The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pasco Schools plan to beef up security

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Pasco County Schools is seeking state approval of a plan that calls for adding security cameras in schools and changing locks on doors at schools throughout the district.

The district wants the state to approve the plan, so it can use about $2 million in state money to pay for the security improvements.

The security upgrade aims to comply with a mandate that school districts across the state assess the safety of their schools and produce a plan to improve it. That requirement came in response to the Valentine’s Day shooting spree that left 17 dead and 17 injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

Christopher Stowe, director of safety and security for Pasco County Schools, recently outlined the district’s proposed plan to upgrade security at schools throughout the district. (B.C. Manion)

Pasco County Schools worked with law enforcement officials from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the New Port Richey, Zephyrhills and Dade City police departments in assessing their school campuses, according to Assistant Superintendent Betsy Kuhn.

After completing those assessments, the district identified themes it could address using the state grant money, said Christopher Stowe, the school district’s director of safety and security.

It decided to use the state money to “raise the security of all schools in the county, rather than kind of pinpoint one or two.

“We want to make equitable use of the funds that we’re going to be getting with the grants, to make sure all of our schools are going to be increasing their security,” Stowe said.

Much of the work focused on determining how the district could improve security using existing work orders, Stowe added, noting improvements, such as repairing or trimming landscaping to improve sight lines on campuses, can be achieved by district staff.

The grant money would be used to ensure that all Pasco County Schools have security cameras and that door locks will be changed so that teachers will not need to go outside of their classroom to lock the door.

Equipping the schools with security cameras will cost more than $800,000.

The new locks ensure that doors are locked at all times. People can leave a room without a key, but can’t enter without a key, unless someone lets them in.

It will cost about $1.2 million to change the locks on 3,000 doors.

During a presentation on the plan before the Pasco County School Board last week, Superintendent Kurt Browning noted: “I want to make sure that it’s clear that the funds that are being discussed here are funds that have been specifically appropriated for this purpose.

“These are not funds that could be used for raises. These are not funds that can be used for other things,” Browning said.

School board member Allen Altman thanked local law enforcement officials for their help on the effort to assess the district’s schools and share their expertise.

“In talking to other school districts around the state, they do not have the level of cooperation that we have had, and they are struggling to get this done,” he said.

“The fact that this has been a true team effort, and that they have communicated and worked together has been extraordinary — when you talk to other people around the state,” Altman observed.

He also noted: “It does make parents and staff feel better to know that everybody is on the same page and working together, and we don’t have the turf battles that have gone on in other places in the state.”

School board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong also expressed her appreciation to local law enforcement agencies for their help.

“We very much want to keep that line of communication open,” Armstrong said.

No timetable has been established for the security improvements, Kuhn said. The district must await approval of state grant money for its plan before proceeding to have the work done.

Published October 10, 2018

Forensics research center expected to break new ground

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Construction is now underway in Land O’ Lakes on a forensics and training facility that will offer a collaborative resource for universities, forensic scientists and law enforcement.

Ground was broken during a Sept. 19 ceremony for the K9 Tactical Center/Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics, or F.I.R.S.T for short.

F.I.R.S.T will be a resource for universities, forensic scientists and law enforcement in the entire state. It will serve as an aid to improve crime scene operations and investigations in the realm of homicides, missing persons cases and so on. The $4.3 million project is expected to be complete in late 2019. (Courtesy of Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)

The complex will be next to the Adam Kennedy Memorial Forensics Field, otherwise known as the “body farm” that sits on 5 acres next to the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, off U.S. 41.

The forensics research and training center will strive to improve crime scene operations and investigations in the realm of homicides, missing persons cases and so on.

It will include a laboratory for research and forensic casework, classrooms, a morgue and evidence storage.

The educational focus will be on forensics, anthropology, geochemistry, legal medicine, forensic intelligence, aviation reconstruction and cyber forensics.

Technology, too, will play a major role in the research, including virtual autopsies with 3-D scanning and chemical isotope analysis.

The K-9 portion of the project, meanwhile, will be the first time Pasco has had a dedicated facility for tactical training for the K-9 unit, the Pasco Unified SWAT team and sheriff’s deputies.

When completed, the F.I.R.S.T campus also will house training facilities in the arenas of cybersecurity and unmanned vehicles.

The $4.3 million state-funded project is expected to be complete by late 2019.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said the campus — particularly the forensic anthropology “body farm” fields  —  will have international draw, because of the location’s subtropical climate.

The sheriff also said the facility overall will advance national policies for public safety, in the realm of forensics, K-9 tactics, crisis management, design thinking and so on.

“We’re going to be training people from all over the country,” Nocco said. “This is not about the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. This is about all of us. This is about saving lives and making our community better.”

A Sept. 19 groundbreaking ceremony was held for the K9 Tactical Center/Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics, or F.I.R.S.T. The campus will be adjacent to the Adam Kennedy Memorial Forensics Field, otherwise known as the ‘body farm,’ that now sits on five acres of land next to the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, off U.S. 41. (Kevin Weiss)

He added: “The amazing thing is, as we keep building this out and as we break ground, more partners keep coming on and on, and we keep expanding.”

Once complete, the forensics center will be the first in Florida, and only the seventh in the nation.

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville started the first forensic training and research center in the 1970s. Other facilities are at Western Carolina University, Sam Houston State University, Texas State University in Carbondale, Southern Illinois University and Colorado Mesa University.

A one-stop resource
But, F.I.R.S.T is touted as the first true cooperative effort between academia and practitioners.

Academic partners include the University of South Florida, University of Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University and Pasco-Hernando State College, among others.

The project already has some Florida-based forensics scholars buzzing.

Dr. Phoebe Stubblefield is a forensic anthropologist and research assistant scientist at the C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida, in Gainesville.

For her, F.I.R.S.T means having a one-stop resource for university-based forensic labs from all across the state.

“Why should we not work together? First, it gives us a chance to share our ideas between ourselves. It’ll produce more research for the whole state,” said Stubblefield, who plans to bring her graduate students to the campus “on a cyclical basis.”

Stubblefield also noted the forensics center will facilitate long-term studies on body decomposition rates in subtropical climates, something she said is presently “not well researched.”

“That whole overall decomposition area — we’re still bringing the picture together,” Stubblefield said. “I know (F.I.R.S.T) will help with research, because there’s just not enough data.”

The possibilities also excite Dr. Heather Walsh-Haney, an associate professor who chairs the Department of Justice Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University, in Fort Myers.

The K9 Tactical Center/Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics is the first of its kind in Florida, and only the seventh in the nation. The campus is touted as the first true collaborative effort between academia and practitioners.(Courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)

Walsh-Haney has been studying forensic anthropology for 21 years. She gets called upon to help solve anywhere between 80 to 110 cases every year across the state.

She, like Stubblefield, stressed the need for more comprehensive studies on body decomposition rates within subtropical conditions, for crime-solving and death investigation purposes: “It doesn’t take a neurosurgeon to realize our temperatures are hotter, we have different animal scavenging habits, our plants are different and our soils are different.”

Once F.I.R.S.T is in operation, she and her group of graduate students plan to visit on a bi-weekly basis.

Aside from conducting forensic research studies and experiments, she said they’ll also assist detectives and other law enforcement officials on an assortment of hot and cold cases.

The complex, she said, “highlights the fact that we have to have community involvement in order to solve cases.”

She added: “The only way we can catch the folks who perpetrate these crimes is through science and the collaboration with law enforcement.

“This facility here, smack dab in the center (of Florida), is a wonderful location for scientists and law enforcement from the south and north to come here and train.”

Meantime, local officials believe F.I.R.S.T will be an economic driver for the county.

Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council, who was present at the groundbreaking ceremony, stated F.I.R.S.T will have an economic impact to the county of at least $7.8 million in its first year, with a recurring impact of $2.8 million each year “thanks to the hundreds of visitors that are going to come here and train.”

Furthermore, he noted the facility will attract other forensics-related businesses and organizations to Pasco, possibly along U.S. 41.

“This particular location will help us activate the part of U.S. 41 that’s been fairly difficult for us to draw business into,” he said, “and it takes what was an otherwise non-producing government-owned site and creates a real asset for economic development.”

Published October 3, 2018

Lutz Chiefs at 40: It’s time to celebrate!

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For decades, it’s been the place to be on Saturdays — for hundreds of players, cheerleaders, coaches and spectators.

The Lutz Chiefs played in the Pasco Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years before joining the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010. (Courtesy of Lutz Chiefs)

The Lutz Chiefs, celebrating the league’s 40th year this season, has offered boys and girls a chance to play and an opportunity to develop their athletic skills, whether it be as football players or as cheerleaders. The league’s cheer squads and teams are open to children ages 5 through 14.

The league also has contributed to the sense of community that Lutz enjoys, as parents on the sidelines get to know other parents, and players get to know children from different schools who compete on the same teams.

On Sept. 29, the league is hosting a reunion for Chiefs alumni, which they’re dubbing “The Greatest Show on Turf.” The event begins with games starting at 9 a.m., a varsity game at 3 p.m., and a Family Food and Fun Fest, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event take place at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, 656 W. Lutz Lake-Fern Road in Lutz.

The Lutz Chiefs Spring Team Cheer Squad won first place at Reach The Beach, in Daytona, at the spring 2018 competition.

The league also is hosting a Great Gatsby Gala on Oct. 5, at Cheval Country Club, intended to raise money to pay for a shade cover for the bleachers —  so spectators can be more comfortable while watching their children or grandchildren play, said Amy Lancaster, Lutz Chiefs director.

The league was established in 1978 and, since then, the football teams have won more than 19 different Super Bowl Titles, and the cheerleaders have won 17 different league titles, Lancaster said.

The league’s home is the Oscar Cooler complex — named for the man who attended hundreds of meetings of the Hillsborough County Commission to persuade commissioners to buy an orange grove so the community could build itself a place for youth sports.

Coach Jason Turk guides Ronan Baggs during a flag football game at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Over the years, the complex has evolved and improved, but the community spirit that created it so many years ago remains intact.

There are some families who have been involved with the Lutz Chiefs for generations.

“Right now, we have a coach that coached in the ’80s. He’s now helping his son coach his grandson,” Lancaster said. “So, we have three generations on the field.”

Currently, there are around 140 kids involved, between football and cheer. Plus, there are about 40 volunteer parents and coaches, she said.

But, it’s not just about football and cheerleading, Lancaster said.

Johnathan Blalock played for the Lutz Chiefs during the Pasco Police Athletic League jamboree when The Chiefs were still part of PPAL. That association lasted nearly 30 years, until organization joined the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010. (File)

“We’re making young men and women. It’s not just about the sports. It’s about cultivating character and commitment to something, and (to) our community,” the director said.

There’s a sense of connection and camaraderie, Lancaster added.

“I was at Publix (on Lutz Lake Fern and North Dale Mabry Highway) the other day. It felt like half our team was there,” Lancaster said.

Stacy Turk, who grew up in Lutz, said that the league’s longevity speaks well for it.

Her family is heavily involved in the program.

Her daughters, 11-year-old Taylor and 9-year-old Tylar are cheerleaders. Her 6-year-old son, Porter, plays flag football and her husband, Jason, is the head coach for flag football.

Turk said she genuinely loves The Lutz Chiefs because of the outpouring of love that coaches display, and because of the structure the league provides for youths.

Coach Anthony Perrone huddles with his team.

“It’s awesome to see the compassion that these coaches, on the field — whether it’s cheer or football — have for their players,” Turk said. “My kids look forward to going.”

