— Ferman Geiger’s cattle are running out of dry land Just a small corner of their once lush pasture is available for grazing That’s because much of his property just outside Zephyrhills city limits is now underwater Geiger lives off Simons Road just north of the Silverado Golf Course He says the flooding on his property is not an act of God but rather a man-made problem stormwater traditionally flowed from his property south through the neighboring Silver Oaks subdivision and Silverado Golf Course and then further south toward Lake Zephyr and the Hillsborough River a lot of the water isn’t draining from the area near Geiger’s property and the water that has drained into the golf course has flooded a wide swatch of it and is creeping closer and closer to houses along the fairways Local and state crews are trying to use a series of pumps and hoses to manually move the water along its natural path those crews have temporarily halted the pumps so as not to flood homes south of the golf course Geiger and others believe the area’s growth has disrupted the natural flow of stormwater with new housing developments adding to the problem Though the area has a long history of flooding Geiger said the current flood happened faster and the water now drains much slower or not at all “Most of what was a floodplain for the water to gently rise onto can’t because it’s now homes,” he said ABC Action News asked Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe if development is contributing to the area's flooding problem “I would say development probably plays into it Silver Oaks and to the north — have always flooded,” he said in conjunction with it being a low-lying area that has historically flooded it’s not a good combination,” Poe continued What he can say for sure is that a long-term fix is needed in the area of the golf course “We need to sit down after we get through this and figure out: Is there a solution where the funding for that solution comes from,” he said he isn’t sure local leaders will follow through once the imminent problem with flooding passes but Geiger believes the problem will not be going away and will only worsen over time having to pump the water from one place to another It would make a lot more sense to correct the situation and bring back the natural flow,” he said Report a typo 2024As shelters filled up and cars packed highways heading away from Tampa Bay earlier this week all that movement prompted an uneasy question: When would evacuees be able to return Thanks in part to a late wobble that spared the region from the worst of Hurricane Milton’s storm surge one sort of answer came quickly: By midday Thursday Pinellas County and its barrier islands had been reopened and all bridges into the county were passable Those who had left and wanted to go home could do so But officials across the region reiterated the message that the reality on the ground was more complicated Debris and downed power lines have caused street closures and “Our message to you this morning is really simple,” said Cathie Perkins many homes still lack electricity — in Pinellas about three-quarters of residents still couldn’t turn on their lights as of early afternoon And some areas are experiencing poor water pressure and facing boil-water notices Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said it was “unclear” how long it might take to restore power to the more than 3 million who lost it during Milton and Duke Energy said Thursday they were assessing damage from Milton The 850,000 Duke Energy Florida customers without power — a number the company expects to rise as people return home and find their power out — should “prepare for extended outages,” Todd Fountain Tampa Electric will focus on restoring power to essential services then to places like supermarkets and home-supply stores before moving to large groups of homes and businesses the company said it will give customers a date for expected power restoration and many homes will get electricity back before that date Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch have sent the same message for residents to stay off roads unless absolutely necessary Hillsborough County has told residents to boil their water if they have low water pressure Petersburg residents got potable water and sewer services back Thursday morning they also face low pressure and are under a boil notice — as are Gulfport and Temple Terrace Residents returning to their homes and businesses can expect a handful of isolated road closures Floodwaters impeded some roads Thursday, including in parts of Tampa near the University of South Florida; St. Petersburg’s North Kenwood neighborhood; and Zephyrhills in Pasco County small snippets of roadway were blocked by fallen trees and debris That included a segment of Sligh Avenue south of Temple Terrace; Florida Avenue between Sligh and Stanley Street; and Temple Terrace Highway between N 78th Street and Davis Road Closures in Pinellas are concentrated in Shore Acres County Road 95 is closed east of its intersection with U.S Bel-Keene Drive off of Belleair Road was reported closed earlier Thursday Check fl511.com for more road closures Those who traveled by plane out of state will soon be able to fly through Tampa International after sustaining modest wind damage and flooding Pete-Clearwater International hasn’t announced a reopening time 5 things to know about the 2024 hurricane season, according to forecasters. Forecasters predict ‘extremely active’ 2024 hurricane season. Here’s why. Could Tampa Bay flood insurance rise after a hurricane? A warning from Hurricane Ian Want to know what areas are flooding in Tampa Bay? Here’s where to look Checklists for building all kinds of storm kits. Jack Evans is a former reporter covering Pinellas County. Shauna Muckle is reporter covering tourism, transportation and technology. She can be reached at smuckle@tampabay.com. Miami South Dade ventured north to the annual Lake Gibson wrestling tussle for the first time and came away with the 54-team tournament title It was the Buccaneers first IBT championship this season after rolling up 274 points Either someone is on vacation or someone is hurt,” South Dade coach Victor Balmeceda said Jovanni Tovar (Southridge) picks up a 7-4 win over Lucas Barrios (Mater Academy) in the 122-pound division at the Braves Invitational Saturday / Bill KempIt was also the first time the Invitational relocated from the Lake Gibson gym to the AdventHealth Fieldhouse in Winter Haven where a girls and junior varsity tournament was held simultaneously “The last two years we have been struggling with out-growing the high school and numerous people wanted to add the girls,” Lake Gibson coach Danny Walker said.”That was the goal last year but we just couldn’t get the date to work “A lot of us coaches are trying to build Florida into a Top 10 wrestling state in the country but some would say that is not happening yet Our goals as coaches is to build this state with depth and the only way to do that is holding these big events and these tournaments are common week in and week out.” John Neumann) wins a 4-1 decision over Alfredo Corrales (Key West) at 177-pounds at the Braves Invitational Saturday / Bill KempSouth Dade thrusted four wrestlers into the finals and came away with three champions: Jose Callava (108) Nathaniel Williams (134) finished second for the Bucs Yianni Marinis (Zephyrhills Christian) wins a 9-5 decision over Jake Wyatt (Palmetto) in the 140-pound division at the Braves Invitational Saturday / Bill Kemp“(Callava) is a pleasant surprise,” Balmeceda said “We knew he was tough but we didn’t know he could make (106) “(EJ Solis) is a man wrestling boys right now Willie is fun because everything you say to do It’s like I have been coaching him since he was a baby but I have only been coaching for one year.” Jose Callava (South Dade) edges Eli Jolicoeur (Suwannee) 3-2 at 108-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven / Bill KempZephyrhills Christian (231) finished second Miami Southridge (187) third and Lake Gibson (162.50) was fourth Zephyrhills suffered several first-day injuries yet Yianni Marinis (140) finished first while Kyle Gallo (167) and Talon Maple (146) were second “We’ve been coming here for a number of years and it’s a nice-strong tournament,” Maple said Nathan Lyttle (Harmony) wins in overtime over Garrett Ferguson (Gulf Breeze) at 115-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven / Bill KempMore first-place finishes were: Nathan Lyttle (Harmony) 113 Jeremiah Chavis (Hernando) 192 and Ryan Miret (Southridge) 287 Jeremiah Chavis (Hernando) wins 6-3 over Derek Washington Jr (Evangelical Christian School) at 192-pounds at the Braves Invitational in Winter Haven / Bill KempGirls tournament champions are: Emmerson Webber (Hernando) 102 Grace Leota (Hernando) 192 and Rotchiva Clermont (Orlando Freedom) 237 © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER — Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst With a potential hurricane expected to develop this week in the Gulf of Mexico that’s what Meagan Sammons and her husband are currently doing their south Zephyrhills home took on an inch of water in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby and the periods of heavy rain that followed so it was a lot of cleanup and a lot of mopping,” she said The flooding brought on by that heavy rain surprised Sammons because it flooded not only her home but other corners of Zephyrhills “We’ve never had that kind of flooding before here in Zephyrhills,” she said neighbors have worried about the threat of a hurricane or tropical storm Even rain from an indirect hit could exacerbate flooding issues there you’re going to get a lot of rain bands and things like