8.24.23 PLCO

PLANT CITY PROPOSED BUDGET A BALANCE OF SPENDING NEEDS

Budget spending will enhance quality of life and safety for residents.

MICHELLE CACERES

STAFF WRITER

Major capital improvement projects are on the horizon for Plant City if next fical year’s budget is adopted, which includes allocating funds to maintain the city’s utility system, improving travel on roads throughout the city,

THEN AND NOW:

sprucing up park spaces and enhancing the quality of life for residents and businesses.

With more projects on each department’s wish list than revenue to fund them, it can be a challenge prioritizing the most pressing concerns. “Several factors go into prioritizing projects, with safety and quality of life being at the top of the list,” said City Manager Bill McDaniel. “We have

A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF DOWNTOWN PLANT CITY’S BUILDINGS

The 100-plus year-old Hillsboro State Bank Building distinguishes downtown.

MICHELLE CACERES

STAFF WRITER

Nestled at the corner of Collins and Reynolds streets, the Hillsboro State Bank Building, with its twin columns and covered portico, has long been a part of the Downtown Plant City Commercial District.

In “Remembering Plant City,” a book written by Gilbert Gott, he dedicated an entire chapter that chronicles the history of the structure, built in 1914 in the Classical Revival and Beaux-Arts Classical architecture and designed by famed architect Francis J. Kennard.

Two decades before, in 1891, Moreau E. Moody came to Plant City and opened a drugstore where by 1900 merchants were depositing money in his large steel safe for security. By the summer of 1902, Moody and several others, including its fist president Colonel James L. Young, organized Hillsboro State Bank, which moved into the then newly constructed building upon its completion along with Barker’s Department Store in its retail space.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

infrastructure projects that have impacts on safety within the community. These could be issues with stormwater, providing or maintaining clean drinking water or addressing problematic roadway intersections where crashes may be common.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

SUSPECT ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO PLANT CITY HOMICIDE

An arrest has been made in connection with a homicide Saturday evening in Plant City, Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office (HCSO) announced.

Faustino Antunez, 48, was arrested Aug.20 by the Manatee County Sheriff s Office (MCSO) after he was involved in a traffi crash and was suspected of driving under the influene. He also provided a false name to the officers.

Antunez, who is in Manatee County Jail, has been charged in Hillsborough County for Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Murder in the First Degree Premeditated and Aggravated Assault with Intent to Commit Felony with Weapon (x3).

On Aug. 19, police responded to the scene on Branch Forbes

Road, at approximately 5:46 p.m., following reports of shots being fied during a birthday party, where witnesses at the scene said at least ten people were in attendance when the shooter discharged his weapon. One male in his 40s was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the scene. Another male was taken to a hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

“The quick work of our detectives will ensure this man has to answer for his violence,” said HCSO Sheriff Chad Chonister. “The collaboration between teamHCSO and MCSO exemplifis the power of shared purpose, combined expertise and a common goal: to make our community safe.”

The investigation is ongoing.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Photo Courtresy of Plant City Photo Archives, Inc.

APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR PLANT CITY YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMISSION

Are you a sophomore, junior or senior in high school and interested in enhancing your leadership skills while gaining valuable insights into the workings of local government? If so, then apply to become a member of the fistever City of Plant City Youth Leadership Commission. The deadline to apply is Monday, September 4. Visit plantcitygov.com/community/page/youth-leadership-commission to learn more about the program or download the application.

PLANT CITY NATIVE SNAGS ROLE IN MRS. DOUBTFIRE NATIONAL TOUR

Plant City resident Giselle Gutierrez has been cast as Lydia Hillard, alongside Tony-nominated Broadway leading man Rob McClure, in an upcoming production of Mrs. Doubtfie, a play about an out-of-work actor who, after losing custody of his children in a divorce, creates his alter ego, a Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfie in an attempt to stay in their lives. The 2023-2024 tour launches in Buffalo, New York in September before continuing in more than 30 cities, including Ft. Myers, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. Congrats, Giselle!

STEP OUTSIDE AUG. 30 FOR A ONCE IN A BLUE MOON EXPERIENCE

Step outside Wed., August 30 at 9:35 p.m. for an event that happens once in a blue moon (actually once every two to three years, according to NASA)…an actual blue moon that is expected to be a “Super Blue Moon,” the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. Don’t expect the moon to appear blue, though, because the term refers to a second full moon in a calendar month.

The Aug. 30 super moon will be the closest, biggest, and brightest full super moon of 2023. It’s exceptionally close in Moon miles from Earth (222,043 miles). The next time we’ll have a closer full super moon is November 5, 2025, when the moon lies 221,817 miles from Earth.

PRESIDENT BIDEN

ANNOUNCES NEW SAVE PLAN THAT OFFERS LOWER MONTHLY LOAN PAYMENTS

Worried that your federal student loan will start accruing interest again on Sept. 1 and payments will be due starting in Oct.? Vice President Kamala Harris announced yesterday a SAVE plan- a new repayment plan that will save the typical borrower around $1,000 a year. Monthly payments will be based on income and family size, rather than their total student loan balance and as long as you make the monthly payments required under your plan, your loan balance will no longer grow because of unpaid interest- making sure that you make progress on paying down the debt. According to the website, the program provides the lowest monthly payments of any Income-

Driven Repayment (IDR) plan available to nearly all student borrowers.

