07.07.17 PCTO

PLANT CITY TIMES &

Observer

Fire Fist adds to boxing scene. SEE PAGE 12.

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VOLUME 5, NO. 1

FREE

Quiet zones coming to downtown

•

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

YOUR TOWN

Plant City and CSX will upgrade seven railroad and pedestrian crossings. SEE PAGE 8

BACK ON THE BOOKSHELF

Courtesy photos

First: Noemi Olivo

Treva Moore’s favorite book collection now bears her name. SEE PAGE 6

Fourth of July social media contest winners announced The Observer sent out a challenge for readers to submit their American themed and patriotic photos for a July 4th Celebration contest. Winners received special seats at Plant City’s annual Fourth of July celebration.

First place received six tickets, second place received four tickets and third place received two. The celebration took place at the Plant City Stadium from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Second: Janine Rescigno Benavidez

Photo courtesy of Plant City Photo Archives and History Center

Third: Candice Jones

Treva Moore (standing) would often visit schools to encourage children to come in for summer reading.

Plant City Times & Observer turns five The Times & Observer is celebrating its fifth anniversary this week. The first issue was printed July 4, 2012.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV AND BREANNE WILLIAMS

Five years ago, the Plant City Observer opened its doors and began a journey to become the go-to communitycentered paper for the city.

Along the way, it’s covered stories ranging from heartwarming features to informative pieces, from highlighting a Strawberry Crest student who found brotherhood in his school’s football team, to a local look at how America’s new immigration policies

impact Plant City. It was all in an effort to be the undisputed source for local news.

“I wanted Plant City to have a true community newspaper,” Ed Verner, a founder of the Plant City Times & Observer, said.

Verner said he was disappointed with the state of the Plant City Courier at the time. He said he felt the quality had declined over the years and that it became the voice of Tampa, rather than the voice of Plant City.

Verner reached out to the Tampa Tribune twice to buy the Courier but was turned down both times. When he realized they were not going to sell and would never return to covering Plant City in depth, he decided to SEE FIVE YEARS PAGE 4

File Photo

Members of the original Plant City Times & Observer staff pose with the inaugural issue in July 2012.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

PlantCityObserver.com

WE’RE PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.

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Every day, Mosaic puts science to work right here in our community.

By applying innovative techniques, we reduce freshwater consumption through cogeneration and plant hundreds of thousands of trees each year. This assures everyone has fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink. Atusa, manager of engineering at Mosaic, works with a dedicated team of experts to ensure the most sustainable solutions are applied across Florida operations.

6/23/17 3:09 PM

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FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

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Book collection named for former Library Director Bruton Memorial Library staff has reassembled Treva Moore’s prized collection of Florida-related books and named it in her honor.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

Treva Moore loved a lot about Plant City’s library during her three decades at its helm. One of her biggest loves was the Florida Collection. Thanks to the efforts of the library’s current leadership, the collection will now bear her name.

City Commissioners voted recently to name the newly reassembled Florida Collection the Treva Moore Florida Collection.

“It was something Treva Moore really loved and cared about,” Susan Miles, the library’s Technology Services Librarian, said. “She always wanted to have a special collection and she really wanted to have Florida because we had many Florida books.”

To honor Moore, Miles and current Library director Tonda Morris have spent more than a year reassembling the Florida Collection. During Moore’s tenure at the library, the collection contained more than 350 books about Florida and Plant City, including biographies, cookbooks and local history. When Anne Haywood took over from Moore in 1991, the collection was dismantled and redistributed into the library’s larger collection.

“We should really have something that focuses on our heritage and our history,” Morris said. “We’re real pleased with it. I think it was a good thing to do and we felt like it would be great to honor her for that.”

Daniel Figueroa IV

Library Director Tonda Morris stands in front of the Treva Moore Florida Collection.

“I think it’s a wonderful honor in memory of her.”

— Susan Miles

Morris said Moore had a tremendous impact on the library and preserving Plant City history. Moore was the library’s director from 1962 until 1991, when Haywood took over.

In 1964, under Moore’s leadership, the library was acknowledged as the Book-of-the-Month Club’s most outstanding library for Florida. In the 1980s, Moore helped the library stay independent when legislators wanted to merge with other Hillsborough County libraries into one system. In 1971, Moore was named Plant City’s Woman of the Year.

Miles, 62, was hired by Moore in 1979 but had known Moore since grade school, she said. As a child, Miles said, she would go the library where Moore would read books to the children. As Miles got older, Moore would help her find books for school assignments. Miles said Moore taught her, and others in the library, important work ethics through the love she poured into it.

“She had certain standards and work ethics,” Miles said. “That helped the staff to learn the work ethics. I do things today that I keep thinking Miss Moore taught me to do this. She was a hard worker.”

Previously, a section of the library for quiet reading was dedicated to Moore. However, the title wasn’t official and when that section of the library was remodeled, the naming rights went to the family who helped fund the project.

This time, the honor is an official title approved by the Library Board and the City Commission.

Even through remodeling, the collection would stay together and keep its name. The collection, Morris said, will continue to grow as the library recovers and obtains more books. Now that the name is official, the library is planning a naming ceremony featuring local authors for later in the summer.

“I think it’s a wonderful honor in memory of her,” Miles said. “She was a good example of what librarianship is about: meeting the needs of the people and helping people and doing it in a professional manner. Always putting your best foot forward and doing the best you can.”

Daniel Figueroa IV

The collection includes books about Tampa Bay-area history.

Photos courtesy of Plant City Photo Archives and History Center

Above: Treva Moore (standing) helps a student.

Left: Treva Moore ran the library for 29 years.

Daniel Figueroa IV

Older books were recovered as the collection was reassembled.

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

FROM FIVE YEARS PAGE 1

start his own paper.

He reached out to Felix Haynes and Nate Kilton to pool funds to create their own community focused newspaper for Plant City. The partnership with the Observer Media Group was formed and the Plant City Observer was born.

“People sometimes say to me, ‘Ed you killed the Courier,’ and I always have to tell them, ‘No, I tried my best to save it,’” Verner said. “But now I’m really proud, I think the Plant City Observer has become a name brand in Plant City that owns the local news market … I think people recognize we care.”

Part of the success of the paper, Verner said, is having reporters that live in the city. He said he wanted the writers to have to live with the results of the coverage they create. He wanted coverage to come from someone who cares about the city, rather than someone who lives in Tampa and pops in every once in a while to fill a news hole.

Amber Jurgensen, a reporter for the Observer’s original staff, quickly learned how crucial establishing relationships and becoming entrenched was to becoming an effective community journalist.

Jurgensen was hired in late May 2012 after seeing the position on journalismjobs.com. She originally believed she was going to be working in Tampa and wasn’t told until the second interview that the position was actually in Plant City, a tactic designed to keep the new paper a secret from the Tribune.

“We were really excited to get entrenched in the community and learn what Plant City was all about,” Jurgensen said. “We went around to every business in downtown.

Back then our office was in Historic Downtown on Reynolds Street ... I dropped a card off with every principal in town. It was a lot of just trying to engage with the community and interact and find out the inner workings of the city.”

Jurgensen said the goal for the Observer was always to be community-oriented. She said they wanted to target things people in Plant City would care about. To her, the paper stood out from other media outlets because it was able to get the story, and check the facts, but still have heart and care about the community it was in.

“It was a really exciting time,” Jurgensen said. “And I am so thankful to this day that I was able to see the building of a newspaper from the ground up.”

Verner said Plant City needed a hyperlocal paper with news that

FIVE YEARS STRONG

JUNE 2012 Plant City Observer staff begins work

FIRST ISSUE

Observer PLANT

JULY 4, 2012 Plant City Observer publishes first issue

Strawberry

How long have you been with the company?

Five years.

2013 Flo rida Festival guide

JUNE 2013 Tampa Bay Times enters partnership with Plant City Observer

What made you take this job?

I wanted something new. A new career. This job was local and they wanted someone local. I’ve liked working for the Observer because they’re a family-oriented company and they’ve been good to me. I’ve enjoyed working with all of my coworkers. We even have an office mascot, Karah.

CITY

AUGUST 1, 2013 Plant City Observer officially becomes the Plant City Times & Observer SEPTEMBER 2013 Justin Kline replaces outgoing Associate Editor Matt Mauney

What was it like when the paper started?

It was pretty calm. I got hired for distribution, so it was busy putting boxes and racks out in the community. We had to meet the paper delivery people at the warehouse at 4:30 to 5 a.m. every Thursday morning.

