5.30.19 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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VOLUME 6, NO. 48

TOSS IT IN THE BIN Changes in city code regulations regarding the use of tarps and the definitions of rubbish and refuse have been clarified, allowing Code Enforcement to start cracking down on violators.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Some major changes are coming to Plant City regarding the way things are stored on resident’s property. City Commissioners agreed Monday evening to alter the usage regulations of tarpaulins, aka tarps, within the city limits. They also agreed to amend the definitions of refuse and rubbish,

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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

clarifying what does and does not constitute as each respective item. “After Hurricane Irma in September 2017 the use of tarps proliferated to the extent that they have now become a major contributor to blight throughout the city,” Tray Towles, code enforcement manager, said. “Tarps designed for a limited or temporary use are now, in some cases, being used well beyond its intended lifespan.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

JOURNEY 2019 HAS ARRIVED

Check out the Plant City Observer’s special Journey edition, which highlights local Class of 2019 students and features some of our brightest young minds. SEE SECTION B

GLOBAL RUNNING DAY CELEBRATION COMING TO PC BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Plant City Running Club is inviting the community to join in the celebration of Global Running Day on June 5 with a quick run and some hearty barbecue in Walden Lake.

There’s a common misconception that only those who are highly skilled athletes should participate in international fitness events. The Plant City Running Club is hoping to break down that belief by hosting an event open to everyone right here in Walden Lake, 3035 Griffin Blvd. Global Running Day is held across the world on June 5 to encourage people to get active. For Plant City that will involve a fun run through Walden Lake and wrap up with some delicious barbecue and leisurely lawn games.

“We did a little one last year at Lower Green Swamp and this year we wanted to do something more public to bring more people on board,” Jillian Wilder, group member, said. “This is something you can bring the whole family to. If you want to run great, come join us. Even if you don’t there’s going to be Sikes Southern BBQ there and maybe some games. It’s going to be a fun event. Just come out and learn more about the club.”

SEE PAGE 3

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

NEWS BRIEFS

Local hairstylist wins national SportClips award Out of more than 18,000 hairstylists in the SportClips network, the company’s 2019 Heart of a Champion award winner came from Plant City. Ravina Ramsey won this year’s award, which is given to a stylist who demonstrates principles of integrity and good customer service on a regular basis. SportClips’ website describes three guiding principles for those with the Heart of a Champion: “Do what’s right, do your best and treat others the way they want to be treated.”

Children’s Board promotes water safety Children’s Board and the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA partnered in the month of May to educate families with young children on the importance of teaching kids about water safety. The group said swim lessons can cut the risk of drowning by 88 percent, which would be huge for Hillsborough County: there were 13 drowning deaths among children in the county last year and drowning is considered the leading

cause of death for children age 1 year old through 6 years old. The Children’s Board offers several safety tips for parents: Infants and toddlers can drown in as little as one inch of water and it is especially hazardous when infants have not yet developed neck muscle control. Drowning hazards include pet water bowls, buckets, toilets, blow-up pools and bathtubs. Limit kids’ access to pools. Install barriers and locks on your pool, and be sure any pool your child visits has barriers and locks. All pools should have a pool fence with self-closing, self-latching locks that are out of reach from small children. It’s also a good idea to install alarms on all doors and windows so you’re alerted if a child goes outside Children drown silently, they do not splash or call out for help like an adult would. This makes it even easier for a drowning child to go unnoticed, so stay alert. Designate a “water watcher.” Assign an adult to keep their eyes on the child at all times when they are near water. The watcher should avoid distraction, especially by phone calls, texting, reading or any other electronic devices. Be within arm’s reach. When infants and toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s reach and close enough to rescue the child if needed. Never rely on a floatation devices. Flotation devices, such as water wings, inner tubes or even life vests should be used only in conjunction with close adult supervision. Be aware of hidden hazards. Empty bathtubs, buckets and inflatable pools when they are no longer in use. Keep pet bowls out of reach of children and bathroom doors closed. For more information about the Children’s Board-funded Mobile Swim Program, please call the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA at 813-224-9622 Ext. 1292.

Tax-free holiday starts this week Worried about hurricanes? Don’t forget to get a head start on prepping with the 2019 tax-free holiday, which starts tomorrow and runs through June 6.. Generators, gas cans and other items considered essential to help weather a storm are considered fair game in the sale, which eliminates sales tax for items determined to be important for weathering any Florida storm. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute offers several tips for those looking to get and use a generator. When the lights go out, generators keep your home humming with light and power. When purchasing a generator, consider the types of items you need to power. Determine how many kilowatts are needed for essential items (charging family cell phones, a refrigerator, etc.) during an emergency. Research generators online before you buy. Talk with the staff at the store or go online. Discuss safety features and ask about manufacturer fueling and care instructions. Know what features you want. Circuit-breaker-protected outlets will guard against generator overload. A larger fuel tank will provide extra running time. Integrated fuel gauges will help keep tabs on fuel levels and prevent power interruptions. Low tone mufflers make for quieter operation. Fold-down handles and wheels can make it easier to move your generator. If you are planning to use a generator, a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home is smart. Now is a great time to pick one up and batteries are taxfree during the sales tax holiday. Identify the generator’s placement. Give portable generators plenty of room for ventilation. Place the generator outside and away from windows, doors, and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.

Keep generators dry. Before a storm

hits, identify how to cover and vent the generator. Buy model-specific tents or generator covers online, at a home center or hardware store. Buy the right extension cords. Be sure you have on hand heavy duty extension cords, suitable for outdoor weather, that will easily reach your generator. Have the right fuel on hand, before a storm hits, in an appropriate container. Select containers that seal well. Store fuel in a safe place, away from heat sources and out of the reach of children. Label the can with the date of purchase and the ethanol content. Check filled cans regularly and replenish them if needed. Fuel that is more than 30 days old should not be used in any outdoor power equipment. Use the type of fuel recommended by the generator manufacturer. It is illegal to use any fuel with more than 10 percent ethanol in outdoor power equipment. For more information, visit LookBeforeYouPump.com or OPEI.org.

Two days left of Jeep giveaway Operation Paying It Forward’s Jeep Liberty giveaway entry period has two days left. The group is giving away a Jeep to one lucky winner and is now accepting online nominations through Friday. The winner must have a valid driver’s license and insurance, and will be responsible for the tax, tag and title transfer. To nominate yourself or someone you know, visit operationpayingitforward. com/recipient-nomination-form.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

LACE UP YOUR KICKS AND HIT THE STREET

Global Running Day is June 5 and the Plant City Running Club is hosting a special event in Walden Lake to encourage members of the community to value their health and get active.

