EMERGENCY OPERATIONS ISSUES WEATHER ALERT

Gulf radar, 12-1, 5 pm

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office Emergency Operations Center issued the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

A low pressure system is anticipated to move through our area on Wednesday bringing the possibility of heavy rain, THUNDERSTORMS, hail, and isolated tornadoes.  the peak of the activity is expected to occur Wednesday AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY MORNING. The greatest time of concern will be Wednesday AFTERNOON when high tides are projected to be 2.6 feet AND AT MIDNIGHT THURSDAY WHEN TIDES ARE PROJECTED TO BE 3.5 FEET AT Hernando Beach.   Please use caution in areas along the coastline that are traditionally subject to flooding from these types of weather events.    THIS STORM WILL ALSO MAKE FOR HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS. MARINERS, FISHERMEN, AND BOATING ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD POSTPONE TRIPS INTO THE GULF UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE LATE IN THE WEEK.    COASTAL RESIDENTS SHOULD REVIEW EVACUATION PLANS AND BE READY TO MOVE SHOULD ACTION BE REQUIRED.   MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

FASANO, SCHENCK:  CONCERNED ABOUT RED LIGHT CAMERAS

State senator Mike Fasano and Rep. Rob Schenck led the criticism of Brooksville's red light cameras at the local legislative delegation Tuesday.  Schenck complained to Police Chief George Turner about the cameras posted at five city intersections that take pictures of vehicles running red lights.  He said aside from the "Big Brother" issue, he had a concern about the revenue being raised.  Fasano noted that a significant amount of each $125 violation goes to the vendor who sold the project to the city.  But Vice-Mayor Lara Bradburn cited her time as a reporter covering fatal accidents as supporting her vote for cameras as a safety measure.  Fasano responded that he's ridden with Highway Patrol troopers and supports traffic safety, but that his concern with red light cameras was focused on the revenue being raised at a time of otherwise tight budgets.  The delegation took no formal action on the matter.

LEGISLATORS: PULL WEEKI WACHEE CITY CHARTER

Schenck

The Hernando County legislative delegation decided Tuesday to support a bill to repeal the Weeki Wachee city charter.  Delegation chairman Rob Schenck said conversion of the former private tourist attraction to a state park removes any need to maintain Hernando's second and one of the state's smallest incorporated cities.  The Weeki Wachee charter was changed four years ago to remove eminent domain authority after the tiny city tried to take over Spring Hill Utilities in a condemnation suit.  History indicates that the city was incorporated to get the attraction name on official state mileage signs, since officials reportedly required city status to get on the signs.

LEGISLATORS: BAN SHFRD TANGIBLE TAX LEVY

A bill to fix a glitch in the boundaries of the Spring Hill Fire and Rescue District will include a ban on levying a tangible property tax.  The Hernando legislative delegation made that decision Tuesday at the beginning of their annual public forum.  Rep. Rob Schenck raised the issue, noting the district's aborted vote last summer to impose the tax, which was later rescinded amid controversy.  Chief Mike Rampino told the delegation that the fire commissioners now had no intention of adding the tangible tax levy.  Although almost all local governments and special districts collect tangible tax as a routine matter, the bill to fix the boundary glitch will clarify that the Spring Hill district is not authorized to impose the tangible tax.

MURDER FOR HIRE TRIAL OPENS IN BROOKSVILLE

The murder-for-hire trial of an Orlando area man opened with jury selection Tuesday.  34-year old Kedner Noel is charged with conspiracy to commit murder in what first appeared to be a home invasion last year.  He allegedly recruited three other men from Orlando to murder a Hernando woman's husband, but the plot went south when the husband left the home early.  The three then ransacked the Royal Highlands residence and held a teenage boy until the woman who hired them returned.  When she fled screaming and neighbors appeared, the three allegedly headed home to Orlando.  The woman, Jacqucia Francois, and two of the men have already pleaded guilty and received jail terms.

