09.12.14 Plant City Times & Observer

Plant City Times &

Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

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IN FOCUS

REAL ESTATE

Eleven-lot transaction tops August sales.

PAGE 8

OUR TOWN

FREE • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

SPORTS

Thrill-seekers conquer Plant City Mud Titan.

New year, new knee for Crest QB Tristan Hyde.

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disconnected by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

City pulls plug on McCall Wi-Fi Aging, faulty equipment and bad connections have brought city officials to the decision to discontinue this service.

+ Strawberry Fest named to top 20 The Florida Strawberry Festival has been named a Top 20 Event for February 2015 by the Southeast Tourism Society for the 13th time.

The Southeast Tourism Society, a non-profit organization that promotes and develops tourism throughout the Southeast, annually awards successful fairs, festivals, tourism attractions, special events and more across the Southeast by naming them one of its “Top 20.”

“It is humbling when a group as prominent as the Southeast Tourism Society thinks our festival is worthy of being named a Top 20 Event,” said Florida Strawberry Festival General Manager Paul Davis. “We are honored.”

In 2014, the Florida Strawberry Festival also was designated as one of the American Bus Association’s Top 100 Events in North America, as well as one of the Top 40 Fairs in North America by Venues Today.

“Our goal is to always provide a safe, fun, familyfriendly atmosphere for our patrons,” Davis said. “And we appreciate when others think that is worth celebrating.”

+ Archives kicks off exhibit contest The Plant City Photo Archives & History Center is hosting a photo contest for its “Man on the Street” sculptures exhibit. The archives is inviting you to take a picture with one of the 10 sculptures for a chance to be featured in a gallery. The photo must include at least one person with the sculpture, must be original, untouched, color or black-and-white, and about 8 ½-by-11 inches in size. The photo must be submitted to the archives no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 24. Entry forms are available at the center or at plantcityphotoarchives.org.

For more, call (813) 754-1578.

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This week’s winner is

Janelle McRoberts See her photo on PAGE 15.

If Plant City residents and visitors want to connect a mobile device to the Internet in the downtown district, they will have to enter a business that offers Wi-Fi to its customers. The public Wi-Fi installed in McCall Park will be taken down within the next month.

The Wi-Fi equipment was installed about 10 years ago.

“There was a big push back then for municipal Wi-Fi,” said Bill McDaniel, assistant

city manager for public safety.

“A lot of cities were installing these big umbrella networks, and it was supposed to be the next big utility.”

The city’s IT department intended for Wi-Fi in McCall Park to be a test of this public service. It is Plant City’s only free municipal Wi-Fi network, other than the network within City Hall.

But, like any piece of technology, the equipment be-

came outdated and obsolete.

Updates to the physical hardware would have cost $18,000.

When city officials formed next year’s budget several months ago, they decided to discontinue the municipal Wi-Fi instead of purchasing equipment replacements.

Kent Andrel, director of information technology for the city, said the Wi-Fi would be disconnected Oct. 1. Shortly after, the department will

Catherine Sinclair

The routers that were attached to light posts in McCall Park 10 years ago are outdated and obsolete.

remove the hardware: four Hewlett-Packard access points.

One of the access points is

located outside of City Hall.

The other three are in McCall Park, in the form of small boxes with antennae. Theoretically, each has a range of 300 feet, which would provide a signal throughout the entire park, as well as into the city blocks on each side of the park. But, the signal has not always worked as intended.

“The other problem that we run into down there is that the tree canopy is so large, it basically eats our signal,” McDaniel said. “It generates a lot of

SEE WI-FI / PAGE 5

EDUCATION

HOMETOWN HERO by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Campus to be ready in December Formerly Shiloh Charter School, Independence Academy will move to the corner of McIntosh Road and U.S. 92.

It’s the start of a new school year, and for Shiloh Charter School, it’s also the start of new beginnings. The school has a new name — Independence Academy — and a new

SEE SCHOOL / PAGE 4

Catherine Sinclair

Don Walden built the Walden Building in 1976 on the edge of Historic Downtown Plant City, four years after he retired from the U.S. Army. He has plans to renovate the exterior this fall.

RETURNED TO BASE After serving for 22 years in the U.S. Army, fifth-generation Plant City native Don Walden returned to serve the community he loves.

Don Walden, 86, is a fifth-generation Plant City native. He traveled all over the world during his military career, but nothing could stop him from returning to his geographical roots, where he is now known for his leadership and involvement in a long list of community organizations.

“It’s home,” Walden said. “The lifelong friends … And I still have a lot of relatives in the area.”

Walden’s military career sent him back and forth

across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans for 22 years.

Within three months of graduating in 1950 from Stetson University, Walden had married his wife, Lois, and enlisted in the U.S. Army for infantry training.

The next fall, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant, stationed in Atlanta.

WORLD TOUR

In 1954, just after the Korean War, Walden was sent to South Korea, and he remained there for al-

most two years. His next assignment was Fort Hood, Texas, where he was stationed with the Fourth Armory Division. He then went overseas again — this time, to Germany.

At the time, the German sewer systems were damaged, and U.S. soldiers were advised not to drink the water.

“It was a good opportunity to drink beer instead of water. Or wine,” Walden said.

He was in Germany for three years as a company

commander but would return later in a different position.

Next was Fort Lee, Va., but soon after that, in the early 1960s, Walden left his wife and two daughters in the U.S. and went to Vietnam. He went to Vietnamese language school, which he found difficult, because Vietnamese is a tonal language. One word can have numerous meanings, based on the vocal inflection.

SEE HERO / PAGE 5

HOMETOWN HEROES EDITOR’S NOTE: Hometown Heroes is a recurring feature in the Plant City Times & Observer in which we profile veterans from Plant City. If you have a loved one currently serving or who has served in the past, please contact Managing Editor Amber Jurgensen by email at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com or by phone at (813) 704-6850.

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

Courtesy rendering

Independence Academy’s campus will include two buildings.

business

by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Art Wood to retire from P.C. credit union Wood has served for 17 years as president and CEO of the credit union.

Throughout Art Wood’s 40year career with credit unions, he’s learned a lot of life lessons.

When he got his first break into the business, he found that taking the initiative could get him far.

“Even if you don’t know how to do it, if you can figure it out,

SEE WOOD / PAGE 4 Vol. 2, No. 8 | One section

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

Obituaries...................11

Neighborhood...............9

Sports.........................12

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COMMUNITYCALENDAR FRIDAY, SEPT. 12

MONDAY, SEPT. 15

Double Barrel Band — live music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

CPR and Basic Life Support Recertification — takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St. This course provides CPR basic life support (BLS) recertification for health care workers. Your CPR card must be current (no expired cards). If your current CPR card is expired, you must attend a new certification class, per the American Heart Association guidelines. You must bring your current card with you. The course is 2.5 hours long and you must pass a written test and a skills validation to receive a new card. Registration and pre-payment required, $40. Call (813) 644-6720.

Dental Services — takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700.

Diabetes Management Series — takes place from 5 to 7 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 15, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, 301 N. Alexander St. The series titled, “Journey for Control,” is a diabetes class that uses Conversation Maps, a series of images and metaphors, to engage groups of patients in

Leadership Orientation — takes place at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept.

12, at the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, 106 N. Evers St., Plant City. For more visit plantcity.org.

Story Time — takes place from 11 a.m. to noon, Friday, Sept.

12, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700.

Uncork Your Weekend with John Rhey — live music from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City.

(813) 752- 9100.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13 Dueling Pianos — takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Uncork You Saturday! — takes place from 6 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City.

(813) 752-9100.

conversations about a health topic, such as diabetes. This innovative teaching method provides participants with an action plan to make changes in their choices and behaviors. There will be four classes. $10 for series. Call (813) 644-6720.

Gentle Yoga — takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Sept.

15, at the Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. Jennifer Stanko will teach the hour-long class. The program will run for six weeks.

Patrons are asked to bring a mat or towel. (813) 451-4506.

Grandparents’ Breakfast — takes place from 8 to 9 a.m.

Monday, Sept. 15, at Lincoln Magnet Elementary School, 1207 E. Renfro St. Peace By Piece — meets from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept.

15, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St., Plant City. (863) 644-3600.

Plant City Community Chorale — The chorale is preparing for its 2014 Christmas Concert. All interested singers may join the chorale at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept.

15, at First Presbyterian Church of Plant City, 404 Reynolds St., Plant City. Members have mixed choral experiences and abilities to read music, and include beginners and accomplished singers. Membership closes Sept. 15.

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.

Ribbon Cutting: Hardee’s — takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Hardee’s, 1713 James L. Redman Parkway, Plant City.

WED., SEPT. 17

BEST BET Youth Fishing Derby — takes place from 7:30 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 20, at the pond located behind Plant City Stadium on Gordon Food Service Drive. This catch-andrelease activity is for youths ages 5 to 15. Day of event registration on-site will be from 7:30 to 8:15 am. Hooks

TUESDAY, SEPT. 16 Evening Book Discussion — takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 McLendon St. The group will be discussing “Black and Blue,” by Anna Quindlen. Copies of the book are available for check out prior to the discussion. (813)

are in the water from 8:30 to 11 a.m., with various prizes awarded following the end of fishing time. Bring your own fishing equipment, bait and a bucket. For more information and to register, contact Program Manager Deborah Haldane at dhaldane@plantcitygov.com or (813) 6594200, Ext. 4302.

757-9215.

Grandparents’ Breakfast — takes place from 8 to 9 a.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Lincoln Magnet Elementary School, 1207 E. Renfro St. Marshall Band Concert — takes place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.

16, at Marshall Middle School, 18 S. Maryland Avenue.

Car Seat Safety Class — takes place at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the Children’s Board Family Resource Centers in East County, 639 E. Alexander St., Plant City. (813) 752-8700.

Computer Class — class takes place from 10 to 11 a.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St. (813) 757-9215.

Open Mic Night — takes place beginning at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 17, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18 Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours — takes place from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at Bing Rooming House, 205 S. Allen St. Plant City. For more, visit plantcity.org.

Trivia — takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Family Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. For more information, call (813) 764-8818.

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KNOWLEDGE by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Literacy Academy opens at its new Baker Street facility The Family Literacy Academy of Plant City helps families who struggle with English by teaching them the language and offering educational programs.

agriculture by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

BENEATH

THE SURFACE

Sweet Life Farms applied Paladin and covered the rows with Totally Impermeable Film last week. Employees of the farm said they have not smelled Paladin’s odor at all this year.

Last year, some Plant City-area residents complained about the odor released by Paladin, a pesticide used in many local strawberry fields.

This year, the chemical’s updated application process eliminated the smell.

Plant City has once again entered strawberry growing season, and families will soon join in the area’s long history of picking berries together and attending the Florida Strawberry Festival.

In 2013 and this year, a new product has helped growers produce those sweet berries: a soil fumigant called Paladin.

Paladin is used to suppress weeds, soil-borne pathogens and nematodes (parasitic roundworms). Before plants are put into the ground, Paladin is injected into the soil.

Tarps cover the ground to contain the chemical, and are removed 12 days later.

The active ingredient in Paladin is dimethyl disulfide, which is a replacement for methyl bromide. Methyl bromide was used widely as an effective fumigant, until the EPA banned it in 2005 because it had been depleting the ozone layer and polluting the air.

