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 […]
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PAJAMA 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 […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Mud Run: A story of success
By Matt Mauney | Staff Writer The fact that I’m able to write my column this week means a few things. First, I have retained all of my fingers — an essential part of my livelihood. I’m also happy to report that other than a little soreness in my quads and forearms earlier this week, […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: 2012 grades continue FCAT farce
By Michael Eng | Managing Editor Without knowing any backstory, if you take a look at the 2012 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test grades released last week, you’d probably be relatively pleased with the results. Nothing looks out of the ordinary; most of our Plant City schools either maintained the same grade or dropped slightly. But […]
Continue ReadingPAST AND PRESENCE: D.E. Bailey preserved city’s history
By Gil Gott | Contributing Writer The greater Plant City area is rich in history. From its early pioneers coming on foot, horseback or ox-drawn carts, its churches, farms, trading posts, its early social and civic clubs, to its rapid development following the building of the railroad, the people, places and activities in this area […]
Continue ReadingSHOW ME THE MAUNEY: Going hog wild (like it or not)
I like to think of myself as being fairly athletic, but the truth is, I spend way more time watching or covering athletes than I do being active myself. On July 21, ready or not, that will change. About two weeks ago, I came across a local deal on Groupon. It was for a discounted […]
Continue ReadingOBSERVED: Young love blossoms in Plant City
By Michael Eng | Managing Editor If this doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, you’re either dead or carry around a piece of black coal inside your chest. Last week, Facebook user James Worley sent us a link to a YouTube video. “Watch this AWESOME proposal video of a Plant City couple,” he wrote.
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