7.2.20 PLCO by Plant City Observer

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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

GARLAND FOODS PRODUCTION FACILITY ON ITS WAY

SEE PAGE 5

NEW DOWNTOWN BANNERS UNVEILED

Ninety banners using the new city branding created by Community Design Solutions are going up all over the historic downtown district. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

As Plant City’s historic downtown district keeps trending toward a fresh new look and feel, getting new banners to display around the area was the next logical step. The Arts Council of Plant City and Plant City Main Street teamed up this time to create the new banners, which use the multicolored design introduced last year by Community Design Solutions in its Downtown Vision Plan. This was done to stay consistent with the rest of the imaging the city is going for, from it’s print and online materials to a recent art display installed on the wall next to the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. The groups have nearly doubled the amount of banners that were on display downtown — shooting up

to 90 from 50 — and are well on their way to finishing the job of hanging them up throughout the “core” downtown area. “The Arts Council was very excited to partner with Main Street because we want to see them succeed, as well as the other organizations in Plant City,” Arts Council director Marsha Passmore said. Some of the previous banners, which were designed in 2018 by Paul Hetrick, were given out Monday afternoon when the Arts Council and Main Street held an official ceremony to introduce the new banners to members of both groups, Vice-Mayor Nate Kilton, city commissioners Mike Sparkman, Bill Dodson and Mary Thomas Mathis, City Manager Bill McDaniel and more. Though Hetrick did not design the banners this time, he printed them again.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

NEWS BRIEFS

Reminder: City’s annual July 4 celebration postponed in 2020

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

Independence Day is right around the corner, but the City of Plant City’s annual celebration has been put on hold for a year due to the pandemic. “In the interest of our community’s wellbeing, the annual July 4th Celebration has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns,” the Parks and Recreation Department said in a June 8 Facebook post. “The Plant City Parks & Recreation Department and The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce have determined that the event cannot be held under the current COVID-19 guidelines. Though we are disappointed to not host our normal celebrations, the wellbeing of all residents and visitors is of our foremost concern. Thank you to our many community partners who help make this special event possible each year! Stay safe and be #PlantCityStrong!”

COVID-19 mask distribution sites Plant City residents or businesses in need of face masks have plenty of free options available to them now. The City of Plant City and Hillsborough County are giving out free masks at several area locations as long as supplies last, no questions asked. Residents do not need to provide their address or live within certain zip codes to get masks, though there is a limit of one pack of five masks per person (more available upon request). Residents can pick up masks at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St., at Fire Rescue #1’s Administration Office, 604 E. Alexander St. or at the Plant City Parks and Recreation Department Administration Office, 1094 S. Park Road. Residential pick-up hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Businesses can get masks at either the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce,

106 N. Evers St., or at the Plant City Main Street office at 118 W. Reynolds St. Both sites are open Monday through Friday but have separate hours: the Chamber of Commerce will give out masks between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., while Main Street distributes from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All sites are closed on weekends and holidays. Call 813-659-4255 for more information.

County offers hurricane prep resources Hillsborough County published its 2020 Disaster Preparedness Guide and enhanced the HCFLGov.net/StaySafe web portal last week to help residents get ready as hurricane season goes on. The Disaster Preparedness Guide contains steps to “get storm-ready today” with essential items to pack, sheltering and evacuation tips, home prep, flood zone clarification, phone numbers and websites to know in the event of emergency, a list of shelters and more. You can find free guides in English and Spanish in most county offices, libraries, post offices and Publix supermarkets. The HCFLGov.net/StaySafe web portal expands upon that and includes tips to make your own disaster supply kits, which have since been updated to account for COVID-19 safety precautions. “Experts predict this hurricane season will be 40 percent more active and are advising the public to prepare now because the challenges could be even greater with the COVID-19 coronavirus remaining a threat,” county spokespeople said in a press release.

Courtesy of Westfield Insurance Foundation

Plant City Fire Rescue and Plant City Police Department received a grant on June 23.

they tend to be short on thermometers, sanitizing supplies, paper goods, masks and gloves, so it’s collecting these items as well as monetary donations to keep the county’s youngest residents safer. “It is our responsibility to help childcare providers throughout the year, but our board felt it especially important to assist educators who are now experiencing mounting challenges as a result of COVID-19,” ELCHC Chief Executive Officer Gordon Gillette said. “This program will help ensure critically-needed supplies and help level the playing field for our community’s early learning programs that have continued their commitment to care for our children.”

Courtesy of ELCHC

Relief supply drive ongoing The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County is helping more than 700 Tampa Bay-area childcare providers with a relief supply drive through July 22. The ELCHC said in a press release it surveyed childcare providers and found

The ELCHC set a fundraising goal of $50,000, but it’s already halfway there thanks to a $25,000 donation from TECO Peoples Gas and TECO Energy. That money will help purchase infrared medicalgrade thermometers. A donation from ELCHC chairman Aakash Patel will provide more than 200 surgical masks to childcare centers.

Supplies collected during the drive will be distributed in early August and monetary donations are encouraged because they are subject to matching funds. Visit elchc.org/donate or contact Alison Fraga, ELCHC Director of Resource Development and Community Relations, at afraga@ elchc.org to donate.

Florida Insurance Center helps PCPD and PCFR Plant City Police Department and Plant City Fire Rescue have received a grant to purchase safety equipment through the Westfield Legacy of Caring program. The program, an arm of Westfield Insurance Foundation, invites insurance agents to nominate local nonprofits to receive grant money each year as a way to “invest in communities and help impact disaster recover, family stability and safety,” Westfield said in a press release. “With the pandemic, Westfield’s Legacy of Caring program became even more relevant because it will take months and maybe years to return to the stability and security people and businesses, including nonprofits, enjoyed before a disaster happened,” Dennis Brownlee, Agency Principal, said. Westfield’s program donated more than half a million dollars around the country in 2020 and has distributed more than $3 million in the last five years. Florida Insurance Center nominated PCPD and PCFR for this year’s grant.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

