Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, FL) articles from December 2000

Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, FL) archives from December 2000

Oklahoma fortifies its defense.
December 31, 2000... Byline: Jack Corcoran MIAMI _ Oklahoma's offense was ready for prime time last season. Its defense was another matter. Ranked 11th in the Big 12 in yards and touchdowns allowed through the air, Oklahoma struggled to get down all...

Florida State receivers step in for Snoop.
December 30, 2000... Byline: Randy Beard MIAMI _ Jeff Bowden didn't spend much time fretting over the news that leading receiver Marvin Minnis would be academically ineligible for the Orange Bowl. Yes, it was an unexpected and disheartening setback for...

Win and retire? Bobby Bowden has other goals left.
December 30, 2000... Byline: Steve Ellis MIAMI _ The day will happen soon enough for Florida State fans when Bobby Bowden steps up to the microphone and blurts out the dreaded ``R'' word. No. Not rebuild _ although that is coming to a Garnet and Gold...

Orange Bowl ticket scalping is big-time business.
December 30, 2000... Byline: Tony Bridges Ticket brokers put the squeeze on football fans this week with a crop of Orange Bowl tickets that are selling for more than triple the original price. The inflated ticket prices have prompted state regulators to...

Derrick Gibson learns tough lesson from arrest.
December 29, 2000... Byline: Steve Ellis MIAMI _ Derrick Gibson can hit so hard as to leave no chad hanging. Just ask Florida State fullback Chad Maeder who knows what it's like to have his ballot punched by the senior safety. That's small college...

Tackle suits Florida State's Dockett just fine these days.
December 29, 2000... Byline: Jack Corcoran MIAMI _ Darnell Dockett is quick to admit that he didn't think his freshman season was going to turn out this well. Taken out of Florida State's assembly line at defensive end _ a position that has produced four...

Florida State gained despite early struggles vs. Oklahoma.
December 29, 2000... Byline: Steve Ellis MIAMI _ The way Bobby Butler and Reggie Herring see it, this should be just the second Orange Bowl meeting between Florida State and Oklahoma. That 18-17 thriller in the 1981 bowl game, and the second consecutive...

Question and answer with Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops.
December 29, 2000... Byline: Steve Ellis MIAMI _ Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops held his first official Orange Bowl press conference on Friday. Q: I guess this is the requisite how-is-Josh Heupel's-elbow question? A: Fine. Q: If he did go down, what...

Delta Airlines Passengers Complain about Canceled Flight, Bus Trip to Florida.
December 29, 2000... Byline: Rachel Sams Dec. 29--Some passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Tallahassee that ended up becoming a bus ride say they are unsatisfied with the way the airline handled the situation. Delta canceled Flight...

Tallahassee, Fla., General Contracting Firm Files for Bankruptcy.
December 28, 2000... Byline: Rachel Sams Dec. 28--A Tallahassee general contracting firm whose president is under investigation by the State Attorney's Office has filed for bankruptcy. Means Design & General Contractors Inc., whose president and sole...

Delta Airlines' Dispute with Pilots Affects Air Travel to Tallahassee, Fla.
December 28, 2000... Byline: Rachel Sams Dec. 28--For 130 Delta Air Lines passengers on Tuesday evening, a short flight from Atlanta to Tallahassee turned out to be a four-hour-plus bus ride. Delta canceled Flight 2039, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday,...

Tallahassee Democrat, Fla., Business Bazaar Column.
December 28, 2000... Byline: Alice Coale Dec. 28--OPENING THOUGHT: "JUST like people, each animal has their own story; their own likes, dislikes and fears. If we can understand each individual's story, we can help them be happier while they're living in the...

Commit yourself to success.
December 26, 2000... Byline: Jeff Herring Guts. It takes guts and courage to set and achieve goals. I'm convinced many people don't set goals, much less achieve them, simply because they are afraid of trying and afraid of failing. I'm also convinced...

Virginia makes coaching offer to Florida State's Mark Richt.
December 24, 2000... Byline: Steve Ellis TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ Mark Richt, it's your move. Virginia has offered the Florida State offensive coordinator the head coaching job that became vacant this month when veteran coach George Welsh retired. Richt would...

Tallahassee, Fla., Merchants Express Uncertainty about Redevelopment Plan.
December 22, 2000... Byline: Juana Jordan Dec. 22--Matthew Miles' memory of Frenchtown is vivid -- the family-owned grocery stores, the water fountains, the chicken shack, the 10-cent store, the shoe shop and the picture show (movie theater), which once sat...

Real Estate Firm Proposes Retail, Office Complex in Tallahassee, Fla.
December 21, 2000... Byline: Juana Jordan Dec. 21--Tallahassee, at least a portion of it, appears on the verge of a renaissance. UrbanAmerica, a New York-based commercial real estate investment company, is proposing Renaissance Plaza -- a $13 million,...

Tallahassee Democrat, Fla., Business Bazaar Column.
December 21, 2000... Byline: Alice Coale Dec. 21--SISTERS FIND SWEET SUCCESS: Opening Thought: "Our mother made us realize life is short, eat dessert first." -- Jaime Hatcher Shop Talk: If Santa puts on any more weight, his sleigh may list to...

