THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday July 5, 2017
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Please visit our website: thenewscaster.com
Community
Citrus Community Swing Band
to perform, July 27
The Citrus Community Swing
Band will perform at the East Citrus
Community Center, located at 9907 E.
Gulf to Lake Hwy., Inverness, on the last
Thursday of each month. The next per-
formance will be July 27 at 11:00 am. For
more information please call (352) 344-
9666.
BALD EAGLES FEATURED TOPIC
IN JULY AT WILDLIFE PARK
Guest article by Susan Straw-
bridge, Park Services Specialist
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs
Wildlife State Park will be focusing on
the threatened Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus), our national bird, during
the month of July. Educational exhibits
about the Bald eagle will be on display in
the Park's Visitor Center and Discovery
Center during the month of July.
The Park is now home to three
mature Bald eagles Spirit, Homosassa and
Summer, an immature Bald Eagle named
Athena, and Beauty, a Golden eagle. These
magnificent birds could not survive in the
wild due to injuries or imprinting. Two of
the adult Bald eagles and the immature
Bald eagle Athena are on display, and an-
Citrus County animal control paid a visit to this Inverness home after a complaint was made. The resident at this home was issued a manda-
other is used in outreach programs.
tory notice to appear in court on the animal cruelty charge and was not taken to jail. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) was also
The Park received its first two
contacted about the conditions inside the home. CCSO Photos.
Counterfeits,
Woman issued Notice to Appear on
Bald eagles, Abby and Jake, in 1989 from
the Birds of Prey Center in Maitland, Flor-
Fleeing Officer,
ida. Both had suffered injuries that would
animal cruelty charge
prevent them from being released. Park
Services Specialist, Andrea Junkunc, will
Resisting
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
be presenting a special program Making
Due to the filth and strong odor of
the Connection: An outlook on Bald ea-
Electricians who arrived at an E.
urine and feces inside the home, deputies
gles and the use of ambassador animals in
Iona Ln. residence in the Highlands area of
called a HazMat team, as well as a fire res-
conservation on Thursday, July 20, 2017,
Inverness, June 26, refused to perform work
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
cue unit, to assist in clearing and ventilating
starting at 1:00 pm in the Florida Room at
inside the home due to unsanitary condi-
Three Floral City residents were
the home.
the Park's main entrance and Visitor Cen-
tions. Instead, the electricians contacted the
arrested during a traffic stop by the Citrus
All of the 34 cats found inside the
ter on US 19. She will talk about the his-
Citrus County Sheriff s Office. Animal con-
County Sheriff s Office, June 29, in the area
home were thin, and many were ill. Ms.
tory of the Bald eagle and, how although
trol officers and deputies were dispatched
of E. Crow Ln. and S. Dove Dr. in Floral City,
Smith told officers that she has 24 (not 34)
once endangered, it has recovered and has
to the home of 75 year-old Barbara Mayne
due to the driver failing to come to a com-
cats that are only allowed inside the home
been reclassified as threatened. She will
Smith about 4:42 pm.
plete stop at a stop sign, then fleeing from
or onto a screened porch, that she spends
explain what you can do to help conserve
According to animal control offi-
a deputy. *Driver Joshua Jordan Phillips,
about $1,000 per month feeding them, and
the magnificent Bald eagles and our other
cers, Ms. Smith had too many cats to care
25, was charged with driving while license
the conditions inside the home were normal
native wildlife. Junkunc will tell the story
for, the residence was extremely filthy, and
suspended or revoked knowingly, resisting
to she and her cats.
of Liberty, one of the Park's Bald eagles.
the cats were living in unhealthy, hazardous
an officer without violence and fleeing from
When Ms. Smith was asked by a
circumstances.
Easier Than eBay
a law enforcement officer while disregard-
deputy if she felt that conditions inside the
The report stated that the air condi-
ing the safety of others, one of which was
home were suitable for she and her cats, Ms.
tioner was not working, that every piece of
an unrestrained 4 year-old child passenger
Smith replied that she did, according to the
You can now place classified ads at the Food
furniture was covered with cat hair, dust, fe-
($11,500 bond); he was also also issued 6
report. She also told the deputy that she did
Ranch Service Desk - 25 words/$12. New
ces or urine, and most of the food and water
traffic citations for his numerous infrac-
not smell the ammonia inside the home, and
deadline: Monday 12 noon at the Inglis Food
bowls were empty or had roaches in them.
tions. *Passenger Brian James Mikkelson,
she knows exactly what ammonia smells
Ranch service Desk. Cash or Check.
The incident report stated that several cats
27, homeless, was charged with possession
like, the report stated.
No refunds for early cancellations
were inside cages without food or water.
Continued on page 11 - Animal Cruelty
Continued on page 4 - Counterfeits