It wasn’t a very messy contest, but the competitors at the annual Strawberry Eating Contest enjoyed the delicious cake anyways. St. Clement volunteers and the Strawberry Queen and court were on stage cheering them on. Plant City Times & Observer sports writer, Justin Kline, competed. But in the end it was Belle City concession employee […]
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Band Perry Prize Pack Winner: Deanna Garner
After an extremely tough decision, we are excited to announce Deanna Garner as the winner of our Band Perry Prize Pack, which includes two festival tickets and two tickets to the concert, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9. We asked readers to tell us why they were Plant City youth pop group […]
Continue ReadingWEEKEND BEST BET: Baby Parade
GFWC Plant City Junior Woman’s Club 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival Baby Parade — takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Florida Strawberry Festival in front of the free grandstands at the Wish Farms Soundstage, 303 N. Lemon St., Plant City. Awards will be given for Most Beautiful Girl, Most Handsome Boy, Most […]
Continue ReadingBREAKING NEWS: Weather closes festival midway
Severe weather in Hillsborough County has forced Florida Strawberry Festival officials to close the midway.According to the festival’s Facebook page, the midway is closed until 2 p.m. It will reopen at that time if weather conditions permit. At the present time, all shows for this afternoon and evening are on as scheduled. According to the Tampa […]
Continue ReadingPAST & PRESENCE: The history behind the strawberry fest’s star power
Plant City can point with pride to its civic clubs and organizations for all the good works done in the name of the community. Stadiums, parks, playgrounds, the library, special events and more all were put together by the civic clubs and organizations in Plant City, many of which had their beginnings in the early […]
Continue ReadingPleasant Grove church construction now underway
For 10 years, the congregation at Pleasant Grove Assembly of God off Turkey Creek Road has been displaced. Its members have been holding services in a fellowship hall, which seats about 100 people. In that time, they all dreamed of a new place in which to worship. That dream is finally coming true. The foundation […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Gene O. McClellan
Gene O. McClellan, 75, of Plant City, died Feb. 24, 2014, at South Florida Baptist Hospital, in Plant City. Born Jan. 23, 1939, he was the son of the late Harvey and Pernie Parrish McClellan. Mr. McClellan loved antique cars and had a great sense of humor. Survivors include his loving friend, Betty Spears; sons, […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Billy M. Pate
Billy M. Pate, 82, of Plant City, died Feb. 25, 2014. A retired teacher, baseball coach, administrator and principal in Hillsborough County Public Schools, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Alabama. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Morris Pate; two sons, Morris Pate (Cathy) and Michael Pate (Jennifer); a […]
Continue ReadingObituary: William Henry Roetzheim
William Henry Roetzheim, 85, of Plant City, died Feb. 26, 2014. He was born in Chicago, and was a U.S. Army veteran, who served during the Korean War. Mr. Roetzheim was a highly successful gymnast, winning nine National Championships in AAU and NCAA competition. He was a member of two U.S. Olympic gymnastics teams (1948 and […]
Continue ReadingObituary: Emily Ann Smith
Emily Ann Smith, 73, of Plant City, died Feb. 21, 2014, at home. Born Dec. 9, 1940, in Minneapolis, Minn., she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Helen Ahlberg Harlien. She was the wife of the late Donald Smith. Survivors include stepdaughters, Katherin Victorson, Sheila Feceri, Diane Suess and Barbara Smith; sister, Phyllis […]
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