By Times staff writers
Published December 14, 2003
Tampa Bay area residents were going about their business this morning - arriving at church, eating breakfast or heading out for holiday shopping - when they learned the stunning news that U.S. forces had captured Saddam Hussein alive.
"I look at it as major progress in the war effort," said Mary Beth Toland, of Palm Harbor, who saw the news on television before going to Mass at Espiritu Santo Roman Catholic Church in Safety Harbor.
Susan Schwallenberg learned about the capture while talking with Toland after church.
"This week, I was thinking about people at war," said Schwallenberg, of Safety Harbor, whose brother died in the Vietnam War. "I don't think this is about (President Bush). For me, it's about resolving a conflict that needed resolution, bringing our men back home and saving lives on both sides."
At the Village Inn Restaurant on Gulf-to-Bay Drive in Clearwater, Kathy Burkholder was waiting to have breakfast with family before heading to Raymond James Stadium for the Bucs game vs. Houston.
"I'm hoping it puts an end to our troops being over in Iraq," said Burkholder, 43, an accountant from Largo. She added, "I think (Hussein) was out of control ... I agree where loss of life is a bad thing. But sometimes it's necessary to protect our freedom."
