Billboards to highlight cold crime cases Investigation includes triple homicde ... Page 5A. ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ opens this weekend in theaters Also in theaters will be “The Change-Up’ starring Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman ... Page 1B. Volume XXXIV, No. 3 www.TBNweekly.com August 4, 2011 COUNTY City gets break on health insurance By TOM GERMOND free policies by reducing the quoted premium an ad- a renewal quote with no increase in the premium. ditional 2 percent, a savings of about $138,000. The other three vendors’ proposals included increas- LARGO – Tobacco-free workplace policies are con- The commission decided May 17 to prevent em- es: Humana, 3.68 percent; Blue Cross Blue Shield, tributing to the city’s 13.59 percent decrease in the ployees from using tobacco during city paid working 7.24 percent; and PRM of Florida, 29.75 percent. overall premium for medical insurance for the next hours in city buildings, at city parks and on city “We got a very aggressive and competitive quote calendar year. grounds. A longstanding policy also prohibits the from United Healthcare,” Sinz said. City commissioners Aug. 2 approved a $6.29 mil- city from hiring police officers and firefighters who The insurance program mirrors its current cover- lion proposal from United Healthcare to provide use tobacco products. age, she said. medical insurance to city employees beginning Jan. “We haven’t gone out for a request for a proposal Commissioner Robert Murray commended the 1 and authorized the city manager to execute a final for three years,” said Human Resource Director city’s benefit committee on its recommendations re- contract with the firm. Susan Sinz. “So we knew this year we would have to garding health insurance. In discussions with United Healthcare, city offi- test the waters and go out and find out what’s out He also said that when city officials discussed cials asked whether United provided any type of pre- there for us.” Sailing lifts spirits mium reduction for tobacco-free workplace policies. City officials received proposals for its fully in- See CITY, page 4A Sailability is a nonprofit organization United Healthcare responded to the city’s tobacco- sured option. The current provider, Cigna, submitted based out of the Clearwater Community Sailing Center that allows people with disabilities the opportunity to either be taken for a sailing outing or to sail them- For the love of Lulu selves using specially designed boats. This year it celebrates its 10-year an- niversary. ... Page 8A. Despite having degenerative myelopathy, Lulu, 11, a Welsh corgi, loves to go to the Man arrested dog park in Walsingham Park for walks and to play with a ball. Canine degenerative in abduction case myelopathy is a progressive disease that attacks the spinal cords of older dogs. It is A Texas man was arrested in Orlando July 29 in connection with the abduction believed that the myelin, an insulating of an 11-year-old girl living in unincorpo- sheath surrounding neurons in the spinal rated Clearwater. chord, is attacked by the immune system, Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives preventing signals from the brain to the provided several details about events lower body. The mutated gene responsible leading up to the arrest of Richie Urich, for DM has been found in 43 breeds 19, of Dallas. He was booked into the Or- including German shepherds, boxers, ange County Jail on charges of lewd and Chesapeake Bay retrievers, Rhodesian lascivious conduct. The name of the vic- ridgebacks and Welsh corgis. A DNA test tim will not be released. can be performed to see if a dog carries the According to the sheriff’s report, the gene. victim told an elderly adult in her home that she was going to the movies with another relative. The victim left the home at around 4 p.m. Photo by JIM LAYFIELD When the victim failed to return in about three hours, the family called the other family member, and asked about the girl. The other family member ad- vised that they had not been with the Relaxing on a hot day Fort De Soto Park’s fort victim and had not gone to the movies. Based on the information recovered – some of which was sexually explicit, the reopens after renovations age of the child and the potential danger in the situation, detectives gathered in- formation to meet the criteria for an The fort at Fort De Soto Park Amber Alert – which was approved and reopened July 27 after being authorized by the FDLE for activation closed to the public for a $1.1 around 4:45 a.m. million restoration