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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Local News

Zephyrhills and Fivay high schools to offer ‘Early College’

February 8, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County Schools is launching a new program aimed at helping more students achieve an associate degree and high school diploma at the same time.

Samantha Del Valle, assistant director for the Pasco school district’s Office for Leading and Learning explained the new approach during the Pasco County School Board’s Feb. 1 meeting.

The district has had a Collegiate High School program for several years, but because of the passage of Senate Bill 52, it is revamping that program to create an Early College Program (ECP).

The new program will operate at Zephyrhills and Fivay high schools, with admission to the program determined through the district’s School Choice program, Del Valle said.

Before making changes to its program, district staff met with representatives from Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) and with Dayspring Academy, to learn from them, Del Valle said.

It also did research involving programs in the state of Texas, because “they are very well-versed and have a robust Early College Program,” Del Valle said.

Ultimately, those conversations and that research led to the district’s ECP, which will begin in the fall.

The idea is to get as much participation as possible, Del Valle said, so the district is making it part of its School Choice application process, to give access to as many families across the district as possible.

Del Valle explained the differences between the former Collegiate High School program and the new ECP.

The Collegiate High School program required students to take courses at PHSC. The new program allows ECP students to take courses at Zephyrhills or Fivay high schools — the designated program high schools — or through Pasco e-School or PHSC, Del Valle said.

“So, from all of those locations, they’re (students) going to have voice and choice, in what they’re interested in and what is best for them,” Del Valle said.

Increasing the options is expected to lessen potential transportation barriers, she said.

Another difference: The district’s Collegiate High School program was limited to high school juniors and seniors.

Under ECP, the district will welcome a group of freshmen, who will complete the program together.

The district intends to reach out to middle schools to raise awareness about the program and to encourage eighth-graders to apply for ECP through school choice.

“Students enter as a cohort. They have a counselor who supports them through the program, with a plan of what each year looks like.

“So, if your end goal is a high school diploma and an associate degree, we’re starting that process in eighth grade and ninth grade, to get you there,” Del Valle said.

The aim is to encourage as many students as possible to take advantage of the program, Del Valle said.

Although the program will be based at Zephyrhills and Fivay high schools, all students can apply.

Those selected will be placed at the high school closest to them, Del Valle said.

The new program aims to increase participation.

“If you look at our Collegiate High School numbers in prior years, we had 60 seats and we were averaging 15 to 20 students, districtwide, who were engaging in the program,” she said.

Under its agreement with PHSC, the district’s new ECP will allow 125 high school juniors and seniors to earn college credit.

Another change, she said, allows students to repeat a course, if they earn a D, or F, or withdraw.

“That is not something that was in there previously,” she said.

So students will not automatically be withdrawn from the program for being unsuccessful in a class.

“And, we’re continuing conversation, as well, with PHSC, around co-accreditation,” she said.

If that occurs, school district sites would be somewhat like satellite locations for PHSC, which would allow even more opportunity for dual-enrollment classes at the district sites.

Those conversations are continuing, Del Valle said.

School board members said they would like to hear more about ECP, so a board workshop on the topic will be scheduled.

Published February 09, 2022

With his moment in the spotlight, parks employee thanks others

February 8, 2022 By B.C. Manion

James K. Baisley spent 35 years of his life tending to Pasco County’s parks — rising through the ranks from groundskeeper to labor supervisor to Park Operator III.

Over the years, he’s had his hand in countless park improvements and in maintaining fields, to give park users a safe place to play.

The Pasco County Commission took a few minutes during their Jan. 25 meeting, to recognize his contributions by adopting a resolution, detailing those accomplishments.

James Baisley poses with a group congratulating him for his 35 years of service, while tending to parks in Pasco County. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

When Baisley took his place in front of the microphone, he began by expressing his gratitude.

“First of all, I’d like to thank the good Lord for keeping me healthy — to make it the 35 years that I did.

“I’d like to thank my wife, for putting up with me, for all of this.

“And, especially my children — they sacrificed many weekends that I worked, while they were children. I hope they forgive me for it.

“And, I’d like to thank Pasco County for allowing me to work here. It’s been a pleasure.

“I thought back over the 35 years of how many lives that I’ve touched throughout these years,” he said.

