Hans Juergensen, retired USF professor, dies at 80

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 11, 2000

TAMPA -- Hans Juergensen, a former University of South Florida humanities professor who three times was named Florida's poet of the year, died May 4 at age 80.

Mr. Juergensen, born in Upper Silesia in what was then Germany, escaped the Holocaust and fought against the Germans as a U.S. soldier.

Mr. Juergensen, USF professor emeritus and author of at least 18 books, came to Tampa in 1961. He had received a doctorate in English and German from Johns Hopkins University.

In 1965, 1968, then again in 1974, he was selected poet of the year for the state.

He retired after 30 years of teaching at USF, but continued teaching poetry to adults at the university and at the nearby veterans hospital.

Mr. Juergensen is survived by a daughter, Claudia Perez of Tampa, and by two grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were being handled by Beth David Funeral Chapel.

Woman who died in four-car crash identified

ST. PETERSBURG -- A 19-year-old woman who was killed in a four-car crash Tuesday has been identified as Celeste Irene Michling. She lived in the Waterford Apartments at 10263 Gandy Blvd.

Michling died in an accident late Tuesday afternoon at Roosevelt Boulevard and Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) Street N.

She was driving northwest on Roosevelt and tried to turn left onto Dr. M.L. King. She turned in front of a Nissan 300SX, which hit the passenger side of her red Chrysler LeBaron, police said. The Chrysler was knocked into two other cars. No one else was injured. The accident remains under investigation.

Teenage student accused of making bomb threats

ST. PETERSBURG -- A 17-year-old Gibbs High School student was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of making false bomb threats.

Isaiah Angelo Cooper of 1411 14th St. S called emergency dispatch two times in the last week to report explosives on campus at 850 34th St. S, police said. No explosives were found after campus searches, police said.

Ron Stone, Pinellas schools spokesman, said Cooper has been suspended and recommended for expulsion.

Tampa man charged with threatening to kill judge

TAMPA -- A man facing several misdemeanor traffic violations is accused of threatening to have Hillsborough County Judge Denise Pomponio killed.

Bobby Lewis Curry, 30, of 807 W Coral St. in Tampa was arrested this week on a charge of corruption by threat of a public servant, a third-degree felony, according to jail records. Curry used a pay phone Monday to call 911 and told the operator he was going to withdraw $50,000 from his bank account to place a "hit" on the judge, according to the sheriff's office.

Pomponio presided over a case involving Curry earlier this month. Curry remained in jail Wednesday.

Robbery suspect accused of attempted homicide

ST. PETERSBURG -- A 22-year-old St. Petersburg man has been arrested and charged with attempted homicide in the robbery of a couple along Central Avenue in April, police said.

Marliet R. Watson of 1117 12th St. S was one of at least two suspects who held up the St. Petersburg couple in the 900 block of Central Avenue at 10:14 p.m. April 3, said Detective Steve Corbet.

Police said Watson pointed his gun at the woman's face while another defendant, Montrey T. Wiggins, 26, of 3729 11th Ave. S, punched the couple to get their cellular phone.

Watson's gun fired, missing the woman's boyfriend, police said. Officers later apprehended Wiggins, charging him with attempted murder and two counts of armed robbery.

Watson was arrested Tuesday and is being held at the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail. He is charged with two counts of attempted homicide and armed robbery.

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