Veterans Village Delayed
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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NHL: Lightning look to close out series vs Panthers /B1 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 88 Mostly sunny. LOW PAGE A4 63 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 27, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 231 NEWS BRIEFS Veterans Village delayed Citrus County COVID cases According to the Flor- Site problems, rising cost of building materials among reasons for holdup ida Department of Health, FRED HIERS donated $2.5 million to 100 apartment complex Veterans Village property. of the paperwork has 10 positive cases were Staff writer the project. Dixon is the adjacent to the U.S. Veter- Dixon explained the pond been submitted to and ap- reported in Citrus County Veterans Village board ans Affairs Lecanto Clinic had to be increased in proved by the USDA of- since the latest update. The proposed Veterans president. on West Marc Knighton size to accommodate the fice,” Dixon wrote. “(But) No new deaths were Village of Citrus County In a letter to the hospi- Court off County Road runoff. they require a contract reported, for a total of meant to provide afford- tal board, Dixon ex- 491. The rising price of con- with cost numbers from a 461. To date in the able, assisted living apart- plained that there were Dixon told the hospital struction materials is also building contractor. We’re county, 11,338 people ments to veterans is at several factors that are board in his May 24 letter creating a problem, he having some difficulty get- have tested positive (in- least nine months contributing to the delay that there were site plan said. ting a (price) commitment cluding 99 nonresidents). delayed. as well as a potential delays when the Veterans “We have a tentative because the prices and One new hospitaliza- That was the report by $1.3 million additional Village board learned that loan commitment from labor are increasing so tion was reported, for a Dr. William Dixon to the cost to the project. The there was drainage runoff Renaissance Bank pend- rapidly.” total of 734 hospitalized. Citrus County Hospital original cost of the project from the Black Diamond ing U.S. Department of Totals reflect prelimi- Board, which last year was $10.2 million for the Ranch into a pond on the Agriculture approval. All See VILLAGE/Page A9 nary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. Make an appointment for bill assistance LHS grads go out with a roar Citrus County Housing Services opened an auto- mated appointment sys- tem for their Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The new phone number is 424-389-4290. Citrus County LIHEAP helps low-income resi- dents with their home heating and cooling costs. The LIHEAP auto- mated system helps resi- dents schedule a home energy assistance ap- pointment and obtain in- formation regarding the program and required documents. Appoint- ments are scheduled up to two weeks in advance. LIHEAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Ser- vices through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and has been established to help qualifying low-income homeowners and renters by paying for a portion of MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle their utility costs. Eighteen-year-old Alicia Nagda slaps hands with her friend Kaleigh Thomas Wednesday evening, May 26, during the beginning of the Lecanto LIHEAP is not designed High School commencement ceremony. to pay a household’s total energy costs, but to pro- vide supplemental assis- After year of unprecedented change, Panthers leave 2021 on high note tance. Typically, applications for LIHEAP BUSTER THOMPSON JROTC greeted the two col- 9/11, lived with technology tassels toward adulthood. umns of processing seniors are accepted by appoint- Staff writer their whole lives and now Carly Smith gave a speech with a route of unsheathed they’re going to graduate in the reflecting on her class experi- ment only due to the de- lmost 400 Panthers swords held overhead. midst of this pandemic.” encing COVID-19, economic mand for assistance. roared in a new mile- Before the students took “It’s obvious you’ve set your- crises, acts of civil injustice For questions, call 352- Astone of their lives. their seats at the forefront, self apart as extraordinary and a presidential election 527-7520 between 8 a.m. Under a clear sky the eve- waving to their parents and class,” Principal Jason Koon within the span of their high to 5 p.m. Monday through ning of Wednesday, May 26, teachers as they did, the crowd added. “It’s been my honor and school tenure. Friday. dressed in glistening green went quiet to hear the school’s privilege to serve you as your “Through all of the struggles, robes blowing in the