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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

SAYING HIS NAME

Justin Kline

Hundreds of people gathered in Plant City to call for justice for George Floyd and support the Black Lives Matter movement in a peaceful protest.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

2

Photos courtesy of World of Imagination Center

VPK puts safe twist on inaugural graduation ceremony World of Imagination Center’s first-ever VPK graduation ceremony was nothing like anyone at the school expected it to be when it first opened its doors in August 2019. What the staff did, though, was start a new tradition that will be followed from here on out.

The preschool, located in the old First Baptist Church Learning Center at 402 S. Collins St., held a drive-up ceremony at 5 p.m. May 29 where the parents of 43 of the school’s 50 VPK grads were able to drive their kids down a parade line full of cheering teachers and school staff before getting handed a diploma at the end.

Luckily for the school, the ceremony went quickly enough that all the cars beat that evening’s rain.

School director Taelor Highland said the ceremony has been in the works since April, shortly after schools were canceled for what would eventually be the rest of the year. Students and their parents were still able to stay connected with the teachers through World of Imagination Center’s distance learning program over the last few months, but the staff knew it couldn’t miss out on a celebration if there was a way to do it safely.

“We had to make sure we could acknowledge them because they worked so hard and they were robbed of this by COVID-19,” Highland said.

The parade was such a big hit for everyone involved that World of Imagination Center decided it shouldn’t just be confined to one year. Moving forward, she said, the graduation parade will be a fixture of the school’s programming.

“Our graduation parade will be a part of honoring our graduates every year because it turned out so phenomenal and everyone had so much fun,” Highland said.

Local teachers win funding from Sonic Public school teachers around the country are reaping the benefits of Sonic Drive-In’s Limeades for Learning fundraising program, and several of them are from Plant City.

Six local teachers’ DonorsChoose online fundraisers were recognized by the drivethru chain in honor of Teacher Appreciation Day, which was May 29. Sonic donated a total of $933 to their projects.

WINNERS: Gavin Coleman (Advantage AcademyHillsborough): “Makerspace for Improving

and Enhancing Academic Potential!”

James Smith (Durant High School): “360 Degree View” and “Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire” Kim Huston (Durant High School): “Sign Language Teacher Needs Video Editing Technology!” and “These Students Actually Like to Read!”

Samantha Conley (Independence Academy): “Teachers Never Stop Learning How to Get Their Teach On!” Jaclyn Reeves (Knights Elementary School): “iPads for Learning” Joanie Petty (Knights Elementary School): “iPad Learning” “Teachers across the country face new and complex challenges to keep their students learning right now,” Christi Woodworth, vice president for public relations for Sonic, said. “As we continue to celebrate teachers this Teacher Appreciation Month, we sincerely thank educators who are creatively keeping their students learning even as schools are closed. With Sonic’s $1 million donation match, we were able to help teachers obtain resources for their students and will continue to empower them throughout the year.”

Limeades for Learning has raised $16.6 million for teachers since its inception in 2009.

New road testing protocol announced Road tests are about to look much different in the time of social distancing, Hillsborough County Tax Collector Doug Belden announced last week.

The new process for road testing, which went into effect Monday, takes the driving instructor out of the vehicle and uses Bluetooth or other hands-free communication methods to administer the test. Those in the driver’s seat must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older, who must sit in the passenger seat, and no one else.

If the tester hears the examiner’s whistle, they have to stop what they’re doing and wait for further instruction.

“We’re utilizing the highest level of mitigation to reduce the risk of infection for both the employees and the customers,” Belden said in a press release.

Testers must have an appointment, a valid vehicle registration and current Florida insurance. Masks are strongly recommended to be worn. Customers with appointments will be screened before entry and will have their temperatures taken.

Visit hillstax.org for more information.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

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HUNDREDS GATHER FOR JUSTICE FOR GEORGE FLOYD The protest began just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday and lasted for more than four hours. Hundreds gathered to protest, march and voice their support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

JUSTIN KLINE AND BREANNE WILLIAMS OBSERVER STAFF

The global call for police reformation began after eight minutes and 46 seconds.

Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck for that long. People around the world watched the footage in horror and growing rage. Protesters took to the streets demanding justice and an overhaul of American law enforcement as they said Floyd was just the latest name added to an unforgivably long list of black men and women killed by police in this country.

At first, the protests were confined to Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed despite the fact he pleaded he could not breathe and witnesses on video protested that he was dying. But the event proved to be the spark that lit the flame and similar events began to pop up all over the country, then even across the world.

Plant City had its first such protest Tuesday evening. Hundreds gathered near the RaceTrac and Southern Hospitality at the intersection of James L. Redman Parkway and East Park Road. When the post announcing the protest originally began spreading on social media, it was met with mixed reactions. Many voiced their support of the gathering as long as it remained peaceful and others vowed to be on site to protect local businesses and support law enforcement.

Members of the faith-based community headed toward the protest ground at noon, five hours before the scheduled assembly, to pray over the events that were set to occur.

Then the crowds began to arrive shortly before 5.

As trucks began to pull into the Southern Hospitality parking lot, they lined up facing the RaceTrac and drivers began to get out and shake hands with each other.

Many leaned against their trucks, some stayed in their seats inside the vehicle and others hopped into the truck beds. They quietly chatted among themselves, sipped on a bottle of water or Coke and sat back and watched.

They didn’t bring signs. They weren’t marching or shouting. They simply stood and observed in silence for most of the time. Kevin Lumley, who got there in time for the start of the protest, said that group came out to the parking lot to support local first responders as well as Plant City at large.

“We’re just a bunch of local people that don’t want our city destroyed,” Lumley said. “We’re not here for anything but that.

We support them and their right to protest.

However, we just want to make sure it’s peaceful and we want to support our local police and fire rescue.”

Across the street, a gathering began to trickle in for the Black Lives Matter movement. At first it was just three young women with signs. Then it was eight. Then 15. Before long, attendees were walking over from all directions. There was more parking at Southern Hospitality, so many parked there and footed it across the street. Some lingered for a while on that side of the intersection, waving their signs and chanting at cars as they drove past.

Plant City resident Hasani Jackson and many others who hail from the city stressed the importance of keeping things

peaceful to demonstrate to other communities that residents here can be unified and come together for a common cause.

“People are here to peacefully assemble in support of George Floyd,” Jackson said.

“We want to show the world that Plant City is together. It’s gonna be peaceful, hopefully.”

Rosemary Almanza, one of the first to arrive to the assembly, hoped the protest would help give minorities a louder voice so that they may finally be heard.

