6.18.20 PLCO

Plant City Observer

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COMMISSIONERS SET PUBLIC HEARINGS, ADJUST BUDGET Last week’s city commission meeting set the stage for the next one, which will be held virtually on the city’s YouTube page at 7:30 p.m. June 22.

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BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Reappointments and talks of Midtown were not the only things woven throughout last week’s city commission agenda.

Several items involving budget adjustments, contract approvals and setting public hearings were also discussed at the virtual dais.

One of the contracts approved by commissioners last week was for a roof replacement on the General Services Building on Police Center Drive.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

The roof is the original for the building, which was constructed in 1995. According to the City of Plant City, the roof has “reached the point of deterioration.” Five roofing companies responded to the proposal with bids ranging from $1,196,410 to $583,020. Commissioners authorized City Manager Bill McDaniel to execute a contract with SpringerPeterson Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. for $583,020.

PCHS ROTC

SEE PAGE 7

TEAMS HAVE COMPETITIONS UPENDED Justin Kline

Once again, the PCHS ROTC teams dominated at districts. They were headed to states when COVID-19 brought everything to a sudden halt.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

Justin Kline

Protesters have marched to Plant City Police Department HQ in each of the three Tuesday Black Lives Matter protests.

Black Lives Matter protests ongoing This week has seen two Black Lives Matter events in Plant City and a third is on the schedule for Friday afternoon.

Ten protesters gathered at the Southern Hospitality parking lot on Tuesday to march to Plant City Police Department, take a knee and pray together before heading back. That day, Promise Goodwine said, the group wanted to raise awareness about Publix’s policy against allowing employees to wear face masks with “Black Lives Matter” and other non-Publix messages on them. The policy made headlines recently when Quinton Desamours was sent home for writing “BLM” on his mask.

“He told me that I was endangering myself and everybody else who worked there,” Desamours told the Fort Myers NewsPress. “Then he said he couldn’t have me out on the floor with that mask on.”

Desamours quit his job and has said he believes the company policy doesn’t line up with its stated stance rejecting “racism

and discrimination of any kind,” as it prevents employees from sharing that opinion while in uniform.

On Wednesday night, people gathered at Courier Field for a memorial service for victims of police brutality. A “Freedom Friday” event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Friday and will take the group to the Hillsborough County Circuit Courthouse at 301 N. Michigan Ave.

HCSO swears in new deputies at festival grounds Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office returned to the TECO Expo Hall at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds last week to swear in 32 new deputies.

The members of class 1905 got their badges on June 12 in front of a limited audience of family members and HCSO personnel. The event was live-streamed on the HCSO Facebook page.

“Law enforcement is in the spotlight right now. Some people are even ques-

Courtesy of HCSO

Thirty-two new HCSO deputies got their badges last week in Plant City.

tioning our very existence,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “For this reason, we urge our new deputies to uphold the oath they took today and remember to always put others before themselves.”

Hillsborough to add beds in senior COVID-19 care facility Hillsborough County is working to double the number of beds at the Inn at University Village, an assisted living facility serving as a transition unit for senior care facility residents with COVID-19.

Sixty beds are currently contracted at the facility and 45 of them are currently in use. The facility is for seniors with the virus who do not need to be hospitalized and are waiting in their own separate wing to be cleared to return to their previous residence. The additional 60 beds to be contracted would be placed in another separate wing designed specifically for that purpose.

Movie theater reopens tomorrow Plant City’s Premiere LUX Cine’ at 220 W. Alexander St. is ready to open its doors and fire up the projectors once again starting tomorrow.

Staff members will wear gloves and face masks and will have their temperatures screened each day. Cashier partitions and hand sanitizer stations for guests have been installed in the theater, as have social distancing markers. The time between showings has been extended so staff can spend more time cleaning between them.

Guests do not have to wear face masks if they don’t want to.

“This is an important achievement and we are thrilled to reopen,” Premiere director Sonya Dunn said. “We’ve missed our customers and I think they’re more than ready to start enjoying the big-screen movie experience again.”

Visit pccmovies.com for showtimes and more information.

PlantCityObserver.com

PCHS ROTC PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

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REFLECTS ON 2020 COMPETITIVE SEASON The COVID-19 brought Plant City High School’s latest successful ROTC campaign to an early end, but the cadets are looking at the positives they gained from this year.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Plant City High School’s ROTC cadets had a year of growth and victories.

Unfortunately, as with countless other high schools, COVID-19 threw a wrench in their plans. Despite having multiple teams place at the Feb. 29 district competition to advance to the state competition on April 18 at George Jenkins, the groups had to wave goodbye to their opportunity to challenge their own skills once more.

The school’s mixed color guard team reigned as back-to-back district champions this year. The dual exhibition girls squad placed third at districts and secured their spot to state as well.

Two other teams also qualified for state.

The LET 1 Color Guard placed first and became district champions for the first time in PCHS JROTC history. The mixed unarmed squad placed second in their event at districts to secure their spot to state.

Mixed Color Guard Commander Danny Ramirez, a senior, said the groups received the news the event was officially canceled during their field day. It came as a shock to everyone, he said, and many struggled to accept the fact their year abruptly came to an end.

Even before COVID-19 began to splash across the news, the ROTC cadets faced unexpected challenges. Many former competitors graduated and those left behind had to build teams from the ground up.

Ramirez said he had to get three new members for the color guard.

“Our schedule was quick. We had to learn everything in a month,” Ramirez said.

“I was feverous about teaching these guys in one period and they learned very quickly.

I really think I chose the right people for the team. I tried to teach them that the most important thing is to believe in themselves.

In previous competitions we may not have done as well as we wanted to, we may not have taken home any trophies, but I told them we had to trust that the hard work we had put in would pay off. I think we were all nervous at districts, but we had to do our best. And we placed first.”

Lorena Correa, a junior, was the left guard for the team. She said she screamed when the group heard their name called and ran up with the rest of the team to get their trophy as a group.

“If I’m being honest, when I found out states wasn’t happening, I wanted to cry,” Correa said. “This was something that was so important to us and we worked the entire second semester to get ready. I’m going to come back next year and while there’s a lot to live up to with Danny being gone, we are going to do our best to fill his shoes and make him proud.”

Daniela Cortez, a junior who held the state flag for the group, said it was nerve-

racking to join a group so focused on precision with a reputation for excelling in competitions. Practice makes perfect, however, so the group spent countless hours getting the routine down to a science in the little time they had.

While Ramirez had to face the fact he would never have the chance to compete again with his group, as he was in his senior year, Cortez said everyone was filled with disappointment.

“Finding out that our competition had been canceled after we worked so hard was really difficult for all of us,” Cortez said.

“We had very little time to practice as an entire team, so our commander and Angel (Cardina) poured everything they had into us. We put our best out there and then we couldn’t compete. This was also going to be our first year out there at state as there were some complications last year.”

Cardina, a senior, was on the color guard team last year and though he stepped away from ROTC this year to focus on school, he spent a large portion of his free time training the new recruits on the routine to make sure they were perfect come competition day.