that It’s going to create a lot of rain,” said Tom Vanater Vanater’s Zephyrhills home on the Silverado Golf Course is now surrounded by a flood barrier called a tiger dam Pasco County installed it because the golf course behind his home remains severely flooded the water level is steadily going down as crews use a series of pumps to shuttle the water downstream toward Zephyr Creek and the Hillsborough River “We’re in better shape now than we were two or three weeks ago,” Vanater said Even though he feels his home is ready for more rain Zephyrhills has declared a local state of emergency Weiss said tiger dams will be staying up for now The city is also stocking up on fuel and making sure stormwater systems are working Zephyrhills has a sandbag site operated by Pasco County that is open 24/7 It’s located at the fire station at 6907 Dairy Road in Zephyrhills 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 Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome a trip to Zephyrhills is anything but dull and scenic strolls along the river’s class II rapids Visitors to Zephyrhills have easy access to a number of major West Central Florida attractions including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and ZooTampa at Lowry Park which are located within 30 miles of the city Plan your trip to Florida’s Sports Coast Check out the area’s family-friendly attractions Check out the area’s accessible parks and attractions Hit the links and check out the many sports events happening in Pasco County Book a stay at a local hotel or choose from a variety of accommodations in Pasco County By Jodi Mailander Farrell Underneath those sponges By Lauren Tjaden At Giraffe Ranch in Dade City you can learn about exotic animals from the comfort of a 4-wheel drive vehicle or via camel-backed.. By Sunde Farquhar Take a stroll through downtown Dade City and you'll feel like you're taking a trip back in time Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear())2021 VISIT FLORIDA. All rights reserved. VISIT FLORIDA® is a service mark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, d/b/a VISIT FLORIDA, registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. | Contact Us An official website of the United States government Our outpatient clinic provides primary care and specialty health services and the other health services we offer at our Zephyrhills VA Clinic Select a service on this page to check the hours Wheelchair availability: Zephyrhills VA Clinic campus has wheelchairs upon arrival for patients who need them to access the building We work with Disabled American Veterans and county Veterans Affairs directors to provide transportation for Veterans and authorized caregivers to get to scheduled medical appointments Many localities in the region provide other van services to Veterans Learn more about DAV and the other van services available in your county Beneficiary travel benefits include round-trip transportation from your home to the medical center Find out if you qualify for 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telehealth We offer women’s health services to meet your specific needs such as disease screenings maternity care and female-specific medical equipment The Women Veterans Program offers complete health care for women Veterans of all ages Our primary care providers specialize in women’s health They work closely with specialists in gynecology Learn more and connect with a Women Veterans Program Manager retention ponds or in low-lying neighborhoods will be battling river flooding in Pasco County into the middle of next week "Right now we have the local rivers are starting to flood and crest into the neighborhoods and we are running continuing operations of pulling people out of their homes that need assistance," Interim Fire Chief Ryan Guynn said More than 100 people have been rescued from the rising floodwaters so far according to a spokesperson for the Pasco County Sheriff's Office Officials advise any resident who lives near a lake retention pond or low-lying area to be on high alert for rising water Emergency management director Andrew Fossa called the rising rivers a "200-year flood event" for the county One river was in moderate flood stage and projected to reach major flood levels by next Wednesday Here is where to track the river levels in real time: The Anclote River and Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills crested on Friday morning The Hillsborough River recorded the highest flood level to date High-water rescue missions were ongoing on Friday were staged at Bealls Florida near SR-56 and the Anclote River as well as at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport near the Hillsborough River The Withlacoochee River is in major flood stage and Cypress Creek is 1 foot from reaching major flood stage Both rivers are forecast to crest between Monday and Wednesday of next week which crested on Friday morning at around 26 feet The Hillsborough River near Zephyrhills flows south until it deposits to the Hillsborough Bay Cypress Creek eventually deposits into the Hillsborough River south of Pasco County The Withlacoochee tracks east into the center of the state and "swamps out near Polk County which could create issues for nearby areas in the middle of next week," according to emergency management coordinator Nolan Ristau There's dozens of road closures, viewable here: mypas.co/Map Several neighborhoods are inundated with water Officials say historic river flooding is also spilling over into nearby lakes retention ponds and threatening neighborhoods that typically stay dry Two shelter locations from Hurricane Milton are remaining open: The county also reopened sandbag locations for residents facing river flooding. One location flooded late on Thursday, according to officials. These sandbag locations remain open: https://pascocountyfl.net/_T18_R294.php South Sumter and Zephyrhills lived up to the hype without the much-anticipated sophomore battle of blue-chip receivers DJ Pickett and Ja’Kyrian Turner as the Raiders (7-0) beat the Bulldogs 23-20 on Friday night South Sumter’s defense stifled Zephyrhills’ offense in the first half as Zephyrhills (3-3) found holes in a stout defense The Bulldogs' final drive was halted by a fumble in the final minute South Sumter junior running back Jamare Dorsey rushed for 178 yards on 22 carries Here are three takeaways from the game that drove South Sumter one step closer to a perfect season South Sumter establishes run early behind Jamare DorseyThe Raiders ran the ball down the Bulldogs’ throats there were more than 250 rushing yards almost 70% of South Sumter’s total yards It’s the fourth time he’s crossed the 100-yard rushing barrier this season He talked about his mindset going into the game “When you come out here and see a hole Come out here and just be a dog.” is a hard runner who needed several Zephyrhills jerseys to stop him from gaining yards Dorsey sports a running style; his head coach can’t get enough of it He’s done pretty well this year," Ty Lawrence said "He and KK (Payne-Wright) are both two special running backs He (Dorsey) took the one (touchdown) in the second half on the second play (and a 16-6 lead) now we can go.' He just kept running harder and harder." Zephyrhills didn’t gain over 30 yards in its first four opening drives The Bulldogs didn’t get within 30 yards of the end zone until Picket’s 46-yard catch with seconds to go in the second quarter Lawrence gives all the credit to his defensive coordinator Chris Gauntlett They just do a freaking outstanding job," Lawrence said I didn’t watch a defensive play until the last series of the first half I probably should quit watching.” Lawrence might have fixed his eyes on the offense but he missed his team’s masterclass in run defense The pressure the Raiders put on the quarterback and the stops they made at the line forced Zephyrhills to change its offense in the second half South Sumter ended the night with three sacks Four or five Raiders were in hot pursuit of ball carriers Zephyrhills looked to establish the running game with its first four offensive series South Sumter wasn’t having one bit of it The Raiders held the Bulldogs to less than 50 rushing yards in the first half But the Bulldogs went to the passing game and experienced success so there was no going back The occasional deep ball sparked each of their three touchdown drives That was all a part of South Sumter’s plan the precision and poise needed to march down the field demands a consistency most high school football teams don’t have “We’ve always given up the intermediate pass," Lawrence said those are the ones that get you beat.” Alan Cohn won a five-way race to become the Democratic Party's nominee for Florida's newly drawn15th Congressional District. according to Florida Department of Elections Political consultant Gavin Brown had 22.3%, video producer Eddie Geller 21.9%, financial banker Cesar Ramirez 17.4% and William VanHorn 5.4% The Democratic candidate moves on the November general election a former prosecutor and judge who served as Gov Lee won the GOP nomination with 41.5% of the votes. The winner will represent constituents of Congressional District 15 The district's boundaries stretch from South Florida Avenue in Lakeland west to the Suncoast Parkway near Lutz and from north of Zephyrhills south to State Road 60 Republicans in District 15: Laurel Lee beats Kelli Stargel, 3 others to become Republican nominee for Florida's new CD 15 More results: Live election-night results for other Polk County races This will be Cohn's second campaign aimed at becoming the Congressional representative for Florida's House District 15 He previously ran for the seat in 2020 and lost to Republican Scott Franklin who is running in District 18 after redistricting. is a resident of New Tampa in Hillsborough County His professional experience is working as an investigative journalist for ABC Action News in Tampa Cohn's work has included discovering a former Hillsborough commissioner who accepted money to buy a vacation home in Arkansas and uncovering defective parts were being installed in Black Hawk helicopters. Cohn said he plans to work on bipartisan measures to lower taxes and take on large pharmaceutical corporations' pricing of life-saving medications He's in favor of a high-speed rail rom Tampa to Orlando Cohn has raised approximately $178,000 to date in his campaign for office, according to the latest Federal Election Commission filings This put him second in funds raised by his party's candidates who raised more than $500,000. Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545 Voters in the western half of Polk County have a choice to make in the critical mid-term elections: who can best represent Congressional District 15. Democrat Alan Cohn, an investigative TV journalist, will face off against former Secretary of State Laurel Lee, a Republican for a spot on Florida's Congressional delegation. Cohn and Lee each claimed their party's nomination after defeating four challengers a piece in the August primaries Cohn received 33.1% and Lee received 41.5% of primary votes. Also: Scotty Moore challenges Darren Soto in U.S. House-9 race And: John Flynn, Ruth Moracen Knight vie for county judge position The district's new boundaries stretch from South Florida Avenue in Lakeland west to the Suncoast Parkway near Lutz from north of Zephyrhills south to State Road 60 Previously: Alan Cohn wins Democratic primary for Florida House District 15 He and his wife Patricia have with two grown children - a daughter and son Cohn said he’s traveled for sports from Lakeland and Plant City to Wesley Chapel Cohn has worked for ABC Action News in Tampa and is known for discovering a former Hillsborough commissioner who took money to buy a vacation home in Arkansas He’s also won a Peabody Award for uncovering defective parts were being installed in Black Hawk helicopters. "People in Polk have seen me for many years taking on both sides uncovering political corruption and businesses who are taking advantage of consumers we’re cynical of the government and skeptical," he said "People have seen me for years uncover problems - not just uncover but find solutions and that’s what I want to do in Congress." now looking to focus her attention on a larger scale Lee was appointed secretary of state by DeSantis in January 2019 serving for a little more than three years she was appointed as a circuit court judge by then-Gov She was re-elected to the position in 2014 she served as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida She investigated and litigated a wide range of criminal offenses including white-collar and violent crimes and cases involving sexual exploitation of children. Lee and her campaign did not respond to multiple requests for an interview with The Ledger. Her stance on the key issues is pulled from primary interviews, her campaign website and Bay News 9 debate answers, which can be watched here. Inflation, economic issuesLee blasted President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party in Thursday's debate for causing what she referred to as historic record-setting levels of inflation and skyrocketing pricing for basic consumer goods including gas and food She blamed Democrats' frivolous spending with COVID relief. Her campaign platform also includes reviving the Keystone Pipeline. Republican primary results: Laurel Lee beats Kelli Stargelto become Republican nominee for Florida's CD 15 Both candidates have put forth the idea of requiring a balanced federal budget by reigning in spending Cohn said he is a middle-class working American who understands the pressures families are facing from increasing costs in all categories: housing He said the issue traces back to a problem exposed by the COVID pandemic. what COVID exposed was our weakness in terms of a supply chain," he said "We have to do something about that." Cohn said he will support federal measures like the CHIPS and Science Act which aims to boost American semiconductor research and development to be used in technological devices high-paying jobs and makes sue we're not relying on China’s production for computer chips," he said It should not be a partisan issue but an American issue." With the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v women's rights and access to abortions has become a decisive issue with both parties proposing legislation to further address the issue likely to be determined by the next Congress. "I believe every woman should make their own health care decisions Lee believes big governments should be in the room "My 26-year-old daughter has fewer right as an American than Laurel Lee did when she was 26." Cohn said he feels the Supreme Court made a mistake by overturning the Roe and Dobbins decisions particularly taking issue with the state's law failing to make exceptions for rape or incest. Previously: Laurel Lee beats Kelli Stargel, 3 others to become Republican nominee for Florida's new CD 15 Lee has previously told The Ledger she supports the decision of the Supreme Court in that the women's rights issue should be handled at the state level Her campaign website states she is both pro-life and pro-family I will continue to support this should be a state’s issue and not a federal government issue," she previously told The Ledger. Cohn said he sees as a "salvo" or opening attack on human rights with gay marriage next on the Republican agenda. Lee said in Thursday night's debate she considers gay marriage to be a settled issue and it would be "unnecessary" to codify it into federal law. During her campaign Lee has state her position as a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and willingness to protect the Constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners. Hurricane Ian's impacts on Polk are still fresh in the mind of voters bringing climate change and its impacts to the forefront. Both candidates agree protecting the environment is critical to Florida's economic success given its tourism and agricultural industries. Cohn went on the attack in Thursday night's debate asking Lee if she thought climate change was real. rather addressing the need for Florida to focus on building its resiliency against future storms She said she supports sustainable rebuilding and regrowth while protecting what green space is left. who believes the federal government can help drive the growth of renewable sustainable energy sources with policy and funding Cohn said the Interstate 4 corridor used to be a hub for solar panel manufacturing until the tax breaks were stripped away. "It takes the fundamental steps to curb climate change and create high-paying jobs here at home," he said. Appointed: Samuel Simmons named interim Lakeland commissioner for Northwest District Lee reported having more than $1.8 million in contributions with approximately $362,000 in cash on hand Her expenditures show more than $350,000 on media advertisements in the month leading up to the primary PAC and Hoyt Barnett, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Jeffrey Vinik owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Todd Wanek Lee's endorsements include Congressmen Gus Bilirakis (R-Gainesville) and Scott Franklin (R-Lakeland) West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association and the National Federation of Independent Business. Cohn has reported raising more than $82,712 as of October He's received contributions from several union political action committees including UA Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, Communication Workers of America and International Brotherhood of Operating Engineers. Cohn has endorsements that include former Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Early walk-in voting goes from Oct. 24 through Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Oct. 29, ahead of the general election Nov. 8. More information is available on Polk County Supervisor of Election's website at www.polkelections.com Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545 — When Zephyrhills got four a half inches of rain Tuesday night it turned Shelby Lovell’s home off Geiger Road into an island “It happened within a matter of 30 to 40 minutes that my house was about to take on water,” he said And with the home’s septic system underwater too I only got about an hour and a half of sleep last night.” he says Pasco County has offered little help and City of Zephyrhills are addressing flooding issues elsewhere where Paul Gonnella says much of his backyard is underwater and his home is under threat and we’re trying to protect everything we own here recent rain events and rain from Hurricane Debby flooded the golf course and areas to the north so they are using pumps and miles of hoses to manage the flooding by carefully moving water south toward the Hillsborough River A spokesperson for Pasco County says a local "State of Emergency" remains in place Though some of the areas have flooded before neighbors like Gonnella say drainage problems are now apparent and fear infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the area’s explosive growth Lovell fears what a named storm would do to his home right now and it would just hurt my family so bad,” he said Both Pasco County and the City of Zephyrhills say they are working closely with the Florida Division of Emergency Management Below is the full statement from the City of Zephyrhills: Laurel Lee will become the first Republican Party nominee