Plant City Observer 07.14.12

bserver O

PLANT CITY

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

SPORTS

NEWS

inside

Organizations find The Plant City new homes after 10-11 All-Stars Red Rose closes. seek greatness.

PAGE 15

PAGE 3

OUR TOWN

Plant City Fire Chief George Shiley retires.

PAGE 5

all about you By Michael Eng | Managing Editor

Born on the 4th of July Locally owned, the Plant City Observer will focus on local news, sports and features about you, your neighbors and your neighborhood.

+ It’s Read Everywhere!

Miss University of Florida Ashlyn Robinson, a 2010 Plant City High School graduate, got her hands on a rare prototype copy of the Plant City Observer during her visit to the Plant City Lions Club June 26, at The Catering Company & Café.

This week, Robinson, a former Raider cheerleader, Florida Strawberry Festival queen court member, Miss Teen Heart of Plant City and Little Miss Plant City, will be competing in the Miss Florida pageant at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

If you’re going on vacation, remember to grab a copy of the Plant City Observer to take with you. Snap a photo of you with the paper at your destination of choice and email it to Managing Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com.

In many ways, it is fitting the Plant City Observer’s birthday is July 4.

Much like the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 gave birth to an overwhelming sense of dream and wonder, we hope the Plant City Observer

signifies the beginning of great opportunity in this city we all love.

The Plant City Observer is a weekly community newspaper dedicated solely to Plant City, its residents and businesses. It is the product of a partnership between longtime Plant City luminaries Ed

STOP ON BY

The Plant City Observer is located at 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, in Historic Downtown Plant City. For more information, call us at (813) 704-6850.

Verner, Nate Kilton and Publisher Felix Haynes, former president of Hillsborough Community College’s Plant City campus, and the

Spirit of America

Eris Doner practiced her sparkler technique in preparation for this year’s Fourth of July festivities. The 3-year-old loves living close to Historic Downtown Plant City, which she visits often with her parents, Dawn and Thomas, and sister, Athena, 2.

For the July 4 edition of the Plant City Observer, we scoured the city searching for images that depicted the American culture and patriotism.

+ Class of 1977 plans 35th reunion Calling all members of the Plant City High School Class of 1977: Reservations for your 35th reunion are due July 6.

Festivities for the reunion include at casual night from 6 to 11 p.m. Aug 3, at Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City, followed by a banquet Aug. 4, at Embassy Suites Brandon, 10220 Palm River Road, Tampa.

SEE OBSERVER / PAGE 14

renovation reality

By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

Plant City hospital plans $5M expansion South Florida Baptist Hospital’s expansion will include a new women’s imaging unit, parking lot and improvements to its inpatient surgical care unit.

+ Seminary seeks yard sale donations Evangelical University & Seminary is seeking donations for its upcoming yard sale.

The sale will be July 21 and 28.

Anyone wishing to donate items to the sale should contact Bob Westlake, 752-7197.

Sarasota-based Observer Media Group Inc., a family-owned and operated publisher of community newspapers and websites in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

The newspaper is the end product of more than a decade of research initiated by Verner.

“I have been passionate about Plant City’s news voice for more than 10 years,” he said. “Many good people have worked hard

From cow pastures and cowboy boots to the fire department and boys playing Little League baseball, the American spirit is indeed alive and well in Plant City.

We hope you enjoy these photos as you celebrate the Fourth of July. For more photos, see page 12.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ENG

Steve Nierman, chief operating officer of South Florida Baptist Hospital, introduced a $5 million renovation plan at an open meeting June 19, at Hope Lutheran Church.

“It’s going to touch almost every department in the hospital and it’s really going to make it more conducive for patient care, for privacy and just more aesthetic for the patient,” Nierman said.

The plan spans several different projects that should be completed in seven months. Nierman expects the rapid pace of the projects to be “disruptive,” but that it will pay off in the end.

The projects include: Renovations to the inpatient surgical care and telemetry units; a new women’s imaging center; and demolition of the Swindle Diagnostic Center to make room for a new parking lot.

“The real meat of the $5 million

SEE HOSPITAL / PAGE 14

INDEX News Briefs..........4

Vol. 1, No. 1 | One section

Crossword.......... 19

Opinion.................8

Sports................ 15

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

moving forward By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

New opportunities bloom following Red Rose closing Several Plant City businesses have opened their doors to organizations requiring meeting space following the closing of the Red Rose Inn and Suites.

For the last decade, the Red Rose Inn and Suites fulfilled the role of Plant City’s unofficial town hall, banquet facility and crown jewel. Richly decorated and presented to the public by always elegantly dressed co-owner Evelyn Madonia, the Red Rose oozed with Southern charm.

And, perhaps most importantly, it was the favorite meeting spot for virtually every Plant City organization requiring such a facility.

Following the Red Rose’s sudden closing in May, those organizations were forced to move their events and meetings, giving other local businesses new opportunities to grow.

The Plant City Bar Association ultimately moved its meetings to the Plant City Carrabba’s Italian Grill, which was able to accommodate the group with its open meeting room and buffet-style service. It was a major move for the association, for which the Red Rose had been its longtime home.

“As long as I can remember, we’ve had meetings at the Red Rose Inn,” Jack Wolff, secretary for the association, said.

The Rotary Club of Plant City also moved its weekly meeting to Carrabba’s.

“We had an amazing, really nice facility to meet,” Rotary President Keith Smith said of the Red Rose. “You’re moving from an open setting to more of a restaurant feel,” Smith said.

Both the Kiwanis Club of Plant City and the Plant City Lions Club moved to The Catering Company & Café on East Reynolds Street in downtown. Outgoing Lions Club President Gail Lyons said the move hasn’t affected

rocket’s red glare

By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

July 4 fireworks brighten Plant City After a four-year absence, Plant City’s fireworks show is ready to explode.

Courtesy of the Plant City Photo Archives

The facility opened as a Holiday Inn in the 1960s and later became a part of the Ramada Inn chain. The Madonias bought the facility in 2003 and invested more than $4 million into the Red Rose to give it its distinctive Southern charm. her club too much and said members are enjoying patronizing a downtown businesses.

“We haven’t missed a beat,” Lyons said.

Like the bar association and Rotary, the Lions Club needed a quiet, open meeting space.

“It’s a business meeting as well as a social gathering,” Lyons said. “We still need to conduct the business of the club.”

In addition to the restaurants accommodating Plant City’s civic organizations, other local facilities are enjoying some in-

CITY CENTERPIECE As a business, the Red Rose offered 261 hotel rooms, an elegant restaurant and, of course, its lavish ballroom that could accommodate as many as 500 guests.

Moreover, several local businesses rented hotel rooms and used them as home offices.

Susan Staton taught private lessons in her studio at the Red Rose. She also taught dance lessons every Monday in the ballroom. Staton said she was sad the Red Rose closed but knew it was coming. She is still teaching dance lessons in Plant City, along with working as a deejay, but hasn’t found a studio yet.

“I haven’t completely flown the coup yet,” Staton said.

In the Field magazine had an office in the Red Rose since 2006. Karen Barry, the publisher, described the office space as “professional.”

They have since moved their office to South Alexander Street.

“It was a great place, great

3

opportunity, great people,” Barry said.

The Red Rose also acted as an entertainment venue and throughout the years attracted notable national acts such as The Temptations, The Drifters and The Platters to Plant City.

Local favorites Destiny performed at the Plant City business every weekend.

“We all wanted it to last,” said Destiny vocalist Erika Flaskamp. “It is such a great place. There’s stars on the ceiling, there’s dancing, you can dress up.”

crease in business as they host larger events, such as weddings and banquets.

John Keaton, general manager of the Walden Lakes Golf and Country Club, said the club will host a wedding this month.

The Plant City Chamber of Commerce is now meeting at the club, as well.

The club offers a private dining room, a main dining room and one smaller meeting room which could be used for club meetings. Catering is on site for larger events but not for smaller meetings.

“Hey, we are here,” Keaton said.

Similarly, Hillsborough Community College’s Trinkle Center is available to host larger events.

“Now that the Red Rose is gone, we’d like to turn our attention to becoming a venue,” Jared Thompson, facility manager for the Trinkle Center, said. “If we work something out with the civic clubs, we could have potentially 200 to 300 new customers.”

