Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Late score lifts Lightning over Hurricanes /B1 MONDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 92 Partly sunny with LOW scattered PM storms. 68 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 31, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 236 NEWS BRIEFS Man sentenced for animal cruelty according Citrus County For the life of Bennie the chihuahua, owner gets 5 years in prison to a re- COVID-19 cases cording of MIKE WRIGHT “It’s an animal that’s trial only because Thomp- appreciative of the animal the hear- According to the Florida Staff writer covered in fleas to the ex- son refused the prosecu- shelter and officers in this ing. “It’s Department of Health, no tent that you can actually tion’s offer for probation, case to get it to trial.” ghastly new positive cases were In 20 years on the bench, see them in the photo- records show. Thompson’s attorney, and I’m reported in Citrus County Circuit Court Judge Rich- graph,” he said. “The dog’s Assistant State Attorney Dale Merrill, did not re- thankful Kevin Lee since the latest update. ard “Ric” Howard said he’d hair is so completely ab- Blake Shore, who super- turn phone calls for com- to be in a No new deaths were never seen worse wounds. sent, having scratched it- vises the Citrus County of- ment. During the May 13 Thompson county reported, for a total of “Ghastly,” is the way he self to death almost.” fice, said in an interview sentencing hearing, she where we have proactive 462. To date in the county, described photos of a chi- With that, Howard ear- that the case and its result noted the state attorney of- animal control people that 11,360 people have huahua named Bennie, lier this month sentenced should send a message to fered probation and that’s will look at this kind of tested positive (including her tiny body ravaged by a Kevin Lee Thompson, 57, anyone who ignores an ail- how she believed her cli- thing and say, ‘this ain’t 99 non-residents). cancerous cyst that had of Inverness, to the maxi- ing pet. ent should be punished. right.’” No new hospitaliza- grown to the size of a fist. mum — five years in prison “That’s what we hope,” Howard disagreed. That was exactly the Howard did not hide his for aggravated animal cru- he said Friday. “They need tions were reported, for a “It’s ghastly, the injury to reaction from Citrus disgust. elty — in a case that went to to take care of them. We’re that dog,” he said, See CRUELTY/Page A5 total of 737 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. Honoring the fallen Memorial Day ceremonies set Weather permitting, Fero Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home will be the site of a Memorial Day ceremony co-hosted by Beverly Hills members of the American Legion Post 237 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10087. Ceremonies start at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31, at Fero Memorial Gar- dens, at 5891 N. Lecanto Highway, Beverly Hills. For more information, call 352-746-4646. I In addition, the Her- bert Surber American Le- gion Post 225 will present its 47th annual Memorial Day Observance at 11 a.m. Monday, May 31, at the Hills of Rest Ceme- tery at 7600 S. Florida Ave., Floral City. Church to offer COVID vaccines The Citrus County Flor- ida Department of Health is partnering with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hernando to SYDNEY AKENS/For the Chronicle host a COVID-19 Mod- Drema Leonard-Alan, of Pine Ridge, beautifully sings The National Anthem, while Robert Crawford, veteran of the Korean War, salute’s, during erna vaccination event. the Memorial service to honor fallen soldiers of war, at the Bicentennial Park War Monument in Crystal River, Sunday, May 30. The first dose will be Dennis Flanagan, from 9 a.m. to noon father of SGT Dennis Wednesday, June 2. Flanagan who fought The second dose will in Iraq, and Robert be from 9 a.m. to noon Crawford, veteran of Friday, July 2. the Korean War read The church will accom- aloud the names of modate up to 12 individu- Citrus County’s fallen als per 15 minute interval. soldiers. Veterans, To schedule a visit, call family and locals took 352-746-7161. a moment of silence to honor each solider. POLL The memorial service was held Sunday, ONLINE POLL: May 30, at the Bicentennial Park War Your choice? Monument in Crystal With Citrus County’s only River. public dog park located in Homosassa, a