POLICE ACCUSE WOMAN OF GIVING PILLS TO TEEN

Brooksville police said Tuesday they had arrested a 30-year old woman for giving valium to a 16-year old girl.  Angela Taylor of 600 Darby Lane is accused in an incident that occurred last month.  Investigators said Taylor told the teen that the pills would make her high and allegedly encouraged her to take them by saying it would be "cool" to do.  Taylor reportedly admitted giving the girl pills and claimed she did not know the teenager's true age.  She's been charged with delivery of a controlled substance and child abuse.

WOMAN CHARGED FOR SEX WITH TEENAGER

A 25-year old Brooksville woman was jailed Monday on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child after a 15-year old boy said they had sex on numerous occasions.  An arrest affidavit says Hopemarie Johnson Clark moved in with a friend and her children at their Brooksville home in August and allegedly began a sexual relationship with the teenage boy in September.  The boy said the encounters occurred about eight times at the Brooksville home and once at his grandparents' residence in Citrus County.  The relationship apparently came to light when the boy's sister observed the pair having sex.  The affidavit says Clark admitted to the relationship when interviewed by sheriff's detectives Monday.  She said she was in love with the boy and reportedly admitted to having sex with the boy about 25 times over a period from September 9 to November 18.  Clark was taken into custody and booked on the lewd and lascivious charge at the Hernando County Jail. 

SWFWMD:  "SKIP A WEEK" OF WATERING

In an effort to conserve water and reduce lawn pests and disease, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is asking residents to skip a week of lawn watering during the cooler winter months of December, January and February.
The district quotes research by the University of Florida which found that one-half inch to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10 to 14 days is sufficient for a healthy lawn growth.
The district, which in recent years has had to issue severe drought restrictions to help its 16-county service area cope with water shortages, said on its Web site that too much irrigation makes lawns less able to survive droughts, encourages pests and disease, and wastes water.
The district also has extended restrictions in place through the end of February that limit lawn watering to once per week unless local utilities or governments have stricter restrictions in place. Water restrictions apply to water supplied by utilities, private wells and surface water sources.

HERNANDO FOOD STAMP USAGE UP 121% IN TWO YEARS

New York Times map and chart

According to a New York Times story, Hernando County had the fifth largest increase in food stamp users in Florida over the past two years.  The Times published statistics indicating that more than twice as many residents are food stamp recipients now versus 2007.  A table accompanying the article says 12% of local residents are getting food stamps, up 121% from two years ago.  Hernando's percentage increase trails only four south Suncoast counties among Florida's 67 counties.  You can read the Times article here.

HERNANDO COUPLE BATTLES DOT OVER WELL

A Tampa TV station reported Monday that an elderly Hernando couple got a last minute reprieve from the state Department of Transportation when the agency agreed to extra time before a well they say is on DOT right-of-way gets capped.  The couple, Earl and Janice Sweatt, live just a few feet off the right of way of US 98, Ponce deLeon Boulevard, a few miles north of Brooksville.  Here's the report:


DEPUTIES ARREST PAIR IN SPRING HILL FOR DRUGS

McQuilkin Barton

Two men were arrested on drug charges Monday in Spring Hill when deputies were called to a convenience store at 4275 Mariner Boulevard.  Arrest affidavits say 36-year old James McQuilkin of Inverness and 46-year old Thomas Barton of Port Richey were involved in a verbal disturbance at the store.  Both suspects reportedly consented to searches, which uncovered crystal meth and tablets of roxicodone and oxycodone, along with syringes and spoons.  McQuilkin was charged with possession of meth, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia, as well as giving false info when he allegedly tried to hide his identity.  Barton was charged with possession of meth, possession and sale of controlled substances, and possession of paraphernalia.  Both were transported to the Hernando County Jail and booked on the charges. 

SHERIFF'S OFFICE SEEKS SUSPICIOUS PERSON

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office says it's looking for a man who recently approached a group of teenage girls at Weeki Wachee Preserve.  A sheriff's e-lert says the  an unknown white male approached a group

HBA DONATES EVENT PROCEEDS TO NATURE COAST ARC

Hernando Builders Association President Jeff West presented Mark Barry and Nancy Stubbs of The Arc Nature Coast with a check for $500 at the recent HBA Installation and Awards banquet. The donation was from the HBA Truck Night Explosion event held last August. A portion of all HBA event proceeds are donated to a local charity.