Arcadian Man Lands Big 'Shark'
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“Serving DeSoto County since 1887” TILLIE BROWN TURNS 106 A birthday bash was 1 held for Tillie Brown who recently R( JA 1 ) IAIN turned 106! Thursday, NovemberRCADIAN 7, 2013 - 24 pages / 50 cents A PAGE 11 A section of the Sun City delays Arcadian man lands decision on pay hikes big ‘shark’ on TV show By STEVE BAUER ARCADIAN ASSISTANT EDITOR By SUSAN E. HOFFMAN The Arcadia City Council again ARCADIAN EDITOR tabled any action regarding raises given to 22 city employees by former ARCADIA — Within 48 hours of his city administrator Judith Jankosky. appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank” on Instead, they asked city staff to inves- Friday, Johnny Georges had received tigate potential legal ramifications hundreds of of reversing the raises, recommend phone messages, SEE THIS changes to the city personnel manual more than 10,000 and search for specific written ratio- e-mails, and 15 EPISODE nale given by Jankosky for the raises. marriage propos- Several council members ex- als— complete To see the episode of Shark Tank that pressed frustration over the situation with resumes. Jankosky had created, forcing them Georges’ life has featured Johnny Georges on Nov. 'i. to choose between giving pay raises been a whirlwind to some while excluding others, or since “guest shark” 1, visit http://abc. go.com/shows/ revoking the pay hikes including John Paul DeJoria employees who may have deserved a agreed to invest in shark-tank. You can watch the entire pay hike. Johnny’s company, “I’m concerned not that these Tree T-Pee. episode or just an excerpt with Johnny people aren’t deserving, but what On Friday night, kind of methodology was used to more than 200 Georges’s segment. You can also see his determine these raises,” Councilman people turned A I L,, Ii Joe Fink said. “I hate the thought of audition at this site. ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, [email protected] out for Georges’ taking these raises away, but it was screening party Pastor Brian Russell of Pine Level United Methodist Church, on stage with Johnny Georges after clear there was no money to spend at Pine Level United Methodist Church his appearance on “Shark Tank” was shown, comments that “shark” John Paul DeJoria’s phone call on pay increases. I prefer we fix the for a barbecue dinner before watching actually rolled over to voice mail while Georges was addressing the audience. personnel manual so this never the show. Georges appeared in the last happens again.” segment, so the audience had a chance Counciman Keith Keene agreed to see how demanding the sharks were, in an orange grove — not to mention O’Leary asked why not price them at with Fink, saying, “This puts the and how much the other entrepreneurs the savings in energy to run the pumps. $12, leaving some profit for middlemen council in a very awkward position. I wanted from them. In his audition tape, he said the Tree to sell and distribute the T-pees? want to make sure we’re in a proper When Georges finally appeared in T-Pee “is a no-brainer, but farmers “I’ve never done that. I’ve always tried legal position as well. We have to be the last few minutes, he explained how call it the smart choice.” He asked for to be right. I make a dollar off each cautious here.” the Tree T-Pee — which looks like a $150,000 investment for a 20 percent one.” Two council members were vocal in big inverted plastic flower pot — helps interest in the company. But O’Leary said, “I can’t get involved their opposition to the raises, saying protect young trees from frost, keeps But shark Kevin O’Leary questioned with you because I need to be able to it was unfair to employees who didn’t irrigation water directed at the roots why he sold them for only $5 each. sell it for $12 at least. I’m out.” receive a pay hike and the potential (along with fertilizer), prevents feeding Georges answered, “Because I’m That’s when DeJoria — whose fortune ramifications approval could have on and watering the weeds, and saves 80 working with farmers, and they’re not percent of the irrigation water needed buying one: they’re buying 10,000.” SHARK | 2 DECISION | 16 The end of an era By STEVE KNAPP family and a lot of kids to mentor. It’s a After his final game as Head ARCADIAN SPORTS DIRECTOR countless number of kids that he gave rides home after practice and tons of Coach of the DeSoto County As Monty McLeod walked off the food he’s bought over the years for his Middle School football field following the season players, or his “sons” as he calls them. finale for the DeSoto County Middle Panthers, McLeod Even in the final four minutes of his last thanks his team for School, there was a sadness hovering game, his mind was on his players. He over him. It wasn’t because his team their effort given kept asking everybody on the sidelines, in their final game. lost their final game to Hardee 16-14. “Have you played tonight?” He wanted , s McLeod is 78-11 in The sadness came from knowing his . T7 to make sure everybody got a chance to his career as the coaching career was over. “I’m tired, y 1 be in the last game of the season. 