“A number of kids who grew up in the parks, now work for parks and recreation. I watched them grow up as kids,” he said.

Over the course of the years, he said, “I’ve watched commissioners come, commissioners go; directors come, directors, go,” he said.

His work for the county, though, remained a constant.

“It’s been a pleasure. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Baisley said.

The resolution highlighted some of his contributions.

At one point, the document noted, Baisley was simultaneously overseeing groundskeeping and maintenance for up to six parks.

He worked closely with various co-sponsored youth organizations, outside user groups, local school athletic teams and Friends of the Parks organizations.

He also “set the standard for athletic field maintenance,” the resolution says.

Over his career, he “displayed tremendous leadership” and was “always willing to train staff members both within and outside his area of responsibility.”

His willingness to train others resulted in him working at more than 30 parks throughout the county.

And, he was instrumental in adding a second softball field at Elsie Logan Memorial Park. The funding came from a grant, but he created the softball field by reconfiguring existing fields, fencing, scoreboards, and irrigation, the resolution adds.

He helped with special events, such Wilderness Wonderland at the Rotary Pavilion, and the Celebration of Lights event within Safety Town and Concourse property.

And, he was involved in numerous field renovations and typically completed these without the need for outside contractors — resulting in better playing fields, while saving taxpayer funds.

Pasco County Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick praised Baisley’s dedication.

“As you can tell by the resolution, he’s always gone above and beyond. I’ve always heard the compliments that his fields were the best in Pasco,” she said.

“You will definitely be missed,” Fitzpatrick told Baisley.

Published February 09, 2022

New call center hours for Pasco Utilities

February 8, 2022 By Mary Rathman

Pasco County Utilities’ (PCU) call center has updated its hours, and support now is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., as of Feb. 1, according to a Pasco County newsletter.

The Pay-by-Phone feature will continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and customers can still access a multitude of services online, including:

  • Opening and closing accounts, as well as submitting paperwork, can be done online at PascoCountyUtilities.com.
  • Payments can be made through the Pay-by-Phone feature at 855-786-5344, or online at bit.ly/PascoUtilitiesBillPay.
  • Watering restrictions, conservation tips, and reporting water theft can be done online at bit.ly/PascoWatering.
  • Rebate applications are available at bit.ly/PCU-Rebates.

To learn more about available services, visit bit.ly/PCUServiceCenters.
For information on water-saving tips and resources, visit bit.ly/SaveH2OPasco.

Pasco is on a roll, and is poised to attract more jobs

February 1, 2022 By B.C. Manion

The announcement last week of Amazon’s decision to bring 500 jobs to Pasco County prompted a broader discussion by the Pasco County Commission about what it can do to support continued employment growth.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore raised the topic, after Bill Cronin, president and CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., shared details of Amazon’s planned project.

The company is planning a 517,220-square-foot Robotic Sortation Center, on 127 acres, at State Road 52 and Bellamy Brothers Boulevard.

Moore said that one of his objectives when he ran for a county board seat in 2014 was to bring jobs to Pasco, so residents wouldn’t have to commute daily to work elsewhere.

So, at the county board’s Jan. 25 meeting, Moore asked Cronin and David Engel, director of Pasco County’s Office of Economic Growth, what commissioners can do to help in those efforts.

Moore put it this way: “So, we look at the growth along the (State Road) 54 and (State Road) 56 corridor — what can we do, what should we do — to preserve some of the job-creating sites along that corridor?

“Eventually, we could run out of space,” he said.

He asked: “Can we have more Spec (office) space? Can we have more Ready Sites?

“What can we do, as a board, to assure our residents 5, 10, 20 years down the road that jobs are going to be here. So, we don’t have to leave this area all of the time?”

Cronin said Pasco enjoys an advantage compared to many other places in the state.

“We’re really one of the only places that has land and people. Other places in Florida have people; they don’t have land. And, if they’ve got land, they don’t have people.

“We’re in a really good situation right now,” he said.

However, preserving sites for job-generating activities is important, not just to create more employment, but also to reduce congestion, Cronin said.

“It is the solution to a lot of our transportation problems, to make sure people are employed here and not somewhere else,” he said.