The group would train every day at lunch and Cardina was able to teach them how to listen for the sounds of the subtle movements from their partners to figure out just how to sync.

“I love the ROTC and I like to be precise and perfect at what I do,” Cardina said.

“I want to help our people represent our school well and to show the other teams who we are and what we are capable of.”

It was Cardina who helped Ramirez round out his team this year by suggesting Darlene Salgado, a senior, for the right guard spot.

Salgado was originally on a different team. But when color guard had its empty spots, they came to her for help and she agreed.

“I was terrified,” Salgado said. “They have high expectations and I was the last one to join. I came on just two weeks before the competition and so we all had to work really hard to get ready for the competition.

I was running over all the little mistakes I had made over and over and then I heard our name called. I remember thinking ‘Oh! We won!’ and we all just got so excited.

Then state was cancelled. It was very sad.

I’m a senior and now I’ve missed out on a lot of opportunities I never had before. The fact that all of those things were taken away were sad because I’ll never be able to experience them again, but at the same time I got to compete on mixed color guard team and be a part of our victory and that meant so much.”

Jonathon Ponce, a senior, was the commander of the mixed unarmed squad. Correa and Ramirez were also on this team.

Ponce said the year was stressful far before COVID-19 arrived. It was his first year

commanding and doing drill, and he said he had to learn how to create and lead a team.

He originally walked into a fully formed squad. But when they switched to in-class practices, they lost a majority of members and it was time for Ponce to rally the troops.

He said most of the new team members were first-years and the change was evident. However, never one to give up, he decided to dive headfirst into practice.

“I had to teach them everything, even how to march, because they were firstyears,” Ponce said. “It was a big change, but I don’t believe that over-practicing or getting upset is an effective way to lead.

I never yell or get stressed with my team.

We take our time and if someone struggles to learn something, I’ll have someone take them aside and teach them one-on-one.

We didn’t have the time to practice that a lot of the other teams did because I had a job and another team member worked, too.

A lot of our team also were really involved in school and on other groups so we had to work hard in the time we did have.”

The group placed first before districts, then placed first again at districts to make it to states. It took time and patience, but Ponce said he was so proud of what came from it. As this was his senior year, he said he is both proud of what they were able to accomplish and also disappointed they weren’t able to advance.

When reflecting on his high school experience, he said his only regret was that he hadn’t joined ROTC sooner.

Cortez and Correa were also headed to state with the dual exhibition girls team.

They placed third at districts and were in the process of training to give their all when they rolled up to the next competition.

There was an added layer of disappointment with their team this year. Despite the fact that both are juniors, this was going to be their final year competing. Correa said the program is filled with young students who are eager to learn. Instead of focusing on enhancing their own routine, the duo anticipate spending next year focused on training the other cadets on how to compete and perfect their own performances.

Keeping the reputation of PCHS’s team up is more important to both than taking home the glory themselves, so they said they hope to look toward those following behind them from here on out.

The students that come from the ROTC program often reflect that they graduate knowing they became a part of a family while walking the halls at PCHS. “I think the opportunity it gives them is one of the greatest benefits,” Ramirez said.

“Really a lot of people come into the program very shy, and then they start to change and get more confident and learn how to make friends and succeed. Once they get into the program we build an environment of success. They get interested in teams and now we do have a great reputation with

our teams and people want to be a part of that. It’s not all just military careers ahead either. Yes, some tend to chose to go into the military or into ROTC in college, but not everyone does. Really, we all bond with each other and I cannot say enough how proud I am of these guys. In the four years I’ve had with this program I’ve learned so much and these guys have taught me so much. Even when you’re leading, you’re learning. It’s a really good program and our school has a great reputation. I’m so thankful I got to be a part of this.”

Despite the rampant disappointment felt by the entire team, the group members said they still believe some positives came from this year and the experiences they’ve learned throughout the process.

“I think the biggest thing we all took away from this is anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” Ramirez said. “Our school is not one of the big ROTC schools.

We are not the school that has decades of our teams grabbing trophies for every competition. We have a handful of people to put in teams and practice and compete and we work so hard. If a small little school like us can do it, anything is possible. We have to look back and realize that we were champions and were headed to the next level. Who knows where we could have been had coronavirus not shut our year down?”

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

COPS CORNER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated a stolen bike, a stolen $10, a stolen ATV and trailer

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

and more.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com

JUNE 5 TARP MARKS THE SPOT 1000 block of Gilchrist Street Theft: This victim reported that an unknown subject took $2,125 worth of miscellaneous tools that were in his yard, covered by a blue tarp.

AIRING IT OUT 1000 block of North Warnell Street Shooting/vehicle trespass: This victim reported the rear window of his vehicle was shot out.

NEW PHONE, WHO’S THIS? 4600 block of Highway 574 Petit theft (waiver): This complainant, who was an employee of the business at the above listed location, reported an unknown suspect entered the business, picked up her iPhone 7S Plus cell phone she had placed on the counter and exited the business.

She stated she did not see the incident and only wanted it documented in a report. She signed a waiver of prosecution.

JUNE 10 ATV GOES MIA 1200 block of South Alexander Street Vehicle theft: This victim reported the theft of his black Triple T trailer, which was hauling his black, orange and gray 2019 Polaris RZR 1000 ATV, from Rentlok Storage. The items were valued at $30,000 total.

COLD HEART, COLDER DRINKS 2800 block of James L. Redman Parkway Theft: A Lowes Loss Prevention employee reported to police that an unknown subject took several Yeti products a few days prior.

Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

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JUNE 6 RAIN ON HIS PARADE 200 block of West Alexander Street Theft: This complainant reported that he rode his bike to the above listed location to get out of the rain and, while waiting for the rain to stop, he fell asleep. When he Edited woke up, his red 22-inch men’s bike was gone.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

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COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLE OPENS DOOR TO CONVERSATION ON CHANGE

Members of the community met with city leaders to discuss concerns regarding the police’s interactions with the public, learn about Chief Duncan’s line of thinking behind his decisions over the years and begin taking the first steps toward seeing change in Plant City.

STAFF WRITER

Rising leaders in the community sat down with Mayor Rick Lott, City Manager Bill McDaniel and Plant City Police Chief Ed Duncan Thursday morning for a roundtable discussion regarding concerns in the community.

Approximately 12 people gathered in the commission chambers for the discussion. Lott opened the conversation by sharing his heart with the group and reminding everyone that data and facts are the only way to move forward.

In a spirit of camaraderie and learning, the group then launched into an open conversation on its concerns, ideas and hopes for moving forward.

The entire conversation was live-streamed on the City of Plant City’s Facebook page and had more than 16,000 views.

“As long as we have data and facts we now have a basis upon which to discuss, a basis for us to be able to find common interests and common ground,” Lott said.

“I know sometimes you have to use your gut decision on things and your emotions, but if we stick to data and facts then we have the opportunity to do anything… At the end of the day, our goal is if we are going to change the world, we have to make sure that we have a shining field in our backyard.”

