AG Moody visits PCPD
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody stopped by Plant City Police Department on Tuesday morning to celebrate National Police Week and promote her new initiative.
Moody announced the launch of the Thin Line Tribute campaign, which is meant to recognize law enforcement officers around the state and celebrate the work they do throughout their communities.
“As we had a pandemic threaten our nation and our state, those that serve with a badge — whether you wear blue, brown or green — did not hesitate and showed up to work to protect the communities that they loved,” Moody said. “As we saw discourse throughout our nation and conflict and attacks turning on, many times our local law enforcement, they again showed up without hesitation, proud of the badge they wore and the noble profession they voluntarily chose because they love their communities. As we see increasing felonious attacks on law enforcement, as we see our in the line of duty deaths in Florida increasing at alarming rates, it was imperative… that we came together and said, ‘While you have our backs, we’ve got yours.’”
Moody plans to gather with local leaders around Florida and visit law enforcement offices to thank officers for their service. She chose her hometown of Plant City as her first stop to announce the launch of the campaign and brought all five Plant City commissioners, as well as City Manager and former Chief of Police Bill McDaniel, to PCPD headquarters for the event.
“As long as I’m the Attorney General and as long as these leaders are in office, you know that we will always support, protect and honor the men and women who said, ‘I choose to be a hero. I choose to stand on that line,’” Moody said. “We’ll never be able to fully repay you for making that decision, but we can say ‘Thank you.’ That’s what we’re here to do today.”
Moody gave credit to PCPD officers for their work and gave several officers commemorative coins for the occasion.
James Bradford, Plant City’s Chief of Police, said the initiative gives PCPD staff confidence knowing Tallahassee has its back.
“I think it’s important that law enforcement is recognized for the good work we do,” he said. “There are thousands and thousands of calls for service we respond to to help people. It never, ever hits the news about what we do, how we do it and the professionalism we show. For the Attorney General and the Thin Line Campaign to recognize all the good work, it bolsters law enforcement to go out and do it again and again. Sometimes without thanks, but we know people in Tallahassee are looking at us and supporting us. And that means the world to us.”
Groundbreaking ceremony for Herring Place
The plot of land soon to host the Herring Place office complex was the site of a groundbreaking ceremony on May 6 featuring its future tenants, city commissioners, members of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Plant City Main Street and more.
The plan is to build a pair of 3,200-square foot buildings for Sedita Kilton and Solution Source, Inc. with a targeted move-in date of November 2021. Mike Jemison of Solution Source said the buildings have been designed “to look like they should have been here the whole time” to blend with the general aesthetic of Plant City’s Historic Downtown district. Jemison added that green building techniques and solar power have also been incorporated for a more eco-friendly nature.
Nate Kilton, owner of Sedita Kilton, said teaming with Solution Source to occupy the space makes sense as the two companies “share the same core values” — including a passion for helping the downtown district grow and prosper.
“I’m very excited about the project we’re doing here,” Kilton said. “I love Plant City and have a real affinity for downtown.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony is expected to happen in November, though an exact date has not yet been established.
SFBH invests in nuclear medicine system
Nuclear medicine is the latest thing South Florida Baptist Hospital has added to help treat its patients as effectively as possible.
The hospital announced last week the purchase and installation of a new combined nuclear medicine-SPECT CT system, which helps physicians make more accurate decisions in planning for medical or surgical intervention, radiation therapy or evaluating tumors.” The machine combines elements of traditional nuclear medicine technology with the imaging technology of a CT Scan.
“Nuclear medicine can determine whether the heart, liver, thyroid and other organs are healthy and functioning properly,” the hospital said in a press release. “It can also help identify blood clots in the lungs and whether pain in the bones might be related to a hairline fracture, an infection or a malignancy. But unlike a CT Scan, nuclear medicine doesn’t offer clear, precise images or identify the specific part of the anatomy that may require a biopsy or intervention.”
The hospital said combining nuclear functionality with CT imaging can drastically shorten what was previously a several-day commitment into a single-day affair, reducing hospital stays or recurring visits for further testing.
“It’s like having two imaging tools in one,” Lee Silas, South Florida Baptist Hospital’s nuclear medicine coordinator, said in a press release. “It’s a major development that can give us greater knowledge about the patient’s condition and help ensure a more accurate diagnosis. The versatility and flexibility of being able to combine nuclear medicine and a CT scan is key.”
Optimist Club hosts Respect for Law Dinner, Youth Appreciation Ceremony
The Optimist Club of Plant City recently hosted a pair of events to show their support for various demographics in the community.
On May 3, the club hosted its annual Respect for Law Dinner at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center. This year’s honoree was Plant City Police Officer Shawnice Wiggins, who won the club’s 2021 Officer of the Year Award.
“The Plant City Optimist Club is proud to recognize Officer Wiggins and to support the Plant City Police Department,” Jeff Ogden, club president, said. “We feel it is important for the youth of our community to understand how these officers help keep our homes and businesses safe.”
Wiggins joined PCPD in January 2018 and has become a familiar face in the Historic Downtown district, where she patrols on foot daily and meets with merchants, residents and more. Wiggins is also involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Plant City and at the Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, where she works with area youths.
“Officer Wiggins’ work ethic, positive attitude, compassion, and overall dedication for service to the Plant City community are examples of what serving as a law enforcement officer should look like,” the club said in a press release.
On April 28, the Optimists hosted their annual Youth Appreciation Ceremony after COVID-19 prevented them from doing so at the usual time of October. This year, eight local high school students were honored at a breakfast event at Plant City High School celebrating their efforts in athletics, academics and community service.
The students who received awards that day are Ankit Patel, Cherish Glenn, Jackson Knotts, Brent Coton, Gracie Hinton, Lacie Collins, Jack Brooks and Ryan Smith.