License Plate to Honor Fallen Officers Unveiled

Pinellas Park High School Students created the specialty license plate to honor officers that are killed in the line of duty. Lawmakers unveiled the proposed plate at the high school Wednesday.

Students enrolled in the Criminal Justice Academy at Pinellas Park High School want to honor and remember officers who lost their lives while protecting the public. The Academy organized the group Operation 10-24 which created a specialty license plate and brought the idea to Sen. Jack Latvala (R- Clearwater). On Wednesday, the students, along with lawmakers unveiled the proposed specialty license plate. “The idea for this specialty tag came from students in the Criminal Justice Academy where they are training our future law enforcement officers. This is truly a fine way to honor our law enforcement officers who have given their lives while serving their community,” Senator Latvala stated in a press release. Latvala and Rep. Dwight Dudley…

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New License Plate Honoring Fallen Officers to be Unveiled at Pinellas Park High

Lawmakers are working to create a specialty license plate to honor officers killed in the line of duty.

If passed during the 2013 Florida Legislative Session, a new specialty license plate would help raise funds for the Police and Kids Foundation, Inc.  Sen. Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) and Rep. Dwight Dudley (D-St. Petersburg) have filed Senate Bill 712 and House Bill 911. The bills would create a specialty license plate to honor law enforcement officers that are killed in the line of duty, according to a press release. The annual fee for the specialty plate would be $25 with seventy percent of the funds going towards training and equipment for law enforcement officer safety and thirty percent towards education. This could include high school programs that have a law enforcement education focus or a scholarship for a student in the police …

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New Health Center Proposed at Pinellas Park High School

The Pinellas County School Board okayed a proposal, which could bring a stand-alone health facility to the high school, according to a news release.

If the Pinellas County Schools receive $500,000 in federal grant monies, students at Pinellas Park High School could receive health care services at a separate health center facility on campus in the future. The school board approved a proposal to apply for the $500,000 grant on July 24. If approved the district, could receive the money by Nov. 30, 2014, according to a news release. The proposed Pinellas Park High health center could be the fourth school-based health center in the county at a high school. School-based health services are already provided at Boca Ciega High School, Gibbs High School and Northeast High School. The existing health centers focus on prevention and early intervention. They offer a variety of services:

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Texting Teens Inspire Hurricane Planners

Students enrolled in Pinellas Park High School's First Responders Magnet Program created an informative YouTube video that explains how to use texting to communicate during a disaster.

You've probably seen them, maybe even feared bumping into one of them at the mall. Their heads lean forward with their eyes locked on the smartphone in their hands. Their thumbs move at a rapid-fire pace as they text messages and walk at the same time. Emergency management officials in charge of keeping Florida's most densely-populated county safe think we can learn a thing or two from these texting teens, which could wind up saving lives during a hurricane. During disasters, cellphone towers become jammed, making it hard to call someone. But cellphone text messages can still be sent. "It's proven to be a very reliable way of communicating," says Tom Iovino, Pinellas County Communications public information specialist. Iovino says that …

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College Coaches Eye Pinellas Park's Iman Smith

While the eyes of college coaches and opponents are on stud defensive lineman Jeremi Powell, his teammate, linebacker Iman Smith is catching their attention.

Iman Smith's first love is basketball. He loves it. Craves it. Playing for the Pinellas Park Patriots, Smith was, what Patriots football coach Ken Crawford called "a 6'2 power forward." There aren't many colleges looking for such players. Knowing Smith loved hoops and that Smith wanted to go to college, Crawford coaxed Smith into playing football his senior year. Before the Patriots have even played their spring game, Smith is already getting college offers to play football. Part of this is the result of having a stud player like Jeremi Powell on the roster. Powell has already received offers from Florida and Alabama to play. Just this week, legendary Miami assistant coach Art Kehoe was monitoring the Patriots practices. But college …

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Pinellas Park’s Postseason Streak Halted by Manatee, 12-6

The Patriot’s surprising run to the regional finals came to an end Friday night at home

