Victim's family in bus rape case airs their side

TAMPA -- The attorney representing a 15-year-old alleged victim of sexual assault on a school bus said Saturday that video and audio tape of the attack will prove that what happened was in no way consensual.    

Responding to comments suggesting what occurred on the bus at Pinellas County's Dixie Hollins High School may have been little more than horseplay, Paul Kimsey, a Tampa attorney representing the victim, said the girl repeatedly told the boy "leave me alone,'' and resisted his advances.

Branden Allen, an 18-year-old football player at the school was arrested Thursday on sexual battery and false imprisonment charges.

Video and audio tape will substantiate the girl's version of events, and deputies have a confession, Kimsey said.

He added that the bus driver "lets kids ride home in boxer shorts,'' and left the students alone for 25 minutes.

Pinellas Sheriff's Deputies say the bus driver left the girl, Allen and two younger teammates alone while he went to round up other students going home around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday from after-school activities.

The two younger boys, Jermeil Douse and Jacolbi Williams, stood lookout while Allen molested the girl, according to deputies. They've been charged with being principals to sexual battery and false imprisonment.

Allen's mother, Trina Allen, told Bay News 9 the incident appears to have been less serious than it has been made out to be. 

"Honestly, all of this from what he is telling me is a big misunderstanding," she said. "I think horseplaying went a little too far. I mean I think when it all came out the young lady was embarrassed so I think is why it's come as far as it has." 

"The family wants the public to know this was not a consensual act,'' he said.      

  "This is a 15-year-old freshman,'' Kimsey said. "She didn't even know this kid. She didn't even know his name.''

-- Times Staff  Writer      

Spring Hill pedestrian killed in hit-and-run

SPRING HILL -- A 47-year-old Spring Hill woman died after being struck twice by vehicles on U.S. 19 late Friday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

An unknown vehicle was traveling north on U.S. 19 when it hit the woman, who had been walking in the outside lane. The vehicle fled the scene, FHP officials said.

She was knocked down, then hit again while on the roadway by a vehicle driven by Asja Atherton, 20, of Spring Hill, authorities said.

FHP officials don't have any information on the first vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-500-1240, extension 169.

The identity of the pedestrian is being withheld pending notification of her family.

-- Jessica Vander Velde, Times Staff Writer

Hernando emergency management director fired

    BROOKSVILLE -- Tom Leto, Hernando County's emergency management director, was fired this afternoon for having a romantic relationship with his secretary and overlooking the fact that she filed for more than $9,300 in overtime over the last two years -- time the county says she never worked.

    Leto, who has been on paid administrative leave since the end of March, failed to verify the time sheets of his secretary, Stephanie Anderson, misrepresented his relationship with her and lied to investigators as they examined allegations of wrongdoing, according to the notice of termination by County Administrator David Hamilton.

    While Leto is out of a job, he has not been charged with a crime at this point, although the prosecutor on the case said the door is still open to that possibility. Anderson has been charged with official misconduct and grand theft. She quit her job in April.

    Leto has been with Hernando County since 2003; he worked in various emergency management positions in Pinellas County for 12 years before that.

--Barbara Behrendt, Times staff writer

20-year veteran of Tampa police is laid to rest

Tampa police officers carry in the coffin of master patrol officer Victor Guerrero at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Tampa before this morning's funeral. Guerrero, a 20-year veteran of the Tampa Police Department and father of six, died in a motorcycle crash Thursday with a Pasco County government truck. [CARRIE PRATT | Times]
View more photos

TAMPA -- Tampa police Master Patrol Officer Victor Guerrero was remembered today as a respected man who valued his family and his police unit and served in both the Marines and the police department.

A bagpiper played as his casket was brought in and out of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Tampa for this morning's funeral, attended by about 400 Tampa police officers and about 200 others.

"Vic was just a very quiet man. The man was a good man," said Monsignor Laurence Higgins. "He did his work well."

Guerrero was killed Thursday when his motorcycle was hit by a Pasco County government truck.

During her remarks, Mayor Pam Iorio addressed Guerrero's wife, Lara, "It seems so unfair, Lara. I stood here before just two years ago wondering why such a kind and good person was taken from our lives," apparently referring to the death of the Tampa police officer who served as her driver. Iorio told the group to look back on Guerrero's life as the gift that it was. "We will never forget the public service and the goodness of a man named Vic Guerrero."

Police Chief Steve Hogue said that Guerrero chose to spend all of his police career patrolling the streets. "He could have chosen something with less danger, something with less stress. He chose that life."

After the service, Hogue presented Mrs. Guerrero a folded American flag while a Marine presented a second folded flag to Guerrero's oldest son, Michael.

Read about the accident that killed Guerrero: Officer killed in crash

View, sign guestbook

Justin George, Times staff writer

Woman killed, man hurt when struck crossing U.S. 41

Click to open larger map

MASARYKTOWN -- One person was killed and another seriously injured when they were struck trying to cross U.S. 41 at Bowman Road late Monday, Florida Highway Patrol officials said.

The pair was crossing the road at 11:07 p.m. when they were struck by a 2007 Chevrolet Impala headed north on U.S. 41, according to an FHP report.

Investigators said Jessica Redfern, 22, of 4150 Las Vegas Drive in New Port Richey was pronounced dead at the scene. Brian J. Stover, 21, of 5410 Trouble Creek Road was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition early this morning.

