Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

While voters can pick Jim Norman on the ballot for state Senator, a vote for him may actually be a vote for someone else.
Norman was declared ineligible for Florida Senate’s District 12 election after a Tallahassee judge ruled his failure to disclose an Arkansas house as an asset disqualifies him.

Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford ruled the Hillsborough County commissioner “failed to substantially comply with the full and public disclosure requirements Article II, Section 8, Florida Constitution.”
According to the lawsuit, the $435,000 home was paid for with $500,000 given by the now-deceased political activist Ralph Hughes to Norman’s wife, Mearline. Norman told the judge he had no knowledge of the deal, an explanation the judge did not accept. Norman is expected to appeal the decision this week.
Despite the ruling, Norman’s name will be on all Election Day, early voting and absentee ballots even if he loses the appeal. That is because all the Election Day ballots had to be printed about two weeks ago, according to Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley. Also, about 28,000 absentee ballots have already been mailed and the county’s election supervisor’s lawyer successfully argued it would be too confusing and costly to reprint them all.
“What will happen is a vote for Norman will be for whomever the Republican candidate turns out being,” Corley said. “If he wins the appeal that is likely coming, the votes would obviously be for him and if the Republican Party of Florida has to replace him, then the vote would go to that new candidate. Without a doubt Norman’s name will be on the ballot.”
Corley said there is precedent for such a move. In 2006 Republican Ken Littlefield ran for Florida House of Representatives’ District 61 seat, but pulled out of the election for another position. Will Weatherford replaced him as the Republican candidate for the spot and won despite Littlefield’s name being on the ballot instead of his.
Weatherford won re-election in 2008 and is again the Republican candidate for the same seat this year.
Corley said if Norman loses an appeal, there would be a sign in the more than 1,000 private voting booths in state Senate District 12’s 57 precincts for early voting and on Election Day stating a vote for him will be for the Republican replacement. All absentee ballots printed from then on will also include the note unless he wins an appeal.
Corley said that notice would not be placed until the decision is final. Corley said he was still waiting for that decision at press time.
The case against Norman was brought by current Florida Rep. Kevin Ambler of Lutz. Ambler lost the primary for the Senate seat by 12 percentage points.
Ambler sued Norman on the grounds that he was an ineligible candidate for not disclosing the Arkansas house, but asked Fulford to make him the replacement. Fulford did not make him the replacement. Ambler’s attorney, Mark Herron, filed a motion Oct. 18 asking for Ambler’s name to appear on the ballot.
Neither Ambler nor Norman could be reached for comment on the ruling.
In her ruling, Fulford said it was difficult to make a ruling that removed someone selected by the electorate in a primary race, but said the law is clear and Norman is not eligible. She also stated it is unfortunate the ruling came close to early voting and Election Day.
State Senate District 12 includes much of north Hillsborough, including Lutz and Odessa, and most of Pasco, including all or parts of Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Dade City, Saint Leo, San Antonio and Grower’s Corner. Corley said he is also a voter in the district.
“In this case people can choose between two write-in candidates or the Republican candidate,” Corley said. “It isn’t the ideal situation and we want everyone to understand what they are voting for if they select Mr. Norman.”
Early voting began Oct. 18 in both Hillsborough and Pasco and Election Day is Nov. 2.

By Shannon Edinger

Fishing is more than just a hobby for Wayne Rogers. It is a way for him to bond with his buddy, Elvis.
What makes their relationship unique? Elvis is a Great Blue Heron.

