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Special session set for Nov. 15
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Florida Legislature will meet in special session beginning on Nov. 15 and will conclude its session by no later than Nov. 19, under a proclamation issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis last week. The session is intended to “provide protections for Floridians who have lost their jobs or are having their employment threat-
ened due to vaccine mandates,” according to a posting on the governor’s web page. DeSantis announced, in a news conference on Oct. 28, that the state had filed a lawsuit against the federal government — challenging the Biden administration’s authority to impose a vaccine requirement on federally contracted workers. “We are not going to deny people the ability to earn a living, based on their decisions about an injection,” DeSantis said,
during that news conference. During the special session, DeSantis expects legislators to pass laws to protect Florida jobs and protect parents’ rights when it comes to masking and quarantines, the website posting says. The governor is calling on state legislators to address vaccination issues on a number of fronts. See SESSION, page 11A
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Having fun at the fall festival
Three year-old Noah Sykes, of Wesley Chapel, dressed in a Chase Paw Patrol costume, admires the one (out of five) foam and Velcro hatchets that stuck to the target. He was at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival with his 4-year-old brother, Jayden Sykes, and their dad, Jason Sykes. See more photos, page 1B.
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• Annual Exams • Cleanings • Dentures • Inv Invisible isible Br Braces aces • Mouth Guards Barbara Stetson, of Zephyrhills, sets out a basket of Halloween candy under the tent of Marcie L. Baker, a Zephyrhills attorney — who also happens to be her daughter.
Pasco County pursuing new Roadway connectivity effort to curb panhandling is key to Zephyrhills’ economic vitality
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Flurry of Pasco road projects underway A strong partnership between Pasco County and the Florida Department of Transportation has paved the way for the multitude of projects. By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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Drive along nearly any major Pasco be County artery and you are likely to backed up in traffic — during rush hour. At the same time, it’s obvious to motorists that work is underway on numerous Pasco roadways.
of Zoom — featuring Florida Department Once those projects are completed, Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault and Pasco’s road network is expected to be betU.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. ter able to handle the county’s considerable Thibault and Bilirakis touched on a numgrowth. ber of big-picture issues involving Projects under construction, or that soon transportation. will be, are expected to improve traffic flow Thibault talked about the expectation of at State Road 56 and Interstate 75; offer reduced gas tax revenues over time, as mosmoother travel through East Pasco County cars and in- torists make the switch to electric on a new alignment for State Road 52; vehicles with higher fuel efficiency. crease access to Interstate 75 with a new Bilirakis talked about the proposed $2 cainterchange at Overpass Road; and, add trillion infrastructure package. pacity at State Road 52 and U.S. 41. He said he doesn’t support the package. Those projects were discussed a transportation briefing hosted by the North See ROAD, page 9A via Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
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Nine-year-old Jawaun Washington, FRED BELLET of Dade City, lowered his mask to munch on a hot dog at the Jelly Bean Fling.
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undreds turned out to the Jelly Bean Fling at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village to take advantage of festivities that included free family photos, an Easter egg hunt, a petting zoo, live entertainment, games
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Having their snapshot taken by Samantha Harmeson at the Zephyrhills Harvest Festival are Rosa, right, and Luz Trevino, of Zephyrhills. People who had their picture taken will find the photo in the email addresses they provided.
and crafts.
Event-goers could make Easter bonnets, too, enjoy a bite to eat, purchase items from vendors and check out the model train room. And, there were bubbles — showers and showers of bubbles —during the Sphere’s Bubble Magic Show.
Ty Seifert, of St. Petersburg, seems to be having as much fun as family friend 4-year old, Cami Brown, of St. Petersburg. They were enjoying the Sphere's Bubble Magic Show during the event.
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The Pasco County Commission wants to follow Lee County’s lead, in enacting an ordinance that aims to reduce panhandling — while avoiding potential concerns about free speech violations. Patrick Moore, a senior assistant county attorney, explained the approach during the county board’s Oct. 26 meeting. In essence, the new approach makes it illegal for people to stand in a roadway area that’s less than 6 feet wide and prohibits physical interactions between motorists and pedestrians. “The county’s current ordinance was created for the purpose of protecting vehicular and pedestrian safety, and the free flow of traffic. This purpose hasn’t changed,” Moore said. However, he added, the county’s current ordinance “makes it unlawful to solicit or at-
tempt to solicit with the intent to receive a charitable donation.” Because of that, the ordinance is often referred to as the county’s panhandling ordinance, he said. “As far as enforcement goes, historically, direct citations haven’t always been effective, which causes the sheriff’s office, in an attempt to enforce the ordinance, to utilize the county’s public roadway, public right of way, trespassing ordinance,” he said. “However, due to recent case law, the sheriff’s office has decided not to enforce or utilize the ordinance, in order to trespass someone, moving forward. “In fact, that’s kind of across-the-board in the state of Florida. Law enforcement agencies across the state are deciding not to enforce many panhandling ordinances in different counties,” Moore explained. So, he said,“this discussion is something See PANHANDLING, page 11A
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
The Zephyrhills area has experienced burgeoning activity in the way of residential growth and commercial development. Pasco County Commission chairman Ron Oakley has witnessed it firsthand, since being elected in 2016. “Zephyrhills has been a very good, working city,” said Oakley, who represents District 1, which covers areas in East and Central Pasco. “Economically, they’ve done very well over the years, and I mean, it just didn’t start here lately, it’s been that way. “They have a good council here, and they have good planners and others,” the See ROADWAY, page 11A