Plant City Times &
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH
TRIBUTE
TCHS students remember dean for her fairness.
OUR TOWN
HEY BUDDY
HURRAH!
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PCHS hosts dance and cheer clinic for future leaders.
Dolphins to play East Bay in first Buddy Bowl .
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wlca by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Jonathan Jones, of Plant City, was one of 57 students chosen to serve as a valley ambassador for Lebanon Valley College this fall. As a valley ambassador, Jones tours prospective students and their families through the college’s Annville, Pennsylvania campus to see the academic quad, a typical classroom, a dorm room and the athletic fields, while providing knowledge of life at The Valley. Jones, a graduate of Brandon High School, is pursuing a bachelor of arts in criminal justice at the college. LVC welcomes 1,573 fulltime undergraduates studying more than 30 majors, as well as customized selfdesigned majors. Founded in 1866, LVC has graduate programs in athletic training, physical therapy, business, music education and science education.
MOVING ON UP by Abby Baker | Staff Intern
WLCA hopes to build drop-off zone for school The Walden Lake Elementary drop-off parking has caused driveways, mailboxes and fire hydrants to be blocked.
+ Student selected college ambassador
FREE • FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015
The Walden Lake Community Association has discovered that Walden Lake owns approximately 10 acres of land behind Walden Lake Elementary School, near Turkey Creek Road. The board is hop-
ing to work with the school to create a safe drop-off zone by using some of this land for parents and students to park. The idea was prompted after a concerned resident made comments at the June
15 meeting about poor traffic flow on Barrett Avenue and Emerson Place from parents dropping their children off at Walden Lake Elementary. The Westwood resident, who asked to remain un-
named, said parents frequently park on those two streets and block mailboxes and driveways. Some drivers also park on the lawns of residents and remain illegally parked for up to 45 minutes at a time, ignoring “No Parking” signs. Because of the parking, the
Amber Jurgensen
The committee celebrated being back in the top ten with a cake.
SEE WLCA / PAGE 4
MERCY SHIPS by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
MISSION
in Madagascar
Relay for Life back in top ten
Once no. 2 in the state, Plant City Relay for Life fell out of the top ten rankings in recent years. But for 2015, the event is back in.
Though the collections are still coming in and the exact ranking won’t be known until late August, one thing is for sure: Plant City Relay for Life is back in the top ten out of 350 events in Florida. The 2014 event ranked 11th. Years before it had climbed to second in the state. “We had more teams this year, more sponsors,” Joanie
SEE RELAY / PAGE 4
FUN FACTS • Plant City Relay for Life has raised $230,000 and counting this year. • About 80 teams participated this year. • Joanie Petty is the event chair for 2015; the 2014 chair was Linda Herman.
+ Art students donate to archives
Art students at Turkey Creek Middle School donated the proceeds from a charity art sale to the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center. Art teacher Sue Swanson’s students chose to donate to the archives because they considered it important to preserve the community’s rich history. “The fact that the students chose the photo archives themselves makes the donation all the more meaningful,” Gil Gott, executive director, said. “Their appreciation for history is appropriate for a school that was established in 1873.
OUR TOWN / PAGE 4
, 3&
• The 2015 theme is holidays.
BACK TO SCHOOL by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
A
t 72, Frankie Wilson is ready for her next big adventure. The bubbly Plant City resident has a newly rediscovered zest for life after returning in June from a six-month trip volunteering with Mercy Ships, a global organization that brings necessary medicines, services and surgical procedures to the impoverished all over the world.
Nurse Frankie Wilson is used to seeing multiple patients in one day. The 72-year-old has just returned from six months of volunteer service with Mercy Ships in Madagascar.
The homeschooling program is getting ready to open a Plant City campus Aug. 17.
Wilson, a registered nurse, heard about Mercy Ships from her daughter over a decade ago and made the decision that she would one day volunteer. She was already a registered nurse, and had become a certified case manager
Classical Conversations, an internationally-utilized home schooling program, is making its way to Plant City in time for the upcoming school year. The program will soon be hosted at Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It will be the first campus in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, but far from the first in the surrounding area. “Classical Conversations is huge in Lakeland,” organizer Jessica Caporale said. “There are six campuses there and five
SEE MISSION / PAGE 4
SEE SCHOOL / PAGE 4
THE MERCY MISSION
This week’s winner is
Fred Pozeznik
See the photo on PAGE 15.
Courtesy photos
Frankie Wilson sailed on the 16,500-ton ship Africa Mercy.
Classical Conversations comes to P.C.
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Vol.2,No.44 | Onesection Crossword...................15
Obituaries...................11
Sports.........................12
Weather......................15
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COMMUNITYCALENDAR
FRIDAY, JULY 24
and message. Facebook.com/ events/519503544863451
Acoustic Happy Hour — music takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.
MONDAY, JULY 27 Celebrate Recovery — takes place beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, July 27, at Parkway Baptist Church, 4305 James L. Redman Parkway. A free recovery program for those struggling with addiction, depression, codependency, anger and grief. Contact Lauren at (813) 7634355 for more information.
Christian Contemporary Music — takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220. Michael LuBeck Live! — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100. The Music Man — takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, July 24, to Saturday, July 25. The performers from Plant City Entertainment are putting on this summer spectacular about a fast-talking salesman who gets his heart stolen by the town librarian. Tickets are $12 for members/groups; $14 for students/seniors; and $16 for adults. Tickets are available at Hardee’s Fashions, 1501 N. Wheeler St., or online at PCEShows.com. Rebel Soul — music takes place beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, July 24, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.
BEST BET Girls’ Night Out — takes place from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 24, in McCall Park in Historic Downtown Plant City. Enjoy shopping sales and raffles.
SATURDAY, JULY 25 Los Dos Live! — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100. Terry Cole Show — music takes place beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Trailer Park Mark — music takes place beginning at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at Uncle
Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 S.R. 60 E. (813) 737-4444.
SUNDAY, JULY 26 Plant City Prayer Walk — takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 26, in Historic Downtown Plant City. An invitation has been made for every Christian to come and pray as the group walks from the Plant City Court House through downtown, passing City Hall and ending at the Veterans’ Monument Memorial Park flag pole for a community prayer
Plant City Area Democrat Club Meeting — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 27, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. The club meets monthly to promote justice and equality for all and to stimulate interest in politics. Come early and get acquainted. Any questions call (813) 756-3184.
TUESDAY, JULY 28 The Recovery for Life — takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at the Lorena Jaeb Rainbow House, 504 N. Palm Drive. It is a 12-step Bible-based program to help free individuals from all forms of addiction. Debbie Ray, (813) 763-1562.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 Open Mic Night — takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday,
To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please send by mail: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563; or by email: ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Photos are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday. July 29, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818.
FRIDAY, JULY 31 Charlie Hotel — music takes place beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, July 31, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Rick Mongaya Live! — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 31, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.
SATURDAY, AUG. 1 Acoustic Happy Hour — music takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818. Back to School Physicals — takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Swindle Medical Arts Center, 1601 W. Timberlane Drive. Free physicals are being offered for children in kindergarten to 12th grade. Screenings include vision, blood pressure, and height and weight. Free immunizations are available for Medicaid or uninsured children. An immunization record
is required to receive shots. To make an appointment for a physical, call (813) 443-3048. Elvis Festival — takes place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds Expo Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Enjoy an Elvis contest, shows, vendors, silent auction, food and special guests. $35 for VIP tickets; $30 for general tickets. For more information visit ElvisTampaTCB.com or call (813) 977-6011. Family Festival — takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at American Legion, 2207 W. Baker St. The festival is also pet friendly and includes crafts, a bounce house, pet rescue groups, pet vaccinations, vendors and food. Free parking and admission. The event will benefit caribbean spay neuter projects. Facebook.com/events/ 1614445605453790/ or email SunshineCauses@gmail. com. Hoyt Hughes Band — music takes place beginning at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 S.R. 60 E. (813) 737-4444. Skip Frye Live! — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100.
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taylor’s fight by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Teen still fighting 1 year after her cancer diagnosis
Taylor Goethals’ battle with cancer isn’t slowing her down — she has plans to bungee jump and play softball by fall. Taylor Goethals has had a busy year. On July 18, Taylor left with her family to spend two weeks riding four-wheelers in the woods of Georgia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The rising Plant City High School sophomore also spent her summer volunteering as a leader at First United Methodist Church’s vacation Bible school, where she helped lead the first, second and third graders, and she visited family in Naples, where she paddle boarded on the beach and deer scouted in preparation for the upcoming hunting season. For most people, paddle boarding and deer scouting, along with working at a camp, would be enough activity for a few months. Taylor is not most people. The teenager was diagnosed for the second time with cancer one year ago. But she’s not letting it defeat her. “People tell me I’m an adrenaline junkie,” Taylor said. That might be an understatement. Earlier this year, the oldest of six siblings broke her knuckle after she flipped off the
back of a four-wheeler. She’s gone turkey hunting, golfing and attended Rock the Universe, a Christian music festival, at Universal Studios in Orlando. In the past year, she’s met the country music stars from Rascal Flatts, walked toward a pack of coyotes and jumped out of an airplane. Just as permanent as all the memories, Taylor got her first tattoo, along with her twin sister, Tori. Her new tattoo is a reminder of her fight. On Taylor’s back shoulder is a cross with a yellow cancer ribbon wrapped around it, along with the words “hope” and “believe.” Tori got a similar tattoo in the same spot on her shoulder. Her tattoo, also of a cancer ribbon, reads “Your battle is my battle, sissy.” Although originally not in favor of her daughters getting inked, Lisa Rhodes eventually came around to the tattoo idea. “She’s earned it, with what she’s gone through this year,” she said. Five years ago, Taylor was first diagnosed with fibrosar-
Emily Topper
Taylor and her twin sister, Tori, got tattoos together. Taylor’s reads, “Hope, Believe,” while Tori’s reads, “Your battle is my battle, Sissy.”
coma, which was found in her hand. She beat it and had been cancer-free for nearly three years before the cancer came back in 2014, this time in her lungs at stage four. Taylor finished the last of six rounds of intense chemotherapy in October and then began alternative treatments. Her most recent scan was April 30. A large tumor had started to shrink, and one tumor was completely gone. Although there are still more, the April scans show Taylor as being stable.
“We’ve blown the doctors away,” Lisa Rhodes said of Taylor’s improvement. “We have definitely surprised them.” The family lives life one day at a time, with a community of support rallying behind them. “If it hadn’t been for our community, we’d be on the streets,” Jeremy Rhodes said. Last year, the Lion’s Club hosted a car wash fundraiser that the family’s church helped put together. Armbands and t-shirts were sold with Taylor’s mantra, “Fight like a girl.” People the family didn’t even know paid for fun activities for Taylor, like Rock the Universe, while others sent well-wishes. Taylor was also sponsored by Pepin Distributing Inc. for the Bud Run, a non-profit charity for kids with terminal illnesses. “It was just so amazing,” Lisa Rhodes said, who has returned to work since Taylor became stable. “We are getting life back to normal.” Taylor tries to block out her cancer. The sports lover is focused on her next adventure. She hopes to go bungee jumping over the ocean head first — the way she tackles everything. She is also going to tryout for PCHS’ softball team when school starts in August.