MASK MANDATE CONTINUES TO STIR UP STRONG OPINIONS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY The number of COVID-19 cases in the county continues to rise, and with it has come an onslaught of opinions regarding the EPG’s new mask mandate.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The face covering mandate that the members of the Emergency Policy Group put into place last week has drawn strong opinions, both for and against, from the public. Plant City Mayor Rick Lott always reminds the group to look for “unintended consequences” and it seems the mandate has opened the floodgates of constituents’ responses of how this has impacted their businesses or their families. Many are compliant and voice their support, but others are not. When we asked our readers what they thought of the mandate, several expressed their determination to start shopping in Lakeland and other areas of Polk County so they could do so without having to don a mask. Others praised the mandate, calling it long overdue. The opinions stretch far in both directions but the numbers continue to rise throughout the state. Florida now has had 152,434 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,604 deaths, as of data from Wednesday morning. While some have refused to accept the data as fact and have begun pressuring the EPG members to relax their mandate or abolish it altogether, the numbers don’t lie. A large portion of the population appears to have taken the message to heart, according to Hillsborough County’s Emer-

gency Management Director Tim Dudley. Dudley presented the latest statistics to the members of the EPG on Monday and said there was “a tremendous demand” for COVID-19 tests, which has begun to put a strain on the county’s system. The county now has trouble having both a sufficient number of volunteers and enough personal protective equipment for them. However, the state agreed to take over operations at the Raymond James testing site on Tuesday, which would significantly ease the burden of supplying the desired number of tests to the community. “It’s been a fine balancing act to keep our our testing machine going,” Dudley said. “You’re going to be limited by test kits or PPE one way or the other.” Plant City has seen approximately 900 appointments scheduled this week and that does not include those who have walked up to be tested without calling ahead or using the new online reservation system. Although there has been a vocal backlash to the mandate, it seems many still take the threat of COVID-19 seriously. Kevin Wagner, the principal business analyst for Hillsborough County’s Department of Health Care Services, told the group the test results coming back show COVID-19 is still rampant among us. Nearly 20 percent of tests they’ve received have now come back positive. That brought the discussion back to the mask mandate, which was approved during last Mon-

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

day’s EPG meeting. Even at its initial passing, the mandate was not unanimously approved. The majority of the group, however, seem open to giving it a shot to see if it will impact the numbers in the county. The group must renew the mandate every seven days. For now, the EPG members seem focused on polishing the mandate into something they all feel more comfortable supporting. Several changes were floated both during this Monday’s meeting and last Thursday’s. A few were approved and others are being brought back once County Attorney Christine Beck has the amendment in writing. The original mandate required residents to wear face coverings inside any business that is open to the public where employees and customers cannot maintain the social distancing requirement space of six feet. The definition of business was outlined and the group said there were several exceptions included for people with health conditions, during exercise or for those whose jobs can’t be performed while wearing a mask. The business was the one expected to shoulder the responsibility. If someone attempted to come in without a mask, the business operator was asked to turn them away or demand compliance. If not, law enforcement could hit the business with the punishment of up to a second degree misdemeanor. On Monday, the mandate was sanded down and repolished in hopes it could be redrafted into

a policy that would help ease the burden to constituents while still aligning with the desire to curb the rising COVID-19 infections in the county. The group agreed that nonprofit organizations — which were previously exempt — would no longer be able to have customers come in without masks if that nonprofit supplies goods and services in an inside area. They also agreed the original exemption that permitted children of a certain age to not have to wear masks would be raised from two years old to eight years old. Another exemption was made so all children under the age of 18 years old do not have to wear a face covering as long as they are participating in such activities as organized youth sports, summer camps and childcare programs. This motion, which was made by County Commissioner Sandy Murman, was unanimously supported, but later in the meeting there was a long moment of confusion over exactly what Murman’s motion entailed. The majority of the conversation floated back to the countless emails, phone calls and public comments the members of the EPG have received since putting the mandate in place. Business owners are furious they are being expected to enforce this policy and want a tweak to the mandate to place responsibility back onto the individual rather than have it rest solely on their shoulders. In fact, Plant City business owner Eric Gonyon had attorney Anthony Sabatini file a lawsuit

against Hillsborough County over the mask mandate. Calling it “another hardship,” Sabatini said the mandate placed an unfair burden on business owners. Gonyon agreed and echoed it wasn’t his job to tell people what to do. Tampa attorney Patrick Leduc is also seeking a court order to void the emergency order on behalf of his clients, owners of Family Focus Insurance Solutions in Tampa, Little Habana Cafe in Riverview and Panini’s Bar & Grill in Lutz. Many business owners have reached out to the group and its individual members asking for a change, so discussion to figure out just what that change can be began on Monday. Eventually the group asked Beck to see if there was an amendment they could get behind. They’re looking into an alteration that would say if a business was putting up signs, asking customers to wear the masks and doing everything they were supposed to, but a customer refuses, then the business could call law enforcement and the individual would be the one to face the repercussions. Nothing was voted on and discussion has just begun on whether that is the route the group wishes to go.

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated stolen hair clippers, shots fired, a stolen sod cutter and more.

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

JUNE 19 CLEAN-CUT CROOK 2000 block of North Wheeler Street Theft: A man reported an unknown subject stole hair clippers. He signed a waiver of prosecution.

JUNE 20 SEARCHING FOR SMITH & WESSON 2700 block of Clubhouse Drive Vehicle burglary: This complainant reported an unknown suspect entered the complainant’s unlocked vehicle early in the morning and removed their purse and a black Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 handgun.

JUNE 21

FOUND FORD 900 block of Lotus Avenue Stolen vehicle recovery: Plant City Police Department was notiSHOTS FIRED 700 block of West Madison Street fied that a stolen Ford F-150 was Shooting into occupied building: found abandoned at the listed Officers responded to a shots fired location. call near the above listed location and a residence was found to have BRAAAAP West Alsobrook Street/ damage. South Empire Street Flee to elude: Officers observed a DARK KNIGHT 300 block of South Frontage Road dirt bike being driven on a pedestrian path. When they stopped to Theft: A black laptop valued intercept, the driver fled. at $1,450 was stolen from the Knights Inn. were transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

JUNE 23

JUNE 22 SOD OFF 100 block of South Warnell Street Burlgary: This victim reported to police the theft of a green and red sod cutter, which was valued at $5,000. The theft was a result of a burglary at the above listed location.

CHECK IT OUT 1400 block of Plantation Circle Fraud: This victim reported an unknown suspect cashed two of her checks for more than $3,000 after a recent residential burglary. Another was attempted to be cashed for $250.

