The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Army, Air Force vets have chance for ‘American Dream’

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Military veterans with dreams of owning their own business have a chance to compete for startup money that could help them do just that.

“Operation American Dream” is a contest from Signal 88 Security, encouraging those who have served the country through the U.S. Army or U.S. Air Force to submit a video by May 15 explaining why they want to own their own business.

The U.S. Small Business Administration says 1 in 10 small businesses are owned by veterans, and that 45 percent are more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed, Signal 88 said in a release.

Winning submissions will be decided through a public vote on Signal 88’s Facebook page on May 22. The contestant with the most votes will receive $5,000 to start their own business, or $10,000 if they choose to start a Signal 88 franchise.

Signal 88 was founded in 2003 in Omaha, Nebraska, with the “88” law enforcement code for “situation secure.” The company has franchises in more than 35 states in nearly 300 territories. It provides community-based security personnel to help protect property.

To enter, submit videos to Signal88.com/OperationAmericanDream.

Danish pushing Scott to sign child welfare law

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State Rep. Mark Danish, D-Tampa, is urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign a bill into law he says will help strengthen the speed and quality of child abuse and neglect investigations in the state.

Danish is pushing S.B. 1666, which includes parts of a House bill he introduced this year, and other child welfare initiatives. The bill quickly made it way through both chambers, receiving no dissenting votes in either the House or the Senate.

“By strengthening the state’s workforce, response time and overall quality of investigations, we will be able to put the health and safety of children first,” Danish said, in a release. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but this is a major step in the right direction.”

The bill looks to increase child welfare expertise in the Department of Children and Families, and improve child abuse investigator qualifications, according to a committee analysis of the bill. It also creates a consortium of schools of social work to advise the state on child welfare policy.

Investigators would be required to dig deeper into deaths and other significant incidents involving those in the child protection or child welfare system, including a need to identify root causes that could help lawmakers strengthen protection laws in the future.

Nationally, more than 1,500 children died from child abuse or neglect, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Florida alone, the cost to investigate abuse is $312.5 million in just the past fiscal year.

The current efforts were jumpstarted in response to DCF’s mishandling of several child neglect and abuse cases in recent months that resulted in the or serious injury of a child, Danish’s office said.

The bill passed the House May 2. The governor has 15 days to either sign, allow the bill to pass without his signature, or veto.

Cat adoption available for $5 in Hillsborough

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It’s Cinco de Meow as “Be Kind to Animals Week” continues at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Division with cat adoptions available for $5.

Through May 11, cats can be adopted from the county pet shelter, 440 N. Falkenburg Road in Tampa, for $5. The fees include spay and neuter surgery, rabies vaccination, microchip and a Hillsborough County pet registration license. Adoption hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

During the week-long event, the shelter also is looking for donations, particularly of pet food, towels, sturdy bedding and toys for shelter animals. Also, the division is available to process spay and neuter vouchers for residents who require public assistance.

For information, call (813) 744-5660, or visit HillsboroughCounty.org/Pets.

Marshalls grand opening set for May 15

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Marshalls is set to open its newest store in Land O’ Lakes May 15 at the Village Lakes Shopping Center.

The 24,000-square-foot store will be one of more than 900 in 43 states and Puerto Rico. The first day, which runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., will include giveaways and gift card prizes, according to a release.

The regular hours for the store will run Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will bring approximately 60 full- and part-time jobs to the area, as well as more than 10,000 new items added to the inventory weekly.

Marshalls also is planning to donate $5,000 to Feeding America Tampa Bay as part of its opening festivities during a ribbon cutting May 15 at 7:30 a.m. Marshalls maintains national and local partnerships with charitable organizations around the country, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Groundbreaking for new county utilities center Wednesday

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A groundbreaking originally scheduled for April will no take place May 6 at Pasco County’s new Utilities Administration and Operations Facility.

The building will be the central administration location for the Pasco Utilities System, and will be located at 19420 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, just off of U.S. 41.

“I am excited to see this building become a reality,” said Bruce Kennedy, assistant county administrator for the utilities service branch, in a release. “We have sought for several years to provide a central location for Pasco utilities customers, and I believe this design will benefit both the customer and employees who will work in the building.”

Pasco County commissioners awarded the $9 million construction contract to Construction Technology Group Inc. of Plant City last February. The 50,000-square-foot building will be built on 30 acres of land the county already owns just north of the Tierra del Sol community.

The building will have a customer service section located on the first floor, with a five-seat curved counter. It also will have a covered drive-up service window, and an optional second lane that can be opened in the future.

The building’s theme is consistent with the architectural designs and features of the Historic Dade City Courthouse, county officials said. It also will be consistent with the nearby Connerton community.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place May 7 at 11 a.m.

Flood watch continues throughout region

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UPDATE: This advisory has expired.

