02.06.15 PCTO

Plant City Times&

Observer

OUR TOWN

INDEX

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

,

3&

Vol.2,No.29 | Onesection

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHUFRP

A PARTNERSHIP WITH

This weeks winner is

Kelly Webb

See his photo on

PAGE 15.

Calendar.......................2 Crossword...................17 Obituaries...................13 Sports.........................14 Weather......................17

FREE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

+ Discounted

tickets on sale

Discounted admission

tickets for the 2015 Florida

Strawberry Festival went on

sale last week at participat-

ing Publix Super Market

stores throughout Central

Florida.

Discounted admission

tickets will be available for

purchase at participating

Publix stores through March

8 and can be purchased

at customer service desks.

Advance discounted admis-

sion tickets are $8 for adults

and $4 for children 6 to 12

years old. Children 5 years

old and under are admitted

free.

This will be our sec-

ond year partnering with

Publix to offer discounted

admission tickets, Florida

Strawberry Festival General

Manager Paul Davis said.

Publix is a company that

we greatly respect, and it is

a privilege for us to partner

with them in bringing this

convenience to our custom-

ers.

Nearly 300 Publix stores

throughout Charlotte,

Citrus, Collier, Hernando,

Highlands, Hillsborough,

Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion,

Orange, Osceola, Pasco,

Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and

Sumter Counties will par-

ticipate in selling admission

tickets as well as promoting

the festival to their custom-

ers.

Our festival is a family

event, and we work very hard

to make it affordable for all

families, Davis siad. We

hope even more people will

be able to enjoy our festival

by offering this discounted

price through Publix.

To see the list of par-

ticipating Publix Super

Market stores, visit

FLStrawberryFestival.com.

+ Walden Lake

to hold roundup

Walden Lake Elementary

School will hold its

Kindergarten Round-Up for

the 2015-2016 school year

at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10,

in the multi-purpose room.

Children 5 years old on or

before Sept. 1, 2015 may

register for kindergarten.

Birth certificate, immuniza-

tion record, recent physical

(within a year of Aug. 25,

2015), social security num-

award tour

by Justin Kline |SportsWriter

FINALRIDE

by Catherine Sinclair |StaffWriter

FUNDRAISER

Grouphopesto

raisemoneyfor

localentertainer.

PAGE 3

Al Berry has always liked to

keep busy, especially if hes

helping out in the Plant City

community.

His schedules about to get

even busier in the coming

months, thanks to some award

selections and a new gig at the

Florida Strawberry Festival.

Berry, 79, is set to receive the

Boy Scouts Dean Snyder Soar-

ing Eagle Community Service

Award Thursday, Feb. 19. On

March 26, hell accept the Plant

City Photo Archives and His-

tory Centers Heritage Award.

Both awards reect Berrys

long-standing commitment to

service in Plant City, though

the man himself says that he

wasnt expecting any of this.

It all came kind of as a sur-

prise, Berry said. You grow

up in a community and you

just get involved in it.You dont

do it for awards, or things like

that. I just feel like I was ex-

pected to participate and be a

part of the community. I just

love it.

Berry to receive honors

Al Berry will receive heritage and community service awards in the next two months,

in addition to being named the Florida Strawberry Festivals Grand Parade Marshal.

SEE BERRY / PAGE 4

Plant City bikers should

strap on their helmets, rev up

their engines and head over to

Plant City Bike Fest this week-

end, because it will be their

last chance to go on a monthly

basis.

Bike Fest is sponsored by the

Greater Plant City Chamber

of Commerce, but president

Marion Smith said the cham-

ber wants to move in a differ-

ent direction with the event,

making it a quarterly show.

We just think that the

monthly show has probably

run its course, Smith said.

When Bike Fest began as

a monthly event in October

2002, and in its early years,

about 15,000 people attend-

Chamber

discontinues

monthly

bike festival

GOODREAD


BIKE FEST / PAGE 4

SWEETLADIES

by Amber Jurgensen |ManagingEditor

The committee is pro-

posing to the board the

event be changed to a

quarterly one.

The United Food Bank of

Plant City might be just one

small piece of a global effort

to end hunger, but it recently

got big recognition from a na-

tional politician.

Marco Rubio, who has been

a U.S. senator for Florida

since 2010, released a book

last month called American

Dreams: Restoring Economic

Opportunity for Everyone.

Rubio, whose parents worked

their way up to the middle class

after immigrating to the U.S.

from Cuba, has run on a plat-

form of promoting the Ameri-

can dream, and his book ad-

dresses the topic in depth.

In chapter three, titledEqual

Opportunity, Equal Dignity,

Equal Work, Rubio poses the

question of how to lift up the

poor in order to make Ameri-

can society more prosperous

for everyone. In this chapter,

Rubio praises the United Food

Bank of Plant City for its prac-

tical and thorough solutions to

hunger in the community.

Christine Miller, director of

the food bank, serves as the

voice of the organization in the

book.

I think (Rubio) does a good

job of explaining where my

heart is, Miller said.

In 2013, Rubios wife came

FASTLANE

ChrisDeShong

hasentered

theracingcircuit.

PAGE 14

AGHAPPY

LocalFFA

studentsqualify

for states.

PAGE 9

Courtesy photo

Al Berry is known for dressing

up at Mr. Berry at the festival.

2015 Florida

Strawberry Queen

Samantha

Sun

Fifteen contestants vied for the 2015 Strawberry Queen crown Saturday, Jan. 31. After

rounds of commercials, casual and evening wear, and interviews, 17-year-old Plant

City High School student Samantha Sun was crowned the winner. Deanna Rodriguez

was rst maid, and Payton Astin, Emily Benoit and Kellan Morris were designated court

members. Miss Congeniality went to Heather Ross. For more photos, ip to page 6.

Courtesy Photo

Numbers have dwindled over

the years, but 3,000 bikes

are still typically seen at Bike

Fest.

Sen. Rubio praises Plant City food bank in new book

The book uses the United Food Bank of Plant

City as an example of an agency that helps

people work toward the American dream.

SEE RUBIO / PAGE 4

OUR TOWN / PAGE 4


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COMMUNITYCALENDAR

FRIDAY, FEB. 6

Acoustic Happy Hour live

music takes place from 5:30

to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at

OBriens Irish Pub and Family

Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander

St. (813) 764-8818.

Broadway Bound perfor-

mances take place Friday,

Feb. 6, Saturday, Feb. 12,

and Thursday, Feb. 12, to

Saturday, Feb. 14, at Plant

City Entertainment Community

Theater, 101 N. Thomas St.

For more information visit

PCEShows.com.

Christian Contemporary Music

takes place from 6:33 to

8:13 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at

Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden

Mays Blvd. (813) 752-1220.

Live Music takes place from

9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday, Feb.

6, at OBriens Irish Pub and

Family Restaurant, 1701 S.

Alexander St. (813) 764-8818.

Uncork your Friday! live

music takes place from 6 to

10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at

Keel and Curley Winery, 5210

Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-

9100.

SATURDAY, FEB. 7

Celebrity Chef Dinner takes

place beginning at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 7, at the John

R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park

Road. Cocktails and a social

hour will kickoff the evening

followed by dinner prepared

by Fabio Viviani. Viviani is

known for his appearance on

Top Chef and Top Chef All

Stars. He is a New York Times

best selling cookbook author

and owns six restaurants in the

United States. The event will

benefit the United Food Bank

of Plant City. Tickets are $100.

For more information call (813)

764-0625.

The Honey Hole Market

takes place Saturday, Feb. 7, at

2201 Thonotosassa Road. The

market offers antique picking

and more. Mia, (813) 484-

1127.

Strawberry Picking Challenge

takes place from 11 a.m.

to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7,

at 3536 Futch Loop. Clemons

Road will be performing and

celebrity Chef Whitney Miller

will be doing a cooking dem-

onstration. Ag Commissioner

Adam Putnam will make an

appearance at the opening

ceremony. There will be a food

truck, games and more. Free.

Proceeds go to the Redlands

Migrant Christian Association.

Uncork Your Weekend! live

music takes place from 6 to

10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at

Keel and Curley Winery, 5210

Thonotosassa Road. (813) 752-

9100.

Young Adult Nite takes

place from 7:33 to 10:33

p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at

Krazy Kup, 101 E. J. Arden

Mays Blvd. Enjoy live music

from local artists. (813) 752-

1220.

SUNDAY, FEB. 8

Beginning English for Speakers

of Other Languages takes

place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday,

Feb. 8, at Bruton Memorial

Library, 302 W. McClendon

Street. The new class is offered

by the Hillsborough Literacy

Council and is taught by an

experienced volunteer.The class

size is limited to 10 adult stu-

dents. The class is free, but

each student must purchase

his or her workbook, which is

$5.00. Students must regis-

ter through the Hillsborough

Literacy Council by calling (813)

273-3650, Monday through

Friday between 8:30 a.m. and

5:30 p.m.

