Former Citrus County standout makes mark at UCF /B1 FRIDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next morning HIGH 83 Mostly cloudy LOW with 60 percent chance of storms. 61 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 3, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 118 ISSUE 269 NEWS BRIEFS Report: Mom killed child Court OKs nuke cost recovery Sheriff’s officials say woman hurt toddler because she was sick of ‘whining’ TALLAHASSEE — MIKE WRIGHT The Florida Supreme Citrus County sheriff ’s detectives against the wall and head-butting on Thursday arrested Chelsea her. Court on Thursday Staff writer Maree Huggett, 21, of Julia Way in Detective Craig Fass said unanimously upheld a LECANTO — The mother has Hernando on charges of first-de- Huggett admitted to killing her state law that allows her daughter’s name and date of gree murder and aggravated child daughter and was remorseful. utilities to charge cus- birth tattooed across her chest, just abuse. She is being held without “She apologized to Aliyah,” Fass tomers for future nu- below the neck. bond. said. “She apologized for killing clear reactors — even And now she’s in jail, charged Detectives say Huggett killed her.” if they never get built. with killing her 2-year-old child be- Aliyah Marie Branum on Friday by Chelsea Aliyah The court ruling cause the girl wouldn’t stop whining. shaking her, beating her head See CHILD/ Page A5 Huggett Branum came on the same day that the Florida Legislature passed a bill intended to de- crease how much util- ities could charge for nuclear power. The measure now A day for America to pray heads to Gov. Rick Scott. Representa- tives from both Florida Power & Light Citrus County Company and Duke Energy hailed the residents mark high court ruling and criticized the decision National Day by state legislators to push ahead with the of Prayer bill. “The process in n April 17, 1952, Pres- current law is working ident Harry S. Tru- and additional legisla- tion or state require- Oman signed a bill ments are not proclaiming a National Day needed, which was of Prayer, and in 1983 Presi- confirmed today by dent Ronald Reagan said, the Florida Supreme Court,” said Sterling “From General Washington’s Ivey, a spokesman for struggle at Valley Forge to Duke Energy, which the present, this Nation has was formerly fervently sought and re- Progress Energy. ceived divine guidance as it The court battle came about after pursued the course of his- Southern Alliance for tory. This occasion provides Clean Energy had ap- our nation with an opportu- pealed a final order of nity to further recognize the the Public Service Commission that al- source of our blessings, and lowed both FPL and to seek His help for the Progress Energy challenges we face today Florida to charge cus- and in the future.” tomers for nuclear power plants that may ———■——— never be built. On Thursday, the 62nd National The alliance, an en- Day of Prayer, Americans paused vironmental advocacy and gathered together to pray for group, asked the jus- the nation, including two noon tices to declare the gatherings in Citrus County, one in law an unconstitu- Inverness and one in Crystal River. tional delegation of Prayers were offered by local authority from the clergy, lay ministers and community Legislature to the leaders. Here are excerpts from the commission, which prayers from the two events. regulates the state’s ———■——— utilities. The court ruled that Prayers from Inverness the law wasn’t uncon- “For the people who complain stitutional and the about prayer and religion in our commission’s order MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle public places — our money says, wasn’t arbitrary or un- Crystal River resident Kathy Paugh bows her head in prayer Thursday afternoon during the ‘In God we trust.’ I’d say to them, supported by National Day of Prayer ceremony in Crystal River. Ceremonies in Crystal River and Inverness were evidence. held in conjunction with observances across the nation. See PRAYER/ Page A11 “In so doing, we stress that it is not this court’s function to substitute its judg- ment for that of the Legislature,” the opin- New kiosks to help visitors navigate King’s Bay ion said. Allowing utili- ties to charge for A.B. SIDIBE offer tidbits about the area’s man- refuge, several rules of conduct Wildlife Service. plants that may never Staff writer atee population. and speed zones were created and “So, we picked pictures of some be built “is a policy This comes as the first winter officials had that in mind when of the world’s best underwater decision for the Leg- As of today, various locations in season after King’s Bay was de- they devised the kiosks. photographers, like Alex Mustard, islature, not this and around King’s Bay are clared a manatee refuge comes to “We wanted something that