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  • Crystal River community mourning shooting death of former student

    Crystal River community mourning shooting death of former student

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    CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — The Crystal River community is mourning after news that one of their own died in Montana this weekend.

    What You Need To Know

    • 18-year-old Chandler Stalcup, a Crystal River native, was shot and killed in Montana over the weekend

    • Stalcup was a freshman football player at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana
    • He was a 2003 graduate of Crystal River High School where he played football; Stalcup’s former coach Cliff Lohrey says he made an impact on the football field

    • The Pirates football team plan to honor and recognize Stalcup ‘next season and beyond’

    Chandler Stalcup, 18, was shot during a fight with another teen this past weekend, according to police in Billings. He later died at an area hospital.

    Stalcup, a 2023 graduate of Crystal River High School, was a freshman football player at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. It was a sport that meant a great deal to him.

    At Crystal River High School, Stalcup made an impact on the football field, but maybe none greater than the impact he had on the people around him.

    “We’re not going to get over this easily,” says Cliff Lohrey, head football coach at Crystal River High School and Stalcup’s former coach. “It’s going to take some time and some healing.”

    As Lohrey looks inside the trophy cabinet at Crystal River High School, he reflects on Stalcup.

    “He’s just an outstanding young adult who contributed to the lives of a lot of people here in a lot of different ways,” he said. 

    Chandler Stalcup and Head Coach Cliff Lohrey. (Chris Lohrey)

    Lohrey has been head coach of the football team for six years. 

    “All he did was work to improve,” Lohrey said. “All he did was work to get better. Those are the relationships, those are the interactions and those are the memories that, as a coach, you go, ‘Chandler is the reason that I wanted to do this in the first place.’ He’s the reason that I’m going to get up tomorrow in the morning and try to do it better than I did today.”

    But, as Lohrey said, for Stalcup, it wasn’t always about football.

    “Chandler, when he first came to Crystal River High School, (was) a multiple sport athlete as I mentioned. Baseball and football guy,” he said. “Baseball was initially his first love.”

    A multi-sport athlete whose dedication took him to the collegiate level, Stalcup had bigger dreams— and a larger-than-life impact— off the field.

    “People would be missing the boat if they don’t understand what a well-rounded young man, young adult he was,” Lohrey said. “The impact he made on this world in 18 years, it’s so important to remember what he would’ve done going forward in his life. Those are the things that we’ll continue to talk about that will be a part of Chandler Stalcup’s legacy at Crystal River High School.”

    The Pirates had their final game of the season last week. While their season might be over, Lohrey said they plan to recognize and honor Stalcup next season and beyond.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Crystal River teen killed while attending college in Montana

    Crystal River teen killed while attending college in Montana

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — An 18-year-old Montana college student from Crystal River was shot and killed last weekend.

    According to Billings (Mont.) Police, Chandler Stalcup died at an area hospital after being shot during an altercation with another teen.

    Stalcup, a 2023 graduate of Crystal River High school, was a freshman football player at Rocky Mountain College in Billings.

    Police said officers were responding early Saturday to a complaint of a weapon at one address when a call came in of a shooting at another location.

    Officers arrived and found Stalcup suffering from life-threatening injuries. He later died.

    Police said a homicide investigation was initiated and a 16-year-old male was arrested and charged on Sunday. On Monday, police arrested a 17-year-old male in the case, also charging him with murder.

    Meanwhile, Citrus County Schools made crisis response teams available for Crystal River High students.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • A+ Teacher to be inducted into FACA Hall of Fame

    A+ Teacher to be inducted into FACA Hall of Fame

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    INVERNESS, Fla. – Larry Bishop has been in the Citrus County School District for 33 years.

    He’s currently the activities director at Citrus High School, an expansion of the athletic director role he’s had for more than a decade. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Coach Larry Bishop has been in the Citrus County School District for 33 years

    •  Bishop is the Activities Director at Citrus High School

    •  Bishop also coaches softball

    The school and district have a special place in his heart. He graduated from Citrus High School.

    “When I was a freshman in the fall of 1980, my dream was to come back to Citrus High School,” Bishop said. “So to be able to do that, and this is my 33rd year within the school district, I couldn’t be happier.”

    Bishop also coaches softball. It’s a role he truly enjoys.

    “There are so many things, not just academically but athletically and life lessons that can be taught on the field that can’t necessarily be taught in the classroom,” said Bishop.

     “Coach Bishop is always somebody that I can look up to because he just inspires you to do better and he pushes you to be the best version of yourself,” said Kaylin Smith, a junior at Citrus High School.

    Bishop has been in the district for so long that he’s gotten to know generations of families.

