Pauline “Polly” Barbetti, 87, of Boston and Weston, Mass., and Plant City, died July 30, 2013. She is survived by loving family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Edward J. Barbetti. She will be interred with her husband at Linwood Cemetery, Weston, Mass. Online condolences may be made at hopewellfuneral.com.
Continue ReadingObituary: Elizabeth Virginia Richards Bell
Elizabeth Virginia Richards Bell, 93, died July 31, 2013. Mrs. Bell was born July 17, 1920, in Lakeland, and was a lifelong resident of Plant City. She was married to Lewis Albert Bell for 36 years, until his death in 1986. They had two children, Delores and Katherine. Mrs. Bell also had four children from […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Roy Odell Hobbs
Roy Odell Hobbs, 89 of Plant City, died Aug. 4, 2013, at Health Center of Plant City. Born March 9, 1924, in Ashford, Ala., he was the son of the late Alonzo and the late Alice Chandler Hobbs. He was the husband of the late Iola Exum Hobbs. Mr. Hobbs worked for Plant City for […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Steven Anthony Brown Jr.
Steven Anthony Brown Jr., an infant, of Plant City, died Aug. 3, 2013. He is survived by his parents, Steven and Sarah Brown Sr.; and by a loving family. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions to assist the family may be made at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 C.R. […]
Continue ReadingObituary: John Bishop
John Bishop, 48, died July 18, 2013, in Melbourne, Florida. He was born on June 6 1965. He is survived by his loving family. A memorial service will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 10, 2013, Wells Memorial and Event Center, 1903 W. Reynolds St., Plant City. Online condolences may be made at […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Mary Frances Brown
Mary Frances Brown, 81, died July 29, 2013, in Plant City. Funeral services were held Aug. 5. Interment followed at Shiloh Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.
Continue ReadingObituary: William Robert ‘Bobby’ Hunter
William Robert “Bobby” Hunter, 69, of Carrollton, Ga., died Aug. 2, 2013, in Plant City. He was born to Rossie Hunter and Opal M. Gilley. Survivors include sisters, Karene Duffey (Larry) and their children, Donna Strickland and son Charlie; Cheryl Smith and daughter, Ashley Farmer; Linda Godfrey (Warren) and their children, Michelle Bradshaw and son […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Earl E. Knight Jr.
Earl E. Knight Jr., 86 of Plant City, died Aug. 4, 2013, at his home. Born Jan. 5, 1927 in Plant City, he was the son of the late Earl Sr., and the late Ruby Connell Knight. Earl was a lifelong resident of Plant City and was the owner of Knight Interiors for more than […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Community key in newspaper’s success
My wife, Assistant Managing Editor Jessica Eng, had trouble sleeping the nights leading up to the launch of the newspaper you’re holding in your hands today. And my mood swung wildly — from confident excitement to sheer panic. Sure, we’ve been publishing the Plant City Observer for more than a year. But this joint venture […]
Continue ReadingState releases 2013 FCAT grades
Of the 24 Plant City public and charter schools that took the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, only one showed year-to-year gains amid tougher tests, stricter grading standards and transition to Common Core State Standards. Knights Elementary earned Plant City’s only A grade this year, up from a B in 2012. Letter grades for Plant City’s […]
Continue Reading
