Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 PGA: Collin Morikawa wins first major title /B1 MONDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 94 Slow-moving LOW afternoon to evening storms. 72 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com AUGUST 10, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 125 ISSUE 307 NEWS BRIEFS Census deadline worries grow Citrus COVID-19 daily update New deadline could cost Florida billions in federal funding, congressional seat Twenty-five new posi- JOHN HAUGHEY cost the state billions over the decade, now is Sept. 30, four census and at least 60 million tive cases were reported The Center Square next 10 years and douses its long- weeks earlier than planned since households remain uncounted. in Citrus County since the shot hopes of picking up a third spring. They will need to be ferreted out latest FDOH update. One The U.S. Census Bureau’s new new congressional seat. The bureau reported Monday by 500,000 door-knockers the bu- deadline to finish the decennial The deadline to finish the that 93 million households, nearly reau said it is dispatching to the new hospitalization was headcount likely ensures census count, which determines federal 63% of all households in the na- streets this month. reported; no new deaths undercounts in Florida that could and state allocations for the next tion, have self-responded to the See CENSUS/Page A6 were reported. To date in the county, 1,539 people have tested positive (including four non-residents), 148 have been hospitalized and 36 have died. Workshop to address interchange COVID-19 testing offered Board to discuss new The Florida Department of Health in Citrus County West Cardinal Street (DOH-Citrus) will no lon- ger require appointments for drive-thru COVID-19 Interchange proposal testing at the Citrus Springs Community Cen- MICHAEL D. BATES ter, 1570 W. Citrus Springs Staff writer Blvd., Citrus Springs. Testing will be offered The public will have a chance Tuesday, at no cost to adults and Aug. 11, to find out more about what is children 12 and older, with planned near the new Suncoast Parkway interchange at West Cardinal Street in or without symptoms; Homosassa however, it will be limited The board will discuss at a workshop a to the first 150 individuals. proposed new Future Land Use Map Cat- Registration starts at egory at the new Cardinal Street Inter- 7:30 a.m. followed by change within an area previously testing at 8. Do not arrive designated as an Interchange Manage- earlier than 7:30 a.m. ment Area (IMA). DOH-Citrus’ viral tests West Cardinal is of particular interest be- check samples from your cause it is a mixture of mostly rural land respiratory system with uses and — unlike State Road 44, where an oral swab to tell you if the new toll road will end for now — the you currently have an in- interchange will drastically alter the look fection. Additional testing of that road. County officials want to make sites include: sure development near that interchange is I Langley Health Ser- managed and doesn’t turn into sprawl. “The underlying goal behind this whole vices at 151 E. Highland plan is having quality development there Blvd. Suite 151. Staff can — quality mixed-use development,” be contacted at County Commissioner Jeff Kinnard said. 352-419-5760. “We just don’t want additional gas stations I Quick Care Med: taking up acreage on every corner of these Schedule a telemedicine interchanges.” appointment by visiting Kinnard said the interchange is ideal https://tinyurl.com/ for light industrial and manufacturing y6m8u3oj. Staff can be centers, which could transport goods via contacted at the road to Tampa. 844-797-8425. Because this is a workshop, the board will not vote on the plan and the public may POLL speak at the discretion of the chairman. ONLINE POLL: See STREET/Page A7 West Cardinal Street looking north along Your choice? the Suncoast Parkway development in Primary Election Day is June 2020. The public will have a chance right around the corner Tuesday, Aug. 11, to find out more about (Aug. 18). What method what is planned near the new Suncoast did you or will you use Parkway interchange at West Cardinal to vote? Street in Homosassa A. I voted or will vote by MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle mail. B. I voted or will vote at one of the early election sites. C. I will vote on election day. Coach, politician Gissy pulls rezoning To vote, visit www. chronicleonline.com. Results will appear application for resort next Monday. Find last never met a stranger week’s online poll Sumter County tax EAN RNOLD “too much risk and work to try results./Page A3 S A collector and four For the Chronicle development without govern- INDEX years as a head ment and community support. coach in Citrus DUNNELLON — Westgate “No hard feelings,” he Classifieds ............... B6 BRENDA LOCKLEAR County high school Resorts has pulled its applica- added. “Life goes on.” Comics .................... B5 Sumter County Times football, passed tion with Dunnellon to rezone The application with the Crossword ................ B8 away on Wednesday, a property buffering the Rain- City, which sought a zoning Editorial ..................A10 Tom Swain was born in a block July 22, at age 80, of bow River with plans to build and land-use change to Horoscope ................A4 house in 1939, a fourth generation Tom Swain natural causes. a luxury resort, campground 89 acres adjacent to the river, Lottery Numbers ...... B3 child to a family with 130 years of liv- Growing up, he played all four and RV park. County Road 484 and Hendrix Lottery Payouts ........ B3 ing in the “palmetto bush of Wahoo,” sports in high school baseball, bas- Jim Gissy, the owner of the Drive, wasn’t finalized and TV Listings ............... B4 said his son Luke. ketball, track and football and was Rainbow River Ranch prop- had yet to be reviewed by the He “… grew up out running around an outstanding athlete. He was a erty in question and vice pres- planning commission, City the sticks,” and graduated from running back for the football team ident of Westgate, said on Council or the public. Part of Bushnell High School in 1957, when and went on to play college ball, ac- Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, Westgate the application process in- they were the Gators, Luke said. cording to Luke. withdrew the application cluded a traffic study. Tom, who spent years as the See SWAIN/Page A6 Monday, Aug. 3, because it was See RESORT/Page A6 000YU5B A2 MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE when you’re tired of hearing about corona We are meeting all CDC guidelines & your safe visit is of great importance Hearing is Health Care Hearing loss may seem manageable, but the studies have shown long-term consequences to mental, physical and relational health. Don’t wait - Call us today. ATTENTION: FREE HEARING AIDS All Federal Workers & Retirees: The New York Empire State Insurance Plan YYou Yoouu PPayPaayy pays for the total cost of 2 Rexton Digital Hearing Aids. $$ WE ACCEPT MOST The Federal Employee Program INSURANCES. CALL FOR pays the total cost of COVERAGE INFORMATION. 0 2 Rexton Digital Hearing Aids. 0 0 LATEST HEARING AIDS • LOCAL SERVICE • LOWEST PRICES! As Low As Low As Low as as as $1,195 $895 $595 FREE Battery As Low As Low Charger with the purchase as as of a REXTON $995 $695 IT COULD JUST BE EARWAX! 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Suncoast Blvd. (Across from The Wildlife Park) combined experience than any other dealer in Citrus County. 2019 628-9909 000YUT0 Find Us Online At www.fatherandsonshearing.com N OTHING ABOVE PINK LINE Page A3 - MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020 STATE &CITRUS L COUNTYOCAL CHRONICLE Around the COUNTY CR city council to meet virtually Lightning strike Agenda: Riverwalk update, ‘Xtreme’ triathlon, commercial paddlecraft vendors suspected in Chronicle staff agenda, Frink notes: “On a local Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, at Hunter Park fence replacement project, house fire level, responsibilities are shared Springs Park, the same location which includes increasing the Citrus County Fire Rescue During the July 13, 2020, Crystal between the City and County due as last year for the swim portion height of the fence portion in the crews were dispatched to a River City Council meeting, City to an arbitrary political boundary of the competition. area of the basketball courts from I residential structure fire at Manager Ken Frink presented op- that divides the bay in half. Vote to award Commercial 8 feet to 10 feet to prevent balls tions for managing the use of the “The north half is in the City and Fence, LLC of Dunnellon the from bouncing up and over into 3:14 pm on Friday, Aug. 7, city’s launch facilities by commer- south half in the County. This leads $23,480 contract for the Copeland the lake. 2020, on North Wiley Post cial paddlecraft vendors, and to inconsistent local rules and en- Way in Hernando. council members unanimously forcement. In an effort to have one WANT TO ATTEND? Engine 5 from Hernando approved to designate Kings Bay consistent managing body, set of I WHAT: Crystal River City Council virtual meeting. arrived on scene first at Park, effective Aug. 17, 2020, as rules, and enforcement, it is recom- 3:26 pm to find an approxi- the only city launch allowable for mended that the southern half of I WHEN: Council meets at 5:30 p.m.