    “We have generations of people that come through our school system and I know I’m dating myself but I’m coaching kids of kids that I’ve coached,” said Bishop.

    Paisley Williamson is one of those kids.

    “It’s just nice to have somebody that has been here for so long that understands the school, understands the students,” said Williamson.

    Coach Bishop is being honored for his positive impact on students and athletes. He has been chosen to be inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

    “Serving on the board of directors at FACA, I’ve gone to a lot of induction ceremonies. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be chosen,” said Bishop.

    Bishop was chosen for his dedication to high school sports and the athletes who play them.

    That’s also why he was nominated to be an A+ Teacher. Coach Bishop will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony in January.

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    Jorja Roman

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  • Plantation Resort continues cleanup after tornado

    Plantation Resort continues cleanup after tornado

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    CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — It’s been more than two weeks since a tornado touched down in Citrus County. Some portions of the area are still in shambles and have been left picking up the pieces.

    What You Need To Know

    • Areas of Crystal River are continuing to pick up the pieces after an EF-2 tornado touched down two weeks ago

    • Repairs are on-going at the Plantation Resort, which saw extensive damage done to its golf course and clubhouse

    • Those at the resort are hoping to re-open the golf course as early as next week with plans for a temporary clubhouse set to open in mid-November

    It’s been a long recovery process that cannot happen fast enough.

    Catastrophic and complete destruction are some of the words being used to describe the damage the tornado caused at Plantation Resort — an experience some are also describing as a bit of déjà vu.

    “That’s about what 200 trees looks piled up right there,” said Sean McCabe, director of Golf Operations at the Plantation Resort on Crystal River, while pointing at a large pile of brush on the golf course. It’s what remains after an EF-2 tornado touched down in Crystal River.

    “I grew up in east Tennessee, but I’ve spent most of my life on the east coast of Florida,” McCabe said. “So mostly hurricanes, we didn’t get anything like this.”

    Tree branches and stumps that were ripped from their roots, now left laying in a heap. A tree trimming crew can be heard nearby working to clear the course.

    “It’ll take two weeks for all of it to burn down and then we’ll level this out and the grass will start to grow again,” he said.

    It’s been a busy two weeks for McCabe and others at the resort, restoring the golf course and surrounding area back to its former glory with plans to reopen just around the corner.

    “Originally it was the 10th thru the 15th,” he said. “Somewhere in there, but these tree guys have done phenomenal getting all of the tress off of the golf course so we’re thinking mid next week.”

    Elsewhere on the property, more damage can be seen. The clubhouse, which featured a restaurant and pro shop, has been left standing as a shell of its former self.

    “And this was the golf shop,” McCabe said. “Over here you can see how all of the windows were destroyed and it ripped the roof off. All of our merchandise was left either laying on the floor or completely gone. We only found about half of it and so where the rest of it went- there’s no telling.”

    Insulation and lights can be seen left hanging from the ceiling. An eerie welcome for McCabe, who has been in his post for only four months.

    “I got here June 26. And so from June until now I’ve dealt with a hurricane and a tornado,” he said. “It’s been quite the ride. I’ve never seen anything like this in my 25 years in the PGA.”

    Despite all the work that needs to be done, McCabe is ready to welcome back visitors.

    “I can’t wait to get people back out and just be normal- that’s what we’re looking forward to,” he said.

    McCabe said the resort hopes to open the golf course as early as next week. As for a clubhouse, he says the plan is to have a temporary clubhouse set up by mid-November where their tennis courts used to be.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • What’s with all the car fires in Tampa Bay?

    What’s with all the car fires in Tampa Bay?

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    TAMPA, Fla. — If you’ve driven around Tampa Bay, chances are you’ve sat in a lot of traffic. Sometimes those delays are caused by a car fire.

    What You Need To Know

    • FHP Troop C responded to 475 vehicle fires over the last two years

    • According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electrical issues, leaks, overheated engines and smoking are common causes

    • According to a 2020 study from the NFPA, there was an average of 117,400 vehicle fires across the country per year between 2013 and 2017

    • There are no official U.S. numbers on the difference between gas-powered fires versus EVs or hybrids

    FHP Troop C, which covers Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus and Sumter counties, responded to 475 vehicle fires over the past two years, officials confirmed.

    Hillsborough County resident Alison Roth asked Spectrum Bay News 9 about the amount of vehicle fires she’s seen.

    “I see them on the news frequently. They slow down traffic a lot,” Roth said.

    You’ll see them on the news because of the problems car fires can cause. Sometimes a single car catching on fire can shut down an interstate or bridge as first responders work to put out the flames.

    “I also wonder what contributes to a car fire. What causes the actual car fire?” Roth asked.

    There are a lot of reasons.

    According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electrical issues, leaks, overheated engines and smoking are common causes.

