CITRUS COUNTY & Next Morning 000DOE9 HIGH 74 Partly Sunny
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’Noles look for first BCS bowl win in 13 years /B1 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next morning 000DOE9 HIGH 74 Partly sunny. LOW PAGE A4 at VILLAGE TOYOTA SEE IT 55 ON PG. C12 www.chronicleonline.com JANUARY 2, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOLUME 118 ISSUE 148 NEWS BRIEF Cliff avoided: Congress staves off tax hikes Woman killed individuals and $450,000 for cou- in the end they retreated. Legislation awaits president’s signature ples. That was higher than the Supporters of the bill in both par- in hit-and-run thresholds of $200,000 and $250,000 ties expressed regret that it was Doreen T. Ashley, 54, Associated Press The bill’s passage on a 257-167 that Obama campaigned for. But re- narrowly drawn, and fell far short died shortly before mid- vote in the House sealed a hard- markably, in a party that swore off of a sweeping plan that combined night on New Year’s Eve, WASHINGTON — Past its own won political triumph for the pres- tax increases two decades ago, tax changes and spending cuts to the victim of a hit-and-run New Year’s deadline, a weary Con- ident less than two months after he dozens of Republicans supported reduce federal deficits. That accident, according to in- gress sent President Barack Obama secured re-election while calling the bill at both ends of the Capitol. proved to be a step too far in the two formation from Florida legislation to avoid a national “fis- for higher taxes on the wealthy. The Senate approved the meas- months since Obama called con- Highway Patrol. cal cliff ” of middle class tax in- In addition to neutralizing mid- ure on a vote of 89-8 less than 24 gressional leaders to the White She had been walking creases and spending cuts late dle class tax increases and spend- hours earlier, and in the interim, re- House for a postelection stab at bellious House conservatives de- compromise. on the outside portion of Tuesday night in the culmination of ing cuts taking effect with the new a struggle that strained America’s year, the legislation will raise tax manded a vote to add significant eastbound West divided government to the limit. rates on incomes over $400,000 for spending cuts to the measure. But See CLIFF/ Page A2 Rosedale Drive, just east of South Enright Terrace in Homosassa, when an unidentified vehicle, also traveling eastbound on REVIEW West Rosedale Drive, 2012 Year in County struck her and fled the scene without stopping to help or report the crash. Ashley died at the jobs scene. The FHP report puts Adams highlights the time and date at 11:21 p.m., Dec. 31, grew in 2012. Citrus County Sheriff’s Office deputies happened upon the scene and noti- election year fied FHP. 2012 This is no information regarding the identity of the driver. Anyone with in- Unemployment formation is urged to con- tact FHP Cpl. Vince numbers drop Parnell by calling 352- PAT FAHERTY 796-6767. Staff writer —From staff reports Despite a three-month INSIDE summer slump and a stag- nant fourth quarter, Citrus EDUCATION: County’s unemployment rate improved considerably during 2012. And while the December figures will not be available until later this month, the county’s monthly unem- ployment rate has been steady or declining since August. For November, the county’s labor force Transitioning dropped by 125 to 56,861 Program prepares workers and the number of students for a employed increased by 281 career./Page C1 to 51,645. The number of MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle file known jobless residents OPINION: County Commissioner Scott Adams makes a point during a special commission meeting in December. Adams is dropped by 406 to 5,216, for flanked by Commissioners Dennis Damato and Rebecca Bays. an unemployment rate of Reper- 9.2 percent, the same rate as October. cussions Sheriff, state rep Overall, there was almost should accrue no movement in regional “ retain offices job figures — Citrus, Levy to those who and Marion counties — MIKE WRIGHT from October to November. don’t pay what Staff writer When the November fig- ures came out, Workforce they owe and “ CRYSTAL RIVER — Sheriff Jeff Connection CEO Rusty those who Dawsy faced his toughest competi- Skinner said the slight fluc- tor yet and still won handily. tuation over the month is allow it to State Rep. Jimmie T. Smith had “puzzling” — since the in- the full muscle of the state Repub- flux of seasonal hires was continue. lican Party behind him to crunch a expected to have a greater challenger with wide name recog- impact — but not alarming. nition in Citrus County. EDITORIAL, PAGE A6 Seasonal hiring is also ex- A little-known Lecanto High pected to influence the De- School teacher defeated a two- Chronicle file