9.24.20 PLCO

Plant City Observer

y Observer

YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .

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VOLUME 6, NO. 115

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CITY PLANS TO

UPGRADE 9-1-1 COMMAND CENTER The City of Plant City is set to use funding it received to help with COVID-19 costs to upgrade the workstation for its 9-1-1 employees and boost its safety measures.

FREE

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THURSDAY, SEPT 24, 2020

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The ongoing pandemic has led to some further funding for the City of Plant City as agencies continue to adjust their operations.

While the City of Plant City has already discussed changes it hopes to see quickly brought to life throughout a variety of its facilities, last week’s city commission meeting showed another alteration is now on the horizon.

Every year, the City of Plant City receives funding from the county to support the 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point, which is operated by the Plant City Police Department. On April 13, city commissioners approved the interlock agreement that would have given the city $122,015. The city has since received the funds.

SEE PAGE 7

LOCAL BICYCLIST RAISES FUNDS FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

James Fuller, 80, is biking hundreds of miles to raise money for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund.

SEE PAGE 3

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

2

Prayer group going strong in hospital parking lot A group of people from St. Clement Catholic Church has been sending prayers to South Florida Baptist Hospital workers, first responders and other personnel from the hospital parking lot since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can find the group there every Wednesday, as it’s done every week since April 1, praying the rosary.

“We believe very strongly in the power of prayer and especially the rosary which we pray every week,” Joey Findlay, the group’s organizer, said in a press release issued by the hospital. “The point is to pray for the health care workers, essential workers and our first responders, and of course, all the people suffering from this virus. We’ve remained steadfast in that because we know that God will intercede. He’s here with us and has a greater plan. If He can stick it out, then so can we.”

HCSO promoting Rail Safety Week This week is Rail Safety Week in Florida, so Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is

Photos courtesy of South Florida Baptist Hospital

making sure residents know how to stay safe around trains.

HCSO released a PSA this week covering basic safety rules everyone should know before going around railroad tracks, whether they’re walking or driving, and is also active on social media using the #STOPTrackTragedies hashtag along with Operation Life Saver Inc., Operation Life Saver Canada and Amtrak. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, 25 people in Florida died in vehicle-train collisions last year and 293 died that way nationwide. Florida ranks third in the country for the most deadly railway incidents, HCSO said.

“Don’t take risks, and clear the way for trains, it’s simple and life-saving advice,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “We can avoid devastating accidents by reminding ourselves, family, and friends, that trains are heavy and just about unstoppable once in motion. Use caution when approaching railroad tracks and obey signals and warnings to ensure a safe and smooth encounter.”

Here are a few safety rules HCSO is promoting: 1. Never walk on railroad tracks. All train tracks are private property, making it not only highly dangerous to walk on them, but also illegal.

2. Only cross at designated railroad pedestrian and traffic crossings. Obey all posted warnings and signals.

3. Never stop on the tracks. It takes the average freight train traveling at 55 mph, more than a mile (the length of 18 football fields), to come to a complete stop. This makes the weight ratio of a car to a train proportional to a car running over a soda can.

For more information, visit www.oli. org and follow the #STOPTrackTragedies hashtag on social media. To view HCSO’s PSA, visit the Sheriff’s Office’s YouTube channel (HCSOSheriff).

Voter registration deadline approaching Florida residents who are not registered to vote and wish to do so have about a week and a half to meet the state’s deadline.

Whether you’re registering online, in person or by mail, the last day to register is Oct. 5. Mailed registration must be postmarked by Oct. 5. If you’ve already

registered to vote in the past, it still won’t hurt to check your registration status to make sure nothing has changed. You can check your status online at VoteHillsborough.org, as well as update your information if need be.

The Early Voting period will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 19 through Nov. 1. Election Day voting on Nov. 3 will also run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you wish to vote by mail (formerly known as absentee voting), you no longer need an excuse to request a ballot for yourself or another registered voter. These ballots can either be mailed traditionally or dropped off either at any Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office or in a drop box at any Early Voting location. If you change your mind and wish to vote in person after receiving your ballot, you can check in to vote in person and your Vote By Mail ballot will be canceled. Visit votehillsborough.org/VOTERS/Vote-By-Mail, call 813-612-4180, email voter@hcsoe.org, write to Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections, 2514 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, FL 33619 or visit a Supervisor of Elections Office near you for more information and to request a ballot.

JAMES FULLER BIKING FOR CHILDHOOD PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

CANCER RESEARCH Fuller has biked nearly 700 miles and counting for the Great Cycle Challenge Riding to Fight Kids’ Cancer.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

If you live in Walden Lake, odds are good you’ve watched a man zoom around the lake, weaving in and out of neighborhoods each morning just as the sun begins to peek over the horizon.

James Fuller is out there like clockwork.

He goes for a ride most mornings and he’ll often be out in the afternoon as well, circling the lake. Occasionally you’ll even catch a glimpse of him biking through the neighborhoods just after dinner as he attempts to clock one last ride for the day.

This past month, all of those miles have been pedaled for one inspiring cause: to raise money for children’s cancer research. He turned 80 years old last October and has steadily been biking toward and surpassing his goals.

“The reality is 38 children die every week from cancer,” James Fuller said.

“When you think about cancer, usually you think about how it affects adults. It’s tragic when anyone is diagnosed, but when you start to think about the children that are affected, it’s so traumatic. They have their whole life ahead of them. They need help and research really is the first step toward finding cures.”

Approximately 11,050 children in the U.S. under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Childhood cancer rides have been on the rise for the past few decades. While treatment advances and further research has definitely heightened the survival rates, it is not yet anywhere near where it should be.

“After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14,” the American Cancer Society reported. “About 1,190 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2020.”

