Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Spring training continues in Florida, Arizona /B1 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 80 Sunny. LOW PAGE A4 52 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 11, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 154 NEWS BRIEFS Relief bill heads to Biden Citrus County COVID-19 cases Congress passes $1.9T measure on party lines; president will sign on Friday According to the Flor- ida Department of Health, ALAN FRAM pandemic and economic legislation unanimously, Americans are provisions hit the country a year ago. 14 positive cases were Associated Press crises that have upended characterizing it as providing up to $1,400 di- Since then, many Ameri- reported in Citrus County a nation. bloated, crammed with rect payments this year to cans have been relegated since the latest update. WASHINGTON — A The House gave final liberal policies and heed- most adults and extending to hermit-like lifestyles in One new death was re- Congress driven along congressional approval to less of signs the crises are $300 weekly emergency their homes to avoid a dis- ported, for a total of 411. party lines approved the the sweeping package by easing. unemployment benefits ease that’s killed over To date in the county, landmark $1.9 trillion a near party line “Help is here,” Biden into early September. But 525,000 people — about COVID-19 relief bill 220-211 vote precisely tweeted moments after the legislation goes far be- the population of Wichita, 9,925 people have tested Wednesday, as President seven weeks after Biden the roll call, which ended yond that. Kansas — and plunged positive (including Joe Biden and Democrats entered the White House with applause from Dem- The measure addresses the economy to its deep- 82 non-residents). claimed a major triumph and four days after the ocratic lawmakers. Biden Democrats’ campaign est depths since the Great Five new hospitaliza- on legislation to marshal Senate passed the bill. said he’d sign the mea- promises and Biden’s top Depression. tions were reported, for a the government’s spend- Republicans in both sure Friday. initial priority of easing a total of 651 hospitalized. ing might against twin chambers opposed the Most noticeable to many one-two punch that first See BILL/Page A7 Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to later revision. Vaccine registration From mean streets to the kitchen 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. Citrus Coun- ty’s designated helpline number is 833-540-2058. MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle We want to hear Chef Robert Hesse gives a personal story of his trials and tribulations Tuesday, March 9, to young women at Camp E-Nini-Hassee in Floral City. from you about Renowned Chef Robert Hesse, once a fan favorite on the popular food challenge TV show “Hell’s Kitchen,” visited the Floral City camp to share COVID-19 his personal story, which includes Chef Hesse’s time at one of the Eckerd Youth Alternative camps in Florida during his younger days. In the year since COVID-19 devastated the Chef Robert Hesse shares his inspiring story with girls of youth camp globe, more than 400 peo- NANCY KENNEDY A camp counselor had dysfunctional, abusive ple in Citrus County lost Staff writer handed him a potato home, no father figure, their lives to the disease. and a peeler and asked, no direction ... coming to The Chronicle would efore Robert “Do you know what to do the camp was a last- like to honor those people Hesse became a with that?” resort for me. as part of an upcoming Bchef, restaurateur He had watched his “I’m here to tell you, “Coronavirus one year and fan favorite on the grandmother and the things you learn later” set of stories. wildly popular food mother cook, but now it here are tools you will We are asking family challenge TV show was his turn, and by the need in life, because “Hell’s Kitchen,” he was end of his time at Eck- life’s going to throw you and/or friends of those a troubled kid in St. erd Academy, Hesse a bunch of curveballs ... Citrus County residents Petersburg. knew what he wanted unfortunately, when I who have died from Addicted to drugs, in to do for the rest of his graduated and left COVID-19 and would like and out of boys youth life. camp, the streets were to honor their memory to homes and frequently in Now the owner of very easy to find again email Nancy