“Sometimes, you have to use common sense, and it was not a good common-sense decision to eliminate the use of methyl bromide,” said Kenneth Parker, executive director of the Florida Strawberry Growers Association.

But, he said, Paladin was one of many effective fumigants that had come to the market as a replacement.

Many Plant City-area growers began using Paladin in 2013, and they have applied it again this year.

ODOR AND HEALTH

Because of its sulfur content, Paladin has an odor that

has been compared to garlic or rotting cabbage. Last year, growers in the area received numerous complaints from neighbors, who said the smell was unpleasant and overwhelming. This year, Arkema, the chemical company that produces Paladin, came up with a solution to the odor.

“We wanted to make a change to make some differences for people living closer to the fields,” said Rob Welker, a product steward for Arkema.

Arkema dictated the use of an improved tarp, which contains the odor more effectively than last year’s tarps. The new tarp is made of Totally Impermeable Film.

“TIF has done a fantastic job of capturing and not releasing any of the odor from the fumigation process,” Parker said. “(Arkema) has taken great strides to limit the smell.”

Andy McDonald is the farm manager for Sweet Life Farms, a Plant City strawberry growing operation that has used Paladin in its fields last year and this year.

McDonald said Paladin was safer and more effective than other replacements for methyl bromide. He lives within 100 yards of a 70-acre field, where he applied the fumigant this year.

“I wouldn’t put it out here this close to my house, this close to my family, if I had any concerns about it,” he said.

Paladin is a restricted-use pesticide, because the EPA expects inhalation exposure at high levels to cause human health problems. However, Arkema includes strict, detailed protocol on Paladin’s

ABOUT PALADIN Chemical name: Dimethyl disulfide Molecular formula: CH3SSCH3 Uses: Soil fumigant, food additive, sulfiding agent in oil refineries Appearance: Pale yellow liquid Natural occurrence: The dead horse arum, a type of lily, releases this compound and the odor attracts flies that serve as pollinators.

(Dimethyl disulfide is synthetically produced for agricultural use.) label that prevents inhalation exposure if followed correctly.

It also includes requirements for a buffer zone, to protect people who live or work close to the fields where Paladin is applied.

Local media reported both years that a Dover family had become ill during pre-planting season, and they believed that their exposure to Paladin used in fields near their home had caused the sickness. McDonald said he wasn’t sure the family’s theory was accurate.

“Arkema has been really good at going around and doing all these air measurements, and they found none over there,” McDonald said.

The Florida Department of Agriculture reported the smell itself made some sensitive people feel nauseated last year, but their symptoms were not due to direct exposure.

ENVIRONMENT

Although the strict guidelines for application of Paladin intend to prevent it from escaping the agricultural areas where it is applied, as with any chemical product, there is the potential for contamination to occur. The chemical could leak from a broken container before it is applied, for example, or even after it is applied, excessive stormwater could carry it into the outside environment.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation conducted a study in 2012 and found that Paladin was moderately toxic to mammals, slightly toxic to birds and moderately to highly toxic for aquatic species. This kind of report is produced by individual state departments if they determine a need. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has not yet studied Paladin’s effect on local wildlife.

Joe Barron is the environmental manager of water for the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission. Barron said it was also unclear what effect dimethyl disulfide would have had if it were to end up in the watershed.

“Organic analysis is generally quite expensive, and our budgets generally don’t allow for it, unless it’s required by permit,” Barron said.

There are five Hillsborough County EPC water monitoring stations in the Plant City area, but none has been tested for dimethyl disulfide.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

Freshly printed books were set up neatly on tables at the Literacy Academy of Plant City Monday, Sept. 8. Children excitedly picked out their favorites, going back to practice reading them in their parents’ laps. It was the open house for the academy’s new Plant City location, 504 E. Baker St. The academy is a non-profit offshoot of Learn Tampa Bay, founded by Angelica Ibarra, to help families who struggle with English by teaching them the language and offering GED programs and homework assistance for children.

It moved from its previous location on Walter Drive as part of a ministry center, owned

by Trinity United Methodist Church. The church sold the property in June.

Ibarra said the new location is perfect. It is close to several businesses, an elementary school and a neighborhood store.

“Our main goal is to work with the parents, so then the parents are able to support their children with their own education,” Ibarra said.

The academy has two teachers for parents and two teachers for children with classes offered four days a week. Volunteers from around the community, including high school students, help with tutoring.

Ibarra started the Family Literacy Center of Tampa Bay in 2003. After it closed, she moved to Plant City to help families in eastern Hillsborough County. In July 2011, she began an academy in Plant City.

For her, it is a passion because she has lived through what her pupils have.

At the urging of her father, Ibarra dropped out of school in seventh grade to help support her family. All of her five sisters also dropped out, too.

“I do what I do because, yeah, I lived it,” Ibarra said. “I believe education is the key to achieving success.”

Ibarra never returned to high school. She ended up having two children. But, at 26, she decided to change the cycle. She entered a GED program while working and raising her young children.

“It was definitely hard,” she said. “You’re trying to cram so many years of education in just several months. So that was a huge challenge in itself.”

But, she persevered and ended up getting her GED. After, her teacher asked her about her next step.

AT A GLANCE The Literacy Academy of Tampa Bay has multiple classrooms for children and adults. Children receive homework assistance and tutoring, while adults can learn English or get a GED. The academy has many technologies, including Internet access, printers and a computer lab, to help families achieve their goals. Many of the facilities are provided through grants through different organizations such as the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. But the non-profit can always use more donations and more volunteers.

To donate or volunteer, call (813) 752-4010.

CLASES DE INGLES Y GED Gratis para familias con niños de dos a 10 años 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunes a viernes Para información llame al (813) 752-4010 • Diferentes Niveles de Ingles (ESOL) • Cuidado de Niños (2 a 10 años) • Tutoria Para Los Niños

“I didn’t know,” Ibarra said.

“I didn’t know the answer to that one. I hadn’t thought about anything else.”

Once the seed was planted, it blossomed into action.

Ibarra signed up for classes at the University of South Florida the same semester. She graduated with a degree in international studies and obtained a graduate certificate in non-profit management with the University of Tampa.

Now, she wants to help others. The main reason people come to the Literacy Academy of Plant City is learn English or get their GED. The second reason is to help their children with their homework.

“The parents come in, because they know they have to do something different with their lives,” Ibarra said. “My goal is to be able to give them the same opportunities I had to change my life through education.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

making a difference by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Plant City High School hosts cyberbullying seminar Rita Peters, chief of the Hillsborough state attorney’s sex crimes division, spoke Sept. 3 to local high school students.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons Plant City High students learned last week didn’t take place in the classroom.

The school’s 2,200 students participated in a presentation about cyberbullying Sept. 3.

Led by Rita Peters, chief of the Hillsborough state attorney’s sex crimes division, this year’s presentation was much larger than the one Peters hosted last year at Tomlin Middle School.

Peters began by telling the students about a girl who was from a different country. She ate different food. Not the usual PB&J sandwiches the other kids would eat. She was bullied.

Peters herself is from an Italian background. She lived in Canada after her family moved from Italy. She didn’t speak English, until she moved to the

United States. Could this girl be her?

“I was tormented,” Peters said, revealing herself as the victim. “It felt like torture. Finally, I found my voice and didn’t let the bullies bully me anymore.”

The students were in awe.

They stood up in applause.

“I didn’t share for the applause, but that bullying happens to people — people they might know,” Peters said.

Peters was invited to speak about cyberbullying after PTSA President Yvonne Fry and Student Awareness Program Chair Nicole Adams heard her speak last year at Tomlin Middle School. They started planning the seminar even before the school year started.

“We’re trying to find things that are relevant to students — what could impact their lives,”

Courtesy photo

Freshmen, sophomores and juniors participated in this year’s cyberbullying presentation.

Adams said. “With as much students that are on social media, it’s really important to them. It’s important to know what bullying is and how it impacts them.

“I can still hear the namecalling,” she said. “Looking back, I realized I believed my bullies, I believed all the things they called me.”

Peters was excited to be back in Plant City to share her

knowledge on the subject of cyberbullying.

“I wish more schools would take a proactive approach through me or there’s a slew of parents of kids who have been bullied,” Peters said.

In addition to talking about her own experience, Peters shared some recent examples of how cyberbullying can spin out of control. One of her examples was the recent suicide

of 12-year-old Rebecca Sewick, of Lakeland. As many as 15 girls bullied her, even after she had transferred schools.

“The best part was she made it real,” Adams said. “We heard lots of real stories.”

Peters talked about how to recognize signs of cyberbullying, sexting and the consequences of cyberbullying.

Legally, investigators are now looking to beef up the law in regards to cyberbullying. They also will look at individual cases and see how they can relate to criminal statures like stalking.

“Typically, they don’t understand what the consequences can be,” Adams said.

Adams said they would love to invite Peters back next year.

“If I communicate to one child, then the day is successful,” Peters said. “Whether they are the bully or they speak up about what’s going on.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

WHY IS CYBERBULLYING DIFFERENT? Kids who are being cyberbullied are often bullied in person as well. Additionally, kids who are cyberbullied have a harder time getting away from the behavior.

• Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and reach a kid even when he or she is alone. It can happen any time of the day or night.

• Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a wide audience. It can be difficult — and sometimes impossible — to trace the source.

• Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

Source: stopbullying.gov

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Courtesy rendering

SCHOOL / PAGE 1 look and logo. And, soon, it will have a brand-new home.

The new campus currently is under construction at McIntosh Road and U.S. 92. It is slated to be completed in December, just in time for students to move to the new location for the spring semester.

“It’s really going to be a great upgrade,” said Charles Harris, the president of the school’s board. “Everyone’s really excited about it.”

The school made the changes in preparation for the current location’s lease expiration. For now, Independence Academy is located on the property of Shiloh Baptist Church off Cason Street, in Plant City, where it has been since it opened in 2007. The

lease will expire at the end of 2015.

The name change came with the move and because it will no longer be on Shiloh Baptist’s property.

It took a lot of preparation to clear the site after conducting a variety of traffic studies and other permitting measures. Construction started four months ago. MG3 Developer Group is overseeing the construction project and will lease the building to the school as an investment.

The walls went up last week, after the foundation was set.

Two different buildings will be raised on the 13.5-acre property: a 20,000-square-foot building and a 50,000-square-foot building. The facility will be able to accommodate 650 students at the beginning. It has

WOOD / PAGE 1 tell them you know, and then go figure it out,” Wood said.

He never forgot his first break, either. Through his decades as CEO for different credit unions, he carried on the same attitude that was shown to him early in his career.

“You have to give people the opportunity to advance,” Wood said. “You have to create an opportunity for others because someone gave me a chance.”

Now, after 17 years, Wood, the president and CEO of $281 million Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union, will be retiring. But, he has no plans to stop learning more life lessons — only at a slower pace.

After Wood retires in October, he plans to spend more time with his grandchildren, take a class as a master naturalist and build a wooden boat — even if it never makes it out of the garage.

And, although he’s excited for the down time, he looks back on his history proudly.

“It’s been a great career,” Wood said. “I had a lot of blessings. I know I worked for my luck.”

ASCENT

Originally from Connecticut, Wood was raised in South Florida. After earning his master’s degee in management from the University of Florida, he entered the U.S. Air Force as an officer while the Vietnam War was raging.