The Lutz Chiefs was associated with the Pasco Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years before joining the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010.

Over the years, it has helped prepare young athletes, who have gone on to play at the high school, college and National Football League levels.

For all football-related inquiries, contact Rick Brodsky, athletic director, at
(813) 786-6754 or lutzchiefsad@gmail.com.

For any cheer-related inquiries, contact Maggie Brodsky, cheer director, at
(813) 786-2370 or lutzchiefscheer@gmail.com.

The Greatest Show on Turf
When: Sept. 29, games beginning at 9 a.m.; varsity game at 3 p.m.; followed by a Family Food and Fun Fest, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, 656 W. Lutz Lake-Fern Road in Lutz
Details: All Chiefs alumni are encouraged to show up to celebrate the program’s 40th anniversary. There will be games to watch, reunions among old friends and a good old-fashioned sense of community.

Great Gatsby Gala
When: Oct. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where: The Cheval Country Club, 4312 Cheval Blvd., in Lutz
Details: The Lutz Chiefs will host a Great Gatsby Gala, to celebrate its 40th year as part of the community. There will be an open bar, silent auction, live music, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. There are three ways to help: be a sponsor, participate with goods or services, or attend the gala.
Cost: Tickets are $75 per person or $125 for a couple. Proceeds will go toward the purchase and installation of shade covers for bleachers.
Info: Email . Tickets: Call Stacy Turk at (813) 732-8170.

Published September 26, 2018

Land O’ Lakes High honors ‘Voice of the Gators’

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For Land O’ Lakes High School, this year’s ‘Butter Bowl’ will go down as one of the most historic, as the Gators football team finally cracked an eight-game losing streak to crosstown rival Sunlake High School, with a 35-24 home victory.

Matt Connor, top, and Meaghan Connor of Land O’ Lakes positioned Mike Connor on the sideline area for a dedication of the press box in his name. (Fred Bellet)

The most enduring moment of the evening, however, came right before kickoff.

That’s when a special dedication ceremony was held to honor longtime athletics booster Mike Connor. The press box space at John Benedetto Stadium was named the ‘Mike Connor Family Press Box.’

Connor, a volunteer at the school since 1989, was instrumental in building a sustainable athletic and football booster club.

He is noted for being a key part of the early successes of the Flapjack Festival and, later, in helping to create the Land O’ Lakes Swamp Fest. The Swamp Fest continues to benefit the high school and other local organizations.

Connor, too, served as the ‘Voice of the Gators,’ calling the action of every Friday night home game for nearly two decades, and creating catchphrases, such as ‘a gaggle of Gators.’

The dedication drew dozens of friends and family, as well as current and former Gators coaches, who showed their support and appreciation for Connor.

Kyle Leivas, No. 21 for Land O’ Lakes, pours on the speed as he’s pursued by the Sunlake defenders. The Gators came out on top.

At 69, Connor is restricted to a wheelchair and has been in declining health, battling cancer in recent years.

An area business owner, Connor operated Taco John’s on the corner of State Road 54 and U.S. 41, as well as Beef O’ Brady’s in Wilderness Lakes. He has been a Land O’ Lakes resident since 1982.

One of his sons, Mike Connor Jr., said his father no longer makes it out to many Gators games anymore, but “would not have missed (the dedication) for anything.”

“It’s huge for him,” the son said of the ceremony. “He’s loved this school so much.”

He noted that his father has had an undying passion for the Land O’ Lakes community and its local high school.

“He was really excited about doing everything for the students,” Mike Connor Jr., said.

The last name of Weatherford is synonymous with Land O’ Lakes Gator football. From left are John, Will, Stephen and Drew Weatherford, who paused for a snapshot prior to the start of the Butter Bowl. The Weatherford Family had six brothers play on Land O’ Lakes football team for 18 consecutive years. A helmet signed by all the brothers was auctioned and will be awarded during Homecoming.

When the Flapjack Festival flipped over to the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City in 2008 and threatened to affect Land O’ Lakes’ fundraising, Connor spearheaded the idea for Swamp Fest.

“He put a lot, a lot of work into that,” his son said. “He was very proud of that and what it did for the community. It brings everyone together and that’s what he really liked.”

The press box dedication ceremony had been in the works since July, when the Pasco County School Board approved a request by Land O’ Lakes principal Ric Mellin to recognize the longtime volunteer.

Mellin credited Connor for raising “hundreds of thousands of dollars” toward the support of the school’s athletic programs, for the purchase of new equipment, uniforms, various facility upgrades and so on.

Connor’s efforts also helped established a yearly scholarship fund for a male and female at the high school.

Land O’ Lakes High School’s cheerleading coach Karlee Roach wears the Butter Bowl headband as she watches her squad get ready for the rival game against Sunlake High School last Friday night at home in the Swamp. The Gators won, 35-24.

“In many cases, he was like the lifeblood of this athletics program,” Mellin said. “So much of what we’ve been able to accomplish is because of him, and the amount of work and tireless efforts that he put forward.”

Another highlight of the 12th annual Butter Bowl came when another family synonymous with Land O’ Lakes High athletics was also recognized.

The Weatherford family and brothers John, Will, Stephen and Drew were named honorary team captains for the game.

In total, the Weatherford family had six brothers play Gators football for 18 consecutive years up until 2010, each of whom went on to play college football. A helmet signed by the brothers was auctioned and will be awarded during Homecoming on Sept. 21.