Courtesy of PC Running Club

The Plant City Running Club has slowly been gaining traction over the past few years and now has a steady following of eager running enthusiasts. BREANNE WILLIAMS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The entire world will be running that day and Florida will do its part despite the summer heat that’s sure to blanket the event. The group is hosting the run at night to combat it, but anyone wanting to go for a jog should dress appropriately. The event is 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the run will kick off around 6:15 p.m. Global Running Day is massive and helps connect people all over the world. You can go online and pledge how much you’ll be running and see what the experience looks like for people in places like Germany, Canada and Spain. There are currently 115 countries joining the mix. By pledging, you can virtually track your progress and join the movement. Getting active always begins with baby steps. If you’re only able to last a minute your first run, you’ll be able to go three your second. By the time you’re a month or two in you’ll be shocked at how far you’re able to go. Running may have never been on your radar, but with this group it just might become your favorite pastime. When Wilder first

joined the group she had never considered running as a hobby. She was new to town and looking for a sense of community when she stumbled upon the club. Utilizing the motto, “everyone in the running club is family,” the organization goes out of its way to support and encourage whoever shows up. Though Wilder didn’t know many people in town when she first arrived, by the time she had finished a month with the Plant City Running Club she had found a network she cherishes to this day. “We really do use the family mindset in the club,” Wilder said. “It’s just great to be a part of. Another benefit, especially if you’re new to town, is you learn so many of the random side streets in Plant City from running them. Whenever I’m talking to a friend and they mention an area of town, I know exactly where they’re talking about because I’ve ran those streets with the group. It’s a great way to meet people and get to know your town.” It’s free to join and there are no dues. If you want some Running Club swag you can purchase branded merchandise, but other than that it’s entirely free. One of the major benefits of running with the group is the depth of

experience and knowledge found among the members. If you’re running and find yourself with aching muscles, someone in the group will more than likely have shoe recommendations or advice to help alleviate the issue. You may not know there even is a problem and your running mate will be able to pinpoint it and help nip it in the bud. They’re here to encourage each other and help each other continue to achieve their fitness goals. If you can’t make Global Running Day, but still want to get involved with the group follow the Plant City Running Club on Facebook and to check out its website. Weekly runs are posted in the Facebook group and its the easiest way to get a feel for what’s happening around town. Every week the group holds a Saturday run at Hole in One Doughnuts, 410 N Alexander St., at 7 a.m. This is by far the largest attended run of the week and approximately 20 people regularly show up. The last Saturday of each month is a run at a “field trip” location voted on in the group. Weekday runs are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:15 a.m. at Hole in One and a group member hosts

IF YOU GO

one run a week at her home, however the time flexes based on the needs of the group. “The Saturday run is a ‘sexy pace,’ so whatever you feel like doing is perfect,” Wilder said. “People who have run two weeks or for 20 years, all are welcome to come and just enjoy the morning. We don’t leave anyone behind.”

The group also has gained recognition around town for its Christmas Light Run, which had approximately 50 people participating last year. The group dons festive holiday apparel and ran through downtown Plant City, taking in the extensive Christmas lights and decorations.

Courtesy of PC Running Club

Several runs are held each week with the club as well as special events.

Global Running Day & BBQ with PCRC When: June 5 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The run is at 6:15 p.m. Where: Walden Lake, 3035 Griffin Blvd. Cost: Free to attend, BBQ for sale Recommendation: Wear your running gear and come for a quick jog with the group. Bring the family and mingle with the club over some great barbecue.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner

COPS CORNER

Plant City Police investigated fraudulent car salesman, boozy

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

cruisers, graffiti at Lincoln and

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

more.

Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com

MAY 17 CONSTRUCTING A LIE 700 block of W. Russell Dr. Fraud: This victim told officers that after completing a construction job the client paid him $2,350 with a post dated check. The account in question was found to have insufficient funds. THE GAMING BADGE OF THE LAW 4400 block of Reynolds Ridge Ct. Fraud: Someone called this victim and pretended to be a PCPD detective. He told the victim he had to go to GameStop and purchase $600 worth of game cards and provide the numbers to the cards to the suspect over the phone. The victim did as he was instructed before he realized he had been scammed.

driver. The officer was forced to conduct a stop at the location to protect other drivers on the roadway and they then called for Florida Highway Patrol’s assistance. Once FHP arrived they ultimately arrested the female driver for driving under the influence as a result of the interaction. An information report was completed to reflect the officer’s actions in this manner.

police to report a vacant home was burglarized, resulting in the theft of a refrigerator, microwave, stove and a lock box.

STEALING THE STIHL 1000 block of E. Alsobrook St. Residential burglary: This victim told officers someone had broken into his home and stolen a Stihl trimmer valued at $1,159.

I’M NOT LOVIN’ IT 2000 block of James L. Redman Pkwy. Battery/Waiver: This complainant told officers he was involved in a verbal altercation with an unknown person in the drive thru of the McDonalds. He said the verbal altercation was over line cutting at the drive thru and that both he and the unknown subject exchanged words. When he went to walk away, the subject punched him causing redness and swelling to his nose. He was unable to provide the license plate and declined to pursue any charges. He signed a waiver of prosecution.

KICKED OUT CAMPER 1800 block of James L. Redman Pkwy. Trespass after warning: Officers located a man camping next to the business at the above listed location that had been trespassed last November for a year. They also found him to be in possession of Spice and he was transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

HANDGUN ON THE LOOSE 3700 block of Trapnell Grove Ct. Vehicle burglary: This victim reported that during the night of May 18 an unknown suspect burglarized his vehicle and stole a 9mm Browning handgun.

FICKLE FOOTWEAR 200 block of W. Alexander St. Theft: Officers came out to Famous Footwear as a response to a theft in progress. When Edited by19David Steinberg May 31,MAY 201920 they arrived they arrested a MAY man and two women and they were charged with theft, no valid 50ELEMENTARY UP FOR YOU Privileged SHENANIGANS ACROSS 13 Sibilant BURNIN 42 Anatomical drivers license and possession block of E. Renfro St.surreptitious 700 block of N. Evers St. 531200 ___-la-la 1 Ruby, rings of meth. Officers discovered an Possible44 arson: Officers re56Graffiti: Greatest for one signal Carnival unknown suspect had spray sponsed to a structure extent 4 Love, 18 “Egad,” e.g. ride? fire at painted the south side of Lincoln the above listed location. Plant MAY 18 58 Fateful in Latin 19 Sign on aCity Fire Rescue 45 Stolen Elementary School. told them the March 8 Chess piece real estate vehicle fire was suspicious and the Fire BOOZY CRUISING date GETAWAY sign 46 contacted. Home loan Marshal was Officers MASSIVE I4/County Linethat Rd. moves 591100 Disapdiagonally org. assisted PCFR with the scene block of N. Palm24 Dr. Place DUI/Assist: While on the way pointing burglary:26 14officer’s Dundee Book before 47 English and completed an information Residential A real to work this vehicle fireworks? denial Nehemiah report for thequeen’s incident. estate company contacted the was almost struck by a drunk

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PREPPING FOR A PARTY 2200 block of N. Park Rd. Theft: Officers were told by this complainant that someone swiped three cases of beer, which were valued at $33.98.

MAY 21 A CURIOUS SWAP 200 block of Park Springs Cir. Fraud: This victim was on the hunt for a new vehicle. She found one on Ebay and the seller requested she purchase $1,200 worth of Ebay gift cards and send her the card numbers in order to make the exchange. The victim did as she was asked and sent the numerous card numbers over. Then she was notified by Ebay that it was a scam and was told to report the incident to the police. A report was completed and the victim signed a waiver.

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BEATING THE HEAT 1400 block of Oakwood Ln. Grand theft: When burglars broke into this residence they decided to focus their heist on a 2 Ton air conditioner unit, which was valued at $5,000.

