Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 World Series: Rays, Dodgers take the field for Game 1/B1 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 83 Breezy with LOW scattered storms. 70 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com OCTOBER 21, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 13 NEWS BRIEFS Wife seeks to join spouse Citrus update for COVID-19 Fourteen new positive Husband already on mosquito board; she’s running for seat alongside him cases were reported in MIKE WRIGHT Citrus County since the Staff writer latest FDOH update. Four new hospitalizations were Joe Adams was telling reported; no new deaths his wife Stephanie about a she said. same time states spouses may serve nonpartisan board, which were reported. training seminar he at- “It’s really would be together, but cannot dis- pays $4,800 a year and To date in the county, tended at the University of science unusual in cuss any public business oversees a property 3,059 people have tested Florida in 2018 shortly related.” Citrus outside of a board meet- tax-supported $6.8 mil- positive (including 12 after being elected to the So that’s County. A ing, just like other elected lion budget. Adams is the non-residents), 317 have Citrus County Mosquito exactly Chronicle officials. current chairman. Control Board. what Stephanie Adams said been hospitalized and reporter His wife decided on a Stephanie Adams, with a she did. could find that won’t be a problem. 2020 campaign after hear- 131 have died. Stephanie Joe science degree and back- Stephanie no in- “If we’re having a dis- ing more about the posi- ground in technical sci- Adams is Adams Adams stance of cussion at a meeting, we Drive-thru food tion from Joe. The other ences, showed more than a on the Nov. 3 ballot as she it ever occurring. wouldn’t need to discuss it candidates this year are giveaway passing interest. seeks to join her husband It isn’t illegal. Both Joe at home,” she said. “Every- Wednesday “He went to training and Joe on the three-person and Stephanie Adams thing should be discussed Theressa Foster West and was sending me pictures board. pointed a reporter to a at the meeting.” Tim Langer. Beginning at 9 a.m. and I thought, I should Spouses serving on the 1989 Florida Attorney Voters in 2018 elected She is seeking the seat Wednesday, Oct. 21, the have run for that office,” same elected board at the General’s opinion that Joe Adams to the See BOARD/Page A7 public can receive boxes of assorted food items at the New Church Without Walls at 300 S. Kensing- ton Ave., Lecanto, next to the Holiday Inn Express. Monetary donations Fire destroys Homosassa home are needed to continue feeding Citrus County residents. Please con- sider donating through Citrus United Way (www. citrusunitedway.org) or the New Church Without Walls (www.newchurch withoutwalls.com). Banquet fundraises for The Path The Path’s 18th annual Harvest of Hope Banquet celebration and fund- raiser has gone virtual. The event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, online. The program will focus on The Path’s ministry to the addicted, displaced and lost, and the commu- nity’s impact on helping transform those lives. Path graduates and pro- gram leaders will share their testimonies, as well as stories of hope and accomplishments this year. The goal is to raise $50,000 for those without a home. ABOVE: A firefighter with Citrus County Fire Rescue douses the remains of a two-story To register online, visit home Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, off of South Bluejay Terrace in Homosassa. CCFR www.PathOfCitrus.org Battalion Chief L.J. White said units were dispatched to the blaze at 11:05 a.m. with and click on the Harvest the engine from Sugarmill Woods arriving first at 11:09 a.m. White said the of Hope banner. Sponsor- ships are welcome. homeowners were away at the time of fire, and firefighters controlled the scene by For questions and in- 11:55 a.m. Nobody was injured, White added, but two dogs were unable to saved. formation, call 352-527- White said the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating. 