THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
PRESORTED
PLEASE
RECYCLE
STANDARD
US Postage
Paid
Deborah Russell - Editor
A Publication of
Wednesday June 28, 2017
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Publisher
Newscaster Publishing
Permit No. 14
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day
Community
Area Independence Day
Celebrations, pg. 4
BALD EAGLES FEATURED TOPIC
IN JULY AT WILDLIFE PARK
Guest article by Susan Straw-
bridge, Park Services Specialist
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs
Wildlife State Park will be focusing on
the threatened  Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus), our national bird, during
the month of July. Educational exhibits
about the Bald eagle will be on display in
the Park's Visitor Center and Discovery
Center during the month of July. The Park
is now home to three mature Bald eagles
Spirit, Homosassa and Summer, an im-
mature Bald Eagle named Athena, and
Beauty, a Golden eagle. These magnificent
birds could not survive in the wild due to
injuries or imprinting. Two of the adult
Bald eagles and the immature Bald eagle
Athena are on display, and another is used
Lee Paulet (KK4VNZ) )(left) and members of the local Citrus County Amateur Radio club along with our local CERT (Citizen Emergency Response
in outreach programs. The Park received
Team), and the CCSO participating in the annual response field day in Inverness. For 24 hours, the team members use various radio equipment
its first two Bald eagles, Abby and Jake,
independent of outside power to simulate emergency conditions. TheNewscaster/Mike Moore. Read more on page 8.
71 year-old man Hernando Man arrested on multiple
in 1989 from the Birds of Prey Center in
Maitland, Florida. Both had suffered inju-
ries that would prevent them from being
medevacked
released. Park Services Specialist, Andrea
kidnapping, sexual assault charges
Junkunc, will be presenting a special pro-
gram Making the Connection: An outlook
from boat near
From Citrus County Sheriff Dept.
with God, so she consented. She said he got
on Bald eagles and the use of ambassador
Just four days after a 52 year-old
into her vehicle, and when she turned onto
animals in conservation on Thursday, July
homeless Hernando, FL man was released
U.S. Hwy. 19, the man pulled out a black
Crystal River
20, 2017, starting at 1:00 pm in the Florida
from jail on March 27, he was accused of
gun and gave her directions as she drove.
Room at the Park's main entrance and Vis-
kidnapping a woman at gun point and sexu-
She said she drove to an unknown
itor Center on US 19. She will talk about
ally assaulting her
location in Crstal River where the man
the history of the Bald eagle and, how al-
According to the arrest affidavit,
forced her to perform a sex act. Afterward,
From USCG
though once endangered, it has recovered
several agencies immediately began work-
she said, he directed her to drive to Dunnel-
YANKEETOWN - On Sat. afternoon, June
and has been reclassified as threatened.
ing this case on March 31, after a hysteri-
lon to the Chatmire area, where Alexander
24, the U.S. Coast Guard medevacked
She will explain what you can do to help
cal woman drove up to the Dunnellon Po-
sold her phone in exchange for drugs. She
71-year-old Donald Puzello from an 18-foot
conserve the magnificent Bald eagles and
lice Department and found a Dunnellon Fire
said he used the drugs inside the car, then
boat located four miles west of the Crystal
our other native wildlife. Junkunc will tell
Department lieutenant standing outside. The
sexually violated her. She said the man then
River Barge Canal.
the story of Liberty, one of the Park's Bald
investigation began with the collaboration
instructed her to drive to another location,
Watch standers from Coast Guard
eagles. There will be no charge to attend
of the Dunnellon Police Department, the
and when he exited her vehicle and walked
Station Yankeetown received notification
this program.
Citrus County Sheriff s Office and the Mar-
to toward a house, she took advantage of
from the Citrus County Sheriff s Office at
Easier Than eBay
ion County Sheriff s Office.
what she felt may be her only opportunity to
2:45 pm that Puzello was suffering from
The victim told deputies that she'd
get away, and she immediately drove to the
chest pains while aboard the boat with two
driven into the Chevron gas station, located
You can now place classified ads at the Food
Dunnellon Police Department.
other adults and one child.
at 639 NE U.S. Hwy. 19 in Crystal River,
During her ordeal, the victim stat-
Ranch Service Desk - 25 words/$12. New
A Coast Guard 24-foot Special
and was approached by an older black male
ed, the man told her that he was part of the
deadline: Monday 12 noon at the Inglis Food
Purpose Craft-Shallow Water boat crew
who asked her to give him a ride. She said
black mafia, and he d gotten out of prison
Ranch service Desk. Cash or Check.
from Station Yankeetown was diverted at
she was hesitant to give the man a ride, but
three to four days previously. He told her he
No refunds for early cancellations
Continued on page 4 - Boater Rescue
he told her that he was a good man, involved
Continued on page 11 - Assault Charges