After years of sparring with the townsfolk and veiling itself in secrecy, the Church of Scientology has succeeded in turning Clearwater into its spiritual mecca. Scientologists quietly run teen nightclubs, schools, day-care centers, management consulting firms and other businesses, records and interviews show. Now the strategy of the organization, longtime observers say, is to confront controversy, gain converts and make money - lots of it. Scientology's Clearwater operation brings in $1.5-million to $2-million a week, say church watchers who include Clearwater ...

CLEARWATER — The outbreak of measles reported by county health officials this week has been traced to the True School, a private school in Clearwater that uses the teachings of L. Run Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. A Health Department official said Tuesday that 40 of the 100 students at the school had not been immunized. But Sherry Payson, a spokeswoman for the school, said she thinks the figure is lower. She said neither the school nor Scientology discourages ...

DUNEDIN — The body of an unidentified man was found floating in Clearwater Harbor Thursday morning by an off-duty police officer. [...]

The caller dialed in secret access codes to the computer, codes assigned to the building inspectors for reporting inspection results. According to the information the caller dialed into the computer about 11 p.m. April 14, a new art gallery in Clearwater had passed final inspections. But building officials became suspicious. The building inspector who supposedly did the inspections was on vacation when the calls were made. And the inspector had made no final inspections at the gallery. The secret computer access ...

CLEARWATER — In 1975 the Church of Scientology, cloaked in secrecy, made this waterfront city its international headquarters. A lengthy outcry ensued when the public became aware the sect — under another name — bought a Clearwater landmark, the Fort Harrison Hotel. The Scientologists subsequently bought many other parcels of downtown Clearwater property, posting guards to keep the curious at bay. When the public and press asked questions about the aims of the Church of Scientology, sect leaders became mum about ...