“This unjust system is not right,” she said. “We can’t let this continue. Why do they get to kill us and go free? Why is there not justice for George Floyd? I’ve suffered through this fight too. My mom is Hispanic and Muslim. She’s gotten death threats just because of how she looks. Until we have justice, this won’t end. We aren’t going anywhere.”

Sheriff Chad Chronister arrived to chat with people on both sides of the intersection. While many were loudly calling his appearance a “photo op,” he did have a few conversations along the way up and down the lines.

Chronister walked through a line of protestors who angrily, passionately let him have a piece of their mind before speaking with members of the media slightly away from the group. He said he and his colleagues are “repulsed” when incidents like Floyd’s death “can make law enforcement across the country suffer.”

“We’re gonna keep doing everything we can to improve relations with all portions of the community,” Chronister said. “And I think, lastly, it’s to make sure the community knows, regardless of who you are, we hear you. We’re listening. That, I promise you.”

Though Chronister stressed that the police presence was there to “keep (protesters) safe” and allow them to express themselves, many protestors weren’t satisfied.

When the crowd started to spill into the streets, the protesters decided to organize into a march and head toward the police station on Alexander Street. While they marched, they said the chant shared across the world: “No Justice, No Peace.”

A chorus of “I can’t breathe” rang out as well and the names of those who had died at the hands of police were shouted up and down the wave of marchers. Plant City Police, along with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, blocked the Alexander intersection for the marchers as they turned off of Redman to head toward the police station. Onlookers dotted the adjacent sidewalks and parking lots, phones in hand, filming the scene. One car played “Changes” by Tupac Shakur as the group marched along to the police station.

Some who arrived late filed into the line or cheered them on from the side of the road. Kyana Cristiani and Cynthia Fernandez walked with masks that read “I can’t breathe” in black Sharpie.

They said they are interracial, which was why they wore the masks and echoed that all lives matter. They believed the message of the event was until everyone was held accountable and stereotypes were put aside, there wouldn’t be change and wouldn’t be peace.

When the protesters finally arrived, they spread out along the chainlink fence sepa-

rating the parking lot and entrance from the building. Police were lined on the other side of the fence in front of the building, watching silently, and a few men were on the roof.

A few officers along with their vehicles were parked on the right-hand side of the road near the entrance. After some time spent chanting and taking a knee, a portion of the protesters rose and began to march back toward RaceTrac. The others gathered around the police at the vehicles.

Sgt. Al Van Duyne of PCPD entered a conversation with those gathered. At first, the protesters responded with anger and frustration, voicing their lack of trust in law enforcement and even citing cases in Plant City they believed were handled unjustly.

Van Duyne explained there was a process to voice those complaints, but that “nothing could be solved today.” He explained the process and encouraged them to turn to city commission meetings if they so desired. For a few it was enough, but others demanded more.

With some urging from the other protesters, the group eventually left and walked once more toward RaceTrac. Several Hillsborough County Sheriff deputies who were following alongside the group were asked to walk with them in a show of solidarity.

“As long as you keep it peaceful, we’ll walk with you,” one replied. The men then wove into the crowd and walked back with them. The group paused once more in the center of the Alexander Street and knelt in prayer before reuniting with the rest of the group down Redman. The entire group began to walk back toward Alexander again when the first sign of unrest began.

A truck pulled onto Redman with a Confederate flag waving from its bed.

Protesters surrounding the vehicle and 29-year-old Vintwan Brooks, of Plant City, snatched the flag and attempted to burn it. The incident led to a confrontation between two individuals and HCSO said in a report that “Plant City Police attempted to intervene during the dispute. While handcuffing Brooks, a Plant City Police officer was pepper sprayed by another protester.

The protester immediately fled the scene to avoid arrest. Brooks was arrested for Inciting a Riot and Resisting an Officer without Violence.”

Brooks was the only person arrested during the event.

After a tense moment, the group moved on and knelt once more in the Alexander intersection to pray. They called for God to heal the hearts of those who tolerate injustice, to open the lines of unity for this country and for justice to be served for those who took the lives of Floyd and countless others.

They marched back again. As night began to fall, the group settled once more at RaceTrac before many crossed the street and stood facing those who were in their trucks. Law enforcement quickly formed a barrier between the two groups, but one man stepped away from his truck and walked forward, each hand raised in a peace sign, and said “We want peace, too.”

He was ushered back behind the officers.

While some of the protestors got noseto-nose with the police, the rest lingered near the road. A tactical vehicle pulled onto the edge of the parking lot and police in

riot gear began to line up. The loudspeaker clicked on and HCSO announced it was no longer a lawful assembly. Everyone was given five minutes to disperse or possibly be arrested.

PCPD told the Observer the reason for the abrupt shutdown was that prior to law enforcement intervention, several things occurred to lead up to the decision to end the assembly. Van Duyne said a private citizen’s property — the Confederate flag — was stolen, that an officer had been pepper sprayed during the confrontation that occurred surrounding the theft of the flag, that rocks were thrown at two law enforcement vehicles — a marked patrol car and a tactical vehicle — and water bottles were thrown at a few officers.

As the law enforcement in riot gear slowly walked toward the assembled protesters, a few tossed water bottles at the cops.

The other protesters immediately yelled at them to stop and not “give them any ammunition,” but HCSO confirmed deputies “had to deploy a less lethal round on one subject seen throwing bottles at HCSO deputies and Plant City Police officers. The subject fled the scene to avoid arrest.”

A video of him being struck and falling to the ground is circulating on Facebook.

Within another 25 minutes, the group dispersed as the police slowly combed through the parking lots of RaceTrac and the Walgreens adjacent to it.

PCPD posted on its Facebook page Wednesday afternoon thanking the residents for their support during the protest.

They added that they will prepare for any upcoming events that may be planned and then asked any non-protesters to stay home.

“Please know that we are deeply grateful for the sentiments of PCPD support demonstrated by residents, but ask that you avoid protest areas if you are not participating as a peaceful protester. This helps us ensure the safety of protesters and our community,” the post read.

And the movement appears to be continuing. A social media post now making the rounds indicates another protest will be held tonight starting at 6 p.m. on Collins Street and Evers Street.

Unlike the one before that featured a multi-mile march, this flyer asks attendees to bring their bikes along to the protest.

The location is right in the heart of historic downtown and many business owners have already planned to close early and board up their windows out of an abundance of precaution.

The protests may have been sparked with Floyd, but they are now focusing on highlighting the systemic issue of police brutality in the U.S. On Wednesday afternoon it was announced that all four former officers involved in Floyd’s killing now face charges. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is increasing charges against Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer, to second-degree murder and is also charging the three other officers that were involved in the incident, according to a tweet from US Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

But protests continue to be scheduled across the nation.

