Mobile Home Roofovers
Screen Rooms
Wood Decks
Glass & Vinyl Rooms
Pool Enclosures
Colored Seamless Gutters
Lighting for Docks
Licensed & Insured
Lighting for Pool Cages
# CB-CA15418
THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Yankeetown, FL
Wednesday July 25, 2007
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Permit No. 4
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Newscaster Publishing
Sally Price Correspondent
Squawk Box Inverness
DOT Orders Inglis Businesses
woman spots Out Of U.S. 19 Right-of-Way
With Mike Moore
Our Regressive Society
burglary
haven't had any complaints and all this stuff.'
Inglis businessman Drew White is
So then, I was kind of relieved, for a little while,
outraged by a recent development with the
I got into a water cooler dis-
then I started thinking: Well, why did they, all
Florida Department of Transportation (DOT)
cussion this past week sparked
suspect in
of a sudden, send me one letter, and the next
regarding the right-of-way in front of his busi-
by a photo assignment of John
day, after I complained to Will Kendrick, which
ness, White's Quality Auto, located at 123
Couey. The discussion was
is a State Representative, then stuff comes
Hwy. 19S, Inglis.
about how it is that Mr. Couey,
crowd
back, I'm sure, and told to them, 'Hey
In a letter dated April 26, 2007,
a confessed murderer of the worst kind, is
everybody's got to comply, we're not just pick-
Kennth S. Davis, District General Counsel
fortunate enough to have living conditions
ing on White's Quality Auto" So, as long as
with the Florida DOT, stated to Mr. White,
that include access to wholesome food, edu-
The Citrus County Sheriff's Office
it wasn't taking food out of my family's
"The department of Transportation has re-
cation, and (the crux of the argument) tax dol-
investigated a reported 'burglary in progress'
mouth... Then they decide, 'Oh, don't worry
ceived a complaint regarding your business
lar sponsored health care. The debate was
call on July 14 at 4165 S.
about it, we don't want to pick on everybody,
activities at the above location (White's Qual-
about how unfair it is that a convicted child
Spaniel Terrace , Inverness.
we just want to pick on White.'
ity Auto's address). Upon investigation, it is
molester like Couey (and so many others as
The victim of the burglary
White said he looked at several
clear that you are conducting your business
well) should have better access to heath care
reported, that when she ar-
nearby businesses. At the Port Inglis Restau-
in part on the right-of-way. That is the prop-
than many honest upstanding citizens.
rived at her residence
rant, across the street from his business,
erty owned by the Department of Transpor-
Allowing criminals state sponsored
around 6:05 p.m., she ob-
White said, "The roof overhang is about five
tation for the operation of U.S. 19. Florida law
benefits seems pretty ugly; especially when
served, through the win-
feet out in the right-of-way. If you notice, the
does not permit such activity. Please cease
one considers the large percentage of citizens
dow, a man - later identified
restaurant's on an angle. And the telephone
immediately."
that go without those same benefits. As ugly
as 36 year-old Franklin J.
poles ARE in the right-of-way. If you stand at
"All of Inglis is working off the right-
Ball of Inverness - inside her Franklin Ball
it seems however, we have no choice; we have
the telephone pole at Scott's Paint and Body
of-way," said White, "So I called Kenneth
a constitution that protects one of the rights
residence.
and look down to the other telephone pole,
Davis who wrote me this letter, and he told me
of criminals with a little clause - the prohibi-
The victim told the investigating officer
their whole roof is on the right-of-way, much
they were starting out with me, as Palm Point
tion against 'cruel and unusual' punishment.
that she then walked to the back of her resi-
less all the cars that park out front. And if you
residents had been complaining about me. So
Yes one of the cornerstones of our democ-
dence to find the man carrying her television
notice any town, cars park around back; you
I called back up there, and when they found
racy is a document turned law-of-the-land
down the back steps of her screened porch.
don't park on the right-of-way for business."
out that the whole town of Inglis was going
which has as one of its many parts, protects
She said the man dropped the television set.
Scott Levesque, owner of Scott's
to be involved, the police called me and told
the rights of the most horrid people amongst
She said her stereo, stereo speakers and com-
Paint and Body, located at 12 Hwy. 19S, Ing-
me, 'Just keep doing business as I'm doing it;
our population.
Continued on page 4 - Burglary Suspect
don't be worried about the right-of-way. They
Continued on page 4-Right of Way Fued
It was no accident either. If you
Former Inglis Police Chief Gets One Year
study the history of crime and punishment,
you'll find our founding fathers specifically
designed a 'reform package' as the basis of
Probation for Falsifying Records
our new government. Given the long history
of a rather brutal English penal code, our land
was 'blessed' with equal protection under the
Mitch Billups, former Inglis Police
probation, or else face a year in jail. Billups
items went missing."
Chief, pleaded no contest in a Levy County
Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box
was also fined $250 and ordered to pay court
Assistant State Attorney
Court, July 17, of falsiying records. He was
costs. At least two Inglis town officials com-
Duane Triplett told presiding
Adopt A Pet
sentenced to one year of probation.
mented they were surprised that Billups was
judge Joe Smith that Inglis
Former Chief Billups was accused of
charged with a misdemeanor, rather than a
town officials had requested
destroying evidence and related records from
see page 2
felony, charge.
that Billups repay $5126 in
the Inglis Police Department's evidence room.
Athough County Judge Joe Smith
missing money. According to
According to Spencer Mann, the chief inves-
asked Billups, numerous times, if he wanted
officials with the FDLE and
tigator and a spokesman for the State
Mitch Billups the Levy County Sheriff's
to postpone the hearing until Billups could
Attorney's Office, an audit determined that
consult with an attorney; each time, Billups
Office, the amount of missing money could
evidence, including cash, was missing from
said he wanted to represent himself and get
not be accurately determined, due to police
the evidence room, and the only person with
the case resolved. Smith called the case "dis-
records being destroyed. Smith ordered
knowledge about the operation of the evi-
concerting," noting that he and Billups have
Billups to pay at least a portion of the $5126
dence room was Chief Billups, "And there was
known each other since their rookie days,
restitution each month and to have it com-
no viable explanation provided as to how the
Continued on page 4 - Probation
pletely repayed by the end of his one year of