For many of you who drive the eastern part of Routes 98/50 (and about two miles east of the bypass) there is a store on the north side of the road that is unlike any of the other businesses in the area Many people use it as a landmark when giving directions to a stranger (or just someone new to the area) I am talking about the store named Blanche’s and their well-known set of tanks “pop!” This store has been in existence since before I moved into Hernando County I had noticed that they had closed their doors a while back I didn’t inquire as to the reason for their closure I was (however) curious enough to stop in and pick up a juice drink There was only one person in the store when I came in I asked the gentleman if he was the owner and how long the store had been reopened He said that he was the new owner and that the store had been open for around a month like “why is this guy asking all these questions”) So I introduced myself and mentioned that I did some writing for this paper and that I was looking for an interesting story to go in this week’s publication looking to possibly do a piece of some protesters at the County Courthouse I decided to blow some of the dust off the Suzuki That was how (and when) I noticed the “Store Open” signs along the road and he has been a resident of our county for well over a decade He had done jobs in the past dealing with very large hotel chains as well as dabbling in some real estate on the side He also stated that he had always wanted to have his own store he “took the leap of faith” and made it happen Also needed to be mentioned here is the fact that Mr Mourad has decided to bring in foodstuffs that are of a better nutritional quality than many other “C” stores (hence the reason I asked him to pose with one of the chip products) It is a good day in this country when someone can realize the “American Dream” and own their own store It is also a good thing to see Blanche’s doors open and doing their part in the much-needed supply chain of this county I hope that y’all have a fine week (and maybe do some fishing as well) Contact us: [email protected] Fla — A wanted suspect was shot by a Hernando County Sheriff's Office deputy when law enforcement tried to arrest him in the parking lot of a Publix in Brooksville Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said that the shooting happened in the Publix parking lot near the Anytime Fitness at 19390 Cortez Boulevard The Sheriff said a deputy had been following the wanted suspect who was wanted for felony armed robbery out of Pasco County The suspect then ran into the woods behind the shopping plaza before being caught and arrested The suspect was taken to a nearby local hospital and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark More Hernando and Citrus County News from ABC Action News Report a typo This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — Brooksville Main Street is kicking off its inaugural Tangerine Festival on Saturday It’s a tangerine forest — at least that’s what Sam Wingate calls it “This is tangerines that were here for probably about 80 years and we’re just trying to manicure them and harvest them,” Wingate said He is harvesting his largest pick yet in preparation for the festival Dozens of volunteers have already come out to help pick the tangerines that will be on display “Really creating an identity for the city and something that’s fun She is the owner of Broad Street Brewing and will be using the tangerines she picked They’ve created a beer infused with the citrus flavor “It’s not the only tangerine beverage we’ll have available to really promote the life of the tangerine but the love of Brooksville and the love of our community,” Myers said his tangerines are something sweet to share with his community “Really looking forward to this being an every year event to where we can all go together as a community and celebrate Brooksville as the home of the tangerine again,” he said From the tree to the table, they’re hoping to squeeze a taste of tangerine back into the community The Tangerine Festival is a free event for the family Broad Street Brewing is also hosting an event for its one-year anniversary on March 8 A wanted suspect was shot during a shootout with police today at Brooksville Square around 2:45 p.m The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office responded to a tip that the suspect was spotted near Dickey’s Barbecue Pit and Anytime Fitness off Cortez Boulevard who attempted to flee and fired at a deputy the suspect continued running west for about a quarter to half a mile before being apprehended Authorities believe the suspect was wounded during the altercation and transported to the hospital The extent of his injuries remains unknown His firearm was left at the scene as he fled The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be taking over the criminal investigation.  “We appreciate your support of law enforcement,” Sheriff Al Nienhuis said “We also appreciate your prayers for my deputies because I think it’s the prayers of the faithful that keep them safe every day.” Contact us: [email protected] — The Hernando County Sheriff's Office said the suspect in a deputy-involved shooting has died from the injuries he suffered during the shooting on Thursday night a deputy made a traffic stop in Brooksville The deputy chased the suspect on foot briefly and caught him near Ellington Avenue where authorities said the deputy and suspect got into an altercation The suspect allegedly reached for the deputy's gun Officials said the deputy was checked for injuries at the scene The suspect was taken to an area hospital and treated but later died from his injuries The deputy involved in the incident has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation per standard protocol The FDLE is investigating the incident and will provide more details as they become available Brooksville Main Street is thrilled to announce the launch of the Inaugural Tangerine Festival and the vibrant citrus culture that has shaped our community This exciting event promises a weekend filled with entertainment The Inaugural Tangerine Festival marks the beginning of a new tradition in Brooksville celebrating the area’s rich agricultural history and its enduring connection to Florida’s citrus industry Live Music: Downtown Brooksville will be rocking all day with back-to-back performances on two stages packed with live music Enjoy a lineup of local bands and headlining performers ensuring there’s something for every music lover and celebrate our veterans with an unforgettable day of music including genres from rock and country to blues and patriotic tunes Explore a vibrant Tangerine Treasure Market featuring local arts and retail vendors offering a wide variety of unique goods From handcrafted jewelry and artwork to custom-made clothing Tangerine-Inspired Treats: Indulge in culinary creations featuring tangerines from pizzas and jams to refreshing drinks from our downtown restaurants and local food trucks Enjoy exciting photo opportunities throughout the event and a captivating magician performing tricks that will delight both kids and adults The zone will also include a Bubble Foam Party Tangerine Education: Learn about the history of tangerine farming in Brooksville through interactive displays and demonstrations Tangerine Royalty Contest: Join us as we crown the first-ever Tangerine Festival King & Queen Registration is now open for contestants hosted by the Hernando County Arts Council A one-of-a-kind Car Show Extravaganza featuring an incredible lineup of vehicles from the 1900s to the present day Board President of Brooksville Main Street shared his excitement for the event: “The Inaugural Tangerine Festival is a wonderful way to bring our community together while honoring Brooksville’s agricultural roots We are excited to launch this new tradition and look forward to seeing families and visitors enjoy everything this festival has to offer.” Mark your calendars and join us for a celebration of tangerines and community spirit visit www.WeLoveBVL.org or follow us on https://www.facebook.com/brooksvillemainstreet Sponsors and volunteers are essential to the success of the Tangerine Festival. If you are interested in sponsoring the event or volunteering, please reach out: 352.540.6409 or email [email protected] Brooksville City Manager Charlene Kuhn submitted her resignation which were kept secret for nearly two months have led to deep concern from a city council member and residents are now unclear on the city’s leadership and direction Martin told the council that the city received 29 applicants 72 percent of whom were qualified to be considered for the vacancy The city established a selection committee that included department heads and they chose six applicants to move forward to council interviews After asking the council for direction on how to proceed with the six selected Council Member Thomas Bronson made an abrupt motion to appoint Kuhn the council voted 5-0 to discontinue the interview process and name Kuhn the new city manager Mayors of a council-manager government are largely a ceremonial title they do not have a direct say in management of the city and their vote carries equal weight to fellow council members This was prompted by a source regarding working conditions and morale among staff the Hernando Sun was unable to substantiate the allegations and did not pursue the story asking for clarification if the rumor was true,” stated Erhard there was no communication from city staff or council that Kuhn was resigning or that she submitted her resignation months earlier Erhard received a copy of the resignation letter from city hall and forwarded it to a Hernando Sun reporter “This lack of transparency not only erodes trust among council members but also between the city and the residents we serve,” Erhard stated in a prepared statement “The public deserves to be informed of such significant developments promptly and with clarity.” Within hours of Erhard forwarding the letter the Hernando Sun attempted to reach the mayor and other council members to ask when and if they were aware that Kuhn had resigned None of them responded to numerous attempts many in attendance were not able to hear the council or those speaking at the podium and left out of frustration has severe audio issues that make it difficult to decipher The city manager vacancy was not published on this agenda and residents were still in the dark regarding the resignation submitted months earlier Because the next city council meeting would have fallen on a date after Kuhn had left her post and a lack of response from the mayor and city council a Hernando Sun reporter utilized the citizen comment section at the end of the meeting to inquire about the resignation Tanner then expressed confidence in Public Works Director Richard Weeks to serve as interim manager; but as Mayor Erhard made a motion to appoint Community Development Director David Hainley as interim manager After a back-and-forth discussion over concerns regarding their existing workload a motion was made to appoint both Hainley and Weeks to be co-interim city managers Tanner stated to Hainley and Weeks: “I appreciate you stepping up to the plate because we really didn’t ask ya’ll It’s not clear who will have the final say in the event of a disagreement between the two interim managers or who will ultimately be responsible for the management of the city in the event of an emergency or major incident The Hernando Sun attempted to get a comment from both Kuhn and a city spokesperson via email but did not receive a response Contact us: [email protected] The City of Brooksville City Council officially announced the hiring of Lisa Hendrickson as city manager at a regular Council meeting on Monday Lisa Hendrickson was selected for the position at a regular Council meeting on April 7 Lisa collaborated with the Council appointed liaison City attorney and City staff to finalize her onboarding negotiation She will officially assume her role as city manager on Wednesday The City of Brooksville looks forward to working with Lisa and ensuring a smooth transition from co-interim City Managers David Hainley and Richard Weeks Both the City Council and City staff expressed their gratitude to the co-interim managers for their dedication in serving the community during this critical period Hendrickson comes to Brooksville from Redington Shores a small coastal community in Pinellas County near St Hendrickson served 22 years as the assistant city manager for the City of Pinellas Park including a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of South Florida and a Certificate in Public Management from Florida State University Hendrickson beat out two other final candidates for the role: Brooksville’s co-interim city manager and community development director David Hainley and Timothy Day a resident of Cape Coral and community development district manager for Inframark Corporation Contact us: [email protected] November 8th for the new City of Brooksville and Kiwanis Club of Brooksville splash pad opening soon at Tom Varn Park Brooksville Kiwanis President John Ehlenbeck noted that it made sense for Kiwanis to partner with the City for the splash pad carrying on a legacy of a city pool that was once near the corner of Bell Avenue and Oak Street It was built and maintained in a joint agreement with Kiwanis and the City of Brooksville until it closed many years ago credited Geraldine “Gerrie” Bishop for the funding of the project “An American success story,” Bishop attended Pasco Hernando Community College in 1979 at age 39 She went on to attend law school at the University of Florida Bishop had a distinguished career with the Hernando County Court and the Hernando County Bar Association She held several positions with Kiwanis from 2003 until her death in 2017 A significant portion of her donations to Kiwanis were used to fund the splash pad Contact us: [email protected] After a secretive departure of the prior city manager council members look for a candidate to shape the city’s future three candidates vying for the position of Brooksville City Manager gathered at City Hall for a public interview conducted by city council and 33 were considered “fully qualified” according to metrics created by the city’s human resources department Under the city’s council-manager form of government the city manager is delegated to make decisions and manage the day-to-day operations of the city who has equal say as a member of city council The interview and hiring for a city manager is made by a majority vote of the city council Candidates were asked to make a short introduction before councilmembers took turns asking pre-planned questions Much of his interview was focused on his tenure at the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy in Fort Myers where as director he oversaw the academy that trained and certified public safety professionals such as law enforcement officers Day was an elected official in the City of Cape Coral from 2000-2009 as a City Councilmember and Mayor Pro-Tem He was a police officer in Rhode Island from 1983-1996 “You folks have done a great job,” Day told the Council He focused on grants and grant writing as a potential source of income Brooksville resident Donna Morin said she felt Day was the best candidate for this role “He has a lot of experience in city government He was very knowledgeable about what the people of our beautiful city wanted to see,” Morin said “[He’s] very enthusiastic about moving the city forward Day also stressed the importance of transparency making reference to the federal DOGE efforts revealing money going to foreign countries Hendrickson currently serves as the Mayor of Redington Shores She won her seat with over 85% of the vote on March 14 she submitted her resignation to be effective April 13 of this year “Our town faces significant obstacles in achieving long-term sustainability,” Hendrickson said in her resignation announcement “Without strong collaboration among leadership The Town of Redington Shores has been plagued by high turnover of elected officials well before the town was devastated by two hurricanes last year Hendrickson told city council she is committed to relocating to Brooksville should she get the position ‘Let’s get off this barrier island,’” Hendrickson told city council he worked in similar roles for the City of Suffolk His background and earlier employment are primarily in landscape architecture Hainley graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1975 with a degree in Landscape Architecture He still maintains a professional registration as a landscape architect in Georgia When asked why he wanted to be city manager he told city council: “It’s the natural conclusion to the end of my career.” “We’re going to have to grow and essentially double in the next ten years,” Hainley told city council was demure when asked how to keep the millage rate low “We’re going to have to have lots of discussions about that,” Hainley said He made references to municipalities in Georgia that had some success with privatizing city services Longtime Brooksville resident and frequent city council attendee Kojack Burnett was most impressed with Hainley so I ain’t going to tell you,” Burnett said Contact us: [email protected] — Hernando County Fire Rescue said one person is dead after a mobile home fire in Brooksville Wednesday evening Hernando County Sheriff's Office first confirmed the deadly mobile home fire earlier in the evening on Feb HCFR said they were dispatched to the home on Shady Street and received reports of a potential person trapped inside the home First responders entered the home and searched for any residents They then found one victim dead inside the home it’s because Martin similarly conducted a search to fill the position in 2023 only for the council to unexpectedly hire Kuhn in September of that year Now the city will mostly repeat the same process posting the position for 30 days on seven external websites: ICMA (International City/County Management Association) FCCMA (Florida City and County Management Association) the City of Brooksville employment site and LinkedIn allowing council members a week to review submissions prior to the March 17 scheduled meeting when the council will begin prescreening candidates In a departure from the 2023 city manager search the council decided to forgo forming a hiring committee and will handle the prescreening directly the council has opted against using an outside recruiting agency at least for the moment the city is seeking someone with at least five years of experience as a city manager assistant city manager or equivalent government executive positions but would prefer at least 10 years experience Candidates with equivalent education and experience in other areas will also be considered Brooksville’s public works director who is currently co-interim city manager along with the city’s community development director David Hainley told the council to strongly consider raising the pay range The presentation initially listed the range as $97,000-114,000 and showed that to be lower than two less-populated cities that recently searched for new city managers: Fruitland ($120,000-187,000) and Port Richey ($110,000-145,000) “I believe that this city does need a seasoned city manager someone that’s been a city manager before and that has the experience,” Weeks said “I know what we deal with on a day-to-day basis and we need somebody with experience this pay range is not comparable to other local municipalities I think that really will affect our candidates here.” The council opted not to list a pay range but rather a starting salary of $115,000 and will determine the final salary based on the qualifications and experience of whoever gets hired “We know that we have communities around us that are going after quality people and if you want quality people you’ve got to pay for them,” Councilman Louis Hallal said the council opted to accept a mediated settlement agreement with Brooksville Associates and approve the rezoning of a 41.22-acre property located on the north side of Wiscon Road approximately 615 feet west of the intersection of Wiscon and Broad Street immediately east of Horse Lake Road and south of Barnett Road The site had been zoned for 741 mobile homes by the council back in 1989 the Planning and Zoning Commission voted in favor of a rezoning for 93 single-family homes the City Council denied the rezoning in August and Brooksville Associates responded by requesting