The press box overlooking The Swamp was dedicated to Mike Connor and his family. Connor was the voice of the Gators for 17 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butter Bowl series history

Sunlake leads 8-4

2018: Land O’ Lakes 35, Sunlake 24
2017: Sunlake 37, Land O’ Lakes 20
2016: Sunlake 21, Land O’ Lakes 3
2015: Sunlake 34, Land O’ Lakes 0
2014: Sunlake 42, Land O’ Lakes 14
2013: Sunlake 38, Land O’ Lakes 21
2012: Sunlake 18, Land O’ Lakes 6
2011: Sunlake (Land O’ Lakes forfeit due to recruiting violations)
2010: Sunlake 29, Land O’ Lakes 21
2009: Land O’ Lakes 42, Sunlake, 14
2008: Land O’ Lakes 28, Sunlake 0
2007: Land O’ Lakes 26, Sunlake 0

Published September 19, 2018

Pasco tourism ‘booming,’ officials say

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Tourism is “booming” in Pasco County and shows little signs of slowing down.

That was the message delivered by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore and Pasco County Tourism Director Adam Thomas during a recent appearance at a Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, right, and Pasco County Tourism Director Adam Thomas were the guest speakers at a Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce September meeting, at Golden Corral in Zephyrhills. Their talk centered on the county’s tourism efforts. (Kevin Weiss)

“We’re at the highest (tourism) levels ever,” said Moore, who joined Smith, as the featured speakers at the chamber’s September breakfast at the Golden Corral in Zephyrhills.

While Pasco County is not Orlando, Moore said it has much to offer.

Besides being a great place to live, to work and to play, it’s also a great place to visit, Moore said.

The speakers shared a number of tourism-related figures from January through June of this year. The figures were compiled with the help of Tallahassee firm Downs & St. Germain Research, which conducts the county’s quarterly and annual visitor profiles.

Here are some findings from that six-month period:

  • 451,000 people visited Pasco County, spending a combined $234 million
  • The stays represented 487,000 room nights
  • Hotel occupancy is up nearly 3 percent in Pasco County compared to last year, with hotels now averaging 75 percent occupancy
  • Tourism yielded $23 million in taxes, with $15 million in state and federal taxes, $8 million in local taxes
  • Tourism provided $83 million in income, with 3,645 jobs sustained by tourism in Pasco, representing 5 percent of all income and 7 percent of all jobs in the county
  • Tourism contributes $250 in state and local taxes, for each Pasco household

Those visiting the county apparently had a good experience.

Ninety percent of those responding to a survey said they would return, and 99 percent said they were satisfied with the county’s offerings.

Moore, who is chairman of the Pasco Tourist Development Council, is bullish that those promising figures will continue, noting that there are several projects and initiatives coming online the next few years.

Specifically, Moore mentioned the forthcoming Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex, a $44 million, 98,000-square-foot facility that broke ground in June.

The complex, expected to open in late 2019, will be able to host other sporting events and recreational activities, such as martial arts, wrestling, gymnastics, curling, badminton, soccer, lacrosse and pickleball. It will even play host to “unconventional sports tourism,” such as the World Championship of Cornhole.

Besides the indoor facility, the complex will have seven outdoor sports fields, an amphitheater with an event lawn, walking trails, pavilions and a playground.

Once complete, the facility will be one of the county’s “great assets,” Moore said.

“We’re going to have thousands of people come on the weekends for multiple tournaments, whether it be cheerleading or wrestling or volleyball or gymnastics — people from all over the nation, sometimes maybe even all over the world,” Moore said. “It’s exciting. We’re excited about that.”

Meanwhile, other future sports-related endeavors in Pasco include the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center in Zephyrhills and the Christopher N. Chiles Aquatic Center in Land O’ Lakes, each of which could become a magnet for hosting regional and national tournaments.

Smith said those facilities, plus the Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, which opened in January 2017, make Pasco an attractive sports tourism destination.

“The heartbeat of tourism right now is our sports,” Smith said, noting his office’s target audience is young families with children. “That’s our bread and butter.”

Smith, too, suggested the county’s inshore and offshore fishing offerings, as well as hiking, biking and walking trails all help create a bevy of other family friendly activities for those visitors who travel in for various sporting events and tournaments.

“We’re an outdoor recreation, ecotourism, adventure travel destination,” Smith said. “We have a lot to offer that a lot of other destinations don’t have, so we want to differentiate our product and sell what’s unique about our destinations.”

Another future selling point for Pasco is the return of scalloping, the speakers said.

For the first time since 1994, state waters off Pasco County were open to bay scallop harvest for a 10-day trial season in late July. Harvest areas included all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, as well as all waters of the Anclote River.

Moore said there may be additional scalloping days next year and a full scalloping season by 2020.

Moore also noted that without the scallop trial season, families would have otherwise traveled north to Hernando County, all but bypassing Pasco. “I’ve never seen that many boats in the water in Pasco County in my life. It was packed,” the commissioner said of the 10-day trial season.

Smith coined the popular family friendly activity “an underwater Easter egg hunt.”

“It’s a great opportunity for folks, not only around Florida or the southeast region of the United States, but all across the nation, to get in our waters, to explore our aquatic life and to have this experience to take home with them. …That’s the memories that we’re trying to create here for our guests and families — to come in and experience some of the things that we have on an annual basis,” Smith explained.

Aside from sports and outdoor activities, the tourism director said there’s also been a renewed emphasis to lure annual conventions and shows and corporate retreats, taking advantage of large meeting space at Saddlebrook Resort, Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel, and eventually the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex.

Published September 12, 2018

Swearing-in ceremony draws a big crowd

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Dade City has a new police chief, but he has a familiar face.

James Walters — who has been the acting chief for more than six months — became the department’s official leader at the Aug. 28 Dade City Commission meeting.

Walters is replacing former chief Ray Velboom, who retired after a decade of service.

The occasion drew a standing-room-only crowd of more than 100 community and business leaders, government officials, and representatives from other local law enforcement agencies.

City Clerk Angie Gay swears in James Walters as chief of the Dade City Police Department. Walters, who’s been with the agency since 1995, has been acting chief since February. (Courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Friends and family members traveled from as far away as California, Wisconsin and Virginia to share in a moment marking what Walters’ described as the pinnacle of his career.

