12.30.21

Plant City Observer YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .

YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER

VOLUME 6, NO. 176

YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER FREE

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

NEW WASTE COLLECTION IS NEARLY COMPLETE Plant City’s New Collection System Continues Forward

2021

BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

An update on how effective the new Cart-to-Curb Waste Management Program has been, was presented at the Plant City City Commission meeting, on Monday, Dec. 13.

The initiative is to collect trash in a more efficient and safe manner with the use of automated collection trucks equipped with a mechanical arm, as well as new trash carts.

SEE PAGE 6

YEAR IN REVIEW

SEE PAGE 3

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

NEWS BRIEFS

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Letter to the editor My name is Cynthia Ballard. On Dec. 8, I was in the ICU with a third degree heart block and bilateral pneumonia. I was suddenly not feeling well and the marvelous ICU nurses and BayCare’s technology jumped into action. I can’t remember seeing or hearing anything but I remember saying, “tell my daughter I love her,” and I saw a white light and two angels patting me on the head and saying that it’s not my time. I know that’s probably something that no one will believe, but that’s OK, I believe. My main purpose of contacting you is that I would love to say thank you to the ICU nurses at South Florida Baptist Hospital, to the doctor that was giving orders to save my life and the remarkable technology that BayCare has in their ICU here at South Florida Baptist Hospital. All combined saved my life. And if it’s possible, please make a public statement for

me about how wonderful, knowledgeable, quick-thinking nurses and doctors saved my life. I would also like to say thank you to the two east nurses that gave me such miraculous care now that I have recovered and feel so much better. And also Dr. Gregg Gutowski and Dr. Robert Baskin, I’d like to thank them for the care that they have given me that contributed to my recovery.

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Cynthia Ballard

Chilifest 2022 in need of sponsors and teams The Arts Council of Plant City is actively searching for sponsorships, as well as chili teams, for Chilifest 2022.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, 102 N. Palmer St. For contestants, you will be competing for awards in mild, spicy, novelty and/ or a people’s choice category that will be voted on by those in attendance. A team of of local celebrity judges will select first and second place winners in the various categories and those winners will receive a trophy, a cash prize and bragging rights for one year, until it’s time to defend their title.

For sponsors, there are three levels of sponsorships at $100, $250 and $500.

At any sponsorship level you will receive

acknowledgment on all Chilifest 2022 promotions, posters, social media, as well as a listing on www.PlantCityArts.com. A sponsorship of $250 or more will be recognized personally from the stage at the event and a $500 sponsor will be considered a major sponsor.

All money raised from the event will help support the annual sponsorships that the Arts Council awards to graduating seniors that will be furthering their education in the visual, performing or culinary arts.

In addition to the Chilifest, the Arts Council hosts several events that include the Seward Johnson Sculptures that appear in downtown each year, the Lamppost Banners, the Artist in the Classroom Program and the Reflections Art event at Plant City High School.

For more information, call Frank Cummings at 813-364-8071 or Marsha Passmore at 813-245-2244.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

2021 YEAR IN REVIEW

JANUARY

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fter one of the most unique years in recent memory due to COVID-19, Plant City sprung into January with the Strawberry Festival on the horizon despite lingering evidence of our “new normal.”

To kick off strawberry season, Kristi Grooms – daughter of famed Fancy Farms founders Carl and Dee Grooms – opened the doors to the family’s newest venture, the Fancy Farms Market. As the month rolled on, the Junior Royalty Pageant was held and Bridget Mae McLaughlin was named the 2021 Junior Royalty Queen.

The Junior Royalty Pageant was followed by the Strawberry Queen’s Pageant where

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

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FEBRUARY

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McKenna Jordan was named Queen, along with First Maid Avery Surrency and court members KellieAnne Kirkland, Brynne Murphy and Kate Turner.

But not all was back to normal as it was announced that Plant City’s 35th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade, drumline, street festival and leadership breakfast had been postponed until April.

In sports, the Plant City Dolphins watched as three of their youth football teams earned a spot in the Tri County Youth Football and Cheer Conference Superbowl, with the Mighty Mite and PeeWee teams coming away champions at the end of the month.

MARCH arch arrived and with it came the Strawberry Festival, although slightly different than normal.

Headline entertainment was cancelled and the festival spent over $600,000 on alterations and additions put in place to make the annual festival run as safe and smoothly as possible with the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

Long-time local community leader Sharon Moody was tapped as the event’s Grand Marshal of the 2021 Grand Parade as she led the event through the streets of Plant City.

Plant City commissioners authorized City Manager Bill McDaniel to execute a letter of agreement with Florida State University that allowed up to 25 employees to head “back to school” to receive designation as a Certified Public Manager and at the same meeting, McDaniel also announced that EMS Chief James Maxwell had completed the four-year Executive Fire Officer Program throughthe National Fire Academy and he was recognized for his achievements.

Dover native Kenzie Wheeler appeared on the voice for the first time, impressing the judges and qualifying before joining Kelly Clarkson’s team on the show.

Throughout the month, several local fundraising efforts shattered their best numbers to date as Dean’s Ride fundraising event – the ninth annual bike ride that took riders through Plant City and as far west as Lake Thonotosassa – saw over 200 riders while raising over $15,000. The Timicua District of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which includes Plant City, raised over

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ebruary was a busy month for Plant City sports, watching several Plant City area teams clinch district and state titles while Durant welcomed their new football coach.

