Digest

Swiftmud extends watering restrictions

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 26, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG

The state water board that oversees the Tampa Bay area has extended the one-day-a-week watering restrictions through November.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District first imposed watering restrictions on Jan. 16, and they were supposed to expire on July 31. But the water district board extended them through Sept. 30, and now has decided to extend them one more time.

The reason: The 16 counties in the district are experiencing a rainfall deficit of about a foot, leading to "critically abnormal" conditions in the underground aquifer and the area's rivers and streams.

For more information on the restrictions, click on www.watermatters.org or call toll-free 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4498, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

LAND O' LAKES

Pasco School Board rejects merit pay plan

For the second time this year, the Pasco School Board is sending a rejection to the state Legislature when it comes to teacher performance pay. The district would have received about $3.6-million for the bonuses.

Board members Tuesday unanimously rejected participation in the state's Merit Award Program, saying they support rewarding excellent teachers, but not as the Legislature has designed it.

Teachers rejected the plan, which would have given $2,100 bonuses to 25 percent of them.

CLEARWATER

Ballfields' price tag: $7.3-million for four

When Pinellas County officials announced a plan in June to build ballfields on a future school site, it looked like the answer to North Pinellas' shortage of facilities for youth sports.

But that dream dimmed Tuesday when county commissioners learned that creating just four athletic fields could cost a staggering $7.3-million to build multipurpose fields.

One big expense would be mitigating the impact to wetlands on the property at East Lake and Keystone roads.

TAMPA

Bulls wear green to thwart scalping

Notice anyone wearing a green USF Student wristband lately?

It's not a fashion trend.

The University of South Florida is requiring students to don the bracelets when they pick up their complimentary ticket to the Bulls game vs. West Virginia this Friday night.

The athletics and ticketing departments decided to make students wear the wristbands throughout the week to prevent the free student tickets from being sold.

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 23:59:21]