dade city newsdadecitynews.org/uploads/8/8/8/8/88887854/dcn07-20-17aweb.pdf · at wrec in 1956. he...

Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative had 3,000 members when Billy E. Brown started working in the line/operations department six decades ago.

The co-op currently now serves about 225,000 members and Brown is its executive vice president and general manager.

The Pasco County Board of Commissioners recognized the 83-year-old Brown on July 11 for his 60 years of dedicated leadership and outstanding service to the county. The commissioners lauded Brown as a local, state and nationally recognized leader and advocate for the model of success in community development and services.

Brown grew up in Dade City,

attended Pasco High School and served in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War before beginning his career at WREC in 1956.

He quickly advanced in the co-op, moving into supervisory positions in warehousing, member services and billing before becoming a district manager.

In 1973, WREC’s board of directors promoted him to his current position in order to pull the co-op out of financial distress. He flew to Washington, D.C., and worked with the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) to get WREC back on a solid financial footing and since that time, Brown’s priority to provide affordable, reliable and safe electricity has helped WREC to

INSIDE: Pg. 3A - City Clerk Honored For DedicationPg. 3A - Help Sought In Solving Hit-And-Run

Pg. 7A - Turning Plastic Into MetalPg. 9A - Students Honored For Exceptional Grades

Pg. 1B - Bicycling Barber Packs A PunchPg. 1B - Hambricks’ Football Camp Welcomes Pros

Dade CityServing Dade City • San Antonio • Saint Leo NewsVolume VI • Issue 49 Your Hometown News Source • dadecitynews.org July 20, 2017

NOW OPENCALLCRASH 352-437-3200

14343 8th St. • Dade City

Didn’t You See

Me?

Changes Due For Old Pasco Road

Willie Roberts stood in the Saint Anthony of Padua Parish Hall in San Antonio looking at a map of the Pasco County Old Pasco Road Extension and he couldn’t help but think about how similar progress years ago forced many of his family members from their homesteads.

He pointed to spots along State Road 52 where generations of the Roberts’ family resided. As the road was widened and other growth followed, the family community became smaller and smaller.

Roberts and dozens of residents living in the area just west of I-75 attended a public workshop July 11 to see just how the extension of Old Pasco Road will affect them.

For Roberts, his home is safe for now as the proposed project misses his property.

Residents Prepare For Extenison

Pastor Willie B. Roberts, a San Antonio resident and minister at Piney Grove Baptist Church, points at one of the county’s Old Pasco Road extension maps showing how close progress is coming to his home and church.Extension • Continued on Page 5A

Brown • Continued on Page 8A

Billy Brown Not Slowing Downby Joe Potter

Christmas In July Spreads Holiday Cheer

Sleigh bells rang on Saturday, were you listening?The downtown merchants hosted their annual eight-hour

Christmas in July event, filling the air with Christmas carols as local patrons filled the shops. Popular Seventh Street stores offered up deals and discounts on their wares along with meet-and-greets with local artists.

As part of the Art Walk, which ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., several local talents ranging from painters to jewelry crafters set up shop in various downtown stores, including Annetta’s Antiques, Ivy Cottage, and American Eagle Antique Mall,

Story and photo by Emily Kochanski

Christmas • Continued on Page 6A

After almost four years and countless projects and additions to Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, CEO Randy Surber has been named CEO for another Adventist Health System medical center based in Sebring.

Within the next couple of months, Surber will transition from his current posi-tion to take over Flori-da Hospital Heartland Medical Center, about 75 miles from Zeph-yrhills. His new re-sponsibility includes three hospital cam-puses serving Sebring, Lake Placid and Wauchula.

Surber will take over day-to-day operations once a new CEO for FHZ has been appointed and transitions into the role. There is no set date yet, he said, but he anticipates the transition will take place within a couple of months.

Surber will be filling the Sebring position currently occupied by Bruce Bergherm who was promoted to senior

Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative General Manager Billy E. Brown holds a resolution presented to him on July 11 by the Pasco County Commissioners.

Surber • Continued on Page 8A

by Dave Walters

Some Cool Artwork Featured At Downtown Event

County Honors Longtime WREC Executive

Randy Surber

Many merchants got into the holiday spirit by decorating their shops with cheerful and festive Christmas displays.

