British Open: Mickelson claims fifth major title /B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next morning HIGH 91 Scattered storms, LOW especially over- night, 40%. 73 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JULY 22, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 118 ISSUE 349 QUESTION OF THE WEEK Fire fee to get final hearing CHRIS VAN ORMER ■ Staff writer WHAT: Citrus County Board of County Commissioners meeting. ■ WHEN: 1 p.m. Tuesday; public comments and questions will be taken at Discussion of a potential flat fee for residences 1:30 p.m.; public hearing for fire assessments at 2:30 p.m. and commercial assessments for fire-protection ■ WHERE: Room 100, Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka Ave., Inverness. services is expected to take up most of the time at Tuesday’s meeting of the Citrus County Board of ■ AGENDA: Available on the county’s website, www.bocc.citrus.fl.us, at the Lecanto County Commissioners (BOCC). Government Building or in the commissioners’ suite on the second floor of the A public hearing has been set for 2:30 p.m. at the courthouse in Inverness. courthouse, during which county residents can ex- ■ WATCH: The meeting will be televised live on cable TV on Channel 622 on Bright Contribute! press their views about the proposed revenue House and Channel 9 on Comcast. The meeting also can be viewed live online in Like us at a small digital format. facebook.com/ See FEE/ Page A5 citruscountychronicle and respond to our Question of the Week. Monday CONVERSATION Citrus County Commissioner Scott Adams has ‘I want to do a good job’ a ghostwriter for his Facebook page. A big deal, or not? John Burnette Still not seeing how this is type of reporting is helping serve the citizens of the county. It’s obvious the Chroni- cle doesn’t like Scott; they have bashed him for too many years. You may not like the man, but you better pay attention to what he is saying. Not that county government is doing anything they haven’t done for years, but the results are obvious. Jay Cee Most “ghostwriters” are not on THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS of other huge politi- cal issues going on in the county. There is most definitely a CONFLICT OF INTEREST there. Again, it’s not the fact that there was a ghostwriter; it’s all about WHO the ghostwriter is: a major politician, and she can’t even keep up on her own problems. Jeff Kinnard I think it’s outrageous! He’s the one commis- sioner looking out for the com- mon folks of Citrus County, and she (Debbie Ressler) is an ardent community advocate. It is simply outrageous that they would help each other for the benefit of Citrus County residents. We need more stories, front page, above the fold, to expose any- one working on behalf of county residents. MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle Newly appointed Citrus County School Board member Sandy Balfour says she was impressed with the thoroughness of the process ONLINE POLL: that was used in her appointment by Gov. Rick Scott. She will be leaving her position as an instructor at the Academy of Environmental Your choice? Science, above, to become a member of the school board. What concerns you the most? A. The manager of the Crystal River Sandy Balfour talks about becoming newest school board member National Wildlife ERYN WORTHINGTON in Citrus County elementary, middle and Refuge is leaving HEAR MORE while several issues Staff writer high schools, plus Withlacoochee Tech- are so pressing. ■ To listen to audio of the nical Institute. She also spent one year B. That the hospital board he paperwork is in the mail and complete interview with as assistant principal at Crystal River fired the broker they hired in Sandy Balfour — the newly ap- Sandy Balfour, visit High School. the pressing need to sell or pointed Citrus County School www.chronicleonline.com. Balfour is a member of the College of lease Citrus Memorial to a TBoard member — is preparing Central Florida’s Board of Trustees. stable company. for her next education endeavor. She previously served with the Asso- C. That the county govern- On July 28, Gov. Scott Rick announced the resignation of Susan Hale. ciation of Community College Trustees, ment likely will raise taxes his appointment of Balfour to the school Balfour is a teacher at the Academy of and impose fees to make board, which filled a vacancy created by Environmental Science and has taught See MONDAY/ Page A5 up for Duke’s partial tax payment and the weak economy. D. That government is even concerned about the feeding of feral cats at Whispering Pines Park. Board ready to set millage rate for property taxes To vote, visit www. CHRIS VAN ORMER chronicleonline.com. chamber at the courthouse. ues for several years, the use