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Georgia

She hopes her ‘simple witness’ will help change lives

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Emily Busch plans to spend the next year of her life as a full-time missionary in the Life Teen program in northern Georgia.

She’s confident about committing a year of her life to missionary work.

“I’m not even a little bit nervous,” said the 21-year-old from Wesley Chapel. “There’s so much peace.”

When Emily Busch, of Wesley Chapel, was heading to her first summer stint at Life Teen in northern Georgia, she didn’t know what to expect. She found out that it was beautiful, and holy. (Courtesy of Emily Busch)

Part of that is because she’s familiar with the program, after spending a summer there working as a videographer and another summer as an office intern.

She knows what’s she’s getting into, and she can’t wait.

Life Teen owns two camps, Hidden Lake and Covecrest, in the mountains of North Georgia, in a town called Dahlonega.

“It’s a retreat center during the year, and it’s a summer camp during the summer,” Busch said, noting about 2,500 kids come there every summer, so it’s busy.

It’s a place which attracts youth groups from parishes, giving them a chance to gain a deeper understanding of their Catholic faith.

Busch, herself, was involved in her youth group at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes, which led to her going on a mission trip to Nicaragua.

That experience was a turning point in her spiritual life.

She feels called to do mission work, and she believes the trip to Nicaragua was the catalyst.

“When I was there, I saw the poverty, and I saw the desire for the Lord in the hearts of people that had nothing.

“And, when I was back home, I was like, ‘I have everything I want. I have everything I need. These people have less than half of what I have and they’re happier than I am, so what am I doing wrong?” she said.

It was a question she pondered for quite some time.

Emily Busch

Ultimately, she felt that the Lord was putting mission work on her heart.

She didn’t answer that call immediately. She wanted to get her degree from Saint Leo University, where she majored in religion.

But, she graduated a year early and decided to devote that year to serving at Life Teen.

“I’m not saying that I’m a saint by any means, but I desire that. I desire that holiness, and I desire to do the work that the Lord has done, but in 2017.”

Beyond working with youths, Busch will also be working on her own spiritual walk.

Serving at the camp requires Busch to raise her own support. She must raise a minimum of $6,000 to cover food, housing and other costs. She hopes to raise $10,000, to provide a $100 a month stipend and to provide money to begin paying back her student loans.

As of last week, she had raised $5,500.

She planned to hit the road, en route to Georgia, on Sept. 5.

She expects the year to have its highs and its lows, but is looking forward to what lies ahead.

She recalls the first time she went to the camp, in 2015.

“I had never been to the camp before, and I had committed for three months. And, I was driving there (thinking), ‘I’ve never been to this place. It could be terrible. It could be horrible. And, I got there … It was beautiful and it was amazing, and it was holy. There’s something about living in the mountains that just takes your breath away.”

Busch said there have been times when people have excluded her because of her Christian values. Some took an attitude of: “I’m not going to invite you (Busch) to this thing because you’re a Christian girl.”

That doesn’t bother her.

“I have to be confident in who I am and what the Lord has called me to, and I can’t worry about what other people’s opinions are,” she said. “But, I can show them Jesus in my actions, and I can show them the peace that I have about my life.”

She’s not sure what lies beyond this next step in her journey.

“I’m thinking about either teaching at a Catholic school, or working at a nonprofit in some way, like Metropolitan Ministries or something like that,” she said.

But, only time will tell.

For now, though, she’s content with her next step in life.

“Spreading the Word (of God) is what I most desire,” Busch said.

Want to help? Go to: Donate.Lifeteen.com/EmmBusch.

Published September 6, 2017

Merry Christmas, Florida: $2 gas is coming

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Georgia and Tennessee have gas stations where prices have fallen below $2 a gallon. And it looks like Florida might not be far behind.

Stations in the Jacksonville area reported prices of $2.10 over the weekend, according to AAA. And if prices keep falling at the current rate of 2 cents a day, that area will be at $2 a gallon by the end of the week.

“Gasoline prices are plunging with little sign of slowing down,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said, in a release. “Oil prices dropped for the fourth consecutive week because of increased oil production and low demand, and that’s keeping downward pressure on the price of gasoline. It is unclear exactly how low prices will go, but gasoline will keep getting cheaper as long as oil does.”

