The LAKER
ee r F
WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
Auto Accident? Slip and Fall? FREE CONSULTATION
Election supervisors seek flexibility
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Florida Supervisors of Elections — an organization representing all 67 county election supervisors across the state — is seeking greater flexibility regarding how elections are conducted during the remainder of the 2020 election cycle. The organization has asked that Gov. Ron DeSantis issue an executive order granting more flexibility, in light of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The request asks that the executive
No Fees Or Costs Unless You Win HOLLIDAY KARATINOS LAW FIRM, P.L.
APRIL 29, 2020
order modify current Florida Elections Code to allow for more flexibility in meeting the challenges of staffing the polls, securing polling locations, and providing additional voting methods, according to Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley. The goal is to lessen the impact to in-person voting due to worker shortages and fewer polling locations, Corley said. To that end, supervisors of elections across the state are asking that they be allowed to designate additional early voting sites, extend the early voting period to 22 days prior to and up until 7 p.m. on election
day, and have the flexibility of consolidating polling places and/or relocating them to early voting sites. Now, early voting across the state ranges between eight and 14 days, Corley said. The additional flexibility being requested is important, Corley said. “Going into the Presidential Preference Primary, back on March 17, we had some immense challenges,” he said.“We had several hundred poll workers that respectfully bowed out, because of concerns about their See ELECTION, page 11A
HelpingInjuredPeople.com Call Attorney
JIM HOLLIDAY 813-868-1887 “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights” 18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste 101 Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)
Walk-Ins Welcome
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS WE’RE OPEN following COVID-19 precautions
DISINFECTION & FOGGING FREE AC
With $39.95 Tune-up, $190 value Must present coupon. Cannot be combined. LK/LZ
One per visit. Exp. 5/31/20. While supplies last.
FREE SERVICE CALL
With Repair M-F 8AM-8PM Must present coupon. Cannot be combined. One per visit. Exp. 5/31/20.
2012-2019
CAC1816647 CFC1428982 EC0001103
RANDY UNDERHILL
LK/LZ
COVID-19
Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Electrical
Same-Day Service Free 2nd Opinion* Free Estimates** 24/7 Emergency
Bicycling hasn’t been shut down Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has closed businesses, caused churches to livestream services, shut school campuses, and closed playgrounds and most parks — but it hasn’t put an end to enjoying the great outdoors by bicycling. Here are a few cyclists getting some fresh air and some exercise. Above, Tom Spock leads a trio of cyclists, as they complete their ride on the Suncoast Parkway Trail, on a recent Saturday. The Land O’ Lakes man is accompanied by 55-year-old Michael Russell and 59-year-old Leslie Spock. The trio rides the trail every Saturday, and Tom typically goes riding three times a week.
**Free estimates for new A/C, water heater, water treatment, whole home generators, whole home repipe and electrical panel upgrade. *Free second opinion with written diagnosis from another company.
CORNERSTONEPROS.COM
813-990-0561
WE’RE WEATHERING THIS STORM. TogeTher, We are
#UNSINKABLE
Fifty-year-old Derick Sutton, Lutz, gets ready to take a 50-mile trek on the Suncoast Parkway Trail. Sutton has been biking the trail on Saturdays for the past 15 years.
Cyclist Bob Depue, age 75, cruises through the Wilderness subdivision, in Land O’ Lakes, on a recent warm, sunny Sunday afternoon. Depue typically treks 10 miles to 15 miles each day.
Staying positive during a pandemic Land O’ Lakes
jail construction remains on track
By B.C. Manion
Weekly news that impacts your life and community.
www.lakerlutznews.com
There’s
no place
like
SPECIAL SECTION inside this week
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
It’s no secret that impacts from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic pose significant challenges. “What happened to normal? Normal is just gone, right? It’s just gone,” said Paula O’Neil, former clerk and comptroller for Pasco County, and now a private business consultant. O’Neil’s remarks came during a Zoom meeting of WOW TOO, a women’s networking group that is part of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. She reminded participants about Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs — identified as physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Before COVID-19, the women typically were acting at the self-actualization level of the hierarchy, O’Neil said. “We’re good problem-solvers, we care about people.We care about our community. We look at the facts and we can make good decisions. “Now, all of a sudden — the world has turned around,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “With COVID-19, there’s a lot of fear of getting the disease.There’s a lot of fear with
By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
our economy. “The biggest problem we have, I think, is uncertainty. Not knowing what’s next. “The uncertainty — we’ve got to embrace it and see how we can help other people. Because really, you heal yourself by
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID19) pandemic may affect the progress of some Pasco County initiatives, but at least one is moving forward as scheduled — a $128 million expansion of the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, off U.S. 41 at 20101 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. Project design is slated to begin sometime in May, with construction slated to begin in December 2021 and continue through fiscal year 2023 — generally matching original timeline projections, county officials say. A finalized agreement with design firm HOK and construction management firm Moss & Associates is being reviewed by the county attorney’s office, and should be complete by the end of April or early May. “We’re on track with where we hope to
See POSITIVE, page 11A
See JAIL, page 11A
FILE
Paula O’Neil offered words of support and encouragement in a Zoom virtual meeting of WOW TOO, a women’s networking group that is part of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.