It’s a cause close to James Fuller’s heart and he said he is honored to be able to do his small part in raising money for childhood cancer research.

James Fuller began riding bikes when he was a kid and in middle school he had a paper route in Zephyrhills. When he grew up, he went into the Navy and married his wife Julia. They’ve been married for 58 years and they moved back to Florida after he retired from the newspaper business in 2000.

To stay active, they each bought a bicycle. Julia Fuller is still on her origi-

nal bike, but James Fuller is now on his fourth. Though he occasionally heads to trails, the majority of his riding is done in Walden Lake. He’s done 15,000 miles since they began and the majority of that was clocked in just the last year.

He jokes that every dog in Walden Lake knows who he is as there are few neighborhoods he hasn’t biked through.

At the beginning of 2019, James Fuller decided he wanted to make an effort to get back into shape. He had a goal weight and began using bicycling as a way to exercise.

He stumbled upon the Great Cycle Challenge and realized he could start using his means of exercise for a greater cause. When his 80th birthday neared he had a new mission: he was determined to ride 80 miles, a mile for each year he was alive.

In September he did 60 miles and felt he had hit a wall. But he didn’t give up. Bob Culton, a good friend of his, reminded him of Margie Gonzalez — who is a neighbor to the Fullers — and her goal in 2017 of walking 87 miles for her 87th birthday.

Gonzalez raised money for Operation Smile, a nonprofit that provides surgeries for those born with cleft lip and cleft palate.

This friend encouraged James Fuller to consider doing something similar and converting his bike ride into an outlet for raising funds for a charity. Fuller agreed and did the ride in honor of raising money for Alzheimers research.

They were out of town on his actual birthday, but when they returned he loaded up his bike and went to the Van Fleet Trail. He waved to his wife when he returned, 80 miles fully under his belt.

This fall he found the Great Cycle Challenge Riding to Fight Kids’ Cancer. Riders across the country are pledging to ride a set amount of miles and then people donate to support their journey.

The challenge is over at the end of the month and James Fuller has already ridden 686 miles and has raised nearly $2,000. He’s hoping to raise even more before the month is up. Originally his goal was to ride 500 miles, but by the middle of September he had already hit the mark.

He also hoped to raise $1,000 and after surpassing that he upped the goal again.

He currently is in sixth place in his age bracket for money raised for the cause and has some of the highest milages clocked out of the group. You can see a breakdown of each ride he does on his page and watch as his routes continue to tick his total milage ever upward.

The Great Cycle Challenge website has a variety of pictures of children that have been diagnosed with cancer and shares information on each of their stories.

Their parents share how the disease has impacted their families and riders and donators alike are able to get a glimpse at the reality of what childhood cancer looks like in this country.

“A lot of people in the community see me riding and probably wonder why I do this,” James Fuller said. “I’m hoping this challenge helps bring some awareness of childhood cancer to our community. It seems to be a reward that I can ride and at the same time help such a worthy cause.”

Those interested in donating to his challenge and help raise money in support of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund can do so at greatcyclechallenge. com/riders/jamesfuller3. You can donate directly to the page and get an in-depth look at his journey over the past month.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

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4

COPS CORNER

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

PLANT CITY

Observer

This week on Cops Corner: Plant City Police investigated a mutual affray, a mechanic malfunction, stolen necklaces

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

and more.

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com

SEPT. 11

SEPT. 13

SEPT. 15

BRAWL FOR ALL 4500 block of Highway 574 Battery: Several subjects, ranging from juveniles to adults, were in a mutual affray near Oakbrook Mobile Home Park.

FINDERS KEEPERS 2800 block of James L. Redman Parkway Found stolen vehicle (HCSO): Officers located an unoccupied 2003 Chevrolet truck, learned it was reported stolen and removed it from FCIC/NCIC.

NECK-LESS 1800 block of Wilkins Court Theft: This complainant stated someone stole several necklaces, valued together at $600, from them.

SEPT. 12 MECHANIC MALFUNCTION 300 block of North Palmer Street Vehicle burglary: Officers met with this complainant, who stated she dropped off her 2005 Honda Element for repair on Sept. 9 and picked it up Sept. 11 with a newly smashed rear passenger window.

SEPT. 14 GUN CONTROL 1110 block of North Shannon Avenue Theft: This complainant stated two firearms were stolen from her home.

HOW DID THAT GET THERE? 700 block of West Madison Street Criminal mischief: This complainant told officers he found a bullet hole on the driver’s side door of his Lincoln Aviator.

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

MAKE CHANGE, DON’T STEAL IT 1300 block of West Dr. MLK Boulevard Burglary: This complainant stated someone stole a plastic five-gallon bottle full of coins from a company office. The complainant estimated there were roughly $1,500 in coins stored within the bottle.

SEPT. 17 TRAILER TROUBLES 2100 block of Shannon Avenue Theft: This complainant stated someone cut the lock off of a gate to get to a locked cargo trailer, cut off the trailer’s lock and stole a Makita compressor and a Champion generator. The items were valued together at $1,800.

TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

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

CONTACT US

The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

SEND US YOUR NEWS

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, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B, Plant City, FL 33563

Facebook: Plant City Observer Instagram: @plcobserver Twitter: @PlantObserver

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Plant City Observer

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

5

BUDGET

SET TO RECEIVE FINAL APPROVAL MONDAY Stormwater upgrades and Roseland Park project round out the last of the major proposals in the next fiscal year’s budget.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The City of Plant City will make its final decisions regarding the upcoming fiscal year’s budget on Monday.

Once commissioners nail down their preferences and approve the budget, it will go into effect Oct. 1 and set a variety of projects into motion.