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SUSPICIOUS PHOTO SHOOT Hitchcock St./E. Alabama St. Resist arrest: Officers came out to the above listed location in response to a suspicious person taking photos of a company vehicle and tags. The person was located and resisted arrest.

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Theft: This complainant told officers during the evening of May 19 an unknown suspect swiped some nutrition bars and snacks from the counter top without paying.

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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

DAR HONOR MEMORIAL DAY The Daughters of the American Revolution, Echebucsassa Chapter, cleaned up Plant City’s DAR Arrowhead Monument and held a special ceremony to pay homage to Memorial Day. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

This Memorial Day members of the Echebucsassa Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution returned to their roots. The local group was formed in 1929 by Mary Noel Moody and just recently celebrated its 90th anniversary. Moody was known for her extensive work around Plant City and was crucial in fostering the library in the heart of downtown. Though the chapter was founded here, it now also covers Dade City and Zephyrhills. One of Moody’s lasting accomplishments was when she and DAR erected a six foot tall arrowhead shaped monument in Sunrise Park, 1203 E. Baker St., to remember the city’s first post office, which was found four miles to the north of the park. The monument was built by William E. Calvert and is comprised of rocks gathered by members from Blackwater Creek near Crystal Springs. “Since the post office was commemorated with the monument, we decided to have it cleaned up and to perform the memorial there,” Vice Regent Marie Wunderlich said. “It’s not a service memorial, but it is an important memorial. It felt like the perfect place to pay our tributes.” On May 20 four of the members came armed with buckets and

scrub brushes and polished the monument to a shine, removing rust and dirt from the surface. They then spent time combing every inch of grass they could find for trash and ensuring Sunrise Park was pristine. During the ceremony on May 26, many more members gathered in the small, triangular shaped park. The national anthem was played in front of the monument, which was adorned with a variety of flags and two wreaths. Then a verse was read and the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day was explained to the group. To pay their respects, a verse was read from the book of Psalms and they closed the service with a short prayer. Before heading home for the evening, the group once again scanned the area and cleaned up anything out of place to leave the park squeaky clean. Echebucsassa is considered the first name of Plant City’s geographical region. In 1884 its current name was adopted in honor of H.B. Plant who first brought the railroad to town. The DAR group has been heavily involved in its region for decades and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. There are currently 58 members of the chapter and in Florida alone there are more than 10,000 DAR members among more than 100 chapters, said Wunderlich. DAR prides itself on being a nonprofit, nonpolitical service organization.

Everything from fighting for historic preservation to erecting monuments and advancing education is on its agenda. The Echebucsassa chapter goes before city commissioners in all of its represented towns and requests a declaration for constitution week. They also go to schools to help further knowledge on the Constitution and to libraries where they set up copies of the Declaration of Independence and hand out reprints of the Constitution to anyone interested. “If someone has an interest in becoming involved with the Daughters of the American Revolution in the Echebucsassa chapter, than by all means we encourage them to call us,” Wunderlich said. “Now they’ll have to have sufficient evidence to substantiate she had a family member that fought and served in the American Revolution. Whether that’s Bible records, marriage certificates, we just will need some type of documentation.” The group meets the first Wednesday of each month from October until May. Wunderlich said they are hoping to have a stronger presence in Plant City to help further their reach in schools, parades or anywhere there is a need. There’s more that can be done, she said, and DAR is all about doing the most good it can.

Courtesy photo

Members of the Echebucsassa Chapter of DAR cleaned up the arrowhead monument at Sunrise Park.

THOSE INTERESTED in joining that have done their homework on an ancestor and are ready for the next step are welcome to contact the group’s registrar Elaine Frank at 813-760-4691.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

ONE DEAD IN ACCIDENT IN WALDEN LAKE An accident turned fatal in Walden Lake last Friday when a man lost control of his vehicle near the Emerald Forest subdivision.

Breanne Williams

The culvert near Emerald Forest was destroyed in the impact that killed a driver on Friday during a crash. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

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A man was killed Friday evening in Walden Lake after losing control of his vehicle near Emerald Forest. At approximately 11:02 p.m. a man, who had entered the Walden Lake community from the Trapnell gate and was driving northbound, lost control of his vehicle. Plant City Police Department said the exact reason for losing control is unknown, however they believe he was going above the listed speed limit. His truck drifted and the left tires struck the median curb. When the driver attempted to steer back toward the center of

the lane, he overcorrected, went into the grass median and hit the concrete culvert, shattering it into several pieces. The impact of the collision sent his truck airborne where it subsequently flipped and landed on the roof at the entrance to the Emerald Forest subdivision, according to PCPD. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and the momentum of the crash caused him to be partially ejected from the side window. PCPD spokesman Sgt. Al Van Duyne said the driver received massive injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Speeding through Walden Lake has been an issue PCPD has warned against for years. The tight curves and abundance of

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adjacent roadways make cautionary driving a must to keep both drivers and pedestrians safe. While the exact details of what occurred seconds prior to the crash are not currently known, Van Duyne said looking at the evidence at the scene and the damage done to the concrete barrier in front of the culvert, which acts as a massive drainage system for Walden Lake, indicates the driver never really applied his brakes when he slid off the road. “When we were there we saw flat spots of when the tires went through the culvert,” Van Duyne said. “It’s in pieces. That can only really happen if you’re going at a high rate of speed or if you’re going maybe 40 (mph) or 50 (mph) on the listed 30 (mph)

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roadway, but you’re not breaking at all. It definitely was too fast for what he needed to do.” Whether you’re a Walden Lake resident and have driven the roads a thousand times or are simply passing through and are unfamiliar with the roadway, it’s crucial to stick to the low speed limit. Van Duyne said its posted for a reason and the winding road, coupled with the minimal street lighting, can add up to a dangerous drive if you’re not paying attention. “This is a true story, I’ve driven through Walden Lake 5,000 times in 20 years, but Friday night they had those reclaimed water sprinklers on and even though I was driving the limit, I lost traction for a second,” Van Duyne said. “If I was going super fast I might

have lost control. People need to slow down. There’s street lighting, but it’s minimal. You don’t know if around a curve you’ll find a fallen branch, a child, an animal. You won’t get a ticket for doing 20 (mph) to 25 (mph). Just slow down.” Though police arrived on the scene immediately, Van Duyne said they were on site until nearly 3 a.m. Most traffic along the roadway and in and out of the subdivision continued to flow without an issue, however, Van Duyne said there were two instances when they had to block the roadway to allow for the medical examiner to come in and later to allow Brewington Towing Company to remove the truck.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

THE DURANT HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2019 WAS THE FIRST OF THOSE IN THE PLANT CITY AREA TO GRADUATE.