Rogers, 67, has lived in the area for 19 years now. Elvis first came by his Land O’ Lakes house five years ago and, Rogers said, has returned every day since. Rogers’ wife, Kitty, says Elvis showed up a week after their dog died. “After losing my dog, I kind of took him in as a pet,” he said.
Rogers is not entirely sure if Elvis is a male or female, but he named him Elvis and refers to him as a he. Elvis initially got Rogers’ attention by flying around outside his back window. He also walked around and pecked on the roof to make noise.
To this day, Elvis still uses these techniques to get Rogers’ attention when he is hungry.
“The hungrier he is, the braver he is,” Rogers said. In the winter, Elvis is more aggressive because there are fewer fish to catch than in the summer. Great Blue Herons primarily feed on small fish. Neighbors have seen Elvis walk up to Rogers’ back door and patiently wait for him to come outside.
When Rogers walks outside, Elvis follows him down the back walkway to the dock.
There, the bird quietly stands, waiting for Rogers to catch him some fish. Once Rogers catches a fish, he will hold the fishing pole up with the fish dangling so Elvis can grab the fish off the line. “I don’t want to try feeding him by hand,” Rogers said. “He’s still a wild animal and that long bill could cut one of my fingers off.”
Rogers usually spends about an hour on the dock, but Elvis will remain outside until dark.
“Once it’s dark, he will fly off somewhere. I’m not sure where he goes, but I’ve always been curious about it,” Rogers said.
Sometimes, Rogers will go out on his boat to go fishing and Elvis will stand on the front of the boat.
“If I’m not careful, he will get into the bait well and eat all the bait,” Rogers said.  Elvis has become territorial of Rogers’ dock. “He won’t let any other birds on the dock,” Rogers said. Elvis started a fight with a hawk one time for coming too close to the dock. “This is his territory.”
Elvis is shy around people he does not know. He keeps a safe distance when there are strangers around, but he always keeps a watchful eye on Rogers and the dock.
It is uncertain why Elvis chose Rogers’ home, but Rogers is certain of one thing: “He is a happy camper.”

Zephyrhills High School’s roots date back 100 years

By B.C. Manion

When students and alumni of Zephyrhills High celebrate homecoming this week – they will be marking 100 years of public education in a place that prides itself on strong ties between the community and its schools.

The homecoming game and its festivities, dubbed  “A celebration of the generations,” promise to offer opportunities not only for current faculty and students at Zephyrhills High but also for decades of alumni and former school staff to create new memories and demonstrate school pride.
The roots of today’s Zephyrhills High go back a century, when small nearby schools closed and a new school opened in 1910 to accommodate children in grades one through 11.
Madonna Jervis Wise has chronicled the city’s history in “Images of America, Zephyrhills” published by Arcadia Publishing. She also gathered memories about the school in “Zephyrhills – An Anthology of its History Through Education.”
In “Images of America, Zephyrhills,” Wise described the first public school in the city:  “It had four rooms on the first floor with a wide hall and stairway leading to the second floor.”
That structure was built behind the present-day Clock restaurant, Wise said, during a recent interview with Wise, Ron Cherry, Clereen Morrill Brunty and Caroline Marlette, all members of the ZHS 100 Centennial Committee.
As homecoming festivities kick into high gear, many alumni will be sharing fond memories of the good old days at Zephyrhills High.
While it began as a school for students in grades one through 11, the school went through many changes over the years.
The original two-story wooden school burned down and was replaced by a two-story stucco school. That school also had a fire, which caused extensive damage and forced students to be split up and taught at a bakery, a hotel, a grocery store, City Hall and a schoolhouse annex until repairs were completed through the Works Progress Administration.
Wise marvels at how the city banded together to make sure students had places to learn while awaiting the revamped school.
“Can you imagine a city – all those businesses — to show that kind of love and support?” Wise asked.
The school moved to its current location in 1975, with the former high school building becoming Stewart Middle School.
Ron Cherry has spent the better portion of his life walking the corridors of Zephyrhills schools. He spent a combined total of more than 48 years as a teacher, student and assistant principal.
He recalls when Pasco County had just three high schools, and those attending Zephyrhills High came from an area roughly bounded by Greer Hill and the Pasco County line, the Cypress Creek area and the Polk County line.
Cherry played on the high school’s basketball team during its glory days. He recalls basking in the glow of the community’s love when he and his teammates won the state championship in 1964.
As the team was heading back home, it was greeted by sheriff’s deputies at the county line and given an escort into the city where nearly half of the town was there to celebrate.
“We thought we were heroes,” Cherry said.
Cherry also remembers the introduction of technology into Zephyrhills High. The mathematics teachers were ecstatic when they learned they were getting a half-dozen calculators made by Texas Instruments, he said.
But the school quickly became a leader in technology, said Caroline Marlette, bragging how Zephyrhills High was the first school in Pasco County to have its own computer network.
Clereen Brunty, of the school’s alumni association, said thousands of people have attended Zephyrhills High through the years. She said there’s roughly 11,000 names of alumni in a database and she’s still looking for more.
Brunty is excited about the upcoming festivities, where old friends, classmates and faculty members will have a chance to mingle and share memories.
Unlike many homecoming dances, which are exclusively for current students, Zephyrhills High will have two dances this year.
The students’ dance will be in the school’s activity center, while the ZHS 100 Social and Dance will be in the school’s commons area.
A photographer will be on hand, too, to capture the event in photos.
If the past is any indication, this will be just one more time when special memories are made during a century of public education in Zephyrhills.

