The week in words

By Times Staff Writer
Published October 28, 2007

Editor's note: The following is a recap of the week's news events , in the words of the newsmakers.

"It's ironic. I pretty much learned to read from Peanuts."

Stephan Pastis, a Santa Rosa, Calif. author whose books are used by Intensive Reading teacher Marla Spellman to get students at Seven Springs Middle School excited about reading.

"He loved golf, and he got a lot of us involved in it."

Jerry McCarthy, a State Farm Insurance agent in Land O'Lakes, regarding the late Chuck Rushe. The Pasco Education Foundation has renamed its annual golf tournament in honor of the school district's longtime chief financial officer who died last year.

"They are functioning with technology at warp speed. Sometimes, when they walk into a regular classroom and we hand them a paper and pencil, it's almost like they crash."

Ray Bonti, principal at Wiregrass High School, where students are participating in a pilot program that allows them to bring laptop computers into the classroom.

"We don't believe there were any odors. It could have come from an adjacent chicken farm."

John Arnold, project manager for Angelo's Aggregate Materials, whose landfill at Dade City was criticized in a state report.

"We're in acquisition mode. It is somewhat of a contrarian view ... but we're looking at it in the long haul."

Dewey Mitchell, co-owner of Prudential Tropical Realty after acquiring two Marie Powell Realty offices.

"We can't evacuate the people who there now."

Helen Kelley,objecting the a county commission decision that grants development rights to land in Gulf Harbors.

"His good name is everything to him."

Defense attorney Christopher Frey, after his client, Union Missionary Baptist Church pastor Ronald Smart, shown above hugging wife Cheryl, was acquitted of a charge that he inappropriately touched a male parishioner.

STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON Times

[Last modified October 27, 2007, 20:55:09]