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Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 11, 2000
Accountant joins race for tax office
INVERNESS -- Lee Cooper, a Democrat from Crystal River, has become the third person seeking the job of Citrus County tax collector. Cooper, 53, filed campaign paperwork Friday. He has lived in Citrus County three years, but he and his family have owned property for 25 years. A certified public accountant, Cooper is self-employed and specializes in corporate tax work. Cooper has never held or sought elected office. Tax Collector Norine Gilstrap has announced she will not seek another term. So far, the candidate list includes Cooper and fellow Democrat Josefa Coury, as well as Republican Janice Warren.
An early morning collision on State Road 44 sent one man to the hospital with critical injuries. Garland Lee Taylor, 77, of Inverness was trying to turn onto SR 44 in his 1986 Plymouth when he pulled in front of a vehicle heading east, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol. Taylor's car was hit by a 1993 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Theresa McElyea Adkisson, 37, of Inverness. The collision sent the Suburban over an embankment in the west lane. Adkisson was not injured, according to the report. Taylor was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where he was listed in critical condition. The Highway Patrol was still investigating the crash and had not charged either driver.
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Crystal River Police Department Patrolman Pedro Williams was fired Friday by Police Chief James Farley following internal and criminal investigations into allegations he was drinking and driving last weekend. Williams, 30, a five-year veteran on indefinite suspension since Tuesday, did not take a blood-alcohol test and will not be charged, Crystal River Lt. Gordon Rowland said. Cpl. Joseph Casola was suspended for five days for not reporting the incident to a superior officer.
LECANTO -- The Lecanto High Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps that had a formal inspection Thursday received a score of 98 percent, ensuring the unit's standing as an "Honor Unit With Distinction," Lt. Col. Michael Harmes, the school's AJROTC leader, reported on Friday.
INVERNESS -- The St. Patrick's Day parade begins at 11 a.m. today at Citrus High School and travels east along Main Street to Pine Avenue where it will circle the Courthouse Square before winding up at the Sheriff's Office. Main Street will be closed along the parade route at 10:30 a.m. and will reopen around noon. The Crystal River High band will be joined by several pipe and drum outfits, including the St. Andrews Pipe and Drums from Tampa and the Inverness Pipe and Drum Band. The Millennium Twirlers and the Citrus High Air Force Junior ROTC drill team also will march. Grand marshal is the Rev. Virgil Power of Beverly Hills. Special guests will be Inverness Mayor Joyce Rogers, U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman and many other local politicians. After the parade, the Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will sell corned beef and cabbage, along with Irish soda bread, near the chamber of commerce office. The St. Andrews Pipe and Drums will also play a post-parade concert on the lawn of the old Courthouse building. The Ancient Order of Hibernians is the principal sponsor of the parade.