02.20.15 pcto

Plant City Times&

Observer

OUR TOWN

INDEX

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

In youth football and cheer-

leading, as in many sports,

parents, coaches and volun-

teers often get into the game

for their children. And once

the kids age out of the pro-

gram, the parents follow suit.

Buddy Bennett was not one

of those people.

No one can accuse the

longtime Plant City Dolphins

president of sticking with the

program just for his family,

because he spent much of his

30 years with the organization

without any players hailing

from his family tree. He did it,

as hundreds of people in the

Winter Strawberry Capital of

the World said, for all the right

reasons.

It was strictly for the kids,

eld director Eric Lawson

said. He would bend over

backwards for them. He had

no other reason to be there for

so many of those years he

did it because he wanted to.

Mr. Bennett died Feb. 10 af-

ter a battle with cancer.

At the viewing and funeral

services, the family estimates

that nearly 500 people came

out to pay their respects to Mr.

Bennett: to thank the man for

all that hes done for their fam-

ilies, and for themselves.

They said that Mr. Bennett

had three loves: God, fam-

ily and football. Although the

West Virginia native spent

much of his time working

,

3&

Vol.2,No.30 | Onesection

3ODQW&LW\2EVHUYHUFRP

A PARTNERSHIP WITH

This weeks winner is

Nate Hoover

See his photo on

PAGE 15.

Calendar.......................2 Crossword...................15 Obituaries...................11 Sports.........................12 Weather......................15

FREE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

+ Win a Corvette

Stingray Chevrolet is

giving away a Corvette

to benefit Unity in the

Community.

Raffle tickets are

only $5. Raffle tickets

will be available until 6

p.m. Friday, March 6, at

Stingray Chevrolet, 2002

N. Frontage Road, Plant

City, and at the Florida

Strawberry Festival from

Thursday, Feb. 26, to

Sunday, March 8. Tickets

are also available online at

StingrayChevrolet.com until

6 p.m. Friday, March 6.

The winning ticket will

be drawn at 5 p.m. March

8 at the Florida Strawberry

Festival.

The goal is to double the

donations from $100,000

to $200,000. Unity in the

Community contributes to

many causes in Plant City,

including the United Food

Bank.

+ We hear

wedding bells

Joseph and Cecelia

Herrmann, of Plant City,

announce the engagement

of their daughter, Karen

Cecelia, to Jose Garza, of

Houston, Texas.

Karen is a 1995 gradu-

ate of Plant City High

School and a 1999 gradu-

ate of the University of

Florida, with a bachelors

of science in account-

ing. She currently resides

in Houston and works as

a planning and budget-

ing manager for Targa

Resources.

Jose Garza is a 1991

graduate of South Houston

High School and a 1996

graduate of the University

of Houston with a double

major in finance and

accounting. Jose cur-

rently resides in Houston

and works as a financial

marketing analyst for BHP

Billiton.

The couple will be mar-

ried June 13 in Houston.

HERITAGE

Parademarches

downMLK for

BlackHistory.

PAGE 6

FAMOUSDISH

Celebrity Chef

Dinnerwas a

delicious success.

PAGE 8

BUDDY BENNETT:

For the Love of theGame

When Buddy Bennett, the face of the Plant City Dolphins for 20 years, died

the morning of Feb. 10, he left behind a legacy that will not be forgotten.

File photo

Buddy Bennett was beloved

by several generations of Plant

City Dolphins players, coaches

and parents.

Customers and employees

are enjoying the new Jarrett-

Scott Ford body shop after the

old shop was torn down in fa-

vor of a more modern space.

The old body shop, located

on the same site as the dealer at

2000 E. Baker Street, was built

in the 1970s. It was character-

ized by a number of inconve-

niences, such as the lack of a

restroom, and by this decade,

parts of the structure had start-

ed to rust.

It was dated, and we just

needed a better facility, Carl

DeMuth, body shop manager,

said.

Jarrett-Scott replaces body shop

ribbon cutting

by Catherine Sinclair |StaffWriter

SEE BENNETT / PAGE 4

tribute

by Justin Kline |StaffWriter

The new Jarrett-Scott Ford body shop is in the same location,

but is much more comfortable for both customers and employees.

Look out, strawberry bling

shirts. This year, theres some

fashionable competition ladies

will want to wear to the Florida

Strawberry Festival. Locally

grown jewelry brand Bourbon

and Boweties is releasing a

special edition gold strawberry

bracelet to celebrate the Straw-

berry Festival.

The launch is a homage to

brand owner Carley Oschs

hometown, and the item will

only be for sale at Plant City-

B&B releases special

edition bracelet

Just in time for the festival, locally grown Bourbon

and Boweties will present a strawberry bracelet. It

can only be found at Plant Citys Fringe Boutique.

SWEETFASHION

by Amber Jurgensen |ManagingEditor

Catherine Sinclair

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce had a ribbon cut-

ting ceremony for the body shop Friday, Feb. 13.

SEE BRACELET / PAGE 4

Courtesy photo

The bracelet is engraved with

Plant City 2015.

Amber Jurgensen

Turkey Creek Middle School FFA students invited neighboring Robinson Elementary to join them at a U-Pick Friday, Feb. 13, at the field in front of

the middle school. Turkey Creek will host a community U-Pick to benefit Plant City Relay for Life from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at 5005 S.

Turkey Creek Road. For more pictures turn to page 5.

FRESHLY PICKED

2015FLORIDA

STRAWBERRY

FESTIVALguide

FEBRUARY26MARCH8

INTHIS ISSUE

SEE SHOP / PAGE 4


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COMMUNITYCALENDAR

FRIDAY, FEB. 20

Acoustic Happy Hour

live music takes

place from 5:30 to 8:30

p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at

OBriens Irish Pub and

Family Restaurant, 1701 S.

Alexander St. (813) 764-

8818.

Christian Contemporary

Music takes place from

6:33 to 8:13 p.m. Friday,

Feb. 20, 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. 20,

at OBriens Irish

Pub and Family

Restaurant, 1701

S. Alexander

St. (813)

764-8818.

Mary

Reddick

History Event:

From Slavery

to Bliss takes

place from 11 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, to

Sunday, Feb. 22, at Rubys

Produce & Art Gallery, 2001

Highway 60 E. Barbeque will

be served Friday. Beginning at

7:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21,

enjoy a pancake breakfast and

talk with the famous folk artist,

Ruby Williams.

Uncork Your Friday! live

music takes place from 6

to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20,

at Keel and Curley Winery,

5210 Thonotosassa Road.

(813) 752-9100.

SATURDAY, FEB. 21

The Honey Hole Market

takes place Saturday, Feb.

21, at 2201 Thonotosassa

Road. The market offers

antique picking and more.

Mia, (813) 484-1127.

Planes, Trains &

Automobiles

takes place from

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 21,

at the Plant City

Airport, 4007 Airport

Road. There will

displays and

demonstrations

on planes,

helicopters,

remote control

planes, model

trains, automo-

biles, K-9 demos

and fly overs. Free

flights for kids will be

available, as well as a kids play

area, food vendors and scouting

badge opportunities. The event

is hosted by the Greater Plant

City Chamber of Commerce.

Free admission. $5 parking.

(813) 754-3707.

Relay for Life Tea Party

takes place from 11 a.m. to

1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21,

at Plant Citys First Baptist

Church, 503 N. Palmer Street.

Safe Sitter takes place from

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday,

Feb. 21, at South Florida

Baptist Hospital, 301 N.

Alexander St. Safe Sitter is a

medically accurate babysitting

training program designed for

young people, ages 11 and up.

The full-day class provides the

basic information every good

babysitter should know, includ-

ing how to handle minor to

life-threatening situations, res-

cue a choking infant or child,

communicate with Emergency

Medical Services, entertain

kids and other babysitting tips.

The cost is $55. Registration

is required. (813) 644-6720.

Uncork Your Weekend! live

music takes place from 6 to

10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, 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. 21, at Krazy

Kup, 101 E. J. Arden Mays

Blvd. Enjoy live music from

local artists. (813) 752-1220.

SUNDAY, FEB. 22

Beginning English for

Speakers of Other Languages

takes place from 2 to 4

p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at

Bruton Memorial Library, 302

W. McClendon Street. The

new class is offered by the

Hillsborough Literacy Council

and is taught by an experi-

enced volunteer.The class size

is limited to 10 adult students.

The class is free, but each

student must purchase his or

her workbook for $5. Students

must register by calling the

Hillsborough Literacy Council

between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30

p.m. Monday through Friday at

(813) 273-3650.

