7.5.18 PLCO by Plant City Observer

PLANT CITY

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 6, NO. 1

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Charger Wrestling Club.

SEE PAGE 8. •

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

Keeping our schools secure PCPD and Hillsborough will have officers at all school campuses starting this August. See Page 4.

YOUR TOWN

RETURNING TO THE

Observer turns six

EARTH

The Plant City Observer celebrated its sixth anniversary on Wednesday. For six years the Observer has covered everything from nail-biting elections to heartwarming features on those who make this community so dear. We love this community and we cherish every moment we get to spend making sure that our neighbors are informed. Thanks for coming along with us for the ride. We’re looking forward to another news-filled year.

The Plant City Commons Community Garden hosted a Wild Weeding Medicines class Saturday on health benefits of plants found in the wild. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

arly Saturday morning, 13 nature lovers gathered at the Community Garden and File photo

watched as a clinical herbal-

Parks and Recreation month

ist turned ripe elderberries into a medicinal beverage that can be used to improve cold and flu symptoms and is high in antioxidants.

Breanne Williams

SEE EARTH PAGE 3

Herbalist Carol Jones demonstrated the health benefits found in local plant life.

City Commissioners recently announced July would be known as Parks and Recreation month to honor everything the Recreation and Parks Department’s staff does for the city. Spend your summer adventures at one of the many neighborhood parks and playgrounds found throughout the city.

Making downtown bloom Evers Street will soon be filled with colorful paintings as Main Street unrolls its new program to beautify vacant spaces around downtown. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Evers Street is getting a colorful transformation next week as nine artists work together to beautify the empty windows of the vacant stores along the roadway.

The window art is the first stage of Main Street’s newest venture. Jane Waters, executive director of Historic Plant City Main Street, said the hope is increasing the art in the city and utilizing the empty space will help draw more people downtown and economically benefit the community. “Our hope is to reduce vacancy,” Waters said. “We’re really looking for business owners who have vacant store fronts. With their permission, we can go in and add art to the location and draw a lot of attention to it. Hopefully, SEE EVERS PAGE 7

RAISE THE ‘RUFF’

Photo courtesy of Vicky Saunders

Vicky Saunders paints snowmen in a Christmas scene downtown.

Bonnie’s birthday party. SEE PAGE 12.

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THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

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Sonny’s BBQ donating food, hosts contest Sonny’s BBQ might have the highest-priced rack of ribs in America at $1,968. But these gold-speckled ribs aren’t for sale, they’re for getting your attention. The barbecue chain made the ribs to raise awareness for its latest charity venture, seeking to donate 100,000 meals to hungry children this summer as a way to celebrate its 50th anniversary — the “golden year,” hence the golden ribs. For the donations, the chain partnered with Feeding Children Everywhere to deliver meals in Florida and all other states where Sonny’s has restaurants. Follow @SonnysBBQ on Twitter and like or retweet the pinned tweet to donate meals. The chain is donating 20 meals for every retweet and 10 for every like, up to 100,000. From now until July 31, you can visit SonnysGoodAsGold.com to win a “stay-cation” in Orlando where your dinner, hotel and activity tickets are paid for and you also receive gift cards and a one-on-one pitmaster class with Sonny’s head pitmaster Bryan Mroczka.

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PCPD investigating cell phone store burglaries Plant City Police Department believes one group of three suspects is responsible for three area burglaries involving the Metro PCS stores at 1707 James L. Redman Parkway and 1713 W. Baker St., as well as the Sprint store at 2136 James L. Redman Parkway. A reward of up to $3,000 is being offered for information on the suspects. The first burglary occurred at 12:30 a.m. June 21 at the James L. Redman Parkway Metro PCS store, where the suspects stole cell phones and headsets valued at $5,000. The other two stores were burglarized on June 25. Suspects stole $1,200 in accessories from the Sprint store at 2:54 a.m. and stole headphones valued at $400 from the Baker Street Metro PCS store at 3:30 a.m. In all three burglaries, suspects were able to enter the building by smashing through the stores’ front windows and were in and out within one minute. Anyone with information who wants to be eligible for the cash reward is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb. com, or send a mobile tip using the P3 Tips Mobile application. Crime Stoppers must be contacted first in order to be eligible for the reward.

