HNS REPORTS---MARCH 30, 2010



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WEEKEND RAINS HELP CONTINUE AQUIFER'S UPWARD TREND

Parts of Hernando County got almost three inches of rain Sunday in two waves of heavy showers, as the area's wet weather continued to give aid and comfort to drought-stressed aquifers.  Before the most recent rains, Southwest Florida Water Management District statistics showed a sustained recovery from last year's record low aquifer levels.  As of March 24, the northern portion of the district that includes Hernando was in the middle of the normal range for those levels, while the central area that covers Tampa Bay and the southern area from Sarasota south were at the high end of the normal range.
Rainfall totals for the first two months of 2010 were 50% higher than historic averages in the northern part of the district, and the weekend rains could put the March total more than twice the normal rainfall amount.

BODY FOUND IN WEEKI WACHEE PRESERVE, DEATH RULED A SUICIDE

Authorities said Tuesday that a Georgia man died last week in the Weeki Wachee Preserve of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  A Hernando Sheriff's Office spokesperson said 48-year old Randall Heglar had left a suicide note in his Ellijay home before leaving on a Florida vacation.  The man's body was reportedly found Monday not far from his parked vehicle off Osowaw Boulevard near a trail through the preserve.  Sheriff's reports indicate the vehicle had been there for several days.  After tracing the tag to a Georgia man overdue for a return from vacation, sheriff's deputies searched the preserve Sunday and Monday until they found the body. 



SAGER, BROWN-WAITE PETITION SIGNATURES CONFIRMED

Sager Brown-Waite
The Florida Division of Elections candidate tracking web site says Republican Congressional candidate Jason Sager has qualified for the primary ballot.  Sager's 6,163 verified petition signatures make him an official challenger to incumbent Fifth District Representative Ginny Brown-Waite, who also qualified with petition signatures.  According to the state elections office, more than half of Sager's signatures came from Citrus County, while Brown-Waite divided her signatures nearly equally among Hernando, Citrus, Pasco and Sumter, with a scattering from the four other counties that have at least a part of her district.

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BLAST PROPOSED TEACHER LEGISLATION

Legislation pending in Tallahassee that would make wholesale changes in teaching job conditions got unanimous negative reviews Tuesday at the Hernando County School Board's workshop.  Senate Bill 6 would put new evaluation procedures and testing programs into place, as well as changing retirement benefits and eligibility.  Teachers around the state have been blasting the bill, and Hernando board members added their voices to the chorus.  They said they were concerned about the additional costs of a new end-of-year test on which teachers would be evaluated, and members said they felt the same way that many teachers do about the bill, that it reflects a problem with the perception of lawmakers about how the education process works versus the reality in the field.  

SCHOOL BOARD PICKS "HOPE AND PRAY" STAFFING OPTION

Hernando County School Board members went with a new staffing plan that's dependent on legislative changes in class size requirements at a workshop meeting Tuesday.  As Board Chairman Pat Fagan said, members need to "hope and pray" that the changes are approved by lawmakers and voters, in order to save non-core positions and programs such as art and music in the schools.  The new plan followed the board's rejection of an initial proposal four weeks ago that would have shifted non-core teachers into core classrooms in order to meet class size requirements.  The plan approved Tuesday would leave non-core programs in most schools, although board member Dianne Bonfield said the number of double classrooms---those with two teachers and up to forty students---gave her serious concerns.   And teachers' union president Joe Vitalo said the board also needs to hope that there are no punitive measures if the class size changes fail, telling Tallahassee "Don't put a gun to our heads."
The new plan doesn't involve reductions in force, but if the class size changes aren't approved, board members were told that reductions may need to be looked at again.



ELGIN OWNERS WANT FENCE TO SHIELD NEW ROAD

While right-of-way clearing continues along Elgin Boulevard in preparation for four-laning, the county's new neighbors aren't happy.  Residents along Corrine Street now have backyards next to the new right of way, and while they understand the house-moving and demolition going on now, they are worried about the future.  They say former County Engineer Charles Mixson promised them a wall to buffer against traffic, noise and potential trespassers.  Interim Public Works Director Susan Goebel and at least two county commissioners have visited some of the residents to hear their concerns.  Goebel says a concrete wall is probably too expensive but she is reportedly looking into a vinyl fence similar to what is already in place in at least one Corrine Street backyard. 
Construction on the controversial four-laning project is due to begin later this year after the county finishes with removal of homes along the north side of the road.  Those homes were bought with millions of dollars in impact fees and a state grant.  The impact fees will also fund construction, which implements a long-term county plan that's been on the books for more than two decades.

