Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NHL: Bolts, Isles battle in decisive Game 7 /B1 SATURDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 90 Partly sunny with LOW thunderstorms likely. 71 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JUNE 26, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 262 NEWS BRIEFS System fully operational County posts does during holi- holiday idle Inverness security cameras ready for Fourth of July crowds days and special events, he said. speed/no wake FRED HIERS just two days before the city’s popu- for the celebrations. The cost of The idle speed/no Staff writer lar downtown Independence Day Williams said the era in which the commercial wake holiday speed zone fireworks and celebrations July 3. we now live, the public expects a grade security ordinance (2004-02) will Visitors to Inverness’ Liberty Inverness City Manager Eric recording of public events. system, which in- be in effect for King’s Bay, and Wallace Brooks parks as well Williams said the security cam- “The world demands accountabil- cludes 10 years of Crystal River and any ca- as the city’s Depot District should eras were purchased and in- ity,” Williams told the Chronicle. Eric maintenance and nals and tributaries lead- smile — they will be on camera. stalled with the July 3 celebrations Security — in the form of cam- Williams record storage, ing to these areas for the At least 18 security cameras will in mind and as part of “a major eras — is especially needed during Inverness was about upcoming Independence be operational at the two parks and help for the security of the crowd” days that bring in large numbers of city manager. $60,000. Depot District beginning July 1, expected to descend on the city Day holiday. people as Inverness occasionally See SECURITY/Page A5 The purpose of this holiday speed zone ordi- nance is to allow citizens a safe place in which to participate in water- related activities. ‘I want to help try and protect them’ For more information, call Citrus County Aquatics Services at 352-527-7620. Attend Field Day 2021 in Lecanto Field Day 2021 will be from 2 p.m. Saturday, June 26, to 2 p.m. Sun- day, June 27 (24 consec- utive hours) at the Citrus County Emergency Oper- ations Center, 3549 Saunders Way in Lecanto. Field day is a national event held by amateur radio operators through- out the United States. This exercise will include a simulation of a nation- wide or regional emer- gency incident. Scenarios will test what can happen when all tele- phones, including cell- phones, are unusable, the internet is no longer available and the electric power grid is down. The Citrus County Am- ateur Radio Club, along with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, will demonstrate emergency communications and “ham” radio. MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle All are welcome. There Newly appointed Emergency Management Director Amanda Woodward has spent much of her career in the field of emergency management. is no fee to attend. For in- Above, Woodward addresses her new position from the Citrus County Emergency Operations Center in Lecanto. formation, call John Corps, and was one of youngest Bescher at 352-220-8530. New EOC director ready to take on role for Citrus to respond to the World Trade Chronicle event Centers on 9/11 as a member of BUSTER THOMPSON office Capt. Troy Hess to step in Woodward is familiar with re- the National Disaster Medical calendar changes Staff writer for the interim. Woodward’s sponding to and mitigating crises Assistance Team. The Chronicle’s com- first day was June 14 — a couple in numerous venues — varied Woodward returned to Flor- munity calendar solution Amanda Woodward is ready weeks into the 2021 hurricane experiences she’s used to her ad- ida a few years later, and en- changed on Monday, to safeguard Citrus County. season, which ends Nov. 30. vantage in preparing for tragic grained herself within a June 7, to better serve “I’m very excited and very “I’m settling in quite well; scenarios on large scales. handful of health systems our readers and event- happy to be here,” she said. “I there’s a lot to be done, espe- “I think it’s benefitted me and throughout the state, became a just want to help make this the cially with the COVID operation made me more well-rounded,” safety officer for a Clermont goer audience. safest community in Florida.” that’s still pending,” Woodward she said. “It helps having out- hospital and then the emer- To submit events on Citrus County commissioners said at the county’s emergency side perspective.” gency management coordinator the new Evvnt system, confirmed Woodward on June 8 operations center in Lecanto. At 16, the St. Petersburg na- for Pasco County. visit www.chronicleonline. as the county’s emergency man- “But the looming hurricane sea- tive raised in New Jersey began Afterward, roughly four and a com/local-events/ and agement director, a position son actively going on ... it makes it serving as an EMT for the town 1/2 years ago, Woodward moved click on “promote your employed by the Citrus County difficult to work through the of Florham Park in the Garden to Citrus County. event” and follow the Sheriff ’s Office. challenges of getting yourself ori- State. “This is my final resting prompts. All areas with an Woodward’s full-time prede- entated, but I have a wonderful When Woodward turned 21, place,” she said, “I don’t plan on asterisk (*) must be filled. cessor, Chris Evan, retired in support system here ... and every- she joined the U.S. Public going anywhere.” Calendar submissions February, prompting sheriff’s one’s been really welcoming.” Health Service Commissioned See PROTECT/Page A5 complimentary, however, paid options are available to further promote your event across central Florida. Any future event previ- Florida officers going Hospital Board ously submitted before June 7 is no longer in the Chronicle system and will need to be resubmitted. to US border next week responds to audit We apologize for any in- convenience this may JIM TURNER “Hopefully, I’ll be able FRED HIERS after more than two The News Service of Florida to get out there at some cause. Staff writer years of extensive and point to wish them well, thorough review, there For more information, TALLAHASSEE — More than 50 state when they’re on the The Citrus County were no findings by your email community@ law-enforcement officers will depart ground,” DeSantis said Hospital Board re- office that CCHB in any chronicleonline.com or Monday for Texas and Arizona to help Friday while at an Inter- sponded this week to a way squandered tax- call 352-563-5660. with border control, Gov. Ron DeSantis state 10 weigh station, two-year-long audit that payer funds, pursued un- — From staff reports announced Friday during an appearance accompanied by mem- cited a handful of admin- justified litigation, Gov. Ron near Pensacola. bers of the Florida De- istrative errors over engaged in self-dealing DeSantis The announcement came after DeSan- partment of Law nearly a decade of opera- or acted in any manner SO YOU KNOW tis earlier in the month said Florida Enforcement, the Florida Fish and Wild- tions; the audit fell short contrary to the best in- I The Florida would support a request from Texas Gov. life Conservation Commission and the of critics’ accusations of terests of the citizens Department of Greg Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Florida Highway Patrol. wasteful spending for and taxpayers of Citrus Health has Ducey for help in battling illegal immi- Officers from those three agencies will legal boondoggles. County,” she wrote. ceased the daily gration at the border. head west next week. In a letter to state audi- “To the contrary, the COVID-19 reports Democrats have described the deploy- DeSantis said the mutual-aid effort tors, hospital board chair- five findings are perhaps that have been ment of Florida law officers to the border will protect Florida, in part because of woman Debbie Ressler most accurately viewed used to track as a “political stunt” by DeSantis. drugs crossing the border and landing in wrote that the audit vin- as accounting best prac- changes in the DeSantis said Friday he anticipates areas such as North Florida. dicates her board’s work, tices that CCHB wel- number of traveling to the border to visit the state “I had met just weeks ago with some of but will take much of the comes and will willingly coronavirus cases officers while they are deployed. Former our rural sheriffs up in North Florida, auditors’ advice. embrace with this highly and deaths in the President Donald Trump, a DeSantis po- and their number one concern is all the “(The) Citrus County successful agency,” she litical ally, also is expected to visit the meth that’s coming in,” DeSantis said. state. Hospital Board is wrote. border Wednesday. See BORDER/Page A7 pleased to note that, See AUDIT/Page A7 Classifieds . .B7 Crossword . .B10 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . None Comics . .B6 Editorial. A10 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings. .B10 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . 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