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THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

Photos by Breanne Williams

Thirteen attendees joined clincial herbalist Carol Jones for a Wild Weeding Medicines seminar at the Community Garden.

THE EARTH’S MEDICINE FROM PAGE 1

Carol Jones, clinical herbalist, guided the attendees through the Wild Weeding Medicines workshop, which aimed to teach how to use wild local plants to prepare natural “medicines.” “What would you do if you didn’t have access to medicine and doctors?” Jones asked. “What if a hurricane came through here like it did in Puerto Rico? You have no access to antibiotics, how do you treat basic wounds?” Florida’s tropical climate offers unique opportunities due to the extended longevity of local plant life. Because of the heat, there are local plants, many of which can be found in most back yards, that can be used for their medicinal value. When the class began, Jones had each attendee share their name and favorite plant. Many lauded elderberry, also known as the Sambucus tree, as being their go-to natural remedy. Throughout history, it has been one of the most commonly used medicinal plants. Everyone from Native Americans, who used it for infections, to ancient Egyptians, who used it on burns, have turned to the plant in times of trouble. If eaten raw, the berries, bark and leaves can cause stomach problems and many even label them as “poisonous.” However, that discomfort is easily remedied with a quick boil to the berries and by only using the leaves and bark for external treatments. In the fall, it is common for the

“These are all plants that grow here in your backyard or on the side of the road. Take advantage of it. Just be aware of your surroundings. If there’s a lot of dirty water flooding the area don’t use that plant. Be observant and you’ll be surprised how much is available to you.” — Carol Jones, herbalist

berries to be mass-produced into syrups, jams, wine or dried for a healthy and invigorating snack. Jones walked the attendees through how to preserve different aspects of the plant via alcohol or vegetable glycerin. Taking the time to harvest the plant can save quite a lot of money. A fourounce bag of the product from Croatia was $12. “These are all plants that grow here in your back yard or on the side of the road,” Jones said. “Take advantage of it. Just be aware of your surroundings. If there’s a lot of dirty water flooding the area, don’t use that plant. Be observant and you’ll be surprised how much is available to you.” Show and tell was a big aspect of the meeting as Jones brought everything from branches to preserved flowers for the class to examine. As she talked she worked, taking a large bottle of berries she had saturated with boiling water at home and straining it through a pour-over coffee filter. Another home concoction was strained through a milk bag. Even the flowers of the plant are useful. She preserved the elderflowers she picked four weeks ago in 180 proof alcohol and then strained into a small one-ounce bottle, which she uses in small quantities for pain relief, swelling and inflammation. Hibiscus, which is known for its colorful flowers, also has medicinal value. If used correctly it can help with upset stomachs, high blood pressure, bacterial infections and fever. The common hibiscus tea is made from a mixture of dried flowers and leaves. Jones also preached the benefit of mixing natural remedies. She made a hibiscus, elderberry juice for those in attendance to enjoy. Pokeweed, also known as Phytolacca Americana, has been used for improving the symptoms of arthritis, fevers, bronchitis and more. In the United States, children often use the dark berries as paint when they play outside. Its “poisonous” reputation is

steeped in truth. The plant is very toxic, but an experienced herbalist knows how to extract its medicinal qualities. Jones said when she boils the leaves she changes the water, boils them again, changes the water once more and then repeats for at least one to two more times before she’ll use the item. The roots, if handled correctly, can also be used, but must be handled with gloves or else your skin will blister. Extremely low

doses of pokeweed products, especially when mixed with other natural remedies, have been used for centuries in the United States. Attendees asked questions, sampled the natural products and shared stories of what they were taught to do growing up. After class, Jones took those interested on a walk around the gardens where she pointed out the plants they had discussed as well as others that also have similar attributes.

Above: Carol Jones teaches attendees how to make the most of local plants. Below: The seminar featured lots of hands on aspects like freshly brewed tea from the berries and branches of the plants in question.

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THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

PLANT CITY

NEW SCHOOL YEAR

Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

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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

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Florida schools now come with a mandatory officer. Hillsborough is training new guardians and PCPD will hold down the fort at three elementary schools until training is complete.