You can follow along live for coverage of tonight’s assembly on the Observer’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

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COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated stolen yard sale items, a Taco Bell food fight, shots fired,

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

a stolen suitcase and more.

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

MAY 22

MAY 23

YARD SALE 1300 block of North Ferrell Street Theft: This victim reported that approximately $800 of miscellaneous property was taken.

BULLETS IN THE BARRICADE 1000 block of West Madison Street Shooting investigation: Officers responded in reference to gunshots behind heard in the area.

Damage was discovered to the victim’s door at the above listed location.

TRUNK OF TREASURES 300 block of Park Springs Circle Vehicle burglary: This victim reported her unlocked vehicle was burglarized and approximately $1,250 worth of items were stolen.

DORITOS LOCO 2400 block of James L. Redman Parkway Simple battery (unknown suspect): An employee of this Taco Bell reported an unknown man who was a customer became upset while at the business on May 16 and threw a tray of food at the victim, striking them. The officer completed a simple battery report documenting the incident.

vehicles during the night of May 24.

MAY 26 NOSY MUCH? 1900 block of East Timberlane Drive Vehicle trespass/burglary: This victim reported a suspect entered his vehicle at an unknown date and time but didn’t steal anything from the interior.

Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com

Warrant arrest: Officers observed a suspicious vehicle in the Walmart parking lot and ran the tag. The tag was in the name of a man who had a PCSO warrant for Domestic Battery by Strangulation. He was found sleeping in the car. The warrant was confirmed and he was transported to Orient Road Jail.

Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

DILLY DILLY 4600 block of Highway 574 Felony theft (arrest): Officers responded to the above listed loDECORATING THE RIDE cation to a report of a theft of four 10 block of Plum Street cases of Bud Light beer. A man Theft: Officers met with a victim was placed under arrest for felony who stated an unknown subject theft based on having two prior removed her decal sticker from her 2014 Honda CRV with a Florida theft convictions. He was transported to Orient Road Jail without tag. incident.

MAY 24

READY TO TRAVEL 1400 block of Sandalwood Drive Theft: Officers responded to the above listed location in reference to a stolen suitcase.

BURN BABY BURN 1000 block of Fairwind Circle Arson, resist without and battery on LEO: Officers responded to the above listed location to assist Plant City Fire Rescue with clearing a building due to an active fire. A woman was placed under arrest for arson, resisting arrest without violence and battery on an LEO. She was transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

Advertising / Richard Brame richard@plantcityobserver.com Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

CONTACT US

The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B.

MAY 27

If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

ONE WILD NIGHT 500 block of Whitehall Street Battery, Grand Theft Auto// Recovered Auto, NVDL and leaving the scene of a crash (Felony Arrest): A man was arrested for Grand Theft Auto, Battery, NVDL and leaving the scene of a crash then transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

ANGER MANAGEMENT 800 block of West Warren Street Criminal mischief (waiver): This complaint reported an unknown suspect broke the side window of MAY 25 her residence by unknown means

by YOU David Steinberg at approximately 2 a.m. but did Edited HAVE SEEN LOUIS? June 5, 2020 not make entry or remove any2800 block of Holly Bluff Court MAY 28 “Hey! burglary: Over 38 Month to 12victim ’80s TV thing. The ACROSS complainant requested 49Vehicle This here!” a DeWalt XR drill, honor Mom character the incident1be“Louder, documented for reported a white LUCKY DISCOVERY the landlord and signed a waiver 51iPad and a brown Louis Vuitton of Sausage 39 Many NYC louder than Remington2600 block of prosecution.a lion” Katy wallet stolen from two in James L. Redman Parkway oftenwere paired dwellings 13 their Liqueur

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

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CASES ON THE RISE ONCE MORE Members of the EPG for Hillsborough County are faced with the question of how to handle rising COVID-19 cases along with the growing protests across the state.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The entire nation is facing protests as communities rally together to demand justice for George Floyd.

Gatherings with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people are sweeping across the world and while many of the protestors are wearing masks, social distancing is nearly impossible at the rallies. With the number of positive COVID-19 cases on the rise, it bodes for a further spike in neighboring countries following the week of protests in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland and Plant City.

Prior to the first protest, the members of the Emergency Policy Group voiced their

concern over the increase in numbers. As of Monday’s report, Florida reported there had been 667 new cases of coronavirus with the total reaching 56,830 in the state with nine new deaths. By Tuesday that number had risen to ____.

There were 239 new cases with three deaths from Sunday to Monday alone in Tampa Bay. COVID-19’s true power lies in its unprecedented ability to affect others at such a fast rate. And with the growing theory that a large portion of the public is asymptomatic and thus passing it on to those they come in contact with without realizing they’re even sick, its contagion rate is a massive hurdle for the medical experts to clear.

Then you have its effect on those who do develop symptoms. Its respiratory car-

nage is difficult for patients to combat and thousands have died in Florida alone.

When COVID-19 enters the body it makes its home in the mucous membranes that line the nose, eyes and mouth. By entering a healthy cell, it can essentially take it over by force, multiply and infect nearby cells.

Next thing you know, it has burrowed its way into your airways, irritating and inflaming the respiratory tract. In some of the most severe cases the virus has even infected down to the alveoli — the air sac in the lungs that allows for gas exchange.

All the while, your immune system is on the defense fighting with inflammation and swelling to attempt to combat the intruder. You develop flu-like symptoms and the inflammation in your lungs is often able to be seen on an x-ray.

If you’re lucky, this is where the virus stops and your immune system wins the battle. However, so far approximately 14 percent of COVID-19 cases enter the “severe phase.” In this phase the battle enters its second wave and infection sets in, filling the lungs with fluid and debris.

This is usually paired with pneumonia. In short, you’re struggling to breath.

In critical cases, approximately five percent, your lungs are so battle-scarred they are now home to serious damage in the walls and linings of the air sacs. Fluid continues to rise and ventilators are used to attempt to keep air flowing through your system.

And this is just what medical experts currently know. New information is being released on a weekly basis.

So county leaders quickly became distressed during the EPG meeting Thursday afternoon when medical experts shared the start of the rise of COVID-19 once more.

And that was before the first protest was held.

It is the right of all American citizens to have the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. While the details of which protests are permitted and which are not lie with local government, the reality is rallies have become the foundation of American social activism. Protests have repeatedly proven throughout history that only when the people stand up and demand change will politicians adhere to their requests.

Look at the end of segregation. Look at the women’s rights movements — both for suffrage and the second wave. Look at the push for equality for members of the LGBTQ+ community. And while on nearly all fronts there are still massive leagues to trek toward true equality, many of the successes that were won came on the heels of a nationwide stand.

So, politicians in Hillsborough County have not yet banned the protests that are popping up.

