Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 MLB: Rays win in extra innings to extend streak to 11 /B2 TUESDAY TODAY C I T R U S C O U N T Y & next morning HIGH 90 Mostly sunny. LOW PAGE A4 61 www.chronicleonline.com MAY 25, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 229 NEWS BRIEFS LHS math teacher arrested Citrus County COVID cases Man was reportedly exchanging explicit images, text messages with student According to the Flor- ida Department of Health, BUSTER the morning of Monday, administrators be- report, detectives inappropriate images or 10 positive cases were THOMPSON May 24, while he was came aware of the learned Joerres memes. reported in Citrus County Staff writer heading to work, accord- allegations the had been having She also said Joerres ing to the sheriff ’s office evening of Friday, inappropriate would throw paper balls since the latest update. Citrus County Sheriff ’s and county school district May 21, according text conversations at her buttocks and down One new death was re- Office authorities ar- press releases. to the school dis- with a student her shirt. ported, for a total of 461. rested a Lecanto High Joerres was booked trict, and in- since February. According to the arrest To date in the county, School math teacher on into the county jail under formed the In an interview report, the girl told detec- 11,315 people have accusations he sent lewd a charge of soliciting sex- sheriff ’s office Adam with investigators, tives Joerres texted her tested positive (including texts and images to a ual conduct from a stu- and Florida De- Joerres according to the during prom in April to 99 nonresidents). student. dent as an authority partment of Children and arrest report, a girl de- ask if she wanted to see No new hospitaliza- Sheriff ’s personnel ar- figure. He was jailed Families. scribed Joerres’ texts as him afterward. tions were reported, for a rested Inverness 33-year- under a $10,000 bond. According to the sher- “flirting,” adding Joerres total of 730 hospitalized. old Adam Joseph Joerres High school iff ’s office and an arrest would also send her See TEACHER/Page A6 Totals reflect prelimi- nary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. State shuts down federal YMCA head accepts new post jobless aid Local restaurants and businesses have resorted Castle played to bonuses and other cre- ative ways to get people to apply for jobs. pivotal role in County commissioners voted 4-1 this month on a organization locally federal program that pays out $1,000 bonuses to FRED HIERS people who sign on to Staff writer work 90 days for employ- ers seeking workers. Joanna Castle’s time as the district The situation may im- vice president overseeing the YMCA prove after Monday’s an- in both Citrus and Hernando counties nouncement by the is running out. Florida Department of After a decade locally, the 44-year- Economic Opportunity old has accepted a post as vice presi- (FDEO) that starting June dent of philanthropy for the YMCA of 26 the state will no longer the Suncoast. She will start her new job probably in July. The YMCA in participate in the Federal Citrus County will find an executive Pandemic Unemployment director in the coming months. Compensation program. When Joanna Castle took the job a State and business offi- decade ago as the YMCA’s executive cials have argued that, director, the job was daunting. when added to state un- That’s because her first task was to employment payments, raise enough money to build a YMCA the $300 a week in fed- here. Until then, the popular, non- eral aid is keeping people profit health fitness organization and from returning to jobs. social services provider was operat- Formerly known as ing off site and working out of mostly unemployment compen- donated spaces. With the help of local sation, Reemployment business people and community lead- Assistance (RA) pro- ers she raised $8 million. vides temporary wage She started work in 2011 and five years later had the money. replacement benefits to “We were a Y without walls,” she qualified individuals who said smiling, sitting outside the are out of work through YMCA pool in Lecanto as members no fault of their own. The enjoyed the amenities that fundrais- state’s compensation ing made possible. program is run by the She recalled her lack of fundrais- FDEO. ing experience before the job. Work registration and “Not a ton at first,” she said smiling job search requirements, again. along with a mandatory See CASTLE/Page A6 waiting week, had been Joanna Castle, district vice president waived for those filing RA of the Citrus Memorial Health applications from March Foundation YMCA in Lecanto, has seen 15, 2020, through May a dramatic rise in