Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH
QUEEN BEE
ICE, ICE BABY
OUR TOWN
+ CSX gives train museum $10,000 Representatives from CSX Railroad awarded the Robert W. Willaford Train Museum with $10,000. They presented the check to City Commissioner Mike Sparkman and Robert Willaford and his wife, Felice. Also in attendance were volunteers and board members of the museum. The funds will go to promote railroad safety around the historic depot. There is a sidewalk that lines up with a railroad track that will be adjusted.
Warriors at Heart raising money for Polar Plunge.
See who’s in the 2015 Strawberry Queen Pageant.
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MIA WWII pilot identified The remains of WWII pilot James Frank Gatlin Jr. have been identified. He will be brought to Florida and buried with military honors at Bushnell National Cemetery. Past strawberry fields and citrus groves, past pasture fences and dirt roads, two representatives from the United States Army drove to the Lithia home of Sandy Shirley on a sunny January afternoon. Twelve miles outside of Plant City, First Sgt. Rudolph Neal and Jeannette Bogle had traveled even further from Miami and Kentucky. They were there to relay some news. But it was news that would start out 2015 the right way. The country home smelled like apple cinnamon and va-
nilla ice cream as they stepped inside. Receiving a warm reception from Shirley and her oldest daughter, Janda Fussell, they were also greeted by the family’s pastor, Dr. Dan Middlebrooks. Sitting on the couch, Bogle asked Shirley to sit next to her. She spoke with a smile: Shirley’s second cousin, First Lt. James Frank Gatlin Jr., had finally been identified. He would now be able to be put to rest after being missing in action since World War II. Shirley never knew Gatlin, who was from Live Oak and
served in the Army Air Forces when he was 26. But she, and the rest of her family, are grateful that they will be able to celebrate the life and heroism of a great American pilot at Bushnell National Cemetery. “It’ve very touching,” Fussell said. “It’s very moving to think that — even though he’s a distant relative — he’s still an American hero.”
THE AMERICAN HERO
With a stack of paperwork in her lap, Bogle began telling the horrific story of the last day Gatlin spent on earth.
YOUNG ROYALS
It was a stormy day December 23, 1944 when 30 aircraft from the 391st Bombardment Group and the 575th Bombardment Squadron took off
from their base in Northern France to rendezvous with Allied Forces in Belgium. Gat-
SEE PILOT / PAGE 4
City searches for new engineer City manager Mike Herr has hired an interim project manager until a new city engineer is selected. Though the City of Plant City is currently operating without a permanent city engineer, City Manager Mike Herr does not expect delays on progress for parks, developments and other projects that have already begun or are in the planning phases. Former City Engineer Brett Gocka was asked to leave his position, and his last day of work was Dec. 18, 2014. Soon after, Assistant City Engineer Kris Desai voluntarily left his position. “Bottom line is, Brett doesn’t work here anymore. We hope that he lands on
IN OTHER NEWS • The city expects to move forward with two large developments in the northeast region in the second half of 2015. North Park Isles will cover about 400 acres and include 1,000 residential units. Varrea, formerly known as the Cone/Graham project, will be even larger. The developers of Varrea hope to make it a TND community, like Celebration or Westchase. • Tonda Morris has been selected as the new director of library services, and she will begin March 9.
SEE ENGINEER / PAGE 4
in memoriam by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
The 33rd Annual Chariman’s Banquet will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the John R. Trinkle Center, 2206 E. Cherry St. The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce will install its newest Chairman during a reception and dinner. RSVP by Jan. 23. (813) 754-3707.
Joanne Mays
Amber Jurgensen
Sandy Shirley shows U.S. Army representative Jeannette Bogle the place where her father was held as a POW in World War II. He served at the same time as Gatlin, but did not know him.
GOVERNANCE by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
+ RSVP coming up for banquet
See her photo on PAGE 15.
Area high school teams’ goal is soccer tourney win. PAGE 12
The 9th annual Every Buddy is Beautiful Fashion Show will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Plant City High School’s auditorium, 1 Raider Place. Every Buddy is Beautiful has become a precious tradition at PCHS. The Skills USA Cosmetology students host a fashion/talent show as a benefit for the Raider Buddies (formerly Best Buddies). General students pair with their exceptional friends and share their talents. It gives the buddies a chance to have time in the limelight. Prior to the show, experiences like this were reserved for regular students. For many of the students, this experience is the night of their lives. Tickets are $3 at the door, and 100% of the profit goes directly to the PCHS Raider Buddies chapter.
This week’s winner is
SPORTS
homecoming by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor
+ Show to support Raider Buddies
, 3&
FREE • FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015
Plant City woman dies at age 109 Betty Everidge was the oldest member of First Baptist Church and loved by many in the community.
Amber Jurgensen
The 2015 Junior Royalty pageant took place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Grimes Family Agricultural Center. The winners are: Queen Jade’a Broome, Princess Avery Surrency, Duchess Caitlin Davis and Baroness Madelynn Hardwick.
Betty Everidge, a longtime In her youth, Mrs. Everidge member of the Plant City took piano lessons from a community, died blind teacher, enFriday, Jan. 2, just a joyed looking for month before she fireflies and shootwould have turned ing stars at night, 110. and attended many Mrs. Everidge was all-day church social born in Carrolton, events. She was popGeorgia, in 1905. ular with the young When she was 12, boll men of Plant City, weevils destroyed her Everidge and though she had family’s cotton farm, always answered to so they took a train to Florida “Lizzie,” one suitor called her and became permanent resiSEE EVERIDGE / PAGE 4 dents.
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Vol. 2, No. 26 | One section Crossword...................15
Obituaries...................11
Sports.........................12
Weather ......................15
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