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SPORTS
Guadalupe celebration honors heritage. Plant City’s First Baptist PAGE 7
Dolphins win hardware at UYFL tourney. PAGE 14
performs annual show.
HOLIDAY HOPE by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
OUR TOWN
teeing off
by Michael Eng | Editor
WLCA leaders discuss buying course
+ Archives names council member Ed Verner, president of the Plant City Photo Archives & History Center, announced James R. McDaniel as a new member of the center’s Advisory Council. McDaniel is a graduate of Marshall High School, and received his bachelor’s degree in speech communication and English and his master’s degree in communication from the University of South Florida. As community services director for Plant City, McDaniel was responsible for administration and implementation of all functions of the department. During his tenure, he served as project manager for projects and program activities funded by more than $20 million in grants, including $14 million under the Community Development Block Grant Program, and funds from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration for local public works projects. McDaniel is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He is married to the former Denise Thompson, and they have six children and two grandchildren.
New Director Rich Glorioso will form a committee to determine whether it is feasible to purchase the amenity from Visions Golf LLC. Amber Jurgensen
Nine-year-old Azaria Santos is delivering 10 stuffed bears to families of premature babies at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Tampa. Azaria herself was a preemie and had to fight for her life in the neonatal ICU.
AÅ4WSdkÆ BIG HEART Once a preemie herself, Burney Elementary School student Azaria Santos started a new charity to help families with premature babies.
+ Jarrett-Scott commits to FFA Jarrett-Scott Ford will sponsor the Built Ford Tough collegiate scholarship program for Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools. Through this sponsorship, the Plant City dealership will help three FFA students attend college. To be eligible, FFA members must submit an online application at ffa.org and take the required signature page to Jarrett-Scott Ford for endorsement and the official dealer code. “We’re pleased to be able to support the local chapter and Ford Motor Company in its strong commitment to the National FFA,” said owner Jim Scott.
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This week’s winner is
Paul Jordan
See his photo on PAGE 18.
Azaria Santos was born fighting for her life. Born three months premature, she weighed only 1 pound, 15 ounces. Her grandmother, Rudyne Lee, could hold Azaria in the palm of her hand. In those volatile early weeks, Azaria nearly died four times and spent the first three months of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Tampa. Although she was too young to remember, the now 9-year-old has heard stories about the tumultuous beginning to her life. Her lungs were
HOW TO HELP
Since Azaria Santos just started Azaria’s Hope for the Preemies, she has been providing the materials for her bracelets and bears herself. To donate or get involved, call her grandmother, Rudyne Lee, at (813) 764-7148.
shriveled. She could have suffered from mental developmental delays. “It’s a miracle she’s alive,” Lee says. So for Christmas, Azaria has de-
cided to bring a little miracle to the premature babies at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Out of pocket, Azaria’s family bought 10 stuffed bears to give to families going through a similar situation this holiday season. The fuzzy bears cozy up in a colorful stocking along with a picture of Azaria and a letter written by the Burney Elementary third-grader. “It is a miracle from God that I am living,” Azaria wrote. “This is a gift for you to show I care about you.”
SEE HEART / PAGE 4
Attention Walden Lake residents: Want to own your own golf course and country club? If so, your chance may be coming. For the first time since the battle between Walden Lake residents and Walden Lake Golf & Country Club owner Visions Golf LLC erupted last summer, Walden Lake Community Association leaders have broached the subject of buying the amenities altogether. At the WLCA’s Dec. 16 meeting, President Jan Griffin asked newly appointed Director Rich Glorioso to put together a committee to study the option. The idea for originated from a resident, who contacted Griffin and requested the WLCA send a questionnaire to residents asking them whether they would want to purchase the golf course. At first glance, it seems the most vocal opponents of Visions Golf’s redevelopment plans would leap at the chance to own the amenity. However, with no concrete numbers available, WLCA directors don’t know just how much it would cost to purchase the property and, more importantly, to improve and maintain it. Glorioso said the first step would be to conduct a factfinding mission to determine answers for some of the questions residents will ask.
SEE WLCA / PAGE 4
education by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
Tomlin FFA team named finalists at 2013 National FFA Agriscience Fair Caroline Brummer and Mackenzie Steele presented a project about different types of food packaging. Science is Tomlin Middle School student’s MacKenzie Steele’s least favorite subject. But, that didn’t stop her and her teammate, Caroline Brummer, from becoming finalists in the 2013 National Agriscience Fair at the 86th National FFA Convention and Expo. In
fact, the eighth-graders also gained a little appreciation for the subject. “I thought it was something fun,” Steele said. “It was a little extra challenge.” The students placed seventh at the competition, which took place Oct. 30,
in Louisville, Ky. To qualify for the competition, they had to first be selected as the state winner at their state agriscience fairs and earn national competition eligibility after being placed in the top 15 within their respective categories. They also had to present scientific research in the fields of animal systems,
INDEX Calendar.......................2
Amber Jurgensen
Caroline Brummer and MacKenzie Steele said they enjoyed their time SEE FFA / PAGE 4 competing on the national stage.
Vol. 1, No. 21 | One section Crossword...................18
Obituaries...................10
Opinion ........................6
Sports.........................14
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