Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Firefighters spent hours Tuesday morning bringing an auto salvage yard fire under control.  According to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue about 40 first responders were called to Affordable Auto Salvage in the 6300 block of Jensen Road just before 3 a.m.  The Gibsonton-area fire soon spread to three alarms Officials said it was an active fire scene upon arrival with heavy flames and smoke pouring from stacks of vehicles.  when we arrived we were met with some water supply issues but we were able to overcome that," said HCFR Public Safety Chief Rob Herrin "We have an aerial truck up in the air Herrin added there are several stacks of cars that are burning and no injuries have been reported Crews were able to contain the fire before 8 a.m.  The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) began a significant intersection improvement project on U.S which is expected to take roughly 140 days to complete with the first phase expected to last approximately 21 days will be replacing the asphalt pavement at the U.S 301 and Gibsonton Drive/Boyette Road intersection with concrete 301 travel lanes will be reduced through the intersection with Gibsonton Drive just west of U.S completely closed until approximately Friday the interstate ramps at Interstate 75 and Gibsonton Drive will remain open during the closure so motorists should use Big Bend Road (County Rd Motorists will need to detour around the closure using Riverview Drive Those traveling east of the intersection can use Rhodine Road McMullen Road or Boyette Road as alternate routes residents and emergency vehicles will be maintained the intersection improvements will have two left-turn lanes from westbound Boyette Road onto southbound U.S two through lanes from westbound Boyette Road across U.S 301 and one right-turn lane from westbound Boyette Road onto northbound U.S Motorists should anticipate “significant traffic delays and congestions” during the project and along all nearby roads during the closure allow extra travel time and expect congestion “The project is replacing asphalt with concrete due to the high volume of truck traffic Concrete pavement will be more durable and will have a longer life than asphalt This also reduces maintenance operations at the intersection due to the heavy volume of traffic.” “We’re going to close Gibsonton Drive just west of U.S but you will not be able to cross over U.S We are also reducing some of the travel lanes on U.S There’ll be only two northbound and two southbound open,” said Carson Once the work on the western side of the U.S the project will then shift to the eastern half of the U.S 301 intersection — Boyette Road — and northbound U.S The estimated completion date for the project is near the end of July For more information on this project or to sign up for traffic alerts, visit www.fdottampabay.com or call 813-975-6204 I would like to receive emails from Osprey Observer — Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is working to extinguish a three-alarm fire in Gibsonton HCFR said the fire happened on US 41 near Big Bend Road damaging an aluminum building in that area Firefighters initially thought it was a brush fire but discovered a 13,000 square foot business tucked in the trees on fire HCFR says the business is Savich Wholesale a place that both stores and sales various items "It was a 13,000 square foot structure involved deep in the woods along with some conex boxes and dumpsters filled with debris It quickly went two alarms within 15 minutes and another 45 minutes after that it went to a third alarm," said HFCR Acting PIO Danny Alvarez there's no indication as to what they had in there and if there was a potential accelerant for the fire we did have some LP tanks that did blow on scene and that created additional fire hazards for us But with all that is under control at this time," he added Investigators continue to look for a cause for the fire US-41 in Gibsonton remains closed as they investigate ABC Action News will provide more updates as they become available and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Latest Hillsborough County News from ABC Action News Report a typo Restaurant Brings Approximately 150 Full- and Part-Time Jobs to Community Honors 100 Local Heroes with Free Chick-fil-A Entrées for a Year The Chick-fil-A PlayTM  App is your home for free games and activities designed to create more time with your favorite people — A major road project starts this weekend that is expected to cause added traffic delays in Riverview.  Gibsonton Drive will be closed in both directions just west of U.S 301 will be reduced to two lanes in each direction at the intersection of Gibsonton Dr This all starts at midnight on Friday into Saturday But it’s Monday morning that Florida Deptartment of Transportation officials say drivers will start to see the biggest traffic impact “We know it’s going to be challenging for motorists We just want to make sure they’re aware of it leave early and please watch out for construction workers,” said FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson The closure is for the first phase of a project to replace asphalt in the area with more durable concrete That’s due to the high amount of traffic in a busy area There’s a lot of cars that go through here It’s going to last a lot longer than asphalt normally would,” Carson said 🚧 Gibsonton Drive is closing for three weeks at US 301 starting this weekend. FDOT says to expect extra traffic on the detour routes in Riverview during the road work. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/TQjd4aEvkh Drivers will be detoured using Riverview Drive The interstate ramps at I-75 and Gibsonton Drive will remain open FDOT recommends that drivers use Big Bend Road and U.S FDOT officials say access to businesses will remain open crews will do the same work on east side of U.S WFLA A truck drove off a bridge into a creek in Gibsonton on Friday TampaHoy.com es la división en español de WFLA - News Channel 8 On Your Side ofreciendo las noticias más importantes de la Bahía de Tampa Encuentra información actualizada sobre sucesos además de ser la casa oficial de los Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mantente informado con lo que sucede en tu comunidad cars were lining a portion of Harbor Drive S Indian Rocks Beach heard a loud boom followed by a pink plume of smoke Lee Hughes was arrested Thursday and has since been fired from Pinellas Preparatory Academy Tampa Fire Rescue said crews were battling a fire at a mechanic shop and scrap yard facility on West Osborne Avenue Monday evening 'We've got to get this right': Attorney representing ferry crash survivors weighs in on case The News Channel 8 Team presents the latest information on the events of the day and timely updates on local sports Rebecca's forecast for Monday night- increasing chances for rain this week 'People want answers': Attorney for family in Clearwater ferry crash voices concern A non-profit started by a small group right here in Tampa Bay are now making a big impact in providing resources for neglected children Chairperson for Joshua's House Annual Child Abuse Awareness Benefit the host of the nationally syndicated health and wellness show Bloom to share more details about the work they do in the community and how they create awareness — A Gibsonton man was killed in a Hillsborough County crash on Saturday after entering the path of another vehicle a 57-year-old Tampa man was driving a Mazda CX-5 southbound on U.S the Concorde driver continued into the path of the Mazda and was struck by the vehicle according to a Florida Highway Patrol report The Gibsonton man was taken to an area hospital The Mazda driver and three passengers suffered minor injuries Updated: A 23-year-old Gibsonton man was killed Thursday night on Interstate 4 in Tampa when a road sign toppled onto on the vehicle amid dangerous winds from Hurricane Helene “We have had a report of a fatality on the roadway A car driving on I-4 near Ybor City in Tampa was hit when a sign fell onto the highway,” DeSantis said during a media briefing late Thursday night The Florida Highway Patrol later reported on Friday that the man died while riding as a passenger in a Honda Odyssey driven by a 61-year-old Gibsonton man He was traveling westbound on Interstate 4 with the victim and two other Gibsonton residents The other three people in the vehicle survived The death was apparently the first in Florida related to the hurricane which at the time was more than a hundred miles away nearing the state’s Big Bend area Tampa was experiencing tropical storm-strength winds from the hurricane “That just shows you that it’s very dangerous conditions out there,” DeSantis said An image from a Florida Department of Transportation camera showed the road sign atop the vehicle “We know that travel on the roads can be hazardous will have fatalities in every storm from that,” DeSantis said “When you are out on the roads in the middle of one of these storms Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly placed the victim in the vehicle Public