After his service, Wood worked for four years at the University of Virginia in administration. During that time, he began volunteering with credit unions.

Courtesy photo

Art Wood got his start volunteering with credit unions.

“As I started volunteering with credit unions, I liked the kind of work of giving back,” Wood said. “It’s not just making money for a stock board.

You give back to someone.”

So, Wood decided to turn his volunteerism into a profession. He scored a position with a military credit union in Jacksonville. After two years, he became antsy and ready for a new challenge. When a position opened for a branch manager, he asked his boss for it.

His boss gave it to him, but he had keep doing his other job, too. For two years, he balanced his dual responsibilities.

Once he conquered that mountain, it was on to the University of Miami Credit Union.

Her served for 18 years as CEO there, before coming to Tampa’s Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union. He found that the credit union wasn’t as progressive as it could be.

Wood set out to upgrade it, implementing a service culture with emphasis on the customer.

the capacity to accommodate up to 900 students. Right now, Independence Academy has 635 students.

“With the new location, we will be serving an expand community, also,” said Mike Strader, president of Charter School Associates, the company that manages Independence Academy. “We’ll be able to reach more in the Seffner area … many families are on the wait list will get in for the 2015-2016 school year.”

Besides a growing population, the school also will enjoy some technical advancements.

Interactive projectors will be in every newly furnished classroom. There will be several computer, art and science laps, a physical education area with a locker room, and a multipurpose room and “It was a very intentional effort,” Wood said. “What we did differently is, the customers we serve are the owners. We could make an impact on their lives, because they are our owners.”

Instead of making growth the No. 1 priority, Wood focused on the customer. Each employee told a customer something new to help with his or her banking needs every time there was an interaction. He hired people with the right attitude and trained them on the technicalities. If the customers were happy, then growth would follow.

“That became a whole woven culture,” Wood said. “It turned out to be a great business model. We survived the recession. There were no layoffs, no office closures.”

SUMMIT

During Wood’s tenure, Railroad & Industrial has more than doubled its assets, membership base and branch locations. Operating as a traditional Separate Employer Group-based credit union, the number of companies that the credit union serves quadrupled as did the potential membership.

While the Plant City resident was leading the way at Railroad & Industrial, he also served as a community leader. He was on the unit board of the Plant City Boys & Girls Club, served on several Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce committees and was the St. Clement Catholic Church finance counselor.

But, the pinnacle of his service was his political involvement with the Hillsborough County Republican Party. He

FAST FACTS Mascot: Patriots Principal: Shane Clark Grades: K-8 cafeteria. The kindergartenthrough-eighth-grade school will have enough space without portables. The buildings are designed to have an interior courtyard, which will serve as a gathering spot and also a safety feature.

“A lot of these facilities don’t exist at the current location,” Strader said.“It’s going to be a very pretty building.”

For more information about Independence Academy, visit iacademies.org.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

SUCCESSOR Peter A. Giorgianni, currently Railroad & Industrial’s vice president of operations, will take over the helm as president and CEO. Giorgianni, 55, joined Railroad & Industrial in 1984 as manager of the Plant City branch, then became vice president of lending. During his tenure, Giorgianni has pursued extensive outside education and professional development, including the prestigious CCUE designation.

Giorgianni has held his current title since 1997.

He will be only the fourth CEO in the credit union’s nearly 80-year history. and his wife, Mary, started helping with signs and petition cards. Then, they moved on to campaign planning.

His business background served him well in planning.

They also host fundraisers at their homes. The highlight for Wood, was serving as the 2012 chairman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party during the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

In retirement, Wood has no plans to stop his lifelong tradition of volunteerism. He is looking forward to having the time to be involved in more civic clubs in Plant City as well as volunteer at the University of South Florida’s botanical gardens.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

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A NIGHT TO REMEMBER by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Gala to benefit South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation Diamonds and Denim will feature auctions, entertainment and dining, and all proceeds will be used for hospital advancement.

Organizers of South at Diamonds and Denim.

Florida Baptist Hospital “My brother and I both Foundation’s annual gala, were raised in Plant City Diamonds and Denim, all of our lives, and many hope this year’s event will of the people that attend generate about $90,000 were schoolmates or acfor the foundation. quaintances,” Ken said.

The event is scheduled Diamonds and Denim from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Sept. also will feature a silent 25, at the Florida Strawauction and a live auction. berry Festival Expo Hall, The silent auction fea2301 W. Oak Ave., Plant tures items such as a UniCity. versity of Florida Gators “What people like the gift basket, paintings by most about the event is local artists, FSU football that it’s a casual event,” tickets and jewelry. At the said Jana Butler, execulive auction, guests can tive director of the founmake larger purchases, indation. “Everybody wears cluding a week’s stay at a jeans. It’s not a black-tie Tennessee home, a beach affair. It’s an opportunity trip and a stay at a lodge in for friends to see each New Mexico, where guests other, whom they might will be pampered by a chef not have seen in a year.” and housekeeper.

Since its inception, the This year’s chairwomCourtesy photo gala has raised more than The local group Faces South Band will an is Kim McElveen, and $800,000 for the hospital. provide entertainment for the evening. vice chairs include MarThat money has been sha Passmore and Debi used to fund projects such as Mike Ambrosino,” Butler said. Peacock. Other members of the surgery center, imaging “He will cook the food for you. the committee include Kathy center and community-out- They will also do tableside Baskin, Carmen Brownlee, service. You’ll have your own Frank reach programs.

Cummings, Sylvia All guests at this year’s gala waiters and your own special Knox, Gail Lyons, Brett Muelwill have access to six food meal prepared if you win the ler, Glenda Raulerson, Bruce and beverage stations, but one table.”

Rodwell, Margaret Rodwell, Of course, dinner at an event Rhett Rollyson, Lizzette Sarlucky group will receive firstclass service for the evening. like this would not be complete ria, Phil Waldron and Faye Guests can buy tickets to enter without music and dancing. Wetherington. TEAMHealth a drawing for the Jubilee Din- Faces South Band, a local coun- Emergency Medicine is the ing Experience. The winner try-rock band, will perform. presenting sponsor.

This will be the third year and his or her table mates will Contact Catherine Sinclair that Terry Speer, Ken Speer and at csinclair@plantcityobserver. feast on steak and lobster.

“We have a wonderful chef, the rest of the band has played com.

BROWN’S BLING Even though the deadline to make reservations has passed, anyone can enter for a chance to win a diamond ring, donat-

HERO / PAGE 1 Walden was in Vietnam for one year then returned to Fort Benning, Ga., where he helped review and develop infantry equipment. But, this station was short-lived, and he returned to Germany with the Third Armored Division as a commander for support battalion.

Walden’s younger daughter, Lee-Ann, easily picked up German while the family lived in Europe.

“In fact, she was bilingual,” Walden said. “At that age, very limited, but still.”

His older daughter, Selinda, learned “enough to get by in the restaurants.” But, her language skills improved, while she worked as a candy striper in a military hospital near their home.

Walden said his second stint in Germany was more difficult.

“That was the height of the number of troops in Vietnam, so they were downsizing a lot of units from other places,” he said. “I still had to perform a duty on a reduced number of people.”

In the late 1960s, Walden was sent back to Asia from Europe.

“I dropped my family off over in Pinellas County and went directly to Vietnam for my second tour,” he said.

Then, it was back to the U.S., but a new region: the Midwest,

ed by Brown’s Jewelers.

The event has “Diamonds” in its name because of the chance to win the ring. You do not need to attend the event to enter the drawing for the ring.

To buy tickets for the drawing, which are $10 each or $25 for three, call (813) 7571277 or stop by the foundation’s office at South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation.

at the Army Depot, in Savanna, Ill. “When I got my orders, I thought it was Savannah, Ga., and I was really thrilled,” Walden said. “Then, I found out it was Illinois, in a smaller town — right at 5,000 people. It was right out in the wheat fields.”

chives & History Center, and Plant City Entertainment.

“I’m still active and will continue to be so long as I can,” Walden said.

RETIREMENT

Walden retired from the Army in 1972, but his professional and civic endeavors were far from complete.

Walden’s father, Don Walden Sr., died in 1957. He left behind an orange grove, which Don Walden Jr. operated for a while after finishing his service. After that, Walden entered the real estate business. He is now the president of Donco Realty Inc., housed in a downtown building he built in 1976.

Throughout the years, Walden has received awards for his leadership in the Plant City Kiwanis Club, the Realtors Political Action Committee and the Plant City Board of Realtors. He was the first chairman of Plant City’s Community Redevelopment Agency, and also has been involved with the Eastern Hillsborough Historical Society, Plant City Arts Council, Plant City Photo Ar-

LOCAL LORE

Walden’s family has been in and around Plant City since the 1860s. Both of his parents were born in Dover.

The Walden Lake community was named for a distant relative, who had a homestead on the east side of the lake. An out-of-town chemical company eventually bought all of the land in that area, to be mined for phosphorus. But, the mining project never got off the ground, and a real estate agency acquired the land to develop it in the early 1970s.

The lake had been known informally as Walden Lake, because Walden’s distant relatives lived there in the 1890s, and the developers liked the similarity to Walden Pond, where writer David Henry Thoreau lived and was inspired to pen his famous book. The name stuck, and this time, it became official.

“That’s the story I heard, anyway,” Walden said.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

THIS WEEK’S CROSSWORD ANSWERS

WI-FI / PAGE 1 complaints from people who try to connect.”

The thick walls of downtown buildings contribute to this problem, as well.

The Wi-Fi equipment has suffered a decade of outdoor weathering, so it is not in top condition.

“If any of it is still functional, we’ll put it in for the network here in City Hall or something ... but it’s probably just going to have to be scrapped,” McDaniel said.

Whatever cannot be salvaged will be taken to an ewaste recycling facility.

The city will not attempt to install municipal Wi-Fi again in the near future.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

2014

THIS WEEK’S CRYPTOGRAM ANSWERS 1. Mother bee was happy with daddy bee. He was perpetually busy and every morning she would give him a new honeydo list!

2. When a male polar bear and a female polar bear get together, we see romance on ice and a demonstration of real animal magnetism.

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FAITH by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

governance by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer

Plant City nears completion Local youth the focus of annual on 2014 park improvements Along with the development of the Midtown Village Green, Plant City has projects at Snowden, Ellis Methvin and Brewer parks in progress.

Four Plant City parks have been undergoing simultaneous makeovers, and Interim City Manager Dave Sollenberger hopes to wrap up plans for these projects before he passes his responsibilities onto new city manager Mike Herr at the end of September.

“It’s just kind of a convergence of several things coming together at the same time, kind of getting all the cherries lined up on the slot machine,” Sollenberger said. “There was no special plan to make that happen.”

The commission approved Sept. 8, one resolution regarding lighting at Ellis-Methvin Park and another regarding construction at Snowden Park.

Sollenberger also reported updates for progress at Brewer Park.

The installation of walkway lights at Brewer Park had been delayed because the first vendor provided lights that were the wrong size. Now that the city has obtained the correct lights, Sollenberger expects the installation to be complete by Friday, Sept. 19.

The central fountain at the Midtown Village Green is also expected to be put in place any day now.

Ellis-Methvin Park

The city has authorized the purchase of lighting for the walkway and parking areas at Ellis-Methvin Park. These wirelessly controlled luminaries will be purchased for $105,307, which does not include the cost of installation.