The Trinkle Center includes 25,000 square feet of event space that can be customized with removable walls. The center can host anything from a large wedding to a baby shower. But caterers must be brought in, and the college has first use of the space.

In downtown, the new Ends of the Earth Cafe, which opened in June on J. Arden Boulevard, boasts an 1,100-square-foot banquet-style hall upstairs that can accommodate groups of about 80 to 100.

“We’ve had a lot of inquiries,” owner Randy Holeyfield said.

The café’s menu has sandwiches from $3 to $5.50, and Holeyfield said he can create a menu specific to the club or event needs.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

REACTION What was your reaction of the Red Rose’s closing?

“It was a good community place. It’s so sad that it’s closing.”

— Nicole Elek “I didn’t even know it was closed. I was going to take my mother there after she got out of the hospital.

That’s a shame.”

— Kay Vance “I’ve been there for a wedding.

It’s an important venue for that.”

— Regina Williamson “It’s definitely sad to see it close. They did a lot of entertainment.”

— Wendy Barr

“That’s terrible.

I thought it was a nice place.

It belongs to an era that most people wouldn’t think was romantic unless you were from that time.”

— Gloria Fisher

Joseph Mendolia has fond childhood memories about watching Plant City’s fireworks show with his dad.

“The fireworks were always a staple in our community,” the USF graduate student said.

“It was sad to see it disappear.”

But Mendolia has nothing to be sad about anymore. The fireworks will explode again for the first time since 2007.

And this year, Mendolia not only will enjoy the colorful display but also will be a part of the festivities as executive and artistic director of the Plant City Community Choir, which is performing before the display.

“The fact that we get to be part of it, that I get to relive something from the past, is just wonderful,” he said.

The celebration began in 2002 and continued for six years. But the sparks stopped flying after the last show in 2007.

“In 2008, the economy was tanking,” Jack Holland, director of the Recreation and Parks Department, said. “Our budget shrank drastically in 2008 and 2009.”

Another factor that extinguished the fireworks was the closing of Bill Heard Chevrolet, a title sponsor for the event.

But this year, more than 15 sponsors have pulled together to help fund the celebration and bring it back to the community.

Zambelli Fireworks, which has produced some of the largest displays in the country, is managing the show. The fireworks will be ignited from the Larson Softball Fourplex.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

Schedule 5:45 p.m.: Parking lot opens 6 p.m.: Stadium, concessions and activities open 6 p.m.: Stage entertainment starts 8:45 p.m.: Concessions and activities close 9 p.m.: Military salute and national anthem 9:15 p.m.: Fireworks

Plant city observer

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auction action

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

NEWSBRIEFS

By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

Auction draws 200 to Trinkle Center

+ Rotary, Lions clubs name new presidents

About $20 million of property — including several historic buildings — was available at the auction.

He hoped someone would buy the almost 20 acres on James L. Redman Parkway and turn it into a shopping strip. But, the bidding did not reach the reserve price.

Mia Roach, representing the owner of the State Theater Emporium on West J. Arden Mays Boulevard, was looking to buy the historic building adjacent to the emporium. The plan was to cut a doorway between the two buildings to expand the antique shop, but an absentee bidder won the bid.

“It’s exciting to bid,” Roach said.

Shelly Connell, of Southern Hospitality, said her company had no plans yet for the commercial building it won on West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Because it was a reserve property, the seller still has to accept the bid.

“We’ll have to wait and see if it goes through,” Connell said. “Everything is kind of up in the air.”

About 200 people attended the auction, which pleased Auction Manager Earl Williams.

“It was a really good crowd,” he said. “We had a lot of different types of properties available, so that drew in a lot of people.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

Amber Jurgensen

Auctioneer Mike Nall kept a close eye for bidders at last week’s auction.

THE Winning Bids Property Sale Price 609 and 703 S. Alexander St. $650,000 1513 James L. Redman Parkway $140,000 901 W. MLK, Jr. Blvd. $110,000 703 Hitchcock St. $135,000 3018 and 3020 James L. Redman Parkway No sale Trapnell and Smith Ryals roads, parcels one and two $1,050 per acre Trapnell and Smith Ryals roads, parcels one, two and three $6,700 per acre 14070 and 14140 Sydney Road, parcel one $125,000 14070 and 14140 Sydney Road, parcel two $15,000 Tillman Place No sale Park Road and Jim Johnson Road $300,000 503 and 507 Park Road No sale 1301 W. Reynolds St. $300,000 Roberts Ranch Road No sale Sparkman Road, parcels one, two and three $2,300 per acre Thonotosassa Road, parcel one, (absolute), parcel two $15,500 13350 E. U.S. 92, parcel one and two $150,000 1508 Sammonds Road $210,000 2309 Sammonds Road $31,000 MLK Boulevard (absolute) $1,000 per acre Interstate 4 and McIntosh Road $400,000 U.S. 33 and Tomkow Road $200,000 102 S. Evers St. $350,000 111 S. Collins St. (absolute) $250,500 1223 E. Lake Parker Drive $150,000

+ Migrant advocate earns national award Lourdes Villanueva, director of farmworker advocacy for the Redlands Christian Migrant Association in Plant City, was recognized with President Barack Obama’s Champion of Change award June 18, in Washington, D.C. “I took it as an opportunity to let them know the wonderful things that we do with migrant farmer worker families,” Villanueva said.

The RCMA serves 8,000 migrant children at 75 centers in 21 Florida counties by offering education and training programs.

Jack T. Gibbs RealToRs est. 1954 Realtors Jack T. Gibbs Doug F. Gibbs ken a. Gibbs

Home and 5 acres 3 bedroom, 2 bath block home, barn, small pond. Adjacent to city. $175,000

Residential

office building near Hospital Private office, two exam rooms, waiting room, secretary office. Contains 1,327 square feet. $214,000

commercial industrial acreage lots investment Development

former auto dealersHip 9.9 acres with buildings containing 26,273 square feet.

3 acres paved parking. $1,800,000 lot 1.3 acre in deed restricted subdivision. $69,500 2.3 acres commercial lot near i-4 with block building containing 1,646 SF and accessory building with 1,680 SF. $425,000

106 W Grant st.

Plant city, Fl

813-752-6171

congratulations to the

Plant city observer on your first issue

85967

In the market for some property? How does a 74-acre equine facility with two horse barns sound? Or maybe a pair of charming historic buildings in Plant City’s downtown?

These were just three of the properties available at a Higgenbotham Auctioneers auction June 28, at the John R. Trinkle Center in Plant City.

A last-minute property in Lakeland was added to the property list, making a total of 24 properties with 34 parcels up for grabs and with an estimated combined value of $20 million. Four properties were in bankruptcy. The two historic buildings, properties 22 and 23, were owned by Platinum Bank.

Plant City Mayor Michael S. Sparkman was auctioning off four different properties: about 2.5 acres with three commercial buildings on South Alexander Street; 19.2 acres on James L. Redman Parkway; 3.7 acres of vacant commercial land on Tillman Place; and 3.4 acres of vacant commercial land on West Reynolds Street.

“They’re all pretty good properties,” Sparkman said.

It was Sparkman’s first time selling property at an auction.

“I’m just trying to stir up some excitement,” Sparkman said.

The Rotary Club of Plant City installed new President Billy Keel during a banquet June 21, at Lone Palm Country Club in Lakeland. The organization also awarded several honors, including the Rotarian of the Year to Bill Wicker and the Rising Star Award to Charles Harris.

The Lions Club of Plant City held its banquet June 26, at The Catering Company & Café. The club named Kerrie Gafford as its new president. It also presented several awards: Lion of the Year (Michael Cameron); President Award and First Vice President Award (Kerrie Gafford); Second Vice President Award (Steve Nierman); Third Vice President Award (Jason Jones); Secretary Award (Brian West); and Treasurer Award (Mark Cornett).

See our listings at

jacktgibbs.com

85977

4

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

Wednesday, JULY 4, 2012

farewell

5

By Michael Eng | Managing Editor

So long, Chief Technically, this isn’t George Shiley’s first retirement.

Before he became Plant City’s fire chief 13 years ago, Shiley retired on a Friday as chief of his hometown fire department in Johnstown, Pa., where he had served for 24 years.

He immediately climbed into his car, stopping in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday to visit with his children. On Sunday, he drove to his new home and, on Monday, began work in Plant City.

