DUI Crash Claims 3 Over Holiday Weekend

crashThe Fourth of July weekend, traditionally one of the deadliest of holiday weekends, was tragically ushered in with a DUI car accident that killed a Leesburg family on July 2 when a Wesley Chapel driver allegedly sent their pickup truck into the waters beneath the Howard Frankland Bridge.

Joshua Burbank, 25, was driving his 4-door 2014 Honda Civic eastbound on I-275 near milepost 33 at approximately 9:30 p.m. when he swerved from the center inside lane into the inside lane and hit the truck, causing it to lose control and overturn multiple times before flipping over the southern concrete barrier wall and into the water below, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Burbank, says the FHP, was driving under the influence. He was arrested at the scene and faces three charges of DUI Manslaughter and another charge of DUI involving property damage., as well as careless driving.

Robert, Karen and Samuel Getter of Leesburg were inside the GMC truck, and perished.

The FHP says that the front left portion Burbank’s car clipped the rear right of the truck, causing it to go into a clockwise spin before tumbling towards the edge of bridge, and into two feet of water.

Robert Getter, 76, and his wife Karen, 73, sustained fatal injuries; their son Samuel, 52, sustained critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital where he died. All three were wearing their seatbelts.

The northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge was closed from 9:45 p.m. until 2 a.m. Saturday morning while the crash was investigated.

Burbank was released from the Pinellas County Jail on Saturday after posting bail.

 

 

Where To Find Fireworks In Our Area For Independence Day!

FireworksGreg Lenners, the general manager at the Shops at Wiregrass mall, says pulling out of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club’s fifth annual Freedom Fest was one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make. But, because of safety concerns – namely young kids darting across S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. at 10 p.m. as cars whizzed by – he says it was the most prudent choice.

“We outgrew Freedom Fest faster than we expected,’’ Lenners said.

So where do locals turn now for their Fourth of July fireworks fix until, hopefully, Freedom Fest finds a new new home in 2017?

We have a few suggestions:

Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel will host a Fourth of July celebration Monday beginning at 5 p.m. in its Amenity Center at 5216 Autumn Ridge Dr.

The festivities will include an apple pie bake-off, bike parade, wet/dry bounce park sponsored by Avex Homes, Tampa Bay Lightning mascot Thunderbug, food trucks, free 3D glasses for the firework show provided by Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel and fireworks at 9 p.m.

(It should also be noted that Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club does a fireworks display every year, but it is typically an event for members and requires reservations, though there could be some good parking spots in the area along Bruce B. Downs to catch a glimpse of the pyrotechnics Monday night if you try)

If you’re looking for something relatively close, Dade City is just a short trip and their Sparklebration gets good reviews. There will be eating contests, skydivers, bounce houses, pony rides and, of course, a fireworks display to cap it all off. The festivities kick off on Monday, July 4, 4 p.m., with the pyrotechnics starting at 9:15 p.m.

Temple Terrace is another short drive from the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area, and the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 42nd annual Temple Terrace Independence Day Parade on Monday, July 4, 10 a.m.

The parade will begin on the corner of Whiteway Dr. and Gillette Ave., and head south on Gillette, west on Druid Hills and then south on Ridgedale. The evening festivities begin at 6 p.m. on the first fairway of the Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club and fireworks are at 9:15 p.m. Pro tip: find a nice parking spot on N. 56th street, and avoid the traffic on the way home.

Brandon also is hosting a 4th of July parade, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Monday. They bill it as the largest parade in Florida, and it begins at 101 E. Lumsden Rd.

If a longer drive doesn’t worry you, check out Cotanchobee Park across from Amalie Arena in the Channelside area on Saturday, where a host of activities are scheduled like an igloo drag race competition, DIY canvas painting and live jazz, all from 5-10 p.m., with fireworks at 9.

And, check out the “Land O’Liberty Salute,” sponsored by the WC Noon Rotary Club’s Land O’Lakes (LOL) satellite club, which is painting LOL Red, White & Blue. For more info, call 817-3011.

Phase II Of Taskforce Gets Green Light Despite Toll Questions

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This was the top Phase I recommendation of the Vision 54/56 Taskforce, but the potential for toll roads in some of the other options is a concern to some Pasco County commissioners. Regardless, the Taskforce will begin its Phase II closer look at the various options for 54/56 in two months.

Pasco transportation engineer Ali Atefi has said almost from the beginning of the “Vision 54/56” Taskforce that he didn’t want the focus during Phase I to be on how any recommendations would be paid for.

That would come later, Atefi said. He simply wanted the best choices forwarded to the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which would then send the Taskforce to Phase II.

But, it didn’t take long for the concern of how to pay for the top choice — which, along with a handful of other choices studied by the Taskforce, has a toll road – came up at the Taskforce’s presentation to the MPO.

The work of the 54/56 Taskforce will go on, however, as Phase II was approved by the MPO, but not before a few eyebrows were raised by Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).

“I think, as a whole, we have to do something,’’ said District 2 commissioner and vice chairman Mike Moore. “Something has to be figured out, and it was great to see so many people involved in the process. I appreciate that. But, everyone wasn’t in total agreement (about) the options.”

Atefi said he was pleased the 54/56 Taskforce will remain together, but said District 5 commissioner Jack Mariano expressed concerns over any potential toll roads and District 1 commissioner Ted Schrader questioned whether or not the recommendation was from the Taskforce, and not the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Mariano also has voiced his opposition to the Tampa Bay Express (TBX) project that would add an express toll lane to much of Tampa Bay’s interstate system.

