Smoke, odor linger from North Suncoast controlled burns

The Florida Division of Forestry says smoke and odor from two prescribed burns conducted this morning in the Withlacoochee State Forest will linger into the afternoon and evening.

The burns were in the Sugar Mill Tract of the forest in southern Citrus County and the Croom Tract in north-central Hernando County. Both of the fires are contained.

Don Ruths, a wildlife mitigation specialist and public information officer for the Withlacoochee Forestry Center, said the smoke and odor from the fires would be most noticeable in southwest Citrus and central Hernando counties, but could reach into western Sumter and northern Pasco counties.

Ruths said the Division of Forestry would be monitoring roads in the region for potential hazards caused by the smoke.

Times staff writer 

*

American Red Cross warns of phone scam

The Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross is warning military family members not to fall for a phone scam in which a person identifies themselves as a representative of the nonprofit, says a family member has been injured in the line of duty, then asks for private personal information.

Fleeing suspect who was shot, killed by Citrus deputies identified

CITRUS SPRINGS -- The Dunnellon man who deputies say fired at officers and a county school bus before being fatally shot was identified Monday by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.

Man won't return to prison for Citrus County car crash

OCALA -- The young man accused of killing two people in a 2004 Citrus County car crash pleaded no contest today to vehicular homicide charges. It's the same thing William Thornton did back in 2005. At that time, a judge sentenced him as an adult to 30 years in prison.

This time, however, Senior Circuit Judge William Swigert sentenced Thornton as a youthful offender. He received time served for three years, seven months and four days he has already spent in prison.

FDLE identifies man fatally shot by deputies in Crystal River

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement identified the man shot and killed along U.S. 19 in Crystal River on Monday as Dominic Giacobbe, 26, address unknown.

Brant James, Times Staff Writer

*

Citrus County deputies shoot, kill man in Crystal River

Citrus County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man near U.S. 19 in Crystal River around 1 a.m. Monday after he refused to step off the road then stabbed a police dog.

Discovery on way to space station

A crowd gathers on the Safety Harbor Pier to watch the evening launch of the space Shuttle.  JIM DAMASKE   |   Times 

The space shuttle Discovery was visible from Florida's west coast when it lifted off shortly before dusk Sunday.

A bright orange mass shot upward over the horizon - moments after the scheduled launch time of 7:43 p.m. - followed by a billowing trail of smoke that turned pink, then white, in the setting sun's reflection.

The shuttle was supposed to go up Wednesday but was postponed to give NASA engineers time to repair a leaky hydrogen gas venting system.

The seven-member crew is on a 13-day mission to the international space station.

- Rita Farlow, Times staff writer

Troopers warn of fog conditions tonight

The Florida Highway Patrol is urging drivers to use caution on Tampa Bay roads tonight and into Tuesday morning.

In combination with smoke from wildfires, particularly in Polk County, the fog can lead to areas of low visibility for motorists, the FHP said.

The agency is offering these tips:

• Drive with low beams, as high beams reflect the fog.
• Slow down, as speed is a factor in fog-related crashes.
• Watch for slow-moving or parked vehicles.
• Use wipers and defrosters.
• Use the right edge or painted markings on the road as a guide.

-Luis Perez, Times staff writer

Lose an hour of sleep, gain an hour of light

The change to daylight saving time officially occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday. If you haven't set your clocks ahead It's a good time to install new batteries in smoke detectors and other warning devices. Standard time returns Nov. 1. Find tips for helping your body adjust to the time change at Personal Best, our health blog.

Memorial service for former USF player lost in the Gulf

Update:

More than 1,000 were at the service which ended about 4:30 with a release of doves. Guests included Nick Schuyler, a former teammate of Bleakley's at USF and the sole known survivor of the wreck. Outside the church, hundreds listened to the memorial through loudspeakers.

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Half an hour before the memorial service for Will Bleakley was set to begin, the pews  have filled to capacity at Crystal River United Methodist Church.

More people are continuing to arrive, and the spillover crowd, numbering in the hundreds, is sitting outside listening to the ceremony on a public address system.

Bleakley, a 25-year-old Citrus County native, was one of three men missing since Sunday after their boat capsized in the Gulf of Mexico about 50 miles offshore. One man survived, Nick Schuyler, a former teammate of Bleakley's at USF.

Bleakley and two other men, former Buccaneer players Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper, have not been found despite lengthy searches by the U.S. Coast Guard and volunteers.

--  Times Staff