Durant’s ceremony started at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Durant High School Class of 2019 set the tone for this year’s graduating class as they were the first Plant City school to receive their diplomas. Durant’s ceremony started at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall. Graduates got there early to take photos with their friends and family outside of the Expo Hall and then broke off into their designated section once the gates opened. Always an emotional ceremony, Durant had an added layer of joy during the event when Kolton Smith, the high school senior athlete that had been paralyzed in June following a car crash, surprised the audience by standing and walking across the stage. There were few dry eyes in the crowd and the entire stadium let out a loud cheer for his progress. Within seconds of him taking the first step with the walker the audience leapt to its feet, granting him a standing ovation. His coach was directly behind him the entire way, slowly pushing his wheel chair in case Smith needed a break. Resolute, Smith focused straight ahead, careful not to break his stride, as he powered across the stage to receive his diploma. He was one of many that took those final steps as students into their next chapter in life.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

PlantCityObserver.com

SIMMONS STUDENTS TURN THEIR TASSELS Simmons Career Center held its graduation ceremony Friday afternoon at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Students from Simmons Career Center were surrounded by their friends and family Friday afternoon as they walked across the stage for their long awaited graduation. Parents held balloons, flowers and bears and helped their seniors fix graduation caps and weave through the crowds before they parted ways for the ceremony. For the last time the students posed for selfies, helped each other slip on their medallions and hugged their teachers good-bye before they lined up and prepared to do their final walk. The graduation ceremony was held at 1 p.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

CLEANING UP PC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Towles showed a slideshow of images of bright blue tarps being strung across posts as pseudo fences, tied over boats and cars as coverings or across a landing as a makeshift carport. One of the biggest issues is the growing number of homes with tarps used to “patch” holes in the roof. Directly following Irma many homes struck by the storm used tarps to act as a band-aid to their property while they acquired funding to mend the damage. However, a large number of properties never fixed the problem. Tarps can only be used for 90 days. Though it’s a year and a half later the same tarps remain, baking in the sun and becoming threadbare from Florida’s inclement weather. One home in Plant City has a tarp with FEMA written in large letters across its covering, acting as a roof. One other doesn’t even have a real heavy-duty tarp. Instead it’s using a massive Publix banner to patch up its problems. Another followed the repurposing trend and is using the advertisement banner of an attorney to cover up quite a large section of its roof. As if the impending home damage isn’t bad enough, many property owners are using tarps to cover up piles of garbage, refuse and rubbish. Mounds of the unmoving items lay stagnant in the yards for months and years. All it would take is one stray spark and suddenly the mounds become a massive fire hazard. If someone wants to protect a boat or vehicle, they now need to use a fitted cover manufactured for that purpose and ensure the bottom six inches of the tires are uncovered and visible so Code Enforcement can easily see if the car is functional or not. Code Enforcement has been fielding calls for years from concerned neighbors

who worry about their hoarding counterparts, but without more direct definitions of what is considered rubbish and refuse they were unable to firmly say the “collections” were out of code. After the passage of the new definitions the city will allow refuse to include “exposed salvageable materials” and rubbish was amended to “include metal, rubber, plastic, furniture, appliances, bicycles, vessels and recreational equipment.” The storage of any garbage, refuse and rubbish is prohibited in Plant City when it is not being placed in an authorized bag or container for collection. Everything from public health and safety to the general welfare of adjacent properties can be affected by piles of random items and with more concrete rules Code Enforcement can make sure residents are in compliance. Violators often lean on the excuse that what they’re storing isn’t trash, but rather meaningful goods. Clarified definitions will help prevent that excuse from continuing. “The adage is ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,’ sometimes one man’s trash really is just his trash,” Towles said. Towles said he knows some home owners ran into trouble with funding following Irma and clarified that Code Enforcement will not be simply slapping fines and violations on everyone who isn’t in compliance. He and his team plan to go meet with the homeowners to figure out what is going on and to inform them of the new change. They want to help and hopefully they’ll be able to get the ball rolling on getting these issues fixed. Commissioner Bill Dodson said he is “amazed this problem has been accumulating over time.” He said he felt it could have easily been resolved a decade earlier, but is glad they now have the correct wording to ensure it does not continue to plague the city.

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Tarps are only allowed to be used for 90 days. Anything longer and you will violate city code.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

CORNHOLE

HIRING AHEAD

TOURNAMENT RAISES FOR RAIDERS

The City of Plant City will enter a contract with a recruitment agency to help fill any upcoming positions with the best candidates.

The Plant City Raiders 12U baseball team hosted a May 25 fundraiser to help cover travel costs for the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament. BREANNE WILLIAMS JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The parking lot at O’Brien’s Irish Pub was home to a 23-team corn hole tournament on May 25 and it was all for a good cause. The tourney raised approximately $2,200 to help send the Plant City Raid-

STAFF WRITER

ers 12U travel baseball team, which competes in USSSA play, to Cooperstown, New York next weekend. The Raiders are heading to the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame for its annual Dreams Park Tournament, a five-day affair that kicks off June 8. With help from the cornhole tourney, the team was able to meet its fundraising goal and cover travel costs without any problems.

The City of Plant City is hoping to expedite its hiring process by entering a contract with Ad-Vance Talent Solutions, Inc. For years all hirings at the city were handled by the internal Human Resources Department. With a limited staff, City Manager Bill McDaniel said it would often taken far longer than necessary to find the perfect fit for the openings as the HR team would have to drop everything they normally handle to fill the position. “It’s very time intensive and labor intensive,” McDaniel said. “By hiring Ad-Vance we get to offload it. They have experts in recruitment and hiring management on their team that I’m confident will be able to find exceptional applicants for our positions.” City Commissioners unanimously agreed Monday evening to enter the contract with the company. The city will be “piggy backing” a contract with the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. With the vote Monday evening the city will authorize a one year contract with Ad-Vance Personnel Services, Inc. dba Ad-Vance Talent Solutions, Inc., that comes with three one year renewal options available upon approval from the city manager.

The contract will allow the city to have either temporary to permanent employees or direct hires. If it’s the prior, the hires remain temporary for up to 18 months with “a markup cost between 25 percent and 38 percent depending on the position.” Direct hires with assistance from Ad-Vance in the recruitment process come at a fixed cost of $890 per recruitment. The city will use funds that are currently available in the personnel section of the funds for whatever department will utilize the service. McDaniel said there haven’t been as many applicants as he knows there could be for the job openings the city has had recently. Without a dedicated staff on hand to go to job fairs, heavily broadcast the opening and thoroughly comb through each and every applicant, it’s hard to ensure the city is gaining the best suited employees. Ad-Vance will advertise locally, regionally and nationally, if required, and will handle online applications and the onboarding process as well as tackle video interviewing and electronic timekeeping. “There are a lot of positive benefits for the city,” McDaniel said. “It could take quite a while before to get any position filled when we had to allocate our HR team to handling the openings. Hiring a recruitment agency just makes sense. It makes the process more efficient, effective and shortens the timeline.”

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COMMENTS Naomi Fowler: So proud of you Franco! He also does an awesome job coaching kids basketball at the Y every Saturday.

Krysta Hinson Figga: He has helped Logan with his workout too! Congratulations!! Cat show coming to TECO Expo Hall â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Â Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not kitten around. These pawsitively adorable cats are on their way to Plant City for a two-day cat show at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds on June 1 and June 2.

Justin Kline

If you drive on Forbes Road near I-4 youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll spot several patriotic displays.

a moment and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to keep this country safe. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proud of the military and first responders and hopes in his own way heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s able to draw attention to their dedication and hard work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kevin is very patriotic and he put up the signs because heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blessed to be able to recognize first responders and the military because he has a business,â&#x20AC;? Michelle Valdes, who helped make and install the signs, said.