relief under the Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act (FLUEDRA) That led to the mediation and an agreement to reduce the number of units to 92 Any development would still be subject to meeting stormwater requirements It was recommended to accept the settlement by both city staff that negotiated it and special magistrate Derek A Declining the settlement could have led to a prolonged legal dispute the council approved the second reading of a new ordinance placing Majestic Oaks on the exemption list for the current wastewater moratorium which is attempting to build a sports academy at Brooksville Country Club has been fighting for the exemption since the moratorium came into effect last summer It agreed to pay connection fees at the newly raised rate which will provide the city with $4,903,296 to use toward efforts to expand wastewater capacity Contact us: [email protected] A large-scale narcotics operation in Brooksville resulted in 10 drug-related arrests and the seizure of significant amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office and the HCSO SWAT teams executed simultaneous search warrants at three properties on Carter Road and 9165 Carter Road—were all owned by the same family Nine individuals were arrested at the scene was taken into custody separately by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) following the operation 37 – Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon possession of controlled substances including buprenorphine-naloxone 44 – Possession of ammunition by a convicted felon possession of a “New Legend” drug outstanding warrants for meth-related charges Sheriff Al Nienhuis highlighted the significance of proactive policing in combating drug-related crime stressing the department’s dedication to removing dangerous substances from the community and preventing convicted felons from accessing firearms He noted that the coordinated effort with regional agencies demonstrated the value of intelligence-driven law enforcement strategies Contact us: [email protected] Lead Foot City which calls itself "America's Automotive Theme Park," is reopening this Saturday and Sunday with a bigger The Brooksville experience — created by Achilles Thomas the Walt Disney of Wheels — now features an eighth-of-a-mile full concrete drag strip where guests can actually race their own cars bar and restaurant options — including a very cool new speakeasy — and shopping This weekend's celebrations will also include concerts Adult tickets are $25 and kids are $10. For more information, go here. we should assess the current budget for potential reallocations identifying areas of inefficiency or overspending We can also apply for state and federal grants targeting infrastructure improvements Exploring public-private partnerships can help collaborate with local businesses for specific projects While raising taxes should be a last resort targeted increases on commercial properties or luxury developments may be necessary to secure needed funds without burdening everyday residents including lift stations and wastewater treatment plants Investments are essential for accommodating growth and ensuring the safety of our residents Public Safety: While our city is relatively safe concerns about response times and staffing levels exist Strengthening public safety involves supporting our emergency services while fostering trust and collaboration within the community Contact us: [email protected] BROOKSVILLE, Fla. - One man is dead after an off-road vehicle carrying four people, including two children, crashed in Brooksville, according to the Florida Highway Patrol FHP says that the Polaris Side-By-Side rotated struck a fence and flipped as the driver tried to round a curve northbound on Saturn Rd READ: Orlando man dies after car crash with wrong-way driver on Selmon Expressway, FHP says a 36-year-old Brooksville man whose name was not released was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene of the crash By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Check out our tickets page to see if an event is coming near you The Disc Golf Pro Tour will return to the Olympus Disc Golf Course for the season-opening 2025 Discraft Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast 152 players from both the MPO and FPO divisions competed for a combined purse of $82,040 See how Ezra Robinson took down his first DGPT win at the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast in these highlights from Brooksville 📺 Watch LIVE Disc Golf -> https://www.discgolfnetwork.com/ 🥏 Catch JomezPro Coverage on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/@JomezPro 🎟️ Get tickets to a Tour stop near you -> https://www.dgpt.com/tickets 🛒 Shop the DGPT Pro Shop -> https://shop.dgpt.com/ 🔴 Live DGPT scores -> https://www.dgpt.com/scores 🔢 DGPT player stats -> https://www.dgpt.com/stats 🏆 DGPT World Standings -> https://www.dgpt.com/standings See how Ella Hansen took down the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast in these highlights from Brooksville Enjoy the Top 5 MPO Shots from the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast Enjoy the Top 5 FPO Shots from the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast Enjoy the Top 10 MPO Shots from JomezPro’s coverage of the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast Enjoy the Top 10 FPO Shots from JomezPro’s coverage of the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast Enjoy Final Round highlights from the MPO broadcast at the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast Enjoy Final Round highlights from the FPO broadcast at the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast Enjoy JomezPro’s post produced coverage of the 2025 Supreme Flight Open presented by Florida’s Adventure Coast is a premier 18-hole course known for its challenging elevation changes and scenic beauty the course offers a mix of open and wooded holes requiring a balance of technical precision and power With its unique terrain and well-designed layout The course is a favorite for both local players and those traveling for tournaments providing a picturesque and demanding disc golf experience in Florida’s natural landscape We create and curate the world’s grandest stages at premier venues for the world’s best disc golfers in order to transmit the story of professional disc golf as an engaging high-quality experience that inspires and grows fans of the sport on-site and online DGPT is a registered trademark of Disc Golf Pro Tour  the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville held the 50th annual Brooksville Christmas Parade There were more than 130 entrants in the parade and the streets were lined with thousands of parade-goers The Grand Marshall of the parade was Morris Porton Morris is a former banker and local community leader who is involved in a plethora of activities The parade featured many forms of transport from walkers to horse riders to floats and cars The parade started on Oakwood Drive behind the Hernando County School District building it turned left on Howell Avenue and headed up the hill to downtown Brooksville where it turned left on N Broad St by the Courthouse and ended at the bottom of the hill The winner of best overall float for the second year in a row was Edison Ink and Company is an electrical engineer and he designed the structure featuring a curved keyboard backdrop Bell notes that they are looking for a home for the giant guitar Maybe a school or theatre group that could use it for a play Mesmerized Tattoo Studio: 2nd Place [Mesmerized Tattoo Studio Facebook]People’s Choice Brooksville Christmas Parade WinnerTripeak Roofing [Photography by Hanna Fox Maglio]  [Photography by Hanna Fox Maglio]50th Annual BrooksvilleChristmas Parade [Photography by Hanna Fox Maglio]Rockin’ out to Christmas tunes on the Edison Ink float Contact us: [email protected] the 9/11 Never Forget Mobile Museum Convoy rolled into Brooksville As Tunnels to Towers’ motorcade made its way down Main Street dozens of denizens gathered on the sidewalks to welcome the memorial with American flags in hand the organization stationed the now-retired exhibit at Tom Varn Park the new mobile unit set up shop catty-corner to the courthouse on the stretch of road between Jefferson Street and East Fort Dade Avenue The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and Brooksville Fire Rescue Department all led the special convoy from I75 to State Road 50 before parking in front of Main Street Eatery Citizens wishing to visit and learn more about that fateful day can visit the mobile exhibit on Friday and Saturday Exhibit location & hours:  Main Street- Downtown Brooksville the patriotic portable display is an 83-foot-long tractor-trailer that “transforms into an educational experience” intended to teach communities about that day and its impact according to the Tunnels to Towers organization Citizens cheered and greeted the 9/11 Never Forget Exhibit as it rolled down Main Street on Thursday [Photo by Austyn Szempruch]The 9/11 Never Forget Exhibit set up shop in Brooksville on Thursday Contact us: [email protected] The Historic May-Stringer house in Brooksville The house once sat on more than 150 acres of wild land where a group of devoted Hernando Historical Museum Association members care for the structure The paranormal researcher has recorded unexplained events — like a latch on a kitchen cabinet opening without aid A photo album holds pictures with unexplained shadows Owners added onto the Victorian-era home in 1880 — with seven gables and gingerbread trim and Lisk believes there are three ghosts there “Jessie Mae was a little girl that passed away here when she was three Her spirit still remains in this room along with her mother The third spirit is connected to a pre-civil war porcelain doll that lays in a small crib with two other dolls — all dressed in white and she haunts this room as well,” said Lisk It’s a great to learn all this history and to meet so many people — friends that are lifelong friends — all doing this Lisk says he will keep guiding ghost tours until he has ghost haunting responsibilities of his own you can check out these tours on Friday and Saturday nights at the May-Stringer House throughout the year — Thousands of visitors are expected to return this year to the Halloween Trail of Terror in Brooksville designed the trail a few years ago because he wanted to give kids a chance to go somewhere fun during the pandemic He said he's been stunned by the number of people who have come to his Halloween adventure ever since “The reason it’s been a success story — let’s not kid ourselves — we keep it affordable so families can come,” Bravico said “If you’ve taken the time to bring your family out and show (them) a good time a nearly 100-foot cave and numerous activities for kids Jayco of Brooksville held its grand opening and ribbon cutting with the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce earlier this month at their location 15265 Cortez Blvd had the following message for the community I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Chamber of Commerce and everyone who attended our grand opening event Your support and participation made the day truly special and memorable We are thrilled to be part of this incredible community and are excited to start this new chapter with such amazing local leaders The turnout and warm welcome were beyond our expectations and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow and contribute to the community Contact us: [email protected] COMMUNITY PARTNER That’s So Tampa has been the most trusted local resource for discovering All Things Good in Tampa Bay (CBS12) — A Brooksville man has been accused of repeatedly punching and striking his two Cane Corsi with both a metal pole and metal pan on multiple occasions "Inflicting pain and suffering on innocent creatures is a clear indication of a deep disregard for life itself," said Sheriff Al Nienhuis The Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) stated that on Tuesday deputies had responded to a report of animal cruelty in eastern Brooksville A witness reportedly saw the abuse and gave deputies a 45-minute-long video of the abuse Deputies reported that throughout the abuse the dogs whimpered in pain and attempted to escape but Lamontagne would drag them back and continue the abuse was tethered and unable to flee from the violence Further investigation revealed that Lamontagne had adopted Alger and started fostering a brindle female named Hailie just two weeks prior to the incident The sheriff noted Lamontagne only had the dogs in his care for a short time HCSO stated that Lamontagne signed documents surrendering Alger officers noted that the male dog was limping severely A veterinarian will evaluate both dogs for injuries He allegedly admitted to hitting the dogs with a leash but denied the more severe actions shown in the footage Lamontagne has been accused of two counts of felony animal cruelty Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video “It was by chance we caught him under surveillance I believe we had a search warrant for a house we believed he was staying in and as we got close to get ready to do that search warrant- that’s when we were able to pick him up and start the surveillance- which was not long before the shooting occurred,” said Nienhuis The suspect’s name is Zachary Bowles and according to Sheriff Nienhuis has 21 felony convictions in the state of Florida He’s been to prison at least two separate times and is a documented gang member He is currently wanted out of Pasco County for attempted armed robbery and felon in possession of a firearm Sheriff Nienhuis said that the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office developed probable cause on March 14 for a shooting incident that happened about a week ago in Hernando County It was an aggravated assault with a firearm charge they had against him Sheriff Nienhuis explained that as Bowles exited Dickey’s and he took off running down the sidewalk in front of Dickey’s and Quest Diagnostics—in a westerly direction One of the deputies saw him pull a gun from his waistband “We believe that he pointed it at the deputy and/or shot at the deputy We’re still trying to narrow that down with some video evidence that we got,” Nienhuis said witness statements and preliminary video show that the suspect did pull a weapon the deputy fired at Bowles and hit him at least once The Sheriff’s Office believes that Bowles fired at least once at the deputy Bowles continued running after being shot and the Sheriff said it appeared that he dropped his weapon on the sidewalk He ran into the woods adjacent to the shopping center He made it through the woods to the mobile home sales business on the other side he confronted law enforcement and was subdued by one of the HCSO K-9s No deputies or bystanders were harmed in the incident Sheriff Nienhuis said the suspect is lucky to be alive we are going to shoot at you and we are going to likely injure The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will be taking over the criminal investigation The deputy who fired at the suspect is on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the FDLE criminal investigation and the HCSO preliminary investigation by the professional standards unit Contact us: [email protected] Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.