Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 COVID-19: First world turns tide; India in crisis /A11 TUESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 91 Mostly sunny and LOW hot. 67 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 4, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 208 NEWS BRIEFS County official ‘happy to be back’ Citrus County COVID-19 cases Development director Coutu took another job after commissioner criticism According to the Flor- ida Department of Health, MIKE WRIGHT “I missed the county a Smith’s comments, saying “When they hadn’t filled county,” Davis said. lot,” she said. “This is a they bordered on work- it and hadn’t filled it, I Coutu’s starting salary 13 positive cases were Staff writer really special place. I’m place harassment. thought, ‘Maybe I should of $82,784 essentially reported in Citrus County A top county planning happy to be back.” Coutu said at the time check it out,’” Coutu said. picks up where she left off since the latest update. official who resigned in Coutu, a 23-year Citrus that her departure was Commissioner Holly — the increase from One new death was re- August 2020 after public County veteran who got unrelated to Smith’s pres- Davis, who defeated $80,468 equals the same ported, for a total of 445. criticism by a then com- her start as a secretary in sure, and instead it was to Smith in his re-election pay raise offered to em- To date in the county, missioner is back in her the building division, take advantage of a career bid, said she was pleased ployees during the same 11,036 people have old job. found herself in the polit- opportunity. to have Coutu back. time period. tested positive (including Joanna Coutu returned ical crosshairs when Com- She said Monday the “The growth manage- Contact Chronicle re- 99 nonresidents). a week ago as director of missioner Jimmie T. Marion County job was ment department is un- porter Mike Wright at 352- No new hospitaliza- Citrus County Land De- Smith became a frequent challenging, but she kept derstaffed and having 563-3228 or mwright@ tions were reported, for a velopment after eight critic of her leadership up with Citrus County de- somebody with her insti- chronicleonline.com. To total of 716 hospitalized. months as Marion County and suggested she should velopment activity and tutional knowledge com- view more of his stories, go Totals reflect prelimi- deputy director of growth go. Commissioners re- noticed her job was still ing back to the team is a to www.tinyurl.com/ services. sponded by condemning vacant. great benefit to the y3bakm6w. nary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. Vaccine registration system open Tempest over tiger shark DOH-Citrus’ preregis- tration system to sched- ule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for all indi- Viral photo causes viduals 18 and older and frontline health care work- headaches for man ers is now available. Individuals can now be added to a waiting list for who wasn’t involved vaccine appointments and be notified when ap- pointments are available in illegal catch in Citrus County by visit- ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by MIKE WRIGHT Staff writer calling 866-201-0442; TTY is 833-476-1036. Two men are facing a court date As part of the statewide after hauling a tiger shark up the preregistration system, Chassahowitzka River on Saturday each county has a desig- and posing for pictures at the head- nated number that indi- spring before cleaning it, according to viduals can call and numerous social media postings and preregister with if they do Florida game officials. not have internet access. And a 22-year-old man from Lutz Citrus County’s desig- who frequents the Chazz and had nated helpline number is nothing to do with the illegal catch 833-540-2058. has now caught the ire of thousands thanks to a photo of him standing in Vaccine supply remains 2 feet of river holding the big fish in limited and appointments his arms, its tail still attached by rope may not be available for to a boat. several weeks. “People are chewing me a new one As a reminder, the right now,” Joseph Wilson said in a DOH-Citrus COVID-19 Chronicle interview Monday. “I’m an Vaccination site has animal lover. I would never do any- moved and is no longer thing to hurt one.” at the Central Ridge Dis- Florida Wildlife Commission offi- trict Park. All first and sec- cials said they issued notices to ap- ond doses of the pear in court to two individuals for Moderna vaccine are now illegal taking of a specific species of provided at the Duke En- shark. Their identities were not released. ergy/DOH-Citrus COVID- “The FWC is aware of the incident 19 Vaccination Site, 8200 that took place over the weekend on W. Venable St., Crystal the Chassahowitzka