One of the main goals for nighttime lighting is to have good safety and security at night. However, the task is to be safe, not just to feel safe. Good lighting can be a help; poor lighting always compromises safety. Current and past studies by competent crime authorities has been summarized as follows: "The lack of data precludes any definitive statement regarding the relationship of lighting and crime." ...more

February 18, 2008

It was a sunny spring morning and I had the day off. What could be better? I clutched my coffee cup and looked out the kitchen window. Dew sparkled on the grass and dripped slowly from the eaves. Two cardinals perched on our backyard feeder — a male and a female. It was absolute serenity. "Mom, where are you?" My son bolted into the room, sounding peeved. "Mom you forgot to include the W-2 forms when you mailed our tax returns. Now what?" Serenity gone, instantly. I had screwed up, big time. My mistake would delay the refund we were counting on to pay Matt's tuition. Even worse, my husband would be disappointed. He had gone out of town, trusting me to figure and submit our tax return. And I had botched it, at least partially. ...more

February 10, 2008

BARTOW - Police are looking for a man who abducted a woman and her child during a home invasion early today. The man later released both unharmed, police said. ...more

February 7, 2008

A Thonotosassa man was shot twice early today during a home invasion, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. ...more

February 7, 2008

Arson investigators are still on the scene of an early morning bus fire at a church in Riverview. The fire was set about 1:30 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 12842 Balm Riverview Road, according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. ...more

December 12, 2007

Getting in was the easy part. ...more

December 1, 2007

The stabbing deaths of two local baby show pigs have captured the attention of one of the nation's largest animal protection organizations. ...more

October 26, 2007

PLANT CITY - The stabbing deaths of two local baby show pigs has captured the attention of one of the nation's largest animal protection organizations. The Humane Society of the United States announced today it is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in killing and mutilating Rebel and Dixie last weekend. ...more

October 25, 2007

The weather early this morning is closer to the necessary variables needed to cause fish to migrate in larger numbers for longer periods — something that hasn't occurred very often lately. Get to the lake as early as possible and there is a very good chance you might catch the larger fish at the tail end of their feeding spree. The barometer should be near the bottom of the drop that happened Tuesday night, or already starting to rise — but only slightly. For this reason, start your presentation in close to the vegetation, or in the shallows working your way out. There's a great possibility of a "top-water" bite, so give that a try before switching to other methods. I prefer working top-water retrieves at top speed at first, then gradually slowing it down if it doesn't produce any strikes. ...more

October 17, 2007

Detectives say they have made an arrest in a midday home invasion in which the intruder pretended to know the victim's son. ...more

October 13, 2007