Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Rays fall in extras in battle of division leaders /B1 THURSDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 89 Scattered LOW showers and thunderstorms. 75 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JUNE 17, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 253 NEWS BRIEFS Shooting under scrutiny DEC to host Juneteenth food drive The Citrus County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC) will host a Juneteenth food drive from 9 to 11 a.m. June 19 at the George Washington Carver Com- munity Center, 95 Three Sisters Springs Trail in Crystal River and at the Citadel of Life Cathedral, 225 N. Seminole Ave. in Inverness. Donations of non- perishable, hygiene and other paper products will be accepted. Items will be distributed to food inse- cure families throughout Citrus County. Juneteenth is an an- nual holiday that com- memorates the end of slavery in the United States. For more informa- tion, visit juneteenth.com. School district offers free meals The Citrus County School District’s Summer Feeding Program offers students younger than 18 years old free meals. The district has five drive-thru BUSTER THOMPSON/Chronicle A blue hue from a nearby TV reflects off of Michael Kenneth Ball the morning of Wednesday, June 16, as a bailiff escorts the Beverly Hills school sites distributing 64-year-old into a courtroom to start his “stand your ground” hearing for the fatal shooting of his 32-year-old neighbor, Tyler Dorbert. meals: Pleasant Grove Elementary, Rock Crusher Elementary, Cit- ‘Stand your ground’ hearing set to examine man’s claim of self-defense rus Springs Elementary, Citrus Springs Middle BUSTER Richard “Ric” Howard Ball’s lawyer, Assis- his intentions were, he confrontation began,” School and Crystal River THOMPSON finds Ball was justified tant Public Defender Ed was coming at him.” he said. Middle School. Staff writer in shooting Spaight, filed a Assistant Attorney Dorbert was living off Drive-thru meal service 32-year-old motion for a Blake Shore called eight of South Monroe Street A legal battle began to Dorbert the “stand your witnesses to help refute will be available on Mon- with his fiancée, Kate- decide whether Michael morning of ground” hear- Ball’s claims. Shore also lyn Howard, his brother- days and Thursday from Kenneth Ball was de- March 25, 2020, ing, claiming argued Ball shouldn’t be in-law, Connor McElroy, 11 a.m. to noon July 29. fending himself when the judge could Ball was in fear protected by Florida’s and his two children he All sites will be closed he fatally shot Tyler grant the because Dorbert “stand your ground” law had with Howard, a July 5. Curbside meal Dorbert during an argu- 64-year-old im- had struck him because he was illegally 4-year-old and an pick-up will be July 6. For ment in their Beverly munity from fur- Michael in the past. concealing the firearm infant. more information, contact Hills neighborhood. ther prosecution Ball “(Dorbert) he used to shoot Dorbert. Ball lived with his Ms. Jervis at 352-726- Wednesday, June 16, on his second- goes out to con- Spaight said a person mom catty-corner to 1931 ext. 2429. was the first day of degree murder and fire- front my client, who he is allowed to carry a Dorbert, on South Mon- Ball’s two-day “stand arm charges. has already punched firearm on or around roe Street and Plaza Arrest made in your ground” hearing. If not, Ball’s case will and knocked uncon- their home or business Street. Sumter double If Citrus County Cir- continue to trial the scious,” Spaight said. “He was not breaking homicide cuit Court Judge week of Aug. 2. “My client knew what the law ... when this See COURT/Page A5 A 15-year-old has been arrested in connection with the shooting deaths of Isaiah Nelson and Prestin Nixon — two Inverness waste Wildwood teens who County might give were killed last month. Authori- ties ob- collection fees rise tained a road paver more time warrant for the arrest MIKE WRIGHT $3.4 million contract and labor. The county’s RV park at center of dispute of C.J. Staff writer with D.A.B. required the response: Stick to the Patterson, work “substantially com- schedule. who was C.J. Citrus County govern- plete” by June 7 and fin- Records show the com- also set to begin construction incarcer- Patterson ment is willing to give a ished by July 7. The pany picked up the re- Tampa-based Tindale Oli- ated at the Department of road contractor an addi- company has completed paving schedule on FRED HIERS tional two months to about 30% of the work, May 18 and hasn’t missed Staff writer ver, the consulting com- Juvenile Justice in Ocala, complete resurfacing county officials said. a work day since. pany