engagement has been ongoing concerning the shift from private septic tanks to public sewer lines in Gibsonton where $61 million has been earmarked for phase one of a four-phase project Each of the four phases targets a different area of Gibsonton with the overall service area and project boundaries running from the Alafia River to the north I-75 to the east and Tampa Bay to the west Phase one is set to begin early this year for an undertaking that is sure to boost development in the ever-burgeoning south Hillsborough County community “You can’t bring local businesses to our Gibsonton area without there being sewer systems because you can’t have public bathrooms on septic tanks.” Phase 1 construction is scheduled to start in early 2025 and be completed by the middle of 2027 and the construction schedule is still to be determined The Gibsonton Septic-to-Sewer Conversion project is part of a major push to improve water flow and quality and to protect groundwater region wide The aim is to replace septic systems and to protect water quality in Tampa Bay’s natural water systems Roadways damaged by construction will be restored and concrete mains that contain asbestos will be replaced with those that do not Public comments concerning the project include concerns about the cost of conversion whether the conversion is mandatory and whether the same services will be available elsewhere in south Hillsborough County In her online answers on behalf of the county at the Hillsborough County Engagement and Education Hub Gita Iranipour noted that “the county will pay for the capital costs of the new sewer system” and that “normally the service connection costs are the responsibility of the property owners.” She added that the county’s Water Resources Department is pursuing special funding to assist property owners with conversion costs.” Iranipour answered as well that “conversion is not mandatory as it relates to interests beyond Gibsonton the “septic-to-sewer is a long-term plan that aims to replace all septic and low-pressure sewer systems within the county’s Urban Service Area[s].” The first phase in Gibsonton kicks off early this year and includes replacement of the existing water mains and construction of the new vacuum sewer mains in an area bordered by Vern Street to the west Gibsonton Drive to the north and Bullfrog Creek to the south Next in phase one is construction of the force main from the south of Bullfrog Creek on East Bay Drive to Symmes Road and then east to Poinsettia Street where construction of the Poinsettia in-line booster pump station aims to alleviate high pressures within the existing force main system Rounding out phase-one activities is construction of the vacuum pump station at Gibsonton Elementary School Phase one work is expected to be completed in early 2027 three and four is yet to be determined and depends on the availability of funding comes through the Hillsborough County Capital Improvement Program Florida Department of Environmental Protection Wastewater Grant and British Petroleum Economic Settlement funds Phase One construction is set for weekdays with normal construction noise expected as it relates to heavy equipment and excavation activities County officials say standard dust-control measures will be employed and a precautionary water boil notice will be issued Work primarily will occur on county rights of way with property owner approval required for any work on private property Expect no interruptions to solid waste collection or deliveries Expect road closures with detours on Nundy Avenue which for local traffic will remain open for residents and businesses Expect eastbound lane shifts and intermittent lane closures Symmes and East Bay roads will have lane closures and flaggers to direct traffic Drop-off and pickup will continue as always at Gibsonton Elementary School The Gibsonton service area and project boundaries are the Alafia River to the north County officials say removal of asbestos concrete pipe will comply with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous material regulations including that asbestos should not be released into the air “workers removing the asbestos pipes have undergone extensive training on removal procedures and wear protective equipment.” The informational overview for the Gibsonton Septic-to-Sewer Conversion project is available on line, at the Hillsborough County Engagement and Education Hub. There, through June 23, community input is sought as well. Visit https://publicinput.com/hub/1175/. is an interactive map to follow project progress by pipeline type Design and construction updates will be posted as well Interested parties can search by address to confirm the availability of future sewer connections Things are getting a bit messy and testy in Riverview thanks to construction at and near the intersection of U.S Highway 301 at Boyette Road as it turns into Gibsonton Drive Highway 301 from Boyette Road are in view of 11 “Road Closed” construction signs put in place by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials for an intersection improvement project that includes replacing asphalt pavement with a durable concrete surface and is expected to remain closed for 21 days The closing blocks a heavily traveled route for access to the I-75 interchange before moving further west to U.S the $1.24 million state project includes as well repaving U.S Highway 301 from Whitt Road to Rivercrest Drive FDOT officials say the intersection work will be done in phases and will take approximately 140 days to complete which launched within a minute of midnight on March 1 aims to reduce travel through the intersection from both the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S Completely closed is the section of Gibsonton Drive headed west toward I-75 motorists have been told to detour around the work zone using Riverview Drive motorists wishing to use the still-open interstate ramps at I-75 and Gibsonton Drive are instructed to use as alternate roads Big Bend Road and U.S is to widen the westbound intersection approach to accommodate the addition of a left-turn lane and to convert the existing shared through/left-turn lane into a shared through/right-turn lane The county project further includes a directional median opening accommodating westbound left-turn movement on Riverview Drive curbs and pavement markings for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Public comments to a county online survey attest to the need for the improvements as well as support for the plan overall including for traffic light timing and synching “I hate being the car going straight from Riverview Drive and blocking all the people who want to go south on [U.S “They used to cut through the parking lot behind the sandwich shop This intersection needs a fix sooner rather than later.” respondents welcome the “long needed” attention to south-east Hillsborough County traffic needs calling the county project a “solid,” “acceptable” and “good plan.” “Traffic just starts to squeeze and squeeze all the way from 301 and 41 and the Crosstown south as far south as each will take someone to drive it,” said one respondent who used the word “scary” to describe the situation “This intersection [improvement project] is an amazing start but also the volume [of traffic] must be addressed.” In the camp of too little too late are respondents who addressed the area’s unabated growth “The overall issue we deal with is that fact that there are not many bridges going over the [Alafia] River to allow for more ways to travel north and south in and out of Riverview,” one respondent said coupled with overwhelming growth this area has experienced is the underlying issue affecting all travel who called the current action “a Band-Aid on a much bigger issue,” noted there are “only three existing exits from I-75 into a massively developed area from Gibsonton to Sun City Center,” which “causes congestion in every other road into these areas.” In tune with that distress is a respondent who lamented the almost one-month closing of Gibsonton Drive at its intersection with U.S Navigating unrelenting traffic and construction at the same time “sounds like a complete nightmare for those of us who have no alternative but to use Riverview Drive.” — Drivers familiar with US 301 can agree on this “It’s a lot of traffic to be honest,” said Youssef Tassi “It’s very congested,” said Brenda Mitchell The heavily traveled area will soon see intersection improvements coming to part of the stretch in Riverview crews will start replacing asphalt pavement with a concrete surface at the intersection of US 301 and Gibsonton Drive/Boyette Road and repaving 301 from Whitt Road to Rivercrest Drive “We’re going to close Gibsonton Drive just west of US 301 but you will not be able to cross over US 301,” said FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson “We are also reducing some of the travel lanes on US 301 There’ll be only two northbound and two southbound open.” Keep in mind that businesses will stay open “We’re going to keep traffic flowing as best we can but there are going to be some challenges,” said Carson “We want motorists to leave