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Bloomingdale/ FishHawk Edition
Volume 15, Issue 11
Fair Shows Blue Ribbon Country Pride By Tamas Mondovics
Former Rodgers Middle School Teacher Arrested For Lewd And Lascivious Conduct With A Juvenile Following a three learned that Geist was still promonth investigation, viding the phone service and Hillsborough County seized the cell phone, for eviSheriff’s detectives dentiary purposes. arrested a former middle On Monday, September school teacher at Rogers 12, 2016, Geist was arrested Middle School in at his residence without inciRiverview for providing a dent on a warrant for Lewd or smart phone to a student Lascivious Conduct and requesting that she Solicitation, and was transporttake sexually explicit piced and booked into the tures and video of herself Former Rodgers Middle Hillsborough County Orient School Teacher, Michael in sexual situations. Geist, 31, was arrested Road Jail. Geist reportedly for providing a smart Brandon resident, posted $7,500 bond the followphone to a student and ing day. Michael Geist, 31, was a requesting sexually explicit teacher at Rogers Middle pictures and video of herWhile the investigation School during the second self. The incident reminded continues, the incident is parents to keep a close another strong reminder for semester of the 2015eye on their children’s 2016 school year. activities, on computers parents to keep a close eye on and mobile devices. Investigators said, their children’s activities. that in April 2016, Geist Thanks to technology, sexgave the smart phone to the student as a ting has become all too common and, gift and set up applications such as email young people become victims. Sexual and social media accounts on the phone, cyber crimes targeting children, are requesting her to have sexual communikeeping detectives and investigators cations with other students to include busy. sending nude pictures. Geist requested One example of such crimes, that the student take sexually explicit pictures has made headlines in recent times is and video of herself in sexual situations, Sextortion, which occurs when someone detectives said. threatens to distribute private and sensiIn May 2016, staff at Rogers Middle tive material. School were made aware of the allegaLocal law enforcement officials contion and notified the Sheriff’s Office, inititinually urging parents to communicate ating an investigation, which has prompt- with their children as well as supervise ed Geist to resign from Rogers Middle their computer or mobile device usage. School. For more info about the HCSO During the investigation detectives please visit www.hcso.tampa.fl.us.
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There is a lot more to this year’s Hillsborough County Fair, which opens its gates just east of Brandon on October 20, than the traditional midway rides and fried food. “The County Fair offers an opportunity for residents of all ages to enter and display their talents,” said Janet Aversa, Hillsborough County Fair Board Member. “From cooking to rug hooking, and baking to picture taking, from sewing to growing and animals large and small.” The fair, which is held at the county fair grounds on Sydney Washer Rd. in Dover, will be open October 20-23 and October 27-30 and boasts many events including talents shows, Battle of the Bands, a Harvest Queen Scholarship Contest, many livestock shows, baby pageants and contests in plants, photography, arts and more. “There will be lots of blue ribbons and eye catching entries to reflect the talents of the folks in Hillsborough County,” said Aversa, who adds that new this year is an expanded 7,000 sq. ft. air conditioned area to display family living, arts and crafts, fine arts and photography. “Early entries are encouraged and forms are available on the Website.” In addition to the livestock area, which features daily shows of youth and their animals, is an Agricultural Education Center that offers fair goers a chance to learn more about life on the farm and in the country. “From baby chicks to the ‘milkable’ cow or the new scavenger hunt in the livestock area, it is education mixed
By Kate Quesada
Hillsborough County Fair’s theme is Country Pride. Opens October 20.
with entertainment,” said Aversa. Highlights of the paid Arena Events include Ranch Rodeos, truck, tractor and lawnmower pulls and a demolition derby in addition to the traditional midway rides, fair foods and livestock shows. Free entertainment in the midway includes Robinson’s Racing Pigs and Paddling’ Porkers, a fire fighter show and circus acts. New to the fair this year in the Entertainment Tent is a Gospel Jam on Sunday afternoons which, according to Aversa, offers a mix of old-time hymns and contemporary music. The Entertainment Tent is also home to the Children’s Pageant, the Western Wear Contest and the County Fair Talent Showcase. Tickets to the fair, which cost $7 for adults, $5 for students and $4 for seniors go on sale October 1 and can also be purchased at the gate. Arena events are an additional $10 per person. For more information, visit www.hillsboroughcountyfair.com or call 737-FAIR. 215 Sydney Washer Rd., Dover.