'Newspg4.indd' by The Newscaster

At 6:29 a.m., Jan. 8, the Citrus County Sheriff s Office, Fire Rescue Division re-

sponded to a residential structure fire located at 1519 S Lookout Pt. in Homosassa. Engine

31 from the Homosassa Fire Station arrived on the scene at 6:41a.m. to find a double wide

mobile home 50% involved in fire. Crews initiated an aggressive attack, and the fire was

brought under control at 7:00 a.m. Stations from Connell Heights, De Rosa, Crystal River,

Kensington, and Pine Ridge also responded to the fire. The owner s dog was killed in the

blaze, but no other injuries were reported. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army were con-

tacted to assist the homeowner.

Crystal River fire extinguished with no injuries

At 7:57 a.n., Jan. 7, the Citrus County Sheriff s Office, Fire Rescue Division re-

sponded to a residential structure fire located at 6600 W Avocado St. in Crystal River. En-

gine 71 from the Connell Heights Fire Station arrived on the scene at 8:03 a.m. to find a

doublewide mobile home 50% involved in fire. Crews initiated an aggressive initial attack,

and the fire was brought under control at 8:20 a.m. Stations from Homosassa, De Rosa,

Crystal River, Kensington, and Pine Ridge also responded to the fire. No injuries were re-

ported. Red Cross and The Salvation Army were requested to assist the home owners.

Fire at Bella Oasis motel confined to laundry room

At 6:03 p.m., Jan 13, the Citrus County Sheriff s Office, Division of Fire Rescue

responded to a structure fire in the laundry room of the Bella Oasis motel, located at 4076 S.

Suncoast Blvd. inHomosassa. Upon arrival, firefighters with Engine 31 of Homosassa found

heavy smoke coming from the first floor laundry room. Access was made to the laundry

room, and crews found fire inside. No guests at the hotel were injured, and the hotel was

back to normal a short time later. Fire units from Sugarmill Woods, Connell Heights, Crystal

Rainbow Springs State Park, Dunnellon was originally an attraction owned independently but

River and Kensington responded to the scene to assist. The State Fire Marshall responded

it closed in 1974. It was later purchase by the state of Florida. Once upon a time it was just

to determine the cause of the fire. Damage to the structure was estimated at $2,000, and the

plain old "Blue Springs," but that was before the developers in the 1930's decided that

damage to the laundry room and its contents was estimated at $10,000.

"Rainbow Springs" had a nicer ring to it. Instead of glass bottom boats, "Submarine Boats"

Floral City fire destroys home and kills family pet

were built to show off the springs. Fish were viewed out the side windows. In 1951 a group of

precision swimmers from St Petersburg performed for the public at the head springs of Rain-

At 7:28 a.m., Jan. 8, the Citrus County Sheriff s Office, Division of Fire Rescue





bow Springs. These aquatic swimmers were called the Bahama Belles. The Rainbow Springs

responded to a residential structure fire at 8673 E. Hooker Pl. in Floral City. Engine 241

delivers 462 million gallons of water a day and they are classified as a first magnitude spring.

from3Floral City arrived on the scene at 7:3534446 find an approximately 1,500 square

509 S. Orwell Pt., Homosassa, Florida a.m. to

Located several miles north of Dunnellon on Hwy 40/41, the park is open today and you can

feet, doublewide mobile home approximately 75% involved in fire. Due to another fire in

Phone: (352) 489-4588 Fax: (727) 362-4788

enjoy the trails and waterfalls for a minor fee. Photo from Florida State Archives, history by

Homosassa, Hernando County Fire Rescue was requested to assist with the water supply and

mail, Tom Russell, Publisher: thenewscaster1@gmail.com

provide additional manpower to extinguish the fire. The fire was brought under control at

Crystal River Decommissioning

ail, Debbie Russell, Editor: debbienewscaster@gmail.com

8:03 a.m. During the incident, five engines, one mutual aid engine from Hernando County,

m · newscasterarchives.com · history.newscasterarchives.com the fire. The house and

three tankers, one squad and a battalion chief were utilized during · thehealthcaster.com

Attemptewas listed as wanted by suspect Sheriff s Officedead- Duke Energy customers will be allowed input at for This Thursday

d murder the Citrus County found on Sat. af Hearing Scheduled a public meeting hosted by the U.S. Nuclear

the contents were a total loss estimated at $48,190, and a family pet was also lost.



Regulatory Commission. The public will be allowed to ask questions about the decommis-

ternoon, Jan. 11, and considered armed and dangerous, was found inhis home by deputies,

sioning of the Crystal River Nuclear plant. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday

     

Sunday afternoon, deceased.

at Duke Energy's Training Center/Emergency Operations Facility, located at 8200 Venable

According to the sheriff s office, no foul play is suspected in the death

St. in Crystal River. The topic of discussion will be the cost and timeline of the shutdown

of 52 yearoldDaniel  and  andof death are

     Wesley Combs,  the cause  manner

expected to take sixty years. Duke Energy officials told the public last week that customers

pendingthe··further be

  medical examiner's report. No  details can  released, at

would not have to pay for the shutdown.

his   investigationis ongoing.    

time, as the      

  Saturday, deputieswerecombing the lookingforCombs

As of       area,  

Discounted Tax Returns

- who was wanted on charges of attempted first degree murder, kidnapping

while armed and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm with a weapon.

E-File · Rapid Refunds · Low Rates

Citizen's  

   Academy Discussion Feb. 11

The League of Women Voters of Citrus County is pleasedto have Deborah Bloss,

Rick Rubrigi LPTC

R YCitrus ICounty Administrative Assistant,O R D Etheir next   on Feb. 11th at the

T H N G M A D E T O speak at R

Tax Professional

CoastalLibrary, Crystalat 10:15am.*(Note change of location)

 Region  River   

Licensed Professional Tax Consultant

a 

Mrs. Bloss will give  presentation on the Citrus County Citizen's Academy fol-

lwed discussion and The Citizen's Academy is free

 by   questions from those attending.

(352) 447-3383 Office

and open to all residents who wish to experience a hands on , inside look at how the county's

departments andtheservices 

 work    that they provide..

949-3863 Cell

September2013, the LWVCC members participated in this very

In   twelve of 

populargraduated

 program and  on December 10th. They agreed that the class was both

167 Hwy. 40 West, Inglis, FL 34449

enlightening and enjoyable and urge other residents to participate in this excellent course.

All interested men and women are invited to join us on Feb 11th. The League of

Chamber Coast Realty Building

River of Commerce

Women Voters is a non partisan, educational organization. For more information contactl-

 





Land Clearing - Fill - Septic Installation

Carl Roof, Owner





19371 SE Butler Rd.



Inglis, FL 34449







352-257-8250 cell

