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- Issue #238: Pasco Dump Sparks Debate, 'Highway Angel' Trucker Story, & Pop Culture Ducks Hit St. Pete
Issue #238: Pasco Dump Sparks Debate, 'Highway Angel' Trucker Story, & Pop Culture Ducks Hit St. Pete
11/4/2024
Ted Grellner
04 Nov
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GOOD MORNING
Dr Ted
USAF Retired
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In this issue of
NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse
Local News
— "Too Close for Comfort": Pasco Residents Worry Over Nearby Debris Dump
OMG!
— Brave Rescue Earns Trucker ‘Highway Angel’ Award, Lands Him in Hospital
Of Interest
— St. Pete's Lucky Duck Shop Brings Rubber Duck Joy with Pop Culture Twist
— ZooTampa Welcomes Rare Siamang Baby, Excites Conservationists
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"Too Close for Comfort": Pasco Residents Worry Over Nearby Debris Dump
Residents in New Port Richey’s Magnolia Valley are raising health concerns about a temporary hurricane debris site placed just feet from their homes. The site, holding vegetation and household waste, has attracted insects, rats, and stirred up dust, which neighbors worry could contain mold.
Pat Askins, whose backyard overlooks the pile, reports breathing issues and is concerned the site may be making her sick. “It’s just too close,” she said. Other neighbors, like Tracy Benedict, feel similarly uneasy, especially since Magnolia Valley escaped storm damage.
Pasco County officials say these temporary sites are essential for fast cleanup. Emergency Management Director Andrew Fossa assured residents that the site complies with health and safety regulations and is monitored regularly. Despite this, residents want the debris moved sooner, though officials estimate it may take three to four months.
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Brave Rescue Earns Trucker ‘Highway Angel’ Award, Lands Him in Hospital
Tampa truck driver George Maxwell, recently honored with the “Highway Angel” award, is now hospitalized after saving a couple from Hurricane Milton’s floodwaters. Maxwell risked his life to help Plant City residents Tonia Muse and Dan Heton, whose barn was overwhelmed by rapidly rising water.
Muse and Heton, managing a parking lot near I-4, thought their barn was a safe shelter until it became surrounded by chest-high floodwaters. Maxwell arrived, urging the couple to evacuate with him. Together, they waded through dangerous water to Maxwell’s semi-truck and reached safety.
Days after his heroic act, Maxwell developed a painful, flesh-eating bacterial infection from the contaminated floodwaters. Despite his current condition, Maxwell remains humble. “I would do it for anybody,” he said, grateful for the chance to help.
Heton and Muse, now close friends with Maxwell, recently hosted him for dinner, grateful for his selfless courage.
St. Pete's Lucky Duck Shop Brings Rubber Duck Joy with Pop Culture Twist
Daniel Plonsky’s new store, The Lucky Duck Shop on Central Avenue, brings joy to St. Petersburg with over 250 unique rubber duck designs. From classic yellow ducks to themed favorites like doctors, chefs, and celebrity ducks—such as “Aviary Grande” and Marilyn Monroe—the shop promises something for everyone.
Inspired by rubber duck shops in Europe, Plonsky wanted to create a fun, lighthearted space. The store's pop-culture collection is a standout, offering ducks modeled after characters from Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, Chucky, and even a “Jaws” duck with a mini duck inside a shark’s mouth.
“I just wanted to bring happiness,” said Plonsky, who left a previous career to open the shop. Amusingly, he initially forgot to stock the classic yellow duck but plans to have it ready for the grand opening this weekend.
For more details, visit luckyduckshop.com.
ZooTampa Welcomes Rare Siamang Baby, Excites Conservationists
ZooTampa is celebrating the birth of an endangered siamang baby, born to mother Hutan and father Sensei on October 27. The baby, now clinging to its mother and nursing well, marks a hopeful addition to the zoo’s siamang family, joining its three-year-old sister, Kazuki.
Chris Massaro, ZooTampa's Chief Zoological Officer, emphasized the importance of this birth: "Siamangs are endangered, so every birth is extremely important and a sign of hope for the species." Zoo visitors may soon catch a glimpse of the new arrival, though the baby’s sex will remain unknown for a few weeks.
Siamangs, the largest gibbon species, are native to the forests of Southeast Asia but are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. Known for their distinctive black fur, long limbs, and powerful voices, siamangs play a vital role in their ecosystems.
Reader’s Comments:
“Good info on hurricane help for the affected.”
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