9.7.23 PLCO

COMMISSIONER HONORED/PROJECT BIDS ACCEPTED/FINAL PLATS APPROVED AT PLANT CITY COMMISSION MEETING

MICHELLE CACERES

STAFF WRITER

While last week’s Plant City City Commission meeting included recognizing Commissioner Michael Sparkman for his 30 years of service as a commissioner, they quickly got down to discussing city business.

As part of the city’s consent agenda, commissioners approved a contract with Accretive Global Insurance Services LLC for its property, casualty and excess workers compensation insurance program for $1,007,956, approved to renew an inter-local agreement with the Hillsborough

County Sheriff s Office to provide crossing guards at 13 Plant City public schools and approved a resolution accepting an easement from AMQ International Corporation to maintain meters and backflw preventer assemblies.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

COMMISSIONER

MICHAEL SPARKMAN RECOGNIZED BY FL LEAGUE OF CITIES

PLANT CITY FIRE RESCUE AWARDED GRANT FROM FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION

MICHELLE CACERES

STAFF WRITER

The Florida League of Cities presented Commissioner Michael Sparkman with the Mayor John Land Years of Service Award at last week’s city commission meeting.

The award, named in honor of long-time Apopka Mayor John Land, who served his city for more than 60 years, recognizes elected municipal officialsor their 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 50 years of dedicated public service. Awardees receive a framed resolution and a lapel pin that reflecs their years of service.

Sparkman, a fifth eneration Hillsborough County resident, successful businessman and entrepreneur, has been a city commissioner for three decades, from 1989 to 2005 and from 2008 to the present. League ambassador Eryn Russell presented the award. “The reason why we at the Florida League of Cities want to recognize our elected officials is lal government is the government closest to the people.” She said. “Through your service as an elected municipal officia you have touched countless lives in this community through your work and that’s what we want to recognize.”

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Plant City Fire Rescue has new state-of-the-art extrication equipment that will better allow it to “strive to provide an exceptional level of service to the citizens they serve”, thanks to grant money from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, founded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina whose mission is to provide lifesaving equipment and prevention education tools to fist responders and public safety organization.

The $45,000 Firehouse Subs’ Public Safety Foundation grant was used to purchase a new set of Hurst Jaws of Life extrication

tools, including a spreader, cutter and ram, replacing clunky and outdated gaspowered equipment that was slowing them down and creating unnecessary risk.

“These battery-powered tools cut stronger, thicker and faster and can also be submerged in water and continue to operate up to 11 feet deep,” said Plant City Fire Rescue Deputy Chief James Maxwell. “These tools will help us for the now and helps us pave the way for what we’re going to be able to do in the future.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

For 30 years, Commissioner Sparkman has served as an elected municipal officia

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

The $45,000 windfall was used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for one of the department’s fietrucks.

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Sandra Rodriguez Fernandez, MD Internal Medicine

Dr. Sandra Rodriguez Fernandez offers English and Spanish speaking appointments!

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH WELCOMES MOBILE FOOD PANTRY

Hope Lutheran Church will once again host their mobile food pantry in the church parking lot, 2001 N. Park Rd., on Thursday, Sept. 21.

This pantry, in association with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lakeland, will begin distributing food to those in need beginning at 6 p.m., running until the supplies are distributed. Anyone in need of grocery assistance is encouraged to join as Hope Lutheran works to help eliminate food insecurities within their local community. Various goods ranging from vegetables to meats to dairy and bakery goods will all be available.

The pantry, “Moving Hope,” takes place at Hope Lutheran Church on the third Thursday of each month, no identifiation is required to participate and the pantry is open to anyone in the Plant City community who may need an extra hand.

For additional information, contact the church office at 813-752-4622.

PLANT CITY CHAMBER TO HOST CAMPAIGN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TRAINING

The Plant City Chamber in partnership with the Florida Institute for Political Leadership (FIPL), an initiative by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to host a virtual Campaign School & Community Leadership Training.

This two-part online training school is scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day. The virtual training school is highly recommended for candidates and anyone interested in running for local or state office, serving their community, or managing campaigns. It is open to everyone, free to attend, and non-partisan. Participants are welcome to attend any or all days offered.

FIPL Campaign School & Leadership Trainings provide a comprehensive briefing on emerging local and state issues, teaches attendees available local opportunities for appointed or elected positions, offers guidance on how to prepare to run for office in the future, and provides training on how to run winning campaigns.

Presenters include state and local political experts, elected officia, university professors, and community leaders.

For more information, to register, to see what elections are coming up in your area, and to nominate someone (or yourself) to run for office, please visit www.FIPL.org.

HCSO ANNOUNCES FINAL RESULTS OF OPERATION SUMMER’S END

The Hillsborough County Sheriff 's Office conducted 656 vehicle and vessel stops to protect our community from impaired drivers and ensure a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend celebration for all.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff 's Offie is proud to announce the final esults of "Operation Summer’s End," a jointagency enforcement initiative focused on addressing DUI (Driving Under the Influene) and BUI (Boating Under the Influene) offenses over the Labor Day Weekend.

HCSO, in partnership with the Tampa Police Department, the University of South Florida Police, and the Florida Highway Patrol, dedicated its efforts to ensuring the safety of our community members during this holiday weekend.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TOTALS FOR HCSO'S 'OPERATION SUMMER’S END' ENFORCEMENT:

DUI:

• Traffic ops: 582

• Citations: 51

• Warnings: 531

• DUI Arrests: 43

• Other Arrests: 5

BUI:

• BUI Arrests: 1

• Vessel Stops: 74

• Safety Inspections: 70

• Citations: 5

• Warnings: 45

• Boat Ramp Checks: 12

• Other Arrests: 1

THE FOLLOWING ARE COLLECTIVE TOTALS FROM HCSO AND PARTICIPATING AGENCIES AS PART OF 'OPERATION SUMMER’S END’:

