Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 2020: Despite pandemic, still plenty of sports moments /B1 SATURDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 52 Sunny and cold. LOW PAGE A4 28 www.chronicleonline.com DECEMBER 26, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 79 NEWS BRIEFS Explosion rocks Nashville Citrus COVID-19 update Vehicle was broadcasting warning before blast According to the Flor- ida Department of Health, KIMBERLEE widespread communica- Police Chief John Drake 63 positive cases were KRUESI, MICHAEL tions outages that took said. Police evacuated reported in Citrus County BALSAMO AND down police emergency sys- nearby buildings and called since the latest update. ERIC TUCKER tems and grounded holiday in the bomb squad. The RV No new hospitalizations Associated Press travel at the city’s airport. exploded shortly after- Police were responding ward, Drake said. were reported; 10 new NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A to a report of shots fired “This morning’s attack on deaths were reported. recreational vehicle parked Friday when they encoun- our community was in- To date in the county, in the deserted streets of tered the RV blaring a re- tended to create chaos and 6,239 people have tested downtown Nashville ex- corded warning that a fear in this season of peace Associated Press positive (including 37 ploded early Christmas bomb would detonate in 15 A law enforcement member walks past damage from an non-residents), 495 have morning, causing minutes, Metro Nashville See EXPLOSION/Page A5 explosion in downtown Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Dec. 25. been hospitalized and 249 have died. Apply for Tourist Development Council (TDC) The year in review for Inverness The Citrus County Board of County Com- missioners is seeking ap- Despite plications for the Tourist Development Council. This Board is seeking one pandemic, city person with an interest in tourism and two people who are owner/operators moved ahead on of tourist accommoda- tions to fill vacancies. key projects Eligible applicants must be electors in Citrus FRED HIERS County. Staff writer The Tourist Develop- ment Council meets the Inverness saw many changes second Wednesday during 2020, bringing new faces monthly at the Lecanto and attractions to the area. Government Building, One of the faces new to In- 3600 W. Sovereign Path, verness government as its city Lecanto. The primary pur- manager was that of Eric Wil- pose and responsibility of liams, who for seven years served as the city’s assistant the Tourist Development manager. Williams took the Council is to advise and city’s top administrative job to make recommenda- Jan. 1, 2020. tions to the Board of Williams has guided the city MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle County Commissioners, through its coronavirus pan- American Marine Contractors employees Kevin Hassell, left, and Preston Carlise work July 28 at Wallace on matters related to tour- demic, a rollback of its property Brooks Park in Inverness on a new kayak launch. The launch is one of three docks at the park that were ism sales, marketing, and taxes, plans to introduce munic- completed in the 2020. advertising in order to ipal sewer services to State help increase overall visi- Road 44, and a study to build a to 10 months to do the design city’s future efforts to protect its annual Festival of the Arts tation and lodging facility beach in Liberty Park to in- work and another nine to 10 lakes and aquifer, would be an event this year. occupancy. crease visitors to the park. months to acquire all the per- issue of debate and discussion The city also closed its parks, Applications are due by A big step for Inverness this mits for the project. The com- in the future. playgrounds and the Valerie year was receiving $1.88 million pany is expected to break Williams also emphasized Theatre for months in an effort Dec. 28, 2020 and can be to expand sewer services along ground in about 18 months, he that the sewer service would at- to social distance and reduce accessed at: https:// S.R. 44. said. tract new businesses to the area infection rates here. tinyurl.com/yxu6327x. In November, the Inverness The cost of the full project and was a good financial invest- The city council also re- Completed applications City Council hired consultants will be about $2.4 million, Wil- ment to build the city’s commer- quested that members of the should be sent to the De- North Carolina-based liams told the council. Property cial sector along State Road 44. public wanting to attend coun- nise Gallagher via email Kimley-Horn and Associates to owners along the route have to But during 2020, the greatest cil meetings do so via audio ser- denise.gallagher@citrus oversee the 7,200-foot-long pay the rest through an assess- effect on the city was the vices provided by the city bocc.com or by mail at wastewater project along the ment overseen by the city’s util- coronavirus. instead of attending in person. Citrus County Board of west side of S.R. 44. ity department. Williams said As a result, the city council Parks, the theater and city County Commissioner, The project will run from the the council will host additional greatly curtailed its annual council meetings have since Att: Denise Gallagher, Outback restaurant to Nick meetings as to how that money three-day Cooter Festival, in- reopened. 