Project1:Layout 1 6/10/2014 1:13 PM Page 1 NFL: Dolphins win with defense in Tua’s debut /B1 MONDAY TODAY CITRUSCOUNTY & next morning HIGH 72 Sunny, breezy LOW and cooler. 48 PAGE A4 www.chronicleonline.com NOVEMBER 2, 2020 Florida’s Best Community Newspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 50¢ VOL. 126 ISSUE 25 NEWS BRIEFS They want to know who CARES Citrus COVID-19 update Forty-eight new posi- Citrus County officials looking to spur quick interest in funds tive cases were reported in Citrus County since the MIKE WRIGHT CARES Act program to 55 counties latest FDOH update. Staff writer IF YOU GO with populations under 500,000, Three new hospitaliza- Learn about CARES money wants the money allocated by tions were reported; one Citrus County officials are scram- at this special meeting ... Nov. 16 instead of Dec. 30, the fed- new death was reported. bling to find a way all the CARES eral deadline. To date in the county, Act money goes to businesses and I WHAT: Citrus County Board of “The biggest issue is changing 3,308 people have tested individuals who are trying to make County Commissioners special rules in the middle of the game,” positive (including ends meet in a COVID-19 era. meeting Josh Wooten, president and CEO of The county commission set a spe- the Citrus County Chamber of Com- 14 non-residents), Bruce Josh cial 1 p.m. meeting Monday, Nov. 2, I WHEN: 1 p.m. Monday, merce, said. 334 have been hospital- at the courthouse to decide how Register Wooten Nov. 2, 2020 Citrus has already allocated more ized and 135 have died. best to distribute millions of dollars Citrus director CEO/president, than $5 million in grants to bars, of economic Citrus County I WHERE: Courthouse, 110 N. Ride free on to local business owners and resi- development. Chamber. Apopka Ave., Inverness restaurants, barbers and numerous dents and do all that in just more other businesses that were, by gov- Election Day than two weeks. ernment action, either closed or Citrus County Transit is Citrus officials and business lead- to spread a wider net so that funds for businesses, to pay employees. had their services significantly offering a free ride to vote ers say they were methodically ex- would be available to offset costs But they learned Friday that the reduced. on Election Day, Tuesday, panding the CARES grant program such as mortgage, rent, utilities or, state of Florida, which oversees the See CARES/Page A3 Nov. 3. Home pick up and return to home from poll locations. Advanced res- ervation is the best way to secure the time. Transit staff will be taking same day requests Nov. 3 on a first-come, first-served basis. For reservations, MURAL IN THE MAKING call 352-527-7630. No-cost mobile COVID testing The state of Florida is opening a one-time mo- bile COVID-19 testing site from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Homosassa Public Li- brary, 4100 S. Grand- march Ave. The walk-up/drive-thru test site will be available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis for Flor- ida residents with or with- out symptoms. ID required for adults. There is no age requirement. It will be a nasopharyn- geal (nasal) swab and in- dividuals will be called or emailed within two days with results. For information about the Florida Department of Health, visit www.Florida Health.gov. — From staff reports POLL ONLINE POLL: Diversity What do you think is the JEFF BRYAN/Chronicle greatest change needed William Mickey adds eelgrass to the mural on the west side of the Explorida wall in downtown Crystal River. The longtime artist to promote diversity in expects the project to take up to two months to complete. BELOW: Mickey mixes paint to come up with the right color for the springs Citrus County? boils in the mural. A. Higher-paying jobs for everyone, but especially minorities. Local artist helps brighten up Crystal River’s refurbished downtown B. Better, more diverse educational JEFF BRYAN opportunities. Staff writer C. More affordable/ attainable housing. illiam Mickey beams with ex- citement and pride as he talks D. Everyone adopting a Wabout the creative process for strong commitment to the large-scale mural adorning the west- acknowledge inner ern wall of Explorida, serving as the unconscious bias backdrop for the city of Crystal River’s against people of Town Square. differing races and “I’m just excited about painting this ethnicities. mural in my hometown,” said Mickey, E. Committing as a who has called Crystal River “home” for community to call out the past 14 years. racism outright. The project is being financed by Ex- To vote, visit www. plorida and Crystal River