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Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Hoops: Densmore retiring after 33 years on Citrus bench/B1 TUESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 72 Morning fog then LOW partly sunny. 58 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com FEBRUARY 9, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 124 NEWS BRIEFS Former local judge dead Citrus County COVID-19 update Disgraced judge was booted from role in 1990s over controversial rulings RED IERS but for now no foul play Stillwell. “On a profes- association approached him According to the Flor- F H Staff writer was suspected. sional level, I appeared about trying to remove the county ida Department of Health, Graham, 73, gained na- before him.” judge from the bench. 21 positive cases were The Citrus County Sheriff ’s Of- tional judicial notoriety “In his courtroom you Some of those rulings included: reported in Citrus County fice continues to investigate the while on the bench for his would get a ruling that I Ordering a speeding boater since the latest update. death of former Citrus County unconventional rulings made all the sense in the who killed a manatee to spend No new deaths were re- Judge Gary Graham who was that in 1993 led to a Flor- world and ones that made 32 hours by a river, yelling to boat- ported, for a total of 363. found in his home. ida Supreme Court deci- no sense,” Stillwell recalled ers to slow down. To date in the county, CCSO Sgt. Lee Carey told the sion to remove him from Gary of the prickly Graham. I Ordering a snake collector to 9,058 people have tested Chronicle his agency is waiting his office. Graham Stillwell was one of the kill his collection of snakes after a positive (including for the medical examiner’s con- “He was clearly unique,” said attorneys who testified against woman was bitten. 66 non-residents). clusions about the Jan. 28 death, long-time local attorney, Clark Graham when the Florida Bar See GRAHAM/Page A5 No new hospitaliza- tions were reported, for a total of 602 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to later revision. Young riders saddle up Vaccine registration Amos Steen gets system open his helmet adjusted by his DOH-Citrus’ preregis- father before the tration system to sched- Red Level Kids ule COVID-19 vaccine Rodeo Buckle appointments for individu- Series mutton als 65 and older and busting event for frontline health care work- children age 6 ers is now available. and under. Steen Individuals can now be held on for a first added to a waiting list for place win with a vaccine appointments time of 6.768 and be notified when ap- seconds. About pointments are available 40 kids in Citrus County by visit- participated in the rodeo, which ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by was the last of a calling 866-201-0442; series of six TTY is 833-476-1036. monthly As part of the statewide competitions. The preregistration system, rodeo is in its each county has a desig- second year, and nated number that indi- is a mission of the viduals can call and Red Level Baptist pre-register with if they do Church. not have internet access. JULIE MANCINI/ Grant program For the Chronicle now accepting applications INSIDE For more The Board of County photos of Commissioners (BOCC) the Red is now accepting applica- Level Kids tions for their Nonprofit Rodeo, see Grant Program. The grant Page A3. program’s purpose is to assist Citrus County citi- zens adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pan- Kids Rodeo Buckle Series teaches children about life, responsibility demic and will provide a NANCY KENNEDY It would be his first-time ever age 18 and younger, who partici- their hard work and effort. grant for food distribution, Staff writer — and he would go on to win pated in the Red Level Horse- “This is a great thing for kids, or/and health care ex- first place, holding onto the back men’s Association Kids Rodeo because it is hard work,” said penses in Citrus County. n a recent chilly Satur- of a sheep for 6.76 seconds. Buckle Series, a ministry of Red Heather Crump, a parent of two The Nonprofit Grant day morning, 4-year-old It helped that the sheep Level Baptist Church. kids who are regular rodeo par- Program is specifically for O Amos Steen in his big wasn’t particularly interested in Saturday, Feb. 6, was the final ticipants. “It teaches them re- 501(c)(3) organizations black cowboy hat and mud- running around the arena like of six rodeos in the 2020-2021 sponsibility, and it teaches them scuffed cowboy boots paced and some of the others and more or series that started in September a lot of life lessons, like how to excluding member jumped as he awaited his big less moseyed out of the pen, but 2020. lose. They have to know how to groups. The Citrus rodeo event — mutton busting. that didn’t faze Amos. On Sunday, March 7, the win- lose as much as how to win, be- County Nonprofit Grants As he explained to a Chroni- “I held on tight!” he said ners will receive their prizes cause you lose more often than Program currently has cle reporter, “I’m going to ride a afterward. and all kids who have partici- win.” $300,000 in available sheep!” Amos was one of about 50 kids, pated will be recognized for See RODEO/Page A7 funds. A completed online ap- plication must be submit- ted by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, including an IRS W-9 form; Form 990 filings for the past three years; and a formal presentation to the BOCC, scheduled for March 16,. To receive a copy of the application form, email cares@citrus bocc.com. All materials submitted with an application will become a matter of public record, open to inspection by any citizen of the State of Florida subject to Chapter 119, Florida State Statutes. There are no guaran- ABOVE: Kash Bernard holds on as the sheep takes off running Saturday, Feb. 6, during tees that applicants will the mutton busting competition at the Red Level Kids Rodeo. RIGHT: Peyton Taylor was be awarded funding. one of four girls competing in the 11-14 age group for barrel racing. Even though a program may qualify, limited funds may not allow all pro- grams to receive assistance. Decisions regarding Citrus County’s COVID cases surpass 9,000 the award of funds are at the sole discretion of the more than 360 locals have died from the virus novel coronavirus were reported since Feb. 1, BOCC. Vaccinations over 16,700 and more than 16,700 of them have been vac- totaling 602, and 19 more county residents cinated against it. died, increasing the death count to 363. For information, con- BUSTER THOMPSON According to the Florida Department of Audrey Stasko, spokeswoman for the FDOH tact Citrus County Office Staff writer Health (FDOH) on Monday, Feb. 8, the county in Citrus County, said Monday the county’s av- of Management and Bud- tallied 9,058 cases, an increase of 362 trans- erage percent positivity rate from Feb. 1-7 for get at 352-527-5207. As the number of COVID-19 infections in missions since Feb. 1, at an average 52 a day. its Florida residents was at 9.55% — From staff reports Citrus County surpassed 9,000 over the week, A dozen more hospitalizations from the See COVID/Page A2 Classifieds . .B5 Crossword . .B8 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B2 Obituaries . A6 Comics . .B4 Editorial. A10 Lottery Payouts . .B2 TV Listings. .B3 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Movies . .B4 A2 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2021 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE County commission to consider CARES Act spending FRED HIERS charged the chamber to find I The chamber would issue passage because two other com- necessary launch area mainte- Staff writer ways as to how the money could funds, upon county commission missioners — Scott Carnahan nance and expansion help local businesses hurt by the approval, on a marketing cam- and Ron Kitchen Jr. — ex- projects.” The Citrus County Commis- pandemic. paign to educate people on the pressed support. Commissioner Kinnard said user fees are the sion will consider Tuesday two Here are some of the sugges- importance of shopping local. Ruthie Davis Schlabach said fairest way to pay for ramps. An- hot button issues as members tions in the expected The commission will also she also supports the fees. other option would be an in- consider whether to approve an presentation: make another run at imposing Kinnard said if the ramps are crease in ad valorem taxes $800,000 spending plan to invig- I Local business owners who user fees to use county boat to be maintained, there needs to “which we don’t want,” he said. orate local businesses and furloughed one or more employ- ramps. The commission consid- be money to do it. County Administrator Randy whether to charge launch fees at ees for a minimum of two ered the issue before but mo- “User fees, such as the pro- Oliver said if approved, the fees county boat ramps. months between March 15, 2020, tions failed to garner sufficient posed launch fee, are a way to would likely take effect in late Commissioners will consider and Jan. 31, 2021, and plan to re- support. fund the maintenance and ex- November or December. a presentation by the Citrus hire them could receive up to The driving force this time is pansion of quality launching The chamber presentation is County Chamber of Commerce $2,000 per employee.