[Times photo: Lisa DeJong] Tragedy reached out for girl, but lifeguard turned it back The happy ending might happen two, three or four times each summer at Fort De Soto Park alone. Often, no one besides that day's beachgoers ever hear the tale.

South Pinellas County news

Group battles drug store
ST. PETERSBURG -- Using a Web site, yard signs, petitions and mailings, an Old Northeast group has launched a campaign to try to keep a national chain drugstore out of its neighborhood.

Road work to slow traffic
Crews are expected to begin restriping First Avenues N and S today. When the work will conclude is unclear.

Council member resigns for job
KENNETH CITY -- Council member Chuck Webber resigned Tuesday to take a job annexing property for Pinellas Park.

Pinellas Park police station cleared by old ordnance
PINELLAS PARK -- Pinellas Park's police station was evacuated Tuesday afternoon after a woman brought in two pieces of World War II ordnance that had been found in a deceased neighbor's home, authorities said.

Man found slain 10 days after release from prison
ST. PETERSBURG -- Richard Bernard Adams once survived a gunshot to the head during an argument over crack cocaine.

No more 'Fill 'er ups' at a corner landmark
ST. PETERSBURG -- For more than 50 years, there has been a gas station at 1406 Fourth St. N.

Pizza Hut will open by Maximo
ST. PETERSBURG -- A new Pizza Hut restaurant that will seat 50 is under construction at 4598 34th St. S across from Maximo Shopping Center. It is tentatively scheduled to open on Monday.

Gauging the risk, benefit of CPR
Experts say the majority of cardiac arrests occur at home and the risk of contracting a disease during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is low.

Nothing to do? Teen council has the answer
Help them realize the dream of a "straight edge" club where teens can escape the stresses of life.

Cultural center chief resigns
Consultants hired by Largo officials say the cultural center is not reaching its potential.

Solo sailor dodges other boats, East Coast storms
A Gulfport resident and survivor of cancer is almost halfway through a four-month sailing journey to Maine.

Pinellas Park considers creating budget unit
A new Office of Management and Budget likely would focus on quality and productivity, not just fiscal data.

YWCA tea highlights a program worth noting
Henry James was never known for brevity, but one of his uncharacteristically short sentences, the first one in The Portrait of a Lady, is a favorite: "Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

Summer event spawned fortune-hunting fever
A newspaper's published clues would touch off a frenzied search for buried treasure. For the lucky finders, glory and riches awaited.

Just one cap and gown expected at graduation
Richard Esposita will be the Five Oaks Learning Center's sole graduate at commencement on Thursday night.

Students show what it takes to be leaders
A new program gives ordinary students the chance to do the extraordinary. The goal? To prepare them for roles in their community.

Teaching pros get chance to meet and compete
Area teaching professionals had a rare opportunity last week. They got to play and compete in the game they teach others to play.

Hill comes home and wins 50-lap Modified race
Luke Hill is accustomed to traveling a lot.

Letters
Existing rail line could help move commuters
Re: Committee puts transit solutions on track, May 14.

Tampa Bay headlines