Charges against the Impala's driver, Andre Storr, 29, Spring Hill, have not been filed.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Controlled burn gets out of control

Firefighters from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission watch as a helicopter drops a load of water onto an advancing wildfire in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area as they battle a brush fire today in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area in Hernando County. The fire spread as wind carried embers across firebreaks and started additional fires. [RON THOMPSON | Times]

Do a good deed; see Disney on Ice for free

TAMPA -- Volunteers will be collecting canned goods tonight in exchange for free tickets to see the Disney on Ice "Princess Wishes" show for free this weekend.

The exchange benefits the "critically bare shelves" of America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay, organizers said. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted tonight from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. today outside the McDonald's Box Office outside the St. Pete Times Forum.

Ten cans are required per ticket, with a limit of four tickets per family. Organizers say the tickets are good for the best available seats on any performance tonight through Sunday. Here are this weekend's showtimes:

• Friday: 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday: 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Millions of state dollars earmarked for Tampa Bay

Despite deep cuts in spending, the state budget the Florida Legislature is expected to approve this week includes funding for some projects around the Tampa Bay area. Here is a quick look at some of them, by

PINELLAS

Pinellas County health clinic: $10-million
St. Petersburg College Government Institute: $2.5-million
Dunedin Gateway redevelopment project: $1.3-million
Willa Carson human resource center: $50,000

HILLSBOROUGH

USF student wellness/nutrition center: $14.9-million
Hillsborough County health clinic: $4.5-million
Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority: $2-million
Tampa Bay restoration $1-million
Hillsborough County drainage improvements: $700,000
Plant City Eastside canal stormwater plan: $500,000
Hillsborough County stormwater utility pilot project: $400,000
North Tampa water management: $300,000
Tampa Drew Park drainage repair: $100,000

PASCO

Pasco regional hurricane shelter: $2-million
Pasco Association of Retarded center: $678,209

HERNANDO

Hernando County health clinic: $14.2-million
Hernando shelter for disabled: $1.1-million
Brooksville water improvements: $190,000

Steve Bousquet, Times staff writer

Protests heat up against Hernando County Utilities Department

Pastor Tommy Mason holds up a protest sign outside the Hernando County Courthouse. [RON THOMPSON | Times]

Protesters showed up today at both the Hernando County Utilities Department on Wiscon Blvd. and at the Hernando County Courthouse, holding signs calling for the removal of workers disciplined earlier this week for racial harassment.

Two of the workers were suspended without pay and another was reprimanded for their actions.

Pastor Tommy Mason of Victorious Christian Life Ministries in Spring Hill wants stronger action taken against the county employees.

"This is 2008 and the African-American and Hispanic residents of this county don't need to be subjected to such treatment," Mason said.

Ron Thompson, Times staff writer

Hernando: Law Enforcement Torch Run

[Times photo | Will Vragovic]

Hernando County Sheriff Richard Nugent kicked off the start of the annual Florida Law Enforcement Torch Run Tuesday morning in the parking lot of Killingsworth Plaza at the corner of Candlelight Boulevard and Truck Route 50 in Brooksville.

Deputies and Brooksville police officers will carry the torch with some local special Olympians.

Fred Click, the Hernando County Coordinator for Special Olympics, said, "This is the biggest crowd we've ever had."

Brooksville OKs red-light traffic cameras

BROOKSVILLE -- Red-light traffic cameras received the green light from Brooksville officials Monday.

The Brooksville City Council voted 5-0 to approve a measure that would allow for red-light cameras to be installed at some of the city's busiest intersections. Brooksville will follow the lead of several other municipalities in the area, including Port Richey, which installed its first camera on March 19.

Motorists who run red lights would be photographed by the camera twice, as the vehicle approaches the light and then crossing the intersection. The cameras would also shoot a video, which would be available for the violator to view online.

A police officer will view the video and ultimately determine if the driver broke the law. If so, the driver would be sent a ticket, which would be a civil, not criminal, citation.

City officials will soon enter negotiations with American Traffic Solutions, a Scottsdale, Ariz., company, to determine which intersections could use the cameras; police Chief George Turner has already recommended five intersections to the city and company.

Greg Parks, regional vice president of ATS, said Monday it would be at least 90 days before the first camera was installed in the city.

Joel Anderson, Times staff writer

Jury acquits former basketball coach of exposure charge

BROOKSVILLE -- A Hernando County jury Monday acquitted a former Hernando High School basketball star and would-be coach of the school's boys basketball team on a misdemeanor charge that he exposed himself to an undercover police office in a park restroom in July.

Antonio "Tony" Vasquez, 48, of Brooksville was arrested by Brooksville police acting on complaints from citizens about inappropriate sexual conduct at Bud McKethan Park. Police set up an undercover operation at the park. According to the arrest affidavit, Vasquez approached a male officer in the men's room and exposed himself.

Vasquez was hired in May 2007 to be the new head coach at Hernando, but he said Monday that he never formally took the position. Vasquez had taught school, but did not coach, at Land O'Lakes High School in Pasco County in 2007 and was still an employee of the Pasco County School District when he was arrested. He said Monday that he had been suspended by Pasco and will ask to be reinstated to his job. Vasquez had been the coach of the girls basketball team at Pasco High until he resigned from the position in 2006.

Times staff writer

Guardsmen get a sendoff in Hernando

UH-60 Blackhawks fly over Brooksville this morning as people organized by redshirtfridays.org form the words "Thank You" on the ground for 80 members of the Florida National Guard's C Company, 244th Aviation Regiment (Assault), headed first to Fort Sill, Okla., for further training before deployment to Iraq. [WILL VRAGOVIC | Times]

Click here to see video of their departure.

Bob Herbst of Spring Hill waits with others standing in formation on the ground for the helicopters to fly overhead. More than 100 people helped spell out their gratitude for the soldiers to see as they flew past. [MAURICE RIVENBARK | Times]

Warm weather heading our way

Tired of all that cool weather we've been having lately? It's almost over, and just in time for the weekend, says Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay.

