Citrus briefs

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 24, 2001

Boat capsizes, victims rescued

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Passengers from a capsized boat were rescued Monday evening. About 2:30 p.m., people aboard the boat in the Cross Florida Barge Canal reported "mayday" and their location before the radio signal was lost. The Coast Guard dispatched a small boat and helicopter to search. About 5:24 p.m., the helicopter spotted the boat about 3 miles off the Crystal River coast. By 6 p.m., Coast Guard officials reported that passersby had rescued the boaters, who were taken to the Coast Guard station in Yankeetown. Authorities had not released the boaters' names.

Beaten woman in serious condition

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Linda Varone, the Crystal River woman who was beaten in the head with a shovel last week, has been upgraded to serious condition, a spokeswoman for Tampa General Hospital said Monday. Varone, 53, had been in critical condition following the July 18 attack. Authorities said Dennis A. Burke, 48, who lives around the corner from Varone and her husband, was working on a shed in the Varones' backyard when he suddenly became enraged and tried to kill Varone and her husband, Frank. Burke is being held without bail at the Citrus County jail on two counts of attempted homicide, and one count each of armed burglary of a conveyance, armed burglary of a dwelling and grand theft.

Brown-Waite to face Thurman

INVERNESS -- State Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite has made it official: She is challenging U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman in the next congressional election. Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, filed campaign paperwork late last week in Tallahassee. Thurman, D-Dunnellon, was elected in 1992 and has represented the 5th Congressional District ever since. That district includes Citrus and Hernando counties, west Pasco and all or part of four other counties. Thurman has said she expected the Republican-led state Legislature would create a new district for Brown-Waite during the upcoming redistricting process. Brown-Waite said she doubts that and expects to run against Thurman.

Wes Stow to run for City Council

CRYSTAL RIVER -- Wes Stow, chairman of the county Republican Executive Committee, plans to run for the City Council seat held by Joe Chrietzberg. "Something has got to change on that council. The way it's been going is kind of an embarrasment to everyone in the city," Stow said Monday. "I love Crystal River, and I hate seeing it appear in a negative way in the newspapers all the time." Stow, 73, said he has the time to run and pledged to never interfere with city employees. Chrietzberg has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election.

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