early and check their maps.” drivers are hopeful in the long run it’ll make their ride a little smoother “I think it’s going to be for the good of the community then I think it will be easier for us to like drive,” said Tassi Phase one of this project starts late this Friday night into Saturday morning and will last for 21 days. For more information on the project, click here Jonathan Saldana Rojas, 27, was taken into custody Friday in Pasco County and is awaiting transfer to the Orient Road Jail, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Deputies said Rojas was driving a white sedan about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when he turned left onto Symmes Road at Southwind Lake Drive and collided with a motorcycle. The motorcyclist, Isaiah Raposa, 18, was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead there. Rojas drove away after the crash, but detectives found the car he was driving and obtained a warrant for his arrest. He faces charges of leaving the scene of a crash with death and driving without a valid license. “The arrest of this suspect highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies,” Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the news release. “We are grateful for the partnership and swift action of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office in arresting this wanted individual.” Jack Prator is a reporter covering breaking news and environment. Reach him at jprator@tampabay.com. Emily WunderlichMidday Editor with inlets like fingers running throughout the area Volunteers set up pantry boxes at Gibsonton Elementary School 58 school families in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene alone needed aid in the form of shoes while nearby Apollo Beach and Ruskin received county and state assistance “We didn’t have county commissioners coming to us and we reached out to people on social media County officials set up a Point of Distribution (POD) drive-through relief area at the Walmart Supercenter in Gibsonton the store is one mile east of Gibsonton Elementary at 7723 Gibsonton Drive Other supporters included Feeding Tampa Bay which brought hot food and resources to the school “We’ve been working with them for 13 years,” Gilmore said they never had a hot meal service outside their building and they did it in response to Hurricane Helene at Gibsonton Elementary.” there are two elementary schools in Gibsonton including Corr Elementary at 13020 Kings Lake Drive roughly three miles from the Waterset by Newland master-planned community The difference is that the part of Gibsonton served by its namesake school is hampered in its development by the lack of sewer service “Everyone is on a septic tank,” Gilmore said Public hearings and engagement have been ongoing concerning the issue of bringing septic tanks to all of Gibsonton while maintaining as well the need for safe homes for an aging community Gibsonton Elementary School PhotosAt Mosaic’s 13th annual Holiday Meal Giveaway Gibsonton Elementary students receive non-perishable food items to celebrate a Christmas meal with their families As billed by the Hillsborough County school district “community schools are more than just centers of education they are the heart of the community.” The schools are centered around unique neighborhood and family needs as determined through a practice known as “the listening project where all stakeholders are surveyed and results used to develop initiatives The aim is for the community school to serve as the hub for the community families and neighborhoods through purposeful and results-focused partnerships.” Fifteen community schools are noted on the school district’s web site including Greco and Jennings middle schools and Brandon and Tampa Bay Technical high schools Rounding out the list are nine elementary schools As the community school coordinator for Gibsonton Elementary Gilmore has presented on the topic at multiple national conferences “I’m very passionate about helping people live up to their fullest potential,” Gilmore said “I was a special education teacher for nine years and two years with students with varying exceptionalities I always believe if we listen to people and allow them to advocate for themselves And community schools allow for that advocacy.” A case in point are members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Brandon which draws some of its membership from Riverview Club members for years have helped with Gibsonton Elementary initiatives school supplies closet and hygiene product giveaways Gilmore said in Gibsonton Elementary’s first year as a community school the needs and assessment review brought to light the concerns of parents about just how dark it is in Gibsonton when students were walking to school for morning classes The school in 2019 celebrated its 60th year and that’s the year it became a community school “At the time we had just 12 street lights in Gibsonton from Route 41 to Interstate 75,” Gilmore said preachers and advocates and went to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to advocate for lights and for sidewalks to give kids a safe place to walk to school.” As for the haven that is Gibsonton Elementary Gilmore said she is in her job for the long term “I’m not just a teacher doing a job,” Gilmore said and I can honestly say we have some of the sweetest and they flourish when they know people believe in them.” For more on ways to help Gibsonton Elementary email Catherine.gilmore@sdhc.k12.fl.us/ or call 813-671-5100 — Judi Butler’s front yard near Gibsonton is filled with generations of memories and other keepsakes are piled into a mound at least ten feet tall “It’s heartbreaking,” she said through tears a peninsula that juts out into the Alafia River It was a street that had never flooded before until Hurricane Helene maybe I should have done something different But I never thought it would happen,” she said Ring video from her home shows inches of flooding becoming feet she ultimately had waist-deep water inside her home Her son showed up in a boat to rescue Butler and two grandkids from the living room window Had never been in that situation before,” she said There really is a lot more pain than you see There are people that have lost their homes,” Chuck said but that doesn’t take away the sting of losing tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff downstairs Even though the neighbors we talked to plan to rebuild and stay on Oak Street a question remains: How will they find hope in a situation so hopeless It’s a question that remains unanswered for now All the pictures and things that I’ve saved for years and years As the neighbors try to help each other where they can they say FEMA’s help is desperately needed — A suspect is facing multiple charges after officials say he intentionally hit several deputies with his car in Gibsonton Monday evening The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said that deputies attempted a traffic stop on a Chrysler 300 for illegal window tint and failing to stop at a stop sign later identified as 28-year-old Sean Bolton Surveillance tracked the car into the Carriage Point subdivision While deputies were attempting to deploy stop sticks officials said Bolton deliberately aimed his car at a uniformed deputy standing on the edge of the road The deputy moved out of the way to avoid being hit Deputies continued to follow Bolton to the intersection of Ekker Road and Carriage Point Drive where they tried an intercept technique to avoid a dangerous pursuit Bolton then allegedly rammed two HCSO vehicles on purpose and fled again which initiated a pursuit that lasted under a mile HCSO said Bolton's reckless driving during the pursuit caused a deputy's vehicle to strike a tree and another to crash into a backyard fence on Carriage Point Drive a fence post was sent through the deputy's window and narrowly missed the deputies inside The pursuit ended when deputies were able to perform a successful PIT maneuver Three deputies sustained minor injuries during the incident and were treated at Tampa General Hospital Bolton was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle x3 aggravated fleeing to elude law enforcement possession of marijuana and driving while license suspended HCSO said this is still an ongoing investigation — Crews battled a fire that fully engulfed a home in Gibsonton Sunday night and continued into early Monday morning The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said firefighters arrived at the two-story home on Kracker Avenue around 11:06 p.m Callers told HCFR that there were also explosions occurring inside the house Firefighters declared the fire under control within an hour of the operation No one was injured during the incident and all occupants have been accounted for Investigators are currently on the scene to determine how the fire started A jury in 1997 unanimously recommended that Rogers be sentenced to death for the vicious stabbing of Tina Marie Cribbs, whom he met at a Gibsonton bar before she was found dead in an East Tampa motel room. DeSantis ordered that Rogers, 62, will be executed May 15. Rogers, a former