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Budget information sessions to be held Thursday

Budget information sessions to be held Thursday

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners will meet for a budget information work session on Thursday, May 10, at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will be held in the fifth-floor assembly room of the Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St. in downtown Clearwater.

At 5 p.m., a budget information session will be held at the Safety Harbor City Hall, 750 Main St., Safety Harbor.

Those wishing to offer public comment may do so during the Citizens to be Heard portion of the meetings.

Child porn, bestiality pictures found on man's computer, cell phone

Child porn, bestiality pictures found on man's computer, cell phone

Clearwater, Florida -- A Clearwater man was arrested Tuesday after detectives found images of child pornography and beatiality on his home computer.

According to Clearwater Police, the Crimes Against Children and Families Unit received a tip about 29-year-old Eric Antunes. During an interview with Antunes at his home at 2893 St. John's Drive, detectives say he admitted to downloading child porn on his computer. A search of the computer revealed nine images and a video depicting child porn along with several images of bestiality on his cell phone.

Granddaughter of early local settler to speak at Aging Well Center

Granddaughter of early local settler to speak at Aging Well Center

Clearwater, Florida -- The Clearwater Aging Well Center will offer a program as part of its ongoing Tea & Topics discussion series on April 30 at 2 p.m.

The program, Caladesi Memories, will feature Terry Fortner, the granddaughter of local pioneer Myrtle Scharrer Betz ([1895 - 1992] author of Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise). Fortner will relate family stories including historic images of her grandmother's pioneer lifestyle and history of the Scharrer Homestead on Caladesi Island, one of the West Coast's original tourist destinations.

Clearwater man arrested for Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of minor

Clearwater man arrested for Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of minor

Pinellas County, Florida-- Pinellas County detectives arrested Carlos Ayala for Lewd and Lascivious Molestation of a child under 16. 

The identity of the victim will not be released, but the young female and the suspect were known to one another. 

Ayala's additional charges include:

  • Possession of Child Pornography
  • Sexual Performance by a Child

Ayala admitted to touching the minor inappropriately and coercing her to pose for nude photos over a period of two years, from April 2012 to February 2012.

8 candidates qualify for County Judge

8 candidates qualify for County Judge

Pinellas County, Florida -- Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark has announced eight candidates completed their qualifying requirements for County Judge during last week’s qualifying period.  All candidates qualified by filing the required documents and paying a qualifying fee.

Following are the 2012 qualified candidates for County Judge:

Scott Andringa, Group 2

Cathy Ann McKyton, Group 2

Donald E. Horrox, Group 5

Myra Scott McNary, Group 7

Walt Fullerton, Group 9

William H. Overton, Group 11

County residents urged to take online values survey

County residents urged to take online values survey

Pinellas County residents are invited to help set the strategic direction for Pinellas County by taking an online survey.

Posted on the county’s website for five days, the survey offers an opportunity for residents to share their views about Pinellas County, the values that they want reflected in their community and their vision for the future.

The brief survey can be taken from 8 a.m. on Monday, April 23, to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 27. It can be found at www.pinellascounty.org by clicking on the Your Voice Our Future button.

Program provides learning experience for community leaders, development staff

Program provides learning experience for community leaders, development staff

The Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County is a sponsor of the Certificate in Community Real Estate Development program at the University of South Florida.