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Footballers brave the rain at Buddy Bowl.

LOVE ME TENDER

Elvis tribute artists rock the stage at festival grounds.

NEWTEAMMATE

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HUDDLE UP

OUR TOWN

Plant City High School has a new athletic director.

UPDATE by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Higginbotham withdraws petition to collect legal fees from Joe Keel The withdrawal came just before the Florida Commission on Ethics was to vote on it.

+ Martin celebrates retirement

The City of Plant City held a retirement party for employee Troy Martin Friday, July 31. Martin was the sanitation superintendent for 19 years. The retirement festivities were held at utilities maintenance building and included socializing and cake.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham has withdrawn his petition for legal fees from Joe Keel, owner of Keel and Curley Winery, after the Florida Commission on Ethic’s attorney filed a draft order dismissing Al Higginbo-

tham’s request for fees.

The Ethics Commission was to go over the draft order at its July 24 meeting. After withdrawal, the order was struck from agenda.

Hillsborough County and commissioners can pursue

to collect legal fees if an allegation was falsely or recklessly made. To defend Al Higginbotham against an ethics complaint by Keel, attorneys fees, costs and expenses up to the filing of the petition were $24,000, according to Latour

“L.T.” Lafferty, Al Higginbotham’s attorney.

“Even though we think the petition was well based …

Mr. Higginbotham thought it was best to let bygones be bygones,” Lafferty said.

Keel filed an ethics com-

+ Business to host meeting about final event planning

The Shepherd Family, owner of How Do You Say Good-Bye Final Event Planning Service, is hosting the first La Luna Death Café from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St.

OUR TOWN / PAGE 5

, 3&

This week’s winner is

Shelley King Rogers See the photo on PAGE 15.

SEE ETHICS / PAGE 5

SESSION WRAP UP

BACKROAD PLANET by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

Raulerson focuses on Pig Jam, agency accountability

+ Noon Rotary inducts president

Outgoing Noon Rotary President Brian Griffin welcomed incoming President Jeremy Burris at a meeting at the end of June.

Under Griffin’s leadership, Noon Rotary had two successful fundraisers that enabled the club to donate over $38,000 into the community.

Jodi Stevens won a special service award for all her hard work during the year on various projects and committees.

Griffin said Jodi was always one to “step up to plate” and do whatever was asked of her this past year.

Tim Kip won the Rotarian of the Year award. Kip serves as the chairman for the International Rotary Foundation as well as the club’s Scholarship Committee. Kip also coordinates the ticket sales for the annual Wild Game fundraiser.

plaint on Al Higginbotham because Keel believed Al Higginbotham acted unethically in the midst of the rezoning for Keel and Curley Winery, using the weight of his posi-

The representative and his team are optimistic about the next legislative session, where they hope to pass a bill dealing with regulations on Pig Jam.

Emily Topper

Howard Blount and Jerry Woods are the creators of Backroad Planet.

Riverboat Ramblers

AND COUNTING So far, Backroad Planet has been to the following countries: Netherlands Austria Costa Rica Germany Hungary Jamaica Slovakia United Kingdom

Howard Blount and Jerry Woods of Backroad Planet have just returned from a 15-day stay in Europe after a sponsored trip with Viking River Cruises.

They might be from Central Florida but Howard Blount and Jerry Woods are more familiar with the rivers of Europe than they are with Mickey Mouse.

Travel partners Blount and Woods are the faces of Backroad Planet, a travel website and blog for the economical adventurer. Blount, who retired from teaching this past June after a 35-year career in the Plant City area, made his first post on the travel blog in September of 2013.

“I was looking for what I

wanted to do after I retired,” Blount said.

The simple hobby has turned into a travel obsession.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

At first, Blount and Woods began their travel adventures by taking trips to state and national parks, filling stamps in the park passport books along the way. The two frequently chose to take their journey off the beaten path during day trips and road trips by stopping to see locations that couldn’t

be found on the interstate. It’s part of the reason they came up with the name Backroad Planet.

“We did not want to limit ourselves to just the United States,” Blount said. “We figure, the whole world has backroads.”

“You’re not going to have a bad experience,” Woods added.

“We prefer to immerse our-

SEE RAMBLERS / PAGE 4

INDEX Calendar.......................2

Rep. Dan Raulerson (R) has just completed another session with the Florida House of Representatives, where he focused on fighting for agency accountability.

Raulerson, who was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2012, currently serves as the chair for the Joint Subcommittee on Auditor General Selection, chair for the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, and vice chair for the Veteran and Military Affairs Subcommittee. Previously, he has served as a former mayor and city commissioner for the City of Plant City, and the former director of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Council of Hillsborough County.

Amber Smith is a legislative aide who has worked with Raulerson for nearly three years. She, along with Raulerson and the rest of his team, focused on multiple bills, including HB 1219 and HB 371, both of which deal with government accountability.

“One of our missions in this office is government efficiency and accountability,” Smith said. “Both of those principles play off each other. It’s not just how we think, it’s who we are.”

HB 1219: THE PIG JAM BILL

Each year, the Plant City Pig Jam, where professionals and amateurs compete to create the best BBQ in town, is held as a fundraiser for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulations is responsible for licensing businesses in the state of Florida, as well as conducting

SEE SESSION / PAGE 5 Vol.3,No.1 | Onesection

Crossword...................15

Obituaries...................10

Sports.........................11

Weather......................15

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, AUG. 7

Acoustic Happy Hour — music takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Christian Contemporary Music — takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

Ignite the Youth Rally — takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 7, at the John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College Plant City Campus, 1206 N. Park Road.

For middle schoolers and up.

Enjoy games, food, prizes and more. (813) 361-5629.

Just Friends Live! — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-9100.

Mama’s Kin Band — takes place beginning at 9 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 7, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

SATURDAY, AUG. 8 Broken Roads — music takes place beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family

Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

La Luna Death Cafe — takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the 1914 Plant City High School Community Center, 605 N. Collins St. Attendees of Death Café may visit to discuss how to make the most of their lives and how to prepare final arrangements over cake and coffee.

The not for profit, free event is open to the public. Call (813) 754-7862 or LaLunaPlantCity@ tampabay.rr.com for more information.

Michael LuBeck Live! — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.

Restless Souls — music takes place beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 S.R. 60 E. (813) 737-4444.

Young Adult Nite — takes place from 7:33 to 10:33 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd.

Enjoy live music from local artists. (813) 752-1220.

MONDAY, AUG. 10 Crafternoon — takes place beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 10, at Bruton

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.

Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Children kindergarten through fifth are invited to make crafts to take home.

(813) 757-9215.

takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.

SATURDAY, AUG. 15

TUESDAY, AUG. 11 The Recovery for Life — takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 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.

Walden Lake Neighborhood Back to School Party — takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the Walden Lake Park on Timberlane Drive. 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. For kindergarten through fifth-graders.

BEST BET Salute to Agriculture Breakfast — takes place beginning at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Expo Building on the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Thursday, Aug. 13, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.

8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Open Mic Night — takes place beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

SBDC Smart Start Your Business Workshop — takes place from 1 to 3 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St. Call (813) 204-9267 to reserve your seat.

Christian Contemporary Music — takes place from 6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

THURSDAY, AUG. 13

FRIDAY, AUG. 14

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12

Cornhole Thursday — takes place beginning at 6 p.m.

Acoustic Happy Hour — music takes place from 5:30 to

Double Barrel Band — music takes place beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Munn Park Saints Live! —

Family Art Workshop — takes place beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. Learn a new skill or try new techniques to create a unique work of art. The workshop is free and open to all ages. The program is presented

by Polk Museum of Art with the support of MIDFLORIDA Credit Union and Public Supermarket Charities. (813) 757-9215.

Skip Frye Live! — takes place beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 15, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road. (813) 7529100.

Strawberry Classic Car Show — takes place from 4 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 15, in Historic Downtown Plant City. Enjoy classic cars, vendors and food surrounding McCall Park. Call (813) 754-3707 for more information.

Terry Cole — music takes place beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 7648818.

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UPDATE

by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

Visions Golf requests continuance; Aug. 13 meeting canceled

A CUT ABOVE by Emily Topper | Staff Writer The new decals were added to the department’s trucks this year.

Photos by Emily Topper

Fresh Landscape The City of Plant City Code Enforcement department has made changes for the better since Tray Towles took over as manager last summer.

BY THE NUMBERS The top three code enforcement violations for private property over the past year were overgrown vegetation, property maintenance violations and inoperable vehicles.

291 Cases of overgrown vegetation

134

Property maintenance violations

73 Inoperable vehicles

GRAND TOTAL Total cases: 788 since July of last year; 701 since the fiscal year began in October.

Total inspections: 2,801 since the start of the fiscal year in October.

It’s been one year since Tray Towles took over as manager of the Code Enforcement department for the City of Plant City. It was a different landscape before than it is now.

Since last July, Tray Towles and his team have made a number of significant improvements to both the department and the community under the guidance of city leaders.

Although the department’s mission statement is much the same — responding to citizen concerns, maintaining records, reviewing codes for revisions — Towles has added a focus on historic preservation. Towles, who lives in a historic home, has kept a close eye on Plant City’s Historic District. Most recently, he issued a batch of violations in May to downtown business owners and landlords.

Towles and his team have also spoken to business owners in the Historic District about their goals for the area, and many were receptive.

Some businesses have painted the outside of their buildings, while others encourage their fellow shop owners to take it upon themselves to make their own exterior improvements. Many of the buildings on Baker, Wheeler and Reynolds streets have received a fresh coat of paint.

“It’s drastically improved driving into town,” Towles said. “We have a vision for the entire city.”

The response was successful — and the way Towles is recording those responses is another improvement to the department.

