Plant City Observer 11.15.12

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PLANT CITY

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

IN FOCUS

PAGE 9

new blood

sports

SPECIAL SECTION

Pioneer Heritage Day brings simpler times to Plant City.

OUR TOWN

FREE • thursday, NOVEMBER 15, 2012

HOLIDAY SEASON GUIDE

Durant competes perfect season, preps for playoffs. PAGE 11

INSIDE

by Michael Eng | Managing Editor

Keel appointed to commission Billy Keel, former chairman of the Plant City Planning Board, replaces Dan Raulerson.

+ Music and meat: a perfect marriage The Hungry Gator Meat Market celebrated its grand opening with live music, gator bites and frog legs Nov. 10, at the market, 206 S. Evers St. The market offers custom prime beef cuts, chicken, pork, as well as processing for all wild game.

Even though it was just his first commission meeting, Billy Keel’s name plate already was in place on the Plant City Commission dais. Keel, a five-year member of the Plant City Planning Board and a former chairman, became the newest member of the Plant City Commission at its Nov. 13 meeting. Following the approval of a city charter change Nov. 6, the commis-

sion was allowed to appoint an interim commissioner for the remainder of newly elected Florida state Rep. Dan Raulerson’s term. City Clerk Kerri Miller led the swearing-in ceremony for Keel, who took the oath of office with his wife, Donna, and younger son, Bryson, 13, at his side. “I am humbled and honored to be appointed to this position, and I look forward to serving

and working with each and every one of the commissioners and the city staff,” Keel said. “To the best of my ability, I will do this job as long as I have it.” A native of Plant City, Keel will complete Raulerson’s term, which ends June 3, 2013, on an interim basis. An election for the next commissioner will take place April 2, 2013, and it is ex-

SEE KEEL / PAGE 8

Movers &Shakers

in-depth

by Michael Eng | Managing Editor

What happened to Kelly Moriarty?

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

+ Plant City home to famous feline

Just two weeks ago, detectives returned to the Plant City home where Kelly Moriarty and Doris “Pat” Carter were last seen.

Move over Morris: There’s a new example of feline purrfection in town! Plant City resident Richie Long’s cat companion, Prince, recently was chosen to be featured in 9Lives’ 2013 Morris & Friends calendar. OK, all together now: Awwwwwww!

It’s a small urn, no bigger than a perfume bottle. And inside are the ashes of Kelly Moriarty’s leg, which washed ashore in December 2011, in south St. Petersburg. The urn sits on a dresser in the Bradenton home of Bud and Grace Moriarty. It’s all they have left of their only daughter. It’s 60 miles away from Plant City — where the Moriartys

+ Blake Shelton to headline festival The 2013 Florida Strawberry Festival is shaping up to be one of the best in Plant City history. Blake Shelton, a judge on NBC’s “The Voice,” and American Idol Scotty McCreery will be among the acts performing at next year’s festival. Shelton, will close the festival with a performance at 7:30 p.m. March 10. Scotty McCreery will perform at 7:30 p.m. March 8. Other performers include Trace Adkins, Casting Crowns, Chubby Checker, Foreigner, rantley Gilbert, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy, Justin Moore and Bobby Vinton. Tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. Dec. 3, at the ticket office, 2209 W. Oak St.; by phone at (813) 754-1996; or online at flstrawberryfestival.com.

Michael Eng

Billy Keel took the oath of office with at the Nov. 13 meeting.

SEE MORIARTY / PAGE 8

Contestants Karen Fuentes and Eric Randall wowed the judges with their routine — earning a perfect score in the process. Top: Gail Lyons and Larry Roth were elegant on the dance floor. The movers and shakers of Plant City took to the dance floor for the fifth annual Dancing with the Locals competition Nov. 9, at the John R. Trinkle Center on the Hillsborough Community College campus. Flashy costumes and groovy moves performed by nine dif-

ferent couples captivated the audience. Dance styles from swing to salsa heated up the floor. Karen Fuentes and Eric Randall were the only couple to earn a perfect score at this year’s competition. Clay and Caitlin Rollyson won the popular vote.

Couples prepared for the event by taking 10 weeks of classes. The event was hosted by the Plant City Noon Rotary Club. About $30,000 is raised from the event for the club. For our photo gallery featuring all contestants, visit PlantCityObserver.com.

INDEX Briefs....................7

REWARD

Kelly Moriarty’s family members believe she was murdered in or near Plant City. Her parents, Bud and Grace Moriarty, are offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who delivers information that leads to the arrest and conviction of their daughter’s killer.

Vol. 1, No. 20 | Two sections

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

Obituaries.......... 10

Sports................ 11

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