Masterful: Thanks to Scott, Oz gets a jacket /B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next 2013 Cadillac XTS morning $ HIGH 20,125* See Page B10 87 Partly cloudy; LOW 30 percent chance Village of afternoon storms. PAGE A4 000EHRK Cadillac 64 www.chronicleonline.com APRIL 15, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 118 ISSUE 251 Citrus County WORKS Abused at 10, Lauren Book has a story to tell Survivor urges victims to speak out A.B. SIDIBE Staff writer Lauren Book is a foot soldier trying to spread awareness and education about the shame-riddled and confusing world of child sexual abuse. Book, 27, is a survivor of MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle prolonged childhood sex- Lecanto Middle School head custodian Theodore Hopkins mops the floor outside of the school’s cafeteria Wednesday between lunches. ual abuse at the hands of a nanny and has made it her life’s mission to spread the word about sexual offenders. She is traversing the state, launching her fourth annual 1,500-mile Walk in My Shoes educa- tion and awareness cam- paign. The walking events, which will take book from Key West to Tallahassee, will culmi- nate with a rally April 23 NANCY KENNEDY at the state’s historic Staff writer n an economic climate where jobs are at a premium, Capitol building. Wednesday, Book LECANTO the Chronicle is featuring an occasional series, I stopped by the Citrus or 30 years, Teddy Hopkins “Citrus County Works,” profiling local Citrus County County Sheriff ’s Office’s has helped bring order to people and the jobs they perform. Today: Teddy Emergency Operations chaos and beauty to a small Hopkins, Lecanto Middle School custodian. Center for a roundtable F with county officials also part of Citrus County. trying to prevent child As Lecanto Middle School’s head custodian, Fellow custodian physical education. A open, so I got my hands sexual abuse and support he’s able to transform his surroundings, which Blain McDonald called former basketball and busy right away,” Hop- victims. gives him great satisfaction. it a “shadows” job. They football player, Hopkins kins said. “It was sum- After a brief introduc- “With life, you don’t always see that what you do things no one sees. still holds the record for mer cleaning, which tion by Melissa Bower- do is having any benefit. But with what we do, It’s also the only job most interceptions as a was the best time for me master, CCSO’s senior we can take a room that’s full of filth and grime Hopkins has ever cornerback for Crystal to start, because I victim advocate, Book told and turn around and see a finished product wanted to do. River High School. learned how to strip, the gathering her story of that’s ready to go, and it’s instant,” he said. “I was 21,” said the He returned to Citrus wax and buff floors.” abuse and triumph. She “When teachers come in and students come Crystal River native. “I County and applied at That first year, Hop- also wrote a memoir and the floors look like glass and someone tells tried college — CFCC in the county office and kins was also asked to called “It’s OK to Tell” you the place looks good, it makes you feel Ocala — and found out was immediately hired. help coach sports at the spelling out the details of good.” that it wasn’t for me.” “When I started here, school. her exploitation, which His is one of those jobs that many people don’t He had wanted to do it was the first summer began at age 10 and went think about. something with kids and that the school was See MR. CLEAN/Page A7 on until she was 16. See BOOK/Page A6 POLL Question of the Week ONLINE POLL: Chronicle Facebook friend Meredith Linley posted an idea: “If you Your choice? How should the had a million dollars, how would you use it to improve Citrus United States deal with North County?” That’s today’s question: How would you use the money? Korea? A. Seek to join with South Art Jones Meredith Linley KC Nayfield Korea, China and Russia Spend it all on cleaning up Buy some of these blighted Provide funding for public/private projects to conserve water and stand united in taking and restoring King’s Bay. properties (maybe the old and promote aquifer recharge to increase spring flows. swift and severe military bingo hall in Crystal River or some action. Tami DeBarge Radke of the vacant places on Hwy. 44) — Mary Lynn Garten B. Ignore Kim Jong Un’s Scoop up and rejuvenate level them and clean them up; do- One million wouldn’t do much, but I’d pump it into the threats. He’s just nutty. some of the closed businesses nate to the YMCA capital campaign; schools so teachers could educate