Kevin Weiss

Local high schools shine at state swim meets

November 22, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

The 2017 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Swimming & Diving Championships wrapped up its meets across all four classes on Nov. 11.

Land O’ Lakes High School shined in the Class 2A swim meet on Nov. 3 at the Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center in Stuart. The girls squad finished fifth (out of 47 teams), while the boys placed 10th (out of 39 teams). (Courtesy of Brian Vaile)

Among local schools, Land O’ Lakes and Sunlake displayed the strongest showings at the state event, held at Sailfish Splash Water Park in Stuart.

The Sunlake High School girls team placed fourth (out of 48 schools) in the Class 3A meet, marking the highest finish of any team in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

The showing yielded six state medals and six school records.

Seahawks sophomore Chloe Grimme exhibited perhaps the most impressive performance, placing first in the 50 free (23.11) and second in the 100 free (51.18), earning All-American honors.

Grimme also teamed with Tori Eurell, Elise Ballash and Hanna Barton win the 200 free relay (1:36.88). She, too, teamed with Eurell, Barton and Audrey Ballash to finish third in the 200 medley relay (1:48.13).

Other Seahawks highlights included Elise Ballash’s seventh-place finish in the 100 breast (1:06.10) and Audrey Ballash’s 11th-place finish in the 200 individual medley (2:09.91).

On the Sunlake boys side, sophomore Dominic Ortanez placed fourth in the 50 free (21.63), and sophomore Jay Jay Fonnotto placed 19th in the 100 fly. His time of 53:43 is a school record.

Sunlake High’s swim and dive program had several strong performances at the Class 3A state meet, including a fourth place finish by the girls team, along with strong individual performances on the boys side. Pictured front, left: Jay Jay Fonnotto (sophomore) and Dominic Ortanez (sophomore). Pictured back, from left: Coach Lorin Macdonald, Elise Ballash (junior), Audrey Ballash (sophomore), Alex Sprague (freshman), Hanna Barton (junior), Tori Eurell (sophomore), Chloe Grimme (sophomore) and Coach Shelly Koutras. (Courtesy of Shelly Koutras)

Land O’ Lakes High School, meanwhile, thrived in the Class 2A swim meet.

The girls squad finished fifth (out of 47 teams), while the boys placed 10th (out of 39 teams).

Two-time defending state champion Jabari Ramsey earned his third straight gold medal in in the 100 breaststroke, with a time of 56:11.

The Land O’ Lakes senior became the first boy swimmer from Pasco County, and just the fifth from the area, to win three straight titles in the same event.

He tied former Mitchell standout Devin McCaffrey for the most career individual titles by a North Suncoast swimmer with three.

The hardware didn’t end there for Ramsey. He teamed with Patryk Pilkowski, Zachary Davis and Zuri Ramsey to win the 200 medley relay in 1:35.97, smashing last year’s school record of 1:39.09 — becoming the first ever Pasco County relay team to win gold at the Class 2A state championships.

Along with Jabari Ramsey, Pilkowski reached the podium as an individual with his third-place finish in the 100 backstroke. His mark of 51:75 broke the previous school record by a full three seconds.

On the girls side, junior Taylor Ward earned a pair of second-place finishes in the 200 free (1:50.27) and the 500 free (4:56.57).

Ward also teamed with Romina McCloskey, Margarita Czupryn and Ashley Schrader for third in the 200-yard free relay (1:39.71) and fourth in the 400 free relay (3:38.54) — both school records.

Another school record was set by McCloskey in the 100 free (53:07). The individual time was good enough for an eighth-place finish at states.

The FHSAA championships wrapped up an otherwise notable season for the Gators, historically one of the county’s top high school swim programs.

Both boys and girls squads won district and Sunshine Athletic Conference titles, and finished runner-up at regionals. The conference titles marked the 17th straight for the boys team and ninth straight for the girls.

Other schools in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area with teams or individuals represented in the state meet were: Academy at the Lakes, Freedom, Steinbrenner and Wesley Chapel high schools.

2017 FHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships results:

Class 4A
Boys

Steinbrenner High School (22nd place—26 points)

Notable(s): Kyle Stoker finished seventh in the 200 free (1:42.67) and with teammates Max Martino, A.J. Harkness and Bradley Stoker 11th in the 200-yard free relay (1:29.81)

Girls

Steinbrenner High School (14th place—63 points)

Notable(s): Freshman Lexie Mulvihill placed second in the 50 free (23.16) and with teammates Justine Answeeney, Taylor Holmes and Mackenzie Hall fifth in the 200 free relay (1:38.16) and ninth in the 400 free relay (3:36.83)

Class 3A
Boys

Sunlake High School (25th place—24 points)

Girls

Sunlake High School (fourth place—131 points)

Freedom High School (10th place—86 points)

Notable(s): Sophomore Abigail Leisure finished fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:07.35), third in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.30) and with teammates McKaley Goldblum, Genevieve Clark and Hannah Labohn seventh in the 400 free relay.

Class 2A
Boys

Land O’ Lakes High School (10th place—92 points)

Girls

Land O’ Lakes High School (fifth place—114 points)

Wesley Chapel High School (29th place—23 points)

Notable(s): Senior Brooke Duncan placed fifth in the 50 yard free (24.52)

Class 1A
Girls

Academy at the Lakes (23rd place—24 points)

Notable(s): Freshman McKenna Smith placed fourth in the 100 free (51.10)

Published November 22, 2017

Pasco’s tourism director wants to take a new approach

November 15, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Adam Thomas envisions Pasco County becoming one of Florida’s “must-see” tourism destinations.