With more rain expected to continue on Saturday, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch, which will remain in effect until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The weather service says a frontal boundary of a weather system will slowly sag southward across West Central Florida. That will produce a number of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms, hitting an area that already experienced heavy rainfall the day before. All of that water together could result in additional flooding.

Rainfall is expected to hit three-quarters of an inch during the morning and afternoon, although some higher amounts could be possible, the weather service said.

A flood watch means that flooding is possible during the next 24 to 36 hours. The weather service warns that residents living in flood-prone areas should take action to protect property.

The area has a near 100 percent chance of rain as isolated showers will continue into the evening on Saturday, the weather service said. However, that’s expected to clear up around midnight and salvage the weekend on Sunday with mostly sunny conditions, and highs in the mid-80s.

River flood warning for Cypress Creek this weekend

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UPDATE: This advisory has expired.

Torrential rains all over the Tampa Bay area are still having destructive effects on Pasco County.

The National Weather Service has issued a river flood warning for the Cypress Creek area at Worthington Gardens, the same area near State Road 56 and Interstate 75 that includes Wesley Chapel Boulevard and the planned Premium Outlets Mall.

Officials say heavy rainfall from Friday morning, and the threat of additional rainfall over the next 24 hours, will allow water levels to rise to near flood stage on Cypress Creek.

The warning will last from Saturday evening until further notice, with minor flooding in the forecast.

Waters in the river could rise to 9.6 feet by Monday morning, officials said. The flood stage for the river is 8 feet. If it does rise to that level, it would be the first time that’s happened since December 2002.

Officials continue to warn drivers not to take their cars through flooded areas.

Wesley Chapel area under flood advisory

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UPDATE: This advisory has expired.

The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for northern Hillsborough and southern Pasco counties until 11:45 a.m.

This includes the areas of Lutz, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

The weather service said the area is experiencing three to four inches of rain per hour associated with thunderstorms nearby. Localized flooding is imminent, officials added, if not already occurring.

This includes parts of Interstate 75 between exits 257 and 279, as well as Interstate 275 between exits 39 and 53.

The weather service asks residents to keep children from being swept away in flooded ditches and drains, and that flood waters are usually deeper than they appear and could stall a vehicle. One foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep away a vehicle.

Senior Resource Fair coming to Zephyrhills next week

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Senior citizens will have a chance to find out what kind of programs and services might be available to them during a free Senior Resource Fair May 12 from 10 a.m. to noon in Zephyrhills.

The event is hosted by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, and will be held at the Alice Hall Community Center, 38116 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

“Seniors are extremely important to the fabric of our community, and I want to make sure they are able to access the services and information that will keep them healthy,” Bilirakis said in a release. “This fair will serve as a one-stop shop for seniors to receive a variety of check-ups and assistance.”

A number of local non-profit and government agencies will provide free services for seniors, including health and wellness suggestions, nutritional guidance, home health care services, and identity protection tips.

For information on the event, call (727) 232-2921.

Pressure grows on Scott to veto speed limit bill

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AAA is not a big fan of raising the speed limit on Florida highways, and is asking Gov. Rick Scott to veto a bill that would do just that.

S.B. 392, which was introduced by state Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, would allow Florida to join Maine as the only states east of the Mississippi River that would allow speeds above 70 mph. The bill would allow the Florida Department of Transportation to consider increasing speed limits by 5 mph on certain roads, meaning limited access highways could increase to 85 mph, highways outside urban areas 70 mph, and 65 mph on other roadways under FDOT’s jurisdiction.

But driving faster means more speed-related traffic deaths, AAA said. There are 16 states that allow speeds greater than 70 mph, and most are now well above the national average of 30 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“We’re deeply concerned for the safety of Florida’s roadway users with cars traveling at increasingly higher speeds on our interstates and other highways,” said Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president and chief public affairs officer for AAA, in a release. “Based upon similar action in other states, this change in state law will likely result in more crashes, injuries and deaths on our highways.”

NHTSA reported more than 10,200 deaths, or nearly a third of all motor vehicle fatalities, occurred in speed-related crashed in 2012, AAA said. The economic cost of speed-related crashes is more than $40 billion annually.

In the Florida Senate’s own analysis of the bill’s impact, a report from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program showed crash and fatality rates increased more when speed limits were increased from 55 to 65 mph, compared to a 65 to 75 mph increase. Yet, the Federal Highway Administration still points out that “there is clear and convincing evidence that crash severity increases with individual vehicle speed.”

The Senate’s analysis also pointed out that fuel efficiency drops the faster a vehicle goes, possibly more than a mile per gallon for each mile per hour a car increases speed.

The bill passed the Senate 27-11 on April 24, and the State House 58-56 on Wednesday. Locally on the Senate side, Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and Tom Lee, R-Brandon, both voted for the bill, while John Legg, R-Lutz, voted against.

In the House, only Reps. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes; Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel; and James Grant, R-Tampa, voted for it.