As he addressed the crowd, Walter said being named the city’s police chief is both humbling and an honor.

“I am so proud of all the members of the Dade City Police Department, my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and the amazing work that they do in this community every day,” said Walters, who has been with the department since 1995. “We have a great team.”

Walter also used the public platform to outline several of his priorities for the department going forward. Those include:

  • Seeking department accreditation through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation
  • Redeveloping its strategic plan “to identify the needs of our department and our community” for the next five years
  • Maintaining and ensuring safety in local schools
  • Creating a plan of professional development and succession for police department personnel to “ensure stability, viability, and professional preparation in training” and “instill a tradition of continued and guaranteed success for generations”
  • Upholding the fundamental values that serve the agency’s mission and vision—respect, integrity, professionalism and service

“There’s a lot of challenges ahead,” Walters said. “We have a tremendous amount of growth on our doorstep and so we’re going to have to be ahead of the curve.

“As far as I’m concerned, law enforcement is no different than any other infrastructure—it’s no different than a water line or a road or what have you. We have to be prepared for the growth that’s coming, and we have to have systems in place and be ready to deal with the increase; we could easily double in population in the next decade,” the chief said.

In 23 years of policing, Walters has worked on patrol and criminal investigations, as well as handling administrative duties. Most recently, he served as administrative sergeant, a role he held since 2003.

Walters is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in criminology and a master of science in criminal justice administration from Saint Leo University.

He also holds a certified instructor ranking, in both general and high liability areas, from the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Additionally, he holds a number of certifications in firearms, investigations, field training, crisis intervention, line supervision, middle management, police internal affairs and so on.

He has also served as an adjunct instructor at Pasco-Hernando State College and at Saint Leo University.

During his time at the department, Walters has received numerous decorations and awards, including a unit citation, community service award, education ribbons, hazardous incident team, chief’s award, and employee of the month.

Besides his work for the police department, he also has served the Dade City Police Retirement Board, YMCA Advisory Board and PHSC Law Enforcement Academy Advisory Board.

The police department currently has 44 employees, including 33 sworn officers.

In his new role, his starting salary is $69,143.

The city’s website outlines the chief’s responsibilities. They include managing the department’s day-to-day operations and preparing the department’s annual budget. The chief also must attend weekly staff meetings, bimonthly city commission meetings, and events throughout the year.

The chief also functions as the department’s official liaison with various community groups, media outlets and law enforcement entities.

City Manager Billy Poe said Walters’ experience, knowledge and law enforcement connections made him an ideal candidate for the post.

Poe also mentioned Walters’ philosophy on community-oriented policing and increased community involvement as another reason he was selected.

Said Poe: “I think Chief Walters understands our direction that we want to go as a city and as a police department, and I think he has a firm grasp on it to take us to the next step.”

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez offered her approval of Walters, saying he’s “shown nothing but the most outpouring of love and affection and safety for everyone.”

The mayor also said she’s “so proud and privileged” to have Walters as chief, noting his “outstanding staff and amazing leadership.”

Walters’ appointment coincides with the promotions of Lieutenants Bill Rowe and Brian Uppercue to oversee the department’s operations and administration divisions, respectively.

“I think all three are great individuals,” Poe said, noting they have different strengths that work well together.

Published September 5, 2018

Community mourns couple’s passing

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The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club was already grieving the death of its former president, Edwina Kraemer, when the club received word that Edwina’s husband, David, had died a day later.

Those who knew Edwina describe her as capable, dynamic, organized and giving. They said she was a woman who held leadership roles in the woman’s club, was passionate about raising money for Canine Companions for Independence; was involved in her church, First United Methodist Church of Lutz; and, was devoted to her family.

David and Edwina Kraemer share a smile. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

David had been battling health problems for some time, and Edwina had been hospitalized in recent months, several sources said.

Friends were shocked that the couple died just one day apart.

The couple is survived by their son and his family, Keith, Pam and Gwen Vickery, of Brandon.

Even though Edwina was known for not calling attention to herself, she was widely known in the community because of her leadership and good works, several sources said.

She was president of the woman’s club during the years 2010 to 2012. And, she was named Lutz Guv’na in 2006, an honorary title secured by raising money to help community causes.

“Edwina was one of the most generous people you’d ever run into,” said Nancy Fisher, who has known Edwina since 2005.

She was a good friend, too.

“Anyone that was sick, down, whatever — she had a cake there. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen her take cakes to people,” Fisher said.

“She was a wonderful baker, fantastic cook. Her home was always open to have events for the woman’s club,” Fisher added.

Edwina and Fisher worked closely together to raise money for Canine Companions for Independence, a service dog organization.

“She headed DogFest for three years,” Fisher said, noting Edwina was instrumental in raising more than $130,000 for service dogs. “It would not have gone (on) without her. She put her whole heart into it.”

When the woman’s club holds a BowWow Bingo Fundraiser on Aug. 30, it also will honor Edwina, Fisher said.

“I’ve asked everyone to wear pearls. She always had pearls — a bracelet, earrings, a necklace, something,” Fisher said. “We want to remember her.”

Pat Serio, another woman’s club member, met Edwina through the club.

“I remember Edwina showing obvious signs of leadership from Day 1, and she lost no time in immediately accepting duties, club offices,” Serio said, via email.

“Family, her strong faith and service to her community meant everything to her.  We, in the club, have missed her terribly during these past 5 months of her illness and will continue to feel the void for a long while,” Serio said.

“Edwina’s beloved David survived her by only one day, and we rejoice in that they are now reunited for eternity. RIP dear friends, Edwina and David,” Serio said.

Mike Mullins, a friend of David’s since 1971, recalled that the couple met when they were supervisors in the Youth Conservation Corps program.

Both of them were science teachers, said Mullins, who met David during a teacher conference on Sanibel Island. David taught at Eisenhower Junior High School and Jefferson High School, Mullins said.