• Traffic ops: 885

• Citations: 131

• Warnings: 706

• DUI Arrests: 77

• Other Arrests: 22

PLANT CITY GROWING PAINS

With family activity in Plant City going back over a century and our offices being in downtown since 1919, my exposure to several experienced and wise witnesses to change along the passage of generations has been high. My mother, now past 90 (I’m not telling) was raised and churched within a few blocks of the train depot. And though she went “away” to college and married and made an excellent doctor of my father with their eventual long ties in Lakeland, she always kept in touch with her Plant City childhood friends and associations and eventually returned to her girlhood home in Plant City. My working with her father since my college graduation until his death in 1996, and then my father when he assumed command of our Plant City offices until his retirement, allowed me to tune in to many fine onversations about Plant City economics and looming growth. Many of those offering dining room conversation now have streets or buildings bearing their names, and I recall the many talks about the times before I-4 or the last section of I-75 were built. For perspective, my past activities in this region include citrus (harvesting, caretak-

ing, brokerage, trucking, & eventual sale or development once the industry here was doomed), property management (residential, business offices, & tourist motels), historic renovation, automobile dealerships, and a brief but enjoyable stint with a cemetery funeral home operation. Yet I readily admit that those who know and relish the past like myself may miss many a bus headed to the future. And conversely often it is the young dreamers who predict the future more accurately than those who’ve witnessed it happening up to now. The Wright Brothers were younger when they fist flw than the Captain of the Titanic.

So now that I’ve laid the groundwork for how my opinion is subject to being worth the price you paid for this paper, here are a few thoughts I hear about and/or ponder myself as to Plant City:

„ The beautiful and iconic unirrigated pastureland that surrounds Plant City will disappear faster than anyone would wish. The main cause is not that growth of housing and/or jobs must occur on it, but rather that the system that used to exist to uphold the economic stability of spacious pastureland agriculture for generations to come faltered already, and will do more so ahead.

„ The population growth will be attended and supervised by a larger percentage of City personnel and planners who have decreasing ties to the City’s heritage. Often, they won’t even live here. This is not an intentional insult, but rather just a fact of life as we grow from a fine loally manageable town into a City 5 times larger than what was pre-I-4 and suburban sprawl.

„ Those planners and designers will look to “master plans” (which were originally only intended as vision casting guides) and sadly increase treating them as holy testament policy to be varied from at great peril – no matter that they may have been crafted a decade prior to a pending request. Such “plans” were never meant to be the end all guide for all time as to what may happen when developers with real investment moneys decide to actually do the work of changing the future of long held agricultural lands. Predictions can be healthy as long as they don’t become policy.

„ Downtown will survive and in many ways revive to at least 2/3rds of what it was when it was all there was. However, it will never again be what the kids who loved “Leave it to Beaver” and “Bonanza” recall.

It may even one day have a high-end dinner restaurant again. Yet I worry that government planners attending to that hope are less successful than the private sector has proven to be in almost every successful downtown revitalization.

„ As to Downtown’s future, the large church presences that have fled it or diminished in the size and downtown dictatorial import of their flocs, the closure of the Post Office, the relocation long ago of our Police Station, and the slow decline

of bank offices desiring downtown main offices, all speak to how our Downtown will move more towards things that have an entertainment component as part of their business model, and there should be an increase in apartment condo residences as well. To some degree, business professional offices will remain, but no longer as “premier”, but rather as attractive to certain destination professionals who either enjoy a pedestrian community during lunchtime, or who enjoy spacious old-style architecture with ceilings over 8 feet and hallways wider than 42 inches.

„ There will be fewer and fewer places on the main roadways where a car can turn left.

„ The quality of public art will decrease in merit and increase in eliciting comment.

„ Our town will make the regional news more frequently and mostly on coverage of negative events – welcome to our newcomers who were not raised with a cow out back and an upbringing wherein they learned how to back a trailer.

All in all, there still is nowhere else I would wish to live and struggle to make a positive difference. There’s nowhere else I would wish for my children to find jy, employ, and the beginnings of parenthood; even with all of the growing pains and my certainty that one day soon I will look back at Plant City of old like I now recall the eastern end of Lumsden Road in Brandon being a clay road with orange, grapefruit, and tangerine groves on all sides.

Take pictures folks, because faster than you would ever think, Plant City will change.

ED VERNER

This week on Cops Corner, Plant City Police investigate: Broken lights, stolen medication and damaged bathrooms.

AUGUST 25

LIGHTS OUT

Magnolia Green St. / W Trapnell Rd.

Criminal mischief: An officer responded to the entrance of a subdivision at the listed location to meet with the HOA president in reference to six wired landscape lights that were damage overnight.

BREAKING NEWS

2800 block of Forest Club Dr.

Criminal mischief: An officer met with the victim at a residence at the listed location who reported that their rear sliding glass door was shattered.

AUGUST 26

WINDOW PAINS

2600 block of James L. Redman Pkwy

Crimina Mischief: Officers met with the victim at the listed location who reported that the passenger side window of their vehicle was shattered.

STICKY FINGERS

1400 block of E Baker St.

Theft: An officer met with the assistant manager at a business at the listed location who reported a theft from the business.

GOING OFF SCRIPT

700 block of N Wilder Rd.

Theft: Officers met with the complainant at the listed location in reference to a report of stolen medication.

LOST AND FOUND

2100 block of Village Park Rd. Stolen vehicle/recovery: Officers met with the victim at the listed location who advised that their vehicle was stolen from within the complex. The vehicle was later recovered.

AUGUST 27

LONG GONE GUN

1300 block of Teakwood Dr. Vehicle burglary: Officers met with the victim at the listed location who stated that their pickup truck was burglarized, resulting in the theft of a 9mm hand gun.

MONEY MOVES

2600 block of James L. Redman Pkwy.

Fraud: Officers met with the victim at the listed location who reported a call from subjects that were pretending to work for TECO and that money was paid to them.

AUGUST 31

TRAILER TRASHED

1900 block of E Alsobrook St.

Stolen trailer: An officer met with the complainant at the listed location who reported that their 16-foot trailer was stolen.

THIS STINKS

1700 block of N Park Rd.

Criminal mischief: An officer met with a city employee who reported extensive damage done to the interior of two bathrooms at the listed location.

