Plant City Observer 08.30.12

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PLANT CITY

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

FREE • thursday, AUGUST 30, 2012

IN FOCUS

SPECIAL SECTION

Plant City YMCA presents its annual leadership award.

Are you ready for some football?

The Observer presents our 2012 Football Preview guide

PAGE 11

OUR TOWN

SEE INSIDE

traffic By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

Damage forces road closure Excess water caused the asphalt to crack on a stretch of Silvermoon Drive in Walden Lake.

Damage along Silvermoon Drive in Walden Lake caused city officials to close part of the road to traffic last week, forcing several residents to park down the block from their homes.

Resident Phalen Redmond first noticed soggy and cracked asphalt along the road. She called the city to investigate and then left to run an errand. By the time she returned, the road

story time

to her home was blocked.

“All I got was a notice on the door,” Redmond said. “I didn’t even have time to move my other car out of the driveway. I parked a block down and had all these groceries and didn’t know what to do.”

Because of structural concerns stemming from the wash

out of the storm drain, the road was blocked off Aug. 23, said City Manager Greg Horwedel.

The problems were not related directly to Tropical Storm Isaac, but rather may be effects of the rain from Tropical Storm Debby in June.

SEE CLOSURE / PAGE 4

By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

POWER OF THE PEN

+ Library conjures up Harry Potter party Attention witches and wizards: Get your Nimbus Two Thousand ready!

Bruton Memorial Library will throw a Harry Potter-inspired party at 3 p.m. Sept. 1, at the library, 302 W. McLendon St. Attendees should dress as their favorite Harry Potter characters, and activities will include trivia games, themed snacks and more.

For information, call Children’s Library Kate Chang at (813) 757-9215.

+ Hospital plans annual fundraiser Tickets are on sale now for South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation’s annual Diamonds & Denim Gala, which will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept.

27, at the Florida Strawberry Festival Expo Building, 2301 Oak Ave. Plant City.

The gala is the foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, and event coordinators expect more than 500 attendees this year. Since its inception in 1997, Diamonds & Denim has raised more than $750,000 for the hospital.

Guests enjoy live music, dancing, open seating and a catered dinner with six food stations. Attendees also can enter for a chance to win a diamond ring donated by area jewelers and participate in a 50/50 raffle and silent auction.

Tickets are $50 per person; advance reservations required by Sept. 14.

To purchase tickets or donate an auction item, call the foundation, (813) 7578478.

“I’m energetic and not boring — and that’s how I want my writing to be,” says author and filmmaker Mills Cooper.

Mills Cooper penned his first novel while he was homeless. Now, he’s making a film based on the book.

Loitering squatters outside a depressed house. Dirty drugs and money exchanged in rough hands. Liquor to lips. Smoky rooms. Cheap women.

All snapshots inside of author Mills Cooper’s head. Scenes from the tough neighborhoods of Plant City. Witnessed pictures from his past.

Cooper sat in his car, depressed. He had just been laid off from his con-

struction job in 2008. His marriage had crumbled into dust. Instead of heading to the safety and security of his parents’ house or to one of his many friends, Cooper isolated himself. He chose to live out of his car.

Shiny guns.

“I wanted to distance myself,” Cooper says.

Crying mothers.

“And get myself together.”

Poker faces.

“I had a lot of time to reflect.”

All of them floated in his imagination.

“So I just picked up the pen and wrote.”

While homeless, Cooper began writing what would become his first novel, “Generation Curse.” The book navigates the depths of gambling, drug addiction, obesity and prostitution — and how they run through family bloodlines.

INDEX News Briefs..........6

Amber Jurgenesn

SEE FILM / PAGE 4

Vol. 1, No. 9 | One section

Cops Corner..........7

Crossword.......... 15

Sports................ 13

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

changing lives By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

Plant City alum completes internship at Youth Villages Jonathan Homes, 25, will graduate from Benedict College in December.

When Plant City High School alum Jonathan Holmes walked into a group home for teen-age boys, he knew what he was getting into — temper tantrums, picky choosers and emotions that can change in matter of seconds.

Holmes, now a socialwork major at Benedict College, in South Carolina, was the new summer Holmes intern at Youth Villages, in Memphis, and he was charged with mentoring eight boys who had emotional and behavior dysfunctions.

The 25-year-old set out with the goal to empower the youth.

“There were lots of different personalities,” Holmes said. “At

13 and 14, you’re trying to decide what you are, who you are.”

Every day the group followed a schedule that included activities such as group discussions on decisionmaking, teaching life skills such as food etiquette and dressing for success, leisure time and field trips. Holmes’ favorite exercise to do with the boys was a group discussion during which the boys would be given certain scenarios and would have to make a decision. Everyone could discuss why one decision was more socially acceptable than the other. Holmes also counseled and offered advice.

“The greatest challenge for me

was having to read their psychosocial on why they are in the home and not judge them based off their diagnosis,” Holmes said.

“Building a repertoire with the youth where they trust you and you trust them was also a challenge.”

As an intern, Holmes could not befriend the boys, but he did make one lasting impression on a particular teen. One 15-year-old had trouble socializing with other boys during leisure time. Holmes played baseball for a year at Benedict College in South Carolina and before that, at Plant City. When the boy learned Holmes played baseball, they bonded instantly.

“His whole attitude just changed,” Holmes said. “His whole being changed. Just taking the time to throw the ball changed him.”

The boy’s behavior continued to improve, and he should be able

3

CHEERS to leave the group home in October. Until then, the boy asked if Holmes could be put on his list of approved phone calls he could make.

When Holmes first started college, he wanted to study criminal justice. But he was inspired by his mother, Priscilla, to make a bigger impact by switching to social work.

“She was a giver,” Holmes says.

“She never really expected anything in return. That’s how I was raised. Don’t complain; just give.”

His mother was a former Plant City Police Department dispatcher and a secretary at the city. But her dream was to start a day care, which she did.

After Holmes graduates in December, he plans to apply with Youth Villages for a job in social work.

Youth Villages is a nonprofit group that helps more than 20,000 children and families in 11 states and Washington, D.C., through programs such as foster care and adoption, transitional living services, and mentoring and crisis services.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

education By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

By Michael Eng | Managing Editor

Commission OKs change to alcohol ordinance The changes relaxes some rules regarding the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at Plant City Stadium and the Larson Four Plex.