carnival worker who traveled widely throughout the nation, is suspected in other homicides. He was dubbed in the media as the “Casanova Killer” and the “Cross-Country Killer.” The Showtown Lounge in Gibsonton is where Glen Rogers met Tina Marie Cribbs. [ Times (1997) ]One Sunday in November 1995, he turned up at Showtown USA, a bar and restaurant in Gibsonton, a small town in southern Hillsborough County known as the wintertime home for people who worked in the circus. The bearded stranger with long, stringy hair made small talk with the bar patrons there and bought a round of drinks for a group of women. Cribbs was one of them. Tina Marie Cribbs appears in an undated photo. [ Associated Press ]She was a 34-year-old mother of two sons. A native New Yorker, she’d moved to Gibsonton about three years earlier from Oklahoma. She’d worked as a waitress at Steak ‘n Shake and as a housekeeper at the Ramada Inn-Apollo Beach. As she chatted with Rogers, she offered to give him a ride to a nearby carnival lot. She told her friends she’d return and left a cold, full can of beer on the bar. Cribbs was close with her mother, Mary Dicke. They lived three houses apart and shared matching jewelry and purses. Dicke had given her daughter a pager so they could always stay in touch. Dicke paged Cribbs 30 times the night she vanished from the bar and worried when she never called. “I knew something bad had happened,” Dicke told the Tampa Tribune in 1995. Two days later, Cribbs was found dead in the bathtub of Room 119 at the Tampa 8 Inn, a motel off Columbus Drive near Interstate 4. She’d been stabbed to death. A handwritten “do not disturb” sign hung on the door. The room was registered to Rogers. Investigators found Cribbs’ wallet discarded at a rest area off Interstate 10 in North Florida. Rogers’ fingerprints were on it. Subscribe to our free News Alerts newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. TV news cameras were there when Kentucky state troopers chased Rogers Run off the road and wrestled into handcuffs Rogers was suspected in at least four murders Mississippi and Louisiana investigated him In a gathering of police agencies at a Kentucky hotel conference room it was decided that he would first face trial in Florida A Tampa jury rejected defense arguments that Rogers was merely a thief who’d stolen Cribbs’ belongings and that someone else had killed her “There is no room under these facts for compassion,” prosecutor Karen Cox told the jury in the case’s penalty phase The defense portrayed Rogers’ father as a violent alcoholic and his mother as not caring what her children did as long as it didn’t provoke him Psychological experts opined that Rogers suffered from brain damage and mental illness Defense attorney Robert Fraser told the jury the case didn’t legally qualify for a death sentence orderly lynch mob,” he said in closing arguments It took a jury two hours to recommend that Rogers should die Glen Rogers sits with his attorneys in a Tampa courtroom during his 1997 trial for the murder of Tina Marie Cribbs [ Times (1997) ]That was 28 years ago Rogers stood trial in California for the murder of a woman who was strangled and left in a burning car Though he remains a suspect in other killings Simpson murder trial once pointed to him as a possible alternative suspect in the killings of Simpson’s ex-wife as Rogers was known to be in the Los Angeles area at the time the defense attorney who represented him at trial One of the Tampa police detectives who investigated the murder was killed in the line of duty a year after Rogers’ trial Others involved in the case have gone on to other things is now a shareholder with the Tampa firm of Appleton Reiss had a long career as a private defense lawyer and is now a Hillsborough circuit judge still practices criminal law in Tampa but moved on from the Rogers case long ago All declined to comment when reached by the Tampa Bay Times Dicke through the years consistently expressed her wish to see her daughter’s killer put to death “I hope the state of Florida will keep their word,” she told Fox 13 news in 2016 Dicke could not be reached for comment Wednesday Glen Rogers [ FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS | Florida Department of Corrections ]Appellate attorneys for Rogers have sought to have his death sentence overturned due to newly discovered evidence of trauma he suffered in his youth they wrote in court papers that a pair of experts had documented memories that Rogers had repressed about abuse he suffered as a child he recalled being raped and becoming a victim of sex trafficking by adults who traded him around in exchange for drug money The abuse occurred when he was between 10 and 12 years old He also reported being sexually victimized by the male staff at the Training Institution of Central Ohio a juvenile correctional facility where he spent time they may have been inclined to recommend a life sentence A judge declined to undo Rogers’ death sentence finding that the law did not allow the new claims to be presented now Rogers’ execution will be the fifth that Florida has carried out this year Dan Sullivan is a criminal justice reporter. Reach him at dsullivan@tampabay.com. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. GIBSONTON, Fla. — As homeowners repair their properties from damages left behind from back-to-back hurricanes, some are seeking help to pay next month’s rent. That’s the case for one South Hillsborough County resident, who says he’s been left without a job and is on his own to make repairs. “This is all the payments I have made and future ones I have to make,” Hernan Ara said, showing the payment schedule on his phone. He’s struggling to catch up because his home was badly damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. While Ara rents the land, he owns his home, so paying for repairs is his responsibility. In the weeks after the hurricanes, he’s had to purchase materials to fix his home, which he says aren’t cheap. He’s also dealing with having to find a job, which is putting additional financial strain on his situation. “Yesterday, we went to go find some metal sheets that we’re used, and those metal sheets were around $300,” Ara said. “Everything is really pricey to try to repair my home.” Ara, who is originally from Venezuela, has only been living here for two years. He said when he moved into his home, he had to make a lot of repairs — and now he’s having to do it again.  He said that the night of Helene, the water rose so high that he and a few of his neighbors had to leave in the middle of the night. For Milton, he said they didn’t stay, and when he came back, he found his roof had been damaged. “I have been working on repairing my home for these past two weeks because this was completely destroyed,” he said. He said some days are more stressful than others, but his landlord is working with everyone in this mobile home park, and has waived late rental fees. Ara said he’s even working to set up a payment plan to help him catch up. Although he’s having to start from zero, Ara said his faith is what’s keeping him going. “There is a God, and I know he will provide,” he said. “We just have to have faith, and he will help us reconstruct our homes and our lives.” Hillsborough deputies are investigating a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist at a Gibsonton intersection Wednesday evening. A man riding a motorcycle and an unknown vehicle collided about 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Symmes Road and Southwind Lake Drive, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The motorcyclist was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead there. The sheriff’s office has not released the man’s name. The driver of the other vehicle left the area after the crash. The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information about the vehicle or the driver to call 813-247-8200. the Gibtown Showmen’s Club Circus is returning for three shows Advance tickets are on sale now in the main office at the sponsoring International Independent Showmen’s Association Don’t miss Gibtown Circus’ rising new circus stars performing aerial and hula hoop acts and a daring Chilean father-daughter act on the high wire You’ll see them and their antics during shows at 1 which is returning this year after a three-year hiatus The ever-popular Johnny Peers’ comedy dog act will be returning to the Gibtown Showmen’s Circus Jan along with a variety of other acts sure to please folks of all ages One child under 12 is admitted free with one paid adult Each roughly 80-minute show will feature a variety of acts including the perennially popular performing elephant Oka; horses trained in dressage; Johnny Peers’ comedy dog act; new rising circus stars performing aerial and hula hoop acts; clowns; Chilean father-daughter high-wire act; Lamont another perennial favorite; a sword swallower; and lots of surprises It will also include the world’s largest circus band a part of the national organization called the Windjammers; a circus miniatures display by the Model Builders Club; and longtime master of ceremonies Lee Stevens “This is another of the things we do for the community,” Stevens said “Others include food baskets for people in need; our Christmas party for folks with special needs; participation in the annual Gasparilla Parade and Bike Fest Portions of the proceeds of the circus and other events go to several different charities The circus is an event for the both the young and young at heart so grab the kids and/or grandkids and spend a couple hours of pure magic enjoying this increasingly rare form of entertainment “Come see the circus the way it was meant to be seen,” Stevens said It’s also home of the largest trade show in the carnival industry which will be taking place this year on Feb WHERE: International Independent Showmen’s Association Event Center — As communities have continued to pick up the pieces of Hurricane Helene preparations are now underway for the next hurricane One area that saw a lot of flooding was South Hillsborough County For many of the residents in this Gibsonton community boarding up their homes and hoping for the best Hurricane Helene forced Evencio Hernandez to leave his home in the middle of the night “It was something unexpected and the water rising as high as it did caught us all off guard,” he said He’s been living in his mobile home community since 2006 and says Helene was one of the scariest hurricanes he’s ever been through He lost several cars and items inside his home due to the storm “This situation is really sad and very hard so we’re trying to take it day by day as the hurricane nears,” he said Evencio says he’s had to rely on his community for help because he doesn’t qualify for FEMA He says he’ll do whatever he can to protect his home Families in this Gibsonton community are packing up and heading out ahead of Hurricane Milton. This is a community that was hit hard by Helene, now they’re not taking any chances. Watch the story at 5pm on @BN9 pic.twitter.com/SAOpGYn8Bt while others are evacuating to get as far away as possible from Hurricane Milton Leticia Ortiz Rodriguez is packing up her family and heading to Georgia She says Hurricane Helene left them without anything “In my house nothing works and for the meantime we’re not going to be staying here because my children will get sick,” she said She’s staying hopeful that when she returns, she’ll be able to rebuild Many other residents in the community have already evacuated and will be heading to safer locations Officials are asking to prepare now. If residents are in an evacuation zone, they can head to the Hillsborough county government website for more information on what to do The hurricane that devastated parts of Florida after it landed on the West coast just north of my hometown of Tampa this past week brings pleasant and painful memories of my birthplace and my earlier years there living in the small town of Gibsonton known at “Gibtown,” known as the winter home of carnival workers who spent the winter months working on their rides and avocation met a dashing Navy Electrician’s First Mate while working in the gas stamp distribution office at the Norfolk Naval Air Base in 1944 when he asked for enogh extra stamps to ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle down to Tampa to see his parents while awaiting orders to ship out to fight in the Pacific to serve on the USS Missouri the massive battleship built to help extract revenge for Pearl Harbor They discovered they had a mutual love of riding Harleys She often rode with a women’s riding group called The Motor Maids a champion motorcycle racing rider who would later became a a NASCAR driver and friend of Floyd County’s racing legend Curtis Turner who returned from Florida and ran into her and Weatherly in a Norfolk bar where he challenged Weatherly to an illegal motorcycle race through the streets of Norfolk because he was a national champion on his bike,” she would say proudly That first date turned into a permanent relationship She and Weatherly remained friends and I remembered her crying in the bedroom at our home when he died in a NASCAR crash at Riverside Road course in California Like many Americans with relatives in the war my mother feared my dad would not come home from his last deployment on the Missouri which was headed for Tokyo to be part of that attack that our leaders feared would kill at least 100,000 Americans but was needed to end the war The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought an order from the Japanese leader to end the war over the objections of his military leaders Douglas McArthur accepted the surrender that eneded World War II proposed to Ethel McPeak and they were married in early 1946 in Tampa I came along 14 months later but the father who survived “the war to end all wars” died in a horrific industrial accident at the U.S including a hurricane that flooded most of the town and my mother and I were rescued by the bearded lady and her husband who came to our home in a boat as he water was rising I remember pulling her beard to see if it was real and it hurts when you do that” she said with a laugh The collection of carnival show people gave Gibtown a label as The Sideshow Capital pf The World The Fire Chief was known as “The Giant,” who was seven feet and four inches tall and was married to a midget the ride operators would set up their attractions in their yards and invite kids to check them out Reports The Tampa Times: The history of Gibsonton’s sideshow community according to the Showmen’s Museum in neighboring Riverview Eddie and Grace Lemay stopped in Gibsonton while on the road to South Florida with their portable restaurant They caught a fish so quickly that they decided to make Gibsonton home and in a short period it became known as Sideshow Capital of the World Residents included 138 entertainers known back then as human oddities an Alligator-Skinned Man and Tomaini and his wife called The Living Half Girl due to being born without legs and being 2 feet they were billed as The Strangest Married Couple in the World The Sideshow Capital of the World was in full swing when my mother decided to return to her hometown in Floyd County My grandparents retired to live in a double-wide on he shores of Lake Panasofkee in Sumpter County She was closing in on age 100 when she died in 1994 Thetheir land was sold to a development company and is now part of The Villages the largest retirement community n Florida she wanted her remains to be shred with the two husbands she survived Her ashes were scattered over the graveside plot with last husband Truman C Bolt at the cemetery at Buffalo Mountain Presbyterian Church with a fiew of the mountain and I took a historical ride on my Harley from Meadows of Dan to Tampa along the route she took in 1946 to marry first husband William “Tommy” Thompson in Tampa — For some families impacted by Hurricane Helene getting access to information to get help can be difficult That’s the case for many Hispanics who live in South Hillsborough County A mobile home park in Gibsonton is one of the areas that was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene It’s one where residents have come together to provide food clothes and water to the residents in the community They say that help won’t stop anytime soon It’s all hands on deck for Ana Lamb — since Friday morning she says the need has grown every day from neighbors who were impacted by Hurricane Helene ”We needed to reach out to the Red Cross and other organizations to partner with to be able to respond and help people in the community,” said Lamb ’Apoyo Para La Comunidad Hispana,’ has been flooded with images of hurricane damage and people asking for help as they navigate this tough time Lamb says it can be a challenge for Spanish-speaking residents to know where to turn and to communicate their needs She says the process can be time consuming and intimidating “We are from different countries where it’s so difficult to get help so being here in the United States where you can receive help is scary.” She is using the chat to get information out there Enterprising Latinas has now partnered with Boricuas de Corazon to help Hispanic families fill out their FEMA applications.   