of ■ Staff writer In a summary of the budget, reserves to fund previous budget WHAT: Citrus County Click on the word “Opinion” Commission final budget available on the county’s web- deficits and Duke Energy with- in the menu to see the poll. workshop. Results will appear next A proposed county budget that site: www.bocc.citrus.fl.us/, holding its taxes in a dispute Monday. Find last week’s on- is poised to add 30 percent to County Administrator Brad over its assessed value. ■ WHEN: 9 a.m. Wednesday. line poll results./Page A3 homeowners’ tax bills this fall to Thorpe said the ad valorem tax The county can use a combi- ■ WHERE: Citrus County make up for about a $9.6 million increase was the result of three nation of three approaches to Courthouse, 110 N. Apopka shortfall will be reviewed financial challenges: the poor Ave., Inverness. Wednesday in the commission economy lowering property val- See MILLAGE/ Page A5 Classifieds . .B5 Crossword . .B5 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . .A6 Comics . .B6 Editorial . .A10 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings . .B5 Entertainment . .A4 Horoscope . .A4 Movies . .B6 000FERR A2 MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE PAID ADVERTISEMENT Hearing and Hearing Aids 101 For consumers about to make a hearing aid purchase, and anyone interested in learning about hearing. What are Hearing Aid frequencies (or the pitch of a sound) and without effecting other areas where you we can adjust each frequency that is too volumes. A peek at your audiogram will might need less volume The more bands loud without sacrificing the things you Channels and Bands? tell you how much amplification you the hearing aid offers the more room we want to hear, like your spouse or boss.” Two of the most important need for any given frequency. In a have to fit the aid to your hearing loss. Thus, just the way a high-resolution characteristics of hearing aids are nutshell, bands and channels thus Channels break up the frequency “Channels” and “Bands”… which are determine how granular a hearing aid range into individual channels. This picture gives you a sharper image, more also some of the most misunderstood by can process and amplify the sounds it allows the hearing aid to differentiate bands and channels provide you with a users. perceives. To quote a great explanation noise from speech. The more channels more granular sound quality. More To start off with, the number of from Philips: the hearing aid has the more fine tuned channels will provide better “resolution” channels or bands has nothing to do “A band is what is used to control it can be. For instance the sound of keys on the frequencies and more bands will with the number of programs or volume volume in different frequencies. This falling on a table, or water running in mean better “resolution” on the volume… settings. Sounds are processed and allows us to adjust more volume in a the sink may be overwhelming. When thus allowing your hearing aid to match amplified by a hearing aid based on specific area of your hearing loss your hearing aid offers many channels your audiogram more accurately. Just the Lowest Price with th e Best Technology & Service THE BEST GOODVERY GOOD BETTEREXCELLENT TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE THIS WEEK $995 ea. $1,195 ea. $1,495 ea. $1,995 ea. $2,495 ea. / $1,995 ONLY! 6 Bands / 6 Channels8 Bands / 4 Channels12 Bands / 32 Channels 16 Bands / 32 Channels 18 Bands / 40 Channels Wireless Wireless Wireless Wireless Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth MOST ARE AVAILABLE TO UPGRADE TO RECHARGEABLE TECHNOLOGY... No Need To Change The Battery On A Weekly Basis WE ACCEPT OVER 40 DIFFERENT INSURANCE PLANS So Call Us And We Will Give You All The Information You Need Before You Come In! Annual Hearing Test: SMART Free Annual Hearing Test: GENIUS If you want to pay more for better hearing... THAT’S YOUR BUSINESS! If you want to pay LESS... THAT’S OUR BUSINESS! Don’t be fooled! Our prices are better than most insurance discount plans. We accept over 40 different insurance plans, so call us. We’ll give you the information you need before you come in. To avoid waiting you MUST call ahead for an appointment. YOU NEED TO CALL IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE ᅚ Has difficulty hearing outdoors, in restaurants or home. ᅚ Seems like people mumble, ᅚ Problems following conversation, especially in groups you want them to speak up ᅚ Frequently ask others to repeat themselves ᅚ Are told you play ᅚ Strain to understand certain people’s voices or words the T.V. too loud. FREE Test Dates are available from July 22-July 29, 2013 www.nutechhearing.com CRYSTAL RIVER INVERNESS OCALA 352-794-6155 352-419-7911 352-671-2999 1122 N.