Divorce Care: The Road to

Healing/Finding Help takes

place from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday,

Feb. 22, at Plant City Church

of God, 2103 Mud Lake Road.

This is the third program in the

12-week course.

MONDAY, FEB. 23

Plant City Area Democratic

Club takes place beginning

at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23,

at Bruton Memorial Library,

302 W. McLendon St. Joyce

Hamilton-Henry, director of

advocacy at the Mid-Florida

Regional office of the ACLU

will be the featured speaker.

The Florida Constitutional

Amendment for Voter Rights

Restoration petition will be

the major topic. Other current

issues the ACLU is working

on in Florida will be dis-

cussed.

TUESDAY, FEB. 24

GriefShare takes place begin-

ning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday,

Feb. 24, at Hope Lutheran

Baptist Church, 2001 N. Park

Road. Each GriefShare session

includes a video seminar and

group discussion to help cope

with the death of a loved one.

(813) 752-4622.

The Recovery for Life takes

place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 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. 25

Open Mic Night takes

place beginning at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 25, at

OBriens Irish Pub and Family

Restaurant, 1701 S. Alexander

St. (813) 764-8818.

SATURDAY, FEB. 28

42nd Annual Civitan Club

Youth Parade -- takes

place beginning at 11 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 28. The parade

begins at the State Farmers

Market and goes through

town, ending at the Florida

Strawberry Festival.

Daddy Daughter Dance

takes place from 4 to 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 28, at the John

R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park

Road. The deadline to register

is Feb. 20. Registration is $30

per couple and $10 to add an

additional daughter. Register at

the Planteen Recreation Center,

301 N. Dort St. (813) 659-

4256.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

Baby Contest takes place

beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 1, at the

Florida Strawberry Festival

grounds.

Regional Qualifier for

Nathans Famous July Fourth

International Hot Dog-Eating

Contest takes place begin-

ning at 6 p.m. Sunday, March

1, at the Florida Strawberry

Festival.

MONDAY, MARCH 2

Strawberry Festival Grand

Parade takes place begin-

ning at 1 p.m. Monday, March

2.

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

Celebrating Black History

Month takes place from

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Winn

Dixie, 205 W. Alexander St.

There will be free food, jump-

ers, entertainment, firetrucks

and more. Contact Sharon

Moody (813) 453-7134 or

Celebration2.homestead.com.


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After considering a switch to

a new landscaping company,

the Walden Lake Community

Association has decided that

its only affordable option is to

stay with Complete Landcare.

The board listened to a pre-

sentation from OLM Land-

scape Management at its

meeting Monday, Feb. 16.

Some board members gave

positive feedback, but they

collectively decided that

their budget could not cov-

er OLMs $6,000 landscape

maintenance bid package and

monthly $1,100 inspection fee.

They decided to stay with

Complete Landcare at least,

for now.

Maybe next year, we could

build this into the budget,

secretary Heather Updike said.

Were just not really prepared

for this right now.

One of the biggest problems

has been inefcient irrigation.

In November 2014, the com-

munity went over its city-dic-

tated limits of water for irriga-

tion and did not realize it until

almost the end of December.

Walden Lake Propery Man-

ager Linda Fernandez told Ed-

die Evans, director of opera-

tions for Complete Landcare,

that if Walden Lake went over

its water limits again, his com-

pany would have to cover the

overage expense.

Evans assigned an employee

to focus on irrigation full-time,

and last month, the commu-

nity did not exceed its water

limits.

There have also been com-

plaints about the appearance

of some of the subdivision en-

trances.

But Ray Page, of the land-

scaping committee, said that

Complete Landcare had been

successful on a project at the

entrance to the Wedgewood

subdivision, and the residents

were pleased.

If Eddie can do that, why

cant he do the other areas if

we supervise him? Page said.

The board discussed op-

tions for repairs to the shing

pier, used for recreation and

events. The pier is made of

lumber, which is supposed to

be pressure-sealed regularly

to last 15 to 20 years. It isnt 15

years old yet, but needs to be

replaced.

Two companies submitted

proposals for the pier project.

The board voted to accept the

less costly proposal from Golf

Coast Construction Inc.

If the board opts to use lum-

ber for the project, Golf Coasts

cost will be $32,000 for the

bridge, $48,630 for the pier

and $39,640 for the stage area.

There would also be routine

maintenance costs for sealing.

If the board opts to use AZEK

composite decking, there

would be an additional cost of

$24,640, but there would be no

recurring costs for sealing, and

the whole pier would be ex-

pected to last at least 30 years.

Construction will last four or

ve weeks after it has begun.

Id sure like to see that all

done before the Easter sunrise

service, Grifn said.

Contact Catherine Sinclair

at csinclair@plantcityobserver.

com.

Last weekend, the State Capi-

tol was bustling with normal

activities anyone would expect.

Delegates and senators pre-

sented their bills and debated

important issues, and even at-

tended the Governors Ball.

But what set last weekend

apart, when compared with

any other time of year, was

that those delegates, senators,

and even the governor, were

all in their teens. Students de-

scended on Tallahassee as part

of a role play program, Youth in

Government.

The student-run, national

organization, allows students

to nd out what its like to be

in the world of politics. Within

Youth in Government, they can

run for state or national ofces,

and once a year, they get to-

gether in Tallahassee to present

their very own bills and vote on

one anothers.

Thirty-four students from

the Plant City area hit the road

Wednesday, Feb. 11, and ar-

rived in the state capital that

night, joining almost 600 other

students from around the state.

The next morning, they ob-

served the pros before taking

their spots in the chambers.

We actually went and sat in a

real House committee, and (the

students) were over the moon,

even though it was about tax-

es, Michelle Hanchett, the ad-

visor for Youth in Government

at the Plant City YMCA, said.

One of the rst activities on

the agenda was campaigning.

Students who were running

for state ofces gave speeches,

and all of the students in at-

tendance then voted for their

elected ofcials.

The students also gave short

speeches to introduce bills

they have written themselves.

Throughout the weekend, they

voted on one anothers bills.

Bills can move on through rst

and second committees, both

chambers and eventually the

cabinet.

Elizabeth Watson, a sopho-

more from Plant City, intro-

duced a bill that would make

gun safety classes mandatory

for schools across the state.

Im passionate about the sit-

uation where children get hurt,

and I want to stop that,Watson

said. There are currently plac-

es where you get your license

where they have a gun safety

class, but its not mandatory for

schools to have it.

Watsons bill passed the

House and was placed 11th on

the docket.

Watson was not the only

student from Plant City who

wrote a successful bill this year.

Ten other students bills were

also placed on their respective

dockets, organized into House

and Senate, and three cham-

bers each, based on students

experience.

The Plant City club also won

two awards his year: Outstand-

ing Statesman in the middle-

level Senate, and runner-up for

the award in the middle-level

House.

The club did amazingly

well, Hanchett said.

Two highlights for many of

the students are debating and

practicing their public speaking

skills.

We had a lot of pretty inter-

esting (bills), and I always enjoy

being able to debate my per-

sonal beliefs, Chase Cushen,

another Plant City sophomore,

said. Youth in Government has

made a big impact on my life,

on my personal skills, on my

beliefs about the world around

me.

In addition to interacting

with students from around the

state in session, participants

had the chance to socialize in

a more relaxed setting, during

the Governors Ball.

Though many students par-

ticipate as delegates, another

popular role is to become

members of the press and cov-

er the sessions in Tallahassee.

Press positions require an ap-

plication.

Any middle school or high

school student can join Youth

in Government through the

YMCA in Plant City. Many of the

students are home schooled.

Some alumni even go on to

study political science in col-

lege.

To prepare for the annual

weekend in the state capital,

students learn how to write

bills, and work on their pub-

lic speaking and debate skills.

Each meeting is run by stu-

dents, with advisement from

Hanchett.

Many times, even the stu-

dents who are initially the least

enthusiastic end up wanting to

run for ofce.

Its very difcult to explain

to teenagers, Hanchett said.

But then they go up there and

... they fall in love with it.



com.

Two years ago, the Plant City

Noon Rotary Club set a goal:

to make sure all of the cars in

the Plant City Police Depart-

ments eet were equipped

with an automated external

debrillator.

They met that goal Monday,

Feb. 16, when the club pre-

sented the last of the AEDs, 20

to be exact, to the police de-

partment.

It might have seemed like

a lofty goal to many. In 2013,

only four of the police depart-

ments more than 50 cars were

equipped with portable AEDs.

