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Beer truck driver who stopped to help dies

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 16, 2006

Beer truck driver who stopped to help dies

Paul Kepto, the 32 year-old beer delivery man who was hit by a truck on Dec. 4 after stopping to help another motorist, died Thursday night at Bayfront Medical Center.

Kepto aided a motorist who had stopped after wood fell off her pickup on U.S. 19 in Pinellas Park. While looking at the road to see if there was any wood left, he was hit by the mirror of a passing truck and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Police said the driver of the truck is not expected to be charged with any crimes. Kepto had worked at Great Bay Distributors for the past seven years.

Manatees gather as gulf waters cool

Manatee numbers were way up Wednesday in the latest aerial survey over Citrus waters.

Staffers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spotted 360 manatees. The number included 187 in Kings Bay, including 24 calves; 41 in the Crystal River, including eight calves; 30 in the Salt River, including three calves; 78 in the Progress Energy discharge canal; three in the Cross Florida Barge Canal; nine in the Homosassa Blue Waters, including one calf; and 12 in the lower Homosassa River.

Manatees flock to area waters each winter seeking the warmth of the springs as gulf temperatures cool.

Although State Attorney Bill Cervone has not officially decided whether to prosecute town officials, one of his prosecutors has reported there is not enough evidence to file criminal charges.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement received word Thursday that the 8th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's office in Bronson did not "find sufficient probable cause that would warrant prosecution for violation of laws," according to an FDLE summary report.

This came after the recent conclusion of a six-month FDLE investigation in Yankeetown. Some residents accused their leaders of Sunshine Law violations and said they were conspiring with developers who want to build a resort hotel on the Withlacoochee River.

SPRING HILL

New foundation helps with estate donations

A group of local lawyers, accountants and bankers has formed an organization to address how residents can allocate their money when they die.

The aim of the newly created agency, the Community Foundation of Hernando County, is to help people safely donate their estates to good causes, especially local charities.

[Last modified December 16, 2006, 00:58:39]