News

Overpass Road interchange opens at Interstate 75

Interstate 75 now has three exits to Wesley Chapel. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced on Jan. 18 that the new interchange with exits to I-75 at Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel were open. The new Overpass Road also ...
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Brushing up on a children’s book

Kurt Weber fought tooth and nail to finish his children’s book. While it took nearly a decade to complete and get published, the 63-year-old longtime Lutz resident and dentist knew he wanted to finish writing it before neck surgery in ...
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Pasco department wins national honors, again

Pasco County’s Community Development Department has brought home the 2023 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award for the third straight year. The award, which was presented by the National Community Development Association, recognized Pasco’s department for its collaboration on the ...
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National economy appears to be transitioning toward ‘normal,’ economist says

Richard Moody, chief economist for Regions Financial Corporation, provided a deep look at the various levers that are affecting the U.S. economy, during a luncheon meeting organized by the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc. The gathering, held on Jan. 19 ...
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Resolving bad behavior by students is no easy fix, officials say

Pasco County School Board members and union president Don Peace have cast a spotlight on a persistent problem on district campuses that they think requires more action. They want the school district to increase its efforts and try new approaches ...
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Superintendent forums focus on school safety issues

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning recently hosted two family forums, with a focus on school safety. One event was set for Jan. 31 at Fivay High School, 12115 Chicago Ave., in Hudson (after The Laker/Lutz News went to press) ...
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Pasco celebrates its 90.2% graduation rate

Pasco County school officials recently celebrated news of the school district’s 90.2% graduation rate. “It’s higher than the surrounding counties. It’s 2.9% higher than the state average,” said Kurt Browning, the school district’s superintendent, during the Pasco School Board’s Jan ...
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Pasco County Schools continues to struggle with teacher vacancies

Pasco County Schools has submitted a class size appeal with the Florida Commissioner of Education, as the district lacks a sufficient number of teachers to fully staff its schools. Superintendent Kurt Browning and the Pasco County School Board discussed the ...
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Donations being accepted for Special Olympics of Pasco

Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s offices are accepting charitable donations for Special Olympics of Pasco during the month of February, according to a news release from the tax collector’s office. Special Olympics of Pasco is a sports and training ...
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Cross-Bay Ferry announces promotions

The Cross-Bay Ferry has announced it is offering two new promotions for riders on Wednesdays and Thursdays during February. One deal, is a Buy One, Get One (BOGO). The BOGO special will allow one customer to get up to three ...
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Applications now being accepted for Spotlight on Talent

Spotlight on Talent, a regional talent competition that’s celebrating its 40th year, is accepting applications for this year’s contest. The deadline to apply is Feb. 9. Auditions have been set for Feb. 25. The event, presented by the Heritage Arts ...
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Beware of warrant scams

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) has seen a rise in warrant scams recently, and has issued a warning to make the public aware of this increasing crime. Here’s how the scam works, according to PSO: A caller poses as a ...
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Protect yourself from ID theft: Shred sensitive documents

You can take action during a free event to help protect yourself against identity theft. Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles will present part two of Big Shred VI, on Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the ...
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Pasco road projects included in tentative five-year plan

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT’s) proposed tentative five-year work program includes about $433 million worth of improvements in Pasco County. That figure includes about $258 million worth of projects to expand roadway capacity, but it also includes resurfacing, pedestrian ...
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Farming a great crop of students

For the past 20 years, Academy at the Farm has put a lot of students out to pasture — which, in this case, refers to high school. “Our focus has always been education,” said Ray Polk, the academy’s director for ...
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Supply chain issues delay grand opening of VA clinic

Construction has been completed on a new veteran’s clinic in Zephyrhills, but the grand opening isn’t expected until late Spring or early Summer. It’s been a long road for the new Zephyrhills veteran’s clinic; however, the end is in sight ...
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Isn’t it iconic?

You’ve seen it. If you’ve driven past or through Orlando, if you’ve visited any of the areas around Disney or Universal or SeaWorld, it’s highly unlikely you would have missed the giant marker indicating ICON Park’s location. We’re talking about ...
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Orange Belt Trail won’t cut through homes, officials say

Community meetings have begun regarding the proposed Orange Belt Trail, and even though the process is very early, officials are concerned that misinformation already is circulating concerning the plans. Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) planner ...
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Efforts being made to speed up project on U.S. 301

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has agreed to a request by the Florida Department of Transportation to merge two transportation projects on U.S. 301, to speed up work on the planned improvement. Combining two segments of the U.S ...
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Pasco needs to plan ahead for trail connections, elected officials say

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey’s passion for providing more safe ways for people to get around, and to enjoy nature, is no secret. Virtually every time a request for a rezoning comes before the county board, she wants to know ...
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Efforts continue to find safe ways for kids to get to school

Whether it is adding sidewalks or extending public bus routes, elected leaders are seeking more ways to help students get to school safely. The issue came up during the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Jan. 12 meeting, where Jensen ...
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Zephyrhills seeking artist for next mural

