By David Gee | Hillsborough County Sheriff The upcoming Republican National Convention will transform the Tampa Bay area on an international level. Like no other, this event will showcase the area’s communities, as well as the Herculean task to provide security for citizens, delegates, visitors and everyone in-between.
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PAST AND PRESENCE: Meet Plant City’s first queen
By Gil Gott | Plant City Photo Archives & History Center There are many good stories about Plant City, its religious life, social life, civic life, business life and more. On the business side, which now has become social as well, is the honoring of the strawberry. Before the strawberry, the agricultural products included cattle, […]
Continue ReadingTragedy in Afghanistan
In our July 26 edition, we published the first piece in our Hometown Heroes series, titled, “Called to Duty.” It was a story about Plant City native U.S. Army Pfc. Ben Secor, who currently is stationed in Afghanistan, and how his family is handling his absence.
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Dealing with the learning curve
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer Let me begin by saying that this isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve been covering high school sports for about five years, and I thought I had mastered the craft. Until I moved to Florida. It’s a whole different ballgame down here, compared to covering prep sports in Savannah, Ga.,while […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: I’m a band geek ‘Â and proud of it
We all know that guy. That superstar high school quarterback who threw the last-second touchdown pass in the championship to secure a state trophy and cement himself in his alma mater’s lore. Maybe he goes on to play college ball. More than likely, he moves on to a different career entirely. But all the while, […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Plant City rallies for its Little Leaguers
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer As the final out was recorded, the crowd at Beef O’ Brady’s in Plant City erupted on Aug. 1, as they gathered around a TV showing a live webcast. There was no sound, much less color commentary, and the picture certainly wasn’t in high definition, but that didn’t stop […]
Continue ReadingPAJAMA MAMA: Movies and monkey booties
By Emilie Plants I realized one profound truth in the time between my children’s last day of preschool and their first day of summer break: Teachers are grossly underpaid. This past year was the first time my children had ever left my side in four years, except for the occasional trip to Nana’s. Scarlett was […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Rash of traffic crashes a sobering reminder
By Michael Eng | Managing Editor It was like I was watching real life in slow motion. I eased my foot off the accelerator as the pickup in front of me began to fishtail. Two other cars were in the lanes to my right — directly in the path of the out-of-control truck. After my […]
Continue ReadingPUBLISHER’S NOTE: Who gets the credit?
By Felix Haynes | Publisher A high percentage of Plant City’s businesses are small businesses, started by one or more entrepreneurs and providing jobs to their fellow citizens. President Barack Obama recently called into question who should get the credit for all our small businesses. “If you own a business, you didn’t do that,” he […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Openers moved to Saturday
On a usual Saturday in the fall, high school football players are recuperating from doing battle the night before, but at least for the season opener this year, area players will be preparing for that first game on Saturday — and licking their wounds on Sunday. The Hillsborough County Public Schools Athletics Office announced last […]
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