Photo by Richard K. Riley

Photo by Richard K. Riley

Hospital CEO Promoted

by Keri McAlpine

Randy Surber Heading To Sebring Soon

2A • July 20, 2017 Your Hometown News Source • dadecitynews.org Dade City News

James Lewis Viele Jr., 32, of 14708 18th St., was arrested by Dade City police on June 27 on a charge of domes-tic assault. The victim told police that Viele, who is the father of her three children, got mad at her during a telephone

conversation and threatened to come home, break her phone and shoot her in front of their children. She also told police Viele had a handgun and she feared he was capable of carrying out the threat he alleg-edly made. When contacted at his work-place, Viele reportedly told police he had said he would break the victim’s phone. He denied saying he was going to shoot her,

saying, “She must have misunderstood me,” and “She always misunderstands me.” Viele reportedly admitted he had a handgun in his backpack. The backpack, which was outside Viele’s workplace, re-portedly contained a 9mm handgun and more than 100 rounds of live ammunition. He was booked into the Pasco County Jail.

Jose Isais Andino-Funes, 31, of 37741 Pond Ave., was arrested by Dade City police on July 4 on charges of do-mestic battery and tam-pering with a witness and was also apprehend-ed on a Pasco County warrant charging him

with failure to appear – no valid driver’s license. Police responded to the address re-garding a report of a battery in progress. After an investigation, it was reportedly determined that Andino-Funes had struck a victim several times to her head and body. The victim was bleeding on her ear and had red marks consistent with a bat-tery. Andino-Funes allegedly took the phone out of the victim’s hand while she was talking to a 911 dispatcher, depriving her of communicating with 911. Andino-Funes was allegedly holding the victim’s phone and talking to a 911 translator when police arrived.

Tequista Charmael Sermon, 31, of Lacoochee, was appre-hended by Dade City po-lice on July 3 on a Sum-ter County warrant charging her with one count of grand theft–sto-len property, on a Pasco County warrant charg-

ing her with failure to appear – petit theft and on a Hernando County warrant charg-ing her with FTA – battery second or sub-sequent offense. She was booked into the Pasco County Jail upon confirmation of the warrants.

Tucker Aaron Henderson, 22, homeless, was arrested by Dade City police on July 4 on a charge of pe-tit retail theft. He alleg-edly took merchandise valued at $11.98 while at Walmart, 12650 U.S. 301, and left the store

without paying for the merchandise. A store loss prevention employee identified him.

David Leroy Wharton, 51, of 39036 Alex Ave., Zephyrhills, was apprehended by Dade City police on June 27 on a Pasco County warrant charging him with violation of proba-tion – sexual battery. He was booked into the Pas-

co County Jail upon confirmation of the warrant.

Shannon Hennian, 44, of Wesley Chapel, was apprehended by Dade City police on June 28 on a charge of violation of proba-tion. Hennian was also allegedly driving although her driver’s license had been sus-pended on June 23, 2017.

Dade City police arrested a 16-year-old fe-male on June 27 on a charge of domestic battery after she allegedly kicked her father in the leg. She had run away and was re-portedly resisting her father’s efforts to es-cort her to his vehicle. She was taken to the Pasco County Juvenile Assessment Center.

Joni Jane Allison, 57, of 37037 Frazee Hill Road, was appre-hended by Dade City po-lice on July 3 on a Pasco County warrant charg-ing her with failure to appear – larceny petit theft second degree sec-ond offense. She was

booked into the Pasco County Jail upon confirmation of the warrant.

The information provided in the Dade City Police report is taken from public record. All parties are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Dade City Police Report‘Misunderstanding’ Leads To Domestic Assault Charge

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City Clerk Honored For Dedication

Angela “Angie” Guy was recently honored by the Florida Association of City Clerks for the positive contributions she has made since becoming Dade City’s clerk in late 2014.

She was presented the prestigious Robert Clark Memorial Award during the June conference of the FACC.

“I feel quite honored. I’m not sure I’m worthy of this award,” Guy said last Friday. “I had no idea I had been nominated … absolutely no idea. I was shocked.”

Andrea Culvert, St. Leo’s Town Clerk, nominated Guy for the award.

“Angie is an amazing person and an

asset to Dade City, the Florida Association of City Clerks, and the community. She continues to actively participate in the improvements of municipal government in the state and local community,” Culvert wrote in her nomination application.

