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Lightning face Montreal in Game 1 of finals /B1T U E S D AYC I T R U STODAYC O U N T Y& nextmorningHIGH90A dry start then aLOW good chance of72afternoon storms.PAGE A4JUNE 29, 2021NEWSBRIEFSGovernmentoffices closedon July 5Citrus County government offices will be closedMonday, July 5, in observance of IndependenceDay. Normal hours of operation and services willresume Tuesday, July 6.Chronicleevent calendarchangesThe Chronicle’s community calendar solutionchanged on Monday,June 7, to better serveour readers and eventgoer audience.To submit events onthe new Evvnt system,visit www.chronicleonline.com/local-events andclick on “promote yourevent” and follow theprompts. All areas with anasterisk (*) must be filled.Calendar submissionscomplimentary, however,paid options are availableto further promote yourevent across central Florida. Any future event previously submitted beforeJune 7 is no longer in theChronicle system and willneed to be resubmitted.We apologize for any inconvenience this maycause.For more information,email community@chronicleonline.com orcall 352-563-5660.County postsholiday idlespeed/no wakewww.chronicleonline.comFlorida’s Best CommunityNewspaper Serving Florida’s Best Community 1VOL. 126 ISSUE 265Duke breaks groundConstruction begins on new solar plant in Crystal RiverMICHAEL D. BATESStaff writerDuke Energy Florida hasbroken ground on its new 113-million solar plant on 500acres at its energy complex northof Crystal River.Clearing activity for the BayTrail Solar Power Plant is in progress and Duke will begin installation of the “racking system” (metalpoles to support the solar panels)in July and solar panels in August,Duke spokeswoman Ana Gibbssaid.Wanzek Construction, the project contractor, is now hiring forone of the 200-300 temporary jobs.They can apply at https://www.wanzek.com/careers/.Wanzek is also set up with thelocal Citrus County job centers.Once the plant is operating, itwill be monitored remotely byDuke employees and require fewon-site workers.The 74.9-megawatt facility willconsist of approximately 197,000solar panels and produce enoughelectricity to power about 23,000average-sized homes.“Unlike other power plants,solar power plants are poweredSee DUKE/Page A7‘She can make a grown man tap out’14-year-old to competefor world MMA titleHANNAH SACHEWICZStaff writerA local 14-year-old is counting down thedays until she fights for a world championship title. In Sofia, Bulgaria, Julia Falconewill represent Team USA at the International MMA Federation 2021 World YouthMMA Championships in July.“I do Brazilian jujitsu, regular jujitsu,MMA and Muay Thai,” Julia said. For MMA,Julia uses a combination of jujitsu and DutchMuay Thai.Julia started in 2015 at Butin Bik CombatSports in Crystal River. There, she is part ofthe Team Shindent family.One of the main reasons that Julia pickedup the sport was to learn self defense.“Then she fell in love with it,” her mother,Molly Falcone, said.“As a mother, I can drop her and her friendoff at Hunter Springs for a couple hours andshe can take care of herself in the event sheran into danger,” Molly said. “That’s alwaysbeen a huge relief as a parent.”In 2017, Julia became a member of theSee JULIA/Page A2The idle speed/nowake holiday speed zoneordinance (2004-02) willbe in effect for King’s Bay,Crystal River and any canals and tributaries leading to these areas for theupcoming IndependenceDay holiday.The purpose of thisholiday speed zone ordinance is to allow citizensa safe place in which toparticipate in water-related activities. For moreinformation, call CitrusCounty Aquatics Servicesat 352-527-7620.Crystal Riverto have FirstFriday eventThe city of CrystalRiver will have their FirstFriday event from 4 to8 p.m. July 2 at the TownSquare, 559 N. CitrusAve. The event will feature live music by RobNichols from 5 to 8 p.m.and local craft and produce vendors. Downtownretail shops will stay openin the evening.