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A look back at the biggies
An abundance of babies, the death of a deputy and the switch from Steve to Susan are just some of the stories that grabbed headlines. And who can forget taxes?
By Times Staff Writer
Published December 31, 2007
Wesley Chapel became home to Florida's first surviving sextuplets Sept. 1. The Bylers, from left, Charlie Craig, Eli Benjamin, Brady Christopher, Ryan Patrick, MacKenzie Margaret and Jackson Robert, spent their first Thanksgiving at home.
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[Stephen J. Coddington | Times]
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[Jim Damaske | Times]
Hulk Hogan's son, Nick Bollea, was charged with a felony count of reckless driving with serious bodily injury after an Aug. 26 crash in Clearwater.
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St. Petersburg City Council Chairman John Bryan resigned Sept. 7 amid allegations that he had sexually abused his adopted daughters. He then drove to his Floral City home and killed himself.
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[James Borchuck | Times]
After two homeless men were killed in January, two "tent city" encampments grew as the homeless sought safety in numbers.
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[AP photo]
USF students Ahmed Mohamed and Youssef Megahed were arrested Aug. 4 during a traffic stop in South Carolina after deputies said they found incomplete pipe bombs in the trunk, along with bullets, fuses and a laptop with Internet searches on martyrdom, Hamas and Qassam rockets.
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Largo City Manager Steve Stanton was fired after he revealed his plans to live as a woman. Now known as Susan, Stanton has become an advocate for the transgender community.
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[Douglas R. Clifford | Times]
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[Brian Cassella | Times]
A victory at home over West Virginia propelled USF to the game's upper echelon and eventually No. 2. But hopes for a major bowl appearance and a national championship were dashed after three losses.
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2007 year in review It's a boy! It's a boy! It's a boy! It's a boy! It's a boy! It's a girl! Wesley Chapel became home to Florida's first surviving sextupletsSept. 1. The five boys and one girl, born at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, weighed between 2 and 3 pounds. Parents Ben and Karoline Byler used infertility treatments, hoping for "just one more" to give 4-year-old daughter Zoe a sibling. From left, Charlie Craig, Eli Benjamin, Brady Christopher, Ryan Patrick, MacKenzie Margaret and Jackson Robert spent their first Thanksgiving at home. Hulk's son charged in devastating crash Hulk Hogan's son, Nick Bollea, was charged with a felony count of reckless driving with serious bodily injury after an Aug. 26 crash in Clearwater left his passenger and friend, Iraq war veteran John Graziano, in critical condition and likely to spend the rest of his life in a nursing home. Police say Bollea, 17, was racing his Toyota Supra. Shocking allegations, suicide St. Petersburg City Council Chairman John Bryan resignedSept. 7 as police began investigating allegations that he had sexually abused his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15. He then drove to his Floral City home and killed himself. Attacks on the homeless Fear spread through St. Petersburg's homeless in January, after the murders of two homeless men. Two encampments grew as the homeless sought safety in numbers. Police tried to disperse them, and a YouTube video caught officers slashing tents with box cutters and knives. It sparked a public outcry and the city apologized. This month, Catholic Charities opened a temporary tent city in mid Pinellas. Taxes, taxes, taxes The year began with complaints about skyrocketing property taxes. It ended with a ballot measure to approve new tax breaks. On Jan. 29, voters will decide whether to boost the homestead tax exemption from $25,000 to about $40,000, allow owners to transfer tax savings from Save Our Homes when they buy a new home, give nonhomestead property owners an annual 10 percent assessment cap, and create a $25,000 exemption for some business and mobile home properties. Traffic stop finds trunkload of questions USF students Ahmed Mohamed, left, and Youssef Megahed were arrested Aug. 4 during a traffic stop in Goose Creek, S.C. Deputies said they found incomplete pipe bombs in the trunk, along with bullets, fuses and a laptop with Internet searches on martyrdom, Hamas and Qassam rockets. The two are to be tried in March on charges they illegally transported explosive materials. A defense attorney challenged the evidence after a patrol video showed a deputy calling the pair Taliban members and "graduates of suicide bomber school" during the stop. Steve Stanton becomes Susan Largo City Manager Steve Stanton was fired after he revealed he planned to live as a woman. Now known as Susan, Stanton moved to Sarasota and has become an advocate for the transgender community. She is still searching for a job and plans to travel to Phoenix in May for sex reassignment surgery. Death of a deputy Hillsborough County sheriff's Sgt. Ron Harrison was killed Aug. 15 after leaving a DUI checkpoint. Authorities say Michael Allen Phillips, 24, ambushed the deputy. Phillips died three hours later in an exchange of gunfire with a SWAT team. Harrison, 55, spent more than 30 years in law enforcement and was head of the county's DUI unit. He left behind four children. The highs and less-highs of the USF Bulls They were the dream team. Fresh off last season's first-ever bowl victory, the USF Bulls broke into college football's top 25 (at No. 23) in September. A victory at home over West Virginia propelled them to the game's upper echelon and eventually No. 2. But hopes for a major bowl appearance and a national championship were dashed after three losses. The Bulls dropped to No. 23 and play in the Sun Bowl today in El Paso.
Fallout from a privileged land purchase A Times investigation into the county's $225,000 June purchase of land from Pinellas Property Appraiser Jim Smith showed the price was nearly four times its appraised tax value. A grand jury investigated, County Attorney Susan Churuti was fired and County Administrator Steve Spratt resigned. Smith won't seek re-election when his term ends in 2008.
[Last modified December 30, 2007, 20:19:47]
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