Look for EMINOLE EACON SVolume XXXII, No. 4 B May 27, 2010 www.TBNweekly.com Dealing with a disaster Tar balls inside this issue County remain Pinellas adjusts evacuation map primary The beginning of the 2010 At- lantic hurricane season is June 1, and county officials are alerting residents that evacuation maps threat have changed. ... Page 3. By BOB McCLURE Police ST. PETE BEACH – The com- Van fire forces manding officer of the U.S. Coast bank evacuation Guard’s Tampa-St. Petersburg Sec- tor said May 19 that if west-central Pinellas County Sheriff’s Florida is affected by the Deepwater deputies responded to a vehicle Horizon oil spill, it will most likely fire May 18 in the drive-through be by tar balls. lane of a Seminole bank. Speaking before a crowd of about ... Page 5. 100 at the Tradewinds Resort dur- ing a public forum on measures Entertainment being taken by the Florida Wildlife Commission, Capt. Tim Close said New movies open it is highly unlikely area beaches A number of new movies open will be covered by a huge oil slick. this week in the area, including “The likelihood remains that we Jake Gyllenhaal in “Prince of Per- will be affected in the St. Petersburg sia: The Sands of Time.” sector,” Close said. “If so, it will be Photo by BOB McCLURE ... Page 14. tar balls.” A pair of young screech owls peer out from their baby bird feeding area at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. The Nick Wiley, executive director of Sanctuary needs volunteers to help with the feeding program while others help out with birds affected by the oil spill. the FWC, said tar balls and weath- ered oil might be the biggest threat. “We know the oil is going to de- Seabird Sanctuary on standby grade as it gets away from the spill,” Wiley said. “It’s a different By BOB McCLURE for the spill, as the organization to care for injured product. It loses volume and forms birds. tar balls.” INDIAN SHORES – In the event of a major oil incur- Once the birds are cleaned up and rehabilitated, they If that occurs, the damage to sion anywhere in the state, the Suncoast Seabird Sanc- would be relocated to a habitat similar to where they wildlife could be heavy. tuary will be actively involved in the process of helping came from. Gil McRae, director of the FWC’s stricken wildlife. Tri-State is currently operating in the panhandle, Si- marine research lab in St. Peters- Sarah Jessica Parker, second from As oil slowly oozes in various directions from the moneau said, and is making plans to set up an opera- burg, said oil would affect birds’ left, stars in “Sex and the City 2.” Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, it’s tion in south Florida. Should it become necessary in ability to fly or float, which could only a matter of time before birds and other wildlife will west central Florida, Tri-State would set up another op- lead to death. Outdoors be affected, said Michelle Simoneau, marketing and eration in the area, she said. “Oil creates problems with feath- public relations manager for the Seabird Sanctuary. “There’s a lot of oil out there, it’s still spewing and ers and in some instances could Water temps Whenever that happens, the Sanctuary will be in- hurricane season is coming,” said Simoneau. “We’re lead to hypothermia in cold condi- reach normal volved. looking at a long-term thing.” tions,” he said. “Any ingestion of oil Columnist Tyson Wallerstein “We’re on standby,” Simoneau said. “We don’t know Simoneau said the biggest threat is to deep sea birds, will result in lung, liver and kidney says this week is sure to be good what’s going to happen.” such as northern garnets, loons and pelicans. damage.” for beach-side tarpon as long as She said the Seabird Sanctuary, located at 18328 She said the impact of chemical dispersants, dropped Should a contaminated bird sit the winds stay light. ... Page 31. Gulf Blvd., would not be a decontamination site but by planes to thin out oil on the surface of the Gulf, is yet on a nest, it’s likely the eggs would would be used as a first responder to stabilize wildlife, to be seen. be contaminated, he said. administer fluids and transport the animals to a triage BP has since downgraded the level of dispersants it is Sea turtles would likely be af- unit. using after concerns by conservation groups and gov- fected in a similar way, as would Sports Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, a nonprofit con- ernment officials. marine mammals, which could Rays add servation organization based in Newark, Del., has been See SANCTUARY, page 4 See OIL, page 4 another concert designated by British Petroleum, the