TWO FOR ONE DEAL 300 block of South Frontage Road Felony VOP, Possession of ENVIOUS MUCH? firearm by convicted felon and Edited by David Steinberg July 3, 2020 1000 block of Ashentree Drive NOTHING TO BEE HERE felony possession of marijuana Where 8 Ancient (and 42 Redresponded sky in to ACROSS Theft: Officers blocktoof with intent to sell (Arrest x2): 48900 takeMcLendon the the morning, 1 Any the above listed location after a Street modern) diet Officers made contact with a con- West report of a theft of a HP Envy 5055 burglary: This9victim victed felon who was placed under Vehicle plunge? Elsie, for one to some Washington suspect arrest for possession Fit for an unknown10 Ladder unitprinter. 43 “It’s all cool” Mystic,charge in ’19and 50reported rummaged violation of probation. During the a queen through his 11unlocked At an earlier 44 12-time 6 Eerie ability, during the night of June investigation, officers made con- 53beehive Roses-red time Pro Bowler for short tact with a woman who was placed 21. link 12 After-school Junior 9 Word before under arrest for possession. org. 45 Off-the“the ball” or They 54 Blame-

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Call (813) 704-6850

GRAND THEFT AUTO: PLANT CITY 100 block of South Collins Street Stolen vehicle/burglary: Officers responded to the above listed location in reference to a stolen vehicle. A man was found to be a driver and a woman was the passenger. Florida Highway Patrol placed the man under arrest for GTA and several other charges. The woman was charged with Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance. ROCKY END TO THE DAY 800 block of West Warren Street Criminal mischief: Officers met with this victim who said she noticed at approximately 11:30 p.m. that her window was damaged by a rock.

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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

GARLAND FOODS PRODUCTION FACILITY COMING TO PLANT CITY Two Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions were approved last week. One will bring Garland Foods to town and the other is for the Saputo Dairy expansion.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The City of Plant City had another big win last week when city commissioners welcomed Garland, LLC to town. Garland has been around for more than two decades and is one of the major suppliers of fresh products in the southern and northeastern United States. Based in Miami, the company imports raw materials from all over the world, including America, Africa, Asia and Europe. It uses U.S. labor to process the food, which is then sold to different channels. They eyed Plant City for a new facility for quite some time and the “welcoming climate” of the partnership between the Plant City EDC and the City of Plant City sealed the deal. “I received only support and encouragement, which it made me and my partners feel extremely comfortable with the decision of investing in Plant City,” Luciano Lopez-May, CEO of Garland, LLC, said. “We see this as a first step and we’re looking forward to working with all of you, to engaging with the community in a deeper manner and being welcomed and working with a future here. Thank you very much and I’m looking forward to shaking your hand in the near future when we can do so.” Commissioners held a public hearing on June 22 to discuss granting an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Garland, LLC. Garland told the city it would employ at least 10

new full-time equivalent employees in a new business in Plant City and that it will “make a capital investment in such new business in excess of $2,000,000 prior to the commencement of any exemption granted under the Program,” according to the ordinance. The company stated in its Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Supplemental Application it considered “purchasing, upfitting, equipping and expanding an existing 29, 950-square foot industrial building for sale in Plant City.” It also said the company is considering designing and constructing an approximately 34,000 square feet preengineered building. City Manager Bill McDaniel said Plant City has become an ideal location for companies looking to expand or relocate their facilities. Right along the I-4 corridor, the city falls between Tampa and Orlando and commissioners have made it a point to have designated industrial sectors ready to go for anyone who wants to begin the transition to the community. These tax exemptions are central to the appeal and Plant City residents voted to approve the referendum on Nov. 2, 2010, with 68 percent for and 32 percent against. Then on April 25, 2011, commissioners enacted an ordinance to grant such exemptions. Now the EDC works with the City of Plant City to market the community to businesses that are searching for a new home. It’s how major wins like the upcoming Home Depot facility, the new

Culver’s on Park Road, Lakeside Logistics Park and countless others were landed. The same cooperative environment is what brought Garland to town. “We meet with them, we have discussions, we kind of assess their needs and figure out how we can address them,” McDaniel said. “We facilitate through the building review process and everything else. We make this a very welcoming climate for these businesses because they help build our economy. They bring jobs, they benefit individuals with those jobs and they benefit the overall city with the taxes they will pay and contribute. It’s just a win-win all the way around.” A similar exemption was also awarded that evening to Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC. The company told the city it would maintain its existing 98 jobs as well as

employ at least 54 new full-time equivalent employees in an expansion of the business. The company said the new employees will have an average annual wage of “at least 100 percent of the average annual private sector wage” and vowed it would make a capital investment in the expansion of the current business “of at least $200,000 per full-time equivalent employee prior to the commencement of any exemption granted under the Program.” The company is looking to expand its current facility at 3304 Sydney Road. Saputo was founded in 1954 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada. It is one of the top ten dairy processors in the world and across the globe has more than 17,600 employees.

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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

SPIRIT ART GALLERY WEATHERS COVID STORM The downtown art gallery, which opened in February but quickly had to close due to the pandemic, is now back open.

SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Like many small business owners in the United States, the global COVID-19 pandemic threatened a dream for Lynn Meadows just after it started to materialize. After many months of renovating its building through 2019, Meadows finally got to open Spirit Art Gallery’s doors to the public in mid-February. The shop, located at 303 S. Collins St., started getting attention around town and Meadows was spending money to advertise her new business. Right when things were going well, the virus forced the nation to hunker down. Just like that, the spirit was all but drained from the room. “It was a very large financial blow to me because I put all the money into the renovations,” Meadows said. “That building was blocked off into little offices, so I put a great deal of money into the renovation to open it up and get it to work as a gallery. That was my biggest concern. I spent so much of my cash flow and I wasn’t recouping any of it.” Though Meadows, her husband and store manager Richard Sarmento were able to get by during the shutdown, the high degree of uncertainty that came with it brought along more stress than any new business owner needs, from the loss of sales to not knowing when the gallery would be able to reopen. “Business was gearing up, more people were coming in, plans were good and then the coronavirus hit,” Sarmento said. “We were open for six weeks and we were down for eight.”