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. And that’s exactly what happened to Pinellas Park’s stunning postseason run to the Class 5A regional finals on Friday night. Manatee (22-8) scored five runs in the first inning and at least one run in every inning except for the fourth. Starting pitcher Correlle Prime settled down after allowing a grand slam in the second inning to lead the Hurricanes to the state final four for the first time since 1963. “This is awesome,” an elated Hurricanes head coach Dwayne Strong said after the win.” It’s been 48 years since (Manatee’s) been there, and it’s a great thing. We made history,” Prime said. The Patriots (13-15) had been the surprise story of Pinellas County, shaking off a mediocre …

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Patriots Baseball Team "Not Supposed to Be Here."

Pinellas Park, with a losing record, is one game away from the Class 5A state tournament. A win today at home over Bradenton's Manatee High School will send the Patriots to their first state baseball tournament appearance.

This isn't supposed to happen. Baseball teams that have losing records are not supposed to be one win from a state tournament berth. But that is exactly where Pinellas Park High School's baseball squad finds itself. Thanks to a newfound stellar defense and a freshman pitcher who is usurped his team's senior ace, the Patriots (13-14), ranked No. 807 in the nation by MaxPreps.com, is just three wins from a Florida state title. Wins over Tarpon Springs and East Lake, with heavy favorites Seminole and Dunedin being upset in earlier rounds, has cleared a path for Pinellas Park. Its lone obstacle between the Patriots and a trip to the state baseball tournament is Bradenton Manatee, which Pinellas Park will host tonight (Friday, May 13) at 7 p.m…

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Spring Football Practice Has Begun

Football games may not be played for another four months but area high schools began their annual month-long spring football practices this week.

Spring football practices have begun at high schools throughout Florida and Largo Patch has decided to touch base with the three local high schools to see what objectives the coaches have for their teams. Indian Rocks Christian Golden Eagles coach Mark Buchanan has a strange predicament on his hands. He has a solid senior-to-be class and a load of talented incoming freshman. Sophomores and juniors? Not many. So Buchanan will have the task of getting his incoming freshmen up to speed to play along side the solid senior class. "We are really young in a lot of positions so we have to get the kids some experience," Buchanan said of his goal for spring practice. The youngsters "are going to have to play quite a bit for us." For some coaches, …

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Donny Norris, Pinellas Park Shut Down Boca Ciega

The Patriots baseball squad secures a chance in the Class 5A region quarterfinals and advances to a district final with an impressive performance by its ace pitcher.

Donny Norris saved his best game for the perfect moment. The Pinellas Park High School baseball team's ace had lost to Boca Ciega once already this season. Now, with a chance in the Class 5A region quarterfinal at stake as well as a chance to advance to the district tournament finals, Morris was nothing short of overpowering. Norris recorded 14 strikeouts and held Boca Ciega to just two hits in a 9-0 win Wednesday at Pinellas Park. "He was on and we were not able to make contact," Boca Ciega baseball coach Ralph Rogers said. "It was probably one of his better games." Both Norris and his coach Bill Ruttencutter agreed agree with Rogers. “If you are going to have a 14-strikeout game, this is the game to do it,” Ruttencutter said. "My stuff …

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Student Spotlight

Richard Hauser: Teen Athlete With Heart of Gold And Thirst For Knowledge

Richard Hauser, 15, earns excellent grades, enjoys all sports and always volunteers to help others. He was was nominated by two of his previous teachers.

Congratulations to Largo Patch's Kid Of The Week: Richard Hauser Age: 15 School: Pinellas Park High School, First Responders Magnet Program Accomplishment: As a high school freshman, Richard Hauser has already earned his first aid certificates in both adult CPR and infant CPR. Keys to Awesomeness: Richard Hauser is an honors student in the first responders magnet program. He dives into every subject with unrelenting drive and enthusiasm. It's that energy that impressed his previous science teacher at Pinellas Preparatory Academy (PPA). "Richard was in my homeroom in an advanced physical science class. He excelled in science and became one of my most active and enthusiastic students that year...Richard made the transition quite easily into …

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