THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday March 26, 2014
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Visit our website: www.thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Secret Ballot at
A Public Meeting?
By Ruth Ruppert
The revision of the personnel
manual gave the Inglis Town Commis-
sion (board) hiring, firing and discipline
powers. The `new' hiring sequence is that
each board member looks at the job ap-
plication, conducts an interview, and via
`secret ballot' at a public meeting chooses
their best candidate. The problem is, un-
less someone is clearly more qualified,
there could be 2 - 3 different choices
among the entire board. The final choice
then becomes a matter of persuasion. The
matter gets even more complicated when
you have someone currently doing the
job, there is no written evaluation indi-
cating deficiencies, and they are an appli-
cant. The recent hiring of the Supervisor
of Public Works and the Deputy Clerk fall
into this category (nothing contrary about
the final selections, just of how those se-
lections came about).
In July of 2013, 2 of the 4 public
works employees resigned, so in August
the board decided to temporarily promote
the remaining 2 employees to Supervisor
and Foreman. In the following 4 public
Shrimp anyone? There were plenty of shrimp dishes to go around for the nearly 3500 that turned out for theThe Rotary Club of Homosassa
meetings, the board liaisons for public
Springs 3rd Annual Shrimpapalooza on Saturday, March 22, 2014. The event takes up most of Old Homosassa, with the area's local merchants
works and water, as well as other board
participating by hosting similar festivities. The charitable event brings in thousands of dollars for local programs such as the YMCA, Boys &
members, could not say enough good
Girls Clubs of Citrus County, Sheriffs Youth Ranches, and the We Care Food Pantry, local schools and many other organizations. The Goal was
things about these 2 employees that were
to make this year's event even better, larger and more successful. Photo courtesy Homosassa Springs Rotary Club.
doing the work of 4. In November, the
Altercation Ends With Serious
Pedestrian Struck,
board decided to permanently fill the Su-
pervisor position and advertised for appli-
Charges Against Homosassa Man
cations. Interviews and then the `secret
Killed by Car in
ballot' took place in January. A public re-
the couple of years he'd known him. He said
cords review of the applications indicated
From The Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
Citrus County
that Honeycutt was accompanied by people
that of the 12 or so applicants, at least 3
Timothy Eugene Hon-
who were inside a truck, an unknown female
were in the running. What I am question-
eycutt, 53, 7250 W. Rosedale
From The Florida Highway Patrol
and a man he knew only by his first name.
ing is there was no discussion about the
Dr., Homosassa, was arrested
A crash in Inverness at 7:57 p.m.,
He said the door to his residence was un-
candidates during the meeting before the
by the Citrus County Sheriff's
March 21, killed a pedestrian. Based on pre-
locked.
vote, and the results of 2 votes for the in-
Office, March 22, charged with Honeycutt
liminary information by the Florida High-
A female in the home heard the
terim Supervisor and 3 votes for another
numerous felony charges.
way Patrol at the time of the press release,
altercation with Honeycutt, whom she rec-
applicant, is extraordinary (in light of the
At 12:45 a.m. on March 22, a dep-
the following circumstances are believed to
ognized, which she said lasted about ten
Sunshine Law).
uty was dispatched to a S. Roebuck Way,
have led to the crash, which remains under
minutes. She said she heard the man and
Continued on page 11 - Squawk Box
Homosassa residence due to a burglary that
investigation:
his male and female friends yelling at the
had just occurred. The victim said he was
Judith Corman, 72, of Floral City,
victim. Another male in the residence also
sleeping in his bedroom when he was shak-
was traveling north on U.S. Hwy. 41 near
heard the altercation, but didn't want to pro-
Expert Clock Repair
en awake by Honeycutt, who was also yell-
Mossy Oak Drive, driving a 1999 Ford
vide a sworn written statement about the in-
Vintage, Modern,
ing that he was going to beat him up. The
Ranger. A pedestrian, 66 year-old Rebec-
cident.
victim said he chased Honeycutt out of his
ca Young of Inverness, was crossing U.S.
Approximately 2:57 p.m. the same
Historical,
home and into the yard where they got into
Hwy. 41, walking west to east, and traveled
day, the deputy again went to Honeycutt's
an argument. The victim told Honeycutt that
directly into the path of Ms. Corman's ve-
residence and this time found him home. He
see page 12
he was calling the cops. He said he knows
hicle. Due to low-light conditions, Ms. Cor-
said, the previous night, he'd knocked on
Honeycutt through relatives, and Honeycutt
man was unable to observe Ms. Young, the
the victim's door and was let in. He was told
had only come into his home twice during
Continued on page 4 - Pedestrian Accident
Continued on page 12 - Altercation