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Woman reports stolen purse, then gets a trip to county jail

North Pinellas briefs.

By Times Staff
Published November 1, 2005

LARGO - First it was beer. Bologna was next. It all ended with the purse. Largo police responded to a call at the Kash n' Karry on the 13800 block of Walsingham Road on Sunday, where Rachel Balough, 40, told authorities her purse was stolen, along with her Zoloft, hydrocodone and morphine medications, said Largo police Officer Paula Crosby. Officers spoke with store managers, who said they did not know about the stolen purse and medication, but did have surveillance footage of Balough shoplifting beer, bologna and bread the two previous days, Crosby said. Balough of Seminole was wearing the same black sweat shirt with a recognizable logo on both days. Police arrested Balough on two counts of retail theft. But before being taken to jail, Balough asked the officers to retrieve her purse, which she had hidden behind a soda machine at the store, Crosby said. She told police she had wanted to report the medications, which her boyfriend had used, as stolen so she could get more, Crosby said. Balough gave the police a written statement apologizing for lying to them. She is being held at the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $2,000 bail.

Belleair will examine town manager's contract tonight

BELLEAIR - The Town Commission will discuss Town Manager Steve Cottrell's contract and his annual evaluation at a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at Town Hall, 901 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Cottrell has come under fire from Mayor George Mariani Jr. and Commissioner Gary Katica, who have asked him to resign. If officials don't make a decision tonight, the conditions of Cottrell's contract will be extended by two years. The town would then have to give Cottrell six months' severance pay if town leaders fire him before his renewed contract expires. In September, town leaders had the opportunity to renew Cottrell's contract or give him a raise, but instead postponed the decision until today.

Woman accused of leaving son, 5, at home for three hours

LARGO - A Largo woman was arrested Saturday on a charge of child neglect after leaving her 5-year-old son home alone for three hours, said Largo police Officer Paula Crosby. Migena Misliu, 21, was arrested when she returned from getting her car's oil changed, Crosby said. Misliu, who lives on the 1000 block of 10th Avenue NW, has only a learner's permit and was also charged with driving without a valid driver's license. She was released Sunday after posting $5,250 bail. Neighbors called police after watching the boy walk in and out of the house alone, Crosby said. Misliu, who is from Albania and immigrated to the United States two years ago, told authorities she often left her son unsupervised and that it is acceptable in her culture, Crosby said. But Monday, Misliu denied that, saying Saturday was the first time she left her son home alone. Her son was sleeping, and Misliu did not want to bring him along because she couldn't drive him with only a learner's permit, she said. "For me it's hard because we don't speak English and we don't (know) the customs," she said. "In my country, it's different." Her son spent Saturday night with an aunt in Belleair but is now back home with his mother.

Holiday food drive for needy families runs through Nov. 20

CLEARWATER - Wonder what you can do to help bring joy into the lives of the less fortunate in your community? Join the Homeless Emergency Project in the south parking lot of the Countryside Christian Center this month for the project's first holiday food drive. Collection times will be Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Nov. 20. Donations benefit homeless and low-income families in Pinellas. The project will collect nonperishable food and gift cards for fresh dairy products, produce and frozen turkeys. HEP, at 1120 N Betty Lane, is a nonprofit organization that has housed, fed and clothed individuals and families with children in the county for more than 30 years.

[Last modified November 1, 2005, 13:17:14]