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THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Yankeetown, FL
Wednesday October 17, 2007
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Permit No. 4
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Newscaster Publishing
Sally Price Correspondent
Squawk Box Inmate
With Doug Johnston
Dies in
Toys are us
About the only product cat-
Jail Cell
egory being recalled faster than
the food we eat these days is
the toys we purchase for our
Man Wanted in Levy County
children. Hardly a week goes
A Marion County Jail inmate was
by that Mattel or Fischer-Price
found in his cell, around 10:10 a.m., Sunday
isn't recalling toys that have been found dan-
morning, hanging from the back corner of his
gerous after they have sold them to their trust-
bunk bed by a sheet, by another inmate who
ing consumer base.
immediately notified officers. According to of-
No industry is more representative of what
ficials with the Marion County Sheriff's Of-
we have become as Americans than the toy
fice, 22-year-old Darrius
industry. In recent years I have shopped at
Johnell James was extricated
Toys R' Us and some of the large department
from his bed, and five cor-
stores toy sections and I must admit it is a
rectional officers and medi-
Ft. Cooper Days - Living Historian Frank Olfedt performs for Pleasant Grove Elementary
euphoric feeling to walk the aisles and experi-
cal professionals attempted
ence toys that walk, toys that talk, toys that
4th graders during Ft. Cooper's 24th annual "Living History Days" held last Thursday and
to resuscitate him for about
wiggle and giggle and even think for you.
Friday. Over 650 Citrus County school children attended the out-of-doors classroom. Ac-
thirty minutes, until emer-
The bedrooms of my four grandchildren
cording to Park service Public Information officer (PIO) Diane Otten, the event meets Florida
gency medical services ar-
are filled, I do mean filled with toys that col-
state standards for 2nd grade pioneer history and 4th grade Florida history. Mr. Olfedt plays
rived to rush him to Munroe
lectively cost hundreds of dollars and are
the part of a Ft. Cooper garrison guard explaining with authentic period props about "Life in
Regional Medical Center in Darrius James
rarely, if ever, played with. They serve as floor
the Military" during the 1830-1850's. The item? A "wee bit o' beer', he explains, 'to wash
Ocala, where he was pro-
covering and closet clutter.
down the Army swill they call food.'" Newscaster Photo by Mike Moore
nounced dead around 11:11 a.m.
I am not suggesting that all of the toys
James was in a cell by himself with the
Inglis Businesses Will Keep
today are worthless. The Leap Frog series and
general population of inmates, which means
other educational toys are effective learning
he was in one of numerous cells that open
tools for youngsters, particularly pre-school
Right of Way Parking on US-19
into a common area shared by all inmates in
aged toddlers. But the mania that surrounds
the cell block. His cell door was not locked.
the super hero toys and games is overdone
James resided at 17215 N.E. Jacksonville
By Newscaster Editor Deborah Russell
out the letter, if he knew it would have turned
and I think it is counter productive to our
Road in Citra, until he was arrested on June
out like this," said Berger. The parking regu-
children's development.
A new parking regulation on U.S.
30 on a charge of home invasion robbery and
lation will be enforced only in front of Clark's
I can remember when two tin cans and a
Hwy. 19, Inglis, announced last month by the
four violations of probation warrants from
Auto Repair, as the parking in front of this
length of string were as close to a walkie-talkie
Florida DOT, will be enforced in only one lo-
Levy County for drug-related charges.
business obstructs customers' access to it,
or telephone, for that matter, as I would get as
cation, unless a vehicle poses a traffic hazard
Due to the nature of the incident, Sheriff
as opposed to other businesses who utilize
a child. I got a baseball every birthday and
along the right-of-way in another location.
Ed Dean requested that the Florida Depart-
the right-of-way for customer parking. Only
football every year at Christmas and when
In mid-September, the Florida Dept.
ment of Law Enforcement (FDLE) conduct the
one "No Parking in Right-of-Way" sign will
Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box
of Transportation sent letters to numerous
investigation. The sheriff's office will also
be placed, said Commissioner Berger, at Clark's
officials regarding the state-owned right-of-
conduct a routine internal investigation.
Auto Repair, located at 8 Hwy. 19N, Inglis.
Adopt A Pet
way in Inglis on U. S. Hwy. 19. The letter
The exact cause of death will be deter-
However, the sign has not yet been placed.
stated that a new regulation, "No Parking on
mined after an autopsy by the Medical Exam-
Police Chief Tim Bible stated that the po-
Right-of-Way," will be enforced on the state's
see page 2
iners Office and a review by the State
lice department will enforce the regulation on
land on the U.S. Hwy. 19 right-of-way, extend-
Attorney's Office. The preliminary investiga-
any vehicle posing a traffic hazard in the right-
ing from the Withlacoochee Bridge to N. Ing-
tion did not reveal any signs of foul play, and
of-way.
lis Ave.
Mr. James' death appears to be self-inflicted,
A look back at US 19 in 1960 Inglis
However, the new regulation will
according to a press release from the sheriff's
By Newscaster Correspondent Sally Price
only be enforced in one location, according
office.
Thinking about the latest information on
to Inglis Commissioner Betty Berger who
According to Lorraine Barber, adminis-
the no parking in the right-a-way, I happen to
spoke with FDOT Assistant District Traffic
trative specialist with the Inglis Police Depart-
remember this old picture from my file which
Operations Engineer Tony Falotico who sent
ment, this is the third inmate suicide at the
shows Hwy 19 when it was a two lane road. I
the letter. "He said he would not have sent
Marion County Jail within the past year.
Continued on page 4 - A Look Back