Staff proposes the use of Hubbell Incorporated LED fixtures. These will be installed in the existing north and south parking lots, as well as the new lot under construction with the soccer fields. Trail lighting will be installed along the sidewalk adjacent to the pond.

This resolution does not address overhead pole lights that will eventually be installed on the soccer fields.

Other projects at Ellis-Methvin Park include: a retaining wall (currently under contract); wheel stops for the parking

Catherine Sinclair

City commissioners approved Sept. 8, the purchase of walkway lighting at Ellis-Methvin Park.

IN OTHER NEWS • The commission voted unanimously against the ordinance to do away with the Perpetual Care Fund.

Commissioners have decided to wait until Mike Herr begins as city manager to come up with a different solution regarding cemetery maintenance.

• A lease agreement has been finalized between the city and the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum Society, Inc., formalizing the areas; a pad for the concrete bleachers (both have been purchased, but not yet installed); a perimeter security fence; and a stormwater drainage station.

There also will be an asphalt driveway leading to grass parking areas, and for added safety, swing gates that close at night.

A two-story building will also be constructed at the park, containing a concession stand, coaches’ meeting room and restroom. The designs for this building are in progress, but Sollenberger does not have a cost estimate yet.

“I’m looking forward to getting that done as soon as possible. I do want to be able to be in a position to go back to City

arrangement for the museum to be housed on city-owned property and display cityowned artifacts.

• The Department of Economic Opportunity granted $20,000 to Plant City for the I-4 Green Tech Corridor Overlay, a project that aims to increase highquality employment opportunities along the interstate.

The funds will help develop the zoning district and land development regulations for the I-4 Green Tech Corridor Overlay.

Commission at the next meeting and tell them what we’ve got scheduled for expenditure ... and whether we’ve got the money to cover it or not,” Sollenberger said.

As for the completion of construction at Ellis-Methvin Park, Sollenberger is unsure.

“It’s hard to answer that right.

I think it’s going to be after the first of the year.”

Snowden Park

The commission authorized Sept. 8, a work order with QGS Development, Inc., to deliver top soil to Snowden Park for $152,234.65. Funding is available from the County Community Development Grant.

In the early 1960s, the area that is now Snowden Park had been used as a neighborhood garbage dump. When the city began plans for park improvements a few years ago and Environmental Protection Commission staff assessed the park, they found leftover debris from the garbage dump in the soil.

“It was broken glass debris. It was so old, it had worn down to little marble-like pieces,” said Karen Collins from the Plant City Community Services Department. “There have been no tests that show there were any kind of gases or anything like that coming from the park. ...

No contaminants are in there.”

The EPC ordered an excavation to remove the remaining debris. The city has already started this excavation, and Collins expects it to be done in October. Soil containing debris will be removed or spread out around the park and covered with clean top soil.

The city has contracted QGS Development Inc., to provide 12,000 cubic yards of top soil, creating a 2-foot-deep layer.

Collins expects Snowden Park’s new playground and recreational areas to be open in December.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver. com.

SHOWSTOPPERS by Amber Jurgensen | Managing Editor

Plant City steps up to the mic for CDC The Plant City Community Development Corporation will use the funds it raises to help families fulfill dreams of owning a home.

At the HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center’s latest event, audience members can enjoy a concert of all their favorite songs. Complete with back-up singers, costumes and snazzy dance moves, the performers will cover a variety of well known hits.

But, they won’t actually be singing the songs themselves — they will be lip synching.

The Sept. 13 event, aptly named Lip Synch, will benefit the Plant City Community Development Corporation.

The non-profit has been around since 2005. Since then, it’s assisted 23 low- to moderate-income families with its self help housing program.

The Plant City CDC partners with the City of Plant City and the Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Department to develop and con-

struct homes in Plant City and to implement the County’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program in Plant City and eastern Hillsborough County. Its housing program involves finding and qualifying low- to moderate-income individuals and families to build a new home or buy an existing home. The non-profit also assists first-time home buyers with SHIP, HOME and other down-payment assistance programs.

“A lot of times, they don’t think they can do it,” said Ernest Barefield, executive director for the non-profit.

The Plant City Community Development Corporation also has built 10 homes near Laura Street and on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Maryland Avenue.

“It’s important to help keep

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the program going,” Barefield said. “Most of the stuff we do is done with volunteers. We’re trying to do it with full-time staff.”

Besides the desire to work with full-time staff, the CDC has another plan for the money it will receive from the fundraiser. Currently, it’s working with students at Plant City Hillsborough Community College on a community planning project. There are four neighborhoods surrounding the historic downtown of Plant City. Many of these neighborhoods have fallen into disrepair. As part of the project, the group wants to identify which properties are vacant and find ways to transform them into livable properties.

“These places can’t be economically successful unless we help turn around these

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To contact us, send your information via: Email: Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@ PlantCityObserver.com.

Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

women’s event

The women’s ministry at St. Mary’s Community Church will host its conference Sept. 20. Organizer Sarah Governor has decided to change the format this year.

The women’s ministry of St. Mary’s Community Church is hosting its annual conference Sept. 20, open to both women and men, but it will have a different format from past years.

In the past, all attendees gathered in the church annex and listened to consecutive lectures. Each speaker took a different approach but discussed the same Bible verse.

Sarah Governor, who is organizing the conference for her third year, wanted to shake things up.

“When I sit through a seminar, after 20 minutes, I’ve reached my saturation point,” Governor said. “This time, they will be up and moving and even have a break in there to socialize a bit.”

After an opening session of praise and worship music, attendees will rotate in break-out groups, so that everyone hears the same three, 20-minute lectures, but at different times. Each of these lectures will conclude with five minutes for questions, and another five minutes to fill out an evaluation of the speaker.

The common thread among the speakers this year will not be a Bible verse, but a conceptual theme, “Youth: Our Blessing, Their Story.”

The first three speakers are David Russell, a police officer; Harold Bennet, a Brandon-based attorney; and Mary Thomas Mathis, a Plant City commissioner and assistant principal at Marshall Middle School. Each will address the theme in ways for which they are professionally equipped.

Russell will give an informational talk about the language and terms today’s youth commonly use.

“Sometimes, they could be standing right next to us and we won’t even know what they’re talking about,” Governor said.

Bennet will inform parents about the process of getting an attorney to represent their child, in the case that their child should need one.

Mathis and Governor have been friends and colleagues

IF YOU GO WHEN: 8 to 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 20 WHERE: St. Mary’s Community Church, 904 E. Renfro Street, Plant City COST: Free, no reservations required CONTACT: Sarah Governor, (863) 6444623 or sgovernor1@ gmail.com for years.

“We go back,” Mathis said.

“That has been a relationship that has grown over 15 years or so.”

As a leader at a local middle school, Mathis will talk to parents about what happens when their children reach middle school. She said she might also discuss Common Core to inform parents of what it is and how testing for Florida Standards will work this year.

“If a child can make it through middle school, he can make it through anything, Governor said. “Those are the toughest years for them.”

After the first three rotating seminars, all attendees will gather in one place for the final speaker: Yvonne Stephens, an evangelist from St. Mary Primitive Baptist Church in Bealsville. Stephens will tie the thematic lectures together and talk about how to raise children in a way that honors God. At the end of the conference, guests will have an opportunity to win door prizes, and everyone will receive a bagged lunch to-go.

“They’re our children, and of course they are a blessing to us,” Governor said. “They have a story. They don’t know what’s going to happen at the end of the road, but because we’re older and have some wisdom, we can let them know what possibly could happen if they continue down the path that some of them are headed.”

Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.

IF YOU GO LIP SYNCH

WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13 WHERE: HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road TICKETS: $25. Call (813) 659-3100 or purchase at plantcitycdc.org. Tickets can also be purchased the night of the event. neighborhoods,” Barefield said.

This is the second year for the Lip Synch; the first took place in 2009. The performers are both professionals and volunteers who have been practicing for about three months.

“Come relax,” Barefield said.

“It will be a bunch of fun.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

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.

Courtesy photo

This will be Sarah Governor’s third year organizing the women’s ministry conference, and she chose the theme: “Youth: Our Blessing, Their Story.”

Plant City Times &

Observer

General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com General Manager/Advertising / Stacey Hudson, shudson@tampabay.com Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writers / Justin Kline, jkline@PlantCityObserver.com; Catherine Sinclair, csinclair@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com; Joanna Verga, jverga@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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real estate by Michael Eng | Executive Editor

Eleven-lot property tops August sales A property comprising 11 lots topped all Plant City realestate transactions for August.

The home and lots at 3203 Thonotosassa Road sold Aug. 29, for $450,000. Built in 1988, the home has four bedrooms, three baths and 4,440 square feet of living area. The lots total 18.64 acres, and the remaining 10 lots are buildable.

The price per square foot for the existing home is $101.35.

ANCIENT OAK

The home at 3823 Ancient Oak Trail sold Aug. 29, for $340,000. Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths and 2,610 square feet of living area on 1.03 acres. The price per square foot is $130.27.

BLUE SKY ACRES

The home at 2911 Stratus Lane sold Aug. 28, for $275,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,495 square feet of living area on 1.04 acres. The price per square foot is $110.22.

BURCHWOOD

The home at 23 Euclid Drive sold Aug. 22, for $57,000. Built in 1953, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 950 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $60.

CLARK’S ADDITION

The home at 903 Tyner St. sold Aug. 26, for $85,000 (short sale). Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,181 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $71.97.

COUNTRY HILLS

The home at 4602 Country Hills Court sold Aug. 13, for $124,000. Built in 1989, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,304 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $95.09.

The home at 4322 Country Hills Blvd. sold Aug. 8, for $123,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2003, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,340 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $91.79.

The home at 4430 Country Hills Blvd. sold Aug. 26, for $102,900. Built in 2002, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,179 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $87.28.

The home at 4652 E. Eastwind Drive sold Aug. 8, for $95,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1986, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,240 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $76.61.

HIGHLAND TERRACE

The home at 2608 Hancock St. sold Aug. 15, for $110,000 (short sale). Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,617 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $68.03.

HILLSBORO PARK

The home at 1803 N. Lime St. sold Aug. 14, for $18,500 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1952, it has one bedroom, one bath and 672 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $27.53.

HILLSBOROUGH

The home at 1202 Cason St. sold Aug. 15, for $239,500.

Built in 1965, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,778 square feet of living area on 1.26 acres. The price per square foot is $134.70.

The home at 8318 Back Road sold Aug. 22, for $192,000.

Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,287 square feet of living area on 1.45 acres. The price per square foot is $83.95.

The home at 3012 N. Wilder Road sold Aug. 15, for $183,000. Built in 1957, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,930 square feet of living area on 1.63 acres. The price per square foot is $94.82.

The unfinished home at 2307 Gainer Lane sold Aug. 25, for $150,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 2007, it has four bedrooms, four baths

MONTHLY SNAPSHOT Houses Sold: 79 High Sale Price: $450,000 Low Sale Price: $8,500 Average Sale Price: $151,519 Median Sale Price: $140,000 Short Sales: Eight REO/Bank Owned: 23

and 460 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $56.30.

LINCOLN PARK

The home at 1210 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. sold Aug. 12, for $8,500. Built in 1945, it has three bedrooms, one bath and 700 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $12.14.

MCCDONALD TERRACE and 4,004 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $37.46.