ECKERD CAMP SMOKER CHARGED IN COUNSELOR ASSAULT

A 17-year old Brooksville teen was jailed on an aggravated assault charge Monday after he allegedly threatened an Eckerd Youth Challenge camp counselor with a brick.  An arrest affidavit says Onterial Antwon Clark was caught smoking at the facility and told the counselor who found him he would get a brick and hit him with it.  When Clark returned with a masonry brick, approached the counselor and raised the brick, another camp resident and other counselors managed to get Clark under control and called the sheriff's office.  Clark reportedly denied displaying the brick in an agressive manner, but he was booked into the Hernando County Jail on the aggravated assault charge.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT CHARGED IN KNIFE INCIDENT

A 13-year old West Hernando Middle School student was arrested Monday on an aggravated assault charge after another student said he was threatened with a knife.  The knife-wielding student produced the weapon to a deputy who was called to the school.  Juvenile authorities agreed to have the boy released to his parents.

WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY STUDENT FACES WEAPON POSSESSION CHARGE

A 11-year old fifth-grader at Westside Elementary was arrested Tuesday and charged with possessing weapons in school.  An arrest affidavit says the girl brought two knives to school because she had been teased and bullied by other students.  After displaying the sheathed weapons to the harrasing students, the girl apparently had second thoughts and told a teacher that she had the knives.  Deputies were called, the arrest was made, and the student was released to her mother after booking at the Hernando County Jail.



SENGE BOOKED INTO ALABAMA JAIL

The would-be buyer of Rogers' Christmas House in Brooksville was back in the custody of Alabama authorities on Monday.  Baldwin County records show 38-year old Matthew Senge was booked into the county jail there over the weekend on a charge of theft by deception.  Senge had been held in the Hernando jail awaiting transport to Alabama after he was arrested earlier this year on an outstanding warrant.  Before the arrest, Senge, using the name Matthew Hyde, had a deal to buy the Brooksville landmark, but when locals started asking questions and found out about his criminal past, the deal fell through.

CENTRAL HIGH STUDENT JAILED ON DRUG CHARGE

A 16-year old Central High School student was jailed on a drug charge Monday after school officials conducted what an arrest affidavit called a "reasonable suspicion" search.  The affidavit said Laura Sitaro was found in possession of Xanax and other prescription and over-the-counter medications.  She reportedly admitted selling the pills to other Central High students.

CLIENT ATTACKS BROOKSVILLE LAWYER OVER REFUND

Brooksville police say they arrested a 66-year old Brooksville man Monday for allegedly slugging his lawyer.  Authorities say Levon Babayan of 6127 Belkton Avenue was discussing a refund for legal services by Brooksville attorney Robert Morris.  According to a police release, Babayan began yelling at Morris for refusing the refund and then hit him in the chin with a closed fist.  Babayan was charged with battery and booked into the Hernando County Jail.


SHERIFF DEEMS OPERATION MEDICINE CABINET A SUCCESS

The Hernando County Sheriiff's Office had 128 people turn in almost 2400 bottles of unwanted prescription medication over the weekend at "Operation Medicine Cabinet."  The event is held on a regular basis to give residents a way to disposed of unused pills, which are often a target of burglars, as well as a potential personal health issue when drugs have passed their effective date.  Sheriff Richard Nugent said in a statement that he commends residents for disposing of unused medicine and plans to continue "Operation Medicine Cabinet" on at least an annual basis.  The statement included the reminder that local landfill facilities can handle unwanted drugs in between the sheriff's events.

HOSPITAL CELEBRATES OLDEST VOLUNTEER'S BIRTHDAY

Oak Hill Hospital recently honored its oldest active volunteer with a birthday celebration.
On March 9 Florence Gauthier celebrated her 93rd birthday and the hospital honored her with a birthday party in the hospital cafeteria that included cake and punch, a gift card, a birthday card, plus a large banner on the wall for all to sign their best wishes for a joyous birthday celebration.
A hospital spokesman says Florence continues to stay very active at Oak Hill and the community. She volunteers on the fourth floor of Oak Hill Hospital and also in the Elks Club kitchen on Friday evenings. In her spare time she teaches line dancing.

Posted by Hernando News Source at March 29, 2010
Categories: uncategorized
 

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