Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 INSIDE Compassionate care ealth & life / B1 Think outside the box and consider nonmedical forms h of care for dementia patients. TUESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning INSIDE HIGH Time for a test? 83 A mix of sun and As coronavirus continues to LOW clouds. Warmer. spread, know the symptoms. PAGE A4 64 /Page B3 www.chronicleonline.com APRIL 7, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 182 Pair arrested after fleeing crash officer had turned his vehicle The Florida Highway Patrol Two allegedly found with drugs; face trafficking charges around to follow Walizer when said Walizer was at fault when the crash occurred, Carman the 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV MIKE WRIGHT available, were arrested about 19. When they attempted to con- said. he was driving crossed the cen- Staff writer two hours after fleeing into the duct a traffic stop, Walizer sped Both Walizer and Agnew fled terline while coming around a woods off Ozello Trail near West off, starting a short pursuit that into the nearby woods and were curve and struck a 2012 Ford Two people were arrested Sutton Court, Citrus County deputies canceled for safety rea- located after a two-hour search, F-150 pickup driven by Jerret Monday afternoon after leading Sheriff ’s officials said. sons, sheriff ’s spokeswoman Carman said. The crash oc- Michael Westling of Cedar Key. authorities on a pursuit and Both were charged with pos- Brittney Carman said. curred at about 12:30 p.m. Neither Westling nor his three then running off after crashing session and trafficking in illegal Walizer headed west and was Deputies located in their pos- passengers were injured, the their car on Ozello Trail. drugs. coming back toward U.S. 19 session 1.25 pounds of metham- FHP report states. Richard Eugene Walizer II, Deputies were alerted that when an undercover deputy saw phetamine, 12.5 grams of heroin Contact Chronicle reporter 27, of Brandon and Kialeen Walizer was in Citrus County Walizer’s vehicle and alerted and about $1,800 in cash, she Mike Wright at 352-563-3228 or Agnew, 35, hometown not and spotted his vehicle on U.S. the agency. The undercover said. [email protected]. VIRUS UPDATE Figures as of 6 p.m. Feds OK nuke plant handover Monday, April 6. CITRUS COUNTY n Positive cases of COVID-19: 46. n Total tests: 600. n Negative results: 549. n Men (positive test): 21. n Women (positive test): 25. n Deaths: 2. n Hospitalizations: 13. STATE OF FLORIDA n Positive cases of COVID-19: 13,629. n Total tests: 126,048. n Deaths: 254. — Florida Department of Health MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle file Duke Energy received federal approval to transfer the license for its retired Crystal River nuclear plant to a company that will move forward NEWS with the plant’s decommissioning process. BRIEFS Duke to transfer license to firm that will handle site’s decommissioning Paper forms available for MICHAEL D. BATES decommissioning work later redevelopment of the nuclear Crystal River Nuclear Plant by Staff writer this year and finish up in 2027. plant property for Duke Ener- nearly 50 years,” Danenhower unemployment Duke spokeswoman Heather gy’s reuse one day and a poten- said. Paper forms to file for Duke Energy has received Danenhower said this move is tial opportunity to return most Duke Energy submitted the unemployment are now permission from the Nuclear good news for the residents of of the unused trust fund dollars license transfer application to available online from Regulatory Commission (NRC) Citrus County. back to customers sooner than the NRC in June 2019 and re- CareerSource Citrus to transfer the license for its re- First, the fixed-price contract the 60-year decommissioning quested approval from the Flor- Levy Marion. tired Crystal River nuclear with ADP to do the work will model. ida Public Service Commission plant to a company that will lock in today’s prices, providing Last week, Florida Gov. The company has not yet de- in July. move forward with the plant’s Duke’s customers financial pro- termined how it might repur- For more information about Ron DeSantis directed decommissioning process. tection and transfers the costs pose the property, but has no the plant’s decommissioning, CareerSource Florida’s If all regulatory approvals and schedule risks of the proj- plans to sell it. visit duke-energy.com/CR3. 