Before Towles, who formerly worked at the Plant City Police Department, took over Code Enforcement, its violations were recorded by hand in a ledger. In the last two weeks, the department has upgraded from recording the violations in books to an online database that allows them to look up information, in addition to a standard operating procedures for code enforcement, immediately.

Towles and his inspectors, Omar Cortez and Tina Barber, also have tablets installed in their vehicles.

“We certainly have revolutionized the way we’re doing business” Towles said. “We

The Code Enforcement department includes Tina Barber, Tray Towles and Omar Cortez. were the first in the city to use field-based operations. It makes things so much more efficient.”

Since getting the tablets, Towles and his team have been able to spend more time in the field and less time in the office. The department also uses an app that can determine who owns a property at any point in the city.

One-on-one communication is another part of the vision that City Manager Mike Herr and Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Bill McDaniel have for the department. With a motto of “progress through partnership,” the department’s goals include being creative and proactive in obtaining voluntary compliance and beautifying Plant City through personal responsibility.

“The first thing we do is make contact one on one and establish what the violation is and how to fix it,” Towles said. “[We try] not to just leave notes on people’s doors.”

Although the department is small in size, Towles and his team don’t use their limited numbers as an excuse for letting work fall through the cracks. If a property is found to have a violation but is unoccupied, the department will take care of the violation themselves, often mowing lawns and removing debris.

The department has mowed 224 yards since Oct. 1.

VIOLATIONS AND VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE

Once the department notifies a resident of a violation, the resident is given 10 days to either come into code compliance or to begin work that will bring the violation into compliance. If the violation is still imminent after the 10-day period, the resident will receive an official notice of violation. If another 15 days pass and the violation still has not been taken care of, the resident will have to come in front of the Code Enforcement board.

Often, residents who are unable to meet the 10-day period because of certain circumstances, such as financial status, are granted a longer time frame to bring their violations into compliance.

“The vast majority of cases are resolved within that 10day window,” Towles said, noting that there have been no board cases this year.

“This is the city’s goals and visions, and where the city wants to go.”

Towles accredited much of the success over the past year to the goals of Herr and McDaniel, and the hard work put in by Barber and Cortez.

“I want to make sure credit is given where credit is due,” he said. “We’re just doing our part to try to make it better.”

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com.

A NEW LOOK On top of the technology advances, the department has had decals added to the code enforcement vehicles so that residents can identify code enforcement officers when they are working in the city.

Some residents have sent emails thanking the department for their presence, Tray Towles said.

GET OFF THE LAWN Signs on city rightsof-way were a top violation for public property, with 2,389 needing to be removed during the fiscal year. According to Tray Towles, the majority of signs needed to be removed during election season.

October removal: 399 signs November removal: 476 signs

On Wednesday, July 29, Visions Golf, the company that owns the two 18-hole golf courses in the Walden Lake community, requested a continuance regarding the rezoning meeting that was scheduled for Aug. 13 at the John R. Trinkle Center on Plant City’s Hillsborough Community College campus. Subsequently, the meeting has been cancelled and no new date has been set.

The previously scheduled meeting was set up for Plant City commissioners to make a recommendation regarding Visions Golf’s plans for rezoning. Visions had proposed to build 310 housing units, 154 of which were single-family detached units, and 156 of which were multi-family attached units, on the closed Hills golf course. An assisted living facility was also part of the proposed plans. In the past, the Walden Lake community has had difficulty supporting the two 18-hole golf courses. Supporters of the rezoning believe having one 18hole course is more feasible.

The request for continuance came after a July 1 letter written by Jay Collins, senior planner for the Hillsborough County Planning Commission. The letter was sent to Julie Ham, senior planner for the City of Plant City. In the letter, Collins said that the Planning Commission found the development plans, specifically those for the 156 multi-family attached homes and the assisted living facility, were incompatible with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Earlier in July, the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County found that Visions Golf’s plans for rezoning could cause wetland impacts. The EPC recommended that Visions Golf adjust their development plans.

The Environmental Protection Commission and the Hillsborough County Planning Commission are just two of multiple reviewing boards that would make recommendations regarding the rezoning and development plans.

Steve Mercer, Visions Golf’s owner, plans to review the statements from the reviewing agencies.

“In response to reports from various agencies regarding the proposed rezoning plans, Visions Golf has requested and looks forward to meeting with the City and the Planning Commission to review their comments,” Mercer said in a statement. “Visions Golf’s continued diligence and cooperation to refine the plan based on this recent feedback will help ensure that the agencies will ultimately find the rezoning submittal acceptable.”

Bob Hunter, president of the Walden Lake Community Association, said that the Walden Lake Community Association board would review any adjustments that Visions Golf makes to their plans, but that the board still has concerns about adding development to Walden Lake, which is mostly composed of singlefamily detached homes.

“Walden Lake is an integral combination of homes, open space … to change that would be inappropriate and should not happen,” Hunter said.

The lawsuit between the WLCA, Visions Golf and the Walden Lake Community Preservation Inc. remains unchanged.

A date has not yet been set for another meeting regarding the rezoning recommendation, and Visions Golf has not yet released how they will adjust their development plans.

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com.

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3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHU FRP RAMBLERS / PAGE 1 selves in local culture,” Blount said. “We prefer authentic experiences.”

Woods is from Missouri and moved to Mulberry with his family when he was 12.

Blount’s parents were missionaries. Growing up, he lived in Mexico, Chile and Paraguay.

With a mix of experiences, the two balance each other out on their trips, with Blount serving as the passenger-seat navigator and expert planner, always with an itinerary on hand.

Woods, the driver, is more spontaneous. Together, they have expanded their day trips into longer road trips, visiting Pennsylvania and New Orleans before traveling abroad.

“

“

We prefer to immerse ourselves in local culture. We prefer authentic experiences.

Howard Blount

They started getting noticed online after they took their first fly-drive in Costa Rica in 2013, which was Woods’ first trip out of the country. After flying to Costa Rica, they rented a car and drove throughout the country, blogging about their adventures. They detailed their visits to both La Paz Waterfall Gardens in Vara Blanca and Villa Hermosa, as well as posting helpful tips about flights, sights and accommodations for frugal travelers.

TRAVEL SPONSORSHIPS

The website has gained popularity, so much so that the two have started to receive sponsorships for their travels.

They recently returned from the 15-day Grand European Tour with Viking River Cruises, where they traveled from Amsterdam to Budapest on the Rhine, Maine and Danube Rivers. They have already been invited back.

Blount and Woods believe the trip was fate. Last summer, they had paid to go on a river cruise in Switzerland.

They were touring windmills on the first day of the trip in Kinderdijk when Blount suddenly started seeing black spots in his right eye, followed by a gray veil at the bottom of his eye. His retina had torn and detached. They had to fly home so Blount could have surgery.

They missed the rest of their trip.

Six months later, they re-

ceived the offer for the Grand European Tour from Viking River Cruises.

Unlike most traditional cruise ships, river cruises take place on smaller ships across noteworthy rivers instead of oceans, typically stopping at a different port every day. Those on the cruise sleep and eat on the ships.

“As far as Viking River cruises go, they are everything they claim to be and more,” Blount said. “You get to meet a lot of neat people. You eat dinner with different people.”

The offer, which they received from the vice president of Viking’s public relations company, came as a surprise.

Typically, travel bloggers make pitches to different companies in order to receive a sponsored trip. They can write about their experiences with a cruise line, airline or hotel in exchange for reduced airfare or free tours. In this case, Viking approached Blount and Woods. They felt as though the proposed trip was their redemption.

“There are people who do this as a hobby, and then there are those who do it as a business,” Blount said. “We’re kind of in between.”

The ship that the two traveled on, the Viking Mimir, was one of the brand new river cruise ships. In addition to stopping at one or two ports per day, the cruise also had guided tours.

“They have really good tours,” Woods said. “They go to places you’ve never heard of.”

Woods and Blount consider themselves to be history nuts.

They were impressed with the number of castles, palaces and cathedrals throughout Europe, especially within two stretches of the Rhine river. They are fans of UNESCO World Heritages sites, which recognize sites with historical or scenic value.

“If it’s historical, we’re there,” Blount said. “There are castles and cathedrals and palaces everywhere. Pick a town in Europe, and they’ve got a cathedral.”

Although Woods and Blount have been offered another sponsored trip with Viking River Cruises, they are unsure of where they want to go next.

In the future, they hope that they can take a trip where they stay for longer than a few days, getting more than just the overview of a country. For now, though, they are happy to be back, even if it’s just for a short time.

“Plant City is changing and evolving,” Blount said. “It’s nice to come home.”

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.

SWEET SERENDIPITY

It’s hard for Blount and Woods to pick just one favorite moment out of their travels. The two enjoy serendipitous moments that happen unexpectedly. One favorite memory they have is driving through the oak tree-lined streets of Tallahassee, listening to Elton John Live in Australia. Somehow, they said, it was the perfect soundtrack for that particular moment.

FUNNIEST MOMENT

Courtesy photos

Woods’ daughter had planned to get married in Washington, D.C. at the Jefferson Memorial, but her wedding plans were interrupted by the government shutdown. Luckily, she was able to secure a more intimate spot. The ceremony was performed at the Capitol on House Speaker John Boehner’s balcony.

A TASTE OF HOME

On their trip to Costa Rica in 2013, Blount and Woods stayed at Villa Hermosa, owned by California native Wendy Holt. Throughout their stay, Holt served Blount and Woods a homecooked meal every day — from Belgian waffles to banana pancakes, complete with a beautifully set table.

Luckily, penny savers don’t need to leave the United States to get their favorite flapjacks.

Blount and Woods are also fans of the Sugar Mill restaurant, where customers can make their own pancakes, located in DeLeon Springs State Park in Florida.