Roderick Henderson was the spokesman for the group and kicked things off by bringing up the topic most prevalent throughout the community following the recent Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“I called this meeting with Chief Duncan because there are concerns going about the public and of course nationally, and we live here so the one way we can have any change in our city is dealing with our local government, and you are our local police chief,” Henderson said. “Last time we talked, he gave us the three policy files that were there and we were able to go over those files. There is some things that we do see that are kind of loopholes inside our policies that we want to bring up and concerns… One of the questions that was brought up — and I’ve heard it from a countless amount of people — is body cameras. I think that’s a question to the city manager as well as to you guys and the commission as well. What are we doing when it comes to body cams on our police officers?”

Duncan took a moment to explain his line of reasoning for not jumping on the train of equipping his officers with the cameras.

He said he’s been in law enforcement since 1974 and when the technology first came out, there were a lot of issues and controversy. It is constantly evolving and advancing, but when the city looked into cameras a few years ago, he felt the cost to store the massive amount of data was far too high to make them a reasonable purchase for the department.

However, he said time has passed since then and he is not opposed to “having that conversation.”

“I don’t think the camera is something that is the answer to all of our concerns,” Duncan said.

“If you look at a lot of the agencies and jurisdictions that have had challenges with the trust within their community, they’ve had body cameras. I’ve always said this: it’s not about the equipment you put on the uniform, it’s about the person that wears that uniform. It starts with the integrity of the officer. If you’ve got a camera on you and you lack character and integrity you can manipulate, like anybody else, can manipulate data. You can turn your camera off. Those are not answers to all questions. Those are the things that we as a community have to decide. If it is something this community feels would make them feel more comfortable, would make them feel as if they have better confidence within our community, I’m open to that discussion. It’s not something I’m adamantly saying ‘no we’re not going to do that,’ but again I want people to realize it’s not the answer to all your questions.”

Lott jumped in and said that he would definitely do research into the best technology and cost, and said they should have something concrete they can begin talking about by next year’s fiscal year budget.

Hillsborough County commissioners approved the purchase of full-time body cameras for use for the county’s sheriff’s office deputies on Wednesday morning. The vote was 6-1 with Commissioner Stacy White (District 4- Eastern Hillsborough) being the only “no” vote. He cited privacy concerns due to Florida’s massive public record laws.

It’s a change sweeping the nation and protesters across the country are calling for the purchase of body cameras to keep police accountable and increase transparency. Several of those gathered explained it wasn’t

just about keeping an eye on police, it was a way to help those approached feel settled as well.

“The body cams don’t mean the same thing in the white community as it does in the black community,” Angelo Murray said. “That’s the first thing that we’ve got to realize. Because in the black community when the cops are dispatched they’ve got a different attitude, so I think what it does for us as the black community, it gives us just a little bit more assurance that things are not going to go left because the cop that is wearing that body cam, he’s got to think.”

Murray said the cameras offer one way for them to feel safe, but they also make people realize they are being filmed as well, which he said helps calm them down and keeps everyone involved on their best behavior. He said this protects both the cop and the person.

Duncan spent some time running through his strict requirements on hiring officers and also touched on the fact that applicants are shifting all over the country. Other local law enforcement agencies are offering appealing contracts and benefits as well, so they have to work hard to hire great applicants and keep them with the department.

Several in the group were interested in what constitutes as a level one through seven offense for police officers and how complaints were handled. Duncan walked them through the process and said he knows that young officers learn from their mentors, so he has high standards for everyone on his force. Every complaint comes across his desk and he evaluates each one. He also explained there is no such thing as a verbal reprimand. Even when paperwork says there is verbal counseling, all of that is recorded.

The public can always complain or voice concerns about an officer via a blue form available at PCPD and at City Hall. In the lobby of the third floor of City Hall is a bin with forms, including the blue form. Anything can trigger a complaint, Duncan said. It could be a phone call, an email or even a conversation on the street. The blue forms are merely one method of getting the process started.

“A lot of times I will call people and I encourage anybody in the community, if they have a problem with an officer or they have a question about why we are doing something or how it’s being done, I am always available,” Duncan said. “My executive assistant takes messages all the time for

me and I tell you, I try to return every phone call I get. I do know there are some members of the community that may not be comfortable walking into the police department and asking ‘Oh, hand me this blue form because I want to complain on officer so and so.’

I’ve heard all of it that they’re worried about, ‘now they’ll retaliate,’ and all those kinds of things. I will not stand for that.

I refuse to allow that in this city and this department. I am very proud of Plant City. There is no way that I’m going to jeopardize my reputation or the reputation of (McDaniel) or (Lott) to have someone be afraid to come to my police department.”

He said he let someone go just this month that on paper was a shining star, but on the street simply didn’t live up to the strict standards Duncan expected his officers to comply with. He emphasized that the “8 Can’t Wait” policies that have gone viral to help decrease police violence are things his department is already utilizing.

Those gathered expressed their thankfulness for that statistic, but also explained knowing how to file a complaint and feeling comfortable doing so are two very different things. One idea floated

by Henderson was to form a Citizens Review Board or some other group that would act as a buffer between the general public and the police.

Hasani Jackson also spoke to that sentiment. He said he believes there are many who feel nothing will happen if they file a complaint because those who have voiced concerns before see the same issues repeatedly happening with no alteration. Jackson said he believes people don’t take the initial step because they truly believe nothing will come from it.

With the review board, or another similar group, a resident can show up to the board and give their complaint without worrying about facing repercussions from the police. Then the board can pass the message on to PCPD and can track to see how the report is handled. It’s a level of assurance for the community.

Duncan said he had no experience with a Citizen Review Board. There was a survey done

by Florida police chiefs over the last few weeks that inquired into how many agencies operated with a Citizens Review Board. There were more than 150 responses and only 15 agencies across Florida had them. He said there are a lot

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of issues that need to be resolved with policemen’s bill of rights and all of the other issues. He agreed the concept was good but wasn’t sure how well the committees actually serve because nonprofessionals are critiquing law enforcement. However, if the city officials thought it was a need, he would be amenable to discuss it.

He did mention an advisory board might better meet that need.

Murray voiced another issue.

He said his community is not accurately represented within the city.

“The upper echelon, which is obviously commissioners or whatever, what tends to happen in Plant City over the years is they tend to pick our leaders, OK,” Murray said. “They tend to pick the black people’s leaders. Where they feel like, ‘Well he’s a voice of the black community.’ But for instance that person is really not the voice of the black community because that person really has no ties to the black community because he’s not out there on the ground. You understand what I’m saying? So the information is not being passed on. It may be passed on to Wayne, but Wayne really has no ties to the community. Wayne is not on the front lines, he really doesn’t know what’s going on.

So you give the information to him and you may very well say ‘Wayne, this is what happened on this case’ and you give him the information, but guess what?

