Downchild Blues Band to appear in concert Belleair event set for Sunday ... See page 5B. Bostick shines in EOT production of ‘Funny Girl’ The musical runs through March 11 at the Largo Cultural Center ... See page 1B. Volume XXXIII, No. 47 www.TBNweekly.com March 1, 2012 ENTERTAINMENT New movies hit Sheriff’s candidates debate issues the big screen A group of 5 hopefuls square off in a forum at Largo High School A number of new movies will hit the- By TOM GERMOND tional” for the Sheriff’s Office. aters this week, including “Dr. Seuss’ “It is a much different opera- The Lorax.” LARGO – Candidates for tion than four or five years ago ... Page 3B. Pinellas County sheriff touted or certainly six, seven or eight their experience for the office years ago. We had to break the and fired a few salvos during mold. We had to deliver services their first appearance together differently because of the eco- at a public forum. nomic downturn,” Gualtieri Five candidates for sheriff, in- said, who was responsible for cumbent Bob Gualtieri, Repub- the sheriff’s budget the last four lican; Randy Heine, Democrat; years. Tim Ingold, Republican; Everett He said the Sheriff’s Office Rice, Republican; and Scott has cut $108 million from the Swope, Democrat; were each operating budget, has elimi- given 10 minutes to discuss nated 616 positions, including why they should be elected 167 law enforcement deputies sheriff. The forum was held and about 250 detention Feb. 23 at Largo High School. It deputies in the jail and non- was sponsored by the Parent certified positions throughout Teacher Student Associations of the agency. Largo High and Largo Middle “Against that backdrop for COUNTY School. the last three years in a row Gualtieri, who was chief we have reduced the crime in Homeless causing deputy prior to being appointed our service area. For the last sheriff Nov. 7, said the last four Photo by TOM GERMOND From left, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Randy Heine, Scott Swope and Everett Rice listen as Tim Ingold takes his years have been “transforma- See CANDIDATES, page 4A problems on 49th turn at the podium during a public forum on the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office race. Residents and business owners are complaining about the homeless creating problems along 49th Street. ... Page 2A. Ex-Globetrotters to play Homeowners want drainage repaired in SHS band fundraiser It’s an ongoing issue with a lot of his- By BOB McCLURE young students to achieve their goals,” said tory, which Pinellas County says proves Clark in a release. “We are looking forward to its case. The homeowners associations SEMINOLE – As part of its efforts to raise this opportunity because it allows us to give are responsible for maintenance of funds for the Seminole High School marching back to those who have always enjoyed and con- stormwater facilities at Tara Cay Sound band’s trip to the 2013 Tournament of Roses Pa- tinue to support the Harlem Globetrotters.” in Seminole. However, Thomas Cuba rade, the SHS band boosters have organized a “We are bringing our A game with some of the with Delta Seven Environmental Con- charity basketball game involving former mem- best slam dunking, ball handling and trick drib- sulting says requiring homeowners to bers of the Harlem Globetrotters. bling in the world,” said Brown. “We will have a provide maintenance “is an apparently The Globetrotters alumni will play a team good time, make the audience laugh and give perpetual burden on private citizens to billed as the Tampa Bay Generals in a pair of them a family-fun performance that they will provide a public service.” games Saturday, March 24, at the St. Peters- never forget.” ... Page 3A. burg College-Gibbs campus gym, 6605 Fifth The Seminole High School Marching Band is Ave. N. Games tip off at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. preparing for its second trip to Pasadena, Calif. “We’re spending $40,000 in an effort to raise The band will entertain an anticipated one mil- Cycle club seeks $15,000,” said booster club marketing coordina- lion spectators and an international television tor Dennis Wheeler. audience of over 40 million as they march down serious riders only Among the well-known former Globetrotters the famous Orange Grove and Colorado boule- expected to play are Matt “Showbiz” Jackson, vards on New Year’s Day. Becoming a member of the Suncoast Tyrone “Hollywood” Brown, Reggie “Airman” The two benefit basketball games are among Cycling Club is not something to be Dixon, Wayne “Above and Beyond” Clark, Ster- many projects the students and band boosters taken lightly. The club takes regular 50- ling “Smooth” Forbes and others. are using to raise the needed funds to cover mile rides, which isn’t for the faint of Jackson, a former player at