Schedule of Events

Friday, Oct. 22: Homecoming Game
Zephyrhills High Bulldogs vs. Wesley Chapel High Wildcats
Bulldog Stadium at Zephyrhills High, 6335 12th St., Zephyrhills
6:30 p.m.: Gates open
7 p.m.: Pre-game float parade
7:30 p.m. Game time
$2 parking; $5 admission
Arrive early to get a good seat. Special announcements and recognitions will be made during this celebration of Zephyrhills’ 100 years of education. There will be the usual coronation at half-time and a spectacular surprise at the end of the game.

Saturday, Oct. 23: Alumni Social and Dance
7 p.m.: Commons Area, at Zephyrhills High
A dressy, casual affair for anyone who attended, taught or worked at Zephyrhills School. Refreshments will be provided and a photographer will take pictures. “Blast from the past” mum corsages can be ordered for $12 from Chalet Florist by calling (813) 788-2874. Memorabilia and old photographs will be on display and centennial T-shirts and coffee mugs will be sold. Chance drawings also will be held for a 50-inch HDTV and also on two handmade quilts donated by Judy Norris, the high school school’s media specialist. [The student homecoming dance is that same night elsewhere on campus]
For information contact Clereen Morrill Brunty at or www.zhsalumninews.websiteanimal.com

Historic dates to remember
1910: Zephyrhills School opens in a two-story wooden building.
1913: First official graduation from Zephyrhills High.
1926: A fire destroys the first Zephyrhills School.
1931: There is a diphtheria outbreak and one student dies; school is closed for two weeks.
1933: The new Zephyrhills School building is damaged by fire.
1935-37: Students are taught in classes held at an old bakery, the New England Hotel, the grocery store, city hall and the school house annex.
1937: The revamped school opens, with the help of Works Progress Administration funding.
1941: The school’s first football team is formed.
1948: Betty Jo Turner wins $5 in a contest to name the school yearbook. The name selected: Zephilsco – which combines the Zeph from Zephyrhills with Hilsco, an abbreviated form of Hillsborough County.
1949: The band gets its first uniforms – which it got second-hand from Lakeland High.
1961-1966: Zephyrhills’ basketball team is a dynasty, winning a pair of state championships in 1962 and 1964.
1967: The first community gymnasium is built, after athletes played winter sports for decades on an outdoor court.
1968: Nineteen Zephyrhills teachers walk out during a strike by the Florida Education Association.
1970: Full integration begins in Zephyrhills schools.
1973-1977: Students go on a 45-15 extended year schedule, attending classes for 45 days and being off for 15, in a year-round school year.
1975: The current high school building opens at 6335 12th St.
1979: The new stadium opens.
1995: The football team has a 10-0 record.
2002: Zephyrhills High alumni Ryan Pickett plays in the Super Bowl.
2010: Zephyrhills High alumni Dave Eiland is the pitching coach of the New York Yankees, the remaining American League teams in the hunt to compete in the 2010 World Series. He was their pitching coach when they won the World Series in 2009.
2010: Zephyrhills celebrates 100 years of public education.
Sources: “Tapestry: Honoring the 100th Anniversary of Zephyrhills High School,” by Madonna Jervis Wise and “Images of America: Zephyrhills,” Madonna Jervis Wise

