Plant City Observer 12.13.12

bserver O

PLANT CITY

You. Your neighbors. Your neighborhood.

INSIDE

Plant City’s Wish Farms celebrates 90th anniversary.

PAGE 6

EXCLUSIVE

SPORTS

Thousands attend St. Clement’s Guadalupe festival.

Plant City Raiders crowned national champions.

PAGE 5

PAGE 15

2012 CHRISTMAS PARADE

OUR TOWN

FREE • thursday, DECEMBER 13, 2012

by Michael Eng and Matt Mauney

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Springhead songwriters hit famous studio

+ High-schooler earns scholarship Plant City High School junior Lindsey English was recognized recently by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. Lindsey, along with mother Chrystal English, grandmother, Tawauna English and College and Career Counselor Sherrie Mueller, attended the 2012 Tampa Bay Scholarship Luncheon Nov. 27, at the Grand Hyatt, in Tampa.

Lindsey earned a two-year prepaid scholarship courtesy of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Two Springhead students joined others to make some music magic at Morrisound Recording studio last week in Tampa.

SEASON’S

GREETINGS

Morrisound Recording studio has had an all-star list of artists and music headliners walk through its doors since it opened in 1981.

Third Eye Blind, Ozzy Osborne, Little Feat and more have performed live broadcasts in the nationally syndicated “Rockline” radio show from “A” studio in Morrisound.

Now, the studio can add music’s future stars — including two from Plant City — to that list of celebrities.

Springhead Elementary School students Anabel Saldaña and Walker Reeves joined others from nine other Hillsborough County elementary schools Nov. 29, during the Young Songwriters’ Symposium. Participating schools chose a music teacher and up to two fifth-grade students to write and perform a song.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Spring-

Plant City welcomed the Christmas season with its fun, festive Christmas Parade Dec. 7, in Historic Downtown Plant City. This year’s parade featured a myriad of floats and performing groups, which helped turn downtown into a winter wonderland. Parade participants also competed for top honors in front of a panel judges at McCall Park.

+ Tree contest brightens city There still is time to enjoy the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas tree contest.

This year’s contest, which runs through Dec. 19, features 23 businesses, including the Plant City Observer. Each participant features a fully decorated tree and invites visitors to cast votes for their favorite.

Participants include BPowerful Promos, BAYADA Home Health Care, Brown’s Floral Shop, Cameron Financial, CenterState Bank, Creative Flowers by Glenn, Dinosaur World, Edwards Platt Myer, P.A., the Florida Strawberry Festival, Grace Manor at Hunters Creek, Holiday Inn Express Hotel, Hope Lutheran Church, Inspire Quilting & Sewing, Millie’s Gift Shop, Myers & Wright, P.A., Plant City Family YMCA, Plant City Observer, South Florida Baptist Hospital, The Cottage in Plant City, Tip to Toe, United Food Bank of Plant City, Walden Lake Car Wash and Wells Memorial & Event Center.

sweet serenade

SEE SONGWRITERS / PAGE 4

LOVELY LYRICS “The Search” Clockwise from above: Santa rode in on the final float of this year’s parade. | Plant City Police Department motorcyclists cleared the streets for the parade. | Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Chelsea Bowden | Children loved waving and cheering from their floats. | Tom Thompson enjoyed the parade with granddaughter Kaley. | Plant City High School’s Bassmasters were ready to reel in some Christmas fun.

The Search is near But the distance is far I have my peers With open arms Should I choose To be afraid Of the things along the way — Anabel Saldaña

“Fighting a Black Belt”

For more photos, see page 10 or visit PlantCityObserver.com.

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

Fighting a Black Belt in a karate dojo When I’m fighting him, I got to have my mojo Fighting a Black Belt in karate dojo Got to be ready at all costs ‘Cus I would get mad if I really lost — Walker Reeves

Vol. 1, No. 24 | One section

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

Obituaries.......... 14

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

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2 PlantCityObserver.com

Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

3

kicking the need by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Club helps children put best feet forward The Plant City Junior Woman’s Club delivered 40 pairs of tennis shoes this week to Bryan Elementary School.

For Christmas, many children are getting toys and electronics. A child’s wish list often features plenty of things he or she wants but doesn’t need. But the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club is bringing some holiday cheer in the form of necessity.

Club member Lisa Rhodes and five James Hardie Building Products employees played the part of Santa Dec. 10, at Bryan Elementary School, as they delivered 40 pairs of new tennis shoes to students.

Children were called out of class to come to the multipurpose room. There, they sat in a chair as Engineer Pius Ogolawa, Maintenance Manager Rick Ysasi, General Foreman Joe Rivera and Operations Manager Scott Monahan measured the children’s feet to double-check the size and fit of their shoes.

“You wouldn’t think they’d enjoy coming here, because they’re all big and tough, but they love doing this,” Diane Miller, of the human resources department at James Hardie, said.

foodies UNITE

James Hardie has partnered with the Plant City Junior Woman’s Club and sponsored shoes for Bryan Elementary for about 10 years. The club gets a list from school guidance counselors and social workers of students in need.

“I like seeing them get excited when they get new shoes,” Monahan said.

Indeed, the students had big smiles on their faces as they took their shoes, which came in all colors and styles, back to class.

Some had colored shoestrings, others sporty stripes emblazoned along the sides.

All students also received a pair of socks.

This is the first year the Plant City Woman’s Club has picked out the shoes for Bryan Elementary. In the past, James Hardie employees have done the shopping.

“We go and invade Payless,” Miller said.

The club and company schedule the shoe drive around the holidays for a reason. They want the students to know someone cares and to have a new gift.

“Last year, a little boy came in and

wouldn’t speak and had the biggest eyes — all scared,” Miller said. “When he got his shoes, he wanted to put them back in the box. We asked him why, and he wanted to put them under the tree so he would have a Christmas present. It touched me.”

“It’s a good time of year to give back if you can,” Monahan said. “We really enjoy it.”

James Hardie also sponsors many other community projects throughout the year, including building houses and building handicap-accessible features to homes for disabled veterans. James Hardie also is funding a trip for a man from MacDonald Training Center who wants to go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom before he becomes completely blind.

“We like doing community-involvement type of things,” Monahan said.

Bryan Elementary is lucky enough to have a corporate sponsor, but the Plant City Woman’s Club also raises funds to help the other elementary schools in Plant City, Dover and Turkey Creek.

Profits from the Little Miss Plant City event and the Florida Strawberry Festival’s Baby Parade go to fund this and other club charities. Next year, the club will organize

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Parkesdale to host chef’s demo When Xiomara Meeks is in Winter Park, she loves to eat at The Ravenous Pig, and she is not quiet when it comes to spreading the word about its food.

On her most recent trip, Meeks tweeted about the delicious dish she ordered.

And Meeks knows good food — she oversees the day-to-day operations at Parkesdale Farm Market.

“It’s just a really good restaurant,” Meeks said about The Ravenous Pig. “Everything’s really fresh. They use interesting combinations.”

The marketing manager for The Ravenous Pig, Erin Allport, and ownIF YOU GO er and chef James WHEN: 9 a.m.

Petrakis saw the to noon Dec. 15 tweet and responded back.

