Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Track: Local athletes compete against the best at state /B2 SATURDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 85 Sunny with low LOW humidity. 59 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 8, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 212 NEWS BRIEFS Fire kills Inverness man Citrus County FRED HIERS Rescue department was garden hose, according to Firefighters from En- hospital, but he did not COVID-19 cases Staff writer dispatched to the early a Citrus County Fire Res- gine 8 went into the burn- survive. According to the Florida morning fire at 5:49 a.m. cue news release. ing home through the Battalion Chief 1, En- Department of Health, The Florida Fire Mar- and Engine 8 from the Firefighters were also front door to look for any- gine 23 from Kensington, 25 positive cases were re- shal’s office is investigat- Highlands arrived first told that there might be one trapped inside. Engine 5 from Hernando, ported in Citrus County since ing the death of a on the scene at 5:49. someone in the house. Firefighters found the Safety Captain 103, Chief 70-year-old man who died When those firefighters the latest update. Soon later Engine 2 one person in the bed- 4, and the Rehab Unit in his Inverness home Fri- arrived, they found Citrus from Inverness’ fire de- room and brought him from Citrus Springs also No new deaths were re- day, May 7, during a fire in County Sheriff ’s Office partment arrived and out and handed him over responded to the scene ported, for a total of 445. the 6500 block of East deputies and neighbors was assigned to try and to Nature Coast EMS for for assistance. To date in the county, Amity Street. trying to put out the fire by put out the fire at the care. Paramedics trans- 11,118 people have tested The Citrus County Fire the front window using a home’s entry. ported him to a local See FIRE/Page A7 positive (including 99 nonresidents). No new hospitalizations were reported, for a total of 722 hospitalized. Totals reflect preliminary reports received by the state, Vietnam War nurse recalls service and are subject to revision. Chronicle seeks D-Day vets Sunday, June 6, marks the 77th anniversary of D-Day, the allied armed forces inva- sion of Europe. The Chronicle is seeking stories of veterans who were a part of the inva- sion the day of or the immedi- ate days afterward. If you have information or know of a veteran, please contact Man- aging Editor Jeff Bryan at 352-564-2909 or email jeff. [email protected] or contact Assistant Manag- ing Editor Brian LaPeter at 352-563-3293 or email blapeter@chronicleonline. com. FWC charges pair with taking shark State game officials on Fri- day released the names of two men who caused an up- roar last weekend by drag- ging a tiger shark tied to the back of their boat up the Chassahowitzka River to the main spring. Richard Todd Figueroa, 51, of Hudson and Terry Lee Spencer, 34, were each is- sued notices to appear in court on second-degree mis- demeanor charges of pos- session of a prohibitive species, a tiger shark, ac- cording to the Florida Wildlife and Fish Commission, or FWC. If convicted, each MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle faces up to 60 days in jail and Retired Air Force Col. Ella Jones still has her uniform from when she served as a nurse anesthetist in Vietnam during the war. The 90-year- a $500 fine. old veteran lives in Inverness. Numerous people posted on social media that two men Retired Air Force colonel says experience was harrowing, but fulfilling dragged a live tiger shark tied to the back of their boat along NANCY KEnnEDY Inverness. “Going down the shattering and the doors were She worked in the hospital the Chassahowitzka River on Staff writer landing strip, the first thing I closed to keep out the Viet where combat casualties Saturday, May 1. One man saw was all the razor wire Cong “sappers,” special elite were brought in from the who was in the spring when lla Jones was 39 years along the sides of the runway.” forces who were adept at get- frontlines for emergency old, a major in the U.S. The next thing she noticed ting through the razor wire. surgery. the men arrived, and who had Air Force, when she as she was taken to her living “They’d have what looks “You never knew how many no role in the shark’s capture, E first landed in Vietnam for a quarters were the windows like a doctor’s kit filled with casualties you were going to had his picture taken holding tour of duty as a nurse anes- reinforced with masking tape explosives,” Jones said. “If have,” she said. “I learned to the shark that went viral. thetist in September 1969. and that every door was they found a door or a win- play poker, gin and chess FHP seeks help “The first thing I saw as we closed. dow open, they’d (throw it in) while waiting for patients to were landing was forest — you The next day at her briefing and it would explode on con- come in. in fatal crash couldn’t see the beaches,” she she learned that the tape was tact, so everything had to be Florida Highway Patrol in- said from her home in to keep the windows from secure and tight.” See NURSE/Page A7 vestigators are asking for help in investigating an April 25 fatal traffic accident. Investigators are looking for a tow truck driver who likely witnessed the traffic fa- GOP club changes Private schools tality and ask that the driver contact Corp. Stavro to assist in the case. Stavro can be to host traditional contacted at 813-558-1800. name to avoid conflict According to the April 25 FHP news release, a 35-year- old Morriston man was driv- Will be ‘North Suncoast Conservative Club’ grad ceremonies ing east with his pickup on County Road 488, west of MIKE WRIGHT County Road 490. The club is appealing BUSTER Lecanto, told the Chron- North Springvale Terrace. Staff writer Belkin said the club’s to the Republican Party THOMPSON icle there won’t be The driver collided with a dues-paying members of Florida. Belkin said Staff writer major COVID-19 restric- Crystal River pedestrian lying The North Suncoast voted Thursday to ap- club members would de- tions for the 21 gradu- perpendicular in the roadway. Republican Club is no prove the name change so cide whether to revert to Citrus County’s pri- ates at their May 21 A second vehicle, a sedan, more. that they wouldn’t have to the original club name if vate high schools are commencement. was driving behind the first Instead, Citrus County’s answer to high-ranking it wins the appeal. gearing up for their James said seating at vehicle and also collided with longest running GOP club officials with the Citrus Belkin said he wouldn’t graduations. the neighboring the pedestrian but did not re- changed its name after County Republican Exec- resign as club president Seven Rivers Chris- church will be every top county Republican utive Committee. Those and the members didn’t tian School, Inverness main at the scene of the other pew. leaders refused to rechar- officials — party chair- want him to. Christian Academy, “We want graduation crash. ter the club due to a dis- man Mike Moberley, state He said the club will West Coast Christian to be a look forward to- According to the report, the pute with its president, committeeman George still embrace conserva- School and Solid Rock ward normality,” he pedestrian suffered fatal inju- Mike Belkin. Gasparini and state com- tive ideals, without the Christian Academy said, adding masks will ries where he was struck on The newly formed mitteewoman Avis Craig Republican name. have been planning to be optional for the the road. North Suncoast Conser- — refused to sign the Moberley said clubs host traditional school’s 2021-22 aca- Neither the driver of the vative Club will have its club’s four-year charter don’t need to have the Re- ceremonies. demic year, and stu- pickup nor his young passen- first meeting at 9 a.m. Sat- renewal over an undis- publican name to wield Dana James, head- dents won’t be ger suffered any injuries. urday, May 22, at the closed dispute with master of Seven Rivers — From staff reports Homosassa Lions Club on Belkin. See CLUB/Page A7 Christian School in See SCHOOLS/Page A7 Classifieds . .B7 Crossword . .B10 INDEX Religion . A13, A14 Obituaries . .A6 Comics . B6. Editorial . A10 Lottery Numbers . B3. TV Listings . .B5 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . .A4 Lottery Payouts . B3. A2 Saturday, May 8, 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 $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO 159 DOWN 199 DOWN 228 DOWN 298 DOWN PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS WITH $3999 DOWN $276/MO. FOR 36 MOS. WITH $3999 DOWN $315/MO. FOR 36 MOS. WITH $3999 DOWN $349/MO.