As district tournaments for high school soccer raged on throughout the month, Plant City’s boys and Strawberry Crest’s girls soccer teams were both crowned district champions. Strawberry Crest’s Cheer team also continued their run of dominance, earning their seventh consecutive state title. For Durant, their hockey team made a splash in their fourth year. After a 21-4 regular season, the team earned a first-round bye in the Lightning High School Hockey League tournament before rattling off a stellar run to the Lightning Cup championship where they ultimately fell to Seminole High School. In a look ahead, Durant named Plant City area native and Durant High School alumnus Claybo Varnum the newest head coach of the Cougars’ football team following an 18-year stint from previous head coach Mike Gottman.

Aside from sports, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce held their annual gala early in the month, honoring the incoming board and handing out several awards for those who were deemed the Best of Plant City.

Additionally, Roots Tap Room & Wine Bar expanded on their ongoing success as they opened a new option for wine-lovers in the Plant City area by way of their new Roots Cellars.

APRIL 45,000 pounds of food in their Scouting for Food drive.

Strawberry Crest’s Sebastian Fernandez and Lex Strickland claimed second place and fourth place in their respective divisions at the wrestling regional championship, qualifying them both for the state championships, and Kali Vician from the Chargers’ girls soccer team was honored as part of the 2021 All-State and Academic All-State teams from the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. In a highly anticipated rematch of the Lightning Cup Championship, Durant hockey met Seminole in the SAHOF Tier II state championship where they once again settled for the runner up spot, falling in overtime.

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fter originally being postponed, Plant City’s annual MLK Fest kicked off in April, taking over downtown with a Parade that began and ended at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center.

The festival continued with events that ran throughout the month, including the MLK Leadership Breakfast where keynote speakers joined in honoring five Plant City residents as “Community Champions.” At a commission meeting later in the month, Building Official Jesse Carr received a special proclamation from Mayor Rick Lott and his fellow commissioners, thanking him for his more than 30 years of service to Plant City.

Hundreds of kids flocked to Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex to participate in the yearly City-Wide Easter egg hunt.

Thanks to several key sponsors, the free event saw over 10,000 easter eggs hidden for children broken down into four age groups to collect, all with a chance to become a golden egg winner.

Plant City Common Community Garden held their new Earth, Wind & Garden event to celebrate Earth Day, a free, family-friendly, all-day event that invited all to come out and join in fun and educational activities to help them become better caretakers of our Earth. Another new event kicked off as Blues, BBQ & Berries took over Evers St. Hosted by the Improvement League of Plant City and Plant City Main Street, attendees were able to enjoy delicious barbecue accompanied by live music, free exhibits and a chance to explore local businesses along the way.

Strawberry Crest’s boys tennis team made program history with their first district championship, while Plant City finished second. Conversely in the girls tournament, Plant City took the top spot while Crest finished behind them. And Durant’s flag football team saw their fantastic regular season run, one that saw just one loss and half of their victories coming by way of a shutout, end in the District Championship game.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

BEST OF COPS CORNER 2021

FEB. 4

HOME IMPROVEMENT 3010 block of Blakert Street Residential burglary: This complainant stated unknown subject(s) stole two stainless steel Whirlpool electric stoves from a DR Horton new construction residence overnight.

hall, pointed a gun at the male complainant and punched him in the face when he opened the door to inform the subject “Chris” was not there. “Catman” pushed the female complainant and walked away. The subject was unable to be located and the complainants declined to press charges, signing a waiver of prosecution.

JUNE 11

FEB. 18

MAY 6

NO LUCK, NO TRUCK 500 block of N. County Line Road Stolen vehicle: Officers met with the victim who stated that some time between 7 p.m. on July 30 and 10 a.m. on Aug 1, an unknown suspect unlawfully removed his semi-truck and trailer from the gas station at the location.

EASY TARGET 2600 block of James L. Redman Parkway Vehicle burglary: This complainant stated he left his vehicle unlocked with the windows down while shopping at Walmart. While in the store, an unknown subject entered the vehicle and stole a Bluetooth speaker.

MARCH 1

GO WITH THE FLO 4300 block of Reynolds Knoll Place Fraud: This complainant stated someone accessed her Progressive insurance policy and added several vehicles from Georgia which did not belong to her.

MARCH 17

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF 2000 block of Sammonds Road Stolen/recovered vehicle: On May 2, a complainant reported her red and black Kia Soul was stolen from a location on Sammonds Street. The vehicle was later recovered, but on May 6 she reported the vehicle was stolen again. This time, when the vehicle was found, police also found a juvenile suspect and made an arrest.

MAY 15

YOU’VE SHOT MAIL 400 block of N. Wiggins Rd. Criminal mischief: Officers responded to a complaint that over a two-night span, the victim’s mailbox had been shot with what appeared to be a shotgun.

NAP TIME 400 block of North Alexander Street DUI: Officers responded to a CVS drive-thru around 8:53 p.m. regarding a report of a female driver passed out behind the wheel while in the drive-thru lane. The driver was arrested for DUI and taken to Orient Road Jail.

