THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday June 19, 2013
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Please visit our website: www.thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Duke Energy worker
assistance program planned
Workforce Connection will hold
a worker assistance program for Duke En-
ergy employees who may find themselves
in need of options due to the closing of the
Crystal River Nuclear Power Plant.
The program is designed to give
interested workers and their spouses or
guest an overview of re-employment and
training opportunities, financial aid and
other community resources. It will take
place Wednesday, July 10 from 5-8 p.m. at
the College of Central Florida’s Learning
and Conference Center, 3800 S. Lecanto
Highway, in Lecanto.
Approximately 600 full-time
employees work at the nuclear power
plant which is currently in the process of
being decommissioned by Duke Energy.
The company is working with its employ-
ees to help as many as possible make the
transition to positions in other Duke En-
ergy organizations. The worker assistance
program is being held in cooperation with
Duke Energy and is offered in addition to
employee services provided by the com-
pany.
Henry Beck Park-Wekiva River__The park is owned by Levy County and is open April 1st to September 30th each year. It sits on the banks of the
There is no charge to attend the
Wekiva River, a spring run from a privately-owned spring. Because its spring fed, the water is usually crystal-clear. The park includes covered
program which, in addition to Workforce
picnic facilities and sandy river access. The Wekiva River has been designated an Outstanding Florida Waterway. For directions to the park read
Connection, is sponsored by the college,
From Dawn's Front Porch on page 11.
Man arrested when deputy
Withlacoochee Technical Institute and
Man Indicted For
United Way of Citrus County. Refresh-
spots meth lab in car
ments will be provided courtesy of Duke
Williston
Energy. Those interested in taking part are
asked to sign up at www.WorkforceCon-
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
the meth lab in her car was Todd’s, that he
nectionFL.com/DukeEnergy.
Shootings
provided her with amphetamine, and the last
Steven James Todd, 25, Floral City,
In addition, to better serve Duke
time he’d done so was on the previous day.
was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff’s
Energy employees interested in re-em-
Todd agreed to be interviewed and
Office on numerous charges, June
ployment services and/or unable to at-
From Levy County Sheriff Dept.
admitted to manufacturing meth on three
13, when a deputy performed
tend next month’s program, Workforce
occasions while staying at a relative’s home
a traffic stop on him in the In-
Connection is offering extended hours at
Twenty year old
in Floral City. He said he’d manufactured
verness Winn Dixie parking lot
its One-Stop Career Center. The center,
Devonte Tremaine Ocasio was
methamphetamnine in Tennessee and in
and found methamphetamine on Todd
which remains open until 6:30 p.m. each
formally arrested June 12th on
Florida. He said that he and his girlfriend
his person and items used in the
Thursday in June, is located at 1103 E. In-
the 6 count indictment deliv-
had each made multiple purchases of ephed-
manufacturing of methamphetamine - in
verness Blvd., in Inverness.
ered by the Levy County Grand
rine for the meth cooks, and his preferred
plain view - in the back seat. Todd admit-
Workforce Connection CEO
Jury on Friday afternoon. The
method for consuming methamphetamine is
ted that the item in the back seat was an old
Rusty Skinner said that while Duke Ener-
true bill delivered last Friday
Ocasio
to smoke it in foil boats, several of which
methamphetamine lab he’d used for cooking
gy is making every effort to move affected
listed the following charges:
were found in a bag, along with a receipt for
methamphetamine, the previous night, at the
workers into positions elsewhere within
First Degree Homicide, Attempted First De-
the purchase of ephedrine by the woman,
Henderson Boat Ramp. A HazMat team doc-
the company, not everyone may be able to
gree Murder, 3 counts of Aggravated Battery
from a local pharmacy, the previous day.
umented the hazardous items and removed
make that move.
with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated As-
Todd offered to take deputies to the
them for safe disposal.
“We understand and appreciate
sault with a Deadly Weapon. A total bond of
location where he was staying with a rela-
Todd’s girlfriend admitted that
the lengths Duke Energy is going to in
3 million dollars was assigned for all of the
tive in Floral City to show them the items
Todd had manufactured methamphetamine
order to ensure that this closing creates as
charges except the First Degree Homicide.
he’d used in the meth cooks. Todd later went
in the two and a half weeks they’d been in
minimal an impact as possible on its work-
NO BOND was assigned to that charge.
with deputies to the Floral City home, and
the area, and that she had purchased ephed-
force and this community,” Skinner said.
Ocasio will be held in the Levy County De-
numerous items were taken into evidence.
rine, which is used in the methamphetamine
“But because the operation of this plant
tention Facility until his trial which has not
A deputy responded to the In-
cooks, on at least five occasions. She said
Continued on page 4 - Squawk Box
yet been scheduled.
Continued on page 3 - Meth Lab