The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kevin Weiss

Local athlete makes Maxwell Award preseason list

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Dade City native Mike Penix Jr., a rising redshirt sophomore quarterback at Indiana University (IU), earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the 84th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football. He is one of 90 college football players nationally selected to the watch list.

Dade City native Mike Penix Jr., is now a redshirt sophomore at Indiana University. (File)

Penix won’t be seen in action until next year. His school’s member conference, the Big Ten, announced earlier this month it postponed its upcoming fall season to spring 2021, due to COVID-19.

The lefty thrower played his freshman and sophomore prep seasons at Pasco High School, before transferring to Tampa Bay Technical High School for his junior and senior seasons.

As a redshirt college freshman in 2019, the 6-foot-3 Penix set IU’s single-season completion percentage mark (68.8%), which also ranks sixth in Big Ten history. He completed 110 of 160 passes for 1,394 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions, and he posted a 157.56 pass-efficiency rating. He also rushed for 118 yards on 22 attempts (5.4 average) with two touchdowns.

A two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week selection, Penix averaged 232.3 passing yards and 252.2 total yards per game in six games.

Penix’s promising redshirt freshman season was cut short after he suffered a clavicle injury in an early November contest against Northwestern.

The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a former standout at Swarthmore College, who went on to become a renowned sportswriter and football official.

Also notable, Penix’s father was an All-State tailback/defensive back at Pasco High in the early ’90s; his uncle starred there, too.

Issues arise over contract for Zephyrhills project

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Construction on the much-anticipated U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road intersection project in Zephyrhills is in jeopardy of being delayed.

At issue is a contract the city approved for the project, which is considered to be an important improvement to spur commercial development in Zephyrhills.

The city chose BRW Contracting Inc., a Land O’ Lakes company that isn’t on the Florida Department of Transportation’s pre-qualified vendor list.

Florida statute requires contractors to be prequalified with FDOT in order to bid for the performance of road, bridge or public transportation construction contracts greater than $250,000.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe (File)

The intersection project is being funded via a $2.3 million appropriation included in this year’s state budget.

The Zephyrhills City Council last month unanimously awarded the project bid and construction agreement to BRW Contracting, in the amount of $2,161,884.40.

The pre-qualification dilemma was brought up by Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe during an Aug. 10 council meeting. He characterized the issue as “a little bit of a hiccup.”

Poe told council members he’s heard conflicting reports from state officials on whether or not the requirement can be exempted for this particular project. He is awaiting final word from state transportation officials.

Further exacerbating the issue, BRW Contracting has indicated it’s not interested in going through the pre-qualification application process at this point, Poe said.

One possible solution could have been to fast-track that process if the contractor had agreed, the city manager said.

If FDOT doesn’t waive the pre-qualification requirement, the city likely will need to re-bid the project.

Besides delaying the project’s start date, Poe said there’s “a pretty good chance” that the new bids would come in higher. He estimated the difference could be as much as $500,000 to $1 million more.

“I don’t know the science behind that (cost) increase, but we know if we go out to bid, it’s not going to be cheaper,” Poe told council members.

Council president Charlie Proctor echoed that point: “My major concern is that it’s going to cost us a lot more money if we have to go out to bid. There’s just no doubt about it.”

The scope of project calls for the relocation of an existing signalized intersection from the shopping plaza entrance to Pretty Pond Road, a signalized intersection at Medical Arts Court, and all other required roadway improvements.

The addition of signalized intersections at these locations is designed to improve the mobility and serve as an economic driver for the northeast and northwest corners of Pretty Pond.

The area is expected to be home to a Chick-fil-A, Aldi, and a national hotel chain, among other businesses.

Construction was anticipated to get underway sometime before Sept. 1, with completion targeted for spring 2021.

Meantime, Poe has reached out to the offices of state representatives Randy Maggard and Wilton Simpson, as well as FDOT District 7 secretary David Gwynn, for additional guidance and other available options on the matter.

With that, he’s informing state leaders that BRW Contracting is a company the city has worked with previously and has confidence in. The contractor helped build out Simons Road, among other projects.

Should the city be forced to bid the project out again, Zephyrhills City Attorney Matt Maggard said canceling its contract with BRW Contracting shouldn’t present a legality issue.

But, he added:  “We really don’t want that to happen.”

Published August 19, 2020

Dade City Commission welcomes new planning board

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The Dade City Planning Board has added a new face, plus a few familiar ones to its dais.

Dade City Commissioners on Aug. 11 reappointed three board members whose terms recently expired, and approved a new at-large member to the agency’s group of seven.

Matthew Munz was approved to the Dade City Planning Board, as an at-large member. The Dade City resident is a project manager at Mead & Hunt, an architecture and engineering firm. He takes over for Knute Nathe, who vacated the seat after being elected to the Dade City Commission last month. (Courtesy of Matthew Munz)

The three reappointments are James Cosentino, Bermice Thomas and Joe Kennard.

Dade City native and resident Matthew Munz is the new at-large appointment.

Terms of each of the four appointments will expire April 2024. The other planning board members are Jimmy Miller, Davis Henley and Juliann Hale.

Munz, the newest addition, is a project manager for Mead & Hunt, an architecture design, engineering, environmental and construction administration services company.

He takes over the at-large seat previously held by new Commissioner Knute Nathe, who vacated the seat after being elected last month to the Dade City Commission.

“I enjoyed a great deal my tenure on the planning board. It can be thankless service, but it is service that is necessary to the city,” Nathe said.

With that, Nathe recommended Munz for the at-large seat, citing his experience as an engineer leading various water, wastewater, and stormwater projects in multiple stages of development — matters that go hand-in-hand with planning board responsibilities.

