Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Lasorda: Hall of Fame Dodgers manager dead at 93 /B1 SATURDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 55 Decreasing LOW clouds but chilly. 32 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JANUARY 9, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 93 NEWS BRIEFS DOH to offer more vaccines Citrus County FRED HIERS the park for occupants to be vacci- Staff writer nated, DOH spokeswoman Audrey COVID-19 Stasko. With virus surging, Biden update The Department of Health in On Thursday, people wanting Citrus County is making a few vaccinations came with about a According to the Flor- changes to how it will offer coro- dozen motor homes. Stasko said ida Department of Health, navirus vaccines Saturday at Cen- they are too high to fit under the to speed release of vaccines 114 positive cases were tral Ridge District Park, but most DOH tents for health workers to RICARDO ALONSO- we must accelerate distribution reported in Citrus County of the process will mirror the ear- collect recipient information and ZALDIVAR, ZEKE MILLER of the vaccine while continuing since the latest update. lier event. to inoculate them. The vehicles Associated Press to ensure the Americans who One new death was re- The drive-thru clinic will be sim- also encourage people to camp need it most get it as soon as pos- ported, for a total of 283. ilar to the clinic the DOH operated outside the park along County WASHINGTON — With sible,” spokesman T.J. Ducklo To date in the county, Thursday, Jan. 7, in which 800 peo- Road 491 the night before the COVID-19 surging and vaccina- said in a statement. Biden “sup- 7,340 people have tested ple were vaccinated. The process park opens. tions off to a slow start, President- ports releasing available doses positive (including 50 non- will remain a first come, first The vaccinations started 9 a.m. elect Joe Biden will rapidly re- immediately, and believes the residents). served basis at the 6905 N. County Thursday, as they will Saturday, lease most available vaccine government should stop holding One new hospitaliza- Road 491 facility in Beverly Hills. but hundreds of people parked doses to protect more people, his back vaccine supply so we can The vaccines will only be available outside the park Wednesday night tion was reported, for a office said Friday, a reversal of get more shots in Americans’ to those 65 years and older. to improve their chances of get- total of 536 hospitalized. Trump administration policies. arms now.” But on Saturday, motor homes ting the vaccine. “The president-elect believes See BIDEN/Page A3 Note that totals reflect will this time not be allowed into See DOH/Page A3 preliminary reports re- ceived by the state, and may be subject to later revision. CCSO investigating ‘A blessing death in CR Citrus County Sheriff’s Office authorities are in- vestigating a man’s death, which was re- for the city’ ported late Friday after- noon on the 900 block of Northeast Sixth Street in Crystal River unveils mural Crystal River, according BUSTER THOMPSON to sheriff’s office spokes - Staff writer man Sgt. Lee Carey. Carey said foul play is Downtown Crystal River just got more not suspected, and personality. there’s no threat to the City officials and advocates welcomed a 68-foot- public. A medical exam- wide, 14-foot-high mural featuring their communi- iner will determine the ty’s wild waterscape as the backdrop to the city’s man’s cause and manner new Town Square at U.S. 19 and Citrus Avenue of death, Carey said. “Great job; it’s just amazing,” Mayor Joe Meek told artist William Mickey during the small unveiling cer- Salvation Army emony the morning of Friday, Jan. 8. “It’s a blessing Cold Weather for the city ... this really enhances our brand new park.” Shelter open It took Mickey, a city resident, 11 weeks to paint The Salvation Army will his rendition of Crystal River’s waterway bounties have its Cold Weather — from kayaking to scalloping, and everything in be- Shelter open at 7 p.m. tween — on the northern wall of Explorida’s tour Saturday, Jan. 9. The guide business. shelter will be open until “I’m just so thrilled to be a part of this whole col- 7 a.m. Sunday and is at laboration of what’s happening in downtown; it’s an The Salvation Army, honor, it’s humbling,” he said, adding he was thank- 712 S. School Avenue, ful for the comments of city visitors and locals prais- ing the area’s progression. “It was just so rewarding Lecanto, FL 34461. to hear their encouragement and input, and to be a Face masks are