Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Flag football: Lecanto claims county battle against CR/B1 FRIDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 75 Mostly sunny and LOW nice. 54 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 5, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 148 NEWS BRIEFS Details released about resignation Citrus County COVID-19 cases District was investigating former Environmental Science Academy principal According to the Flor- BUSTER resigned Jan. 14 amid dis- disciplined students their investigations also which was forwarded to ida Department of Health, THOMPSON trict investigations into inconsistently, sent alleged Leonard had alco- the Florida Department 22 new positive cases Staff writer him as the principal and pornographic memes to hol on school boats, en- of Education. were reported in Citrus lead teacher over the pub- staff, personally used the couraged teachers to “I am truly sorry for the County since the latest Citrus County School lic charter school in school’s boats, wrong- change student grades events that have impacted update. District officials were Crystal River, and its fully charged the school and demonstrated unpro- my family and brought me Two new deaths were going to discipline Zach- 120 freshmen and sopho- credit card for boat fuel fessional behavior toward to this point,” Leonard reported, for a total of ary Leonard for several more students. and took the staff refrig- staff. wrote to the district in re- 406. conduct violations he in- According to its erator along with school More than a dozen peo- sponse to its findings, To date in the county, curred as leader of the 76-page investigative re- water supplies. ple, including Leonard, “and am moving forward 9,836 people have tested Academy of Environmen- port, released Wednes- Members of the school were interviewed during with my life.” positive (including tal Science campus. day, March 4, the school district’s Human Re- the course of the school However, Leonard district found Leonard See DETAILS/Page A9 79 non-residents). sources Department in district’s investigation, One new hospitaliza- tion was reported, for a total of 645 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to later revision. Gov. touts vaccine effort 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 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 not have internet access. Citrus County’s desig- nated helpline number is 833-540-2058. CF foundation invites public to meeting The CF foundation Ex- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle ecutive Committee is A nurse fills a syringe Thursday morning, March 4, at a temporary drive-thru vaccination clinic in Crystal River. Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the meeting at 4:30 p.m. site to tout plans to increase vaccinations across Florida. March 10 at the College of Central Florida in Ocala. The public is wel- DeSantis in Crystal River Thursday come to join via Zoom. State, Walgreens Questions can be sent to the board via email to for opening of ‘pop-up’ vaccination site [email protected]. JEFF BRYAN with Wilton Simpson on to make Coast Guard News editor sure we were increasing senior cov- partner on vaccines erage rates,” DeSantis said, noting Auxiliary hosts As vehicles passed slowly in the multiple counties statewide are be- JEFF BRYAN “This is yet another boating course background, drivers rolling win- tween 60% to 70% vaccination rates News editor way to have the vaccine dows down as nurses had prepared for seniors. “We want to get Citrus in in people’s communi- The US Coast Guard vaccine doses, Gov. Ron DeSantis on that same range, and once that hap- In swinging through ties,” said DeSantis, Auxiliary Homosassa Flo- Thursday touted the efforts of health pens, it’ll be very, very good.” Crystal River on Thurs- noting stores such as tilla is hosting a boating care officials statewide in the fight “We think it’s important here in day, Gov. Ron DeSantis Publix, Winn-Dixie and safety course from against the novel coronavirus Crystal and throughout Citrus County announced the state Walmart had already 6:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. pandemic. to get that senior coverage rate over and Walgreens will begun offering the vac- March 23 to March 26 via Speaking in front of a number of 50%, DeSantis said, noting Citrus’ rate partner together to offer cines to consumers. “A Zoom. After successfully local officials and a small throng of was in the 40% range but far below the the COVID-19 vaccine. lot of these places peo- completing the course, media outlets in front of the Crystal state average of 54%. “We want to be Locally, the Crystal ple trust.” participants will be sent Square shopping plaza, DeSantis able to increase that, this will help us River and Inverness Wal- The number of Wal- the Florida State Safe says the benefits of mobile pop-up make up ground there. ... This will greens locations began greens’ stores will in- Boaters card from FWC vaccination sites will benefit the make a big difference here.” taking appointments crease in the coming state’s 65 and older population seek- It’s been a year since the first case Thursday. Residents can weeks as well as lower- and may qualify for dis- ing protection against COVID-19. of the novel coronavirus was re- register online at tinyurl. ing the age of eligibility, counts on boat insurance. Working with the Florida Division ported in Florida. Since then, more com/25mabdpf for a vac- DeSantis said. Wal- The cost of the course of Emergency Management and than 1.8 million residents have con- cine. The pharmacy will greens announced and textbook is $30 pay- Senate President Wilton Simpson, it tracted the virus, leading to more offer 80 shots weekdays Thursday it would able by cash or check took four days to bring the mobile than 31,000 deaths. and 60 shots on the week- prior to the course date. A pop-up site to fruition, officials said. ends, DeSantis said. See VACCINES/Page A7 discount is offered for “This is something we worked See DeSANTIS/Page A6 family members sharing a textbook. To reserve a seat, visit https://tinyurl. com/a9eyzyjp or email Dee Imoff at hal1414@ tampa bay.rr.com no later Birthday parade for ‘Coach’ Dabney on Sunday than March 14. Space is limited. NANCY KENNEDY posting updates on his March 7, to celebrate his Meet at the starting lo- He also coached foot- — From staff reports Staff writer health and prayer re- 93rd birthday. cation between 2:45 and ball, baseball, basketball INDEX quests on her The community 3 p.m. and track. Those who know Facebook page. is invited to par- “It was supposed to be a “We won state champi- Classifieds . .C5 “Coach” Archie Dabney “He also had ticipate in the surprise, but when he was onships in football, bas- Comics . .C4 know his indomitable pneumonia and a drive-by parade by listening to his church ketball, girls track and Crossword . .C9 spirit. really bad kidney decorating their service, they announced boys track,” Dabney told Editorial. A8 Just before Christmas, infection,” she cars with birthday it,” McDaniel said. “He the Chronicle in 2015. Entertainment . A4 the longtime educator fell said, “but he ral- wishes for the told me, ‘I better shave my “But the most important Horoscope . A4 and cut his head, and lied and survived. county’s beloved face.’” thing to me was that the Scene . .C1 when he was taken to the So, we’re really coach. Dabney, who came from students would become hospital for stitches, he fortunate to still Archie New Horizon is a family of educators, began good citizens in the com- Lottery Numbers . .B3 Dabney Lottery Payouts . .B3 tested positive for have him — or on Forest Drive, his teaching career in Ken- munity, and I was pretty COVID-19. he’s just really stubborn.” across from the entrance tucky in 1952. After that fortunate — I got pretty Obituaries . A5 Melody McDaniel, one Dabney is currently at of Whispering Pines Park. year, he returned to Flor- good kids.” TV Listings. .C3 of “Coach’s kids” — those New Horizon Assisted All decorated cars will ida, teaching in Leesburg Booker T. students whose lives have been Living Residence in In- line up on the side of the and Wildwood before com- came from all over the touched by him — and verness, recuperating — road on Forest Drive, off ing to Inverness to teach at county, from Dunnellon to perhaps his most ardent just in time for a parade Independence Highway, the all-Black Booker T. cheerleader, began in his honor Sunday, heading east. Washington School. See DABNEY/Page A9 A2 Friday, March 5, 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 150 DOWN 189 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 $266/MO.