Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Digest

Family sues over removal of fencing

By TIMES WIRES
Published October 19, 2006

CRYSTAL RIVER - A member of a Citronelle squatter family has filed a lawsuit against the county, asking for $50-million in damages. John Wayne Hamilton alleges that county crews violated his family's civil rights earlier this year when they cut down barbed wire fencing surrounding property his family claims. He said the case should have gone to court before crews took any action. "This is not about the money," Hamilton said Wednesday. "It's about the heritage. It's about the rights of my family that have been broken." In March, county crews removed barbed wire fencing surrounding portions of property claimed by the Hamiltons near the southeast corner of Dunklin Street and County Road 495. But the Hamiltons soon replaced the fencing. Last month, the county and the Hamiltons faced off in court. And Circuit Judge Patricia Thomas said the Hamiltons would have 120 days to remove the barbed wire fencing surrounding the property. County Attorney Robert "Butch" Battista said Wednesday that the county had not yet been served with the suit.

Parkway project groups disbanded

Now that federal funding is off the table for a possible Suncoast Parkway extension, officials from Florida's Turnpike Enterprise have disbanded two groups geared toward exchanging information and opinions on the project. The Suncoast Parkway Advisory Group and the Environmental Resource and Regulatory Agency Group will no longer meet, according to letters turnpike environmental management office manager Raymond A. Ashe Jr. sent to group members last week. In the letters, Ashe wrote that the "design updating process does not require or accommodate" the groups.

Beware of foreign lottery schemes

The Sheriff's Office has issued a warning: Beware of bogus foreign lottery schemes. The swindlers use telephone solicitations and mailings. They try to convince unsuspecting "winners" to wire them money to cover foreign taxes, fees and insurance for their "winnings." In return, the victims receive bogus checks. To report a foreign lottery scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-382-4357 or www.ftc.gov; or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, at (813) 281-5200 or www.usps.com/postalinspectors.

[Last modified October 19, 2006, 01:13:56]