Clearwater extends drinking hours City’s action coincides with other cities’ ... Page 7A. ‘The American’ stars George Clooney as an assassin on the move Also opening this week is ‘Going the Distance,’ a comedy starring Drew Barrymore ... Page 1B.

Volume XXXIII, No. 6 www.TBNweekly.com September 2, 2010 Be careful out there Deputies to be out in full force on land, sea this holiday weekend By SUZETTE PORTER Drowning and near-drowning accidents are not uncom- conduct its boating safety awareness campaign and mon. Most can be prevented, she said. Operation Kid Float. Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies will be on roads The Center for Disease Control recommends desig- Deputies will be stopping vessels to conduct safety and waterways this Labor Day weekend, making sure nating a responsible adult to watch young children who inspections, and kids “caught” wearing their life jackets everyone has a safe and happy holiday. are swimming or playing around water. When young will get an Operation Kid Float T-shirt. Deputies also COUNTY Cecilia Barreda with the sheriff’s public information children are involved, an adult should be within arm’s will be looking for boat operators who are impaired by office said deputies would be out in full force to help reach at all times. Adults should take care not to be- drugs or alcohol. Helping hands create extra awareness to be safe during the last sum- come distracted by activities, such as reading, playing According to 2009 statistics from the Florida Fish mer holiday. cards, talking on the phone or texting. and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 18.5 percent of Gary Schwach is a Pinellas County Safety on the county’s waterways will be one area of Boat injuries also increase during the summer boating fatalities were caused by alcohol or drug use. In volunteer. He arrives at the small-engine focus. Barreda also reminded residents to be careful months and holiday weekends. The sheriff’s marine maintenance shed on Bonnie Fortune around water of all kinds, including backyard pools. unit takes advantage of the increase in boater traffic to See WEEKEND, page 4A Key every weekday morning around 8 a.m. and is greeted by a sizable congre- gation of weathered hand and gas-pow- ered tools. “Just about any tool they bring in that they can’t get to run or run correctly, I’ll work on it for them,” Schwach said. Every tool plays an important role in keeping Fort De Soto Park, a world-class tourist destination, operating at peak condition. And Schwach plays an impor- tant role as well. He keeps those tools operating at their best for the 28 full- time county employees that depend on them. Up and over ... Page 6A. Destiny Foster, 4, of Clearwater hones her ENTERTAINMENT basketball skills at a block party at the Highlands Recreation Complex Aug. 28. Tom Petty brings Free demonstrations, trial classes, hot dogs and ‘Mojo’ to Forum popcorn were offered. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will perform Thursday, Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m., at the St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. The tour was originally set to visit Tampa earlier this year but was rescheduled to accommodate the de- layed arrival of the band’s highly antic- ipated new album, “Mojo.” The album, recorded between April 2009 and Jan- uary 2010, was officially released June 15. It’s the band’s first studio album since 2002’s “The Last DJ.” The new album showcases a wide variety of American music, including Photo by BRANDEN BELL rock and roll, country and both electric and acoustic blues. Petty’s characteris- tic imagery is at work in the lyrics, synching up smoothing with the melodies. Packers prevail City rejects fire ... Page 3B. union’s offers on vacation, wages By TOM GERMOND