    Recently, some drivers have questioned if the increase in electric vehicles on the roads is leading to more fires.

    “I’ve been concerned with the rise in EV that some of the batteries are the problem. You hear about batteries catching fire on all kinds of vehicles,” Roth said.

    In the U.S., there’s no national agency that Spectrum Bay News 9 found that’s currently keeping track of the types of cars that are catching on fire. There are no official numbers on the difference between gas or electric fires.

    However, MotorTrend says the country of Sweden does. Their numbers show gas-powered engines are more likely to catch on fire than electric vehicles and hybrids.

    In addition, the number of car fires occurring might be less than you think.

    According to a 2020 study from the NFPA, there was an average of 117,400 vehicle fires across the country per year between 2013 and 2017.

    To put that in perspective: There are more than 280 million cars registered in the U.S., per the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

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    Tim Wronka

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  • Manos Kranias develops a new dessert for the Holy Trinity GreekFest

    Manos Kranias develops a new dessert for the Holy Trinity GreekFest

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    CLEARWATER, Fla. — A third-generation Greek baker will debut a new dessert at this year’s GreekFest at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Clearwater.

    What You Need To Know

    • Manos Kranias grew up in Greece and follows in the tradition of his father and grandfather. 

    • Manos Bakery is on Drew Street in Clearwater. 

    • New desert is a combination of two Greek classics baklava and galaktoboureko.

    • The desert will debut at this weekend’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church GreekFest.

    A third-generation Greek baker will debuting a new desert at this year’s GreekFest at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Clearwater.

    Manos Kranias grew up around bakeries in Greece and decided to follow in the tradition of his father and grandfather. “As long as I remember, I was 5, 6, 7, I was playing with flour. It’s in my blood. That’s whatever I do, I do it with love,” Kranias said at his bakery on Drew Street in Clearwater.

    Kranias loves to pass out samples of his creations to new customers. “That’s my satisfaction when I see people happy with the products I bring out there,” he said.

    Kranias will be supplying the festival with the new creation he developed at the request of festival organizer John Pantelis. It’s a combination of two Greek classics, baklava and galaktoboureko.

    “Baklava has a multiple layers of fila dough and a filling of walnuts, bread crumbs, syrup and cinnamon. The galaktoboureko part of the desert is a custard filling. I think it’s going to be a big hit because, like I said earlier it’s heaven. It’s delicious,” said Manos.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Citrus County parents upset about lack of bus drivers for routes

    Citrus County parents upset about lack of bus drivers for routes

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — Some parents in Citrus County say school bus driver shortages are posing a major problem for them, with many routes being cut indefinitely because there are no drivers available.

    What You Need To Know

    • Parents concerned over lack of bus drivers, delays and routes being cut

    • Sean O’Brien has a daughter in middle school and said they’ve had issues with her bus throughout this school year

    • School district says it’s doing what it can, including having administrators transport students

    One father who spoke to Spectrum News said that while he understands the shortage, something needs to be done.

    Sean O’Brien has a daughter in middle school and said they’ve had issues with her bus throughout this school year.

    Last Friday, she came home and told him she no longer had a bus ride to school because there was no driver, and no one to fill in.

    “I have to tell my job that I’m going to be late, I have to tell them I’m going to have to leave early to go pick her up, it’s getting ridiculous,” Sean O’Brien said. “I’m going to lose my job and making a living to get her to school. I want her to go to school but I can’t afford to.”

    The Citrus County School District said there are no other drivers available for that route and that while it will do its best to offer alternatives, it’s still trying to tackle the bus driver shortage countywide.

    Nataleigh O’Brien said she has missed a lot of school because of the problem.

    “My grades have been going down because I haven’t found a way to get to school yet, and I have a lot of missing assignments,” she said.

    Sean O’Brien said this isn’t just a problem for students on her bus, either, saying it is a district-wide problem. His friend, Brian Perine, lives in Crystal River, and his kids also have no bus to school, only for the trip home.

    They say they understand the district is having a hard filling those spots but that something needs to give.

    “I understand getting more bus drivers, you have to figure out how, well, the pay needs to be helpful,” Perine said. “And from what I’ve heard, even from a bus driver last year who I talked to personally, a lot of the issues they’re having is kids who just don’t want to listen to the bus driver. And they want to quit, they don’t want to deal with it.”

    The district has gone so far as having administrators driving vans to cover routes and get students to and from school safely.

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    Fallon Silcox

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  • Growing a decade-long nightmare one creepy effect at a time

    Growing a decade-long nightmare one creepy effect at a time

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    PLANT CITY, Fla. — It’s been 10 years and now Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail in Plant Ciity is turning up the fear up to 11.


