FREE • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
VOLUME 11, NO. 12
PLANT CITY POLICE HOLD PROMOTION AND AWARDS CEREMONY Officers are promoted to leadership roles and officers and civilian recognized for heroic acts of life-changing service and hard work.
MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER
On Thursday, September 14, the Plant City Police Department (PCPD) hosted a promotion and awards ceremony, attended by officers, their families and community leaders. The promotions were necessary following Police Captain David Mill-
lich’s retirement after 21 years of faithful service to the citizens of Plant City, which caused a ripple effect that allowed multiple officers to be promoted to more senior roles. As per tradition, Millich received one uniform, a “retired” PCPD badge, ID card and wallet and his service fi earm.
PLANT CITY WINS REDMAN CUP MATCHUP OVER DURANT
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FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCES THEME FOR 89TH ANNUAL EVENT The annual event is “Out of This World!”
MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER
TAYLOR JENKINS SPORTS WRITER
The Raiders escaped with a 17-14 victory over the Cougars on Thursday to claim their first edman CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Cup victory since 2020.
The Florida Strawberry Festival announced the theme for its 89th annual event – “Out of This World!” “The sky’s the limit,” said Florida Strawberry Festival President Kyle Robinson. “Our board of directors, staff and maintenance crew have been hard at work this summer planning and preparing an ‘out of this world’ experience for all our guests. We look forward to welcoming visitors from far and wide to BerryFest24!” A new theme is created for each year’s Festival to offer the event’s more than 600,000 visitors a glimpse of the experience they will have at the 11day event that celebrates the strawberry harvest in Eastern Hillsborough County. It also unifi s vendors, FFA chapters, organizations, corporate partners and exhibitors, who cre-
ate parade fl ats and displays throughout the event. The Festival’s strawberry character featured in each year’s theme artwork is an iconic part of the event’s branding and advertising efforts. In this theme’s artwork, he wears sunglasses, waves a peace sign, and holds a plate of strawberry shortcake as he stands in front of a UFO. “The Festival’s atmosphere is like no other,” said Robinson. “Seeing families gather, volunteers serving and the Plant City community coming together year after year is extraordinary. There’s no place on Earth quite like the Florida Strawberry Festival!”. The 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival takes place February 29 - March 10. For more information about the Florida Strawberry Festival visit florida trawberryfestival. com, Facebook, Instagram and X (#berryfest24).