WHERE: “After Xiomara Parkesdale Farm came in for dinMarket, 3702 W. ner and tweeted Baker St. about it, we were CONTACT: (813) intrigued and 752-0502 looked (her) up,” Petrakis said.

They liked the local aspect of Parkesdale. Allport felt Parkedale took the same pride in its work and food as The Ravenous Pig did when creating dishes.

Meeks felt the same respect for the restaurant and took a liking to Petrakis’s cookbook, “Seasons of Florida.” The book focuses on the food seasons in the state, playing on the irony that although Florida’s climate doesn’t change much, it has diverse palate when it comes to food.

“Where we get food is not just a giant company pumping things out,” Allport said. “There are people behind it like Xiomara and her family and their farm.”

The Ravenous Pig uses local ingredients specifically from Florida in its dishes. Farmers send their produce within 24 hours of being plucked off the vine.

Petrakis inspects items on the truck and will send items back if they are not fresh.

Allport took notice of Parkesdale’s famous strawberries. She reached out to Meeks to see if Parkesdale would be interested in having Petrakis do a cooking demonstration at the store and a signing for his cookbook.

“We love finding great local farms and thought it would be fun to do a cookbook signing and cooking demonstration with them — especially because they have a seasonal market,” Petrakis said. “There’s also a great synergy be-

Chef James Petrakis, owner of The Ravenous Pig in Winter Park, will sign books and host a demonstration this weekend.

Amber Jurgensen

Forty Bryan Elementary students now have new kicks for Christmas.

its first golf tournament at Walden Lake Golf and Country Club.

“There’s a lot of need out there — especially with the economy,” Rhodes said.

“There’s probably more of a need now. I wish we could do more.”

In addition to the shoe drive, the 30-member club also adopts a school, which they visit three times per year to complete projects with the students. At the end of the year, the club donates a book to each student to promote reading.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com.

governance

by Michael Eng | Managing Editor

City accepts bid for new park trail The Plant City Commission authorized funding for several projects at its Dec. 10 meeting.

Courtesy photo

Trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, James and Julie Petrakis always dreamed of owning their own restaurant. tween what Parkesdale Farms does and what we do. Our cookbook is focused on local, seasonal ingredients, and because Plant City does have a seasonal focus as well ... it’s the perfect fit.”

Meeks sent The Ravenous Pig some strawberries to play with before coming to the event. Petrakis made a salad with the strawberries and put it on the menu at The Ravenous Pig. The salad sold out.

“Their strawberries are amazing,”

Allport said. “They weren’t tart. They were firm and deliciously juicy. We were blown away by how good they were.”

Petrakis and his wife, Julie, started The Ravenous Pig in 2007. They have won many awards and received recognition in publications, including Food & Wine, Saveur, and Southern Living, for their ever-changing menu.

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

Plant City commissioners approved Dec. 10 contracts with several companies for a variety of projects throughout the city.

The city accepted a bid of $207,000 from Palm Harbor-based Kloote Contracting Inc. to construct the Grant-Hunter Pond Trail, located at the 11.33-acre park at the corner of Grant and Hunter streets.

The bid is $49,675 more than the original bid from B.R.W. Contracting Inc. However, B.R.W., along with five other contracting companies that submitted bids, did not have the general contractor license or certifications the project requires, City Manager Greg Horwedel said.

Kloote’s bid is still under the $250,000 budget allocated for the project. That money includes a $125,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Recreational Trails Program and matching funds from the city.

Kloote will install a 12-foot-wide concrete trail around the pond and sod along both sides. Unspent funds will be used to add other amenities, including park benches, trash receptacles and a bike rack. The project should be complete by March 1, 2013.

Commissioners also approved Monday: • A contract with Q.G.S. Development Inc. to complete stormwater projects throughout the city. The projects including the drainage improvements at Cherry Street; Franklin and English streets; Wheeler Street and Veterans Memorial Park; Vermont Street; and Lincoln and Madison Park. The work should not exceed $900,000; • A contract to purchase the parcel at 4609 Airport Road for $40,000. This is the fourth of five parcels the city must acquire to complete the realignment of Airport Road to create better geometry at the road’s intersection with Turkey Creek Road; and • The awarding of a $55,860 contract to Gary Knight’s Excavating and Site Services Inc. for 9,500 cubic yards of fill material for phase two of Ellis Methvin Park.

Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.

4 PlantCityObserver.com

NEWSBRIEFS + Girl, 12, in critical condition after crash A 12-year-old girl is in critical condition after she was struck by a car while riding her bicycle.

According to Plant City Police Department reports, the girl was riding her bicycle Dec. 9, on the 1800 block of East Calhoun Street, when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle.

The girl was stabilized on-scene and airlifted to Tampa General Hospital.

The investigation is ongoing.

+ DeeDee Moore sentenced for Shakespeare murder It took only about three hours of deliberation Dec. 10, before jurors came back with their verdict: Dorice “DeeDee” Moore is guilty of killing Florida lottery winner Abraham Shakespeare.

Then, shortly after the verdict was read, Judge Emmet Battles delivered the sentence: life in prison without parole. Battles Sunday, December 16, 2012, had harsh words for Moore, whose emotional 10:30 a.m. outbursts disrupted the two-week trial daily.

Childcare provided.

“Cold, calculated, cruel — they all apply,” Battles said. “Manipulative ... probably the First held on Christmas Eve, 1918, at King’s College, Cambridge, most manipulative person that this court has this holiday tradition has spread throughout the world as a blessed way seen. Abraham Shakespeare was your prey to prepare for the arrival of our Savior on Christmas morning. and your victim. Money was the root of the evil 26, you2012 brought You are invited to join our congregation and gifted choir as we Monday, November atpgrac7768.a11 10:55:54to AMAbraham.”

Moore was on trial for killing Shakespeare ‘look forward to the yearly remembrance of Christ’s birth in 2009. Shakespeare, of Lakeland, won with hymns and songs of praise.’ $17 million in 2006. Three years later, his family reported him missing. body was found in January atpgrac7768.a11 Monday, NovemberShakespeare’s 26, 2012 10:55:54 AM 2010 under a concrete slab at a Turkey

An Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols

St Peter’s Episcopal Church

Creek home owned by Shar Krasniqi, Moore’s boyfriend. He had been shot twice in the chest.

+ Flatbed semi-truck strikes car downtown A flatbed semi-truck hauling rebar hit a parked car on Collins Street Dec. 5, as it tried to make a turn at the corner of Reynolds and Collins streets.

The 2008 red Mitsubishi Eclipse sustained damage to its back and rear driverside door. The back tire also sustained damage.

“It just ruined my day,” Janet Denham, owner of the Eclipse, said.

According to police, the truck driver was using his GPS to navigate through town.

Trucks are not supposed to come through downtown and down Collins Street. The proper trucking routes direct trucks down Wheeler Street, Alexander Street and Park Road.

+ Jarrett-Scott Ford commits to National FFA Jarrett-Scott Ford’s Jim Scott announced this week the Plant City dealership would join Ford Motor Company in its ongoing commitment to the National FFA. Ford has committed to a 16th year of the Built Ford Tough — FFA collegiate scholarship program, which will award $1,000 scholarships to hundreds of FFA members, each co-sponsored by dealers.

“We’re pleased to be able to support the local chapter and Ford Motor Company in its strong commitment to the National FFA,” Scott said.