Grant Knight: Chris where do you think the semi trucks should park ? Around Town 5.16.19: We asked: Now that the city has speakers hooked up around McCall Park, what kind of music would you like to hear downtown?

COMMENTS Stacy Marie Lague Kayla Lowery: my cats audition picture! Savannah Hall: Cassie Hall Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so sad we will be gone I would have totally went Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place keeps Plant City on cutting edge of hair style â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Â Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place for Hair, Skin & Nails was the first business to open its doors in the Lee Building after its 1998 renovation and has kept Plant City residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hair looking good ever since. COMMENTS Gail Crutchfield: Best place in town!

Parking banned near Advantage Academy â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Â In an effort to keep local children that attend Advantage Academy safe and prevent nearby residents from using Prosser Drive as overflow parking, the city has extended the prohibition of parking along the entirely of the roadway. COMMENTS Chris Carter: Certainly not on the shoulder of public roads where they can obstruct driver vision, and as a homeowner, I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to create an eyesore for my neighbors by parking in the driveway. There are areas in Plant City to rent a space for a nominal monthly fee.

Heather Watson Padgett: I taught him!!!! Proud of you Franco Cathy Townsend

Though the patriotic signs on Forbes Road on the property of Kevin Johnson, owner of Quality Septic, went up near Memorial Day, they will stay as long as he can have them. Johnson had four signs installed along Forbes Road as a way to honor Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military and show his appreciation for all they do for the country. He wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seeking advertisement for his company, but rather hoped the signs would cause those who drive by to take

COMMENTS Gayle Brown: Change it up. Easy listening on Sundays/Motown/Country/60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hits/ Elvis weekend/ Early Rock and Roll on Car weekends ETC. Keep it clean, like we want our town. Chris Murphy Elliott: You could play music by local musicians Thomas Hofts: Uncensored hip hop and rap. Did they install big subwoofers? Meg Scott: Easy listening. No â&#x20AC;&#x153;Disturbing the peaceâ&#x20AC;? booming, thunking junk.

Veronica Prostko: Wonderful place and people! I go there for my hair and facials.

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Some stories the Observer has published over the past few weeks have created quite a conversation online. Here are your thoughts on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s happening in the city. Focus on Fitness: A better version of yourself â&#x20AC;&#x201D; COLUMN: Franco Donadelli has worked hard to lose 70 pounds and get in the best shape of his life.

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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

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MAY 30, 2019

SPORTS

Austin Gardner won a silver medal in the 4x100 relay at the Special Olympics State Summer Games. See Page 13

CHARGERS, RAIDERS MAKE STATE Quick Hits BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BASEBALL TOURNEYS ON DECK Global Sports Alliance’s High Heater Classic tournament will come to Plant City next weekend. The tourney runs Saturday and Sunday at Ellis-Methvin Park, Mike Sansone Park, Snowden Park, Plant City Stadium, the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex and the MLK complex. Games run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Florida USSSA Baseball’s Summer Kick-Off tournament will use multiple fields at Plant City Stadium, Randy L. Larson Softball FourPlex, Mike Sansone Park, Ellis-Methvin Park and the MLK Complex from June 8-9. The tourney runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Strawberry Crest’s 3-2 win over Chiles and Plant City’s 3-0 win at Seminole means both teams had dates in Fort Myers this week.

SUMMER TENNIS OFFERINGS The Plant City Tennis Center will have plenty to offer in the coming summer months. Sessions of youth tennis lessons for all skill levels will start June 3, June 24 and July 19. Tots (age 4-7) meet at 8:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays while beginners through advanced students (age 8-12) meet at 9 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Tots lessons cost $30 per session and the others cost $60 per session. The Ladies Summer Doubles Tennis League runs from June 5 through July 31 and will have matches at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays. The doubles format is two out of three matched with a 10-point third set match tie breaker if needed. Twelve teams will be able to register and pass holders at the tennis center can sign up for $20. Non-member teams can join the league for $60. Register by 5 p.m. May 29. On the second Friday of each month, the tennis center will host its Monthly Mixed Mixer at 6 p.m. Pass holders can attend for $5 and nonmembers for $15. Registration forms can be found online at plantcitygov.com/parksrec/page/plant-city-tennis-centeractivities. For more information call 813-707-7485 or email C. Shane Johnson at sjohnson@plantcitygov. com.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

Justin Kline

Strawberry Crest celebrates its 3-2 win over Chiles last week. The team is now back-to-back regional champions.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

he Strawberry Crest Chargers and Plant City Raiders made the cut for the FHSAA 8A baseball Final Four with a pair of May 22 regional championship wins. Crest survived a late Chiles rally to take a 3-2 win and Plant City cruised to a 3-0 win at Seminole. The Chargers are now back-to-back regional champs and, to hear everyone in garnet and black tell it, no longer “just happy to be there” at states — they’re back and they’re hungrier than ever. The Raiders, on the other hand, continued to go boldly where no PCHS baseball team has gone before and won their first-ever 8A-Region 2 title. “It feels awesome,” SCHS head coach Eric Beattie said. “It’s a hard thing to do once and now we’re going back.” Crest took its first and only lead of the game in the bottom of the third inning when Kade Manderscheid scored Alex Mussenden with an RBI single. The Chargers got the remainder of their offense on the scoreboard in the next half-inning, plating two in the bottom of the fourth

when Caleb Weaver scored on a fielding error at second base and Mussenden’s sacrifice RBI drove in Ryan Dell. The game went by quickly — five innings were completed in just over one hour, largely thanks to Alex Marshall’s perfection on the mound — until the sixth inning, when Chiles took advantage of some mistakes by an otherwise airtight Crest defense. Tyler Gerteisen scored on an error after an attempt to throw him out was unsuccessful, and a sacrifice RBI by Grant Gallagher brought Mason Correa across home plate to cut the Chargers’ lead to one. Marshall was able to recover and induce a groundout and a flyout to end the inning. Crest nearly put some more points on the board in the bottom of the sixth with two outs and Joey Parrillo on second base, but Colby Fanning’s liner to left field was caught in the air on an athletic diving play. Manderscheid took the mound for the Chargers to get the save and, after a series of pickoff attempts at second base left the Crest defense visibly frustrated, finally broke through. Cullen Craig struck out looking. Jaxson

West flied out. Dillon Gieseckie was accidentally hit by a pitch and took his base, but it didn’t matter: Parker McDonald hit a grounder quickly thrown to a hyped-up Tanner Kelley for the final out. The Chargers again proved they could handle high stress. “We practice stressful situations at practice a lot,” Manderscheid said. “Our coaches really help us push through. We’ve just got such a great team. We’ve got the best defense around.” Meanwhile, at Seminole High School, Plant City took control early in the game when Tyler Dowdy blasted a solo shot over the outfield fence to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Cade Shissler drove in two RBI, first scoring Mario Williams on a double and later scoring Casey Mawhinney on an infield single. Parker Messick gave up just one hit and one walk to the Warhawks to get the win. “PCHS has never made it past the regional semifinal before,” Raiders head coach Mike Fryrear said. “We’re feeling good. I’m still in a daze, a little bit. The boys have calmed down now but they were going wild on the bus. It

feels good… but we know we have to focus on winning at states.” Plant City’s state semifinal opponent was already known May 22. Hollywood-McArthur, coached by former Major League Baseball player Oddibe McDowell, picked up a 2-0 win at home over St. Thomas Aquinas Wednesday night to get to the Final Four. The Mustangs (15-5; 2-1 district) have not allowed a run in their last three games and have outscored opponents 10-0 in that time. The Raiders and Mustangs faced off yesterday evening. Strawberry Crest’s opponent was decided the next night. George Jenkins beat Windermere on the road, 7-4, to earn the right to face the Chargers at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Jenkins (20-6; 4-2 district) got to the regional semifinal with a 4-3 win over Lakeland on May 18. Like Crest, Jenkins also made it to the 8A state Final Four last year and lost in the semifinal round (a 6-3 loss to eventual champion St. Thomas Aquinas). Results from Wednesday’s state Final Four games were not available at press time, but game recap is available on plantcityobserver.com.