While many projects that are proposed — like the park upgrades and pending demolition of the former post office — have garnered heavy community interest, a few other changes that are tucked away in the budget are sure to have widespread impact.

The city proposed to dedicate $1,650,000 toward repairing lift stations, replacing waterlines, gravity sewer lines, generators, pumps, water storage tanks, meters and force mains. Those upgrades will improve water quality throughout the city and will help provide a more efficient system.

The city then proposed to invest an additional $4.35 million to construct Water Treatment Plant 5. Back in April 2019, the city approved a contract with Hydro Solutions Consulting, LLC. for its engineering services for said water treatment plant. It is planned to be along Paul Buchman Highway near where a large portion of upcoming expansion is estimated to occur.

Currently, there are four water treatment plants in the city that range from water towers to ground tanks. The fifth plant will be a ground tank. Hydro Solutions was paid $1,379,200 to bring the plant to life and City Manager Bill McDaniel said it was the perfect timing to get this operational.

Back in April, he told the Plant City Observer it would help the city “meet the capacity needs” and added the location on Paul Buchman Highway just below Sam Allen will soon be a hotbed of activity as the north and northeast corridor are home to a variety of upcoming projects.

The city is also investing $200,000 toward the rehabilitation and repair of stormwater drainage pipes and inlets.

Of course, McIntosh Park will be a massive part of the budget for years to come.

Water quality is something the city hopes to be able to enhance using the massive park.

In the upcoming budget, the city is setting aside $100,000 toward the pilot program for the McIntosh Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) project and $287,175 to design the McIntosh Park Wetland Expansion.

Though all of the projects proposed for the next fiscal year are crucial steps for the city to take, McDaniel said one in particular will answer a long-awaited call for change.

The next fiscal year will finally be the grand finale of the flooding saga at Rose-

land Park. The design for the project was completed and ready to go to bid in Aug. 2020 and construction is set to begin next month.

For years, residents of Roseland Park have had to adjust their lives for every heavy rainfall — as well as any forecast of rain if it had been a particularly wet season — and have lived with unacceptable flooding throughout the community.

Roseland Park is one of the oldest subdivisions in the city. Yards and adjoining roadways fill with water during heavy rain.

Several inches will pool in the roadways and yards in a normal rain shower, especially on Azalea Street. During heavier rains, those inches quickly build up and that can result in giant pools of rainwater that are several feet deep.

In countless instances, residents said, they haven’t been able to safely drive their vehicles to and from their homes.

“Roseland Park is a longstanding problem and we are solving a longstanding problem that has probably existed since the subdivision was built, quite frankly,” McDaniel said. “We’re going in and rectifying it and putting in a new stormwater drainage system, and they’ll end up with completely resurfaced roads on top of that. It’s going to be a major improvement for that neighborhood. There are times during heavy rainfall that you go to the

back of Roseland Park and there is water at least two feet deep completely submerging the road back there. They’re impassible.

They’re dangerous. So to be able to correct that is very important.”

It’s an issue the city has been aware of for years, as residents have frequently voiced their complaints during the summers when they tend to get bombarded with heavy rain. McDaniel said he remembers sitting in a city commission meeting many years ago and listening to the residents talk about the problems they faced.

The process of fixing it is a massive undertaking, however, so it was something that has taken years to get all of the pieces lined up to finally be able to get underground and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“I’ve seen the problem firsthand,” McDaniel said. “So I’m very excited to be able to be in a position to address that.”

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GIRL SCOUTS 6

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

ATTEND UNIQUE BRIDGING CEREMONY Local Girl Scouts have had to face a number of hurdles due to the ongoing pandemic. However, their ability to quickly adapt to the changes thrown their way has led to them hardly missing a beat.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Girl Scouts across the country have always operated under one guiding principle: be prepared.

That motto has never been more appropriate than this year, as young scouts have had to quickly adapt to the continuous hurdles thrown their way thanks to the widespread COVID-19 pandemic.

But persevere they did.

Several troops were able to celebrate their hard work on Sunday during a unique bridging ceremony the girls will surely remember for years to come. A bridging ceremony is traditionally done in the spring toward the end of the school year.

During the in-person ceremony, the girls recite a pledge, walk over a bridge to signify their passing from one age bracket to another and then receive their new vests.

When the calendar began creeping toward the scheduled bridging ceremonies this spring, COVID-19 arrived and locked the nation down as communities attempted to safely get a grasp on the pandemic.

The ceremonies were postponed and the girls had a choice: either leave the scouts or adjust to a new method of leadership and growth.

Most chose to stay and they began meeting with their troop via Zoom. Courtney Paat, recruiter and public relations representative for the Strawberry Service Unit, said the scouts didn’t miss a beat.

“They did badge work, scavenger hunts, they did escape rooms all online, they did cupcake wars and worked on badges, all kinds of things,” Paat said. “It was really very creative and one of the beautiful things I think we all are experiencing with technology is how much access to information and people and resources we have using the tech. Girl Scouts all over have tapped into that and there are thousands of programs out there that are available to Girl Scouts using zoom essentially or other online formats, where they can do science experiments, STEM activities and go on virtual tours of other locations. I know we’ve got girls that have done stuff with NASA.” The Girl Scouts have recently been able to meet in person once again — albeit with social distancing guidelines and new safety requirements — so the local troops felt it was high time the young girls be able to cross the bridge and move to the next level.

However, it still didn’t make sense to fill a room with friends and family to hold the traditional ceremony.

Instead, the troops got creative. Spearheaded by Annette Lynn, the Strawberry Community events coordinator, local troops attended a bridging event for the books. Tents were erected behind the American Legion Post 26 in Plant City and a bridge was decorated for the girls to cross.

Each troop had an assigned time slot.