Benefit for Lawson Family

takes place from 5 to 9

p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at Keel

and Curley Winery, 5210

Thonotosassa Road. Joey

Lawson of Lawsons Hardware

passed away unexpectedly,

and the family has been going

through a difficult time. There

will be food from Smokin Aces

BBQ, a silent auction and live

music from Skip Frye. (813)

752-9100.

Divorce Care: Whats Happening

to Me? takes place from 4 to

6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at Plant

City Church of God, 2103 Mud

Lake Road. This is the first pro-

gram in a 12-week course.

Founders Day takes place

beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday,

Feb, 8, at Allen Chapel AME

Church, 1109 E. Laura St.

Bring friends and family to

celebrate the churchs history.

For information contact Thelma

Jones at (813) 309-8600.

TUESDAY, FEB. 10

GriefShare takes place begin-

ning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.

10, at Hope Lutheran Baptist

Church, 2001 N. Park Road.

Following the death of a loved

one you may have found that

there are not many people who

understand the deep hurt you

may feel. Those feelings of hurt

and emptiness seem to make

it harder and harder for you

to face each new day. Each

GriefShare session includes a

video seminar and group discus-

sion. (813) 752-4622.

Ladies Night Out: Sleep and

Your Heart takes place from

6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10,

at the administrative conference

room of South Florida Baptist

Hospital, 301 N. Alexander

St. A sleep expert will discuss

the correlation between a good

nights sleep and a healthy

heart. The seminar is free, but

registration is required. (813)

644-6720.

The Recovery for Life takes

place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Lorena

Jaeb Rainbow House, 504

N. Palm Drive. It is a 12-step

Bible-based program to help

free individuals from all forms

of addiction. Debbie Ray, (813)

763-1562.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11

Citizen of the Year takes

place beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the

Florida Strawberry Festival Expo

Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Lunch

is $25. Come honor the Citizen

of the Year, chosen by local

civic clubs. RSVP to (813)

752-6171.

Fresh Market takes

place from 4 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 11, at

McCall Park, in Historic

Downtown.

Open Mic Night takes place

beginning at 8 p.m. Wednesday,

Feb. 11, at OBriens Irish Pub

and Family Restaurant, 1701

S. Alexander St. (813) 764-

8818.

Rally for the Cure begins at 1

p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at The

Meadows off Sam Allen Road.

There will be a raffle table and

a golf outing. Proceeds go to the

Susan G. Komen foundation.

(813) 545-1065.

FRIDAY, FEB. 13

Heritage Banquet takes

place beginning at 6 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 13, at the John R.

Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park

Road. The keynote speaker will

be Michael Clayton, a former

Tampa Bay Bucaneer. Master

of ceremony will be TV anchor

Rod Carter. Tickets are $30

and must be purchased in

advance at the Greater Plant

City Chamber of Commerce,

106 N. Evers St., or Pocket

Change Beauty Supply, 1408 E.

Baker St.

To publicize your event in our Community Calendar, please

send by mail: 110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL

33563; or by email: [email protected]. Photos

are welcome. Deadline is noon Thursday.

BEST BET

Strawberry Distance Challenge

takes place beginning at

7:20 a.m. in Walden Lake,

3035 Griffin Boulevard. The

race supports The Youth

Alliance, a non profit orga-

nization providing anti-

bully, choices presentations all

over the country. strawberrydistancechallenge.com/.


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If youve seen a friendly rock

guitarist around town with

long, curly hair and a thick gray

beard, it was probably Dale

Johnston. He plays at Plant

Citys open mic events, such

as at OBriens Irish Pub each

Wednesday and frequently

at Big Dogs Patio and Uncle

Mikes Smokehouse Grill.

But Johnston had to tempo-

rarily cut back on his gigs a few

weeks ago when the expensive

equipment he uses to play live

was stolen from his car.

Friends and connections hes

met through his involvement

with the local music scene are

throwing a fundraiser benet

for him beginning at 12 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 15, at Big Dogs in

the downtown district.

Big Dogs owner Kat DeR-

ossa announced more than a

week ago that the bar would

be hosting the night of appre-

ciation for Johnston. But he

wont know the event is actual-

ly a fundraiser for him until he

picks up this weeks issue of the

Plant City Times & Observer.

Though Johnston performs

about ve nights a week, he

keeps himself busy during the

day with a full-time job. He

mostly works from home, but

sometimes goes to his ofce in

Oldsmar.

Johnston had a gig in Bran-

don one night, but he had to go

to his ofce that day. He packed

up his equipment and took it

with him because it would have

cost him so much time to drive

back to Plant City in between

work and the performance.

That day, Johnston went out

to his car around lunchtime.

Nothing was out of place. But

when he returned 20 minutes

later, it was not as he had left it.

Everything was gone, John-

ston said. They stole every

single one of my mics, every

single one of my cables, my

guitar effects processor, amps

and main speakers.

In total, Johnston estimated

the stolen equipment to have

been worth about $2,000.

Johnston contacted the police,

but they havent been able to

gure out what happened.

They thought they had a

lead, but it must have dried up,

because I havent heard any-

thing since, he said.

Johnston has regularly kept

his equipment in the car at

work for two years, because the

parking area is gated. But the

security wasnt enough.

Looking back, I wish I had

been more cautious, but you

never know when these things

are going to happen, he said.

Some of Johnstons friends

have lent him equipment so

he could still play. One item at

a time, he has been able to re-

place most of the stolen items

using money he makes from

gigs.

But he still needs a looper

and high-quality speakers,

which he estimates will cost

about $600 total.

Fortunately for Johnston,

Plant Citys music community

has jumped on an opportunity

to give him a hand.

A Plant City band of young

rock musicians, The Peace-

makers, owes some of their

success to Johnstons help over

the past few years

Hes helped us get gigs. He

gave us advice on what to do

and what kind of equipment to

buy, Colton Conrad, a mem-

ber of The Peacemakers, said.

The band got together to

think about how they could

help Johnston fully replace his

stolen equipment. They de-

cided to organize a fundraiser

at Big Dogs, where Johnston

frequently performs and has

fostered relationships with em-

ployees and regulars.

In addition to The Peace-

makers, other bands have of-

fered to donate their time to

play at the event. Johnston will

receive proceeds from a cook-

out, a cornhole competition

and some rafes.

We gured we could try to

give back to him a little bit and

show him that we appreciate

everything hes done for us,

Conrad said.

Contact Catherine Sinclair

at csinclair@plantcityobserver.

com.

Its Black History Month, and

Plant City is ready to celebrate

it in the biggest way it knows

how.

The 12th annual Black Heri-

tage Education and Cultural

Festival, presented by Black

Heritage Celebration Inc., looks

to be next weekends hot ticket.

With events scheduled from

Feb. 13 to 15 and another cel-

ebration Feb. 21, area residents

should be prepared for food,

fun and education.

The Heritage Banquet will

kick things off Friday, Feb. 13,

with dinner cooked by mem-

bers of Black Heritage Celebra-

tion and several guest speakers

and award presentations. The

highlight of this dinner could

very well be the speech by for-

mer Tampa Bay Buccaneer Mi-

chael Clayton, who is widely

regarded as a great speaker.

Five awards will also be

presented to members of the

community: the Humanitar-

ian Award (Plant City Police

Dept.), the Lifetime Achieve-

ment Award (Dr. Larry Sykes,

Ed.D), the Heritage Award (E.D.

Reaves), the Community Ser-

vice Award (Essie Dixon-Lewis)

and the Cornerstone Award

(Mt. Moriah Ministries).

On Saturday, Feb. 14, the Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Recre-

ation Center will host the fes-

tivals rst-ever Youth Summit.

According to organizer Sharon

Moody, the summit is some-

thing partly inspired by nation-

al news events that unfolded in

2014, such as the case in Fergu-

son, Missouri. It is open to chil-

dren aged 10 or older.

One of the topics is how to

coalesce effectively with police

ofcers, Moody said. They

(kids) need to learn how to en-

gage, and not throw off all of

these negative vibes. If theyre

being educated, I think theyll

be more respectful.

The other two topics are,

Utilizing education and social

networking to change the dy-

namics in a global economy,

and Youth building bridges for

strong relationships within the

community.

Members of the Plant City

Police Department, as well

as Marshall Middle School

teacher and Gentlemans Quest

founder Stanley Glover, will be

teaching at the Youth Summit.

Mayor Rick Lott is the events

major sponsor.

At 1 p.m., the parade will

start go down Dr. Martin Luther

King Boulevard, led by Grand

Marshal Mary Joyce Clayton.

Sunday afternoon, at Mt. Ol-

ive Church, Lawrence Ingram

will lead the Mass Youth and

Adult Choir gospel concert.