“I was retired for a weekend,” Shiley said, laughing. “And I spent that weekend on the road.”

Last week, Shiley, 62, retired for the second time after 13 years of service in Plant City. Although he insists it will stick this time, Shiley spent the first few days in much the same fashion — in a car with his wife, Joan, and driving north to Raleigh to be with his children, Geoff and Nicole, and three grandchildren.

“I’m looking forward to it — I

really am,” he said.

After 37 years in fire rescue, Shiley said he began considering retirement after suffering a heart attack about one year ago. The notion became more attractive after a recent vacation to France.

Earlier this year, the Shileys put their home on the market. Within a week, they had an offer.

“It was just meant to be,” Shiley said.

Ch-ch-ch changes

During his time in Plant City, Shiley piloted the fire department’s transition to a complete fire-rescue operation. Two years after beginning his work here, Shiley added basic life-support service to the department. Then, in 2005, he gave members of his staff an opportunity to return to school to become paramedics.

And two years later, Plant City’s department, then renamed Plant City Fire Rescue, launched its first advanced life support unit.

Today, of the department’s 36 firefighters, 26 are also trained paramedics. And Shiley estimates as many as 90% of his department’s calls are for life-support needs.

“In fire service, one of the biggest problems is tradition — sometimes, people aren’t openminded to change,” he said. “But, you can become stagnant.

“There was a golden opportunity to improve things,” Shiley said.

“We’ve improved our value to the citizens.”

Lifetime of service

Born and raised in Johnstown, Shiley was working in the city’s parks and recreation department when he took a test for civil-service work. At the time, there were no jobs available in the police force, so Shiley took a position at the fire department. After 15 years, he was promoted to chief.

“Johnstown was a distressed city, and we faced lots of challenges,” he said.

As chief, Shiley worked toward building better a relationship between the fire department and

plant City appoints interim fire chief

Burnett

Following Fire Chief George Shiley’s retirement, City Manager Greg Horwedel appointed Division Chief of Training/Prevention David Burnett as interim fire chief.

Burnett, who has spent the past five years with Plant

City Fire Rescue, started his career as a junior firefighter in the Boy Scouts Explorer Post program at the Midway Fire District in Gulf Breeze. He later served as the district’s chief from 1996 to 2003, before taking

the helm at Chiefland Fire Rescue.

“We love it here,” Burnett said of Plant City. “We built our new house about three years ago. My plan is to reach retirement here.”

— Michael Eng

Michael Eng

During his time in Plant City, George Shiley added complete emergency medical services to the fire department. the labor union — a skill he also utilized in Plant City.

“The goal was to make life as simple as we could,” he said.

As Plant City Fire Rescue continues to grow, Shiley said budgetary concerns and costs will remain as challenges.

“The fire service is in the process of putting itself out of business,” he said. “The technology is so expensive, but we can’t do without it.”

The department added a $600,000 quint fire truck in 2010 as well as a $134,000 ambulance last year — both of which need to last at least 15 years, Shiley said.

“You have to be a realist,” he said. “It’s not just putting the wet stuff on the red stuff anymore.”

Hanging it up

And as much as Shiley loves his career of choice, he is quite satisfied to step into retirement.

“I worry all the time,” he said.

“That’s a big part I’m not going to miss at all.”

Shiley said it was particularly hard June 18 — the fifth anniversary of the Sofa Super Star fire that killed nine firefighters in South Carolina.

“That happens too often anymore,” he said. “I experienced one firefighter fatality in my career, and I don’t want to go through that again.”

In addition to spending time with his children and grandchildren, Shiley said he’s looking forward to traveling with his wife and also enjoying several hobbies, including golf and hockey.

“I’ve really enjoyed the 13 years I’ve been here,” Shiley said. “The commissioners and city manager have been so receptive to our suggestions, and they respect people who do their job, and they want you to do your job.”

City Manager Greg Horwedel said Shiley will be missed.

“I wish I could have him for 13 more years,” he said.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@ plantcityobserver.com.

85998

Fire Chief George Shiley retired June 22, after 13 years of service in Plant City.

6

Cops

CITY PROPERTIES COMPANY

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

Corner

PLANT CITY

The following information was gathered from incident and arrest reports obtained from the Plant City Police Department.

June 22

MISSING CHAIRS

June 22

MANAGEMENT • SALES • RENTALS

DRUG PROBLEM

400 block of North Alexander Street.

Armed Robbery. Two suspects entered the pharmacy wearing masks and gloves. The suspects walked past an open door into the storage area, where prescription drugs are kept. One suspect approached the victim and hit him in the left eye with the pistol. The second suspect pushed the second victim into the back room and demanded money and all the Oxycodone. The suspects tied the hands of the victims prior to leaving the business. The suspects fled with 4,629 Oxycodone pills and $750 in cash.

LOVE HURTS

Unknown location. Battery. The suspect was arguing with his girlfriend of three years and punched her in the face when she asked him to exit her vehicle. The victim was not injured other than minor swelling and refused medical treatment. The suspect was transported to Orient Road Jail.

June 23

FAST CASH

1400 block of Teakwood Drive. Theft. Unknown suspect(s) stole a blank check, filled it out for $112 and uttered it at an unknown location.

Your Hometown Property Management Company

FACE FIRST

4200 block of Kipling Avenue. Vehicle Burglary. The victim stated someone removed the stereo faceplate from her vehicle. The victim said she left the vehicle unlocked while parked in her driveway.

40 years in Plant City Philip Balliet - Manager

(813) 752-5262

June 24 85900

Post Office Box 1118 • Plant City, FL 33584

1100 block of East Martin Luther King Boulevard. Theft. Unknown suspect(s) stole an antique slider and two metal chairs valued at $350 from the home’s porch.

PERSONAL ATTACK

500 block of Allen Street. Criminal Mischief. The suspect vandalized the victim’s

Ford Mustang by cutting the tires and breaking the windows, causing about $400 in damage. The victim thinks his ex-girlfriend committed the crime.

FUNNY MONEY

2400 block of James A. Redman Parkway. Fraud. The customer attempted to use three fake $20 bills to pay for merchandise.

Suspect did not get any merchandise and left after the incident. The bills were placed into evidence.

June 25

RAIDING THE FRIDGE

2000 block of East Baker Street. Burglary.

Unknown suspect(s) entered the business and stole a small refrigerator and a key to a 2013 Ford Edge from the key box located in the main office of the new car showroom.

June 28

STRANGE ENCOUNTER

700 block of East Laura Street. Aggravated Battery. The victim stated she was sitting in a backyard in the 700 block of Laura Street when an unknown subject approached her and told her she had to leave. The victim stated that when she tried to stand up, another unknown suspect hit her in the face with a plastic lawn chair. The victim sustained a cut over her left eye and a small laceration on her nose and lips. The victim was unable to identify a suspect in this case.

Welcome Observer.

We are glad you are here.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

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Plant city observer

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Observer

PLANT CITY

“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

Publisher / Felix Haynes@ PlantCityObserver.com Managing Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Staff Writers / Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@PlantCityObserver.com; Matt Mauney, mmauney@PlantCityObserver. com Advertising Executive / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising coordinator / Linda Lancaster Advertising-Production Operations Manager / Kathy Payne, kpayne@ yourobserver.com Advertising-Production Coordinator / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@ yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Monica DiMattei, mdimattei@yourobserver. com; Marjorie Holloway, mholloway@ yourobserver.com; Luis Trujillo, ltrujillo@ yourobserver.com; Chris Stolz, cstolz@ yourobserver.com

The Plant City Observer LLC Locally Owned

Publisher of the Plant City Observer and PlantCityObserver.com

President / Felix Haynes Directors / Nate Kilton, Ed Verner, Matt Walsh

110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100A Plant City, Fla. 813-704-6850 www.PlantCityObserver.com ©Copyright Plant City Observer LLC 2012 All Rights Reserved

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

observed | gonna fly now

Welcome to your newspaper

I love a good underdog story. newspaper is the brainchild of When I was a child, “Rocky” Plant City luminaries Ed Verner, ranked as one of my favorite Nate Kilton and new Publisher flicks. And when the NFL season Felix Haynes, and took shape resumes this fall, you’ll find me through a partnership with cheering on my sentimental faObserver Media Group Inc., a vorite, the hapless St. Louis Rams. family-owned and operated There’s something about the publisher of community newspaunderdog that is distinctly Ameri- pers and websites in Sarasota and can. As we celebrate the Fourth of Manatee counties. And although July, we remember our country’s the Plant City Observer is patproud past as well as its committerned after the Observer Media ment to freedom and the pursuit Group’s award-winning papers of happiness. And nothing is as to the south, make no mistake: goose bump-inducing than seeThis paper is owned in, operated ing the underdog achieve by and dedicated solely to a dream that appeared to Plant City. be too far away. That’s why And it always will be. the image of Rocky Balboa By now, many of you storming those concrete have seen me out and steps is so iconic. And about. I may have shaken that’s why even the first your hand, interviewed few notes of the movie’s you for a story or taken a theme song, “Gonna Fly photo of you. If so, I hope Now,” provoke such a I gave you a glimpse of strong sense of victory.

