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Diamonds & PlantCitygetsdown Denim sparkles anddirtyatBlueberry StompMudRun. in Plant City.
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Durant High School celebrates Homecoming.
education by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Meet Marshall’s Men of GQ Marshall Middle’s Gentlemen’s Quest helps teach students how to be successful by focusing on the grounds of brotherhood and respect.
+ Hurst selected for D.C. tour
Plant City High School’s Kellyanne Hurst was among the nine students selected by U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross last month, to tour Washington, D.C., as part of the Congressional Classroom. The tour, which took place Sept. 14 to 18, included stops at the U.S. Capitol, Arlington Cemetery, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Pentagon. The students also met with Sen. Marco Rubio and Reps. Dennis Ross (FL-15), Daniel Webster (FL-10), Richard Nugent (FL-11), Ron DeSantis (FL-06), Ted Yoho (FL-03) and Steve Southerland (FL-02). “It is really cool to see how the political process works in Washington, D.C.,” Hurst said. “There is a lot behind the scenes that goes into it that I would have never known.”
Brian Adams walked with purpose through the hallways, as he explained the tenants of the Gentlemen’s Quest club. Although he’s a middle-schooler, when he spoke, he had the articulation of a man. As the public relations chair of the Marshall Middle School’s Gentlemen’s Quest, Brian is used to public speaking. But his composed manner is something all the members share. Gentlemen’s Quest teaches troubled youth how to
be successful by focusing on the grounds of brotherhood and respect. Brian raps on the classroom door in a unique rhythm. “We have a secret knock,” Brian says. Sergeant at Arms Felipe Pecina returns the knock and opens the door. This day was special. A potential member had turned in his application — uncreased — to the club. He was now standing in front of a room of
Gentlemen’s Quest members got an up-close look at guest Vic Pedone’s car. about 40 members for a group interview. President Ezekiel Dorsaint stood at his podium, listening closely to the discussion. “I’m not the same person,”
a current member says in his testimony to the newcomer. “The club gave me a reason to change. God gave me a reason to change.” The members continued to
Amber Jurgensen
ask about the newcomer’s interests, his talents. Then, Ezekiel called for the vote. It was unanimous. He was in.
SEE GQ / PAGE 1
FRESH FASHION
+ Resident to celebrate 90 years
Lucille Brock Faircloth will celebrate her 90th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Northside Baptist Church, 1700 N. Franklin St. Born in Bainbridge, Ga., Faircloth moved to Plant City at age 11, traveling here on a school bus with her family. She worked from 1965 to 1979 at Felton’s grocery. She has been a Northside member for 58 years.
, 3&
This week’s winner is
Bob Hunter
See her photo on PAGE 14.
Michael Eng
Tally Styron, 3, loved the sparkly crown she found at GardenFest and More Sept. 28, in Historic Downtown Plant City. The event was organized by the Plant City Garden Club and Plant City Downtown Merchants and Business Association. For more photos, see page 6 or visit PlantCityObserver.com.
governance by Michael Eng | Editor
CRIME by Michael Eng | Editor
WLCA board split on candidate Family still waiting to replace VP Marcus Alexich for Misti Whitfield Candidates to fill the seat include former state Rep. Rich Glorioso and Sharon Philbin.
Before a standing room-only crowd of residents, Walden Lake Community Association board members narrowed the field to two candidates during an emergency board meeting Sept. 30, but that is as close as they could get to appointing a replacement for the WLCA’s vacant seat. The remaining board members split 4-4 between two candidates: former state Rep. Rich Glorioso and Forest Club resi-
dent Sharon Philbin, who has been active in the fight against redevelopment of Walden Lake Golf & Country Club and the two golf courses. WLCA President Jan Griffin, Treasurer Karen Olson and directors Steve Swantek and Heather Updike voted for Glorioso; while Secretary/Parliamentarian Jim Chancey and directors Bruce Rodwell, Bob
L.E. WILSON CONTRACT
WLCA board members discussed a proposal from new property management company L.E. Wilson & Associates. Each board member made suggestions for changes, and now the board’s attorney, Bush Ross, will examine the proposal and draft a contract.
SEE WLCA / PAGE 4
SEE WILSON / 4
Whitfield was last seen May 1. Her mother, Sharon Ardelean, and stepfather, Mel Ardelean, say they cannot move on until she is recovered.
When she was being silly, Misti Whitfield would call her mother, Sharon Ardelean, “Mommy.” When she was sad, it was “Momma,” and when she was trying to get her attention, it was “Sharon.” But mostly, Whitfield referred to her mother as “Moms,” because she represented both a mother and father figure in her life.
INDEX Calendar.......................2
It’s been 156 agonizing days since Ardelean has heard any of those names from her daughter. Whitfield was last seen May 1, at or near Nautical Marine, in Tampa. At first, Ardelean, her husband, Mel Ardelean, and Tampa Police Department investigators believed she was missing. Whitfield had battled drug
SEE MISTI / PAGE 4 Vol.1,No.10 | Onesection
Cops.............................5
Crossword...................14
Obituaries.....................9
Sports.........................11
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