Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Olympics: Felix wins women’s track record 10th medal/B1 SATURDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 89 Partly sunny with LOW a storm possible. 71 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com AUGUST 7, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 304 NEWS BRIEFS Flooded areas drying up Take a closer remained under a flood warning the day before receding. look at Citrus gets over 10 inches of rainfall through Friday. Moderate river flooding — when Florida’s springs Along with flooding the county’s waters could flood Arrowhead BUSTER THOMPSON “The water’s definitely coming low-lying areas this past week, the homes — occurs at 9 feet high. The Sierra Club Adven- AND MICHAEL D. BATES up,” Hilbert, who’s lived off of over 10 inches of rainfall in the River waters crept up many Ar- ture Coast will host a vir- Staff writers East River Road since February region swelled the Withlacoochee rowhead properties, including tual meeting, “Beneath 2017, told the Chronicle Friday, River to an uncomfortable but Hilbert’s alongside an inlet. the Surface of the Florida Tony Hilbert has seen worse but Aug. 6. “When you live by there, it manageable brink. “It’s up in our yard,” he said. Springs,” from 7 to 8 p.m. it’s still unsettling for him to see either gets you or it doesn’t.” According to the National “We have a little fish house that’s Aug. 18 via Zoom. the Withlacoochee River overflow Heavy rains and rising river wa- Weather Service Friday morning, kind of underwater. ... We’ve got a Guest speaker Ryan onto his homestead in the Arrow- ters over the week of Aug. 2 have the river at its intersection with boat ramp that’s not even a boat Smart, director of the head Estates of northeast Citrus been a double-whammy for river- State Road 200 near Holder was ramp anymore.” Florida Springs Council, County. front residents, many of whom forecast to peak at 8.6 feet later in See FLOODED/Page A5 will speak about the state’s imperiled springs and the efforts to protect them. To register, visit tinyurl.com/38hvpa36. For more information, Pondering plans for Kings Bay Park visit sierraclub.org/florida/ adventure-coast, the Sierra Club Adventure Coast Group on Face- book, call 352-277-3330 or email sierraclub adventurecoastcc@ gmail.com. Did you join the military after 9/11? The 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, ter- rorist attacks is ap- proaching. The Chronicle is seeking individuals who were spurred to join the U.S. armed forces in the wake of the attacks. To share your story, email Jeff Bryan at jeff.bryan@ chronicleonline.com or Brian LaPeter at blapeter @chronicleonline.com. Where were you when it happened? Where were you on the MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle Get Up and Go Kayaking Crystal River guide Conner Keen prepares a clear-bottom kayak for a client Friday, July 30, at Kings Bay Park in Crystal morning of Sept. 11, River. The park is a popular destination for those paddlers wanting to launch their craft into the water. 2001, when terrorist at- tacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Crystal River, elsewhere brought our nation to a standstill. The paddlecraft vendors Chronicle is asking read- ers to share your stories, in 200 words or less, look to make upgrades about where you were BUSTER THOMPSON that fateful September Staff writer morning. Email your thoughts to community@ A couple hours after dawn broke over chronicleonline.com. Crystal River, a small convoy of vans and trucks towing trailers of kayaks and paddle State officials boards entered the gravel parking lot of the sue over city’s Kings Bay Park. Driving slow for the people walking and wastewater cycling around the waterfront park at the BRADENTON — Flor- end of Northwest Third Street, the motor- ida environment officials cade turned and pulled alongside a path- are suing the owner of an way leading to the docks. old fertilizer plant over a A handful of workers donning bathing leak that led to the suits and sun hats exited the vehicles to emergency release of start unloading paddlecraft, paddles and 215 million gallons of con- lifejackets. They stacked the equipment up against Many paddlers who utilize commercial paddle companies depart from and return to Kings Bay taminated water directly Park in Crystal River. into Tampa Bay earlier wooden fences of partial corrals built for them to store gear for their clients to pick It was an effort by city officials to help mented Aug. 1, 2021, for recreational users. this year. up. alleviate congestion at its other bayside Five paddlecraft businesses also pay the Florida Department of Moments later, minivans and SUVs grounds of Hunter Springs Park. city a monthly lease to rent out corral space Environmental