membership in the 29, 2021. five years she has overseen the Y. The waiting week Castle will soon leave her local waiver ends June 26. position to oversee regional — From staff reports philanthropy for the in Y in Clearwater. INDEX MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle Classifieds . .B7 Comics . .B6 Crossword . .B10 Editorial. A9 Entertainment . A4 Officials: Financial plan for 911 upgrade has flaws Horoscope . A4 Health . A12 MIKE WRIGHT divert $2 million in a specific purpose to an- system — law enforce- reimbursement to pay for Lottery Numbers . .B3 Staff writer CARES reimbursement other unrelated purpose. ment and EMS. the CAD upgrades. for fire rescue salaries to County Administrator CARES Act rules state Colleen Scott, director Lottery Payouts . .B3 Citrus County commis- the computer-assisted dis- Randy Oliver said the the funds can be used to of the office of manage- Obituaries . A6 sioners are considering patch, or CAD, system. issue is not whether fire reimburse salaries of ment and budget, said in a TV Listings. .B5 using federal CARES Act The county’s top budget rescue should pay toward emergency workers. Cit- memo to commissioners money to pay for upgrades officials, however, say the the CAD upgrades. rus received $5.2 million, that the funding mecha- to the emergency dispatch plan is inconsistent with Rather, he said, it’s that and some commissioners nism for fire rescue is system. state law because it di- the cost should be shared said they wanted to use The plan would be to verts money set aside for by other users of the 911 $2 million of the See COUNTY/Page A6 CC-00108FM A2 TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE HEARING IS MORE ESSENTIAL NOW THAN EVER May 26, 27, 28 The following insurances offer FREE hearing aids:* UHC of Connecticut, Empire, GEHA, Federal Employees and Anthem. We always match or beat the discount provided by BCBS, UHC, Cigna, Freedom Health, AARP, Amerihealth, Aetna, UHCTheVillages, Unicare Plans & Ultimate Health Plans. Take Action Before Your Benefits Change! *Upon clearance of insurance claims As our way of saying “THANKS” for stopping by and completing your hearing evaluation, you will receive a $25 Olive Garden Gift Card, ABSOLUTELY FREE!* *One per household. Must be 55 or older and bring loved one for familiar voice text. Must complete 30 day trial. Not valid with prior text purchase in last 6 months. While supplies last. Not redeemable for cash. 3161- C Gulf to Lake Hwy. 1122 N. Suncoast Blvd. Inverness, FL 34453 Crystal River, FL 34429 (352) 419-0171 (352) 436-4288 4065 N. Lecanto Hwy. Suite 400 3406 Commercial Way Beverly Hills, FL 34465 Spring Hill, FL 34604 (352) 632-2412 (352) 835-7128 CC-001098Z N OTHING ABOVE PINK LINE Page A3 - TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 STATE &CITRUS L COUNTYOCAL CHRONICLE Around the COUNTY Gas prices could drop Beverly Hills man charged with 2 cents less than a week ago and lower as the weekend ap- AAA: Memorial Day weekend travel 4 cents less than the highest price proaches, but things can change sexual battery so far this year. quickly in the fuel market.” “Unless pump prices suddenly Only a few weeks ago, drivers A sexual assault inter- may be slightly easier on the wallet rise this week, holiday travelers were dealing with gas shortages rupted by a witness Thurs- will find gas prices that are prompted by the shutdown of the day, May 20, led to charges MICHAEL D. BATES Countians will be hitting the road. slightly below what they paid on Colonial Pipeline. for a 70-year-old Beverly Staff writer The auto club estimates more Memorial Day 2018,” said AAA The operator of the nation’s Hills than 2 million Floridians are pre- spokesman Mark Jenkins. “While largest fuel pipeline confirmed it man, ac- Finally, some good news on the pared to travel. expectations of strong holiday paid $4.4 million to a gang of cording gas front. It’s unclear exactly what price fuel demand can carry the poten- hackers who broke into its com- to a Cit- AAA – The Auto Club Group said those travelers will find when tial for causing higher pump puter systems. rus Monday fuel prices will decline they go to fill up next weekend, prices, wholesale gasoline prices For the latest on Citrus County County just in time for the long Memorial but drivers are now paying an av- dropped 5 cents last week. That gas prices, visit www.Gasbuddy. Sheriff’s Day weekend when many Citrus erage $2.87 per gallon. That’s means gas prices could drift com. Office news Morris release. Kinser Sr. Depu- ties were dispatched to a sexual battery call where an Corporate tech goes back to school eyewitness told responding authorities that they arrived to find the Morris Randel Kinser Sr.