Monday, May 13, 2013
An additional suspect is charged as part of an alleged prostitution ring that included a brothel in Pinellas County.
An additional arrest has been made in a human trafficking bust announced last week, Clearwater Police said Monday. Holly Cannarelli, 55, is charged with racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, according to authorities. Cannarelli is listed as a transient from Pinellas County in online arrest records. Cannarelli was being held on $1 million bond in Pinellas County Jail along with two other men for their alleged involvement in a prostitution ring that stretched from Tampa to Sarasota and included a brothel in Pinellas County. Peter D. Kitt, 41, of Tampa, and Shawn D. Franklin, 42, of St. Petersburg participated in the sex trafficking of approximately 16 women, officials said Friday. A sting operation in Largo kicked off the …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Heading to the beach? Be mindful of sea turtle nesting season, which is May 1 through Oct. 31.
Pinellas County beaches experienced one of the most successful sea turtle nesting seasons in the last decade in 2012. Volunteers with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium documented 196 nests even though Tropical Storm Debby wreaked havoc along the coastline. There usually can be up to 120 nests made along beaches in the Tampa Bay area, with each nest having up to 110 eggs. This year, the sea turtle nesting season began on Wendesday, May 1. Because hatchlings find their way to the water following natural light reflected onto the water, residents and businesses near the beach should make sure to shut off or dim lights at night through Oct. 31. This can reduce the amount of artificial light and help the newly hatched turtles safely reach the water…
Friday, May 10, 2013
Two men, including one from St. Petersburg, were arrested and charged with racketeering and conspiracy for their role in a prostitution ring that stretched from Tampa to Sarasota and included a brothel in Pinellas County.
Two men were arrested and charged with racketeering and conspiracy for their role in a prostitution ring that stretched from Tampa to Sarasota and included a brothel in Pinellas County. Peter D. Kitt, 41, of Tampa, and Shawn D. Franklin, 42, of St. Petersburg, were arrested and charged with racketeering and conspiracy for their participation in the sex trafficking of approximately 16 women, according to officials Friday. "These arrests are the first step in bringing justice and peace to the victims of this alleged sex trafficking ring," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a release. "Florida is a zero-tolerance state for human trafficking, and any individuals engaged in this abhorrent crime will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Pinellas joins a growing number of municipalities suing BP for economic losses related to the Deepwater oil spill in 2010.
Pinellas County has filed a lawsuit against BP Oil for economic losses related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The county joins other Tampa Bay municipalities that were not directly affected by pollution from the oil spill but suffered losses from a drop in tourism, as visitors stayed away from Gulf beaches. The suit does not seek a specific amount in damages. But it alleges "negligence and willful misconduct" on the part of BP, according to the Times article. Other Tampa Bay municipalities to file suit against BP include Clearwater, Dunedin, Tampa and Hillsborough County. More coverage BP to Give County $500K to Promote Tourism, Seafood Sen. Bill Nelson to Speak in St. Pete …
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The seasonal reclaimed water restrictions for Pinellas County reclaimed water customers will begin on Monday, April 1. St. Pete City Officials want you to know that the county's restrictions do not affect St. Petersburg.
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Saturday, March 30
St. Petersburg's supply of reclaimed water currently meets customer demand. While the recent three-times-a-week restrictions for Pinellas County reclaimed water customers do not affect St. Petersburg's reclaimed water customers, wise use of our reclaimed water is recommended during these traditionally dry months. Suggestions include: For more Water Wise Tips: www.stpete.org/water_conservation Pinellas County reclaimed water customers will have seasonal water restricting beginning on Monday, April 1. For more information check out the announcement, "Seasonal Restrictions for Reclaimed Water Implemented." Special thanks to the City of St. Petersburg for sharing the above press release with St. Pete Patch. Sign up for the St. Pete Patch email…
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The health clinic will be located near the Pinellas County Jail and the county homeless shelter.
Pinellas County will soon begin construction on a health clinic for the homeless and poor of Pinellas in Largo. It will be located near the Safe Harbor homeless shelter and the Pinellas County Jail, according to county documents. In October 2012, commissioners accepted a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to build the health clinic for homeless families with children, county documents show. According to a report by the Tampa Bay Times, the clinic will offer an array of services. " ... The building would house a primary care clinic, mental health services and housing placement assistance programs. A small library and children's room are planned for its first floor and, on the second, county officials …
Friday, March 1, 2013
Officials say cold shelters will open at various locations around the county around 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 3. Guests will be accepted throughout the night.
Anticipated cold temperatures and high wind gusts over the weekend are prompting Pinellas County officials to open cold night shelters on Sunday, March 3. Temperatures are expected to drop to 48, and wind gusts may reach up to 20 mph. Officials say cold shelters will open at various locations around the county around 6 p.m. Guests will be accepted throughout the night. The shelters will close Monday morning at approximately 6 a.m. Shelter guests are provided a hot evening meal, a warm safe place to spend the night and breakfast the following morning, county officials say. Families with children are placed in motels. To make arrangements for a family, call Sarah Snyder with the Homeless Leadership Board at 727-424-1355. Nearby locations …
Monday, February 18, 2013
Here is a look at some of the holiday closings in St. Petersburg and around Pinellas County for Presidents Day.
All Pinellas County facilities will resume normal hours of operation on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Is your business open or closed on Presidents Day? Post a comment below to let Patch readers know! Sign up for the St. Pete Patch email newsletter to stay connected to your community.
Friday, February 15, 2013
The Pinellas County cold night shelters for the homeless will be open on Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17.
Temperatures are expected to dip into the 40's overnight this weekend in St. Petersburg. Winds may gust up to 23 mph Saturday evening and up to 22 Sunday night. For a complete look at the forecast in St. Petersburg check out the National Weather Service online. There are three shelters in St. Petersburg that will open at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday nights. They will accept guests throughout the evening, and close the following morning at approximately 6 a.m. Shelter guests are provided a hot evening meal, a warm safe place to spend the night and breakfast the following morning. Below are the cold shelter locations in Pinellas County: St. Petersburg Northwest Presbyterian Church 6330 54th Ave. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33706 Phone: (727) 544-…
At its Feb. 26 meeting, Pinellas County Commissioners will vote on whether or not to place a sales tax for transit improvement on the November 2014 ballot.
Pinellas County Commissioners took the next step Tuesday to ensure there is a public vote on a sales tax increase in November 2014 that would go toward Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority improvements. By voting 6-1 Tuesday, commissioners cleared the way to decide at their Feb. 26 meeting whether or not to place the proposed sales tax increase on the 2014 ballot. The vote, however, is a mere placeholder until an ordinance is drafted for the PSTA sales tax referendum. "For more than 30 years, we having been talking about transit," said commissioner Janet Long. "We have never gotten as far as we are right now. I my mind, it’s time to move forward. Our citizens deserve better and our kids deserve better." The tax can be up to one percent, …
Becky Day Wilson
2:59 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
Where is/was the brothel? more ›