Wayne is not the person that’s out there on the front lines that’s actually got the heartbeat of the community.”

He called for Plant City’s black community to unite and then move forward as one voice toward change.

“As long as we can discuss like this, this is powerful,” Lott said.

“But when we start raising tempers and getting mad, we start creating walls between us. Why do we have to build walls in our city? We don’t have to do that.

We’re showing that we’re meeting, we’re talking, we’re discussing and we’re compassionate about it. I’m looking forward to moving forward… We will start working on coming up with the next step, the next action. This didn’t take a year to happen it took less than two weeks, 10 days from the initial phone call to the second meeting. That’s called action.”

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

NUMBERS CONTINUE TO RISE WITH SPIKE OF COVID-19 The Emergency Policy Group discussed the rising number of COVID-19 cases for Hillsborough County.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

With the number of positive COVID-19 cases continuing to rise, the county is imploring residents to help practice simple strategies to help stem the spread.

The presentation to the members of the Emergency Policy Group on Monday afternoon showed statistics that caused many to scramble to outline a path forward. Dr. Douglas Holt, county director of the Florida Department of Health, is frequently asked by the group for a “trigger,” a sign that indicates that now is the time to act. He’s been reluctant in the past to provide one as he’s said there are many factors that play into knowing when the county has crossed the line into an area of immediate concern.

However, he came with a frank statement on Monday.

“We certainly don’t need to retreat, but we need to get some cooperation,” Holt

said. “I just can’t accept that our community won’t pull together and reduce this transmission.”

It’s a message many of the group, including Plant City Mayor Rick Lott, have echoed for months. Lott has frequently praised the business community and the cooperation of citizens to abide by the CDC guidelines and ensure they are going about their business safely in the community.

Like the information Holt presented last week, this week’s rise showed a growing trend of the working population being infected. Over the past 14 days — through Sunday morning — the data showed that the age group of 18 to 35 years old now makes up 26 percent of the county’s cases.

While more cases are being reported — there is now a 14-day average of more than 100 cases a day with a positivity rate of 5.7 percent — the number of hospital-

izations is still far from overwhelming.

That is the key to understanding whether the county has COVID-19 under control, according to Holt.

Until hospitals are overwhelmed, the hope is the county will be able to manage the growing number of cases.

To compare, the county was seeing only 48.5 cases per day with a 2.7 percent positive rate on June 4. Luckily, deaths continue to remain on the decline as of the latest data. Part of that could lie in the fact that there is a rising number of infections in a younger population.

Kevin Wagner, business analyst for Hillsborough County government health care service, said only four percent of admissions to the healthcare system are coming from COVID-19 cases. Hospitalizations have also remained relatively consistent with 172 total cases. Of those, 134 are in normal hospital beds and 34 were in the ICU.

As a precaution, County Administrator Mike Merrill said that Hillsborough County is setting up approximately 60 more beds at University Village in case there was a spike in hospitalizations.

If not, the county can use the space to accommodate the patients who still need assistance, but do not need long-term medical care.

No action was taken Monday afternoon, though there was a brief discussion on whether the county should consider becoming stricter than the governor has ordered. Under the provisions of Governor Ron DeSantis, the county technically has the authority to restrict the way it reopens.

The next EPG meeting is at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon and can be viewed from the county’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

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COMMISH ROUNDUP: PUBLIC HEARINGS SET, BUDGET ADJUSTED Multiple public hearings were set last week for the June 22 City Commission meeting that will be held virtually on the city’s YouTube page at 7:30 p.m.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The city also received a transfer from Hillsborough County of a 28.95-acre portion of a parcel that was located at 4702 Sydney Road. In exchange, the city accepted jurisdiction and maintenance responsibility for the one-mile segment of East Park Road from James L. Redman Parkway to Jim Johnson Road.

“This agreement would equally benefit both the county and the city, as well as our citizens,” McDaniel wrote to County Administrator Mike Merrill. “The county would be relieved from the obligation of ongoing maintenance costs for both the property and roadway. The city would

obtain a location to support its roadway and storm water maintenance operations.

Both the property and roadway requested for transfer are located within our city limits.”

The commission also set several public hearings. One upcoming hearing will discuss the proposed amendments to the Public Safety Pension Ordinance. The Public Safety Employees Pension Plan’s law firm, Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen and Levinson, has recommended multiple amendments to the plan ordinance and the plan’s Board of Trustees has approved eight amendments to be proposed for the commission.

“The Public Safety Employees Pension Plan’s actuary, Foster and Foster, Inc., has reviewed the proposed amendments to the plan ordinance and determined that

all of the proposed changes are cost neutral and have no actuarial impact upon the plan or the City’s required funding level,” the report read.

A public hearing was also set for the potential of the city granting an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Garland, LLC. Garland told the city it will employ at least 10 new full-time equivalent employees in a new business in Plant City and will make a capital investment in the business in excess of $2,000,000 prior to the commencement of any exemption granted under the Program.

Another company asking for an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption is Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC. The public hearing for this proposed exemption will also be held June 22.

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Saputo told the city it will maintain its current 98 jobs in town and hire at least 54 new full-time equivalent employees in an expansion of their existing business in Plant City at an average annual wage of at least 100 percent of the average annual private sector wage. The company also said it will make “a capital investment in an expansion of their existing business of at least $200,000 per full-time equivalent employee prior to the commencement of any exemption granted under the Program.”

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

CONFEDERATE MONUMENT REMOVED BY CITY OF PLANT CITY Mayor Rick Lott announced last week that the Confederate Cow Cavalry monument at the 1914 museum was removed and would no longer remain in Plant City.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The recent Black Lives Matter movement in Plant City has sparked the conversation for meaningful change from the very top of city leadership down to the some of the youngest rising community leaders.

During a roundtable discussion early Thursday morning between said leaders and Mayor Rick Lott, City Manager Bill McDaniel and Police Chief Ed Duncan, the desire for the city to follow these conversations with actions was proven when Lott walked into the center of the circle and made an announcement that caught many by surprise. The confederate Cow Cavalry monument at the 1914 High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St., was removed.

Lott took a moment to delve into its complex history with the city and share his heart with the group on why it should have been gone years before and his regret for ignoring his gut all these years.

“This thing has been gnawing at me for some time,” Lott said. “In the years that it’s been there, I don’t know that I’ve ever had anyone come to me and say ‘Will you remove it,’ or ‘Why don’t you remove it?’

Not that that’s important because the problem was it was there whether we discussed it or not, right? I don’t think we had to discuss it. It didn’t belong there. It wasn’t approved to be there, it shouldn’t be there and that’s not what we do in our city.

Through discussion with the city manager we decided, especially since it was not approved by the city commission, was never authorized by the city commission, to rid that monument from our city and our 1914 High School building.”

The issue was far more complicated than most assumed. Many believed the city made the decision to allow a confederate monument to be erected on its property. It turns out that was not the case at all. That was Lott’s first year as mayor and he said he remembers the chain of events like it was yesterday.

