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SPORTS
Bryan Elementary Plant City’s new train museum hosts AP finds himself in a sticky situation. first field trip.
OUR TOWN + City shows love for Dodskis
There are several ways for Plant City residents to help the family whose two daughters were hit by an SUV last week (see page 3). Both Madison Dodski, 6, and her sister, Allison Dodski, 9, are out of the intensive-care unit at Tampa General Hospital. Allison suffered a broken leg, wrist and collarbone. Madison suffered a broken leg, skull fractures and a large laceration to her forehead. The family will need assistance as it faces medical costs associated with the girls’ treatment and recovery. Uncle Mike’s Plant City will host a dart tournament and auction fundraiser for the family at 8 p.m. Friday, May 16, at the restaurant, 106 S.R. 60 E. Entry fee is $10, with $5 going to the family. Cuzzins Bar will host a poker run, dart tournament and pool tournament Saturday, June 28, at the bar, 111 S. Palmer St. Kerrie Brown also has launched an online fundraiser at gofundme. com/91otyo.
FREE • THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014
Durant, Plant City, Crest kick off spring practices. PAGE 1
development by Michael Eng | Editor
The Men with the Plan One month ago, Curtis Crenshaw and Jimmy Wright introduced themselves as the men who want to purchase and renovate Walden Lake Golf and Country Club and its golf courses. But, who are they? It took less than 30 seconds at the microphone before Curtis Crenshaw began to feel Walden Lake’s slings and arrows during the community’s April 10 annual meeting. A minute earlier, Visions Golf LLC Managing Partner Steve Mercer had introduced Crenshaw and fellow Bridgepoint Capital principal, PGA golf professional Jimmy Wright, as the potential buyers of the Plant City community’s coun-
try club and two golf courses. Whether his smile was genuine or forced, Crenshaw kept it on his face throughout the night. After all, it’s not the first time he’s been under fire. That happened many years ago, the day Crenshaw — then just a boy from 20 miles outside of Thomasville, Ala., population: 4,000 — disobeyed his parents. “I wanted to play football, and
they told me, ‘No,’” Crenshaw remembers. “Well, one day, I decided I would do it regardless. I didn’t get on the bus for the 20-mile ride home. I stayed after school for football and thought I would walk home. (At the end), the only car in the parking lot left was my father’s car. I was petrified, and the only thing he said was, ‘Get in the car.’”
SEE GOLF / PAGE 4
CRIME by Michael Eng | Editor
CASINO QUEEN
Candlelight vigil reignites search for Whitfield
+ Auto shop to host Open House
Plant City Automotive has rescheduled its Open House from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the shop, 2303 James L. Redman Parkway. The event originally was scheduled to take place May 3, but was postponed because of rain. Guests can enter to win prizes and can enjoy free food and drinks. The event also will feature children’s games, a water slide and bounce house for the kids. Sprint car driver Grant Thormeier and his race car will be available. For more, call the shop, (813) 754-7106.
+ Food trucks to roll into town
We sure hope you are hungry! The City of Plant City and the Plant City Times & Observer have teamed up to host the first Food Truck Rally from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, March, 16, at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St., Plant City. If successful, the rally could become a regular event in Plant City. For a list of trucks, see Community Calendar, page 2.
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This week’s winner is
Frank Starmer See his photo on PAGE 15.
Michael Eng
PGA golf professional Jimmy Wright and Coastal Companies’ Curtis Crenshaw say they are excited about the future of Walden Lake.
One year after Misti Whitfield disappeared, new leads still are coming in about the Plant City mother of five.
Michael Eng
On the day before Mother’s Day, Sharon Ardelean mustered up the strength to once again take on her worst nightmare directly. It had been a year since her daughter, Misti Whitfield, disappeared somewhere along Hillsborough Avenue, in Tampa. Since then, she, her husband, Mel, and Tampa Police Department Det. Scott Bullard have scoured the county for clues. They’ve searched woods, dug up yards and even deployed cadaver canines — in hopes of locating the missing Plant City mother of five. To commemorate the anniversary of Whitfield’s disappearance — and, hopefully, to generate new leads in the case —
Jennifer Chenevert loved dancing with her friends at Durant High School’s Las Vegas-themed Prom May 10, at The Italian Club, in Ybor City. For more photos, see page 9 or visit PlantCityObserver.com.
GOVERNANCE by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Commissioners approve stricter nuisance ordinance The amended ordinance will require Walden Lake Golf & Country Club owner Visions Golf to maintain more of its closed golf course. Plant City commissioners approved unanimously May 12, an amendment to the city’s nuisance ordinance. The amendment will require Walden Lake Golf and Country Club owner Visions Golf LLC to maintain more of the property of its closed Hills golf course. Under the revision, plant material cannot exceed 10 inches within 200 feet of any building, structure, recreational area or street right-of-way. “Such accumulation affects and impairs the economic welfare of adjacent property,” the code states. Walden Lake resident Shelly Orrico
celebrated the decision. Resident say The Hills’ knee-high weeds and deteriorating golf-cart paths and bridges have impacted their property values significantly. “People could go out on their golf carts and get killed out there,” Orrico said after the meeting. “I think it’s great. I’m glad it passed. It helps us out a lot.” Orrico, who spearheaded the residents’ anti-development campaign and petition, was the sole speaker during the public hearing before the vote.
SEE ORDINANCE / PAGE 4
all revved up by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
Courtesy photo
Vehicles take center stage at chamber event Planes, Trains and Automobiles will land this Saturday, at Plant City Airport.
No, it’s not a watch party for that old John Candy and Steve Martin movie. This is Plant City’s fourth annual Planes, Trains and Automobiles event, which gives kids and adults the opportunity to check out plenty of cool vehicles — and, in some
INDEX Calendar.......................2
SEE MISTI / PAGE 5
cases, take to the skies. As usual, the Plant City Airport is teaming with the Tampa International Airport to host the May 17 event. About 3,000 people attended last year’s event, and the Greater Plant
SEE VEHICLES / PAGE 4 Vol.1,No.41 | Onesection
Crossword...................15
Obituaries...................10
Sports.........................12
Weather......................15
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