Learn more about or enroll in the program at studentaid.gov/save.

WISH FARMS HOSTS PICK A BERRY PICK A CAUSE GIVEAWAY

Wish Farms’ annual Pick a Berry Pick a Cause Giveaway is happening now. The company will donate $10,000, divided amongst three charities- Everyday Blessings, Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) and Celebrate Birthdays. Visit wishfarms.com/give-back-giveaway-2023/ to vote for your favorite charity. As an added bonus, you’ll be entered to win a grand prize of $1,000 in Visa gift cards. Four lucky runner-ups will also win $250 Visa gift cards. Voting ends September 30 and winners will be announced October 3. Vote today!

PLANT CITY GOVERNMENT PARTNERS WITH UNITED FOOD BANK OF PLANT CITY ON FOOD DRIVE

The City of Plant City has partnered with the United Food Bank of Plant City to host a special food drive benefitting loal students. Donations can be dropped off at City Hall, Bruton Memorial Library, Plant City Police Department and the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center through September 15.

Giselle Gutierrez was cast as Lydia Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfie.

PLANT CITY PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO MAINTAIN UTILITY SYSTEMS/IMPROVE ROADS/EXPAND PARK SPACES

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Projects that address quality of life issues follow close behind safety projects. “Road resurfacing, park upgrades and playground replacements and expansions are examples of quality of life projects,” he said.

Safety and quality of life are only two factors used to determine which projects are addressed “These are only two examples out of many project types that we manage on an ongoing basis for the city,” he said.

Sometimes the cost of a project far exceeds the city’s ability to fund it in any given year. In these cases, funds are earmarked and carried from one year to the next. “That’s why we engage in fie-year capital project planning to set aside incremental funding toward larger projects that aren’t time critical in the here and now,” said McDaniel. “We can shorten or extend that fie-year window as funding and priorities necessitate. These would be top priority projects.”

KEY PROJECTS

Capital improvement projects, and other projects, in the proposed budget include:

1. Investing $4.3 million ($4 million generated from the dedicated 1.0 mill property tax and $300,000 from a Community Development Block Grant) to continue resurfacing arterial roads, neighborhood streets and sidewalks. A portion of the funds, $1.25 million, will be appropriated to improvements to the heavily traveled South Collins Street, including drainage improvements and intersection improvements at Grant and Prosser streets. This project will be in the design phase in 2024 with construction planned in 2025.

2. From the General Fund, $775,000 will be used for cemetery improvements, including resurfacing cemetery roadways, providing funding for the cemetery administration building, purchasing additional land and initiating the design and development of a columbarium (a structure for the public storage of funerary urns).

3. Community Investment Tax funds will be used to add $250,000 towards the construction of a new Planteen Events Center, $250,000 toward construction of a recreation athletic events barn, $225,000 to improve public parking lots, $400,000 toward playground improvements and $50,000 in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements. Rowena Mays Park will be rebuilt, provid-

ing the city its fist outdoor pickleball courts. A splash park will also provide the city an outdoor water-based recreational space, along with outdoor fitnss center, skate park, pump track and other amenities. The new tennis center facility will open in the fourth quarter of 2023. Opening around the same time as the tennis center is the Tournament Management Facility in Ellis-Methvin Park. The new facility will not only provide working space for officials but will ao include concession space, restrooms and an observation deck for parents and others to view the playing field.

4. The Water/Sewer Fund will address infrastructure improvements using $4.89 million to repair lift stations, replace generators, pumps, water storage tanks, meters and force mains to improve water quality and capacity while providing a more efficientystem. An additional $600,000 will be used to evaluate sustainability and resilience of the City’s Water Reclamation Facility and $1.5 million to upgrade the reclaimed water storage tanks.

SOLID FINANCIAL RECORD

Proof of solid financial manaement is refleced in the fact that the city holds an Aa2 bond rating from top rating agency, Moody’s Investors Service.

The Finance Department received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Financial Officers Association (GFOA) for the seventh consecutive year. The award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. In addition, the GFOA also awarded the city the Certifiate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and its fist-ever Popular Annual Financial Report Award.

The city’s sound financial psition is also evident in its debt burden. It will make the final debt ayment on two outstanding loans for the construction of City Hall and the renovation of the Police Department Complex in Sept. 2024. The only other outstanding debt for the City of Plant City is associated with the construction of the Water Reclamation Facility which was secured in 2008. The final debt ayment is due July 2028.

The fist public hearing on the budget will be September 11 during the CRA meeting after the commission meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. The final public hearing to adopt the budget will be on September 25. To learn more about the budget visit plantcitygov.com.

Premiere Cinemas Offers Monday

Morning Matinees for Seniors

Monday mornings are a great time to see a flick and if you’re a senior (age 60 and older), it’s even better because Premiere Cinemas, located at 220 W. Alexander St., offers those that hit a “certain age” the chance to purchase discounted admission tickets of $5.39 to see a feature film on one f its eight screens.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with movies starting between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Sit back and relax in a cushy reclining seat and watch Barbie travel to the human world, the Meg chomp on unsuspecting swimmers or the real-life story of Rickey Hill’s journey to play Major League baseball. Monday mimosas will also be on sale for $5 per cocktail.

