By Matt Wiley,
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and, as always, there are several local events that help raise money that goes toward the research for a cure for the disease that has killed millions. One of the biggest of these events across the nation each year is the American Cancer Society (ACS)’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” 5K walk, which will again be held locally on Saturday, October 19, at the Shops at Wiregrass mall.
By Matt Wiley,
The plan to rob a bank using a forklift probably looked better on paper.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), at around 12:05 a.m. on October 5, an unknown suspect attempted to remove an ATM machine from the TD Bank branch at the intersection of S.R. 56 and Silver Maple Pkwy. in Wesley Chapel. When deputies arrived, the suspect had already fled and there was structural damage to the building.
However, the suspect failed to steal any money or gain access to the bank, PCSO reports. The forklift itself was left at the scene.
“This is the first time this kind of incident has happened in our jurisdiction,” says PCSO spokesman Kevin Doll.
No additional information was available at our press time.
By Matt Wiley
If you’re on Wesley Chapel roads, or any Florida road for that matter, stay off your phone. Or, off of the keyboard, at least, as Florida’s texting and driving ban has gone into effect. However, there are some exceptions.
On October 1, Florida became the 41st state to actively ban texting while driving. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), 3,400 crashes resulted from distraction by an electronic device in the state last year, 24 of which resulted in fatalities.
By Lauren Saslow
While most northerners joke about the lack of seasons in the south, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents oftentimes mark two times of each year by prevalent pests; the two most notable ‘seasons’ being mosquito season and lovebug season. Lovebugs, or Plecia nearctica, are a fly species — common along Gulf Coast states — that have flight seasons in late spring and again in late summer. While harmless to humans — they do not sting or bite — lovebug populations are a nuisance to motorists. The acidic egg masses of the dead females that splatter on cars can dry quickly in the subtropical heat, causing ingrained build-up in the clear coat of automobile paint.Continue reading
By Gary Nager
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know the Pasco County Economic Development Council (EDC) also has an annual award banquet, but I do know that at this year’s banquet — held Sept. 4 at Saddlebrook Resort Tampa on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel — businesses located in Wesley Chapel came home with a nice handful of trophies.
Hosting the gala was Al Reuchel of Bay News 9, who helped the EDC give out a number of awards in a total of four categories — “Manufacturing Industry of the Year,” “Service/Distribution Industry of the Year,” “Technology” and “Special Contribution.”