“He was the kind of guy that would go out and bring in stuff for the kids to see. He was a very interactive teacher.”

David also loved to cook out, was involved in karate, was a firearms expert and instructor, and enjoyed spending time on his lake, Mullin said.

Rick Cabot, the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Lutz, said Edwina was involved in many ways at the church.

She helped with the massive project to relocate the church from its former site on Lutz Lake Fern Road near U.S. 41, to its current location, on Lutz Lake Fern near North Dale Mabry Highway.

It was a huge undertaking, involving the acquisition of land, design of the building and scores of other details, Cabot said. Edwina also helped raise money to pay for the project, which Cabot estimated at between $5.5 million and $6 million.

Additionally, Edwina was dedicated to preparing communion for the congregation.

She was typically there by herself early on Sunday mornings, Cabot said.

“She would have the biggest smile on her face,” he said, and as she filled each communion cup “it was like she was concerned for that person that would be partaking it. She just did it with so much love.

“Edwina’s heart for people and heart for God were simply incredible,” Cabot added.

“I just can’t say enough kind things about her.

“The biggest thing is how she made people feel when she was around them: Loved and cared about, that they were important,” the pastor said.

In a previous interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Edwina said she wanted to join the woman’s club because it was genuinely determined to serve the community.

She also offered her impression of the Lutz/Land O’ Lakes community.

“Lutz and Land O’ Lakes have this old town flavor,” she said. “I grew up in a little town in Brevard County (Cocoa), so it takes me back to my youth. There are a lot of great traditions in this area.”

When the woman’s club was celebrating its 50th anniversary, Edwina, then president, described the group as purposeful, empowered women. She said she was attracted to the club because of its focus on service.

“I was raised with the idea that you are not a burden to your society and that you give back,” she said.

Apparently, those lessons stuck.

A dual Celebration of Life service is planned for the couple on Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Lutz, 960 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road.

Published August 29, 2018

Local astronomy club promotes stargazing

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A group of amateur astronomers have gathered at New Port Richey’s Starkey Park for 15 years, toting their telescopes to help the public get an intimate glimpse at planets, star clusters, meteors and galaxies.

The space enthusiasts’ latest gathering held particular meaning.

The Pasco Astronomers celebrated its 15th anniversary on Aug. 11 with a free public stargazing event the park.

The Pasco Astronomers have hosted public stargazing events at Starkey Park for the past 15 years, to promote science and astronomy. Many club members bring their own telescopes for the public to use at monthly showings.
(Kevin Weiss)

It was an evening where four planets — Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus — were each in prime viewing position.

The event, too, coincided with the first time the group met 15 years ago — a day when Mars was last closest to Earth, otherwise known as perihelic opposition.

Pasco Astronomers was established in 2003 by Joe Colontonio and Tom Wade, after a few county park officials requested some astronomy-related activities.

Since then, the club has sought to promote science and astronomy through public outreach programs, by providing telescopes and general space knowledge.

“It’s kind of nice to have people look through your telescope, and see the awe and the wonder that they experience,” said Wade, a retired pastor who studied astronomy at the University of South Florida. “The first time they see things up close — the craters of the moon, the rings of Saturn — some of them are speechless.”

Added Colontonio: “We’re not really here for ourselves. We’re just here to enlighten people, give them something to do that’s cheap,” he said.

Plus, he noted: “It’s a good thing to have something free for kids to do, other than sit at their computers.”

Pasco Astronomers club member Carl Wight, right, assists Greg Shimp with properly setting up a telescope. The club recently celebrated its 15th anniversary with a free public stargazing event at Starkey Park in New Port Richey.

Ward and Colontonio have since handed the club’s reins to Mark Hardies, mathematics and physics professor at St. Petersburg College, who’s had an interest in amateur astronomy going on 30 years.

Since he’s taken over, anywhere from 300 to 500 people — and as many as 1,200 — show up for monthly stargazing events, or “Star Parties,” as they’re colorfully called.

“I just enjoy that our whole purpose is to do this for the public,” said Hardies, who joined the club about 12 years ago.

He added: “It’s nice to be here to help the public see what’s available, to get them interested in (astronomy) and to give them a chance to see through a telescope, because quite frankly, most people don’t get that chance.”

As well as Pasco, club members venture from as far as Brandon, Lutz, Largo and Spring Hill.

And, many happily supply telescopes they’ve made from scratch.

Colontonio, for instance, brought along his own 10-inch truss-tubed Dobsonian he built 15 years ago inside a mirror lab at the St. Pete Astronomy Club.

“I just kind of winged it,” he said. “It took me like six months to grind the mirror.”

His personal interest in astronomy piqued 20 years ago after he bought his wife a telescope. “I got addicted seeing the planets,” he said.

But, nowadays, the club’s original co-founder mainly prefers to impart his astronomy wisdom to others, detailing subjects like Messier 37 and the Ring Nebula, all through the lens of his scope.

Dozens of families gathered for the Pasco Astronomers’ 15th anniversary stargazing party at Starkey Park in New Port Richey. At the Aug. 11 event, space enthusiasts were able to view four planets — Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus— through the lenses of telescopes and binoculars.

He explained: “I like to show the real dim stuff. People get a kick out of that because you don’t see anything but black sky, and then when you look through the scope, there’s something there.”

Jack Brockhurst, another astronomy enthusiast and club member, also supplied his own handmade scope — a 13-inch Dobsonian weighing over 130 pounds.

The New Port Richey resident said he’s been building telescopes for 40 years.

A machinist by trade, Brockhurst first constructed a small 3-inch scope. He eventually progressed to larger Dobsonians and German Equatorials measuring over 10 inches in diameter.

His collection of handcrafted scopes is now up to 11.

“I got what they call light bucket fever. I had to build bigger ones,” he said, jokingly.

Brockhurst still regularly likes to experience “what’s out there” in space.

