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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday February 13, 2013
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
visit our website: www.thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Duke Gives Up
On Crystal River
From World Nuclear News
Duke Energy has decided against
trying to repair the Crystal River nuclear re-
actor, which has been offline for two years
due to problems with containment concrete
discovered during uprate work. Decom-
missioning begins immediately.
There are five power units at Crys-
tal River but only unit 3 is a nuclear reactor
- the others are coal boilers. The plant has
suffered a total reversal of fortunes since
2009, when it was in the process of a 20%
power uprate and simultaneous application
for a licence extension to generate until
2036.
The problem with the reactor was
a delamination of concrete in the contain-
ment, leading to gaps within the structure
which appeared when a large hole was
cut to allow the removal and replacement
of the units steam generators in late 2009.
Nuclear reactor containments play an im-
portant safety role in protecting the reactor
system from external impact and prevent-
ing the escape of radionuclides in case of
Saturday was the last day this season Three Sisters Spring was open to the public. The weather was beautiful and the folks came out in droves.
serious accident.
The lines to get on the transports were backed up all the way across the parking lot at the shopping center and the lines to get back were longer
A number of repair methods were
with many opting to take the stroll back. By noon a few manatee lazed around the sanctuary to the delight of those on the boardwalk as well
explored, but some of these actually made
as those who came by boat and chanced the cold water for an encounter with these beautiful manatees. Newscaster/Sally Price.
Crystal River Pain Clinic
the problem spread to other areas. After
Man Charged With
several months of study, Duke today an-
nounced it would simply retire the plant.
Shut Down by CCSO
Sexual Abuse at
The repair options had been technically
feasible, it said, but would have cost at
least around $1.5 billion and would have
estimated street value of over
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
Nursing Facility in
come with serious risks of cost and sched-
$12 million dollars. This in-
Thursday (2-7-13), Citrus County
ule overruns.
cluded doses of deadly oxyco-
Sheriff s Office detectives shut down an ille-
Hernando
“We believe the decision to retire
done, as well as Xanax, Soma,
gal pain clinic at 700 SE 5th Terrace in Crys-
the nuclear plant is in the best overall inter-
Methadone, Oxycontin and
tal River. Dr. Daniel McIntyre, 57, of 8021
ests of our customers, investors, the state of
many more.
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
N. Elbow Ln, St. Petersburg, was arrested
Florida and our company,” said Jim Rog-
Detective John Ber- McIntyre
and charged with two counts of trafficking
Roger A. Albritton, 53, was ar-
ers, chairman, president and CEO of Duke
gen, lead investigator in the
in oxycodone with a bond of $200,000.
rested by the Citrus County
Energy. Crystal River came under Duke
case, said he and other detectives spent about
Central Pain Clinic was opened
Sheriff s Office, Feb. 11, the
Energy’s ownership after its merger with
a year working on the investigation. Peo-
in 2012 with two owners, McIntire and Dr.
result of an investigation re-
Progress Energy in 2012.
ple in nearby offices actually cheered and
Dennis Varel, and was never registered le-
garding sexual abuse at the
Duke said it had already received
clapped once detectives surrounded the of-
gally with the state. Varel was found dead
Woodland Terrace Nursing
$305 million reimbursement via Nuclear
fice building. Patients of the clinic sat in the
on January 10 of this year of an apparent
Facility located in Hernando.
Electric Insurance Limited (NEIL), and this
waiting room as deputies entered.
drug overdose. McIntire has prior felony
The arrest report stated that Albritton
would be complimented by another $530
“This man will no longer be sell-
charges and could not legally work in a reg-
the victim is a 34 year-old fe-
million. The sums were agreed through a
ing these drugs to anyone inside or outside
istered clinic.
male who is unable to care for
mediation process and will go to Duke’s
of our county,” said Det. Bergen. “This is
“This is part of our intelligence
herself, is confined to a wheelchair and has
customers, it said.
a serious and very deadly business. We are
led policing efforts,” said Sheriff Jeff
limited mental capacity. During question-
Some 600 people work at the re-
making these investigations our priority. It
Dawsy. “We are hitting the prescription
ing, the report stated, Albritton admitted to
actor unit and Duke said “many” of these
takes a lot of work, but we’re all up to the
drug market hard. We will not tolerate this
some, but not all, of the victim’s allegations.
will be involved in the closing and initial
challenge and we take this very seriously.”
activity in our county.”
Albritton was charged with lewd/lascivious
decommissioning work. “The company
Dr. McIntyre wrote as many as 172
Over the past year, the clinic dis-
battery of a disabled person. His bond was
Continued on page 2- Squawk Box
pensed of 1.5 million narcotic pills with an
Continued on page 3 - Pain Clinic
set at $5,000.