The commission was not alerted by the

Photos courtesy of Roderick Henderson

East Hillsborough Historical Society — which is housed at the former school and runs the history museum and genealogical archives there — that the monument was planned for the location. The monument was donated by the Plant City Chapter #1931 United Daughters of the Confederacy in 2007 and was placed on the spot without the city’s permission, according to Lott.

“It occurred out of thin air and without our approval, and I want to make sure I make this very clear: The commission never authorized for that monument to be located on city property. I want to say that again. The city commission never approved for that monument to be on city property.

There was a longstanding verbal agreement between the Plant City Historical Society and the city that they would house that center and have it be a historical museum, and their understanding was they could do as they pleased to put historical data in that facility. When we found out that monument was there, it sparked a lot of conversation in our city. That was actually the first year I was mayor, so I’m pretty sure it was 2007…

What we realized was that we didn’t have a written policy in our city. Sometimes you assume things would naturally be there, but we didn’t have a written policy on what could be placed on city property or not and who had the authority to place things on city property or not. We had many meetings, a lot of debate on it, and we passed a policy that from thenceforth you had to have city commission approval to place a monument or a statue on city property, or naming rights to a city-owned building.”

Shelby Bender, president and executive director of the East Hillsborough Historical Society, could not be reached for comment.

The monument was created to pay homage to the men who were a part of the Cow Cavalry, a Confederate States Army cavalry unit that organized to protect herds of cattle from Union raiders and to send cattle up toward fighting troops.

If you ever read the engravings on the four sides of the polished granite, you’d more than likely recognize many of the names carved into the stone. Those who bore the last name Johnson, Moody, Platt,

Raulerson, Wells, Wilder and countless others were a part of the cavalry unit.

“I always brag about our forefathers,” Lott said. “I think our forefathers did a lot of great things and I wish I knew who they were because they did a lot of policies and so forth many, many years ago, long before I was even alive. One of the great things they did was they decided to have nonpartisan races in Plant City. You don’t run as a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent or anything else. I love that.

That means it’s idea versus idea, exchange versus exchange during an election and it’s not party versus party. I like that. Everyone can engage and it doesn’t matter what party you’re from because you don’t advertise what party you’re from.”

Lott went on to say each commissioner represents the entire city rather than their assigned geographical area, and thus can discuss things with everyone being on the same page.

Things in Plant City are named after local leaders, not national ones. You never see Kennedy Boulevard or a Clinton Street. The parks are named for those who impacted their community like Samuel Cooper and Marie B. Ellis. That was by design, he said, and they love to recognize those locally who

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make a difference in the city. To change the nation you have to take care of your backyard, Lott said.

“We make sure that the content that we have reflects our city and does not divide us,” Lott said.

The topic was brought up on June 6 when Roderick Henderson, a rising leader, filmed a video of the monument and posted it to his Facebook page. It quickly gained traction and calls to remove it were coming in left and right. The call was raised and Lott wanted the community to know it was answered.

Less than a week later, the monument and all of the bricks surrounding it that bore the names of the donors for the confederate statue were gone. Lott said the monument is currently in storage and the Daughters of the Confederacy were notified it was ready for them to pick up.

“I think Plant City has been doing a lot of good long before I got here, and hopefully we are getting better every year,” Lott said.

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JODI STEVENS

RECEIVES YMCA’S STRONG LEADER AWARD Stevens is the 18th recipient of the Plant City Family YMCA’s annual award for people who go above and beyond to make a difference in the community.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Eighteen years ago, Jodi Stevens was one of several on the Plant City Family YMCA’s Board of Directors who helped create its annual Strong Leader Award.

Now she’s getting one.

“I’m quite honored,” Stevens said. “It’s such an honor to be up there with the 17 other leaders of our community.”

Stevens was announced as the Y’s newest Strong Leader Award winner last week and executive director Paul Conley said the decision to give it to her was an easy call.

“Jodi is the type of person that has been involved in the community for years,” Conley said. “She helped the Y start Strong Leader.

When you think about people in the community that should and can be recognized, Jodi’s at the top of that list. I’ve worked with her in a number of different things and the type of leader, the type of positive person she is and the impact she’s made over the years, we just thought she’d be a great person for this award.”

Before Stevens got involved with the Plant City Y’s board of directors, she was a devoted member. She started working out at the facility as soon as it opened in 1998 and you could often find her in there working up a sweat before the crack of dawn.

“I used to be the crazy one up there at 5 a.m. working out,” she said. “Then I had kids.”

Stevens gradually got more involved with the Y, from helping to get the facility to open at 5 a.m. instead of 5:30 a.m. to eventually joining the Advisory Board in 2003. She was named its Rookie of the Year in 2004, its MVP of the annual Giving Campaign in 2005 and its president from 2006 to 2007. She also served as a Strong Leader Dinner chair and co-chair from its inception from 2002 through 2006. Even after leaving the YMCA’s board, she remained heavily involved in the community.

Stevens was a longtime member of the Noon Rotary Club and its first-ever female president. She was heavily involved in the creation of the annual Pig Jam barbecue competition event — which she jokingly called her “first-born child” in a press release — and has also been involved with Rotary’s Dancing with the Locals event.

To name a handful of things, she is also a past president of the Lions Club, the Junior Woman’s Club and the Plant City chapter of the American Business Women’s Association, a board member of Tampa’s American Cancer Society branch, a member of Plant City’s Relay for Life committee (as well as 2017’s honorary survivor), co-chair of ambassadors for the Florida Strawberry Festival and a volunteer since 2001, treasurer of Plant City Little League and the

East Hillsborough Law Enforcement Appreciation board and, most recently, joining Plant City Main Street’s board. Stevens was recognized in 2018 as one of the Plant City Observer’s “Wonder Women” for her tireless involvement within the Plant City community.

“I do everything that I do in the community because I enjoy it,” Stevens said. “I love it. Getting an award like that makes you want to do more.”

Stevens’ award is going to be unique thanks to COVID-19.

The Y suspended the annual Strong Leader Award dinner event until August 2021 because of the pandemic and, because nobody wanted to deprive her of the celebration, there will not be a new winner announced next year. Instead, the 2021 dinner will honor Stevens and the 19th winner will be celebrated in 2022.

“She was chosen prior to all this starting and then everything changed,” Conley said. “We don’t want her honor and celebration to be any different than our past recipients’.”

CUTEST CRITTER

Do you want Plant City to see how cute your favorite pets are? Send your pictures to Staff Writer Breanne Williams at bwilliams@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

MORI: Mori, a toy Aussie, is by far the cutest pup on his block and a legend in his community with his bright blue eyes. Mori is the buddy we all wish we had and his owner said they love going for rides together.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

FIVE DECADES AT SFBH Earlier this month, Pam Roach hit a milestone of 50 years working at South Florida Baptist Hospital.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Many things in Plant City and the world changed between June 8, 1970 and June 8, 2020. One thing that did not was Pam Roach’s employment.

