Headlines through the years

A look back at the events, people and places that made North Pinellas the unique place that it is. The information is compiled from past editions of the St. Petersburg Times.

By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 29, 2002

Businessmen cause hedging of sign law

Sept. 29, 1972

CLEARWATER -- City officials have backed off, but not much, from plans to adopt a strict new sign ordinance that has ruffled the feathers of several downtown businessmen.

The complaints were that the ordinance, as written, is too complex, too severe, too restrictive and too long.

A more specific complaint concerned a proposed 2-year phase-out of signs that extend from buildings and over public rights of way.

At its work session Thursday, the City Commission agreed to delay final adoption of the ordinance.

Commissioner Rick Hall suggested a review of the restriction against overhanging signs, saying the prohibition might work a hardship on businesses with existing signs that protrude over rights of way.

Bridge party is given at beach cottage

Sept. 4, 1932

CLEARWATER BEACH -- Mrs. Robert E. Martin entertained friends of Dunedin and Clearwater with a bridge party at her beach cottage at 27 Cambria Road, Clearwater Beach, yesterday afternoon. The occasion also marked Mrs. Martin's birthday anniversary.

Contact bridge was played at several tables arranged in the large living room overlooking the gulf. A color scheme of red and white was used for the party. Red roses and zinnias and white asters were the flowers used.

Refreshments were shaped in hearts and diamonds. Red bread was used for sandwiches in the shape of hearts and diamonds and black bread for the spades and clubs. The salad was molded into heart shapes.

'Dynamite' might have been prank

Sept. 21, 1961

CLEARWATER -- A housewife's frantic call that a stick of dynamite was lying on the seawall next to her home sent two fire officials rushing to Clearwater Beach yesterday.

There was no explosion, however, as the dynamite turned out to be a radio condenser, wrapped in adhesive tape with wires attached. The officials speculated that youngsters playing in the area rigged the condenser to look like an explosive.

Rainey scorches U.S. Supreme Court

Sept. 29, 1972

CLEARWATER -- Charles Rainey, one of two Republican contenders for the new Fifth Congressional District seat, criticized the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday and called for review of its justices by the Senate every five to seven years.

Rainey, who meets fellow Republican Jack Insco in a runoff Tuesday for the right to face the Democratic nominee, State Sen. William Gunter, D-Orlando, in the November general elections, contended that the court "has taken away prayer and given you pornography."

"These lifelong tenures are out of date," Rainey said, "and the Supreme Court is a perfect example of it."

The audience of about 350 retirees at Top of the World condominium's recreation hall applauded, as they did at three other points in Rainey's 30-minute speech.

Rainey also found a warm reception for his proposal that capital punishment overturned by the Supreme Court be reinstated. The death sentence is a deterrent to crime, Rainey insisted.

-- Theresa Blackwell compiles the history column. She can be reached at (727) 445-4229 or blackwell@sptimes.com.

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