Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NHL: Lightning grab win over Blackhawks /B1 FRIDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 66 Partly cloudy, LOW cooler and breezy. 48 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 19, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 162 NEWS BRIEFS Citrus County Gov. defends response COVID cases According to the Flor- DeSantis gathers expert panel to back his COVID-19 policy; critics remain ida Department of Health, 13 positive cases were BOBBY CAINA DeSantis convened a undermining mask man- their views have been mandates did little to slow reported in Citrus County CALVAN hand-picked panel of dates came under scrutiny rebuked by many main- the spread of the virus — since the latest update. Associated Press health experts at his state as the public health crisis stream scientists, includ- and might have even done One new death was re- Capitol on Thursday to unfolded. The Republi- ing U.S. infectious disease more harm than good by TALLAHASSEE — A ported, for a total of 420. help validate the actions can’s handling of the virus expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, damaging people’s mental year after the COVID-19 he took against the will no doubt be a key issue who last year called health and stoking fear To date in the county, outbreak temporarily pandemic. when he faces reelection the anti-lockdown, pro- among some to not seek 10,094 people have shuttered much of the One by one, the experts next year. herd immunity push medical help at the risk of tested positive (including economy and plunged the provided vindication for The experts he con- “nonsense.” exposing themselves to the 85 non-residents). nation into debates over DeSantis, whose insistence vened hailed from some Thursday’s panel echoed virus. One new hospitaliza- masks and lockdowns, on lifting lockdowns, re- of the world’s most presti- the governor’s assertions tion was reported, for a Florida Gov. Ron opening schools and gious institutions but that lockdowns and mask See PANEL/Page A5 total of 656 hospitalized. Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to later revision. Vaccine The ‘Gorilla Glue’ of Floral City registration system open DOH-Citrus’ preregis- tration system to sched- ule COVID-19 vaccine appointments for individu- Martha als 60 and older and frontline health care work- ers is now available. Burns was Individuals can now be added to a waiting list for vaccine appointments ambassador and be notified when ap- pointments are available for adopted in Citrus County by visit- ing myvaccine.fl.gov or by calling 866-201-0442; hometown TTY is 833-476-1036. NANCY KENNEDY As part of the statewide Staff writer preregistration system, each county has a desig- he was the “Aunt nated number that indi- Martha” of Aunt viduals can call and SMartha’s Produce preregister with if they do Market and the unofficial face of the Floral City not have internet access. Strawberry Festival. Citrus County’s desig- Martha Burns was nated helpline number is mother to daughters 833-540-2058. Shannon and Chris, Deputies probe granny to Bailey, Madison and Charlie. ‘accidential “She was the ‘Gorilla shooting’ Glue’ of Floral City — she kept us all together,” said The Citrus County Floral City resident and Sheriff’s Office is investi- historian Marcia Beasley. gating what it called “an “Since we have lost most accidental shooting” of a of our old timers, she was 37-year-old male, accord- a ‘go-to person’ for much ing to an agency of our more recent his- spokeswoman. tory. She had her hand on Deputies responded to the pulse of the commu- a call at approximately nity and a front row seat 11:27 p.m. Wednesday, to Floral City’s March 17, near Ottawa happenings.” Avenue and Country Road Although not a Floral City native, in the 44 years 486 (Norvell Bryant High- she lived there, Martha way) where the victim was one of the town’s most claimed to have been shot ardent supporters and accidentally, said Jodi promoters, sharing her Sanders, CCSO spokes- love for her adopted woman. The man did sus- hometown. tain non-life-threatening Martha Jane Burns injuries, Sanders said, call- died March 7, the Sunday ing the situation an “iso- of the 34th annual Floral lated incident.” City Strawberry Festival, “Detectives do not at age 83. have any reason to be- As a widow with two lieve there’s any threat to young daughters, Martha the community,” Sanders moved to Floral City from added. “Detectives are Ohio in 1977. “My mother and my sis- still investigating; we’re MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle file ter and her husband In this photo from 2016, Martha Burns, owner of Aunt Martha’s Produce Market in Floral City, reflects on the still not completely sure of were already here,” she the (entire) situation.” first years of the annual Floral City Strawberry Festival she helped organize decades ago. Martha Burns died Deputies were on March 7 at age 83. See GLUE/Page A11 scene throughout the morning hours of Thurs- day, March 18, searching for and collecting evi- dence connected with this incident. The investi- Man gets 30 years gation is still active and Inverness council ongoing, Sanders said. “We do not have much more information at this for drug trafficking point,” Sanders gets new president explained. BUSTER held. “I don’t care if this — From staff reports THOMPSON stuff was gold ... it shouldn’t INDEX Staff writer be worth your life.” At the end of Vause’s Board backs effort to demolish building Classifieds . .C5 Citrus County Circuit sentencing hearing the Comics . .C4 Court Judge Rich- morning of Thurs- FRED HIERS vice president. that process. Crossword . .C9 ard “Ric” Howard day, March 18, Staff writer The city’s char- The presi- Editorial. A10 picked up two evi- Howard ordered ter calls for coun- dent’s job is to Entertainment . A4 dence bags from the Crystal River The Inverness City cil members to sign various doc- Horoscope . A4 his courtroom 27-year-old to Council has a new coun- meet the third uments on behalf Lottery Numbers . .B3 bench and showed serve 30 years in cil president — David Tuesday each of the city and Lottery Payouts . .B3 them to William prison for the traf- Ryan — after he was March and desig- oversee council Douglas Vause sit- ficking weight of Scene . .C1 unanimously voted to the nate a new presi- meetings. ting at the defense meth and other post, replacing Jad.cquie dent and vice David Ryan In other busi- Obituaries . A6 Douglas table. narcotics Vause Hepfer. president. ness, the council: Vause TV Listings. .C3 “I’ve never had was found with in- Hepfer’s term as presi- Historically the two I Welcomed City Man- this much dope on my desk side a probationer’s local dent expired after a year positions are appointed ager Eric Williams’ an- before,” Howard told home. at the post and Ryan was on a rotating basis, but nouncement that he sent Vause about the pound of her vice president. the council members are methamphetamine he See COURT/Page A8 Cabot McBride is now not required to follow See COUNCIL/Page A11 A2 FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA 2021 TOYOTA COROLLA CAMRY LE RAV4 LE HIGHLANDER 0% APR LE 0% APR 0% APR 0% APR LE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE MODEL#1852 MODEL#2532 MODEL#4430 MODEL#6946 LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR LEASE FOR $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO $ -OR- ZERO 150 DOWN 189 DOWN 228 DOWN 298 DOWN PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS WITH $3999 DOWN $266/MO. 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