As representatives from the Plant City Observer and the Tampa Bay Times sat in the same room for the first time last week, Ernest Hooper, the Times’ East Hillsborough bureau chief, joked that the rollout of our new joint venture, the Plant City Times & Observer, should be a wedding. That got me thinking. Maybe […]
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MY VIEW: Dennis Ross: Remove Eric Holder from office
I urge President Barack Obama to remove Eric Holder from his position as Attorney General. The Department of Justice has forced journalists to hand over its records and has allowed broad seizure of phone records of all Verizon customers. And we’re now reading reports of the Department of Justice allowing the National Security Agency to […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Athletes prove anything is possible
If there is one lesson that should be taken away from recent stories in the sports section of the Plant City Observer, it’s that great things are possible with hard work and dedication. In the past few weeks, we have brought you stories of overcoming great odds and local athletes achieving great things. This underlying […]
Continue ReadingOWNER’S REPORT: Remember: They work for us
One of the many rights that America recognizes and protects for its citizens is the right to elect those who govern us. As we speak, Americans have chosen a government in Washington, D.C., that believes in the great importance of government and government programs in our daily lives; in using the power of government to […]
Continue ReadingLETTER TO THE EDITOR: Flat tax would restore prosperity
Dear Editor: One of the latest of the numerous scandals of the present administration is the IRS targeting law-abiding conservatives and Christians. And remember everyone: This is the same organization that is going to control your health care! What a joke! There is no doubt that this is deplorable behavior and should have dire consequences […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Spring season produces memorable moments
It’s been a memorable spring season for Plant City’s high school teams. Of the six local baseball and softball teams, five advanced to regionals. All three softball teams won their respective regional quarterfinal games, and Durant baseball advanced all the way to the state championship. The Plant City High flag football team and boys tennis […]
Continue ReadingLIFE LESSONS FROM THE FIELD: What color will you contribute?
Have you ever looked at a stained-glassed window? Why? What is the appeal? To the regular eye, it is just a bunch of colored pieces of glass stuck together with glue. Nothing special … or is it? It is often not the colors that draw us in but rather the picture created from these kaleidoscopes […]
Continue ReadingPAST & PRESENCE: Examining Plant City’s black heritage
A historical marker was dedicated to the Bealsville community May 13, sponsored by the Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council. Bealsville was founded by freed slaves in 1865, after the end of the Civil War. Let’s take a look at two significant black communities in the Plant City area. We have recently come across a 2005 […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: No shame for Durant as runner-up
I’ve always hated the term “overachieving” in a sports conversation. It’s often used to refer to teams that exceeded expectations, whether that may be having an above .500 season or winning a championship. But, it discredits teams. If a team does something that some view as “overachieving,” I see it as realizing the team’s true […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Durant more than Danish
Every team is bigger than one player — even if that player may be the best in the state. No one can deny a big reason Durant’s baseball team in its position is Tyler Danish, a University of Florida commit who likely will go in the top rounds of this summer’s Major League Baseball draft. […]
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