8.20.20 PLCO

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

CITY EYEING UPGRADES ALL OVER BREANNE WILLIAMS

The City of Plant City’s last commission meeting covered several areas of importance, such as COVID-19 management, new technology and more.

STAFF WRITER

City commissioners faced a variety of public hearings last week as planning staff and the community discussed map amendments and community districts.

However, a few key items tucked away in the consent agenda were never discussed at the dais.

Plant City Police Department was authorized to get new equipment following the announcement that the federal government has allocated $12,514.00 in grant funds to PCPD under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program FY2020 Local Solicitation.

The grant is non-matching and formula based and the funds have spe-

cific conditions on how the money can be used. Three percent of the grant funds — or $375.42 — will be allocated for the National IncidentBased Reporting System. The remaining funds were proposed to go to two purchases.

SEE PAGE 5

SADYE GIBBS MARTIN COMMUNITY CENTER NOW OPEN

BREANNE WILLIAMS

An official ribbon cutting was held last week and the new community center is now officially up and running.

STAFF WRITER

A local legend will forever have her name tied to the community following the emotional and joyous dedication ceremony last week for the new Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center.

Martin’s name had previously adorned the top of the commission chambers in City Hall, but city leaders wanted to do something more elaborate for the wom-

an who led the community for decades.

Now a nearly 30,000-square foot, stateof-the-art community center has been dubbed in her honor.

During the ceremony last week, members of the community gathered to reflect on Martin’s life and look toward the future that will be crafted in her honor at the new facility.

Many in the room — including Commissioner Mary Mathis — shared memories of

growing up in her classroom or working under her when she led Plant City fearlessly and graciously in her time as commissioner and mayor. She was a pioneer.

Not only was Martin the first woman to become mayor of Plant City, she was also the first female African-American elected mayor of a major city in the entire state of Florida.

SEE PAGE 3

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

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continuing to build trust through transparency.”

Deputies started training with the cameras on Aug. 10 and all 1,000 cameras should be distributed by late September.

Back to school drive at YMCA

Courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office

HCSO starts rolling out body cameras Many Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies will soon be outfitted with body cameras, Sheriff Chad Chronister announced Monday.

HCSO ordered 1,000 Axon Body 3 cameras for uniformed patrol deputies through the rank of sergeant. The cameras will also be worn by specialty units including School Resources Deputies, the K-9 section, Marine Unit, Port Security, Civil Process and Court Security Deputies.

According to HCSO, the Axon Body 3 is designed to “automatically activate in certain circumstances, such as a deputy removing their firearm from the holster or when the light bar is activated in their patrol vehicles. The Axon Body 3 is also equipped with live-streaming capabilities that will allow supervisors to view the cameras in real time during a critical incident.”

“These are the deputies who have the most interaction with the community we serve,” Chronister said. “We’ve seen disheartening situations around our country recently, from civil unrest to vandalism, caused by a perceived lack of trust in law enforcement. We have heard the nationwide calls for change, and I am confident these body-worn cameras will further our commitment at the Sheriff’s Office of

The Plant City Family YMCA and others in the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA network are linking up with the Hillsborough Education Foundation for a supply drive to help children from lower-income households get what they need for school.

From now until Aug. 30, anyone in the community can drop off school supplies at the Plant City Family YMCA, 1507 YMCA Place, or whichever Tampa-area YMCA is closer to home. Items needed include the following:

Backpacks Calculators Children’s books (K-12) Compasses/protractors Composition books Copy paper Crayons (24 Count) Dividers Dry erase markers Glue sticks Headphones Highlighters Index cards Large pink erasers Pencils Pens Pocket folders Rulers Scissors Washable markers

Teachers are also in need of these personal care items for their students: Deodorant Feminine care products Hand sanitizer Toothbrushes/toothpaste Soap/shampoo Tissue boxes/packs

“Right now, the need to support our students and teachers is greater than ever,” Hillsborough Education Foundation CEO Kim Jowell said in a news release.

“This pandemic has exposed and exacerbated inequities for students of color and low socioeconomic status. Our teachers and district are working hard to not let the achievement gap widen for these students, but they cannot do it alone. We are grateful for the support from the YMCA community to help put essential school supplies into the hands of students who need them most.”

Kids’ event, protest scheduled for Sunday A family-friendly event and protest is comFile photo ing up this weekend at MADZone JumpBonsai was named “Coolest Dog” in 2019. house, 507 S. Wheeler St From 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, a Black Lives Coolest Dog Matter-affiliated group called Concerned contest returns Citizens is hosting a two-for-one event at the fun center.

There will be food, kids’ games, perforThe Kiwanis Club of Plant City’s Coolest mances and vendors on site, plus a drive Dog contest is back and dog owners can for baby products and school supplies. sign their pups up now.

The group is looking for donations of new The online-only contest has a $10 entry or gently used baby items like shoes and fee, which also gets you 10 points, and you clothes, plus sealed/unopened school sup- will get a unique link to share with friends plies, diapers, wipes and hygiene products. on social media or other channels so they Gift card and cash donations are also can vote for your dog. Each vote costs accepted. $1 and voters have no limit on how many There will also be a protest element they can cast. Last year’s winner, Bonsai, involved, as the group looks to raise aware- beat our the 14 other contestants with 520 ness about missing persons and make votes. a public stand against racism, domestic First prize this year is a $300 gift card, violence, police brutality, human trafficking a “Coolest Dog” medal and a “Coolest and child abuse.

Dog” bandana. Second prize is a $200 gift Visit facebook.com/concernedcitizencard, a medal and a “Cool Dog” bandana. sofpc for more information. Vendors and Third prize is a $100 gift card, a medal and performers interested in being a part of a “Cool Dog” bandana. Dogs finishing in the event can email Promise Goodwine at fourth through 10th place will get treats psgoodwine@gmail.com or message the and “Cool Dog” bandanas. group on Facebook.

All proceeds from the contest will go to Kiwanis Club programs for children in the Plant City community. Enter online at gogophotocontest.com/kiwanisclubplantcity.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

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SADYE GIBBS MARTIN HONORED IN COMMUNITY CENTER DEDICATION EVENT Plant City’s new and improved community center, located at 302 S. Maryland Ave., is finally open to the public.

FROM PAGE 1

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Her influence molded the community into what we see today.

She sat at the dais for 15 years, serving as mayor for seven terms and vice mayor for four terms.

If you were a resident of Plant City while Martin was alive, there is a good chance you knew her as the woman rarely sat at home. She was passionate about moving the entire community forward and was involved in a variety of organizations around town. Those included the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Florida League of Cities and the Florida Strawberry Festival, and she also played a large role in the establishment of the Plant City Boys & Girls Club.

But it was her compassion and no-nonsense advice that crafted her legacy. William Thomas Sr. was the guest speaker of the evening. He told stories of her wisdom, of her infectious humor.

He told stories of her inability to walk away when she saw someone in need and reflected on the numerous lessons she taught him of honorable leadership and strength through empathy.