Aside from mostly pleasant weather, the county lays its claim to bountiful ecotourism, miles of bike trails, premier multipurpose sports facilities — as well as beaches and resorts.

“We have a lot of opportunities,” said Thomas, who is Pasco’s newest tourism director.

“Our destination is really primed for success in the future, and ready for success now. We have a lot of key attractions and key different segments in tourism right here…”

Thomas, 38, started his $82,000-a-year job in September.

New Pasco County tourism director Adam Thomas shared his vision during a Nov. 8 luncheon hosted by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. He began the job in September. (Kevin Weiss)

He shared his vision for Pasco County’s Office of Tourism Development — which is known as Visit Pasco — during a Nov. 8 luncheon hosted by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

He expressed confidence in the county’s tourism offerings, but he said the county’s current strategy “lacks an identity.”

“Not one person can identify what our brand is, as a tourism destination,” Thomas told chamber members and county stakeholders gathered at the Fox Hollow Golf Club.

Thomas needs to develop a brand strategy that highlights the county’s assets and create a business model that attracts not just locals, but also resonates with people “50 miles and beyond.”

He noted he has considerable work to do to attract visitors that will produce economic impact over the course of the year.

Most recently, Thomas served as director of the Citrus County Visitor’s Bureau, since 2013. Before that, he was a minor league baseball player, a career that spanned more than a decade, and took him to three continents and countless cities across the United States.

Thomas replaced Doug Traub, who left after just three months on the job as the county’s first tourism director. Traub arrived in Pasco from Lake Havasu, Arizona, where he was the chief executive officer of the visitor and tourism bureau.

Pasco County previously had a tourism manager position, but the director’s job expands on those duties to handle long-range strategic goals.

In Citrus County, Thomas said tourism generated $11.7 million in sales taxes in 2016, ultimately saving each county household about $197 on taxes that year.

“Something that I love about our industry is that it’s no tax burden on the citizens in their household, but it’s providing economic sustainability,” Thomas said.

Duplicating results for Pasco, he said, starts with auditing each event and festival coordinated by his office — to determine whether or not they drive hotel room nights and create an economic impact that “brings the highest yield of investment.”

Thomas noted Visit Pasco last year spent $285,000 on local events and festivals, and $160,000 on tourism advertising initiatives.

He questioned whether those local events — such as the Pasco County Fair in Dade City and the Chasco Fiesta in New Port Richey — actually entice tourists and nonresidents.

“On an annual basis, we’re spending more money on local events and festivals than we actually do marketing the destination,” he said. “We have to take a look at the bigger picture.”

The tourism director also panned the economic model for the Dick’s Sporting Good Tournament of Champions in Wesley Chapel, a youth lacrosse showcase that draws more than 50 teams from more than a dozen states, as well as Canada. The three-day event has been held in the county each year since 2008.

Thomas pointed out the county spent a combined $694,000 on the three-day event over the last seven years alone.

“That’s a $94,000 (annual) bill for us, with 80 percent of the rooms going to Tampa. Is that a good business decision?” he asked.

“It’s really not all about heads and beds. It’s about getting the right event or the right audience in our destination to create the highest economic impact and the highest visitor expenditure. That’s going to offset costs, again, to the local community in the sales tax,” he said.

He also detailed some of his long-term ideas.

He said he wants to lure more small conferences and trade associations — with various incentive packages — to places such as Saddlebrook Resort & Spa and the forthcoming Wiregrass Sports Complex, both of which offer thousands of square feet of meeting space, along with numerous recreation opportunities.

“These are small, little initiatives that can really make an impact to the entire community,” Thomas said.

He also wants to popularize scallop harvesting in west Pasco, with the approval of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Scalloping was a draw for traveling families in Citrus County between June and September, he said.

Drawing other profitable sporting events and fishing tournaments are definite possibilities, too.

Elsewhere, Thomas wants to furnish interactive kiosks and mobile video displays to promote the county at events and trade shows. He noted other communities have introduced digital billboards, videos and virtual reality to portray their respective various tourist attractions.

“There’s a lot of things our office hasn’t been doing in the past that we need to be doing moving forward,” he said. “We’re behind the eight-ball a little bit…”

Meanwhile, Thomas plans to completely rebrand “Visit Pasco” during the next several months.

He plans to have a consulting firm in place by January to help with new branding, as well as marketing efforts.

The process could take anywhere from six months to eight months, he said.

“We first have to identify who our target audience is…and we have to do that through a brand and research strategy where a firm comes in and works directly with our events holders, our properties, to actually find out who’s coming here and why,” he explained.

“We have some really key attractions, but it’s all going to be a part of the brand umbrella,” Thomas said.

Whatever slogan is selected, Thomas wants Pasco to identify as an entirely separate entity from Tampa — not merely an extension of it.

“We want to pull ourselves away from Tampa,” he said, “and the only way we’re going to be able to do that is with the brand strategy to be a standalone competing destination for it.

“We don’t want to be a room night, a day trip from Tampa into Pasco. We don’t want to be a bedroom community to Tampa,” Thomas said.

Thomas and his staff of two will have a budget based on the recent doubling of Pasco’s tourism tax, to 4 percent from 2 percent.

The surcharge on overnight hotel stays and other short-term rentals had remained at 2 percent for 26 years, until August.

Pasco officials estimate the additional 2 percent tourism tax will generate an additional $1.2 million in fiscal 2018, which began Oct. 11.

Published November 15, 2017

Looking for sinkhole solutions

November 15, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Remedying a massive sinkhole in Land O’ Lakes has taken a minor step forward, four months after it opened and swallowed two homes on Ocean Pines Drive in Lake Padgett.