county resident has proposed to county commissioners that the county construct a 2.5-acre dog park in Citrus Springs at an estimated cost of $64,322. What do you think about the proposal? A. Grrrrrrrrr! Citrus hopes to combat generational poverty B. Barking up the wrong tree. I C. It’s something to MICHAEL D. would then “adopt” a ZIP There are 21.7% of code and discover their residents who are chew on. BATES Staff writer specific needs to try and housing-cost burdened. Florida Chamber of D. Throw the dogs a turn conditions around. That means they spend bone. County Commissioner The 34428 ZIP code in 30% or more of their in- E. Dogs are man’s best Holly Davis attended a the northwest part of Cit- come on housing and Commerce hosts summit friend. Florida Chamber event rus County — roughly lack money to pay for To vote, visit www. in Sarasota this week to from north of Crystal other necessities of life. JOHN HAUGHEY “I have to repeat the chronicleonline.com. brainstorm with govern- River to Yankeetown — The current popula- The Center Square numbers: 1.8 million with- out a high school diploma. Results will appear ment and community was identified as having tion of Citrus County is If it wants high-wage em- Around 4 million adults next Monday. Find last leaders across the state the most poverty (56.9%), 147,929. By 2030, analysts on ways to reduce gener- according to state cham- said the population will ployers to invest in local that are barely literate or week’s online poll economies, the state needs cannot do basic arithme- results./Page A3 ational poverty. ber data. It was also iden- grow to 159,600 to 176,400. Davis said attendees tified as one of 115 ZIP If that prediction holds, to boost its “neglected” tic,” Mack said. “These adult education program, are preconditions for post- INDEX were impressed by how codes statewide as hav- the county must create much progress Citrus ing the worst poverty. 4,749 new jobs to support Florida Department of Ed- secondary education; post- Classifieds ............... B7 County has already made Other highlights from the extra people. ucation Chancellor Henry secondary education is Comics .................... B6 in this initiative. Prosperity Citrus: Mark Wilson, Mack said Wednesday. itself a precondition for Crossword .............. B10 “It blew everybody I Citrus County has president/CEO of the Speaking at the Florida economic mobility and the Chamber of Commerce well-being of Florida’s Editorial ..................A10 away,” she said. 5,484 children living in Florida Chamber, visited The state chamber poverty. That’s 26.2% of Citrus County in January Foundation’s Prosperity & economy.” Entertainment ...........A4 Economic Opportunity Mack said about a quar- Lottery Numbers ...... B3 sponsored the Prosperity the under 18-age group. and challenged the local I Solution Summit, Mack ter of 15 million Floridians Lottery Payouts ........ B3 & Economic Opportunity The county’s poverty chamber to form its own Solution Summit and the rate is 15.7% prosperity initiative and said only one-in-nine between 16 and 74 years TV Listings ............... B5 mission is to identify the I There are 54% of encourage businesses, Floridians without a high old are functioning at or ZIP codes in each county households with income churches and community school diploma — about below the lowest basic lit- that have the highest above the federal pov- organizations to become 200,000 adults — are en- eracy levels and 34% can- poverty rate. Business erty level but below the involved. rolled in adult education not do basic arithmetic. and community leaders basic cost of living. See POVERTY/Page A5 classes statewide this year. See SUMMIT/Page A5 A2 MONDAY, MAY 31, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE AMERICAN OWNED. AMERICAN OPERATED. Introducing the Discover the world’s first hearing aid to provide both superior sound quality and the ability to track body and brain health. AAss tthehe firrstst eeverve hearing aid to feature UDIBEL’S integrated sensors and artificial intelligence,ce, iiss a multi-purpose device A that redefines what a hearing aid can do. is the World’s ThTheemmostost advanced Technology ever createdc is now available in the most First and ONLY The power of AI advanceda hearingg aid ever made. 2.4 GHz Custom Rechargeable at your fingertips AUDIBEL’S Microchipp Hearing Aid with Artificial Intelligence.. 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