Dear Editor: I am emailing you in reference to the renaming of a segment of Thonotosassa Road. My son, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Dep. David Anthony Abella, died in the line of duty April 21, 2004. He graduated from Plant City High School. He played football and was on the wrestling team. After graduating, he served in the […]
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Walden Lake East fence a city eyesore
Dear Editor: I have lived in Plant City since 1967, and I love and am proud of living here. I also was a teacher in one of our schools here. I was here during the creation of Walden Lake. There is one thing that embarrasses me as I travel Alexander Street: the old, rickety, ugly […]
Continue ReadingLETTER TO THE EDITOR: Story captures son’s service
Dear Editor: I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for a beautifully written article about my son, Daniel Taylor. I appreciate the time and effort you put into the article. It was quite comprehensive, and I can tell you spent a lot of time doing your homework. The Plant City Observer […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Something special about baseball
I have a confession to make. I am a nerd. Not the kind who dresses up as a Klingon and attends Star Trek conventions, but the kind who knows all 270 Division I college football programs (including their mascots) and the MLB Cy Young award winners for the past 20 years. That’s right, I’m a […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Recruiting brings sports full circle
I’ve been covering high school sports for about four years, three of which have been full-time. And before high school sports were my main focus, I spent three years covering sports at my alma mater, Georgia Southern University, with a large focus on GSU’s Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) powerhouse football program. I’ve seen dozens […]
Continue ReadingPAST AND PRESENCE: Mary Jane Jackson Parolini: A real queen
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about Mary Jane Jackson Parolini. Looking back to 1956, Mary Jane Jackson Parolini said it was an incredible year. It was her senior year at Plant City High School, and she was busy that year being a class officer, homeroom officer, a thespian, a Kiwanette, […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Daughter injured in freak accident
I’ve always been bothered by those signs in factories or industrial work zones that read, “This site has been accident-free for X days.” If the number is really low, then everyone who sees it wonders what had just happened. If the number is high, then it seems like disaster is about to strike any second […]
Continue ReadingJOSHING AROUND: God’s love is the ultimate academy award
Several years ago, I played a small part in the movie, “Why I Got Married, Too,” directed by Tyler Perry. Although it has been a while, I am still not 100% sure how to describe the experience. In my past, I had been an extra in a few films and knew how to blend in […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: It’s hard being a die-hard fan
Sports have the ability to have an effect on a lot of things. They can bring people together or tear them apart. They can give a city hope or send that same city into a state of depression. I was hoping to be able to write a more uplifting, lighthearted and inspirational column this week […]
Continue ReadingPAJAMA MAMA: You can keep your fork
New Year’s resolutions tend to go in one year and out the other. Or at least for me they do. My never-ending resolution since having my two children is to return to my pre-baby size. I have done it once or twice in the last six years, but I always find my way back to […]
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