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Deborah Russell - Editor

A Publication of

Wednesday December 28, 2016

Inglis, FL 34449

Tom Russell - Publisher

Newscaster Publishing

Permit No. 14

Sally Price - Historian

Have a Safe & Happy New Year

Mike Moore - Photojournalist

Community

Plans Underway for the 30th

Annual Florida Manatee

Festival January 14 & 15

The Florida Manatee Festival

returns to downtown Crystal River on

Saturday and Sunday, January 14 and 15,

to celebrate its 30th Anniversary of pro-

viding quality entertainment and manatee

encounter opportunities for residents and

visitors to our community.

This perennially favorite event is

co-produced by the Citrus County Cham-

ber of Commerce and Rotary of Crystal

River and encompasses both sides of

Citrus Ave. from the Waterfront at Third

Street across US 19 to Crystal Street and

surrounding areas. The Florida Manatee

Festival attracts over 20,000 people dur-

ing the two days and has consistently

been awarded the "Best of the Best" by

readers of the Citrus County Chronicle

for many years.

In celebration of its namesake

Manatees, festival goers will have the

chance to board free bus tours to Three

Sisters Springs. The tours that will run

continuously during the Festival are

Due to an unusual traffic incident in Broward County on Friday afternoon, Dec. 9, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is reminding motorists of

conducted in cooperation with the City

Florida regulations relating to the hauling of loads. The incident occurred on I-75 in the outside westbound lane, at mile marker 37, when the

of Crystal River with support from the

driver of a SUV was overtaking a slower motor home. An aluminum boat oar either fell from the motor home, or was kicked up by the tires of

Friends of the Crystal River National

the motor home, causing the oar to strike the front of the SUV, then skip up and travel half-way through the driver's side windshield. The driver

Wildlife Refuge. For a closer look at the

of the SUV managed to duck down in her seat, to avoid the oar, and bring the vehicle to a controlled stop. See story below.

manatees in their natural settings, Mana-

tee Boat Tours will be available from the

FHP  Warning Man wanted for attempted murder

City Pier at the end of Third Street for a

nominal charge that will take you out into

About Securing

Kings Bay and other favorite hangouts of

After Christmas Day stabbings

the manatees.

Musical  entertainment  will

Loads

ROCK the Waterfront Stage as the Fes-

From the Citrus County Sheriff Dept.

tival welcomes exciting new singer/

From the Florida Hwy Patrol

songwriters who are gathering accolades

The FHP asks the public to realize

At 3:30 am, Christmas Day, the

from Prive, then he and Ms. Brower fled.

worldwide as up-and-coming stars in the

the importance of securing their load any

Citrus County Sheriff s Office responded

Hanson and Brower were transported to

indie music scene. Steve Everett, Mike

time they travel. Florida Statute 316.520,

to a residence, off U.S. Hwy. 41 in Floral

Bayonet Point Hospital in Hudson, FL for

Mentz, Amy Gerhartz and the group

regarding loads on vehicles, states that a

City, in response to a report of a stabbing.

treatment of their stab wounds; they were

Melodime will entertain both Saturday

vehicle must be constructed and loaded so

According to the sheriff s office, two wit-

later released. Ms. Dye later returned to

and Sunday. These artists, whose styles

as to prevent any of its load from dropping,

nesses, Michael Hanson and

the scene and gave a statement to detec-

range from rock, pop, folk, blues and

shifting, leaking, blowing, or escaping onto

Ashley Brower, told deputies,

tives.

country, have toured and shared the stage

the roadway. It is also the duty or all drivers

that Hanson s roomate, 32

An arrest warrant was entered

with groups such as Sister Hazel, Johnny

to prevent any inanimate objects from fall-

Lang, Zac Brown and Better Than Ezra.

year-old Jesse Prive, stabbed

for Jesse Prive on two counts of attempt-

ing, blowing or escaping from a vehicle by

Everett has been nominated for Country

his girlfriend, Melissa Dye,

ed murder. If you know his whereabouts,

covering and/or securing the load to ensure

Album of the Year, and Mentz is up for

at the residence that Hanson

please do not approach him, as he is be-

Prive

that cargo will not shift upon or fall from the

Adult Contemporary Album of the Year

shares with Prive.

lieved to be armed and dangerous; instead,

vehicle.

by the Independent Music Association.

Then, while Mr. Hanson began

call 9-1-1 or the CCSO s Major Crimes di-

According to FHP Lt. Gregory S.

packing his and Ms. Brower s clothing,

vision at 352-726-1121. To remain anony-

Bueno, if a person willfully fails to comply

Prive stabbed Ms. Brower in the chest,

mous and be eligible for a cash reward,

with those provisions, resulting in serious

then attacked Mr. Hanson, stabbing him

call tips to Crime Stoppers at 1-888-ANY-

bodily injury or death to an individual, this

in the head and chest. Hanson fought

TIPS or leave them at he website www.

is a criminal traffic offense, a second-degree

back and was able to get the knife away

CrimeStoppersCitrus.com

misdemeanor.