VET VICTORY by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Pawsitive Effect No one can deny that Dr. Christy Layton is popular. Just ask her many four-legged friends. The Plant City veterinarian, who owns Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort, was recently nominated to be America’s Favorite Veterinarian by her practice manager, Adrienne Swisher, and head veterinary technician, David Goodyear. Out of 500 veterinarians nominated for the American Veterinary Medical Foundation’s contest, Layton made it to the top 20 and is currently ranked in sixth place. Voting will go on until September 1. She was told about the nomination after making it to the round of finalists last month. “I was excited about that, but I’d love to win,” Layton said. Although this is the first year the Plant City resident was nominated, those who know the animal advocate well aren’t surprised that Layton has climbed the ranks in the competition. Besides owning her own practice, Layton serves on the boards for the Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation and the Hillsborough County Veterinary Medical Society, and serves as County Commissioner Al Higginbotham’s representative for the Hillsborough County Animal Advisory Committee. Layton is also the chairman of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Committee. She is hopeful that becoming America’s Favorite Veterinarian would allow her to make a difference at the national level. “Having that additional title would give me even more of a stage to express my concerns with animal welfare,” she said. “I think the title I could do a lot with.” Layton has between 1,000 and 1,500 clients between her veterinary practice, grooming service and resort. She opened her practice in 2006 and hired Dr. Stephanie Trotter as her full-time associate. Now a staple in Hillsborough County, Layton received her calling to be an animal advocate at an early age. “I’ve always loved animals,” she said. When Layton was 13, she was racing her horse, Miami, against her friend. While riding alongside the railroad tracks on County Road 39, Miami’s bit broke. When the horse turned on the road, Miami, fell on the tracks, and Layton went down with her.
Dr. Christy Layton, owner of Timberlane Pet Hospital and Resort, was surprised to find she had been nominated to be America’s Favorite Veterinarian.
LIFE ON THE LAKE by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Courtesy photo
Jeffrey Rose is in need of a defibrillator because his heart is only able to pump blood at 23% capacity. His family hopes that they can give him the life of his dreams on the lake.
Ailing fisherman hopes to find health on water
Even with serious heart problems, Jeffrey Rose can’t stay away from fishing. Weekday or weekend, rain or shine, Jeffrey Rose can be found fishing. The 45-year-old father of three is happiest on the water, his wife, April Rose, says. It’s one of the only times that Jeffrey Rose ever sits still. Constantly on the go at work as a forklift operator or running errands for the family, Jeffrey Rose’s wife is concerned that her husband doesn’t take enough time to relax. Her desire for her husband to take a step back is becoming more of a necessity by the day. After having a hereditary heart attack at age 30, Jeffrey Rose began making changes to lead a healthier lifestyle. But the changes weren’t enough. Now, with a looming heart surgery, the family is raising money through a GoFundMe account to buy a camper to live in on Lake Tiger, one of Jeffrey Rose’s favorite fishing spots. April Rose believes that getting a place next to the water will allow her husband to spend even more of his time on the lake with their son, as well as relax the fisherman as to not aggravate his heart condition.
HEART-RACING BEGINNINGS
Emily Topper
Layton needed stitches, and Miami had a hematoma that the vet said would take about a month to heal. Wanting to take care of her pet herself, Layton offered to clean the horse’s wounds and brought her back to the vet’s frequently for checkups. The vet was so impressed with Layton’s care that she offered Layton a job working in the kennel. She’s been working with animals ever since. “I never really thought there was any other option for me,” she said. Layton graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 and worked at Noah’s Ark Animal Hospital in Valrico before returning to her hometown to open her practice. Her love for animals goes far beyond the clinic’s doors.
ANIMAL ADVOCACY
Layton likes to educates pet owners who come to her practice on animal welfare and pet overpopulation. “Shelters are having to euthanize way too many animals every year,” Layton said. “[We need] to spay and neuter as many as possible.” Layton is a strong advocate for finding rescue groups that will pull animals from the shelter to find them a forever home. “To adopt an animal from us, you may as well be adopting a child,” she said. Layton believes that one goal
for animal welfare is to focus less on the number of animals that find homes and more on making sure the animals are sent to a home that will care for them and treat them as part of the family. “Most of the dogs I own have come from my street,” she said. Three out of the four, to be exact. Layton is the proud mommy to what some mistakenly consider “bad breeds.” She has two pit bulls, one rottweiler and one American bulldog. For Layton, it’s all about the proper education. In order to decrease the number of animals that turn up in shelters, animals need to be spayed and neutered so that they don’t have extra litters. “We haven’t done enough education on being a responsible pet owner,” she said. “Responsible pet ownership includes spay and neuter. Pit bulls get a bad rep because there’s so many of them. It’s how you handle them and how you perceive them.” In addition to spaying and neutering, Layton’s guide to responsible pet ownership includes treating pets like family and allowing them into an owner’s home. It’s also important to make sure that that the animals receive plenty of water and quality food. According to Layton, the most expensive food isn’t always the one that is best for a pet.
TO VOTE
Voting will be held through Sept. 1, and the winner will be announced Sept. 2. VISIT: To vote, go to Timberlanevet.com/afv/ and follow the link to the voting page. RULES: Voting may be done multiple times, but only once per day. A first and last name, and a valid email address is required to vote. She also believes that it’s necessary for pets to be at a healthy weight and to have preventative health care. “My clients that do preventative health care … we can keep them alive longer,” she said. Layton and her staff work diligently to educate both their clients and the community. “The entire staff is very close,” she said. “We do a lot in the community together.” The staff participates in Relay for Life, and also puts on “Fashion, Feathers and Fur,” an event that raised over $30,000 last year. The funds are donated to local animal shelters. Layton has also helped to start Vets for Pets, a facility in Tampa that caters to low-income pet owners who have difficulty caring for their animal’s expenses. “That facility is really what I feel like we should do in the entire community,” she said.
After Jeffrey Rose’s heart attack 15 years ago, he thought the lifestyle changes he was doing were making a difference. Then he began breathing differently. Although his wife suggested he visit his primary care doctor, Jeffrey Rose continued his busy life with his usual vigor. He was bike riding with some friends one day when he had to stop, thinking he was dying. “He couldn’t breathe,” April Rose said. After being taken to the hospital, doctors determined that five of Jeffrey Rose’s arteries were clogged. “They were clogged for so long that it killed his heart muscles,” April Rose said. Jeffrey Rose had five stents inserted into his heart and two probes into his heart chamber. Even with the arteries cleared, Jeffrey Rose’s heart is still only pumping blood at 23% capacity, meaning that he needs a defibrillator inserted immediately. If he doesn’t have a defibrillator installed as quickly as possible, he is in danger of dying. If the defibrillator doesn’t work, Jeffrey Rose would need a heart transplant. The family is hopeful that they will receive a date for defibrillator surgery in the immediate future. Jeffrey Rose knows that the surgery is necessary, but isn’t pleased about the overnight hospital stay. He was even more upset after being told he wouldn’t be able to use one of
his arms for five to seven days after the surgery. That means no fishing.
ON THE WATER
Fishing is Jeffrey Rose’s solace. He wakes up at 5 a.m. most days to go to work at Burris Logistics, where he is a forklift operator in charge of dock loading. After leaving work at three, he returns home to take his youngest son, Dylan, fishing. The two will remain on the water until 9 p.m., before returning home and making plans for the next day’s fishing trip. Dylan, 9, enjoys catching fish with his dad and watching his father’s funny antics. With a pole in hand, the fishing fanatic frequently hooks himself on accident and has, on occasion, fallen out of his boat. He is planning on teaching his son and grandkids all the tricks of the trade. When not at work or on the water, Jeffrey Rose can be found shopping for supplies at Wal-Mart or Harbor Freight Tools, or hunting. April Rose is happy her husband still has his usual desire to do as much as he can, but she is worried about his health and what could potentially happen if his heart can’t keep up. His doctors have told him that he isn’t supposed to go anywhere by himself. Even still, he frequently leaves his cell phone on the bedside table before heading out early to get a start on his daily tasks. “A lot of people get into a depressed state,” she said. “He’s just keepin’ on, keepin’ on. April Rose currently teaches Dylan, who has separation anxiety, at home during the day. She has accepted a night job with DS Services, in the hopes that her husband can take an early retirement and live a life on the water. The family has applied for Jeffrey Rose to get social security and disability, because of his congestive heart failure. Although the family is working on paying off their medical bills, which were partially covered by insurance, they have set up the GoFundMe account to raise money for the camper. Ideally, April Rose would like a full-size bed and kitchen, as well as a bunk for Dylan. Dylan would also like enough room in the camper for his PlayStation. The proximity of the nearby lakes and ponds would cut down on the time that Jeffrey Rose has to spend preparing and transporting his boat to the water. The Roses currently live with Dylan, their daughter, Courtney, and Courtney’s three children. “Just big enough for us to live comfortably,” April Rose said.
TO DONATE: GoFundMe.com/JeffreyRose
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MISSION / PAGE 1 14 years prior. After seeing a special on Mercy Ships on “60 Minutes,” Wilson decided that her time had come. Over the course of a year, Wilson completed the application process, was vaccinated, went through multiple interviews and read about the organization online. Then, Ebola struck. The trip was postponed. Still, Wilson persisted. She accepted a field service position for January through June, and after a 56-hour trip, arrived in her destination, Madagascar, on January 25. It was a foreign nation, with no one that Wilson knew. People all around her needed immediate help, and she needed a translator to get past the language barrier. When asked if she was scared, Wilson broke into a big smile. “Scared?” Wilson laughed. “Oh, no. Excited. Excited beyond description.” Immediately, Wilson began bonding with the other crew members. While in Madagascar, she worked in the admissions tent as a nurse for the Mercy Ships hospital ship, the 16,500-ton Africa Mercy. Wilson’s crew had between 400 and 450 people including doctors, dentists and chaplains. One of her favorite parts of her trip was breaking bread daily with people from all walks of life.
“
“
Everyone’s work is so valued. We all realize that we’re there for one reason, and that’s to serve. — Frankie Wilson
“That is the beautiful thing,” Wilson said. “The different cultures. What’s so unique … is that you leave your ego at home.” Although the amount of people in need could at times be overwhelming, Wilson found support and hope in her fellow crew members. “Everyone’s work is so valued,” she said. “We all realize that we’re there for one reason, and that’s to serve.” The Malagasy people, too, gave Wilson faith when she felt disheartened. “The Malagasy people have such resolve,” Wilson said. “Their homes were shacks, but they were proud.” Wilson says that the majority of Malagasy people are Roman Catholic and Protestant. Many of them earn less than one dollar a day, but that didn’t stop them from inviting Wilson and other members of the crew to their homes, where they gladly shared the little food they had. To celebrate their guests, they sang, danced and played drums. Their kindness and gratitude continued to motivate Wilson for the duration of her sixmonth trip. In Madagascar, people frequently have to walk days through the brush to get health care from a clinic. Since coming to the country, Mercy Ministries, a part of Mercy Ships that is dedicated to outreach, has built five clinics in Madagascar, with the potential for a sixth one. “This is something I’m especially proud of,” Wilson said. “It’s a really great thing.” Doctors and physicians from all over the world will go to these clinics every two weeks to care for patients who would otherwise not have any health care.