Kennedy at court and behind bars, Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz and I found my way nkennedy@chronicle at 15 he was sent to Eck- in St. Pete Beach, Hesse right back to jail,” he online.com by Friday, erd Academy in Brooks- and his Fo’Cheezy food said. March 12. Those who do ville to straighten his truck team visited the His life changed when not use email, please call life out. girls at E-Nini-Hassee in he went to New York 352-422-1462 and leave As part of the program, Floral City on Tuesday, and was hired by a message, including a once a week the boys March 9, sharing his restaurateur Craig were responsible for all phone number. story with them and Munroe to work as a the cooking for the day, then feeding them lunch dishwasher. Commissioner which teaches them math from his gourmet grilled Munroe is now a part- and writing skills, respon- cheese food truck. ner in Fo’Cheezy sets meeting sibility and planning. “I was a heavy-set kid Twisted Meltz and still a Camp E-Ninie-Hassee is an outdoor camp for young March 11 “Cooking changed my — at one time I weighed friend. women experiencing difficult times. This camper life,” Hesse now tells 655 pounds,” he said. “I tastes a Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz grilled cheese Citrus County Board of people. came from a See CHEF/Page A5 sandwich Tuesday morning, March 9. County Commissioners (BOCC) second vice chair Ruthie Schlabach will host a Town Hall Meeting for the general public to attend from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thurs- day, March 11, at the Cen- School district Sumter attorney charged tral Ridge Community Center, 77 Civic Circle, Beverly Hills. For information, call mulls future with threatening judges Public Information Officer Veronica Kampschroer at 352-527-5484. Venue change puts case in Citrus County — From staff reports enrollment BUSTER Vaughn, waived his case in Sumter County. INDEX THOMPSON appearance. After Sumter BUSTER attendance or zoning Staff writer Lynum faces County Sheriff ’s Classifieds . .B5 THOMPSON boundaries for elemen- four second- Office (SCSO) Comics . .B4 Staff writer tary, middle and high A Sumter County attor- degree and two deputies ar- Crossword . .B8 schools for the 2021-22 ac- ney accused of threaten- third-degree fel- rested Lynum on Editorial. A9 Citrus County School ademic year. ing a handful of judges ony charges in a warrant Jan. 5 Entertainment . A4 District officials are fix- In Chuck Dixon’s pre- before his disbarment connection to his at a Wildwood Horoscope . A4 ing their eyes on student sentation Tuesday to had his criminal case alleged social convenience enrollment numbers. Food . A11, A12 board members on his lat- heard in the Citrus media posts from Edward store, the Florida Members of the school est enrollment plan, the County Courthouse for October 2019 to Lottery Numbers . .B2 Lynum Supreme Court board voted 5-0 Tuesday, Lottery Payouts . .B2 school district’s director the first time. July 2020 threat- disbarred the March 9 to approve the of planning and growth However, Edward ening four circuit court Wildwood 45-year-old Obituaries . A6 district’s open enrollment management recom- Juan Lynum wasn’t at his judges. Jan. 21. TV Listings. .B3 plan for 2021-22. mended the board re- Wednesday, March 10, Prosecutors alleged Lynum’s case was Their vote also sched- adopt the current hearing over Zoom with Lynum made the threats transferred from Sumter uled a public hearing attendance borders. Circuit Judge Richard in an effort to change the County to Citrus County during their April 13 “Ric” Howard because June 2020 ruling of his meeting to adopt See SCHOOLS/Page A8 his lawyer, Charles four-year-old divorce See COURT/Page A2 A2 THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE affidavit, Lynum wrote: “Nine months to see if “Good luck ducking and part A matches part B,” COURT dodging bullets from in- Howard responded before Continued from Page A1 side your own white cas- setting Crabb’s next court tles ... good luck surviving hearing for May 5. “They after a judge granted a mo- the deluge.” need to hire more tion for a change of venue. Florida justices had al- people.” Lynum was released ready suspended Lynum’s According to his arrest from custody Jan. 19 after ability to practice law in report, Crabb was dining he posted bail on a March 2020 for 180 days with an off-duty Citrus $40,000 bond.