Lamb says it’s devastating to see the damage in her neighborhood and the work they have to do to rebuild “Most of the cars that you see there are total loss because all of the water was covering all of this,” she said But she wants people to realize assistance is available She says there are organizations and tools in place to make sure that happens Volunteers will also be out in Gibsonton on Wednesday to help with FEMA application forms — A bicyclist was hit and killed in a Hillsborough County crash on Saturday after he rode in front of a vehicle the 61-year-old Gibsonton bicyclist was riding in the area He then rode into the path of the Toyota and was struck The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene Evidence of the long road to recovery after two historic hurricanes less than two weeks apart came in the long line of vehicles inching toward relief workers at the Walmart Supercenter in Gibsonton on Monday Working with members of the National Guard Hillsborough County employees in the store’s parking lot helped load into trunks boxed ice Military Surplus Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) packages The so-called “point of distribution” site was one of four POD’s Hillsborough County officials had broadcast this week including sites at Hillsborough Community College’s Brandon campus Citrus Park Town Centre Mall and the former Kmart parking lot in Ruskin Noted was the number for Hillsborough County’s Storm Information and Helpline (833-427-8676) and the online address for HCFL.gov/StormRecovery access additional partner resources and learn more about cleanup resources and essential resources for immediate needs The handout notes as well that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) helpline is open 7 a.m The online address is DisasterAssistance.gov/ residents can apply for FEMA disaster assistance and a guide to additional recovery resources including property damages and economic losses is the MySBA Loan Portal at lending.sba.gov/ the demand for assistance is far-reaching and formidable as evidenced by the concerns of drivers who gave their reasons for visiting the POD site in Gibsonton but we’re doing good,” said another Gibsonton resident run in conjunction also with members of the National Guard is the comfort station for county residents at the Progress Village Senior Center in Tampa and hot food or boxed meals at lunch and dinner time For transportation to and from the comfort station No identification is required for POD or comfort station assistance Moving boxed ice at the Hillsborough County Points of Distribution (POD) site in the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter at 9205 Gibsonton Drive county officials said they had established a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) for individuals impacted by hurricanes Milton which struck the Big Bend area as a Category 1 storm Aug the MARC is at the Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library businesses and nonprofits seeking assistance or needing help to complete aid applications in the wake of storm damages Hillsborough County school officials reported students neighbors and other groups have been visiting local schools to help clean up storm debris as was the case at Riverview High earlier this week Schools were to remain closed at least through Tuesday which would mark the 10th day of school closures due to hurricanes this school year The Category 4 storm made landfall near Perry administrators and “a lot of our staff were affected by the hurricanes as well,” Bellanti said in an interview “and we have to have people to drive buses Linda Chion Kenney photosHillsborough County employees Matt Stewart an John Beavers are working at the points of distribution (POD) site in Gibsonton Because of the three days lost for Hurricane Helene students were scheduled to attend school Oct which otherwise would have been time off for Columbus Day which would have been the last day of winter break And all Monday early release days through the end of the semester have reverted to regular hours No decision as of early Tuesday morning had been made concerning makeup days for Hurricane Milton although hurricane makeup days before the start of the school year had been designated for the week-long Thanksgiving Day holiday that would mean students would be off only for Thanksgiving Day school officials were awaiting guidance from state education officials concerning the unprecedented loss of school time due to the one-two punch of hurricanes Helene and Milton an important slice of American history risks being lost – but the residents of Gibsonton are trying to keep the legacy of the town’s famous ‘freaks’ alive For those who didn’t quite fit elsewhere The post office catered to little people with extra-low counters and the beer hall had custom-built chairs for the Fat Ladies and the Tallest Man Special zoning regulations allowed residents to keep and train exotic animals in their gardens Three factories manufactured Ferris wheels and carousels In the golden days of American carnival, all roads led to Gibsonton, Florida 14,900-inhabitant town 12 miles south of Tampa became the industry capital “Carny Town” was a fabled place where everyone had run away with the circus it was home to up to 100 self-defined “human oddities” Balmy winter weather offered a foothold in a nomadic lifestyle or they forget”) and stunts practiced during the off-season performing a fire-eating act on a driveway in Gibsonton Photograph: Caterina ClericiBefore the internet Ward promised visitors what they had never seen before assuring them they would be shocked and amazed The “freaks” came in three categories: self-made (the tattooed lady) who had her baby sister growing out of her abdomen You could admire Priscilla the Monkey Girl who had a double set of teeth and silky black hair covering her body (she eloped with the Alligator Boy with a skin condition making his skin reptile-scaly) one of America’s most controversial entertainment legacies is all but extinct: Ward’s World of Wonders is the last legitimate 10-in-1 – 10 acts for the price of one – sideshow in America “Otherwise I wouldn’t still be in the business after 70 years.” Photograph: suppliedWhere society saw disability Ward saw business opportunity and star potential Ward made a living selling the extraordinary macabre and bizarre across America: two-headed animals three Native American boys wrestling alligators (one lost a finger – “There was danger to it!”) Today the exhibition of “extraordinary bodies” remains illegal in several states with laws reflecting a discourse of victimization prohibit the exhibition of any “deformed human being or human monstrosity” except for scientific purposes Several of Ward’s performers featured in Todd Browning’s 1932 film Freaks (widely banned as too graphic a display of physical disabilities) Their collectible portraits now fetch hundreds of dollars on eBay “Of course I exploited them – and the more I exploited them would still be singing in a some beer joint in Tupelo and unfortunate circumstances into superpowers anything – and anyone – could be exhibited “These people were not handicapped; at least in their minds they were not,” Ward insists played guitar and raised her children on her farm what handicap to have no arms at all’ – but there was nothing that girl couldn’t do.” where circus and sideshow performers used to meet for karaoke explains that such carnivals were a fin de siècle zeitgeist where anything was possible Exemplifying remarkable resilience and the ability to overcome obstacles – Frog Boy telling the audience about his condition while doing cigarette tricks using only his mouth – the freakshow was a direct extension of the American dream itself “For the first hundred years of us as a nation the majority of people came from elsewhere,” he explains They came here because they had a dream and an idea that tomorrow was gonna be a better day if they only worked hard enough and were smart Sideshow was only an extreme version of that Anything is possible and here’s a good example: if it’s possible to eat fire Ward spearheaded a campaign against a 1921 Florida statute banning the exhibition of malformed judges held the sideshow prohibition “unconstitutional” – because people with deviating bodies have the right to work who approached his performers matter-of-factly with well-meant pragmatism – people are going to gawk anyway and brought them into a makeshift family (“I was the Papa,” he says proudly) the oldest sword swallower still performing on the sideshow Photograph: Caterina ClericiThe carnival became a tight-knit network of solidarity: the “carny code” which prescribed unconditional support for one another was soon developed and a secret language – carny – remained incomprehensible to outsiders The International Independent Showmen’s Association still runs its own miniature welfare system providing retirement homes for those in need is a New York City native who became a first-generation performer in his teens He still romanticizes the hardship associated with the lifestyle: washing from rivers or bucket; living in the back of a wagon; traveling highways at night the carnival embodied the very freedom and opportunity that was America “It’s the entrepreneurship of it all,” he explains “It’s open to anyone with an idea; to anybody who wanna partake in it all of not having to sell your soul to a company store work 9-5 for a factory and never getting anywhere beyond a minimum obligatory raise.” We just have very extraordinary jobsAlthough sideshow originated in Europe The second world war’s persecution of disabled people triggering a flight of “freaks” across the Atlantic Not everyone managed: the Icelandic Giant found out his show’s dwarf harmonica players had all been murdered by the Nazis his enormous silver-gold viking gown now hung away in the corner of the Showmen’s museum the unlikely community carved out a tropical paradise for themselves spreading the word over the carnival grapevine of a place of strawberry fields Conveniently close to Sarasota and with the railway passing through A chain migration sparked off as those operating