PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE TAMPA TRIBUNE THE COURIER THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2004 SERVING PLANT CITY, FLORIDA in the NEWS The commission delayed $150,000 in funding for restoration of the Bing Rooming House. WE 3 NEW HOMES Plant City and Durant high schools will be in new football districts next season. PmE 18 PRSRT STD U. S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT NO. 6238 IANKS EC IAL HANKS This Thanksgiving, Two Plant City Families Are Especially Thankful By TONY MARRERO tmarrero@mediageneral.com The Meeks and the Pfotenhauer/Toole families won't appear to be any different than thousands of other Plant City families when they sit down to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner together. In most ways, they're not different. But in the past year, these two families have seen big changes. It hasn't always been easy, but both agree they have more to be thankful for than ever before. k 1 111 BRWGG Ann Boyd received the Hillsborough County Hispanic Herritage Commit- tee's Hermana Award. INDEX .1 4:i k : I This Thanksgiving, Savanna Toole, left, will hear the voices of her family in a way she never could before June, when surgeons implanted a device that radically improved her hearing. Shown with Savanna is her sister, Linsey Toole, and her parents, John and Karen Pfotenhauer. CALENDAR Miracle Of Sound CLASSIFIED CROSSWORD HUE 20 FAMILY LIVING SmE I SPORTS pUE i This year, Savanna Toole will hear Thanksgiving grace in a way she hasn't in all of her 15 years. She might not understand all of the words she's not that far along yet. But the quiet teenager and her family will remember Thanksgiving 2004 as the first time that they give thanks for what they call Savanna's "mira- cle." Savanna was born deaf because of a damaged auditory nerve. She has used a traditional hearing aid that gave her a little benefit. Though she has some ability to communicate verbally, she is difficult to understand and has always relied on sign lan- guage to communicate. In June, she underwent major surgery for a cochlear implant, a cutting-edge device that by See TOOLE, Page 17 TONY MARRERO/Staff photos The Meeks family will celebrate their second Thanksgiving since the adoption of their three newest family members. The Meeks family includes, from left, Caitin, Michael, Don, Jonathan, Terilynn, Nicholas and Brant. More To Love In the midst of what they thought would be a tragedy, the Meeks family also found a reaffirmation of decisions they've made that changed their fantily forever. In a football game on Nov. 20, Brant Meeks, the 15-year-old son of the Rev. Don and Terilynn Meeks, took a hit that doctors at first feared could leave him para- lyzed. Paramedics rushed the kicker for the Antioch Redskins to Brandon Regional Hospital. Not long after, some 50 people were in the waiting room, including pastors from three different churches, praying for Brant's recovery. Tears ran down faces, Terilynn said. Then, "they took him off the backboard and he walked out of the hospital," she said. "It just See MEEKS, Page 16 SRHI Calhoun Retires As City Recreation, Parks Director IN THE TRIBUNE Here's a preview of what you'll find in The Tampa Tribunes Plant City section Saturday. L) Penny, a golden retriever- collie mix, is a familiar sight in the halls of the 180-bed Health Center of Plant City. SERVED CITY SINCE 1975 By TONY MARRERO tmarrero@mediageneral.com Plant City's Recreation and Parks Depart- ment director, Richard "Cal" Calhoun, who has served the city for 30 years, has submitted his retirement. City Manager David Sollenberger made the official announcement at the city commission's Nov. 22 meeting that Calhoun submitted a letter stating his retirement effective Nov. 15. Calhoun's retirement comes as he faces charges that he molested a 17-year-old Tampa boy. He had been on paid administra- tive leave since he was arrested in July. Recre- ation director Jack Holland has served as interim recreation and parks director. Calhoun is charged with showing obscene material to a minor, performing an unlawful sex act with a minor and performing a lewd and lascivious act on a minor. He is free on $3,000 bail. No trial date has been set. His attorney, Ed Suarez of Tampa, was out of town this week and couldn't be reached for comment. Calhoun did not return calls seeking comment. But in July, he told The Courier, "I have done nothing inappropriate with this young man and I am hopeful that the truth will come out. During my career as a recrea- Calhoun tion official with the city, I have a long history of helping children and working with the youth in our community." Sollenberger said Calhoun's retirement letter made no mention of the case. Personnel records show that Calhoun, an Ohio native, worked as a security officer and day care camp leader before he was hired by Plant City in 1975. He most recently earned $68,828. City officials credit Calhoun with having the foresight to stay ahead of the city's growth so that its recreation and parks needs are met. "He did a wonderful job for the city," said city Commis- sioner Bill Dodson. "Our recreation department doubled in size as the population doubled." "He's really going to be missed," said Mayor Mike Sparkman. "He's done a tremendous job and leaves a legacy of good, hard work." Sollenberger said Tuesday that he could have a plan for the search for Calhoun's replacement as early as next week. Holland, who has 20 years of experience with the city, informed Sollenberger Tuesday afternoon that he is interested in the job. I Ill f