"After several days of unseasonably cool weather, a big warm up is ahead this weekend,'' Clay said. "There's only a slight chance of showers as a weak cool front passes to our north."

Before long you can start complaining about how hot it is.

Here are the details:

Friday   
Sunny and warmer
Rain     0%
Low     58    
High    82    

Saturday
Partly sunny, an isolated shower possible.
Rain  10%
Low    65   
High   83 

Sunday   
Partly sunny and warm, an isolated shower possible.
Rain   10%
Low    69 
High   84 

Ex-DCF spokesman indicted on child porn charges

TAMPA -- Former Florida Department of Children and Families spokesman Al Zimmerman has been indicted on federal charges of production of child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced today.

Zimmerman, 41, was arrested Feb. 1 on similar state charges and fired from his job. A federal complaint followed on Feb. 8.

Federal investigators accuse him of offering at least two teenage boys money to pose for nude photographs that would be sold in Germany. Zimmerman met one of the boys, a foster child, through his job, investigators said.

If convicted on the federal charge, Zimmerman would get a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. In the state case, he faces eight charges and could get up to 120 years in convicted.

Zimmerman is accused of committing the crimes between October 2004 and December 2007 in Hillsborough and Orange counties. He's being held without bail in a Citrus County jail.

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer

Hernando builder gets 20 years for bilking customers

Steven Bartlett, 41, owner of Coral Bay, clutches a wallet-sized painting of Jesus while listening to testimony at his sentencing hearing. Senior Circuit Court Judge William Swigert sentenced Bartlett to 20 years in prison this morning after a jury found him guilty of stealing thousands of dollars from hundreds of his customers.  [Keri Wiginton, Times]

BROOKSVILLE -- A judge sentenced Coral Bay homebuilder Steven Bartlett to 20 years in prison this morning after a jury found him guilty of stealing thousands of dollars from hundreds of his customers.

Bartlett, 41, faced a maximum 30 years behind bars with a minimum of 21 months. He apologized and asked for a lighter sentence so he could work to pay the millions of dollars in restitution that he owes his clients.

The judge's decision came after an hour of testimony from Bartlett's family members and friends who asked the judge to spare him the worst. Bartlett put his head in his hands and held a wallet-sized painting of Jesus as he listened to the testimony.

Check back for further updates. Click here for a preview of today's sentencing.

--John Frank, Times staff writer

Brooksville regiment begins deployment

[Will Vragovic | Times]

Matthew Brinker, 29, steals a kiss from his wife, Mary, 28, as they stroll around the tarmac after a ceremony at the National Guard Armoury in Brooksville Wednesday morning. Brinker is deploying to Iraq with the National Guard's C Company, 244th Aviation Regiment, for his first assignment overseas. "I'm proud of him," Mary Brinker said. The regiment will spend two months at Fort Sill in Oklahoma before heading to the Middle East.

Ruskin child found

Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies found the Ruskin boy who was apparently abducted by his father after the man had a fight with the boy's mother.

The father, Jason Davis, has been charged with domestic violence and interferring with child custody. He is being held in the Palm Beach County Jail, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said.

An Amber Alert was issued this morning for Jacob Wyett Davis, pictured at far left, a one-year, three-month old boy, and his father, Jason Travis Davis, also pictured.

They were found in Palm Beach County just before 1 p.m. today during a traffic stop, Carter said. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement had issued an alert for Davis' Mercury Mountaineer.

Jason Davis and the boy's mother, Cecilia Guerra, got into an argument this morning that led to a physical fight. Guerra left the home the three share at 217 Sixth Ave. SW in Ruskin, at 3:20 a.m. and went to a store to use a phone to report the altercation. Upon her return, she discovered the boy and his father missing.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued the Amber Alert because Jason Davis threatened during the altercation that he would take his son and harm him.

This is the second time that Jason Davis has abducted his son. Just over a year ago, he took with his son and was later apprehended after being spotted by state troopers on Interstate 10 in Tallahassee.

Ken Walker, Times staff writer

Weekend forecast: Brace for a cold front

Enjoy the warm weather while you can; a cold front is coming. Highs are expected to be in the 80s today, but Sunday temperatures are expected to dip to the 60s with a high in the mid 70s, said Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay. The cooler weather will continue next week, Clay said -- temperatures Monday might not reach the 60s until afternoon.

One bright spot: There's not much rain in the forecast.

Here's the latest detailed breakdown:

Arrest made in double murder in Masaryktown

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office has arrested David Alexander Bostick (left) for the 2006 murders of Masaryktown residents Patrick and Evelyn DePalma. Bostick, who was a juvenile at the time of the stabbings, is a distant relative of the couple who he refered to as "Uncle Pat" and "Aunt Evelyn."

According to the police report, Bostick, a student at Freedom High School in Tampa, joined two others in running errands the weekend before Halloween 2006. They ended up at the DePalmas' home, and Bostick and another person, whom the DePalmas also knew, were let into the home. Bostick and the two individuals with him sat and talked to the couple, then one of them asked Bostick to go out to the car and get a cell phone.

When Bostick returned, the DePalmas were dead, stabbed numerous times. Bostick told sheriff's officials that one of the others had a large fixed-blade knife in a sheath. The other two began ransacking the house and Bostick joined them. He also carried out a garbage bag full of the victims' belongings. Bostick made the statements to a Hernando detective on Thursday. The other suspects will be named later after further investigation, according to the police report.

Now 18, Bostick is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Ocala. Click here to read previous coverage of the case from the St. Petersburg Times.

