MICHAEL SCHIAVO BEGAN WORK AT THE PINELLAS COUNTY JAIL AS A NURSE ON OCTOBER 11, 2004
Weeks before he left the Sheriff's Office, [Sheriff] Rice said, he hired Michael Schiavo for a job as a nurse in the county jail, near Largo. He began work Oct. 11.
"I hired him," Rice said, "but I never saw him. I don't know him. It's hard to find good nurses, and he was right at the top of the stack of applications."
While Rice hired Schiavo, he said, he is sure he acted on the recommendation of one of his assistants.
Rice said he and Judge Greer are friends, and he acknowledged making a TV ad and was on the hospice board several years ago, as an honorary member because he was sheriff.
Rice was one of eight Republicans in the state House who voted against a bill that would have prevented the withholding of food and water to incapacitated patients who did not make their intentions clear beforehand.
"I tried to vote my conscience and not necessarily do what's popular," Rice said. "I wasn't counting votes. I think the Republicans might have misread this thing."
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/19/Tampabay/Schiavo_Web_rumor_peg.shtml
TERRI ON MARCH 18
Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, heard the news while waiting in a shop across the street from the hospice. They remained composed, but broke down several hours later, Malanowski said.
By nightfall, Terri remained in her chair.
She wore a pink ribbed shirt and had a stuffed animal, a tiger cat, propped in her arms.
A radio played softly in the background. Someone drew a sheet over Terri to warm her in the chilly room.
Terri's parents remain hopeful.
"We honestly think the tube will be put back in a few days, so we don't need long goodbyes," said family attorney Barbara Weller.
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/03/19/Tampabay/Terri_Schiavo_s_room_.shtml