But it does set the ground for the larger questions: what will the county’s COVID-19 numbers look like in a week? In two weeks?

It’s a topic the EPG will more than likely be forced to address in the coming weeks.

The EPG is scheduled to meet virtually again this Thursday at 1:30 p.m. You can watch the discussion on the county’s Facebook and Youtube pages.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

MAIN STREET STARTS NEW PROGRAM TO BOOST DOWNTOWN ECONOMY A new voucher program called Downtown Dollars is live now through Plant City Main Street. The dollars can be purchased for $5 and redeemed for $10 off a purchase at participating downtown businesses.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Plant City Main Street is stepping up to the plate with a new program that aims to boost shopping in historic downtown.

The new “Downtown Dollars” program will help out local businesses and shoppers with a partnership that was crafted to help small businesses recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19.

Main Street is offering a voucher program for a limited time that gives the local economy a boost while offering consumers the biggest bang for their buck. The Downtown Dollars vouchers can be purchased on the Plant City Main Street website, plantcitymainstreet.com/downtowndollars, for $5 and then redeem them at participating downtown businesses for $10 off their purchase.

“The program will provide direct financial support to our downtown businesses while also amplifying the exposure of the amazing shops, services, and restaurants in our historic district,” Plant City Main

Street President Josh Jimenez said in a news release. “Plant City Main Street is honored to help support the small businesses that are the fabric of our vibrant downtown community.”

The new program is live now and will run through Aug. 31. Main Street will cover the difference in cost between the vouchers and businesses so the participating businesses will receive the full-priced sales.

Current participating businesses are listed on Main Street’s website and include: Jessi Rae Bridal, Snellgrove’s Restaurant, Brick City Bricks, The Mercantile, Aromatic Harmony, Honey Pot Wax Studio, Tennessee Jane Boutique, Norma’s Cuban Sandwich Shop, Roots Tap Room & Wine Bar, Blue Thumb Technologies, K.E.Y Esthetics, Clever Massage, Tubtreats Bath and Body, Brick House Cafe, Krazy Kup, The Corner Store, Central Florida Muscle Medic and The Device Clinic.

When a customer walks into a store with their voucher, they can use it for any purchase in the store and up to five Downtown Dollars can be redeemed per customer per

visit. The vouchers can not be exchanged for cash and they can not be combined with other offers, coupons, or promotions unless otherwise specified by the business owner.

To further promote the deal, Main Street is offering an incentive to anyone buying five or more vouchers. If you throw five in your cart you’ll receive a free Plant City Main Street sticker. Once you place your order, the vouchers are shipped by the next business day and come within three to five days.

It’s an idea Main Street hopes will help revitalize the economy of the crucial downtown businesses. Executive Director Jerilyn Rumbarger said the program has a few goals. The hope is that the new program will increase consumer spending in downtown businesses with the incentive of discounts via the voucher program.

That in turn could increase revenue for the small businesses located in the downtown district.

Rumbarger said the organization spent a lot of time discussing ways to leverage

Main Street’s investment to have the largest impact downtown, which can help further strengthen member relationships and build a strong sense of community between businesses and consumers.

As the impact of COVID-19 continued to sweep through the community Main Street knew the clock was ticking and so the voucher program was quickly brought to life.

“We knew that we needed to jump into action with some sort of solution to drive direct spending to our downtown businesses,” Rumbarger said. “Obviously with limited resources and with the situation that was changing daily we needed to find a way to multiply any investment we made and also have flexibility to respond as we move forward. So we came up with a program to provide direct support to our neighborhood businesses and to provide a multiplier from consumer spending, which is essentially the Plant City Main Street’s Downtown Dollars Program.”

Any downtown businesses who are interested in participating can email Rumbarger at director@plantcitymainstreet.com.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

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WISH GRANTED FOR PLANT CITY RESIDENT

Summer Schill, 11, got a new French bulldog puppy from Make-A-Wish Southern Florida on May 29.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

As a lover of French art and culture, Summer Schill has long wished to see the country for herself with her family in tow.

COVID-19 has prevented that from happening anytime soon.

Fortunately for Schill, 11, she was able to get the next-best thing when Make-AWish Southern Florida brought something French to her doorstep last Friday.

Schill is now the proud owner of a French bulldog puppy named Paris Eclair, whom she scooped into her arms in a May 29 Wish Day party in front of her house.

Her family and Make-A-Wish representatives brought balloons, made a sign and cheered as Schill, grinning from ear to ear, was introduced to her new best friend.

“She’s in a little bit of shock right now that her wish came true, but I know she’s really, really happy right now,” Jessica Schill, her mother, said.

“After the coronavirus kind of shut the whole world down, we started talking about Summer and seeing what else she would want to wish for. She asked for a French bulldog. She actually asked for twin bulldogs because she’s a twin. MakeA-Wish got back right away and said they could do it. We decided to move forward with her wish to bring her joy during this pandemic.”

Make-A-Wish is well-known for granting the “wishes” of children with critical

illnesses across the country and does not take any state or federal funding, nor any from United Way. Its efforts are funded by corporate sponsorships, events, grants and individual donations so the families of the children with wishes don’t have to pay anything out of pocket. Children can work with five types of wishes: to be something, to have something, to give something, to meet someone, or to go somewhere.

Due to COVID-19, however, Make-AWish has postponed all travel-related wish fulfillment (and is using the #WishesAreWaiting hashtag in the meantime).

That meant Schill would have to change plans.

“We’re still granting wishes,” Make-AWish Southern Florida Regional Director Lisa Andrews said. “There are wishes waiting, but we’re able to grant wishes such as Summer’s. She’s such a sweet girl who just wished to have a puppy, so we were able to make that wish come true today.”

Schill suffers from epilepsy and has had surgery and more than 20 hospitalizations to treat it. Paris Eclair was the perfect furry friend to help comfort Schill in difficult times.

“She’s waited for this for a long time,” Jessica Schill said. “It’s been an amazing process and I’m completely grateful.”

Photos courtesy of Make-A-Wish Southern Florida

Summer Schill’s wish to have a French bulldog puppy was granted last week when she met her new furry friend, Paris Eclair, in a celebration at her family’s home.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

FIRST PHASE OF HOPE LUTHERAN IMPROVEMENTS UNDERWAY

The church held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of its new sanctuary on May 30.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

next chapter of the church’s life. The new sanctuary, which the church expects to have completed in March or April 2021, will seat 300 people and will feature a designed space for its music ministry, a new sound system with improved acoustics, wider center and side aisles, a bigger altar area, a large narthex with a welcome center, easier parking area access, a covered drop-off/walkway area and “modern” restrooms.

