The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 3 - July 18, 2007
Squawk Box
Citrus County Sheriff's Office Shows
from page 1
type eh? Could care less? Let's talk more at home then. Here's something to chew on this
Increase in Reported Crime
week; anything that happens that you don't directly witness but are made aware of is art. It's
true. Unless you see something with your own eyes, any information about it is filtered and
biased through someone else and not the actual truth; only an interpretation of the truth.
Florida's citizens and law enforcement community received some good news when
Would you rather watch the news than visit a museum? Well, save the trip, the news is art.
Governor Charlie Crist and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald
Like to listen to talk radio? Art. A good fishing story? Yep, art again. That's across
Bailey released the state's 2006 Annual Uniform Crime Report. They announced that Florida's
the board by the way, absolutely anything from the word 'delicious' printed on a candy
index crime rate dropped by 1.0%, reaching a 36-year low. The 2006 annual report includes
wrapper to Sunday's morning sermon; merely interpretation of the actual facts. I am all agog
data submitted by 410 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies for crimes re-
ported from January through December of last year. These agencies serve approximately
with art having spent that last couple of months working with the cast and crew of the Citrus
99.9% of the state's population. Crime rate statistics focus on FDLE's seven index offense
County Art League's production of "The Music Man." It is winding down with only one more
categories, which include murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny
weekend to go and frankly I am spellbound at every show.
and motor vehicle theft. It also was noted that total arrests in Florida increased by 5.2% from
Watching the actors interpret a play writer's vision never ceases to amaze me. As
the previous 2005 figure. Locally, the Sheriff's Office released its overall UCR statistics for
part of the crew, I've seen the play dozens of times but watching people acting just fascinates
2006 as well. With a 14.6% increase in index crimes reported countywide, the agency pointed
me. People alone have the power to comprehend that a story about a traveling boys band
to a 16.9% increase in reported index crimes within its own jurisdiction, that is, the unincorpo-
salesman in 1912 is only a reality in our minds. Near the end of this week's Squawk Box is
rated areas of Citrus County as well as the city limits of Inverness. Those boundaries of the
a picture of the Citrus County Chronicle's editor Charlie Brennen and lovely wife Neale.
county boast a population of just over 133,000, up from the figure of 128,925 quoted in 2005.
Even newspaper folks enjoy the theater. I hope you'll take some time out this week and
Still, the total number of index crimes reported by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office to FDLE
immerse yourself in some form of art. I hope you are moved by it. Celebrate your humanity.
increased by only 421, from 2,487 in 2005, to 2,908 in 2006.
Keep in mind that since April 1, 2004, the Sheriff's Office has handled all law enforce-
ment responsibilities within the city limits of Inverness. The overall crime rate (per 100,000
residents) countywide increased by 11.2% from 2005 to 2006. Within the jurisdiction of the
Sheriff's Office, that crime rate increased by 13.3%, when compared with 2005. Arrests made
by sheriff's deputies increased by 11.49%, with 5,911 arrests reported in 2006, and 5,302
arrests reported in 2005. The percentage of reported crimes cleared by arrest (or else excep-
tionally cleared) dropped slightly from 31.1% in 2005, to 28.4% in 2006. That still far exceeds
the latest statewide clearance rate of 22.0%. Sheriff Jeff Dawsy links his agency's performance
with the all-encompassing philosophy of community-oriented policing that drives his person-
nel, both sworn and civilian. Specifically, he credits the active involvement by citizens,
business owners and community leaders as a major contributing factor in actions taken by his
deputies to keep a lid on crime in Citrus County.
Sheriff Dawsy knows that even more is needed if crime is to be reduced. He noted
that his administration identified property crimes as being the largest growing offense in the
county, and steps have been taken so far this year to better manage these crimes. The tactical
Continued on page 4 - Crime Rate
New Summer Hours:
Sunday, 6am-4pm
Mon-Thurs, 6am-8pm
Fri-Sat, 6am-9pm
All YOU CAN EAT SPECIALS Starting at Noon
Inglis,fl
MON BBQ Pork Dinner $7.95
TUES Shrimp (Fried or Scampi) $9.95
WED Fried Chicken $6.95 (Dark) $7.50 (White)
THURS Spaghetti w/Meatballs $5.95
FRI Fried Fish $6.95
Gobblers
SAT Chicken Wings $7.95
Citrus County Chronicle editor Charlie Brennen and lovely wife Neale get framed during a
Mondays through Thursdays 2:00-8:00 pm:
cameo appearance in "The Music Man" during last Sunday's matinee performance. The
show runs through this upcoming weekend, July 22nd at the Citrus County Arts Center in
Buy ONE dinner off the dinner menu & get a 2nd
Hernando. For ticket availability call the box office at 352-746-7606.
dinner (of equal or less value) at HALF-PRICE with
Newscaster Photo by Mike Moore.
this coupon. (All-you-can eat specials
are excluded, Dine In Only)
Our Featured Property This Week
Coupon Expires August 15, 2007
We accept: Cash, Checks, Debit &
Charming waterfront home with de-
Credit Cards - Dine-In or Take-Out
SUNDAY SPECIALS
(352) 447-6112
tached garage, large storage room,
Taco Salad OR Chicken or Steak Wrap
fresh paint & roof is only 2 years old
Deep-Fried Turkey Dinner w/Fixin's $7.95
14 Hwy. 19N, Inglis, Florida - New Ownership
situated in "park like" setting. Wa-
Gobblers Eatery Formerly Muddy Waters Cafe
terway to Lake Rousseau to Withla-
coochee and Rainbow Rivers. An unbe-
lievable price at only $149,900.
Custom Woodworking
RV Park offered at $375k call for details
Several mobile homes to choose from starting at $59,900
"Your Plans or Ours"
80 acres at $10k per acre - Rent to Own waterfront, $795/month
Antique Furniture Refinishing
Call our Office for a FREE List of affordable homes & land, (352) 447-4442 or stop in to our
Kitchen Cabinets
office at the corner of Hwy 40 and US 19 or go to our Website:
Entertainment Centers
Diamond Investments, Inc.
www.diamondhomesandland.com
Hurrincane Shutters
Darryl A. Diamond
Book Cases
Lic. Real Estate Broker
352-447- 4442
Enviro Group of Florida
Pet Caskets
Real Estate Investment Consultant
Wood Products Div.
352-447-3894
Cell 352-400--0301
48-B U.S. 19 South - Inglis
Tom Robinson