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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NBA: Heat edge Celtics in OT in Eastern Finals opener/A6 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 89 Coastal flood LOW advisory. Show- ers and storms. 73 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 344 NEWS BRIEFS Citrus County State foreclosures up COVID-19 update or bank repossessions — said. “Several states — Recent Citrus Sixteen new positive cases in August, up 11% from including Florida and Some fear looming fall wave County residential were reported in Citrus County July but down 81% from New York — that have foreclosure case since the latest FDOH update. JOHN HAUGHEY by mortgage data firm August 2019, ATTOM re- had foreclosure morato- Two new hospitalizations were re- The Center Square ATTOM Data Solutions in numbers: ported, noting that ria in place have re- ported; two new deaths were its August 2020 U.S. Fore- I July 2020 — 4 equates to one in every cently loosened some of reported. Gov. Ron DeSantis ex- closure Market Report 13,791 housing units their restrictions, which I August 2020 — 20 may explain the unex- To date in the county, 2,493 tended Florida’s eviction continue into fall and nationwide. and foreclosure morato- While foreclosure ac- pected bump in the people have tested positive (in- 2021. Source: Citrus County rium until Oct. 1 last According to ATTOM, Clerk of Court tivity remains at histori- monthly numbers.” cluding eight non-residents), month, delaying what which owns RealtyTrac, cally low levels, “there Florida, with one in 261 have been hospitalized and some fear will be a wave Florida had the nation’s metro area in the was a significant in- every 7,338 housing 75 have died. of foreclosures across the second-highest foreclo- country. crease in foreclosure units receiving a filing Portion of Croft state once the ban is sure filing rate in Au- There were 9,889 U.S. starts in August com- in August, had the na- lifted. gust, with Jacksonville’s properties with foreclo- pared to July,” Realty- tion’s second-highest Avenue to be closed Those fears are justi- foreclosure filing rate sure filings — default no- Trac Executive Vice See FORECLOSURES/ Citrus County Road Mainte- fied if trends documented the highest for any tices, scheduled auctions President Rick Sharga Page A11 nance will temporarily close North Croft Avenue between East Ram- sey Street and East Bryant Street at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020, for road repairs needed due to a water main break that has been repaired. A surfer, a sinner and a saint There will be a detour moving traffic from North Croft Avenue to East Ramsey Street, then north on North Fitzpatrick Avenue to East Bryant Street, returning to North Croft Avenue. Repairs are anticipated to be complete within two days. Motorists are asked to use caution while in the area. For questions or additional in- formation, please contact Road Maintenance at 352-527-7610. Gun holster found outside school An empty gun holster was dis- covered the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, outside of Lecanto Middle School. A student found it during drop-off on a sidewalk in front of the school, Citrus County School District spokeswoman Lind- say Blair said. “It seems like it fell out of some- one’s car,” Blair said. No firearm was found, and there was no evidence to suggest a weapon was on campus. “We treat every situation involv- ing any potential threat as a signif- icant event,” Blair said. School police officials and Citrus County Sheriff’s Office school re- source deputies were unable to ID the holster’s owner, who can call the school to recover their belonging. “They’re not going to get into any sort of trouble; we just want to PHIL SANDLIN/Associated Press file make sure we know who it be- Jack Murphy, also known as “Murph the Surf” leans on his prized 1984 Cadillac Feb. 1, 2006, near his home in Crystal River. Murphy, longs to,” Blair said. who became famous as a surfer in the early 1960s but fell into a fast crowd and soon became an international celebrity by breaking into the American Museum of Natural History and stealing the world’s biggest sapphire, the Star of India, among other gems, died Food giveaway this weekend at 83. He spent 19 years in prison on murder and armed robbery convictions before being released and working as Wednesday at mall international director for Champions for Life, a prison ministry. Beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday Sept. 16, the public can receive Crystal River’s own Jack ‘Murph the Surf’ Murphy led colorful life food at the Crystal River Mall park- ing