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Guide to games: Bowl season begins Saturday /B1 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next morning HIGH 74 More sunshine LOW and a bit warmer. PAGE A4 49 www.chronicleonline.com DECEMBER 19, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 119 ISSUE 134 County schools post strong scores ERYN WORTHINGTON Scores released Wednesday for Citrus an “A” or “B.” Citrus County received all “I want to congratulate Citrus High, Staff writer County high schools 2013 A-F report card “A’s” and “B’s.” Crystal River High, Lecanto High and confirmed students mirrored other Crystal River High improved its grade Academy of Environmental Science staff, INVERNESS — Scholarly students at- schools in the state’s high ranking. from a “C” to a “B,” Lecanto High School students and school community for their tend Citrus County public high schools, Results show that Citrus County high improved to an “A” school, Citrus High hard work and commitment,” said according to the Florida Department of schools are accounted for in the 82 per- maintained its “B” grade and the Academy Education. cent of Florida high schools that earned of Environmental Science received an “A.” See SCHOOLS/ Page A5 Santa’s backup brigade CUB, others work to bring Christmas to needy kids NANCY KENNEDY Staff writer INVERNESS he spirit of Christ- mas is alive and well T in Citrus County and living through the dedi- cated volunteer Christ- mas elves at Citrus United Basket (CUB). Thanks to the generos- ity of local residents who donated new toys and gifts to the Marine Corps League Toys For Tots and new shoes to the county’s annual 9/11 Two Good Soles shoes and socks drive, more than 800 children in Citrus County who may other- wise go without Christ- mas gifts will wake up on Christmas morning to find presents with their names on them. CUB is one of several local agencies providing Christmas gifts for fami- lies going through tough MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle times. Last year they Inverness resident Donald Miles is assisted Wednesday morning by Citrus United Basket volunteer Sharon Huffstutter as he selects See CUB/ Page A8 gifts at the Inverness charity. Bondi touts record Officials: Sale of detention at county event center could be worth a look Commissioner talks up plans for animal shelter AG points to successful crackdowns on CHRIS VAN ORMER ing County Attorney on the merits of pill mills, scam artists, synthetic drugs Staff writer Kerry Parsons to each case, Kenney begin development said. A.B. SIDIBE The sale of the county de- of an ordinance to “With the sale of Staff writer SO YOU KNOW tention facility could bene- cover the sale of any some of our assets fit the county in several county property and that we no longer ■ For information about whether CITRUS HILLS — State Attorney you qualify for the foreclosure ways, the county commis- to research the ad- need, we can find a General Pam Bondi touted some of settlement or any other in- sion chairman said on vantages and disad- better way to func- Wednesday. tion,” Kenney said her achievements in the past three quiries, call 866-966-7226 or vantages of selling John “JJ” years in office and sounded the alarm visit myfloridalegal.com. Speaking to the Chroni- the county jail. Kenney Wednesday. “We’re about “ingenious” scam artists who cle editorial board, Com- The issue came looking at some real missioner John “JJ” Kenney up because Corrections capital outlays in the com- are targeting businesses. trafficking to the push against syn- gave more details about a Corporation of America ing years. We’ve got a $6 Bondi spoke at a luncheon hosted thetic drug sellers and scammers. discussion conducted on (CCA), which leases the jail, million radio system for the by the Womens Political Network of Pill mills are when a doctor opens Tuesday by the Citrus asked the county about sheriff ’s office. I’d love to Citrus County on Wednesday. an office sans most medical County Board of County making an offer to buy it. be able to build the animal Bondi alluded to strides made in equipment and writes prescriptions everything from the fight against Commissioners (BOCC), Selling any county prop- Medicaid fraud, pill mills and human See BONDI/ Page A7 which then instructed Act- erty would be considered See COUNTY/ Page A5 Classifieds . .C8 Community . .C5 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . .A6 Comics . .C7 Editorial . .A10 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings . .C6 Crossword . .C6 Entertainment . .A4 Horoscope . .A4 Movies . .C7 000GTR1 A2 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 STATE CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE State BRIEFS Firefighters find Nation, with Liberty and Jus- week, saying that children Conservation Commission of- ice