City commissioners approved on Monday an ordinance that makes changes to the Plant City code regarding the sale and outdoor consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The ordinance broadens the area on which alcohol may be sold and consumed at Plant City Stadium and the Randy L. Larson Four Plex. Under the existing code, which was approved in 1987 when the Cincinnati Reds moved to Plant City, alcohol was allowed within the stadium itself. The approved ordinance allows for alcohol to be sold and consumed on the grounds but outside the stadium as well, a change that will benefit events such as the annual Pig Jam, City Manager Greg Horwedel said.

Furthermore, under the existing code, the city prohibits outdoor consumption of alcoholic beverages within 500 feet of a business that sells alcohol. The approved ordinance adds and exception for temporary events, such as St. Patrick’s Day or Cinco de Mayo celebrations, lasting no longer than 72 hours.

City weathers storm

Penny Reeves’ favorite area of science is chemistry. “I had a fantastic chemistry professor in college,” she said.

Amber Jurgensen

Marshall teacher wins Prism Award Penny Reeves is the teacher behind the school’s successful robotics team, Future Innovative Robotics Engineers.

On any given day, you can find science teacher Penny Reeves blowing up pumpkins in an experiment, showing her students a bubbling chemical reaction and mentoring her robotics team to victory. For all her hard work, the Marshall Middle School veteran has won the 2012 Exemplary Science Teacher Award of Excellence.

The award was presented to her during a faculty meeting before school started this year. It was a complete surprise to the teacher, who has been at Marshall for 15 years. Before she was a teacher, Reeves worked in pharmaceutical sales and brought that experience to teaching.

“Selling is sort of like teaching,”

Reeves said. “When you’re selling something, you have to hook the customer. And that’s what you have to do with the students.”

Reeves always has enjoyed science and math, but she didn’t initially want to be a teacher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology and later went on to earn a master’s degree in education.

“I thought it would be something I’d be good at,” Reeves said of the profession.

At Marshall, Reeves teaches chemistry and physics classes.

She engages her students through a variety of science experiments using the inquiry technique, which allows students to choose different options when doing their experiments rather than fol-

low the directions on a sheet of paper.

“It’s a better way to teach the students, and they learn better instead of just giving them the answers,” Reeves said.

Reeves may have one of the most interesting trophies in Plant City, which sits atop a shelf behind her desk. It’s the color of gold, but it’s made out of LEGO blocks. A bright green dragon, also made of LEGOs, sits on top, representing Marshall’s mascot.

Reeves’ robotics team won the Inspiration award at the state competition for Florida’s First LEGO League last year.

“Just seeing the kids being challenged mentally and seeing them think, seeing how they come

up with the solution and seeing how smart they are is my favorite part,” Reeves said about robotics competitions. “I wouldn’t think of some of those solutions.”

At competitions, Reeves stands alongside her students, cheering them on in their three different challenges, which include tasks robotics, problem-solving and more.

In Reeves’ office, a competition LEGO table sits with different obstacles. A robot resembling Wall-E from the Disney Pixar film wheels around from obstacle to obstacle.

This is where she trains and practices her team, called Future Innovative Robotics Engineers.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Reeves said.

“We’ve done extremely well for being so new at it.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

Horwedel said Plant City fared well following rain related to Tropical Storm Isaac.

On Aug. 23, crews cleaned ditches throughout the city in anticipation for Isaac’s arrival. Throughout the weekend, Horwedel said he observed no structural damage, only minor flooding and only one downed tree near Oaklawn Cemetery on Wheeler Street.

Furthermore, while many municipalities kept their offices closed Monday, Plant City opted to open as planned.

“We kept our operations opened; we picked up garbage (as usual),” Horwedel said. “And I think we made the right decision.”

Contact Michael Eng at meng@ plantcityobserver.com.

IN OTHER NEWS

• The commission recognized Plant City police officer Mark Mathis as the Plant City Police Department’s Employee of the Month for August. While conducting a traffic stop, Mathis identified the individual responsible for several residential burglaries in the Walden Lake and Trapnell Ridge area. More than $7,000 in stolen property was recovered, as well as more than $1,000 in drugs.

• Commissioners will discuss a rezoning request on a property at 1109 W. Grant Street from R-1A (SingleFamily) to R-2 (Multi-Family) at their Sept. 10 meeting.

• Mayor Mike Sparkman presented proclamations recognizing Plant City Little League’s 10-11 and 11-12 All-Star teams.

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THE PROCESS

“Generation Curse” follows a mother who has turned to prostitution after her husband died.

She has to learn how to take care of herself and family. Her young daughter watches her mother’s every move. And so the curses of the mother begin trickling down to her daughter.

Cooper based the characters on people he has met in the past.

“I took a little bit from here and there and put it all together,” Cooper says.

While homeless for three months, Cooper was the first and last person at the library, writing

Patrick’s Patriots twirling corPs Directors: Barbara Patrick & lynann Hudson (813) 626-4554 twirlnbtaflorida@aol.com www.floridabatontwirlers.com

THE FILM ADAPTATION

Cooper scouted for actors by watching other independent films. For the past month, Cooper and his film crew of one have been shooting scenes around Plant City on a Nikon D7300.

“When we’re shooting, it’s kind of awkward,” Cooper says. “We don’t have all the lingo and train-

ing as those who went to college for it do. But people believe in us.”

Like all Hollywood movies, things don’t always go as expected. During one scene, several actors were supposed to have dialogue, but only one showed up.

Cooper had to rewrite the scene on the spot, and the actor had to improvise. But Cooper, who has wanted to get into filmmaking since he was 9 years old, is looking forward to seeing the final product.

“It’s satisfying, because you knew all the trouble you went through to shoot a scene,” Cooper says.

Shooting is scheduled to be finished in September. He wants to host a premiere at a local church and hopes to sell 100,000 copies by marketing them locally and branching out to Hillsborough County stores such as Walmart, Target and Best Buy. Cooper also wants to put a downloadable version on Amazon.

“I want to be known as a reality type of writer and filmmaker,” Cooper says. “I want people to think of drama and energetic writing when they hear my name.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

Amber Jurgensen

Barricades currently block car traffic to one cul-de-sac in Walden Lake.

CLOSURE/PAGE 1 After the rain showers from Isaac pass, city officials will inspect the problem area, which is a small section on Silvermoon Drive in front of house numbers 4118 and 4117.

The roadblock isolates four homes in a cul-de-sac. Those residents now are parking along the street. At times, as many 16 cars can be lined up on both sides of the road, Redmond said.

“There’s only so many spots for parking,” said Terry Redmond, Phalen’s husband. “The road is really narrow, and people are parking on both sides of the

road, blocking in each other.”

Many of the neighborhood kids gather in the cul-de-sac to play, which concerns mother and teacher Denise Rodriguez.