Residents of the Lake Padgett community were presented several preliminary solutions for fixing the sinkhole long-term, during a Nov. 8 meeting at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center.

The audience also had the opportunity to ask questions and offer input to county officials.

Kevin Guthrie, assistant county administrative of public safety, led the meeting.

He offered up three possible solutions for “success” in the sinkhole’s remediation:

Build a fence around the sinkhole with a cul de sac on each side (estimated cost of $1.7 million)
Connect the sinkhole to Lake Saxon while adding a cul de sac to each side of the lake (estimated cost of $2.5 million)
Rebuild the original road through the sinkhole (estimated cost of $800,000)

The first two options would require the county to purchase several properties, either to connect the sinkhole to Lake Saxon and/or develop a cul de sac.

The sinkhole opened on July 14 at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive, and swallowed two homes, a motorcycle and a boat. Five more houses on both sides of Ocean Pines have been condemned. Remediation costs are estimated anywhere from $800,000 to more than $2.5 million. (File)

The third option, meanwhile, requires the reconstruction of Ocean Pines Drive using a sheet piling methodology. Fences then would be placed around bodies of water on either side of the road — similar to how retention ponds have fences around them.

A fourth option consists of leaving the sinkhole “as is,” adding a chain-link fence and signage around its perimeter. The option would cost about $50,000.

The Pasco County Commission will have the final say on how to proceed with long-term recovery efforts at the sinkhole site.

The sinkhole opened on July 14 at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive, and swallowed two homes, a motorcycle and a boat. Five more houses on both sides of Ocean Pines have been condemned.

On July 31, the county approved $1.3 million for an initial cleanup of debris, and stabilization of the site. That work has been completed.

Guthrie said additional geotechnical investigation is required before any remediation can be done, which would cost an additional $100,000 to $200,000.

The University of South Florida also is recommending a resistivity survey be completed to determine how the sinkhole interacts with underground surrounding areas. The cost would be another $15,000.

Dr. Lori Collins is a research professor at USF, and is a part of the team of geologists and postgraduate students researching the sinkhole since Day 1.

She explained further testing is needed to truly understand how the sinkhole penetrates the Florida aquifer and connects to the lake system.

“We want to make sure science tells us what the alternates should be first. Right now, we don’t know…what’s going on underneath the ground,” Collins said.

The necessary prep work could take another 45 days, Guthrie said, before a final recommendation is presented to county commissioners.

“We want to do it right the first time and not keep coming back, time and time again,” Guthrie said.

Kevin Guthrie, assistant county administrative of public safety, served up three possible solutions for ‘success’ in the sinkhole’s remediation. (Kevin Weiss)

Since the sinkhole involves private property and a county road, the county is a stakeholder in the situation. Had the sinkhole never touched the roadway, it would’ve strictly been a private property issue, Guthrie said.

Regarding funding, Guthrie mentioned municipal service taxing units (MSTU) or municipal services benefit unit (MSBU) as options that have been used in the past.

Utilizing the county’s general fund reserves is another possibility. However, the county is already “significantly dipping” into those reserves following Hurricane Irma, Guthrie said.

Assistance through grants and the state also will be vetted, he said.

“We’re trying to get whatever we can,” Guthrie said. “It’s going to be very difficult…to help pay for this.”

Terence Doohen was one of several sinkhole victims who attended the Nov. 8 meeting.

He said the public forum proved beneficial to affected homeowners and community members.

“I felt there was some good information there that had not been communicated to me,” he said, “so I thought it was well worth my time and some other people’s time.”

The 44-year-old, along with his wife and 10-year-old son, in August had their lakeside property red-tagged by the Pasco County Building Inspectors Office.

Doohen said he’s in favor of “whatever is the safest solution for everyone involved.”

“I would go to bat for long-term, whichever is the safest option,” he said.

Doohen also supports the county taking a thorough look at the sinkhole matter before making any major decisions.

“I’m fine with the time that’s gone by,” he said “I think it’s fine, if everybody’s dotting all the ‘i’s and crossing all the t’s, and if it moves at a little bit slower pace than one expected; I think you’ve just got to kind of live with it and roll with it.”

Several additional community meetings are expected over the next several months.

Guthrie acknowledged the sinkhole matter will be handled in a methodical fashion, likely extending well into 2018.

“We are at step one on a ladder that’s probably about 10 stories long,” Guthrie said.

Published November 15, 2017

Land O’ Lakes High head football coach resigns

November 15, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Land O’ Lakes High School’s varsity football program will have a new leader in 2018.

Brian Wachtel, the Gators head coach since 2011, stepped down following the team’s final regular season game on Nov. 3 — a 36-6 win over Fivay High School.

Wachtel, 39, announced his decision to principal Ric Mellin prior to the game.

Land O’ Lakes athletic director Michael Frump said the school will advertise the coaching vacancy after the Thanksgiving holiday

Brian Wachtel has stepped down as Land O’ Lakes High’s varsity football coach. A search for his replacement will begin after the Thanksgiving break. (Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High School)

The Gators finished the 2017 season 4-5 overall, with a 1-3 district mark.

Wachtel’s entire seven-year run offered mixed results.

He posted just one winning season (8-2 in 2013) and a combined 25-42 record — including an 0-10 mark in 2011 where games were forfeited as a result of an ineligible player.

The Gators also failed to register a victory over rival Sunlake High School in the annual “Butter Bowl” during that period.

Wachtel came to Land O’ Lakes with considerable fanfare in 2011, after posting a 13-7 record in two seasons at Mitchell High School. His career as a coach began nearly 15 years ago as an assistant at his alma mater River Ridge High School, where he quickly rose up the ranks in the profession.

