Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Spring training games begin in front of fans / B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 86 Partly sunny, LOW breezy with chance of rain. 62 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 1, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 144 COUNTY COVID-19 UPATE Citrus County COVID cases still going up According to the Florida Department of Health, 17 positive cases were reported in Citrus County since the latest update. Two new deaths were reported, for a Special to the Chronicle total of 399. A new t-hangar is constructed at the Crystal River Airport. A project providing 10 t-hangar units is currently under construction, with an estimated To date in the completion date this month. county, 9,756 people have tested positive (including 76 non- residents). No new hospitaliza- Upgrades improving Crystal River Airport tions were reported, for a total of MICHAEL D. BATES (FAA) to extend the runway. that affects local businesses and aircraft to take off and land. 640 hospitalized. Staff writer Tuesday’s vote comes at a time tourism, according to Florida De- As it stands now, current air when the Citrus County Engineer- partment of Transportation traffic may not meet the opera- Recognizing the Crystal River ing Division is making several im- (FDOT) data. tional requirement of 500 jet oper- DOH-Citrus Airport is an economic driver and provements at the airport, The existing landing strip is ations annually, the county said. vaccine needs safety improvements, including a new beacon and new about 640 feet too short for many How much runway an aircraft county commissioners Tuesday t-hangars to store planes. corporate and private jets to com- needs to take off or land is deter- registration voted unanimously to fire off a res- The airport contributes an esti- fortably use. Ideally, a 5,000-foot mined by a variety of factors, system open olution to state legislators and the mated $5.37 million to the Crystal runway is needed to provide an Federal Aviation Administration River economy from air traffic adequate safety margin for the See AIRPORT/Page A7 DOH-Citrus’ prereg- istration system to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individuals 65 and older and frontline Support health care workers is now available. Individuals can now No delays in sight be added to a waiting from all list for vaccine ap- pointments and be no- tified when appoint- ments are available in Citrus County by visit- sides ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by calling 866-201- 0442; TTY is Florida 833-476-1036. As part of the state- wide preregistration Forever system, each county has a designated funding is a number that individu- als can call and pre-register with if they bipartisan do not have internet access. Citrus Coun- ty’s designated num- effort ber is 833-540-2058. Vaccine supply re- JOHN HAUGHEY mains limited and ap- The Center Square pointments may not Companion bills spon- be available for sev- sored by a Senate Demo- eral weeks. crat and a House When calling, get Republican seek to man- the name of the oper- date the Legislature an- ator and do not hang MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle nually dedicate at least up until you receive Construction on the Suncoast Parkway continues Monday, Feb. 22, near the intersection of State Road 44 between $100 million to Florida confirmation the ap- Lecanto and Crystal River. A state official said plans for an extension of the highway farther north through Citrus Forever, the state’s envi- pointment has been County will not be affected due to budget shortfalls. ronmentally sensitive made, including the land acquisition trust date, time and location fund. of the appointment. Turnpike official: Budget crunch won’t hurt parkway project Senate Bill 1510, spon- — From staff reports sored by Sen. Linda Stew- MICHAEL D. BATES Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and to make up $763 million from lost art, D-Orlando, and POLL Staff writer others. gas taxes, rental car fees, toll collec- House Bill 1211, spon- State transportation officials cut tions, and other state and federal sored by Rep. Thad Alt- The state budget crunch caused or delayed 77 road projects from a sources. man, R-Indialantic, were Your choice? both filed Feb. 22. Neither The Florida Legislature by the pandemic will not delay five-year plan as revenues dropped The Suncoast Parkway 2 Phase 1 plans to eventually extend the Sun- with more Floridians working re- project is already under construc- has been assigned is considering a bill (SB coast Parkway from State Road 44 motely and people delaying travel tion, extending the road 12.7 miles committees. 