TPC: Tiger wins Players in wild finish /B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUS COUNTY & next TO BUY FROM morning HIGH VILLAGE 82 Mostly sunny, LOW breezy and less TOYOTA humid. SEE PAGE B10 46 PAGE A4 000EXK9 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 13, 2013 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 118 ISSUE 279 QUESTION OF THE WEEK Yerian bids adieu to wildlife park A.B. SIDIBE Staff writer Monday CONVERSATION When Art Yerian first walked the That was 1997, and Yerian got the job system, into a polished park full of grounds of Ellie Schiller Homosassa of Wildlife Care supervisor and ambient noises of cranes, red wolves Springs Wildlife State Park during an served in that capacity for seven years and Florida Key deer. Manatees are interview 16 years ago fresh from Fort before becoming park manager nine also an integral part of the park. Lauderdale and was quizzed about years ago. There are currently four manatees re- his opinion about the park, his answer habilitating in the park’s spring wa- Contribute! Yerian’s work and vision is writ Art Yerian was both blunt and welcomed: “I said large on the park that is arguably the ters — refugees of the Red Tide manager of Ellie Like us at the place looked like it should have biggest tourism draw in the county. He die-off. The park also is in the bear re- habilitation business. After June 1, Schiller Homosassa facebook.com/ been closed. They said they’ve been has transformed the park, sited on the Springs Wildlife State citruscounty waiting for somebody to say that.” springhead of the Homosassa River See MONDAY/ Page A8 Park leaves June 1. chronicle and respond to our Question of the Week. BOCC Where are you from and what Love of country brought you to lay here to Citrus County? Tami D. Radke tax I am from Vermont and my husband is originally from Michigan. My parents were self-proclaimed traveling “gypsies” (as were rules my husband’s parents). Cit- rus County is a place that CHRIS VAN ORMER they came back to several times. We lived here in the Staff writer ’80s and I met my now hus- band at LHS. Fast forward 20 INVERNESS — Two years and we moved back additional taxing methods for (stop laughing) a job offer and we have always will be the subject of a loved CC! public hearing Tuesday as the county explores alter- Mike Locklear natives to increasing the I’m from Homosassa property tax to meet a and a fourth genera- tion native. My family was $16.5 million budget brought to Homosassa from shortfall for 2014. Old Town, Fla. The fresh/salt The Citrus County water fishes to harvest along Board of County Commis- with the climate of growing citrus fruits and vegetables sioners (BOCC) at its reg- made it a paradise to work ular meeting will consider and play in. two MSTUs — municipal services taxing units, Jessica D. Rothery funding methods to sup- I’m from Kentucky and my husband is port a service or improve- from Virginia. The Army ment that are based on brought us here from taxable value. Tennessee one year ago. STEPHEN E. LASKO/For the Chronicle At 3:30 p.m., the BOCC Singer and songwriter Justin Moore brought down the house Saturday night with songs from his latest Jeanne Zeller will conduct a public album, “Outlaws Like Me,” at Rock Crusher Canyon. “Proud to be from smalltown, USA,” Moore said he grew I’m was born and hearing for an ordinance raised in Connecti- up working on his grandparents’ cattle farm in Poyen, Ark., and many of his songs are derived from those creating the Stormwater cut. My parents, both teach- early years. Municipal Services Tax- ers, decided to move to ing Unit for the entire un- Citrus Hills when they re- incorporated area of the tired. I followed and have been here since 1996. Local charity benefits from successful annual concert county. The ordinance will describe the bound- Chronicle aries, authorize the an- POLL nual levy of ad valorem ountry star Justin Moore taxes and set an effective ONLINE POLL: danced and sang his way start date. Your choice? CSaturday through Citrus According to the ordi- Would there be enough County. nance, by law, the maxi- demand to And mum millage rate the have open yes, he county can adopt for this houses at brought program is the rollback the Three some rate based on the amount Sisters rowdy of taxes that would have Springs site to “friends.” been levied in the previ- charge a fee until the Thou- ous year if the maximum site is fully operational? sands millage rate had been A. Yes, there would — showed adopted. and more than enough up wear- The stormwater pro- to cover staffing costs. ing their gram has to be brought into B. No. As soon as you finest effect because the county put a price on country increased