04.11.13 Plant City Observer

Who knew that a little mud and obstacles could turn into a million-dollar industry? But, for huge mud runs, such as the Warrior Dash and Spartan Race, it has.

“Adventure racing is very hot — like mud runs,” Eric Peer, race series president for Tampa’s Erro Events, said.

That trend has led to an in-crease of mud runs in rural areas such as Plant City and Dover.

Hog Wild has hosted three runs off Kirkland Road, in Do-ver. A fourth is planned for Sep-tember. Romp in the Swamp will take place in October, in the Lower Green Swamp Preserve. Keel and Curley Winery hosted a mud run last year to benefit Morgan Pierce, who has child-hood cancer.

The newest race on the Plant City circuit is MudZilla. The 3.1-mile race was designed by Mike Nelson and his brother, Steve Nelson. Steve is an ex-Marine and a daredevil adventurer who likes to skydive. Mike

has organized the Strawberry Distance Challenge 5K for years.

But building a mud run is a little different than organizing a simple jog over concrete.

Partial proceeds from the MudZilla Mud Run will benefit The Youth Alliance, for which Mike is COO. The Youth Alliance is a non-profit organization that helps inspire students to excel academically. The alliance also helps to combat bullying by going to different schools and giving motivational speeches. Big names, including Harlem Globetrotter Seth Franco, have given speeches on The Youth Al-liance’s behalf.

Currently, the mud run is un-der construction and is being completed for its May 18 debut.

So what does it take for a mud run to be successful? How do you even begin putting such a course together?

Mike shared his experiences building MudZilla.

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classifieds ......... 14 crossword .......... 13 Obituaries .............8 sports ...................9Vol. 1, No. 40 | One section

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INDEX

educationby amber Jurgensen | Associate editor

+ Toot, toot!We don’t toot our horns

often, but the Plant City Observer is now an award-winning publication.

The Plant City Observer this week won five awards in the local Media Association’s 2013 editorial contest, a national competition.Our awards include:FIRst PLacE, Best special section: 2012 Football Preview: under constructionsEcond PLacE, bEst hEadLInE: leave it To BeevorsEcond PLacE, bEst PhotoJouRnaLIsm: spirit of AmericasEcond PLacE, bEst FRont PagEthIRd PLacE, bEst FEatuRE Photo: spirit of America: Home

+ Win a weekendisland getaway!

The Plant City Observer, Keel and curley Winery, Anna Maria island Resorts and costco Wholesale have part-nered for the first Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival Blueberry Recipe contest.

All you have to do is submit your favorite blueberry recipe, along with a short paragraph why it is your favorite. Five finalists will present their dishes at 4:30 p.m. April 27, at Keel and curley Winery, where a panel of celebrity judges will choose a grand-prize winner.

First place will receive a weekend getaway at an Anna Maria island Resorts destination; second place will receive a case of Keel and curley Blueberry Wine and an exclusive Tour; third place will receive a $100 prize pack, courtesy of costco Wholesale.

Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m. sunday, April 21.

To enter, visit our site, PlantcityObserver.com, and click on the Blueberry Recipe contest ad. You may also email your entries directly to General Manager Michael eng, [email protected].

sPORTssee inside forthe vsi TampaBay Fc schedule.iNseRT

ObserverMigrant sonearns spot at HarvardDurant High senior Jose Perez will attend the ivy league school on a scholarship.

SEE MUDZILLA / PAGE 2

Some people live their entire childhood in one house. Others may move one or twice.

Durant High School senior Jose Perez has moved 57 times.

The son of migrant workers, Perez and his family follows the harvest seasons around the eastern half of the United States. The schedule takes Perez and his siblings away from their Plant City schools for several months every year.

But, that all will change for Perez in the fall. Last week, he was accepted to Harvard Uni-versity.

“I always wanted to go to Harvard,” Perez said. “I wanted to beat the stereotype. There’s more to being a migrant than just working.”

Perez’s mother, Augustina, immigrated to the United States when she was 13, and his father, Jose Sr., when he was 18. They have always worked the fields. Plant City was an area they fre-quented for employment.

When Perez was about 4 years old, his family moved to Plant City, making it their home base.

“It’s a little town — quaint, quiet and relaxing,” Perez said. “By living a hectic life that causes you to move, you need a place to relax.”

Perez and his siblings, Alicia and Angel, have grown up go-ing to local schools for the first semester. At Christmas break, his family packs up their RV

SEE PEREZ / PAGE 2

The

TruThDirty

Mike and Steve Nelson give the nitty gritty details of constructing the MudZilla mud run May 18.

225Runners in each heat

28 Obstacles to date

100 Acres on the property

$5,000 The amount for insurance for one day

3 slides in MudZilla

70 Tires used in obstacles

by thE #s

mudZilla mud RunWhEn: May 18; assigned a heat; elite races start at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.WhERE: corners of Prevatt and coronet roadssPEcIaL PRomo: MuD70cost: $69 until April 13; $79 April 14 to May 15; $89 walk-upsonLInE: facebook.com/MudzillaMudRun or www.mudzil-lamudrun.com

NATiONAl TReNDAccording to the most

recent u.s. census data, Hispanic student enroll-ment has reach an all-time high. For the first time, the number of 18- to 24-year-old Hispanics enrolled in college exceeded 2 million. Hispanics are the larg-est minority group on the nation’s college campuses.

by amber Jurgensen | Associate editor

Amber Jurgensen

mike nelson designed the course. He also serves as cOO of The Youth Alliance.

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Plant city observerTHURSDAY, APRIL 11, 20132 PlantCityObserver.com

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Attention students, parents, alumni and friends!!!

Come out and support the Durant High School Music Program by participating in our

Annual Spring Golf Classic

When: Saturday April 20, 2013

Where: Bloomingdale Golfers Club; 4113 Great Golfers Place Valrico, FL 33594

Time: 12pm Check-in and Shotgun start 1pm

Format: Four-Person Scramble

Price: $75.00 per player-includes greens fee with golf cart, range balls and dinner afterwards.

There will be many on-course events and is sure to be a great day of fun, fellowship and helping a great organization!!!

Other sponsorships available. We will gladly take any items for door prizes, gift cards and any type of corporate sponsorship.

$50 for a tee or green sign

$100 for a tee AND green sign

Please contact Brian Tice for registration, how to sponsor and where to send any donated door prizes.

Email: [email protected]

Attention students, parents, alumni and friends!!!

Come out and support the Durant High School Music Program

by participating in ourAnnual Spring Golf Classic

There will be many on-course eventsand it is sure to be a great day of fun, fellowship and helping

a great organization!!!Other sponsorships available.

We will gladly take any items for door prizes, gift cards and any type

of corporate sponsorship.$50 for a tee or green sign

$100 for a tee AND green signPlease contact Brian Tice for registra-

tion, how to sponsor and where to send any donated door prizes.


When: Saturday April 20, 2013Where: Bloomingdale Golfers Club

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Time: 12pm Check-in andShotgun start 1pm

Format: Four-Person ScramblePrice: $75.00 per player-includes

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and truck to move, following the different harvest seasons. Then after three months, the family returns to Plant City, where the children can return to their origi-nal schools.

Whether it’s weekends, vaca-tion time or summers, any free time Perez gets is spent helping his family in the fields.

“Everything outside of school is considered family time,” Perez said.

From cantaloupe to squash, the family has picked a variety of crops. Perez said cucumbers are the easiest, and tomatoes are the family’s specialty.

With a deeply rooted love of learning, Perez taught himself to play the guitar, ukulele, saxo-phone, trumpet, baritone and

violin during his family’s long car trips. He also likes to write poet-ry and his own songs. At Durant, he is president of the Poetry Club and is in the Guitar Club.

Along with his hobbies, his family always has encouraged him in academics.

“They always wanted me to get an education,” Perez said. “They said ‘Go to school. It’s a great op-portunity for you.’”

Perez has a passion for learn-ing. He loves all subjects and has taken a plethora of Advanced Placement classes.

“I had great teachers,” Perez said. “I owe it all to them. With-out great teachers, there cannot be great students.”

With a 6.13 grade-point aver-age, Perez plans to go into law at Harvard. But he doesn’t want to declare a major until he ex-

periences his first year. “I am very proud,” Perez said.

“It’s been my No. 1 school for quite a while. Now, I’m one step closer to my next goal. All the money and time my parents spent on me — I want to pay them all back for what they did for me.”

Contact Amber Jurgensen at [email protected].

Mike has only participated in one mud run, but he has completed many interviews with avid mud runners to learn what works.

“They love the mud,” Mike said. “They love the sticky, black mud or the clay. They’re not looking to just run a 5K.”

The main demographic that has signed up for MudZilla so far has been women, ages 30 to 40.

With the demographic, the obstacles are

challenging. But there is also an option to skip them. Still, there’s a consequence that

will be enforced by volun-teers, such as burpees or push-ups.

“The challenges need to be doable,” Mike said. “We don’t want them to leave in an ambulance. We want them to leave tired.”

