To report power outages or downed power lines:
SECO: (352) 793-3801
PROGRESS ENERGY: 
1-800-228-8485 
WREC: 352-795-4382
or 489-6818
CFEC: 1-800-227-1302

Hurricane Help HOTLINES: 
Here are some phone numbers 
statewide hotlines: 
Florida Emergency Information Line: 800-342-3557. 
American Red Cross: 
1-866-GET-INFO (for information) & 800-GIVE-NOW (for donations). 
Attorney General's price gouging hot line: 800-646-0444. 
Elder Services: 800-963-5337. 
FEMA Disaster Assistance: 
800-621-3362. 
State Volunteer and Donations: 
1-800-354-3571. 
Agricultural and Consumer Services: 800-435-7352. 
Department of Insurance: 
800-227-8676
To volunteer -- 352-527-5390

Keep An Eye on the Storm - Hurricane Guide

This week's Newscaster & Archives (click here)

Man Charged With Child Abuse, One Year Old Dies     

     A 35-year-old man Beverly Hills man was arrested, April 24, on a charge of aggravated child abuse with great bodily harm. According to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Gianni Spagnolo, called a detective with the sheriff's office around 8:20 p.m. and arranged to come in for an interview at the sheriff's office complex in Inverness. He was arrested on the charges after the interview.
     The child, a one-year-old boy, died of his injuries on April 25. The sheriff's offices will notify the State Attorney's Office of the child's death and charges against Spagnolo could be elevated. 
During the interview with the detective on the 24th, Spagnolo described the incident with the child he said had occurred around 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. on the 23rd, when he was babysitting. He said that he was kneeling on the bed, throwing the child up into the air, using more force each time he tossed the child into the air, and the child's head hit the ceiling. He said the child fell from the ceiling, hitting the back of his head on a wooden table near the edge of the bed, then he fell onto the concrete floor, hitting his head and coming to rest on his back. After the injury, Spagnolo said the child's teeth were clenched and he was unresponsive. He said he waited for about an hour, or an hour and a half, until the boy's mother came home, then he waited another hour before taking the boy and his mother to a local hospital, in order to seek medical attention for the child. 
     The report stated that the child sustained severe head trauma and was transported by helicopter to Shands Medical Center in Gainesville, due to the severity of the injuries. The medical staff informed the sheriff's office that the victim had suffered severe head trauma, a brain stem injury, and massive retinal hemorrhaging, and that there was a possibility the victim would not survive the injuries. 
Spagnolo demonstrated to the detective how the incident had happened. He explained that he is the boyfriend of the boy's mother, and that he had not been truthful with her or law enforcement personnel investigating the incident, however, the report did not state what Spagnolo had told them. While in the interview room, Spagnolo called the boy's mother and explained to her that he'd injured the child. Spagnolo told the officer that he could not have held this in any longer and that he owed it to the child to tell the truth about what had happened. 
     Spagnolo was transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility. The detective requested that Spagnolo be held without bond "due to the severity of the injuries inflicted on the victim and the possibility of the victim not surviving."

Inglis Nuclear Plant Public Service Commission Hearing Provides Few Answers for Citizens       