By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco County residents will see their public libraries open five less hours each week this year, but no facilities will be closed because of recent budget concerns.
Last year all county libraries were open 40 hours a week and only the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library will remain open that long this year. The new hours went into effect Oct. 1, coinciding with the new fiscal year.
Commissioners made the cuts to save the Centennial Park Branch Library in Holiday, which was earmarked for closure on an early version of the 2010-11 library budget, which was slashed $430,905 down to $6 million, according to Pasco library director Linda Allen.

“We knew about the reduction in hours during the county commissioner’s budget workshop Sept. 21,” Allen said. “We wanted to keep the libraries open the same number of hours, but doing this helped save one of our other libraries.”
Pasco commission chairwoman Pat Mulieri said one library had to remain open 40 hours a week so the county could continue receiving federal funding. The Land O’ Lakes library is the busiest of the facilities, so it was the one selected to stay at the current hours.
From Oct. 1 of last year to this July 30, 377,510 items were checked out of the central Pasco facility, according to Allen. The next most used was the Regency Park Branch Library in New Port Richey with 276,730 and the Hudson Regional Library with 275,596.
Also, the new hours do not affect the Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., because it is under the jurisdiction of the city.
Mulieri was a professor at Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) for more than 20 years. Working in education for so long made libraries very important to her, which made the decision to cut hours very difficult.
“Reading is a major joy for me,” Mulieri said. “As a teacher of young students early in my career, I realized that reading was the key to learning. I always tried to stimulate and encourage students’ love of books. At PHCC I taught composition, literature, humanities and designed a course (called) images of woman in literature. In each class I would bring in diverse material to get the students to enjoy reading and not look at it as a chore.”
Mulieri added that she reads books to children at the various libraries throughout the year.
The decision to reduce hours comes at a time when more people are using the system’s facilities.
“Our services as a whole have increased by 12 percent from the previous year,” Allen said. “So we’re looking at continued growth in services with 13 less staff members from last year. It’s become interesting and difficult to make it work, but more people are coming in and that’s important.”
Some of those services go much further than checking out books.
“More people are applying for welfare and other government services and it’s hard to get to those offices or even to get someone on the phone,” Allen said. “We help people use the Internet to sign up for those programs because a lot of people disconnect their Internet if they lose their job. Also people come in looking for jobs and they all need to upload resumes by Internet.”
Marc Silverwood lives in Wesley Chapel near the New River Library. He said he goes to the library every other week for a new book and does not like the idea of reducing hours.
“I usually come to the library in the evening and it looks like they still have evening hours, but I think libraries should be open,” Silverwood said. “It’s just an investment in the future if kids have a place to get books.”
News is not all bad for all of Florida’s public libraries. Several months ago the state Legislature said it was going to cut all funding to libraries. This would also mean federal funding would eventually end because that money is based on a percentage of what the state gives its library systems.
“They are continuing to give us about the same amount, which is close to $200,000 this year,” Allen said. “We also got three grants from the state this year, which are paid for by federal money that will add another $200,000.”
For more information on the Pasco Library System, visit pascolibraries.org.

Land O’ lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes
Tuesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday and Monday, closed

Library hours
New River Branch Library, 34043 SR 54 in Zephyrhills
Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday and Monday, closed

Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St. in Dade City
Tuesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wednesday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday and Monday, closed

Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St. in Zephyrhills
Tuesday thorough Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sunday and Monday, closed