MIRACLES IN MADAGASCAR
Surgical procedures have brought hope to the communities, as well. Mercy Ships has doctors and surgeons who perform dental surgeries, eye work, plastic surgery and pediatric care in addition to treating burns and other general surgeries. Women have especially benefitted from this. In Madagascar, women are often forced to marry and have children at a young age, many of them barely 13. “Most women cannot deliver children,” Wilson said. Some women become so damaged from the complications with their pregnancies that they cannot control their bladder. Their communities shun them, and they are forced to live in the brush. In
Madagascar alone, this is the reality for 5,000 women. Mercy Ships has changed one of their centers into a clinic for these women to do reconstructive surgeries. During her service, Wilson was able to see the women before and after the surgeries. When they first came to her admissions tent to have their blood drawn, the women wouldn’t look Wilson in the eye. This, for Wilson, proved to be the biggest challenge. She was determined to earn their trust. First, she prayed with them, and later learned their history as she did lab work. She, along with other members of the crew, served the women and the other patients lunch. It was a simple meal of bread and butter, but the patients were thankful. By the end of the day, Wilson had earned the trust of her patients. She would then take them to the surgeons, who schedule them for surgery the next morning. “I make sure they will be safe and they will be loved,” Wilson said. The recovery is very long, but after the surgery, the Mercy Ships crew celebrates the women. Wilson, along with the rest of the staff, gave the women dresses, hats and makeup to make them feel beautiful. The women were able to return home to their villages, where they are once again welcomed.
FINDING HER FAITH ABROAD
Wilson, who is an avid member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City, was was sad about missing Easter at home while she served with Mercy Ships. Luckily, the organization had a celebration that made Wilson feel right at home. The night before Easter, she attended a service conducted by a Baptist minister and participated in the ceremonial washing of the feet. “For someone to do that to me, I can’t tell you what that did for me spiritually,” she said. The next morning, Wilson attended the Easter sunrise service, where people from all over the world spoke and played music. The service was followed by an Easter dinner that members of the crew had spent days preparing. “It was special to all of us,” Wilson said. “The crew on Mercy Ships was my family.” Wilson witnessed many of the other crew members defining their faith through their work, as well. Dr. Gary Parker, a neurosurgeon who volunteered on Mercy Ships, told Wilson that he openly prayed before each surgery. Wilson was selected to see Dr. Parker’s second procedure on a 5-yearold girl, Mioti, who had become severely disfigured. “She learned to trust,” Wilson said. Prior to the surgery, Mioti was brought to Mercy Ships screaming and crying. She needed major facial reconstructive surgery. After the first two surgeries that Dr. Parker performed, Mioti was happily running around the offices and engaging with the staff. She is also now in school. “She has hope and healing,” Wilson said. “And God is good.”
HOMECOMING
Wilson returned home last month, and although she is glad to be back with her family, she has had some trouble adjusting. During one trip to Wal-Mart, she became overwhelmed and had to stop momentarily. Her trip has taught her to never take anything for granted, especially her health or the surplus of food around her. Wilson is involved once again with St. Peter’s by helping with the community garden. She is also sponsoring children in Uganda and hasn’t ruled out a second run with Mercy Ships. “There’s so much need here locally,” she said. “I have been asked to go back, but I haven’t decided yet. “I’m forever changed,” Wilson said. “I have an awareness now of the world I only wondered about. I don’t know what my next adventure is going to be, but I’m not through yet.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com
DATE TO KNOW
WHAT: Walden Lake Back to School Party for K-5 WHERE: Walden Lake Park WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11 INFO: A ribbon cutting will be held to honor the recent improvements to the exterior of the community at 5:45 p.m. There will also be food, fun and more
WLCA / PAGE 1 view is obstructed when turning left from Emerson and onto Barrett, and drivers must swing wide to turn from Barrett onto Emerson. Barrett Avenue and Emerson Place are narrow streets, and parking on both sides restricts fire and EMS vehicles from getting down the streets. The fire hydrant on Emerson has also been blocked by parked cars. In addition, students have also cut through the streets and neighboring houses to get to Walden Lake Elementary, and some residents have found snack bags and soda cans littered in their lawns or stuffed in the hedges. A new loading zone will hopefully create fewer safety hazards, Bob Hunter says. “This becomes a much
SCHOOL / PAGE 1 in Brandon.” Caporale, who lives in Valrico but worships at Evangelical Presbyterian, is mainly responsible for bringing the program to the church. She said because of Plant City’s budding home schooling community, a program like this could be beneficial to both students and parents looking for a high-quality curriculum and structure with a Christian focus. Classical Conversations, according to Caporale, isn’t traditional. Once per week, parents and children in the program will meet at the church to go over the curriculum and the week’s learning activities. These equipping meetings are often held on Mondays. They will begin August 17. “It’s kind of like college,” Caporale says. “You go to one class, then you have that whole week to work on homework before going back.” Also similar is that the program is broken up into two 12week semesters per year, split by a winter break in December. The school year will run from August to April. The program is not a co-op, meaning that parents will not be paying for someone to tutor their children for them. Instead, the parents are the tutors. The Classical Conversations structure is set up to make tutoring as manageable as possible for the parents while also giving students a good education. “Being a parent is hard, but so is homeschooling,” Caporale said. The program’s website has a plethora of resources available for parents and students, including a bookstore, forums and tutorials, downloadable resources and more. Classical Conversations has around 87,000 students en-
INFORMATION
For more information about the program, visit ClassicalConversations. com. To get involved with Evangelical Presbyterian’s program, contact Jessica Caporale at jessica3caporale@gmail.com.
OUR TOWN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Turkey Creek is one of the early strawberry schools, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places.” The archives was founded in 2000 with the objective of preserving the history and heritage of the community by collecting and preserving the community’s photographs and their stories. The history organization encourages students to explore nearby history. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment. Call (813) 754-1578 for more information.
more safe area for the children to load,” he said.
SECURITY CAMERAS
At the Monday, July 20, meeting, the WLCA discussed installing two security cameras at the Alexander Street entrance to Walden Lake, one ingoing and one outgoing, and two security cameras to the entrance at Trapnell Road. The WLCA also discussed bringing back the community mail drop box, which was previously taken away because of acts of vandalism. If the drop box is reinstalled another security camera would be installed at the box’s location. This would eliminate a drive for residents to the post office. “It’s my hope that we can work it out to get that mail drop box for the community,” Hunter said. Last year, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated two incidences of fires at the mailbox at the entrance to Walden Lake; one in January, and one in February. Walden Lake’s security camera at the time was mounted at the gate, but it did not pick up any of the vandalism because it was directed downward to photograph incoming vehicle license plates. No decision on either the security cameras or the mail drop box was made at the July 20 meeting because the cur-
THE MODEL Classical Conversations uses the classical educational model, which focuses on three phases of learning: grammar, dialectic and rhetoric. THE GRAMMAR STAGE Learning the words and terms associated with a subject. The first step in learning any subject is to learn the vocabulary. For example, when you learn to read, you learn the names of the letters and the sounds they make. THE DIALECTIC STAGE Asking questions, sorting, comparing and practicing the knowledge learned in the grammar stage. The second step in learning a subject is to sort, compare and understand the words and the rules that apply to them. For example, when learning to read, students will learn how to put letters together to form words and how to construct a sentence. THE RHETORIC STAGE Communicating the truth of the subjects learned in the dialectic stage through writing, speech or conversation. The third stage in learning a subject is to use what you’ve learned to solve a problem, write an original paper or speech, or lead a discussion. In reading, this would be the time to focus on the themes and context of what you have read and to apply the lessons learned. SOURCE: Classical Conversations
rolled in America, and is currently utilized in Asia, Australia, Canada, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. Military families are fond of the program, according to Caporale. It uses the classical educational model, methods of which were alluded to in the Old Testament and practiced beginning in ancient Greece. The model involves three phases of learning: grammar, dialectic and rhetoric. The website lists notable people, such as Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Jefferson and C.S. Lewis, as being products of the model. Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS - The WLCA approved flags for the community for the upcoming Labor Day holiday, as well as Memorial Day and Independence Day. The flags will be placed at the five major entrances to Walden Lake and the entrances at each individual subdivision. The $600 needed for the flags was donated by Terry Ottinger, of United Security Alliance. - By the end of September, Walden Lake residents will be able to use an updated, userfriendly website that allows them to easily find information on a faster platform. The website, which will also be mobile-friendly, will feature an event calendar and the budget and minutes from the WLCA board meetings. In the future, the website may also feature online bill paying, and residents will be able
rent budget does not allow for the additional expenses, but the board will revisit the topics in January. If security cameras are installed, equipment for the security cameras at the gates would cost $432 per month, with an additional $260 per month for maintenance. The
RELAY / PAGE 1 Petty, the 2015 event chair said. “There was $10,000 raised just in sponsors.” With over $230,000 counted already, the Plant City event is rivaling bigger and busier cities, such as Naples and Fort Myers. Allison Martinez has been the event manager of the Plant City event for two years, and after working with other local area-based relays, she has sensed a big difference. “Plant City is kind of an anomaly,” Martinez said. “Despite not being big or having tons of money, there is a community vibe going on.” Last year the event was superhero themed and was able to accumulate between 70 and 80 teams. The Relay for Life ambassador was 6-year-old Bailey Elementary School student Ava Raab who battled and managed to beat kidney cancer. “I definitely think her story was inspiring to people,” Martinez said. Next year’s event has several changes in store, including new Plant City High School Principal Susan Sullivan. Relay for Life is hosted on the high school’s football field, so the principal and the relay committee have to create a strong connection. “There are some changes, but luckily they’re all good,” Petty said. Relay for Life is beginning to gain a new element, Plant City specific commercials that advertise for the event. The hope is to draw in even more people.
to receive the Walden Lake newsletter electronically. “With this new website design, it’s very exciting,” WLCA President Bob Hunter said. “Staff and board members will upload at least weekly. People can go and find out what’s going on in the community.” Walden Lake resident Mary Jane Wagner’s suggested changes to the Christmas decoration program were approved by the WLCA at the meeting. Wagner, who has seen a decrease in participation in the annual contest over the last few years, is hopeful that revamping the contest will encourage more Walden Lake residents to decorate their houses. A grand prize will be awarded, as well as a first, second and third place prize. The contest will be judged by non-residents, such as artists.
cameras would be under a five-year contract with United Security Alliance if the board accepts the bid at the meeting in the new year. The cameras would provide around the clock surveillance. Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com.
GET INVOLVED
If you would like to be part of the planning committee or are interested in a team, message the committee on the Plant City Relay for Life Facebook page: facebook.com/PlantCityRelay
Despite the advertising, the relay committee recruits independently. Members pass out flyers and talk to people about starting teams and sponsoring. “We’re regular people, were teachers,” Petty said. “This is their event.” The unique hometown support that Plant City receives is baffling to outsiders. “The only way I can describe it is like, grassroots,” Martinez said. “People will give $10 because they think it helps, and it does.” Because of its smaller size compared to other Florida cities, Plant City is very much an example for having the success it’s had. “When we would go to relay events, if we wore one of the pink ribbon Plant City shirts people would stop and look at us,” Petty said. Though the 2015 relay results are continuing to trickle in, the planning for next year is already in the works. The theme is going to be holiday centered. “It will be fun,” Petty said. “The teams can be any holiday, even like Donut Day.” Of course, with last year’s success, everyone is expecting improvement. “Plant City doesn’t like to go backwards,” Petty said.
