[Times photo: Steve Hasel] A helicopter prepares to drop water on a hot spot west of U.S. 19 at the Citrus-Hernando county line.

May 20, 2000

120-acre fire tamed as others flicker to life
Officials close part of U.S. 19, school buses change course and firefighters battle bees as more than three fires spring up.

Art$mart going out of business
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Sam Peterson just thought he was going to visit his fifth-grade daughter, Chelsea, at the Art$mart store in the Crystal River Mall on Friday. Instead, he found himself jumping in to fight bureaucratic budget cutters.

Fee ruling is small change in Citrus
A court ruling exempting seniors-only homes from school impact fees affects few homes and means little to county finances.

Prize, not pride, eludes Teacher of Year nominee
ORLANDO -- A contingent of James Manos supporters boarded a chartered bus Thursday and, shortly after 2 p.m., pulled out of the Citrus County School District Services Center parking lot. Their destinations: Dr. Phillips High School and Universal Studios in Orlando, site of the award ceremony and banquet for 2001 Florida Teacher of the Year.

Lecanto High student charged in knife incident
LECANTO -- A 15-year-old Lecanto High student was arrested on charges of brandishing a knife at another student who he said had been agitating him earlier Thursday, according to an arrest report.

Wal-Mart proposal survives review board vote
LECANTO -- Over the objections of county planners, the Citrus County Planning and Development Review Board on Thursday recommended a land use change that keeps alive a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter off U.S. 19 south of Crystal River.

Pastoral pursuit was a necessity
For the pastor of First Baptist Church of Inverness, becoming a Christian at age 13 and dedicating a half-century to the ministry were essential.