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Familiar faces win reelection in Pasco
Hillsborough County voters reject some incumbents, but grant others four more years. By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
HOLLIDAY KARATINOS
Voters across The Laker/Lutz News coverage area demonstrated their enthusiasm in Election 2020 — casting their ballots through Vote By Mail or in person at early voting sites or in their precincts on Election Day.
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Pasco County reported a turnout of 77.8% of its 389,317 registered voters, with a total of 303,214 ballots cast, according to unofficial voting results. Hillsborough County reported a turnout of 76.45% of the county’s 934,346 registered voters, casting a total of 714,286 ballots. These are unofficial tallies for both counties. The final result must include overseas ballots, provisional ballots and ballots that had signature issues that were cured — before they are certified, which is when they become official. Visits by The Laker/Lutz News to polling lo-
cations during Early Voting and on Election Day revealed smooth operations at numerous sites across the newspaper’s coverage area in Lutz, Land O’ Lakes,Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills. Incumbents fared better in Pasco County than they did in Hillsborough County. Pasco County voters gave Kurt Browning four more years as superintendent of Pasco County Schools.They also reelected Kathryn Starkey in District 1 and Jack Mariano in District 5, on the Pasco County Commission. In Hillsborough County, voters reelected See REELECTION, page 11A
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VW enthusiasts turn out in droves The weather was perfect for this gathering of Volkswagen lovers, and there was plenty to see and do, at the 32nd annual Bug Jam, at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, in Dade City. There was food and entertainment, as well as a VW car show and plenty of parts — and stories — to swap. Above, Rafael Correa, of Jacksonville, relaxes while waiting for judging of his 1966 Micro bus at the Florida Bug Jam. Check out more photos on page 1B.
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USF urged to continue preparing teachers
This 1965 replica of Herbie the Love Bug was shown at the Florida Bug Jam. It is owned by Stephen Love, of Clermont.
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County School Board has adopted a resolution urging the University of South Florida to continue teacher preparation programs at all of the university’s campuses. Board members adopted the resolution at their Nov. 3 meeting, after they and Superintendent Kurt Browning weighed in on the issue. “We think that it would just be devastating to our programs across the Tampa Bay area for them to close that program down,” Browning said, noting he had joined superintendents from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee and Sarasota for a community conversation to discuss USF’s proposal to end the program. “I don’t think people on the outside of education fully understand the impact that this is going to have on our district,” Browning said.“We are direct recipients of great teachers who come out of USF.” School board member Alison Crumbley characterized USF’s decision as “shortsighted.” Like Browning, she said the district relies on USF’s program. “Thirty percent of our teachers come from USF,” she said.“It’s just a huge disappointment to me, and letdown for the school districts and taxpayers in the Tampa Bay area that this is the situation,” Crumbley said. Board Chairwoman Colleen Beaudoin, who herself is a teacher, added:“It’s unfortunate that there’s been a decline See USF, page 11A
Above, Carlos Arias, of Miami, poses with his 1966 Rat Rod (Elbicho). He’s been taking part in the Florida Bug Jam for three years. He doesn’t just show his car at car shows, he drives it every day.
This 1972 VW Karmann Ghia is owned by Jack Cook, of Brooksville.
Is this a new era of policing? By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
Law enforcement agencies nationwide have come under scrutiny, amid calls for reform to police practices, and redirecting funds toward mental health programming and support. Some area agencies — such as the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the St. Petersburg Police Department —already incorporate social workers and specialized mental health units, in responding to nonviolent calls for service. Those two programs were outlined during an Oct. 12 webinar panel discussion called,“The Evolving Movement to Engage and Protect Our Community.” The discussion was hosted by Saint Leo University and FIRST, which stands for Florida’s Forensics Institute for Research Security & Tactics.
A LOOK AT PASCO’S BHIT PROGRAM
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office’s Behavioral Health Intervention Team (BHIT), which began operating last June, seeks to match people who need services, with the services
they need. The unit includes 12 detectives, two sergeants, a captain and a full-time civilian analyst (and two therapy dogs) working in partnership with local hospitals and mental health facilities, to conduct frequent visitations and welfare checks. They help expedite referrals for behavioral health resources and criminal justice diversion programs for the county’s Baker Act repeats and other “high utilizers.” Each BHIT detective has a caseload of 20 to 25 individuals they’re tasked to keep tabs on, and help with needed assistance and resources. “We’ve literally given them the 250 most challenging people in Pasco County,” Pasco Sheriff’s Office Future Operations Bureau Chief Phil Kapusta said, referring to the program. Before BHIT was implemented, one “high utilizer” had called the county’s 911 line 138 times in a single year. The individual has since been assigned a BHIT detective, who is tasked with responding and speaking directly with that individual. During the past year, that individual has made no calls to 911, Kapusta said. Instead,
Phil Kapusta
Jim Cowser
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Dr. Lisa Rapp-McCall
the person frequently calls the detective’s work number when he needs help. “A lot of the times that were 911 calls, he just wanted somebody to talk to,” Kapusta said. Instead of responding to those 138 calls, the agency can respond to more urgent calls, he added. Another BHIT responsibility is making contact with every nonfatal overdose victim within 24 hours of an incident. Only about a third of those victims have expressed interest in rehabilitation services, Kapusta said, as most either refuse to speak See POLICING, page 11A