Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 GC8: Lecanto boys weightlifters claim conference title /B1 THURSDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 88 Partly sunny, LOW warm and breezy. 63 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 25, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 168 NEWS BRIEFS Family asks for cross back Citrus County COVID-19 cases Roadside memorial for 17-year-old who died in crash mysteriously removed According to the Flor- ida Department of Health, BUSTER 17-year-old’s memorial on she said about the cus- it over there,” she said. “It Renaissance Center in 20 positive cases were THOMPSON the northern shoulder of tom-made wooden cross wasn’t there, it was no- Lecanto. reported in Citrus County Staff writer West Stage Coach Trail, her Homosassa family where to be found.” “Everyone who knows since the latest update. west of the roadway’s in- planted a month after Lei- Anderson said the cross my daughter goes there,” Michelle Anderson was One new death was re- tersection with South lani died from a vehicle was covered with rosa- Anderson said about the getting ready to honk her Brittle Road. crash the night of April 15. ries, leis, decorative but- memorial. “She had a ported, for a total of 421. horn as she was about to However, on the morn- “I was hysterical.” terflies and a happy personality. ... ex- To date in the county, drive by the roadside ing of Monday, March 22, Anderson searched the weather-treated photo- tremely outgoing; her 10,190 people have cross engraved with her Anderson didn’t honk. area, scouring beyond the graph of Leilani, an aspir- smile would light up a tested positive (including daughter’s name, Leilani. She stepped on the brakes wood line. ing lawyer who was a room.” 85 non-residents). Anderson honked every and pulled over. “To see if maybe some- student at Crystal River Three new hospitaliza- time she passed the “Because it was gone,” one took it out and threw High School and the See CROSS/Page A2 tions were reported, for a total of 665 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. Vaccine County seeks clarity on roads registration system open DOH-Citrus’ preregis- tration system to sched- ule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individu- als 50 and older and frontline health care work- ers is now available. Individuals can now be added to a waiting list for vaccine appointments and be notified when ap- pointments are available in Citrus County by visit- ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by calling 866-201-0442; TTY is 833-476-1036. As part of the statewide preregistration system, each county has a desig- nated number that indi- viduals can call and preregister with if they do not have internet access. Citrus County’s desig- nated helpline number is 833-540-2058. Vaccine supply remains limited and appointments may not be available for several weeks. $2 off fair coupon inside There’s a coupon inside today’s paper for $2 off a midway armband at the MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle Citrus County Fair on Construction on the Suncoast Parkway continues Wednesday morning, March 24, near West Southern Street in Lecanto. The parkway’s Chronicle Night, Wednes- terminus is just north of the area at State Road 44. day, March 31. Present the coupon at the ticket booth for the discount. The fair Officials, civic leaders quiz state secretary on local transportation plans runs from March 29-April JEFF BRYAN leaders sat with Thi- U.S. 19 to connect with That’s not for certain, in the first place? 4. It is located at 3600 S. Managing editor bault, seeking clarity on Interstate 10 in Madison Thibault said, but one When we built the Vet- Florida Ave., Inverness. where the Suncoast County. Part of that plan such aspect he wants to erans (Express), the fly- Opening on TALLAHASSEE — Parkway will conclude, includes making sure be ready for is “what’s over was there, but we Amid a pandemic, Cit- while reaching out the parkway runs to U.S. the vision as you con- had to take it out be- the foundation rus County’s Legislative about the reclassifica- 19 at Red Level. tinue north.” He pointed cause it wasn’t wide board Days might not have had tion of Turkey Oak “If the consensus is to out the design flaw enough.” the numbers it had in Drive, widening U.S. 41 go through Citrus when the terminus Kevin Cunningham The Citrus County the past, but the clout north from Inverness County with the Park- ended at U.S. 98 but queried Thibault about Hospital Board is asking remains, as evidenced and the Fort Island way, does it make sense then years later, law- the potential for creat- for applications from any- by