MAY 16

MARCH 31

LONG LOST GUN 2800 block of Clubhouse Dr. Firearm Recovery: An individual alerted officers that he found a firearm that he had previously reported as stolen nearly a decade ago in Nov. of 2011.

SUGAR, WE’RE GOING DOWN 3430 block of Trapnell Ridge Drive Criminal mischief: This complainant stated she believed someone put sugar in her gas tank after finding a crystalline substance around the gas tank door. She decided not to pursue charges and signed a waiver of prosecution.

MAY 2

THE ‘CATMAN’ COMETH 110 block of North Pearl Street Multiple charges: These complainants reported a known male subject knocked on their window while holding a gun and demanded that “Chris” leave their apartment. The subject, whom they knew as “Catman” from down the

THAT’S NOT FANNY 200 block of Park Springs Cr. Vehicle burglary: A victim reported to officers that his vehicle had been burglarized, resulting in the loss of his fanny pack, $850 in cash and the spare key to his vehicle.

MAY 25

YOU’LL NEVER CATCH ME, COPPER 700 block of N. Park Rd. Business burglary: The victim reported that sometime since the previous Saturday, an unknown suspect had broken into the building and stolen multiple pieces of copper.

GONE WITH THE SCHWINN 1300 block of E. Baker St. Petit theft, bicycle: Officers made contact with a victim in reference to a Schwinn 18-speed women’s bicycle that was taken from the front of a business.

AUG. 1

AUG. 28

IT’S NOT DELIVERY, IT’S FRAUD 300 block of S. Frontage Rd. Fraud: Offices responded to the location in reference to a local pizza store employee who had received a counterfeit $100 bill for payment.

PLANT CITY

Observer Publisher / Karen Berry KBerry@PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Sarah Holt SHolt@PlantCityObserver.com Sports Writer / Taylor Jenkins tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com Staff Writer / Brian Fernandes bfernandes@plantcityobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designer / Juan Alvarez Circulation/ Office Manager / Linda Lancaster LLancaster@PlantCityObserver.com

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SEPT. 17

AND BY THE WAY… 1500 block of E. Baker St. Retail theft (delayed): The store manager whom officers met with for the previously listed incident advised them of a theft from the store that occured on Sept. 11, 1988.

Advertising / Richard Brame richard@plantcityobserver.com

NOV. 6

The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100B.

THAT’S NOT FERRET 3500 block of Trapnell Grove Lp. Fraud: An officer met with the victim who stated that she had attempted to purchase a ferret for $150 via Facebook Marketplace but never received the ferret.

NOV. 29

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS… LIGHTS 2300 block of E. Timberlane Dr. Theft: Officers met with the victim at the listed location, who then stated that an unknown suspect had stolen Christmas lights from the residence, totaling $24.

Advertising / Karen Berry kberry@plantcityobserver.com

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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MAY

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owntown Plant City kicked off the month of May with a massive Star Wars-themed party to honor May the 4th, also known as Star Wars Day. What began at the city’s monthly Last Friday in Downtown event, the celebration continued on Saturday and wrapped up on Tuesday — the fourth of the month — as Star Wars fans flocked to Plant City throughout the weekend while several local businesses took the opportunity to create themed drinks, snacks, soaps, candy and other goodies for patrons.

Kenzie Wheeler moved through the top9 and eventually on to the finale of NBC’s The Voice, bringing hundreds of supporters to the streets of Downtown where they lit up the night for a watch party as his final performance aired live on the big screen.

RVR Horse Rescue invited Plant City residents out to their grand opening festivities in May, drawing huge crowds as they finally had a chance to hold their first-ever Plant City edition of their annual Forever Home event after moving to Plant City over a year prior.

Four local law enforcement members were honored at the 59th annual East Hillsborough Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner and Plant City’s Walmart got a new look as Sunbelt Rentals unveiled a new outdoor facility, the first such outdoor facility in the nation.

Plant City aimed to preserve its deep and unique history by spreading knowledge and heartfelt memories as the community gathered at the Glover School, one of the community’s most historic landmarks, in honor of Florida’s Emancipation Day.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

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JUNE

After earning first runner-up honors at the Plant City Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Pageant, Durant freshman Kennedie Clinton was selected to represent Plant City at the Miss Florida Teen USA competition later in the year.

Four Plant City track and field athletes headed to the state championships at the University of North Florida where Jackson Knotts and Kaylee Hahn earned top5 finishes. Durant continued their run of dominance on the diamond as both the softball and baseball teams took district titles before runs to the softball regional finals and baseball state Final Four To round out the month, seniors from Durant, Strawberry Crest, Plant City and Simmons Career Center all congregated for the final time as a graduating class, taking turns having their names called, walking across the stage at the Florida State Fairgrounds and receiving their degrees at graduation.

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une was a month of change all throughout Plant City as Grace Manor broke ground on their second facility and Phil Waldron took the reins as Florida Strawberry Festival Chairman after over 30 years of work with the festival, including stints as volunteer, treasurer, secretary, associate director, director and vice chairman.

The Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center played host to a community picnic, acting as a meet-and-greet between local residents and the first responders that serve the city. Hosted by a partnership between I Impact PC and the City of Plant City, the meet-and-greet offered entertainment, free food, family friendly activities and a chance for the community to get to know their first responders.