Premiere Cinemas Director Marcus Beaufils aid the special was started to provide a place for seniors to congregate together during the day.“I think there’s just something about having the opportunity for our guests to come in and exhale, there’s something sacred about being able to exhale and be able to relax, so I think we’ve created that experience here,” he said.

Seniors can also join the Premiere Cinemas Insider program, which offers special “insider promos” and perks for additional savings. For more information or a list of showtimes, visit pcmovies. com.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

AUGUST 11

SENT PACKING

1000 block of Fairwinds Cir.

Vehicle burglary: Officers met with the victim at the listed location who stated that someone went into their vehicle, resulting in the theft of a backpack.

AUGUST 12

CARD SHARK

300 block of N Alexander St.

Theft: An officer made contact with the victim who reported unauthorized charges on her credit card.

STICKING TO IT

2300 block of W Lowry Ave.

Criminal mischief: An officer met with a mother and a daughter at the listed location and learned that the mother had shown up at the daughters house uninvited after a verbal altercation occurred between the two. The daughter stated that she observed her mother grab a stick/tree branch and begin striking the front door

before then striking vehicles belonging to the daughter and the daughter’s boyfriend, causing minor damage to both. The two advised that they did not wish to press charges and both completed a waiver of prosecution before the mother was trespassed from the property for one year.

CAUGHT RED-HANDED

2900 block of James L. Redman Pwky. Business burglary / stolen vehicle / criminal mischief: Offiers responded to the listed location in reference to a possible burglary in progress/suspicious person. One individual was subsequently charged with burglary, criminal mischief and grand theft auto before being transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

POORLY HANDLED

1100 block of Oak Pointe Pl. Armed vehicle burglary / possession with intent to distribute: An officer responded to the residence at the listed location in reference to a subject observed pulling on door handles attempting to make entry. One individual

was subsequently charged with armed burglary and possession of marijuana with intent to sell before being transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

AUGUST 13

JOYRIDING

4300 block of Sterling Commerce Dr. Stolen vehicle: An officer made contact with the victim at the listed location who reported that their vehicle was stolen from the parking lot overnight.

AUGUST 15

A REAL DUMPSTER FIRE

400 block of N Plant Ave.

Criminal mischief: An officer responded to the residence at the listed location and met with the victim who reported that someone burned their plastic trash can overnight, valued at $95.

AUGUST 17

YOU GOTTA GO

2600 block of James L. Redman Pkwy. Trespass arrest: An officer responded to a business at the listed location in reference to a trespass complaint. Upon arrival, contact was made with an individual that was previously trespassed from the location on May 31. The individual was subsequently arrested for trespass after warning and transported to Orient Road Jail without incident.

WINDOW PAINS

1300 block of Tennessee St.

Criminal mischief: An officer responded to a residence at the listed location in reference to damage done to their vehicle’s windshield.

Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com

Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com

Sports Writer / Taylor Jenkins tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com

StaffWriter / Michelle Caceres michelle@plantcityobserver.com

Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez

Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

TO ADVERTISE Call (813) 704-6850

Advertising / Gail Lyons gail@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

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

OPlant City Observer is locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes

The Plant City Observer is published by Plant City Observer LLC. ©Copyright

PlantCityObserver.com

week on Cops Corner, Plant City Police investigate: Burning trash, a missing backpack and a damaged windshield.

GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED IN PLANT CITY

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

On Monday, deputies in Plant City arrested three gang members found with drugs and several fiearms in their possession, said Hillsborough County Sheriff ’s Office in a news release.

Area deputies came in contact with 18-year-old Jameel Callins at the 813 Chinese Food restaurant located at 2204 James L. Redman Pkwy. Callins was wanted by the Tampa Police Department (TPD) with a warrant for Absconder: Minor in Possession of a Firearm.

During the process of the arrest, the white BMW he had been riding in took off at a high rate of speed and crashed into several parked cars.

According to police, deputies were able to apprehend the vehicle’s driver, 24-yearold Rodriontae Burney, and a 17-year-old passenger. Searching the car led to the discovery of 2.6 pounds of marijuana and four fiearms, one of which had a machine gun conversion device, rendering the fiearm fully automatic. None of the fiearms were reported stolen.

Police say all three men are facing several felony charges.

“These gang members who think they can make their money dealing drugs and terrorizing our communities will soon find out that crime doesn’t pay,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “I commend the work of our deputies who were able to identify a wanted man and take him and his dangerous accomplices off our treets.”

Investigators say the case is still an ongoing.

The alleged criminals were in possession of drugs and several weapons, including an “operable machine gun.”

PURR-FECT

BEGINNINGS: PLANT CITY’S FIRST CAT CAFE OPENING DOWNTOWN NEXT MONTH

Catnip Cafe and Adoption Lounge will help kitties find orever homes.

In true Plant City style, community business leaders rallied to support the girls’ idea.

Once upon a time, in downtown Plant City, there was an unassuming old building at 202 S. Collins St. that housed a law office. The attorney helped his clients with their legal troubles but eventually moved out of the space.

Enter three high school seniors Ella Collert, Jordan Price and Rio Carlisle, who’ve been friends since the sixth grade and who share a similar interest: a passion for their furry friends and hearts wanting to find homes for stray kitties.

The girls had already rescued as many cats as their own families could handle but they wanted to do more. “We wanted to rescue every single cat that we came across but we had too many cats in our houses,” said Collert. “We all have bleeding hearts for cats and wanted to come up with a solution.”