The girls arrived with their families and each family had the chance to watch their children advance to the next level. When it was their time to cross, each girl would come out of the car, recite the pledge, cross and receive a new uniform. When all was said and done, the girls hopped back in the cars and left just in time for the new troop to arrive and start the process over again.

Lynn said that even though the weather took a turn in the afternoon, none of the girls let it keep them down.

“It’s almost as though Plant City has rediscovered Girl Scouting,” Lynn said.

“They grew last year around the number of five times the number of girls. We wanted to do things as a community to help the leaders feel supported. It was a great event and even when the rain came, the girls weren’t at all discouraged and the parents, God bless them, stood out there in the rain in their umbrellas and wore masks

and stayed six feet apart and cheered when the girls crossed.”

Paat said it was a way to honor the girls as they are bridging while still keeping everyone safe.

Though the schedule has shifted a bit due to COVID-19, the Girl Scouts are currently in the middle of a recruitment period for new scouts. There are unique events for interested parties that are now fully online.

There’s a robot party for girls to do online to give them a taste of what they would experience as a Girl Scout and there is a Girl Scout information night for parents to let them know all about what to expect and what programs are available. Once recruitment is over, the troops form and the girls enter this hybrid year with activities in person and online.

However, Lynn said the biggest need for the community is adult volunteers.

She said there are ample opportunities for adults to get involved and it doesn’t take any special knowledge or a lot of training to get involved.

“We just need to continue fostering these girl’s curiosity and their desire to learn and be a part of a larger community,” Lynn said.

Information nights are staggered via location and Plant City’s next night is Oct. 6. You can visit https://www.gswcf.org for more information.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

9-1-1 COMMAND CENTER SET TO GET UPGRADE The City of Plant City has received additional funding to help with

COVID-19 costs. Those funds will be used to give 9-1-1 employees additional safety measures via an upgraded workstation.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

However, COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in all of the nation’s operations. Hillsborough County wishes to modify the existing agreement and send more funds to Plant City to help combat the expenses the city has to pay to provide the necessary changes to protect the 9-1-1 personnel.

The county has agreed to reimburse the City of Plant City up to $12,000 for related expenses. Plant City will have until the end of the next fiscal year to use the additional funds.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program (CESF) is also helping with COVID-19 expenses. The program was created during the heart of the pandemic to providing funding to eligible states, local units of governments and tribes in “preventing, preparing for, and responding to the Coronavirus.”

PCPD was notified that the CESF program was awarding them $42,217. It can use the money for a variety of projects and purchases including overtime pay, new equipment and other supplies that may help during the pandemic like gloves, masks and hand sanitizer. However, PCPD decided to use the money to help with enhancing the safety of the 9-1-1 Communications call takers.

The funds will be used to purchase new workstation furniture that “will meet and exceed CDC distancing standards.”

Those adjustments will make two stations straight, add work surface, add storage and add PlexiGuard at stations along with some other minor adjustments.

All in all, the enhancements will cost $65,000 and will be split among three sources: the $12,000 from the additional 9-1-1 User Fees from Hillsborough County, the $42,217 from the U.S. Department of Justice Coronavirus Emergency Supplement Funding Program and $10,783 transferred from 9-1-1 Accessories.

The cost to some may seem high, but City Manager Bill McDaniel — who is a former PCPD chief — said he knows firsthand how expensive 9-1-1 furniture consoles can be. When you begin adding in extra safety precautions to the design, the costs quickly add up.

However, unlike many companies and employees around the country, many city staff have remained working at the office. Safety is the city’s top priority and McDaniel said it’s been one of the major focuses since the pandemic began.

“These changes really are aimed at protecting the 9-1-1 personnel in the comm center,” McDaniel said. “By enhancing or replacing the 9-1-1 console furniture they can get those barriers in place to separate the employees. It’s a COVID transmission reduction strategy.”

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

TAKE THE 2020 GMC SIERRA DENALI OFF-ROAD OR ON THE ROAD NITISH S. RELE

Courtesy of Nitish S. Rele

After a major redesign inside out last year, the GMC Sierra Denali 1500 4WD Crew Cab truck for 2020 continues mostly asis.

This solidly built full-size pickup ensures reasonably quick acceleration from any speed, ample passing ability and accurate handling/balance. The fourwheel-drive system can be driven in auto, 2WD, 4Hi or 4Lo modes depending on road and weather conditions.

A 6.2-liter V-8 engine, mated to a 10-speed auto transmission, makes 420 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 460 pounds-feet of torque at 4,100 rpm.

Handling the suspension is an independent coil-over shock front and a solid axle rear. The power rack-and-pinion electric power steering has an unswerving and communicative feel, making the truck easy to place at sharp curves.

GM’s Dynamic Fuel Management system deactivates up to four of the eight cylinders for fuel savings. Tow capacity is an amazing 9,300 pounds. The optional six-position Multipro tailgate can be used as a table, an extension or a step to load items onto the lightweight carbon-fiber bed. And 12 fixed tie-downs each have a capacity of withstanding 500 pounds of weight.

The robust Sierra boasts a mammoth bright and multi-dimensional grille surrounded by LED headlights with C-shaped elements. The rear also shows off C-shaped LED features within the tail lamps and integrated dual exhaust tips.

The 5’ 8”-foot box offers 63 cubic feet for stowage. Climb into the back seat and you won’t find a reason to complain about leg or knee room.

The six-gauge analog instrument cluster is well-lit and crystal clear. The huge center console can swallow a laptop.

Other notable features include dual-zone auto a/c, tilt/telescopic steering column, dual glove box, heated/cooled front seats, and an 8-inch color screen for audio, navigation and phone readings.