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CONTACT US

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COMMISSIONER HONORED/PROJECT BIDS ACCEPTED/FINAL

PLATS APPROVED AT PLANT CITY COMMISSION MEETING

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Also included in consent agenda items were amending its Fleet Management and Vehicle Maintenance Agreement with King & George LLC (increasing its total operating target for FY 2023-2024 to $2.029 million), reassigning the city’s scrap metal recycling contract to United Scrap Metal FL, Inc., the company that acquired Pasco Iron and Metal, LLC, the city’s former contractor and accepting a warranty deed from CLF TWO, LLC for the city’s pubic lift station 41, located inside County Line Business Park.

A resolution was approved authorizing the city manager to execute a work order with Wharton-Smith, Inc. for the construction of the Park Road Collection System Extension not to exceed $3,667,557, which will include installing a new lift station (a pumping station that moves wastewater from a lower elevation to a higher elevation, an essential part of an effective sewage collection system) and pipeline between the new lift station and existing force main and effluent avity sewer inside the lift station site. The funds for this project come from American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The estimated completion date of the project is 14 months from Notice to Proceed to final completion.

“This is an important project for us, it’s going to set us up in the whole northeast quadrant, moving across the interstate is no small task,” said Mayor Nate Kilton.

Commissioners also approved an agreement with Garland/DBS Inc. to replace the roof on the Parks & Recreation building for $353,299. They also approved a ground lease agreement

with Wheeler Street Station, LLC to allow the company to construct a new asphalt parking lot on a city-owned piece of property located adjacent to the site of the Wheeler Street Station project.

In other news, commissioners approved an ordinance to vacate a 1,580 foot long County Line Farms Boulevard right-of-way within the County Line Farms subdivision, located on the west side of South County Line Road, as well as a modifiation to the Planned Development District modifiation, including relocating and enlarging one of the buildings. Commissioners also approved the final pla, creating an eight-lot industrial subdivision.

In other business, changes were approved to the proposed elevations of 177 single-family homes in the Fieldstone Planned Development District, located at the southeast corner of East Sam Allen Road and North Wilder Road.

“This is going to be a phenomenal project right there by the hospital, a great spot for it,” said Kilton. “It’s going to give some additional options for our community and I’m expecting we’re going to be pleasantly surprised when it’s finished”

An amendment was also approved to Plant City Code, including amending sections of Chapter 38 (Historic Preservation). The fist of two legislative public hearings were also held on ordinances to amend sections 102 (Zoning, Plant City Code) regarding adding churches and amending area requirements in industrial districts and regarding telecommunication towers being allowed in areas designated for industrial uses.

The next commission meeting is Monday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

COMMISSIONER MICHAEL SPARKMAN RECOGNIZED BY FL LEAGUE OF CITIES

For 30 years, Commissioner Sparkman has served as an elected municipal officia

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Commissioners were quick to offer their congratulations on the achievement.

“You’ve earned the respect of your colleagues and a couple of us have had the pleasure of sitting with you for 20 years and we look forward to working with you for a little while longer,” said Commissioner Bill Dodson.

“That’s an awesome accomplishment in itself and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with you,” said Commissioner Mary Mathis.

Commissioner Jason Jones, who term began in 2022, was quick to point out how appreciative he was for Sparkman’s assistance as he learned how to fulfill his dutis. “I can’t comprehend 30 years, you’ve put a lot into Plant City,” he remarked. “Thank you for helping me as a new commissioner.”

Mayor Nate Kilton considers Sparkman not just a great mentor but a great friend. “Congratulations on an amazing legacy not just for you but your entire family,” he said. “We see your heart and what you’ve done for Plant City, thanks for your tenure and service.”

For Sparkman, who’s had a hand in many Plant City projects including the construction of the current City Hall, the Plant City YMCA building and police headquarters, the recognition brought to his recollection former community officials whotood as examples of what service-oriented leadership looks like and who inspired him to dedicate his time giv-

FIREHOUSE SUBS’ PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION GIFTS $45,000 WINDFALL TO PLANT CITY FIRE RESCUE

The funds were used to purchase state-of-the-art extrication tools.

ing back to the community. “I can’t help but remember the distinguished people that were involved when I came on the commission like Willie Thomas Jr., Paul Buchman, Nettie Draughon and Sadie Gibbs Martin,” he said. “I had the honor and privilege of serving with all these people and they all made me a better person.”

The Mayor John Land Years of Service Award wasn’t the only award Sparkman received at last week’s meeting. He was also recognized as a Friend of the Olin S. Wright Masonic Lodge for assisting them in their fundraising efforts by the generous use of a piece of his property. “We’re here to recognize that contribution to this fraternity,” said Lodge member Royce Yancey.

One fiefigher, Captain William Wimberly, said the tools will assist the department by dramatically reducing the time it takes to use the equipment and make it easier to do their job. “The new batter-powered tools have better maneuverability, we can just get off the truck and go to work,” he said. “With the old hydraulic equipment we’d have to take it off, start a motor and set up a line and in the amount of time it took to do that, with the new tools we can be done with the job.”

Plant City Firehouse Subs franchise owners John and Bonnie York said its customers can be credited with helping the department secure the grant, which

is made possible from purchases made at U.S. Firehouse Subs restaurants. Its Round Up Program allows guests to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar.

“At this location, we ask customers if they want to round up their purchase and I’m glad to say our restaurant average is one percent in donations, for every $100 we take in one dollar goes toward the foundation,” he said. “Our community supports the grants and that helps fiefighers.”

Maxwell said he can’t thank the Yorks enough for their support because the grant process is very competitive. “This was our second grant opportunity with the foundation and they’ve supported us each and every time and our gratitude to them is undeniable,” he said.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

PLANT CITY RESIDENT SETS NEW AMERICAN TRACK RECORD

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Plant City’s Roger Chapman, along with three teammates from across the country, set the American 4x800 meter record in the 4x800 meter race for the 60 to 64 year old age group this past week.