Jarrett-Scott Ford is sponsoring the Built Ford Tough collegiate scholarship program for Plant City, Durant and Strawberry Crest high schools.

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302 N Carey Street, Plant City 813 752-5061 On Baker Street (92 West), 1/2 mile west of Wheeler Street (SR 39), at the corner of Carey Street

Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

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two songs are vastly different.

Anabel’s creation, “The Search,” was inspired by a book she was reading, “Out of my Mind,” about a paraplegic girl. From there she brainstormed different ideas about friendship, loneliness and family.

“The Search” is soft, almost melancholy.

Anabel’s soft voice resonates to the tune of a humming guitar and gentle piano.

By contrast, Walker’s song, “Fighting a Black Belt,” is an upbeat tune with comedic lyrics about fighting a black-belt karate master. His voice is strong and confident as he talks about his karate instructor, Chris Welbon.

The district has offered the symposium since 2003. The project initially was designed by former Elementary Music Supervisor Margaret Griffin, district resource teacher Janice Lancaster, former Florida Department of Education Program Specialist June Hinckley and executives at Broadcast Music Incorporated. Later, Apple and Sibelius joined the project.

The Hillsborough County Elementary Music Educators Council currently funds the symposium. Daniel Shea and Sean Moats are teacher coordinators, and Supervisor of Elementary Music Education Melanie Faulkner oversees the project.

“The program is absolutely amazing,” Naylor said. “It covers so many aspects of the creative process and learning. They have to look deep down inside of them.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@ plantcityobserver.com.

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

CULTURAL EXCHANGE

5

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Thousands attend St. Clement church celebration The Plant City church has hosted its Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration since 2007.

The steady beating of powerful drums resonated Dec. 11, inside of the Plant City Stadium, as Matlachines dancers hopped from foot to foot, opening the procession of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration.

Boom.

Grasping maracas in their hands, they rattled them ferociously.

Boom.

Their feathered headdresses blew in the wind.

Boom.

Glitter designs in the shape of the sacred heart and the cross on their traditional red garb sparkled in the night.

Throughout Mexico and the United States, the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe takes place on the same nights. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Roman Catholic icon of Mary. In the 1500s, peasant Juan Diego saw a vision of Mary in Tepeyac, in Mexico. Her face was imprinted mysteriously on a robe when the archbishop asked for proof of her existence.

Since 2007, St. Clement Catholic Church has hosted a celebration in honor of the holiday.

In the first year, more than 5,000 people attended the first day.

During the three-day celebration, which featured rides, food, vendors, dances, local bands and Mass, 10,000 came through.

This year, the celebration was

Rocio Rodriguez and Eva Munoz couldn’t wait to perform. more religious, because the holiday fell in the middle of the week. But there still were plenty of rides, games and food outside the stadium, including a funhouse, ferris wheel, spinning tea cups and bumper cars. Red and green flags representing Mexico zigzagged over vendors, who sat in the hallway of the stadium, selling beaded rosaries, trinkets and clothing.

The celebration took place from 6 p.m. Dec. 11, to 6 a.m.

Dec. 12, instead of the usual three-day vigil.

“What we are trying to do here for the Hispanic community and the people in the surrounding areas is to celebrate our faith and culture,” said Anselma Fernandez, who coordinated the event for St. Clement. “Some cannot go back to Mexico, so we put together our celebration. It’s for anybody — especially Cath-

Norma Hernandez leads the group in a practice dance before the procession. olics. It’s part of our religion, faith and culture.”

Throughout the year, the church raises funds for the event through dances, drawings and collections. They also ask members to be “padrinos,” or sponsors.

“In our culture, it is an honor to be a sponsor for the celebration,” Fernandez said.

Dancers kicked off the event at 6 p.m. followed by an offering of homemade bread to Mary. At 7 p.m., there was a pa-

rade of flags, more dancing and recognition of a member of the church that has exemplified exceptional volunteer service.

The youth performed folklore dances and put on a play about the vision of the blessed lady, the chorus sang traditional songs, and Mariachis played for Mary.

The stadium fell silent from all the activity for a traditional Mass at midnight. Families gathered in quiet reverence to pay respect to Mary. From 2 to 5

Photos by Amber Jurgensen

a.m., migrant workers, children and families prayed to the Lady of Guadalupe for favors in exchange for promises.

“This is an enrichment, especially to young people so they can learn the culture and be proud of their culture,” Fernandez said. “It’s educational for the community, too, because it’s a way of learning about our culture.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver. com.

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

A LONG TIME GROWING With humble beginnings, Wish Farms has established itself as one of the leading growers and shippers of strawberries in the state.

Although the name has only to Wish Farms and has kept been around for a few years, its headquarters in Plant the story behind Wish Farms City. dates back much earlier — 90 “We’re trying to separate years in fact. ourselves from the pack Now a fourth-generation, and have our brand recogfamily-owned company, Wish nized,” Wishnatzki said.

Farms is a leader in the strawberry growing industry and HOUSEHOLD NAME has been a major contributor Wish Farms has become to Plant City’s title as the Wina major player locally, not Courtesy photos ter Strawberry Capital of the only as a produce grower Wish Farms has come a long way since World. and shipper but also away “We’ve made some big tran- its humble beginnings. from the crops and fields. sitions over the years,” said Marketing Director Amber owner Gary Wishnatzki. “Look- Nathel. Seven years later, Wish- Kosinsky is helping to expand ing back, it was quite a different natzki moved to Plant City and the brand, including expanding world from where we are today.” established a produce-shipping its social media outreach with active profiles on Facebook, operation.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS After two more generations of Twitter and Pinterest.

Gary Wishnatzki is the third Wishnatzkis joined the business, Wish Farms also has utilized generation of this long-standing the family and the Nathel family the Florida Strawberry Festival family business. His daughter, agreed to split the company. The as a way to market its products Elizabeth, represents the fourth Wishnatzkis oversaw the Florida and name. It sponsors the pergeneration and is assisting with division and changed the name formance stage that has brought marketing efforts. Her husband, to Wishnatzki Farms in 2001. some notable music acts in the James, also works for the comIn 2010, the company launched past. pany in the sales department.

“We go way back with the comits consumer brand, Wish Farms.

The company’s story dates A year later, it became a year- munity here, so that’s one reason back more than 110 years, when round supplier of blueberries, why we want to stay involved Gary’s grandfather, Harris Wish- strawberries and vegetables. The with events like the Florida natzki, emigrated from Russia blueberries have seven different Strawberry Festival,” Wishnatzki to New York City and began sell- growing regions. The strawberries said. “We want to give back to ing fruits and vegetables from a have an operation in Salinas and this community that has given pushcart. There, he met Daniel Santa Maria, Calif., when they are us so much over the years.”

Nathel, and the pair eventually out of season locally. Wish Farms became business partners. also has a vegetable-growing op- MAKING STRIDES In 1922, Wishnatzki and Nath- eration in Pine Island.

In addition to new branding el combined their large pushcart In January 2011, the company efforts and the name change, fleets and formed Wishnatzki & made the official name change Wish Farms has made some oth-

Gary Wishnatzki and his wife, Therese, are the third generation in the family to own Wish Farms. er significant changes throughout the past 10 years.

When Gary Wishnatzki started working for his dad and uncle in 1974, the company operated out of a rented railroad platform Paradise Plastics calls home today.

