THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Inglis, FL 34449
Wednesday July 4, 2012
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Happy Birthday America!
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Independence Day
Memories
With Doug Johnston
Wa t e r m e l o n !
That was the one constant
I remember about the 4th
of July picnics and cel-
ebrations growing up in
Inverness in the 1950’s and
60’s. We didn’t own a grill but most fam-
ilies had a fire pit and there were several
brick grills at “Government Hill”, a pic-
nic area on the north side of Inverness,
and “Wayside Park”, on the southeast
side of town.
Watermelons were much larger
in those days and chock full of seeds, but
oh were they delicious. Today the mel-
ons are smaller, for shipping purposes,
and the seedless varieties have taken
over the market. The melons I used to
help load in trucks for Mr. Jess Thomas
at his farm in Pleasant Grove when I was
a student at Citrus High School aver-
aged 35-40 lbs. In today's supermarkets
its hard to find a melon over 20 lbs. Our
favorite were “Cannonballs”. They were
With the opening day of scallop season July 1st on the Nature Coast, many people hit the water looking for that much sought after shell fish.
round and dark green on the outside and
Two families that came up from Clearwater for two days hit it well on opening day for scallops. Four hours in the waters off Crystal River almost
very sweet: And yes, they were loaded
gave the two boats their limit. Reports of a boat near them said they had their limits within 40 minutes. The men worked out a plan for the
with seeds.
hard part of the success story, cleaning the scallops. Ryan Countryman popped the shells open and then Byron Dyson manned the shop vac
Fireworks displays are also
sucking out all the unwanted parts of the catch. The kids all gathered around and took on the job of popping the white meat out of the clean
etched into my memory, but it seems like
shell. This year's scallop season has been extended by two weeks, see page 12. Photo by Sally Price
having a few sparklers to twirl around
Operation Summer Knights
Veteran Driver
in the front yard was a big deal in those
days. These days a lot of young people
Nets Nine Arrests
don’t even know what a sparkler is. I
Killed At Citrus
see Roman Candles and all sorts of ex-
pensive fireworks lighting up the night
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
fice s Internet Crimes Against Children
sky in our peaceful little neighborhood
(ICAC) unit worked with the Central Flor-
Crystal River - A week-long undercover op-
in Rainbows End. I must say it is enter-
Speedway
ida Internet Crimes Against Children Task
eration that utilized the Internet to locate and
taining. My wife and I usually enjoy sit-
Force and the Florida Department of Law
identify people who use the Web to sexually
ting outside on the pool deck watching
Enforcement (FDLE) to plan for the special
exploit children and travel to meet minors
the fireworks. The neighborhood show
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
undercover operation.
for sexual activity culminated in nine ar-
normally peaks a few days before Inde-
Experienced undercover "chatters"
rests.
On Saturday, at approximately 9:50
pendence Day: Our neighbors are usu-
were recruited from the Citrus, Sumter, Or-
Occupations for the nine includ-
p.m., a driver was killed during a sanctioned
ally out of ammo by the time the actual
ange and Lake County Sheriffís Offices and
ed the unemployed, a substitute teacher, a
racing event at the Citrus County Speedway
holiday rolls around.
the Alachua Police Department. The chatters
health care professional and a laborer. Three
located at 3600 S. Florida Ave. in Invernes.
I think one of the best fireworks
established their undercover profiles and
of the men are Citrus County residents:
During a special figure-8 race of school
Continued on page 11 - Squawk Box
identities in preparation for the sting, Op-
Ricky Harris, 62, of Beverly Hills; Brandon
buses, a green bus overturned, landing on
eration Summer Knights, which started on
Robichaud, 23, of Lecanto and Gary Nero,
Area 4th of
its roof. The driver, identified as Charles
Wednesday, June 20, and continued through
30, of Dunnellon; two were Ocala residents:
“Chick” Whitehead, 62, of Ocala, was pro-
Sunday, June 24. Chat sessions were con-
Luis Pumarejo, 26, and Armando Corujo,
nounced dead at the scene. When Citrus
ducted earlier in the week, with undercover
July Celebrations
28. Others arrested included Reno Wolf-
Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel extricated
law enforcement officers posing either as ju-
gang, 27, of Tampa; Matthew Lefler, 24,
him from the wreck, Whitehead was still
veniles, or as parents or guardians who were
of St. Petersburg; Brandon Whatley, 20, of
in the driver’s seat, restrained by his racing
See page 8
seeking sexual instruction for their children.
Orlando, and Efrain Cruz, 32, of Valdosta,
safety harness.
Personal ads were posted on several e-com-
Georgia.
Continued on page 4 - Speedway Crash
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Of-
Continued on page 3 -Nine Arrests