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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 16, 2002
Striking worker injured in scuffle with CEO
TAMPA -- A worker on strike strained her shoulder Tuesday after struggling with the company CEO over a potty seat.
The incident occurred Tuesday morning in front of Sypris Electronics, a company that manufactures military weapons, according to the Tampa Police Department.
Company president James Cocke arrived at the plant near Busch Gardens to find a striking employee with a bullhorn standing near a commode-like contraption.
She said something to the effect of "this is yours," said police spokeswoman Katie Hughes.
Cocke got out of his car to retrieve the item, but the picket, identified as Barbara Taylor, tried to get it back. They struggled for the potty seat and Taylor strained her left shoulder in the process, Hughes said.
Authorities filled out an accidental injury report.
TAMPA -- The Hillsborough Education Foundation recently released the names of 10 Hillsborough Teacher of the Year finalists. Chosen from 183 candidates, one of the 10 will be announced as the Hillsborough Teacher of the Year at a Feb. 7 awards banquet at the Hyatt Regency. The finalists include: Ronald Dyches, Bloomingdale High; Anita Hocker, Canella Elementary; Lara Rodriguez, Dover Elementary; Dianne Stevens, Dowdell Middle; Cyndi Brooks, Jackson Elementary; Farrell Rogers, Marshall Middle; Bonnie Bresnyan, Shaw Elementary; Julia Wood, Twin Lakes Elementary; Carmen Austin, Wharton High; and Mary Thoreen, Wilson Middle.
TAMPA -- Gov. Jeb Bush and his wife Columba are scheduled to be at Raymond James Stadium tonight for a $500-a-head fundraiser. The cocktail reception, chaired by former Gov. Bob Martinez and including prominent Republicans from Sarasota to Gainesville, is closed to the public.
The governor cut off fundraising for his re-election campaign after Sept. 11 but has been busy in recent weeks.
St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport will start charging for parking April 1, Pinellas County commissioners decided Tuesday night.
Parking will cost $2 for the first hour and $1 for each additional hour. The maximum rate in short-term parking will be $8 per day. In long-term parking, the top rate will be $5 per day.
The fees are expected to bring in about $500,000 a year to operate and make improvements at the county-owned airport.
Also Tuesday, commissioners agreed to hire the Pennington Law Firm-Joint Venture, a team of three Tallahassee firms, to lobby state legislators on county issues.
The firm also represents a billboard industry group. Although the county is fighting a legal battle with three billboard companies, staff members said there wouldn't be a conflict of interest as long as the firm doesn't represent the county on billboard-related issues.