50) that would require in Citrus County and eventually to plans because of the coronavirus from U.S. 98 to State Road 44. It is “It is time the Legisla- out-of-state online the north. pandemic. scheduled to open in early 2022. ture honors the will of retailers that don’t have That assurance comes from An- This year, the Florida Depart- Floridians and a physical presence in gela Starke, spokeswoman with ment of Transportation (FDOT) had See DELAYS/Page A7 See SUPPORT/Page A7 Florida to collect sales taxes on purchases made online by Floridians. Should the bill see the light of day? A. Tallahassee needs to Leaders listen to their citizens at open house get its hand out of our pockets. B. Taxpayers deserve a break. Crystal River collects public input on proposal to have boat ramp in state park C. It’s a fairness issue. BUSTER THOMPSON locations within the Crystal River D. Florida can’t afford to Staff writer Preserve State Park. lose $1 billion in Crystal River’s consultant, projected revenue. Crystal River officials wanted Jones Edmunds, continued to E. It’s time to level the to know what people had to say compile responses from surveys playing field for local about replacing the city’s boat filled out before and during “brick and mortar” ramp at the end of Northwest Thursday’s event, city spokes- businesses. Third Avenue, and the public woman Leslie Bollin said on To vote, visit www. didn’t disappoint. Friday. chronicleonline.com. Roughly 200 people showed the City staff said the “Third Ave- evening of Thursday, Feb. 25, to nue boat ramp” within the Dock- Scroll down the home the city’s informational open side Shoppes plaza can’t coexist page and look for the house at the George Washington with the King’s Bay Riverwalk poll box in the right- Carver Community Center. boardwalk, planned to run along MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle file hand column. Results It was a two-hour chance for lo- the northern shores of Cedar As a result of its King's Bay Riverwalk construction, Crystal River will close will appear next cals to learn about, question and Cove. the popular, city-owned boat ramp in between Bird's Underwater Dive Monday. Last week’s critique the city’s proposal to re- Center and Charlie's Fish House. The ramp offers access to King's Bay and poll results/Page A3 locate the boat ramp to one of two See RAMP/Page A7 points west to the Crystal River and Gulf of Mexico. Classifieds ............... B7 Editorial ....................A6 Horoscope ................A4 Movies ..................... B6 Comics .................... B6 Entertainment ...........A4 INDEX Lottery Numbers ...... B3 Nation/World ............A8 Crossword .............. B10 Extra Puzzles . ......B4 Lottery Payouts ........ B3 TV Listings ............... B5 A2 Monday, March 1, 2021 LocaL Citrus County (FL) ChroniCLe Food PROGRAMS FOOD PANTRIES need help, come sign up. The Catholic Church — 10 to 11 Inverness — Free bagged Ministry Inc. operates the n Calvary Chapel of Inver- pantry gives away meat, dairy, a.m. the third Tuesday groceries available from noon Seven Loaves Food and ness hosts a soup kitchen n Rivers of Life Restoration produce, personal care items monthly, to 2 p.m. Thursdays at 960 S. Clothing Pantry at Helping from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Ministry Inc. — Seven Loaves and more. Assistance is also 6 Roosevelt Blvd. Call U.S. 41. 352-726-1480. Cal- Hands Thrifty Treasures, Thursday, at 960 S. U.S. 41. Food and Clothing Pantry at available for SNAP. Medicare, 352-746-2144. vary Church is an equal op- 9699 W. Fort Island Trail, All are welcome. The meal in- Helping Hands Thrifty Trea- Medicaid and Access Florida n St. Margaret’s Episcopal portunity provider. Crystal River. The free-to-all cludes soup, bread and des- sures, 9699 W. Fort Island assistance is temporarily sus- Church — 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. n Floral City First Baptist Food Pantry is now open from sert. For information, call Trail, Crystal River. The free- pended due to COVID-19. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Church — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. noon to 3 p.m. every Tuesday. 352-726-1480. to-all Food Pantry is now n First Baptist Church of Call 352-726-3153. Feed My the third Thursday monthly. Call 863-666-4129 for more n Our Father’s Table — open from noon to 3 p.m. Crystal River — 10 a.m. to Sheep is closed. Proof of residency required. information. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the every Tuesday. Call 863-666- 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday n First Presbyterian n Food and non-food items second, third, fourth and fifth 4129 for more information. and Thursday, 700 N. Citrus Church of Crystal River — are available from 10 a.m. to FREE MEALS Saturdays monthly at St. n Daystar Life Center — Ave.