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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Pair of Rays expected to be among top rookies /B1 TUESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 74 Mostly sunny, LOW breezy. 45 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 9, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 152 NEWS BRIEFS ‘Starting to turn a corner’ Citrus County COVID-19 cases According to the Flor- ida Department of Health, seven positive cases were reported in Citrus County since the latest update. No new deaths were reported, for a total of 414. To date in the county, 9,889 people have tested positive (including 80 non-residents). No new hospitaliza- tions were reported, for a total of 645 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to later revision. Vaccine registration system open DOH-Citrus’ preregis- tration system to sched- ule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individu- als 65 and older and frontline health care work- ers is now available. Individuals can now be added to a waiting list for CHRIS GRANGER/The Advocate vaccine appointments Medical Assistant Keona Shepard holds up the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as she prepares to administer it at the New Orleans and be notified when ap- Ernest N. Morial Convention Center during the mass coronavirus vaccination in New Orleans, in this Thursday, March 4 file photo. pointments are available in Citrus County by visit- ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by CDC raises hopes for return to normalcy with latest COVID guidelines calling 866-201-0442; MIKE STOBBE wondering if it gives TTY is 833-476-1036. AP medical writer them greater freedom to As part of the statewide visit family members, preregistration system, NEW YORK — Fully travel, or do other things Local cases edge toward each county has a desig- vaccinated Americans like they did before the nated number that indi- can gather with other COVID-19 pandemic viduals can call and vaccinated people in- swept the world last preregister with if they do doors without wearing a year. mask or social distanc- “With more and more 10K; 21% vaccinated not have internet access. Citrus County’s desig- ing, according to long- people vaccinated each nated helpline number is awaited guidance from day, we are starting to BUSTER THOMPSON of total results — under 10%. 833-540-2058. federal health officials. turn a corner,” said CDC Staff writer According to the FDOH, four The recommenda- Director Dr. Rochelle more county residents were hospi- We want to hear tions also say that vacci- Walensky. Citrus County’s total case count of talized for COVID-19 from March nated people can come During a press brief- COVID-19 edged closer to 10,000 as 1-8, totaling 645, and 10 more died, from you about together in the same ing Monday, she called more than 30,000 locals have been increasing the death count to 414. COVID-19 way — in a single house- the guidance a “first vaccinated against the disease. COVID-19 data from the FDOH is In the year since hold — with people con- step” toward restoring According to the Florida Depart- subject to change as epidemiologi- sidered at low-risk for normalcy in how peo- ment of Health (FDOH) on Monday, cal investigations reveal new infor- COVID-19 devastated the severe disease, such as ple come together. She March 8, the county totaled 9,889 mation on cases. globe, more than 400 peo- in the case of vaccinated said more activities cases of the novel coronavirus, an A Florida Agency for Health Care ple in Citrus County lost grandparents visiting would be ok’d for vacci- increase of 126 infections since Administration (AHCA) report from their lives to the disease. healthy children and nated individuals once March 1, at an average 18 cases a Monday stated Citrus County had 21 The Chronicle would grandchildren. caseloads and deaths day. people in hospitals with a primary like to honor those people The Centers for Dis- decline, more Ameri- From March 1-7, the county’s av- diagnosis of COVID-19, down seven as part of an upcoming ease Control and Pre- cans are vaccinated, erage positivity rate for its Florida from March 1. “Coronavirus one year vention announced the and as more science residents was 4.56% — a decrease There was also 36% of hospital later” set of stories. guidance Monday. emerges on the ability from the 5.66% average rate for Feb. beds available in the county, accord- We are asking family The guidance is de- of those who have been 22-28, according to FDOH reports. ing to the AHCA, and 28% of local and/or friends of those signed to address a vaccinated to get and It’s the goal of health officials to adult intensive care units was open. Citrus County residents growing demand, as