I-75 Bridge Work Above BBD More Than 500 Days Ahead Of Schedule

By Matt Wiley

Construction is ahead of schedule on the I-75 widening project between Fowler Ave. and S.R. 56.
Construction is ahead of schedule on the I-75 widening project between Fowler Ave. and S.R. 56.

Although it may be holding up the completion of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. widening from Pebble Creek Blvd. in New Tampa south to Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms, the I-75 widening project between Fowler Ave. and S.R. 56 actually is ahead of schedule.

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7 spokesman John McShaffrey says that the $95-million project, which Prince Contracting, LLC, began in October 2011 to widen the 11.4-mile section of the interstate from four lanes to six lanes — and eight lanes near the interchanges — is cruising right along.Continue reading

Daughter’s Boyfriend Steals Her Father’s Guns

by Matt Wiley | New Tampa

The cliché of going to meet the girlfriend’s father, only to find him sitting at the kitchen table cleaning a gun, has been turned on its head in Wesley Chapel.

Wilson
Wilson

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), on July 7, Matthew Allen Wilson, Jr., 21, of New Tampa, was house- and dog-sitting for his girlfriend’s family in Meadow Pointe while the family was out of town. While at the residence, Wilson allegedly stole seven firearms, which are valued at a total of $6,700.

The report states that in an interview following his arrest on July 16, Wilson admitted to stealing the firearms, but had made arrangements prior to his arrest to return the firearms through his girlfriend. PCSO reports that all but one of the firearms have been recovered.

Wilson was arrested and charged with grand theft of a firearm. At our press time, he remains in custody on a $5,000 bond. No further information was available at our press time.

Wesley Chapel Schools Trump State, District On 2013 FCAT Tests

FCAT ChartBy Matt Wiley

This year’s Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores are in and the students at Wesley Chapel’s public schools clearly have been working hard, as most schools in the area easily surpassed both the District and State averages on the annual math, reading, science and writing tests.Continue reading

Wesley Chapel Business Burglars Busted

(L-R): Quevedo, Thompson and Zachman
(L-R): Quevedo, Thompson and Zachman

By Matt Wiley

Three people have been arrested in connection with a string of business burglaries that have plagued the Wesley Chapel area in recent weeks.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Sarah Zachman, 31, Jamar Thompson, 28, and Christian Quevedo, 25, have been arrested in connection with business burglaries at Dr. John Long Middle School, Cash For Gold (32733 Eiland Blvd.), Goin’ Postal (27221 S.R. 56), CVS Pharmacy (30050 County Line Rd.) and Reckitt Benckiser (2148 Ashley Oaks Cir.).Continue reading

Estancia Community Officially Approved For Wiregrass Ranch DRI

By Matt Wiley

Map source: PascoCountyFL.net, updated by New Tampa Neighborhood News
Map source: PascoCountyFL.net, updated by New Tampa Neighborhood News

At long last, homes will soon be going up inside the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) in a newly formed Community Development District (CDD) called Estancia at Wiregrass, located north of the future Chancey Rd. extension and east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., between S.R.s 56 and 54.

In January, we reported that Standard Pacific Homes (SPH), a builder from Orange County, CA, had purchased 677 acres of land from the Porter family, who own the Wiregrass DRI, to build a then-unnamed community consisting of 1,181 single-family homes spread out across four gated and un-gated neighborhoods. The community will be named Estancia.Continue reading