That’s when they came up with an idea: Catnip Cafe and Adoption Lounge- a place where people could sip on coffee and tea and enjoy the company of adorable, adoptable cats who are microchipped, vaccinated and spayed or neutered. “Sometimes people feel a lot of pressure to adopt because they feel sorry for the cats,” said Collert. “At our cat cafe, you’ll be able to hang out without pressure to adopt, we want to make sure the families these cats are going to are going to love them.”

These enterprising teenagers, with the help of Collert’s mom Desiree, started to hash out the details about forming a nonprofit or the purpose of re-homing cats. They partnered with Raining Cats and Dogs Shelter and Sanctuary who will provide the cats that will call the adoption lounge their temporary home.

Committed

to Plant City.

Staffed with bankers who have deep roots in the Plant City area, our bank’s focus for over 38 years has been to serve owner-managed businesses, professional firms, and families that want a strong, local connection with their bank and banker. Come grow with us.

“The real encouragement was getting the fist loan to start this from a good friend and big animal lover Andrea Smith,” said Desiree Collert. “It was amazing of her to believe in this idea.”

When it came time to shop around for space to rent, there were several spaces they visited, including the former Tipsy Bookworm space, but when they walked into the space on Collins St., they could see its potential right away. “It had the space to make the lounge and cafe comfortable, for the cats and for customers and it was the perfect situation to have the Hollenkamps involved because they were excited about our concept,” said Desiree Collert, who also helped the girls with completing the required paperwork to gain nonprofit tatus and obtain the required permits.

Construction is ongoing in the space, which is being redesigned from its law office layout to a more cafe-friendly space. A separate enclosed area is being constructed for the cat lounge, where visitors will pay a small fee to enter the lounge and hang out with the felines. “We really appreciate the help we’ve been receiving from the community, who are doing the work in the cafe to get it ready,” said Collert. “It seems like every single thing we’ve had to do there’s been someone willing to help and get involved.”

The cafe will sell herbal teas, coffee and beer and wine. It will also offer charcuterie boards so customers can nibble on a variety of meats, cheeses and other sweet and savory bites. “We want everything to be locally sourced and community-based,” said Collert.

813.707.6506 thebankoftampa.com

Catnip Cafe and Adoption Lounge will also offer a volunteer program for high schoolers needing service hours. “You can get community service hours by helping us and don’t worry, we won’t make you change the kitty litter, we really want you to be here, have a good time and help with the cats,” she said.

Their goal is to be open by Sept. 23, the day of the Oktoberfest event.

Its anticipated hours will be Wednesday and Thursday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information about Catnip Cafe and Adoption Lounge follow their Instagram @catnipcafepc.

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

Member FDIC

AND NOW: THE HILLSBORO STATE BANK BUILDING

caught the fish and hw it landed on the bank’s wall may be lost to time.

The bank weathered several financial storms, including the panic of 1917 and the devastating stock market crash of 1929. According to Gott, from the early 1930s until 1954, Plant City was a onebank town. In 1930, Barker’s Department Store moved out and McCrory’s 5-10-15 Store, a fie and dime store that sold shoes, clothing, housewares, fabrics, penny candy, toys and cosmetics, moved in. The building also housed a barbershop and several professional offices. When McCrory’s moved out, Family Shoe Store leased the space.

The wheels of progress and innovation relentlessly turn, though, and as competition grew, bank owners purchased the old Hotel Plant property, razed the building and in 1966 constructed a modern (at the time), three-story building at the corner of Evers and Reynolds streets. It changed its name to Hillsboro Bank.

According to Robert Trinkle, after the bank relocated, the building was used by Florida government agencies that served the public interest from 1966 to 1983. He has recollections of visiting the bank with his parents as a child. His father, an attorney, also had an office on the third floor along withJ.B.Edwards, CPA, Moody & Moody Insurance Agents and Dr. Ellis, a dentist. The building. “There was marble in there and that was very unusual to see in Plant City at the time,” he said. “I also found the large metal vault interesting.”

One item of decor fascinated him the most. “The bank lobby had a big fish on the wall, a sailfish it must have been ten feet long,” he said. The story about who

Trinkle grew up and followed in his father’s footsteps, earning a law degree from University of Michigan Law School. He began practicing law in 1958, setting up shop across from the old post office. He and his law partner, James Redman, purchased the building in 1983 and began an extensive renovation of the aging structure. “It was a mess, we spent a lot of money to remodel it,” he said.

The fist floor as remodeled to make a waiting room and line of offices. The front doors were replaced with brass, wood and glass replicas of the original ones, costing about $10,000. The storefront occupying the northwest corner of the building was replaced with doublehung windows.

The large vault on the fist floor and several other vaults were preserved. “It was too expensive to try to remove them, they’re made of concrete and steel,” said Trinkle. Instead, they built a conference room in front of the main vault’s door. Behind the vault door is storage space, not as important today with most fils kept digitally. The building, added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Aug. 1, 1984, still houses Trinkle, Redman, Swanson, Coton, Davis & Smith, P.A. An antique shop occupies the retail space.

According to the law firms website, the building “provides the perfect backdrop for our firm which is committed to the timeless values that guide us each day.” It stands as a testament to the power of preservation and belief that old buildings can find nw purpose and be a bridge between the city’s past and future.”

MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER

THEN

For more than a century the building has stood as a reminder of Plant City’s history.

Photos Courtesy of Plant City Photo Archives, Inc.

KIA HITS A HOME RUN WITH THE 2023 TELLURIDE SUV!

TELLURIDE (SX-PRESTIGE, X-LINE AWD)

Tires: 245/50R20

Wheelbase: 114.2 inches

Length: 196.9 inches

Width: 78.3

Height: 70.5 inches

Tow capacity: 5,000 pounds

Fuel capacity: 18.8 gallons

City: 18 mpg

Highway: 24 mpg

Base price: $51,785

Price as tested: $54,120

Web site: www.kia.com

Its list of honors and raves is endless.

U.S. News’ Best Three-Row SUV for families. Car and Driver’s 10 Best Trucks and SUVs. Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Award in the 3-Row Midsize SUV. Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick. SlashGear’s Best Family SUV. The Car Connection’s Best Family Car To Buy. You get the picture. Honestly, the 2023 Kia Telluride is a sensational hit.

Available in 7- or 8-passenger configration, the SUV is equipped with a sole power train: 3.8-liter V-6 engine pumping out 291 horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 262 pounds-feet of torque @ 5200 rpm, more than tolerable to climb a mountainous terrain or navigate the sharp turns of a countryside road. The 8-speed auto gear box with paddle shifters is immaculate, offering instantaneous up and down moves.

The SUV also is fited with an start/stop system, which turns the engine off at a halt to save fuel.

An independent MacPherson strut front and multilink rear suspension does a particularly good job of soaking bumps and potholes with skill and in this frontwheel or all-wheel-drive SUV. Also worth noting is the motor driven power rack-andpinion steering, effortless at higher speeds or while pulling into a parking lot. Also serving the overall efforts is 59 percent advanced high-strength steel and sounddamping materials that hold wind and road noise to a minimum.

Taking up a sizeable space up front is a radiator grille with gloss black insert and dark gray surround trim, flaned by LED projector-style headlights and black bezels. It comes standard with forwardcollision avoidance, safe exit and lane keep

assists, and smart cruise control; there also are 10 airbags, driver knee airbag, four-wheel antilock brakes with brake assist, vehicle stability/traction control, front/rear crumple zones, daytime running lights and tire pressure monitoring system. Switch over to eco, comfort, smart and sport drive modes (snow and AWD lock for all-wheel drive) via a knob on the center console. Also offered are 10-way driver and 8-way front-passenger power seats, and dual 12.3-inch displays: a touch screen for infotainment system, and other for digital instrument cluster; Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, head-up display, cooled/ heated front and Nappa leather seats, dual sun roof, surround-view monitor, tilt/ telescopic steering column, dual auto a/c, stainless-steel pedals/scuff plaes, satin chrome door handles; and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system.

Don’t be deluded into believing that the mighty 4,524-pound vehicle lacks muscle. In fact, the gas pedal releases forceful but silent acceleration to make the Telluride an elegant, pleasing and easy-riding companion. And Kia’s fie-year, 60,000-mile basic, and 10-year, 100,000-mile power train warranties should convince you to sign on the dotted line.

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.

SPORTS

PLANT CITY FALLS TO LAKE GIBSON IN PRESEASON MATCHUP

The Plant City Raiders made their way to Polk County last Friday for a preseason contest against the Lake Gibson Braves, ultimately falling short in a 31-21 final.

As former defensive coordinator Terrence Hicks led Plant City out for his first fall game as head coach, the Raiders would start the game on defense as Lake Gibson fell back to field the opening kickoff. A huge opening return from Lake Gibson set the Braves just past midfield to begin their first drive, starting the series with a short completion, a short run up the middle and a quarterback keeper up to the Plant City 37-yard line for a first down. A pair of runs on first and second down left the Braves facing a third-andthree but an offside penalty on the Raiders’ defensive front moved the chains for Lake Gibson, putting the ball inside the Plant City red zone at the 19. Another quarterback run set the Braves up with a second-and-five at the 14 but a high snap over the quarterback’s head provided Plant City with a massive break as it pushed Lake Gibson all the way back to the Raiders’ 36-yard line. A sack from Plant City’s sophomore defensive lineman Temarce Miller brought an end to the Braves’ drive but a stellar punt left the Raiders’ starting their first possession backed up all the way to their own one-yard line.

On the first drive with new quarterback Chris Denson at the helm, a junior transfer from Mulberry High School, the Raiders’ moved right down the field. Following an incompletion on the option pass, Denson found running back C.J. McClain on a swing pass up the right side for a 15-yard gain up to the 16 and a first down. The next series started with a carry from another new addition to this year’s Plant City’s squad in Tony Marshall, a junior transfer from Tampa Bay Tech, good for three yards. Denson rolled out to his right on second and seven – taking off for a two-yard gain – and Marshall broke free up the middle for a 14-yard gain on thirdand-five to give the Raiders another first down. After an incompletion on first, Marshall wasted no time moving the chains with another strong run up to midfield. A sack on the ensuing first down and a one-yard run left Plant City backed up on the next series, facing a third-and-11, but Denson showed off his athleticism as he escaped pressure

in the pocket and scrambled for a first down at the 39. And on the very next play Marshall struck again with a wild run, breaking tackles and making men miss as he took the Raiders all the way down to the eight-yard line, but they were unable to cash in for six as they settled for a field goal attempt that was ultimately blocked – forcing senior kicker Bach Tran to jump on the loose ball and give possession back to Lake Gibson all the way back at the Plant City 38.