“It just so happens that she was black, that she was a female, who managed to successfully navigate her way through a political career when that was not an easy thing for a female, particularly a black female,” Thomas said. “She ran a successful campaign in 1982 and remained on the city commission board for 15 years from 1982 to 1992. For those of you who don’t know, she actually left for a couple of years and came back in 1994, and she stayed there till she passed away in 1999. And that was a great loss for all of us.”

Leaning on his theme of “It just so happens,” Thomas said that as then-president of the Improvement League of Plant City, he often drove Martin and then-City Manager Nettie M. Draughon to the Ridge League of Cities meetings. He spent several moments reminiscing on that iconic duo.

They were Batman and Robin, a pair that would enamor all who met them and have them in stitches with their quick humor.

Martin’s love for her community was evident in the way she fought for what she believed would be best for Plant City, Thomas said. She would fight for projects that would make it a better place to work and live. She would fight for her vision, one that reshaped the way the city would be molded. Part of that vision involved crafting what is now the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex.

“I can only hope that we use this facility to continue to carry out her dreams of improving rec-

reation for our youth,” Thomas said. “It also just so happens her vision resulted in the acquisition of all the property on the west end of this park. I don’t know whether you guys know this or if you remember, but there were houses and even a store on the west end of this park. If it was not for that vision, where you are driving in now on Maryland Avenue, that would not have been possible.

So she knew, she knew what was coming.”

He said it just so happened she served at a time when race relations in the Plant City community needed to improve. He said folks back then didn’t care for the perspective of black voices, didn’t care about the views of women.

But she somehow managed to carve her career anyway and, when in power, she made sure all voices in the community were represented in the room.

“Which is why I often say, ‘It just so happens that she was the first true advocate of diversity and inclusion,’” Thomas said.

According to Thomas, she was a politician that underpromised and overdelivered, an asset he said you rarely see in elected officials. When she thought he was wrong she would calmly and firmly talk to him and let him know. And it was impossible to take offense because Thomas said he knew what she was telling him was for not only his benefit, but the benefit of the entire community.That sentiment was echoed prior to the ending by the many speeches from sitting commissioners, including Commissioner Mike Sparkman, who said Martin was “like a sister” to him. He fondly reflected on her passion for Plant City and said she shaped the way he led.

Plaques detailing Martin’s accomplishments and impact on the community are on display at the facility.

The Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was inviteonly to reduce crowd levels so the center could still allow for social distancing. There was a social hour starting at 5 p.m. and the ceremony began at 6 p.m. inside the gymnasium. Seats were spaced six feet apart and attendees were encouraged to keep their masks on throughout the ceremony.

The Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, 302 S. Maryland Ave., was built to replace the former Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center that was originally built in 1961. The MLK Center was old and had been shuttered for months following damage caused by Hurricane Irma. The plan was originally to get repairs done and have the center up and running again by

the end of 2018, but the damage done was far more extensive than commissioners and city staff imagined.

They were faced with a decision: either spend a massive amount of cash to repair the building or start looking to replace it. Ultimately, the commissioners agreed to start fresh and they used the opportunity to build something unlike anything Plant City has seen before. The bids came in — millions of dollars over the initial estimate — but the commissioners refused to back down and literally put their money where their mouths were by agreeing to bring the project to life.

In the end, Trias Construction delivered on time and within the allotted budget. It was a partnership most of the commission lauded during Thursday’s ceremony and Trias presented them with a golden shovel in honor of the new beginning.

Following the ceremony on Thursday, the entire community was invited to come out Friday evening and all day on Saturday to tour the facility. This allowed city staff to manage attendance, ensure social distancing and still let anyone who wished to see it the chance to get an in-depth tour.

The facility opened its doors Monday morning and acted as a designated polling place on Tuesday. If you wish to watch last week’s ceremony, the event was live streamed on the City of Plant City’s Facebook page.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

PLANT CITY

COPS CORNER

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Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated a sleeping DUI, a stolen phone,

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

stolen fence and more.

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

AUG. 7

AUG. 8

UNSAFE KEEPING 1600 block of West Lowry Avenue Vehicle burglary: This complainant stated an unknown suspect entered their vehicle during the night of Aug. 6 and stole their friend’s gun.

JUST A HUNCH 2900 block of James L. Redman Parkway Warrant: Officers responded to Zaxby’s in reference to a report of a suspicious male subject in the area. They located the man and found he had an active warrant out of Hillsborough County for two counts of armed burglary of a conveyance. The man was arrested and taken to Orient Road Jail without incident.

WINDOW PAIN 300 block of Park Spring Court Criminal mischief: Officers met with a complainant, who stated she entered her residence and saw broken glass on the floor. One of her windows was broken. Nothing from inside the residence was missing, however, so she signed a waiver of prosecution.

AUG. 9 SLEEP IT OFF James L. Redman Parkway/ West Alexander Street DUI: Officers found a male subject asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle and arrested him for DUI.

AUG. 10

AUG. 12

NO OF-FENCE 2210 block of Gate Wood Street Theft: This complainant stated an unknown suspect stole a section of her wrought iron fence. She signed a waiver of prosecution.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED 900 block of West Warren Street Affray: This complainant stated a known female subject instigated her into fighting. The complainant had abrasions and cuts but signed a waiver of prosecution.

CAPITOL OFFENSE 110 block of North Pearl Street Fugitive felony warrant: PCPD officers assisted ATF and arrested a man who had an outstanding warrant out of Washington, D.C. for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and robbery. He was taken to Orient Road Jail without incident.

Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com

AUG. 13 WASTE OF TIME 1900 block of Spooner Drive Vehicle burglary: This complainant stated an unknown suspect entered her unlocked vehicle and ransacked it, yet did not take any items from it.

Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

CONTACT US

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

AUG. 11 INCONVENIENCE STORE 2700 block of Thonotosassa Road Theft: Officers met with a complainant, who stated her cell phone was stolen from Wawa.

The phone was valued at $1,200.

A woman was arrested for theft of the phone and taken to Orient Road Jail.

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

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To contact us, send your information via: Email: Sarah Holt, SHolt@ PlantCityObserver.com.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

COMMISSION ROUNDUP

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The City of Plant City is applying for funding for COVID-19 management in government buildings. During last week’s commission meeting, the consent agenda also held several impactful items.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

PCPD asked to use the money to get a FALCON Rapid ID Edge Device Software with Blue Check Finger Scanner as well as to get six FDLE FALCON Rapid ID Devices. The devices themselves each cost $2,203 and combine to a total of $13,218.

Those devices will be distributed throughout the department to the Patrol and Investigation Division supervisors.

They can be used for a variety of inves-

tigations, including for those who fail to identify themselves during criminal investigations or to intercept when someone provides “false information on their identity, identification of missing/endangered persons or the identity of unidentified deceased persons,” according to the report.

The total purchases amount to $1,079 more than the allotted money provided by the grant. Once the grant is awarded, a budget adjustment will be presented to the city OVE R 40 YE ARS EXPE RIE NCE commission for approval to appropriate $12,514 R ESIDE NTIAL • COM M E RCIAL • ADDITIONS toward the equipment.

R E NOVATION S • HISTORIC R E STOR ATION S The overage of $1,079.42 will come from PCPD’s operating costs.