Before being hired by the city, Guy worked for the Pasco County School Board and as a Relationship Banker for Barnett Bank. Culvert said Angie had no local government experience when she was hired.

“Angie is naturally easy to talk to and work with. When I was on a summer committee with her, she was open to new ideas and doing whatever needed to be done to ensure a great experience for all who attended,” Culvert said. “Her positive attitude is contagious.”

Guy also volunteers with the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections office

and supports her local community by volunteering at five public schools during the past five years. Also, she has volunteered with Habit For Humanity of East & Central Pasco.

Guy said she loves Dade City.“I live here, my kids went to school

here and our church is here.”FACC is comprised of more than 500

municipal clerks representing Florida’s cities, towns, villages and special districts. It was founded 35 years ago by Clark, who was the city clerk of Sunrise City in Broward County.

Guy was enthusiastic about her membership in the organization.

“They have helped me to be confident and competent. They provide help when I need it. As much as I have gained from them, I feel it is my responsibility to pass it on,” Guy said.

Angie Guy Surprised By Recognition

by Joe Potter

Angela ‘Angie’ Guy holds the Robert Clark Memorial Award she was presented in June by the Florida Association of City Clerks. Photo Provided

Help Sought In Solving Hit-And-Run Accident

The Dade City Police Department is seeking information to help solve a hit-and-run accident that occurred on July 1.

A silver Toyota Prius driven by a Dade City woman was struck in the rear by a pickup truck as the Prius was turning onto eastbound Meridian Avenue from northbound 21st Street at 10:30 p.m.

Upon impact, the Prius went into a yard at 37009 Meridian Ave., and

struck a wooden fence. The pick-up truck then left the scene.

“We have very little to go on to identify the vehicle which struck Ms. Lynette Dinova,” said Officer Brian Uppercue.

“The vehicle is described as a Dodge Ram truck, based upon vehicle parts found on the scene. We do not know the specific color or year of the vehicle in question,” Uppercue said.

Anyone with information regarding this accident is asked to call DCPD at (352) 521-1493.

Staff Report


East Pasco EventsJuly 21 – Florida Bats – Join Shari Clark, with Florida Bat Conservancy, and listen to a bat program, see live captive bats and go look and listen for wild bats in the grounds adjacent to our Lodge at the Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, located at 7200 Country Road 603 in Bushnell. Insect repellant is recommended for the outdoor portion of the program. Cost is $3/vehicle or annual park pass. Held from 7:30-9 p.m. Call (352) 793-4781 for information.

July 22 – Painting Class – Paint along with Josephine, a certified Bob Ross instructor from 1-4 p.m. A summer special offers the class for $100. Class size is limited to eight people. Needed for the class: a Bob Ross kit available from Hobby Lobby or Michael’s, four 12x16 stretched canvas and a roll of paper towels. Contact Josephine at (727) 808-7718 for more information. Call Pati at (352) 518-5252 to register and for future class dates. Held at Makers and Shakers, 13841 Seventh St.

July 22 – Whimsical Owl Painting Class – Come to a casual and relaxing painting class from 2-4 p.m. at Makers & Shakers, 13841 Seventh St., and paint your own custom owl in acrylics on canvas. The cost is $35 per person and everything you need to paint will be provided for that cost. RSVP at www.facebook.com/events/446502189057998 and follow the registration link. Call (352) 518-5252 for information.

July 25 – Air Potato Management Workshop – Designed for those seeking to control the invasive air potato plant. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences will provide air potato beetles as door prizes (no guarantee everyone will recieve). Air potato beetles are an effective method of control without harm to other species. Pre-registration and pre-payment of $15 per person are required. Call (352) 518-0156 for information. Held from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Pasco County Extension Office. 36702 S.R. 52.

July 28 – Birds on A Wire Painting Class – Come to a fun and relaxing canvas painting class at Makers & Shakers, 13841 Seventh St. Bring your friends, and some snacks or drinks if you’d like. The cost for the class is $35 and everything is provided for you to

paint. Register at www.facebook.com/events/1913367325548534 and use registration link. Please RSVP to let us know you are coming, so that we have the correct amount of canvases. Call (352) 518-5252 for information.

July 28-30 – Stuff the Bus for Teachers – United Way of Pasco County is holding its seventh annual Stuff the Bus for Teachers to deliver school supplies to teachers for the new school year. A school bus will be stationed at Walmart, 7631 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. Talk to a volunteer and donate much needed supplies. Visit www.unitedwaypasco.org for Stuff the Bus volunteer information.