Dual front and side airbags, side curtain airbag for second row, stability/traction and trailer sway control with hill start assist, lane-change and rear-cross traffic alerts, front/rear park assist, four-wheel antilock brakes, rearview camera, tire pressure monitoring system and daytime running lights are standard.

Indeed, the Sierra is a functional workhorse that you can go cruising in on the highway or off the beaten path. It offers outstanding performance with plentiful tow capacity and a gigantic, but classy, cabin.

SIERRA DENALI AWD Tires: P275/60R20 Wheelbase: 147.4 inches Length: 231.7 inches Width: 81.2 inches Height: 75.5 inches Weight: 5,440 pounds Fuel capacity: 24 gallons City: 15 mpg Highway: 20 mpg Base price: $58,200 Price as tested: $71,850 Web site: www.gmc.com

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

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

9

WEEKLY COVID-19 UPDATE

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN RETURNS The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In officially came back last weekend and picked up right where it left off.

Plant Citians flocked to the parking lot next to the train depot, 102 N. Palmer St., to check out classic cars and trucks from 3 to 8 p.m. and enjoy live music by DJ John Paul Gasca on a beautiful afternoon.

The Cruise-In is scheduled for Oct. 17, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19 to close out the rest of 2020.

The numbers don’t lie: COVID-19 is still a major force in the community.

However, with lack of demand for testing, three county facilities are closing their doors.

BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Florida added 2,470 COVID-19 cases and 99 deaths Tuesday, indicating the fight to curb the statewide spread was far from over.

The latest infections brought the total number of statewide cases to 687,909.

In Florida alone, 13,579 people have died since March. The nation’s total is now up to more than 200,000 deaths.

Though the numbers are still far from manageable, the demand for testing is on the decline, according to the Florida Department of Health. Two testing sites have closed over the last week and another will close Saturday.

Town ‘N Country’s site at Tampa Family Health Centers and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sun City Center shut their doors over the last seven days and Ruskin’s SouthShore Community Resource Center will see its last patient on Sept. 26.

That leaves six operating county sites, including Raymond James Stadium. Public officials said a few of its facilities have been operating at less than 20 percent capacity on some days and thus it only

Photos by Justin Kline

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made sense to reduce the number of testing sites available. Plant City’s testing site will remain open as one of the six available locations.

Health officials encouraged residents to continue making appointments if they believe they have COVID-19 symptoms or if they were exposed to someone with COVID-19. The testing data helps capture a snapshot of the community. That snapshot then can show the positivity rate for the county, the region and the state as a whole.

The World Health Organization said communities need to have a positivity rate of five percent or lower for two weeks before it is safe to loosen social distancing requirements. Florida’s numbers are drawing a debate among healthcare officials.

Some believe we are far from the mark while others say we are just on the edge.

According to Johns Hopkins University, the state’s average weekly positivity rate is at 11 percent. The Florida Department of Health disagrees and it uses a different testing algorithm. By using negative retests but not positive retests, the FDOH calculates the weekly positivity rate to be right at five percent.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

SPORTS

GAME OF THE WEEK:

SUMNER AT STRAWBERRY CREST

Justin Kline

The Chargers will look to get their first win of 2020 as they host Hillsborough County’s newest football team on Friday night.

If hard work pays off eventually, the Strawberry Crest Chargers are due up for some good fortune.

Don’t let the 41-13 box score from last week’s game at Kathleen fool you: the Chargers (0-2) didn’t stop playing hard, even if the final score was lopsided out of their favor. In fact, things got better for the Chargers in the second half. They entered halftime trailing 34-0 and trailed 41-0 more than halfway through the third quarter, but things started to go right. Austin Osborne threw his first touchdown pass of the year, an 80-yarder caught and delivered into the end zone by Marquell Hudson that ended Crest’s scoring drought.

On Kathleen’s next possession, Connor Dias scooped up a snap bobbled by Kathleen’s quarterback and took it 40 yards for a score. The Chargers kept the Red Devils from scoring further when Billy Overstreet picked off a pass and put the Crest offense back in the game on their own 30-yard line.

Crest came a little closer to winning in the Sept. 11 opener at King, a 10-8 loss in which eight Chargers combined for 246 rushing yards and one touchdown (scored

by Miles Jones) on 38 carries.

Both games showed that Crest’s stated commitment to running the ball was a solid promise. The Chargers’ run-pass call ratio is close to 4 to 1 in favor of the run and no individual player is favored in terms of getting his number called. Jones and Quincy Hart do lead the Chargers with 71 and 68 rushing yards, respectively, through two weeks.

A new foe has appeared. The challenger approaching is Sumner, the newest high school football team in Hillsborough County, and the Stingrays have gotten off to a solid 2-0 start thus far. Sumner’s firstever football game ended with a 21-0 win

over Spoto at home and the Stingrays followed that right up with another win at their house, a 7-6 win over Blake.

The Chargers and Stingrays have taken a similar run-first approach on offense.

The difference is that Sumner’s offense has been much more consistent — that is, the game-to-game stats have been nearly identical. Quarterback Jason Rivera attempted exactly nine passes and has thrown a pick in each game, though he completed two more passes (three vs. one) against Blake for far more yards (65 vs. four). Sumner running backs (and Rivera, who is one carry shy of the team lead) combined for 116 yards on 36 touches against Spoto and 115 yards on 37 touches against Blake. Keoni Denny (137 total yards) led the team in rushing in both games and scored a touchdown in each.

And here’s a fun fact that has nothing to do with football: Sumner’s principal is Dave Brown, who opened Strawberry Crest back in 2009 and stayed in Dover until partway through the 2019-20 school year.

Perhaps now, with the visiting team playing its first-ever road game and the Chargers visibly committing to pushing through adversity, is the time for Crest’s hard work to pay off.