These life-saving devices

cost several thousand dol-

lars each, which is why so few

PCPD cars had them.

That also meant that Rotary

would have to raise quite a

sum.

Our club found a need

within the community as it of-

ten does, and this time it was

with our own Plant City Po-

lice Department, Aaron Da-

vis, who was Rotary president

when the project began, said.

The Rotary Club announced

this project in August 2013,

and through its two biggest

annual fundraising events,

Dancing With the Locals and

the Wild Game Cookout, along

with individual donations

and corporate sponsorships,

the club has raised close to

$70,000 toward its goal.

The police department re-

ceived AEDs in installments

as the Rotary Club was able to

purchase them. Soon after the

club had delivered its initial

seven units, three of them had

already been used, and one of

those instances was a life-sav-

ing event.

Anytime a 911 call comes in,

there could be a life at risk of

sudden cardiac arrest. In some

cases, lives are lost simply be-

cause the responders did not

have the necessary equipment

to jumpstart a heart.

One of the most frustrating

things for a law enforcement

ofcer is to get on the scene of

a medical emergency and not

have the equipment he needs

to be able to sustain life, chief

of police Ed Duncan said.

AEDs have saved lives in

Hillsborough County. Now

that every PCPD car has an

AED on board, more lives are

likely to be saved in Plant City.

Without this type of sup-

port ... we would not be able

to perform the jobs that we

are asked to do every day,

Duncan said. With this de-

vice here, well be able to add

that secondary level of rst

responder care, and hopefully

save lives.



com.

After Joey Lawson, 47, a

longtime resident of Plant City,

died Nov. 16 from an unexpect-

ed heart attack, the communi-

ty pulled together to honor his

memory and help support his

surviving family. Keel and Cur-

leyWinery held a fundraiser for

Lawsons family Sunday, Feb. 8.

Joey was one of the nicest

guys. You could call him any

day of the week hed drop

what he was doing and help

you with anything you need-

ed, Ryan Keel, vice president

of operations for Keel and Cur-

ley Winery, said.

Lawson was the owner of

Lawson Hardware for 20 years.

He was skilled at working on

cars, boats and carpentry proj-

ects, and loved shing and

blueberry farming.

Lawsons brother, Johnny

Lawson, and mother, Carolyn

Lawson, worked with him at

Lawson Hardware and are con-

tinuing to operate the store.

We worked together and we

played together, Johnny said.

He was a good partner. He

was a good brother and a good

father.

Lawson was well known in

the Cork area as a friendly guy.

The Keels rst met the Lawsons

when they moved to the Cork

area in the 1980s and started

the plant nursery where their

blueberry farm is now. Keel re-

members certain nights during

berry season, when farmers in

the area had to stay up late and

prepare their crops for a freeze.

Lawson Hardware would keep

its lights on all night, providing

a place for the farmers to warm

up and sip cups of hot coffee.

Because of the close rela-

tionship that the two families

have had throughout the de-

cades, the Keels organized the

fundraiser.

It was the least we could do

for the family, really, Keel said.

There was a silent auction,

and the winery and Smokin

Aces BBQ donated 50% of its

prots that night. Blues Hall

of Fame member Skip Frye,

donated his time to provide

music.

More than 100 people at-

tended. The event raised about

$9,200 for the Lawsons to use

for meals, funeral costs and

other unexpected general ex-

penses since Joeys death.

Everything went well,

Johnny said. The community

just coming together they

did a real good job for my

brothers family.



com.

Rotary reachesAEDfundraisinggoal

The Plant City Noon Rotary Club raised

enough money to finish purchasing AEDs

for every P.C. Police Department vehicle.

HOW IT WORKS

An AED, or automated

external defibrillator, is a

battery-operated, portable

device that helps to jump-

start an unconscious per-

sons heart.

The user attaches sticky

pads with sensors to the

chest of the person who

is having sudden cardiac

arrest, and the sensors

send data to a computer to

analyze whether an electric

shock is needed. If a shock

is needed, voice prompts

from the AED guide the

user through the shock

process.

The process must be

done quickly, because every

minute of sudden car-

diac arrest leads to a 10%

reduction in the likelihood

of survival.

Information from nhlbi.nih.gov.

Catherine Sinclair

Rotary president Brian Griffin and past president Aaron Davis

presented an AED to police chief Ed Duncan.

how to save a life


UPDATES

Three board posi-

tions will be filled in the

annual election April 9.

Walden Lake residents who

are interested in running

should send their letters of

intent to the community

office.

Community manager

Linda Fernandez consulted

14 towing companies, but

none were certified for

booting. The board is again

revising its plan of what to

do with unauthorized vehi-

cles parked at the lake.

WLCA to focus

on landscaping

and repairs

The board hopes to nd affordable

solutions to some of the communitys

biggest aesthetic concerns.

WLCA


Keels host fundraiser for Lawson family

The Keels wanted to show support for the family of Joey

Lawson, who owned Lawson Hardware, but died last year.

A CAPITAL EXPERIENCE

Thirty-four students found out how government really works

during a whirlwind weekend of debates and campaigns.

Courtesy photo

The students spent most of the weekend in the House and Senate chambers.

YOUTH IN

GOVERNMENT

Any middle school or

high school student can

join YIG. Meetings are

from 7:30 to 9 p.m., on

the second and fourth

Mondays of each month,

at the Plant City YMCA.

For more information, con-

tact Michelle Hanchett at

[email protected].

FAITHFULFRIENDS


Courtesy photo

Joey Lawson was a handyman and worked on cars.

youth in government



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In early 2014, the old body

shop was leveled and con-

struction began on a new shop

in its place. The new shop

has been open for about four

months, but the Greater Plant

City Chamber of Commerce

held a ribbon cutting ceremo-

ny Friday, Feb. 13.

Another factor that led to

the decision to build a new

shop was that the 2015 Ford

F-150 is an all-aluminum

model. To work on this model,

Jarrett-Scott Ford needed an

isolated area.

Working on aluminum is

entirely different than work-

ing on steel, Jim Scott, gen-

eral manager, said. You cant

work on aluminum next to

steel, because it causes ero-

sion.

Now that the body shop

has an area designated for

aluminum models only, the

technicians will be certied

by Ford to work on the new

F-150.

The ofce has had huge im-

provements. The technicians

now have showers in their

locker room. And though it

used to be difcult for them to

nd somewhere to rest or eat,

the ofce has a kitchenette

and break room.

The 7.5-foot ceilings have

been replaced with those of

standard height, creating a

bright, airy atmosphere.

After being involved with

a crash, drivers are usually

not in the best of moods.

But Scott said he hopes the

friendly staff and welcoming

new body shop will help to lift

those customers spirit.

with the Dolphins, he also

made sure to take care of his

own family, his wife, Pam, and

daughters Ericka Winslow and

Kim Drawdy.

He was always there for

us, Drawdy said. He just al-

ways made sure that we had

everything we ever needed.

We were never rich, but he

made sure we were very well

taken care of with what we

needed in life.

Mr. Bennett loved to travel

and made family vacations a

priority. Oftentimes, hed take

the family out of town for a few

days twice a year, choosing to

visit beaches and mountain

towns. This is something that

he continued up until this

past January, when the family

enjoyed Martin Luther King

weekend in Biloxi, Mississippi.

He also loved his four

grandchildren, three of whom

are in the Dolphins program,

and made sure that they knew

how much he loved them ev-

ery day.

He always helped pick my

kids up from school and take

them to practice, Drawdy

said. He wasnt just a here-

and-there Papa. He was in-

volved in their sports, their

school functions, their every-

day life.

Of course, no story about

Mr. Bennett would be com-

plete without the Dolphins.

One could say that making

that organization into what

it is today has been his lifes

work, his greatest passion out-

side of his faith and family. He

got involved with the program

30 years ago, while in his 20s.

His shot at leading the orga-

nization came 10 years later.

It was then that David Brew-

ington, the previous president

and Mr. Bennetts good friend,

was looking for someone to ll

his shoes upon leaving.

Davids boys were getting

out of it, and he wanted some-

one he knew he could rely on

to take care of the Dolphins,

Drawdy said. My dad thought

it would just be a couple years

that he would help do it, and

he ended up being president

for 20 years.

Those who have worked

with him, either as coaches or

board members, said that he

was unquestionably the best

man for the job.

Buddy was the heart and

soul of the organization, for-

mer coach Richard Kuhlmeyer

said. What I remember most

about him is he was a very

steady leader. He never got

too high or too low. Buddy was

always consistent in dealing

with any problems that would

arise.