Call (813) 704-6850

Advertising / Chandler Workman CWorkman@PlantCityObserver.com

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

new era of school safety has arrived.

The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103.

This fall, when students walk the halls

on their first day of class, some may no-

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tice a new addition to the facilities. Due to Florida’s school security mandate, a trained — and armed — guard will be on every campus.

“The school shootings are having the same impact on schools that 9/11 had on airports. It’s a new era we’re approaching. It’s state statute now. It’s law that every school campus will have an armed officer on the campus full time. It’s a transition that has evolved out of the necessity to keep our children safe.” — Police Chief Ed Duncan

Ultimately, Hillsborough will provide armed security officers at the schools that lack a resource officer. Until then, local law enforcement has agreed to provide temporary coverage of the schools not yet covered by the program. Plant City Police Chief Ed Duncan said there are 11 total schools in its jurisdiction, but only three will not have the sheriff’s placements ready by the start of the school year. He said he selected his officers based on their maturity and years of experience. The schools will have the same officer on site every day and Duncan said he reallocated resources so patrol will not see any decline in services. Other units he has are being used to secure the campuses, which may cause a small delay in “nuisance complaints,” but will not severely alter any services. Burney Elementary, Bryan Elementary and Advantage Academy of Hillsborough will be protected by an officer from PCPD until approximately the first week of September, when the Hillsborough staff members should be trained and ready to take the position full-time. “It’s just an added layer of protection at the schools for safety concerns,” Duncan said. “It should be somewhat comforting to know there is an officer on scene. He’s on campus, just that visual deterrent alone could make a difference.” Duncan said that it is an opportunity to have immediate access to the source. He said often following a school shooting people begin to reflect on what they could have done to prevent the tragedy from occurring. His officers will be there every day. The

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hope is they will build a rapport and a relationship with the students to help identify warning signs in advance and potentially be able to stop an incident from occurring. “We’re all partly responsible for our own safety,” Duncan said. “That whole campaign about ‘see something, say something,’ that is something that is very important. As good as law enforcement is at their job — and I feel strongly about that — we’re only as good as our partnerships that we’ve formed with the community and our business partners. If we can get those relationships in the schools where people are more open and giving us information and not worried about those titles of being a snitch, in reality, it’s beyond titles now, people are actually dying. Massive numbers of young men and women have lost their lives, which needs to stop.” Duncan recommends parents sit their children down and discuss the realities of school safety. Having an open line of communication between children and parents can help ease any residual fears. Soon, the appearance of an armed guard will be commonplace. For the younger children in the elementary schools that PCPD is caring for there will soon come a day when they won’t remember not having an armed security officer roaming the halls. Building a level of trust between the students and the personnel will only increase the chance the officers have of being able to keep an attack from happening here in Plant City, Duncan said. “This was a significant impact for Hillsborough County because Hillsborough County is the eighth

largest school district in the nation and the third largest in the state of Florida. It would be much simpler if you only had maybe 50 school sites to cover, but when you’re talking about 280 that’s a tremendous impact.” The temporary officers will undergo Critical Incident Response Training, which will be conducted through the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office later this month. The incoming guardians, or armed security officers, will receive 132 hours of training for the new role. Duncan said much of that education involves the training officers receive every year like active shooter scenarios and firearms proficiency. Duncan said the training essentially focuses on how to identify and immediately stop a threat. He likened it to one of the more recent school shootings in which a school resource officer had to traverse across campus to take down the shooter. “A lot of damage can take place in seconds,” he said. As large as some campuses are, even the two minutes that it could take for them to get to the area in question could allow massive casualties to be inflicted. This may not be the final answer to preventing the attacks, but it is where Florida has decided to start. “The school shootings are having the same impact on schools that 9/11 had on airports,” Duncan said. “It’s a new era we’re approaching. It’s state statute now. It’s law that every school campus will have an armed officer on the campus full time. It’s a transition that has evolved out of the necessity to keep our children safe.”

We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Sarah Holt, SHolt@ PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

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is locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC.

1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103 Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850 Observer Media Group Inc.

