THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday June 5, 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 Expected to Under
Pay Property Tax Again
From Citrus County Property Appraiser
Last Thursday, Citrus County
Property Appraiser, Geoffrey Greene an-
nounced, “the appraisal of Duke Energy of
Florida’s assets located in Citrus County
has been completed.”
The appraisal is comprehensive
and will provide the groundwork for future
assessments. The appraisers inspected all
of the plant’s generation complex, trans-
mission corridors, distribution systems and
substations. The research took five months
with work which began in early January
of this year. Duke provided access to the
property, but unfortunately, the company
refused to provide requested information
on the equipment and buildings.
The appraisal report indicates a
January 1, 2013 appraised value of $3.692
Billion. This more than supports the 2012
value ($2.3 billion) being disputed by
Duke in the Citrus County Circuit Court.
Greene further announced, “With the re-
Good weather provided the backdrop for a visit to the Crystal River State Archaeological Park north of Crystal River. The view of the Crystal
ceipt of this critical analysis today, along
River from the top of the 52 step climb up the Temple Mound is inspiring. Nature can be viewed from every direction. According to park his-
with the 2013 tangible tax PA Press Re-
tory the first humans arrived in Florida about 14,000 years ago. They found a land that extended far out into the Gulf of Mexico. The present
lease, May 30, 2013 return filings from
Citrus County shore line was at that time almost 200 feet above sea level. The Crystal River Archaeological State Park gives the first glimpse
Duke Energy, my office can now move
at the earliest settlements in Citrus County. For approximately 1,600 years (200 B.C. until A.D. 1400), people of the Deptford culture appear
closer to establishing a value for this com-
to have occupied this site. The fourteen acre, six mound complex is one of the most imposing prehistoric ceremonial centers on Florida’s west
pany’s assets along with all other proper-
Man charged in two separate
coast. Photo by Sally Price.
ties in our County for inclusion in the 2013
Citrus Man
tax roll.”
sexual battery cases
Arrested on
Greene said in a press release,
“by statements of Keith Butler (Duke En-
Attempted Murder
ergy N.C. Headquarters) and Alex Glenn
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
of throat and neck pain. The victim said she
(CEO of Progress Energy of Florida),
wanted to pursue charges against Blom be-
Michael Joseph Blom, 26, 34 S.
Charge
Duke Energy may well continue to under-
cause she did not want this to happen, and
Jeffery St., Beverly Hills, FL, was arrested
pay their taxes in 2013, by as much as $15
she’d heard that he has done this to other
by the Citrus County Sheriff s Office, May
million dollars, and Mr. Glenn suggested
girls.
29, charged with the sexual battery of a per-
From Marion County Sheriff Dept.
perhaps more. At this point, the County’s
The male witness ex-
son 12 or older using force or deadly weap-
Kyle Lee Chunn, 22,
new appraisal serves to challenge such a
plained that he saw Blom on top
on ($20,000 bond).
of 3200 E. Dove Ct. Inverness,
move, and court action would be met with
of the victim, engaging in sexual
The victim told detectives that she
Florida, was arrested May 30 in
a sound and very defensible, fair and eq-
activity. He said that he and the
fell asleep with a friend in a bedroom at
Belleview, FL. Chunn was hiding
uitable assessment. As Property Appraiser,
victim had fallen asleep in the
Blom’s house on May 28 and was awakened
inside a home along S.E. 110th
Mr. Greene cautions citizens, “such dis-
same bed, and they had not en- Blom
by Blom having sexual relations with her
Street. Deputies, working with Chunn
putes can only be resolved with two will-
gaged in any inappropriate activ-
against her will. She said she went to bed
the Hernando County Sheriff’s
ing parties. Remember, the power com-
ity.
fully clothed, and Blom entered the room af-
Office, arrested Chunn without incident.
pany sued the County, not the other way
During this investigation, a detec-
ter they both fell asleep. She said Blom must
Chunn was wanted for attempted murder in
tive learned that Blom is a suspect in another
have taken some of her clothing off, that she
Hernando County.
Continued on page 8 - Squawk Box
sexual assault case. In that case, Blom is ac-
could not call out for help because she was
Marion County Sher-
cused of sexual battery upon a female juve-
so afraid, and when she tried to push him off
Inglis Receives
iff s Office detectives found evi-
nile victim, twelve years of age or older,
her, he began to choke her to the point where
dence of several crimes which
Payment
without her consent, while she was physi-
she could not breathe.
took place in Marion County.
cally helpless. Based on both cases, Blom
Afterward, she called a family
Detectives found Chunn to be the Stewart
For Missing
was placed under arrest on the charges in
member for a ride, and was taken to the hos-
lead suspect. An eyewitness pro-
this case. He said that he did have sexual re-
pital for a medical exam and evaluation.
vided additional details that led detectives to
Funds, see pg 4.
lations with the victim, but denied placing
The incident was reported to the sheriff’s
Continued on page 4 - Attempted Murder
Continued on page 3 - Man Charged
office. Several times, the victim complained