HNS REPORTS---MARCH 31, 2010



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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.

ZILLOW.COM SHOWS UPTICK IN SOME HERNANDO HOME PRICES

A website that tracks home prices says Hernando County is showing a small increase over the last three months.  Sales data collected by zillow.com show a four-tenths of a percent increase since December, and a two-tenths percent increase in February.  The zillow data is for the period ending March1.  The tiny gains in the last three months didn't help much on year-to-year price declines.  Zillow says Hernando's average home value of $99,000 is the lowest in the Tampa Bay area and second only to Hillsborough in year-to-year rate of decline, down almost twelve percent in one year.


DRIVER ARRESTED IN SPRING HILL ROAD RAGE COLLISION


Sheriff's deputies charged 57-year old Gail Sievers with aggravated battery with a motor vehicle after witnesses said she deliberately rear-ended a pick-up truck with her truck.  A sheriff's report says the incident occurred Tuesday in the parking lot of the shopping center on the northwest corner of Mariner Blvd. and Northcliffe in Spring Hill.  Interviews with the drivers indicated that the deliberate collision was a result of a road rage incident in which the victim verbally called out Sievers for running a stop sign.  Witnesses said Sievers chased the victim's truck into the parking lot where the collision occurred.  Both drivers were treated for minor injuries and released, and Sievers was booked into the Hernando County Jail on $10,000 bond.

GEORGIA MAN DIED OF SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND

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.

WHITE HOUSE WANTS OIL DRILLING OFF FLORIDA COASTS

A White House plan for offshore oil drilling will include the eastern Gulf of Mexico, according to news reports.  President Barack Obama is said to be ready to announce a push for increasing domestic oil supply.  Original reports indicated Obama was focused on the mid- and south Atlantic states, but it was reported Wednesday that Gulf areas that have been under a moratorium for many years would be included.  The reports say oil rigs would be kept at least 125 miles offshore and out of military areas that cover much of the northeastern Gulf.

PUBLIX SHOOTING VICTIM ID'ED AS SPRING HILL RESIDENT

The Publix worker killed Tuesday in a shooting in Tarpon Springs has been identified as a Spring Hill resident.  Authorities said 40-year old Greg Janowski died when he was shot by a co-worker unhappy that she was fired after reportedly threatening Janowski.  Property Appraiser records indicate Janowski and his wife owned a home on Mariner Boulevard just south of Spring Hill Drive.  
Reports say about 20 co-workers held a candlelight vigil for Janowski early Wednesday.



11- AND 13-YEAR OLD STUDENTS CHARGED IN SEPARATE KNIFE CASES

Two Hernando school students have been charged with bringing knives to school this week.  Tuesday an 11-year old Westside Elementary fifth-grader was arrested on a charge of possession of a weapon in a school after she reportedly loaded two sheathed knives in her backpack in an attempt to stop other students from bullying and teasing her.  An arrest affidavit says she displayed the weapons to the other students but never removed them from their sheathes. She reportedly had second thoughts about the incident and told a teacher that she had the knives.  Deputies were called and the girl was taken to the Hernando County Jail for booking on the charge and later released to the custody of her mother.
In an incident Monday, A 13-year old West Hernando Middle School student was arrested 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.

SHOPLIFTER GETS ADDED CHARGE FOR STEALING WITH TEENAGER


A Spring Hill woman who allegedly tried to shoplift pregnancy tests and KY jelly from a grocery store with help from a 17-year old girl was jailed on charges of retail theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.  An arrest affidavit said 22-year old Tianna Hughes of 3535 Portillo Road took $55 worth of merchandise from the shelves of the Publix on Mariner Blvd. Tuesday and that the teenager also committed retail theft.  

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 with 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.


CENTRAL, HERNANDO PRINCIPALS PRESENT PLANS FOR GRANT
A panel of principals and assistant principals from Hernando and Central High Schools told school board members Wednesday they have drafted plans for using up to $5 million in federal grants.  They said their plans called for hiring intervention specialists to work with at-risk students and a parent involvement coordinator.  Hernando principal Ken Pritz said even with the grant strings that "This can be a good thing," though he said a key will be not making huge changes overnight.
The grants, which could range from $500,000 to $800,000 a year for each school over a three-year period, may require some changes in teacher evaluation processes.  Teachers' union president Joe Vitalo said he was working with the principals and with district staff to try to make the plans work without grief for teachers.  The grant proposal is due at the end of May.

YOUTH TEEN DRIVER CHALLENGE ANNOUNCED
The next Hernando County Sheriff’s Office Youth Teen Driver Challenge is scheduled for April 9 and 10.  The Challenge is a defensive driving and vehicle control program designed for teenage drivers.  The two-day program is designed to provide young drivers ages 16, 17 and 18 with the knowledge and understanding of vehicle dynamics and human kinetics’, the forces created by an automobile and the effects of the forces on the human body.
The Teen Driver Challenge Session is being held on Friday, April 9th at the Sheriff’s Main Office in Brooksville from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday, April 10th, the range instruction is held at the Hernando County Airport from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Only 10 students are allowed per session.  If you are interested in this FREE program and have your drivers’ license, please call for more information at 352-754-6830, ext. 53663. A printable registration form is also available on our website at www.hernandosheriff.org.

 

DETECTIVES SEEK THEFT SUSPECT

(Gold SUV)

The subject pictured above is the suspect in a theft that occurred at Wal-Mart, 1485 Commercial Wy., on Saturday, 02-27-10, at approximately 5:50 p.m.  The suspect fled in the above pictured vehicle, a newer model gold SUV.  If you recognize this subject, notify District 2 PSA Chris Owens.  If you wish to remain anonymous or to be eligible for a reward, call the Hernando County Crime Stoppers toll free number 1-866-990-8477 or you may email your tip by clicking below.
 http://www.hernandosheriff.org/Tips/  You may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
Posted by Hernando News Source at March 30, 2010
Categories: uncategorized
 

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  • March 31, 2010 wakeup wrote:
    Attorney extortion seems to be an acceptable practice in Hernando County, FL. Arrest the client who was the subject of lawyer abuse, "extortion" that drove the client to anger appears a non-factor. Lawyers extorting money, I guess must be a "southern tradition."
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