On Feb. 21, the Winn Dixie

supermarket at 205 W. Alexan-

der St. will host a fun day, with

free food, entertainment and

appearances by both the Plant

City Police Department and

Plant City Fire Rescue.

Contact Justin Kline at

[email protected].

This Valentines Day, Plant

City has a chance to show its

love at a fundraising event or-

ganized by passionate students

from Durant High School and

other nearby schools.

Durants Future Business

Leaders of America is hosting a

5K and family festival for March

of Dimes, to benet premature

babies.

Community service is an

important part of every FBLA

chapter. Durants chapter has

served March of Dimes long-

term through an awareness

event called Prematurity Week

each fall.

Durant FBLA supports the

March of Dimes every year

because of its strong commit-

ment to growing families,

Kevin OHare, Durant FBLAs

spokesman, said.

FBLA also supports March

of Dimes as a statewide level.

This year each of Floridas FBLA

districts will hold a large fund-

raising event for the March of

Dimes.

OHare is a state ofcer, and

he agreed to organizer the

event for Plant Citys district,

with Durant as the host. All

proceeds from the event will

benet the March of Dimes.

The planning group ... came

up with a theme for the event,

Baby Love, which would be

focused around Valentines

Day, OHare said. The date

is intentional and symbolic,

to show our support and love

for premature babies and their

families.

Trophies will be awarded to

the overall fastest male and fe-

male in the 5K. The top three

male and female runners in

each age group will receive a

medal. All participants can help

themselves to refreshments

when they cross the nish line.

After the 5K will be the March

for Babies, which is a free and

easy walk around the track.

The morning will conclude

with a family festival, with

plenty of games for everyone,

including corn hole, an egg toss

and more. Each chapter in the

district will provide a game.

We give our members at

Durant the opportunity to raise

funds, which helps to teach

so many different skills ... but

most importantly it teaches

our members that life is not

all about business and making

prots, but the importance of

giving back to a community,

OHare said.

To register for the 5K in ad-

vance, download the registra-

tion packet at durant.mys-

dhc.org/teacher/1291stafford/

FBLA. Send it with payment to:

Durant High School, 4748 Cou-

gar Path, Plant City, FL, 33567,

Attn: Dawnelle Stafford.



com.

Courtesy photo

The Peacemakers are Conrad Colton, Ben Luchka, Jesse

Butterworth and Jordan Gude.

Band raisesmoney for friend,mentor

The Peacemakers wanted to give back to its musical mentor,

Dale Johnston, after much of his musical equipment was stolen.

IF YOU GO

When: 12 p.m. Sunday,

Feb. 15

Where: Big Dogs Patio,

103 N. Palmer St., Plant

City

Activities: Live music, raf-

fles, cornhole competition

money cant buyme love


Durant High School to host March of Dimes fundraiser

The event will be sponsored by student members

of Durants Future Business Leaders of America.

BABYLOVE

byCatherineSinclair |StaffWriter

Black Heritage

celebration set

for next week

homeat last


Catherine Sinclair

Dan Middlebrooks and the honor guard transferred James Gatlins casket from the plane to the ground before the family gath-

ered around it.

The 12th annual Black Heritage Education and

Cultural Festival will begin next weekend and

will include a brand-new Youth Summit.

BLACKHISTORY

by Justin Kline |StaffWriter

IF YOU GO

Location: Durant High

School, 4748 Cougar Path,

Plant City

Date: Saturday, Feb. 14

Schedule: 7:30 to 8:15

a.m., 5K check-in; 8:30

a.m., 5K start; 10 to 11

a.m., March for Babies

track walk; 11 a.m. to 2

p.m., festival

Costs: $20 for 5K run.

March for Babies is free.

Prices for food and activi-

ties vary.

James Gatlin was well

known in his family for his

service during World War II,

even among relatives who had

been born long after he was

declared missing in action in

1944. But the family, of which

some members live in Plant

City, were able to get closure

when Gatlins remains arrived

in Florida, their nal resting

place.

Gatlins remains were found

during an excavation in Ger-

many in 2013, and just recent-

ly identied using DNA tests.

Some of his relatives who had

submitted the matching DNA

were present to greet the cas-

ket when its plane touched

down in Tampa. One of these

relatives was Gatlins rst

cousin, Cornelia Howard, who

had known him personally.

(James) was a very inte-

gral part of the Gatlin family,

Howard said.

It was real hard for my

grandma when it happened,

Howards granddaughter,

Amanda Rodriguez, said. The

plane went down on her birth-

day.

The remains had been

own from a facility in Hawaii

to Los Angeles. From Los An-

geles they traveled to Atlanta

and arrived in Tampa Wednes-

day, Jan. 28. A procession

then transported the casket to

Hopewell Funeral Home, and

it was buried at the Florida

National Cemetery in Bush-

nell the following weekend.

Justin Kline

The first-ever Youth Summit

will be held at the Martin

Luther King Recreation Center,

1601 E. Dr. MLK Blvd.,

Saturday, Feb. 14.

VISIT PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

FOR A LIST OF THE UPCOMING EVENTS

MISSION COMPLETE

Gatlin Dwyer was intrigued by the Hillsborough County Sheriffs

Office motorcycles.

Cornelia Howard and Sandy Shirley are James Gatlins first

and second cousins.


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across a news article about the

United Food Bank of Plant City.

She sought to learn more about

the organization.

She was pleased by the work

we were doing, and they sent

a very nice donation, Miller

said.

Miller wrote a thank-you

letter to the Rubios for their

donation, and soon after, one

Rubios staffers contacted her.

Correspondence continued,

and in January 2014, Miller

found herself amidst a series

of telephone interviews with

Rubios staffers, who wanted to

know the inner workings of the

food bank.

Miller knew the interviewers

were gathering information for

a book, but she did not know

the full premise of the book, or

how much of the information

would be used, if any. When

she picked up the book after it

was published last month, she

discovered that the food bank

was a primary source through-

out the third chapter.

At the beginning of the chap-

ter, Rubio discusses the war on

poverty, a concept introduced

by President Lyndon B. John-

son. He writes that though the

U.S. has been ghting this war

for 51 years, the poverty rates

have hardly changed.

Christine is on the front

lines of what President John-

son called not just a war but an

unconditional war on pover-

ty, Rubio writes. Her job is to

hand out food, but her clients

need so much more. Shed like

to help them escape their cir-

cumstances, not just survive

them.

Rubio identies the mission

of the food bank, whose slogan

is a hand up, not a hand out.

He commends the food bank

for offering Money Smart, an

FDIC nancial guidance class

that Miller is certied to teach,

and for ensuring that clients are

signed up for all governmental

assistance they are eligible for.

The Plant City food bank ex-

ists as a bridge between desti-

tution and vast bureaucracy of

federal programs for the poor,

Rubio writes.

Miller said she agreed with

some of Rubios thoughts on

poverty in the U.S.

I think war is a strong

word, but its denitely a war.

Our country is in a crisis, Mill-

er said.

Miller said she feels she was

called to meet the communitys

immediate need for food in

emergency situations, but she

hopes government leaders like

Rubio will formulate and en-

act the policies that will lead to

long-term solutions.

The United Food Bank of

Plant Citys needs have contin-

ued to grow since Miller started

her position in 2012. The food

bank recently extended its

hours to include evening dis-

tribution. The food bank has

also begun accepting online

donations, which can be given

at ufbpc.org.



com.

Born and raised in Plant

City, Berry graduated from

Plant City High and attended

Texas Western College before

returning to Florida, nishing

his education at the University

of Tampa. With his wife of 60

years, Patsy Darlene Davidson,

Berry has three children, four

grandchildren and two great-

grandchildren.

By sight, Berry may be best

known as a director for the

Florida Strawberry Festival for

43 years. Hes donned the fa-

mous red coat, as well as the

famous Mr. Berry costume,

doing whatever he can to lend

a hand.

By voice, longtime residents

know Berry as the silky smooth

voice of the WPLA radio sta-

tion, which he co-owned and

worked at for 34 years.

In 1998, he was named the

citys Outstanding Citizen of

the Year. Hes served as presi-

dent of the Strawberry Festival,

Plant City Lions Club, Dover

Civic Club and the Plant City

Band Parents Association, and

was even named the citys Civil

Defense Director during the

Cuban Missile Crisis and Viet-

nam War.

Currently, Berry remains

active in the Lions Club and

serves as a director emeritus

for the Strawberry Festival.

On March 2, hell serve as the

Grand Parade Marshal for

the rst time. Hes also been

helping the Greater Plant City

Chamber with video work,

serving on the Contact Break-

fast Committee and more.

I always have something in

the re, so to speak, he said.

I think its what keeps me go-

ing.

