New Airport Hangars Costly For Zephyrhills

The city will have to spend nearly $100,000 on its new airport hangars to meet the fire code.

City Manager Steve Spina had hoped to be able to keep the costs down for the project, but the additional sealant and fire-retardant flashing exceed the earlier estimates. The material is needed to prevent fuel spills inside the new T-hangars.

The Florida Department of Transportation is paying for most of the $2.7 million expansion project, which would accommodate 67 more planes at the municipal airport. Spina has asked the department to pick up 80 percent of the tab for the change order.

Problems with the hangar project arose after the city council had adopted the budget and construction had begun. Fire Marshal Kerry Barnett signed off on the original blueprints but later halted construction, saying the design was flawed.

Company Seeks All-Star Teachers

ST. PETERSBURG - Bright House Networks is looking for a few star teachers.

For two decades, the cable television provider has used the National Star Teacher Awards program to honor innovative teachers who use cable programming in classroom projects.

A maximum of 10 winners will be selected from public and private schools. Teachers may enter individually or as teams of up to three teachers. Winners will receive cash prizes and a trip. Classroom projects have to have taken place between September 2008 and February 2009.

For information, e-mail andrea.white@mybrighthouse.com or click on the Star Teacher Award link at www.mybrighthouse.com/teachers

Grant To Combat Nursing Shortage

USF AREA - The University of South Florida's College of Nursing received a $3.5 million federal grant to hire more faculty and enroll more students to fill a growing nursing shortage.

With the money from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the nursing college will establish the VA Nursing Academy, which allows USF and the nearby James A. Haley VA Hospital to hire five faculty members.

As a result of the program, as many as 100 new nurses can graduate with a bachelor's degree in the next four years, said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who announced the initiative at a Monday news conference.

Noise Complaints Down At Airport

TAMPA - Noise complaints from residents near Tampa International Airport declined 28 percent to 283 from July through September compared with the same quarter in 2007, senior airport planner and noise officer Herman Lawrence Jr. reported.

The airport received noise complaints from 17 residents during the recent three-month period. One household accounted for 61 percent of the complaints compared with 92 percent of the complaints from the same household for the year-ago period.

The airport reported a decrease in jet landings on Runway 36R, the east parallel runway. Pilots are encouraged to use the west parallel runway for landings to avoid flying over the more densely residential approach to the eastern runway.