Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Rays and Red Sox battle for top spot in AL East /B1 FRIDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 86 Partly sunny, LOW storms likely. 70 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JUNE 25, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 261 SO YOU KNOW I The Florida Department of Condo Health has Clear road ahead ceased the daily COVID-19 reports that have been used to track tower changes in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the state. collapses NEWS BRIEFS in Miami SWFWMD to burn 1,500 acres over summer Southwest Florida Water Management Dis- trict officials are planning to burn 1,500 acres of agency land within Citrus County over the summer. In small and manage- able portions between July and September, the district will set 1,000 acres alight in the Flying Eagle Preserve and set 500 acres ablaze in the Potts Preserve. “Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings Associated Press can reduce the risk of A woman cries while waiting for news of wildfires burning out of survivors from a condominium that control,” the district said partially collapsed, Thursday, June 24 in in a news release, “as Surfside, Fla. Dozens of survivors were many Floridians wit- pulled out, and rescuers continue to nessed during the state’s look for more. wildfire emergency in 2017.” At a size of Crews comb rubble; 8,500 acres, Potts Pre- serve stretches from Her- many feared dead nando to the /Chronicle Withlacoochee River and MATTHEW BECK W I L F R E D O L E E , from State Road 200 to Construction on the Suncoast Parkway continues through Citrus County Thursday, June 24, near the West Cardinal Lane interchange. TERRY SPENCER AND East Turner Camp Road. DAVID FISCHER Flying Eagle Preserve Associated Press covers 10,950 acres Parkway plans solidify after years of uncertainty southeast of Inverness. SURFSIDE — A beachfront condo MIKE WRIGHT Josh Wooten, president building partially collapsed Thursday Church to host Staff writer and chief executive offi- outside Miami, killing at least one vaccination cer of the Citrus County All about the person and trapping others in the event today It was a chilly day in Chamber of Commerce. tower that resembled a giant frac- March 2009 when the “We haven’t had that clar- tured dollhouse, with one side Floral City United state announced a stop- ity for 25 years.” sheared away. Dozens of survivors Methodist Church will page of plans to extend DeSantis had planned Suncoast were pulled out, and rescuers kept up host their fourth vaccina- the Suncoast Parkway on a public bill signing a desperate search for more. tion event on Friday, into Citrus County. Thursday morning at the A wing of the 12-story building in the June 25, at Hilton Hall on The news was some- parkway construction site Parkway community of Surfside came down the church campus, what expected: Florida’s near State Road 44 in Le- with a roar around 1:30 a.m. By late 8478 E. Marvin St. economy was spinning canto, but was diverted evening, nearly 100 people were still M I C H A E L unaccounted for, authorities said, rais- The event is sponsored into recession and the instead to Miami to visit state could no longer af- the location of a deadly D. BATES ing fears that the death toll could climb by the Citrus County ford to spend millions on condominium building Staff writer sharply. Officials did not know how Health Department. This planning a toll road. collapse that occurred many were in the tower when it fell. It seems like yesterday when will be the second dose of Still, it was a rough time early Thursday morning. “The building is literally pan- the state gave the go-ahead for the two-dose series of for Citrus County’s com- Senate President Wil- caked,” Surfside Mayor Charles Bur- Suncoast 2, which would extend vaccinations for church munity and political lead- ton Simpson, R-Trilby, kett said. “That is heartbreaking the Suncoast Parkway toll road members and other resi- ers who had long counted said DeSantis signed the because it doesn’t mean, to me, that 12.7 miles from U.S. 98 to State dents of the Citrus on the parkway to spur bill Thursday evening. we are going to be as successful as we Road 44. County community. economic growth well Simpson said he under- wanted to be in finding people alive.” Today, we’re just months into the future. stood the significance of Hours after the collapse, searchers For information, call the away from the opening. Turns out it was just a completing the parkway were trying to reach a trapped child Rev. Jerry