Camp Invention made its return to Plant City for the seventh year as 133 students ,ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade and representing 37 different schools,

flocked to the Arthur Boric Civic Center on the Strawberry Festival Grounds for the week-long, STEM-focused summer camp.

Crowds gathered — along with their furry friends — for two ribbon cuttings in Plant City. At McIntosh Preserve, tours were given along several of the new trails and the preserve’s new observation tower.

At Gilchrist Heights Dog Park, several renovations to the existing park, along with a name change, were unveiled as the first installment in a series of improvement projects that will progressively improve a number of local parks for Plant City residents.

In their second an final seven-on-seven tournament of the summer, the Plant City Raiders were crowned champions at the King of Kings tournament. And in his second professional fight, local boxer Jose Rodriguez moved to 2-0 with a knockout victory at 49-years-old.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

NEW GARBAGE COLLECTION NEARING PHASE 2

JULY

Plant City is Set to Complete New Cart System

F BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER

Residents can choose carts ranging in size from 95, 65 and 35 gallons. It’s also a means of cutting operating costs and stabilizing monthly rates. This project is being overseen by the Plant City Solid Waste Department.

The plan, which was approved by the Plant City Commission last year, is broken into two phases. Phase 1 is designed to facilitate one-half of residential customers, while Phase 2 caters to the second half.

The first phase has already been implemented and its results were presented to the city commission during the most recent meeting.

In June of last year, four automated collection trucks were ordered. Throughout the latter half of the 2020, the Solid Waste Department used post cards, solid waste guides, and educational videos, among others, to notify the public.

Also, feedback from the community was taken into consideration through surveys. In July and August of this year, the new carts were distributed to homes.

The new system started on Aug. 30, however the outcome was not foreseen.

“The number of customers in Phase 1 was a little higher than we expected,” said Jill Sessions, director of the Plant

City Solid Waste Department. “We also expected Phase 1 to be bigger than Phase 2, but the way the city is growing, Phase 2 – we estimate to be about 5,600 customers.”

She added that this is a plus as it will increase revenues.

Also, the automated trucks have allowed the truck drivers to maneuver around busy corridors such as Collins Street and Park Road.

For those who cannot push the cart to the curb of the road, truck drivers will assist them. Customers are allowed to have only four overfilled carts a year, free of charge.

If there’s a delay in certain cart sizes, the city will still provide manual service for those still waiting.

The carts should be placed by the curbs by 6 a.m. and no earlier than dusk the night before. It also should be located within six feet of the pavement at the front of the yard and no less than three feet away from objects such as poles, trees or mailboxes.

The new monthly rates will be $27.50 for the 95-gallon cart, $25.50 for the 65-gallon cart and $23 for the 35-gallon cart.

Phase 2 will follow the same procedure as Phase 1.

rontline Community Services teamed up with City Cuts Barber Shop, the Plant City Lion’s Club and Feeding Plant City for their first Haircuts for the Homeless event. The event provided haircuts, hygiene products and a hot meal for Plant City’s community in need.

Stingray Chevrolet was filled with book bags and school supplies as the Kiwanis Club of Plant City held its annual Stuff the Bus project. Each year Kiwanis provides an abundance of book bags stocked with all the necessary school supplies to students across the community.

Plant City Parks and Recreation leaves a lasting impact on community Through the Planteen Rec Center and newly-built Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, Parks and Rec provides a number of free or low-cost programs for Plant City’s residents.

Kiwanis Club of Plant City ushers in 100th anniversary. The group had a Centennial Celebration Dinner in honor of its

long years of service to the community.

Residents got a sneak peak at the city’s new automated trash collection trucks during a special ceremony where the winners of the naming contest received prize packages for their winning entry. Just before the community headed into City Hall to take part in the first commission meeting of the month, a crowd gathered in the circle in front of the building to take in the new automated trucks.

Plant City Police Department promoted 12 officers in what PCPD said was more than likely the largest promotion ceremony in the history of the department.

The officers and their families gathered at First Baptist Church of Plant City for the ceremony. Chief James Bradford addressed the officers and told them to strive for excellence and make it a point to mentor those in their charge.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

PlantCityObserver.com

AUGUST

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owntown Plant City is growing. The 25-acre area of Plant City known as “downtown” is unique and key to the attractiveness to existing and new businesses and their customers. People open businesses in the area and visit because of this attribute and fostering that going forward is important. It also helps support local businesses, the primary makeup of downtown Plant City.

Blessing Boxes become community staples in Plant City. The boxes provide nonperishable food items for those in need and a chance to give back for those who are able.

On Aug. 7 Firehouse Subs across the country provided guests who brought an unopened, 24-pack of bottled water of any brand, a free medium sub of their choice.

There was a limit to one medium sub per person, per case of unopened 24-pack bottled water. The goal is to help keep local first responders hydrated during the recordbreaking summer heat

SEPTEMBER

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ew Vision Cat Club, the Cat Fanciers’ Association’s original Bengal breed club and a licensed club within the association, to hold shows in Central Florida, held their a CFA Cat Show in Plant City. The show was the club’s fourth held at the Expo Hall, with each one getting easier and getting better according to show manager Rich Nolte.

The Plant City Photo Archives & History Center has officially named Executive Director Gil Gott’s successor. Samantha Poirier officially began training under Gott.