Originally from England, Chapman came to America on a track scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University in 1983 where he primarily competed in the 800 meter and on the 4x400 meter, 4x800 meter and sprint medley relay teams. With a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Eastern Kentucky in 1986, a masters in computer systems engineering at Edinburgh University, Scotland in 1987 and a PhD in Cognitive Systems Engineering from Ohio State University in 2002, Chapman worked professionally as a consultant on Human Computer Interfaces, but his running continued.

In 2022, Chapman competed in his fist USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Championships in Lexington, Ky. where he took home gold in the 800 meters for the 60 to 64 year old age group. And this past July, he competed in the same event in Greensboro, N.C. where he was contacted by another 800 meter Masters competitor from New Jersey, Peter Kushilines. After seeing Chapman’s result at the 2022 Masters Outdoor Championships, Kushilines inquired about his interest in joining a 4x800 team for the North Carolina meet that was attempting to break the standing world record of 9:29.53 set by an Australian team this past March.

With a time of 9:31.06 at the meet, Chapman’s team fell just 1.53 seconds short of a world record and a razor thin 0.15 seconds short of the American record. Frustrated by the narrow miss, Chapman immediately began searching for another event in which the team could make another attempt at

the record – ultimately finding the otomac Valley Games in Alexandria, Va. as they agreed to add a 4x800m event on Sept. 3.

“He recruited me basically,” Chapman said. “He saw my results from the previous year and had found a couple of guys but needed a fourth. We had never met but he saw that result, asked if I was interested and I said that I was going to the meet anyway so absolutely. It was quite a compliment to be recruited for that and then when we just missed out, I think I was more upset or disappointed than anybody so I kind of took the lead and said we’ve got to find another meet, we came so close. I really felt like we should have broken the world record and just really wanted to find another opportnity.”

To make matters more complicated, only Chapman and Kushilines were able to attend the event, so the duo was forced to recruit two other runners in Vadim Scherbinin from Seattle and David Pinkham from Maryland.

In preparing for the event, the team was shocked to find that the orld record they were chasing was subsequently obliterated by a Canadian team that completed the event in 9:16.90, nearly 13 seconds faster than the previously-held world record. Far from defeated, the team continued to train and met in Virginia last weekend where they posted a time of 9:17.94, setting a new American record by 12.98 seconds.

“It was great, yet when we realized how close we got to the world record, it was mixed feelings,” Chapman said. “It was a relief to break any record because it had taken so much work to organize the opportunity to go for the record, so I was very happy that we were coming away with something. Everybody had sacrified their time, they’d trained hard, everybody had some kind of nagging little injury so quite frankly it felt

amazing to break the American record and it was a bit disappointing to miss the world record by a second but it was great.”

Despite once again falling just short of a world record, Chapman knew that he couldn’t jump right back into finding the next possible attempt to break it and accepted that he’ll likely have to wait until 2024 for another opportunity.

Looking ahead, Chapman plans to attend his fist Indoor USATF Championships in Chicago next March, running in an indoor competition for the fist time since 1986, with hopes of also competing in the Outdoor US Championships in California and the World Masters Championships in Sweden. Between now and March, he will run the 400m at the Tampa Bay Active Life Games on Oct. 8 and look to defend his 800m state title at the Florida Senior Games State Championships on Dec. 10.

“They’re not necessarily as big as the national events or going for a record, but for me at least, I have to have something to train for,” Chapman said. “The nearest big track meet will be the indoors in March, I’ve never run in that so it’ll be exciting. I haven’t run an indoor track meet since 1986 so there’s always a bit of a thrill going back and doing something like that but that’s in March so I can’t just not run between now and then. These other meets will give me something to train for.”

Still competing at a high level at 61, Chapman emphasized the opportunities available to senior runners and urged all runners of any age to browse Facebook for running clubs that exist in the Plant City, Brandon and Lakeland area. And if you still have the itch to compete, runners age 35 or older can find ompetitions through the USATF Masters program at www.usatf.org/ programs/masters.

Roger Chapman and his three teammates set the American 4x800 meter record for the 60 to 64 year old age group, coming just short of the world record.

PLANT CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT MAKES ARREST IN DEADLY WEEKEND HIT AND RUN

The man is facing multiple felony charges.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

It should have been a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend but it turned deadly for one man, who was discovered lying on the side of the roadway in the 4000 block of Airport Road Sunday morning, authorities said.

After receiving a 911 call, Plant City Fire Rescue responded and pronounced the man, whose name has not been released, dead at the scene. According to police, its Traffic Homicide Unit dermined the incident was the result of a hit-and-run traffic ash.

Thanks to the grit and determination of local officers and investigators and several scant pieces of physical debris the driver left at the scene, police have made an arrest of the alleged driver in the incident.

Miguel Rodriguez Jr., 27, was arrested later in the day on Sunday after investigators analyzed that evidence found at the scene and were able to determine the suspect was believed to be driving a 20112017 Jeep Cherokee with the front bumper cracked or missing entirely as well as damage to the left headlight and damage to the windshield. That vehicle information was broadcast to on-duty officers, who, while scouring the area, located a silver 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee on W. Ball Street that had a damage profile onsistent with the vehicle debris located at the crash scene.

“Based on leads acquired during the on-scene investigation, traffic homicid investigators and and on-duty patrol offiers were able to formulate a be-on-thelookout (BOLO) notice that was shared

with on-duty officers,” said PCPD Captain Al Van Duyne. “The officers’ attention to detail allowed them to locate the suspect vehicle.”

According to the news release, contact was made with Rodriguez Jr., the owner of the vehicle, an interview was conducted and, post-Miranda, investigators learned he was operating the vehicle earlier that morning and was the last person to operate the vehicle. A check of his South Carolina driver’s license revealed that his driver license was suspended. He was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death as well as driving with a suspended iicense involving death or serious bodily injury.

“The investigators and officers did excellent investigative work in bringing this case to a quick resolution by affecting an arrest,” said Van Duyne.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Plant City Police Department at (813) 751-9792.

Member FDIC

SPORTS

STRAWBERRY CREST HOLDS OFF SPOTO TO ESCAPE WITH ANOTHER WIN

The Strawberry Crest Chargers made their way to Riverview on Saturday after Hillsborough County rescheduled all Friday night games in the wake of Hurricane Idalia, coming away with a 35-31 win over the Spoto Spartans to move to 2-0 on the year.