Hope will also add a new, larger parking lot in front of the sanctuary which will be accessible from its current parking area. The church said its goals for the new building are to “increase capacity” and “improve function” in an energyefficient space with “low-maintenance construction” while preserving a family feel and welcoming culture.

This project has been several years in the making and members of the church’s congregation chipped in to help it raise the funds needed for construction.

The church said the total project cost is $1,991,000, and that its three-year capital campaign goal and pledges raised $500,000 and $675,501, respectively.

The new sanctuary was designed by architect Mark Johnson of Dykes-Johnson

Architects, Inc. and will be built by Plant City-based T. Clayton Jenkins Construction Co., Inc. Phase 1 strictly concerns the building of the new sanctuary. Phase 2 will consist of replacing and remodeling the fellowship hall and offices. Phase 3 will be to remodel the classrooms.

“Having served at Hope for 24 years, I see this new building as God hearing our prayers and showing us the hope and future that He has planned for us,” Pfeffer said. “A future for us to grow and prosper as we proclaim the Gospel.”

Rendering courtesy of Hope Lutheran Church; photos by Justin Kline

Above left: This rendering shows what Hope Lutheran Church’s new sanctuary and parking area should look like when construction is completed next year.

Above right: Rev. Dean Pfeffer, Hope Lutheran Church’s senior pastor, led the groundbreaking ceremony. Hope’s team broadcast the audio of the event to an FM radio station so that those in attendance could listen from their cars — an effort to practice safe social distancing measures.

Below: Golden shovels sank into the ground, signifying the start of Hope Lutheran Church’s next chapter. All of the city’s commissioners came to the ceremony before heading to the big high school graduation parade downtown, which started shortly afterward.

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Hope Lutheran Church’s current sanctuary was built in 1964 with the vision of a bigger, brighter future in mind. Fifty-six years later, the church has decided there’s no time like the present to build a new future.

A May 30 groundbreaking ceremony on church grounds confirmed that. Hope invited the public to join in from the comfort and safety of their vehicles, all parked on its lawn, and tune their radio to a specific FM station broadcasting the audio live to better hear church leaders, Mayor Rick Lott and others speak.

“This new sanctuary has been a dream of many people for many years as we have outgrown our current structure that has served us so well all these years,” Rev. Dean Pfeffer said. “While the current facility holds many wonderful memories for us all, those memories will always live on in our hearts. I look forward to many opportunities for Hope to expand her outreach in this great community in so many ways.”

All five city commissioners and City Manager Bill McDaniel joined Pfeffer, Hope’s staff and members of the church’s building committee to put the golden shovels into the ground and start the

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

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ANSWERING THE CALL: KRYSTA GAINEY Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The Plant City native took a nursing job in Westchester County, New York, specifically to treat COVID-19 patients.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

When Krysta Gainey left Plant City in the late 1990s to work in New York, she probably never thought she’d be on the front lines of two events that changed America forever.

One of them was September 11, 2001.

Gainey, a nurse, got emergency room duty on that fateful day and said the following days were like “picking up all the pieces.”

Though there was much death and suffering that day, there was an end in sight.

The other was COVID-19, which she called “a completely different experience.”

“This is ongoing and I think it’s gonna go on for quite some time,” Gainey said.

Gainey joined the staff at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers, roughly 20 minutes north of New York City. Westchester has been hit hard by the virus — more than 33,000 cases have been confirmed — and Yonkers itself has had more than 6,500 cases reported, according to the White Plains Daily Voice.

Many of those cases came from within the hospital.

“On my first day I thought, ‘I don’t understand, why is it so short-staffed?’ There was a huge ICU population and it was only projected to get worse,” Gainey said. “I was numb when I found out the reason there wasn’t much staff was because they were all out sick with COVID. Some of them are still out sick. It was scary in the beginning.”

The beginning, Gainey said, couldn’t have been much worse. On her first day at the hospital, she started work at 7 a.m.

Her first COVID-19 patient died at 7:15 a.m.

He was a 42-year-old man, younger than

Gainey herself, and had no comorbidities and no past medical history.

A few hours later, another patient was lost.

“It was nerve-wracking at the beginning,” she said. “I had sleepless nights worrying if I’d get sick, if my family would get sick, if I would die.”

When she was able to leave the ICU to treat patients with less severe cases, Gainey welcomed the chance to be able to talk to them. In many cases, the hospital staff was all they had.

She said one patient, who was placed in a makeshift bed in a part of the hospital that otherwise wasn’t being used, had no one to talk to and was desperate to call his wife. He told Gainey he passed out at work and was rushed to the hospital for treatment, and he was never able to call his wife to let her know where he was.

Worse, he had no idea how long he had been in the hospital.

“Stuff like that was really hard to handle,” Gainey said. “Now we’ve gotten a handle on communication as far as the outside world. Everybody’s more informed and they know you can’t go to the hospital. Now we immediately get the families involved and keep them up to date.”

Gainey called the man’s wife from her own cell phone and put her on speaker so they could talk. They were the “sweetest couple,” she said.

The situation has evolved since Gainey got there. Though there’s still much to learn about the virus itself and how to treat it — the early days were “kind of like throwing darts at a wall” to see what would actually work — everyone is better prepared to deal with COVID-19. Medi-

Courtesy photo cal professionals are more aware of what works and what doesn’t. More people are coming in early enough to be treated, whereas more people spent the early days waiting to go to the hospital until they got “really, really sick.”

“By that time, they needed to be intubated,” Gainey said.

The death rate in Gainey’s area has slowed down and talks of reopening have advanced. Gainey does worry about the effects of reopening too soon leading to a second wave, so she encourages people to “take care of each other.”

“Maintain social distancing, stay home if sick, wear a face mask if out in large groups — I think it’s an act of humanity and it would be selfish of us not to take care of everybody else,” she said.

Her family has gotten lucky thus far: no one has gotten sick. Gainey has designated part of her house as an area only she can use, so as to decontaminate every day when she gets home. No one in the house can come into contact with her until she’s showered and changed clothes. She got

tested for antibodies last Friday and hoped for good news on that front.

As someone who’s been on the front lines, as close to the virus as possible, Gainey wants people to know that no one is totally immune to the virus, no matter how healthy they are and how strong their immune system is against diseases it already knows how to fight. She also hopes people will focus more on what matters most than material things they’ve lost to shutdowns and closures.

“Family is really important,” she said.

“Live life one day at a time and don’t wait for tomorrow. It might not be there. Family is important, material things are not. So many patients never got to say goodbye.

It’s very heart-wrenching. I think we lose track of that in our day-to-day lives.”

