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Briefs

Fire disrupts work, but hurts no one at lens plant

By Times Staff
Published August 23, 2005

PINELLAS PARK - A fire broke out early Monday morning at an eyeglass factory, temporarily suspending operations and forcing employees outdoors, a fire official said.

The fire started around 3 a.m. at Transitions Optical Inc., 9251 Belcher Road, said district fire Chief Art Winquist. The chief didn't know how many employees were working at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

It took firefighters at least two hours to put out the small fire, which was contained to a furnace used to make lenses, the district chief said.

The fire's cause and damage in dollars were unknown late Monday, Winquist said. Operations resumed Monday afternoon.

Clear Channel gets more time on noise proposal

TAMPA - Hillsborough County officials agreed to push back a Monday deadline for Clear Channel Entertainment to propose how it would reduce noise levels at its Ford Amphitheatre.

The music industry giant now has until Monday to present to the county's Environmental Protection Commission a list of ways to resolve a legal dispute that began in January when the county sued the company.

Since the facility along Interstate 4 opened last summer, residents have complained about concert noise. Last month, county officials agreed to suspend the suit in favor of seeking a negotiated settlement by October. If the sides don't agree then, the county could continue its suit later.

Judge rules he'll stay on Couey murder case

Circuit Judge Ric Howard denied a defense request that Howard recuse himself from John Evander Couey's criminal case Monday.

Couey, 46, is accused of killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford of Homosassa earlier this year.

In a hearing that lasted about 20 seconds, Howard ruled that the defense motion was "legally insufficient." Howard asked the attorneys whether they had any other business, but they didn't bring up any. Couey is accused of abducting, sexually assaulting and killing Jessica. He has pleaded not guilty.

[Last modified August 23, 2005, 12:03:47]