Whether its donning the

Mr. Berry costume, emcee-

ing the Strawberry Queen

Competition or lending wis-

dom and a helping hand to

whichever organization needs

it, one can expect to see Ber-

ry getting to work as long as

theres something to be done,

whether hell get an award for

it or not.

I never anticipated any-

thing like this, Berry said.

I see people every year, and

I support them, but I never

thought that it would come my

way. I certainly am apprecia-

tive of it.


[email protected].

BERRY / PAGE 1

RUBIO / PAGE 1

MR. BERRY AS MR. BERRY

Originally, the Mr. Berry mascot may not have been

written with Al Berry in mind to put on the suit at every

festival.

But theres a good chance that, if youve ever been greet-

ed by the giant strawberry at the gate, it was Al Berry in the

suit. He loves playing the part of Mr. Berry, even when it

gets a little toasty inside the big costume.

As the man who possibly knows Mr. Berry better than any-

one and being a director emeritus also helps Berrys

hoping to help bring something new to the mascot table,

a female companion for Mr. Berry, not unlike the Florida

Gators mascot tandem of Albert and Alberta.

I want them to get a Little Miss Shortcake, Berry said.

Another outfit. Thats Mr. Berrys mate, his wife. They go

together strawberry and shortcake.

American Dreams:

Restoring Economic

Opportunity for Everyone

was released Jan. 13. It is

available at bookstores, for

Nook and Kindle, and on

loan at Bruton Memorial

Library.

ed, and there were more than

12,000 motorcycles. Collins

Street and Dr. Martin Luther

King Junior Boulevard were

shut down to accommodate all

of the bikes.

It was beautiful. But that

was in its heyday, Smith said.

During the recession, from

2007 to 2009, the show lost

some of its key vendors, and

the crowd started to change in

age and interests. Attendance

started to drop. The most re-

cent shows have had about

3,000 bikes.

The activities that have

worked in the past may not

work now, and we think it is

time that Plant City Bike Fest

gets reinvented, Smith wrote

in a public letter on behalf of

the chamber.

Smith also said that because

bikers and vendors have been

able to count on Plant City Bike

Fest every month, they often

chose to attend other events

when there was a schedul-

ing conict. They knew they

would be able to return to Bike

Fest the next month.

We need to make it so that

they say, Wow, Plant Citys

having a show weve got to

be there, Smith said.

The chamber is forming a

committee whose goal is to

make Bike Fest bigger and

better, though less frequent.

The next show hasnt been

planned yet. It could be as

early as May, but nothing has

been set in stone. Some of the

changes might include better

entertainment or bike-build-

ing demonstrations. The com-

mittee will include represen-

tatives from Harley-Davidson,

Florida Fun Bike Center, Plant

City Motor Sports, bars in the

downtown area and vendors

who have attended the shows

in the past.

The shows will still be down-

town, because people seem to

like the ambience, and it helps

the Downtown Merchants,

Smith said.

Smith said there have been

varied reactions to this news

among bikers and vendors

who had attended faithfully

over the years.

Theres some disappoint-

ment, Smith said. We have

some people that understand.

... Others are saying, Oh, no.

The owners of the downtown

bars, Big Dogs Patio, Cuzzins

and Silver Dollar Saloon, have

made plans to collaborate and

offer a monthly event for bikers

on a smaller scale. Though this

offers an opportunity for local

bikers to easily get together,

some of Bike Fests biggest fans

travel from far away, including

Pinellas, Pasco and Polk coun-

ties, and will miss the big show.

Steven Moody, a resident of

Lakeland, has been attending

Bike Fest for about two years.

I think that Plant City has

gone in the wrong direction

with Bike (Fest), Moody said.

Several of my bike-riding

friends could meet at this great

central location and enjoy see-

ing bikes of all kinds.

Moody said he would prob-

ably continue to attend Bike

Fest as a twice-annual event if

some changes were made.

For example, he and other

frequent attendees have said

that people should be able to

carry their beers with them

throughout the venue instead

of being restricted, like at

Zephyrhills Bikefest. Moody

also would like to see a food

truck area, which is standard at

South Florida Bike Nights. And

he thinks an escorted cruise

route would increase popular-

ity by kicking off or concluding

each Bike Fest with a parade of

motorcycles.

The last Bike Fest will be in

Historic Downtown from 5

to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. For

more information contact the

chamber at (813) 754-3707.



com.

DONT MISS IT

Saturday, Feb. 7, will

be the final Plant City

Bike Fest until the event

picks up again as a quar-

terly, or possibly twice-

annual, affair. Bike Fest

will occur from 5 to 9

p.m. downtown, near the

train depot.

BIKE FEST / PAGE 1

ber, and two proofs of residency

are required. Acceptable proofs

of residency are any two of

the following: current electric

bill, current lease, current

homestead tax receipt, or valid

drivers license. The school

phone number is (813) 757-

9433 if you need additional

information.

+ Poker run benets

fallen police ofcers

A BBQ lunch will be provided

for a poker run benefiting fallen

police officers if you register by

Feb. 9.

The poker run will be

Saturday, Feb. 14, at Church

on the Rock, 301 Alsobrook St.

There will be prizes for the best

and worst hand, and more.

The first card is $15 and an

additional rider is $5.

The money raised will go to

a Plant City Police team who

will be traveling out of state in

the spring to ride in the Police

Unity Tour. The tour is a fun-

draiser for fallen police officer

families.

To register or for information

call Bo Henry at (813) 210-

3614.

OUR TOWN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1


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Dear Readers:

All of the associates in our

company, Observer Media

Group Inc., live by a mission

statement that says we are

committed to inspire our

communities with

extraordinary local

content and to help

our partners prosper.

Week after week in

our newspapers and

on our websites, we

focus on local news,

events and people,

attempting to in-

form and sometimes

entertain you on what

is happening to you,

your neighbors and

your neighborhood.

We know you dont

look to us for national

or international news

and commentary.

But this week, we

are departing from

our mission, with the

hope and intention to

inspire you to act: To

urge our nations elected pub-

lic servants in Washington to

execute overwhelming de-

cisive force from the United

States against an enemy that

has proven to be as evil, if

not more so, than the Nazi

exterminators.

For decades, millions

around the world have said,

Never Again. Never another

Holocaust. Never another

diabolical, megalo-

maniacal Hitler. Never

again the atrocities

against mankind that

occurred under the Nazi

regime.

But they are back.

Different, but just as

horric. And despite

the presidents refusal

to identify them, all of

America and the world

know who this enemy

is and what its objec-

tive is: radical Islamic

extremists who want to

annihilate all Jews and

Christians and establish

a Muslim-ruled world

that exterminates mo-

dernity.

Day after day, we see

in newspapers and on

TV, websites and social

media, gruesome videos

and photos, like the ones

above, of the most heinous,

barbaric crimes against

humanity. And yet little

seems to be done to stop

the perpetrators. Go down

the list: Boko Haram, Al

Nusra, al Qaeda, ISIS, Assad,

Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran,

Putin in Ukraine. Relentless

in their determination and

destruction. Retired Army

Vice Chief of Staff and four-

star Gen. Jack Keane told

Congress last week al Qaeda

has grown fourfold in the

last five years and is the

major security challenge of

our generation.

And what is our response?

Little if anything to make

a difference. There is no

urgency, no determination, no

convincing commitment from

the president. His response

is so feckless, its as if he is

willingly letting the Islamic ex-

tremists advance their wicked

cruelty and ideology.

Congress is no better

nattering politicians in their

starched shirts and striped

ties; disorganized, fractured;

all talk no action; afraid to

step out of political protocol.

Yes, we all have our res-

ervations, misgivings and

objections about sending our

troops to battle and becom-

ing entangled again in the

Middle East. We cant be the

worlds policeman, so the

line goes.

But here is what Americans

should ask:

If not we, the United States,

then who?

There is no one. No other

nation with the might, the

ingenuity or the ability to

muster the will, courage and

commitment to do what-

ever is necessary to end this

slaughtering of innocents, to

destroy this mortal enemy of

western values and civiliza-

tion.

And there is no one else to

do it now.

You talk to your neigh-

bors. You read and watch the

news. You see how terrorism

is spreading. You see history

repeating.

The world is worried; you

are worried. You know, ulti-

mately, it will be here.

We urge you then: Let your

public servants in Wash-

ington hear from you. Their

top priority is to protect you

from harm and from being

enslaved and slaughtered by

foreign invaders.

The people of the Western

World said, Never Again.

We must show now we

meant it.

Matt Walsh, Editor/CEO

Observer Media Group

opinion

|

our view

Never Again?

ISIS execution in Iraq

Iraqis prepare to bury their children.

This symbol is the

Arabic letter N for

Nasrani, or Christians.

In Mosul, Iraq, the letter

was placed on homes to

mark the Christian occu-

pants.

If not we, then who will stop them?

