The Force Not With LEGO Thief

Screen Shot 2016-06-16 at 2.40.10 PM copyPasco Sheriff’s deputies arrested Shannon Kirkley, a New Jersey fugitive, after he was caught stealing thousands of dollars worth of Star Wars LEGO items from the Toys ‘R’ Us located at The Grove at Wesley Chapel.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Kirkley put up a fight before being taken into custody. He was charged with the theft, as well as resisting arrest and possession of cocaine and paraphernalia.

The Grove at Wesley Chapel wasn’t Kirkley’s first stop, says the PCSO. He is also suspected of stealing Star Wars LEGO items across the country.

The Force was not strong with this one. (h/t to the PCSO).

 

Wesley Chapel Resident Says He Was Shot Foiling Burglary

pcso-logoA Wesley Chapel homeowner was shot Monday while disrupting an attempted car burglary, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the PCSO, deputies were called to a home on the 6800 block of Aramon Court in Wesley Chapel at 12:33 a.m. Deputies were told by the victim that he had come outside to smoke a cigarette when he came upon two men trying to break into his vehicle. He yelled at the would-be burglars, who shot at him. The victim was struck in the left thigh, and transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The case remains open as the suspects have not been captured, according to the PCSO.

 

 

First-Ever Ducky Derby Raises $6,000+

Derby3webI’m always proud to be a member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, which meets Wednesdays at noon at Quail Hollow Country Club, but never more so than I was on May 21, when the club hosted its first-ever Duck Derby, held at Lake Padgett behind Hungry Harry’s BBQ off U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes.

Almost 200 people turned out to see if the ducks they purchased for $5 apiece (or “flocks” of 25 for $100; more than 2,000 total ducks were purchased and numbered) would win one of the event’s almost 70 prizes.

But, the thing I was proudest of was that this event — which now looks as though it will join the club’s annual Adult Spelling Bee as a major fund raiser — grew into something amazing out of an idea brought up by club member John Jay (the DJ, at left in center photo below) and run with by club members Vicki Hamilton, Chris Casella and Jodie Sullivan of Fun Services/Funtastic Events, whose company also was the Big Bird ($4,500) Sponsor for this first annual Duck Derby.

Derby1webThe first duck to finish the “race” was purchased by club members Brian and Isabelle Dunleavy, who won a $2,500 cash prize, a portion of which they announced they would donate to The Joshua House, a local “safe haven for children in need.”

Even after deducting the Dunleavys’ top prize, the club was thrilled to raise more than $6,000 net, which will be donated to the Rotary’s selected nonprofit organizations.

Among the other top prizes was an all-day fishing expedition for five people, a stay at Saddlebrook Resort (donated by club member Alexis Dempsey, see story on pg. 10), a fishing rod handmade by club member and Duck Derby logistics expert (and kayaking rescuer) Jimmy Mason, and a free $400 ad donated by this publication, which was won by club member, Rubber Ducky Sponsor and Cash 4 Gold owner Trevor Campbell. For more info, visit WCRotary.org. — GN

Susanna Martinez To Co-Anchor WCNT-tv

Susanna Martinez
Susanna Martinez

The producers of WCNT-tv are proud to announce that former Bay News 9 on-air talent (and longtime Wesley Chapel resident) Susanna Martinez will co-anchor the first-ever video news program dedicated to the residents and businesses in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.

 WCNT-tv, the new YouTube-based video news show which is a partnership between Full Throttle Intermedia and the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, also is the exclusive webcast partner of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. The program will come to you from the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Studio.
Susanna, whose roots are in television journalism, helped launch Tampa Bay’s first 24-hour local news channel, Bay News 9. For six years, Susanna worked as an on-air television news reporter, bringing some of the area’s most significant stories and weather-related news into the homes of millions of viewers throughout the 11th largest media market in the country.
Prior to moving to Tampa, Susanna was the main news anchor at WKAG-TV 43 in Hopkinsville, KY, where she started her broadcast career.
“Like Bay News 9, I think WCNT-tv will create another local phenomenon and I am excited to co-anchor the program with Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager,” says Susanna, who also is the public information officer for the Southwest Florida Water Management District (aka Swiftmud).
Look for more announcements about the launch date of WCNT-tv at NTNeighborhoodNews.com and in the next issue of Neighborhood News.

Chick-Fil-A Opening This Month

Chick-Fil-AThe long-awaited Chick-Fil-A, located in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets (TPO) mall (at 2391 Sun Vista Dr., off S.R. 56) and right between the new Culver’s and Cheddar’s restaurants, is expected to open on June 30, sources tell the Neighborhood News.

The highly-popular fast food restaurant chain specializes in chicken sandwiches, and the opening of the new 4,800-sq.ft. entry into the burgeoning Wesley Chapel food market along S.R. 56 will be another welcome addition to the corridor.

Ford’s Garage recently submitted a preliminary site plan application for a new establishment adjacent to the Pollo Tropical on the Northeast corner of S.R. 56 and Grand Cypress Drive (east of Wesley Chapel Blvd.) directly across from the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Cheddar’s, a Texas-based chain that specializes in food made from scratch ingredients, opened right next to the future Chick-Fil-A site on Monday.