1970 Main St. • Sarasota, Fl 34236 941•366•3468 Publishers of the Longboat Observer, East County Observer, Sarasota Observer, Siesta Key Observer, Palm Coast Observer, Plant City Observer, Ormond Beach Observer, West Orange Times & Observer, Windermere Observer, Winter Park Observer Business Observer, Jacksonville Financial News & Daily Record.

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THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

New program brings funding to the arts Hillsborough County is increasing its support for the arts with its new Community Arts Impact Grant Program, which makes funding options more accessible for local organizations. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

File Photo

Murals like that found on Collins Street are part of what could be funded.

gram that would help small organizations who might be completely volunteer or maybe have never applied for a grant before, a program that would help them be able to learn to develop those skills that have access to funds that would enable them to continue or create art programs in their various neighborhoods,” Simmons said. Last year a small organization that was mainly volunteer-run applied through the other grant program to get aid. Simmons said they were doing “some really wonderful work,” but the application ended up being more of a burden on the group as they struggled to acquire all of the

paperwork needed to become eligible for funding. They ended up not making the cut and Simmons said several other groups shared similar stories, leading to the creation of CAIG. The program is available for any 501(c)(3) organization that is apolitical and non-ideological. Interested parties should apply before 4 p.m. July 13 and “community impact through arts and cultural programming must be the primary focus of the proposed project.” The project in question also needs to take place between November 1, 2018 and September 15, 2019. Simmons said there is no specific type of project that must be submitted and the group is open-

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All applicants must be a 501(c)(3), apolitical and nonideological. For more information and to begin the process go to tampaarts.org. For questions or inquiries regarding the process call Terri Simmons at 813-2768250.

For more information on the application process and eligibility visit tampaarts.org. “The arts really connect us, they connect us to each other, they connect organizations to people in a community and they bring people together,” Simmons said. “They very often have extremely positive effects, not only in an intermediate fashion but in a long-term sense as well. That creates a higher quality of life. It enhances understanding of different cultures, of different people with each other and allows people to come together and collaborate and really come up with things that are even more positive.”

A PEACE of Plant City offers an array of boutique retail items to include locally made strawberry-themed shirts, hats, jewelry, organic soaps, lip balm, lotions, bath bombs, bath and body scented salts and oils. Spoil yourself or the ones you love with the perfect gift for all occasions. Private event space rental options. Inquire for rates and additional information to secure your booking.

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Thanks to Hillsborough County’s new Community Arts Impact Grant Program, local organizations have the chance to acquire funding to bring the arts and cultural opportunities to their community. The new program was created in response to the Cultural Development Grant Program, which has been in existence for decades. Traditionally the majority of those funds went toward the larger organizations in Tampa, according to Terri Simmons, the director of programs and communications for the Arts Council of Hillsborough County. Smaller groups struggled to meet the requirements for funding against other applicants like the Tampa Theatre and the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. “Hillsborough County felt like it was important to have a pro-

ing it up to 501(c)(3) organizations in hope of seeing a wide range of submissions. It does not have to be a cultural or art group that applies. It could potentially even be a rotary club or a boys and girls club that wants to do a mural or some type of community project. “The projects are probably being created in response to a community’s unique needs,” Simmons said. “It could be a festival or a cultural celebration, an art show, a mural, a community effort to create some type of art. We’re really hoping to see a wide range.” On June 19 a workshop was held at the 1914 High School Community Center to introduce the new initiative to the Plant City community. Those in attendance were walked through the application process, what the scoring process was like and discussed details like how the grant works and what eligible expenses would be under the funding. After the workshop, Simmons said she has seen several organizations appear on the website indicating they are submitting their applications. It’s a rather simple process, but Simmons said she is more than willing to answer questions or discuss the details with any interested party. They should simply give her office a call at 813-276-8250. Because of the looming deadline, she recommends anyone interested begin applying immediately.

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IT’S READ EVERYWHERE Did you take the Observer with you on vacation? Send your pictures to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com to be featured. IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME: Jim and Kathy Flemister recently traveled to Zakynthos Island in Greece and brought the Plant City Observer with them to read.