Barbara Behrendt, Times staff writer

(Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff Office)

Spring Hill man dies in single-car crash

SPRING HILL - A 27-year-old Spring Hill man was killed early Tuesday when he lost control of his vehicle as he sped down a hill.

Jovan Audreen Reese, of 7388 Holiday Drive, was heading north on Gonzo Road around 12:30 a.m. in his gold 2004 Chrysler when he came upon the crest of a hill, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. As the vehicle descended down the hill, authorities said, Reese hit the brakes but his car began to spin.

The car flipped twice, throwing Reese from the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reese sped through a stop sign and nearly hit a vehicle driven by a Hernando deputy before reaching the hill, according to the FHP and the Sheriff's Office. The deputy lost sight of the vehicle as it approached the top of the hill.

-- Times staff writer

All Children's Hospital passes 100 heart transplants

[John Pendygraft | Times]

Anthony, 4, the 100th transplant recipient from All Children's Hospital, gets a kiss from his foster mother, Melody Rodriguez, 47. Kristin Rosenberg, 36, a heart transplant coordinator, is at left.

ST. PETERSBURG -- All Children's Hospital has reached a milestone -- it has performed heart transplants on 100 children, more children than any other hospital in Florida.

Hospital staffers held a news conference today with Anthony, a 4-year-old boy in foster care, who recently received the 100th transplant. Anthony smiled and obediently said "cheese," for the cameras.

All Children's Hospital has been performing heart transplants since 1995. Out of the 100 children who received transplants, 87 went home alive from the hospital and 72 are still alive. All 100 would have died without a new heart, doctors said.

When the medical staff gets to see the children later, running around and playing, "that means the world to all of us," said Dr. Jeff Jacobs, the program's surgical director. 

Although the news conference was scheduled for today, All Children's actually performed its 101st heart transplant this weekend.

-- Curtis Krueger, Times staff writer

More rain coming after Sunday's record downpour

Mark Brusiloff of St. Petersburg throws his cast net Monday near the Pinellas Bayway.

[Scott Keeler | Times]

TAMPA -- Tired of the rain?  It's not over.

The fog that enveloped parts of the Tampa Bay area this morning is just the beginning of a damp Monday after Sunday's record rainfall, weather forecasters say.

In Tampa Sunday, a record-setting 2.05 inches fell at Tampa International Airport -- about four times April's monthly average of 0.41 inches, Reynes said.

The sun is expected to peek through this morning, but the sea breeze will move inland and bring thunderstorms with it, said meteorologist Nick Petro with the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see some heavy downpours develop," he said.

Despite a soupy morning and afternoon showers, forecasters say a more pleasant forecast is headed our way.

"We'll get sunshine," he said. "It's coming."

That's quite the departure from the weekend, when a slow-moving front joined heavy, pervasive low-level moisture resulting in a Sunday soaking.

"Basically, we had one of those incidents that covered the entire state," said meteorologist Anthony Reynes. "We haven't had that in a while."

Here's a glance at other area totals Sunday as projected by the National Weather Service in Ruskin:

Tampa International Airport -  2.05
Sarasota - 1.19
St. Petersburg (Albert Whitted Airport) - 1.33
St. Petersburg- Clearwater Airport - 2.25 inches
Ruskin - 1.41
Winter Haven - 5.11

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Suspect sought in Spring Hill bank robbery

SPRING HILL — Using K-9 units and a helicopter, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office was searching late Thursday for a man suspected of robbing the Bank of America branch at 6023 Spring Hill Drive.

Authorities said the suspect — described as a thin white male, about 6 feet tall, in his mid-20s, with long, wavy brown hair — walked into the bank about 4 p.m. wearing a mask made of black material and demanded money. Although no one was injured in the holdup, sheriff’s officials said the suspect did display a small handgun during the robbery.

After the holdup, the suspect was seen heading west from the bank on foot wearing a blue shirt, a blue hat and blue jeans; he was carrying a dark blue knapsack or backpack.

Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect was asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (352) 754-6830. If you wish to remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at (352) 797-8477.

-- Logan Neill, Times staff writer

Fatal wreck closes major Hernando County road

Photo: Traffic backs up on State Road 50 after a fatal accident. [WILL VRAGOVIC | Times]

UPDATE at 1:45 p.m.: The Florida Highway Patrol now confirms at least one fatality from the wreck. The westbound lanes of State Road 50 remain closed, and traffic is being detoured to Ovenbird Road to get around the crash scene.

A silver Lincoln was making a left onto State Road 50 from Ovenbird Road, when it was struck by a Chevy Silverado pickup truck traveling westbound on SR 50 in the left lane, according to FHP Cpl. Earl Frazier. The driver of the Lincoln was killed in the accident.

SPRING HILL -- A possible fatal car accident has shut down a major Hernando County thoroughfare in Spring Hill, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The accident is blocking westbound State Road 50 just east of Deltona Boulevard.

Preliminary reports from the scene indicate a possible fatality and at least one other seriously injured person.

Check back with tampabay.com for more information.

-- John Frank, Times staff writer

Eckerd to run foster care for Pinellas, Pasco

Eckerd Youth Alternatives will run foster care services for Pinellas and Pasco counties, the Department of Children and Families announced this afternoon.

For months, Eckerd, a Clearwater non-profit group, was competing with Camelot Community Care for the job. The DCF began considering the agencies after it decided not to renew its contract with Sarasota YMCA for foster care services. The YMCA came under intense scrutiny last year when a scathing report surfaced about its performance.

Eckerd takes over the $49-million contract July 1. With it comes the responsibility for 2,500 foster children in Pinellas and Pasco.