Fellow commissioners concurred, unanimously approving the recommendation.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said Munz’s credentials “certainly are impressive” and his knowledge in development-related matters “should be an asset to the board.”

Hernandez noted that Munz sat through a four-plus hour commission meeting last month, underscoring his passion for community issues.

“If that ain’t dedication, then I don’t know what is,” Hernandez quipped.

Aside from professional experience, Munz also has deep-rooted ties to Dade City coming from a family of public servants.

His mother, Barbara Munz, was principal of Pasco Elementary School for 23 years.

His father, William Munz, was assistant county administrator for Pasco County throughout the 1990s.

Munz kept his comments brief following the appointment. “I look forward to being able to serve the city,” he said.

The city’s seven-member planning board also serves as the Local Planning Agency for quasi-judicial procedures, and also includes one member representative from Pasco County Schools.

The board meets monthly, or as needed.

Duties include transmitting recommendations to the commission regarding zoning district amendments, comprehensive plan amendments, variances, and conditional use permits.

On another matter, commissioners unanimously approved a final plat for Countryside, a 25-lot subdivision located on 5.72 acres east of U.S. 301 and adjacent to a busy block that includes a McDonald’s, O’ Reilly’s Auto Parts, Captain D’s and EZ Clean Car Wash, among other businesses.

The Countryside development has been in the works for some time.

Commissioner Scott Black noted the subdivision has been in entitlement ever since the city landed the McDonald’s location when he was a freshman in high school, roughly 40 years ago.

“It is rather interesting that the project is finally, after so many years, something is happening there,” he said.

The development has received some pushback due to potential negative traffic impacts in that area, including from former Dade City Commissioner Nicole Deese Newlon.

Budget transparency headed to city’s website
Local residents soon will be able to get an inside look at Dade City government’s spending and departmental operations, in real-time online.

Newly appointed Dade City interim finance officer Andrew Laflin told commissioners he’s rolling out a cloud-based budgeting transparency software program onto the city’s website, within the next month or two.

The new program, will allow users to view and navigate the municipality’s multi-year capital projects and budget actual data, with links to the city’s annual budget document and ongoing budget preparations. It also will provide updates and messages from the city’s various departments, he said.

The new online feature will “show really a whole lot of stuff,” Laflin said.

Mayor Hernandez applauded the initiative, especially at a time when the city is experiencing a wave of commercial and residential development.

“I think that’s excellent,” Hernandez said. “I love the fact that it’s not only going to be available to the commission, but it’s going to be available in real-time, so I’m excited. That sounds like a good addition to providing information and transparency to our residents and those in Dade City.”

Laflin has hit the ground running on budget preparations for fiscal year 2020-21 since being hired to provide consulting financial services a month ago.

Other items worth noting:

  • The Dade City Police Department announced the hiring of two new police officers — Christopher Amatruda, 35, and Ronny Rivera, 48.
  • Dade City’s public restrooms have reopened, accessible from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily.
  • Work is underway on the design of a visitor’s information welcome center building at the Roy Hardy Trail trailhead.
  • Pasco County issued a notice to proceed with a route study for the extension of Morningside Drive — to connect U.S. 301 to Fort King Road in Dade City.

Published August 19, 2020

Panelists share insights on youth issues in Pasco

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Each summer, a panel of Pasco County teenagers share their perspectives on substance abuse and other problems facing youths, both in the community and in the school system.

Typically, the event is held at the community center at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park.

But, this time, panelists shared their insights again in a July 28 forum held virtually, in light of COVID-19.

The new format didn’t affect the substance: The panelists — who make up Safe Teens Against Drugs (STAND) — still got their points across.

Pasco County youth from Safe Teens Against Drugs (STAND) voiced their perspective on substance abuse, and other community and school issues, during a July 28 virtual meeting hosted by the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP). (File)

The forum was arranged by the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP). This the fifth year that STAND members addressed numerous community stakeholder groups.

They shared their views on various health and safety issues facing Pasco youths.

The group of youth leaders who make up STAND are working to end youth substance abuse in Pasco County by sharing their observations and knowledge with teachers, police, business owners and other community members.

Besides helping to build understanding, they also suggest solutions.

During the hour-long online discussion, STAND speakers warned that vaping, or the use of e-cigarettes, is a growing problem among youth countywide.

Anclote High School student Iker Dorta went so far as to label it “the biggest drug-related issue” in local high schools and middle schools.

Besides vaping nicotine, kids also vape THC (the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana), and other illicit substances that can be smoked, he said.

Iker noted that vaping has become more popular among teens because it’s “easy to hide in your pocket and go to the bathroom and use it.”

Fellow STAND members agreed.

“Vaping is a huge problem in schools and such,” said Chasco Middle School student Alyssa Saldana. “I’ve had some of my friends tell me that one of their older friends offered them a vape, so it’s definitely a big problem that we need to start looking at more.”

Maddie Horn underscored the issue by recalling an incident during a Chasco Middle School pep rally when a student was caught vaping.

“I think it’s a very common thing that’s happening in all our schools,” said Horn, a rising freshman at Gulf High School.

Many teens get roped into substance use through peer pressure and they use substances to become popular, Horn said.

“It’s very much a popularity thing. So, like if one person does it and they become popular, everyone else will want to do it because they want that ‘fame’ in the school,” Horn said.

Besides vaping, marijuana use continues to be “a big issue,” said Land O’ Lakes High School student Jocelyn Meriwether.

“We have a lot of kids who think it’s a cool thing to do, and you have to, like, join the club of high school that way, through smoking weed in bathrooms and trying not to get caught.”