Commissioners also did some housekeeping last week when they renewed the interlocal agreement between the City of Plant City and Hillsborough County for traffic control signal maintenance. The agreement is a two-year term from July 2020 to

Sept. 2022. The county adjusted the end term to September so it will align with the fiscal year.

Under the agreement, the the city will be responsible for maintaining the signals at Alsobrook and Collins streets, Alexander Street and Jim Johnson Road, Alsobrook Street and Park Road, Park and Gordon Food Services roads, Park and Jim Johnson roads and Turkey Creek and Sydney roads. It is also responsible for Turkey Creek and Airport roads, but the signal is currently installed there as part of the road improvements for Turkey Creek Road, so the City of Plant City will be compensated for it.

City Manager Bill McDaniel also discussed his hopes of getting further funding for sanitation and safety measures at city buildings. Under the CARES Act, state, local and tribal governments are able to apply for aid from the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Some items he hopes to get to protect staff and the public that have to enter high-traffic areas like City Hall include PPEs. Currently, city staff manually checks temperatures of those who walk in the doors during meetings and scheduled gatherings. McDaniel hopes to

purchase a piece of equipment that allows someone to put their wrist into a machine that checks temperatures. He also wants to get more PPEs for staff and is asking for $1 million in that category.

He’s asked for $2 million to reduce contact points by getting items like sensors for the sinks and paper towels and automatic doors at the entrance to City Hall. They need plexiglass or barriers between employees as well to reduce contact points.

McDaniel is also asking for another $1 million for the tech advancements. He said if the pandemic has taught them anything, it is that they need to be able to rely on technology to support remote work. He said the city needs to purchase additional tech to make work smoother and help improve remote meetings. Even if there are in-person meetings in the future, he believes some elements of virtual will remain.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

CHAMBER HONORS AG COMMUNITY IN ANNUAL SALUTE TO AGRICULTURE LUNCHEON

The luncheon looked far different than any year prior thanks to the safety precautions put in place by the chamber, but the spirit remained high as local Ag enthusiasts were honored for their work in the industry.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s annual Salute to Ag awards may have been different in 2020 than any year prior, but the communal and enthusiastic spirit still rang true.

The Ag luncheon was one of the only events and meetings the chamber has held since the pandemic started and precautions were in full effect as the socially distanced tables were filled to half capacity.

When people walked through the doors with masks firmly in place, they signed in and were asked to pick up a green, yellow or red bracelet. The color would signify to others which level of contact you were comfortable with so no one was approached without their consent.

The lunch, which was sponsored by Farm Credit of Central Florida, was altered as well. Instead of the typical buffet, guests were served a boxed meal and were asked to put their masks back on once they finished eating.

Then the fun began.

Each year, agriculturists in the community are honored for their impact in Plant City. It’s a ceremony that has become a staple and the chamber said it couldn’t fathom ditching the awards altogether if there was a safe way to bring them to life.

Courtney Paat, chair of the Executive Board of Directors, kicked off the event by detailing the financial influence the local agriculture industry has on the economy.

She said it’s a $1 billion impact and the entire community would be a very different place without its touch. The chamber decided to set aside time every year to recognize individuals in the community who are making waves in their respective fields.

Keith and Rhonda DeShong were named Agriculturists of the Year. He was born and raised in Dover and Rhonda grew up in Plant City. They married in 1988 and settled in Knights Station, where Keith stepped away from farming with his mentor Ralph Randall and began a farm of his own. Keith is a member of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association as well as a member of Gideons International.

When the farm became a success, he felt called to help others in the upcoming ag community. He’s assisted local Ag teachers laying plastic for school fields and is known for always being available to help young

Photos courtesy of Vicky Saunders

From left: Rhonda and Keith DeShong; Jason Conrad; Dee Dee and Carl Grooms; Greg Lehman

farmers bring their operations to life. The couple will frequently lend a helping hand for local FFA students with their steer projects and have become involved in various programs at Knights Baptist Church.

Jason Conrad was named Young Agriculturist of the Year. On top of his impressive resume, he is known for his dedication to teamwork and helping others. He can often be spotted traveling around the county lending his expertise to pull calves, treat sick cattle and give advice on nutrition and proper handling and care.

During his tenure as president of the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Association, he grew not only the membership but also the group’s representation at the county meetings. Under his leadership — along with that of his board of directors — the Cattlemen’s Association has been able to re-implement a scholarship program.

His passion also led to the growth of the Hillsborough County Cattlemen’s Clay Shoot, which uses the funds raised to help youth in the community.

Greg Lehman was named Ag Educator of the Year. Born and raised in Plant City, he is a third-generation citrus farmer and continues managing his family farm to this day.

He became an Ag teacher at Tomlin Middle School in 2005 and then opened an Ag program at Barrington Middle School in 2008.

Lehman is known for his passionate and inspirational leadership of the various FFA teams that have sprung from his programs. Several have brought home national titles and hundreds of students have been positively shaped by his calm, invigorating influence. Despite his busy schedule, he continues to care for his family’s citrus grove along with his wife, Pamela, and their three children.

One of the most passionate speeches of the night came from Carl Grooms who, 8/6 & 8/20 2020 along with his wife Dee Dee, were awarded Keiser - Lakeland 231-1906-PCO-Lakeland-YourFuture-Psych-5x6 Plant City Observer Supporters of Youth in Ag. You rarely see 5x6 SB apart and, as a third-generation the duo 7/28/20

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Florida farmer, Carl has shaped countless lives with his unwavering passion for agriculture.

Carl may have “semi-retired,” leaving much of the management of day-to-day operations to his son Dustin, but their entire family plays a crucial role in ensuring Fancy Farms remains a soaring success.

They are now looking at the generations that will follow. The couple has long had a mission to educate the public on sustainable agriculture in this nation and always hosts events or gives back to local organizations. Each year, the couple hosts the annual Hillsborough County 4-H U-pick with the proceeds raised designated for scholarships. Dee Dee markets Florida strawberries and furthers education with her Grand Champion ribbons at the Florida Strawberry Festival as well as by traveling, hosting farm tours and partaking in the daily work on the farm.

After receiving the award, Carl took a moment to address the crowd. He joked he was preaching to the choir but that they needed to share their message with the rest of the country. Imports are killing American agriculture, he said, and it is imperative that the passion for farming be passed on to the upcoming generations or else the nation would soon face even more daunting challenges.

As a founding member of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association since 1982, Carl has kept that tireless passion for agriculture education alive in their community. His awards for his hard work are numerous and he was inducted into the FSGA Hall of Fame in 2013. His farm and its operations have been seen around the world due to a variety of television features and their impact will only continue to grow

as they never stop striving to further educate any who wish to learn a thing or two about farming.

Keel Farms won the Agri-Business of the Year award. Clay Keel was the only one not at the event, but his service to the revitalization of Keel Farms was lauded during the presentation. He is the son of Keel Farms founder Joe Keel and he took over the family farm and winery in 2018.

His passion for farming is equal only to his passion for his concoctions in the kitchen. He loves bringing new wines, ciders and beers to life that are full of the unique and fruitful flavors found there on Keel Farms.

