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Wednesday August 29, 2007

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A Publication of

Permit No. 4

Mike Moore - Photojournalist

Newscaster Publishing

Have A Safe & Happy Labor Day!

Sally Price Correspondent

Squawk Box John

With Mike Moore

Couey

"Kid Nation"

Given

It is back to school for

Citrus County and while in the

past I've been overjoyed to have

Death

the first day of the rest of my

summer alone and more to my-

self, this year I had to admit to a little melan-

Sentence

choly. I'm guessing (based on the paper's

demographics) most everyone reading this

has had kids go to school. Well actually ac-

cording to the demographics most everyone

Surrounded by Citrus

reading this has long ago had children go

County police and detec-

through school... ... ah but I digress.

tives, John Couey seems to

Anyway, I had to face my first sum-

care less as Judge Ric

mer with a teenager old enough to produc-

Howard sentences him to

tively help in the family business. For the past

die.

several years she's been in the office but

usually confined to one room with a video or

Citrus County judge Ric Howard has

homework or crayons and the like. Not so this

Mark Lundsford looking directly at John Couey during the moment Circuit Judge Ric

agreed with a jury's recommendation and sen-

past summer. She got her own set of scrubs,

Howard pronounces the death sentence that will end Couey's life. Friends and detec-

tenced John Evander Couey to death for the

her own desk area, and a paycheck.

tives look on watching for a break in Lundsford's stoic demeanor. Ever so slightly did

kidnap, rape and murder of 9-year-old Jessica

Well sort of a paycheck if you know

Mark Lundsford allow a smile to show during the sentencing. John Couey was found

Lunsford of Homosassa in March,2005.

what I mean. I have to admit I had my doubts,

guilty of murdering the 9 year old. Couey may spend a dozen years on death row while

The jury recommended on a 10-2 vote that

appeals are heard--Newscaster Photo by Mike Moore

but I stood behind her despite the nay-say-

Couey be executed.

ers and watched her grow up almost over-

New Hydro Plant Applicant Headed

It's a crime that led to new laws in

night. I took some heat too. Being the guy

many states including Florida, making it

who runs the place means juggling the needs

tougher for convicted sex offenders. After the

for Clash With Previous Applicant

of the company and the needs of the clients

sentencing, sheriff's deputies quickly removed

and the needs of the other workers with the

Couey from the courtroom, where the girl's

needs of a woman-child. There were those

Dean Edwards, Inglis Hydopower,

requirements requiring a progress report ev-

father and other relatives embraced.

who would watch for any little mistake and

LLC, P. O. Box 1565, Dover, Florida has ap-

ery six months was issued to Edwards. The

Couey buried the girl alive after kid-

then complain that the place 'lack profes-

plied for a permit to build a hydroelectric plant

first progress report is due on 12-31-07. A

napping her from her bedroom and raping her.

sionalism' because of the average age of the

in Inglis. As there is still a State lease on the

license application for the project must be

Her body was found about three weeks after

help was being skewed way down. Quite

land adjoining the Spillway Dam it is not clear

filed before the permit expires to maintain the

she disappeared, in a grave in Couey's yard

how the new applicant plans to build at the

application priority.

Continued on page 3 - Squawk Box

about accross the street and about 150 yards

site. The Federal Energy Commission more

The Preliminary Permit does not au-

from her own home.

than two years ago canceled a project by

Adopt A Pet

thorize construction of any project works,

Couey's lawyers had argued that he

Gainesville attorney Robert Karow.

according to Berger and she said she has re-

couldn't legally be executed because he's

On 3-5-07 Edwards submitted a Pre-

ceived a 17-page letter that Hy Power Energy

see page 2

mentally retarded, but the judge rejected that

liminary Permit Application for the Inglis Hy-

Co. (Robert Karow) has filed for a Rehearing

claim earlier this month.

dropower Project under P-12783. It was for a

or Appeal. They are asking for leave to inter-

The slain girl's father, Mark Lun-

three-year permit for a proposed 2,000 kilo-

vene in Inglis Hydropower LLC. They are

sford, said his message for Couey is to "skip

watt plant. It was accepted the same date and

claiming that Inglis LLC wants to use the same

all these appeals" and "take your punish-

Motions to Intervene were solicited. Inglis

site that they have the rights to use. "It looks

ment."

town commissioner Betty Berger filed a Mo-

like I'll have to be an intervenor against both

A published report stated that the

tion to Intervene on 6-12-07, which was

of them. I believe they came back into the

49-year-old Couey told his aunt he expected

granted on 7-5-07.

picture because of the new applicant" said

to be sentenced to death.

On 7-30-07 Article 4 specifying the filing

Continued on page 4 - Hydro Plant

Continued on page 3 - Couey Sentenced