THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Inglis, FL 34449
Wednesday November 7, 2012
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
visit our website: www.thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
What Are They Thinking?
Fire Merger Would Serve Inglis
A Newscaster Commentary
Levy County Commission chair-
man Danny Stevens visited the Inglis fire
house with Levy Public Safety Director
David Knowles back in early October and
said he sees a merger between Inglis Fire
Rescue and Levy Fire Rescue as a win-win
situation. Considering the advantages it’s
hard to disagree.
At a special meeting on October
24th the Inglis City Commission voted
4-1, with Sally Price dissenting, to post-
pone any decision on the proposed merger
until the 2014 budget discussions. Former
fire chief Charley Botts reminded the com-
mission at that meeting that the current
chief and three volunteers are the main
responders now to calls and two of those
firefighters work and can t always re-
spond. With the county providing the fire
protection they would have one full time
Turnout was heavy for Tuesday's general election. At 7 am. a line out the door kept poll workers busy at this Citrus County precinct (#305) in
and one part time fireman on duty 12 hours
Homosassa. By 8 am. the turnout was steady without waiting. Campaigners took advantage of the last day of active campaigning despite the
a day, 7 days a week.
rainy, cold start. Turnout was reported heavy at most voting places. For Citrus and Levy county local results visit our website: www.thenews-
If Levy County would provide
caster.com. Results are on the home page. /Newscaster Photo
fire protection in Inglis, it would mean
Fiery crash on Sexual predator arrested for alleged
they would assume responsibility for man-
ning the fire station, replacement of trucks,
advances toward 11 year-old girl
(a huge benefit because Inglis fire trucks
I-75 kills
are old and very expensive to replace or
repair), manpower, records and training
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
On Nov., 1, the girl was inter-
Chiefland man
and calls would be the county’s respon-
Randy Lee Fletcher, 36, a homeless
viewed by the Child Protection Team, and
sibility. A favorable byproduct of this
man listed as a “transient sexual predator,”
the girl revealed additional details of Fletch-
merger would be that the county would
From FHP
according to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Of-
er’s actions in the motel, which she resisted.
also accept any liability that could occur
A traffic crash of two semi tractor
fice, was arrested at a Homosassa business,
She said that Fletcher had been
on a call. Another byproduct would be
trailers on Interstate-75, Nov. 2, resulted
Nov. 2, charged with several sexual offens-
drinking shots of alcohol, and
the town would almost certainly receive
in the death of a Chiefland man. According
es. Fletcher’s arrest report stated that he was
at one point, she went to use
a lower ISO rating which would result in
to the Florida Highway Patrol, the identity
last checked-on in Hernando County on Oct.
the bathroom, and when she re-
lower insurance rates for homeowners and
of the man and the trucking company were
25, but at the time of his arrest, he was work-
turned, her soft drink tasted fun-
businesses alike.
pending due to extensive fire damage, but
ny, according to the report. After Fletcher
ing at a Homosassa business.
Inglis would also get a bonus. Levy
the driver was eventually identified as Jo-
The CCSO became involved in an
this occurred, she said, she went
County has approved $75,000 for an ad-
seph Dean Ricker, 44, of 9491 NW 75th
investigation on Oct. 30, after an 11 year-old
outside and walked around, then returned to
dition to the Inglis fire station to house an
Avenue, Chiefland. The truck he was driv-
girl told family members that Fletcher had
the room, and Fletcher told her not to tell
EMS ambulance unit. This is contingent
ing, a 2007 International, was operated by
made sexually explicit comments to her and
anyone what happened. She said the woman
Continued on page 4 - Squawk Box
RDH Trucking, Inc. of Lake City, Florida.
asked her if he could touch her in an inap-
came back after being gone for about two
Mr. Ricker was hauling aluminum gussets
propriate manner during the previous week-
hours, and she did not tell the woman what
at the time of the crash and carried no pas-
end when the girl had left her home with a
happened, but she later told a family mem-
sengers. The other tractor trailer involved in
female family acquaintance and spent the
ber when she returned home.
the crash, a 2006 Kenworth driven by Paul
night at an area motel with the woman and
On Nov. 2, the detective spoke with
Pitts, 48, of Panama City, Florida, was op-
Fletcher. When the girl returned home, her
Fletcher at a Homosassa business and placed
erated by Wiley Sanders Truck Lines and
family noticed that she seemed withdrawn,
him under arrest. He admitted to being in the
hauling cardboard boxes. Neither Mr. Pitts
and they questioned her. The report stated,
motel with the girl, but denied any sexual
Veterans Day Is
nor his passenger, 45 year-old Tonya Barnes
that during the evening the three had stayed
conversation with her. He said that he had
of Lynn Haven, Florida, was injured.
at the motel, the girl said that the woman
been a victim at the age of thirteen, and he
According to the Florida Highway
November 11th
had left for several hours, and she had been
avoids young children because of his past.
Patrol, the crash occurred at 1:50 p.m. at the
alone with Fletcher, and the comments were
He said that the girl had been sexually for-
Fowler Ave. Exit in Hillsborough County.
made during this time.
Continued on page 3 - Sexual predator