FIVE WAYS TO GET SOCIAL Website: BackroadPlanet.com Facebook: Facebook.com/BackroadPlanet Twitter: @backroad_planet Instagram: @backroadplanet Pinterest: Pinterest.com/BackRoadPlanet

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PLANT CITY

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

JULY 24

UNCHECKED CHECK

600 block of North Maryland Avenue. Counterfeit check. Officer responded to the business in reference to a fraudulent check for $534 that had been passed 10 days earlier.

APPLIANCES UNPLUGGED

1100 block of North Warnell Street. Burglary to a residence.

Officer responded and met with the complainant who was working on the property.

It was advised a refrigerator and stove had been removed from the residence.

MR. MYSTERIOUS

4400 block of Country Hills Boulevard. Information report.

Officer made contact with a complainant who said that her son was at a park when a suspect in his teens walked by and pulled his shirt up to reveal a handgun. Suspect made statements to the compliant that the complainant couldn’t understand. The suspect left the area in a white car in an unknown direction.

JULY 26

DIRECTIONLESS

305 block of South Knight Street. Attempted auto theft.

Officer responded to complainant who said that her 2011 Chevrolet sustained damage to the steering column.

NOT THE BRIGHTEST

4600 block of Eastwind Drive.

OUR TOWN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Attendees of Death Café may visit to discuss how to make the most of their lives and how to prepare final arrangements over cake and coffee.

The event is being held to celebrate Dying to Know Day 2015, organized by The Groundswell Project, which aims to encourage people to expand their death literacy. Dying to Know Day is an annual day of action dedicated to bringing to life conversations and community actions around death, dying and bereavement.

The not for profit, free event is open to everyone to come and share their thoughts in a safe environment.

The second café is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19.

Please call (813) 754-7862 or visit LaLunaPlantCity@tampabay.rr.com for information.

JULY 25

SMART THIEF

2500 block of Thonotosassa Road. Grand theft. Officer responded to the business and met with the compliant who said five smart phones were stolen. The total value was $2,740.

Grand theft. Officer responded to reference of a theft of a 52-inch light bar from a 2007 Ford F-250 truck. The value of the light bar is $900.

HATS OFF TO YOU

900 block of McLendon Street. Vehicle burglary. Officer responded to and met with the complainant who said an unknown suspect(s) entered his unlocked vehicle overnight and took miscellaneous hand tools and a cowboy hat, totaled at $90.

JULY 30

SHOULD HAVE GOT NETFLIX

4000 block of Ashton Place.

Fraud. Officers responded to this home in reference to an unknown suspect(s) using the victim’s personal information/social security number to open a cable account. The account total overdue is $835.

TOTED AWAY

600 block of South Franklin Street. Burglary. Overnight, the suspect(s) entered an unlocked white 1996 Nissan Pathfinder. The suspect(s)

ETHICS / PAGE 1 tion to persuade people to oppose the winery’s rezoning last summer. The rezoning allowed the business to open a craft brewery on site. He said that Al Higginbotham and his wife, Devon Higginbotham, attempted to solicit a winery neighbor to file a noise complaint.

During the ethics investigation, the Ethics Commission found that Al Higginbotham and his wife did not ask the neighbor to file a complaint, however, a conversation between the neighbor and Devon Higginbotham did occur, and in this conversation she indicated Al Higginbotham might assist if a complaint was submitted, according to the draft order.

“Because the thrust of the allegation was substantiated, it cannot be said that Keel filed the complaint with knowledge that the state-

stole the complainant’s black tote bag containing his license, $150 and some miscellaneous documents.

GAS GUZZLER

340 block of Park Springs Circle. Criminal mischief. Overnight, an unknown suspect(s) drilled a hole in the bottom of the gas tank on a 2003 white Ford F-150. Approximately $30 worth of fuel was stolen/ spilled from the tank.

WHAT A LOAD

500 block of West Ball Street.

Vehicle burglary. Officer responded to the location and learned a 1997 Toyota was entered and a wallet containing $10, an EBT card, three social security cards and insurance cards were taken.

HOW COULD YOU FORGET

North Wheeler Street/MLK Boulevard. Abandoned vehicle.

Officer observed a 2002 Lincoln in the roadway creating an obstruction. The owner could not be reached at his address. Vehicle was entered in FCIC as abandoned and towed by Brewington’s. ment was false or with reckless disregard as to its truth,” according to the draft order.

Keel had also said he had “no proof” that Al Higginbotham was responsible for three Hillsborough County agencies visiting the winery in a short period of time for noise, zoning and fire regulations.

“The implication here is that Keel felt the winery was being targeted for investigation by the County and that Higginbotham was somehow involved. While no evidence was found to support this belief, we cannot say that Keel’s feeling was so baseless as to consider the allegation falsely or recklessly made,” according to the draft order.

In the initial ethics complaint against Al Higginbotham, the Ethics Commission cleared Al Higginbotham and dismissed Keel’s complaint.

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.

STATION / PAGE 1

ALASKA. Plant City’s First Baptist Church members took a team on a mission trip to Alaska. They posed with the Plant City Times & Observer on top of Mount Alyeska in Girdwood. The members are David Delgado, Brooke Warnock, Lydia Kinney, Peggy Lucas, Pam Warnock, Michael Houser, Judy McQuaig, Duke Cravey, Patty Cravey, Claire Salo, Barbara Houser and Tommy Warnock.

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.

regular inspections. According to Smith, the department’s inspections of the Pig Jam, an event that only lasts for two days, were irregular and unnecessary last year.

“It was difficult for event organizers to know what year they were going to have to deal with inspectors,” Smith said. “In our opinion, from reading the statute, they shouldn’t be inspected at all.

We think it’s explicitly clear.”

The goal of the Pig Jam Bill was to exclude certain, temporary events from the inspections that are regularly conducted at restaurants and other food service establishments. Specifically, food contests and cook-offs were to be added as excluded events to the existing relating statute.

Florida Statute 509.013, section 5(a) defines a public food service establishment as “any building, vehicle, place or structure … where food is prepared, served or sold for immediate consumption on or in the vicinity of the premises.” Section 5(a)2(b) states that any place “maintained and operated by a church … or nonprofit civic association … temporarily to serve such events as fairs, carnivals or athletic contests” would be excluded as public food service establishments. For this reason, Raulerson and his staff believed that the Pig Jam event should be excluded from the inspections by the Department of Business and Professional Regulations, as stated in the Florida Statutes.

Although localized to Plant City, the bill seeks to serve as representation for other temporary events across Florida. Smith said that similar events, such as the Pig Fest in Lakeland, were having the same issues.

“The Plant City Chamber has us as an advocate, but there are plenty of organizations that don’t have advocates,” Smith said. “We don’t want to be writing statutes that put people at risk. What we are talking about are temporary events.”

In the Florida House of

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COPS CORNER

SESSION / PAGE 1

The Plant City Chamber has us as an advocate, but there are plenty of organizations that don’t have advocates. We don’t want to be writing statutes that put people at risk. What we are talking about are temporary events.

Amber Smith, Rep. Raulerson’s legislative aide

Representatives, the bill was found favorable with committees, as well as the Senate companion bill. The proposed bill went to the special order calendar to have a final hearing on April 27, but died in the House on April 28. The Florida House of Representatives ended its session early, automatically dismissing all bills that had yet to be heard.

In spite of this, Raulerson and his aides are working on preparing the bill for the next session. Because of the bill’s success with the previous committees before the final hearing, they are hopeful that the bill will pass in the next legislative session.

“These are good organizations trying to help their own community and help their own citizens,” Smith said.

“Let them do that.”

HB 371: AGENCY INSPECTORS GENERAL BILL

One of Raulerson’s most prominent bills that passed this session was HB 371, which amended how inspectors general were hired.

Previously, inspector generals were hired and fired by the head of the state agency, whom they conducted inspections on. Within one year, this changed to being hired by the chief inspector general within the office of the governor.

Still, Raulerson and his aides felt that the bill needed amendments.

“We were trying to create employment requirements,” Smith said. “We want the top people.”

The legislation believed that if inspector generals were not professionally required to meet certain standards, there was a chance that someone who wasn’t qualified for the job would be hired.

The amendments to the

bill included conducting a national search for an inspector general, in addition to prohibiting a former or current elected official from becoming an inspector general within five years after their term in office has ended.

“We felt that was just a good, general ethics issue,” Smith said.

The bill also added educational requirements for the position, and allows for the CIG to be able to retain independent legal counsel if needed.

The bill passed and went into effect July 1.

WHAT’S NEXT?

For the next session, Raulerson plans to continue his efforts with the Pig Jam Bill, and continue with the Agency Inspectors General Bill.

Specifically, Raulerson will sponsor an amendment to the Agency Inspectors General Bill that will allow for the inspectors to have their own independent budget.

“We have to break down topics into bite-sized pieces,” Smith said.

The legislation will also be working on correcting some existing loopholes regarding sexual offenders who move to Florida. Currently, when a sexual offender moves to Florida, they are not charged for the full cost of their relocation. This inadvertently invites them to Florida, Smith says.

“Most of the time, we are revising old laws,” she said.

“We wanted to solve the problem forever.”

In the near future, a redistricting special session will also be held. Smith is hopeful that a decision regarding the redistricting will be made by Aug. 21.

Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver. com.

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MY VIEW

OWNER’S REPORT

How big are your dreams? Plant City’s Noon Rotary the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was underway again.

For 13 years, Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm until the bridge was finally completed.

Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

We will often face obstacles in our day-to-day life, yet the Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realized with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.

In Philippians 4:13, the Apostle Paul writes, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Do you have any dreams? If Washington Roebling can build a bridge with a finger, what can God do with your whole life? I believe God will help you do the impossible.

Do you feel that tapping on your heart? If so, I also believe it is time to get started.

Club: 60 Years of Service When a 1905 group of Chievent provides a completely cago businessmen envisioned different venue in which all a service club that would community members can function like the driving force participate. of a machine’s rotary wheel Another service project with they did not know just how far long-lasting impact was the that vision would take Rotary creation of Rotary Forest in International.

