Police Find Men Lost in Forest Woman Struck, the Forest and Got Lost
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Waiting game: Will PED users enter into Hall of Fame? /B1 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next morning HIGH 78 Partly cloudy today LOW and Thursday. 68 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JANUARY 9, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOLUME 118 ISSUE 155 NEWS BRIEFS Police find men lost in forest Woman struck, the forest and got lost. After five became airborne, Yates said. killed Monday Men stranded after vehicle breaks down hours, a Citrus County Sheriff ’s Of- “Within a short time, the helicop- fice dispatcher received a call for ter was able to locate the fire,” A Homosassa assistance in locating the duo. along with Rusk and Nostz, she woman was struck and in Withlacoochee State Forest Citrus County Sheriff Fire Res- said. killed by two vehicles A.B. SIDIBE around in a black Dodge Durango cue, Forestry Department person- The men were discovered at 7:10 while walking on U.S. Staff writer about 10 p.m. Monday just a mile nel, Florida Fish and Wildlife a.m., nine hours after the pair re- 98 on Monday night, south of the Citrus County Deten- Commission and sheriff ’s deputies ported car trouble. according to the Florida A massive search launched in the tion Facility on County Road 491 responded to the general area. “They were only a mile away Highway Patrol. early hours Tuesday for two men when their vehicle broke down, Cit- Deputies used a four-wheeler and from the Durango,” Yates said. “It At 10:30 p.m., Julie lost in the Withlacoochee State For- rus County Sheriff ’s Office spokes- K-9 to search for the men. was great team work and there Mae S. Cineus, 47, was est ended nine hours later with the woman Heather Yates said. They At 5:40 a.m., searchers found the were no injuries.” walking on the outside pair being safely found. decided to leave the vehicle and Dodge Durango. Soon after, one of Chronicle reporter A.B. Sidibe lane northbound on Jacob Nostz, 32, and Tyler Rusk, walk, she added. the deputies reported smelling can be reached at 352-564-2925 or U.S. 98, south of Village 22, both of Inverness, were driving Yates said the pair wandered into smoke. Then the CCSO helicopter [email protected]. Center Drive when she was struck by a 2003 Lexus driven by Mark C. Mann, 44, of Valrico. Mann reportedly BOCC stopped on the side of the road when a 2006 Toyota sedan driven by Qu Qili, 59, also of Ho- Passing the torch eyes mosassa, struck Cineus. She died at the scene. Vick completes The crash remains 2014 under investigation, according to FHP. journey with Tax season oath of office opens Jan. 30 budget The Internal Revenue MIKE WRIGHT Service announced Staff writer Commissioners Tuesday it plans to open the 2013 filing season INVERNESS — Angela Vick was beaming and who forming a plan and begin processing in- could blame her? dividual income tax re- Flanked by her family CHRIS VAN ORMER turns Jan. 30. and husband, standing be- Staff writer The IRS will begin fore 40 employees — now, accepting tax returns on her employees — Vick INVERNESS — Get- that date after updating posed for pictures and ac- ting a jump on next forms and completing cepted well wishes as she year’s budget because of programming and test- embarked on her new job as a potential shortfall from ing of its processing Citrus County Clerk of the the county’s biggest tax- systems. This will reflect Circuit Court. payer started in earnest the bulk of the late tax Betty Strifler, who held the at Tuesday’s county com- law changes enacted job 24 years and was Vick’s mission meeting. Jan. 2. boss for nearly that long, ad- “It is going to be the “We have worked ministered the oath of office biggest issue we face as a hard to open tax season to her protégé during a Tues- community over the next as soon as possible,” day morning ceremony in year,” said Commission IRS Acting Commis- the Old Courthouse. Chairman Joe Meek, sioner Steven T. Miller “I think it’s wonderful,” who introduced the said. “This date ensures Strifler said beforehand. opening session to the we have the time we “Angela will serve the Citrus county very well.” need to update and test County Coincidentally, it was ex- Board of our processing systems.” actly one year ago today County The IRS will not that Vick filed paperwork Commis- process paper tax re- with the Supervisor of Elec- sioners turns before the antici- tions Office to seek her first (BOCC). pated Jan. 30 opening elected office. Although she “Today, date. There is no ad- had served as Strifler’s we’re vantage to filing on chief deputy clerk for five not