Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Rays: Hill continues mastery of AL East rival Yankees /B1 TUESDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 92 Partly sunny; LOW couple of late thunderstorms. 67 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JUNE 1, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 237 NEWS BRIEFS County mulls school’s future Citrus County MIKE WRIGHT commissioners last week Kitchen then questioned Citrus County has the Citrus County Histori- COVID-19 cases Staff writer passed on the chance for the county’s interest in the owned the property since cal Society, which desig- According to the Flor- a state grant because it re- aged building at all. 1999, when the school dis- nated the Hernando ida Department of Health, Restoration work at the quired a $103,000 county “I don’t look at this and trict transferred owner- Heritage Council the task no new positive cases Historic Hernando School cash match, which wasn’t see a historical building,” ship to the county rather of working with the county were reported in Citrus is nearly complete and is budgeted. he said of the structure, than sell it to someone to seek grants to renovate quietly serving its func- Commissioner Ron built in 1941 and listed on who wanted to build a the now 80-year-old build- County since the latest tion as a community Kitchen Jr. said he was the National Register of convenience store on the ing as a community cen- update. center. “gobsmacked” by the Historic Places. “Any old corner of Parsons Point ter, according to county No new deaths were Its future, though, is not request. building, I guess, in Citrus Road and U.S. 41. records. reported, for a total of so clear. “It’s $100,000 thrown County, we could call that The county gave over- 462. To date in the Citrus County away,” he said. or find a use for it.” sight of the property to See SCHOOL/Page A8 county, 11,360 people have tested positive (in- cluding 99 non-residents). No new hospitaliza- tions were reported, for a total of 737 hospitalized. Remembering those who gave all Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. Hurricane prep with a digital twist Hurricane season is just around the corner, which comes with seem- ingly endless prepara- tions. The Citrus County Library System has de- signed a class specifically geared toward making sure digital preparations have begun as well. This class includes ways to use phones, Bobbie Grant, left, walks Monday, apps, websites and other May 31, with Celia Wilkinson as technology to make sure the two approach the site for the you won’t be caught off Fero Memorial Gardens & Funeral guard. Home Memorial Day Service. Grant carries a flag in honor of her son, I 10:15 a.m.Wednes- who is currently serving in the day, June 2, at the Homo- United States Navy. sassa Public Library, 4100 S. Grandmarch Ave. County marks I 10:15 a.m. Thurs- day, July 1, at the Central Ridge Library, 425 W. a solemn Roosevelt Blvd. in Bev- erly Hills Memorial Day I 2 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at the Coastal Re- NANCY KENNEDY gion Library, 8619 W. Staff writer Crystal St. Classes are free, but ince the end of World registration is required. To War I, there have been 507,439 war-related register, visit citrus deaths of Americans. libraries.org or call your During the Vietnam nearest branch. To stay SWar alone, 33,103 18-year-olds up-to-date on classes and were killed in action. Five who programs, follow died were only 16. Thirty-one @CitrusLibraries on sets of brothers died, eight Facebook and Instagram. women lost their lives, 1,954 who died were from Florida — The Bloom 1,448 soldiers were killed on Group to their last day in Vietnam. For some, these are just num- benefit CASA MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle American Legion Rider Doug Wisser pauses Monday, May 31, to spend time at the gravesite of his bers. But for many, these The Bloom Group will mother and father. Wisser’s father was a United States Navy veteran. See COUNTY/Page A5 have their Summer Day of Play fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Satur- day, June 5 at 268 S. Pandemic-scarred nation remembers its heroes Suncoast Blvd. in Crystal River. The fundraiser will JAMES face to face for the first benefit the Citrus County ANDERSON time Monday since their Abuse Shelter Associa- Associated Press weekly reunions were tion (CASA). shut down 14 months ago A nation slowly emerg- by the pandemic. The Bloom Group wel- ing from social distanc- comes families with chil- “This is a special ing measures imposed by