JUSTIN KLINE

WHERE DOES A “LACK OF COMMITMENT” IN SPORTS COME FROM? Who’s really to blame for high turnover in the high school and college sports worlds? Probably not the athletes.

hate hearing all that “society is broken” stuff when kids and young adults do something older generations disagree with. When you work in sports for a living, or even just follow them as a fan, you hear it all the time. Maybe you even say things like that. Kid recommits from one college program to another pretty late in the game? “Back in my day, you honored your commitment.” Kid goes to a school for one coach, gets another when the staff is turned over and speaks up when the new coaches favor their

players? “Society’s gotten too soft, suck it up.” Kid gets in trouble for something small? “These kids have no respect.” Kid can’t escape a rough life growing up and it ends up coming back to haunt them? “Just another thug.” It’s all stupid, and what many folks who have let Facebook rot their brains don’t seem to see is exactly where their gripes with modern society stem from. Here’s a hint: it’s not the teenagers who have little, if any, control over their lives. SEE PAGE 13

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WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

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JUSTIN KLINE

Austin Gardner

Before you complain about culture ruining young athletes, talk to them for once.

Austin Gardner can usually be found on the football field playing defensive tackle for the Plant City Dolphins Varsity football team in the TCYFCC. But Gardner is also active in the local Special Olympics scene and recently competed in the State Summer Games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Gardner helped the 4x100 relay team win a silver medal at the event.

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

I help make sure he stays focused. Once we get on the track I remind him we came out here to win and have fun. What’s your favorite subject in school? Probably math.

How was the experience?

If you could play football for any college team and any pro team, what would they be?

It was fun. It was nice hanging out with my brother and my friend.

The Florida Gators and Tampa Bay Bucs.

How many have you been to?

What advice would you give to someone who’s trying to get involved in Special Olympics and might go to their own first state games soon?

First one. I’ve been to others to watch my brother (RJ Gardner), but this is the first one I’ve played in. Were you nervous?

Always stay calm and be on track. Motivate the athletes.

A little bit. How did you calm yourself down? I told myself, “I got this and I can win.” Which other sports do you play for Special Olympics? Bowling, basketball and track. How long have you been with the Dolphins?

What’s some of the best advice a coach has given you? Keep practicing. Stay on track. Never give up. What’s one of the coolest things you’ve done on the field? Probably playing defensive tackle. That’s my favorite spot.

Five or six years.

What’s your favorite pre-game meal?

Which positions do you play?

Pancakes, eggs and bacon.

Center, sometimes left guard, or defensive tackle. What was your favorite moment with the Dolphins? Making it to the Super Bowl in 2016. We were the only Dolphins team that won that year. What’s a sport you’ve never tried before but would if you could? Probably hockey. I would want to play like Steven Stamkos. Your brother said you’ve been a big inspiration to him. How have you helped him with his own athletic career?

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At the high school level down here, you could argue the kids were extremely enabled by the “Choice in Sports” bill. I’ve been against that bill from the start and still am because it’s horribly broken. Here’s the difference between that bill and choosing college sports programs: the athletes have essentially unchecked freedom to go to as many schools as they want, whenever they want, wherever they want. That hurts parity. However, it does allow kids to leave a program the very minute they realize it’s not going to work out for them. At the college level, you’re stuck for a year once you sign that NLI. It seems so backwards to me. Why do high schoolers have at least as much freedom as adults after college, until they become adults at 18 and get stuck with college sports’ byzantine regulations? If you want to teach kids commitment, you can’t do it that way. Society’s not going to “fix” itself the way people want until those who can’t stop being mad about it actually make an effort to understand it first. Maybe talk to those kids you’d otherwise write off as “lazy” or “thugs” or whatever you’d call them and learn about their lives. Try to gain insight into another perspective on life you’ve never considered because you’ve never had to. See what it’s like to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, especially if they’re not as nice as yours. And if you’re going to preach the gospel of commitment to athletes, make sure no one can look at you as an opportunist whose resume has something like five programs in seven years. Or, hear me out, maybe stop railing against kids exercising their right to choose where they want to begin their adult lives just like how you’d choose to advance in your own. I promise it’s even easier done than said.

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

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT If people really did follow “do as I say, not as I do” instructions well, these problems probably wouldn’t exist. Everyone wants to talk a big game. The problem is that many people who style themselves as influencers in young people’s lives won’t follow through and live the truth they speak. More often than not, kids learn social cues and behaviors by example. They behave the way they do because someone either enabled it or taught them — knowingly or otherwise — that it’s OK to act that way. No one wants to admit when they’re being hypocritical, so they’ll just blame whatever straw man they can. Am I trying to say society is perfect and totally not problematic? Heck no. There’s work to be done and maybe there is a nugget or two of truth in some of the fistshaking from the older folks, if only when it comes to society getting “softer.” The thing is, though, the kids aren’t the ones who need to get to work. They’re reacting to an evolving society just like the rest of us. Everyone’s collective experiences come together to make up the world we know and everyone handles that differently. Society’s never going to stop evolving as long as we have access to as much information as we do and killing transparency and information flows is downright un-American. The problem is with the people who refuse to adapt, who refuse to try and understand what the kids nowadays are going through because they’re only capable of seeing life at that stage as they remember it. Nostalgia is often viewed with rose-colored glasses, so they say, and too many people nowadays won’t take them off because they fear what they don’t understand. So when I hear coaches like P.J. Fleck at Minnesota call a mass of college football decommitments a “problem with society” rather than that of his program or any others, I don’t think he’s shooting straight. It is a problem with society, but that’s because you have coaches and programs setting the example with constant turnovers and pulled offers and a general sense of superiority for reasons that don’t hold water. Who’s going to take a lesson on commitment seriously from people who bounce around jobs every three or four years? Fleck himself was once hired as an offensive coordinator and held the job for around 24 hours before he decided that it wasn’t the right fit for him. He’s well within his right to make that choice for himself, but no one who does things like that should tell kids that it’s wrong and they shouldn’t do the same. Nobody’s going to take something like that seriously, especially in 2019.

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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

SPORTS CAMPS AROUND PLANT CITY Sports-focused camps for area youth will take place at high schools and other local spots in the summer months.

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

As summer camp frenzy hits the Plant City area, it’s important for parents to know there’s plenty for their young athletes to do that can help them get better at their sport of choice. There are offerings all around Plant City, but we’ve compiled a short list of some of the area’s most creative camps for 2019.

