Beginning next week, the Plant City Times & Observer will be delivered weekly on Fridays, instead of Thursdays. As always, the newspaper will be packed with hyperlocal content relevant to residents and businesses of Greater Plant City. If you have any questions, please contact Editor Michael Eng, meng@plantcityobserver.com or (813) 704-6850.
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Plant City traveler treks across U.S.
Plant City native and novelist Morgan Davis has been traveling the East Coast of the United States, with plans to head west. To help him continue his trek he has started “Bartering with Books.” Davis is the author of a trilogy series, “Prescribed Life,” he wrote while working at the skate park in Plant City. […]
Continue ReadingCustom estate home tops Plant City’s June real-estate sales
MONTHLY SNAPSHOT Houses Sold: 80 High Sale Price: $450,000 Low Sale Price: $30,000 Average Sale Price: $132,958 Median Sale Price: $105,000 Short Sales: Eight REO/Bank Owned: 26 A custom-built home on 20 acres in northeast Plant City was the top residential real-estate transaction in June. The home at 3229 Lampp Road sold June 25, for […]
Continue ReadingDeputy chief to retire from PCFR
Plant City Fire Rescue announced recently the retirement of Dep. Chief Eugene Shuler, who is retiring after 14 years of service to the department and community. His retirement begins Aug. 1. The department will host an informal get-together from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at Fire Station No. 1, 604 E. Alexander St.
Continue ReadingHCSO arrests felon for trafficking MDMA near County Line Road
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division detectives conducted a buy/bust operation for trafficking MDMA on July 10. The operation ended in the arrest of Denard Walker, 36, of Lakeland at 4802 Sterling Commerce Drive near County Line Road in Plant City. It concluded a three-month-long investigation on Walker. He was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, child neglect, delivery […]
Continue ReadingHCSO on scene of shooting off Sam Astin Road
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is on scene investigating a shooting that has occurred at 3421 Sam Astin Road. The call came in at 9:04 a.m. indicating a man has been shot. The victim has been transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Detectives are on scene interviewing witnesses and sorting through evidence. Preliminary information is […]
Continue ReadingSmoke alarm saves Plant City family
A Plant City family escaped safely from an overnight house fire, thanks to a smoke alarm. According to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue reports, crews responded to a report of a structure fire at about 1:26 a.m. July 10, at 2628 Wallace Branch Road. Upon arrival, crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the structure. The crews were able to contain […]
Continue ReadingHOMETOWN HERO: Dan Orrico
It was a moving ceremony for Col. Dan Orrico May 24, at his Walden Lake home. Thirty years in the U.S. Army had all led up to that one moment: retirement. His wife, Shelly, set a table to remember fallen soldiers. His eyes filled with tears as each of his five children made their way […]
Continue ReadingCity Commission axes event planning program
Seven months after taking on the newly created role of special events manager, Deanna Hurley found out last week that her position will not exist come October. Because of what Interim City Manager David Sollenberger called a “timing issue,” Plant City’s Special Events program was cut July 1. All planned events, with the exception of […]
Continue ReadingPastor leads FBC Midway church in outreach
With tattooed sleeves and a trendy pair of kicks, Cole Dodd would be the last person anyone would suspect to be a pastor at a Baptist church. But First Baptist of Midway’s newest spiritual leader brings his own style to the job. Dodd moved to the position four months ago after serving as worship pastor, […]
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