First Sergeant Aarik Karlson, US Army (RET), Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Instructor at Plant City High School, began a project to construct an obstacle course on the high school’s campus. Plant City resident, Candace Cieslo, former U.S. Army Captain and Georgetown University women’s basketball player, was named Executive Director for the Office of Faith for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Plant City Family YMCA’s annual Strong Leader Award was presented to Stingray Chevrolet owner Steve Hurley. City commissioners voted 5-0 to adopt a fiscal year budget of $148,534,399. City Manager Bill McDaniel gave City employees Tom Benjamin and Jennifer Forsberg City Manager coins as recognition for going above and beyond their duties; Benjamin for taking the risk to enter the Eastside Canal to remove obstructions, and Forsberg for acting quickly to put out a car fire. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came to G5 Feed & Outdoor on US 92 West to announce his “Second Amendment Tax Holiday.” The Plant City Economic Development Corporation gave its annual report at a commission meeting, in which data showed Plant City businesses saw an addition of 220 new jobs, which amounts to .9 percent. The city commission approved the purchase by PCPD of 27 Portable Vehicle Mitigation Barriers, three hauling trailers, and three manual haulers to place the barriers. The barriers will be set up at intersections or across roadways to protect crowds from during public events. Twenty-eight Strawberry Crest High School students were named semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program—more than any school in the state. The Norman McLeod American Legion Post #26 in Plant City revived its Auxiliary. Commissioners voted 5-0 to change an existing ordinance in order to permit murals in downtown according to certain guidelines. Historic Plant City Main Street held its Annual Oktoberfest at the end of the month. Plant City Fire Rescue held a push-in ceremony marking the beginning of service for their new ladder truck.