project. As they worked to activate the Amber The work began in October Alert detectives also were actively search- 2010. ing for the girl – and soon pinpointed an The restorative work focused address in Orlando – the Central Park on the repair of clogged air vents Apartments on Westgate Drive. With as- and collapsed drainage sys- sistance from the Orlando Police Depart- tems. In addition, excavated ment, officers checked the address and sand was replaced and native, found the girl at around 8 a.m. The drought-resistant dune plants Amber Alert was canceled. were added to restore the fort to Pinellas detectives then drove to Or- its original camouflaged appear- lando to continue the Pinellas investiga- ance. tion. Orlando police released the victim Crews also patched cracks, to her family at the conclusion of the in- pressure cleaned walkways and terviews. access ways, and installed a Pinellas detectives are still reviewing ramp that is compliant with the the interview results and the evidence to Americans with Disabilities Act. determine what charges may result in The ramp leads to the fort’s Pinellas County. upper observation areas on the south end as well as new stairs on the north end. VIEWPOINTS The restoration project was funded by a $500,000 grant from Carl Hiaasen the Florida Department of Envi- ronmental Protection, a What if Rupert $246,000 grant from Save Ameri- Murdoch’s voicemail ca’s Treasures, which is out of Photo COURTESY OF PINELLAS COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS were hacked? the National Parks Service and … Page 9A. New drainage piping, part of a $1.1 million restoration project, helps $354,000 from Penny for Pinellas protect the guns at the fort at Fort De Soto Park. funds. The largest park within the offer a military defense during of any major battle and the Pinellas County park system, the Spanish-American War. For- weapons of the forts on the two Fort De Soto Park consists of tifications were built on Mullet islands were never fired in com- 1,136 acres on five interconnect- Key, on which the fort at Fort De bat. However, that era was signif- Photo by BOB McCLURE ed islands (keys). The fort is an Soto was built, and Egmont Key. icant in terms of the evolution of A pair of pelicans relaxes on a piling next to John’s Pass important part of the area’s his- During this time, Tampa became modern weaponry. A historic Features Village in Madeira Beach. The perch allows the birds to do tory. the port of embarkation for U.S. guide to Fort De Soto is available some tourist-watching, forage for food or cool off in the The fort was named after the troops and supplies going to the online at www.pinellascounty Business . .11A water below. Spanish explorer Hernando De Caribbean war zones. .org/park/pdf/Fort_DeSoto_his Classifieds . .4-7B Soto in 1900 and was built to Fort De Soto was never the site toric_guide.pdf. Community . .12-13A County . .5-8A Entertainment . .1-3,8B County Commission OKs tentative millage rates Just for fun . .2B Largo . .2-3A By SUZETTE PORTER Commissioner Norm Roche reminded everyone that He said countywide property taxes on the average Pets of the week . .13A the tentative rates could change before final approval. value would be $566.05 – if commissioners approve a CLEARWATER – With little discussion, Pinellas Commissioners are setting the maximum potential – proposed tax rate of 5.7236 mills, which includes the Schools . .10A County Commissioners approved tentative millage rates not the final, Roche said. general fund, EMS and health department. Viewpoints . .9A July 28 for fiscal year 2011-2012. If the rates are ap- John Woodruff, director of Pinellas County’s Office of Woodruff said the cost is the equivalent to $1.55 a proved, residents will see increases in their property tax Management and Budget, told commissioners that the day in property tax for countywide services. Call 397-5563 bills to pay for emergency medical services and possibly average market value of a single residential property in For News & Advertising fire protection. Pinellas for fiscal year 2012 is about $144,000. The av- The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. erage taxable value is $98,900. See MILLAGE, page 4A Lolly’s Wigs Don’t let Heat & Humidity 12046 Indian Rocks Road, Largo cause you a Bad Hair Day! 727-595-1222 • www.VONailsAndSpa.com 20% OFF with this ad FACIALS • SPA THERAPY • WAXING • NAILS AND MORE 72111 080411 20% OFF We Offer Full Set or $ 00 Full Service, Private Rooms, Licensed Hairdresser. 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