Greater focus needed on mental health
Using substances to become more popular is just one issue, panelists said.

Youths also turn to substances as a way to escape from dysfunctional home life, or to cope with inner feelings, they said.

They urged an increase in mental health services.

“Mental health is the key to everything right now,” Dorta said. “For a 15- or 16-year-old to go through trauma and leave it unchecked…really impales society as a whole, because that’s what’s going to make up our next generation as a whole, so the very next step before overcoming drugs and vaping, first, is taking hold of our minds.”

Panelists said that mental health must be taken more seriously by the Pasco County Schools —  from guidance counselors to teachers and administrators.

They advocate greater funding for staffing at schools to give students quick access to help, when they need to talk to someone about their problems.

As it stands now, instead of an open door policy, a student must make an appointment of sorts by placing a notecard in a counselor’s mailbox, Meriwether said.

Safe Teens Against Drugs (STAND) is a program facilitated by the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP). The group of youth leaders who make up STAND strive to end youth substance abuse in Pasco County by educating teachers, police, business owners and other community members by sharing their observations, and suggesting solutions. (Courtesy of Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention)

“They’ll get to you when they get to you,” she said.

That can be problematic, she added.

“Some kids can’t wait. They need to talk and if they don’t have someone to talk to they’re going to go to drugs and skip over using their resources.

“We have those situations where we want to talk to somebody about this, but no one’s available,” Meriwether said.

Piggybacking off that thought, Horn mentioned some counselors won’t take a particular student’s mental health issues seriously. Instead, they write it off as teen angst.

Other times, she said, counselors just focus on a student’s grades — instead of talking to them about what has been bothering them at school, or outside of it.

Horn put it all like this: “Let’s say you’re being bullied. Like, you’ll go in talking about that issue, but then they’ll change to subject to, ‘Oh, how are your grades doing?’”

That, she added, “doesn’t make the bullying situation or whatever your situation is, any better.

“I don’t think there are enough people in our schools to help us going through our issues. Like the teachers say they can help, but they can only help when it’s convenient for them,” Horn said.

COVID-19’s far-reaching impacts
The unintended consequences of COVID-19 on school-age youth was another deep talking point among panelists.

With a lack of school structure, boredom at home and few extracurricular or athletic activities available — because of the pandemic — panelists said they’re not surprised if fellow teens are currently experimenting with new substances, or abusing them more frequently than they did before the pandemic hit.

Meriwether observed: “Kids now are at home and don’t have a lot to lose, so they’re trying new things. Parents will have stuff at home that kids can just get into, because it’s not being locked up, because everyone’s home all day.”

Safer-at-home orders also have allowed youth to hide side effects that otherwise might’ve been caught if they were in school or school-related activities, she added.

Because of that and other reasons, panelists generally seemed in favor of having some sort of option to return to brick-and-mortar schools.

Horn summed it up like this: “I get a little depressed because I’m not able to go and see my friends, and school was something I enjoyed. It’s very isolating to do online school for such a long time when you don’t have groups to attend and you don’t make friends outside of online school, so like I found peace in going to school. Like, the fact that I can’t go to school is very sad, because I like going to school, I like being around other people and seeing new faces, and it’s just easier to learn.”

Dorta, meantime, expressed worry for youth who’ve had to handle online learning in the face of troubling home or family environments.

Traditional schooling usually offers “a dip from harsh reality” for those kids,” he said.

“You can’t push online school onto a lot of people, especially when those kids have trouble at home. …Imagine if you’re bringing school to their house, which they can’t even feel safe or concentrate in,” he said.

Dorta wants to see schools reopen. But, he added: “Seeing how (COVID-19) is going on, I don’t know how it’d work and I don’t really know if it’s the best option, but knowing a lot of kids that are struggling, at least have them refer to a source that they can go to outside of their house.”

Others, including Gulf Middle School’s Yahkaira Barbosa, expressed hesitation about returning to school at the moment.

“I’m dying to go back to school, but the way things are, it’s probably best not to because it’s going to be awhile until a vaccine comes out,” Barbosa said.

Safe Teens Against Drugs (STAND) is a program facilitated by the Pasco County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP).
STAND members include Iker Dorta, Anclote High School; Alyssa Saldana, Chasco Middle School; Jocelyn Meriwether, Land O’ Lakes High School; Maddie Horn, Gulf High School; Jakob Horn, Bayonet Point Middle School; Billy Kritsotakis, Harry Schwettmann Education Center; Joel Meriwether, Sunlake High School; Jeromy Vaughn, Gulf Middle School; Austin Vaughn, Chasco Middle School; and Cheyenne Howard, of Dade City.

STAND’s mission is to:

  • Change youth perspectives of drugs
  • Reduce accessibility of drugs
  • Reduce marketing of drugs to young people
  • Create an environment where young people in recovery can thrive

To learn more about STAND, contact ">.

Published August 19, 2020

Florida high school sports returning this fall

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Let the practices and games begin.

High schools sports in the state of Florida are returning, even amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Florida High School Athletic Association’s board members (FHSAA) last week voted 11-5 to allow member schools to begin fall sports on Aug. 24.

It marks a long time coming, as state high school sports have been in a holding pattern since mid-March — and the fall sports start date was postponed once already, from the original July 27 start date.

Per the approved plan, Aug. 24 will be the first allowable practice date, with regular seasons permitted to begin on Sept. 4 for all six fall sports (bowling, cross-country, football, golf, swimming & diving, and volleyball).

State tournaments for those fall sports are scheduled to be wrapped up in November with the exception of football, which is to be complete around mid-December.

