Pasco News
Window on Pasco, Jan. 12
TBO.com
Published: January 12, 2013
Hacienda cleanup could draw 300Published: January 12, 2013
The ranks of volunteers who will help clean up the landmark Hacienda hotel inside and out today are swelling, according to New Port Richey interim City Manager Susan Dillinger.
About 150 had registered by Tuesday, but Dillinger said that number could double by today. The cleanup will take place from 8 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Main and Bank streets, followed by lunch. Starbucks will provide coffee.
"It reminds me of 1990," Mayor Bob Consalvo said, referring to the day when thousands of volunteers built the Super Playground in Sims park, which is adjacent to the Hacienda.
Pasco will hire more firefighters
Nearly 100 off-duty firefighters crammed into the Historic Courthouse Tuesday to urge Pasco commissioners to start spending a $2.3 million federal grant that allows the county to hire more firefighters.
Commissioners agreed to implement the grant, but warned they may end up cutting firefighters' pay to comply with terms of the grant.
The International Association of Firefighters Local 4420 voted down two contracts in 2012 that called for zero pay raises. Firefighter Lee Hudson said the county should live up to the terms of the contract it signed in 2007 that called for a series of pay raises.
Chief Assistant County Administrator Michele Baker said if the county loses the grievance, it would have to pay $2.2 million for pay raises.
Homeless man dies in Holiday house fire
Authorities identified a homeless man who died in a fire Sunday in Holiday.
The body of Wyatt Allan Vanover, 59, was found inside 2641 Flintwood Drive, according to the Pasco Sheriff's Office.
Firefighters responded to a house fire at 6:30 a.m. Sunday and found the body. Vanover was originally from Lubbock, Texas.
The fire remains under investigation.
Friendly Kia to pay pet adoption fees
Pasco County Animal Services has collaborated with Friendly Kia for the month of January for a Pre-Owned Pet Event.
Friendly Kia, on U.S. 19 in New Port Richey, will reimburse pet adoption fees for people who show an adoption receipt from the county adoption shelter in Land O'Lakes. Pasco charges $35 for dogs and $20 for cats.
"Pre-owned models are looking for new homes today and come with vaccinations, spay/neutered and unconditional love," Pasco Education Coordinator Judy Tate Gregory said in a press release.
Adoption hours are noon to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, as well as noon to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Animal Services adoption center, 19640 Dogpatch Lane, Land O'Lakes. Call (727) 834-3216 or (813) 929-1212.
Police seek tips about runaway girl
Pasco County authorities held a news conference Wednesday to speak about runaway Jamie Carnesha Lee, 15, missing since September.
She was last seen by relatives at her New Port Richey home Sept. 4, 2012.
Lee, who is black, is 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighs 115 pounds, has extensions in her hair and wears blue contacts. Call (727) 844-7711 with any information.
Man with fake IDs gets year in jail
Roy Maximilliano Antigua, who possessed badges and uniforms of organizations ranging from the Boy Scouts to the CIA, was sentenced to a year in county jail.
Antigua, 53, entered a plea of no contest to two counts of impersonating an officer. He must pay court costs, which total $1,445.
He is in the Land O'Lakes jail awaiting a Jan. 16 pretrial hearing and Jan. 28 arraignment on other charges. Antigua then will face a hearing for violation of probation in Miami for a 2011 third-degree grand theft.
Antigua's fantasy life was interrupted Aug. 1 when he was arrested for driving his black, 2004 Cadillac Escalade — fitted with blue flashing lights and a U.S. Coast Guard window sticker and front plate — with a suspended license.
NPR police make burglary ring arrests
Police made arrests related to a double shooting last month and an armed burglary ring, according to Chief James Steffens.
Robert William Bisplinghoff, 19, was arrested by Pasco County Sheriff's Office warrant detectives Friday in the Palm Harbor area. He was wanted in connection with a double shooting on Dec. 20 near the Dunkin Donuts at U.S. 19 and Gulf Drive. He was being held in Pinellas County Jail on two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Although he is a close associate of the burglars, he has not been linked to those crimes at this time.
Three men and a boy are in custody as suspects in several residential burglaries.
Eleven firearms were stolen. Eight guns have since been recovered. Other property, ranging from jewelry to electronics, has also been recovered and the investigations remain active.
Anyone with information can call detectives at (727) 841-4552.