The Cooter Festival runs October 24th through the 26th 2008 in Inverness Florida. To see the entertainment that is scheduled for this event Visit Our New Site Here
Here in Citrus County we have 6 constitutional amendmants to consider when we vote on November 4th. These tend to be worded so normal people do not understand them. I am posting them all here now so you can read over them. Be sure to fully understand each one as best as you can before voting. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions from someone if you need help.
NO. 1
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE I, SECTION 2
Declaration of Rights Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to delete provisions authorizing the Legislature to regulate or prohibit the ownership, inheritance, disposition, and possession of real
property by aliens ineligible for citizenship.
NO. 2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE I, NEW SECTION
Florida Marriage Protection Amendment This amendment protects marriage as the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and provides that no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized. The direct financial impact this amendment will have on state and local government revenues and expenditures cannot be determined, but is expected to be minor.
NO. 3
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 3 AND 4
ARTICLE XII, NEW SECTION
Changes and Improvements Not Affecting the Assessed Value of Residential Real Property Authorizes the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit consideration of changes or improvements to residential real property which increase resistance to wind damage and installation of renewable energy source devices as factors in assessing the property’s value for ad valorem taxation purposes. Effective upon adoption, repeals
the existing renewable energy source device exemption no longer in effect.
NO. 4
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 3 AND 4
ARTICLE XII, SECTION 28
Property Tax Exemption of Perpetually Conserved Land; Classification and Assessment of Land Used for
Conservation Requires Legislature to provide a property tax exemption for real property encumbered by perpetual conservation easements or other perpetual conservation protections, defined by general law. Requires Legislature to provide for classification and assessment of land used for conservation purposes,
and not perpetually encumbered, solely on the basis of character or use. Subjects assessment benefit to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions established by general law. Applies to property taxes beginning in 2010.
NO. 6
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 4 ARTICLE XII,
NEW SECTION
Assessment of Working Waterfront Property Based Upon Current Use Provides for assessment based upon use of land used predominantly for commercial fishing purposes; land used for vessel launches into waters that are navigable and accessible to the public; marinas and drystacks that are open to the public; and water-dependent marine manufacturing facilities, commercial fishing facilities, and marine vessel construction and repair facilities and their support activities, subject to conditions, limitations, and reasonable definitions specified by general law.
NO. 8
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
ARTICLE VII, SECTION 9
Local Option Community College Funding
Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require that the Legislature authorize counties to levy a local option sales tax to supplement community college funding; requiring voter approval to levy the tax; providing that approved taxes will sunset after 5 years and may be reauthorized by the voters.
COUNTY REFERENDUM
May the Board of County Commissioners relocate the principal office of any of the County Officers outside the city limits of the City of Inverness but within an expanded County Seat?
Halloween is right around the corner, and citizens can help keep their children (or grandchildren) safe this October 31, by following these simple holiday safety guidelines.
Check out the Sheriff’s Office Web site at www.sheriffcitrus.org for the most up-to-date information about registered sexual offenders and predators living in Citrus County. Just click on “Sexual Offender Information” and search the list by first or last name, zip code or other criteria. Photographs of the offenders also are posted. Those without Internet access may obtain a hard copy of these same lists at the Sheriff’s Operations Center in downtown Inverness or any of the agency’s community resource offices.
· The agency’s Sexual Predator Unit will be coordinating neighborhood notifications near all of the county’s registered sexual predators during the week before Halloween night. Also, watch for posters in every Citrus County box store where trick-or-treat candy is sold. These posters feature the names, addresses and photos of all registered sexual offenders currently living in the county.
· Encourage kids and teens to explore alternatives to traditional trick-or-treating. Harvest festivals, haunted houses and costume parades are popular events sponsored by area churches, community groups and shopping malls. Organized
festivities like these provide some measure of supervision, plus a safer environment for children.
· Make sure costumes are made of light-colored, flame-retardant fabrics only. If children are permitted to trick-or-treat after dark, decorate their costumes and candy bags with reflective tape to make them even more visible to motorists.