“There’s kids non-stop,” Rodriguez said. “We all have kids.

It’s a big safety issue.”

Horwedel said he plans to have his crews examine the road as soon as possible.

“I realize it’s an inconvenience for folks,” he said.

However, with rain in the forecast every day this week, residents are wondering how they will make it to their front doors dry.

“I think we should be patient, but if it exceeds a month, they should give us a solution,” resident Richard Hollon said. “I was wondering if maybe they could put in some steel plates.”

Redmond and Hollon both wish communication between the city and residents was better.

“Sometimes, communication is a secret, but if they could give us some updates — whether that is a phone call or paper — that would help the situation,” Hollon said.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

Plant city recreation - Planteen Every thursday - starting august 30th

competition group & solo classes starting aug. 28th - call for details registration will be held throughout sept.

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“I started to think about the community I grew up around and the problems that existed,” Cooper says. “Every kind of family struggles with different things.”

Four years later, Cooper — through his production company, Christian-based Kingdom Films — is making a movie based on “Generation Curse.”

So far the crew has shot scenes at South Florida Baptist Hospital, Shiloh Baptist Church and various homes. They currently are still scouting a location for an office scene.

his book. On the day Cooper finished, his father came to talk to him and convinced him to move back home. He took a job at First Choice BBQ as a cook and pulled his life back together.

Paycheck by paycheck, Cooper saved up money to hire an editor and get the book published through A & A Publishing, in Tampa. Once the book released, Cooper sold more than 5,000 copies out of the trunk of his former home.

Although “Generation Curse” has dark themes, Cooper uses the tale to share his Christian faith — which he credits for helping him out of homelessness.

“I was struggling trying to do things my ways, so I asked the Lord what he would want me to do,” Cooper says. “Before I started writing, I recommitted my life to God and asked for a pure heart.”

comE twirl witH worlD & national cHamPions!!!!

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FILM/PAGE 1

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

Plant City Photo Archives & History Center Presents

CITY PROPERTIES COMPANY

The Plant City Sculptures Exhibit

Photo Contest

MANAGEMENT • SALES • RENTALS

This contest focuses on Fun and CreaTiviTy! Bring in your photo of you or your friends with one of the sculptures in this exhibit and be included in The Sculptures Photo Exhibit • Contest is open from August 17 – September 5, 2012 • You must bring in one or more photos printed in 8x10 or 8-1/2 x 11 size, and attach an entry form to each photo submitted.

• The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be determined by Popular Vote, so tell your family and friends to come in and cast a ballot for your photos!

Be a Blue Ribbon winner!

• The Contest Winners will be announced at the Plant City Photo Archives & History Center, 106 South Evers Street, at 5pm, Friday, September 7th.

• Pick up your entry forms, and sculptures map at the Photo Archives, the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, and the Train Depot or online www. plantcityphotoarchives.org.

Your Hometown Property Management Company

Call 813.754.1578 for information or email info@plantcityphotoarchives.org www.plantcityphotoarchives.org

40 years in Plant City

(813) 752-5262

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Plant city observer

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

5

NEIGHBORS

Pleasant Grove Assembly of God Youth Pastor George Flores remembers the exact moment when he fell in love with music. He was about 7 years old at the time; his older brother, Juan, was 9.

“My brother and I shared a room, and we were watching Woodstock on TV,” he says.

“We saw some of the musicians in a mud fight, and we looked at each other and said, ‘We should be playing music.’”

Soon, Flores fashioned a makeshift kit from shoeboxes, and his brother stapled rubber bands to a long ruler for a guitar. Flores also befriended the drummer at his home church.

“After church, he’d give me little pointers here and there,” he says.

After the family moved to Florida from Staten Island, N.Y., Flores’ grandfather died and left a little money to each family member. Knowing how badly Flores wanted a drum set, his mother took that money to the music store and came home with his first set, a red Sound Source beginner kit.

It wasn’t long until Flores’ knack for drum restoration began to present itself. He fell in love with more professional drums that featured woodgrain finishes, and with the

help of a few tools and some patience, he removed the red wrap and exposed the wood underneath — much to his mother’s dismay.

“Oh, she was not happy,” Flores says, laughing.

Over the years, Flores continued honing his craft as a drum restorer. In addition to refinishing or rewrapping drum shells, he’s also taken drums and cut them to different sizes. He added a piece of a different drum to the bass drum of that original Sound Source kit to increase its depth by a few inches.

And once, he even painted a drum set with chalkboard paint so a drummer could write the set list right on his instrument.

“I’m self-taught,” he says of his knack for restoration.

“Growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money, so if I wanted something, I had to find a way to make it.

“My ultimate goal, though, is that I never want anyone to see one of my kits and say, ‘That’s cool — what you did,’” Flores says. “I want them to say, ‘Where did you get those?’ I don’t want them to look homemade.”

Flores’ most-famous restoration project is a vintage 1970s Slingerland drum set he received for free from friend Dan Hendrix.

“When I got it, it was in rough shape,” Flores remembers.

Flores took the drums, one by one, and breathed new life into them. He completed some essential sanding work, repaired nicks and gouges in the shells and finished it all with a blue, sparkle wrap.

The work was so impressive that DRUM! magazine featured the drum set as its Kit of the Month last October.

“Those guys were really funny,” Flores says. “They called me and said, ‘You did this?!?’”

As a musician, Flores has played a wide variety of styles, including rock, hard rock, jazz, punk and salsa.

“Basically, anything that would let me play with people,” he says.

These days, he spends his time outside of work with his family — wife, Chaunte, and

2-year-old son, Kendal — and serving the community through Pleasant Grove Assembly of God, where he still plays drums.

“I just love how music brings people together,” Flores says. “I’m sure I’ll end up doing this (drum restoration) for the rest of my life.

It’s just always been fun to take something and make it better.”

— Michael Eng

90180

George Flores

The youth pastor at Pleasant Grove Assembly of God also is an accomplished drummer — and drum restorer.

September 15, 2012 LIVE FROM READING, PA

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The Plant City woman who struck and killed a bicyclist while driving April 17, on Dormany Road, was not impaired, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives concluded.

According to Sheriff’s Office reports, after a blood test and other screenings, detectives determined Patricia Ann Hancock was not impaired when the crash occurred.

At about 11:44 a.m. April 17, Hancock was driving her 2005 Lincoln Town Car south on Dormany Road, when she struck Ivan Miller, 78, of Plant City, who was riding a bicycle.

Hancock made a U-turn and returned to her home. She returned to the scene with family members.

