Friend builds garden in memory of teen [Times photo: Jamie Francis] Just after Thanksgiving, Jared Fought passed by Feather Sound Community Church and saw a spot that looked empty.

South Pinellas County news

Coastal line shifts, but critics stand firm
The Coastal Construction Control Line moves about 6 feet. Still, beach officials are upset about the date and location of what will likely be a final public hearing.

Beaches’ pain turns to gain
Beach cities will be peppered with perks, thanks to $2.5-million worth of the settlement from a 1993 oil spill.

Home sweet home delayed
A couple with newborn twins can't wait for their new home to be built. But their experience has been frustrating.

The story so far
1999-July 2000

Investigator’s report: Trouble simmers in police department
A probe didn't confirm that 5 fired officers were on a hit list, but did echo the complaints officers made in a survey.

Dealership to soon call Pinellas Park home
PINELLAS PARK -- With the city agreeing to waive $90,000 in fees, and with the sweet prospect of a Wal-Mart supercenter as a neighbor, Crown Honda plans to move to Pinellas Park early next year.

Rouson brings energy to NAACP
The election of lawyer Darryl Rouson as president of the St. Petersburg branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People provides an opportunity to reinvigorate and broaden the focus of a valuable community resource.

Workers need transportation, too
I've been watching the hoopla about the trolley that is now carrying passengers up and down the beach. It looks like fun and is a great addition for the tourists and those who live on the beach.

St. Petersburg committee hopes to end divisiveness
ST. PETERSBURG -- Gov. Jeb Bush's Front Porch Florida program is having to start nearly from scratch again in St. Petersburg, but the governor's new statewide program director says she already sees signs that things will go better this time.

Beaches try to be easier to find
The Gulf Beaches of Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce was having a bit of an identity crisis, so it has taken on a stage name, so to speak.

What’s up on campus
Eckerd College

Programs encourage parental involvement
ST. PETERSBURG -- At A Circle of Children day care center in St. Petersburg, fathers come one Monday night a month and read aloud to their children.

The week ahead

Florida Power seals first shorter deal
Seminole wanted less than the standard 30 years so it could have options in a changing market.

SunTrust reopens rehabbed branch
SunTrust Bank has reopened its Gateway branch at 8299 Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) St. N, St. Petersburg. Since April, customers had been detoured to a temporary location. More than $1-million in renovations have been completed on the 6,000-square-foot branch, a fixture at the Gateway Shopping Center for 30 years.

Pension analysis bill brings lawsuit threat
A longtime actuary's bill for his services -- $115,325 -- exceeded Pinellas Park's original budget of $30,000.

City, neighbors discuss how to save clubhouse
One idea is to renovate the little-used building, once used by baseball greats, for a city-sponsored teen program.

Culinary help steps up when Plan A goes down
Sometimes Plan B works better than Plan A. That was the case Wednesday for those of us noshing on the groaning board of food at an Affaires d'Art "tea and talk" to benefit the Museum of Fine Arts.

Islettes’ annual sale is Feb. 10
TREASURE ISLAND -- The Treasure Islettes are scheduled to hold their annual "Trash and Treasures Flea Market" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Community Center, One Park Place.

Council sells part of sewer system, ends Largo dispute
PINELLAS PARK -- The City Council on Tuesday agreed to sell a piece of its sewer system to Largo for $225,000, ending a year-long dispute.

Council rejects new agreement with Time Warner
PINELLAS PARK -- Despite an offer of $60,000 in compensation for payment errors, the City Council on Tuesday rejected a new agreement with Time Warner and told its staff to negotiate a better deal.

Skyway booths take a toll on driver’s patience
We know roads and tolls are important to a lot of you out there, so we jumped all over this one.

Bridge near Weedon Island reopens over Riviera Bay
Motorists were blocked from using a shortcut from Gandy Boulevard to Fourth Street N after a sewer pipe broke.

Picnic table art sets you in the path of a hurricane
Moby represents a cyclone's effect on a coast line, a phenomenon studied at the building where the piece sits.

City prepares to celebrate King’s life and legacy
ST. PETERSBURG -- A band festival, a prayer breakfast and a parade will highlight the celebration for what would have been the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's 72nd birthday.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day closing schedule
The following is a list of holiday closings and schedule changes for south Pinellas County for Monday, Jan. 15.

When Dreams Come True; Martin Luther King Jr. Essay
Theme: "What can I contribute to make Dr. King's dream a reality?"

Center may be on its way to national accreditation
The Sunshine Center would be the first in the state to be formally recognized as "an all-around good place."

$6-million project will repair sea walls
Coffee Pot Boulevard, the North Yacht Basin and Vinoy Park are on the list of repairs expected to start this spring.

Waste pickup contract up for bid
PINELLAS PARK -- Council members admitted that they are taking a chance, but on Tuesday they decided against renewing the city's garbage collection contract and instead will ask for bids from competing companies.

Neighborhood briefs
Officials to discuss election voting problems

St. Pete Raiders soccer team is ‘unique group’
It's a good idea to keep an eye on the St. Pete Raiders' under-12 girls soccer team.

Ex-Lakewood teammates together again
They grew up within miles of each other, playing on the same Jordan Park courts and sharing the same dream.

Tour’s striking success calls for another trip
Families and friends will be traveling to Germany and Switzerland this summer on the second Bowl Your Way Through Europe tour sponsored by the Jerry Krauss Strike & Spare Fun Centers of Pinellas County.

Find your town or area Bayonet Point Bay Pines Belleair Belleair Belleair Bluffs Belleair Beach Belleair Shores Beverly Hills Brandon Brooksville Brookridge Carrollwood Citrus Park Citrus Springs Clearwater Crystal River Dade City Del Rio Dover Dunedin Egypt Lake Elfers Floral City Gulfport Hernando Holiday Homosassa Hudson Indian Rocks Beach Indian Shores Inverness Kenneth City Lacoochee Lake Magdalene Land O'Lakes Largo Lealman Lutz Madeira Beach Mango-Seffner New Port Richey N. Redington Beach North Brooksville Oldsmar Palm River Palm Harbor Pinellas Park Plant City Port Richey Redington Beach Redington Shores Ridge Manor Ruskin St. Petersburg St. Pete Beach Safety Harbor Saint Leo San Antonio Seminole South Brooksville South Pasadena Sun City Center Spring Hill Tampa Tampa Palms Tarpon Springs Temple Terrace Town N'Country Treasure Island Weeki Wachee Weeki Wachee Acres Wimauma Wesley Chapel Zephyrhills Citrus County Hernando County Hillsborough County Pasco County Pinellas County
© Copyright 2001 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.