“We were a little bit behind the times compared to what California was doing,” Wishnatzki said.

At that time, the company wasn’t automated with its daily operations. But in the last decade, Wish Farms has updated and enhanced its cooling efforts and has made great strides in its processing.

“Processing has enhanced our ability to pick the crops to the very end,” Wishnatzki said.

“Processing gives us the ability to stay fresh.”

Wishnatzki said improvements also have been made in forecasting.

“We used to not have a scientific way of predicting production, and today, we do,” he said.

“It allows us to make promises and keep those promises.”

A traceability system has been put in place that allows the companies to track berries from the crop to the consumer.

“When we get feedback from customers on our berries, we can track and find out exactly where and when those berries were picked,” he said. “That was a tremendous innovation for us and allows us to correct our failures.”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver. com.

98711

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Ph 813.754.4805 Fax 813.754.4937 www.bayada.com

Plant city observer

7

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

Cops Corner

Family asks for prayers for accident victim

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

Jaretha Fletcher is recovering in a hospital after crashing into a tree with her SUV a month ago.

PLANT CITY

DEC. 2

MAKING A MESS

4600 block of Country Hills Court. Vehicle Burglary.

The victim reported someone entered her 2001 silver BMW through the driver’s door and ransacked the interior. The victim stated she did not find any property missing.

ANIMAL HOUSE

4500 block of Country Hills Boulevard. Noise Ordinance Violation. The homeowner was in violation of a city ordinance in reference to loud dogs and birds at this location.

FUNNY MONEY

610 block of North Maryland Avenue. Counterfeit Bill. An unknown black female customer passed a counterfeit $20 bill when she made a purchase and left prior to officers’ arrival. The bill was collected and placed into evidence.

SEEK AND FIND

4600 bock of South Country Hills Court. Attempted Vehicle Burglary. The victim said she left her vehicle unlocked and found someone had gone through the glove box and ransacked the paperwork.

UPDATE

by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary for Jaretha Fletcher when she left her house for church Nov. 14. She showered, got herself ready, grabbed her purse and drove away in her 2002 Ford Explorer. The 62-year-old lives in Turkey Creek and was headed for Whitehurst Road Baptist Church when she suffered a seizure, blacked out and crashed into a tree.

Police estimated she hit the tree at 60 mph. An eyewitness said Fletcher was maintaining a constant speed and then suddenly started accelerating before crashing into the tree.

Fletcher suffered a compound fracture in her leg and a broken arm.

She was able to give the police her information, but in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, she went into shock. Fletcher was then airlifted to Tampa General Hospital.

The police contacted Fletcher’s family.

“It was really, really hard,” her grandson, Trey Fletcher, said. “I’m really close to my grandma. I see her every day, and in a second, everything changed.”

The police told the family she had a broken arm and leg fracture, but when they arrived at the hospital, a doctor told them she also had more serious internal injuries.

“That’s when it really hit me,” Trey Fletcher said. “When we got to the hospital and found out what was really going on.”

Her small intestines were ripped into three sections, but the surgeons couldn’t operate until her body temperature was raised.

That wasn’t the last of her troubles.

Jaretha Fletcher got an infection in her compound fracture, which was causing her blood pressure to lower.

To stabilize her pressure, doctors amputated her right leg below the knee.

Courtesy photo

Jaretha Fletcher is active in her church, Whitehurst Road Baptist.

Her blood pressure is still is low.

Several days after the accident, her brain began to swell. Fletcher awoke from the coma two weeks ago, but she is weak from lying in a hospital bed.

Doctors still are trying to find out what caused her seizure. About 14 years ago, Fletcher had a similar accident in Walden Lake. She blacked out at the wheel of the car and almost crashed into a swimming pool. Her daughter-in-law, Brittony Fletcher, grabbed the wheel to steer the car, and the car ended up crashing into a home.

“The nurses tell us to stay positive; don’t give up on her,” Trey Fletcher said. “We’re all thinking positive. She is going to get better. She’s come so far.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.

DEC. 3

BLOCKBUSTER NIGHT

1510 block of Plantation Grove Court. Vehicle Burglary. During the night, unknown person(s) smashed the passenger-side window out of a car and stole an in-dash DVD player, valued at about $800.

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

WALDEN LAKE CARS TARGETED

The Plant City Police Department investigated numerous vehicle burglaries in Walden Lake. In some of the cases, victims reported nothing stolen.

DEC. 2

1400 block of Live Oak Court. Unknown suspect(s) entered the vehicle by an unlocked door. The victim advised nothing was missing from the vehicle.

DEC. 3

3350 block of Silverstone Drive. On Nov. 30, an unknown suspect entered a convertible Isuzu Rodeo SUV and stole a wallet containing $600 cash, credit cards and IDs. According to the reporting victim, some of the credit cards were used in Plant City at a Citgo gas station.

DEC. 4

3200 block of Thackery Way. The victim reported that sometime on Dec. 3, unknown person(s) entered his unlocked 2006 Pontiac car, emptied the glove box but took nothing.

3210 block of Pine Club Drive. Unknown person(s) entered an unlocked Dodge truck. The victim was unsure whether anything was taken.

2510 block of Clubhouse Drive Unknown suspect(s) entered a locked Dodge Caravan and stole $47 cash and a power converter. The door handle was damaged to gain entry.

3200 block of Thackery Way. The victim reported that a U.S. passport and miscellaneous IDs were taken from his unlocked Honda Civic.

Kipling Avenue. The victim stated unknown suspect(s) entered her vehicle and stole her wallet, which contained her driver’s license and other paperwork.

DEC. 7

4100 block of Concord Way. A Compaq laptop computer was taken from inside an unlocked Chrysler Sebring car.

2900 block of Forest Club Drive. Unknown suspect(s) smashed the driver’s window out of a Ford Expedition and stole a purse containing $60 in cash.

2770 block of Hammock Drive. Unknown person(s) entered an unlocked Toyota SUV last night. As of now, nothing is known to have been taken.

98605

3000 block of Pine Club Drive. The victim stated an unknown person(s) entered an unlocked GMC truck and stole a brown wallet containing $100.

8 PlantCityObserver.com

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

Founding Publisher / Felix Haynes Managing Editor / Michael Eng, meng@PlantCityObserver.com Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, jeng@PlantCityObserver.com Associate Editors / (Community) Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@ PlantCityObserver.com; (Sports) 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 Advertising-Production Coordinator / Brooke Schultheis, bschultheis@ yourobserver.com Advertising Graphic Designers / Peter Carlson, pcarlson@yourobserver. com; Monica DiMattei, mdimattei@ yourobserver.com; Marjorie Holloway, mholloway@yourobserver.com; Luis Trujillo, ltrujillo@yourobserver.com; Chris Stolz, cstolz@yourobserver.com



CONTACT US

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

 

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

Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

PAJAMA MAMA

Six going on 16 At exactly 5:53 p.m. Dec. 13, picture he drew of Scarlett, with 2006, I witnessed a miracle her long hair adorned with a — the birth of my daughter, bow. I think someone just may Scarlett Joy Plants. have a bit of a crush.