TIME FOR CHANGE

Observer

Plant City Times &

A PARTNERS HIP WITH

YOU. YOU R NEIGHBO RS. YOUR

FAITH

AUGUST 2014 Amber Jurgensen replaces outgoing Managing Editor Mike Eng; Staff Writer Catherine Sinclair hired

You were born and raised in Plant City. What do you think the Observer has brought to the community?

Everything. It’s good. It’s positively impacted the community. It’s good to have a local paper, most definitely.

server Times & Ob STIVAL Plant City BERRY FE

ENT GUIDE ENTERTAINM W IDA STRA 2014 FLOR

OUR TOWN

ND PERRY THE BA GE 11 SEE PA

: ALSO INSIDE

What do you think has been the best change for the paper?

Karen Berry becoming a part owner.

When she dles excite hears the ring, she dly over to todFor Autum the comp n, thing: Dadd Skype only mean uter. s one y is Plant City calling.

Thomas Adair,native U.S. Army months into Autumn’s father Sgt. , is to an undis a yearlong deplo five yment east Asia. closed location in SouthThere, he serves as ly-warning an earsystem team leader works with the Patrio and to provid t Missile System e for a critica air and missile defen l asset in se Area of Respo the CENT COM team’s missio nsibility. It is his and type of missil n to defend agains his t any e attacks Air Force and allow and dom to mane Coalition forces U.S. freeuver.

+ Chamber to host teacher coffe e

SEE ADAIR

truck stop

AWAY

/ PAGE

4 U.S. Army Sgt. Thom as Adair met U.S. Secera tary of Defen Courtesy photo EDITOR’S se Chuck NOTE: Home HOMETOWN Hagel. erans from town Heroe HEROES Michael EngPlant City. If you have s is a recurring feature in by email at a loved one the Plant meng@plantc curren ityobserver.c tly serving or who City Times & Obser ver in which has served om or by phone at (813) 704-6in the past, please we profile vetcontact Editor 850.

adopted cau se by Amber Jurgen

Mission grou p travels to Guatemala

I PC

by Amber Jurgen sen | Associa te Editor

Land’s rolls into Plant City Land’s

Use and Equipmd Trucks served cust ent has from as far omers away as South Ame rica, Africa and Russia.

After more than two cades at deits off State Roadcurrent location Trucks and 60, Land’s Used Equipment moving to is a new home Later this . ness will month, the busidriveway, pull into a new moving their ations to the old Lott-M operdealership ather site, Redman Parkw 2900 James L. ay, Plant “It’s time City. thing,” owne for a different r Richard said. “It’s Land time Land said for a move.” eyeing the he has had been property So, when for years. the oppor lease the tunity to property came up, he took it.

The new low the businlocation will alto the heart ess to be closer of Plant City give the busin ess more and to display room the inven location tory. The also will business give the space to new shop, house a also name where Land’s son, d Richard, the trucks builds .

“We could the curren probably stay (at t but we don’tlocation) forever, want to stay the dark,” in Land Land’s Used said.

Trucks and Equipment long, succe has traveled a ssful road 22-year histor in y. Land starteits the busin d ess of his Valric in the back yard grandfather o home. Land’s had vesting orang worked hares. Land learned then the truck ing business from him.

“He just sold it, then bought one and sold it and bought two and there,” Richait just grew from rd The busin said.

1995, to its ess moved in curren Land’s Used t location.

Truck Equipment can build s and of truck any type including box trucks flatbeds, , utility trucksdump trucks and 100 trucks . There are about in inventory property on the at a given time.

Land’s works at brother, David, the busin salesman. ess In its histor as a y, the

sen | Associ ate Editor

SEE LAND’S

/ PAGE 4

The missiona build an orph ries left Plant City July 22, anage in the Central Ame to help In the rolling hills of Guate rican coun Plant City mala, man try. resident and a Rick said

about 250 orphans and izens. The 40 senior 120-acre site also will cithome to a group of missio Batem schoo of the hard mission house l, church, clinic be labor.

Bateman their way naries chipp an and through hard, and ed This year, .

They metic packed clay. First Baptist of Lakemembers of the ulous wife, Lesley Bateman along with Placid were of a Little yards of concr ly poured about his 30 to Jalapa Lambs Internationa part ond trip , have spearheade than 40 trips ete and lugged d a secto Guatemala. last year. l trip more up with First They teame Paul future orpha of dirt to the site Baptist of d of a specifi Somero founded nage. again Lake Placid Little Lamb .

“This is not cally s aged But the Batemans a cush missio for some to build an orpha n,” Batenage dents to recruit 11 Plant have manof Guate orphans. mala’s 370,00 , as well.

City resiThe orpha INDEX 0 nage will house Calendar..........

Volunteers .............2 SEE GUATE from Evang Courtesy photo Churc MALA / PAGE elical Crossword..........

4 orpha h made more than 100Presbyterian .........14 ns.

Obituaries.......... dresses for the ...........9 Opinion .......... ..............6 Sports..........

Vol. 1, No. 1 ...............11 | One

See her photo on PAGE 14.

section PlantCit yObserv er.com

NEW LOOK

& TY TI M ES PL AN T CI

Obser ver R NEIG YOU . YOU

R NEIG HBO HBO RS. YOU

ra

NO. 26 VOLUME 3,

NOVEMBER 2016 Emily Topper replaces outgoing Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen

E 7 PAGE 11

Sou mn, are pati ently awaitingtheast Asia. His wife , his return hom e.

She’s not even 2 years already, Autum old yet, tinct sound n Adair knows the but disof an incom Skype. ing call on

The Greate Chamber of r Plant City Commerce will host its 2013 New Teacher Coffee from 7 to a.m. Thursd 9 ay, Florida Strawb Aug. 15, at erry Festiva Expo Hall, 303 Lemon l Plant City.

St., The purpos breakfast is e of the to welcome all warmly new teachers, from Area Six 25 local schools, to the Plant City community.

The chamb er is seeking event sponso rs for this year’s event. can donate Businesses a item as promogoodie bag show apprec tion and to iation for the new teache rs.

For more, call the chamber, (813) 754-3707.

1, 2013

Michael Eng | Editor

2014 Meet the tival Fes Strawberry d Court Queen an Page 4 See

This week’s

reflected its community, rather than news from nearby cities twice its size.

“A hyperlocal paper means it isn’t just covering the problems, it’s part of the solution,” Verner said. “Small sections inside juggernaut papers often fail to take that responsibility seriously and I’m honored the Observer was able to fill that hole.”

HOMETOWN HERO by

A WORLD

Welcome to the first edition of the Plant City Times & Observer, a of the Observ joint venture Group and er Media the Tampa Bay Times.

You’ll notice some key differences from the Plant City Observ er you have enjoyed since in July 2012. we launched on broadsheet Now printed page is larger, paper, each giving us the space to photos, longerrun larger stories and additional content. The also allows size us to give our advertising partne dynamic marke rs more ting solutions.

As you flip edition, you’ll through this new feature notice several s. pages specif We’ve added ically devote to Faith and d Real content. Furthe Estate we’ve added rmore, Critter Cornera weekly Calendar and , Community a new feature Club Hubbub, will feature in which we Plant City’s clubs. civic We hope you enjoy this first edition , and as always we invite you , about anythi to let us know ng to see in your you’d like newspaper. community U.S. Army Thank you Sgt. Thom for your contin right before as ued suppo rt!

Thomas left Adair, with his wife, Lauren, and for his deploy daughter, ment in South Autumn. The Courtesy of east Asia.

Stephanie Adairs had Humphr this portra it taken in ey Photography February,

winner is Barbara Mark land

FEBRUARY 2016 Plant City Times & Observer and all other Observer Media Group publications undergo radical redesign

FREE • THUR SDAY, AUGU ST

IN FOC

Up Plan vest City Ser Plant City 12-month , native U.S. Army Sgt. Recipes deploym Thomas ent to an und Strawberry Laur 16117 isclosed loca Adair is five months and daughter, Autu Pagesen, into a tion in

E6 STYX, PAG , PAGE 8 BOYZ II MEN 9 LER, PAGE KELLIE PICK 12 KOLE, PAGE CAROLINE E! rver H s & Obse MUC TimeMOR AND Plant City

MAY 2015 Emily Topper replaces outgoing Staff Writer Catherine Sinclair

NEIGHBO RHOOD.