July 29 – Backpack Bash 2017 – This event offers free backpacks and school supplies in a family friendly atmosphere including bounce houses, balloon painting, face painting, music, food and health awareness resources. Held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Turning Point Church, 14312 17th St. Contact [email protected] or visit www.TurningPointDadeCity.com for information.

Aug. 5 – Balling for Jesus – Living Waters United Church presents the seventh annual Balling for Jesus back to school event at Naomi Jones Pyrcantha Park, 38122 Martin Luther King Blvd. from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. This free event will supply free backpacks and school supplies to needy children. A basketball tournament will be held along with other fun activities, food and entertainment for all ages. Contact [email protected] for information and a list of needed items.

Aug. 5 – Back to School Health and Safety Fest – This free event will be held from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club in Lacoochee, 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd. Free backpacks will be handed out to the first 250 students. Free refreshments, giveaways, entertainment and school physicals will be featured as well as dental screenings and local educational and health booths to answer questions. Parents/guardians are asked to bring shot records and photo ID for health screenings. Call (352) 518-2000 to schedule a physical or for more information.

Pasco News PublicationsDade City News • East Pasco Senior News • Zephyrhills Free Press

38440 5th Avenue - Zephyrhills, FL 33542 (813) 783-1300 - www.pasconewspubs.com

NEWS & ADVERTISING DEADLINE: Monday at 12:00 noon • CIRCULATION ISSUES: Please call the offi ce at (813) 783-1300LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters to the editor should be limited to 200 words. Pasco News Publications reserves the right to edit published letters. Letters to the editor are the writer’s opinion and do not refl ect the opinion of Pasco News Publications. Please include your name and phone number.ADVERTISING ERRORS: Pasco News Publications is not responsible for the validity of claims made by advertisers or for advertisers errors. Pasco News Publications is responsible only for the cost of space for the fi rst insertion.PASCO NEWS PUBLICATIONS IS A MEMBER OF: The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce and The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.COPYRIGHT: Contents copyright of Pasco News Publications, all rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole prohibited without prior, written permission of the publisher.

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For more events visit www.pasconewspubs.com

I like to go walking every morning before breakfast. My wife bought me a Fitbit for Christmas and I have been trying to reach my goal every day. Maybe she was trying to tell me something. In any event, it is a new lifestyle I was not used to doing. I look forward to getting to the restaurant about 15 minutes early and start pounding the pavement before the breakfast gang arrives. You never know what you are going to see on the highways and byways of east Pasco County.

About a week ago I was in Zephyrhills walking behind a strip mall where one of my favorite restaurants is located. Further down the mall is a grocery store with several signs that say no dumping. I think that sign must have been a calling card for people trying to unload stuff at this new midnight drop-off point. It was a disgusting mess. I would have hoped someone from the store or the owners of the mall would have cleaned it up.

I saw an old mattress, several beer bottles, cans and garbage bags full of whatever. The sad part is it has been there for well past a week, right next to a dumpster. I also saw a sign that says the property is under video surveillance.

Maybe they could rewind the tape to determine the culprit.

This illegal dumping is happening all over the place. Where I live a company contracted to cut some limbs and do some yard maintenance on a wooded back street in the neighborhood dumped all of what they cut and hauled butt. I talked to a lady who saw them do it. It was one of those trucks and trailers with no markings on it. There are a bunch of them around.

That means they probably were not licensed, bonded or insured.

It is not uncommon to see old furniture, tires, bags of garbage, bottles and cans dumped on vacant lots or along the side of the road. Maybe if someone took the time they could find out who owned the stuff but that would mean looking through the bags. Maybe they could find some old mail, magazines with an address on them or other things that could be given to law enforcement or code enforcement. It would be a dirty job.

When I was a kid the prisoners did all kinds of work. They wore their prison uniforms and a guy sat in the shade with a shotgun just in case one of them decided to make a run for it. It would be a great job for them. Maybe now it would be considered unfair treatment or not politically correct. Wake up people. Maybe if they started doing that the crime rate would go down.

I also remember growing up that an organization used to give signs reading, “B for Beautiful.” It was given to someone that went above and beyond making their home or business a better-looking place. They also got a photo in the local newspaper with the sign prominently displayed. I think it’s time to come up with a sign for those places that are looking really bad that says, “U for Ugly,” or maybe even “UU for Double Ugly”. That would be one recognition I don’t ever want to get.