Meadows kept working on her art. To be fair, Meadows is almost always working on her art regardless of what state the world is in. She and the Spirit staff were excited and prepared when they finally got to reopen several weeks ago. Once again, the gallery faced the challenge of getting the word out about its return. Being closed for longer than it was open presented a new hurdle for Spirit to clear, but Meadows and Sarmento said word of mouth has started to work and people are starting to come back in. “We were just starting to have people notice we were there and I already used what I wanted to use on advertising for it opening, and then we had to close,” Meadows said. “I think once people come in and they see how much different it is than most other shops, it’s gonna sell itself. It’s mostly new people coming in now that say ‘I didn’t even know this was here.’” Spirit Art Gallery consists entirely of Meadows’ own creations and was born out of necessity: she made so much art at her home studio that she ran out of space to store everything. Meadows’ work covers dozens of different themes and mediums, so you can get everything from chalk and acrylic-based paintings big and small to custom-painted furniture, hand-made statuettes, jewelry and much more. The custom furniture, which Meadows said is the store’s biggest seller, consists of pre-owned pieces that get restored and fixed, then painted over before going up for sale.

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PROMISE GOODWINE ARRESTED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN MAY 30 TAMPA RIOTS

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

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Goodwine was charged with five felonies and two misdemeanors following her arrest on June 29. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

File photo

Promise Goodwine has become well-known in Plant City for her involvement in area protests.

Promise Goodwine was arrested Monday evening and charged with five felonies and two misdemeanors for events that transpired during the Tampa riots on May 30. Goodwine, 26, was charged with Burglary of an Occupied Structure (F2), Rioting Inciting to Riot (F3), Grand Theft of Controlled Substance (F3), Unlawful Assembly (M2), Armed Burglary of a Structure (FP), Unlawful Assembly (M2) and Grand Theft Third Degree (F3). The criminal report said Goodwine was among a group of people that participated in an unlawful assembly on May 30 on Fowler Avenue and “engaged in trespassing, destroying, looting and burning businesses along that corridor to include 52 separate businesses.” On that evening, Tampa Police Department said an employee at the CVS Pharmacy on Fowler closed early due to the “civil unrest.” They locked the business, rolled down the security door and were finishing closing the rest of the business when a looter used a hammer to break the glass

to the front door and pulled up the rolled security door. TPD said Goodwine was the seventh person of more than 50 looters to enter the business. TPD said she then went into the pharmacy and “removed multiple bags of customers’ prescriptions that were ready for pick-up and fled the scene.” TPD said Goodwine, along with several other people, also entered a Walgreens on Fowler Avenue. According to the report, she was spotted on video stealing several products from the business. She also was spotted on camera climbing into the pharmacy and TPD said she left her right palm print on the damaged window, which was later collected by Crime Lab. Police said she was seen pulling out a pistol from her right side by the front door at 8:52 p.m. The report said she looked around and put the pistol away before leaving the store. According to the report, she was “also captured on other business cameras committing burglary/theft/looting the same night on Fowler Avenue.”

A Latent Fingerprint Specialist positively identified the right palm print as belonging to Goodwine on June 1. She was identified by a witness on June 25. Goodwine was released on bail at 3:48 a.m. Wednesday morning. Goodwine became a prominent figure in the peaceful Plant City protests that have occurred between June 2 and 23. She has organized the events to occur every Tuesday night in the parking lot of Southern Hospitality on James L. Redman Parkway and was also a leader in the downtown Plant City march on June 4. When a Facebook user posted news of the arrest on a Plant City Facebook group Tuesday, comments regarding the incident poured in. After she was released, Goodwine took to her own Facebook page to share a public live video where she discussed her experience and responded to some of the statements people made about her. “Everybody makes mistakes. It is what it is,” Goodwine said in the video. “I had to

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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

MARSHALL MIDDLE MAGNET WELCOMES NEW PRINCIPAL JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

DENNIS MAYO

HAS TAKEN OVER THE REINS AS THE SCHOOL BEGINS TO BUILD A NEW IDENTITY.

Perhaps more at Marshall Middle Magnet School than most, if not all others in the Plant City area, change is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Marshall is beginning its transition into an International Baccalaureate school now and also has new leadership to start this new era. The school welcomed new principal Dennis Mayo aboard in June. Mayo most recently worked with the school district as a principal coach and trainer, a role he started in 2013 that took him all over the district to help school leaders grow and thrive. “I was attracted to the opportunity to grow my experiences in reference to developing adults,” Mayo said. “I felt like I had more to offer and I was attracted to the training and support the coaches received and that they would give the principals. I really grew as far as my training ability, working with adults and adult leaders. I hope I was able to positively influence a large number of principals throughout our district.”

With the district undergoing some restructuring, Mayo said, the opportunity to join Marshall’s staff opened up. Luckily for the school, Mayo was ready to get back to his roots. “I never left my heart for principalship,” Mayo said. “Throughout my coaching career, I knew the opportunity would present itself at some point.” Mayo is well acquainted with the Plant City area. In fact, he got most of his K-12 education here. Mayo attended Dover Elementary School, Turkey Creek Middle School (which was then a junior high school) and Plant City High School growing up, and he came back to TCMS in 2006 to serve as its principal until 2013. When he was coaching other principals, his work occasionally brought him back to the area. “I am a product of Plant City and that helps me to understand our students and community,” Mayo said. “I believe that goes a long way and it’s part of the reason why I’m here.” Mayo has had several weeks to engage with Marshall’s faculty and said it’s “dedicated, hard-working and they truly love the kids.”

They’ll help him promote his theme for the upcoming 2020-21 school year. “Our theme for this year is something I feel very strongly about,” Mayo said. “I feel a middle school-aged child and our teachers could buy into it, especially with the changes in our world we don’t all necessarily understand. There’s a little bit of anxiety in adults and kids… people worried about certain things. I adopted a theme for myself I felt would speak to everybody.” The theme is simple, yet strong: “I am enough. You are enough. We are enough. Adventure awaits.” “We are enough to make changes in our own community, to keep us and each other safe, to work collaboratively with our community and make sure we have an understanding of the struggles each and every one of us are going through,” Mayo said. “The IB learner profile, it fits right in with that. We’re all in this together and we have to work together as a world community to understand each other so we can coexist and thrive.” Incoming sixth graders at Marshall will be able to apply for the school’s new

IB Middle Years Programme starting July 15 and have until 11:59 p.m. July 25 to get signed up. More information is available online at sdhc. k12.fl.us/doc/230. Marshall has three to four years to go before it will become Plant City’s next IB school, and Mayo is excited to help bridge a gap that’s created many long commutes and more work for local students over the years. Lincoln Elementary School and Strawberry Crest High School offer full IB programs, but middle schoolers have had to venture out of town to be able to continue the program without interruption. “I am happy to be in Plant City and the support I’ve received since coming four weeks ago has been very heartwarming,” Mayo said. “I appreciate the teachers, the community and all the support that we have here in the district as well to invest in the school with some of the new projects we have going on here.”

