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Wednesday December 19, 2007

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A Publication of

Permit No. 4

Mike Moore - Photojournalist

Newscaster Publishing

Have a Safe and Merry Christmas

Sally Price Correspondent

Squawk Box Marion

County Drug

With Doug Johnston

A Night out with the girls

Bust Nets

I have been going to Uni-

versity of Florida football games

Ten, 3 From

since 1958. I was 13 years old

when my Father and Mother

took me and my older sister to

Dunnellon

see the Gators beat Tulane 34-

14. I was awestruck and still am in awe every

time I walk into the "Swamp" for a football

A two-day-drug sweep, Dec. 5 and

game even though I have seen many, many

6, ended with the arrest of reputed Mexican

games there over the years.

cocaine kingpin, 35-year-old Omar

The trip from Inverness, where I lived the

Hernandez-Astudillo, his alleged north Florida

first 25 years of my life and later Dunnellon to

supplier, Derrick Fitzgerald Smith of Citra, and

Gainesville is part of the excitement of a col-

eight others, three of whom were living in

lege football game for me. When my Father or

Dunnellon illegally, according to the Marion

Grandfather took me to games in the 50's and

County Sheriff's Office. The arrests came af-

early 60's, we would leave early and talk foot-

'Twas the week before Christmas and Santa "Wild Bill" Clause is caught during

ter a 30-month investigation and halted an

ball all the way to the stadium.

daylight hours in Homosassa ho ho ho'ing holiday cheer to Sarah (left) and Tammy LaBranch

estimated $15 million to $18 million per year

As a young man I would travel with friends

(on Santa's knee) also of Homosassa. The 3rd annual event brought volunteers from Mike's

drug flow into Marion, Alachua and Putnam

to the game and we would work ourselves

Pub on U.S. 19 together with the Homasassa Civic Club to distribute gifts, food, and other

counties. The drugs, vehicles and about

into football frenzy on the way to the game.

donations to 26 families throughout Citrus County. Newscaster Photo by Mike Moore

$250,000 in cash (seized during the arrests

The same ritual occurs now when my wife

Inglis Votes 4-1 to Go Against Mine

related to the investigation called Operation

Kathie and I and some of our friends or chil-

Deja Vu) were displayed at the Marion County

dren or both accompanies us to Gator foot-

Sheriff's Office by local, state and federal

Commissioner Betty Berger's agenda item "Discuss and vote on a letter to the Levy

ball games.

agencies involved in the investigation. Un-

County Commission on Tarmac Mine Operations" passed four to one, with Commissioner

This past November, after nearly 50 years

dercover agents are continuing to search for

Roy Smith voting against itat its Dec. 11th meeting. The mayor and the clerk will draft the letter

of going to Gator football games, I experienced

other street level distributors who supply

expressing the disapproval of Inglis on the impact it will have on water, roads, etc.

something totally new. Because of some lo-

drugs to drug dealers on the street. Accord-

Commissioner Berger read her letter into the record. on the Petition No. SE 9-07 Tarmac

gistical problems with work schedules, I ended

ing to Marion County Sheriff Ed Dean, the

America, LLC, before Levy County Planning Commission for their recommendation to the

up traveling to the Florida/FSU game with

drug seizure was not the largest in the county's

Levy County Commission, The Levy County Planning Commission has tabled the item while

three women. My oldest son, his wife Jaclyn

history, but among the most significant, be-

it waits for additional information. Yankeetown Mayor Dawn Clary has indicated that Yankee-

and two of their friends left before us and set

cause four levels of the organization was dis-

town will also draft a letter in opposition to the mine.

up a tailgate site with some more friends from

abled in one swoop.

Inglis Mayor Carolyn Risher had placed on the December 11th agenda a proposal to annex

Dunnellon. I will rate my trip with Kathie,

On Dec. 7, a drug investigation

Progress Energy property located in Inglis. It is currently in the Levy County taxing

Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box

opened by the Unified Drug Enforcement

district. Progress Energy had requested the same day that it be tabled it until after the

Adopt A Pet

Strike Team (UDEST) in 2005 was dubbed

holidays.

'New York Derrick,' as the investigation cen-

Citizens Meet To Protest Mine Operation

tered on 44-year-old Derrick Fitzgerald Smith

For the

A concerned citizens meeting about

causing salt water intrusion or contamination

of Citra, whom agents believed was respon-

the new Tarmac Mine north of Inglis drew a

into the aquifer that supplies both Inglis and

sible for trafficking large quantities of crack

Holidays

full crowd to the Inglis Community Center

Yankeetown well sites as well as private wells.

and powdered cocaine into north Marion,

Sunday afternoon. Many local citizens were

Support for Hometown Democracy

Alachua and Putnam counties.

joined by environmental group leaders from

was explained and forms to sign were avail-

But in 2007, after nearly two years of

as far away as Taylor County.

able that would make issues such as this come

trying to infiltrate the drug trafficking organi-

Topping the list of concerns was

before a vote of the people. Environmental

zation, UDEST obtained information that al-

water and the effect of the new mine on the

Alliance of North Florida, represented by

lowed them to actively pursue and dismantle

aquifer, when the mine permits could allow up

Chairpersons Joy Ezell and Emily Casey of-

the organization. During this portion of the

to 22 million gallons of water a day to be used

fered their organization to be a clearing house

investigation, UDEST learned that Omar

from the aquifer possibly drying up wells and

See page 2

Continued on page 4 - Mine Operation

Continued on page 4 - Drug Bust