Gene Smith Sr., 84, of Plant City, died Nov. 7, 2015, at his home. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mr. Smith was the son of Samuel and Carrie McIntire Smith. He was a former owner of Gene Smith Garage in Tampa and Plant City, and was an automobile mechanic for more than 70 years. He […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Leo Williams
Leo Bisby Williams, 88, of Plant City, died Nov. 3, 2015 at home of natural causes. Mr. Williams was born Nov. 16, 1926, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, to Shorty and Ola Williams. In 1938, he moved with his family to Plant City and was a 1947 graduate of Turkey Creek High School. He was inducted […]
Continue ReadingBREAKING: Six men arrested in illegal sexual activity
The Plant City Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit has recently conducted an operation focused around illegal sexual activity and other suspicious acts at Mike Sansone Park, which yielded six arrests. The operation, conducted between Oct. 22 and Nov. 4, mostly took place at the park’s public restrooms. Individuals were arrested for lewd sexual activity, indecent […]
Continue ReadingWalden Lake Car Wash to host ornament workshop
Floridians might be wearing shorts through December, but local businesses are already getting into the holiday spirit. At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, Walden Lake Car Wash will be hosting an ornament-making workshop. Kids can make picture ornaments to decorate the Walden Lake Car Wash Christmas tree, and another ornament to take home. The […]
Continue ReadingPublix delivery service Shipt expanding to Plant City
By Justine Griffin | Tampa Bay Times Shipt, a mobile app-based grocery delivery service, is expanding into Plant City and Spring Hill on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The company launched its service, where it takes orders for groceries from Publix and delivers them to customers’ doors, in Tampa Bay three months ago. Thousands of people have […]
Continue ReadingOngoing development projects announced in Plant City
Local city leaders and business owners have joined forces to associate Plant City growth with more than just strawberries. On Monday, Nov. 9, Plant City’s Economic Development Corp. hosted its first meeting at Highland Packaging Solutions. The EDC formed in June and passed its bylaws in September. To date, the organization has nine members on […]
Continue ReadingCity Commission approves Red Rose rezone
At the City Commission meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, commissioners unanimously approved the rezoning of the eastern half of 2011 N. Wheeler St., formerly the Red Rose Inn & Suites. The City Commission approved the rezoning of the former inn, located on just over 8.39 acres, from the Neighborhood Business District to the Planned Development […]
Continue ReadingComing Home
The Rev. Dr. Daniel Middlebrooks is the pastor at Hopewell Baptist Church, but the Plant City native began his career in ministry as a chaplain for the United States Army. Inside his church office off South County Road 39, the shelves are decorated with memorabilia from his military days: his Army green chaplain kit, a […]
Continue ReadingWater quality project begins
The City of Plant City has begun the Westside Canal Project to improve water quality in Midtown, an area south of Historic Downtown that is being enhanced for further development. The water quality project is not to exceed 90 days and is expected to be completed before Jan. 30. The construction process directly affects Washington […]
Continue ReadingIt’s a Preemie Thing
Over the last few years, Azaria Santos has become a fixture in the halls of St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Tampa, with her charity, Azaria’s Hope. Now a star student at Trapnell Elementary School, the fifth grader was born three weeks early in the same hospital. She weighed only 1 pound, 15 ounces. Her grandmother, Rudyne […]
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