-- Nicole Hutcheson, Times Staff Writer

Bicyclists kick off annual Bike Florida

CLEARWATER -- A group of cycling advocates (above) -- wait for the drawbridge this morning at the Dunedin Causeway after cycling from the Ross Norton Park and Sports Complex where they camped overnight in Clearwater.

The ride kicks off the 15th annual Bike Florida, a weeklong camping tour in which cyclists will travel from Clearwater north to Dunnellon. For much of that trip, they'll be on "off-road" trails such as the Pinellas Trail, and they plan to use the Bike Florida event this year to highlight the need for more trails restricted to biking and walking.

Today's event will feature two longtime activists -- Bike Florida executive director Linda Crider and writer advocate Herb Hiller -- who 30 years ago called for cars to share the road with bikes. This year, they're calling for more trails.

-- Douglas R. Clifford, Times photographer

Delta to charge $3 fee to check bags at curbside

TAMPA -- Delta Air Lines will charge customers $3 a bag to check luggage at curbside, the airline said Friday.

The fee takes effect Tuesday at Tampa International and 10 other major airports, then rolls out at 75 more cities nationwide April 15.

"It's a business decision that reflects today's competitive landscape and cost pressures,'' said spokeswoman Susan Elliott.

Delta and Continental Airlines are the only major carriers that don't charge for curbside check-in. But Delta's fee will be $1 a bag higher than charges at American Airlines, United, Northwest and US Airways. The fee will be waived for the airline's elite-level customers, first-class and business-class fliers, and passengers who check in online.

Will the fee drive passengers from curbside to the ticket counter? "With the baby, probably not,'' said Peggy Braitsch, flying home to Cincinnati from Tampa on Friday with her 20-month-old granddaugher, Mary, in a stroller. "For me? It probably would have.''

One group certainly won't like the change: Prospect of Tampa skycaps working for Delta. Airlines keep the curbside check-in fees. Skycaps say the charges cut into their tips and reduce the number of bags checked at the curb. A group of skycaps in Boston has sued American Airlines, seeking restitution for lost tips.

-- Steve Huettel, Times staff writer

Centcom reins shift from admiral to lieutenant general

Admiral William J. Fallon (left) and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates stand during the presentation of the colors at MacDill Air Force Base today. The ceremony shifted oversight of Central Command, which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, from Fallon to Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey. Fallon retired after less than a year as head of CentCom after news reports that said he was at odds with President Bush about the U.S. strategy toward Iran. Fallon denied any friction but said the publicity made his continuing in the post untenable.

Fallon (left) receives the CentCom Flag from Sgt. Major Jeffrey Morin while relinquishing command as Gates looks on. Fallon handed the flag to Gates, who gave it to Dempsey, who handed it back to Morin. [Chris Zuppa | Times]

Weekend weather looking good

Better weather is on the way, just in time for the weekend, says Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay.

"We've had some active weather lately with several rainy days and numerous cold fronts since January,'' Clay said. "But it looks like that pattern has changed as we are in our more typical dry and warm weather.''

It's usually dry this time of year, through May, "and it looks like that pattern is about to take over with just a slight chance of a shower on the sea breeze," Clay said.

WNBA draft set for Palm Harbor resort

PALM HARBOR -- The Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club will host this year's Women's National Basketball Association draft, said Sheila Johnson, owner of the resort.

Johnson made the announcement during a brunch at the resort today. The draft will take place April 9 as a conclusion to a week of events associated with the women's league.

"It's huge," Johnson told a crowd of about 300.

Johnson, who owns the WNBA's Washington Mystics, bought the 900-acre golf resort in July last year. A co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, Johnson also owns resorts in Virginia and South Carolina.

-- Nicole Hutcheson, Times Staff Writer

Inspections ground two Delta flights at TIA

At least two Delta flights out of Tampa International Airport were canceled today as the airline began a voluntary inspection of wiring in some of its planes.

The cancellations come a day after American, the nation's largest airline, canceled 132 flights of its estimated 2,300 flights scheduled for today, spokesman Tim Wagner said. That was about 6 percent of American's schedule today after the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline canceled 325 flights on Wednesday.

American's cancellations Wednesday disrupted plans by hundreds of people at TIA. However, the airport's Web site lists no cancellations for American Airlines flights today. The Delta flights that have been canceled are: flight 1897, which was scheduled to depart for New York-LaGuardia at 10:40 a.m., and flight 1836, which was scheduled to depart for New York-JFK at 12:15 p.m. A Tampa airport spokeswoman said both of those flights use the type of McDonnell-Douglas aircraft that are being inspected.

Nationwide, Delta has not specified the number of flights it was canceling today. However, the Atlanta-based carrier said it began voluntarily reinspecting wiring on 117 MD-88 aircraft Wednesday night.

   -- Times staff and wire reports

Listen for the space shuttle tonight

If you hear two familiar sonic booms about 7 tonight, that means the space shuttle Endeavour is on its way back to Cape Canaveral for a 7:05 p.m. landing. NASA says it's hard to tell whether the sound of the booms will carry all the way to the Tampa Bay area, because it depends on atmospheric conditions.

The shuttle will fly over Florida's east coast en route to the Kennedy Space Center, unless weather delays the landing. In that case, NASA could choose to send Endeavour around Earth one more time, which would delay the landing about 90 minutes. For the later landing, the shuttle would take a different route, passing just south of Tampa Bay and across Florida, and we would almost certainly hear the booms.

Endeavour launched March 11 for a mission that included setting up a new Canadian-built robot on the exterior of the international space station, and carrying up the first part of a Japanese-built space lab.

