Florida

A woman who jumped off the Sunshine Skyway this morning was rescued and taken to O’Neill’s Marina in St. Petersburg by boat. Officers from Sunstar Ambulance, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, The U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Highway Patrol were on the scene. [SCOTT KEELER | Times] ST. PETERSBURG –   A 44-year-old woman jumped off the Sunshine Skyway this morning and survived. She was rescued by personnel on a Fish and Wildlife Conservation boat. Also on board were Eckerd College students who regularly volunteer for rescues. Ryan Dilkey, coordinator of Eckerd College Search and Rescue, said he received a call from county dispatchers at about 10:45 a.m. (Read the full post about ‘Skyway Bridge jumper survives’…)

Flowers Growing in My Miami Garden Pride of Barbados Yellow Alder Ixora Hedge These also grow in Barbados! (Read the full post about ‘Miami Flowers - Barbados Flowers’…)

The arrival of spring has temperatures across the Tampa Bay area taking a quick dip before returning to normal by midweek, forecasters say. Gusty winds will accompany today’s high temperature of 70 degrees before a cool evening gives way to a chilly Tuesday morning. Temperatures are expected in the mid 40s early, but parts of northern Pinellas County along with areas north and east of Tampa could see temperatures hit the upper 30s, said Bay News 9 meteorologist Josh Linker. Freeze warnings don’t appear likely, although Linker said pockets of Citrus County could see some frosting. Chilly as it may feel, no low-temperature records are in jeopardy. "Even though it’s cold, it’s not as cold as it could be," Linker said. (Read the full post about ‘Springtime temps dip before returning to normal’…)

ST. PETERSBURG — A 40-year-old Largo man was pistol-whipped and hospitalized early Saturday after trading his mother’s car for $50 which he later used to buy crack cocaine, police said.

Brian Levandusky, 1975 W Bay Drive, was on the 2000 block of 10th Street S late Friday when he loaned out his mother’s white, a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, to a man he had just met. The man gave Levandusky $50, a phone number and a promise to return the car.

Levandusky spent all the cash on crack cocaine, police said. Then he searched for prostitutes, sat on the side of a nearby building, smoked all of the drugs and got sick. That’s when he was approached by a man wearing a white hooded sweatshirt.

(Read the full post about ‘Police: Man attacked after trading mom’s car for $50, crack’…)

BRANDON — The intersection of State Road 60 and Lakewood Drive has reopened this morning after crews worked to repair several power lines damages in an overnight crash.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol news release, two vehicles were traveling east on State Road 60 just after midnight when Joseph Camara, 21, rear-ended the 1997 Honda Civic in front of him.

The impact sent Camara’s Nissan Titan pickup truck over the raised concrete median and into the westbound lanes, where it continued north, struck a concrete utility pole, crossed the intersection of SR 60 and Lakewood Drive and crashed into a wooden utility pole.

Several power lines and the utility pole were damaged.

The Civic spun out and struck a pole at SR 60 and Lakewood Drive, troopers said.

(Read the full post about ‘Brandon intersection reopens after overnight crash’…)

CLEARWATER — An hour-long chase ended with an arrest this morning after police deployed two sets of tire-piercing stop sticks that sent the fleeing rental car into a traffic control box and its driver to the hospital. Authorities said the chase began just after 11:45 p.m., when officers responded to a "shots fired" call in the area of Carroll Street and spotted the driver, later identified as Damien Howard, 29 (left). Police started a traffic stop, but said Howard drove away, nearly running over one officer’s foot and striking a police cruiser head-on. With police giving chase and a sheriff’s office helicopter watching from the sky, Howard first drove on Douglas Street into Dunedin then turned back into Clearwater, where authorities placed the "stop sticks" on Belcher Road. (Read the full post about ‘Police: Hour-long chase ends in arrest, crash’…)

Authorities have canceled the AMBER Alert issued overnight for a pair of Dade County girls, ages 3 and 7. The statewide alert for Vanessa Rivas, 3 (left), and Frida Gonzales, 7 (right), both of Homestead, was issued just before 2:30 a.m. Officials with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement canceled the alert shortly after 9:30 a.m. The girls are safe and are currently with the Hialeah Gardens Police Department. One man is in police custody in connection to the case. (Read the full post about ‘AMBER Alert canceled for Homestead girls, 3 and 7′…)

The name of Richard Goddard is familiar to many Barbadians. He has been battling the previous Government for years - since 1982! One time, he actually sued the Government to prevent a dump being situated in a National Park. Here are a couple of outrageous Goddard stories to get the ball rolling! The first story took place years ago. “Mr. Goddard, Put up the Dogs!”

It’s Monday morning. Inspectors turn up at Richard’s property asking for his dogs to be locked up, so that they may come into his yard. Richard responds:
“I already put up the dogs. I was expecting you.”

One of the inspectors replies:
“But our visit is a secret.

(Read the full post about ‘Richard Goddard - The Chicken Farmer who is not Chicken’…)

St. Petersburg police arrested a 19-year-old man early Sunday for stabbing a mildly retarded man at a park Friday.

Sascha R. Weber was arrested just after midnight at his home in the 5000 block of 49th Ave. N for second-degree attempted murder. He is being held at Pinellas County Jail.

Police allege Weber was riding a bicycle when he came up behind Charles "Skip" Gibbs, 53, around 11 a.m Friday at Northwest Park in the 5800 block of 22nd Ave. N. Weber stabbed Gibbs in the head, chest, stomach and hand, according the an arrest affidavit.

(Read the full post about ‘Teen arrested for stabbing man 11 times’…)

ST. PETERSBURG — Charles Gibbs, 53, was upgraded to fair condition today, but St. Petersburg police say they have no major developments in the case.

Gibbs, who is mildly retarded, was taking his regular walk around Northwest Park Friday morning when he was attacked from behind by a teenager on a BMX-style bike. He was stabbed 11 time with a knife, police said.

He walked home and called his sister, who notified authorities. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in critical condition. He improved and was listed in serious condition later that day.

Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer