R News is Your News
R News is Your News
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BROOKSVILLE – Since R News broke the story of a cyberattack on Hernando County Government's IT Network, officials say they are still not fully back online, but that most systems are working properly. One of those systems that caused the most disruption is the Property Appraiser's Office. When the system went down, nearly all real estate transactions came to a screeching halt. But it's what employees of the office were allegedly ordered to do while working from home that could...
SPRING HILL – One of the school crossing guards severely injured by a hit and run driver earlier year is back on the job, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. Officials say School Crossing Guard Nicholas Gallicchio made a full recovery after being struck by 55-year-old Robert Noack at the intersection of Northcliffe Blvd and Deltona Blvd on February 14th. A second crossing guard is still recovering from their injuries. Gallicchio will return to his same post a...
SPRING HILL – A young woman is recovering from a stab wound to the chest after officials say her boyfriend's scorned ex attacked her at his home. According to a statement from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO), deputies were dispatched to 10322 Maderia Street just after 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, where they located 22-year-old Sydney McKelvy suffering from a stab wound to the chest. The investigations revealed that McKelvy was spending time with Jeffrey Hildebrandt Jr. whe...
BROOKSVILLE – The battle continued over who is to blame for the deaths of countless animals at an illegal slaughterhouse, and the fate of the County's Animal Shelter took center stage during today's Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting. President and Investigator for the Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) Richard 'Kudo' Couto blasted Sheriff Al Nienhuis for failing to take action against the operators of a nightmarish slaughterhouse. Couto hoped that by pleading his case t...
FLORIDA – For the second year in a row, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) takes home the award for "Best Looking Cruiser" in the Country. The "Out of This World" theme launched the FHP over Kentucky's Highway Patrol with more than 28,000 votes. Public Affairs Officer Sgt. Steve Gaskins released the following statement: The results are in! Florida and their aggressive communications team have helped Florida to repeat as the winners of the 2024 AAST Best Looking Cruiser c...
BROOKSVILLE – The Hernando Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) was scheduled to discuss a proposed transfer of Animal Services to Sheriff Al Nienhuis this Tuesday, but after news broke of Nienhuis possibly ignoring calls to shut down an illegal slaughterhouse, the item was pulled from the agenda. Chairwoman Beth Narverud and Nienhuis have been working on the plan for several months, despite speculation that their motives were not in the best interest of the county. Some s...
BROOKSVILLE - Several protestors gathered at an alleged illegal slaughterhouse Sunday, but the suspects had already fled the area and left several animals behind. Property owner Bill Maddox says he's been reporting the crimes since 2022 but the Sheriff has taken no action to stop it. CLICK HERE FOR FULL VIDEO REPORT ORIGINAL STORY...
NEW PORT RICHEY – A Land O Lakes woman died this morning after being struck by a vehicle on SR-54. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Honda Civic driven by a 40-year-old woman was stopped on the edge of SR-54 near Crescent Moon Drive. A Ford Explorer driven by a 21-year-old Lutz attempted to pass the vehicle when, for unknown reasons, the woman opened the driver side door and stepped into the path of his pickup truck. As a result, the woman was struck and suffered f...
BROOKSVILLE – The County's new Development Services Director Peter Schwarz has resigned after just eight months on the job, and sources say it may have been his only option to avoid termination. A confidential source inside Hernando County Government tells R News that Schwarz was accused of sexually harassing at least one employee. Officials would not confirm those allegations, but they did provide a copy of his resignation letter. In a letter submitted to County A...
SPRING HILL – The stabbing suspect who evaded capture for nearly a week has finally been taken into custody. On Tuesday, R News reported that the Hernando County Sheriff's Office waited three days to notify residents that a violent felon, who vowed to kill someone before returning to prison, was still roaming the streets of Spring Hill. FULL STORY The suspect, 39-year-old Steven Slattery slashed a man's face at a residence on Treehaven Drive last Saturday morning and then f...
BROOKSVILLE – Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis is in hot water today after an investigator with Animal Rescue Mission (ARM) claims he refused to issue arrest warrants for individuals operating an illegal slaughterhouse. ARM Investigator Richard Couto held a press conference today in Tampa, where he shared the horrific details of how owners Juan Ortiz and his son Juan Ortiz Jr used 2x4s and bats to beat animals to death before butchering and selling their meat to vendors a...
WEEKI WACHEE – Firefighters are on the scene of a structure fire on Dundee Way in the Heather Subdivision. Fire Officials say they responded to the 7400 block of Dundee Way earlier this afternoon after reports of a residential fire. Upon entering the structure, firefighters determined it was a hoarder home which made battling the blaze extremely difficult. No one was inside the home at the time of the fire and no injuries have been reported....