The home at 901 W. Trapnell Road sold Aug. 19, for $169,000. Built in 1959, it has three bedrooms, two-andone-half baths and 1,770 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $95.48.

The home at 2816 McWetherbee Lane sold Aug. 20, for $228,375 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, three baths and 2,459 square feet of living area on 2.63 acres. The price per square foot is $92.87.

The home at 3712 N. Gallagher Road sold Aug. 27, for $167,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,541 square feet of living area on 1.27 acres. The price per square foot is $108.37.

The home at 3603 Bruton Road sold Aug. 20, for $145,700 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,486 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $98.05.

The home at 3406 W. Trapnell Drive sold Aug. 4, for $136,500. Built in 1961, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,776 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $76.86.

The home at 107 Hopewell Manor Road sold Aug. 13, for $123,000. Built in 1967, it has four bedrooms, one bath and 1,638 square feet of living area on 1.03 acres. The price per square foot is $75.09.

The manufactured home at 4508 Gallagher Road sold Aug. 8, for $121,950. Built in 2008, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,560 square feet of living area on 7.13 acres. The price per square foot is $78.17.

The home at 1311 E. Trapnell Road sold Aug. 4, for $120,000. Built in 1973, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,656 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $72.46.

The home at 5716 Tindale Road sold Aug. 19, for $113,158 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1967, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,664 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $68.

The manufactured home at 4406 Drawdy Road sold Aug. 18, for $65,410 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1998, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,222 square feet of living area on one acre. The price per square foot is $29.44.

The home at 110 W. Ball St. sold Aug. 27, for $26,000 (short sale). Built in 1950, it has two bedrooms, two baths and 1,412 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $18.41.

The manufactured home at 6224 Lady Ashley Lane sold Aug. 29, for $25,000. Built in 1984, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 900 square feet of living area on one acre. The price per square foot is $27.78.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

The home at 1104 W. Reynolds St. sold Aug. 28, for $100,000 (short sale). Built in 1920, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,303 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $76.75.

KENTWOOD PARK

The townhouse at 2302 Maki Road, No. 103 sold Aug. 14, for $32,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1987, it has two bedrooms, one-and-onehalf baths and 920 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $34.78.

The townhouse at 2302 Maki Road, No. 17, sold Aug. 22, for $25,900. Built in 1987, it has one bedroom, one bath

The home at 106 Henry Ave. sold Aug. 25, for $80,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,113 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $71.88.

MORGAN MINOR

The home at 3702 Cooper Road sold Aug. 4, for $53,000. Built in 1923, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,352 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $39.20.

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS

The home at 1200 N. Ferrell St. sold Aug. 20, for $87,850 (REO/bank owned). Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,200 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $73.21.

OAKDALE

The home at 1301 Oakdale St. sold Aug. 22, for $89,900 (short sale). Built in 1955, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,370 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $65.62.

OAKVIEW ESTATES

The home at 3102 Laurel Lane sold Aug. 28, for $100,000. Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,464 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $68.31.

The home at 2206 S. Oakview Lane sold Aug. 15, for $59,900 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1974, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,130 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $53.01.

OAKWOOD ESTATES

The home at 1706 Oakwood Estates Drive sold Aug. 22, for $192,000. Built in 2005, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,151 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $89.26.

The home at 1716 Oakwood Estates Drive sold Aug. 26, for $157,500 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,003 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $78.63.

ORANGE HEIGHTS

The home at 1401 N. Burton St. sold Aug. 25, for $47,500.

Built in 1925, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,372 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $34.62.

The home at 1503 N. Ferrell St. sold Aug. 5, for $32,694 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1950, it has two bedrooms, one bath and 1,398 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $23.39.

PINEDALE ESTATES

The home at 901 W. Pinedale Drive sold Aug. 11, for $230,000. Built in 1968, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 4,033 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $57.03.

PLANT CITY

The home at 4407 Airport Road sold Aug. 4, for $102,500.

Built in 2004, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,524 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $67.26.

The home at 1204 N. Shannon Ave. sold Aug. 19, for $80,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1995, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,210 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $66.12.

The manufactured home at 4907 Pandora Place sold Aug. 21, for $68,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 2003, it has four bedrooms, two baths and

REAL ESTATE / PAGE 10

Neighborhood R E A L E S TAT E | P L A N T C I T Y L I F E | O B I T U A R I E S | G A M E S | FA I T H | S P O RT S

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

CLUB HUBBUB If your club would like to post announcements, email them to Associate Editor Amber Jurgensen, ajur gensen@plantcityobserver. com.

+ Plant City Lions Club The Plant City Lions Club will host its annual Charity Golf Tournament at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at Cleveland Heights Golf Course, 2900 Buckingham Ave., Lakeland.

Following an 11:30 a.m. registration, golfers will hit the links with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. An awards ceremony will conclude the event at 5:30 p.m. As always, the tournament will feature the Lions Club’s famous watering holes, which provide food and beverages throughout the day.

Sponsorships are still available. For more information or to participate, call Lion Rick Norman, (813) 230-7737.

The last obstacle was an army crawl through the thick, sloppy mud.

+ Plant City Photo Archives The Plant City Photo Archives and History Center will present the fourth of five community programs incorporating the film series, “Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle.”

The screening of “Freedom Riders” will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road.

For more information on the film, visit www.pbs.org/ wgbh/americanexperience/ freedomriders. For more about the archives, call (813) 754-1578 or visit plantcityphotoarchives.org.

+ Plant City Boys & Girls Club The ninth annual Plant City BBQ lunch benefiting the Plant City Boys & Girls Club will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Train Depot, 102 N. Palmer St. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in person at the Plant City Boys & Girls Club, 901 Waller St., or online at bgctampa.org.

+ Plant City Community Chorale The Plant City Community Chorale is preparing for its 2014 Christmas Concert.

All interested singers are invited to participate at 7 p.m. Sept. 15, at First Presbyterian Church of Plant City, 404 Reynolds St. Members have mixed choral experiences and abilities to read music, and include beginners and very accomplished singers. Membership closes Sept. 15.

For more information, visit pccommunitychorale. com.

+ Plant City Noon Rotary Clay Keel, of Keel and Curley Winery and Two Henrys Brewing, will be the featured speaker at the Noon Plant City Rotary Club’s Sept. 15 meeting.

The club meets at noon Mondays, at the HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road.

Few runners made it all the way across this obstacle — a true test of upper-body strength.

After running up a steep incline to reach the top of this platform, competitors gained a boost of confidence.

REMEMBERING THE

TITAN

Competitors fell into pits of water after failed attempts at some obstacles.

EXTREME CHALLENGE by Catherine Sinclair | Staff Writer The Sept. 6 Mud Titan Run challenged participants to a 5K peppered with more than 30 obstacles — and, of course, plenty of mud.

Race waves began every 20 minutes, and runners of all fitness levels tested their strength against the elements, other runners and their own wills.

Many of the competitors showed true determination as they conquered this year’s Mud Titan.

Right: Darrell Mullins and Charissa Mullins ran between obstacles, even in the last stretch of a long, challenging course.

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REAL ESTATE / PAGE 8 2,052 square feet of living area on 1.08 acres. The price per square foot is $33.14.

RENAISSANCE ESTATES

The top real-estate transaction for August was an 11-lot sale at 3203 Thonotosassa Road. The 18.64acre property sold for $450,000.

Michael Eng

The home at 3202 Duchess Court sold Aug. 25, for $189,000 (short sale). Built in 2006, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,873 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $100.91.

ROBINSON FARMS

The property and home at 720 Colson Road sold Aug. 4, for $280,000. Built in 1992, the home has two bedrooms, one bath and 832 square feet of living area on 4.96 acres.

The price per square foot is $336.54.

RUSTIC OAKS

The home at 4804 Sleepy Hollow Lane sold Aug. 12, for $238,000. Built in 1978, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 2,625 square feet of living area on 2.43 acres. The price per square foot is $90.67.

SEMINOLE LAKE ESTATES

The home at 503 Seminole Lake Blvd. sold Aug. 8, for $60,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,260 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $47.62.

SEMINOLE SAND

The manufactured home at 709 Seminole Sand Road sold Aug. 22, for $47,500 (REO/ bank owned). Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,782 square feet of living area on one acre. The price per square foot is $26.66.

SOUTHERN MEADOWS

The home at 4633 Executive Meadows Drive sold Aug. 16, for $273,623. Built in 2014, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,733 square feet of living area on one acre.

The price per square foot is $100.12.

SUGAR CANE ACRES

The home at 4217 Turkey Creek Road sold Aug. 21, for $300,000. Built in 2004, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,634 square feet of living area on 1.19 acres. The price per square foot is $113.90.

TERRY PARK EXTENSION

The home at 1010 N. Bracewell Drive sold Aug. 28, for $69,900 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 1968, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,273 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $54.91.

TRAPNELL RIDGE

The home at 3801 Trapnell Ridge Drive sold Aug. 1, for $135,000. Built in 2007, it has three bedrooms, twoand-one-half baths and 1,865 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $72.39.

WALDEN LAKE

The home at 3036 Sutton Woods Drive sold Aug. 21, for $385,000. Built in 2000, it has six bedrooms, three-and-onehalf baths, a pool and 3,082 square feet of living area.

The price per square foot is $124.92.

The home at 2712 Pine Club Drive sold Aug. 25, for $332,000. Built in 1987, it has four bedrooms, three-andone-half baths, a pool and 3,277 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $101.31.

The home at 3002 Sutton Woods Drive sold Aug. 4, for $286,000. Built in 2000, it has four bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,482 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $115.23.

The home at 1906 Sweet Bay Court sold Aug. 29, for $257,000. Built in 1982, it has five bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,802 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $91.72.

The home at 3215 Pine Club Drive sold Aug. 1, for $222,000.

Built in 1989, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,156 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $102.97.

The home at 3205 Stevenson St. sold Aug. 21, for $219,900.

Built in 1991, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,044 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $107.58.

The home at 1800 Hitching Post Place sold Aug. 8, for $208,000. Built in 1986, it has

three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 2,057 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $101.12.

The home at 3448 Silver Meadow Way sold Aug. 19, for $196,000. Built in 1994, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,899 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $103.21.

The home at 3301 Kilmer Pace sold Aug. 19, for $189,500.

Built in 1996, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,512 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $75.44.

The home at 4305 Barret Ave. sold Aug. 7, for $179,900.

Built in 1999, it has four bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,808 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $99.50.

The home at 3307 Kilmer Place sold Aug. 5, for $175,000.

Built in 1995, it has four bedrooms, two-and-one-half baths and 2,169 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $80.68.

The home at 3303 Silverpond Drive sold Aug. 8, for $165,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,807 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $91.31.

The home at 3305 Silverpond Drive sold Aug. 29, for $160,000. Built in 1996, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,664 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $96.15.

The home at 2001 Sycamore Lane sold Aug. 7, for $150,000.

Built in 1979, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,864 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $80.47.

The home at 1406 Sandalwood Drive sold Aug. 29, for $141,000. Built in 1985, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,533 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $91.98.

The home at 4302 Longfellow Drive sold Aug. 25, for $140,000 (short sale). Built in 1990, it has three bedrooms, two baths, a pool and 1,522 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $91.98.

The home at 3330 Steinbeck Place sold Aug. 7, for $132,000 (short sale). Built in 1997, it has four bedrooms, two baths and 1,836 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $71.90.

