Dateline Florida

By Times Wires
Published February 5, 2008

Restaurant's matriarch popular with thieves

Thieves first made off with a bronze bust of Columbia Restaurant matriarch Adela Gonzmart in 2005. It reappeared a month later, but, taking no chances, the Ybor City restaurant bolted it to the sidewalk with steel rods. No matter. Someone swiped the bust again this weekend. "I don't know how they took it," said Richard Gonzmart, the restaurant's co-owner and son of the late Adela. "But I take it very personal." He is offering $2,500 for its return. If you have information, please call the restaurant at (813) 238-3000, ext. 22. "If you see a bust of a beautiful woman lying around, please call us up," he said.

NBC science reporter to talk on the nature of his work

Not sure about the cause of global warming? Perhaps you wonder if it's even real. Robert Bazell, chief science and health correspondent for NBC News, will discuss science reporting and the public's understanding of science during a free lecture at 7 p.m. today at the Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S, in St. Petersburg. Bazell is noted for his coverage of the AIDS epidemic and cancer treatment advances. The lecture is part of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg's Energy and the Environment Lecture Series. For information, visit www.stpt.usf.edu/energy.

The crime stinks, but the culprit might smell nice

Temple Terrace police are trying to sniff out a shoplifter who got away with $1,900 in perfume from a local pharmacy. The man, caught on video, walked into the CVS pharmacy at 110 Bullard Parkway on Jan. 21, talking on his cell phone. He browsed and then filled a basket with perfume products, authorities say. He walked out of the store with the basket and drove off in a black four-door car. Police think the products will be resold, but they don't know where. It was the second such robbery at the store. Police ask anyone with information to call (813) 989-7090.

Clarification

The Florida Department of Children and Families' policy in March 2005 was to fingerprint potential employees hired to care for children and vulnerable adults, but not to fingerprint those hired into administrative positions, such as agency spokesman. The fingerprinting policy was extended to all new employees in November 2006. A story Sunday was unclear on the policy.

Kickboxer was slain

Timothy "Chip" Chipley, found dead in a pond, was murdered, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says. 3B

Campus cutbacks

Florida's public universities could shut out 60,000 students, says a group that promotes college access for minorities.6B

[Last modified February 4, 2008, 23:37:46]