Curtis Krueger, Times staff writer

Update: Pasco brush fire under control

Emergency officials evacuate shop owners along the west side of U.S. Highway 19 in Hudson as a large wildfire threatened buildings there this afternoon. [STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON | Times]

Update: The blaze was contained to a controlled ring left smoldering and smoking about midnight, fire rescue officials said. Evacuations were not expected Wednesday.

Road closures aren't expected, either, but authorities recommend that Hudson motorists pay special attention to area road signs.

HUDSON -- Traffic was snarled on U.S. 19 this afternoon as drivers slowed down north of Hudson Avenue to get through smoke billowing into the sky from a nearby brush fire that started during rush hour. Some pulled their cars over at local businesses to catch a glimpse of the blaze.

The fire began about 6:19 p.m. on a field at U.S. 19 and Joliet Street, said Lt. Gary Kling of the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

In all, about 20 acres burned. No one was hurt, and no buildings or homes were damaged. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the fire.

As the blaze raged, fire rescue workers told residents on nearby streets they may have to evacuate in case the flames spread. Some loaded clothing and important papers into their cars, unsure of where they would go.

But by around 7 p.m., the fire died down. Fire rescue officials said they would only have to evacuate three homes.

In Hernando County, meanwhile, a wind-whipped brush fire chased people out of 30 homes in the Spring Ridge development off Sunshine Grove Road in Brooksville.

Homeowners using sprinklers and shovels joined firefighters as the blaze closed in.

Hernando County sheriff's spokeswoman Sgt. Donna Black said that the fire began at a retention pond bed shortly after 5 p.m. An investigation is ongoing, she said, but officials suspect the blaze was caused by children playing with fire.

A handful of homes around the pond were the most threatened, but others nearby were evacuated as a precaution, she said.

The fire consumed 10 to 15 acres, Black said, before being brought under control about 6:30 p.m. People were out of their homes about an hour.

She said fighting the fire was complicated by strong winds that kept changing direction, making the battle trickier.

Camille C. Spencer and Jay Pitts, Times staff writers

Homeowner Jason Samulski works to fight a Hernando County brush fire that threatened dozens of homes today in the Spring Ridge development off Sunshine Grove Road in Brooksville. [LANCE ARAM  ROTHSTEIN | Times]

Cool now but warmer tomorrow

The morning commute is chilly. The evening's won't feel so hot, either.

But warmer weather is on the way.

Morning temperature hovered around 50 degrees in most parts of the Tampa Bay area this morning, with northern counties dipping into the upper 30s. Sunny skies will help the mercury flirt with a below-average 70 degrees today, which is slated to be breezy and dry.

But this might be - could be, may be - the last blast of cold air before warmer temperatures become the norm again for the Spring season, forecasters say.

  A warm-up begins Wednesday, when temperatures will shoot up to the upper 70s, then increase to the low 80s throughout the week. At which point you can start longing for cooler temps again.

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Battery charge follows sex life complaint

SPRING HILL — A 50-year-old woman was arrested Thursday after Hernando County deputies said she hit her 78-year-old husband several times because she was upset about their sex life.

Ursula Fitzner faces a charge of battery on a person 65 or older. Her husband told sheriff’s deputies that she sat in his lap for about 16 hours and became irate because she couldn’t have sex with him, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

A deputy observed minor red marks on the husband’s forearm and neck. Fitzner told authorities she did not hit him.

She has been arrested several times on similar charges, though some were dropped or abandoned, according to state records. After she was charged in late 2003 and early 2004 with aggravated battery, Hernando County judges found Fitzner not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered her committed to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

A judge ordered her recommitted to DCF on July 25, and she was discharged from a Florida State Hospital on Jan. 17.

--Justin George and Joel Anderson, Times staff writers

A mixed forecast for Easter weekend

That's some stunning weather we're having right now, huh?

Enjoy it while you can.

Showers are in Saturday's forecast, says Bay News 9 chief meteorologist Mike Clay.

"The front that brought us the showers on Thursday morning, will stall in South Florida over the weekend,'' Clay said. "A weak upper-level disturbance will ride along the front and could produce more showers back into our area on Saturday.''

The weekend forecast ends with good new: "This should all move out by Easter Sunday.''

Here are the details:

Friday 
Partly sunny, breezy and mild.
Rain  0%
Low   55
High  78

Saturday
Mostly cloudy with showers likely.
Rain  60%
Low   60
High  75

Sunday 
Mostly cloudy and mild.
Rain  10%
Low   58
High  77

-- Times staff writer

Iraq war anniversary sparks heated reactions

Dick Cofran stands in support of President Bush and the war in Iraq while surrounded by antiwar protesters. [Stephen J. Coddington | Times]

Watch the video.

Hillsborough honors fallen soldier

BROOKSVILLE -- One side of the street chanted "Jail Bush. War criminal." The other side sang "God Bless America."

The collision of 75 Iraq war demonstrators on the street corners in this small Hernando County town exposed the deep rift among Americans five years to the day after the war began. The protest and counter protest, which was much smaller but just as ardent, prompted shouting matches between those opposed to the war and those against.

A large contingent of police officers monitoring the crowd separated a few people at times, but no arrests were made and the protest was deemed largely peaceful.

Rick Pederson of Brooksville wanted to see more educated discourse, but acknowledged it is a protest. "I tried to start a dialogue, but it's not easy to do," he said. "This is a hot topic."

Plastic soldiers tagged with anti-war slogans were distributed by protesters outside the Hernando County Courthouse in Brooksville this afternoon. [Stephen J. Coddington | Times]

Sal Barone, a 79-year-old World War II veteran, said he never attended a demonstration before today, but he felt compelled to counter what those against the war were saying. "We have a lot of young kids getting killed there, and whether we like it or not, we're going to support them," he said.

