COUNTY & Next Morning HIGH 90 Partly to Mostly LOW Cloudy
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Tiger chasing: Woods, field begin at British Open /B1 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next morning HIGH 90 Partly to mostly LOW cloudy. Scattered thundershowers. 72 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JULY 18, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 118 ISSUE 345 County: Don’t send checks to the county commission office,” services, and assumed it was a bill. Some jump the gun on fire fee payment said Commission Chairman Joe “It is just a notice; it is not a bill,” Meek, speaking Wednesday to the Meek said. “It says it is not a bill.” CHRIS VAN ORMER County Customer Service phone Chronicle’s editorial board. “The The checks have been mailed Staff writer line, 352-249-2765, is: Don’t send the county is getting $60 checks mailed back to the senders, said County Ad- check. The sum on the notices that to it every day.” ministrator Brad Thorpe. The No. 1 question about the pro- were mailed to taxpayers earlier The checks, 29 of them so far, have About 140,000 notices were posed fee for fire protection serv- this month will be part of the next been mailed by property owners who mailed to the owner of each prop- ices is: “Where do I send the property tax bill. But some residents have read the notice for the pro- erty by GSG, Government Service Joe Meek check?” can’t wait to pay next year’s tax. posed fee, a municipal services ben- Group Inc., the Tallahassee-based commission The answer from the Citrus “We’re getting checks in the mail efits unit (MSBU) for fire protection See CHECKS/ Page A2 chairman. INSIDE Summer NATION & WORLD: Lightning protection sizzles Heat blankets much of US On camera Associated Press Police scanners amass millions of license plate NEW YORK — From images./Page A10 Minnesota to Massachu- setts temperatures surged OPINION: to potentially dangerous levels Wednesday as the In a time largest heat wave of the summer stretched out and of tight stagnated, with relief in budgets, the many parts of the country “ still days away. county cannot Most states in the U.S. “ were expected to have bail out every some areas where the temperature would hit 90 community degrees or more, accord- center. ing to the National Weather Service. Humid air just made it all feel EDITORIAL, PAGE A8 worse, with heat indexes in some places over 100. Parts of 19 states were LOCAL & STATE: MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle under weather advisories. ABOVE: Withlacoochee River Electric meter reader John Mills installs a Surge Stopper Monday morning. It In New York City, where is designed to prevent electrical surges from entering a residence and causing damage to appliances. it was 95 degrees, side- BELOW: The device fits onto a conventional electric meter and can be installed in minutes. walk food vendor Ahmad Qayumi said that by 11 a.m., the cramped Power companies will install surge space inside his steel- walled cart got so hot, he had to turn off his grill suppressors to safeguard homes and coffee machine. “It was just too hot. I ERYN WORTHINGTON Gas Pains “I just remember screaming, couldn’t breathe,” he said, Staff writer when my boyfriend ran to the turning away a customer The price of gas rises bathroom,” Lambert said. again./Page A3 who asked for a ham- Radio up, makeup on and half Lambert was immediately burger. “Just cold drinks,” of her blonde hair curled, Saman- taken to the emergency room he said. FLAIR FOR FOOD: tha Lambert lip-synched with her and spent two nights recovering Amid the heat, officials hair brush as the other hand in the hospital. Doctors told in Washington D.C.’s curled toward a “good hair day.” lized in a state known as the Lambert that the rubber shoes Maryland suburbs worked Boom! Lightning struck her “lightning capital of the world.” she was wearing saved her life. to keep a failing water house, instantly sending electric- Upon request, power Similar scenarios are main from cutting off hun- ity bolts to her heated curling implausible if measures to pro- dreds of thousands of iron, which rested in her hands. tect yourself and home are uti- See SURGE/ Page A2 See HEAT/ Page A5 Outdoor dining Preserve asks for amphibian assistance Plan meals for a camping trip./Page C1 INDEX Frog count will help researchers determine health of the environment Classifieds . .C7 PAT FAHERTY about wetlands and amphibian conservation. kind we are hearing,” said Cyndy Holliday, Comics . .C6 Staff writer A similar survey was held at the park last AmeriCorps member at the park. “It helps get Community . .C4 month. an idea of how the amphibians are doing in Crossword . .C5 Frog calls mean more than ribbits and “We get citizens who want to go out and our ecosystem and our area.” Editorial . .A8 croaks. monitor the frogs and She said one reason for the survey is that Entertainment . .A4 The sounds made by those noisy am- get a sense of amphibians are very susceptible to pollution Horoscope . .A4 phibians help researchers determine how many and they are a good indicator of changes in Lottery Numbers . .B3 environmental health. and what the environment. Lottery Payouts . .B3 That is part of the driving force “The second reason is education,” she Movies . .C6 behind the Frog Watch 2013 survey, said. “People see them and hear them and Obituaries . .A6 which continues from 8:30 p.m. to want to know what they are and what the TV Listings . .C5 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 26, at Crystal noise is. River Preserve State Park. “The third reason; it is so much fun.” The effort is part of FrogWatch They play frog and toad calls for the USA, a national citizen science initiative to help people learn See FROGS/ Page A2 PAID ADVERTISEMENT CRYSTAL AUTOMOTIVE GROUP Crystal Automotive Group MAKES HISTORY ONCE AGAIN Homosassa, FL Crystal Automotive Group is once again obligation until 2014. With our company customer qualifies. The only requirement is to get the new or used vehicle you’ve always making automobile sales history. This time, paying the interest for the entire length of the be able to to finance the vehicle for 5 years at wanted. Today is the day! Crystal is offering to pay customer’s loan, it’s obvious that you will be making a no more than a 2.99% interest rate. Most “Everyone knows that at Crystal, Steve payments until 2014 and pay the customer’s wise financial decision.” models that we have in stock will qualify for Lamb has been chopping prices for years. interest for the length of the loan. Every customer buying a new or used this program.” Now, he’s not only chopping the prices, but When asked how Crystal Automotive vehicle has the opportunity to qualify for this Crystal Automotive Group is the largest chopping away payments until 2014 along Group could make this happen, Director of program. Banks and finance companies automotive group on the Nature Coast, with interest for the entire length of the Operations, Justin Lamb explained that “Now working with Crystal have relaxed both credit consistently selling more cars and trucks than loan!” exclaimed Lamb. is the best time in history to buy a new and income requirements for the duration of any other dealer in the area. Crystal has Chrysler Dodge Jeep vehicle. At Crystal, we decided this offer this sales event. There are more than 800 “It’s our volume that allows us to make Ram dealerships in Inverness on Hwy 44, would entice the public. With this vehicles to choose from and there is no doubt deals like this for our customers,” stated Homosassa on Hwy 19 and Brooksville on opportunity, it is easy for every customer to that there is a new or used vehicle that will fill Lamb. State Road 50; along with a Chevrolet and buy a new or used car, because everybody any customer’s transportation needs. If you’re in the market to buy a new or Nissan dealership in Homosassa on Hwy 19 would love a dealership to pay their car Ted Nipper, Crystal’s Director of Finance used vehicle, you need to take advantage of as well. There is a hotline set up for payments and interest, allowing them to enjoy claims, “This program is very easy to qualify this history making offer as soon as possible. customers to call and get more information- a beautiful vehicle without payment for. It is our goal to ensure that every This is a limited time offer. Do not hesitate to (800) 584-8755 ext. 2014. 000FES0 A2 THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE ground. Lightning can the following actions to re- travel through electrical, duce the risk of being SURGE phone, plumbing and struck outside: Continued from Page A1 radio/television reception ■ Immediately get off el- systems. It can also travel evated areas such as hills, companies — such as through metal wires or mountain ridges or peaks. Withlacoochee River Elec- bars in concrete walls or ■ Never lie flat on the tric Cooperative Inc. — flooring. ground. will install a Surge Stop- Therefore, key indoor ■ Never shelter under per to the power pole of safety tips from NOAA an isolated tree. the home. A Surge Stopper include: ■ Never use a cliff or is a meter-based surge ■ Stay off corded rocky overhang for shelter. suppressor that protects a phones. You can use cellu- ■ Immediately get out home or business. lar or cordless phones. and away from ponds, Surge protectors in and ■ Don’t touch electrical lakes and other bodies of outside the home are de- equipment or cords.