THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
STANDARD
PLEASE
RECYCLE
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Yankeetown, FL
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday May 7, 2008
Permit No. 4
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Newscaster Publishing
Have A Safe And Happy Mothers Day
Sally Price Correspondent
Squawk Box
With Mike Moore
"Mike's Not Here"
Often I find myself huddled
together in the little `poop-out'
groups men form when we're
conscripted to duty during out-
ings known as `shopping trips.' You'll find us
huddled around in a store any place where
there is seating. These groups are a mixed
bag of old and young; lots of seasoned old
fellas with canes; many of us who aren't so
`pooped' as much as bored out of our minds,
and even a few young fathers holding little
boys in their laps. We are a motley crew but
have similar duties; we carry the extra bag-
gage (including purses), carry the folding bank
in our pockets, and act as ad hoc review
boards as the fashions are modeled.
These small gatherings soon esca-
late into storytelling contests and seem to
center around recurrent themes; tongue-in-
cheek complaints about women's shopping
habits, sport statistics involving any game
with a `ball' in the name, and quite often about
things that have motors. Once in a while the
conversations stray away from the obvious;
then there are the ubiquitous references to
"D-Day" raid at 401 E. Pilar St., Hernando by Citrus County law enforcement yielded three arrests, over 100 lbs. of marihuana, and $22,000.00
creaky joints and bones, small snippets of
in cash April 30, 2008. This sleepy little farm house was growing more than livestock and vegetables; converted to a professional level growing
politics, and on occasion, a conversation
house, Citrus County detectives spent over a year investigating before seizing the operation last week. Photos by Mike Moore and Citrus
about something involving eating.
Sheriff's Dept.
Deputies Hit Citrus Grow
"I.C.E." your
I was bonding once again with fel-
"I.C
low victims the other day while my daughter
was having her way with my debit card in the
House, Three Arrested
cell phone for
`young misses' section. Before you even ask,
I'll tell you that taking my daughter shopping
From The Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
is a defensive move on my part; I use the
state hit suspected
divide and conquer technique. When it comes
an emergency!
grow houses inside
(Hernando) Wednesday April 30th,
to spending I can whine and pout when my
their jurisdictions.
detectives with the Sheriff's Office Vice &
wife makes her move and generally I can hold
Citrus
Narcotics Unit served a search warrant at a
the bottom line in reasonable check. With the
"In Case of Emergency"
County detectives
Hernando residence located at 410 E. Pilar
younger one I can flat withhold funding when
had been investigat-
A British paramedic came up with an idea
Street. Inside, they found a well-organized
Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box
ing the grow house in
that could save many lives - storing the name
indoor grow operation. The house had been
Hernando since May
and phone number of a relative or friend in
converted to multiple grow rooms and pro-
DCA:
of 2007. To secure the
your cell phone's memory under the acronym,
cessing rooms for sale of marijuana, along with
search warrant, they
ICE, for "In Case of Emergency," so the phone
living space.
Yankeetown
had conducted hours
number of the person who should be notified
Detectives seized 180 plants of vary-
of surveillance, in ad-
in an emergency can be found quickly.
ing sizes, plus $22,000 in cash found in a plas-
NaldoAquino
comprehensive
dition to scrutinizing
ICEing your cell phone, as the campaign
tic grocery bag in one of the processing
financial records and investigating power di-
is called, has taken off worldwide since the
rooms. About 12 pounds of marijuana had
plan amendment
version to the residence.
bus bombing attacks in London a couple
been processed and was ready for sale. The
Progress Energy worked closely with
years ago.
intended destination was Miami, where the
detectives in monitoring the power consump-
Storing this emergency name and phone
drug sells for $3,800 to $4,000 per pound.
not in
tion at the house. According to Det. John
number under ICE in your cell phone, would
Believed to have the highest num-
Novy, the utility's cooperation was crucial to
allow emergency medical workers and law
ber of marijuana grow houses in Florida,
compliance,
the year-long investigation.
enforcement personnel to immediately con-
yesterday's statewide crackdown was orches-
As a result of the final weigh-in of
tact a relative or friend who could provide
trated by the Miami HIDTA, or high intensity
see page 11
the cannabis, detectives seized approximately
vital personal information and medical condi-
drug trafficking area. Labeled Operation D-
Continued on page 5 - ICE your phone
Continued on page 5- Grow House Busted
Day, law enforcement agencies across the