City warns of gas utility payment scam
CLEARWATER — City officials are warning utility customers about a scam in which individuals are contacted with claims of overdue bills and are instructed to wire money to specific accounts. These messages are fraudulent, the city says and are not associated with the city or its utility partners.
Customers should be aware that the city of Clearwater, CGS Energy, Clearwater Utility Customer Service and Clearwater Public Utilities do not request payments through 800 or 888 phone numbers.
Residents who receive these messages should not provide payment or personal information.
Customers with questions about their accounts are encouraged to contact Clearwater Utility Customer Service directly at 727-562-4600. Service hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with in-person assistance available in the lobby from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monin Americas to host U.S. event
CLEARWATER — Clearwater-based Monin Americas has announced it will host the North American qualifying events for the 2026 Monin Cup. This year’s theme is Timeless Twists, prompting bartenders across the world to simultaneously capture the past and look to the future — all encapsulated in a glass.
Participants will first submit entries online, which a Monin expert panel will review, select the top submissions and send those individuals to live, in-person semi-final rounds in the U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada this summer. Finalists from these rounds will then go on to compete in the global finale in December in Paris.
The U.S. semi-final round will take place in Tampa on Aug. 11.
New murals completed in North Greenwood
CLEARWATER — North Greenwood continues to come alive with color, creativity, and community pride through the addition of new public murals celebrating the spirit of the neighborhood.
Three new murals have recently been completed:
1. “Rapture of Community Love,” by Carlos Jefferson. Located at Safe House of North Greenwood, 1201 N. Betty Lane.
2. “PLAY, LEARN, GROW,” by ZuluPainter. Located at Cherry Harris Park, 1141 Beckett St.
3. “Open Book Policy,” by Ashley Cassens. North Greenwood Library, 905 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
Student achievements
• Sergio Bonilla of Clearwater has been named to the dean’s list at Young Harris College for the spring 2026 semester.
Students who achieve a 3.5 grade point average or better are eligible to be named to the Dean’s List.
• Brant Simmons of Clearwater is part of a group of Belmont University students who are national champions of the 2026 Enactus United States Expo, an annual three-day event that convenes students across the country to network, learn and present their student-led social enterprises.
• Rebecca Dardich of Clearwater has been named to the Dean’s List at Lee University, in Cleveland, Tennessee, for the spring 2026 semester.
• Madison Jayne Mennenga graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Lee University during its 196th commencement exercises on May 9.
Allegiant adds eight new nonstop routes
Allegiant Travel Co. has added eight new nonstop routes to leisure destinations across Florida.
For a limited time, the company is offering one-way fares as low as $59, as well as 1,000 Allways Rewards bonus points when customers book a flight on a new route.
The new routes between St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) and the following cities include:
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, via Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) beginning Oct. 2, with one-way fares as low as $59.
• Columbia, Missouri, via Columbia Regional Airport (COU) beginning Nov. 19 with one-way fares as low as $69.
• A new route between Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB) and Trenton, New Jersey, via Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) begins Oct. 2, with one-way fares as low as $59.
Tickets for all newly announced routes are now available. Flight days, times and the lowest fares can be found at Allegiant.com.