly two years of fundraising and planning, Willis Peters Exceptional Center finally has a new sunshade for its playground. WPEC provides educational programs and support for students with a wide range of disabilities between the ages of 3 and 22 years old. Many of the students cannot have extended sun exposure due to medical reasons and the shade allows them to have access to the playground and surrounding areas year-round. “It’s up to a 10 to 15-degree difference under the shade cover, it’s amazing,” Rebecca Nance, ESE Specialist at Willis Peters Exceptional Center, said. “We have a lot of medically fragile kids that have cardiac issues or seizure response to overheating or, quite frankly, with the population that we serve often times the intellectual development isn't there to initiate a response like you or I would have if we stepped on a hot surface or if we went down a hot slide to say, ‘Oh that hurts, I don’t want to do that again.’”

The shade structure was created by Apollo Sunguard and removes the hazard of having those hot surfaces when working with a population that doesn’t recognize the heat as a danger. The Lions Club got involved years ago when it learned of the need facing the students. Between community support, parking cars at festivals, a $50,000 grant from Lions International, $10,000 from Plant City Lions and $10,000 from Unity in the Community, WPEC raised more than $100,000 to complete this project, according to Lauren Bergold, HCPS communications. The funds went directly toward installing the shade over the playground and the courtyard and Nance said if approved the leftover funds will be used to install a fan. Because of all of the support from the community, WPEC held a ribbon cutting on May 17 to show off the finished product and thank everyone who came together to make it possible. There was a cupcake social, a catered luncheon from Johnson’s BBQ and a tour of the covered playground. “We cut the ribbon and because of the construction the kids hadn’t had a chance to climb on the playground yet so they all ran out to play,” Nance said. “Of course as soon as they got out there it started to storm again and we had to get them all back inside. But I don’t think the weather could have dampened our spirits. It was a great day.”

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Willis Peters Exceptional Center recently completed a community-funded sunshade for its students to enjoy the playground.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

Simmons Career Center 2018 graduation

ighty-seven Simmons Career Center seniors wrapped up their high school careers May 17 at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Simmons and three other Tampa Bay career centers — Bowers/Whitley, D.W. Waters and South County — linked up for a 10 a.m. graduation ceremony in the expo hall. They were the first Hillsborough County schools to host 2018 graduation ceremonies.

Photos by Breanne Williams

Plant City High School was the second of Plant City's four high schools to hold their graduation ceremony.

PCHS 2018 Graduation

— JUSTIN KLINE

Photos by Breanne Williams

Melissa Sampson and Savannah Trapnell

raduates from Plant City High School flocked to the Florida State Fairgrounds May 18 to walk across the stage before their cheering friends and family. Valedictorian Angela Cao and Salutatorian Mackenzie Steele gave speeches to the graduates. The ceremony was held at 8 p.m. and was the second of the four Plant City high schools to bid farewell to its senior class.

The graduation ceremony was held at 8 p.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

— BREANNE WILLIAMS

Family members posed for photos outside of the ceremony.

Simmons students were among the first in the county to graduate.

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LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC AUCTION STORAGE SALE

Photos by Justin Kline

In accordance with the provisions of the Florida Self Storage Act (sections 83.801 - 83.809), there being due and unpaid charges for which the undersigned is entitled to satisfy an owner and/or manager’s lien of the goods hereinafter described and stored at the Life Storage location listed below. And, due notice having been given, to the owner of said property and all parties known to claim an interest therein, and the time specified in such notice for payment of such having expired, the goods will be sold at public auction at the below stated location(s) to the highest bidder or otherwise disposed of on Wednesday, 9:00 am, June 13, 2018, at 1005 South Alexander Street, Plant City, FL 33563, 813-759-9526.

Durant seniors were excited to see their hard work finally pay off.

Durant High School 2018 Graduation

urant was the third of four Plant City-area high schools to bid farewell to its seniors. The Cougars of the senior class of 2018 finally got their diplomas in a Tuesday afternoon ceremony at the Florida State Fairgrounds. This year's speeches were given by valedictorian Zachary Irovando and salutatorian Alianet Valdes.

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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

PlantCityObserver.com

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

Charging into states

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

The Strawberry Crest baseball team earned its first-ever state Final Four berth Tuesday night.

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NOTICE OF SALE

In accordance with the provisions of State Law there being due and unpaid charges for which the undersigned is entitled to satisfy and owner and/ or manager’s lien of goods hereinafter described and stored at: Rentlok Self Storage located at 1205 S. Alexander St., Plant City, FL 33563, 813-759-2800. And due notice having been given, to the owner of said property and all parties know to claim an interest therein, and the time specified in such notice for payment of such having expired, the goods will be sold at public auction at the above stated locations to the highest bidder or otherwise disposed of on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018 @ 9:30 A.M. OR ANY DATE THERE IN AFTER.

