The Death Of Joey Turner

Was the death of 20-year-old Joey Turner on July 4, 2004, in the Gulf of Mexico, less than 100 yards off St. Pete Beach a tragic drowning—–or was it a homicide? Nearly five years later there are more questions than answers surrounding the mysterious death of Turner, an accomplished swimmer, in a “boating accident” after he allegedly jumped from a vessel being operated by Lance Skipper, 19, son of prominent Pinellas County developer Paul Skipper............here
There is evidence of a seriously flawed investigation by the St. Pete Beach Police Department, and in particular, by lead investigator Vincent Marsilia.

Death On The Waterways

St. Pete Mayoral Contender Paul Congemi

“Don’t touch me. I am running for mayor and once I get elected, you will be fired.”

here

Where Would We Be Without Newspapers?

Tampa Police (Finaly) Executed A Search Warrant
Friday night on the Davis Islands home of Robert and Kim Valdez, parents of a teen suspected of fleeing a hit-and-run crash. On Thursday, police reactivated their investigation of the crash,
after the St. Petersburg Times raised questions about the 3-month-old case.............more

Izzy Cox at The Garage In St. Petersburg

Thurs., May 28, 9 p.m
here

Picnic Island Beach Closed

County health officials say the high levels of bacteria indicate fecal pollution, which could cause disease, infections or rashes if a swimmer ingests the water..........here

Jordan Valdez Of Tampa

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Valdez

The Editors, tbt*

Dream Boy In Ybor City

Saturday, May 23, 2009
Muvico Centro Ybor - 7:30pm
here

Beverly Edwards of Arden, North Carolina

Left her 96-year-old aunt at a local Salvation Army shelter in Bradenton , then left for a Walt Disney World vacation with no plans to return for her...........here

I Love You, Jasmine

Jasmine Bedwell collapsed in tears outside the courthouse after a reporter asked for her reaction to McTear telling her he loved her in court........here

The Silent Witness On Davis Islands

Police say they can't prove who was driving the Nissan Murano that killed a homeless woman in a hit-and-run case three months ago. But they haven't used all the investigative tools at their disposal..........more

Had the driver of the Murano stopped at the time of the crash, it's likely that no charges or even a traffic ticket would have been sought.

Strip Club King: Trailer

Jennifer Porter Should Be In Jail

Jennifer Porter, the former schoolteacher who drove away after hitting four children and killing two, was denied her request to end probation this morning........here

Creative Loafing Summer Guide: Pam Iorio

The Bruised Knight's Ybor City Adventure

I was floored by this little jewel of activity in an otherwise bleh state. I make no lie I don’t find much awe inspiring beauty in Florida *well there was that one girl on the bar at Coyote Ugly but I digress.*.........here

Ybor City Museum Needs Volunteers

Ybor City Preservationists Win

An agreement between preservation supporters and Hillsborough Community College, in Tampa, will let the college proceed with construction of a controversial new student-services building.........here

Lawton Chiles Elementary Students Head To Iowa

Seven students were building a bridge out of the flimsiest materials imaginable — a thin strip of construction paper, string, tape, labels, rubber bands and a few paper clips. And they had just five minutes to make it as long as possible.......more
Go Falcons!

Hillsborough Residents Say No To Tent City For Homeless

Most agree that homelessness is a problem in Hillsborough County that needs more attention. But one solution, a proposed tent city on Hillsborough Avenue near Harney Road, has neighbors fearful of decreased property values and increased crime.......here

Welcome Rain

The Back Woods at the Museum of Science & Industry

Is a 25 acre forest preserve in the midst of urban Tampa, Florida.

here

Tampa, Home Base Of Operation Panama Express

Four Colombian men are facing a federal judge today in the first trial under a new law targeting semisubs used to smuggle cocaine from Colombia to the United States..........more

The new law, signed by former President George W. Bush in October. It makes it a crime punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison to be in international waters in a stateless submersible or semisubmersible vessel designed to avoid detection.

Wengay Newton’s Summer Vacation

It was eight of us with a single mom, so there wasn’t a lot of vacationing. We’d go to Busch Gardens … one or two of us, then we would come back and tell the rest how it was.”......... Wengay Newton

Justice For Melissa Sjostrom

Three months ago, a driver in an SUV killed a woman crossing a South Tampa street and fled. Within hours, Tampa police had connected a red paint chip from the scene to a Nissan Murano with front end damage parked in front of a million-dollar Davis Islands home. The paint flake from the crime scene fit
"just like a jigsaw puzzle," an officer wrote in a report..........here

Stogie Has Some Questions
*Two weeks after Sjostorm died, a check for $100,000 was sent to her mother from the company that insured the SUV?
*If there is nothing to hide, why take the fifth?
*Why is the family in therapy?
*Why did the Tampa police detective who investigated the case, Robert D. Powell, failed to appear in court?
Powell listed two crash witnesses in an affidavit he sent to the court 11 days ago. However, no witnesses were subpoenaed to testify at today's hearing, the judge learned in court today. Sending subpoenaes to witnesses in traffic cases is typically the responsibility of the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court's office.