Land O’ Lakes historically has fielded one of the top football programs in Pasco County, earning a string of 14 straight playoff appearances from 1997 to 2009 under coaches John Benedetto and Matt Kitchie.

However, the recent success of other programs in the county and an ever-challenging district made winning consistently a tall task.

While the Gators win-loss column left much to be desired, Wachtel and his staff mentored several athletes who advanced to the college ranks, at the NCAA Division I, II and III, and NAIA levels. Among them is Samford University’s Shaheed Salmon, a preseason FCS All-American who’s quickly developed into one of the nation’s most productive linebackers.

Additionally, Wachtel this year coached five players who’ve been selected to the Pasco County Senior East-West Classic—wide receiver Taylor Winn, offensive tackle Justin Collier, offensive guard Guston Farr, defensive tackle Xavier Arroyo and linebacker Matt Geiger.

Projecting forward, the Gators next coach should have budding talent to work with — on both sides of the ball — in 2018.

Leading rusher Kyle Leivas, who tallied 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, is expected to return for his senior season, teaming up with a promising quarterback Ethan Forrester, who will be a junior next year.

And, that’s not all.

The Gators defense is expected to return its top three tacklers in linebackers Myron Bloom (76 tackles, two sacks) and Clayton Hendriksen (75 tackles, 1.5 sacks), and safety Nate Howard (66 tackles, one interception).

Published November 15, 2017

2017 FHSAA Cross Country Championships results

November 15, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Class 4A
Boys

Teams

Steinbrenner High School (2nd place)
Davis Bly, junior (17th—16:16.02)
Jackson Miller, senior (45th—16:51.98)
Zachary Whitmer, senior (47th—16:52.57)
Daniel Weller, senior (55th—16:56.86)
Ryan Gorman, junior(59th—16:59.44)

Wharton High junior Tre Rivers finished seventh in the Class 4A boys state cross country meet on Nov. 11 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. His time of 15:56.80 (5:06 per mile race pace) is a school record. (Courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

Wharton High School (15th place)
Tre Rivers, junior (7th—15:53.80)
Eric Jurgensmeyer, senior (46th—16:52.34)
Josue Reyes, junior (114th—17:44.93)
Frank Godbold, senior (128th—17:52.78)
Anthony Stephens, junior (134th—17:58.44)

Girls

Teams
Steinbrenner High School (8th place)
Alexandra Straumann, junior (13th—18.57.17)
Sarah Magee, junior (26th—19:30.82)
Dana Elkalazani, senior (63rd—20:27.60)
Sophia Piniella, senior (94th—21:16.28)
Jennifer Teixeira, senior (110th—21:44.48)

Wharton High School (15th place)
Nia Rivers, sophomore (55th—20:18.59)
Michelle Sullivan, sophomore (83rd—21:03.21)
Callie Zach, freshman (85th—21:04.07)
Nicolina Otero, junior (92nd—21:12.53)
Amanda Brake, junior (111th—21:46.21)

Class 3A

Boys
Land O’ Lakes High School (18th place)
Alex Normandia, senior (72nd—17:19.96)
Joseph Pineda, junior (78th—17:22.67)
Adam Hahn, junior (97th—17:39.09)
Josiah Pineda, junior (128th—18:00.31)
Brandon Castillo, freshman (132nd—18:01.43)

Individual qualifiers
Dominic Burleson, junior, Sunlake (77th—17:22.33)
Alejandro Michel, senior, Freedom (90th—17:33.36)

Girls

Land O’ Lakes High School (17th place)
Natalie Abernathy, junior, (7th—18:39.30)
Estefania Acosta, junior (25th—19:52.12)
Emma Skantze, senior (117th—21:50.59)
Emily Flaherty, junior (158th—23:16.65)
Aracelis Colon, senior (162nd—23:27.15)

Sunlake High School (20th place)
Shannon Gordy, freshman (62nd—20:44.17)
Liina Winborn, sophomore (67th—20:49.98)
Emily Jenkins, sophomore (122nd—22:06.35)
Ashley Spires, freshman (138th—22:22.81)
Cathryne Newport, freshman (146th—22:43.77)

Class 2A
No schools or athletes represented in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area

Class 1A
No schools or athletes represented in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area

Published November 15, 2017

Local commitments & offers

November 15, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Steinbrenner High’s Noah Luke, left, with Pasco-Hernando State College athletic director/head baseball coach Steve Winterling. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Noah Luke, a senior catcher at Steinbrenner High School, has signed to play baseball at Pasco-Hernando State College, marking the program’s first 2018-2019 signee. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Luke batted .279, with one home run, five doubles and 11 RBIs last season.

Alonzo Sampson, a senior running back/linebacker at Zephyrhills Christian Academy has picked up a football scholarship offer from Mayville State University, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) program in Mayville, North Dakota. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete, who’s rushed for over 1,000 yards and racked up over 100 tackles this season, also has scholarship offers from several other NAIA schools, including University of Saint Francis (Indiana), Lawrence Tech (Michigan) University, Baldwin-Wallace (Ohio) University, Culver Stockton (Missouri) College and Warner (Lake Wales) University.

Sam Pinto-Pannella, a senior offensive/defensive lineman at Land O’ Lakes High School, has picked up a football scholarship from Alma University, an NCAA Division III program in Alma, Michigan. The 6-foot, 215-pound athlete also is a member of the Land O’ Lakes High track team, competing in discus and shot-put.