Have you or someone you know left Plant City to treat COVID-19 cases in New York City or other heavily affected parts of the country? If so, the Plant City Observer would like to tell your story. Email Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

WOODEN SPOON REACHES MARK OF 1,000 MEALS DONATED After last week’s delivery to local firefighters, the Plant City diner has now given out 1,018 free meals since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Wooden Spoon’s mission to feed Plant Citians on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic shows no signs of slowing down.

At 9 a.m. May 28, owner Manny Roussos and his crew visited Fire Station 2 to deliver 20 free meals to Plant City firefighters from both stations, as the two crews got together for a joint training day at the Alexander Street station.

“It’s super appreciated,” battalion chief Vince Kiffner said. “Wooden Spoon’s going out of their way to feed all the people on the front lines within the community.”

When the second meal of the morning was handed out, the diner hit a milestone. It started Thursday at a total of 998 meals donated to first responders, healthcare workers, essential workers and others in need in and around Plant City, so that second box put the diner at 1,000.

Courtesy photo

Mayor Rick Lott joined staff from the Wooden Spoon on May 28 for the donation event.

It finished that morning with a total of 1,018 meals donated around the community.

“I’m just really proud how the Wooden Spoon has gone around to many different departments within our city, delivering meals to those that are on the front line and helping our citizens during this pandemic,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “I want to thank Wooden Spoon and others in our community that are stepping up to make things better in Plant City during these challenging times.”

The Wooden Spoon has also fed Solaris Healthcare, local nurse Erin Smude and her family, Grace Manor at Hunters Creek, South Florida Baptist Hospital, Brandon Regional Hospital and its Plant City-based emergency center, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Plant City’s post office, City Hall, Plant City Police Department and much more.

“Everything was hard for everybody,” Roussos said. “We just tried to think outside the box and think, ‘who had to go to work?’ A lot of restaurants shut down.

We decided not to because we didn’t know what was going on with the money situation with our employees and stuff like that. We tried to keep at least one of our locations open — both of them, for the majority of the time — and help our people, our team members. As a result of that, we were like, ‘OK, who’s really dealing with this pandemic?’ It started with the E.R. and we were going to front liners and essential workers, eventually.”

Like many restaurants, the Wooden Spoon faced an extreme degree of uncertainty when COVID-19 precautions swept the nation in March and forced businesses like Roussos’ to completely change the way they operated — and take a major financial hit in the process.

It’s been several months now and while the Plant City diner has been fortunate enough to not have to shut its doors for good shortly after first opening them, Roussos said restaurants like his aren’t out of the woods just yet. He estimates his own business is roughly 70 percent down from where it should be right now, but he wants to keep the restaurant open as long as possible so as to help keep the Wooden Spoon’s employees paid during uncertain times. Taking a big hit, however, wasn’t going to stop the Wooden

Spoon from making a positive impact in town.

After doing the first 300 meals out of its own pocket, the Wooden Spoon asked its customers and anyone else interested in helping to donate some money for the cause of feeding those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The diner offered to match every donation. Roussos said the Plant City community has been extremely supportive of this movement.

“I want to say thank you to my guests… they were very generous,” Roussos said.

“We were able to raise some money and that’s how we got to 1,000. Without my customers, we wouldn’t be able to do this. And regular people coming in to say ‘we want to donate $5 for a box of breakfast or lunch.’”

Roussos said the diner has also gotten donations of almost $900 from Rotech Healthcare in Lakeland and $1,280 from video game streamer Greek God Gaming.

The Wooden Spoon will keep donating meals as long as it’s financially able to do so.

“We just kept going and here we are, reaching 1,000,” Roussos said. “I’m not gonna stop until we feed everybody we can.”

The restaurant is located at 712 S. Collins St. It is open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday through Sunday, but stays open until 8:30 p.m. on Fridays for dinner.

JUNE 4, 2020

SPORTS

HCPS HONORS 2019-20 SCHOLAR ATHLETES

The Hillsborough County Public Schools Athletic Department announced this year’s top scholars in sports with a series of presentations available online.

ICYMI

Though the Plant City Observer staff does its best to get the news of the week in the print product, there’s only so much space in the paper. Here’s what exclusively ran online from the past week, in case you missed it.

“NFHS offers glimpse of potential future of high school sports during COVID-19,” by Justin Kline | Sports/Associate Editor Want to know what high school sports will look like, if and when they return in the next school year?

Unfortunately, that’s a question without a satisfying answer. No one knows exactly what will happen and how it will happen just yet. But the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has put together a big, comprehensive blueprint state athletic associations like our FHSAA can take ideas from.

The NFHS released “Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities” on May 19 and covers about as many bases as possible in 16 pages.

It classifies sports based on transmission risk levels and offers step-by-step solutions to gradually phase all sports back onto the playing field for meaningful action.

Again, it’s not a definitive answer to one of the biggest COVID-19-related problems facing high school sports today. But Rome wasn’t built in a day and every solution to a big problem had to start somewhere.

Check it out on plantcityobserver.com.

File photo

Megan Watson was one of nine athletes from Plant City-area public schools to be recognized for her academic achievements.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Instead of its typical endof-year award banquet for its top scholar-athlete selections, the Hillsborough County Public Schools Athletic Department adapted to changing times and announced this year’s picks with a pair of presentations posted to social media on May 29.

Each high school and middle school in the county had one and two winners, respectively. The following local athletes were named winners: HIGH SCHOOLS DURANT

Rebekah Lorentzen • 6.9 GPA, 1310 SAT • Played with lacrosse team for four years. Captain for last two • Top 10 in senior class and has had perfect attendance for all 13 years of school • Compiled 548 volunteer hours in last three and a half years.

• Participates in mission trips, has taught dance classes on weekends • Attending University of Florida and will major in health sciences.

Dalton Smith • 6.038 GPA, 1410 SAT • Played with basketball team for two years. Helped lead team to highest overall team GPA in state class 7A • Made Principal’s Honor Roll

and the High Honor Roll • Volunteers with Feeding Tampa Bay, Grace Manor at Hunters Creek and Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine, as well as at Christina Park’s softball complex • Joining Air Force. Will pursue degree in criminal justice and history.

• Attending University of Florida to major in mechanical engineering

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

STRAWBERRY CREST

Michael Bell

Megan Watson

• 3.4 GPA • Played all school sports in all three years. Plays travel basketball and was MVP of Plant City’s Dream Team • President of Marshall’s Gentlemen’s Quest club • Attending Durant High School next year

• 6.7 GPA 1350 SAT • Member of swim team for four years • AP scholar with honors and AP scholar with distinction • Gries Foundation Heart of a Champion award winner • Volunteered with immigrant relief in Nashville, Tennessee, at SummerSalt Kids Camp and with United Food Bank of Plant CIty’s Empty Bowls Project.

• Attending Rollins College and will major in English.