    It’s the creepy brainchild of Zack Glaros. He started in 2014 with five scare actors.

    “Our first night we were officially open we had three guests come through and I’m like ‘oh my gosh! What is this? Is this the right thing to do?’ Here we are 10 seasons later. We have upwards of 90-100 volunteers every night,” Glaros said.

    And lots more visitors — sellout crowds.

    One of Glaros’ OG creators is Calvin Hogan.

    Hogan created dozens of special effects for this year’s newest attraction — a haunted hayride.

    “This event — it’s kind of nice to say that it has grown with me. So, we’re kind of like siblings in a way,” Hogan said, smiling.

    Hogan continues to hang out with his scary little sibling because he loves to facilitate fear.

    “After every year that I learn more and more new tricks, I can apply that to the next season,” said Hogan. “It’s really rewarding to learn and soak up — just build cool stuff and scare people. It’s super rewarding. Most rewarding job I’ve ever had.”

    Can’t get enough of the spookiness, no problem. They will be open through Nov. 4.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Crystal River animal sanctuary expanding operation

    Crystal River animal sanctuary expanding operation

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    CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — A wildlife enthusiast is helping animals find a home in Citrus County.

    What You Need To Know

    • Crystal River wildlife enthusiast Alyssa Clossin is expanding her animal sanctuary operation with a new pet marketplace

    • It’s a service, Clossin says, that Citrus County is in need of with only a handful of animal sanctuaries in the area

    • While the part animal thrift store and part grooming salon is helping fund Clossin’s sanctuary and rehab facility, she has her sights on something more

    For years, Alyssa Clossin dreamed of the day she would open up her very own animal sanctuary. Now that dream is becoming a reality.

    “She’s like a love sponge. All she wants is love,” Clossin said.

    For Clossin, loving animals has been a regular past-time.

    “It’s always been a passion of mine to take care of animals,” she said.

    That passion has now turned into a duty as she embarks on her new project: starting her very own animal sanctuary, aptly named Alyssa’s Critters. From farm animals to the more exotic, Clossin has spent years learning the trade.

    “Incredible rescues that taught me so much and then I kind of decided to go out on my own and open Alyssa’s Critters,” Clossin said. “But I want to be different than all the other rescues. I want to do farm and exotic animals. If I have the money, I’ll just go ahead and take the animal.”

    There are only a handful of animal sanctuaries in the area. Clossin says she wants to offer additional services, particularly for exotic animals.

    “They’re just a lot of care and people don’t know what they’re expecting when they adopt these animals,” she said. “So I let them bring them here and I’ll either adopt them or keep them as an educational animal.”

    Animals like Jack the coatimundi.

    “He is an educational ambassador for my program,” she said. “He is going to be able to go to schools or out to any functions we want so people can enjoy him the way I get to enjoy the wildlife.”

    She also recently opened Alyssa’s Critter’s Marketplace—part animal thrift store and part grooming salon—to help fund the sanctuary and rehab facility. She’s even making it a family affair by getting some help from her brother.

    “We couldn’t do this without the community,” Clossin’s brother Timothy Dreesen said.

    He’s vice president of Alyssa’s Critters Wildlife Rehab and Sanctuary.

    “They’ve been top-notch to us. They’ve been so much help and we couldn’t do it without them,” he said.

    It’s been a busy first few months for the duo. But they have their sights set on something more.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Program helps formerly incarcerated into marijuana workforce – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Program helps formerly incarcerated into marijuana workforce – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    State officials estimate more than 60,000 marijuana-related jobs will come online by the end of 2025.

    The Criminal Justice Equity Initiative, also known as CJEI, is working to make sure people who were arrested on marijuana charges, in what was “the war on drugs,” get some of those jobs as they become available.

    What You Need To Know

    • State officials estimate more than 60,000 marijuana-related jobs will come online by the end of 2025
    • The purpose of the program is to prepare those incarcerated for marijuana-related convictions with job training and mentorships, then get them into the New York’s budding market
    • The 16-week program is a collaboration with several groups

    “When you have an opportunity to make changes in your life for the better, take those opportunities, because they might not be around forever,” said Keith Gaffney, CJEI participant.

    While second chances are tough to find, though, Gaffney said he’s had his fair share of them.

    “In the 90s I used to be a part of street life,” Gaffney said.

    Selling marijuana kept the Harlem-native in and out of prison for 16 years.

    Each fresh start getting out was ruined by a return to selling drugs.

    “I had a lot of time to self-reflect, and in reflecting I realized that criminal lifestyle didn’t really reflect who I am,” Gaffney said.

    He said this time is already different.

    After being released in 2020, while working on reintegrating back into society, Gaffney met Jamil Myrie.

