Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 He’s back: Urban Meyer agrees to coach NFL’s Jaguars/B1 FRIDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 70 Partly sunny, LOW breezy; scattered showers later. 45 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com JANUARY 15, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 99 NEWS BRIEFS CARES applications begin Citrus County COVID-19 United Way poised to receive funds; will begin process for distributing them update According to the Flor- MIKE WRIGHT assistance to businesses About $11.7 million has ida Department of Health, Staff writer and residents struggling More information come to the county so far. to make ends meet due to 45 new positive cases I United Way of Citrus County will begin receiving When the state moved up Help for the economic the coronavirus. the deadline to spend the applications Tuesday, Jan. 19, for CARES were reported in Citrus hardships caused by Starting Tuesday, resi- money from Dec. 30 to six County since the latest COVID-19 will be avail- dents may apply through assistance related to the pandemic. To apply, go weeks earlier, county offi- update. No new deaths able starting Tuesday the United Way website, the agency’s website, www.citrusunitedway.org, or cials scrambled for a way to were reported, for a total through the United Way of www.citrusunitedway.org, its Facebook page. Anyone without computer continue providing fund- of 299. Citrus County. or its Facebook page. Any- access can call the office at 352-795-5483 to set ing. Not doing so would re- To date in the county, The organization is re- one without access to a up an appointment. quire funds returned to the 7,705 people have tested ceiving the first of three computer can call the U.S. Treasury. positive (including $150,000 installments United Way office at 352- employer that a job was qualified applicants. Pay- Commissioners agreed 55 non-residents). from the county and will 795-5483 to set up an lost or hours reduced, pay ments will not go to resi- to provide funds to United Two new hospitaliza- provide funds to pay rent, appointment. stubs or bank statements dents themselves. Way, which in turn will tions were reported, for a mortgage and utilities for The website lists docu- that show a drop in The county began re- help make rent, mortgage total of 553 hospitalized. those who have lost in- ments needed to receive income. ceiving CARES funds in and utility payments for come due to the Totals reflect prelimi- United Way CARES assis- United Way will use the July and started a system residents damaged finan- pandemic. tance. Chief among them cially through the nary reports received by CARES funds to make of providing grants to Funds come from the is proof of income loss payments directly to land- businesses that the pandemic. the state, and are subject federal CARES Act, de- due to the pandemic, such lords, mortgage compa- government ordered to later revision. signed to provide as a letter from an nies and utilities of closed or restricted. See CARES/Page A7 Libraries help with vaccine questions The Citrus County De- partment of Health en- River, lake levels in good shape courages citizens who would like additional in- formation on the COVID- 19 vaccine distribution in County had Citrus County to phone any of the local library branches. Staff is on rain deficit hand to answer ques- tions and provide the re- in 2020 quired paperwork necessary to receive the MICHAEL D. vaccine. BATES Citizens can also Staff writer download paperwork at the Department of Health, Citrus County in De- cember received an aver- such as the COVID-19 age of 2.1 inches of rain, Vaccine Screening and slightly lower than the Consent and the Mod- historical average erna Fact Sheet, which (2.6 inches) for that month. has information on what Overall in 2020, Citrus to expect during and after County received 46 inches the injection will also be of rain, about 8 inches given before receiving the below the historical an- vaccine. Visit https:// nual average, according tinyurl.com/y5ue5ax4. to Mark Fulkerson, chief Phone numbers for professional engineer COVID-19 vaccination with the Southwest Flor- distribution information ida Water Management District (SWFWMD). are as follows: I That 46 inches in Central Ridge 2020 was 13 inches less Library: 352-746-6622. than Citrus County re- I Coastal Region ceived in 2019 (59 inches) Library: 352-795-3716. and more than 20 inches I Floral City Library: less than 2018 rainfall 352-726-3671. (68 inches) for the county. I Homosassa Library: Both 2018 and 352-628-5626. 2019 were wet years and I Lakes Region partially responsible for Library: 352-726-2357. why water levels are still Citizens are asked to relatively high despite be patient as the COVID- less rainfall this year, Fulkerson said. 19 vaccination program “Despite a below- continues in the months average rainfall year in to come. Additional loca- 2020, our region remains tions, dates and times will in good shape in terms of be announced as the water levels and river vaccine becomes flows because of surplus available. rainfall we received in 2018 and 2019,” Fulkerson Skate Court said. “In fact, we haven’t closed for experienced very low conditions since spring of improvements 2017.” The Skate Court in Bi- Aquifer (groundwater) centennial Park, at 501 N. levels for our region are Baseball Point, Crystal currently in the 55th per- River, closed for resurfac- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle centile, slightly above ing improvements Tues- Lake levels along the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes remains at healthy levels even while in the midst of the driest day, Jan. 12, for part of the calendar year. This angler casts a line into the Hernando pool of the chain. See LEVELS/Page A7 approximately one week, weather permitting. This project is funded through Capital Improvement Funds in the amount of $11,750.00. World Fusion to State to close sections For information, call the Citrus County Parks and Recreation Adminis- open new location tration office at of trail for resurfacing 352-527-7540. — From staff reports MIKE WRIGHT back several times a expected to end in sum- INDEX in Crystal River Staff writer week, said the pavement mer 2021. Classifieds . .C5 needs work. That means trail users, Comics . .C4 MICHAEL D. City officials are call- The 29-mile segment of “Anybody who rides it particularly bicyclists, Crossword . .C9 BATES ing it a great addition to the Withlacoochee State any amount of time knows will have fair warning as Editorial. A8 Staff writer the downtown district. Trail in Citrus County is there are places that are they approach the con- Entertainment . A4 “We are extremely ex- about to undergo a really, really bad,” he struction areas but will The owners of the multi-section pavement said. “That trail will beat need to turn back once Horoscope . A4 cited for another restau- Asian-themed World Fu- reconstruction project for you to death in some they hit the construction Lottery Numbers . .B3 rant and grateful for the sion in Lecanto are plan- investment,” Crystal River the first time since it places.” site. The state is not in- Lottery Payouts . .B3 ning on opening another Mayor Joe Meek said. opened nearly 30 years The Florida Depart- stalling temporary trails Obituaries . A5 one of their sushi restau- The new restaurant ago. ment of Transportation during the work. TV Listings. .C3 rants. This one will be in will be located inside a And Jerry Butler starts work Jan. 25 on the “When trail users reach downtown Crystal River vacant building at couldn’t be happier. state trail near Hernando the closure area at either and will be called, appro- 525 N.W. First Ave. Butler, a Citrus Springs in the first of four sections end, they will need to turn priately enough, Down- resident who rides the that will be rebuilt. The town Fusion. 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