THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday March 25, 2009
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Newscaster Publishing
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
A sleepy and recovering Citrus K-9 Officer Mito is being tended to by Dunnellon veterinarian Dr. Paul
FFA Livestock Show: Kacie Sherouse, 13, from Inverness Middle School proudly shows off "Triple T"
Mack. Officer Mito suffered a near fatal wound in the line of duty while apprehending a knife-wielding
her FFA Angus/Hereford cross livestock project. Kacie and 82 other exhibitors were on hand all week
subject in the early hours of March 23. See story below. Photo by Mike Moore
at the Citrus County Fair, going 'head to head' for top honors. For more, see page 12 - Photo by Mike
Moore
Squawk Box Suspect Shot
Appeals Court overturns Halls
And Killed In River ruling against Citrus County
With Mike Moore
Turning 15,
Crystal River
Student Driver Ahead
The state’s Fifth District Court of
in the Generalized Future Land Use Map of
If you have followed this
Appeal has reversed the court ruling against
the Comprehensive Plan in a 1996 amendment.
column for any length of time,
the county in the Halls River Development
Opponents
contended
the
Incident
you will know that I have con-
suit. Citrus County had appealed the circuit
property’s Coastal and Lakes designation in
sistently yammer'd on about life
court order ruling that the county had inordi-
the Comprehensive Plan prohibited the pro-
K-9 Officer Stabbed, Hospitalized
with my daughter and her
nately burdened property owned by the com-
posed use and that the Comp Plan trumped
friends. You've listen to me describe the trials
Crystal River - Citrus County Sheriff's Office
pany on the Halls River as defined under the
the Land Development Code as specified in
and tribulations of being a middle-aged dad
officials continue their investigation into an
Bert J. Harris Jr. Private Property Protection
law. Save the Homosassa River Alliance sued,
with my rather popular female offspring and
incident that occurred early this morning on
Rights Act. In the most recent chapter of a
and in 2002 the trial court overturned the
her bevy of young lady friends. Most of the
U.S. Hwy. 19 near the Sonic drive-thru. Shortly
long-running, complicated series of suits, the
county commission’s 3-2 vote of approval of
bragging has been about stuff younglings will
after 1:00 a.m., deputies were dispatched to
county contended the trial court had erred in
the project. The county commission subse-
do and for the last couple of years it’s been
this area regarding a suspicious person. The
finding that a county ordinance restricted the
quently brought the Land Development Code
about gossiping and boys and stuff. This time
person, a white male, was jumping in and out
company’s use of its property.
designation into sync with the Comp Plan in
it’s a little more serious.
of traffic.
The county had also argued that the
2002. Halls River resubmitted its development
She and her friends are all turning 15. In-
After deputies confronted the subject, he
trial court erred in holding that the company
plan after that and opponents sued again. This
deed, most of you that have spent any time
brandished a weapon, a large knife, and the
had timely asserted its Harris Act claim. Real
time the county told the property owner the
here in Florida know what that means and,
K-9 handler released K-9 deputy Mito to help
estate developer F. Blake Longacre, owner
plan was inconsistent with the Comp Plan.
because I can already feel your empathy, that
apprehend the suspect. The man stabbed K-
and president of Halls River Development,
The company sued for compensation under
magic number has sent a ice cold chill through
9 deputy Mito, then charged deputies with
relied on a Land Development Code designa-
the Harris Act, and the circuit court ruled for
our collective citizen's hearts. No, it is not
the knife. Shots were fired, and the man was
tion of Mixed Use and the county’s opinion
the company. The appeals court said on
angina, you're right, it is the cold terror that
killed. Deputy Todd Cridland fired the shot
that multi-unit use was permissible. He
March 20 it recognized that though Halls River
comes with that part of life when the State of
that killed the suspect involved in the inci-
bought the property in 2001 and got county
had been misled in a mutual mistake by the
Florida (in its infinite wisdom) has decided
dent. Cridland has been with the agency since
commission approval in early 2002 for a multi-
initial, unintentionally incorrect advice by the
that a teenager is old enough to drive. Spe-
Dec. 1999 when he was hired as a dispatcher
unit development on it. The problem was that
county, the impact was in 1997 when the ordi-
cifically then, it is that time when my teenager
in the 911 Communications Center. In April of
the property’s former designation of Mixed
nance changed the use from Mixed to Coastal
and many of her girl pals have all come of age
2004, Cridland began his career as a deputy
Use had not been changed in the Land De-
Continued on page 10 - Appeals Court
Continued on page 4- Squawk Box
velopment Code when it had been changed
Continued on page 3 - Suspect Shot