Hancock was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

She turned herself in at Falkenburg Road Jail and was released after posting $15,000 bail.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a Dover man for calling 911 multiple times to request a female deputy respond to his home for sexual gratification.

According to Sheriff’s Office reports, between 10:15 a.m. Aug. 22, and 7:39 a.m. Aug. 24, Joshua Basso, 32, of the 2400 block of Dover Road North, called Hillsborough County Communications dispatchers seven times.

Basso admitted to making the phone calls. He was taken into custody without incident.

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+ Driver charged for bicyclist fatality

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NEWSBRIEFS

6

+ Plant City church offers disaster training The Florida Conference of the

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

Meetings &agendas  Plant City Commission — 7:30 p.m., second and fourth Mondays, 302 W. Reynolds St., Plant City  Hillsborough County Commission — 9 a.m., first and third Wednesdays, Second floor of County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa  Hillsborough County School Board — 3 p.m., second and fourth Tuesdays, 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa

Walden Lake Community Association — 6 p.m., third Mondays, 3035 Griffin Blvd., Walden Lake



United Methodist Church will present Community Arise!, a full-day training opportunity in disaster recovery ministry, Sept. 8, at Wesley Center at First United Methodist Church, 303 N. Evers St. The training is free; donations will be accepted to cover the cost of lunch.

Pre-register online at flumc2.org/ pages/detail/1376.

+ Archives plans sculpture tour The Plant City Photo Archives & History Center and Hopewell Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens will host a private reception and tour of the J. Seward Johnson. “Man on the Street” sculptures from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 30, in Historic Downtown Plant City.

Tickets for archives members are $10 per person; $20 for non-members.

For tickets, call (813) 754-1578.

It takes more than luck to become Plant City’s oldest and largest hometown financial institution... ...It also takes hard work and a steadfast commitment to the people of Plant City who make this such a great place to live, work and play.

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PLANT CITY – Main Office, 102 W. Baker Street, 752-6193 • WALDEN WOODS – 2400 Jim Redman Parkway, 754-1844 Also offices in: BRANDON, RIVERVIEW and ZEPHYRHILLS

PlantCityObserver.com

Cops

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

AUG. 18

BIG HAUL

89628

340 block of Park Spring Circle. Burglary.

Unknown suspects entered the victim’s vehicle by breaking the window. Once inside, the suspects stole a stereo and amplifier valued at $70. The suspects then climbed onto the balcony of the victim’s secondstory apartment and cut the screen allowing entry to the apartment. Once inside, they took a took 50-inch flat-panel TV, valued at $500, a 19-inch flat-panel TV, valued at $200, a DVD player, valued at $70, and miscellaneous tools, valued at $300.

AUG. 19

HOW DID THAT GET THERE?

Intersection of North Franklin and West Cherry streets. Possession of Marijuana. An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding. Upon making contact with the driver and sole occupant, the officer could smell the distinct odor of marijuana inside the vehicle. The officer had the occupant exit the vehicle and then conducted a search. The search revealed 10.8 grams of marijuana packaged in a plastic baggie in the suspect’s purse.

See more Cops Corner listings online. www.PlantCityObserver.com

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Possession of Methamphetamine/ Paraphernalia. Officers responded to the mobile home park in reference to a suspicious vehicle on a vacant lot. The officers approached the vehicle and saw the vehicle was occupied by an individual. The man was sitting in the driver’s seat with his pants around his ankles. The officer had the occupant get dressed and exit the car. When the occupant exited the car, the officer could see a black case on the seat next to where the suspect had been sitting. The officer obtained consent to search and found the case to contain 2.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine. The officer also located a glass pipe, six plastic straws, numerous baggies and a large digital scale.

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

Achievements of orgAnized LAbor • End child labor • Establish the legal right of workers to form unions & collectively bargain for wages, benefits and working conditions • Establish the 8 hour work day and paid overtime • Win workers’ comp benefits for workers injured on the job • Secure unemployment insurance for workers who lose their jobs • Secure a guaranteed minimum wage • Improve workplace safety and reduce on the job fatalities • Win pensions for workers • Win health care insurance for workers • Win paid sick leave, vacations, and holidays as standard benefits for most workers • Win the right for public sector workers to collectively bargain • Win passage of the Civil Right Acts and Title VII which outlaws job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin • Win passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act • Win passage of the Family Medical Leave Act

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Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

Observer

PLANT CITY

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

observed | online presence

“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, fhaynes@ 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 Executives / Veronica Prostko, vprostko@PlantCityObserver.com; Ronda Kyler, rkyler@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising Coordinator / Linda Lancaster, llancaster@PlantCityObserver.com Accounting Manager / Petra Kirkland, pkirkland@PlantCityObserver.com Advertising-Production Operations Manager / Kathy Payne, kpayne@ yourobserver.com

Facebook photo yields surprising feedback

The Plant City Observer is published once weekly, on Thursdays. It provides free home delivery to several neighborhoods in Plant City. The Plant City Observer also can be found in many commercial locations throughout Plant City and at our office, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A.

Facebook — and more specifiit didn’t fit the original assigncally, people’s reactions on the ment — high school football social-media site — will never — so I decided to post it on our cease to amaze me.

Facebook page.

Take, for instance, the Since we began pubphoto above. This was lishing in July 3, we’ve one of the first frames tried to maintain an active I snapped at Durant presence on Facebook.

High School’s preseason In the weeks before our football game Aug. 24. In first edition, the site was actuality, I was just taking the only way we could get some test shots for lightnews out to the commuing, when the national nity. And since then, we’ve anthem began to play. used it to promote our I happened to like the MICHAEL print and website conway the sun was shining tent as well as engage our ENG through the flag, so I fired audience with questions off a few frames. and other tidbits.

Later that night, after shootOur Facebook fans are active ing photos of both the Durant as well, and we’ve been fortunate and Strawberry Crest games, I to have regular feedback on just emptied my memory card and about everything we post. Howcame across this shot. Of course, ever, in less than one day, this

If you wish to discontinue home delivery or if you wish to suspend home delivery temporarily, call Linda Lancaster at 704-6850.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

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



 

CONTACT US

TO ADVERTISE Call Veronica Prostko or Ronda Kyler at 704-6850.

SEND US YOUR NEWS

We want to hear from you. Let us know about your community events, celebrations and family member achievements.

To contact us, send your information via: Email: Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100A, Plant City, FL 33563

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

photo, this one-off, nearly accidental shot, broke all our Facebook records. As of press time, more than 80 clicked the “Like” button — which then posted a link on each fan’s respective Facebook page and increased the potential for more eyes. To date, nearly 1,000 people have viewed the photo. Although that’s not much in the grand scheme of social media, for our little paper, it’s an accomplishment.