for Florida's new 15th Congressional District beat out a highly competitive field for the open seat winning just over 41% of votes in Tuesday's primary according to Florida's Department of Election's unofficial results Kelli Stargel of Lakeland had nearly 28%, state Rep Demetries Grimes 10.4% and Kevin "Mac" McGovern 8.7% Lee will face broadcast journalist Alan Cohn who won the Democratic Party primary with 33% of the vote Florida House District 15: Alan Cohn wins Democratic primary More results from Polk County: Live primary results The winner will represent constituents of the newly drawn congressional district Lee served as DeSantis' secretary of state for a little more than three years she was appointed as a circuit court judge by former Gov Rick Scott in 2013 then re-elected to the position Lee's platform draws from her experience as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida. Lee said her focus will be on the nation’s economic issues skyrocketing inflation and the rising cost of basic goods like groceries for American families She called for stronger border security and immigration policies. Lee raised more money than her opponents with more than $663,000 reported in her Federal Election Commission filings Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. — There's an airport in Zephyrhills that caters to private and smaller planes and it just got a big boost from the state This year they received $6.6 million for improvements They plan to build a new fix-based operator building The hope is that this construction will attract new corporate and recreational aircraft "We may not see the aircraft come in day one it's not like opening up a road where open up the road going back to that community and create the destination of why you want to fly your jet here your company located in Zephyrhills," Billy Poe "So the tennis center has helped with that but nationally and internationally bringing people in." the expansion hopes to create more jobs and offer aviation lessons The city also received money to extend South Avenue and create an entrance for a new facility for the Florida National Guard in Zephyrhills It will be built just north of 6th Avenue and South Avenue A little less than a year ago (in July 2023) we gave you an update on the Chapel Crossings community included a discussion of the Zephyrhills (Zhills) Bypass a long-awaited connection between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills that one day will be taking traffic off of the recently widened S.R That article mentioned that the first portion of the Zhills Bypass had finally opened with the opening of the new Story Wesley Chapel apartments at the westernmost entrance to Chapel Crossings. to be located directly to the east of Chapel Crossings (but only north of the Zhills Bypass whereas Chapel Crossings has neighborhoods under construction both north and south of the as-yet-unfinished Bypass road) may be getting ready to begin building. The new development will be called Hamilton Oaks and one of the most important things about it (at least from our perspective) is that the developer of Hamilton Oaks will be responsible for building the next segment of the Zhills Bypass to the east of Chapel Crossings although there will still be several miles of that roadway that will need to be constructed before the connection to Zephyrhills will have been completed. Pasco County’s comments on the conceptual site plan were sent to the applicant on Feb 29 of this year and it appears that the county doesn’t see any major issues/problems with the new project. This land went through a residential rezoning as ‘Hamilton Oaks MPUD’ in 2022 It is approved for 224 single-family units on 61 acres (see site map The property owner is listed with Pasco County as William D Brown and the applicant is listed as Jeff Oligschlaeger of AMH We had no further information as to when Hamilton Oaks is expected to begin building or when residents may be able to begin moving in is that the development will be required to convey any needed right-of-way and build the portion of the Zephyrhills Bypass roadway up to the project’s eastern property line That road currently dead-ends at Cason Blvd in Chapel Crossings. the Bypass will be extended east to connect with River Glen Blvd then ultimately be extended to Handcart Rd with a realignment that will provide vehicular traffic with an alternative direct travel route into Zephyrhills. mostly empty parcel (labeled as Depue Ranch by the Pasco property appraiser’s office) immediately to the east of this development has not yet submitted any development or rezoning requests to the county. You must be logged in to post a comment Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Two people have been injured after a plane crashed Thursday afternoon at Zephyrhills Municipal Airport is closed and that drivers should avoid the area Pasco County Fire Rescue and Zephyrhills Police Department are on the scene The FAA and NTSB have been requested to respond as well. The two injured were taken to the hospital with serious injuries The single-engine Cessna was registered in Lakeland This is a breaking news story and we’ll provide updates as they come in Stay with Spectrum Bay News 9 on-air, online and the Spectrum News app for more the Zephyrhills Bulldogs announced the following slate of games for 2025 including two contests against Port Charlotte and South Sumter on the road Among other teams on the schedule are Gulf Springstead and at home against Wiregrass Ranch Below is the Bulldogs' 2025 regular season schedule 2025 ZEPHYRHILLS BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school football news To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App -- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi ANDY VILLAMARZOAndy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007 writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings 2022 at 9:58 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}With 12,000 soldiers and airmen in its ranks the Florida National Guard ranks next to last in the country for providing troops on a per capita basis Ron DeSantis signing the 2022-23 state budget Zephyrhills officials are looking forward to receiving $12.04 million in funding for airport sewer and water main improvements and an extension of the National Guard entrance road for construction of a new National Guard armory While $12 million may seem like a drop in the bucket in the state's $92.2 billion budget Zephyrhills leaders say it will go a long way to getting some long-awaited projects underway “Receiving these appropriations helps to improve the infrastructure throughout the city of Zephyrhills in a multi-faceted approach,” said Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe.“Thank you to Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson Randy Maggard (all Pasco County legislators) for their continued support of the Zephyrhills community Ron DeSantis for his support and seeing the value in these infrastructural improvements in the city of Zephyrhills." The city plans to use $1.94 million to extend South Avenue to entrance road to the new National Guard Armory The 2020-21 state budget included $50 million to build a new National Guard armory in Zephyrhills and restore an aging armory in Immokalee to allow the state to recruit 450 additional guard members DeSantis said the need became especially apparent during the pandemic when the state enlisted National Guard members to carry out statewide coronavirus testing and vaccinations With 12,000 soldiers and airmen in its ranks He said a state the size of Florida should have more than 20,000 guard members we pale in comparison to our sister states who have nowhere near the level of population and the emergencies we have,” said Burgess “Florida’s National Guard is in desperate need of growing Our guard has been mobilized since last year in COVID relief from testing to vaccinations mobilizations across the country and overseas deployment The Florida National Guard was awarded a $25 million in 2020-21 to construct the new barracks in Zephyrhills South Avenue and the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport This site does not have an improved access from 6th Avenue so the extension project will allow the city to purchase right of way for a quarter-mile road to the National Guard site with stormwater retention and 1,300 feet of water and sewer main to the 6th Avenue/South Avenue intersection In addition to serving the National Guard facility the road will provide access to future industrial development The Zephyhills Municipal Airport improvements received $6.6 million to design and construct a new Fixed-Base Operator terminal building Future development of the airport and the adjacent industrial park is anticipated to attract new corporate and recreational aircraft operations immediate job opportunities will be created due to increased capacity for aviation businesses Another $3.5 million will go to the extension of the Kossik Road and Fort King Road sewer and water main This is Phase II of a three-phase project to improve utility access in the north end of the city of Zephyrhills The water portion of the project will create a looped system allowing for redundancy and improving fire flow and water quality The sewer portion also will allow the city to take up to 400 septic systems offline and providereclaimed water to the city to recharge the Hillsborough River basin Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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The severe thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service for Polk County has ended stated the following in a hazardous weather outlook that extends into Monday night: Numerous thunderstorms are expected throughout the day today During the late morning through the afternoon and evening there is potential for some strong to severe storms capable of producing strong gusty winds Note: The warning has been extended one hour to 11 a.m The National Weather Service in Ruskin has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 11 a.m Southeastern Pasco County in west central Florida Eastern Hillsborough County in west central Florida Northwestern Polk County in central Florida severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Temple Terrace to near East Lake-Orient Park to near Riverview to near Greater Sun Center PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building 2023There was a time when it was enough to be the perfect ZIP code for retirees looking for an affordable mobile home park with a clubhouse and other friendly northerners to claim that dreamt-about retirement in the sun for decades Florida thrived financially on its status as a retirement haven and sleepy little Zephyrhills in east Pasco County seemed happy to be known as just that Zephyrhills has seen its character changed by the growing Hillsborough communities to the south creating interest among those seeking more affordable housing and less congestion The city is looking to reshape its identity While the water-bottling operation that bears its name still operates and skydivers still come from all over the world to enjoy Sky Dive City Suddenly, Zephyrhills isn’t grandma’s Zephyrhills anymore. So the city is looking to rebrand in a way that says as much. The branding company has spent the last several months getting to know the people of Zephyrhills and what makes the community distinct. On-site visits, a community survey and now a wider survey to gather information about how people outside the city perceive it have been part of the consultant’s research. Their bottom-line job, said Zephyrhills public information officer Kevin Weiss, has been “to discover the city’s DNA.” The Captain H.B Jeffries House was built in 1910 for Captain Jeffries, founder of Zephyrhills, and remains at 38537 Fifth Ave. in historic downtown Zephyrhills. Jeffries was known for bringing many Union Civil War veterans into this area. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlinesSubscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. “We’ve always been known as a retirement community, for our sky diving and as Zephyrhills, the ‘City of Pure Water,” said City Manager Billy Poe. “But I think that we’re more than that now.” Opinions differ among city staff, he said. But after hearing about branding efforts elsewhere, Poe brought the idea to the City Council for consideration and the board agreed. “It’s important for us to understand where we are, what we are and to have one message to send out to our community,” he said. Poe said that the branding has to include an understanding of the city’s history but then take it to the next level. “Right now we’re the ‘City of Pure Water,’” he said. “But what does that tell you?” Weiss asks, what if the city loses sky diving or water bottling at some point? There has to be a brand that takes Zephyrhills into the future, regardless of most notable industries now. “There are so many assets now,” he said, including the city’s vibrant downtown, its skate park, the tennis center and its friendly atmosphere. The branding exercise was designed to last between 34 and 38 weeks. It is now reaching the midpoint of that process, according to Sam Preston, director of project management for North Star. Preston said the first step was to immerse himself in the community, meeting 120-130 people, using focus groups and one-on-one interviews “to discover what is authentic and distinct” about the community. The company also conducted a community survey that attracted about 1,000 responses, which is two to three times the usual. A cyclist passes through the Fifth Ave business district in 2021 in historic downtown Zephyrhills. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]Then, an awareness and perception survey. That means reaching out to people outside the city in the county or in Hillsborough, including officials in chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and other cities to find out what they think Zephyrhills is doing well and what it needs to improve, Preston said. In the next few weeks, when all of those survey results and conversations are compiled, he said, he would meet with Poe and other city leaders to talk about the general results. From there, the branding process becomes a creative one, as the logo, tagline, city colors and brand are developed. But handing over a slogan isn’t the end of the process. Preston said there will be a detailed game plan developed and presented to the city so that officials can choose what portions of the process fit with what Zephyrhills wants to do. He said he is more focused on that strategic rollout than a big unveiling ceremony where everyone gets to look at a logo. The final product could be ready by May. The whole idea of the exercise, he said, is for the city to take control of its own future based on the research that North Star has completed. Preston said he was impressed with city leaders and their understanding of that. “They’re not just reacting. They’re trying to be strategic,” he said. “Do we wait until change happens or do we control the change?” Barbara BehrendtPasco County Reporter It’s a crowded field in the Democratic primary for Florida’s newly drawn U.S The open seat has captured the attention of five political hopefuls having previously campaigned for the seat in 2020 Cohn is competing against political consultant Gavin Brown video producer Eddie Geller, financial banker Cesar Ramirez and retired U.S The new District 15’s boundaries stretch from South Florida Avenue in Lakeland west to the Suncoast Parkway near Lutz 23 primary will be open to registered voters affiliated with the Democratic Party Conservatism contest?: US House Fla. District 15 GOP primary Aging District 11: In older congressional District 11, two Republicans under 30 are challenging Daniel Webster District 18: US Rep. Scott Franklin faces 4 newcomers in Republican primary for the 18th district Here’s an introduction to the five candidates in alphabetical order: where he cares for seven cows and two horses Brown is not married and does not have children Brown spent 13 years working for a nonprofit the Roundabout Theater Company based in New York he worked as the audience services director overseeing marketing and providing customer service He has served as a political consultant and strategist for several political campaigns for state gubernatorial campaigns Senate campaigns and the 2020 presidential campaign of Joe Biden Brown said he worked extensively in Georgia to help the Democratic Party win two critical Senate races Now he’s taking up the challenge himself Brown said he believes he’s the only candidate who has worked in Washington D.C to successfully get bipartisan legislation passed as an intern at the American Shipbuilding Association Brown said he knows how to bring people to the table and meet in the middle I think we can meet down the middle of the road People are sick of the far left and far right yelling at each other and getting nothing done,” he told The Ledger Brown believes this election season may be perfect timing to swing the district blue given the charged atmosphere following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v the 1973 decision that made abortion legal nationwide He plans to stand up to fight for women’s rights Brown said he supports the 2nd Amendment and gun rights but thinks there needs to be an effort to enforce background and safety checks already in legislation Brown said the Democrats in Washington D.C He said gains have been made to support critical infrastructure but more work is needed Brown has reported raising around $15,000 for his campaign the candidate had less than $1,000 left in cash on hand as of June 30. Cohn is an investigative journalist who has worked for ABC Action News in Tampa He was known for discovering a former Hillsborough commissioner who took money to buy a vacation home in Arkansas He’s won a Peabody Award for uncovering defective parts were being installed in Black Hawk helicopters Independents are cynical of politics and politicians so many have seen me standing up to those very people and helping working families,” he said Cohn said he thinks what sets him apart are his investigative skills finding facts as he forays into politics as a continuation of his public service “What I’ve always been about is the candidate who will fight for values of the people who live in the district,” he said The key issues in his campaign platform are reaching across the aisle to lower taxes and taking on large pharmaceutical companies to lower costs of life-saving medications for seniors He said there needs to be more investment in education to help children be prepared for 21st century jobs “We have suffered so much from the lack of infrastructure around here,” Cohn said he said he’d be a proponent for encouraging a high-speed rail from Tampa to Orlando down to Miami Cohn said he will fight for women’s rights to make their own health care decisions after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v He said he was happy to see the bipartisan effort put into the gun safety bill signed in June Cohn has raised a total of about $84,800 and had about $76,500 left in cash on hand Many of his campaign donations have been received through ActBlue a nonprofit organization that collects individual donations for Democrats via the Internet. is a video and digital media specialist from Brandon who is making his