May 1, 2024
May 1, 2024
BROOKSVILLE – Several Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) deputies will not face contempt charges or be forced to explain to a judge why they missed depositions in a homicide case being tried in Hernando County. In March, R News reported that Detective Kevin Keiper and Deputies Mitchell Vesper, Chelsea Reid, John Longobardi, and Craig Milne all failed to appear for depositions in reference to a 2023 homicide case. In addition to the HCSO employees, a State Medical...
WEEKI WACHEE – Changes are coming to a portion of the Weeki Wachee River that is expected to help protect the river's ecology. Local and State Officials will be installing signage along a 5.61-mile section of the Weeki Wachee River, between Roger's Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, designating the area as the Springs Protection Zone. The new state law prohibits anchoring, beaching, grounding, and mooring of vessels within the protected zone. Boaters could face a...
HERNANDO – It's an election year, which means incumbents will be spending a lot of time gloating about their accomplishments, hoping voters will grant them "four more years" in their respective offices. Until last month, Sheriff Al Nienhuis was running unopposed. However, now that he has an opponent, Nienhuis is scrambling to highlight his achievements. Nonetheless, some residents argue that Nienhuis' priorities are not aligned with his constituents. Today, the Hernando...
UPDATE: 4:33 p.m. - Immediately after publishing our article on the incident, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office shared details on the agency's Facebook Page. It is unknown why the information was withheld until we published our article. Here is the updated information: Deputies arrested 44-year-old Robert Alan Harper of 8416 Dora Street. Harper turned over an air-soft pellet gun (similar to a rifle) which was equipped with a green laser, stating that is what he pointed at...
BROOKSVILLE – Elected officials gathered at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport & Technology Center Air Traffic Control Tower (BKV) this morning to honor the late Gary E. Schraut for his years of service in business development. Ironically, earlier this morning an incident involving an aircraft may have turned tragic if not for the assistance of the Sheriff's Office Air Unit. According to officials, just after 1:00 a.m. this morning, Deputy Pilots Kling and...
CRYSTAL RIVER – A Dunnellon man is behind bars on charges of DUI Manslaughter after a deadly crash on West Fort Island Trail claimed the life of a Citrus Springs woman. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 26-year-old Dexter Nicholas Landstrom was driving at a high rate of speed on West Fort Island Trail, when he lost control of his Chevy Blazer, struck several trees, and then overturned. Officials say Landstrom and a 23-year-old male passenger were both uninjured, but...
HERNANDO COUNTY – We are just four months away from the Primary Election which will determine the outcome of the next Sheriff of Hernando County. The incumbent Sheriff Al Nienhuis will go head-to-head with his opponent Joe Puglia, who says the county deserves better. Yesterday, Nienhuis utilized the agency's Facebook page to claim crime in Hernando County has dramatically declined under his leadership. The post reads: Did you know that since 2011, the population of Hernando...
WESLEY CHAPEL – SR-56 is now clear after a Freightliner gravel truck overturned, dumping 40 tons of gravel onto the roadway. Officials say a pickup truck driven by a 78-year-old woman changed lanes and collided with the rock truck. The collision caused the rock truck to overturn, blocking the intersection at Cypress Ridge Blvd. Both drivers were transported to nearby hospitals with minor injuries. Click Here for Video of the...
BROOKSVILLE – An arrest has been made in a deadly 2023 head-on collision that claimed the life of a Tampa man. Officials say on July 30, 2023, then-19-year-old Johnathon William Smith of Zephyrhills was driving a GMC pickup truck recklessly on US-301. Just north of Belt Drive, Smith crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Nissan Versa, killing the driver, 29-year-old Kyle Alexander Perkin Roman of Tampa. Smith was transported to Lakeland Regional Hospital where...
BROOKSVILLE – An investigation is underway into a fire that damaged a manufactured home Thursday evening. Officials say, just after 8:00 p.m. firefighters responded to the 3200 block of Square Stone Street where they discovered fire under the home that had spread to the attic. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire, preventing further damage. There are no reports of injuries to firefighters or residents. The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of...
SPRING HILL – Yesterday, students at Spring Hill Elementary witnessed thousands of nature's life-giving creatures doing their job just a little too close for comfort. Sources say over 20,000 honey bees had built a home in a nearby tree, making students and staff feel a bit uneasy. To prevent any strays from unintentionally harming a student, they called the beekeepers from Honey Badgers Bee Farm to gently remove and rehome the hive. No humans or bees were harmed in...
JACKSONVILLE – The FDLE is reporting the loss of their first Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) canine. Officials say Maple passed away yesterday following a battle with cancer. FDLE spokesperson Gretl Plessinger writes, "Maple began her work in 2019 assigned to FDLE's Pensacola Region. At the time, she was one of three ESD canines statewide and the only ESD canine in Florida's Panhandle. Earlier this year, Maple and her handler, Special Agent Supervisor Stephanie Cassidy,...
