Course obstacle [Times photo: Fred Victorin] Construction of a driving range at Isla Del Sol will wait until the least terns' and skimmers' young have hatched.

Non-city resident gets tax refunded
A cellular customer in unincorporated Pinellas County wins a refund for the utility tax Alltel collected for Seminole.

Edmunds basks in praise
The city manager receives a 6 percent pay increase and a shower of glowing remarks from all the council members.

Neighbor fights to block gulf condos
After spending $10,000 and much time, Tuesday is her last chance to persuade Indian Rocks Beach commissioners.

Annexations push taxes up for unincorporated areas
Commissioner John Morroni wants to see whether apparent lower costs, such as for law enforcement, encourage annexation.

Gateway's no place to flex your right foot
We heard from Sherman Bywater of Feather Sound last week about our tip that drivers to and from mid-county try cutting through Gateway Centre to avoid the intersection of Gandy Boulevard and U.S. 19. Sherman warned that this is a fave spot for the Pinellas Park gendarmes to nab speeders.

Will merger preserve identities or lose a city?
Kenneth City holds a workshop Wednesday to hear about merging with the larger, loosely defined Lealman area.

Officials responded to safety issue
For several years, residents along the Grand Canal and Dents Channel and boaters who frequent the Shell Key areas have been concerned about the lack of channel markings. Even boaters who are familiar with the shallow areas have run aground along Dents Channel. For those unfamiliar, many afternoon boat trips have ended with a lengthy and unfortunate tow off the shallow flats. Additionally, no-wake areas are not clearly marked and speeding boaters and personal watercraft have created an unsafe situation. Potential injury to recreational boaters as well as wake damage to docks, seawalls and boats are important issues for the community.

St. Petersburg's other unsolved homicides from this year
In addition to the slaying of Claudia Eanes four other St. Petersburg homicide cases remain unsolved:

Lower lake depth may solve problems
The city engineer thinks making Harbor Isle Lake shallower will help prevent another round of dead fish.

Fire district names its new leader
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH -- John R. Leahy Jr., whose 45-year firefighting career includes terms as a chief in Pittsburgh, and Seminole, is the new leader of the Pinellas Suncoast Fire District.

Slow work, no pay, says Pinellas Park
A roof over the Senior Citizen Center's shuffleboard courts was supposed to be finished by June 1.

Retiring captain leaves words of safety
ST. PETERSBURG -- Once a Coast Guard skipper, always a skipper.

Youth brings vivid tales of land wrenched by war
A Bosnian Jewish girl, studying at Eckerd College, will share her experiences of horror with area residents.

Beach loses an Outpost
The Internet Outpost Cafe is closing as its companion Web design business merges with a Tampa company.

Another of Swain's enterprises in trouble
The developer's townhome project went in bankruptcy and so does his chain of ice cream restaurants.

Business briefs
Couple open new Athlete's Foot store

Planner outlines way to protect property owners
In the event of a major storm, some Pass-a-Grille residents wouldn't be able to rebuild their houses under current guidelines.

Moo or Bubba, they love you just the same
Cha Cha. Doc. Grambo. Big Daddy and Bubba.

City hall plans come into focus
A Belleair Beach committee sees a city hall that serves the council and the community.

American Indian center planned
The project lacks an architect, construction manager or groundbreaking date but should be finished next year.

Building blocks
Body building appears to be the focus of the National Youth Sports Camp, but in between the games, character lessons emerge

Salvation Army to revamp old hospital
The plan to transform a defunct hospital is approved despite residents' concern that the agency will have a negative effect on their neighborhood.

Neighborhood notebook
Jungle Terrace plans suit over restaurant variances

Beaches notebook
Grant pays for computers for classes at local centers

The week ahead
TODAY

Star vaulter makes jump to college gymnastics
Ashley Shible (East Lake) had an impressive freshman year for the University of Denver gymnastics team.

Frye-Kriers enjoy going the extra mile
Patience is a virtue.

Suncoast well represented in national championships
Among 900 youngsters competing in the fourth annual USA Junior Gold National Championships in Reno, Nev., last week were 28 bowlers from the Suncoast -- the largest group sent from the area.

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