    Myrie introduced Gaffney to…

    Original Author Link click here to read complete story..

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    MMP News Author

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  • Crystal River mom continuing to pick up pieces after tornado

    Crystal River mom continuing to pick up pieces after tornado

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A single mother of three in Crystal River says she is still picking up the pieces after a tornado damaged her home last week.

    What You Need To Know

    • Picking up after an EF-2 tornado has been a struggle for one single mom in Crystal River

    • Faith Rodgers has been able to pick up some pieces after the tornado, but large branches and knocked down trees remain on her property

    • The damage has been such a financial struggle for Rodgers that she’s had to postpone her 4-year-old’s birthday party and worries about the holiday’s coming up

    Faith Rodgers says this was her first time experiencing storm damage, and that getting her life back on track has taken longer than anticipated.

    “I came out at 2:30 in the morning and I saw this outside on the ground,” she said.

    Outside her Crystal River home, Rodgers takes a look around.

    “This one just broke off the oak tree,” she said, pointing at a tree branch. “I have another oak tree that has actually been lifted from the ground with the roots, just lying in the yard.”

    Multiple trees and branches have been left scattered throughout her yard, while some items had to be put back.

    “It took four, four men to maneuver the well-house and to put it back over the well-tank,” Rodgers said. “Because I just bought that, that’s all brand new. I didn’t want any water damage or anything getting into it so they hurried over here and turned it back over.”

    The well-house was not the only thing swept up on Rodgers’ property.

    “There’s the trampoline,” she said, pointing at a picture of the trampoline on her phone.

    Her children’s trampoline was left wrapped around a tree.

    “Oh my gosh … it was just wrapped around the tree and the poles were bent with it,” she said. “That was some serious damage.”

    But picking up after the storm has been a financial struggle. Rodgers said she had to postpone her 4-year-old’s birthday party and worries about the holiday’s coming up.

    “I’m pushing back on bills but I’m too prideful,” she said. “I’ve been a single mom for a long time so it’s hard for me to ask for help.”

    And despite all she’s been through — there’s something to be thankful for.

    “The cars, the vehicles are still drivable,” Rodgers said. “Like I said, there are people out there who have it way worse than I do.”

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Citrus County launches paramedicine program to help drug addiction

    Citrus County launches paramedicine program to help drug addiction

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — A new program is helping those who are battling drug addiction.

    What You Need To Know

    • Community Paramedicine Program launches in Citrus County, helping those who are battling drug addiction 

    • The program has been made possible by funding from the opioid settlement

    • Currently, Citrus County Fire Rescue has two county paramedics on staff with the hopes of expanding in the future

    • Sometimes the job yields different results than expected and sometimes those results can be a pleasant surprise

    The Community Paramedicine Program was launched by Citrus County Fire Rescue in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) and Florida Department of Children and Families. The initiative is made possible by funding from the opioid settlement, intended to mitigate the opioid epidemic on affected communities throughout the state.

    The program’s sole duty is focusing on the opioid epidemic within the county and searching for those patients who want help.

    “We can be out there within 30 to 40 minutes depending on where it is in the county, assess them, assess their need, contact our online medical control doctor — who helps us with this program, agrees with the program and loves the program — and then start a plan for them in order to get them the help they need,” says Jason Morgan, division chief of EMS for Citrus County Fire Rescue. “That’s long-term help.”

    Right now, Citrus County Fire Rescue has two county paramedics fulfilling that role. Morgan says he’s hopeful the program will expand, allowing more paramedics to be hired.

    It’s a duty that requires plenty of patience and community connections.

    “Thirty years of doing this, of EMS. I’m still here so, obviously, I must like doing it. I must,” he said.

    Every day, county paramedic Gronn Morgan goes out for a drive, with each day bringing a familiar mission — visiting those who need help with overcoming drug addiction.

    “The best way we describe it is we’re a bridge program — from where they’re at by themselves to that long-term care,” says Gronn Morgan. “We get them there so they don’t relapse and that’s really the focus of all this is to get people to the long-term care without them falling through the cracks.”

    Gronn Morgan is one of two paramedics in Citrus County who are part of the new paramedicine program. Part of his daily routine is serving as a bridge between those offering help and those who need help.

    Only on this particular call, one of his patients wasn’t answering.

    “We’ll try again tomorrow, call them again, stop by the house again and see if anyone shows up. If I get two or three days with nobody home and no answer and nothing looks like it’s changed outside, I’ll probably talk to one of the neighbors and see if there’s something changed — like they went to a nursing home or they went on vacation. But it’s only been a few days since the referral went in, so where’d they go?”

    Sometimes the job yields different results than expected. And sometimes those results can be a pleasant surprise.