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Observer.

Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

OTHER GAMES TO WATCH DURANT vs. East Bay, 7:30 p.m. Friday Last week, the scheduled game between the Durant Cougars and Bloomingdale Bulls was moved to Oct. 9.

This week, the Cougars (0-1) are scheduled to host East Bay (1-0). The Indians had last week off but opened their season at home on Sept. 11 with a 20-14 win over Sickles. East Bay used a balanced attack to gain 304 total yards on the Gryphons but didn’t hold a lead until there were roughly four minutes left in the fourth quarter. A 14-14 tie at halftime was broken when Armone Bostick scored with a 14-yard run. The Indians’ attempt to go for two didn’t work, but the 20-14 lead was preserved when East Bay forced a turnover on downs on the next Sickles drive and the Gryphons couldn’t capitalize on a fumble they recovered on their own 10-yard line with less than a minute to go.

PLANT CITY BYE Last week, the Plant City Raiders hung tough with Manatee but lost, 32-27, when the Hurricanes used a late interception with a big return to end the Raiders’ comeback bid.

The Raiders (1-1) now have a bye week to prepare for what will undoubtedly be a tough fight with Bloomingdale (1-0). As stated above, the Bulls didn’t get to play last week but are still riding high after grinding out a 15-14 win over Armwood at home. Though their offense couldn’t put any points on the board and were outgained by the Hawks both in the air and on the ground, the Bulls’ defense and special teams brought their A-games to make up for that and each unit contributed one touchdown. Bloomingdale does have a game tomorrow night at Tampa Bay Tech against a Titans team (1-1) coming off of a 34-14 loss at Gaither.

Quick Hits AREA VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP The Plant City Raiders are surging on the volleyball court in 2020, taking a 5-0 record into tonight’s home game against Bartow.

The Raiders just wrapped up a back-toback-to-back series against Durant and Strawberry Crest with a 3-1 win over the Chargers on Sept. 16, a 3-0 win at Durant Monday and a 3-1 win at Crest on Tues-

day. Plant City and Lakeland are currently the only 6A-11 teams still undefeated in district play, but the Raiders have played four district games while the Dreadnaughts have only faced George Jenkins.

Plant City will host Bartow at 7:30 p.m. tonight and look for another win over the Yellow Jackets, whom they beat 3-1 in the Sept. 9 season opener.

Crest, which started the season with one win and three consecutive losses, was able to bounce back Monday with

a 3-0 win at Middleton. The Chargers set the tone with a dominant 25-7 win in the first set and stayed ahead with 25-13 and 25-18 wins in the second and third sets, respectively. The Chargers will visit Armwood at 7:30 p.m. tonight for a rematch with the Hawks, against whom they opened the season with a 3-0 win in Dover.

In 7A-District 6, Durant hosted Newsome on Tuesday and lost, 3-1, The 2020 edition of the Alafia River Rivalry will

get one more regular-season game — it started Sept. 19 in the Sunshine State Volleyball Invitational (where Newsome won, 2-1) and will finish Oct. 2 at Newsome. Tuesday’s game extended a recent skid for the Cougars, who started 2020 with a 3-1 record but have since dropped five in a row. Durant will look to get back on track and stay there at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Celebration (2-2).

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

11

FOCUS ON FITNESS: ALL ABOUT CARDIO

Cardiovascular exercise is important for everyone. The good news is that anyone can do it, no matter what fitness level you’re at.

It will boost your energy and endurance.

It helps you lose weight. A cardio routine makes us burn several calories and speeds up our metabolism.

It sheds body fat. Cardio exercises improve our body mass index (BMI) as it reduces the amount of body fat.

It helps control blood pressure by improving the circulation of blood throughout our bodies.

It strengthens our immune system. When our heart rate increases, blood vessels widen and allow better flow of white blood cells, the agents in charge of fighting against viruses and infections.

It helps control cholesterol levels.

Cardio exercises help lower “bad” cholesterol and increase “good” cholesterol.

It helps maintain normal sugar levels, which helps prevent type 2 diabetes.

It may help prevent some cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure.

It reduces asthma symptoms.

Aerobic exercise can help people with asthma lessen both the frequency and severity of asthma attacks, but you should still talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine if you have asthma.

It reduces chronic pain.If you have chronic back pain, low-impact activities like swimming or aqua aerobics may help you get back muscle function and endurance. Exercise can also help you lose weight, which may further reduce chronic back pain.

It helps with your sleep. If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, try cardiovascular exercise during your waking hours. Exercising too close to bedtime may make it more difficult to sleep, however. Try to finish your workout at least two hours before bedtime.

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Cardiovascular exercises, simply known as cardio, are those exercises which improve our endurance and increase both our heart rate and our breathing rate. Performing cardio raises our cardiorespiratory endurance so we’re able to burn more calories as we boost our metabolism and strengthen the heart and lungs.

The idea is to exert ourselves to the point where we almost get out of breath. In fact, a cardio workout is successful if you cannot say more than three to five words at a time. If you can talk normally, you are not working out hard enough.

There are plenty of ways to do cardio: walking, jogging, aerobics, cycling, running, swimming and rowing are just a handful of examples.

Which is the best? It’s a trick question — the answer is, whatever you enjoy the most! If you choose an activity that you really enjoy, you’ll feel more motivated and will be more committed to the work.

Doing regular cardio will bring you many health benefits, like these:

12

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR AROUND TOWN

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After reading our story about how the proposed city budget will affect local parks, our readers took to Facebook to share their thoughts in the comments section.

“This is going to be so good for our town, I’m excited we won’t have to drive to another town anymore lol.”

