Stray whooping crane remains outside the group

Proving to be a loner to the end, the whooping crane that split from the flock traveling back to Wisconsin last week has taken up residence in a marsh 120 miles from home. "She sort of had her own agenda, but every female does," Heather Ray of Operation Migration said jokingly. Operation Migration is the Canadian team that used ultralight aircraft to lead the cranes to Florida last fall. On April 9, the flock of five left Chassahowitzka and began the 1,175 mile trip back to central Wisconsin -- without the help of the ultralights. The female, known as No. 7, split from the group over Tennessee but continued north. When the others reached Necedah National Wildlife Refuge on Friday, No. 7 was nowhere in sight. Researchers caught up with her over the weekend and reported she was hanging around three sandhill cranes.

Dessie Smith Prescott memorial is Thursday

CRYSTAL RIVER -- A "celebration of life" for Dessie Smith Prescott, the pioneering outdoorswoman who was a close friend of novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Rock Crusher Canyon. Speakers will include Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Crystal River, and former Sheriff Charlie Dean, said Candace Boothe, Mrs. Prescott's friend and caretaker since 1983. The event will be free and open to the public. Mrs. Prescott, who was immortalized in Rawlings' novel Cross Canal, died Friday at her home on Lake Rousseau. She was 95.

Woman faces charge of stabbing boyfriend

FLORAL CITY -- A Floral City woman has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after authorities said she stabbed her live-in boyfriend in the chest with a pocketknife. Kathleen Elizabeth Richard, 38, 11959 S Pine Oak Ter., is being held without bail at the Citrus County Jail. According to a Citrus County Sheriff's Office report, a deputy was summoned to Richard's residence about 4 a.m. Thursday. Richard's boyfriend was bleeding profusely from a puncture wound in his chest and was transported by emergency medical workers to Citrus Memorial Hospital. Richard, who was smeared with blood on her hand and clothes, said she didn't know how her boyfriend received the puncture wound. Richard's boyfriend, whose name was not released by authorities, was treated and released.

Citrus River man killed when his car hits tree

CRYSTAL RIVER -- A Crystal River man was killed Monday night when he drove off U.S. 19 and smashed into a tree. Allen Pinkney Smith, 43, 2158 Cedarhouse Ter., was driving north on U.S. 19 about 6:20 p.m. when he lost control of his car and swerved onto the east shoulder just north of W Highland Street, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, the report said.

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