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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher

A Publication of

Wednesday April 17, 2013

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

Citrus Sheriff's Office

Taking Back Prescription Drugs

(Citrus County) On April 27 from 10 a.m.

to 2 p.m. the Citrus County Sheriff’s Of-

fice and the Drug Enforcement Adminis-

tration (DEA) will give the public its sixth

opportunity in three years to prevent pill

abuse and theft by ridding their homes of

potentially dangerous expired, unused,

and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring

your medications for disposal to two dif-

ferent locations in Citrus County, the Wal-

greens in Crystal River at 310 N.E. US

Hwy 19 (corner of Hwy 44 and US 19) or

the Walgreens in Inverness at 2705 Hwy

44 (corner of Hwy 44 and Independence)

. The service is free and anonymous, no

questions asked.

Last September, Americans

turned in 244 tons of prescription drugs

at over 5,200 sites operated by the DEA

and its thousands of state and local law

enforcement partners. In its five previous

Take Back events, the DEA and its part-

ners took in over 2 million pounds—over

a thousand tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vi-

tal public safety and public health is-

sue. Medicines that languish in home

cabinets are highly susceptible to di-

During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 14-20, 911/CAD Administrator Dennis Devoe (left) and Communications Supervi-

version, misuse, and abuse. Rates of

sor Sue Waterman (right) review paperwork in the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center.

prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are

Man charged with using the

Inglis Attorney

alarmingly high, as are the number of ac-

cidental poisonings and overdoses due to

internet to lure/solicit a teenager

Gets “Pink Slip”

these drugs. Studies show that a majority

of abused prescription drugs are obtained

from family and friends, including from

Police Cars Stay

From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.

formed specific sexual acts on

the home medicine cabinet. In addition,

the victim, and he made plans

Americans are now advised that their

The Citrus County Sheriff s Office

with her to travel to her school

in Inglis

usual methods for disposing of unused

became involved in an investigation of the

in another county on April 5

medicines—flushing them down the toilet

alleged sexual abuse of a 15 year-old girl

to pick her up and bring her to

or throwing them in the trash—both pose

By Tom Russell, Newscaster Editor

by a 47 year-old Homosassa man, James

Citrus County with the plan to

potential safety and health hazards.

Wayne Thatcher. The girl had disclosed the

engage in sexual activity with Thatcher

Since the election of two new mem-

Four days after the first event,

relationship to a family friend on March 31,

bers in March and re-election of one incum-

her. The victim provided testi-

Congress passed the Secure and Respon-

and it was reported to another law enforce-

bent on the Inglis commission five meetings

mony that Thatcher had last traveled to pick

sible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which

ment agency. When the CCSO was contact-

have been scheduled for the month of April.

her up on March 22 (2013), and the two had

amends the Controlled Substances Act

ed on April 4, they began the investigation.

The April 9th meeting lasted five hours and

spent approximately 3-4 days together. Ac-

to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled

During the investigation, the victim was in

took up topics such as: water issues and

cording to the arrest report, the sexual activ-

Continued on page 4- Squawk Box

another county, the report stated. During the

how to handle water utilities in the future.

ity started as early as January of 2013, at

investigation, the extent of the sexual con-

The condition of A&D Salvage on Hwy 40;

Thatcher s residence in Citrus County.

Levy hearing

tact was disclosed, and it included not only

Police issues, and retention/appointment of

Thatcher was placed under arrest on

physical contact, but also photographs, Sky-

a town attorney and several potential topics

April 5 and transported to the Citrus County

on extending

pe telephone conversations and text messag-

pending legal opinions. A special meeting

Detention Facility. He was placed on a ‘no

ing.

was set for April 16th to discuss police and

bond, as Thatcher resides in Michigan and

alcohol sales

The arrest report stated that on April

fire issues.

is due to return there soon. His charges in-

4, the victim and Thatcher were communi-

At the April 9th meeting Commis-

clude sexual battery on person under 18 (1st

Tues. May 7.

cating sexually via text messages and over

sioner Ann Morin, gave one of the most de-

degree felony); sexual battery on person un-

the phone. During this phone conversation,

tailed talks on just how short the town reve-

Continued on page 3 - Man charged

Thatcher made admissions to having per-

Continued on page 4 - Inglis Budget Moves