HOW TO WIN

One: You accept that you are in

a war. Two: You name the enemy,

Islamist terrorists. Three: You get the

lawyers off the battleeld [] you

accept there will be collateral damage

and you do not apologize for it.

You do not nation build, you dont

try to hold ground. You go wherever

in the world the terrorists are and you

kill them, you do your best to exter-

minate them, and then you leave, and

you leave behind smoking ruins and

crying widows.

If in ve or 10 years, they recon-

stitute and youve got to go back, you

go back and do the same thing, and

you never, never, never send Ameri-

can troops into a war you dont mean

to win.

Ret. Army Lt. Col. Ralph Peters

ISIS crucifies Christians in Iraq.


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The FFA District 9 contest,

which is a qualier for state

events, was held at Hillsbor-

ough Community College in

Plant City Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Anna Conrad, a local student

who is the district president,

had spent months organizing

the contest in her hometown.

More than 50 students com-

peted, representing about 15

schools.

Emily Pierces daughter,

Morgan, has been ght-

ing cancer for six years, but

Pierce wanted to do some-

thing that would help other

families with the same strug-

gle. Thats why she organized

a fundraiser called the Sweet-

Hearts Gala.

The event was such a success

when it was rst held last year

that it will be returning this Val-

entines Day.

My family has been sup-

ported greatly by the commu-

nity, and because the commu-

nity helped us so much, I felt

like this was a great way to give

back, Pierce said.

Morgan receives treatment at

a facility in NewYork. The Pierc-

es met another family there

whose son, Jensen Byrd, was

also being treated for cancer.

Though Jensen lost his battle

in 2010, the two families have

stayed close.

Jensens family started a

nonprot organization called

Jensens Heart of Gold, to raise

awareness of childhood cancer

and help organize fundraising

efforts across the country. The

SweetHearts Gala will be a Jen-

sens Heart of Gold event, but

100% of the proceeds will stay

in Plant City to help local chil-

dren.

Some children who are cur-

rently ghting cancer will be at

the gala, but the optional black-

tie event is intended for adults.

Its Valentines night, so I

think a lot of couples are using

that as their couples night,

Pierce said.

In addition to dinner and

drinks, there will be musical

entertainment by two local

performers, as well as a song

performed by Morgans sister.

At the end of the evening, there

will also be time for dancing.

There will be a live auction

for items such as a Charleston

getaway, a night in Orlando and

a cross bow and hog hunt. Local

businesses have also donated

many items for a silent auc-

tion, including photography

sessions and various giftbas-

kets. Some of Morgans original

artwork will be available at the

silent auction, as well.

But one of the events unique

features is the manner in which

a piece of jewelry from RAOK

boutique will be given away.

The jewelry will be in a locked

case, and guests can purchase a

key but only one key will t

the lock. At the end of the night,

when the guests try their keys

on the lock, the person with the

correct key will get to keep the

jewelry.

The gala had this sort of give-

away last year, as well.

The live auction is lively and

very fun, but other than that, I

think that was a highlight for

everybody, Pierce said.

Another fun activity at the

gala will be a miniature golf

game. Anyone who gets a hole-

in-one can choose a prize from

a selection of gift cards.



com.

SweetHearts Gala to benefit

children battling cancer

IF YOU GO

When: 7 p.m. Saturday,

Feb. 14

Where: Keel Farms, 5210

Thonotosassa Road

Tickets: $75 per person

More information: jensens-

heartofgold.com

SHARETHELOVE


LOCAL WINNERS

Opening/Closing

Ceremonies, first place:

Tomlin Middle School

FFA Creed, first place:

Emma Poole (Tomlin

Middle School)

Middle School Prepared

Public Speaking, first

place: Cole Hanson (Turkey

Creek Middle School)

Middle School

Parliamentary Procedure,

first place: Tomlin Middle

School

High School Prepared

Public Speaking, first

place: Adrian Dyer (Durant

High School)

High School

Extemporaneous Public

Speaking, second place:

Anna Conrad (Plant City

High School)

High School Parliamentary

Procedure, first place:

Durant High School

agriculture


Student plans FFA contest

The team from Durant High School won first place for parliamentary procedure.

This is the events second year, and all proceeds will be

donated to local families whose children are ghting cancer.

THISWEEKS CROSSWORDANSWERS

2015

THISWEEKS CRYPTOQUIZ ANSWERS

1) Modern, 2) Chronicle, 3) Clytemnestra, 4) Maple Leaf Rag,

5) White House, Martha Graham


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General Manager/Executive Editor / Michael Eng, [email protected]

General Manager/Advertising / Stacey Hudson, [email protected]

Managing Editor / Amber Jurgensen, [email protected]

Assistant Managing Editor / Jess Eng, [email protected]

Staff Writers / Justin Kline, [email protected]; Catherine Sinclair,

[email protected]

Advertising Executives / Veronica Prostko, [email protected];

Joanna Verga, [email protected]

Circulation/Ofce Manager / Linda Lancaster, [email protected]

110 E. Reynolds St., Suite 100-A

Plant City, FL 33563

(813) 704-6850

www.PlantCityObserver.com

Plant City

Times & Observer

Locally Owned by Ed Verner,

Nate Kilton and Felix Haynes

The Plant City Times & Observer is published by

Plant City Media LLC, a joint-venture of the Tampa

Bay Times and Plant City Observer LLC.

&RS\ULJKW 3ODQW &LW\ 0HGLD //&

$OO 5LJKWV 5HVHUYHG

Plant City Times&

Observer

TO ADVERTISE

Call Veronica Prostko,

(813) 716-0007, or

Joanna Verga, (813) 451-6489.

SEND US

YOUR NEWS

We want to hear from you. Let

us know about your events,

celebrations and achievements.

To contact us, send your information via:

Email: Amber Jurgensen, ajurgensen@

PlantCityObserver.com.

Mail: The Plant City Observer, 110 E. Reynolds

St., Suite 100-A, Plant City, FL 33563

CONTACT US

The Plant City Times &

Observer is published

once weekly, on Fridays.

It provides free home delivery to

several neighborhoods in Plant City.

The Plant City Times & Observer also

can be found in many commercial

locations throughout Plant City and at

our ofce, 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.

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

QUEEN BEE

Samantha Sun was crowned the 2015 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen.

Vaviel Verner

Samantha Black

The 2015 Florida Strawberry Queen contestants took a selfie on stage with one of the emcees.

Heather Ross was voted Miss Congeniality.

Payton Astin made it to the court.

Olivia Brosky

Kellen Morris made it to the court.

The contestants performed a dance at the beginning of the competition.

Right: Jessi Rae Varnum made one last walk as Queen down the catwalk.

Photos by Amber Jurgensen |ManagingEditor


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The Knights Elementary

Relay for Life team has toilet

humor. Team leaders Linda

Herman and Joanie Petty have

been dropping off a purple

potty in front yards for the past

two weeks. Thats right a

commode they bedazzled and

spray painted.

The move is part of a fund-

raising campaign to raise mon-

ey and awareness for the Plant

City Relay for Life. If the toilet

ends up in your front yard, you

can pay $10 to have it removed,

$20 to have it removed and

sent to a friend (or enemy) of

your choice, and $30 to have it

removed, sent to someone and

insure it wont end up back on

your lawn.

Its awesome and its mak-

ing money, Petty said. Every-

one whos gotten it has loved

it.

Herman and Petty sneak

around at night with four teen-

age helpers, Matthew Petty,

Michael Petty, Patrick Hawke

and Benjamin Hawke, to move

the heavy porcelain throne.

We get in the car after a

delivery and just laugh and

laugh, Petty said. You would

think that after the ninth time,

it wouldnt be as funny.

Theyve been to over nine

houses, averaging about one a

day. In its rst week, it had al-

ready raised $240.

The duo pegged their friend,

Lynn Roberts, as the one to

start the chain. They texted her

giggling from outside of her

house that she might want to

take a look at her yard. They

found out they had placed it in

the neighbors yard by accident

when Roberts came out of the

house next door.

Oddly enough, I found it

attering to be the rst one,

Roberts said. Who doesnt

want a bedazzled toilet? It did

its job. Neighbors started call-

ing me, telling me I had a toilet

in my front yard.

It really just takes the rst

person, Herman said.

Thats what I was thinking

who could I send it to that

wouldnt be offended or would

keep the ball rolling, Roberts

said.

Roberts sent the toilet to

Debbie Hollenkamp, a breast

cancer survivor.

Shes a good sport, and I

knew she would continue it,

Roberts said.

From there, it bounced

around Walden Lake neighbor-

hoods, occasionally making it

out to the country.

The team has heard all kinds

of stories, from rumors about

people wanting to keep it to a

lawn service moving it to the

road so they could mainte-

nance without it.

Its been fun, its been so

much fun, Herman said.