responsible party The Tampa Bay Rays will host a postgame concert Friday, May 28 following the Rays-White Sox game with the Bradenton alterna- Grounded plane destined for Fun Center display tive rock group We The Kings. By BOB McCLURE ... Page 23. SEMINOLE – For weeks, motorists driving along Seminole Boulevard have been perplexed by a small Heart of single-engine airplane parked in the front of the the Matter Treasure Island Fun Center at 7770 Seminole Blvd. Chary Southmayd Did it land there? Is it part of a promotion? What’s going on? Robert Noell, owner of the Fun Center, transport- Columnist Chary Southmayd ed the Cessna Cardinal to the parking lot recently reflects on the Deepwater Hori- after it sat for a couple of years in storage in Hud- zon oil spill. ... Page 7. son. Eventually, Noell wants to hang the plane from Features the ceiling of the Fun Center among a group of trees Business . .19-21 that already are inside the building. He hopes to get Classified . .24-29 it done some time in September. Community . .12 “I’m a slow-moving guy,” he said. “So it will probably be some time after summer, probably in September, or Entertainment . .14-15 Just For Fun . .22 Photo by BOB McCLURE See PLANE, page 4 Pets of the week . .32 Robert Noell hopes to hang this Cessna Cardinal inside the Treasure Island Fun Center. Police beat . .5 Schools . .16 Sports . .23 The Beaches . .8-10 Lolly’s Wigs Viewpoints . .6-7 $ 95 Call 397-5563 Refurbish Your Wig 29 For News & Advertising 13611 Park Blvd. Suite G, Seminole • 369-8299 • See Ad on 2A 727-723-5255 • 9148 Seminole Blvd., Seminole 2 Beacon, May 27, 2010 Officials continue to ‘wait and see’ with oil spill By SUZETTE PORTER members of the St. Peters- go to the most environmental- was nothing else to do other The plan is to have volun- would be from oil that has burg Coast Guard to review ly sensitive areas first, which than remove manmade struc- teers ready to go if needed to weathered into tar balls or tar CLEARWATER – Pinellas contingency plans and make is consistent with all the ac- tures that could trap toxins. “efficiently and effectively mats, which are not as toxic County officials continue to preparations. tion plans from Texas to Flori- He said booms would not clean up and restore as fast as fresh oil, but still could af- monitor the progress of an oil As to Brickfield’s concerns da, LaSala said. work along the beaches due as possible,” LaSala said. fect birds and other wildlife slick located hundreds of about the beaches, LaSala “This is a very stressful to the open water and wave that are exposed to the mate- miles offshore in the Gulf of said, “Candidly, areas such as game of wait and see what action. Request for rials, county officials said. Mexico. mangroves, grass beds and happens,” Commissioner He said only trained per- volunteers Trained contractors, not Commissioner Neil Brick- other coastal breeding Susan Latvala said. sonnel would work on the On May 21, the county volunteers, would remove any field asked for a briefing on grounds and wetlands will be “Is there anything we can cleanup due to the toxic na- sent out a request for volun- tar balls or tar mats that the situation during the May given higher priority.” do?” Brickfield asked. ture of the tar balls or other teers. The oil slick was 305 might be found. 18 regularly scheduled meet- He said experts maintain LaSala said beyond the ac- materials that might affect miles from the Clearwater Local environmental orga- ing. that it is easier to clean tions in the contingency plan, the area from the oil spill. coastline, and officials said nizations are seeking volun- County Administrator Bob beaches and it is more impor- such as deploying floating The county is working with there was no imminent teers for coastal watches, LaSala said emergency man- tant to concentrate on keep- booms to areas of calmer the Coast Guard and the threat. preventative beach cleanups agement and the environmen- ing chemicals out of the bay. water to protect environmen- state to coordinate volunteer Officials believe that the and bird monitoring. tal staff were meeting with At the outset, priority would tally sensitive areas, there efforts, LaSala said. main threat to local beaches Local wildlife rehabilitation agencies are requesting trained assistance and dona- tions. VOTED THE BEST OF TAMPA BAY Volunteer 2009 MEMORIALMEMORIAL DAYDAY SALESALE opportunities • Coastline watchers: To report oil on the shoreline, FREEFREE AmericanAmerican FlagFlag forfor ALL!ALL! call 866-448-5816, or dial #DEP from a cell phone. To report oiled wildlife, call 866- 557-1401.