The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 17

IS a SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2008 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TBO.com nn mm VeirijhfiiiTi sit slim Stymies dimh ENROLLMENT FRAUD A CONCERN Tribune photos by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER Ominous skies close in over, from left, Chrystal Lunsford, Lauren Fox, 5, Athena Chlapowski, 4, and Miranda Chlapowski as they leave after the Children's Gasparilla Parade was canceled Saturday. Severe storms struck the Bay area. STORY, PAGE 6 It Was A Swash-Out By MARIIYN BROWN The Tampa Tribune TAMPA Hillsborough County school officials; do little if anything to verify claims of hardships submitted by parents wanting to enroll their children in crowded schools. With more than 6,000 applications a year submitted and one man to review and approve them, it's not possible, officials said. Other than a doctor's letter, military records or a court order, the district relies on signed applications from parents or guardians.

"They sign a litde statement down at the! bottom that says that the statements are said Steve Ayers, the district's community and parent relations director. "You can't go by and verify all of these Ayers said. "It's too time-consuming." Few people report violations of the district's special assignment policy, Ayers said, but when they do, "I'm not a detective agency, but I will; look into it." See HARDSHIP CLAIMS, Page 10 Some allege favoritism in Dungy case. iii till MtrX A til. jlj.

I M. ilk, W- ---J a Generators Ordered, But Installation Plans Not Included Keaton Hiser enjoyed the Preschooler's Stroll before the parade Police direct floats and pedestrians as they gather at Bay To Bay and Bayshore boulevards after the parade was canceled. A fireworks display has been rescheduled to tonight. SHELTER ITEMS SITTING IN STORAGE Key word: Gaspa By GR ETCH EN PARKER The Tampa Tribune An ambitious plan to establish super-size! generators at dozens of special-needs hurricani shelters before the start of storm season last yea tailed. Emergency officials spent $53 million on generators for 52 shelters statewide but ran oul rilla, tori Look at photos from the Children's Parade and Preschooler's Stroll Get details on all the Gasparilla events, from parades to parties to races Play an online Gasparilla game, Quest far the Key of cash as they began the complicated process Plunder and lightning: Officials call off the Children's Gasparilla Parade.

By STEVE KORNACKI The Tampa Tribune TAMPA The forecast of lightning, heavy rain, hail and a tornado watch brought the Children's Gasparilla Parade to an abrupt halt late Saturday afternoon. At most, 25 of 150 floats and marching groups moved down the Bayshore Boulevard route before the parade was canceled. "This was decided for the safety of everybody here," said Tampa Police Capt. Cherie C. Adkins.

"We had people sitting in metal stands and high up on floats with lightning coming. The storm had bad timing." Floats had lined up on Bayshore for the 4 p.m. start at the intersection with Bay to Bay Boulevard. The parade was under way for about a half-hour when police began diverting the See PARADE CANCELED, Page 7 It will not be rescheduled because of the preparation required. installing them.

They estimate they're aboui $44 million short. They blame the deficit on being in too mucH of a hurry to do the job in the panicked post-Hurricane Katrina atmosphere. As they rushed to arrange backup power at the shelters for the most fragile residents, their planning fell short. See SHELTER GENERATORS, Page 10 They can be set up temporarily in case of a storm. as did Destiny Newkirt, 4, who was part of Come and Dance With Us.

INSIDE Amendment Language Taxes Us The Spanish version sounded nice. It's such a beautiful language that almost anything sounds better. I don't know what it said, but I could vote for something that sounded so melodic. The Lawyerese version, on the other hand, reminded me of those assembly instructions that come with that tool shed made in China you purchased in a box that says "EZ to assemble," which it probably would be if all the parts were there, if they fit and if you could See OTTO COLUMN, Page 10 For one whole sentence, its clear. Early voting is under way, but I'm still waiting for the translation.

We received a sample ballot last week from Hillsborough County Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson, but unfortunately it was incomprehensible. And I'm waiting for a replacement. Buddy and I figure I can call him Buddy because his picture was on the cover of the sample ballot instead of the candidates for some reason sent me a ballot in two languages. I didn't realize it until I tried to read the proposed constitu- STEVE OTTO Columnist sottotampatrib.com tional revision. It turns out he sent out one version in Spanish and, on the other side of the page, one written in Lawyerese, but apparendy he forgot to send one in English.

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