A Springhead Elementary school teacher launched a free lending library project that has now brought three libraries into communities around Plant City full of local students.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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OCTOBER

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he Plant City C.A.R.E.S. Team held their first Helping Hands Outreach Event in partnership with several law enforcement agencies across the Tampa Bay Area, including the Plant City Police Department, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department and the Tampa International Airport Police.

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce officially said goodbye to its former place of residency. This came as the Chamber relocated its office from North Evers Street to West Reynolds Street, both in downtown Plant City. The farewell event took place inside the former office spaceonce occupied with desks and chairs, now vacant and void of any settings.

NOVEMBER

P Pride, allegiance, and public service were key takeaways as the Plant City Police Department officially welcomed aboard three new officers.Officers Samuel Shireling, Rebecca Monroe, and John Amole were all sworn in at the Michael S. Sparkman Police Center.

The constructing of the new South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City started a new chapter with the project’s groundbreaking ceremony.The more advanced facility will provide adequate needs that the current one is lacking. Its location is east of the intersection where East Sam Allen Road meets North Park Road.

DECEMBER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

federal grant program now allows many Plant City projects to thrive.

This includes a new splash water park.

Elks Lodge #1727 once again held its annual Christmas get together for first responders. This year, several from Plant City Fire Rescue received promotions at the lodge.

First Responders were introduced into a new event that gives them a nice hearty breakfast every first Friday of the month.

The Plant City Kiwanis Club hosted its annual dog award contest. Three top canines received awards including a medallion.

Plant City had to end the year with a bang with its annual Christmas Parade, accompanied by new and reoccurring floats.

lant City once again put on its dancing shoes as contestants came out to perform for the annual Dancing with the Locals.

Achieve Plant City school moved into its new location, the Wesley Centre, as it celebrated its 10-year anniversary.

Before and after Veterans’ Day, numerous events were held in honor of our soldiers.

A new iconic mural now brightens downtown Plant City. It follows the historic timeline of the town.

DECEMBER 30, 2021

YEAR IN SPORTS

GLANCING BACK AT 2021 2021 was an exciting year for sports in Plant City as teams from all across the area saw a progressive return to relative normalcy as the year wore on.

Our local athletes fought their hearts out in each of their respective sports and some were even rewarded with championships, ranging from district and regional titles to youth football Super Bowls.

Plant City’s parks played host to several tournaments and the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center was able to open its doors to more activities than ever.

Take a look back at some of the Plant City Observer staff’s favorite sports photos from the last year.

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PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

TOP 5 ATHLETES

TOP 5 TEAMS

1. Sean Hermann

1. Strawberry Crest Cheer

DURANT BASEBALL

A year removed from winning their first UCA National Championship, Strawberry Crest’s Cheer team won their seventh consecutive state title this past February, continuing to establish themselves as one of the most dominant teams from any sport in the state of Florida.

Despite having to change divisions midway through the season, just two seniors on the roster and several players regularly forced to miss time due to quarantine, their strong run of success continued.

With nine wins, three saves, 135 strikeouts over 78.1 innings pitched and an earned run average of just 0.36, Sean Hermann was one of the most dominant pitchers in the state this past year.

With the ninth-lowest ERA and third-most strikeouts in the state of Florida, Hermann not only cemented himself as an instrumental part of Durant’s run to the State Final Four, but as one of the area’s best athletes in 2021. Hermann later committed to the University of South Florida but signed with the New York Yankees after being selected in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

2. Jackson Knotts

2. PCHS Special Olympics Unified Basketball

Jackson Knotts played football for Plant City High School, ultimately committing to Texas Tech as a long snapper where he earned the starting spot this past fall season. But despite his success on the football field, it was arguably his second-most impressive achievement in terms of high school athletics.

This past March, as a member of Plant City’s Track and Field team, Knotts attended the Bob English Invite in Lakeland where he set a new FHSAA state record in the javelin throw with a 57.23 meter toss – a throw that cleared the state’s previous record by two meters.

Several teams from Plant City High School have earned the title of State Champions over their 106-year history, but their Special Olympics Unified basketball team became the first team in school history to reach that mountaintop twice, doing so in back-toback seasons.

The team is comprised of both Plant City High School’s Special Olympics athletes and general education Unified partners, led by coaches Lisa Goad, Jacob Goad and Maverick Lawrence.

Success has become regular for the basketball team, with both of their state championships coming on the heels of a third-place finish at the Special Olympics USA Games in 2018.

3. Leo Tabakovic

3. Durant Baseball

DURANT FOOTBALL

Led by pitcher Sean Hermann, later selected by the Yankees in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Durant’s baseball team rattled off a 22-6 record en route to an appearance in the FHSAA 7A State Final Four.

For Durant, it was the school’s third trip to the state Final Four and their first appearance since 2015.

PLANT CITY FOOTBALL/TRACK AND FIELD

En route to an 8-3 record for Durant football in 2021, the Cougars’ defense allowed the fewest points in the district, a huge part of that effort coming from senior defensive end Leo Tabakovic.

Garnering a first-team All-Conference selection, Tabakovic totaled 48 tackles while his 18 tackles for loss were good for fourth-best in the district and his 11.5 sacks led the district.