The board’s action also includes an important amendment allowing schools to opt out of the state series by Sept. 18, and work with FHSAA staff to set their own sports calendar, as they see fit.

As explained, if a particular school or district isn’t comfortable beginning any sports until, say, a few months from now, the FHSAA would work with them on organizing that for the 2020-2021 school year.

Under this scenario, a school or district would not be eligible for the traditional state championships, however. They would simply participate in a regionalized schedule flexible for any and all sports in which they want to participate. For example, a school district could choose to have some or all sports play from January onward.

Also, as part of the return-to-play model, there will not be a minimum contest limit to be eligible for the state series, should schools or districts not opt out by Sept. 18.

In other words, a particular football program would still be eligible for the postseason if they played, say, six games, instead of the regular 10-game schedule.

That could prove beneficial for Pasco County, which has announced fall sports tryouts won’t begin until Sept. 7, putting them a couple weeks behind other counties. Hillsborough County, meanwhile, plans to follow the FHSAA’s direction, beginning tryouts Aug. 24.

Disregarding medical advice
The FHSAA decision to all but immediately ramp up fall sports was far from easy — taking more than two hours of heated dialogue among board members during an Aug. 14 meeting at the Best Western Grand in Gainesville. The meeting was live-streamed for public viewing.

The decision also contradicts a unanimous recommendation from the FHSAA’s 14-member Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC). That committee strongly advised that sports not begin in any part of the state until the coronavirus is controlled, and declining in state and local regions. They also want to be able to study the impact of reopening schools on the COVID-19 infection rate, for at least a few weeks.

The medicine advisory committee was open to the idea of considering an alternate proposal that would delay fall sports until Oct. 12, provided appropriate scientific measures were used to determine the safe return to sports and the ability to practice and play.

Dr. Jennifer Roth Maynard, a Family & Sports Medicine Consultant at the Jacksonville-based Florida Mayo Clinic, explained SMAC’s reasoning to the board.

Swimming & diving is one of six fall high school sports allowed to get underway on Aug. 24, per the FHSAA. The others are bowling, cross-country, football, golf and volleyball. (File)

“Looking at specifically the data, it’s all quite concerning,” Maynard said. “We are improving in certain areas and we are getting worse in certain areas, and my fear from a medical perspective is, until this virus is given the respect it deserves to quiet down, we, by just introducing sports are adding fuel to the fire.”

FHSAA board members, such as Mark Schusterman who voted against the Aug. 24 plan, heeded Maynard’s advice throughout the lengthy meeting.

“I think we’re getting away from the science aspect,” said Schusterman, co-athletic director at Miami’s Riviera Preparatory School. “That’s what concerns me — the health of kids, the health of coaches, the health of officials, and the future of some of these kids.

“I think we have a responsibility to make a sound decision based on the medicine and the science,” he said.

Lee County School Board member Chris Patricca concurred, adding it’s “incredibly, incredibly difficult” for school districts to navigate an athletics season all while trying to manage an ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 considerations.

“Here we are opening schools with the understanding that we’re going to have to adapt, and throwing sports on top of that, it feels like it’s setting us up for failure, and we can’t do it all correctly.

“I’ve gotta make this decision from the perspective of what’s fair and what’s safe, and my SMAC committee is telling me the safest thing to do. How do I ignore the medical advice?” Patricca said.

She also observed a lack of equity in competition should larger counties like Miami-Dade and Broward opt out of the state series by the Sept. 18 deadline.

She argued it would render state playoffs and state championships less meaningful, for a particular athlete or school, whether it’s in football or some other sport.

“It’s kind of like the 1984 Olympics when Russia wasn’t there. (American gymnast) Mary Lou Retton wasn’t, like, a real gold medalist,” Patricca said.

‘Let Us Play’
The majority of board members voting in favor of bringing sports back on Aug. 24 cited an overwhelming amount of support from student-athletes, parents, and even sport officials and school superintendents, from their respective district.

That point was emphasized when Jamie and Tami Kent spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting.

As parents of a Tampa Cambridge Christian High School football player, they created an online petition titled “Let Us Play” attracting over 40,000 signatures urging the FHSAA to begin the fall sports season this month.

“I’m standing before you for 40,000 people that are asking you to make a decision to let sports happen,” said Jamie Kent, addressing the board.

The Kents argued that athletics provides critical structure and well-being in a child’s life, while also stating an obvious point that high school seniors won’t get another year of eligibility.

“We know that you are making a decision in unprecedented times, but I am telling you to listen to the voices of the people,” Jamie Kent added. “As much as you are listening to the voices of experts, as parents, we’re asking you to listen to us.”

Those voices were heard, by the end of the day.

Florida high school sports are returning, as the FHSAA has allowed member schools to begin fall sports practices on Aug. 24 and games on Sept. 4. However, Pasco Schools announced fall sports tryouts won’t begin until Sept. 7 for its student-athletes. The county still will have an opportunity to participate in the FHSAA’s state series, if they don’t opt out by the Sept. 18 deadline. (File)

“It may not be manageable, but I have a hard time us sitting here telling all of those people that want to give it a shot and are willing to bear that burden, that we’re not going to give them that opportunity,” said Bobby Johns, an athletic director at Wewahitchka High School in Gulf County, and one of the 11 yes votes.

Sue Tortora, an administrator at Montverde Academy in Lake County, said she’s received roughly 300 emails from constituents in favor of proceeding with high school sports.

“Our people in this state are crying out for a date,” Tortora said. “I agree that this is a worrisome time, but kids are going to do what kids are going to do, and if you don’t think a lot of those kids aren’t out there now, getting together, gathering, playing a little football on the side — you can’t put them in a bubble.”

