DINOSAUR WORLD PRESENTS “JURASSIC HAUNT; MAMMOTH MAYHEM THIS HALLOWEEN SEASON!
This Halloween season, Dinosaur World presents its second annual Halloween event. This event is from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on select nights. This year’s theme is Mammoth Mayhem and will feature an optional, slightly scarier scare zone inside the Mammoth gardens exhibit.
The park will be open with a few modifications, including miles of lights lining the trails and paths throughout the park, special Halloween animatronics, food, vendors, and more!
The haunted Dino Express train ride also makes a return this year. Guests embark on a haunted train ride featuring family-friendly ghost stories and immersive sounds.
“This year, we are adding a slightly scarier zone for the older kids,” Marcus Svensson, Park Director, said. “Mammoth Mayhem is our most ambitious Halloween experience yet. Crafted to be spooky-fun for kids and adults! Last year, we had one fantastic opening weekend, and then Hurricane Milton hit and devastated our park and our homes. While the park saw over eight feet of flooding in some places, we were able to modify the event to fit in the front section. Once the destruction was cleared, we reopened immediately.”
Dates & Details
Select Nights: Sept. 27 – Nov. 1
Hours: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Dinosaur World,
Price: Included with all admissions (General Adult Admission: $24.95, General Child Admission: $19.95)
NATIONAL POW/MIA
RECOGNITION DAY
On September 19, Norman McLeod American Legion Post 26 hosted a ceremony to honor the more than 500,000 American warriors captured while protecting our way of life. They paid tribute to these patriots for their unwavering and unrelenting spirit.
“More than 73,000 soldiers remain unaccounted for from WWII to today,” Darryl Schumacher, Post Historian, said. “More than 1,100 of those are from Florida, and presently there are 54 in Florida that are unaccounted for from the Vietnam Conflict (it was 57, but three have been found in the recent past and were repatriated).” The Post set up 54 chairs with each individual’s name, photo, and story. In front of those chairs were several more chairs holding the lengthy list of the more than 300 soldiers’ names missing from WWII and the Korean War. If anyone is interested in joining the American Legion, the Plant City Post convenes on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. to have food and a social time, followed by a meeting at 7:00 p.m. For more information, call the post at 813-752-8608.
COMPANY BUYS PUBLIX PLAZA
International Finance Bank announced it has provided a $13.25 million mortgage for the retail center anchored by a Publix supermarket in Plant City. The property, located at 2501 to 2621 Thonotosassa Road, has 85,252 square feet of rentable area. Existing tenants include Publix, Dollar Tree, and Burger King. The borrower is Fraga Plant LLC, an affiliate of Fraga Properties of Coral Gables. Fraga will manage the property and has no plans to renovate.
“This financing with International Finance Bank gives us the opportunity to continue growing and reinvesting in our properties,” said principal Albert Fraga. “We’re proud to strengthen this retail center and ensure it remains a valuable hub for the Plant City community.”
Victor Lopez, First Vice President, Commercial Lender of IFB, said, “Albert Fraga has a record of success, more than 25 years in real estate development and management, and we are pleased to work with him on this refinance.” Fraga Properties develops and manages commercial properties throughout Florida, including neighborhood shopping centers and free-standing single tenant buildings.
FELON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT
ARRESTED BY PCPD
On September 14, at approximately 5:05 a.m., the Plant City Police Department responded to a noise complaint on the 1800 block of E. Warren St. The call quickly escalated into a dangerous situation that ended with the arrest of an armed convicted felon in possession of narcotics.
Upon arrival, the officer observed two men inside a parked vehicle with loud music playing and several open containers of alcohol present. While speaking with the subjects, the officer noticed a handgun on the floor of the driver’s compartment. The driver, later identified as Carlos Martinez, 46, became evasive and physically resisted the officer’s attempts to detain him.
Despite the dangers of the circumstance and an additional occupant still seated near the firearm, the officer maintained control of the situation and ensured the safety of all involved until backup arrived. Martinez was safely secured, and the firearm, a .45b caliber handgun, was recovered.
Further investigation revealed Martinez is a previously convicted felon out of New Youk, prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He was also found in possession of multiple baggies containing cocaine. Martinez is an undocumented immigrant who was previously removed from the country.
Martinez was charged with:
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (2nd Degree Felony)
• Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon (2nd Degree Felony)
• Armed Possession of Cocaine (2nd Degree Felony)
• Resisting an Officer Without Violence (1st Degree Misdemeanor)
• Providing a False Name to Law Enforcement (1st Degree Misdemeanor)
The passenger was not arrested. Martinez was transported to Hillsborough County Jail and is being held without bail.
