Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NFL: Tebow’s comeback bid ends in Jacksonville /B1 WEDNESDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 93 Partly sunny with LOW afternoon storms possible. 74 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com AUGUST 18, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 319 NEWS BRIEFS FDOT answers U.S. 19 questions Drive-thru food When will the project resume? Who will be Q: What is the FDOT’s plan to complete the New developments for the new contractor? Will we have to wait even U.S. 19 widening project: giveaway every longer for completion? When will all the road A: The FDOT projects have contract bonds Wednesday barrels go away? issued by surety companies, which are now stalled widening project Questions have abounded since Inglis-based procuring completion contractors, she said. Beginning at 9 a.m. D.A.B. Constructors surprised everyone by Once those contracts are awarded, comple- Wednesday, Aug. 18, the MICHAEL D. BATES closing its doors, leaving road unfinished, in- tion dates can be better determined. The public can receive food at Staff writer cluding the much-delayed U.S. 19 one going FDOT and contractor will then agree on a the Citrus County fair- through Homosassa and Crystal River. schedule to end the project. grounds at 3600 S. Flor- The abrupt halt to the U.S. 19 road widening Kris Carson, spokeswoman for the Florida Q: What is the expected time frame for ida Ave., Inverness, FL project left residents in Homosassa and Crys- Department of Transportation (FDOT), sup- FDOT to replace D.A.B. with a new 34450 — drive-thru only. tal River wondering how long they’ll be stuck plied some answers about what’s been done so contractor? Feed Citrus County will dodging orange barrels and lane closures. far and what’s to come: See FDOT/Page A5 be at the fairgrounds every Wednesday in August at 9 a.m. Monetary donations are needed to continue feeding Citrus County residents. Please con- Olympian a true ‘Florida Man’ sider donating through the New Church Without Walls (www.newchurch Takes airboat withoutwalls.com), Citrus United Way ride in Dunnellon (www.citrusunitedway. SEAN ARNOLD org), Community Food Riverland News Bank of Citrus County (www.communityfood DUNNELLON — When NBC bankofcitruscounty.org) or needed a location that would We Care (www.wecare represent authentic Florida for foodpantry.org). a background segment on seven-time Olympic gold medal- Last chance to ist Caeleb Dressel, Dunnellon view Smithsonian was the spot. In the spring, the network ar- water exhibit ranged for Dressel to pay a visit The Old Courthouse to Capt. Bob’s Airboat Tours in Heritage Museum will host Dunnellon to bolster his “Flor- the Smithsonian’s Water/ ida Man” bona fides. When the Ways exhibition until piece aired during the Olym- pics coverage, “Capt. Bob” Jew- Aug. 21 at 1 Courthouse ett’s phone blew up. Square in Inverness. “A buddy of mine in Colorado The exhibit dives into called me and said, ‘Man, I sat water, an essential com- down, and I seen you on the ponent of life on Earth, Olympics and about passed out.’ environmentally, culturally “I’m thinking he’s making fun and historically. of me. He knows I’m not in the The Old Courthouse Olympics with the state I’m in.” Courtesy of NBC Heritage Museum’s Jewett later received a link to Capt. Bob Jewett of Dunnellon gives Caeleb and Meghan Dressel an hours are from 9 a.m. the video — https://tinyurl. airboat ride on the Withlacoochee River in the spring. to 4:30 p.m. Monday com/2p5csjtw — of him giving through Friday. one of his signature tours to the “THIS is Florida!” Dressell ride, and I gave him a good ride. For more information, Olympic champion and could be heard yelling over the He’d never been on an airboat, call 352-341-6428 or visit Dressel’s wife, Meghan, and airboat fan in the video. and he absolutely fell in love cccourthouse.org. was stunned. Dressell jokingly admitted with it.” “I honestly forgot about it,” Capt. Bob’s ride was faster than Jewett’s tours cover mostly Join the 17th Jewett said, “and I didn’t think his own world-best swimming the Withlacoochee River, while they were going to actually speed. he also shows passengers the annual CCVF show it during the Olympics. “Capt. Bob was like, ‘Yeah, clarity of the Rainbow River. golf tourney “I was pretty impressed. It we’re going about 50 mph. That’s He’s owned the airboat busi- was pretty cool.” not what we expected,” Dressell ness since 2007 and has owned Check in for the 17th In the video, Dressel de- said. “I can’t really compare Angler’s Resort since 2008 and annual Citrus County Vet- scribes his love for the weird- swimming to launching on an air- the Blue Gator since 2009. erans Foundation (CCVF) ness of Florida, which