Plant City Community Cho-

rale performed Songs for a

New Day Saturday, Jan. 31, at

First Presbyterian Church. The

diverse repertoire in this per-

formance ranged from Ameri-

can folk, to a jazz-themed

lullaby, to a Spanish-inspired

piece and more. In addition

to the 15 chorale members

and accompanist, the per-

formance featured the rhyth-

mic sounds of a cajon on one

piece.

PCCC performs

Songs for a New Day

The members of the mixed chorus have varied musical backgrounds.

George Hyde announced the

raffle winners and other infor-

mation throughout the night.

Ken Watts, the chorales con-

ductor, has more than 40

years of experience as a pro-

fessional musician.

treblemakers


Amber Jurgensen

Joanie Petty and Linda Herman dropped the toilet off at Lynn

Roberts house to get the chain going.

Knights Elementary Relay

team flushing away cancer

DOWNTHEDRAIN


Greater Plant City Chamber of Com-

merce members, board directors and

employees gathered at the John R. Trin-

kle Center Thursday, Jan. 29, to induct

Michael Cameron as the 2015 Chair-

man. Immediate Past Chairman Nate

Kilton passed the gavel to Cameron

who has ideas to build businesses and

expand on technology to do so. Yvonne

Fry received an award for her work with

the Buy Local campaign. New chamber

directors were also installed.

Cameron inducted as chair

its business


Alan and Kelly Andrew, Dawn Kicklighter, Peggy and Steve Smith

Chamber

President

Marion

Smith con-

gratulated

Michael

Cameron

on his new

position.


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+ Ofcials clear ofcer

in November shooting

A Florida Department of Law

Enforcement report has cleared a

Plant City officer of fatally shoot-

ing a man who had repeatedly

stabbed his girlfriend and set fire

to her home in November.

Trung Thanh Do, 31, was hold-

ing his girlfriend, Maria De Los

Angeles Romano, 43, against

her will and refused to follow

police orders to let her go. He

had set fire to her home with two

children inside and was stabbing

her.

Plant City Police officer James

Burchett shot Do through his left

eye.

Romano was able to crawl out

of the window.

Burchett was placed on

administrative leave in early

November while FDLE investi-

gated the incident, which is stan-

dard in a police shooting.

The report said his use of force

was justified.

Do broke into Romanos home

at 107 S. Maryland Ave. in Plant

City just before 4 a.m. Nov.

11. According to the report, Do

stabbed her in the chest and

arms several times. He then

lit her house on fire because

Romano had dumped him. He

had previously told her he would

kill her if she did not take him

back, the report said.

Police arrived, along with

Plant City Fire Rescue, after

receiving a call that four people

were inside the burning house.

Officer Burchett helped the two

children, Wendy Gonzalez, 18,

and Maria Guevara, 13, out the

window, the report said. Frantic,

Maria told Burchett that Do had

stabbed her mother in the back

bedroom.

Burchett and Officer Jeffrey

Hilsman then rushed to the back

of the house and, through a

closed window, saw Do wrapping

his arms around Romano, the

report said. Smoke was filling

the room, and Do was refusing

to drop Romano and leave the

house, so Burchett and Hilsman

shattered the window with their

batons.

According to the report, both

officers said Do tried to pull

Romano further into the house.

They both took out their weapons

and Burchett fired a single shot.

The teens were uninjured.

Romano was rescued and treat-

ed. State records show Do had

no criminal past in Florida only

a traffic ticket in Hillsborough

County from August 2014.

+ Suit settled after

child fell from ceiling

The Hillsborough County

school district is ready to settle

a 2013 lawsuit that concerns

a 7-year-old, learning-disabled

child who fell through a ceiling

at Robinson Elementary School

in 2009.

Pending court approval, the

district will offer parents Keith

and Diane Coker, of Plant City,

$200,000, the maximum

allowed under the states sov-

ereign immunity limits, accord-

ing to a report this week to the

School Board.

Its a straight negligence

suit, said Tom Gonzalez, attor-

ney for the school district.

The lawsuit alleges Jacob

Coker, who was having his medi-

cation adjusted for hyperactivity,

climbed onto a classroom cabi-

net and into the ceiling.

His teacher knew he was there

but was unable to go after him

because of a bad back. She took

the rest of the class to lunch

and left him in the care of aides

who were not trained in child

restraint techniques, according

to the suit.

The ceiling collapsed and

Jacob fell, hitting his head.

The teacher is no longer with

the school district.

+ PC shooting, stolen

car leads to standoff

Two men led police on a hunt,

then standoff, at 1:30 a.m. after

a Plant City shooting, Jan. 30.

The Plant City Police

Department responded to a call

of shots heard on Washington

Street in Plant City around 3:30

p.m. An anonymous witness

said the shots came from an

older white Chevrolet Malibu

with black wheels. The wit-

ness said could see Antwan AJ

Gordon, of Plant City, driving the

vehicle through an open window.

While searching the area for

the vehicle, an officer was able

to locate it and attempted a

traffic stop. The driver refused

to stop and began driving reck-

lessly in an attempt to flee the

area. No pursuit was initiated, to

not endanger the public.

At about 10:30 p.m., the

same vehicle was seen at Burger

King at 2302 N. Park Road.

A traffic stop was attempted,

and the driver fled again, travel-

ing east on Interstate 4.

After a search on the tag, an

officer discovered the vehicle

was reported stolen by the Polk

County Sheriffs Office.

A local bulletin for the vehicle

was sent out to neighboring

agencies. Tampa police located

the vehicle at about 1:30 a.m.

in Tampa. Police pursued the

vehicle, the pursuit ending

at 109th Avenue East and 15th

Street. Gordon and his passen-

ger, Herbert Stubbins, of Tampa,

fled the vehicle on foot.

Stubbins was tracked by

air and apprehended. Police

then learned that Gordon,

Stubbins cousin, was the sus-

pect sought in the earlier Plant

City shooting. Gordon made

it to an apartment at 4606

Citrus Circle and barricaded

himself in the attic. Police

had been information he was

armed. The Tactical Response

Team and Hostage Negotiators

responded and a negotiator

convinced Gordon to surrender

peacefully.

Gordon was arrested and trans-

ported to central booking on out-

standing warrants for Aggravated

Fleeing to Elude and No Valid

Drivers License. Possible charg-

es are pending on Stubbins.

+ Walden Lake

pedestrian hit

A pedestrian was hit by a

vehicle Sunday, Jan. 26, while

walking on Griffin Boulevard in

Walden Lake.

The pedestrian was in the

crosswalk at the intersection

of Forest Hammock Drive and

Griffin Boulevard, walking across

Griffin Boulevard.

A vehicle was traveling west on

Griffin Boulevard toward the polo

fields and struck the pedestrian.

The driver advised that the glare

from the setting sun caused

them to not see the pedestrian.

The pedestrian suffered a

non-life threatening injury. The

pedestrian was recovering and

was moved to a private room at

South Florida Baptist Hospital

Tuesday, Jan. 27.

+ HCFR responds

to Plant City re

Hillsborough County Fire

Rescue put out a structure fire

at 3306 Clay Turner Road in

Plant City.

Upon arrival, HCFR

found heavy smoke and flames

coming from a single wide trailer.

The crews were able to contain

the fire and extinguish it. Tanker

operations were established for a

water supply because of a lack of

hydrants in the area.

NEWS BRIEFS

Ag detectives from

Hillsborough and Polk

counties rescued a large

black bull who had become

stranded in a wetland area

with only his head above

water Jan. 30.

At 6:35 p.m. detectives

arrived at 5540 Bob Smith

Ave. The 1,500-pound bull

was taken to a nearby barn

and was doing well after

being stuck in the mud and

water for four hours.

AG DETECTIVES RESCUE BULL


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Linda Gail Ausbourne

Linda Gail Ausbourne, 65,

of Plant City, died Jan. 28,

2015. She is survived by a

loving family. Services pro-

vided A Life Tribute Funeral

Tampa Chapel.

Vernon E. Ayscue

Vernon E. Ayscue, 98, died

Jan. 27, 2015, at his daugh-

ters home in Lutz with lov-

ing family by his side.

He was born July 12, 1916,

in Franklin County, North

Carolina, to the late Da-

vie Ayscue and

Myrtle Woodlief

Ayscue.

Mr. Ayscue

was a proud U.S. Army vet-

eran who served with the

4th Infantry (Ivy) Division

in ve campaigns during

WWII: the Normandy in-

vasion on D-Day at Utah

Beach, Cherbourg, St. Lo,

the Battle of the Hurtgen

Forest and the Battle of the

Bulge. He was honored to

receive the French Legion

of Honor medal, as one of

the many heroes who par-

ticipated in the liberation of

France. In 1953, he and his

wife, Juanita, moved from

North Carolina to Plant City

with their three children.