By comparison, both our blurb about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s hurricane-supply list and our breaking news story about the missing PTA money at Springhead Elementary each only received just one “Like” apiece. Earlier this week, though, we posted a photo of Mayor Mike Sparkman with

Report to the Plant City community — Building a new community newspaper On July 4, a new community weeks of publication, we’ve newspaper was born in Plant City. learned that.

Dedicated to sinking deep, local But we’ve learned a lot more roots here, we opened than that, and that’s what with a high level of comI want to tell you about. munity excitement and This is intended to be interest. a 60-day report to the Since then, we have community, a collection published nine weekly ediof the strategies we’ve foltions, and the emotional lowed and how they have support from the commuaffected our developnity has only gotten stronment. ger. Ninety-nine percent of We started with a full FELIX opinions expressed to me staff of eight. We printed HAYNES and our staff have been 15,000 papers from the positive. Exclamations like outset. This number was these have been common: important, because we wanted to “I love your paper!” have the largest circulation of any “All your stories are local!” of the weekly newspapers being “The quality of your publicadistributed in Plant City. tion is obvious!”

Our first week, we distribThank you. Thank you. Thank uted those papers to about 5,100 you. When our energy or spirits homes, and 7,800 more copies have flagged after a 12- or 14were placed strategically throughhour day, your positive comments out the city. We distributed by have helped us move forward. hand at the city’s July 4 celebraMaybe those positive comtion. ments and the energy your Beginning with our second Observer staff has gained from week, we began to integrate the them is the way it’s supposed 2,000 papers we handed out at to be — between a community the fireworks into our circulation and its newspaper. Maybe after plan. And in the past eight weeks, 90 days of operation and nine our distribution has grown to

6,500 in homes and 8,500 in boxes and businesses.

We think how we grew that circulation will be interesting to our readers and advertisers. We selected the first neighborhoods to which we delivered with the outstanding assistance of the Gibbs Real Estate firm.

As we began to sell advertising, we quickly learned how linked advertising and circulation are.

Some of our first advertisers asked us to add neighborhoods to our circulation where their customers lived, and we did so.

When we began to sell ads for our first special edition, a planned eight-page high school football preview in your newspaper today, we found that our 15,000 weekly circulation helped us sell out the section in less than two days. We kept selling ads and ended up with a 12-page special.

Having added 1,400 homes to our residential routes based on our advertisers’ requests, we then began keeping track of the number of vacant homes by neighborhood. With these numbers, we reevaluated our distribution for maximum coverage.

his two granddaughters on his birthday. That garnered nearly 70 “Likes” all on its own.

The moral of the story: What flies in print doesn’t necessarily sprout wings on Facebook.

Which is why our staff spent an entire day a few weeks ago in social-media training with two industry gurus. We’ve been pleased with our presence on Facebook so far, but we’re still in the learning phase regarding what our fans want to see — and what generates traffic. It’s an interesting sociological study, actually, and one that reveals the morals and values of our city.

Facebook is a venue through which to celebrate and discuss.

It’s a place to show our patriotism and honor our heroes. It’s a place to promote our local merchants and foster our city’s business-to-business network And it’s a platform on which we will feature exclusive content and host direct conversation between our editorial staff and our fans.

If you haven’t yet “Liked” us, please do so at facebook.com/ PlantCityObserver. And, for those of you who prefer a quicker social-media network, we also host two Twitter feeds — @PlantObserver and @PlantCitySports — on which we will feature breaking news, sports scores and more.

As always, you can find all our content online on our site, PlantCityObserver.com.

KEEP IN TOUCH Our print edition is just one of the vehicles by which we deliver our news. Make sure you keep in touch with us through one of the following methods: WEBSITE: PlantCityObserver.com FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ PlantCityObserver TWITTER: @PlantObserver; @PlantCitySports

On our commercial routes, we kept track of the number of newspapers in each box and office that were left at the end of the week. We also noted locations from which all the papers had been taken. Then, we added or subtracted to the number to be left at each location. We also moved boxes and added locations as the weeks went by.

Each week, the numbers in our circulation plan went up or down. But each week, we saw the amount of fluctuation in the numbers steadily declined. Our plan has gotten tighter and tighter, as we distributed our 15,000 newspapers more efficiently.

We like where our circulation plan is now, as we continue to learn how to integrate our advertising and circulation. We know we will continue to tweak the distribution on the commercial routes. As vacant homes become occupied, we know we will be adding newspapers to the residential routes.

All these changes, of course, point toward one of our first tests as a community newspaper — our upcoming outside audit of our circulation. After that audit this fall, we look forward to presenting to our readers and advertisers our outside verification of the validity of our circulation figures.

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

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Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

STORE AROUND THE CORNER

Amber Jurgensen

In addition to starting her own clothing line, Ericca Hope Garrison is also a member of the Coastal Conservation Association, to which she donates her design skills. “Even though I struggled for so long on my own it’s good to do good. If you give back, you’ll get it back.”

Ego Girl Outfitters Ericca Hope Garrison sits boys’ T-shirts on the boat. So, she in her studio clicking through began toying with fish designs.

BASICS photos on her website. Her desk Today, the line is available loEgo Girl is a mixture between modern cally at Sister’s & Company and Outfitters and rustic, with a sturdy glass Parksdale Farm Market, as well as WEBSITE: tabletop supported by utilitarGarrison’s website, EgoGirl.com.

EgoGirl.com ian hardwood legs. The walls are Garrison makes starting a line EMAIL: Hope@ covered in posters and art crelook easy. But she has had her EgoGirl.com ated by Garrison. struggles. Just five years ago, the PLANT CITY The Durant High alum has single mother had an associate’s RETAILERS: just launched her first clothing degree in commercial art and deParkesdale line, Ego Girl Outfitters. Watch sign but couldn’t afford to buy a Farm Market, out, Guy Harvey. The line is for house. Garrison went on to get 3702 W. Baker women and depicts different her bachelor’s degree in business St.; Sister’s & types of fish on clothing artimanagement, a master’s degree Company, 104 cles much like Harvey’s famous in graphic design and is studying E. Reynolds St. T-shirts. But Garrison has put further to get a master’s degree in whimsical and feminine touchfine arts from the Savannah Coles on her fish designs. lege of Art and Design.

“It’s supposed to be a lifestyle,” Garrison “I wanted to be an inspiration to her,” says. “It’s about feeling comfortable about Garrison says about her daughter, Launa. “I yourself while doing what you love to do.” wanted to show her that you don’t have to Garrison first got the idea for Ego Girl settle, that you can follow your dreams.

