THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Inglis, FL 34449
Wednesday June 23, 2010
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Citrus County Contingency
Plan For Oil On Shoreline
From the Citrus County BOCC
Citrus County officials are closely
monitoring the location and movement of
the oil in the Gulf of Mexico from the BP
oil spill. County Commission Chairman
Gary Bartell said the county is ready to
play its part in the response.
Bartell said he didn’t want to alarm
anyone but he wanted residents to know
that plans are in place and preparations
ready in case the oil becomes a threat to
the Citrus shoreline. The Citrus County
Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management
Division is working closely with the U.S.
Coast Guard, which is the lead response
agency regarding the BP oil spill. Citrus
has not experienced any oil sheen, tar balls
or tar patties, and the oil from the spill
was more than 150 miles off the coast of
Citrus County, with no prediction of land-
fall anytime soon. However, county offi-
cials said they are vigilant regarding any
changes.
Citrus County has an Area Contin-
gency Plan (ACP) in place that was devel-
oped specifically for use in the event of an
approaching oil slick. The plan identifies
“sensitive areas” in Citrus County, such as
marshes and estuaries that would need to
Kevin and Eve Shepard of Dunnellon, with their 2 boys Adam and Samson, took a Father’s Day boat trip Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico. The
be protected from the oil.
family had high hopes for luck on the second day of scallop season’s early opening. Launching from the end of Hwy 40 in Yankeetown, the 4
County officials and coastal pre-
zipped over to Crystal River where there were plenty of boats and swimmers in the water but their complete great catch is displayed on the
serve officials recently met with the Coast
front of the boat. There had been reports of people catching their limits Saturday but the Shepard’s found the scallops were scarce and small.
Guard to confer on those sensitive areas
For more information on scalloping rules go the the fishing page on www.thenewscaster.com. Newscaster Photo/Sally Price.
School Board May Homosassa man facing numerous
that need to be protected.
Sheriff’s Capt. Joe Eckstein, the
child pornography charges
county’s Emergency Management Direc-
Bus YTS Graduates
tor, said, “We routinely update the ACP
to ensure that we have all sensitive areas
identified. In fact, Florida Fish and Wild-
to Levy High School River Rd.,eHomosassa, ewasryarrested .by athes 9 was exAcsearchwwarrantenobtained on June
L e Everett H nd , 63, W H ll
life Conservation Commission (FWC) ex-
e uted hile H -
perts and county officials just participated
dry was actually online and
Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, June 9, on
by Newscaster Correspondent Sally Price
with us to update the plan.”
downloading child pornog-
one count of knowingly promoting child
Patrick Wnek, Director of Curriculum
He said that in the event the oil sheen
raphy, the report stated. Det.
pornography and 20 counts of knowingly
and Public Information Officer for the Levy
approaches the county shoreline, BP’s
Pruitt was able to download
possessing child pornography. He was trans-
County School Board told The Newscaster
authorized contractors will use a process
one file from Hendry’s com-
ported to the Citrus County Detention Facil-
that Yankeetown School (YTS) has what it
called “skimming” to collect the oil before
puter, just prior to the task
ity where his bond was set at $210,000.
takes to sustain our local native field stone
it impacts our shores. If tar balls and/or
force knocking on Hendry’s
The sheriff’s office, an active mem-
school for South Levy students. Wnek said
Hendry
tar patties are headed our way, boom (an
door. As detectives were
ber of the Central Florida Internet Crimes
there is no closing of YTS, instead the L
artificial barrier) will be deployed in an
knocking on Hendry’s door and announc-
Against children Task Force, began an un-
C School Board will be adding Pre-K this
effort to protect our sensitive areas. The
ing themselves, Det. Pruitt reported that she
dercover internet investigation, May 5, of
coming year. Class size amendment is being
Coast Guard already has boom allocated
saw “a figure” inside the residence “get up
a Homosassa person who had downloaded
looked at across the district and next year
for that purpose in Citrus.
from the couch and begin to do something
and shared child pornography files over the
they will be looking at student/teacher ratio.
before coming to the door,” and “in fear that
internet, numerous times between April 1st
Wnek said School Board Superintendant
Continued on page 4 - Squawk Box
the defendant was deleting evidence from
and May 6th. The internet protocol (IP) ad-
Robert Hastings is proud of Yankeetown
the computer,” opened the front door, took a
Adopt A Pet
dress was listed through Bright House Net-
School’s accomplishments and he supports
step inside the residence, and observed Hen-
works with the same physical address as
and appreciates all the efforts of the teachers
On Page 2
Hendry’s residence.
and administration. Wnek said he was re-
Continued on page 3- Numerous Charges
Continued on page 3 - School Bussing