MICHAEL the passion I harbor for By now, you probably community journalism.

ENG know Plant City has gone Truthfully, this is my from one newspaper to clichéd dream job. I knew three in just three weeks. HopeI wanted to work in newspapers fully, you also know both the since I was 10 years old, and as Plant City Courier and Tribune I pursued this career path at the and the Brandon and Plant City University of Missouri School of Times are owned and operated Journalism, my interest in local

by Media General and the Tampa news never wavered.

Bay Times, respectively. Both are Before the launch of the Plant extensions of larger publications City Observer, I spent nearly focused on greater Tampa Bay. 12 years with the East County At first glance, you may liken Observer, the Observer Media our little Plant City Observer to Group’s newspaper covering Rocky Balboa. We don’t have greater Lakewood Ranch in the resources of a metro daily.

Manatee County. I joined the We don’t have giant billboards company in the paper’s infant throughout Eastern Hillsborough stages, and along with my felCounty. And you won’t see our low writers, we built it, brick by name associated with a major brick, handshake by handshake. sports arena any time soon.

Despite competing against two But as much as I love cheerdaily newspapers and a host of ing for the underdog, that’s not other independent publications, the story we’re writing here at today, the East County Observer the Plant City Observer. With a is the premier news source for complete staff residing in Plant Lakewood Ranch.

City, our headquarters in Plant And that’s exactly what we exCity’s Historic Downtown and a pect to deliver to you, dear Plant rich background in hyper-local City Observer reader. Each week, community news, this is hardly a these pages will be filled with David and Goliath story. accurate, honest and complete What you hold in your hands news coverage; entertaining today, the inaugural edition of and compelling features about the Plant City Observer, is what you and your neighbors; photo we expect to become a proud galleries of Plant City events; and moment in the city’s history. The a comprehensive sports section

STAY IN TOUCH To speak with Managing Editor Michael Eng, call the office, (813) 704-6850, or email him at meng@plantcityobserver.com. dedicated solely to Plant City athletics. Our accompanying website, PlantCityObserver.com, will launch in the next few weeks.

There, we will provide breakingnews coverage as well as a plethora of multimedia coverage, including video, audio and more.

In our two media outlets, the content will be tailored specifically for Plant City, its residents and businesses. For us, Plant City is a forethought, not an afterthought. We know this community requires and deserves a newspaper all its own. We will be that resource for you.

Joining me on the editorial side are my wife, Jess Eng, as assistant managing editor, and staff writers Amber Jurgensen and Matt Mauney.

Jess is a graduate of Ball State University’s journalism program.

Before spending 12 years with Observer Media Group, she honed her skills at The American in London, England, and The Macon Telegraph. At the Plant City Observer, she will serve as our chief designer and graphic artist.

Amber is a 2012 graduate of Flagler College in St. Augustine, where she majored in communication with a double specialization in journalism and production and a minor in advertising.

While in college, Amber was published in several outlets, including On the Coast magazine, Air Force Times, Coquina and the college newspaper, The Gargoyle.

She also served as a broadcast intern at WJXT-TV in Jacksonville.

At the Plant City Observer, Amber will cover news and features for the weekly newspaper. She also will use her multimedia skills to produce online exclusives on PlantCityObserver.com.

Matt is a 2010 graduate of Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism

and double minors in broadcasting and public relations.

While in college, he was active in Georgia Southern Student Media and also contributed to Savannah Morning News/Effingham Now. Following college, Mauney served as sports editor and digital content director for The Paper of Hoschton, Baselton, Chaaeu Elan and Jefferson. He co-developed the paper’s first website, ClickThePaper.com. Here, Matt will deliver the most comprehensive Plant City sports coverage available in print and online.

I believe we have assembled a team capable of delivering the kind of content Plant City deserves. But the most important piece of this newspaper has nothing to do with those of us who occupy chairs in our office. For a true community newspaper to succeed, it needs an active and dedicated audience.

And that’s where you come in.

(Bet you didn’t think I was going to put you to work, too!)

So, here’s the deal: The staff of the Plant City Observer promises to publish exactly the kind of newspaper you desire. Here’s what we’re asking of you: Tell us what that paper looks like. We welcome your story ideas. Call us when you welcome your first grandchild or when your son returns from a tour in the Middle East. Let us know about your accomplishments; we want to celebrate with you. For the Plant City Observer, no news is too small. If it matters to you, it matters to us.

Furthermore, hold us accountable. Don’t be afraid to place a phone call or send an email to complain. Let us know what we could be doing better. After all, it is only through that dialog that this publication will become more than some ink on newsprint that arrives on your driveway every week. We already are a part of the community. We want to be a part of your lives, as well.

From all of us at the Plant City Observer, thank you for picking up our inaugural edition. We look forward to bringing you many more in the years to come.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Observer returns hometown news to Plant City Surely, some Plant City That is our niche — our dediresidents will think: Why would cation to providing hyper-local anyone want to start a new news and advertising. We are weekly newspaper in Plant City? dedicated to that mission.

Newspapers are dying, or so the To provide that news, the Plant conventional wisdom City Observer’s owners goes. have invested in creating The answer, friends, what will be the best news is our passion for Plant team in Plant City. Already City and this community we like to say, no news is we love. We believe this too small for the Plant City community is special. We Observer. Your 25th wedwant to do all we can to ding anniversary? Send it keep it special and great. our way. Your family reSo we are committed union? Let us know about FELIX to having this new newsit. Your child’s honor roll HAYNES paper, and its associated award? Come and brag to website soon to come, be us about it. Your business a linchpin for Plant City to build expansion? That, too. on its storied past and create an We’re going to tell you about even brighter future. what’s going on in Plant City govNewspapers are not dying. ernment and schools. We report At least not newspapers like on the Little League and high the Plant City Observer. Weekly school games your nieces and newspapers are one segment sons, your nephews and daughof the industry that is growing; ters are winning and losing — the indeed, in recent years, they have way you expect your newspaper surpassed daily newspapers in to cover the hometown news. total readership.

We’ll tell you the good, the bad

and, sometimes, the ugly. And we will give you that information factually.

At the same time, we will be strong and bold, take positions on important local issues and advocate for what’s right and fair for the taxpayers of Plant City.

No one — not advertisers or politicians — will receive “sacred cow” treatment in the Plant City Observer. The only sacred cow in the Plant City Observer will be the truth. Our objective is to produce for you each week the best community newspaper you have seen and the best in Florida.

We subscribe to the newspaper adage — a community is only as good as its local newspaper. We intend to be the best.

The “we” in this story are our local owners, Ed Verner, Nate Kilton and I. Verner has established a strong record of accomplishments in the non-profit and private sectors over the past two decades in Plant City. Kilton has been identified as a gifted

accountant and financial planner and an up- and-coming community leader. I spent the past 13 years heading the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College, and I jumped at the chance to continue to serve this community as the publisher of our hometown newspaper.

Starting from our strong consensus that Plant City deserves a locally owned newspaper, we researched how to do it. This inaugural edition is the result of that research.

Another result is that we determined that, in our town of 34,000 people, our circulation will be 15,000 free papers a week (see the complete list on page 20). Our newspaper will be delivered free to the driveways of nearly 5,100 homes in nearly 90 neighborhoods and available in about 140 businesses, organizations and news racks.

The Plant City Observer is also the result of a focused search for a professional edito-

rial and marketing staff, and we believe we have succeeded.

Michael Eng, who earned his spurs over the past 11 years as the managing editor of the award-winning East County Observer, is our managing editor.

