FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2024
VOLUME 11, NO. 38
CELL TOWER CONSTRUCTED WITHOUT PROPER PERMIT
Will the city approve plans for the already-built cell tower? MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER
A 185-foot cell phone tower, owned by Ignite Wireless, LLC and erected in spring 2022 on the CSX right-of-way near the corner of Sydney and Turkey Creek Roads, is under scrutiny by city officials due to the company’s failure to submit a site development plan to Planning and Zoning prior to construction in addition to the
tower’s noncompliance with zoning regulations and aesthetic standards. The Plant City Code Enforcement Board heard arguments Tuesday night regarding the $250,000 project, which was not permitted and violates several provisions in the municipal code, officials said.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL 2024 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL FLORIDA ENDS WITH ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING YEAR
MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER
The 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival may have been “Out of This World,” but it’s now out of here. The annual festival may have officially wrapped up its 11-day run on Sunday, March 10 but the memories made will linger in the hearts and minds of all those who attended the event for years to come. Let’s not forget Tampa resident Franches Schnell, who won the Stingray Chevrolet Corvette raffle and will soon be driving a brand new Chevrolet Corvette 3LT. Festival attendance this year was 634,779, a figure that exceeded last year’s record-shattering 606,116 attendees. That wasn’t the only record broken. The community supported youth in agriculture by puurching their swine, steer and plants for a whopping total of $1,934,839.21.
“I want to thank the community for coming out and once again supporting the Florida Strawberry Festival,” said Florida Strawberry Festival President Kyle Robinson. City commissioners shared their appreciation for the festival at Monday night’s commission meeting. “We’re proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” said Commissioner Michael Sparkman, who also mentioned negotiations were underway to secure additional parking lots for next year’s festival. Officials are already working on ways to improve the guest experience for next year. One of their goals is to replace a tent with an airconditioned building. The 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival will be held Thursday, February 27 through Sunday, March 9.