first move as a candidate he spent several years attempting to build a following as a comedian Geller said he is "a full-time candidate." Geller worked as a video producer for MoveOn.org which gradually led to him getting involved in politics He joined the Democratic National Committee in 2016 as a video director before working on digital and social media campaigns in 2018 to help Democrats win a majority in the U.S “I have been focused on how I can use my creative skills messaging and video production to further causes I care about and elect candidates I believe in,” he said inspired him to make the transition from activist to political candidate “It very much felt like a time where democracy is hanging by a thread things in America have never been more extreme,” he said Geller said he wants to tackle key issues in a different way He said launching his political campaign with a sitcom parody jingle he wrote and acted in is a sign of what’s to come “I’ve been involved in parties and politics and I’ve decided to do something different,” he said “I came into this race when you saw candidates who were running the same old playbook I think that skepticism is warranted.” One of his key campaign priorities is to preserve voting rights for all citizens Other key issues include pushing for universal health care and addressing climate change given that the environment and climate are fundamental to Florida’s tourism-based economy Geller said he would be in favor of codifying access to abortion as a woman’s basic human right making sure women and their doctors have final say in their medical care These beliefs in part come from his late mother Geller had raised more than $437,000 — more than any of his fellow Democratic challengers Most of the money has come through crowdfunding sources this creative voice aspect cannot be discounted,” he said moved to Florida for more than 20 years ago He lives with his wife and two daughters. During this time he's moved through the new District 15 from southern Pasco County Army veteran with more than 20 years of professional experience in corporate banking finance He cannot disclose his current company's name but said he's engaged in compliance risk to fraud investigations Ramirez said he's managed multibillion-dollar portfolios in North America and Latin America "I may seem like an around-the-way guy because I'm pretty laid back but I'm as professional as I can be when it's time to wear the suit and tie," he said Ramirez said he coaches for South Lakeland Baseball and sits on Polk County's Efficiency Commission He is president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida "I really believe that we should be better listeners," he said this job is about representing people.. I always come to the table with an empty cup or at least a cup that's half full and let them fill up the rest." This is Ramirez's first campaign for political office He's been inspired by his two daughters and recent turn of events they have less rights than their mother did and their grandmother did," he said which he believes should have been codified into law several years ago Ramirez said it is one example of his key focus "a foundation of equality" for all people This makes legislation regarding voters' rights Ramirez said the reality is that much of the recent election legislation has made it more difficult for people to cast their ballot. He said he is in favor of measures to limit voter fraud The recent interactions of the three branches of government — legislative executive and judicial — have left Ramirez concerned "I honestly think I'm done with people wanting to represent us who are not part of the us," he said Ramirez said that he can be a voice for the local community as one of the few candidates who live within the district Ramirez reported raising around $13,750 for his campaign of which he had a little over $3,000 in cash on hand The candidate said he was very late in deciding to run for office leaving him a little over a week to raise the $10,000 filing fee. POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD RACES ARE HEATED: VanHorn is a Florida resident of more than 20 years who lives outside the district in Port New Richey, according to his Federal Election Commission filings. He and his wife, Cathy, have seven children. The three youngest are his adopted special-needs grandchildren. VanHorn is a U.S. Navy veteran having served four years before briefly working in the aerospace industry. He worked for the U.S. Postal Office for 30 years before retiring. During that time, he served as a union shop steward and was trained as an arbitration advocate, according to his website. VanHorn did not respond to numerous inquiries from The Ledger for a candidate interview VanHorn suggests policies to improve gun safety that involve raising the minimum age to buy a rifle to 25 years of age a seven business-day wait and mental-health screening Other policies he expressed support for include increased funding for education an annual cap on legal immigration and making sure everyone has access to low-cost healthcare VanHorn has raised more than $22,000 as of the June FEC filings of which more than $19,000 is a self-loan from the candidate The candidate reported having about $3,000 left in his war chest Sign in to the Wesley Chapel Community Website to view local news and events SearchLog in / Sign upNew Publix coming to Wesley Chapel!Community WebsitesApr 1 FL – Wesley Chapel residents are buzzing with excitement as plans for a new Publix store unfold at the intersection of Two Rivers Blvd and State Road 56 This development marks a significant addition to the new community offering locals a new hub for their grocery and retail needs The store is expected to open in late 2024 to early 2025 Nestled within the new and under construction Two Rivers development the upcoming Publix store is set to enhance the living experience for residents with its modern design and comprehensive selection of goods celebrated for its ideal proximity to Wesley Chapel is designed to provide a "best-of-both-worlds" lifestyle combining the tranquility of suburban living with the convenience of urban amenities The expansive Two Rivers project will feature over 7,500 residential units Residents will enjoy a plethora of community facilities such as clubhouses The development also promises an enriching environment with planned K-12 schools and diverse retail spaces that will include dining Among the first neighborhoods within Two Rivers to open their doors are Childers by Lennar Homes and Northwater by D.R with approximately 100 homes sold and 65 families already settled Homes in Childers are priced starting in the mid-$300,000s with prices also starting in the mid-$300,000s and about 30 homes already occupied by residents The selection of the Two Rivers locale for the new Publix underscores the area's growth potential and strategic importance Situated halfway between Morris Bridge Road and US301 while geographically closer to South Zephyrhills is embraced as part of Wesley Chapel to reflect its burgeoning value and community identity This latest retail addition is anticipated to not only serve the daily needs of the Two Rivers and Wesley Chapel residents but also become a focal point for social and economic activity in the area aligns with the modern aesthetic and convenience of newer Publix outlets across the region ensuring a shopping experience that residents can look forward to For more details on this exciting development and to stay updated on local news, visit the Wesley Chapel Community Website at www.WesleyChapelCommunity.com You can also follow our journey and join the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook Facebook | X | Instagram Text Us: (813) 921-0999 (Text Only Number) Advertise With Us! Proudly serving the Wesley Chapel Community since 2009 © 2024 WESLEY CHAPEL COMMUNITY WEBSITE - SINCE 2009 The Wesley Chapel Community Website is part of the Community-Websites.com Network. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF SERVICE & PRIVACY | CONTACT THE EDITOR 2019ZEPHYRHILLS — A man accused of a robbery caught on video in New York City’s diamond district has been tracked down and arrested in Zephyrhills is facing federal charges of robbery and brandishing a firearm after he and two other men entered a jewelry store at about 11:30 a.m They showed their guns and ordered four of the store’s employees to lie on the ground They bound the hands and feet of the employees using zip ties and duct tape picked up jewelry from around the store and put it in bags The value of the jewelry stolen from Avianne & Co according to reports from New York news outlets They robbers entered the store pretending to be customers before pulling out handguns 🚨WANTED for a Robbery on 8/25/2019 at 12:02 P.M ☎️Call us at 1-800-577-TIPS or go to NYPDCrimeStoppers.com Using facial recognition technology, the New York Police Department identified Davila and Jaysean Sutton as two of the three suspects involved in the robbery, NBC 4 New York reported. He was arrested in Florida at about 8 p.m. Sunday, three weeks after the robbery, in the 38000 block of Springdale Road — a rural stretch of road just south of the Zephyrhills Correctional Center on U.S. 301, according to a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office report. A deputy stopped Davila because he matched the description of a wanted person, the report said. It was not clear why Davila was in Pasco County. Davila was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of providing a false name or ID after saying his name was Luis Nunez and Christopher Gonzalez. He was taken to the Pasco County Jail. Davila was transported Monday afternoon to the Pinellas County