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Schools reopen, amid COVID concerns
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The debate over whether masks will be required in Pasco County Schools is over, in Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning’s mind. “That issue has been settled.The governor (Gov. Ron DeSantis) has taken that issue on, as his issue.The governor has made that decision.There is no local decision-making
regarding masks.And, he has said there will not be a mask mandate. We understand that,” Browning said. The issue of quarantining people who have been exposed to COVID-19, however, is another matter. “I know there’s been a lot of questions about quarantining,” Browning said at the July 27 Pasco County School Board meeting. He told board members that he and members of his staff met with Mike Napier,
administrator for the Florida Department of Health-Pasco County, and members of Napier’s team. They discussed issues relating to COVID and the coming school year. “As far as quarantining goes, that was the main issue that staff wanted to talk about yesterday (during that meeting),” Browning said. See SCHOOLS, page 11A
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Training the next generation Shannon Saile, right, a national champion softball pitcher at the University of Oklahoma, speaks to a group of advanced pitchers during a water and shade break at her pitching clinic at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex softball field. See the story in Sports, page 12A.
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Wearing a protective fielder's mask, 9-year-old Grace Peters, of Land O' Lakes, was ready to take her turn on the mound. Peters was among those in the intermediate division at the Shannon Saile Pitching Clinic.
Coach Charlie Aliano of the Cincinnati Reds lends some batting knowledge to 13-year old Olivia James, of New Port Richey. Aliano, of Land O' Lakes, assisted during the Shannon Saile Pitching Clinic.
SADD names local Pasco In-person public student for national post comments return to
Hillsborough meetings
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Laker/Lutz News Staff Report
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B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
Shaina Finkel likely didn’t know at the ripe old age of 6 that one day she would be taking her place on a national stage for a group that’s primary mission is to save lives. But that’s exactly what happened on July 28, when the Wiregrass Ranch High School student was sworn in as the national student president for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Her selection was celebrated during a national news conference, which took place at Wiregrass Ranch High School and was streamed by SADD’s social media channels. One of the key speakers at the event was Greg Finkel, the adviser for the SADD chapter since Wiregrass Ranch High opened. He’s Shaina’s dad. “We do it to save lives,” said Finkel, who has been the adviser of the Wiregrass chapter since it began in 2008. The chapter’s T-shirts have a Superman logo on the front and words on the back that say:“How to save a life.” His pride in his daughter’s accomplishment was palpable, as he struggled, occasionally, to maintain his composure. She was just a little girl, he said, when she asked if she could come along to a chapter meeting. Finkel thought to himself:Why not? She became a regular, and even at that early age, she was a leader, he said. Whether the chapter was working with
young kids or the elderly, he said,“she took over.” As she grew older, she became even more involved. At one point, she asked Finkel if he thought she could become chapter president. He said he didn’t see why not, but they would have to see about it when she got to high school.
The Hillsborough County Commission once again will allow in-person public comment, in a limited capacity, at county board meetings beginning Aug. 4. The board sets aside 45 minutes at the beginning of its regular meetings to hear from the public. Also, in order to maintain accessibility, the board will continue to allow a virtual option for public comment, according to a Hillsborough County news release. COVID-19 coronavirus protocols have restricted in-person public attendance at the Hillsborough county board’s meetings, which are held in the second-floor boardroom of the Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., since March 2020. Under the new rules, seating in the boardroom will be limited, with some overflow seating available in the first-floor multipurpose room. Speakers may address the county board from either location. Visitors are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings and to practice social distancing. Groups will be limited to four people. Here are the guidelines for public comment: • All speakers, whether virtual or in-person, will be required to sign up in advance at HCFLGov.net/SpeakUp.
See SADD, page 11A
See MEETINGS, page 11A
COURTESY OF PASCO COUNTY SCHOOLS
Shaina Finkel is the new national student president for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD).