Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 SEC Tourney: Gators get knocked out by Vols /B1 SATURDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 81 Sunny and warm. LOW PAGE A4 54 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 13, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 156 Vaccine supply conflict grows ZEKE MILLER, RAF CASERT, should be used now to save lives new openings for geopolitical ri- already-authorized vaccines to SAMUEL PETREQUIN overseas. vals Russia and China. cover every American adult by the Associated Press The standoff is part of a growing A two-dose vaccine from Astra- end of May and the entire U.S. global debate over who should Zeneca has received emergency population by the end of July. WASHINGTON — President have access to hundreds of mil- clearance from the European AstraZeneca says that the NEWS Joe Biden’s administration is lions of doses of vaccine that Union and World Health Organi- U.S.-produced vaccines are stockpiling tens of millions of pharmaceutical companies are zation but not from the U.S. Now “owned” by the U.S. government BRIEFS doses of a COVID-19 vaccine churning out in the U.S. Besides America’s partners are prodding and that sending them overseas whose authorization in the U.S. generating ill will, Biden’s insis- Biden to release his supply, noting would require White House Citrus County remains uncertain, frustrating tence on an excess supply for that the administration has lined approval. America is potentially creating up enough doses of three COVID-19 cases U.S. allies who say those doses See SUPPLY/Page A9 update According to the Florida Department of Health, 26 positive cases were re- ported in Citrus County ‘The Silver Tide’ sets sail on CR since the latest update. Four new deaths were reported, for a total of 416. To date in the county, 9,973 people have tested positive (including 82 non- residents). One new hospitalization was reported, for a total of 652 hospitalized. Totals reflect preliminary reports received by the state, and are subject to later revision. Vaccine registration system open DOH-Citrus’ preregistra- tion system to schedule COVID-19 vaccine ap- pointments for individuals 65 and older and frontline health care workers is now available. Individuals can now be added to a waiting list for vaccine appointments and be notified when appoint- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle ments are available in Cit- Members of the Crystal River Boat Builders, from left, Ed Pesula, Steve Kingery and Bill Connor slowly cruise along King’s Bay Tuesday, rus County by visiting March 9, on the maiden voyage of the Silver Tide. The wooden boat was hand-made by members of the boat club that craft boats commonly myvaccine.fl.gov or by used more than 100 years ago. This vessel was commonly used for fishing, according to the group. calling 866-201-0442; TTY is 833-476-1036. As part of the statewide Crystal River Boat Builders float into history preregistration system, each county has a desig- with maiden voyage of replica fishing boat nated number that individu- als can call and preregister BUSTER THOMPSON with Kingery’s toggle of a throttle lever, with if they do not have in- Staff writer “The Silver Tide” started its maiden ternet access. Citrus Coun- voyage into King’s Bay to the applause ty’s designated helpline Steve Kingery crossed his fingers be- of onlookers. number is 833-540-2058. fore he gripped the starter rope to a Pup, pup, pup, pup, pup, pup, the Vaccine supply remains 1920s motor aboard the Crystal River 24-foot, 8-foot-wide vessel spouted as it Boat Builders’ wooden vessel, “The Sil- chugged through the high-tide current limited and appointments ver Tide.” on its circuit along the coasts of may not be available for A few score of people the bay’s Cedar Cove. several weeks. watched the afternoon of Tues- “It reminds me of ‘The Afri- Attend expo day, March 9, from the shores can Queen,’” a bystander said, of the Best Western Crystal referring to the 1951 film star- on Saturday, River Resort as Kingery and Watch a video ing Humphrey Bogart and March 13 his volunteer crew of ship- of “The Silver Katharine Hepburn and their wrights launched their latest Tide’s” launch characters’ steamboat. The 2021 Spring Home replica of local nautical Kingery was pleased with & Outdoor Living Expo will at tinyurl.com/ history. 