Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 New era: Biden set to take oath of office today /A8 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 72 Mostly sunny and LOW nice. 48 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JANUARY 20, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 104 NEWS BRIEFS Publix gets more vaccines Citrus County COVID-19 MICHAEL D. the appointment will not update BATES work. Publix will adminis- Staff writer ter the appointment-only Citrus nears 8K COVID-19 cases According to the Flor- vaccines Thursday, Jan. 21, ida Department of Health, Select Publix pharma- and Friday, Jan. 22. BUSTER tallied 7,929 infections — death count to 316. 52 new positive cases cies in Citrus County are The online reservation THOMPSON an increase of 423 since Hospitalizations from were reported in Citrus getting another supply of system will again open Staff writer Monday, Jan. 11, at an av- COVID-19 increased 17 County since the latest the COVID-19 vaccine and this Friday and allow erage 60 cases a day. between Jan. 11 and update. Seven new folks 65 and older can folks to make appoint- Citrus County closed Another 52 viral con- Jan. 18, with two more deaths were reported, for start making online ap- ments for Saturday, Jan. in on 8,000 COVID-19 tractions were added admissions being added 23, to Wednesday, Jan. 27. a total of 316. pointments after 6 a.m. cases over the week as it Tuesday, Jan. 19, accord- Tuesday for a total of Wednesday. The four local Publix ing to the FDOH, reach- 561 documented To date in the county, surpassed 300 deaths Publix stresses the only sites participating in the from the novel ing 7,981 cases. hospitalizations. 7,981 people have tested way to make an appoint- vaccine program are coronavirus. A dozen people also A Florida Agency for positive (including 58 ment is by booking it on- Crystal Springs Shopping According to a Florida died from the disease Health Care Administra- non-residents). line at www.publix.com/ Center, 6760 State Road Department of Health Jan. 11-18, and seven tion (AHCA) report from Two new hospitaliza- covidvaccine. 44 in Crystal River; (FDOH) report from Mon- more deaths were added tions were reported, for a Calling or visiting the day, Jan. 18, the county Tuesday, raising the local See VIRUS/Page A9 total of 561 hospitalized. store or pharmacy to make See PUBLIX/Page A9 Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to later revision. More vaccines offered by County again eyes boat-launch fees county DOH The Florida Department of Health in Citrus County will offer another round of COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older. The drive-thru clinic will give the vaccine to the first 1,000 individuals who come to the event begin- ning at 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 23, at Central Ridge District Park, 6905 N. Le- canto Hwy., Beverly Hills. The vaccines will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Law enforcement will be on hand. Motorhomes and vehicles over 7 feet tall will not be permitted due to height restrictions. Each person must pro- vide valid identification and plan to be in Citrus County to receive their second-round shot, 28 days after their first dose. Individuals will receive a COVID-19 vaccination card that lists the date and the manufacturer for the first vaccination, and the MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle A boater makes his way to the county boat ramp on Tsala Apopka’s Hernando pool Tuesday, Jan. 19. Plans are in the works by county date the second dose is commissioners to consider ramp fees at county boat ramps. due. Individuals will also receive an appointment date, time and location to Proposal before commission would offer discount to local residents receive their second dose from DOH-Citrus. Individu- MIKE WRIGHT Fees would be $10 per “That’s all stuff that The county staff ’s rec- Commissioner Holly als must keep the COVID- Staff writer launch. At Commis- will be hashed out,” he ommendation had a Davis asked if the 19 vaccination record card sioner Jeff Kinnard’s said, adding criteria single-tier price for an county knew the resi- Citrus County boaters suggestion, an annual could include those who in order to receive their annual pass — $50, re- dency makeup of boat may be facing a launch pass would be $25 for own property and pay gardless of residency. It ramp users so that com- second dose from fee by year’s end, but it county residents and land taxes. had two discounts — $25 missioners would know DOH-Citrus. could be worse: $50 for anyone living It was Kinnard who, for military veterans how much money was The