Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Gators: Jones finally gets his chance at quarterback /B1 WEDNESDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 83 Cloudy, humid, LOW breezy. Storms likely. 75 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 333 NEWS BRIEFS State rests case in shooting trial Elections Office BUSTER was outside her Homo- attorneys for Zoey Ellan A wayward bullet fa- In connection to Ry- to host outreach THOMPSON sassa home. Andersen, Jason Byron tally struck 58-year-old der’s death, the State At- at library Staff writer When they rested their Simms Jr. and Joseph Ryder the early after- torney’s Office in April case Tuesday, Aug. 31, as- Shane Finn are expected noon of Nov. 21, 2018, 2019 charged Andersen, The Supervisor of Prosecutors rested sistant state attorneys Wednesday morning to after she helped her hus- Simms and Finn as juve- Elections Office invites their case against three Blake Shore and Kevin argue a motion for Circuit band, John Ryder, cover niles with manslaughter the public to an outreach Citrus County teenagers Davis had called 13 wit- Court Judge Richard “Ric” a generator in their de- and unlawfully shooting event from 10 a.m. to accused of firing a stray nesses since the trial Howard to dismiss the case tached garage on the firearms. noon Sept. 2 at the Citrus bullet that fatally struck began Monday. against their clients due to 6100 block of West Way- Springs Library, 1826 W. Sandra Ryder while she Individual defense a lack of evidence. ward Loop. See TRIAL/Page A2 Country Club Blvd. This is a convenient way to register to vote, make changes to your voter record or request a vote-by-mail ballot. Infor- mation to apply for elec- Building boom for Citrus tion worker positions will also be available. To have the elections office staff at your organi- zation or business, con- tact Supervisor Maureen “Mo” Baird. For more information, visit votecitrus.gov, email [email protected] or call 352-564-7120. Let’s Feed Citrus at Crystal River Mall On Wednesday, Sept. 1, 15 and 29, the public can receive food beginning at 9 a.m. at the Crystal River Mall parking lot — drive-thru only. Note: Sept. 8 and 22 locations have not been decided yet. Watch the Chronicle for that information. Withlacoochee River Electric helps with Ida Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) sent 21 employ- ees, along with material and equipment, Aug. 31 to Baton Rouge, Louisi- ana to help restore power to those impacted by Hur- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle ricane Ida. Electrical Design’s electrician helper Charles Lettieri works on wiring an interior light Tuesday, Aug. 31, in a new Pine Ridge Home built by This devastating cate- Citrus Builders. The new-home construction industry has seen a dramatic increase within Citrus County for more than a year. gory four hurricane has caused major damage to this area. They will be Surge in new construction puts county on pace for record-breaking year working in the Dixie Mem- bership Electric Coopera- MICHAEL D. BATES optimistic, not only at the Fairways of Twisted Oaks, tive service area. Staff writer but the whole Citrus “Hurricane Ida has The Citrus County County market, especially caused catastrophic Building Division issued with the Suncoast Park- Brisk market shows flooding and major dam- 1,363 single-family home way opening soon,” age to the Gulf Coast,” permits the first eight Fischer said. Billy Brown, WREC exec- months of this year, al- Meanwhile, builders utive vice president and ready surpassing all of learned this week lumber 2020. no signs of stopping general manager said. “It prices are finally on the will take a substantial Those 1,363 permits are way down. That will save MICHAEL D. BATES long while to get back to the levels amount of manpower and more than the county has buyers some money on Staff writer we had pre-pandemic,” said Flor- equipment to restore pulled since 2006 — and building costs. ida Realtors President Cheryl power from a storm of that number (1,625) was Lumber prices reached The Citrus County housing bub- Lambert, broker-owner with Only this magnitude.” for the entire year. a record high of more ble has not burst yet. Way Realty Citrus in Inverness. “The builders are doing than $1,700 per thousand “Our thoughts and Florida Realtors has released its Statewide, Lambert said active quite well,” said Steven board feet in May, ac- July numbers and it’s all good for inventory listings of single-family prayers go out to the peo- Fischer, president of cording to Florida Real- ple impacted by this Citrus, especially