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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NFL: Bucs bounce back with blowout win / B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 81 Stray shower, LOW mostly sunny, cooler by eve- 55 ning./PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com NOVEMBER 16, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 39 NEWS BRIEFS Kinnard Citrus County NO FIRST-DAY JITTERS will pitch COVID update According to the Florida Department of plan for Health, 28 new posi- tive cases were re- ported in Citrus mental County since the lat- est update. Two new hospitalizations were health reported; three deaths were reported. To date in the county, 3,856 people campus have tested positive (including 19 non- MIKE WRIGHT residents), 368 have Staff writer been hospitalized and 146 have died. Two new county commissioners join Meals program the dais Tuesday on a taking clients day when the board will discuss impact The Citrus County fees, road projects Meals on Wheels Pro- and one commission- gram is currently ac- er’s idea for county cepting new eligible owned land in clients for Meals on Lecanto. Wheels. Residents, Holly Davis and age 60 or older, who Ruthie Schlabach, both are homebound can elected in the August receive Meals on primary, will be sworn Wheels provided by a into office during the board’s annual organi- Federal Grant under zational meeting, which the Older American’s begins at 1 p.m. Tues- Act (OAA). day, Nov. 17, 2022, at Call 352-527-5975 the courthouse, to verify whether you MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle 110 N. Apopka Ave., qualify and for more Ruthie Schlabach will take office Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, as a county commissioner, representing District 3. Inverness. information. They replace Jim- — From staff reports mie T. Smith and Brian Coleman. Davis ONLINE POLL: Schlabach: ‘I'm going to listen to the citizens’ defeated Smith at the What do polls; Coleman left of- MIKE WRIGHT fice after one term. Staff writer The agenda in- you think? WANT TO MEET YOUR NEW cludes a plan offered This election cycle, uesday cannot come fast by Commissioner Jeff several counties in enough for Ruthie Davis COUNTY COMMISSIONERS? Kinnard to “approve in concept” setting Florida (Pinellas, TSchlabach. I WHAT: Citrus County Board of County Commissioners meeting Alachua, Clay and The 56-year-old Black Diamond aside 16 acres near I WHEN: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020 Okaloosa) passed resident is itching for the ceremo- the county jail for a LifeStream Behav- measures enacting nial swearing-in and taking her seat I WHERE: Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness as a Citrus County commissioner. ioral Center Baker Act special school taxes to I After losing in 2018 to now fellow OF NOTE: The annual organization of the board starts the meeting, facility/mental-health cover the cost of Commissioner Ron Kitchen Jr. and when new Commissioners Ruthie Davis Schlabach and Holly Davis campus, and the funding the local winning a crowded primary in Au- will be ceremonial sworn into office. county animal shelter. education system. What gust, Schlabach has met with county Both LifeSteam and area do you think is in department directors and was pour- supporters of a new enough need of ing over Tuesday’s agenda on personal agendas.” to work. animal shelter have additional investment to Friday. Her No. 1 project? Finding a per- “We are really lucky with who we targeted the property, pass a special tax in “I’m a reader,” she said. “I take manent home and direction for the have,” she said. “It makes me want which officials say is a Citrus? notes.” Citrus County Animal Shelter. to be even stronger for them.” perfect fit. A. School counseling Though a newcomer, Schlabach Schlabach said she fully supports Schlabach’s interest in local poli- Kinnard proposes that the county lease programs. We really said she comes into office with eyes Kinnard’s plan on Tuesday’s agenda tics began around 2017 when she 10 acres to LifeStream need more easily wide open. She said, for example, to ask for conceptual approval to and her husband, Jarey, owners of that while Commissioner Scott Car- for a nominal fee, and accessible mental place the animal shelter and Schlabach Security and Sound Inc., nahan and Kitchen share seniority LifeStream Behavioral Center’s were embroiled in a code case with use the remaining health care for students with six years each on the board, mental health treatment campus the county over a fence they in- acreage for a new ani- in Citrus County.. Schlabach won’t be intimidated by near the