4. Durant Softball

4. Ezra Carpenter STRAWBERRY CREST SOCCER

Strawberry Crest’s Ezra Carpenter led Strawberry Crest to a 13-3 record and a district championship during the 2020-2021 season, leading the Chargers with 23 goals and netting both goals in a 2-0 victory over Bloomingdale in the District Finals.

To start the 2021-2022 season, the junior forward has picked up right where she left off last year. Despite playing in just six of Strawberry Crest’s first eight games, she leads the district with 12 goals and garnered Hillsborough County Girls Soccer Player of the Week

by PrimeTimePreps.com following her five-goal performance against King High School on Nov. 16.

5. Marcus Miguele DURANT FOOTBALL

Quarterback Marcus Miguele was the definition of a dual threat for the Cougars as he led Durant to an 8-3 record under first-year head coach Claybo Varnum, the team’s highest single-season win total since 2016, and their first Redman Cup victory since 2017.

Miguele finished the year with 15 passing touchdowns, tied for the district lead with Plant City’s Clint Danzey, and just six interceptions. He also finished the year with 1087 passing yards, 674 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. His 1,761 total yards led the district while finishing sixth in the district in rushing yards and fourth in the district in rushing touchdowns.

Narrowly following behind Durant’s baseball team in 2021 was their softball team, putting together a run of dominance on the diamond across both sports this past year.

The Cougars’ softball team put together an 18-3 record, rattling off 10 consecutive wins to end their regular season and cap their run to the regional finals, falling one game shy of a state Final Four appearance. Despite a young roster that lost just five seniors to graduation, Durant batted .402 as a team in 2021.

5. Strawberry Crest Girls Soccer After starting the season on a 10-game win streak, Strawberry Crest’s girls soccer team finished their 2020-2021 season 13-3, adding a district championship to their trophy case in a 2-0 victory over Bloomingdale in the District Finals along the way.

The Chargers were led by forward Ezra Carpenter, totaling a district-leading 23 goals, a whole nine goals ahead of senior teammate Kali Vician who finished the season as the district’s second-best goal scorer with 14 of her own.

MY FIRST YEAR IN REVIEW A look back at my first year with The Plant City Observer.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

There was a time when I knew very little about Plant City. Growing up in Temple Terrace, I knew of Plant City. I knew about the Strawberry Festival, I’d come to it a time or two.

I knew that it was the small town you’d pass on the way to Orlando or that it had the high school with the bright colors that we’d make the trip over to meet every once in a while when I played baseball.

For a few years before joining the Plant City Observer as a full-time staff writer, I would occasionally help with an article or two in the spring, when the festival was in full swing and there was always a need for an extra hand to help tell the never-ending stories that it brings along.

While I knew of Plant City, that was really my first time getting to meet some of the community that makes Plant City so much more than just the city that hosts the Strawberry Festival, the one off the interstate on the way to Orlando.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

WHAT A YEAR IT’S BEEN

Ringing in the new year with a look back at 2021.

TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER

The first thing that struck me was the strong sense of community. Even for a city with a small town feel, it felt unique and passionate. When speaking with people it was clear not just how much they cared about Plant City, but how many people truly cared that much. How many were willing to go out of their way to help and to volunteer and to go the extra mile.

Once I joined the Observer I started to realize a big reason for that was how deep the community ran within Plant City and how long many people and their family have lived here. I would meet more and more people who would tell me stories of when they went to Plant City High School, just like their children and sometimes their grandchildren. In some cases, I spoke to people whose grandparents and parents

had attended the same middle school that they attended, only to see their children and grandchildren attend as well. And for the ones that were relative new-comers to Plant City? Well, it didn’t take them long to become invested as well.

When school rolled around and sports were back in full swing, that energy was brought along with it. Look no further than Claybo Varnum as an example. A third generation native of Pinecrest/Plant City himself, he grew up watching Durant football before spending four years as a player, over a decade working as an assistant coach, several years as a teacher and now serves as their newest head coach.

His grandfather, Joe E. Newsome, is the namesake for Newsome High School and Durant’s Varnum Fieldhouse bears his last name, following the mark left by his family on the school before him.

When Plant City area teams face off the community shows up, especially for

exciting local rivalries like the Redman Cup between Plant City and Durant or the Alafia River Rivalry between Durant and Newsome, filling the stands. In fact, the matchup between Durant and Newsome this football season brought enough traffic to keep me stuck on Fishhawk Blvd for 45 minutes, a level of energy I couldn’t have imagined when I was a high school athlete in Tampa and certainly a level of energy that I wish I could have predicted when I hit Fishhawk Blvd 30 minutes before kickoff.

In my relatively short time at the Observer I’ve had the opportunity to tell some incredible stories and meet some even more incredible people. I’ve had the opportunity to learn more about what makes Plant City so special and after less than a year with the Observer, I’m excited to leap into a new year and see what 2022 brings.

Taylor Jenkins is the Sports Writer at the Plant City Observer. Email: tjenkins@ plantcityobserver.com.

LOCAL PREPS SCOREBOARD PLANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 LENNARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Girls Soccer - Dec. 20 LAND O’ LAKES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 DURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Boys Basketball - Dec. 17 DURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EAST LAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ROBINSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PLANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

WIREGRASS RANCH . . . . . . . . . . . .

STRAWBERRY CREST . . . . . . . . . . . . .