group of veterans who dren of all ages to join the coronavirus pan- are trying not to be them for a day of sum- demic honored genera- homebound,” Ed Reyn- mertime festivities. tions of U.S. veterans olds, a Vietnam War and Bounce houses, bubbles, killed in the line of duty Air Force veteran, told games and other summer on a Memorial Day ob- KTLA-TV. “It’s good to activities will be available served without the se- see these faces again. It’s for all. Grilled hot dogs vere pandemic sort of emotional,” he and refreshments will be restrictions that affected said, visibly emotional available for purchase. the day of tribute just a himself. Entry into the event is year ago. Reynolds said some 12 Memorial Day parades free, but donations are members of the group and events were held in had died over the past appreciated as all pro- localities large and small ceeds raised will go di- year, though none of across the country Mon- them from COVID-19. rectly to support CASA. day, many resuming after Associated Press For a select few, the — From staff reports being canceled last year Andrew Weston touches the gravestone of his uncle, U.S. Army Vietnam war veteran Memorial Day weekend INDEX as the pandemic hit with Thomas Shaun Monahan, at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on Memorial marked the final fare- full force. Classifieds . .B7 Day, Monday, May 31 in Elwood, Ill. well, decades in the mak- At Arlington National ing, of the remains of Comics . .B6 realized that aspiration Day 2020, when Ameri- Cemetery’s Tomb of the year, they also remem- fallen heroes from World Crossword . .B10 of our founders, but cans settled for small Unknown Soldier, Presi- bered the thousands of War II. They included Editorial. A9 every generation has processions and online dent Joe Biden delivered veterans who died from two Kentucky men — opened the door a little tributes instead of pa- Entertainment . A4 a solemn speech honor- COVID-19. Still, there U.S. Navy Fireman 3rd wider.” rades. The pandemic last Horoscope . A4 ing the 1 million Ameri- were some vestiges: An Class Welborn L. Ashby, “The struggle for de- year forced communities Health . A11, A12 cans killed in service of early morning wreath who was killed at 24, and mocracy is taking place to honor the nation’s mil- Lottery Numbers . .B3 the nation — and chal- laying ceremony at the U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd around the world — de- itary dead with modest, Lottery Payouts . .B3 lenged that nation to National Memorial Cem- Class Howard Scott Mag- mocracy and autocracy. more subdued ceremo- TV Listings. .B5 carry on that fight by de- etery of Arizona was ers, killed at 18 — who The struggle for decency, nies that also remem- fending its democracy. shared virtually. perished in the Decem- dignity, just simple de- bered those lost to the “This nation was built That wasn’t the case at ber 7, 1941, Japanese at- cency,” Biden declared. coronavirus. on an idea,” Biden said. a long-delayed veterans tack on Pearl Harbor. This year’s remem- With restrictions lift- “We were built on an and airmen’s reunion in Some 2,403 Americans brances were as painful, ing, Americans paid trib- idea, the idea of liberty West Hills, California, a died in the attack. and opportunity for all. if less restrictive, as ute in public gatherings Los Angeles suburb We’ve never fully those held on Memorial this year — and like last where veterans gathered See NATION/Page A8 A2 TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE ONE WEEK ONLY June 1st THROUGH June 7th TRI COUNTY HEARING AID CENTERS 3161- C Gulf to Lake Hwy. 1122 N. Suncoast Blvd. Inverness, FL 34453 Crystal River, FL 34429 (352) 419-0171 (352) 436-4288 4065 N. Lecanto Hwy. 3406 Commercial Way Suite 400 Spring Hill, FL 34604 Beverly Hills, FL 34465 (352) 632-2412 (352) 835-7128 Visit our Website: www.TriCountyHearingServices.com CC-0010AHG N OTHING ABOVE PINK LINE Page A3 - TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021 STATE &CITRUS L COUNTYOCAL CHRONICLE Around the COUNTY Man faces drug-related charges Chronicle staff counts possession homeowner, the methamphetamine weigh- Frye told authorities he Join the Floral of a controlled owner advised ing 3.5 grams. Inside the had a “user” amount of Acting on a number of substance; posses- deputies they safe, deputies found methamphetamine in his City Crafters anonymous tips about ille- sion of cannabis both lived there 0.65 grams of fentanyl and safe in his room, the re- The Floral City Crafters gal narcotics and a week- (less than 20 and gave permis- a digital scale.