THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday October 19, 2016
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Historian
Please visit our website: thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Community
Citrus County Receives SUN
Trail Funding
The Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) announced on
October 11 that Citrus County's Dun-
nellon Trail Gap Connector has been
selected as one of the first year projects
under the Shared Use Nonmotorized
(SUN) Trail program for $280,000 for
Design and permitting this year. The re-
quest to the state was for a bike trail and
bridge over US 41 in the Northeast part
of Citrus County. This trail connects
the Withlacoochee State Trail to the
Dunnellon Trail (all part of the Heart
of Florida Loop). This short segment
of bike trail and bridge (0.9 miles) will
connect the Dunnellon area of Marion
County with Inverness, Floral City and
Brooksville in Citrus and Hernando
Counties. In preparation for applying
for the grant Citrus County funded the
initial PD&E Study, route selection,
conceptual design and obtained prop-
erty easements.
Jeff Rogers, director of Citrus
Two bodies of two divers who were reported missing on Sunday, Oct. 16, were found Monday morning in the treacherous Eagles Nest sinkhole in Weeki Wa-
County Public Works Department stat-
chee, known by many divers as one of the most challenging dive locations in the world. According to a press release, Hernando County deputies were called to
ed, "This bike trail closes an important
the Eagle's Nest dive area located at 7199 Cortez Blvd., Weeki Wachee, about 6:00 pm, Sunday evening, with the report of two missing divers. The sheriff's
gap in the Heart of Florida Loop. Soon
office was contacted by a third diver who had been diving in the area with his friends who didn't meet him, as planned. Deputies met with the third diver, Justin
riders on the Withlacoochee State Trail
Blakely, who told them that his friends, Patrick Peacock and Chris Rittenmeyer, traveled from Fort Lauderdale to go on a three-day dive with him at Eagles Nest.
can continue through Citrus County
He said that both were experienced divers and had dived Eagle's Nest, several times in the past. Photo courtesy leisurepro.com
Medical Cannabis
over the river and into Marion County.
Dunnellon man charged with
This significant improvement adds to
the excellent biking experience in Cit-
Dispensories
attempted murder
rus County."
FDOT is awarding a total of
Approved by
$44,434,543 million to 45 separate proj-
that clearly showed Hankins striking the vic-
From the Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
ects located across 21 counties through-
tim with a metallic object before throwing it
Citrus County
out Florida. The projects include con-
into the patch of grass.
Thirty-three year-old Joshua Lee
struction of 11 separate trail segments,
A deputy with his K9 partner lo-
Hankins of Dunnellon was
which will add or improve approxi-
cated the item in the grass, and it was not a
From the Citrus County BOCC
charged with attempted murder,
mately 20 miles of trail to Florida's trail
golf club, but a silver hand tool.
Oct. 9, reportedly as the result of
At the Citrus County commission
system. Another 34 projects will be in
The witness stated that he and
an ongoing altercation between
meeting on Tues., Oct. 11, whether or not
various preconstruction phases of work
his wife were turning west onto W. Citrus
the victim's and Hankins' fami-
to allow cannabis (marijuana) dispensing
such as feasibility study, environmental
Springs Blvd. from Hwy. 41 when they saw
lies for a period of about two Hankins
businesses in the county was discussed and
review and design.
Hankins' silver Dodge Durango swerving in
years. Hankins was held with-
approved by the commission, which will
Governor Scott said, "Florida
the westbound lane, sidewalk and grass on
out bond due to the history between the two
prepare the county in the event that Amend-
is proud to be an outdoors state, and our
the north side of the road. He told the deputy
families.
ment Two is passed in the upcoming Nov. 9
many incredible bicycle, pedestrian and
that he swerved because he didn't know if
About 5:45 pm that day, deputies
General Election.
multi-use trails are great activities for
Hankins was going to strike him. He said
responded to the intersection of W. Citrus
If passed by a 60% margin, medi-
that the victim was kneeling in the grass,
Springs Blvd. and Hwy. 41 in Dunnellon.
Continued on page 4
cal marijuana may be dispensed for patients
on the side of the road, and it appeared that
Witnesses reported seeing Hankins
with debilitating medical illnesses, by the
Easier Than eBay
Hankins was driving directly toward the
standing over the victim, striking him sev-
order of a medical physician. State law al-
victim, but it stopped a short distance from
eral times on the torso and head with a me-
You can now place classified ads at the
lows cannabis-dispensing businesses in un-
where it left the roadway, facing east, near
tallic object, that was originally thought to
incorporated areas of a county, if approved
Food Ranch Service Desk - 25 words/$12.
the westbound lane. He said Hankins got of
be a golf club, that Hankins threw into a tall
by county ordinance. The commission dis-
New deadline: Monday 12 noon at the Inglis
of the vehicle and began striking the victim,
patch of grass on the side of the road. One of
cussed placing such businesses in IND or
Food Ranch service Desk. Cash or Check.
and before Hankins could leave the scene,
the witnesses, a member of the victim's fam-
LIND (industrial or light industrial zoned)
No refunds for early cancellations
deputies began arriving.
ily, captured part on the incident on video
areas.
Continued on page 11 - Attempted