Hillsborough County’s 12,000Rotary has grown acre Cone Ranch water to 24,282 clubs, 1.22 well field. From 1992 million members in to 1995, the club creover 200 countries, ated Rotary Forest by $1.2 billion in assets planting 1.2 million and annual revenues pine saplings, with approaching $500 mildonations from Noon lion.

Rotary, the Florida Plant City’s Noon Agricultural CommisRotary Club has been sion, W. S. Badcock, FELIX part of Rotary InterWeyerhaeuser, Tampa HAYNES national since May 12, Electric, Georgia1955, and 58-year club Pacific and Container member Alvin Futch has reCorporation. Since the fastcently documented the club’s growing pines have matured story in the book, “60 Years of enough for harvesting to History.” begin, Hillsborough County Implementing Rotary’s slohas generated annual sales of gan of “Service Above Self,” all $888,564, which has funded the club’s 84 members partici- the plantings, maintenance, pate in raising over $150,000 and a regional park for Hillsper year. Most is given away to borough County. worthy, local organizations or Under youth service, for to fund service projects. many years the club has The club’s first major sponsored an Interact Club at fundraising project, Rotary Plant City High School. Other Rodeo, came out of the chute youth service projects, led by on April 4, 1957 and was an Tod Pukas, Amity Kokochak annual event for 16 years. With and Mike Arndt, include an a Rodeo Queen and her court annual speech contest, a renamed each year, the event gional Seminar for Tomorrow’s was produced each year by Leaders and a World Affairs Futch and his brother, RayConference. The club has also mond. operated a college scholarship In 1974, the Rotary Rodeo program. The club’s scholarwas replaced with the Wild ship program, led by Raiford Game Cookout. Serving “Shorty” Brown, Charles venison, elk, barbecue pork, Deusner, Tim Kip, and Billy fried alligator tail, fried catfish and Maida Pou, has awarded and other delicacies, such as between five and 10 scholarFlorida swamp cabbage and ships per year of $1,000 to Cajun gumbo, this annual $1,500 each to local youths. event now generates well over Noon Rotary has made $100,000 in revenues. Over donations to Rotary Interna1,200 tickets are sold each year tional for Rotary’s Polio-Plus at $100 each, and the event program. Rotary International has been led for many years by started this major internaRotarian James Surrency. tional project in the mid 1980’s The Cookout, which raises when it declared war on a so much money for commuworldwide killer, the disease nity needs, has always had one of poliomyelitis. Rotary has negative: It is for men only. largely brought this scourge In 2008 the club recognized under control, with fewer than this shortcoming and started 100 new cases of polio per year its popular Dancing with the worldwide.

Locals dance contest. GenerNoon Rotary has also parating over $40,000 in revenues ticipated in the Polio-Plus proannually and led by active gram by sending Rotarian Dr. club member Jodi Stevens, the Vic Kohlmeier to Panama and

“

BY THE NUMBERS

84: the number of Noon Rotary members

$150,000: the approxi-

mate amount Noon Rotary donates per year

$100: the amount for

a Wild Game Cookout or Dancing with the Locals ticket

$40,000: the approximate amount Dancing with the Locals brings in per year $100,000: the approximate amount Wild Game Cookout brings in per year Guatemala for several years to inoculate children against the disease.

Other international service has included travel by Dr. Dennis Digamon to Russia twice and to his native Philippines eight times to provide free dental care to indigent patients.

The club has spread the benefits of Rotary to others by sponsoring two more clubs, the Tampa East Rotary Club and Plant City’s Daybreak Rotary Club, and by serving hot dogs to the entire community at Plant City’s annual Christmas Parade.

“60 Years of Rotary” is available for sale for $15 from the Plant City Noon Rotary Club, and all proceeds will go to increase funding for the club’s many service projects. Visit its Facebook at Facebook.com/ PlantCityRotary.

“

Have you ever began a months underway a tragic acproject with the sunshine of cident on the site took the life excitement only to be met of John Roebling. Washington with the dreary rain of others’ was also injured and left with doubt and despairing words? some brain damage. He was Do the phrases, “You can’t no longer able to talk or walk. do that” or “Are you out of Everyone had a negative your mind,” inspire you to comment to make and felt roll forward with a that the project should new sense of “Watch be scrapped since the me!” Or do they make Roeblings were the you roll over and play only ones who knew dead? how the bridge could We all have encounbe built. tered the naysayers (I In spite of his handicall them the wet-wacap, Washington was ter revival) that seem never discouraged to do everything they and still had a burning can to prevent rather CHAPLAIN RET. desire to complete the MAJ. DANIEL bridge. His mind was than promote.

MIDDLEBROOKS If you are one of still as sharp as ever. those dreamers who He tried to inspire has a vision for someand pass on his enthuthing great let me ask you a siasm to some of his friends, question: How is your index but they were too daunted by finger? the task.

Now that I have your attenAs he lay on his bed in tion, let me explain. his hospital room, with the Have you ever seen a picsunlight streaming through ture of the Brooklyn Bridge? the windows, a gentle breeze It began with a dream from blew the flimsy white curtains a man who was told countapart and whispered, “Don’t less times that it could not be give up.” done. He finally convinced Suddenly, an idea hit him. an up-and-coming engineer All he could do was move that it could, and the two of one finger, and he decided them set off to make histo make the best use of it. By tory. The man’s name was moving his finger, he slowly John Roebling. The up-anddeveloped a code of comcoming engineer was his son, munication with his wife. He Washington. touched his wife’s arm with The project started well, that finger, indicating to her but when it was only a few that he wanted her to call

Rotary has grown to 24,282 clubs, 1.22 million members in over 200 countries, $1.2 billion in assets and annual revenues approaching $500 million.

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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.

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Publisher / Karen Berry, kdberry@inthefieldmagazine.com General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com General Manager/Advertising / Stacey Hudson, shudson@tampabay.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@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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NEWSBRIEFS + Man arrested in buy/bust

Undercover Hillsborough County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a Lakeland man on County Line Road in Plant City during a buy/bust investigation Thursday, July 16.

At 8:30 p.m. detectives met with Timothy Wiker, 20, to buy a .22-caliber revolver. Wiker agreed to sell it for $200. Wiker is on felony probation and had an outstanding warrant for violation of probation.

After the transaction was complete, Wiker was arrested without incident. Upon his arrest, a .40- caliber Glock model 22 semi-automatic pistol was located in his waistband. Possessing a firearm is a violation of a condition of his probation. He was charged with two counts of violation of probation and carrying a concealed firearm.

+ Strawberry Festival to build parking lots

The Florida Strawberry Festival has purchased two homes near the festival grounds that will be turned into parking lots.

Paul Davis, general manager for the festival, said that the organization is still waiting for permits to knock down the homes at 1904 and 1910 W. Palmetto Ave., which were purchased a few months ago.

The homes are located adjacent to the festival grounds and were purchased for a combined price of about $120,000.

Attendees who park at West Palmetto Avenue would only have to walk about three minutes to get to the festival.

Since the purchase, other Plant City residents have offered to sell their homes for parking as well, Davis said. Currently, the festival is not looking to purchase any other properties for parking or other uses.

+ Plant City plans new fire station

A third fire station was proposed for Plant City at the July 20 budget meeting.

Currently, Plant City Fire Rescue is comprised of two stations that are divided into two response areas. A third station would reduce response times while creating a third response zone, Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Bill McDaniel said.

It is proposed to be built in Mike E. Sansone Community Park, within five miles of County Line Road and near other areas that are planned for development, such as the Varrea Planned Development District. The new station would also be near North Park Isles and Frontage Road apartments.

If approved, construction on the new fire station, estimated to cost about $2.34 million, could begin as early as 2016.

“The proposed location of the third station addresses both current, planned and future development in the northeast and east sections of the city,” McDaniel said.

Six additional firefighters are proposed by Plant City Fire Rescue Chief Dan Azzariti.

Necessary vehicles for the station would be taken out of the existing vehicle inventory.

+ HCFR stops fire from spreading

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded to a report of a fire at 14434 Grant St. early Thursday, July 23. Heavy smoke and flames were coming from the house. Crews were able to stop the fire from spreading to adjacent houses.

There were no injuries to civilians or personnel. The homeowner was not home at the time of the fire.

+ P.C. man killed in Hernando crash

Five people were killed in a car accident Monday, July 27, in Hernando County, including a Plant City man.

Guillermo Chavez, 24, was a passenger of a 2006 Chevrolet, along with four others, when a 2007 International single-unit box truck failed to stop at an

BUSINESS OWNERS HONORED AT PLANT CITY COMMISSION MEETING Downtown business owners Sebastian and Claudia Ruiz were presented with a proclamation from Mayor Rick Lott at the July 27 commission meeting.

“The city is very proud of you,” Mayor Lott said. “This commission is very proud of you.”

The Ruiz family owns Mr. Sebas, an ice cream shop, and Claudia’s Boutique. The couple also opened Downtown Banquet Hall before selling the business to their friend, Veronica Camargo.

When the Ruiz family first came to America, Sebastian Ruiz had to drop out of high school in order to help his family earn money. Despite the hardships that the couple initially faced, they have made a life for themselves and their three children in the Winter Strawberry Capital

intersection with flashing red lights on SR-700 and hit the Chevrolet pick-up truck, which was towing a utility trailer.

The Chevrolet caught fire and burned intensely, according to the the Florida Highway Patrol.

The passengers of the Chevrolet died at the crash.

Besides Chavez, they include Apolinar Nunez, 49, of Winter Haven; Jose Gomez, 53, of Winter Haven; Santos Vega, 47, of Bartow; and Felipe Cruz, 48, of Bartow.

The driver of the box truck was Randy Escobar-Barrera, 22, of Tampa. His passenger was Ariel Baez, 41, of Tampa. Both were transported to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point; Escobar-Barrera with minor injuries and Baez with serious injuries.

