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News from Tampa Bay and beyond.

By Times Staff
Published June 6, 2006

Inhumane treatment was too much for dog

The miniature pinscher named Miracle has died. She was rescued after someone clamped her mouth shut with a rubber band, causing her to lose part of her tongue. She began living a happy life in Crystal Springs in Pasco County with the man who saved her. Then the 8-month-old puppy had a gag reflex but was unable to clear her throat with her partially amputated tongue. Her owner found her lying by his door after returning from some errands. Her remains rest in a rose-colored urn in a lighted glass case in his home.

Emergency alerts via text message

If you live in Pinellas County and have a device that can receive text messages, get emergency alerts for free. Call the Pinellas County Community Notification Service toll-free at 1-888-689-8905, using the device you want to register. The system will ask for your ZIP code. Then it will confirm registration. The system will be used during hurricanes, other bad weather, spills and terror threats or attacks. Digital emergency notifications will work on most cell phones, pagers and BlackBerrys.

Hope fades for life in fallen osprey egg

The osprey egg retrieved from a fallen nest at Pete's Pier in Citrus County last month may not hatch. The rescuer who took in the egg has incubated it, tested it by floating it (it moved, a sign that a viable chick was inside) and then shone a light through it, revealing something was inside. But that was early on. Since then, there have been no further hopeful signs.

Cosmonaut will have some story to tell

One of the first cosmonauts, who had a death-defying headfirst re-entry, will visit St. Petersburg College this week. Retired Soviet Air Force Col. Boris Volynov will speak at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus and 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Clearwater Campus. Events are free. On Soyuz 5 in 1969, the service module didn't separate from his capsule, causing him to re-enter pointing the wrong way, no heat shield to protect him. Hatch seals were burning and smoke was filling the cabin when straps holding the modules together burned through, freeing the capsule to right itself. He landed far off course in minus 40-degree weather.

Yard fire grows to scorch 150 acres

You've heard of burning through the savings, but not like this. A homeowner burning yard brush began a 150-acre blaze in the Florida Panhandle that engulfed four mobile homes and five campers Monday. Officials said the homeowner who started the blaze, whose name was not released, will be responsible for the cost of putting out the fire and damage to neighboring properties.

[Last modified June 6, 2006, 14:27:28]