    One of Morgan’s clients is Roger Terras, who’s been sober more than 50 days.

    ”You just have to make that choice to one — not do the same thing or see the same person, do whatever you can to get money,” said Terras, who is a patient. “You forget about family, friends, morals or principles. All you care about is one thing, and it’s killing people.”

    It’s been a battle for Terras and others like him wanting to get clean. A battle made a little easier with the right kind of help and someone like Morgan on his side.

    “It’s going to be days of sometimes of you know, ‘I don’t feel so good’ and days of ‘Let’s keep at it and keep going to the doctor’s office, keep taking the medication,’” said Morgan. “It’s going to be a process and not everybody is happy with the process. Some people give up on it too soon. Roger is staying with it and I am so happy he’s staying with it. He’s going to make it.”

    It made this daily routine that much more meaningful for this paramedic.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Spooky shenanigans get underway in Tampa Bay for Halloween

    Spooky shenanigans get underway in Tampa Bay for Halloween

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    By

    Spectrum News Staff

    Tampa

    UPDATED 11:47 AM ET Oct. 18, 2023
    PUBLISHED 4:59 PM ET Oct. 11, 2023
    PUBLISHED 4:59 PM EDT Oct. 11, 2023

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida Keys native performs at Busch Gardens’ Cirque X-Scream show

    Florida Keys native performs at Busch Gardens’ Cirque X-Scream show

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    TAMPA, Fla. — How does a day begin for a fire stunt aerial artist?

    What You Need To Know

    • Tammy Firefly, a Florida Keys native performs in the Howl-O-Scream show “Cirque X-Scream” at Busch Gardens

    • Firefly visited Busch Gardens when she was a kid

    • Howl-O-Scream run select nights through Oct. 31

    “When I wake up, I have a pretty strong yoga practice to kind of like center and ground myself,” Tammy Firefly said.

    Firefly is the star of the Howl-O-Scream Cirque X-Scream show at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. When she gets into hair and makeup at the park, she visualizes her routine.

    There’s not much room for error.

    “I go up with one arm and I have 25-foot flames, fully immersed and surrounding me,” Firefly said. “So this tiny little body disappears and all you see is a ring of fire.”

    Next, Firefly hits the mat backstage to warm up.

    “When I do yoga, It clears out the cluster in my mind,” she said, while stretching her arms over her head in a low lunge. “I’m able to focus.”

    She calls her practice a game-changer.

    Firefly dips her torches in camp fuel and sprays herself with a mixture of water and fire retardant. Fire stunt performing has taken her around the world. It’s full circle for this native Floridian.

    “I’m from the Florida Keys,” she said. “I used to come here as a kid and to be here performing in my element as a professional fire artist is super rewarding.”

    Learning to dance with danger, for Firefly, is worth the risk.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Tornadoes move across Tampa Bay overnight; damage in multiple counties

    Tornadoes move across Tampa Bay overnight; damage in multiple counties

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    MONDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The National Weather Service on Monday confirmed that three EF-0 tornadoes happened during last week’s severe weather that caused damage throughout the Bay area.

    EF-0 storms include a wind gust, of at least three seconds, of 65-85 mph.

    The locations were:

    10:59 p.m. Wednesday Sarasota County, about 10 miles south of downtown Sarasota.

    12:14 a.m. Thursday: 1 mile south of Oldsmar.

    2:17 a.m. Thursday: West-southwest Odessa in Pasco County.

     

    PREVIOUS STORY:

    PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Two long-track tornadoes blew across the Bay area overnight, bringing some damage to areas in Citrus, Pinellas and Pasco counties.


    The early morning storms spawned fast-moving tornadoes that came on shore around 2 a.m. and left a trail in Citrus County, as well as a separate tornado that spawned near Clearwater Beach and then entered Pasco and went into eastern Hernando County.

    Officials from the National Weather Service Tampa Bay confirmed Thursday afternoon it was an EF-2 tornado with winds of more than 110 mph that roared ashore on Clearwater Beach and continued to Dunedin.

    HOMES DAMAGED IN NORTH CLEARWATER BEACH

    Officials with the City of Clearwater confirmed two houses on Eldorado Avenue in North Clearwater Beach were significantly damaged by an EF-1 tornado that moved through the area early Thursday morning. No one was injured.

    An elderly woman in one of the homes woke up to the sound of crashing glass and pulled bedding over herself for protection, officials said. Two doors down, another house saw its porch get blown over the roof and land on the other side of the house.

    Carlouel Yacht and Beach Club also saw significant damage from the tornado. General Manager Marc Carter woke up to a call early Thursday morning from an employee.

    “I got out here about 4:30, started looking around and said, ‘Yeah, it’s pretty bad,’” Carter said. “Coming off of a hurricane, this was much worse.”

