Right out of high school, Clemente (Clem) Fiol started working in the prison system, first at Hillsborough Correctional, then the Florida State Prison. He met his wife, Karen, in jail (she wasn’t a prisoner, though—she worked as a nurse in the facility). After these stints, Fiol became a deputy for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office […]
Continue ReadingNeighbors
COMBAT MP TO DIVISION CHIEF
Bill Thomas graduated from Plant City’s Marshall High School where he played trombone. He attended Bethune-Cookman College on a music scholarship, and planned to become a music teacher. But Thomas’s number came up in the draft lottery in 1969. He landed in Vietnam in April, and served his year there as a combat military police […]
Continue ReadingCHARITY BUILD FALLS SHORT
On April 4, the Plant City Observer published a glowing article about a three-bedroom, two-bath home built by Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay (RTTB) for veteran Geoffrey Black. Six months later the glow has faded. Today, according to Black, the structure suffers in several places from substandard materials and shoddy workmanship. The house was incomplete when […]
Continue ReadingHELPING VETERANS HEAL
Chad Landrey served as a combat military police soldier in the Army National Guard from 2001 to 2008. He was sent to Afghanistan in 2004, and stationed at Bagram Air Force Base. After he returned to the U.S., he worked as a police officer in Sebring, Lake Wales, and Lakeland. Landrey got his first police […]
Continue ReadingTraci Tew Walding Named 2024 Woman of Distinction
This week, Traci Tew Walding, owner of The Face Place P.C., a medical spa in Plant City, was named Aspire Plant City’s 2024 Woman of Distinction. Walding is also a compassionate animal advocate who has dedicated more than 10 years to Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue. She was recently appointed to the Board of the Society […]
Continue ReadingCOMMUNITY BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS HONOR VETERANS
“About 10 years ago, I was asked to be the Veterans Chairman for the Elks Lodge,” Judy Wise tells the story of the how the Veterans Luncheon came to be. “When I became the District Veterans Chairman. I wanted to do something for our Elks Veterans, and so I had a steak dinner for each […]
Continue ReadingObituaries 11.07.24
David Lee Gilley, Jr. David Lee Gilley, Jr., known as “Country” by friends and family, 60, of Seffner, Fla., born on Dec. 17, 1963, in New Orleans, Louisiana, beloved son of David L. Gilley, Sr. and Ada Spina, entered into eternal rest on Nov. 1, 2024. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com. Mona Faye Jimison Mona Faye Jimison, 90, […]
Continue ReadingAround Town 10.31.24
We asked Plant City: What is something that is popular now, but we’ll all probably be embarrassed by years from now? Folks wearing their pants below their underwear. Suzanne Dodd Holey pants, too short skirts/shorts, lack of respect, killing without the consequences, abortions, full body tattoos, wanting to change genders. Taking GOD out of everything. […]
Continue ReadingTHE ARTS COUNCIL OF PLANT CITY
The mission of the Arts Council of Plant City is to bring arts to the community, to promote education in the arts, to develop artists, and to develop arts programs. Among its wins have been its partnership with the Plant City government to bring Seward Johnson sculptures to downtown. This year’s open air display will […]
Continue ReadingSmoothie King Introduces GLP-1 Support Smoothies
Smoothie King has debuted a line of new menu drinks for its guests who are taking Ozempic-style weight loss drugs. The menu, dubbed the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) Support Menu, features five smoothies packed with fiber and protein and no added sugar to support nutritional needs. The new menu items were developed in a collaboration with […]
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