Mr. Bennett was known for

always being the rst one to

arrive and the last to leave.

On game days, hed get to the

eld at sunrise and stay there

until after sunset. The next

day, hed be back at it again to

make sure that everything was

set up for the kids as best as it

could be.

He especially loved see-

ing the Dolphins make the

playoffs, and put in plenty of

12-hour days whenever the

United Youth Football League

National Championship tour-

nament was in town. In fact,

Mr. Bennett was wearing his

two national championship

rings when he was buried.

Most notable about Mr.

Bennett, besides his love for

working with kids, was that

his dedication to the program

wasnt slowed down by his

cancer diagnosis. When he

learned he had colon cancer

in 2013, he made the choice to

stay with the team and ended

up missing just one day.

You wouldnt know by look-

ing at him that he was going

through what he was, that he

was ghting that ght, Law-

son said. He never wanted

anything in return.

Mr. Bennett never once

complained about his treat-

ments, or how sick he was

feeling. He wanted to make

sure that everything was run-

ning as normally as it would

if he were cancer-free, and it

did.

Plant City residents have

many good things to remem-

ber Mr. Bennett by, and his

impact on the community will

ever be forgotten.

From a personal view, I

have lost someone I will al-

ways have a great deal of re-

spect for, Kuhlmeyer said.

However, more importantly,

Plant City has lost one of its

nest. A man who should be

recognized as Citizen of the

Year. Who else has given more

to this community than Bud-

dy Bennett?

Survivors include his wife

of 36 years, Pam Bennett;

daughters, Ericka (Ryan)

Bennett Winslow and Kim-

berly (Jesse) Morgan Drawdy;

grandchildren, Colten, Wy-

att and Kyndell Drawdy, and

Liam Winslow; brother, Don

Bennett; and sisters, Pauline

Pishner, Jean Halstead and

Patty Jean Barnett.

He was preceded in death

by his mother, Hazel Bennett;

father-in-law, Gene Chap-

man; and grandmother, Susie

Martin.

In lieu of owers, donations

may be made to Plant City

Dolphins, P.O. Box 993, Plant

City, FL, 33563, in Buddys

honor. Online condolences

may be made at WellsMemo-

rial.com.

Contact Justin Kline at

[email protected].

BENNETT / PAGE 1SHOP / PAGE 1

based Fringe Boutique.

We have a unique rela-

tionship with Bourbon and

Boweties being that we are

from the same town, Morgan

Feaster McGimsey, co-owner

of Fringe Boutique, said. We

cant thank Carley and her

team enough for remem-

bering her roots and staying

loyal to what is local and what

makes small business what it

is.

Oschs line has had success

since the Durant High gradu-

ate launched it several years

ago. Broadcast journalist Ka-

tie Couric and Bachlorette

Desiree Hartsock are just two

celebrities caught with a sig-

nature Bourbon and Boweties

bracelet around their wrists.

But it will be harder for

Bourbon and Boweties mass

clientele to get their hands

on one of the limited edition

strawberry bracelets. The

only way to guarantee a pur-

chase is to pre-order before

Wednesday, Feb. 25.

On Feb. 25, Fringe Boutique

will hold a Strawberry Release

party with a mini trunk show,

so shoppers can pair their

strawberry stack with new ac-

cessories.

The bracelets will come in

two wrist sizes. There will also

be two different sizes for the

actual gold strawberry: small,

about the size of a quarter,

and large, about the size of a

half dollar. The small is $38

and the large is $40.

A childs bracelet will also

be made and priced at $28 in

the smaller-sized strawberry.

The bracelet is truly clas-

sic, McGimsey said. Its gold

nish is gorgeous, and its en-

graved with Plant City 2015.

It represents Plant City with

taste and will be nearly im-

possible to duplicate.

Indeed, the bracelet has

been designed with Plant City

in mind.

Last year before the 2014

festival we had brainstormed

with Bourbon and Boweties

and knew we wanted some-

thing, but not just anything,

McGimsey said. Carley

looked at every gem show,

and every buying trip she

went on to nd something

that we couldnt live without.

This year Carley took matters

into her own hands and Bour-

bon and Boweties designed

the strawberry themselves.

FUTURE PLANS

Because the Plant

City Dolphins Board of

Directors had already

elected its officers for

the year, Buddy Bennett

will still be considered

the president of the

organization until next

year. All decisions will

come down to a board

vote, as they always

have, and a new presi-

dent will be installed in

2016.

That was his wish, for

everything to continue

to operate the way it

has, board member Eric

Lawson said. Everyones

(going to) have to step

up and chip in to do the

day-to-day operations.

According to Lawson,

the team is working on

a way to pay tribute to

Mr. Bennett on the field.

One thing that is set in

stone is to honor him

this year with a bronze

plaque on the team

fieldhouse. It will have

his picture and a list of

his accomplishments

with the team.

INFORMATION

JARRETT-SCOTT FORD

BODY SHOP

Address: 2000 E. Baker

Street

Phone: (888) 690-1633

Website:

JarrettScottFord.com/

BodyShop

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,

Monday through Friday

PICK YOURS UP

To represent Plant City

with a limited edition

Bourbon and Boweties

bracelet, place a preorder

with Fringe Boutique before

Wednesday, Feb. 25. You

can pick up your bracelet

and enjoy special activities

at the Strawberry Release

from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 25,

at the boutique.

If you forget to pre-order,

you may come to the bou-

tique for the Strawberry

Release, but bracelets will

only be sold as supplies

last.

FRINGE BOUTIQUE

(813) 754-4438

601 E. Alexander St.

BRACELET / PAGE 1


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

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

CUTESTCRITTER

A

ngela Streits

6-month-old

kitty, Nemo

likes sleeping in clean

clothes.

Turkey Creek Animal

Hospital and Animal

Wellness Center have

partnered to present a

monthly Cutest Critter

Contest. Entering is

simple: Just submit a

high-resolution photo

(200 dpi or better)

and a sentence or two

about why your pet

is the cutest. Include

your name and contact

information. Photos

will be showcased in

the Plant City Times &

Observer.

Submit your entries

to Managing Editor

Amber Jurgensen at

ajurgensen@plantci-

tyobserver.com; sub-

ject line: Cutest Critter

Contest. Good luck!

The sounds of laughter

could be heard from the sun-

ny strawberry eld in front of

Turkey Creek Middle School

Friday, Feb. 13.

Students from Robinson

Elementary next door went

on a eld trip to learn more

about Plant Citys cash crop.

The middle school stu-

dents taught the young

ones how to select the ripest

strawberries and pack them

into clamshells.

Of course, there was lots

of berry snacking in between

collecting.

INSEASON

by Amber Jurgensen |ManagingEditor

Kamille Long showed her partner how to pulled the

strawberries from the stem.

There were plenty of ripe berries to be

picked.

Students packed the clam-

shells full.

Right: The students worked

in teams.

Strawberry season growing

at Turkey Creek Middle


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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

The sounds of several

marching bands, roaring cars

and more lled the streets

near downtown Plant City on

Valentines Day, as the Black

Heritage Parade made its way

down Martin Luther King

Boulevard.

The parade was a part of

the citys three-day celebra-

tion of Black History Month,

which included an awards

banquet and a youth summit.

The sidewalks along Martin

Luther King Boulevard were

lled with spectators catching

beads and recording the ac-

tion on their smartphones.

City celebrates Black Heritage Month

PARADEROUTE


Mary Thomas Mathis greeted

spectators from near the front

of the parade.

Right: Marshall Middle

Schools Gentlemans Quest

students were happy to walk

in the procession.

Many of the youngest parade participants rode

in the backs of trucks and cars.

Right: Tampa Bay Tech made the trek out to

Plant City to join the parade.

THISWEEKS CROSSWORDANSWERS

THISWEEKS CRYPTOQUIZ ANSWERS

1) Blue Moon Cafe 2) Anthropology 3) LAgYa 4) Stormy

Weather 5) Shango. Katherine Dunham


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Plant Citys Historic Down-

town is known as a hub for

antique dealers. But a new

18,000-square-foot store is the

largest one in the neighbor-

hood.

The owners and manager of

Plant City Mercantile describe

the store as curated boutique

marketplace, meaning it is

lled with various booths, but

vendors must submit pho-

tos and an application if they

want to sell their pieces there.

Then we look and see if it

would be a good t for us, and

how it would be displayed,

co-owner Patricia Schultz

said.