More than 89 million Americans are taking to the road this week, and when they do it, they will find the cheapest gasoline since May 2009, and the lowest Christmas prices since 2008, Jenkins said. On average, Americans are saving $13 for a tank of gas compared to this time last year, and if prices were to remain at these levels, households would save $550 next year, according to the Energy Information Administration.

“Plunging pump prices have boosted disposable income by more than 3.5 percent, which encourages Americans to travel,” Jenkins said. “AAA expects the highest number of travelers during the year-end holidays on record, which dates back to 2001.”

Florida prices were at $2.48 per gallon on average, down 12 cents from last week, and 35 cents from a month ago. Gas was 88 cents more expensive a year ago.

Although nowhere local has gas as close to $2 as Jacksonville does, many service stations are well below the state average.

In Land O’ Lakes, both the RaceTrac and the Hess station on the State Road 52 area reported prices of $2.35, according to GasBuddy, while the Sunoco on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard near Causeway Boulevard, reported the highest prices at $2.53.

In Wesley Chapel, Sam’s Club reported the lowest prices in the entire area at $2.24 on State Road 56. Four other stations were at $2.39, but well above the reported number from the high-volume retail store.

Lutz had gas prices ranging from $2.37 at Metro Gas on State Road 54 near Foggy Ridge Parkway, to $2.49 at three stations, including two near Van Dyke Road.

The cheapest gas in Zephyrhills is at the Marathon station on Eland Boulevard and Geiger Road with a reported price of $2.34. In Dade City, it was the Clark station at the lowest, with $2.33 per gallon on U.S. 301 near Long Avenue. The Chevron station on Fort King Road and Clinton Avenue was the most expensive, according to the website, at $2.45.

Looking for $2 gas? It might be coming soon

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Savings at the gas pump are averaging $10 for every fill-up, yet it doesn’t look like gas prices are going to start heading back up anytime soon.

In fact, prices crept closer to $2 a gallon this past week, as domestic oil supply is at a three-decade high, and forecast to keep growing. At the same time, the price of oil fell to its lowest level in five years.

“Oil prices are plunging because there is so much oil in the market,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said, in a release. “It’s unclear exactly how long this will continue, but gas prices will keep falling as long as oil prices do. Right now, oil prices are forecast to fall through the first half of next year, which further increases the likelihood of $2 gasoline.”

The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas has fallen 35 cents in the past month, AAA said, settling in at $2.56 on Sunday. Prices were as low as $2.09 in Brighton, Tennessee; $2.16 in Albany, Georgia; and $2.27 in Orange Park.

“Tennessee motorists should begin seeing gasoline as low as $2 a gallon at various gas stations in the next couple days,” Jenkins said. “Gas stations in some Florida and Georgia cities could start selling $2 a gallon gas within the next 15 days.”

However, it’s still unlikely that either the national or state averages will fall that low, Jenkins added. But if oil prices keep falling, then there may not be a bottom above $2 in the near future.

The price of oil fell below $60 a barrel for the first time since July 2009, closing Friday at $57.81, down $8.03. That is allowing gas prices to drop between 1 cent and 2 cents per day, Jenkins said. That could mean another drop of between 10 to 20 cents by Christmas Day.

On Dec. 25, 2009, the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.59, but was $1.65 the year before.

Right now in Florida, the average gas price Sunday was $2.60, down a dime from a week ago, and 80 cents from a year ago.

Locally, the cheapest gas in Land O’ Lakes is found at the RaceTrac at State Road 52 and Silver Palm Boulevard, according to GasBuddy, where prices were set at $2.43 on Sunday. The most expensive was $2.59 at several gas stations throughout the area.

In Wesley Chapel, those looking for a bargain found the cheapest gas at Sam’s Club on State Road 56, where fuel was sold at $2.44 a gallon. The most expensive was reported at $2.69 at the Citgo on State Road 54 and Boyette Road. In Lutz, prices ranged from $2.39 at the Citgo at Livingston Avenue and East Bearss Avenue, to $2.69 at two stations near Van Dyke Road.