re- part of everything that’s happening.” quired to be worn while at Mickey, the muralist of many works throughout the shelter. The pickup/ Crystal River, said rainy and chilly days did delay drop-off location for those his painting, and the building’s textured wall — needing transportation is at which the mural jived with in design — was tricky to the Family Resource at navigate. Connections, 3848 E. Par- “It went really smooth,” he told a Chronicle re- sons Point Road, Her- porter, “and it was a great experience.” nando. Pick up is at Husband and wife, Anthony and Kim Altman, who 5:30 p.m. Saturday. For in- own the two-year-old Explorida business, said they formation, call The Salva- appreciate Mickey’s talent and their neighbors’ tion Army at 352-513-4960. support. “It feels amazing to be a part of what’s happening Simpson downtown, to be involved in this and help see this ABOVE: Crystal River Mayor committee through,” Kim Altman told the Chronicle. “We’re Joe Meek is all smiles as he supported by a lot of great people in this community; speaks with a member of reels in $150K it’s been a dream come true.” Crystal River Main Street A political committee “The mural encompasses everything about Crys- Friday as a mural dedication led by Senate President tal River … everything,” Anthony Altman added. “It takes place at Town Square Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, all came together perfectly.” in downtown Crystal River. raised $150,000 in De- Private donations and a $1,000 grant from the The giant mural depicts cember, with contribu- city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) many of the beloved outdoor Board funded the $18,000 mural, which was spear- tions coming in three activities for which Crystal headed by Crystal River Main Street. River is well known. LEFT: large chunks, according Meek and Main Street board member Carol Kim- to a newly filed finance Artist William Mickey brough thanked the city and donors, which included speaks with some of those report. the local Damron family, resident Kennedy Smith, gathered as a dedication for The Simpson-chaired Meek, City Councilman Pat Fitzpatrick and anony- the mural he painted comes Jobs for Florida commit- mous contributors. to an end. tee received See MURAL/Page A6 MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle $100,000 from U.S. Sugar, $25,000 from the tobacco company Altria Client Services LLC and $25,000 from Floridians for a Stronger Democ- Bruce Bellamy: He knew what people needed racy, a PAC linked to As- sociated Industries of student at the all-Black Booker T. Washington Florida. School when it was integrated. Simpson’s committee In 2015, he told the Chronicle about fights spent $48,588 during the breaking out, name-calling and how tension month, with the money filled the classrooms. NANCY KENNEDY going to consulting and “There were a lot of white people there that Staff writer didn’t want us there, just like there were a lot fundraising expenses. of black people who didn’t want the whites — From staff and wire reports Of the 10 children born to the late Rev. there,” Bellamy said. INDEX Leroy Bellamy and his wife, Priscilla, Bruce However, Bellamy’s father taught his kids was the one known for being bitten by the act- not to judge people by the color of their skin. Classifieds . .B6 ing bug. “You judge a man by how he treats you,” Comics . B5. “From a young age, he was gifted,” said Bellamy said. “You learn to deal with it and Crossword . .B9 older brother Randolph Bellamy. He had a have as little controversy as you can because Editorial . A8 knack for memorizing — Bible verses, driving controversy usually only escalates the prob- Entertainment . .A4 directions, his lines in a play. lem. You learn to be diplomatic.” Lottery Numbers . B2. From acting in community theater, writing See BRUCE/Page A3 Lottery Payouts . B2. and directing his own plays and skits or his Obituaries . .A5 dramatic recitation of Dr. Martin Luther King Bruce Bellamy, the ninth of 10 children born to TV Listings . .B4 Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech that he per- the late Rev. Leroy Bellamy and his wife, formed on many occasions, the ninth born of Priscilla, died Dec. 28 at age 67. One of the 10 siblings made his mark on Citrus County. things he was best known for was his stirring Bruce Bellamy died Dec. 28, 2020. He was dramatic recitation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s 67. “I Have A Dream” speech each year on MLK Day. 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