THE NEWSCASTER
THE NEWSCASTER
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Deborah Russell - Editor/Publisher
A Publication of
Wednesday August 24, 2011
Inglis, FL 34449
Tom Russell - Consulting Editor
Newscaster Publishing
Sally Price - Correspondent
Permit No. 14
Visit our website for the latest news: www.thenewscaster.com
Mike Moore - Photojournalist
Squawk Box
Area agencies prepare for Hurricane Irene, see page 3
East is East & West is West
& Never the Twain Shall Meet
With Doug Johnston
Rudyard Kipling could have been
writing about Citrus County
in the early to mid 20th cen-
tury when he wrote those
words. The county had an
east/west war almost from
its birth on June 2, 1887.
The town of Mannfield,
which was just south of what
would become Lecanto, was named the
temporary county seat. It was agreed that
after two years the registered voters of the
county would decide a permanent county
seat.
Mannfield was named after A.S.
Mann who was a state senator at the time
Citrus County was formed along with Pas-
co County. The two counties were part of
Hernando County until the lines were re-
drawn.
The county was clearly divided
into the west faction composed of Crystal
River, and those towns west of Mannfield
and led by Mann, and the east, which was
mostly of the residents of Inverness, led
by Citrus County Sheriff Jim Priest, Frank
Summertime temperatures are blasting off the charts and many boaters turn to the water for cooling off. This ultimate partying pontoon boat
Dampier and a few powerful businessmen.
seen a couple of weeks ago where Hall’s River meets the Homosassa River offers plenty of entertainment features and has all the bells and
The bickering was fierce. An election was
whistles. Two jet skis wait on the front, seats on the upper deck for a great view can be departed by stairs or a quick escape down a slide into
finally held on May 4th 1891 and Inverness
the cool clear waters. A boating trip last Sunday turned tragic for a Homosassa family. The FWC said the accident involved a 2009, 39 ft.
received 267 votes to 258 for Lecanto.
Contender, an open fishing or pleasure boat. See Story below from the FWC. Photo by Sally Price.
Mann sent a lawyer with a letter
Homosassa Man
Sheriff's Offices Urge You to
to the district judge to halt the proceedings,
but the only judge in that district lived in
Dies in Boating
Slow Down in School Zones
Tampa and was in Dade City at the time.
The Inverness boys, led by Sheriff Priest,
Mishap
per year at a cost of nearly $10 billion to
Speeding fines can be over $400
Continued on page 8- Squawk Box
carry 24 million children - nearly half of all
Monday was the first day of school
the nation’s children - to and from school.
CATTAIL CREEK RV PARK
for Levy County students, and Citrus County
Getting on and off the bus is the most dan-
From the FWC
In Charming Yankeetown, FL
students started school last week. More chil-
gerous part of the bus ride. This loading and
A Homosassa man was killed in a
dren being on the roadways during mornings
Minutes to River and Gulf!
unloading area is called the “danger zone,”
boating accident Sunday afternoon on the
and afternoons presents an increased risk of
RVs for Rent on Site or
an area that extends 10 feet in front of the
Homosassa River, according to Florida Fish
transportation-related injuries. Small chil-
bring your own!
bus, 10 feet on each side of the bus and 10
and Wildlife Conservation Commission
dren are difficult to see and may dart about
feet behind it. The danger zone is the area
Wooded Sites - Pool
(FWC) officials.
impulsively, without first thinking.
where children are at greatest risk of not
Forty-eight year old Robert Wade
Laundry
Drivers should be on the lookout
being seen by
Phillips was operating a 39-foot pleasure
for children walking to and from school or
Clubhouse
the bus driver.
craft, traveling up the river with nine pas-
waiting at bus stops. They should observe
The child who
STAY 2 NIGHTS
sengers on board.
all school-zone speed limits, and slow down
bends
over
& GET
While traveling near channel mark-
when crossing guards are present. It is im-
to retrieve a
3rd NIGHT FREE
er 19, Phillips veered outside of the channel,
portant for drivers to use proper signaling
352-447-3050
dropped school
FWC investigators said. During an evasive
around schools so traffic guards will know
item or walks
41 Cattail Ln.
maneuver to return to the channel, the vessel
a driver’s intention and where theyíre head-
too close to
capsized and ejected all occupants.
Yankeetown
ing.
the bus while
The passengers were taken to the
RV Lots
The nation’s 418,000 familiar yel-
RV Rentals
low buses travel more than 4.5 billion miles
Continued on page 3 - School Zones
Continued on page 4-Boating Accident