Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Spring training: Rays’ top prospect Franco homers /B1 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 72 Partly cloudy. LOW PAGE A4 45 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 4, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 147 NEWS BRIEFS Mobile vaccine site planned Citrus County COVID-19 cases Three-day clinic in Crystal River starts today; patients must be pre-registered According to the Flor- ida Department of Health, JEFF BRYAN announced Wednesday in schedule COVID-19 vac- “The laggards in cover- Emergency Management, no new positive cases News editor Zephyrhills. cine appointments. age for seniors are rural residents must still make were reported in Citrus The mobile site will be The total number of peo- counties,” said DeSantis, an appointment through The Florida Division of from 9 to 4:30 p.m. today ple getting at least one vacci- in selecting Citrus County the Department of Health. County since the latest Emergency Management, at the Crystal Square nation shot as of Feb. 28, was as a site for the pop-up Appointments are avail- update. at Gov. Ron DeSantis’ di- shopping plaza at 579 SE 25,473, according to clinic. “If you get a good able in Citrus County by No new deaths were rection, will bring its mo- U.S. 19. But to get a vac- DOH-Citrus. Of those, set up, you can go from visiting myvaccine.fl.gov reported, for a total of bile vaccination clinic cine, residents 65 and 13,753 received both their 30% to 50% overnight.” or by calling 866-201-0442; 404. Thursday to Crystal River, older must pre-register first and second dose. There But to go get a shot at TTY is 833-476-1036. To date in the county, the governor, alongside through DOH-Citrus’ pre- are more than 50,000 se- the mobile clinic hosted 9,814 people have tested Sen. Wilton Simpson registration system to niors in Citrus County. by the Division of See SITE/Page A2 positive (including 76 non-residents). No new hospitaliza- tions were reported, for a total of 644 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by Soaring lumber costs ripple out the state, and are subject to later revision. Vaccine Spiking prices registration system open cascade into DOH-Citrus’ preregis- tration system to sched- housing market ule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individ- uals 65 and older and MICHAEL D. BATES frontline health care Staff writer workers is now In the 42 years Ricky Grubbs available. has been in the truss business, Individuals can now he’s never seen lumber costs so be added to a waiting list high. for vaccine appoint- This time last year, Grubbs said ments and be notified he was paying $8,000 for a truck- when appointments are load of two-by-four, number one- available in Citrus grade lumber. That same County by visiting truckload today costs him about myvaccine.fl.gov or by $30,000. calling 866-201-0442; “People need to start paying at- TTY is 833-476-1036. tention to what’s going on,” said As part of the statewide Grubbs, general manager of Duley preregistration system, Truss in Dunnellon. Stacey Worthington, president each county has a desig- of the Citrus County Building Alli- nated number that indi- ance, said reports from her viduals can call and builder-members indicate lumber preregister with if they do prices locally are up 40%-50% and not have internet access. adding $10,000 to $12,000 to the Citrus County’s desig- price of a single-family home. nated helpline number is Worthington said COVID-19 led 833-540-2058. to lumber yard lockdowns for a Vaccine supply re- time, resulting in a lack of produc- mains limited and ap- tion in materials. That led to high pointments may not be demand and low supply, so prices available for several increased. weeks. “Hopefully, as COVID restric- tions are lifted across the country, 37th car, truck it might alleviate the problem,” she said. “We have a lot of de- show slated mand right now for affordable March 7 housing but no supply.” The Citrus County Crystal River Mayor and home- builder Joe Meek said higher Cruisers will stage its lumber prices and other construc- 37th Manatee Car & tion materials are freezing Truck Show from 8 a.m. lower-income people out of the to 3 p.m. Sunday, March market. He said the lack of afford- 7, at Crystal Chevrolet, able housing — apartments, con- 1035 S. Suncoast Blvd. dos and multi-family housing Rain or shine, the event will feature cars See LUMBER/Page A2 and trucks from 1996 and older. There Duley Truss Inc. worker Matthew Rider inspects a long board for will be vendors and defects Tuesday, March 2, at the doors prizes, plus draw- wood mill located within Citrus ings and 1950s