IT’S READ EVERYWHERE! With the summer in full swing, Plant City residents have been taking a copy of the Plant City Times & Observer with them on vacation to all parts of the world.
+ Church looking for school supplies
First Baptist Church of Midway is having a community back to school event at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, at 2902 Midway Road in Plant City. Guests will receive free school supplies and haircuts, and there will be games and food. Midway is looking for local companies to help sponsor the children in the community that are most in need. Please contact Jennifer (863) 6981881 or Tammy at (813) 5451787 if you would like further information or if you and your company can sponsor a child in need.
WYOMING. Tony Smith, Sherry Smith and Ethan Edgemon visited Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming June 15. Don’t forget to snap a picture with the paper during your travels for a chance to be featured in print and online. Entering is easy! Email photos to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Make sure you include your full name and where the photo was taken.
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COPS CORNER PLANT CITY
The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Plant City Police Department.
JULY 10
BEATS BANDIT
2900 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Business burglary. Officers responded to a business in reference to a reported burglary. Complainant reported an unknown suspect(s) smashed through a window, entered the building and made off with eight pairs of Beats by Dre headphones.
LAWNMOWER LARCENY
1000 block of East Gilchrist Street. Grand theft. Officers responded to this location in reference to a theft. Complainant reported that a $325 lawnmower had been stolen.
JULY 11
HOW SHOCKING
2300 block of Maki Road. Vehicle burglary. Officers responded to an apartment complex in reference to a vehicle burglary. Complainant reported a stun gun, a handgun and a laptop computer were stolen from their vehicle.
a front door being damaged by an unknown suspect(s).
JULY 12
NICE TRY
600 block of North Maryland Avenue. Grand theft. Officer responded to the area following a report of disturbance. Complainant reported their wallet, containing $250 in cash, was stolen. The total value of the wallet and money was $300. Following an investigation, a suspect was arrested for grand theft.
LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS
JULY 13
1800 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Petit theft. Officer responded to a business and met with the complainant, who reported that three suspects each grabbed a can of soda from a cooler behind the front desk. The complainant reported that he had already made contact with the suspects and terminated their memberships. Complainant signed a waiver of prosecution.
BAD CASE OF THE MONDAYS
110 block of East Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard. Abandoned vehicle. Officers responded to a municipal parking lot following report of a vehicle blocking traffic. Officers located a 2010 Honda sedan, which was parked on a curb blocking the entrance and appeared to be stuck. The vehicle’s owner could not be reached after multiple attempts, so the vehicle was impounded.
RENTAL RUCKUS
1000 block of North Johnson Street. Residential burglary/ criminal mischief. Officer responded to a report of an empty rental property being burglarized and vandalized by an unknown suspect(s).
NEED A DRINK?
PEDALS TO THE METAL
200 block of South Waller Street. Bike theft. Complainant reported an unknown suspect(s) stole a purple, 26inch men’s style mountain bike from an apartment complex.
PLANNING AHEAD
2300 block of Maki Road. Criminal mischief. Officer responded to a report of locks on
broke into his 2012 Ford F-150 work truck, damaging the lock on the driver’s side door, and stole his work printer.
200 block of West Alexander Street. Shoplifting/petit theft. Officers responded to a business in reference to a theft. Complainant reported three bottles of alcohol had been stolen.
JULY 14
PRINTING ERROR
200 block of East Reynolds Street. Vehicle burglary. Officers responded to the location in reference to a vehicle burglary. Complainant reported that an unknown suspect(s)
500 block of Allen Street. Vehicle burglary. Officers responded to a residence in reference to a vehicle burglary. Complainant reported an unknown suspect(s) entered their 2002 Chevrolet SUV. The vehicle was left unlocked at the time.
THIRSTY THIEVES
LOST AND FOUND
2200 block of James L. Redman Parkway. Found property. Officer met with complainant, who reported that he had found a tennis bracelet in the parking lot. The bracelet, which had diamonds in it, was estimated to be worth $500. Because no reports of lost property had been made with the businesses it was entered into property for safekeeping.
JULY 15
TWO BIRDS, ONE STONE
1200 block of Goldfinch Drive. Vehicle burglary. Officers responded to an apartment complex in reference to a vehicle burglary. Complainant reported an unknown suspect(s) entered their yellow 2007 Chevrolet Aveo and stole a wallet, as well as the key to another vehicle. The Chevrolet was left unlocked at the time.
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OWNER’S REPORT
Around
Plant City High School leadership plans to enhance community ties
TOWN
In our newest feature, reporters from the Plant City Times & Observer hit the streets to ask residents a little about themselves. Will we spot you around town next?
Zack Baker, 14 “I have really great hair.”
What are you most proud of?
Jena Lee Bradley, 28 “I’m starting medical school soon.” Joelle Fisher, 47 “Working in horticulture for 15 years.”
Dylan Fowler, 8 “I drive BMX.” Jake McIntyre, 24 “Overcoming cancer at the age of 19.”
Effective organizations, lunches or are identified as and their leaders, are selfTitle I schools. analytical, constantly At Tomlin, Sullivan formed identifying weaknesses and strong partnerships with areas in performance that Plant City businesses and can be improved. Hucommunity organizaman biases naturally tions in the developlimit this process, but ment of the Tomlin many of these limitaGold Card program. tions are removed Valued at over $30,000 when a new leader per year, this program takes the reins. not only allowed Susan Sullivan is Tomlin to address now the new princineeds not funded in pal at Plant City High the school’s regular School. She, along budget but supported FELIX with PCHS PTSA local businesses as HAYNES President Yvonne part of the Plant City Fry, will take a fresh Chamber’s Buy Local look at PCHS and identify initiative. strengths and opportunities Florida Strawberry Festival for growth. parking was another effective Having served as prinprogram built by Sullivan at cipal of two major PCHS Tomlin. Student members of feeder schools, Tomlin and various Tomlin clubs manMarshall Middle schools, aged the festival parking lots Sullivan is experienced in and collected parking fees leading teachers and stufor the service. The money dents in gaining community raised directly funded over 50 support to address school student clubs without money needs not funded through regular budgets, or personally by teachers and students. These needs are common to Tomlin, Marshall, and PCHS, over half of whose students qualify for free or reduced
“
passing through any administrative budgets. At PCHS Sullivan and Fry see many possibilities to duplicate Sullivan’s track record of partnering with community businesses and civic clubs to address needs. One PCHS area of strength has been the school’s exemplary program of awarding college scholarships to many of its graduates each year. At its core, however, this strength contains a continuing challenge: every year, donors to fund those scholarships must be retained or new donors must be found. Partnering with local businesses and civic clubs will facilitate that annual fundraising process. Another PCHS need is to provide seed money for the school’s many active student clubs for new and ongoing service projects. It takes money to make more money to serve the community and the school.
Service learning is a growing part of the high school curriculum, in which students are given opportunities through mentorships, on-the-job training, and job shadowing in businesses and other community organizations to apply theory learned in the classroom to real-life situations. While not an expensive program, service learning is normally not funded in regular school budgets. Another mode of off-campus learning for students, and also for faculty and administrators, is attendance at regional and national conferences. This is another need that is not met by regular school budgets. Businesses and civic organizations can help with sponsorships. When Sullivan and Fry call on your business or civic club, please consider partnering with PCHS. All of Plant City will benefit.
“
At its core, however, this strength contains a continuing challenge: every year, donors to fund those scholarships must be retained or new donors must be found.
CUTESTCRITTER
K
enZie is a spoiled diva. Traci Simpson’s family has had her since she was 8 weeks old. Now she is 6. She loves to play hard, and this is what happens afterwards. Turkey Creek Animal Hospital and Animal Wellness Center have partnered to present a weekly Cutest Critter Contest. Entering is simple: Just submit a high-resolution photo (200 dpi or better) and a sentence or two about why your pet is the cutest. Include your name and contact information. Winners will be showcased in the Plant City Times & Observer and will receive a free bag of dental chews to be picked up at Turkey Creek Animal Hospital and Animal Wellness Center. Submit your entries to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com; subject line: Cutest Critter.
Plant City Times & Observer Locally Owned by Ed Verner, Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes The Plant City Times & Observer is published by Plant City Media LLC, a joint-venture of the Tampa Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.
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SEND US YOUR NEWS
We want to hear from you. Let us know about your events, celebrations and achievements. To contact us, send your information via: Email: Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com. Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563
CONTACT US The Plant City Times & Observer is published once weekly, on Fridays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City. The Plant City Times & Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A. If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.
Plant City Times &
Observer
General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com General Manager/Advertising / Stacey Hudson, shudson@tampabay.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writers / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com; Emily Topper, etopper@ PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executive / Nikki McAlpine, nmcalpine@tampabay.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
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NEWS BRIEFS
+ Library AC unit damaged in storm
The Bruton Memorial Library will be receiving a new air conditioning system. The library’s previous east air conditioning system was ruined during a storm Tuesday, July 7. Mark Emery, superintendent of general services, is responsible for all of the city’s buildings and fleet. Emery believes that the air conditioning was most likely affected by the power outages and voltage changes caused by lightning strikes during the storm. “(This caused) one of the AC’s compressors to seize up, weaken the companion AC compressor and causing the system to trip the breaker,” Emery said. Emery is notified by a fire monitoring service every time a power loss or a voltage change occurs. On the night of the storm, Emery received four notifications within a 10-minute period. The unit was deemed inoperative and uneconomical to fix. The new, 30-ton Carrier air conditioning unit will be provided by Alan’s Air Conditioning and was purchased for $25,795. The purchase for the new air conditioning system was approved at the city commission meeting Monday, July 13. Uplifiting Air LLC quoted $20,500, but it was rejected because it referenced a 25-ton instead of a 30-ton unit. Payne Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. quoted $35,221.
Wright is a suspect in the fatal shooting which took the life of Michael Richardson, 24, also of Plant City. Richardson was outside of the hookah bar off Kingsway Road when he was shot at about 1:30 a.m. He died at Brandon Hospital.
+ City employees recognized at picnic
City employees that were involved with the completion of the Midtown Village Green project and Gilchrist Park bridge rehabilitation project were treated to a luncheon Friday, June 26, at Gilchrist Park. Sixty-eight employees from building, community services, streets/stormwater/traffic, and utility and maintenance were recognized with a certificate of recognition for a job well done. Recreation employees prepared and served hamburgers and hot dogs with all the trimmings.
+ Bealsville celebrates 150th
+ Man arrested for homicide
A Plant City man was arrested in connection to a fatal shooting outside a Brandon hookah lounge July 5. Paul Lovone Wright, 29, was arrested in Hudson, New York Saturday, July 18. He is being held in New York until he can be extradited back to Hillsborough County.
