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Opponents of Wal-mart can take the day off

By Times Staff
Published December 11, 2006

The city's Wal-Mart showdown will have to wait another day, it seems. A half hour before the close of business Friday, Wal-Mart announced that its controversial site revisions - which opponents had planned to protest in an unusual appeal hearing this afternoon - were null and void. The move marked the end of the most recent chapter in the dizzying bureaucratic battle over the supercenter planned to open along U.S. 19 south of the Anclote River. The latest clash began in July, when Wal-Mart opponents persuaded the Army Corps of Engineers to suspend the store's wetland permit. A few weeks later, the retailer turned in to the city a set of revised plans, which, if approved, will have obviated the need for a new permit from the corps. But the hearings have been repeatedly postponed because of opponents who demand a full review by the City Commission. In the letter announcing the withdrawal, Wal-Mart's attorney said a revised set of revisions - with additional changes - will be submitted to the city within a few weeks.

Workers to discuss Medicaid changes

Staywell/Healthease representatives will discuss health care options and answer questions about recent changes to Medicaid for individuals and families who qualify through Florida's Department of Children and Families. The program will be presented from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the North Greenwood Library, 905 N Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., and from 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Clearwater East Library, 2251 Drew St. Call the North Greenwood Library at 727 462-6895 or the Clearwater East Library at (727) 669-1280.

Project accelerates child adoptions

The 6th Judicial Guardian ad Litem program has begun a project to accelerate adoptions for children in Pinellas County. Volunteer guardians will be appointed to children available for adoption, especially those in cases in which the parents' rights were terminated. The goal is to prevent these children from remaining in limbo within the system. The Guardian ad Litem program is seeking pro bono attorneys as well as lay volunteers to help accelerate adoptions. Lay volunteers will receive 30 hours of training, with the next training scheduled to start Jan. 9. To volunteer, call (727) 464-6528.

Show us your holiday lights

Proud of your holiday lights? Let us know with an e-mail to northpin@sptimes.com with your name, address and telephone number, how many lights you have up, and a sentence or two about why your display is special. Please include "Holiday lights" in your e-mail's subject line. We'll list the displays throughout mid and North Pinellas in the days leading up to Christmas, then show a few photos of your creativity.

[Last modified December 11, 2006, 06:52:18]