Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Inside: 2021 Spring and Outdoor Living Expo preview WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 81 Mostly sunny. LOW PAGE A4 57 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 10, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 153 NEWS BRIEFS Hospital board OKs deal Citrus County COVID-19 cases According to the Flor- Settlement with HCA will release $13.32M from escrow ahead of schedule ida Department of Health, 22 positive cases were FRED HIERS eleventh-hour petitions Board owns Citrus Memo- by HCA to keep the money rial Hospital and its satel- reported in Citrus County Staff writer in escrow. It also allows lite properties on behalf since the latest update. The Citrus County Hos- the hospital board to bet- of the public. No new deaths were pital Board agreed to a ter invest the money, fun- The lease had HCA pay- reported, for a total of settlement this week with neling proceeds and some ing the hospital board 410. the Hospital Corporation of the principal to the Cit- $127 million. Most of that To date in the county, of America that would, rus County Community money was spent paying 9,911 people have tested ahead of schedule, free Charitable Foundation to off previous hospital debt. positive (including up $13.32 million held in distribute to local The hospital was in such 82 non-residents). escrow as part of the lease charities. financial disarray that One new hospitaliza- deal of Citrus Memorial Currently, there is $20.4 HCA insisted that the tion was reported, for a Hospital and its campus million in escrow, part of lease require the hospital total of 646 hospitalized. to the health care the lease payment from board to set aside millions Totals reflect prelimi- conglomerate. HCA to operate the hospi- in escrow in case of more nary reports received by The release of the tal beginning seven years unforeseen bills. MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle escrow money that was ago. The lease is for The hospital board/ The Citrus County Hospital Board approved a name change the state, and are subject scheduled to be unlocked 50 years with an option for HCA deal includes a for Citrus Memorial Hospital, but the FRC was required to to later revision. Oct. 31 does away a 50-year extension. The OK the change to meet lease requirements. The FRC Vaccine with any potential Citrus County Hospital See DEAL/Page A2 approved the name change to HCA Florida Citrus Hospital. registration system open DOH-Citrus’ preregis- tration system to sched- ule COVID-19 vaccine Golfer vs. gator: ‘I took the drop’ 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 vaccine appointments and be notified when ap- pointments are available in Citrus County by visit- ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by calling 866-201-0442; TTY is 833-476-1036. As part of the statewide preregistration system, each county has a desig- nated number that indi- viduals can call and preregister with if they do JOE DUBE/Special to the Chronicle not have internet access. Joe Dube’s tee shot Monday, March 8, on hole No. 17 at the Plantation on Crystal River landed in a precarious spot — next to a large alligator. Citrus County’s desig- nated helpline number is 833-540-2058. Round on local links brings encounter with a different kind of hazard We want to hear HANNAH round, he said he asked gator is a regular at the that he got within at for the Greenbelt Ga- SACHEWICZ himself, “Do I play it 17th hole and is well ac- least 3 feet of the rep- zette with more than from you about Staff writer where it lies?” customed to passing tile to snap the photo- 100 articles published COVID-19 Dube did not take golfers. Dube joked he graph on his phone. about various animals. oe Dube was en- any unconventional golf “could reach out and Dube’s calmness He has even written In the year since joying a regular tips from “Happy Gilm- get the ball and the during the situation his share of articles COVID-19 devastated the Jday of golf Monday, ore,” where Adam San- gator wouldn’t do any- can likely be credited about gators. globe, more than March 8, at the Planta- dler’s iconic character thing,” but don’t try that to his years of experi- As many Floridians 400 people in Citrus tion on Crystal River, is portrayed wrestling at home. ence with animals. He know, it’s not uncom- County lost their lives to when he drove into a his ball from the jaws of Dube also shared was the president of mon for golfers to en- the disease. hazard. an angry gator. Dube he’s a left-handed the board of directors counter gators on the The Chronicle