THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Wednesday December 1, 2010
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Keep Your Child Safe With A
Free Car Safey Seat from IPD
By Deborah Russell
Newscaster Editor
The Inglis Police Department is
sponsoring a Child Safety Seat program on
Monday, December 6, where approximate-
ly 20 car seats will be distributed to Inglis
residents who register in advance at the
Inglis Police Department and live within
the Inglis Town Limits.
According to Lorraine Barber,
administrative assistant with the IPD, there
are currently more car seats to be distribut-
ed than the number of residents who have
preregistered to receive one, but residents
have until Friday, Dec. 3rd to preregister at
the Inglis Police Department, located at 26
Hwy. 40 W, during regular business hours
of 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please take ad-
vantage of this opportunity to help ensure
your child’s safety on the highway.
If you have preregistered to re-
ceive a free car seat, please contact the
Inglis Police Department at (352) 447-
0303 to learn what time on Monday after-
noon, Dec. 6, to drop by the police depart-
ment to receive your child safety seat.
Cruisin’ Down the River -- This is the Honey Bluff Tug (Withlacoochee River) owned by Tom and Peggy Trainer of Yankeetown. On board is Tom
To those picking up the safety
Trainer and his friend John Noonan from Debary, Florida. The tug has been completely restored to its 1986 original appearance as a general
seats, be sure that you fully understand the
purpose harbor tug boat. It was most recently used a a shrimp boat. It took about two years to restore the 37 foot, 130 hp tug with fiberglass
Inglis man charged with
instructions for using them. According to
over mahogany planking. Photo by Peggy Trainer.
the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad-
Man Arrested For
ministration, 3 out of 4 (or 75% of) child
sexual battery of 4 year-old girl
safety seats are not used correctly, a factor
"Pulling" A Gun on
which greatly contributes to the number of
injuries and deaths of children in vehicle
Levy Deputy
crashes.
Daniel J. Hamman, 43, whose ad-
given her. The report stated that the investi-
Florida child safety restraint
dress is listed “at large, Inglis,” was arrested
gator also questioned the child’s 6 year-old
laws, according to the Florida Highway
From the Levy County Sheriff Dept.
by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, Nov.
sister, “who had witnessed the sexual activ-
Patrol: Children through the age of 3 must
On November 27, 2010 Levy
22, charged with the sexual battery of a 4
ity.” The older child told the investigator
be secured in a federally-approved child
County Corporal Todd Houchin responded
year-old Crystal River girl. According to the
that she awakened to hear her sister crying.
restraint seat. Children ages 4 through 5
to the Discount Food
arrest report, Hamman arrived at a Crystal
She also described the inappropriate sexual
must be secured by either a federally-ap-
Mart located at 9931 NE
River residence where the child was staying,
activity she’d seen. The older girl, during
proved child restraint seat or a safety belt.
SR-24 to meet with a
around 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 22, and spent the
questioning, said that Hamman had not
All children under the age of 18 must be
complainant from a pre-
night there.
touched her (the older girl), “other than on
buckled-up while riding in any car, pick-
vious call. While in the
When the family awakened later
her leg,” the report stated.
up truck, or van, although the law does not
parking lot Cpl Houchin
that morning, around 7:30 a.m., they noticed
That afternoon, the investigator
specify locations of the vehicle where a
was approached by a
that the victim’s overalls had been removed,
interviewed Hamman at the Citrus County
child may ride. The driver is held respon-
white male that was lat-
and she was wearing only her t-shirt and
Detention Facility, where he was already in-
sible for buckling up any child in a vehicle.
er identified as Jimmie
panties. The mother and her boyfriend (who
carcerated on unrelated charges. The report
Saunders
The cost to a child safety law violator is a
Saunders from Archer.
lives at the residence) also noticed a distinct
stated that “he’d arrived at the house after
minimum of $60 plus $10 court costs.
Saunders wanted to know why Cpl Houchin
odor of oil or lubricant. Upon questioning,
one of his current girlfriends got mad at him
According to most sources, Flor-
was at the store and who called law enforce-
the child stated that Hamman had removed
and kicked him out,” and “that he had drunk
ida’s child safety laws are the most lenient
ment on him. Cpl Houchin explained that he
her clothing and described inappropriate
a lot of alcohol and does not remember what
in the nation. Although it is generally
was at the store in reference to another call
sexual activity.
occurred.”
agreed that children are safest, restrained
but he would gladly help him if he needed
A child protection investigator
According to the report, the inves-
in the rear seat, Florida has no such pro-
assistance.
came to the residence and questioned the
tigator told Hamman that the victim’s sister
vision in the law. The middle, rear seat is
Saunders behavior got more bi-
child, who gave the investigator the same
had witnessed what he did to the victim; “He
considered safest, because this area is far-
details the child’s mother and boyfriend had
Continued on page 3 - Sexual Battery
Continued on page 4 - Squawk Box
Continued on page 3 - Gun Arrest