going Joe Meek paper before the open- years and worked in the of- to be ing date, and taxpayers fice 22 years, Vick still had making Citrus County MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle commission will receive their tax re- to undergo a political cam- ABOVE: Newly sworn-in Clerk of the Circuit Court Angela Vick, left, is hugged by any deci- chairman. funds much faster by paign, which she eventually former Clerk of the Court Betty Strifler on Tuesday morning in the courtroom of the Old sions using e-file with direct won handily with 70 per- Courthouse Heritage Museum in Inverness. Strifler retired as clerk after serving for 24 about deposit. cent of the vote. years. BELOW: Angela Vick, left, is sworn in by Betty Strifler as Vick’s husband, Alan, what we The IRS originally “A year ago we started stands by her side. are going planned to open elec- this journey,” Vick, 47, said. to be cut- tronic filing Jan. 22 this “It is so hard to believe we ting or year. More than 80 per- are here today.” adding cent of taxpayers filed Vick thanked her parents in our electronically last year. for instilling morals, ethics budget, and principles in her life but we Brad while growing up. are going Thorpe Prior to Strifler’s election INSIDE to lay out Citrus County as county clerk, Vick theadministrator. EDUCATION: worked for Frank and Betty process Strifler when they owned a that we are going to go pool supply company in over.” Homosassa. County Administrator “That is when I met the Brad Thorpe and Budget woman who would change Director Cathy Taylor my life,” Vick said. gave an illustrated Vick thanked friends and budget analysis presen- co-workers for their support. tation with numbers and “It’s not an accident you graphs to show county are here today,” she said. “I spending on mainte- watched as God ... brought “ nance and services. Veteran woes us to this place.” “The first statement Soldiers deal with higher The office transition was I’d like to make is we education problems due seamless, Vick said. She set A year ago we started this journey. It is have a balanced budget,” to lack of permanent up her administrative Thorpe said. “We al- residence./Page C1 structure in December, so hard to believe we are here today. ready went through a LOCAL: dividing her deputy clerk budget process just re- Angela Vick cently. In the auditorium, “ recently elected and newly sworn-in Citrus County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Prom prep See VICK/ Page A5 we had 500 people show Cinderella’s Closet offers up and talk about it. We dresses to girls./Page A3 went through the budget process and we balanced INDEX the budget for this year. I’m using this current Comics . .C7 School board OKs high school rezoning budget to outline the Community . .C5 model to discuss for next Crossword . .C6 year.” Board members said they thought the Editorial . .A10 Once the board has proposed elementary rezoning would REZONING Entertainment . .B6 Panel nixes project to built next year’s budget, Horoscope . .B6 cause anxiety for parents and children MEETINGS it will go “on the road” to Lottery Numbers . .B4 while providing little relief for schools. On ■ 5:30 p.m. Thursday at residents’ groups so the Lottery Payouts . .B6 alter elementary zones the other hand, they embraced a plan to Crystal River High BOCC would not need to Movies . .C7 MIKE WRIGHT move 160 students in the Citrus Springs- School. have another event such Obituaries . .A6 Pine Ridge area from Lecanto High School Staff Writer as the 500 people attend- Classifieds . .C8 to Crystal River High School next year. ■ 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. ing the meeting last year TV Listings . .C6 INVERNESS — Citrus County School Board member Thomas Kennedy, who 7, at Citrus Springs at the county audito- Board members nixed the idea of rezoning has elementary-school-age children, said Middle School. rium. elementary school students next year but he lives in the affected area. ■ To view map, visit “The final comment will move forward with a rezoning plan for www.citrus.k12.fl.us. two high schools. See SCHOOL/ Page A5 See BOCC/ Page A5 A2 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Friends to raise funds for teacher’s aide spiration to many people. “As weak as she is, her results going on at the treat- ■ WHAT: Local woman ment center up there. I just “She never gives up,” she strength is amazing,” Wasy- Family fundraiser for Donna Danback. take it one day at a time.” said. “I hope I can be half lyk said. “She just continues ■ WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11. Right now, Danback is on the woman she is someday.” to go on.