PAGE 8 - April 29, 2009
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
WES third graders learn about
Lecanto woman located in hit and
their agrarian roots
run Homosassa Trail Fatality
Special to The Newscaster
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has been looking for a mystery car and driver
ing,” said Jones, who shared about all as-
by Lisa Statham Posteraro
since Tuesday, April 7, when a Homosassa man was critically injured in a hit and run crash in
pects of agriculture such as ranching and
Homosassa. The incident occured on Homosassa Trail, west of Rock Crusher Rd.
aquaculture via the text and her PowerPoint
According to the FHP, the addicent occured at 9:41 a.m. when 46 year-old Guy
presentation. Explaining how important fer-
“We’ve got watermelon, yes we do!
Leslie Ketelhut was riding a bicycle, west on Homosassa Trail. The right front of the mystery
tilizers and adequate water were to the farms
We’ve got watermelon, how ‘bout you?”
vehicle struck the rear of the bicycle, injuring Mr. Ketelhut. The vehicle then fled the scene of
and ranches of Levy County as well as those
Williston Elementary students in Tonya
the crash.
all over the state, Jones also gave the stu-
Townsend’s 3rd grade class recently enjoyed
Mr. Ketelhut died from his injuries at Tampa General Hospital on April 14.
dents some statistics about how many acres
one of Florida’s favorite agricultural products
The Highway Patrol received a tip, April 10, which resulted in the FHP locating the
are planted in crops throughout Levy
as they celebrated Agriculture Literacy Day,
mystery vehicle, a 1989 Chevrolet station wagon, and the mystery driver, 22-year-old Kristina
County. (The source for all this information
compliments of Carol Jones, vocational edu-
M. Petralia, in Lecanto. The report stated that, initially, Petralia denied involvement, "how-
was the Florida Department of Agriculture
cation coordinator for the School Board of
ever, evidence located at the scene and on vehicle 1 (Petralia's Chevrolet) conected the
and Consumer Services.)
Levy County.
Chevrolet to the crime," the report stated. On April 15, Petralia admitted that she was the
Jazmyn Little named tomatoes as her fa-
Townsend invited Jones, her former high
driver of the vehicle at the time of the crash. The report listed a 3-year-old child as being an
vorite Florida crop. Other food items in the
school history teacher, to visit her classroom
occupant of Petralia's vehicle at the time of the crash. Charges are pending in the accident.
students’ “favorites” column included pea-
for the special occasion. Jones found many
nuts, apples, grapefruit, eggplant, corn, milk,
of the 3rd graders dressed as farmers, includ-
Newscaster by the Numbers:
chicken, steak and strawberries.
ing Townsend! After administering a pre-test
352 447-4588 352-621-4588 Fax: 800-385-6736
It was fairly simple to know what
to the children, Jones prompted discussion
Townsend’s favorite was; she was dressed
about the importance of agriculture to the
in watermelon-themed attire! And did the stu-
economy of Florida. Then Jones read to the
dents enjoy the luscious, juicy red slices of
children the book, These Florida Farms by
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fresh watermelon Jones brought for their en-
Gary Seamans and illustrated by Mike Wright.
joyment! Before the end of her visit, Jones
This book, provided through the Florida
Yankeetown, Florida Riverfront
administered a posttest.
Agriculture in the Classroom program, was
“I wanted my students to recognize where
read throughout the state in honor of Agri-
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our food comes from,” said Townsend. “I
culture Literacy Day. Checking the students’
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thought Miss Jones made an easy-to-under-
level of comprehension, Jones asked and
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After Carol Jones, vocational education coordinator for the School Board of Levy County, read from
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