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Utility worker falls ill from gas leak fumes

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 3, 2007

TAMPA

Leaking gas leak briefly closed a South Tampa intersection and sickened a utility worker Tuesday afternoon, according to the Hillsborough Fire Rescue.

Fire crews responded to a report of a leak at Westshore Boulevard and Bay Villa Avenue at 12:20 p.m., said Fire Rescue spokesman Jace Kohan.

A TECO Peoples Gas employee working at the site was taken to Tampa General Hospital with minor injuries, Kohan said.

Company spokesman Lance Horton said the employee had a fainting spell. Horton said it was unclear whether the worker had set out to fix a leak or just perform routine maintenance.

Salvation Army center opens preschool

The Salvation Army Community Center, 6645 Ridge Road, is adding a preschool to its child care program, which already includes a before- and afterschool program for students in kindergarten through middle school.

The preschool will open Monday and serve 45 children ages 2 to 5. The cost is $100 per week, and children must bring their own lunch.

Pub owner may block development plan

A pub owner's long-term lease stands in the way of the city's plan to market a full city block to a private developer.

Officials are trying to negotiate with the owner of O'Houston's Irish Pub, who has 12 years left on his lease, so that the city can buy five properties on the north side of West Bay Drive from Amber & Onyx Realty Inc. The two sides met briefly Tuesday.

Pub owner Eddie Houston, who said he and his wife have pumped more than $100,000 into the business, said he's prepared to stay put unless the city can find a way to relocate the pub within the downtown district.

[Last modified January 3, 2007, 01:10:13]