Study Urges Changes in Florida Government Hiring Practices.
December 20, 2000... Byline: Nancy Cook Lauer Dec. 20--A group of Florida's largest businesses on Tuesday called for a complete overhaul of the state employment system. Government officials are looking favorably upon the recommendation, which was blasted...

Tallahassee, Fla., Officials Warn Alert Residents to Utility Price Hikes.
December 20, 2000... Byline: John Sevigny Dec. 20--Tallahassee and Leon County residents may want to close their eyes before opening their utility bills for January. Two months after city officials raised the average residential bill by almost $5 to...

General Motors' Decision to Abandon Oldsmobile Concerns Dealers, Auto Fans.
December 19, 2000... Byline: Pete Reinwald Dec. 19--Tony Komlyn bought his '53 Holiday Coupe because it brought back childhood memories. Paul Scranton Jr. bought his '66 Cutlass convertible because it was a cool car, man. Bill Ayesh bought dozens of...

Give gifts of lasting value.
December 18, 2000... Byline: Jeff Herring What's the best gift you have ever received? Many of us would probably think in terms of a favorite gift that we have kept and treasured over the years. But many times, the very best gifts are not things. ...

George W. Bush won in contributions, too.
December 17, 2000... Byline: Nancy Cook Lauer TALLAHASSEE, Fla _ Despite a $5,000-per-person limit and a ban on political action committee money, the president-elect nearly doubled Al Gore's money-raising during the first three weeks of Gore's legal...

Online Shopping Doubles, But Tallahassee, Fla., Retailers See Little Harm.
December 16, 2000... Byline: Rachel Sams Dec. 16--Your shopping trip starts at 12:25 a.m. You fire up the computer and call up amazon.com. A search for the Beatles, Aunt Karla's favorite group, nets you the recently published Beatles Anthology. Perfect!...

Winn-Dixie Replaces Old Tallahassee, Fla., Store with New One.
December 16, 2000... Byline: Juana Jordan Dec. 16--A third Tallahassee Winn-Dixie closed its doors Friday night. And a new one opened this morning. The Winn-Dixie on West Tennessee Street and Ocala Road closed after company officials completed the...

Media Conglomerate Purchases Cairo, Ga., Radio Station.
December 15, 2000... Byline: Rachel Sams Dec. 15--Cumulus Broadcasting Inc. has purchased Cairo, Ga., radio station WSLE-FM (102.3) with plans to move its tower to Tallahassee, most likely in the first quarter of 2001. The move would give Cumulus six...

Looking for an oasis among Vegas angels and twirling trees.
December 15, 2000... Byline: Erika D. Peterman All I wanted was an angel decoration to put on top of the Christmas tree. Pawing through the gilded offerings in a mall department store, I found a candidate _ musical, no less. "Try Me!" the instructions...

After five weeks of fame, Tallahassee deals with no longer being in spotlight.
December 14, 2000... Byline: Tony Bridges and Jeff Burlew TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ Tallahassee's 15 minutes of worldwide fame have ended. As the presidential election crisis came to a close late Wednesday, news directors from around the globe reached a...

Slope Rules Snag Developer's Plans in Tallahassee, Fla.
December 14, 2000... Byline: David Twiddy Dec. 14--More than a year after approving the agreements for the SouthWood mega-development, Tallahassee city officials have tripped over a detail that would allow developers to ignore rules against developing on...

Tallahassee, Fla., Police Urge Holiday Shoppers to Stay Alert.
December 14, 2000... Byline: Rosanne Dunkelberger Dec. 14--Get those dancing sugarplums out of your head, warn Tallahassee police. Wallet-snatching Grinches are about, preying on distracted shoppers this holiday season. TPD is investigating reports from...

Tallahassee Democrat, Fla., Business Bazaar Column.
December 14, 2000... Byline: Alice Coale Dec. 14--OPENING THOUGHT: "I make treats for my 'kids' at home. Why not share them with the world?" -- Annette Bailey SHOP TALK: We interrupt this story for a message from the North Pole: REINDEER THREATEN...

Tallahassee Democrat, Fla., Business Briefcase Column.
December 13, 2000... Byline: Bjorn Morton Dec. 13--Briefcase is a roundup of changes, promotions and accomplishments in the business community. It appears every Wednesday and Saturday. LAW: Kandace M. Hill, formerly deputy secretary of the Florida...

Florida State Attorney Investigates Tallahassee, Fla., General Contractor.
December 13, 2000... Byline: Rachel Sams Dec. 13--Tallahassee general contractor Daryl A. Means is under investigation by the State Attorney's Office, and she is being sued by a couple having a home built in the Golden Eagle area. The State Attorney's...

Publix Will Replace Tallahassee, Fla., Kmart Scheduled for Demolition.
December 13, 2000... Byline: Juana Jordan Dec. 13--For the most part, the old Kmart Plaza at North Monroe and Tharpe streets looks pretty much as it always has -- an eyesore. The parking lot is worn out, and the building that once housed Kmart is...

