Cold Case
Linda Hershberger continues to search for her daughter Bonnie Lee and grandson Jeremy lee Dages decades after their disappearance.
“We knew Bonnie as a happy, laughing young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. She had recently graduated from high school. She was a loving, caring mother,” said Hershberger.
Linda was 18 years old at the time of her disappearance while her son was four months old in 1993. The two were last seen leaving their home in Lithia to meet her boyfriend at the old Kash ‘N Karry store. The van sat there for two days with her purse and baby supplies locked inside before she was reported missing.
“Almost 27 years later, we still don’t know where Bonnie and Jeremy are, or what happened to them,” Hershberger said.
Hershberger will represent her daughter and grandson in Tallahassee for the Florida Missing Children’s Day ceremony. She wants someone to bring any information they may have on the case so that she can have closure.
Historic Lakeland Home
A historic home in Lakeland will not turn into a preschool for children because the Lakeland zoning board just said no. The Deen House was built in 1912. Neighbors complained the changes would ruin the historical identity of it and bring extra traffic and noise to the community.
Rickey Robson has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 40 years. “We are not against schools, and we love children but not in a residential neighborhood,” said Robson.
However, the board’s decision is temporarily pending a parking agreement with a nearby church.
Flu Epidemic
Health officials are warning about a new flu outbreak. In Tampa Bay, the Health Department for Hillsborough County Schools sent home letters encouraging parents to have their kids vaccinated.
Kevin Walter is a spokesman for the health department in Hillsborough.
“We’re seeing multiple outbreaks in schools right now, and we are strongly encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible,” said Walter.
Nancy Epps works at Tampa General Hospital.
“Everything they touch from their desks they sit at and then the bell rings, and someone else sits at their desk. These germs can spread very easily by touch,” said Epps.
St. Pete Edge
A new multimillion neighborhood called The Edge Collective is coming to Tampa Bay. Miami-based PTM partners bought a vacant lot on central avenue in October for $13 million. Specifically, they’re planning on turning it into a mixed-use project in The Edge District.
Michael Tillman is the co-founder and chief executive officer of PTM. “Our vision is for this particular block to encourage public gathering, cultural identification, and unique experiences for all of downtown St. Petersburg,” said Tillman.
It’s a multimillion-dollar development in Saint Petersburg. They’re now planning to build a Marriot Moxy Hotel and a collective eatery similar to the hall on franklin in Tampa Heights. The construction for the first phase is expected to be finished by 2022. However, the second phase of the project has yet to be announced
Florida Focus Students
Producer: Rachel Boyd
Anchor: Paige Brooks
Director: Christian Minus
Technical Director: George Rivera
Graphics: Maribeth Ngyuen
Teleprompter: Marquetta Wilson
Reporters: George Rivera, Jailyn Montero, LeeAnn Bohannon Floor Manager: Catherine Constanzo
Camera operator: LeeAnn Bohannon
Audio: Jacob Marsh
Prompter: Xiaohan Xu
Floor Manager: Catherine Constanzo
Camera Operator: LeeAnn Bohannon
Reporter: Jailyn Montero, LeeAnn Bohannon, George Rivera.
Graduate Assistant: Emmanuel Maduneme
Faculty Advisor: Catherine Gugerty, Jeanette Abrahamsen.