Outfitters while at a scuba-diving tour“It’s about empowerment,” Garrison nament with friends two years ago. She says. “When clothes fit right and they’re couldn’t find any gear that fit her. An avid fashionable, girls feel good.” angler, Garrison was tired of wearing the — Amber Jurgensen This week’s Crossword answers

This week’s Cryptogram answers 1. Too many newscasters always start with “good evening” but then promptly proceed to tell you how bad everything is.

2. Here’s an amusing thought for dieters: brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.

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Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

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leadership By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

YMCA honors Dave Miller David Miller received the Plant City Family YMCA’s Strong Leader Award during its the Y’s annual banquet Aug. 28, at the John R. Trinkle Center.

Guests gathered for a cocktail hour and dinner to celebrate the retired CF Industries executive. Miller, a cancer survivor, has been involved with the Rotary

Club of Plant City and the United Food Bank of Plant City.

He also helped raise $1.2 million to build the YMCA building.

Marsha Passmore and Susan Collins

Chris Sparkman and Dennis Brownlee

Jim and Linda Chancey

Leigh Scott and Aimee Solomon

TRADITIONS

“I’m proud as I can be that Dave is being honored,” Mayor Mike Sparkman said. “He’s a go-to man to getting things done in Plant City.”

David Miller and Janet Sears

Hank and Sandee Sytsma, and Dub and Pec McGinnes

By Amber Jurgensen | Staff Writer

RENOWNED LEADERS. GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS. VAST EXPERIENCE. With over 230 years of diversified business experience and leadership, Platinum Bank’s Plant City Advisory Board members are anchors in the local business community and have experienced the advantages and challenges in the local economy. The knowledge and understanding that has been gained through these experiences is what makes Platinum Bank your established business partner. As key leaders in the local community, they have a vested interest in ensuring the local economy succeeds.

While having tea with her family, Mia Cook, 7, was happy to see Strawberry Queen Chelsea Bowden.

Strawberry Queen sweetens tea time It was a dainty day as pretty pageant girls enjoyed Tea with the Queen Aug. 25, at Camellia Rose Tea Room and Boutique.

Members of the 2012

Strawberry Court members sat at a table with the Strawberry Queen, Chelsea Bowden, and sipped fine teas and munched on tasty treats.

CHARLES WHITE [40 YRS] . GAIL CALHOUN [28 YRS] . FRED JOHNSON [32 YRS] DAVID SULLIVAN [32 YRS] . RICK LOTT [32 YRS] . DAN RAULERSON [27 YRS] . JOHN PRAHL [42 YRS]

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PlantCityObserver.com

Plant city observer

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

OBSERVEROBITUARIES Corey Baker

Corey Baker, 31, died Aug. 18.

His greatest comforts in life were spending time with his son and playing his guitar.

He is survived by his son, Jayden; his sister, Crystal; and parents, Kelly and Kam Baker.

Condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.

Charles W. Binnion

Charles W. Binnion, 77, of Plant City, died Aug. 18.

Born March 28, 1935, in Tennessee, he was the son of the late James Binnion and the late Edna Walton Binnion.

Survivors include one daughter, Jasmine Binnion; brothers, Eugene Binnion, James Binnion and Richard Binnion; and sisters, Elizabeth Alford, Helen Hackney, Nita Davis, Ruth Long, Irene King, Josephine McCain and Shirley Ross.

A funeral service was held Aug. 22, at Haught Funeral Home Chapel Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

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Dalton Sylvester Blanton Jr., 85, of Thonotosassa, died Aug. 20.

Born March 9, 1927, in Plant City, he was the son of the late Dalton Blanton and the late Eugenia Cameron Blanton. He was the husband of Fay Hancock Blanton.

Dalton was in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served at Pearl Harbor. He worked for Gulf Tampa Dry Dock as a foreman until he retired and received numerous problem-solving awards. He designed and built glass-bottom boats for Wakulla Springs.

He loved to play lead guitar and banjo, enjoyed fishing and motorcycles and even had a pet squirrel he loved to feed.

Survivors include sons, Robert, Rodney,

Danny and Jimmy Blanton; daughters, Sharon E. Tournade and Sheila A. Watson; 17 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Barbara A. Varnadoe Caccamisi

Barbara A. Varnadoe Caccamisi, 66, of Plant City, died Aug. 18, at Sun City Center Hospice.

She was born Feb. 16, 1946, to the late H.E. (Shorty) and Inez Varnadoe in Plant City. She was a lifetime resident of Plant City and graduated from Plant City Senior High School in 1964. She served on the Reunion Committee for the Class of 1964.

Mrs. Caccamisi was a devoted member of St. Clement Catholic Church in Plant City. She served as a eucharistic minister, project coordinator of St. Clement “Make Your Own” Strawberry Shortcake Project, was awarded the Diocese of St. Petersburg St. Jude the Apostle Award in 2002, and organized and participated in “Strawberry Strollers” Relay for Life team benefiting the American Cancer Society. In June, Mrs. Caccamisi hosted a brunch for Relay for Life.

She is survived by her husband, Gino; daughter and son-in-law, Tammi and Tracy Higgins, of Plant City; brother and sister-inlaw, Gene and Nan Varnadoe, of Farber, Va.; and brother and sister-in-law, Glen and Janice Varnadoe, of Lakeland; grandchildren, Thomas D. Pollock and Gina M. Caccamisi, both of Lakeland; Christopher J. Caccamisi, of Orlando, and Benjamin J. DeLiguori, of Plant City; nieces, April L. Boyett, of Temple Terrace, Heather H. Komorous, of Las Vegas, Nev., and Janay J. Walker, of Indian Trail, N.C.; and nephew, Troy D. Varnadoe, of Seaboard, N.C. Expressions of condolence may be made at hopewellfuneral.com.

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Sports

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

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Meet one of the teachers for the YMCA’s Body Pump class. 14

PLANTCITYObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

upping the competition By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer

Raiders cheerleaders tumble into season Plant City High School’s cheerleading program is taking a more competitive focus under new coach Karen Snapp.

Matt Mauney

The Plant City High cheer squad is putting on stronger focus on competitions this year, with an emphasis on tumbling and stunting.

show me the mauney

Don’t be fooled by the Plant City High School cheerleading squad this year.

The girls you see on the sidelines of football games on Friday nights aren’t just about chants, cheers and pompons.

That’s because that same squad is also the competition cheer team, and they’re looking to do just that — compete.