if you’re a seller. homes rose statewide in July, Twisted Oaks Properties tors. But on Wednesday, it Here are the highlights: which could bode well for buyers storm and to our employ- LLC. averaged about $500. I The median sales price for a sidelined by a shortage of homes to ees who are aiding in the Low interest rates and a That translates to about single-family home in July was choose, restoration efforts,” Brown lack of existing single- $40,000 savings in build- $242,500, up 31% from $185,000 in The Florida housing market in said. family homes in Citrus ing a home, according to July 2020. July was much the same as Citrus. Hurricane Ida knocked County have contributed Doug Yearley, CEO of the I It took just nine days for a There were higher median out power to more than to the building boom luxury home builder Toll seller and buyer to reach a con- prices, more new listings and a rise one-million businesses Fischer said pre-sales Brothers. tract, compared to 45 days last in all-cash sales compared to a and residents. The Gulf for the new 207-home Unfortunately, other year. year ago, according to Florida Coast area sustained Fairways of Twisted Oaks, material costs are rising. I Closed single-family homes Realtors. heavy damage to its en- a three-phase develop- Steel mill product sales in July totaled 340, down “Looking at 2019 — the last full ment under construction prices increased 10.8% in tire distribution system 12.1% one year earlier. year of anything resembling a nor- in Beverly Hills, have July following a 6.2% in- I Active inventory of property mal market due to COVID-19 — we along the path of Ida. been brisk and the first crease in June, according WREC line crews are listings remained low in July: find that July 2021 single-family residents may move in by to the National Associa- 357 homes were available for sale, home sales were over 9% higher expected to be in this the end of the year. tion of Home Builders compared to 605 a year ago. compared to July 2019,” Florida area for up to two weeks And it’s not just Twisted (NAHB). “Any rebound in inventory is Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad or more. Oaks. going to be slow, and it will take a O’Connor said. — From staff reports “(Builders) are very See BOOM/Page A2 INDEX Classifieds . .C7 Comics . .C6 Crossword . .C14 Editorial. A9 Entertainment . A4 MPO Executive Director Steve Diez dies Horoscope . A4 MICHAEL D. in July and had advertised for a comeback from some the Friends of the Withla- Lottery Numbers . .B3 BATES been undergoing new executive di- other health issues he coochee State Trail. He Lottery Payouts . .B3 Staff writer chemotherapy rector but decided had. I think he was opti- had been a transportation Movies . .C6 treatment at the at their Aug. 19 mistic and looking for- planner in Hernando Obituaries . A6 Steve Diez, who, as ex- time of his death, meeting to ward to retirement.” County since 1999. He was ecutive director of the said MPO trans- re-advertise for McBride said Diez an avid cyclist and wine TV Listings. .C5 Hernando-Citrus Metro- portation planner the position. loved the city of Inverness connoisseur. politan Planning Organi- Carlene Riecss. “I was shocked and its many trails. The Friends of the zation (MPO) fought hard Diez, described Steve Diez and deeply sad- Riecss will give guid- Withlacoochee State for trails and bike paths as calm and soft-spoken, dened to hear about this,” ance to the MPO until Trail issued this state- in both counties, died was set to retire Oct. 31 MPO board member and the board can find a re- ment on its Facebook Tuesday at the age of 66. and had only one more Inverness Councilman placement, McBride page: Diez was diagnosed MPO meeting to attend. Cabot McBride said. said. with stage 2 colon cancer The MPO board had “Steve was making a real Diez was president of See DIEZ/Page A2 A2 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Around the COUNTY For the RECORD Learn to maintain Sustainable lawn varieties, typical Citrus County Auditorium, 3610 S. Flor- Citrus County Tuesday, Aug. 30-31, by the weed infestations and pests which target ida Ave. in Inverness. Sheriff’s Office Citrus County Sheriff’s your lawn lawns are highlighted during this Citrus County’s premier business expo Office: Arrests workshop. I Auto theft, 3:28 p.m. Citrus County Utilities Florida- offers a platform to showcase your ser- I To register, visit ccufflprogram. Tiylar Edward Beal, Aug. 30, 10800 block of Friendly Landscaping Program will host vices and network directly with the com- 24, Spring Hill, arrested eventbrite.com.