Issue #371: Tampa Hosts SOF Week Showstopper, Joan Jett & Billy Idol Hit Stage, Meth-Toting Raccoon, Choi’s New Path

5/8/2025

Author

Ted Grellner
08 May

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Dr Ted
USAF Retired


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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar

Local News

— High-Tech, Low-Cost: Military Aircraft Wows at SOF Week

Entertainment

— Billy Idol & Joan Jett Bring '80s Edge to Tampa Stage

OMG!

— Busted with a Sidekick: Raccoon Found Holding Meth Pipe in Ohio Stop

Sports

— Ji-Man Choi Pauses Career for Military Duty, Eyes Rays Coaching Future

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High-Tech, Low-Cost: Military Aircraft Wows
at SOF Week

Tampa is hosting a cutting-edge display of military tech during Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week, and among the highlights is the Sky Warden, a new aircraft from L3Harris Technologies, based in Melbourne, Florida.

Built for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the Sky Warden and its advanced version, the Skyraider II, were recently delivered to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command in April. Test pilot Clint Logwood, a St. Pete native, emphasized the aircraft’s versatility, saying it can land and refuel virtually anywhere — roads, farms, or open fields.

Designed for both domestic and international operations, the Sky Warden is capable of border patrol, counterintelligence, and missions in hostile or remote areas. With operating costs under $1,000 per flight hour, it's also budget-efficient. MacDill Air Force Base could have a dozen units operational by next year, according to company projections.

Billy Idol & Joan Jett Bring '80s Edge to Tampa Stage

Billy Idol is bringing his iconic sneer and spiked hair back to Tampa this weekend, co-headlining a concert with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 10.

Now 69 years old, Idol remains a commanding stage presence. He’s touring behind “Dream Into It,” his first new album in over a decade, released on George Harrison’s Dark Horse Records. The album features collaborations with Avril Lavigne and Joan Jett, including a song satirizing modern society with religious undertones.

Jett—who wowed Tampa fans during the 2021 Super Bowl—joins Idol on the tour, promising a throwback-fueled rock fest. While Idol is expected to perform his classics, any potential duet with Jett will be far from nostalgic fluff.

Tickets start at $40.50, making this a must-see for anyone still rocking eyeliner and leather.

Busted with a Sidekick: Raccoon Found Holding Meth Pipe in Ohio Stop

Ohio police made an unusual discovery during a routine traffic stop when they found a pet raccoon named Chewy clutching a meth pipe in the front seat of a vehicle. The stop occurred around 7:15 p.m. in Springfield Township after officers pulled over a 55-year-old woman driving with a suspended license.

After detaining the woman, officers returned to the vehicle and spotted Chewy with the pipe. A deeper search revealed a large stash of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and three used glass pipes. The driver was charged with drug possession, multiple counts of drug paraphernalia possession, and cited for driving under suspension.

She was also turned over to Cuyahoga Falls Police due to an outstanding warrant. Additional charges related to the crack cocaine will be considered once state lab results return. Chewy was unharmed, and the owner did have legal documentation for keeping the raccoon as a pet.

Here’s an astonishing and lesser-known fact involving wild animals and illegal drugs:

In parts of Colombia, wild capuchin monkeys have been observed raiding illegal cocaine processing labs in the jungle—sometimes becoming addicted after ingesting drug-laced waste.

Because many narco-traffickers operate deep in forested areas, they often dispose of chemical waste improperly, contaminating the environment. In several reported cases, monkeys and other wildlife exposed to these residues have shown signs of erratic behavior, aggression, and even dependence, mirroring addiction patterns seen in humans.

This phenomenon has been studied quietly by environmental scientists and anti-narcotics units, as it raises concerns about the unexpected ecological fallout of the drug trade, not just on human communities but on fragile wildlife populations.

Ji-Man Choi Pauses Career for Military Duty,
Eyes Rays Coaching Future

Former Tampa Bay Rays fan favorite Ji-Man Choi is stepping away from professional baseball to begin his mandatory military service in South Korea, which will last 21 months. Though all South Korean men are required to serve between 18 and 35, Choi had previously delayed enlistment to pursue his baseball career.

Now 33, Choi hopes to return to the game in 2027 by joining the KBO (Korea Baseball Organization) at age 36. He also has ambitions to coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

A .234 career hitter, Choi spent parts of eight seasons in MLB, playing for six teams. He saw his greatest success with the Rays from 2018–2023, belting 52 home runs, including 19 in 2019, and contributing to the team's 2020 World Series run.

Choi will not serve in a combat role and will continue to train and stay in shape during his service.

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