News

Window on Pasco, Dec. 29

TBO.com
Staff
Published: December 29, 2012

HUDSON - Most offices to close Monday and Tuesday

Most government offices, courts and libraries will close Monday and Tuesday to observe the New Year's Day holiday.

Pasco County Public Transportation buses will resume routes on Wednesday.

County recreation centers will close, but the parks and beaches will remain open to the public from dawn to dusk.

County libraries and the tax collector's office also will be closed today.

On Monday, the Resource Recovery Facility will be closed to the public, but will remain open to Pasco licensed commercial haulers. On Tuesday, the facility will close to the public and haulers.

Annual bird count takes place today

The West Pasco Christmas Bird Count is scheduled to take place today, coordinator Ken Tracey said.

Volunteers will fan out from Hudson to the Pinellas County line and east to the J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park area.

"We need backyard and neighborhood reports of any birds seen that day," Tracey wrote in an email. "Species and numbers of each should be recorded, plus the neighborhood you are reporting from."

Reports can be sent by email to kftracey@verizon .net or leave a message at (727) 372-9640.

Reports are needed by Sunday.

Animal shelter adopts 79 pets

Pasco County Animal Services celebrated Christmas early last week with 79 pet adoptions during the first Empty the Shelter event Dec. 22.

Shelter Supervisor Kevin Mallory came up with the idea to have extended hours, from noon to 10 p.m., to help the goal of saving at least 90 percent of animals at the shelter.

The county agency waived adoption fees on qualifying animals. Results exceeded the goal of 50 adoptions.

For more information about adoptions or to volunteer, contact Education Coordinator Judy Gregory at educationoffice@pas cocountyfl.net or (813) 929-1212.

Pasco jobless rate remains at 9 percent

The Pasco unemployment rate remained steady at 9 percent for November, according to latest figures from the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.

The jobless number remains unchanged from October.

About 11.6 percent of the Pasco workforce had been without jobs in November 2011.

The Pasco figure remained above the Florida average of 8.1 percent for November and the national average of 7.7 percent.

Cold front to bring rain to area Saturday

A large cold front is headed to the Gulf of Mexico and will likely bring some rain for the weekend, according to News Channel 8 meteorologist Steve Jerve.

However, he said the forecast looks good for celebrating the New Year.

The chance of rain for Saturday rises to 60 percent, Jerve said, and then cooler air will follow that.

The skies should be mostly sunny for New Year's Eve and the next day, with highs in the mid-70s and lows in the upper 50s.

Detention deputy accused of punching jail inmate

A detention deputy at the Land O'Lakes Jail faces a battery charge after he punched an inmate, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office reported.

Philip Bruce Walters, 45, was arrested this week at the jail and later released on $500 bond.

The alleged battery happened about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when Walters went into the inmate's cell, grabbed him by the neck and punched him in the head, an arrest report said.

The inmate was left with a bruise, swelling on the left side of his forehead and abrasions on his neck, the report said.

Witnesses said the inmate did nothing to incite the attack, the report said.

Walters initially denied there was an altercation, but later said the inmate became aggressive toward him and he had to push him back onto his bunk, the report said.

Port Richey Rotary visits rehab center

For the third year in a row, the Rotary Club of Port Richey visited Windsor Woods Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Hudson on Christmas morning to bring gifts and spread cheer among recuperating seniors, club spokesperson Tekoa Bean said.

Nine Rotarians from the club, along with more than a dozen family members, were welcomed by staff and residents.

The visitors distributed blankets, toiletries, socks, candy and snacks during Christmas morning breakfast.

The goodwill group included Bean, Melissa Fahy, Rachel Moore, club president Patrick Gallagher, Michelle Palisi, Perry Bean, Wayne Berryhill and Rob Aguis.

Last month during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Rotary club had donated 150 pounds of food to the King of Kings Church in honor of World Food Day and long-time Rotarian Dick Kauffman.

Lighthouse is selling large-print calendars

Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind is selling large-print calendars for $10 at its store at 8610 Galen Wilson Blvd.

A portion of sales will help fund the many free programs the Lighthouse offers.

For information, call the Lighthouse at (727) 815-0303.

SPCA Food-Raiser coming Sunday

An SPCA Food-Raiser is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, at the Stadium Restaurant and Lounge, 2349 Seven Springs Blvd.

The Suncoast Browns Backers club is sponsoring the event to encourage people to drop off donations of cat and dog food for the SPCA Suncoast. The animal shelter also can use items such as pet beds, liquid laundry detergent, garbage bags, blankets, cash or checks made out to SPCA Suncoast.

Pasco bank burglary may be related to others

Pasco County deputies are investigating a bank burglary in Wesley Chapel on Christmas Eve that may be related to other similar bank burglaries in the Tampa Bay area on the same date.

At around 4 a.m., deputies say a black male suspect smashed a window, entered the Heritage Bank on 28909 State Road 54, and pried open a cabinet.

No money was taken, deputies say.

The suspect was wearing a white hoodie sweatshirt, pink gloves and a dark-colored mask, deputies say.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pasco Sheriff's Office Crimes Tip line at (800) 706-2488.

Man dies in crash on Christmas Day

A 20-year-old Spring Hill man was killed early Christmas Day when he drove off the road and overturned in Pasco County.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Ronald Ray Foxworth was traveling westbound on State Road 52, approaching Secretariat Road in Land O'Lakes, when he drove onto the shoulder.

His car then overturned and Foxworth, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the car, which came to rest against a barbed wire fence.

Foxworth died at the scene, the FHP said.

The crash is being investigated.

Hospital, workers raise $19,000-plus at Heart Walk

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point announced that its 16 teams raised $14,670.39 in the American Heart Association Tampa Bay Heart Walk.

In addition, the Hudson-area hospital made a $5,000 donation to the Heart Walk.

The Volunteers with Heart team raised the most at $3,194.71. Other top teams include Admin Team $2,379.80, Heart of ALL Hearts $1,737.21, The Red Hearts $1,576.45, Hearts Afire $1,212.89 and Heart of the Class $932.49.

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