THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Wednesday October 7, 2009
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Newscaster Editors
What's Wrong With This
"Picture"?
Florida Department of Cor-
rections inmate number 063425, John
Evander Couey, 51, died in Jacksonville
Memorial Hospital on Sept. 30. Couey
was convicted of the first-degree mur-
der, kidnapping and sexual battery of
9-year-old Jessica Lunsford in March
2007. Couey, who had been sentenced (in
August, 2007) to die by lethal injection,
had been incarcerated at the Florida State
Prison in Starke.
According to the Florida Depart-
ment of Corrections, Couey had been ill
for some time. He was taken from pris-
on to the hospital on Aug. 12, where he
was under 24-hour guard. Several reports
say he was being treated for anal cancer.
An autopsy, which will be performed in
Duval County at an unknown date, was
ordered on Oct. 1. Couey’s aunt, Virginia
Koetzer of Bushnell, told prison officials
that she will claim Couey’s body after the
autopsy is performed. Although the total
of Couey’s medical bill is not available,
Dept. of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl
Passing through Inglis Sunday was Bill and Amarins Harrison with their 3 daughters, Cheyenne, Jasmine and Robin, ages 3, 4 and 6 who are
Plessinger said the state’s 2009-2010 bud-
making a name for themselves as they peddle their 14.5 foot quint bike across America. They have been nicknamed “The Pedouins” derived
get allocates $439,000,000 for treating in-
from Bedouin, a desert tribe that traditionally lived in tents. The family of 5 left Renfroe Valley, KY in August pulling a small trailer behind
the bike, biking to SC and down to south Florida to Texas and California as part of their 7000 mile journey. Continued on page 3.
mates across the state.
Couey’s worldly possessions
Man Arrested
Levy Deputies Shut Down
were reportedly few: a radio, a set of
headphones, an electric razor, a cup, a
toothbrush holder, soap, a soap dish, a
For Grand
Grow House in Dunnellon
mirror, shower slippers, a watch, nail
clippers, deodorant, a sweatshirt and a set
On Oct. 1, the Levy County Sher-
of colored pencils. In his cell, Couey left
Theft in Scrap
Investigators
iff’s Office Drug Task Force received infor-
four Tylenol tablets, a package of Ramen
seized 4.5 pounds of
mation that a group of people may be op-
soup mix, a dictionary, a photo album of
processed
marijuana,
erating an indoor marijuana grow house at
mostly family pictures, and several Chris-
Metal Case
along with 105 marijuana
11471 S.E. 136th Terrace in Dunnellon. Af-
tian books, including “Whole Christian-
plants. The street value of
ter an initial investigation, information for a
ity,’” “The New Testament,” “The Book
the confiscated marijuana
search warrant was obtained, then executed,
of Common Prayer,” “Out of Silence:
is in excess of $100,000.
Kevin Lynn Gilland, 25, 7657 W.
during the late afternoon of Oct. 1.
Quaker Perspectives on Pastoral Care
Arrested in the
Otter St., Homosassa, was arrested by the
When the Task Force team entered
and Counsel” and “The Evidence Bible.”
investigation were: (1)
Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, Sept. 29, on
the residence, they discovered a passage-
During his two years on death row, Couey
Duniesky Alfonso Soc-
Soccorro
a charge of grand theft ($300 or more but
way, located behind a refrigerator, that led to
had no visitors.
corro (born in Cuba), age
less than $5,000) and dealing in stolen prop-
three hidden rooms that were being used for
According to details at Couey’s
33, 20255 S.W.122 Ave.,
erty.
the cultivation and processing of marijuana.
Miami trial, Couey, a registered sex of-
#103, Miami, charged
On Sept. 14, a business owner re-
They had an intricate support mechanism,
with conspiracy to traffic
Continued on page 12- Squawk Box
ported the theft of scrap metal valued at ap-
made up of an advanced watering system,
marijuana and possession
proximately $1,200 from his business. He
Got Gas?
several grow lights and air conditioning that
of marijuana more than 20
said he’d left the scrap metal in a metal re-
was needed to make the mechanism work.
grams; (2) Abelardo Mesa
cycling container on his business property to
According to Capt. Evan Sullivan,
Rojas (born in Cuba; mar-
At What Price?
be recycled at Inter-County Recycling (ICR)
Public Information Officer with the LCSO,
ried to Rocio I. Mesa, be-
in Lecanto.
agents said it appeared that one marijuana
low #3), age 56, 11471
According to Gilland’s arrest re-
crop had already been harvested since the
See page 12.
Rojas
S.E. 136th Terrace, Dun-
port, he was caught by a Gulf Coast Metal
group moved into the residence, early this
Continued on page 3- Grow House
year.
Continued on page 3 - Scrap Metal