Lining up to return the opening kickoff, the short kick was brought in by Crest receiver Thimothee Woods and taken up to the 40-yard line as the Chargers took the field for their opening drive. After a handful of strong runs from quarterback Zy Floyd and senior running back Devin Blunt moved the Chargers across midfield, a big gain on a reverse to Woods took Crest all the way down to the Spoto 10-yard line. A pair of quarterback runs up the middle from Floyd left the Chargers at the one-yard line before a quarterback sneak pushed Crest across the goal line for a 6-0 lead following a bad snap on the extra point attempt.

After a return to the 34-yard line from the Spartans, Spoto was immediately moved back to first-and-15 with a false start penalty. A mishandled snap on the next play moved them all the way back to the 18 and an incomplete pass forced by the Chargers’ collapsing defensive line set up a long third down for Spoto, but a roughing the passer call gave the Spartans a first down at the 30. A tackle for loss on first once again moved Spoto backward, but quarterback Nathan Richardson was able to pick up a first with a deep pass completed to receiver Milan Murray at the Crest 45, only for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Spoto to push them back to first-and-10 at their own 40. Despite the Spartans finding their way out of some early trouble on the drive, Crest was ultimately able to get the stop and force a punt to take over at their own 25.

An early completion to receiver Hunter Hall combined with a number of productive carries from Floyd and Blunt ultimately moved the Chargers down the field as the first quarter came to an end, setting Crest up at the Spoto 10-yard line early in the second. A first down carry from Blunt put the Chargers at the five and a defensive holding penalty on second set up a second-and-goal from two before Blunt powered his way into the end zone for a touchdown, giving Crest a 13-0 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the half.

But not allowing the game to run away from them, Spoto immediately answered with a lightning quick drive that culminated in a touchdown as Richardson found receiver Z’orey Cotton streaking over the middle on a deep post for a 50-yard touchdown, cutting the Crest lead to 13-7 in an instant.

Taking over at the 24, Crest continued to lean on their run game led by Floyd and Blunt as they moved up to the 40-yard line before a personal foul penalty off of a horsecollar tackle from Spoto moved the

Chargers across midfield. A completion to sophomore Kyle Cherry and another pair of strong runs from Floyd, aided by yet another personal foul penalty, moved Crest up to the 11-yard line and Blunt found the end zone on the next play. A fake extra point punched in from kicker Trey Revoy extended the Chargers’ lead to 21-7.

But Spoto refused to roll over, answering right back with another quick touchdown drive to cut the Crest lead back down to one-score at 21-13 with under four minutes remaining in the first half. With time winding down in the second quarter, the Chargers raced down the field with a huge 38-yard run from Floyd that put Crest just outside of the Spoto red zone at the 23. A 12-yard carry from Blunt moved the Chargers to the 11 and three plays later he punched his third touchdown of the first half as Crest took a 28-13 lead.

With less than a minute left to play as they lined up for the kickoff, Crest set themselves up with an opportunity to tack on some more insurance before halftime as they jumped on a short kick to take right back over at the Spoto 47-yard line. And while they weren’t able to take advantage and secure another score, the Chargers suffered an even bigger loss as Floyd was injured on a late hit just before the end of the second quarter that would force him to miss the entire second half.

Taking over at their own 29 to open the third quarter, Spoto was just able to move past midfield to the Chargers’ 45-yard line before a holding penalty moved them back into their own territory as they were ultimately forced to punt back to Crest, pinning the Chargers back inside their own five-yard line.

With a freshman quarterback under center, the Chargers were able to moved the chains just once before a fumble gave Spoto the ball at the 24-yard line. With a short field, Spoto cashed in with a touchdown two plays later and cut the Crest lead to 28-19.

For the remainder of the contest it was Blunt who was tasked with stepping in as a wildcat quarterback and leading the Chargers offense. On the first drive following the Spoto touchdown, the Chargers went threeand-out before punting back to Spoto where they took over way back at their own 13.

With a long, methodical drive, Spoto marched down the field and inside the Crest 10-yard line as they looked to cut the Chargers’ lead to one score as they faced firstand-goal from the six. A carry up the middle for one on first down put the ball at the five, but a false start immediately moved the Spartans back to a second-and-goal from the 10. A pair of runs were stood up by the Chargers’ defense and in a crucial moment, Spoto was just feet from the goal line as they lined up for a fourth-and-goal from the four-yard line. In a jumbo set, Richardson rolled out to his left and floated a pass to the corner of the end zone but the play was

broken up by Hall to give possession back to Crest.

Despite the big play on defense, the Chargers were ultimately unable to give themselves any breathing room as they moved the ball up to the 22-yard line before a snap over Blunt’s head on third-and-six was downed at the seven and left Revoy to punt the ball from his own end zone.

Taking over at the Chargers’ 33-yard line, Spoto took advantage and came up with the score they needed as Richardson hit receiver Jesse Harden for a 28-yard touchdown. The two point conversion attempt was thwarted by Crest’s defense but the Spartans battled all the way back to make it a 28-25 contest with four minutes remaining.

But when the Chargers needed it the most, Blunt and the Crest offensive line responded in a huge way as they led a masterful drive, aided by a number of penalties on Spoto, that culminated in Blunt’s fourth rushing touchdown of the night as he bolted to the left side and dove for the pylon to extend the Crest lead to 35-25 with just 46 seconds remaining.

“We had a plan at quarterback,” head coach Phillip Prior said. “We really didn’t get any practice time this week but it’s things that we’ve been practicing. Losing Zy is a huge part, that was our number one fear because we knew that if that happened we’d be in a really difficult situation, we still are in a very difficult situation and we have to figure some things out but I’m so proud. We had a freshman go in there and take a few snaps and then Devin just really put the team on his back and did a great job but also, props to our offensive line. Everyone in the stadium knew what we were doing there at the end of the game but we found a way to just keep the ball moving… That’s what we had to do. We had to makeshift guys, we were throwing guys out there and telling them, ‘here’s what you’ve got to do on this play.’ Devin did a great job but it’s Devin and the offensive line. We have a very good offensive line, I’m so proud of those guys, they carried the offense tonight. Obviously Devin did a great job running the football but those guys pave the way each and every single night.”

