THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday September 4, 2013
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Please visit our website for daily updates: thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Marion Co. Govt. Ranked
"High Performance"
According to the just released
High Performance Governments 2013,
Marion County has become a high perfor-
mance government. With a score of 65, it
is in the top 10 percent of governments in
effectively using its financial resources.
This is an accomplishment. Of the 6314
cities and counties studied In 2013, only
those with a score over 61 achieved high
performance status.
A high performance government
is a stable and efficient one due to:
1. diversified revenues,
2. high employee productivity,
3. controlled expenses department-by-
department,
4. carefully using federal and state aid,
and
5. using and controlling debt.
“We did this H.P. Index to find
cities and counties that manage their fi-
nances effectively.” said Greg Michels,
president of Municipal Analysis Services,
Inc. of Austin, Texas. “The result is an ob-
jective list of governments that are finan-
Florida Highway Patrol, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office and fire/rescue responded to this single vehicle wreck September 1st shortly before 7:30
cially efficient with their citizens while
pm in Crystal River. This pickup truck ended up wedged in the trees in the first boulevard divider on N. Meadowcrest Blvd. just off SR 44 (W
being more financially stable.“
Gulf to Lake Blvd.) At least one person was transported from the scene by EMS. Due to the holiday an FHP report was not readily available.
Marion County managers are
Newscaster/Sally Price photo
CCSO cracking down on
Emergency
doing one of the best jobs with the re-
sources they have.
unlicensed mobile meat sales
The following is a sample of
Injunction Stops
how your other local governments are ef-
fectively using their financial resources:
(a score of 62 or higher is high perfor-
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
Hip Hop Festival
uct in order to get the sellers to leave.
mance, a lower score means higher po-
A few days later, a similar situation
Almost every year, the Citrus
tential performance)
happened on Reehill St. in Lecanto, but this
County Sheriff s Office receives a rash of
From Levy County Sheriff Dept.
time, the outcome was different. When the
calls from citizens reporting door-to-door
Name
H-P Score
homeowner asked the meat sales people to
The Levy County Board of County
meat sales.
Marion County 65 Belleview City 59
leave his property, they would not cooper-
Commissioners called an emergency meet-
Going door-to-door is not against
Ocala City
32
Citrus County 52
ate, and after several attempts at shutting the
ing on Aug. 30 to address an unsanctioned
the law ñ if you have the proper permitting.
For more info, please contact
door, the homeowner brandished a weapon.
event called the Labor Day HIP-HOP Ex-
What makes these calls a concern is the sell-
Greg Michels at Municipal Analysis Ser-
At that point, the sellers left the property.
travaganza that was scheduled to take place
ers are driving unmarked pickup trucks and
vices, Inc. 512-704-7194.
“We know there are aggressive so-
at the So-So Clean Car Wash in Williston on
selling meat out of coolers from truck beds
licitors out there,î said Capt. Justin Ferrara,
What to do
Sat., Aug. 31, just to the south of Williston
without the proper permitting.
East District Commander. ìBut there are also
on U.S. Alt. 27 (Noble Ave.). An Emergency
The sheriff s office wants the pub-
legitimate business people with the proper
Injunction was granted to halt the event that
lic to be aware of the aggressive sales tactics
with C.R.
permitting in neighborhoods throughout the
was expected to draw crowds from around
being used by certain mobile meat sellers.
county. We are investigating the situation
the state.
About a week ago, two people in an
spent nuclear
and hope to have this issue resolved soon.”
The LCSO served the injunction to
older model white pickup truck knocked on
Last year, the Sheriff s Office be-
the organizers and artists expected to per-
the door of an elderly couple in Inverness,
fuel?
gan strict enforcement of state solicitation
form at the event. Sheriff’s deputies and the
off Croft Ave., claiming affiliation with a
laws. Every solicitor must have the proper
Williston Police Department were on patrol,
USDA-backed company selling quality
see pg. 11
permitting in order to make door-to-door
Aug. 31, to enforce this injunction, and the
meats. However, the couple felt intimidated
sales. After cracking down on solicitors in
media was alerted that any person found in
by the meat sellers who demanded a pur-
Continued on page 3 - Unlicensed Meat Sales
chase. The couple bought $20 in meat prod-
Continued on page 4 - Injunction