Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 Flag football: Lecanto blanks county rival Citrus /B1 WEDNESDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 81 Sunny and LOW pleasant. 55 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com APRIL 7, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 181 NEWS BRIEFS Vaccine open to all adults April 19 you: We aren’t at the finish line. pandemic remains dangerous,” Citrus County Biden bumps deadline by two weeks We still have a lot of work to do. and encouraged Americans to COVID-19 cases We’re still in a life and death race continue to wash their hands, so- DARLENE SUPERVILLE adults in the U.S. eligible for coro- against this virus,” Biden said in cially distance and wear masks. According to the Florida AND ALEXANDRA JAFFE navirus vaccines. But even as he remarks at the White House. Biden added that while his Department of Health, Associated Press expressed optimism about the The president warned that administration is on schedule to 25 positive cases were re- pace of vaccinations, he warned “new variants of the virus are meet his new goal of distributing ported in Citrus County WASHINGTON — President Americans that the nation is not spreading and they’re moving 200 million doses of the vaccine since the latest update. Joe Biden announced Tuesday yet out of the woods when it comes quickly. Cases are going back up, during his first 100 days, it will still Two new deaths were re- that he’s bumping up his deadline to the pandemic. hospitalizations are no longer de- take time for enough Americans ported, for a total of 435. by two weeks for states to make all “Let me be deadly earnest with clining.” He added that “the See VACCINE/Page A2 To date in the county, 10,438 people have tested positive (including 91 non- residents). Three new hospitaliza- tions were reported, for a New boat ramp to open by 2024 total of 679 hospitalized. Totals reflect preliminary reports received by the state, and are subject to revision. Register to get COVID vaccine DOH-Citrus’ preregistra- tion system to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appoint- ments for all individuals 18 and older and frontline health care workers is now available. Individuals can now be added to a waiting list for vaccine appointments and be notified when appoint- ments are available in Cit- rus County by visiting myvaccine.fl.gov or by call- ing 866-201-0442; TTY is 833-476-1036. As part of the statewide preregistration system, each county has a desig- nated number that individu- als can call and preregister with if they do not have in- ternet access. Citrus Coun- MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle ty’s designated helpline A large sailing vessel is moored in the Barge Canal in northwest Citrus County. Construction of a new boat ramp is planned for this area number is 833-540-2058. and construction is expected to begin in late 2022 or early 2023, according to the county. Vaccine supply remains limited and appointments may not be available for New ramp to several weeks. B&W Rexall be constructed Drugs offers at Barge Canal COVID vaccine MICHAEL D. BATES B&W Rexall Drugs just Staff writer opened its online reserva- tion system for COVID-19 Boaters in Citrus County can vaccination appointments. look forward to a brand new Vaccinations are pro- ramp with plenty of parking vided by appointment only, and away from congestion. while supplies last, through Barring obstacles, construc- the online reservation tion of a Cross Florida Barge system at www.Covid Canal boat ramp in northwest ShotsCitrusCounty.com. Citrus County could begin in Appointments cannot be late 2022 or early 2023, accord- made by calling the phar- ing to the county. macy directly. The online The project is being funded reservation system is open from a $12,660,000 pot of Gulf 24/7 for vaccine appoint- Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE) money, as- Boaters line up to load their vessels Tuesday afternoon, April 6, along the south side of the Barge Canal ments at the pharmacy, as sociated with the BP Deepwa- north of Crystal River. A proposal is in discussions to build a new, large ramp on the opposite side of the long they continue to re- ter Horizon oil-spill settlement. canal. An additional ramp would help alleviate crowded conditions at the ramp above. ceive vaccine doses from The ramp should be ready “That boat ramp is way ramps to the south in Crystal and facilities will sit on 8 acres- their suppliers and barring for use in 2024-25. ahead of schedule,” County River and Homosassa. plus, but there is room to ex- unforeseen circumstances. County commissioners in Commission Chairman Scott The new 10-lane boat ramp pand to 18.55 acres. “We’re pleased to make May 2018 made the building of Carnahan said. will have 61 parking spaces (in- Carnahan expects the ramp COVID-19 vaccination ap- the