He worked in the trucking

business and for Eastern Oil

Company before his retire-

ment in 1981. Mr. Ayscue

and Juanita were active

members of the First Bap-

tist Church in Plant City for

more than 50 years, where

they made lifelong friends.

Mr. Ayscue was a member

of the American Legion Post

26, serving as post com-

mander from 1982-1984,

and a member of the Lions

Club, serving as president

from 1968-1969. He received

the Melvin Jones Award, the

highest award given by the

Lions Club, at the Lions Club

International Convention

held in Sydney, Australia, in

1991. He enjoyed hunting

and shing and did both un-

til his mid-80s. He loved be-

ing with family and friends

and was known for being a

big jokester. Throughout his

life, Mr. Ayscue was a hard-

working, honest man who

was loved and respected by

many. He was a wonderful

role model for his family.

Mr. Ayscue is survived by

his daughters, LaVerne (Jer-

ry) Goss and Elizabeth (Bill)

Katz; grandchildren, Kelley

Goss (Tommy) Tartaro, Mat-

thew (Joy) Goss and Vernon

(Keri) Joseph Katz; great-

grandchildren, T.J. and Han-

nah Tartaro, and Ryan and

Regan Goss; sister-in-law,

Janice Ayscue; other in-laws,

and numerous nieces and

nephews. He was preceded

in death by his beloved wife

of almost 70 years, Juanita;

his only son, Vernon Earl

Ayscue Jr.; his twin brother,

Virgil (Frances); and siblings,

Myrtle Finch Fuller (Yarbor-

ough), Beulah Holmes (Wy-

lie), John (Mary Ellen), David

P. and Jack.

A memorial service will

be held at 11 a.m. Satur-

day, Feb. 7, at First Baptist

Church. The family will

receive friends from 10 to

11 a.m. In lieu of owers,

memorial donations can

be made in Mr. Ayscues

honor to the Wounded War-

rior Project, the Alzheimers

Association or a charity of

your choice.

John Scotty Brown

John Scotty Brown, 72,

died Jan. 30, 2015 in Plant

City.

Mr. Brown was born in

Scotland and loved the warm

Florida weather and being

outdoors. Surviving are sons,

Johnny Queen, Doug Tins-

ley, Chuck Tinsley (Sam) and

Bill Johnson (Robin); daugh-

ters, Jan Cunningham (Eric),

Anna Cook (Robert), Roni

Kilgore, Shirley Hickman

and Connie Warren (John);

brother, Tom Brown (Mary);

sisters, Alice Armitt (Alex)

and Catherine (Stephen);

and many grandchildren

and great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by wife,

Jane Brown; and two broth-

ers.

A funeral service was held

Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Wells

Memorial. Online con-

dolences may be made at

WellsMemorial.com.

Louis E. Farkas

Louis E. Farkas, 68, of

Plant City, died Jan. 27, 2015.

He was a member of

Cowboy Up Ministry in

Plant City. He was a life-

time citrus grower and

nurseryman. He loved his

family, and he enjoyed the

outdoors and traveling. He

is survived by his wife of 33

years, Peggy Walden Far-

kas; children, Crystal Lutz

(David), John Farkas (Lu-

cretia) and Cindy Carr, all

of Plant City; mother, Mary

Farkas, of Plant City; sister,

Mary Ann Fussell, of Plant

City; grandchildren, Sar-

ah, Jonathan, Cole, Skylar,

Brody and Zoie; and great-

grandson, Max.

A celebration of life was

held Feb. 4, at Hopewell Fu-

neral Home. In lieu of ow-

ers, memorial contributions

may be made to Cowboy

Up Ministry, 117 Evangeline

Way, Arcadia, Florida, 34266.

Online condolence may be

made at HopewellFuneral.

com.

Albert Wesley Gallagher

Albert Wesley Gallagher,

77, a lifelong resident of Do-

ver, died Jan. 29, 2015, sur-

rounded by his loving family.

He proudly served our

country for six years in the

Army as a medic.

He is survived

by his wife of 50

years, Judy; son,

David (Ursula); daughters,

Heather (Craig) and Susan

(Derrick); son-in-law, Scott

Richardson; sister, Corine

Andrews; brother, Bobby

(Judy); 10 grandchildren;

and many nieces, nephews,

extended family, friends

and hunting buddies. He is

predeceased by his brother,

Harley; sister, Alma Bartoe;

and daughter, Amy Richard-

son.

A funeral service was

held Feb. 2, at the Church

of Christ, Plant City. In lieu

of owers, donations can

be made to Florida College

Academy, in Temple Terrace,

in honor of Wesley Galla-

gher.

Minnie Lee Jones Gatlyn

Minnie Lee Jones Gatlyn,

91, of Brandon, died Jan. 25,

2015.

She is survived by her hus-

band of 71 years, Lloyd L.

Gatlyn; children, Jacqueline

Elaine (Bobby) Campbell, of

Brandon, and Eugene (Pau-

lette) Gatlyn, of Brandon;

brother, William (Frances)

H. Jones, of Alachua Coun-

ty; and eight grandchildren

and 16 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death

by her parents, William and

Clara Jones.


held Feb. 1, at Hopewell Fu-

neral Home. In lieu of ow-


may be made to Alderman-

Pelote Cemetery, P.O. Box

655, Lithia, 33547. Online

condolences may be made

at HopewellFuneral.com.

Ed Gorzka

Ed Gorzka, 88, died Jan.

23, 2015 in Plant City.

Mr. Gorzka moved to

Florida from Rochester, New

York, in 1988. He

was a Navy vet-

eran who served

during WWII.

Loving family who sur-

vive are wife of 39 years,

Carole Gorzka; sons, Robert

Gorzka and Michael Gorzka;

daughter, Barbara (Mike)

Bunting; stepchildren, Keith

Qualtrough, Kirk (Nancy)

Qualtrough, Kyle (Wendy)

Qualtrough and Kathleen

Prebola; nine grandchildren;

and 11 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will

be scheduled at a later date.

Online ondolences may be

made at WellsMemorial.

com.

Velton Andrew Hunter

Velton Andrew Hunter, 85,

died Jan. 18, 2015, with his

family by his side.

He was born Aug. 10,

1929, in Welcome, to Alvin

and Minnie Hunter. He is

survived by his wife of 65

years, Linnie Mae Hunter;

brother, Leonard Edwin

(Inez) Hunter, of Lithia; chil-

dren, Dianne (Joel) Wilkes,

of Lakeland, Velton Edward

Hunter, of Zephyrhills, Jerry

Bruce Hunter, of Lithia, Rex

Andrew (Phyllis) Hunter,

of Lithia, and William Carl

Hunter, of Lithia; 24 grand-

children; 43 great-grand-

children and 4 great-great-

grandchildren.

Visitation and funeral

were at Wells Memorial.

Burial at Welcome Cemetery

in Lithia. Condolences may

be made at WellsMemorial.

com.

Doris Helen Myers

Doris Helen Myers, 76,

died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015.

She was born March 4,

1938, in Plant City, to Homer

Lee and Irene Gladys (Crow-

ley) Giddens. She was of the

Baptist faith and loved fam-

ily history and genealogy.

Survivors include daughters,

Cathy Jones and Rita (Dale)

Lance; sisters, Becky (Jeff)

Nestor and Sandy Giddens;

four grandchildren; and two

great-grandchildren. A pri-

vate family gathering will be

held at a later date.

Mary Lou Peacock

Mary Lou Peacock, 91, of

Plant City, died Feb. 1, 2015

at her home.

Born Oct. 10, 1923, she

was the daughter of the late

Ruben and Wesley Ashmore

Greer. She was the wife of

the late Howard Peacock.

Mrs. Peacock was a mem-

ber of Cedar Grove Baptist

Church and loved to read

and quilt.

Surviving are daughter,

Delores Tolbert; son-in-law,

Phillip Smith; brother, Rob-

ert Greer; sisters, Doris Wil-

liams and Grace Dorminey;

six grandchildren; seven

great-grandchildren; and

nine great-great-grandchil-

dren. She was predeceased

by daughter, Gayle Smith.

A graveside service was

held Feb. 3, at Cedar Grove

Baptist Church Cemetery.

Online condolences may

be made at HaughtFuneral-

home.com.

Clayton Edward Ed Pollard

Clayton Edward Ed Pol-

lard, 62, of Lakeland, died

Jan. 24, 2015.

He was a retired supervi-

sor with New Wales-IMC/

Mosaic. He is survived by

his ancee, Linda Kay Berry;

and her daughter, Carissa

(Jerry) Saus, of Lakeland;

stepson, Jimmy Belisle, of

Pinecrest; and many nieces,

nephews, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by

his wife, Sue Pollard; par-

ents, Clayton and Verna Mae

Pollard; and brother, Donald

Pollard.


held Jan. 29, at Beulah Bap-

tist Church. In lieu of ow-


may be made to Beulah

Baptist Church. Online con-

dolence may be made at

HopewellFuneral.com.