77 71 66 71 66 59

Boys Basketball - Dec. 18 PLANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 WHARTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

287682-1

Boys Soccer - Dec. 17

Girls Basketball - Dec. 17 DURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ALONSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ROBINSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PLANT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

WIREGRASS RANCH . . . . . . . . . . . .

STRAWBERRY CREST . . . . . . . . . . . . .

72 45 67 31 66 20

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

YOUR AROUND TOWN SPONSOR

BEST OF IT’S READ EVERYWHERE 2021 Our readers love to travel and always make sure to take a copy of the paper with them wherever they go, even if it’s to the edge of the world. This year readers headed out across the country and brought the paper along.

Did you take the Observer with you on vacation? Send your pictures to Staff Writer Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@plantcityobserver.com to be featured.

Brockport, New York

Helen, Georgia

Centerville, Indiana

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

BEST OF CUTEST CRITTER 2021 We love highlighting your furry and scaly friends whenever we can, and readers kept a steady stream of cuteness in our email inboxes and Facebook messages this year.

Bailey and Cody

Evie

Hedwig

Hondo

Kirby

Little Bit

Florist

116 North Collins Street Plant City, FL 33563 ph: (813) 567-5735 allabloomtampa.com

Historic Downtown 287464-1

Sammy

Sky

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YOUR CALENDAR

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

BEST BET FRIDAY, JAN. 7 MLK FEST OPENING CEREMONY

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1601 E, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. The 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Arts Festival will kick off on Jan. 7 at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. The opening ceremony will start an 11-day run of events associated with the Cultural Festival. Additionally, Plant City’s African American Historic Trail will begin on Jan. 7 and run through Jan 17, a selfie tour through 28 historic structures, places and parks affiliated with African American History. For more information on the opening ceremony or any of the Festival’s other events – including the MLK Parade, the Battle of the Bands, Unity Night, the MLK Health Fair and more – visit www.plantcitymlkfestival.com.

TUESDAY, JAN. 4 SQUARE DANCING LESSONS

6:30 to 8 p.m. at 4401 Promenade Blvd.

Head down to the Strawberry Square Dance Center in January to kick off the new year with Modern Western Square Dancing Lessons. The event offers great physical and mental exercise, all through a fun social activity. The first lesson is free and any following lessons will cost $7 per person per lesson, with children from eight to 18 admitted free with parents. For more information or to register, call 860-9419841 or 813-723-0941.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 5 FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing.

If you’ve served any time in the military, retired or non-retention, and would like to review your benefits please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday.

Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-706-5800 to set a specific time.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH ESTRANGED FAMILIES

6:30 to 8 p.m. at GracePoint Church, 1107 Charlie Griffin Rd. Join other parents who are estranged from their adult children.

PEAK (Parents of Estranged Adult Kids) group provides a safe place to listen, share and support others going through the hurt of adult family abandonment. Meetings will include group discussions, self-care and positively-influenced activities to help cope with the situation. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. For more information, visit www.peaksupportgroup.com.

SUNSET SOUNDS

6 to 8 p.m. at 5202 Thonotosassa Rd. Sunset Sounds is a summer music series featuring acoustic music from local artists.

Head over to Keel & Curley Winery every Wednesday evening to enjoy music, food, drinks and sunshine on their patio.

THURSDAY, JAN. 6 PLANT CITY TOASTMASTERS

7:30 to 9 a.m. Join the Plant City Toastmasters for breakfast, laughs and fun; there’s no better way to start your Thursday mornings. The Toastmasters also offer Zoom meetings for those who can’t make it in person. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/PlantCityToastmasters.

BLUEGRASS NIGHT

7 to 8:30 at 101 E. J. Arden Mays Blvd. Krazy Kup will hold a very special Bluegrass Night to kick off the new year, welcoming three award-winning, Grammy-nominated artists in Richard Bennett, Shawn Lane and Cory Walker to the Loft. Bennett, a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for JD Crowe and the New South Flashback Band, is a two-time Grammy-nominated artist. Lane, a long-time mandolin and fiddle player, vocalist and songwriter for Blue Highway, has garnered 22 IBMA awards and three Grammy nominations. Walker, of The Walker Brothers, has played alongside several major Bluegrass acts in addition to being named the IBMA Momentum Banjo Player of the Year. Tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased on-site or online at www.eventbrite.com.

SATURDAY, JAN. 8 STRAWBERRY SQUARE WALTZ LESSONS

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 4401 Promenade Blvd. Head down to the Strawberry Square Dance Center this January for beginning waltz lessons. The event provides a fun way to get out and exercise, in addition to making some new friends. Beginning waltz lessons will take place every Saturday throughout January, February and March.

The first lesson is free and all following lessons will cost $7 per person per lesson.

For more information or to register, text or call Cindy at 864-723-6965.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 5 FREE ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY VETERANS

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Federal, state and local opportunities are constantly changing.

If you’ve served any time in the military, retired or non-retention, and would like to review your benefits please take advantage of free assistance at the Bing House Museum, 205 Allen St., every Wednesday.

Walk-ins welcomed or call 813-706-5800 to set a specific time.

SUNSET SOUNDS

6 to 8 p.m. at 5202 Thonotosassa Rd. Sunset Sounds is a summer music series featuring acoustic music from local artists.

