BOCC Oks Lifestream Funds
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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NBA Playoffs: Heat close out series with Milwaukee /A6 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 91 Scattered LOW evening storms. 74 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 337 NEWS BRIEFS BOCC OKs LifeStream funds Citrus County MIKE WRIGHT addictive services, but the top of the $550,000 the reduced its $750,000 bud- county-owned property COVID-19 update Staff writer discussion included only county is already provid- get request by $250,000. He near the jail in Lecanto scant mention of a pro- ing as a match to state said LifeSteam needs for a campus that would Five new positive cases Citrus County commis- posed Baker Act facility. funding. $750,000 to operate its new provide both inpatient were reported in Citrus sioners threw their sup- Commissioners said Rick Hankey, receiving center opened in and outpatient services County since the latest port Tuesday behind a they would support LifeStream’s executive May in Beverly Hills. for mentally ill and FDOH update. No new hospi- budget request from the LifeStream Behavioral vice president, said the ad- Hankey also touched on addicted. talizations were reported; no county’s provider of Center’s request for an ditional funding was LifeStream’s plan to uti- new deaths were reported. mental-health and additional $250,000, on needed because the state lize up to 15 acres of See BOCC/Page A11 To date in the county, 2,339 people have tested positive (including seven non-residents), 229 have been hospitalized and 64 have died. Food giveaway First birthday for baby ‘Bear’ at fairgrounds Beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday Sept. 9, the pub- lic can receive food at the Cit- rus County fairgrounds at 3600 S Florida Ave, Inver- ness, FL 34450 — drive- through only. Monetary donations are needed to continue feeding Citrus County residents. Please consider donating through Citrus United Way (www.citrusunitedway.org), Community Food Bank of Cit- rus County (www.community foodbankofcitruscounty.org) or the New Church Without Walls (www.newchurch withoutwalls.com). Register to vote in general election Every year millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline or aren’t sure how to register. Don’t be part of this statistic. Contact the Citrus County Supervisor of Elections office today to check your voter status. Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3, 2020, general election. To register online or find additional information about registering to vote, go to www.votecitrus.com. Voter registration applica- Special to the Chronicle tions in English and Spanish CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Nikki and Chris Duncan, are available on the website parents of Bronsell, cherish every moment they have with their youngest child, who recently to print and deliver in person turned 1. / Bronsell Emerson Sean Duncan, born with a rare genetic disease, turned 1 on Sept. 1, 2020 — a major milestone for a child to the elections office or mail with his condition. Bronsell has lived at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies since birth. / Despite his serious to PO Box 1870 Lecanto, FL illness, Bronsell Duncan’s first birthday was reason to celebrate. The family brought decorations for his hospital room and gifts for the 34460. other babies at the hospital, plus treats for the nurses and doctors. Voter registration applica- tions may also be obtained by calling 352-564-7120 or Baby with extremely rare genetic condition celebrates first birthday toll-free 800-655-6645, or by NANCY KENNEDY mitochondrial disease that Health Winnie Palmer Hospi- Sept. 1, 2020, Nikki and her visiting the Supervisor of Staff writer has kept him in the hospital tal for Women & Babies. husband, Chris Duncan, ar- Elections Office located at since the day he “We felt he needed to be rived at Winnie Palmer 1500 N. Meadowcrest Blvd. e’s a big boy with a big was born, Sept. 1, celebrated just around 4 a.m., bearing gifts for Crystal River 34429. name: Bronsell Emer- 2019. like any the other babies in the same Call the elections office for Hson Sean Duncan. However, this other child,” pod as Bronsell as well as the additional locations to pick up Born premature at 37 big boy with the Nikki said. nurses and doctors who treat a voter registration weeks, he weighed a whop- big name also “So we asked him. application. ping 7 pounds, 13 ounces and has a big family the hospital “When he was born, he was was normal in every way — — nine broth- and they so big that