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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher

A Publication of

Inglis, FL 34449

Wednesday April 11, 2012

Tom Russell - Consulting Editor

Newscaster Publishing

Permit No. 14

Sally Price - Correspondent

Visit our website: http://thenewscaster.com

Mike Moore - Photojournalist

Squawk Box

Local Communication

Workers Honored

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Of-

fice is honoring communications officers

during National Public Safety Telecom-

municators Week, April 8-14, which is

dedicated to the employees of 911 centers,

dispatchers, those who maintain radio and

emergency phone systems and other com-

munications staff members who aid in pro-

viding emergency assistance to the com-

munity.

Telecommunications week was

introduced to Congress in 1991 with the

help of the Association of Public-Safety

Communications Officials. It s an annual

observation which takes place during the

second full week of April. In Citrus Coun-

ty, the celebration will begin officially on

Tuesday, April 10, when county commis-

sioners will issue a proclamation nam-

ing April 8-14 as National Public Safety

Telecommunicators Week in the county.

Communications manager Sgt. Elena Vitt,

along with communications officer Robert

Big Turnout at Crystal River City Council Monday Night. Citizens reacted to the council’s plans to sue the FWS over the Kings Bay Rule. Many

Bang, will accept the proclamation on be-

turned out to let the council know that the suit is a bad idea and not what the people of Crystal River and Citrus County want. Many agreed

half of the 911 center.

the council should re-focus on protecting manatees, the bay and Three Sisters Spring. Left photo: Dan Hilliard, (Inglis) executive Dir. Withla-

Firefighters with the sheriff s

coochee Area Residents, right photo: Yankeetown’s retired Florida Rep. Helen Spivey and Patrick Rose, executive dir. of Save the Manatee Club.

office and member of the Nature Coast

CCSO busy with underage

Photo/Coverage: Betsy & Lee Paulet.

Emergency Medical Services will provide

Confusion Over

complimentary light food items during the

tobacco/alcohol stings

week to acknowledge the dispatching ef-

forts of local telecommunicators.

New Kings Bay

Communications officers are the

From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.

people who take calls in times of crisis,

of the county, 2 citations were issued, and of

comfort the frightened and injured, and

12 stores on the east side, 5 citations were

“Operation Jail Bait I & II”

Rule(s)

offer reassurance that help is on the way.

issued. The second sting, Operation Jail Bait

To stop illegal sales of tobacco and

They help save countless lives by process-

II, was conducted on Fri., March 9. Of 16

alcohol to minors, the Citrus County Sher-

ing and prioritizing incoming calls, and

stores visited on the west side of the county,

By Newscaster Correspondent

iffís Office recently conducted two under-

dispatching fellow law enforcement of-

3 citations were issued, and of 14 stores vis-

Sally Price

cover stings, appropriately called Operation

ficers, firefighters and paramedics. They

ited on the east side of the county, 6 citations

In these times people are passion-

Jail Bait I and II, targeting stores that sell

keep emergency responders safe by pro-

were issued. Random compliance checks by

ate about rules, rights and freedoms... and

these items.

viding them with the most accurate, up-

the sheriff s office will continue in the fu-

this was how the Crystal River town hall

Detectives with the agency s Sexu-

to-date information while monitoring their

ture, to stress the importance of checking

meeting went Monday night. The Federal

al Predator Unit and members of the Tacti-

activities by radio. They are highly trained,

identification information carefully, and to

rule(s) (a 69 page document) came down..

cal Impact Unit joined forces with underage

compassionate individuals who play a vi-

halt the sale of alcohol and tobacco products

the town divided.. the line was drawn and

informants they drafted to make controlled

tal role in protecting citizens and commu-

to underage consumers.

people are more than upset over a new set of

purchases of tobacco or beer products at

nities. Their job requires radio, computer,

Feb. 22/Operation Jail Bait I/West

rules handed down by the FWS (U.S. Fish &

stores on the east and west sides of Citrus

Continued on page 8 - Squawk Box

Citrus County - 2 citations issued out of 14

Wildlife Service).

County. The store employees who were is-

stores checked: Carol Phillips, 56, Race-

According to Crystal River Coun-

sued citations, all of which included a man-

Pet

Trac, 3861 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa;

cilman Mike Gudis at a prior meeting, the

datory court appearance, either sold tobacco

and Deborah Williamson, 52, Ciggy's 4

City Council thinking they only had a 30

products to juveniles under 18 years of age

Less, 985 N. Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River.

Patrol

day window to respond to the new rule, had

or sold alcoholic products to consumers

Feb. 22/Operation Jail Bait I/East

a letter of intent to sue drafted but never

under the legal age of 21. In the majority

Citrus County - 5 citations issued out of 12

sent. Gudis said “the council learned they

of cases, either no photo identification was

stores checked: Randi Schmidt, 24, Citgo,

See page 2

have 6 years to file a lawsuit. Legal fees

checked, or the information was checked in-

7810 S. Florida Ave., Floral City; Robert

could be very high so we are looking into

correctly.

Vega, 24, Kangaroo station, 743 S. Florida

more info before we proceed. Since we have

Operation Jail Bait I took place on

Continued on page 3- Sting

Wed., Feb. 22. Of 14 stores on the west side

Continued on page 3 - FWS King's Bay Rule(s)