SPRING HILL – On Saturday, R News received information about a stabbing that occurred in the area of Treehaven Drive. Today, officials released information about the incident and advised that the violent suspect is still at large. According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, around 2:15 a.m. Saturday, Sheriff's Deputies and Fire Rescue responded to 6715 Treehaven Drive in reference to an injured person. Upon arrival, they located the victim who had a severe laceration to...
BROOKSVILLE – Three suspects could face decades behind bars on charges of Human Trafficking which sources say may have involved underage victims. R News received a tip this afternoon regarding the arrests of Jarrod Alamo, 20, Jerry Berrios, 40, and Troy Hartman, 61. All three suspects were taken into custody over the weekend but there is no record of their arrests on the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Jail website. The suspects are, however, listed on a second inm...
SPRING HILL – The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is investing separate unrelated stabbings that occurred this week, but the details of those incidents are not being released. The first incident occurred Saturday on Treehaven Drive, according to neighbors who contacted R News, but the Sheriff's Office has not responded to requests for information regarding the incident. One source says the male victim suffered non-life-threatening facial injuries. The second incident o...
BROOKSVILLE – A Spring Hill man died this morning in a two-vehicle crash on Fort Dade Ave. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 20-year-old man was traveling eastbound in a Dodge Dakota when he crossed over the center line, west of Cobb Road, and collided with a Ford F150 pickup truck. The 48-year-old driver of the Ford and his 17-year-old passenger suffered only minor injuries. The driver of the Dodge was transported a trauma center where he later died from his i...
UPDATE: July 21, 2024 - An arrest has been made in connection with a structure fire that destroyed a Spring Hill Home on Saturday. According to the Hernando County Detention Center website, 43-year-old Christina Marie Bock of 2080 Haulover Ave, has been charged with 2nd Degree Arson, Criminal Mischief, Failing to Report a Dangerous Fire, and Weapons Offense. Sources say Bock threw a Molotov Cocktail into her home which sparked the fire. The Sheriff's Office has not released a...
BAYPORT – Two people were hospitalized after a marine incident occurred in Gulf waters near Bayport Park. According to Hernando County Fire Rescue, two people suffered burns after their boat became disabled from mechanical problems near Channel Marker 3. Officials say Marine 6 responded to the scene and rendered Advanced Life Support (ALS) to both patients while transporting them back to the Bayport Park boat ramp. Both patients were then transported to a local hospital for t...
In a statement released today, President Joe Biden announced he is stepping down. My Fellow Americans, Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation. Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We've made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans. We've provided critically needed care to a million veterans...
SPRING HILL – Despite this being one of the most controversial and hotly contested election cycles in Hernando County, most voters have been kept in the dark on when and where to meet local candidates. There have only been a handful of political forums this year, and the last one to draw a substantial audience was the Hernando Beach Yacht Club forum held in May. Since then, there has been little to no public notice, even with Politics in the Park, the biggest event of the y...
SPRING HILL – The historic Spring Hill waterfall looks a lot better today, thanks to a work crew from the Hernando County Detention Center. According to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, work began on July 16th with the help of several inmates who mowed the grass, trimmed bushes, and pulled weeds. Hernando County Facilities Maintenance workers and a few volunteers also helped prepare the waterfall for a full makeover, which will begin once a final plan is approved by c...
BROOKSVILLE – Yesterday evening, R News reported what was originally believed to be a shooting in the area Dallas Drive and Spring Lake Highway, but officials now say it was a violent drug deal gone bad. According to a statement from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, 911 received a call about a man trying to flag down motorists. The man eventually flagged down a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper and advised that he had just been robbed at gunpoint. The investigation soon r...
BROOKSVILLE – For years the citizens of Hernando County have demanded that Sheriff Al Nienhuis implement a body-worn camera (BWC) program to protect deputies and the community, but no matter how many solutions are presented, Nienhuis always finds a way to say no and dodge the issue. Nienhuis is up for reelection this year and up until candidate Joe Puglia stepped into the ring, Nienhuis thought he could once again ignore pleas for more transparency in the agency. Unfortunately...
The following is a message from candidate for Hernando County Sheriff Joe Puglia In this election, I have typically engaged in discussions about various issues that concern us as voters, and how I will protect and serve the community. However, candidates often overlook a crucial group of stakeholders in this process: the brave men and women of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. As an employee of the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, you will be the cornerstone of our...
BROOKSVILLE – Democrat Candidate for County Commissioner Kathleen Cummings has died, sources say. Fire Rescue responded to her residence on Winding Creek Drive after receiving reports that Cummings was discovered unresponsive inside her home on Saturday. Cummings taught 12th-grade English at Springstead High School and planned to return to teaching this fall. A close friend of Cummings, Carla Johns, tells R News, "Despite our political difference, Cummings was an amazing p...