I remember holding She wanted bangs her for the first time, because Mommy cut wrapped like a burrito, bangs, and they just and gazing at the sweethappen to be the latest face I had ever seen. est trend. I let her cut Little by little, I’ve bangs; however, my been loosening my grip answer was “no” when on my little burrito baby. she wanted to add red I remember letting go streaks like Mommy’s. so she could take her first Miss Sassy Pants had EMILIE steps, leaving her for her her first pedicure. The PLANTS first day of preschool and nail technician had to saying good-bye on her bring a pillow to prop first day of kindergarten. up her small frame. She chose I know it sounds cliché, but red sparkly polish for the both where did the last six years go? of us. I have to admit, this was This sweet child of mine is the best pedicure I had ever growing up. She’s 6 going on 16, gotten, simply because I lived and it scares me to death! it through those beautiful eyes She got her first love note last and sweet smile. week. Scarlett loves to give gifts, I realize that although I no a trait she learned from me, and longer walk the catwalk, I am she brought a candy cane for still modeling. However, this gig every child in her class. One litis the most important one of tle boy returned the favor with a my life.

Photos courtesy of Emilie Plants

Emilie Plants welcomed her daughter, Scarlett, Dec. 13, 2006.

My daughter looks up to me as her guide, and I want to steer her in the right direction.

I love showing her the fun side of me, like when I let her pick the songs on the radio and we jam out in the car.

She also knows there’s a serious side of me, too, and when I mean business, I mean business.

Mothers tell me all the time, “Just wait until the teenage years. She won’t adore you so much anymore!”

Time is already slipping through my fingers, and I don’t have time to worry about what’s ahead.

For now, I will just relish every second I have being the center of her universe.

This weekend, she’s having a movie night with a bunch of little girls from her class.

I can already hear their giggles and see their smiling faces.

Happy birthday, my sweet Scarlett Joy! Thank you for six of the happiest years of my life!

Emilie Plants, a Plant City native, is a stay-at-home mother of two, freelance journalist and a former Florida Strawberry Festival Queens Court member.

festive display by Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

Celebration lights path to Christmas season The Lights of Love Celebration sparked some holiday cheer among its hundreds of spectators.

The annual event, held Dec. 6, at McCall Park, kicked off the Christmas season in Historic Downtown Plant City. Youth pop group NRG and singers from Plant City’s First Baptist Church provided evening entertainment, as families and couples enjoyed the glittering displays.

The event is hosted annually by South Florida Baptist Hospital and several other sponsors.

“We’re going to net about $25,000, which supports the community outreach programs for South Florida Baptist Hospital,” South Florida Baptist Hospital Foundation Executive Director Jana Butler said. “And those programs (include) our Wellness on Wheels mobile unit, our Ladies Night Out education series and our faith community nursing programs.

“My favorite part is the amount of people that we get here,” Butler said.

“We get (more than) 300 people to attend. My second favorite is all the children that have their photos with Santa tonight. Santa came from the North Pole tonight to be here this evening. So we have lots of children that will see Santa.”

The displays will be lit every night until the first of the year.

Jackson Howard was happy in his mom’s arms.

The downtown display will remain lit until the new year.

Michael Eng

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

Plant City High School Calendar Girls Deena Lemelin, Maddy Keene, Regan McGavin and Erica Williams loved seeing all the lights.

Jessica and Lilly Hall relaxed in the park.

The Wolfe family came decked out in their holiday gear.

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

9

IT’S READ EVERYWHERE!

TALLAHASSEE. Jodi Stevens took two Plant City babies with her on a recent trip to Florida State University in Tallahassee. This was the first time in the state capital for both Jodi’s son, Evan, and the Plant City Observer.

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. Make sure you include your full name and where the photo was taken.

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

The Marshall Middle School Mighty Dragon Band performed.

Plant City residents lined the parade route for a night of holiday fun.

Commissioner Bill Dodson loved seeing so many happy Plant City residents.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The drummers from Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church brought some groove to the parade.

Tampa-based Revealing Truth Ministries’ marching band performed in this year’s parade.

Left: Plant City Little League 10-11 players enjoyed their time on the parade route.

David Wolf rode in a tiny Smart Car.

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““ ” Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

11

WHy tHe observer?

As a fifth-generation Plant City resident, I am proud to

have the Plant City Observer as an integral voice in the

”

community. With a focus on hometown news, the

Plant City Observer provides relevant, interesting and valuable content each week.

Al HigginbotHam Hillsborough County Commissioner

“

It’s wonderful to have an actual newspaper in Plant City that provides quality stories that are of direct interest to the people who live here. On top of that, the people at the Plant City Observer show a great love for our town. The Plant City

”

Observer is bringing our diverse community closer by

giving us stories that educate, entertain and inform us of the city in which we live.

JOsePH mendolia

executive and Artistic Director, Plant City Community Choir

Plant City. Longboat. East County. Sarasota. Pelican Press.

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PLANT CITY

12 PlantCityObserver.com

ATTENTION Homeowners:

Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

gift of giving by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Have you recently been denied Homeowner’s Insurance?

WE ARE HERE TO HELP!!!

“

When our homeowners insurance carrier decided to drop us because our family resides in Hillsborough County, we were at a crossroads. We needed homeowners insurance, but where do we turn? Rollyson Fearnow Insurance Co was there for us. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and most of all they wanted to help us. They worked efficiently to find a policy that was actually better than our previous policy and they saved us $1000. How awesome is that? Our family is thankful to have Rollyson Fearnow Insurance taking care of our family.

SAVE% UP TO

Geremiah and Zariah Faison loved meeting Santa and the Aaron’s Lucky Dog.

23

Many of your neighbors in Plant City already have!

Call now to speak to a local agent that will help YOU protect your Home.

Rhett Rollyson President Rolly Rollyson Sr. Advisor

We also offer GREAT RATES for Auto, Boat and Commercial Insurance.

We never stopped writing in Florida!

Smiles were all around for Christmas in the Park Dec. 8, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center.

Local children in need received bags of gifts and met Santa at the annual event, now in its 15th year. Children were pre-registered for the event, and the ones in attendance also were entered to win a shiny new bike in a raffle.

A total of 16 bikes were given away. Half were donated by the Improvement League of Plant City, and the other eight came from a collabora-

tion among Friends of Recreation and Parks, a non-profit, and other sponsors, according to Parks and Recreations Director Jack Holland.

The Improvement League also donated 20 turkeys that were raffled to families in need.

In addition to Santa, the Aaron’s Lucky Dog mascot was in attendance to spread some holiday cheer. Free hot dogs and drinks also Marshawn Hilery, 4, loved his new matching game. were available.

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- Mike and Becky Collins

Plant city observer

PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

sweet treat

13

by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Lincoln Elementary School Principal Jennifer West with Emory and Elizabeth

Kids, Plant City Kiwanians dine with Santa Claus

Former Florida State Rep. Rich Glorioso was one of the cooks for the event.

For the second consecutive year, the Kiwanis Club of Plant City held a holiday pancake breakfast Dec. 8, at the Plant City Bingo Hall.

The event was a fundraiser for the club, which strives to help children in the local community, including funding scholarships for local students.

“We’ve had great success with this event, and the turnout this year was better than last year,” said Vice President Michael Lopez.

In addition to a delicious breakfast, kids also had the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa Claus.

We’re growing a future for creatures great and small.

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as well as financially supported wildlife rehabilitation and education.