MLK avenges US SPORTS 2012 Cali kickball loss fornia-based in seco Plant City chal nd company drea ms lenge. big in Plant City .

PAG

PAGE 10

+ My, my!

Look how we’ve grown!

: INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE

What makes you love Plant City so much?

I went to Plant City High, “the School,” and this town is a small family community.

FBC Midway goes back to basics at VBS .

Searching fo Learn how to

RHO OD.

ove Markese Hargr hardware. takes home

See page 15

FREE

•

ARY FRIDAY, FEBRU

5, 2016

ld?

Heart of Go

ing childhood lies who are battl

ding cancer by atten

2016 Florid Strawberry a Festival Gui de

raiser. See page

this special fund

help local fami

11

Lions Club raising money for playground shade

CITY EXPLORE YOUR

March 3-13

at Willis The students ional Center Peters Except able to safely may soon be outdoors. play and learn

This year’s festival the me is ‘Royal Fun for Everyone. ’

BY JUSTIN

KLINE

CenExceptional The Willis Petersable to build the ter was finally sible playground but handicap-acces working toward, it spent years problem: the Florida there was one

SPORTS EDITOR

of Frank sun. the efforts Thanks to the Plant City Lions and Cummings not be a problem for Club, it may much longer. , Jan. 26, the Lions On Tuesday the Dover school ed s with a Club present needs student for specialCONTINUED

Observer Staff

ON PAGE

6

N

YOUR TOW

JANUARY 2017 Staff Writer Daniel Figueroa hired

The Times & Observer moved from 110 E. Reynolds St. to 1507 S. Alexander St. in 2016.

MAY 2017 Sarah Holt replaces outgoing Managing Editor Emily Topper

rfect Picture-pety opportuni

Plant City High when the 1914 . She It is said that to the entrance 8-9.

Historic District. have columns similar go to pages in the northern of the school For more photos facing east, the west face Historic places.

Evers Street, insisted that Register of a lot on North t Alsobrook, is on the National his home on wife, Margare k first built Historic District street, his across the The northern Dr. Walter Alsobroo was erected school building.

School building back of the to look at the didn’t want

r Places, the Winte ter of Historic National Regis and learn from. districts on the re, photograph ct buildings and place to explo With 10 distin al of the World is an ideal Strawberry Capit

P

more than lant City has to its name. strawberries of cenThere is a variety , unique tury-old homes southern formations, railroad track houses brick school churches and s. its neighborhood throughout many of these Over the years, to the Nabeen added have places ic Places. er of Histor tional Regist School from Glover There are 10: residents State Bank, to Hillsboro t havto explore withou have plenty Strawberry the Winter ing to leave World.

Capital of the

City Archives

and History

Center

of the Plant after Photos courtesy It sat vacant who Whitehall St. . Cenovio Villa, moved to 508 former k house was it fell into disrepair home to its The Alsobroo owners, and to restore the number of been working switching a Center.

Villa LLC, has Archives and History owns Project g to the Photo glory, accordin

Photo Archives The Plant City initiCenter has and History volunteer staff ated a new to both clerical program open volunteers. onal and professi rs will Clerical volunteegreeting ible for be respons ng phones, visitors, answeri Professional more. and filing and will research volunteers ls. organize materia hours Relatively regular the d, however are preferre are flexible. days and hours performed at be All work will facility in the Photo Archives Plant City. downtown Gil Executive Director the benefits said Gott Gott on ring include of voluntee , a good work the job training opportunity environment, work with the to meet and ment of job public, improve at certain nce skills, attenda and the satisspecial events g service faction of providin nity. Volunfor the commuat least sixteen be must and teers good health, years old, in to read and must be able Experienced write English. are welcomed senior citizens to inquire. ged and encoura area is of the local Knowledge

helpful. sessions are Orientation the near future, s planned for upon the interest depending ts. of the applican information, For further may individuals interested Archives at visit the Photo call the office St., 106 S. Evers 8 or email at (813) 754.157 tcityphotoarGott at gil@plan for a Applications chives.org. position may volunteer staff the office. at be picked up

and Photo Archives to this report.

The Plant City contributed History Center

historic Find your on pages 8-9 tour guide

the late ll Street in the house to Whitewawas originally built in Alsobrook To move the half. The home bought in 1907. to be cut in Street lot was 1960s, it had after the Evers early 1900s,

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PLANT CITY TIMES &

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER Locally owned by Ed Verner, Karen Berry, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a jointventure of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103 Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 704-6850 www.PlantCityObserver.com ©Copyright Plant City Media LLC 2014 All Rights Reserved

CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It is inserted into the Tampa Bay Times for subscribers. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103.

SEND US YOUR NEWS We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements.

If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

To contact us, send your information via: Email: Justin Kline, jkline@ PlantCityObserver.com.

TO ADVERTISE

Mail: The Plant City Times & Observer, 1507 S. Alexander St., Suite 103, Plant City, FL 33563

Call Al Berry, Sarah Holt, Danny Crampton or Chandler Workman at (813) 704-6850.

Observer Publisher / Karen Berry, KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt, SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editor / Sports Editor / Justin Kline, JKline@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Daniel Figueroa IV, DFigueroa@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writer / Breanne Williams, BWilliams@PlantCityObserver.com Editorial Designer / C.J. Major, cmajor@yourobserver.com Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster, LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” — Friedrich Hayek, “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

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FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

5

We asked: Should President Donald Trump have tweeted that video?

On Sunday, President Donald Trump tweeted a video portraying him wrestling and punching a figure whose head was replaced with the CNN logo.

The clip was edited with footage from Trump’s appearance at WWE WrestleMania 23 in 2007. It ends with the CNN logo being restyled as “FNN: Fraud News Network.”

Some are saying the video condones attacks on the media while others say it is simply a joke.

Let us know your answers for Around Town questions every Friday on Facebook.

“Not really because it’s not surprising because it’s him. If it was anyone else, in a way I think it would be surprising, but it’s just him so I think he’s doing it for more attention.”

“Yeah I thought it was OK because it’s kind of a form of a freedom of speech. It didn’t do any harm for anybody so why not. It was humorous.”

https://goo.gl/72kCWL

“I don’t think we should judge him on that.

There’s been past presidents that have done worse.”

— Pamela Font, 17

— Brian Backer, 51

— Francys Andujar,19

— Sam Hodgson, 30

ONLINE

To watch the tweeted video, go to

“I thought it was wrong.

If he lets his opinion be in the way, I don’t think that should have been right.”

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

GOOD APPEAL

SHIOBHAN OLIVERO

Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law The self-defense law was recently amended by Governor Rick Scott.

WHEN DOES THE “STAND YOUR GROUND” LAW NOT APPLY?

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lorida Governor Rick Scott signed into law this month an amended “Stand Your Ground” law. This new amendment makes it easier for defendants to successfully claim they were protecting themselves in a violent situation.

Before this amendment, the law required defendants to prove they were using force in self-defense. The new law shifts the burden of proof in pre-trial hearings to prosecutors, rather than defendants, to prove whether such force was used lawfully. Florida actually became the first state to require the prosecutors to have the burden of proof with “Stand Your Ground” hearings.

Many states have had for many years what has been known as the “castle doctrine,” allowing people to use deadly force to defend themselves in their own homes. However, in 2005, Florida actually expanded the law so that even when outside their home, a person has no duty to retreat and can “stand his ground” anywhere they are legally allowed to be. Since then, these defenses have become much more common in pre-trial hearings and during trials.

Cases of note near the Tampa Bay area include the Trayvon Martin case and the Curtis Reeves “movie theater shooting” case in Pasco County.

The expanded “Stand Your Ground” law provides that a person is justified in the use of deadly force and has no duty to retreat if either: (1) the person reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself, or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or (2) the person acts under and according to the circumstances set

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On June 30, a Plant City man was walking along SR-60 in the inside lane at approximately 10:40 p.m. Richard Leon Brooks, 69, was headed southbound across SR-60, west of Edwards Avenue. He traveled into the path of a vehicle, driven by Kelitza RodriguezLopez, which collided with him, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. He sustained fatal injures and died at the scene, according to the report.

The East Hillsborough Art Guild is painting a mural inside the courtyard at Bella Mare Ristorante. The restaurant’s owner, Franco Dragonetti, asked the group to create a “nostalgic view of the beautiful sea, ‘bella mare,’ off the coast of Amalfi, according to Betty Jones, publicity director of the art guild.

