7A COVID-19 case count Get the latest on testing, new cases, and number of deaths in Pinellas County. 2021 the danger zone for box offi cece What movies will lure audiences back into the theaters? Check out our list of 12 of the most anticipated fi lms of 2021. 3B December 31, 2020 www.TBNweekly.com Volume 42, No. 41 * Visit TBNweekly.com/coronavirus for more TRACKING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS Also Inside COVID-19 Vaccine rollout underway Governor prioritizes vaccinations for those ages 65 and older; local front-line caregivers, fi rst responders receive doses and Drug Administration’s emergency use across the state have received doses of number should start going up in the near authorization Dec. 18 and is the second By SUZETTE PORTER the COVID-19 vaccines, and as a part of vaccine to receive this approval. future. their allocation, hospitals received enough Tampa Bay Newspapers Gov. Ron DeSantis released an execu- Adam Rudd, CEO of Largo Medical Cen- rst doses to vaccinate their entire frontline tive order Dec. 23 that says the state’s fi ter said, “The safety of our caregivers has As of Christmas day, 113,946 Florid- health care staff and have vaccine remain- phase of the vaccine shall only be used remained fi rst and foremost throughout ians had received their fi rst dose of the ing. St. Pete Beach on long-term care facilities residents and this pandemic and we are excited that we COVID-19 vaccine, including 8,832 in Pi- Largo Medical Center recently an- staff; persons age 65 and older; and health are now able to provide COVID-19 vac- The Game of Kings will return to the nellas County, according to a report from nounced it had started vaccination clinics cines to our frontline caregivers. Their care personnel with direct patient contact. for frontline caregivers. The hospital re- Pink Palace for a second year when the state Department of Health. In addition, hospitals are allowed to persistence and dedication to our patients Most were ages 35-64 and includ- ceived its fi rst shipment of the Moderna vaccinate anyone believed to be extremely over the past 10 months is incredible and the Beach Polo Classic takes place ed health care workers, paramedics and COVID-19 vaccine and began vaccinating Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9-10, at vulnerable to COVID-19. caregivers deemed highest risk on Dec. 24. other front line workers. According to a press release, over the See VACCINE, page 2A Nearly 20,000 of those ages 65 and The Moderna vaccine received the Food the Don CeSar Hotel. Guests and past two weeks, more than 170 hospitals locals alike are invited to watch the older also have been vaccinated. That horses run on the beach during the 10A two-day event. Pinellas County Year in Review Pinellas County County commissioners give their It’s fi nally over! No one is going to be sad initial thumbs-up to priorities for state nal look lawmakers to consider during the 2021 to see 2020 go, so we take one fi legislative session. 3A at our top 20 story lines from the past year Redington Beach before saying good riddance. 4-6A, 8-9A Working page by page, Redington Beach commissioners tweaked several proposed ordinances in a meeting that lasted about three hours. 10A 20 for Seminole The Seminole Lake Rotary Club’s Red Sled Initiative works with partners Seminole City Center and the Rotary Club of Gulf Beaches to raise more than $45,000 in gifts for area children in need. 10A 2020 Also Online Visit TBNweekly.com for plenty more from around Pinellas, including: Dwight Gooden, who Dunedin burst on the Major League City offi cials are using a bevy of Gooden takes it day by day scene as fl attering adjectives to describe the 19-year-old artwork concept for their proposed For former MLB star, the journey from being a 19-year-old phenom phenom from new government center. to humble great-grandfather has been loaded with hits and misses Tampa, had a ching U short stint with to easily take the National League at p By DAN HIRSHBERG C Tampa Bay in E-edition Rookie of the Year award. The ex- TBN Correspondent 2000 toward pectations for Gooden, and the Mets, Want to share the paper with family or the end of a It was February 1985 and Dwight loaded with talent on a team that playing career also included Darryl Strawberry and friends? Visit TBNweekly.com to check Gooden was already the talk of the fi lled with newly arrived Gary Carter, were ex- out an electronic version of this week’s town as the New York Mets opened plenty of highs tremely high. up their spring training camp at and lows. paper that you The shows must go on Ruth Eckerd Hall beginning to reschedule some of its