PAGE 8 - August 26, 2009
THE NEWSCASTER-Nature Coast News
Caution: It‛sDept.
Back To School
Recent Area Arrests
From the Levy County Sheriff
Woman arrested for driving with suspended license
It seems hard to believe that another summer has come and gone and it’s time to start
Linsey Ann Cowles was arrested by K-9 officer Tim Letson of the Inglis Police
getting the kids ready to go back to school. On August 24th Levy County will begin that
Department, around 2:00 a.m., August 20, on a charge of driving with a suspended driverís
timeless annual ritual: The first day of school. It is a time when parents breathe a sigh of
license. According to the police department, while the officer was patrolling in the Cason
relief and students and teachers anticipate new beginnings and new challenges.
Acres area, he observed Cowles speeding on Sapp St. After a check of her license revealed
Unfortunately, the beginning of school is also a time when children are at increased risk
it had been suspended for failing to pay traffic fines, Cowles told the officer she knew about
of transportation-related injuries from pedestrian, bicycle, school bus and motor vehicle
the suspension. She was placed under arrest and taken to the Levy County Jail. Cowles was
crashes. This happens because there are more children on the road each morning and after-
also cited for speeding, and the vehicle was towed.
noon which may cause driving patterns to change. So as schools open their doors, it’s time
Minor crash damages stop sign
for everyone—motorists, parents, educators and students—to improve their traffic safety
Christine R. Weaver was involved in a minor traffic crash, around 11:58 a.m.,
practices.
August 18, at the intersection of Hwy. 19 & Rachel St. Officer Tim Swiggett investigated
The familiar yellow school bus has become one of the most powerful icons in American
the crash and learned, that while driving south on Hwy. 19, Weaver failed to make the turn
society. Day-in and day-out, the nation’s 418,000 yellow buses travel more than 4.5 billion
onto Rachel St. and struck the stop sign, causing approximately $200 in damage to the sign.
miles a year at a cost of nearly $10 billion. They safely carry 24 million children-nearly
Weaver was cited for careless driving. There were no reported injuries.
half of all the nation’s children-to and from school.
Man arrested during routine traffic stop
While school buses can be proud of their safety record, there are still aspects of school
David J. Matson was arrested by the Inglis Police Department, at 8:10 p.m.,
bus transportation that are dangerous to children. More children are hurt outside a bus than
August 21, on an active Levy County warrant for failure to appear on a previous battery
inside one. Getting on and off the bus is the most dangerous part of the bus ride. This load-
charge. K-9 officer John Dowd confirmed the warrant during a traffic stop, and Matson was
ing and unloading area is called the “danger zone.” This area extends 10 feet in front of the
transported to the Levy County Jail. His bond was set at $2500.
bus, 10 feet on each side of the bus and 10 feet behind the bus. The danger zone is where
children are at greatest risk of not being seen by the bus driver. The child who bends over to
Man arrested at his home on Levy County warrant
retrieve a dropped school book, or who walks too close to the bus while crossing the street,
James Blair Bailey, Jr. was arrested by the Inglis Police Department, at 12:15
is at greatest risk of becoming the next statistic in this danger zone.
a.m., August 22 , on a Levy County warrant for violation of probation in reference to driv-
Parents and other adults must also do their part. For instance, most motorist need to
ing while license suspended. K-9 officers John Dowd and Tim Letson went to the Bailey’s
learn to share the road with school buses. They must stop when the bus stops to take on or
last known address with the warrant and found him there. He was taken into custody trans-
let off passengers. If we all do our part—if motorists heed school bus warning lights, bus
ported to the Levy County Jail.
drivers drive defensively, parents help their children learn to ride safely and children learn
Police veteran Mack Ballard
to avoid the bus’s danger zone---we can increase the safety of the yellow bus ride to and
from school.
promoted to IPD Sergeant
Safety precaution education is the best way to keep your child safe this school year. Get
involved and get your children involved. The more you know the safer your children are.
Please be careful during your travels and the Sheriff’s Office will be monitoring the
Officer Mack Ballard, a 20 year police veteran who has served
school zones and school bus stops for traffic violations.
18 years as a police sergeant, was promoted to the position of Police Ser-
geant with the Inglis Police Department, recently, replacing former Police
Sergeant Tim Swiggett, who recently stepped down from his duties as Po-
lice Sergeant and Patrol Supervisor to go back to his love of police patrol
duty and also to spend more time with his family.
Sergeant Ballard had a long and distinguished police career with
the City of Crystal River, until retiring in 2005. Upon his retirement, Ser-
geant Ballard continued with the Crystal River Police Department as a Reserve Sergeant
until their merge with the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. After the merge, Sergeant Bal-
lard became a Reserve Deputy with the citrus County Sheriff’s Office until 2008, when he
joined the Inglis Police Department.
Sgt. Ballard’s experience and dedication have been positive asset to both the
Inglis Police Department and the Town of Inglis, said Inglis Police Chief Steve Dixon, “I
am excited to have him as a supervisor.”
“The decision of Tim Swiggett to make the lateral move back to patrol will not
bode well for the bad guys,” said Sgt. Ballard. “I will do my best to keep up the great job
Tim did as Patrol Sergeant.”
Crime Scene Unit Investigating Human Remains
(Crystal River) Citrus County Sheriff’s Office crime scene technicians were back out on
W. Fort Island Trail last week to resume their processing of the site where skeletal remains
were discovered a week ago Monday. They’re were expected to be there for much of
Tuesday.
The bones have since been transported to the medical examiner’s office in Lees-
Diane Joyner, a native Floridian (left, born in Ocala), has been selected as the new Postmas-
burg for further evaluation.
ter of the Inglis Post Office effective August 29th. Diane gets a congratulatory handshake
Detectives are looking at missing persons reported in Citrus County to see if
from Frieda Gilbert. Diane lives in Morriston, graduated from Williston High School and has
anything links any of them to the skeletal remains found Monday. They also notified sur-
an AA degree from Central Florida Community College. She started with the Postal Service as
rounding counties of the find to see if they have unrecovered missing persons who may
a Rural Carrier in 1985, and spent her entire career at the Dunnellon Post Office. The last ten
have local ties to this area.
(or so) years she was the Supervisor (“second in command”) in Dunnellon. Diane and her
The agency’s investigation is continuing.
husband Mike have two children and three grandchildren. Diane is looking forward to her new
Anyone who may have information about the possible identity of the person
assignment here in Inglis and to getting the Post Office more involved with the community.
whose remains were found is asked to call 911 or 352-726-1121.
She has an “open door” policy, so come on in, say hello.
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