Darin Green Jr., a 6-foot-4 junior shooting guard at Wharton High School, has picked up a basketball scholarship from Northern Arizona University, an NCAA Division I program in Flagstaff, Arizona. Green helped guide Wharton High to a 20-6 mark and Class 8A regional quarterfinal last season. He also has offers from several other Division I programs, including Rider (New Jersey) University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and California State University-Fullerton.

MacDill AFB’s changing missions through 75 years

November 8, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

MacDill Air Force Base has been around for more than 75 years — with roles that have changed to correspond with evolving military needs.

Since it was established in 1941, MacDill Air Force has had a significant impact on Tampa Bay’s economy. It now employs 15,000 military personnel and 3,700 civilians, with an estimated annual economic impact of approximately $2.9 billion on the community. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay History Center)

The base now houses the 6th Air Mobility Wing, with operations primarily in aerial refueling mission and personnel transport.

Its purpose was quite different during World War II, however.

The Tampa Bay History Center, in partnership with the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, recently had a presentation documenting the history of MacDill Air Force Base.

The event was led by Clete Belsom, a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force and a docent at the history center.

Belsom, who volunteers once a week at MacDill, detailed how the air force base has evolved over decades. He also described the important role the base has played in the area’s history and economy, during an hour-long interactive discussion.

This is a B-17 in flight. Between 1942 and 1945, the 91st Bombardment Group — which operated the B-17 Flying Fortress — flew 9,571 combat missions throughout Europe.

As war clouds gathered in the late 1930s, the United States War Department ordered the development of six new strategic bases nationwide.

Interestingly enough, Tampa was chosen over Arcadia for the country’s southeast base location.

“The War Department said, ‘Wait a minute, Arcadia’s so isolated. It doesn’t make sense.’ And, it really didn’t make sense,” Belsom said.

MacDill was originally established as Southeast Air Base in 1939.

It was later activated on April 16, 1941, dedicated after Col. Leslie MacDill, a pilot in the Army Air Corps who died in a plane crash in Washington D.C.

“He was an up-and-coming star and very, very well thought of; he would’ve done quite well,” Belsom said.

In its earliest years, MacDill Air Force Base’s mission was transitional training for the B-17 Flying Fortress. Those operations were led by Maj. Clarence Tinker, an Osage Indian who became the highest-ranking Native American in the military during World War II.

In its earliest years, MacDill’s mission was transitional training in the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Maj. Clarence Tinker, an Osage Indian — who went on to become the highest-ranking Native American in the military during World War II — led MacDill’s operations in the beginning.

“The B-17…carried all of the heavy bombing load that the U.S. did in Europe during World War II. They specialized in daytime precision bombing,” Belsom explained.

Between 1942 and 1945, the 91st Bombardment Group — which operated the B-17 Flying Fortress — flew 9,571 combat missions throughout Europe.

Of those missions, 197 airplanes were lost, 1,010 airmen were presumed killed or missing, and 960 crewmembers were taken as German prisoners of war.

During the Second World War, MacDill AFB had several support units, including the Women’s Army Corps that trained in photo labs and also served administrative roles.

MacDill also hosted a number of bomber aircraft during the war, including the B-17, B-26 Marauder and the B-29 Superfortress.

Servicemen were trained to be pilots, gunners, engineers, mechanics, radio operators, navigators and other roles.

MacDill also was home to other support units, including the Women’s Army Corps and an all-black aviation engineer unit.

It’s estimated that 100,000 crewmembers were trained at MacDill during World War II, with 15,000 stationed at the base at any given time.

At its apex, there also were 488 German POWs.

“How would you have liked to have been a German soldier…and you get sent to Florida? There was not a better outcome, I’m sure, that a POW could’ve had than these folks,” Belsom said.

Between the 1960s and 1980s, MacDill AFB served as a Tactical Air Command, stationing fighter wings like F-4s and F-16s up through the 1980s.

Additionally, 20,000 residents of Hillsborough County were engaged in the war effort, while thousands more served in defense jobs.

Another interesting fact: During 1942 —MacDill’s first full year of operation — there were 2,000 soldiers married in Hillsborough County.

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s MacDill trained crews for the B-29, B-50 and B-47—the first swept wing strategic bomber in inventory, Belsom explained.

The base later transitioned to Tactical Air Command, stationing fighter wings like F-4s and F-16s up through the 1980s, he said.

Belsom pointed out MacDill nearly closed in the early- to mid-1990s after the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission identified it on a list of bases to be closed after all its tactical fighters were relocated to a base in Arizona.

But, MacDill’s shutdown was averted because of the significance of U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command on foreign fighting activities, particularly the Middle East.

MacDill AFB had hosted a number of bomber aircraft by the end of World War II, including the B-17, B-26 Marauder and the B-29 Superfortress.

It didn’t hurt, either, that U.S. Reps. Sam Gibbons and Bill Young backed the air force base.

“They were very, very influential congressman, so I’m sure they played a part in arguing why MacDill made sense to maintain,” Belsom said.

Today, the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill performs air refueling, airlift, and contingency response missions for the U.S., and allied forces around the globe. It’s also home to the KC-135 Stratotanker and the Gulfstream C-37A executive transport jet.

MacDill, too, houses U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command.

The base’s establishment, meanwhile, has provided significant financial growth in the Tampa Bay community.

Currently employing 15,000 military personnel and 3,700 civilians, the base, which sits on nearly 6,000 acres, has an estimated annual economic impact of $2.9 billion on the region.

MacDill also has enhanced Tampa Bay’s culture, Belsom said.