LARGO – City commissioners, saying they want to be fair to other employees, sided with city officials in an im- passe hearing Aug. 31 on a labor agreement with the city’s firefighters’ union. Among the issues are whether a step pay plan in effect for fire-rescue workers should be replaced with a pay range plan. Assistant City Manager Henry Schubert said that fire- fighters traditionally receive two increases annually through a step pay plan that’s in effect. The step pay plan, he said, is “no longer fiscally sound or fair compared to other city employees, including our police officers.” LARGO “We cannot do business as usual because it worked in the past,” Schubert said. “Economic realities dictate other- wise.” Recycling contest The average firefighter-paramedic within the city makes $57,300 annually. His or her total cash pay including to be held online overtime and special pay is nearly $62,000 per year, Schu- bert said. The total cost to the city of the average firefight- Eco-innovators are challenged to con- er-paramedic is slightly more than $103,000 annually. struct useful creations from the contents Raises are frozen for city employees under the proposed of their trash can for the city of Largo’s city budget for next year. second annual Recycled Innovations Photo by JIM LAYFIELD Commissioner Curtis Holmes didn’t mince words on his Contest, beginning Sept. 1. Largo quarterback Juwan Brown finds some running room on a keeper play in the preseason game against position on union negotiations. ... Page 2A. the Clearwater Tornadoes Aug. 26. With stingy defense and a steady offense the varsity Packers defeated the Tornadoes 13-0 in three quarters. The junior varsity added 14 more points in the fourth. VIEWPOINTS See CITY, page 4A “Injured” Officer He’s Free-wheelin’ Paramedics train for SWAT team scenarios Matthew Hevel of By JULIANA A. TORRES Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office ar- toward the vehicle. Pinellas Park Police on a two-wheeler mored vehicle, called a Peacekeep- Paramedics working with police Department is helped by Columnist Bob McClure enjoyed riding CLEARWATER – A man with a er. Two Pinellas Park police officers SWAT teams in a scenario like the Paramedics Kevin bicycles as a kid and will never forget sniper rifle, the scope of his firearm raise tall shields against the bullets one set up for them on Aug. 26 Mannion of Largo that shiny, red J.C. Higgins model he got and his sunglasses peaking from as two of the medics approach a have to stay focused on several dif- Fire Rescue, left, for Christmas when he was about 8. below the railing of a loading ramp, body left lying on the asphalt and ferent objectives, Clearwater Fire and Robert Schleif ... Page 14A. takes aim at an approaching start checking for vital signs. and Rescue Lt. Chris Hoyne, who armed rescue vehicle as it rolls into “That’s a downed officer!” a train- led the training, later explained. of Pinellas County the parking lot. A group of four er in a red T-shirt shouts down to The patients with gunshot wounds Sheriff’s Office Features other “bad guys,” their own the group. “He’s got no obvious in- need attention one at a time while during a SWAT weapons drawn against the incom- juries, you just need to get him in the paramedics try to stay clear of training scenario. Business ...... 12A ing law enforcement, guard the there! Get him in the vehicle!” bullets and deal with the trauma of Classifieds ...... 6-9B door of the abandoned warehouse They take the mannequin by the the high-stress situation itself. Community ...... 9-11A where they’re holding hostages. arm and start to drag it out of “Obviously it’s more dangerous. County ...... 5-7A Gunshots snap like firecrackers harm’s way, one tripping in his See SWAT, page 4A Entertainment ...... 1-4B as five paramedics unload from the hurry to pull the “officer” backward Photo by JULIANA A. TORRES Just for fun ...... 5B Largo ...... 2-3A Outdoors ...... 15A Pets of the week ...... 11A Mon.-Wed. only Lolly’s Wigs Schools ...... 8A Sports ...... 16A Wednesday,Thursday & Friday

Viewpoints ...... 13-14A 12046 Indian Rocks Road, Largo 20% OFF 82610 20% OFF In Stock Wigs 727-595-1222 • www.VONailsAndSpa.com 9210 Call 397-5563 All Services Petite sizes available. For News & Advertising FACIALS • SPA THERAPY • WAXING • NAILS AND MORE Expires 9/15/10 727-723-5255 • 9148 Seminole Blvd., Seminole Leader, September 2, 2010 Entertainment 3B Review: ‘The Last Exorcism’ While it doesn’t come close to sham, Cotton has a documentary inducing the kind of fear generat- film crew accompany him on his ed by 1973’s “The Exorcist,” “The Reel Time last exorcism. Last Exorcism” is a compelling Cotton and the crew travel to and chilling late summer sur- Lee Clark Zumpe the remote Sweetzer farm and prise featuring some first-rate meet teenager Nell (Ashley Bell). performances and unexpected Her father (Louis Herthum), a plot twists. documentaries have become ex- widower with a drinking problem That is, except for the last 10 cruciatingly commonplace. More and a very traditionalist view of minutes – more on that in a mo- often than not, these derivative religion, claims Nell has been ment. films don’t live up to the hype slaughtering his livestock and At first glance, “The Last Exor- surrounding them, failing to de- that she’s possessed by the devil. cism” may seem a bit cliché, par- liver a persuasive premise and A mock exorcism follows and ticularly to veteran horror fans. It offering little or no content horror then all proverbial hell breaks repeats and reworks many ele- aficionados would deem truly loose. ments present in most films fear-provoking. Fabian manages to make a sharing similar subject matter, “The Last Exorcism,” directed mocking, self-disparaging charac- ingredients introduced in the by Daniel Stamm and co-pro- ter both likable and sympathetic. original genre juggernaut “The duced by Eli Roth, pulls off an As Cotton recounts personal Exorcist.” The formulaic building uncanny coup. The characters challenges and incidents that led blocks include a young woman are well developed and the condi- to his decision to turn his back whose behavior suggests demon- tions driving their motivations on his faith, Fabian infuses the ic possession, a holy man who is and intentions are convincing. role with traces of humility and struggling with his faith, freaky The film also manages to bring humanity that testify to the char- contortions accompanied by some disturbing images to the acter’s integrity. Had Fabian not crunching bones and, of course, screen, though it mainly gener- emphasized Cotton’s compassion, some vomit – though not of the ates dread through building ten- his persistence in trying to pro- projectile pea soup variety. sion. tect Nell would not have been What on Earth could have pos- The film follows skeptic priest credible. sessed filmmakers to conjure up Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian) Bell shifts gears from an inno- all of these worn-out horror whose preacher father groomed cent and troubled young victim to Photo by PATTI PERRET movie conventions? him to deliver sermons from the an alarmingly terrifying demon- When Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell, front) is said to be possessed by a demon, Cotton Marcus (Patrick Fabian, Most likely, it was the opportu- pulpit when he was still a child. puppet surprisingly smoothly. left), Louis Sweetzer (Louis Herthum, center) and Caleb Sweetzer (Caleb Landry Jones, right) participate in a nity to tell the tale in a new-fan- Early in the film, Cotton de- Playing the devil’s rag-doll must ritual to purge the evil entity in the Lionsgate film “The Last Exorcism.” gled way: namely, the trendy scribes his disillusionment with be demanding and a little unset- docu-drama. the only profession he has ever tling, but Bell handles the di- some unanticipated turns along plaining how it disappoints would Despite its Achilles' heel, “The Ever since “The Blair Witch known and admits that though chotomy effectively, oozing rural the way, right up until the last 10 spoil all of the fun leading up to Last Exorcism” is smart, riveting Project” introduced mainstream he has performed numerous ex- charm in early scenes and show- minutes. It doesn’t fall apart, ex- the disappointment, though, and and creepy. If only someone moviegoers to the concept of hor- orcisms, he doesn’t believe in de- casing her unsettling contortion- actly: It simply fails to deliver a that fun is worth the price of ad- could exorcise the regrettable ror in the form of simulated non- monic possession. ist skills as the film progresses. conclusion that suits the material mission. meltdown encapsulated in the fiction in 1999, faux fright To expose the practice as a And progress it does, taking presented up to that point. Ex- Just be prepared. last 10 minutes of the film ... Tom Petty finally brings ‘Mojo’ to St.