"It's supporting our troops, supporting our president, supporting our government. Because we believe in what they're doing, and we're going to support them until they come home," said Dick Cofran, 73, of Inverness. Cofran held a sign reading: "Support President Bush and our troops."

A man who gave his name as Preacher Green who said he's from "a little bit of everywhere," shouted antiwar slogans during the demonstration.

"I'm here because of the war, and I'm tired of it," Green said. "I'm tired of people saying it's because of 9/11. It's a shame."

Elsewhere, veterans, military family members, activists, clergy, and citizens of all political persuasions were expected to gather at demonstrations outside Sen. Bill Nelson's Tampa offices today. A candlelight vigil protesting the war is scheduled outside U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young's office in downtown St. Petersburg this afternoon.

-- John Frank and Stephen J. Coddington, Times staff writers

MJ vs. Bubba: The lawsuit

TAMPA -- Radio host Todd "MJ" Schnitt says he's had enough of the on-air mudslinging by radio shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem and has filed a defamation and false light lawsuit against him.

Schnitt, host of the MJ Morning Show, and his wife, Michelle, filed the lawsuit against Clem in Hillsborough County Circuit Civil Court. Also named as defendants are Cox Radio, Inc. and Bubba Radio Network, Inc.

The suit claims Clem is exacting revenge against Schnitt and his wife for allegedly orchestrating his prosecution after Clem broadcast the castration and slaughtering of a pig on his show.

Clem went on trial on an animal cruelty charge in 2002 and a jury acquitted him.

Schnitt was "one of the top four or five people behind our arrest and the trial of the hog deal," Clem told listeners of his show, according to the lawsuit.

Clem also accused Schnitt of having secret meetings at the time with Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober, the suit alleges. Michelle Schnitt is a former assistant state attorney.

C. Philip Campbell Jr., Todd Schnitt's attorney, wasn't immediately available for comment. Elise Brown, Clem's publicist, had no immediate comment about the lawsuit.

Clem has a morning drive time show on WHPT-102.5 FM (the Bone) in Tampa and WFYV-104.5 FM in Jacksonville.

Schnitt's MJ Morning Show airs on WFLZ-93.3 FM. He also hosts the Schnitt Show in the afternoons on 970-WFLA.

The lawsuit says Clem has referred to Schnitt on air as a snitch and called his wife a whore. In an email read by Clem on his show, a listener said that Schnitt should be "thrown into a burlap sack and tossed into the river" and someone should "drive that little midget to drink a bottle of bleach," the lawsuit states.

It also alleges that Clem told his listeners, known as "Bubba's Army," to mouth off at Schnitt during the Gasparilla Day Parade.

"I need all you sick b------- and drunken drunkards, if you will, at the Gasparilla Day Parade ... bring your loud mouths and grease that midget. Grease 'em," the lawsuit says.

The word "grease," the lawsuit explains, can be interpreted to mean "whack or eliminate someone, to bump someone off."

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer

Panel discussion set on prescription drug problems

The St. Petersburg Times invites the public to a free panel discussion on prescription drugs.

Prescription painkillers and antianxiety drugs now kill about 500 people a year in the Tampa Bay area, three times the number killed by illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

Prescription drug overdoses killed 433 people in the bay area in 2006, up from 339 the year before. Though 2007 figures aren't complete, the area is on pace for about 550 deaths. That means prescription drug overdoses are likely to overtake car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death here.

Discuss the issue with Times staff writer Chris Tisch at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Quorum Hotel, 700 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa.

Troopers: Ease off that pedal

TAMPA -- Speeders, take heed.

The director of the Florida Highway Patrol announced this morning a statewide crackdown on speeding.

Dubbed "Operation Safe Ride," troopers this weekend will use lasers, radars, helicopters, motorcycles, marked and unmarked FHP cruisers to nab speeders on each interstate and major state road as well as Florida's Turnpike.

Officials say March and April have historically been the peak months for traffic crashes. This weekend's special detail aims to reduce the number of traffic crashes over the spring break weekend.

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Weekend will be cooler with some rain

Expect a few showers over the Tampa Bay area late Friday and early Saturday.

"A weak upper-level disturbance will move over us late Friday and early Saturday,'' said Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay. "It might produce a few showers.''

But the rain should end and the sun should warm things up, Clay said, though it could be a little breezy. Watch for a weak cool front Sunday, Clay said, "but we still expect a nice day, just a little cooler."

 

U.S. 98 reopened after crash in Brooksville

A pickup truck and a compact car collied early this morning at U.S. 98 and Lake Lindsey Road in Brooksville, closing the highway. At least two people were airlifted, said Florida Highway Patrol Lt. Harold Frear. [Maurice Rivenbark |Times]

BROOKSVILLE -- Roads have reopened to traffic after a traffic crash this morning at Ponce De Leon Boulevard and Lake Lindsey Road.

Officials with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office said two vehicles were involved in the accident, which occurred about 6:45 a.m. At least two people were airlifted from the scene, said Lt. Harold Frear with the Florida Highway Patrol.

Please return to tampabay.com for updates.

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Hernando woman run over by her own car dies

SPRING HILL -- An 84-year-old Spring Hill woman who was run over by her own car in a church parking lot died Tuesday night.

Dorothy Davis Fannin stepped out of her car just before noon Tuesday but left the car in reverse when she went to shut the trunk, according to a preliminary Hernando Sheriff's Office report.

The vehicle backed over her and she sustained life threatening injuries to her legs, hip and head. The car stopped when it struck a pole in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church in Spring Hill, reports state.