His wife, Jess, is our assistant managing editor.

In addition, we welcome two reporters to Plant City, Amber Jurgensen and Matt Mauney.

Longtime Plant Citian Veronica Prostko is our advertising executive. Plant City native Linda Lancaster serves as our administrative assistant and advertising support coordinator, and Petra Kirkland, who has lived eight years in Plant City, is our bookkeeper.

We are all proud to serve Plant City, and can’t wait to hear your reaction to our first effort. We invite you to share our pride and excitement, and we pledge to you that we will always have an open door for your comments and suggestions.

Plant city observer

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

9

MY VIEW

government

Editor’s note: Joseph Castagno We have taken this responsibility wrote this column after the last Plant and have found opportunity in our City July 4 celebration in 2007. We felt history to rally to it: World War II, our it was the perfect sentiment for the vigilance against the communism celebration’s return in 2012. during the Cold War, the Civil Rights The sweet scents of cotton candy Movement and, more recently, in the and caramel corn dance through the Middle East. These moral, political, early evening air, mixing with the and military battles represent our laughter of children and the murmur collective will, but the achievement of a thousand conversations. of our independence was The sun begins its descent, built on the decisions of those and you can feel the anticimen and women who chose pation thrumming through to shoulder the burden of not the stadium. As the sharp only defeating our imperial cadence of the color guard masters but also investing recedes, the lights go down, themselves in the creation, and the first shells burst in nurturing and guiding of our a spectacular blaze of color country. and thunderous sound.

Too often, it seems the JOSEPH Independence Day, a ideals our Founding Fathers CASTAGNO espoused have become the day of celebration, a day of remembrance, a holiday so fodder for today’s self-serving simple yet so fraught with the compolitical machine. It unfortunately plexities of modern-day politics and transcends party and pollutes the the ever-shifting landscape of interpurity of the democratic process. national policy, should challenge us We must always remind ourselves to examine its true meaning. of those “self-evident truths” and In its purest form, we celebrate understand the preservation of them the courage and perseverance of our is a personal responsibility. forefathers. “We hold these truths to The final rumbles are fading into be self evident …” the distance, and the last vestiges of The power of these words shaped smoke have cleared, chased across a nation and challenged the greatthe horizon by a warm breeze. I take est imperial power of the time. They my daughter’s hand as we walk to our also set an inescapable responsibility car, and I rejoice in the fact she will for us as a people. We can’t embrace grow up in the greatest country in the our independence if we ignore the world. I promise myself to teach her balance of our declaration: “That all the history of Independence Day, so men are created equal, that they are she can one day become the consciendowed by their creator with certain entious steward of our freedom — unalienable rights, that among these the legacy of our citizenship. are life, liberty and the pursuit of Joseph Castagno is president of happiness.”

MedState Healthcare Services.

Leaders hope the move will entice businesses to move into Plant City.

By Michael Eng | Managing Editor

City commission approves Don’t forget why we celebrate July 4 moratorium on mobility fees City leaders continued their push to spur development as they approved a moratorium on transportation mobility fees June 25.

The moratorium began July 1 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2013. It also extends the discount to certain building permits until Sept. 30, 2015.

Mobility fees are charged to developers and property owners to help pay for the transportation costs the growth creates.

However, during the downturn in the economy, many Florida counties have suspended or reduced these fees — including neighboring Polk County, said City Manager Greg Horwedel. He hopes the moratorium will help attract business and development to Plant City.

“Of the 67 counties in Florida, only 14 are not doing anything with impact fees,” Horwedel said.

The mobility fee raised about $32,000 in the 2010-11 fiscal year. So far this year, the city collected $90,000, the majority of which is attributed to several large projects, including Brandon Regional Hospital’s $2.5 million emergency care center in Plant City.

Plant City adopted its transportation mobility fee structure to replace impact fees in 2009. Under the new structure, the city is divided into five

zones, and fees collected within those zones are used to improve roads directly impacted by the development.

In addition, Horwedel said the moratorium will give Plant City staff an opportunity to work with neighboring Hillsborough County, which is considering its own mobility fee.

Charter change

The City Commission is considering adding to the November ballot a change that would eliminate special elections when a city commissioner leaves with less than 15 months in his or her term.

The call for a change came following Commissioner Dan Raulerson’s campaign for the Florida House of Representatives District 58 seat.

Under the existing charter, when Raulerson leaves the commission in November, the remaining commissioners would appoint an interim commissioner to serve until a special election in January.

That candidate then would have to run a second campaign in April 2013 for a new term to begin in June, when Raulerson’s term expires.

A special election costs the city $15,000, and should the election require a run-off, that number would double, said City Attorney Ken Buchman.

In other news • City commissioners decided not to take a stance on the proposed elimination of Hillsborough Area Regional Transit’s 28X East County Express route from Plant City to Tampa.

Commissioner Rick Lott, who represents Plant City on the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization, said he received a petition signed by about 70 residents requesting the route remain.

However, Mayor Michael Sparkman noted Plant City voters did not support HART’s 2010 1-cent sales tax referendum, and thus, the city does not contribute to HART financially.

HART will host a public hearing from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. July 10, at HART Administrative Office, Florida Conference Room, 1201 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa.

The revision would allow the commission to appoint an interim commissioner until the end of the term, eliminating the need for a special election.

The commission agreed to discuss the change further at its July 9 meeting.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

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Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

FREEDOM OF FAITH. Members of the Weeks and Wiggins families partnered to establish Hopewell Baptist Church in 1870. Originally housed in a 10-by-12-foot school building, the church later moved into a new sanctuary in 1902. The original build price: $854.92.

FRESH OFF THE FARM. Plant City’s Joe Phipps spent most of his career in the glass business. But when his girlfriend lost her job about three months ago, he opened the Sun OK Produce stand on James A. Redman Parkway to help her earn money.

BOOT SCOOTIN’ BOOGIE. Plant City’s Cowboys Western World is home to hundred of pairs of cowboy boots — which grew in popularity during the cattle drives from 1866 to 1886.

THE OLD BALLGAME. Andrew Long, 11, and the rest of the Plant City 10-11 All-Stars A Team expect another successful season this summer.

THEY JUST DON’T BUILD ‘EM LIKE THEY USED TO. Many of Ford’s most famous models are on display in Plant City during the monthly Strawberry Classic Car Show.

Spirit of America LOUD AND PROUD. Of course, the Fourth of July would not be complete without proper explosives.

The Galaxy Fireworks tent was fully stocked for the American holiday.

HOMETOWN HERO. Plant City Fire Rescue fire-medic Bill Saunders was honored at the 2011 Our Heroes Luncheon, which recognizes employees at all of Hillsborough County’s law enforcement and fire rescue agencies.

CATTLE CALL. These cows are familiar faces to students at Durant High; they reside just across Turkey Creek Road from the school.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ENG

OATH OF OFFICE. Michael S. Sparkman took the oath of office to succeed Dan Raulerson as Plant City mayor in June. This is his seventh term as Plant City’s mayor.

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

13

NEIGHBORS

Kate Chang You’ll be seeing Kate Chang reading her favorite pop-up book, “Wide Mouth Frog,” at the Bruton Memorial Library more often. After a stint as the teen librarian and the computer-services librarian, Chang is now the new children’s librarian.

Chang took the position June 3, following longtime children’s librarian Carol Lane’s retirement.

“I get to work with the little ones more,” Chang says of her new post. “They’re just so enthusiastic about everything you try to teach them. You can find a book about dinosaurs and they’ll say, ‘This is the best day of my life.’”

Chang is busier than ever in her new position. A typical day starts with a morning full of organizing books and preparing the computers, before a line of patrons forms outside of the library. During the day, she answers questions for readers, oversees the computer services and tends to books.

Chang is still running the teen events at the library in addition to her new duties as the children’s librarian. She is involved in “Crafternoons,” an event on Mondays, during which teens make horror-inspired crafts and baked goods.

As the children’s librarian, Chang is present at children’s events such as Shana Banana, an interactive show, for which Chang clapped along with a smiling face during stories and songs about bedtime.

She is also involved with the summer reading program. If children read 10 hours this summer, they can get a free ticket to Dinosaur World and other prizes.

Despite her hectic schedule, Chang says everyone at the library has been friendly and helpful, making the transition easier.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed reading from an early age. When she was in fifth grade, she was the winner of a program called Accelerated Reader, for which students earned points for books they read.