After a long Plant City drive, Lake Gibson opened their second offensive opportunity with an incompletion and the Raiders looked to blow up the Braves’ drive quickly with a huge sack from junior defensive end Donta Jenkins, but a facemask penalty ultimately wiped out the impact play as the ball moved up to the 40. Lake Gibson nearly moved the chains with a four-yard completion on thirdand-five and the offense stayed on the field for fourth-and-one where a quarterback run got the Braves the distance needed, but a forced fumble recovered by defensive back Maurian Hugee turned the ball back over to Plant City at the Lake Gibson 47.

A first down run from Denson moved the Raiders right up to the 39 and a personal foul for a late hit on the Braves gave Plant City an extra 15 yards, setting them up right outside of the red zone at the 24. A completion to sophomore receiver Haven Pierce moved the Raiders up to the 14 and a completion over the middle to senior Zykee Joyce put Plant City on the board as they took a 7-0 lead with just seconds remaining in the first quarter.

But just as quickly as the Raiders could take the lead, Lake Gibson punched right back. Following a kickoff return to the 28, a first down run went for no gain before the Braves unleashed a huge 72-yard touchdown pass over the middle to knot the game up at 7-7 just 12 seconds into the second quarter.

The rest of the half remained scoreless as both teams were unable to find pay dirt on their remaining pair of drives in the second quarter, sending the game into halftime still tied at 7-7.

Plant City returned the second half’s opening kickoff to the 25 but were unable to move the chains as they punted back to Lake

Gibson on fourth-and-eight just three plays later, and the Braves immediately broke off a huge return to set them up inside Raiders territory at the 30 – moved up inside the red zone with an extra 15 tacked on to the end of the play due to a personal foul. With excellent starting position, the Braves wasted no time cashing in for their first lead of the game as a bubble screen moved them inside the 10 to the seven-yard line and a carry up the middle scored for six as Lake Gibson took a 14-7 lead with 10:02 in the third.

Plant City returned the ensuing kickoff to the 30-yard line but things quickly went from bad to worse as Lake Gibson’s defensive back jumped the first down pass and took it to the house for a pick-six, extending the Braves’ lead to 21-7 in an instant.

Plant City opened their next drive at the 41 and a pair of carries from Marshall left the Raiders with a third-and-five, picked up with a completion across midfield from Denson to wide receiver Josh Gueh. Backed up to second-and-15 on a false start following the first down incompletion, Plant City once again couldn’t overcome the setback as they punted back to Lake Gibson two plays later.

And on the ensuing drive, starting at their own 38, Lake Gibson marched down the field. Making their way down inside the fiveyard line to the three, the Raiders’ defense stood strong at the goal line and forced a field goal as the Braves lead crept out to 24-7 with 1:25 left in the third quarter.

Both offenses were quiet for much of the fourth quarter, up until Lake Gibson broke free for another explosive play as they extended their lead to 31-14 on a huge 73-yard rushing touchdown with 5:34 left in the contest. But Plant City would keep fighting. With less than a minute left in the game the Raiders worked their way up to the Lake Gibson 25-yard line, facing a second and eight when Denson lofted a 50-50 ball up for one final score — hauled in and narrowing what would eventually mark the final score to 31-21 with six seconds remaining.

“The offense moved the ball well, we just couldn’t capitalize in the red zone at times,” Hicks said after the game. “But the quarterback and the offensive line showed very good flashes. I liked the play calling from the

offense, we just have to finish drives.”

Despite the loss, the outcome means nothing in the long run and served as valuable experience for both a first-time head coach in Hicks and a roster that will deploy some new faces in crucial offensive roles — most notably in Denson at quarterback, Marshall at starting running back and junior transfer Josh Gueh at receiver.

“I saw exactly what I expected from those guys, contributing,” Hicks said. “We’re not even gelling all the way yet so it’s only going to get better.”

Despite several years of experience on the sideline as both a player and a coach, Friday’s contest was Hicks’ first opportunity as head coach for a full fall football game. He spoke about the experience and what that moment was like.

“It was more controlling emotions than anything else,” Hicks said. “We have to control our emotions. When the emotions are high the undisciplined side of kids comes out, so it’s hard coaching sometimes while also dealing with that, so we just have to continue building our team culture.”

Plant City will open their regular season this Friday at home against Newsome before making their way to Wharton in Week 2, Hicks’ alma mater and his final coaching stop before joining Plant City’s staff last year.

Across town, both Strawberry Crest and Durant came away with shutout victories in their preseason games as the Chargers beat Brandon 27-0 and the Cougars thrashed Freedom 42-0. Crest will open their regular season on the road against Spoto on Friday while Durant will unveil their brand new turf field and several additions to their athletic facility while also honoring the school’s 2003 Regional Championship football team as they begin their season at home against Chamberlain.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

Despite getting on the board firs, the Raiders ultimately fell victim to a second-half surge from the Braves.

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

FEATURED FUTURE: COLBY BREWINGTON

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

On the heels of a baseball state championship with Lakeland Christian, Plant City native Colby Brewington has committed to continue his academic and athletic career with Georgia Southern.