We’ve worked with regulators to develop the largest scrub jay population in Southwest Florida; we’ve reclaimed numerous popular fishing lakes; and we own and help fund an island sanctuary that is home to as many as 18,000 pairs of native water birds. At Mosaic, we are dedicated to the protection of local wildlife, and equally dedicated to the creation of local jobs and economic opportunities.

Join in Mosaic’s promise at www.mosaicco.com/promise.

Jim Hayes and Sue Hawthorne manned the coffee station.

Roseate Spoonbill Richard T. Paul Alafia Bank Bird Sanctuary

Mary Davis and Martha Torres enjoyed serving guests.

98544

Hillsborough Bay, Florida

T

u for

59 YEARS!

14 PlantCityObserver.com

Hello, My name is Clyde Foshee, and I’m proud to say that I’ve been serving our community ing59usyears. owover To ser for allfor

ou Thank y

ve you f or

59 YEARS!

OBSERVEROBITUARIES

Hello, My name is Clyde Foshee, and I’m proud to say that I’ve been serving our community for over 59 years.

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WE GIVE YOU lowing us To serve yo r alPRICES foBEST u yo THE u for FOR GOLD,

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GIVE YOU PLATINUM POLK COUNTY’S MOST TRUSTED JEWELER SINCE 1953

Hello, My name is Clyde Foshee, THE BEST PRICES and •I’m proud to say that I’ve been serving our GIA JEWELRY APPRAISER FOR GOLD, “Thank you for your “Thank you for your trust community for over 59 years.

ON STAFF SILVER, AND JEWELERS 59 years.” for trust over for 59 over years.”

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POLK COUNTY’S MOST TRUSTED JEWELER SINCE 1953

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• GIA JEWELRY APPRAISER ON STAFF % “Thank you for your trust • WE SELL SERVICE JEWELRY, forAND over 59 years.”

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oFF

Timothy Curtis Ballard, 57, of Dover, died Dec. 5, at his home.

Born Aug. 24, 1955, in Plant City, he was the son of the late Jesse Ballard and Georgia Butler Ballard. He was the husband of Cynthia Ballard.

Mr. Ballard was a member of Sydney Baptist Church and had worked for Mosaic for more than 20 years.

Survivors include a daughter, Tara Krasnichan; brothers, Alan and Charles Ballard; and one granchild, T.J. Krasnichan.

The family will be having a private service.

If you would care to make donations in lieu of flowers, please direct those to The Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, 1-800-241GIFT, or Shriners International Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Joy Ann Marley Baxter

AND PLATINUM

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

Joy Ann Marley Baxter died Dec. 6, at home in Beach Park, with her children at her side.

She was preceded in death by her father, W. D. Marley, and mother, Mrs. Willie Marley Skeith.

Mr. Marley was a prominent businessman in Plant City and was one of the initiators of the Florida Strawberry Festival. Mrs. Marley’s early years were spent immersed in the “Strawberry culture” of pageants and parades.

She also was preceded in death by her husband, William “Billy” Melbourne Baxter.

A Celebration of Life ceremony was Dec. 10, at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, Tampa.

A guestbook for Mrs. Marley is available online at BlountCurryMacDill.com.

Ruby M. Gray

Ruby M. Gray, 79, of Plant City, died Dec. 6, 2012.

Survivors include her children, Annie McElyea (Tom) and Judy Rose (David); brother, Hurley Mayo (Dorothy); sisters, Ledell Jordan and Louise Barnett; grandchildren, Mary Lewis (Jr.) and Melinda Taylor (Johnny); and great-grandchildren Elizabeth Lewis, Annberlin Lewis, Justin Taylor and Shelby Taylor.

She was preceded in death by her parwe remember those

ht FuneralJoin Home during the month of during December we remember thoseas Haught Funeral Home the as month of December t. Stop by regular hours and place a personalized weduring have lost.

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ents, Alex and Eula Mayo; and brothers, Junior and Neal Mayo.

A Celebration of Life was Dec. 11, at Willow Oak Church of God, 4087 S.R. 60 W., Mulberry.

Interment followed at Hopewell Memorial Gardens, Plant City.

Online condolences may be made to the family at hopewellfuneral.com.

Gregory Stephen Long

Gregory Stephen Long, 52, of Tampa and Plant City, died Dec. 6.

Mr. Long was born March 12, 1960, in Plant City, to the late William Long and Murel Tindle Jones (Billie).

Survivors include siblings, Ray (Judy) Long, Billy (Jeanette) Long, Kenneth Long, Shawn Long, Patricia (Donald) Stancil, Kevin (Lisa) Jones and Virginia (David) Rodriquez.

A funeral service was Dec. 11, at Haught Funeral Home Chapel.

Online condolences may be made to the family at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Norma Kate Thrasher (Douglas)

Norma Kate Thrasher (Douglas), 91, died Dec. 5, at home.

She was born in Dixie County, Ala., in 1921 and was a resident of Florida since 1935, living in Plant City, Blountstown and for the past 15 years in Lake Wales.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Willie Harmon Thrasher; father, McCary McNeil Douglas; mother, Alma Lee (Shields) Douglas; brothers, Tommy Ray and Jerry Mack Douglas; and sister, Talatha (Kay) Griffin.

She is survived by her children, Sandra Parrish and Barbara Hill, of Lake Wales; Linda Dixon (Donald), of Plant City; Mack Neil Thrasher, of Banks, Ala.; and Bill Thrasher, of Winter Haven; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were Dec. 8, at Wells Memorial and Event Center, Plant City. Interment followed at Mt. Enon Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Mt. Enon Cemetery Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 326, Plant City, FL 33564.

Condolences may be offered at wellsmemorial.com.

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Sports

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

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Shelby Jacobsen is a multi-talented 8-year-old. 16

PLANTCITYObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

youth football by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Trojans create lasting memories The Turkey Creek Trojans junior varsity team hope to end its 2012 season with a perfect record Dec. 15, at Raymond James Stadium.

Matt Mauney

The Turkey Creek Trojans have been hard at work practicing for their big game Saturday at Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa.

show me the mauney

Big things in young packages I’ve been around sports all my life.

I’ve seen a lot of things in that time.

In the past five or so years, I’ve especially been interested in recruiting and scouting for various sports. I’ve always been intrigued by what impressed some scouts and didn’t impress others.

Today, recruiting has gone to MATT a whole new MAUNEY level with the Internet and social media. The digital landscape has allowed college coaches to keep an eye on prospects well before their junior or senior years of high school, even if the player isn’t aware.

The United Youth Football League National Championship Tournament, held here in Plant City, had a plethora of young talent take the field last week, at Otis M. Andrews Park.

Some people may think it sounds crazy to use the words prospects and scouting when referring to 6- to 16-year-olds, but I assure you, it’s not.

Okay, maybe with 6-yearolds, but everyone else is fair game. The truth is, like it or not, kids are put under the microscope earlier than ever.

I’m not saying it’s the right thing to do, but it happens.

Take, for example, an eighth-grade all-star team from Chicago. As I chatted

SEE MAUNEY / PAGE 16

Many young football players who grew up in this area dream of one day being able to run out of the tunnel at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For many of the players on the Turkey Creek Trojans junior varsity team, that experience has already become a reality. And the ones that haven’t yet experienced the stadium will do so Dec. 15.