“I ended up off the scale,” she says.

With a kindergarten teacher for a mother, Chang grew up in an academic setting. As a middle-schooler, she rode the bus from her school to her mother’s and spent her afternoons reading to the younger students. But it wasn’t until high school when she decided to become a librarian.

“It’s a position where you can learn about everything

The new children’s librarian at Bruton Memorial Library learned to love reading from her mother, a teacher.

Amber Jurgensen

Like most kids, Kate Chang didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up, switching her mind from paleontologist to archeologist. But Plant City’s new children’s librarian says her ultimate career path was the perfect choice. and do a little bit of everything; you can be a journalist,” she says. “And you can help people. Sometimes, people will come to the service desk needing help with a résumé or job placement. It makes you feel good to help.”

Her love of books, knowledge and history led her to leave her hometown of

Inverness in Citrus County to study anthropology at the University of Central Florida. She then went on to study library science at the University of South Florida.

After graduating, Chang saw a job posting at the Bruton Memorial Library and decided to make the move in October to Plant City.

With her academic background and kind nature, Chang already has established a relationship with some of the library’s pintsized regulars.

“I do get to know a lot of the kids here in the library and what they’re interested in,” she says.

— Amber Jurgensen

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Plant city observer

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

Michael S. Cameron

main entrance. Called the Women’s ImagHOSPITAL/PAGE 1 Investment Representative ing Center, the new unit will have its own

is actually rebuilding the inpatient surgical private waiting area and include medical care unit,” Nierman said. procedures, such as digital mammogra110 W. Reynolds St, Ste 109 The unit is for those who undergo ma- phy and bone density scanning and will Plant City, FL 33565 jor invasive surgeries and are required to have stereotactic breast biopsy machines 759-8485 Office among other features. Construction on the spend at least one(813) night at the hospital.

(813) Faxfor Women’s Imaging Center began on June 24 Currently, there only is 759-8183 enough space 38 patients to fit inmichaels.cameron@lpl.com 18 rooms, which means and will end in October. that there are two patients to a room. There The Swindle Diagnostic Center will be www.cameronfm.com are only two community showers. demolished in November to create a new “That’s bad enough to have toPowered have a By119-space parking lot. With the demoliIndependence LPL Financial roommate after going through a difficult tion of the Swindle Diagnostic Center, the surgery, but they literally share a narrow Walden Lake Medical Arts Center will be corridor with a toilet,” Nierman said. renamed the Ed and Myrtle Lou Swindle The unit closed June 30 to begin an en- Medical Arts Center. The laboratory servictire renovation that will create three times es in the Swindle Diagnostic Center will be more space and include private rooms moved into the Walden Lake Medical Arts with their own bathrooms, showers, wood Center. Hospital rehabilitation services will floors and electric boards to communi- be located in the Walden Lake Medical Arts cate with nurses, among other improve- Center as well as physicians representing ments. different medical services, including ob“This is going to be the most modern, stetrics and gynecology, neurologist, gennicest, aesthetic impatient surgery center eral surgeon and three primary-care docyou will see in this county,” Nierman said. tors.

During renovations, the unit has been South Florida Baptist Hospital is one of moved to an observation unit in the ER. If 10 hospitals in the BayCare Health System, there is an overflow, unused beds in the OB which is funding the renovations and projalso will be utilized. The project should be ects.

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“It’s hard to make the case that we need “Our goal is to be completely private, and to rebuild our bathrooms and rebuild our this will get us about 80% on the way there,” units because they want to do things like Nierman said. add heart and vascular service and sexy The telemetry unit for cardiac monitor- stuff,” Nierman said. “But for five years, I’ve ing began its renovations in May. Work on Tracking been harping on this every year, and they MKT-06053-0410 #642109 the hospital’s busiest unit should be com- got sick of me. It’s a huge win for the complete by the end of 2012. Eight rooms are munity.” being renovated at a time. The renovations For next year, Nierman is asking Baycare include new bathroom walls, stone tile and for $2.9 million to build another surgical new cabinets. suite at the heart and vascular center on AlIn a two-part project, the women’s ser- exander Street and $2.5 million to replace vices in the Swindle Diagnostic Center on five air handlers and an 800-ton chiller.

West Reynolds Street will be moved into Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ the hospital building to the right of the plantcityobserver.com.

Simplify and ConSolidate today Over the years, it is likely that you have accumulated several retirement savings accounts, ranging from IRAs to 401(k) plan assets held with previous employers. Often, it is advantageous to consolidate all of these assets into a single retirement account.

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trying to maintain it, but there is a fatal disconnect that occasionally happens if a news voice is owned by people who don’t live inside that news. It’s hard to believe in the effect and affect of a story if you’re not there to live with it.”

Kilton, owner of Sedita Kilton Life and Wealth Management, became involved in the Plant City Observer about one year ago.

“I’m proud to see the Plant City Observer go to print,” he said. “Ed, Felix and I have worked hard over the past year or more. We hit many roadblocks along the way, and I think that it was fortuitous for us to partner with the Observer Media Group.”

Each week, the Plant City Observer will be filled with hyper-local news, features, photos and sports coverage. In the next few weeks, the company also will launch PlantCityObserver.com, which will feature all of our print content as well as web exclusives and multimedia content.

The editorial team comprises Managing Editor Michael Eng, Assistant Managing Editor Jessica Eng and staff writers Amber Jurgensen and Matt Mauney. As publisher Haynes will oversee advertising sales and circulation. His staff includes advertising executive Veronica Prostko, Linda Lancaster as administrative assistant and ad-

vertising support coordinator, and Petra Kirkland as bookkeeper.

“After many years, Plant City once again has a locally owned weekly newspaper,” Kilton said. “The Plant City Observer has dedicated substantial resources in our editorial staff to ensure the paper will be widely read. My expectation is that people will look forward to reading the Plant City Observer every week. The paper will be a major factor in keeping readers informed about what is happening in their community. Extensive circulation and, more importantly, extensive readership of the paper will provide a return on investment to our advertisers and will be a benefit to the business community.

“I want people to feel like the paper belongs to them,” he said. “I want to be able to tell my grandchildren with pride about how I helped to start the Plant City Observer way back in 2012.”

Verner agreed.

“When I think about 10 years from now, the results that could and should happen as the Plant City Observer drills down and delivers hyper-local news that is relevant, reliable and caring about Plant City, I am eager to get there,” he said. “It is hard to over-estimate the impact a successful newspaper that is locally owned and operated can have in keeping Plant City’s voice alive.”

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Michael Michael S. S. Cameron Cameron

Sports

YOUTH | HIGH SCHOOL | GOLF | SENIORS | COMMUNITY | TENNIS

athlete of the week Steven Witchoskey is a star no matter which sport he’s playing. 18

PlantCityObserver.com

leadership

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer

New coach, new identity

SCHS coach John Kelly hopes to offer stability for the Chargers.

Matt Mauney

John Kelly served as the tight ends and strength and conditioning coach at Armwood High the past two seasons.

great expectations

In the short history of Strawberry Crest High School football, perhaps no one knows the program better than John Kelly.

The new SCHS head coach served on the school’s first coaching staff during the 2009 season and has spent the last two seasons on the opposite sideline as an assistant at Class 6A District 8 foe Armwood High.

Kelly replaces Gerold Dickens, who resigned as the Chargers’ head coach after one year, go-

ing 1-9 last season. This makes Kelly, who served as the offensive coordinator on coach Todd Donohoe’s inaugural Chargers team, the third head coach at the school in a four-year span.

“I wanted the challenge, and I just felt like I had something to contribute to help the kids and maybe stabilize things for them,” Kelly said.

A 1997 Armwood High graduate, Kelly’s biggest outlet growing up was sports. Although constant

By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer

LITTLE GIANTS After historic seasons last year, two Plant City Little League All-Star teams expect to go deep into the postseason this summer.

Don’t let the term, “Little League,” fool you. Big things are happening at Mike E. Sansone Community Park in Plant City.

For a program that has existed for nearly 60 years, Plant City Little League has garnered its most success and notoriety in recent years.

This year, two teams in particular harbor high expectations for what could be a memorable summer.

The Plant City 9- and 10-yearold All-Stars went as far as Little League allows a year ago, going undefeated and taking the Southeast Regional in Ceredo-Kenova, W. Va. It was the first time in the history of Plant City Little League that a team — baseball or softball — took a section championship.