• 4.7 GPA, 1140 SAT • Played with basketball team for four years and with flag football team for two years. 2020 Western Conference Player of the Year (basketball) • Member of National Honor Society and graduating with honors • Positive Coaching Alliance representative and member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes • Volunteered with Charlie Bradley Basketball Camp and at Bailey Elementary School • Attending St. Petersburg College to play basketball and major in business administration.

Christopher Rodriguez

Jarrett Affronti

• 6.6 GPA, 1310 SAT • Played with baseball team for four years, with football team for two years and with basketball team for one year.

Two-year captain of baseball team and helped win 2019 state championship. Second team all-county in football • Won Hillsborough County Youth Excellence and Achievement Award for Leadership in 2019 • AP scholar, National Honor Society member and dual enrolled at HCC. • Compiled more than 120 hours of community service

• 5.21 GPA, 1270 SAT • Member of wrestling team for four years. District champion and 2019-20 state championship qualifier. Made All-County cut in last two years.

• On the honor roll and made Academic All-County all 4 years • Volunteered with Feeding America, Relay for Life and Top Gun Wrestling Academy • Attending Florida State University to major in engineering or IT.

PLANT CITY Emmy Shouse

MARSHALL

TOMLIN Gracie Edgemon • 4.0 GPA • Plays soccer, basketball and flag football • Won Plant City Parks and Recreation Department’s Tri-Star Punt, Pass and Kick competition three years in a row • Participates in competitive barrel racing • Attending Strawberry Crest High School next year TURKEY CREEK Malachi Powell • 3.2 GPA • Plays flag football, volleyball and track • Learning jiu-jitsu • Attending Plant City High School next year

PlantCityObserver.com

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

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TOP GUN GETS BACK ON THE MAT Top Gun Wrestling Academy returned to work over the weekend, opening classes back up at Carlson Gracie Plant City’s downtown facility.

Photos by Justin Kline

Students at Top Gun Wrestling Academy work on their shoot techniques during the club’s Monday afternoon session for its younger kids. The gym caters to wrestlers in elementary school and up.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Top Gun Wrestling Academy, which is open to kids in elementary school and up, will operate out of the Carlson Gracie Plant City jiu-jitsu gym through the month of June. This past weekend was the first its doors were open and dozens of young grapplers packed the gym over three days, excited to get back to the sport they love.

Top Gun is open to the public on Saturdays and Mondays. Private sessions are held Sundays for advanced wrestlers. Visit the Top Gun Facebook page for more information.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

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YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

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Our reporters covered Tuesday night’s protest as it happened, and many of our readers weighed in on Facebook during the demonstration.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we live in Plant City for a reason, 99% of the people that live here are great! I will take them odds anywhere in the US! The disappointing point is that local businesses boarded up their businesses fearing the worst!

Should they have shut down early? Yes to let their employees go demonstrate if they wanted to! So whoever freaked out tonite about the protest, just needs to get out a little more to the city, meaning I worked last Saturday night near university mall in Tampa and when I was getting off the freeway (Alexander about 12:00 am) our streets were quiet, fire department sleeping, gas stations opened Etc. felt great hitting that exit! So point being have faith in Plant City! We are all good people, no matter what race! Don’t let this social media stuff scare you! Yes there will always be that one idiot! But to board up businesses, requesting deputies at the gate of Walden Lake just shows, even though we are a great city, how much more we can grow!

—Joey Tomasina

“Social distancing went out the door.”

— Brenda Camargo

“Praying for peace for our city!”

— Tammy Langdale

“As long as y’all are peaceful I’m with you. But as soon as you commit a crime..... I’m against you.”

— Brenda Boyd Anderson

“If a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle in the crosswalk, you know they’re not a local, ‘cause we know PC drivers don’t stop behind the crossbar.”

— Melissa Harvey

“Police departments need to have body cameras on every officer. Safety measure for both the officer and citizen.

It’s 2020! Chief Duncan let’s get into 2020. It was a grant as well.”

— Brad Sparkman

“Well, I was there... And honestly, the people who marched were peaceful. Now, on the other hand, there were the typical morons trying to antagonize the marchers with rebel flags, and exposing weapons. And people wonder where the anger comes from.”

— Jon Glass

“This is so so sad and disturbing. I lived thru the riots of the 60s and I was very young then. I now know how my parents felt. Sad.” — Susan Pralle

“So many are posting worried about business and homes which I understand, however were is the worry and concern for the lives that have been taken, the mistreatment of blacks across this nation and in our very city. While you are calling the Mayor in regards to a curfew be sure to ask when will we have a city wide day of prayer (in all communities within our city).”

— Tiffanie Jackson

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

Bonnie Lee Austin Campbell, 77, of Plant City, born on Dec. 7, 1942 in and formerly of Chicago, Illinois, entered into eternal rest on May 24, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

George ‘Georgie’ Velez George “Georgie” Velez, 56, of Lakeland, born in Rochester, New Polly A. York on May 25, 1964, entered into eternal rest on May 26, 2020. Copeland Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Polly A. Copeland, 78, of Plant City, born in Los Angeles, California on Oct. 15, 1941, entered into eternal rest on May 29, 2020.

She was a resident of Plant City since 1987, and a member HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM of Walden Lake Country Club.

Maxine Nail She was a graduate of USF with Maxine Nail, 90, of Dover, born on a degree in Communications and Feb. 2, 1930, entered into eternal Marketing. She volunteered with the Plant City Chamber of Comrest on May 28, 2020. merce.

Expressions of condolence at Her joys were spending time HopewellFuneral.com. with her family at events and on vacations. Each day she could be seen taking long walks with her dog.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary Copeland; and sons, Jeffrey Scott Copeland, and Kevin Alan Copeland.

She is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Smith (Donald) of Plant City; grandchildren, Kaitlyn Smith of Tampa, and Connor Smith of

Plant City; sister, Elizabeth Lansford (Richard) of Littleton, Colorado, and their children, Eric and Jennifer; brother in law, Steve Copeland (Sally), and their daughters, Lesa, Kristen, and Lyndie.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 South County Road 39, Plant City, where a Celebration of Life will follow at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay at humanesocietytampa.org.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Mary L. Easters

Roy Carlton Nales

Taking care of each other is what

Roy Carlton Nales, 84, of Plant Mary L. Easters, age 82, of Plant City, passed away on May 26, City, passed away on Saturday, 2020.

May 30, 2020. Mary was born Services were held May 30, July 21, 1937 in Opp, Alabama.

2020 at Haught Funeral Home Services to be held on Thursday Chapel.

June 4th at Mt. Enon Primitive Online condolences may Baptist Church at 12 pm with we’re one dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P ROat U D www.

