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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Wrestling: Citrus pins down county win over Lecanto /B1 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 65 Clearing, breezy. LOW Colder by night. 34 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JANUARY 28, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 112 NEWS BRIEFS CCSO investigating man’s death Citrus COVID-19 next of kin, the sheriff ’s office has is not much we can confirm.” Body found aboard boat in King’s Bay yet to release his identity, Sanders Sheriff ’s office detectives have update said. found no evidence of foul play at USTER HOMPSON deputies were dispatched at According to the Flor- B T Citing early investigations, this time, Sanders said. Staff writer 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, to Sanders would not provide or ver- Pete’s Pier spokesman Zonald ida Department of Health, Pete’s Pier, responding to reports ify details surrounding the man’s Spinks said the man drifted into 34 positive cases were A man’s mysterious two-day stay of a dead man found on a boat in death, of which the cause and the marina Sunday morning on a reported in Citrus County docked at a Crystal River marina King’s Bay, sheriff’s office spokes- manner is being determined by a cabined, 27-foot Sea Ray vessel, since the latest update. ended with locals finding his body woman Jodi Sanders told the medical examiner. which was having some engine No new deaths were re- aboard a boat he apparently stole. Chronicle Wednesday. “Because of how early we are in trouble. ported, for a total of 336. Citrus County Sheriff ’s Office As it has yet to notify the man’s this investigation,” she said, “there See DEATH/Page A2 To date in the county, 8,432 people have tested positive (including 59 non-residents). No new hospitaliza- REMEMBERING JEN LAMANDA tions were reported, for a total of 584 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by Spunky, strong, overcomer the state, and are subject to later revision. DOH offers more vaccines NANCY KENNEDY The Florida Depart- Staff writer ment of Health in Citrus County wants to remind Jen Lamanda’s life was the people there will be an- epitome of a redemption story. other round of COVID-19 She came from a broken fam- vaccines for people 65 ily, suffering abuse and trauma and older. from a family member, and The drive-thru clinic will then later went through a hard offer the vaccine to the life living with a man who was first 1,000 individuals who a drug dealer. come to the event begin- As a young adult, she learned she had Charcot-Marie-Tooth ning at 9 a.m., Saturday, (CPT), a form of muscular dys- Jan. 30, at Central Ridge trophy, which she described to District Park, 6905 N. Le- the Chronicle in 2014 as a “he- canto Highway, Beverly reditary, debilitating and pro- Hills. gressive nerve disease that The vaccination clinic affects the muscles and their will follow a first-come, capabilities.” first-served process in Her husband, Steve La- which vaccinations are manda, has a redemption story given to those people of his own, having grown up in who arrive first and while orphanages and foster homes supplies last. and ending up as a homeless Vehicles will be allowed runaway, panhandling to into the park starting at survive. 7 a.m. to begin staging for They met on the streets in Rhode Island after Jen’s MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle file 9 a.m. vaccinations. Ac- drug-dealing boyfriend had In 2014, after a leg amputation, Jennifer Lamanda said martial arts and kickboxing helped her remain cess to the park must gone to jail. physically fit. Lamanda died Dec. 31, 2020, at age 40 from Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CPT), a form of come from the south, and After they married and later muscular dystrophy. vehicles will only be per- moved to Florida where it’s meds on top of pain meds — already, they closed the door As a mom, Jen Lamanda was mitted to make a right warm and better for Jen’s she was in a lot of pain.” on having more biological chil- organized yet spontaneous. hand turn into the park. health, their lives turned In her 20s, she woke up one dren, but Jen was able to go on “Whenever we were together Motorhomes and vehicles around. They became Chris- morning numb from the waist to mother many foster kids. with my three kids and how- pulling trailers will be tians, became active members down. At the time, she didn’t “That was one of the things ever many she had, it was turned away due to height of a local church, became fos- know CPT ran in her family. on her bucket list, so we went chaos, but always organized restrictions. ter