Once the course is built, avid mud runners, who par-

ticipate in 25 to 30 races a year, will run the course and offer a critique. Adjustments will be made in time for the public race.

THE ObsTaclEs THE MudThe most important element of the

race is, of course, the mud. But, how do you get those sloppy

mud pits to last heat after heat? They’re called slips. Slips are tarp-like sheets that are

placed on the floor of a pit. Then, mud is put on top of the tarps. The tarps keep the mud from soaking into the ground and hardening in the sun.

MudZilla has more than 1,600 feet of mud slip areas.

For the mud, darker, black soil is the best. But when it comes to mix-ing thousands of gallons of water with the soil, it’s trial and error, until the consistency is right. The unknown outcome of the mix keeps the race exciting. Some pits will be more watery, while others will be thicker and clingier.

“There’s not a whole lot of science to it,” Mike said.

Mud runs are all about the obstacles and getting down and dirty. Picking a property with features that will enable those challenges is key.

Mike advises finding a property that has at least 60 acres. MudZilla is on a 100-acre property owned by friend Kimbal Wetherington. Wetherington agreed to lend the property to help the charity.

About 1.85 miles of the run will take place in a wooded area. The property also has an open field and a cleared area, with piles of dirt the designers have nick-named “mountains.” The different types of terrain make themselves perfect for dif-ferent obstacles.

“Runners are looking to be pushed, physically and mentally,” Mike said.

lOcaTiOn, lOcaTiOn, lOcaTiOn

dO yOur rEsEarcHIn addition to the mud, obstacles are what

differentiate a mud run from a normal 5K. The MudZilla Mud Run has 28 obstacles

planned, with more in the works. A team of five has been busy building the challenges, which include inverted climbs, three slides, monkey bars, rope climbs, hay mountains, low-voltage shocks, barbwire and sprinting through a path of old junk cars. Three special obstacles will remain surprises.

So far, the obstacles have cost about $5,000 to build.

They must be built to withstand hundreds of runners.

Mudzilla COnTInUeDFROM PAge 1

PereZ / 1

PlantCityObserver.com 3 Plant city observerTHURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Not many people who win a brand new Chevrolet Silvera-do pickup would give it up be-fore ever taking a spin.

But that is exactly what Pal-metto resident Paul Harloff did.

Harloff was the winner of this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival vehicle raffle from Stingray Chevrolet. With four vehicles already, including a Camaro and Silverado, Har-loff decided not to take the truck.

“I just don’t need any more vehicles,” Harloff said. “Not to mention, the truck wouldn’t fit into my garage. I’d hate for that nice of a truck to have to sit outside.”

Although originally there was a “no cash value option” for the raffle, Stingray owner Steve Hurley made an excep-tion for Harloff, presenting him and his wife, Soikaew, with a check for the value of the truck, during a presenta-tion April 4.

NICE AND SHINYStingray Chevrolet cel-

ebrated its grand re-opening following a $2.5 million reno-vation. The improvements in-clude remodeled bathrooms, expansions to the facility and showroom and improvements to the parts and services de-partment, including the addi-tions of computer stations.

High-ranking Chevrolet ex-ecutives from across the state and country were in atten-

dance for the celebration.“This type of facility is what

makes Chevrolet a proud company across the United States,” said Don Johnson, the VP of sales and service for Chevrolet. “It is a reflection of the broader resurgence of Chevrolet moving forward.”

Representatives from Dis-ney and the Florida Strawber-ry Festival were also in atten-dance. Stingray has partnered

with Disney as part of its “Ev-eryday Hero” campaign.

“We have had a great part-nership with Disney over the years,” Hurley said. “The Flor-ida Strawberry Festival has been such a critical partner in these giveaways. There is no way we could do what we do without them.”

Bartow Chevrolet, run by Hurley’s son, Matt, also will be remodeled.

MAKING A DIFFERENCEStingray has been involved

with charity raffles at the fes-tival for the past five years and has raised $385,000 for Unity in the Community, a local non-profit organization.

This was the first year Sting-ray has raffled a truck, after giving away Camaros the first three years. The majority of funds are raised from tickets, with additional money com-ing from donations from cor-porate sponsors.

Contact Matt Mauney at [email protected].

Stingray completes $2.5 million renovationThe Plant City Chevrolet dealership also celebrated Paul Harloff, the winner of its 2013 Florida Strawberry Festival raffle.

Two of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s most recognizable employees have an-nounced their retirements.

Tourist Information Specialist Al Collinge and Communications Director Nancy Benedict, who combined have worked for the chamber for nearly three decades, both are leaving their posts to spend more time with their fami-lies. Benedict’s last day was April 3; Collinge will retire May 7.

NANCY BENEDICTIf you’re a chamber member,

chances are, you’ve read Nancy Benedict’s work. Benedict is the author behind virtually all of the chamber’s correspondence, in-cluding its newsletters, e-news blasts, special e-flashes and Good Egg of the Month biographies.

Although her degree is in el-ementary education, Benedict’s gifts of writing and grammar have followed her throughout her pro-fessional life.

Raised in Erie, Pa., Benedict graduated from Villa Maria Col-

lege. Before then, she attended a Catholic school. Benedict said the nuns instilled in her a sense of im-peccable grammar.

For seven years, Benedict taught third- and fifth-graders at various schools in Pittsburgh, Erie, Pa., and Camp Springs, Md.

She then moved to Harrisburg, Pa., where she worked for 17 years, for the state at the office of the auditor generals. She was hired to perform clerical duties. But, once her office discovered she was a talented writer, Bene-dict added writing department manuals and teaching grammar and writing classes to inspectors to her job description.

With just a couple of years be-fore retirement, Benedict left Harrisburg for a warmer climate — Florida. Along with her hus-band, she moved in 1995, to South Pasadena. Three years later, they moved to Plant City.

“We liked the small-town atmo-sphere,” Benedict said.

Benedict wasn’t in town for a week, before she was volunteered

by friends to take a temporary po-sition at the chamber. But when the permanent employee quit un-expectedly, Benedict’s temporary gig turned into a full-time occu-pation.

For about five years, Benedict worked at the chamber, per-forming clerical and administra-tive tasks. But like her previous employment, the chamber soon tapped into her writing talents and enlisted her as its communi-cations director.

In addition to writing, Benedict has helped coordinate the Lead-ership Class, designed for busi-ness owners and employees to learn about the community.

AL COLLINGEIt was the warm weather that

attracted Al Collinge and his wife, SueAnn, to Florida in the 1990s.

But it was the welcoming citizens of Plant City that made them stay in the Sunshine State.

“It just always felt like home,” he said. “I was able to work with so many people in the community.”

Collinge, a 15-year chamber employee, will retire May 7, as the tourist information specialist.

Collinge has a long track record of civic participation. Born in Zumbrota, Minn., Collinge stud-ied business administration. After graduating in 1955, he worked for Firestone for two years.

In 1957, he returned home to run his family businesses, which involved the coal, fuel, oil, feed, seed, farm machinery, hardware and trucking industries.

During that time, he served as a volunteer firefighter. He spent 31 years on the force, 11 of those as the assistant fire chief.

Collinge also entered the world of politics, serving on Zumbrota’s city council for 14 years. And from 1987 to 1996, he served as mayor.

While living in Minnesota, Collinge and his family vaca-tioned in Fort Myers. After his stint as mayor, Collinge and his wife looked to the south for the next chapter of their lives. A cou-

ple in Fort Myers told the Collin-ges to look at Plant City as a pos-sible new home.

Shortly after moving to Plant City, Collinge volunteered to open the Union Station Depot Welcome Center. The doors opened Dec. 11, 1997.

“I like the historic part of Plant City and the history of the railroad in Plant City,” Collinge said.

In 1999, a position became available at the chamber.

“Every day is a different day,” Collinge said of the position. “You meet a lot of interesting people from all over the world.”

Collinge was also the coordina-tor for the Union Station Welcome Center and the Tourism Welcome Center on Park Road.

“It’s a good feeling when you’re volunteering and can help give people directions and make their visit to Florida and to the Plant City area more enjoyable,” he said.

Collinge will move back to Min-nesota in May, to be closer to his family.

“It’s hard to leave, but it’s time to move back to family and have a support system,” Collinge said.


With recent environmental site assess-ments on Snowden Park’s soil and ground-water complete, the city is closer to begin-ning a $50,000 renovation project.

City Manager Greg Horwedel said the city received last month clean test results from Orlando-based PPM Consultants Inc., which performed in February a site assessment to determine whether the soil contained any contaminants, including petroleum products, volatile organic com-pounds or metals, such as arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromonium, lead, mercury, selenium and silver. Last month, it com-pleted similar tests on the groundwater.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development required the assess-ments, because Snowden Park was con-structed in the 1960s atop a former landfill.

With the test results, the city now can move forward with its $50,000 proposal to install several new dugouts, more lighting and additional landscaping. The renova-tions will be funded through a community development program grant.

“We’re excited to get going,” Horwedel said.