Under his leadership, Keel & Curley Winery along with Keel Farms has seen a resurgence of events and the community has gotten an in-depth look at how the businesses operate. It’s a transparent policy that has helped bridge the gap between consumers and farm-to-table operators.

It has developed a cult following that continue to return time and again.

Following the traditional awards, the chamber announced its Good Egg award, which it awarded to the youngest recipient in chamber history. Madilyn Conrad — Jason Conrad’s daughter — came back with her family for the ceremony. She joked she had just moved to Gainesville for the next college semester and was confused as to why her parents pushed for her to attend with them.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

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REMINISCING ON PANKY SNOW Snow, a longtime journalist from Plant City, tackled many subjects and interviewed some of America’s most famous people in her day.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

You’d have been hard-pressed to find a Plant Citian with a personality as spunky as Panky Snow’s, and anyone who followed her work knows that for a fact.

Snow, whose family has deep roots in the city, had a life full of extravagant highs. Some were figurative, like when she interviewed Clark Gable or Eleanor Roosevelt. Some were literal, like when she befriended a circus animal trainer in 1953 and talked her way onto the back of an elephant, riding one into the big top to shock her parents.

Her decades of work between the Tampa Tribune and the Plant City Courier made for compelling reads regardless of the topic at hand and she especially enjoyed writing about her hometown’s history as only she could.

Snow, 93, born Dec. 9, 1927, passed away on Aug. 5.

She was known by several names throughout her career: Panky Morgan, Panky Glamsch and Panky Snow. She was born as Mary Frances Morgan into a family known for their eclectic nicknames. Her father was “Rat,” her mother was “Sulky” and her sister was “Dodo.” In college, Snow once wrote, she would write letters to her father and draw a rat on the envelope, followed by the last name “Morgan” and the family’s home address. The mail was delivered correctly.

Snow was always an outgoing, social person. If there was a social club at Plant City High School to be involved in, she likely joined it. She served in Student Government, joined several foreign language clubs and was active in several sports, trying her hand at basketball and cheerleading. She was involved in the school’s Glee Club, Dramatic Club and Thespi-

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something that possibly led to acting later. I was learning lines and performing.”

After she retired from the Tribune, Snow moved back to Plant City and started writing for the Courier again. She published a recurring column titled Reminiscing with Panky Snow, a look at Plant City history and stories from around town as only she could tell them. Topics she wrote about included the airport on Coronet Road that was used during World War II to train pilots, Bealsville and the Glover School, Don and Berta Richey’s floats and more. She wrote for Bridgestone Books’ Community Helpers series, and she also wrote a pair of books titled Radio Announcers and Chefs and Cooks.

Snow was an animal lover and always had pets in her life, but she especially loved cats and cared for as many as she could after her retirement. Her passion for acting continued well into adulthood and she was at one point

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performing with the Playmakers in Tampa. She loved to travel when she could and enjoyed life as a local celebrity when she was in Plant City.

“I would go to see her in Plant City, we’d have lunch downtown and people would stop and talk to her,” B.C. Manion, who worked with Snow in Tampa, said. “It took forever to get from point A to point B. She was a little celebrity in town. She’d done so many stories about so many people and had a lot of connections to people.”

Much of Snow’s work, from her high school days through the end of her career, was donated to the Dr. Scotty & Hsiu Huang History Center, Plant City Photo Archives, 106 S. Evers St., and is viewable there.

Information from the Dr. Scotty & Hsiu Huang History Center, Plant City Photo Archives, was used in this article.

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International Airport in the late 1950s, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Roosevelt, whom she picked up from Bradenton and drove to Tampa.

“Eleanor was visiting a friend in Bradenton, so we drove down from Tampa to pick her up,” Snow told the Courier in 2010. “The ladies didn’t want to have a bunch of reporters clamoring after Mrs. Roosevelt, so they chose me to do the interview and share what was said with the rest… it was a really difficult interview. Eleanor spoke with that high-pitched, unusual New England accent and I guess I had kind of a squeaky voice.

There was a lot of ‘What did you say?’ from both of us during that ride. But she was a wonderful woman. Her strong influence on women’s equality and women’s rights was considered very outspoken at that time.”

Snow was particularly good at capturing the humanity of her subjects, letting their emotions come through on paper and picking out all the little details of a person that made them who they were, whether it was someone as well-known as Roosevelt or someone in Plant City having a porch party for the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Her byline changed from Panky Glamsch to Panky Snow while at the Tribune after divorcing in 1974 and later marrying Richard Snow. Snow and Glamsch had two sons, Horst B. and Kerry Glamsch, and she instilled in them a love of the arts from an early age.

“When my brother and I were kids, she offered to give us a nickel or a dime to memorize poems,” Kerry Glamsch said. “Some of the bigger poems were worth a quarter. In a way, she really planted a seed for reading and a love of literature. We would recite the poems. In a way, that was the start of a love of literature and

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an Society. Snow graduated from PCHS in 1945 and then spending one year at Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University). She was also a skilled illustrator and singer.

But it was writing that most appealed to her, and that reflected with her roles with the school newspaper and its yearbook club.

She wrote her own stories and poetry on the side, and decided to make a career out of writing sometime after marrying her first husband, Horst Glamsch. Snow got her start writing for the Courier and stringing, or freelancing, for the Tribune and quickly took to life as a newspaperwoman.

“The one thing about her that was interesting, her real gift… it’s a quote by Albert Einstein,” Kerry Glamsch, her son, said. “‘I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.’ That was her.

She was passionately curious about everything. That was her gift and her light shined on all of us: her family, friends and people who read her writings.”

Snow worked for the Tribune for more than 20 years as a reporter, feature writer for the Part IV section and eventually state woman’s editor. Her personality made her a good fit in one of the busiest newsrooms around as someone who could cut through tension and put her colleagues at ease.

“I think whoever coined the phrase ‘young at heart’ must have known someone like Panky,” Susan Green, who worked with Snow in the Plant City bureau, said. “She had a very fresh way of looking at the world. She had a very quirky sense of humor.

Working in a newsroom can be stressful, but she could break the tension by telling an off-the-wall joke.”

Some of her proudest moments include her interview with Gable, whom she came across at Tampa

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

JEWELRY STORE RECOVERS, REOPENS AFTER BURGLARY Your Family Jeweler was burglarized July 17 and suffered heavy losses, but the store has weathered the storm and got back on its feet with help from around Plant City.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Mike Hamilton’s 60th birthday couldn’t have been much worse.

On July 17, the owner of Your Family Jeweler woke up and learned burglars broke into his store early in the morning and just about cleaned the place out. More than $400,000 in inventory was taken and more than $40,000 in damage was done to the store during the entry and exit, Hamilton said. The incident is under investigation by law enforcement agencies from Plant City Police Department to the FBI, and the staff believe it could have been the work of a Chilean burglary crew that’s made headlines all over the United States since 2019 for similar jewelry store burglaries.

“I just think it’s one of the saddest things to happen for Mike Hamilton, especially on his birthday,” jeweler Joe Grimes said.

“We’ve been working our butts off to try to reopen, to recoup the losses and serve the community. That’s what we’ve been doing.”

What happened to Your Family Jeweler was enough to kill off many businesses in many small towns.

