Citrus in brief

By Times staff reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 1, 2001

Boy, 11, charged in teacher assault

LECANTO -- An 11-year-old student at the CREST School was arrested Tuesday morning after threatening a teacher with a hammer, according to arrest reports.

The student was angry at the teacher and was shouting profanities, deputies said, when he picked up a hammer and swung it toward the teacher, hiting a desk.

According to a report, a staffer at CREST (Citrus Resources for Exceptional Students in Transition) restrained the student.

The teacher told authorities she feared the student would hit her, but the student told deputies that he did not intend to hit the teacher.

Staffers also gave deputies a bottle of Jim Beam whiskey that was found on the student, who said someone on a school bus had given him the alcohol.

The student, whose name is being withheld because of his age, was charged with assault on an school employee and unlawful possession of alcohol. He was taken to the Citrus County Detention Facility and later released to his guardian.

Driver arrested after three-car accident

CRYSTAL RIVER -- A Florida Keys man was arrested late Monday afternoon after he reportedly drove the wrong way on State Road 44 and triggered a three-car accident.

Robert Michael Laucius, 50, was driving west in the highway's eastbound lanes when he collided with a car going in the correct direction, spinning that car into another, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The accident occurred about a half mile west of West Crystal Oaks Drive. Laucius, from Tavenier in the Florida Keys, failed several tests that are used to determine if a driver is intoxicated, according to an arrest report.

He was taken to Citrus County jail and charged with driving under the influence. He was uninjured in the accident, but the drivers of both of the other cars received minor injuries.

Sarah Yates, 19, who was driving the car Laucius allegedly hit, said Wednesday that there had also been a truck on the road in front of her, but the driver swerved out of the way. "He saw the guy coming," Yates said. She tried to swerve too but could not get out of the way completely.

Seminar on intangible tax is today

BEVERLY HILLS -- A seminar on Florida's intangible tax will be at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today at the Central Ridge Library, 425 Roosevelt Blvd., Beverly Hills. Intangible taxes are based on market value of property owned primarily by business owners in Florida. The tax is due by June 30, but discounts apply for filing early: 3 percent in March, 2 percent in April and 1 percent in May.

Anthology Club to meet Friday

CRYSTAL RIVER -- The Crystal River Anthology Club will meet at 9 a.m. Friday in the conference room at Crystal River Bank, 865 U.S. 19 N. The group has published a historical Citrus County calendar. Call Robin Falkenburg at 795-1160 or e-mail rdiana7@yahoo.com. The guild meets at 9 a.m. the first Friday of each month.

WTI offers security guard classes

INVERNESS -- The Withlacoochee Technical Institute will offer the Class D, Private Unarmed Security Guard class on two consecutive weekends, March 2-4 and March 9-11. Attendance is required for all six days.

Class will meet from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sundayin Room 710, 1201 W Main St. The tuition for the class is $58.08 and will be collected on the first day of class.

Registration is under way and continues on a first-come basis. Class size is limited. For information call 726-2430, ext. 221 or 234.

The Withlacoochee Technical Institute does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, marital status, or handicap in the recruitment, selection, treatment or termination of students.

Beth Sholom club plans ball trip

BEVERLY HILLS -- Congregation Beth Sholom Men's Club of Beverly Hills is sponsoring a trip to see the Toronto Blue Jays vs. the Cleveland Indians in Dunedin in north Pinellas County on March 14. The bus leaves at 10 a.m. and returns in the late afternoon. Cost is $30 per person and covers bus and admission to ballgame. If interested in joining group, call 527-9408.

Register for SHARE distribution

Register for the March distribution of the SHARE Tampa Bay food program at Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Sunday at the church, 2540 Norvell Bryant Highway (County Road 486), Lecanto.

Flu shots available at center

BEVERLY HILLS -- Oak Ridge Medical Center, 6279 N Lecanto Highway (County Road 491), still has flu shots available. Walk-ins are welcome or call 489-5266 to schedule an appointment. Medicare members should bring their card. There is no charge for Medicare members. The cost is $15 for all others.

Fighting auto theft topic of meeting

INVERNESS -- The Citrus Memorial Hospital SHARE Club will have a program on "Combating Auto Theft" at 10 a.m. March 14, in the CMH Auditorium at Grace Street and Osceola Avenue. Sgt. Jack Roberts from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office will be guest speaker.

Have you seen those yellow C.A.T. stickers on cars and wondered what they were? At this program, Sgt. Roberts will explain the C.A.T. program and how you can protect yourself from auto theft. Anyone wanting to register for the C.A.T. program should bring his or her car registration to the meeting.

The program is free and open to the public. Registration is required by calling 344-6900. Reserved parking for the program will be available in the hospital's "Q" parking lot, on the opposite corner of Grace Street and Osceola Avenue. The CMH shuttle will be available to transport people from the parking lot to the auditorium.

Veterans Appreciation panel to meet

CRYSTAL RIVER -- The Veterans Appreciation Week Ad Hoc Coordinating Committee will conduct its organizational meeting for Citrus County's ninth annual Veterans Appreciation Week at 1:30 p.m. March 21.

The group will assign committee responsibilities and arrange to select the theme, activities and dates for the Veterans Appreciation Week in November.

All Veteran Service Organizations are encouraged to send representatives to participate in the planning process. Additionally, individual veterans are cordially invited to attend and participate in the planning process.

The meeting will be in the Conference Room of the Citrus County Chronicle building, 1624 Meadow Crest Blvd. Any organization or person desiring additional information should contact J.J. Kenney, 527-5411.

Beginner, advanced jazz dance classes

INVERNESS -- Citrus County Parks and Recreation and dance instructor Kelly Finegan are offering beginner and advanced jazz classes starting on March 28. The beginners class starts at 6:30 p.m., advanced class at 7:30 p.m., every Wednesday, at the Citrus County Auditorium, 3610 S Florida Ave.

Registration is required and the cost is $3 per class. Please contact the Parks and Recreation office at 795-2202. Any person requiring reasonable accommodation at any program because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the Citrus County Parks and Recreation office 72 hours prior to the activity. If you are hearing impaired, use the TDD telephone at 795-2202.

Six-week creative writing class to start

INVERNESS -- The Department of Parks and Recreation is once again offering a creative writing class for all level writers. This is a six-week class that begins 6 to 7 p.m., March 20, in the Recreation Building at Whispering Pines Park. The instructor, Jorge Sanchez has more than 20 years experience as a professional writer and is an arts and entertainment writer for the Citrus edition of the St. Petersburg Times.

A registration fee of $30 is now being accepted at the Administration Office in Whispering Pines Park. The only textbook suggested is the Elements of Style by Strunk and White. If information is necessary, call the office, 726-3913.

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