The villa at 105 Granada Court S. sold Aug. 20, for $109,000. Built in 1980, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,542 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $70.69.

The home at 2002 Sycamore Lane sold Aug. 14, for $90,000 (REO/bank owned). Built in 1984, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 1,891 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $47.59.

WASHINGTON PARK

The home at 706 N. Warnell St. sold Aug. 7, for $41,000.

Built in 1925, it has five bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths and 3,235 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $12.67.

WALDEN POINTE

The home at 2021 Via Napoli St. sold Aug. 8, for $205,740.

Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths, two halfbaths and 2,059 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $99.92.

WALDEN RESERVE

The home at 3304 Aarobn Elias Court sold Aug. 7, for $208,065. Built in 2014, it has three bedrooms, two baths and 2,043 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $101.84.

WIGGINS ESTATES

The home at 3441 Knoxville Place sold Aug. 1, for $315,000.

Built in 2014, it has five bedrooms, four baths and 3,378 square feet of living area. The price per square foot is $93.25.

WINDMILL POINTE

The home at 4421 Windmill Pointe Drive sold Aug. 29, for $180,000 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,467 square feet of living area on 1.07 acres The price per square foot is $72.96.

The home at 4219 Windmill Ridge Road sold Aug. 27, for $156,655 (REO/bank owned).

Built in 2006, it has four bedrooms, three baths and 2,467 square feet of living area on 1.03 acres. The price per square foot is $63.50.

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OBSERVEROBITUARIES Ralph Arden Ambrose

Ralph Arden Ambrose died Aug. 30, 2014.

Mr. Ambrose was born Sept.

26, 1930, in Plant City, the youngest son of Robert and Maude Ambrose.

He was predeceased by his sons, Randy and Tony Ambrose; sister, Elizabeth Ambrose Brown; and brother, Forrest Ambrose.

He was the loving husband of June Ambrose.

He served with the famed “Mosquito Unit” of the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. After returning home from the war, he worked for Kaiser Aluminum until his retirement.

Survivors include his daughter, Susan Ambrose Miles; stepdaughter, Valarie Hamby, of Laurel, Md.; stepson, Tracy Didas, of Jacksonville; grandsons, Kyle, of Salisbury, Md., and Jason, of Perth, Australia. He also leaves behind nephew, Robert Ambrose (Sheila), of Plant City; and nieces, Kathy Bauman, of Spring Hill, Patsy Sjostrom, of Ashville, N.C., and Alice Gold, of Jupiter.

In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity in his memory would be appreciated

June Tatlow Didas Ambrose

June Tatlow Didas Ambrose died Aug. 30, 2014.

Mrs. Ambrose was born Aug. 21, 1936, in Lydon Township, in western New York, the youngest daughter of Theodore (Ted) and Mabel (Ruback) Tatlow.

She attended schools in Ischua and Olean, N.Y. She was the loving wife of Ralph Ambrose.

Mrs. Ambrose worked for Savoy Construction Co. Inc. and Bradbern Construction Co. Inc., in Silver Spring, Md., for many years and also was associated with Uniglobe Classic Travel, in Tampa, and Diana’s Travel, in Spring Hill. While living in Olean, N.Y., she worked for the Darling Shop and Al Cecchi News Service.

Mrs. Ambrose was predeceased by her first husband, Karl Didas, of Salamanca, N.Y., and Silver Spring, Md.; their daughter, Karen Ann Didas; her parents; and sister, Georgia Furgason McHenry.

Survivors include her daughter, Valarie Hamby, of Laurel, Md.; her son, Tracy Didas, of Jacksonville; step-daughter, Susan Ambrose Miles, of Plant City; grandsons, Kyle Hamby, of Laurel, Md., and Jason Didas, of Perth, Australia; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and many friends. Added appreciation goes to Cyndi Crownover for her steadfast support during Mrs. Ambrose’s recent illness.

In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity in her memory would be appreciated

Dorothy E. Greer

Dorothy E. Greer, 73, of Plant City, died Sept. 7, 2014.

She was pastor of Xtreme Ministries International and was owner of Dorothy E. Greer, Real Estate Broker.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Greer Sr.; children, Donna Hendrix (Robbie), of Loganville, Ga., Penny Fuller (Tim), of Plant City, Jackie Bustle, of Quincy and Richard Greer Jr., of Brandon; sister, Cynthia Shriner, of Columbia, S.C.; and 10 grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept.

12, at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 C.R. 39 S., Plant City.

Condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

John “Jackie” Henn

John “Jackie” Henn, 56, of Plant City, and formerly of Long Island, N.Y., died Sept. 5, 2014.

He was a longtime honorary fireman with the Selden, N.Y. Volunteer Fire Department, and a parishioner of St. Clement Catholic Church, Plant City.

He loved the New York Yankees, Yankees great Derek Jeter and “unburned” bacon cheeseburgers. He will be missed.

He was preceded in death by

his wife, Carmela Verni Henn.

He is survived by his parents, John and Carol Henn; siblings, Kathleen Gambrell (Alan), of Plant City, Terence Henn (Katherine), of Waukesha, Wis., and Patrick Henn, of Port Ewen, N.Y.; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Dolores Jane Root

Dolores Jane Root, 81, of Lithia, and Smyrna, Del., died Sept. 7, 2014.

She was born July 16, 1933.

She was the wife of the late Leon Root.

She was predeceased by brothers, Kenny Aulenbach and Robert Aulenbach; and sister, Marian Boyer.

Survivors include sons, Leonard (Marjorie) Root Sr., and Kenneth (Sherry) Root; daughter, Brenda (Larry) Cryder; brother, David Aulenbach; seven grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.

Services were held in Delaware.

Condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Carl Russ III

Carl Russ III, 24, of Bartow, died Sept. 3, 2014.

He was a graduate of Durant High School, where he was a member of Troupe 5444. He

enjoyed music, writing and developing video games. He created Carl’s Place Radio and published two parts of a book trilogy, “Tales of Aria.”

He is survived by his parents, Rusty and Terry Russ; sister, Lindsey O. Russ; grandmother, Odette Flott; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl Russ Sr. and Dorothy Russ and Douglas F. Flott Sr. In lieu of flowers, please donate blood in his memory to One Blood.

Condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Martin Allison “Marty” Waters

Martin Allison “Marty” Waters, 57, of Dover, died Sept. 6, 2014.

He was a sergeant with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and retired after 23 years. He was a member of Sydney First Church of God. He spent his formative years traveling abroad with his U.S. Army

family. He loved his family, and enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his wife, Terrie Brock Waters; children, David Waters (Karyn), Daniel Waters (Jessica) and Carrie Waters; granddaughter, Savannah Waters; siblings Barbara Melenki (Jack), George Melenki, Mike Melenki, Jack Waters (Sheri), Margaret Waters-Davis and Charles Waters; nieces and nephews, Kimberly Wilcox, Robert Kiefer, Jimmy Kiefer, Kimberly Kopka, Christiana Feno, Shawn Miles, Christopher Waters, Amanda Davis, Alyson Gibson and Courtney Waters; and other friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Trudi Waters; brothers, Ralph Waters and Stephen Waters; and niece, Barbara Davis.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 12, at Sydney First Church of God, 1432 Sydney Dover Road, Dover.

Condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.

Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | COMMUNITY

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Emma Rustenberghe showing leadership for Durant Cougars. 14 SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

SIDELINES Do you have a good sports scoop for us?

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver. com.

CROSS COUNTRY

+ Plant City places well at Lecanto The Plant City High School cross country teams opened up the 2014 season Sept. 6, at the Lecanto Invitational, and both did pretty well.

The girls, led by freshman Cassie Highsmith, placed eighth overall out of 28 teams. Highsmith, in her first race as a Lady Raider, led the team with a time of 22:43 and a 25thplace finish.

The boys, led by sophomore Luke Whitmore, placed 11th out of 28.

Whitmore’s time of 17:31 nearly broke his personal record — 17:20 — and earned him both 15th place individually and a medal.

Plant City competed in the East Hillsborough Invitational at Durant Wednesday night, but results were not available at press time. The Raiders’ next outing will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept.

20, in the W.D. Johnson Invitational at Simmons Park, 2401 19th Ave. N.W., Ruskin.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

just for cricks by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Karate is physical therapy for P.C. teen The Crick triplets — Alexander, Jonathan and Nathaniel — have taken karate lessons with local master Rudy Rogers for a month. For Alexander, it goes beyond learning self-defense.

On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, the three Crick brothers pull into Rudy Rogers’ driveway for one of their weekly karate lessons. This week, Rogers decides to start kata exercises — showcases of form — with Alexander.

“You’re up first this time, Big A,” Rogers says.

Without hesitation, Alexander, who has cerebral palsy, ditches his walker and breaks into his routine on a patch of gnarled dirt. The effort he’s making shows in his facial expressions as he powers through his move set, eventually com-

ing to a finish and ending with a high five from Rogers.

Karate may be one of the last activities one would expect a person with cerebral palsy to do. But, there’s Alexander, doing his thing in plain view in Rogers’ backyard — without ever thinking about his physical limitations.

“I don’t think I think anything when I’m doing these things,” Alexander says. “I just do them. It’s kind of starting to become second nature.”

The Cricks — a set of triplets — have been attending Rogers’ school with their father

for the past month. All seniors at Strawberry Crest, the boys wanted to learn the art of selfdefense. Rogers, sensing good potential, was eager to train them in his “old-school” outdoor space.

“That’s the thing about 17-year-olds — they’re real malleable,” Rogers says.

Jonathan — the oldest by about a minute — and Nathaniel are in it to learn selfdefense techniques. The softspoken brothers differ in style.

Jonathan’s form is a little more

SEE KARATE / PAGE 13

Justin Kline

Alexander Crick, 17, says weekly lessons with Rudy Rogers help strengthen his muscles. Crick’s cerebral palsy usually forces him to move with a walker.

WHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND?

GAME OF THE WEEK LEON AT STRAWBERRY CREST

Two weeks in, and one signature victory

BASEBALL

+ Dawson, USA Women take silver Plant City catcher Kendall Dawson and the rest of the team returned to the United States Thursday, Sept. 11, after competing in the Women’s Baseball World Cup. The cup came to an end on Sept. 7, as No. 1 Japan knocked off No. 2 USA for the gold medal. Eight countries competed in 21 games from Sept. 1 to 7, and the tournament hosts topped the Americans in a 3-0 victory to win in Miyazaki.

+ Cornhole tourney to benefit school Lakeland-based Florida Baseball Heaven will host a corn hole tournament tomorrow evening to benefit the school and its Angels Baseball teams.

The tournament will be held at at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, at Uncle Mike’s Smokehouse Grill, 106 S.R. 60 E., Plant City. Cost is $15 per person.

To register or for more information, call (863) 644-0500.

FLAG FOOTBALL

+ Rec program extends deadline The Plant City Recreation and Parks Department has announced that, because of a delay in flyer distribution, the deadline to register for the Recreation and Parks Department/Optimist Youth Flag Football Program has been extended.

Today is the last day to sign up at the administrative office, 1904 S. Park Road.

The cost is $35 per player, which includes a jersey and accident insurance.