CUTEST CRITTER

EMMETT: Kathy and Jim Flemister’s “Granddog” Emmett, a French Bulldog, has mastered the art of puppy dog eyes. He’s found out no one can resist his perfect, adorable face.

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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.

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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

MINUTEMAN PRESS LAUNCHES

‘BOUNCE BACK’ PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES Julie and Mike Arndt, who own the Minuteman Press locations in Brandon and Plant City, are promoting their company’s new program to help area businesses promote themselves and “bounce back” from COVID-19 closures.

Photos courtesy of Minuteman Press Brandon and Plant City

Minuteman Press’s Brandon and Plant City stores are helping local businesses “bounce back” from hits they took during the COVID-19 shutdowns.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

mall businesses were some of the hardest hit by COVID-19 shutdowns, so they’ve needed all the help they can get to bounce back. Minuteman Press International is helping these businesses get back on their feet with its new Bounce Back USA program, which offers free methods for advertising as well as free COVID-19 awareness and prevention materials for their storefronts. The national program’s effects are being felt here in Eastern Hillsborough County. Julie and Mike Arndt, who own the Minuteman Press stores in Brandon and Plant City, said

choosing to join the company’s Bounce Back program was an easy call to make because it’s “a reminder that we’re all in this together” and an opportunity to help business owners feel like they don’t have to give up. “We had the option whether or not to participate,” Julie Arndt said. “When we looked at it many months ago, in April, it was a pretty quick response to what was happening with COVID. We were really grieving for those that had to close and had no options. As things started to open back up, we had an opportunity to be a hand to help other businesses pull up and keep going.” The Arndts are running independent Bounce Back websites for Brandon/Riverview and Plant City-area businesses. The

websites’ purpose is to give these businesses a spotlight by allowing them to submit free listings, which the Arndts then use to get the word out about them through social media and other channels. It’s basically created a series of “buy local” movements for areas covered in the Bounce Back programs, which are reflected in some of the signage these businesses are provided when they submit a listing. Julie Arndt said approximately 125 total businesses are currently using their two Bounce Back sites as of press time and that the Minuteman stores have been engaged with all three areas’ chambers of commerce. In a way, it’s an extension of what was happening as early as March when non-essential businesses had to shut down. Printing

companies like Minuteman were designated as essential businesses, so they were able to stay open and keep working. “When the shutdowns and quarantines first hit, we made it a point to let people know we were still here and still open,” Julie Arndt said. “Once the other essential businesses found out we were open, we were able to help them with all of their printing needs (such as custom printed forms and pads) and keep their production and operations going. It was great for them to see the value of us as a local printing and business services provider, and we gained several new customers as a result.” Because the COVID-19 situation is extremely fluid and constantly changing, the Arndts have

no plans to stop offering Bounce Back USA services and will keep helping out as long as businesses need it. “We plan on keeping it going as long as COVID is relevant,” Julie Arndt said. “There is no stop date.” Plant City businesses can submit their listings and get more information online at bouncebackusa.minuteman.com/locations/fl/plant-city/ and Brandon/Riverview businesses can go to bouncebackusa.minuteman. com/locations/fl/brandon/.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

MAIN STREET, DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS FORMING COMMITTEE TOGETHER The creation of the Merchants Committee was announced during last week’s Topics on Tap event. The committee is intended to unite merchants to better work together to improve the downtown area.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Plant City Main Street is furthering its relationships with downtown’s merchants with a new committee, a partnership formed under the common goal of making downtown a better place to shop and play. The Merchants Committee, a subcommittee of Main Street’s Economic Vitality Committee, was officially announced during the June 23 Topics on Tap event. Jerilyn Rumbarger, Main Street Executive Director, said her organization and local merchants joined forces when they realized they were working toward a similar goal. “We had gotten word that the merchants were looking into doing something on their own, so Main Street approached them like ‘Hey, why don’t we do a subcommittee off of economic vitality?’ We felt like this falls in line with our vision and mission state-

ment, and then kind of what economic vitality was working toward, which was helping the merchants,” Rumbarger said. “It’s where the Downtown Dollars program was kind of derived from.” The idea of a downtown merchants committee isn’t new. There was the Plant City Downtown Merchants and Business Association, an independently-run coalition of merchants that functioned similarly to Main Street by promoting downtown businesses with events, sales, marketing and other methods. That association was converted to what is now Plant City Main Street in 2016. Though the new committee was announced last week, it was actually created well before then. The COVID-19 pandemic singlehandedly ruined the group’s plan for an earlier reveal. “We actually had planned on launching the committee and talking about it at March’s Topics on Tap on St. Patrick’s Day,

but that’s when the whole COVID-19 pandemic really kind of erupted,” Rumbarger said. “So we canceled it and tabled it until we felt it was the right time to relaunch it. We never forgot about it, we just knew we wouldn’t be able to meet with the merchants due to social distancing, quarantining, all that stuff.” Greg Williams, owner of Brick City Bricks, is chairing the committee and said he hopes it will give merchants a way to amplify their voices even more. “The main goal was to get the merchants together with Main Street and city so we can all try to work together to make everybody’s businesses a little better,” Williams said. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone as creative as Williams when it comes to bringing people downtown. Some of the ideas he’s successfully pitched include celebrations for the Star Wars-themed May the Fourth Be With You and Harry

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Potter’s birthday, as well as bringing the nationwide Small Business Saturday event to Plant City in November 2019. The Merchants Committee’s first meeting, scheduled for 8 a.m. July 21 at Krazy Kup, will circle back to Harry Potter’s birthday (July 31) as a way to let downtown merchants and shoppers have some fun. It will be much more challenging this year than in the past thanks to COVID-19, but Williams said it’ll be no different than what the merchants have been used to since the pandemic changed the way everyone operates. “We just have to adapt,” he said. The July 21 meeting will be open to the public and all Merchants Committee meetings will be held every other month, trading off with Topics on Tap. Visit facebook. com/PCMainStreet/ close to the meeting day for more information.