Cronin highlighted the need to ensure that employment centers that were entitled as part of master-planned unit developments are actually developed as job generators and are not converted to residential uses.

The whole idea of a master-planned unit development is to create a self-contained place where people can live, work and play, he said.

The non-residential portion of the project also is important for the county’s tax base, he added.

So, Cronin told the board: “The main thing is to make sure that the developers are continuing to commit and take care of those of entitlements, regarding those employment centers, and not (allow developers to) trade employment center entitlements out for anything.

“The jobs come first. If you’re going to trade it for housing or things like that, it totally throws the whole purpose of an MPUD out the window. Because, if you don’t have the jobs in the MPUD, then you’re getting in your car and you’re driving somewhere else every day,” Cronin said.

Ideally, Cronin added, the employment centers will be built first, before the housing within the development.

When that happens, he explained, “there’s less chance of residents saying, ‘Oh no, we don’t want that company, here.’”

Moore asked Cronin: “How important is it to have employment centers along State Road 54 and State Road 56 — because of access to Interstate 75, to the Suncoast Parkway, to I-275?”

Cronin responded: “Anytime you’re moving people, you want to be close to the highway.”

The economic development expert cited Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco campus as an example. It’s going to be developed near the Suncoast Parkway, Ridge Road and State Road 52.

“That’s 14,000 (projected) jobs. That is workforce that will be coming from everywhere. So making sure the transportation is there,” Cronin said. “If you’ve got transportation set up to move people, that’s where your jobs should also be.”

Engel told the board that the county’s planning and development party, along with the Office of Economic Growth and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council are working on a Light Industrial, Employment Center Study.

“We want to do an assessment of the county and our land use, and provide adequate guarantees and recommendations to the board to preserve this space,” he said.

Engel also noted a tremendous amount of development potential in East Pasco, moving up from the Interstate 4 (I-4) corridor.

Cronin said: “You’ve got a lot of people that are coming down I-4, going straight up into Pasco County, rather than coming all of the way to I-75 in Pasco County and heading north.”

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey agrees with the county’s need for more industrial sites. But she also wants more attention paid to redevelopment along the county’s busy corridors, such as U.S. 19 and U.S. 41.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “Redevelopment is a big issue.”

Mariano asked Cronin to look into how Pinellas County treats redevelopment, as compared to Pasco County.

Published February 02, 2022

Pasco moratorium area set to expand

February 1, 2022 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission is set to expand the area where new applications for multifamily are on hold.

The county board heard public comment on the proposal at its Jan. 25 meeting, with final action set for Feb. 8. The expanded moratorium would be retroactive to Jan. 6, the date of the Pasco County Planning Commission’s public hearing on the issue.

The larger area was proposed by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who has championed the pause on new multifamily applications — to allow completion of a study to determine whether the county has an oversaturation of entitled apartment developments.

This map depicts the original boundaries for Pasco County’s temporary pause on accepting new multifamily applications, and the approved expansion area. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Moore repeatedly has warned his colleagues about potential long-term consequences from allowing too many approvals of apartment projects.

He fears the prospect of an oversupply leading to buildings being abandoned, as renters move to newer developments. That, he has said, will set the stage for blight and increased crime.

The temporary moratorium on new multifamily applications applies only to an area within Moore’s District 2.

The temporary ban on new applications applies to an area essentially made up of Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes.

The area initially was generally defined as between State Road 52, on the north; U.S. 41, on the west; State Road 54 on the south; and, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, on the east. The boundary zigzags between Moore’s District 2 and Commissioner Ron Oakley’s District 1.

The proposed expansion includes several additional areas along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor.

The expansion area can generally be defined as State Road 54 to Collier Parkway to County Line Road (south) to Mansfield Boulevard to State Road 56; and from just east of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 54 due north to Interstate 75 to Overpass Road and west to the existing moratorium boundary.

The moratorium expires on April 1.

Originally, the moratorium was set to expire on Sept. 28, 2021, but the county board extended it for 185 days, to allow more time to complete the study.

The study is examining whether there’s a potential oversaturation due to existing and possible future multifamily developments, and to determine whether additional regulations are necessary.

