THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday October 8, 2014
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Visit our website: thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Community
Duke Energy customers
will get a small break,
thanks to PSC ruling
Duke Energy local customers
will finally receive some relief in their
energy rates toward the middle of 2015,
thanks to a compassionate ruling by the
Public Service Commission (PSC) on
Friday, Oct. 2. Duke Energy was ordered
to credit $54 million to customers for nu-
clear equipment that was never purchased
for the proposed Levy County Nuclear
Plant that Duke decided against building
due to sharply escalating costs. This was
a surprising decision, as it went against
the recommendations of the commission
staff. The average customer s bill will
drop by about $3.45 toward the middle of
2015. The charge was scheduled to stop
in 2016.
A 2006 law, the Nuclear Re-
covery Clause, allows Florida utilities to
collect money from their customers for
nuclear projects before they even pro-
duce power. Damage repair to Crystal
River Nuclear Unit 3, plus the scrapping
of the anxiously anticipated Levy County
Nuclear plant has both Levy and Citrus
This photo from 2012 shows Yankeetown School's PTO Fall Festival was a great success. Starting with a parade ending at the school, young
County reeling with costs of about $3.2
and olde alike enjoyed the yearly tradition. Cake walks have always been one of the most popular adult activities while the younger crowd has
billion to Duke Energy customers for
plenty of choices of games with tempting prizes in the school court yard, along with face painting. It's a great fund raiser and the 2014 fall
energy that will never be produced, and
festival in set for Oct. 17. See full story on page 12. Photo/Sally Price
more in the loss of jobs and revenue to
Suspect In Multiple Vehicle Thefts
Homosassa
Citrus County, that the $54 million is
practically small change to customers.
Caught in Homosassa
Local municipalities have been forced
man injured
to find other forms of revenue, further
squeezing citizens dollars.
recklessly, passing on the wrong side of the
From The Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
in`hit and
On Thursday, the PSC also ap-
road and traveling at speeds over 120 mph
Casey Allen Liles, 36, 15306 Her-
proved Duke Energy s plan to build a
in a 55 mph speed zone. Deputies had de-
shel Rd., Brooksville, FL, was
$1.5 billion natural gas plant in Citrus
ployed stop sticks, which had rendered the
arrested by the Citrus County
run' crash
County (Crystal River) that should come
vehicle inoperable. The first deputy than
Sheriff s Office, Oct. 3, while
online in 2018. Customers will face ad-
resumed the lead in the pursuit. Liles con-
driving a stolen vehicle in Ho-
ditional charges for the construction of
From Florida Highway Patrol
tinued east on W. Cardinal St., turned south
mosassa.
this plant when it comes online. This
onto S. Gilbert Ter., ran through a fence and
Liles
A Homosassa man who was walk-
According to the arrest
project was approved because the PSC
finally came to a stop.
ing on U.S. Hwy. 19 was critically injured
affidavit, a deputy on patrol,
determined that the utility had no viable
Liles continue fleeing on foot,
in a hit and run incident on Friday, Oct 3, at
was driving on U.S. Hwy. 19 in Homosassa,
alternatives to meet their projected need.
jumping several fences, but eventually
12:15 a.m.
heading south, approaching W. Cardinal,
Duke expects to have all permitting com-
stopped and was ordered to the ground at
According to the Florida Highway
when he saw a two-tone Ford F-350 dually
Continued on page 4
gun point. Liles was taken into custody. En
Patrol, David Brian Heady, 58, was walking
pickup truck heading north on U.S. Hwy. 19
route to the jail, the deputy stated to Liles,
northbound in the center of the southbound
that matched the description of a stolen ve-
that he d wrecked a nice vehicle during the
lanes of U.S. Hwy. 19 in Crystal River, north
hicle that deputy had received information
pursuit. He replied, according to the report,
of W. Venable St., when the right front of an
about in a BOLO (Be On the LookOut) that
"It wasn t my truck, anyways."
unknown vehicle that was traveling south in
afternoon.
The report stated that the estimated
the inside lane collided with him. The vehi-
When the deputy made a u-turn and
damage to the fence was $500, plus there
cle continued traveling south on U.S. Hwy.
pursued the vehicle, the truck began driving
was minor damage to a car he d struck on
19 without stopping, rendering aid or con-
erratically, weaving and changing speeds.
W. Cardinal St.
tacting law enforcement.
Another deputy went in the lead pursuit of
Continued on page 4 - Hit & Run
the vehicle, and the Ford F-350 was driving
Continued on page 10 - Suspect