+ Woman shot in drug deal

Tangela Campbell, 38, of Plant City, was shot during a drug deal last week.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Campbell had gone with her son to purchase marijuana on Frontage Road. During a conversation with the dealers, Campbell was shot in the neck.

Campbell was transported to Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

The suspects, Samuel Lenker, 21, and Hector Delgado, 19, were both arrested and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

+ Motorcyclist dies in Interstate 4 accident

of the World.

Lott commended the couple for their dedication to the Plant City community, especially Historic Downtown, before presenting them with a proclamation.

“They believed in having a dream,” Lott said. “They never asked this city for a dime. Their industrious work ethic has set them apart.”

Their three children, Edna, Junior and Alexa, have all

attended schools in the area.

Edna is now attending the University of South Florida, and Junior is a recent high school graduate.

“We love Plant City,” Claudia Ruiz said.

A 51-year-old Madeira Beach man was killed in an accident on Interstate 4, west of County Line Road, at about 3 a.m.

Friday, July 31.

Robert Lee Haas was traveling east on I-4 on a 2006 Suzuki motorcycle in the center lane. When he switched to the inside lane, he collided with the right rear of a 2014 Mazda driven by Payge Madeleine Heingarte, 19, of Cape Canaveral. He drove off the roadway and hit a concrete barrier wall and was ejected from the motorcycle.

AMERICAN LEGION INSTALLS NEW OFFICERS On Tuesday, July 28, the American Legion Post 26 and Auxiliary Unit 26 installed new officers. The non-profit American Legion supports the Plant City High School ROTC program, Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack 5, among other organizations. The American Legion is currently seeking new members. The Auxiliary Unit is the largest female organization in the United States.

The American Legion has meetings at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.

The Auxiliary Unit has meetings at 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Meetings are held at the American Legion Post, 2207 W. Baker St.

NEW OFFICERS LEGION:

Commander: Larry

Gmytruk

Adjutant: Julian Womble 1st Vice Commander:

David Alvarez

2nd Vice Commander:

Freddie Washington

Finance Officer: Rob

McGregor

Sergeant at Arms: Donald

Vanderlaan Chaplain: Jeanean Alvarez Historian: David Alvarez Service Officer: Ronald MacDonald AUXILIARY: President: Pam McGregor Secretary: Pat Vanderlaan Treasurer and membership: Beth McGregor

Chaplain: Lorraine Menter Historian: Ann Potter Sergeant at Arms: Sheila Diane King Member at large: Barbara Gmytruk Member at large: Penny Forbes Member at large: Freddie Bootwell

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Jimmy Fields

Jim Reese

Robert Lutz

Barry Porter

Always on My Mind THANK YOU VERY MUCH by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

F

DID YOU KNOW?

ans with a burning love for Elvis came in droves to the 13th Annual Tampa Elvis Festival and Contest Saturday, Aug. 1, in the Expo Hall at the Florida Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds. During the contest, there was a little less conversation and a little more dancing as Elvis tribute artists performed, complete with a number by award-winning tribute artist Ted Torres. Attendees also enjoyed food, drinks and vendors selling Elvis memorabilia.

ALWAYS ON MY MIND | The King of Rock ’n’ Roll had a twin, Jesse Garon, who was a stillborn. Jesse was 35 minutes older than Elvis and was buried in an unmarked grave in Priceville Cemetery in Mississippi. Elvis spoke about his twin throughout his life.

JAILHOUSE ROCK | Elvis’ father, Vernon, was sentenced to three years in prison for forging a $4 check in 1938. He served less than a year.

Elvis fans enjoyed dancing while the tribute artists performed.

Left: Bruce Bathurst, a performer at the festival, with his wife, Kathy

AMAZING GRACE | Elvis bought Graceland for $102,500 when he was just 22 years old.

The Memphis mansion was on 14 acres and was built in 1939 by Dr. Thomas Moore and his wife, Ruth. Elvis kept the original name, Graceland, which was in honor of the Moores’ daughter, Grace.

IF I CAN DREAM | Elvis dreamed up some funky editions to add to Graceland, including a “jungle room” with an indoor waterfall, musicthemed iron entrance gates, a racquetball building and a wall of built-in TVs. G.I. BLUES | Elvis served in the United States Army after he was already famous. He was drafted at 23 and assigned to the Third Armored Division in Friedberg, West Germany, where he served as a Jeep driver.

He also met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of a U.S. Air Force Captain. She was only 14.

Colton Magnuson, 4, was the youngest Elvis fan at the festival.

Left: Cote Deonath

HOUND DOG | Elvis had many pets, including horses, dogs, a pet turkey named Bowtie, a Myna bird, and a chimpanzee named Scatter.

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SCHOOL’S IN SESSION by Emily Topper | Staff Writer

Calling all students AroundTOWN

Reporters from the Plant City Times & Observer hit the streets of Historic Downtown to ask residents a little about themselves. Will we spot you around town next?

Graduate student Sylvia Fluellen is looking for third-graders and their parents for a study on reading levels.

Students who are behind in reading by the third grade are more likely to drop out of high school, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Sylvia Fluellen doesn’t want to see that happen.

Fluellen, a Springfield College graduate student, is looking for 20 third-graders who go to Title I elementary schools in Plant City, and the students’ parents, to participate in a short study that focuses on reading abilities.

Fluellen, who works parttime in the adult education department at Plant City High School, will ask a total of 10 open-ended questions to parents and students, including asking parents about their goals for their child’s reading level and if their child would benefit from a reading intervention program. Fluellen will also ask students how they feel about reading.

Since graduating with her bachelor’s degree in human services with a concentration in early childhood education, Fluellen returned to school in a management program to benefit her 501-c3 non-profit, The Kids Connections Inc. Her ultimate goal is to encourage the parents of struggling students to come to her non-profit for tutoring and mentoring.

“I am trying to make sure that children’s educational goals are met,” Fluellen said. “Early intervention is very important.”

Once students are in the program, she will conduct observations on their reading skills, and work with their parents and teachers. Then she will come up with an individual learning plan for each student.

Fluellen chose to conduct her study on Title I schools in Plant City, such as Cork and Trapnell Elementary schools,

What is your favorite thing about Plant City?

Emily Topper

John Trunzo,19 “The antique shops.”

Victoria Sgro, 22 ”I like that it’s small. There is no traffic, like in Tampa, and no huge mall smack in the middle.”

Cole Arn, 18 “The community, everything is so close.”

Jennifer Luce, 33 “Downtown. All the little shops are independently owned.”

Sylvia Fluellen hopes to partner her graduate project with her non-profit organization.

TO PARTICIPATE WHAT: Reading Focus Group WHERE: Bruton Memorial

Library, 302 Mclendon St. WHEN: 4 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, and 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 TIME: About 30 to 45 minutes FOR TUTORING AND MENTORING EMAIL: sylviafluellen75@ hotmail.com WEBSITE:

TheKidsConnectionsinc.org because schools under the Title I category receive assistance in improving academic achievement and parent involvement.

“I want to do something,” Fluellen said. “I want to give back to my community … and help those struggling advance.”

Although she has had her non-profit since 2009, Fluellen does not have a building or tutors for her organization.

She is hoping to have a building by the end of December or early January, shortly after she receives her master’s degree.

Fluellen would like to get a building that is at a central location in Plant City, so that parents will not have transporta-

tion issues.When she does get a building her expected hours of operation for The Kids Connections will be on weekdays from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

“If [parents] get off work late, then the kids are in a safe environment,” she said. “I went back to school to gain the knowledge that I need to manage a non-profit organization.”

Fluellen is looking for at least six volunteer tutors who have a background in education.

Currently, Fluellen is taking on tutoring tasks by herself.

She is willing to tutor in-home, which she used to do as an independent contractor before going back to school.

“I provide extra reading material based on their reading level,” Fluellen said. “I saw the struggle there, and I worked with them.”

While working as a tutor, Fluellen also assigned reading passages to her pupils and gave them read-out-loud articles, in addition to vocabulary lessons.

Because she has yet to find a location for her non-profit, Fluellen is also considering asking local schools if she can host her program there.

“I want every child to have an opportunity to succeed,” Fluellen said. “If I can somehow help that child to succeed, that will be more rewarding to me than anything.”

CUTESTCRITTER

P

Shelly Drummond,49 “All the culture, history, archives and theater.”

earl and Piper are pit bull mixes who love to snooze.

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.

Meagan Buessde, 29 “I like all the thrift shops.”

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OBSERVER

OBITUARIES

Marie Hankins Allen

Marie Hankins Allen, 89, of Brandon, and formerly of Ironton, Ohio, died July 30, 2015.

Mrs. Allen was a former member of Arabia Baptist Church and Coal Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Ohio, and Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Florida, and was a current member at Bible Baptist Church in Florida. She worked at the Ironton, Ohio JCPenney store for over 20 years. Her greatest joy was her family.

She is survived by her children, Jane Allen Ocheltree, of Brandon; Dr. Jean Joviak, of Ocala; Danny Allen (Marilyn), of Seffner; and Katherine Sarginson (Donny), of Illinois; grandchildren, Julie Reardon (Derek), Trisha Whitzel (Raymond) and Matthew Allen (Jennifer); great-grandchildren, Haley, Joshua and Mac; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Allen was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Allen; and siblings, Donald Hankins, Frank Berger and Everette “Hank” Hankins.

Interment was held at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.

Roger Brock

Roger Brock, 67, of Plant City, died July 25, 2015.

Mr. Brock was a dispatcher with Watkins Motor Lines for 30 years. He loved spending time with his family, and he enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening.

He is survived by his mother, Georgia Brock; and broth-

er, Greg Brock (Maria).

A celebration of life was held July 31 at Hopewell Funeral home. A committal followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens in Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.