shows. … Page 3B. Despite his success in 1984, when Since you’re stuck at home, it’s time to Huggins-Stengel Field at Crescent can download break out the books spring training started in ‘85, Good- Catching Up Our entertainment editor has put together a list of novels about rebuilding civilization. … Page 1B. Lake Park in St. Petersburg. is a feature that Photo by ROBERT Volume 43, No. 43 www.TBNweekly.com April 2, 2020 CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES TO TAKE TOLL ON PINELLAS COUNTY en had concerns. or share. As a 19-year-old phenom from highlights former ROGERS/ Also Inside The Good The Bad Number of “They are always talking about pro baseball Tampa Bay Rays You’ll also cases and Tampa with just one minor league deaths not the sophomore jinx,” he said. “That players who Public transit slowing Citing a lack of ridership, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority • County issues ‘safer at home’ order • Schools to stay closed until May 1 season behind him, Gooden shook suspended service on its downtown took part in St. Petersburg Looper and South By SUZETTE PORTER fi nd e-editions Clearwater Beach Jolley Trolley Tampa Bay Newspapers effective. 4A As of press time March 31, Pinellas was on my mind.” To make matters County’s coronavirus virus cases were up Cancellations to 144, according to information released by the Florida Department of Health. Find out what Pinellas County DOH announced the death of a 58-year- spring training old male Sunday night, events are canceled or facilities are « « up the baseball world by going 17-9 bringing the county’s closed and for how long. 4A death toll to fi ve. TBN Finding a way to keep people fed. 2A DOH Pinellas report- weekly.com ed Saturday morning Business that three county res- Online idents had died due to For the latest worse, “I started out bad.” Local restaurants face a daunting of our special the coronavirus. Two of numbers from in the area or challenge of trying to keep their the dead are males, age the Department doors open after being forced to 52 and 64, and the third of Health, visit was an 83-year-old fe- TBNweekly.com close their dining rooms. 9A male. No additional in- the year before. In 218 innings he Kindness formation was readily available. The county’s first death attributed to More cases COVID-19 was reported on March 24. A 67-year-old man in Pinellas died March 23. now live here. A second case of COVID-19 also proves to be The case was not travel-related and DOH is linked to a South Pasadena says the man did not have contact with a condominium complex. 7A confi rmed case. According to the latest report, 127 of the cases in Pinellas are in Florida residents sections. Opinion and 17 are non-residents. Forty-fi ve were struck out 276 batters and fash- hospitalized. Eighty-three cases were men Our Pinellas County editor, See GOODEN, page 2A Suzette Porter, says you should Contagious See PINELLAS, page 4A heed offi cials’ warnings because staying inside could help save a The Ugly life. 6A Much of Pinellas County may be under some degree of self-isolation, but that doesn’t mean those who are in need are alone. That’s the message Dear TBN Readers Pinellas is ioned an ERA of 2.60 on his way many residents have sent out to fi rst responders, health care workers, We want to thank all of you for your loyal readership and patronage. All of struggling businesses and at-risk seniors this past week. running low us at Tampa Bay Newspapers (TBN) are proud to publish one of the best and largest groups of weekly commu- nity papers in the country. on supplies As we continue into these unprece- dented times, we all are facing a mul- titude of challenges that have already Seeking out donations of personal impacted our daily lives. This is cer- tainly no different for the over 100 fi ne protective equipment from public folks who produce, print and deliver our papers. By SUZETTE PORTER Although we are hoping to maintain Tampa Bay Newspapers our print schedule, please understand that schedule could be temporarily dis- Pinellas County offi cials announced on rupted at any time. Health risks to our March 27 that only two weeks of needed employees, government mandates and « « « « « « medical supplies remain for fi rst respond- fi nancial considerations are all factors ers and health care workers on the front- that could necessitate that decision. Businesses Artists are Program lines of the war against the coronavirus. Whether that becomes a reality or not, we will maintain up-to-date coverage team up to help pitching in with helps eateries, The county put out a request March 24 on our offi cial publication websites at: seniors get TP.