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

JUSTIN KLINE

Terrell Alderman–Household

Strawberry Crest's baseball team continues to make history. This season saw the program's first district and regional championship wins and, next weekend, will include the first-ever appearance in the FHSAA state Final Four series in Fort Myers. The Chargers hosted the Wharton Wildcats in last week's 8A-Region 1 semifinal and picked up a come-from-behind 3-2 win over their district rivals. Down 2-0 after Zach Ehrhard and Dylan McDonald put Wharton ahead in the first inning, Crest was able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when Ben Pues scored Ryan Dell. Jacob Heath tied the game at 2-2 shortly afterward, driving in Pues with his own RBI. Neither team could get much offense going until the bottom of the fifth, when Crest took the lead for good thanks to Joey Parrillo’s baserunning and a mistake by Wharton reliever Steven Hotinski. Parrillo reached base

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This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “Actors need to know why they’re saying what they’re saying, more than just learning their lines.” – Director Dee Rees

Justin Kline

Alex Mussenden reaches third base in the district championship game against Wharton.

on a leadoff walk, took second base with Tanner Kelley at bat and reached third on a botched pickoff attempt. Hotinski came in to pitch for the Wildcats at this time and, after inducing a Kelley groundout, Parrillo was able to score on a balk with Derek Barone batting. The Chargers then loaded the bases with a 3-2 lead and two outs, but Hotinski was able to get Heath out to end the inning. Damien Torres, who relieved pitcher Brent May in the top of the fifth inning, kept Wharton at bay and got the win in just over two innings of work. With the win, Crest advanced to Tuesday's regional final at Fleming Island. The Chargers

and Golden Eagles battled for nine innings, neither side scoring until Crest's bats came alive in the final frame. Dell reached base after a one-out single and successfully stole second, then got to third base on Pues's grounder. Pues stole second with Barone at bat and Barone followed up with the game-winning two-RBI double. Torres, who entered the game in the sixth inning in relief of May, was able to close out the game with one man on base. Crest will face the winner of Wednesday's Plant-Sarasota game at 10 a.m. June 1 at Hammond Stadium, 14100 Ben C. Pratt Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers.

Area schools play in spring football jamborees

Puzzle Two Solution: “I discovered that my biggest passion was for directing... what I like doing the best.” – Frankie Shaw

and the Raiders cruised to a 40-0 win. The Raiders took a 13-0 lead into the second quarter, in which they scored 27 more unanswered points by air, by ground and by turnover. Durant and Bloomingdale played at the home of the Cougars, but the Bulls finished the evening with a 27-0 win. The Bulls offense sustained long, effective drives throughout the game and the defense kept the Cougars' run-heavy attack at bay.

ocal football fans got their fix May 17 when all three Plant Cityarea high schools saw some exhibition action. Durant and Tampa Bay Tech hosted spring jamborees at their respective campuses that evening, allowing each team to play two quarters of football in full pads and equipment. The games gave teams the opportunity to assess the players they have and make summer adjustments. Plant City and Strawberry Crest played the first half of Tampa Bay Tech's jamboree,

This week’s Sudoku answers

Photos by Justin Kline

— JUSTIN KLINE

Strawberry Crest's Tommy Johnson is chased by Plant City's D.J. Gordon.

This week’s Crossword answers

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

Meet your new Little Miss Plant City

he new Little Miss Plant City Queen and Court were crowned Saturday evening at the annual pageant. This is the 50th anniversary of the event, which is hosted by the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club. The contest is for girls age 8 to 10 who are judged on personality, poise, appropriate dress, grooming and stage presentation. Winners participate throughout the year in a variety of events across town like the Florida Strawberry Festival Parade, the Christmas Parade, the Reindeer 5K Run and more. The 2017 Queen J’Zell Arazelly Gilbertsen, First Maid Annistyn Griffin, and Court Members Addison Griffin, Brooke Browning and Kacie Culbreth passed their title on to the new queen and court.

Makinley Grace Jensen was contestant 15. She was appointed as a Court Member.

Photos by Breanne Williams

Above: Yvette Medina was contestant number one. Below: Autumn Paige Brazil was contestant number 26.

— BREANNE WILLIAMS

THE WINNERS Queen: Madelynn Hardwick First Maid: Makyla Brown Court Members: Mia Jones, Makinley Jensen and Brightlyn Willis

Madelynn Marie Hardwick was contestant number 13. Hardwick was crowned Queen later that evening.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

MAY 12

SPICE IT UP 100 block of West Alsobrook Street. Found property: During an investigation in reference to a subject with a warrant, officers found 104 grams of Spice, or synthetic marijuana, but could not determine who owned the drugs. The Spice was placed in PCPD evidence.

COPS CORNER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

MAY 13

OBITUARIES

Tim Watson Tim Watson, 66, of Plant City, born on May 24, 1951, entered into eternal rest on May 19. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Ruby Lee Booth

Zulema Jimenez, 64, of Plant City, born on Nov. 28, 1953 in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, entered into eternal rest on May 14. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Ruby Lee Booth, 96, of Plant City born in Carrollton, Georgia on Feb. 25, 1922, entered into eternal rest on May 16. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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HOW DID THAT GET THERE? 1 Police Place. Information report: Complainant stated he found a counterfeit $10 bill in his wallet and wasn’t sure where he got it from. He stated it was possible he received the bill while getting change for a May 12 order at Starbucks Coffee but wasn’t completely sure of it. An officer placed the bill in PCPD evidence.

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Keith Allen Beaty Keith Allen Beaty, 59, of Apollo Beach, born on Dec. 13, 1958 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on May 18, 2018. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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DOUBLE BOGEY 310 block of West Reynolds Street. Grand theft: Complainant stated one red Yamaha golf cart and one green Club Car golf cart were stolen. The carts were valued together at $3,200.

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Betty Lee Kemp, 90 of Plant City, passed away May 19, 2018. The family will be having private services at a later date. Online condolences may be left for the family at haught. care.

Roy Wilder Shepherd

Billy J. Lawson

Roy Wilder Shepherd, 82, of Interlachen, passed from this life on Sunday, May 13, 2018. He was a native of Plant City and had lived in Putnam County since 1958. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. No services are scheduled at this time. Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family at Roy’s Book of Memories page at www.johnsonoverturffunerals.com.

Billy J. Lawson, 68, of Plant City, born in Jasper, Alabama, entered into eternal rest on May 16. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.