parents, made friends, built “It was devastating,” she said and got our foster (parent) li- chaos,” said Jenna Hurley, Each person must bring a landscaping business. in 2014 about learning of her cense,” Steve said. “We had so Jen’s longtime friend. “As a a valid Florida ID and plan Then on Dec. 31, 2020, six diagnosis. many kids! We had as many as mom, she was very attentive — to be in Citrus County to weeks after she turned 40, Jen- She and her husband had 14 kids in the house at one I was so surprised with how receive their second-round nifer Lynne Lamanda suc- wanted a big family, five or six time. well she handled all those kids. shot, 28 days after their cumbed to her disease. kids. “We ran two full-size mini- “She had a schedule and fol- first dose. Seasonal resi- “She was a survivor, a However, there was a 50% vans for four years, and there lowed it to a T. Everybody was fighter,” Steve Lamanda said. chance that she would pass it are pictures of us on Easter always bathed, always fed, they dents may demonstrate “She was spunky and strong. to her children and a 75% Sunday bringing 10 or 12 kids always played. They were al- residency consistent with She did the best she could with chance they would be a to church.” ways happy and loving — she the criteria set forth in her disease. So many surgeries carrier. Two years ago, they adopted was great,” she added. 381.986(5)(b), Fla. Stat. on top of surgeries, and pain So, with three children Isaiah, now 4. See JEN/Page A2 Audrey Stasko, DOH’s spokeswoman in Citrus County, said people get- ting the vaccination Sat- urday will get an appointment card show- School district, board eyes return of traditional events ing when and where they are to get their second BUSTER THOMPSON “I believe it is our intent to have for Exceptional Students in Tran- school board’s handful of topics to dose. Only the Moderna Staff writer a face-to-face graduation,” sition (CREST) School discuss at its meeting. vaccine will be given at School Superintendent and the Withlacoochee Board members also gave this time, she said. It’s the Citrus County School Sandra “Sam” Himmel Technical College will district leadership guidance on Prior to receiving the District’s goal to have traditional said during the board’s have backup plans if letting volunteers and mentors vaccine, individuals will be graduations. workshop Tuesday, county COVID-19 cases back on campuses and advertising required to complete the How those ceremonies will Jan. 26. “But I’m not pre- make a turn for the worse. vaccinations for eligible district COVID-19 Vaccine function amid the fluctuating pared to make a decision When it comes to staff. Screening and Consent COVID-19 pandemic is another today on the parameters proms, Himmel said the “We just need to come out of the matter. for graduation.” Sandra district is also still work- gate together,” Himmel said. form. The form can be District officials plan to draft Himmel said the high ing on how the dances “There’s nothing set in stone.” “Sam” found at https://tinyurl. those details, like attendance lim- schools —Crystal River, could happen. Ernesto “Tito” Rubio, adminis- Himmel com/yb5bqrb9. its, within the next two weeks for Lecanto and Citrus — Mulling over gradua- trator of the Florida Department — From staff reports school board members to approve. along with the Citrus Resources tions and prom was part of the See SCHOOL/Page A5 Classifieds . .B6 Crossword . .B10 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . A5 Comics . .B5 Editorial. A7 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings. .B4 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Movies . .B5 Begin Your New Year With A New Ford! Stop By & Take A Test Drive! A2 THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 STATE & LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Spinks said the boat’s Around the STATE owner didn’t leave his ves- DEATH sel’s keys aboard, leading Fire captain accused of stealing Libraries can help Continued from Page A1 Pete’s Pier staff to think the cut ropes was an act of van- vaccine turns himself in with vaccine questions “It seemed to be an early dalism and the boat was BARTOW — A Florida fire captain accused of stealing The Citrus County Department of Health encourages ’90s model in decent condi- adrift somewhere in King’s COVID-19 vaccines meant for first responders turned him- citizens who would like additional information on the tion,” Spinks said. Bay. self in Wednesday afternoon, sheriff’s officials said. COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Citrus County to phone Pete’s Pier staff allowed After around 30 minutes of Polk County Fire Rescue Capt.