“Much like the immigrants who came here to work in the cigar industry back in the late 1880s and the early 1900s, I think (MacDill) enriched the social climate of Tampa just by their presence, because they have a lot of folks who not just come here for two or three years, but then come back later and retire,” Belsom said.

Published November 8, 2017

Zephyrhills considers some fee increases

November 8, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

The City of Zephyrhills is updating its comprehensive list of fee schedules — and many come tagged with price increases.

The proposed fee resolutions and amendments incorporate public record requests, venue rental policies, cemetery lots, and site plan reviews, among others.

The fees were discussed during an hour-long city council workshop meeting on Oct. 23.

Rental charges for Alice Hall will remain at $40 per hour, but minimum hourly requirements have been added, under Resolution No. 739-17. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

Perhaps the largest proposed change is to the city’s site plan review fees for new business development projects, such as restaurants, retailers and so on.

Under Resolution No. 741-17, the Site Plan Review Fee will double to $1,000, up from $500 per 1,000 gross square feet.

Todd Vande Berg, the city’s planning director, said the fees haven’t been adjusted in several years and would still be in line with surrounding communities, such as Port Richey, New Port Richey and Plant City.

He also noted the proposed fees are still considerably less than the $5,000 charged by the county for similar projects.

City Manager Steve Spina added site plans reviews and development projects require the services and resources of nearly a dozen city staffers from multiple departments.

“It’s a lot of staff time to review and coordinate all the different aspects that go into these kinds of reviews,” Spina said during the workshop.

“In the long run, you have to justify your costs. I think this helps us do that. It helps us get reimbursed when we hire consultants to do things, and it helps with some of the staff time that goes into it—and it’s a lot of time for them,” he said.

Rental policies for both the Alice Hall Community Center and the Airport Venue were also presented at the workshop.

The charge for renting out Alice Hall will remain at $40 per hour, but minimum hourly requirements have been added, under Resolution No. 739-17.

A rental minimum of two hours will be required from Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., while a minimum of four hours will be required for rentals Friday, Saturday and Sunday, between 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, the city plans to establish rental prices for its community airport venue, which is home to the annual Pigz in Z’ Hills BBQ & Blues Fest.

Since its launch in January, Spina said the city has struggled to determine rate charges for event hosts.

The 14-acre community venue site, at 5040 Airport Road, includes a 20-by-40 stage and 50 vendor spaces equipped with water and electricity, along with additional space for freestanding vendors, business expos and children’s activities.

The venue is situated north of the Zephyrhills’ City Yard, stretching to Airport Road and backing up the southern boundary of the Lincoln Heights subdivision.

Rates will be based on a sliding scale, dependent on attendee figures and if alcohol is served, per Resolution No. 745-17.

For example, renting the venue for less than 500 people could cost between $300 and $360. An event with more than 10,000 attendees, such as Pigz in Z’ Hills, could cost somewhere between $2,600 and $3,100.

Those figures also incorporate cleanup, city personnel and employee labor. There’s an additional surcharge for booths and trailers.

Spina said the finalized fees first have to be “cleaned up” and will be presented to the council at a later date.

Besides venues, shade hangar rentals at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport will increase to $125 per month, up from $95. All other prices at the airport will remain the same, per Resolution No. 743-17.

Those aren’t the only price changes coming to the city.

Cemetery and cremation lots at the city’s Oakside Cemetery are increasing for residents and non-residents, the first price change since 2005.

Cemetery lots for residents and city employees will be $800, up from $750, while cremation lots will be $350, up from $300, under Resolution No. 740-17.

Cemetery lots for non-residents jumps to $1,200, up from $810, while cremation lots will be $525, up from $350.

Spina defended the price increase for nonresidents during the workshop, noting many people will “shop” cemeteries from across the region, which may eventually lead to lot availability issues for the city in several years from now.

“We have a lot of people coming from St. Petersburg or elsewhere to use the cemetery because it’s less expensive. It could be a space issue down the road,” he said.

A fee policy for public records requests also was introduced.

Requests estimated to require more than an hour of a city employee’s time; a minimum deposit of $25 will be required. Additional charges will be added to cover the cost of posting and packaging.

Spina noted the city has received an influx of requests daily and weekly, often related to council actions, police incident reports, and personnel records.

“People have a right to the public record, so you have to try to determine to balance those customer needs,” he said.

Other workshop items, including transportation impact fees and fire user fees, were tabled for a later date.

The basic fee schedule, per Resolution No. 738-17, includes the following figures:

Copies

Single-sided copies, up to 8 ½” x 14” – $0.15

Double-sided copies, up to 8 ½” x 14” – $0. 20

Ledger size, 11” x 17” – $0.20

Certified copy of a public record – $1

DVD/CD of electronic or audio public records – $5

DVD/CD imaged documents (building plans and permits) – $5

Duplicate videotape – $1

Plans/Maps

8 ½” x 11” — $2

11” x 13” — $2

18” x 24” — $5

22” x 34” — $5

24” x 26” — $5

34” x 44” — $10

36” x 48” — $10

Published November 8, 2017

Sunlake golfer among local standouts at states

November 8, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Nearly two dozen high school golfers, boys and girls, from The Laker/Lutz News Coverage area competed in the 2017 Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state tournament, which ran Oct. 31 to Nov. 8

Sunlake High’s Jordan Sarhaddi was one of the standouts.

Sunlake High junior Jordan Sarhaddi tied for 16th at the FHSAA 2A boys state golf meet, held Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 at El Campeon Course at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Orlando. (File)

The junior tied for 16th in the 2A boys meet, shooting a +13 (75-82—157) at El Campeon Course at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Orlando.