Revised on Feb. 10, 2022

New overpasses planned for bicyclists, pedestrians

February 1, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County and the Florida Department of Transportation are working together on projects aimed at providing bicyclists and pedestrians overpasses on State Road 54 and State Road 52, to gain access to the Suncoast Trail, on the Suncoast Parkway.

The estimated costs for the overpass at State Road 52 is slightly under $10.1 million, according to materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 25 agenda packet.

The project is funded through the Transportation Capital Improvements Program, with funding from Penny for Pasco, the documents say.

Since the overpass will span a State Road, county staff has been in discussions with FDOT staff about having FDOT manage the project for design and construction, according to the backup.

It notes that “FDOT has the expertise with bridge design projects and resources available to execute the project.”

The state transportation agency has agreed to include the overpass project as part of its work program, as long as the county provides the funding.

Under the agreement, FDOT will be responsible for the design plans, advertising, and letting the construction contract, to include utility coordination, permitting and the construction engineering inspection for the project.

The county will be responsible for all project costs, securing an agreement with the Florida Turnpike Enterprise for the use of the Turnpike property for the project, and completion of all required survey, geotechnical exploration, and subsurface utility engineering, the agenda document says.

“If there are any additional costs required for the project, provided they are necessary and compensable, the county will pay those additional costs,” the document adds.

Upon completion of the project’s construction, the county will assume the maintenance of the

bridge and its components.

Discussions also have been underway with the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department regarding the maintenance responsibility for the bridge, since it is part of the Suncoast Trail (which they currently maintain).

The total estimated project cost is $10,089,528. The county will transfer $9,779,528 to FDOT for the design and construction cost of the project.

The remaining funds ($310,000) will be retained by the county to complete the survey, geotechnical exploration, and subsurface utility engineering for the project.

The agenda background also notes: “With the completion of the design plans, the project could be positioned as a shovel-ready project and potential candidate for grant funding from the “Build Back Better Reconciliation Plan,” and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, in which new investments will be made for safety, walking and biking opportunities.”

The county board approved staff’s recommendation to amend the budget to add nearly $8.6 million to the project because less than $1.5 million had been included in the current budget for the project.

In another action, the county board also approved an agreement with FDOT relating to the design and construction of a bicycle/pedestrian overpass for the Suncoast Trail at State Road 54.

In that agreement, the board approved a budget amendment of more than $9.6 million, since the current budget includes only slightly more than $1 million.

Just like the overpass project at State Road 52, the agenda packet for this item notes that“with the completion of the design plans, the project could be positioned as a shovel-ready project and potential candidate for grant funding from the “Build Back Better Reconciliation Plan,” and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, in which new investments will be made for safety, walking and biking opportunities.

In addressing her colleagues during the Jan. 25 board meeting, Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey talked about recent discussions she had with state lawmakers, to discuss Pasco’s funding requests.

“I feel confident that we’re going to be successful this year,” Starkey said.

She specifically mentioned a conversation she had with Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, who is a Republican from Trilby.

She said she talked to him about finding a funding source to help with the costs of the planned overpasses at the Suncoast Parkway.

Starkey said she has been told that when the Suncoast Parkway was designed, “they didn’t have the trail in mind.

“And so, they didn’t anticipate that, so it wasn’t built in and planned in our area.”

As a result, Starkey said, “the citizens of Pasco County are ending up right now funding our pedestrian overpasses on (State Road) 54 and (State Road) 52.”

But Hernando County has an overpass funded by the Turnpike Authority, and so does Citrus County, she said.

Starkey said Simpson said he will help with the issue.

“We have a plan that we’re going to push forward this year, to hopefully alleviate that cost to our citizens and be able to move that money to other projects, so I’m real excited about that,” Starkey said.

Published February 02, 2022

Festival-goers determined to have fun, despite frigid weather

February 1, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Seventeen-year-old Chase Jordan was among several Pasco High students who volunteered behind the plastic safety shield, while serving customers who were buying fruit at the Kumquat Growers patio. Kumquat Growers also displayed and sold various kumquat products. (Fred Bellet)

Folks attending the Kumquat Festival in Dade City last weekend had at least two things in common: They bundled up to brave the brisk weather, and they helped to mark the festival’s quarter-century anniversary.