Protection loaded with families and others planning to Crystal River also began collecting reve- at the park. Those with a physical shop- interim Secretary Shawn paddle on King’s Bay arrived to meet with nue Feb. 1 from the $5 fee it charges pad- front in the city pay $750; those operating Hamilton said in a state- their guides. dlecraft businesses for each launch out of online pay $1,500. ment Thursday that the This has been a common scene at Kings Kings Bay Park. There are other licensed businesses op- lawsuit filed in Manatee Bay Park since Aug. 17, 2020, when City By mid-June, the city collected close to erating within the city, but their waterfront County Circuit Court Council required paddlecraft businesses $100,000 from 15,300 commercial paddlec- properties allow them direct access to against HRK Holdings is licensed in the city to launch their custom- raft launches. King’s Bay. a pivotal step to ensure ers from there. A similar launch fee was later imple- See PLANS/Page A8 the final chapter for the Piney Point site. “This action enforces compliance with the state’s environmental Local woman starts campaign laws and all of HRK’s ex- Crystal River city council isting authorizations, or- ders and agreements for county commission with the department,” set to tackle busy agenda Hamilton said. “The de- MIKE WRIGHT commission Dis- partment is seeking the BUSTER THOMPSON the next trash- Staff writer trict 2, currently maximum allowable pen- Staff writer hauler contract held by Ron alties and recovery of and fixing eco- A lifelong Citrus County resi- Kitchen Jr., who costs and damages It’s going to be a long evening tourism impacts. dent and former longtime direc- has said he will under existing laws and for Crystal River City Council Council will tor of an organization that not run again. regulations.” when it next meets. call to order at protects victims of domestic vio- “This county The state is requesting City Manager Ken Frink pre- 5:30 p.m. at Crys- lence is the first candidate for afforded me the viewed council’s agenda for Mon- tal River City Diana a court-appointed re- county commission in the 2022 opportunity to day, Aug. 9, during a meeting Ken Frink Hall, 123 NW U.S. election. Finegan grow with hard ceiver to help oversee the Wednesday with the Chronicle 19, Crystal River. They will also Diana Finegan, of Homosassa, work and determination,” she permanent closure of the Editorial Board. meet earlier at 5 p.m. as the board filed paperwork Friday with the said. “It’s time for me to give back.” former phosphate pro- Frink said notable items in- of the city’s Community Redevel- supervisor of elections office to Finegan, 47, was born in Floral cessing plant, the Tampa clude a contentious development opment Agency, or CRA. set up a campaign account. City and attended Citrus County Bay Times reported. proposal for an RV resort, the fu- For more on city government Finegan, a Republican, is schools. — From staff and wire reports ture of a blighted shopping plaza, See COUNCIL/Page A5 seeking election to county See FINEGAN/Page A8 Classifieds . .B7 Crossword . .B10 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . None Comics . .B6 Editorial. A7 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings. .B5 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Movies . .B6 A2 SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE 2022 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA COROLLA CAMRY LE RAV4 LE HIGHLANDER 0% APR LE 0% APR 0% APR 0% APR LE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE MODEL#1852 MODEL#2532 MODEL#4430 MODEL#6946 LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR $ ZERO $ ZERO $ ZERO ZERO - OR - - OR - $ 189 - OR - DOWN 209 DOWN 228 DOWN - OR - DOWN PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS 298 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $309/MO. FOR 36 MOS. $325/MO. FOR 36 MOS. $349/MO. FOR 36 MOS. PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $419/MO. FOR 36 MOS. WITH $3999 DOWN WITH $3999 DOWN WITH $3999 DOWN WITH $3999 DOWN FOR WELL-QUALIFIED LESSEES WITH APPROVED CREDIT THROUGH SETF. NOT ALL LESSEES WILL QUALIFY. NO SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED. MONTHLY PAYMENTS DO NOT INCLUDE TAXES. 12,000 MILES PER YEAR. APR OFFER: WITH APPROVED CREDIT AND FINANCING THROUGH SET. MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR EVERY $1,000 FINANCED IS 0% - 36 MONTHS = $27.78, 0% - 48 MONTHS = $20.83. MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH CERTAIN OTHER OFFERS. PRICES ARE PLUS TAX, TAG, TITLE, $995 DEALER FEE, AND DEALER INSTALLED OPTIONS (DIMMITT ADVANTAGE PLUS). EXPIRES 8/31/2021. Credit Less Than Perfect? 1ST PAYMENT Village Toyota Can Help! DEFERRED FOR GET PRE- UP TO 90 DAYS APPROVED On approved credit.