49cr3az5. how “The Silver Tide” be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In one pull, Kingery got the performed. Saturday, March 13, at two-cylinder, two-stroke engine to fire “It went quite well; we need to work The Depot at Liberty Park up, blowing a plume of exhaust through on some fine-tuning things, but other in Inverness. a small smokestack before the mecha- than that, it’s amazing,” he said. “You This show offers some- nism came to a stop. don’t hear that motor very often.” thing for everyone. There “The motor actually started the It took around two years and a cou- will be more than 40 ven- wrong way,” Kingery explained to the ple of shipyard moves before the Crys- dors on site to answer any crowd. “She’s happy to run either way, tal River Boat Builders (CRBB) home and outdoor ques- but we need it to run the way the water completed “The Silver Tide” in its mis- tions you may have. These pump works right.” sion to replicate marine vessels from After Kingery’s second pull, 8 horse- different eras of the past. experts, in many fields, are The Silver Tide proudly displays the American Flag power surged to the propeller and, See BOAT/Page A7 willing and able to help ed- from the rear of the vessel. ucate you on your next project whether it is floor- ing, solar, paint, landscap- ing, pest control, roofing, window replacement or Residents voice cabinets. School superintendent If you are planning a home improvement project pool, road concerns or already started one and shares good news, updates have questions before BUSTER THOMPSON school district during the Citrus County JEFF BRYAN continuing, come see the Staff writer Chamber of Commerce’s monthly lun- Staff writer professionals at the 2021 cheon, of which the theme was education. Spring Home & Outdoor A year ago, as COVID-19 took hold glob- “Even through COVID, our kids contin- As Ruthie Davis Schlabach made her way along Living Expo this Saturday ally, Citrus County School Superintendent ued and remain to be successful,” she said the campaign trail, her mission was to enact posi- in Inverness. Sandra “Sam” Himmel told county cham- as the chamber’s guest speaker at its tive change within District 3, which encompasses Prepackaged refresh- ber of commerce members her event at The Plantation on Crystal Beverly Hills, Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs. ments will be available for campuses would remain open. River. “District 3 means a lot to me,” said Schlabach, purchase from Boy Scout However, she didn’t know Flor- Schools remained open through speaking Thursday, March 11, at the new county Troop No. 457. ida leaders later that afternoon the 2020-21 academic year, she commissioner’s first town hall meeting at the Cen- The Riviera Cantina on March 13, 2020, would make said before crediting her staff and tral Ridge Community Center in Beverly Hills. She food truck will also be on the decision for her: face-to-face the county’s community organiza- told a crowd of 70-plus people she has lived in the hand to serve a variety of classes were closing statewide. tions for the assist, like the Citrus district for the past 25 years. “We want to protect menu items, available for In an instant, school districts County Education Foundation Citrus County and make it the best we can. Your purchase. began drafting plans, which Sandra providing school supplies to commitment to CC is overwhelming; I thought would evolve into how their stu- teachers and Wi-Fi to student maybe 10 people would show up.” Vendors and attendees “Sam” dents could still learn effectively Himmel families. Residents throughout her district voiced con- are encouraged to wear a and compete athletically in safe “Thank you for everything,” cerns over the community pool, shuttered well be- mask. Hand sanitizer will way during a pandemic. Himmel said. “Thank you for making the fore she defeated Jimmie T. Smith in the 2020 be available. Fast forward to Friday, March 12, 2021 — school district look as good as we do.” primary election, and the roadways. — From wire reports Himmel had better news to share from her See SCHOOL/Page A13 See VOICE/Page A13 Classifieds . .B6 Crossword . .B9 INDEX Lottery Numbers . B2. Obituaries . .A6 Comics . B5. Editorial . A10 Lottery Payouts . B2. TV Listings . .B4 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . .A4 Movies . .B5 A2 SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA COROLLA CAMRY LE RAV4 LE HIGHLANDER 0% APR LE 0% APR 0% APR 0% APR LE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE MODEL#1852 MODEL#2532 MODEL#4430 MODEL#6946 LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO 150 DOWN 189 DOWN 228 DOWN 298 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 $305/MO. FOR 36 MOS. WITH $3999 DOWN $349/MO. FOR 36 MOS. WITH $3999 DOWN $419/MO.