Simpson to Run for Ag Commissioner Teens Arrested MICHAEL D
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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Golf: Cantlay holds onto slim lead at Tour Championship /B1 SATURDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 88 Partly cloudy with LOW an isolated shower. 71 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 336 NEWS BRIEFS Simpson to run for ag commissioner Teens arrested MICHAEL D. BATES encompasses much of Pasco Joe Meek, mayor of Crystal oric rise in politics. Staff writer and all of Citrus and Her- River. “I’m extremely excited Simpson told the Chronicle in connection nando counties. He has cham- for him and fully supportive.” on Friday he is a firm believer to burglaries Senate President Wilton pioned various environmental Elected last January as that agriculture and the envi- Simpson, a wealthy Republi- projects for Citrus County, in- president of the Florida Sen- A pair of teenagers ronment can coexist, a view can from Trilby whose busi- cluding the cleanup of King’s ate, Simpson is a quiet, unas- not shared by many. was arrested on felony ness holdings include a giant Bay through Save Crystal suming egg farmer from the Today, with technology, charges in connection to egg farm, filed paperwork Fri- River. rural community of Trilby in there are best management a string of vehicle break- Wilton day to run for state agricul- “He is a blessing to our east Pasco County. His laid- practices in place for pesti- ins in Citrus Springs. Simpson ture commissioner next year. community and he has done back attitude has won him ac- cide use and nutrient load re- Citrus County Sheriff’s State Senate Simpson represents Flor- so much for Citrus County and colades from colleagues and duction in waterways, he said. Office (CCSO) detectives President. ida District 10, which the city of Crystal River,” said has contributed to his mete- See SIMPSON/Page A2 on Thursday, Sept. 2, took a 17-year-old boy and girl into custody as juveniles. According to CCSO spokeswoman Alexandria Perkins, the teens face several counts of burglar- izing a conveyance, two ‘Doing it for D-Town’ counts of becoming armed while burglarizing, two counts of stealing a Regas Woods’ journey to firearm and one count of auto theft. Perkins said the minors the Tokyo Paralympics became suspects in SEAN ARNOLD 14 vehicle burglaries and Riverland News one vehicle theft reported recently in the Citrus DUNNELLON — When Regas Woods Springs-Dunnellon area. crosses the finish line in the Men’s 200 Every vehicle was un- meter at the Tokyo Paralympics Games on locked or unsecured, Per- Saturday, he’ll have his hometown of Dun- kins said. nellon on his back. CCSO sent out a public “Coach Woods has got you guys on his alert Thursday, reminding back over here in Tokyo, and we’re going to motorists to lock their ve- cross the finish line together,” he said be- fore one of his early-morning training ses- hicles after removing their sions in Tokyo. “I’m doing it for D-Town.” valuables from within. Woods was specifically talking to the —Buster Thompson/Staff writer youngsters he coaches in Pop Warner foot- Labor Day ball and the high school athletes he’ll be coaching when he gets back from Tokyo. event at When Woods speaks to youth, the words Copeland Park land with extra authenticity. The two-time Paralympian lost both his The public is invited to legs at age 2 due to a congenital anomaly. celebrate and honor all He went on to win more medals than he workers and families at can count and a slew of national champion- 10 a.m. Sept. 4 at Cope- ships and international honors in track and land Park, 76 NE 8th St. field. Woods has done all of it with limited in Crystal River. resources, relying on the good will of There will be free food coaches and trainers and his own bottom- and free raffles, including less well of perseverance. the opportunity for one “I’ve got kids, and I want to show them lucky winner to win a you can do anything you put your mind to, Chromebook. Enjoy the no matter what,” he said. games, music, crafts and Woods is back for his second consecutive kite exhibit. Paralympics at age 40, and he’s never felt better. There will also be a “Being at this age, I’m supposed to be out school supply giveaway of track and field,” Woods said from the Yo- and a vaccination clinic on kota Air Base in Japan. “But I’m getting site. This event is spon- faster, I’m getting stronger.” sored by the Democratic Woods’ history in the sport goes back to el- Women’s Club of Citrus ementary school in Orlando, where he was County and fellow clubs introduced to the Junior Orange Bowl Sports and caucuses. Voter