She also said the amendment for schools to opt out of the state series and design their own independent schedule “is a wonderful compromise” as “it allows everybody to participate (in athletics) in some way or some form.”

Citizen at-large FHSAA board member Chalmus Thomas put it into perspective, too.

“I don’t think of any communities or superintendents that aren’t thinking of safety first, but we can’t sit in a shell,” he said. “Athletics has been something that pulls communities together, pulls this country together. We realize that safety is our first priority, but we must move forward.”

FHSAA executive director George Tomyn perhaps best summed up the board’s decision, which came at his recommendation.

“I’ve always thought of what can we do for our member schools, not what we cannot or will not be able to do,” Tomyn said at the meeting.

“I’m a firm believer in flexibility, especially in this challenging, challenging time that we’re in. I’m a firm believer in parental choice, and I’m a firm believer in local decision-making.”

He emphasized this point: “There is no requirement for students to play a sport. There’s no requirement for a school to have a team sport. And finally, let’s not forget, our schools are opening. They are opening. Our governor and commissioner of education are insistent that our schools reopen, and know that extracurricular activities and athletic activities are part of that school opening.”

Elsewhere, the board voted to make a COVID-19 waiver form available to all schools, and require all coaches to view the NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) virtual course, “COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators.”

Published August 19, 2029

Odessa native makes MLB debut

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Odessa native/Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School product Nate Pearson made his MLB (Major League Baseball) debut for the Toronto Blue Jays late last month.

Odessa native Nate Pearson is now a big leaguer with the Toronto Blue Jays. (File)

On July 29, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound hard-throwing righthander pitched five scoreless innings against the defending World Series champion Washington Nationals at National Park, striking out five batters, while allowing two hits and two walks in a 4-0 loss.

The 23-year-old has been regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects since becoming a first round draft pick in 2017, out of Ocala’s College of Central Florida.

Pearson rose through the minor league ranks over the past three seasons, posting a combined 2.17 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 146 strikeouts in 123.1 innings from rookie ball through Triple-A.

Pearson is regarded for a fastball that touches 100 mph, along with a slider, changeup and curveball.

Pearson graduated from Bishop McLaughlin in 2015, where he guided the program to the Class 3A state semifinals.

He spent a portion of the leaguewide COVID-19 shutdown in Tampa, training with other professional athletes at Yo Murphy Performance.

Local signings and commits

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• Carrollwood Day School rising junior defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland verbally committed to play football Division I FBS University of Miami

• Gaither High School rising senior defensive end Jonathan Wallace verbally committed to play football at the Division I FCS University of Central Arkansas

• Gaither High rising senior offensive lineman Andrew Kilfoyl verbally committed to play football at Division I FBS University of South Florida

• Land O’ Lakes High School product Shelby Westbrook has joined the Division II Saint Leo University women’s softball program, transferring from Division I Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana)

• Wesley Chapel High School recent graduate Jelani Vassell will continue his football career at Jireh Preparatory Academy, a post-graduate program in Matthews, North Carolina.

Bilirakis fields questions, addresses concerns

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U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis fielded questions from constituents during a virtual town hall-style meeting hosted by The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

The Aug. 6 online “Breakfast with Bilirakis” meeting, allowed the Republican congressman to share various updates from Washington D.C. It also provided a forum for Bilirakis, who represents Florida’s 12th Congressional District, to listen to concerns and questions from East Pasco residents.

One pressing question involved the timeline of when the next COVID-19 stimulus package is coming.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis participated in a virtual town hall meeting hosted by The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 6. He discussed COVID-19 relief, among other topics. (File)

Bilirakis attributed the lack of action by Congress to partisan politics between Democrats and Republicans. He pinned the bulk of the blame on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat.

“This could be done within a matter of hours if we take the politics out of it, but we all know it’s not realistic,” the Republican congressman said.

“Speaker Pelosi does not negotiate. Right now she feels like she’s winning politically, and she’s not putting the people who are really hurting, that need this assistance first, but, I think she’s getting closer and closer (to coming around).”

Republicans have called for $1 trillion in spending; Democrats have a $3.5 trillion plan.

One key difference in the plans involves the Democrats’ proposal to provide funding for large cities, such as New York and Chicago.

Bilirakis doesn’t agree with that.

His reasoned those cities, among others, “have been fiscally irresponsible for years and years and years,” long before the COVID-19 pandemic.

He put it like this: “Nothing against Chicago or New York City, I love those cities, but the management has been terrible, the leadership has been terrible in those particular cities recently.”

Even with ongoing differences between the two parties, Bilirakis is confident a second stimulus package will pass.

President Donald Trump has threatened executive action to break Congress’s impasse, Bilirakis said.

“I don’t blame him — people are suffering; they need help now,” the congressman said.

Bilirakis also is certain federal unemployment benefits will be extended, but doesn’t expect it be at the $600 per week rate.

“It might be a little bit of a different version,” Bilirakis said. He has co-sponsored a bill to ensure people receiving unemployment will not receive an amount that exceeds the amount they were getting paid while employed.

 

Need to help, but also to watch federal debt

Bilirakis also addressed the status of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) business loan program.

More funds will likely be added to program, he said, but he noted there is still $100 billion in loans available.

The next round of PPP loans should be geared toward businesses with 25 employees or fewer, he said. There also should be more flexibility to help the restaurants that are hurting, he added.

Bilirakis acknowledged the original $669-billion federal business loan program was put together hastily, during a state of emergency. Its language allowed some corporations, even charter schools, to take advantage of loans not meant for them.

