Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Rays: Tampa Bay takes on AL East rival N.Y. Yankees /B2 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 82 Mostly cloudy LOW with scattered showers. 63 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 13, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 217 NEWS BRIEFS Schools mull mask change Citrus County COVID cases According to the Flor- Officials want to make face coverings optional for next year, ease other rules ida Department of Health, BUSTER advertise a public hearing “We have survived,” policy changes after coun- the emergency policy re- six positive cases were THOMPSON for a rescheduled meeting school board member seling with school district quiring face coverings for reported in Citrus County Staff writer on June 14, when they’ll Sandy Counts said. “We attorney Wes Bradshaw 90 days, with several ex- since the latest update. vote on whether to repeal have three more Fridays and the Florida Depart- ceptions, they did not No new deaths were Face coverings could the county school dis- to go, but we’re going to ment of Health in Citrus issue a sunset clause to reported, for a total of soon be optional to wear trict’s mask-wearing make it.” County. set an end date for the 451. on Citrus County’s public rules. Board members also Since starting school mandate. To date in the county, campuses as local educa- School staff, students agreed to approve School Aug. 20 for the 2020-21 Without a sunset clause, 11,191 people have tion officials move to re- and visitors are still re- Superintendent Sandra school year, the school the board reasoned, the tested positive (including voke a policy mandating quired to wear face cover- “Sam” Himmel’s recom- district recorded 774 policy could be extended, 99 non-residents). mask use in response to ings on school grounds mendation to increase at- COVID-19 cases — 555 which board members did No new hospitaliza- COVID-19. and in district offices tendance capacity for students, 219 staff — as of after the three-month tions were reported, for a Citrus County School until the end of the aca- outside school functions Monday. deadline. total of 727 hospitalized. Board members voted 5-0 demic year on June 4, in- from 75% to 100%. When school board Tuesday, May 11, to Totals reflect prelimi- cluding graduations. Himmel pitched the members in July enacted See SCHOOLS/Page A5 nary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. Fire units Detail work battling blaze Citrus County Fire Rescue and the state Di- vision of Forestry were battling a brush fire early Wednesday evening in the area of North Dawn- flower Avenue and West Cockscomb Drive in northwest Citrus near Lake Rousseau. There were reports of structures in danger and possibly one structure damaged. Fire officials said there was a heavy first-responder response in the area. Sumter officials investigating double homicide The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a double ho- micide investigation, ac- cording to the agency. At approximately 5:08 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, the Sumter County Communications Center received a report of two deceased persons — one white male and one Black male — in the MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle area of County Road 219, Commercial artist Carly Taft, also known as Gnarly Carly, works on a large mural Tuesday afternoon, May 11, on the side of T&T Ceramic Wildwood. The identity of Coatings, an auto detailing business Crystal River located behind Walgreens. The owner of the detailing business said he wanted some vibrant the victims is unknown, artwork to brighten the area and sought the artist to complete the project. The scene features a classic Chevy Nova SS on a beach as the sun pending next of kin sets. To see more of Taft’s art, visit gnarlycarly.com. notification. This is an active inves- tigation, an agency spokesperson said. No further information is available at this time. Horace Wilkinson: Beloved teacher, vet, golfer If anyone has any in- formation regarding this NANCY KENNEDY Crystal River, try- In the style of the New- case, contact the Sumter Staff writer ing to learn how to lywed Game, they were County Sheriff’s Office at parallel park, and asked questions and had 352-793-2621 or to re- Although it’s been de- he’d say things to write down how they main anonymous Crime- cades since Lloyd Bertine like, ‘Pull over thought their mate would line at 800-423-TIPS took driver’s ed from next to that car by Reservoir. walking down the hallway answer. (8477). Horace Wilkinson at Crys- the bank so I can However, like and bumped into him,” First question: What is tal River High School, he run in and get us many combat vet- Betty said. his favorite food? Parks and still remembers one of the some money.’ He Horace erans, Horace That’s when she got her That was easy — Betty Rec to have school’s favorite made driver’s ed Wilkinson didn’t say much first glimpse of his sense knew it was fried chicken. teachers. fun,” Bertine said. about his time in Korea, of humor. Horace wrote: liver. He Activity Expo “Anyone who had Crystal River’s beloved other than it was cold, “You didn’t have to hated liver. Citrus County Parks Horace Wilkinson for driver’s ed teacher said Betty Wilkinson, his knock me down to get my Next question: What is driver’s ed would tell you Horace L. Wilkinson died and Recreation will have wife of 63 years. attention,” he said to her. his favorite song? he was so laid back,” Ber- April 2. He was 89. She met Horace when Another time, a store Another easy question their inaugural Youth tine said. “Having stu- Born and raised in they were both students at had a “How well do you — “Clair De Lune.” Sports and Activity Expo dents just learning to Muncie, Indiana, before Ball State University in know your mate?” con- Horace wrote: “Good- from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. drive in the car all the Horace became a teacher Muncie, where Horace test, with the winners re- night, Irene.” Saturday, June 5, at the time, he never got excited he served his country used his post-service G.I. ceiving free tickets to the The final question: Citrus Springs Commu- or upset, and he was during the Korean War as Bill to earn a bachelor’s Ball State homecoming What is his favorite sport? nity Center, 1570 W. Cit- funny. a Marine, fighting in the degree in education. football game, so they en- rus Springs Blvd. “We’d be driving around Battle of Chosin “It was 1956, and I was tered it. See WILKINSON/Page A5 The expo will be open to the public. Local orga- nizations will be on site to give information about their offerings to the youth Citrus County loses ‘icon’ with death of Ed Gerrits of Citrus County, includ- ing youth sports leagues, MIKE WRIGHT County through its formi- people didn’t Feb. 7, 1926, in Mil- farming business, while dance schools, camps Staff writer dable growth years. know about,” said waukee, Wiscon- continuing to work for the and more. “He’s definitely some- Crystal River sin, and attended construction company. In Organizations who Edward Gerrits was an one who made Citrus Councilman Pat the University of 1970 he opened Citizens wish to participate must FBI agent, bank chairman County what it is today,” Fitzpatrick, who Miami. He worked First National Bank in In- register by Friday, May of the board, cattle said Josh Wooten, presi- worked for Mr. with the FBI as a verness, which later ex- rancher, developer and, dent and CEO of the Cit- Gerrits at Citi- 21 to secure a table. To special agent for panded into a multi-bank often behind the scenes, rus County Chamber of zens First Na- five years, then re- holding company. register, call Manny Co- supporter of political Commerce. tional Bank, Edward turned to Miami to Retired banker Rocky imbre, sports and events interests. Mr. Gerrits died Tues- which Mr. Gerrits Gerrits work with his fa- Hensley, who started his coordinator, at Linked with other Cit- day, May 11, 2021, at opened in 1970 in Inver- ther’s construction busi- banking career working 352-527-7540. rus County’s pioneers — his home in Shamrock ness. “A lot of things got ness, Edward J. Gerrits Inc. for Mr. Gerrits at Citizens For information about the Tolles, the Fitzpatricks Hills, Crystal River. He done in Citrus County He and his first wife, First National, said Mr. Citrus County Parks and — Mr. Gerrits, as his was 95. because of him and the Madeleine, moved to Gerrits wanted to help Recreation, visit facebook. grown children’s friends “He had a huge im- people he associated Crystal River in 1955 and businesses succeed. com/citruscountyparks. still call him, staked the pact. A lot of things with.” he assumed responsibility — From staff reports path that led Citrus he did in the county, Mr. Gerrits was born for the family cattle and See GERRITS/Page A5 Classifieds . .B8 Crossword . .B14 INDEX Food . A10 Obituaries . A5 Comics . .B7 Editorial. A7 Lottery Numbers . .B3 TV Listings. .B6 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B3 A2 THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021 LOCAL/STATE CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Detour on US 41 MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle Traffic is diverted off of U.S. 41 in south Dunnellon in Citrus County Wednesday, May 12, as construction on a trail connector takes place.