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Taking aim at traffic woes By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
A transit study will take a regional approach in trying to identify a solution to unsnarl Tampa Bay’s traffic congestion, and, qualify for federal aid. Jacob Engineering will conduct the 24month study for Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.The approximately $1.5 million cost will be paid for by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, commonly called HART and the Florida Department of Transportation, called FDOT for short.
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A transit study will seek solutions for congestion problems in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. One logjam motorists often face is at the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.
Consultants are expected to begin work on Oct. 1, following expected approval of the contract by HART on Sept. 12. Commuter rail, light rail, bus rapid transit service and express bus service will be among transit alternatives reviewed in the study. “Tampa Bay is one of the very few large regional areas that does not have premier transit service to connect its region,” said Steve Feigenbaum, HART’S director of service development. “This is a truly regional study, a three-county study, for transit opSee TRAFFIC, page 13A
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COURTESY OF LOWE’S
From left, Doug O’Connor, Citizen’s Service Unit volunteer; Lt. Stephen Frick, District 2 road patrol; and, Lowe’s representatives Don McLachlan, Ray Peel, Jane Wyckoff, Sandy Fimbel and Derek Walter celebrate the completion of a teddy bear campaign at the store.
Lowe’s collects teddy bears for a good cause By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
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The teddy bear drive at Lowe’s Home Improvement store, at State Road 54 and U.S. 41, started with a big, empty cardboard box, placed by the sliding door entrance. “The empty box first started the conversation,” said Lowe’s store manager Derek Walter.
Just why was the box there? A hand-drawn picture of a teddy bear quickly appeared on the side of the box, and employees began dropping huggable bears inside. Customers soon noticed and began doing the same. On Sept. 9, about 175 teddy bears were given to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office to help deputies who respond to domestic vio-
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lence situations and need a comforting toy to hand out to children under stress. Employees initially began talking about a community outreach project when the teddy bears came up. Once started, employees ran with the idea. One day, Walter went shopping at Walmart and took an armful of bears to the check out line. A customer in line asked about the bears. When he explained the teddy bear drive, Walter said she liked the idea. And soon after, he said, “She came by (Lowe’s) with some bears.” Store employees plan to repeat the drive at least once a year. “It’s a different way to give,” said Walter.
Medical marijuana on Pasco agenda By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
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Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey, left of podium, listens as Pasco County Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie updates the media on damage from Tropical Storm Hermine.
Pasco suffers extensive storm damage By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Tropical Storm Hermine brought drenching rain and gusting winds to Pasco County and a price tag well over $100 million, in what could prove to be one of the costliest storms in the county’s history. Homes in New Port Richey, Port Richey and Elfers sustained the worst damage. Those communities also suffered through flooding during strong summer rains in 2015. Northeast and central Pasco mostly escaped the flooding and wind damage from Hermine, which later came ashore in the Panhandle as a hurricane. However, a total of seven sinkholes opened across the county, including at locations in Lacoochee and Wesley Chapel. Final numbers are not yet in, but county officials say just the physical damage to homes along could reach $89 million. Damage to public buildings could be as high as $50 million. County officials are asking business owners to complete a business damage
assessment survey to help calculate their losses. At a Sept. 7 press conference, county officials gave an update on storm damage, and steps being taken to secure disaster aid for county residents. “We are going to do what it takes to get you back on your feet,” said Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey. More than 2,600 homes were damaged, with 305 homes sustaining major damage from fallen trees or water covering electrical sockets. More than 1,500 homes had minor damage; nearly 800 had some damage from downed trees or yard flooding. Seven homes were destroyed, based on water rising above doorknobs or roofs and walls that caved in due to fallen tree limbs. The Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point sustained about $3 million in damages and $10 million in lost revenues. The hospital had to evacuate patients and close the hospital when lightning during the tropical storm sparked a fire. See STORM, page 13A
Medical marijuana is slated to be a topic of discussion when Pasco County commissioners host a public workshop on Sept. 20 at 1:30 p.m., in New Port Richey. The county’s legal staff currently is reviewing land use and zoning regulations to craft an ordinance governing the future of medical marijuana within Pasco. County commissioners requested a workshop to hear a range of opinions on the matter. In August, commissioners extended a moratorium on the growth, processing and distribution of cannabis through the end of the year.The existing moratorium was set to expire on Sept. 1. Cannabis is the basis for medical marijuana, which is legal in Florida in a low-level, non-euphoric form known as Charlotte’s web. Its use is limited to patients with cancer or seizure disorders. At prior meetings, commissioners have heard from law enforcement about increased crime rates in states, such as Colorado and California, which have approved either medical marijuana or its recreational use. Substance abuse or prevention counselors have said they worry about increased use of marijuana, especially among youth. But, commissioners also have heard from residents with chronic medical conditions, who say medical marijuana eases their pain and gives them a quality of life that traditional medicines don’t provide. Whatever the county’s final ordinance, it will have to take into account a statewide Nov. 8 referendum on the issue. Voters will be asked if they want to expand the list of illnesses that can be treated with medical marijuana, and if stronger strains can be prescribed and dispensed.