THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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STANDARD
PLEASE
RECYCLE
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Wednesday September 17, 2008
A Publication of
Permit No. 4
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Newscaster Publishing
Sally Price Correspondent
Urban Search And Rescue Teams Working Together In Texas (left)After Hurricane Ike-Orange,Texas--Members of the Texas Task Force Two (Texas TF-2) are helping the
U. S. Coast Guard launch a boat to search and rescue victims of flooding due to Hurricane Ike. Mike Moore/FEMA. (Right) What's going on? Lori Ann Englehart of Citrus Springs
checks out the taped off pumps at the Race Track Gas Station on Hwy 19 South in Crystal River Thursday. Florida's Attorney General's Office says it will start serving 16 gas companies
with subpoenas. That's after residents reported gas stations increasing prices in the wake of Hurricane Ike. The office said it would begin to serve the subpoenas Tuesday. The Attorney
General's Office reported receiving more than 2,300 complaints in the past three days about gasoline price gouging after Ike.
Hernando Man Charged With Lewd
Ike Causes “Pain at the Pump”
& Lascivious Battery, Conduct
By Sally Price, Newscaster Correspondent
the 89 octane out, but the station had gotten
87 in and prices had jumped: 87 - 399.9, 89
Thursday customers at the Race
A 29-year-old Hernando man, Steven Michael Desposito, was
- 409.9, and 93 - 419.9. Questioning the
Track Gas Station on Hwy 19 in Crystal River
arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Sept. 9, on two felony
clerk inside, I was told they could not an-
found half of the pumps totally taped off with
charges, lewd and lascivious battery and lewd and lascivious conduct,
swer any questions.
yellow plastic tape . 87 octane choices were
both allegedly against a Beverly Hills girl who was 13-years-old when
In Inglis on Sunday the Citgo Station gas
all blocked from use. The clerk in the sta-
the incidents allegedly took place. According to the arrest report, the
prices were: 87 - 379.9, 89 - 399.9, 93 -
tion said she had heard that all the stations in
numerous incidents took place from the middle of May (2008) through
409.9 and diesel which was 449.9 was out.
Crystal River were out of 87 octane but this
June 19 (2008). Detectives interviewed the girl on July 29th and she
The clerk was very friendly when I asked
was not verified. Lori Ann Englehart of Cit-
provided details. A search warrant was executed on Desposito's resi-
about the gas situation but told me I needed
rus Springs who stopped in for gas Thursday
dence, Sept. 9, and items were seized from his home to corroborate
to see the manager who was there everyday
said that she always comes to the Race Track
information provided by the girl. Desposito was arrested on Sept. 9 when
earlier than my visit. At the Shell Station the
Gas Station here. Lori said a friend called
he arrived in the area of his residence. He was transported to the Citrus
price was 10 - 12 cents more for 87. The
her that morning and told her she needed to
County Detention Facility in Lecanto. He bonded out of jail on $15,                Steven Desposito
clerk was friendly with answers, said they
fill up her car because the friend had heard
000 for each of the two charges.
were out of Premium and the prices were:
on Fox News that prices were going to jump
Double Fatal crash near Homosassa
87 - 389.9, 89 - 399.9, 93 - 409.9 and 449.9
fast. Arriving at the station she found out
for diesel. The Kangaroo Station clerk said
something was going on. Lori said she fig-
A two vehicle traffic crash, just before 7:00 p.m., Sept. 12, resulted in two deaths
she could not talk about the gas situation and
ured what was going on must be related to
and a serious injury.
to call their headquarters if I wanted to ask
the hurricane hitting Texas. Lori was con-
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occured southwest of Homossa
anything. The prices at Kangaroo were: 87 -
cerned because she had to go to Orlando and
at the intersection of Stage coach Trail and C.R. 491 (Lecanto Highway). A 1993 Plymouth
377.9, 89 - 389.9, 93 - 401.9 and diesel was
was worried that there may not be gas to get
van driven by 63-year-old Virgel H. Harrell, of Hernando, was traveling west on Stage Coach
449.9.
back.
Trail. A 2007 GMC pickup truck driven by 49-year-old David M. Smith, of Crystal River,
Continued on page 3 - Pain at the Pump
A check back Sunday at Race Track found
Continued on page 3 - Double Fatality