THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday March 1, 2017
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Please visit our website thenewscaster.com
Community
Fort Cooper Days
The sound of musket volleys and
the smell of gunpowder will greet visi-
tors to Fort Cooper State Park, 3100 S.
Old Floral City Road in Inverness as it
celebrates Fort Cooper Days on March
11 and 12. Experience Florida's history...
the April 1836 skirmishes of the Second
Seminole War on the shores of Lake Ho-
lathlikaha.
Watch as volunteers re-enact an
attack between a tribe of Seminoles and
members of the First Georgia Battalion
of Volunteers. Re- enactments occur at
11 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. each day. A special
feature to this year's weekend festivities
will be a Hoop Dance, performed by Cody
Boettner at 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. both
days. Cody, a member of the Muskogee
Creek Tribe, recently competed in the
World Championship Hoop Dance Con-
test in Phoenix, AZ and won 8 th place in
the world!
Come and enjoy modern and
period artisans, living history demonstra-
tions, exhibits, food and refreshments.
Admission: Adults through 13 yrs. old
$6.00, 12 yrs. and under are free. Spon-
sored by the Friends of Fort Cooper.
Citrus Watercolor Spring Art Exhibit
Another incident involving the Sabal Trail Pipeline in the area of the 12500 block of Highway 200 in Dunnellon - but this incident involved a
Wildlife State Park will be
vehicle chase into Citrus County and resulted in the suspect being fatally wounded in a gunfire exchange with law enforcement. See full story
hosting the Citrus Watercolor Society's
Protestors
below, photos courtesy Marion, Citrus Sheriff Depts.
Spring Art in the Park exhibit and sale
Apparent pipeline protestor killed in
in the Visitor Center of the Ellie Schil-
ler Homosassa Springs Wildlife State
Removed from
gunfire exchange with deputies
Park on Saturday, March 4, and Sun-
day, March 5, 2017. This show features
the artwork of the Club's many talented
Sabel Pipeline
From FHP,Marion,Citrus Sheriff Depts.
who was driving a 2016 Chevrolet pickup
watercolorists. Originals, prints and cards
truck, fled into Citrus County where depu-
On Sunday, Feb. 26, deputies re-
will be available for purchase.
ties with the Citrus County Sheriff s Office
sponded to an "active shooter" incident
(CCSO) and a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
that started near in Marion County, then led
From Marion County Sheriff Dept.
Bulk waste pickup
trooper took up pursuit. CCSO deputies had
law enforcement on a chase that extended
Two protestors, who had lodged
deployed stop strips in Inverness, which im-
through Citrus County from State Rd. 200 to
schedule for Inglis.
themselves inside a pipe at the Sabal Trail
paired Mr. Marker's driving ability and en-
Hwy. 41, through Hernando and Inverness
Pipeline that is currently under construction,
abled the FHP trooper to conduct a precision
to Floral City, where the chase ended in trag-
Next pick up is
were removed from the pipe by law enforce-
immobilization technique near Floral Park,
edy for the suspect, who was killed in a gun-
ment last Wed., Feb. 22. The incident oc-
which caused the FHP patrol vehicle and
fire exchange with law enforceent. The sus-
March 6.
curred in Dunnellon at the 12500 block of
Mr. Marker's truck to come to rest along the
pect was identified as James Leroy Marker,
SW Hwy. 200.
east shoulder of the roadway, where Marker
66, 150 Smallwood Dr., Chokoloskee, FL.
See page 11.
According to the Marion County
allegedly engaged law enforcement officers
The initial confrontation with Mr.
Sheriff s Office (MCSO), a call for service
with gunfire before he received a fatal gun-
Marker occured about 9:00 am, Sunday
Easier Than eBay
was received at 7:32 am. The caller stated
shot wound. Nature Coast EMS responded
morning, Feb. 26, when Marion County dep-
that two protestors had trespassed on the
to the scene and pronounced Mr. Marker as
uties were dispatched to an area of the con-
natural gas pipeline construction site, en-
You can now place classified ads at
deceased. Mr. Marker was the only person
troversial Sabal Trail Transmission Pipeline,
tered one of the pipes, locked themselves
injured during the gunfire exchange.
the Food Ranch Service Desk - 25
located at the 12500 block of State Rd. 200
together with some type of device to make
A number of CCSO deputies re-
in Dunnellon, due to a report of a man using
words/$12. New deadline: Monday 12
it more difficult for authorities to remove
sponded to the incident, three of which were
a high-powered rifle to shoot at the piping
noon at the Inglis Food Ranch service Desk.
them, and refused to come out of the pipe.
involved in the shooting: Det. Jason Strick-
and equipment being used there. It was later
Cash or Check.
Patrol deputies, the agency's Field
land, Dep. Gabriel Gerena and Dep. Jericho
determined that the shooting had caused ex-
No refunds for early cancellations
Continued on page 4 - Pipeline
tensive damage to a section of pipe. Marker,
Continued on page 11 - Gunfire