It is a commonly debated topic. Should young athletes turn professional when their age still ends with “teen?” NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant and Lebron James had multi-million dollar contracts and sponsorship deals as soon as they graduated high school. Now, the NBA requires athletes to play one year of college ball before being […]
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Poor customer service part of WLCC problem
Dear Editor: I just finished reading Michael Eng’s article in the Plant City Observer, and I am alarmed by what I have read. My wife and I purchased our Walden Lake home last December, partly because of its location on the golf course, and feel we were duped. The troubles with the course and possible redevelopment were […]
Continue ReadingLETTER TO THE EDITOR: City, state leaders urged for WLCC input
Editor’s note: This letter was sent to local and state political leaders, including Plant City Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis, Vice Mayor Rick Lott, city commissioners Bill Dodson, Billy Keel and Mike Sparkman, City Manager Greg Horwedel, City Attorney Kenneth Buchman, City Clerk Kerri Miller, Director of Planning and Zoning Mark Hudson, Florida state Rep. Dan […]
Continue ReadingMY VIEW: Mislabeling a tragedy won’t bring solution
During the past month or so, I unashamedly admit that I stayed glued to the television, watching the George Zimmerman trial unfold. In doing so, I had the ability to record the trial and play back only what happened in the courtroom. I found the trial to be tragic, sometimes outrageous and extremely fascinating. The […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: McBride puts PCHS in national spotlight
Last week, Montel McBride was playing the “NCAA 14” video game on Playstation 3, in Oregon. It was a full week before the game was released to the public (Tuesday). “It was a ball,” he says. But playing a new video game wasn’t the only thing McBride was doing in Beaverton, Ore., the home of […]
Continue ReadingLETTER TO THE EDITOR: Education needs restructuring
Dear Editor: How is it, that with all the tax dollars allotted to educating our youth in America, we only rate in the middle of the world’s standings? The United States spends more money on education than any other country in the world, yet we still get these less-than-expected results. The answer is waste, fraud, […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Time flies when you’re having fun
It’s hard to believe that it has already been a full year for the Plant City Observer. It seems like just yesterday that I was meeting all the coaches at local schools and scoping out the sports scene here. The great thing about this job is it allows me to go out and meet some […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: In the studio with Plant City’s NRG
Rain pelts the roof above the Brandon-based Polysound Recording Studios, and an occasional thunderclap reminds everyone we are lucky to be indoors. Inside, studio owner Wes Price is at command central, furiously working on what seems like hundreds of vocal tracks. Six members of Plant City’s youth pop singing group, NRG, have been slugging it […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: AAU karate kids show dedication
One of the great things about this job is that it allows me to be exposed to sports outside of my comfort zone — sports that I otherwise probably would never learn about. Last week, I was able to attend the last training session for six karate students at the Chris Welbon Karate Club, 602 […]
Continue ReadingLESSONS FROM THE FIELD: Are you prepared for these storms?
As my family and I begin to settle into the normal flow of being back home, we now have to make sure that we are prepared for the Florida stormy season. The unexpected rain showers may only last a few minutes, but, if you are caught out in them, you would think you were standing […]
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