One vendor, Repurpose

Revolution, upcycles old

items into new creations, such

as satchels made from coffee

bean sacks and a table made

from an old window. Another

vendor, Burlap and Bling, of-

fers shabby-chic, handcrafted

accessories.

Other items currently avail-

able at Plant City Mercantile

include a large model ship,

strawberry-themed art, cow

hide rugs and wicker furni-

ture. There are also plenty of

ne antiques. Schultz said the

stores goal is to offer pieces for

shoppers of any age and with

nearly any taste.

Were not just an antique

shop with dusty, old an-

tiques, Schultz said. Many of

our vendors are quite creative.

... Every vendor has a different

taste, so its quite a nice vari-

ety.

Plant City Mercantile also

has classroom space and has

been offering chalk painting

classes. The owners plan to

develop additional types of

classes over time.

And theyre hoping to even

build a coffee bistro in the

front of the store, so patrons

can recharge during mara-

thon sessions of browsing, or

have something to sip during

a class.

The owners hope all of these

features will encourage shop-

pers from out of town to bring

their business to Plant City.

We felt that Plant City

needed a destination shop,

Schultz said.

Schultz and her husband,

David, have a long history

with antiques. In 1986, they

opened an antique market

called Brimeld Barn in Brim-

eld, Massachusetts one

of the nations meccas for an-

tiques and handcrafted items.

Brimeld Barn was so suc-

cessful it was even featured in

Country Living.

But the Schultzes moved

to Florida in the early 2000s,

to be closer to family. They

opened a shop in Plant City

called Patricias, but when the

Kilgore Seed Building went up

for sale, it was an opportunity

too good to miss.

The Kilgore Seed Building,

which now houses Plant City

Mercantile, was built in 1916

and is on the National Register

of Historic Places. It is unusual

for Florida, Schultz said, be-

cause of its high beamed ceil-

ings and exposed brick. There

are also large windows that let

in a lot of natural light.

You dont get a lot of this old

mill look in Florida, Schultz

said. We worked on preserv-

ing the look of the building,

but bringing it up to a modern

gallery.

The owners, along with

manager David Gnage, used

polished palette boards to

decorate some of the walls

and other places in the store.

It kind of goes after the look

we want modern, but rus-

tic, Gnage said. We do want

to be a step above.

Plant City Mercantiles soft

opening was Jan. 2. All of the

space on the rst oor has

been rented out, but some

vendors are still in the process

of moving in. The grand open-

ing and Greater Plant City

Chamber of Commerce rib-

bon cutting ceremony will be

at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24.



com.

Celebrity Chef Dinner

draws delicious crowd

Those who came hungry to

the Hillsborough Community

Colleges Trinkle Center Sat-

urday, Feb. 7, were not disap-

pointed.

The United Food Bank of

Plant City held its seventh

annual Celebrity Chef Din-

ner, this time bringing in

Top Chef fan favorite Fa-

bio Viviani for the occasion.

In addition to Vivianis din-

ner and dessert offerings, an

appetizer-based throwdown

challenge was held between

the Plant City Times & Ob-

server and FOCUS Magazine.

The Plant City Times & Ob-

server took the win for its olive

tapenade recipe. There were

also book signings and a silent

auction.

The Plant City Times & Observers olive-based appetiz-

ers won chef Fabio Viviani over.

United Food Bank director Brian West

spoke of the United Food Banks work

before dinner was served.

Right: Charli Jervis, Tommy

Pollock and Doug Roberts

Upper right: Whitney

Miller Humphrey and Ryan

Humphrey

FEEDINGTHESOUL


Rich Glorioso, Tina Pike and State Rep. Dan

Raulerson

Mary Wood and Liz Pfeffer and Rev. Dean

Pfeffer

PLANT CITY

MERCANTILE

Address: 208 S. Collins

Street, Plant City

Phone: (813) 659-9700

Website:

PlantCityMercantile.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/

PlantCityMercantile

Hours: Monday to

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6

p.m.

Destination marketplace

opens downtown

The Plant City Mercantile is unique in town as a

shop that offers different vendors, as well as classes.

treasure trove


Cathrine Sinclair

Plant City Mercantile is operated by husband and wife David

and Patricia Schultz, and their son-in-law, David Gnage.

What in Carnation?

The Plant City Garden

Club hosted its annual ow-

er show Thursday, Feb. 5, at

the Walden Lake clubhouse.

Twelve judges assessed each

piece and awarded ribbons

for their favorite designs. En-

trants who won blue ribbons

for the rst time also received

a novice prize of a container

or other useful gardening

item. Some displays were

simple potted plants, oth-

ers were less traditional, and

others were a tribute to Plant

Citys agricultural history,

matching the nights theme:

Riding the Rails.

FANTASTIC FLORA


Carolyn Conde and Mary Ellen Sampson browsed the displays of

succulents.


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Luis Miguel Belmontes

Luis Miguel Belmontes,

26, of Plant City, died Feb. 14,

2015, at UF Health Shands

Hospital.

Born July 30, 1988, in Mi-

choacan, Mexico, he was the

son of Rojelio Sr. and Espe-

renza Contreras Belmontes;

they survive.

Also surviving are broth-

ers, Gonzalo, Arturo, Rojelio

Jr. and Jaime Belmontes; sis-

ters, Alicia Melgoza, Maurilia

Hernandez, Gabriela Rosales,

Cristina Belmontes and Irene

Belmontes; and maternal

grandmother, Maurilia Con-

treras.

A funeral service will be

at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at

Haught Funeral Home Cha-

pel. Graveside service will be

at 12 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23,

at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Online condolences may

be made at HaughtFuneral-

Home.com.

Timothy Allen

Tim Brock Junior

Timothy Allen Tim Brock

Junior, 53, of Plant City, died

Feb. 14, 2015.

He is survived by his chil-

dren, Timothy Curtis Brock

and Diane Nicole Brock;

grandson, Christian Aquino;

parents, Elizabeth Midge

and Rev. Floyd Yarbrough;

and siblings, Michael (An-

drea) Ray Brock and Charlene

Elizabeth (Ray) Zugay.

A celebration of life will

be held at 11 a.m. Saturday,

Feb. 21, at Hopewell Funeral

Home. Private interment at

Mt. Enon Cemetery. In lieu

of owers, memorial contri-

butions may be made to the

Pleasant Grove AG Building

Fund, 7051 S. Turkey Creek

Road, Plant City, 33567. On-

line condolences may be

made at HopewellFuneral.

com.

Paul Edward Crouse Sr.

Paul Edward Crouse Sr., 84,

of Longwood,

and formerly of

Plant City, died

Feb. 13, 2015, at Florida Hos-

pital Altamonte.

Born Oct. 14, 1930, in Cane-

brake, West Virginia, he was

the son of the late Lewis Sr.

and Ola Wade Crouse. He was

the husband of Betty Jean

Dillon Crouse; she survives.

He was a veteran of the U.S.

Army, and owned and oper-

ated the Old Dixie Chicken

Restaurant in the Pinecastle/

Orlando area for more than

30 years, even until his death.

Also surviving are son, Paul

Crouse Jr.; daughters, Pa-

mela (Mark) Mawdsley and

Vicki (Tony) Lupo; broth-

ers, Ray, Lewis Jr., Benny and

Dale Crouse; sister, Eunice

Moore; grandchildren, Paul

Crouse III, Shawn and Mi-

chael Mawdsley, and April

and Angela Lupo. He was

predeceased by brother, Allen

Crouse.

A graveside service was

held Wednesday, Feb. 18, at

Mt. Enon Cemetery. If so de-

sired, donations may be made

in Mr. Crouses memory to

the American Cancer Soci-

ety. Online condolences may


Home.com.

James Jimmy Clayton Fite

James Jimmy Clayton

Fite, 32, of Smyrna, Tennessee

died Feb. 10, 2015. He was a

native of Plant City.

Mr. Fite is survived by his

wife, Tabitha Fite of Smyrna;

sons, James Clayton Fite Jr.

and Logan Alexander Fite,

both of Smyrna; parents, Da-

ryl Gene and Judy Swanson

Fite, of Plant City; sister, Lau-

ra Nicole Fite, of Plant City;

paternal grandfather, Daryl

Elroy Fite, of Live Oak; and

maternal grandfathers, Wil-

bert Raymond Swanson Sr., of

Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.


be made at WoodFinChapel.

com.

Betty Lou Fletcher

Betty Lou Fletcher, 72, of

Plant City, died Feb. 10, 2015.

