Plant City Observer 11.01.12

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PLANT CITY

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

IN FOCUS SPORTS

spotlight

Youth Alliance dresses up for first gala. PAGE 9

OUR TOWN

+ Director returns to alma mater Plant City Photo Archives and History Center Executive Director Gil Gott attended recently the 50th reunion of his U.S. Air Force class of 1962 graduation from the Chinese Language Program at the Institute of Far Eastern Languages, Yale University, in New Haven, Conn. The 20 veterans were treated to a guided tour of parts of the campus and lunch at Yale Commons. Robert Bonds, assistant director of the Association of Yale Alumni, and Henry Kwan, director of Shared Interest Group Relations, led the group to the spot where they stood in 1962 as Honor Guard for President John F. Kennedy, who delivered the commencement speech June 11, 1962. Although things have changed in the past 50 years, Gott managed to locate his old dorm room in St. Elmo’s Hall, now called Rosenfeld Hall.

FREE • thursday, NOVEMBER 1, 2012

HOMETOWN HERO

Family-style fun rides into Plant City.

Plant City faces Newsome this Friday.

PAGES 10-11

PAGE 13

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

HOME SWEET HOME

Durant alum wins final ticket to debate Riley Andreu was one of only about 100 Lynn University students to receive a ticket to the presidential debate.

Photos courtesy of Endless Dreams Photography

U.S. Army Pfc. Jordan Williams and his nephew, Caden Roberts, embraced in a tear-filled hug upon Jordan’s return to Plant City after a tour in Afghanistan. Top: The Williams family: Michael Williams, Jessica Williams, Sandi Williams, Jordan Williams, Greg Williams (holding Charlie Roberts), Matthew Roberts (holding nephew Caden Roberts) and Samantha Roberts

U.S. Army Pfc. Jordan Williams received a hero’s welcome when he returned to Plant City following a tour in Afghanistan. + Webelos earn geologist badges The Webelo Scouts of Plant City Boy Scouts Troop 14 attended the Tampa Bay Mineral and Science Club show Oct. 21, at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds. For attending the show, the troop completed the Geologist Merit Badge. The scouts were able to talk to lapidaries and observe them creating beads and jewelry. An amethyst vendor from Brazil also had been a scout and was happy to talk to the boys.

When U.S. Army Pfc. Jordan Williams was told to meet his mother at the Plant City Police Department on his way home Sept. 28, from Fort Bragg, N.C., he found it a bit strange. But he went along with her request. Just two weeks before, Jordan had set his feet back on American soil after serving a tour in Afghanistan. Jordan knew his mother, Sandi Williams, and fam-

politics

ily would be happy to see him. Little did he know the town of Plant City would be happy, too. Upon arriving at the police department, Jordan received a police escort from the fire department, down Alexander Street, to his church, Victory Baptist Church, on South Baptist Church Road. Police officers stood along the streets and saluted the serviceman. People Jordan didn’t even know lined

More than 700 Lynn University college students entered the lottery to win a ticket to the last 2012 presidential debate that took place on the Boca Raton campus. Plant City native Riley Andreu was one of 500 students who showed up the day before the Oct. 22 debate for the drawing. Remarkably, she was drawn as the first alternate ticket winner, making her the last person to receive a ticket to the event. “It was the most exciting thing that has happened (to me) here,” the freshman said. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.” Andreu always has enjoyed politics. She has watched other presidential debates on TV but said the debates translate differently in person than on TV. “Being able to watch the candidates expressions first-hand, you don’t have to rely on camera angles to show you what’s going on or what the candidate is thinking,” Andreu said. “You

SEE TICKET / PAGE 6

the streets with signs, yelling, “Welcome home, Jordan,” and “Thank you,” at his caravan. “It was a complete surprise,” Jordan says. “I was not expecting it.” Sandi had invited friends and family to welcome Jordan home that day. But she had no idea it would explode into a crowd of about 200 people

SEE WILLIAMS / PAGE 6

HOMETOWN HEROES

Hometown Heroes is a recurring feature in the Plant City Observer in which we profile veterans from Plant City. If you have a loved one currently serving or who has served in the past, please contact Managing Editor Michael Eng by email at meng@plantcityobserver.com or by phone at 704-6850.

INDEX Crossword.......... 19

Courtesy photo

Riley Andreu said she plans to vote for Republican Gov. Mitt Romney.

Vol. 1, No. 18 | One section

Obituaries.......... 12

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

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

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