The residents of Bealsville celebrated the neighborhood’s 150th birthday with a series of events during the last weekend in June. On Friday, June 26, a heritage festival was held at Glover School. Guests enjoyed barbe-
SALUTE TO AG WINNERS
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Agri-Business Committee is pleased to announce this year’s agriculture award winners. “Their contributions make a significant difference to the agriculture industry in Plant City and Hillsborough County,” committee chair Debbie Simpson said. The awards will be presented at the “Salute to Agriculture” contact breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, to be held in the Expo Building at the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds. The cost is $15 a person, and you may call the chamber at (813) 754-3707 for reservations. RSVP is required by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. The winners are: Agriculturist of the Year Hugh M. Gramling Young Agriculturist of the Year Michael C. Lopez Ag Educator of the Year Judi Whitson Agri-Business of the Year The Hay Exchange Supporter of Youth in Agriculture William K. & Karen J. Grimmer
cue, shopping through vendors and live entertainment. Another heritage festival was held Saturday, June 27, at the Bealsville Recreation Center. A formal gala was also held on Saturday. On June 28, a community faith service was held at Bealsville Recreation Center.
+ Correction
In the article “Committee looks at economic development council” in the July 17 edition Randy Larson’s name was incorrectly reported as Lawson. We regret the error.
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FAITH by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Pastor appointed at Cork United Methodist The Rev. George Hatmaker is the newest pastor at Cork United Methodist Church. The retired Marine sees the small congregation as a challenge to expand and spread faith.
On a typical Wednesday night, the parking lot at Cork United Methodist Church on Sam Allen Road in Plant City is host to only a few cars. The Rev. George Hatmaker, Cork United’s newest pastor, isn’t dissuaded. Hatmaker had his first Sunday as pastor at the church this month. The church has just over 90 people on its roster, and only about half regularly attend, but Hatmaker already has plans to bring more Hillsborough County residents through the doors on Sunday mornings. “This is a great church, great people,” Hatmaker said. “This church has been here a long time, and I see some great possibilities. It’s going to grow. The only way to go is up.” Hatmaker and his wife of 23 years, Ana, moved to Lakeland in December 2014 before being appointed to the church in June. Although only a part-time pastor right now, Hatmaker hopes to become full-time in the future. He was raised by his father, a Methodist pastor, but did not join the ministry until 1996.
MILITARY MAN
Hatmaker’s first pastoral appointment was at Opa-locka United Methodist Church in Miami as a lay supply pastor. He has served in the ministry ever since. But the church is Hatmaker’s second career. Before finding his calling, Hatmaker served in the military for 22 years, including serving in Vietnam. “I am very patriotic,” Hatmaker said. He wore his military dress blues on his first day of worship at Cork United, in honor of Independence Day. Hatmaker decided to join the Marine Corps during Vietnam, having been raised in a
Emily Topper
The Rev. George Hatmaker and his wife, Ana’s, first Sunday at Cork United Methodist Church was July 5. family with a strong military background. “[It is] our responsibility to stand up for people who can’t stand up for themselves,” he said. In 1967, when Hatmaker was 19 years old, he was serving in the Mediterranean. One year later, he was in the jungles of Vietnam where he was medically evacuated. After being released from the hospital, Hatmaker decided to make the Marine Corps a career. He has expertise in law enforcement, having worked for multiple agencies in both Florida and Texas and in the Medical Corps Criminal Investigation Division. In 1992, Hatmaker was a sworn police officer in the Miami Beach Police Department and also worked as a security
manager. It was then, he says, that God called him back to the church. “I didn’t make Christ a part of my life,” he said. “God called me into a relationship with him. I knew that I had been living my life the wrong way. I knew right from wrong, I just wasn’t living it.”
BACK TO HIS ROOTS
Despite being raised in a religious household, Hatmaker had resented being made to go to church as a child and teenager. Now he is grateful for being given the foundation for his beliefs. “If young adults don’t have that strong foundation to come home to, they’ll be lost forever,” he said. After finding his religion again, Hatmaker went to a visi-
tation at Cutler Ridge United Methodist Church in Miami. “When I walked into that church, it was like coming home,” Hatmaker said. “That’s where God wanted me.” While attending Cutler Ridge, Hatmaker became a worship leader. He was attending a retreat when the head pastor at Cutler Ridge gave him an application for candidacy, which brought him to Opalocka in Miami. Hatmaker remained at Opalocka for five years before leaving in 2001. The five years of service came as a surprise to many members of the congregation. Before Hatmaker’s appointment, it was likely that the church would be closed. In 1996, when Hatmaker was first appointed, the church had only nine people in attendance
on Sunday mornings. In order to help grow the congregation, Hatmaker reached out to families with children by offering cookies and orange juice on Sunday mornings. By the time Hatmaker left the church, there were almost 80 members at Opa-locka. “Those kids are still active in that church today,” Hatmaker said. Hatmaker began to climb the ranks in the ministry after leaving Opa-locka. In 2001, he moved to Virginia with his wife and became the assistant pastor at Timberlake United Methodist Church, with a congregation that boasted over 800 people. While living in Virginia, Hatmaker completed his seminary and then became a pastor at Mead Memorial Methodist Church in Lynchburg, where he stayed for 10 years. Hatmaker’s most recent appointment was at Payneton United Methodist Church in Chatham, where he served from July 2013 to December 2014 before moving to Lakeland. Hatmaker was appointed to Cork United Methodist Church as a part-time pasor in June. He also works in social security administration in Tampa. “I made a commitment,” he said. “I don’t intend to leave there until I can be full-time here.” Like he has done with many of his previous churches, Hatmaker has high hopes for Cork United. He plans to increase attendance and also wants to incorporate Sunday school for adults before Sunday services. “I hope to be at this church a long time,” Hatmaker said. “I’m hopeful ... to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in the community around us.”
SHARING THEIR FAITH
Hatmaker and his wife, Ana, are dedicated to missions.
The couple frequently travels to Peru, where Ana is from. Ana, who runs her own cleaning service, is from Lima. She and her husband would like to make another trip to Arequipa by next year. There, they assist at an orphanage that has 450 children. “We buy supplies, school supplies,” Hatmaker said. “We bought them washers and dryers, and mattresses.” The couple has helped to bring food and supplies to the children and teenagers that live at the orphanage to last them for as long as possible. While there, they also bought fresh fruit and vegetables. Otherwise, Hatmaker says, the children will look for food in the trashcans of Arequipa’s farmers markets. Hatmaker and his wife have been to Arequipa four times in the last six years. They have made friends with the Methodist church in Peru, and they are hopeful that a small church will be established in Arequipa. These trips are a large part of the couple’s busy lifestyle. In addition to the church and his job in Tampa, Hatmaker teaches group fitness at Anytime Fitness in Lakeland, as well as a spin class four mornings a week. Ana, who is bilingual, has previously worked as a medical malpractice paralegal. Since moving to Lakeland, she has started her own cleaning business called Amen Cleaning. The couple also has six grown children and five Yorkshire Terriers. Even with their hectic lives, the church remains a top priority to them both, and living their lives the best way they can. “Someone who doesn’t know Christ will be observing the way you live your life,” Hatmaker said. “If not living to portray Christ, they might say, ‘Why do I want to be a Christian?’” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
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ESCAPADES by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Kason Messick with VBS helper Joe Merrin
Parkway Baptist VBS students explore the map Parkway Baptist Church held its vacation Bible school from July 19 to July 24. Kindergarteners through the
fifth graders enjoyed games and crafts centered around the theme, “Journey Off the Map.”
Owen Messick
Kaylee Trowbridge
One of the students’ favorite parts was playing outside.
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TRIBUTE by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
Community remembers Turkey Creek High’s Nevoline Cowan When Nevoline Cowan was the dean of girls at Turkey Creek High School, it was a guarantee that students would stay on the right path. The stern but widely loved educator died on Tuesday, June 23, in Evansville, Indiana at the age of 99. She would have been 100 on Dec. 5, 2015. Ms. Cowan was a school teacher and administrator for 53 years. Originally from Kentucky, she moved to Florida in 1943 and began teaching business classes at Turkey Creek High School, now Turkey Creek Middle School, in 1952. Four years later, she became the school’s bookkeeper and the dean of girls. After retiring in 1966, Ms. Cowan relocated to Winter Haven, where she lived until January 2015. Although she never married, she considered all of her students to be her kids. Despite her strict ways, her students and coworkers frequently looked to her for guidance. Pat Gibson Ballard graduated the same year Ms. Cowan retired, in 1966. Though she never had Ms. Cowan as a teacher, Ballard remembers her tough but fair discipline that kept all students on their toes. “She was a really great, nice lady,” Ballard said. “She knew the rules. She was very strict. Fair, but very strict.” Ballard, luckily, was never sent to Ms. Cowan’s office. Students who acted up were punished with a visit to the dean and a phone call to parents. Ms. Cowan looked after the girls who got in trouble and worked with them so that they could stay on the right path, but not without consequences for their bad behavior. “She put up with no nonsense,” Ballard said. “Young ladies were expected to act like young ladies.” Ms. Cowan’s niece, Claire
Courtesy photos
Past students and colleagues all admired Nevoline Cowan for being firm but fair. Hubbard, is a retired teacher in Evansville, Indiana. Hubbard and her aunt were separated by distance for most of their adult lives, but the two always stayed in touch. “She was always interested in what I was doing,” Hubbard, who considered Ms. Cowan her mentor, said. “She just kind of took me under her wing.” Hubbard’s mother, Vaneria Farmer, was one of Ms. Cowan’s older sisters, along with Elsie Fox. All three women lived to be in their 90s, and all three remained close. When not visiting, Ms. Cowan frequently wrote letters to her family members and visited them almost every summer in Kentucky before she got older. Ms. Cowan’s independence was part of her character. She had no family in Florida but was always self-sufficient, Hubbard said. “She was very good at taking care of herself,” Hubbard said. “She was intelligent. Exceptional, really.” Ms. Cowan was also a great storyteller, always making her relatives laugh with tales of her childhood.
Turkey Creek’s yearbook was dedicated to Ms. Cowan when she retired in 1966. “She was just a special person and the family loved her,” Hubbard said. “I just felt real special because she made me feel that way.” Her students felt that way, too. Although Ms. Cowan may have come across as intimidating to some, especially with her conservative dress and neat bun at the back of her head, she always had the students’ best interests at heart. The 1966 Turkey Creek High School
yearbook was dedicated to her. Even after her retirement, she attended a few Turkey Creek High School reunions, where she was welcomed by her former students. “She wanted everybody to succeed,” Ballard said. “She wanted everyone to do well.” Ray Clyburn attended Turkey Creek High School from 1948 to 1950 and later came back to work as a teacher and a counselor in 1958, working alongside Ms. Cowan. “She was very firm, but had a lot of good common sense,” Clyburn said. Ms. Cowan was also considerate of her students and colleagues. As the dean of girls, she was responsible for scheduling, and made sure to apologize to teachers when she had to add an extra student to an already full class. Ms. Cowan was respected by everyone, and was cooperative with problem solving. James Jones began teaching at Turkey Creek High School in 1953, and also worked as a guidance counselor. He considered Ms. Cowan to be a close friend. “She was just outstanding,” Jones said. “She was very sociable, and she was always a pleasant person to be around. I couldn’t say enough good things about her.” After leaving Turkey Creek High School in 1961, Jones continued to stay in contact with Ms. Cowan, and continued to look up to her as a role model. “She was a no-nonsense person,” Jones said. “I cherish the memories I have. She lived a good life.” “You didn’t want to be on her bad side, but she is remembered very fondly,” Ballard said. “She’s going to be missed.” Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
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OBSERVER
OBITUARIES
Katherine Elizabeth Anderson
Katherine Elizabeth Anderson, 84, of Plant City, died July 12, 2015 at home. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Mrs. Anderson was the daughter of the late Thomas Sr. and Evelyn Coppersmith Kohr. She was a homemaker and a member of Hope Lutheran Church. She loved bingo, puzzles and her dog, Buster. She is survived by her husband, Arvid Anderson, Jr.; son, Arvid Anderson III; daughters, Victoria Rogers (Lloyd), Stephanie Kraft (John), and Kristine Anderson (Joe); 13 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Anderson was preceded in death by one grandchild, Samantha Lynn Taylor. A memorial service was held July 17 at Hope Lutheran Church in Plant City. If desired, donations may be made to a charity of choice in Mrs. Anderson’s name. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.