cember numbers, based on STATE & LOCAL: term school board incumbent. Candidates, supporters and others fill the Supervisor of Elections Office on projections from retailers. Betty Strifler retired as clerk of election night to watch the results come in. “To gauge how we’re court, but Strifler’s long-term assis- doing, you have to look at tant easily won election to replace the August primary for a county responded, giving him 40 percent where we were a year ago,” her. commission seat vacated by Winn in a four-person race. Poliseno was Skinner said. “And we’re Citrus and surrounding counties Webb, who ran for sheriff. second with 27 percent. definitely seeing some posi- picked a new public defender for The race included several anti- Adams already is showing an in- tive movement.” the first time since 1980. Poliseno mail pieces and auto- dependent streak. Skinner added while the But the biggest name in 2012 pol- mated phone calls linked to a He opened a Commissioner Scott labor force is about the itics, winning arguably the biggest South Florida political committee. Adams Facebook page that encour- same size as it was in No- race, was Scott Adams, an Inver- Both that organization and Adams ages suggestions and comments. vember 2011, there are 4,711 ness rancher/businessman who used the same political company to The page warns users that anything more people with jobs and Ready also owns a Sumter County landfill. mail the pieces, though Adams said printed there is subject to the state Inverness has a slate of 5,016 fewer unemployed. Adams, a business associate of he had nothing to do with the group Sunshine Law. The county’s November activities planned for Sen. Charlie Dean, defeated for- targeting Poliseno. While other commissioners were 2013./Page A3 unemployment rate was a mer county public safety director Adams portrayed his campaign marked improvement from Charles Poliseno and two others in as anti-establishment and voters See ELECTION/ Page A7 November 2011’s 11.5 per- NATION & WORLD: cent and a considerable im- Stampede provement from the Rushing crowd following November 2010 rate of 13.8 fireworks show kills at percent. least 61 people in Ivory Goocher became a household name For November, the region Coast./Page A8 also had 14.3 percent more MIKE WRIGHT who also were in About two minutes with a Chroni- online advertised vacan- INDEX Staff writer the race against cle reporter in June during which cies, led by job openings for Republican incum- he said: “I’m a strong Democrat registered nurses. Comics . .C8 CRYSTAL RIVER — The head- Rebecca Rust, chief econ- Community . .C6 bent Jimmie T. and I’m looking for change. I just line-grabbing candidate in the 2012 omist for the Florida De- Crossword . .C7 Smith. figured I’d like to give it a shot.” elections was a man who did all he Dostal, in fact, Moments later, Goocher said he partment of Economic Editorial . .A6 Opportunity, said the Work- Entertainment . .B6 could to avoid the spotlight. had dropped from had to hang up to do an oil change. Robert Raymond Goocher, 25, a the race but re- He promised to call back. Goocher force Connection region Horoscope . .B6 (Citrus, Levy and Marion) is Lottery Numbers . .B4 mechanic at his father’s Inverness Robert entered because of didn’t call back and did not return auto-repair shop, jumped into the Goocher’s candi- numerous messages during the not alone in 2012, as all 67 Lottery Payouts . .B6 Goocher counties had declines in un- Movies . .C8 race for state House of Represen- dacy. Both Argen- campaign. employment rates over the Obituaries . .A5 tatives District 34 despite never ziano and Dostal labeled Goocher He didn’t have a single sign or Classifieds . .C9 having run for office or even voting a “shill,” propped up by Republi- participate in any political forums. year. TV Listings . .C7 in an election. cans who hoped to draw votes away A Tallahassee-based election com- On Dec. 21, Gov. Rick Though a Democrat, he immedi- from Argenziano in the November munication organization sent out Scott announced Florida’s ately drew the ire of fellow Democ- election. several pro-Goocher mail pieces. seasonally adjusted unem- rat Lynn Thomas Dostal and Goocher did little to shed that ployment rate dropped to Independent Nancy Argenziano, label. He gave just one interview: See GOOCHER/ Page A2 See JOBS/ Page A2 A2 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE CLIFF Continued from Page A1 Majority Republicans did their best to minimize the bill’s tax in- creases, just as they abandoned their demand from earlier in the day to add spending cuts to the package. “By making Republican tax cuts permanent, we are one step closer to comprehensive tax reform that will help strengthen our economy and create more and higher pay- checks for American workers,” said Rep.