has boat, but I think it definitely in- They’re located at the south tip golf tournament will be at inspired the popular meme, creased my Florida Man stats.” of Dunnellon, across the street 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Florida Man. Dressel is origi- “I drive the airboat like that from City Hall. Sept. 11, at the Citrus nally from Green Cove Springs pretty much every time I drive Capt. Bob Jewitt on his airboat Hills Golf and Country and was an NCAA champion at it,” Jewett told the Riverland coming back from giving a tour. Club pro shop with an the University of Florida. News. “I give everybody a good Courtesy of Capt. Bob’s Airboat Tours 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. Groups short of four persons will be combined into teams. You do not need to be a veteran to participate. The tourna- ment is dedicated to the Citrus sets rain record Lack of witnesses late Rear Adm. Carlton “Mac” McLeod, retired U.S. Navy and the CCVF put cases at risk president from its incep- tion in 2004 until 2020. The registration form Floral City man faces and $65 donation must be received by Aug. 30. It includes golf and cart, first-degree murder charge beverages and lunch. The tournament features FRED HIERS give Howard assurance he Staff writer could produce the two. a hole-in-one prize and Howard’s decision door prizes. State prosecutors’ case means the prosecutors Contributions for door against an 18-year-old Flo- can continue with their prizes and hole sponsor- ral City man accused of case if they choose to but ships for $425, $325, $225 attempted first-degree without the two witnesses. or $125 are welcome. murder could be in peril. Prosecutors could appeal The CCVF has pro- The state appointed Howard’s ruling. vided financial assistance public defender, Charity Members of the Citrus to local honorably dis- Braddock, told Circuit County Sheriff ’s Office charged veterans and their Court Richard Howard (CCSO) Major Crimes and that numerous attempts to Tactical Impact units ar- surviving spouses with MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle file close to $400,000 since talk with the victim and a rested Vincent Irvin Jr. on The Withlacoochee River swells outside its normal banks, Aug. 5, near Stumpknockers witness failed and the two Nov. 5, 2004. To register, visit on State Road 200. citrusvf.org, call 352-382- ignored Howard’s order to 2020, on a appear in court Tuesday 0430 or 352-382-3847. normal high levels,” warrant to explain why they are charging — From staff reports Lake, river levels high said Dr. Mark Fulker- son, SWFWMD’s chief not cooperating. Braddock him with INDEX MICHAEL D. BATES professional engineer. requested the witnesses to firing a Staff writer From the Green take depositions as to the weapon Classifieds . .C7 Swamp downstream events that led to the at- into a ve- Comics . .C6 This summer has been one of the wet- tempted murder charges hicle, ag- past State Road 200, Vincent Crossword . .C14 test in recent memory, and lake and against Vincent Irvin Jr. gravated there are no structures Irvin Jr. Editorial. A11 river levels throughout Citrus County Dr. Mark that can be opened to Braddock asked How- battery Entertainment . A4 remain high. Fulkerson help lower river levels. ard to strike the two wit- and aggravated assault. Lottery Numbers . .B3 Parts of Arrowhead Estates, at State The Green Swamp is the headwaters nesses and Howard The alleged shooting oc- Lottery Payouts . .B3 Road 200, are still seeing significant for several of Central Florida’s rivers, obliged, setting a Nov. 29 curred Oct. 28, 2020. Obituaries . A6 flooding, according to the Southwest including the Withlacoochee. trial date, but removing Irvin posted bail Sun- TV Listings. .C5 Florida Water Management District “River conditions are naturally high the two witnesses from the day on a $25,000 bond a (SWFWMD). All three pools of the Tsala right now, due to above average rainfall proceedings. judge set while signing the Apopka lake chain are still high. and are expected to remain high Assistant state attorney warrant, according to the “The water control structures remain throughout the remainder of our wet Nicholas Caporicci told Citrus County Detention open, moving water out of the lakes to season,” Fulkerson said. Howard “I know they’re out Facility. help get them back down to their See RAIN/Page A5 of the county,” but couldn’t See CASES/Page A9 A2 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 STATE & LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Crystal River Eagles 4272 Auxiliary makes donation to CREST School The Crystal River Eagles 4272 Auxiliary recently made a donation of school supplies totaling more than $1,800 to the CREST School in Lecanto.