“I decided this year to make my varsity sideline team my competition team,” said new head coach Karen Snapp, who has been coaching cheerleading since 1991. “This way, they are practic-

ing the whole year together.”

Snapp has coached at several different levels throughout her career. She took time off before taking a teaching position at Plant City last year and got involved as an assistant with the Raiders.

When Snapp knew she would be taking over as the head coach for the 2012-13 season, she told last year’s squad about her plans.

“A lot of other schools do it where they pick the varsity and (junior varsity), and then they pick the competition squad later from those two teams,” Snapp said. “I just thought that if they

practice together from the beginning that they’ll be more used to each other rather than throwing a new team together in October.”

Snapp is placing an emphasis on tumbling, a talent that hasn’t been a large focus of past PCHS competition cheer squads. In the competitions, squads are able to compete as either a tumbling or a non-tumbling team. Last season was the first time the Raiders competed in the tumbling division.

With the new focus, making the team proved more challenging this year. According to Snapp, 63 girls tried out, and only 32 made the squads — including two freshmen on the varsity team.

“I like to think that I treat it like

SEE CHEER / PAGE 15

GAME OF THE WEEK Plant City at Strawberry Crest | 7:30 p.m., Sept. 1

Five things of note for fall season

Strawberry Crest’s offense put up big numbers in the Chargers’ preseason game last week.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know it’s football season. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our extensive football preview guide, “Under Construction,” in this edition.

But there are many other happenings coming up that are not related to the pigskin.

Here’s the top five story lines to look out for this fall not related to football (in no particular order).

NEW FACES AT PCHS

We published a story about the new head coaches at Plant City earlier this summer, but with the fall sports season around the corner, we’ll be getting our first look at what these new faces.

Fall sports teams at PCHS that will feature new coaches inMATT cludes volleyball MAUNEY (Jessie Thorton), swimming (Elizabeth Rheaume and Gerold Yoder) and cross country (Luke Beevor).

Photo by Michael Eng

Something to Prove After a shutout win over Freedom in their preseason game, Strawberry Crest hosts cross-town rival Plant City Saturday.

BAILEY BOWDEN

Bailey Bowden enters her junior season with the Plant City swim team after placing eighth at the Class 3A state meet in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:02.97.

Bowden also has promise in the 200 freestyle.

DURANT VOLLEYBALL

Brittany Wilson enters her second year at the helm of the

SEE GAME / PAGE 15

Plant City’s Landon Galloway is a key piece in the Raiders offense.

As with all Hillsborough County schools, Strawberry Crest and Plant City will open the 2012 season on a special night, kicking off Saturday because of the Republican National Convention.

New Strawberry Crest head coach John Kelly and his Chargers team are coming off a special night in their preseason

game last week against Freedom. The Chargers were up 22-0 in the first half before closing out a 29-0 win in Dover.

Sure, it was just a preseason game, but for a team coming off 1-9 season (excluding the forfeit win against Armwood), it was a step in the right direction.

“We definitely made great strides over the summer, and

that’s what I’ve been telling the kids — that I wanted to see progression and improvement,” Kelly said. “We started off good with our preseason game, but when it comes down to it, it’s a preseason game, and right now, everyone is still 0-0, and I just want to continue to see

SEE GAME / PAGE 15

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athlete of the week

Olin S. Wright Lodge No. 79

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer

Victoria Dunn

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Longtime fitness enthusiast and Plant City resident Victoria Dunn is thrilled about the new Les Mills Body Pump program at the Plant City Family YMCA. The long-running workout program made its first run at the Plant City YMCA Aug. 24, and attracted more than 100 participants over five 30-minute sample sessions. Dunn was one of the instructors for the program, along with Heather Dykstra, Laura Feleciano and Amy Glover.

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What is your background with fitness and instruction?

I have been in fitness for 12 years. I started out as a member (of the YMCA) 12 years ago and loved it. I loved the empowerment and the confidence it gave me. I started getting certified to teach various fitness classes so I could give back the same empowerment and strength that was given to me.

with Body Pump as long as I have been affiliated with fitness — first as a member, and then (I) instructed it for some time and will be instructing it again here.

What do you like about the class?

I love that it’s for all levels. It’s for everybody, regardless of age, physical ability or how long you’ve been working out. You don’t have to be an expert in fitness to be able to take this class.

Other than teach classes, what else do you do here at the YMCA? I am a certified personal trainer here, as well as a wellness attendant.

Exactly what is the Body Pump program?

Body Pump is a 60-minute endurance- and strengthbased program. It is designed from beginner to advanced.

We will work with every muscle group in segments, starting with the larger muscles, working our way down to the smaller muscles and then into a cool down.

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I love crafting and love to go hiking on the trails. I have a family, too, that keeps me pretty busy.

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Explain your regular workout routine.

It’s an equal balance between cardio and weight training.

I like doing spin classes for my endurance, lift weights several times a week for strength, and then, of course, I teach several fitness classes regularly. I also follow a pretty good nutrition plan, because that’s a major part of a healthy goal.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012

MAUNEY/PAGE 13

GAME/PAGE 13

Durant High volleyball team. The Lady Cougars are hoping to make a run into November this year after finishing second at the Class 8A District 7 tournament last fall.

improvement each and every week.”

The Chargers dominated on all three phases last Friday, capitalizing on mistakes by the Patriots.

The SCHS defense compiled five sacks on the night and didn’t allow Freedom to pass the 50-yard-line until the fourth quarter, long strides from the 40 plus points allowed in one half against Durant in the Chargers’ spring game.

The Plant City defense also had a strong showing in its preseason game against Hillsborough. The Raiders also tallied five sacks as a team, including two from defensive end John Broome.

Plant City limited Hillsborough, an annual powerhouse,

GIRL GOLFERS

The Plant City girls golf team is coming off a breakout year in which it won both a district and region title in the same year for the first time. The team has gone undefeated in the regular season the last two years and has had strong finishes at the state tournament, finishing fifth last year after placing eighth in 2010.

The team will prepare for the season after losing its most successful group of players — Belinda George (North Florida), Shelby Johnson (Florida) and Kelsey Jensen (Seminole State).

P werful

CHEER/PAGE 13 any other sport — basketball, football or whatever,” she said.

“I pick the team based on skill level and not age. If you had a 7-foot-5 freshman coming in to play basketball, would you not put him on varsity? So, if I have a freshman who meets my requirements, they’re going to be on varsity.”

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Snapp said she is pleased with this year’s squad so far.

“There’s some stuff that they’re doing now that they weren’t doing at the end of last year, so they’re way ahead,” Snapp said.

“They’re really talented and are a nice group of girls.”