Melba Joan Cole

Melba Joan Cole, 68, of Plant City, died July 31, 2015, at Bartow Center.

A native of Arab, Alabama, she was the daughter of the late Elvis and Mavis Inez Nelson Goad. She was the wife of the late Lynwood Cole. She enjoyed genealogy and loved to read.

Mrs. Cole is survived by her sons, Buddy Cole (Tracy) and Terry Cole; daughters, Nita Milton (Robert), Peggy Cole and Tina Mathes; sisters, Linda Yancey, Brenda McCarta and Sandra Bishop; brothers, Stanley Goad and Teddy Goad; 14 grandchildren; 13-great-grandchildren; and Richard Cole.

A memorial service was held Aug. 5 at Haught Funeral Home Chapel in Plant City. A visitation was held one hour prior to the service.

Online condolences may be left for the family at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Ruby B. Griffin

Ruby B. Griffin, 96, of Plant City, died July 28, 2015 with her loving family by her side.

Mrs. Griffin loved the Lord and was the best mom in the world to her children. She was very artistic and loved writing poems, needlework and reading her Bible. She always said, “Don’t wait for the hearse to take you to church.”

She is survived by her son, Gary Griffin (Tami); daughters, Yvonne Naecker (Buddy), Virginia Carlton (John), Norma Kay Hancock, Sandra Thrasher (Ronnie) and Sherry Regan (Joe); sister, Juanita May; sister-in-law, Louise Lents; 14 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two brothers and three sisters.

A visitation was held July 30 at Wells Memorial and Event Center. A funeral service followed July 31, with a burial following at Springhead Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

Bernhard “Bernie” Krumins

Bernhard “Bernie” Krumins, 88, of Brandon, and formerly of Massachusetts, died at his home Sunday, July 26, 2015.

Mr. Krumins was born in Smilten, Latvia and immigrated to the United States in the early 1950s. He and his wife, Barbara, moved to Florida in 2000. He was a member of the Society for the Preservation of Old-Time Country Music. He loved his family, and he enjoyed collecting stamps and old-time country music albums.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Bramhall Krumins; children, Bernie Krumins (Lorraine), of Tiverton, Rhode Island, and Kristine Krumins-Linehan, Lt. Col (ret) USAF (Robert), of Brandon; grandchildren, Brian, Damien, Kristen and Justin; and great-granddaughter, Cassandra.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Marguerita Wein-

burg Krumins; and brother, Donars Krumins.

A celebration of life was held July 29, at Hopewell Funeral Home in Plant City.

Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.

Mike Mitchel

Dr. Mike Mitchel, DVM, 65, of Plant City, died July 25, 2015.

He was raised, along with his sister Caren Mitchel, by his parents, Mark and Betty Mitchel, in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. In 1968, Dr. Mitchel graduated from Fair Lawn High School, where he was a star golfer. Next, he attended the University of Miami, where he met his best friend and lifelong companion in the adventures of life, Sue McCarthy Mitchel.

Dr. Mitchel served in the U.S. Air Force, then attended the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, where at graduation he earned the outstanding surgeon award. He opened Suncoast Veterinary Clinic in 1981 in Valrico, and later Mobile Pet Medic serving clients in east Hillsborough County and west Polk County. During his 40 year career in veterinary medicine, Dr. Mitchel cared for and comforted many cats and dogs.

Throughout his career, Dr. Mitchel was much respected by his clients and employees for his compassion, generosity, the quality of care he provided to his patients and his high ethics.

He was both a scientist and an artisan. He loved supporting his beloved daughter, Sarah Rae Mitchel, and Durant High School thespians by crafting props and scenery for their theatrical events. He was renowned in Plant City for his Halloween and Christmas yard displays, which included many handcrafted items that attracted thousands of viewers. Additionally, during his later years, he enjoyed singing at nursing

homes and charity events.

He also loved boating on his Grand Banks trawlers, anchoring out and rafting with friends for family vacations.

Recently retired, Dr. Mitchel and his wife were able to fulfill their dreams of cruising to Norway, Alaska and the Panama Canal, and camping in Maine.

Dr. Mitchel will be sorely missed by his family, his neighborhood and in his profession. Donations may be made in Dr. Mike Mitchel’s memory to Best Friends Animal Society.

Online condolences may be made to HopewellFuneral. com.

Ola Mae Lillian Parker

Ola Mae Lillian Parker, 91, died July 23, 2015 in Sebring.

Mrs. Parker was a member of the Sebring Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

She is survived by her son, James H. Parker Jr. (Holly); two daughters, Sandra Roberson and Sherry Gillette; brother, Delmar Strickland; sister, Joyce Howze; grandchildren, John Gillette, David Gillette, Terri Gillette Peacock, James Parker III, Stacy Parker, Leslie Steven Parker, Carrie Brogden, Ryan Adair, Michelle Roberson, Jennifer Fry, Suzanne Roberson and Jason Roberson; 20 greatgrandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James H. Parker Sr.; great-grandson, Corey D. Gillette; and siblings, James Strickland, Adele Watson, Lonnie Strickland, Otis Strickland and Elton Strickland.

Visitation was held July 28 at Wells Memorial and Event Center. A funeral service was held July 29.

Online condolences may be made at WellsMemorial.com.

Dora Nell Stokes

Dora Nell Stokes, 83, of Dover, died Monday, July 27, 2015, surrounded by her loving family.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, William Stokes; children, Melanie Bethune (Dewayne), and Rick Stokes (Janice); five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, W.P. and Evelyn Griffin; and grandson, Ethan.

The family received friends Aug. 3 at Hopewell Funeral Home. A graveside service followed Aug. 4 at Dover Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to an Alzheimer’s organization of choice.

Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral. com.

Loeta Audrey Stokes

Loeta Audrey Stokes, 90, of Plant City, died July 30, 2015 at her home.

A native of Lithia, she was the daughter of the late Herschel and Annabelle Petite Shirley. She was the wife of James Stokes. She was a member of Ft. Cooper Baptist Church in Inverness and drove a bus for the public school system for 17 years. She was a Tampa Bay Rays fan.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, R.L. Gray Sr. She is survived by her husband, James Stokes; sons, R.L. Gray Jr. (Sandy), Glenn Gray (Charlene); daughter, Shirley Rowell (Gene); nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two great-greatgrandchildren.

A funeral service was held Aug. 1 at Haught Funeral Home in Plant City, with a visitation held prior to the service.

Online condolences may be made at HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Patricia M. Surge

Patricia M. Surge, 75, died July 20, 2015.

Mrs. Surge is survived by her husband, Harry; and children, Susie, Latricia, Patti and Scott.

Services will be arranged through Whitfield Funeral Home.

Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Cardoza Watkins was a top performer at the Buddy Bowl. 14 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

Do you have a good Sports scoop for us?

Email Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver. com or Tweet us at @ PCTOSports.

BASEBALL

+ Ralyea signs with Bishop State

Recent Plant City High graduate Jacob Ralyea signed with Bishop State Community College last week and will play there in the fall.

Ralyea, who began his baseball career at Strawberry Crest High, transferred to 1 Raider Place for his senior season and batted .273 with 18 hits and five RBI. Also, in six appearances at pitcher, Ralyea posted a 2-0 record with an 0.67 ERA, 19 strikeouts and two earned runs over 21 innings pitched.

Bishop State, located in Mobile, Alabama, is a member of the Alabama Community College Conference and finished seventh in the conference’s South Division in 2015.

Leeseberg hired as PCHS athletic director Plant City High named Traci Durrance’s successor in former Bloomingdale High administrator Tim Leeseberg.

Like a freshman, Tim Leeseberg is eager for his first day at a new school.

A 12-year veteran of the Tampa Bay-area school system, Leeseberg was named Tuesday, July 28, successor to Plant City High School’s departing assistant principal of administration and athletic director Traci Durrance. It will be Leeseberg’s first time in the role of athletic director, after previously serving as an administrator at Armwood and Bloomingdale High schools for the past seven years. He’s been at PCHS since

Thursday, July 30, setting up his office and becoming familiar with his new coworkers.

“I’ve got a lot to learn, still,” Leeseberg says. “This is a big job, but the coaches that I’ve already met with seem with it and on top of everything. We’re just making sure we do right by the students.”

BACKGROUND

A Michigan native, Leeseberg graduated in 1999 from Central Michigan University, where he studied science and geography. He was offered a football

scholarship by the school but instead chose to focus on his studies.

He moved to Florida in 2003, taking a teaching job at Stuart Middle School and steadily working his way up. While teaching at Stuart, he coached several of the school’s sports — basketball, soccer, flag football and track — and also coached defensive ends and outside linebackers at neighboring Blake High School.

After several years at Stuart,

LEESEBERG / PAGE 12

Courtesy photo

Tim Leeseberg, a 12-year Florida resident, is entering his first role as an athletic director at Plant City High School.

baseball by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

PCHS changes have promise

+ Blue Claws to hold tryouts

The Plant City Blue Claws baseball team is looking for several players to fill its fall ball roster and will hold tryouts.

Children interested in trying out for the team will be able to do so at the Ellis-Methvin Park fields at 10 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8.

According to head coach Chris Fry, the team has six spots to fill.

Anyone who makes the team will be able to play in the fall for $125. The season runs from Aug. 22 to Nov. 22.

For more information, call Fry at (813) 5260757 or email him at daddyfrychris@yahoo. com. The Blue Claws are on Facebook as Plant City Blue Claws Baseball.

CHEERLEADING

+ Local athletes make USF team

University of South Florida recently added two Plant City-area athletes to its All-Girls Cheer Team roster.

Plant City High alum Crystal Johnson, along with Strawberry Crest High alum Georgia Foster, will compete with the USF squad this season. The team is mostly seen cheering at USF home and away sporting events and does work throughout the community, but it also competes in the UCA College Nationals tournaments each year. Johnson and Foster will travel with the team to Orlando in January for the next competition.