Tallahassee Democrat, Fla., Have You Heard Column.
December 13, 2000... Byline: Bill Wessner Dec. 13--THE GREAT ESCAPE CAFE HAS opened at 6800 Thomasville Road in the former Killearn Cafe location. The new restaurant specializes in casual family dining, says owner Gail Manning. Restaurant hours are 5 to 9...

Tallahassee, Fla., Businesses Booming from Election Visitors.
December 12, 2000... Byline: Rachel Sams Dec. 12--Tallahassee businesses are still cleaning up. Reporters covering the presidential election flocked to the city Nov. 8 for what they thought would be a quick trip -- and they're still here. Lawyers for...

Tips for coping with this frantic holiday season.
December 11, 2000... Byline: Jeff Herring Frantic Holiday Syndrome. Sounds like a new type of flu, doesn't it? It's just a term I came up with to describe the way we tend to stress during the holidays. But, let's try to get this holiday thing into...

Weinke clutches award, slams door on detractors.
December 10, 2000... Byline: Steve Ellis NEW YORK _ Dynasties in college football are built on national championships and an impressive string of bowl trips and 10-win seasons. And the Heisman Trophy. Even with just the one Heisman Trophy won by...

Personal Digital Assistants' Alphabet Is Used For Other Purposes in Florida.
December 9, 2000... Byline: Juana Jordan Dec. 9--Move over shorthand. A new abbreviated form of taking notes has come onto the scene -- the digital scene, that is. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) -- miniature electronic briefcases that store...

Pager-Service Provider's Bankruptcy to Affect Tallahassee, Fla., Customers.
December 9, 2000... Byline: Pete Reinwald Dec. 9--Tallahassee telephone pager companies and thousands of their customers have been, in a sense, put on hold. TSR Wireless, a pager-service provider based in Fort Lee, N.J., declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy...

Plenty of emotions as Weinke hoists Heisman.
December 9, 2000... Byline: Steve Ellis NEW YORK _ Chris Weinke, more than anything, exudes confidence. His success as Florida State's winningest quarterback is all tied to the nerves of steel that run through his 6-foot-5 frame. That was the one...

Tallahassee Democrat, Fla., Business Bazaar Column.
December 7, 2000... Byline: Alice Coale Dec. 7--Opening Thought: "Bugs are big this year. People want to bring the outdoors in." -- Keta Biro Shop Talk: Bugs around here are big every year, but you won't find mosquito garlands or gilded roaches at...

Heisman race a dead heat between Weinke and Heupel.
December 7, 2000... Byline: Steve Ellis TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ Want some insight into who will win the Heisman Trophy? Look to the Rockies. A Heisman poll published by the Rocky Mountain News has correctly predicted the Heisman winner in each of its 12...

Florida Health Plan to Assist with Processing of Mammogram Requests.
December 6, 2000... Byline: Kathleen Laufenberg Dec. 6--Help is on the way for Tallahassee's mammogram logjam. This spring, Capital Health Plan will offer routine mammograms to its 108,000 members at the CHP medical center adjacent to the Movies at...

Financial Planners Help Florida Residents Work Wisely with Money.
December 5, 2000... Byline: Juana Jordan Dec. 5--Since the day Michael Bell took that test three years ago, things haven't been the same. He hasn't been the same. Bell had made it to the big leagues. His successful completion and passage of the...

Protest against Florida Legislature's special session set for Wednesday.
December 4, 2000... Byline: David Hefner TALLAHASSEE, Fla. _ They're baaaaack. Labor unions, civil rights groups and women's groups that organized the so-called March on Tallahassee this spring are now planning a Capitol rally Wednesday to protest a...

You can beat holiday blues.
December 4, 2000... Byline: Jeff Herring Bells will be ringing The sad, sad news Oh what a Christmas To have the blues _The Eagles X X X The holiday blues are very real. The good news is if you do find yourself feeling less than...

Steve Spurrier finally ends drought.
December 2, 2000... Byline: Randy Beard ATLANTA _ Before Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville could leave the Georgia Dome interview area Saturday evening, he had yet another challenge thrown on the table by Florida coach Steve Spurrier. "Let's play golf some...

Phone Service Competitors Hope Florida Markets Become More Inviting.
December 2, 2000... Byline: Rachel Sams Dec. 2--Competition is increasing in Florida's local phone markets, including Tallahassee. But many companies seeking to compete with incumbent local telephone providers say it's not easy to go head-to-head with...

Ormond Beach, Fla.-Based Firm Produces Software to Save Schools Money.
December 2, 2000... Byline: Juana Jordan Dec. 2--William Piotrowski thinks he may have discovered a way to save the Leon County school system a bunch of computers -- and a lot of money. Piotrowski, the Leon County school system's executive director for...

Florida Football Coach Rejects Tallahassee Billboards.
December 1, 2000... Byline: Gerald Ensley Dec. 1--The billboards read: "Spurrier Says: Don't Listen!" Actually, Spurrier says: Take down the billboards. Acting through an attorney friend in Tallahassee, Florida football coach Steve Spurrier has...