Opener: Rays and Red Sox begin series /B1 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next TO BUY FROM morning HIGH VILLAGE 85 Mostly sunny. LOW PAGE A4 TOYOTA SEE PAGE B10 58 www.chronicleonline.com 000EXK9 MAY 15, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 118 ISSUE 281 Thorpe: Time to retire MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle County Administrator Brad Thorpe informed the Citrus County Commission on Tuesday afternoon that he will be resigning. He gave the commission a 30-day notice as required in his contract, but indicated a willingness to work a bit longer to complete the budget. County administrator announces resignation; will stay on long enough to ease transition MIKE WRIGHT late July, when the fices both personally Thorpe served eight years as a Cit- Staff writer tentative budget is and professionally.” rus County commissioner and then approved. Though the memo is nine years as the community services INVERNESS — Brad Thorpe is “It has been an dated Monday, it was director. In 2009, the commission about to go where no Citrus County ad- honor and a pleasure kept a closely guarded hired him to replace Anthony Schem- ministrator has gone before him: serving the board of secret until Tuesday’s bri, who was forced to resign after less Retirement. county commissioners board meeting. Whis- than one year on the job. Thorpe, whose 21-year career in these past four years,” pers of the impending Thorpe, who turns 62 in November, county government includes the last Thorpe wrote in a Rebecca Dennis retirement spread said he had been thinking of retire- four as administrator, announced his memo to commission- Bays Damato through the commis- ment this year. retirement during Tuesday’s county ers. “I believe that said Thorpe said Thorpe sion chambers during “It’s time for a new chapter in my commission meeting. during these difficult will be hard to was one of the the afternoon. life,” he said. Though his employment agreement financial conditions, replace. best county Thorpe, who earns Commissioners praised Thorpe for calls for a 30-day notice to resign, the board should be has ever had. $122,500 a year, will his leadership and service. Thorpe agreed to stay until the board proud of the efforts of our county staff. become the county’s “You’ve dedicated decades to this has a transition plan in place for his Our employees have continued to pro- first administrator to retire. His pred- community,” Chairman Joe Meek said. replacement. Commissioners also vide a high standard of service to this ecessors resigned for other jobs, were asked that Thorpe stay until at least community while making many sacri- fired or forced out. See THORPE/ Page A2 INSIDE COMING UP: Board OKs new taxing mechanisms Storm water management, law enforcement services to receive MSTUs CHRIS VAN ORMER age rate is set in July. as two new tools in their rate would take place as Brad Thorpe. Staff writer The Citrus County Board toolbox, County Attorney part of the budget process “We’ve reached a popu- of County Commissioners Richard Wesch told the in June and July and lation where we’re going to INVERNESS — Resi- (BOCC) on Tuesday ap- board, “We’re not asking would be finalized in Sep- have to meet federal re- dents can expect to see a proved two MSTUs — mu- you today to decide a mill- tember. The tentative mill- quirements for storm Pull and save storm water management nicipal services taxing age levy in any amount age rates will be set July water,” Thorpe said. Look for Hurricane assessment and a law en- units, funding methods to whatsoever. This merely 24. When the budget is pre- Watch, the guide to the forcement assessment on support a service or im- forms the basis, if you will, The first MSTU, for sented to the BOCC, 2013 hurricane next year’s ad valorem tax provement that are based of keeping your options storm water, would be a Thorpe said, he would season./Thursday bills, but they won’t know on taxable value. open as you go forward.” placeholder, according to how much until the mill- Describing the MSTUs Setting a millage County Administrator See BOARD/ Page A5 BUSINESS: Smart Money Bruce Williams’ State lottery signs Nuke plant ready popular column is reprinted in its entirety. on for Mega Millions for disasters /Page A9 Associated Press ner overall for the Florida Lottery. INDEX There are lingering questions on New equipment mandated in wake how the sales will impact other lot- Classifieds . .C7 TALLAHASSEE — No one is Comics . .C6 quite sure if the numbers will add tery games — and how much more of Japan’s Fukushima fiasco Community . .C4 up, but the Florida Lottery on money it will generate for the Crossword . .C5 Wednesday will start selling tickets state’s schools. PAT FAHERTY plant disaster in Japan in 2011. Editorial . .A8 to