Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NFL: Brady leads Bucs to comeback over Falcons /B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 66 Decreasing LOW clouds, breezy, cooler. 48 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com DECEMBER 21, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 74 NEWS Congress seals agreement BRIEFS lawmakers that they would vote Citrus COVID-19 Lawmakers reach COVID relief, government funding deal on the legislation on Monday, and the Senate was likely to vote on update ANDREW TAYLOR The agreement, announced by and posturing, but the negotiating Monday, too. Lawmakers were According to the Flor- Associated Press congressional leaders, would es- dynamic changed in Republicans’ eager to leave Washington and ida Department of Health, tablish a temporary $300 per week favor after the election and as the close out a tumultuous year. 43 positive cases were WASHINGTON — Top Capitol supplemental jobless benefit and end of the congressional session “There will be another major reported in Citrus County Hill negotiators sealed a deal Sun- a $600 direct stimulus payment to neared. President-elect Joe Biden rescue package for the American since the latest update. day on an almost $1 trillion COVID- most Americans, along with a new was eager for a deal to deliver long- people,” Senate Majority Leader No new hospitalizations 19 economic relief package, finally round of subsidies for hard-hit awaited help to suffering people Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in were reported; two new delivering long-overdue help to businesses and money for schools, and a boost to the economy, even announcing the agreement for a deaths were reported. businesses and individuals and health care providers and renters though it was less than half the size relief bill that would total almost To date in the county, providing money to deliver vac- facing eviction. that Democrats wanted this fall. $900 billion. “It is packed with cines to a nation eager for them. It came after months of battling House leaders informed See RELIEF/Page A2 5,985 people have tested positive (including 37 non- residents), 482 have been hospitalized and 220 have died. Input for 2021 Pace Center gets new leadership Legislative Session sought The Citrus County Leg- islative Delegation is modifying the process for receiving public input for the 2021 Legislative Session. As millions of Floridi- ans have made adjust- ments to normal events and activities, we too are making changes in re- sponse to the challenges that COVID-19 has pre- sented. All testimony, concerns, legislative input and budget requests will be received by delegation members via email. Please submit written correspondence to adele. hembree@myflorida house.gov and harrison. [email protected] by Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Additionally, members of the community may fill out budget request forms for the House of Repre- sentatives (https://tinyurl. com/y3bh3qbh) and the Senate (https://tinyurl. KRISSY WAGNER/Special to the Chronicle com/yxca9map). Pace Center for Girls Citrus Executive Director Carole Savage looks at what students Kara Darby, left, and Faith Young are pointing at inside Keep in mind, the fi- a display within the hallways of the Lecanto campus, where young girls suffering through trauma are reintroduced back into their home nancial outlook for the schools and social settings. state has been negatively motivated Savage to take the position as impacted due to the Carole Savage ready the Pace Center campus’ executive direc- pandemic. tor, putting her skills as an educator and communicator toward another purpose. POLL to take on Executive “I have a hard time remembering life before Pace,” she said. ONLINE POLL: On Oct. 1, Savage took on a new role as Director role part of Pace’s strategy to serve girls in mid- Your choice? BUSTER THOMPSON dle and high schools whose sufferings make How do you plan on Staff writer it hard to adapt to school or social settings. celebrating the Savage is now executive director of Pace Christmas holiday this When Carole Savage visited the Pace Center for Girls Citrus in Lecanto. She week? Center for Girls Marion roughly nine years also handles daily operations of Pace Cen- A. Without thinking ago as part of a job offer, she became at- ter Marion. about COVID-19. On tached to the nonprofit’s transparent mis- “I’m really pleased to be here,” she said. Dasher, on Dancer, on sion to help struggling young women It’s Pace’s goal to reintroduce its stu- Prancer and Vixen! through their upbringings and schoolings. dents back into their home school in time B. I’m isolating myself “When I walked in and saw the girls who for graduation, or at least get them on a didn’t necessarily know if they were going path toward a GED, college or career. For like the Grinch. to eat that night ... and seeing they were so information about Pace