Only two other golfers from The Laker/Lutz News coverage area secured top 20 finishes: Freedom High senior Cy Storlien, who tied for 14th in the boys 3A tournament, and Freedom High junior Helena Noel, who tied for 17th in the girls 3A tournament. Both were individual qualifiers.

Sarhaddi’s strong showing at states is no surprise.

He took first place at districts and runner-up at regionals — firing 69 at both meets.

The state tournament, however, presented unique challenges.

There were elevation changes of more than 80 feet, cumbersome wind conditions and fast, complex greens.

Simply, the course “exposes every part of your game,” Sarhaddi said.

“The course was playing real difficult. There are not many low scores out there,” said Sarhaddi.

“I feel like I played better than my score showed both days, but it’s a tough golf course,” he said.

Sarhaddi last reached states as a freshman in 2015, where he finished 30th after shooting +30 over par.

Scores aside, Sarhaddi savored the chance to test his skill set and compete alongside his Sunlake teammates at the state meet.

The Seahawks finished 12th out of 16 teams in 2A.

“It’s definitely fun whenever you get to go with the guys who you’ve spent the entire season with and have practiced with them. You set your goals at the beginning of the season and this is what we wanted — we wanted to make it to states,” Sarhaddi said.

“We made it a lot of fun. It’s a great group of guys that we have, and they’re all fun to be around,” he added.

The state meet caps off what’s been a breakout campaign for Sarhaddi in 2017.

The Land O’ Lakes resident currently ranks fourth on the Premier Junior Golf Tour in the boys 16-18 division, with first place finishes at the St. Petersburg Country Club Junior Championship in May and the Crescent Oaks Junior Open in February.

He also ranks 13th on the Florida Junior Tour in the boys 16-18 division, earning several top 20 finishes at sanctioned tournaments over the summer.

Those performances have since caught the eye of Division I college programs, including the University of Florida and the University of Central Florida.

Sarhaddi, meanwhile, is gearing up for another busy offseason and a daily practice schedule that consists of countless hours of swing drills and short game work.

“I’m definitely going to stick with it. I’m going to keep the practice schedule going everyday and just really try to better myself — work harder with the practice, do everything I can to take care of my body and my golf swing,” Sarhaddi said.

“In the summer, I’ll try to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Amateur. I really had a great summer this past summer, so I’m just really going to try to build on it and work up for the bigger tournaments coming up.”

Besides Sunlake, other local schools represented at states included Pasco High School (boys), Steinbrenner High School (girls) and Zephyrhills High School (girls). Wiregrass Ranch High freshman Norah Catlin was an individual qualifier in the 3A girls meet.

Additional Q&A with Sunlake’s Jordan Sarhaddi

On favorite moment from this past season:
“Regionals was probably the best that I shot, just because that even though I shot a 69, I started off much worse there, and I had to really fight back. I think I was 3 over par through six holes, and I really fought back. That was probably the best 69 I’ve ever shot as far as how I was playing because I really wasn’t playing that great, but I was able to scratch and claw, and make a few birdies coming in. …That was probably the best one because the stakes were the highest, too. We needed a good score to actually make it to states, which has been the goal the entire year.”

On his biggest golf strength:
“My short game has really been good for me the past three or four years because I’ve learned to salvage good rounds out of not playing so well— not hitting the ball as well as I know I can— but still being able to grind out pars and shoot decent scores, knowing I can rely on my short game even though I’m not hitting it great. I just know my own game. That’s one of my strengths as well, just knowing my own game and knowing how to almost outplay my competitors. Even when I’m not hitting as well as they are, I know when the right moments are to come up clutch with a par save or something. That’s where I’ve really leaned on my short game, and I work on that really hard because it’s saved me many times, and it will continue to do so probably in the future.”

On what he’s looking to improve:
“I haven’t always been the most consistent ball striker as far as getting it to the green. Usually my iron play is a bit off, which exactly what was off at states, which is why I struggled in the last round.”

On which pro golfer he idolizes:
“My favorite ever is Tiger Woods. He’s always been the grinder, and he’s always known how to win and to close out tournaments. That’s the kind of player I try to be. I don’t think there’s anyone that I try to model my game after, but he’s definitely someone I look up to as far as what I’d like to be and what I’d like to do, if I do end up making it pro. That’s someone to really follow as a role model for what he’s done on the golf course.”

2017 FHSAA state golf meet results

Class 3A
Boys

Individual qualifier
Cy Storlien, senior, Freedom High School (Tied 14th) 71-81—152

Girls

Individual qualifier (s)
Helena Noel, junior, Freedom High School (Tied 17th) 77-74—151
Norah Catlin, freshman, Wiregrass Ranch (Tied 26th) 81-74—155

Steinbrenner Warriors—8th place 328-337—665
Anna Jansen, senior (Tied 39th) 77-84—161
Alexis Castillo, sophomore (Tied 48th) 79-88—167
Posie Farrelly, freshman (Tied 52nd) 88-80—168
Lindsey Kolano, senior (58th) 85-86—171
Mckenzie Kane, freshman (Tied 62nd) 87-87—174

Class 2A
Boys

Sunlake Seahawks—12th place (349-365—714)
Jordan Sarhaddi, junior (Tied 16th) 75-82–157
Damian Rhule, senior (Tied 38th) 83-82–165
Max Barile, freshman (Tied 54th) 81-91–172
Drew Taylor, senior (91st) 110-122–232
Colton Billet, sophomore (93rd) 126-110–236

Pasco High School—15th place (361-383—744)
Gabriel Fleck, senior (Tied 62nd) 89-87–176
Cole Darbyshire, junior (66th) 84-94—178
Christian Nieves, junior (Tied 80th) 90-101—191
Cade Darbyshire, senior (Tied 85th) 98-101—199
TJ Floberg, freshman (92nd) 117-117—234

Girls

Zephyrhills Bulldogs—16th place (438-437—875)
Emillie Alderman, junior (51st): 89-94–183
Hannah Sullivan, junior (76th): 111-107–218
Sydney Baldus, junior (87th): 117-118–235
Kenzi Ennis, senior (Tied 89th): 121-118–239
Ashley Regan, junior (95th): 143-122–265

Published November 8, 2017

Pasco all-star football game on tap for Dec. 7

November 8, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

It’s back.

