Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NHL Playoffs: Lightning look to close out Bruins/A5 TUESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 89 Scattered LOW showers and thunderstorms. 75 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 329 NEWS BRIEFS COVID-19 case rates drop Citrus County COVID-19 Weekly increase in county now down to where it was before recent surge update Thirteen new posi- BUSTER in their Monday, Aug. 31, Hospitalizations from county’s death count to 57. a confirmed COVID-19 tive cases were re- THOMPSON 2020, update. the contagious respiratory Long-term care facili- case to the district since ported in Citrus County Staff writer From the 1,970 cases disease are also trickling ties in Citrus County re- the school year began since the latest FDOH documented a week ago on down in frequency over ported 250 cases, a 10.1% Aug. 20. update. One new hos- Citrus County’s seven- Aug. 24, it’s a 6.3% the week. increase from the DOH records still docu- pitalization was re- day rate of COVID-19 cases increase. Since Aug. 24, recorded 227 cases documented ment a total 55 cases for has dropped to what it was ported; no new deaths This weekly rate of new hospital admissions crept Aug. 24, according to the inmates housed at county before summer’s spike in cases hasn’t been seen up 21 to 210, a 11.1% in- health department. were reported. correctional facilities and infections. since late-May, early June, crease compared to the According to the Citrus for staff who live locally To date in the Florida Department of before county cases surged 16.6% rise in hospitaliza- County School District, a but could also work at an county, 2,095 people Health (DOH) officials re- to a weekly increase of tions from Aug. 17-24 total of 13 students, six outside facility. have tested positive ported a total 2,095 corona- around 48%, according to Nine more people died school staff and six dis- (including seven virus cases for the county prior reports. since Aug. 24, bringing the trict office staff reported See VIRUS/Page A3 non-residents), 210 have been hospital- ized and 57 have died. Assistance with utility bills available ‘I realized that I needed stability’ Citrus County Hous- ing Services continues to assist low-income residents with their util- ity bill payments. The Low-Income Home Energy Assis- tance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-in- come families with home heating and cool- ing costs. LIHEAP is funded by the U.S. De- partment of Health and Human Services through the Florida De- partment of Economic Opportunity, and has been established to help qualifying low-in- come homeowners and renters pay for a portion of their primary heating costs. LIHEAP is not de- signed to pay a household’s total en- ergy costs, but to pro- vide supplemental assistance. Ordinarily, applications for LIHEAP are accepted by appointment only due to the demand for assistance. For more AMBER SIGMAN/For the Chronicle information, call 352- In this 2016 photo, Brett Mueller, left, with OMG Pretzel Bites, serves up made-from-scratch pretzels with honey mustard to Steve Norton at 527-7520 between the the 35th annual Yankeetown Art, Crafts and Seafood Festival during their fourth-ever event operating out of their food truck. In 2019, OMG hours of 8 a.m. and was featured in a Food Network episode of “Carnival Eats.” Then in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic hit. 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Food Life interrupted: Pandemic forces pretzel business owner to shift focus giveaway NANCY KENNEDY [email protected] wasn’t stable. It was more like were skeptical of doing the Staff writer or Nancy Kennedy at nkennedy a roller coaster. event because the outbreak at fairgrounds @chronicleonline.com. He thought a lot about stabil- had just started.” Beginning at 9 a.m. Editor’s note: Every one of us ity and certainty, providing for That’s when he had to face on Wednesday Sept. has had our life interrupted by I I I his young family, a wife and his vulnerabilities, he said. 2 and Sept. 9, the the coronavirus pandemic, some two kids. “I realized that I needed sta- public can receive more than others. or the past 18 years, His plan had always been to bility and security so I could food at the Citrus We asked people to tell us about Brett Mueller knew one one day go to the police acad- take care of my family, and my County fairgrounds at how their lives have been inter- Fthing for certain: Every- emy and become a deputy and business wasn’t going to give rupted, in ways large or small, body loved the pretzel bites he sell pretzel bites as a side gig. me that,” he said. “So I started 3600 S. Florida Ave, and how they’ve handled