Located at 902 Waller St., Snowden Park is one of 18 city parks. It was named July 24, 1967, in honor of Ronald L. Snowden, a young boy who died at age 10. The park features two lighted baseball fields. It also has bleachers, score booths, one lighted basketball court, three picnic pavilions, a playground with swings and a .4-mile paved walking trail with a .2-mile paved trail connector to Grant Street and the Grant-Hunter pond facility, known as the future Brewer Park, which is currently un-der construction.

It is the city’s goal to create a network of parks that can be linked by trails.


Snowden Park tests reveal no contaminationRenovations on the Plant City park will include new dugouts and additional landscaping and lighting.

longstanding chamber employees retireNancy Benedict and Al Collinge have worked for the chamber for 15 years.

UPDATE by amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

fond farewell by amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

new digs by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Above: Paul Harloff, who already has a Camaro and a Silverado, said he “did not need any more vehicles.”

Left: Don Johnson, vice presi-dent of sales and services for Chevrolet, presented steve and susan Hurley with a plaque to commemorate the re-opening.

benedict collinge


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U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross spoke to a packed room April 5, at Plant City Hall during the congressman’s town hall meeting.

Constituents were given a chance to comment and ask Ross, who was visiting from his office in Washington, D.C., ques-

tions about issues important to them.The discussion heated up when par-

ticipants discussed gun control and im-migration concerns.

Ross made his stance clear on gun control, making a call for “personal re-sponsibility” rather than stricter regula-tions.

“Why should my rights be infringed on as a law-abiding citizen?” Ross said.

Other hot topics included veteran ben-efits, the budget and health care.

Peppy and youthful, Pim Sorber was di-agnosed with cancer at just 32 years old. But the Jackson Elementary kindergarten aide won the battle.

Now, two years later, she is do-ing whatever she can to help other cancer patients and survivors. With the help of some community choirs, she has organized Concert for a Cure, a fundraiser for Jack-son’s Relay for Life team.

“She’s really passionate about helping others with cancer,” Lesli Platt, concert organizer, said. “This concert is an offshoot of what she feels so strongly about.”

Sorber and Platt belong to the same a cappella group, Spirit Singers. The 10-member group started in 2008 and has members ranging from 34 to 81 years old. The diverse group sings old gospel pieces, such as “Down to the River to Pray,” a song featured in the movie, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” The singers also mix things up with doo-wops.

Sorber invited the Spirit Singers to help put on the concert. The group agreed and will be singing seven songs during the concert, which takes place at the First United Methodist Church of Plant City.

“We love to get out there and sing,” Platt said. “Our main goal is to help Jackson raise money for their relay team.”

Jackson Elementary School fourth- and fifth-grade choir also will be performing. They will sing “The Star-Spangled Ban-ner” and “You Raise Me Up.”

Safety patrollers from the school will also be donating their services by passing out brochures and ushering.

Teachers will join the Spirit Singers and another group, The Beachcombers, an

all-female community choir, to perform, “When I Close My Eyes.”

Several young soloists from area high schools and colleges will be perform-ing songs as well, including “When the Saints.”

A flutist and an organist will accompa-ny the singers during some songs.

A bake sale and refreshments will be of-fered during the concert, which will end with a candlelight memorial.

“I don’t know one person who hasn’t been touched by cancer,” Platt said.

Platt’s brother died this year from can-cer, and her mother is a survivor. A mem-ber of the Spirit Singers also is battling lung cancer.

“It touches all of us,” Platt said. “We’re doing this concert in support of our members who we love and anyone else battling cancer.”

For advanced tickets, visit All A Bloom Florist, 116 N. Collins St., Plant City.


Concert for a Cure

ConCeRT foR A CURePresented by the Spirit Singers

and friends of Jackson elementaryWHen: 6 p.m. April 13WHere: first United Methodist Church, 303 n. evers St., Plant City

ticKets: $6 at the door; $5 in advance at All A

Bloom florist, 116 n. Collins St.

Multiple talents from local choirs and schools will come together for a night of celebration.

Plant City meets new congressman at City HallRep. Dennis Ross and his staff listened to questions from his constituents.

ReLAY foR LIfe by amber Jurgensen | Associate editor

U.S. Rep. Dennis ross visited Plant City and Bartow last week.

Amber Jurgensen

government by amber Jurgensen | Associate editor


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Supporters of the Pregnancy Care Center of Plant City enjoyed perfect weather and plenty of fel-lowship during the center’s an-nual Walk for Life April 6, at Plant City Hall.

Walkers made seven laps around the block as part of this year’s fundraiser.

Executive Director Darlene Davis said the 100 walkers raised $14,855, with another $1,840 in pledges.

Money raised will help pur-chase a new ultrasound ma-chine. The Knights of Columbus will match funds raised.

Walkers lace up for PregnancyCare Center’s Walk for Life

show of support by Michael eng | Managing Editor

Participants made seven laps around the block for this year’s Walk for Life.

From left: laura storter, Hope storter, coleman Davis, taryn storter and sue Davis

Pregnancy Care Center Executive Director Darlene Davis, with coleman and sue Davis

Kaden athey, 3, checked out his face paint in a mirror.


JACKSON HARDEEAs a pole vaulter, Hardee’s

interests didn’t lie in photog-raphy. But when the sopho-more saw his younger broth-er entering photography contests, he thought, I can do that, too.

Hardee proved himself right, winning first place in the photojournalism contest.

Hardee wrote a report on the historic Bing Rooming House, after interviewing William Thomas, a member of the Improvement League of Plant City who is spearheading res-toration efforts on the house.

“Being born in 1998 and growing up mainly in the 21st century, it is hard for me to fathom a time when people were segregated by any-thing in this country,” Hardee wrote.

He submitted old photographs of the house and one of original owner Janie Bing. He also submitted a photograph he took of the house and one his grandmother took of him with Thomas.

“I thought it was cool how the Bings bought the house for just $100,” Hardee said.

For winning first place, Hardee received $100. He plans to save the money.

Photo archives names contest winnersSponsored by the Plant City Photo Archives and History Center, the Plant City Observer and Haught Funeral Home, the contest was open to all students at Plant City High School.

FOCAL POINT by amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor

BENJAmiN R. “ROBBy” KNOxRobby Knox is a veteran at

the photojournalism contest. Last year, he won first

place for his report on his great-grandfather. Knox got his start looking through his grandmother’s photographs. He found one that particu-larly interested him: a pic-ture of a prison transport bus in front of what is now a Dollar General store.

He learned his great-grandfather was a car salesman. He was selling the transport bus to the police department.

This year, the high school senior returned to his grandmother’s house to find another pic-ture. He stumbled upon a picture of his grand-mother with her Sunday School class on the steps of the Plant City Cornerstone Center.

In his report, he wrote about the history of the building and his family’s ties to the build-ing.

“I like American history,” Knox said. “I like local history, too. It really intrigues me finding out where I came from.”

Knox’s $75 prize “is already in the bank.” He plans to use it to pay for tuition at the Univer-sity of Central Florida.

SyDNEy JOHNSONAs a junior, Sydney John-

son knew it was time to start looking for scholarships for college. That’s when she discovered the Scholarship Board in College and Career Counselor Sherrie Mueller’s room. Pinned on the board was the photojournalism contest.

Johnson borrowed her mom’s Nikon D5100 and headed to Plant City’s Historic Downtown to do some exploring. At first, she thought she would do her report on Sister’s & Company, one of her favorite stores. But while playing with the advanced SLR camera, she snapped the perfect photograph of The Corner Store.

“At first it was hard; I couldn’t focus it,” John-son said. “It just happened to be that I clicked the right button.”

Johnson then whipped up a more personal story in her report.

“I described the scenery of The Corner Store,” Johnson said. “It just feels like home there.”

Johnson plans to save her $50 prize for col-lege. She wants to go to Washington State Uni-versity, because of its veterinary program.

the assignment: Use at least one picture to tell a story. the subJect: Whatever you can dream up. the field: Photojournalism.Students from Plant City High School were challenged by the Plant City Archives and History Center to enter a photojournalism

contest that would inspire photographs and infuse history into one report. Participants submitted a 300- to 600-word story, along with related photographs.All winners received a cash prize and were recognized last week during a special presentation.

The story of the Plant City cam-pus of Hillsborough Community College begins in July 1967, when officials decided the new Hills-borough Junior College would consist of multiple campuses.

The master plan for the cre-ation of junior colleges through-out Florida was developed by the state government in 1957. The intent was to alleviate some of the pressure on the four-year state colleges and univer-sities and provide two-year institutions, both as educational facilities for certificate training and AA degrees and as portals into the four-year insti-tutions. With no overall organization overseeing the establishment of the junior colleges in Florida, the school districts were charged with setting up the schools.

The Hillsborough County School District submitted names to the State Board of Education to create a new, five-member Hillsborough Junior College Advisory Committee. The five, ap-proved Sept. 26, 1967, were James Gray, a bank executive; Kendrick Hardcastle III, an engineer; Gibbs Harris, a title company executive; James Ray Thompson, a rancher; and Dick Elston, an insurance man, who was also served as Plant City’s mayor.