JUNE 23

GUN ON THE RUN 2700 block of Thonotosassa Road. Vehicle Burglary: Two victims at the Hampton Inn found that their vehicles were broken into by unknown suspects. The rear passenger windows were smashed on each car and while the first victim found nothing had been removed, the second realized a Hi Point 9mm handgun and a watch were snatched from his vehicle. THIRST QUENCHER 1700 block of North Park Road. Burglary: A city employee at the local skate park on Park Road realized someone had entered an out building attached to the skatepark. Apparently parched, the unknown subjects took eight 20-ounce Gatorades and one Propel water, which were valued at $17. THE CASE OF THE ALLEGED COUNTERFEIT 3100 block of West Reynolds Street. Theft: This complainant said he gave a woman $25 to purchase cleaning supplies for him. When she returned she only had $5 worth of items and “allegedly” told him the store kept the $20 bill because it was a counterfeit. He called the police to document the incident, but signed a Waiver of Prosecution.

JUNE 24

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JUNE 25

A SCRAMBLED AFFAIR 1400 block of East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Criminal Mischief: The complainant woke up early on June 25 to find his car had been the victim of an egg attack. During the night an unknown suspect threw eggs onto his vehicle, causing paint damage that was estimated to cost $500 to repair.

JUNE 26

FREAKY FAST ATTACK 2420 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Uttering/counterfeit: When this Jimmy John’s delivery driver made a ‘freaky fast delivery’ his customer attempted to pull a fast deal of their own by handing him a counterfeit $100 bill.

JUNE 27

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he East Hillsborough Art Guild and Plant City Main Street hosted a pop-up art gallery on June 27 at the Arcade, 104 W. Reynolds St. The event allowed members of the public to come watch artists as they created their pieces. If anyone in attendance saw something they loved they were also able to purchase the artwork and take it home with them. This is an ongoing event and will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday in downtown Plant City. Anyone interested in participating should contact Loretta Burns at 864-838-9880. — BREANNE WILLIAMS

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that storefront may even be leased and we will have helped produce another business downtown.” Main Street put a call out for artists to submit a portfolio of their work and selected those with a variety of art styles to spearhead the project. Waters said the East Hillsborough Art Guild has been significant in helping the collaboration for the project. With EHAG’s help the program will bring “phenomenal” art to the area. The plan is to continue adding art around town at vacant buildings throughout the seasons. Clay Hollenkamp’s immense art background made him the perfect candidate to help lead the event and Waters brought him on to supervise the project. He said the artists will begin work on Evers Street on July 11 and 12 and there will be a reception, titled the Evers Street Block P-ART-Y, at 6 p.m. July 13. During the event the public can meet the artists involved, talk about the new program, interact with live art vendors and enjoy refreshments at Fryed Egg Productions. Hollenkamp dubbed it the “trickle-up effect.” Adding art downtown helps set Plant City apart from neighboring communities. It adds beauty and visible culture to the area, which in turn may cause more people to flock to the area. “This draws people downtown,” Hollenkamp said. “People will come to an art exhibition or drive through and think ‘This is a fun little town,” or maybe “This is a good place to open my business.’ While they’re here admiring the art they will walk around and stop at a cafe like Whistle Stop or they’ll stop at a business that catches their eye. Aside from just making things pretty, it is economically beneficial for the city.”

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The theme for this exhibit is “Bloom Where You Are” and will remain on display until September. Artists submitted their plans for the artwork and Main Street provided the paint. Future exhibits will more than likely change with the season. Hollenkamp said he would love for there to be some sort of fall-themed artwork to honor the changing season and Thanksgiving. Around the holidays a more festive approach could be added to the windows and around March the festival could be the inspiration for the new pieces. The Evers Street massive window display will soon be decked to the nines, though Waters said they will be careful to follow all the city guidelines. She said the artwork will be painted on the inside of the windows to abide by the mural rules. Much of her recent background has been art in public spaces. She said Plant City has a strict mural policy for “reasons that are very valid.” Her goal is to make the entire city as a whole feel comfortable and so she is ensuring they follow the rules to a T. “It’s one of those things that until you see it you can’t believe it,” Waters said. “It will instantly transform Evers Street. Not that that’s not the coolest street anyway.” Both Waters and Hollenkamp agreed that the ultimate goal, outside of beautifying downtown, was to see the now-empty storefront be rented out and bring new businesses downtown. “There is enough artistic talent here in this little town of Plant City to keep this going,” Hollenkamp said. “We’ve got the talent, that’s not the issue. If we can get even one business rented, that’s a huge success. Anything we’ve got to do to bring people downtown that will all translate into more economic opportunity downtown.”