Work began in June and is estimated to be completed by the end of July.

Loretta Burns and Colleen Justin, both members of the guild, designed the mural and six of the EHAG’s artists are working as a team to complete the mural. The Lions Club of Plant City donated the paint.

The EHAG is inviting the public to meet the artists and observe the work. The group is working Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are plans for a grand reveal once the painting is completed.

Gresham Stephens, 18, served as a board member for the Strawberry Youth Parade. He is headed to Mississippi State University in the fall and his 14-year-old sister, Mary-Catherine Stephens, will take his place on the board for a two-year term.

The Civitan Club was the original organizer of the Youth Parade until it disbanded in 2016. Thus, the 2017 parade was operated without its aid for the first time.

The 2018 parade will be held March 3. It goes down Alexander Street and ends at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds.

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People posted on Facebook about the incident, asking locals to help combat the loss of revenue by stopping by for gas and food.

Hundreds have interacted with the post and many are vowing to not only stop in, but to make it their go-to gas station. The owner’s daughter, Victoria Robinson, also posted in the comments to thank people for their support and understanding.

Residents rally behind gas station struck by lightning The Mobil gas station at 2203 S. Alex-

Perez ran a red light, troopers said, colliding with Shook, who died at Lakeland Regional Health medical center. Shook was wearing a helmet.

Once troopers and emergency medical personnel arrived, Perez tried to “flee the scene of the crash on foot,” the FHP said. A trooper chased Perez down and took him into custody.

Perez faces charges of driving under the influence with manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crash involving a death and driving with no license involving a death. No blood-alcohol level was released.

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forth in Section 776.013 (pertaining to the use of force in the context of a home or vehicle invasion) (Florida Statutes 776.012 and 776.013).

Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law does not create a new type of defense. The principle that a person may use deadly force in self-defense, if they reasonably believe that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, has been the law in Florida for over 100 years. The “Stand Your Ground” law broadens the scope of a self-defense claim by establishing a general “no duty to retreat” rule.

Prior to the enactment of this law, a person could not use deadly force in self-defense without first using every reasonable means within their power to avoid the danger, including retreat.

The “no duty to retreat” rule goes another step further in cases involving home or vehicle invasions. Florida Statute 776.013 states that when an intruder unlawfully enters, attempts to enter or refuses to leave a dwelling, residence, or vehicle owned or lawfully occupied by another person, the owner or occupant is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm so as to justify the use of deadly force. The intruder is also presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.

Under the statute, the “no duty of retreat” rule will not apply in certain situations. One is when a person is engaged in an unlawful activity or is in a place where he has no right to be. (Florida Statute 776.013(3)). Also under the statute, the use of deadly force (or a claim of “self-defense”) does not apply if the accused person is attempting to commit, committing, or even fleeing or escaping after the commission of a forcible felony (Florida Statute 776.041). It also will not apply if the accused initially provoked the violence against themselves, unless such force or threat of force by the initial non-aggressor is so great that the person reasonably believes that they are in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that they have exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger, other than the use or threatened use of force likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant.

However, a defendant who is an initial aggressor may claim selfdefense if: (1) In good faith, they withdrew from physical contact (2) Clearly indicated to the other person that they desired to withdraw and terminate the use of force (3) Despite the clear indication and withdrawal, the other person continued or resumed the use of force.

(Florida Statute 776.041(2)(b)).

(Editor’s note: Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch ruled the updated law unconstitutional Monday. The Attorney General’s office has since announced plans to appeal the ruling.)

One dead in north Plant City crash Tampa Bay Times staff A driver who troopers believe was intoxicated ran a red light and struck a motorcycle on Monday, killing the rider, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Jorge Alberto Mejia Perez, 52, of Plant City was driving a 2000 Nissan Maxima west on Knights Griffin Road approaching State Road 39 just before 4 p.m., troopers said. Robert Eugene Shook, 74, of New Matamoras, Ohio, was riding a 1990 Honda motorcycle north on SR 39 approaching Knights Griffin Road.

On July 5 at approximately 9:34 a.m., a motorcade driven by Donald Kales, 49, was traveling westbound on Interstate 4 approaching Thonotosassa Road. The vehicle held 25 members of the Atlanta Braves organization, the Gulf Coast Rookie league. A Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Liberato Saroca, 49, had been involved in a prior collision and was stopped in the middle of the road.

Kales was unable to control and stop the motorcade and it collided with the rear of Saroca’s car, causing a minor collision. Nona Saroca, 52, was in the passenger seat of the Malibu and was taken to South Florida Baptist hospital for minor injuries from the first crash. When the trooper arrived the cars had been moved to the side of the road and no lanes were shut down. Kales was ticketed for careless driving.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

7

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Plant City Police Department.

JUNE 23

FIVE MORE MINUTES, OFFICER? 100 block of South Collins Street Open Container: A man was arrested in McCall Park after police say he was found “passed out” with a “cold 24-ounce Steel Reserve” beer open in his hand. Police say he was found near the bathroom where a sign “clearly states ‘no alcoholic beverages allowed.’”

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GRAND THEFT DOODOO 100 block of North Gordon Street Larceny: A man nicknamed “DooDoo” was arrested after police say he was caught on camera stealing more than $300 from a retail store. Police say the man overfilled a shopping cart before leaving the store without paying. After making it out with one cart, police say the man came back and filled another cart but was “scared away” when he noticed employees caught on. Police identified the man via surveillance video and arrested him at another location.

Breanne Williams

United Food Bank director Mary Heysek received two $500 checks from Rise Plant City and City Pointe Church on June 30.

The United Food Bank of Plant City was facing the threat of empty shelves when Scott McIntosh, pastor of City Pointe Church, and his congregation decided to fill the need.

The food bank faces an increase in demand for children’s food during the summer due to schools being out. It gives out over 700 kid’s bags a week, according to Mary Heysek, director of United Food Bank of Plant City.

When City Pointe heard of the need it decided to act. McIntosh said the church works off the idea that Plant City should be a better place because the church is in it.

If there are other organizations in the community successfully meeting a need, McIntosh said, there is no reason for his church to “reinvent the wheel.” He said this community is stronger together and makes it a point to partner with organizations that are serving Plant City.

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BETTER LATE THAN NEVER 3400 block of Edwards Road Burglary: A man was arrested following an April incident in which he robbed a residence, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

HCSO says the man and another, unknown suspect entered the residence and stole electronics, a blood pressure reading machine, a vacuum cleaner, Mexican passports and other personal property. Witnesses, HCSO say, confronted the defendants as they sat outside in a green Ford F-150 pickup truck. A witness took a photograph of the two before they left the scene. The photograph was used to identify the man HCSO arrested.

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tributed. In June, over 1,000 families were helped, providing food for approximately 3,500 people.

“Oh gosh, this is going to be able to help our kids program for the rest of the summer, which is where we’ve been very, very low and deficient,” Heysek said. “In fact, we were coming to an almost complete halt this past week and we were happy it was a long weekend so we would be able to rejuvenate again.”

Heysek, who joined the board of the United Food Bank in 2011 before being named executive director in 2016, said her position with the organization has changed her entire outlook on the issue.

“I think people think these people are just looking for a handout and they’re not,” Heysek said. “The people who come here are truly in need.”

McIntosh is still hoping someone else will step up to the challenge and help fill the shelves of the food bank.

He said he believes others in the community have a desire to help but may not yet know about the need.

After hearing about the extensive work the food bank does for Plant City, Christy Lyle, chairman of the board for Rise, is excited to continue to aid the organization.

“I feel like for a town like Plant City this is perfect,” Lyle said. “I love the idea of it not being a ‘handout,’ but a ‘hand up’ … I’d like for Rise to be more involved, maybe even volunteer on Tuesday nights or something.”

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BREANNE WILLIAMS

“We’re for all the other churches in the city, other organizations and ministries, but we are against children going hungry,” McIntosh said.

“Lots of churches do food drives and organizations do drives where they donate cans of food, but we believe they know the need better than we do. So rather than give them something they already have, we are going to help them get whatever it is they actually need.”

City Pointe pledged $500 and reached out to the community via social media in search of someone to match its donation. Rise Plant City, a group that creates networking opportunities for young professionals in Plant City, stepped up to the challenge.

Emily Topper, a board member for Rise, heard about McIntosh’s challenge and reached out to her fellow board members to join in the donation.