Durant High School will host the ninth annual Mike Gottman Youth Football Camp this June and registration is now open. The annual summer skills camp is run by Gottman and the rest of Durant’s football coaching staff and teaches kids from third through (incoming) ninth grade the fundamentals of the high school game. Everything from specific positional drills to physical conditioning is covered and flag football games close out each day. This year’s camp runs from June 3 through 6 at the Ron Frost Athletic Complex on campus, 4748 Cougar Path. Each day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30

p.m. unless inclement weather hits the Durant area. The cost is $125 per camper plus a $5 online processing fee and all campers must be registered by 11:59 p.m. June 1. To register, view the itinerary and get more information visit durantfootballcamps.com.

Plant City High School will host its annual basketball and cheerleading camps at its gymnasium in June and July. The Raiders’ basketball camp will have two sessions: one from June 24 through 27 and the other from July 8 through 11. Campers age 6 through 14 can learn everything they need to know to succeed at the high school level from boys basketball coach Billy Teeden, the staff and players from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Registration costs $120 per camp. The PCHS cheerleading team will host its annual camp on July 16 and 17 for campers age 4 to 13. All campers will be divided into three age groups and will learn from coach Karen Snapp and the team. All campers must bring their own lunch and water bottles, wear a t-shirt, shorts and

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JUSTIN KLINE

sneakers, wear their hair away from their face and may not wear any kind of jewelry. Registration costs $75. Registration forms for the camps can be printed from plantcitygov.com. For more information, contact Teeden at 813-9677551 for basketball and Snapp at 813-7579370 or karen.snapp@sdhc.k12.fl.us for cheerleading.

If your child is a student of martial arts, your options are pretty broad in Plant City. Chris Welbon Karate Clubs has a longrunning “Ultimate Summer Camps” series that brings different themes in different weeks and is active for a large chunk of the summer. This year’s camps start with the Focused Karate Training Camp (June 10-14), which emphasizes training more than the others and also has belt testing on the final Friday of the camp. Wild Water Games (July 8-12) brings squirt gun fights, water balloon launchers and an Adventure Island field trip to the

table and might be the most fun way to cool down in the July heat. Ninja Warrior Camp is the only one with two one-week sessions (July 22-26 and Aug. 5-9) and, much like the popular American Ninja Warrior TV show, has campers tackle an obstacle course ninjastyle. It’s also got crafting and a field trip to the 2Infinity trampoline park. Register online at chriswelbonkarate. com. Local MMA and jiu-jitsu schools are also getting in on the summer fun. Carlson Gracie Plant City and Senshi Do Kai MMA are hosting their own camps from June through August. Carlson Gracie’s camp runs from June 1 through Aug. 11 and kids age 5 through 13 can learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts techniques, stay fit and take field trips to the movies, parks and Adventure Island and they’ll also get to play with LEGO sets thanks to Brick City Bricks. Registration normally costs $150, but the school is offering registration at a special $50 rate this week. Call 813-704-1090 or visit plantcitybjj.com for more information. Senshi Do Kai’s nine-week camp runs from June 3 through Aug. 9 in week-toweek sessions and features BJJ, May Thai, karate and MMA classes, anti-bullying programs, fitness programs, daily local outdoor trips and one “big” weekly trip to 2Infinity, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island and more (at additional cost). The cost to register is $90 per camper and the cost also covers a Lakeland Rec Center pool pass. Call 813-754-4128 or visit senshidokaimma.com for more information.

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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

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We asked: What do you look for in a friend?

“Someone who accepts me for “Someone trustworthy who who I am.” you can always count on and — Stephanie Phillips, 39 be yourself around.” — Katie Phillips, 16

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“Someone with the same blood “Loyalty. Someone who will be there for you through thick and type as you, just in case.” thin and have your best interests Hunter Ferguson, 20 at heart.” — Sydney Weikel, 20

OBITUARIES

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

Jack Jones Jack Jones, 88, of Dover, Florida, born on Sept. 2, 1930 in Sydney, entered into eternal rest on May 20, 2019. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Donald Stuart Cambas, Donald Stuart Cambas, age 75, of Plant City, FL passed away on May 26, 2019. Donald served in the United States Army. The family will receive friends Friday, May 31, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W Dr MLK Jr Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught. care.

Kathleen Condon Blackman Major

Robert ‘Bob’ Murray Robert “Bob” Murray, 74, of Plant City, FL passed away on May 21, 2019. Bob served in the U.S. Army. Services were held May 28, 2019 Haught Funeral Home Chapel, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

Spears, Clarissa Miller, and Micah Skeist; and six great-grandchildren: Kai Myers, Aaden Thomas, Cason Miller, Brody Seriel, Bronson Miller, Lucas Seriel, and Paisley Appleby; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Services were held May 25, 2019 at Saint Anthony’s Church in Endicott, NY, 300 Odell Ave., Endicott, NY 13760.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

George Edward Kegley Sr. George Edward Kegley Sr., 82, of Plant City, FL passed away on May 20, 2019. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

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Thomas E. Turner Thomas E. Turner, 69, of Plant City, FL passed away on May 22, 2019. Thomas is a United States Navy Veteran. The family will receive friends Thursday, May 30, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Eastside Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

Carol Louise Field Carol Louise Field, 75, of Plant City, FL passed away on May 22, 2019. Services were held Wednesday May 29, 2019 at St. Clement Catholic Church, 1104 North Alexander Street, Plant City, FL 33563. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

On Sunday, May 19, 2019, Kathleen Condon Blackman Major, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her loving family, after a long battle with cancer. Known to so many as “Nonny”, Kathleen was born on July 4, 1942, in New Milford, PA, to William and Maxine Condon. She had a passion for reading biographies and mystery novels, but most of all, spending time HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM with her friends and family. She was an unwaveringly optimistic, kind, loving person whose Andres Torres memory will be cherished by the many people who knew her Andres Torres, 48, of Plant throughout her rich life. City, Florida, entered into eternal Kathleen is predeceased by rest on May 22, 2019. her granddaughter, Caitlin Miller, Expressions of condolence at and survived by her two sisters: HopewellFuneral.com. Maureen Adams and Roberta Gulick; three daughters: Debbie Bodden, Pam Andras, and Sarah Blackman; six grand-children: Tiffany Andras, Zack Miller, Seth Miller, Destiny Seriel, Faith HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

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Ruth Croats-Johnson Ruth Croats-Johnson, 72, of Mulberry, Florida, born on July 24, 1946 in Blytheville, Arkansas, entered into eternal rest on May 24, 2019. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Gale Williams, 65, child of God, went home on May 24, 2019. She was born June 15, 1953. Sherry Gale Clark, was raised in Gulfport, MS where she grew up on the water with her siblings and her parents, Robert F. and Johneil Clark. After graduating from Gulfport, MS High School, Gale attended Mississippi State University where she earned a degree in Animal Science in 1975. Gale met, and eventually married, her college sweetheart, Fred Williams. During their 44 years of marriage, she was an active supporter of Fred’s career with Purina Mills, Inc. while also enjoying a career in pre-school education. Having a heart for animals and children was a hallmark of Gale’s life and she was never far from either. Gale also enjoyed, and greatly excelled in, her hobbies of decorative painting, crafts, interior design, sewing and cooking, while sharing those talents generously with others. Perhaps Gale’s most favorite role in her lifetime was that of “Gigi” to her granddaughters: Allie, Taylor and Riley. In addition to her loving grandchildren, Gale is survived by her husband,

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Bertie Johnson Bertie Johnson, 95, of Lithia, Florida, born on May 26, 1923 in Glenwood, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on May 24, 2019. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Henry Hudson Porter

James Lowell Duckworth James Lowell Duckworth, 81, of Plant City, FL passed away on May 27, 2019. The family will receive friends Thursday, May 30, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. A Memorial service will follow at 7:00 p.m. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. haught.care.