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SPORTS

Amneous Chambers went 11-0 at Disney Duals last week. See Page 10.

Sidelines

Justin Kline

Bryson Plunk helped the Minors A team win districts on June 29.

Four PCLL teams win districts When the dust settled last week, four Plant City Little League all-star teams were holding up championship banners. The 9-10-11, 10-11-12 and Minors B baseball teams and the Majors softball team won district championships and are moving on to sectionals during the next two weeks. The 9-10-11 and Minors B teams will play this Friday and Saturday at Progress Village Little League, Majors softball will play this weekend at Zephyrhills Little League and the 10-11-12 team will play July 13 and 14 at Belmont Heights Little League.

Durant summer volleyball camp The Durant High School varsity volleyball coaches and players are getting ready to host a summer camp this month. The camp, which runs from July 16-18 at the Durant High gymnasium, 4748 Cougar Path, is for all Hillsborough County girls age 9-17 who are looking to step up their game. All fundamentals of the game will be covered and campers are asked to bring snacks, water, knee pads, sneakers and a positive attitude. The cost is $75 per camper. Middle school sessions run from 8-11 a.m. and high school sessions run from 12-3 p.m. Registration forms can be picked up at and must be returned to Durant’s front office. Return forms by July 12 or have campers bring them on July 16. For more information, contact Nicole Higgins at 813-326-6868 or nicole.higgins@sdhc.k12. fl.us.

Justin Kline

Will Terry has taken the lead in the Charger Wrestling Club's second year of existence.

Keep charging on Strawberry Crest coach Will Terry wants to keep young grapplers on the mat this summer. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Will Terry probably wasn’t expecting the Charger Wrestling Club to take him back to his own childhood, but this year's move did just that. Plum Street, where Terry grew up, is a 10-minute walk from the club’s new headquarters at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. The warehouse where the boys and girls in the club train, listed at the expo hall’s address

but tucked away behind the Wish Farms Soundstage’s grandstands, is so new it has no proper name. It’s just “‘the stable’…where we make thoroughbreds,” Terry often says in reference to Strawberry Crest’s equine mascot. It may not be the most glamorous training ground for wrestling, but it’s something he said Plant City needed years ago. Had the SCHS wrestling program stopped running the club or delayed it this summer, it would have been understandable. Terry was the last remaining member of the 2017-18 coaching staff, which almost entirely split up in the offseason, and the school did not immediately hire new personnel to join the program in the summer. But Terry, with help from coach Abe Fernandez and club parents Billy Riggs and Bobby

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

“To this day, it’s an honor for me as a coach to honor him and the legacy that he had. I want to build something here in this area, where I grew up and I got into a lot of trouble, to get kids off the street.”

— Will Terry, CWC coach

Smith, has kept the CWC going because he wishes he had something like this to make that walk for when he was a kid. “Growing up, I didn’t have the best home life,” Terry said. “My dad was in and out of prison and my mom, she was battling alcoholism…when there’s no direction in your life, you kind of wander.” He regularly found himself in trouble and after getting kicked out of school, Terry moved in with his sister and met former Temple Heights Christian Academy coach Steve Lewis. Through these changes, he found a new direction in life. Interacting with Lewis — whom Terry calls the “father figure” he needed — eventually drew him to a career as a coach and an SEE WRESTLING PAGE 9