One Man’s Trash Is

Appalling

Commentary

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I sat in disbelief as I watched homes become consumed by a sinkhole in the Lake Padgett area of Land O’ Lakes.

I can’t possibly imagine watching my home slowly fall into the abyss, standing there behind caution tape, completely helpless.

We watch these homes destroyed live on TV and look on in horror. We pity the families. We offer our prayers and then reality sets in. We put ourselves in their shoes. We think about the decisions we would have to make if we were only allowed to grab a few precious things.

What would we take? Valuables? Photos? Keepsakes?

I hope to God I never have to make a decision like that.

In Lake Padgett, nine other homes were evacuated because of the sinkhole, which reached 250-feet in diameter and roughly 50 feet deep.

While it’s unbelievable, we see it far too often in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We see lives turned upside down and in some cases, ended by a common and natural geological

feature of the state’s landscape.There is no escaping them if

you live in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, sinkholes could theoretically form anywhere. Florida rests on a nearly unbroken bed of limestone and our area is particularly known for sinkholes. It’s part of Florida’s so-called Sinkhole Alley, where two-thirds of insurance claims for sinkhole damage occur, according to a report prepared for state lawmakers in 2010.

We’re not alone.Other places that frequently see

sinkholes include Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

But the dramatic collapse at Lake Padgett is not as common. Some sinkholes merely cause the ground above to sag, or result in small ponds or saltwater marshes.

There is no way to judge the frequency of sinkholes. The Florida Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance reported that insurers had received 24,671 claims for sinkhole damage in the four years leading up to 2010.

That’s an average of nearly 17 claims a day, just in Florida.

And Zephyrhills is not immune. There have been sinkhole claims in the city. Several homes in the Meadowood Loop area filed claims for sinkhole damage in the last decade. These homes did not crumble into the ground, but sustained enough damage to be awarded insurance claims.

All we can do is hope we don’t suffer the same fate as our neighbors to the west. In the meantime, put yourself in their shoes and say a prayer.

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“I’m OK for the moment,” Roberts said. “When they widened 52, it devastated our community. There is always that fear that I will end up having to move like the rest of my family.”

The public workshop was to explain the northern expansion of Old Pasco Road and the Ossie Murphy Road.

The county sought to inform the public, while encouraging discussion and input regarding the project that will extend Old Pasco Road north with a four-lane divided road.

“It is very valuable to have this kind of feedback,” said Chris Wert, assistant engineering service director for the county. “Our goal is to reach

out to the community. They are the ones who live there and they give us ideas for the project. We are thrilled to have this kind of turnout.”

Wert said this public workshop is just the beginning in the quest of obtaining public input on the project.

Residents flocked to the maps placed around the room asking question and making sure they had every detail explained and every question answered.

“The people from this area are always genuinely concerned about what goes on around here,” said San Antonio resident Donna Clark. “It’s a very conscientious group of residents.

“They monitor the change that goes on around them. They won’t let it sneak up on them.”

Extension • Continued from Page 1A

Terry Schrader, Ted Schrader, Donna Swart and Eric Herrmann, all of the San Antonio area, review the maps showing the options for the county’s potential plan to extend Old Pasco Road. Photo by Richard K. Riley


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to name a few. Other events included a wine tasting at Ivy Cottage, the monthly book bazaar at the Hugh Embry Library,

and a family rock-painting event at Church Street Shoppe Toys, Kites, & More.

One shop that saw some heavy foot traffic was Another Man’s Treasure, which sits directly across the street from the Post Office. Owner Brian Mahoney looks forward to downtown events because they give him the chance to see familiar faces and to meet fellow collectors such as himself.

“I like meeting all of the people who live around here that didn’t even know that I was here,” said Mahoney. “I don’t do any advertising, so word of mouth is my main thing.”

Mahoney has been an avid collector from a young age. His shop is filled with a diverse array of memorabilia from all over the world.

Christmas • Continued from Page 1A

Growing up overseas in Hong Kong, Brian Mahoney began collecting interesting artifacts and pieces of history from around the world. ‘I love all the different things that I find,’ he said. ‘All of the things I used to have but don’t have any more. I just like buying.’