Main Street, as well as business and individual do- chronicleonline.com. nors. The focus of the project is to com- Scroll down the home plement the manatee mural at the end, page and look for the Mickey said. poll box in the right- hand column. See MURAL/Page A5 Results will appear next Monday. Find last week’s online poll results./Page A3 Poll numbers decline regarding minimum wage INDEX Classifieds ............... B8 Comics .................... B7 Support for measure may not translate into Election Day votes Crossword .............. B10 Editorial ....................A6 JOHN HAUGHEY According to a Florida Atlantic numbers have declined gradually they actually do on election day,” Entertainment ...........A4 The Center Square University Business and Econom- since September, however. UNF’s Dr. Michael Binder said. “I Horoscope ................A4 ics Polling Initiative survey of According to a St. Pete Polls’ sur- would expect that number to come Lottery Numbers ...... B3 With Election Day less than a 937 likely voters from Oct. 24-25, vey of 2,906 voters from Sept. 21-22, down a little bit.” Lottery Payouts ........ B3 day away and about half of Flori- 62% still support Amendment 2, a 65% said they’d vote for the mea- Florida for a Fair Wage’s Amend- Movies ..................... B7 da’s 14.4 million voters already majority that would surpass the sure. In a University of Northern ment 2 calls for raising the state’s TV Listings ............... B6 casting ballots via mail or at early 60% threshold necessary to amend Florida (UNF) Public Opinion Re- minimum wage from $8.46 an hour voting sites, a new poll suggests the Florida Constitution. search Lab poll of 3,000 voters to $10 an hour in September 2021 flagging support for a proposed Surveys earlier this year indi- from Oct. 1-4, 60% said they’d vote with $1-an-hour increases annu- constitutional amendment to raise cated the proposal would pass “yes.” ally until it reaches $15 in 2026. the state’s minimum wage to $15 by overwhelmingly, with around 68% “Typically, ballot measures do 2026. to 72% of the vote. Those poll better prior to the election than See WAGE/Page A3 A2 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020 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 000YY6J Page A3 - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020 STATE &CITRUS L COUNTYOCAL CHRONICLE Around the COUNTY Sunshine Poets Eat, drink, support read, share at monthly meeting Education nonprofit to host Foundation Fest fundraiser across Citrus County Sunshine Poets will meet at 10 a.m. on the second BUSTER THOMPSON Thursday, monthly, at the Staff writer Central Ridge Library in Beverly Hills. Bring poems Supporting local schools will be to share or just attend to lis- as easy and as fun as getting a bite to ten. If you wish a gentle cri- eat or a cold one at several eateries tique, bring several copies. and bars across Citrus County, For information, visit the during Foundation Fest 2020. Sunshine Poets Facebook Just be sure to leave a tip for the page. celebrity bartender! Traditionally, the Citrus County Eat breakfast Education Foundation (CCEF) with Moose at hosts its massive fundraising en- deavor and silent auction at a single local lodge establishment. The public is invited to This year, to reduce crowds be- eat breakfast with the cause of COVID-19 and bring cus- Moose. They will be serving tomers to multiple area joints, CCEF is expanding Foundation pancakes and sausage or Fest between 6 and 10 p.m. Friday, french toast and bacon from Nov. 20, 2020. 8 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, “We wanted to come up with a Nov. 7, at the Moose Lodge creative way to not have a large 2013, 1855 S Suncoast group of people in one area,” CCEF Blvd, Homosassa, FL Executive Director Shaunda Bur- 34448. dette said, “but also give thanks to Cost is a $7 donation, some of our local businesses who with proceeds going toward stayed with us during the pandemic local Moose charities. and the many years prior.” There will also be items up To be a part of Foundation Fest Chronicle file photo for raffle. 2020, stop by any of the nine partici- From left, Wayne Hicks, Kitty Hicks, Michelle Connor and Nathan Connor attended the third annual Foundation This event is sponsored pating locations and visit their ce- Fest hosted by the Pine Street Pub in Inverness. This year, to reduce crowds because of COVID-19 and bring by the Women of the lebrity bartending teams, which will customers to multiple area joints, CCEF is expanding Foundation Fest between 6 and 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, Moose (WOTM) No.