Community leader Watson L. Haynes dies

For more than 50 years, Rev. Watson L. Haynes II served St. Petersburg as a city leader and community activist. The longtime president and CEO of the Pinellas County Urban League died Saturday at age 68, after a battle with cancer.

A native of St. Petersburg, Haynes grew up in the former Gas Plant District, the current site of Tropicana Field. An associate pastor at New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Haynes sat on the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District under Gov. Jeb Bush, and was appointed to the Florida Commission on Human Rights by both Charlie Crist and Rick Scott.

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Preserve the ‘Burg founder receives key to the city

The preservation of the Vinoy Park Hotel and Historic Roser Park, among other landmarks, was spearheaded by longtime activist and Preserve the 'Burg founding member Peter Belmont.

Belmont received a key to the city from St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch during the Aug. 18 city council meeting, recognizing his work spanning over four decades.