the popular Mega Millions lot- Players win by matching the five Staff writer As an interim measure, the Entertainment . .A4 tery game. white ball numbers (1-56) and the plant has upgraded satellite Horoscope . .A4 Lottery officials are launching golden Mega Ball number. Tickets The Nuclear Regulatory Com- phone technology, increased the Lottery Numbers . .B3 the multi-state game with a bit of a cost $1 while tickets for Powerball mission is satisfied that Duke number of phones and purchased Lottery Payouts . .B3 flash, even scheduling an opening now cost $2. Energy can meet requirements radios. Satellite phones were se- Movies . .C6 day celebration at a Fort Myers State economists have con- to maintain communications at lected for their ability to function Obituaries . .A6 convenience store. There are ex- cluded that the addition of Mega the Crystal River area nuclear without installed infrastructure. TV Listings . .C5 pectations that the game will be a Millions will result in reduced plant in the event of a large-scale “We also have generators ded- big success, especially since last sales in both Powerball and natural disaster. icated to recharging our commu- year it had a record payout for a Florida Lotto, which has been the Communication equipment nication equipment,” plant lottery. enhancements are required fol- But Mega Millions isn’t a sure win- See LOTTERY/ Page A5 lowing the Fukushima nuclear See PLANT/ Page A5 A2 WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 STATE/LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE State BRIEFS Experts not sure Farkas may have been un- Court reinstates Woman, 91, graduates from successful when he sought to whose voices are return to the Legislature last inmate kosher on 911 calls year, but he just won a meals lawsuit Daytona State College ORLANDO — Audio ex- $50,000-a-year-for-life prize MIAMI — Despite Florida’s perts gave differing opinions on a $20 Florida Lottery recent change of policy, a fed- Associated Press classes on and off over the years before on whether screams for help scratch ticket. eral appeals court Tuesday deciding in 2010 to go for her degree. captured on 911 calls were The St. Petersburg Repub- reinstated a lawsuit filed by a DAYTONA BEACH — Some 74 years “Coming back to college saved my mind,” Lewis said, explaining that she those of neighborhood watch lican served in the House Jewish prison inmate who after graduating from high school, a 91- year-old woman received a bachelor’s had an accident with an air compressor leader George Zimmerman or from 1998 to 2006. He lost to claimed his rights were vio- degree from Daytona State College. while filling a tire seven years ago. the 17-year-old teen he fatally Democrat Dwight Dudley on lated by the state Department his bid to return. The crowd at Ocean Center in Daytona “When you lose your independence, you shot last year. of Corrections’ previous re- Beach erupted in applause as Irene Lewis go crazy, and I felt I was going in that di- The Florida Lottery said the One audio expert said in a fusal to serve kosher meals. moved across the stage Monday to receive rection. So I thought I’d go back to report released Tuesday that 56-year-old Farkas chose a The 11th U.S. Circuit Court a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in school, where I could concentrate on the the screams came from lump sum payment of of Appeals ordered a lower fed- supervision and management. School of- present and forget the past.” Trayvon Martin, while another $815,515.72. eral judge to reconsider the ficials said she is likely the oldest gradu- She said she found school invigorat- audio expert says the shouts Miami construction lawsuit filed in 2010 by Bruce ate in the 53-year history of the college. ing, both intellectually and socially. were a mix of Martin and Rich, an Orthodox Jew who is Lewis downplayed her accomplish- “It has been a wonderful experience,” Zimmerman. worker dies after serving a life sentence at Union ment, telling the Daytona Beach News- she told the newspaper. “The satisfac- Attorneys prosecuting Zim- 7-story fall Correctional Institution. The Journal that graduating “beats a movie.” tion I found with people at the school merman for second-degree judge previously dismissed the But the gold tassel on her cap indicated was unbelievable. I met such wonderful MIAMI — A worker is dead murder hired the audio ex- lawsuit at the state’s request, she graduated with a grade point aver- people. These kids are a treasure.” following a seven-story fall at perts to compare samples of citing lack of evidence. age between 3.8 and 4.0. The feeling was mutual. Shelly Fran- a South Florida construction Martin and Zimmerman’s Florida announced earlier “I’m only a pebble here in this group,” cis, 42, said Lewis is an inspiration.