Head over to Keel & Curley Winery every Wednesday evening to enjoy music, food, drinks and sunshine on their patio.

SATURDAY, JAN. 15 CAT SHOW

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at 2301 W. Oak Ave. Head to the TECO Expo Hall at the Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds for an All Breed and Household Pet Cat Show, hosted by the Cat Fanciers’ Association. Over 30 breeds of cats and household pets from around the nation will compete for awards and titles, with vendors in attendance selling all types of cat merchandise for you and your furry friend. In addition, the family-friendly event will have fun for all ages including a children’s coloring contest and a cat costume contest both days. Admission will cost $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/military, $6 for children aged three to 12 and family packs are available with tickets for two adults and two children for $25. All cats must be pre-registered for all events before the show. For more information, visit www.cfa.org.

STRAWBERRY CLASSIC CRUISE-IN

3 to 6:30 at 102 N. Palmer St. The Plant City Classic Cruise-In is back on Saturday, Jan. 15, rain or shine. Cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1996 can register for free starting at 3 p.m. Live music will be provided by DJ John Paul Gasca.

STRAWBERRY SQUARE WALTZ LESSONS

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 4401 Promenade Blvd. Head down to the Strawberry Square Dance Center this January for beginning waltz lessons. The event provides a fun way to get out and exercise, in addition to making some new friends. Beginning waltz lessons will take place every Saturday throughout January, February and March.

The first lesson is free and all following lessons will cost $7 per person per lesson.

For more information or to register, text or call Cindy at 864-723-6965.

THURSDAY DAY, JAN. 20 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

5 to 7 p.m. at 303 S. Collins St. Head down to Roots Cellars on Thursday evening for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’ Business After Business After Hours event, hosted by Gould’s Air Conditioning & Heating. These monthly events bring together members of the busines community in a fun-filled atmosphere, designed to encourage networking and interaction while enjoying delectable food and drinks. Business After Hours events are free for Chamber members to attend and sponsorships for the event fill up quickly, so secure yours today. If interested in sponsoring a Business After Hours event, contact Kate at 813-754-3707 or by email at kate@plantcity.org. Don’t forget your business cards!

FRIDAY, JAN. 28 LAST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN

5 to 9 p.m. at McCall Park, 100 N. Collins St. Get ready for the first Last Friday in Downtown of the new year. The Last Friday in Downtown Food Truck Rally is held with a new theme each month. There will be live music, market vendors and food trucks. The event is family and pet friendly.

All are recommended to bring chairs and blankets.

PLANT CITY OBSERVER

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

BEST OF I LOVE PLANT CITY 2021 We don’t need to tell you Plant City is an extremely photogenic place — you know that as well as anyone, and you showed us throughout 2021 with your photos of life around this strawberry town.

Send your photo submissions to Staff Writer Taylor Jenkins at tjenkins@PlantCityObserver.com or hashtag #iloveplantcity on Instagram for @igersplantcity to feature.

Amanda Verner

ONLINE

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Kathy Flemister

Follow us on social media: @PCObserver on Instgram, @PlantObserver on Twitter and Plant City Observer on Facebook.

ACROSS 1 Rene of “Ransom” (1996) 6 Not as expensive 10 A bit loopy 14 Part of “the works” on a burger 15 Old man, in German 16 Needle case 17 1950 Gloria Swanson film 20 Peanut butter choice 21 Like wax fruit 22 Note from one who’s shy?

24 Laser pointer chaser 25 1979 Jim Henson film 33 Get out of bed

34 Jazz instruments 35 Peruvian singer Sumac 36 Squirrel’s hoard 37 Credited in an endnote 38 Place to tie up a boat 39 24-hr. cash source 40 Equestrian 41 “That’s __!”: “Piece of cake!”

42 1988 Demi Moore film 45 News initials 46 __ bunt: productive MLB out 47 Looks at closely 52 “John Wick” star Keanu 57 2002 Woody Allen film ... or what each of the

last words of 17-, 25- and 42-Across can be 59 “Garfield” dog 60 Baseball family name 61 Dalai Lama’s land 62 Have a craving for 63 Appraise 64 Clairvoyants DOWN 1 PBS painter Bob 2 E pluribus __ 3 Chinese: Pref.

4 Fair-to-middling 5 Previous 6 Chem class 7 Fair-haired Wells race 8 Flabbergast

9 Chose 10 Actor Danny who appears in M&M’s commercials 11 Run __: drink on credit 12 Roll and bind, as a sail 13 Laundry soap brand 18 Commandment pronoun 19 Red-wrapped cheeses 23 Positive aspect 25 “The __ is out there”: “The X-Files” catchphrase 26 Blackjack request 27 Handy Scrabble tile 28 Eucharistic plate 29 Applies, as pressure 30 Competing (for) 31 “Know what __?”

32 Wyatt of the Old West 33 Future MD’s class 37 1860s North-South conflict 38 Letter before omega 40 Settle, as a debt 41 Climbs 43 Rental from a renter 44 Tortoise racer 47 Website with step-bystep instructions 48 “Star Wars” sentence inverter 49 Tiger Woods’ ex 50 1970 Kinks hit 51 Chimney residue 53 Actress Falco 54 Vague feeling 55 The “E” in DOE: Abbr.

56 Some NCOs 58 Deserving

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