Growing up in Plant City, Brewington first started playing baseball at Plant City Little League when he was four years old, ultimately winning three Little League State Championships before making the transition exclusively to travel ball with the Ostingers Baseball Academy at 12.

“The Ostingers put us in the best tournaments against the best teams so we’re always going to face the best guys,” Brewington said. “And with what Coach Jimmy (Osting) has done with his program, he’s really put us on so when we play teams, everyone’s going to throw their best arms against us because they know we’re the Ostingers.”

Moving to high school, Brewington enrolled at Lakeland Christian where he could not only get an education at an institution that was grounded in his Christian faith, but could also join a strong baseball program that was fresh off a state championship in 2019. As a freshman, Brewington largely played on junior varsity before stepping up as a mainstay in the Vikings’ lineup as a middle infielder in his sophomore season.

As a sophomore, Brewington finished the year with a .302 batting average, 16 hits, 11 runs batted in, one double, one triple and one home run as the Vikings finished the year with a 22-6 record and a Regional Finals appearance. It was in that sophomore season that Brewington recalls first starting to notice interest from college coaches.

“Right in the middle of my sophomore year was when I really started to turn it up,” Brewington said. “That’s when I really started hitting really well and that’s when the college coaches started reaching out.”

As a junior, Brewington reached a new level offensively. This past spring Brewington’s batting average skyrocketed to .410 as he finished the season with 32 hits, six doubles, one triple and

led the Vikings with 29 runs batted in and a pair of home runs. Lakeland Christian finished the season with a 22-6 record, capping the year off with a 5-2 victory over No. 1 seed St. John’s Country Day in the FHSAA 2A Baseball State Championship — a game in which Brewington notched an RBI triple.

“That was awesome,” Brewington said. “That was probably one of the best seasons I’ve ever had and winning the state championship just put the icing on the cake. Winning the state championship was an unreal feeling, just knowing that you won your last game of the season and didn’t lose it, because that only happens to one school in our division so it’s pretty cool.”

In his junior season, once colleges are officially able to reach out to recruits, Brewington began speaking with a number of different schools before taking a visit to Georgia Southern that Winter.

“There were a couple of schools high on me but then in January I went up to a camp at Georgia Southern, it was a five-person camp,” Brewington said. “I hit well, I threw well, I toured the facility, I went to a basketball game. The next day I took an official visit around the campus, then they offered me and it wasn’t two hours later that I committed, it just felt like home.”

Brewington noted that his speed, his versatility and the fact that he’s a lefty hitter are things that stood out to Georgia Southern, according to the coaching staff. And between the facilities, the campus, the location and primarily the coaching staff are what really made Brewington feel at home there — along with a winning culture that has led the Eagles to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and 10 conference titles.

And with a state championship and a college commitment already under his belt, Brewington says he can now enter his senior season relaxed as he and the Vikings chase another state title.

“I would say that the thought process going into my senior year is to just have fun and relax,” Brewington said. “I already know where I’m going to college so I just want to have fun and take it all in because it’ll be my last time playing with these guys.”

Featured Future is a summer series where the Observer will highlight local student athletes who are preparing to continue their athletic and educational careers at the college level, or those who have already begun that journey.

We asked Plant City: What’s the best book(s) you’ve ever read?

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR

“‘Deacon of Death: Sam Smithers, the Serial Killer Next Door’ might not be the best I’ve read, but probably the most memorable for me.” - Cody Lenz

“Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, The Three Musketeers, Outlander.” - Stephanie McKenzie

“Once An Eagle by Anton Myrer.” - Chad Michael Jones

“The Stack.” - Chris Black

“Green Eggs and Ham.” - Ryan Clark

“A Bend in the Road.” - Sherry Snyder

“The Alchemist.” - Doris Ventura

“The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen.” - Leslie Pratt

“The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.”Sheri Kettula

“Hard to pick just one… A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Nightingale, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Alas Babylon, A Gentleman in Moscow.” - Claire Geaneas Anderson

“Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.”Earl Truman

“A Land Remembered, a historical fition set in Florida.” - Cathy Sink Nicolette

“Religious Literacy by Stephen Prothero.” - Kris Yancey

“The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict; The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson.” - Clyde Nelson

“The Bible.” - Duane Evans

“Hunt for Red October.” - James Eric West

“So many to listed but one that was so inspirational is Cant Hurt Me by David Goggins.” - John Despirito

Mary Faye Stafford Gunn

Mary Faye Stafford Gunn, 83, died peacefully on Aug. 16, 2023, in Lakeland, Florida. She was born Dec. 18, 1939, in Rentz, Ga., to Lonnie and Ola Pearl Stafford. As a life-long resident of Plant City, Florida, she graduated from Plant City High School. Faye worked as a data-entry clerk for Affilied of Florida, Inc. and then with her husband started Quality Industrial Services, Inc. Faye was a dedicated volunteer at The Florida Strawberry Festival and helped for many years with The Strawberry Festival entertainers. She worked as an Auxiliary Volunteer in the gift shop of The South Florida Baptist Hospital serving a total of 2,848 hours. Faye was a longstanding member of The Plant City Church of God.