1 , Panthers coach, just plain tired,” McLeod said. With a “I’m going to miss everybody, my including a 6-2 record of 78-11 as the Panthers’ coach, coaches, players, parents other coaches, record this season. he has given a lot of his time and everybody that I’ve come to know from energy to the program. coaching,” he said. McLeod has coached for 43 years. That is a lot of time away from his ERA | 21 ARCADIAN PHOTO BY STEVE KNAPP, [email protected] Arcadian 50¢ PIE IN THE FACE: Memorial Elementary students dish it out to faculty, staff ............................... 3 VETERANS DAY: DeSoto plans a parade, ceremony for Monday .......................................... 12 INSIDE TEE UP FOR WOUNDED VETS: Golf tourney to help Independence Fund Nov. 16 ........................... 16 Editorial ...............4 Police Beat ............8 Family Album .........10 Sports ...............13 7 @'05252"51621 6 Calendar ..............6 Obituaries .............9 Religion ..............10 Agriculture ...........17 Arcadian | Page 2 www.sunnewspapers.net The Sun / Thursday, November 7, 2013 As he spoke, his cell phone buzzed and increased food production. By several times. Georges glanced at it Monday, DeJoria’s Facebook page SHARK and then returned to the audience. But led off with a congratulatory note to FROM PAGE 1 Pastor Brian Russell noticed the call Johnny Georges, and comments on the was from his new business partner, page praised DeJoria for investing in comes from Paul Mitchell hair products JP DeJoria. “It’s not every day you see Tree T-Pees. and Patrón tequila — told Georges, someone let a billionaire’s call go to During the summer, he traveled “What you’re doing is right and you voice mail!” he said. to Atlanta to meet with DeJoria and deserve a chance to make it big and do He did return DeJoria’s call after his representatives from Coca-Cola, which a lot of good. I’d like to be your partner, speech, and DeJoria told him, “Johnny, in May announced it is investing $2 Johnny. I’m going to give you every- you just changed the world.” million in Florida oranges, includ- thing you’re asking for because I like ing planting 25,000 acres of orange what you stand for.” Determined to keep his groves. While he can’t reveal details The church audience burst into ap- workingman’s roots yet, Georges said a proposal is being plause, cheers and a standing ovation worked out involving Coke, the World for their hometown boy. Since taping the episode on June 21, Wildlife Fund and the University Georges then addressed the au- Georges has been in constant motion. of Florida’s Institute of Food and dience, first thanking God, then his While before he was sworn to secrecy, Agricultural Science. family and friends, “and every farmer he can now say he and DeJoria have Georges has been securing patents here — my hat’s off to you guys. You bonded personally, because they both and trademarks to protect his products gave me work, and pride in what I do.” share an interest in water conservation all over the world — “in China, Brazil, ARCADIAN PHOTOS BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN, Mexico, 80 countries worldwide!” he [email protected] said. DeJorio is helping him with that. Johnny Georges relives his experience on On Monday morning, Georges said “Shark Tank” as he watches the premier broad- NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP he received a phone call from a sheik in cast of the episode in which he appears. Dubai. “I saw ‘United Arab Emirates’ on my cell phone, and I said, ‘I’m gonna Wesley, a car last summer, it was an The Board of County Commissioners of DeSoto County, answer this one.’” The sheik placed a 8-year-old Jeep that needed major substantial order for Tree T-Pees. work, most of which he and his son did Florida will hold a Public Workshop on Tuesday, November “I had no clue this was going to themselves. 26, 2013 at 9:00 AM or as soon thereafter as it may be happen,” he said. Since his appearance Georges continues to work at his well heard, in the County Commission Meeting Room 103, on Shark Tank, he’s gotten calls from all and irrigation business.