[Times photo: Dan McDuffie] Teacher aide Mary Thomas, left, and teacher Mary Young bid farewell Tuesday to school buses departing from Sanders Elementary School. Two careers end with school year The teacher aide and teacher are retiring after working with children at Sanders Elementary for some 30 years.

June 7, 2000

Man unable to save friend in truck
The driver lost control and veered off U.S. 41 into a pond. He died, but his passenger escaped.

Teachers await word on salary negotiations
The school district is in limbo over how much money it can allocate toward pay increases for the next school year.

Motor vehicles barred from Green Swamp
Swiftmud made the decision with two weeks left in the 50,000-acre preserve's fishing season, saying the swamp was too dry.

Robbers hold up two banks in seven hours
In one robbery, the male suspect wore women's clothing and makeup.

Family says they lost track of boy
The boy's relatives were celebrating a graduation at Lake Padgett when the 4-year-old wandered away and drowned.

Pasco's champions put their minds to winning
Pasco County has a world champion and it's not a No. 1-ranked tennis player, an Olympic gold medalist or a World Series winner.

Audience showed little class
Editor: Congratulations to the River Ridge High School Class of 2000. Their behavior at Friday night's graduation ceremonies is a good example of what is right with today's youth.

Pirate infielder wants to sign with Pirates
Pittsburgh selects Pasco's Alex Cruz in the 27th round, and he hopes to agree to a deal.

Man charged with trying to kill wife
Eleven years ago, sentenced for kidnapping and battery, Frank Pizzo said he'd never come back to Pasco.

Wells proposed as drought solution
WESLEY CHAPEL -- Faced with droves of neighbors disgusted by the rationing of reclaimed water, Meadow Pointe developer Don Buck suggested drilling wells to supplement Pasco County's overstressed irrigation system.

Teens charged with school vandalism
ZEPHYRHILLS -- Two teens have been charged with the vandalism last week at Zephyrhills High School, the Zephyrh