TO S E RV E our community be left for the family visitation hour prior. unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. haught.care. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, Fondcelebrates memories and expresthe life it represents. sions of sympathy may be > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® shared at www.WellsMemorial. com for the Easters family.

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Bonnie Lee Austin Campbell

Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

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Johnnie F. Sandy

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1939 in Plant City. He was a day June 2, 2020. Audrey was community community United States Army Veteran. born March 4, 1927. Services will

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Fondunique memories and expresDavid Smith, 74,with of personal, Dover, for- care sincecom celebrates the life it represents. celebrates the life it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, As your Dignity Memorial professionals, sions of sympathy may be merly of Eudora, Arkansas, born > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® > Bereavement shared at www.WellsMemorial. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Travel Assistance > The Compassion >Helpline® com for the Aug. 3, 1945, entered into eternal R R Johnson family. rest on May 29, 2020.

Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival. Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

David Smith

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ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

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

10/27/15 10:42 AM

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg June 4, 2020 PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

6/4

FORECAST THURSDAY, JUNE 4 High: 80 Low: 72 Chance of rain: 80%

FRIDAY, JUNE 5 High: 86 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 60%

32 City southeast of Tampa 35 Landing guess at LAX 36 Great Plains tribe 39 Brewery tank 42 Gig at a school dance, e.g.

43 Territory about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand 47 Portugal’s peninsula 49 Building that’s often red and white 50 Gorilla patriarch 55 Many Iranians’ Islamic sect 56 Woes 57 Reach a consensus 59 2015 Verizon acquisition

60 QBs’ targets 61 Coward 64 Artist Yoko 65 Sag 66 Pisces follower 67 Stimpy’s pal 68 Is flaky?

69 What makes dough rise DOWN 1 Upscale cosmetics chain 2 Certain graduate 3 Least yielding 4 Ability to know what this answer is?: Abbr.

5 Emmy winner Ward 6 Look the ___ way 7 Designer Geoffrey 8 Address a crowd

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

High: 83 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 80%

SUNDAY, JUNE 7 High: 83 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 90%

TOMATOES

Shipping point: Central Florida $17.95-$19.95

9 Flub 10 Didn’t get to play 11 Barhop, perhaps 12 Drop precipitously 13 Unknown subject?

18 Hen’s output 22 Lil Wayne’s “___Carter III” 24 Certain Balkan 26 Nautilus captain 27 The Andrews Sisters and Destiny’s Child 31 Any Beatles song, nowadays 32 TV roast hosts 33 ’50s prez 34 Astern 37 Cracked, like a door 38 Bills for drinks 39 Word before “parking” or “center” 40 City in Texas or Kansas 41 Rats out 44 Gospel legend Jackson 45 Baltimore birds 46 Figure working with figures 48 Winnebagos, e.g.

51 “The Jungle Book” bear 52 Radiant 53 Farmers may flatten them to make circles 54 London’s ___ Gardens 58 Online bidding war site 61 Three-ft. units 62 Suffix for “northwest” 63 Poet’s “before”

15

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, June 4

6:31a

8:22p

Friday, June 5

6:31a

8:22p

Saturday, June 6

6:31a

8:23p

Sunday, June 7

6:31a

8:23p

Monday, June 8

6:31a

8:23p

Tuesday, June 9

6:31a

8:24p

Wednesday, June 10

6:31a

8:24p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

Colorful Part by Larry Nargi

ACROSS 1 Heist targets 6 They’re higher than bassoons 11 IRS pro 14 Beethoven’s “Fur ___” 15 ___ firma 16 Cheer competitor 17 Military hero’s award 19 Toupee, informally 20 “Let’s see ...”

21 Jason Bourne, for one 22 Big book 23 Wallet thickeners 25 Growing talent?

28 Ploy 29 Pencil end 30 Houston MLB player

|

June 20 New

June 25 First

June 5 Full

June 17 Last

RAINFALL Monday, May 25

0.18

Tuesday, May 26 0.00 Wednesday, May 27

0.24

Thursday, May 28 0.81 Friday, May 29

0.69

Saturday, May 30 0.00 Sunday, May 31

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 10.95 in.

2020 0.00 in.

2019 05.63 in.

2019 0.58 in.

WEATHER

ACROSS 49 Building 13 Unknown 41 Rats out 1 Heist targets that’s often subject?

44 Gospel 6 They’re red and 18 Hen’s output legend higher than white 22 Lil Wayne’s Jackson bassoons 50 Gorilla “___ 45 Baltimore Send your photo submissions to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com 11 IRS pro patriarch Carter III” birds or hashtag #iloveplantcity Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature. 46 Figure 14 Beethoven’s 55onMany 24 Certain “Fur ___” Iranians’ Balkan working with 15 ___ firma Islamic sect 26 Nautilus figures 16 Cheer 56 Woes captain 48 Winnebagos, competitor 57 Reach a 27 The e.g.

17 Military consensus Andrews 51 “The Jungle hero’s 59 2015 Verizon Sisters and Book” bear award acquisition Destiny’s 52 Radiant 19 Toupee, 60 QBs’ targets Child 53 Farmers informally 61 Coward 31 Any Beatles may flatten 20 “Let’s see ...”

64 Artist Yoko song, them to 21 Jason 65 Sag nowadays make circles Bourne, 66 Pisces 32 TV roast 54 London’s for one follower hosts ___ Gardens 22 Big book 67 Stimpy’s pal 33 ’50s prez 58 Online 23 Wallet 68 Is flaky?

34 Astern bidding thickeners 69 What makes 37 Cracked, war site 25 Growing dough rise like a door 61 Three-ft. talent?

DOWN 38 Bills for units 28 Ploy 1 Upscale drinks 62 Suffix for 29 Pencil end cosmetics 39 Word before “northwest” 30 Houston chain “parking” or 63 Poet’s MLB player 2 Certain “center” “before” 32 City graduate 40 City in Texas southeast 3 Least or Kansas of Tampa yielding 35 Landing 4 Ability to PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER guess know what Thisat owlLAX is one of several thatthis livesanswer in Brenda Owens’ yard. “He keeps watch over everything, including us,” she said.

36 Great Plains is?: Abbr.

Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, tribe 5 Emmy ON L I N E @PlantObserver 39 Brewery winner Ward on Twitter and Plant City Observer tank Look the ___ on6Facebook.

42 Gig at a way school 7 Designer dance, e.g.

Geoffrey 43 Territory 8 Address about a crowd halfway 9 Flub between 10 Didn’t get Hawaii and to play New 11 Barhop, Zealand perhaps 47 Portugal’s 12 Drop 6/3 © 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal peninsula precipitously www.upuzzles.com

16

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 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