rides games and cotton candy stands followed suit its residents named streets after themselves Photograph: Caterina ClericiIn return for their contribution to the local economy residents of Hillsborough County were granted permission to keep carnival trailers and the stigma associated with the trade was convenient as well: outsiders stayed away thanks to rumors about “carnies” stealing children The world’s showtown capital remained a well-kept secret Gibtown looks like any other American small town (the only town in Florida shrinking for the past 25 years or Poobah the fire-eating dwarf and King of Pygmys (once chief and sole inhabitant of Ward’s traveling Pygmy Village) “We have people who just ruined the freakshow business,” Ward complains with a smirk The medical science.” Deformities are now detected in the womb physical abnormalities are medically adjusted; Siamese twins can be separated at birth (“Thank God for that”) No one pays to see a fat man anymore (Ward’s last fat employee passed away in 2009 ‘Sideshows may be offensive but outlawing them would only limit people’s right to expression’ Photograph: Caterina ClericiSimultaneously discrimination laws opened doors for people with disabilities to pursue more conventional careers gawking at those born different became taboo and “freakshows” perceived as exploitative Ward’s World of Wonders now relies on illusions and working acts – like John “Red” Stuart the sword swallower When Gibtown’s visitors ask for the “freaks” sun-bleached textile flowers mark the graves of extraordinary performers such as the Lobster family the rise and fall of the freakshow is a story about society’s changing views on physical difference” author of what might be the most substantial analysis on the legal discourse of sideshows sideshows can survive only so long as they offer something that their viewers find slightly more entertaining than offensive.” A relic of colourful days. A gigantic Walmart marks the arrival of chain corporations in Gibtown. Photograph: Caterina ClericiPassing a person with microcephaly in a diner as he gave us a tour of the town Ward was suddenly reminded of Schlitzy the Pinhead Mentally impaired and with a characteristic pointed head Schlitzy had been adopted by another show; he had been Schlitzy was taken out of the sideshow and put into an institution Eventually rescued and brought back to the spotlight by Ward The awkwardness surrounding disability can be counterproductive sideshows may be offensive but outlawing them would only limit people’s right to expression “If a little person wants to perform in a way that perpetuates stereotypes should they not be able to show themselves for fear of ruining things for those who don’t want to be associated with that image?” he wonders Ward wouldn’t work with people with mental disabilities because the alternative – institutionalization – equals imprisonment “communists” and “political correctors” interfering in his business “Political correctness is taking away the freedoms of America,” he says The Tampa State Fair decided not to feature a sideshow in 2015 A gigantic Walmart marks the arrival of chain corporations in a society priding itself on its individualism which he shares with his life-partner Chris Christ and Red the sword swallower Ward believes it’s only a matter of time before even the zoning regulations disappear the nearby Tampa State Fair decided not to feature a sideshow this year The economic downturn closed down the carousel factories All post office counters are average height One man allegedly still keeps a few elephants though they are currently working in Texas the Human Volcano who practices fire-eating in a riverbank trailer park an important slice of American history risks being lost – though residents try hard to keep the legacy alive crowdfunded by Concerned Citizens of Gibtown marks the town’s entrance and the spot where the Giant’s Camp once stood the recently opened Showmen’s museum features antique rides and non-PC minstrel show posters “We hope that schoolchildren can come here to see that you can be whatever you aspire to be,” says Debbie Rivera that has seen her better years,” says David Doc Rivera founder of the museum and self-imposed guardian of America’s carnival history “It is an anachronism in the sense that it is more a city in someone’s imagination Everything wears out; everything goes away.” ‘Gibtown today is a sad old lady.’ Photograph: Caterina ClericiThe King of Sideshow may well be the last man standing describing him as “the greatest showman of our times” sung at Carnegie Hall and performed at Madison Square garden Referring to himself as a dinosaur and one of the last “human oddities” around Ward is nonetheless adamant he hasn’t retired yet His house is the closest Red the sword swallower has to a permanent address; their driveway on which a British juggler spent the past few months training is still lined with show equipment: plywood décor Together all those performers created a family of their own – often “The sad fact is that there will come a day when Ward is gone,” Robbins says “The day World of Wonders doesn’t go out anymore is the day the sideshow is gone.” A 17-year-old male driver from Gibsonton was driving a Chevy Silverado just before midnight on Saturday, traveling on U.S. 41 just north of Big Bend Road. Reports said the girl entered the path of the truck and was struck by the vehicle. The 13-year-old from Tampa suffered fatal injuries at the scene of the crash. A spokesman for FHP said there are no additional details at this time, and the case is still under investigation. Sharon Kennedy Wynne is a reporter covering events, things to do and family experiences through the region. Reach her at swynne@tampabay.com. 2024 at 3:51 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A 29-year-old Tampa man has died following a crash in Gibsonton Sunday morning FL — A 29-year-old Tampa man has died following a crash in Gibsonton Sunday morning a Nissan Frontier driven by a 59-year-old Gibsonton woman was traveling on the northbound Interstate 75 exit ramp to westbound Gibsonton Drive while a Tampa man was riding a BMW motorcycle east on Gibsonton Drive approaching the exit ramp Troopers said the Nissan attempted a left turn in the path of the motorcycle Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. — The Florida Department of Transportation and Hillsborough County officials hosted a meeting about proposed improvements to a busy stretch of Gibsonton Road The public hearing was held on February 20 at the Riverview Public Library FDOT officials are conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study for the proposed improvements to Gibsonton Drive from Fern Hill Drive to US 301 in Hillsborough County Gibsonton Drive is an essential east-west connection between US 41 and US 301 in Hillsborough County Gibsonton Drive connects significant corridors including US 41 The public had a chance to comment on the proposed widening of Gibsonton Drive from four lanes to six lanes The proposed improvement also includes sidewalks and providing more accessibility to people biking or walking We spoke to drivers who travel on the road at least three times a week "It doesn't move smoothly until you hit 301 and then it will finally clear up and then you can get to the average speed limit," said John Leale who travels the road a few times a week "It's just getting so terrible around here it was all country and now it's all congestion and everywhere you look apartments," said Linda Young who lives in Riverview FDOT collected crash records from 2018 through 2022 A total of 910 crashes were reported including 280 injuries and 2 deaths Officials said that stretch of road had a higher crash rate than the statewide average for similar roadways FDOT officials said the improvements are needed to accommodate traffic volumes for the future and to accommodate projected traffic flows from the proposed reconstruction of I-75/ Gibsonton Drive interchange The study began in Summer 2022. You can learn more by clicking here An unincorporated census-designated place in Florida's Hillsborough County Gibsonton is known as a sideshow wintering town or a place where many circus performers and sideshow operated spend the off-months when not touring the United States Gibsonton was once home to Percilla the Monkey girl Siamese twin sisters ran a fruit stand in the town and Gibsonton was home to the only post office in the country with a counter short enough for dwarves to use But why did all of these people flock here Gibsonton offered unique circus zoning laws that allowed residents to keep elephants and other show paraphernalia on their property The town is still used by circus members over the winter months The sideshow workers and circus talent find that many come to gawk and stare and they have not taken kindly to that behavior The town received much attention because it was written about in newspapers and magazines and also has become a popular go-to in various forms of media Dean Koontz's book "Twilight Eyes" featured a character who sought refuge here; a 1995 episode of the "X-Files" was set here even though it was