As the Super Bowl champions of their division in the Florida

Youth Football and Cheerleading Association, the Trojans will have the opportunity to have the unique experience as they face the Nuccio Jaguars, a champion in its respective league, at Raymond James Stadium.

“It’s a cool experience for the boys,” Trojans head coach Dub Atkins said. “They really get the superstar treatment.”

Players will get to have their picture taken on the famous pirate ship and get to use the same

lockers and locker rooms of the Buccaneers and other visiting NFL teams.

They also will get to feel like NFL stars when they are introduced individually over the loudspeaker and run out of the famous tunnel.

In addition to the experience, the Trojans will be on a mission to finish what they started, which includes an impressive 14-0 re-

SEE TROJANS / PAGE 17

football by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Daquan Smith was ready to go in whenever his number was called.

Zamir Knighten and Marquel Gabriel celebrated with their teammates with a team chant after the win.

Left: Tyriq Thornton broke several tackles on this touchdown run.

Championship Form Quincy Hipps

The Plant City Raiders beat teams from Newark, N.J., Jacksonville and Chicago en route to the United Youth Football League National Championship this monrth.

One local Plant City youth football team is a national champion, and it didn’t have to go far to earn the title.

Defense set the tone for the Plant City Raiders 10-yearold unlimited team, which allowed just 12 total points through three games in the bracket-style United Youth Football League National Championship Tournament this month.

“Our defense has been strong all season, and they played especially well through this tournament,” said head coach Fabian Walker.

The Raiders didn’t have an easy road to the championship and faced some of the top youth teams from around the country.

Plant City opened the tournament with a 26-0 shutout over the Newark (N.J.) Bears Dec. 2, and punched their ticket to the championship game two days later with a 12-6 defensive battle against the Oakleaf (Jacksonville) Black Knights.

In the championship game, the Raiders squared off against the Homewood Flossmoor (Chicago, Ill.) Junior Vikings, which had not lost a game in two years.

Plant City’s defense limited the Vikings and made several thirdand fourth-down stops. Homewood’s only score of the game came late in the third quarter.

That touchdown was set up by a long run by the Vikings.

“We wanted to bring the championship to Plant City,” Walker said after the win. “Our city was hosting this tournament, so we wanted to keep the trophy here, where it belongs.”

This was just the second tournament for the Raiders this season. They competed in a tournament a week earlier, in Atlanta.

16 PlantCityObserver.com

Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

athlete of the week

by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Shelby Jacobsen With a house full of older brothers, it’s not a surprise that some football skills rubbed off on 8-year-old Shelby Jacobsen. The Plant City native has even shown up some of her brothers with her past performances in Punt, Pass and Kick competitions. Jacobsen recently placed second in the 8- to 9-year-old girls division of the NFL team competition at Raymond James Stadium Nov. 25.

Matt Mauney

The Chicagoland All-Stars featured some of the top young football players from the Midwest, including a 6-3, 355-pound lineman prospect.

MAUNEY/PAGE 15 with coaches, they pointed out some of their best players. Most of those eighthgraders currently are being recruited by high school teams all over Illinois and the rest of the Midwest.

How is that possible, you ask? It’s simple: Those schools are — or at least should be — private schools, which allow that sort of thing.

It becomes a vicious cycle. The high school coaches want the players to benefit their teams, and the parents want to put their child in the best spot to succeed.

Don’t forget, many of those private schools also offer top-notch educations if the whole football thing doesn’t work out.

This all creates a fine line. It’s an argument that has been at the forefront of sports for some time: What’s really in the best interest of the athletes?

Throughout the week, I saw some of the biggest kids I’ve ever seen. There were teams full of 13-year-olds that had an offensive line bigger than that of my high school.

I’m not kidding.

Hey, is that Warren Sapp? Nope, it’s a 12-year-old.

In July, ESPN reported the LSU Tigers offered a hopeful prospect a scholarship

after his performance at a camp. His name was Dylan Moses, and he had yet to begin eighth grade. Moses may not be old enough to drive for another few years, but he’s committed to join the LSU football program in 2017.

That’s just one of many examples.

There’s a couple of ways to look at this.

Is it exploiting or putting too much pressure on the young athletes? Or is it giving them a platform to succeed and do big things — whether that’s playing professionally or getting to college and receiving the education that comes with it?

I’m going to play devil’s advocate and say it varies depending on the situation.

Let’s face it. Football may be the only answer for some, like it or not. Others may have more options and may be playing simply for the love of the game.

Even if they have bigger dreams, let’s hope they are still playing with that love and passion — now and in the future.

Regardless of your thoughts on middleschool athletes being recruited by private high schools and colleges, it still was pretty cool seeing some of the top young athletes in the nation on display right here in our backyard.

Who knows? Maybe in 10 or 15 years, that 12-year-old will be the next Warren Sapp.

What was the experience like getting to compete at the Buccaneers stadium?

It was fun, because we got to actually go to the game. I didn’t watch the game last year, but I got to go with two of my brothers this year.

Have you ever seen a game there before?

No, this was my first time.

What did you like most about the game?

I liked the jets that flew over the stadium before. I also liked the pirate ship, even though we didn’t go on it. It was cool when the team scored.

Do you play flag football like your brothers?

No, I did one year though. I do dance and cheerleading.

Which one of those do you like the most?

I would say I like them both equally.

it’s really fun to run up and kick it.

What’s the biggest difference between playing soccer and being a football kicker?

There’s a lot more pressure in football, because you may only get one chance to prove yourself.

How long have you been dancing and cheering?

I’ve been dancing since I was 2, and I just started cheering last year.

For whom do you cheer?

The Shiloh Stars.

What kind of dancing do you do?

We do all kinds: regular dancing, hip-hop, jazz and clogging.

What is your favorite?

Clogging, because its really fast.

What was your first Punt, Pass and Kick competition like?

I didn’t really know what was going on, but I’m more used to it now.

What else do you like to do for fun?

I like to read.

Do you have a favorite book?

I like “Junie B. Jones” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”

What’s your favorite part of the competition and why?

Kicking, because get a special tee that you use, and

What’s your favorite subject in school?

Math

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PlantCityObserver.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

TROJANS/PAGE 15 cord and a devastating defense that has allowed only 18 points all season.

The Trojans got here by beating the rival Plant City Dolphins JV team in the FYFCA Super Bowl 32-8. Four teams in the Turkey Creek program advanced to their respective Super Bowls, but only the JV team came out with a win.

NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO

As Atkins did a roll call of how many of his players have played in one of the annual Raymond James games, more than half raised their hands.

The Trojans JV team, comprising 11- to 13-year-olds, played there just a year ago, when it suffered its only defeat of the season in a 12-8 loss to the Town and Country Packers, coached

by Tampa Bay Buc great Derek Brooks.

This year’s Trojans team featured only seven returning players.

“We brought some kids in from other parks, but to start pretty much from scratch with just a few Turkey Creek boys and have the season we did is pretty special,” he said. “They’re a great bunch of boys, and I’ve been blessed with a great coaching staff.”

This will be the third game at Raymond James for defensive tackle Casey Flouro, 13, who said he was nervous the first time.

“I’ve already been there, so I wasn’t as overwhelmed about playing on the field,” he said. “The players that have been there before help the other players there for the first time be relaxed.”

