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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Inglis, FL 34449
Wednesday April 25, 2012
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Visit our website: http://thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Battle of "Wounded
Knee": Part Two
With Doug Johnston
My knee surgery
was scheduled for 8:30 AM
on the 12th of April. We
were told to arrive at 7:30,
which we did. The wheels
were in motion as soon as
we walked in the door. Af-
ter signing a few hundred
papers stating, I think, that I was not a ter-
rorist or allergic to anything from penicil-
lin to bubble gum, I was taken from my
dear wife and told to put on the dreaded
hospital gown.
Within a few minutes I was in
a narrow space enclosed by a curtain on
a hospital bed. My anesthesiologist, Dr
Herrera, introduced himself and soon af-
ter I was hooked up to an IV. Just as I was
relaxing with a bottle of antibiotic slowly
dripping into my bloodstream, a nurse
who identified herself as Bonnie told me
she would be assisting Dr Riley during
the procedure. My first name, the one no-
The first of three Citrus County Relay For Life Cancer Walks took place at Crystal River High School ball field April 13. The field was packed with
body knows me by except doctors and the
tents for relay teams, groups selling food, drinks, trinkets and raffles with funds going to the American Cancer Society. There was a research
Social Security Administration, is Clyde.
area set up for volunteers who have never had cancer to be in an on going study group. (Continued on page 3-Relay)Photo by Sally Price.
Deputy cleared by FDLE & SAO on
Needless to say when she rolled
Crystal River
me into the operating room the other staff
that would assist in the operation said,
Feb. 23 shooting of Beverly Hills man
“here comes Bonnie and Clyde”.
Man Killed in
When the anesthesiologist put
the mask to my nostrils and told me to
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
portions of the incident, along with back-
breathe two or three deep breaths I re-
Motorcycle
ground provided by DiNovo’s mother, who
member hearing a voice, probably Bon-
Citrus
County
was in the hospital at the time of the inci-
nie’s saying, “bye, bye Clyde”. The next
Sheriff Jeff Dawsy held a
dent, and ex-girlfriend, neither of whom was
thing I remember is my beautiful wife
meeting, April 18, to release
Crash
present at the time of the shooting.
standing by my bed. At that time I was
the findings by the State At-
Ridgway said that DiNovo has a
apparently speaking somewhat coherently
torney s Office regarding
history of mental illness and has made nu-
to the nurse and my wife even though I
the shooting of 30 year-old
From Florida Highway Patrol
merous suicide gestures or attempts and had
was still on the edges of that universe we
Nicholas DiNovo on Feb. 2
Wilbur Lee Shepardson, 62, Crys-
recently threatened suicide, according to his
call “La La Land”, but in moments I was
by Deputy Laura Newton,
tal River, received fatal injuries in a motor-
Sheriff
girlfriend whose relationship with DiNovo
in control of my senses again.
age 33, who has served with
Jeff Dawsy
cycle crash, April 19, on County Rd. 488
had ended just two days prior to the shoot-
One thing I realized right away
the sheriff s office since
(W. Dunnellon Rd.). According to the Flor-
ing.
was that I felt no pain in my right knee for
2004.
ida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at
During the night of Feb.22 and
the first time in several months. I thought
State Attorney Brad King, Fifth Ju-
5:38 p.m. as Shepardson was driving a 2007
early morning of Feb. 23, Mr. DiNova had
Continued on page 8 - Squawk Box
dicial Circuit, reviewed the case and said in
Honda motorcycle, traveling east on County
been drinking heavily. In his statement to
a letter to Sheriff Dawsy dated April 16, that
!
Road 488, approaching West Diamond T.
NEW
the FDLE, he said, “My father died last year.
his office will take no further action in the
Lane. He lost control of the motorcycle and
And I wasn’t taking my medicine ‘cause I
matter, “except for the continued prosecu-
traveled southeast off the roadway and onto
Hydro-Electric Plant
didn’t have any money. And I got depressed
tion of Mr. DiNovo.”
the south shoulder. The motorcycle struck
because my girlfriend was using me for
A report by Assistant State Attor-
Permit For Lk.Rousseau,
some small trees and shrubs, causing Mr.
drugs. And I just wanted to die. So, I called
ney Richard Ridgway detailed the Florida
Shepardson to be ejected from the motor-
the cops, and I know they would have to de-
See "From Dawn's Front
Department of Law Inforcement investiga-
cycle. He received fatal injuries and expired
fend themselves, so I staged a scene so they
tion which included statements made by
at the scene of the crash.
Porch" on page 8
would shoot me.”
Dep. Newton, the “seriously wounded” Mr.
The crash remains under investiga-
Before the incident, DiNovo wrote
DiNovo and neighbors who saw or heard
Continued on page 3 - Motorcycle Crash
Continued on page 4- Deputy Cleared