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By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 6, 2000
Ray brother stable after surgery to remove spleen
ST. PETERSBURG -- Robert Ray, one of three Florida brothers whose tragic story from the early days of the AIDS epidemic became national news, underwent surgery Thursday and was in stable condition, his family said. Doctors at All Children's Hospital removed Ray's enlarged spleen. Ray, like his brothers, is a hemophiliac and has AIDS. He is 22. The boys became news in 1987 after they contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from tainted blood products. The family's problems worsened after residents in DeSoto County, fearing the spread of AIDS, fought to keep the boys from attending school. Later, after an arsonist burned down their home, the Rays fled to Sarasota, then to Orlando. The family now lives in Alabama. Ricky Ray, the oldest brother, died in 1992 at age 15. Randy, now 21, is living in Orlando and is in good health.
TAMPA -- Next year when the Census Bureau announces Hillsborough County's population, the tally might top a million for the first time.
If it doesn't, the Planning Commission has completed a population estimate that can be used to challenge the Census Bureau's figures. The Planning Commission released estimates Wednesday that put Hillsborough's population in April at 1,001,910.
The estimate means the county's population grew by 20.1 percent over the last decade, an increase of 167,856. The largest boom came in unincorporated Hillsborough, which saw most of the growth in areas such as Citrus Park and New Tampa.
The unincorporated county grew by 27 percent over the last decade, compared with 6.4 percent in the city of Tampa.
TAMPA -- Saying that unincorporated Hillsborough County needs a highly visible, powerful political leader, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce said Thursday it supports the idea ofan elected County Commission chairman. The job is now largely ceremonial. The chairman is elected by the other commissioners and serves a one-year term, which is limited mostly to running meetings and cutting ribbons. The county's Charter Review Board is considering whether to put the issue on the ballot in 2002. For the chamber, the goal is to have a county leader who could make economic development deals with corporate prospects. In recent years, that void has sometimes been filled by Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, who actually has no responsibility outside the city limits. "With a longer term and some clout, this person could help the county quite a bit," said Bill McBride, managing partner of the Holland & Knight law firm and chamber chairman.
SPRING HILL -- Edward Litvins died in May 1999, and his wife, Katty, died three months later. But for another six months, checks that seemingly bore Mrs. Litvins' signature drained nearly $200,000 from their accounts.
Hernando County sheriff's officials say a 77-year-old woman who had handled some the couple's finances forged checks and cash transfers for months after the two were dead. One check was forged the day Mrs. Litvins died. Another for $180,000 moved four days later.
Anastasia Panzak, of 10157 Eustace Road in Spring Hill, was arrested Wednesday and is accused of organized fraud. She was released on $10,000 bail.
The Sheriff's Office says Panzak used forged signatures to remove money from an account to which the Litvinses had exclusive access. She put the money, according to detectives, into a joint account she shared with the Litvinses.
TAMPA -- The new headquarters for the Department of Children and Families in the Suncoast Region will be the former Floriland Mall at 9393 N Florida Ave. in Tampa.
Many administrative workers who now are at the W.T. Edwards office building in Tampa and the Mary Grizzle building in Largo will be reassigned to the Florida Avenue facility. Officials said other state workers will move into the Grizzle building.
They said these changes should have little or no effect on where clients of the department go to receive services. The Suncoast Region includes Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, DeSoto and Sarasota counties.