Plant City Police Department (PCPD) sworn officers can sport a beard throughout the year—but there’s a cost. Officers pay a monthly donation to wear facial hair. Not to be outdone, sworn female officers can also pay a monthly donation to wear nail colors and designs. Officers dubbed the effort “Back the Beard.” In 2024, these […]
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Obituaries 12.19.24
Belva Jane DeVane Belva Jane DeVane, 85, of Plant City, Fla., born on Jan. 16, 1939, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 10, 2024. She loved her family dearly, enjoyed the beach and motorcycle racing, and was an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She is survived by children, Renee DeVane Yoho, Tony DeVane, […]
Continue ReadingWREATHS TO REMEMBER VETS
On Saturday, December 14, Wreaths Across America held its annual wreath laying in Plant City. The event commenced with a ceremony at Courier Field and the Veterans Monument attended by over 100 people. The ceremony included an invocation by Captain Robert Olszewski, USAF Reserve, a moment of silence, presentation of colors by Boy Scouts of […]
Continue ReadingA DIFFERENT TAKE ON CHRISTMAS
Every year, personal property theft goes up 22 percent in December. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that criminals know that a lot of people carry more cash than usual when they are out Christmas shopping. The second is they can be buying expensive doodads. So, it is wise not to […]
Continue ReadingSTRAWBERRY FESTIVAL CONCERT CAMPERS LINE SIT FOR TICKETS
If you have driven past the building that sells Strawberry Festival concerts tickets anytime in the last couple of weeks, you may have noticed four tents set up on the sidewalk outside. As a matter of fact, if you have driven past this place at this time in the last 15 years, you would have […]
Continue ReadingLocals Decked Their Halls For “At Home For The Holidays”
For Valrico resident Theresa Hickie, touring Plant City’s lavishly decorated homes during the “At Home for the Holidays” event, hosted by the Arts Council of Plant City, has become a family tradition. “I used to come every year with my mother Mary Ann Clark because we love Christmas and we loved walking through all the […]
Continue ReadingWalden Lake Christmas Lights Contest Winners Announced
Walden Lake residents definitely have Christmas spirit, which they embrace with a little friendly competition. For more than 16, years, the homeowners’ association has hosted its annual Christmas light display contest. This year’s event happened Dec. 10. Not only do the homes within each subdivision set up over-the-top Christmas displays, but the annual contest allows […]
Continue ReadingANNUAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS HELD
Lights of Love The 26th annual Lights of Love tree lighting ceremony took place on the evening of December 5. “We were just talking with our friends here about how in the past, it was a very small, intimate event,” Donna Byrtus said. “But I felt like this was a kind of a Hallmark movie […]
Continue ReadingObituaries 12.12.24
Marsha Ann Allphin Marsha Ann Allphin, 64, of Plant City, Fla., born on Jan. 14, 1959, in Brockton, Massachusetts, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 2, 2024. Expressions of condolences at www.HopewellFuneral.com. Audrey Drawdy Audrey Drawdy, 81, of Riverview, Fla., born on Aug. 15, 1943, in McComas, West Virginia, entered into eternal rest on Dec. […]
Continue ReadingSCULPTURES COME TO LIFE IN DOWNTOWN
The Arts Council of Plant City will hold a sculpture exhibition unveiling ceremony on Monday, December 9, at 6:00 p.m. at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum in downtown. The exhibition will be opened after a brief introduction by Amelia Bitting, a Strawberry Crest graduate, former intern at the Photo Archives, and student of fine […]
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