THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday November 13, 2013
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Please visit our website: thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Community Events
Citrus County paddles up for heroes
The Citrus County Chamber,
Citrus County and High Five Dragon
Boat present the Lake Hernando Dragon
Boat Festival to be held at the County's
scenic Lake Hernando Park at 3699 E.
Orange Drive, Hernando on Saturday,
Nov. 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 2p.m.
This event embodies both hard
work and honor as it melds together the
competition of dragon boat races while
paying homage to returning Iraq and Af-
ghanistan war veterans. In a few cases,
rowers will be veterans, some with ser-
vice-connected disabilities. It is our goal
to raise funds and awareness with the in-
clusion of veterans in the competition.
Craft Show in Crystal River, Nov. 23
The Citrus County Craft Council
will hold its 24th-annual Winter Wonder-
land Craft Show on Sat., Nov. 23, from
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The show will be
held at the National Guard Armory locat-
ed in Crystal River on Venable St. (across
from Home Depot, south of the airport
and off Highway 19). There is no admis-
sion charge and free parking for the inside
and outside show that will be held rain or
A dog soccer game caught in progress at the 5th Annual K-9 Karnival held at Liberty Park, Inverness last Saturday. Hundreds of dogs and their
shine! Crafters will have a wide variety of
owners gathered for dog oriented games and demonstrations, beauty contests and training sessions. The score: dog 1, people 0.
handcrafted items for sale at reasonable
TheNewscaster/Mike Moore
Three smoke shops busted for
Inglis Commission
prices. The show will benefit the Citrus
County Sheriff s Office s `Shop With A
Cop' program. For more information call
selling synthetic cannabis
"Mum" on Police
Mike at 352-249-7012.
First Time Homebuyer Class
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
stances and had knowledge that what they
Badge Purchases
Citrus County Housing Services
Vicki Marie Macko,
were selling was illegal. After conducting
is offering a First Time Homebuyer class
54, 221 W. Quince St., Hernan-
interviews, the CCSO will be following up
to interested individuals. Participants who
By Tom Russell, Newscaster Editor
do, was arrested by the Citrus
with arrests when FDLE confirms the sub-
attend the entire session will receive a
A special meeting was called by
County Sheriff s Office, Nov.
stances which were taken from the stores
Certificate of Completion that is required
Inglis Mayor Glenda Kirkland for Friday,
7, when a search warrant was
during the operation were truly outlawed
for the SHIP, Neighborhood Stabilization
Nov. 8th to discuss a problem involving the
served at her business, Blowin' Macko
substances.
Programs, and other first time homebuyer
unauthorized purchase, according to town
Smoke Discount Tobacco, lo-
The Tactical Impact Unit of the
assistance programs.
attorney Brad Bettin, of police "retirement"
cated at 2780 N. Florida Ave. in Hernando,
sheriff s office has been receiving informa-
The class encompasses the entire
badges. The special meeting lasted all of five
FL. She was charged with two counts of
tion that synthetic chemical cannabis - also
home buying process including prepar-
minutes and the commission decided not to
possession/selling synthetic drugs, a Sched-
called Spice or K-2 - was being sold at the
ing your credit and finances, shopping for
discuss the matter after weeks of discussion
ule I controlled substance. Her bond was set
three smoke shops during the past year, al-
a home, home inspection, fair housing,
in inter-office communications.
at $5,000.
though all the smoke shops in the area had
available loan products, loan pre-approv-
Instead of discussing the matter in
After a year of investigations, de-
been made aware that selling these substanc-
al, and closing. A variety of industry pro-
public view, Commissioner Andrew White
tectives with the Citrus County Sheriff's
es is illegal since Florida Senate Bill 294
Continued on page 5 - Community Events
moved the problem be turned over to at-
Office Tactical Impact Unit, along with
was passed on Dec. 12, 2012 and updated
torney Brad Bettin for further investigation.
New!
agents from Florida Department of Law En-
on April 24, 2013 to include newly identi-
The commission agreed.
forcement (FDLE) served search warrants
fied synthetic chemical
The Newscaster has learned in a
Dollar Zones
in three smoke shops on Nov. 7, although
substances.
series of public record documents that on
Macko is the only arrest that has been made,
All three shops
July 29, 2013, Attorney, Brad Bettin replied
At Food Ranch
thus far. The other smoke shops where the
were previously warned
to a request from Lt. John Dowd about the
search warrants were served include Hap-
and made aware of the
IPD officers being allowed to retain their
py Timez Tobacco Shop in Inverness and
legal ramifications if
Visit Ailes
firearms and badges upon separation. When
Funky Groove in Crystal River.
they continued to sell
looking at the issue about the badges, At-
The Citrus County Sheriff s Office
the spice, and all chose
1, 5 & 6
torney Bettin replied, " As far as the badges
to ignore the warning. 1 of 2170 packets
will continue to pursue charges on the store
Continued on page 4 - Badges
owners and clerks who sold unlawful sub-
Continued on page 3 - Spice