Spanish success: Alberto Contador wins Tour de France /B1 MONDAY CITRUS COUNTY TODAY & Tuesday morning HIGH Mostly sunny in the 94 morning, then partly LOW cloudy with scattered 75 PAGE A4 t-storms. www.chronicleonline.com JULY 26, 2010 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOLUME 115 ISSUE 353 FCAT scores cause worry Independent reviews of results scheduled CHERI HARRIS Chronicle While the Citrus County School District generally fared well com- pared to the rest of the state with FCAT scores for the 2009-10 school year, the statewide test Photos by MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle with so much rid- ABOVE: Campers from Good Council Camp in Floral City leisurely float down the Rainbow River in Dunnellon last week. The ing on it contin- gentle flow of the river provides just the right speed to ease tubers to the take-out point. ues to concern BOTTOM LEFT: Sixteen-year-old Andrew Bonomo breaks away from the main group of tubers to relax on his raft. school officials. BOTTOM RIGHT: Turtles and birds, like this anhinga, share space along the tranquil river that bleeds into the Withlacoochee Pat Deutsch- River in Dunnellon. man, chair- woman of the Citrus County Pat School Board, Deutschman said something is said something terribly wrong is terribly wrong with with the test or test or how how it is scored it is scored. Colorful cruise because no school in the state had more than 53 percent of students who achieved a level 3 or above in the 10th-grade reading portion of the FCAT, whether they were schools for the gifted, charter schools, schools with International Bac- calaureate programs or others with students who should per- form well. “It’s never been really high, but to me that is an astounding statis- tic,” she said. Statewide, an average of 39 percent of students scored 3 and higher, compared with 35 percent in Citrus County. The statewide reading average See FCAT/Page A4 Tubers can experience scenic sights, sounds on Rainbow River ride Officials he start of the new What the trip is like to the county’s parks page. school year is drawing Expect to see cypress trees, arrest near, but that isn’t river otters, wading birds and Rainbow Springs keeping youngsters the occasional alligator along State Park Tand families from making the the Rainbow River. Location: The tubing en- former most of what’s left of summer “Its a crystal clear spring-fed vacation. Tubing down the trance is on Southwest180th river. It’s really beautiful — a lot Avenue Road, 1.4 miles south Rainbow River in Dunnellon is of fish turtles and other wild- one popular summer activity of the park’s campground en- lawyer life,” said the state park’s man- trance. The headsprings en- for teens, children and adults ager, Joseph Smyth. “It’s cool alike. trance, which goes to the park Bowman charged and refreshing in the heat of the and swimming area, is at The river is in southeast Mar- day.” Smyth recommends visit- ion County and is formed by a 19158 S.W. 81st Place Road. with grand theft ing on weekdays when there Tubing is not allowed in the first-magnitude spring that SHEMIR WILES aren’t as many people in the headsprings swimming area. ranks fourth in the state for Chronicle water. On weekends, about Cost: Admission is $2 per volume of water discharge. 1,800 visitors come in through person at the headsprings en- A former Inverness attorney What that means for visitors is the park’s main entrance and trance and $5 per vehicle (up was arrested Wednesday on a an easy ride in the cool, clear 1,000 come through the tubing theft charge just one day after he to eight people) at the tube was disbarred for water that so many flock to entrance. Some drive hours just entrance. Children younger each summer. allegedly misap- to get on the river, he said. than 6 years old get in free. propriating funds “They all love it. Many of them Tube rentals are $10 plus tax and mismanaging What to do are repeat visitors.” per person. The price includes the trust account of an Inverness There are a few different ways tube and tram service to and woman. to get a tube into the river. Visi- KP Hole from the parking area. For vis- Steven Hill Lee tors can either go to Marion itors who bring their own Bowman, 51, of Location: 9435 S.W. 190 Av- Steven County’s KP Hole Park on the tubes (less than 60 inches in 309 Tulip Lane, enue Road, Dunnellon. in Inverness, was Bowman west side of the river or to Rain- Cost: Admission is $3 per per- diameter), the tram fee is $8 taken into cus- was taken bow Springs State Park. Visitors son. Children younger than 5 per person. tody at 3:01 a.m. into custody Wednesday. can bring their own tubes or years old get in free. Tube