Normally, the late January festival benefits from weather that typically is not too hot, or not too cold — but just right for strolling along downtown streets, with their quaint storefronts and hundreds of vendors on hand to offer all sorts of specialty items.

This year, though, an arctic blast reached into the nation’s southeast region causing much colder-than-usual weather for the festival.

Still, people turned out from all over — from places such as Dade City, Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Trinity, Lakeland, The Villages, Spring Hill and other locales.

They were there, enjoying the blue sky and sunshine — and tasting the kumquat pie, purchasing kumquats, grabbing a bite to eat and doing a bit of shopping.

Published February 02, 2022

After buying a slice of kumquat refrigerator pie, Bill Coleman, of Zephyrhills, takes a taste before his wife, Connie, gets to have her taste.
Who would expect Lady Denny, a.k.a. April Collins, of Spring Hill, to be at the Kumquat Festival? Collins, portraying a ‘Lady in Waiting,’ was there to let people attending the Kumquat Festival know about the upcoming Renaissance Festival, that will be at the Withlacoochee River Park, in Dade City.
An albino skunk isn’t fazed a bit by the Winnie-the-Pooh Eeyore hat that Susan Samson, of Trinity, is wearing. Samson was finishing a beverage at the Hug-A-Skunk booth hosted by Florida Skunk Rescue. Della Etters of the group, who is from the city of Hernando in Citrus County, holds a two-year old skunk named ‘Minerva.’
With the Kumquat Growers booth divided by a plastic safety shield, Dade City resident Diane Knight, right, makes her selection from the bags of Meiwa and Nagami-type kumquats for sale. Meiwa kumquats are sweet when eaten whole, skin and all. The Nagami is somewhat sweet, but when eaten whole, the skin adds to the tartness to the tiny citrus fruit.
Zephyrhills resident Jason Aiken hawks bottles of his kumquat-infused honey, at the Kumquat Festival in Dade City. Aiken offered several varieties of pure and local raw honey for sale at his vendor’s tent. Melissa Stebbins, of Dade City, was there to help with sales.
It was a day of firsts for Ayden Pressley, of Dade City. Not only did his grandfather James Pressley, of Dade City, bring him to is first Kumquat Festival, but the three-year-old experienced the Hug-A-Skunk feature sponsored by Florida Skunk Rescue. He is holding a skunk named Oreo, but the creature closely resembled the cartoon character named Pepe le Pew. Ayden’s 8-year-old brother, E.J. Amour, also got a chance to hug Oreo.
Bridget White, of Wesley Chapel, may have been colder than the slices of kumquat refrigerator pie she and other volunteers from the Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center were selling from their tent at the Kumquat Festival. The group was ready for lots of sales: They had 750 pies, each cut into eight slices.
Wilfred Viens, of Zephyrhills, finds the kumquat refrigerator pie to be quite tart, at first taste. But that didn’t stop him from finishing the entire slice that he purchased from the Catholic Women’s Club of St. Anthony’s Church.

 

 

 

 

Interns gain knowledge about local law enforcement

February 1, 2022 By Mary Rathman

These new interns will learn more about law enforcement during the 2022 spring semester at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) has welcomed 20 new interns for its 2022 spring semester.

These students will work alongside various PSO units, including the Behavioral Health Intervention Team, Forensics, Victim Advocates, Economic Crimes, Major Crimes, and others.

The internship program offers diverse opportunities, presenting career paths available with the sheriff’s office.

Internships also give students an opportunity to gain experience and learn about law enforcement.

Applications currently are being accepted for the 2022 summer semester.

To apply, visit JoinPSO.com, and complete a volunteer application by Feb. 18.

Published February 02, 2022

Celebration honors Diane Kortus’ lasting contributions

February 1, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Diane Kortus, recently retired publisher of The Laker/Lutz News, greeted new arrivals in a ballroom at The Plantation Palms Golf Club, in Land O’ Lakes.

Longtime advertisers, elected leaders, community volunteers, members of The Laker/Lutz News team, readers, family and friends gathered on Jan. 27, to wish her well in her retirement, and to honor her contributions to community life.