Spoto managed to work their way down the field and tack on one more touchdown as time expired, but it wouldn’t be enough to complete the valiant comeback attempt as Crest held on to take a 35-31 victory and move to 2-0 on the year.

“I’m frustrated but happy,” head coach Phillip Prior said. “I told the kids that I was extremely upset with some of the things that we did but I’m so proud of everybody somehow finding a way to win that football game and that says a lot about this team. We battled through some serious adversity. Injures galore, that’s ravaged us and it got worse during this game, but I’m just proud of us for finding a way to somehow claw and scrap and get this win.”

Before leaving the contest, Floyd completed both of his two passing attempts for 22 yards while adding 86 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. In the backfield, Blunt racked up 189 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries, followed by 32 yards on one carry from Woods, four yards on three carries from Stevie Parkmond and two yards on one carry from Rodney Addison. Defensively, Abe Craig led the team with nine total tackles, followed by Jake Curtin with six and Zayveon Springfield and Brice Schmidt each

Across town, Plant City moved to 1-1 with a 50-3 loss at the hands of a strong Wharton team while Durant remained undefeated with a 31-0 shutout win over Middleton.

Offensively for the Raiders, quarterback Chris Denson completed seven of his 17 attempts for 51 yards. In the backfield, running back Jaden McCants led the way with 62 rushing yards on eight attempts while Tony Marshall totaled 25 yards on 10 attempts. Out wide, receiver Josh TysonGueh paced the unit with 35 yards on three receptions while Zykee Joyce hauled in two receptions for 10 yards and Marshall added one catch for eight.

For the Cougars, starting quarterback Michael Ryan completed seven of his 11 attempts for 55 yards as Jayden Cornelius added five completions on eight attempts for 73 yards while totaling 19 rushing yards and one touchdown on eight carries. In the backfield, senior Kendrick Jean led the charge with 60 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries, followed by Christian Gambrell with 42 yards on seven carries, Emmanuel Lee with 33 yards on three carries, Michael Gibson with 13 yards on three carries and Dominic Jones with 11 yards on three carries. At receiver, six different Cougars notched receptions as Damari Styles led the unit with 40 yards on two receptions, followed by 30 yards on two catches from Ajani Peavy, 29 yards on four catches from Jaylin Torres, 11 yards on one catch from Dominic Jones, 10 yards on two catches from Cornelius and eight yards on one catch from Treon Williams.

Defensively, Quentin Pope paced the unit with eight total tackles, followed by seven from Brant Bovee and five from Wyatt Zinke. Bovee added a team-high three tackles for loss, followed by 1.5 tackles per loss and 1.5 sacks from Hunter Smith.

All three Plant City area teams will hit the road this week as Plant City makes their way to Lutz to face 0-2 Steinbrenner, Durant heads to 0-2 Bloomingdale and Strawberry Crest takes on 1-1 Robinson.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

The Chargers were able to outlast the Spartans’ late comeback attempt as they moved to 2-0 with a 35-31 win on Saturday.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

BUCS HELP KICK OFF FOOTBALL SEASON FOR PLANT CITY FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

Each year the TC Boyz hold their fantasy football league draft at O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Plant City, but this year the annual event was made a little more exciting with help from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The name TC Boyz draws their name from Turkey Creek as the group of 10 Plant City friends have shared the league — and their draft day tradition — for over a decade.

“This is a league that we’ve had for a little while,” Brian Lewis said. “It’s called TC Boyz, or Turkey Creek Boyz basically, and it’s full of guys that grew up in or around Turkey Creek and have stuck together.”

After reserving the space at O’Brien’s months in advance as they always draft on Labor Day weekend to make sure they hold the event as close to Week 1 as possible, management later contacted the league and let them know that the Bucs had reached out and wanted to sponsor some drafts around the Tampa Bay Area, with theirs being selected.The partnership included free drinks, food discounts and even a visit from a former or current Buccaneers player.

With no idea which player would show up, the league was thrilled when former Florida State Seminole and Super Bowl XXXVII MVP Dexter Jackson arrived.

“We were kind of all in the dark until Dexter Jackson showed up,” Lewis said. “He got there right when our draft was starting and it was really cool. He came in, he’d never done fantasy football before, he’s just kind of a spectator so we filled him in on how it works, he had some questions, we talked about players and he was even putting the names on the board as we drafted them. It was a really good time. We got to talk about fantasy football, real football, we got to talk about players, other people were coming in once the word got out that he was there — I saw one woman come in with her Dexter Jackson Bucaneers jersey on and he recognized so he went down to shake her hand and she took that shirt off to reveal an FSU shirt on underneath it, his alma mater. So he was able to sign both shirt, there were kids coming in getting hats signed and stuff, it was pretty cool.”

Lewis mentioned that the league isn’t only fun as far as the competition goes, but it’s also a great way for the group of friends to stay in touch as their annual draft might be the only time that some of them are able to see one another each year.

“One of the guys, he lives two hours away so we literally only see him once a year but he brings his son for the last 10 years now so we’ve pretty much watched him grow up from eight years old to 18 years old,” Lewis said. “It’s pretty cool to just have that long of a relationship, most of these guys have known each other for well over a decade.”

But just because it’s a great way to have some fun among long-time friends, that’s not to say that the league isn’t taken very seriously — with both major punishment and major rewards on the line. While the winner goes home with the league trophy and what Lewis described as a “healthy gentleman’s bet” in their pocket, the loser knows that they will have to spend a few hours donning a dress at O’Brien’s for the next year’s draft.

So while the TC Boyz’ annual fantasy football draft is something that the league looks forward to each year, this season’s edition will certainly be one that they’ll never forget.