“We decided to take the funds from our dodgeball tournament, which were going to the food bank anyway, and add enough to make that $500 match so that between the two organizations the food bank would receive $1,000,” Topper said.

The two groups presented their checks Friday to Heysek after touring the facilities and learning about the demand the food bank faces to provide for the community. Last year over 40,000 people were fed and over 1.2 million pounds of food were dis-

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City Pointe Church and Rise Plant City each donated $500 to United Food Bank of Plant City to help meet the increased demand from families who’s children are out of school.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

All’s (mostly) quiet on the downtown front Plant City will enter an engineering agreement with CSX for creation of quiet zones at downtown rail crossings.

DANIEL FIGUEROA IV STAFF WRITER

The City Commission recently authorized Interim City Manager Kim Leinbach to enact an agreement with CSX Transportation to create quiet zones at downtown rail crossings.

In conjunction with CSX, the Florida Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration and Plant City, six road crossings and one pedestrian crossing will receive safety and signage upgrades. The six road crossings are at Baker Street, Reynolds Street, Collins Street, East Dr. Matin Luther King Jr. Blvd., South Evers Street and South Wheeler Street. The pedestrian crossing is at Herring Street.

“They were pretty good at laying on the horn coming through there,” Assistant City Manager Bill McDaniel said.

The quiet zones, McDaniel said, will be “beefed up crossings and warnings to give trains the confidence to get through crossings without making any noise.”

According to city documents, the improvements will include gates at crossings that don't have any and signage for trains entering the city as well as citizens entering crossings.

To construct the quiet zones, the City received a $165,000 matching grant from FDOT for a total of $330,00 in project funding. Now that the project has been approved by commissioners, City Engineer Michael Schenk said work can begin to make the improvements. CSX contractors will be responsible for most of the work, Schenk said. However, Plant City will be responsible for improving the condition of the pedestrian crossing.

“A quiet zone doesn’t equal a silent zone,” Leinbach said. “Conductors will still be able to use the horn at

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their discretion if they perceive an emergency.”

While horns can be viewed as a nuisance, Leinbach said, they are used for safety. McDaniel said he recently came across a video where participants were asked to indicate when they could detect a nearby train. He said he was surprised at how close trains need to be for people to realize they’re there.

“It added a lot of perspective for me,” McDaniel said.

It’s been a long process to establish these zones, McDaniel said. Preparations can be traced back about 15 years to when the city closed certain crossings. Had that not been done, it would've been the first step in the current project and delayed further implementation, he said.

Leinbach added projects like this can often take longer to come to fruition than might appear necessary.

All agencies involved in projects like this (state, local, federal and private, in this case) must come to agreements together. Additionally, funding applications can be intense. In order to qualify for grants, Leinbach said, sometimes your plans need to have plans.

Schenk said the creations of the quiet zones will begin as soon as CSX receives a check from the city.

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JULY 7, 2017

YOUR NEIGHBORS

AN EXPLOSIVE CELEBRATION Photos by Breanne Williams

The annual fireworks show is a Plant City tradition that continues to grow.

P

lant City Stadium was filled to the brim as over a thousand gathered to watch the city’s annual fireworks display on Tuesday.

Those who were unable to fit in the stands parked their vehicles along every adjacent street, lining the roadways with red, white and blue-adorned families.

Prior to nightfall the stadium was full of food, live bands and activities for families. Bungee jumping, rock walls, bounce houses and cornhole littered the field and several boisterous rounds of tug of war, where the adults walked away with more scrapes than the children, were waged as people waited for the sun to set. Children made crafts, were given balloons and walked away with painted faces while adults revisited childhood favorites like funnel cake and mini-donuts.

The Daniel Sprouse Band and the Double Barrel Band kept the crowds entertained with country music and covers of American classics like Guns ‘N’ Roses. Finally, as the stars began to appear the crowd stood for the ROTC Presentation of Colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.

Then attendees joined in a thunderous countdown for the show to begin.

Olivia Gore, 23, and Thomas Gore, 21, were among the most patriotic in attendance. Thomas wore an American flag-themed bodysuit despite the Florida heat.

— BREANNE WILLIAMS

Children dug in their heels and competed against their friends in tug of war.

Trinity and Taina Grier were ready for the celebration in their matching Fourth of July themed attire.

Children were able to flip and bounce on the bungee jump while waiting for the fireworks to begin.

The Mullino family brought their own blanket, which they lounged on in the outfield while waiting for the show to begin.

10

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JULY FIBER CRAFTS ART CLASSES 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Make your own 8 AND 9 MID-FLORIDA SUMMER HOME SHOW 2017 Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 pm. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 4th annual Mid-Florida Summer Home Show is at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds. It now offers home decor and a plant expo as well as the 100 plus home vendors and Florida Licensed Contractors. There will also be multiple seminars throughout the weekend.

MONDAY JULY 10

JULY LUNCH AND LEARN 12 p.m. Rise Plant City is hosting a lunch and learn at the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center.

Guest speakers Mike and Lyndi Long, owners of Sport Clips, will discuss ways to improve personal credit and offer advice on how to obtain small business loans. Food will be provided. Rise members can attend for free and the cost for non-members is $10. Register in advance as there are only tickets for 50 people. Tickets can be reserved on riseplantcity.com.

TUESDAY, JULY 11

DIABETES PREVENTION CLASS 16-WEEK SERIES 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The United Food Bank of Plant City, 702 E. Alsobrook St. #H, is hosting a diabetes prevention class, which will be taught by registered dietitians and health educators. The 16-week series is free to the public. Registration is required.

Contact 813-397-8015 ext. 7107.

WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, JULY 12 AND 13

handmade doll, cat or dog at Fiber Crafts Art Class at 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N Collins St. $15 per class or both for $20. For ages 8 and up.

Pre-registration required by July 10.

Contact 813-757-9226 or qcenter@ tampabay.rr.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 15

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CAR SHOW 3 to 8 p.m. The Strawberry Classic Car Show is held at Union Station Depot on the 3rd Saturday of every month and is free to the public.

There are a variety of classic cars as well as free bounce houses, kids’ entertainment and a 50/50 raffle.

The area’s shops and restaurants are open, as well.

ONGOING PAINTING WITH BETTY FAIRBANKS AT THE CLASSROOM GALLERY Takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. The cost is $20 per class.

Bring own supplies and references to learn about color theory, design and different techniques. Call (813) 757-3632.

PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS CLUB #4051 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. Thursdays at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 S. Evers St., Plant City.

New members welcome.

ACOUSTIC HAPPY HOUR 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, at

BEST BET FRIDAY, JULY 14

SHREK THE MUSICAL 8 p.m. Plant City Entertainment presents Shrek the Musical. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks

Animation film, Shrek the Musical is a Tony Awardwinning fairytale adventure. It has all the characters you know from the film and shows a new side to the story unique to the play. Tickets are limited, so get yours today at pceshows.yapsody.com. The show is held at 101 N Thomas St., Plant City.

O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

N. Collins St. Art is on display by members of the East Hillsborough Art Guild.

CHRISTIAN MUSIC 6:33 to 8:33 p.m. Thursdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB 1 p.m. Fridays at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 302 Carey St. For more information, call Walt Arnold at (813) 752-1602.

THE CLASSROOM GALLERY 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605

KEEL AND CURLEY LIVE MUSIC 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Tho-

MEMBERS ENJOY FAMILY FUN

notosassa Road. (813) 752-9100.

KRAZY KUP LIVE MUSIC 8:33 to 10:33 p.m. Saturdays, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

O’BRIEN’S LIVE MUSIC 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

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PlantCityObserver.com

Susan W. Vella

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE

SUSAN W. VELLA, 67, BRADENTON, DIED JUNE 20, 2017.

Aug 15, 1949 – June 20, 2017.

Born in Alachua County, FL and resided in Plant City, FL. She attended Florida State University and then moved to Bradenton in 1972 from Tallahassee, FL. She was a member of Palma Sola Presbyterian Church where she was very active. She taught Kindergarten at Palma Sola Elementary and fluent in American Sign Language.

Predeceased by her parents, James R. and Elizabeth (Eberhardt) White; husband, Michael.

Survived by son, Evan of Toronto, Canada; daughter, Alyssanne of Tampa, FL; brother, James R. White of Stone Mountain, GA. A Memorial Service was held Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at Palma Sola Presbyterian Church.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com

Headed on a great trip? Did you take the Observer with you on vacation? Send your pictures to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

Kenneth Cain

KENNETH CAIN, 46, OF MULBERRY AND PLANT CITY, BORN IN 1971 IN TAMPA, ENTERED INTO ETERNAL REST ON JUNE 29.