This one survived.

Hamilton and the staff have spent the last month working nearly nonstop to recover. The store got some help from an insurance payout, which covered about a quarter of the losses, and have had people from all over Plant City reach out to lend a hand.

“It’s all been cleaned up now and you can’t tell,” Hamilton said. “They stole a lot of equipment, destroyed equipment and just made a huge mess while they were here. We’ve had people come in and offer to help clean up, paint, do whatever they could do. We had people volunteer to help us move out the old safes and things that were damaged, to get them to where they were out of the way to where we could clean up and get everything fixed. We had a lot of people reach out to us.”

Even other Plant City jewelers reached out, brushing aside the fact they’d be competing against one another under normal circumstances.

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“Robbins Jewelry and Pawn actually told me, ‘We don’t care, we’ll even front you enough money to get back open and give you the inventory to do it. We don’t want you going anywhere,’” Hamilton said.

“They’re what you’d consider a competitor, but they’re friends. We’re not competitors, we’re friends. Brown’s, first time I’ve met (Rusty Brown), he came by to tell me he was sorry and if there was anything he could do, he offered to help. Every jewelry store in Plant City. John Shupard across the street even stopped by. I’d never met John or Rusty but they both came by telling us they were sorry and hoping we did OK.” Customers who have spent the last few weeks calling to see when the store would reopen have finally gotten their wish. After replenishing the inventory and getting the storefront all touched up, Your Family Jeweler reopened on Monday and has seen plenty of foot traffic since then.

“It feels a lot better, to put it mildly,” Hamilton said. “We’re relived. We’re glad to get the store back open, customers coming in and see people again. We’re doing what we enjoy.”

Your Family Jeweler is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Its phone number is 813-752-0585.

Photos by Justin Kline

Your Family Jeweler reopened after exactly one month of recovery work after a burglary wiped out much of the store’s finances.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

MASK MANDATE ALTERED AS CHILDREN PREP TO HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL

The mask mandate for the county was altered to require children age 5 and up to now wear a mask inside a business. Despite decreasing numbers, the county is not yet at the trend the CDC recommends, so the mandate will now run alongside the county’s state of emergency.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

With the pandemic response now fully in the hands of Hillsborough County commissioners, two big changes have residents voicing both strong opposition and support of the recent alteration to the mask mandate.

County commissioners held their second pandemic emergency meeting Thursday.

Most expected the majority of the conversation to revolve around making the mask mandate part of the emergency order, thus eliminating the need to renew it from week to week after that idea was floated during the prior meeting. The group did discuss the concept after listening to the latest Health Department report, which showed the county’s total caseload had passed 33,000.

It was agreed the mask mandate would run alongside the county’s state of emergency and would not be eliminated until either the emergency was over or commissioners requested to amend or disband the mandate.

Commissioners Stacy White and Ken Hagan opposed the motion.

It was a conversation the majority of viewers knew was coming and social media immediately flooded with strong posts about the alteration. However, another motion during Thursday’s meeting caught many viewers by surprise.

Now the order requires children age 5 and older to wear a mask inside a business that cannot comply with the CDC recommendations including the social distancing rules.

When the mask mandate was first put into effect on June 22, a similar tone was used for the management of children with the facial covering. Temple Terrace Acting Mayor Andy Ross spoke up a week later, asking the Emergency Policy Group to consider raising the age to 8 years old as he felt that young children could not realistically be expected to keep it on, which placed a large burden on their parents.

The former EPG members agreed and the change was written into the mandate on June 29. The county commission disbanded the EPG, took over the pandemic response and now seems eager to tighten restrictions once more to ensure the county’s numbers continue to drop.

During the meeting on Thursday, the commissioners had an in-depth discussion on what age was appropriate to require for mask wearing. Commissioner Kimberly Overman made a motion to recommend

the group go with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of children over the age of 5 to wear a mask. It was voted on without a debate, but commissioners Hagan, White and Sandy Murman opposed the amendment.

It’s a complicated topic as the latest numbers from the Florida Department of Health show the county’s cases are declining. Florida, however, had 579,932 cases as of Wednesday, an increase of 3,838 since Monday. That brings the state’s death toll up to 9,893, which is an increase of 219 since Monday.

During Thursday’s meeting, the Health Department showed commissioners the recent 14-day daily positivity rate finally dropped below 10 percent. The two-week rate was 9.38 percent on Tuesday and the seven-day rate was 7.2 percent.

However, Commission Chairman Les Miller Jr. voiced his continued concerns as the county has not yet reached the five percent positivity rate recommended by the CDC. “We must admit it (positive test rate) is coming down some,” Miller said.

He then voiced strong hesitations about public schools reopening with numbers still not where they need to be.

Parents are concerned as well, though some have different reasons. Hillsborough schools are doing a week of eLearning starting Aug. 24 and students will transition to brick-and-mortar on Aug. 31 for those who wish to take advantage of that option.

The district requires masks for all students, teachers and visitors. However, students with a medical exemption can get a form releasing them from the mask mandate. Those forms have been released by the district and can be filled out by parents who believe their child qualifies.

“Health and safety of our students and staff continues to be one of our top priorities, therefore masks will be required of all students, staff and visitors on Hillsborough County Public Schools property,” County Superintendent Addison Davis said in a statement to the community. “Medical exemptions are only available for children who have a medical, physical or psychological condition that prevents them from wearing a face covering during learning, and is certified by a licensed medical provider.

We look forward to welcoming back our students as we get this school year underway.”

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

PLANT CITY GROUP TALKS ‘EFFECTIVE POLICING’

Justin Kline

Danny McIntyre addresses attendees at the Aug. 11 i Impact PC meeting at HCC.

i Impact PC met last week to promote conversations about numerous community issues, with policing at the forefront of the discussion.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The latest goal of the i Impact PC group is to figure out how Plant City Police Department can be more “effective” at both policing the community and earning its trust.

The group, led by Danny McIntyre, hosted a meeting at the Trinkle Center on Aug. 11 that focused largely on that topic.

McIntyre spoke at length about the need to talk about police interactions with the community and invited several of the 30-plus attendees to share their initial thoughts as well.

It was more of an ideas workshop than the preparation of a move for swift, immediate action. McIntyre wanted to get a feel for what’s on the minds of those in the community both in person and online, for which he encouraged everyone to take a series of surveys.

One asked participants which issues i Impact PC hopes to cover meant the most to them. Fifty-four people ranked the following nine issues in order of importance: the war on drugs, “effective policing,” local economic development, workforce development, youth programming, leadership development programs, local government decisions, minority business development and inequality in the justice system.

Twenty-eight percent of voters, 15 of 54, chose youth programming as the number one issue that needs to be addressed in the community. In second place with 17 percent of the vote (nine of 54) was inequality in the justice system. Leadership development, local government decisions and minority business development each got six votes (or 11 percent per category). The war on drugs, “effective policing,” local economic development and workforce development each got three votes (or six

percent per category).

The one most relevant to the Aug. 11 meeting was about “effective policing” and was created Aug. 10. Though this category was not the top priority of those who took the first survey, it was the clearcut choice for second place with 15 votes.