their sit- and his late dad made and But he wasn’t ready to quit looking at my options.” Inverness, FL 34450; uations, how it has changed them. sold, first in the Crystal River just yet — until the coronavirus He had money in savings, drive-through only. As we continue the series, Mall and then from Mueller’s pandemic hit and he was which bought him time, and Monetary donations “Life Interrupted,” we’re still OMG! Pretzel Bites food truck. forced to make a decision. then he started working part- are needed to con- looking for stories. He had a following — he was “My last event selling pretzel time at Publix while looking tinue feeding Citrus If you have a story to tell and even featured on the Food Net- bites was St. Patrick’s Day in for a full-time job. County residents. would be willing to share it with work show “Carnival Eats.” Inverness,” he said. “It was just Please consider do- our readers, email Jeff Bryan at Money was great, but it my wife and I — my employees See PRETZELS/Page A7 nating through Citrus United Way (www. citrusunitedway.org), Community Food Bank of Citrus County (www.community Chamber of Commerce hands out Pillar Awards foodbankofcitrus county.org) or the New MICHAEL D. BATES opportunity for the cham- in significant ways to our Church Without Walls Staff writer ber to recognize the signifi- community, the Pillar (www.newchurch cant contributions of our Awards are a way for the About 100 people at- without walls.com). many businesses and citi- chamber to say thank you,” tended Friday night’s Pil- zens to our community that Prendergast said. Inverness lar Awards event, make Citrus County an up- Here are the winners sponsored by the Citrus lifting place to live and and a brief bio for each, council meets County Chamber of work,” said Ardath Pren- submitted by the Tuesday Commerce. dergast, the chamber’s chamber: This year, it was held at manager of operations and Tom Davis: Charles B. Inverness City Coun- the Citrus County Golf & communications. Fitzpatrick Heritage cil members on Tues- Country Club and, because Since the chamber Award, given to someone day, Sept. 1, will of the pandemic, there started the event in 1992, it who has made a significant consider increasing the was half capacity com- has given out over 300 impact on the quality of life price of cremation plots pared to prior years and awards. in Citrus County with a life- at Oak Ridge Cemetery masks were required. A “Whether recognizing time of service and commu- from $995 to $1,595. Special to the Chronicle company called Disinfect the achievements of a life- nity involvement. The council meets Citrus County Chronicle executive John Murphy, right, on Group Mobile Disinfecting time of work, supporting Davis, who retired after at 5:30 p.m. at city Friday, Aug. 28, presents the Citrus County Chamber of set up a demonstration the promise of the youth in 33 years as a U.S. Navy hall, 212 W. Main St. Commerce Charles B. Fitzpatrick Heritage Award to former unit at the entrance that our community that will fighter pilot, started a For the full story on Navy pilot and flight school operator at Crystal River scanned attendees for guide our future, distin- flight school at Crystal what else is on the airport Tom Davis during an awards ceremony at Citrus temperature, provided guishing individuals that River Airport in 1978, tak- council’s agenda, visit County Golf & Country Club. The award is given to someone hand sanitizing, and a work in the spirit of volun- ing over the county airport chronicleonline.com. who has made a significant impact on the quality of life in walk-through germ-killing teerism to support our lease a few years later. He Citrus County with a lifetime of service and community dry mist sanitizing spray. county or its businesses, or — From staff reports involvement. “The Pillar Awards is an businesses that give back See AWARDS/Page A3 Classifieds . .B5 Crossword . .B8 INDEX Sports . A5, A6, A9 Obituaries . A2 Comics . .B4 Editorial. A8 Lottery Numbers . A9 TV Listings. .B3 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . A9 A2 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 STATE/LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Water district Obituaries. Jammie River and the St. Vincent Camilla Walter Groves. She was a Cannon De Paul Thrift Store in Williamson, 99 nurse at Blanchard Valley Spring Hill. He also col- Hospital for 17 years. She elects new officers HOMOSASSA lected donations of food in SPRING HILL worked for Marathon Oil in Cannon, Jammie S, of Walden Woods for distri- The Graveside Service Findlay for 17 years before Special to the Chronicle is the president and chief Homosassa, FL passed bution to the Homeless of Remembrance for Mrs.