Digest

Judge draws line in bikini bar battle

By Times Staff
Published August 22, 2007

TAMPA

Two years after a Valrico bikini bar successfully battled Hillsborough County for the right to open its doors, a fight over lost profits may be nearing resolution.

On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary S. Scriven ordered attorneys to either reach an agreement or prepare for trial.

"We are going to go to trial on Oct. 9 if you don't settle this case," Scriven said. "There will be no more extensions."

Luke Lirot , an attorney representing Showgirls owner Gemini Property Ventures, LLC, gave a list of possible settlement scenarios to assistant Hillsborough County attorney Louise Fields, who said she would review them.

"I believe if we can sit down and talk, there are quite a few issues that can be resolved," Fields said in court.

She said the county has spent at least $75,000 working on the case since Lirot filed the lawsuit in November 2005.

Experts for the county and Gemini disagree over how much business the bar lost during construction delays. Bar owners say the county hindered construction permits and required contractors to redo work that exceeded standard requirements.

The county maintains it followed routine procedures when handling permit requests for the bar.

LARGO

Stove is likely cause of fatal mobile home fire

Early Tuesday, Largo Fire and Rescue workers pulled Paul Marcotte's body from the ashes that had been his bedroom at Bay Ranch Mobile Home Park.

The 64-year-old man died in the fire that started just after midnight when he apparently turned on the stove and went to sleep.

"The fire was determined to be accidental in nature," said Jim Warman, Largo Fire and Rescue marshal.

The home was destroyed, Warman said. He estimated the damage at $30,000, including the home, its contents and Marcotte's Dodge truck.

PORT RICHEY

Pedestrian dies after being struck in road

A pedestrian who walked in front of a vehicle was struck and killed about 5:40 a.m. Tuesday, said the Florida Highway Patrol.

Co Dang, 50, of 6333 Langston Ave. in New Port Richey, was taken to Morton Plant North Bay Hospital and later flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he was pronounced dead about 10 a.m.

The driver, Larry Foster, 73, of 9201 Dayflower Drive in Tampa, told investigators didn't see the man in the inside eastbound lane of Ridge Road, near Lemon Road, until it was too late, said FHP Trooper Larry Coggins Jr.

Foster was not charged.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Pasco to continue rides for elderly, disabled

Stung by public outcry, the Pasco County Commission restored funding Tuesday for rides for needy, elderly and disabled residents.

The 4-0 vote came after the board learned transit officials had been sitting on $50,000 for emergencies, but left the money untouched as trips for residents were cut by a third this month.

Restoring the service for September only will cost $26,000 from the emergency fund.

The board also ordered transit officials to provide options to cobble together an extra $418,000 to keep service the same when the next budget year starts in October.

The program provides door-to-door bus service for people with disabilities or no easy access to mass transit. For up to $2, they can get a ride to the doctor's office or the grocery store.

BROOKSVILLE

City Council boots out final housing official

The City Council this week completed its extreme makeover of the Brooksville Housing Authority.

The council Monday night confirmed Mayor David Pugh's recommendation to remove Paul Boston, the last of four Housing Authority members involved in the agency's history of problems.

Boston's departure now means that all who were leading the authority during the recent controversies have been replaced.

During that board's tenure, Executive Director Betty Trent and project manager Joe Ann Bennett were convicted on federal fraud charges.

[Last modified August 22, 2007, 00:21:54]