James Y. Jimmy Williams

James Y. Jimmy Wil-

liams, 78, of Plant City, died

Jan. 26, 2015.

He was a lifetime farmer

and retired from CSX rail-

road. He is survived by his

wife of 57 years, Melba

Johnson Williams; children,

Michael Williams, Stephen

Williams and Vicki Williams,

all of Plant City, and Teresa

Williams (Tom) McClure,

of Chattahoochee; sister,

Jean Burtz, of Lakeland; 14

grandchildren, 15 great-

grandchildren; and many

loving nieces and nephews.


held Jan. 31 at Hopewell

Funeral Home. Online con-

dolence may be made at

HopewellFuneral.com.

OBITUARIES

OBSERVER

I have to admit it:

Automotive racing isnt

really one of my strong

suits.

I have nothing

against the sport. Its

just not something Ive

really kept tabs on,

outside of NASCARs

Chase for the Cup, in

the same way most

America gets curious

about soccer once every four

years. Ive just never been

able to commit to it, even

when I was young and

my dad brought me to

watch my uncle race

his sprint car.

Not long ago, I wrote

about what is and isnt

considered a sport. I

know that the general

feeling about racing

especially NAS-

CAR down south is

completely different

from what I grew up with up

north, but I consider it to be a

sport. These men and women

are putting their bodies

through a torture test in those

cars, often sweating profusely

enough to shed pounds like a

boxer before a weigh-in.

This is especially true of

people who voluntarily com-

pete in those all-day endur-

ance races. I couldnt bring

myself to watch much of the

24 Hours of Sebring, just as

I cant commit to a regular

NASCAR race right now, but

thats probably because I

look at racing as something

Id rather do than watch. And

because those drivers go out

there and race for 24 hours, I

cant knock them at all.

I didnt know much about

those races before this week-

end. (Though I did have some

assumptions.) I wanted to

know more, so when Durant

High School senior Chris

DeShong mentioned an en-

durance race hed driven in, I

pressed the subject.

Chris race team has raced

in several of these events, and

he himself has raced in one of

the 14-hour events. Every-

thing is split into two-hour

shifts for every driver a team

has on hand, as long as every-

thing goes well with the cars

fuel levels. If its running low,

theyll switch earlier at the pit.

He remembers the race

well: It was in October, and

things really didnt go as

planned.

It was so funny, he says.

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

Sports

Do you have a good

sports scoop for us?


jkline@plantcityobserver.

com.

BASKETBALL

+ Crest girls

win district

For one half of

Thursdays 7A-7 district

championship game, the

Plant City defense was in

control.

In the second half,

Strawberry Crest proved

that defense doesnt

always win champion-

ships.

A third-quarter rally,

capped off with an even

stronger fourth-quarter

push, allowed the Lady

Chargers to edge out the

Lady Raiders, 64-59, for

the title.

Plant City held a 28-21

lead at halftime, although

the game wasnt as close

as the score suggested.

The Lady Raider defense

smothered Crest at nearly

every opportunity, fueled

by Shayna Lawrences

presence inside.

In the third quarter,

Lawrence was benched

after getting a technical

foul. Thats when Crests

offense woke up, scor-

ing 12 points in three-

and-one-half minutes

and eventually ending

the quarter down by two

points, trailing 43-41.

Lawrence re-entered the

game halfway through

the final quarter, and the

two teams traded leads

throughout the final two

minutes of play.

But, with 45 seconds

on the clock, Crest pulled

ahead for good with a

layup. Terra Brooks got

the ball back, scored a

layup and drew a foul,

but couldnt convert at

the line. Crest stole the

ball with 11.2 seconds

left, when Plant City sent

Maiya Trigg to the foul

line. That proved to be

the dagger, as the senior

guard drained both free

throw attempts.

Championship results

from the boys district

tournament at East Bay

this week were not avail-

able at press time.

SOCCER

+ Venice tops PCHS

girls in regionals

The Lady Raiders lat-

est run through regionals

came to a close Friday,

Jan. 30, as Venice rolled

to a 2-0 win at home.

The loss came after a

series of nail-biting, 1-0

home wins against Osceola

and East Bay Jan. 22 and

27, respectively. Plant City

was able to contain this

Lady Indians team, which

had just beaten Lakewood

Ranch, 3-2 in extra

time (won, 7-6, on pen-

alty kicks), but the hosts

proved to be one step

ahead of the Lady Raiders

that night.

A win at Venice would

have sent this Plant City

team to the state tourna-

ment for the first time in

program history. The Lady

Indians will face Pembroke

Pines Charter at 12:30

p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, for a

chance to make the 4A

state championship game.

SIDELINES

ATHLETEOF

THEWEEK

EricUgarte had

a solid soccer

season.16

SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

WHATS ON KLINES MIND?

Justin Kline

Chris DeShong drives a 1995 Honda Prelude in the Sports Car Club of America Majors Tour.

By the time this issue of the

Plant City Times & Observer

hits the newsstands, softball

season will be underway. If

this season is anything like

the 2014 season, then fans of

all three area teams should

be in for a good ride over the

next few months.

On the other hand, all of the

three area teams are going to

have to deal with big losses and

changes. None of them came

out of the offseason unscathed,

whether they were hit by grad-

uations or a staff change.

Whats worth keeping an eye

on this year?

DURANT

The 2014 7A-District 7 cham-

pions earned that title with a

solid run through the tourna-

ment, outplaying their under-

dog status against Strawberry

Crest and ripping Plant City to

shreds the next evening.

Durant lost six seniors to

graduation, including club-

house leaders Shannon Bell

Area softball teams sporting new looks

SEE SOFTBALL / PAGE 15

SEE KLINE / PAGE 15

JUSTIN

KLINE

At the moment, Chris De-

Shongs 1995 Honda Prelude

doesnt look like a winner.

Damage to the front fender and

a minor issue with the suspen-

sion means that the cars going

to be staying in the garage until

it gets repaired.

Looks arent everything,

though. If this car could talk,

it would have some bragging

rights to its name right now.

DeShong, just a month into

his rst season as a sports car

racer, has already scored a win

and some top-ve nishes

around Florida while driving

the Prelude. The Durant High

seniors recent success has put

him on a path hes wanted to

take since he was a pre-teen:

the road to the professional cir-

cuits.

IN THE FAMILY

At 9 years old, DeShong was

brought into the racing world

by way of a quarter midget car,

which he learned to drive at

Ambassador Racing in Wimau-

ma. His father, who has been

racing for two decades, is large-

ly responsible for getting the

young boy hooked so early on.

DeShong wasnt a big fan of

the oval tracks, however, and

wanted to try his hand on road

courses.

I just didnt really like it, he

says.

That break came on his f-

teenth birthday, when his par-

ents surprised him with three

days at the prestigious Skip

Barber Racing School in Lime

Rock Park, Connecticut. Under

the tutelage of former Formula

Ford champion Bruce Ma-

cInnes, DeShong learned how

to drive fast. And he used what

he learned quickly.

He told me that I was

the second-fastest kid at the

school, DeShong says.

The one ahead of DeShong

had about a decade of karting

experience. DeShong? Not so

much.

(MacInnes) almost passed

out when I told him I had only

driven quarter midgets for four

years, DeShong says.

racing


Prelude to Victory

SEE DESHONG / PAGE 16

Last seasons race for the district title was dominated by Plant City-area teams. That

could happen again in 2015, but which of the fresh faces will stand out among the rest?

BATTER UP

All three teams have

already begun regular-

season play, but dont

worry about missing the

home openers theres

still plenty of time to plan

to be there.

Each team will play its

first home game at 7 p.m.

on the following dates:

2/10: Newsome at Durant

2/13: Plant at Plant City;

Riverview at Strawberry

Crest

softball


Durant High senior Chris DeShong is new to sports car racing,

but he is already making a name for himself out on the track.

Endurance racing is serious business


&2)$!9 &%"25!29

0,!.4 #)49 4)-%3 /"3%26%2

and Brooke Freeman. Those

two each batted over .365, and

combined for 60 runs, 61 RBI,

19 doubles and seven home

runs.

On the other hand, head

coach Matt Carter got the most

out of his youngsters last sea-

son. Traile Robbins, as a fresh-

man, led the team in batting

average (minimum 20 games

played) with .385 and with 12

stolen bases. Morgan Slater

and Selena Bezares, now ju-

niors, each batted over .375

last season, and Bezaress 29

RBI mark was second only to

Bells 45.

And on the mound, local

fans have to remember how

well Sloan Hammons pitched

throughout the district tourney

as a freshman. The sophomore

hurler is back and looking

to improve upon a 2.08 ERA,

141-strikeout season in 2015.

This teams regular-season

Achilles heel was its play in

district ga

Documents

02.06.15 PCTO