The week in words
By Times Staff Writer
Published November 4, 2007
"He is not allowed at the events because he has proven to be a disturbance. He worries us when we have to deal with him."
Mark Bubriski, with the state Democratic Party, who have also banned John Russell from events
"I don't care. I hate Disney."
John Russell, Democratic candidate for U.S. House in 2006, following a scuffle at the party convention in Orlando. Disney officials banned Russell from Disney-owned properties for life.
"Who's going to apply for this job? I'd Google Hernando County and get real scared."
County Commissioner Diane Rowden, on the challenge to the county to attract a new county administrator
"I would love to see someone from one of the South Florida counties. That can be a very tumultuous atmosphere. Somebody who is accustomed to that might have a little bit tougher skin."
Commissioner David Russell, on the traits he is looking for in the next county administrator
"No physical contact is encouraged at all. They can pull over, they can ask for help, they can radio in."
Barbara Smith, Hernando school district's transportation director, on policies for how bus drivers are supposed to handle unruly students. Driver Christopher O'Brien has been accused of striking a 3-year-old girl on his bus Oct. 5, a charge he has denied.
"As more people come here, it becomes a fertile group for people to take advantage of our elderly population."
Sheriff Richard Nugent, who has created a detective position in his agency to focus on fraud cases involving elderly victims
"It's not going to take you from 1991 to assess and reassess and assess and reassess again and come up with the same results. It's stalling."
Richard Howell, of the Health Awareness and Mitchell restoration Board Inc., on the amount of time it has taken for Hernando workers to assess the amount of chemical contamination around the former public works site in Brooksville. The state has set a Dec. 31 deadline for the county to complete its report.
"The way this place allows you to keep your self-respect and dignity; it's fantastic. That's what makes you recover."
Dwight Thompson of Steinhatchee, on the care he received at Heron Pointe Health & Rehabilitation Center in Brooksville, following a massive stroke. The center took in Thompson despite having severe medical challenges and no financial assets.
"We can't outsource oil changes."
Steve Conti, automotive technology teacher at Central High School, on the need for people to work in the auto repair fields. His program has 200 students, many of them girls, and a waiting list.
"We're going to avenge the deaths of these two people."
Hernando Sheriff's Capt. Michael Maurer, whose unit is leading the investigation into the murder one year ago of Evelyn and Patrick DePalma, at left, of Masaryktown