Hungry Howie’s, Corner Store partner for Thanksgiving giveaway
No one deserves to go hungry on Thanksgiving, so two local businesses are doing their part to help some families who will need it.
Hungry Howie’s, 208 N. Alexander St., and the Corner Store, 121 W. Reynolds St., are teaming up to prepare pre-cooked, family size Thanksgiving meals to donate to families. They’re currently looking for families to donate to and have asked the Plant City community to help them identify those in need. Anyone who knows of a family that could use the restaurants’ help can contact either. You can also send a direct message to the Hungry Howie’s or Corner Store Instagram accounts (@hungryhowiespc and @thecornerstorepc, respectively).
Hungry Howie’s is also finishing up a peanut butter and jelly food drive for the United Food Bank of Plant City this week. The restaurant has been accepting unopened jars of peanut butter or jelly since Monday and anyone who makes a donation through this Friday will be entered into a raffle to win $100 in Howie Bucks to use at the restaurant. The raffle winner will be drawn on Saturday.
PCPD, Polk County Sheriff catch murder suspect
Plant City Police Department announced last week the arrest of Javier Figueroa Adorno, who is suspected of killing Jarelle Salter in late October.
According to PCPD, Figueroa, 39, shot Salter in the parking lot of the Park Springs apartment complex the night of Oct. 28 and left town. He was tracked to the Crystal Lake area of Polk County and, with help from Polk County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested without incident. PCPD added that Figueroa was on probation for a murder he committed while living in New York.
“The Plant City Police Department would again like to thank our law enforcement partners for their assistance in capturing this violent subject and bringing him to justice,” PCPD spokesman Sgt. Al Van Duyne said in a press release.
PCPD is still looking for additional information regarding the shooting incident. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Toenes at 813-707-2253.
County commissioners approve routine testing recommendation
On Monday, Hillsborough County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution recommending routine COVID-19 testing for staff at certain facilities in the county.
The commissioners supported regular testing for “staff at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, group homes, and homes for persons with disabilities,” citing an increase in local coronavirus cases.
“Changes in state and federal guidelines have created some gaps in staff testing in these congregate, close-contact settings, where both workers and residents are vulnerable for contracting and spreading COVID-19,” spokesperson Michelle Van Dyke said in a press release. “In Hillsborough County, there are nearly 300 nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and approximately 160 group homes. In addition to recommending that these facilities routinely test employees, the resolution recommends that the State of Florida consider instituting statewide rules for such testing.”
Tax collector’s office moving
The Hillsborough County Tax Collector office in Plant City is getting ready to move a short distance away from its current location in the Strawberry Plaza.
Effective Dec. 3, the office at 1834 James L. Redman Parkway will close as the staff transitions over to its new location at 4706 Sydney Road. The Sydney Road office is expected to open at the end of December.
Visit hillstax.org for more information.