Former Freedom Principal's Wife's Death Ruled Suicide

sheppard
Five days after former Freedom High principal David Sheppard (shown here at Freedom’s 2013 commencement ceremony) stepped down, his wife Donna was found dead in the family’s swimming pool.

By Matt Wiley

UPDATE: The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office has determined that Donna Sheppard, wife of former Freedom principal David Sheppard, committed suicide. The cause of death has been determined to be drowning, but the autopsy and toxicology report still are pending, says medical examiner Dick Bailey. Stay tuned for updates as they become available.

An affair, a stalker and a suicide. While it may sound like a movie plot, these events have transpired right here in New Tampa during the past few months.Continue reading

Woman Pulled Over With Drugs, Juveniles In Car

Erin Huggins
Erin Huggins

By Matt Wiley,

A Lithia woman is in custody, after deputies discovered pot, pills and juveniles in her vehicle when she was pulled over in Wesley Chapel.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Erin Huggins, 21, of Lithia, was driving her sister’s gold 1997 Buick coupe east on S.R. 54 around 1:23 a.m. on November 25 When she approached the Morris Bridge Rd. intersection, she turned right from the center lane into the former Cumberland Farms gas station (located at the southwest corner of the intersection) and continued onto Morris Bridge Rd. without stopping.

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Here & There, This & That

By Gary Nager,

If there’s a cigar smoker in your life, you owe it to yourself to visit Chapel Cigars (26246 S.R. 54, 973-1166) in the Grand Oaks Plaza, next to Amici Pizza, for easy holiday shopping. Chapel Cigars has great cigar samplers, humidors, lighter, cutters & accessories and special offers like a free Bugatti lighter (a $35 value) with a purchase of $250 or more and a 15-percent discount on full-box purchases…and more.

A couple of miles to the east on S.R. 54, Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel (322-3441) has opened, although right now, the new dealership (which is owned by the same group that owns the Wesley Chapel Hyundai and Mazda dealerships next door) is operating out of a trailer. Sales consultant Bobby Page says Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel ’s building will open in about a year.

The Wesley Chapel Village Market (S.R. 54 at BBD) will soon be home to Stonemill Artisan Bakery & Desserts. The shop, which should be open next to Vallarta’s and Woody’s Pizza & Wings within a couple of weeks as you receive this issue, is where you can expect to find gelato, ice cream, frozen yogurt, French pastries, authentic artisan breads, great coffee and more. We’ll keep you posted.

A&A Boutique, the store owned by young sisters Amber & Allie Malott in the same plaza as The Hungry Greek and the new D’Alessio Ristorante on BBD, has closed. The Malott twins are now only selling their original fashion designs online at TwinCollections.com.