6500, ext. 5. RIGHT: This two-story home in Homosassa was destroyed Tuesday as a result Drug Take of a fire that began shortly after 11 a.m. Back Day set MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle for Oct. 24 The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, in con- junction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Ad- Crystal River, FDOT ministration (DEA), will Plea deal on table host a National Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, talks over SR 44 go well at the following Walmart for former deputy locations: n Inverness, 2461 E. Gulf-to-Lake Highway. City had expressed concerns about n Lecanto, 1936 N. in child sex case Lecanto Highway. BUSTER THOMPSON when he anticipates a decision n plans for redesign, resurfacing of road Homosassa, 6885 S. Staff writer to be made. Suncoast Blvd. Munchel told Howard she BUSTER THOMPSON spokeswoman Kris Carson said in In addition, the Citrus A plea deal might resolve didn’t object to the continu- Staff writer an email. County Health Depart- Charles Wigglesworth’s child-sex ance, adding Vaughn has been City leaders requested the sit- ment in Lecanto will ac- case short of a trial for the former moving the case along as Recent talks were positive be- down with FDOT after becoming cept sharps and syringes, Citrus County Sheriff ’s if there wasn’t tween Crystal River and upset over the depart- but the items be in the Office deputy, who was COVID-19. state roadway officials ment’s latest blueprints appropriate container. fired over the capital-fel- With that in mind, over an upcoming redesign from earlier in October to The Health Department ony allegations. Howard scheduled of State Road 44 and its resurface 0.6 miles of does not accept medica- At his client’s court Wigglesworth’s next gateway into the city. S.R. 44 within the city, be- tions or liquids. hearing Tuesday, court showing — a pre- “It went excellent,” City tween U.S. 19 and North- Otherwise, unused and Oct. 20, 2020, Inverness- trial hearing — for Manager Ken Frink said east 10th Avenue by the based defense attor- Dec. 7, but did not set a about the Friday, Oct. 16, RaceTrac. expired medication can Charles ney Charles Vaughn trial date. 2020, discussion with the FDOT is expected to let Ken Frink always be dropped off at said he and Assistant Wigglesworth Wigglesworth is Florida Department of the project out to bid in the Sheriff’s Office Drop State Attorney Debra Munchel charged with two counts of sexual Transportation (FDOT). Crystal River December 2021, with final city manager. Off Locations in Inver- are negotiating terms for the battery of a child younger than “We spent a lot of time plans to be submitted in ness and Lecanto. 31-year-old defendant from 12 years old, and three counts of going over the topics of October 2021. For information about Homosassa to consider. lewd and lascivious molestation concern, and expressed to them For more information, visit Drug Take Back Day, call Vaughn asked Circuit Court of a child younger than 12. where we’d like to get to in the tinyurl.com/y4ks2nfc. 352-726-4488. Judge Richard “Ric” Howard future.” — From staff reports to pencil in another hearing, See DEAL/Page A7 “The meeting went well,” FDOT See SR 44/Page A2 Classifieds . .C7 Crossword . .C12 INDEX Education . A14. Obituaries . .A6 Comics . C6. Editorial . A11 Lottery Numbers . B3. TV Listings . .C5 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . .A4 Lottery Payouts . B3. A2 Wednesday, OctOber 21, 2020 LocaL Citrus County (FL) ChroniCLe SR 44 Around the Continued from Page A1 COUNTY Frink said FDOT was ‘Life Interrupted’ going to reevaluate its $2.15 million upgrade for stories sought S.R. 44 to make it appear Every one of us has had and function more like an our life interrupted by the urban road, better con- coronavirus pandemic, necting the Knights Addi- some more than others. tion community it divides We would like to tell the to the north and south. stories of people whose “We didn’t want to bisect that neighborhood any fur- lives have been interrupted ther,” Frink said. in significant ways and how FDOT told Frink, he they handled their situa- said, it has “a couple of tions, how it changed them. competing factors” to con- If you have a story to tell sider in its designs for the and would be willing to street, including the prox- share email Jeff Bryan at imity of side streets and jeff.bryan@chronicleonline. the mandated length of com or Nancy Kennedy at turn lanes. nkennedy@chronicleonline. Frink said FDOT will com. probably leave S.R. 44 more like it is, with center Highlight your turn — or suicide — lanes business, support in place and strategically placed crosswalks. Blessings “We are going to draw Citrus County Blessings is up some new concepts to working to spotlight the busi- revise the medians and nesses of Citrus County possibly look at some pe- through their Where’s destrian signals,” Carson said. Canny? Kick the Can “They’re going to de- fundraiser. sign a road that’s more Pick a date for Canny to like the one out there come and spend the day now,” Frink said, adding with you at your business there will be less through Nov.