“It was a successful program and we helped out a lot of businesses, but I think we’ve learned that we need to narrow the scope because a lot of big businesses took advantage,” he said.

The lawmaker expressed sympathy for struggling restaurants and other small businesses, too: “My goodness, you have these restaurants that have been around forever and they’ve survived wars, depressions, recessions, and now they’re closing up for good, and we just can’t have that.”

At the same, as COVID-19-related spending packages are implemented, Bilirakis emphasized the need to be concerned about the government’s increasing debt. The national debt rose to $26 trillion for the first time in June.

“I know this is a crisis and we’ve got to help folks, but we’ve got to be cognizant of this national debt, because we’re passing it on to our children, our grandchildren, our great-grandchildren in some cases,” Bilirakis said.

One constituent questioned Bilirakis on why the Trump administration has denied new or first-time applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that blocked the president’s attempt to end DACA.

The DACA program grants protection from deportation of undocumented children brought to the country by immigrants.

Bilirakis responded: “I can’t explain it. Obviously, I’m not responsible for it, but what we can do is pressure the administration and (Attorney General) Bill Barr, to make sure that they follow up.”

The lawmaker expressed support for a single-subject immigration bill to protect DACA youth, but not one with amendments that offer similar protections for undocumented adults and illegal aliens — an ongoing point of contention between Democrats and Republicans.

With that, Bilirakis believes immigrant children will be granted protection at some point, but doesn’t foresee a piece of legislation to pass before the end of the year.

Said Bilirakis, “We should be passing a DACA bill to protect these kids, but the problem is everything’s political. They did nothing wrong themselves and they should not be punished. They only know the United States of America, in most cases.”

Another constituent probed the congressman about what types of COVID-19 safety measures have been put forth for active military and veterans.

Bilirakis explained the Tampa’s James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and satellite facilities (like those in New Port Richey and Zephyrhills) are offering virtual appointments for primary care and other services. The program is “going pretty well,” he said.

Bilirakis said he is pushing to reopen or expand services at outpatient clinics for veterans, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re trying to give them as much access as possible to health care,” he said.

Published August 12, 2020

Hercules Park upgrades under consideration

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As the Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) preps its budget for fiscal year 2020-21, city leaders are calling for more attention to Hercules Park, a 9-acre city-owned park land property off Gall Boulevard.

Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton on July 27 probed the CRA Board of Commissioners —chaired by Zephyrhills City Council members — on which types of projects they want to have the highest priority in the upcoming year, noting the agency appears in good shape with funding this coming year.

The answer was unanimous: Hercules Park improvements are well overdue.

CRA board member Lance Smith was quick to declare it’s time to gather community input and organize an action plan for the vacant park land that once had a buzzing aquatic center and swimming pool.

He observed Hercules Park, adjacent to Zephyrhills High and Woodland Elementary schools, is visibly nestled in “a very high traffic” intersection that includes a Wawa gas station and Culver’s fast-food restaurant.

Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners is calling for needed improvements to Hercules Park, a 9-acre city-owned park land property off Gall Boulevard. Ownership of the land was transferred to the city from the Pasco County School Board in June 2018. The property has sat mostly idle for years. (File)

“I think we should really work on Hercules some, because it’s been sitting there,” Smith said. “I don’t think we have to spend a tremendous amount of money on it, but I do think we have to put together a plan for it.”

Fellow board member Charles Proctor agreed Hercules Park fixes are “a longtime in the coming,” since ownership of the land was transferred to the city from the Pasco County School Board in June 2018.

Even minor improvements would make it a desirable passive park for residents, he said.

His general idea: “Make it simple, but usable,” so that upkeep isn’t an ongoing burden for the city’s public works department.

“I don’t necessarily want to go crazy with it,” Proctor said, “but I would like to make it usable, so if somebody wanted to have a picnic there or walk the trails, because it is a beautiful piece of property, and at least so that citizens can use it.”

Board chair Jodi Wilkeson added work on the park should be handled in phases, starting with some routine cleanup, then later on identify more specific long-term goals and objectives for the park’s future.

Board member Ken Burgess likewise agreed to have the property “spruced up enough where we can utilize it, until we come up with a better, eventual plan for it on down the road.”

All that in mind, Hamilton assured various park fixes are on the table for discussion.

The CRA originally planned to hold a community meeting for park input, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused it to fall by the wayside. Hamilton instead plans to meet with the city’s parks board for further input, then present it to the CRA board and city council.

Some early possibilities include underbrush clearing and designing a more welcoming park entrance, as well as installing a park fountain, benches, tree underlighting, and colorful sailcloth. Adding an art piece that pays homage to the history of the property is another idea, too, she said.

The park land is a legacy from about 80 acres once owned by the Hercules Powder Co.

The company, which converted pine stumps into resin and turpentine, had been the city’s largest employer.

“I think it needs to look nice when people drive by, (so) it looks like we care,” Hamilton said. “We’ll create a plan, and work that plan.”

A sign of how the property has languished over the years:  Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield pointed out trees surrounding the park are covered in poison ivy.

Other CRA priorities for this budget cycle include installing wayfinding and gateway signage, sidewalk repairs and developing a public art master plan, among others.

The Zephyrhills CRA is a dependent special district in which any future increases in property values are set aside in a Trust Fund to support economic development and redevelopment projects within the designated district. Although it functions within the City of Zephyrhills, the Zephyrhills CRA is a separate and distinct legal entity. The Zephyrhills City Council also serves as the appointed board governing the Zephyrhills CRA.

The CRA district encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street. Within those boundaries are the following historic neighborhood districts: Hercules, Historic Jeffries, Historic Abbott, Moore’s Estate, Zephyr Lake, Oakside and Plaza.