“We were definitely shocked when O’Brien’s reached out,” Lewis said. “Everybody was excited, we were texting in the group chat, everybody was trying to figure out who it might be and no one guessed Dexter Jackson, but having him come was definitely cool. He’s a Super Bowl MVP, he had his Super Bowl ring on and let us get pictures with him and the ring, he signed our trophy which stays with our league. Whoever wins gets their name engraved on the trophy, they keep the trophy all year and then they bring it to the draft where the next winner gets to take it for a year. It commemorates all the guys that have won over the years but we thought that it was really cool that we’ll now always have Dexter Jackson’s signature on the league trophy too.”

TAYLOR

The TC Boyz got a little help from the Buccaneers for their draft party last weekend, including an appearance from Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson.

We asked Plant City: What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR

“Jimmy Buffet at the Amphitheater... Linkin Park and Blink 182.” - Bobby Raines

“Kane Brown.” - Danielle Rae

“Carrie Underwood her first time at Tampa’s arena. That was a great concert.” - Sarah Crawford

“Robert Plant or Pink Floyd.” - Chris Morgan

“Bette Midler or Fleetwood Mac.” - Beverly Frable

“ZZ Top in Lakeland.” - Gail Letchworth

“Taylor Swift - The Eras Tour.” - Brianna Butler

“Jimmy Buffett in San Diego (Chula Vista, to be exact.) Many JB shows attended and that was the perfect venue. Rest in Paradise, Jimmy!” - Casey Crone

“The Eagles.” - Cindy McLellan Tradway

“ALICE COOPER! Seen him eight times and I go back every chance I get because he puts out a REAL SHOW 100% EVERY TIME!” - Vince Maniaci

“Deep Purple in Munich.” - Angela Sessa

“Train!!” - Kaitlyn Sadler

“Beyonce, just recently.” - Courtney Danielle Davis

“Harry Chapin.” - Kristen Belzer Wiggins

“Three Dog Night in 1973 and Celine Dion, it’s a hard choice.” - Cynthia Davis Van Camp

“Garth Brooks, Panic at the Disco and Aerosmith!” - Sherry Snyder

“George Strait and Reba in Orlando.” - Sheila Sullivan

“The one and only time I got to see Linkin Park in 2014, on the Carnivore

Tour with 30 Seconds to Mars and AFI.”

- Stephanie Connoy

“Dolly Parton.” - Brandon Seiser

“Best was when I lucked into front row at Trans Siberian Orchestra. But my favorite was first time I aw Styx.” - J.R. Pitts

“Fleetwood Mac.” - Sharon Marie Elizabeth

“KISS.” - Vincent Tony

“Rolling Stones in Philadelphia and 1977.” - Kathleen Hauff

“Garth Brooks and The Eagles.” - Jada Dickerson Marshall

“Jimmy Buffett.” - Lisa Westmiller Johnson

“In the past ten years, that would be the Bob Seger Farewell Tour at Amalie arena. Seat were about three or four

rows up directly across the floor from the stage. A trip down memory lane with all his greatest hits and the sound was excellent!” - Patrick Simmon

“Elvis at the Lakeland Civic Center.”

- Sandy Shirley Rain

“Jimi Hendrix at Curtis Hixon Hall.”

- Bruce C. Hildreth

“Reba.” - Shelley Inez Bullock

“Neal McCoy, Alan Jackson, Tracy Byrd.”

- Michelle Austin

“Too many to pick just one! Rolling Stones, Reba, Brooks & Dunn, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood.” - Tina Garrett Hauser

Dr. Cindy Ann Kelly, D.O.

Dr. Cindy Ann Kelly, D.O., passed away Sept. 1, 2023, in Tampa, Florida.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, she was the daughter of the late Thomas Clements and Melba Reynolds, survives, and step-parents, the late Wade Reynolds, Jr., and Norma Clements, survives. Cindy is also survived by her husband, Matt Kelly; children, Kaylan, Ayden, and Shelby Kelly; sister, Tracy Lee (Ryan); step-siblings, Debbie Dyer (Dan), Dawna Austin (Dan), Sarah Reynolds, Wendy Kieckhafer (Cully); numerous nieces and nephews.

Cindy’s passion for learning and dedication to service were evident in her educational journey and professional life. A proud graduate of Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida, she carried her thirst for knowledge to the University of Florida in Gainesville, and later the University of North Florida, where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

Cindy’s devotion to the field f medicine led her to the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned her doctorate degree. Cindy spent her entire career of over 25 years serving her friends and family in Plant City and was dedicated to being a trusted and respected physician at Watson Clinic.

Cindy was a member of the Plant City Church of God. She cherished spending time with her family, from memorable trips to Disney to cozy movie nights at home and loved the thrill of a good board game.

Cindy was a woman who lived her life with open arms and a generous heart. She was friendly and gentle, always ready with a warm smile or a comforting word.

We celebrate Cindy today, not with sorrow, but with gratitude for the light she brought into our lives. The family will be having a Memorial Service, 7 p.m., Thursday, September 7, 2023, Plant City Church of God, 2103 Mud Lake Rd, Plant City FL 33566, with a visitation prior from 5 to 7 p.m.

Haught Funeral Home is entrusted with the services and condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

Pamela ‘Pam’ M. (Dapson) Fortune

Pamela “Pam” M. (Dapson) Fortune, 69, of Lithia, born on Dec. 26, 1953, in Gainesville, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 26, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Naomi Rhoda Lazo Green

Naomi Rhoda Lazo Green, 92, of Plant City, Fla., went to be with her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Mabry ‘Peggy’ Walker

Mabry “Peggy” Walker, 94, of Plantation, Fla., born on Aug. 24, 1929, in Dover, Fla., entered into eternal rest on Aug. 24, 2023, her 94th birthday.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Dwight

‘Dee’ Lamar Danley, Jr

Dwight “Dee” Lamar Danley, Jr., 54, of Tampa, born on March 22, 1969, in Lakeland, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 26, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Christine Anne Swahn

Christine Anne Swahn, 59, of Brandon, born on July 6, 1964, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 25, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Louis ‘Beek’ Sykes, Jr.