county jail and state juve- stalled to block their parking lot mal shelter. B. Construction and their longevity. nile prison. from an adjoining one. Both LifeSteam and maintenance. Too many “They voters have been very clear She said the county could help de- In 2018, the county commission the county would split of our school facilities what they want,” she said, noting velop programs that aid inmates, voted to drop the case with two of design costs and per- are outdated and need along with her win, Holly Davis de- teenage prisoners, mental-health Schlabach’s new fellow commission- mitting, according to deep renovation work. feated incumbent Jimmie T. Smith, patients and pets that need training ers playing a role. Kinnard’s proposal. LifeStream would be C. Safety measures. and incumbent Jeff Kinnard was re- and adoption. Commissioner Scott Carnahan, set responsible for build- Security needs to be elected without opposition. “The cit- “It’s my responsibility to take care to become chairman Tuesday, made izens are ready for a new chapter in ing the facility with no enhanced and the of vulnerable people and vulnerable the motion to dismiss the code case. Citrus County. Historical knowledge additional dollars Guardian Program animals,” she said. “This is some- Kitchen was the lone no vote. is important, but I’m going to listen thing we have to do. How long have The experience had a lasting from the county. needs a boost. to the citizens of Citrus County.” we been talking about the animal effect. Tuesday’s agenda D. Technology. Teachers She added: “They want a new shelter?” “The Lord put us in that place,” also includes: and students need the guard. We don’t need After visiting with county staffers, she said, “so I would be pushed to most up-to-date device leadership that’s all egos and Schlabach said she is eager to get run for office.” See PLAN/Page A6 in working order. E. Teacher and support staff pay. Citrus wasn’t able to hit Gov. DeSantis’ mandate to increase teacher pay. Tragedy takes mother from son Citrus taxpayers need to step up to help educators and district staff earn a living wage. Family, friends pull together to help pay for services, care F. The arts. So often, these areas of are NANCY KENNEDY 25-year-old man from Inverness, “He’s a foodie, just like his collided with the left side of Ash- mom,” Constantino said. overlooked with budgets Staff writer ley’s sedan. Constantino said they are still slashed. A special Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, was a She later died from her injuries in shock at the loss of his increase in funding typical Wednesday for 25-year-old at an area hospital. daughter. music, arts and drama Ashley Constantino. Nemo was also critically in- “She had a huge heart, doing programs would After she finished her work day jured, although he is now home for others before herself,” he increase positive as a medical assistant, she picked with his grandfather, Victor Con- said. “That’s why she was a medi- diversity and exposure up her 5-year-old son, Nemo, stantino, in a full leg cast for six cal assistant. She liked helping to culture in Citrus. buckled him into his car seat and weeks. people.” To vote, visit www. set off for the weekly Wednesday “He’s a great kid,” Constantino Ashley grew up in Galloway, chronicleonline.com. night church service at NOW said. “He has autism, but he’s New Jersey, and moved to Dun- Scroll down the home Church in Ocala. high-functioning. I also have a nellon to be with her dad about At the intersection of County 6-year-old daughter, and the two six years ago. page and look for the Special to the Chronicle Road 491 and State Road 200, she of them are close, so now my wife After she had Nemo, whose Ashley Constantino, 25, was killed poll box in the right- turned left onto S.R. 200 and into and I have the two to take care given name is Nehemiah, the two Nov. 4, 2020 in a car accident while hand column. the path of an SUV traveling of.” lived with Constantino for about on her way to church in Ocala with Results will appear southbound. Nemo also has a severe wheat two years while Ashley worked her son, Nemo. Her family and next Monday. Find last That’s when typical turned allergy and a dairy intolerance, toward being able to support her- friends are raising money for funeral week’s online poll tragic. but what he can eat, he loves to self and her son on her own. expenses and care for Nemo, who results./Page A3 As the SUV, driven by a eat. See TRAGEDY/Page A6 was critically injured in the crash. Classifieds . .B6 Crossword . .B8 Horoscope . A4 Movies . .B5 Comics . .B5 Editorial. A8 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 TV Listings.