Judge bars $65,000 flood grant to Saxon
The ruling runs counter to the findings of a state agency, which had decided to circumvent the city to give Tom Saxon his grant.

Pelican Diner's fate is up in the air
The owners, who are selling, are tired, and some say the look of the entire block is, too. Others would be sad to see the diner go.

Curfew set to begin before holiday
A higher court declares the youth curfew constitutional. While an appeal is pending, city officials will enforce it.

Here's the curfew law in a nutshell
Here are some of the main points of Pinellas Park's juvenile curfew. The curfew applies to any youths found in Pinellas Park during the curfew hours, even if they are not residents of the city. If any youths were cited before the curfew was temporarily declared unconstitutional, those are still in effect. Thus, if a youth received one citation, the next will count as the second.

In quest for literacy, he discovers self-esteem
A program through the Literacy Council gives Brian Jeffries the skills to learn to read and also helps him see his potential.

Young man depends on the kindness of strangers
Trapped under a crushed car with gasoline around him, Gary Weaver needed help -- fast -- and got it.

'Disruptive' firefighter suspended without pay
The Pinellas Park district chief recommends firing the firefighter, who claims religious discrimination.

Still making music with the harmonica
Re: Conductor orchestrated a musical downtown, June 14.

Beach pavilion to open July 12
TREASURE ISLAND -- Grand opening ceremonies for the Treasure Island Beach Center are planned for July 12 at noon.

Residents plan trip to Greek island
SOUTH PASADENA -- Galatea Garden, a Greek-themed public park, is almost complete, and some city residents are planning a trip to the Greek island of Samos for a sister city celebration.

It takes a search to thank crew's rescuers
A family of four races out of Marco Island harbor to find the source of a Mayday call, saving three whose boat sank.

Park Street to reopen to traffic on Tuesday
ST. PETERSBURG -- Park Street north of Tyrone Boulevard will be closed for a few more days while construction crews install a 225-foot pedestrian bridge for the Pinellas Trail, officials said.

Streets trade traffic woes, thanks to roadwork detours
Construction gives residents on Denver Street a brief respite, and those on Tanglewood a look at speeders.

Musical honors owner of Webb's City
The tireless James Earl "Doc" Webb opens Webb's City in 1925. By the'50s, his little drugstore becomes a 77-store complex.

Luxury condos finding buyers
The Florencia says 90 percent of its 50 units are sold, and Vinoy Place says its first two towers of 42 condominiums are taken.

Soreno Hotel's legacy is not lost
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Soreno Hotel on Beach Drive is long gone, blown up by a master developer who failed to develop very much and finally left town.

Skyway Plaza will undergo renovation
Kash n' Karry will contribute the biggest change, with an expansion and a new liquor store.

Yacht Club remains 'poor man's' haven
City Council members refuse to raise the rent for the land the Gulfport Yacht Club leases.

Officers debunk Internet's AIDS needle hoax
PINELLAS PARK -- Just when you thought the only thing stinging you at the gas pump was high prices, here comes the latest warning from the Internet.

Council gives Mudd high stamp of approval
All five members tout his job performance, calling the city manager a hard worker, honest and innovative.

New bed and breakfast is site for brunch fundraiser
The summer slow-down is no big news flash to habitues of the party circuit and, of late, I've been twiddling my thumbs wondering what to do on Saturday nights now that all of you gala-goers are on sabbatical until the fall. So I was delighted when Ed Caldwell called to invite me to a weekday brunch at Dickens House, his newly renovated bed and breakfast in the North Shore neighborhood of St. Petersburg.

Kenneth City council elects new member
Because of Russ Dumont's role in the Make Kenneth City Safer Committee, two votes were taken before seating him on the board.

New growth charts may combat obesity
What do you think is one of the biggest threats to your child's health these days? Ultraviolet rays? Lead paint? Nasty viruses?

Woman accused of stealing is cleared
Arrested at a Winn-Dixie, she later proved the umbrella she carried was hers. But she has hired an attorney.

New owners to muffle troubled bar
They vow no more riots or police helicopters at the crime-plagued Shangri-La Lounge after renovations turn it into the much quieter, more beautiful Twinz.

Safe Kids organization honors teachers, families
The group, which educates the public about keeping children safe, holds its annual awards luncheon.

Vote may restrict parole office sites
ST. PETERSBURG -- The city has moved a step closer to eliminating residential neighborhoods as potential sites for probation offices.

No-wake proposal quickly sputters
REDINGTON BEACH -- A packed room of protesting residents forced the commission to reject a proposed ordinance Tuesday that would have established no-wake zones in Redington Beach's finger channels and its piece of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Two Lealman fire officials 'chitchat' with Pinellas Park
The topics? A possible merger of the fire departments and the threat of annexation.

Cousins kept apart by bias now embrace
One escaped the hatred of the Nazis; the other transcended her family's denial of her heritage.

Front Porch spending starts
Community groups are set to receive nearly $500,000 in grants, and some are already checking things off the shopping list.

WFLA 2nd in swim meet; Countryside a winner
The swimming season is in full gear this month, with West Florida Lightning Aquatics' Lightning Invitational and the Private Club League (PCL) Relays Championships crowning individual and team champions.

ABC Tournament drew 53,400
A one-pin win by Finland's Mika Koivuniemi over American professional Pete Weber in the ABC Masters tournament came a day before the 97th annual ABC Championships Tournament ended last Sunday at the convention center in Albuquerque, N.M.