spread the virus. have a desired positivity rate — the who have died from more adults have been number of positive test results out See VIRUS/Page A5 COVID-19 and would like getting vaccinated and See CDC/Page A2 to honor their memory to email Nancy Kennedy at nkennedy@chronicle online.com by Friday, March 12. Those who do not use email, please call Developer buys CR waterfront property 352-422-1462 and leave a message, including a MICHAEL D. Hupp, a retail developer Hupp, who also owns go over options and po- the economy and Hupp’s phone number. BATES in Clearwater, is excited Twin Rivers Marina in tential uses. purchase shows there is Staff writer about the prospects — es- Crystal River Hupp’s property is now a greater level of in- Drive-thru food pecially since he has a va- “I was very fortunate to squarely within the pa- terest and investment in giveaway After decades sitting cation home in Crystal be able to buy it,” he rameters of the King’s the area, Crystal River empty, a choice piece of River and loves to spend added. “It’s got water Bay Riverwalk project. Mayor Joe Meek said. continues 1.35-acre waterfront prop- time here enjoying the frontage. It’s located on That $8.6-million project “It’s a gorgeous piece of Mark your calendar: erty on King’s Bay in Crys- area and riding his bike. U.S. 19 and you have the will form one continuous property with a direct tal River has been sold Beginning at 9 a.m. every Hupp, who closed on dynamics of King’s Bay. It path from the Best West- open view of the bay and and is now primed for the property about four has a lot of potential and I ern Crystal River Resort the Riverwalk will run Wednesday in March development. weeks ago, paid want to do a great project to Kings Bay Park. right in front of it,” Meek (March 10, 17 and 24), The lot is known as the $1.275 million. (for) the community and Visitors and locals will said. the public can receive Hampton property and at “I want to figure out the city.” be able to visit downtown Meek said Hupp has no boxes of assorted food least two prior attempts to what I want to do — what Hupp said he has no Crystal River, shop, dine, specific building plans. items at the New Church develop it fell through. is the best use for a great specific plans yet. He will eat or stroll the Riverwalk. Without Walls at 300 S. But new owner Andrew piece of property,” said meet with city officials to It’s an obvious boost to See PROPERTY/Page A2 Kensington Ave., Le- canto, next to the Holiday Inn Express. Monetary donations are needed to continue Kent Snow: He knew produce and loved people feeding Citrus County residents. Please con- NANCY KENNEDY Kent Steven Snow, decided to come and visit sider donating through Staff writer owner of Snow’s Produce and we loved it,” Georgia the New Church Without and Country Market in said. “Then we came Kent Snow started out Holder with his wife, Walls (www.newchurch back, loaded up the truck installing wallpaper and Georgia, died Feb. 19. He and moved — we did it on withoutwalls.com), Citrus window treatments and was 64. a whim.” United Way (www.citrus ended up selling peaches Originally from North and wallpaper business They came to Citrus To Kent, it was the best unitedway.org), Commu- and pumpkins, sweet po- Carolina, Kent met Geor- and he was in the decorat- County in the late 1980s “whim” they ever had. nity Food Bank of Citrus tatoes and even sweeter gia in the mid-1980s when ing business and said, ‘I’ll because a woman at a deli “He loved everything County (www.community corn, and in between he Georgia hired him to help help you paint.’ We started inside a Mobil gas station about Citrus County,” foodbankofcitruscounty. loved and cared for paint the back of a house working together shortly store in North Carolina Georgia said. “He said, org) or We Care (www. people. that was too tall for her to after that,” Georgia said. kept telling them about ‘This is home.’” wecarefoodpantry.org). Above all, Kent was all reach. They were married in Homosassa, Florida. — From staff reports about people. “I was in the painting 1991. “So, one day we See SNOW/Page A9 Classifieds . .B5 Crossword . .B8 INDEX Health . A13, A14 Obituaries . A6, A7 Comics . .B4 Editorial. A11 Lottery Numbers . .B2 TV Listings. .B3 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B2 A2 TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 NATION/LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE momentum for everyone coming out with such lim- to get vaccinated when ited guidance, they are CDC they can and gives states missing the window to in- DAVIS FAMILY HEARING Continued from Page A1 the patience to follow the fluence state and national public health roadmap policy,” Wen said, in an The CDC is continuing to needed to reopen their email.