"You wouldn't leave a dog to die alone in a street like that,"..........Connie Wheeler

Strip Club King: The Story of Joe Redner

Is now available for pre-order at the link below. The official North American release date is August 4, so all DVDs purchased will be shipped that day.

here

Friends Of Stogie

At The Firehouse In Temple Terrace

Alex Sink for Governor

Pit Bulls Pounding the Pavement

Please come out and support Pit Bulls Pounding the Pavement's all time favorite Pit Bull Rescue group PIT STOP BULLYS in their efforts to raise money for their rescue organization........here
Thursday, May 21st! from 5pm-8pm
Sweet Tomatoes on Dale Mabry just south of Bearss

Tampa Children Sing to Help New Orleans

Focusing on the needs of others, 15 members of the award-winning Tampa Bay Children's Chorus will participate this summer in a five-day festival in New Orleans..........here

Going Green

In Tampa

Spence's Ybor City Adventure

Wow what an interesting night! What started off as a few friends going to a local bar to do some karaoke turned into us going clear down to Ybor City and seeing many interesting sites..........more

The Tampa That Might Have Been

A year ago I was doing microfilm research on local history at the John German(y) Library in Tampa. I was flabbergasted to discover a Tampa Tribune article from November 25, 1924, that mentioned the work of the famous town planner John Nolen in connection with Tampa..........more

Tampa - Gipsy Kings

Stogie Recommends: Star Trek

The New Crew Of The USS Enterprise
Great Casting, Especially Karl Urban As Dr. McCoy. Stogie's Trekkie Fix For The Rest Of His Life.
here

ENOUGH OF THIS

There can be no question that an insidious effort to dismantle growth management is bad for the state when both the Hillsborough County Commission and 1000 Friends of Florida are asking Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the legislation.

The commission rarely stands up to developers,

and 1000 Friends is a stalwart supporter of smart community planning........here

Hillsborough Gets Two New Pet-Friendly Hurricane Shelters

Hillsborough County is doubling the number of pet-friendly disaster shelters it offers to four, just in time for hurricane season. Animal Services workers are seeking monetary donations so they can purchase pet crates and other supplies for the additional two shelters............here

Leilani’s Perspective: Heatwave Hopscotch

Last night, Photographer Phil and I played Heatwave Hopscotch, skipping from stage to stage, pausing longer at some than at others though never staying long enough to get comfortable in any one place, and having a grand old time all along the way............more

Anti-Sink Web Site Set Up By Alachua Republican

There's already one group going after Democrat Alex Sink with a Web site called Don't Bank on Sink that re-uses the same "banker" talking points the state GOP put out yesterday, minutes after the state chief financial officer announced her gubernatorial bid.........more

Alex Sink

Engagement Session in Ybor City

Jason Angelini Photography

Cut and Run Charlie Crist

By running for U.S. Senate, Charlie Crist has cut and run on the Sunshine State, once again taking the easy way out, avoiding responsibility and leaving the hard work of facing Florida's problems to the next governor........here

Hillsborough County Teacher Ross Anderson

Was named this year's We Deliver award winner. The award, funded by an anonymous donor through the district's education foundation, recognizes an employee who "delivers miracles every day,"...............here

Buddy Johnson Is In More Hot Water

In an effort to appeal to taxpayers during his campaign for re-election last year, Buddy Johnson boasted that he had cut his office's budget by 10 percent. Instead, according to an audit released Friday, Johnson overspent his budget in the final 15 months of his administration by $2.35 million...........more

Parents Gave Permission For Their Children To Be Shocked

Florida Prisons Shock Kids

Demonstrations at three Florida prisons where more than 40 children were shocked with stun guns have led to the dismissal of three employees and the resignation of two others, Corrections Secretary Walter McNeil said Friday.............here

Become A Friend of SWFBUD

You can become a Friend of SWFBUD for $25 a year and the first 100 Friends will get a free Polar Bottle water bottle.

here

If you want to become a Friend, contact SWFBUD Director Alan Snel at

alansnel@yahoo.com

Michael Lowry's Mercy

A St. Petersburg homeowner's mercy might be the only reason a burglary suspect is still alive.............here

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin White

The Cyrano de Bergerac of Kennedy Blvd.

Has found himself in a fine kerfuffle of kinkiness in the wake of a federal sexual discrimination lawsuit brought by a former aide who claims no sooner did she go work for the commissioner in 2007 than Kevin White began redefining the term public service...........more