· Instead of children wearing masks that might obscure vision, try face makeup instead. Props, such as swords and broomsticks, should be made of Styrofoam or cardboard.
· A responsible adult or teen should accompany each group of youngsters. Try to limit the group’s size to a manageable four or five.
· At least one person in each group should carry a flashlight.
· Instruct children to walk, not run, from house to house, and to cover one side of the street at a time. Have them cross only at street corners and not between parked cars.
· Children should stay in their own neighborhoods and only go to houses where the lights are on.
· Stress to youngsters that they should never enter a stranger’s house or vehicle.
· Teach children to respect the privacy and property of others. Acts of aggression, violence or vandalism could possibly lead to arrest.
· Don’t leave your own home unattended on Halloween, and keep your pets inside.
· Examine children’s treats for signs of tampering before you allow them to eat anything. Remember, if you have a doubt, throw it out.
· Report any suspicious treats or incidents to the Sheriff’s Office.
Do your part to help keep kids safe this Halloween!
Early voting begins today for the 2008 Presidential Elections. Early voting is open Monday through Saturday October 20th through November 1st.
Early Vote Locations:
Citrus County Courthouse
110 N. Apopka Ave.
Inverness, FL 34450
Hours 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Inverness City Hall
212 W. Main St.
Inverness, FL 34450
Hours 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
Central Ridge Library
425 W. Roosevelt Blvd.
Beverly Hills, FL 34465
Hours 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
Crystal River Elections Office
801 SE Hwy. 19
Crystal River, FL 34429
Hours 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Homosassa Public Library
4100 S. Grandmarch Ave.
Homosassa, FL 34446
Hours 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
Friday, October 17, 2008
CRYSTAL RIVER ROBBERY SUSPECT APPREHENDED IN GAINESVILLE
Around 9 p.m. on Thursday, Gainesville Police Department officers made a traffic stop on a subject who turned out to be the primary suspect in Tuesday’s robbery of the Mercantile Bank in Crystal River.
Shannon Lee Shepardson, 36, was taken into custody without incident on an active Citrus County warrant for robbery. Because Shepardson wore a mask during the commission of the crime, the charge of robbery where offender carried no weapon will be enhanced to a first-degree felony.
The bond on the warrant was set at $10,000. If Shepardson fails to bond out, he’ll be transported to the Citrus County Detention Facility for incarceration.
The defendant’s 1991 Plymouth Voyager, which was used in the commission of the robbery, has been secured by GPD officials. The Sheriff’s Office will
have it brought back to Citrus County for processing.
While Congress was contemplating the $700 billion Bailout package I wrote to our Congresswoman, Ginny Brown-Waite expressing my anger about the package. Today I have received a response from her in regards to my comments, and I wanted to share them with you. Please read her letter below and comment on them here when you are done. Remember she is running for re-election this year while you read it.
Dear Paul:
Thank you for contacting my office with your thoughts on Congress’ recent efforts to address the faltering credit markets. As you may know, I voted and spoke out against the bailout package both times it came before the House of Representatives. The first time around, a majority of my colleagues joined me to defeat the bill. However, by adding pork, the Senate was able to persuade enough of my colleagues to switch their votes and pass the bailout.
I was unable to attend the Political forum held at the Armory in Crystal River. I was hoping to go and report back to everyone what the different candidates said. If any of my readers was able to attend, please click on the comments above and let us know what was said.
Thank you,
(Crystal River) Citrus County Sheriff’s Office detectives have released
the name and photo of their primary suspect in this afternoon’s robbery of the Mercantile Bank.
Witnesses have positively identified him as the man who entered both the bank and the ABC Fine Wine & Spirits store on S.E. U.S. Highway 19.
He is Shannon Lee Shepardson, 36, of 8300 W. Rainbow Oaks Court in Crystal River. The 1991 Plymouth
Shannon Lee Shepardson
Voyager he’s driving has a Florida tag 189KGQ.
Anyone with information about Shepardson’s crime or his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or (352) 726-1121 as soon as possible.