THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday October 26, 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
The Haunted
House
With Doug Johnston
With the cool Au-
tumn air slowly making its
way to our neck of the woods
and the harvest moon we just
experienced last week I am
always reminded of the Hal-
loween of all Halloweens I
experienced as a youngster.
It was probably 1957 or 58. I was
at that awkward age for boys. Our gang
in Inverness consisted of myself, Fran-
cis Croft, Steve Spivey, Joe Mcleod, and
the undisputed leader of the pack, Buster
Gieger.
Halloween came and as usual we
had a parade that ended at the Citrus High
School softball field where the PTA Carni-
val was held every Halloween. The parade
was actually a walk up Main Street with
the townʼs children dressed in their Hal-
loween costumes. Like almost all children
in those days our costumes were made
by our Mothers. But that particular year I
had an adventure other than the carnival
or trick or treating on my mind. Our gang
had planned for weeks to somehow gain
Chief Mackie Sanford (c) of the Many Lakes Band of Florida Cherokee tribe in front of a large gathered crowd gives blessing to The Creator at
entrance to the old Richburg house at the
the Three Sisters Springs with offerings to the ‘seven winds and four cardinal directions’ using white sage in a ceremonial bowl on Saturday,
top of Dames Hill. It was haunted by at
October 22. The morning gathering opened the annual “Refuge Day” held for the first time at the springs. TheNewscaster/Mike Moore photo
Cause of infant’s death pending
least one ghost.
printed with permission.
Michael Joyner
It was just turning dark when we
autopsy toxicology results
left the carnival and headed to the house.
Chosen for
We were laughing and boasting when we
left but as we got closer and the decrepit
On Oct. 19, dispatchers at the Citrus Copunty Sheriff’s Office received a call about
old house came into sight our mood be-
an 8-week-old male infant in Homosassa who wasn’t breathing. When deputies arrived at
Levy BOCC
came somber. After all, this was the house
6872 W. Ray Court, the baby’s father, Jason Longanecker, 31, was performing CPR on
his son, Evan Longanecker, in the kitchen. The infant’s mother, Abbey Jaros, also 31, told
Continued on page 4 Squawk Box
deputies she was breast-feeding Evan on a couch in the living room when she apparently fell
asleep.
Thursday
Oct.
When she awakened, the baby was unresponsive. Emergency Medical Services
20th Gov. Rick Scott ap-
transported baby Evan to Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced
pointed Michael Joyner to
deceased at 9:35 p.m. The death is currently classified as “a death unknown.” An autopsy
the Levy County commis-
was performed at the medical examiner’s officer in Leesburg on Oct. 20. According to the
sion, replacing the con-
medical examiner, the cause and manner of death is pending toxicology testing results.
victed and suspended Tony
Parker of Bronson.
Crystal River Juvenile charged as
According
to
Joyner
Connie Asbell, supervisor
adult with 2nd degree murder
of elections, this is the first time in history
that Republicans have controlled the Levy
Deandre Jordan Phillips, 6468 W. Avocado St., Crystal River, was
board. The county has a majority of regis-
arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, Oct. 21, on a warrant for sec-
tered Democrats. Asbell, after serving five
ond-degree murder with a firearm in the shooting death of Fred Drew, 18,
terms in office said she would not be run-
of Inverness, on Oct. 2. Phillips, whose 17th birthday was Oct. 23, is being
ning for re-election in 2012. She said her as-
charged as an adult. He was transported from the Department of Juvenile Jus-
sistance, Tammy Jones would likely run for
tice in Ocala to the Citrus County Detention Facility in Lecanto where he is
Crystal Manor graveyard is "open for busi-
her position.
being held without bond.
ness, and there's always room for one more."
Phillips
Continued on page 3 - Levy BOCC