For more information, contact Danny Smith at (813) 659-4255, or by email at dsmith@plantcitygov.com.

by Justin Kline | Staff Writer Justin Kline

Strawberry Crest quarterback Tristan Hyde has fully recovered from the ACL injury he suffered at Leon High School last year.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS All games begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted:

SEPT. 12 Durant at Tampa Bay Tech; 6410 Orient Road, Tampa Plant City: BYE Leon at Strawberry Crest; 4691 Gallagher Road, Dover; 7 p.m.

SEPT. 19 Plant City at Durant; 4748 Cougar Path, Plant City Strawberry Crest at Brandon; 1101 Victoria St., Brandon

BACK ON HIS FEET It’s been almost exactly a year since Tristan Hyde injured his ACL against Leon High School. Naturally, he’s been looking forward to the Friday, Sept. 12, rematch.

Tristan Hyde probably doesn’t need to wear that knee brace anymore.

The Strawberry Crest signal-caller knows it, too.

He says he’s been able to cut at full speed since June or July. Still, he insists on wearing it, just in case.

And, that brace has a direct tie to the Friday, Sept.

12 game against Leon High School.

The Lions were the Chargers’ opponents when Hyde suffered the injury that snatched away his junior season.

“I thought I could go back in, but the coaches were like, ‘No, we want to get it checked out. It’s

not a district game, and we want to make sure you don’t damage it more,’” Hyde says. “I’m glad I didn’t play, because they said that, if I did play, and I hurt it again, I might never have gotten to play football again.”

An ACL tear is one of any athlete’s biggest fears, especially when it’s early in a season. It’s an injury that really lingers in the mind for a year, and Hyde can recall every minute detail of the moments leading up to the injury.

“Basically, we had a safety over the middle,” Hyde says. “He cheated to our trips side — we had a

three-by-one formation — and I was checking to a fade on the back side.

We wanted to get one with our best receiver.

“As I was checking the play, the center unexpectedly snapped the ball, so I had to run out of the pocket,” he said. “No one really blocked, so I had a bunch of guys coming at me. As I threw it, I kind of threw it out of bounds and landed on my heel. It hyperextended, and that was that.”

Like Aaron Murray, in his senior season at Plant High School, it was

SEE HYDE / PAGE 13

For the past two weeks, I’ve closed out my Durant High School preview on the Gridiron Report by telling Cougar fans to celebrate all night if they beat one of Tampa’s top teams.

I hope you all did that last Friday night, because that game was the perfect excuse for you to let your hair down.

That win over Sickles not only reinforced what I always thought about the Cougars — that these kids could compete with the marquee schools — but also proved they could win some of those JUSTIN games. Durant KLINE also has had a problem winning tight games since last season, but this game didn’t prove that they’ve figured out how to win those.

This one was pretty much a blowout.

How did it happen? I made note of the things I saw on the field that evening and can give you a pretty good rundown.

Sickles quarterback Isaac Holder had one completion in the first half, and it came on the very first play of the game. After the opening kickoff pinned the Gryphons on their own 20-yard line, Holder threw an 80-yard touchdown pass. It would be the only lead that Sickles would have for the entire game.

Earlier in the week, head coach Mike Gottman told me he and the Cougars knew exactly what the Gryphons were going to do for much of the game: Hand it off to Ray Ray McCloud III, who is normally awesome. Gottman was right — that’s what they did, and Durant’s defense seemed to know exactly when Holder would hand the ball off. Whatever the team did to plan ahead in practice worked beautifully out there.

Speaking of Durant’s defense, I can’t say the unit played as though each player had a chip on his shoulder.

If you went to the game and didn’t know anything about Sickles or Durant, then you’d

SEE KLINE / PAGE 14

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gridiron greats by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

Cougars D smothers Sickles Upset alert!

The 2014 Durant Cougars looked more like the 2012 squad in their 30-20 upset Sept. 5 over Sickles, which wasn’t as close as the score suggests.

Sickles (1-1; 0-0 district) did get on the scoreboard with the first play of the game, an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Isaac Holder to Trey Fulwood. That was the only pass Holder would complete in the half, though, and star running back Ray Ray McCloud III was held to just 29 rushing yards in those two quarters.

The Cougars (1-1; 0-0 district) didn’t even get lucky — the offense clicked, as Crispian Atkins scored on a 35-yard run to tie and Erick Davis threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Austin Resendez to take an early 14-7 lead.

The defense, though, absolutely punished Sickles through three quarters. Constant pressure on Holder forced several errant throws and sacks, and McCloud was often gang-tackled within seconds of getting a touch.

Things got interesting in

Justin Kline

Nathaniel and Jonathan Crick practice in Rudy Rogers’ back yard.

KARATE / PAGE 12

Crispian Atkins was a workhorse for the Cougars’ offense. the third quarter, after Davis’ 79-yard run put the Cougars ahead, 24-7. Sickles sustained a long drive and answered with a short R.J. Lark touchdown run, making it 24-14.

Sickles continued to drive into the fourth quarter, but was constantly forced to punt. Durant kicker Derek Wells nailed two of his three field goals in the quarter, giving the Cougars a 30-14 lead with 2:15 to play.

The Gryphons scored again,

with 39 seconds to go, on a short touchdown pass from Holder to Steven Quieles, but the two-point conversion was no good. A failed onside kick attempt allowed Durant to run the clock out, sealing the program’s biggest win since the 2012 undefeated regular season.

In other area action, Plant City defeated Wharton, 20-7, and Strawberry Crest suffered a 27-22 loss to Spoto following a late score and a successful Spartans onside kick.

Photos by Justin Kline

Somehow, the referees missed this call in the end zone.

Quarterback Erick Davis looked comfortable for much of the game.

Left: Quenton Williams fields a punt.

Sickles had trouble fielding kicks and punts, and Durant took advantage.

Left: Captains Joe Williamson and Kadarius Griffin take the field before the coin toss.

HYDE / PAGE 12 a leg injury that Hyde initially thought he could play through. He was replaced by Austin Carswell during his rehabilitation process but never even missed a practice. Being relegated up on the sideline was tough, but Hyde didn’t want to miss anything.

“It was definitely hard,” he says.

Another challenge was the physical rehab itself. After a successful surgery, performed by USF surgeon Dr. David Leffers, Hyde worked twice a week with physical therapist Kevin Murdoch to get his strength back and also with his coaches in the offseason.

“It was a few months of therapy, twice a week, and doing it on my own in between then, with stuff that my therapist told me to do,” Hyde says.

“This summer was just hard work — I was up every morning with coach (Keith) Newman, working hard, getting back right, and coming out to training camp and doing everything I possibly could to make sure it’s solid.”

Newman, who was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator in 2013, helped Hyde get ready to step onto the field with mobilization and stability exercises. He gradually helped Hyde work on his running and his cuts, until the senior felt comfortable doing it without the brace.

“They say to just wear the brace, because you want to make sure (the knee is) good,” Hyde says. “They say that you don’t feel comfortable until it’s been a year, and it’ll be a year next week.”

If he’s not comfortable, then he’s doing a good job

MATCH-UPS GAME OF THE WEEK Last week’s game against Spoto may have ended with an “L” in the win-loss column, but it was a much better outing for Strawberry Crest than Week 1.

The Chargers (0-2; 0-0 district) jumped out to a 15-6 lead over the Spartans (2-0; 0-0 district) in the first quarter, but the lead changed hands in all of the following quarters. A late rally allowed Spoto to take control in the fourth, and Crest just didn’t have an answer.

It’s not like this team hasn’t had any bright spots so far, though. Senior Arjay Smith has scored 18 of the Chargers’ 29 total points so far, and junior linebacker Jordan Zilbar has stepped up to lead the team in tackles (21) and fumble recoveries (3).

Leon (1-1; 0-0 district) is coming off of its first win of the year, a 28-7 win at Rickards High School.

Having lost to the Raiders by a score of 42-14 in 2013, the Lions sure do seem like a different team this year.

Chargers head coach John Kelly chalks much of that up to improved play from their dual-threat quarterback, of hiding it. Hyde’s already been forced to scramble a few times on the field and has taken some hits. But, so far, he has been able to take everything thrown at him.

He’s confident, his coaches are confident in him, and it’s possible that no one is more

D’Anfernee McGriff.

Having come so close to picking up a win last Friday, the Chargers are determined to turn things around tonight.

refined. But, Nathaniel has the uncommon physical tools Rogers likes. This includes a seven-foot wingspan.

Alexander, on the other hand, uses karate as a form of physical therapy. He and his family have tried many different forms of physical rehab over the years, working with doctors in air-conditioned facilities, but they had never tried anything like karate before.

The boys’ father, Dominique, always wanted to take lessons with his sons, and the boys were ready to learn, so they linked up with Rogers. It took a little while for their mother, Vera, to get on board, but, once she saw a lesson for herself, she was pleased with the program.

“When I did bring them myself, I sat here and watched what they were doing,” Vera says. “(Rogers) actually was able to put in some one-onone time with Alexander. ...

That actually makes me feel better — like he’s able to get something that I’m not actually able to give him.”

Vera also liked that Rogers is knowledgeable in the area of physical therapy. Alexander’s cerebral palsy is spastic, meaning that his muscles are naturally far stiffer and tighter than those of someone without it.

This has taken a toll on his joints, and he requires a walker to move around.

Physical therapy has helped Alexander in the past, but he says he feels even better now that he’s training outdoors with Rogers.

“This is natural air, and I kind of get more air out of this,” Alexander says. “A lot more air. It just feels great being out here.”

Armed with a degree in health and physical education from Colorado State University, Rogers already knew exactly what stretches would help loosen Alexander’s muscles and allow him greater control of his body. It’s been a month, and Alexander can bail on the

excited to run out of the tunnel tonight.

Just don’t expect Hyde to ditch the brace anytime soon.

“I should be good,” he says.

“But, I think I’ll wear the brace all season.”

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

Rudy Rogers always gives each of his students a nickname, and the Crick boys were no exceptions.

Jonathan, the oldest, is called the “Quiet Storm,” because he’s soft-spoken but has shown a natural talent for karate.

Nathaniel, the biggest, is called “Stretch,” because he’s tall, with long arms and legs, and is still growing.

And, as his brothers remind him, he sometimes stretches the length of their classes.

Alexander is called “Big A,” because, as Rogers said, he’s got a “big heart.”

Of the three, he’s the most likely to speak up and coach his brothers when they make a mistake, and his drive to succeed knows no boundaries. walker to go do his kata, punch the heavy bag, throw kicks at Rogers’ blocking pad and more.

“His range of motion has increased somewhat, and it’s only three days a week that we’re able to bring him here,” Vera says. “He is doing better, and he feels more confident.

It’s really good for him to be able to do something that his brothers are doing.”

Alexander isn’t just in it for the physical benefits. Late last year, he lost his wallet — with his driver’s license in it — and had to apply for a new one.

When he went to take the test, he was hit with some bad news.

“My instructor told me that I had to strengthen my core,” he says.

His goal is to be able to get his driver’s license back before the end of the school year, and that will require him to become a little stronger.

“This really helps me strengthen my core, so that I can get my license quicker,” he says.

Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.

BUMP, SET, SPIKE! by Justin Kline | Staff Writer

P.C., Crest renew rivalry

DURANT AT TAMPA BAY TECH Because the Plant City Raiders have a bye week, the only other Sept. 12 game will be Durant’s road outing at Tampa Bay Tech.

The Cougars (1-1; 0-0 district) are coming off a mostly dominating win over Sickles and will go into this game with tons of momentum.