lot (by the former Belks store); NANCY KENNEDY alcoholics and drug addicts, drive-through only. Staff writer all around the world. “We’re doing it at the mall this “What impressed me most ack Murphy had many about him, he would just week so the people on the west lives. murderer that sent him to infamous Jack Murphy died show up here and talk to the side of the county have a chance J Born Jack Roland prison for two consecutive Sept. 12, 2020, at age 83, he men one-on-one, always to get food,” said the Rev. Doug Murphy in Los Angeles, Cali- life sentences plus 25 years, was just Jack to his family preaching the gospel,” said Alexander, pastor of the New fornia, the son of an electri- making him eligible for pa- and friends in Crystal River, Mike Awe, former executive Church Without Walls. cal lineman, he was a tennis role in 2244. a man of deep Christian faith director of The Sanctuary Monetary donations are needed player, a violinist, an artist, a The judge told him, “You after turning his life over to Mission in Homosassa. “He to continue feeding Citrus County professional high-tower will never again walk the Christ while in prison and was a speaker extraordi- residents. Please consider donat- diver. streets with law-abiding soci- then being released in 1986. naire, very articulate and ing through Citrus United Way He became known as ety. It’s only because of the Murphy spent the last de- could speak spontaneously (www.citrusunitedway.org), Com- “Murph the Surf,” one of the jury’s recommendation that cades of his life a free man, about anything to any group. munity Food Bank of Citrus best surfers in the U.S. we don’t put you in the elec- an evangelist, spreading the But he gravitated to the low- Murphy was best known for tric chair,” Murphy told the gospel of forgiveness, grace est people. He was humble. County (www.communityfood his notorious crimes as a Chronicle in 2012. and pardon to prison and jail bankofcitruscounty.org) or the jewel thief and convicted But when the famous and inmates, homeless people, See SURF/Page A2 New Church Without Walls (www. newchurch withoutwalls.com). Fall Home & Outdoor Show scheduled The Chronicle’s Fall Home and Crystal River OKs quiet Local man who Outdoor Show will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in the new Inverness Depot at Liberty Park. zones in city waters played in NFL More than 40 vendors with a wide variety of home services and supplies such as flooring, cabi- Council also approves budget, mural grant nets, roofing, solar, landscape, facing charges pest control, garage doors, gut- BUSTER establish noise-sensitive decibels at least 25 feet ters, paint, tractors, windows and THOMPSON zones for residential ca- away from its source. FRED HIERS nals and coves to hush According to a Yale more, will be present. Booth Staff writer Staff writer noisy boaters. study, 55 decibels is the spaces are filled. Crystal River is a step “I’m happy we have it equivalent of a running A Crystal River man and for- Masks are suggested for ven- closer to having a quieter and I hope we can en- household refrigerator. mer National Football League dors and attendees. Hand sani- King’s Bay. force it,” Councilman Pat City Attorney Robert W. wide receiver and former sub- tizer will be available. For During their meeting Fitzpatrick said. Batsel Jr. said signage stitute teacher and area coach information, call Trista Stokes at the evening of Monday, A noise violation of city will be placed in is again facing drug charges 352-564-2946. Sept. 14, 2020, City Coun- code means a sound ex- Ricky — From staff reports cil members voted 5-0 to ceeding 55 A-weighted See CITY/Page A11 Feacher See FEACHER/Page A11 Classifieds . .B8 Crossword . .B14 INDEX Sports . A6, A7, A8 Obituaries . A2 Comics . .B7 Editorial. A10 Lottery Numbers . A8 TV Listings. .B6 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . A8 A2 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE visit from former Dallas Cowboys player Obituaries. Roger Staubach and then-retired Cleve- SURF land Browns player Bill Glass. Dean Continued from Page A1 As the NFL players, part of a Chris- Durel, 37 tian prison ministry organization, “I call him a ‘low-profile general in shared the gospel message, Murphy’s HERNANDO the Army of God,” Awe said. “God used life was turned around. William ‘Paul’ Michael Dean P. Durel, age 37, of him on a mighty scale.” About 12 years later, in 1986, Murphy Taylor, 91 Welch, 71 Hernando, Florida, passed I I I was released from prison and placed on away September 11, 2020 at Jack Murphy’s life didn’t start the way parole with lifetime monitoring, which William “Paul” Taylor, Michael Welch his home.