The squad is anchored by seniors Ali Grimmel, Sara Brummer and Shay Wright, who have all been on the varsity squad

since they were freshmen.

“Our theme this year is, ‘How do we want to be remembered?’ and we’re just putting in more effort this year,” Brummer said.

Grimmel agreed.

“We’ve all worked hard to get to our senior year, and this year, we feel like we’re going to win, because we have a lot more talent then we ever have had,” she said.

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OTHER AREA ACTION Durant at Freedom Last week: Jamarlon Hamilton picked up right where he left off last year, scoring four touchdowns for Durant in the Cougars’ 34-17 preseason win over Bloomingdale. The senior running back rushed for over 70 yards and had a 48-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Trey VanDeGrift, a transfer from Strawberry Crest, had a solid game in his debut as the Cougars starter.

Last meeting: Durant rolled to a 36-0 win in last season’s opener against Freedom.

For Wright, the competition side is more fun because it features more complex routines.

Snapp hopes those routines can be crisp and aims to continue to work the team hard has they prepare for the winter competition season.

“Hopefully, the bar has been raised,” she said.

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.

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The Strawberry Crest cross country program is still young, but there are several runners who could have big seasons.

The boys team will be led by Scott Bartlett and Spencer Mathis, who each saw personal best times of just over 17 minutes last year in the Hillsborough County Cross Country Championships.

Raiders are facing is junior running back/defensive back Jyquis Thomas. Thomas is recovering from a collapse lung, and according to Ward, he is doing better and has returned home from the hospital.

Kelly knows it will take a compledte team effort to come out on top against Plant City, which routed the Chargers 69-6 last season. But he said a good showing or a win would be a great thing for his program moving forward.

Plant CIty was one of the schools that split to form Strawberry Crest back in 2009.

“It’s kind of a natural rivalry for us ... so it’s going to be an exciting game for us and our kids will be up for it,” Kelly said.

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.

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CHARGERS RUNNERS

to just eight points in the first half but came up short 15-7 at game’s end, with the Raiders only touchdown coming on a 2-yard run by Landon Galloway in the second half after long kickoff return by Tavares Chase. The PCHS offense had several opportunities to score but kept coming up short, including an interception throw by Rayquan Johnson in the endzone on the Raiders’ final drive. Johnson replaced Nick Rodriguez, who started the game at quarterback for Plant City.

The key for Plant City head coach Wayne Ward entering the preseason game was to avoid injuries. Unfortunately, several players were banged up against Hillsborough and had to be helped off the field.

The most serious injury the

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66 Corn Belt’s locale 1 Tried again in court 69 Overweight, plus 70 Dense volcanic 8 Rouse to anger rock 12 “Friends” co-star 71 In a bit, in poems Matt 72 Hisses’ partners 19 Leave in the lurch 73 “Lord of the Rings” 20 Cleansing agent creatures 21 Swimmer’s malady 74 Sensibility’s partner 22 Michael Jordan’s 76 Fete alma mater 79 Beam often mixed 24 Stubborn ___ with Coke (comparison) 82 London apartment 25 Many a low-budget 83 Country lodging film 84 Rejects disdainfully 26 Victim of Brutus 86 Arrange in a 27 Power program for cabinet F.D.R. 87 Beau Brummel 28 Start of a simple 88 Per ___ (daily musical refrain allowance) 31 “How Dry I Am” 90 Honorable punctuation?

93 Smelter inputs 32 Ben player on 95 Old Icelandic “Bonanza” collection 35 Having three 96 Scrap unequal sides, as a 97 Most debonair triangle 98 Oceans, poetically 38 Hoover, for one 100 Last word from a 40 Pueblo resident director 43 Guns the engine 102 One subject to a 45 Option dictator?

47 Belgrade citizen 103 Hanging display 48 Pistol, in B movies 104 Revolted 49 Buck’s “The ___ 107 Barely detectable Earth” amount 50 Like a stuntman’s 111 Souchong-sipping deeds site 52 Dr. of hip-hop 115 Like llamas 53 Subduing spray 118 High-school math 54 Money dispenser, subject briefly 119 “The ___ near” 55 Packaging strings (doomsayer’s sign) 57 “A rose by any ___ 120 Yet to be delivered name ...”

121 Flirtatious glance 59 Place for pins and 122 Actress Charlotte et needles al.

60 “___ there, done 123 Formidable rivals that” 61 Highlight of an dOwn opera 1 Sari buyer 62 Irish hooch 2 Dark, in poetry 64 Watering holes 3 High on the Mohs

scale 4 Privileged 5 Staunch supporter 6 “Arabian Nights” bird 7 Kind of evidence gathered in “CSI” 8 Part, to an actor 9 Guys from Dublin 10 The Pineapple Island 11 Eastern Orthodox bishops 12 Grassy tract 13 Where the Beatles hail from 14 “Great performance!”

15 Hedy the Hollywood legend 16 Beginning for “puncture” 17 Stanley Cup org.

18 Homophone of “sea” 20 ___ constrictor 23 Elvis’ record label 29 Raggedy ___ (classic doll) 30 Escort through the door 33 Makes null and void 34 One who avoids a hurricane 35 It’s a long story 36 Circulatory blockage 37 Tiny source of energy 38 ___ Straits (“Sultans of Swing” group) 39 “We Try Harder” rental company 41 Outmoded 42 Trim the excess 44 Draft holder 46 Shade from the sun?

51 Injure with a horn 53 Apportions (with “out”) 55 Tattle (on) 56 Oscar-winning musical 58 “___ the season to be jolly”

60 A great time or great noise 61 Bristly appendage 63 Instrument an orchestra tunes to 64 Would-be dictator 65 Fugitive 66 Like some spacecraft 67 Endings for “plug” or “shoo” 68 Stag’s mates 70 Showbiz headline word 72 Most despicable 75 Children’s author Bagnold 76 Remorseful soul 77 It may come before “while” 78 Economy meas.

79 Be in harmony (with) 80 Troubles in society 81 Racing competition 85 Stick out like a sore thumb 86 First choice 89 Apple picker?

91 Prompt 92 Childish fit 94 Burned a bit 99 Exploratory craft 101 “Once ___ time ...”

102 Sargasso or Aral 105 He had a lush life in Mayberry 106 Librarian’s utterances 108 Serves superbly 109 “If I Didn’t ___” (Ink Spots) 110 “Dukes of Hazzard” deputy sheriff 111 Word before “you’re it” 112 Letter with a right angle 113 Khan’s title 114 Cary’s “I’m No Angel” costar 116 60 sec.

117 Compass abbr.

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