Sometimes, independent travel teams can be tricky for those involved. Organizational lapses can bring the whole operation down in a heartbeat, and the kids lose out. So, a group of concerned parents has made sure that Plant City-area kids will have no trouble playing basketball. The Plant City Vipers, the area’s newest basketball team, is […]
Continue ReadingARTIST PROFILE: STYX
When a band tours practically nonstop for 15 years, it’s difficult for its members to remember when they played certain shows. But, in some cases, they’ll clearly remember the venue. Rock legends Styx count the Florida Strawberry Festival as one such venue. “We did play it once, and it was fantastic,” singer and keyboardist Lawrence […]
Continue ReadingARTIST PROFILE: Kellie Pickler
Although some Plant City residents may not have been too happy about last month’s nippy weather, country music darling Kellie Pickler knows it could be much worse. “Don’t complain about how cold it is in Florida,” Pickler says. “I’m in Ohio, and it’s freezing!” Hopefully, it will be much warmer in Plant City when she […]
Continue ReadingPlant City golfer earns spot in international tournament
Before this month, Kyle Martin probably thought playing golf for Team USA while in college was a foreign concept. Now, golf is about to take him to a foreign country. Martin, 22, has accepted an invitation to represent his country in the 2014 World University Championships in June, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Is there a better […]
Continue ReadingARTIST PROFILE: Lee Brice
Lee Brice seems to approach music like a point guard handles a basketball game: He does well for himself and makes his teammates look good, too. The South Carolina-born country singer has had just as much success writing songs for other artists as he has for himself. He has three chart-topping singles to his own […]
Continue ReadingSIDELINES
YOUTH SPORTS + Plant City Eagles hosting sign-ups With spring coming soon, the Plant City Eagles now are hosting sign-ups for all sports. The soonest deadline is March 6, which covers tee-ball, softball and baseball. Fees range from $40 to $50. Games begin on March 8 and will be played at the rec center’s sports […]
Continue ReadingARTIST PROFILE: Colt Ford
Perhaps none of the performers at this year’s Florida Strawberry Festival has a story with as much variety as country star Colt Ford. The big, Georgian singer-songwriter, born Jason Farris Brown, is notable for having blended country music with hip-hop to create a style not often heard in today’s country scene. Although the hip-hop influence […]
Continue ReadingATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ryan Boyd
One of the Plant City Raiders’ rising young stars is sophomore pitcher Ryan Boyd, who transferred from Durant this year. In his second-ever high school start on Feb. 21, Boyd was nearly perfect — he led the Raiders to a 10-0 win over Tampa Bay Tech by throwing a no-hitter with five strikeouts. Friday went […]
Continue ReadingARTIST PROFILE: Thompson Square
Sometimes, all you need is love. That’s the approach that country music duo Thompson Square have taken with their work, and their quick rise to fame is the proof. The husband-and-wife team of Keifer and Shawna Thompson has been making music together since 2010, with Shawna on the microphone and Keifer on guitar and […]
Continue ReadingWHAT’S ON KLINE’S MIND? New unis complete Raider makeover
Gone are the days of simple, understated uniform changes. Nowadays, we have to make it a showcase on television, social media and everywhere else under the sun. You can probably (correctly) blame it on the Oregon Ducks, who have gotten so prolific that they recently unveiled two new unis for one bowl game. And, no, […]
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