Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Opening day arrives with fans making a return /B1 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 68 Morning storms, LOW then cooler and windy. 39 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com APRIL 1, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 175 NEWS BRIEFS Good news for Pfizer shot Citrus County COVID-19 cases Company says newest data shows vaccine safe and effective for younger teens According to the Flor- LAURAN NEERGAARD rolled out worldwide are for preliminary data showed there somewhat higher than were seen ida Department of Health, AND MATTHEW adults, who are at higher risk were no cases of COVID-19 among in studies of young adults. 36 positive cases were PERRONE from the coronavirus. Pfizer’s fully vaccinated adolescents com- Kids had side effects similar to reported in Citrus County Associated Press vaccine is authorized for ages pared to 18 among those young adults, the company said. since the latest update. 16 and older. But vaccinating given dummy shots, Pfizer The main side effects are pain, One new death was re- Pfizer announced Wednesday children of all ages will be criti- reported. fever, chills and fatigue, particu- ported, for a total of 429. that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe cal to stopping the pandemic — It’s a small study, that hasn’t yet larly after the second dose. The To date in the county, and strongly protective in kids as and helping schools, at least the been published, so another im- study will continue to track par- 10,334 people have young as 12, a step toward possi- upper grades, start to look a little portant piece of evidence is how ticipants for two years for more tested positive (including bly beginning shots in this age more normal after months of well the shots revved up the kids’ information about long-term pro- 90 non-residents). group before they head back to disruption. immune systems. Researchers tection and safety. school in the fall. Two new hospitaliza- In the vaccine study of reported high levels of Most COVID-19 vaccines being 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15, virus-fighting antibodies, See VACCINE/Page A5 tions were reported, for a total of 672 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. Vaccine Speedy swine deliver smiles registration system open DOH-Citrus’ preregis- tration system to sched- ule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individu- als 50 and older and frontline health care work- ers is now available. Individuals can now be added to a waiting list for vaccine appointments and be notified when ap- pointments are available in Citrus County by visit- ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by calling 866-201-0442; TTY is 833-476-1036. As part of the statewide preregistration system, each county has a desig- nated number that indi- viduals can call and preregister with if they do not have internet access. Citrus County’s desig- nated helpline number is 833-540-2058. Housing committee JEFF BRYAN/Chronicle to meet Pigs fly down the “race track” during a showing of Robinson’s Racing Pigs on Wednesday, March 31, at the Citrus County Fair. The affordable housing advisory committee will meet at 5 p.m. on Racing pigs prove to be a perennial crowd favorite at Citrus County Fair Wednesday, April 21, at NANCY there from the begin- “People say all the the Citrus County Re- KENNEDY ning in the mid-1980s, time, ‘Pigs can’t swim,’ source Center, in the café, Staff writer hired by the late Paul but when we’re not 2804 W. Marc Knighton Robinson who had an traveling, we live by Court in Lecanto. hen the music idea to bring his little the Suwannee River For information, call begins, these porkers to the Florida and see wild pigs 352-527-7520. Wlittle piggies State Fair. crossing the river all know it’s showtime. “When people think the time,” he said. Rotary Club Or maybe they know of pigs, they think of Some of the pigs opens grant it’s cookie time. fat, lazy animals, but currently racing have Either way, it’s off to they’re not,” Randall been with the Rosses process the races for Robin- Ross said. “They run for seven years, some The Rotary Club of In- son’s Racing Pigs, run- the 150-foot track in are in their third year verness and its 503(c)(3) ning as fast as their about 6 seconds.” and the youngest charitable foundation sup- trotters can go (about Ross built the first group, the pink port local initiatives to 15 mph) around a track and trained the “Babe” pigs, are just make our community a 