$1,000 reward offered in school llama's death

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 2, 2008

TAMPA

Wanted: the killer who beat Adonis the llama to death. Reward: $1,000, maybe more.

Stunned by the slaying of Adonis, who was found dead Wednesday in his stall at Gaither High School, a pair of business owners have seeded a reward fund with $1,000. Mitch Lockler and Robin Knapp, who own businesses in Carrollwood, started the Llama Reward/Relief Fund. The idea: offer a reward that will lead to an arrest and perhaps raise enough money for a new llama.

Gaither principal Brenda Grasso said Friday that she was in the process of returning about a dozen calls from people who had pledged $1,600 to help the school.

Donations to the Llama Reward/Relief Fund can be made at the Superior Bank branch in Carrollwood, 13246 N Dale Mabry Highway. The account number is 7000143573.

ST. PETERSBURG

Boat returns safely after taking on water

A 45-foot fishing vessel that took on water Friday morning pulled safely into its home port at Madeira Beach that afternoon.

The Julissa was assisted by the Coast Guard after one of the three crew members used a ship-to-shore radio to report that about 4 feet of water had been collecting below the deck in the engine room, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Simpson.

It is unclear why the boat began to take on water.

A Coast Guard rescue helicopter, an HH-60 Jayhawk, was called away from a routine training mission to find the vessel and drop a pump to the crew.

The Julissa was about 40 miles west of Egmont Key and was in close communication with the Coast Guard all day, as it pumped water and slowly made its way back to Madeira Beach. It arrived 4:30 p.m.

TAMPA

Legends Field name may honor the Boss

Local officials next week plan to ask the New York Yankees to rename Legends Field after the team's legendary owner, George Steinbrenner.

County Commissioner Rose Ferlita and Tampa City Council member Charlie Miranda will ask their boards on Wednesday and Thursday respectively to make the request of the Yankees.

The county owns the Yankees spring training site, but the team owns its naming rights. Parodied for his irascible temperament, Steinbrenner has been a generous philanthropist who has worked for countless causes in his adopted hometown.

[Last modified February 1, 2008, 23:40:45]