Pasco Briefs: Sheriff's Office names second shooting victim

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 26, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has identified the second victim of Sunday morning's double shooting outside a strip club as Kellie Zorka.

Deputies say Zorka, a 27-year-old from Holiday, and 32-year-old Anthony Monti of New Port Richey were shot in the parking lot of Diamond's at 3935 Grand Blvd. about 2 a.m. Sunday.

Zorka was flown to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment of a gunshot wound to the head, sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said. The hospital said she was in critical condition late Monday.

Monti was treated and released from a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the left arm, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies are still searching for two unidentified men in connection with the shooting. The men argued with the victims, deputies said, and their disagreement became physical, then turned to gunfire.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dean Quinlin toll-free at 1-800-854-2862, ext. 7394.

PORT RICHEY

Council is considering accident inquiry fees

The City Council will vote on an ordinance tonight that would recover accident investigation fees from at-fault parties in traffic accidents that don't involve city residents.

The Cost Recovery Program, based in Dayton, Ohio, would collect accident fees from the at-fault party's insurance provider. City officials could use that money for city improvements.

The council first discussed the program in October. That's when it put out bids with similar accident recovery companies to compare with Cost Recovery. If the ordinance is approved tonight, the next step for the council will be to sign on with Cost Recovery or approve another company's bid at the March 11 meeting.

NEW PORT RICHEY

'Governor' Howard, chamber, charities win

West Pasco has a new "governor": Bonnie Howard.

The West Pasco Chamber of Commerce announced Howard has won the annual race for the honorary title of "Governor of West Pasco," a charitable fundraiser.

Each dollar counted as one vote, and Howard raised the most money, a little less than $19,000.

Her competition, Julie Rogers, who was sponsored by the chamber's Young Professionals Group, raised just more than $13,570.

This year, the event raised a record $32,528. Over the past 11 years, the governors' race has raised nearly $149,500.

Howard was sponsored by Minuteman Press of New Port Richey and her charity was the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Rogers' charity was the American Cancer Society.

The chamber will get half of the money each candidate raised. The remainder will go to each candidate's charity.

NEW PORT RICHEY

Art therapy program training is Monday

CARES Adult Day Services and the Alzheimer's Association are collaborating to offer training for volunteers, caregivers or professionals to implement the Memories in the Making art program at home or in a facility setting. This program helps people with dementia communicate by painting.

The training will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday in the CARES Claude Pepper Senior Center, 6640 Van Buren St., New Port Richey.

To register, call Christine Powers at (727) 862-9291, ext. 244.

[Last modified February 25, 2008, 22:32:56]