students, rather than C. In conjunction with in the area and open some well needed build a frozen yogurt and bagel teach how to pass tests. I would use it to get more of the kids of the United Nations, seek jobs in the area. I can tell you it would Citrus County to go to college rather than dropping out, going to diplomatic dialogue. shop; fund Citrus County Blessings D. Assassinate Kim Jong Un. not include a Walmart or a thrift store. forever; funnel it towards cleaning jail/prison, having babies while still in school, and/or working To vote, visit www. the river with the One Rake at a dead-end jobs for the rest of their lives. chronicleonline.com and Jason William Lowe Time project; start another major click on “Opinion.” Give it to the YMCA of Cit- yearly concert event that will keep Want to contribute? Become our fan @ For last last week’s rus County to help them bringing people here year after facebook.com/citruscountychronicle and results, see Page A3. complete their capital campaign. year. respond to our Question of the Week. Comics . .B6 Editorial . .A10 INDEX Lottery Payouts . .B3 Classifieds . .B7 Crossword . .B5 Entertainment . .A4 Movies . .B6 TV Listings . .B5 Horoscope . .A4 Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . .A6 000EI0T A2 MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE When it comes to hearing loss, the solution is pure and simple. Siemens Pure® lets nothing come between you and your world. The hearing device designed for utmost discretion, Pure packs the most advanced hearing technology into an almost invisible, ultra-small size instrument. And they’re rechargeable. Experience this unique hearing device today! Pure you Be yourself with a hearing instrument that blends in your identity. ATTENTION FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES Pure power You may qualify for FREE Rechargeable Hearing Aids It’s tiny, but mighty. (no need to change batteries!) Pure has been perfectly engineered to give you exactly the strength you need. ACT TODAY! Annual Hearing Test: SMART Free Annual Hea ring Te st: GENIUS Pure 101 FREE $ 995 Limited time offer. Expires 4/19/13 TEST Pure Carat 301 $ 1495 THIS Limited time offer. Expires 4/19/13 Intuis Life WEEK! $ 795 Limited time offer. Expires 4/19/13 www.nutechhearing.com CRYSTAL RIVER OCALA INVERNESS 352-794-6155 352-671-2999 352-419-7911 3161-C, E. Gulf to Lake Hwy. 11250 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Ocala 1122 N. Suncoast Blvd. (US 19) 1/2 mile east Next to Chili’s A block and a half south of of Walmart Ft. Island Trail M-F 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. • Sat. and Sun. Appt. Needed 000EHZ2 Page A3 - MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013 CITRUS COUNTY CHRONICLE Around the STATE ‘All shook up’ for Elvis Citrus County NANCY KENNEDY Here are some events Courthouse. Tickets are $25 Vets case manager Staff writer not to miss: and can be purchased by available Friday, April 26 calling 352-341-6427. INVERNESS — Elvis Elvis on the Square out- ■ Up close and personal The Citrus County Veter- may have left the building, door concert, featuring — “Follow That Dream” ans Services Department but he hasn’t left the Ted Torres, 7:30 p.m., Main child stars Robin and has announced a case hearts and minds of the Street, Inverness outside Gavin Koon, now grown manager will be available people of Citrus County. the Old Courthouse. Tor- men living in California; during the week to assist From April 26 to 28, it’s res won 2011 Best Vocals Marian Cocke, Elvis’ care- veterans to apply for bene- all about Elvis again with in Las Vegas on the “Elvis giver; plus David English, fits and provide information the Elvis Festival, com- Stage” and was named in author of the newly pub- for other veterans’ benefits. memorating and celebrat- the 2011 World’s Ultimate lished book, “Elvis Pres- ■ First Wednesday ing Elvis’s visit to Citrus Elvis Contest Top 5. ley: The Summer of ‘61,” monthly — Lakes Regional County in 1961 to film the VIP seating is $25. Bring will all be on hand telling Library, 1511 Druid Road, movie “Follow That lawn chair for free seating. stories about Elvis during Dream.” Saturday, April 27 a Q&A session at 10 a.m. Inverness. Special to the Chronicle “This is our third year, ■ Elvis Blue Suede upstairs in the Old Court- ■ Second Wednesday Pictured warming up in front of Stumpknockers On The and every year we’ve done monthly — Homosassa Li- Shoes 5K Run/1-Mile Square Restaurant are, from left, Debbie Rector and Serv- house. Suggested dona- brary, 4100 S. Grandmarch something a little differ- Walk/Dog Walk.