THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Inglis, FL 34449
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Visit our website: http://thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
History of Man, Right
Here In River City
With Sally Price
Crystal
River
Boat Builders (CRBB)
and the Florida Archae-
ology Network hosted a
“Boat Bash” Saturday at Crystal Riv-
er State Park Preserve. Among the
exhibits the yearly event introduces
the public to wood boat building and
teaches the history of man’s oldest
form of transportation.
CRBB members Ed Pesula,
Nina Mattei, Pete Redston, Steve
Kingery (president and event organiz-
er) lean on the Sailing Scow they are
building. (see page 2) A 36 foot long
12 foot wide boat is being made with
nothing but hand tools. The boat will
eventually be flipped over and the top
and rigging will be finished. These
19th century flat bottom square end
boats were great for stability in open
David Rose Jr. (5) and his brother Jordon Rose (4) listening intently to a seat belt safety demonstration given by State Trooper First Class Todd
water and used for moving supplies
Cloud at the Annual Sheriff’s Youth Expo held at the Citrus County Fairgrounds this past Saturday. This apparatus showed in very graphic form
such as cotton, lumber, salt, gun pow-
how passengers not wearing safety belts are ejected from a rolling vehicle. TheNewscaster/Mike Moore
Man arrested for sexual activity
Shots Fired,
der, weapons. Leeboards are used to
keep the boat from being driven side-
ways by wind force. When finished,
with 14 year-old
Women in
the working boat will be used as an
educational exhibit.
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
tionship and that Bannister was aware of the
The
small
scale
fin-
Car Injured
girl’s age.
ished model in front of the members
After a 14 year-old Homosassa girl
Bannister was con-
was built in the Inverness Courthouse
made allegations against 22 year-old Joshua
fronted with the allegations
gallery as a working history project
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
Michael Bannister, 7545 W. Otter st., Ho-
on April 25 and did not deny
for the public.
mosassa, the Citrus County Sheriff s Office
the activity with the girl. The
Just after 2:00 a.m. April 30, a
The CRBB members come
began an investigation into the allegations
detective contacted Bannis-
Pine Ridge couple was driving home with
together at the C R Preserve every
on April 9.
ter, later that day in Crystal
a friend when a shotgun blast shattered the
Saturday from 9AM to noon. If you
The girl said she’d engaged in
River. He admitted to the
windshield of their burgundy-colored 2003
have an interest, stop by and visit with
sexual activity with Bannister on numerous
allegations and knowing the Bannister
GMC SUV. The incident occurred as they
occasions, during April, at his home. She
the workers who welcome interested
girl’s age. He allowed the
were traveling eastbound on W. Norvell
said, at Bannister s request, she s taken nude
detective to see the photo-
visitors. The relaxed group is looking
Bryant Highway, about a quarter-mile west
photographs of herself and had sent them to
graphs on his cell phone.
of the intersection of CR 486 and W. Pine
for new members skilled or not.
Bannister via cell phone and the internet.
Bannister was placed under arrest
See Photo on page 2
Ridge Boulevard.
A detective contacted a witness
and charged with using an internet service
The driver's 69-year-old wife was
!
NEW
who had seen the girl going to Bannister’s
to seduce/solicit/lure a child to commint a
struck near her right eye, her neck, upper
home, but was unaware of her age, who also
crime, knowingly possessing child pornog-
chest and left arm. Nature Coast EMS at-
Tax Assessments Down
admitted to communicating with the girl
raphy, knowingly promoting sexual perfor-
tended to the victim on location, and then
through an e-commerce website, making a
In Levy County means
mance by a child, and 5 counts of lewd and
transported her to Seven Rivers Regional
sexual comment to her and telling her he
lascivious battery of a person between the
Medical Center for further treatment.
lower income for
wanted her to become his girlfriend.
ages of 12 and 16.
Crime scene technicians were dis-
The detective was able to obtain
His bond was set at $45,000. He
patched to process the scene for any physi-
Municipalities,
written and internet documentation that the
was informed he was to have no contact
cal evidence, while the sheriffís helicopter
see page 8.
girl and Bannister were having a sexual rela-
with the the girl.
Continued on page 3 - Woman Injured