“Commissioner Mariano thinks that this is the path that we are going (down), but at this time, I personally don’t even want to talk about how to fund this,’’ Atefi said. “First, we need to figure out what improvements are needed and how we want S.R. 54 to look. Then, we can worry about how to fund it. It’s too premature to talk about tolling. That’s why I didn’t want to get into the discussion.”

At its March 31 meeting, the East Task Force – which looked at S.R.s 54 and 56 from U.S. 41 to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — concluded its survey results. It listed Alternative H — which calls for maintaining six general purpose lanes and an “At Grade” (ground level) exclusive lane for bus rapid transit or rail transportation — as its top recommendation.

But, other alternatives studied and suggested contained potential for toll roads to fund the building.

While choice No. 2 (Alternative J) called primarily for maintaining the current state road and enhancing the bus routes, choice No. 3 (Alternative F) would feature six east-west lanes, but be subject to either a toll lane or an express lane with high-occupancy rules. Another alternative did not score in the top 3, but might be the most ambitious of the alternatives, with six existing lanes and one additional express lane, which buses also could utilize.

“These are only recommendations to be discussed further,’’ Atefi said.

But, the word “toll” is not one to toss around the commission chambers lightly.

In 2014, a proposed elevated highway stretching from the west side of Pasco County all the way to the east — 33 miles along the 54/56 corridor from U.S. 19 to U.S. 301 — stirred a lot of dissent, which eventually helped scuttle the project.

Opponents said the elevated toll road would devastate small businesses along S.R. 54 and put a significant dent in property values.

Spanish firm OHL had presented the original $2-billion private project, which didn’t initially involve any public funds to build but later admitted it couldn’t be financed without a public investment.

“I think that left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths,’’ said Moore.

“But, that’s not the case with what we are doing,’’ Atefi said.

Moore said despite any reservations, the public participation in the current debate about what to do with the 54/56 corridor bodes well for the future success of the Taskforce, which will reconvene in two months and begin Phase II, which will incorporate a broader range of public input.

For more information, please visit Vision54-56.com.

Can Walking Soccer take off here?

Colin Eke (center) gives out “golden boots” to the MVPs from two of his adult soccer leagues in our area. Eke is now starting a “walking football” league in our area.
Colin Eke (center) gives out “golden boots” to the MVPs from two of his adult soccer leagues in our area. Eke is now starting a “walking football” league in our area.

Wesley Chapel resident Colin Eke grew up playing soccer. He says that in Ipswich, England, where he was born and raised, “football” was more than a game, it was a passion.

The older Eke got, however, the harder the game got. Factor in injuries to his hips, knees and Achilles tendon, and Eke turned to refereeing games. But now, he’s turning to a whole new game — “walking football,” or as it’s called here, soccer. He jokes that this way, “You can play soccer on Sunday afternoon, and when you go to work on Monday, you’re not on crutches.’’

Eke, who is 60, is trying to start what he believes will be Florida’s first-ever over-50 Walking Football League right here in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. He held a clinic last week at the Benito Middle School soccer fields on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, and is hoping to attract enough players for a 4-team league.

Eke says the concept is no joke – walking football is one of the fastest growing sports in England. He says that everyone should check out YouTube to see how the sport is played. “It’s quicker than you think,” he says.

There is an official organization in England that holds regional and national tournaments – Walking Football United – and the United States Adult Soccer Association will include the game in its Adult Soccer Fest in Denver, CO, July 13-17.

“A good friend in England told me about it,’’ he said. “Most people over the age of 50 can’t run anymore, they’ve chosen to hang their boots up or not play anymore, whether it’s weight, injuries or they’re not fit enough. This game just involves a new mindset.”

Eke is trying to persuade people to that new mindset, hoping to have enough teams for his planned league by sometime later this month — after the COPA America tournament has ended and the Euro Cup is nearing its finale.

“I’ve had some people say ,‘You must be kidding,’’ Eke says. “I just tell them, after five minutes in (of regular soccer), if you’re over 50, you’re either walking anyway, laying on the ground exhausted or wanting to come off for water.”

In walking football, as you might imagine, no running is allowed. You can power walk, but are not permitted to jog, lest you end up being sentenced to two minutes in the “sin bin,” equivalent to hockey’s penalty box.

The game is still quicker than you might imagine (again, check out the YouTube videos if you don’t believe it) and the players need to possess good footwork and solid ball striking skills. Instead of 11-on-11, walking football features 6-on-6 play.

The game is open to men and women. The goals and field are smaller, no one is allowed in the penalty area in front of the net, and there is no offsides, no slide tackling and no over-the-head throw-ins.

“The goal is to let people who love the game to keep playing,’’ Eke says. “It’s still great physical fitness, it’s a great social game and there’s (much less) chance of injury.’’

Eke has run the New Adult Premier Soccer League (APSL) along with partner Miguel Herrera since 2012. Roughly 200 players from the Wesley Chapel, New Tampa and Dade City areas have competed at places like Benito Middle School on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd., and the New Tampa Community Park in Tampa Palms during men’s and co-ed leagues on Wednesday and Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Eke hopes the addition of walking football is as successful as the rest of his leagues have been. “The whole point is to get players who are older to be healthy and active,’’ he says. “It’s like a stroll on a Sunday afternoon, so why not kick a ball at the same time?”

For more information about Eke’s walking soccer league and how to sign up, check out NewAPSL.com or email him at Colin@NewAPSL.com or Miguel@NewAPSL.com.

For additional information about the sport of walking soccer, check out WalkingFootballUnited.co.uk.