In the know

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 14, 2008

COUNTYWIDE

Coalition to Tally homeless population

The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County will be sending interview teams throughout the county later this month to count the homeless. On Jan. 30 from 5 a.m. to noon, stations will be set up and interviews conducted to count and screen all homeless men, women, and families at:

-13132 U.S. 19, Hudson

-6705 U.S. 19, New Port Richey

-3762 U.S. 19, Holiday

- Able Body Labor, 14717 Seventh St., Dade City

-15512 U.S. 301, Dade City

This count will help bring funding to the county to establish permanent affordable housing, temporary shelters and transitional housing programs. Contact the Homeless Coalition at (727) 842-8605.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Man faces up to 95 years in drug case

Victor Samulian faces up to 95 years in prison after a jury convicted him last week on felony drug charges. After a four-day trial, prosecutors said it took jurors 35 minutes Thursday to find Samulian guilty of 2004 charges of trafficking in cocaine, hydrocodone and oxycodone and possession of alprazolam, also known as Xanax. But Samulian, 54, awaits trial on even more drug and criminal charges. At Samulian's Feb. 7 sentencing, the defense could ask the judge to let him plead to those charges and serve a sentence alongside whatever he gets for this conviction. Whether the state opposes that, Assistant State Attorney Mary Handsel said, depends on how much time Samulian gets. The minimum is 15 years. "We'll be asking for considerably more," she said.

PORT RICHEY

Mobile home park purchase stalls

Plans to purchase a blighted mobile home park on Grand Boulevard were halted Friday when city officials reached an impasse with the seller's attorney. City Council had agreed to pay no more than $847,000 for the foreclosed property with the hope of redeveloping the area. City officials made an initial offer of $785,000, Mayor Richard Rober said. The seller's attorney, Donald Hall, made a counteroffer in December of $847,500. During a conference call Friday, Rober said the city offered $785,000 again, but Hall's client wouldn't budge from $847,500. Rober said city officials might revisit the idea to buy the park. He said he plans to discuss the issue with City Council at its next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at City Hall, 6333 Ridge Road. The purchase of the park was prompted by Council member Nancy Britton. But city residents and Council member Mark Hashim argue that the city shouldn't buy the property without a vision for its use.

[Last modified January 13, 2008, 21:41:00]