Plant City Times &
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Duke’s Brewhouse Festival Fashion Show rocks sweet opens doors at designs. Walden Woods.
OUR TOWN
+ Queen to be crowned The annual Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s Competition begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Grimes Family Agricultural Center, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. Fifteen girls will be competing for the crown and court designations to be the 2015 representatives of the Florida Strawberry Festival. The contestants are: Payton Raye Astin, Emily Benoit, Samantha Black, Morgan Boykin, Olivia Brosky, Zoee Renae Causey, Carly Knox, Abigail Lauren Miller, Kellen Alysse Morris, Deanna Rodriguez, Heather Marie Ross, Holly Anne Shuff, Samantha Mei Sun, Kayla Elizabeth Troupe and Vaviel Michele Verner.
FREE • FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015
MMA Fighter kicks for new championship. PAGE 12
real estate nightmare by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor
Walden Lake residents file class action suit against golf course Residents who oppose the redevelopment of the Walden Lake Golf and Country Club are hoping to stop a potential rezoning by filing suit. Once a pristine setting that attracted hopeful homeowners looking for their dream property, the 18-hole Hills course at Walden Lake Golf & Country Club is now overrun with weeds, and its fairways are indistinguishable from the
residential lots that back up to it. The Hills was closed in May 2013 from a steady decline in membership and troubles from the economy, General Manager Steve Mercer said. After filing Chapter 11 bank-
ruptcy in 2011 and emerging a year later, Mercer planned a new route for the country club — to redevelop the Hills into an assisted-living facility, and single- and- multi-family units. But the vision has been
thwarted. Residents filed a class action lawsuit Jan. 25 to stop the entity that owns and operates the country club, Visions Golf Inc., from rezoning the golf and country club to be redeveloped. In the suit, the residents, under Walden Lake
SEE GOLF COURSE / PAGE 4
New Burger King soon opening A parking issue that had delayed progress was resolved this week. A new fast food restaurant is expected to open in Plant City, after the Board of Adjustment voted Tuesday, Jan. 27, to approve a variance to parking requirements in the city code. Bravotampa has filed preliminary plans for a Burger King on the west side of Tho-
BURGER KING / PAGE 4
FUNDRAISER
+ Call for auditions
by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
Catherine Sinclair
Ann and Barry Grahl retired to Plant City about 20 years ago.
POWER COUPLE
Barry and Ann Grahl met while serving in the Navy in the 1950s, and love soon followed. At first, the United States Navy was about the only thing Barry and Ann Grahl had in common. Barry was enlisted. Ann was an officer. They weren’t suppose to fraternize with each other. Barry was a Christian. Ann was a non-believer. And it was a Bible study class that ultimately united them. Maybe it was a twist of fate that brought them
together. Or maybe it was chance. But now, retired and living in Plant City, the couple can look back on their lifetime of thrilling memories and agree their meeting was an adventure in itself. After all, that’s why Barry enlisted in the Navy to begin with.
HIS WORLD
“It started when I was a young boy,” Barry said. “In
front of the post office was a big sign that said, ‘Join the Navy and see the world.’ I said, ‘That’s for me.’” In 1951, at the height of the Korean War, Barry’s draft number was called. But his dream for that adventure was jeopardized. He failed the color blindness test. “I looked at every page in the book, and I never found a number,” Barry said.
The test administrator had never met anyone that colorblind. But he sent Barry with some of his friends to Chicago, for another round of tests. When Barry realized he had to take the same color blindness test again, he started laughing. His goals of traveling in the Navy would never be reached, he thought. The test administrator seemed offended by the laughter and immediately sent Barry on his way — to the next test booth. Barry had gotten past
HOMETOWN HEROES EDITOR’S NOTE: Hometown Heroes is a recurring feature in the Plant City Times & Observer in which we profile veterans from Plant City. If you have a loved one currently serving or who has served in the past, please contact Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen by email at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com or by phone at (813) 704-6850.
Diane Ritchart
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Student hosts fundraiser for organ donor Brianna Massey is organizing a car show as a benefit for the woman who has agreed to donate a kidney to her. Though a surprising diagnosis changed Brianna Massey’s world two years ago, a generous family friend has agreed to make a sacrifice that will enable Massey to transition
FUNDRAISER / PAGE 4
SEE HEROES / PAGE 4
This week’s winner is See his photo on PAGE 15.
In the suit, the residents said the original intent of the premiere neighborhood was for it to be modeled around the
by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
Plant City Community Chorale will be performing a winter concert, “Songs For A New Day.” The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at First Presbyterian Church, 404 W. Reynolds St.
, 3&
THE ORIGINAL INTENT
DEVELOPMENT
HOMETOWN HERO by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer
+ PCCC to perform concert
Plant City Entertainment is holding auditions for “Tavern Tales 2” from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the theater, 101 N. Thomas St. There are 16 available parts, 11 roles for women and five roles for men. For women, you must be 16 or older and for men 18 or older. Be prepared to sing part of a character-driven song, Celtic style preferred. Also reading from script will be required. Costumes are not required for auditions. The musical comedy follows the adventure of a medieval innkeeper and his barmaid as they entertain the princess and her entourage during a surprise visit and keep a rowdy band of pirates from kidnapping her. Performances will be in May. For more information contact Director Derek Abbott at (813) 600-9736.
Community Preservation Inc., are seeking to maintain their rights as homeowners and keep Walden Lake a 36-hole golfing community.
Catherine Sinclair
Brianna Massey and Brenda Rayborn will be wearing and selling their custom t-shirts at the fundraiser tomorrow.
Vol. 2, No. 28 | One section Crossword...................15
Obituaries...................11
Sports.........................12
Weather ......................15
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