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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday January 8, 2014
Inglis, FL 34449
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Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
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Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Community
"Meet the Local Aquatic Preserves"
presented by Jamie Letendre, Environ-
mental Specialist at Florida Dept of Envi-
ronmental Protection. Wednesday, Janu-
ary 15, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. - WGP Ellie
Schiller Education Center
Jamie will discuss the resource
management and partnerships associated
with local waters. The discussion will
present opportunities for participation in
various outreach events including a water
quality program and seagrass monitoring.
A Hearing for Restoration of
Withlacoochee River
Restoration of the Lower River
has been a long term objective of our or-
ganization. Whether or not the topics to
be discussed by the SWFWMD at this
hearing have merit is unknown at this
point, but I suggest this would be an ex-
cellent point of entry to let the Task Force
and SWFWMD know that we are, as an
organization and community, quite deter-
mined to see our river restored. We need
a very big turn out for this meeting.
A procession to honor fallen soldier, 34 year-old U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy Lee Billings, took place on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Billing'
Monday, January 13, 2014, 2:00 pm.
Americam Flag-draped casket and family members were escorted by the Marion county Sheriff's Office, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, and
Lecanto Government Building, 3600
the Patriot Guard Riders. The procession started at the Ocala Airport then,down State Rd. 200 through Hernando to Inverness. According to
West Sovereign Path, Room 166, Lecan-
Bay News 9, the funeral service was scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Jan. 4, at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Inverness. He is survived by his wife,
to, Florida 34461.
Ashley Weaver Billings, Manhattan, Kansas (formerly of Crystal River); his father, Robert Billings and mother, Sheryl Brown, both of Heavener,
Oklahoma; After the service, Billings' body was escorted to the National Cemetery in Bushnell. CCSO photos.
Dunnellon woman charged with
Citrus County
child abuse and neglect
Proper ty
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
on an air mattress with the one year-old boy
Appraiser Found
lying beside her. The report stated the boy
A 37 year-old Dunnellon woman
Blues Group Hosts Celts
was "sluggish" and stared at the deputy with
was arrested by the Citrus
Deceased
The Nature Coast Friends of the
a "blank look." The deputy stated that the
County Sheriff s Office, Jan.
Blues announces a concert on Saturday
boy's diaper and his groin and buttocks were
3, on one count of child abuse
January 18 at 1 pm . JUNIPER, a fiddler
in bad condition.
with great bodily harm and two
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
(Francis Pisacane) and a guitarist (Jasmine
The older child was wearing noth-
counts of child neglect without
Hart), presents a fiery mix of rhythms and
ing but underwear, and he had no apparent
Citrus County Sheriff s Office bodily harm. Her total bond
compelling vocals. lore.
injuries, but complained of being hungry. He
Geiger
deputies responded to the home of Property  was set at $9,000.
The folk/Irish blend of haunting
said he hadn't eaten since he'd been there.
Appraiser Geoffrey Greene shortly before 3
Deputies  went  to
melodies and lush harmonies will enchant
A third child, a 14 year-old girl, was
PM on Sunday. Greene, 63, of
Mystie Dawn Geiger's residence in Dunnel-
you. Surprisingly many of the songs are
located at a friend's house. She said she'd
420 S. Lecanto Hwy, Lecanto,
lon to make a well-being check on her, as the
recent, written by the performers. Seven
contacted the friend to pick her up on Dec.
was found deceased due to
complainant said she was supposed to drop
dollars is the admission price, at the Mu-
31. The Marion County Sheriff s Office lo-
an apparent suicide. Official
off two boys (ages 1 and 5) to their school
seum Cafe at 10466 Yulee Avenue in Ho-
cated the girl and reported to the CCSO that
cause and manner of death are
on Jan. 1, but she had not done this. He said
mosassa .
she was fine. The Department of Children
pending the medical exam-
that Geiger had picked the children up from
A  local  mountain  dulcimer
and Families (DCR) was contacted.
iner's report. At this time, no
the school on Dec. 29, and he'd last spoken
Greene
group, New River Strings, will open for
Emergency medical services was
further details can be released
with the children and Geiger on Dec. 31, and
Juniper. At 1 PM, they will play Ameri-
contacted to check on the children and Gei-
as the investigation is ongoing.
he'd been unable to contact them by phone,
cana and mountain music on this tradi-
ger, who was difficult to arouse. She said
Update:Detectives continued Monday  since.
tional Appalachian instrument. The play
she'd drank a lot of wine and didn't know if
to investigate the details surrounding Sun-
At Geiger's residence, the front
list emphasizes the Celtic influence in
she'd fed the children or where the girl was.
day's death of Citrus County's Property Ap-  sliding glass door was wide open, and there
American and alternative folk music. For
She said that she and the children had been
praiser, Geoffrey Green, 63, of Lecanto.
was a strong smell of urine, according to the
more information: 352-628-1081.
Continued on page 3 - Child Abuse Investigation
deputy, who found Geiger "unconscious"
Continued on page 4 - Death Investigation