filmed in Vancouver; and the town served as inspiration for "Kaleidoscope" One of the steepest streets in the United States makes an intriguing challenge for cyclists The 25-million-year-old cavities have perplexed people for decades A futuristic climate change study is nestled deep within this public land the strange stones in this park ring like bells Camels and crocodiles share the black waters of this stunning Saharan oasis Legends of treasure and spirits flow from this this fairy tale-like oasis This amazing ancient cave was kept secret for seven years to protect it from the public Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter That distinction went to Johann “The Viking Giant” Petursson, who was 7 feet, 8 inches tall. But Tomaini had Gibsonton’s largest presence. He owned a restaurant and television repair shop, gave the town its first ambulance and served as fire chief and a deputy. When he died in 1962, his wife, Jeanie, placed Tomaini’s 35-inch boot on a pillar outside their home as a memorial. The boot eventually deteriorated and the community replaced it with a replica sculpture. But the sculpture also deteriorated and, a year ago, fell from its pedestal. The damaged monument was taken home by the daughter of the woman who led the charge to have it erected. She fixed and returned it to the pedestal in July. “We couldn’t let it disappear,” said Athena Philips, who restored the sculpture. “The boot is this iconic piece of Gibsonton that reminds us of how it was.” Philips would not share her age but said she is too young to have met Tomaini. As a child, she met his wife in passing. Still, through stories, “I feel like I knew them,” she said. Jeanie and Al Tomaini were billed as The Strangest Married Couple in the World. He was 7 feet, 4 inches. She was 2 feet, 5 inches. [ Courtesy of the Showmen's Museum ]The history of Gibsonton’s sideshow community, according to the Showmen’s Museum in neighboring Riverview, goes like this: In the 1920s, Eddie and Grace Lemay stopped in Gibsonton while on the road to South Florida with their portable restaurant, which traveled the carnival circuit. They caught a fish so quickly that they decided to make Gibsonton home. They told carnival friends about the town, and in a short period it became known as Sideshow Capital of the World. Residents included 138 entertainers known back then as human oddities. They included a Monkey Girl, an Alligator-Skinned Man and Tomaini and his wife, Jeanie, called The Living Half Girl due to being born without legs and being 2 feet, 5 inches tall. Together, they were billed as The Strangest Married Couple in the World. They were also entrepreneurial. In the early 1940s, they established Giant’s Fish Camp, which included a restaurant, bait house and cottages, one of which was their home. Jeanie died in 1999, but Tomaini’s boot remained out front “until it just disappeared one day,” Philips said. When the Tomaini property was sold to phosphate company Mosaic in 2008, “the pillar and boot remains were found wrecked, presumably by a car plowing into it,” said Philips, who was raised in Gibsonton and in the sideshow business. Her parents, Carol and Don Philips, had an animal act that included trained wolves and unicycle tricks. “My mom kept hearing people say, ‘What happened to the boot?’ and thought something of its obvious significance should be maintained for posterity,” Philips said. “So, she spearheaded a campaign with the Concerned Citizens of Gibsonton to install a new monument honoring Al and Jeanie.” Al Tomaini's real 35-inch boot was once on display outside his cabin. It deteriorated and was eventually replaced with a replica sculpture. [ Times (2007) ]Artist Lew Stamm crafted the replica boot. Its base was engraved, “Al & Jeanie Tomaini, Gibsonton Civic Leaders.” And, in 2010, Mosaic allowed it to be placed on the property in front of the former camp’s last cabin. “When they commemorated the new monument memorial, they presented the sole from the real boot, framed and mounted, to the Tomaini family,” Philips said. Meanwhile, Philips remained in the sideshow business, most recently running a snake show with her husband, Pete Kolozsy. The pandemic halted that show, so they are now seeking to start a Traveling Museum of Historical Attractions. “Kind of like a ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not!’” she said. “I’m into the history. It’s why the boot matters to me.” In August 2021, Philips, who now lives in Citrus County, received a call from her sister, Diane Philips, informing her that the boot had been knocked over. “My husband and I swung by and, sure enough, it’s on the ground and it was banged up,” Philips said. “It’s possible it was vandalism, but I think it was just age and deterioration and eventually a good wind came and knocked it over. We were worried it could get more damaged, so we took it home.” Athena Philips and her husband, Pete Kolozsy, found the sculpture of Al Tomaini's boot damaged on the side of the road last year. They fixed it. [ Courtesy of Athena Philips ]With Mosaic’s permission and financial support, Philips repaired the cracks and chips on the sculpture and replaced the interior sculpting foam that had been eaten by ants. Then, on July 3, Philips and her husband remounted the boot. Paul GuzzoFormer Culture and Hillsborough Reporter Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman The best part of this gig has been the need to venture outside of my comfort zone to keep things lively and varied enough to hopefully entertain and inform thirsty Tampa Bay area residents. That has been the plan from the start — my first two columns were on an old-school tiki bar in Sarasota (Bahi Hut) and a Chinese restaurant in Seminole (Zom Hee) that remain two of my favorite spots for a drink to this day. Venturing off the beaten path has brought me to novel locations such as Gibsonton, a town known for its large residence of traveling carnival workers. I’ve sucked down beers and second-hand smoke at the now-shuttered Tropicana Bar and admired the bizarre murals at Showtown Bar & Grill. Last stop: AJ’s on the River, a sleepy watering hole on the banks of the Alafia River. Gibsonton’s primary claim to fame is that of a carny town, but AJ’s on the River is more along the lines of your typical sports bar, with cheap and cold beers, a menu of simple meals and bar snacks and a few TVs inside at the bar presenting the various sports du jour. It’s an Old Florida bar, too, with an indoor-outdoor component that stretches onto a split-level, spacious patio deck, framed by boat ramps and trailer campsites. Flip-flops and tank tops are perfectly appropriate attire here, which makes sense, considering some of its patrons will invariably arrive by water. Decorations range from dollar bills stuck to the ceiling inside the bar to old outboard motors hanging from the rafters on the patio. There are string lights above the bar that add to the outdoorsy, almost campground-like feel to the site. In the back of the bar is the kitchen, which is actually a food truck of sorts, built into a pop-out trailer. This means the menu is somewhat limited, consisting primarily of burgers, sandwiches and pizza. There are a handful of beers available, including several local craft options, as well as a small range of wines on draft and wine-based faux spirits. Longtime readers will know that I don’t mind these faux liquors when prepared correctly, and that’s the case at AJ’s. You can get away with a lot when making faux tequila sunrises, amaretto sours, strawberry daiquiris and Long Island iced teas (all on the menu at AJ’s). If they taste good and have adequate booze in them, I’ll sip some while enjoying a nice riverfront breeze. There’s not a particularly elaborate setup at AJ’s, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that simple can be great, and showy bars rarely guarantee success. I like the simplicity at AJ’s. It couldn’t possibly be more laid-back or unpretentious, but it’s not a crumbling mess, either. That’s a harder balance to strike than you’d think. Subscribe to our free Do & Dine newsletter Working the bar beat has been quite a ride and I’m fortunate to have been able to take it Now I can spend more time revisiting all those places I’ve been meaning to go back to all these years be sure to say hi — the first round’s on me — Contact Justin Grant at jg@saintbeat.com 9808 Vaughn St., Gibsonton. (813) 605-4621. facebook.com/ajsontheriver The vibe: A laid-back bar and grill located on the banks of the Alafia River. Food: Sandwiches, burgers and pizza, $7.50 to $9.50. Booze: Beer, wine and liquor. Beer, $3 to $5.50; wine, $5 to $5.50. Specialty: AJ’s stocks a small but decent beer selection, featuring a variety of craft options, including local brews from places like Cigar City, 3 Daughters, Tampa Bay Brewing Company and Coppertail. There’s no liquor, but that hasn’t stopped the bar from assembling 10 house cocktails, with classics like the Moscow mule, margarita, piña colada all present, just made with wine-based mock spirits. They’re not bad! Hours: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Justin GrantFormer Times Correspondent