Like millions of other Americans, Colin Cagle viewed President Donald Trump’s first speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28. Unlike most, the 13-year-old Odessa resident, attended Trump’s speech in Washington D.C. He was the invited guest of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. That fact is even more impressive, considering each member of congress was allotted just one extra ticket for … [Read more...]
Freedom student is going to West Point
March 9, 2016 By
A Freedom High student recently received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. Dean LaGattuta received word that he’d been accepted into the prestigious service academy on Jan. 20. He accepted the appointment on Jan. 31. Ironically, LaGattuta, 18, was visiting the West Point, New York campus when he received the good news. “It was just complete disbelief. I really … [Read more...]
Student is military academy nominee
December 30, 2015 By
Dean LaGattuta’s interest in attending a U.S. Service Academy first piqued when he was an adolescent and he learned his grandfathers, on both sides of his family, served in the Navy. His interest in joining the service deepened through watching programs on the Military Channel and History Channel. “The family legacy and then getting into military history really sparked my interest in serving … [Read more...]
Local reaction split on president’s immigration plan
November 21, 2014 By
The debate on whether President Barack Obama has the authority to enact his own immigration reform without the help of Congress extends beyond Washington, D.C., and is drawing both criticism and praise from lawmakers here at home as well. But which side each congressman takes depends on what side of the aisle he or she is on. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis waited until Obama's presidential address … [Read more...]
Incumbents keeping seats on Hillsborough commission
November 4, 2014 By
Charlie Crist may not have been a winner in Florida, but another unrelated Crist will stay in elected office in Hillsborough County as Victor Crist won re-election to the county commission. Crist defeated Democrat Elizabeth Belcher 56 percent to 44 percent to get another four years in Hillsborough. However, the race was a lot closer for Crist's colleague, Al Higginbotham, who defeated Democrat … [Read more...]
Local Congressional districts should remain unchanged
August 7, 2014 By
Florida lawmakers are back in Tallahassee for a special session this week after a judge in Leon County declared the boundaries for two Congressional districts were unconstitutional. The districts, located in the Jacksonville and Orlando areas, were deemed by Florida Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis to be illegal, and ordered those districts to be redrawn immediately. A proposed map from a … [Read more...]
Creativity wins local kids trip to Washington, D.C.
June 26, 2014 By
The trio jetted to Washington, D.C., to meet with a member of Congress, to hear remarks from the chief executive of an international company, and to take part in television interviews. And they are all still in elementary school. Joey Santana, Sophia Nobles and Catie Tomasello recently returned from a trip to the nation’s capital, and a whirlwind of appearances there. The Countryside … [Read more...]
