The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 7

TBO.com THE TAMPA TRIBUNE SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2011 METRO METRO xgal tab in ethics scrap finds no takers that the charges made against Giunta in the complaints were largely disagreements with statements he made about commission policies and procedures. "There is nothing in Florida law, or in federal law or even with respect to Planning Commission bylaws that would prevent any commissioner from speaking his mind and stating his own opinions," Robin said. Planning agency wants city to pay for rejected case BY CHRISTIAN M. WADE The Tampa Tribune tampa Four months ago, the Hillsborough City-County Planning Commission dismissed three ethics complaints filed against Chairman Edward Giunta II, citing a lack of Now, the commission wants Tampa's taxpayers to pick up the tab for his defense. In a recent letter to the city council, Planning Commission Executive Director-Bob Hunter wrote that the agency's insurance carrier has declined to pay the $13,142 legal fees for Giunta's defense and "under the commission's by-laws" the authority that appointed him was obligated to pay.

Giunta was appointed to the commission by the previous city council. "We're not going to pay this," council Chairman Charlie Miranda said Thursday. have to pay," he said, pointing out that the county paid legal fees for an ethics complaint against Commissioner Hung Mai, which was also dismissed. Last November, Giunta caused uproar among growth management activists when he sent an email to Hunter proposing that the commission reduce its workload by giving up oversight of community plans, zoning cases and historic preservation proposals. He also said he thought Outgoing City Attorney Chip Fletcher said he doesn't think the planning commission has the authority to force members to pay legal fees resulting from ethics complaints.

"In my opinion, the city is not obligated to pay these legal fees," Fletcher said. Reached by phone on Friday, Guinta said that he wasn't aware the city had responded to the commission's request, but he insisted he wasn't obligated to pay the legal fees. "Somebody is going to the state's growth management agency should be eliminated. The complaints, filed by Dee Layne, George Niemann and Terry Stella-Vega, alleged that Giunta was pursuing a pro-development agenda on an independent commission that's supposed to give unbiased recommendations on county land-use decisions. At the Jan.

10 commission meeting, when the board voted to reject the complaints, the board's attorney, Tracy Robin, said New Busch coaster's first riders are dummies cwadetampatrib.com (8B) 259-7679 won't be the fastest. Kumba and Montu are a bit faster, but park administrators say Cheetah Hunt's continuous speed makes it unique. "They're going to be launched out of a seated position to 38 miles an hour," Rose said. Two other launches follow: one up to 60 mph and another at 40 mph. "I think it's neat how it just keeps launching every time," said 15-year-old coaster enthusiast Cole Cicala, of Pennsylvania, as he watched the testing.

"Even before (construction) we've been following the websites about it." Cheetah Hunt and its companion Cheetah Run, featuring an animal exhibit, open to the public May 27, which is Memorial Day weekend. Jgreenwfla.com (727) 815-1058 They don't get sick' or need a break, official says BY JOSH GREEN News Channel 8 tampa The first full test-runs of Tampa Bay's newest roller coaster started this week. Now, engineers at Busch Gardens are sending water-filled dummies around the track of the Cheetah Hunt coaster before humans ride it for me first "They don't get sick," Mark Rose, vice president for design and engineering for Busch Gardens, said of the dummies. "They can ride around the clock. They'll sit there 24 hours a day without needing a break." Rose said that the dummies will go around the track 3,000 times before the coaster is ready for JOSH GREENSTAFF Water-filled test dummies zoom down Busch Garden's new Cheetah Hunt roller coaster.

The ride will open to the public on May 27, during Memorial Day weekend. "All of those are in mid- into a chain, dragging you The ride is the longest stream, so we're not stop- to the top and sending in the park but, with top ping you, hooking you you over," Rose said. speeds at 60 mph, it Verdict is guilty in slaying of mother of twin toddlers i LAST DAY! park guests. "The dummies just add the weight, and that's really their key role," he said. "We're making sure the biodynamics on the ride is what we expected." Earlier this week, the engineering staff started a variety of testing.

There are hundreds of motors, sensors and other parts on the ride that must be checked over and over again. "Our goal is to have guests ride this ride, have it very thrilling, have them scream the whole way, get off and go, Wow! I want to do that Rose said. "If they get off and go, 'Ouch, I 'don't want to do that then we failed." Cheetah Hunt is unique at Busch Gardens because the coaster uses electromagnetic fields to propel the cars down the 4,429 foot-long track. daughter in her arms. The toddler wasn't injured.

"He threatened death and death happened," prosecutor Kyle Pennington said in his closing argument Thursday. But Salter's attorney said his client was guilty of manslaughter at most. "This was an accident: unfortunate, tragic and unnecessary," defense attorney Greg Hill told jurors. "Mr. Salter understands he will be held responsible for what he did." The defense called no witnesses, but jurors heard Salter's version in a taped interview he gave to investigators.

In it, Salter disputed that Simon was holding their daughter. He said he was taking out his gun to show that he meant no harm when two of Simon's relatives grabbed him from behind and the gun fired. Pennington said that didn't mesh with forensic evidence that shows Simon was shot above the right eye from no more than 18 inches away. it 'OryUwrl-. J.

1 save an Disc jockey faces life in prison when he is sentenced From staff reports tampa After almost 12 hours of deliberations over two days, a jury Friday ruled the killing of Sa-Quanda Simon was premeditated murder. Cedrick Bontray Salter, 30, a disc jockey known as "Woogie" and "Woogie-man," faces a mandatory life term when he is sentenced Thursday. Simon, '29, was the mother of Salter's 18-month-old twins when she was killed Sept 8, 2009. Simon's family testified this week that Salter had sent Simon a series of threatening texts that night. They said a furious Salter burst into their Grant Park home when Simon wouldn't return his calls or texts.

Witnesses testified Salter pulled a pistol from under his shirt and shot Simon twice at point-blank range while she held their Paul In concert (or an Old-Fashion Hymn-Sing Everyone Invited, no admission, freewill 61 offerings appreciated Sunday. May 6 pm Plant Citv Church of the Nazarene -2402 Mud lake Rd. Rant City. FL 33563 813-752-7863 VUoff entire stock of permanently reduced merchandise NOT AYAILAItLi: AT DII.LAHUS 1 LHSITY.