JUSTIN KLINE

‘Giving back’ starts positive trend

“W

e just wanted to give back to the community” is something I hear a lot these days. Everybody in our sports scene has a different motivation for doing it, but the end goal is always the same: help the next generation get and stay on the right track. Will Terry told me Charger Wrestling Club, which you may have already read about in today’s paper, is still going because he wants kids to have a positive outlet he didn’t get to grow up with. Mike Gottman and Kirk Broussard and others who run football camps in our area have told me they give back because anything they can do for our kids now will go a long way

on and off the football field in the near future. Every December, various teams from Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools go out of their way to serve the community through toy and food drives, volunteer work, Christmas parties and more, all because they feel giving back is the right thing to do. That this happens at all isn’t unique to Plant City, but I think the rate at which we see sports giving back is. I’ve been here for almost five years now. Though I’ve seen a lot of things change out here, one thing that’s never changed in Plant City is the spirit of the community. You never have to look very far to find people

actively trying to help others just because it’s the right thing to do. This is a big part of what I think a lot of folks around here mean when they talk about wanting to preserve the city’s “small-town feel” — I’ve lived in six different towns over my 27 and a half years and nowhere ever felt as close-knit as this one. What makes it all work is not just that our athletes are stepping SEE MIND PAGE 9

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Wrestling FROM PAGE 8

educator determined to be a positive presence in kids’ lives. Charger Wrestling Club presents an opportunity to do for them what Lewis did for Terry. “To this day, it’s an honor for me as a coach to honor him and the legacy that he had,” Terry said. “I want to build something here in this area, where I grew up and I got into a lot of trouble, to get kids off the street.” Though the club is open to boys and girls of nearly all ages and not a direct extension of Strawberry Crest’s official team, it does offer a glimpse into Crest wrestling’s future. Terry said Florida Strawberry Festival President Paul Davis is allowing both the CWC and SCHS to use the facility for yearround training, which comes as a relief for the school’s wrestlers. It wasn’t long ago that they trained either in the school gymnasium, jockeying for a sliver of space with the basketball and cheerleading teams, or in the school cafeteria where academic clubs had the right to ask the team to leave after a certain amount of time. For high school wrestlers, the club is more than just a chance to get in some good offseason practice. Amneous Chambers and Ty Young, for example, represented the CWC at last week’s Disney Duals. Their outstanding performances — a combined 21 wins, three losses — allowed the high school grapplers to leave Orlando as newly-minted AAU All-Americans. The CWC also sent eight of its own to Pennsylvania for the renowned J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp and each came back having earned the camp's famous "I Did It" shirts. The club will get a boost when new SCHS hire Eddie “Woody” Woodburn relocates to Florida. Woodburn, who was named Crest’s new wrestling head coach last month, plans to jump right in.

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Justin Kline

Wrestlers as young as kindergarten and as old as high school seniors come to the warehouse to learn Greco-Roman, folkstyle and freestyle wrestling.

The next goal for the club and the SCHS team is to replace the mats, a costly investment for which Terry is seeking donations. Any contribution made to the non-profit club can be a tax write-off, Terry said. The message Terry wants the club to send is twofold. If you want to be a “thoroughbred” on the mat, this is the place for you. If you just want to stay out of trouble and learn something new in a positive environment, this is the place for you. “We don’t care what school you go to,” Terry said. “We want to coach you, get you better and build wrestling in this side of town.” Located at 2301 W. Oak Ave., the CWC runs Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. and costs $60 per month. The club is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through 12th grade. For more information or to make a donation to the club, call Terry at 813-625-9455.

NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN Woody Woodburn, who will also teach history at SCHS, brings a wealth of experience at the high school, collegiate and international levels from Oklahoma to Dover. He was a two-time All-American for Oklahoma State University's wrestling program, won two World Cup bronze medals and was an Olympic alternate twice. He also coached at his alma mater in addition to spending more than two decades coaching at the high school level, and has been heavily involved with the nationally-known J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camps for 18 years. Woodburn replaces C.J. Gittens, who led the Chargers for five years and coached Cullen Telfer to win the school's first-ever wrestling state championship as a freshman in 2015. Assistant coach Will Terry, who has been leading the Charger Wrestling Club over the summer, will remain on Crest's coaching staff. “We wish C.J. the best,” Terry said. “He laid a great foundation for us. He’s still my brother and he’s still always welcome here.”

