THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday August 12, 2015
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Please visit our website: http://thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Community
Public Invited to
Comment on
Springs Proposal
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-
vice is publishing a draft Environmen-
tal Assessment (EA) that proposes new
winter measures to safeguard manatees
and improve the visitor experience inside
Three Sisters Springs. The draft EA is the
Service's proposed Three Sisters Springs
public in- water activities plan which is
open for a 30-day public comment period
ending on September 4th, 2015. The draft
EA proposes to limit the number of people
allowed to swim with the manatees in the
Springs at any one time, restricts their in-
teractions with the animals and reduces
the number of tour operators permitted to
lead swimming tours within the refuge.
To provide the public an oppor-
tunity to learn more about the proposed
measures, ask questions, and submit their
written comments in person, the Service
will hold an open informational meeting
on August 12, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m. at Plantation Inn (Sable Room),
First day of school "in the books". On the first day on school, Monday, Aug. 10, Citrus Springs Middle School students were cheered-on as they
9301 W. Fort Island Trail, Crystal River
left campus by the colorful, bright and shiny, high-spirited cheering squad! Photo courtesy CSMS, Citrus County Schools. Levy county schools
Florida 34429. The meeting is intended to
first day is August 24th. See school safety tips on page 4.
SunTrust Bank
answer questions that the public has on the
New Rules Proposed for
specifics of what we propose in the EA.
The public is welcome to submit
robbed by
written comments on the draft EA within
Three Sisters Springs
the 30-day comment period which began
August 5, 2015 and ends on September 4,
woman on foot
From The FWS
2015. Everyone is welcome to attend
31. One of the additional measures being
the public meeting without need of res-
proposed to further protect manatees re-
ervations. The meeting will consist of a
New long-term management
From The Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
Power Point presentation pertaining only
duces the number of commercial special
steps are being proposed to address record
to specifics of the draft EA, followed by
use permit holders allowed to access Three
numbers of manatees wintering in Three
A robbery occurred at the SunTrust
an opportunity to address questions via
Sisters Springs from the current 44 to five
Sisters Springs and substantial increases in
Bank located in Inverness at 2001 Hwy. 44
question cards.
beginning this fall. A competitive process
the number of people wanting to see these
West, at 9:24 am on Monday, Aug. 10.. Ac-
Coast Guard medevacs man
for applicants would be established as out-
endangered animals in their natural habi-
cording to the Citrus County Sheriff s Of-
lined in the appendices to the draft EA.
tat.
fice, the agency received a `hold-up alarm
from shrimping boat
An annual administrative fee is
from the alarm company, and when deputies
The Service outlined three man-
Homosassa_The Coast Guard medevaced
arrived on scene at the bank, the robbery was
being proposed for the five tour operators
agement alternatives in a draft Environ-
a 37-year-old man from a 30-foot shrimp-
confirmed by bank employees. The suspect
who could access the springs and would
mental Assessment (draft EA) it released
ing boat, six miles west of Homosassa,
range between $970 and $1,200.
The
last week ranging from no change to cur-
Florida, Monday. At 8:48 p.m. watch-
additional proposed management steps
rent practices, to limiting swimming op-
standers from Coast Guard Sector St.
would only apply to the 57-acre Three
portunities, and halting all in-water view-
Petersburg, received a call via VHF-FM
Sisters Springs cooperatively managed
ing. The draft EA examines protection
marine radio channel 16 reporting a crew-
by the Service, the City of Crystal River,
measures under each alternative and pro-
member, aboard the shrimping boat, Ka-
and the Southwest Florida Water Man-
poses to move forward with Alternative C
tie, had suffered severe hand injuries and
agement District. The public is invited to
- an option that significantly limits, but
needed emergency medical attention.A
comment on these proposals within a 30-
does not altogether prohibit swimming
flight surgeon was briefed and recom-
day comment period ending September
with manatees.
mended the injured man be medevaced.
4. Comments may be e-mailed to crystal-
These rules would be in effect
At 9:18 p.m. an MH-60 Jayhawk rescue
river@fws.gov.
each year from November 15 to March
Continued on page 12 - Rescue
Continued on page 4 - Robbery