Soon, it became apparent that the responsibility of selecting the sites for the multi-campus college became a highly charged issue. The debates focused on how many campuses, and where the permanent sites would be located. Areas of interest included an urban center in Tampa and sites where future population growth was projected.

To better understand the story, let’s review the main players.

Plant City people wanted a col-lege campus and were committed to getting one. The East Hillsbor-ough Chamber of Commerce (now the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce) was per-suaded by Roy Thacker, president of Sunshine State Federal Savings, to form an Education Committee to promote Plant City.

The chamber committee included Thacker, as chairman,

Hilman Bowden, Carl Carpenter, Bud Clark, Arlen Cruttenden, George Friend, John Glaros, Dr. R.M. Kafka, Dr. W.M. Midyette, Henry Moody, James L. Redman and William Rickert. Carl Carpenter was a school board member and was responsible for nominat-ing Dick Elston for the Hillsborough Junior Col-

lege Advisory Committee.Promoting Ybor City was

Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, and promoting Brandon was Paul Funderburk and the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

District board members who were involved directly included Bob Bondi, chairman of the board who favored both Ybor and Plant City, and Carl Carpenter, a Plant City native, who later was elected as a county commissioner and then state representative.

The college president, Dr. Wil-liam Graham, who came from St. Louis, and HJC Advisory Commit-tee chairman Kendrick Hard-castle, reportedly were opposed to both Ybor City and Plant City as permanent campuses.

On April 18, 1968, the Hills-borough Junior College Advisory Committee held its first meeting. Attendees included the five advi-sory committee members, three school board members, seven

people from Plant City, Superin-tendent Dr. Shelton and the press.

Warren Johnson wrote: “Two things that did come out of that historic first meeting … proved to be quite important. The first was that the Plant City group demon-strated their tenacity by starting the lobbying effort that eventually landed them one of the first three sites. Second, Carl Carpenter proved his interest in the junior college. … Over the years, (Car-penter) intersected with the his-tory of Hillsborough Community College in more ways than most people could ever know.”

On July 1, 1968, the HJC Ad-visory Board became the Hills-borough Junior College Board of Trustees. Hardcastle was elected chairman; Elston persevered as a member of the board.

On July 18, the Brandon cham-ber issued a statement objecting to any site selection prior to the completion of a professional study. That report was not favor-able to Brandon but was glar-ingly unfavorable to Ybor City and Plant City. Dick Greco began lobbying for Ybor City, and the Plant City group worked to pres-ent a strong case for its selection. Elston, Nettie Draughn (City of Plant City) and others in the group put together a package that included close to the “required” 100 acres on North Park Road.

Another report showed Bran-don with three locations in the top nine. Plant City continued to work to promote its location. The state inspection team came to Plant City for direct observation. Dick Elston and Horace Hancock made their case over dinner. Alex Hull and Frank Moody appeared at the board of trustees meeting to promote Plant City.

Two changes took place on the board of trustees. Alton White, an African-American and

Model Cities official, was ap-pointed to replace Thompson, who resigned, and John Guyton, friend of then-Gov. Claude Kirk, was also appointed. Elston was returned to the board and was elected chairman. Elston, White and Guyton replaced the influ-ence of Hardcastle and Graham. Morton Shanberg, who had been vice president, replaced Graham as president.

Although there were many more meetings, the result was that there would be three cam-puses, with the possibility of more. The flagship would be on Dale Mabry on a state-owned site. An urban campus would be built in Ybor City, and the third campus would be in Plant City on an 80-acre site on North Park Road. On Dec. 9, 1970, the name changed to Hillsborough Community Col-lege.

The 1971, classes started in Plant City in a renovated Publix store on South Collins Street, (known locally as Publix Univer-sity), and the 80-acre site was dedicated as Plant City’s perma-nent site on Sept. 11, 1972.

Johnson wrote: “If Frank Moody, Alex Hull, Horace Han-cock and Dick Elston got the campus in Plant City in the first place, then Hilman Bowden got the buildings.”

Bowden was appointed in 1971, to the board of trustees and served until 1981. The ground-breaking for the first building took place Oct. 7, 1976.

Sources: Warren Johnson, A View From The Inside, privately published, 1995; Quintilla Geer Bruton and David E. Bailey, Jr., “Plant City; Its Origin and History,” privately published, 1984; Richard Elston papers and interview.

Gil Gott is executive director of the Plant City Photo Archives & History Center.

The story behind the Plant City campusPAST AND PRESENCE: HILLSbOROUgH COmmUNITY CAmPUS

gILgOTT

“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

ObserverPLANT CITY

Founding Publisher / Felix Haynes

General Manager and Managing Editor / Michael Eng, [email protected]

Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, [email protected]

Associate Editors / (Community) Amber Jurgensen, [email protected]; (Sports) Matt Mauney, [email protected] Advertising Executive / Veronica Prostko, [email protected]

Advertising Coordinator / Linda Lancaster, [email protected]

Accounting Manager / Petra Kirkland, [email protected]

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Advertising Graphic Designers / Peter Carlson, [email protected]; Monica DiMattei, [email protected]; Marjorie Holloway, [email protected]; Luis Trujillo, [email protected]; Chris Stolz, [email protected]

President / Felix HaynesDirectors / Nate Kilton, Ed Verner,

Matt Walsh110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100A

Plant City, Fla. 813-704-6850

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to advertiseCall veronica Prostko at 704-6850.

send us your neWsWe 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, [email protected]

mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

contact usThe 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.


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In a country founded on the prem-ise of federalism, the organizational effectiveness and fiscal health of all levels of government are vital. Under federalism, the United States has three levels of government: national, state and local. Unlike many countries, we divide the important public functions among these levels, so each level can better focus on the services and activities it does provide.

Much has been written in the national and state media about the current condition of the finances of some American states, counties and cities. High tax rates, borrowing, unsustainable com-mitments to public employee union pension plans and deficit spending are usually a part of the picture, with bankruptcy the feared outcome.

And then there’s Plant City.Members of Plant City’s Downtown

Luncheon Club were treated last week to a sneak peek at ongoing and new plans and on the city’s fiscal health by City Manager Greg Horwedel.

Horwedel began with a reaffirma-tion of our city’s low tax rates. Plant City is run like a business. That com-mitment has been good in the past,

and it extends into the future. But the city also recognizes its responsibility to provide services in support of business and residents, building on the community’s assets.

One asset that has been developed over the past 15 years is the Plant City Stadium and Randy Larson Four-Plex. First established as the spring train-ing complex for the Cincinnati Reds, the stadium morphed into

an international softball venue.In 2013, the city has returned to this

important sports asset and developed a new plan for the future. Youth soccer has grown at a fast pace over the past decades, fueling the development of the sport on a professional level. In the short term, the city has leased the stadium for six months to VSI Tampa Bay FC. It also has issued a Request for Proposal for all organizations to bid on the facility. The bid is wide-open, which allows the city to negoti-

ate and tweak the winning proposal.Horwedel then moved to a host of

other new directions the city will fol-low to improve services. The city will continue to invest $1 million per year in repaving projects for roads, with our vehicles and the cost of maintain-ing them being the chief beneficiaries of that investment. That, and other expenditures, will place the city high among area municipalities in spend-ing for facilities maintenance.

Another major area of emphasis in the future, as East Hillsborough real estate leads the way in our area’s emergence from recession, will be a set of actions to recharge the city’s Midtown redevelopment project.

The Plant City Observer commends Horwedel and our five city commis-sioners — Mayor Mike Sparkman, Vice Mayor Mary Yvette Thomas-Mathis, Rick Lott, Bill Dodson and Billy Keel — for leading our beloved city. We do not expect to ever see Plant City in the national news as an example of another poorly managed city edging toward bankruptcy.

Felix Haynes is an owner of the Plant City Observer.

OWNER’S NOTE

City manager provides sneak peek at upcoming State of the City report

FELIXHAYNES

Assistant City Manager Bill McDaniel calls it The Lon-gest Walk. It’s the path officers must take from sitting in front of the police chief’s desk to taking the chair behind it.

For new Police Chief Steven Singletary, The Longest Walk lasted 16 years.

In front of several dozen officers, friends, family mem-bers and city officials, Singletary replaced officially Mc-Daniel as chief of the Plant City Police Department dur-ing an investiture ceremony April 8, at Plant City Hall.

McDaniel and City Manager Greg Horwedel honored Singletary in front of a packed auditorium.

“I am absolutely delighted to have him as part of our leadership team in Plant City,” Horwedel said. “When you make a sword, you need good steel. And I think we have good steel here leading our department. He’s the right man, at the right time, for the job.”

Singletary joined the department in 1996, as a patrol officer. Since then, he has held a myriad of positions, in-cluding field training officer, a post in the Street Crimes Unit, the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force, the Crimi-nal Investigations Unit and more. Singletary was serv-ing as captain before he took over as interim chief four months ago.

“It’s been my pleasure to know Steve the last 16 years,” McDaniel said. “The police department has been my baby for a long time, and I am completely comfortable to say my baby is in very good hands.”

Singletary took the oath of office with his wife, Court-ney, by his side.