In Zephyrhills, the cheapest gas was reported at Murphy USA at Gall Boulevard near Ginger Avenue with a price of $2.47, according to GasBuddy. The most expensive was $2.59 at the Citgo at Wire and Otis Allen roads. Dade City prices were at their lowest point at D&D at U.S. 98 and U.S. 301 with a price of $2.42, and the most expensive was listed at $2.59 at two different gas stations.

Black Friday is coming, and so are more shoppers

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Black Friday might be the busiest day of the shopping year, but more and more people are deciding to stay home for the retail holiday and shop online.

The AAA Consumer Pulse Holiday Shopping survey found that 46 percent of holiday shoppers will take part in Black Friday sales events the day after Thanksgiving, staying steady from last year. However, 1-in-3 — or 33 percent — will do the majority of that shopping online.

That means Cyber Monday, as it has become, will be bigger than it’s ever been before. The online shopping day has seen the number of customers taking part rise 14 percent since 2010, with 63 percent of holiday shoppers expected to take part in Cyber Monday sales.

However, there are many traditional shoppers as well, with 28 percent of all holiday shoppers telling the survey they usually wait until the final two weeks of November to purchase their gifts.

“Retailers are trying to grab customers’ attention earlier every year,” said Belinda Dabrowski, managing director of AAA Partnership Development, in a release. “That can only help consumers who, according to our research, may spend slightly more this year, but are still looking for a good deal.

“Economic factors like lower gas prices leave customers with extra money in their pockets, which helps raise consumer confidence and spending.”

Consumer confidence is at its highest level since July 2007, according to a Thomson-Reuters/University of Michigan survey. This season, 14 percent of shoppers will spend more on gifts than they did last year thanks to an increase in disposable income, a stable labor market, and gas prices at a four-year low.

Apparel and accessories remain the most popular items for holiday shoppers, with gift cards close behind at 65 percent. Books and toys are just under 40 percent of popularity, while jewelry is 36 percent.

The Consumer Pulse Survey was conducted online among 1,210 residents living in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee between Oct. 20 and Nov. 3. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.0 percentage points, and were weighted by gender and age within each state to ensure what AAA said was a reliable and accurate representation of the adult population in those three states.

Kauffman Tire planning new store in Wesley Chapel

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Central Pasco County is set to get its first Kauffman Tire location with plans to build a 7,600-square-foot location on vacant land along Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

Developers are eyeing a 2.3-acre parcel around the area of 28225 Wesley Chapel Boulevard, located next to the Walgreens near where Wesley Chapel Boulevard connects with the northern portion of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The land was purchased in June 2012 by 54 & 581 LLC for $350,000, and appears to have never been developed. It changed hands a few times since 1998, according to Pasco County property records, including a $790,000 transfer in 2005 at the height of the housing boom.

The current landowner is affiliated with Mitchell Rice and Michael Leeds, part of the ownership team of RMC Property Group in Tampa.

John Weaver, who works with the corporate office of the Atlanta-based company, is spearheading the project with Sarah Case of Gadd Case & Associates of Lakeland as project manager.

It would be the second Kauffman Tire location in Pasco, the first opening on Little Road in New Port Richey. However, this new location wouldn’t be too far from the Kauffman Tire at 17325 Dona Michelle Drive in New Tampa, located less than 10 miles to the south.

Kauffman Tire started in Ohio in 1936, according to the company’s website, but didn’t begin to expand until the late 1960s, primarily in the south. Kauffman Tire now has 55 locations throughout Florida and Georgia, and 14 wholesale distribution centers in seven states.

The company is meeting with Pasco County officials for the first time Nov. 25, and no timeline is available yet on when construction might begin.

Low gas prices might push Thanksgiving travel

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Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and dropping gas prices at the pump could convince many families to take to the road.

Gas in Florida dropped another nickel over the past week, bringing the average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded to $2.91, while the national average falls to $2.93. It’s the 42nd consecutive day gas prices have dropped nationally, and the 37th in Florida.

