St. Petersburg Times Online: Pasco County news

Pasco deputy spins to avoid animal, crashes

[Times photo: Dan McDuffie]
LAND O'LAKES -- A Pasco County sheriff's deputy trying to avoid an animal spun his patrol car into a utility pole on State Road 54 in Land O'Lakes early Tuesday evening.

To spare PHCC, sheriff rehires 2
Pasco deputies threatened to sue the college for releasing attendance records, which led to their being fired.

County sees smaller road signs ahead
Tired of highway clutter, Pasco is considering a plan to ban pole signs in favor of the ground-hugging monument type.

Program hopes to put readers on same page
John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is the focus as the Internet book club One Book, One Pasco debuts.

Former Mayor Charles McIntosh dies
The Dade City community leader and dedicated family man is remembered for his faith, compassion and caring.

City Council discusses contracting police force
Three council members said farming out police service to the sheriff has become a necessity.

Men hope experience leads to improvement
Veterans and a new formation could produce more scoring and the Lions' first conference championship.

School teaches savory lessons
The culinary arts program at Moore Mickens Education Center prepares students for careers in food service. They help cook for their fellow students first.

Take note of testing season schedule
Planning on furthering your education past high school? If so, it's time to mark your calendars and make plans to take the ACT or the SAT. Where you get in and whether you get a 75 percent scholarship or a full ride with the Florida Bright Futures program depend on these test scores. Interested students should contact their high school guidance counselors or check out the Web sites listed below.

Lessons from 'The Goddess of Yo'
Jennifer Baybrook's yo-yo talents have paid for her college education and travels. Along the way she has also dazzled schoolchildren.

County braces for calls on street light taxes
Bills from two agencies will show street light taxes. But officials caution they're for separate years.

Pleas fail to stop rumbling trucks
Some Lutz residents describe the miseries of living on a sand truck route, but county commissioners side with the company.

Mayor's morale cure: 'Be nice'
DADE CITY -- Mayor Scott Black on Tuesday night suggested some simple fixes for the complex issues of morale and discord perceived among City Hall employees: patience and understanding.

Police reports
Inmate facing murder trial accused of hitting detective

Letters
Tobacco program is essential
Editor: As a concerned citizen who is interested in young people getting the word about the dangers of tobacco, I was surprised about the legislative decision to reduce and/or eliminate administrative positions in each county's Tobacco Coalition program. Gov. Jeb Bush has stated that he was unaware of this action.