Moderna vaccine Tourists will pay outside the county. as the new chairman in and anyone over 65 — potentially at stake by will be given at the clinic. more. The address on a driv- 2018, first aired the idea plus county residents cutting the county resi- Prior to receiving the vac- Commissioners on er’s license could deter- of charging boat-launch would be given a one- dent’s annual pass fee cine, individuals will be Tuesday unanimously mine residency, fees, using the funds to day holiday to receive in half. Kinnard said he required to download and voted to schedule a pub- commissioners expand parking and re- the pass for $25. didn’t have that complete the Department lic hearing for 2 p.m. suggested. pair boat improvements. The plan given tenta- information. of Health COVID-19 Vac- Feb. 9 to set launch fees Asked after the vote Commissioners at first tive approval Tuesday Commissioner Ruthie cine Screening and Con- at county boat ramps, which category snow- shot the idea down, but eliminates the discounts Davis Schlabach said sent at https://tinyurl.com/ with money raised to birds with permanent it returned and has as all county residents she fully supported the yb5bqrb9. A Moderna fact maintain and improve residence outside of Cit- been discussed several will be eligible for the fees. sheet with information on ramps, including rus County fall into, Kin- times publicly since $25 annual pass, Kin- parking. nard said he wasn’t sure. then. nard said. See FEES/Page A9 what to expect during and after the injection will also be given before receiving the vaccine. All docu- ments will also be avail- able on-site. As more vaccines be- Fewer traffic crashes, more fatalities in 2020 come available, additional dates, locations and ways Troopers believe higher speeds on emptier roads could explain discrepancy to receive the vaccine will be announced. BUSTER Motor Vehicles (FHSMV), its 1,813 vehicle strikes. “Not just in Citrus have a tendency to drive THOMPSON there were 1,680 vehicle Crashes in 2020 involv- County, not just in Flor- faster than they normally Housing Staff writer crashes between Jan. 1 ing just injuries or just ida, but nationwide,” Gas- would,” he said. “I’ve got committee to and Dec. 31, 2020, on area property damages, how- kins said, speaking troopers pulling people Editor’s Note: This story roads. ever, were lower com- anecdotally. “People are over for doing like 120, 130 meet Jan. 20 was republished after a Of those crashes from pared to recent years. being asked to work from mph on a routine basis.” The Citrus County Af- prior version from Sunday, 2020, 34 of them involved So why was there a high home; they’re not getting With more vehicles fordable Housing Advi- Jan. 17, 2021, reported at least one death, and a number of deadly vehicle up and driving to and traveling at higher sory Committee will meet data from crashes just in- total 38 people were strikes in 2020 when there from work.” speeds, crashes have a at 5 p.m. Wednesday, vestigated by the Florida killed. were fewer crashes? With little-to-no traffic greater risk of becoming Jan. 20, at the Citrus Highway Patrol and not Not since 2004 has According to Florida surrounding them, those life-threatening. County Resource Center, other agencies, like the Cit- there been a year as Highway Patrol spokes- motorists still traveling “Because of COVID-19, rus County Sheriff’s Office. in the café, 2804 W. Marc deadly, according to the man Sgt. Steve Gaskins, started driving with lower people have been staying While local roadways in FHSMV. roadway authorities caution and higher speeds. at home so the roads are Knighton Court, Lecanto. 2020 had a lower number At 1,502, the next year across the U.S. noticed Gaskins, who rep- empty and the speeds Any person desiring of crashes, the past year to have fewer crashes was similar statistics. resents FHP’s Troop C’s went up,” Gaskins said, further information may has been one the deadli- 2015, which recorded 27 It started in the spring, seven-county jurisdiction “therefore, you have a contact Citrus County est for motorists in Citrus fatal crashes with 29 when COVID-19 inter- from Polk to Citrus, said fewer number of crashes, Housing Services, 2804 County. deaths. rupted regular commutes his troopers have stopped but the crashes you do W. Marc Knighton Court, According to prelimi- Not far behind 2020’s to work and school or out- more motorists for driving have tend to be a little Lecanto, FL 34461, nary data from the Flor- grim stats is 2018, which ings to restaurants and over 100 mph. more severe.” 352-527-7520. ida Department of had 33 fatal traffic crashes events, leaving roadways “You get on U.S.