The Art Walk featured a wide variety of masterpieces, including colorful sculpture made from interesting items, breathtaking oil paintings and unique jewelry made from recycled materials.

Diane Hinson exhibited in the front parlor of the Top Drawer Antiques. She brought Spoon Jewelry, Vintage Baby Bonnets, Bottle Trees, Kitchen Owls, and Button Art.

Many of the colorful creations produced at the rock-painting event could later be found strategically hidden around town.

Vlad, a French Mastif, awaits his family during the Christmas and Arts Festival. They came in to pick up sweets from Olga’s Bakery. Photo by Richard K. Riley

Photo by Richard K. RileyPhoto by Emily Kochanski Photo by Emily Kochanski

Photo by Emily Kochanski


Students, faculty and staff of Saint Leo University knew they were contributing to a worthy cause in March when they donated six tons of plastic bottle caps to the Caps of Love organization. Last week they saw the direct result of their hard work when a wheelchair, purchased from SLU’s recycling funds, was donated to a local student.

After a brief presentation, Michael Ledford, a rising fourth grader from Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills, was beaming as he took a seat in his brand new manual wheelchair.

Michael was joined by his family when he received the wheelchair and stayed after for a short reception with snacks and drinks.

Caps of Love founder Valerie Mathieu was on site for the July 13 presentation, and said the new wheelchair was the 72nd chair purchased and donated through her West Palm Beach-based non-profit. The manual chair will allow Ledford to maneuver easily through his home, while his previously owned electric wheelchair allows him to navigate the school halls.

In addition to providing new wheelchairs, Caps of Love also provides funds to repair broken or malfunctioning wheelchairs. Ledford’s back support of his electric wheelchair recently broke, and Mathieu said the organization would also be helping to fix that chair.

In its two years participating in the program, Saint Leo’s efforts have grown to include numerous partners, including schools, churches, local businesses, clubs and organizations stretching across five counties.

“We’ve brought a community together ... and to me that’s what it’s about it’s about making that difference,” said Heidi D’Ambrosio, senior coordinator for Residence Life at the university.

SLU students have begun to go out into the community and teach groups the correct way to recycle and sort the caps, depending on the type of plastic they’re made of.

Caps of Love was founded on the concept of correctly recycling plastic bottle caps for money. However, since

it was founded nine years ago, the price of plastic has gone from 28 cents to 10 cents a pound, forcing the organization to make major changes and greater reliance on grants, public donations and education.

The goal of the Caps of Love organization is to “educate the public on how to identify and recycle correctly and to provide wheelchairs to the physically challenged under the age of 21,” in the United States, according to its website.

Anyone up to the age of 21 can submit a wheelchair request or repair form on the Caps of Love website at www.capsoflove.com.

Turning Plastic Into MetalYouth Gets Wheelchair Thanks To SLU Project

Story and photos by Keri McAlpine

Michael Ledford, 10, of Zephyrhills, was the recipient of a free manual wheelchair thanks to Caps of Love and contributions from Saint Leo University and the surrounding community. He was given the wheelchair on July 13 during a special presentation at the university.

Caps of Love founder Valerie Mathieu speaks before a room of Saint Leo University students, staff and supporters about her non-profit organization which encourages community involvement and education to help others and the environment.


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executive officer of acute care services for the West Florida Division of Adventist Health System.

Surber said Friday he has mixed emotions about his future – he is excited about the new opportunity but is sad to

leave Zephyrhills.“It was an opportunity to grow and it

had additional responsibilities of three hospitals versus one,” he said of the Heartland center.

Surber will not be going into Sebring

completely blind, as he has had business there in the past and has already seen some familiar faces on his recent visits there.

The main Heartland campus is in Sebring proper which accommodates about 159 beds, compared to FHZ’s 149. The Lake Placid campus accommodates a mere 50 beds. The Wauchula campus is currently being rebuilt and is set to open in October, a factor which was eye catching for Surber.

“It’s one of the unique opportunities I saw to go there and be part of that,” he said. “There’s not many times in your career that you get to open up a new hospital. So that’s very exciting.”

After coming to Zephyrhills in October 2013, Surber has a long list of accomplishments, including, but not limited to: partnering with Pasco-Hernando State College for a nursing scholarship; the construction of the Creation Health Wellness Center and the Creation Café; the Florida Hospital Pavilion at the new community venue by the airport; the community garden; new orthopedic unit; the growth of the hospital’s surgical robot system; a complete emergency room renovation; and the addition of other facilities outside of the main FHZ campus.