an hour-long meeting Trail multi-use path. to to build it over makers opted to extend ing a bypass around one interested in filling a with Kevin Thibault, As Thibault pointed (County Road) 486 or do the parkway into Citrus Crystal River; using vacancy with the Citrus secretary for the Flor- out, there are currently a terminus/exit?” ques- County. Turkey Oak Drive has County Community Char- ida Department of provisions in Senate tioned Josh Wooten, ex- “They actually had to been discussed in the ity Foundation (CCCCF) Transportation. Bill 10 to design a route ecutive director of the go back, what a waste,” past few months. left when Kelley DeMaio About a dozen county weaving the Suncoast Citrus County Chamber Thibault said. “Why resigned to pursue other officials and civic Parkway north along of Commerce. didn’t we plan for that See ROADS/Page A2 career paths. DeMaio was elected in November 2018. The term ends in November 2022. DeMaio was one of two foundation members Sugarmill Woods seeks House bill would elected by the general public. Please send the com- pleted application to: parkway trail access set rules for next kdozier@citruscounty hospitalboard.com no MICHAEL D. Commissioners said overpass is being built later than noon April 21, BATES they like the idea and over U.S. 98. state health crisis 2021. Staff writer asked staff to explore Several Sugarmill res- The foundation’s fund- costs and design. idents could park at the JIM TURNER The House Pandemics ing comes from the Citrus Depending on where The $135 million Sun- community clubhouse News Service of Florida & Public Emergencies County Hospital Board, you live in Sugarmill coast Parkway 2 Phase 1 and go bike riding right Committee voted 14-4 on which oversees the Citrus Woods, you’re not going to project is already under to the trail. Others, espe- TALLAHASSEE — A Wednesday to approve Memorial Hospital lease. be far from the Suncoast construction, extending cially near the Oak Vil- series of proposals — the measure, which also The foundation gives Parkway Trail, now being the road 12.7 miles from lage section, could from requiring the gov- would require a state- built parallel to the toll grants to local charities to U.S. 98 at Sugarmill access it from their ernor to justify closing owned stockpile of per- road. Woods to State Road 44 home. schools and businesses sonal protective fund local health care Some residents have in Lecanto. It is sched- The new bike/pedes- to limiting the authority equipment and direct projects. asked county commission- uled to open in early trian path received unan- of local governments — the state surgeon gen- For more information ers to make it easy to ac- 2022. imous support from have been lumped into a eral to develop a plan to about the Citrus County cess that trail by building The Citrus County leg of residents who were asked House bill aimed at “ensure the state is pre- Hospital Board, visit www. a multi-use path from the 42-mile Suncoast Trail their thoughts on an email bracing Florida for the pared for every foresee- citruscountyhospital Corkwood Boulevard to will connect with the ex- blast from the next health care crisis able public health board.com. For CCCCF, the parkway trail, a dis- isting route in Hernando, community. as it continues to grap- emergency.” visit www.ccccf.us. tance of almost a Pasco and Hillsborough ple with the COVID-19 — From staff reports half-mile. counties. A pedestrian See TRAIL/Page A2 pandemic. See BILL/Page A2 Classifieds . .B5 Crossword . .B8 INDEX Food . A10 Obituaries . A5 Comics . .B4 Editorial. A7 Lottery Numbers . .B2 TV Listings. .B3 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Lottery Payouts . .B2 A2 THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021 LOCAL/STATE CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Center, where she later spokeswoman Veronica died. Kampschroer told the Around the CROSS Uncle John’s Woodshop, Chronicle Wednesday the COUNTY Continued from Page A1 a local business, crafted county’s road mainte- and donated Leilani’s nance staff did not remove What remained of Lei- cross to Anderson, who the cross. FVN to have lani’s cross on Monday said she reported its dis- In the end, Anderson monthly meetings was a hole surrounded by appearance to the Citrus just wants her daughter’s Female Veterans Net- a rainbow of flowers County Sheriff ’s Office on cross to be returned so planted there before. Tuesday. Leilani’s 12-year-old sis- work (FVN) invites all fe- A pair of white crosses Sgt. Lee Carey, a sher- ter, Avery Sanchez, and male veterans to their nearby was also left un- iff ’s office spokesman, 7-year-old brother, Jacob monthly meeting on the touched.