Roach reached the 50-year mark as a South Florida Baptist Hospital employee earlier this month and retired last Tuesday.

“I want to thank Pam for all she has done for South Florida Baptist Hospital over the many years we have worked together,” hospital president Karen Kerr said in a press release. “She will be missed.”

Roach spent the vast majority of her career — 39 years — in the Nursing Administration department. She moved there shortly after she started with the hospital as the only member of its Personnel department and remained through 2010, when she replaced Margie Rogers as Executive Assistant to then-president Steve Nierman and, three years later, Kerr when she took over upon Nierman’s departure. Roach said the people at SFBH made working there for so long a pleasant experience.

“I used to give out all of the Nursing paychecks, therefore I knew every employee, even the night shift,” Roach said in a press release. “For many years, you hardly ever met a new employee.

We were just one big happy fam-

ily where everyone knew each other, which was wonderful.”

She enjoyed working at the hospital so much that it was the only full-time job she ever had. Roach occasionally worked at the Brown and Newsome Drug Store on weekends, but that was all.

Retaining an employee for 50 years is a rare feat for almost any business, but that’s not the case at SFBH. Last year, Jill Moon celebrated her own 50th anniversary with the hospital. Coincidentally, Moon started working there almost exactly one year before Roach did: Moon started on June 9, 1969.

Roach and Moon worked in different departments for much of their careers but began sharing an office in 1997, when SFBH signed a joint operating agreement with BayCare. The two have been friends ever since.

“Pam and I have many happy memories that we shared over the years that we still laugh about,” Moon said in a press release. “She has been a good friend through the years and I am sad to see her retire. I will miss her, but I am happy for her as she begins this new journey. May God bless her.”

Now that she’s retired, Roach hopes to spend more time with her grandson and travel to the Tetons whenever COVID-19 settles down. She also hopes to take cooking classes and do more volunteer work.

Photo courtesy of South Florida Baptist Hospital

Pam Roach celebrated five decades at South Florida Baptist Hospital earlier this month. Roach has since retired to spend more time with her family.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

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WOMAN’S CLUB HOSTS FOOD DRIVE The club has been collecting food items to benefit the United Food Bank of Plant City.

Justin Kline

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City filled up more than five tables full of food and collected money to give to the food bank Tuesday.

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City wants to continue lending a helping hand in the community, and this time it’s the United Food Bank of Plant City reaping the benefits.

“Demand for food assistance is rising at an extraordinary rate, just as the nation’s food banks are being struck by shortages of both donated food, monetary donations and volunteer workers,” the club said in a

Facebook post advertising its food drive.

“The GFWC Woman’s Club of Plant City wants to do our part to help as best we can.”

The club hosted the food drive for the UFB from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, rounding up non-perishable goods like canned foods, oatmeal, cereal, peanut butter, breakfast bars, beans, pastas and more to deliver later that day.

“When I thought about this, I knew the food bank needed a lot of help and many organizations were giving money here and there,” Woman’s Club president Patricia Wolff said. “I thought we needed to get

hands-on and do something, so I called Mary Heysek and I asked her if it was OK that we do this.”

Though Tuesday was the big day, the Woman’s Club’s efforts to collect food for the UFB didn’t start that day. Margie Gonzalez, best-known for her “87 Miles for Smiles” fundraising project, hopped into her golf cart last week and drove from door to door around her neighborhood to collect groceries. Some of her neighbors even donated checks for the food bank “She’s my ‘jumping bean…’ as soon as she (Heysek, UFBPC director) said yes for

us to do the food drive, I called Margie and she immediately, the same day, got on her golf cart, went around her community and started picking up groceries and checks and everything,” Wolff said.

Bettye Goodwine also went around her neighborhood and collected donations of both food and money from her neighbors to help out. In addition, members of Lone Oak Baptist Church stopped by Tuesday morning with a big delivery for the club.

The total amount of food donated will be announced once it’s measured.

Courtesy of Patricia Wolff

Margie Gonzalez also got donations from her neighbors.

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SPORTS

Quick Hits

HONDA CR-V IS A FITTING COMMUTER, CARGO HAULER NITISH S. RELE

File photo

Christina Font, pictured, and younger sister Jackie have wrestled at Strawberry Crest High School.

FHSAA ADDS SPORTS, CHANGES FOOTBALL QUARTERS RULE JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Last week, the FHSAA announced its sports offerings will grow by two for the 2021-22 school year.

The addition most likely to impact the Plant City area is girls wrestling. Though girls are currently allowed to join boys teams to form co-ed rosters, the sport will be fully sanctioned in that school year to meet a growing demand across the state.

The FHSAA reported 708 girls were on co-ed rosters last season.

Beach volleyball is also joining the ranks of officially recognized high school sports.

On the football field, there will be a new rule for the upcoming 2020-21 school year: athletes will now be permitted to play up to six quarters per week instead of four. Schools can apply to waive their one game per week requirement and approval will be granted for programs that meet the FHSAA’s criteria in areas of current and past roster sizes as well as history of performance.

The rule would allow junior varsity players to play on a Wednesday, rest 24 hours and then be immediately eligible to play in two quarters in a Friday night varsity game — which allows varsity programs to instantly create roster depth and allows JV players to get more high-level experience immediately instead of having to wait until late in the varsity season, when JV play ends and many players get called up for that depth. The rule won’t have much effect either way on bigger programs, but it’s a big benefit for those like Strawberry Crest that have had smallerthan-average rosters in recent years.

File photo

The FHSAA’s newest football rule change will benefit smaller high school programs like Strawberry Crest, which typically starts a season with the fewest number of varsity players rostered in the area.

About three years ago, the Honda CR-V (Comfortable Runabout Vehicle) underwent a major transformation.

Never known to rest on their laurels, engineers at the Japanese carmaker have refreshed the exterior of the popular compact SUV while enhancing it with more features. Trust us, the changes are all for the better.

Offered as a front-wheel or allwheel drive (which was our test drive), the fifth-generation 2020 CR-V is available in a 1.5-liter direct-injection, turbo four-cylinder engine that develops 190 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 179 pounds-feet of torque at 5,000 rm.

Your other choice is a hybrid/electric CR-V version also. Power is put to the road via a new continuously variable transmission. An independent MacPherson strut front and a multilink rear suspension isolates occupants from road noise and rough bumps.

The motion-adaptive electric power steering, which nixes use of hoses and pumps, translates into gas savings.

The CR-V styling appears even more aggressive and sleeker than its predecessor. Tweaked LED headlights and wing-shaped daytime running lights flank a redesigned chromeslathered two-bar grille while vertical darker LED tail lamps and dual chrome exhaust tips take up the rear.

The 60/40 rear seat is easy to fold. Just pull the small levers located near the tailgate and you have a flat seat to haul cargo. Bins and cubbies are scattered throughout. Cargo space is with the second row down is a vast 75.8 cubic feet while passenger volume is also worthy at 102.9 cubic feet. Also standard are dual auto a/c, seven-inch display for audio/navigation system with voice recognition and rearview camera, leather on seats, shifter and the tilt/ telescopic steering column, sunglass holder, 12-way driver and four-way

front-passenger power seats, power tailgate and moon roof, push-button start and a driver information center.

Dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag with rollover system, vehicle stability assist, traction control, four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, three-point seatbelts, front/rear crumple zones, blind-spot and rear cross traffic monitor, front-seat active head restraints, tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights are standard.

The car-like CR-V boasts admirable passenger- and cargo-hauling capabilities. And you can count on the turbocharged power train to add more peppiness and fun to the ride. Besides, the practical and fuel-efficient SUV (averaging almost 30 mpg in combined driving for us) comes with Honda’s solid reputation for reliability and durability.

CR-V AWD (TOURING) Tires: 235/55 R19 Wheelbase: 104.7 inches Length: 182.1 inches Weight: 3,569 pounds Fuel capacity: 14 gallons City: 27 mpg Highway: 33 mpg Base price: $34,750 Price as tested: $35,845 Web site: www.honda.com

Nitish S. Rele operates motoringtampabay.com and Khaas Baat, and was an automotive editor/columnist for the Tampa Tribune. Email him at motoringtampabay@gmail.com.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

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YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR We asked Facebook: The Hillsborough County EPG is concerned about the state’s recent increase in positive COVID-19 tests. What actions do you believe the governor should take if the numbers don’t start to drop soon?

“Nothing. It should be an individuals responsibility to keep themselves and their friends and family that would be at risk if exposed protected. I don’t expect others to protect me. I certainly don’t want the government telling me what I can and can’t do again!”

— David Butcher

“He explained already why the numbers would look like they were increasing. Past tests from jails coming in and the fact they had increased testing. They have also discovered individuals that have had flu shots test positive when they do not have COVID-19. Herd exposure needs to take place to keep our children safe. The elderly and high risk are still being kept safe.”

“It’s not about those numbers. We are going to see more positives. It’s about the death rate and the hospital capacity (severity of illness). The surgical, not broad, approach should continue.”

— Lesley Shackelford Bateman

“I want him to make masks mandatory everywhere in public. Mandatory!” — Pamela Mills “They've already pointed out that this is too extreme a jump to be due to more testing. It's something else and needs to be taken seriously.” — Meg Scott

“I’m not certain this should be a sweeping state-wide issue as certain areas can have vastly different experiences. Most of this should be handled closer to the county levels. More important metrics, as opposed to just total cases, would be things like number of hospitalizations (impacts capacity) and the ratio of positive to negative test results.” — Adam Fowler “Definitely don’t want to see him shut Florida down again. Just use common sense, stay home if you’re sick and wash your hands.”

— Sissy Smith Osborne

— Beth Lamb Parks

287682-1

AROUND TOWN

289704-1

14

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

Manuel Quelle

Manuel Quelle, 92, was born in Tampa, on May 17, 1928 and Alejandra Laguna Rodriguez, entered into eternal rest on June 81, of Ruskin, born in Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, entered into 9, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at eternal rest on June 8, 2020.

HopewellFuneral.com.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Hector Vazquez Hector Vazquez, 62, of Plant City, born in Guanajuato, Mexico, entered into eternal rest on June 9, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Elva Jeanette Hall Elva Jeanette Hall, 91, of Riverview, born in Graceville on April 7, 1929, entered into eternal rest on June 9, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Roy E. Lott Sr.

Shirley Williamson

Shirley Williamson, 73, of Thonotosassa, born in Plant City on May 1, 1947, entered into eternal rest on June 10, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Roy E. Lott Sr., 85, of Lithia, born Wanda Grace in Cairo, Georgia on July 20, 1934, Pogue entered into eternal rest on June 9, 2020.

Wanda Grace Pogue, age 86, Expressions of condolence at died May 6, 2020. She was HopewellFuneral.com. preceded in death by her son, Lewis W. Pogue, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Lewis W. Pogue, Sr., daughter, Patricia Lynn Pogue, HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM granddaughter, Marlena Shelton (Stephen), great grandson, Jeffrey T. Morgan Lewis Flynn Shelton, brother, Kenneth Potter and the lovely Jeffrey T. Morgan, 42, of Plant family dog Lucy. Wanda was City, born on June 28, 1977, entered into eternal rest on June born in Elizabethton, Tennessee and lived in Ohio, Indiana and 11, 2020.

Connecticut before moving to Expressions of condolence at Plant City in 1987. Wanda loved HopewellFuneral.com. golf, bowling and Bridge and she made lifelong friends wherever she lived.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Patricia Ann Dillon Patricia Ann Dillon, 90, of Plant City, born in Frametown, West Virginia on Feb. 15, 1930, entered into eternal rest on June 11, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Rawle Wayne Hope

Marion Clendening

Eleanor May Buist community

Marion Clendening, 93, of Plant Eleanor May Buist, 85, of BranCity, passed away on June 15, don, passed away on Sunday, 2020.

June 7, 2020. Eleanor was born Marion was a United States on March 14, 1935, in Long Iswe’re dedicated to helping families create a E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community Army Veteran. Wwith land, and relocated to uniqueYork and meaningful memorial that truly personal, compassionate care since 1896. New life it represents. your Dignity friends Memorial professionals, The family willAsreceive Floridacelebrates in thethelate ‘50s. Eleanor 100% Service Guarantee Plan Transferability Friday, June 19, 2020> >from 9:00 was> National memorialized June 10 Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassionon Helpline® a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Haught at Blessed Sacrament Catholic.

R Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. MLK Jr. Condolences may be offered Proudly supportingat the www.wellsmemorial.com.

Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563.

A Military Honors Ceremony will follow at 11:00 a.m.

Online condolences may WELLSMEMORIAL.COM be left for the family at www. haught.care.

is all about.

®

Taking care of each other is what

community Greg Lee Anderson

Wells MeMorial & event Center PlanT CiTy

is all about.

813-752-1111 GregWellsMemorial.com Lee Anderson, 47, of

Plant City, passed away on Friday June 5, 2020. dedicated helping families5, create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community Gregwe’re was bornto January unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. the life itFlorida. represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, 1973 in celebrates Lakeland, > 100% Service GuaranteeFond > National Plan Transferability memories and expresHAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® sions of sympathy may be Vincent Andrew Rat www.wellswemorial. shared Proudly supporting the Plant Strawberry Festival. family. com forCity the Anderson Montemayor M2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 1

10/27/15 10:42 AM

®

Ramirez

Vincent Andrew Montemayor WELLSMEMORIAL.COM Ramirez, 27, passed away in Tampa. Public viewing will be Wells MeMorial & event Center from 9:00 AM until 8:00 PM PlanT CiTy ALL OBITUARIES ARE 813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com Friday, June 19, 2020, at Robert Massie Riverside Chapel with a SUBMITTED AND 6:00 PM Rosary.

EDITED BY FAMILIES OR Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM Saturday, June FUNERAL HOMES 20, 2020, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Sign the online register at www.robertmassie.com.