       Progress Energy Florida, in conjunction with the Florida Public Service Commission, held a Public Hearing in Crystal River, April 23, regarding the potential construction of two nuclear facilities in Inglis. The hearing was held at the Plantation Inn's Sable Conference Center for the purpose of public input to the Public Service Commission before it votes on the permit application. 
In Dec., 2006, the company announced that it had acquired land for the proposed facility, over 3000 acres in Inglis, 8 miles north of Progress Energy's Crystal River facilities. 
       The next step in the proposed plant becoming a reality is the Florida permitting process (certification), which could take up to 21 months, starting with a petition that was filed by Progress Energy with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) on March 11 for a Determination of Need for the construction of the facilities. A recommendation by PSC staff members is expected to be filed on July 2, and the PSC Commissioners are expected to vote on the matter at their July 15 Agenda Conference. 
Progress Energy must also file a PPSA application with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), which will include an Environmental Review by the FDEP. This application has to be approved by the Governor and Cabinet, and the final certification will be issued by the FDEP Secretary. This could take up to a year, but would require less time if no issues are disputed. 
Other factors are also involved, such as procurement of materials, engineering and design, and site preparation (4 to 5 years duration). Construction of the plant is expected to take about 5 years and will be monitored by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to ensure compliance with safety standards. The NRC will conduct final testing before commercial operation begins. Both units, Levy Nuclear Units 1 and 2, are expected to be in service by 2016 and 2017. 
The most recent available estimate as to the cost of constructing the plant is $17 billion, which includes $3 billion for transmission facilities. This cost will be passed on to consumers, resulting in an increase of about $9 per month for the average consumer, according to Progress Energy. These costs would be passed on to consumers from 2009 through 2018. However, when both plants are operational, the company expects to save about $1 billion per year in costs, which the company says will also be passed on to consumers.
       Progress Energy Florida is the second largest electric facility in Florida, serving approximately 1,700,000 customers, encompassing about 20,000 sq. miles and supplying wholesale electricity to about 21 Florida municipalities, utilities and power companies. Florida Power & Light, Florida's largest utility, filed a similar request in October that was approved by the PSC on March 10, seeking to build two new nuclear reactors adjacent to its Turkey Point complex, south of Miami. 
It has been more than 25 years since a nuclear power plant has been built in the U.S., with the exception of the most recently built nuclear plant in the U.S. (Tennessee), which opened in 1996 after 22 years of construction at a cost of $7 billion. 
Florida, currently with 5 reactors, is ranked 12th nationally in generating capacity. The Nuclear Energy and Edison Electric Institutes state that there are 435 nuclear power plants operating in 30 countries around the world, supplying 16% of the world's energy. In the U.S., almost 20% of the electricity generated comes from 103 nuclear plants. 
       Progress Energy said its new plants will employ about 800 full-time workers and create up to 2000 additional jobs, indirectly. During construction, about 3000 workers are expected to be employed building the plants. A question as to how many of the workers will be employed from the local area went unanswered at the meeting.
       Concerns of local residents including real estate broker Darryl Diamond: what happened to the 5-mile buffer usually seen around nuclear plants; has the NRC rescinded this? 2/3 of Inglis would be within five miles of the proposed plant; the impact to services and infrastructure (roads, bridges, fire, police, etc.); information in the Environmental Review that will be presented to the DEP. Some people were concerned that the public was not informed of the April 16 deadline for testimony and exhibits from 'interveners'; the impact of the proposed plant on the acquifer, marine life and environmentally sensitive land and that the units will effect wells even more than the proposed Tarmac mine (salt water intrustion and over-extraction of water, especially during droughts). Former Inglis commissioner Betty Berger said wanted more information on evacuation routes during an emergency and how will residents of Inglis and Yankeetown know which plant is affected, as they will be sandwiched between two nuclear plants, how will they know in which direction to evacuate? Other concerns: that the extra-wide (250 feet) transmission corridors will be used to provide for water transmission; where the transmission lines will run; concerns about electromagnetic fields; where the water to cool the plant will come from and where will it be discharged; and reports of counterfeit parts being used at nuclear power plants, placing communities in danger.
       Another public hearing will be held in Tallahassee on Wed., May 21 (9:30 a.m.) at the Betty Easley Conference Center, Room 148, 4075 Esplanade Way. Prior to attending the meeting, ensure that the meeting has not been canceled by calling the Office of the General Counsel at (850) 413-6199.
If you were/are unable to attend the public hearings, you may write, fax or e-mail your comments or information to the PSC, but be sure to include the docket number, 080148-El. ADDRESS: Florida Public Service Commission - Office of Commission Clerk - 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd. - Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850; FAX: 1-800-511-0809; E-MAIL: contact@psc.state.fl.us If you have questions, call the PSC's Division of Regulatory Compliance and Consumer Assistance at 1-800-342-3552. For technical questions, call Robert Graves at (850) 413-7009 or Tom Ballinger at (850) 413-6680. For legal questions, call Katherine Fleming at (850) 413-6218. For detailed information, check the PSC website at www.FloridaPSC.com (click on Dockets and Filings/Dockets, then type in the docket number, 080148).


