Digest

Honking horn leads to tense confrontation

By TIMES STAFF
Published July 14, 2007

PORT RICHEY

A 42-year-old landscaper said he was parked outside Checkers at State Road 52 and Little Road late Wednesday, eating in his truck, when his arm slipped and he accidentally honked the horn. Bad timing. According to a sheriff's report, another man and a woman were walking by at the time, and the woman turned to look at him, thinking he'd honked at her. Minutes later, three young men approached his truck and asked why he was looking at the woman. The landscaper said he didn't want any trouble. But one of them pulled a silver pistol, cocked it and pointed it at him. "I think you were trying to proposition the girl," the young man said. Fortunately for the landscaper, his motor was running. He put it in drive and sped away. No arrests were made.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Pet microchips implanted for $12

It's hurricane season. Is your pet microchipped? Three animal clinics are offering microchips for $12 during July the cost is normally $32.30, providing a permanent way to identify a pet and help return it to its rightful owner. Proof of updated rabies vaccination must be provided. The clinics are:

- Best Care Animal Hospital, 6041 Trouble Creek Road, (727) 846-8899.

- Animal Care Center, 4041 Little Road, (727) 376-7600.

- Country Oaks Animal Hospital, 12030 Moon Lake Road, (727) 857-9977.

COUNTYWIDE

A drop-off for old medicines, needles

Anyone with old medications or needles around the house can get rid of them - no questions asked, without even getting out of the car - by bringing them to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office Pill Drop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 21, in the parking lot of the Pasco County Judicial Center, at Little Road and Citizen Drive in New Port Richey. Those brought to the Pill Drop will be safely incinerated. Call Cpl. Don Dede at (727) 834-3239.

Deputies to teach teen driving skills

The School Board and the sheriff are offering a free two-day class that will allow teenagers to learn driving skills from deputies. The Teen Driver Challenge will cover such techniques as vehicle skid recovery, evasive maneuvers and threshold braking. It will also go over teen crash facts and the dangers of drunken driving. Potential students, ages 16 or 17, must have a valid operator's license and their own vehicle. Classes will take place at Land O'Lakes High School from noon to 4 p.m. July 26 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 27. The registration deadline is July 23. Those interested may call Cpl. Dan Olds at (813) 929-1376, or e-mail dolds@pascosheriff.org.

[Last modified July 14, 2007, 00:29:54]