— From staff reportsSO YOU KNOW The FloridaDepartment ofHealth hasceased the dailyCOVID-19 reportsthat have beenused to trackchanges in thenumber ofcoronavirus casesand deaths in thestate.I N D E XClassifieds . . . . . . . .B7Comics . . . . . . . . . .B6Crossword . . . . . . .B10Editorial. . . . . . . . . . A9Entertainment . . . . . A4Lottery Numbers . . .B3Lottery Payouts . . . .B3Obituaries . . . . . . . . A6TV Listings. . . . . . . .B5MATTHEW BECK/ChronicleABOVE: While many teenage girls do not choose to become involved in combat sports, JuliaFalcone, 14, has embraced it. Falcone handles her workout partner Aidan Parker, 14.LEFT: Falcone will take her MMA skills to Bulgaria next month to compete in a worldchampionship tournament.CommissionerAngler brings record fish togives a thank-youPete’s Pier for ‘official’ weigh-in to shelter donorsJEFF BRYANStaff writerIt wasn’t the surf thatcaused Justin Quintal tomake the mad dash early Saturday afternoon from Jacksonville to Crystal River.No one could blame Quintal, the 2019 World SurfLeague long board worldchampion, if that was indeedthe case. However, Quintalwas seeking another worldtitle, albeit not because hewas perched on a surfboard.Quintal made the threehour trek to Pete’s Pier Marina because he needed anofficial place to weigh andmeasure his 23.2-pound yellow mouth grouper, andPete’s Pier is the lone location available in the NorthCentral Florida region thatwas recognized as an International Game Fish Association weigh station.“It’s a pretty exotic groupof fish,” said Quintal with anMIKE WRIGHTStaff writerJEFF BRYAN/ChronicleQuintal’s 23.2-pound yellow mouth grouper will set a new worldrecord, once documentation is certified by the InternationalGame Fish Association.ear-to-ear smile.making the rounds throughBut when he reeled the out the social mediafish in late Friday morning, channels.60 miles offshore from Jack“A pretty well-known fishsonville, little did he realize erman in the Jacksonvillethe prized fish would amount area hit up my friend,” Quinto a world record.tal said. “They suggested I getThat was until the photo he it weighed and check it out.”posted to Facebook beganSee FISH/Page A7Each week Ruthie Schlabach sits down towrite a few thank-you notes.Because critters can’t doit for themselves.Schlabach, the freshmancounty commissioner, is aleader in the drive for anew county animal shelterin Lecanto.The county is seekingRuthieplans for an 8 million toSchlabach 9 million shelter on countycountycommissioner. owned land near the jail.Citizens are pitching in.Spurred on in April by a column from Chronicle Publisher Gerry Mulligan, 123,950 hasbeen raised so far, which an anonymous person kicked off with a 100,000 seed donation.Schlabach receives the personal checksthat are dropped off at the newspaper’s office, and she in turn provides them to Colleen Scott, the county’s director of budgetand finance. The funds are deposited intoan animal services account dedicated tofunding a new shelter.See THANKS/Page A11

A2 TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021CITRUS COUNTY (FL) CHRONICLELOCALJULIAContinued from Page A1FREE IN-HOME ESTIMATESChris Clemens,Joe Bell, andTina Shumwaygrew up inCitrus County.They’re workingto bring the BestFlooring Packagesto you!LookingFor"FIVE STAR"Chris Clemens, PresidentInstallers50 OFF LUXURY VINYL PLANK ORHARDWOOD FLOORINGLimit one discount per coupon. Min. 500 sq. ft. Expires 4/3/20217/5/20218698 W.Dixieland St.HomosassaUS 19Across fromFat Daddy’sNEWLOCATION!THE RIGHT FLOOR.DONE RIGHT!628-9663 WWW.SURFACESFLOORING.COMAre Your Teeth Ready For Summer?SowersssyCriMATTHEW BECK/ChronicleFalcone throws her partner Parker Friday, June 25, whiletraining at Butin Bik’s Combat Sports Gym in Crystal River.“She’s a fantastic stuhow to defend herself.”Accompanying Julia to dent in her performanceBulgaria will be Molly, Ste- and her listening,” Andifan and one of her other said. “It’s a skill that she’scoaches and co-owner of developed that causes herButin Bik Combat Sports to — I think — advancefaster than a whole lot ofGym, Andi Butin Bik.Check-in will be July 28, other kids her age.”