Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NHL: Lightning look to hoist Stanley Cup again / B1 MONDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 92 Partly cloudy with LOW a few afternoon showers. 71 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JUNE 28, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 264 NEWS BRIEFS Wooten: Turnpike ‘worthy of debate’ SO YOU KNOW The Florida Depart- For now, roadway extension gets a rather lukewarm response in Citrus County ment of Health has ceased the daily MIKE WRIGHT Turnpike extension from Bill 100, which elimi- FDOT to plan and design an ex- COVID-19 reports that Staff writer Wildwood to some point nates M-CORES, the tension of the turnpike from Wild- have been used to west. 2019 project that set up wood to a “logical and appropriate track changes in the Suncoast Parkway extension? “The local chamber task forces to review terminus” and have the plan number of coronavirus Absolutely. hasn’t even taken a posi- three projects, including ready by December 2022. cases and deaths in Florida Turnpike extension? tion on that,” said Josh both the Suncoast and Citrus, Levy, Marion and Sum- the state. Um … Wooten, president and turnpike extensions. ter counties were part of the turn- That’s the feeling from Citrus chief executive officer of While the new bill cre- pike extension task force. It Citrus County business and political the Citrus County Cham- Josh ates a process for the concluded that there wasn’t government leaders who, while giddy that Gov. ber of Commerce. “There’s Wooten Florida Department of enough information to determine Ron DeSantis signed the bill a lot of ‘what ifs’ on that president/CEO, Transportation to design whether the extension is needed. offices closed Thursday that paves the way for project. It’s worthy of Citrus County a Suncoast connector The state, though, has long eyed July 5 the Suncoast to U.S. 19, they are debate.” Chamber of along U.S. 19 to Inter- not so sure about the Florida DeSantis signed Senate Commerce. state 10, it also directs See TURNPIKE/Page A6 Citrus County gov- ernment offices will be closed Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day. Normal hours of oper- ation and services will ‘Just resume July 6. Crystal River to have First Super sniffers Friday event the The city of Crystal River will have its First Friday event from 4 to 8 p.m. July 2 at the start’ Town Square, 559 N. Citrus Ave. The event will fea- ture live music by Rob Charette Nichols from 5 to 8 p.m. and local craft and produce vendors. points to a Downtown retail shops will stay open in the vision in evening. Join the Crystal River Independence Day ride MIKE WRIGHT Staff writer The American Le- gion Riders Chapter Hearty Crystal River 237 will conduct a ride residents didn’t let a to Bushnell National few sprinkles stop them Cemetery in honor of from getting a glimpse Independence Day. into their city’s future. Riders will meet at After all, they helped 9:30 a.m. Friday, to create it. July 2, at the post, About 80 people 6726 N. Lecanto High- braved monsoon-type way in Beverly Hills. weather Friday night Kickstands up at 10 a.m. for the wrap-up of a At the cemetery, rid- weeklong charrette, a consultant-led visioning ers will place 5,000 U.S. of sorts that explored flags on the graves of what people wanted the fallen to honor and how best to get them and their fami- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle there. lies. All vehicles are Linda Boles founded Find-M’ Friends in 2014 to train bloodhounds in search and rescue efforts when humans go missing Almost two hours welcome to partici- or to aid law enforcement when criminals have fled and a search is in progress. She has trained and placed 30 such later, city officials were pate. This will be a animals in states across America. eager to keep the mo- police-escorted event. mentum going. For information, call “Crystal River is a 352-536-7480. city on the move,” Find-M’ Friends to donate 30th trained bloodhound Mayor Joe Meek ad- — From staff reports dressed the group at the ONLINE BUSTER THOMPSON city Train Depot. “This POLL Staff writer is a special time in our community.” What do s soon as Linda Boles opened the The charrette in- kennel door and clipped a 6-foot volved three days of in- you think? leash to the harness, Sammy put her tensive meetings, both nose to the ground and pointed her in person and virtually, A along with other ave- Commissioners voted wagging tail toward the sky. June 22 to ask the “There’s a good girl,” Boles told the nues for the public