breeze, senior members of its chorus principal. ... You will always be difficulties and unrest, we have Hurricane 383 graduates of Lecanto High sing the national anthem. a Lecanto High School persevered,” she said. “Most prep with a School’s Class of 2021 took cen- Ron Allan, Lecanto High’s Panther.” important of all, we continued digital twist ter stage at their campus ath- activities director, introduced Name by name, Lecanto to push ourselves to complete letics field before stands of the school’s 38th commence- High graduates walked toward our coursework, even when the Hurricane season is cheering friends and family. ment exercise. their diplomas handed out by going got tough, and got our- just around the corner, As the school’s band played a “It’s great to see everybody Koon and Citrus County selves here today. We have sur- which comes with seem- rendition of Edward Elgar’s in this stadium,” he said. “Like School Superintendent San- vived the unthinkable.” ingly endless prepara- “Pomp and Circumstance,” ca- this ceremony, the Class of 2021 dra “Sam” Himmel, before tions. The Citrus County dets of the high school’s Army is unique; they were born post they turned their golden See LHS/Page A2 Library System has de- signed a class specifically geared toward making sure digital preparations have begun as well. This class includes Chronicle sold to Board backs ways to use phones, apps, websites and other tech- nology to make sure you won’t be caught off guard. property sale to n 10:15 a.m. Wednes- Paxton Media Group day, June 2, at the Homo- sassa Public Library, 4100 Chronicle add these newspapers “Paxton has been inter- S. Grandmarch Ave. into the PMG portfolio,” ested in acquiring news- fund new shelter n 10:15 a.m. Thurs- Paxton Media Group said Jamie Paxton, PMG papers as part of our day, July 1, at the Central announced Tuesday the president and CEO. “PMG strategy given the condi- MIKE WRIGHT needed to borrow for a Ridge Library, 425 W. purchase of Landmark believes strongly in the tions and the nature of the Staff writer shelter, or help pay Roosevelt Blvd. in Bev- Community Newspapers value of local newspapers newspaper industry,” down the debt. erly Hills LLC, a chain of daily and and the vital role they Weafer said Tuesday. “Ac- Citrus County Commission- n 2 p.m. Thursday, weekly newspapers based play in the communities quisitions strengthen us commissioners ers had already July 8, at the Coastal Re- in Shelbyville, Kentucky. that they serve. We appre- and help us to preserve, are hoping the directed the staff gion Library, 8619 W. The deal, which was fi- ciate Landmark choosing so it is part of an overall timing of a hot to begin plans Crystal St. nalized this week, in- us to be the new stewards strategy to continue to ac- real estate mar- for an $8 million cludes the purchase of all Classes are free, but of these important com- quire newspapers. ket may help pay to $9 million 46 newspapers in the munity assets.” Landmark Community for a new animal shelter on coun- registration is required. To Landmark chain. It continues an ongoing Newspapers traces its shelter. ty-owned land in register, visit citruslibrar- The Citrus County effort at PMG to acquire roots to 1966 when a Commission- Lecanto. ies.org or call your near- Scott Chronicle has been part community newspapers in group of eight local news- ers on Tuesday Carnahan When Carna- est branch. To stay of Landmark Community the company’s existing geo- paper publishers decided voted 4-1 to back han suggested at up-to-date on classes and Newspapers for the past graphic footprint, said Mike to pool their resources Chairman Scott Carnah- the time that proceeds programs, follow @Citrus 40 years and will now be- Weafer, publisher of the and purchase a printing an’s idea that the county from sale of the former Libraries on Facebook come part of Paxton Messenger-Inquirer and plant. pledge proceeds from Betz Farm property near and Instagram. Media Group. group publisher for the property sales to either Crystal River could — From staff reports “We are very excited to Kentucky-Indiana region. See SOLD/Page A9 reduce the amount See SHELTER/Page A9 Classifieds . .B6 Crossword . .B12 INDEX Food . A10. Obituaries . .A5 Comics . B5. Editorial . A7 Lottery Numbers . B3. TV Listings . .B4 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . .A4 Lottery Payouts . B3. A2 Thursday, May 27, 2021 LocaL Citrus County (FL) ChroniCLe MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle Lecanto High School graduates make their way toward their seats Wednesday, May 26, as graduation exercises begin. Many graduates LHS sported masks. Continued from Page A1 Makayla Hogan, 18, waves to Speaking to her class- family as mates about their futures, graduation Anjli Deven said the same excercises discipline that got them begin.