music. County in South Dunnellon. Prices Free to visitors. for materials used to make Those who want to components for new home register and show a vehi- construction have risen sharply in cle pay $25. The judged recent months. show will feature over MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle 64 awards, including a People’s Choice. Each registered vehicle gets a free 4- by 6-inch photo. No “for sale” signs. The first 200 registered Local vet to head Former sheriff’s detective vehicles get a dash plaque. For information, call Cindy at 352-212-0246 or Conservation arrested on drug charges Sandie at 352-382-5501. For a registration form, BUSTER third-degree felony charges my position, I must submit of possessing a controlled this resignation request,” visit www.citruscruisers. Florida board THOMPSON Staff writer substance and a first-degree Conley wrote in his resigna- com. BUSTER of directors. misdemeanor charge of pos- tion letter to Sheriff Mike — From staff reports THOMPSON It was more or less a A Citrus County Sheriff ’s sessing drug paraphernalia. Prendergast. “I request this INDEX Staff writer procedural vote to Office sergeant who He was jailed under after much thought and con- promote Nayfield, resigned from the a $11,000 bond. versation with my family, Classifieds . .B6 Protect today to who had joined the agency amid disci- After serving since and believe this to be the Comics . .B5 enjoy it for tomorrow. board in 2018 and plinary action was April 2000, lastly as a best course of action to allow Crossword . .B10 It’s the paraphrased served as its vice pres- arrested for having detective sergeant in myself to overcome the chal- Editorial. A7 creed of Conservation ident last year. methamphetamine, the Criminal Investi- lenges I mentioned.” Entertainment . A4 Florida, the guardian “I wasn’t blindsided fentanyl and unpre- gations Division, According to Conley’s re- Horoscope . A4 of the Sunshine State’s by any means,” Nay- scribed pills. Conley resigned dacted arrest report, ob- field told the Chronicle, Food . A9, A10 most treasured lands, Deputies of his Stephen from the sheriff ’s of- tained Tuesday, March 2, a adding he prepared fice Aug. 5 in lieu of Lottery Numbers . .B3 and its new leader, former employer Conley patrolling deputy pulled a ahead of time for his re- being disciplined for Lottery Payouts . .B3 K.C. Nayfield, a long- took Stephen Paul white Cadillac SUV over time veterinarian of sponsibilities to over- Conley into custody the being stopped a couple days just before 7 p.m. Saturday Obituaries . A2 Citrus County. see Conservation night of Saturday, Feb. 27, earlier by deputies for driv- along County Road 491, for TV Listings. .B4 Nayfield was elected Florida, providing di- after pulling the ing away from a known drug not stopping at the intersec- Feb. 15 to serve a year- rection and input to its Homosassa 47-year-old over house. tion of South Harrison long term as president staff and board. for running a stop sign at a “Due to personal chal- Street and Clifford Drive. of Conservation Flori- Beverly Hills intersection. lenges that have hindered da’s 11-member board See NAYFIELD/Page A5 Conley faces five my ability to be effective at See ARREST/Page A5 A2 THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Obituaries Around the COUNTY Charlene Citrus Equality Caucus center around the book “Real Queer A blood drive will begin at 11:30 a.m., Poole, 95 America: LGBT Stories from Red held in memory of recently departed to host events States” written by Samantha Allen. For members Ray Zapfel, Steve Cheney, Charlene Audrey The Democratic Equality Caucus of more information or to register for the Don Dotson and Cmdr. Rick Starkey. Mathews Poole, 95, died in Citrus County plans two events for the event, visit https://tinyurl.com/533caxn7. All are invited to check out the many George Houston, Texas on month of March. programs of the Legion. Find out about Hampton March 3, 2021. I Legion Post 166 Charlene was born in 7 p.m. Monday, March 8: monthly our Auxiliary Unit, the Sons of the Le- George Howard Hamp- general meeting via Zoom. The caucus to throw birthday bash gion, and the Legion Riders. ton passed away on Friday, Daytona Beach, the young- meetings feature guest speakers and The American Legion is veterans February 26, 2021 in New est of four children born to American Legion Post 166 is hard at Orleans, La. Francis Edward Mathews our membership discusses LGBTQ+ re- work getting ready for the American Le- helping veterans. He was born in and Flor- lated political and social issues. Regis- gion’s 102nd birthday beginning at noon For more information, call the post at Homosassa Springs, Fla.