PAGE 3 - January 14, 2009
The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
Homosassa public boat ramp
Squawk Box
- Continued from page1
area? Isn’t it ironic that US 19 was just recently repaved? Who will get the contract for hauling
closed for repairs
the limerock? Will this be a Levy County trucking company or someone outside the County?
In reality how much water will be used on a daily basis? After washing the limerock and
placing it on the trucks will the just washed rock create a problem for those driving on US 19
The Homosassa county boat ramp is closing on Jan. 5 for critical repairs -- which is
and in and round the Inglis/Yankeetown? Will rocks falling off the trucks create a problem
good for a number of reasons: the ramp and dock are badly deteriorated, the ramp is the only
when being hauled? Just how much of the limerock will remain and be used in Levy County?
public boat ramp on the Homosassa River, and it is heavily used. Some other good news is
Ms. Price was approached about being appointed to the County Commission replac-
that the temporary closing won’t inconvenience boaters, according to County Commissioner
ing Mr. Yearty. She had a meeting but it seems, without her knowledge until the time of the
Gary Bartell, who represents Homosassa. He said the project has been carefully planned and
meeting, it consisted of those from Tarmac America. After reading her statement I couldn’t
thought out to minimize the impact on boaters. He said boaters won’t have to go to another
help but wonder if Tarmac consulted with any of the sitting County Commissioners and either
location to one of the few private boat ramps on the river during the construction because the
of the two suspended County Commissioners? I wonder?
county has arranged for the public to use the Homosassa Riverside Resort boat ramp just next
There are too many questions and variables that have not been truthfully answered
door to the public ramp at no charge -- as well as have access to the facility’s additional
by Tarmac America. All in all it does not seem that this mine will benefit Levy County at all, but
parking space for free -- during the construction project. More good news is that the project,
only cause problems with the Inglis/Yankeetown communities and for the County as a whole.
which would normally take months, will take only weeks.
In my humble opinion this operation is not needed in Levy County. Jerry Robinson, Williston
The new ramp is expected to re-open no later than Friday, January 23 at 6 p.m., and
perhaps earlier. And lastly, not only will the dock get repaired and the ramp fixed, improved
Fire-Rescue warns of fund-raising scam
and widened for safety, but the adjacent restrooms associated with the bait shop will be
rebuilt. They are now private, but in a public/private partnership with adjacent bait shop
The Citrus County Fire Rescue Division is warning anyone who gets a call from
owner Gator McCrae, the new restrooms will be available to the public -- plus a pump-out
someone purporting to be raising funds for the Beverly Hills Volunteer Fire Department that
station for larger boats will be added at the dock. The state is paying for 75 percent of the
neither the volunteers nor officials from Fire Rescue are raising funds via telephone calls.
installation of the pump-out station. The boating public wins all around in the project, Bartell
Volunteer Fire Rescue Capt. Joe Palminteri reported to Citrus County Fire Chief Larry Morabito
said.
that he had been contacted a number of times in recent days about an unknown telemarketing
The special repair ramp work will be done by Randall Tedder, who is President and
firm claiming to be conducting a fund raiser for Beverly Hills Volunteer Fire Department by
Owner of the Tedder Boat Ramp Systems, Inc. He will be using a pre-stressed one-piece
telephone.
concrete unit ramp in the $166,000 project. Schippers Marine will be handling the $15,934 dock
Palminteri said the volunteers do no solicit any funds or donations by telephone and
repair project. Bartell said this time of year was deemed the best to do the job. For anyone who
do not endorse this firm or their calls.
might still perceive the project as an inconvenience, he said, the reality is that the ramp has
Both he and Morabito are asking anyone who receives such a call to get the caller's
gotten so bad and so dangerous that the only alternative to not fixing it would be to shut it
name, the fund raising company's name and the phone number of the caller or company. The
down. “I think it’s a small price to pay,” he said of the three-week project Boating improvement
information should be given to the Fire Rescue Division, which can be reached at 527-5406.
funds are being used to pay for the project. That money came from boat registration and trailer
Important Toll Free Numbers
tags in Citrus collected by the state.
Citrus Cty Govt. Citrus Springs & Dunnellon 489-2120
The boat ramp closed at midnight on January 4, with construction beginning on the
Levy Cty Govt. 800-733-5389
5th. Signs announcing the closures have been posted at the public ramp and note that launch-
ing can be done at the Homosassa Riverside Resort next door for no charge.
Levy Cty Sheriff 800-538-9767
e-mail your news to: newscast@atlantic.net
River Lodge R.V. Resort
• Plaza 40 Shopping Center •
•
NOW OPEN
20 Hwy. 40 East
nglis
447-5015
20
Plaza
IInglis
447-5015
13790 W. Foss Grove Path
HOURS:
Submarine Sandwiches
Monday-Saturday
Fresh-to-Order Pizza
Inglis, Florida 34449
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Deli Meats & Cheese
at U.S. Hwy. 19, just north of the Barge Canal
Desserts & Sides
(Closed Sunday)
We Accept Cash,Debit & Credit
NOW OPEN FOR BREAKFAST AT 5:00 a.m.!
For Information Call 352-447-2900
Large Lots • New 20/30/50 AMP Electrical Service
REDEEM THIS COUPON THROUGH 1-31-09
Rentals: Daily-$30 • Weekly-$200 • Monthly-$350
$1.00 OFF any Regular Sub Sandwich
Includes Electric
$.50 OFF any Breakfast Sandwich
A.B.A.
Hair Port
Coastal
at Plaza 40
A/C & Heating,Inc.
Carting
Shopping Center
“Your Electric Bill Reduction Specialists”
“Your
Hwy. 40E, Inglis
Roll-Off Container Service
• 100% Financing
• Commercial
(352) 212-0405
Contractors/Homeowners
• Visa & MasterCard
Refrigeration
10-20-30 yd.
Call for Appointment
• 30 Years Experience
• Residential
Walk-Ins Welcome
Dumpsters
• Commercial
Lamar & Big John
Ask Us About
Construction Debris
• Mobile Homes
Ultra Violet Air Filtering
Yard Waste
Removes nearly 100%
of germs & dust
Family Salon
Reduce Sickness & Allergies
Men • Women • Kids
Family Owned & Operated
Perms • Color • Hi-Lites
Locally Owned & Operated
Starting at $45
Licensed & Insured
352-447-3040
Licensed & Insured
Womens Cuts - $12
352-465-5020
Clipper Cuts - $8
License #CACO 57707