Harold Walker, Problem Fixer Ing More and We’Re Getting Next Monday
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No. 1: Defending champion FSU tops AP poll /B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next morning HIGH 92 Mostly sunny, LOW 20% chance of a shower or storm. 73 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com AUGUST 18, 2014 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 120 ISSUE 11 QUESTION OF THE WEEK 2nd autopsy ordered possible,” Fallon said. “Even Attorney General Holder cites ‘extraordinary circumstances’ after it is complete, Justice De- partment officials still plan to take the state-performed autopsy teenager whose fatal shooting by of 18-year-old Michael Brown and Associated Press into account in the course of their a white police officer has spurred a request by Brown’s family mem- investigation.” FERGUSON, Mo. — U.S. Attor- a week of rancorous and some- bers prompted the order, Depart- The Justice Department al- ney General Eric Holder on Sun- times violent protests in subur- ment of Justice spokesman Brian Contribute! ready had deepened its civil day ordered a federal medical ban St. Louis. Fallon said in a statement. rights investigation into the Like us at examiner to perform another au- The “extraordinary circum- “This independent examina- facebook.com/ topsy on a black Missouri stances” surrounding the death tion will take place as soon as See AUTOPSY/ Page A9 citruscounty chronicle and respond to our Question of the Week. County Last week the Chronicle talked tourism with 100-year-old Ernie Glover, a former numbers restaurateur. One of his observations was climbing about televisions PAT FAHERTY in restaurants. Staff writer (He’s against them.) What is New data shows 2013 your opinion? was a banner year for Cit- rus County tourism while Phylis May Bradford 2014 could be even better. I find televisions can Figures from the Citrus be distracting and the County Visitors & Conven- music is ALWAYS too loud. tion Bureau (VCB) show STEPHEN E. LASKO/For the Chronicle the county had an esti- Chris Gangler mated 338,900 visitors dur- Aside from sports The checkout lines at the new Rural King store in Crystal River Mall grow an hour after the official grand bars, don’t believe I’ve opening of the store Sunday, with people from all over the county buying everything from grocery goods to ing 2013, up about ever seen a TV in a regular livestock feed and sporting goods to fertilizer. 12 percent from 2012. restaurant here in Citrus. And last year’s visitors spent an estimated Jay Parker $90.8 million, almost I like to have television 20 percent more than the on when I’m eating; in Customers flock to new store a restaurant setting I prefer low previous year. Each volume and closed caption. tourism dollar spent trans- Rural King draws lates to about $1.67 for the Charlene Callam Bortz local economy. For 2013, Need more personal the estimated total eco- conversations than crowds to mall nomic impact of visitor crappy shows news or sports while eating. Way too much spending was $151.3 mil- emphasis is put on sports in Chronicle lion, up this country. from an fter a successful “soft estimated Bonnie Trott opening,” Rural King $146 mil- Not a fan. I’m there to had its grand opening lion in enjoy a meal with my celebration Sunday at family. I have asked many A 2012. restaurants to turn down the the Crystal River Mall, with a By com- music also. ribbon-cutting ceremony and parison, other activities. for fiscal Linda Hesseltine After months of preparation year 2012- I like them OK in a and hiring employees, the store 13, Visit Adam sports bar or casual opened to the public Aug. 4. Thomas restaurant. I don’t like them Florida when I’m out for a nice dinner “It was very successful,” said reports interim tourism with my DH and friends. store manager Steve Randall director for there Citrus County. about the soft opening. “We had were an 73 people in POLL estimated line at 7 a.m. 91.5 million out-of-state ONLINE POLL: and have been and international visitors Your choice? busy since.” to Florida and 20.3 million The store has in-state travelers. How do you approach about 90 em- primary- State wide total spending For more ployees and will by visitors is estimated at election photos, click be open seven $71.8 billion with just over voting when on this story at not overly days a week, 1 million Florida residents www.chronicle 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. interested in online.com. employed in the tourism a particular Rural King’s industry. race? sparse, func- The VCB is supported by tional décor with bare concrete A. I just don’t vote in tourism taxes paid on those races. floor and wide variety of prod- overnight stays in hotel ucts reflects the company’s B. If there are rooms and other