THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Wednesday October 22, 2008
A Publication of
Permit No. 14
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Newscaster Publishing
Sally Price Correspondent
State & Local
Gainesville
Candidates,
PD nabs
Amendments
(General Election)
suspect in
The General Election is just two
weeks away, on Tues., Nov. 4th, and never
has your vote been more critical. All regis-
Crystal River
tered voters should be determined to vote,
and all preparations, such as knowing the
location of your polling place, along with
bank robbery
how and when you're getting there, should
be made in advance, so nothing can under-
mine your exercising your crucial - as never
Around 9 p.m.,
before - right to vote. Polls are open until
Oct . 16, Gainesville Po-
7:00 p.m. Remember to bring with you a
lice Department officers
picture I.D., such as a driver's license or a
made a traffic stop on Sh-
State-issued I.D. card. If you have moved,
annon Lee Shepardson,
bring proof of both your old and your new
36, of 8300 W. Rainbow
addresses (a utility or other bill). Be alert
Oaks Court, Crystal River,
to voter fraud; if your name has been re-
the primary suspect in the
moved from the voting roster, contact your
Oct. 14 robbery of the
Shannon
Supervisor of Elections - immediately - to
Mercantile Bank in Crys-
Shepardson
exercise your right to vote: Citrus County
tal River. He was taken into
Academy of Environmental Science Students in Crystal River and State Park volunteer Buffy
Supervisor of Elections (Susan Gill,
custody on a Citrus County Sheriff's Office
Dematteis are making preparations for a spooky charitible funrasier. The event is the main
Inverness) at 1-800-655-6645 or (352) 341-
warrant for robbery.
fundraiser for the friends of the Crystal River Preserve State Parks. More on page 5
6740; or Levy
County Supervisor of Elec-
Just before 3:30 p.m., Oct. 14, a
Levy School Board Member
tions (Connie Asbell, Bronson) at (352) 486-
lone white male had entered the front door
5163. Unfortunately, the deadline to regis-
of the Crystal River Mercantile Bank lo-
ter for this election has already passed; the
cated at 1000 S.E. U.S. Hwy. 19. Five bank
Charged With Lewdness
deadline was Oct. 6th. However, you can still
employees, but no customers, were in the
register to vote for elections that will be held
building at the time. The robber's face was
after the Nov. 4th General Election.
covered with cloth, and he alluded to hav-
EARLY VOTING dates in Florida
ing a weapon, although no weapon was
one of the stalls, "coughing very loudly, as if
Levy County
are Monday, October 20th through Satur-
visable. He demanded cash from one of the
to signal to come into the stall." Davis said
School Board Member
day, November 1st. Early voting sites:
tellers and was given an undisclosed amount
that he'd pretended to leave the bathroom,
(District 1), Billy R.
LEVY COUNTY - Supervisor of Elections
of money. He exited through the front door
and the coughing had ceased. Davis said he
Morrison, was charged
Office, 421 S. Court St., BRONSON (Mon.-
of the bank and ran to the back of the build-
then had opened the bathroom door, again,
with lewdness, follow-
Sat., 9am-5pm); CITRUS COUNTY - Cit-
ing, followed by a bank employee who was
as if he were re-entering the bathroom, and
ing an alleged incident
rus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave.,
attempting to see the robber's vehicle or
the coughing had resumed.
that took place at Santa
INVERNESS (8:30am-4:30pm); Inverness
direction of travel. He was seen jumping
Officer Barley went to the
Fe
College
in
City Hall, 212 W. Main St., INVERNESS
into a two-tone, blue or gray 1991 Plymouth
restroom and entered the first stall. Mr.
Gainesville on Oct. 11.
(8:30am-4:30pm); Crystal River Elections
Voyager station wagon or van.
Morrison was already in a stall and stayed
Morrison, 47, was is-
Office, 801 S.E. Hwy. 19, CRYSTAL RIVER
Just minutes before the robbery,
there for about five minutes, then left the
sued a notice to appear
(Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm); Homosassa Public
the suspect was videotaped in the ABC Fine
restroom and re-entered it, about four min-
Billy Morrison in court after allegedly
Library, 4100 Grandmarch Ave.,
Wine & Spirits store located at 822 S.E.
utes later, and went into the stall next to Of-
exposing himself to a plain clothes campus
HOMOSASSA (8:30am-4:30pm).
U.S. Hwy. 19. His behavior was strange
ficer Barley's. Barley stated that he and
police officer in a men's restroom in the
enough that workers had noted his tag num-
Continued on page 5 - Election
Morrison had no verbal communication, and
campus' J Building, which is a science build-
ber and passed it along to Citrus County
about three minutes later, Morrison stood up
ing, around 11:15 a.m.
WE
deputies.
and exposed himself through a hole in the
Morrison is also manager of the
Because Shepardson wore a mask
divider wall between the two restroom stalls.
MOVE
Perkins State Bank Bronson Branch and a
during the commission of the crime, the
Officer Barley then identified himself as a
member of the Levy County Canvassing
charge of robbery where offender carried
SHEDS
Santa Fe College Police Officer and placed
Board for the Nov. 4th General Election. He
no weapon was enhanced to a first-degree
Morrison under arrest.
was elected, unopposed, for a second term
felony. His bond was set at $10,000. If he
(352)637-6607
Barley transported Morrison to the
on the school board in 2006.
fails to meet his bond, he'll be transported
SFC Police Department. When questioned
According to the report of the inci-
to the Citrus County Detention Facility for
The Shed Store
as to how he knew about the hole in the stall
dent, Sante Fe College Police Officer Mark
incarceration. His 1991 Plymouth Voyager,
divider wall, Morrison explained that he'd
Barley was called to the J building by Sgt.
156 N. Florida Ave.
which was used in the commission of the
come across something written in the Oaks
E.C. Davis, to investigate a suspicious per-
robbery, was secured by Gainesville police
Inverness
Mall bathroom. He said he couldn't remem-
son in the men's restroom. Sgt. Davis told
and will be transported back to Citrus County
Officer Barley that he'd heard someone in
Continued on page 4 - Lewdness Charge
for processing.