Local meteorologist recovering from stroke

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 19, 2008

TAMPA

WTSP-Ch. 10's chief meteorologist, Dick Fletcher had a stroke Monday afternoon. He is recovering at a local hospital, said Darren Richards, the station's news director.

"He's an icon in this area," Richards said.

Fletcher also had a stroke in November 2004. He recovered then and went back to work. Fletcher has been with Tampa Bay's 10 since 1980.

ST. PETERSBURG

Times staffer wins ASNE writing award

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Lane DeGregory has won the prestigious American Society of Newspaper Editors Distinguished Writing Award for Nondeadline Writing, the editors' group announced Monday.

DeGregory, 41, won for a portfolio of five stories. Among them were a profile of daredevil Evel Knievel; a piece about Susan Stanton, the transgendered former city manager of Largo; and a story about Pinellas School Board member Nancy Bostock's decision to give up her adopted son. To read all the winning stories online, please click on life.tampabay.com.

DeGregory, who joined the Times in 2000, was a finalist in the ASNE contest twice before, in 2004 and 2006.

PALM HARBOR

Wal-Mart makes plans to enlarge existing store

While environmentalists and Wal-Mart representatives battle over a proposed Tarpon Springs supercenter, the company is moving forward with plans to expand its existing Palm Harbor store.

Wal-Mart's store at U.S. 19 and Alderman Road will expand to the west, increasing by 26,000 square feet, to 118,640 square feet.

The expansion has no bearing on the fate of the proposed Tarpon Springs store, company spokeswoman Quenta Vettel said.

[Last modified February 18, 2008, 23:25:05]