Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Googlemap user johnray2 created a map of Plant City Places of Interest.

View Larger Map  

Now you can easily find your way to Dinosaur World, the 1914 Community Center, the Whistle Stop Cafe, the Plant City Skate Park, and Knott’s Hardware Store.

Nine year old Jordan Hays was killed at the Plant City Christmas Parade. He was walking alongside his church’s float and tossing candy to the crowds when the horrible tragedy happened. He got caught under the wheels of the float as he reached for more candy to throw.

Parade rules say children younger than 10 should ride on the floats rather than walk alongside “if at all possible.”

Plant City investigated the death, and have a good handle on what happened:

• Jordan “Booka” Hays was too young to walk the parade route.
• The float’s design partly was responsible for his death.
• The boy’s death was preventable but was not caused by parade spectators crowding the float.
• Rescuers responded to the accident in a reasonable amount of time. Paramedics reached Hays in less than six minutes.
• No reckless behavior led to the death.
• Other safety recommendations posed for consideration include a shorter parade route, capping the number of parade participants and moving the Christmas Parade from night to day. It also recommends city officials ban the distribution of beads and candy in parades.

If I am encouraging or even allowing my ten year old child to walk in a parade, I am personally going to be right there making sure nothing happens. If the float setup looks funky or dangerous, she’s not walking near the thing. She certainly won’t be heading toward a wheel to grab more trinkets. Yeah, hindsight is 20/20, and we can chalk this up to a horrible, terrible accident.

It sounds to me as if parade organizers and city leaders did their parts in preventing this death. Simply put, those adults on and around the float did not properly supervise the child. Unfortunately, Plant City doesn’t have the guts to say that (maybe because it’s a church float?). In fact, the city is nearly begging to be take some of the blame.

In a unanimous vote Monday night, Plant City commissioners decided to ban distribution of candy and beads at parades.

That’s just crazy. What kind of lame parade will that be? What kid is gonna want to go watch a parade to watch old people drive by, with no chance of getting even a butterscotch? Why not just kill the entire affair instead?

Banning candy is not going to stop another kid from walking in the wrong spot. I wouldn’t think I have to spell this out, but… Stopping kids from walking in the wrong spots will stop another kid from walking in the wrong spot.

Jerry and Connie Hays have created a foundation in memory of their son called Jordan’s Wish, which will collect toys for less fortunate children. Plant City businessman Johnny Knotts, one of the first to reach Jordan after the accident during the Christmas parade, has volunteered to collect donations, including cash, checks, toys or stuffed animals, at his hardware store. Donations and toys can be dropped off at Knotts Trading & Supply at 314 S. Collins St. in Plant City.

The Hays family has also established a trust fund for monetary donations at Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union. Checks can be made payable to Jerry D. Hays Jr. or Connie L. Hays and dropped off at any credit unit branch, or mailed to Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, Attention: Member Service Support, P.O. Box 11904, Tampa FL 33610.

Food and business will come together in Plant City, Fla. as the Fifth Annual Community Expo and Ninth Annual Taste of Plant City combine forces on Thursday, May 3, 2007 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Previously held on separate dates, the two events have combined for one full day of food, meals and family fun along with the latest products and services from Plant City businesses. It all takes place at the John R. Trinkle Center at the Plant City campus of Hillsborough Community College, 1206 North Park Road. All of the proceeds from the Ninth Annual Taste of Plant City will benefit the United Food Bank of Plant City, Inc. to help feed Eastern Hillsborough County’s hungry families. Admission to the Taste of Plant City is $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

All information about these events can be found at www.plantcity.org. Questions about the event can be directed to info@plantcity.org or to the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce at 813-754-3707. Thanks so much for your interest in the Community Expo and the Taste of Plant City.

The annual Plant City Pig Jam is this Saturday, November 18.

Do you make the best BBQ? If you think you do, or if you just like to eat great BBQ, come to the 4th Annual Plant City Pig Jam State BBQ Championship, brought to you by the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce.  Pig Jam has been sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS).

Prizes will be awarded in each category with professionals vying for the $3,000 Grand Champion Award, $2,000 for Reserve and cash prizes through 10th place in each of the four food categories (BBQ Ribs, BBQ Port, Beef Brisket and Chicken). Prizes will also be awarded in the amateur and kids’ competitions. Proceeds of the Pig Jam will benefit chamber programs. 

The general public has the opportunity to sample some of the best BBQ in the country!  Not only will you find great BBQ, there’s a lot more to enjoy.  While grills will be busy from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., there will be a rock-climbing wall; moon walks snow cones and cookies plus a host of additional activities for children.  A live band will be will be playing from 11:00 am-5:00 pm.

It all happens this Saturday, November 18th at the Randy Larson Softball Four-Plex (watch the volume), 1900 South Park Rd/1401 Albertsons Drive.  Parking is $3 per vehicle and admission is FREE!

Go get some of that world-class BBQ this weekend.

I would imagine that carving a face into a strawberry might be fairly difficult. But that doesn’t stop Plant City from running with it. So, what happens when you carve a strawberry instead of pumpkin? You get a Jack-o-Berry. Or in Plant City, a jackobury.

As I sit here and attempt to write dorky folk songs on my ukelele with sordid visions of Tiny Tim dancing through my otherwise uncluttered brain, I am going to pimp my band.  Specifically we have a show at Paul’s Tattoos in Plant City on September 9th.  It’s an all day thing, 9 bands, the show starts at 1pm.  We’ll probably go on at 7ish, but knowing how shows work, I would also like to add that my prediction is probably wildly inaccurate.

I’ve been remiss in writing anything here because I’ve been simultaneously trying to figure out my new job, record an EP and get the band whipped into gig shape.  So please, support the local music scene (I know, Plant City is far, quit whining) and come out and see a rockin’ show.  You can find out more about Ghost Town Gridlock at the myspace.  We’re not quite up to JGLB standards, but if my drummer keeps slacking I might have to borrow Ray Blade for a few shows.