    Patio umbrellas and chairs are broken. Some furniture even got swept up by the wind and is gone. There are also a lot of downed branches on the property. The roof to the club’s cabanas is also damaged, after the building was flooded during Hurricane Idalia.

    “It was pretty catastrophic,” Carter said. “I called our team and we had a great turnout from our employees – ‘Hey, whoever can come out here and help us clean up.’ We had probably 20 employees come out before the rain and we got a lot done.”

    Carlouel has been a part of the north Clearwater Beach Community for almost 90 years. Despite the setbacks from Idalia – and now this tornado – Carter plans to keep the club a staple for decades to come.

    STORM SURVEYS CONTINUE

    Crystal River saw a preliminary EF-2 tornado. Storm survey teams were out in the community Thursday to determine if any other areas had a tornado touch down.

    According to the National Weather Service, two damage surveys will include Citrus County and Clearwater/Dunedin area.

    “There are other potential tornado impact areas that we will be assessing based on radar and damage reports, photos/videos submitted to us from emergency management and media, as well as a wealth of data mined from social media.”

    A condo building in Dunedin, the Harbor Pointe condos by Frenchy’s Market, had a portion of its third floor wall blown off during the storms. A gaping hole was left in the building, located on Causeway Boulevard. A neighbor said no one was in that condo at the time the damage was sustained.

    Meanwhile, in Crystal River, multiple buildings collapsed as a result of being struck by tornado winds, according to Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast.

    Emergency management reported a tornado at US 19 and W Island Ford Trail in Crystal River at 2:12 a.m. Roof damage and power lines were reported down in the vicinity.

    Trucks were flipped over and windows of businesses were blown out in a parking lot at Causeway Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard in Dunedin.

     

     

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Crystal River residents continue to pick up pieces left from tornado

    Crystal River residents continue to pick up pieces left from tornado

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    CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — Bay area communities are still reeling from a series of tornadoes that touched down early Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cleanup and recovery efforts continued Friday in Citrus County with some avoiding the full brunt of the storm while others were not so lucky

    • Plantation Point is one of those areas that was impacted, with an entire roof ripped off

    • In the 20 years property manager Carlos Alves has been living in Citrus County, not once, he says, has he witnessed a storm like this

    Cleanup and recovery efforts continued Friday in Citrus County. Some residents managed to avoid the full brunt of the storm, while others were not so lucky.

    Disbelief and shock are just a few of the words being used by residents.

    “To see it like this: I’m in shock. Literally, I’m in shock,” Carlos Alves said. 

    He said the damage left behind by the storm is a sight that has been hard for him to comprehend.

    “See how it just made like almost like a blender? It puts everything into the middle,” Alves said. “It took everything off the walls, everything off the counters and look, it put everything in the middle. It’s literally a disaster in here.”

    Alves is the property manager of Plantation Point, a business plaza left standing as a shell of its former self.

    “You can see how far it threw the dumpster. It literally shot it across the field,” he said.

    And a field of debris now sitting outside the property as well as on the inside.

    “I used to clean a couple of years ago because I have a cleaning business,” Alves said. “Now that I come in here, I remember going upstairs. If you can walk in, now, there is no upstairs.”

    An entire roof is gone — all that remains are loose possessions and insulation hanging in the rafters. Not to mention two hammers stuck inside a wall, courtesy of mother nature.

    “If you turn around, the roof that was here — there it is,” Alves said. “There’s the roof. Sitting on that man’s roof.”

    Elsewhere on the property, he finds similar sights.

    “This unit here just opened two weeks ago,” he said. “They just moved in two weeks ago.”

    An entire second floor collapsed with insulation everywhere. Water from the rain that came with the tornado can be heard dripping within this unit.

    “I was heartbroken to give them the news that their unit was destroyed, and it broke their heart because they put a lot of time into this unit,” Alves said.

    “It’s almost like a divorce,” he added. “You know? To me, it felt like a divorce because I’m never going to see these people again, and it’s sad.”

    As Alves continues to survey the damage, he begins to think about what comes next. Something that’s easier said than done.

    “The last couple of days I’ve been scarred,” he said.  “I’m hoping it goes away because this has been tough. This is a tough one.”

    Alves said he does have insurance and has been in touch with companies to start the process to bring his plaza back to its former glory.

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    Calvin Lewis

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  • Pastor says he’s thankful tornado didn’t cause more damage

    Pastor says he’s thankful tornado didn’t cause more damage

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Several homes in Citrus County received extensive damage from the tornado that hit the area Thursday morning.

