Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NHL: Lightning knock off rival Panthers / B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 71 Partly cloudy and LOW cool with a few sprinkles. 50 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com MARCH 22, 2021 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community $1 VOL. 126 ISSUE 165 COUNTY COVID-19 BOCC UPATE Citrus County The ‘horse COVID cases mulls still going up According to the Florida Department of impact Health, 59 positive cases were reported whisperer’ in Citrus County since the latest update. fees No new deaths were reported, for a total of 420. To date in the Public hearing county, 10,156 people have tested positive (including is 2 p.m. 85 non-residents). One new hospital- ization was reported, March 23 for a total of 658 hospitalized. MICHAEL D. Totals reflect prelim- BATES inary reports received Staff writer by the state, and are Mariah Harris’ infectious smile spreads across the Citrus subject to revision. Impact fees will take County Fairgrounds livestock pavilion Sunday. center stage at Tuesday’s DOH-Citrus county commission Mariah Harris, 22, spends time with her mini-horse Gypsy meeting. vaccine Sunday afternoon at the Citrus County Fairgrounds Specifically: commis- registration livestock pavilion. The two wait to compete in the horse Photos by Matthew Beck sioners will decide system open show outside the complex. whether to raise them, lower them or keep them DOH-Citrus’ prereg- as is. istration system to There are eight impact schedule COVID-19 fee categories collected in vaccine appointments Citrus County: roads, for individuals 50 and schools, libraries, fire, older and frontline law enforcement, parks, health care workers is emergency medical ser- now available. vices (EMS) and public Individuals can now buildings. Currently, the county's be added to a waiting adopted impact fee policy list for vaccine ap- formula is at 50% of the pointments and be no- full amounts for two cate- tified when gories: transportation and appointments are schools. available in Citrus Based on a consultant’s County by visiting report, impact fees for myvaccine.fl.gov or by single-family homes — calling 866-201-0442; using the same formula, TTY is 833-476-1036. would rise $1,363 — from As part of the state- the current $4,809 to wide preregistration $6,172. system, each county Impact fees help local has a designated government fund infra- number that individu- structure necessitated by new growth. They are als can call and pre- one-time fees on new de- register with if they do velopment and are paid not have internet ac- by the builders before cess. Citrus County’s construction can begin. designated helpline Mariah Harris leads Gypsy around the Citrus County Fairgrounds livestock complex Sunday, March 21. She and others Generally, the higher number is competed Sunday in the Citrus County Fair Horse Show, where show judge Sarah Brown said of Harris, "I thought she costs are reflected in the 833-540-2058. carried herself very, very well." Harris is a member of the Fireheart 4-H Club. cost of a new home. Vaccine supply re- The impact fee public mains limited and ap- hearing is scheduled for pointments may not 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 23. be available for sev- Mariah Harris is living her dream life Also Tuesday: eral weeks. I The board has set aside time at 1:30 p.m. to — From staff reports NANCY KENNEDY because Sunday was World Down and flowers.” discuss the Comprehen- Staff writer Syndrome Day. In the showmanship event Sun- ONLINE sive Annual Financial Re- “It’s important for people to know day, Mariah led Gypsy, a miniature port (CAFR) for Citrus POLL ariah Harris that individuals with Down syn- horse, around the arena — it was County for the fiscal year drome can do so much more than her first time showing. ending Sept. 30, 2020. WHAT DO calls herself society thinks they can,” Linley- “You have to watch the judges The CAFR is an annual a horse Harris said. and you get the horse to do a rou- audit of the financial YOU THINK? Mariah plays the violin and clas- tine,” she said. statements and includes M sical guitar and is learning to play Gypsy proved to be a bit stubborn, Florida passed the whisperer. financial and statistical Sunshine Protection Act keyboard. As part of the Citrus but Mariah kept a determined smile information about Citrus “I’ve been on a horse Youth Educational Symphony Or- on her face as she calmly led the in 2018 hoping to make County for the fiscal year. chestra, she’s learning to read horse out. Daylight Saving Time since I was 2,” she said. I County Commissioner music. Her next event involved leading Jeff Kinard will ask the (DST) permanent. But Her mother, Nancy