THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday March 24, 2010
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
With Doug Johnston
March Madness
Every March I be-
come a serious college bas-
ketball fan. I watch basketball
very causally until the NCAA
men’s basketball tournament
begins and then it really gets
interesting. The tournament
is always full of surprises and this year the
opening week was no exception.
The tournament, which started in
1939, is composed of 64 teams divided into
four 16 team regions. The winner of each
region will meet in Indianapolis on April
3rd to play two semi-final games to deter-
mine which two teams will play for the na-
tional championship on April 5th, also in
Indianapolis.
The Florida Gators opened the ac-
tion as a 10th seed and played 7th seeded
Brigham Young University. The morning
before tip-off, I filled out the entire tourna-
ment bracket and faxed Newscaster owner/
editor Tom Russell my selections and he
faxed me a copy of his picks.
Deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office recently made a startling discovery at the WTI firing range just west of the Central Landfill. In
I consider Tom a better than av-
an open field adjacent to the range’s access road, they found an injured American bald eagle. Within an hour, a Nature World Wildlife Rescue
erage college sports prognosticator: Ditto
birds-of-prey volunteer had the national bird en route to Midway Animal Hospital in Homosassa for the initial assessment of an injured right
for myself. After the first round, two things
eye and wing. The rescue volunteer told deputies the injuries may have been the result of a turf war. The bird was later transported to Or-
were apparent: One, it is called “March
Three Arrested in
lando for treatment and rehabilitation.
Madness” for a reason and secondly, nei-
Chad Johnson Set
ther Tom nor I should attempt to make a
living at the race track.
Homosassa Meth Bust
The first round of this tournament
to Resign to Run
should be cake, easy to predict. As usual
the games were as unpredictable and cha-
otic as March weather. Ohio, a 14 seed, up-
Against Nancy
According to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), two Ho-
set a 3 seed, Georgetown in the Midwest
mosassa residents were taken into custody on March 18, related to an inves-
bracket, Cornell, a 12 seed, beat 5th seeded
tigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Bell
Crystal Dennis, 25, and James Bole, 30, both of Homosassa, were
Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box
arrested by the DEA in connection with the methamphetamine operations
Three Die
The Newscaster
discovered at Dennis’ 8538 W. Kimberly Court residence.
reported last week that
A federal warrant was also secured for the arrest of Jeffrey Carpen-
Chad “Cracker” John-
ter, 32, also of Homosassa, who had originally been named as a person of
Dennis
in Mid-Air
son, current Levy County
interest.
commissioner for Dist. 1
Shortly before 8 p.m. on March 19, members of the Citrus County
was in the Levy Elections
Sheriff’s Office Tactical Impact Unit took Carpenter into custody at an unre-
office Tuesday to report
Collision
lated Homosassa residence. They found him hiding in a closet, according to
that he will be running
the CCSO.
against Dist. 2 commis-
According to Steve Cole, Public Affairs Specialist with the State At-
sioner Nancy Bell in the
torney’s office (Tampa District), a criminal complaint has been filed against
Near
next election. Johnson
the three in U.S. District Court (Tampa) by his office, charging them with
Bole
was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to fill
knowingly conspiring to manufacture and distribute in excess of 50 grams or
the Dist. 1 seat formerly held by convicted
more of methemphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The three are
Williston
commissioner Tony Parker. It’s a matter of
facing a maximum penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison, if convicted of
record that Johnson and his wife are build-
the charges, said Cole.
ing a new home in Dist 2.
The arrests were detailed by DEA Special Agent G. Tucker Cowles
Update: In an email Thursday
in a Criminal Complaint. According to Cowles, a search warrant was issued
Details On Page 4
Johnson told The Newscaster he was resign-
for Dennis’ residence located at 8538 W. Kimberly Ct.(Homosass), based on
Carpenter
Continued on page 8 - Meth Bust
Continued on page 11- Levy Commission