would After teeing off on the said he “chose not to golfer. The gator’s tail of the Homosassa course. However, find- like to honor those people 17th hole, Dube found wrestle the gator.” was facing the hole. Springs Wildlife State ing your ball on top of as part of an upcoming his ball right at the After careful consid- “If I was a right Park for four years and one is a different story. “Coronavirus one year belly of a very large eration, “I took the handed golfer, I proba- has been involved with “This is Florida, you later” set of stories. gator. drop,” Dube said. bly could have taken the board for many may never know where We are asking family As Dube decided how Likely a wise choice; the shot,” he said. years. your ball will end up,” to proceed with his however, Dube said the and/or friends of those Dube did estimate He is also a writer Dube said. Citrus County residents who have died from COVID-19 and would like to honor their memory to email Nancy Kennedy at nkennedy@chronicle County mulls funding for Cardinal sewer online.com by Friday, March 12. Those who do not use email, please call Officials decide not to use CARES Act money; will explore other sources 352-422-1462 and leave a message, including a MICHAEL D. “I’m not saying this is a phone number. BATES bad project or a good Staff writer project,” Carnahan said. Drive-thru food “But I think this group County commissioners was put together to look at giveaway Tuesday agreed with ways to promote eco- continues Chairman Scott Carnah- nomic development.” However, the board did Mark your calendar: an’s request to hold off on spending any available ask County Administrator Beginning at 9 a.m. every CARES Act money to help Randy Oliver to explore a Wednesday in March pay for new sewer and funding source for the de- (March 10, 17 and 21), wastewater infrastruc- sign of the sewer project, the public can receive ture along West Cardinal expected to cost about boxes of assorted food Street, near the Suncoast $300,000. But they don’t items at the New Church Parkway intersection. want it coming from Without Walls at 300 S. “Let’s pump the brakes CARES money. Oliver will Kensington Ave., Le- here,” Carnahan said. report back to the board canto, next to the Holiday Carnahan also said the at an upcoming meeting. Inn Express. MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle sewer project needs to be Commissioner Holly Monetary donations This aerial view of the West Cardinal Street intersection with the Suncoast Parkway looks vetted through the eco- Davis agreed the project are needed to continue from north to south. County commissioners backed a plan to prepare Cardinal Street for nomic development work- feeding Citrus County growth from the parkway. ing group he is part of. See COUNTY/Page A2 residents. Please con- sider donating through the New Church Without Walls (www.newchurch Manslaughter, abuse, child porn cases get updates withoutwalls.com), Citrus United Way (www.citrus BUSTER cases for out-of-custody date for Jose Dorta III, the Howard for the continu- Dorta is charged with unitedway.org), Commu- THOMPSON defendants. Inverness 34-year-old and ance so he can argue his child neglect and nity Food Bank of Citrus Staff writer Here’s summary of Citrus County Fire Res- motion to suppress the aggravated child County (www.community what happened in How- cue firefighter accused of prosecution’s evidence. manslaughter. foodbankofcitruscounty. Citrus County Circuit ard’s court Tuesday, fatally beating his infant Giasi also told the judge Citrus County Sheriff ’s org) or We Care (www. Judge Richard “Ric” March 9, over Zoom: son. he plans to depose medi- Office deputies arrested wecarefoodpantry.org). Howard heard the status Howard scheduled Dorta’s attorney, cal staff involved in the — From staff reports of a number of felony May 4 as another court Michael Giasi, asked case. See COURT/Page A2 Classifieds . .C8 Crossword . .C12 INDEX Education . A11, A12 Obituaries . A6 Comics . .C7 Editorial. A9 Lottery Numbers . .B3 TV Listings. .C6 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B3 A2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE likely to be settled in the good deal because it freed great measure of closure. Services cases. hospital board’s favor, hos- up most of the escrow But Grant warned that The FRC also approved Around the DEAL pital board attorney Bill money and was still on the there is no saying when the settlement. COUNTY Continued from Page A1 Grant told his hospital low end of what HCA could the AHCA cases would be Also in hospital board board bosses during this claim was do it.