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THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Inglis, FL 34449
Wednesday February 15, 2012
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Visit our website: http://thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Water Levels
Cause Controversy
With Doug Johnston
Our neighbors in
Marion County have a full
blown controversy brewing
and it my be the precursor
of many such arguments to
come. Its all about water.
The water levels of rivers,
lakes and ponds in most of
Marion County are at all time lows. At the
same time discharge from Silver Springs,
that national treasure in Ocala, has de-
creased by 50 percent during the period
from 1965 to 2009 according to a study
done by Robert Knight, director of the
Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
and reported in Sundays Ocala Star Ban-
ner.
Knight believes that climate
alone is not to blame for the dangerously
low water marks.
He believes that we are pumping
Saturday February 11 was the final open house of the season at Three Sisters Spring in Crystal River. Many manatees seeking the warmth of
too much water out of our underground
the near 72 degree year round water mingle with the many swimmers, all ages kayaking and snorkeling who are hoping for an interaction with
water supply and that, along with the pro-
the hundreds of manatees which flock here in cold weather. Photo by Sally Price - See Manatees on page 2.
Burglary In Progress Leads
longed drought, is causing our lakes and
Judge: "Inglis PD
ponds to drop to record low levels and
many rivers to have reduced flow.
Ballot Issue Can Go
To High Speed Chase
Those who blame climate as the
sole reason point to the fact that Alachua
Forward, In Part"
and Marion Counties have had six consec-
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
The sister of the
utive years of below average rainfall. In
The Citrus County Sheriff s Office
first victim thought her
By Newscaster Editor, Tom Russell
2011 alone Alachua County was 18 inches
was called to a burglary in progress, Feb.8,
son’s motorcycle had been
Monday February 13th in Levy
short of the normal rainfall of 54 inches,
that developed into a high speed chase.
stolen, because it was at
County Circuit Court, Judge Robert
according to Hank Largin, spokesman for
A victim on W, Maple Ln., Crystal River,
the home when she left
Roundtree granted injunctive relief in part
the St. Johns River Water District.
noticed a truck that looked strange for the
for work. Upon checking,
and denied part of the March 13th ballot is-
It doesn’t matter where you stand
neighborhood coming from the direction
the motorcycle had been
sue regarding dissolution of the Inglis Police
on the reasons for our water problem as
where her sister lives. The truck disappeared
stolen. Another neighbor
Department.
much as the importance of recognizing
Mavrakis
from her view, and a few minutes later, she
reported a blue pickup
The Inglis charter change on the
that there is a problem. We must address
looked through her window and saw a man
truck, with silver trim, going through her
March election ballot had been challenged
all possibilities. Sometimes facing a prob-
with bolt cutters cutting the lock on her
yard and heard someone inside the vehicle
by Attorney Joseph Lott on behalf of former
lem requires sacrificing what may appear
shed. She began yelling at the man, who was
shouting, “Come on. Let’s go.” She said the
Inglis mayor William Lake. Judge Roundtree
to be in our own immediate self interests
later identified as Michael A. Mavrakis, 30,
truck was stopped for a minute, trying to fig-
said in his final order that the town of Inglis
for the sake of the future of our children
of 10535 E. Rabbit Ln., Floral City, who ran
ure out how to get out, and left through her
shall not include the language referencing
and grandchildren.
from the shed toward the truck and headed
driveway.
merger. And that “this court finds that the
In Marion County a Canadian
west on Maple Ave. A bystander saw the
A BOLO (be on the lookout) was
town of Inglis should present to the voters
businessman, Frank Stronach, is buying
truck and thought the truck may have exited
issued for the pickup truck, which was locat-
Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box
Continued on page 4 - Ballot Issue
the neighborhood via Dunnellon Rd.
Continued on page 3- Burglary Chase