On March 17, the excitement and talent of local contestants shone brightly at the Southwest Central Florida Scholarship Competition as the preliminary Miss America scholarship competition awarded 12 titles. The event was held at Branscomb Auditorium located on the Florida Southern College Campus in Lakeland. The event celebrated the dedication and achievements of young women […]
Continue Reading3 Ways to Celebrate and Enjoy National Parks This Spring
From the geysers of Yellowstone to the lush forests of the Great Smoky Mountains, the country’s more than 400 National Parks are a national treasure. Here are three ways to celebrate and enjoy the parks this spring: 1. Celebrate National Park Week happening April 19 to April 27. Entrance fees will be waived on April […]
Continue ReadingCITY COMMISSION MEETING HONORS WORLD CHAMPION CHEER TEAM
At 7:30 p.m. on March 10, Mayor Nate Kilton called the proceedings to order for the Regular Meeting of the City Commission. Present at the dais were Vice-Mayor Jason Jones, City Commissioner Bill Dodson, City Commissioner Mary Thomas Mathis, City Commissioner Michael Sparkman, City Attorney Kenneth Buchman, City Manager Bill McDaniel, and City Clerk Kerri […]
Continue ReadingNews Briefs 03.13.25
Plant City History & Photo Archives and Arts Council Present the Plant City Sculptures Exhibit Photo Contest March 13 through 21, bring in one (or a few!) fabulous photos, printed on 8×10 or 8½ x 11 paper, and attach an entry form with your information. Make sure your picture features the sculpture and at least […]
Continue ReadingTHE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL OFFERED COMPETITIONS
The 11-day Florida Strawberry Festival had entertaining competitions galore, from lamb jumping, to animal costuming, to stemming strawberries, to diaper decorating, to art, to eating fast and furiously. The Festival had every kind of fair food you can think of. Any walk through the Festival would come across hundreds of common eaters. But there were […]
Continue ReadingCops Corner 03.13.25
February 28 Bank On It – Trespass after Warning/Resist Officer 1900 block of S Alexander St Officers responded to the above location and met with staff who stated a subject was in the location and had been previously trespassed. An officer asked the subject to step outside during which time the subject became belligerent and […]
Continue ReadingWE HAVE A WINNER!
For the first time in the history of holding the Florida Strawberry Festival New Corvette Giveaway, there was drama added to drawing the ticket and announcing the winner’s name. Before the drawing, the ticket hopper was turned many times. Raffle officials pulled a teenaged girl from the crowd, instructed her to reach deep into the […]
Continue ReadingEXHIBITS EVERYWHERE AT THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
Guests at the Florida Strawberry Festival had tons of options for entertainment and education. In terms of farm life, there were exhibits of swine, steers, poultry, rabbits, beef breeds, lambs, dairy, steers, and horticulture. Different days offered shows of these farm animals in arenas on the Festival grounds. One of the exhibits connected people to […]
Continue ReadingDEP HOLDS OPEN HOUSE TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENTS
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) held an open house meeting to get public comments on a proposed Class V exploratory Underground Injection Control (UIC) well at Mosiac’s inactive phosphate manufacturing facility in Plant City. The site is at 10609 Paul S. Buchman Highway, six miles north of downtown Plant City near the corner […]
Continue ReadingLetter to the Editor 03.13.25
Walden Lake, the shining star of Plant City, has been part of our great city for almost 50 yrs. But, it didn’t just happen. The property was peppered with lakes ponds, and sink holes, basically worthless, not buildable, and not called Walden Lake. In fact there is a body of water called Mud Lake. Mr. […]
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