Bay area briefs

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

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Hillsborough County

Tampa Fire Rescue may soon begin billing insurance companies when it responds to traffic accidents. The agency is proposing new charges for responding to a call, extricating a victim and transporting victims by air.

More Information

Story on effects of tax cuts on services

Under the proposal, Tampa Fire Rescue would charge an insurance company $450 for keeping an accident scene safe and investigating the crash. Fire rescue captain Bill Wade says the fees could help alleviate tight budgets created by property tax reform.

"If the city council approves this billing, that will mean less cuts will have to occur within fire rescue, because fire rescue hopes to collect about $1.5 million from this new billing," Wade said.

Hillsborough County Animal Services held a press conference Tuesday to urge residents to make preparations for their pets as hurricane season approaches.

Officials suggested pet owners should think about getting their pets microchipped, among other ideas.

"The planning is the key," said Bill Armstrong with animal services. "Think through it. If you have six rottweillers, you have a bigger problem [than someone who] has Fluffy, [who they] can carry in [their] arms or in a crate. People just need to think about it. What they are going to do and walk through it."

Hillsborough County has two pet-friendly shelters.

Twenty-one-year-old Cesar Lemus, who is suspected of killing one man and wounding another in Wimauma in June 2003, was booked into the Orient Road Jail without bond Tuesday on one count of second-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder.

Hillsborough County deputies say Lemus fled to Mexico but surrendered last week at the Mexican border. They say the victims were shot after getting into an argument with Lemus at an intersection.

Citrus County

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is rolling out a new volunteer service, the Trail Patrol. A force made up of volunteers will patrol the 30-mile section of the Withlacoochee State Trail that runs through Citrus County in a modified golf cart.

On board the cart is an automated external defibrillator, first-aid kit, and bicycle repair supplies to help stranded bikers along the trail. The volunteers will not take law enforcement action.

About 25 volunteers have signed on to patrol seven days a week, from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset. The first official patrol starts Friday.

State

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is in Israel, meeting with the foreign minister to discuss ways Florida can increase commerce with that nation.

The two are also discussing a bill on the governor's desk that would bar state pension funds from investing in companies that deal with Sudan or Iran's energy sector. Crist says he plans on signing the bill into law.