HIALEAH GARDENS - Today, on the 63rd anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 1264, requiring a strengthening of Florida's education standards regarding the "dangers and evils of Communism". "The truth will set us free," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "We will not allow our students to live in ignorance, nor be indoctrinated by Communist apologists in schools. To the contrary, we will ensure students in Florida are taught the truth about the evils...
HERNANDO – Hernando County Government Officials say progress is being made with bringing systems back online after the recent cyberattack, but residents and business owners still have concerns. The cyberattack that occurred late last month on the Hernando County Government IT network resulted in major interruptions to real estate professionals and others who depend on accessing public records. Residents are also concerned that their private information is being sold to the...
WILDWOOD – The Sumter County Sheriff's Office is reporting the arrest of an illegal immigrant who allegedly stabbed a male victim to death inside a hotel room. Sheriff's deputies responded to the Days Inn on SR-44 around 7:44 p.m. Saturday, after receiving reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the victim, 25-year-old Bilder Eulaio Pablowith, with stab wounds to the chest. The victim was airlifted to a trauma center where he later died. After a brief...
BROOKSVILLE – An arrest has been made in a 2023, hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of 38-year-old Shawn Michael Mullins. ORIGINAL STORY Mullins was walking on Jacqueline Road on the evening of October 16, 2023, when he was struck by a pickup truck. The driver of the truck fled the scene and did not report the incident to authorities. After the incident, R News learned from a family member of the suspect that 35-year-old Rhonda Sue Smith was responsible for the crash...
HERNANDO – There are now two candidates vying for the top job at the Hernando County Sheriff's Office after former NYPD officer Joe Puglia (R) made it official last week. Calls for someone to run against the embattled incumbent Sheriff Al Nienhuis have grown due to concerns of corruption, lack of transparency, and fiscal irresponsibility. We sat down with Puglia for an exclusive interview to find out what drove him to join the race and take on Nienhuis in the upcoming...
UPDATE April 12, 2024, 7:26 p.m.: According to sources, the cybercriminal gang Rhysida has claimed responsibility for the attack on Hernando County and is demanding upwards of $2.8 million or 40 Bitcoin for the purchase of data being held by the organization. County Officials have not commented on the development. BROOKSVILLE – The investigation continues into the countywide network cyberattack that took place last month in Hernando County, leaving real estate agents and...
UPDATE: LOCATED... HERNANDO – The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Purple Alert for 45-year-old Kevin Hancock who went missing earlier today from a hotel on Commercial Way. According to officials, Hancock was last seen at the Hampton Inn located at 1344 Commercial Way around 3:00 p.m. today. Hancock left his vehicle in the parking lot and walked in an unknown direction. Officials say Hancock has no friends or family in the area and rarely travels outside of...
BROOKSVILLE – Last week R News reported that several "spy" cameras had been placed along Hernando County roadways and that no one was willing to claim ownership. Eventually, a source inside the Clerk's Office advised that Sheriff Al Nienhuis had deployed the cameras and sent an email to all county commissioners ordering them to not discuss what they were being used for. To this day, there has been no comment from Nienhuis other than providing R News with the completely...
BROOKSVILLE – During the regular school board meeting this evening, Hernando County School Board Superintendent John Stratton announced his retirement. During a statement, Stratton said he wanted to spend more time with his family and that he would remain at his post until the end of May. We will bring more on this story as it...
INVERNESS – The Citrus County Sheriff's Office is reporting the arrest of a man they say shot at two victims in a pickup truck at the Walmart located on E Gulf to Lake Highway. The incident occurred Monday evening in the Walmart parking lot, where officials say 30-year-old Gavin Minden fired at least one shot through the rear of the victim's pickup truck, striking one of two victims in the back of the neck. Minden fled the scene and attempted to hide in a wooded area near...
BROOKSVILLE – An investigation is underway into a structure fire that damaged a home inside the Sherman Hill subdivision today. Fire rescue responded to the 7300 block of Potentilla Court after neighbors reported seeing smoke and flames coming from the home. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered heavy fire coming from the garage and conducted an aggressive attack to suppress the flames. The fire was quickly extinguished, preventing it from spreading further into the home....
SPRING HILL – There is a hero in Hernando County who brings joy and comfort to children suffering from life-altering, often terminal illnesses and he is none other than the Batman of Spring Hill. Jack Asbury – the Batman – spends his free time visiting children all over the Tampa Bay area just to help bring a smile to their faces and has done so for years. In March, U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis recognized Asbury during a speech in Washington, D.C. Mister Speaker, I...
