THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday October 19, 2011
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Visit our website for the latest news: www.thenewscaster.com
Sally Price - Correspondent
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
FISHING
ANYONE?
With Mike Moore
When my wife and
I moved to Crystal River 17
years ago with our 1 month
old infant daughter, Crystal
River, Inglis, and Yankeetown
were just sleepy little tidal
marsh communities; places
that we as transplants from the big cities
of Washington, D.C. and New York could
scarce believe still existed, and to be hon-
est could never have imagined ourselves
making our home for these intervening de-
cades.
Not too much has changed in Cit-
rus County in the last 15 years. Save for
the highs and low waves of never-ending
small town political drama, life seems to
stay at a pretty even keel; seems the next
generation of deep southern born are com-
ing along nicely ready to take the helm and
carry on. Yes, time marches on.
But wait! What about the new
Port Citrus? Did you know about the next
big thing? If you are reading this in your
Inglis or Yankeetown home chances are
good you already know about the proposed
A Mother with her young calf are seen resting and staying warm outside Three Sisters Springs as the cold front moves through Crystal River.
development of the quaint underdeveloped
Curious snorkelers stayed a safe distance so they didnt’t wake them. Jennifer, a local resident and USFWS Volunteer for Manatee Watch also
area that is currently the Cemex and Hol-
watches. Photo by Capt. Stacy Dunn. See Manatee story on page 2.
Hernando
cim mine properties. But if you live in any
Inglis Commission Hears
other part of the county, like here in the
county seat of Inverness, maybe not so
Dollar General
"Low Down" on Port Citrus
much. I thought maybe since it is such a
huge stride forward, I would ask people
Hit Again
about their thoughts.
By Newscaster Editor
formed at this time. Port Citrus, was created
Tom Russell
by the county commission and authorized
Continued on page 4 Squawk Box
this year by the state Legislature. The coun-
The same day the Citrus County
Man Arrested in Connection
ty also approved aid for the Port Authority
Commssion moved to create a budget line
Are You Ready
With First Robbery
in the amount of $11,260
item for the proposed Port Citrus project,
to help pay its dues to
For Some
Citrus County Sheriff’s Office dis- Inglis town commissioners heard a presenta-
the Florida Ports Coun-
patchers received a call shortly after 9:30 tion by Citrus County Commissioner Chair-
cil membership. There
p.m. Saturday night reporting that the Dol- man Dennis Damato and Administrator
Football?
are 14 other ports in the
lar General store at 1385 N. Florida Avenue, Brad Thorpe about the newly proposed Port
state of Florida as part of
Hernando, had been robbed for the second Citrus near the Florida barge canal. Damato
Pigskin
the Florida Ports Council.
is also chairman of the port authority and
time in less than a week.
Commission spokesper-
The female clerk told responding Thorpe is a port director.
Predictors
son Lindsay Ubinas said,
Damato said one of the most un-
deputies that she left the office and went to
Damato
“We’ve been allocated
the register when a customer rang the bell der utilized assets of Citrus County is the
the $50,000 for the feasibility study from
for assistance. She said a white male, pos- Barge Canal. Our research shows that the
is Back,
Florida Seaport Transportation & Economic
sibly in his 20s, had a two-liter bottle of soda canal was constructed in the sixties, and de-
Development Council (FSTED). Now, the
authorized in 1972 at a cost of $72 million
on the counter.
go to page 8
county has to match it. So far - workforce
He told her he had a gun and to and the proposed location is on both public
connection and the EDC have both put forth
give him all the money in the cash drawer. and private property.
money. But the next step is waiting for the
County administrator Brad Thorpe
Although no firearm was displayed, when
said only a preliminary budget has been
Continued on page 11 - Robbery
Continued on page 2 - Port Citrus