the city hired to according to Sumter sher- neighborhood streets or The matter comes to “They’re out there pav- Inverness’ residential review its waste pickup. iff’s Chief Deputy Chris face financial the county commission ing today,” Commission curbside garbage collec- The study recom- Haworth. consequences. at its 1 p.m. meeting Chairman Scott Carna- tion will soon cost a little mended that city officials Haworth said the only County Administrator Tuesday, June 22. han said Wednesday. more. review the monthly fee motivation they have Randy Oliver is recom- D.A.B. had suspended Carnahan said D.A.B. The Inverness City each year and that it been able to discover for mending the county give its work after repaving a owner William Bach- Council voted 4-0, with should be adjusted annu- the shootings was that D.A.B. Constructors Inc. Floral City street on schmidt has the same councilman Ken Hinkle ally to better reflect Patterson didn’t like one of Inglis until September April 30, according to labor and materials absent, to approve a 3% changing cost factors. of the victims and wanted to finish the contract job county records. On May shortages that other price hike for the city’s The study predicted a to kill someone. of repaving portions of 12, it sent a letter to the companies are monthly waste pickup fee. 3% hike due to cost in- The bodies of Isaiah 159 public neighborhood county requesting a experiencing. The current monthly fee creases. The council Alexander Nelson, 17, roads. delay in the contract due is $9.85. That was based The county’s to a shortage of materials See COUNTY/Page A5 on a 2020 rate study by and Preston Wayne See CITY/Page A5 Nixon, 16, were found just after 5 a.m. Wednes- day, May 12, on C.R. 219 in Wildwood. Health department offers free back-to-school shots — From staff reports INDEX FRED HIERS Sovereign Path, Lecanto, Audrey Stasko said the from parents’ plate,” she based on your child’s age. Staff writer will offer free vaccines goal is to make the vac- said, and be one less thing The vaccines protect Classifieds . .B7 July 19 to Aug. 6. The DOH cines readily available so to worry about. children against such dis- Comics . .B6 Amid flu vaccines and will accept walk-ins or parents won’t have to “And they’re provided eases as Hepatitis B, mea- Crossword . .B12 COVID-19 vaccines, local people wanting to make scramble at the last min- at no cost. That’s a big sles, mumps, rubella, Editorial. A7 department of health offi- appointments. Vaccines ute or children won’t have thing,” Stasko said. polio and chicken pox. Entertainment . A4 cials are reminding par- will be offered 8 a.m. to to miss any school be- “But we have parents These life-threatening Horoscope . A4 ents there’s one more set 4 p.m. cause they haven’t had who do wait until the last diseases are preventable Food . A10 of vaccines on the For the first time the their vaccines. minute. Do yourself a with vaccines, Stasko Lottery Numbers . .B7 horizon. DOH in Citrus County is “Our approach this year favor and your child a said. Lottery Payouts . .B7 Students planning to at- also offering school vac- is that vaccines are not favor. Don’t wait and in a Parents and guardians tend school will need cines on two weekend scary, but waiting until frenzy get the vaccines at Obituaries . A5 should bring ID, the their vaccinations and the days for easier access to the last minute to get your the last minute,” she said. child’s birth certificate, TV Listings. .B5 DOH is expanding when the vaccines. The DOH child’s shots can be,” The immunizations are social security card and it will offer free shots to will offer vaccines Satur- Stasko said. required by school boards immunization record, if make it as convenient as day, July 24 and Saturday, Expanding the hours across Florida. Stasko available. possible. Aug. 7, 9:30 a.m. to noon. for immunizations hope- said DOH staff will know The DOH at 3700 W. DOH spokeswoman fully will “take off more which vaccines to offer See SHOTS/Page A5 A2 THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021 STATE/LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE COVID-19 cases delay YOUR Royal Caribbean cruise CRYSTAL RIVER TEAM ADRIANA GOMEZ for their bodies to build virus and follow other LICON protection against the measures. OF PROFESSIONALS Associated Press virus. Six of the crew Celebrity Edge, also members who tested posi- part of the Royal Carib- MIAMI — Royal Carib- tive are asymptomatic and bean Group, is set to be- bean International is post- two are mildly sick, he come the first poning for nearly a month said, adding that the com- post-pandemic ship to sail one of the highly antici- pany has quarantined all from the U.S.