Justin Kline

The Senshi Do Kai MMA team is made up of Plant City residents of all age groups and experience levels.

Senshi Do Kai team gears up for state open Local MMA school Senshi Do Kai is sending its competition team to the Newbreed Ultimate Challenge Florida State Open Saturday, Aug. 22 at Strawberry Crest.

When Q. Wiggins looks at his Senshi Do Kai MMA competition team, he sees many young beginners along the walls of the dojo. They’ve only been training for the year or so that the Plant City school has been open.

But when he looks deeper, in his mind he sees a lineup of 14 winners. Wiggins believes the training each student has undergone at the mixed martial arts school has prepared them for what’s next, which is the Aug. 22 Florida State Open.

The Florida State Open, a precursor to the annual U.S. Nationals tournament in Coral Springs, is part of a national tournament series put on by Newbreed Ultimate Challenge. The event typically attracts competitors from around the country, but un-

like the national championships the venue changes from year to year.

Fortunately for Wiggins and the Senshi Do Kai team, this year’s competition is right in the school’s backyard. Strawberry Crest High School will host the one-day tournament in its gymnasium.

“It made it perfect for us,” Wiggins says. “We don’t have to travel so far.”

The tournament divides competitors into beginner, intermediate and advanced divisions, with each division being categorized by the number of years its fighters have had training experience.

From there, competition is straightforward: everyone is grappling all the time, and competitors can fight while wearing a gi or no gi.

The difference in attire is

simple but huge. While wearing a gi, the action takes a more traditional turn in the sense that the outfit makes certain holds and maneuvers possible that cannot be done without a gi. In short, it’s pure jiu-jitsu that often sends competitors to the top of the ranks.

Without a gi, it’s a little more complicated. Fighters in this field will wear tight clothes, sometimes without a shirt on, which makes it much more difficult to latch on to the opponents. It’s here that competitors will be forced to branch out into different styles, such as wrestling. Now considered a near-necessity to a successful MMA career, wrestling can get a victory for a competitor with such a background.

According to Wiggins, this

IF YOU GO NEWBREED ULTIMATE CHALLENGE FLORIDA STATE OPEN WHERE: Strawberry Crest

High School, 4691 Gallagher Road, Dover

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 22 COST: $10 for admission TICKETS: Spectator admission tickets, as well as more information, can be found at NewBreedGear. com/NEWBREED_ ULTIMATE_CHALLENGE_ TAMPA_FL_p/046-tampafl.htm

sort of competition is why many amateur wrestlers choose to train in jiu-jitsu in the offseason.

Wiggins’ confidence in the

SEE MMA / PAGE 14

Many of you Plant City High students, parents and alumni are probably eager to see how the school’s athletic programs fare in the 2015-16 school year, as the recent shuffling of personnel has impacted the Raiders family at its core. I see no reason for anyone to be anything but optimistic right now.

Much has been said about the football program, of course, JUSTIN which I believe KLINE to be in good hands even with the departure of some of the coaches. More will be written in the 2015 Football Guide, which you’ll get to read later in the month, but so far I haven’t seen or heard of anything discouraging.

I’m particularly excited to see what the boys basketball team can do from this point on. The school probably couldn’t have hired a better coach for that team’s rebuilding project, as Billy Teeden’s body of work at East Bay suggests, and I would love to see a greater interest in boys basketball — one that will probably pick up with some wins or at least visible progress being made in every game — throughout the area.

“

“

SIDELINES

pchs by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

(Tim Leeseberg’s) excitement to see those Raiders teams go far already matches that of anyone in town.

Most recently, though, PCHS found itself needing to hire a new athletic director. Traci Durrance did an awesome job with the Raiders programs, and made a positive impact with every athlete and coach I’ve heard from. I, too, enjoyed working with her on sports stories for the past year and one half, and I have no doubt she’ll continue to be great at Tomlin Middle.

I had the pleasure of speaking to the school’s new athletic director, Tim Leeseberg, after I got back from Buffalo this week, and I think the athletic programs are still in good hands. There’s potential

SEE KLINE / PAGE 14

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This week’s Cryptoquiz answers

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&LYLO 5LJKWV $QDO\VW -DFNLH 5RELQVRQ

This week’s Sudoku answers

LEESEBERG / PAGE 11 Leeseberg took an administration job at Armwood High School and spent a year and one half in Seffner. He then went to Bloomingdale High School, where he spent the last five and one half years as an AP1, dealing with student affairs, discipline, attendance and buses.

But Leeseberg knew all along that he wanted to be a high school’s athletic director.

“It’s my passion for sports, and education,” he says. “I think that there’s just an integral part to be involved in athletics, and the success of students academically. What they build in sports as team members, and as individuals learning character from their teammates and coaches, it was just something that I learned grow-

ing up. I knew that I wanted to push toward this as I got into administration.”

NEW JOB, NEW SCHOOL

Initially, Leeseberg had heard that PCHS would be a much different experience than his time in the City of Tampa, or even at Bloomingdale. The small-town feel at the school appealed to him, and his interview confirmed what he’d heard about PCHS. “It was the family atmosphere that you get out here,” he says. “I’ve been to different schools, but when I walked through the door here, to interview for this job, everybody was just so friendly and wanted to carry on a conversation with you …When I left the interview, it just lit that fire even more.

It was exciting to know that I could potentially end up work-

ing here, with these people.”

Leeseberg met with coaches and some athletes on Monday, Aug. 3, and has so far liked what he’s seen. One of his immediate goals is to assess the individual state of each team and, if need be, formulate plans for improvement as soon as possible.

Over time, Leeseberg hopes to take PCHS to the next level.

“The first six months, first year, will be learning what we have,” Leeseberg says. “Then trying to build this into one of the powerhouses in the area.

The different organizations I talked to (Monday), all of the students that I’ve interacted with, everybody’s seemed to have a pretty positive attitude. I just want that to boil over to all of the students.”

He is also concerned with the students’ academic performances and believes that

that is the foundation for one day achieving all of the school’s goals.

“I come in not knowing a lot about the different sports teams at this school, but I care about winning, and that’s what I’m going to push the coaches toward,” he says. “That starts with winning students, and they’ve got to be successful in the classroom. That’s got to boil over to them on the fields.”

Leeseberg may be a little nervous for that first day of school, as anyone in a new situation like this would be, but he’s certain that Plant City High has what it takes to become that powerhouse he hopes to help build — even with no prior experience as an athletic director.

“I’m going to be put to the test, but I’m confident that I can do this,” Leeseberg says.

FOCUS ON FITNESS

This week’s Crossword answers

2015

PlantCityObserver.com

Finding excuses and losing them I don’t have time. I’m too busy. and make it happen. I always It’s too hard. I can’t afford it. I tell my clients and members, don’t have motivation.

“The hardest part about workYou’ve either heard or made ing out is the drive to the gym.” excuses like these before, and Mondays. Ugh, the dreaded the list goes on and on.

Mondays. This is usuThose excuses have ally the, I’m-too-tiredbeen heard by every excuse day. If you lose trainer out there. And, that excuse and take to be honest, those the drive to the gym (or excuses are the only make the time at home) things standing in your on a Monday for your way. workout, I promise it Therefore, you are will be worth it. MonHEATHER days set the tone for the only thing standing DYKSTRA the rest of the week. It’s in your way. The only solution is to lose the more likely that you will excuses and just do it. continue to come every day What if I told you that you that week if you do work out could be healthier, feel less on a Monday than if you don’t stressed, have more energy make the effort. It makes you and feel more self-confident feel like you’re off to a good just by dropping your excuses start. So, lose the Monday blues and getting it done? It really is and get the week kicked off in that easy. You may be making the right direction. it harder on yourself than it Pencil in your workouts as needs to be by thinking like a if they were doctor’s appointkid that doesn’t want to do his ments. Set reminders in your or her chores. You need to open phone, your calendar, or leave your mind to a different way yourself notes on the fridge. of thinking about fitness and Plan out your workout schedthink like the kid that gets to ule on Sunday and write down play his or her favorite game. exactly what you plan to do for All you need to do is get up each day you have scheduled a

O

workout. For example: Monday, 6 a.m. back and biceps, followed by 20 minutes of cardio. Set an alarm to go with it, and make it happen. Ask a friend to join you in the weekly challenge and hold each other accountable. Be each other’s reminder call or text, and encourage each other to go.

Sometimes that friendly push (or, perhaps pleading and begging) is all you need.

Start with a beginner exercise video or beginner group fitness class if you are new to exercise.

Hiring a personal trainer is another great option. It will not only teach you correct form for many exercises, but it will also keep you more motivated than trying to start alone.

When you look around in a gym and see extremely fit people, it can be intimidating. Just remember: they once started somewhere, just like you. Most of them even have a back story about difficult weight loss or muscle gain and how they overcame their own obstacles to get where they are. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t happen for

you overnight, or even in a month. It takes time. Drop the excuses and keep going.

There are so many options out there to get started on a good workout regimen. You can get on a bicycle, lift weights at home, walk around your neighborhood, get a buddy to go to the gym with, take a group fitness class, hire a personal trainer, try a boot camp, go online and follow exercise videos, and much more. The possibilities are endless. The excuses will only take you so far before they don’t work anymore.

So get up, get dressed, tie your shoelaces and make it happen. It’s easy to find excuses, but there’s no better time to lose them than now.

As Edward Stanley one said, “Those who think they have no time for exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.”

Heather Dykstra is an AFAAcertified personal trainer, and has been a group fitness instructor for over 13 years. She is currently involved with the Plant City Family YMCA.

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SLIPPERY TOSS by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Bucs players watched from the sidelines as the two teams duked it out on the field.

Dolphins players huddled to set up their next play.

