THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday February 15, 2017
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Please visit our website thenewscaster.com
Community
Career Expo and Open House at
Withlacoochee Technical College
Acquire the Skills You Need for
an Exciting Career in Less Than a Year!
Anyone interested in attending WTC and
starting an exciting new career can meet
the instructors, tour the program and
shop areas, ask questions on Thursday,
March 9th, 2017 from 1:00 pm to 3:00
pm. Where: WTC, 1201 W. Main Street,
Inverness, FL.
Enter WTC at the east-
ern entrance off of Montgomery Avenue
(across from the Suncoast ATM) For
more information, contact WTC at 726-
2430 extension 4301.
The 30th Annual Floral City
Strawberry Festival March 4
Make your plans now to attend
the Citrus County Chamber of Com-
merce 30th Annual Floral City Straw-
berry Festival on March 4 & 5 in Floral
Park.
This perennially favorite fes-
tival that attracts over 20,000 patrons is
a salute to local agriculture that features
the strawberries of our local grower,
Ferris Farms. It is the perfect opportu-
nity to indulge in first-of-the- season lo-
cal strawberries in delicious strawberry
shortcake and as a special treat to take
Chase ends in Citrus County (see story below). The driver's car can be seen in the background. Following a three county chase 27 year old
home by the flat and half-flat!
Douglas Martin of Floral City was captured. A child in the back seat during the ordeal was not injured. Photo courtesy CCSO.
In addition to berries, the Flo-
Coast
Guard Traffic stop turns into carjacking,chase,
ral City Strawberry Festival has so much
more in store for you, including top-
searching for
notch musical entertainment featuring
crash,that ends in Citrus County
the return of indie music artists Amy
Gerhartz and Mike Mentz who recently
aircraft missing
From the FHP, Citrus & Sumter County
City and the brother of the driver, fled from
wowed audiences at the Florida Mana-
Sheriff Depts.
the traffic stop on foot. A video taken during
tee Festival; Florida grass roots country
A traffic stop in Sumter County
the traffic stop shows Douglas Martin jump-
and blues artist Jody Beggs and The Jody
near Cedar Key
about 12:31 pm, Feb. 7, started a chain of
ing from the stopped vehicle and darting
Beggs Band; and the high-energy coun-
events that evolved into a carjacking - with
across the busy interstate, with several FHP
try, southern rock, classic rock hit band,
an infant inside the car - and a shooting, then
troopers standing nearby. Troopers pursued
The Dan Story Band.
From USCG
a three-county chase before ending in Citrus
Martin, who was believed to be wanted for
Bicentennial Park Pool closed February 22
County with a traffic crash in Hernando.
violation of probation.
The Bicentennial Park Pool in
On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard
The incident began when a Florida
A short time later, a deputy spot-
Crystal River will be closed on Wednes-
and partnering agencies continued its search
Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper made a traf-
ted Martin, about a half-mile away from
day, February 22, 2017. The pool will be
for three people aboard a missing aircraft.
fic stop on a vehicle, due to faulty equip-
I-75, running from a wooded area toward a
having maintenance and updates done on
The airplane left Brooksville en route to Ce-
ment and seatbelt violations, near the 329
2003 Chevrolet Malibu on SR 231. Martin
this day. The pool will reopen for normal
dar Key on Sunday, Feb. 12. Missing are 65
milepost on Interstate 75. During the traffic
assaulted the woman driver, forcefully pull-
business hours on Thursday, February
year-old Jasper Jerrels, Jerrels' 17 year-old
stop, 23 year-old Dillon Edward Martin of
ing her from the vehicle, and jumped inside.
23, 2017 at 8am. If you have any ques-
son and Hue Singletary. As of mid-morning
Floral City was taken into custody and later
The woman began screaming that her baby
tions, please call 352-795-1478.
on Monday, the Coast Guard and partner
Easier Than eBay
booked into the Sumter County Jail, charged
was inside the vehicle. The deputy struggled
agencies had conducted seven searches,
with a moving violation ($5,000 bond), a
with Martin and grabbed onto the car as he
covering more than 147 square nautical
non-moving violation ($500 bond), posses-
began driving away, dragging the deputy
miles.
You can now place classified ads at the Food
sion of drug paraphernalia ($1,000 bond)
with the vehicle. The deputy fired at Martin,
At 5:21 pm Sunday, watch standers
Ranch Service Desk - 25 words/$12. New
and violation of probation (no bond).
striking him twice in the stomach. The dep-
from Sector St. Petersburg received a report
deadline: Monday 12 noon at the Inglis Food
After Dillon Martin was taken into
uty, uninjured, was able to free himself from
from the Flight Service Station Gainesville,
Ranch service Desk. Cash or Check.
custody, the passenger inside the vehicle, 27
the vehicle, which sped away, heading east
stating that a single-engine aircraft, white
No refunds for early cancellations
year-old Douglas John Martin, also of Floral
Continued on page 4 - Search
Continued on page 4 - Chase