Inglis  March 11th Election Results
Top Three Are Elected to Commission 

Edward Michaels     139

Robert Goode          137

Richard Kellman     133

Drew White             125

Roy Smith                58

Michael Swiss          48

Citizens apprehend burglar and hold him until deputies arrive

     A Hernando man was arrested by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Jan. 7, after being apprehended by several citizens. 
According to the report, deputies were dispatched to a residence on E. Parsons Point Rd. around 12:30 a.m., regarding a burglary in progress. When the deputy arrived, he found 37-year-old John D. Frost Jr. of Hernando being held, with one arm behind his back. Frost was searched and the deputy found a capped hypodermic needle, a pocket knife, a box cutter, an empty methadone prescription bottle, a pair of vise grips and a small green cylinder which contained three light blue pills with the marking CC25.8. A witness handed the deputy a crescent wrench he stated had been in Frost's rear pants pocket.
According to the report, a woman said that she and her husband had been sleeping when she heard noises outside. She said she got up and looked outside to see Frost exiting a neighbor's shed with a red and white cooler. The woman's husband had confronted Nichols, and she had gone to get the neighbor. The husband said that Frost had asked him, "What's going on, dude?" And Frost told him that he'd been fishing. The man said he'd told Frost to stay where he was until law enforcement arrived, and Frost had replied that he was not going to stay and he could not be made to stay. When the man had attempted to detain Frost, Frost had pushed a bicycle at him and they'd fallen to the ground, and the man had held Frost there until his neighbor had arrived to help. 
     The neighbor told the deputy that the two bicycles outside the shed had been inside the shed and they belonged to him and also that his red and white cooler was missing from his shed. 
Frost denied being in the shed or taking anything. He said he'd been fishing for catfish, and his fishing pole was near the water and his fishing gear was next to his red bicycle near the entrance.
The deputy reported that Frost was not wearing shoes, that he was slow and lethargic, his eyes were glassy and his speech was slurred. The deputy found the red and white cooler, which was dry, located in a boat to the north of their location. He found bare footprints in the dew on the boat and a white glove on the ground near the boat, but no fishing gear or red bicycle. In the cooler, the deputy found items of clothing, along with paperwork from the State of Florida indicating that Frost's driver's license had recently been suspended. 
Nichols was charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools, grand theft and possession of a medicinal drug without a prescription; his bond was set at $18,500. He was also served with an arrest warrant for violation of probation. 

Inglis Commissioner Wants Town On Record Opposing Mine

      Inglis Town Commissioner Betty Berger drafted a letter for the Inglis Commission that she wants adopted and sent to the Levy County Commission opposing the rock mine just north of Inglis.
In here letter she said "water is more important to Florida than lime rock to build roads. Water is a requirement to maintain life and ability to live and pay taxes in Levy County The Floridan Aquifer must maintain its level and be contaminant-free."
      The contents of the letter also said the proposed Tarmac mine extends into the recharge area that the Inglis Public Water Supply draws from. It probably affects the other Public Water Supplies of Yankeetown, Dan’s Mobile Home Park and South Levy Recreation Park. It also does not meet the goals of the “Levy County Water Plan.” or the “Florida Water Plan 1995.”
Florida Rural Water Association studied the above four sites in 1999. The study showed 12 common points, one of which was the Levy County Water Plan: it's in the Gulf Coastal Lowland, groundwater flow is generally to the west and southwest, towards the coast and the rivers. Groundwater in the Waccasassa River basin has poor quality water from deep down rising to the upper level. Inglis has the most to lose and would be the first affected if anything should go wrong in the construction or operation of any project that could affect the ground water supply.  "If the town won't do this I will send it as my concern", said Berger. "They will send us their pollution in the process of washing this rock."