3600 W. Sovereign Path Nicholas Ford. Businesses will be collected. stead holding a modest event in Both Citrus Memorial Hospi- Councilman Cabot McBride the city’s downtown, canceled Suite 267, Lecanto, FL along that highway currently tal and Bayfront Health Seven use septic systems. in November described the its traditional Christmas pa- Rivers during the year stopped 34461. The consultants told the project as “a really big deal” rade, July 4th fireworks, and Participate in council that it would take nine and predicted the project, and reduced the size of its 50th See CITY/Page A5 survey to help water quality Citrus County is inviting residents to participate in an online survey that will Hospital gets above average grades for safety help guide a countywide study to find the most FRED HIERS organization comprised of n Problems associated urinary tract, and an aver- open, collapsed lungs, cost-effective options to Staff writer a consortium of health with surgeries. age rating for infections at breathing problems, blood improve freshwater quality. care purchasers, issued n Practices to prevent the surgery site following clots and accidental cuts If you would like to Citrus Memorial Hospi- Citrus Memorial its grade errors. colon surgery. and tears. n learn more about this tal received its seventh for patient safety this fall. Safety problems. But the hospital fared CMH also received bet- consecutive B rating for The organization issues n Doctors, nurses and better when it came to po- ter than average ratings project, additional infor- patient safety since the fall grades twice annually. hospital staff. tential problems associ- for its efforts to prevent mation is available on the of 2017 from a national Leapfrog analyzed the per- For infections, Leapfrog ated with surgeries. medical errors, such as project website at citrus health care ranking orga- formance of more than gave Citrus Memorial CMH received better having doctors prescribing countywastewatertfa. nization, making it one of 2,600 health care facilities below average grades for than average ratings when medications through hos- com, or by email at info@ the best-ranked health for the fall ratings. controlling patient MRSA it came to avoiding danger- pital computers, staff ad- citruscountywastewater care facilities in the area. Leapfrog hospitals were infections, Clostridium dif- ous objects left in patient’s ministering medications tfa.com. The Leapfrog Group, a graded in the areas of: ficile infections, blood in- bodies during surgeries, — From staff reports nonprofit patient-safety n Infections. fections, infections in the surgical wounds splitting See RATINGS/Page A5 Classifieds . .B8 Crossword . .B10 INDEX Religion . A11, A12 Obituaries . .A6 Comics . B6. Editorial . A8 Lottery Numbers . B3. TV Listings . .B5 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . .A4 Lottery Payouts . B3. 000ZJPH A2 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE OF KBB NOW up % FOR YOUR OFFERING to 120 TRADE** Credit less than perfect? Village Toyota can help! GET PRE-APPROVED TODAY! 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA COROLLA CAMRY LE RAV4 LE TACOMA 0% APR LE 0% APR 0% APR V6 SR5 AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE + $500 HOLIDAY BONUS CASH MODEL#1852 + $500 HOLIDAY BONUS CASH MODEL#2532 + $500 HOLIDAY BONUS CASH MODEL#4430 MODEL#7146 LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO 150 DOWN 208 DOWN 228 DOWN 218 DOWN PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS WITH $3999 DOWN $266/MO. FOR 36 MOS. WITH $3999 DOWN $326/MO. FOR 36 MOS. WITH $3999 DOWN $349/MO. FOR 36 MOS. WITH $3999 DOWN $339/MO. FOR 36 MOS. ALL LEASE OFFERS FOR WELL-QUALIFIED LESSEES WITH APPROVED CREDIT THROUGH SETF. NOT ALL LESSEES WILL QUALIFY. CLOSED-END LEASE ON NEW 2021 COROLLA LE MODEL #1852. $150 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS. $3,999 DOWN PAYMENT OR $266 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $0 DOWN PAYMENT. 2021 CAMRY LE MODEL # 2532. $208 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $3999 DOWN PAYMENT OR $326 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $0 DOWN PAYMENT. 2021 RAV4 LE MODEL # 4430. $228 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $3,999 DOWN PAYMENT OR $349 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $0 DOWN PAYMENT. 2021 TACOMA V6 SR5 MODEL # 7146 $218 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $3,999 DOWN PAYMENT OR $339 PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS $0 DOWN PAYMENT.