“I am truly honored to be the chief of the Plant City Police Department,” he said.

Contact Michael Eng at [email protected].

Singletary sworn in as Plant City’snew police chiefThe 16-year veteran of the Plant City Police Department replaced outgoing Chief Bill McDaniel.

it’s official by Michael eng | Managing Editor

Michael Eng

Police Chief steven singletary took the oath of office with his wife, courtney, by his side.

NEWSBRIEFS+ Two landmark Plant City properties have new owners

Two of Plant City’s most recognizable properties have new owners.

Stine Properties III LLC purchased in February Smithfield Foods’ Plant City plant, 4611 Lykes Road, for $337,500. And last month, City Adventures LLC closed on the Knotts Hardware building, 314 S. Collins St., for $210,000. Both Stine Properties and City Adventures are Plant City-based entities.

Smithfield Foods’ 170-squaree-foot factory was one of Plant City’s largest employers before it closed in September 2009. At that time, it employed 760. According to Hillsborough County Property Appraiser records, the taxable value of the factory is $1,792,434.

City Adventures officer John Helton, said his company has purchased several buildings in Plant City’s Historic Downtown District. Currently, the company is working to renovate the Knotts building to prepare it for a new use.

+ Downtown associationplans Spring in the Park

The Plant City Downtown Merchants and Business Association will usher in the season with its Spring in the Park event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13, at McCall Park, in Historic Downtown Plant City. The event will include everything from art and antiques to crafts and food.


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NOTICE OF SALEIn accordance with the provisions of State law, there being due and unpaid charges for which the undersigned is entitled to satisfy an owner and/or manager’s lein of the goods herinafter described and stored at: Uncle Bob’s Self Storage located at: 1005 S. Alexander St., Plant City, FL 33563. 813-759-9526. And, due notice having been given, to the owner of said property and all parties known to claim an interest therein, and the time specified in such notice for payment of such having expired, the goods will be sold at

public auction at the above stated location(s) to the highest bidder or otherwise disposed of onWednesday, April 24, 2013 @ 9:00 A.M.Sheila Aguillard - Hsld gds, Furn, TV/Stereo EquipKendall Boyd - Hsld gdsJeff Simmons - Hsld gds, Furn, Boxes, Sprtng gds,TV/Stereo Equip, Off Furn, Accting rcrds

4/4 & 4/11/13

Mary Ellen ButlerMary Ellen Butler, 70, of Plant

City, died March 26, 2013, at Saint Joseph’s Hospital.

Born Nov. 15, 1942, in Louis-burg, N.C., she was the daughter of the late John Ayscue and the late Mary Ellis Ayscue.

Survivors include her son, John Jeffery Brownlee; and brother, John R. Ayscue Jr.

She was preceded in death by her sons, Gregory A. Brownlee and Stephen Mark Brownlee.

Condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.

Albert “Al” E. ColeAlbert “Al” E. Cole, 89, of Plant

City, died April 1, 2013. Born March 25, 1924, in Penn-

sylvania, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Koscur Cole, in 1995, and his brother, Melvin, and sister, Eleanor.

Mr. Cole was a vet-eran of World War II, during which he lost his brother, Melvin, in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a 55-year brother at Plant City Elks Lodge 1727. He

moved in 1954, to Plant City, to start his business as a building contractor, A.E. Cole Inc.

During his career, he was in-volved in the Plant City Home-builders Association, The Tampa Homebuilders Association, & the Tampa Apartment Associa-tion. He built or owned apart-ments, including LeBon, Dev-onshire, Eastborne, Coronation Court Apartments and others, under the name Cole Properties, which will be continued by his family. He loved golf and played for many years at the Plant City Golf and Country Club, before becoming a charter member of the Walden Lake Golf and Coun-try Club.

Survivors include his beloved companion of 16 years, Betty Merritt; brothers, George (Sha-ron) and Larry; daughters, Yolon-da Cole, Shireen Granger (John), Cara Stare (James); five grand-children; four great-grandchil-dren; and many nieces and neph-ews and their families.

Toshiko (Nakada) MoldenToshiko (Nakada) Molden, of

Plant City, died March 27, 2013.

Born March 21, 1932, in Tokyo, Japan, she was the wife of Daniel Everett Molden Jr., who preceded her in death.

As a young woman, Mrs. Mold-en danced ballet. She later served as a tour conductor and ballet instructor. After marrying Dan-iel Molden, she moved to Kansas and was naturalized as a citizen of the United States. She played golf and taught aerobics while living in Topeka, Kan. After Mr. Molden retired, the couple relo-cated to Niceville, to enjoy their retirement years playing golf and going to the theater. In 1997, they relocated to Walden Lake.

Survivors include her son, Dan-ny; her sister, Teruko Nagai; Dan-iel’s daughter Frances K. Hudson; his sons, Richard, James, Ronald and Michael; 13 children; and six grandchildren.

James “JD” David RorrerJames “JD” David Rorrer, 69, of

Plant City, died March 31, 2013.Born Feb. 20, 1944, in Akron,

Ohio, he was the son of the late Joseph Rorrer and the late Mae Webb Rorrer. He was the husband of Barbara Macomber Rorrer.

Mr. Rorrer served from 1961 to 1964, in the U.S. Marines. He worked for Lykes Brothers and was a member of Transforming Life Ministries at Turkey Creek As-sembly of God.

Survivors include his daughter, Jennifer (Rorrer) White; sisters, Aquilla Taylor and Erma Craft; and grandchildren, Tyler and Kay-lee White.

He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Rorrer.


Cecil E. SmithCecil E. Smith, 88, of Dover, died

March 25, 2013. He was born Jan. 21, 1925, in

Elba, Ala. He moved in 1950, to Florida, where he met and married Fannie Miller Smith. She preceded him in death in 1996.

Mr. Smith worked many jobs through-out his life, but he most enjoyed telling people about Jesus and witnessing to them. He was of the Holiness faith and attended the Full Gos-pel Tabernacle when his health would allow. Mr. Smith knew Jesus and wanted everyone to know Him like he did.

Survivors include his sister, Ha-

zel Willis; and many nieces, neph-ews and friends.

The family received friends March 29, at Haught Funeral Home in Plant City, and funeral services followed.


Rexal Lee TolbertRexal Lee Tolbert, 66, of Lithia/

Plant City, died April 5, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Tolbert was a self-employed drywall hanger, who loved his family, fishing and riding his four-wheeler.

Survivors include his wife, Delores; children, Rex Tol-bert (Beth), Regina Lois Tolbert, Sandra Hartzell (Frank), Teresa Wood (Chip), Gin-ger Williams and Casey Saladino; brothers, Doug and Fred Tolbert; sister, Gladys Hyde; 10 grandchil-dren; and 15 great-grandchildren

The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. April 10, at Haught Funeral Home, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., at Mt. Enon Cemetery.


OBSERVEROBITUARIES

While transitioning to high school coverage in Florida, I immediately discovered many differences between the prep sports scene in Georgia and that of the Sunshine State.

Fall sports I was used to (soft-ball) are now played in the spring. Spring sports, such as golf, are played in the fall; and soccer, a spring sport in Georgia, is played during the mild winter months here.

In addition to that was an unfamiliar sport — girls’ flag football. My only experience with flag football came in college, where I played on a few men’s and co-ed intramural teams.

In high school, the closest thing to flag football was the an-nual “powderpuff game,” played during Homecoming week.

The football and basketball cheerleaders were split up

between underclassmen and upperclassmen to form two teams.

Their uniforms were be-dazzled T-shirts, decorated with hot pink and lime green mark-ers and craft glue. Their hair

sported bows, ribbons and pigtails.

Perhaps most en-tertaining of all, the coaches and “cheerlead-ers” for the game were the senior football play-ers and some other male athletes. Regretfully, I admit I was one of them my senior year, cheer-leading skirt, pompons and all.

It was a popular event at my high school and brought in larger crowds than our below-average football team.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the words “flag

Y O U T H | H I G H S C H O O L | G O L F | S E N I O R S | C O M M U N I T Y | T E N N I S

SportsATHLETE OF

THE WEEKCrest’s Terra Brooks

is on fast trackto success. 11

THURSDAY, ApRIL 11, 2013PLANTCITYObserver.COm

MATTMAUNEY

SHOW ME THE MAUNEY

deep ties by matt mauney | Associate Editor

SEE MAUNEY / PAGE 10

plant City flag footballanything but ‘powderpuff’

HIGH ROLLING by matt mauney | Associate Editor

The baseball pro-gram at Plant City High School dates back decades before Durant began its pro-gram in the mid-1990s, but the Cougars have had more success in recent years and have grown into a perennial power.

That’s something new PCHS head coach Mike Fryrear, a Durant alumnus and former player, hopes to achieve with the Raiders.

“I’m trying to teach these guys how to compete at a high level,” said Fryrear, who is in his first head coaching job after hold-ing assistant roles at the college and high school levels. “Getting them to have a win-ning attitude is our focus.”

Fryrear took over a program with no real direction. For the PCHS seniors, Fryrear is their third head coach since becoming Raiders.