But, like Colontonio, he also gets a kick from sharing his passion for astronomy with others. “My best reward is when I hear the oohs and aahs from the parents and the kids,” he said.

Aside from the regular club-goers, the 15th anniversary event drew several first-timers, like Tampa’s Raj Reddy and his group of friends.

“We just wanted to see the meteors,” Reddy said, “and, I also think it’s cool that you can watch other planets today.”

New Port Richey’s Greg Shimp and his son, Kevin, also were among the newcomers.

Besides peering at Mars and the other planets — “That’s something that we wanted to see,” Shimp said — the father and son learned to properly navigate an 8-inch refractor telescope purchased last year. “Mostly, we’re here for the help, kind of getting the (scope) set up,” Shimp said.

For information on the Pasco Astronomer’s Club, visit their Facebook page, Facebook.com/Pasco-Astronomers-169098913172928/.

Published August 22, 2018

America’s Finest Beach is in Clearwater

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Standing on baby-powder white sand, starring out at the gentle lulling of the Gulf’s waves, I realized how lucky we are here on Florida’s West Coast to live so close to Clearwater Beach.

It’s the ideal beach to swim, stroll for shells, watch birds and people, eat in some really good beach restaurants, or just sit on a beach towel and read a good book.

A lifeguard stand on Clearwater Beach adds a whimsical touch to one of the world’s best beaches. It came in seventh in the world in the 2018 TripAdvisor Best Beaches Contest, the only American beach on the world list. (Karen Haymon Long)

If you want to, you can go fishing on Pier 60, rent a Jet Ski or a paddleboard, or soar over the water in a parasail pulled by a boat. You can even cruise past the beach aboard a pirate ship.

All this and more made Clearwater Beach the No. 1 beach in America in 2018, thanks to TripAdvisor’s annual poll of those who visit the popular travel website. It came in a powerful seventh in the world among beaches. And, it was the only beach in America on this year’s world list.

Sometimes tourists find the beach more often than locals do, thanks to its prominence on travel websites, in newspapers and guidebooks.

USA Today ranked it the second-best beach in Florida in 2015. (First: Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola). Two years earlier, the newspaper called Clearwater Beach the best beach town in Florida.

Ironically, Clearwater Beach is not a town at all, but part of the city of Clearwater, whose logo proudly proclaims “Clearwater Bright and Beautiful Bay to Beach.”

The beach is definitely something to be proud of: TripAdvisor recommends 93 things to do in Clearwater. Going to its beach comes in first.

Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar, on Clearwater Beach, has been offering beachgoers good food, music and spectacular sunset views since 1926.

Lots of changes have come to the beach in the last decade. You’ll notice them right away if you haven’t been in a while.

New upscale, pricey hotels — Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, Opal Sands Resort, Sandpearl Resort, Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa — have all joined what used to be mostly mom and pop motels.

The picturesque Clearwater Beach Walk, a broad promenade lined with palms, billowing grasses and outdoor showers with comical green turtle sculptures on top, now skirts the beach from Pier 60, at the western end of State Road 60, heading south a half mile.

It’s a fun place to people-watch and to ride a bike or skate, when it’s not too crowded. Otherwise, it makes a nice path for walking along the beach, or to go to lunch or dinner in a nearby bar or restaurant.

The restaurants also make Clearwater Beach a great place to visit. They are numerous and varied, and many offer tasty grouper sandwiches, fish spread and other fresh seafood.

Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60 is a popular place for fishing, bird-watching and Sunset Celebrations, which happen every day all year around. If you don’t fish, you can rent a Jet Ski to take a spin in the Gulf.

Frenchy’s alone has four restaurants, all with excellent food and service, and all within a short walk to the beach.

Heilman’s Beachcomber Restaurant, opened in 1948, is a longtime favorite of old Clearwater families, who have spread the word to younger generations.

And, Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar, with its inn next door, has long been a popular spot for good food, live music and unparalleled sunset views. It opened in 1926 and has been owned by the same family for 44 years.

If you want to get an idea of why Clearwater Beach got its name, go to VisitStPeteClearwater.com, and look at the webcam “Live from Clearwater Beach.’’ You can see in the photos just how clear the water really can be and how green or blue, depending on the sunlight.

You can see the wide swaths of powdery white sand and little kids skimboarding, digging in the sand with beach shovels or flying kites.

Act like a pirate and take a cruise on Captain Memo’s Pirate Ship that goes into the Gulf of Mexico in front of Clearwater Beach. The ship offers sunset and daytime cruises, as well as children’s parties and activities. Visit CaptainMemo.com for prices and times, or call (727) 446-2587.

If you go yourself – and you really should if you can – you can rent a colorful beach umbrella or a cabana and chairs, or bring your own, and your own cooler, too. Just don’t bring alcohol. It isn’t allowed on the beach.

We like to park in the paid public lot between Palm Pavilion Beachside Grill & Bar and Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, off Rockaway Street. We lay our towels on the beach and walk north, where it’s quieter and fewer people go. Homes, some opulent and others more modest, face out to the Gulf on this part of the beach that has limited parking, unlike farther south.

If you walk south, you’ll likely pass Pier 60, where anglers fish day and night for redfish, snook, Spanish mackerel, trout, snapper, flounder and even sharks.

The 1,080-foot fishing pier has a bait shop, sells drinks, food and souvenirs, and offers Gulf glimpses from telescopes.

Two hours before and after sunset every evening, the pier puts on “Sunset Celebrations,’’ drawing crowds to see colorful sunsets, listen to music, watch street performers and buy local crafts.

But, the Gulf is the star here and the main reason many come from all over the world. Its waters near shore are shallow, its waves usually gently lap onto the sugary sand, leaving treasured shells for everyone to find and take home.