— Meagen Leiby “Awesome!!! I suggest taking ideas from 2 specific parks in Lakeland which are free and awesome! Barnett family park and common grounds park. Both so full of fun, interactive things for the kids to do and the family park has a free splash pad for kids. Plant City is in dire need of something fun, interactive and free like a splash pad for kids.” — Kelsey Spell “Finally! I grew up in Seminole where we had 2 parks in walking distance to our house that were updated about every 5 years and full of the newest playground stuff and when we moved to Plant City I was so shocked to see the poor conditions and lack of playground parks.”

— Lindsey Hanson “Are we going to repaint and repair the current parks?

Gilchrist play equipment needs repainting and repairs.

Over at Mike Sansone there is an entire playground that

needs to be torn down and rebuilt. It’s rusty, missing steps, broken tunnel, etc.” — Bryan Matter “Plant city needs a disc golf course. The only decent one is at Limona Park in Brandon and it’s packed every weekend.” — Jarad Bean “Thank goodness.. that was a huge let down at the parks or lack thereof here… we go to Lakeland for the parks.”

— Candice Phillips LeClerc “Please, please leave Brewer Park alone now. It’s so small, only a half mile that was meant to be a natural, pretty little walking trail but is now crammed full of exercise equipment. Activity parks are great where size supports it, but not little Brewer, please… Visited Ellis Methvin park for the first time (Tuesday). Been here 16 years and never knew there was a pond and walking trail. Much bigger than Brewer Park now.

Much nicer. Clean. No crowd. It will be my daily walking place now that Brewer is messed up and crowded. All in all, PC does great work on other parks.” — Meg Scott “Great idea for the city, the kids will love it.”

— Anthony Thomas

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OBITUARIES

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13

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

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Delvi Willman Grava, 81, of Plant City, passed away on Friday, September 11, 2020. Mr. Grava was born on November 27, 1938.

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His wife Eleanor preceded him in death. Surviving Bob are his daughter, three sons, eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one “soon-to-be” great granddaughter. He is also survived by his extended family, which is his wife Constance, two bonus daughters, their husbands and two step-grandsons.

Bob was a beloved husband and an all-around good man. He took pride in farming cattle and citrus trees in Plant City, Florida. He loved to travel and enjoyed fishing, kayaking and the mountains. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Anne Catholic Church.

He will truly be missed on earth, but will be a “welcomed” addition in Heaven. Happy Birthday in Heaven!!

There will be a celebration of life at a later date due to the COVID-19 situation.

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Linton E. Williams

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

YOUR CALENDAR

community PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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Linton E. Williams: 6/14/1936 - 09/02/2020.

Linton E. Williams (also known as “L.E.”) went to be with Jesus on September 2, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jean Williams and two sons, Daran (wife Lori) and Linton R. (wife Ana). He had 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

He was retired from Plant City Steel where he worked for years as a draftsman. He also drew house plans and was known as “The Plan Man.” He was greatly loved and will be missed by his family and friends.

A special thanks to Good Shepherd Hospice.

BEST BET SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 PAINT FOR A CURE

3 to 6 p.m. at the Union Station Depot Welcome Center, 102 N. Palmer St. Paint For a Cure is a family rock painting event focused on providing a safe and socially distanced activity for families to enjoy outdoors while honoring Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. As we remember Morgan Pierce, her artwork will be on display with prints up for auction to raise money for local kids with cancer. Masks are mandatory, along with social distancing and temperature checks. One group per table.

Use the sanitation stations that are available and please stay home if you feel unwell. For sponsorship opportunities, email florida@jensensheartofgold.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 DIAMONDS AND DENIM 2020 WITH A TWIST!

5 to 9 p.m. A virtual fundraising event to support local hospital heroes. This year’s event will be a combination of a fabulous “Dinner Drive-Thru” followed by a Facebook Live event which will include three drawings: Diamond Ring, 50/50 and Grand Prize. There will also be an online auction beginning on event day. Registration required. To register, learn more or view sponsorship details, visit SFBHFoundation.org.

today. Register online at score.zoom. us/webinar/register/WN_c66x3nHuTEyE_UHMpM74KQ.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

SATURDAY, SEPT. 26

7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters for breakfast, laughs, and fun; there’s no better way to start your Thursday mornings. Bring a chair and a mask. The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. Visit the Facebook page, facebook.com/PlantCityToastmasters/, for meeting locations and information.

GARDEN FEST & MORE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Plant City Train Depot, 102 N. Palmer St. The 2020 Annual Garden Fest & More, hosted by the Plant City Garden Club, promises to be bigger and better. The event is free to the public and parking is also free. This is an event you will not want to miss with everything for your fall gardening needs: lots of plants, garden art and accessories as well as antiques and crafts all located at the train depot and McCall Park. The Plant City Garden Club is currently taking vendor reservations for Garden Fest. Interested vendors should not wait to get their reservations in as space is limited. Application forms can be found on plantcitygardenclub.org.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 RHYTHM & RHYME

5 p.m. at Keel Farms, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. Artists, singers, rappers, poets and other performers can step up to the open mic and express themselves. This event was previously held regularly at The Corner Store but has moved to Keel Farms to make social distancing easier.

MONDAY, SEPT. 28 SBA & SCORE WEBINAR: THE SMALL BUSINESS LEGAL CHALLENGES IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

12 to 1 p.m. This webinar series will guide you through an easy to follow four-step process and give you the tools you need to determine how you will meet the small business challenge

RAISED EARTH BOX WORKSHOP

9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St. Build your own table-height garden! Ed Buckley will furnish materials and guide you step by step to assemble your new growing space. Suggested $55 donation. RSVP required.