Mary Faye is survived by her son, David Gunn; granddaughter, Miranda Genoese (Mike); greatgranddaughter, Jada Justin

of Plant City; and brother Larry Stafford (Priscilla) of Dublin, Georgia. She is preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Graham Gunn; and son, Greg Gunn.

A funeral service will be held Aug. 24, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Plant City Church of God, 2103 Mud Lake Road, Plant City, where the family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. Committal to follow at Hopewell Memorial Gardens, Plant City.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Jayson L. Sapp, Sr.

Jayson L. Sapp, Sr., 63, of Plant City, Fla., born on June 25, 1960 in Plant City, entered into eternal rest on Aug. 14, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Reverend Vernon D. Corzine

12, 1930, in Howard, N.Y., entered into eternal rest on Aug. 16, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Patricia Ann Hart

Patricia Ann Hart, 77, of Plant City, born on Oct. 29, 1945, in Opp, Ala., entered into eternal rest on Aug. 17, 2023.

Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com..

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

ALL OBITUARIES ARE SUBMITTED AND EDITED BY FAMILIES OR FUNERAL HOMES

Willard Thomas

813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com

Reverend Vernon D. Corzine, 89, of Plant City, born on November 17, 1933, in Benton, Illinois, entered into eternal rest on August 19, 2023. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

HOPEWELLFUNERAL.COM

Willard Thomas, age 86, of Largo, Fla., passed away on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023.

Willard was born on Sept. 14, 1936.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www. WellsMemorial.com for the Thomas family.

Ray A. Binion

Ray A. Binion, 75, of Dover, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. Ray was born on June 7,1948.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www. WellsMemorial.com for the Binion family.

813-752-1111 WellsMemorial.com

Marjorie Jane ‘Marge’ Harris

Marjorie Jane “Marge” Harris, age 88 of Blaine, Minn., passed peacefully at her home on July 25, 2023. She was born in Plant City, Fla., on March 15, 1935. Marge volunteered for the Salvation Army for many years. She was a member of TOPS, (NMRWC), Emmanuel Christian Center since 1999 and The Young at Heart Club at North Heights Lutheran Church, Arden Hills. She is preceded in death by grand-daughter Lana Covey (Tull). She is survived by her children Paula (Tim) Lang, Paul (Beth), Cheryl Covey, and Karen Harris. Eleven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, one great-greatgrandchild. Brothers David (Nancy) Brown and Daniel (Karen) Brown. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Marge was famous for never forgetting to send a Birthday or Anniversary card. Giving a small planter with a plant for new babies or get wells. She loved her job as a greeter at Emmanuel and enjoyed long conversations with friends.

Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Emmanuel Christian Center, 7777 University Ave. NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432 with a visitation one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flwers, memorials preferred to the Salvation Army. Arrangements by HolcombHenry-Boom-Purcell Funeral Home (651)482-7606

BEST BET

BEST BET: FRIDAY, AUGUST 25

LAST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN

5 to 9 p.m. at 110 N Collins St. The Last Friday in Downtown Food Truck Rally is held with a new theme each month. There will be live music, an expanded exhibitor market, a bounce house, a scavenger hunt, food trucks and more. The event is family and pet friendly and all are recommended to bring chairs and blankets. August’s theme will be Marvel vs. DC.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24

2023 STRAWBERRY SWIM CLASSIC

7 p.m. at 405 Beverly Blvd in Brandon. The Florida high school swim and dive season has kicked off with the eturn to school and you have the chance to watch all three Plant City area teams compete at the Strawberry Swim Classic. Hosted by High 5, Inc. in Brandon, Plant City, Durant and Strawberry Crest — district champions in both boys and girls swimming last year — will compete in this Plant City area showdown.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

BLUEGRASS JAM

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. This is an open invitation for local Bluegrass musicians and fans to come to the Krazy Kup loft and jam, clap hands, stomp feet and enjoy! Krazy Kup holds their Bluegrass JAM on the fist Saturday of every month.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH ESTRANGED FAMILY

6:30 to 8 p.m. at 1107 Charlie Griffind. Join other parents who are estranged from their adult children. PEAK (Parents of Estranged Adult Kids) group provides a safe place to listen, share and support others going through the hurt of adult family abandonment. Meetings will include group discussions, self-care and positive influene activities to help cope with the situation. PEAK is not appropriate for abusive relationships or mental illness. Meetings take place on the fist Wednesday of each month at GracePoint Church. For more information, visit www.peaksupportgroup.com.

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 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, raffls, an auction, a 50/50 raffland three 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 a donation, you can do so at www. amvetspost44.org/donate.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

7 to 8:30 p.m. at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Open Mic Night is back at Krazy Kup. Join them for a fun night where you get to be the star of the show. Come out, strut your stuff and show everyone what you’ve got.

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 813-7631530.

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 thy 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 Els Lodge’s scholarship fund. For more information, contact Gail Lyons at 813-967-6366.

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 6:30 p.m. at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In is back on Saturday, August 19, rain or shine. Cars and trucks of all makes, models and years can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music by DJ John Paul Gasca.

To have your event included in our calendar, visit the calendar section of our website at www.PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST

High: 93

74

15% FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 High: 95

74

SUNRISE/SUNSET

10%

MOON PHASES

75

(C) 2023 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.

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

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

Jennifer Rivicci sent the Observer this photo of the sun setting over her backyard in East Plant City.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

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.