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CITY PUSHES BACK ATHLETICS RESTART DATE JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Plant City Parks and Recreation Department announced last week athletic field users will have to wait a little longer to return to play, citing the recent large jump in COVID-19 cases in Hillsborough County. “The COVID-19 situation, especially here in Hillsborough County, is not improving to a point where we can move into a higher level of risk as laid out by the CDC,” director Jack Holland said in an email. “Following the advice of the experts from DOH and USF, it is still too risky to put our youths into full contact situations on the field. One month ago, we distributed our Return to Play document. As noted in the document… we have been stating that changes would be made to the process if the COVID-19 situation did not improve. After multiple discussions, it has been decided that we need to push our Return to Play date for practice scrimmages and competition games to August 17.” The city is not, however, adding restrictions to conditioning practices. Teams and organizations are asked to follow CDC and DOH guidelines for social distancing and sanitation.

CITY PROCLAIMS JULY PARKS AND REC MONTH

The City of Plant City wants residents to enjoy local parks and amenities now as much as ever.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

City commissioners issued a proclamation on June 22 designating this month as Parks and Recreation Month, which is in lockstep with national celebrations that typically honor parks and recreation departments nationwide during July. “In observing Parks and Recreation Month, we recognize the vital contributions of employees and volunteers in recreation and parks facilities,” the proclamation read. “These dedicated supporters organize youth activities, provide educational programming, advocate for more open space and better trails and raise funds for local improvements, and ensure that recreation and parks facilities are safe and accessible places for all citizens to enjoy.” The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is promoting the month-long celebrating with information from the National Recreation & Parks Association: PUBLIC SUPPORT OF PARKS AND RECREATION: According to the National Recreation and Park Association’s 2019 Engagement with Parks Report, an overwhelming majority of Americans assert that they personally benefit from local parks and that their communities benefit from local parks. • Americans, on average, visit their local park and recreation facilities more than twice a month. • Three in four Americans live within a 10-minute walk of a local park or other recreational facility. • Eighty-three percent of U.S. adults agree that visiting

their local parks, trails and open spaces is essential for their mental and physical wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. • More than nine in 10 Americans agree that parks and recreation is an important local government service. • Support for local parks is widespread, spanning different age groups, income strata, household types and political affiliations. HEALTH AND WELLNESS BENEFITS OF PARKS AND RECREATION: The Centers for Disease Control found that increased access to places for physical activity led to a 25.6 percent increase in people exercising 3 or more times per week. Living close to parks and other recreation facilities is consistently related to higher physical activity levels for both adults and youth. On average, children who live in greener environments weigh less than children who live in less green areas. Children that have easy access to a playground are approximately five times more likely to have a healthy weight than children that do not have easy access to playgrounds. The nation’s park and recreation professionals are on the frontline in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, homelessness, substance use disorder, the obesity epidemic and other chronic health issues.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PARKS AND RECREATION: A park with one acre of trees absorbs the carbon dioxide produced by driving a car 11,000 miles. Parks do a great deal to contribute to species richness in urban settings — a review of more than 60 studies by IFPRA shows that there is strong evidence to support the concept that parks support both plant and animal biodiversity. This offers not only an important educational opportunity, but additionally supports overall ecosystem functionality. Parks reduce the impact of large storms and flooding by serving as sponges that soak up run off from nearby paved surfaces during rain events. This in turn prevents flooding and decreases property damage. Parks that are welldesigned also reduce water usage by recycling and storing this water for use during times of low precipitation. Evidence not only shows that parks are cooler than their surrounding cities, but actually shows that parks contribute to overall urban cooling — parks make our cities more comfortable in the summer! According to a 2017 NRPA Park Pulse poll, 83% of Americans believe it is important that their local government makes environmental initiatives a priority. ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF PARKS AND RECREATION: According to a study conducted by the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University and the National Recreation and Park Association, America’s local park agencies generated more than $166 billion in economic

activity and supported more than 1 million jobs from their operations and capital spending alone in 2017. ESSENTIAL NEED FOR PARKS: 83 percent of U.S. adults agree that visiting their local parks, trails and open spaces is essential for their mental and physical well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly three in five adults say that access to these amenities is very or extremely essential to their mental and physical health. Parents are more likely than nonparents to find parks, trails and open spaces very or extremely essential (68 percent vs 56 percent, respectively). Millennials and Gen Z are more likely than Baby Boomers to say it is very or extremely essential to do physical activities at their local parks, trails and open spaces to maintain their mental and physical health (68 percent and 65 percent vs. 54 percent, respectively). “Parks and Recreation Month serves to recognize the importance of our park system and recreation opportunities,” department director Jack Holland said in a press release. “The services that park and recreation professionals provide are vital for our communities — from protecting open space and natural resources, to helping fight obesity and providing activities and resources for all people. This has been especially true throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Parks and Recreation Month encourages everyone to reflect on the exponential value park and recreation professionals bring to communities.”

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

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We asked Facebook: On Monday, the EPG considered researching “alternatives to criminal penalties, good faith efforts that can be made by business operators to comply with the order (last week’s face mask ordinance) and ideas for shifting some of the responsibility for following the mandate to patrons.” What would you like for the EPG to do with the face mask ordinance? “My biggest wish for the mask mandate in Hillsborough County is for businesses and people to read the ACTUAL MANDATE and not just listen to the cliff notes version. It specifically states that wearing a mask is not mandatory if you are maintaining 6ft social distancing. Give people the whole story and not just what you want them to believe.” — Jennifer Barringer “Well... the EPG is overstepping their bounds by creating and attempting to enforce a mask mandate. So I guess I would like to see them disbanded completely and for it to be left up to the individual businesses, the city, the county and the state to make these decisions. That being said, masks are only helpful if you are in a situation with poor ventilation where you can’t distance yourself properly from others. So maybe only require it in those settings.” — Caitlyn Sharits

“During a public health crisis, it is the EPG’s duty and responsibility to represent the people of Hillsborough County. Having said that, science driven data has proven that masks worn by all is known to reduce (not eliminate) the risk of community spread, especially when worn indoors, where there is recirculated air. It is the responsibility of the owners to do their due diligence and post signage at their establishment to make the public aware of the policy. It is the individuals due diligence to follow the establishments rules. It is EVERYONE’S responsibility to have compassion for their fellow business owners, employees, patrons, friends and family. And having compassion means stepping outside of yourself to help others, whether that means opening a door, helping someone across the street, or wearing a masks for a couple of moments while shopping. This virus will not go

away until EVERYONE starts helping one another.” — Erin Parke Watson

“Toss it. Penalties will not hold up in court.” — Lauren Ferguson Bridges

“People that want to wear them will wear them, those that don’t will not. Hillsborough County is already being sued over this. Leave people alone and let them decide what is best for themselves.” — Bret Walley