Ann Marie Bowers
Ann Marie Bowers, 95, of Plant City, died July 17, 2015. Mrs. Bowers was born in Tennessee and worked at the B17 Bomber windshield production factory during WWII. She was a member of Turkey Creek Assembly of God in Plant City. She volunteered at the church with the seniors program and the food pantry program. She is survived by her sons, Robert Larry Bowers, William Mark Bowers and Charles David Bowers; two daughters, Vivian Roberts and Sue Wirt; and many grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and great-greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 73
years, William Robert Bowers; and daughter, Betty Ann Gschwender. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 24 at Wells Memorial Funeral Home in Plant City. The family will receive friends at the funeral home beginning at 10 a.m., with a burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.
Loretta Butters
Loretta Butters, 83, of Plant City, died July 8, 2015 at St. Joseph Hospital. Mrs. Butters was the daughter of the late Vincent and Concetta DiLorenzo Checchia. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Breton (Carl); sister, Vinchenza Valleta; and grandchildren, Jamie Brenton, Carli Brenton and Natalia Laurie. Funeral services will be held privately at Haught Funeral Home in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.
Olin Wesley Britt
Olin Britt, 62, of Plant City, died July 14, 2015. Mr. Britt was retired from GTE/Verizon and attended Lone Oak Baptist Church in Plant City. He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Sandi Britt. A celebration of life was held July 21 at Wells Memorial and Event Center in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.
Bonnie Claire Ellis
Bonnie Claire Ellis, 89, of Plant City, died July 14, 2015. Mrs. Ellis was a member of the Plant City Bridge Club and the Plant City Women’s Invest-
ment Group (WIGS). She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and she enjoyed reading, cooking and traveling. She is survived by her sons, Michael Ellis (Jacqueline), of Dunnellon, Neil Ellis (Katha), of Plant City, and Matthew Ellis, of Plant City; nine grandchildren; and eight greatgrandchildren. Mrs. Ellis was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. A.R. Ellis Jr.; and sons, Andy Ellis and Joe Ellis. A celebration of life was held July 20 at Hopewell Funeral Home. A committal followed at Oaklawn Cemetery in Plant City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City, FL 33563 and/or the Plant City Photo Archives, 106 S. Evers St., Plant City, FL 33563. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
Charles Kemp
Charles Kemp, 68, of Mulberry and Plant City, died Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at Palm Terrace in Lakeland. A native of Plant City, he was the son of John and Annie Kemp. Mr. Kemp was a member of the Freewill Holiness Church in Dover and was a delivery driver for Borden’s Milk for over 30 years. He enjoyed fishing and working on vehicles. Mr. Kemp is survived by his beloved wife, Frances Kemp; children, Charles Jr., Russell, Timothy, Michael, Phillip (Kimberly), Angela and Jennifer Kemp, Melissa Cantrell (Ron) and Teresa Foster; sisters, Minnie Parker and Mary Blevins; 27 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The family received friends
July 19 at Haught Funeral Home Chapel in Plant City. Funeral services were held July 20. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome. com.
Esther Rosales Pervian
Esther Rosales Pervian, 77, of Plant City, died July 13, 2015. She is survived by a loving family. The family received friends July 17 at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City. A celebration of life was held Saturday, July 18, at Hopewell Funeral Home. Interment followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City. Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.
Bernice Emmaline Randall
Bernice Randall, 96, of Plant City, died July 11, 2015. Mrs. Randall was born in Flint, Michigan to Hiram and Bernice Landis. She served in the Women’s Army Corps during WWII. She attended St. Clement Catholic Church in Plant City. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Robert C. Randall, of Ashtabula, Ohio; daughters, Karon Fuller, Connie Keeton, Cathy Webb; sister, Vonnie Chandler; and five grandchildren. Mrs. Randall will receive military honors at Florida National Cemetery at a later date.
Forest C. Troutt
The Rev. Forest C. Troutt, 97, of Zephyrhills, and formerly of Plant City, died July 9, 2015. The Rev. Forest was a Plant City resident most of his life. He was a WWII United States Army Air Force veteran. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Barbara Troutt; daughter, Deborah J. Revell (Les); one grandson; and three great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, A.C. and Dovie Troutt. A funeral service was held July 14 at Wells Memorial in Plant City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice or to Florida
Cocker Spaniel Rescue in Land O’Lakes. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.
Carlos M. Vidal
Carlos Miguel Arcangel Vidal y Gomez, 80, of Plant City, died July 11, 2015. Mr. Vidal was a proud graduate of Colegio Champanat in Camaguey, Cuba, where he was born and lived until 1961. He received his pilot’s license from the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1952 at 18. He began his career in aerial surveying in 1956, assisting with field controls for mapping the island of Cuba through 1958. In November of 1961, he secured passage with his wife and two infant daughters, as political refugees, to the United States after the Castro regime took hold in Cuba. The Vidal family was sponsored by the wonderful Jacobowski family in Minnesota through Catholic Relief Services. After arriving in the U.S., he worked for Mark Hurd Aerial Surveys Inc. in Minneapolis. Mr. Vidal moved the family to Plant City. In 1968, he opened his own business providing aerial surveying, digital mapping and photogrammetric service until his retirement in 2003. The company worked throughout the Southeast and the Caribbean. In 2000, the Hillsborough County Land Surveying Department named a control benchmark in his honor for his contributions to the overall land mapping database of the county. Although Mr. Vidal loved Cuba, he had the distinct pleasure of becoming an American citizen in 1977. Mr. Vidal was a member of the Centro Asturiano of Tampa, the Spanish Lyrical Society, the American Society of Photogrammetry and a parishioner of St. Clement Catholic Church. He is survived by his daughter, Isabel Vidal (Joel Grigsby), of Lincoln, Illinois, Zoila Vidal and Martha Shaffer (Isaac); son, Carlos Vidal (Monica); grandchildren, John Grigsby, Margaret “Johanna” Grigsby, Guinevere Decker, Nina Gonzalez, Ana Reynolds, Christo-
pher Vidal, Alexander Vidal, Juliana Vidal and Lukas Shaffer; great-grandchildren, Aria and Ian; sister, Mirtha Barrios (Dr. Juan Nicolas Barrios); nephews, Nicolas, Anthony, James and Michael Barrios, Fabio John Leonard and Rainer Lopez; niece, Mary Jean Hanson; brother, Daniel Vidal; and many grand-nieces, grandnephews, great-grand-nieces and great-grand-nephews. Mr. Vidal was predeceased in death by his parents, Emilio and Zoila Vidal y Gomez; his wife of 46 years, Maria Isabel Vidal y Royero; sister, Zoila Lopez; and brother-in-law, Jose “Fabio” Lopez. Visitation was held Wednesday, July 15, at Wells Funeral Home in Plant City. Mass celebrating his life was held Thursday, July 16, at St. Clement Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice, the March of Dimes organization or the American Diabetes Association. Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.
Willie Wright
Willie Wright, 79, of Plant City, died July 7, 2015 at St. Joseph Hospital. A native of Hopewell, Mr. Wright was the son of Willie Wright and Minnie Mooney. He was a member of Faith Temple Primitive Baptist Church. He is survived by his beloved wife, Freddie Lee Wright; sons, Clayton, Slyvester and Venesta Wright; daughters, Willie Mae Wright and Sylvia Wright; brothers, Columbus Wright and Rogers Wright; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Mr. Wright was predeceased by his siblings, George Henry Wright, Lucinda Dexter, Mattie Belle Gordon, Edna Matt and Annie Mae Jolly. The family received friends Friday, July 17 at Mt. Moriah Ministries in Plant City. Funeral services were held July 18. Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.
Sports
YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Josh Herring hit three home runs out of the park. 14 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015
PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM
SIDELINES BASEBALL
+ Jonah Scolaro commits to FSU
Jonah Scolaro, an incoming Durant junior, verbally committed to Florida State University last week. In his sophomore season, Scolaro batted .343 and led all Cougars with 99 plate appearances, 34 hits, 16 runs scored and nine doubles, and also led Durant baserunners with seven stolen bases on seven attempts. On the mound, Scolaro posted a 1.24 ERA and a staff-leading 92 strikeouts, and the Cougars went 9-1 in his starts.
KARATE
+ Update to Welbon team
racing by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
Keel gears up for last shot at Portugal
Because of a scheduling conflict, Aidan Keel had to miss one of his recent race dates. He has one last chance to get to the international finals in this winter. Fortunately, he’s already testing well on the track. Missing out on a race at Grand Junction, Colorado last month wasn’t what local racer Aidan Keel was planning. A scheduling conflict took the 13-year-old out of the race, but he’d be in his current position even if he could make it because of his performance in Dallas in May. He needs to win in Kershaw, South Carolina to make the 2015 Rotax World Finals in Algarve, Portugal. Things are looking good after Keel made the podium at a recent shootout run. He just needs to capitalize on the third-place finish with another podium finish at the Rotax Grand Nationals to make the
GRAND NATIONALS
WHERE: Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, South Carolina WHEN: August 5 to 9 STAKES: Seven American drivers will be crowned national champions — one for each Rotax division. Tickets to the 2015 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals will also be awarded, and Aidan Keel can earn a spot in the 2015 World Finals with a podium finish.
cut, and he’s going into the next race feeling confident about his odds.
“I did pretty well,” Keel says. “I got my first podium of the season. I’m really happy about that. Feeling prepared for Nationals.”
KERSHAW
Carolina Motorsports Park, the site of the Grand Nationals competition, is what Keel describes as a simplistic track. The task of reaching the podium won’t be simple in of itself, but navigating the course sounds like it should be. Keel began the shootout by placing third Saturday, July 18, but finished closer to the back Sunday, July 19, after going through a few crashes. Though
Courtesy photo
Aidan Keel must win at Kershaw, South Carolina in two weeks to move on. things could have played out a little more in his favor that day, Keel was good enough Saturday that his bottom line wasn’t affected. It was his best finish of the
football by Justin Kline | Staff Writer
How do we determine our sports fandom?