Main Street events suspended until December
Elsewhere, Hamilton also mentioned all Main Street Zephyrhills events have been canceled until the end of December, due to COVID-19.

Main Street Zephyrhills is a 501c3 nonprofit that generally facilitates new business and organizes large events within the historic downtown district.

One of the nonprofit organization’s most popular annual events, Music & Motorcycles, will likely be rescheduled at a later date, once events are back in the fold, Hamilton said.

Guidelines from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) will be followed in making a determination of when events with large gatherings are safe to resume, she said.

“We don’t want to have an event that’s going to cause problems, so at this moment we are still monitoring the situation,” Hamilton told the board.

The Music & Motorcycles event is typically held in September and features a live band, and a 10-class ride-in bike show along Fifth Avenue in downtown Zephyrhills.

Other events impacted included the Veterans Day Parade, National Night Out, Halloween Howl and Festival of Lights.

Main Street’s new events coordinator is Paxton McCullough, a recent graduate from the University of Georgia. She takes over for Anna Stutzriem, who resigned in March after more than two years on the post.

The coordinator position is the organization’s lone city-funded employee position.

Published August 12, 2020

Check out these locals in 2020 NFL training camps

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Like other sports organizations, the National Football League (NFL) has succumbed in some way, shape or form to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The league already has scrapped its preseason games, and training camps have a much different look — all taking place at team facilities without fans and visitors.

With myriad health and safety precautions in place, America’s most popular sport has insisted on a full 16-game regular season. A full set of playoffs also will take place.

Whether fans will be allowed into stadiums for regular season games remains largely up in the air, however.

Some franchises plan to proceed with limited capacities. Others have said they will go forward without fans in the stands.

At least one team — the Las Vegas Raiders — has officially announced it plans to play the entire 2020 season at its brand-new $1.84 billion stadium with no fans.

Moreover, dozens of NFL players have voluntarily opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus or other unspecified reasons.

However this unique 2020 season shakes out, you can bet on seeing several pros take the field with deep ties to The Laker/Lutz News coverage area — by way of Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Dade City, respectively.

Here’s a closer look at those locals suiting up as NFL training camps ramp up, with hopes of making a team’s final 53-man roster or 16-man practice squad by the league’s Sept. 4 cut date.

Las Vegas Raiders wideout Nelson Agholor is a Lutz Chiefs football alum. He spent the past five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. (Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles media communications)

Nelson Agholor, Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver
Local tie: Lutz Chiefs

The 6-foot, 198-pound veteran pro wideout is embarking on his sixth NFL season — his first with the Raiders after spending his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won a Super Bowl in 2018.

Before he became a household name registering a combined 224 receptions for 2,515 yards and 18 touchdowns in his pro career, Agholor was making highlight-reel plays as a dual-threat quarterback for the Lutz Chiefs youth football organization, while attending New Tampa’s Liberty Middle School.

Agholor would go on to become one of the nation’s top football prospects at Tampa’s Berkeley Preparatory School and then an All-American at University of Southern California. He was drafted by the Eagles in the first round (20th overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Agholor, 27, doesn’t forget his football-playing roots. During the 2015 NFL offseason, he made an appearance at a Lutz Chiefs practice at the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, speaking to players about the bonds and life lessons formed in youth football.

New Orleans Saints linebacker Anthony Chickillo spent his freshman and sophomore years at Gaither High School. (Courtesy of Pittsburgh Steelers media communications)

Anthony Chickillo, New Orleans Saints, linebacker
Local tie: Gaither High School

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound linebacker has seemingly lived up to expectations since entering the league as a sixth round pick (212th overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2015 NFL Draft, out of the University of Miami.

After spending his entire career in the Steel City, the 27-year-old now takes his talents to New Orleans, where he’ll compete for a backup defensive role after signing as a free agent in March.

Altogether, Chickillo has played in 65 regular season games with nine starts, while also being a core contributor on special teams for Pittsburgh. He’s recorded 89 career tackles, 7.5 sacks for loss, three passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries; he’s also played in four postseason contests.

Before launching into the game’s highest ranks, a younger Chickillo could be seen disrupting opposing quarterbacks on Friday nights at Gaither High School.

Chickillo played at the local school his freshman and sophomore seasons in 2008 and 2009, before transferring to Alonso High School and shaping up into a five-star prospect boasting more than 40 college scholarship offers.

His sophomore season at Gaither, Chickillo tallied 77 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He also spent time as a tight end and offensive lineman on the team.

Chickillo in March 2017 visited his old stomping grounds, giving the Gaither football program a pep talk in the midst of spring football practices.

Houston Texans cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III is a Wharton High School alum. (Courtesy of Houston Texans media communications)

Vernon Hargreaves III, Houston Texans, cornerback
Local tie: Wharton High School

Since being a first round pick (11th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2016 NFL Draft, the hometown kid has had a somewhat underwhelming pro career — criticized for allowing big plays and becoming one of the most targeted corners by opposing NFL offenses. The 25-year-old corner has been somewhat injury prone, too, including a hamstring tear, groin strain and shoulder labrum tear between 2017 and 2018.

But, a new environment outside of Tampa Bay seems to be serving him well.

The 5-foot-10, 204-pound Hargreaves was waived by the Bucs in the middle of the 2019 season, then picked up by the Texans, where he tallied 21 tackles and two passes defensed in six games and two starts; he was re-signed by the Texans in March.

Hargreaves starred at Wharton High School. In 2012 he was named the Class 8A Defensive Player of the Year and the Guy Toph Award winner as Hillsborough County’s top senior football player, after he registered 110 total tackles, five interceptions, five passes defensed and five forced fumbles.