Louis “Beek” Sykes, Jr., 60, of Plant City, born on June 22, 1963, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 26, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Rick Beeman

Rick Beeman, 70, of Lithia, born on Dec. 20, 1952, in Athens, Penn., entered into eternal rest on Aug. 26, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

Elwood S. Langdale

Elwood S. Langdale, 83, of Plant City, born on Jan. 1, 1940, in Jasper, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 29, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Chase, Lucy Joy McGuire

Chase, Lucy Joy McGuire, 91, left us peacefully on Aug. 29th in the year of our Lord 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

OBITUARIES

Elwood S. Langdale

Elwood S. Langdale, 83, of Plant City, born on Jan. 1, 1940, in Jasper, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 29, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www. HopewellFuneral. com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Dorothy Rose

Giddens Godwin

Dorothy Rose Giddens

Godwin, 90, of Dover, born on March 27, 1933 in Orlando, went to cook for Jesus Christ on August 27, 2023. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral. com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Donald P. Hudson

Donald P. Hudson, 80, of Lakeland, Fla., born January 17, 1943, entered his eternal rest on August 27, 2023. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral. com.

gerous Dan”, passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 2, 2023, in Tampa, Florida.

The family will be having a memorial for Dan on Sept. 7, 2023, at 4 p.m. with a visitation one hour prior, at First United Methodist Church, 303 North Evers Street Plant City, FL 33563.

Condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

HAUGHTFUNERALHOME.COM

Janet Faye Willard

Janet Faye Willard, 79, of Plant City, Fla. passed away Aug. 31, 2023. Janet is survived by her loving family. The family will be having a Memorial Service, 11 a.m., Sept. 9, 2023, First Church of God, 601 N. Gordon Street. Condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

died surrounded by family in Milford, N.H. Kitty, as she was called by all, was born Aug. 17, 1946, at Ft McPherson Ga. She is survived by her husband LTC (Ret) Glenn R. Allen, her daughter, Barbara Allen O’Donnell and husband Paul; her son Mark C. Allen and wife Karen; and three grands; Brian, Melanie and Jacqueline O’Donnell. She is also survived by two loving and close sisters; Nancy Harris and Bea Kempster, and their husbands David and Jack; her loving brother Brooks Campbell and his wife Allison, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Col (Ret) Raymond P Campbell and mother Elizabeth Brooks Campbell.

Kitty’s father and husband were both career Army officers, so she moved many times during her exciting life. Her favorite place was West Point, N.Y., where her father and son both graduated, and where she lived when her father and husband were stationed there at different times in their careers. Her son was born at West Point. She graduated from Penn Hall Jr College in 1966 and married Glenn in 1968 in the chapel at Ft Myer, Va.. From childhood her goal in life was to be a loving and devoted wife and mother, and she lived this life to the fullest. She was also very athletic; enjoying running, swimming, power walking, skiing and golf.

Kitty will be greatly missed by all, but is in a better place now; free of pain and frustration she could not improve. Her smile, kindness and caring will make Heaven an even better place.

A family Celebration of Life will

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Jesse ‘Dan’ Park

Jesse “Dan” Park, known affectionately as “Dan-

BEST BET

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

16TH ANNUAL PATRIOT DAY OBSERVANCE AND REMEMBRANCE RIDE

12 to 5 p.m. at 5521 E. SR 60. AMVETS Post 44 will host their 16th Annual Patriot Day Observance fundraiser benefitting loal fist responder charities and other veteran programs in the Plant City Community. The event begins at noon and will end at roughly 4 p.m., with food, refreshments, live music from the Double Barrel Band, merchandise vendors, raffles, an auction, a 50/50 raffle and tee grand prize giveaways. Entry into the Patriot Day Remembrance Event is free and all are welcome, but tickets must be purchased for drawings, food and for beverages. If you aren’t able to attend but would like to support AMVETS Post 44 through

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

ACHIEVE PLANT CITY OPEN HOUSE

8 to 10 a.m. at 202 W Reynolds St. Sept. 8 is International Literacy Day and Achieve Plant City will be celebrating not just the holiday, but their 12th Anniversary in Plant City. It’s an exciting time for Achieve and they would love for everyone to be a part of it and join them at their open house. The open house will include tours of the new third-floor Literacy Room and all guests are encouraged to bring a new or gently-used book to stock the shelves. Achieve Plant City is a non-profit chariy organization that helps break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty by offering services to local families in the Plant City community. For more information, visit www.achieveplantcity.org.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

LIFE RECOVERY - ADDICTION RECOVERY GROUP

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 2103 Mud Lake Rd. The Plant City Church of God hosts Life Recovery on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, a free, Christ centered, 12-step group addiction recovery program for all those in need. Family is welcome to join alongside attendees and for more information, call or text Debbie at 813-763-1562 or Laverne at 813-763-1530.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing. If you’ve served any time in the military, retired or non-retention, and would like to review your benefis please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday. Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-704-5800 to set a specific tim.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

NOT SO NEWLYWED GAME

6 p.m. at 1501 N Alexander St. The Plant City Ladies of the Elks will be hosting a night of fun and laughs as eight brave married couples will find out if they know each other as well as they think they do through the Not So Newlywed Game. Admission will cost $25 per person and include heavy appetizers, an evening of fun and fundraising through a silent auction and chance auction. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Elks Lodge’s scholarship fund. For more information, contact Gail Lyons at 813967-6366.

I LOVE PLANT CITY

Send your photo submissions to staff writer Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

FORECAST

ONLINE Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instagram, @PlantObserver on Twitter and Plant City Observer on Facebook.

Carol Byers snapped this photo of a frog turning her birdhouse into his own personal condo.

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In Hillsborough County, your choice for quality care is simple.

You have a leader in clinical excellence right in your backyard.

At South Florida Baptist Hospital, you get compassionate, high-quality care from an experienced team. You’re our primary focus, so we combine outstanding health care with state-of-the-art technologies to bring you exceptional clinical outcomes. You can get specialized treatment in a number of areas including heart care, cancer care, obstetrics, orthopedics and much more. We’re committed to being your partner for continued health and wellness, and giving you the extraordinary care you deserve. Make the easy health care choice–South Florida Baptist Hospital, located at 301 North Alexander Street in Plant City.

To learn more, go to BayCareInHillsborough.org or scan this code.