tempo- farmland roots and warehouse rary lodging facilities, incumbents, I’ll vote to approach to merchandising. The Leturnos make it a family affair Sunday as they stock up on keep them. livestock feed during the grand opening of the new Rural King store in known as the bed tax. After While the emphasis is on a decline in FY2010-11, tax C. If there are Crystal River Mall. everything needed for the farm revenue has rebounded. incumbents, I’ll vote to or ranch, the inventory includes clothing, boots, toys, tools, furni- smile,” Randall said. “Come oust them. Current fiscal year rev- all types of sporting goods, prod- ture and a category called con- and check us out. We’re going to enue from October D. I’ll vote for ucts for household cleaning and sumables, which covers a be part of the community and through May was $531,000. candidates whose maintenance, pet supplies, gar- selection of food items. we want the community to get to “This year looks to go names I like even if I den supplies, automotive items, “It’s warehouse pricing with a know us.” above $700,000 in bed tax, don’t have a clue who they are. which would be a record year.” said Adam Thomas, To vote, visit www. Monday CONVERSATION interim county tourism di- chronicleonline.com. rector, during a presenta- Click on the word tion to the Economic “Opinion” in the menu Development Council last to see the poll. week. “Visitors are spend- Results will appear Harold Walker, problem fixer ing more and we’re getting next Monday. Find last more people into the week’s online poll county.” results./Page A3 NANCY KENNEDY has been ongoing since Then Walker got in- Driven Life,” at church, Staff writer 2009. volved, three years ago St. Anne’s Episcopal “‘Animated by Nature,’ is The vision of Crystal this November. Recently, Church in Crystal River. our new look,” he said. INDEX CRYSTAL RIVER — River community leaders he met with the Chroni- It made me think about “Anything outdoors is what You can sum up Harold for decades has been to cle to talk about the what more could I be we are promoting.” Blood Drives ............A7 Walker like this: Find a have a community center progress of the center doing. Then one day I Thomas also explained Classifieds ................B6 problem, look for the suc- on the site of the all-black and working toward a passed this place and the bureau’s increased use Comics ....................B5 cess path and solve the George Washington February 2015 opening saw the concrete slab and of social media to promote Crossword ................B4 problem. Carver School, to pre- date. learned it had been sit- Citrus County Editorial....................A8 That’s his gift. He’s a serve its history and be a CHRONICLE: How did ting there for a while. So, “I am happy to say that Entertainment ..........A4 troubleshooter and a center for diversity and you get involved with I called the number on our tourism numbers have Food Programs ........A6 problem solver, just what true community. this? the sign ... and got in continued to grow since Horoscope ................A4 the stalled George Wash- In 2004, the center re- WALKER: A couple of touch with the organizers 2010–2011,” he said in a Lottery Numbers ......B3 ington Carver Commu- ceived a $125,000 federal things. At the (Duke En- and went to a meeting. follow-up interview. “We Lottery Payouts ........B3 nity Center project grant from the U.S. De- ergy) plant, I was on the CHRONICLE: And are on target to do the same Movies ......................B5 needed when Walker re- partment of Housing and diversity team, and we’d here you are. this year, with hopes of Obituaries ................A6 tired from Duke Energy Urban Development. talk about diversity but WALKER: Here I am. record-breaking revenues. TV Listings................B4 three years ago after a The ground was never really did anything At that time, the big ques- It’s been a great year for 34-year career. cleared in 2009 and the substantial. Then my tion was, “What hap- tourism in Citrus County.” He now devotes his cement slab poured — daughter-in-law was pened to the money, the Contact Chronicle re- time heading up the cen- and then construction teaching a class from the porter Pat Faherty at 352- ter’s construction, which halted for many months. book, “The Purpose- See MONDAY/ Page A9 564-2924. A2 MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2014 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE County offers prescription cards Learn to help Special to the Chronicle A free NACo Prescrip- tion Discount Card is available to residents in a joint effort between Cit- community rus County and the Na- tional Association of Counties (NACo), accord- Special to the Chronicle ■ WHAT: SKYWARN is another ing to Citrus County Community community-based pro- Emergency Response government.