boat ramp a top project in County commissioners ex- cluding 10 non-trailer spots), a to be an economic driver for pointments available to all which to spend some of that BP pect it to relieve the crowding restroom facility and six cov- Citrus County. Citrus County residents,” money. and congestion at other boat ered picnic tables. The ramp See RAMP/Page A7 said Kenneth Heimann, pharmacist and owner of B&W Rexall Drugs. “We DIGEST know how important this Court vaccine is to our local com- munity, and we’re grateful Lee Lockley: we can help out during this Child-sex, murder, child-porn time of need.” In accordance with state Man of joy, laughter cases progress through court guidelines, vaccinations are currently being offered to in- BUSTER THOMPSON Touchton, dividuals ages 18 and older. Staff writer who’s denied the B&W Rexall Drugs is at allegations, has 102 E. Highland Blvd., After COVID-19 erased James been incarcer- Inverness. NANCY KENNEDY Michael Touchton’s date to stand ated at the county Vaccinations are pro- Staff writer trial on capital child-sex allega- detention facility vided to eligible individuals, tions, the Dunnellon 39-year-old’s without a bond by appointment only, while Whether it was on the job or legal battle continues with up- since he was ar- just hanging around at home, if coming motions. James rested, and ap- supplies last, and at no cost Touchton to the individual. Customers Lee Lockley was there, people At Touchton’s hearing Tuesday, peared to his with health insurance will were laughing. April 6, his lawyer, Dale Merrill, recent court hearing via a live need to bring their insur- “Uncle Lee was the greatest; told Citrus County Circuit Court video feed from the jail. he always had me laughing,” Judge Richard “Ric” Howard she If convicted of his sexual bat- ance card to their sched- said Leon Cooks. “We always wants the judge to approve three tery charges, Touchton must serve uled appointment. Medicare had something going on, cook- legal requests centered on her cli- a mandatory sentence of life in members should bring their ing on the grill or doing some- ent’s eight felony charges alleging prison. red, white and blue Medi- thing in the yard. ... He always Special to the Chronicle he strangled and sexually bat- Touchton’s trial was scheduled care Part B card. Custom- made me smile. He made me Longtime city of Crystal River tered two young girls. for the week of Feb. 15, but How- ers without health insurance feel like I was his favorite employee and Crystal River It’s alleged Touchton, who ard approved Merrill’s motion to will need to provide their nephew.” native Robert “Lee” Lockley died worked as a corrections officer at have Touchton’s case removed driver’s license and Social “He was such a joker; he March 12 at age 71. a state women’s prison in Ocala, from the judge’s trial docket be- Security number. loved laughing and making daughter Amelia Maner. “He abused the girls in the year pre- cause of COVID-19. — From staff reports other people laugh,” said See LOCKLEY/Page A6 ceding his March 2019 arrest. See COURT/Page A6 Classifieds . .C8 Crossword . .C14 INDEX Lottery Numbers . .B3 Obituaries . A5 Comics . .C7 Editorial. A9 Lottery Payouts . .B3 TV Listings. .C6 Horoscope . A4 Entertainment . A4 Movies . .C7 A2 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2021 NATIONAL CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE one should fear mutations of the and her husband, Doug Emhoff, reopening the economy too would be eligible for one of coronavirus that are showing up also spent the day Tuesday fo- quickly and easing mask man- three approved COVID-19 vac- VACCINE in the U.S. after being discov- cused on promoting the COVID- dates, at the risk of driving a cines by April 19, in addition to Continued from Page A1 ered in other countries. He ac- 19 vaccine, each touring a fresh surge in virus cases. having a vaccination site within knowledged that the new strains vaccination center, Harris in “We just don’t want to have to 5 miles of their home. to get vaccinated to slow the are more virulent and more Chicago and Emhoff in Yakima, go back to really shutting things But eligibility isn’t the same spread of the virus. dangerous, but said “the vac- Washington. down. That would be terrible,” as actually being vaccinated. But he expressed hope that cines work on all of them.” Harris praised the workers Fauci said. Being eligible means people can his Tuesday announcement, that Biden also announced that and those receiving their vac- But Biden’s announcement of sign up to reserve their place in every adult will be eligible by 150 million doses of COVID-19 cine at a site set up at a local the April 19 deadline was aimed a virtual line until they can April 19 to sign up and get in a vaccine have been shot into union hall, and spoke of spring at injecting optimism into a pub- schedule an appointment.