BASKETBALL
+ Team achieves three-peat
Team Next, a YMCA men’s league squad, won its third consecutive league championship last week. Going up against Team Win, Next managed to overcome a tough fight and win the turnover battle to post a 72-59 win. The championship game ended the league’s eightweek season. For more information about YMCA basketball leagues visit TampaYMCA. org/PlantCity. Justin Kline
9-10 TEAM WINS STATE TITLE The Plant City 9-10 All-Stars are on top of the world right now — or, at least on top of the state. On Sunday, July 19, Plant City wrapped up its run through the state tournament with an 8-2 rout of runnerup Eau Gallie Little League, Section 2-District 2 champions. Plant City cruised through Pool B, for the most part, getting 11-1 and 6-2 wins over South Fort Myers and North Springs Little Leagues, respectively. The team’s toughest test came on July 18, when the boys pulled out a gritty 8-7 win over Oviedo Little League.
SEE KEEL / PAGE 14
WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?
Two competitors on Chris Welbon’s team weren’t included in the original list in the July 17 feature: Levi Graaf and Joey Spitler.
ALL-STARS ROUNDUP
season so far, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. He’ll be back in Kershaw in two weeks for Grand Nationals,
The East Bay Bucs, one of Buddy Bennett’s favorite opponents, will send five teams to play five Plant City Dolphins teams throughout the day.
Buddy BOWL
The East Bay Bucs and Plant City Dolphins are teaming up for the Buddy Bowl, a series of exhibition games to be held Saturday, Aug. 1.
As much of Plant City knows, there weren’t many things late Plant City Dolphins president Buddy Bennett loved more than football. Until his death, Bennett remained as involved with the program as ever and was planning ahead for the upcoming Tri-County Youth Football and Cheerleading Conference season. So, to honor the man’s memory, what could be better than holding a day full of football? That’s what the Winter Strawberry Capital of the
World will get Saturday, August 1, as the Dolphins have joined forces with the East Bay Buccaneers for a pre-season fundraiser. “A fun day, something he definitely would have enjoyed,” Ericka Bennett Winslow, one of Bennett’s daughters, says. “The games between East Bay and Plant City are always the best games we have all season.” Winslow, who serves on the Dolphins’ board of directors, says that this idea has been
floated around since March, and all plans were finalized Wednesday, July 15. Also of note is the fact that this wasn’t originally the Dolphins’ idea: the spark came from the Bucs, long one of the Dolphins’ biggest rivals.
FRIENDLY RIVALS
Longtime Dolphins fans and players know, during football season, no games compare to those Plant City-East Bay matchups. Those are the games that are often decided
IF YOU GO
BUDDY BOWL WHERE: Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, 2602 E. Cherry Street WHEN: Games start at noon Saturday, August 1. COST: $3 admission; raffle ticket prices will vary. For a complete list of raffle prizes, visit PlantCityObserver.com. For more information, visit PlantCityDolphins.com in crunch time, the games where players and fans from both sides give it 110%. But it doesn’t mean there’s been a lack of respect between the two sides. “The Bucs and Dolphins are friends off the field and enemies on the field, but as soon as the game’s over, we’re right back to being friends,” East Bay Bucs football trustee Jason Hillman says. In fact, before Bennett’s death, the Bucs organization stepped up to help the family get through the difficult time. “They’ve been a very good organization,” Winslow says. “They’ve just been very good about being there and helping us out with anything footballrelated. They said if we didn’t have enough people to be there, they’d help us out. They
SEE BUDDY / PAGE 13
Enough Plant City youths have told me that their favorite sports team is the New York Yankees that I’m no longer surprised to hear it during Athlete of the Week interviews with baseball players. So it’s nice to hear teams like the Angels, Cubs and Pirates mentioned instead, all of which have been named recently. I’m also quite JUSTIN familiar with KLINE going against the Yankees when they’re the popular choice, as many of you have probably seen me wearing Baltimore Orioles gear around town. But I always have to ask, how do the kids settle on these teams instead of the Rays? On that note, I’m also curious why Plant City lifers don’t go for the Buccaneers. How is it that, in something so territorially-defined as sports, so many of us go against logic when we pick teams to root for? I grew up in Buffalo, so rooting against the Bills and Sabres has never been an option. I probably should have reconsidered on a few occasions, given how bad the teams have been throughout my lifetime, but you just learn to hang in there and hope that all of the tanking will pay off soon. That’s how it was for everyone while I was growing up in Buffalo, and I’ll bet all of my money that is how it still is. Yet down here, the “hometown team” thing doesn’t really hold as much water. If we’re talking “home state college team,” most of you are fiercely loyal to one of the big four Florida schools or USF. But for pro sports, it’s been kind of hard to find a lot of Bucs, Rays and Lightning fans most years. Two of my best friends, both born and raised in Winter Haven without ever moving away, are loyal only to the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs for reasons still unknown to me to this day. Our office manager, Plant City native Linda Lancaster, hates nothing more than the Bucs, but that’s just how she is.
SEE KLINE / PAGE 14
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FOCUS ON FITNESS
Form,flexibility andfatigue
There are three aspects of fitness we don’t always think about while working out. These three things are so important, yet often overlooked. I’m talking about form, flexibility and fatigue. Knowledge is power when it comes to the fitness world: the more you learn and understand, the better the results you will obtain.
TOP OF THE PYRAMID by Emily Topper | Staff Writer
had several people come spend time with Dad on a regular basis. They had somebody from East Bay come to visit or call Dad every day for the last week or so of his life. They were willing to provide whatever we needed.” In March, shortly after Bennett’s funeral, the Bucs again reached out to Bennett’s family and the Dolphins to offer some more help. It wasn’t like the other calls. “A few board members and coaches contacted me and a couple of our board members, saying they wanted to do something, raise money for the Dolphins and have a good time,” Winslow says. “All to honor Buddy.” That’s how the Buddy Bowl was born. Now that the planning stages have been finished, the Dolphins and Bucs are ready to put on a show that the area won’t soon forget.
or stretch immediately after your workout. When you put a rubber band in the freezer and pull it apart, it will break, and your muscles will react the same way. They need to be warm in order to stretch safely.
FATIGUE
Short-term fatigue (lifting heavy weight, sprinting, etc.) is different than long-term fatigue (running a marathon, taking a FORM spinning class, etc.) In This is the most HEATHER short term fatigue, we important part of DYKSTRA can skip or shorten our working out because, repetitions in our sets or if you perform an even take a break before we exercise incorrectly, at least add on another set. Once the one of two things are bound to happen: a lack of results or, muscle starts to fatigue from the heavy weight, usually in worse, a chance of injury. If you’re performing an exercise, the last one or two sets, that’s when you will see change such as a squat, you need happen in muscle growth. to make sure your form is If you aren’t at the point of absolutely perfect before you fatigue yet you may want to decide to add any weight. If add on another short set until you can’t do the exercise correctly with just your own body you feel that muscle fatigue setting in. Having a spotter is weight, you have a very high great for forced reps, so that chance of hurting yourself, they can assist you to finish and on top of that, you will the set. not be working the muscles Long-term fatigue is a correctly. Good form for a squat is sit- whole other animal. Feeling tired and lacking oxygen ting back and down, placing pushes your body to the max. your body weight into your To increase long-term muscle heels and not allowing your fatigue resistance, you can knees to go past your toes train in short interval bursts. by keeping them in line with Try to sprint for 20 seconds your toes. Your upper body after every few minutes of a should lower down into a 45-degree angle at the base of run. Try a HIIT class, such as the G.R.I.T. Series or if you’re the movement, making sure just getting started you can not to lean too far forward, even set your treadmill or while also maintaining a activity tracker to a quick jog/ straight spine. long walk interval. If you can achieve perfect Above all else, make sure form, then you can start to you listen to what your body add weight. is telling you. Slow down if Start by holding a dumbbell or a plate to your chest. If something doesn’t feel right. If you’re taking a steady-state you can achieve perfect form cardio class like Zumba or with that weight, it’s safe to BODYCOMBAT and you feel move up in weight again by light-headed, take a break holding a dumbbell in each and join back in when you hand at your sides. You can feel you’re ready again. keep increasing weight to the dumbbells, or move to the barbell with plates, and you LISTEN TO YOUR BODY will begin to see results withOur bodies are machines. If out injury — as long as you you take care of yours by uscan keep perfect form and ing proper form, stretching to alignment. prevent injury, and listening to whether your body should push through the fatigue or FLEXIBILITY A lot of people don’t stretch take a break, you will start enough. Flexibility is very im- to notice change. And, most importantly, you can stay portant, not only for keeping consistent with your progress the muscles loose enough for injury prevention, but also for because you are able to come allowing an increased range back the next day and do it of motion. For example, if again, safely and effectively. your hamstrings are so tight If you’re new to working out, that you can’t touch your toes, start slow and steady. Ease how would you effectively into it and take it one workout perform a full leg curl? The at a time. No matter if you’re muscle cannot work at its new or if you’re already in a full potential when it only routine with your workouts, stretches to a certain range. listen to your body. It will Stretching the muscle will thank you and give you great allow deeper range and, results in return. Heather Dykstra is an AFAA in turn, more work will be loaded into it. The bottom certified personal trainer and line is the greater the flexibili- has been a group fitness inty, the greater the results. And structor for over 13 years. She remember not to stretch cold is currently involved with the muscles: always warm up first Plant City Family YMCA.
BUDDY / PAGE 12
The kids in the four to six-year-old age group practiced dance routines.
Cheerleaders fly their skills at PCHS clinic
Summer cheerleading camp at Plant City High School was held July 21 and 22 for kids 4 to 13 years old. The PCHS cheerleading squad taught a clinic of dances, tricks and flips to girls of all ages in preparation for a showcase July 22. Cheerleading coach Karen Snapp said that she has seen many girls who participate in the clinic become Raiders cheerleaders when they start attending PCHS. Right: Paitlyn Davis
This week’s Cryptoquiz answers
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This week’s Sudoku answers
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2015
BIG DAY OUT
All five teams in each organization are set to play each other throughout the day, beginning with the Mighty Mites’ game at noon. The hope is for the junior varsity and varsity squads to be able to play under the lights at Buddy Bennett Field, in the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex, so the two organizations have planned a day jampacked with fun activities and what should be a slate of great games to watch. The fundraiser, which will cost $3 for admission, will include bounce houses, facepainting and other things for kids to do while they’re there, and there will also be a raffle featuring prizes from some of
the TCYFCC teams. All teams in the conference will be in attendance. “A few teams will contribute stuff and make sure they have people here to represent their organizations,” Winslow says. Each team will be raffling a basket with its own unique theme, such as restaurants or fishing. Those in attendance can also win a fishing charter, a Yeti cooler and a 50-inch television. The cost for raffle tickets will vary based on what prizes people choose to go for. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Dolphins organization. The games will likely be the highlight of the day and should be competitive — that’s what Bennett would have loved to see. As an exhibition, these games won’t count toward the Dolphins’ or Bucs’ TCYFCC record, since the regular season usually starts in the fall. “It’s not all about who’s gonna win, just for the kids to go have a good time,” Winslow says. On top of everything else, all parties want to make sure Bennett would be proud of everything that transpires that day, from the on-field product to making sure every guest goes home happy. “I’ve been with the Bucs about 10 years,and I’ve known Buddy for about that long,” Hillman says. “What Buddy meant to people, whether he wore teal and green or regular clothes, is that he was genuinely a great guy. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, and you don’t see that much anymore … I’m just looking forward to a great time and remembering Buddy for the gentleman he was.“
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KEEL / PAGE 12 which runs from Wednesday, August 5, through Sunday, August 9. He can’t wait to get back on that track with his newfound knowledge of its layout and features. “It wasn’t one of the most complicated, but I really adapted very well,” Keel says. “I had
speed the whole weekend, and I’m looking forward to the next race there … It flows really nicely. It’s not that technical of a track, so I like that aspect. It didn’t take that long to learn, so you really have to focus on your kart.” He’ll also have to focus on the other drivers. While he went up against a field of about 25 over
the weekend, Keel will see it nearly double for the real deal. The core group of drivers that Keel has mentioned in the past, the drivers who always seem to finish at or near the front with him, should grow larger. “That group of kids is going to extend a little bit to a top 10 this time,” he says. “So many people can win it, and they want to. It’s gonna be a fun race.” Should Keel finish anywhere but the podium at Grand Nationals, he can say goodbye to that trip to Portugal, but if the Plant City native is nervous at all about the upcoming races, he’s doing a fine job of not showing it. Keel couldn’t be much happier with the track and says that he just needs to make a few adjustments to his kart going into the next competition. “Maybe just little things,” he says. “Certain places on the track, fine-tuning the kart ... We’ve already gotten a good result, but we just need to work for first place.”