The accolades continued at the University of Florida, where he was a Jim Thorpe Award finalist, and consensus First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC selection.

Athletes run in the Hargreaves family. His younger sister, Chanelle, was a standout on the University of Florida volleyball team. His father, Vernon Jr., was a two-time All-American linebacker at the University of Connecticut and is a longtime Division I assistant football coach, presently a defensive line coach at Howard University in Washington D.C.

Pasco High School product Joey Ivie has played for five different NFL franchises, and currently is in the Tennessee Titans training camp. (File)

Joey Ivie, Tennessee Titans, defensive end
Local tie: Pasco High School

The 25-year-old Dade City native is now in his fifth different NFL franchise since being taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (228th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-3, 301-pound defensive lineman has spent much of his pro career on various practice squads, but now seeks a larger role as a backup within the Titans 3-4 defensive scheme.

Thus far, Ivie has played in eight career NFL regular season games; his two career tackles came as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

In addition to the Titans, Cowboys and Chiefs, Ivie also was a member of the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.

Before starring at the University of Florida and later reaching the NFL, Ivie shined as a multisport athlete at Pasco High School, where he graduated in 2013.

The Pirates football team, then coached by Tom McHugh, went a combined 36-3 and captured three district titles in the three seasons Ivie spent on varsity. Ivie’s best season came as a senior — where he racked up 89 tackles, 12 sacks and three forced fumbles in 12 games.

A defensive end by trade, Ivie was also utilized as a fullback and tight end while in a Pirates uniform. His younger brother, Andrew, also starred at Pasco High and briefly played football at Florida before an injury ended his playing career prematurely.

Ivie’s late sister, Jordan, passed away in 2015, a month before she would have graduated high school, due to injuries sustained in a car accident in Dade City. Ivie has said he uses her memory as motivation and has shared these moments on social media.

Houston Texans reserve quarterback Alex McGough prepped at Wesley Chapel and Gaither high schools. (Courtesy of Houston Texans media communications)

Alex McGough, Houston Texans, quarterback
Local tie: Wesley Chapel High School/Gaither High School

The 24-year-old McGough has yet to throw a meaningful pass in an NFL regular season game, but teams seemingly appreciate his skillset enough to keep him rostered, mostly as a practice squad player.

The 6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller is on his third NFL franchise since being taken by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round (220th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. In addition to Seattle, McGough also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars before landing with his current team, the Texans.

So far through training camp, McGough projects as the team’s third-string quarterback, behind incumbent starter Deshaun Watson and backup AJ McCarron.

Closer to home, McGough began his prep career at Wesley Chapel High School, where he played varsity football, baseball and soccer.

He transferred to Gaither High School as a sophomore, and would go on to compile nearly 5,000 career passing yards and 50 passing touchdowns in three varsity seasons, graduating in 2014.

Despite showy statistics, McGough was rather lightly recruited, surprisingly, winding up at Miami’s Florida International University (FIU).

He proved doubters wrong there, too, setting several program records en route to over 9,000 career passing yards and 91 total touchdowns.

McGough’s uncle is former NFL punter and Super Bowl Champion Kelley Goodburn. McGough’s younger brother, Shane, also a Gaither product, is a redshirt senior offensive lineman at FIU.

Detroit Lions defensive back Amani Oruwariye prepped at Gaither High School. He begins his second NFL season. (Courtesy of Detroit Lions media communications)

Amani Oruwariye, Detroit Lions, cornerback
Local tie: Gaither High School

The 24-year-old Oruwariye looks to build off a promising rookie season where he registered 17 tackles, two interceptions and three passed defensed in nine games — and would’ve put forth a stronger showing had he not been hampered by a midseason knee injury.

But, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound corner will have to navigate another hurdle entering his second season, as he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Detroit Lions in late July.

A two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection at Penn State University, Oruwariye was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

With that, Oruwariye is believed to be the highest NFL draftee to come out of Gaither High School, where he graduated in 2014.

Other known Gaither alums drafted into the NFL include Alex McGough (seventh round in 2018), Carlton Mitchell (sixth round in 2010) and J.R. Russell (seventh round in 2005); and, New Orleans Saints linebacker Anthony Chickillo (sixth round in 2015) who attended Gaither his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Alonso High School.

Oruwariye was a three-year letterman at Gaither under former head coach Jason Stokes, and finished his career with 121 tackles and 12 interceptions combined. Senior year he was named team MVP, earned first-team all-district honors and was invited to play in the Hillsborough County All-Star Game. Various recruiting services ranked him a three-star prospect and top 100 recruit in the state.

Cincinnati Bengals third-year wide receiver Auden Tate is a Wharton High product. (Courtesy of Cincinnati Bengals media communications)

Auden Tate, Cincinnati Bengals, wide receiver
Local tie: Wharton High School

The 6-foot-5, 223-pound wideout looks to build off a breakout 2019 campaign that established him as one of the Bengals’ top offensive targets — hauling in 40 receptions for 455 yards and a touchdown. It marked a significant jump in production from his rookie season two years ago, where he compiled just four catches for 35 yards in seven games.

The 23-year-old prepped at Wharton High, moving to the Tampa area as a 10th-grader from South Carolina. He went on to become one of the nation’s most coveted receiver prospects with offers from 20 Division I schools, ultimately signing with Florida State University (FSU) in 2015.

Following a productive career at FSU, Tate was the Bengals’ seventh round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Quite impressive, considering Tate was once cut from his middle school football team in his hometown of Irmo, South Carolina.

Published August 12, 2020