“Cheap gas prices couldn’t come at a better time as millions of Americans make travel plans for the holiday season,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said, in a release. “Prices are the lowest in four years, which should influence more people to take a trip, drive farther, or drive instead of fly.”

The average gas price is now below $3 a gallon in 26 states, including Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. South Carolina has the cheapest gas in the country at $2.68, with Tennessee not far behind at $2.70. Florida has the 20th cheapest.

The U.S. shale boom continues to have a major impact on the market, with domestic oil production the highest on record, dating back to 1983. The price for a barrel of oil fell below $79 for the first time since June 2012, settling at $78.65 on Friday, a drop of $1.89 from the previous week.

Land O’ Lakes has the cheapest gas in the area, with $2.75 reported at both the Citgo and RaceTrac stations in the State Road 52 area, according to GasBuddy. Zephyrhills was not far behind with $2.77 at a Shell station on Paul S. Buchman Highway and Central Avenue.

The Circle K on Van Dyke and Old Tobacco roads checked in at $2.78 in Lutz, while the cheapest gas in both Wesley Chapel and Dade City was coming in at $2.79.

Two shell stations on Van Dyke Road in the Lutz area had the area’s most expensive gas at $2.99, while the Sunoco at Land O’ Lakes and Causeway boulevards reported $2.93, in the Land O’ Lakes area. Wesley Chapel’s most expensive was $2.89 at a Shell station on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 56, not far from its cheapest gas at Sam’s Club, which was a dime lower.

 

National search begins for new PHSC president

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With Katherine Johnson set to retire next June, the Pasco-Hernando State College trustees board has launched a national search for who would become the fourth president of the 42-year-old institution.

During a meeting in September, the board contracted with Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting of Macon, Georgia, to help in the search. The committee itself is led by Ed Blommel, a trustee of the college.

Blommel hosted the first presidential search screening committee meeting Oct. 28 in New Port Richey, telling the committee and Myers McRae that “we have an incredibly important job to do.”

“We’ve hit home runs with our first three presidents,” Blommel said, according to a release. “Now we want to hit a grand slam. We need a president to build on the progress we’ve made, and lead us into the next era.”

The Myers McRae representatives outlined a presidential search recruitment strategy, providing a timeline and details on the committee’s role and responsibilities related to the search. The committee is comprised of a cross-section of 30 community leaders, current and former college and foundation board members, student leaders, alumni and college employees.

From an initial pool of qualified applicants, the board will interview a slate of candidates based on the recommendations of the screening committee. The goal is to select a new leader by spring, so that he or she can begin July 1.

The application and nomination deadline for prospective candidates is Jan. 22. Nominations and applications can be submitted directly to .

Drink too much this weekend? Get towed for free

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When people plan ahead for that Halloween party, they figure they won’t drink very much, so why not drive? That is, until they do drink too much, and now they have to worry about getting home.

AAA and Bud Light once again are taking away the fears of driving home drunk this weekend with its Tow to Go service, which will get both a driver and a car home for free, whether they are a AAA member or not.

“We we kick off the holiday season, it is extremely important that everyone celebrates safely if they are away from home and drinking,” said Gerry Gutowski, senior vice presidency of automotive services for AAA, in a release. “Halloween presents an even greater danger than normal with all of the children out on the streets trick-or-treating.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on Halloween night in 2012, nearly half of all crash fatalities involved an impaired driver.

The Tow to Go service will be available anytime Friday and Saturday night this weekend, taking people home or somewhere safe within 10 miles. It’s a confidential and local ride that’s also being offered in Georgia and Tennessee.

Since its inception in 1998, Tow to Go has safely removed more than 23,000 impaired drivers from the road, according to a release. The service is designed to be used as a last resort, and is offered based on availability of AAA drivers and tow trucks during times of high call volume.

Anheuser-Busch Wholesalers have been a sponsor of the program since its inception. It’s provided funding for the service, as well as worked with local bars and restaurants throughout the south to help educate severs on the importance of not over-serving their customers.

To use the Tow to Go program, call (855) 286-9246.

Lower gas here just in time for holiday shopping

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Drivers are paying on average 65 cents less per gallon of gas they did just six months ago. And the price at stations around the state — and nation — continue to drop.