ex- to put on the panels,” Vicente said. court.” adorned with colorful signs or a close and the summer recreation plained the rules, but is also aes- The photographers whose works — From wire reports kiosks meant to flag visitors about season emerges. thetic and appealing,” said Ivan the rules of conduct in the bay and As part of being declared a Vicente of the U.S. Fish and See KIOSKS/ Page A11 Classifieds . .C8 Community . .C5 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . .A6 Comics . .C7 Editorial . .A10 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings . .C6 Crossword . .C6 Entertainment . .A4 Horoscope . .A4 Movies . .C7 PAID ADVERTISEMENT 000ETT7 A2 FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Mother’s Day Do you think Mom wants something that will last... An Hour? A Week? or will she love something that lasts MUCH LONGER ? Mon.-Sat. 9am-5pm, Citrus County’s Best Sunday 10am-4pm Nursery Weather permitting. Conveniently located in the heart of Citrus County 2012 A Destination Worth the Drive! 000ETHO Visit Us At www.ColorCountryNursery.com [email protected] HWY. 44 LECANTO Two Miles East Of Hwy. 491 (352) 746-6465 SPageTATE A3 - FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 & LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY CHRONICLE Around the STATE TPO ironing out merger details Citrus County Citrus, Hernando transportation groups in talks about combining boards CF graduation CHRIS VAN ORMER other meeting between ment could be reached. select its own staff. city Council member, rescheduled Staff writer the two counties. It made The TPO instructed Clif- The biggest issue has while Citrus’ members The spring commence- sense to them.” ford in July to explore a been apportionment: how would be two commis- ment ceremony for the Col- While defining opera- That was an easy one, merger with another many seats on the new sioners and a seat filled lege of Central Florida has tional details, work on the said Clifford, who also is county’s MPO after Citrus board and how they are by rotation from the two been postponed due to the proposed merger between the executive director of County gained the popula- shared. Hernando, being city councils. likelihood of inclement Citrus and Hernando the Tampa Bay Area Re- tion number where it is re- the larger county, has TAC members urged weather and will now be at counties’ transportation gional Transportation Au- quired to move to MPO wanted one more seat than Clifford to work toward 7 p.m. Monday, May 6, at planning bodies still is thority, addressing a status for federal funding Citrus. balance at board and staff First Baptist Church of ironing out some wrinkles, meeting of the TPO’s purposes. Hernando MPO Originally setting out levels. an advisory group was told Transportation Technical was deemed the most 11 seats — six for Her- ■ Ocala, 2801 S.E. Maricamp The next meeting of Wednesday. Advisory Committee (TAC) likely partner. nando and five for Citrus the TPO will be at 5:15 p.m. Road. “We talked about how about merging with the Keeping existing staff — Hernando said it Thursday, June 13, at In- The ceremony was previ- the meetings would Hernando County Metro- was a bigger issue for Her- wanted to make the verness Government Cen- ously scheduled for today work,” said Bob Clifford, politan Planning Organi- nando, Clifford said, be- board smaller with seven ter, 212 W. Main St., at the CF Ocala Campus. consultant to the Citrus zation (MPO). Another cause its MPO has two seats, four for Hernando Inverness. Complete graduation in- County Transportation simple negotiation in- employees who also are and three for Citrus. Her- Contact Chronicle re- formation is available at the Planning Organization volved frequency of rotat- Hernando County employ- nando’s members would porter Chris Van Ormer at CF website, www.CF.edu; (TPO). “They were totally ing chairmanships, of ees. The solution was seen be three county commis- 352-564-2916 or cvanormer search for graduation. fine if we rotate every which both sides agree- for the joint MPO board to sioners and a Brooksville @chronicleonline.com. For more information, call the Ocala Campus at 352- 854-2322, ext. 1391 or ext. 1739; Citrus Campus at 352-746-6721; or Levy Center at 352-493-9533. Couple Energy awareness program scheduled may Citrus County Housing Services is offering an En- ergy Conservation Aware- ness Program in raise conjunction with its Low In- come Home Energy Assis- tance Program (LIHEAP). The program advises on animals how to get the most cost-ef- CHRIS VAN ORMER fective energy results at Staff writer your house. Learn where most energy is typically LECANTO — A couple wasted, and how energy who recently retired to Cit- flow works. rus County to enjoy a rural A 90-minute session will lifestyle with several live- be offered at 5:30 p.m.