River involving a River. Visit www.Citrus tiger shark,” FWC spokeswoman CountyHealth.org. Karen Parker said in a statement. Facebook “The FWC takes this very seriously Schools will This screenshot of the “Real Florida hunting and fishing” Facebook page shows Lutz resident and is grateful to everyone who have traditional Joseph Wilson holding a tiger shark in the Chassahowitzka River. Two men were cited for illegally graduations taking a shark; though Wilson was not involved, he said this photo has caused him grief. See SHARK/Page A2 Citrus County School Superintendent Sandra “Sam” Himmel an- nounced “traditional grad- uation ceremonies” for Hospital board OKs deal Issues unresolved the county’s three high schools, the Withla- coochee Technical Col- lege and CREST School. to avoid more legal fees after legislative “After speaking with school administrative teams, students and Judge rejected arguments over investments parents, and local health session closes officials, we believe we FRED HIERS cost its employee pen- decision denying all of the can safely hold gradua- Staff writer sion plan $12.5 million in FEC’s four counts against tion ceremonies …” losses. The Citrus County Aon Hewitt, but it would Controversial proposals The Citrus County Hos- Himmel said Monday, Hospital Board be an uphill legal pital Board managed to owns the hospital battle. May 3, in a callout and sidestep potential hefty and associated Hospital Board never gained traction email release to families. legal costs when its trust- properties on be- chairwoman Deb- “We are so excited to be ees agreed not to appeal half of the public bie Ressler said JIM SAUNDERS about so-called “disabil- back with our families on the loss of a recent law- and now leases it she feared the News Service of Florida ity abortions” threatened the field to celebrate our suit against Aon Hewitt to Hospital Cor- Aon Hewitt’s legal criminal penalties seniors and their Investment Consulting in poration of fees could have TALLAHASSEE — against doctors, but the achievements.” exchange for the multi- America. reached $10 mil- From abortion restric- Senate did not take it up. Debbie Himmel said parents national investment con- The FRC mem- lion. Rather than tions to vacation rentals, Alimony: A long- Ressler should pay attention to glomerate agreeing not to bers voted Friday appeal Moody’s many high-profile bills running debate about try and recoup its legal to accept Aon Hospital board verdict and poten- died Friday when the overhauling Florida’s ali- principals sharing details chairwoman. of their school’s cere- fees. Hewitt’s offer and tially have to pay Florida legislative ses- mony laws will have to mony via callouts and so- The hospital board call it quits. out that much money, she sion ended. Here are 10 wait at least another year. loaned about $2.6 million It’s uncertain how cial media posts. said she would rather the issues that did not make While the House ap- during the past two years much Aon Hewitt has money go toward funding it through the proved alimony changes, Graduation for CREST, for the Foundation Reso- spent in legal fees but es- county health related Legislature: the controversial issue or Citrus Resources for lution Corp. to sue Aon timates are that the com- projects. Abortion: The House stalled in the Senate. The Exceptional Students in Hewitt in U.S. District pany’s legal bill exceeds “The $10 million could overwhelmingly passed a proposal, as in the past, Transition, is set for May Court in Tampa. well over $5 million. be better spent,” Ressler bill that would have pre- sought to eliminate what 20; WTC, May 24; Citrus The FRC is what re- One of FRC’s lawyers, told her fellow trustees. vented doctors from pro- is known as permanent High, May 25; Lecanto mains of the entity that Taylor Ford, told the hos- “I’m not willing to go out viding abortions that alimony and reduce the High, May 26; and Crystal once ran Citrus Memo- pital board members they on a limb.” women seek because of duration of alimony. River High, May 27. rial Hospital and could appeal District tests showing fetuses will — From staff reports claimed that Aon Hewitt Judge James Moody’s See BOARD/Page A2 have disabilities. The bill See ISSUES/Page A2 Classifieds . .B7 Crossword . .B10 INDEX Health . A13, A14 Obituaries . A6 Comics . .B6 Editorial. A10 Lottery Numbers . .B3 TV Listings. .B5 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B3 A2 TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2021 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE seconds and then I put it marine wildlife.” to fund local charities pro- gone to three paneled back in the water.” Wilson will not be viding health care related judges who would have re- SHARK He posted the photo charged, Parker said.