150-foot oval track for first set of pigs. starting. the grand prize of an safer, healthier and hap- Prior to that, Ross When they’re ready Oreo cookie. was a cook at the Des- to retire, they either pier place to live. This year These “paddling ert Inn in Yeehaw live on the farm, it has three key strategic porkers” also swim for Junction in Osceola where they still get an focus areas: empowering an Oreo. County, or as he likes occasional Oreo, or the success of youths; Why Oreos? to say, “I was cooking they’re donated to a feeding the hungry; and “We tried lots of bacon before I ever 4-H kid. housing the homeless. things — Little Debbie started racing bacon.” See PIGS/Page A9 The club sponsors a (snacks), corn, even He was the one who competitive community pork chops, but they added the swimming A pair of pigs climb out grant process. This cycle like Oreos the best,” — the “paddling pork- of the water as Randall hopes to have said Sharon Ross who, ers” as a way to stand Ross tries to coax $10,000 available to together with her hus- out from the crowd. another one into a award. Grant requests band Randall, have “Everybody started small pool. “Everybody are based on fit with one owned the original pig copying the racing started copying the racing fair attraction of the three strategic pigs, but we’re the racing pigs, but we’re since 1999. only ones that do the only ones that do focus areas, demon- However, they were swimming,” he said. swimming,” he said. strated need, expected outcome and adherence to required process. The application form is located on the club’s website: www.inverness Woman charged in flrotary.org. Cool snap coming, but Print and complete the application, and mail it to the Rotary Club of Inver- DC riot released Easter set to be gorgeous ness along with any sup- porting information. BUSTER U.S. District Judge HOMPSON Amit P. Mehta on Friday, MICHAEL D. about 20 degrees cooler of 72 and a low of 46. Eas- Submittals must be post- T Staff writer March 26, ordered Con- BATES than Wednesday. Over- ter Sunday looks gor- marked no later than April 1. nie Meggs to be released Staff writer night temperatures Thurs- geous: mostly sunny, highs Mail two copies of the A Dunnellon woman from custody and ap- day will be 42, according near 75 and lows over- completed grant applica- facing federal charges pear for her April 6 Get ready for what to AccuWeather. night 46, according to tion to: Grants Adminis- alongside her husband hearing, according to fil- looks like possibly the last Citrus County will stay AccuWeather. tration, Rotary Club of in connection to their al- ings with the U.S. Dis- taste of cool weather until cool Friday with a high of It should be relatively Inverness, P.O. Box leged storming of the trict Court in Washington at least September or 65 and overnight tem- rain-free through the 1317, Inverness, FL Capitol will be allowed D.C. October. peratures at 40. weekend. 34451-1317. to stay home as her case The high for Thursday is Saturday begins a grad- — From staff reports proceeds in court. See RIOT/Page A5 expected to be 67 degrees, ual warmup with highs See COOL/Page A9 Classifieds . .B6 Crossword . .B10 INDEX Food . A10 Obituaries . A5 Comics . .B5 Editorial. A7 Lottery Numbers . .B3 TV Listings. .B4 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B3 A2 THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE 2020 GETTING • SALES YOU OUT • SERVICE THERE! 352-795-2597 WWW.CRYSTALRIVERMARINE.COM • PARTS 990 S. SUNCOAST BLVD. CRYSTAL RIVER, FL 34429 CC-00100E8 N OTHING ABOVE PINK LINE Page A3 - THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2021 STATE &CITRUS L COUNTYOCAL CHRONICLE Around the COUNTY Homosassa man faces theft charges FRED HIERS the victim told deputies deputies were called to a system valued at $200. VFW Post to host Staff writer that based on his security business on State Road 44 A surveillance camera at the camera, a white male in Crystal River. The vic- business showed a man coming bi-weekly ‘Hump A Homosassa man faces a se- driving a white two-door tim in that case told inves- out of a nearby woodline and en- Day Coffee Hour’ ries of theft and burglary charges car went onto his prop- tigators that he had come tering the car and leaving with after the Citrus County Sheriff ’s erty and took the items out of the business to his several items in his arms that were VFW Post 7122 will host Office arrested him claiming he that had a combined blue Toyota Corolla and taken from the vehicle, according a free bi-weekly “Hump Day burglarized both a home and car.