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By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 5, 2001
Flare used in training leaves pink haze
ST. PETERSBURG -- A cloud of cotton candy-colored haze hung over the Albert Whitted Municipal Airport on Monday morning.
The pink haze, visible at 9:15 a.m., came from a flare used in a U.S. Coast Guard training exercise, said Petty Officer Harry Craft of the Coast Guard. A search and rescue team member most likely lit a flare stick -- similar to but longer than a stick of dynamite -- from a boat, Craft said.
"It's bright red when it first goes off," Craft said.
Wind probably blew the haze over the nearby airport, Craft said. The exercise is performed monthly or weekly, but usually so far in the gulf that no one sees it. Monday's exercise was performed directly off the point, Craft said.
"I looked up and saw a pretty heavy red smoke," Craft said. "It's just part of our routine training."
Craft said that smoke from the the flares, which also come in green, quickly dissipates and is not harmful.
SPRING HILL -- It was just before 7:30 a.m., with the temperature soaring toward 80 degrees, and the echo of their musical prayer still hung in the air: "Send your rain. Pour out your spirit water on the earth. Send your rain."
Believing God would be more inclined to answer a collective plea to end the record drought scorching the state, the Rev. Earl Harrigan of the New Beginnings Life Center sponsored what he had hoped would turn into a countywide rain prayer.
Last week, Harrigan said he had not contacted other religious leaders, and area churches contacted Monday had not scheduled simultaneous services.
CLEARWATER -- A man and child were injured late Monday night after a gun fired in a residence at the Coachman Club apartments.
Wayne Shelor, police spokesman, said the man was holding a small-caliber gun about 10 p.m. when it accidentally fired, sending the projectile into his hand and a child's leg.
The man and child were transported to area hospitals for treatment.
"It's definitely not life-threatening," Shelor said.
The names of the injured and their relationship were unavailable Monday night. The investigation is continuing.
TAMPA -- Dime and nickel-size hail fell on some areas of Tampa during rush hour Monday, the National Weather Service reported.
Hail that was 3/4-inch in diameter was first seen around Busch Boulevard and Nebraska Avenue at 4:59 p.m. A few minutes later at Sligh and Hanna avenues, hail 1-inch in diameter fell. Hail also was reported at Busch and Dale Mabry Highway and in Seminole Heights.
The storms were part of a line of severe weather from the southeast, one of the first signs of the return to the normal summer thunderstorm season.