KEYSTONE The Environmental Protection Commission has cited former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Vinny Testaverde for ripping out mature cypress trees from the shoreline of his Lake Keystone home. The trees were in protected wetlands, the county said. "Three or four weeks ago I was getting all these calls from people who saw the trees being ripped up right on the shoreline," said Keystone resident Jim Swain, president of the Lake Keystone Property Owners Association. He said Testaverde removed between 40 and 50 trees altogether. Testaverde has been ordered by the EPC to replace 20 of those trees, some as tall as 40 feet. "We sent an inspector to the site and some of the trees were removed from wetlands," said Bob Owens, a supervisor with the EPC. He said complaints from neighbors began coming into the department April 22. On April 24, Bill Inch, environmental scientist for the county, visited the property and cited Testaverde for violations of the wetlands division code. By April 30, Testaverde called Inch and told him all tree removal had stopped. He asked if the already-cut debris could be removed from the property. Inch said it could. A third visit on May 1 documented 19 cypress tress and one dahoon holly tree removed from protected wetlands on the shoreline. ...more

June 7, 2008

The Environmental Protection Commission has cited former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Vinny Testaverde for ripping out mature cypress trees from the shoreline of his Lake Keystone home. ...more

June 7, 2008

KEYSTONE The Environmental Protection Commission has cited former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Vinny Testaverde for ripping out mature cypress trees from the shoreline of his Lake Keystone home. ...more

June 6, 2008

There is brilliance in the simplicity of the par-3 third hole at Tampa's Westchase Golf Club. ...more

June 5, 2008

Drivers using one of central Pasco County's busiest intersections could see their travels get complicated this summer. ...more

June 3, 2008

In reference to an article in the April 30 Highlands Today, "Dr. Elton Gissindanner and his supporters convinced the Natural Resources Advisory Commission Wednesday to draft a bill that would create a tax of 0.2 mils, or $10 for a property valued at $100,000 after the $50,000 homestead exemptions are considered." I am opposed to this idea, in any form. I am opposed to paying any additional ad valorem taxes for land conservation projects. It is important that county commissioners deny land use changes that infringe on wetlands. Buying up land to create preserves is an idea that I will not support. Any additional taxes collected should be spent on public safety, and creating a slush fund for fuel price increases for county vehicles, that we may face during the next fiscal year. ...more

May 31, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - County officials have approved preliminary plans for a Lowe's home improvement store near the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41. ...more

May 5, 2008

The view from Doug and Lisa Bambauer's breakfast nook is, so to speak, unspoiled. ...more

February 12, 2008

The view from Doug and Lisa Bambauer's breakfast nook is, so to speak, unspoiled. ...more

February 11, 2008

PLANT CITY - When construction is completed next year on a 68-unit affordable-housing project planned by St. Clement Catholic Church, it will rise above the church's fellowship hall and its tallest spire. ...more

February 8, 2008