“We have a lot of structure this year,” said senior pitcher Keven Long. “It’s a lot stricter, and it’s really helping us focus and get the wins that we need to get.”

It’s that daily structure that has helped lead the Raiders to their position this sea-

Plant City’s new head baseball coach and pitching coach helped establish the Durant program as players. Now, they will face their alma mater from an opposing dugout.

PCHS coach Mike Fryear: ‘I’m trying to teach these guys how to compete at a high level. Getting them to have a winning attitude is our focus.’

WINNINGATTITUDe

Area softball teams poised for districtAll three area teams carry top seeds into their respective tournaments next week.

Matt Mauney

Strawberry Crest enters the district tournament with high expec-tations, after breezing through the regular season with a 10-0 district record.

If the cards fall the way coach Mindy Miltner expects, her Strawberry Crest team will get a much anticipated rematch with Leto in the Class 6A District 11 tournament.

“The girls are hungry for that one,” she said.

That’s because Leto upset Strawberry Crest last season in the district tournament, putting a halt to the dream of regionals and state.

Although still young on paper, this Lady Chargers team is more experienced than the group that made an early post-season exit in 2012.

SCHS is 20-2 this year, its best

record in the four-year history of the program, rivaling the 2011 season, when the Lady Chargers finished 22-3.

The two losses have come in one-run games against Cham-berlain (9-8) and Bartow (6-5), last year’s Class 7A state champi-on and runner-up, respectively.

In district play, the Lady Char-gers are a perfect 10-0, outscor-ing opponents 119-1 in those games, and hold the No. 1 seed going into the tournament after today’s non-district regular sea-son finale against Newsome.

“Our girls have worked hard,

son. They boast a 5-5 record in a competi-tive Class 7A District 8 and are in third place heading into next week’s district tourna-ment, with a shot at regionals on the line.

“Right before I came here, the players were almost content with losing,” Fryrear said. “Now, they know we have a good team, they know we can win, and they’re happy now.”

Fryrear will lead his Raiders into battle against his alma mater at 7 p.m. tonight, at Plant City, 1 Raider Place. It will be a non-district, out-of-classification game, but both teams have something to prove.

BUILDING A FOUNDATIONFryrear has been a part of a program try-

ing to establish itself before. “That team back in ’96 — when I was a

freshman — really established what Durant is now,” said Fryrear, who played for the Cougars from 1996 to 2000 for coach Gary

SEE SOFTBALL / PAGE 12

SEE BASEBALL / PAGE 12


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Gould’s Air Conditioning & Heating has been providing services for over 30 years. They care for all of your cooling and heating needs whether it’s servicing your existing system, a standard AC Repair or replacing it with a new high efficiency cooling and heating system.

Owner Tony Gould, a lifelong resident of Plant City, offers same day service to both residential and commercial customers. Gould’s Air Conditioning & Heating offers great pricing and experienced technicians and is licensed and insured plus has a flawless Better Business Bureau record.

Tony says, “Call us for a free second opinion estimate on all major repairs. We often find that a previous company has recommended a major repair or even an entire system replacement when only a simple, low cost repair is needed. We can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars on your air conditioning.”

football” brought memories of a noncha-lant exhibition game full of players that were more concerned with not breaking a nail than scoring a touchdown.

While attending a flag football tourna-ment at Otis M. Andrews Park last sum-mer, my perception of the sport changed completely. Watching the Plant City High girls take on a defending state champion, I witnessed great catches, diving tack-les and terrific effort displayed by both teams. When the Lady Raiders found themselves down at the half, I saw a lot of emotion under a sideline tent. They didn’t care that they were sweaty, or that their makeup was smeared. They didn’t care if a fingernail had been chipped or broken.

All they cared about was motivating themselves and their teammates — con-vincing them they had what it took to come back in the second half. They were focused on winning, and they were ready and willing to put their bodies on the line to do so.

I saw that same drive and passion a few weeks ago, when I made my rounds to local teams’ flag football practices. I saw athletes clinging to every piece of advice from their coaches.

Yes, flag football isn’t as dangerous as the male-dominated counterpart, but it wouldn’t be fair to say it is a non-contact sport, because there is plenty of bumping and pushing that goes on during a game.

When it comes to plays, while there are large differences between tackle and flag, the playbook for flag is equally intricate and complicated. There may not be as many blocking formations, but there are plenty of passing routes, misdirection and defensive coverages to remember. The coaches take the sport seriously and expect the athletes to do the same.

The 2013 season currently is in full swing. If you haven’t ever taken in a flag football game, I urge you to do so.

You’ll see what I mean when I say the play is anything but “powderpuff.”

MaUney / PaGe 9

Two first-half touch-downs led to a 12-6 win for the Plant City High School flag football team over Armwood April 8.

Sam Black caught a pass in the corner of the end-zone for the first score of the game, before Kristen

Wyckoff caught a pass and ran for a 30-yard score. Both extra-point attempts failed, giving the Lady Raiders a 12-0 lead, before Armwood got on the board with a minute to play in the first half.

Quarterback Avery Brown

was 22-for-31 for 177 yards, with two touchdowns.

“It wasn’t our greatest of-fensive game, but a win is a win,” said head coach Larry Langston. “We are winning with youth, so hopefully, we can continue to grow and get ready for the playoffs.”

First-half TDs lead to win for Plant City flag football

girls on the gridiron by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Armwood had a tough time covering the talented Plant City receivers.

Sophomore avery brown took over as the starting quarterback this year.

Head coach larry langston gave his offense a pep talk during a timeout.

The two teams fought hard Monday.

Plant city observerTHURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 PlantCityObserver.com 11

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

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TERRA BROOKSATHLETE Of THE wEEK by Matt Mauney | Associate Editor

Three-sport athlete Terra Brooks has been putting the skills she’s developed through volleyball and basketball to good use this track-and field-season. The Strawberry Crest freshman finished second in the triple jump and third in the long jump at last week’s Hillsborough County Championships. She recently set a personal best of 35.9 in the triple jump and 16.10 in the long jump.

What was the Hillsborough meet like?

When I qualified for the long jump and triple jump, I didn’t really think I was going to do as well as I did. With the help of my coaches, I’ve been able to work on my technique, and I’ve broken both of my personal records.

What made you want to do track?I just like being busy with sports. It

was something else to do. I did track when I was younger, and I was pretty good at it, so I wanted to see how far I would get.

What do you like about track?

I like the field events, and I like the 100 and the 200. Those are my main events and what I’ve been doing since probably fourth grade.

What are some goals you’d like to accomplish at districts?

To get at least first or second. For me, just to break my own records.

Have you always played multiple sports?

I cheered for seven years.

In middle school, I started doing bas-ketball, volleyball and track.

Do you have a favorite sport?No. Basically this year, I’m just

trying to find out which one will take me further. I really enjoy all of them. If I were to stop doing one of them, it wouldn’t feel right. I think that deci-sion will maybe come in a few years.

Have you seen a benefit in playing multiple sports?

Both volleyball and basketball im-prove my jumping. That’s what

all three sports contain for me.

What would be some goals you would like to

obtain during your high school career?

Being MVP for all the sports I play would be one. I would like to go all the way to state for basketball, because we were pretty close this year. Same thing for track. With vol-leyball, we also went to regionals. So, I would like to go further than that. I just don’t want to fall back in any

sport.


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1206 N. Park Rd. | John R. Trinkle Centerwww.newlifeplantcity.org

Pastor Fred Harrold

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Visit our new web site!

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www.newlifeplantcity.org

Pastor Fred Harrold


Look for our new Video Ad at the Plant City Movies


Worship Experience 10:00 every Sunday

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Graham, now an assistant princi-pal at Newsome. “Not necessarily the talent level they have now, but the winning attitude we had.”

Fryrear noted Durant’s first game that year was against a tal-ented Brandon team that featured Chone Figgins, a World Series champion (2002), MLB All-Star (2009) and MLB stolen base lead-er (2005), along with other talent-ed prospects.

Fryrear also had plenty of tal-ent on his Durant team, includ-ing current PCHS pitching coach Jeramy Gomer, Durant pitching coach Brent Franklin and Ryan Raburn, who now plays for the Cleveland Indians.

“We played Brandon at their place, and Jeramy Gomer was ac-tually on the mound for us, and we beat them,” Fryrear said. “That was the stepping stone to get to the next level.”

That led to district titles, re-gional wins and individual suc-cesses for Durant players, includ-ing Gomer, who pitched for four years in the minor leagues after being drafted by the Cubs out of high school. A rotator cuff injury took him out of baseball, but he eventually found his way back to the Tampa area. He coached at Tampa Bay Tech and Armwood, before joining his old teammate at Plant City this season.

“After I got hurt, I was a little bitter and didn’t think I would get into coaching or back into base-ball,” Gomer said. “After getting a call from coach Fryrear, I decided to come here and help out.”

Gomer is now responsible for developing pitchers, including Long, who is 4-2 with a 1.62 ERA this season.

“We’ve got a lot of talent,” Gomer said. “We just have to get these kids to have the right men-tality every day.”

DEVELOPING A PROGRAMAfter getting the job this sum-

mer, Fryrear wasted no time building his staff and bettering the PCHS program. He led efforts to improve the facilities at PCHS. He also got right to work with a conditioning program.

Fryrear saw he had plenty of talent on his team, but many of the players lacked the winning attitude he was used to during his years at Durant, playing at the University of North Florida and in the assistant coaching roles he held before coming to Plant City.

“The experience I had at Du-rant is something I’m trying to teach these boys,” he said. “The system was very strict and struc-tured, but we had fun. These guys are really starting to buy into what we’re trying to do.”

It has been a slow and, at times, trying process, but Fryrear feels the team is headed in the right di-rection.

“It is more stress than I’ve ever had as an individual,” Fryrear said about being a head coach. “I thought getting my master’s in coaching in college was hard, but this has been one of the most dif-

ficult and daunting tasks. But, I love it. Getting these guys head-ed in the right direction — that’s what it’s all about.”


and they know this is the part of the season that counts,” Miltner said. “Even beating those teams twice already, I think we will be more focused going into districts. They know that feeling and what that hurt feels like at the end of the season, and they don’t want that to happen again.”

The key for the Lady Chargers will be the status of pitcher Sam-my Tyler, who suffered a pulled quad against Bartow and missed the next three games. Freshman Scottie Todd has been handling pitching duties since, and Tyler has been in limited action this week and is expected to be ready for district, according to Miltner.

After a first-round bye, SCHS

will face the winner of Leto and Armwood in the second round. The Class 6A District 11 tourna-ment begins April 15, and will be played at Sickles.

DEFENDING THE CROWNDurant, the defending Class 8A

state champion, got off to a shaky start in district play, dropping their first two games before reel-ing off eight straight.

The Lady Cougars are 16-8 over-all with two non-district games to play. Durant holds the No. 1 seed in the Class 8A District 7 tourna-ment, and head coach Matt Cart-er feels good about his team’.

“This district has been crazy this year,” Carter said. “Any team can beat you on any particular day, but we’ve been playing pretty

well, and I feel like we’re in a good position.”

Carter said his team’s offense has improved throughout the sea-son, and the pitching has been steady, thanks to senior Paige Da-vis. Defensive changes after those two district losses also have made a big difference.

The Lady Cougars will have the benefit of having the experience of winning a state title, along with hosting this year’s district tourna-ment.

“We’ve got as much maturity and good leaders as we did last year, and they know that we have a target on our back,” Carter said. “From here on, it’s our destiny to write.”

The Class 8A District 7 tourna-ment begins April 15. Durant has

a first-round bye and will play the winner of Newsome and Alonso.

RAIDERS ROLLING After an 0-3 start to the season,

Plant City found its rhythm.The Lady Raiders are 15-6 over-

all and 10-0 in Class 7A District 8 under first-year head coach Amanda Sawyer.

Plant City holds the No. 1 seed in the district tournament, which begins April 15, at East Bay.

Plant City entered the season with an inexperienced pitching staff, but that has been one of the strong points of this year’s team. The Lady Raiders have allowed only six runs in their 10 district games, thanks to sophomore No-elle Dietrich and freshman Alexis Williams.

“Our last district game against Riverview was big for us,” Sawyer said. “Noelle pitched a great game and only gave up one walk.”

Offensively, Plant City has been led by Dietrich, University of South Florida commit Kristen Wyckoff, junior Kacie Booth and freshmen Becca Sorensen.

“Our hitting has definitely im-proved over the last few weeks, and Kacie Booth and Becca So-rensen have been playing very well, defensively,” Sawyer said.

Plant City will have the first round bye as the No. 1 seed.

“Having the top seed is huge for us,” Sawyer said. “Everyone is pumped up, and the momentum is good for this time of year.”


Matt Mauney

Head coach Mike Fryrear has put together a talented and experienced staff to get Plant City to the next level, including fellow Durant grad Jeramy Gomer and infield and dugout coach byron Humphrey.

baseball / PaGe 9

soFtball / PaGe 9


CROSSWORD_041113

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

CRYPTOGRAMS

1. B L T B D R V C X T U G T K A T O F T A Z Z C E T R VA O J R V B R Z V C H D P N T

G K A W T P . A R ’ Z R V B R T U F T D D T O R R V A O J R V B R E B M T Z A R

G C Z Z A N D T X C K Q C H R C K T F C J O A W T B E A Z R B M T L V T O Q C H

E B M T A R B J B A O .

2. K T W W E J D E J W M Y B E O T Q K A W W P O E N Z W B , P B X K T W W E J D

M A X M K W M Y B E O O E N Z W P T Q K A W .

ACROSS 1 “What’s on second”

speaker 7 One of Snow

White’s seven 12 Empties the

suitcase 19 John Muir

organization: ___ Club

20 Ancient Greek marketplaces

22 Nursery noisemakers

23 Take too long at a busy ATM, e.g.

25 Signal with the hands

26 Eastern caregivers 27 Make tracks on ice 29 “And that’s the way

___” 30 “Total” solar event 33 “Seinfeld” character

___ Kramer 34 Roman 1,300 36 Journalist Sawyer 37 Egghead’s antithesis 40 Noted rum

surname 42 “Don’t make me

laugh!” 45 Matter for the mill 46 Have one’s say, in

an election 47 Church bell spot 49 Blow it 50 All tucked in for the

night 52 “His Master’s Voice”

co. 55 Former Eagles

coach Dick 56 Faded or stained 60 Not appropriate or

suitable 62 Cheesy Dutch treat 63 Barely managing

(with “out”) 64 Correct a

manuscript 66 Bugle material

67 ___ Lanka 68 Park it 71 Be sick 72 Excite, as interest 74 Group of eight 75 Implied 77 Calla lily, e.g. 78 North American

flycatcher 80 Cutting-edge 85 Biting bug,

informally 87 Xmas month 89 Get in on the deal 90 Canton in

Switzerland 91 Relatively small 92 Came back to earth 94 Yacht club site 96 Wood-shaping tool 97 Come as a

consequence 100 On edge 102 Airplane seat

choice 103 Hearing things? 105 ___-jawed (open-

mouthed) 107 Some Scotch

cocktails 109 Ninth month,

briefly 111 Hardwood tree 112 “Luncheon on the

Grass” painter Edouard

113 Skirtlike trousers for a female

116 Try in desperation 122 Of the seventh

planet 123 Canary hue 124 Troop

encampments 125 Senior lady of a

group 126 More clever 127 Articles of faith

dOwn 1 Cosmetician Mary

Kay

2 Guest speaker’s intro

3 ___ canto (singing style)

4 Makes a minister 5 Satchmo’s

instrument 6 Finger foods at a

Spanish restaurant 7 Cries of derision 8 Birthday topic 9 Capitol Hill figure,

briefly 10 Hoosegow

occupant 11 ‘98 Series winners 12 Attempt to convince 13 Scottish turndown 14 A TD is worth six 15 Anne Frank’s

hideout 16 An automatic

doesn’t have one 17 Actress Russell of

“The Americans” 18 Wind dirs. opposite

of NNW 21 Coming-apart

places 24 Yonder folks 28 Two-year-old 30 Sidled 31 High, wispy clouds 32 Pumas’ dens 33 Army bed 34 Church

composition 35 One-named singer

and Oscar winner 38 Become choked

with weeds 39 Took a bus 41 Confirm one’s

attendance 43 Word on a wanted

poster 44 Wheels at sea 48 Retired female

professor 50 Self-proclaimed

“greatest” of boxing 51 Sound made by Big

Ben 53 Gentle slope with a

sudden drop 54 Oscar-winner

Hathaway 57 Earwax

58 Dust Bowl denizen 59 Creditor 61 Unbreakable stones

of legend 65 ___ West (“Diamond

Lil” star) 66 You may want more

for your buck 67 Baseball ploy

involving a bunt 69 Breezed through, as

an exam 70 Backpacker’s shelter 72 Naples food staple 73 Rankled 76 Consumed 78 Hammerhead

features 79 Blunders 81 Full of oneself 82 Rene of “Get

Shorty” 83 How deadpan

humor is delivered 84 German article 86 Bleacher level 88 Bag for miscellany 93 Albanian coin 94 She had a “Feast” in

an Oscar-winning 1987 Danish film

95 Carrier purchased by Southwest

98 Find a function for 99 Sad poem 101 Part of Q.E.D. 104 Show penitence 106 Field measures 108 Commencement 109 Mideast missile 110 Foreign currency 111 “Stand By Me”

singer ___ King 112 Bryn ___ 114 Material for a

whitesmith 115 Sunbather’s desire 117 Conniving 118 “Once upon a

midnight dreary” poet

119 “Congo” creature 120 ___ behind the ears 121 Steam iron sound

GOT IT? by Jill Pepper

3

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Need someone that speaks fluent insurance?I’m your agent for that.Tony Lee CLU, Agent1702 S Alexander StreetPlant City, FL 33563

813-752-7202www.tonyleeagent.com

Communitystarts withneighbors who care. That’s what our town is made of.

