Frontier Woes, Mako Roller Coaster, Protecting Manatees

Patch operates 23 daily news sites in Florida. The following are some of the top headlines from the past day:

Downgrading Manatee Protections ‘Misguided,’ Lawmaker Says

As the time clock for public comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to downgrade federal protection for manatees winds down, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan fired off another objection letter Monday.

Tampa Bay Workweek Weather: Cooler Temps, Some Rain

Tampa Bay area residents who aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to temperatures in the 70-degree range should enjoy much of the week ahead.

Tarpon Springs Sinkhole Repair May Take Months

Fixing a giant sinkhole that managed to threaten homes and break utility lines when it opened is not an overnight process. That’s the word from the City of Tarpon Springs nearly a week after a sinkhole opened up on Mango Street near the Tarpon Shores Mobile Home Park and U.S. 19.

Roaming Gator Makes A House Call

A Plant City man found himself calling 911 recently when an unexpected, and very unwanted, visitor came knocking on his door. It seems the man attempted to leave his Partridge Pass home only to discover a 9 ½-foot alligator had climbed his front stairs and was attempting to get in.

Frontier Communications Verizon Takeover: Problems Persist

Frontier Communications entered the Florida market with a bang on April Fools’ Friday, taking over all accounts formerly owned by Verizon. Shortly after the planned switch over, widespread outages in the Tampa Bay area were reported by AT&T customers.

Clearwater Police Rescue Feathered Friend

A police officer’s oath to protect and serve isn’t meant just for humans. At least that’s the understanding of two Clearwater cops who flew into action on Sunday to rescue an injured cormorant near Pier 60.

SeaWorld Sets Opening Date For Mako

SeaWorld has announced a grand opening date for its latest thrill ride attraction. Mako is expected to “surface” on June 10.

Wild Indian Saloon Shooting Under Investigation

Gunfire at the Wild Indian Saloon resulted in one person’s injury and the kickoff a police investigation into the incident. According to the Largo Police Department, an early Sunday morning fight at the 1158 7th St. N.W. bar prompted someone to fire off seven rounds from a gun.

Photo courtesy of SeaWorld Entertainment