Steve is off probation. It was a shorter period of time than what had been handed down by the judge. It appears he failed a drug “piss test” then failed to appear for a court date, a double dose of violation of probation.
He had no intention of turning himself to the sheriff’s office and avoided the eventual arrest by not going to work, which they had from court records. They hadn’t been able to locate him at the latest known place of residency because he had moved out, staying with a friend, but there came a day when he made a venture to return to work although he was well aware of the consequences.
So, he’s back in jail after just three months of the initial sentencing of probation for forging a doctor prescription. Steve had speculated that with the latest run-in with the law he might be sentenced to perhaps eight months of prison. To him, this would be acceptable because, when released, it would coincide perfectly with a planned move to Indiana for a job in a unionized company. He’d start out at about the same pay he made locally in his masonry job, but the benefits were exceptional including a company contribution into a 401k and a full array of medical coverage.
A big problem with that scenario is that he could actually be incarcerated for up to two years. His court date is coming up shortly.
Patrick is also off probation. Again, it was a shorter period of time than his sentencing dictated. He chose the two years of house arrest instead of accepting the judge’s recommendation of serving an eight-month prison term and be done with the whole affair. The judge was given an assurance from Patrick’s girlfriend that she would help him through the twenty months of relative confinement. Two months later and she should be deemed in contempt of court.
Failure to make a court-mandated payment and he’s now in jail, possibly facing his own two-year prison sentence. His most likely sharing time with Steve. There’s also a good possibility there’s a reunion of fellow small time drug users and abusers, caught with possession, driving under the influence with a suspended license, or any combination thereof plus array of other infractions.
Elizabeth is a different story. She spent a couple nights in jail waiting for someone to post bail for driving under the influence. She avoided possession by relaying the goodies to a passenger/friend. She was so out of it the first night in jail that, while sitting against a cell wall, she fell forward, breaking a front tooth.
This happened within a week of her 21st birthday and a week prior to a planned move to live with grandparents in Michigan. It was a six-week delay until a private lawyer and a few thousand dollars put her back on the route to get out of Spring Hill, FL.
Eight months later she made a trip back to Hernando County to pick up some personal items she had left behind. She planned to buy a car to haul more than just a few mementoes. Come to find out she had primarily come back to party. A month turned into two. Again, just a matter of days before heading back to grandma & grandpa she found herself once again in jail. Out of three carloads of friends, she was the only one left behind in Ybor City because she had strayed into the maddening crowd and failed to show up by a predetermined departure time. Her version of events put everyone else at fault.
She ended up having to take a taxi back to Spring Hill, claiming that a police officer put her in the cab knowing full well she had no means to pay for the ride. When back to Hernando County, her recollection is unclear but the driver says she did what is called a “theft of service” – she tried to scoot away to avoid payment of the transportation fees.
After another month’s delay she had boxed and shipped her belongings up north. For the time being she’s doing well, having gotten a fast food job and enrolled in a community college. She now has the opportunity to take steps toward a safe, productive life after four years of un-common sense with the money she received when both her parents passed away – same year, different cancers.
Elizabeth is very fortunate to have family that truly loves and cares for her well-being. She’s not surprised that Steve and Patrick are once again in conflict with the law – it’s inherent with living in Hernando County. She’s so relieved that she prompts others to get out of Spring Hill – way too many drugs to compensate for the lack of entertainment, limited opportunities for success and too few people who can truly be considered friends.
Showing posts with label Brooksville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brooksville. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Fasano Fizzles for Hernando County
Although it’s an interesting prospect, the very thought that a $25-million dollar manufacturing plant would be built in Hernando County seems to have come out of nowhere, as in a fairy tale. The annual pay scale of $45,000 to $50,000 makes you wonder if there’s a decimal point missing, making the figure $500 per week, which would bring more in line with jobs that pay little more than minimum wage.
The company, Coastal Caisson with its headquarters in Odessa, FL, is owned by the Bauer Group and makes industrial equipment for the oil industry. The company’s expertise lies with the design and construction of various foundations that can withstand the frigid temperatures of winters, the adverse environment of desert sand with temperatures in excess of 120-dgrees Fahrenheit, and the turbulent conditions of the salty seas.
The 200 jobs that the venture could bring to Hernando County would bring a windfall of opportunities of employment in a county too reliant on the limits of retail and construction industries. Public administration, i.e. local government, also has carries too big a share of employment for the county, as does transportation, utilities and hospitality services. Professional and business, and manufacturing are areas that need to be developed to take the county out of its humdrum, ho hum existence.
The prospects of being awarded what could possibly be a once-in-a-decade opportunity are slim, at best. The original site that Bauer is still considering is outside Houston, but Coastal Caisson and Pasco County economic development officials have brought interest to the area. Enterprise Florida is also playing a large role in promoting the manufacturing facility. With an excess of $400-million dollars in State funds to invest in local and regional economic development, eFlorida (http://www.eflorida.com/) will be a large force to bring the prospect to fruition.
Odds are that if any location were to be chosen in Florida, Pasco County would be given more serious consideration. Zephyr Hills and Lacoochee are just a few miles from Coastal’s headquarters in Odessa. Zephyr Hills is too much of a retirement community, somewhat restricted in possible locations. Lacoochee would be the most ideal site, in closer proximity to Odessa.