to offer opinions. About FWC to lower speeds 7-month-old, black-and-tan-colored blood- 160 people attended the in the Homosassa hound, whose formal name is Samantha. Boles placed a cloth layered with the odor kickoff Monday night, River to idle speed/ of her ‘lost’ staff member, Sam McEwen, in and around 450 partici- no wake between front of Sammy’s sniffer. pated in total, organiz- Marker 2 and Marker Within the dog’s snout, the smell flowed ers said. 7. What do you think? into an olfactory center of 230 million scent Meredith Linley, ex- ecutive director of Crys- A. Lower speeds receptors — 40 times the number of a hu- man’s, according to a PBS nature report. tal River Main Street, need to be approved “Ours is like a postage stamp,” Boles said, said the consultant’s for human and “and theirs is like a sheet.” process worked well. manatee safety. Sammy takes in every ingredient of the “They really wanted B. The current odor’s unique recipe. our input and made our boating speeds are In almost an instant, with her long ears ideas come to life,” she fine.They don’t need bouncing with every bound she took, the said. to be changed. young canine was on the hunt, pulling her Friday night’s presen- C. Boaters should be veteran handler in tow. tation was to wrap up able to go faster, “You don’t want to steer your dog, you want the week with examples to help build the city’s above 25 mph, to ... let them guide you,” Boles said, noting master plan, from pro- between Marker 2 the benefits of a long lead. “There’s a lot of movement going on.” viding more parking on and Marker 7. What separates a bloodhound from other city streets in an attrac- To vote, visit www. tracking breeds is their ability to distinguish tive manner to bringing chronicleonline.com. between scents they come across. They can mixed commercial and Scroll down the home also follow an odor over longer periods of residential uses to fad- page and look for the time and through harsh weather. ing shopping centers. poll box in the right- It didn’t take long for Sammy to find McE- Jason King, project hand column. wen and his baggie of hotdog treats during director with consultant Results will appear the short training exercise on the grounds of Dover Kohl & Partners, and his team also told next Monday. Find Camp Hound on the northern outskirts of Sam McEwen rewards Sammy following a successful tracking Crystal River. exercise at the Find-M’ Friends training complex north of Crystal the group of common last week’s online themes — tourism, poll results./Page A3 River. Linda Boles, president of Find ‘M Friends stands at right. She See SNIFFERS/Page A9 has operated her search-and-rescue, dog-training facility since 2014. See START/Page A6 Classifieds . .B8 Crossword . .B10 INDEX Horoscope . A4 Movies . .B7 Comics . .B7 Editorial. A7 Lottery Numbers . .B3 TV Listings. .B6 Extra puzzles . .B5 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B3 A2 Monday, June 28, 2021 Citrus County (FL) ChroniCLe Introducing the Discover the world’s first hearing aid to provide both superior sound quality and the ability to track body and brain health.A Ass t thehe firrstst e everve hearing aid to feature UDIBEL’S integrated sensors and artificial intelligence,ce, i iss a multi-purpose device A that redefines what a hearing aid can do. is the World’s ThTheemmostost advanced Technology ever ccreated is now available in the most First and ONLY The power of AI aadvanced hearingg aid ever made. 2.4 GHz Custom Rechargeable at your fingertips AUDIBEL’S Microchipp Hearing Aid with Artificial Intelligence.. Audibel’s incomparable, user NothingNothing overover friendly technology makes or behind adjusting your hearing aid, in This your ear the most difficult environments, Actual Size technology instant and easy. was • Audibel’s created by technology is the Audibel and ONLY rechargeable, can only be In-the-ear found at custom made hearing Ask about the Audibel aid that fits entirely in style won’t locations your ear canal. get caught Edge Mode listed below on masks! • Up to 24 hours of power in a single charge. • All-in-one charger 45-DAY holds enough charge to provide portable charging without The world’s first RISK-FREE plugging into the wall. hearing aid with fall TRIAL RIC detection and alerts ON ALL HEARING AIDS is the first hearing aid that can detect when a hearing aid wearer has fallen and send alert messages to selected contacts. Fall alerts is an easy to use feature that addresses a serious issue; it helps patients maintain their independence while giving loved ones peace of mind.