News Briefs: 05/04/23
PCPD Welcomes Officer Jacob Wade
Plant City Police Department welcomed Officer Jacob Wade, who was sworn in as its newest officer on April 28. Wade, a 26-year-old Tampa native, served four years in the Marine Corps prior to attending Hillsborough Community College’s Law Enforcement Training Academy, where he served as its class president. He’s excited to begin his career in law enforcement and hopes the skills he learned in the military, including leadership, structure and critical thinking, will help him excel as an officer. “This feels like the right fit for me, In this career you have to put personal things aside and just go out there and give your all each and every day and have a positive impact on people’s lives,” he said.
Wade is now in the process of completing an intensive 16-week on-the-job Field Training Program where he will learn all facets of the job from seasoned officers.
Fight The Bite On Your Property
Hillsborough County residents will have 10 chances to pick up free mosquito fish this summer at events across the county to help fight mosquitos on their own property. Qualified residents are Hillsborough County residents with intentional standing water on their property, like koi ponds, fountains, animal troughs and unused swimming pools, that are filled 12 months a year. Mosquito fish are small, native freshwater fish that require no feeding: they eat mosquito larvae. The free giveaway events begin May 6 at the County’s Mosquito Management office, located at 6527 Eureka Springs Road in Tampa. To receive fish, you need a photo ID showing you live in Hillsborough County. For more information about the program or for other scheduled events visit HCFLGov.net/Mosquito or call (813) 635-5400.
Relay For Life
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Plant City will take place Friday, May 5 from 6 p.m. – midnight at the Florida Strawberry Festival, where cancer survivors are celebrated, loved ones lost to cancer are remembered and funds are raised to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research and patient support. Highlights of the event include an opening ceremony with survivors and caregivers taking the first lap and a luminary ceremony at 9 .m.“We share a passion to end cancer as we know it, for everyone,” said Linda Herman, Event Lead. “The lifesaving mission of the American Cancer Society can’t be stopped, ensuring we are here for everyone who needs us.” For more information or to make a donation visit www.relayforlife.org/plantcityfl.
Winn Dixie Offers “One Stop Shots”
Winn Dixie is offering $20 in free groceries as a vaccine incentive in all in-store pharmacies to further encourage customers and their families to get up-to-date on routine vaccinations. Its trained pharmacists can administer a wide variety of recommended vaccinations, including pneumonia, meningitis, shingles and Tdap, to help keep communities healthy and safe while traveling during the summer months. Additionally, in accordance with recently updated CDC and FDA guidelines, Winn Dixie is now administering additional COVID-19 bivalent mRNA doses for those who qualify. Customers receiving two vaccines on the same day are eligible to receive a voucher for $20 in free groceries. The offer is available now through June 30.
Connect With Local Legislators Over Coffee
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Capital Coffee event on Wednesday, May 17 from 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the Trinkle Center, located at 1206 North Park Road. Attendees will have the chance to meet and speak with Plant City area elected officials and learn about their accomplishments in the previous legislative session, including Lawrence McClure (R- House District 68), Danny Burgess (R- Senate District 20) and Danny Alvarez (R- House District 69). Admission is free for Chamber members. Tickets for non-members are $10 each.
Local Orators Win College Scholarships
Plant City Optimist Club Oratorical Contest representatives Kenley Connell and Kyleigh Elliott placed second and third, respectively, at the North Florida District Oratorical Competition (NFDC) in Bushnell last weekend, marking the first time the Plant City club had two competitors make it to the NFDC. For their wins, Connell will receive a $1,500 college scholarship and Elliott will receive a $1,000 scholarship. “We are extremely proud of our Plant City representatives, they did a great job against some tough competition,” said Plant City Oratorical Contest Chairman Doris Robbins.
Correction
The Plant City Elks Lodge invited Quilts of Valor- Tangled Threads to its lodge to award two local veterans with quilts. “What Quilts of Valor does for our Veterans is truly amazing and it makes my heart sing to be a part of such a great journey to honor our Veterans,” said Tangled Threads group leader Tammy Arnold, MSgt, USAF, Ret.
