 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
The month in review
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, TERROR STRIKES CLOSE: The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the downing of a plane in Pennsylvania touched residents of Spring Hill, a community with many New York transplants. Manny Mojica lost a son, a New York firefighter, to the collapse of the World Trade Center. Churches and schools held candlelight vigils. Residents crowded blood banks and bloodmobiles. But Hernando also saw its share of backlash after the attacks, including the shooting of a mosque and vandalism of a grocery owned by a minority. WITHLACOOCHEE FLOODS: Heavy rain, much of which fell during Tropical Storm Gabrielle in mid September, caused the Withlacoochee River in eastern Hernando County to overflow its banks. The river crested at 14.8 feet late last week, nearly 3 feet above flood stage, which is 12 feet. Water surrounded about 300 homes, flooding several roads. Water was reported in four homes. Earlier in the month, Gabrielle dumped several inches of rain on Hernando. No heavy damage was reported during the tropical storm, but high winds blew down trees across the county, and many homes were without power, some for nearly two days. DRUNK DRIVER SENTENCED: Robert Stires, who drove drunk when he slammed into a car carrying three girls (killing two of them and injuring another), was sentenced to 30 years in state prison by Circuit Judge Richard Tombrink. The accident in 2000 claimed the lives of Chelsea Druzbick, 16, (daughter of School Board member John Druzbick) and Danielle Werner, 19; it left Jennifer Smith, 18, injured. BEACH BANS: Six months ahead of schedule, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission banned alcohol at a popular beach on the Weeki Wachee River. The rule applies to a park west of U.S. 19 off County Road 550 in the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. Under the new rule, nighttime access and dogs also are prohibited. ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING: Thirteen-year-old Thomas Hastings was shot in the neck by an 11-year-old friend in Brooksville while playing video games. The younger boy said he just wanted to scare Hastings, and pulled the trigger thinking the gun was unloaded. Hastings survived the shooting. The case has been turned over to the State Attorney's Office.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Hernando Times |