    What You Need To Know

    • Citrus was one of several counties that saw damage from the tornado
    • The pastor of a local church said he saw minimal damage with debris from businesses nearby falling into his yard
    • Christopher Satchell says he’s thankful his home and church were left unharmed

    Christopher Satchell and his family were hard at work Thursday picking up debris after a tornado impacted their community.

    “That is a piece of the racetrack canopy,” he said of one piece of debris. “There were missiles, so to speak, out here — metal blowing from every direction you can think of.”

    In his more than 30 years of living in this area, Christopher Satchell said he’s never seen anything like this.

    “I heard the sound like a train coming and I said, ‘Wow this is going to be a hit,’” he said of the moments leading up to the tornado.

    His home and the church — The Church of The Living God — where he is a pastor were left unharmed, despite the pieces of debris that came hurdling in from businesses nearby.

    His daughter, Gabriel Satchell, also participated in the cleanup to restore the place she grew up in.

    “I’m so thankful that what I know is still intact and the rest of this the debris and all of this they can be cleaned up,” she said. “But what’s most important is my family is safe.”

    Other homes in the area saw more damage with flooding also in some parts.

    Despite the stress of the damage Christopher Satchell said members of the community are showing their support for one another and helping those who need help.

    “I thank god for shielding and protecting my family and I just have to use every opportunity to give the glory to God,” he said.

    Several other homeowners said they planned to continue the clean up through the night.

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    Lizbeth Gutierrez

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  • Citrus County schools closed after strong storms left areas damaged

    Citrus County schools closed after strong storms left areas damaged

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    CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — Citrus County schools are closed Thursday, Oct. 12, after parts of the county experienced significant damage from storms overnight.

    The school district made the announced on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at 6:13 a.m.

    Powerful storms came on shore around 2 a.m. and left a trail across Citrus County and other areas of Tampa Bay.

    Officials have closed several roadways in Crystal River due to extensive damage following an unconfirmed tornado touching down in the area.

    Highway 44 is closed in all directions from the intersection of U.S. Highway 19 to Turkey Oak drive. Highway 19 is closed in all directions from West Fort Island Trail to Northeast Fifth Street in Crystal River.

    Tornado watches remain in effect across Tampa Bay until 9 a.m.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Artist lets abstract work tell its own story

    Artist lets abstract work tell its own story

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Michael McCoy allows gravity to play an elevated role in his world, along with anything from his daily life.


    This is what presently sits in front of his camera: half of a day-and-a-half-old lemon on a white stand, with a white piece of paper serving as a backdrop.

    His goal as he pours black and gold paint over the fruit?

    “Seeing something ordinary in an extraordinary way,” McCoy explained, as he sprinkled shattered tempered glass over the lemon.

    The fine art abstract photographer is creating “a moment” in his Ybor City studio.

    A moment that will never exist again.

    The moment McCoy captured in studio is entitled, “The Lemon in Question.” (Courtesy: Michael McCoy)

     

    “It’s just something that I haven’t seen before, and that’s what I like making,” said McCoy.

    The Tampa artist is preparing for his upcoming show, “Observations of Creation,” as he prepares to open his new gallery, Michael McCoy Studio Art Gallery on Saturday.

    There are more than 50 pieces — each an original moment — made over the last five years.

    “Being able to freeze it, magnify it and see it this way, you could see the stories unfolding,” he explained, holding a piece.

    The artist says what some see in this unfolding is more about their story than the art’s.

    “I want people to learn the truth about themselves in these pieces,” McCoy said.

    Pieces of art from everyday life.

    The moment McCoy captured in studio is entitled, “The Lemon in Question.”

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Authorities: Fatal Spring Hill shooting stemmed from home invasion

    Authorities: Fatal Spring Hill shooting stemmed from home invasion

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    SPRING HILL, Fla. — The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect in a Spring Hill shooting that left one person dead and another injured.

    Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Marquette Street just after 5 a.m. Wednesday to calls of a shooting. Officials said later Wednesday during a news conference that the incident began as a home invasion. 

    Details have not been released.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hernando County Sheriff’s officials searching for shooting suspect 

    • One person killed, another injured in shooting at Marquette Street home in Spring Hill 

    • Anyone with information asked to call sheriff’s office at (352) 754-6830 or contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477)

    Deputies arrived on scene to find two adult victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim died on scene. The second victim was transported to a trauma center with non-life threatening injuries.

    Authorities said there is an unknown suspect at large. Officials said it is unknown if the suspect is male or female or in a vehicle or on foot.

    Detectives continue working the case. Officials said residents should take necessary precautions.

    Also, residents in the area are asked to review any video footage they may have for the timeframe of 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. 

    Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (352) 754-6830 or contact Hernando County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-TIPS (8477).   

    This is a developing story and more information will be released as it becomes available.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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