“We hit 150,000 infected and 3,500 dead in Florida today. Hillsborough is hot on the numbers. Part of the problem is that law enforcement is not interested in handling any part of the mask ordinance. With the current atmosphere, I cannot say as I blame them. Having said that, if we don’t do something, we are in worse trouble than before. It is no different than NO Smoking or No shirt, no shoes, no service. Businesses have not had a problem with that. Not sure I get the difference. I can assure you I am not going in a business that is not complying. That simple for me-I can find one that is.” — Jane W. Poppell

“Shift responsibility to the patrons. It’s absolutely ridiculous to put it on a business owner. Would they prefer the business owner tackle non mask wearers to the ground when they enter? Fining the business owner is just a sure way to make the county some money. Putting the responsibility on the patrons is a sure way to make sure patrons wear a mask. I think these business owners have been beat up enough during this pandemic.” — Briel Maddalena

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

Mary Helen Perkins Dennis Edgar Watts Dennis Edgar Watts, 80, of Plant ‘Patti’ Mary Helen Perkins “Patti,” 82, of Lithia, born in Hamilton, Ohio on Jan. 12, 1938, entered into eternal rest on June 22, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

City, formerly of Endicott, New York, born in Portland, Maine on June 5,1940, entered into eternal rest on June 23, 2020. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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Harry Nobles Harry Nobles, 87, of Plant City, passed away on July 1, 2020. Services will be held privately. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught. care.

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Starkey Lee Tharrington Jr.

Emily Morgan Pierce, 17, of Plant City, left us Thursday, June 25, 2020 in Charleston, South Carolina when her body couldn’t keep up with her unstoppable spirit. Services in Charleston will be private. A celebration of Morgan’s life will be held in Florida and New York City at a later date. Information will be posted on www.sparklyflower.org. The family encourages everyone to visit Morgan’s Tribute at jhenrystuhr.com. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. Morgan was born March 13, 2003 in Tampa, Florida, daughter of Clinton and Emily Pierce and sister to Allison. She was a talented artist and an amazing chef. She enjoyed learning about cooking and was on the path to culinary school. Morgan was a fierce advocate for inclusion and fairness for all, she believed in kindness, and worked to help kids with cancer live normal lives. Morgan was stronger and more resilient than anyone we will ever know. She was proud, outspoken, and unapologetic. She is survived by her parents and sister of Plant City, FL; grandmothers, Peggy Allen of Brandon, FL and Lana Pierce of Sun City, FL; aunts, uncles, cousins and many, many friends; and her beloved cat, Miley. Her grandfather Charlie Pierce preceded her in death. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www. jhenrystuhr.com.

Starkey Lee Tharrington Jr., 90, of Plant City, born on Dec. 4, 1929 in Epson, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on June 25, 2020. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Starkey was the first x-ray technician at South Florida Baptist Hospital when it opened in 1953. In later years he worked for various physicians in Lakeland, Tampa, and Winter Haven doing x-ray and lab work. He was a longstanding member of First Baptist Church of Plant City. Starkey was a Mason, a member of the Plant City Civitan Club, and a volunteer at the Straz Center in Tampa. He liked being on his computer, watching sports, and game shows, travelling, working out at the YMCA, doing crossword puzzles and card games. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janet Tharrington; children, Starkey “Lee” Tharringon, III (Lynn), and Rebecca “Becky” DeGraaf (Rob); grandchildren, Jennifer Tharrington, Cynthia Tharrington, and Levi DeGraaf; siblings, Martha McMahan, Kinwood Tharrington (Jerry), and Larry Tharrington (Virginia); and many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. Starkey was preceded in death by his parents, Starkey Lee Tharrington, Sr., and Mattie Pearl Hedgepeth Tharrington; and sisters, Juanita Ayscue, Thelma Poythress, Mildred Palenchar, and Naomi Stanton. Services were held July 1, 2020 at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 South County Road 39, Plant City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to LifePath Hospice at chaptershealth. org, and/or First Baptist Church Building Fund at fbcpc.com. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Bobbie Tidwell, 90, of Mulberry, born in Plant City on June 14, 1930, entered into eternal rest on June 28, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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Joseph Rivere Jr., 78, of Riverview, born in East Los Angeles, California on Jan. 9, 1942, entered into eternal rest on June 23, 2020. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

Anthony Keith Hicks of Plant City, born Sept. 25, 1966, entered into eternal rest on June 18, 2020. He is survived by three children; Amber Cruz, Brittney Hicks and Kyle Hicks, two Grandsons; Camron and Landon Cruz, Mother; Jean Hicks, Sister; Kimberly Jones and Brother; Kenneth Hicks. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Victory Baptist Church, 2603 S. Baptist Church Rd., Plant City, FL 33563 on July 6, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

Marjorie Doris Brewer Daigle Marjorie Doris Brewer Daigle, 79, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. Visitation was held July 1, 2020. Inurnment will follow at a later date at St. Bernard Cemetery No. 2 in Breaux Bridge. Marjorie was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family meant everything to her. She will be remembered for her infectious smile, laugh, and kindness. Marjorie was known as a second mom to many of her children’s friends. She was an amazing cook; there wasn’t much she couldn’t do. Marjorie will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Elizabeth Hodge and husband, Johnny of Breaux Bridge; sons, John McKinley Daigle of Breaux Bridge and Joshua Paul Daigle and wife, April of Lafayette;

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Taking care of each other is what

community

10/27/15 10:42 AM

is all about.

Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

PlanT CiTy

813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com M2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 1

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

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Wells MeMorial & event Center

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

is all about. Nicholas was born November

OBITUARIES

Anthony Keith Hicks

grandchildren, Braden Wesley Daigle, Dallas Gabrielle Hodge, Jackson Paul Daigle, Alexandre Loyd Daigle and Evangeline Landri Daigle; aunt, Mabel Brewer Pippin; cousin, Glenda Smith; sister-in-law, Louise Brewer; brother-in-law, Wiley Daigle and wife, Bo; and numerous beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Reginald Daigle; brother, Kay Carrington Brewer; sisters, Alvaleta “Faye” Thompson and Suegene Brewer Levin; father, William Alvin Brewer; mother, Alleta Driskell Brewer; and her first husband, John Garrett Gardner. Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Brewer, Keith Brewer, Dustin Melancon, Shane Garrard, Kirk Daigle, and Bob Pinnix. Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements.