Ten players from that team and one new addition form the 10-11 All-Stars this year, and according to returning head coach T.J. Messick, they are primed and ready to make another historic run.

“Obviously, we would like to make it all the way through again undefeated, and it would be a different trip for us this time since the region tournament is in North Carolina,” Messick said.

One step in that process is already complete: Messick’s team claimed the District 4 Championship June 30, at Mike E. Sansone Park. They did so in convincing fashion, outscoring their three tournament opponents 49-1. After beating Lakeland 27-0 to open the tournament, the Plant City 1011 A-Team took back-to-back victories over their city All-Star counterparts, first sending the Plant City B Team to the loser’s bracket with a 13-0 shutout then taking a 9-1 win over them in the district championship.

“The other Plant City team is a very talented team and would be

district champions if it weren’t for us,” Messick said of the B Team that scored 38 runs in just five games.

Now the A Team will turn its focus to the section tournament, beginning next week against the District 26 champions.

“Getting through sectionals will be tough, but once you get through that, we’ve found that good things tend to happen on your way through state,” Messick said. “It’s funny, looking back on how hot we were at the end of regionals last year, and we’ve seemed to pick up right where we left off.”

In Little League, only the 11and 12-year-old division can qualify for the nationally known and watched Little League World Series, played annually in Williamsport, Pa. Messick’s team may be a year away from that goal, but another Plant City All-

SEE GIANTS / PAGE 16

AT A GLANCE 10-11 All-Stars Head Coach: T.J. Messick Status: Won the District 4 championship June 30. Will play in sectionals next week against the District 26 champions.

Last Year: As the 9-10 AllStars, this team went as far as possible, winning the district, section and state championships, before completing its undefeated season by winning the Southeast Region in West Virginia.

Bryar Christian threw 69 pitches in the District 4 semifinals.

Matt Mauney

T.J. Messick, head coach of the 10-11 Plant City AllStars A Team, reminded his players to show discipline on the field before their game June 27.

11-12 All-Stars Head Coach: Tate Whatley Status: Will begin the District 4 tournament July 6, at Mike E. Sansone Park.

Last Year: As the 10-11 All-Stars, this team won the district, section and state before losing in pool play at regionals.

Other Notables: The Plant City 9-10 Baseball AllStars and the 9-10 Softball All-Stars also took district titles over the weekend. The 11-12 Plant City Softball AllStars also won the District 4 title, beating Lake Wales.

personnel changes can be troublesome and frustrating for players, he hopes that he can help provide a positive experience for his players and give them the outlet and the memories he gained as a young man.

“Some of my fondest memories growing up were from playing sports, and that was because of the coaches, and I’m still in contact with many of those coaches

SEE COACH / PAGE 16

show me the mauney

Are you ready for more local coverage?

Athletics act as the “front porch” of a school or university.

It’s a saying that the president of my alma mater, Georgia Southern University, Dr. Bruce Keel, always said, and something I find rings true, not only at the college level but also for high school and youth sports, as well.

Although not always MATT considered MAUNEY hard-hitting breaking news, sports serve a special purpose in a community. Many times, outsiders know of a community or school solely because of its successes (and sometimes its failures) in athletics.

Plant City has a rich history in athletics, and as the Plant City Observer’s new sports writer, it is my job and privilege to give it the complete coverage it deserves. All of us at the Plant City Observer recognize the importance of local sports, and we are committed to providing this great city and community with compelling, relevant and indepth coverage. Coming from a weekly newspaper in Georgia that covered an area similar to Plant City, I know what it means to be “hyper-local” and provide readers with what they want to know and read about.

I grew up in Atlanta and

SEE MAUNEY / PAGE 16

16

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COACH/PAGE 15 from my high school playing days,” he said. “I want other kids to have that same experience.”

Kelly has taught at SCHS and served as the boys head track coach since the school opened. Following Donohoe’s first season, Kelly took on assistant coaching duties at his alma mater, serving as the tight ends and strength and conditioning coach for Armwood the past two seasons, including last season’s state championship team.

Kelly was also a part of the back-to-back championship teams in 2003 and 2004 as a part of Sean Callahan’s staff, while he was a student at the University of South Florida.

SCHS won’t be Kelly’s first go at a head coaching gig; he served at the helm at Cambridge Christian in 2008 after two seasons as an assistant for the Lancers. He went 2-8 that season before taking a teaching job with SCHS when it opened in 2009.

After Donohoe was forced to resign after going 8-12 in two seasons with the Chargers, Kelly was offered the job, but said “the time just wasn’t right in his life to go back to being a head coach.”

Little did he know that a year later, the door would open again. This time, he was in a better place to take on the challenge.

“You almost take a step back from the individual coaching of positions and focus on not just the team but the program as a whole,” Kelly said of taking the head position. “I don’t think a lot of coaches like that aspect, but it just comes with the territory.”

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

After coaching for the Chargers the first year and against them the last two, Kelly knows the SCHS program well and hopes to bring the same practice intensity and work ethic mentality that his teams at Armwood brought each day.

“I knew there was potential here, and I wouldn’t have taken the job if didn’t think that, down the road, we could be a very good program,” he said. “My job is to build this program and to get the players to buy into what we’re trying to do, and we’ve done a lot of that already with the coaching staff that I’ve brought in here.”

That staff includes Isaac Anderson, who coached with Kelly at Armwood last season but will be teaching at Brandon High this fall while serving as the offensive coordinator for the Chargers.

Most of all, Kelly hopes to bring a positive presence to the Chargers’ program that has seen a large turnover the last three years, after forming from the split of three area high schools — Plant City, Durant and Armwood.

Win or lose, Kelly hopes to give Strawberry Crest its own identity and its players something to be proud of and, most importantly, something to look back on long after their playing days are done.

“The bond that you make because of the hard work you put in together is something that wins and losses don’t always effect,” he said. “It’s more about the experience of going through it together.”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@ plantcityobserver.com.

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MAUNEY/PAGE 15 spent my college years in south Georgia, and if there is one thing I know, it’s that football is as big (or dare I say bigger) down here than in the Peach State. I’ve already learned a great deal about the high school football teams here and am eager and excited to learn more.

Our three main coverage schools will be Plant City, Durant and Strawberry Crest, and you have my word that those three schools will have the most relevant, balanced and accurate coverage around. The Plant City sports scene will no longer be just a blip on the radar of Tampa area prep sports, but instead be the key focal point of the local sports coverage the Plant City Observer will provide.

We won’t just be covering football either.

The Plant City Observer is dedicated to coverage of all sports, so don’t be sur-

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prised when you see team and player features from a local girls’ golf team or a boys’ swimming team. If a local team is having a successful season or if there is an interesting story — no matter the sport — we will be there. We’ll also be giving plenty of coverage to youth sports, senior athletes and more.

As with any topic, it is vital for our readers to stay in contact with us with any local sports stories. There’s a lot going on in this city, and we want to know about it. If you come across a coach, athlete or local sports story that would be of interest to our readers, please don’t hesitate to email me with the details: mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.

You’ll be seeing a lot of me in the coming weeks and even more of me when the fall sports seasons come around (I’ll be the one running up and down the sidelines with the camera).

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Star team could make that dream a reality this year.

The 11-12 All-Stars return nine of the players from last year’s 10-11 team that won district, sectionals and state before getting eliminated in pool play in the Southeast Regional in Greenville, N.C. Head coach Tate Whatley said he realizes his team has a “bull’s-eye on their backs” but said he has been pleased with what he’s seen of his team so far this year.

“The maturity level of this team has grown tremendously,” Whatley said.

“This is a very tight-knit group, and they

all have a great work ethic.”

If Whatley’s team can repeat as District 4 champs, it will be the fourth consecutive year a Plant City 11-12 All-Star team has won a district title.

The journey will begin for the 11-12 AllStars at 6:30 p.m. July 6, against Lake Wales at Sansone Park.

“We realize that this is a new year and that it will take every player’s best to get past the district tournament,” Whatley said.

“We are in a very tough district, so our focus right now is that first game, and then, we’ll see what happens.”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@ plantcityobserver.com.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

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Local News...

