THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday March 10, 2010
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
With Mike Moore
A Little Renown
Goes a Long way
On page 12 you
will see a picture of our little
corner of the world’s most
famous part time resident: a
West Indian Manatee. Sure, sometimes
we have Gary “Radar O’Reilly” Burghoff,
who has been known to winter here on
occasion. There’s also Gregory Strackov,
painter extraordinaire, whose secret Citrus
County liar is from where world-class art-
work is created. Oh, and before he passed
on we had Ted Williams living in Citrus
Hills. Lest we concentrate strictly on hu-
man fame, remember we have a colony
of Whooping Cranes that are some of the
last of their kind and are even stars of the
big screen. There are plenty more too, trust
me. But for the most part the quiet and se-
cluded lives of our area’s more renowned
residents are just the way they like it; quiet
and secluded.
Enter the manatees. The sea-cows
that find our relatively warm (73F) spring
water much to their liking in the winter
(and truth be known to their survival too).
Four month old Trace Fitzpatrick gets strawberry shortcake goodness “POW, straight in the kisser” from mom Alyse Fitzpatrick both of In-
Like it or not they are without doubt our
verness during the 37th annual Strawberry Festival in Floral City this past Saturday and Sunday. Perfect weather had record-breaking crowds
most celebrated migratory residents. They
fleeing their cabin fever with more than 40,000 estimated attendees. TheNewscaster/Mike Moore
dominate the area with their likeness plas-
Citrus County
Levy Commissioners Undecided Over
tered and printed on just about anything
that will hold still long enough. People
travel from around the world just to come
Sheriff
Appointments to Planning Commission
and get in the water with them; and why
not; they are kind of placid and goofy and
Drew, Commissioner Nancy Bell favored
By Newscaster Correspondent Sally Price
huggable, in a wet, bovine sort of way.
Dive Team
a policy being written for a procedure for
I took one picture when I was un-
Tempers flared at the recent Levy
county board appointments.
derwater. That was not exactly the way I
County Board of County Commission-
District 3 commissioner Marsha
Recovers
Continued on page 12- Squawk Box
ers (BOCC) meeting in Bronson when the
Drew, wanted to interview interested parties
subject of filling the 2 expiring terms on the
from her district rather than just giving Bar-
Daylight Saving
Planning Commission (PC) came up on the
ber the seat again. Planning Commissioner
Time
Man’s Body
agenda. At the root of the controversy was
Toni Collins from District 4 asked if anyone
begins on
the re-appointments of outgoing members
had spoken to Thad Barber, current District
SUNDAY
Thad Barber (District 3, South Levy) and
3 Planning Commissioner, to determine if he
Daylight Saving Time
Ron Grant (District 5, Williston area) which
(Chassahowitzka) Members of the Citrus
wanted to be re-appointed. Commissioner
expire April 30, 2010. The PC is a 5 member
“Spring Ahead”
County Sheriff’s Office dive team have
Drew responded that she spoke to Barber,
panel which makes recommendations to the
recovered the body of a 21-year-old Vero
but she is interviewing a number of appli-
BOCC on matters pertaining to the County’s
Beach man who went missing while free
cants to fill the position and will make the
Comprehensive Plan. They are paid $100
diving with friends in an underwater cave
decision who serves. Jack Scofield of Yan-
per month, an additional $50 for a second
near the Chassahowitzka River Camp-
keetown called the existing process unfair
meeting and get mileage for travel.
ground at 8600 W. Miss Maggie Drive. The
and that locals should have the chance to ap-
Commissioner Danny Stevens,
missing diver was found in about 8 feet of
ply for the position when the term expires.
representing District 5, said present mem-
water at 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 6th.
Commissioner Lilly Rooks pointed
Sunday, March 14, at 2:00
ber Ron Grant expressed interest in being
The body of Joseph Michael Kelly
out that there are four alternate Planners
am, Time Changes to 3am.
re-appointed and Stevens went forward with
will be taken to the medical examiner’s of-
who are familiar with the process, and in the
a motion to re-appoint Grant for another
fice in Leesburg for autopsy.
Set Clocks Ahead One Hour,
past, were the first to be given the opportu-
4 year term. All but Commissioner Drew
The decedent’s family has been no-
nity to serve if a planning member resigned.
Before You Go to Bed
voted in favor of the appointment, but like
tified of his death.
Continued on page 4 - Commission Appt.