Call Karen at (813) 435-8111 to register and get more information.

children’s clothing, face painting, horse and pony rides and more. Most vendors are cash only and there is no ATM on site. Fox Squirrel Corn Maze is open Oct. 10 through Nov. 1 on Saturdays and Sundays only. Guests are asked to exit the venue by 6 p.m. See FoxSquirrelCornMaze.com for COVID-19 restrictions, rules and pricing.

VOLUNTEER DAY AT PCC COMMUNITY GARDEN

9 a.m. Spend a couple of hours in the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St. There are always projects that need special talent and attention. You do not have to be a gardener. You can help by building, painting, cutting, drilling and more. Volunteer days are the second Saturday of every month. Call (813) 435-8111 for more information.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 STRAWBERRY GIRL SCOUT NIGHT

5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Interested in joining the Girl Scouts? Girl Scouts of West Central Florida will host a Sign-Up Night were you can bring a friend, make new ones and learn all about the program for free. Registration is required and must be done online at form.jotform.com/202355996099167. Be sure to select Hillsborough County and the correct date for your zip code.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

SEED LIBRARY OPEN AT PCC COMMUNITY GARDEN

9 a.m. Choose or donate heirloom seeds at the Seed Library in the Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St. This helps keep diversity in the local food system.

The library is open on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Call (813) 435-8111 for more information.

FOX SQUIRREL CORN MAZE

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Futch Entertainment presents the ninth annual Fox Squirrel Corn Maze at 3002 Charlie Taylor Road North, featuring a corn maze, pumpkins for sale, hayrides, games and simply enjoying the great outdoors! There will be food, fall cakes, roasted corn, boiled peanuts, kettle corn, shaved ice, honey and more yummy delights. Vendors will feature pumpkin painting, a butterfly experience, arts and crafts, handmade

HERE TO BUILD

A STRONGER

YOU

WHEN YOU’RE READY, WE’RE HERE.

SIGN UP FEE WAIVED through Sept. 30th!

PLANT CITY FAMILY YMCA 1507 YMCA Pl., Plant City | 813 757 6677 | tampaymca.org

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

FORECAST

Send your photo submissions to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 24 High: 90 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 20%

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 High: 89 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 70%

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

SUNRISE/SUNSET

Sunrise Sunset

Thursday, Sept. 24

7:18a

7:22p

Friday, Sept. 25

7:19a

7:21p

Saturday, Sept. 26

7:19a

7:19p

Sunday, Sept. 27

7:19a

7:18p

Monday, Sept. 28

7:20a

7:17p

Tuesday, Sept. 29

7:20a

7:16p

Wednesday, Sept. 30

7:21a

7:15p

MOON PHASES

SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 High: 87 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 50%

SUNDAY, SEPT. 27 High: 89 Low: 73 Chance of rain: 20%

OKRA “Bromeliads are very prolific this year,” Kathy Flemister wrote. These are planted in her back yard and are well cared for.

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Shipping point: Central Florida $12.35-$12.85

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ACROSS 1 Ottoman bigwigs 5 Wildly 9 Peaks 14 At hand 15 Animated explorer 16 Patterned fabric 17 Authentic piece of a holy relic?

19 Comedian Izzard 20 Sound investments?

21 Like some deliveries 23 Indy guide 25 She walked into Rick’s gin joint 26 Disastrous 29 Comedian Garofalo

31 Folk legend Phil 32 __ Jose 33 Connects with 36 Arles article 37 __ West Records: Nashville label 38 Rosy-fingered goddess who rises in the east 39 AirPod spot 40 Get back in business 42 Product prefix that evokes winter 43 Die down 44 Herbie, in Disney films 46 Outset 47 They don’t last 49 Part of Curaçao

51 Rather 53 Apparel brand with a spinnaker logo 57 Mesh 58 Biblical pronouns read

by James Earl Jones?

60 Red-pencil 61 December 24 and 31 62 “At Last” singer James 63 Georgia team, in sports headlines 64 Take a chance 65 Hoarse laugh DOWN 1 Tiny colonists 2 Structural engineering

piece 3 Chills and fever 4 Tibetan leaders 5 Specially formed 6 Saskatchewan city with a 34-foot animal statue named Mac at its tourist info center 7 NHL great Bobby 8 Dodge City native 9 “Up and __!”

10 Cough medicine ingredient 11 Place reserved for one reconciling a dispute?

12 Inventor Howe 13 “Peace out” 18 Marsh duck 22 Schoolyard retort 24 U.S. neighbor to the north 26 One of two in Hank Aaron’s uniform number 27 Proactiv+ target 28 Unwelcome leftovers?

30 First words in an alphabet book 32 Largest of New York’s Finger Lakes 34 Tart taste 35 Mega Stuf cookie 37 Great Basin st.

38 One may be civil 41 Message board item 42 South, in Avignon 43 Local news segment 45 Settled in for the night, with “down” 46 Surfeit 47 Fluted on the march 48 Jungian inner self 50 Momentary error 52 Fades to black 54 Bit 55 Stops shooting 56 “Stat!”

59 Gabor of “Green Acres”

15

Oct. 16 New

Oct. 21 First

Oct. 2 Full

Oct. 12 Last

RAINFALL Monday, Sept. 14

0.15

Tuesday, Sept. 15 0.71 Wednesday, Sept. 16

0.19

Thursday, Sept. 17 0.07 0.28

Friday, Sept. 18

Saturday, Sept. 19 0.00 0.21

Sunday, Sept. 20 YEAR TO DATE:

MONTH TO DATE:

2020 46.65 in.

2020 7.45 in.

2019 33.39 in.

2019

1.73 in.

WEATHER

I LOVE PLANT CITY

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020

when treating a heart attack or stroke, time is of the essence. even during these times.

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

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

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

20-1213541-0920

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