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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher

Tom Russell - Consulting Editor

Wednesday December 15, 2010

Sally Price - Correspondent

Newscaster Publishing

Mike Moore - Photojournalist

How to know when it’s time

to hang up the car keys?

From The Healthcaster.com

An on-road driving evaluation is

The subject of when a person

should stop driving due to dementia or

other mental or physical impairments is

usually met with dread and/or resistance,

because it’s often the first loss of indepen-

dence the person will face.

A recent study in the journal,

Neurology, found that up to 76% of peo-

ple with mild dementia drive appropriately

and are able to pass a road test. At some

point in time, all dementia sufferers will

have to stop driving, as the disease wors-

ens and memory, spatial orientation, and

cognitive function decreases.

Painting Contest Turns Out the Best Artists Ever - Left, Brenda Robinson, of Yankeetown placed first in the adult class, while (middle)

Although caretakers are often

Devin Penrod, 14, Yankeetown placed first in the 12-14 division. The day started out with a winter chill, but quickly warmed up, making it

proven correct when they express concern

very pleasant for the window painters wearing long sleeves in the 16th annual contest at Food Ranch. Continued on page 3.

Man accused of stealing from family

that a dementia suffer’s driving may not be

Blair Trial Ends

safe, experts agree that the most reliable

measure of driving ability is an on-road

and pawning items for gas money

driving test, and the laws regarding the

reporting of dementia to the Departments

of Motor Vehicles vary, according the the

A 23 year-old Crystal River man,

allow it. The victim told

Douglas J. Simms, 2136 N. Watersledge Dr.,

the deputy that law en-

According to Florida law, any

was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff’s

forcement had been at his

person who has knowledge that a licensed

Office, Dec. 1, charged with dealing in sto-

residence, earlier in the

driver has a mental - or physical - driving

len property and giving false information to

day, when he’d reported

impairment can submit a report to the De-

mer executive director of the

a pawnbroker. His bond was set at $40,000.

several items (the ones

partment of Highway Safety and Motor

Enterprise Zone Develop-

The items in question were an AK 47 fire-

listed above) as stolen.

Vehicles (DHSMV). The DHSMV will no-

ment Agency and the Nature

arm, a Sony CD player, an Alpine DVD

He also said that other

tify the driver in writing, then investigate

Coast Business Develop-

player with a 7” display and a Sony Play-

relatives were missing a

the report. If the report appears warranted,

ment Council (she resigned

station, the property of a relative. In pawn-

lot of jewelry, and he did

the DHSMV will test the driver. The law

in Nov. 2008) was tried on

ing the items, Simms is accused of giving

not know where Simms

provides that no report can be used as evi-

a federal charge of lying to

false verification of ownership to Dan’s Gun

dence in any civil or criminal trial or pro-

an FBI agent during an in-

Room, Pat’s Pawn, American Trading Post

Around 11:40 p.m., the deputy

ceeding, and anonymity is available.

terview. The trial ended with

and The Gettin’ Place Pawn. Money re-

spoke with Simms at the Circle K gas station

If a person with dementia shows

the jury, evenly split and unable to reach a

ceived for the pawned items was $150.

located at Hwy. 19 and Ozello Trail about

one or more of the following signs, itís

decision on Dec. 8. She was tried in Florida

The incident came to the atten-

the missing items. Simms said that he’d tak-

time to have a serious conversation with

District Court in Gainesville.

tion of the sheriff’s office on Dec. 1 when

en the AK 47 firearm and pawned it at Dan’s

the driver, his/her doctor, and/or the

Blair was appointed executive di-

a deputy responded to a “civil standby,” at a

Gun Room for $100. He said he’d taken the

DHSMV: 1) stopping in traffic for no

rector in August of 2006 and was was ar-

residence between a relative of Simms (the

Playstation and he believed he’d pawned it

reason or ignoring traffic signs, 2) failing

rested in Dec. 2008, and was one of several

victim) and Simms’ girlfriend, who wanted

at The Gettin’ Place Pawn, along with some

to signal or signaling inappropriately, 3)

officials charged with varying offenses in

to retrieve some of her personal belongings

jewelry. He said he’d pawned the items be-

Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box

from the residence, and the victim would not