at church, not a memorial, year, claiming about $1,000 in tice for All,” continued to be can’t play in the street due to ficials said the mother bear only a night to remember assets and $792,000 in liabili- body in home listed on the website Wednes- safety reasons. Association and her two cubs will receive Yessenia and the kids,” ties. Court papers list Anthony OCALA — Fire officials said day by a user called “thereal- officials told the TV station temporary care from Busch Ruben Perez, stepfather of as unemployed, with no re- they found a body inside an georgez.” A picture depicts that there’s one narrow, wind- Gardens in Tampa. the missing woman, wrote in cent income. Most of her lia- Ocala home following a fire. Zimmerman holding the art- ing road through the commu- Next spring, the cubs will a text message. bilities are legal bills. The fire broke out late work. The auction started nity and drivers often speed. be released back into the wild Volusia County Sheriff’s Anthony was acquitted of Tuesday and officials found Monday and is set to end One association members after they have been weaned, deputies have arrested murder in 2011 in the death the body early Wednesday Saturday. said there are other places for and the mother will be sent to Suarez’s husband, 31-year- her 2-year-old daughter, morning. Neither the artwork’s au- children to play. an accredited facility that old Luis Toledo. He confessed Caylee, and has been in hid- The Ocala Star-Banner re- thenticity nor the bids could Some parents call the new cares for bears. that during an argument about ing since then. ported officials couldn’t initially be confirmed by The Associ- rule absurd. Service planned for their troubled marriage he In November, the federal determine the sex of the victim. ated Press. A spokesman Bear that attacked struck her in the throat and bankruptcy judge approved a Assistant Fire Chief Brian said eBay doesn’t disclose missing mom, kids killed her. He has denied settlement between Anthony Stoothoff told the newspaper users’ personal information woman ID’d DELTONA — Friends and killing the children. and a Texas search group firefighters received the first but that the company reviews LONGWOOD — Wildlife family have planned a service Toledo pleaded not guilty that helped look for Caylee call shortly before 9 p.m. and reports of inauthenticity. Mes- authorities have positively to remember a missing cen- Nov. 21. whose remains were found in that flames were shooting from sages sent to the seller identified a bear that mauled tral Florida woman and her Anthony freed December 2008, about six the roof when they arrived a weren’t returned. a woman who was walking two young children. months after she had gone few minutes later. The fire was Zimmerman was acquitted her dogs earlier this month. Investigators said that Yesse- from most debts missing in Orlando. under control by 9:20 p.m. in July in the shooting death But wildlife authorities said nia Suarez, 28, and her children TAMPA — A bankruptcy Casey Anthony waited a Russell Kirk, who lives of teenager Trayvon Martin. Wednesday that the bear won’t — Thalia Otto, 9, and Michael judge has ruled that Casey An- month to report the toddler across the street, said he saw Last week, prosecutors said be euthanized since she was Otto, 8 — are dead, but their thony won’t have to pay most missing and was arrested in the fire and ran to the front they wouldn’t file domestic vi- captured with two of her cubs. bodies have not been found. of her debts, discharging what October 2008. The nationally door, but it was locked. He olence charges against Zim- Two other bears were euth- They went missing Oct. 23. she owes except for those re- televised trial lasted for six said his girlfriend called 911 merman for an incident at the anized after being captured in The Daytona Beach News- lated to student loans or crimi- weeks and ended in her ac- while he checked other doors. Florida house he shared with the days after the attack on Journal reported the service is nal fines, if she has them. quittal on the murder charge, The pool door was unlocked his girlfriend. suspicions that they may have planned for 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Judge K. Rodney May but she was convicted on and he rescued a dog from a been responsible for the on Saturday at Iglesia Adven- signed the order Tuesday for charges of lying to law cage. Kids banned from playing in street woman’s injuries. tista del Septimo Dia. Anthony, who filed for bank- enforcement. Zimmerman art Florida Fish and Wildlife “We will be having a serv- ruptcy in Florida earlier this — From wire reports LAKEWOOD RANCH — A on auction site homeowner’s association in ORLANDO — Artwork re- Manatee County is prohibiting portedly created by George children from playing in the Zimmerman is attracting bids of street.