BROOKSVILLE – You might have noticed several small black cameras situated in various locations along Hernando County roadways and wondered what they were being used for. Unfortunately, Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis doesn't want you to know, and he's ordered his office and all elected officials to remain silent. After fielding numerous inquiries from concerned citizens, R News delved into the origins of the camera, only to encounter dead ends at every turn....
BROOKSVILLE – A Hernando County Utilities Manager is charged with several counts of Larceny. According to sources, 55-year-old Cheri Elizabeth Cameron was arrested Sunday and charged with 9 counts of 2nd-degree petit theft. Cameron is listed as the Utilities Business Manager, but sources say she has since resigned from her position. R News has been unable to obtain the arrest affidavit due to the recent cyberattack on Hernando County's IT network. We will update...
BROOKSVILLE – There are unconfirmed reports that Hernando County Government online services may have suffered a possible cyberattack. According to a source inside the Hernando County Clerk's Office, the County's online systems suffered a ransomware attack, interrupting access to websites for the Clerk's Office, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, and other systems. Public Information Officer Dominique Holmes tells R News, "Our investigation into this interruption is ongoing;...
SPRING HILL – The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is reporting the arrest of a Spring Hill man who is charged with possessing child pornography. According to officials, detectives received a tip that 21-year-old Joseph David Spain had transmitted a single image of child pornography between his electronic devices. Detectives obtained a search warrant and confirmed the devices belonged to Spain who also admitted they were his devices. Spain was taken into custody on March...
SPRING HILL – Pine Island Park has finally reopened after being closed for several months due to damage from Hurricane Idalia. Officials say the storm caused major damage to the infrastructure in Pine Island Park, requiring significant repairs. Alfred McKethan Pine Island Park is located at 10840 Pine Island Dr., in Spring Hill and is open from 8:30am to sunset, 7 days a week. The parking fee is $5 per car (credit card only). Handicapped placards and Disabled...
SPRING HILL – The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a shooting that took place in the vicinity of Berkeley Manor Blvd early Wednesday morning. Deputies responded to Mermaid's Lounge just after 1:00 a.m., after receiving 911 calls about a male standing outside the establishment firing shots into the air. Shortly after the first 911 call, dispatchers received additional reports of gunfire on Berkeley Manor Blvd. Numerous deputies responded to...
BROOKSVILLE – Yesterday's Board of County Commissioners meeting left citizens and county workers wondering if four of the five commissioners they voted for should switch party affiliation and move to Washington, D.C. All five commissioners are registered Republicans but after recent votes to raise property taxes, approve a $350-milion Master Plan for Sheriff Al Nienhuis, set a referendum for a 1-cent sales tax increase to pay for it, and give the County Administrator a 30%...
BROOKSVILLE – Earlier this year, R News published an exclusive report on a local Springstead High School senior who decided to do something very special for the citizens of Hernando County. Yesterday, during the Hernando Board of County Commissioners meeting, Commissioners recognized Jesse Kolberg for his work in establishing the Life Ring Stations throughout the Hernando County Parks & Recreation Waterways locations. Kolberg conducted an Eagle Scout project to establish...
BROOKSVILLE – It is no secret that Hernando Board of County Commissioner Chairwoman Beth Narverud and Sheriff Al Nienhuis are no fans of County Animal Services Director James Terry, and a recent unsanctioned trip to Brevard County by the duo may be an indication of major changes coming to the facility. But that's not all. Sheriff Nienhuis may have violated FAA regulations by chartering their flight in his private plane. On March 15, 2024, Chairwoman Narverud published...
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 3, which prohibits children under the age of 14 from becoming social media account holders and allows 14- and 15-year-olds to become account holders with parental consent. The bill will provide the following protections: • Prevents a minor who is younger than 14 years of age from becoming a social media account holder. • Empowers parents to decide whether 14- and 15-year-olds can have a social media account. ...
SPRING HILL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a motorcyclist who was involved in a two-vehicle crash on Spring Hill Drive earlier today. According to officials, a Kia Soul driven by an 81-year-old Hudson man was traveling on Cobblestone Drive, attempting to cross Spring Hill Drive. The driver failed to yield to a motorcycle that was traveling eastbound on Spring Hill Drive. As a result, the motorcycle collided with the driver-side door of the Kia...
MASSARYKTOWN – An early morning fire destroyed a mobile home and injured one person. According to Hernando County Fire Rescue, just after 2:30 a.m., firefighters responded to the 200 block of Monroe Ave where they discovered a mobile home fully engulfed in flames. All occupants escaped the home, but the owner was transported to a nearby hospital to be evaluated for smoke inhalation. Officials say the cause is under investigation, but it is suspected to be electrical in...