Main Street Zephyrhills issued a call for artists for the city’s ongoing mural series that is meant to brighten up, beautify and even modernize the constantly transforming historic downtown district. The next mural is slated to be painted on the ...
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Pasco brings home two awards from Gulf Coast summit

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Planner Tina Russo recently received awards at the Gulf Coast Safe Streets Summit for their work to keep the traveling public safe. Gulf Coast Safe Streets is an organization that ...
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Shining a spotlight on a century-old lumber business

Long before most of Pasco County’s residents settled here, the San Antonio Lumber Company was meeting customer’s needs for building supplies. The Pasco County Commission took a few minutes on Jan. 10 to congratulate members of the Schrader family, whose ...
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Improvements planned on Suncoast Parkway

The five-year tentative work plan for the Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) includes $40 million in major projects for Pasco County, according to Siaosi Fine, of the turnpike enterprise. The tentative work program covers fiscal year 2024 through fiscal year 2028 ...
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Duke Energy is giving away free trees

Duke Energy is celebrating Florida Arbor Day by giving away 1,200 trees to customers throughout Florida. Florida Arbor Day is recognized on the third Friday in January, which was Jan. 20. The company began giving out trees on Jan. 20, ...
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Interchange at Overpass Road and I-75 expected to open soon

The new Interstate 75 interchange at Overpass Road, in Pasco County, is expected to open by the end of January. Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley shared that news during the county board’s Jan. 10 meeting. The new interchange is about ...
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Setting the stage to remember fallen law enforcement officers

Crews cut trees last week to prepare for the construction of the Pasco County Fallen Law Enforcement Memorial. That’s just one step needed to erect the planned memorial on the front law of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in downtown ...
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Sending coupon sales overseas

Freedom isn’t free — even with coupons. But that doesn’t mean military families have to pay full price. At least that’s how the Auxiliary Unit for American Legion Post 108 sees it. The auxiliary, which serves Lutz and Wesley Chapel ...
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Recycled Christmas trees give trails new life

Even after Christmas, these trees are still presenting gifts. The Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department sets up its Trees to Trails Program each year, with residents dropping off Christmas trees at various parks around the county. The ...
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Pasco approves about 400 new residential entitlements

The Pasco County Commission has set the stage for an additional 240 single-family homes, near an area known as the Villages of Pasadena Hills in the southeast part of the county. The board voted unanimously on Jan. 10 to approve ...
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Zephyrhills will make election decisions in April

Residents of the City of Zephyrhills will be choosing a new mayor and selecting a representative for Seat 2 on City Council, during the Municipal Elections, set for April 11. Here are the important election dates and information regarding the ...
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Pasco shines spotlight on evil of human trafficking

Human trafficking and modern-day slavery are problems that people tend to think wouldn’t happen where they live, but the Pasco County Commission wants the community to know that those crimes do happen locally, and they need the public’s help to ...
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Navigating resources for special needs kids can be tricky

Having a child with special needs can create daunting challenges for families. Beyond not knowing what to do, it’s also hard to know who can help. It can be confusing for families when they move into a new school district, ...
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Blue Triton Brands plans bottled water plant expansion

Blue Triton Brands Inc., formerly known as Nestle Waters North America Inc., has secured permission to vacate a portion of platted right of way, to help accommodate the company’s planned plant expansion in Zephyrhills. After hearing from county staff and ...
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Pasco Sheriff’s Office explorer post to offer drone program

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) Explorer Post 916 is offering a new program to introduce those ages 14 to 21 to the world of unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones, and also to forensics, according to a sheriff’s office ...
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Nominations sought for environmental champion

Hillsborough County is seeking nominations for its Theodore Roosevelt Hillsborough Forever Conservation Award, according to a county news release. The honor, given annually, goes to an individual or a group whose efforts exemplify dedication to preserving the county’s natural resources ...
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Saddlebrook Resort redevelopment inches closer to approval

The Pasco County Planning Commission voted 5-2 to recommend approval of a proposed change to the county’s comprehensive plan — as a first step toward the redevelopment of Saddlebrook Resort, in Wesley Chapel. Despite the planning board’s positive Jan. 5 ...
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More changes, growth coming to Zephyrhills

The City of Zephyrhills continues to grow and change as it enters 2023. “I think the biggest thing is, we’re not just a snowbird community anymore,” City Manager Billy Poe said. “We’re growing leaps and bounds, and now, as a ...
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Striking up a really, really big band

Consistency is not a minor key. That’s especially true when it comes to the Land O’ Lakes High School Band. In the six years that band director Johnathon Mulder has been leading the Gators, he has demonstrated consistency in leadership, ...
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The kumquat soon will be king for a day, in Dade City

On the same day that ‘pirates’ take over downtown Tampa in that city’s annual Gasparilla invasion and parade, the city of Dade City expects to embrace a more genteel invasion of its own — with thousands of visitors arriving for ...
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