The Week in Words

By Times Staff Writer
Published December 23, 2007

Editor's note: The following is a recap of the week's news events, in the words of the newsmakers.

"We are not going to tolerate it. We are not going to allow our folks to jeopardize the safety of civilians out there."

Sheriff Richard Nugent,on the punishment meted out to a sergeant and 12 deputies for their roles in a multicar chase through west Hernando County at speeds over 100 mph in which a cruiser collided with an SUV, another went through a fence, a third blew a tire and a fourth hit an embankment and went airborne.

"I don't want these kind of handcuffs, I want the furry kind."

Barbara Latwinas, of Spring Hill, to deputies as they arrested her for spray painting a neighbor's two cars in a dispute.

"That should be a thing for high school students or something. It makes me not even want to speed."

Joseph Caggiano, 19, who spent a night in the Hernando County Jail after being mistakenly arrested in an armed robbery investigation.

"If there was a potential that I might have to seek employment elsewhere and the Sheriff's Office was making positions available, I'd apply for it, no matter what."

Brooksville Mayor David Pugh, noting that none of the city's police and fire dispatchers had applied for similar positions with the Sheriff's Office, despite the possibility that the dispatch services will be consolidated soon.

"I don't want to see him go to jail, but I don't mind seeing his (butt) in a sling."

Ruth Snow, 81, on her neighbor Italo Tomaselli, who admitted taking tangerines from Snow's tree. Tomaselli, 80, was charged with theft after Snow called deputies.

"I saw hunger. I didn't want to let all that fruit go to waste."

Italo Tomaselli, explaining that he took some tangerines because after spending time in a German concentration camp during World War II, he cannot stand to see any food wasted.

"When you walk into a school, I don't necessarily want you to know who the gifted kids or the special-needs kids are."

School superintendent Wayne Alexander, on his ideas for having a center within existing schools to provide programs and classes for gifted children.

"That's what the purpose of school is, believe it or not, to prepare you for the world of work."

Alexander, on the importance to students of the "career academies" that will be in place at all four county high schools in the fall.

"Weeki Wachee is in Hernando County and I think it is important that we all be at the table to listen to what's going on."

County Commissioner Diane Rowden, on the county needing a role in negotiations for the state to turn Weeki Wachee Springs into a state park.

[Last modified December 23, 2007, 01:03:59]