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County marks Ridge Road milestone
By Brian Fernandes bfernandes@lakerlutznews.com
It was a historic day in Pasco County, as a groundbreaking ceremony was held to celebrate the upcoming construction of the Ridge Road extension. The new stretch of road will give motorists another east-west option through Pasco County, and will provide an additional
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evacuation route in the event of a disaster. The groundbreaking, held Jan. 13, followed a permit issued in December by the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers. County officials have been pushing for the project for more than two decades. When the extension is completed, motorists will have another east-west way to get across the county, in addition to State Road 52 and State Road 54.
The ceremony, which drew numerous dignitaries, took place at the end of Town Center Road.That’s where Ridge Road will extend, heading east. Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore, of District 2, kicked off the ceremony, with a few remarks. He was joined at the ceremony with his colleagues on the See MILESTONE, page 11A
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Story time is tail-wagging fun To promote literacy to young children in a fun way, the Hugh Embry Branch Library’s Read to Rover program pairs storybooks with man’s best friend, for a tail-wagging time. Toddlers and preschoolers are encouraged to read a book (or show the illustrations) to a trained, certified support animal, who patiently sits by the child during their time together. The nonjudgmental environment, along with the calming influence of the support dog, helps promote the development of reading skills, in an exciting manner. For more information on this bi-monthly program, call (352) 567-3576. Above, 4-year-old Wren Demaree, of Dade City, shows certified support dog Marley Beans the illustrations of a book by author Maddie Frost. The little girl and the dog were at a recent Read to Rover event at the Hugh Embry Branch Library. Marley Beans, a 7 ½ year-old yellow lab, recently graduated from the Alliance of Therapy Dogs training program.
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Two-year-old Dominque McKnight, of Dade City, reacts, when support dog Marley Beans gives him a kiss. Amber Elder, McKnight’s mother, said that her son loves cats, but is very shy around dogs. Instead of books, McKnight opted to show Marley Beans some Legos after their initial meeting.
Cheryl Snider, of Zephyrhills, praises her certified support dog, Marley Beans, during a recent Read to Rover event at the Hugh Embry Branch Library. Snider is a retired Disneyland executive administrator. The pup was just 7 months old when she rescued him. She knew the dog’s friendly and social nature would make him a great support dog. The two share a special bond. Snider sums it this way: ‘It’s Marley’s world, I just live in it.’
Monster truck enthusiasts grab Charter school coming to Connected attention in Wesley Chapel City’s Epperson
By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Many claim they have a big truck, but few are bigger than Bill and Vicky McShane’s. Even calling them monster trucks could be an understatement. The married couple and Wesley Chapel residents have not one, but two supersized trucks that have generated national attention and intrigue. Their original truck is a 1998 blue Dodge Ram 2500 V10 that’s been lifted 4 feet and sits on 64-inch V-tread tires. It has Lamborghini-style doors, a tilt bed, and painted flames on the side panel. The truck’s height measures 12-feet-6inches, top to bottom. The interior is showy, too. It’s equipped with fiberglass, multiple televisions and cameras, and amps, spotlight and a skull fog machine.
“It’s got everything,” Bill said. “We threw everything in, and the kitchen sink.There’s a lot on there that doesn’t need to be there,”Vicky added. The hard-to-miss truck even has its own name — Out of Control — emblazoned on its exterior. The moniker stuck after an auto mechanic reacted to the couple’s extravagant plans for their truck. “One of the guys that was helping us build the truck told us, ‘You’re just out of control,’ and I’m like, ‘That is the name of our truck,’” Bill recalled. Out of Control has been lifted as many as 10 times, little by little, with each auto body visit, Bill said. It’s so big now that it’s no longer street legal to drive. Instead, it’s transported to various events and showcases via a lowboy gooseneck See MONSTER, page 11A
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
A K-8 charter school could open as early as this fall in Epperson, if all goes according to plan. The Pasco County School Board has approved an agreement with Metro Apple LLC and Red Apple Development LLC — known collectively as the developer — for a charter school that is planned on the east side of Curley Road. Details regarding the school are spelled out in the agreement. Plans call for a two-story school of approximately 55,000 square feet, that will be built on a site of about 8 acres to 10 acres. The charter school will have a capacity See EPPERSON, page 11A