Born May 18, 1942, in McAl-

pin, she was the daughter

of the late Pete and Lou Bry-

ant Lee. Mrs. Fletcher was

a teachers aide at Cork El-

ementary School for 25 years,

retiring in 2000, and was a

member of Plant City Church

of God, where she was a Sun-

day school teacher. She re-

joiced in her family and loved

to travel.

Surviving are her beloved

husband, M.D. Fletcher;

daughters, Daphne Lynn

Blanton and Michele (Jeff)

Abraham; brother, Ray (Ma-

rie) Lee; sister, Glenda (Har-

old) Warner; grandchildren,

Matthew D. Storey, David

(Kaitlin) Storey, and Tyler and

Logan Abraham; and great-

grandson, Emmitt Storey.

A funeral service was held

Saturday, Feb. 14, at Plant

City Church of God. Online

condolences may be made at

HaughtFuneralHome.com.

Jeane A. Gilson

Jeane A. Gilson, 91, of Plant

City, died Feb. 14, 2015, at

Melech Hospice

House.

Born March 28,

1923 in Minot, North Dako-

ta, he was the son of the late

George and Myrtle Tucker

Gilson. He was the husband

of Leona Deuel Gilson; she

survives. Jeane was a veteran

of the U.S. Air Force, was re-

tired from Post Cereal and en-

joyed working in his shed.

Also surviving are son,

Wayne (Wanita) Gilson;

daughters, Kathryn (David)

DeVault and Judy Johns; six

grandchildren; and many

great-grandchildren. There

are no local services planned.



Home.com.

James Randall Hart

James Randall Hart, 81, of

Plant City, died Feb. 13, 2015.

Born Aug. 26, 1933 in Pavo,

Georgia, he was the son of

the late Aubrey Vivian and

Lois Sherrod Hart. He was the

husband of the late Frances

Wheeler Hart. Mr. Hart loved

to sh, crab and boat. He was

also a football fan, a mem-

ber of Cedar Grove Baptist

Church and attended Coun-

tryside Baptist Church. He

was a millwright by trade, but

was also owner of Planter Flo-

rist in Plant City.

Surviving are grandchil-

dren, Justin and Kensie Hart;

brothers, Bob Hart, Allen Hart

and Louis Hart; and sister,

Vivian Hart. He was also pre-

ceded in death by his grand-

son, Gage Hart.

Funeral services were Mon-

day, Feb. 16, at Haught Fu-

neral Home Chapel. Online

condolences at haughtfuner-

alhome.com.

Fredric Leon Henderson

Fredric Leon Henderson,


2015.

He was born in

Turkey Creek and

was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

He is survived by his wife of

38 years, Joy Henderson; chil-

dren, Ray Henderson, Donna

Jones, Joe Hartley, Jimmy

Henderson, Ron (Cammie)

Anderson, Jennifer (William)

Farmer and Cody Henderson;

sisters, Velma (Red) Weaver

and Diane (Hance) Harvey;

11 grandchildren; and two

great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life was

held Wednesday, Feb. 18, at

Hopewell Funeral Home. In-

terment at Pleasant Grove

Cemetery, Plant City. Online

condolences may be made at

HopewellFuneral.com.

Marguerite Hutto

Marguerite Hutto, 91, died

Feb. 14, 2015, in Palm Beach

Gardens.

She was a lifelong resident

of Plant City and a graduate of

Plant City High School. Loving

family who survive are son,

Ira Sonny (Tammi) Hutto;

daughter, Linda Plourde;

grandchildren, Jill Hrabovsky,

Michael Llauget, Alex Llauget

and Travis Hutto; and great-

grandchildren, Lilliana Nuzzi

and Alyssa Davis. She is pre-

deceased by husband of 52

years, Grant Hutto; daughter,

Nancy Llauget; and brother,

Jesse Wiggins.

A visitation will be at 10

p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at Wells

Memorial, followed by a fu-

neral service at 11 a.m. Burial

will take place at Mt. Enon

Cemetery. Online condolenc-

es may be made at WellsMe-

morial.com.

Grover Glenn Pace

Grover Glenn Pace, 67, of

Plant City, died Feb. 13, 2015

after a heroic battle with can-

cer and prolonged illness at

South Florida Baptist Hospi-

tal (SFBH).

He served six

years in the U.S.

Air Force at Offutt AFB in Ne-

braska, achieving the rank of

S.SGT. He retired from Gen-

eral Electric in Henderson-

ville, North Carolina, in 2004.

He and his wife, Miriam,

moved to Florida in 2006. He

attended Dover Pentecos-

tal Holiness Church, where

he served as a guitarist, was

director of the Golden Heirs

Seniors Program and served

as Chairman of the Escort

Committee at SFBH. He was

a compassionate and loyal

caregiver to his wifes par-

ents, Rev. James and Ethe-

lene Stuart, until their pass-

ing in 2013. He had a passion

for southern gospel and

bluegrass music, enjoyed his

home recording studio and

shing, and was a certied

Amateur Radio Operator.

He is survived by his be-

loved wife, Miriam C. Pace;

son, Greg Pace; daugh-

ter, Peggy Tittle; and seven

grandchildren. He was pre-

ceded in death by his adop-

tive parents, Willis and Alma

Pace of Hendersonville,

North Carolina.

A memorial service will be

held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday,

Feb. 21, at Dover Pentecostal

Holiness Church. Fellowship

with the family and friends

with lunch immediately fol-

lowing. Interment will be held

at a later date in Henderson-

ville. Online condolences

may be made at WellsMemo-

rial.com.

Thomas J. Tom Sluder III

Thomas J. Tom Sluder

III, 54, of Dover, died Feb. 9,

2015.

He was a member of

First Presbyterian Church

of Plant City. He is survived

by his parents, Tom and Judy

Sluder; nieces and nephews,

Brandy Stocksdale, Brandon

Stocksdale, Miranda Slud-

er, Keith Sluder and Israel

Sluder-Anderson; and many

great-nieces and nephews,

aunts, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by

his siblings, Kathryn Sluder,

Keith Sluder and Theresa

Sluder.


be held at 2 p.m. Saturday,

March 14, at First Presbyteri-

an Church. In lieu of owers,

memorial contributions may

be made to the First Pres-

byterian Church stained

glass window fund. Online

condolences may be made

at HopewellFuneral.com.

Gladys Mae Layton Walton

Gladys Mae Layton Walton,


2015.

She was a member of

Berea Baptist Church (Park-

way), Plant City. She is sur-

vived by her son, Kenny

(Peggy) Walton; siblings, Ce-

cil Layton, Ida Bledsoe and

Charles Layton; grandchil-

dren, Ashley, Adam, Benji,

Shaun, Micki and Matt; and

17 great-grandchildren. She

was preceded in death by

her husband, Echo Walton

Sr.; and son, Echo EJ Wal-

ton Jr.


be held at 3 p.m. Saturday,

Feb. 21, at Hopewell Funeral

Home, where the family will

receive friends beginning at

2 p.m. Interment to follow at

Springhead Cemetery, Lake-

land. Memorial contributions

may be made to LifePath

Hospice, Development Dept.,

12470 Telecom Drive, Suite

300, Temple Terrace, Florida,

33637. Online condolences

may be made at HopewellFu-

neral.com.

OBITUARIES

OBSERVER

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.

SOFTBALL

+ Slow start for

area teams

Many of the Plant City-

area prep softball teams

have had to deal with los-

ing several key players to

graduation, and it appears

those losses are being felt

early in the season.

From the Feb. 10 season

openers until press time,

area teams have a com-

bined 1-8 record with

Plant City picking up the

lone win, 4-3, over the

Plant Lady Panthers. In

the Feb. 13 game, the

Lady Raiders used a late

rally to snag a comeback

win at home, thanks in

part to sophomore Edmilly

Molinas three RBI and one

home run.

Fortunately for area fans,

none of these games were

district contests. The long

road to the district tourna-

ment began this week, and

all of the teams will play a

big block of 7A-7 games

between now and spring

break.

All teams will play at 7

p.m. Friday, Feb. 20. Plant

City will travel to Tampa

Bay Tech, Strawberry Crest

will be at East Bay and

Durant will host Brandon.

BASEBALL

+ Clobberin time for

Cougars, Chargers

As a whole, the area prep

baseball scene has seen

some more positive results

on the diamond.

Much of this is from a

pair of blowout wins for

Durant and Strawberry

Crest last week. It could

be seen as just a pair of

tune-up games, but there

are few better confidence-

boosters out there than

picking up a double-digit

win.

On Tuesday, Feb. 10,

Strawberry Crest traveled

to Chamberlain and picked

up a 10-0 win over five

innings. Senior ace Mark

Moclair was nearly flaw-

less through four innings,

striking out eight in a

no-hitter brought down

by two walks, and seniors

Augustin Ontiveros and

Tyler Chancey combined

for four of the teams nine

hits, six RBI and three runs

scored.

On Friday, Feb. 13,

Durant picked up a 15-0

win at Middleton. The team

combined for 14 hits, and

Travis Riley, Zach Barfield,

Cade Kelley and Cesar Caro

combined for eight RBI and

five runs scored. Six other

players picked up RBI, as

well, and Chelsea Baker got

the win with three innings

pitched, one hit allowed,

three strikeouts and no

walks.

Durant, Plant City and

Strawberry Crest will all

play tonight at the same

time and location as their

softball counterparts.

+ PCLL holding

sign-ups

Plant City Little League

is bringing back Senior and

Big League Baseball for

boys age 15-18.

Anyone who wishes to

play must be registered by

Saturday, March 7. Contact

Jeffrey Jacobsen for regis-

tration information at (813)

468-9362 or email jakes-

[email protected].

SIDELINES

ATHLETEOF

THEWEEK

BayleeCauwels

is an all-around

player. 14

SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

PLANTCITYOBSERVER.COM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2015

football


Being a high school athlete

isnt easy even for the elite.

With the responsibility to keep

good grades in addition to

performing well for the team,

these kids face a lot of pressure

throughout the school year.

So when a group of kids can

balance it all, they get reward-

ed. Just ask the Strawberry

Crest boys swim team, which

added a scholastic award to its

trophy cabinet last month.

After recording the highest

GPA of all Hillsborough Coun-

ty boys swim teams, the Char-

gers accepted an award for

their achievements at a Tampa

ceremony Thursday, Jan. 29.

One of the main focuses of

the school here is to put aca-

demics rst, head coach Paul

Bonanno says. We support the

teams very much, but grades

are more important.

As with many teams, Crest

At the Plant City High School

National Signing Day ceremo-

ny, football head coach Wayne

Ward was there to speak highly

of his senior class. When he

was done, he walked off the

stage to a round of applause

and left the Raider fans in good

spirits.

So when he announced his

resignation just a few days lat-

er, no one in Raider Nation saw

it coming.

Ward, the teams head coach

for the past six years, rst an-

nounced his decision with a

Facebook post the afternoon

of Monday, Feb. 9.

Having had the ability to

positively help change the lives

of so many young men through

the game of football has been

such a tremendous blessing

and opportunity I do not take

for granted, Ward wrote. I

have taken this program as far

as I could take it and I look for-

ward to the next chapter of my

life. I thank the Plant City com-

munity and parents for show-

ing your support over the last

six years. It has been an amaz-

ing journey.

The post, which racked up

nearly 100 likes, was met

with dozens of positive com-

ments from past players and

their families. The next day,

Feb. 10, athletic director Traci

Durrance conrmed that Ward

Ward resigns fromposition atPCHS

To the surprise of many, Plant City High football coach Wayne

Ward announced his resignation from the position Feb. 9.

Wayne Ward spoke at

Plant City Highs National

Signing Day ceremony,

honoring his graduating

seniors.

Bill Minahans inuence

did not end when his life did.

The spirit of the legendary

Hillsborough County football

coach, who died a little more

than a year ago, was palpable

at the Columbia Restaurant

last month. Five county foot-

ball players, all with inspiring

qualications, were honored

as nalists for the inaugural

Bill Minahan Award. Plant

City junior Markese Hargrove

was selected the winner, and

Strawberry Crests DariusWil-

liams was one of the nalists.

But all of the nalists

and really, everyone in atten-

dance came away victors.

The athletes stories of per-

severance, selessness and

leadership moved in many

ways, and each received a

$1,500 scholarship.

Two nalists, Stein-

brenners Phillip Smith and

Williams, have been home-

less. Jeffersons Ernest Mills

was burned over 95% of his

body as a baby and has had

more than 100 surgeries.

Robinson quarterback An-

drew Moss started a 7-on-7

tournament in which all the

proceeds go to the Childrens

Home.

But Hargrove has a story all

his own.

Hargroves father landed in

prison before he was born.

His mother, Kenyatta Shaw,

P.C. football

player wins Bill

Minahan Award

Plant City Highs Markese Hargrove was

selected as the winner, and Strawberry

Crests Darius Williams was a nalist.

spotlight

by Darek Sharp |TampaBayTimes

Crest swimmers

float the grade

The Strawberry Crest High boys swim team was

honored with an award for having the highest GPA

of all boys swim teams in Hillsborough County.

WHAT IS IB?

The International

Baccalaureate organi-

zation is recognized

worldwide as a leading

name in education.

The organization offers

educational programs

for students 3 to 19,

though not all American

public schools are IB

schools.

The programs are

rigorous, yet reward-

ing. Many high school

IB students graduate

with college credits.

Strawberry Crest High

does offer the IB pro-

gram for its students.

For more information

about IB, visit ibo.org.

For information about

Strawberry Crest, call

the school at (813)

707-7522.

STRONG START

Durant lacrosse may be the only high

school program of its kind in the area,

but these boys and girls know how to

put on a show that all fans can enjoy.

In the Friday, Feb. 13, home opener,

the boys gave a huge, all-around scor-

ing effort to pick up a 20-0 win over

Tampa Bay Tech. Even the goalie, fresh-

man Alex Cordero, put one in the back

of the Titans net to add to the total.

Including stats from the teams sea-

son-opening 9-6 win at Freedom on

Feb. 11, seniors Jordan Jolly (7), Cecil

Caldwaller, Mitchell Tyler and Rob-

ert Seguin (4) are leading the team

in goals scored. Seguin also leads the

team with 18 ground balls and 14 take-

aways.

The Cougars will host Freedom 7

p.m. Friday, Feb. 20.

swimming


SEE HARGROVE / PAGE 13

Tampa Bay Times

Markese Hargrove enjoyed a

breakout year in 2014.

SEE CREST / PAGE 13

SEE WARD / PAGE 14

Justin Kline

Durant celebrates its big win in the huddle.

Jordan Jolly brings the ball up the middle.

LACROSSE


Justin Kline


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

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

Theres no doubt that Plant

City lost a great man last

week, when Buddy Bennett

died.

Many who spoke of Ben-

nett, whether on the phone,

in email or on the Internet,

found dozens of ways to say

the same thing about the

longtime Plant City Dolphins

presidents commitment to

the program: He was in it for

the good of the kids.

Ive only

been here

since Septem-

ber 2013, so

I didnt know

Bennett as

well as many

of you read-

ers did. But

if theres one

thing that I do

know, its that

Bennett was a living, breath-

ing representation of what

youth sports, not just foot-

ball, should be about.

Sure, not everyone who will

become involved with the

TCYFCC football and cheer-

leading teams, the Plant City

Little League and every other

youth sports organization

will have Bennetts level of

commitment. To nd some-

one with that level of dedica-

tion is exceedingly rare these

days.

But I would hope that every

coach, board member and

parent who comes through

a youth sports league shares

Bennetts morals. These are

sports meant for kids, played

by kids, and they should be

just that not means for the

adults in charge to seek out

glory for themselves.

Perhaps youve read the

news recently and saw that

the Jackie Robinson West

Little League team was

stripped of its 2014 United

States championship last

week after it was revealed

that the adults illegally used

players from out of the teams

pre-determined district. And

now, the kids are paying for

something that they couldnt

possibly have stopped. Its

not nearly as bad as the Dan-

ny Almonte scandal of the

past, but still a clear violation

of the rules.

Almonte was a 14-year-old

pitching phenom from the

Dominican Republic who

was playing in, and dominat-

ing, the 12-year-olds game in

2001. It was revealed that his

parents falsied documents

a year earlier in order to give

Almonte the advantage.

In Plant City, Ive gotten

concerned emails when

some of our local youth

sports teams have won big

games and tournaments,

happening as recently as

Christmas. I spent about

half of the week investigat-

ing some allegations. (They

turned out to be a false

alarm, and I havent heard

anything about it since just

after Christmas Day.)

Its sad that, in todays

youth sports scene, there are

so many cheating scandals

and allegations that theres

a shadow cast over every

good accomplishment, every

trophy raised or game won.

