Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Sluggers strut their stuff at Home Run Derby /B1 TUESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 92 Numerous LOW afternoon and evening storms. 72 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JULY 13, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 279 NEWS BRIEFS Sheriff: More patrols needed School Board meets today Asks commissioners for funds to increase law enforcement on coastal waters Members of the Citrus MIKE WRIGHT agreed, asking the county they supported an increase in suggested using $330,699 in County School Board will Staff writer commission to use a combina- marine patrols, the other American Recovery Plan host their regular meeting tion of federal and county three commissioners said funds to purchase additional at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Commissioner Holly Davis funds to increase law enforce- they wouldn’t support the vessels and equipment, plus July 13, at the Citrus summed up the challenges ment presence on coastal budget needed to go with it. $724,270 in recurring general County School District waterfront property owners hotspots such as Homosassa “I agree, but we can’t afford county funds for more administrative office, are facing with rowdy River’s Blue Waters and it. Bottom line,” Commis- deputies. 1007 W. Main St., Inver- boaters: Sandy Hook in Crystal River. sioner Ron Kitchen Jr. said. Prendergast said he had ness. A public hearing is “People are being terror- During a special meeting Prendergast was respond- one deputy patrolling Blue Mike also scheduled for 5 p.m. ized in their own homes by Monday, commissioners de- ing to a county request for a Waters last weekend where Prendergast yahoos on boats.” clined. While Davis and Com- plan to combat problem boat- over 200 boats were counted. For more information Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast missioner Jeff Kinnard said ers in Blue Waters. He See PATROLS/Page A2 sheriff. on the agenda, visit tinyurl.com/t6phzraj. To watch a live video stream of the meeting, visit youtube.com/user/ CitrusSchools. How to prepare Rain, rain and more rain for a hurricane Attend a hurricane pre- paredness presentation from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Fri- day, July 23, at the Friends of Citrus and the Nature Coast Wings Grief Center, 8471 W. Periwin- kle Lane in Homosassa, The presentation will be provided by the emer- gency management di- rector from the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. Attendees will gain infor- mation about what to do before, during and after a hurricane. This event is open to the public and will follow CDC guidelines. Space may be limited. To re- serve a spot, call 352-249-1470. To learn more about grief services, visit friends ofcitrus.org or Friends of Citrus on Facebook. Register to vote at Third Friday The Supervisor of Elec- tions Office will be at the Third Friday event in In- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle verness from 5 to 7 p.m. Jakob Bandstra paddles through the rain on a recent afternoon while bass fishing. Between a rainy pattern of weather and Tropical Storm July 16 in front of the Elsa the region has received an above-average amount of rain. The rainfall in recent weeks has filled up area waterways like the Hernando Old Courthouse Museum, pool of the Tsala Apopka chain where Bandstra paddles. 1 Courthouse Square. he said. Stop by to make County gets 8.1 inches of rainfall in first 11 days of July The Inverness and Hernando changes to your voter re- pools rose above their target cord, register to vote or MICHAEL D. BATES for the entire month of July, “This is well above average levels this month, and as a re- request to vote-by-mail. Staff writer according to Dr. Mark Fulker- for wet season rainfall so far sult, water is being released Information to apply for son, chief professional engineer and has really given a boost to from those pools back to the election worker positions Tropical Storm Elsa was with the Southwest Florida our region’s water resources,” Withlacoochee River. will also be available. pretty much a washout for Cit- Water Management District Fulkerson said. No water is flowing into the If you are interested in rus County but it did drop (SWFWMD). “June and July have been ex- lakes from the Withlacoochee, having the elections office plenty of rain on the county. From July 1-11, Citrus County tremely wet months, giving us a as those structures were closed Adding to what was already has received about 8.1 inches of very quick start to the wet sea- last week. Water is being re- staff at your organization drenched ground, the extra rain. son,” Fulkerson said. “In fact, leased from the Inverness and or business, contact