Jail, where he was being held for the U.S. Marshals Service, according to court records. Paige FryFormer Times Staffer The crash took place at U.S. 301 and Bailey Hill Road at about 6:20 p.m. Sunday. Martin Alvarez-Baeza, of Zephyrhills, was driving a 2010 Chevy pickup truck east on Bailey Hill Road, crossing the southbound lanes of U.S. 301. At the same time, Nathaniel Eli Hansen, 24, of Zephyrhills, was traveling south along U.S. 301 at a high rate of speed on a 2018 Honda motorcycle, the Highway Patrol said. Hansen struck the left side of the utility trailer the Chevy was towing and was thrown off the motorcycle. He was later pronounced dead at Tampa General Hospital. He was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash, troopers said. Alvarez-Baeza was not injured. Charges may be pending in this incident, the Highway Patrol said. Contact Sam Ogozalek at sogozalek@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3430. Follow @SamOgozalek. Howard William Hawkins Jr., 50, of Zephyrhills was driving south on Morris Bridge Road near the Pasco County line about 6:45 a.m. when his Kia Forte crossed the center line and struck a northbound Ford Fusion, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Hawkins and the driver of the Ford, 38-year-old Marcellus Andre Shackelford of Tampa, died at the scene. No other injuries were reported. Shackelford had taught math at Wesley Chapel High School since 2016. He also coached the junior varsity girls basketball team. On Monday, students made cards and signed a banner for his wife and two children, said Linda Cobbe, spokeswoman for Pasco County Schools. Hawkins was a longtime employee of BlueGrace Logistics in West Tampa, said Joe DeStefano, a senior manager with the company. "He was a huge part of our company," DeStefano said. "Everyone is grieving. He was by far one of the hardest working people I've ever met." The crash closed Morris Bridge in both directions for about five hours while deputies investigated. Tony MarreroMorning Editor and Justice Reporter 2022State transportation planners envision two-lane U.S 301 from Fowler Avenue north into Pasco County as a divided highway two-lane path abutting thousands of preserved acres traffic-choked north-south commuter and truck route subject to twice-a-day 91 southbound vehicles waited in a 1.4-mile line to get through the red light at the road’s intersection with State Road 56 northbound traffic can back up 3 miles from SR 56 to the bridge across the Hillsborough River The state Department of Transportation is poised to receive both views Thursday as it accepts public comment on expanding the road to four lanes between Fowler Avenue and State Road 56 The highway project carries an estimated cost of $199.5 million not counting the expense of offsetting expected damage to 31 acres of wetlands It will affect the owners of 16 homes and 11 businesses The state Department of Transportation has plans to widen U.S 301 to four lanes from Fowler Avenue to State Road 56 [ Florida Department of Transportation ]In Pasco They drew more attention in 2019 after the state extended State Road 56 east 6 miles to connect to U.S It effectively gave Wesley Chapel motorists another alternative to driving Interstate 75 or Morris Bridge Road into Tampa a Zephyrhills City Council member and chairman of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization I think we’re going to have to have it as another four-lane road to get down to Hillsborough County.” And those people will be coming. Just west of the SR 56 and U.S. 301 intersection sits the planned Two Rivers development of up to 6,400 homes and 2.6 million square feet of retail, office and industrial space. The attitude among Hillsborough officials might be best described as: Why now? The proposed four-lane route is not a part of either county’s long-range transportation plan through 2045. Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter “I do not see any reason why this road needs to be widened at this time where the county has no plans to increase development within the next few decades,” said Hillsborough Commissioner Mariella Smith She said she worries about the planned route slicing the edge of Hillsborough River State Park and interrupting a wildlife corridor connecting other preserves nearby This isn’t the first time the neighboring governments disagreed over their connecting roadways. A long-discussed link between Mansfield Boulevard in Wesley Chapel and Kinnan Street in New Tampa is open to emergency vehicles only after Pasco residents objected to through traffic Gunn Highway in Odessa is designated as a scenic corridor in Hillsborough County but is home to heavy industry on the Pasco side of the county line Hillsborough officials objected to a planned 15-mile extension of SR 56 into nearly 23,000 acres of preserved land The intersection where State Road 56 ends at U.S 301 from this point southward to Fowler Avenue [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]The state points to the need for better safety and projected population increases — with Hillsborough topping 2 million people and Pasco reaching nearly 800,000 residents by 2045 — and corresponding employment growth as reasons for the expansion Two lanes will be insufficient to handle future traffic Traffic counts from 2015 showed the number of daily vehicles on U.S with trucks comprising 11 percent of the traffic Sixteen people died and 338 were injured in 464 crashes in a five-year period ending in 2019 The state Department of Transportation is holding an in-person public hearing on its plan from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the department’s district headquarters at 11201 N McKinley Drive in Tampa. A virtual session at the same time requires pre-registration at https://active.fdotd7studies.com/us301/fowler-to-sr56/ The public hearing is one of the steps needed before the ongoing project development and environmental study is completed later this year. There is no money budgeted to buy rights of way or to begin construction. The timeline wasn’t well-received in Pasco. “Even when it is funded, it takes six or seven years to get it done,” said Smith, the Zephyrhills City Council member. “And then people are screaming about it because it’s already antiquated by the time it’s constructed.” C.T. BowenHillsborough County Reporter The Laker/Lutz News Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964 Click to join our weekly e-newsletter May 6, 2015 By Kathy Steele 301 will get even busier as developers move forward with plans to build a small shopping plaza with an Aldi grocery store at the intersection of Pretty Pond Road Demolition crews began razing Rainbow Court and Brightside Manor mobile home parks in March and gave notice to residents they would need to relocate to make way for the plaza city officials and developers are grappling with how to get approval for a new traffic signal at Pretty Pond A traffic signal currently operates at the Townview and Merchant’s Square Shopping centers directing traffic flow into and out of their parking lots on opposite sides of U.S But Florida Department of Transportation officials say a light at Pretty Pond can only be considered if the existing signal comes down Two traffic signals so close together don’t meet national highway standards for safe road design Commercial and residential growth justifies installing a traffic signal at Pretty Pond to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic volume a shopping center anchored by a Publix grocery store about 230 new apartments are due for construction “Its (traffic) all got to come out somehow,” Spina said Spina said he intends to meet with owners of the shopping center to discuss options Aldi is a leading international retailer in the discount grocery market Shoppers bag their own groceries and are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags Stores are stocked with about 1,400 quick-selling food items including fresh produce a typical grocer might stock as many as 30,000 items which Aldi representatives say translates into major savings for its shoppers The company was founded in the mid-1940s in Germany and today operates more than 9,000 stores in 18 countries The United States division is headquartered in Illinois Aldi announced the goal of opening 650 new stores in America by the end of 2018 That represents more than a $3 billion investment in land Aldi was named the nation’s top discount grocery store for four consecutive years and also one of the top three favorite grocery store chains in America based on consumer surveys by Market Force Information Inc April 27, 2016 at 6:02 pm June 6, 2016 at 10:40 am I’ve been shopping at Aldi since a teen in Illinois So happy to see a store coming to Zephyrhills January 31, 2018 at 12:44 pm I cam to Florida from Connecticut and I can’t wait for an Aldi to come to Zephyrhills June 24, 2016 at 10:00 pm Zephyrhills could sure use an Aldi’s July 6, 2016 at 1:37 am I drive to Plant City love shopping at Aldi everything I purchase I am pleased with December 18, 2016 at 1:47 am It has been over 18 months since they announced this project All the mobile homes were moved out more than a year ago and that is all that has happened January 6, 2017 at 11:16 am Would love an Aldi in Zephyrhills especially for gluten free products store in summer and love all their products January 6, 2017 at 4:11 pm Hurry and build our Aldi’s in Zephyrhills January 10, 2017 at 8:40 am Please..please build an Aldi in Zephyrhills……I drive to Lakeland every 2 weeks just to shop at the Aldi on Hwy 98 January 11, 2017 at 1:42 pm June 12, 2017 at 12:48 pm South side of Zephyrhills around Chancey and 39 would be the best site for an Aldi Certainly not congested like the