10/27/15 10:42 AM

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg July 2, 2020 PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

7/2

It All Adds Up by Jeff Eddings

ACROSS 1 Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca 5 “About time!” 11 Satisfied sound 14 Place Adam was banished from 15 Pie bases 16 “___ and Peace” 17 Salmon hatchery robbery? 19 Run on TV 20 Range near Yellowstone 21 Shareable mini-clip 22 What a singer may dramatically drop, informally 23 Beam with happiness 25 Core exercise done with

your pooch lying on your feet? 28 Lens issues 31 Sufficient space 32 Eerie writer, or the first three letters of his profession 33 ___ and tonic 35 Abbots’ subordinates 39 Supermarket employee’s physical? 43 Missing 44 Chimpanzee, e.g. 45 Lead-in to a texter’s view 46 Eye part that may be blue 48 Recliner feature

51 Preflight prep for a fast plane? 55 Brought action against 56 Bio printed posthumously 57 Maude portrayer Arthur 59 Speed for a replay 62 ___-com 63 Quick end of a relationship? 66 Hen’s mate 67 Draw forth 68 Lean slightly 69 UFO picture background 70 Stand for 71 Broiled sushi fish DOWN

FORECAST THURSDAY, JULY 2 High: 93 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 40%

FRIDAY, JULY 3 High: 93 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 40%

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, July 2

6:36a

8:28p

Friday, July 3

6:36a

8:28p

Saturday, July 4

6:36a

8:28p

Sunday, July 5

6:37a

8:28p

Monday, July 6

6:37a

8:28p

Tuesday, July 7

6:38a

8:28p

Wednesday, July 8

6:38a

8:28p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, JULY 4 High: 93 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 50%

SUNDAY, JULY 5 High: 91 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 80%

TOMATOES

Shipping point: Central Florida $15.95

1 Remaining 2 Slobbering comics canine 3 Likeliest prediction 4 Unhappily listening to music? 5 One of four in “The Crucible” 6 Calc prereq 7 Crystal clear 8 Request 9 Disco ___(“The Simpsons” character) 10 Spice amt. 11 Eagerly expect 12 Three-line poem 13 Employment employee, informally 18 Canoodle, in the Cotswolds 22 Copycat 24 “That’s clear to us” 26 Tunneling rodents 27 Like your legs after leg day 28 Pet adoption agcy. 29 City by Arches National Park 30 Elton John title 34 Intel org. 36 “Sure thing!” 37 Caribbean liquors 38 Ladybug feature, often 40 “Ocean’s Eleven” crime 41 About, on memos 42 IRS form expert 47 Enters the game, as a fresh athlete 49 Source of inspiration 50 Give an account of 51 Summer denim wear, slangily 52 Volume with no mass? 53 Lassie’s companion 54 Place to purchase Purina 58 Kind of 60 Think (over) 61 Picks 63 Gave hay to, say 64 Newcastle Brown ___ 65 GPS output: Abbr.

July 20 New

July 25 First

July 4 Full

July 16 Last

RAINFALL Monday, June 22

0.00

Tuesday, June 23 0.00 Wednesday, June 24

0.00

Thursday, June 25 0.30 Friday, June 26

0.00

Saturday, June 27 0.00 Sunday, June 28

0.00

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 17.60 in.

2020 0.00 in.

2019 09.04 in.

2019 0.00 in.

WEATHER

12 Three-line 41 About, on ACROSS 46 Eye part that poem memos 1 Basketball may be blue 13 Employment 42 IRS form Hall of Famer 48 Recliner employee, expert Rebecca feature informally 47 Enters the 5 “About 51 Preflight Sendtime!” your photo submissionsprep to Associate Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com Canoodle, game, as a for a Editor18 in the to feature. fresh athlete 11 Satisfied plane?for @igersplantcity or hashtag #iloveplantcity onfast Instagram Cotswolds 49 Source of sound 55 Brought 22 Copycat inspiration 14 Place Adam action 24 “That’s clear 50 Give an was banished against to us” account of from 56 Bio printed 26 Tunneling 51 Summer 15 Pie bases posthumously rodents denim wear, 16 “___ and 57 Maude 27 Like your slangily Peace” portrayer legs after 52 Volume with 17 Salmon Arthur leg day no mass? hatchery 59 Speed for a 28 Pet adoption 53 Lassie’s robbery? replay agcy. companion 19 Run on TV 62 ___-com 29 City by 54 Place to 20 Range near 63 Quick end Arches purchase Yellowstone of a National Park Purina 21 Shareable relationship? 30 Elton John 58 Kind of mini-clip 66 Hen’s mate title 60 Think (over) 22 What a 67 Draw forth 34 Intel org. 61 Picks singer may 68 Lean 36 “Sure thing!” 63 Gave hay to, dramatically slightly 37 Caribbean say drop, 69 UFO picture liquors 64 Newcastle informally background 38 Ladybug Brown ___ 23 Beam with 70 Stand for feature, often 65 GPS output: happiness 71 Broiled sushi 40 “Ocean’s Abbr. 25 Core exercise fish Eleven” done with DOWN crime your pooch 1 Remaining lying on 2 Slobbering your feet? comics PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER 28 Lens issues canine “After a long, two-week trip the California coast, it sure felt good to get home and be greeted by 31 Sufficient 3 toLikeliest this space wonderful afternoon sunset complete with rainbow,” Stephanie Hrenchir wrote. prediction 32 Eerie writer, 4 Unhappily Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, ON L I first N E @PlantObserver or the listening toon Twitter and Plant City Observer three letters music? on Facebook. of his 5 One of four profession in “The 33 ___ and tonic Crucible” 35 Abbots’ 6 Calc prereq subordinates 7 Crystal clear 39 Supermarket 8 Request employee’s 9 Disco ___ physical? (“The 43 Missing Simpsons” 44 Chimpanzee, character) e.g. 10 Spice amt. 7/1 45 Lead-in to a 11 Eagerly © 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com texter’s view expect

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 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