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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Hoops: Lecanto pulls away for home playoff victory /B1 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 55 Mostly sunny and LOW cold. 30 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com FEBRUARY 3, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 118 NEWS BRIEFS CCSO deputies nab fugitive Citrus County COVID-19 Man caught following wild vehicle chase through streets of Beverly Hills update BUSTER arresting him at around and drove the Ford disable his pursu- Danner unleashed his According to the Flor- THOMPSON 10:28 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1. in reverse, striking ers’ cruisers, in- K9 partner, Riggs, to catch ida Department of Health, Staff writer According to the sher- Danner with the cluding that of K9 the fleeing man in a 17 positive cases were iff ’s office, K9 Deputy vehicle’s side-view Deputy David nearby yard. reported in Citrus County Citrus County Sheriff ’s Rudy Danner was enforc- mirror before ram- Elias, according to While deputies tried to since the latest update. Office deputies appre- ing traffic at around 10 p.m. ming into deputy’s the sheriff ’s office. detain him, according to Nine new deaths were re- hended a 20-year fugitive along State Road 200 in patrol car. Using their own the sheriff ’s office, the ported, for a total of 353. following a dangerous vehi- Hernando, where he spot- While traveling spike strips, depu- driver continued to resist To date in the county, cle chase through Beverly ted a black Ford Expedi- south on County Robert ties were able to by striking and kicking 8,713 people have tested Hills involving caltrops. tion speeding. Road 491 toward Maracek deflate the Ford’s Riggs and deputies. When positive (including Authorities booked Danner stopped the ve- Beverly Hills, with depu- tires, causing the vehicle deputies asked for his 62 non-residents). 47-year-old Robert Joe hicle and asked its driver ties of the East Side Patrol to crash into a tree off of identity, the man gave sev- Three new hospitaliza- Maracek, of Kissimmee, for his license and Unit behind him, the South Washington Street, eral false names. into the Citrus County De- tions were reported, for a registration. Ford’s driver tossed tire prompting its driver to tention Facility after Instead, the man shifted spikes from his window to exit and run. See FUGITIVE/Page A9 total of 593 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to later revision. Vaccine registration Local favorite gets new owners 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 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 individ- uals can call and pre-register with if they do not have internet access. Citrus County’s designated number is 866-201-0442. Vaccine supply remains limited and appointments may not be available for several weeks. Going to the big game? Are you one of the 7,000 health care workers MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle Husband and wife team German Perez and Deisy Rivas have recently taken over the reins at La Casa di Norma in Crystal River. The restaurant who was given a ticket to offers freshly prepared Italian fare. attend the Super Bowl? Or are you a “super” fan who plans to attend to Husband and wife plan to expand dining options at La Casa di Norma cheer on your favorite team at Raymond James MICHAEL D. BATES But that’s not the story with thought they were crazy to buy success and add a few extras. Stadium? Maybe you at- Staff writer La Casa di Norma in Crystal now. But they couldn’t resist And they’ve already done so. tended Super Bowl 37, River. The former owners of the opportunity. They’ve tweaked the interior which Tampa won. If so, The economic shutdown re- the Italian restaurant had long “I love this restaurant,” said decor a bit and added some ad- sulting from the COVID-19 pan- sought to retire and sell the Deisy Rivas. ditional Italian entrees to the we’d like to know. Email demic has led to numerous place. Not only did they find a Rivas said she and her hus- menu. On the wall are framed Managing Editor Jeff store and restaurant closings willing buyer ready to take a band were regulars as well at photos of some of the regular Bryan at jeff.bryan@ across the country. chance on the current eco- the restaurant and got to know patrons. They’ve also ex- chronicleonline.com. And it’s taken its toll on Cit- nomic conditions, but the new the former owners, Licio and panded the hours of the place: Elections rus County small-business owners have already started Norma Ortiz, well. 2 to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday owners, many of whom were expansion plans. Rivas and Perez, both from and closed Sunday. supervisor to forced to close in recent Deisy Rivas and German Venezuela, said they want to host outreach months for lack of business. Perez admit their friends build on the restaurant’s See EATERY/Page A2 meetings The Supervisor of Elections office, in part- nership with the Citrus County Libraries, will host Man agrees to 15-year Two agents killed, a series of community outreach meetings during the month of February in conjunction with “Love sentence for child porn three injured in your Library” month. From 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays in February, officers escorted him away. “I’m not trying to go FBI shootout the elections office staff Other cases move forward to prison for the rest of my will be available to assist BUSTER Green’s plea-change, ad- life for something voters with voter registra- THOMPSON judicated him guilty on stupid.” Officials were conducting tion and making changes Staff writer his charges and ordered Summarizing her case to their voter record. his sentence. to Howard, Munchel said February’s schedule is: A Crystal River man de- Howard also desig- Green’s collection of un- raid; suspect also dead I Feb. 4 — Homosassa. cided to serve 15 years in nated Green to be lawful pornogra- I Feb. 11 — Central state prison for having il- a sexual offender phy contained TERRY SPENCER killed himself. Ridge/Beverly Hills. licit images and videos at for the rest of his “the worst thing AND MICHAEL The violence forced I Feb. 18 — Coastal two different times. life. you could imagine BALSAMO residents in the Fort Region/ Crystal River. Ending his pair of crim- Had Green de- being done to a Associated Press Lauderdale suburb of Sunrise to huddle inside I Feb. 25 — Lakes inal cases at his court cided to take his child.” their homes as a SWAT Region/ Inverness. hearing Tuesday, Feb. 2, cases to trial and Munchel said SUNRISE — Two FBI had he been con- agents were killed and team stormed the apart- If you are interested in 41-year-old Anthony Mon- Green’s oldest roe Green pleaded no victed as charged, case and three three wounded in a ment building and po- having the elections office Anthony contest to 14 third-degree he could have charges stem from shooting that erupted on lice helicopters circled staff at your organization felony charges of possess- faced a maximum Green February 2017, Tuesday when they ar- overhead. or business, contact us. ing child pornography, in punishment of up to when Green’s coworker rived to search an apart- FBI Director Christo- For questions or infor- exchange for Assistant 70 years behind bars. found child pornography ment in a child pher A. Wray identified mation, email vote@vote State Attorney Debra “I wish there was some on his cellphone depict- pornography case, a con- the two slain agents as citrus.gov, visit www.vote Munchel’s plea offer. way I could fight this,” ing girls younger than frontation that marked Daniel Alfin and Laura citrus.gov or call Citrus County Circuit Green told Howard via a 10 years old. one of the bloodiest days Schwartzenberger, both 352-564-7120. Court Judge Richard video link from the county in FBI history. The sus- — From staff reports “Ric” Howard accepted jail before corrections See COURT/Page A9 pect is believed to have See FBI/Page A9 Classifieds . .C7 Crossword . .C12 INDEX Education . A10 Obituaries . A5 Comics . .C6 Editorial. A7 Lottery Numbers . .B3 TV Listings. .C5 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B3 A2 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Around the COUNTY County opens expenses in Citrus County. for March 16. To receive a The nonprofit grant program copy of the application form, grant applications is specifically for 501(c)(3) or- email [email protected]. to nonprofits ganizations excluding mem- Deadlines are strictly en- The Board of County Com- ber groups. The program forced. All materials submitted missioners is now accepting currently has $300,000 in with an application will be- applications for its nonprofit available funds. come a matter of public re- grant program. The grant pro- A completed online applica- cord. Decisions regarding the gram’s purpose is to assist tion must be submitted by award of funds are at the sole Citrus County citizens ad- 5 p.m.