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Task force to explore education partnership

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 16, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG

Mayor Rick Baker, who has made education one of his administration's highest priorities, will lead a national task force aimed at better integrating local governments and public schools.

Baker will chair the National League of Cities' School Improvement Task Force, a 10-member group designed to identify "innovative roles" city leaders can play in helping improve local public schools, the National League of Cities said this week.

The task force will likely attempt to expand partnership opportunities between government and business communities with local schools, several of which already have been implemented in St. Petersburg during Baker's administration.

State retailers honor officer's crime fighting

Tampa police Sgt. James Contento won praise recently for his efforts at fighting retail crime.

Contento was awarded Officer of the Year by the Florida Retail Federation in Tallahassee. He won the $3,000 award for reducing crime in Tampa's shopping districts. Contento headed up "Operation Triple Play," aimed at reducing property crimes during summer break. Police saw a 25 percent drop in those crimes.

LAND O'LAKES

Nudist resort invites a Tinseltown streaker

First, it was Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now it's Will Ferrell.

When Schwarzenegger was running for California governor in 2004, Paradise Lakes nudist resort invited him for a bare-all event. Now the resort has invited Ferrell to Saturday's "Sneaker Streaker 5K."

Ferrell had a streaker scene in the 2003 movie Old School.

As for Ferrell streaking in the race, so far it's no cigar.

TAMPA

Sex toy designers sue, sue again

The work of a sex toy designer is apparently never done.

In June, Steven Ritchie of Treasure Island and David Reynard of Madeira Beach filed a lawsuit accusing a Clearwater sex shop of selling a device just like the one they invented.

Ritchie and Reynard filed two new lawsuits Tuesday accusing California companies Phallix and California Exotic Novelties of ripping off their patented design.

BROOKSVILLE

Fight over election heads into court

The fight over Hernando County's District 2 commission seat hit the courts Tuesday. In the meantime, Rose Rocco will be declared the winner Friday and sworn in Tuesday unless a judge intervenes, county officials said.

Nancy Robinson sued Tuesday to keep the commission seat she held for 14 years, saying Rose Rocco isn't qualified because she didn't live in the district on Election Day. Rocco said the law only requires her to move in before she's sworn in Tuesday .

[Last modified November 16, 2006, 00:01:02]