rentals For more information on the on an active Cit- rent from either park. The tube are $9 per person per day. park: Call (352) 465-8555 or rus County warrant for an origi- visit www.floridastateparks. nal charge of grand theft ($20,000 trip from the state park takes For more information or de- or more, but less than $100,000). about two hours; the one from tails on rental requirements: org/rainbowsprings. For tube, His bond was set at $5,000. KP Hole takes about four hours. Contact K.P. Hole Park at (352) canoe and kayak rental infor- According to Gail Tierney, Both rental facilities have shut- 489-3055 or visit www.marion mation, call (352) 465-2100. spokeswoman for the Citrus County Sheriff ’s Office, the sher- tle services. countyfl.org and follow the links — Amanda Mims iff ’s office opened a criminal case See LAWYER/Page A5 INDEX Online poll What weather? Comics ..........................B7 How do you approach voting? What was the effect of Crossword ......................B6 A. I most always support my party’s candidates. Tropical Storm Bonnie on Editorial ..........................A8 B. I support the most conservative candidates be they Republicans, Libertarians or Citrus County? /Page A3 Horoscope ......................B5 Independents. Lottery Numbers ............B4 C. I’m not concerned about party affiliation, just about platforms and qualifica- Lottery Payouts ..............B5 tions. Movies ............................B7 Hemingway Days D. I vote against all incumbents. Obituaries ......................A6 Key West hosts annual To vote, visit the website at www.chronicleonline.com. TV Listings......................B6 look-alike contest./Page A7 Results will appear next Monday. Find last week’s online poll results./Page A4 A2 MONDAY, JULY 26, 2010 LOCAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Area FOOD PROGRAMS ANGEL FOOD ■ First Assembly of God of HUNGRY? N. Meadowcrest Blvd., (in I.D. available at the time of the Church of God, 2180 W. 12th Meadowcrest, past Winn-Dixie, request for food. Call 212-5159. Ave., behind the Lincoln Mer- ■ Dunnellon, 2872 W. Dunnellon ■ The Angel Food Ministries Road, one mile west of U.S. 41 Pope John Paul II to the left), Crystal River. ■ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton cury dealership. This food give- program. This program enables Catholic School officials have (across from Nichol’s Lumber). ■ Floral City United Catholic Church in Citrus away is normally from 10 a.m. families to stretch their food Call (352) 489-8455. released their policy regarding Methodist Church offers free Springs serves those in need to 2 p.m. the last Wednesday budget by providing quality food free and reduced-price meals SHARE breakfast to those who need it with free boxes of food from its monthly unless noted. Call 628- at half or less of the retail price. under Nations School Luncheon from 7 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays in food pantry the third Saturday 9087 or 302-9925. For exact menus, order dates and Breakfast Program. Chil- ■ Hernando Civic Center, Hilton Hall, 8478 E. Marvin St. morning monthly. Call 465-6613 ■ St. Margaret’s Episcopal and times and pickup dates and dren from certain families, 3848 Parsons Point Road, Her- Call 344-1771. on the preceding Tuesday to Church’s Feed My Sheep out- times view online at website: nando. Payment must be cash based on state eligibility guide- ■ sign up for the distribution. reach provides a hot lunch at AngelFoodMinstries.com. You lines regarding household size The food pantry of First or an EBT card. Orders must be Presbyterian Church of Crys- ■ St. Anne’s Episcopal 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. The may also place an online order and income, may be eligible for claimed on the announced Sat- tal River is open from 11 a.m. Church food pantry opens from food pantry is open from 9:30 to with a credit card or a debit card. free and reduced-price meals. urday. No refunds. With your re- to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thurs- 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. daily in the 11:45 a.m. Tuesdays and ■ To apply, guardians must com- Gulf to Lake Church, 1454 ceipt, a friend or neighbor may days. The pantry is open to administration building. Wednesdays and 4 to 6 p.m. N. Gulf Ave., Crystal River, takes plete and submit applications to accept delivery for you. No re- meet the emergency needs of ■ First United Methodist Wednesdays. The pantry is orders three Sundays monthly the school. Call Tonya Peters at funds, but if we sell your order people in the community. Church of Inverness God’s closed Fridays. Call 726-3153. following the 9 and 11 a.m.