north side November 30, 2017 at 9:19 pm We all have to drive up in town to pick up the necessities it sucks March 31, 2019 at 2:48 am April 4, 2021 at 8:06 am What is the plan now that the light is being moved April 5, 2021 at 10:21 am November 9, 2021 at 9:47 pm I don’t think they was any intention of building an Aldi at 301 and Pretty Pond but it was an easy way of the city to get rid of a trailer park Now the land is cleared they are going to build a gas station and car wash What happened to Aldi is the city couldn’t get their act together and move the stoplights as requested and only took 7years to do that The question is does Aldi still want to build a store in Zephyrhills April 20, 2022 at 12:09 pm Is there going to be an Aldi’s built on 301 in Zephyrhills April 21, 2022 at 4:44 pm and tucker I wish the reporters would come to Zephyrhills and talk to those people who live here on court St We beat our trucks over this Road .paying out of our pockets to fix our trucks and cars Because no one knows how to grave the Rd .than we call Paso county road crew they comment is we have to wait for Rain that b………s You must be logged in to post a comment June 3, 2024 By advert … [Read More...] about All-in-one dental implant center April 8, 2024 By Mary Rathman Tampa Bay welcomes WAVE Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art spinal care clinic founded by Dr. Ryan LaChance. WAVE … [Read More...] about WAVE Wellness Center — Tampa Bay’s Most Advanced Upper Cervical Spinal Care More Posts from this Category More of What's Happening Copyright © 2025 Community News Publications Inc He drifted back into unconsciousness until he awoke again briefly to find his dad at his side. There, he learned through a news report that Derrick Beers, 23, had died after Hiscock’s truck plowed into a tree around 4:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. The news report also said that Hiscock, 25, was the driver — and that the crash was alcohol related. “If I did drive, then I take responsibility for it, but everybody’s telling me I wasn’t,” Hiscock said. Their large circle of friends in Zephyrhills insists Beers was driving, not Hiscock. They all keep up with one other through a Snapchat group, and Beers’ last post was a video showing him at the wheel about 15 minutes before the crash, the friends said. Whoever is responsible, Beers was killed just as he was planning to turn over a new leaf, friends said. Earlier that night, during dinner at Chili’s, Beers asked friend Chase Ramer if he could borrow some work boots because he was starting a new job Monday. “He looked at me and he said, ‘This is going to be my last weekend partying.’ And that’s literally the last thing he said to me and then he walked away,” said Ramer, 27. Hiscock and Beers drove to the Dallas Bull, a club about 20 miles straight south from Zephyrhills on U.S. 301 in Tampa, Hiscock said. They sipped Bud Light from a keg in plastic cups, danced, and met up with a couple of women. Hiscock drank more than Beers, he said, but he doesn’t remember how much. They ended the night at a Waffle House. Beers stepped outside at one point, emotional about his desire to see his 3-year-old son Zayn. One of the women went to comfort him. That’s the last thing Hiscock remembers before seeing the trooper standing over him, he said. At some point, Hiscock and Beers got into Hiscock’s 1998 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck. They were headed back north on U.S. 301 when the driver overcorrected once, overcorrected again, ran off the east shoulder near State Road 56, and hit a tree, troopers said. Beers was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he died of his injuries, troopers said. Hiscock was taken to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries. He spent several days there, always with one of his friends or family by his side. He was sent home with a neck brace and a cast on his left arm. As he waits for answers, Hiscock thinks about repairs he made to his truck weeks earlier, wondering if he had needed to make more repairs, he said. He runs through scenarios, imagining how the crash might have been prevented — how he might have helped keep his friend alive. “The not knowing is what messes with my head,” Hiscock said. To honor Beers, the circle of friends shares stories about him when they get together from time to time. At one gathering, Beers’ roommate Gage Smith, 23, used one of his friend’s favorite catchphrases, “Pssh, unreal,” and recounted how Beers said it on the Fourth of July when a mortar blew up and broke both his thumbs. Beers swam out to a buoy in the water and back the next day before he realized his thumbs were broken. Soon afterward, he had casts put on. Said Hiscock, “It just sucks that he’s gone at such a young age. There definitely was never a dull moment when Derrick was around.” The crash happened at 6:27 p.m. near Rapid River Boulevard, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said 36-year-old Jonathan Aldea Valdes, of Zephyrhills, was driving north in a truck operated by a Dade City company, Megascapes Landscape and Maintenance. Troopers said Valdes lost control of the truck and drove onto the east shoulder, then overcorrected into the southbound lanes. There, he collided with the front of a Honda driven by 30-year-old Lauren Simone Lee. Lee died at the scene, troopers said. Valdes was “combative” and refused to complete field sobriety exercises or a blood draw, troopers said. He was arrested and taken to the Pasco County jail. He faces charges of DUI manslaughter and DUI property damage. The city of Zephyrhills is embarking on a plan to construct a $2.1 million multi-court center built to U.S. Tennis Association professional standards. Construction could begin as soon as October. Plans are to build the center on nearly 5 acres on the south end of Dean Dairy Road at Eiland Boulevard. It would be a partnership between Zephyrhills and the developer of a new subdivision, the District at Abbot's Square. City Manager Steve Spina proposed to the council during a meeting Monday night that the center be named the Sarah Vande Berg Memorial Tennis Center, after the former high school district champion who became a scholarship player on the University of South Carolina Upstate women's tennis team. Vande Berg, the daughter of longtime city planning director Todd Vande Berg, died in an automobile wreck at the age of 21 as she headed into her senior year of college. The council voted unanimously to send the proposed tennis center name to a committee made up of city staffers that will vote on an official recommendation to the council, which is standard procedure under a city resolution that governs the naming of city facilities. Council members touched on the great loss the community felt after Vande Berg's death and her incredible talent as a tennis player. They said it was fitting that the tennis center should be named after her. "In my opinion, this is absolutely fabulous," said Council president Alan Knight. "The culture is very diverse, with influences from all around the world," said Jithin Sajan, 21. Sajan, the restaurant owner's son, lives in Brandon, majors in mechanical engineering at the University of South Florida and helps his father manage Mayoor. His father, Sajan Kallupalathinkal, 55, was born in Kerala, India, and moved to the United States in the 1980s, when his uncle got a job in New York. Kallupalathinkal, who mostly speaks the language Malayalam, is an electrician by trade, Sajan said, but created his own catering service in 1992. He moved his family to Florida in 1995 and has owned three catering services. "He always wanted to open a restaurant," Sajan said. The restaurant widens dining horizons for the community that surrounds it, Sajan said, because the next closest Indian restaurant is in Tampa. Kallupalathinkal "wants to make everyone happy by cutting the drive to Tampa in order to get Indian food," Sajan said. And what customers can eat at Mayoor is different from what they might eat at nearby restaurants. "Everybody seems to be stuck with fast food and country fried steak," he said. "I like country fried steak." It isn't always as spicy as patrons expect. People say "you'll tear up" if you eat it, Sajan said, but Indian food can be "way spicier than the food we serve here. If you want it spicy, we can make it spicy." Lunch at Mayoor is always a buffet, which is different every day. At dinner, patrons can pick "special creations," which include Mayoora Special Naan, an Indian bread stuffed with dry fruits and coconuts, and Mayoor Hot Wings, chicken wings cooked in a clay oven and spiced with some Indian spices. There are also traditional dishes from which to choose. The restaurant's most popular dish is Chicken Tikka Masala, Sajan said, and the menu also includes dishes with chick peas, fish, shrimp and lamb. "(A fast food restaurant) isn't going to serve lamb anytime soon," Sajan said, adding that at Mayoor, "everything's made fresh, every day." The food is "very authentic," said Sam Abrahani, who is from India originally and eats at Mayoor "at least three times a week." When he discovered the restaurant, he worried whether it "would succeed in a little town like Zephyrhills." But, he said, "diversity is the word for the decade." That, said Sajan's cousin Nevin Alummoottil, is what Mayoor really brings. "I'm a first-generation American," said Alummoottil, 19, who works as a server. "Even though I'm from here, I have a big appreciation for being Indian" — an appreciation he hopes to foster for Mayoor's patrons. "We have different traditions, a really rich culture," he said. And Sajan added: "The food reflects that." Arleen Spenceley can be reached at aspenceley@tampabay.com or (727) 869-6235.