Fannin died from her injuries Tuesday night at Spring Hill Regional Hospital.

-- John Frank, Times staff writer

Central Command's roster of leaders

Past leaders of Central Command:

Gen Robert C. Kingston             U.S. Army                       1983 - 1985
Gen George B. Crist                  U.S. Marine Corps           1985 - 1988
Gen H. Norman Schwarzkopf      U.S. Army                      1988 - 1991
Gen Joseph P. Hoar                  U.S.Marine Corps            1991 - 1994
Gen J. H. Binford Peay III           U.S. Army                      1994 - 1997
Gen Anthony C. Zinni                 U.S. Marine Corps          1997 - 2000
Gen Tommy R. Franks               U.S. Army                      2000 - 2003
Gen John P. Abizaid                  U.S. Army                      2003 - 2007
Adm William J. Fallon                U.S. Navy                       2007 - 2008

Source: Times research

Tornado threat passes for most of the bay area

The National Weather Service in Ruskin has canceled a tornado watch for coastal counties in, west central Florida, including Pinellas and Pasco counties. The watch continues in nine counties, including Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk, until at least 2 a.m.

A strong line of thunderstorms is bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the area tonight through Saturday morning.

The front will bring colder temperatures and stiff winds for the weekend.

"This afternoon and tonight are the best rain chances,'' Juli Marquez, Bay News 9 meteorologist, said Friday. Thundershowers are possible throughout the Tampa Bay area tonight and early Saturday, but should be gone by breakfast time.

After that, expect a blustery day with temperatures in the 60s or possibly as low as the 50s.

National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Sharp said to expect winds of 15-25 mph Saturday, with stronger winds along the coastline.

Curtis Krueger, Times staff writer

Brooksville man, 58, killed in SUV wreck

BROOKSVILLE -- A local man was killed this morning after losing control of an SUV on State Road 50, Florida Highway Patrol officials said.

Jeffery C. Nicoll, 58, 6374 Goodway Dr., was headed east on State Road 50 around 12:40 a.m. when the 2001 Ford SUV he was driving swerved into a grass median then veered back across both eastbound lanes before striking a drainage culvert near the road's shoulder.

Nicoll was ejected when the SUV overturned, highway patrol officials said. He died at the scene.

-- Casey Cora, Times staff writer

Deputy admits smoking marijuana, resigns

SPRING HILL -- A Hernando County sheriff's deputy responding to a call was involved in an accident at Spring Hill Drive and Mariner Boulevard. After taking a required post-crash drug test, the deputy told his supervisors that he had smoked marijuana two weeks ago and immediately resigned from the force.

Sheriff's officials said there was no indication that the deputy, Patrick Craven, 29, was impaired at the time of the 12:08 p.m. crash or during the investigation. Craven, who has been a deputy since July 2006, declined to take a second confirmation drug test.

Craven was responding to a call regarding an unresponsive female when his cruiser collided with another vehicle at the busy intersection. The Sheriff's Office reported there were no serious injuries in the crash.

Logan Neill, Times staff writer

Thundershowers heading into bay area

Melanie Gowins helps her great-niece Rylee Kurtz, 2, after a gust of wind had blown the two-year-old's umbrella from her hands during a brief passing rain storm. The rain didn't bother little Rylee as she waited with Gowins to pick up Gowins' eight-year-old daughter Murphy from a bus stop along U.S. 19 in Hudson. "Oh, she's doing pretty good," Gowins said about Kurtz. "It's just like being on a playground as far as she's concerned...she's having a blast." [Stephen J. Coddington, Times]

Keep your umbrella handy. A heavy band of thundershowers is moving into the Tampa Bay area from the Gulf of Mexico, with rain already falling in Pasco and north Pinellas counties.

Bay News 9 Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay calls it "a nice, gentle, soaking rain'' that "is going to be with us for the next several hours.''

There could be as much as an inch of rain before the system moves on, said John McMichael, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

"There's a cold front approaching from the west and a storm system moving up through the Mississippi," McMichael said.

The front will move through the region tonight. Warmer weather is expected for Wednesday.

- Times staff writer

Blackout traced to one field engineer

Human error caused Tuesday's massive blackout across Florida, Armando Olivera, president of Florida Power & Light, said today.

At 1:08 p.m. Tuesday, a single field engineer working at the Flagami substation in western Miami-Dade County disabled a pair of safeguards that would have confined the outage to a few thousand customers, if any.

Instead, 584,000 FPL customers lost power, as did more than 200,000 customers in the Tampa Bay area.
The employee has been suspended with pay pending the outcome a thorough investigation, Olivera said.

The problem caused several power plants to shut down, including FPL's two nuclear reactors at Turkey Point, 25 miles south of Miami.

FPL also lost a large natural gas power plant at Turkey Point, and two other small power plants at other locations.

Tampa Electric lost power from two small natural gas plants. In all, 3,400-megawatts of generation was lost within several minutes.

- Asjylyn Loder, Times staff writer

Citizens protest Brown-Waite's remark

Teresa Lopez, 57, of Melbourne, was among about 75 people who gathered on the steps of the Hernando County Courthouse this afternoon to protest remarks by U.S. Rep. Ginny Grown-Waite. They want Brown-Waite to apologize for referring to residents of Puerto Rico and Guam as "foreign citizens.'' They are, in fact, citizens. Most of the protesters arrived on a single bus that started in Melbourne, stopped in Orlando and traveled across the state with 57 people aboard. Brown-Waite was not at the courthouse during the protest. [MAURICE RIVENBARK | Times]

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Busch plans four parks in Dubai