By Gil Gott | Plant City Photo Archives & History Center To some, the name Wilbur Fisk Burts conjures up the story of The Tropical Hotel. But there is much more than that. Here is a man of many talents, who played interesting roles in the progress of the early town of Plant City.
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PAJAMA MAMA: What is a mother’s work worth?
By Emilie Plants | Columnist When I left teaching to become a stay-at-home mother, I did it for one reason — to be with my babies. According to Salary.com, which asked thousands of mothers to complete a detailed survey about how they spend their days managing a household and raising their children, Pajama Mamas are […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: A great weekend for golf
By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor This weekend, I will participate in an activity I enjoy but rarely get to experience. Saturday, I will dust off my golf clubs and shoes and tee off at the annual Plant City Lions Club Golf Tournament.
Continue ReadingJOSHING AROUND: Cotton candy ‘ cure for the common depression
By Josh Loudermilk | Columnist I am thankful today for the sunshine. Yes, it is pretty, and I admit, there is a hint of autumn in the smug Florida air. It feels nice. I also am thankful for the sun on a more practical basis. I am a proud owner of a 1998 BMW 323 convertible. Why […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: District 58 race ‘Â better than TV
By Michael Eng | Managing Editor Seriously, I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Amid all the rhetoric about Big Bird’s exaggerated demise and Colorado’s altitude affecting President Barack Obama’s ability to debate, a far more bizarre — and entertaining — sideshow is playing out locally.
Continue ReadingLearning about Leadership; Arts and media
By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor Editor’s Note: Plant City Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class is a program where members of the chamber meet monthly to explore different factions and lifestyles of Plant City. Associate Editor, Amber Jurgensen, is taking the class to better know and understand Plant City. With the theme, arts and media, […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Rivalries provide extra excitement for athletes
By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor Rivalries are special. No matter the sport or the level of competition, rivalries bring out the passion and excitement that make sports great. When I took this job and began researching our Plant City schools, the first result I came to was a photo gallery of last year’s football […]
Continue ReadingPUBLISHER’S NOTE: The walls to economic development
By Felix Haynes | Publisher Our country, and Plant City, have been mired for four years in the longest recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Whether you look at economic charts or you drive around Plant City and see all the vacant buildings and storefronts, our economy is hurting. The questions on everyone’s […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Memory lane provides a sweet stroll
By Michael Eng | Managing Editor As the election draws closer, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to endure media of any kind. The incessant ramblings of AM talk radio, the talking heads on television and the bombardment of stories and video clips online have me — a journalist — longing for unplugged silence. If you believed everything […]
Continue ReadingCOMMISSIONER’S UPDATE: Commissioner links Plant City to county
By Al Higginbotham | Hillsborough County District 4 Commissioner Since being elected in 2006 to the Hillsborough County Commission District 4 seat, I have had the great pleasure to serve eastern Hillsborough County residents. Through joining you at meetings of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and Optimist club breakfasts […]
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