The City of Plant City will conduct smoke testing on the mainline sewer system beginning July 10, 2018 through July 12, 2018 on the following streets: Juniper Lake Place, Sutton Oak Court, Sutton Woods Drive, Sutton Pines Court, Chukkar Court, Hammock Drive, Cypress Court, Oak Hammock Place, Laurel Oak Drive, Spring Meadow Drive, Spring Vista Court, Brookstone Way, Brooke Pines Court, Hammock Vista Court, Forest Hammock Drive, Laurel Meadow Court, Spring Hammock Drive, Via Napoli Street, Via Parma Street, Via Siena Street, Via Milano Street, Via Palermo Street, Via Chianti Street, Via Cortona Street and Via Roma Court. If you have any questions, please call Angel Soto-Diaz at 813-757-9288 ext. 4725.

NOTIFICACION PUBLICA

La ciudad de Plant City conducirá una prueba de humo en el sistema de alcantarillado principal en las calles, a partir del 10 de julio de 2018 hasta Julio 12, de 2018: Juniper Lake Place, Sutton Oak Court, Sutton Woods Drive, Sutton Pines Court, Chukkar Court, Hammock Drive, Cypress Court, Oak Hammock Place, Laurel Oak Drive, Spring Meadow Drive, Spring Vista Court, Brookstone Way, Brooke Pines Court, Hammock Vista Court, Forest Hammock Drive, Laurel Mead ow Court, Spring Hammock Drive, Via Napoli Street, Via Parma Street, Via Siena Street, Via Milano Street, Via Palermo Street, Via Chianti Street, Via Cortona Street and Via Roma Court. Si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame a Angel Soto-Diaz at 278039 813-757-9288 ext. 4725.

This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers Puzzle One Solution: “I grew up in an Irish Catholic family, and I think they force you to watch every James Cagney movie.” – Jimmy Fallon Puzzle Two Solution: “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.” – Benjamin Franklin

This week’s Sudoku answers

YMCA, South Florida Baptist Hospital partner for aquatic rehab program The program has moved to the Plant City Family YMCA’s pool. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The pool at the Plant City Family YMCA isn’t just for swimming anymore — it’s also a great place for healing. The Plant City Y teamed up with South Florida Baptist Hospital to bring the hospital’s aquatic rehabilitation services to

the pool, allowing patients to use it for their own physical benefits. According to hospital rehabilitation manager David Davenport, a partnership with the Y made perfect sense because the two groups share “goals and strategies to serve our community.” “The YMCA aquatic rehabilitation is just one of many tools in our toolbox that we, as therapists, use to rehabilitate our patients,” Davenport said. “The water environment is a very comfortable, relaxing and supportive medium in which we can rehabilitate our patients.” For injuries, being in the

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? FROM MIND PAGE 8

up when asked to, but that they seem to enjoy it. I don’t know if our kids are enthusiastic about it because someone did something similar for them when they were younger or if they just have hearts for service, but these Plant City athletes are the real deal. I think it’s proof we have a lot of great coaches and parents

water reduces the weight of the affected area and makes movement and exercise less painful. Those in occupational therapy programs can use the pool and its toys and features as a supplement to what they’re doing on dry land. Kids in speech training get more excited in the pool and can build lung strength by blowing bubbles in the water, among other things. The programs run Thursday and Friday mornings and serve patients of all ages.

This week’s Crossword answers

JUSTIN KLINE

out here setting the bar high for the kids, so I’d say it’s reasonable to expect today’s athletes to set the same example for their own kids down the road. Let’s keep teaching our kids about compassion for others and the benefits of service. Let’s keep showing them what good sportsmanship looks like, on and off the playing field. Though it might not be obvious right away,

this is making sure Plant City remains a great place to live and raise a family. Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Times & Observer. Email: jkline@ plantcityobserver. com.

2018

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018

Wrestling FROM PAGE 8

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Justin Kline

Wrestlers as young as kindergarten and as old as high school seniors come to the warehouse to learn Greco-Roman, folkstyle and freestyle wrestling.

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This week’s Sudoku answers

YMCA, South Florida Baptist Hospital partner for aquatic rehab program The program has moved to the Plant City Family YMCA’s pool. JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? FROM MIND PAGE 8

This week’s Crossword answers

JUSTIN KLINE

this is making sure Plant City remains a great place to live and raise a family. Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Times & Observer. Email: jkline@ plantcityobserver. com.

2018

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