State Senator Mike Fasano, whose political endorsements favor Pasco and Pinellas Counties over Hernando and Citrus, has already contacted Governor Charlie Crist for his support of this business opportunity… in Pasco County.
There appears to be no rational reasoning as to how Brooksville has been placed among the possible sites for the 100-acre facility. The land is available, a realty group would be elated at the prospect but the existing infrastructure may not be accommodating.
It appears that Hernando County is destined to remain a bedroom community to take commuters to points outside the area. The best possible scenario would find qualified jobseekers in the area that could zip down the Suncoast Highway for the 30-mile trip for the higher paying positions. That is, if there are any qualified prospective workers here.
Another possible bright side would find those who might work at the proposed facility making their homes in Hernando County. As mentioned, the Suncoast is a prime commuter trail. The cost of living is more accommodating. There are many unoccupied vacant homes, some in bankruptcy, some that developers are willing to discount just to cut their losses before economic conditions worsen. Of course, there are also some 8,000 homes sites that have been approved in the past year at Hickory Hill, Sunrise and Lake Hideaway subdivisions.
At a time that is demanding of a broader tax base than at any other time in its history, Hernando County can only gawk, drool, lay back down and go back to sleep. Complacency among local government and business “leaders” puts their selfishness above what would be best for the overall economic development in the community. As time passes, the likelihood of anything other than increases in the number of residential housing and retail espousing grows exponentially.
Where does Hernando County go from this point in time onward? You might ask Senator Mike Fasano (District 11), Senator Paula Dockery (District 15), House Representative Robert Schenk (District 44), or House Representative Ron Schultz (District 43).
When you shake it all around and turn it upside down you will finally come to the realization that:
(a) The Largest Available Contiguous Parcel of Industrial Zoned Land in Hernando County is
The company, Coastal Caisson with its headquarters in Odessa, FL, is owned by the Bauer Group and makes industrial equipment for the oil industry. The company’s expertise lies with the design and construction of various foundations that can withstand the frigid temperatures of winters, the adverse environment of desert sand with temperatures in excess of 120-dgrees Fahrenheit, and the turbulent conditions of the salty seas.
The 200 jobs that the venture could bring to Hernando County would bring a windfall of opportunities of employment in a county too reliant on the limits of retail and construction industries. Public administration, i.e. local government, also has carries too big a share of employment for the county, as does transportation, utilities and hospitality services. Professional and business, and manufacturing are areas that need to be developed to take the county out of its humdrum, ho hum existence.
The prospects of being awarded what could possibly be a once-in-a-decade opportunity are slim, at best. The original site that Bauer is still considering is outside Houston, but Coastal Caisson and Pasco County economic development officials have brought interest to the area. Enterprise Florida is also playing a large role in promoting the manufacturing facility. With an excess of $400-million dollars in State funds to invest in local and regional economic development, eFlorida (http://www.eflorida.com/) will be a large force to bring the prospect to fruition.
Odds are that if any location were to be chosen in Florida, Pasco County would be given more serious consideration. Zephyr Hills and Lacoochee are just a few miles from Coastal’s headquarters in Odessa. Zephyr Hills is too much of a retirement community, somewhat restricted in possible locations. Lacoochee would be the most ideal site, in closer proximity to Odessa.
State Senator Mike Fasano, whose political endorsements favor Pasco and Pinellas Counties over Hernando and Citrus, has already contacted Governor Charlie Crist for his support of this business opportunity… in Pasco County.
There appears to be no rational reasoning as to how Brooksville has been placed among the possible sites for the 100-acre facility. The land is available, a realty group would be elated at the prospect but the existing infrastructure may not be accommodating.
It appears that Hernando County is destined to remain a bedroom community to take commuters to points outside the area. The best possible scenario would find qualified jobseekers in the area that could zip down the Suncoast Highway for the 30-mile trip for the higher paying positions. That is, if there are any qualified prospective workers here.
Another possible bright side would find those who might work at the proposed facility making their homes in Hernando County. As mentioned, the Suncoast is a prime commuter trail. The cost of living is more accommodating. There are many unoccupied vacant homes, some in bankruptcy, some that developers are willing to discount just to cut their losses before economic conditions worsen. Of course, there are also some 8,000 homes sites that have been approved in the past year at Hickory Hill, Sunrise and Lake Hideaway subdivisions.
At a time that is demanding of a broader tax base than at any other time in its history, Hernando County can only gawk, drool, lay back down and go back to sleep. Complacency among local government and business “leaders” puts their selfishness above what would be best for the overall economic development in the community. As time passes, the likelihood of anything other than increases in the number of residential housing and retail espousing grows exponentially.
Where does Hernando County go from this point in time onward? You might ask Senator Mike Fasano (District 11), Senator Paula Dockery (District 15), House Representative Robert Schenk (District 44), or House Representative Ron Schultz (District 43).
When you shake it all around and turn it upside down you will finally come to the realization that:
(a) The Largest Available Contiguous Parcel of Industrial Zoned Land in Hernando County is
0 acres
(b) The Largest Available Contiguous Parcel of Industrial Zoned Land in Pasco County is
260 acres
(c) 100 acres are required for the facility.
There is no more debate on the subject.
[ This blog entry is in response to an article titled "Brooksville Hopes to lure $25 million facility" written by Hernando Times Staff Writer Chuin-Wei Yap. To view this article that was printed in the March 21,2008, edition of the Hernando Times, please go to http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/article427459.ece. ]
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