Betty Drenzek Betty Drenzek, 83, of Plant City passed away on May 24, 2019. HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, May 30, 2019, lorist 11:00 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church, 1104 North Alexander Street, Plant City, FL 33563. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to St. Clement Catholic Church. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.

Henry Hudson Porter, 85 passed away May 21, 2019. Henry was born and raised in Plant City, Florida. He served as a Firefighter for St. Petersburg for 26 years. He retired in 1985 and moved to Dunnellon, FL. He enjoyed playing cards

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

weekly with friends, boating, fishing and tubing on the Rainbow River. Henry also liked singing karaoke, watching sports and especially making everyone he met (many) laugh. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe; his parents, Floyd and Lilly Mae Miller; and sisters, Jean and Joanne. He is survived by brothers, Stannon and Lamar; sons, Joe and Chuck and their families and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Henry will be dearly missed by all. Rest peacefully Hank. A service will be held June 8, 2019, 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church Durant, Plant City.

OBITUARIES

Gale Williams

Fred; daughters, Candice Coletti (Paul) of Plant City and Krista Gonce (Daniel) of Peachtree City, Georgia; brother, Bob Clark; sister, Karen O’Callaghan (Gary) all of Dickinson, TX; brother-inlaw, Marty Williams (Lynette) of Madison, Mississippi; and several loving nieces and nephews. Gale was a member of First Baptist Church Plant City where she extended her faith by being a living testimony to many. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 1 at 11:00 A.M. at First Baptist Church Plant City (new campus), 3309 James L. Redman Pkwy, where the family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the new preschool and children’s playground construction project at First Baptist Church Plant City. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

YOUR CALENDAR

THURSDAY, MAY 30 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.

APHASIA SUPPORT GROUP

3 to 4 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., hosts a free Aphasia support group on the last Thursday of every month in the community conference room. Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain. If you or a loved one has aphasia this support group may help. Registration is not required, but is appreciated. Call 813-707-2123 for more information.

BEST BET WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 POWER HOUR: MARSHA PASSMORE

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join Aspire Plant City at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St., for its Power Hour with community leader Marsha Passmore. She has paved the way for women in the community for decades. From serving as a former city commissioner to her involvement with various civic organizations, she has always been willing to serve. Tickets are available at aspireplantcity. wildapricot.org.

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.

FRIDAY, MAY 31 FOOD TRUCK RALLY

5 to 9 p.m. Main Street Plant City’s monthly Food Truck Rally is back. Each month the food truck festivities pair with a farmer’s market in the heart of downtown Plant City, 102 N. Palmer St. Come out for some hot food and shop for handcrafted items, plants, art and more.

other LEGO fans. There will be food, fun and specials.

Sophia Hyde at 813-754-3707 for more information.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

DARK HORSE STUDENT RECITAL

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.

KEEL & CURLEY WINERY FRUIT FUSION GRAPE STOMP

2 to 6 p.m. Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road, is inviting guests to travel back in time to Ancient Rome for its first-ever Fruit Fusion Grape Stomp. Harvest, stomp and help Keel & Curley create a limited edition wine. There will be drinks, unique craft vendors, tours of the winery and more at the event. Tickets are $10 and include a complimentary glass of wine, beer or cider, access to the harvest and stomp, a tour and more.

7 to 9 p.m. Dark Horse Music Store, 108 NE Drane St., is hosting its end of the school year recital. Several of its student bands will be performing as well as some of the amazingly talented local students. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $5 at the door. The week prior to the show Dark Horse is selling pre-sale tickets that come with early access. There will be snacks available for purchase so bring your appetite.

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 and give them a new home with

6:30 p.m. The third annual RISE Plant City Dodgeball Tournament is held at the Plant City Family YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place. Tickets are $5 at the door for spectators and $200 per team of six to play. Payment is required at registration. Contact

DRUM CIRCLE

3 p.m. Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., is hosting a massive drum circle for its children’s summer reading program. Come out to Bruton to drum, dance, laugh and learn about rhythm, gratitude and the community.

MONDAY, JUNE 3

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

PLANT CITY DAYBREAK ROTARY CLUB

READ WITH BONNIE THE THERAPY DOG

7 to 8 a.m. The Plant City Daybreak Rotary Club holds a meeting every Monday in the conference room next to the cafeteria at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St. Guests are welcome to come and join us for a free breakfast.

PLANT CITY AREA DEMOCRATIC CLUB RISE DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT

PLANT CITY LIONS CLUB

6 p.m. The Plant City Area Democratic Club will meet at Bruton Library, 302 McLendon St. All Democrats and interested progressives are welcome. The speaker this month will be Ms. Tamara Shamburger, Chair of the Hillsborough County School Board. There will not be a July Meeting.

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.

GLOBAL RUNNING DAY & BBQ WITH PCRC

6:15 to 9 p.m. Join Plant City Running Club in celebrating Global Running Day with a quick run through Walden Lake, 3035 Griffin Blvd. After the run the group is enjoying fun and food from Sikes Southern BBQ. Bring the whole family for a night of fun and to learn more

about Plant City’s local running club.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6 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

HAVE A HEALTHY PREGNANCY CLASS

6 to 8 p.m. South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St., is hosting its Have a Healthy Pregnancy class in the ICU Conference Room, 2-South. The class will discuss highlights of each semester, proper nutrition, how to decrease risk, safety concerns and more. Participants may bring one guest to class and are asked to bring a notepad for notes. Snacks will be provided. Registration is free, but required. Call 1-855269-4777 for more information.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

Edited by David Steinberg May 30, 2019

5/30

FORECAST THURSDAY, MAY 30 High: 96 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 10%

FRIDAY, MAY 31 High: 93 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 40%

High: 94 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 20%

SUNDAY, JUNE 2 High: 93 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 10%

BLUEBERRIES Shipping point: Central Florida $13-$16

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SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, May 30

6:32a

8:19p

Friday, May 31

6:32a

8:19p

Saturday, June 1

6:32a

8:20p

Sunday, June 2

6:32a

8:20p

Monday, June 3

6:31a

8:21p

Tuesday, June 4

6:31a

8:21p

Wednesday, June 5

6:31a

8:22p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

Body Building by Debbie Ellerin

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THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

June 3 New

June 7 First

June 15 Full

May 30 Last

RAINFALL Monday, May 20

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Tuesday, May 21 0.00 Wednesday, May 22

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Thursday, May 23 0.00 Friday, May 24

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Saturday, May 25 0.00 Sunday, May 26

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2019 5.38 in.

2019 0.99 in.

2018 9.97 in.

2018 2.93 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019

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