the nurses called Find the prize until the umbilical cord was ers and sisters agreed that him ‘Bronsell Bear,’ and that scallop, win big cut. — who love this was defi- name has stuck,” Nikki said. “He coded and our world him big time nitely a mile- “So, we had bear cookies We Care has hidden a turned upside down,” said and gave their stone for him made and all day people were second scallop and released Nikki Duncan, Bronsell’s baby brother — they honestly coming in, singing ‘Happy a second hint to help those mother. a big birth- didn’t think Birthday,’ and they had a big searching for the prized scal- One of only about 50 cases day celebra- we’d see his first card that everybody signed.” lop in their Scallop Treasure in the world, Bronsell was tion at birthday.” Hunt fundraiser, which lasts born with ECHS1, a rare Orlando Early Tuesday, See BABY/Page A2 through Sept. 24. The latest hint is: “Unlike our first scallop, this new scallop went north to cool off west of the St. Martins Keys.” A one-day ticket costs $25. Massullo faces challenge COVID-19 weekly Season tickets, good for July 1 through Sept. 24, cost $50, with a 10% discount for roundup for Citrus season tickets purchased from Democrat Gosai prior to July 1. FRED HIERS Since Aug. 30, re- A third time reaps $1,000. Staff writer corded hospital admis- If no one finds it, there will sions increased 19 to 229. be a drawing of the names Florida Department of Seven more people also of all season ticket owners Health (DOH) officials died since Aug. 30, bring- MIKE WRIGHT I and the winner will get Staff writer OFFICE: Florida House reported a total 2,332 ing the county’s death $2,500. of Representatives, coronavirus cases among count to 64. To join the treasure hunt, The first time Ralph Massullo ran for state District 34. Citrus County residents Long-term care facili- go online at www.wcscallop. representative, he was automatically elected I WHO: Democrat Dushyant in their Tuesday, Sept. 9, ties in Citrus County re- eventbrite.com. unopposed. 2020, update. ported 88 resident cases Gosai; Republican Proceeds from this event Since then Massullo, R-Lecanto, has faced It’s a 11.3% increase Tuesday, according to the incumbent Ralph go toward fighting hunger in challengers twice, both in 2018 when he easily from the 2,095 cases doc- health department. our community. won re-election and again this year. Massullo. umented a week ago on DOH records docu- For more information about His opponent is Citrus Hills resident Dushy- I TERM: 2 years. Aug. 31. ment a total 105 cases for ant Gosai, a 61-year-old college professor who DOH officials reported inmates housed at We Care, visit www.wecare I SALARY: $29,697. foodpantry.org, or facebook. ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in 2018 they received 23,125 peo- county correctional ple for COVID-19. Of facilities and for staff com/wecarefoodpantry2. from an Alachua County district. I COVERS: All Citrus, plus those, 2,339 were posi- — From staff reports parts of Hernando County. See ELECTION/Page A2 tive, or 10.11%. See COVID-19/Page A11 Classifieds . .B9 Crossword . .B12 INDEX Sports . A6, A7, A8 Obituaries . A5 Comics . .B8 Editorial. A10 Lottery Numbers . A8 TV Listings. .B7 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . A8 A2 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE catastrophes in life and until completely disagree with that.” For the RECORD one actually happens, you’ll Gosai said he does not sup- ELECTION never know if it’s adequate. In port a mask mandate. Continued from Page A1 this case, it wasn’t adequate.” “The state should encourage Citrus County I For more information about What is the biggest issue fac- people to wear masks,” he Sheriff’s Office arrests made by the Citrus Gosai, a Democrat, said ing Citrus County? said. “‘Require’ sounds like a County Sheriff’s Office, go to DUI arrest leaders in the Citrus County GOSAI: Lack of industry and harsh word.” I Taryn Varvel, 31, of Hernando, at www.sheriffcitrus.org and Democratic Party urged him to leadership. MASSULLO: Fair response, 11:38 p.m. Sept 2 on a misdemeanor click on the Public face Massullo. He said he’s in “I’ve been in Citrus County but could be better. charge of driving under the influence. Information link, then on the race to give voters a choice. all these years and I see these “We could have been geared Her bond was set at $1,000. Arrest Reports. Massullo, 63, is a surgeon same faces running for office up for a lot more testing,” he Domestic battery arrest whose political experience over and over,” he said. “Citrus said. “We’re still going through found in her possession.