HNS REPORTS---JULY 31, 2009 (updated for 8/1/09)
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SUSPECT SOUGHT IN MASARYKTOWN ARMED ROBBERY
Sheriff's officials said they are looking for a man who robbed the Hess Station at 75 Broad St., Masaryktown, on Friday, July 31st at 1:40 a.m. The suspect was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun. The robber is described as in his late 20's to early 30's, shoulder length brown straight hair, facial hair. He was wearing a blue long sleeve shirt, shorts, brown sneakers. The sheriff's office did not provide any other details of the crime. They're asking anyone who recognizes the man in the pictures above to notify Major Crime Detective J. Morrell. If you wish to remain anonymous or be eligible for a reward, call the Hernando County Crime Stoppers toll free number 1-866-990-8477 or you may email your tip with the link at http://www.hernandosheriff.org/Tips/ You may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
DIFFENDAL GETS 13 YEARS FOR DUI MANSALUGHTER
A Spring Hill woman was sentenced to 13 years in prison by Circuit Judge Stephen Rushing Friday in a plea deal to DUI manslaughter. Barbara Jean Diffendal was charged in a 2008 accident that killed another Spring Hill woman, 34-year old Jenine Bethoney. Reports said Diffendal lost control of her car, crossed the median on US 19, and slammed into Bethoney's car. Authorities said she took her four-year old daughter and attempted to flee the scene before being captured. Court records show she was re-arrested in April of this year for retail theft and had been confined to the Hernando County Jail since then, except for a court-authorized furlough to attend a Social Security hearing.
SPECIAL REPORT: SPRING HILL FIRE BUSINESS TAX
TAX FORM LEFT TANGIBLE TAX LINE BLANK
Hernando News Source has learned that a taxable value form prepared each year by the Property Appraiser for the Spring Hill Fire District has traditionally left the tangible property line blank. This despite an ordinance of the county commissioners imposing ad valorem tax on "all property" in the district. A lawyer's opinion to the district fire chief this week says that ordinance requires a levy of tangible personal property tax, but the blank taxable value on the DR-420 form filled out each year by the Property Appraiser and signed off on by county administrative staff meant that no tangible tax was collected. Current and past county officials who spoke off the record with
Hernando News Source said they had no basic disagreement with the opinion's conclusion, but that the issue had not been raised before, and without a taxable value for Spring Hill tangible property from the Appraiser, they had no basis to assess the tax. Commissioners declined to schedule action this week on a Fire Board resolution asking specifically for county assessment of the tangible tax. Nick Nikkinen of the Property Appraiser's office noted Friday that the original Spring Hill Fire ordinance from 1973 did not authorize assessment of tangible property, and said his office is still reviewing the latest legal opinion. That opinion cited Hernando County Code provisions as amended in the early 1990's.
FORECLOSURE PACE INCREASES IN JULY
While some cite home sales and suggest the Hernando housing market may be ready to rebound, the July foreclosure statistics should put a damper on any optimism. There were 266 foreclosures filed from July 1 through July 31, a jump from the relatively low June total of 236 and a nearly identical number to July of 2008, when 270 cases were started. The numbers come from the Hernando clerk's foreclosure tracking website and suggest that the foreclosure crisis is not easing yet. Those close to the real estate industry had said the lower June total may have been a reflection of increased filing fees for many civil cases. With those higher fees factored in, it could be argued that the July jump in cases means the foreclosure crisis is in fact getting worse. In any event, it would seem small increases in home sales are not yet enough to signal a housing market that is beginning to recover.
LIGHTNING CAUSES MINOR FIRE DAMAGE AT SPRING HILL HOME
Sheriff's deputies said a Spring Hill home suffered minor damage from a lightning-sparked fire Thursday. Julie Goodrich off 1026 Stillwater Avenue said she heard a loud boom shortly after noon as a midday storm hit the area. She smelled smoke and called 9-1-1 after seeing smoke coming from the home's roof. Spring Hill firefighters arrived and put out the small fire, which they told deputies was apparently started by a lightning strike.
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SUSPECT SOUGHT IN MASARYKTOWN ARMED ROBBERY
DIFFENDAL GETS 13 YEARS FOR DUI MANSALUGHTER
SPECIAL REPORT: SPRING HILL FIRE BUSINESS TAX
TAX FORM LEFT TANGIBLE TAX LINE BLANK
Hernando News Source has learned that a taxable value form prepared each year by the Property Appraiser for the Spring Hill Fire District has traditionally left the tangible property line blank. This despite an ordinance of the county commissioners imposing ad valorem tax on "all property" in the district. A lawyer's opinion to the district fire chief this week says that ordinance requires a levy of tangible personal property tax, but the blank taxable value on the DR-420 form filled out each year by the Property Appraiser and signed off on by county administrative staff meant that no tangible tax was collected. Current and past county officials who spoke off the record with
FORECLOSURE PACE INCREASES IN JULY
LIGHTNING CAUSES MINOR FIRE DAMAGE AT SPRING HILL HOME
Sheriff's deputies said a Spring Hill home suffered minor damage from a lightning-sparked fire Thursday. Julie Goodrich off 1026 Stillwater Avenue said she heard a loud boom shortly after noon as a midday storm hit the area. She smelled smoke and called 9-1-1 after seeing smoke coming from the home's roof. Spring Hill firefighters arrived and put out the small fire, which they told deputies was apparently started by a lightning strike.
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