Football fans again will be able to see Pasco County’s top senior football players face off on one field, at the 2017 Pasco County East-West Classic.

The third annual all-star showcase is slated for Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., at Sunlake Field, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The game, organized by the Pasco County Fellowship of Christian Athletes, features the top senior players from each of the 15 public high schools in Pasco County.

It provides one last chance to perform in front of college recruiters, many of whom attend the game from across the Southeast region.

The game also has proven to be a hit among fans, drawing more than 2,000 attendees its first two years. The series is tied 1-1.

Players on the East team will represent Land O’ Lakes, Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Pasco, Bishop McLaughlin and Zephyrhills Christian Academy.

Players on the West team will represent River Ridge, Ridgewood, Mitchell, Anclote, Hudson, Fivay, Gulf and Sunlake.

Athletes from the newly opened Cypress Creek Middle High will be represented in next year’s game, as the school doesn’t have a 2017-2018 senior class.

Rosters were selected last month in a “draft day” format, where high school coaches bantered and bartered, doing their best to present their athletes as worthy of a spot. After much deliberation, all-star teams were whittled down to the best 40 players in the East and best 40 players in the West.

An all-star cheerleader team also has been assembled for the showcase. As part of the festivities, cheerleaders will participate in an awards dinner banquet, which will include a special guest speaker.

Tickets for the game are $10. For information, visit PascoAllStarGame.com.

East team:
Bishop McLaughlin
Carson Borak, Caleb Chesnut, Shane Haynes, Julio Herrera, Michael Keough

Land O’ Lakes
Xavier Arroyo, Justin Collier, Guston Farr, Matthew Geiger, Taylor Winn

Pasco High
Luke Kohlhof, Cody Mercer, Cameron Smith, Gavin Sowell, Zach Williams

Wesley Chapel
Dexter Leverett, Malik Melvin, Chaz Neal, Matt Severson, Justin Trapnell, Austen Wittish

Wiregrass Ranch
Daniel Biglow, Jacob Hill, Kwesi Littlejohn, Chase Oliver, Alex Sherman, Adrian Thomas

Zephyrhills Christian
Jordan Hyppolite, DJ Jackson, Evan Miller, Alonzo Sampson, Calvin Samuel, Dwight Thomas

Zephyrhills High
Kameron Allen, Charles Harrison, Zac Masci, Elijah Thomas, Cameron Tucker, Sterlin Williams

West team:
Anclote
Riley Curry, Tim Dallaire, Ryan Flint, John Leto, Jessy Schooler, Deontrae Stacey, Kristopher Valley, Noah Winens

Fivay
Tyler Austin, Jessy Schooler

Gulf
John Jukas, Kevin Powell, Marquice Victor

Hudson
Trey Doran, Shane Monn, Ceith Rivera, Oshea Spahr

Mitchell
Canyon Albergo, Mychael Hamilton, Stephaun Peters, Adam Rodgers, Chris Thomas, Garrett Wiwi

Ridgewood
Terrance Lake, Aaron McCarthy

River Ridge
Thomas Carrano. Dio Defalco, Anthony Grassi, Anthony Kendall, Mikey Russos, Bryce Smith, Tanner Smith, Jason Utegg, Austin Vellucci, Michael Webster

Sunlake
Jeremiah Baker, Bryant Beacham, Dylan Bradley, Justice Goodloe, Adam Jarvis

East coaches
Head Coach: Tico Hernandez (Bishop McLaughlin)
Nick Carroll (Zephyrhills High)
Brian Colding (Pasco High)
Tony Egan (Wesley Chapel)
Tyler Farr (Land O’ Lakes)
John Grone (Wiregrass Ranch)
Sly Miller (Zephyrhills Christian)

West coaches
Head Coach: Ryan Benjamin (River Ridge)
Matt Kingsley (Anclote)
Mark Feldman (Mitchell)
Will Fulmer (Ridgewood)
Jason Grain (Gulf)
Tim Hicks (Hudson)
Matt Durchik (Fivay)
Trey Burdick (Sunlake)

All-Star cheerleaders
East team:

Bishop McLaughlin
Piper Gotsch, Elizabeth Kantor

Land O’ Lakes
Claire Goltermann, Hope Wainraich

Pasco High
Alyssa Rodriguez-Urich, Emily Weiser

Wesley Chapel
Chloe Covington, Taylor Waton

Wiregrass Ranch
Korbett Canady, Kati Helton

Zephyrhills Christian
Kylee Ramos

East coaches
Lisa Booker (Pasco High)

West team:
Anclote
Amber Grambling, Samantha Wibirt

Fivay
Sharona Campbell

Hudson
Chris Kennedy, Faith Schuller

Mitchell
Brie Chamberlin, Sarah Shannon

Ridgewood
Madison Clark, Raeanna Wipert

River Ridge
Krysten Hart, Samantha Quinn

West coaches
Cody Baer (Ridgewood)
Chelsea Hatcher (Hudson)

Published November 8, 2017