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Features
Motorcyclist Killed In Accident
Tampa Police are still try- ing to identify a man who was killed Monday morning in a motorcycle accident.
Police said at 2:10 a. m., a motorcycle ran the north- bound traffic light that was red at Howard and Kennedy. In doing so, he struck a west-
bound semi-truck on the left side.
The motorcycle rider was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi truck was not injured.
Police are continuing their investigation into the accident.
Man’s Body Found After House Fire
The Arson Task Force is currently investi- gation a fatality that took place in a Tampa home. The fire occurred on Saturday morning.
According to investigators, firefighters re- sponded to 110 W. Ida Street, in reference to a house fire. Upon arrival, the first fire crew bat- tled heavy smoke and flames coming from the back of the structure.
Officials said the primary search of the home became difficult because the floor in one area was unstable. Once the search was com- pleted, firefighters found the remains of a per- son inside of the home.
Firefighters continued to battle the blaze until it was brought under control and finally extinguished.
The Tampa Police Department and the Arson Task Force responded to the scene. The Arson Task Force is currently conducting the investigation into the death.
Police said there were others inside the house when the fire began. Everyone was evac- uated with the exception of the deceased per- son.
A spokesperson for the Tampa Police De- partment said the identity of the victim had not been positively determined at press time and no additional information was available.
Firemen discover body inside a home at 110 W. Ida, after responding to a fire alarm. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Fire Department)
Passenger Dies After Driver Loses Control Of Vehicle
The Florida Highway Patrol is currently investigating a traf- fic accident that left one dead and another in serious condition. The accident took place on I-4 at County Line Road.
According to a news release, the accident happened shortly before 8:30 a.m., on Sunday. The driver of a 2008 Nissan was traveling erratically eastbound on I-4. As it approached the County Line Road overpass near milepost 25, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway and collided with the guardrail.
Both occupants of the vehicle are residents of Lakeland. The passenger, who has been identified as Devon Ryan Wilson, 23, died at the scene. The driver of the vehicle is in serious con- dition at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He has been iden- tified as 16-year-old Christian John Ryburn. The investigation into the accident is continuing, officials said.
Tampa Bay Named No. 2 Nationally In Hotel Job Growth
The number of people employed by Hillsborough County’s hotel industry grew by more than 6 percent in 2013-14, outpacing every major destination in Florida and all but one nationally, ac- cording to new industry fig- ures.
The report by Headlight Data looked at salaried hotel workers in the 50 largest counties in the U. S.
Hillsborough County placed No. 2 nationally with a hotel job-growth rate of 6.12 percent. The only county with a faster rate of hotel job growth was Davidson County (Nashville), Tenn.
Hillsborough County had 6,170 salaried employees working directly for hotels in 2014 compared to 5,813 the previous year, according to Headlight Data.
Nashville is one of the 10 destinations nationally that Hillsborough County com- petes directly with for both leisure and convention busi- ness.
“These numbers show the direct impact tourism has on Tampa Bay’s economy,” said Santiago Corrada, presi- dent and CEO for Visit Tampa Bay, Hillsborough County’s destination man-
SANTIAGO CORRADA ... President and CEO, Visit Tampa Bay
agement organization. “Each of these new jobs
ripples outward, creating more jobs far beyond the hotel industry. Many of these new hospitality workers will have the chance to move up in the industry, building their careers and their community as they go.”
Visit Tampa Bay’s most recent estimate is that tourism supports more than 78,000 jobs in Hillsborough County and contributes more than $3 billion to the local economy.
Hillsborough County’s hotel industry expanded in 2014, adding three new ho- tels – the Epicurean in Hyde
Park, the Aloft Tampa and Le Méridien Tampa, both down- town.
All three hotels have about 130 rooms each. Le Méridien restored the aban- doned 1905 federal court- house at Florida Avenue and Zack Street, a project that has won accolades from Conde Nast Travel.
The Aloft restored an empty former bank building at Kennedy Boulevard and Ashley Drive. The property overlooks the Kennedy Boulevard Plaza segment of the Tampa Riverwalk.
Local hotel jobs will con- tinue to grow in the coming years as new hotels open in Ybor City, downtown and the West Shore Business District.
The job growth represents more than simply more ho- tels, however, Corrada said.
“These numbers reflect the growing popularity of Tampa Bay as a travel desti- nation,” Corrada said.
“As demand for hotel rooms has risen, our hotels have added more staff to ac- commodate those new visi- tors. That makes the visitor experience even better – and creates those happy memo- ries that bring visitors back to Tampa Bay.”
Meeting
Blake Class Of 1968 To Meet
Members of the Howard W. Blake High School, Class of 1968, will hold a meeting on Saturday, August 8th. The meeting will take place at the West Tampa Library, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
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