“I think that’s the short list, actually,”

he said. “The growth we’ve seen in our performance metrics, both financial and clinical, most importantly, have improved in those four years … the performance of the hospital is the strongest it’s ever been.”

FHZ Director of Marketing Susan Frimmel said out of the dozens of CEOs she has worked for in her career, Surber has by far been the best.

“He’s going to be missed tremendously. He’s been a great leader at this hospital and he’s respected by all of the department managers and directors,” Frimmel said. “I’ve never been at a hospital where I personally feel like I’m part of a whole team and I think a lot of that is due to Randy’s leadership.”

Hospital staff are not the only people who might have noticed Surber’s impact, but the communities of Zephyrhills and Dade City as well. A resident of Dade City, he made a point to be involved in the community and currently serves as the Dade City Chamber of Commerce president.

As he leaves FHZ, Surber wishes nothing but the best for the hospital and community. He referenced several new plans the hospital is working on which he expects will be influential once they are revealed.

Surber • Continued from Page 1A

become successful. Each WREC customer is a member and owner of

the business who invests in the co-op in addition to paying for the electricity they receive. Under Brown’s leadership, WREC has refunded more than $332 million to its members.

The co-op has formed several organizations during Brown’s tenure, including URADCO, a for-profit entity that has brought thousands of jobs to the co-op’s service area through the building of two industrial parks – One Pasco Center and One Hernando Center.

The co-op also formed the WRECares/Operation Roundup Program, which assists families who have suffered a catastrophic event through no fault of their own. Since its inception in 1994, the program has disbursed $1.9 million to 577 deserving families.

Brown has received numerous distinguished awards including the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce’s Richard Tombrink Lifetime Achievement Award. The Pasco County School Board also honored him in 2014 when he was presented a resolution for commitment to the community through the WREC Educational Foundation. Each year the foundation awards 110 college scholarships valued at $11,000. To date, the foundation has awarded more than 1,644 scholarships valued at $9.7 million to the children of WREC members throughout the co-op’s five-county service area.

In 2016, WREC received the first-ever Cooperative

Purpose Award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in recognition of outstanding contributions that resulted in visible, lasting improvements to the quality of life and the purpose of the cooperative in the community.

Brown currently serves on the Seminole Electric

Cooperative’s Board of Directors, the Florida Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Board of Trustees and is director emeriti with SunTrust Bank, Nature Coast. Also, he has served with various not-for-profit organizations such as the Rotary, United Way, Concourse Council and others.

Brown • Continued from Page 1A

Staff members of Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative with Billy E. Brown during the July 11 County Commissioners meeting during which he was honored.

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StudentsHonored For Exceptional Academics

Jarrett Ford Dade City held its 39th annual Straight A Dinner on June 28, honoring the success of local students. Jarrett started the dinner in 1979 to recognize the hard and dedicated academic work of students who earned straight A’s for the entire school year at Pasco High Schol, Centennial Middle School and Pasco Middle School. The dinner was held at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club.

Students from Centennial Middle School who earned straight A’s this past school year as well as Principal Rick Saylor, right, and Jarrett Ford Vice President/General Manager Cliff Martin, left.

Students from Pasco Middle School who earned straight A’s this past school year as well as Principal Jeffrey Wolff, kneeling, and Jarrett Ford Vice President/General Manager Cliff Martin, right.

Students from Pasco High School who earned all A’s this past school year as well as Principal Kari Kadlub, sitting, and Jarrett Ford Vice President/General Manager Cliff Martin.

Photos Provided


John Anderson5th Annual

Call 813-714-0435for information. Seating is limited.

“Country Chic” Western Attire

ThursdaySept. 21, 20176 p.m. - Social Hour

7 p.m. - Dinner8:30 p.m. - Concert

Benefit ConcertTICKETS NOW ON SALE!!

Dan Cannon Auditorium

at the Pasco County Fairgrounds

State Route 52, Dade City, FL

The Dade City Kiwanis FoundationThe Thomas Promise Foundation

Habitat for HumanityBayfront Health Dade City Foundation

Sunrise of Pasco CountyBoys & Girls Club of Lacoochee

Humane Society of Pasco CountyFlorida Hospital Zephyrhills Heart Institute

Proceeds benefit:

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!!

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