New building unveiled

Yvonne Fry and Mark Ober were among the 360 guests at the 2012 Strawberry Festival Ball that showcased the new building that will soon host all the livestock for the festival, the Evelyn and Batista Madonia Agricultural Center, located on the festival grounds in Plant City.

Yvonne, president of Lines of Communication in Plant City and chairman of Hillsborough County Commission on the Status of Women; and Mark, Hillsborough County's state Attorney; said it was exciting to be in the much-anticipated building.

The ball is Plant City's biggest winter event and the kickoff to the annual Florida Strawberry Festival, which runs March 1 to 11.

New Fred's Market coming

Word is out that Fred and Tammy Johnson of Plant City will soon be opening their fifth Fred's Market restaurant, this time in the Riverview area. They have Fred's Market restaurants in Plant City, Lakeland, Winter Haven and Bartow, as well as two others — Manny's in Winter Haven and Johnson's BBQ in Plant City. The couple hopes to have the Riverview location open sometime in February or March.

Miles family still in car business

Plant City native Davey Miles has joined the Sparkman Automotive Group in Zephyrhills, at 36822 State Road 54.

Davey grew up in Plant City and is the grandson of the late Albert Miles, who ran Miles Motors for many years, located where the new courthouse now stands. Many residents remember the Barracuda sports car on that showroom floor.

Hospital honors volunteers

The South Florida Baptist Hospital Auxiliary honored approximately 100 volunteers at its Jan. 12 annual meeting for service to the community. It also installed new officers for 2012: Nancy Burke, president; Rayetta Stare, first vice president, Jean Smith, second vice president; Jane Kennett, secretary; and Anna Reitz, treasurer.

Dottie Pollock was named Auxilian of the Year, and the organization presented a check for $41,000 to the hospital's Chief Operating Officer Steve Nierman. The funds will be used to purchase life-saving equipment for the hospital.