Linley-Harris, She and her mother spend Thurs- the mini horse through obstacles, like 14 other states that county to explore design had been volunteering at a horse days at the Floral City flea market and once again, Gypsy had other costs to engineer water have enacted legislation ranch, and when Mariah was 2, where, when she’s not practicing ideas. and sewer to the 550-acre or passed a resolution started her with therapeutic riding, her violin or guitar, she’s helping “She was able to problem solve,” Holder industrial site east to make it permanent, “hippotherapy,” which helps in- and talking to people. Linley-Harris said. “Instead of forc- of U.S. 41 and south of required congressional crease muscle tone and improve She even has a boyfriend, Zach, ing the horse and stressing it more, County Road 491. approval has not been flexibility, mobility and posture. who also has Down syndrome. she went on to the next (obstacle).” The county commission forthcoming. Should Mariah, now 22, has competed in “I’ve known him since I was a The riding event was where meeting starts at 1 p.m. equestrian events at state-level baby,” Mariah said. “He’s Mariah shined. DST be made Tuesday, March 23, at the Special Olympics, and on Sunday charming.” Riding Quincy, a horse leased permanent in Florida? Citrus County Court- competed in showmanship and rid- Her desire is to work at a horse from Just Horse’n Around Riding house, 110 N. Apopka A. Let well enough ing events during the annual horse ranch. Her future goal is to have her Stables in Lake Panasoffkee, Ma- Ave., Inverness. alone. show at the Citrus County own business. riah sat upright and straight in the To view the agenda, B. Our time could be Fairgrounds. Her ultimate dream is to have a visit https://bit.ly/ See MARIAH/Page A5 better spent. It’s fitting, Linley-Harris said, golf cart, “pink and purple with dots 3tIDD4D. C. Don’t care one way or the other. D. Wake up, Congress, and see the light. E. E. OMG! I can’t wait until DST is permanent. Council to discuss events reopenings, city charter To vote, visit www. BUSTER THOMPSON that were cancelled last year, like the crystalriverfl.org/meetings. Review Committee. chronicleonline.com. Staff writer July 4th fireworks over King’s Bay. Also on council’s agenda: I City Manager Ken Frink will I Scroll down the home Council will also hold a vote on City staff will give council a pre- give an update to council members Crystal River is looking to reopen whether to approve a waiver of the sentation of how the city plans to about the city’s youth and recreation page and look for the its public events. city’s open-container policy for the host the 10-year review of its programs. poll box in the right- With COVID-19 infection rates city’s First Friday events of May 7 charter. I Councilman Ken Brown plans hand column. falling alongside increased accessi- and June 4. Following the presentation, staff to host a discussion about Florida Results will appear bility to vaccines, city staff is com- Council members will call to will ask council to vote on whether to Senate Bill 284, which, if approved, next Monday. Find last fortable approaching City Council at order at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 22, start the process of advertising for would prohibit certain building- week’s online poll an upcoming meeting to discuss re- at City Hall, 123 NW U.S. 19, Crystal and selecting the public design regulations from being ap- results./Page A3 suming larger downtown outings River. For information, visit members of the 2021 Charter plied to certain dwellings. Classifieds ............... B8 Editorial ....................A6 Horoscope ................A4 Movies ..................... B7 Comics .................... B7 Entertainment ...........A4 INDEX Lottery Numbers ...... B3 Nation/World ............A8 Crossword .............. B10 Extra Puzzles . .......B5 Lottery Payouts ........ B3 TV Listings ............... B6 A2 MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLE Se Habla Español INVERNESS HOMOSASSA 2036 Hwy 44 West 5699 S. Suncoast Blvd. (352)726-1916 (352)621-8000 HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 9am - 4:30pm Sat. by Appt. www.floridahearing.com CC-000ZTN6 Page A3 - MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2021 STATE &CITRUS L COUNTYOCAL CHRONICLE Around the Food PROGRAMS COUNTY FOOD PANTRIES Church hosts a food pantry from noon to 2 p.m. Thursdays at 960 S. charge. Come be our guest(s). We 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and U.S. 41. 352-726-1480. Calvary care and you are important to us. All I Citrus County Family Resource Wednesdays at 114 N. Osceola Ave. Church is an equal opportunity ages are welcome. Peace Lutheran We Care Food Center — 9:30 a.m.