M2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 1

Rawle Wayne Hope, 67, of Ft. Lauderdale, born in St. James, Barbados on November 15, 1952, entered into eternal rest on June 15, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

YOUR COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971 HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

OBITUARIES

Alejandra Laguna Rodriguez

Taking care of each other is what

10/27/15 10:42 AM

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg June 17, 2020 PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

6/17

FORECAST THURSDAY, JUNE 18 High: 91 Low: 72 Chance of rain: 80%

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 High: 88 Low: 72 Chance of rain: 80%

29 Captured again 32 Pinewood derby org.

34 Run out of power 35 ___ bond 37 Fancy parties 39 Movie preview that’s more amusingly exaggerated?

43 Confused fight 44 A bit, colloquially 45 Bonanza find 46 Average name?

49 Nobel-winning chancellor Willy 52 A single time 54 Nonkosher meat 56 Classic sporty Ford, briefly

58 Casino worker who’s more tapped out?

62 Banned 65 Frozen beverage brand 66 Adjust, as a viola 67 “Ants in one’s pants” or “bee in one’s bonnet” 68 Final Four org.

69 Blues singer James 70 “Social contract” philosopher John 71 Teri of “Mr. Mom” 72 Couch cushion line DOWN 1 Writer Zola 2 More optimistic 3 Completely botch 4 Back then

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

High: 91 Low: 72 Chance of rain: 20%

SUNDAY, JUNE 21 High: 93 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 40%

TOMATOES

Shipping point: Central Florida $13.95-$15.95

5 No gentle giant 6 Animal on a XING sign 7 Dutch pottery city 8 First U.S. space station 9 Spitting sound 10 Big and little clock parts 11 The whole shebang 12 Make tracks?

13 “Errare humanum ___” 21 Marched 22 Good periods 26 Doing nothing 27 “You’re not telling the truth!”

28 Arles article 30 Number of syllables in this answer 31 White wine aperitif 33 Perturb 36 Pennies: Abbr.

38 Best Actor nominee for “The Fixer” 39 Large Hadron Collider acronym 40 “A Star Is Born” actor Baldwin 41 Burgle 42 Pirate’s exclamation 43 Dairy farm sound 47 “Lookie here!”

48 Rousing 50 Thin with water 51 31-ounce Starbucks size 53 Kindle download 55 Big drawer?

57 It’s often hard to remember 59 Colosseum setting 60 Backside 61 “___ me!” (“Goodness!”)

62 As late as, for short 63 Ruckus 64 Cristal pen maker

15

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, June 18

6:32a

8:27p

Friday, June 19

6:32a

8:27p

Saturday, June 20

6:32a

8:27p

Sunday, June 21

6:32a

8:28p

Monday, June 22

6:32a

8:28p

Tuesday, June 23

6:33a

8:28p

Wednesday, June 24

6:33a

8:28p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

Comparatively Speaking by Paul Coulter

ACROSS 1 It becomes another name when surrounded by “H” and “N” 5 Bookie’s quote 9 Waxing crescent, e.g., for the moon 14 Water barrier at a zoo 15 Nerd 16 Speaking tour events 17 “Money ___ everything” 18 Bank (on) 19 Dark 20 Liquid that’s more lowcalorie?

23 One may catch a moray 24 Touch on the shoulder 25 Window ledge

|

June 20 New

June 25 First

July 4 Full

July 16 Last

RAINFALL Monday, June 8

2.41

Tuesday, June 9 0.02 Wednesday, June 10

0.15

Thursday, June 11 0.00 Friday, June 12

0.00

Saturday, June 13 0.28 Sunday, June 14

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 17.18 in.

2020 6.23 in.

2019 08.27 in.

2019 3.22 in.

WEATHER

40 “A Star Is ACROSS 49 Nobel10 Big and little Born” actor 1 It becomes winning clock parts Baldwin another chancellor 11 The whole 41 Burgle name when Willy shebang 42 Pirate’s surrounded 52 A single time 12 Make Sendby your photo submissions to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com exclamation “H” 54 Nonkosher tracks? and “N” 13 “Errareto feature. 43 Dairy farm or hashtag #iloveplantcity onmeat Instagram for @igersplantcity sound 5 Bookie’s 56 Classic humanum 47 “Lookie here!” quote sporty Ford, ___” 48 Rousing 9 Waxing briefly 21 Marched 50 Thin with crescent, 58 Casino 22 Good water e.g., for worker who’s periods 51 31-ounce the moon more tapped 26 Doing nothing Starbucks 14 Water barrier out?

27 “You’re not size at a zoo 62 Banned telling the 53 Kindle 15 Nerd 65 Frozen truth!” download 16 Speaking beverage 28 Arles article 55 Big drawer? tour events brand 30 Number of 57 It’s often 17 “Money ___ 66 Adjust, as syllables in hard to everything” a viola this answer remember 18 Bank (on) 67 “Ants in one’s 31 White wine 59 Colosseum 19 Dark pants” or aperitif setting 20 Liquid “bee in one’s 33 Perturb 60 Backside that’s more bonnet” 36 Pennies: 61 “___ me!” low-calorie?

68 Final Four org.

Abbr. (“Goodness!”)

23 One may 69 Blues singer 38 Best Actor 62 As late as, catch a James nominee for for short moray 70 “Social “The Fixer” 63 Ruckus 24 Touch on contract” 39 Large 64 Cristal pen the shoulder philosopher Hadron maker 25 Window John Collider ledge 71 Teri of “Mr. acronym 29 Captured Mom” again 72 Couch PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER 32 Pinewood cushion line Danaderby Plunkett’s LaGrone, loves his squirrels so much he gave them their own little org.dad, Doyle DOWN bench to chill 34 Run out out of and grab1a snack Writeron.

Zola power 2 More Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, ON I N E @PlantObserver 35 ___Lbond optimistic on Twitter and Plant City Observer 37 Fancy Completely on3Facebook. parties botch 39 Movie 4 Back then preview 5 No gentle that’s more giant amusingly 6 Animal on a exaggerated?

XING sign 43 Confused 7 Dutch pottery fight city 44 A bit, 8 First U.S. colloquially space 45 Bonanza find station 6/16 © 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal 46 Average 9 Spitting www.upuzzles.com name? sound

16

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2020

AN EMERGENCY IS STILL AN EMERGENCY. EVEN DURING THIS EMERGENCY.

Don’t hesitate when it comes to getting emergency treatment.

Even during a pandemic, you still need to be treated immediately if you have an emergency.

Debating whether or not to risk going to an emergency room during a heart attack, stroke or other health emergency—waiting even a few extra minutes—could be harmful. That’s why in

20-1126895-0520

all BayCare hospital emergency rooms, patients who have symptoms of COVID-19 are screened and treated in a separate area. This helps keep emergency room patients and our team members safe. So if it’s an emergency, don’t wait. For more information: BayCareEmergencyCare.org