As Diane Kortus, publisher of The Laker/Lutz News for 21 years, departs to begin her retirement, she said she’s confident that Brian Calle, the new publisher, will build on the newspaper’s success. (Nicole Sanchez)

Kortus’ biggest reaction came when she saw her grandsons, Connor and Zachary, racing toward her — as her son Andy Mathes, entered the room. The trio surprised her by making a trip from Appleton, Wisconsin, to share in her special night.

Her daughter, Rachel Mathes, had traveled from Tallahassee and Diane’s longtime partner, Vic Anthony, of Land O’ Lakes, was there, too.

Terri Williamson, the newspaper’s senior account manager, emceed the event, which included heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, a cake and door prizes.

Williamson, Kelli Carmack, Trevor Lloyd and Nicole Sanchez handled the logistics of the event — which featured a slideshow of sweet  and funny moments through the years, and a series of video clips highlighting Kortus’ impact on local organizations, small businesses and the community, as a whole.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore — whose district includes Land O’ Lakes, where the newspaper is based — offered some remarks.

Diane Kortus holds the trophy that bears her name. She was the first recipient of The Diane Kortus Leadership Award, which will be bestowed annually by The Laker/Lutz News to a leader making a significant impact in the community.

He commented on the importance of having a quality source of local news and talked about the good that Kortus has accomplished through her leadership.

He concluded by telling her: “Congratulations to you, because you’ve made Pasco County a better place, you really have.”

Williamson recapped some of those accomplishments.

Under Kortus’ direction, the newspaper converted from a tabloid to a broadsheet, increasing the physical size of the paper by 25% and adding a B-section for expanded photo coverage, news and feature stories.

Kortus also expanded The Laker/Lutz News’ print circulation to include more communities. The current print circulation is 47,395; the newspaper also has a website, Facebook page and other social media channels, bringing its total weekly reach to 150,000 readers or viewers.

With Kortus at the helm, the newspaper also garnered recognition from community organizations and industry groups.

During the past two years, alone, The Laker/Lutz News received:

  • The Excellence in Integrity Award from the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
  • Area Business of the Year from the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce
  • Twenty-seven awards in the 2021 Florida Press Association’s Weekly Newspaper Contest, capturing first place, overall, in the largest circulation division
  • Seven awards in the Florida Press Club’s 2021 Excellence in Journalism Competition

Kortus told those gathered that before arriving at the party, she was under the impression that the focus would be on Brian Calle, the newspaper’s new publisher and owner.

She talked about the difficulty in deciding to sell the newspaper and said she knew Calle was the right buyer because of his professional accomplishments, their shared passion for print journalism and his knowledge of new technologies, which will help The Laker to build on its success.

Calle told the crowd: “I am so excited about being in this community. I am so excited about the work and the legacy that Diane has left. I can assure you, we will build on the legacy of journalism that Diane has created.”

Then, he said, addressing Kortus: “This was never to be a party for me — you thought it was to be a party for me. But, it’s actually a celebration of you.”

In addition to the evening festivities, the newspaper also wanted to do something more permanent to honor Kortus’ contributions.

“We’re starting a new Laker tradition, a new annual award that is named after you:  The Diane Kortus Leadership Award,” Calle told her.

The annual award will go to a leader, who like Kortus, has made a significant impact in the community.

Published February 02, 2022

The Laker/Lutz News wins seven Florida Press Club awards

February 1, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Laker/Lutz News received seven honors during a virtual awards event held by the Florida Press Club to announce winners in its annual Excellence in Journalism Competition.

The Florida Press Club has been honoring the best in Florida journalism for nearly 70 years. Competition categories range from layout to photography to writing.

This year’s honors — for work published between June 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021, were announced on Jan. 22.

Here are The Laker/Lutz News’ results in the contest:

Writing, Education News, Class C
B.C. Manion, first place
B.C. Manion, second place
B.C. Manion, third place

Writing, Government News, Class C
B.C. Manion, first place

Writing, Light Features, Class C
B.C. Manion, first place

Writing, Sports Features, Class C
Kevin Weiss,  second place

Writing, Travel and Tourism, Class C
Kevin Weiss, second place

Weiss recently left the newspaper to accept a role as public information officer for the City of Zephyrhills.

Published February 02, 2022

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