Tech (1-0; 0-0 district) is coming off of its bye week, after a 25-17 win over the winless Newsome Wolves fueled by safety Marchalo Judge’s pick-six.

It appears to be the kind of game that Durant could win, if Tech’s stats against Newsome are any indication.

The passing game mostly floundered, and the ground game — which netted just 134 yards — was responsible for most of the Titans’ scoring.

If the Cougars can contain senior Deon Cain like they did Isaac Holder and Ray Ray McCloud III last week, then there’s a pretty good chance that they hop on the bus to go home with a 2-1 record.

WHAT’S IN A NAME

Strawberry Crest and Plant City played the area’s first rivalry match of the 2014 volleyball season Sept. 8, and the Lady Chargers took control in four sets.

The hosting Lady Raiders opened things up with a 25-22 win, but Crest took the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-22. In the final set, Plant City came out swinging, at one point leading 17-7, but unraveled in the end as Crest’s strong play in the middle flipped the momentum.

Both teams will play again at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.

16. Strawberry Crest will host Brandon, and Plant City will host Durant.

Sometimes, players can get tangled up out there.

Terra Brooks helped lead the Lady Chargers to victory.

Right: The Plant City bench reacts to a point.

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KLINE / PAGE 12 have guessed the home team was considered an area powerhouse. Holding that offense to 14 points up to the final 40 seconds of the game is an impressive feat. Bravo, dudes.

Maybe part of the Gryphons’ problem was the fact that their special teams work was awful. If you combine punts and kicks, then they might have only fielded cleanly three times. Drops, fumbles, bumbles and stumbles gave them sketchy field positioning, of which the Durant defense took full advantage.

The score probably should have been 36-20, at the very least. Austin Resendez probably should have finished with

two touchdown catches, but he was the victim of a pass interference non-call in the end zone later in the game. I don’t think I’ve ever seen DPI so blatant at the high school level in my four years of covering the sport, and you can see the photo for yourself online and in today’s paper.

Yeah, the non-call doesn’t matter now that Durant already won, but it would have been nice of the refs to pay attention.

What might have helped Durant was its third-down success. Erick Davis, in his second game as Durant’s starting quarterback, looked confident and collected out there and wasn’t afraid to air it out on third and long.

Enough of his risks paid off

to keep the Cougars alive and leading. Accounting for two total touchdowns helped, too.

This was the program’s biggest win since the 201213 season and can probably already be counted as one of the best regular-season games in the school’s history. If you’re a Durant Cougar, then it’s been a pretty good week to be one.

P.S. Friday at halftime was the first time I can recall someone selling hot and iced coffee from a tent at a football game, and it was there that I bought one of the best iced coffees I’ve ever had. Unfortunately, I was in a hurry and do not remember the name from the tent, but I now believe this kind of thing should be everywhere.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

EMMA RUSTENBERGHE Durant’s mighty volleyball team got a whole lot younger in the offseason, and one of the younger players to take on a leadership role is sophomore Emma Rustenberghe. The outside hitter put in a lot of work in the offseason, and coach Brittany Wilson is excited for what her future holds.

How have you all been handling the changes for this season?

Very good. I think we’re going to have a good season, honestly. We’re all motivated to get to where we want to get to.

What were you working on this summer?

Honestly, a lot of passing.

Serve/receive, definitely. I’ve been hitting pretty well, so it’s just the serve/receive that I’ve needed to work on.

How far would you say you’ve come since the offseason started?

Really far. I’ve had a lot of support from all of my teammates and, especially, coach Wilson.

What do you expect for this season?

I just expect that we try our hardest. I don’t expect awesome wins, or great kills — just going as hard as we can try would be awesome.

You’re definitely playing a larger role for this team than many other sophomores in the county are for theirs. What’s that like?

It’s very stressful but, at the same time, I have a lot of people that are helping and encouraging me to get through what I need to get through. I have a great group of girls.

How long have you been playing volleyball?

Three years. This will be my fourth. I started at the YMCA rec league and played there for about a year, and then I went to a club team. I played on two different club teams.

Any other sports?

I used to play soccer, but not anymore. I am not a runner.

What are your other hobbies?

I hang out with friends, and I also do art a lot. I like to do drawings more than ceramics. I don’t do impressionism, I do more realistic things. People, and I’ve actually drawn fruit a lot, ironically. Not that I eat that much of it, but I draw a lot of it. I’ve been drawing for three years, I think.

What are your favorite movies?

I honestly really like the “Hunger Games” series. I started reading the books but never got the time to finish them, in between volleyball and school.

It sounds like those are your favorite books, too, correct?

Yes! What about TV? I really like the “Vampire Diaries.” I watched “Secret Life of the American Teenager” for a while. I like criminal shows, like police reports, stuff like that, “48 Hours.”

Favorite music?

Mostly rap and hiphop. My favorite artist is probably Drake. I don’t know, I just like his voice. And, he’s extremely attractive.

What’s your favorite food?

Pizza. Cheese pizza, or everything. I go from one extreme to the next. I like Pizza Hut, personally, but that’s just me.

If you could be either rich or famous, what would you pick?

Probably rich, so that I could help other people. I like to do animal work, and I like to work with elderly people, too.

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PLANT CITY

RAIN

(INCHES)

WEATHER

THURS. Sept. 4

0.04

FRI.

TEMPERATURES

Sept. 5

0.84

SAT.

Fri., Sept. 12 Sat., Sept. 13 Sun., Sept. 14 Mon., Sept. 15 Tues., Sept. 16 Wed., Sept. 17 Thurs., Sept. 18

Sept. 6

0.01

SUN.

Sept. 7

0.24

MON.

Sept. 8

0.95

TUES.

Sept. 9

0.00

WED.

Sept. 10

0.00

SEPT.

TO DATE

2.08 (2013: 1.69)

YEAR

TO DATE 25.5 (2013: 35.73)

HIGH 92 92 91 90 86 88 86

SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES Fri., Sept. 12 Sat., Sept. 13 Sun., Sept. 14 Mon., Sept. 15 Tues., Sept. 16 Wed., Sept. 17 Thurs., Sept. 18

SUNRISE 7:12 a.m.

7:13 a.m.

7:13 a.m.

7:13 a.m.

7:14 a.m.

7:14 a.m.

7:15 a.m.

SUNSET 7:38 p.m.

7:37 p.m.

7:36 p.m.

7:34 p.m.

7:33 p.m.

7:32 p.m.

7:31 p.m.

LOW 72 71 72 73 72 73 72

MOON PHASES

Sept. 8

Sept. 15

OKRA SHIPPING POINT: ORLANDO SIZE 1/2 bushel ctns

LOW $12.35

HIGH $12.85

Sept. 23

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture Sept. 2

, 3&

Janelle McRoberts submitted this captivating shot. “Gotta love the true beauty of nature,” she says.

The Plant City Times & Observer and Grimes Hardware have partnered to host the I Love Plant City Photo Contest. Winners will have their photo featured and receive a $15 gift certificate to Grimes Hardware’s Strawberry Town Cafe! To enter, email your photo, along with a caption, to Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com; subject line: I Love Plant City.

Winners can pick up their prize at Grimes Hardware.

CONTAINED

By Gary Cooper | Edited by Timothy E. Parker ACROSS 1 Dern of “Jurassic Park” 6 Treatment center?

9 Bearded farm animal 13 Weaker team’s win 18 Speak off-the-cuff 19 Type of bread 21 Disturber of the peace 22 Copier powder 23 Nobleman’s attendant 24 ___ and blood 25 Lilting refrain 27 Riverbank deposits 28 Apollo letters 30 Word seen in wedding announcements 31 Houston-to-Charleston dir.

32 Possessed 33 Cause for extra innings 34 Herbal brew 36 Put into words 37 About 3.26 light-years 40 Pianist or emperor 41 Record 44 Casa crock 45 Make-up artist?

47 Author Tolstoy 50 It has heddles and treadles 51 Put forth the best effort 54 Get a lustful eyeful 56 Biological classification system 58 Shakespearean protagonist 59 Host’s suggestion at dinner 60 Lennon’s mate 61 Western affirmative 62 Ill-___ gains 64 Great Lakes fishes 65 Gordon of comics 67 Oak beginning 68 Angle symbol in geometry 69 Sully

71 72 73 76 77 78 80 81 84 85 86 87 88 89 91 94 95 98 99 100 103 104 106 108 110 112 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122

Narrow water channels Surveillance device TV brand “All My Children” character Parisian’s “Presto!”

Strangulation devices Scottish lake It rolls down an alley Pieces sung by one Visualize Road Runner pursuer ___ E. Coyote Fleshy seed cover Large ocean ray Mild exclamation of surprise Cousin of a leopard Stray dog Inverse trig function Feel ill Indulge in some capers?

Sept.-June grp.

Gerard of “Buck Rogers” Air safety agcy.

Gold bar Blackboard items Sailor’s cry It may be opened at noon Like a winked agreement Locale for any event List extenders Poetic Muse Advanced slowly Barking mammal Director Howard More solid upstairs

DOWN 1 Espresso with hot milk 2 Bedeck 3 Arm bones 4 Money of Cambodia 5 Father of Ishmael

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

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 26 29 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 46 48 49 51 52 53 55 57 59 62 63 64 66

Franc fraction Litter members Type of judicial hearing Col. Sanders’ facial hair It’s for you and me Ever-increasing number Kind of traffic, informally Picket-sign word Capitol figure, for short Tuscan tourist city Where Big Bertha was built Little laugh Bunch Supermarket sections “Now I ___ me down to sleep ...”

Harsh or severe Star of the recital, often Sport with beefy grapplers Opposite of work Partner of one?

Twain, actually Contents of a Mumbai bread basket Female choir member Bank word Theater fixture That little extra something Computer desktop symbol Container in the dairy case Stew or miscellany Extinguish, as a flame Padded footstool Gunpowder ingredient, to a Brit Naval off.

African antelope San ___ Copernicus successor Round openings in a dome One without manners Chinese fruit trees (var.)

© 2013 Universal Uclick

68 69 70 71 74 75 77 78 79 81

Game with no pitching ___ Monte (food giant) Greek love god Drumstick source Boston NBA player, informally China setting Invalidate Saunter, e.g.

Pre-Lenin Russian ruler Swahili sir

82 83 88 90 92 93 94 95 96 97

Horse going full tilt Sis’ male sibling Copies the Andromeda strain Naturally talented Nullify Bad-news ball Vehicle in a garage Century plant Split apart Resonant metallic sound

99 100 101 102 105 106 107 109 111 113 114

Slithery swimmers Popular pie nut Overused, as an expression Fur-trading name Malty brews No fan of Pizarro Starch source Polk’s first lady Engage in litigation American Indian tongue Fleming the writer

C RY P T O G R A M S 1 . U S H FA I M A A Z B D F B Q Q W Z R H F T B T T W M A A . FA Z B D Q A I Q A H C B N N W M C D W B P T A G A I W U S I P R P K D FA Z S C N T K R G A F R U B PA Z F S PAW T S NRDH! 2 . F J K U R G R C K M I C R A V K R A RU W R D K G R C K M I C R A V K R A B K Q Q I B K Q J K A , F K H K K A I G RU Z K I U T Z K RU W R W K G I U H Q A R Q T I U I D A K R C RU T G R C G R B U K Q T H G .

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