THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
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Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday May 20, 2015
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Sally Price - Correspondent
Have A Safe Memorial Day
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Illiteracy Is A Reality
in Citrus County
If you are endowed with a love of
language, your life has been enriched im-
mensely. You are able to appreciate the
world's greatest literature, enjoy the world
of drama, read your local newspaper with
complete understanding of all the issues
presented, and perhaps even have the abili-
ty to negotiate the complicated instructions
that must be understood in order to be able
to operate today's instruments of commu-
nication, such as smart phones. You have
also been the recipient of a fine education.
But try to imagine going through
daily life not being able to read and under-
stand a newspaper; not being able to fill out
a job application; not being able to fill out
medical forms; or not being able to carry on
a conversation because the words just don't
come, an ability that is necessary in order
to get through an initial job interview. It is
hard to imagine a life that lacks functional
literacy, which is the ability, according to
the U.S. Department of Education, to use
printed and written information to function
Saturday was the annual Citrus County All Hazards and Hurricane Expo at the Crystal River Mall. The indoor expo featured all types of displays
in society, to achieve one's goals, and to
and information, equipment, hazard responses, disaster relief supplies, organizations for help and a variety of other related issues to surviv-
ing a disaster of any kind. Outside at 11:30 there was a live side by side demonstration of a fire with and without Continued on page 4.
develop one's knowledge and potential.
A sad but real fact is that one out
Man charged Three charged with burglarizing
of four adults in Citrus County is func-
tionally illiterate. Roughly 15 percent of
with video
our adult population lacks a high school
Crystal River home
education. But, the Citrus County Library
System has a fine program that is helping
voyeurism
individuals who are functionally illiterate,
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
After all parties were interviewed,
and that is through its volunteer program,
detectives learned that a 14 year-old neigh-
Three youths were arrested, May
called the Citrus Libraries Adult Literacy
borhood youth told the couple (a 25 year-
16, after a burglary was reported to a W.
Services
From The Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
old woman and an 18 year-old boy) that the
Alge Ave., Crystal River residence. The
Currently, the Citrus Libraries
Anthony James Des-
home had been abandoned. The neighbor-
report stated that the burglarized home is
Adult literacy Services program is helping
roches, 19, 9318 N. Travis Dr.,
hood youth and the 18 year-old youth had
currently vacant due to county code viola-
our community by providing English lan-
Dunellon, was arrested by the
gone into the unsecured residence and tak-
tions and is being used for storage while
guage skills to the following categories of
Citrus County Sheriff s Office,
en the television to the nearby home.
renovations are completed. The complain-
learners:
May 12, charged with one count Desroches
Nicole Rose Velasquez, 25, who
ant stated the house had been burglarized
1. Low Level Learners (referred to as
of video voyeurism for own use
had also just moved into the nearby home,
sometime between 10:00 pm on May 15
Adult Basic Educated, or ABE, Learners.
His bond was set at $5,000.
was accused of taking several items from
and 9:00 am on May 16. She said a 60-
ABE learners have varied needs.
According to the arrest report, the
the house in a black backpack. Velasquez
inch flat screen Magnavox television and a
Some want to learn how to read and write.
sheriff s office was contacted by the Human
and the 18 year-old boy were charged with
purple Metro PCS cellular phone had been
Others have not finished high school and
Resources manager at a local medical facil-
grand theft ($300 or more, but less than
need help in passing the GED examina-
taken. The arrest reports listed the total loss
ity, where a patient had brought a cellular
$5,000) and burglay of an unoccupied
tion. Others have special needs that pre-
at $370.
telephone when she found it in the bathoom
residence, with their bonds set at $12,000
The television was later located
of the facility, on the wall facing the toilet.
each. The 14 year old youth was transport-
Continued on page 8 - Squawk Box
outside a nearby residence in the neighbor-
The report stated, that when the woman fin-
ed to the Citrus County Detention Facility,
hood, covered with a camoflage blanket.
Classified Ads
ished using the bathroom, she retrieved the
charged with the same offense.
The person at that residence said the tele-
You can also place classified ads at the
phone, initially thinking a patient had left
The Department of Juvenile Jus-
vision belongs to a couple who had been
Food Ranch Service Desk - 25 words/$12.
it behind, but when she learned that it had
tice probation officer told detectives that
living with her for only a few days, after
New deadline: Monday 12 noon at the Inglis
been recording for 18 minutes, she turned
the 14 year-old youth will be placed on
they'd applied to a CraigsList ad for a
Food Ranch service Desk. Cash or Check.
Continued on page 4 - Video
home detention in the custody of his parent.
roommate.