Tips for the Trip
How to get there: State Road 60, or Court Street, in downtown Clearwater, heads west over the Clearwater Memorial Causeway straight to the beach. The main beach drags are Gulf Boulevard to the south and Mandalay Avenue to the north.

The Jolley Trolley offers daily shuttles from a few downtown Clearwater paid parking lots. Trolley tickets are $2.25, or $5 for daily passes. For details, visit ClearwaterJolleyTrolley.com, or call (727) 445-1200.

If you drive, check out where to park on a detailed map at MyClearwater.com/parking, or call (727) 562-4704. It is best to go early to find a good spot. Parking machines take credit cards, cash and coins.

Boat racing event: If you like speedboat races, go see the 10th Annual Hooters Clearwater Super Boat National Championship Sept. 30 off Clearwater Beach. Events start on Sept. 28 and run through the day of the race, with a parade, food trucks, music and more on downtown Cleveland Street and nearby Coachman Park. Watch the races from Pier 60 for $20, or $10 for children. Free viewing from the beach. See the race schedule at SuperBoat.com, and click on Clearwater.

Gulf book: University of Florida history professor Jack E. Davis recently won a Pulitzer Prize for his highly readable “The Gulf – The Making of an American Sea.” To learn the fascinating history of this watery treasure, read this book, now out in paperback. It will make you want to get into your car and head to the Gulf of Mexico, and maybe even to take a stand to protect it.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published August 15, 2018

Panel offers formula to help struggling teens: Judge less, listen more

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Those working in the front lines of mental health, drug prevention, drug addiction and recovery heard firsthand last week from a panel of youths about strategies that can help young people who need help in those areas.

The panel made up of members of STAND (Safe Teens AgaiNst Drugs) convened at the community center at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, under the auspices of the monthly coalition meeting of the Pasco Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention.

A panel of youths recently shared suggestions about taking aim to reduce drug abuse and mental health problems. For starters, they said, it would help to have more counselors on campus who have time to listen to them. From left: Ormand Derrick, panel moderator, and panelists Mariah Morales, Ariana Santillana, Mia Cuasey and Annabelle Durff. (B.C. Manion)

The room was filled with professionals, and the youths— who have experienced firsthand the issues of addiction, attempted suicide, losing a loved one to drug abuse or being shuffled between foster homes —  had plenty of ideas to share.

There needs to be better access to help, said panelist Annabelle Durff.

Services are available sometimes, but they’re across town, she said.

“That’s not going to help. It’s too far away,” Durff said, noting many students don’t drive or have a way to get a ride.

Paying for therapy is another issue, she said.

Lack of parental support is a problem, too, she said, noting that some parents refuse to help their kids get help.

“I think if you have more school programs that are right (there), direct for the kids, that’s going to help,” Durff said.

It’s not enough to simply have counselors available, the staffing needs to be adequate, panelists added.

There are guidance counselors on campus, but they are pulled in too many directions.

“If I’m having an issue, or a mental breakdown, I have to wait until next week because they (other students) want to talk about their test scores.

“There’s nobody there just for the students to talk to,” she said.

More creative approaches are needed to teach young people to avoid using drugs and alcohol, said panelist Ariana Santillana.

She thinks that people tend to minimize the dangers of alcohol abuse. In her opinion, it’s the biggest substance abuse problem in Pasco County.

“I feel like it’s been so normalized. Nobody really thinks it’s a big deal,” she said. Plus, it’s easily available in many homes.

She advocates coming up with new strategies to reach kids, instead of simply pulling out a Power Point presentation and repeating the common refrain “drugs are bad, don’t do them,” she said.

There needs to be a new attitude when helping people who have substance abuse or mental health illnesses, panelists said.

“Offer your support, instead of punishment,” Santillana said.

Panelist Mia Causey agreed: “We need to show kids we are here for them. If they need help, we’re there to help them, instead of passing them off to somebody else.”

Drug prevention efforts usually last for about a week and generally involve free pencils, wrist bands, stickers and posters, the panelists said.

Durff asked: “What about the kids that are already doing drugs?”

She added: “What about kids (whose) parents are already doped up?”

It doesn’t help to tell people that drugs are bad, she said.

“They probably already know that, but they don’t have the strength to stop it themselves,” Durff said.

Talk about issues, don’t hide them, panelists say
Mental illness, substance abuse and suicide are issues that need to become part of the public conversation, panelists said.

“The thing about STAND is that we’re not afraid to bring light to the problem,” Causey said. “How do you expect to solve the problem, if we don’t bring light to it?”

Getting help to end drug use or to cope with mental health issues shouldn’t be taboo topics, she added.

An appointment for a therapy session should be viewed in the same light as going to the doctor for an ankle injury or to treat a cold, Causey added. “It should be a normalized thing.”

Helping kids find their passions and a positive outlet could go a long way in reducing drug use and promoting positive mental health, panelists added.

Causey: “If you have passion for something, take what you already know and take your already given talents and apply it to that. I love talking. I also am really good at writing poetry, so I do spoken word. I speak at all sorts of different events.”

Santillana noted: “Schools offer sports and band. I’m in band, and I’ve got a zillion things to do every day, so what time do I have for drugs?”

Mariah Morales, another panelist, said she immerses herself in art. “That has really helped me through everything I’ve been through. Art is my way of getting out my feelings and expressing myself. It really does help.”

The panelists also said they believe having a 12-step program in schools would be helpful.

Finally, they believe that sharing their stories can help other youths who are going through challenging times.

“We need to step up, and talk about it and say, ‘If you are going through these things, I got past it. I got through it, and it’s not the end,” Durff said.

Causey agreed: “Saying ‘No’ for yourself is the first step. Helping somebody else say ‘No’ is the next step.”

Safe Teens AgaiNst Drugs (STAND) is a team of youth leaders determined to end youth substance abuse in Pasco County by providing education to teachers, police, businesses and other community members.

Priority Issues:

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

Published August 8, 2018