🌱 Plant City Police Officer DUI Arrest + St. Pete Pier NYE Bash

Hello, hello. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and Happy Holidays! I'm back in your inbox to walk you through everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Today's briefing includes updates on...

• A Plant City police officer was relieved of duty after being arreste for DUI on Christmas Eve.
• St. Pete Pier's New Year's Eve bash is returning Dec. 31 at 3 p.m.
• Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski recently discussed returning to the Bucs.

But first, today's weather:

Decreasing clouds and cold. High: 46 Low: 35.

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Here are the top stories in Tampa today:

1. A Plant City police officer was relieved of duty following a DUI arrest on Christmas Eve, according to officials. Police said Gregory Nelsen was arrested Saturday after being involved in a single-vehicle crash near Riverview Drive and Van Fleet Road. (WFLA)

2. St. Pete Pier’s New Year’s Eve bash returns Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. and is free for the public to attend. Locals can enjoy live music, food, and more as well as live DJs, a giant disco ball, local food trucks, a champagne bar, and more. (Creative Loafing Tampa)

3. New reports claim former NFL star Rob Gronkowski contacted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last month about a possible return to the team, although the talks were not fruitful. He decided to remain retired for now. The Bucs are currently 6-8, but still hold a one-game lead in the NFC South. (Subscription: Tampa Bay Times, Free: BucsWire)

4. A Cuban grandmother celebrated Christmas with her family in Tampa at long last after finishing all her paperwork and becoming a lawful permanent resident in the United States. The grandmother fly in at Tampa International Airport. (ABC Action News)

5. The Grove at Wesley Chapel has opened The B&B Grand Screen experience with specials screens for film fans to enjoy. B&B is located at 6333 Wesley Grove Boulevard. You can reserve tickets in advance online. (That's So Tampa)

Today in Tampa:

• Christmas And Cigars at Rose Bar Tampa. (5 p.m.)
• Night Of A Million Lights at Island H2O Water Park. (6 p.m.)
• Empire Of Light (2022) at Tampa Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
• Bucs Football On Christmas Night at MacDinton's Irish Pub. (8 p.m.)
• Kelly Price Performing Live Christmas Night at Avalon Event Center. (9 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Clean Recovery Center shared: "If you or someone you love is struggling during the holidays, we can help." (Clean Recovery Center via Instagram)
• Gigglewaters shared: "Merry Christmas from the GiggleCrew!! Whether you're done with your festivities, need a break from all the family time or don't have anywhere to spend the holiday, we'll be here for you. We love our holiday regulars and will be there to celebrate with you every year." (Twitter)
• Creative Loafing Tampa has shared its list of "The 25 most-anticipated Tampa Bay bars and restaurants opening in 2023." (Creative Loafing Tampa)
• The 2023 Manatee County Fair kicks off on Jan. 12, 2023, and will run through Jan. 22. This year’s theme is “What a Sight to See in 2023." (Tampa Bay Newswire)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update!

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tampa Daily? Contact me at SouthTampa@Patch.com