Although the sweltering Florida sun is still shining, the days of summer will slip away Tuesday, Aug. 20 — the first day of school in Hillsborough County. Children throughout Plant City will say good-bye to Slip N’ Slides and late-night stargazing and trade the beach for the organized classroom. And it’s not only students that […]
Continue ReadingLast day to donate school supplies for ‘Stuff the Bus’
It’s the last day to drop off school supplies to one of three locations in Plant City to benefit the Kiwanis charity Stuff the Bus. The drop off points are: Sweetbay, 205 W. Alexander St. Stingray Chevrolet, 2002 N. Frontage Rd. Southside Farm and Pet Supply, 3014 James L. Redman Pkwy. The school supplies will […]
Continue ReadingLocal artist auctioning work for cancer patient
It took 51 hours and six black Bic ballpoint pens for local artist Jesse Starr to complete a drawing of Stephen Hawking. The unbelievably realistic portrait is being auctioned off to help Starr’s cousin Jimmy Strawn battle cancer. Strawn, who lived in Plant City for years, is undergoing treatment for stage IIIb colon cancer. The 42-year-old […]
Continue ReadingUnited Food Bank to benefit from State Farm school supplies drive
State Farm agents are gearing up for the first day of school. They are collecting school supplies at their offices throughout the month of August to help hundreds of families and children around Hillsborough County. Locally, supplies will be donated to the United Food Bank of Plant City. The following school supplies are needed: Backpacks Notebooks, […]
Continue ReadingEvangelical Presbyterian celebrates VBS
Evangelical Presbyterian Church hosted a group of eager vacation bible school students Aug. 5 to 9. The students participated in crafts, games and Christian teachings and lessons. The theme was Greece. The fellowship hall was decorated like a Mediterranean bazar complete with tents and palm leaves. Some of the volunteers were even dressed in togas.
Continue ReadingSouth Florida Baptist head to become president at Winter Haven Hospital
Steve Nierman, who has served as president of South Florida Baptist Hospital for the last six years, was announced Aug. 7, as Winter Haven Hospital’s new president. The transfer comes after Winter Haven Hospital and Tampa Bay area-based BayCare Health System completed all of the steps needed to implement a planned consolidation. Nierman’s first day […]
Continue ReadingA Chance to Change
The phosphate mine glowed ominously when Cindy Churchill and her family drove by it more than three decades ago. But, it was the stench of sulfur Churchill remembers the most. “I thought they were taking me to hell,” Churchill says. With the exception of rural farm houses, there was nothing around for miles. Churchill hated […]
Continue ReadingFood bank volunteers demonstrate commitment
Ruth Baker sits on a stack of egg crates by the refrigerator in the back room of the United Food Bank of Plant City. It’s her favorite spot to rest. From her perch, she can monitor the back door and another internal door. She also can see her younger sister, Eva Almon, marking bread and […]
Continue ReadingPlant City police train for active-shooter scenario
It’s a chilling situation — an active shooter on a school campus. Just as fiercely as a threat enters through the doors, first-responders and police officers have to be ready. More than 60 officers from the Plant City Police Department recently completed training for this specific situation during a weeklong simulation exercise, at Plant City […]
Continue ReadingTime, Framed
The driveway to the Plant City home of Roy Hilry Adams looks like a Jackson Pollock creation. Paint is splattered and dripped everywhere. Even the creaky screen door has colorful smudges around the handle. It’s no mystery that Adams is an artist himself. The inside of his house is as eclectic as his own photographs […]
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