I wish it werent that way,

because these sports are sup-

posed to be all about the kids

having fun. This is supposed

to be about kids growing as

both athletes and people,

making great memories on

and off the eld and friends

for life. But nothings that

simple anymore.

And the kids cant do any-

thing about it.

Crooked coaches and par-

ents seek to manipulate kids

to prop themselves up but, in

the end, its the people who

always do the right thing that

will be remembered fondly

for decades. Thats why, when

we all forget about the next

youth sports scandal that

makes the news, were still

going to remember what

great things men like Buddy

Bennett have done for our

community.

WHATS ON

KLINES MIND?

JUSTIN

KLINE

Lets do

youth

sports the

right way

holds a study hall for its

swimmers before practices.

On Mondays, which are early

release days, the swimmers

will hole up in study hall

from just after 2 p.m. un-

til 3:30 p.m., when practice

starts. Attendance is manda-

tory, unless someone really

doesnt want to swim.

What makes it tricky for

this group is that almost all

of the swimmers are enrolled

in the schools International

Baccalaureate program.

CREAM OF THE CROP

Theres the Advanced

Placement program, which

puts plenty of smart kids

in college-level classes

throughout their high school

careers. The IB program, on

the other hand, takes that to

the next level.

Often considered one of

the highest standards of

public education, if not the

highest, the IB program has

students enrolled in a col-

lege-style scheduling block

and essentially sends the

graduates off to college with

an associates degree in hand.

Their schedule, its ri-

diculous, Bonanno says.

They do block scheduling,

so theyre in classes for two

hours as opposed to a tradi-

tional 50 minutes.

Bonanno says that about

80% of his swimmers are in

the IB program. The girls

program, he says, has around

60% IB enrollment. So, it

makes sense that a Crest

swim team would eventually

win some kind of scholastic

award.

They also do well in the

water. Bonannos second

year as head coach was full

of positives.

We had two swimmers go

to states, which is a huge ac-

complishment, he says. We

had 10 boys go to regionals

and Western Conference -

nals. Our relay team made it

to regionals, which is huge.

Our freshman class is amaz-

ing. We had a freshman go to

states, which is almost un-

heard of.

Junior Hunter Dennis is

a captain for the boys team

and an IB student. He says

that the balancing act of IB

studies and swimming is a

tough one to keep up, but

doable with some motiva-

tion.

It takes a lot of organiza-

tion, Dennis says. You re-

ally have to plan out your

time, assignments, every-

thing youre going to do.

During season, I go straight

from school from practice.

When I get home, I do home-

work until dinner. Then, I do

homework again until its

time to go to sleep.

Dennis has his sights set

on attending the University

of Central Florida, where he

plans to study architecture.

He says that the IB program

should help him save money

while attending college by

allowing him to get college

credit in high school.

This award is a resume

builder for him and his team-

mates, even if they werent

expecting it.

I was kind of surprised,

Dennis says. But, happy

that we won. There are a lot

of kids who work hard on this

team.


[email protected].

Courtesy photo

Athletic director Jasmine Tramel, Kevin John, Hunter Dennis, Alonzo Biala, Kasen Van

Fossen, Zane Richardson and coach Paul Bonanno.

raised Hargrove along with two

siblings, all the while taking in

transitional foster children.

Hargrove was honored to be

selected the winner.

I guess it shows that what

Im doing is appreciated, he

said.

Hargrove, a junior running

back, has a 4.3 grade-point av-

erage. His coach, Wayne Ward,

said Hargrove is the rst to ar-

rive at practice and the last to

leave. Often he leaves with oth-

ers, offering up rides to team-

mates who need them.

And he also tutors them.

With Hargroves help, the team

GPA has shot up 40%.

The grades started get-

ting better, slowly and then

boom, they exploded, Ward

said. And he came to me with

that whole idea of tutoring. He

said Coach, I got this; I can

help. And I said, Yes, go do it.

Please!

Shaw said his mentor-

ing skills denitely started at

home. And Hargrove said older

brother, former Raider star

running back Dazmond Pat-

terson, has encouraged him

even more along those lines.

Hargroves mentorship

echoes Minahans. After serv-

ing in the Korean War, he

played quarterback at the Uni-

versity of Tampa before settling

in as local coach, leading Jesuit

High School to a state title in

1968. His credentials certainly

would have served him as a fa-

ther gure to a player like Har-

grove.

Outside of my own father,

Coach Minahan was the most

important man in my life. And

I can guarantee you there are

hundreds more who would tell

you the same thing, said Skip-

per Peek, who won the Guy

Toph Award under Minahans

leadership in 1975.

Peek said many of Minahans

players went on to become

successful in life, using a lot of

the traits Minahan instilled.

And Peek forecasted that

athletes, like the ones honored,

would continue the effect.

Minahan knew something

about perseverance. He re-

ceived a kidney transplant in

1986, one that was expected to

last maybe ve years and in-

stead held out for nearly 28.

He would have been proud

to be your coach, Richard

Gonzmart, who played for Mi-

nahan at Jesuit, said.

He and other former play-

ers, along with Minahans wid-

ow, Martha, shared memories

of Minahans enthusiasm, pas-

sion, legendary speeches and

most of all his willingness

to do anything for his players.

After reading the stories of

the submitted nominees, the

panel in charge of picking its

rst winner realized it needed

a bigger event. The festivities

were originally going to be a

small luncheon affair, but end-

ed up with 64 guests.

Courtesy photo

Plant City running back and inaugrual Minahan Award winner

Markese Hargrove (center) poses with his grandmother, Constance

Thomas, mother, Kenyatta Shaw, former Raiders coach Wayne

Ward and Plant City High athletic director Traci Durrance.

CREST / PAGE 12

HARGROVE / PAGE 12


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

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

was stepping down.

He has since spoken about

his decision to leave the team,

and cites a need to be with his

family as the main reason be-

hind it.

There are some things, fam-

ily reasons, that I need to focus

on, Ward says. I love these

boys tremendously. This is one

of the hardest decisions Ive

ever had to make.

Ward, who played running

back for the Raiders in his high

school days, joined the team as

an assistant coach in 2002. In

2010, he replaced Jason Strunk

as head coach and immediate-

ly took the team to a 7-4 record

and a playoff appearance with

future star quarterback Bennie

Coney.

In 2013, with Landon Gallo-

way under center, Ward guid-

ed the team to an 8-3 record

and another playoff appear-

ance, following a three-way

district tiebreaker, and helped

bring the spotlight to play-

ers such as Montel McBride

(Alabama), Sedrick King (Ne-

braska) and T.J. Chase (trans-

ferred to IMG Academy). Last

season, the Raiders posted

a 4-6-1 record but made the

playoffs by nishing second in

the district.

He leaves the team with a

30-22-1 career record and will

continue to teach at the high

school.

Ward says that he isnt sure

what his future in football will

hold, but he isnt ruling out a

return to the game.

At some point, Ill coach

again, Ward says. Im not sure

if I want to be a head coach

right now. I would prefer an as-

sistant role over a head role.

PlantCityhasbeeninterview-

ing potential candidates and, as

of press time, has not yet made

a hire. For all of the schools

sports, Durrance prefers to hire

coaches that also teach at the

school, which makes it possible

that associate head coach Greg

Meyer, who teaches television

production classes, could land

the job.

Meyer, who has conrmed

his interest in taking the head

job, was previously the head

coach of Jacksonville-Wolfson

High, posting a 4-17 record in

two seasons, and was an as-

sistant coach at Plant High

School, when the Panthers

completed a run for the 2008

state championship. He joined

the Raiders two seasons ago as

the defensive coordinator and

has also served as the teams

college recruiting liaison since

his promotion last season.

Until Durrance makes a hire,

which should happen fairly

soon, Raider fans will be wait-

ing with bated breath to see

who will take over the team

and if they can improve on

Wards successes. The former

coach also has high hopes for

the boys.

You will go on to do mag-

nicent things and represent

this city proudly, Ward wrote.

Now, its time to go win a state

title. I look forward to an amaz-

ing year from you guys.

BAYLEE CAUWELS

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SPONSORED BY COURTNEY PAAT | STATE FARM

In the first home game of the 2015 season, the Durant Lady Cougars picked up a solid win,

17-2, over Tampa Bay Tech. One of the teams driving forces is senior Baylee Cauwels, who

has helped keep the entire Durant machine working. Shes an all-around athlete,

02.20.15 pcto

Documents

plant city highschool

file photobuddy bennett

jose garza

people cameout

hundreds of people

universityof houston

residesin houston

family estimatesthat