According to Atkins, two key players on this year’s squad are Amir Abdullah and Treshaun Ward, the nephew of Plant City High head coach Wayne Ward.

GUEST OF HONOR

The JV Trojans have been inspired all season by the story of former defensive coordinator Kenny Brown, who was diagnosed with brain cancer.

“He missed the whole season, and after going through chemo and having his tumor removed, he actually made it out to our Super Bowl game,” Atkins said.

According to Atkins, Brown is expected to make it out for the game Saturday.

“That is something extra special that should motivate them when they take the field,” Atkins said.

FOR THE LOVE OF COACHING

Atkins has coached the JV team for three years and has coached for the Turkey Creek youth foot-

Matt Mauney

Trojans junior varsity head coach Dub Atkins has coached in the Turkey Creek youth football program since 1997. ball program since 1997. He has coached every age group except varsity.

This will be his fourth time coaching a Trojan team at Raymond James.

“His heart is in it, and he always does what’s best for the boys,” said Turkey Creek assistant trustee and Mighty Mite coach Ruben Fuentes of Atkins. “He wants to win for the kids and not for himself or personal reasons.”

Atkins is unique, because he didn’t get involved with the Tur-

key Creek program through one of his three sons. Atkins’ youngest currently plays for the Midget division of the Trojans, but Atkins said he never had a desire to coach one of his sons.

“I didn’t want to justify his playing time, because he was a pretty decent player,” Atkins said of his oldest son. “I wanted to make sure whatever he got, he earned it.”

He has kept that mentality with his other two sons.

“People feel good when they

17

don’t think you have an alternative motive,” he said.

Atkins said none of the Trojans JV coaches have a kid on the team, a trend that’s popular with other Trojan teams in the program.

“I think that’s a big thing with our park, that we have coaches that come out to coach the kids because they want to coach the kids and not just to coach their own kid,” Atkins said. “I think that helps a lot.”

Atkins credits that as being a large reason the park has produced talent that has moved on to the high school and college ranks.

“Our program usually sends a few teams to the Super Bowl every year, so that helps to bring kids in from other parks,” he said.

Receiver and safety Jaden Garrett came over to the Trojans after playing for the Brandon Cowboys last year.

“We never got a chance to go to Raymond James, because we used to lose to Turkey Creek all the time,” Garrett said. “I think it should be fun, because we’re facing a new team, and they’re supposed to be pretty good.”

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver. com.

This week’s Crossword answers

2012

This week’s Cryptogram answers 1. Consciousness could be defined as those stressful moments between naps: the peaceful hours when you can escape from reality.

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Plant city observer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012

home away from home by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Raiding Sailfish The Plant City High School boys soccer program has some deep ties with a college three hours away.

When the Plant City High School boys soccer team holds its second annual Alumni Night Friday, there will be a large contingent present from Palm Beach Atlantic University, in West Palm Beach.

That’s where two recent Plant City graduates — Cameron Roberts and A.J. Black — currently play. It’s also a program that has much deeper ties to the city.

Two of Cameron’s brothers, Cheyne and Caleb, played there.

Cheyne currently serves as an assistant coach for PBA, a path his older brothers, Caleb and Clay, also followed.

Caleb returned to Plant City High this year as a teacher and head coach of the girls soccer team.

Cameron, the youngest of the four brothers, was a standout senior for PCHS last year. It was the first season for current Raiders head coach Chris Black, A.J.’s father.

A.J. was also a notable standout senior for the Raiders in 2010-11, the year before his father took over the program. He is now a sophomore for the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish, a Division II program that competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association.

A.J., a longtime friend of the Roberts family, said having Cheyne there as an assistant coach made the transition easier.

“Coming down here, I didn’t know anyone except him,” A.J. said. “Knowing him and knowing that he played at Plant City and here (Palm Beach Atlantic), it definitely made it easier.”

In addition to the deep family connections, having A.J., with whom he played soccer since he was 10, was a big reason Cameron chose to play his college ball at PBA. “When A.J. got recruited, it became one of my top choices,” Cameron said. “I was able to continue to play with A.J. and play for my brother, and the school has a great location right on the beach, so it was a perfect fit.”

Playing time was also a large reason for Cameron’s selection.

“I didn’t want to go and sit on the bench somewhere, so getting to come in and play immediately was big,” he said.

A.J. and Cameron both played a large part in Palm Beach Atlantic’s best season to date, as the Sailfish went 16-4-2 and took fourth place in the NCCAA national tournament. In the semifinals of the tournament against Fresno

Pacific, Cameron and A.J. both picked up goals. It was Cameron’s second goal of the tournament.

Both he and A.J. finished with six goals apiece for the season.

Cameron was one of three players on last year’s Plant City Raiders team to play at the next level, with Brennan Smith going to Rollins College and Trent Lott playing for University of Tampa.

“There’s a lot of talent in Plant City when it comes to soccer,” Cameron said.

On the first-ever PCHS soccer Alumni Night last year, which celebrated the 30th anniversary of the program, Cameron had a big night, tying the school’s scoring record.

“It was pretty exciting seeing friends I haven’t seen in a while,” he said about Alumni Night. “Being the 30th anniversary, a lot of people came in town for it, so it was a special night.”

Both Cameron and A.J. plan to attend this year.

“Alumni Night is a great way to get everyone together and get a chance to see some of the older guys,” A.J. said. “It’s just a great way to be a part of the Plant City soccer tradition.”

A.J.’s dad, PCHS head coach Chris Black, said he hopes Alumni Night will continue to be a

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

2

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2. L S N K G F F B Z F P X U X H X R Z K X D B Z M . S N B Z F M N P P X R D Z L S X F Z C C A N S N R F X U N F N JA N L Z A M , “ X R N N H C Z L X N R J N Z R H X R N N H XL RGB!”

Courtesy photo

Cameron Roberts and A.J. Black, both Plant City High School alumni, now play for Palm Beach Atlantic University. success and build exposure for the players and the program.

“The whole idea came about as a way to create excitement for soccer here in Plant City,” said Black, who played on the inaugural PCHS team.

Plant City will play Strawberry Crest at 8 p.m. Friday for Alumni Night, preceded by the girls game at 6 p.m., as they celebrate Senior Night.

Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.

AnIMAL FARM by Kathy Islund

ACROSS 1 Voice below soprano 5 “Do ___ others as ...”

9 Desert drifter 14 Shopper’s compilation 18 Bit of live bait 19 Recurrently 20 Licoricelike flavor 21 The “A” in A.D. 22 Largest portion 24 Tuxedo, in slang 26 Circus performer’s support 27 Chicken’s lack?

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55 Beer parties 57 Anklebone 58 “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” group 59 “I ___ declare you ...” (start of a decree) 61 Clothe 63 Sub ___ (in confidence) 65 Supporting 67 Climb up a pole 69 Do more than see, in poker 71 Jane Austen novel 72 “She Loves You” word 73 Shopping bag 75 Jenny of dieting 77 Large wall painting 80 Miss America’s headgear 82 Tea-growing area of the Himalayas 84 Neat 86 Santa ___, Calif.

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107 Tap trouble 109 Like geriatric patients 111 Egg on 112 Gumbo pod 114 First lady 116 Elected ones 117 “A Nightmare on ___ Street”

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