That 11-question survey asked users to describe their interactions with PCPD, their views of PCPD and law enforcement in general and their thoughts on what “effective” and “ineffective” policing are. This was expanded upon in the meeting, as attendees discussed what police could improve upon to build more trust with the community officers swore to serve and protect.

“We’ve got to get the black community, and the police also, we have to engage with each other,” Angelo Murray said.

“We’ve got to start with the kids. Those are the ones that, right now, are most important. If we get the kids comfortable, I think some of the things that’s going on, we can move forward.”

Roderick Henderson, who has been advocating for a citizens’ review board in Plant City, spoke about a June meeting between Plant City-based activists and community leaders meant to highlight a current PCPD policy that could potentially cause a problem.

“In May, with the issue with George Floyd in Minnesota, we wanted to see what our policies were here in Plant City,” Henderson said. “I don’t have any issues with our police department but I do have issues with police, period. We just want to figure out what the policies are so those same issues that happened in Minnesota don’t happen in Plant City and we can work on prevention. After we went over the policies, we held a meeting with Chief (Ed) Duncan, Mayor Rick Lott and City Manager Bill McDaniel to discuss policies we have. The only issue I see in our policies is that everything is under the discretion of the Chief of Police when it comes to disciplining and complaints… that right there, I have a problem with.”

The other aforementioned topics will be discussed at future meetings and forums. McIntyre has posted the rest of the surveys to the i Impact PC Facebook page.

The group held another meeting at 6:30 p.m. last night, from which details and further survey results were not available at press time. Anyone who wishes to attend future meetings can get more information on the Facebook page. Masks and RSVPs are required.

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PlantCityObserver.com

FOOTSTEPS OF FAITH:

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

Quick Hits

FRUIT FROM THE HEART

Like shopping for produce, we can choose which words we serve others from the field of our hearts.

For more information or to donate visit www.chaplaincycare.org

DR. DANIEL MIDDLEBROOKS

It began as a fast morning, with me grabbing my video camera and tripod and heading out to meet with a number of people.

I was recording segments for our Aug. 29 “Banquet of Heroes.” During the day, I interviewed many within the community as well as first responders. What was interesting to me was that almost everyone began their recording session with these words: “I’m not very good in front of a camera. I don’t know what to say.” I would encourage them and simply ask them to share their heart.

The main theme for the video testimonies was to simply say “Thank You!” Regardless of people and businesses within the community thanking our first responders or our great heroes thanking the community that stands beside and supports them, the power of gratitude gives us more than just a feeling of thankfulness. It gives us the words to freely express it.

One person shared how, during an accident, off-duty firefighters heard the crash, came to where he was and helped save his life. Another man said first responders came to his house and helped during a crisis with his wife. He remarked, “They were so big, like giants, yet they were so compassionate and kind.” One business owner used his facility to help raise money for a local first responder undergoing cancer treatment.

In talking with community leaders like Plant City Police Chief Ed Duncan and Fire Chief David Burnett, they both echoed the same sentiment of deep thanks for what the community has done and continues to do to make them feel supported and safe.

One officer from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the love and support from the community helps her leave her three children every morning. That positive protection from us as a community is why the kids let her leave for work.

With every interview and video, the amazing stories of thanksgiving kept filling more than just the storage card in the camera, but the storeroom of my heart. I know that the heart is a fertile field for any seed sown and depending on the seed, the crop you harvest will be yours to share.

Luke 6:45 tells us that what you have in your heart will come out of your mouth. I paused to consider this crucial principle in my daily walk and talk with others. I started listening to what was coming out of my mouth as it was now the sharing fruit from the field of my heart.

I would love to be able to say that the harvest was always gracious and giving, that the farmer’s market of my mouth brought forth love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, meekness and selfcontrol. There were times that the sour grapes of my attitude came spilling out and the rotten apples of my impatience spoiled a special time. I know that even in the best of markets, there will be some bad fruit and vegetables. Yet when we are shopping for that perfect dinner side dish, we get to pick and choose the right tomato or squash for the meal. We also get to choose, each day, what we will serve our family and community from the field of our hearts.

At 7 p.m. Aug. 29, we get to say “Thank you” to our incredible first responders for all they have done and continue to do during the pandemic and ongoing problems (visit chaplaincycare.org for more info).

We will also hear their thanks to a gracious community that has their backs and provides for their needs. It is only one night, but a harvest does not just come in one day — it comes daily.

Do you think it is possible for us to begin a morning routine of cultivating our character by tending the field of our heart?

What would happen if we paused to check the fruit of our words like ripe tomatoes before serving (or throwing) them? As the strawberry fields will see planting and harvesting in the near future, we must daily prepare the words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts to engage lovingly a hurting, but slowly healing, community. Now, who is ready to be filmed?

For the older generation, I leave you with these immortal words of Norma Desmond: “I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.”

Dr. Daniel Middlebrooks is the Senior Chaplain of First Call Church and the CEO/President of Chaplaincy Care, Inc.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

YOUTH EXPLOSION

FHSAA VOTES TO KEEP AUG. 24 PREP SPORTS RETURN

RETURNS TO ELLIS PARK

The second annual kids’ fun day was held Aug. 1 at Marie B. Ellis Park.

Photos courtesy of Rudyne Lee

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR File photo

The Board of Directors voted during its Aug. 14 meeting in Gainesville.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

After several weeks of review from its committees and anticipation from all over the state, the FHSAA finally decided when to restart sports.

An 11-5 vote for the proposed Option 1 on Aug. 14 sealed the deal, so high school athletes and programs are still able to get back in action as early as Aug. 24.

The first allowable return to practice date for fall sports is Aug. 24 and the earliest allowed regular season competitions can begin Sept. 4. Not all schools and districts will be forced to start at either of those times, however.

The option was amended early in the meeting by board member Carlos Ochoa, who proposed a new state series opt-out date of Sept. 18 in order to give more schools the flexibility to come back when they feel ready to do so. If a school or district opts out and needs to adjust its sports calendar to accommodate its needs, the FHSAA will work with it to create a new one. This would allow for new regional championship series to be created.

Ochoa said the Sept. 18 date was chosen because it’s very close to the FHSAA’s next board meeting, and it also gives schools another month to look at trends and implement CDC guidelines well before the optout deadline.

The board also approved a COVID-19 waiver available to schools that wish to have one.

Option 1 was the recommendation of FHSAA Executive Director George Tomyn, who spent the weeks following the July 23 board meeting speaking with the organization’s advisory committees to get a feel for their preferred return-to-play options.

Options 1 and 3 garnered far more support among all groups than Option 2, but the desire to return immediately outweighed the desire to wait among most committees.

That formed the basis of Tomyn’s recommendation, which he admitted during the Aug. 14 meeting was not supported by any kind of science or the recommendations of the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC).

The vote was a win for the thousands of Florida athletes and parents who joined the state’s high school version of the #WeWantToPlay movement. First started by a tweet from Ocala-Forest football safety Jaydon Hodge, the movement exploded in recent weeks and led to a change.org petition created by Jaime and Tammy Kent, whose son plays football for Cambridge Christian. That petition got more than 40,000 signatures and the Kents also attended the Aug. 14 meeting to persuade the board members to vote for Option 1.