Savannah State, travel expenses for the 140-plus-piece band. heart. was recognized as the “Clown Prince” of basket- At halftime, the band will perform. There will ... Page 6A. ball as the lead showman and longtime member also be a pre-game foul shot contest for kids, of the Globetrotters from 1987 to 2007. He was raffles, concessions, basketballs for sale and au- known for his behind-the-back half-court trick tograph sessions. shot. General admission is $15 in advance and $22 Photo courtesy of DENNIS WHEELER Dixon is also a basketball trick artist, while at the door. Premium VIP seating is available for Sean Wheeler, a junior at Seminole High School and a member of Clark is a 10-time Nike Slam Dunk champion. $25. the school marching band, displays some of the tickets available Forbes is a former basketball standout at South- To purchase tickets or get additional informa- for the March 24 basketball game featuring former members of the west Texas State University. tion, call 254-9556 or visit www.shswarhawks Harlem Globetrotters. “It will be an honor to help these hard working band.com. Firefighters, oxygen masks, Car hits business VIEWPOINTS Nell’s Fund save cats’ lives Carl Hiaasen By CHARY SOUTHMAYD Columnist weighs in on GOP stance on birth con- SEMINOLE – If it’s true that cats trol. have nine lives, two abandoned Siamese kittens now have just eight ... Page 15A. lives left, but they have Seminole fire- fighters and donated equipment to thank for still being alive at all. The firefighters from Seminole Fire Rescue Station 29 responded to a Features house fire Jan. 10 on 79th Avenue. They quickly extinguished the flames Business . .12A confined to the kitchen and back sec- Photo by LAKE SEMINOLE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Classifieds . .6-9B tion of the house. The damage was not Two kittens huddle together shortly Community . .13, 17A extensive, but the house had filled with after being rescued from a Jan. 10 County . .2-6A a lot of smoke. While searching for any Seminole house fire. people who might be inside, the fire- Entertainment . .1, 3-5B fighters did find signs of life. Two kit- mal Hospital for further treatment. Faith & family . .17A tens were hiding behind some boxes, “When they arrived they looked pa- Just for fun . .2B covered with soot and water and thetic, they were skinny and a mess,” Outdoors . .11A wheezing from smoke inhalation. said Dr. Michael Rumore, the veteri- Pets of the week . .16A “We are trained to search for people narian who attended to the 7- to 8- Police beat . .5A and we also search for animals,” said week-old kittens. Photo by BOB McCLURE Schools . .10A firefighter/paramedic Tyanne Hutchin- Fortunately they had not suffered A curtain hangs over an open window area and a bent door remains partially open Sports . .14A son, one of the firefighters who re- burns in the fire, but they did require Feb. 24 after a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox driven by 82-year-old Jeanette Coda of The Beaches . .7-8A sponded to the scene. “We got lucky medical care. Since the kittens had Seminole jumped the curb and went into the showroom of Purse Bling, 9136 Viewpoints . .15A with these two.” been abandoned and no one ever Seminole Blvd. Jerilyn Stein, owner of the business, was in the rear of the building Pet oxygen masks on board the fire claimed them, there was no owner to when the accident took place and escaped injury. Coda, who was not cited, blamed truck were put to good use. The kittens cover the cost of their veterinary Call 397-5563 the incident on a leg cramp, according to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s report. Coda did were immediately given oxygen and not require medical attention. For News & Advertising then transported to Lake Seminole Ani- See KITTENS, page 4A Lowest Mortgages In Fifty Years! Nadia O’Neal, D.D.S., P.A. 727-394-2265 “See our ad on page 3” There’s No Place Like Home. 021612 13611 Park Blvd. Suite G, Seminole • 369-8299 “Where your changes your life.” 012612 020212 © 2011 Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved www.tbnweekly.com 2A County Beacon, March 1, 2012 Homeless creating problems along 49th Street ‘corridor’ By SUZETTE PORTER professional environment, Seiber said. Roche, who described the problem as an unintend- Commissioner Susan Latvala. “They have a nice fa- She expressed her thanks to the Pinellas County ed consequence for businesses located near Pinellas cility.” CLEARWATER – They shower in the pool, urinate Sheriff’s Office and the Pinellas Park Police Depart- Safe Harbor and Pinellas Hope. Sieber said the homeless come from Safe Harbor by the dumpster and scare the guests. A local hotel ment, but said the response is reactionary, not Pinellas Safe Harbor, which is operated by the and Pinellas Hope.