“Going there, I want herwhere everyone will beput into a COVID-19 “bub- to win. We only train toble.” There, they will com- win. She wants to win,”mence with three days of Stefan said. “If for sometraining and three days of reason she does not win,it’s OK because we’vecompeting.Julia’s main goal is to done everything.”Stefan said hewin. According tocan’t compare JuStefan, the onlylia’s skill to that offactorsgoinga professionalagainst her arefighter, but he canthat she’s in thecompareherlow end of herFor moredrive.weight class andphotos, click“The way sheage group.However, Julia on this story at trains and her efhas done every- www.chronicle fort in training isthe same as one ofthing she needs to online.com.those guys,” hedo to prepare;she’s done her training, said. “That impresses meand that makes me proud.”running and diet.Although she’s not thereIn addition to her ownhard work, Julia said she’s yet, Julia said her goal is tograteful for the support of become a professionalher coaches, Team Shin- fighter one day.“I just like winning,” shedent, her pastor and Calsaid.vary Chapel family.On the down side, Ju“It’s through our faith inGod, all things are possi- lia’s trip to Bulgaria willcost her family aboutble,” Julia said.Julia also said that she 10,000 in out-of-pocketwouldn’t be where she is travel expenses. So far,today without the love and they’ve raised roughly halfencouragement of her of these funds with community sponsorships.family.“Every single penny goes“They motivate me to bethe best version of myself directly to her trip,” Mollysaid. “Whether it’s 1,000 orevery day,” Julia said.With the competition 1, it all goes to her.”To support Julia, addicoming soon, Julia’scoaches feel confident in tional donations can bedropped off at or mailed toher ability to perform.“I know her ability and I Butin Bik Combat Sports,know what she’d capable 8303 W. Crystal St., Crystalof,” Stefan said. “She can River, FL 34428. Checksmake a grown man tap can be made out to JuliaFalcone.out.”CC-000ZUTR0 0 1 0 A R 1Team Shindent competitiveteam. This April, sheearned her spot on TeamUSA after competing in theUnited States Fight Leaguenational championships.At worlds, Julia will beamong 16 countries, 326registered athletes, 33 athletes on Team USA andfour athletes in Florida.She will be one of ninegirls on Team USA and theonly girl representingFlorida.Julia’s coach and ownerof Butin Bik CombatSports, Stefan Butin Bik,explained the significanceof this competition. Manyother combat sports likekarate have multiple organizations with multipleworld championships.“The deal with this organization is this is the onlyorganization for kids MMAthat’s recognized worldwide,” Stefan said. If Juliawins the competition, shewill be the sole worldchampion. “That’s a bigdeal.”To prepare, Molly saidthat Julia starts off her daywith a 2 mile run. Then,she does jujitsu from 9 to10 a.m., cardio class from10 to 11 a.m., a kids kickboxing class from 5 to 6p.m., another cardio classfrom 6 to 7 p.m. and eitheradult group Brazilian jujitsu or Muay Thai from 7to 8:30 p.m.“She’s here roughly 5hours a day, every day,”Molly said.“I’m trying to get asmuch training in as I canso I can get where I needto be,” Julia said.When Julia steps intothat cage, she said hermain focus is to slow downher breathing and get intothe right headspace. Although the sport is dangerous, she hasn’t had anymajor injuries.“She’s had bumps,bruises, bruises on herface, but nothing thatdoesn’t go away,” Mollysaid. She said that she isn’tscared at al

resume Tuesday, July 6. Chronicle event calendar changes The Chronicle’s com-munity calendar solution changed on Monday, June 7, to better serve our readers and event-goer audience. To submit events on the new Evvnt system, visit www.chronicleonline. com/local-events and click on “prom