Buddy Bowl athletes bring the thunder The rain couldn’t stop players the Plant City Dolphins and East Bay Bucs from coming out to play in the inaugural Buddy Bowl exhibition at Otis M. Andrews Park Saturday,

Aug. 1. In honor of the late Buddy Bennett, former Dolphins organization president, the two parties battled it out on the ďŹ eld, only taking breaks for the thunder. Money raised

from event went to the Buddy Bennett Fund to help expand and improve the chemotherapy center at South Florida Baptist Hospital, which is set to be renamed for Bennett.

Plant City Dolphins cheerleaders came to show their support.

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MMA / PAGE 11

for several PCHS programs to make a big splash this year, and his excitement to see those Raiders teams go far already matches that of anyone in town. That, I believe, is one of the keys to being an effective AD, and it was something Traci put on display at any given school sporting event.

There will definitely be some changes that PCHS fans won’t enjoy this year, as several of the programs have lost key athletes and need to either rebuild or work around the fact. That’s how it usually works. But, even if an in-game product isn’t quite up to par with that of previous years, Raider fans can at least see that the foundation for everything appears to be just fine now.

team comes from its constant training, which might be an understatement.

“We have this thing called ’10,000 reps,’ where I make sure that the guys get 10,000 reps in everything they do,” he says. “So, if they’re passing the guard, they’ve got to pass the guard 10,000 times.

I’ll keep track of everybody’s passing. It’s just been drill, drill, drill, drill, drill, so that they don’t get caught up in situations they’re not familiar with.”

In the last Newbreed event that the Senshi Do Kai team competed in, the team performed well. Some students, including Joe Tucker, brought home gold medals and are gunning for more this month.

Tucker, 9, considered one

of Senshi Do Kai’s top young competitors, loves grappling on the big stage. He says that crowds like the one he’ll encounter at Crest don’t bother him.

“It looks fun, and I just always think to do my best,” Tucker says. “I’m just looking at my opponent and blocking the crowd out.”

This month, he’s excited to get back out there and try to top his performance from last time, which also included a silver medal. He last competed in the intermediate division, after being able to jump in as a beginner, and will go into this tournament in the same division with the appropriate rank and plenty of experience.

“I’m looking forward to doing my best,” he says. “I think I’ll do pretty good.”

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

CARDOZA WATKINS On Saturday, Aug. 1, the Plant City Dolphins and East Bay Bucs got together for the Buddy Bowl. Although the weather was less than ideal, all teams played hard. One of the top performances of the day came from Mighty Mites nose tackle Cardoza Watkins, who got four sacks against the East Bay offense in the first game of the day.

What positions do you play?

Nose, guard and offensive tackle.

Is there any sport you’ve never tried before that you’d want to play?

Soccer.

How long have you been playing football?

This is my first year.

What position would you play?

I would want to score goals.

What do you like about football?

I get to hit somebody.

How did you do in the Buddy Bowl?

Good.

What was your favorite part about it?

Getting tackles. I hit the quarterback and he got hurt.

Do you play any other sports?

Baseball, and I also do karate.

Which sport is your favorite?

Football.

What do you do for fun when you’re not playing sports?

I like to practice my stance at home.

Where do you go to school?

I used to go to pre-K, but now I go to big school at Wilson.

What’s your favorite subject?

Reading.

What’s your favorite movie?

“The Waterboy.”

I heard you do a Waterboy impression?

Yes. “He spit in the c-c-ccooler!”

What’s your favorite music to listen to?

Michael Jackson.

What’s your favorite sports team?

The (Tampa Bay) Buccaneers.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Spider-Man powers.

If somebody was just starting football for the first time and asked you for advice, what would you tell them about being a good football player?

To practice real, real hard. And I would tell them, “Give it your best and focus on what you’re doing.”

What do you think is the coolest thing you’ve ever done in a football game?

I picked up a fumble last scrimmage.

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PLANT CITY

RAIN

(INCHES)

WEATHER

THURS. July 30

0.00

FRI.

TEMPERATURES

July 31

0.75

SAT.

Friday, Aug. 7 Saturday, Aug. 8 Sunday, Aug. 9 Monday, Aug. 10 Tuesday, Aug. 11 Wednesday, Aug. 12 Thursday, Aug. 13

Aug. 1

2.24

SUN.

Aug. 2

1.37

MON.

Aug. 3

HIGH 88 85 86 87 87 87 85

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

1.77

TUES.

SUNRISE Friday, Aug. 7 6:54 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8 6:55 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 9 6:55 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 10 6:56 a.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 11 6:56 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 12 6:57 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 13 6:57 a.m.

Aug. 4

0.00

WED.

Aug. 5

0.00

Aug.

TO DATE

6.13 (2014: 0.00)

YEAR

TO DATE 29.19 (2014: 21.39)

SUNSET 8:15 p.m.

8:14 p.m.

8:13 p.m.

8:12 p.m.

8:12 p.m.

8:11 p.m.

8:10 p.m.

OKRA

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

Aug. 14

3. P S T 4. O A S A Z C A R F K J 5. U M U Z W J K

This athlete was known as “The Dark Destroyer”:

SUDOKU

Solve the puzzle by placing the numbers 1 through 9 in each row, column and box.

9

5

4

8

3

5

7

9

7

7 5

7

1

5

5

2

4 3

7

Sept. 5

, 3&

Shelley King Rogers was enjoying her breakfast while sitting at the Walden Lake Park when she saw this butterfly enjoying her breakfast too. “Nature astounds and abounds in Plant City,” she says.

Shelley wins a Grimes Hardware Strawberry Town Cafe giftcard. She 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 UNDER ARREST by Jill Pepper

2. X A C J K G U J V P U M

3

PHASES

Aug. 29

$10 to 10.85

1. G C E E L Z W M

4

MOON

SHIPPING POINT: Orlando

Each of the following cryptograms is a clue to the identity of a sports legend. Using the hints U=A and J=S, decipher the clues to name the athlete.

8

LOW 75 74 74 74 75 75 74

Aug. 22

CRYPTOQUIZ

2

7

6

9

8

6 2

8

6

ACROSS 1 West and Jemison 5 What sirens do 10 Course taken after trig, often 14 Pull with difficulty 18 Reach an accord 20 Athenian marketplace 21 Blue Bonnet, e.g.

22 “If all ___ fails ...”

23 Writing implements 25 Cooked in a wok 27 Transmission stuff 28 Large book size 30 Valuable rock 31 More like a fish 34 Give a ___ the back 35 Tom, Dick or Harry 38 Poi ingredients 39 On ___ (without a contract) 41 Theme of a composition 43 Hall of Fame NFL coach Chuck 45 English race place 46 “... ___ he drove out of sight ...”

47 Verdi’s classic opera 49 Teensy 50 Alpine transport 51 Close, as an envelope 53 TV dinner name 56 Hotel freebie 57 Fleming who created 007 58 Socks cover them 60 Sudden strong breezes 62 Chaplin of early films 64 European blackbird (var.)

65 Olympic racing sleds 66 Blockhead 67 Major network 69 Barnyard mama 70 Contents of many barrels 71 Harbor structure 73 Grow dark 75 Simplest to do 79 1,000 large calories 80 Hard time, to inmates 83 “Malcolm X” director Spike 84 Common Market letters 85 Uniform decoration 87 Classic toy: ___ A Sketch 88 Pottery baker 89 Keyboard key 90 Ball girls (Abbr.)

91 Delivery vehicle 92 “Boxcars” at Reno 93 Bypass 95 Where “e’en” is seen 98 Dutch cheese 100 “Crazy” singer Patsy 101 Make busts 103 Sixteen ounces 105 Australis and borealis 107 Mai ___ (rum drink) 108 Be there in spirit?

109 Disassemble, aboard ship 110 Simple kitchen appliance 114 Inmate’s dream 119 Any of five Norwegian kings 120 Bering and Caspian 121 “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin ___” 122 America’s bird

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32 “Rock the ___” (hit song for the Clash) 33 Deep mysteries 34 Social legend Mesta 35 Awry 36 Not at all DOWN 37 Votes in office 1 “Treasure Island” prop 40 Ring, like bells 2 Mature 42 Yankee great Mickey 3 East ender?

44 Jeans brand 4 Place for some old ships 48 Cause of hand-wringing 5 Hoglike Asian animals 51 Check for odors 6 “Good grief!”

52 ___ out a living 7 Floor-washing tool 53 Old French coin 8 Introductory remarks 54 Type of bison 9 Divination deck 55 From square one 10 Trig function 58 Struck with fear 11 A chorus line 59 Push through a crowd 12 “Aloha” accompanier 61 Fruit that sounds unattractive 13 City near San Diego 63 Lion’s sound 14 From this point forward 15 Baba who tangled with thieves 65 Aquarium bottom-feeder 67 Contract provision 16 “It’s no ___!”

68 Get-out-of-jail money 17 Was in charge 71 Some snails 19 Join the Army 72 Filled with activity 24 Requiring payment 74 Suffix with “high” or “low” 26 Cook chicken, in a way 75 List-shortening letters 29 “That’s funny!” in texts 76 Magical drink 31 Radio interference 123 Popular meat 124 Ripped 125 Lip application 126 Groan’s partner

77 1997 Jennifer Lopez biopic 78 Present and future 79 Hot or iced drinks 80 Frilly neckpiece 81 Check your arithmetic 82 Sicilian volcano 86 Most energetic 88 2.2 pounds 91 Like certain shark fins 92 Book copier of old 94 Delay 96 Far from abundant 97 Crossword solver, apparently 99 Estate houses 102 Once around the track 104 Unfasten, in a way 106 Caterer’s coffeemaker 108 Use one’s ears 109 Aspirin has several 110 Corn holder 111 Pub offering 112 Scottish refusal 113 Keanu in “The Matrix” 115 “What was ___ think?”

116 Big item in Hollywood?

117 Pie ___ mode 118 Baseball legend Griffey

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