Belloit at Here are some highlights: speed bump. through Citrus. whose parents were believed to be 814-221-5537. I Work began on the Gov. Ron DeSantis on “I heard very loud and dead. In another case, rescuers saved $135-million project in Febru- Hunt for suspect Thursday signed into law clear even before I repre- a mother and child, but the woman’s ary 2018. Senate Bill 100, which sented Citrus County ... leg had to be amputated to remove ongoing after I The original contracted lays the groundwork to they needed to have that her from the rubble, Frank Rollason, completion date was summer officer shot complete the Suncoast finished,” Simpson said. director of Miami-Dade emergency 2022. However, the project is Parkway to U.S. 19 north The state has had vari- management, told the Miami Herald. DAYTONA BEACH — ahead of schedule. of Crystal River, send it ous approaches to extend- Video showed fire crews removing Authorities searched I Phase 1 of the project, from farther north alongside ing the Suncoast since the a boy from the wreckage, but it was Thursday for a suspect U.S. 98 and Cardinal Street in U.S. 19 to Interstate 10, section between the Vet- not clear whether he was the same after a Florida police officer Homosassa, is scheduled to and allows the state to erans Expressway and person mentioned by Rollason. was shot and seriously open this fall. begin planning a route to U.S. 98 in northern Her- Teams were trying to enter the build- I Phase 2, from Cardinal wounded, officials said. extend the Florida Turn- nando County opened in ing from a parking garage beneath Street to State Road 44, should Daytona Beach Police pike from Wildwood to a 2001. the structure. open by winter 2021. Chief Jakari Young told yet unknown point along Design, plans and buy- Gov. Ron DeSantis, who toured the I The Suncoast Parkway reporters at a news con- U.S. 19 or the Suncoast. ing right of way for what scene, said television did not capture Trail, accommodating bikers ference that the 26-year- The demoralization of was known as Suncoast 2 the scale of what happened. and hikers, will run parallel old officer was in critical 12 years ago was replaced — the 47 miles between Rescue crews are “doing every- with the toad and open at the condition after he was Thursday with certainty U.S. 98 and U.S. 19 at Red thing they can to save lives. That is same time. shot in the head Wednes- and hope. Level — continued ongoing, and they’re not going to rest,” he said. day night. “This pretty much sets See HISTORY/Page A5 “The surgery was fairly everything in stone,” said See ROAD/Page A5 successful,” Young said. See BUILDING/Page A6 “He still has a long way to go.” The officer’s name was not immediately released. Authorities named the Chamber: Simpson ‘most valuable legislator’ wanted suspect as Othal Wallace, 29. Young said MICHAEL D. BATES “Leadership has conse- The Chamber cited sev- online sales tax reform to the officer approached Staff writer quences and with President eral key reasons for the level the playing field for Wallace as he sat in a gray Simpson’s unwavering lead- honor: local retailers. Honda HR-V and was shot The Florida Chamber of ership, the Florida Chamber I His leadership in the I Strengthening Florida’s while “escorting him out of Commerce has awarded of Commerce had 22 legisla- passage of COVID-19 liability Unemployment Comp Trust the car.” It wasn’t immedi- Senate President Wilton tive priorities make it to protections for Florida busi- Fund to prevent an immedi- ately clear what drew the Simpson with the (Gov. Ron DeSantis’) desk ness and health care ate $713 million tax increase officer’s attention. Sen. Wilton 2021 Most Valuable this session,” the chamber providers. on employers. — From staff and wire reports Simpson Legislator award. said in a press release. I Passage of Florida’s See SIMPSON/Page A5 Classifieds . .C6 Crossword . .C9 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . A6 Comics . .C5 Editorial. A8 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings. .C4 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Movies . .C5 A2 FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA COROLLA CAMRY LE RAV4 LE HIGHLANDER 0% APR LE 0% APR 0% APR 0% APR LE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE MODEL#1852 MODEL#2532 MODEL#4430 MODEL#6946 LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR $ ZERO $ ZERO $ ZERO ZERO - OR - - OR - $ 170 - OR - DOWN 209 DOWN 228 DOWN - OR - DOWN PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS 298 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $286/MO.