UPDATE: Two of the eleven members of the “Norte 14” criminal gang have been sentenced. Joseph Rondon, 26, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation. His brother, Jonathan Rondon, 29, was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by 10 years of probation. *** Eleven members of the “Norte 14” criminal gang […]
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Plant City men arrested for drug possession
Two Plant City men were arrested April 24, on charges of illegal drug possession. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detectives were assisting the Florida Department of Corrections at 5541 Joe King Road in Plant City, when they saw drug paraphernalia inside the residence in plain view. Later that day, detectives obtained and executed a court-authorized search […]
Continue ReadingSummer program taking applications
Lots of Hugs Learning Center has kicked off its registration for the summer program. The program takes place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 8 to Aug. 7, at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 911 E. Warren Street. The program is for children 5 to 12 years old. It offers children a safe place […]
Continue ReadingCivinettes give Easter goodies
The Civinettes Service Club at Plant City High School rallied together to provide Easter bags filled with goodies for all 39 kids of the Florida Baptist Children’s Home in Lakeland. Under the leadership of the Vice President Ashlyn Yarbrough, the service club joined with many businesses in Plant City and Lakeland to provide these gifts. […]
Continue ReadingHappy retirement Bruce Long
Bruce Anthony Long retired from Zephryhills Correctional Institute Feb. 28. Long was born Aug. 16, 1959, in Plant City, to John and Alice Long. He is the youngest of four siblings. He was educated in Hillsborough County Public Schools and graduated from Plant City High School in 1977, where he excelled in football and track […]
Continue ReadingEnter to win Mother’s Day contest
Why is your mother the best? Is she always there for you in a time of need? Does she make the best strawberry cookies around? The Plant City Times & Observer is calling all daughters and sons to enter the annual Mother’s Day essay contest. Tell us why your mother deserves to be featured. Include […]
Continue ReadingPileup closes eastbound lanes of Interstate-4
A four-car pileup blocked all lanes of eastbound traffic on Interstate 4 Saturday, April 25. At 8:12 a.m., a Florida Highway Patrol traffic homicide investigator was parked on the inside shoulder of eastbound I-4, just west of State Road 39, with his emergency lights activated taking measurements from a previous crash. At that time, a Cadillac, driven by […]
Continue ReadingCadaver research center proposed for Lithia
USF anthropologists introduced their plans at a public meeting April 23, for a 2-acre research and training facility that could be constructed at a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office site in Lithia. This Facility for Outdoor Experimental Research and Training, or FORT, would allow anthropologists, criminologists, forensic scientists and law enforcement officials to study cadavers that have been exposed […]
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Memories of Wartime
James Coker will never forget his years serving in Europe during World War II. When he dusts off his boxes of pristinely kept photos, tickets, cards and other mementoes, the memories come rushing back. “It was scary, but it was happy times,” he said. One of his most treasured keepsakes is a collection of photos […]
Continue ReadingLibrary unveils design for new cards
When members of Bruton Memorial Library check out their materials at the front desk, they hand over a card that was designed to inspire. It features a collage of words such as “improve,” “imagine,” “collaborate” and “connect.” But employees at the library noticed a problem with the cards: The design was missing an iconic representation […]
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