Around the state

Some fraud charges dropped against Rilya's caretaker

MIAMI -- Prosecutors have dropped five of 11 counts of welfare fraud against Pamela Graham, one of the caretakers of missing foster child Rilya Wilson.

Dropped were five counts of public assistance fraud of more than $200, a third-degree felony. The charges, filed in October, alleged that Pamela Graham defrauded the Women, Infants and Children program.

But State Attorney's Office spokesman Ed Griffith said Friday, "After reviewing all the evidence, it appeared that we were misinformed. The information that we were given was incorrect and did not allow us to sustain the charges."

Graham still faces six counts of aiding and abetting public assistance fraud, plus one count of grand theft. She is on house arrest while awaiting trial.

Rilya was 4 in early 2001 when, Graham and her roommate Geralyn Graham claim, a state social worker took the girl away -- something officials deny. Rilya has never been found and no criminal charges have been filed in her disappearance.

Geralyn Graham is serving a two-year prison sentence for stealing a friend's identity to buy a sport utility vehicle and also faces state and federal fraud charges.

Scientists say Red Tide, runoff combined to make 'black water'

ST. PETERSBURG -- Scientists believe the combination of a large, nutrient-rich patch of runoff combined with a severe outbreak of Red Tide caused the 60-mile-wide patch of "black water" that appeared off the southwest Florida coast in late 2001.

The runoff was stained brown by tannin, decaying vegetation and microscopic plants, scientists said in a report released Thursday. That, mixed with the discoloration of the Red Tide algae bloom, likely gave the water its distinctive dark color.

The black patch, large enough to be visible by satellite, mystified scientists and spread over hundreds of miles of the Gulf of Mexico from Naples south to Key West and west to the Marquesas.

Slain man was bystander in gang shooting, police say

BRADENTON -- A bystander was fatally shot in front of his 9-year-old son after he got caught in a turf war between drug dealers, police said.

Don Campbell, 30, died after he was shot five times as he stood outside a car wash with his son. Three other men were hurt in the shooting Wednesday night.

Bradenton police Chief Michael Radzilowski said Thursday the shooting appears to stem from rival groups from Bradenton and nearby Oneco.

Marcellas Martin, 23, Johnny Stanley, 21, and Anthony McDaniel, 29, were each shot several times by at least one gunman, accompanied by at least one other man, Radzilowski said.

Police and witnesses indicated Campbell was not involved in the dispute.

Martin, Stanley and McDaniel were in area hospitals.

Ex-legislator to lead effort to preserve Cypress Gardens

WINTER HAVEN -- A task force formed to preserve Cypress Gardens will try to save as much of the historic Florida theme park as possible, but must determine where the money will come from, committee members said.

Former state Sen. Rick Dantzler, an attorney and the husband of Julie Pope Dantzler, granddaughter of gardens founder Dick Pope Sr., will be the coordinator of the effort.

"Portions of Cypress Gardens are sacred ground and must be preserved," Dantzler said Thursday. "My sense is that it is not going to be the entire park."

State officials are also working to save Cypress Gardens, which closed Sunday because of dwindling attendance. It was known for its waterskiing shows and young women dressed as Southern belles.

Gov. Jeb Bush has suggested that the state could buy Cypress Gardens using money from Florida Forever, the program that helps preserve environmentally sensitive land and important cultural and historical properties. He has assigned Bob Ballard, deputy secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, to pursue that possibility.

Bucket of gold dust worth $350,000 disappears at airport

MIAMI -- A bucket holding 73 pounds of unrefined gold dust worth nearly $350,000 was lost or stolen at Miami International Airport.

Miami-Dade police are looking for the powder, which was shipped to Miami from Honduras and arrived March 5.

A police report says American Cargo employee Jose Martelo received six buckets of gold dust at a terminal gate, then went to different gates to pick up other items. At some point he realized that one bucket was missing.

There's not much that can be done with the dust, experts said. But a furnace that many jewelry dealers have could be used to turn it into bars or jewelry.

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