in population, something, public attire, according to the 2010 U.S. interest plummets. singing Census. The increase in C. Maybe, but U.S. Fish voices population imposes fed- and Wildlife isn’t likely ready to eral require ments under to consider such an attempt a option. the Clean Water Act of 1987 singalong D. If it’s $2, yes; $5, Concertgoers young and old appeared to have a wonderful time during on the county to install maybe; $10, forget it. at the Justin Moore’s performance at Rock Crusher Canyon on Saturday night. capital improvements to To vote, visit www. eighth An intense but fast-moving storm did not deter many in the crowd. contain, store and treat chronicleonline.com. For more photos, annual stormwater. Click on the word click on this story at Citrus At 4 p.m., the BOCC will “Opinion” in the menu www.chronicleonline. County sands of dollars each year are “Outlaws Like Me” tour starring conduct a public hearing to see the poll. com. Circle of donated to fund student scholar- Justin Moore, Josh Thompson, for an ordinance creating Results will appear Friends ships and various nonprofit or- Dustin Lynch and Michael Ray. the Law Enforcement Mu- next Monday. Find last Benefit Weekend at Rock ganizations in the community. Three local bands also took nicipal Service Taxing week’s online poll Crusher Canyon. The 2013 Country Rocks the the stage — T.J. Brown, Clemons results./Page A3 Because of the concert, thou- Canyon’s roster featured the Road and Jamie Davis Band. See BOCC/ Page A9 Classifieds . .B6 Crossword . .B4 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . .A6 Comics . .B5 Editorial . .A10 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings . .B4 Entertainment . .A4 Horoscope . .A4 Movies . .B5 000ETY1 A2 MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Annual Hearing Test: SMART Free Annual Hearing Test: GENIUS If you want to pay more for better hearing... THAT’S YOUR BUSINESS! If you want to pay LESS... THAT’S OUR BUSINESS! ATTENTION FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES You may qualify for FREE Rechargeable Hearing Aids (no need to change batteries!) ACT TODAY! To avoid waiting you MUST call ahead for an appointment. YOU NEED TO CALL IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE Has difficulty hearing outdoors, in restaurants or home. Problems following conversation, especially in groups Frequently ask others to repeat themselves Strain to understand certain people’s voices or words Seems like people mumble, you want them to speak up Are told you play the T.V. too loud. Is Your Hearing Difficulty Earwax Buildup or Something More Serious? Using a miniature video otoscope, we’ll painlessly look inside your ear canal and show it on a monitor - and you can watch along! FREE Test Dates are available from MAY 13-17, 2013 Your Video Otoscope exam may reveal such common problems as: • Excessive ear wax • Damage to your eardrum • Visible obstruction in the ear canal • Other conditions which may make it difficult for you to hear clearly Video Otoscope exams are FREE during this event! www.nutechhearing.com CRYSTAL RIVER INVERNESS OCALA 352-794-6155 352-419-7911 352-671-2999 1122 N. Suncoast Blvd. (US 19) 3161-C, E. Gulf to Lake Hwy. 11250 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Ocala A block and a half south of 1/2 mile east of Walmart Next to Chili’s Ft. Island Trail M-F 9:00 to 4:00 p.m. • Sat. and Sun. Appointment Needed 000Erox Page A3 - MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 CITRUS COUNTY CHRONICLE Around the STATE Y program trains tomorrow’s leaders Citrus County ERYN WORTHINGTON “They will get to meet ment is to be derived form Youth Leadership academically sound. Staff writer with key leaders in our through this program. Citrus,” Castle said. “As a Cost to attend the program Patriotic tribute community on issues re- Teens will engage in five young person it is great to is $90; however, financial Applications are now lated to human needs,” full-day sessions, enlighten them that assistance is available. set Saturday being accepted for a youth said Joanna Castle, execu- projects and a even though Citrus The program is spon- From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. program that incorporates tive director of the Citrus graduation event. County is not huge, sored by Citrus County Ed- Saturday, May 18 — incoming 2013-14 Citrus County YMCA. “They will Castle, an we still offer these ucation Foundation, Citrus Armed Forces Day — County high school juniors gain insight into what our alumna of Leader- diverse things on 20/20, College of Central Crystal River’s Music in the whose leadership makes a community is facing, for ship Citrus, joined different levels.