Plant City youth got free school supplies, food and more at the second annual Youth Explosion event.

Held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 1 at Marie B. Ellis Park, the event not only helped kids get ready for the upcoming 2020-21 school year but also gave them a fun day to remember.

“The occasion was a success in spite of the new norm and change in our society,” Rudyne Lee said. “Everyone was masked up and social distancing was maintained throughout the event.”

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Kids at the Youth Explosion event and families around Plant City were given back packs filled with school supplies, games, books and sporting goods like basketballs, footballs and baseballs. Farin Ellis made 100 masks for children and parents.

Rise and Explore the Dream, a group Lee is a member of, hosts the annual event. The group’s mission is “to encourage and motivate individuals to become self-sufficient, productive and responsible citizens in our diverse society.”

“As a community, we must connect and contribute to shaping our youth to be determined and dedicated in order to fulfill their dreams,” Lee said.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR We asked Facebook: The county

mask mandate’s minimum age requirement has changed several times and now applies for children age 5 and up. Do you think last week’s change was needed or was it unnecessary?

“If everyone would wear a mask, this thing would be over...mask deniers are causing the uptick in cases and deaths.”

— Peg Laseter Lee “I feel it should be parents’ choice.”

— Temecia Vitiello “What are you gonna do, ask a child for ID?” — Stephen T. Galindo “I wear a mask. Children see it as the norm unless their parents make a big deal out

of shooting it down? The county is doing the right thing.”

— Shirley Chamberlain “Completely unnecessary and only further stresses out our children. If you have a medical condition than you should take full precautions like wearing a mask, curbside checkout and home delivery.

If you don’t have medical conditions, you shouldn’t be forced to abide by those who do.”

— Travis Emerson

Esther Cowart Doerle

Carl Stiles

Antero Huerta

Carl Stiles, 68, of Plant City, Rodriguez passed away on August 12, Esther Cowart Doerle, 99, of Antero Huerta Rodriguez, 89, of Dover, 2020. Funeral services were Dover, passed away on August held Monday, August 17, 2020 passed away on August 12, 2020. A 13, 2020.

Funeral Mass will be held on Friday Auat the Springhead Pentecostal The family will receive friends Church of God, 3301 Clemons gust 21 at 11am at St. Clement Catholic Thursday, August 20, 2020 Road, Plant City, FL 33566. On- Church. from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at line condolences may be left for Online condolences can be made at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W www.haught.care. the family at www.haught.care.

Dr MLK Jr Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 AM. Masks are required to attend the service. HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM Online condolences may Robert Morgan Cecil Earl Mitchell be left for the family at www. haught.care.

Robert Morgan, 64, of LakeCecil Earl Mitchell, 91, of Zephyrhills, land, passed away on August passed away on Sunday, August 16, we’re dedicated to helping families create a W E ’ RE P RO U D TO S E RV E our community 12, 2020. Funeral were care2020. wasandborn in Birmingham, meaningful memorial that truly withservices personal, compassionate since 1896.Heunique the life it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, held August 19, 2020 at Haught Alabamacelebrates on March 9, 1929. > 100% Service Guarantee > National Plan Transferability Funeral Home, 708 W Dr MLK Jr and fond memories Condolences Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® > Bereavement Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563. Onmay be left at www.wellsmemorial.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM R line condolences may be left for com for the Mitchell family.

Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival. the family at www.haught.care.

OBITUARIES

AROUND TOWN

289704-1

Taking care of each other is what

community

is all about.

®

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

WELLSMEMORIAL.COM

Wells MeMorial & event Center PlanT CiTy

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

10/27/15 10:42 AM

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

Mary F. Crouse

Alan ‘Al’ David Snider Alan “Al” David Snider, 74, of Plant City, formerly of Pleasant View, Indiana, born on December 28, 1945 in Indianapolis, Indiana, entered into eternal rest on August 7, 2020.

He retired in 2002 as a Senior Industrial Engineer for Allison Transmission, after 34 years with the company. A man of quiet but firm faith in the Lord, Alan read the Bible with a friend almost every day. In his younger years, he enjoyed going on cruises with his wife Debby, playing tennis, competitive chess, tournament billiards and card games.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Deborah Modlin Snider.

He is survived by his children, Jon Snider (Cathy) of Akiak, Alaska, Kimberly Sprinkle (Jeff) of Baytown, Texas, and Chad Sellmer of Las Vegas, Nevada; 4 grandchildren, and 2 greatgrandchildren; sister, Gene McCormick of Indianapolis; and close friends, Betty Bryant of Fairland, Indiana, and Jonathan Brownlee of Plant City; and other family, and friends.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Grady Elmo Bailey Jr.

Grady Elmo Bailey Jr., 79, of passed away on August 13, 2020.

The family will receive friends Friday, August 21, 2020 from HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W Dr MLK Jr Sonja Barnetta Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563. Funeral HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM Davidson services will follow at 4:00 PM. Kristy S. Davenport Sonja Barnetta Davidson, 81, of Masks will be required to attend Kristy S. Davenport, 60, of Lynn, Apollo Beach, was born February 22, the service.

Online condolences may be Indiana, born on April 9, 1960 in 1939 and passed away August 13, left for the family at www.haught.

2020.

Monett, Missouri, entered into care.

Expressions of condolence at eternal rest on August 14, 2020.

HopewellFuneral.com.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Taking care of Hall John Philip John Philip Hall, 73, of Plant City, each other is what Betty Jane Jimenez HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Irene Blakey

Irene Blakey, 84, of Plant City, died August 13, 2020.

Graveside services will be held passed away on Wednesday, AuAugust 24, 2020 at 11:30am at Betty Jane Jimenez, 84, of Zeph- gust 12, 2020. yrhills, passed away on August 10, He was born on August 12, 1947 Hillsborough Memorial Gardens. Haught Funeral Home is in 2020. in Charleston, West Virginia. He charge of the arrangements.

Expressions of condolence served in the United Stated Air we’re 20 dedicated to helping families create a W E ’R E P R O U D TO S E RV E our community She is survived by a loving at HopewellFuneral.com.

Force for years (1967-1987). unique and meaningful memorial that truly with personal, compassionate care since 1896. fond memories family. celebrates the lifeand it represents.

As your Dignity Memorial professionals, Condolences > 100% Service Guarantee > National Transferability may be leftPlan at www.wellsmemorial. > Bereavement Travel Assistance > The Compassion Helpline® com for the Hall family.

community

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R

Proudly supporting the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Helen J. Moody

Helen J. Moody, 90, of Plant City, WELLSMEMORIAL.COM born on November 20, 1929 in Lampasas, Texas, entered into Wells MeMorial & event Center eternal rest on August 9, 2020.

Dean PlanT CiTy Expressions of condolence813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com Chapman at HopewellFuneral.com.