“Mojo,” released June 15, is Pete Times Forum the first studio album from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers since 2002. By LEE CLARK ZUMPE The group will play at the St. Pete Times Forum Sept. 16, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will perform Thursday, Sept. along with ZZ Top. 16, 7:30 p.m., at the St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Tickets range from $29.50 to $125. Special reserved seat four- packs are now available for $99. The four-packs are available only in advance and supply is limited. To purchase tickets, call 813- 301-2500 or visit www.sptimesforum.com. The tour was originally set to visit Tampa earlier this year but was rescheduled to accommodate the delayed arrival of the band’s highly anticipated new album, “Mojo.” The album, recorded be- tween April 2009 and January 2010, was officially released June 15. It’s the band’s first studio album since 2002’s “The Last DJ.” The new album showcases a wide variety of American music, in- cluding rock and roll, country and both electric and acoustic blues. Petty’s characteristic imagery is at work in the lyrics, synching up smoothing with the melodies. Petty kept busy during the band’s interim from recording new music. Along with a number of other projects, he reunited his first band, Mudcrutch, and cut the album they never got the opportuni- ty to make back in the early 1970s. Petty brings some of the raw spirit of the Mudcrutch sessions back to the Heartbreakers. “Mojo” doesn’t rely on studio trickery: It’s all about the band playing the music they love and it shows. “With this album, I want to show other people what I hear with the band,” Petty said in a press release issued by Big Hassle Media. “‘Mojo’ is where the band lives when it’s playing for itself.” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, their first year of eligibility. Since Image courtesy of BIG HASSLE PUBLICITY the band’s debut album in 1976, Petty and the Heartbreakers have Rock and roll legends ZZ Top will share the stage with Petty. generated a string of familiar classics and chart-topping hits such ZZ Top, multi-platinum icons of rock, blues and boogie, have re- as “Breakdown,” “American Girl,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” leased a total of 14 studio albums and 42 singles in their decades- MUSTANG FLEA & “Refugee,” “The Waiting,” “You Got Lucky,” “Don’t Come Around long career. Formed in 1969, ZZ Top consists of Billy Gibbons Here No More” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” (guitar), Dusty Hill (bass), and Frank Beard (drums). FARMER’S MARKET In recent years, the band has continued to build on that success. Beginning with a grungy blues groove that generated classic rock Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday The band’s sold-out 2008 tour was the biggest of their career and gems such as “La Grange,” “Tush” and “Cheap Sunglasses,” the OPEN 7 AM - 1 PM • 3 Days a Week! came right after the band’s acclaimed Super Bowl XLII half-time band then embraced synthesizers in the 1980s with the albums 8001 Park Blvd. • Pinellas Park 82610 performance with a worldwide audience of nearly a billion people. “Eliminator” and “Afterburner.” These successful releases included The 2009 release of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ career span- hits such as “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and ning “Live Anthology” earned glowing reviews from critics. “Sleeping Bag.”

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