Mau- precipitation has bloated the “That’s already 95% of the the Tsala Apopka chain-of-lakes Hernando pools to help pre- reen “Mo” Baird, supervi- July rainfall totals and gorged historical average rainfall are already filling up and it’s vent water levels from rising sor of election. area lakes and the Withla- (8.5 inches) for the month, and only July. They usually don’t any higher. To learn more, visit coochee River. we’re only a third of the way reach their target levels until Withlacoochee River water votecitrus.gov, email Citrus County received through July,” Fulkerson said. August or September.” levels and flows have been in- [email protected] or 3.4 inches of rain from Elsa, So far this summer, Citrus “So far in July, lake levels creasing since early June when call 352-564-7120. which accounted for more than County has received nearly have risen another 9 inches and the rainy season began, Fulker- Abuse shelter 80% of the average rainfall 20 inches of rainfall. the entire system is nearly full,” son said. seeks donations The Citrus County Abuse Shelter Associa- tion (CASA) is in need of hair brushes, hair tools County priority list Key Training Center to and clear storage bins with lids.The next time you’re out shopping, pick includes sewers in kickoff annual fundraiser up some extra supplies and drop them off at the CASA Outreach office be- Kinnard’s neighborhood Reach for the Stars dinner, auction tween 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday MIKE WRIGHT “We’ll basically be done with starts Friday, July 16, at 5:30 p.m. through Friday, at 1100 E. Staff writer that stretch of the road,” said Turner Camp Road, Ken Cheek, director of water FRED HIERS dinner/auction is part of the organi- Inverness. County commissioners are resources. Staff writer zation’s larger Run for the Money expected to approve a list of Kinnard said he had no role Shelter needs can also fundraising event. federally funded projects at in deciding to The Key Training Center was not The dinner is expected to have be dropped off at their al- their meeting Tuesday and include Dixie immune to the coronavirus pan- 275 guests and all the spots are ternative drop off location, one will be quite familiar to Shores on the demic last year as it had to cancel its filled. Carol’s Interiors and Commissioner Jeff Kinnard. ARPA’s prior- biggest annual fundraising event. The Key Training Center pro- Floors, 6410 S. Suncoast A septic-to-sewer project for ity list. He This week the organization that pro- vides housing or work to 300 clients. Blvd. in Homosassa. Dixie Shores and Crystal Isles noted that the vides homes and work to most of the On that list each year there are For information, email near Crystal River is one of community off county’s residents with develop- 40-50 clients who cannot pay or who Kimberly Martini at 14 proposed projects for Fort Island mental disabilities is kicking off its get no or little government finan- [email protected]. $29 million in American Res- Jeff Trail has been Run for the Money fundraiser. cial help. The Run for the Money If interested in volun- cue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds. Kinnard considered a The Key Training Center will weeklong event is meant to raise teering, call 352-344-8111 Kinnard bought a lot in priority for re- host its annual Reach for the Stars money to pay for scholarships so all Dixie Shores in 2018 and is Citrus County or download the Volun- commissioner. moving septic dinner and auction at its Lecanto who need help from the Key Train- teer Application at casafl. building a house. He now rents tanks. campus. There will be a dinner, ing Center can get it. org. Completed applica- there. “The plan all along had been open bar, silent and live auction, “We can’t turn them away,” said tions can be emailed to The project would remove to sewer Dixie Shores long be- slot machines, and casino tables to Hope Selander, the Key Center’s 205 septic tanks and cost fore Jeff Kinnard was in the raise scholarship money for clients [email protected]. spokeswoman. “We just don’t dis- homeowners a $6,000 assess- neighborhood,” he said. who cannot pay for the services the criminate (based on ability to pay).” — From staff reports ment, plus hookup fees. See SEWERS/Page A6 Key Training Center provides. The See KICKOFF/Page A7 Classifieds . .B5 Crossword . .B8 INDEX Lottery Numbers . B3. Obituaries . .A5 Comics . A13. Editorial . A9 Lottery Payouts . B3. TV Listings . A12 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . .A4 Movies . A13 A2 Tuesday, July 13, 2021 State & LocaL Citrus County (FL) ChroniCLe Proudly Serving Citrus County • Well Child Checks-Ups Associated Press Manatees crowd together near the warm-water outflows from Florida Power & Light’s plant, Feb.