regis- Ability Games by his first coach, Jim Beach. tration and voting informa- Woods won hundreds of medals at the annual tion will be available. event, sparking a lifelong passion. For more information, After attending an Orlando school which call 352-509-6616 or email integrated children with disabilities with info@citruswomendems. able-bodied students, he returned to Dun- MARK REIS/Special to the Chronicle org. nellon, where his mother and grandparents Regas Woods leaps off the ground during competition Friday, June 18, 2021, at the U.S. all graduated. Paralympic Team Trials for Track and Field in Minneapolis. He is currently in Tokyo competing Register to vote See WOODS/Page A6 in the Tokyo Paralympics Games. at Coastal Region Library The Supervisor of Elections Office invites the public to an outreach After hard rains, Duke mulls design changes event from 10 a.m. to MICHAEL D. BATES Danenhower said Duke re- noon Sept. 7 at the Staff writer ported the issue to the Florida Coastal Region Library, State Watch Office and Florida De- 8619 W. Crystal St. in The Duke Energy Crystal River partment of Environmental Crystal River. Energy Complex on Wednesday, Protection. This is a convenient Sept. 1, received about 6 inches of Meanwhile, evidence of way to register to vote, rain in a 12-hour period. Wednesday’s torrential rains con- make changes to your As a result, two water collection tinues to be seen throughout the voter record or request a systems at the Citrus Combined county. Neighborhoods in Homo- vote-by-mail ballot. Infor- Cycle Station couldn’t keep up sassa, Crystal River and inland mation to apply for elec- with the rain and it overflowed for areas are still experiencing pond- tion worker positions will about two hours, said Duke ing on roads and standing water. also be available. spokeswoman Heather Danen- This year, Citrus County is on a hower. The overflow was con- pace to receive more than To have the elections tained within the site boundary. 60 inches of rain, according to Dr. office staff at your organi- The station returned to normal Mark Fulkerson, chief profes- zation or business, con- operation after the rain stopped, sional engineer with the South- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle tact Supervisor Maureen and workers are now considering west Florida Water Management Traffic is detoured around flooded-road conditions along West Homosassa “Mo” Baird. making changes to the systems’ de- District (SWFWMD). Trail. Retention ponds are overfilled and much of the ground is saturated For more information, sign so they can hold more water. See RAINS/Page A6 leaving large areas of Homosassa, east of U.S. 19, soggy. visit votecitrus.gov, email [email protected] or call 352-564-7120. — From staff reports Key Training Center halts programs amid new cases INDEX FRED HIERS its staff and clients against the August, 31 training center “The previous three weeks Classifieds . .B6 Staff writer pandemic that has swept staff and 27 of its residential was not fun,” Walker told the Comics . .B5 across Citrus County and the clients tested positive for the Chronicle. “But I want to com- Crossword . .B9 The Key Training Center is nation alike. coronavirus. mend our staff throughout all Editorial. A8 temporarily closing its day Walker said she closed the As of Friday, Sept. 3, Walker of our organization at all lev- Entertainment . A4 programs after some of its training center’s day program said that was down to 13 staff els. They brought their best Lottery Numbers . .B3 staff and residential clients the week of Aug. 30 as a pre- and 24 client residents being attitude, abilities, creativity, tested positive last month for cautionary measure but will positive. Lottery Payouts . .B3 and teamwork as we contin- the coronavirus. now extend that closure until The Key Training Center ued to be impacted by this TV Listings. .B4 Melissa Walker In a letter to client families, Sept. 10. The day program in- provides housing or work to pandemic.” Key Training Center execu- cludes assembly for Closet- 300 clients with mental dis- The August infection rate Key Training Center tive director Melissa Walker Maid and life skills training. abilities. The training center was a significant hit to the executive listed precautions that the Walker told the Chronicle provides housing to 148 cli- program. director. nonprofit is taking to protect that during the month of ents. It has 285 staff. See KEY/Page A7 A2 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Motorist airlifted to hospital after crash MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle A pair of Florida Highway Patrol troopers inspect a crash scene Friday, Sept.