Care provided by www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Pleasie Neal Hinson

Care provided by www.HopewellFuneral.com.

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BEVERLY J. STEVENS, 80, OF PLANT CITY, BORN IN 1936 IN INDIANA, ENTERED INTO ETERNAL REST ON JUNE 29.

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RICHARD WAYNE PARKER, 70, OF THONOTOSASSA, FLORIDA DIED SATURDAY, JULY 1ST, 2017.

The family will receive friends to at Thonotosassa Church of God from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m on July 7.

Services will be held July 7 at Thonotosassa Church of God at 11:00 a.m.

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

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PLEASIE NEAL HINSON, 93, OF, LITHIA, BORN IN 1924 IN PLANT CITY, ENTERED INTO ETERNAL REST ON JULY 1.

A-FRICAN GOOD TIME: The Plant City Times & Observer made its way to Africa in June, embarking on a safari tour in South Africa with Teresa Keene, Sherlene Elliott, Felita Keene, Sally Keene, Pam Bennett, Colten Drawdy, Wyatt Drawdy and Kim Drawdy.

11

FREDERIC PAUL WEST, 71, OF LITHIA, BORN IN 1946 IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ENTERED INTO ETERNAL REST ON JUNE 25.

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JULY 7, 2017

SPORTS Do you have a good sports scoop for us?

Email Justin Kline at jkline@ plantcityobserver.com.

FISTS OF FIRE Fire Fist Boxing Promotions has two fighters signed and an upcoming event in August.

JUSTIN KLINE SPORTS/ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Registration under way for youth flag football The Plant City Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist Club Youth Flag Football Program is returning in September and holding sign-ups now.

Boys and girls aged 4 to 15 can play in the league’s 51st season, which hosts games on Saturday mornings from September 16 through November 4. Teams are organized into five groups based on age and there are no pads, helmets or practices.

Registration is accepted through August 1 and a copy of your child’s birth certificate must be provided.

Age is determined as of November 1, 2017. The cost to play is $35 per child, which includes recreation accident insurance.

To register, visit the Plant City Recreation and Parks Department office at 1904 S. Park Road between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or mail the check and registration form to that address.

Forms may be downloaded online from PlantCityGov.com.

PCHS hosting cheer clinic Plant City High School’s cheer program is getting ready to show young cheerleaders the ropes.

The annual PCHS cheerleading clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

July 18 and 19. Participants must wear a t-shirt, shorts, sneakers and a hair tie, and must bring their own lunches and water bottles. They are not allowed to wear jewelry.

For more information, contact Snapp at (813) 757-9370 or by email at Karen.Snapp@sdhc.k12.fl.us.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? JUSTIN KLINE

Women playing for the love of the game Though women’s sports programs have grown, attention — and thus, resources — aren’t where they should be.

D

uring the Women’s Football Alliance season, players find themselves traveling around their states — if not the country — to flash their pigskin prowess.

They’ll do anything to chase that championship.

That includes shelling out a lot of cash.

Talking to several people from the Tampa Bay Inferno organization, I learned that the women’s semi-pro football scene is purely a passion play. When money from sponsorships runs out, the players are covering all of their own costs out of pocket. It’s not so bad during the regular season, traveling around Florida, but a playoff appearance means the Inferno and other teams are quickly doubling or tripling that number in half the time.

SEE KLINE PAGE 13

P

lant City Boxing Gym’s latest venture into the professional boxing scene is homegrown.

Gym owner Jose Rodriguez recently announced the debut of Fire Fist Boxing Promotions, a fighter management group he created with partner Jody Caliguire. After a threemonth process of acquiring licenses, Rodriguez, himself a former pro, says Fire Fist is ready to put its name on the map.

“It’s a great thing,” Rodriguez says. “I wanted to be a champion, but now I can do it with these guys. It’s for real now. I can be in the corner. I’m your trainer. I’m your manager. I know I can do it.”

Caliguire, who owns Central Site Development, says he had been “toying” with the idea of creating a boxing management group for over a year. Fire Fist came to fruition in March after he discovered Plant City Boxing Gym while looking for a place to train. He says that, after meeting Rodriguez, the two quickly became friendly and found they had similar goals.

A week after Caliguire pitched the idea for Fire Fist to Rodriguez, the wheels on the project began turning.

“We’re further developing professional boxers. There’s a lot of talent in the Tampa Bay area, Hillsborough County and Polk County, and we want to bring boxing back to this area in a big way.”

Fire Fist currently has two boxers signed to its roster, and both men are slated to fight in the group’s first-ever event in mid-August.

Yamaguchi Falcao, 29, a World Boxing Council top-20 middleweight and a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, is a rising Brazilian star with an active 13-win streak and an affiliation with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. Falcao, a former WBC Latino Middleweight champion, is looking to climb the ladder.

Falcao says he enjoyed training at Plant City Boxing Gym and that he believes Rodriguez and Fire Fist can help him ascend in the WBC ranks.

“If you’re a champion, you’re going to be a champion in this gym or any other gym,” Falcao says. “It’s the desire in your heart that you’ve got to be a champion. It’s the hunger that you’ve got.”

Cesar “Junito” Seda, a former International Boxing Organization flyweight champion, is looking to right the ship in his own pro career.

Seda, 31, a native of Puerto Rico, last held the title in 2010 and hopes to earn his first title shot since 2013, when he unsuccessfully battled Leo Santa Cruz for the WBC World Super Bantamweight belt.

“He’s got the caliber,” Rodriguez says. “He just needs to get back on track.”

Fighters within the promotion live and train in Plant City, all on Fire Fist’s dime. The group purchased a house for fighters to live in and takes care of groceries, utilities and other needs so that the fighters have little to be concerned about outside their work.

“We take care of everything … we make sure they don’t have to worry about anything but boxing,” Rodriguez says.

Fire Fist is set to host a card in Tampa on August 12 featuring Falcao and Seda, as well as Irish boxer Connor Coyle. The group is planning to have Seda fight again in October.

Rodriguez and Caliguire say that Fire Fist is trying to bring more fighters aboard soon, and that they have high hopes for the future of the promotion.

“I think, personally, we’ve got something good going on here,”

“If you’re a champion, you’re going to be a champion in this gym or any other gym.

It’s the desire in your heart that you’ve got to be a champion. It’s the hunger that you’ve got.”

— Yamaguchi Falcao

Rodriguez says. “I think in a couple of years, not too far, you’re going to see us with a WBC champion. You’re going to see us out there. You will.”

IF YOU GO Fire Fist Boxing Promotions is hosting its first set of fights on August 12 in Tampa. The card will feature Fire Fist fighters Yamaguchi Falcao and Cesar Seda, as well as undefeated boxer Connor Coyle. The fighters' opponents were not announced as of press time.

When: Saturday, August 12 Where: A La Carte Pavilion, 4050 Dana Shores Drive, Tampa Call: Plant City Boxing Gym, (813) 478-4705

Photos by Justin Kline

Above Left: Cesar Seda is hoping to revive his career with help from his training in Plant City.

Above: Yamaguchi Falcao left Brazil to fight in the United States, and has linked up with Fire Fist Boxing Promotions.

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

Plant City native guiding Tampa Bay Inferno through WFA playoffs at quarterback

13

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

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Kim Shaw is looking to win a championship to wrap up her 16th season in women’s semi-pro football.

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Justin Kline

Kim Shaw is a 16-year veteran of the Tampa Bay women's football scene.

all 16 years of her career. The Pirates became the Inferno in 2012, following an ownership change.

“Kim’s been a staple with us since the beginning,” Inferno owner Jen Moody says.

With Shaw at quarterback, the team is having its best season yet under the Inferno banner. The team is sitting on a 10-0 record, playoffs included, led by a run-heavy offense that averaged 44.8 points per game in the eightweek regular season. Shaw has completed 40.7% of her pass attempts for 619 yards and five touchdowns against four interceptions.

The team typically plays around Florida during the regular season and travels out of state for the playoffs. After the team picked up a 27-6 home win over the Miami Fury in the first round, it traveled to Greensboro, North Carolina, to take a 35-26 win over the Carolina Phoenix and advance to the semifinal round. For the upcoming game against the Blitz, the Inferno will travel to Plattsburg, New York, to play on neutral territory. The reason an undefeated team

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

doesn’t have home field advantage is because the Inferno’s opponents, pulled from around the state, are almost always in Division 3 — one lower than the Inferno — and that has a negative effect on the team’s Massey rating, which the WFA uses to determine home field advantage.