24 local workforce re- are received, Accelerated De- ect to ADP, she said. “This is a positive step for- Contact Chronicle reporter Mi- gions to help folks file commissioning Partners Danenhower said it also al- ward in the process to acceler- chael D. Bates at 352-563-3205 or their unemployment com- (ADP) is expected to begin lows for faster restoration and ate the decommissioning of the [email protected]. pensation and approved the use of paper ballots to help alleviate the elec- tronic filing logjam. To access the forms, visit www.careersource Energy firms have billing clm.com or www.florida Court hearings jobsresources.com. Chronicle options during crisis delivery continue; cases protocols MICHAEL D. BATES extended payment arrangement Staff writer timeframes over and above normal The Citrus County parameters and is waiving late pay- Chronicle is taking every Realizing that many are either ment fees. safety precaution in the remain in limbo out of work or facing strained fi- Members requesting a payment ar- wake of the coronavirus nances due to the coronavirus, the rangement can do so 24/7 by talking alert. We have instituted BUSTER THOMPSON announced Monday. area’s three energy companies are to SECO’s virtual assistant on the au- a new policy where Staff writer Prosecutors and defense working with customers to soften tomated phone system or by logging gloves will be used by all lawyers are working from the blow. into SmartHub at SECOEnergy.com. employees who touch the Citrus County’s criminal home, rotating small crews of n Duke Energy Florida is request- SECO has about 15,260 accounts in finished product before it cases continue to move along attorneys and staff in and out ing approval from the Florida Public Citrus County. comes to your home. as jury selections are nixed of their respective offices to Service Commission to offer annual n Withlacoochee River Electric The raw materials used and court appearances are maintain social distancing. fuel savings in a single bill. Cooperative (WREC) encourages to create the newspaper minimized under COVID-19’s Assistant state attorneys Traditionally, these fuel savings customers having trouble paying restrictions on public (ink and paper) are never are still reviewing arrests would be refunded over the follow- their bill to contact its customer gatherings. made by the Citrus County ing year. If approved, a typical resi- service department at 352-567-5133, touched prior to the cre- Administrative orders Sheriff ’s Office and other law dential customer would see a ext. 6007, to talk with someone about ation of the paper. from mid-March have limited agencies, and can share evi- decrease of about 21% on May’s bill developing a plan. In our offices and with essential hearings to first ap- dence with defendants. and commercial customers from 20% The cooperative is also suspend- our product, we are follow- pearances, juvenile deten- “They’re staying pretty to 45%. ing disconnection for non-payment ing all of the recom- tion hearings, Baker Acts busy even on the days they’re Duke has 47,500 Citrus County at this time. mended procedures to use and other emergency working from home,” Assis- customers. WREC has about 25,675 customers sanitizer and approved hy- proceedings. tant State Attorney Blake For information, visit www.duke in Citrus County. giene procedures to stop Jury trials were also Shore said about the energyupdates.com. Contact Chronicle reporter Michael the spread of the virus. canceled up to May 29, the n Sumter Electric Cooperative D. Bates at 352-563-3205 or mbates@ — From staff reports Florida Supreme Court See COURT/Page A5 (SECO) said in a news release it has chronicleonline.com. Classifieds . .B6 Crossword . B8 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .A6 Sports . A6 Comics . B5 Editorial . .A8 Lottery Payouts . A6 TV Listings . .B4 Horoscope . .A4 Entertainment . .A4 Obituaries . A5 A2 Tuesday, april 7, 2020 Citrus County (FL) ChroniCLe Hearing is one of our most important senses for a multitude of reasons. Our ability to hear acts as a gateway to connecting with the world that envelopes us every day; it empowers us to communicate with friends and loved ones, and keeps us up-to-date with local and global events when listening to television, radio and streaming services. But during this uncertain and erratic time of rapidly evolving news coverage and anxiety-inducing health alerts, your ability to hear speech clearly becomes absolutely vital since it can affect the overall quality of health care you receive. Designated as an essential business, Audibel Hearing Centers throughout the Tampa Bay area will be open and available to serve the hearing impaired urgent care needs. To further help patients, Audibel will not be charging for hearing aid batteries, wax filters, hearing aid cleanings, hearing aid adjustments, hearing updates or hearing tests. Thank you for patience and understanding during these challenging times. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Sincerely, No patients will be turned away. All patients will receive free urgent care, service, and testing. However an appointment must be made prior. Your friends at Audibel Hearing Centers Call location nearest you to schedule your appointment. INVERNESS HOMOSASSA 2036 Hwy 44 West 5699 So. Suncoast Blvd.