THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday January 2, 2013
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
visit our website: www.thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Citrus Sheriff Conducting
Citizen Survey
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Of-
fice is looking for input from the com-
munity to gauge how citizens perceive
the agency’s overall performance when it
comes to public safety.
A brief survey has been compiled
that will be used to determine the public’s
response to: (1) the competence of sher-
iff s office employees, (2) the attitude and
conduct displayed by agency personnel
when dealing with members of the com-
munity, (3) the degree of safety and secu-
rity that citizens experience within their
community, (4) and any suggestions or
recommendations on how the sheriff’s of-
fice may improve the way it provides both
law enforcement and emergency commu-
nications services.
The survey is available, as of
Dec. 1, at the sheriff s office website -
www.sheriffcitrus.org - click on Citizen s
Survey, and complete the survey or print it
out (3 pages) and mail to: Citrus County
Sheriff s Office, Professional Standards
Cadets in Training - The Manatee Division of the US Naval Sea Cadet Corps is actively seeking new members for the New Year. The Sea Cadet
Division; Attn: Sgt. Chris Evan, 1 Dr.
Corps is a youth organization for Americans 11-17 years old who are interested in the maritime services. Cadets in the program are allowed
Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue; Inverness,
to wear Navy uniforms and gain rank as they train and learn new skills. Read full story on page 2.
FL 34450.
Two Homes Destroyed in Citrus Fires
Former health
During December, the sheriff s
office also conducted the survey in the
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
administrator
Oak Ter. in Lecanto. Engine 31 from the Ho-
two following ways: (1) volunteers with
mosassa Fire Station arrived on-scene and
The Citrus Sheriff’s Fire/Rescue
the sheriff s office will be making random
they found a 2200 square foot wooden frame
responded to a report of a fire in a mobile
calls to households throughout the county,
charged with
home 80% involved with fire. There was an
home at 4920 E. Parsons Pt., Hernando,
and conducting the survey with the per-
addition added to the structure that the fire
around 4:30 am Dec. 28th. The Citrus Fire/
son reached. No personal information will
scheme to
did not completely destroy due to crews pro-
Rescue unit from the Hernando fire station
be solicited by those making these calls,
tecting this area.
reported that the mobile home was fully in-
with the exception of the general location
Continued on page 2- House Fires
volved. Due to the lack of fire hydrants in
where the person lives and the person’s
defraud
the immediate area, other responding units
age group. The entire experience should
provided water via apparatus shuttles. In all,
take approximately five minutes. (2) Per-
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
a total of five units responded.
sonnel with the sheriff s office also plan to
Rebecca Ann Bilby, 30, 771 N.
The fire caused extensive damage
contact citizens directly at random venues
Conant Ave., Crystal River, was
to the approximate 500 square foot mobile
in the county and survey them there.
arrested by the Citrus County
home. Damages were estimated at $17,500
Even though the sheriff s of-
Sheriff s Office, Dec. 18, on an
for the structure and $8,750 for the contents.
fice is truly interested in hearing citizens
arrest warrant for two counts of
Also damaged by the mobile home fire was
opinions, there is no obligation to partici-
criminal use of personal iden-
a Mercury Mountaineer SUV.
pate in the agency’s survey.
tification information and one
Josh Vantassell, an occupant of the
For more information about the
Bilby
count of scheme to defraud less
residence received burns while unsuccess-
citizen’s survey, please call Sgt. Chris
than $20,000.
fully attempting to rescue two pet dogs. The
Evan at 352-527-3701.
The arrest report stated that Bilby
dogs perished in the fire. Mr. Vantassell was
Pet Patrol
is a health care professional and former ad-
transported to the hospital. The American
ministrator of Crystal Gem Manor Assisted
Red Cross was requested to provide assis-
Living Facility locate at 10845 W. Gem St.
tance to the occupants. The State Fire Mar-
On Page 2
in Crystal River. Bilby had been terminated
shal s Office responded to investigate.
in May 2012 by the corporate office after
Shortly after 1 pm on Dec. 28th
suspicious transactions were uncovered.
Citrus County Sheriff’s Fire/Rescue re-
5716 S. Gray Oak Ter. in Lecanto
Continued on page 3 - Scheme
sponded to a structure fire at 5716 S. Gray