Center Citrus, visit C. Having the whole determined to do something, it was very pacecenter.org/locations/citrus. family over like Clark inspirational to me,” she said. “I felt like Savage is no stranger to the local Pace Griswold. this is a great place; they’re doing the right Center. She acted as the organization’s re- D. Thinking about family thing.” gional executive director, overseeing six from afar like Kevin Pace’s power to instill strength within its Pace Centers, including Citrus County’s. Carole Savage, executive director of Pace McCalister. students, while also healing their trauma, See PACE/Page A7 Center for Girls Citrus in Lecanto. E. With newfound gratitude for life, family and community like George Baily in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” F. Hoping for a Miracle New PIRG report Annual homeless on 34th Street to get the coronavirus vaccination before the New Year. slams M-CORES memorial service today To vote, visit www. chronicleonline.com. JOHN HAUGHEY committed the state to allocate NANCY KENNEDY Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, at the Salva- The Center Square $1.1 billion in “veto-proof ” Staff writer tion Army of Citrus County, 712 S. Scroll down the home spending on the projects de- School Ave., Lecanto. Join them on page and look for the The Florida Legislature’s spite overwhelming opposition Each year on Dec. 21, the shortest Facebook at www.facebook.com/ poll box in the right- tentative multibillion dollar from the public and many day and longest night of the year, MidFlHomelessCoalition. hand column. plan to build 330 miles of toll officials. Mid Florida Homeless Coalition Col. Dennis Strissel of the Salva- Results will appear roads across the state by 2030 M-CORES is of one seven hosts a memorial/remembrance tion Army of Citrus County, Lt. Chris next Monday. Find last has drawn criticism within the “questionable projects poised service honoring the homeless indi- Doborwicz of the Salvation Army of week’s online poll state as a wasteful and need- to absorb billions of scarce viduals who have died during the Lake and Sumter counties, and Lt. results./Page A3 less degradation of habitat in transportation dollars” across year. Mike Chamberlain of the Salvation environmentally sensitive the nation that exemplified in “Regardless of what the weather Army of Hernando County will INDEX areas. 2020 how “states continue to is doing outside your window, the present this memorial vigil and Classifieds ............... B8 Now, Florida’s proposed spend billions of dollars on solstice marks the official start of lead in singing “I’ll be Home for Multi-Use Corridors of Re- new or expanded highways winter,” said Barb Wheeler, Mid Christmas” and “Silent Night.” Comics .................... B7 gional Economic Significance that fail to address real prob- Florida Homeless Coalition execu- Kristy Jocelyn of Mid Florida Crossword .............. B10 (M-CORES) plan is drawing lems and will create new prob- tive director. “It is on this longest Homeless Coalition will present Editorial ....................A6 censure on a national scale as lems for our communities and night of the year that communities the names of those who have passed Entertainment ...........A4 “one of the most expensive, the environment,” PIRG said. are encouraged to take time out of away this year in Citrus, Hernando, Horoscope ................A4 damaging and wasteful high- Florida lawmakers ap- their busy days to remember those Lake and Sumter counties, and Lottery Numbers ...... B3 way-building sprees in the proved Senate Bill 7068 in who have died while experiencing Major Ken Fagan will close in Lottery Payouts ........ B3 country.” 2019. It allocated $45 million to homelessness, and to strengthen our prayer. Movies ..................... B7 The U.S. Public Interest Re- create three task forces to resolve to work for a world where no For information about what you TV Listings ............... B6 search Group (PIRG) ranked study M-CORES and report to life is lived or lost in can do to help or to request a M-CORES a top 2020 “boon- Gov. Ron DeSantis by Nov. 15. homelessness.” speaker, contact Barbara Wheeler, doggle” in its annual Highway All three task force reports The community is invited to par- Mid Florida Homeless Coalition at Boondoggles report, which are on DeSantis’ desk. ticipate online on Facebook or in 352-860-2308 or email mfhc01@ claims a 2019 bill may have See M-CORES/Page A2 person for this event at 3 p.m. gmail.com. A2 MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2020 NATION CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE through fiscal 2030. M-CORES “is already Airport traffic rising despite warnings M-CORES straining the state budget,” Continued from Page A1 PIRG argued and would not MICHAEL LIEDTKE of newly reported infections in Saturday, according to the Trans- meet its goals of improving Associated Press the U.S.