...From Local People From left to right: • Veronica Prostko, advertising executive, Plant City, 22 years • Matt Mauney, Staff Writer, Plant City, one month • Petra Kirkland, Bookkeeper, Plant City, 7 years • Felix Haynes, Publisher, Dover, 13 years • Linda Lancaster, Advertising Coordinator, Plant City native • Michael Eng, Managing Editor, Plant City, Plant City, one month Jess Eng, Assistant Managing Editor, Plant City, one month Amber Jurgensen, Staff Writer, Plant City, one month

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athlete of the week

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012

fore! By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer

By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer

STEVEN WITCHOSKEY Turkey Creek Middle School rising eighth-grader Steven Witchoskey has been busy this summer. The 6-foot-1, 13-year-old has participated in a football camp at Durant High School, won four awards at a basketball camp at Plant City High and recently coached and played in a national championship baseball tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

Of all the sports you play, do you have a favorite?

I do not have a favorite sport. They are all my favorite.

What do you like about playing multiple sports?

I like that I don’t have to get bored with only one sport, like most of my peers. For example, on a Friday, I could be playing a night baseball game, then the morning on Saturday, I would be in a basketball tournament for the weekend.

Do you have a favorite sports moment that stands out?

Not really. I am always helping my team out in the little, casual plays.

Who is your biggest role model?

My biggest role model, like most kids, is my dad. He taught me sports, watched sports with me and discussed my sports with me.

We practically live sports.

Do you have a favorite sports team (pro or college)?

Tampa Bay Rays and the Florida Gators.

Do you have a favorite sports movie?

“Facing the Giants,” since it projects the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ.

What is your favorite post-game meal?

I usually eat grapes and drink a big Gatorade after every game.

Do you have any siblings, and do they play sports?

I have one brother who plays football, wrestling and track and field.

Do you plan on playing multiple sports in high school?

I plan on playing baseball, basketball and football at Durant.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

To have ultimate wisdom in every thing I do.

O’Brien’s Pub employees Karen Fuentes, Katharina Redelberger, Tisha Howard, Jamie Jackson and Jessie Williams attended the tourney to show their support.

Area golfers tee off at annual Plant City Charity Golf Classic

What would be your dream job when you grow up?

To play on a professional sports team for about 20 years, then to become an announcer for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Do you have any other talents or hobbies?

I am involved in TV productions at my school, and I am a business manager for a group of kids called N.R.G (Next Radical Generation).

What determines Whether yOur hOpes and dreams beCOme a reality?

Lori Bean sang the national anthem before the tournament. Bean is a physical education teacher at Tomlin Middle School.

Plant City golfers hit the links for the United Food Bank and Services of Plant City during the sixth O’Brien’s Plant City Charity Golf Classic July 23, at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club.

“We feel that it is so important to keep any charity efforts in the local community,” said event organizer Kirstie Mara, of O’Brien’s Pub in Plant City.

This year’s tournament featured 35 four-man teams and raised about $3,000 for the bank. O’Brien’s also is still collecting food donations at the restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander St. For more information, call Mara, 764-8818.

Plant City resident Richard Chaney worked hard on his game.

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preparing the next crop By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer

Summer camps keep young athletes busy Although classes aren’t in session, students have been keeping busy this summer with various sport camps at Durant, Plant City and Strawberry Crest high schools.

The schools hosted a variety of athletic camps, including sports such as football, basketball, volleyball and cheerleading.

Christian Rivers worked hard during the fifth annual Raiders Coed Basketball Camp June 22, at Plant City High School.

Durant head coach Mike Gottman fielded many questions from campers after the first day of his second annual youth football camp June 12.

Savannah Busciglio worked on her game during the Strawberry Crest High School Volleyball Camp.

Eva Oyola, 7, aimed carefully during a shooting game at the Plant City High Basketball Camp.

Incoming freshman Preston Gilbert worked hard during an agility drill at Durant’s football camp.

O B S E RV E R C RO S S WO R D Edited by Timothy E. Parker

BETTER LATE THAn nEVER by Potter Stern

ACROSS 1 8 13 18 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 32 34 36 37 39 41 43 44 45 48 51

CRYPTOGRAMS

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1. H B E F Z F K M X E G N Z F N K P B G M L N U A Z F S E L L M L N U R E M .

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Y Z R E M H A F ’ Y Q Z H F Q Y Z I N M Z P U R E M . Y Z X Z U U Z D D Z P K R F ’ Y IN QZZR NHYSNU.

2. X S J R M R S M H R Z O R O R Z H H B P S Y S E D W Y E R X X . I G Y W D W K G O R C S G Y Y P R O R W X Z H S Y Y S I R K Z W E R C I B E S Y K S W E K Y S Y P R K B J : E S M Z W E , E S M Z W E .

Plant City High cheerleader Tayler Kip lifted Maddie Hardwick during a practice cheer at the Plant City High Cheerleading Clinic June 26.

60 61 63 64 65 66 70 73

Cop show climax Had the guts Pitcher Martinez In an absurd manner Give an account of Fool’s month?

1982 Meryl Streep thriller High school students Luau wreath Cologne that sounds wrong?

Bard’s “always” Kid around with Frequently, to Shelley Shpoken thish way Took the wheel Sign on a restroom door Goes by jet “Gladiator” director Scott Danger for Pauline Develop, as an opinion Bull’s motto?

Loutish fellow Shoe cushion Victorian and Edwardian, for two Leg, in old slang Morose Not quite round Get ___ of (discard) Element with the shortest name Amateur baseball fields School semester Discourage Prefix with “type” “Born in the ___” (Springsteen tune) Sentence fillers Somnambulate Sun helmets One way to sell

medicine (Abbr.)

74 Mice, to owls 75 Little bloodsucker 78 “Madama Butterfly” sashes 79 Inclines more and more 81 Possessed 82 Hip-hop genre 84 Dim-bulbed sort 85 Slasher genre 86 Violate a Commandment 87 Lugosi of film 88 Erase from the computer 90 Visualize 91 Cub Scout unit 92 Two-timing rodents?

93 Bay window 95 Random scrap 98 Totally fills 99 Lumberjack’s tool 101 “Good ___!” (Charlie Brown phrase) 104 Book-smart 106 Poetic “previously” 107 Private instructor 109 “I ___ Rock” (Simon & Garfunkel song) 110 San Juan, Puerto ___ 111 “___ Legend” (2007 Will Smith movie) 113 Words of wisdom 114 Ronald Reagan movie 120 Paper producers and pepper grinders 121 Wiggle room 122 Carte blanche 123 Rib jabs 124 “Captain Blood” star Flynn 125 Supplemented

dOwn 1 USSR successor 2 Tiny insect 3 Trident-shaped Greek letter

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17 19 20 23 29 30 31 33 35 38 40 42

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Like Shaq Word of exception Lubricate again Helper in Santa’s workshop Leave bare “The Arabian Nights” hero Was relentless, as a storm Upper regions of space Excessive What a seamstress may follow Olympic sword Bobby Darin hit Step between “lather” and “repeat” “Superman” character Jimmy Element no. 39 Civil War soldier in gray Laurel’s partner Good news for a job applicant Excessively ornate Angry speech City-related Blood carriers Type units “___ be surprised” Springfield minor leaguer, on “The Simpsons” Enticements Overly decorated Product of fatback Stately trees Slumber party attendee Nosy Parker “Too many more to mention” abbr.

Darjeeling and pekoe Like some apologies “___ volunteers?”

It sent Dorothy to Oz

63 Some soda purchases 65 Garden intruder 67 Japanese relative of the zither 68 Large coffeepot 69 Splash and dash 70 One of the Flanders boys 71 Certain wind instrument 72 Day/Hudson flick 76 Make 77 Horse restraint 79 Transparent, as hosiery 80 Person creating rhymes 81 Language in Kolkata 83 Not in vogue 86 “Bon voyage” party 87 Car grille protector 89 Female jungle beast 91 It may be wild in poker 94 Legally responsible 96 TV antenna 97 Needing a scrubbing 98 Sunken treasure locale 99 Snail mail attachment 100 It’s mastered in a studio 102 Mideast VIP (var.)

103 Sound engineer’s knob 105 Eager to rest 108 Look up and down, on a beach?

112 What a greedy person wants 115 One-third of six 116 “Are you a man ___ mouse?”

117 Nancy Drew’s beau 118 Nightmare on prom night 119 Lennon’s wife

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