Plant City Observer
y Observer
YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .
VOLUME 6, NO. 174
YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER FREE
. YO UR NEWS PAP ER . GRANT FUNDS PUSH PLANT CITY PROJECTS FORWARD PLANT CITY WILL SEE RENOVATED AND NEWLY-BUILT ASSETS CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER
On Monday, the Plant City City Commission passed a proposal to invest just shy of $20 million to improve the Plant City community. Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the U.S. federal government has allocated funds that will go toward various projects that are deemed as essential in town.
PLANT CITY NEVER CEASES TO SUPPORT ITS FIRST RESPONDERS
PLANT CITY ELKS LODGE HELD ITS ANNUAL LUNCH AND DINNER FOR FIREFIGHTERS, EMTS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER
The Plant City Elks Lodge #1727 continued this month’s momentum in celebrating first responders as it held its annual Christmas gathering on Thursday, Dec. 9. Held at the local lodge, club members once again offered praises and homestyle cooking toward the Plant City Police Department for lunch and Plant City Fire Rescue for dinner. “That’s been our tradition for more than 30 years,” said Judy Wise, member of Elks Lodge #1727 and chairwoman for the Elks District Veterans’ Services. “It’s just our way of saying thank you for what they give to us.” This comes as December has seen a steady outpouring of love and support to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day. Since it opened on Dec. 2, the Plant City Chick-fil-A restaurant has surprised the Plant City Police Department, among other local entities, with free service, lasting a year. And on Friday, Dec. 3, Chaplaincy Care Inc. – led by Dr. Daniel Middlebrooks, kicked off an event providing first responders with breakfast every first Friday of the month. The evening service had a dense crowd of lodge members, firefighters and paramedics, making quite a social atmosphere. Retired servicemen were among those present and were asked to stand for recognition. Newly promoted Capt. Dustin Hill of Plant City Fire Rescue, had the honors of his wife, Shannon pinning on his badge, with their son Owen.
However, the spotlight put on several active crewmen brought a change to the traditional gathering. This year the fire department chose the lodge as its grounds to promote four crewmen. Plant City Fire Rescue Chief David Burnett called each member forward for the pinning ceremony- where a badge adorns their uniform. Those promoted to the rank of captain were Bill Saunders and Dustin Hill. Those promoted to the rank of paramedic were Gabriel Valiente and Devin Johnson. “We often get comfortable and complacent in our position in the fire service,” said Burnett. “We choose not to take on any unnecessary risks. Today our newest promotees have chosen to take a different path. They’ve decided to step outside their comfort zone. In addition to their own destiny and well-being, they will now take on new responsibilities.” Johnson has been with the fire department since 2018. In order to receive his rank as paramedic he had to go through an internship program. Not only was he appreciative of the support from the Elks Lodge and his fellow crewman, but his family who was in attendance. When he was hired by the department, he chose his father to pin his badge on, but this year chose his grandmother.
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