Patrick Brafford News Today

Lifeguards warn about the dangers of digging on the beach after a girl died at a Florida beach when the sand hole she was digging collapsed.

Pinellas County first responders say sand traps on local beaches are extremely rare, but are always a possibility.

Clearwater Beach is in need of lifeguards. Officials said they have several positions open, and need to get those people in place to be prepared for a busy Spring Break.

On a clear morning earlier this summer, a whistle blew. Stampeding children rushed down Clearwater Beach and dove into the warm water. Thrashing about, they each grabbed their drill partners — who were smiling and bobbing above the waves — and pulled them ashore. Guyhn Tollon, 11, and her fellow campers were learning what it takes to be one of Clearwater’s lifeguards. While most of the kids ...

Clearwater Beach has seven lifeguard towers. In a couple of years, you may just see the kids taking these courses now, in those towers, keeping you safe.

This year could end up being the biggest Spring Break ever in Tampa Bay with more than 600,000 students all out of school at the same time. That number doesn’t even factor in out-of-town and out-of-state visitors.

Millions of tourists visit Pinellas County beaches each year, yet, for visitors and residents with disabilities, the sand can be treacherous terrain. The city of Clearwater is taking steps to increase accessibility.

Early Bird Dinner Theatre to present ‘Boeing Boeing’

CLEARWATER — “Over the River and Through the Woods,” by Joe DePietro, opened Jan. 9 at the Early Bird Dinner Theatre, 13355 49th St. N., Clearwater. The production will run through Feb. 28. Shows are 11 a.m. Saturdays and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For reservations and performance dates, call 727-446-5898, visit www.earlybirddinnertheatre.com or email susan.lyons@earlybirddinnertheatre.com. The price for buffet and show is $36 including tax. This production is directed by Patr...