KLINE / PAGE 12 A lot of kids tell me that they’re big fans of a certain team because that’s where their favorite player is. I respect that. Cal Ripken Jr. is a reason why I’ve rooted for the Orioles. Sometimes, I hear that people latch onto a certain team because they visited that area and liked it and perhaps even saw that particular team play. Again, this is something I’m okay with — apologies in advance
to all of the Gator fans, but I love Athens and am never pulling for Florida against the Bulldogs. More often than not, I get a lot of because-the-Bucsstink comments. That’s perfectly reasonable, and I honestly have no idea if bailing on losing teams keeps people sane. On one hand, you’d think it would work for everyone — most kids out here who have said that to me have been pretty smart, so far. On the other hand, Florida is the nuttiest state
in the country and the place where eight out of every 10 weird, viral news stories happen. The Bucs’ habits can probably be blamed for a few at a time. Whatever the case may be, my Buffalo-centric upbringing is the reason why I’m fascinated when someone’s favorite teams aren’t localized. While it would be nice to see more people thinking that way, I’m not going to be disappointed if the next kid I interview says they’re a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM
JOSH HERRING The Plant City 10-11 Baseball All-Stars might have lost in sectionals, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. Josh Herring, one of the team’s top pitchers, had himself a career game at the plate, smacking three home runs out of the park in one game at Lake Wales Little League.
How did you feel before that game? I felt pretty good. It was a very tough game, but I felt good before the game. And I felt good about winning the game when I hit all three of them. What team were you playing? Lakewood Ranch. And what were the pitches that you homered on? The first home run I hit was a curveball, the second home run I hit was another curveball, and the last one was a fastball. It felt pretty good. It was a pretty emotional loss, when we lost it, but it felt pretty good to break the PCLL record for most home runs hit in a game. How many times have you made an All-Star team? Five times. How long have you been playing baseball? Five years. I’m 12 now. What first made you want to play baseball? I just kind of liked the sport. Ever since I was born. My dad played baseball when he was a kid, so I picked up on the game and started loving it. Who’s your favorite player? Derek Jeter. Are the Yankees your favorite team? Yeah, the Yankees are my favorite team. What positions do you play? Shortstop and pitcher. If you play shortstop because of Jeter, what
pitcher do you try to be like? Clayton Kershaw, because of all the pitches he has and how many batters he strikes out. He’s my favorite pitcher. What other sports do you play? Basketball. What else do you like to do for fun? Fishing, and just playing around.
What’s your favorite fishing spot? On my uncle’s lake. It’s on his property. What’s the biggest fish you’ve ever caught? A 7-inch bass. Where do you go to school? Turkey Creek Middle. What grade are you in? I’m going into seventh. Whats your favorite subject? Math. I’m just good at it. What’s your favorite sports movie of all time? The Benchwarmers. If you could play any sport you’ve never tried before, what would it be? Football. I’d either be quarterback or play on the d-line. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be? Derek Jeter. I’d want his autograph. I’d also want to go to Yankee Stadium with him. Let’s say you have a billion dollars in the bank.What’s the first thing you’d buy? A car or a house. A Lamborghini. Let’s say you meet a kid like you who’s getting into baseball for the first time at seven years old. What’s the first thing you tell them about how to be a good baseball player? Hustle no matter what, no matter how bad you’re losing or how bad you’re playing. Just give your best percentage. Do you have any goals for next season? One of the things is I’d like to go to the Little League World Series next year.
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3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
PLANT CITY
RAIN
(INCHES)
WEATHER
THURS. July 16
0.49
FRI.
TEMPERATURES
July 17
0.05
SAT.
Friday, July 24 Saturday, July 25 Sunday, July 26 Monday, July 27 Tuesday, July 28 Wednesday, July 29 Thursday, July 30
July 18
0.00
SUN.
July 19
0.32
MON.
July 20
HIGH 86 82 84 84 85 88 87
SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
0.08
TUES.
SUNRISE 6:46 a.m. 6:47 a.m. 6:47 a.m. 6:48 a.m. 6:49 a.m. 6:49 a.m. 6:50 a.m.
Friday, July 24 Saturday, July 25 Sunday, July 26 Monday, July 27 Tuesday, July 28 Wednesday, July 29 Thursday, July 30
July 21
0.19
WED.
July 22
0.00
JULY
TO DATE
4.73 (2014: 8.16)
YEAR
TO DATE 19.32 (2014: 20.82)
SUNSET 8:24 p.m. 8:23 p.m. 8:22 p.m. 8:22 p.m. 8:22 p.m. 8:21 p.m. 8:20 p.m.
$8 to $10.35
Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture
3. K V Y D O U Y B F 4. G Z O Q Y J 5. R Q N D F Y Z U
This justice served on the Court from 1921 to 1930:
SUDOKU
Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and box.
8
9
1
7
3
8
5
6
2 2 1
5
9 7
3
2
8 3
7
9 7
7
5
Aug. 22
, 3&
Fred Pozeznik took this photograph high above the skies of Plant City. Fred wins a Grimes Hardware Strawberry Town Cafe giftcard. He can claim the card with an ID at Strawberry Town Cafe, 3161 Paul Buchman Highway. Do you have a picture that sums up the personality of Plant City? To enter the I Love Plant City photo contest, email your photo and a caption to Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com. Winners will have their picture featured and will receive a special gift.
CROSSWORD SIDE TO SIDE by Mary Jersey
2. D Y X V Y F Z V J R P A Z V
8
July 31
Aug. 14
1. V Y K E G Q O X Z B
1
PHASES
SHIPPING POINT: Orlando
Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Using the hints Y=E and D=S, decipher the clues to name the justice.
2
MOON
Aug. 6
OKRA
CRYPTOQUIZ
5
LOW 75 73 73 73 74 74 74
7 2
9
ACROSS 1 Nickel-and-___ (cheapskate) 6 Office fill-in 10 Search, as the horizon 14 Bagpipers’ hats 18 “Lizzie Borden took ___ ...” 19 Coward’s lack 21 “Stop right there!” 22 Hand cream ingredient 23 Certain baseball player 25 What most people use for writing 27 “... 15 miles on the ___ Canal” 28 Islet 29 Boat area 31 Large blood vessel 32 Batters’ postures 34 Sheeplike 35 Tarzan’s “kin” 36 Dwarf with glasses 37 R&B singer Mary J. ___ 38 “Ready when you ___!” 39 “Malcolm in the Middle” dad 42 Good friend 44 Itchy skin problem 45 Approve, as a university 50 It’s attached to a manicurist’s board 53 Some are cautionary 55 Word with “bar” or “area” 56 Abounding 57 Arrow’s partner 58 Spanish finger foods 59 Bloodhound feature 60 Conventional 63 Reduce, as prices 64 Headwear tied under the chin 65 Chest material 66 “Calm down” 67 Personal teacher 68 Like mosaic stones 70 Test a modified paper airplane, e.g. 71 Riboflavin, for one 74 Bete ___ (bugbear) 75 Bagpipers’ skirts 76 Pull up a chair 77 “Young Frankenstein” assistant 78 Tolkien creatures 79 African country 80 Where bluegrass music is popular 83 Become established 85 Cleanse 87 Zip 88 “Don’t give up!” 89 Type of jazz 90 Shaped like a megaphone 91 List extender, briefly 93 Composer Bela 97 ___ different tune (changed one’s mind) 98 Word with “hot” or “cold” 102 First-stringers 103 Shooting star 104 “___ bad!” 105 “Arrivederci, ___” 106 Logical half in a skull 108 Certain American voter 111 Any Simon and Garfunkel song, e.g.
©2015 Universal Uclick
112 Forearm bone 113 Jellied garnish 114 Pugilist’s ploy 115 Agile 116 Pager sound 117 Brit’s “Baloney!” 118 Husky loads DOWN 1 Broad valleys 2 Dead to the world 3 Secret society 4 Renew, as a subscription 5 Call, as a game 6 Oakland’s major league team 7 Slimy and serpentine 8 Like some scientists? 9 Tooth next to a canine 10 Holy structure 11 Oscar winner for “The Cider House Rules” 12 Aquatic organism 13 Ultimate degree 14 California border lake 15 Chili-hotness unit 16 ___ Carlo 17 Alternative to a coupe 20 Drummer Barker 24 Shrinking polar covering
26 Get progressively thinner 30 This minute 33 Cheat on a test 35 Parentheses, e.g. 37 Cold one 38 Hotshot pilots 39 Sizable sandwich 40 Mideast ruler 41 Mouse action 43 Hard work 45 Apple treatment, once 46 Kind of indicator 47 Out-and-out 48 Like some threats 49 Reason to cram 51 Practice 52 Chicken ___ (itchy illness) 54 The highest point 58 Things paid at booths 59 ___ note (scribble) 61 “Garfield” canine 62 “Dear old” guy 63 Decided not to bug 64 However 66 Have confidence in (with “on”) 67 Tennessee NFLer 68 Still playing after regulation 69 Author Ephron 70 Lemon cover
71 Big shot 72 Film ___ (movie genre) 73 Imitate a donkey 75 Brown seaweed 76 Blueprint detail, briefly 79 Eccentric 80 Birdhouse attendant 81 Remain in hiding 82 Choir voice 84 Cold War concern 86 Wool type 90 Forty winks 92 Wilde of old Hollywood 93 Loses hair 94 Depleted 95 Send to another doctor 96 Frayed and ragged 97 Angler’s gear 98 Bungle 99 Calf, to a cowboy 100 Correct the spelling 101 Game room activity 103 Like stallions and bulls 104 What that isn’t 107 Emulate Aladdin 109 Fed. documents producer 110 “No ___, ands or buts!”
3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP
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