1201196 State Farm, Bloomington, IL

Get to a better State®.

Tony Lee CLU, Agent1702 S Alexander Street

Plant City, FL 33563Bus: 813-752-7202

www.tonyleeagent.com State Farm® has a longheritage of helping out in thecommunity. That’s why I’mproud to supportEvent/Charity.

SAM

PLE

sunrise sunsetThurs., April 11 7:08 a.m. 7:51 p.m.Fri., April 12 7:07 a.m. 7:52 p.m.Sat., April 13 7:06 a.m. 7:52 p.m.Sun., April 14 7:05 a.m. 7:53 p.m.Mon., April 15 7:04 a.m. 7:53 p.m.Tues., April 16 7:03 a.m. 7:54 p.m.Wed., April 17 7:02 a.m. 7:55 p.m.

MOON PHASES

PlANt City WEAtHEr HigH lowThurs., April 11 90 70Fri., April 12 86 63Sat., April 13 84 64Sun., April 14 86 66Mon., April 15 86 66Tues., April 16 86 64Wed., April 17 88 68

tEMPErAturES

rAiNWED.April 30.11

THURS.April 40.40

FRI.April 50.19

SAT.April 60.00

SUN.April 70.00

MON.April 80.00

TUES.April 90.00

May 9

April 18

SuNriSE/SuNSEt tiMES

BluEBErry MArKEt PriCESSHiPPiNG POiNt: CENtrAl AND NOrtH FlOriDA

FLATS LOW HIGH12 4.4-ounce cups $18 $2012 6-ounce cups $26 $28

IPCFelecia brass captured this shot of two iconic Plant City sights at a recent Plant City Dolphins game.The Plant City Observer,

State Farm Insurance agent Tony Lee and The Corner Store have partnered to launch the new I Love Plant City Photo Contest. Weekly winners will have their photo featured in the Plant City Observer and receive a $10 gift certifi-cate to The Corner Store! Submit your photos, with a caption, via email to Managing Editor Michael Eng, [email protected]; subject line: I Love Plant City.

April 25

May 2

Courtesy of the united States Department of Agriculture

4.61(2012: 1.72)

APRILtO DAtE

(2012: 0.66)1.40

YEARtO DAtE

(InCHES)

Professional ServicesNATALIE SWEET, LLC., REALTOR. The SweetTeam, Keller Williams Realty. Cell: 813-758-9586E-mail: [email protected] See ad in the ServiceDirectory.

MINUTEMAN PRESSTHE FIRST AND LAST STOP IN PRINTING.

Mike Arndt, Owner

813-719-21111701 S. Alexander St., Plant [email protected]

www.plantcity.minutemanpress.comSee our ad in the Service Directory

Items Under $200 For SaleJEN KEN Kiln and porcelain doll mold. $200.00.Call 813-767-1503.

ADVERTISE YOUR MERCHANDISEwith the total value of all items $200 or less in

this section for FREE! Limit 1 ad per month,15 words or less. Price must be included next to

each item. No commercial advertising or garage sale advertising

Ad runs 2 consecutive weeks.Call

Toll Free: 1-877-308-5642Email ad to:

[email protected](Please include your name and address)

Or mail to:The Observer Group

P.O. Box 3169Sarasota, Fl 34230

Garage/Moving/Estate SalesGARAGE SALE: 8a.m.-2p.m., 4218 Barrett Ave.Three family. Household, clothes, furniture andmisc.

Help WantedVETERINARY RECEPTIONIST, Plant City. Willtrain, more info: www.plantcityanimalhospital.com

Auto Service

BREWINGTON’S TOWING & RECOVERYwww.brewingtonstowing.com

813-754-TOWS(6300)See our ad in the Service directory

Cleaning RAIL TOWN Building Services. CommercialCleaning. Chuck Sullivan, 813-390-1851,www.railtownbuildingservices.com See our ad in the Service Directory.

PAR INTERIORS - FULL SERVICE DESIGN.Patricia Rogers, Owner/ Decorator. 813-754-1567www.parinteriors.com See ad in the ServiceDirectory

SEPTIC PROSSeptic Tank and Grease

Trap PumpingSeptic System Maintenance and Installation

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HOUSEMASTERHome Inspections Done Right Since 1979.

Robert & Michelle Southard866-931-2350

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HOUSE CLASSIFIEDS

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www.on-siteaccounting.net 813-764-9516

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consultations, off-site remote backups. Faithful, dependable service since 1989. 813-754-1366, www.rushingtoserve.com

See our ad in the Service directory

GREEN EAGLE, INC. Landscape and LawnMaintenance. Plant/Tree Installation and Removal,Mulch Sod Removal and Installation, Mowing, FillDirt & Cleanups. Call 813-967-6879. See our ad inthe Service directory.

GREGG W. HOOTH, P.A.Attorneys & Counselors At Law

Business, Labor & Employment Law. E-mail: [email protected]

863-667-8027See our ad in the Service Directory

JEANNIE SOOS. Licensed Massage Therapist.Relaxation and Deep Tissue Therapeutic813-753-8965, by appointment. MA27301See ad in the Service Directory.

WALDEN LAKE ART & FRAME. PreservingMemories & Bringing Your Art To Life. MichaelKidde, Owner, waldenlakeartandframe.comSee our ad in the Service Directory.

Computer Services Landscaping & Lawn Service

Premium Box Ads

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Interior Design

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FLOORINSTALLATIONSERVICE, INC.

Commercial and ResidentialSales and Service

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ACCOUNTING

ACCOUNTING, INC.

www.on-siteaccounting.net

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ATTORNEY

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AUTO SERVICE

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www.brewingtonstowing.com

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BEAUTY

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Christine RabelIndependent Sales Director

813.654.2322 Office813.758.3533 [email protected]

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God First, Family Second. Career Third

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Ken RushingPresident

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[email protected] Insured

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Walden Lake Art & FramePreserving Memories & Bringing Your Art to Life

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Plant City, FL 33563813.752.7460

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2505 Thonotosassa RdPlant City, FL 33563Publix Shopping Center

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The Alpha AgencyProfessional Investivations

Wayne T. MilesDirector of Operations

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Voice - Txt (863) 808-0341State Licensed A 2900318

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Gaffney Eye ClinicBarry M. Gaffney, O.D., P.A.Jeremy H. Gaffney, O.D.2002 S. Alexander St.Plant City, FL 33563

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BOWMAN AVENUE CLEANERS

Rob Vetzel, Owner813.757.9646

e-mail: [email protected]

(Across From Farmers Market)

Natalie SweetNatalie Antonia Sweet LLC

Cell: (813) 758-9586Fax: (813) 719-6300


KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY1607 Alexander St., Plant City, FL 33563

Each office independently owned and operated

107

720

PROFESSIONAL SERVICESPACK & SHIP

PERSONAL SERVICES

PEST CONTROL

REALTORS

TUTORINGPROFESSIONAL SERVICES

107

719

Robert & Michelle SouthardFranchise Owners / Inspectors, RMCC Home Inspections, LLC

866-931-2350Fax: 813-704-5190


FL License #HI1060

107

72

9

107

724

3807 Cason Road, Plant City, FL 33566

Herb PadgettCell 813.967.6879Email [email protected]

107

72

510

771

0

(813) 753-8965By ApointmentMA 27301

110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 204Plant City, FL 33563

MM 27085

HOME SERVICES

INTERIOR DESIGN

LANDSCAPING & LAWN

MASSAGE

1076

99

Mike ArndtOwner

813-719-2111

1701 S. Alexander St., Suite #105Plant City, Florida 33566

[email protected] 10

881

3

Mary R. Davis, DirectorTutoring K-12 & Adults

Flexible Schedule & Location

Kaleidoscope Educational Services

Make Your Phone RingTeam Up With Classifieds

877-308-5642Priority Pest ManagementAnt Control and Other Home Invaders

• 6 Month Indoor Service• Perimeter Programs• Under Home Spraying• Safe & Reliable Service• Commercial & Residential

Bobby BenderOwner/OperatorP.O. Box 454Dover, FL 33527

To Schedule: 813.748.5634

1097

26

Need to make some room?Use Observer Classifieds to sell your items quickly

877-308-5642

Septic Tank and Grease Trap Pumping

Septic System Maintenanceand Installation

Dianne BryantOwner

Shaun BryantOwner

813-727-6905 phone

813-719-2855 [email protected]

107

72

9

3201 Jerry Smith Rd. Dover, FL 33527 • www.SePTIc-PRoS.coM

Advertise in The Observers’ Service Directory

LV4

26

6

Sell your service with success.Call 386-492-2784

for more information... www.palmcoastobserver.com

LV5

212

ACTUAL SIZE

$19900Every 4 weeks!

$11500

ACTUAL SIZE

Every 4 weeks!

Sell your service with success.Call us toll free 877-308-5642

SAVE 20% offthE rEgulAr pricE

with a 12-week commitment

Advertise in Plant City Observer’s Service DirectoryCall

877-308-5642


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04.11.13 Plant City Observer

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