THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Wednesday June 10, 2009
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Squawk Box
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Report
Clears
With Mike Moore
Life Learnings From
Deputies in
Chocolate & Deadbeats
I have a couple
of little victories to report
Shooting
this week; my cacao plants
are not only loving life, but
also starting to grow so fast
Two Citrus County Sheriff’s Office
and furiously they quiver. This is a big
deputies under investigation in the April
deal as Theobromo cacao (the plant that
6th gunshot death of 48-year-old Michael
grows the seeds that make chocolate) is
LaDon Wolff, have been cleared of any
a strict tropical plant and I might have
wrongdoing by State Attorney Brad King
the only growing specimens other than in
of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. King stated in
an arboretum in the southeast U.S. These
a letter to Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, dated June 3,
particular specimens I grew from seed. I’d
that his office would take
rather not say where I got the seeds from
no further action against
- ahem - because of a little thing called
Deputy Juan Berrios or
USDA customs. I disclosed I had choco-
Sgt. Ryan Glaze.
late in my suitcase! He didn’t ask and I
According
to
didn’t tell if they were chocolate seeds!
a memorandum to King
But have them I do and what
from William J. Catto,
was at one time just a glimmer in my
A.S.A., Mr. Wolff, also
eye is now a reality. They are now three
known
as
Michael
years old and only have two more years
LaDon Rash, had a
until I should start seeing fruit (chocolate)
“significant criminal his-
tory consisting mostly of Michael Wolff
from these guys. To the most of you, my
ramblings on about my silly little trees
minor crimes and traffic
might be kind of dull reading, unless
violations,” along with “convictions for bat-
you are into exotic trees or more impor-
tery, possession of controlled substance and
tantly chocolate trees, like I am. What is
burglary.” Catto also mentioned unspecified
more interesting is having these trees and
mental health problems and physical ail-
learning how to take care of them. They
ments.
are extremely sensitive and in Florida,
According to Catto’s report, Wolff
completely out of their natural growing
lived with his mother, Irene Rash, and son,
habitat. I’ve almost lost them twice in two
Michael Wolff, Jr. in a Citrus County area
years. Through research and problem solv-
of Dunnellon. Wolff’s son said, that on the
Citgo station attendant Christy Burkherdat showing the tank access point where more than
ing I finally figured out that our alkaline
evening of April 5th, his father had taken his
4000 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline was stolen. The Holder station was hit after dark
soil was killing them. They need soil that
medications and “a drink or two,” and that
by an unidentified tanker that pumped the station dry, leaving it out of gas for business until
is about pH 5.5 to thrive and our soil is
his father had been angry with him related
Gas Thieves Hit 2nd Station
a replacement shipment could be obtained. Newscaster Photo by Mike Moore
about 7.3-8.0. Only with repeated appli-
to chores and homework. Shortly before
cations of Magnesium Sulfate and coffee
midnight, Wolff had such a look of anger
Continued on page 4 - Squawk Box
in his eyes, that his son and mother had sat
outside in the car and did not return inside
Adopt A
that quantity of fuel, the owner said, would
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office
until they felt that things inside had settled
take approximately a half hour.
is investigating two incidents involving the
down, around 4:30 a.m. Wolff’s son heard
The most recent incident occurred
theft of huge quantities of gas at two area
Pet-Page 2
his father telling friends over the phone
at 11:30 p.m. on June 1 at the Citgo gas
gas stations. Spokesperson Heather Yates
that he was going to kill himself. Wolff’s
station located at 7033 N. Florida Ave. in
said the first incident occurred on March 11
mother and son slept in Mrs. Rash’s room
Holder. A look at the stationís surveillance
at a Beverly Hills Shell station where 4452
until about 5:00 a.m., when Wolff came in
video showed a large road tractor hauling a
gallons of gas were taken, and the most re-
and took Mrs. Rash’s car keys. Wolff looked
semi gasoline tanker. Although the color of
cent incident occurred on June 1 at a Citgo
around the house, but wouldn’t say what he
the vehicle is indiscernible in the darkness,
station in Holder where 4000 gallons were
was looking for. He became involved in a
it looks very similar to a red tractor pulling
stolen.
physical confrontation with Mrs. Rash in a
a tanker that was captured on surveillance
The March 11 incident at the Bev-
hallway and displayed a hunting knife, then
footage from one of the Pasco County gas
erly Hills Shell station located at 3502 N.
he cut both phones lines. Mrs. Rash and Mi-
stations hit earlier this year.
Lecanto Hwy. occurred at 11:17 p.m. The
chael fled to a neighbor’s house, and Mrs.
Detectives contacted the gas and
station owner told CCSO deputies that he
Rash called her daughter. Wolff pounded on
transport companies involved in the gas
discovered the theft when he was going
the neighbor’s door, but eventually returned
delivery, but no light was shed on who may
over the paperwork from a delivery of gas
to his home.
Continued on page 3 - Gas Thefts
he had received on March 7. To draw off
Continued on page 3 - Deputies Cleared