Mr. Dean Chapman 51, went to his Heavenly Father August 3, 2020.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM Services were held August 14, 2020 at Jerry Hopkins Mt. Moriah BapHarrington tist Church, 902 E Alabama St. CremaJerry Hopkins Harrington, 65, tion. Winslow Honors of Plant City, born on April 26, 1955, entered into eternal rest on Funeral Chapel M2313_4832_Wells_PNT_Comm_7-25x9-75_C.indd 1

JoAnne Marie Peterson

JoAnne Marie Peterson, 87, of Plant City, passed away on August 12, 2020.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, August 26, 2020 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W Dr MLK Jr Blvd, Plant City, FL 33563.

Masks will be required to attend the visitation.

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

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Margaret Magdalin Gilmartin

Margaret Magdalin Gilmartin, 92, of Plant City, passed away on August 14, 2020.

A funeral mass will be held Thursday August 20, 2020 at St. Clement Catholic Church at 11:00am, 1104 N. Alexander St. Plant City, Florida 33563.

A graveside will follow at 3:00pm at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens 2323 W Brandon Blvd. Brandon, Florida 33511.

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

Ruth Ann Brunson Mrs. Ruth Ann Brunson, 70 went home August 8, 2020.

Services were held August 15, 2020. Bealsville Cemetery.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

10/27/15 10:42 AM

FAMILY. COMMUNITY. COMPASSION. VALUE. FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971 HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

OBITUARIES

August 12, 2020.

Expressions of condolence Mary F. Crouse, 83, of Plant City, at HopewellFuneral.com. passed away August 14, 2020.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg August 19, 2020 PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

8/19

FORECAST THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 High: 88 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 60%

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 High: 87 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 60%

cousin 35 Ball girls?

37 Wan 38 What some trees provide 40 Lithium-___ battery 41 Inch along 42 Singer India.___ 43 Take care of 45 “I told you so!”

46 Present period?

48 Recede 50 Sign to interpret 51 Manhunt target?

55 Bud you constantly text, perhaps 57 Steamed green part of a lobster?

60 Dinghy mover 62 Quattro automaker 63 Light source 64 Scented candle emanation 65 Tech news site 66 Fourth-largest Great Lake 67 Yarn purchase 68 Smoothie green 69 Bears’ lairs DOWN 1 Fire remnant 2 Taco topper 3 Land parcel 4 Royals’ opportunities?

5 Placate 6 Org. that awarded John

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

High: 88 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 40%

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 High: 89 Low: 76 Chance of rain: 60%

OKRA

Shipping point: Central Florida $10.35-$12.85

Lewis a Spingarn Medal 7 Cash box 8 Jazzy Fitzgerald 9 Stand-up person 10 Unrefined find at a mine 11 Where lobsters keep their eggs?

12 What a summer does?

13 Out of concern that 21 Congressional investigation 22 Dampens 26 Lead-in to “frost” 28 Singly 29 Allow to use 30 Indian clarified butter 31 Flashy promotion 32 Brit’s “My word!”

33 No ___ Traffic 34 Not-so-meaty lobster posterior?

36 Wasn’t truthful 39 Judge to be 41 Hooded snake 43 Nickname that anagrams to “not I” 44 One may eat at your place 47 Capital of Iran 49 Sent an invoice 51 Runway walker 52 Summer driving hazard 53 Leave no way out for 54 Works with keys 55 Push-up ___ (certain undergarments) 56 Item for eating or tuning 58 Poster holder 59 Albacore, for one 61 Early Beatles label

15

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, August 20

7:01a

8:01p

Friday, August 21

7:02a

8:00p

Saturday, August 22

7:02a

7:59p

Sunday, August 23

7:03a

7:58p

Monday, August 24

7:03a

7:57p

Tuesday, August 25

7:04a

7:56p

Wednesday, August 26 7:04a

7:55p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

Being Shellfish by Robert H. Wolfe

ACROSS 1 “Como ___?”

5 Feed the kitty 9 Fable’s lesson 14 Mini-___ (convenience store) 15 Beach bucket 16 Chip away at 17 Spill the beans 18 Gloomy aura 19 Requirements 20 Lobster trap foilers?

23 He followed FDR 24 Dingy dwelling 25 Sound effect in a tunnel 27 Plea at sea 28 Despite the fact that 32 “The Addams Family”

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Sept. 16 New

Sept. 21 First

Sept. 1 Full

Sept. 12 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Aug. 10

0.46

Tuesday, Aug. 11 0.37 Wednesday, Aug. 12

0.02

Thursday, Aug. 13 0.00 Friday, Aug. 14

0.02

Saturday, Aug. 15 0.00 Sunday, Aug. 16

0.04

YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 29.97 in.

2020 2.27 in.

2019 31.40 in.

2019 12.08 in.

WEATHER

ACROSS 51 Manhunt 13 Out of 44 One may eat 1 “Como target? concern that at your place ___?”

55 Bud you 21 Congressio47 Capital 5 Feed the constantly nal of Iran kitty text, perhaps investigation 49 Sent an Send your photo submissions to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com 9 Fable’s 57 Steamed 22 Dampens invoice or hashtag Instagram to feature. 51 Runway lesson#iloveplantcity ongreen partforof@igersplantcity 26 Lead-in 14 Mini-___ a lobster? to “frost” walker (conve60 Dinghy 28 Singly 52 Summer nience store) mover 29 Allow to use driving 15 Beach 62 Quattro 30 Indian hazard bucket automaker clarified 53 Leave no 16 Chip away at 63 Light source butter way out for 17 Spill the 64 Scented 31 Flashy 54 Works with beans candle promotion keys 18 Gloomy emanation 32 Brit’s 55 Push-up ___ aura 65 Tech news “My word!” (certain un19 Requiresite 33 No ___ dergarments) ments 66 FourthTraffic 56 Item for 20 Lobster trap largest 34 Not-soeating or foilers?

Great Lake meaty lobster tuning 23 He followed 67 Yarn posterior?

58 Poster FDR purchase 36 Wasn’t holder 24 Dingy 68 Smoothie truthful 59 Albacore, dwelling green 39 Judge to be for one 25 Sound effect 69 Bears’ lairs 41 Hooded 61 Early in a tunnel DOWN snake Beatles label 27 Plea at sea 1 Fire remnant 43 Nickname 28 Despite the 2 Taco topper that fact that 3 Land parcel anagrams 32 “The 4 Royals’ opto “not I” Addams portunities?

Kathy Flemister spotted this her back yard.

“Not having it for dinner,” she Family” 5 “unknown Placate mushroom” in PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER said.cousin The mushroom appears to be that a Strobilomyces strobilaceus, better known as the “Old Man 6 Org. of the Woods” bolete. Thoughawarded that is an edible mushroom, it’s always a good idea to avoid eating 35 Ball girls? fungi you can’t identify.

37 Wan John Lewis Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, 38 What some a Spingarn ON L Iprovide N E @PlantObserver trees Medal on Twitter and Plant City Observer 40 Lithium-___ Cash box on7Facebook. battery 8 Jazzy 41 Inch along Fitzgerald 42 Singer 9 Stand-up India.___ person 43 Take care of 10 Unrefined 45 “I told you find at a mine so!”

11 Where 46 Present lobsters keep period? their eggs?

48 Recede 12 What a 50 Sign to summer 8/18 © 2020 Andrews McMeel Universal interpret does? www.upuzzles.com

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020

PlantCityObserver.com