Gas in Florida checked in at $3.04 over the weekend, down 11 cents from a week ago, and below $3 in many markets, including in and around Pasco County.

“We are seeing gas prices falling at an average of 1 to 2 cents a day,” AAA spokesman John Carrasco said, in a release. “That’s extra money consumers can now use in other areas, like holiday shopping.”

Prices nationwide are the lowest since 2010, and gas has fallen below the $3 mark in 17 states, AAA said. Georgia was the latest state to cross the $3 mark, where the state average currently sits at $2.93. Tennessee, on the other hand, has one of the lowest gas prices in the nation at $2.80.

A barrel of oil fell $1.08 on Friday to $81.01, and hit a two-year low on Oct. 16 when it briefly dropped below $80. Some analysts believe oil prices could drop to $75, which likely would translate to even lower prices at the pump.

Florida’s prices are down more than a quarter from a year ago, when gas was selling at $3.30.

The RaceTrac and Mobil stations on State Road 52 on the northern part of Land O’ Lakes, has the cheapest gas in that area, checking in at $2.89 on Sunday, according to GasBuddy. The Sunoco at Land O’ Lakes and Causeway boulevards has reportedly the most expensive gas at $3.03.

Sam’s Club on State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel was just a penny cheaper than many of its surrounding competitors, with prices at $2.88. Not even the most expensive gas in that area is above $3 now, with two stations coming in at $2.99.

Two stations in Lutz reported $2.89 gas — the Citgo at North Dale Mabry Highway and Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, and Lutz Petroleum on U.S. 41. Two Shell stations in the Van Dyke Road area remain that area’s most expensive, at $3.09.

The cheapest gas n Zephyrhills was found at the Shell station at Buchman Highway and Central Avenue, which reported $2.95. Only the Citgo on Gall Boulevard and Chancey Road was above $3, according to GasBuddy, at $3.01.

Dade City has some of the cheapest prices in the area, with D&D at U.S. 98 and U.S. 301 reporting $2.85, and the Clark station at U.S. 301 near Long Avenue checking in at $2.87.

Missing Zephyrhills plane found six months later

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Authorities believe they have solved a mystery that had baffled authorities for months.

Theodore Weiss fires up his homebuilt Sonex plane not long before he disappeared from the Marion County Airport. Authorities believe they found a crash site with his plane markings and the remains of a man not far from the airport. (Courtesy of the Florida Sonex Association)
Theodore Weiss fires up his homebuilt Sonex plane not long before he disappeared from the Marion County Airport. Authorities believe they found a crash site with his plane debris and the remains of what is believed to be the pilot not far from the airport. (Courtesy of the Florida Sonex Association)

A hiker reportedly found the wreckage of a plane of a Zephyrhills pilot that has been missing since last April. A plane said to be the Sonex homebuilt airplane flown by Theodore Weiss was located at the Pruitt Trailhead in Dunellon, according to the Ocala Star-Banner. Skeletal remains have been found at the site, but authorities have yet to determine if they belong to Weiss.

The debris was white with a green stripe, and had the tail number “N229P,” which matches the description of Weiss’ plane, the newspaper said. That’s just a short distance from the Marion County Airport, where Weiss was last seen during the Florida Sonex Association’s Spring Sonex Fest.

Weiss departed the airport alone April 5, and was supposed to arrive in Zephyrhills a couple hours later. However, he never arrived. Officials as well as friends, family and members of the Florida Wing of the Civil Air Patrol began a massive search, trying to locate the plane in the heavy woods in both Marion and Hernando counties.

The plane was a fixed-wing, single-engine plane with two seats, according to aviation tracking site FlightAware. Weiss purchased it in February 2012, and it was originally owned by a Georgia man in 2006. It changed hands a couple times before Weiss bought it.

Sonex planes are self-build kit planes manufactured out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The planes themselves have a range between 400 and 550 miles, depending on the engine used, according to the Sonex Aircraft website. They can fly between 16,000 and 23,000 feet.

Officials from both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were expected to arrive on the site Monday.