“We don’t have any teams around here in Division 2 or Division 1 that we can play. We’re always playing Division 3 teams and, since we’re blowing them out, it doesn’t really count in the Massey ratings,” Shaw says.

Last season, the Inferno made it to the championship round against the St. Louis Slam. Though Tampa Bay suffered a 38-7 loss that day, Shaw says finally getting to the championship game has been the proudest moment of her career thus far.

This weekend, she’ll have her chance to help the team get back to that point. Shaw is ready to do whatever it takes to improve upon 2016’s outcomes.

“I love the game,” Shaw says. “So I’d do anything for the team.”

JUSTIN KLINE

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This week’s Celebrity Cipher answers

Puzzle One Solution: “May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.”

– Peter Marshall Puzzle Two Solution: “To know how to free oneself is nothing; the arduous thing is to know what to do with one’s freedom.”

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This week’s Sudoku answers

FROM KLINE PAGE 12

Players certainly go into the season knowing full well a championship run will require them to work more to foot the bills. If they didn’t love playing football, they wouldn’t do it. But a lot of that financial burden could be avoided with more sponsorships, which would be the next natural step from getting more eyes on the games.

I confess, I had no idea that the Tampa Bay Inferno existed until I got an email from quarterback Kim Shaw. I had no idea the Women’s Football Alliance existed until Staff Writer Breanne Williams, who is a fan of the Inferno, got excited when I mentioned I’d just heard about a women’s football team in Tampa.

The only women’s football organization I knew of was the Lingerie Football League, which definitely wasn’t created because its audience wanted to watch women playing football for the love of the game. It’s refreshing to see a league for women operating as a similar men’s league would, and it’s great to hear from Shaw that many women are participating.

As the WFA is governed by the NCAA’s rules and has a 65 teams in several divisions, it’s theoretically a lot like watching college football as played by women in full gear. I know a lot of our readers love them some college football.

Of course, women’s sports are normally nowhere near men’s in terms of popularity — even when there are few differences from game to game.

It’s pretty good at the Olympics, especially for gymnastics. Because the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team is so successful, especially compared to our men’s unit, those women get a lot of deserved attention. And I have quite a few friends

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who can and will get hyped for women’s tennis or college softball at any time. But things tend to drop off then.

For example, a 2016 Syracuse Daily Orange story stated that, for the 2015-16 Syracuse University basketball seasons, an average of 21,909 fans attended then men’s games while around 752 showed up to each women’s game. Both teams play in the Carrier Dome, and both are highly-respected programs with a history of NCAA tournament appearances. The men lost 12 games that season, but the women only lost six. Both teams made the Final Four that season — for college hoops, that is extremely rare.

There are plenty of differences between the men’s and the women’s game and, having seen plenty of both, I know that people who grew up with the hype surrounding male athletes just think women are boring because far fewer of them can dunk.

I’ve noticed people chalk up their disinterest in women’s sports to the differences in the game. If you don’t

like that women’s basketball, softball and others function differently from men’s sports as a result of physical differences, fine — not all sports excite me either. But if you take from that a belief that women aren’t athletic and don’t belong on the fields or courts, that’s just absurd.

I encourage anyone who doesn’t think women are athletic enough to play your favorite sports to watch them play your favorite sports.

When people change their minds about women’s sports, we’ll see them flourish in ways they never have before and, hopefully, the Inferno’s women and other semi-pro players will be able to save on outof-pocket costs. You can’t knock it until you try it.

Justin Kline is the Sports Editor at the Plant City Times & Observer.

Email: jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

©2017 NEA, Inc.

This week’s Crossword answers

2017

244583

Kim Shaw grew up thinking she might have never been able to play football, the game she always loved.

Sixteen years after a chance encounter changed all of that, she’s currently deep into a playoff run with her undefeated Tampa Bay Inferno team.

Ask Shaw and she’ll talk about what happens after the Inferno plays a July 8 away game against the Montreal Blitz. It’s round four in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, or bust. But no matter what happens on the field, she’s grateful for the opportunity she was given.

Shaw, born and raised in Plant City, grew up around the game with her five older brothers. Though she stayed active in school sports with basketball and track, she felt the sting of not being able to play football.

“It was always something I wanted to do,” Shaw says. “But my mom wouldn’t let me play football when I was a kid.”

After high school, Shaw did whatever she could to be around the game.

Living in Sarasota, she joined a men’s flag football league and even got to coach kids within the Sarasota Ringling Redskins program. It wasn’t as good for her as putting on pads and a helmet and playing the real thing, but for all she knew, there was nothing like that out there for her.

That changed in 2001, when one of her Redskins players couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t playing.

“The kid came up to me and was like, ‘Coach Kim, why are you not playing football?’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean, playing football? Where,’” Shaw says. “He was like, ‘My mom plays football.’ I’m like, ‘No, she don’t.’ He’s like, ‘Yes, she does.’”

Shaw learned about the Tampa Tempest and the Women’s Professional Football League, which presented the opportunity she dreamt of. She went to try out as soon as she was able to and made the cut, starting out at defensive end. “‘I finally get to play football.’

That’s all I kept saying,” Shaw says. “‘Oh my God, this is real.’ All because of a little bright-eyed kid.”

After one year at defensive end, Shaw made the switch to quarterback.

She's stuck with the same franchise, which has rebranded from the Tempest to the Tampa Bay Terminators, Tampa Bay Pirates and the Inferno, for

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PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

Adan Longoria

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In his mother’s words, baseball is Adan Longoria’s life. Longoria, a twotime Plant City Little League All-Star and state champion, is helping the Plant City 9-10-11 team make a run through sectionals at Lakewood Ranch this week. As a pitcher and infielder, Longoria’s coaches are counting on him to be an important cog in the team’s machine this summer as it looks to get back to the Tournament of State Champions.

Know someone who deserves an Athlete of the Week feature? Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com by the Friday before the next issue.

How long have you been playing baseball?

About seven years. I’m 12.

Your livelihood has been built through hard work and integrity.

What got you into the sport?

I’ve always watched in since I was little. I told my dad I wanted to do it, so he signed me up … I always watched the Red Sox and David Ortiz.

He kind of inspired me to do it.

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Which positions do you play?

I usually play third, first and catcher, besides pitching. My favorite thing is to pitch. I like to pitch a lot.

What can you throw on the mound?

My best pitch is my breaking ball, but I also have a fastball, a knuckleball and a changeup.

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The knuckleball is not an easy pitch to throw. How did you pick it up?

I looked up how to throw it and I saw a doc about R.A. Dickey and Tim Wakefield. My dad and I wanted to try it out. It took about a week or two. I couldn’t get the grip real good.

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What are your strengths as a player?

Pitching. Usually catching. I can be good at the plate, sometimes.

Where do you want to get better?

I want to figure out things that I can do to pitch faster. I really want to focus on pitching.

Who’s your favorite pitcher?

Chris Sale.

What’s the best baseball movie?

My favorite baseball movie is the Perfect Game.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve done on a baseball field?

The coolest thing I’ve done was in our third game at Cooperstown, we were down by three and I hit a home run to give us the lead.

What’s the funniest thing that’s happened with one of your teams?

At Cooperstown, when we were at our bunks after our coach picked up our laundry, one of our coaches pulled out this girl’s underwear.

What’s the coolest thing about playing in tournaments like that?

Seeing how good you can really be against other kids that are really experienced.

Do you play any other sports?

I kind of want to get into basketball, but I think baseball is my main sport.

Christmas in July ANNUAL DONATION DRIVE

Friday, July 28 Having to be in a health care setting is often a stressful and frightening experience for children and families.

Recreation and play therapy give kids strategies for coping and bring a momentary escape from their illness.

Donations to Christmas in July help dramatically alter a child’s hospital experience.

FAMILY MEDICAL SPECIALISTS OF FLORIDA

Here’s how you can make a difference: Sponsor an extraordinary child experience: Visit StJosephsChristmas.org

Michael Paul Gimness, MD

Drop off toys and donations: Join Santa and his elves at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital on Friday, July 28, from 7am to 1pm.