Yankeetown Citizens Fail to Block Election on Charter Amendments

      A group of 133 Yankeetown citizens have failed in their attempt to block last Tuesday's election with regard to the charter amendments placed on the ballot. The group led by Yankeetown resident Carl Mazzuca alleged in Levy County Circuit Court that the town of Yankeetown failed to properly advertised the election for the amendments both in frequency and content of the advertising. Mazzuca said in a letter to State's Attorney Bill Cervone that citizens launched a petition campaign following information gathered in depositions for several lawsuits between the town and Izaak Walton Investors. Mazzuca said, "we have been aware for some time that our town officials continually abuse the Government in the Sunshine laws of Florida." The results of the petition campaign was a court date with Circuit Judge David Glant last Monday.
      Mazzuca said Glant agreed on several points that proper procedures had not been followed in advertising the election but did not agree that the election should be stopped. Along with the charter amendments are candidates to fill two council positions and mayor. 
James Sherwood, managing member of I.W.I. said that his attorney Harriet Lewis has sent a letter to Bill Cervone outlining the sunshine law violations by the mayor and current council members. Lewis stated in her documentation to Cervone that deposition testimony confirms that certain of the elected town council members continued to discuss matters which they would vote on, outside the "sunshine". Lewis further states that public record protocols were violated and were either manipulated or destroyed.
      State Attorney Bill Cervone, said it his intent to forward allegations of Sunshine Law violations by Yankeetown town officials to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), stating that his department does not have the necessary staff to investigate the allegations.

Architect for Yankeetown Developer Files Suit Against 29 People

      Forum Architects,LLC, filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in Gainesville September 28th against 29 Inglis and Yankeetown Defendants. FORUM had been retained by and is under contract to Developer Izaak Walton Investors, LLC (IWI) to design a residential/commercial mixed use development which was to be located on six parcels of land in Yankeetown. 
The suit alleges that the twenty nine people conspired to delay, obstruct and interfere with FORUM’s ability to perform under its contract with IWI. The suit outlines a conspiracy which includes current Yankeetown town officials, i.e., Dawn Clary, Marsha Drew, Larry Cohan and Larry Feldhusen. 
Forum alleges Interference with a Business Relationship by the defendants for intentionally and maliciously delaying and stopping FORUM from fulfilling the terms and conditions set forth in the contract between it and IWI. 
       A spokesman for FORUM said the company has suffered great economic damages and seeks compensatory damages against each individual defendant, both jointly and severally. (read full 26 page legal document, click here)

Levy County Convicted Sexual Predator Registers at Gulf Hammock     

     A sexual predator who will celebrate his 39th birthday on Saturday as a free man was released from a Florida Department of Corrections prison, Monday. Ernest Nichols registered his address as 6650 S.E. Hwy. 19, Gulf Hammock. 
     His aliases include various combinations of Ernest or Earnest, the initial J. or Jerod and the surname of Lee or Nichols. He has brown hair, blue eyes, is 5'7" tall and weighs 180 lbs. He has a scar on his right hand (from an entry and exit bullet wound) and a scar on his right knee. 
He was convicted in Wakulla, Florida on May 16, 1995 of two crimes: (1) sexual battery by an adult on a victim under 12 and (2) lewd/lascivious act on a child under the age of 16; one victim was a female and the other victim's sex was unspecified. 
     The Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement explains that a sexual predator is a repeat sexual offender, a sexual offender who uses physical violence, or a sexual offender who preys on children.

Inglis Police Bust Three  in Undercover Drug Operation

Yankeetown Proposes New Land Use and Dock Ordinance

The town of Yankeetown in working on changing its  current land use (read draft) and has also proposed and new dock ordinance for property owners on the Withlacoochee River (read draft). (Please wait when downloading these large documents, it may take several minutes.)

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