Storm blusters through Crystal River [Times photo: Ron Thompson] A hail-bearing storm with damaging winds whips through Citrus County on Thursday afternoon. "It looked almost like a tornado . . .," a business owner said.

Jan Glidewell: Old grouser role harder to play than I imagined
At 9 a.m. Wednesday when I showed (okay, should have showed) up for work, I reached the milestone of having worked exactly 30 years at this newspaper, and therefore officially entered the domain of old farthood.

Inverness man stabbed at party during argument
After being stabbed during a fight at a party, a 21-year-old Inverness man remained at Citrus Memorial Hospital in fair condition Thursday afternoon.

Canning kitchen welcomes the public
LECANTO -- The Citrus County Canning Kitchen is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and during the months of March and April by appointment. The center is on Southern Street off County Road 491 approximately 1/4-mile north of State Road 44.

Schools urge rekindling of union talks
The sides are deadlocked over salary issues, but the union is skeptical of progress unless new money is put on the table.

Citrus: This week
GATORS AT COURTHOUSE: The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, 1 Courthouse Square, Inverness, is featuring a new exhibit, "Alligators: Dragons in Paradise," through May 28. The exhibit includes artifacts such as alligator shoes and clothing, reproductions of skulls and a simulated nest complete with eggs. A park ranger at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Mike Werwetz, will discuss alligators and their habitats at 1 p.m. Saturday on the second floor of the museum. Free admission. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Call 341-6436.

Little treasures
The art league hosts a retrospective on the late miniaturist Edna Estabrooks, whose art contained a world of detail in a few inches of canvas.

Fundraiser features dances of the Pacific
The Maharlika dance troupe, local singers and a fashion show are lined up for the Inter-Nation dinner show.

Citrus freshman rolls perfect game
CRYSTAL RIVER -- If he keeps it up, Ryan Aguilar soon could run out of fingers.

Ineligible Hurricane set for final appeal
Bret Feldman is down to his last strike.

Citrus United in goal with strong defense
During the first round of Region C Cup competition, coach Steve Ekeli heard a telling comment from a referee about his under-19 Citrus United team.

Letters: Coastal hazard designation won't halt growth
Editor: False alarms were sounding in Crystal River last week and smoke screens were raised regarding the implications of the city's location in a designated Coastal High-Hazard Area. The erroneous conclusion was reached that "new growth can't take place" because "some bureaucrats sitting around a conference table somewhere have decided that if a big hurricane hits this coast of Florida, Crystal River will get flooded."