Board certified in Family Medicine

Sony Sam, MD Patricia Siemionko, ARNP

1703 Thonotosassa Road, Suite A, Plant City, Florida 33563

P: 813.567.5679 | F: 813.567.5686 www.fmsflorida.com

3001 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | Tampa (813) 872-0979 | StJosephsChristmas.org 17-103823-0717

244738

244605

14

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

I LOVE PLANT CITY

FORECAST

Do you have a photo that speaks to the heart of Plant City?

Send it to Associate Editor Justin Kline at jkline@PlantCityObserver.com

|

SUNRISE / SUNSET

FRIDAY, JULY 7

High: 92 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%

Friday, July 7

6:38a

8:28p

Saturday, July 8

6:38a

8:28p

Sunday, July 9

6:39a

8:28p

Monday, July 10

6:39a

8:28p

Tuesday, July 11

6:40a

8:27p

Wednesday, July 12

6:40a

8:27p

Thursday, July 13

6:41a

8:27p

SATURDAY, JULY 8 High: 90 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%

SUNDAY, JULY 9

15

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

Sunrise Sunset

MOON PHASES

High: 89 Low: 74 Chance of rain: 60%

July 23 New

July 18 Last

July 27 First

July 8 Full

MONDAY, JULY 10 High: 91 Low: 75 Chance of rain: 60%

RAINFALL

OKRA Shipping point: Orlando $14.35 to $16.85

Marcia Sullivan looked out her window the afternoon of June 24 and found a “visitor” — this red-shouldered hawk. Sullivan wins this week’s I Love Plant City photo contest.

Courtesy of the United States

ONLINE

Department of Agriculture

Wednesday, June 28

0.09

Thursday, June 29

0.12

Friday, June 30

0.66

Saturday, July 1

0.19

Sunday, July 2

0.24

Monday, July 3

1.01

Tuesday, July 4

0.51

YEAR TO DATE:

JUNE TO DATE:

Follow us on social media: @PCTObserver on Instgram, @PlantObserver on

2017 16.29 in.

2017 11.85 in.

Twitter and Plant City Times & Observer on Facebook.

2016 18.21 in.

2016

FREE Vacuum

d Unlimite

at only g n i t r a t S r month $ 17.95 pe

$

10 OFF

on any detailing service over $39.99

GETTING ONE’S ILL by Timothy B. Parker

ACROSS

magazines 28 Not yet hardened, as 1 Make a trade cement 5 Is a horse whisperer 29 Type of club in school 10 Ensnare 30 Small guitar, briefly 14 PC operating system of 31 Sedimentary rock layers the 1980s 33 Utter 19 State that has the Pro 34 Pool hall staple Football Hall of Fame 39 Group that follows a team 20 It provides a licorice 42 Brilliant achievement flavoring 43 Completely change the 21 Lariat material style of 22 Suspect’s cover story 44 Priest of a Celtic religious 23 Dentists’ chairs or places order with pumps 47 Hard-rock link 26 What some sports com48 Bony fish like a herring mentators offer 49 Forecast involving 27 Places with many military wetness

51 Acre’s inhabitants 53 365 billion days, astronomically 54 Some bed linen units 59 Stories that are unlikely to be true 60 Kind of storm 62 Noisy owls 64 “... slithy toves did ___ and gimble ...” (“Jabberwocky” line) 65 The significance of candles on a cake 66 Work in tandem, as organisms 67 ___-Mart Stores, Inc. 69 They protect baby clothes 72 Lead reindeer

75 Early settlers 80 Bring together 82 Period of frivolous news stories 84 It may offer a welcome 85 A guy pushing stuff?

87 Oatmeal abnormality 88 Wrap of old Rome 89 Blow up, as a photo (Abbr.)

90 Prepares flour, in a way 92 Object of many sports 94 A life essential 95 Ranked in a tournament 97 Lady of great wealth 101 “My country, ___ of thee ...”

102 Mint-family members

3999

$

OctopusCarWashFlorida.com

50 “Mode” lead-in 52 Creature with great vision 54 ___ out (eat and then some) 55 “___ Stop the Rain” (1970 hit) 56 Lathery 57 Lakes of Scotland 58 Hairy television cousin 61 Kindergartner’s stick ‘em 63 Emulate a 52-Down 66 Brig. gen.’s underling 68 Landers giving advice 69 Some city transports 70 Incredibly stupid or silly 71 Love letter 73 In the military, they’re just plane folks (Abbr.)

DOWN 74 By ___ of (using effort) 1 Couch 75 Sao finisher 2 Sound from a fan 76 Organ attachment 3 Doesn’t feel very well 77 What hams do on stage 4 Skier’s tool 78 Is obviously very angry 5 Godzilla creator 79 Attractions for moviegoers 6 One who is serious about 81 Letters with curves casting?

83 Island of New York 7 Future Mrs. 86 Prefix for night 8 Suffix for world record 88 Material for a commercial holders roof, sometimes 9 It has a wet bottom 91 Point guard vis-a-vis 10 Threefold center 11 Perched 92 Crepes for a Russian 12 Sleep disrupter 93 Lacking none 13 Any bothersome insect 94 Freeway, compared to an 14 ___ ‘n’ cheese alley 15 Company’s catchphrase 96 Be a time-waster 16 Drag one’s feet 98 Tristan’s beloved 17 One type of woodwind 99 Dieter’s choice 18 King’s honorific 100 Enhancer’s accessories 24 Igloo dweller 102 City in Idaho 25 Word with jet or charger 104 Onetime Soviet news 31 Dictation expert agency 32 Smidgen 105 Starting word of “The 33 Egypt’s Anwar Raven” 34 Under attack 106 Like a completed triath35 Mythical blood of the gods lon leg 36 Extensive grassy plain 107 Top-shelf 37 Little fellow 108 They may butt heads 38 Tool for a carpenter or 109 State of the agitated dentist 110 The animated Shrek is 39 Type of Christmas tree one 40 Basket willow 111 Tide variety 41 En ___ (as a group) 113 Loop trains 45 About to fall off the vine 115 They help people beat the 46 Cold War country, for heat (Abbr.) short 116 Bon ___ (witticism) 49 Kitchen potato tool 103 Like 99 but not 100 104 Sweeney the bizarre barber 106 Lawgiver of Athens 107 Loni or Harry of TV 112 Battery part 114 English king whose name is difficult to rhyme 117 Regatta racer 118 Like many cars for sale 119 Barbarian of film 120 Actress Sorvino 121 Male and female 122 “A ___ formality” 123 “Ignore the dele” notations 124 Small part of a long process

©2017 Universal Uclick

FROM

Good until 7/21/17

1503 S. Collins Street 813-754-0777

CROSSWORD

Mon. - Sat. 8am - 6pm Sunday 9am - 6pm

DETAILING SERVICES

244747

B U L C

XPRESS WASH

CELEBRITY CIPHER

By Luis Campos Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present.

Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

“TFX JR WLUSE PY YGRRNPT, SPW FZ WLR GUALW WP NP FZ JR MIRFZR, KDW FZ WLR PMMPGWDSUWX WP NP JLFW UZ GUALW.”

– MRWRG TFGZLFII

“MD ZUDJ ADJ MD WOBB DUBGBSW LG UDMALUX; MAB TOREDEG MALUX LG MD ZUDJ JATM MD RD JLMA DUB’G WOBBRDY.” – TUROB XLRB

Puzzle Two Clue: Y equals M

H S A W

Puzzle One Clue: K equals B

Congratulations to this week’s I Love PC Winner.

Stop in for your FREE Car Wash.

8.74 in.

©2017 NEA, Inc.

SUDOKU

Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

©2017 Andrews McMeel Syndicate

7-6-17

16

PLANT CITY TIMES & OBSERVER

|

PlantCityObserver.com

FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2017

We Specialize in Seniors That’s why our doctors focus on what’s important to you.

At Continucare of Plant City, we developed a special approach to meet the needs and challenges of our Medicare patients.

It means we: Take the time to listen to you Explain your care and treatment Work together with your specialists for your overall care Remind you about screenings and exams Provide a pharmacy right in our center for your convenience Have an English and Spanish speaking staff Medicare Friendly! Senior-focused, specializing in Medicare Advantage health plans.

Interested in becoming a new patient?

Call 813-421-9051 or visit continucare.com Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Senior-focused Primary Care Continucare of Plant City 228 W. Alexander St.

244952

Continucare does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711). ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele 1-877-320-2188 (TTY: 711).

CON-11591 - E_PN_Doctors_PCObserver_FINAL.indd 1

6/29/17 3:31 PM